DESPITE utterances by the Private Sector, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and analysts, Finance Minister Winston Jordan maintains that the local economy is not sluggish. “We have been saying that the economy is in good shape,” said the Finance Minister, who noted that his report on the state of Guyana’s economy has been doubted by many.

Governor Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga

Minister Jordan at press conference on Monday said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its latest report on Guyana said the country’s economy remains “resilient and continues to grow despite significant global headwinds”.
According to the IMF report, the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2015 grew by three per cent despite lower commodity export prices, delays in budget implementation, and political uncertainty leading up to the May General elections.
Notwithstanding those hurdles, the IMF also stated that growth is projected at four per cent this year based on increased gold production and public investment.
“This clearly cannot be an economy that is on the decline, that is sluggish,” said the Finance Minister who referenced the IMF report following a team’s visit here during February 24–March 7 to hold discussions for the 2016 Article IV consultation.
Jordan noted that the APNU-AFC Government has been able to turn things around in Guyana over the year it has been in office.
“Within the space of a year of us coming here we would have been able to reverse what seemed to be a decline of three per cent last year… decline in the sense that the growth rate for last year was three per cent compared to 2014 where it was in excess of four per cent.”
The minister said despite all of the issues the Government inherited, “we were able to change a range of things.”
He pointed to salary increases in 2015, what he described as the largest increase since the 1999 Armstrong Award, where public servants received a 31 per cent increase; increase in pensions, removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on several items, incentives for small and medium scale miners, electricity and gas reductions reduction.
Minister Jordan said too that all the Government has achieved thus far happened despite “external and internal troubles”.
“It is not a doomed scenario, we are doing reasonably well and we will continue to do well with good management of the economy,” he said, while noting that measures have been put in place to ensure the economy continues to ascend.
The Finance Minister reminded the media during his media briefing that when the APNU-AFC Coalition Government took office last May, it was forced to divert significant amounts of money and other resources to the failing sugar industry, as well as the struggling rice industry, given the Guyana Venezuela border controversy.
“I’m not knocking any newspapers, but if all we can find in a one- year review are three or four of the usually suspects giving their view then we would always believe that nothing is happening, those suspects see nothing happening anyhow,” he remarked.
QUITE HEALTHY
Meanwhile, supporting the Minister of Finance was Dr Gobind Ganga, Governor Bank of Guyana (BoG). Dr Ganga said while there has been a mixed performance of the leading sectors in Guyana during the first quarter, the country’s financial system is “quite healthy”.
He pointed to the El Nino situation affecting the agriculture sector significantly with good outputs from the mining and manufacturing sectors. “Inflation will be constrained, it is now deflation, our estimate is about 0.5 per cent of the first quarter and on the external side we are seeing a net purchase of foreign exchange in between just over US$25M that has resulted in a relatively unchanged exchange rate which is 206.”
The BoG Governor said that the country’s current account has had significant movement in terms of deficit from US$73.4M to US$51.5M in terms of surplus. The capital account has moved from a deficit of US$51.5M to US$14.8M.
Dr Ganga told the media that there has been a marginal decline in external debt, while there has been an increase in domestic debt. He described the movement of the financial sector as a “flat movement”, while noting that there has been a five per cent increase in credit to the Private Sector in the areas of agriculture, mining, construction and the household.
The economy, he added has very sound macro-economic indicators and is progressing confidently.
Asked to speak specifically about the clamping down on the narcotics trade affecting the growth of the economy, Dr Ganga said while there are no official figures to provide a percentage, “there are estimates”.
He was supported by Minister Jordan who noted that many studies on the subject have been done in Guyana, two of which were completed by Professor Clive Thomas.
Those reports, he said showed that on the monetary side, relative to the economy, as much as 50 or 52 per cent of the economy is being controlled by the underworld (back tracking, drug trafficking and other illegal activities).
The minister said he is astonished by the calls made by some in the Private Sector for there to be the “easing up” on regulations so that the economy can flourish. Meanwhile, Minister Jordan said that the administration has been working to engage and secure loans from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and other international financial institutions for the 2016-2017 periods. Those loans, he said will be used in the areas of agricultural diversification, through the agriculture development loan, a business development loan, the Justice Sector Improvement Project (modernisation of the judiciary) and in the case of health, reducing child and infant mortality, suicide and suicide prevention.
The Finance Minister also made note of plans in the infrastructure sector where there would be upgrades to ports and water fronts, bridges and aerodromes, as well as water and sanitation, clean energy and rural and hinterland development projects.

