Crime link one
Crime link two
Friday, August 31, 2007
Guyana - Providence Stadium parking lot is not finished but here is the next step.....
President views specs of Sports facilities - Shapoorji Pallonji and Comp. Ltd makes presentationGeorgetown,
GINA, August 16, 2007
With the Guyana National Stadium completed Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Limited is taking on yet another big project for the Government, the construction of two multi purpose sports facilities Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo was today shown pictorial representations by Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Limited’s Chief Executive Officer of the Construction Division M.D. Saini on what both sports facilities are expected to look like after completion.He said, “The meeting went very well. His Excellency expressed for two facilities one in Berbice and one in Georgetown. In Berbice he wants to put an indoor stadium with multi purpose sports facilities and in Georgetown he wants a bigger facility which will have soccer, hockey, a swimming pool and other facilities.”
The CEO of Shapoorji Pallonji’s Construction Division said President Jagdeo was given proposals for both facilities, but within four weeks they are expected to meet the Head of State to present a more detailed plan and costing for the buildings. Saini was accompanied by Pradip Bangali General Manager for International Projects at Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Limited and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Avinash Gupta. Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn and Technical Advisor to the Minister Walter Willis were also present at the meeting at State House.
I am scratching my head on this one..............where is the money coming from for these projects......VAT? What about fixing schools, roads, sea defences, police force..................
GINA, August 16, 2007
With the Guyana National Stadium completed Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Limited is taking on yet another big project for the Government, the construction of two multi purpose sports facilities Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo was today shown pictorial representations by Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Limited’s Chief Executive Officer of the Construction Division M.D. Saini on what both sports facilities are expected to look like after completion.He said, “The meeting went very well. His Excellency expressed for two facilities one in Berbice and one in Georgetown. In Berbice he wants to put an indoor stadium with multi purpose sports facilities and in Georgetown he wants a bigger facility which will have soccer, hockey, a swimming pool and other facilities.”
The CEO of Shapoorji Pallonji’s Construction Division said President Jagdeo was given proposals for both facilities, but within four weeks they are expected to meet the Head of State to present a more detailed plan and costing for the buildings. Saini was accompanied by Pradip Bangali General Manager for International Projects at Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Limited and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Avinash Gupta. Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn and Technical Advisor to the Minister Walter Willis were also present at the meeting at State House.
I am scratching my head on this one..............where is the money coming from for these projects......VAT? What about fixing schools, roads, sea defences, police force..................
Guyana - National Tomato Patch at Providence to host agricultural shindig
Coordinator reports…Unprecedented participation by exhibitors for Guyana Night
GUYANA Marketing Corporation (GMC) staffers were yesterday finalising arrangements for Guyana Night 2007, scheduled to be staged at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, from 16:00 hours today.
The venue was a hive of activity at 90 tents, erected to house exhibitors and their exhibits, being connected to electricity and other utilities.
Some of the personnel have already designed and decorated their booths and most were expected to move in by Thursday evening or early yesterday.
The theme for Guyana Night is ‘Fuelling agricultural diversification in 2007’ and GMC Marketing Manager and Coordinator of the show, Mr. Richard Haniff expressed satisfaction with the unprecedented number of farmers and businessmen who are displaying this year.
He said all possible accommodation has been sold out.
“The participation by exhibitors is the largest ever for Guyana Nights and this 2007 two-night affair is shaping up to be a truly mega agricultural exhibition,” Haniff offered.
A wide cross-section of local companies will be showcasing produce and manufactured goods grown and made in Guyana.
The exposition will be taking place against a backdrop of nightly high powered live entertainment by Mingles Sound Machine and the New Melody Makers, with other music from Travellers Sound System, Haniff said
The exhibitors include Demerara Distilleries Limited (DDL), Back to Eden, Tandy’s, Farmers Association of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice), Mohamed’s Manufacturing, Sterling Products Limited and DIDCO.
Haniff disclosed, too, that tickets for entry, priced at $300 for adults and $200 for children per night, are being rapidly snapped up.
He said about 250 people, including Ministers of Government, Members of Parliament, senior functionaries in public and private sector agriculture and in the Diplomatic Corps have been specially invited for the opening, at which the feature address will be delivered by Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud.
Haniff said the organising team is satisfied with the security for both patrons and their vehicles.
He said contingency plans for such as medical personnel to be on standby, together with an ambulance and a fire tender are in place to make sure there is an effective response to any unexpected occurrence.
Haniff said the organisers have reached an agreement with the Mini-Bus Association to guarantee adequate transportation for patrons to and from the exhibition on both nights.
Guyana Night has been staged annually by the GMC, under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and in collaboration with the private sector, since 1999, the only exception being 2006 when it was postponed because of the proximity of the traditional dates to the holding of general elections.
So what exactly is considered unprecedented numbers.....500, 600, 700? This article was obtained from that lying sack of shit newspaper called Chronicle.
GUYANA Marketing Corporation (GMC) staffers were yesterday finalising arrangements for Guyana Night 2007, scheduled to be staged at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, from 16:00 hours today.
The venue was a hive of activity at 90 tents, erected to house exhibitors and their exhibits, being connected to electricity and other utilities.
Some of the personnel have already designed and decorated their booths and most were expected to move in by Thursday evening or early yesterday.
The theme for Guyana Night is ‘Fuelling agricultural diversification in 2007’ and GMC Marketing Manager and Coordinator of the show, Mr. Richard Haniff expressed satisfaction with the unprecedented number of farmers and businessmen who are displaying this year.
He said all possible accommodation has been sold out.
“The participation by exhibitors is the largest ever for Guyana Nights and this 2007 two-night affair is shaping up to be a truly mega agricultural exhibition,” Haniff offered.
A wide cross-section of local companies will be showcasing produce and manufactured goods grown and made in Guyana.
The exposition will be taking place against a backdrop of nightly high powered live entertainment by Mingles Sound Machine and the New Melody Makers, with other music from Travellers Sound System, Haniff said
The exhibitors include Demerara Distilleries Limited (DDL), Back to Eden, Tandy’s, Farmers Association of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice), Mohamed’s Manufacturing, Sterling Products Limited and DIDCO.
Haniff disclosed, too, that tickets for entry, priced at $300 for adults and $200 for children per night, are being rapidly snapped up.
He said about 250 people, including Ministers of Government, Members of Parliament, senior functionaries in public and private sector agriculture and in the Diplomatic Corps have been specially invited for the opening, at which the feature address will be delivered by Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud.
Haniff said the organising team is satisfied with the security for both patrons and their vehicles.
He said contingency plans for such as medical personnel to be on standby, together with an ambulance and a fire tender are in place to make sure there is an effective response to any unexpected occurrence.
Haniff said the organisers have reached an agreement with the Mini-Bus Association to guarantee adequate transportation for patrons to and from the exhibition on both nights.
Guyana Night has been staged annually by the GMC, under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and in collaboration with the private sector, since 1999, the only exception being 2006 when it was postponed because of the proximity of the traditional dates to the holding of general elections.
So what exactly is considered unprecedented numbers.....500, 600, 700? This article was obtained from that lying sack of shit newspaper called Chronicle.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Guyana - Jacka$$ mobilizes ONE excavator to deal with floods
High tides flood riverain areas
Stabroek News
By Gaulbert Sutherland
Thursday, August 30th 2007
Residents in several coastal areas are anxiously watching the waters as high tides overtopped river defences yesterday flooding homes with as much as two feet of water.
Flooding was reported at Friendship on the East Bank Demerara, several villages on the West Demerara as well as along the Pomeroon River in Region Two. A section of the revetment at the Kofi Canal outlet at Friendship was washed away by the high waters causing overtopping and resulting in an excavator being deployed there. However, it arrived too late yesterday to be put into operation. Versailles, Patentia, Goed Fortuin and Vreed-en-Hoop were affected by the high waters on the West Demerara. In the Pomeroon flooding was also reported with several feet of water said to have inundated some areas.
On a visit to Friendship yesterday, this newspaper was told that the high waters had overtopped the river defence since Monday but yesterday the highest level of flooding yet was seen with some areas covered with as much as two feet of water. Residents said that a portion of the revetment at the Kofi channel had been washed away resulting in more water pouring through. They reported that during the high tide water had run over the main road there.
The Safari Hotel Inn Restaurant and Bar located close to the Demerara river in that community was under several inches of water when Stabroek News visited yesterday. A teenager who said that he lived there said that earlier in the day as much as two feet of water was present in the building and the water was running over the main road. He said that the hotel had one guest who was forced to leave as "everything duck". He noted that some items were damaged including two generators and some household articles. He said that he had seen persons "packing bags" at the damaged revetment but when the water rose again they were overwhelmed and the "bags wash away". He noted that the area was periodically flooded during high tides but yesterday was "the highest I ever see it come". Other residents in the area close to the canal were also affected by the high water and anxiety was expressed over the next high tide.
Meanwhile the Govern-ment Information Agency (GINA) in a release stated that an excavator has been deployed to carry out immediate works at Friendship and the Ministries of Agriculture and Public Works and Communications were collaborating to ensure that the necessary actions are taken to reduce the impact of the high tides on the Drainage and Irrigation system and the sea defences.
Several areas on the West Demerara had their river defences overtopped by the high waters with Versailles seeming to be the most affected. Several attempts to contact the Chairman of that region, Julius Faerber for a comment on the issue were futile. GINA meanwhile stated that an excavator was contracted by the Regional Administration to carry out emergency work at Versailles which included the placing of clay bags to raise the sea dam and protect the area from overtopping during the next high tide. The statement said that Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn visited the affected areas yesterday and squatting and rearing of animals on the sea defences and reserves were raised as issues of great concern.
Meantime, reports emanating from the Pomeroon area stated that flooding was also occurring there due to the high tides with some areas being covered with several feet of water. Efforts to contact Region Two Chairman, Alli Baksh on the issue proved futile.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud told Stabroek News last evening that wave heights of 2.75 metres were usually recorded during high tides but during the current one, levels of about 3.25 metres were being seen.
GINA said that the current high tide period is expected to conclude on Saturday and there will be constant monitoring of the situation......link
....And the beat goes on, one step forward, two steps back vote PPP - splish splash....their ineptitude and incompetence are going to be severly tested in the face of global warming and rising sea levels, these are things you can't hide or BS your way out of. Granted there are floods in other parts of the world and the US, but considering the coast of Guyana is below sea level, then that should be the Government's highest priority. These floods are no freak occurence, they keep happening year after year and will continue to happen with the advent of uncontrolled logging and mining.........What is the plan, to mobilize one excavator and wish the flood away??
Stabroek News
By Gaulbert Sutherland
Thursday, August 30th 2007
Residents in several coastal areas are anxiously watching the waters as high tides overtopped river defences yesterday flooding homes with as much as two feet of water.
Flooding was reported at Friendship on the East Bank Demerara, several villages on the West Demerara as well as along the Pomeroon River in Region Two. A section of the revetment at the Kofi Canal outlet at Friendship was washed away by the high waters causing overtopping and resulting in an excavator being deployed there. However, it arrived too late yesterday to be put into operation. Versailles, Patentia, Goed Fortuin and Vreed-en-Hoop were affected by the high waters on the West Demerara. In the Pomeroon flooding was also reported with several feet of water said to have inundated some areas.
On a visit to Friendship yesterday, this newspaper was told that the high waters had overtopped the river defence since Monday but yesterday the highest level of flooding yet was seen with some areas covered with as much as two feet of water. Residents said that a portion of the revetment at the Kofi channel had been washed away resulting in more water pouring through. They reported that during the high tide water had run over the main road there.
The Safari Hotel Inn Restaurant and Bar located close to the Demerara river in that community was under several inches of water when Stabroek News visited yesterday. A teenager who said that he lived there said that earlier in the day as much as two feet of water was present in the building and the water was running over the main road. He said that the hotel had one guest who was forced to leave as "everything duck". He noted that some items were damaged including two generators and some household articles. He said that he had seen persons "packing bags" at the damaged revetment but when the water rose again they were overwhelmed and the "bags wash away". He noted that the area was periodically flooded during high tides but yesterday was "the highest I ever see it come". Other residents in the area close to the canal were also affected by the high water and anxiety was expressed over the next high tide.
Meanwhile the Govern-ment Information Agency (GINA) in a release stated that an excavator has been deployed to carry out immediate works at Friendship and the Ministries of Agriculture and Public Works and Communications were collaborating to ensure that the necessary actions are taken to reduce the impact of the high tides on the Drainage and Irrigation system and the sea defences.
Several areas on the West Demerara had their river defences overtopped by the high waters with Versailles seeming to be the most affected. Several attempts to contact the Chairman of that region, Julius Faerber for a comment on the issue were futile. GINA meanwhile stated that an excavator was contracted by the Regional Administration to carry out emergency work at Versailles which included the placing of clay bags to raise the sea dam and protect the area from overtopping during the next high tide. The statement said that Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn visited the affected areas yesterday and squatting and rearing of animals on the sea defences and reserves were raised as issues of great concern.
Meantime, reports emanating from the Pomeroon area stated that flooding was also occurring there due to the high tides with some areas being covered with several feet of water. Efforts to contact Region Two Chairman, Alli Baksh on the issue proved futile.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud told Stabroek News last evening that wave heights of 2.75 metres were usually recorded during high tides but during the current one, levels of about 3.25 metres were being seen.
GINA said that the current high tide period is expected to conclude on Saturday and there will be constant monitoring of the situation......link
....And the beat goes on, one step forward, two steps back vote PPP - splish splash....their ineptitude and incompetence are going to be severly tested in the face of global warming and rising sea levels, these are things you can't hide or BS your way out of. Granted there are floods in other parts of the world and the US, but considering the coast of Guyana is below sea level, then that should be the Government's highest priority. These floods are no freak occurence, they keep happening year after year and will continue to happen with the advent of uncontrolled logging and mining.........What is the plan, to mobilize one excavator and wish the flood away??
Guyana - Construction Oversight
Reported by Owen Banks:
We need more construction oversight, checks and balances in Guyana to monitor construction projects. For example BK is doing a contract in Westminster and the work is inferior and behind schedule. The company’s management structure is weak, equipment is faulty and they basically have a don’t care attitude because of friends in high places who keep awarding them contracts. But then this could also be said of Haliburton in Iraq, or the crap which is taking place in China regarding pollution - it's all about friends in high places and who gets a kick back.
We need more construction oversight, checks and balances in Guyana to monitor construction projects. For example BK is doing a contract in Westminster and the work is inferior and behind schedule. The company’s management structure is weak, equipment is faulty and they basically have a don’t care attitude because of friends in high places who keep awarding them contracts. But then this could also be said of Haliburton in Iraq, or the crap which is taking place in China regarding pollution - it's all about friends in high places and who gets a kick back.
New York - White folks complaining about Richmond Hill
......Now Liberty Avenue is a mess — filled with fast food, tacky shops selling the same cheap curtains, clothing, jewelry and DVDs, all hanging out on the street. Music blasting like a market in the Third World, accompanied by the smell of fish and rotting fruit. Oh, it’s just gorgeous.
Our historical society has tried, albeit way too late, our community boards are impotent, mere puppets of the politicians and developers who are wreaking this plague all over Queens. And we all know why. It’s called the “newcomer’s vote”. No one has the guts to place the vote on the line in defense of quality of life and decency.
I have lived here for nearly 50 years, and remember when this neighborhood was quiet, respectful and clean. The only time you saw a police car on your block was when there was a traffic accident. Now, the music blares day and night; parties spill out into driveways, onto stoops, and into the street; cars park with speakers blasting away; and 20 people inhabit homes made for a family of four or five. Do I remember and pine for the good old days? You bet your butt I do. If this is progress, I can live without it.
Ann Rychlenski,
Ozone Park
Read more of historic Richmond Hill
Here is another tacky store with tacky crappers. lol
Our historical society has tried, albeit way too late, our community boards are impotent, mere puppets of the politicians and developers who are wreaking this plague all over Queens. And we all know why. It’s called the “newcomer’s vote”. No one has the guts to place the vote on the line in defense of quality of life and decency.
I have lived here for nearly 50 years, and remember when this neighborhood was quiet, respectful and clean. The only time you saw a police car on your block was when there was a traffic accident. Now, the music blares day and night; parties spill out into driveways, onto stoops, and into the street; cars park with speakers blasting away; and 20 people inhabit homes made for a family of four or five. Do I remember and pine for the good old days? You bet your butt I do. If this is progress, I can live without it.
Ann Rychlenski,
Ozone Park
Read more of historic Richmond Hill
Here is another tacky store with tacky crappers. lol
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Guyana - Guyanese of all races need to stand up
If Guyanese do not agitate for change collectively, then the mismanagement of the country would continue. A few would flourish, but the majority of the Guyanese still living in Guyana would continue to seek to leave in search of a better lifestyle. President Jagdeo by himself is not retarding Guyana. He has the whole PPP party structure behind him. Thus we have to continue to protest both the messenger (Jagdeo) and the machinery (PPP) which is generating his message.......read more
New York - Professional Misconduct by Hansa Persaud
Click here to get official court document
In a crackdown on crooked builders, five people have been arrested on charges they filed hundreds of phony documents for at least 24 Queens structures, authorities said.
The crimes "posed a serious risk of injury or even death" due to potential building collapses or fires, District Attorney Richard Brown said.
The arrests come as the biggest building surge in three decades has triggered record construction violations, as documented in the Daily News' "Building Boom-Doggle" series.
One contractor, Satroghaun (Ravi) Singh, owner of RS Construction and Expediting Services in Richmond Hill, faces a possible seven years in prison if convicted.
Singh, 30, is charged with forging the signature and seal of an engineer on 286 documents for 18 construction projects.
When the engineer who cooperated with authorities confronted the contractor, Singh allegedly paid him $5,000 and offered to buy his seal for $10,000, prosecutors said.
The Buildings Department then inspected one of Singh's projects, a Curves Gym on Merrick Blvd., and ordered it closed because Singh never got a certificate of occupancy and committed multiple zoning infractions.
The other defendants - expediter Moheshwar Chandarpal, engineers Hansa Persaud and Dong Whang, and contractor Robert Mardca - each face up to four years behind bars if convicted.
Chandarpal, 29, drafted at least 100 construction plans and inspection certifications for houses to which Persaud, 51, would later affix his seal and signature without review, Brown said.
In one instance, Chandarpal admitted to inspectors that he had checked the foundation of a house on 119th St. in College Point - something he is not supposed to do because he is not a licensed engineer, prosecutors said.
Authorities dug excavation pits in the two-story home and found there were no footings supporting the rear extension.
They also discovered a chimney that had been added to the house without Buildings Department approval.
Whang, 67, was accused of taking $1,100 in bribes from undercover agents to sign off on documents riddled with "glaring errors."
And authorities said Mardca filed bogus certificates of occupancy for two Queens houses that failed to comply with zoning codes.