FINANCE Minister Winston Jordan has said the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is constantly working out tax settlements with businesses.Dispelling criticism that the Government’s recent agreement with the Demerara Distillers Limited was a giveaway, Jordan said at a news conference on Monday that the recent $1.5B Consumption and Excise Tax settlement between the GRA and DDL is not novice.

“No, settlements at GRA go on all the time…. Listen, they (GRA) didn’t wake up overnight and decide to settle,” he said. He made it clear that Government did not give up G$5B in exchange for G$1.5B.

Reiterating the point that the Revenue Authority is authorised to settle matters outside of the court, the Finance Minister said the matter has been before the High Court and the Court of Appeal for 14 years, and the GRA has been on the losing end.

“14 years this matter has been going on for…. Every time GRA went to courts, they lost.” Minister Jordan thus stressed that GRA’s decision was a “sound” one.

DDL announced in April that it had reached an amicable settlement with the GRA to resolve a longstanding dispute over Consumption Tax owed to the state.
The agreement is intended to settle all claims by the GRA and liability by the entity for both Consumption and Excise taxes up to March 9, 2016 to the tune of $1.5B.

“This sum is payable over 12 months. DDL, in good faith, very recently effected payment of one hundred million dollars in compliance with the settlement terms,” a statement to the media said.

The issue began in 2002, and the company said settlement follows an extended legal battle between DDL and the GRA, arising out of the $5.3B Consumption Tax assessment levied against DDL in January 2009 by then Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur.

The Finance Minister is expected to respond to several questions on the issue to be posed by the Opposition in the National Assembly.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has contended that the tax deal recently struck between the two entities has set a precedent for similar requests to be made by other companies.

Jagdeo described the tax settlement as scandalous, noting that it sends the wrong message to the business community: “…that a company can unilaterally decide to stop paying taxes while other companies comply with the law; take the matter to court, and drag it out until a sympathetic Government comes to power, and (then) settle its debts to the State,” said Jagdeo.

“If one were to calculate interest on this sum at a rate of 10 per cent per annum using only the past 10 years, the liability would amount to $10.6B. The GRA assessment of $5.392B was based on a formula handed down by the court, but yet DDL refused to pay,” Jagdeo stated.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has welcomed the move by GRA and DDL to settle the matter out of court, and has called on the Revenue Authority to negotiate with other companies that are in the same position as DDL was in.

“From the point of view of the Private Sector Commission, we wish to urge that the Guyana Revenue Authority now engage other aggrieved companies to apply similar formula to correct the distortions in the market place resulting from this action,” the PSC said in a statement.

But Minister Jordan has made it clear that should other companies feel the need to make claims based on the principles of the DDL settlement, those claims would be “vigorously opposed”.

In 2002, DDL had raised a legal challenge against the GRA on the methodology adopted by the latter for the assessment of Consumption tax.

In February 2005, the High Court found in favour of DDL. The GRA subsequently appealed that decision, and on July 31, 2008, the Guyana Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed GRA’s Appeal.

Following the dismissal of the appeal, the GRA commenced a new assessment in August 2008; and notwithstanding attempts by the parties at resolving the matter, on January 16, 2009, GRA issued a new claim in the crippling amount of G$5,392B.

AN OVERSEAS-BASED Guyanese on Monday pleaded guilty to bird smuggling and was fined $140,000 when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It was alleged that on May 21, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Emily Persaud of Morris Avenue, Bronx, New York, attempted to smuggle several species of birds out of Guyana.
The unrepresented defendant accepted the charge and did not say anything in her defence.
Chief Magistrate McLennan fined Persaud $140,000, as well as prohibited her from obtaining an import or export licence for the next two years.
According to reports, about 16:30 hrs on the day in question, Persaud was an outgoing passenger on a Dynamic Airlines flight destined for JFK International Airport, USA.
It was observed by an airhostess that the woman was behaving in a suspicious manner while boarding the aircraft.
A search was done on her while on the plane steps and 15 species of Towa-Towa birds were found concealed in large hair curlers strapped to her waist.

ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Gomattie Singh was on Monday released on self-bail by Sparendaam Magistrate, Zamilla Ally-Seepaul for dangerous driving.Attorney Singh was charged for driving her motorcar PSS 9330 in a dangerous matter to the public on May 1, along Success Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

Singh pleaded not guilty to the charged and was released on her own recognisance. The matter was adjourned until June 28.

According to the prosecution facts, on the day in question, about 08:30 hours, Singh was proceeding in her vehicle east along the northern carriage way of Success Public Road.

Singh then suddenly turned south onto the access road and collided with motorcar PFF 3529 and motor van GVV 2338.

All motor vehicles received damages.

TWO plumbers were on Monday remanded to prison by Sparendaam Magistrate, Zamilla Ally-Seepaul after they were caught red handed robbing a women whom they had trailed from a City bank.Kempton Glenn, 25, of Lot 13, North-East LaPenitence and Robin Holder, 24, of 124 East LaPenitence, Georgetown were charged jointly for two counts of armed robbery and possession of gun and ammunition.

The first charge alleged that on May 19, at Atlantic Village, East Coast Demerara, the duo while being armed with a hand gun, robbed Marlene Brumigin of some $180,000 in cash after trailing her from a City bank.

They also robbed Stacy Ashby of items valuing $180,000 on the said day.

The men were also charged for having a .32 pistol with nine matching rounds in their possession without being the holder of a firearm licence.

The duo denied all the charges, while their lawyer Moti Singh requested that the men be released on reasonable bail, since they were badly beaten and needed medical attention.

According to Singh, his clients were returning home from work in Plaisance on their motor cycles when confronted by a van load of police officers.

The lawyer further pointed out that the defendants were badly beaten by persons and were even knocked down by a motor vehicle.
However, according to Lance Corporal David Goodridge, the two men were caught red-handed in the act of the crime and had trailed Brumigin from the bank to her home.

Goodridge noted that Holder had been previously charged for armed robbery and strongly opposed to the men being granted bail.

The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds of witness tampering, the possibility that if the men are granted bail they might commit more robberies.

The court heard that the two accused are wanted in Georgetown for similar offences and ballistics tests are currently being done on the weapon they had in possession.

Bail was refused and the men were remanded until June 27.

On May 19, about 14:00 hours, Brumigin was about to enter her home after transacting business at a bank in Georgetown, when she was attacked and held at gunpoint by the two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The other was on a CG motorcycle.

The woman raised an alarm, but the men took away a bag with a sum of cash as the men were about to escape, residents who responded to the alarm, including two off-duty policemen, confronted the perpetrators and snatched away the stolen bag with the money.

The two bandits still tried to ride away but were stopped in their tracks when a motorist drove into them, sending them crashing to the ground.

A .32 Taurus pistol with nine rounds was recovered by the police, who have also seized the motor cycle.

THE National Commemoration Commission has advised that there has been a slight adjustment to the Jubilee Parade Route.The costume bands participating in the Jubilee Float Parade will now assemble at the Stabroek Square instead of Church Street. The Float Parade will then move from the Stabroek Square to East along Brickdam, then into D’urban Park.

THE coordination of the legal system is a must if the backlog of cases in the judiciary is to be addressed adequately. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams last Thursday during a press conference disclosed that a coordinating committee has been set up to address the problems affecting the judiciary.
“What happens at one end affects what happens at the other, so we cannot resolve the prison (overcrowding) issue unless we deal with the Police Superintendent… he deploys prosecutors… if they’re not properly supervised, they can be responsible for a lot of backlog,” Minister Williams explained.
The backlog of criminal cases has been a major cause for concern over the past two decades, and as such, legislation was enacted to introduce committal proceedings to fast-track preliminary inquiries.
“When the paper committals were introduced, magistrates started applying them, but it was recognised that you were basically transferring the problem from the Magistrate’s Court to the High Court,” said the Minister of Legal Affairs.
With the implementation of paper committal proceedings, prosecutors are required to provide evidence against the accused to the accused attorney. After examination of the evidence, if it was determined that a prima facie case exists, then the parties once agreed would commit to having the accused stand trial in the High Court. This was done in the interest of not wasting the court’s time.
“It meant that trials kept climbing and the figures kept increasing rapidly… a judge would take about three to four trials per session, which takes three months… so we still have that problem right now and it has to be addressed,” stated the Minister.
In light of the foregoing, the Minister of Legal Affairs said Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Carl Singh is mandated to address the issue of backlog of cases.
That aside, the Ministry of Legal Affairs has budgeted some US$49,020 to employ six part-time judges for six months.
“That exercise will be funded by the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank)… that is still in the pipeline… IDB visited me on Monday, and I will meet with them again today (May 19). Once they approve the sums, we will start incurring expenses,” Minister Williams told reporters.
An additional US$327,000 has been budgeted to install voice verbatim recordings in the High Court and in those Magistrate’s Courts that deal with serious criminal matters.
“That will certainly speed up trials because we have an old system where judges and magistrates take evidence by writing in their own hand… these things once implemented will certainly improve the quality of the delivery of speedy justice in Guyana.”
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is assisting Guyana with the implementation of the New Justice Sector Programme, which is designed to consolidate justice sector improvements. The programme will see the establishment of a Law Revision Office and a revision of Guyana’s laws.
Additionally, Guyana’s laws are to be continuously examined by a Permanent Law Reform Commission secretariat. That secretariat is to make recommendations on areas of reform. (GINA)