The arrests "show that the cooperative effort among investigators, prosecutors and the regulatory agency can and will address criminal wrongdoing," said city Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn.Link
Hansa Persaud is from Guyana and lives in Richmond Hill, he is a Professional Engineer and is being charged with 7 counts of falsifying business records in the first and second degree and offering false instruments in the first degree. Fraud and corruption like this are contributing to the Urban decay and over development of the Queens - Richmond Hill / Ozone Park area.
There is a lot of money to be made by these illegal means in order to bypass the required procedure for getting approvals and building legally. Not to mention the scores of unlicensed contractors doing shoddy work.
If you were to add a 135 square foot deck to your house in one of the better areas in Queens - it would cost about $10,000 for labor and material, $1,500 to get the plans drawn up and stamped by a Professional Engineer and another $500 for Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy. So you are looking at a total of about $12,000 dollars to get it done legally. I am amazed at the types of construction taking place in Richmond Hill / Ozone Park and always wonder how they ever got the Building Permits to build or alter the existing structures.
In a crackdown on crooked builders, five people have been arrested on charges they filed hundreds of phony documents for at least 24 Queens structures, authorities said.
The crimes "posed a serious risk of injury or even death" due to potential building collapses or fires, District Attorney Richard Brown said.
The arrests come as the biggest building surge in three decades has triggered record construction violations, as documented in the Daily News' "Building Boom-Doggle" series.
One contractor, Satroghaun (Ravi) Singh, owner of RS Construction and Expediting Services in Richmond Hill, faces a possible seven years in prison if convicted.
Singh, 30, is charged with forging the signature and seal of an engineer on 286 documents for 18 construction projects.
When the engineer who cooperated with authorities confronted the contractor, Singh allegedly paid him $5,000 and offered to buy his seal for $10,000, prosecutors said.
The Buildings Department then inspected one of Singh's projects, a Curves Gym on Merrick Blvd., and ordered it closed because Singh never got a certificate of occupancy and committed multiple zoning infractions.
The other defendants - expediter Moheshwar Chandarpal, engineers Hansa Persaud and Dong Whang, and contractor Robert Mardca - each face up to four years behind bars if convicted.
Chandarpal, 29, drafted at least 100 construction plans and inspection certifications for houses to which Persaud, 51, would later affix his seal and signature without review, Brown said.
In one instance, Chandarpal admitted to inspectors that he had checked the foundation of a house on 119th St. in College Point - something he is not supposed to do because he is not a licensed engineer, prosecutors said.
Authorities dug excavation pits in the two-story home and found there were no footings supporting the rear extension.
They also discovered a chimney that had been added to the house without Buildings Department approval.
Whang, 67, was accused of taking $1,100 in bribes from undercover agents to sign off on documents riddled with "glaring errors."
And authorities said Mardca filed bogus certificates of occupancy for two Queens houses that failed to comply with zoning codes.
The arrests "show that the cooperative effort among investigators, prosecutors and the regulatory agency can and will address criminal wrongdoing," said city Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn.Link
Hansa Persaud is from Guyana and lives in Richmond Hill, he is a Professional Engineer and is being charged with 7 counts of falsifying business records in the first and second degree and offering false instruments in the first degree. Fraud and corruption like this are contributing to the Urban decay and over development of the Queens - Richmond Hill / Ozone Park area.
There is a lot of money to be made by these illegal means in order to bypass the required procedure for getting approvals and building legally. Not to mention the scores of unlicensed contractors doing shoddy work.
If you were to add a 135 square foot deck to your house in one of the better areas in Queens - it would cost about $10,000 for labor and material, $1,500 to get the plans drawn up and stamped by a Professional Engineer and another $500 for Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy. So you are looking at a total of about $12,000 dollars to get it done legally. I am amazed at the types of construction taking place in Richmond Hill / Ozone Park and always wonder how they ever got the Building Permits to build or alter the existing structures.
As you can see in the above article this problem is endemic within most communities and immigrant groups in Queens where housing is in demand.
New York - Richmond Hill Queens overdevelopment
District Attorney Brown said, “Left undetected, the defendants’ alleged fraud could have potentially resulted in the collapse of some of the buildings involved or created fire hazards for neighboring structures. Cutting corners is not the same as cutting through red tape. The defendants’ alleged actions posed a serious risk of injury or even death to unwitting occupants. As a result of a joint investigation by the City’s Department of Investigation, Department of Buildings and my own Special Proceedings Bureau, those allegedly responsible have been apprehended and will be prosecuted and punished.”.........read more at this blog
The P.E., Hansa Persaud, aka Millenium Construction, supposedly responsible for loads of self-certified "crap" in Richmond Hill & South Ozone Park.
The P.E., Hansa Persaud, aka Millenium Construction, supposedly responsible for loads of self-certified "crap" in Richmond Hill & South Ozone Park.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Guyana - Benchop free, onions scarce, blackouts back & water shortage
Reported by Robin Banks:
So did you see the latest - Jagdeo pardoned Benchop, how was that? He is suddenly like Mr. Goody two shoes, but how can you pardon somebody when they were not found guilty of anything to begin with? The only thing Benchop is guilty of is being a soup drinking jackass. Well let us see how long the president’s popularity will last with this one; I see in the US everybody is abandoning Bush.
Apart from the Benchop pardon, blackouts are back in full swing. We had a presentation at the office and blackout came in the middle of it. Our office does not have a back up generator so you can imagine the embarrassment. We are also getting a lot of water shortages in the pipe and lots of waste in the yard during those last rains.
Just imagine onions are currently hard to get, with about twenty importers in this country there was not one onion around. I am still amazed at the impact these commodities have on the market and how fragile the economy is with these small importers. Just like with the importation of flour. The Government said that the flour mill is too expensive so they gave licenses to eighteen persons to import flour, but they do not want to publish their names. Next thing you know we might be getting tainted flour from China and Russia without even knowing it. Maybe that is why Clement Rohee (Cement Roti) is so stupidee from eating tainted roti.
So did you see the latest - Jagdeo pardoned Benchop, how was that? He is suddenly like Mr. Goody two shoes, but how can you pardon somebody when they were not found guilty of anything to begin with? The only thing Benchop is guilty of is being a soup drinking jackass. Well let us see how long the president’s popularity will last with this one; I see in the US everybody is abandoning Bush.
Apart from the Benchop pardon, blackouts are back in full swing. We had a presentation at the office and blackout came in the middle of it. Our office does not have a back up generator so you can imagine the embarrassment. We are also getting a lot of water shortages in the pipe and lots of waste in the yard during those last rains.
Just imagine onions are currently hard to get, with about twenty importers in this country there was not one onion around. I am still amazed at the impact these commodities have on the market and how fragile the economy is with these small importers. Just like with the importation of flour. The Government said that the flour mill is too expensive so they gave licenses to eighteen persons to import flour, but they do not want to publish their names. Next thing you know we might be getting tainted flour from China and Russia without even knowing it. Maybe that is why Clement Rohee (Cement Roti) is so stupidee from eating tainted roti.
Guyana - Demerara floating bridge (wasting money)
Resurfacing of harbour bridge starts
Stabroek News
Wednesday, August 22nd 2007
After several delays, the resurfacing of sections of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) has begun, a Government Information Agency (GINA) release has stated.
A section of the bridge was resurfaced last Thursday and the project is being carried out at a cost of approximately $42M and is being undertaken by the Golden Star Construction Company. Technical Advisor to the Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Walter Willis said work, which started on August 15 includes cleaning of the surface, after which there will be overlaying. The project was awarded several months ago but work was delayed because of continuous replacement of damaged deck plates, the release said adding that the resurfacing work is expected to be completed within the next eight weeks.
The two-lane bridge, constructed in the 1970s is a vital link between Regions Three and Four and accommodates the crossing of approximately 24,000 commuters daily.
In 2004, a computerized maintenance system was developed and implemented for the DHB while the toll collection software was upgraded to improve the tax collection process. Additionally, the release said, three large pontoons were constructed and replaced last year for the retractor/acceptor spans. Maintenance and upgrading of the DHB has continued over the years to prolong the structure's lifespan and generally improve services.
It was designed by Thomas Storey Engineers Limited, using Acrow Panel Bridge and Uniflote, and the contract was signed on May 24, 1976. The bridge management was incorporated April 14, 2003.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn; his Technical Adviser Mr. Walter Willis; and Chief Sea and River Defence Officer Mr. George Howard inspecting works being carried out on the Demerara Harbour Bridge on Monday.
GINA said that overlaying of the DHB forms part of Government's commitment to advanced infrastructural development with focus on improvement of the country's highways, other roads and bridges.
Link
Stabroek News
Wednesday, August 22nd 2007
After several delays, the resurfacing of sections of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) has begun, a Government Information Agency (GINA) release has stated.
A section of the bridge was resurfaced last Thursday and the project is being carried out at a cost of approximately $42M and is being undertaken by the Golden Star Construction Company. Technical Advisor to the Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Walter Willis said work, which started on August 15 includes cleaning of the surface, after which there will be overlaying. The project was awarded several months ago but work was delayed because of continuous replacement of damaged deck plates, the release said adding that the resurfacing work is expected to be completed within the next eight weeks.
The two-lane bridge, constructed in the 1970s is a vital link between Regions Three and Four and accommodates the crossing of approximately 24,000 commuters daily.
In 2004, a computerized maintenance system was developed and implemented for the DHB while the toll collection software was upgraded to improve the tax collection process. Additionally, the release said, three large pontoons were constructed and replaced last year for the retractor/acceptor spans. Maintenance and upgrading of the DHB has continued over the years to prolong the structure's lifespan and generally improve services.
It was designed by Thomas Storey Engineers Limited, using Acrow Panel Bridge and Uniflote, and the contract was signed on May 24, 1976. The bridge management was incorporated April 14, 2003.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn; his Technical Adviser Mr. Walter Willis; and Chief Sea and River Defence Officer Mr. George Howard inspecting works being carried out on the Demerara Harbour Bridge on Monday.
GINA said that overlaying of the DHB forms part of Government's commitment to advanced infrastructural development with focus on improvement of the country's highways, other roads and bridges.
Link
Monday, August 27, 2007
USA - Google Books
Click this link to preview book on "Environmental Problems in Third Cities," apparently this is a new feature in Google, available in Google Book search where you have access to view certain pages of the book.
Guyana - Tourist arrivals up (no word on how many stranded)
Guyana's tourism efforts are paying off
Georgetown.– Various efforts by the Administration to project Guyana as a viable tourist destination are paying off and for 2007 many aspects are being pushed to propel the sector even as Guyana prepares to host several major international events.
Development in the industry will continue within the context set by the National Development Strategy, and a major player in this expansion is the five-year tourism plan.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad said the tourism sector recorded significant growth in 2006 with arrivals during the Christmas season surpassing those of previous years.
According to statistics provided by the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation, there were close to 200,000 visitors last year. The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) reported that 113, 476 tourists visited in 2006 as compared to 116, 596 in 2005. The decline which occurred during the July- August period was due understandably to the holding of National and Regional elections.
Visitors from the United States accounted for 50% of the total, while those from the Caribbean formed 25%, followed by Canada with 13 %. Guyana recorded 121, 989 tourist arrivals in 2004, the highest figure ever. (All the more reason to try and attract a regular schedule airline from the United States such as Delta, American or Continental. There would definitely be problems with 60,000 plus passengers depending mostly on charters who operate one aircraft operations.)
Last March, the Tourism Ministry launched its three-year birding tourism plan, building capacity for the provision of services for bird watching, an activity that is gradually becoming popular. Guyana has over 800 species of birds, with 25 percent of them found in the City alone.
Another interest area that Government is hoping to propel is yachting and already there has been collaboration with the private sector and systems have been worked out to make entry into Guyana easy, as it relates to Customs and Immigration.
The national Budget has allocated $65.6M to the GTA to further promote Guyana as a unique tourist destination. The five-year tourism plan which has been supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) focuses on strengthening the GTA, expanding tourism education and training at the university level, implementing tourism regulations to improve standards and competitiveness, catalysing tourism development in the areas of agro-tourism, sports and events tourism, and nature-based tourism, including yacht and cruise ship tourism with the addition of new facilities.
Link
Georgetown.– Various efforts by the Administration to project Guyana as a viable tourist destination are paying off and for 2007 many aspects are being pushed to propel the sector even as Guyana prepares to host several major international events.
Development in the industry will continue within the context set by the National Development Strategy, and a major player in this expansion is the five-year tourism plan.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad said the tourism sector recorded significant growth in 2006 with arrivals during the Christmas season surpassing those of previous years.
According to statistics provided by the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation, there were close to 200,000 visitors last year. The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) reported that 113, 476 tourists visited in 2006 as compared to 116, 596 in 2005. The decline which occurred during the July- August period was due understandably to the holding of National and Regional elections.
Visitors from the United States accounted for 50% of the total, while those from the Caribbean formed 25%, followed by Canada with 13 %. Guyana recorded 121, 989 tourist arrivals in 2004, the highest figure ever. (All the more reason to try and attract a regular schedule airline from the United States such as Delta, American or Continental. There would definitely be problems with 60,000 plus passengers depending mostly on charters who operate one aircraft operations.)
Last March, the Tourism Ministry launched its three-year birding tourism plan, building capacity for the provision of services for bird watching, an activity that is gradually becoming popular. Guyana has over 800 species of birds, with 25 percent of them found in the City alone.
Another interest area that Government is hoping to propel is yachting and already there has been collaboration with the private sector and systems have been worked out to make entry into Guyana easy, as it relates to Customs and Immigration.
The national Budget has allocated $65.6M to the GTA to further promote Guyana as a unique tourist destination. The five-year tourism plan which has been supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) focuses on strengthening the GTA, expanding tourism education and training at the university level, implementing tourism regulations to improve standards and competitiveness, catalysing tourism development in the areas of agro-tourism, sports and events tourism, and nature-based tourism, including yacht and cruise ship tourism with the addition of new facilities.
Link
Guyana - Travel Span
The service was excellent, but the plane is the pits. The plane is very scary to travel with when it took off from JFK I thought it was never going to make it up in the air. I thought it was going to come down and crash. If you want people to use your airline get a decent plane. Travelspan seems as though it is on its final leg. For the airfare you are charging people you should get a better plane.....Link
Obviously this person is not very familiar with airline travel or airplanes, must be a returning Berbician. Airplanes tend to vibrate and shake on takeoff and landing but that does not mean they are unsafe. The service cannot be excellent and at the same time the plane is unsafe, that is contradictory. But if Minister of Tourism (Manniram Prashad) wants to contact the persons involved with Travelspan regarding leaving passengers stranded then here are the individuals to contact:
-Nohar Singh
-Vic Insanally
-Eddie Boyer
-Vic Oudet
Nohar Singh -the plaintiff organized Travelspan Guyana in 2002 for the purpose of operating an airline between Guyana and the United States. On or about April 11, 2006, Travelspan Guyana applied to the United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”) for permission to provide passenger, cargo, and mail air transportation services between Guyana and the United States. The defendants filed objections to the application containing defamatory statements. On or about April 27, 2006, defendant Sahadeo Sukhram filed an objection which stated that the
plaintiff is “a dishonest individual,” “not a trustworthy individual,” “unscrupulous,” one who “secretly funneled money” out of Transwings Airways Corp., a company in which Sukram and
the plaintiff were shareholders.......read more
Obviously this person is not very familiar with airline travel or airplanes, must be a returning Berbician. Airplanes tend to vibrate and shake on takeoff and landing but that does not mean they are unsafe. The service cannot be excellent and at the same time the plane is unsafe, that is contradictory. But if Minister of Tourism (Manniram Prashad) wants to contact the persons involved with Travelspan regarding leaving passengers stranded then here are the individuals to contact:
-Nohar Singh
-Vic Insanally
-Eddie Boyer
-Vic Oudet
Nohar Singh -the plaintiff organized Travelspan Guyana in 2002 for the purpose of operating an airline between Guyana and the United States. On or about April 11, 2006, Travelspan Guyana applied to the United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”) for permission to provide passenger, cargo, and mail air transportation services between Guyana and the United States. The defendants filed objections to the application containing defamatory statements. On or about April 27, 2006, defendant Sahadeo Sukhram filed an objection which stated that the
plaintiff is “a dishonest individual,” “not a trustworthy individual,” “unscrupulous,” one who “secretly funneled money” out of Transwings Airways Corp., a company in which Sukram and
the plaintiff were shareholders.......read more
Guyana - Ministry of Tourism, Industry & Commerce website
The tourism website has a link to Mike Charles's website with this disclaimer: The Ministry is not associated with and does not guarantee any third party websites. Wonder what the disclaimer is for? Could it be the Army helicopter is being used for other purposes rather than its original intended purpose. Also, I still can't seem to figure out why the Government does not allow private enterprise to import and use helicopters, I belive Gerry Gouveia mentioned this would give direct competition to the ONE Army helicopter in business purposes.
This was extracted from the article: "Mr. Gouveia's biggest feud with the authorities came a year ago, after he acquired the country's first civilian helicopter. With the new machine, he hoped to organize tourist expeditions into rain forest lodges and to fly supplies to mining camps.
But soon, the army began competing with him, using its helicopters to organize sorties into the interior. And because the army did not pay taxes on fuel, it charged less, eventually squeezing Roraima Airways out of the helicopter business".
This was extracted from the article: "Mr. Gouveia's biggest feud with the authorities came a year ago, after he acquired the country's first civilian helicopter. With the new machine, he hoped to organize tourist expeditions into rain forest lodges and to fly supplies to mining camps.
But soon, the army began competing with him, using its helicopters to organize sorties into the interior. And because the army did not pay taxes on fuel, it charged less, eventually squeezing Roraima Airways out of the helicopter business".
Guyana - Natural beauty
The natural beauty of Guyana
Chris Edey - Imprint staff
In the language of its original inhabitants, Guyana means "the land of many waters." The name is a perfect match for the local geography, which is dominated by broad rivers flowing north in order to deposit gargantuan amounts of fresh water and sediment into the Atlantic Ocean.
The rivers define Guyana, both physically and socially, and traveling from the densely populated and cultivated coast to the splendid isolation of the Rupununi Savannah is quite possibly the best way to understand this small country. The fact that precious few bridges cross these rivers only makes the journey more interesting....read more
Chris Edey - Imprint staff
In the language of its original inhabitants, Guyana means "the land of many waters." The name is a perfect match for the local geography, which is dominated by broad rivers flowing north in order to deposit gargantuan amounts of fresh water and sediment into the Atlantic Ocean.
The rivers define Guyana, both physically and socially, and traveling from the densely populated and cultivated coast to the splendid isolation of the Rupununi Savannah is quite possibly the best way to understand this small country. The fact that precious few bridges cross these rivers only makes the journey more interesting....read more
Guyana - White Boy
The strange foreigner within city council
Chris Edey - Imprint staff
Being white in Guyana means that you get racially profiled every time you step out of your home. Vendors in the market take quick notice of your presence, the prices of goods you are interested in have been known to fluctuate and you garner attention by simply walking down the street.