A Guyanese woman will know her fate next month after pleading guilty to trafficking marijuana into Barbados.
La-Toya Kenisha Smart, a 25-year-old Guyanese customer service representative, was remanded to jail after she pleaded guilty to charges of possession, possession with intent to supply, trafficking and importation of cannabis, the Barbados Today reported.

She arrived in Barbados last weekend and a search of her luggage revealed eight packages of cannabis weighing one pound. She will return to court on June 20 for sentencing.

A Security Guard, attached to a private security service, has been admitted to a city hospital with a gunshot wound to his foot following a robbery.

According to a police report, at about 20:00h on Monday, 22 – year – old Cleveland Pyle and Damion Pearce, 24 years, both security guards, were making a night deposit at a Bank at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, when they were attacked by a man armed with a firearm.

The perpetrator shot Pearce to his left foot and took away the night deposit bag which contained an undisclosed sum of cash that had been collected from business places, and two .32 revolvers with 10 rounds and escaped in a motor car driven by an accomplice.

A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal lost his life Tuesday morning after the vehicle he was driving slammed into a parked truck on the Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

It is reported that the vehicle, bearing number plate, DFB 1454 was heading north along the Soesdyke Public Road when the accident occurred. The rank was identified as Quee Brotherson, who was rushed to the East Bank Regional Hospital at Diamond and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A release from the GDF noted that soldiers are now mourning his death.

“Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Mark Phillips together with all other Officers and Ranks of the GDF commiserate with the family members and friends of LCPL Brotherson in this hour of sorrow. Lance Corporal Brotherson, served with the 31 Special Forces Squadron of the GDF. May his soul find eternal rest,” the GDF stated on their Facebook account.

FORMER Flight Operations Inspector of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Egbert Fields is being considered for the post of Director General of the aviation umbrella body.Fields, who has several years of experience, has served as a pilot with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), an inspector with the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS), Flight Operations and Oversight Manager of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority and Transnational Inspector for the Regional Aviation Safety Oversight.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed through multiple sources that the post was offered to Fields, but it is unclear if he has accepted the offer.

After Zulficar Mohammed retired in May last year, several names were being considered to fill the position, including current Director General (acting) Chitrani Heeralall. Reports are that Heeralall may be re-assigned to another senior post within the GCAA.

This newspaper had reported in September that a new Director General for the GCAA would have been named in October, following the “reconfiguration and reintroduction” of the GCAA’s Board.

Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson later clarified that only board members would be named and not a Director General by the October timeline.

The GCAA board, which is chaired by Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Larry London, was subsequently installed earlier this year.

Minister Ferguson had stated that one of the pressing issues facing the aviation body is the appointment of air traffic controllers, as submissions were made about the lack of appointments over the past eight years. The GCAA is also experiencing a shortage of controllers as several have moved to greener pastures overseas.

A SOPHIA resident is now a remanded prisoner after police said he was caught with 137 grams of cannabis during a search in front of a police station in the interior.The charge against Desmond Rigby, 33 years, stated that on May 23, at 70 Kilometer Police Outpost, Cuyuni River he had in his possession cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Rigby of 153 Last Field, Sophia denied the charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Tuesday.

The teary defendant told the court that he was being wrongfully accused by the police. He told the court that on the day in question he was standing at a bus shed opposite the police station with several other persons awaiting transportation to head into the Cuyuni Backdam.