Even as a Canadian intern, I am compensated out of all proportion with what the majority of the local population earns, which makes this profiling understandable, if not entirely comfortable. The point is, growing up as a white Canadian, where about 80 per cent of the population is "like me," one does not often think about these issues.
It was while attending a meeting in Linden, a hard-scrabble mining town of some 44,000 people, when the experience of being different became much more acute. The huge bauxite mines which surround Linden have been idle for several years and the national government has been actively searching for a solution to this region's economic stagnancy. Recently, the government has the idea of the construction of a mega-dump in the old mining pits to bury the waste of the developed world. According to the local papers, waste disposal companies from several Western nations are actively pursuing the project.....read more
Chris Edey - Imprint staff
Being white in Guyana means that you get racially profiled every time you step out of your home. Vendors in the market take quick notice of your presence, the prices of goods you are interested in have been known to fluctuate and you garner attention by simply walking down the street.
Even as a Canadian intern, I am compensated out of all proportion with what the majority of the local population earns, which makes this profiling understandable, if not entirely comfortable. The point is, growing up as a white Canadian, where about 80 per cent of the population is "like me," one does not often think about these issues.
It was while attending a meeting in Linden, a hard-scrabble mining town of some 44,000 people, when the experience of being different became much more acute. The huge bauxite mines which surround Linden have been idle for several years and the national government has been actively searching for a solution to this region's economic stagnancy. Recently, the government has the idea of the construction of a mega-dump in the old mining pits to bury the waste of the developed world. According to the local papers, waste disposal companies from several Western nations are actively pursuing the project.....read more
Guyana - Where are the results from this report?
I am also co-ordinating and supporting the visit of one of our Canadian consultants who is charged with establishing a baseline of where Guyana’s water, wastewater and waste disposal services are in terms of capacity and development. I liaise with our six municipal development officers to locate the necessary information and to prepare a status report. This report will be used to guide future projects to improve capacity in these three key areas...... read more
Guyana - The plan for Georgetown
The recommendations in the Georgetown Development Plan should be adopted
Stabroek News
Monday, August 27th 2007
....For years, at the highest level, I have pleaded and even tried to cajole those who micro-manage the city that we need to follow faithfully the recommendations contained in the Georgetown Development Plan 2001-2010. This was prepared initially by the Chartered Town planner - Professor Akhtar Khan M. A Eco. MSc. TP Dip. T.P. FRTPI (CFTC-EXPERT).
...We install lights designed for a four-lane roadway, but set in a poorly marked two, or three lane strips of road in the city, so confusion and delays.
...Hon. Ministers, instead of looking at minutiae that is the business of the Mayor and City Council, I again, this time publicly beg on my knees please - take this report, dust it off and let us discuss its staged implementation. This will be a great service you will offer to citizens......read more
Stabroek News
Monday, August 27th 2007
....For years, at the highest level, I have pleaded and even tried to cajole those who micro-manage the city that we need to follow faithfully the recommendations contained in the Georgetown Development Plan 2001-2010. This was prepared initially by the Chartered Town planner - Professor Akhtar Khan M. A Eco. MSc. TP Dip. T.P. FRTPI (CFTC-EXPERT).
...We install lights designed for a four-lane roadway, but set in a poorly marked two, or three lane strips of road in the city, so confusion and delays.
...Hon. Ministers, instead of looking at minutiae that is the business of the Mayor and City Council, I again, this time publicly beg on my knees please - take this report, dust it off and let us discuss its staged implementation. This will be a great service you will offer to citizens......read more
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Nigeria - Garbage
Over three times more is spent here on the education of the wealthiest fifth of the population than on the poorest, and much of the money intended for schools is stolen or diverted. (2) One can add that the teacher retention rate in Uganda has been estimated at about 25 percent. The case study that follows regarding Nigeria's inability to handle such a relatively simple matter as urban garbage is intended to underscore my basic point, that more foreign aid alone is not going to overcome the problems of such countries.
In his 2004 book on Africa, Robert Guest writes: "In Lagos, I have seen piles of rubbish, some of them twenty feet high and three blocks long, festering in the middle of the road." (3) The environmental consequences of this are terrible: water and air pollution, disease (particularly cholera), flooding, blockage of roads, fire hazards, and so forth. Yet, a visitor might simply conclude that this situation was merely the result of municipal poverty or administrative ineptitude, causing a lack of garbage containers, collectors, trucks, and equipment for properly dealing with waste. The truth is (as will be demonstrated in this article) there is a linkage between Lagos's environmental corruption and Nigeria's political corruption. Moreover, until the underlying causes of political corruption are addressed, Nigerian leaders lack the political power to deal with garbage, regardless of the fact that the current regime is considered a "dictatorship," based on improperly held elections, the abuse of human rights, and a weak judicial and legislative system. (4).........read more
Does this sound familiar?
In his 2004 book on Africa, Robert Guest writes: "In Lagos, I have seen piles of rubbish, some of them twenty feet high and three blocks long, festering in the middle of the road." (3) The environmental consequences of this are terrible: water and air pollution, disease (particularly cholera), flooding, blockage of roads, fire hazards, and so forth. Yet, a visitor might simply conclude that this situation was merely the result of municipal poverty or administrative ineptitude, causing a lack of garbage containers, collectors, trucks, and equipment for properly dealing with waste. The truth is (as will be demonstrated in this article) there is a linkage between Lagos's environmental corruption and Nigeria's political corruption. Moreover, until the underlying causes of political corruption are addressed, Nigerian leaders lack the political power to deal with garbage, regardless of the fact that the current regime is considered a "dictatorship," based on improperly held elections, the abuse of human rights, and a weak judicial and legislative system. (4).........read more
Does this sound familiar?
US - North American Airline is a Charter Airline
Where can North American fly?
North American Airlines is a U.S. FAR Part 121 certificate carrier, has world-wide charter authority and can fly to most U.S. domestic and international locations. Government regulations, security risks, and airport facility limitations may be limiting factors for some destinations...read more
North American Airlines is a U.S. FAR Part 121 certificate carrier, has world-wide charter authority and can fly to most U.S. domestic and international locations. Government regulations, security risks, and airport facility limitations may be limiting factors for some destinations...read more
Guyana - Dis is how dem Charta Airline does screw ayuhdese
If your luggage gets lost during your tour, there may be a dispute over who is liable. The charter airlines process claims for bags that were lost or damaged while in their possession. If it is not clear where the problem occurred (e.g. between the airport and a hotel), the operator and the airline may both decline liability. To cover yourself, find out if your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policy covers losses that happen when you're away from home. You might also ask your travel agent if there’s a one-shot baggage insurance policy available to cover baggage problems while you are on your charter trip.
Your charter may be delayed. Last-minute schedule changes and departure delays of several hours are not uncommon on charters. A flight can be delayed up to 48 hours before the charter operator must offer you the option to cancel with a full refund.
Charters and scheduled flights operate independently of each other. If there's a delay on the scheduled flight connecting you to the city where your charter departs, causing you to miss your charter, you lose your flight and money. Charter reservations are only good for one flight. If you miss it for any reason, you're probably out of luck. Check with the charter operator to see if he has another charter flying to your destination.
If your charter is late returning and causes you to miss a scheduled connecting flight back to your home, you have to pay your own expenses while you wait for the next connection. You may also have to pay a higher fare to switch to another scheduled-service flight if you were ticketed at a discount fare. Bottom line: leave plenty of connecting time between charter and scheduled flights when making your arrangements.
Your baggage can’t be checked through from a scheduled flight to a charter, and vice-versa. You have to claim your baggage and re-check it yourself. When planning a charter, allow plenty of time to check in at the airport from which your charter leaves, or from which you have a connecting flight. On international trips, remember that you may encounter delays in Customs.
You might find seating space for your charter plane to be more crowded than you're used to. In addition, "load factors" are usually higher, which means less chance of an empty middle seat next to you if you’re traveling alone. The low charter rate depends in part on spreading costs over a large number of people with virtually all of the seats being filled.
Check-in deadlines are lengthier on charters than on scheduled-service flights. Three hours is not unusual for an international charter.
If a charter flight hasn’t sold out shortly before departure, the operator can sell seats at bargain basement prices to latecomers. Some who have paid the regular price well in advance may object, but should realize that the operator's alternative may be to cancel the flight altogether for economic reasons.
Charter rates are relatively low, but might not be the cheapest fare to your destination. Ask your travel agent to compare fares on scheduled and charter flights for you.
Read more
Your charter may be delayed. Last-minute schedule changes and departure delays of several hours are not uncommon on charters. A flight can be delayed up to 48 hours before the charter operator must offer you the option to cancel with a full refund.
Charters and scheduled flights operate independently of each other. If there's a delay on the scheduled flight connecting you to the city where your charter departs, causing you to miss your charter, you lose your flight and money. Charter reservations are only good for one flight. If you miss it for any reason, you're probably out of luck. Check with the charter operator to see if he has another charter flying to your destination.
If your charter is late returning and causes you to miss a scheduled connecting flight back to your home, you have to pay your own expenses while you wait for the next connection. You may also have to pay a higher fare to switch to another scheduled-service flight if you were ticketed at a discount fare. Bottom line: leave plenty of connecting time between charter and scheduled flights when making your arrangements.
Your baggage can’t be checked through from a scheduled flight to a charter, and vice-versa. You have to claim your baggage and re-check it yourself. When planning a charter, allow plenty of time to check in at the airport from which your charter leaves, or from which you have a connecting flight. On international trips, remember that you may encounter delays in Customs.
You might find seating space for your charter plane to be more crowded than you're used to. In addition, "load factors" are usually higher, which means less chance of an empty middle seat next to you if you’re traveling alone. The low charter rate depends in part on spreading costs over a large number of people with virtually all of the seats being filled.
Check-in deadlines are lengthier on charters than on scheduled-service flights. Three hours is not unusual for an international charter.
If a charter flight hasn’t sold out shortly before departure, the operator can sell seats at bargain basement prices to latecomers. Some who have paid the regular price well in advance may object, but should realize that the operator's alternative may be to cancel the flight altogether for economic reasons.
Charter rates are relatively low, but might not be the cheapest fare to your destination. Ask your travel agent to compare fares on scheduled and charter flights for you.
Read more
Guyana - North American Airlines gets in on the act
Meanwhile, a delayed North American Airline's flight, number NA093, left over 200 persons stranded at the airport.
However, the airline has provided accommodation for their passengers and they will be reimbursed their transportation cost.
Speaking with Kaieteur News, General Manager of NAA, Junior Horatio said that the flight, which was scheduled to arrive in Guyana at 14:45 hrs, arrived at 21:06 hrs instead.
He added that this was as a result of inclement weather and a switching of aircraft.
According to Horatio, passengers were told of the delay and they will instead leave Guyana at 06:00 hrs today. He added that although the flight arrived last evening, it will not be able to depart until today since the crew has to rest.
Last Friday, North American Airline announced its preparation to source a larger carrier which could bump up capacity by over 50 seats.
Horatio noted that yesterday the larger aircraft was expected to touch down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. However, that was the same aircraft that was delayed.Link
However, the airline has provided accommodation for their passengers and they will be reimbursed their transportation cost.
Speaking with Kaieteur News, General Manager of NAA, Junior Horatio said that the flight, which was scheduled to arrive in Guyana at 14:45 hrs, arrived at 21:06 hrs instead.
He added that this was as a result of inclement weather and a switching of aircraft.
According to Horatio, passengers were told of the delay and they will instead leave Guyana at 06:00 hrs today. He added that although the flight arrived last evening, it will not be able to depart until today since the crew has to rest.
Last Friday, North American Airline announced its preparation to source a larger carrier which could bump up capacity by over 50 seats.
Horatio noted that yesterday the larger aircraft was expected to touch down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. However, that was the same aircraft that was delayed.Link
Guyana - Total Slackness in Georgetown
'Slackness'
Stabroek News
Sunday, August 26th 2007
Last Wednesday night, during a month which has traditionally opened the dry season, the heavens in a concentrated burst dumped 5.4 inches of rain on a city which can only drain two inches of water in twenty-four hours. As such one doesn't need a pass in Common Entrance arithmetic to calculate that flooding would inevitably have ensued. There were, of course, the usual contributory factors exacerbating the situation, such as the garbage which blocked the flow of water in critical trenches and canals. And then there were the three koker attendants who went AWOL at 6 am on Thursday morning when the tide was out, leaving the sluice gates partly closed, not to mention a malfunctioning transformer which interrupted the operations at the Kitty Pump Station for a time.
All this was divulged at a Thursday press conference held by Minister of Local Government Kellawan Lall, Town Clerk Beulah Williams and Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn. (The Mayor it might be noted, was nowhere in sight, a sure indication of where the power lies in the city.) After Mr Benn had explained the problem with the drainage capacity of the capital, Mr Lall added that the authorities had been catering for the normal average rainfall of two inches. Well, it looks as if they are going to have to start catering for a higher average in the future, given the experience of recent years and the obviously changing weather patterns.
The solution advanced by Mr Benn was that sufficient partnership funds should be raised in order to improve the city and coastal defences, as well as drainage and irrigation capacity. Exactly when the government is going to get around to that is not clear; after the great flood of 2005, Canadian experts who came to Georgetown to look at disaster preparedness and whose remit included drainage issues, said that it had been known for years that more infrastructure was required. And here we are, two-and-a-half years later, still submerged after one heavy rainfall and still talking about raising funds to increase drainage capacity. Of course, before funds could be raised there would have to be some viable modernization plan for the drainage system in place first, and one doubts that this exists.
While according to the authorities, with everything in working order it would not have been possible to prevent flooding with a precipitation of 5.4 inches within a 24-hour period, there is the matter of whether the water could have drained off more quickly than it did. In addition, while one hopes there will be nothing quite as dramatic as last week's rainfall in the immediate future, it would be unrealistic not to expect that given the climatic changes which are now in evidence we would not get above average precipitation sooner rather than later. In such circumstances the city would presumably not drain quickly enough to prevent flooding.
All of this raises a question which is very familiar to the residents of Georgetown, namely, maintenance. If all the drains and outfalls were being regularly desilted, there was no garbage in the canals and the koker attendants reported promptly for work, would the city have drained more quickly on Thursday? No one has much doubt that the answer is in the affirmative. The municipality, it seems, is responsible for 50 miles of canals, 12 outfalls, 13 kokers and 8 pumps, but no one needs to be told that it lacks the finances to maintain these, and it also lacks the organizational capacity and human resources to discharge its drainage mandate to a standard that the conditions require. It might be added that in 2005 the Canadians said that its maintenance practices were questionable.
The private engineers to whom this newspaper spoke two years ago were quite clear about what needed to be done in the city. More than one of them (apart from other observations) placed great stress on the need to dig the outflow channels on a daily basis because of the silt, etc, and to keep the drains clean. Moving around the capital anyone can identify channels which are choked by weeds, while one doubts very much that the outflows at Saffon, Princes, Lamaha Streets and elsewhere are maintained every day.
Which brings us to the question of the garbage. The Ministers and Town Clerk acknowledged on Thursday that refuse was still a major problem, and for his part Minister Lall referred to an enhancement programme embarked on by his ministry in an effort to make an impact on the situation. We have news for him. It won't work; it never has on previous occasions. What will work is enforcement of the litter laws, but according to the Minister the city does not have the capacity or the manpower to see who is dumping garbage on the street and in the waterways. Ms Williams agreed, although she added that some people were being brought before the court for littering. So here we have a case of another white elephant: a court set up to deal with transgressions against the bye-laws such as littering, and insufficient officers to arrest the leading offenders to make the court fully operational. It is a case of more pretence solutions.
And then there is the matter of the delinquent koker attendants. We have been down this road before too, specifically in 2005. On January 30 of that year we reported the Town Clerk as saying she wanted to get the sluice operators more committed and interested in their work. Well it seems that any TLC she might have lavished on them following the great flood has failed. While it is probably true that the gentlemen who reported late for duty on the day in question were not the most important factor in the situation on this occasion, nevertheless their behaviour is probably symptomatic of general indiscipline at City Hall. Ms Williams did give the assurance to the media that there would be an investigation and action would be taken against the offenders, although if there is no effective supervision on an ongoing basis this might not have the desired outcome.
There is an administrative context to all of this though, since Georgetown has been a political football for the past fifteen years - with disastrous results. There is the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) - which under the existing law has no real power - on the one side, and the government and senior officers of the municipality on the other. The council lacks money - which was readily admitted by Minister Lall last week - which has allowed the government to zoom in periodically and undertake drainage works on its own account to what it assumes is the applause of residents. The M&CC also does not have jurisdiction over its senior officers; that power lies with the Ministry of Local Government, which sacked the city engineer, for example, following the flood of 2005. It all allows plenty scope for the blame game and for confusing citizens about who is really responsible when things go wrong.
It was the government which appeared like a deus ex machina earlier this year to clean up the city and dig the drains (although perhaps not the outfalls?) for the cricket, and one supposes that the same exercise will be repeated for Carifesta next year. At the time of the big clean-up the President blithely informed citizens that this was not a one-off exercise. However, with long experience of the 'events' mentality of the administration and its emphasis on appearances, one suspects that Georgetowners were not fooled. "Georgetown is slackness," one engineer told us in 2005. He went on to say, "The President and his ministers should not be walking around the place talking. Let the engineers do the job and 'buse them."
As things stand we are in a state of suspension waiting for a new and more rational local government act, for local government elections, for the government to produce a drainage and irrigation plan, for it to raise money to implement the plan and for it (along with the opposition) to accept the de-politicization of drainage (and other) responsibilities in the city. But in the meantime, since the government is in practice in charge of the top city officers, let it lean on them to ensure that maintenance schedules are meeting the needs of the situation and are rigorously enforced. It is totally unacceptable that a capital city should flood so often, causing citizens distress and business and commerce such heavy losses.
Link
Well there you have it, need we say more? Well yes we do, "keep littering and voting for garbage to Govern you and you deserve what you get".
Stabroek News
Sunday, August 26th 2007
Last Wednesday night, during a month which has traditionally opened the dry season, the heavens in a concentrated burst dumped 5.4 inches of rain on a city which can only drain two inches of water in twenty-four hours. As such one doesn't need a pass in Common Entrance arithmetic to calculate that flooding would inevitably have ensued. There were, of course, the usual contributory factors exacerbating the situation, such as the garbage which blocked the flow of water in critical trenches and canals. And then there were the three koker attendants who went AWOL at 6 am on Thursday morning when the tide was out, leaving the sluice gates partly closed, not to mention a malfunctioning transformer which interrupted the operations at the Kitty Pump Station for a time.
All this was divulged at a Thursday press conference held by Minister of Local Government Kellawan Lall, Town Clerk Beulah Williams and Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn. (The Mayor it might be noted, was nowhere in sight, a sure indication of where the power lies in the city.) After Mr Benn had explained the problem with the drainage capacity of the capital, Mr Lall added that the authorities had been catering for the normal average rainfall of two inches. Well, it looks as if they are going to have to start catering for a higher average in the future, given the experience of recent years and the obviously changing weather patterns.