The accused noted that ranks from the police station came and conducted a search on everyone and found a black bag, which concealed the cannabis.

“ Somebody stash the bag behind my haversack,” Rigby told the magistrate as tears rolled down his cheeks as he stated also that he was beaten by the police.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers told the court that on the day in question, police saw the defendant with a blue haversack and conducted a search which unearthed a bulky black plastic bag in which marijuana was found concealed and he was arrested and charged.

Jeffers pointed out that when the ranks arrested Rigby with the drug he told them, “officer that is my own, I just going and drop off this fine shipment.”

Bail was refused and the matter was transferred to Bartica Magistrate’s Court for June 9.

A 48-YEAR-OLD Colombian appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday, charged with uttering a forged passport and illegal entry.Luis Eugenio Torrez denied that he, on May 20, at Moleson Creek, Springlands, Corentyne with intent to defraud uttered to a police officer one Cuban passport, numbered AR678850.

The court heard that the document was issued in favour of himself with false arrival and departure dates, stamps inserted to show that he was granted a Guyana tourist visa and business visa and purporting to show that same was issued by the Central Immigration and Passport Office of Guyana.

The other charge stated that on April 14, at Charity, Essequibo he entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without presenting himself to an immigration officer. Speaking through an interpreter he pleaded guilty to the charge.

He was represented by Attorney-at-law Paul Fung-A- Fat, who told the court that his client was fleeced by persons who target tourists and they took advantage of him.

According to the prosecution, on May 20, Torrez was an outgoing passenger at Moleson Creek when he presented a Colombian passport to Immigration Officer, Constable Yazier Augrim.

The officer upon checking the passport discovered that it was forged and he had entered the country illegally.

The magistrate fined the Colombian $20,000 for illegal entry. However, failure to pay the fine will result in one month’s imprisonment. Torrez was granted $50,000 bail on the forged passport charge, and the matter was adjourned for June 1.

–forensic auditor recommends

FORENSIC auditor Saykar Boodhoo, who investigated the operations of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), has recommended that the Government fire Hanniel Madramootoo if he is still in the employ of the Agriculture Ministry.Madramootoo was allegedly involved in acts of fraud. It is alleged that Madramootoo, an engineer, colluded with a contractor to execute a multi-million-dollar fraud on GMC.

Identifying the act as a case of financial impropriety conducted by the GMC Senior Management, Boodhoo, in his 64-page report, explained that in 2011 a contract was awarded to Constantine Engineering and Construction Services of Trinidad and Tobago to construct a new building for the GMCs Head Office and the Guyana Shop.

The contract, in the sum of $23.9M, was reportedly awarded by the National Tender and Procurement Board (NPTAB); however, the auditor was unable to review the bidding documents, due to the lack of evidence.

According to Boodhoo, NPTAB Head Donald De Clou indicated that there is no evidence suggesting that NPTAB was involved in the tender process, even though the contract indicated otherwise. This particular project was managed by Madramootoo, an engineer attached to the Agriculture Ministry at the time.

By February 2012, the contract sum was amended to include the additional sum of $7.6M without going out to tender. The amendment to the contract also extended the contract duration to March 16, 2016.

“Based on discussion with Mr Owen Nestor, GMC’s accountant, shortly after the contract amendment, the contractor announced to GMC that he (would) be unable to complete the construction of the GMC office building. It is unclear exactly how much funds was given to Constantine Engineering.

“As such, another contractor was called in to complete the electrical wiring and relevant works to the GMC Office building,” the auditor explained.

The situation further deteriorated. Months after it was handed over to GMC, there were leaks throughout the building via the roof. Another contractor had to be hired to remedy the situation.

“It was also discovered that old lumber and old zinc sheets with euroband were used to construct the roof of the building.

EVIDENT THROUGHOUT
“Throughout the building, substandard work is evident and present. The wood used to construct the internal walls was poorly manufactured, and the concrete walls are chipping and with paint peeling and falling off the walls,” the auditor further pointed out in his report.

The auditor believes the GMC’s Board and senior management are just as culpable as the contractor. He explained that the directors visited the building on numerous occasions during its construction stage, but failed to highlight the “blatant poor quality of work performed by the contractor.”

Additionally, he said, there is no documentation indicating that the Board had made any attempt to prevent the fraud that was being perpetrated against GMC by the contractor.

“An Internet search for the name of the contractor’s firm — Constantine Engineering and Construction Services Limited — proved futile,” Boodhoo pointed out.

SHOULD BE BLACKLISTED
The auditor is therefore recommending that Constantine Engineering and its owner be barred from providing any services to the Government of Guyana.

A call was also made to have the engineer who was contracted to oversee the construction of the building fired, if still in the employ of the Ministry of Agriculture.

It was also recommended the Government send letters of reprimand to the members of the Board of Directors who were engaged by GMC during that period of time.

“The letters should indicate their unprofessional behaviour and gross negligence which they exercised during their time at GMC. Such directors should also be barred from future engagements with the Government of Guyana,” Boodhoo recommended.

For years, the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) has been riddled with alleged corruption, ranging from acts of fraud to mismanagement, the audit report said. According to the forensic audit report compiled by Boodhoo for the period January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015, the Agriculture Ministry has also been deliberately transferring funds to the Corporation to be used as “slush funds” for the Permanent Secretary and the Agriculture Minister.

Though the audit report did not disclose the sums, it is believed that millions of dollars were transferred to GMC by the Agriculture Ministry, without any clear indication of the purpose of these funds, which have increased significantly over the years.

According to the auditor, it appears as though these funds were deliberately transferred to GMC to circumvent financial accountability at the Ministry of Agriculture.

“These funds appear to be slush funds for the Permanent Secretary of MoA and the Minister of Agriculture,” Boodhoo said.

The auditor is recommending that the Permanent Secretary and Agriculture Minister be formally informed that these funds are not GMC’s revenues and expenses, and should be recorded correctly.

“The PS and MoA should be informed as to the proper accounting of the funds and the related expenses. GMC should record the funds from MoA as balance sheet general ledger asset and liability accounts. As funds are expended, the asset and liability general ledger accounts should be reduced accordingly,” the auditor explained in his report.

By Alva Solomon

GIVEN that it is one of three countries in the world with the highest per capita water availability, Guyana is in a unique position to capitalise on marketing its drinking water to the rest of the Caribbean region.This is according to the President of Conservation International, Dr Russell Mittermeier, who told a gathering of Government officials and conservationists, on Monday evening at the Duke Lodge

Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, sharing a few sentiments with Dr Mittermeier

in Duke Street, Kingston, that this country’s per capita water rate follows Surname’s and Iceland’s.

He said that water is topical globally, and that “it is increasingly becoming a geo-political issue in many parts of the world”.

He told the gathering, which included Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock; and Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnaraine that Guyana is well on its way to achieving its “green economy” mandate, since it already possesses vast natural potential, including the Rupununi Savannahs, which he identified as the most intact savannahs in the Amazonia region.

“This region is unique,” he said, noting that Guyana is the second greenest country on the planet, second only to neighbouring Suriname.

He said the Rupununi Savannah is overlooked sometimes in the “general scheme of things”, but the savannah is equal to the tropical rainforest here.

As regards the coastal region, Dr Mittermeier noted, the country can invest in “Blue Carbon initiatives”, a term which refers to the carbon captured by the world’s oceans and coastal ecosystems.

A section of the gathering at Monday night’s event

He said marine systems on a global scale have not received much attention. “You have the potential as a protected area or major protected area,” he noted in that regard, adding that the country is rich in its biodiversity.

As regards the protected areas, he pointed to the Rupununi Savannahs as being one of several areas in the country which can be developed into such areas.

PARIS AGREEMENT
On April 22, President David Granger signed the Paris Agreement at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The agreement, which is within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gases emissions’ mitigation, adaptation and finance, starting in the year 2020, was identified by Dr Mittermeier as “the best and one of the best that came out of the Paris Convention”.

He said that, by signing the agreement, President Granger effectively placed Guyana in a comfortable position as regards the development of strategies in transitioning to a green economy.

According to Dr Mittermeier, there is need for the creation of protected areas. He noted that it is the “single most important tool” for achieving biodiversity and conservation.

He said that Guyana has the requisite network to add two million hectares of land and waterways for conservation, a commitment made by President Granger when he spoke of the Government’s intention to foster a Green Development Strategy at the opening of GuyExpo 2016 recently.

Guyana can also work along with its neighbours on the continent to conserve its landmass through a process which Dr Mittermeier termed “Transnational conservation”.