The solution advanced by Mr Benn was that sufficient partnership funds should be raised in order to improve the city and coastal defences, as well as drainage and irrigation capacity. Exactly when the government is going to get around to that is not clear; after the great flood of 2005, Canadian experts who came to Georgetown to look at disaster preparedness and whose remit included drainage issues, said that it had been known for years that more infrastructure was required. And here we are, two-and-a-half years later, still submerged after one heavy rainfall and still talking about raising funds to increase drainage capacity. Of course, before funds could be raised there would have to be some viable modernization plan for the drainage system in place first, and one doubts that this exists.
While according to the authorities, with everything in working order it would not have been possible to prevent flooding with a precipitation of 5.4 inches within a 24-hour period, there is the matter of whether the water could have drained off more quickly than it did. In addition, while one hopes there will be nothing quite as dramatic as last week's rainfall in the immediate future, it would be unrealistic not to expect that given the climatic changes which are now in evidence we would not get above average precipitation sooner rather than later. In such circumstances the city would presumably not drain quickly enough to prevent flooding.
All of this raises a question which is very familiar to the residents of Georgetown, namely, maintenance. If all the drains and outfalls were being regularly desilted, there was no garbage in the canals and the koker attendants reported promptly for work, would the city have drained more quickly on Thursday? No one has much doubt that the answer is in the affirmative. The municipality, it seems, is responsible for 50 miles of canals, 12 outfalls, 13 kokers and 8 pumps, but no one needs to be told that it lacks the finances to maintain these, and it also lacks the organizational capacity and human resources to discharge its drainage mandate to a standard that the conditions require. It might be added that in 2005 the Canadians said that its maintenance practices were questionable.
The private engineers to whom this newspaper spoke two years ago were quite clear about what needed to be done in the city. More than one of them (apart from other observations) placed great stress on the need to dig the outflow channels on a daily basis because of the silt, etc, and to keep the drains clean. Moving around the capital anyone can identify channels which are choked by weeds, while one doubts very much that the outflows at Saffon, Princes, Lamaha Streets and elsewhere are maintained every day.
Which brings us to the question of the garbage. The Ministers and Town Clerk acknowledged on Thursday that refuse was still a major problem, and for his part Minister Lall referred to an enhancement programme embarked on by his ministry in an effort to make an impact on the situation. We have news for him. It won't work; it never has on previous occasions. What will work is enforcement of the litter laws, but according to the Minister the city does not have the capacity or the manpower to see who is dumping garbage on the street and in the waterways. Ms Williams agreed, although she added that some people were being brought before the court for littering. So here we have a case of another white elephant: a court set up to deal with transgressions against the bye-laws such as littering, and insufficient officers to arrest the leading offenders to make the court fully operational. It is a case of more pretence solutions.
And then there is the matter of the delinquent koker attendants. We have been down this road before too, specifically in 2005. On January 30 of that year we reported the Town Clerk as saying she wanted to get the sluice operators more committed and interested in their work. Well it seems that any TLC she might have lavished on them following the great flood has failed. While it is probably true that the gentlemen who reported late for duty on the day in question were not the most important factor in the situation on this occasion, nevertheless their behaviour is probably symptomatic of general indiscipline at City Hall. Ms Williams did give the assurance to the media that there would be an investigation and action would be taken against the offenders, although if there is no effective supervision on an ongoing basis this might not have the desired outcome.
There is an administrative context to all of this though, since Georgetown has been a political football for the past fifteen years - with disastrous results. There is the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) - which under the existing law has no real power - on the one side, and the government and senior officers of the municipality on the other. The council lacks money - which was readily admitted by Minister Lall last week - which has allowed the government to zoom in periodically and undertake drainage works on its own account to what it assumes is the applause of residents. The M&CC also does not have jurisdiction over its senior officers; that power lies with the Ministry of Local Government, which sacked the city engineer, for example, following the flood of 2005. It all allows plenty scope for the blame game and for confusing citizens about who is really responsible when things go wrong.
It was the government which appeared like a deus ex machina earlier this year to clean up the city and dig the drains (although perhaps not the outfalls?) for the cricket, and one supposes that the same exercise will be repeated for Carifesta next year. At the time of the big clean-up the President blithely informed citizens that this was not a one-off exercise. However, with long experience of the 'events' mentality of the administration and its emphasis on appearances, one suspects that Georgetowners were not fooled. "Georgetown is slackness," one engineer told us in 2005. He went on to say, "The President and his ministers should not be walking around the place talking. Let the engineers do the job and 'buse them."
As things stand we are in a state of suspension waiting for a new and more rational local government act, for local government elections, for the government to produce a drainage and irrigation plan, for it to raise money to implement the plan and for it (along with the opposition) to accept the de-politicization of drainage (and other) responsibilities in the city. But in the meantime, since the government is in practice in charge of the top city officers, let it lean on them to ensure that maintenance schedules are meeting the needs of the situation and are rigorously enforced. It is totally unacceptable that a capital city should flood so often, causing citizens distress and business and commerce such heavy losses.
Link
Well there you have it, need we say more? Well yes we do, "keep littering and voting for garbage to Govern you and you deserve what you get".
Guyana - Economic impact of repeated flooding
Businesses total up losses after city swamping
Stabroek News
By Zoisa Fraser
Saturday, August 25th 2007
The heavy rains on Thursday morning which swamped most of Georgetown for hours resulted in severe losses for some business owners and some residents are still in discomfort.
Though the floodwaters have receded, many have expressed the fear that the city could flood again, especially with the changing and sometimes unpredictable weather pattern brought about by global warming.
Many residents still had their electronic items and other valuables piled up high in anticipation of a recurrence. Some said that they are not in a hurry to put their houses back in order since the place floods with just a few hours of rain.
Persons in the business community too were yesterday complaining bitterly about the losses in stock and business they have incurred and many said that they are totally frustrated over the flooding situation in the city.
Early Thursday morning, hours of heavy rainfall hit Guyana's coast resulting in 77% of Georgetown being under water until the afternoon and for some areas until during the night.
This flooding was partly blamed on the tardiness of three koker attendants who turned up for work late. They should have been at the respective kokers by 6 am to open the doors for the low tide to allow the water that had accumulated to drain off. However they turned up late and time was lost. The Mayor and City Council will be launching a full investigation into the matter and disciplinary action is expected to be taken against the attendants.
Garbage and the pumping capacity of the city were also blamed for Thursday's situation.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn at a press conference on Thursday had said that the city only has the capacity to drain two inches of water within a 24-hour period. Five and a half inches of rainfall pounded the city on Thursday.
Many city residents were forced to replace their regular footwear with long boots in order to proceed with their daily chores and even to go to work.
In several workplaces especially stores and even the Office of the President, employees were sporting long boots.
Yesterday Stabroek News visited several areas around the city and the two main municipal markets to get a glimpse of the after-flood clean-up.
In Bourda Market, all the alleys were slushy and business persons were busy tallying their losses and tending to customers who braved the conditions to make purchases.
All those stall holders who stored their stocks on the floor suffered damage especially those selling rice and other foodstuff.
A taxi driver who operates outside the market on Robb Street told this newspaper that the market was not opened because the place was flooded out.
He said that just the middle section of the road was not flooded and business for him was not normal because the water turned back a lot of people.
"Business wasn't bright at all. Everybody had to go back home because of that water," he stated.
According to the man the greens and shop vendors were the worst affected since their goods were water damaged.
Stall owner Shivdhra Sukhia said he suffered about $23,000 in losses after bags of rice, flour and sugar were damaged when floodwater got into his stall.
He told this newspaper that it is very frustrating because every time it rains heavily water accumulates in the market.
"I frustrated over this situation but what will I do, I came here to do business on Thursday but when I came water was in my stall," he said.
Other stall holders in the market echoed Sukhia's comments and many stated that nothing much could be done to prevent this situation. (If that is what you think then you deserve what you get!!!)
There was also flooding in the greens section of Bourda market and the vendors were forced to take their goods onto the road. Stabroek News spoke to some of the vendors and they stated that they had no choice but to sell because their goods were perishable. They said that they are thankful that the water is gone.
At Stabroek Market however the situation was very different. There were few reports of water accumulation at that market. One woman who sells at the back of the market by the wharf area said that there was some flooding but the water receded very quickly.
Businesses on Regent Street and on New Market Street between Camp and East streets were badly affected on Thursday.
On Regent Street, sales personnel were forced to wear long boots as there was shin high water in some stores and the water covered the pavement on both sides of the road.
Makeshift bridges were set up at almost every store and scores of persons were braving the conditions to do their back-to-school shopping.
Those selling in some of the affected stores told Stabroek News yesterday that items were damaged. They said that they were forced to cease business for some time to remove some of the stocks that were on the ground and on low shelves. However today business was back to normal along Regent Street.
A store owner told Stabroek News that she is concerned about the builders waste and the garbage that were clogging drains and alleyways.
At Maggie's on New Market Street, this newspaper was told yesterday that the business sustained no water damage and the water receded from the store and the pavement around 4:30 pm. A worker there stated that although the place was flooded business was not affected much.
Sand bags were still evident at some business places in that area yesterday morning.
Several other businesses around the city were also affected by the floodwater.
In East, West, North and South Ruimveldt and Festival City residents were seen washing out mats and carpets and washing down the concrete around their homes yesterday. These areas are affected whenever there is heavy rainfall.
Stabroek News spoke to some of the residents and they lamented that blocked drains are the main reason behind the flooding situation.
They all expressed the hope that something will be done before another heavy shower hits the city.
Many of the drains in central Georgetown, especially those at the side of the avenues - Camp Street and Carmichael Street to name a few, still had high levels of water. And a section of the Carmichael Street Avenue was still flooded when Stabroek News visited yesterday.
Link
Stabroek News
By Zoisa Fraser
Saturday, August 25th 2007
The heavy rains on Thursday morning which swamped most of Georgetown for hours resulted in severe losses for some business owners and some residents are still in discomfort.
Though the floodwaters have receded, many have expressed the fear that the city could flood again, especially with the changing and sometimes unpredictable weather pattern brought about by global warming.
Many residents still had their electronic items and other valuables piled up high in anticipation of a recurrence. Some said that they are not in a hurry to put their houses back in order since the place floods with just a few hours of rain.
Persons in the business community too were yesterday complaining bitterly about the losses in stock and business they have incurred and many said that they are totally frustrated over the flooding situation in the city.
Early Thursday morning, hours of heavy rainfall hit Guyana's coast resulting in 77% of Georgetown being under water until the afternoon and for some areas until during the night.
This flooding was partly blamed on the tardiness of three koker attendants who turned up for work late. They should have been at the respective kokers by 6 am to open the doors for the low tide to allow the water that had accumulated to drain off. However they turned up late and time was lost. The Mayor and City Council will be launching a full investigation into the matter and disciplinary action is expected to be taken against the attendants.
Garbage and the pumping capacity of the city were also blamed for Thursday's situation.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn at a press conference on Thursday had said that the city only has the capacity to drain two inches of water within a 24-hour period. Five and a half inches of rainfall pounded the city on Thursday.
Many city residents were forced to replace their regular footwear with long boots in order to proceed with their daily chores and even to go to work.
In several workplaces especially stores and even the Office of the President, employees were sporting long boots.
Yesterday Stabroek News visited several areas around the city and the two main municipal markets to get a glimpse of the after-flood clean-up.
In Bourda Market, all the alleys were slushy and business persons were busy tallying their losses and tending to customers who braved the conditions to make purchases.
All those stall holders who stored their stocks on the floor suffered damage especially those selling rice and other foodstuff.
A taxi driver who operates outside the market on Robb Street told this newspaper that the market was not opened because the place was flooded out.
He said that just the middle section of the road was not flooded and business for him was not normal because the water turned back a lot of people.
"Business wasn't bright at all. Everybody had to go back home because of that water," he stated.
According to the man the greens and shop vendors were the worst affected since their goods were water damaged.
Stall owner Shivdhra Sukhia said he suffered about $23,000 in losses after bags of rice, flour and sugar were damaged when floodwater got into his stall.
He told this newspaper that it is very frustrating because every time it rains heavily water accumulates in the market.
"I frustrated over this situation but what will I do, I came here to do business on Thursday but when I came water was in my stall," he said.
Other stall holders in the market echoed Sukhia's comments and many stated that nothing much could be done to prevent this situation. (If that is what you think then you deserve what you get!!!)
There was also flooding in the greens section of Bourda market and the vendors were forced to take their goods onto the road. Stabroek News spoke to some of the vendors and they stated that they had no choice but to sell because their goods were perishable. They said that they are thankful that the water is gone.
At Stabroek Market however the situation was very different. There were few reports of water accumulation at that market. One woman who sells at the back of the market by the wharf area said that there was some flooding but the water receded very quickly.
Businesses on Regent Street and on New Market Street between Camp and East streets were badly affected on Thursday.
On Regent Street, sales personnel were forced to wear long boots as there was shin high water in some stores and the water covered the pavement on both sides of the road.
Makeshift bridges were set up at almost every store and scores of persons were braving the conditions to do their back-to-school shopping.
Those selling in some of the affected stores told Stabroek News yesterday that items were damaged. They said that they were forced to cease business for some time to remove some of the stocks that were on the ground and on low shelves. However today business was back to normal along Regent Street.
A store owner told Stabroek News that she is concerned about the builders waste and the garbage that were clogging drains and alleyways.
At Maggie's on New Market Street, this newspaper was told yesterday that the business sustained no water damage and the water receded from the store and the pavement around 4:30 pm. A worker there stated that although the place was flooded business was not affected much.
Sand bags were still evident at some business places in that area yesterday morning.
Several other businesses around the city were also affected by the floodwater.
In East, West, North and South Ruimveldt and Festival City residents were seen washing out mats and carpets and washing down the concrete around their homes yesterday. These areas are affected whenever there is heavy rainfall.
Stabroek News spoke to some of the residents and they lamented that blocked drains are the main reason behind the flooding situation.
They all expressed the hope that something will be done before another heavy shower hits the city.
Many of the drains in central Georgetown, especially those at the side of the avenues - Camp Street and Carmichael Street to name a few, still had high levels of water. And a section of the Carmichael Street Avenue was still flooded when Stabroek News visited yesterday.
Link
Guyana - New shark in the waters
No star treatment at Constellation Tours … Cancellations frustrate stranded passengers
Several irate passengers yesterday thronged the Quamina Street offices of Constellation Tours Limited after repeated cancellations of their flights.
The passengers say that they have been left stranded in Guyana , and charged that officials of the company have given them one excuse after another for the delays.
Some of the frustrated passengers said that on advice of Constellation officials, they had gone to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport , Timehri, only to discover that their flights had not arrived.
When Kaieteur News visited the office yesterday, staffers declined to comment.
Senior managers were also a no-show, and it was left to the junior staffers to attempt to pacify the disgruntled passengers.
In the end, some of the passengers were told that their flights had been booked and some were scheduled to depart yesterday.
They were also advised that they would be reimbursed for the travelling expenses they incurred during the cancellations of their flights.
One New York-based Guyanese told Kaieteur News that she was among the group left stranded at the airport on Thursday evening by Constellation Tours Limited.
She said that she arrived at the airport at about 23:00 hrs and noticed a crowd.
“The check-in time started at about 10 pm and I get there at 11pm. I joined the line of passengers to check-in and then a guy who was in the line told me that he had been waiting at the airport for hours,” the woman said. She noted that the passengers were unable to make contact with any of Constellation Tours Ltd staff at the airport.
“There was this diabetic old woman who nearly collapsed. It was an unbearable situation at the airport,” the woman said.
According to another NY-based Guyanese, he waited for hours at the airport, only to be told that the flight was cancelled.
He added that a man claiming to be a ground staff at the airport took contact information for passengers and sent them away.
“This is a terrible service. People have to return to work in New York . These people give us no explanation or anything. They just left us stranded there. This is horrible,” the overseas-based Guyanese said.
Another commented that after waiting for hours she returned home, but her efforts to contact the airlines yesterday were futile.
“I called their numbers for most of the day and no one was answering. It was by the way that another lady who was stranded with me last night (Thursday) called me and tell me that the flight apparently reschedule for tonight (last night),” the woman said.
One man told Kaieteur News that he has been stranded in Guyana since August 21.
“Since August 21, I'm going to the airport. Every day I hear my flight is the next day. I don't know what to say. All I want is to get back home, and I am never coming back with them again,” the angry man said. When Kaieteur News tried to contact the airlines, all the numbers were ringing out.
On Wednesday, Minister of Tourism slammed LIAT and Primus Airlines (Constellation Tours Ltd), and accused them of ‘eye-pass' for Guyanese.
He added that he is currently examining ‘ways and means' of dealing with those airlines that are deliberately showing disrespect to the Guyanese population.
Prashad said that he is very disappointed with Primus and LIAT.
Minister Prashad said that among some of the complaints that have been received about LIAT and Primus, are misplaced and delayed baggage, as well as people going to the airport with confirmed tickets and then being told that they arrived late.
Additionally, he said, the airlines are overbooking passengers and when the flights are full they find all sorts of excuses to turn people away.
Meanwhile, some passengers who travelled with LIAT last weekend are yet to receive their baggage.
However, some baggage arrived in Guyana , but those that arrived were damaged and vandalized. Among those that were vandalized was the baggage belonging to the Guyana Under-19 cricketers who recently represented the country in St. Kitts.
Vice-President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Alvin Johnson, said, “Some of the bags have just arrived and they are badly damaged. Locks have been broken and things are missing. We returned home as winners but it now seems that we are losers due to the way we are being treated by LIAT.”
It was incidences such as these that Minister Prashad was referring to early this week.
“Sometimes people come into the country on a week's vacation and they spend three or four days going to the airport to find their baggage,” the Minister said. Guyana 's airline market is being opened to competition.
More airline licences are being granted so that other airlines can operate in the country.
Several irate passengers yesterday thronged the Quamina Street offices of Constellation Tours Limited after repeated cancellations of their flights.
The passengers say that they have been left stranded in Guyana , and charged that officials of the company have given them one excuse after another for the delays.
Some of the frustrated passengers said that on advice of Constellation officials, they had gone to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport , Timehri, only to discover that their flights had not arrived.
When Kaieteur News visited the office yesterday, staffers declined to comment.
Senior managers were also a no-show, and it was left to the junior staffers to attempt to pacify the disgruntled passengers.
In the end, some of the passengers were told that their flights had been booked and some were scheduled to depart yesterday.
They were also advised that they would be reimbursed for the travelling expenses they incurred during the cancellations of their flights.
One New York-based Guyanese told Kaieteur News that she was among the group left stranded at the airport on Thursday evening by Constellation Tours Limited.
She said that she arrived at the airport at about 23:00 hrs and noticed a crowd.