To this end, he said, he attended a meeting in French Guiana recently, where he met with representatives from Brazil, Guyana and Suriname.
“We really looked at how very different culturally we are, but how (through) collaboration (and cooperation) we can potentially get the French, because French Guiana is a department of France, (to) come and support initiatives with neighbours,” he noted.

Dr Mittermeier also suggested that Guyana can work towards making several sites, including the Roraima Mountain range, World Heritage sites under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) programmes.

KEY PARTNERS
Minister Trotman told the gathering that Guyana is blessed and favoured, with two international pillars in Conservation International and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

He described Conservation International as innovative, visionary and results-oriented.

Trotman said that one of the challenges ahead, as regards conservation, is financial sustainability of conservation systems, given both the competitive economy here and the environment.

He noted that the Protected Areas Trust Fund chaired by Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh has already contributed US$3.5M to conservation.

He said that over the next ten years, the Government is committed to raising the Fund to US$10M.

Minister Allicock spoke of the contributions of the Indigenous people to the Guiana Shield.
He said that, in reflecting on the past 50 years, “The first peoples of the Guiana Shield were responsible in large measure for the fact that we can today celebrate at this event”.

He said the Guiana Shield is one of several regions that possess the highest biodiversity in the world, with over 3000 vertebrate species, including 1168 fresh water fish, 269 amphibians, 295 reptiles, 1004 birds, 282 mammals and 13,367 species of vascular plants.

“This is the legacy of our fore bearers of the Guiana Shield,” Allicock said. “The world cannot ignore that fact. We cannot be unmindful of our heritage,” he added.

At Monday evening’s event, Conservational International donated US$100,000 to the Government’s conservation plans. The preservation body called on other organisations to provide similar support, as it foresees this country’s rich, diverse natural potential as being pivotal to her transition to a green economy.

SHARADANANDA Narine, called Anand, and his alleged accomplice, Darel Ponton, called ‘Yankee’ appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court Wednesday, charged with the murder of 28 – year –old Babita Sarjou.

They were not required to plead to the charge, which alleged that on November 4, 2010, they murdered the mother of one. Narine, who is the ex-husband of Sarjou, was represented by Attorney Rex McKay.

The court heard that Ponton is a 35-year-old unemployed man who lives at Lot 50 Broadstreet, Charlestown. He was unrepresented.

Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers told the court that he is currently awaiting the Post Mortem and DNA report. The duo was remanded to prison until June 21.

In composite photos: Police escort Sarjou’s husband Anand Narine into a vehicle
after carrying him to the spot where he allegedly buried her body. Narine’s alleged
accomplice hides his face as he is escorted to the police vehicle after showing
the police where the body was buried in a shallow grave (Delano Williams photos)

Skeletal remains of a person believed to be Sarjou were discovered by police on May 22 in a shallow grave behind her ex – husband’s Lot 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown property almost six years after she had mysteriously disappeared.

On November 4, 2010, Sarjou left home after telling her mother, Champa Seonarine, that she would be meeting with her estranged husband and four-year-old son at the Kitty Seawall to view the annual Diwali motorcade. That same night she was expected to return to her mother’s Timehri home but she was never seen again.

While DNA samples were taken from the remains to confirm identity, relatives of Sarjou have already identified a pair of shoes and parts of the attire found with the skeleton as belonging to Sarjou. The duo Sunday led detectives to the spot, located behind a zinc fence on the property.

Dead: Babita Sarjou

Sarjou’s husband has stated that he was furious because he suspected that she was having an affair with a man at her workplace. He was also angry that she had taken him to court on allegations that he had posted up nude pictures of her.

It is alleged that he hired the unemployed Ponton, whom he had befriended, to kill Sarjou. Ponton was allegedly paid $50,000 and promised a trip to Trinidad. The trip to Trinidad never materialised.

President David Granger, today, received a courtesy call from Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart, Q.C, M.P., at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Stuart is in Guyana for the observance of the nation’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary of Independence. According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, on Thursday, President Granger will bestow upon the Prime Minister the Order of Roraima at an Investiture Ceremony to be held at State House.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge also attended the meeting. The release noted that the Prime Minister has been described as a ‘true friend’ to Guyana.

“He stands resolute in support of the preservation of our country’s territorial integrity in face of Venezuela’s continued threats to Guyana’s sovereignty,” the release concluded.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has elected Edward Boyer as its new chairman, replacing Norman McLean.