“The check-in time started at about 10 pm and I get there at 11pm. I joined the line of passengers to check-in and then a guy who was in the line told me that he had been waiting at the airport for hours,” the woman said. She noted that the passengers were unable to make contact with any of Constellation Tours Ltd staff at the airport.
“There was this diabetic old woman who nearly collapsed. It was an unbearable situation at the airport,” the woman said.
According to another NY-based Guyanese, he waited for hours at the airport, only to be told that the flight was cancelled.
He added that a man claiming to be a ground staff at the airport took contact information for passengers and sent them away.
“This is a terrible service. People have to return to work in New York . These people give us no explanation or anything. They just left us stranded there. This is horrible,” the overseas-based Guyanese said.
Another commented that after waiting for hours she returned home, but her efforts to contact the airlines yesterday were futile.
“I called their numbers for most of the day and no one was answering. It was by the way that another lady who was stranded with me last night (Thursday) called me and tell me that the flight apparently reschedule for tonight (last night),” the woman said.
One man told Kaieteur News that he has been stranded in Guyana since August 21.
“Since August 21, I'm going to the airport. Every day I hear my flight is the next day. I don't know what to say. All I want is to get back home, and I am never coming back with them again,” the angry man said. When Kaieteur News tried to contact the airlines, all the numbers were ringing out.
On Wednesday, Minister of Tourism slammed LIAT and Primus Airlines (Constellation Tours Ltd), and accused them of ‘eye-pass' for Guyanese.
He added that he is currently examining ‘ways and means' of dealing with those airlines that are deliberately showing disrespect to the Guyanese population.
Prashad said that he is very disappointed with Primus and LIAT.
Minister Prashad said that among some of the complaints that have been received about LIAT and Primus, are misplaced and delayed baggage, as well as people going to the airport with confirmed tickets and then being told that they arrived late.
Additionally, he said, the airlines are overbooking passengers and when the flights are full they find all sorts of excuses to turn people away.
Meanwhile, some passengers who travelled with LIAT last weekend are yet to receive their baggage.
However, some baggage arrived in Guyana , but those that arrived were damaged and vandalized. Among those that were vandalized was the baggage belonging to the Guyana Under-19 cricketers who recently represented the country in St. Kitts.
Vice-President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Alvin Johnson, said, “Some of the bags have just arrived and they are badly damaged. Locks have been broken and things are missing. We returned home as winners but it now seems that we are losers due to the way we are being treated by LIAT.”
It was incidences such as these that Minister Prashad was referring to early this week.
“Sometimes people come into the country on a week's vacation and they spend three or four days going to the airport to find their baggage,” the Minister said. Guyana 's airline market is being opened to competition.
More airline licences are being granted so that other airlines can operate in the country.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Guyana - Georgetown travel write-up
......We saw lots of money had been put into preparation for the Cricket World Cup, lots of brand new hotels and a huge new cricket stadium, but the crowds just never materialized. Someone made some money somewhere though. We stopped by a bar to have a rum&coke and ended up having a long talk with some Guyanese at the next table. One had just come in from New York, he hadn't been back to Guyana since he was 15. That evening, we went out to the Dutch Bottle Cafe, in an old colonial house. Excellent food but service was a bit slow. Georgetown is quite dark at night, there are lights on the houses, but no streetlights and no sidewalks. There was also quite a bit of flooded streets/drainage ditches because of the rain. The city sits 7 ft below sea level, and the pumps can't keep up. Just like New Orleans, in fact Georgetown felt much like New Orleans in many ways, but without the French influence.......read more
New Orleans......before or after the storm???
New Orleans......before or after the storm???
Guyana - This is what yall voted for so deal with it
Freddie Kissoon column
Don't fall for this barefaced nonsense
The PPP is up to its nasty trick of fooling the Guyanese people. Don't fall for this barefaced nonsense. Mr. Donald Ramotar held a press conference on Wednesday and berated the Guyana Police Force for not getting on top of crime in Guyana. It is all part of a subtle game to throw blame elsewhere.
Who is in charge of the Guyana Police Force? The Guyana Government headed by Mr. Jagdeo that is not afraid to micro-manage the affairs of Guyana. The Guyana Government is led by the PPP which was elected to make policy.
Let us juxtapose these two facts with the following: (1) Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, said publicly that forensic science is not a priority for the Guyana Government. Obviously, he wasn't speaking for himself but on behalf of the Government.
Mr. Ramotar had to share this sentiment because his party and Mr. Rohee's make policies for the state (or have they stopped--more on that later). Mr. Ramotar did not contradict Mr. Rohee neither did the President.
Let me repeat what I have written on this page in the past. There are many omissions for which a government should not have the right to stay in power of which two of them come easily to mind in this, the 21st century. One is the Freedom of Information Act. The second is the importance of forensic science in the struggle of governments around the world to stop predatory violence.
The citizenry of this country should reject any political party that tells the public that it does not want a forensic laboratory and it has no use for a Freedom of Information Act. This writer is one citizen of this country who has never accepted the PPP (and the PNC) in power. My conscience is clear- I never voted for the PPP. My election score card went like this.
The first time I voted was 1985. Don't ask who I voted for; you know. The second time was 1992. Don't ask who I voted for; you know. On both occasions, my tick went to the best political party the country produced, the WPA. In 1997, I thought the WPA had departed from the sacredness of Walter Rodney and I gave my ballot to TUF because of the Amerindians.
I have now regretted that decision. Manzoor Nadir is one of the most comical politicians Guyana threw up. In 2001, I chose WPA-GAP, again because of the Amerindians. Last year, all my readers know which party I put my X for – the AFC. Tacuma Ogunseye challenged me to say how I voted over the years. Well, here it is. I swear on the graves of my parents that I loved so much that this is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
My life is not a great one and I don't want it to be a great one. I am a happy person married for 30 years to a woman that is my soul mate and I fathered a well-meaning, philosophically-oriented only child. But I would say that I have never had psychological peace since the fight against rigged election and the authoritarian rule of the PNC (though I confess the Hoyte interregnum was better than what the PPP is now) came to an end in 1992.
My honest belief, buried deep in my psyche, is that the PPP is going to do to this nation what Burnham did to it in the late seventies until he died in 1985. The Guyana Government (note that I did not say the PPP Government; I will explain why in a forthcoming column) will destroy this country if it continues with its present deportment and political culture.
Some of us, Guyanese, including great activists like Moses Bhagwan, Eusi Kwayana, Rupert Roopnarine, Dr. Clive Thomas, Dr. Josh Ramsammy, Andaiye, Nigel Westmaas, David Hinds, among others have been extremely fortunate to know the PPP leadership, up, close and personal.
These fine Guyanese minds can explain to any young nationalist who is interested in his/her country's future, the nature of the PPP. There is something unnaturally selfish and unapologetically unpatriotic about the PPP leadership. We are now witnessing the result of such an instinct.
I say without any trace of hesitation that no other government in the world today or in the past, even the most autocratic leaders, would have done what the PPP did in the UG Vice-Chancellor scandal for the third successive time, in the most identical fashion. Looked at from any angle, this decision for the third time betrays a mind, personality and character that is sadistically, deadly and dangerously flawed
The PPP cry about the police incompetence is a smokescreen to hide the inherent incompetence that resides inside the halls of Freedom House and the Presidential Complex.
The outcry against police success in stemming crime is crucial to the PPP at this time because their supporters are reeling from wanton violence. If it goes on, you could have another repeat of Albion where roads were blocked, tires were burned and a magistrate was assaulted and then Home Affairs Minister, the infamous Ronald Gajraj, was justifiably manhandled by the protestors
The chickens are coming home to roost. It is less than a year that the Berbicians and Essequibians went to the poll and gave the PPP another five-year mandate. How these voters could look themselves in the mirror is beyond human comprehension.
The police force is the latest scapegoat. What the Freedom House monarchs haven't told us is that in Jamaica and Trinidad, British and American police officials are working with the local guys.
What are the East Indian supporters crying about? They voted for a government that is brazen, rude and barefaced enough to say that it is not interested in bringing Scotland Yard to work at Eve Leary. They put in charge of the country a government that is so monumentally backward that it can openly admit to the population of a country with one of the highest, if not the highest rate(s) of unsolved crimes, that it has no interest in setting up a forensic lab.
I remember when there was the massacre at Agricola and people were berating the police
for its slow response, I did a column on police pay. Would the Freedom House kings and queens tell us how much anti-crime personnel in the police earn a month (those guys in the black uniforms with bullet proof vests that you see in the back of the pick-ups all over Georgetown)?
Do the mandarins in Freedom House believe the retirement age in the police force should go up from 55? What is the pension like in the Guyana Police Force? The PPP is the problem not the police force. I hope Guyanese wake up and smell the coffee. I hope it is not too late to do so.
Flood, crime & punishment - deal with it, continue voting PPP.
Don't fall for this barefaced nonsense
The PPP is up to its nasty trick of fooling the Guyanese people. Don't fall for this barefaced nonsense. Mr. Donald Ramotar held a press conference on Wednesday and berated the Guyana Police Force for not getting on top of crime in Guyana. It is all part of a subtle game to throw blame elsewhere.
Who is in charge of the Guyana Police Force? The Guyana Government headed by Mr. Jagdeo that is not afraid to micro-manage the affairs of Guyana. The Guyana Government is led by the PPP which was elected to make policy.
Let us juxtapose these two facts with the following: (1) Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, said publicly that forensic science is not a priority for the Guyana Government. Obviously, he wasn't speaking for himself but on behalf of the Government.
Mr. Ramotar had to share this sentiment because his party and Mr. Rohee's make policies for the state (or have they stopped--more on that later). Mr. Ramotar did not contradict Mr. Rohee neither did the President.
Let me repeat what I have written on this page in the past. There are many omissions for which a government should not have the right to stay in power of which two of them come easily to mind in this, the 21st century. One is the Freedom of Information Act. The second is the importance of forensic science in the struggle of governments around the world to stop predatory violence.
The citizenry of this country should reject any political party that tells the public that it does not want a forensic laboratory and it has no use for a Freedom of Information Act. This writer is one citizen of this country who has never accepted the PPP (and the PNC) in power. My conscience is clear- I never voted for the PPP. My election score card went like this.
The first time I voted was 1985. Don't ask who I voted for; you know. The second time was 1992. Don't ask who I voted for; you know. On both occasions, my tick went to the best political party the country produced, the WPA. In 1997, I thought the WPA had departed from the sacredness of Walter Rodney and I gave my ballot to TUF because of the Amerindians.
I have now regretted that decision. Manzoor Nadir is one of the most comical politicians Guyana threw up. In 2001, I chose WPA-GAP, again because of the Amerindians. Last year, all my readers know which party I put my X for – the AFC. Tacuma Ogunseye challenged me to say how I voted over the years. Well, here it is. I swear on the graves of my parents that I loved so much that this is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
My life is not a great one and I don't want it to be a great one. I am a happy person married for 30 years to a woman that is my soul mate and I fathered a well-meaning, philosophically-oriented only child. But I would say that I have never had psychological peace since the fight against rigged election and the authoritarian rule of the PNC (though I confess the Hoyte interregnum was better than what the PPP is now) came to an end in 1992.
My honest belief, buried deep in my psyche, is that the PPP is going to do to this nation what Burnham did to it in the late seventies until he died in 1985. The Guyana Government (note that I did not say the PPP Government; I will explain why in a forthcoming column) will destroy this country if it continues with its present deportment and political culture.
Some of us, Guyanese, including great activists like Moses Bhagwan, Eusi Kwayana, Rupert Roopnarine, Dr. Clive Thomas, Dr. Josh Ramsammy, Andaiye, Nigel Westmaas, David Hinds, among others have been extremely fortunate to know the PPP leadership, up, close and personal.
These fine Guyanese minds can explain to any young nationalist who is interested in his/her country's future, the nature of the PPP. There is something unnaturally selfish and unapologetically unpatriotic about the PPP leadership. We are now witnessing the result of such an instinct.
I say without any trace of hesitation that no other government in the world today or in the past, even the most autocratic leaders, would have done what the PPP did in the UG Vice-Chancellor scandal for the third successive time, in the most identical fashion. Looked at from any angle, this decision for the third time betrays a mind, personality and character that is sadistically, deadly and dangerously flawed
The PPP cry about the police incompetence is a smokescreen to hide the inherent incompetence that resides inside the halls of Freedom House and the Presidential Complex.
The outcry against police success in stemming crime is crucial to the PPP at this time because their supporters are reeling from wanton violence. If it goes on, you could have another repeat of Albion where roads were blocked, tires were burned and a magistrate was assaulted and then Home Affairs Minister, the infamous Ronald Gajraj, was justifiably manhandled by the protestors
The chickens are coming home to roost. It is less than a year that the Berbicians and Essequibians went to the poll and gave the PPP another five-year mandate. How these voters could look themselves in the mirror is beyond human comprehension.
The police force is the latest scapegoat. What the Freedom House monarchs haven't told us is that in Jamaica and Trinidad, British and American police officials are working with the local guys.
What are the East Indian supporters crying about? They voted for a government that is brazen, rude and barefaced enough to say that it is not interested in bringing Scotland Yard to work at Eve Leary. They put in charge of the country a government that is so monumentally backward that it can openly admit to the population of a country with one of the highest, if not the highest rate(s) of unsolved crimes, that it has no interest in setting up a forensic lab.
I remember when there was the massacre at Agricola and people were berating the police
for its slow response, I did a column on police pay. Would the Freedom House kings and queens tell us how much anti-crime personnel in the police earn a month (those guys in the black uniforms with bullet proof vests that you see in the back of the pick-ups all over Georgetown)?
Do the mandarins in Freedom House believe the retirement age in the police force should go up from 55? What is the pension like in the Guyana Police Force? The PPP is the problem not the police force. I hope Guyanese wake up and smell the coffee. I hope it is not too late to do so.
Flood, crime & punishment - deal with it, continue voting PPP.
Guyana - Flood Central
Dear Mr. Mackintosh,
We need help in North Ruimveldt. I've decided to send these pictures to you, they were taken on the 13th of June, 2007 at the last entrance to North Ruimveldt and Aubrey Barker Street which borders North Ruimveldt and South Ruimveldt Park.
It is appalling to know we are living in the capital city of this country and yet we are being flooded year after years. The child in the picture on his graduation day had to wade through dirty polluted water to get to his school, this flooding has been occurring all his primary school life in South Ruimveldt Park.
I do not know who to appeal to, whether the Mayor and City Councilors or the President of Guyana, to address the flooding in this area. It is unhealthy for us the citizens of this area to continue to live like this. We are the working class people of this country but no one seems to care about our welfare.
Thank you for your time.
B. Persaud
Click here to see pictures
We need help in North Ruimveldt. I've decided to send these pictures to you, they were taken on the 13th of June, 2007 at the last entrance to North Ruimveldt and Aubrey Barker Street which borders North Ruimveldt and South Ruimveldt Park.
It is appalling to know we are living in the capital city of this country and yet we are being flooded year after years. The child in the picture on his graduation day had to wade through dirty polluted water to get to his school, this flooding has been occurring all his primary school life in South Ruimveldt Park.
I do not know who to appeal to, whether the Mayor and City Councilors or the President of Guyana, to address the flooding in this area. It is unhealthy for us the citizens of this area to continue to live like this. We are the working class people of this country but no one seems to care about our welfare.
Thank you for your time.
B. Persaud
Click here to see pictures
Guyana - Guyana's mediocre Government
Excerpt from Freddy Kissoon
We have had no shining enlightenment from our leaders since self-government began. Burnham had vision but his fantastic ideas were not embraced by the people of Guyana because of his style. And they kept failing at a tremendous pace. Hoyte brought mental encouragement when he eradicated a lot of hassles that Guyanese were burdened with – tax certificate each time you leave; millions of permits even to buy dog food; food embargoes, etc. Jagan returned from the sixties into the nineties and couldn't endure the corruptibility of his protégés when they became ministers and quickly died of a heart attack. Since then, Guyana has had one of the most mediocre governments in the history of the British West Indies.
Note: Just imagine the current Government can't get the newly installed traffic lights to work quite right, the country is currently at a Red light waiting for it to turn Green.
We have had no shining enlightenment from our leaders since self-government began. Burnham had vision but his fantastic ideas were not embraced by the people of Guyana because of his style. And they kept failing at a tremendous pace. Hoyte brought mental encouragement when he eradicated a lot of hassles that Guyanese were burdened with – tax certificate each time you leave; millions of permits even to buy dog food; food embargoes, etc. Jagan returned from the sixties into the nineties and couldn't endure the corruptibility of his protégés when they became ministers and quickly died of a heart attack. Since then, Guyana has had one of the most mediocre governments in the history of the British West Indies.
Note: Just imagine the current Government can't get the newly installed traffic lights to work quite right, the country is currently at a Red light waiting for it to turn Green.
Guyana - BMWs - Bidding Millions for Wheels
Luxury BMWs …
Bids opened for second time, only 10 tenderers
The sale of the 19 remaining BMW luxury vehicles brought in especially for Cricket World Cup (CWC), took one step to becoming a reality yesterday with the bids of 10 tenderers being opened. The bids range from $5.5 million to $12.5 million.
Many of the tenderers, which included a prominent bank and some leading businesses, submitted multiple bids. The 20 vehicles, including seven Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), were put up for sale earlier this year as Government attempts to recover the money it spent. One vehicle was sold during a previous tender process.
An official of the National Board for Procurement and Tender Administration yesterday disclosed that within a week or so, a team will re-evaluate the bids to determine whether the tenderers have qualified.
The bid opening was held at the Ministry of Finance, Main Street .
Government spent some $168 million on the 20 cars, exclusive of taxes. If Government is hoping to recover that sum without charging the mandatory excise tax which can run anywhere from 40 per cent up, then an estimated $8.4 million is needed on an average to recover the $168 million spent on the fleet of cars.
Earlier this year, following the CWC, Government through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, facilitated a tender process through the Tender Board. However, after determining that the bids were too low, Government announced that it would place the luxury cars on tender again, hence yesterday's bid opening.
With BMW being one of the main sponsors of CWC, Government was mandated to provide transportation for the teams, officials, media and sponsors as stipulated by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The vehicles were purchased on the premise that they would be resold locally.
The government's agreement to purchase the cars was not readily accepted by local car dealers, who said that they were being left out of the deal. Some dealers had complained bitterly that only Central Garage, the lone importer of BMW, stood to benefit had Government gone to a dealership.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, however, defended his decision, saying that Government would go it alone since the dealers wanted the government to waive 75 percent of the taxes which would have seen the Government losing $400 million in taxes.
Post-CWC, the cars have been left in the police compound, Eve Leary.
BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) is a German manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and was one of the official sponsors for CWC.
Concerns have been expressed over the fact that cars have been parked too long in the open and may suffer some damage from the weather.
If only these jokers had bought 20 hybrid garbage trucks instead, Georgetown would have been a much cleaner place.
Bids opened for second time, only 10 tenderers
The sale of the 19 remaining BMW luxury vehicles brought in especially for Cricket World Cup (CWC), took one step to becoming a reality yesterday with the bids of 10 tenderers being opened. The bids range from $5.5 million to $12.5 million.
Many of the tenderers, which included a prominent bank and some leading businesses, submitted multiple bids. The 20 vehicles, including seven Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), were put up for sale earlier this year as Government attempts to recover the money it spent. One vehicle was sold during a previous tender process.
An official of the National Board for Procurement and Tender Administration yesterday disclosed that within a week or so, a team will re-evaluate the bids to determine whether the tenderers have qualified.
The bid opening was held at the Ministry of Finance, Main Street .
Government spent some $168 million on the 20 cars, exclusive of taxes. If Government is hoping to recover that sum without charging the mandatory excise tax which can run anywhere from 40 per cent up, then an estimated $8.4 million is needed on an average to recover the $168 million spent on the fleet of cars.
Earlier this year, following the CWC, Government through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, facilitated a tender process through the Tender Board. However, after determining that the bids were too low, Government announced that it would place the luxury cars on tender again, hence yesterday's bid opening.
With BMW being one of the main sponsors of CWC, Government was mandated to provide transportation for the teams, officials, media and sponsors as stipulated by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The vehicles were purchased on the premise that they would be resold locally.
The government's agreement to purchase the cars was not readily accepted by local car dealers, who said that they were being left out of the deal. Some dealers had complained bitterly that only Central Garage, the lone importer of BMW, stood to benefit had Government gone to a dealership.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, however, defended his decision, saying that Government would go it alone since the dealers wanted the government to waive 75 percent of the taxes which would have seen the Government losing $400 million in taxes.
Post-CWC, the cars have been left in the police compound, Eve Leary.
BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) is a German manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and was one of the official sponsors for CWC.
Concerns have been expressed over the fact that cars have been parked too long in the open and may suffer some damage from the weather.
If only these jokers had bought 20 hybrid garbage trucks instead, Georgetown would have been a much cleaner place.
Guyana - Overseas Guyanese build community center
Digicel donates $1M to community centre
Stabroek News
Wednesday, August 22nd 2007
A $1M donation for the construction of a multi-purpose court was on Saturday handed over to the Irene Madray Recreational, Arts and Resources Centre by Tele-communications Company, Digicel.
According to a press release from Digicel the donation was made at the official opening of the centre, located in the Region Five community of Cane Grove. Children, their parents, government officials and others assembled at the centre as Digicel Guyana Chief Executive Officer, Mark Linehan turned the sod for the multi-purpose court. The centre is geared towards developing the lives of children in that community through education, recreational activities and counselling.
Linehan expressed his pleasure at contributing the money noting that the children will soon benefit from the multi-purpose court while Coordinator of the centre, Dianne Madray expressed gratitude at having the company on board the community's drive for development. Labour, Human Services and Social Security Minister, Priya Manickchand also lauded Digicel for its support. "I am glad to see that Digicel has joined the fight to improve the lives of children in Guyana and I look forward to see other corporate citizens follow their example", she was quoted as saying.
The centre also boasts an extensive library, a computer centre and a classroom. The multi-purpose court is expected to be completed in September, the release added....LInk
Why is Digicel and Priya Manickchand taking the limelight in this article? The bulk of the work was done by overseas based Guyanese Diane Madray who spent almost three years planning and building the community center at Cane Grove in memory of her mother with the help of other overseas based family and friends. Now the center is open and all the big shots want to be in the limelight and take the credit.
The computers which have been shipped to Guyana, can't be installed in the community center as yet because the electricity supply is not stable, additional line conditioners, surge protectors and power backups have to be installed not to mention grill work for the windows to prevent the computers from going for a walk. Community service is good, but these are the basic infrastructure items which the Governement of Guyana should provide, not overseas based Guyanese.
Stabroek News
Wednesday, August 22nd 2007
A $1M donation for the construction of a multi-purpose court was on Saturday handed over to the Irene Madray Recreational, Arts and Resources Centre by Tele-communications Company, Digicel.
According to a press release from Digicel the donation was made at the official opening of the centre, located in the Region Five community of Cane Grove. Children, their parents, government officials and others assembled at the centre as Digicel Guyana Chief Executive Officer, Mark Linehan turned the sod for the multi-purpose court. The centre is geared towards developing the lives of children in that community through education, recreational activities and counselling.
Linehan expressed his pleasure at contributing the money noting that the children will soon benefit from the multi-purpose court while Coordinator of the centre, Dianne Madray expressed gratitude at having the company on board the community's drive for development. Labour, Human Services and Social Security Minister, Priya Manickchand also lauded Digicel for its support. "I am glad to see that Digicel has joined the fight to improve the lives of children in Guyana and I look forward to see other corporate citizens follow their example", she was quoted as saying.
The centre also boasts an extensive library, a computer centre and a classroom. The multi-purpose court is expected to be completed in September, the release added....LInk
Why is Digicel and Priya Manickchand taking the limelight in this article? The bulk of the work was done by overseas based Guyanese Diane Madray who spent almost three years planning and building the community center at Cane Grove in memory of her mother with the help of other overseas based family and friends. Now the center is open and all the big shots want to be in the limelight and take the credit.
The computers which have been shipped to Guyana, can't be installed in the community center as yet because the electricity supply is not stable, additional line conditioners, surge protectors and power backups have to be installed not to mention grill work for the windows to prevent the computers from going for a walk. Community service is good, but these are the basic infrastructure items which the Governement of Guyana should provide, not overseas based Guyanese.
Guyana - Travel Tips
Social Conventions
Hospitality is important to the Guyanese and it is quite common for the visitor to be invited to their homes. Informal wear is widely acceptable, but men should avoid wearing shorts.
International Travel:
Getting There by Air
Air France (AF) (website: www.airfrance.com) operates a flight to Cayenne in French Guiana. There are no direct flights from Europe. Airlines serving Trinidad & Tobago, from where connecting flights can be made, include BWIA (British West Indies Airways).
Departure Tax
G$2,500 or equivalent in US Dollars; transit passengers up to 48 hours, and children under 7 years of age are exempt.
Main Airports
Georgetown (GEO) (Cheddi Jagan International) is 40km (26 miles) from the city (journey time – 45 minutes). To/from the airport: An irregular and crowded bus service to the city is available. Taxis meet every plane. Facilities: Duty-free shop, gift shop, restaurants, bars and post office.
Getting There by Water
Main ports: Georgetown.
Numerous schooners sail between Guyana and the Caribbean islands, but schedules are erratic. For details, contact local ports. Cargo vessels run by the Guyana National Shipping Corporation ply from Miami to Georgetown and vessels run by the Demerara Shipping Company ply between European ports and Georgetown weekly.
Following recent improvements in relations with Surinam, a ferry service across the Courantyne River now links the two countries. This is the only mode of transport that should be used when crossing the river; travelers using water taxis could be arrested.
Getting There by Rail
There are no passenger rail services.
Getting There by Road
There is a soft road from Georgetown via Kurupukari to Lethem to Brazil. The journey will take at least 12 hours in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Improvements have been made to many roads in recent years and travel during the rainy season is now possible - although care should still be taken to avoid potholes.
Buses travel from Boa Vista in Brazil to Lethem and then onwards to Georgetown. Borders with Surinam and Venezuela are in dispute; although these disputes are on a back burner, travelers should be aware of the problems.
Overview
The following goods can be imported into Guyana by travelers aged 16 years or over without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g of tobacco; spirits not exceeding 750ml; wine not exceeding 750ml; computers; a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use.
Internal Travel:
Getting Around By Air
The only reliable means of traveling into the interior is by air. Several local airlines depart from both Ogle Aerodrome (OGL) on the east coast of Demerara and from CBJ International Airport in Timehri. A number of different airlines and charter companies offer flights to most destinations; enquire locally for details.
Getting Around by Water
Guyana has 1077km (607 miles) of navigable inland waterways, the most notable being the Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice rivers which are all navigable by oceangoing vessels. Government steamers communicate with the interior up the Essequibo and Berbice rivers, but services can be irregular owing to flooding. The Government also runs a coast-hopping service from Georgetown to several northern ports. Smaller craft operate where there is sufficient demand throughout the country.
Getting Around by Rail
Mining concerns operate railways, but there are no scheduled passenger services.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the left. All-weather roads are concentrated in the eastern coastal strip, although there is now a road inland as far as the Brazilian border and a bridge linking the two countries is nearing completion. The coastal road linking Georgetown, Rosignol, New Amsterdam and Crabwood Creek (Corentyne) is fairly good, but generally road conditions are poor. Because of Guyana’s many rivers, most journeys of more than a few miles outside the capital will involve ferries and the attendant delays. Avoid driving at night. Seatbelts must be worn at all times; this law is enforced and failure to abide could lead to a fine. Bus: Georgetown’s Stabroek Market is the terminus for minibuses. These are regular but generally crowded. Buses run to all areas, departing whenever they are full. The first buses leave at around 0500, and services continue until about 2100. Within Georgetown, buses run all night. Services from Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika operate in conjunction with the passenger-ferry service across the Demerara to Georgetown; services from New Amsterdam to Crabwood Creek operate in conjunction with ferries across the Berbice River. Taxi: At night, it is advisable to travel by taxi. Vehicles are plentiful. There is a standard fare for intercity travel; night fares are extra. For longer trips, fares should be agreed before departure. A 10 per cent tip is usual in taxis. Travelers are advised to only use taxis from reputable companies and not to hail one from the roadside. Car hire: Limited availability from local firms in Georgetown as well as Hertz. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is recommended. A one-month local driving permit can be obtained from the 'License and Revenue Office,' in Georgetown, after showing a valid foreign license.
Link
Hospitality is important to the Guyanese and it is quite common for the visitor to be invited to their homes. Informal wear is widely acceptable, but men should avoid wearing shorts.
International Travel:
Getting There by Air
Air France (AF) (website: www.airfrance.com) operates a flight to Cayenne in French Guiana. There are no direct flights from Europe. Airlines serving Trinidad & Tobago, from where connecting flights can be made, include BWIA (British West Indies Airways).
Departure Tax
G$2,500 or equivalent in US Dollars; transit passengers up to 48 hours, and children under 7 years of age are exempt.
Main Airports
Georgetown (GEO) (Cheddi Jagan International) is 40km (26 miles) from the city (journey time – 45 minutes). To/from the airport: An irregular and crowded bus service to the city is available. Taxis meet every plane. Facilities: Duty-free shop, gift shop, restaurants, bars and post office.
Getting There by Water
Main ports: Georgetown.
Numerous schooners sail between Guyana and the Caribbean islands, but schedules are erratic. For details, contact local ports. Cargo vessels run by the Guyana National Shipping Corporation ply from Miami to Georgetown and vessels run by the Demerara Shipping Company ply between European ports and Georgetown weekly.
Following recent improvements in relations with Surinam, a ferry service across the Courantyne River now links the two countries. This is the only mode of transport that should be used when crossing the river; travelers using water taxis could be arrested.
Getting There by Rail
There are no passenger rail services.
Getting There by Road
There is a soft road from Georgetown via Kurupukari to Lethem to Brazil. The journey will take at least 12 hours in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Improvements have been made to many roads in recent years and travel during the rainy season is now possible - although care should still be taken to avoid potholes.
Buses travel from Boa Vista in Brazil to Lethem and then onwards to Georgetown. Borders with Surinam and Venezuela are in dispute; although these disputes are on a back burner, travelers should be aware of the problems.
Overview
The following goods can be imported into Guyana by travelers aged 16 years or over without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g of tobacco; spirits not exceeding 750ml; wine not exceeding 750ml; computers; a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use.
Internal Travel:
Getting Around By Air
The only reliable means of traveling into the interior is by air. Several local airlines depart from both Ogle Aerodrome (OGL) on the east coast of Demerara and from CBJ International Airport in Timehri. A number of different airlines and charter companies offer flights to most destinations; enquire locally for details.
Getting Around by Water
Guyana has 1077km (607 miles) of navigable inland waterways, the most notable being the Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice rivers which are all navigable by oceangoing vessels. Government steamers communicate with the interior up the Essequibo and Berbice rivers, but services can be irregular owing to flooding. The Government also runs a coast-hopping service from Georgetown to several northern ports. Smaller craft operate where there is sufficient demand throughout the country.
Getting Around by Rail
Mining concerns operate railways, but there are no scheduled passenger services.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the left. All-weather roads are concentrated in the eastern coastal strip, although there is now a road inland as far as the Brazilian border and a bridge linking the two countries is nearing completion. The coastal road linking Georgetown, Rosignol, New Amsterdam and Crabwood Creek (Corentyne) is fairly good, but generally road conditions are poor. Because of Guyana’s many rivers, most journeys of more than a few miles outside the capital will involve ferries and the attendant delays. Avoid driving at night. Seatbelts must be worn at all times; this law is enforced and failure to abide could lead to a fine. Bus: Georgetown’s Stabroek Market is the terminus for minibuses. These are regular but generally crowded. Buses run to all areas, departing whenever they are full. The first buses leave at around 0500, and services continue until about 2100. Within Georgetown, buses run all night. Services from Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika operate in conjunction with the passenger-ferry service across the Demerara to Georgetown; services from New Amsterdam to Crabwood Creek operate in conjunction with ferries across the Berbice River. Taxi: At night, it is advisable to travel by taxi. Vehicles are plentiful. There is a standard fare for intercity travel; night fares are extra. For longer trips, fares should be agreed before departure. A 10 per cent tip is usual in taxis. Travelers are advised to only use taxis from reputable companies and not to hail one from the roadside. Car hire: Limited availability from local firms in Georgetown as well as Hertz. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is recommended. A one-month local driving permit can be obtained from the 'License and Revenue Office,' in Georgetown, after showing a valid foreign license.
Link
Friday, August 24, 2007
Guyana - Buddy's Hotel, from five stars to rumshop
Word out of Guyana is Buddy's Hotel has turned from five stars to glorified rum shop in less than one year. A Policeman was beaten on the premises and is currently suffering from amnesia and Buddy's Indian empolyees left for India since they have not been paid. The Chinese are about to go soon. Its a shame that the man is not making money, the hotel is already looking poorly.
Guyana - Needs better Airline Service
Guyana needs a national flag carrier, air fares too high, service unacceptable - US-based Guyanese travel consultant
Stabroek News
Friday, August 24th 2007
A United States-based Guyanese airline travel consultant with more than twenty years experience in the industry has told Stabroek Business that airline passengers travelling to and from Guyana continue to endure excessively high fares and sub-standard service and that this was unlikely to change unless the country acquired a locally-owned national flag carrier that could compete effectively in the market.
"Guyanese and other persons travelling to and from Guyana have had to endure high fares coupled with the hassles associated with the quality of the service that they receive. The inconveniences are many- lengthy flight delays and cancellations, inconvenient transit stops, costly overnight stops and risks of lost baggage among others," according to Hazelyn Bostwick a Travel Consultant with Wind-jammer Travel of Fort Lauderdale, USA.
And according to Bostwick the country's fledgling tourist industry continues to be among the biggest losers since the quality of service offered by airlines is among the critical determinants of choice of destination by tourists. "However attractively we package our tourist resorts we will probably lose out to those destinations that are associated with a better quality of airline service," Bostwick said.
According to the travel consultant a competitive and efficient Guyana national flag carrier would also enable local tour operators to develop packages with other eco-tourism destinations in the region that would help boost the marketability of their own resorts.
Bostwick, whose clients include regular business travellers between Guyana and the United States is advocating the creation of a locally-owned airline, "perhaps with joint public/private sector involvement," under a "wet lease" arrangement that would enable the acquisition of a complete service that would include aircraft, crew, fuel, meals and all the other requisites associated with operating an independent airline. She said that profitability would hardly be an issue with a national flag carrier since the high demand for seats between the United States and Guyana coupled with convenient direct flights out of the United States, high quality service and competitive fares would guarantee a high level of patronage for a national carrier.
According to Bostwick in the absence of "any real competition" passengers travelling to and from Guyana were being charged excessive fares. "With almost four months left before the end of the year the services plying the route to Guyana are already quoting fares of between US$950 and US$1,000-odd, she said.
Bostwick told Stabroek Business that the creation of a national airline would enable more effective negotiation of "bulk fares" which she said can be brought by tour companies under arrangements that include "land packages." She said that the high cost of travel to Guyana coupled with the prevailing travel inconveniences are impacting negatively on the tourist industry. Noting that air fares to Guyana had increased by almost as much as 50 per cent over the past two years Bostwick said that the competitiveness of local tour packages would be significantly enhanced if tour operators could secure reduced air fares.
And the former United Nations employee told Stabroek Business that she does not support the idea of Caribbean Airlines being accorded flag carrier status for Guyana. "The fact is that Caribbean Airlines is Trinidad and Tobago-owned and is already serving as the national carrier for that country. I believe that a national carrier is also a matter of a country's image. What we need is a service that is not only efficient and reliable but one with which Guyanese can identify. Air Jamaica is an excellent example of a national flag carrier that enhances the image of the country that it serves," Bostwick said.
The US-based Guyanese travel consultant told Stabroek Business that she was particularly concerned over the inconveniences that persons travelling to Guyana had to endure. She noted that some of the services that included stops in various Caribbean territories amounted to little more than "milk runs" while stops in Trinidad and Tobago for passengers travelling in and out of Guyana gave rise to unacceptable inconveniences. "We have a situation in which passengers travelling in and out of Guyana via Piarco have to endure the hassle and inconvenience of customs and immigration processing in Trinidad. "I can see no reason why passengers travelling to Guyana need to complete immigration forms at Piarco while outgoing passengers for the United States who pass through Piarco airport run the risk of having their duty-free liquor bought at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport confiscated in Trinidad," she added.
Noting that 2007 was "a terrible year' for travel agencies seeking to secure seats for passengers between Georgetown and the United States Bostwick said that the summer had been a particularly difficult time since it was often impossible to secure even a few economy class tickets for passengers wishing to travel to Guyana from New York, Washington or Miami. She said that she was also aware of a number of persons who were keen to travel but were "put off" by the high fares being charged by the airlines plying the route. According to Bostwick even when account was taken of increases in fuel costs fares to Guyana were well above airline operating costs. Link
A National Flag carrier is all well and good, but I don't think Guyana can afford a National Flag Carrier. You also can't operate a National Flag carrier with one or two aircraft servicing multiple destinations as was the case with Guyana Airways and Guyana Airways 2000, you need a fleet of Aircraft. Air Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines are not profitable airlines, they are constantly being bailed out by their respective Governments especially in the current climate with high fuel costs.
What we need to do is to attract already established airlines from the US, Canada and England such as Air Canada, Delta, British Airways, at one time these airlines went to Guyana (Delta was Pan Am back then). What is so different now from back then, why doesn't Amercan Airlines, Delta, Continental, Air Canada, KLM or British Airways fly to Guyana? Even airlines from India, Africa, China, Germany, France and other non traditional bases could be attracted if we are to develop our tourism product.