Boyer, who is also chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hardware Group of Companies, was elected during the PSC’s Annual General Meeting on May 19, at the Marriott Hotel.

A statement from the PSC noted that Boyer is immediate Past Vice-Chairman of the PSC and a former President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  He is also Chairman of the Salvation Army in Guyana.

Meanwhile, Desmond Sears was elected Vice-Chairman. He is Executive Director of Delmur Co. Ltd, of Forestry & Technical Consulting Inc., and of Omai Transportation & Equipment Inc.

“Mr. Sears has more than thirty-five years of experience in shipping and is also the Honorary Consul General for the Royal Kingdom of Norway,” the PSC noted.

Additionally, Ramesh Dookhoo was unanimously reelected as Secretary of the Commission. He is a Past Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, current President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce and a Past President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association.

Dookhoo is also a Trustee of the Caribbean Court of Justice Fund and Chairman of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission and the Cheddie Jagan International Airport.  Additionally, Fitzroy McLeod was returned as Treasurer.  He is the Financial Controller of the National Milling Company of Guyana.

The Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday launched its band for the Independence Day costume and float titled “Bread Basket of the Caribbean”.

Principal Assistant Secretary General Sharon Fareed told the Guyana Chronicle that 52 employees will form the Ministry’s band.

Apart from the “Bread Basket of the Caribbean” float, the Ministry will also carry another float centered the period of 1970 to 1980 which depicts the late Linden Forbes Burnham on his horse sharing cassava from the farm.

The designer, Olympia Small-Sonaram, worked with the concept the Ministry wanted to be depicted in the costumes and floats and used the colours of bronze, green, gold, and yellow, red and others.

The float and costumes were launched under the theme “Reflecting and Celebrating our Cultivation.” The commercial section of the float focuses on livestock, sugar, rice and drainage and irrigation.

Sonaram added that “the costumes were made from tie dye, colourful prints and other fabric with colours of the Golden Arrow Head that are representations of the textile industry that thrived in Guyana through companies like the Sanata Textile Mill.”

The Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder took the time out to pose with the staff, some of whom were dressed in their colourful costumes.

-Government deeply saddened at tragic death

A talented young lad who was slated to perform at the 50th Independence anniversary flag raising ceremony was killed Tuesday evening after he was ran over by the very truck that was transporting him and other students.

1. Dr. Roopnarine embraces the mother of Kivon Scipio during a visit to her home Wednesday morning

Dead is 14-year old Kivon Scipio of Lot 6 Railway Road Kitty. Reports revealed that the truck was transporting the steel pans back to the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School and Scipio was among the steel pan players who had just wrapped up rehearsals at the D’Urban Park and were also at the back of the truck.

When they began to unpack, the teen reportedly hopped out the truck and fell down; when the other students in the vehicle noticed, they began to hit the side of the truck to alert the driver, but that they did not work, as that’s the same signal that he would receive to reverse.

The government expressed deep sorrow and heartfelt condolences to Scipio’s family.

“It is with deep regret that His Excellency President David Granger and the Government of Guyana learned of the tragic passing of Richard Ishmael Student and member of the Pan Wave Steel Orchestra, 14-year old Kevin Scipio,” the Ministry of Presidency stated in a press release.

“The President, Government and all Guyanese mourn his passing, which comes at a time when the Nation is celebrating our 50th Independence Anniversary. The Government will immediately make available counselling services, through the Ministry of Social Protection for members of the band and the family of the late Kevin Scipio.”

The Ministry of Presidency also expressed condolences to the members of the Pan Wave Steel Orchestra and the staff and students of the Richard Ishmael Secondary School.

Young Scipio was looking forward to his opportunity to participate with his peers in this significant observance.

According to mother of the teen, Alieka Davis, her son has been playing pan for the past two years and began to practice more often as the independence celebrations approached.

“His instructor called me after 10:00PM Tuesday night; I then rushed down to the hospital but he was already gone,” she noted.

Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry and officers of the Ministry of Education Wednesday morning visited and paid their respects to Ms. Alieka Davis.

The Ministry of Education has offered its support to the mother and family and extended its deepest regret at the passing of Kevon Scipio especially as he was looking forward to participating in the Jubilee celebrations on Thursday, May 26.