The Dominican Republic is a major tourist destination and millions of Dominicans live in the United States, yet the Dominican republic does not currently have a Flag Carrier. Their country is being serviced by Delta, American, Continental, Air France, Alitalia, Iberia and other carriers from North America and Europe.
The only way Guyana can afford a National Flag carrier is if it falls under the heading of a Caricom Airline where all the Caricom countries come together and form a major airline similar to Scandanavian Air Systems (SAS), but it does not appear Caricom will ever have that level of cooperation in the crab barrel.
Where is the relevant Minister Maniram Prashad when you need him.......promoting tourism to Guyanese in Guyana to visit Kaieteur falls in a ten seater aircraft??
You can read more about Guyana's Airline Hi-Jinxs at this Link
Stabroek News
Friday, August 24th 2007
A United States-based Guyanese airline travel consultant with more than twenty years experience in the industry has told Stabroek Business that airline passengers travelling to and from Guyana continue to endure excessively high fares and sub-standard service and that this was unlikely to change unless the country acquired a locally-owned national flag carrier that could compete effectively in the market.
"Guyanese and other persons travelling to and from Guyana have had to endure high fares coupled with the hassles associated with the quality of the service that they receive. The inconveniences are many- lengthy flight delays and cancellations, inconvenient transit stops, costly overnight stops and risks of lost baggage among others," according to Hazelyn Bostwick a Travel Consultant with Wind-jammer Travel of Fort Lauderdale, USA.
And according to Bostwick the country's fledgling tourist industry continues to be among the biggest losers since the quality of service offered by airlines is among the critical determinants of choice of destination by tourists. "However attractively we package our tourist resorts we will probably lose out to those destinations that are associated with a better quality of airline service," Bostwick said.
According to the travel consultant a competitive and efficient Guyana national flag carrier would also enable local tour operators to develop packages with other eco-tourism destinations in the region that would help boost the marketability of their own resorts.
Bostwick, whose clients include regular business travellers between Guyana and the United States is advocating the creation of a locally-owned airline, "perhaps with joint public/private sector involvement," under a "wet lease" arrangement that would enable the acquisition of a complete service that would include aircraft, crew, fuel, meals and all the other requisites associated with operating an independent airline. She said that profitability would hardly be an issue with a national flag carrier since the high demand for seats between the United States and Guyana coupled with convenient direct flights out of the United States, high quality service and competitive fares would guarantee a high level of patronage for a national carrier.
According to Bostwick in the absence of "any real competition" passengers travelling to and from Guyana were being charged excessive fares. "With almost four months left before the end of the year the services plying the route to Guyana are already quoting fares of between US$950 and US$1,000-odd, she said.
Bostwick told Stabroek Business that the creation of a national airline would enable more effective negotiation of "bulk fares" which she said can be brought by tour companies under arrangements that include "land packages." She said that the high cost of travel to Guyana coupled with the prevailing travel inconveniences are impacting negatively on the tourist industry. Noting that air fares to Guyana had increased by almost as much as 50 per cent over the past two years Bostwick said that the competitiveness of local tour packages would be significantly enhanced if tour operators could secure reduced air fares.
And the former United Nations employee told Stabroek Business that she does not support the idea of Caribbean Airlines being accorded flag carrier status for Guyana. "The fact is that Caribbean Airlines is Trinidad and Tobago-owned and is already serving as the national carrier for that country. I believe that a national carrier is also a matter of a country's image. What we need is a service that is not only efficient and reliable but one with which Guyanese can identify. Air Jamaica is an excellent example of a national flag carrier that enhances the image of the country that it serves," Bostwick said.
The US-based Guyanese travel consultant told Stabroek Business that she was particularly concerned over the inconveniences that persons travelling to Guyana had to endure. She noted that some of the services that included stops in various Caribbean territories amounted to little more than "milk runs" while stops in Trinidad and Tobago for passengers travelling in and out of Guyana gave rise to unacceptable inconveniences. "We have a situation in which passengers travelling in and out of Guyana via Piarco have to endure the hassle and inconvenience of customs and immigration processing in Trinidad. "I can see no reason why passengers travelling to Guyana need to complete immigration forms at Piarco while outgoing passengers for the United States who pass through Piarco airport run the risk of having their duty-free liquor bought at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport confiscated in Trinidad," she added.
Noting that 2007 was "a terrible year' for travel agencies seeking to secure seats for passengers between Georgetown and the United States Bostwick said that the summer had been a particularly difficult time since it was often impossible to secure even a few economy class tickets for passengers wishing to travel to Guyana from New York, Washington or Miami. She said that she was also aware of a number of persons who were keen to travel but were "put off" by the high fares being charged by the airlines plying the route. According to Bostwick even when account was taken of increases in fuel costs fares to Guyana were well above airline operating costs. Link
A National Flag carrier is all well and good, but I don't think Guyana can afford a National Flag Carrier. You also can't operate a National Flag carrier with one or two aircraft servicing multiple destinations as was the case with Guyana Airways and Guyana Airways 2000, you need a fleet of Aircraft. Air Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines are not profitable airlines, they are constantly being bailed out by their respective Governments especially in the current climate with high fuel costs.
What we need to do is to attract already established airlines from the US, Canada and England such as Air Canada, Delta, British Airways, at one time these airlines went to Guyana (Delta was Pan Am back then). What is so different now from back then, why doesn't Amercan Airlines, Delta, Continental, Air Canada, KLM or British Airways fly to Guyana? Even airlines from India, Africa, China, Germany, France and other non traditional bases could be attracted if we are to develop our tourism product.
The Dominican Republic is a major tourist destination and millions of Dominicans live in the United States, yet the Dominican republic does not currently have a Flag Carrier. Their country is being serviced by Delta, American, Continental, Air France, Alitalia, Iberia and other carriers from North America and Europe.
The only way Guyana can afford a National Flag carrier is if it falls under the heading of a Caricom Airline where all the Caricom countries come together and form a major airline similar to Scandanavian Air Systems (SAS), but it does not appear Caricom will ever have that level of cooperation in the crab barrel.
Where is the relevant Minister Maniram Prashad when you need him.......promoting tourism to Guyanese in Guyana to visit Kaieteur falls in a ten seater aircraft??
You can read more about Guyana's Airline Hi-Jinxs at this Link
New York - Howard Beach Racism
Family haunted by hate in Queens
BY ALISON GENDAR, OREN YANIV and MICHAEL WHITEDAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Friday, August 24th 2007, 4:00 AM
Deep in Howard Beach, Queens, Kris Gounden has built up a beautiful home on a sprawling waterfront property where he lives with his wife and his four children.
But Gounden is of Guyanese descent, and some of his white neighbors have undertaken a harassment campaign to run him out of the neighborhood, which became infamous for racism in the 1980s.
Now there is a constant police presence outside his home in Hamilton Beach and a neighbor has been busted on felony hate-crime charges......read more
Although this behavior by the white neighbors is appalling, they are probably scared that Howard Beach might transform into another Ozone park with over crowded schools, over crowded streets and single family houses converted into multiple dwellings being marketed by shitta batties driving BMWs to the large influx of Berbicians running away from the PPP.
BY ALISON GENDAR, OREN YANIV and MICHAEL WHITEDAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Friday, August 24th 2007, 4:00 AM
Deep in Howard Beach, Queens, Kris Gounden has built up a beautiful home on a sprawling waterfront property where he lives with his wife and his four children.
But Gounden is of Guyanese descent, and some of his white neighbors have undertaken a harassment campaign to run him out of the neighborhood, which became infamous for racism in the 1980s.
Now there is a constant police presence outside his home in Hamilton Beach and a neighbor has been busted on felony hate-crime charges......read more
Although this behavior by the white neighbors is appalling, they are probably scared that Howard Beach might transform into another Ozone park with over crowded schools, over crowded streets and single family houses converted into multiple dwellings being marketed by shitta batties driving BMWs to the large influx of Berbicians running away from the PPP.
Guyana - Guyanese people don't really care
As you can see in the photographs at this news link, it seems people are just accepting these unnecessary floods year after year and taking them in stride, even allowing their kids to enjoy themselves in flood waters which certainly have water borne diseases. These are not freak occurrences but keep happening year after year with all kinds of excuses meted out for the cause of these floods.
Only in flood situations like these have people been able to notice the drainage paths are blocked by coconut shells, plastic containers, and abandoned boats. If these people really care about their country they would put pressure on these lazy and irresponsible employees and incompetent Government to get their job done. Just imagine this latest episode happened because of Koker operators who failed to open the doors in time to let the water out. Why can't this process be automated and centrally controlled? Where are all those loans and flood relief monies going which President Bharat Jagdeo begs for on a yearly basis?
As we know the coast of Guyana is below sea level and it costs a lot of money to maintain the sea defences, but how much would it cost to clean up the garbage from the city and its environs to prevent the clogging of drains?
This leads me to believe Guyanese in Guyana don't really care therefore they deserve what they get - keep littering and keep voting for incompetents to run the country and keep waiting for handouts.
Only in flood situations like these have people been able to notice the drainage paths are blocked by coconut shells, plastic containers, and abandoned boats. If these people really care about their country they would put pressure on these lazy and irresponsible employees and incompetent Government to get their job done. Just imagine this latest episode happened because of Koker operators who failed to open the doors in time to let the water out. Why can't this process be automated and centrally controlled? Where are all those loans and flood relief monies going which President Bharat Jagdeo begs for on a yearly basis?
As we know the coast of Guyana is below sea level and it costs a lot of money to maintain the sea defences, but how much would it cost to clean up the garbage from the city and its environs to prevent the clogging of drains?
This leads me to believe Guyanese in Guyana don't really care therefore they deserve what they get - keep littering and keep voting for incompetents to run the country and keep waiting for handouts.
Guyana - Hurricanes
Could Guyana experience its first real hurricane?
Stabroek News
Friday, August 24th 2007
....The hurricane that hit Brazil's Santa Catarina province in 2004 was packing winds up to 137km or 85 mph. The storm ended up destroying many hundreds of coastal homes, but only one death was reported. Christened hurricane Katrina for its landfall location, the storm continued to stir things up even after it died. A similar phenomenon here would wipe out most of the our costal homes along the East Coast and West Coast Demerara, parts of the Essequibo Coast and the North West as well as parts of North Georgetown, Kitty and Subryanville. Not to mention sections of the sugar and rice industries and the long awaited Berbice Bridge...link
Stabroek News
Friday, August 24th 2007
....The hurricane that hit Brazil's Santa Catarina province in 2004 was packing winds up to 137km or 85 mph. The storm ended up destroying many hundreds of coastal homes, but only one death was reported. Christened hurricane Katrina for its landfall location, the storm continued to stir things up even after it died. A similar phenomenon here would wipe out most of the our costal homes along the East Coast and West Coast Demerara, parts of the Essequibo Coast and the North West as well as parts of North Georgetown, Kitty and Subryanville. Not to mention sections of the sugar and rice industries and the long awaited Berbice Bridge...link
Guyana - Here we go again, unnecessary flooding
Swamped -city flood worsened by tardy koker attendants
By Zoisa Fraser
Friday, August 24th 2007
Large swathes of Georgetown were swamped early yesterday by rain and three attendants may face disciplinary action after they turned up late for work when the kokers should have been opened during the low tide.
As a result of their negligence, residents of Georgetown were left in discomfort for most of yesterday as water remained in yards, homes, business places and on roadways. Tardy and absent koker and pump attendants has been a recurring problem in the city and on the East Coast..........splash
By Zoisa Fraser
Friday, August 24th 2007
Large swathes of Georgetown were swamped early yesterday by rain and three attendants may face disciplinary action after they turned up late for work when the kokers should have been opened during the low tide.
As a result of their negligence, residents of Georgetown were left in discomfort for most of yesterday as water remained in yards, homes, business places and on roadways. Tardy and absent koker and pump attendants has been a recurring problem in the city and on the East Coast..........splash
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Guyana - Cart before the horse - developing tourism
Guyana is promoting tourism, yet they depend on Charter Airlines with unreliable service to bring tourists (mostly visiting Guyanese) to Guyana. The economics of charter flights demand that the flights should operate on the basis of near 100% seat occupancy. The airlines operating charter flights, and the holiday companies who are the initial purchasers of seats on them, have acquired an unhealthy reputation for financial instability.
There have been a number of high-profile cases where tourists have had their arrangements cancelled at short notice (and sometimes lost substantial sums they have paid for package holidays), or have been left stranded at their destinations, by the collapse of the airline or holiday company. A number of compulsory insurance and bond arrangements have been put in place to minimize at least the financial risk to the public from such events.
Some examples of past charter operation leaving people stranded to and from Guyana are Leisure Air, Universal Airlines & Air Transat. Currently we have Zoom Airlines, Travel Span, Constellation Primaris and North American, with North American probably being the most reliable charter operation of the bunch. If you are not left behind with one of these charter operations then most likely your luggage will be left behind without any recourse or substantial compensation. Here are some precautions you might want to take in the case of missing luggage from our resident travel agent Gupta:
Advice to passenger travelling to Guyana:
1. Take the money you save in airfare and buy two underwear on the pavement or flea market.
2. Next time don't bring stuff for people, tell them to send it in a barrel.
3. If you are so embarrassed about not being able to deliver the items you brought for people, tell them you ain't home - you went to buy underwear.
Click here and here for recommended underwear
There have been a number of high-profile cases where tourists have had their arrangements cancelled at short notice (and sometimes lost substantial sums they have paid for package holidays), or have been left stranded at their destinations, by the collapse of the airline or holiday company. A number of compulsory insurance and bond arrangements have been put in place to minimize at least the financial risk to the public from such events.
Some examples of past charter operation leaving people stranded to and from Guyana are Leisure Air, Universal Airlines & Air Transat. Currently we have Zoom Airlines, Travel Span, Constellation Primaris and North American, with North American probably being the most reliable charter operation of the bunch. If you are not left behind with one of these charter operations then most likely your luggage will be left behind without any recourse or substantial compensation. Here are some precautions you might want to take in the case of missing luggage from our resident travel agent Gupta:
Advice to passenger travelling to Guyana:
1. Take the money you save in airfare and buy two underwear on the pavement or flea market.
2. Next time don't bring stuff for people, tell them to send it in a barrel.
3. If you are so embarrassed about not being able to deliver the items you brought for people, tell them you ain't home - you went to buy underwear.
Click here and here for recommended underwear
New York - Google Sketch Up
SketchUp is 3D for everyone.
Google SketchUp is software that you can use to create, modify and share 3D models. It's easier to learn than other 3D modeling programs, which is why so many people are already using it. We designed SketchUp's simplified toolset, guided drawing system and clean look-and-feel to help you concentrate on two things: getting your work done as efficiently as possible, and having fun while you're doing it.
Anyone with a 3D problem to solve will find SketchUp useful. This includes professionals like architects and engineers, but lots of other folks need to visualize things in 3D, too. People like woodworkers, geometry teachers, physicists and video game designers use SketchUp every day.
You can choose from two versions of our software. Google SketchUp is free for anyone, and allows you to build, view and edit 3D models. Google SketchUp Pro adds the ability to share your data with other software, get email technical support, and create professional presentations—both print and digital—from your models. You can download both versions of SketchUp right from this website.
http://www.sketchup.com/
Google SketchUp is software that you can use to create, modify and share 3D models. It's easier to learn than other 3D modeling programs, which is why so many people are already using it. We designed SketchUp's simplified toolset, guided drawing system and clean look-and-feel to help you concentrate on two things: getting your work done as efficiently as possible, and having fun while you're doing it.
Anyone with a 3D problem to solve will find SketchUp useful. This includes professionals like architects and engineers, but lots of other folks need to visualize things in 3D, too. People like woodworkers, geometry teachers, physicists and video game designers use SketchUp every day.
You can choose from two versions of our software. Google SketchUp is free for anyone, and allows you to build, view and edit 3D models. Google SketchUp Pro adds the ability to share your data with other software, get email technical support, and create professional presentations—both print and digital—from your models. You can download both versions of SketchUp right from this website.
http://www.sketchup.com/
New York - Guyana Stadium Website
This was received via email back in 2005:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have gone through your web site and as a civil engineer it is a very useful. Regarding the project information of Providence Stadium I would like offer my comments.
The organization chart to be updated
Master Planners : Not EPIL
Designers : Not Newel Lewis Broadbridge Associates ( NLBA)
The initial proposal given by EPIL was rejected by ICC as per web news.
M/S.Shapoorji Pallonji & Co.Limited (Design and Build Principle) Submitted their proposal Designed by M/s.C.R.NARAYANA RAO , CRN ,ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS, Chennai ,India.(web site - www.crn.co.in) and this team has been selected.
The entire design Architectural , structural , all utilities designs done only by M/S C.R.Narayana Rao (CRN) and the construction By M/S.Shapoorji Pallonji & Co.Limited
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Click here for Org Chart
Project title:——-Providence Cricket Stadium
Location:————-Guyana, South America, Providence EBD
Owner: ——————Guyana Government
Master Planners:—————— Guyana Government
Contract Type:—————————— Design Build
Designers: ——— C.R. Narayana Rao (CRN Architects & Engineers)
Contractor:——— Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Limited
Cost:——————-$25,000,000 US (Bank loan agreement details)
Description:————Stadium to hold a capacity of 15 to 20 thousand people primarily for Cricket but can also be converted into a multi use facility.
Contract Award:——— March 17, 2005 (Stadium Construction)
Contract Start:————— Six weeks from award date
http://www.guyanastadium.netfirms.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have gone through your web site and as a civil engineer it is a very useful. Regarding the project information of Providence Stadium I would like offer my comments.
The organization chart to be updated
Master Planners : Not EPIL
Designers : Not Newel Lewis Broadbridge Associates ( NLBA)
The initial proposal given by EPIL was rejected by ICC as per web news.
M/S.Shapoorji Pallonji & Co.Limited (Design and Build Principle) Submitted their proposal Designed by M/s.C.R.NARAYANA RAO , CRN ,ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS, Chennai ,India.(web site - www.crn.co.in) and this team has been selected.
The entire design Architectural , structural , all utilities designs done only by M/S C.R.Narayana Rao (CRN) and the construction By M/S.Shapoorji Pallonji & Co.Limited
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Click here for Org Chart
Project title:——-Providence Cricket Stadium
Location:————-Guyana, South America, Providence EBD
Owner: ——————Guyana Government
Master Planners:—————— Guyana Government
Contract Type:—————————— Design Build
Designers: ——— C.R. Narayana Rao (CRN Architects & Engineers)
Contractor:——— Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Limited
Cost:——————-$25,000,000 US (Bank loan agreement details)
Description:————Stadium to hold a capacity of 15 to 20 thousand people primarily for Cricket but can also be converted into a multi use facility.
Contract Award:——— March 17, 2005 (Stadium Construction)
Contract Start:————— Six weeks from award date
http://www.guyanastadium.netfirms.com/
Beijing - Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Geographic Information System (GIS)
GIS technology combines powerful database capabilities for spatial data, with the unique visual perspective of a good old-fashioned map. It is a system of computer software, hardware, data, and personnel to help manipulate, analyze and present information that is tied to a spatial location. GIS can help urban planners, environmental scientists, economists, engineers, and local government to improve organizational integration, make better decisions and map any data.
There are numerous application of GIS in sustainable development. We can use it to study and manage eco-system, track the effects of pollution, locate sustainable facilities, manage natural and renewable resources, design transportation and energy system, study demographics and growth pattern, monitor environmental quality, etc. Link
I remembered (Caribbean Engineering and Management Company) CEMCO of Guyana were dabbling in a project back in the early 90s to provided a Photogametry / GIS database for Guyana. I wonder what happened to this project? Check Google Earth to get an idea of this system, now just imagine all utilities, roads and other infrastructure elements superimposed on the satellite base map for Guyana.
GIS technology combines powerful database capabilities for spatial data, with the unique visual perspective of a good old-fashioned map. It is a system of computer software, hardware, data, and personnel to help manipulate, analyze and present information that is tied to a spatial location. GIS can help urban planners, environmental scientists, economists, engineers, and local government to improve organizational integration, make better decisions and map any data.
There are numerous application of GIS in sustainable development. We can use it to study and manage eco-system, track the effects of pollution, locate sustainable facilities, manage natural and renewable resources, design transportation and energy system, study demographics and growth pattern, monitor environmental quality, etc. Link
I remembered (Caribbean Engineering and Management Company) CEMCO of Guyana were dabbling in a project back in the early 90s to provided a Photogametry / GIS database for Guyana. I wonder what happened to this project? Check Google Earth to get an idea of this system, now just imagine all utilities, roads and other infrastructure elements superimposed on the satellite base map for Guyana.
Beijing - Olympic Stadium
Name: Beijing Olympic Stadium
Scheduled inauguration: 2008
Building costs: $500 million
Capacity: 80,000 seats (100,000 during the Olympic games)
http://www.stadiumguide.com/beijing.htm
Scheduled inauguration: 2008
Building costs: $500 million
Capacity: 80,000 seats (100,000 during the Olympic games)
http://www.stadiumguide.com/beijing.htm
Beijing - Stadium Seating Specifications
With the 2012 Olympics rapidly approaching now is probably a good time to re-cap on the requirements for seating for stadiums and sports facilities.
In 2006 a new Harmonised European Standard was introduced:
BS EN 13200-4: 2006 Spectator facilities – Part 4:
Seats – Product characteristics.
This standard covers all types of fixed seating – that is seating bolted to the floor, including individual or bench seating. It also includes all types of sports venues, whether indoor or outdoor, and has a whole host of requirements covering structural performance, dimensional requirements and requirements for the materials used.
This standard brings in dimensional and basic ergonomic requirements, as well as requirements for the strength and durability of seating, bringing it in line with other guidance documents, such as the UEFA Club Licensing System Manual Version 2.0: 2005 - Appendix XXIX – Additional Infrastructure Requirements.
In brief it covers the following:
General requirements:
The basic minimum seat dimensions (height, width etc) for bench seating, seating with low backs (below 150 mm) and seating with high backs above 150 mm (it should be noted here that UEFA guidelines state that seating should be individual, not benches, and the back height should be at least 300mm).
It also requires that accessible edges should be rounded, permanently numbered where required (it is a UEFA requirement that all seats are numbered) and that the seats are permanently fixed to the floor and it should not be possible to remove them without using special tools.
The standard does not specify the distances between rows and access points, as these are often contained within National fire safety legislation or risk assessment.
Material Performance
The materials used for the construction of the seating should be of suitable quality, therefore metal parts have to undergo a salt spray corrosion test (there are different requirements for indoor and outdoor use) and plastic components need to undergo exposure to UV light to ensure no degradation of the plastic, or significant changes to colour or gloss.
Structural Performance
To ensure that the stadium seating is suitably strong and durable the Standard asks that the seating conform to the requirements of EN 12727 Furniture – Ranked seating – Test Methods and requirements for strength and durability. This standard actually covers all type of seating bolted to the floor, from churches, through sports facilities to hospital and airport waiting areas. To cover this range the standard has four test levels, however it would normally be recommended that levels 3 (general use) and 4 (severe use) are used for stadium seating.
The standard also suggests that where plastic seating is used outdoors it should be subject to high and low temperature testing, based on those used in garden furniture standards. This means impact tests at low temperature and sustained loads at high temperature.
Flammability
This standard does not cover flammability, as different National flammability legislation exists in a number of EU countries.
In the UK we would expect upholstered seating to conform to the requirements of BS 7176: 1995. This requires the fabrics and foam used within the chair to be cigarette, match and ignition source 5 resistant. For non-upholstered seating it is normally recommended that the whole chair is tested in accordance with Clause 12 of BS 5852: 2006, again resulting in cigarette, match and ignition source 5 resistance.
If you would like more information on any of the issues raised in this article please contact us on +44 1438 777700 or email info@fira.co.uk
Link
In 2006 a new Harmonised European Standard was introduced:
BS EN 13200-4: 2006 Spectator facilities – Part 4:
Seats – Product characteristics.
This standard covers all types of fixed seating – that is seating bolted to the floor, including individual or bench seating. It also includes all types of sports venues, whether indoor or outdoor, and has a whole host of requirements covering structural performance, dimensional requirements and requirements for the materials used.
This standard brings in dimensional and basic ergonomic requirements, as well as requirements for the strength and durability of seating, bringing it in line with other guidance documents, such as the UEFA Club Licensing System Manual Version 2.0: 2005 - Appendix XXIX – Additional Infrastructure Requirements.
In brief it covers the following:
General requirements:
The basic minimum seat dimensions (height, width etc) for bench seating, seating with low backs (below 150 mm) and seating with high backs above 150 mm (it should be noted here that UEFA guidelines state that seating should be individual, not benches, and the back height should be at least 300mm).
It also requires that accessible edges should be rounded, permanently numbered where required (it is a UEFA requirement that all seats are numbered) and that the seats are permanently fixed to the floor and it should not be possible to remove them without using special tools.
The standard does not specify the distances between rows and access points, as these are often contained within National fire safety legislation or risk assessment.
Material Performance
The materials used for the construction of the seating should be of suitable quality, therefore metal parts have to undergo a salt spray corrosion test (there are different requirements for indoor and outdoor use) and plastic components need to undergo exposure to UV light to ensure no degradation of the plastic, or significant changes to colour or gloss.
Structural Performance
To ensure that the stadium seating is suitably strong and durable the Standard asks that the seating conform to the requirements of EN 12727 Furniture – Ranked seating – Test Methods and requirements for strength and durability. This standard actually covers all type of seating bolted to the floor, from churches, through sports facilities to hospital and airport waiting areas. To cover this range the standard has four test levels, however it would normally be recommended that levels 3 (general use) and 4 (severe use) are used for stadium seating.
The standard also suggests that where plastic seating is used outdoors it should be subject to high and low temperature testing, based on those used in garden furniture standards. This means impact tests at low temperature and sustained loads at high temperature.
Flammability
This standard does not cover flammability, as different National flammability legislation exists in a number of EU countries.
In the UK we would expect upholstered seating to conform to the requirements of BS 7176: 1995. This requires the fabrics and foam used within the chair to be cigarette, match and ignition source 5 resistant. For non-upholstered seating it is normally recommended that the whole chair is tested in accordance with Clause 12 of BS 5852: 2006, again resulting in cigarette, match and ignition source 5 resistance.
If you would like more information on any of the issues raised in this article please contact us on +44 1438 777700 or email info@fira.co.uk
Link
Guyana - Stadium Solar Panels
Siemens Power Transmission and Distribution (PTD) has installed a photovoltaic system at Nuremberg soccer stadium. PTD was prime contractor for the order placed by German insurer KarstadtQuelle Versicherungen. The roof-mounted system, which is the largest of its kind at any of the stadiums staging matches at the 2006 World Football Championships, has been feeding up to 140 kW of solar-generated power into the Nuremberg power supply system since May 19.
Seven hundred fifty-eight solar modules cover a total area of about 1000 square meters of the stadium roof, with each module delivering an output of 185 W of electricity in full sunshine. Two 60-kVA power inverters in master-slave configuration transform the direct current produced by the solar modules into three-phase alternating current at a voltage of 400 V. The power inverters are equipped with monitoring and display systems, which also enable remote monitoring and control of the solar system. To further optimize power efficiency, the Siemens experts took the geometry of the 42-meter high roof into account, and thus the position of the six rows of solar modules, when designing the power inverters and adapted the devices accordingly.
Following completion of project planning and system engineering at its competence center for solar projects in the Netherlands, Siemens PTD needed just three weeks for project management and implementation of the project. Link
If only our National Tomato Patch at Providence had this, it would be less expensive to maintain.
Seven hundred fifty-eight solar modules cover a total area of about 1000 square meters of the stadium roof, with each module delivering an output of 185 W of electricity in full sunshine. Two 60-kVA power inverters in master-slave configuration transform the direct current produced by the solar modules into three-phase alternating current at a voltage of 400 V. The power inverters are equipped with monitoring and display systems, which also enable remote monitoring and control of the solar system. To further optimize power efficiency, the Siemens experts took the geometry of the 42-meter high roof into account, and thus the position of the six rows of solar modules, when designing the power inverters and adapted the devices accordingly.
Following completion of project planning and system engineering at its competence center for solar projects in the Netherlands, Siemens PTD needed just three weeks for project management and implementation of the project. Link
If only our National Tomato Patch at Providence had this, it would be less expensive to maintain.
Guyana - Irony
.....And while these wonderful machines are on display at Parade Ground the drains and area around the ground which are in desperate need of cleaning and leveling remain ignored. Where is the social responsibility for these corporate entities?......read more
There was an article recently in the news where mining was destroying the interior. Here are a few more:
http://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin/43/Guyana.html
Gold mining
Up for sale
http://guyanaforestryblog.blogspot.com/
There was an article recently in the news where mining was destroying the interior. Here are a few more:
http://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin/43/Guyana.html
Gold mining
Up for sale
http://guyanaforestryblog.blogspot.com/
Monday, August 20, 2007
Guyana - Infrastructure basics
By TK:
Any politician who seeks to run for office must have at least a rudimentary plan for global warming. Much of the infrastructure proposal would have to be done in stages as financing becomes available and the economy has the critical mass to absorb such infrastructure.
The issue of infrastructure is critical. But even more important is the need to produce. We have seen that even though the PPP has been spending a lot of money on infrastructure such spending has not contributed to economic growth and job creation.
The safer thing would be to identify key productive sectors and develop them. However, two critical infrastructure items are needed now:
(i) cheap energy via hydro electricity and
(ii) the Guyana-Brazil road.
Meanwhile, the nice thing about ethanol and other bio-fuels is they take care of both energy needs and growth/job creation immediately.
However Guyana would have to focus on an export oriented strategy of development. This is critical for two reasons:
(i) Guyana faces a perpetual foreign currency constraint.
(ii) The domestic market size is too small to produce in large quantities to reap economies of scale.
On the latter, I would use CARICOM and the north of Brazil as my export launch pad and especially regarding CARICOM ensure the other territories impose the common external tariff (CET).
Any politician who seeks to run for office must have at least a rudimentary plan for global warming. Much of the infrastructure proposal would have to be done in stages as financing becomes available and the economy has the critical mass to absorb such infrastructure.
The issue of infrastructure is critical. But even more important is the need to produce. We have seen that even though the PPP has been spending a lot of money on infrastructure such spending has not contributed to economic growth and job creation.
The safer thing would be to identify key productive sectors and develop them. However, two critical infrastructure items are needed now:
(i) cheap energy via hydro electricity and
(ii) the Guyana-Brazil road.
Meanwhile, the nice thing about ethanol and other bio-fuels is they take care of both energy needs and growth/job creation immediately.
However Guyana would have to focus on an export oriented strategy of development. This is critical for two reasons:
(i) Guyana faces a perpetual foreign currency constraint.
(ii) The domestic market size is too small to produce in large quantities to reap economies of scale.
On the latter, I would use CARICOM and the north of Brazil as my export launch pad and especially regarding CARICOM ensure the other territories impose the common external tariff (CET).
Guyana - Stadium rename
Note, from here on we will refer to the stadium as "The National Tomato Patch at Providence".
Guyana - Only one BMW sold
Luxury BMWs: One sold, others likely to go under hammer Friday.
Nineteen BMW luxury cars, which have been lying idle exposed to the elements for the past few months in the compound of Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, may finally come under the hammer next Friday when bid documents are opened.This is the second time around that Government is trying to dispose of the vehicles.
Twenty BMW luxury vehicles were imported to provide transportation for officials during the hosting of the Rio Summit and Cricket World Cup this year.One BMW was sold during a previous tender process, in which bidders did not meet the reserve prices set by Government.“Only one such car was sold because the bid met the basic requirement,” an official of the Tender Board told this newspaper yesterday.
The bids for the other 19 were published in the dailies, for the second time, on August 12. A second advertising will be published in tomorrow's editions.Government was mandated to provide transportation for the teams, officials, media and sponsors for Cricket World Cup 2007 as stipulated by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The vehicles were purchased on the premise that they would be resold locally.
The government's agreement to purchase the cars was not readily accepted by local car dealers, who said that they were being left out of the deal. Some dealers had complained bitterly that only Central Garage, the lone importer of BMW, stood to benefit had Government gone to a dealership.President Bharrat Jagdeo, however, defended his decision, saying that Government would go it alone since the dealers wanted the government to waive 75 percent of the taxes which would have seen the Government losing $400 million in taxes.
The cars cost the Guyana Government some $168M, and post-CWC, have been left in Eve Leary. BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) is a German manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and was one of the official sponsors for CWC.The company had laid down in its agreement, that ICC officials would use the luxury cars and that the government hosting the matches must import them duty-free.Concerns have been expressed over the fact that cars have been parked too long in the open and may suffer some damage from the weather.
Bloggers comment: Wonder which PPP official now owns a BMW? So lets recap, Government lends $168 million to Buddy to build hotel, Government spends $168 million to buy BMWs, Government spends roughly $600 million on Stadium which has now become "National Tomato Patch at Providence". We still have not got the actual costs for hosting the world cup in Guyana. WHERE ARE THE COSTS?
Nineteen BMW luxury cars, which have been lying idle exposed to the elements for the past few months in the compound of Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, may finally come under the hammer next Friday when bid documents are opened.This is the second time around that Government is trying to dispose of the vehicles.
Twenty BMW luxury vehicles were imported to provide transportation for officials during the hosting of the Rio Summit and Cricket World Cup this year.One BMW was sold during a previous tender process, in which bidders did not meet the reserve prices set by Government.“Only one such car was sold because the bid met the basic requirement,” an official of the Tender Board told this newspaper yesterday.
The bids for the other 19 were published in the dailies, for the second time, on August 12. A second advertising will be published in tomorrow's editions.Government was mandated to provide transportation for the teams, officials, media and sponsors for Cricket World Cup 2007 as stipulated by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The vehicles were purchased on the premise that they would be resold locally.
The government's agreement to purchase the cars was not readily accepted by local car dealers, who said that they were being left out of the deal. Some dealers had complained bitterly that only Central Garage, the lone importer of BMW, stood to benefit had Government gone to a dealership.President Bharrat Jagdeo, however, defended his decision, saying that Government would go it alone since the dealers wanted the government to waive 75 percent of the taxes which would have seen the Government losing $400 million in taxes.
The cars cost the Guyana Government some $168M, and post-CWC, have been left in Eve Leary. BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) is a German manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and was one of the official sponsors for CWC.The company had laid down in its agreement, that ICC officials would use the luxury cars and that the government hosting the matches must import them duty-free.Concerns have been expressed over the fact that cars have been parked too long in the open and may suffer some damage from the weather.
Bloggers comment: Wonder which PPP official now owns a BMW? So lets recap, Government lends $168 million to Buddy to build hotel, Government spends $168 million to buy BMWs, Government spends roughly $600 million on Stadium which has now become "National Tomato Patch at Providence". We still have not got the actual costs for hosting the world cup in Guyana. WHERE ARE THE COSTS?
Guyana - A New Yorker's experience with the VAT
Many businesses in Guyana are misleading consumers about the VAT (especially tourists) who are being made to pay the VAT up front and are being told they can claim it back at the airport. This is such a rip off, also since the introduction of VAT - businesses are engaged in severe price gouging, despite publication of the zero rated items. Shopkeepers have upped their prices on almost every single item by as much as 100% and everyday their prices keep changing for some items.
As far as duty free, some of the items at the airport is just as expensive as in the stores, if not more in some cases (especially the craft). I bought mostly jewellery, and they don't have any such at the shops at CBJ. The Guyana Government still owes me US$2,000 in VAT refunds.
Crookish Sattaur is only mouthing off a lot about GRA and the VAT, instead of making sure that the people do not have to pay an arm and a leg to buy just basics. The weird thing is that most of the locally produced goods even fruits and vegetables are more expensive that the imported stuff. Even drinking water people have to buy, since they can't drink the tap water. This is one sure way to discourage tourists from visiting not to mention the danger from other bandits.
The Guyana Revenue Authority and the Government of Guyana are daily exposing themselves as gross incompetents.
As far as duty free, some of the items at the airport is just as expensive as in the stores, if not more in some cases (especially the craft). I bought mostly jewellery, and they don't have any such at the shops at CBJ. The Guyana Government still owes me US$2,000 in VAT refunds.
Crookish Sattaur is only mouthing off a lot about GRA and the VAT, instead of making sure that the people do not have to pay an arm and a leg to buy just basics. The weird thing is that most of the locally produced goods even fruits and vegetables are more expensive that the imported stuff. Even drinking water people have to buy, since they can't drink the tap water. This is one sure way to discourage tourists from visiting not to mention the danger from other bandits.
The Guyana Revenue Authority and the Government of Guyana are daily exposing themselves as gross incompetents.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Malaysia - Dual purpose tunnel
Recurring floods and ongoing traffic congestion have an adverse economic impact on Kuala Lumpur’s central business district in Malaysia. Now a single solution to both problems is taking shape in the form of an ingenious dual-purpose tunnel carrying vehicles and stormwater – the first of its kind in the world....read more
In Guyana it appears that flooding does not have an adverse economic impact - the Government maintains the status quo while floods continue on a yearly basis.
In Guyana it appears that flooding does not have an adverse economic impact - the Government maintains the status quo while floods continue on a yearly basis.
Guyana - Cycling Blog
Guyana Cycling Online
Welcome to the blog designed to provide information about cycling in Guyana http://guyanacycling.blogspot.com/
Welcome to the blog designed to provide information about cycling in Guyana http://guyanacycling.blogspot.com/
Friday, August 17, 2007
Guyana - Water & Electricity needed for sound CSI
Modern crime fighting techniques can't be introduced in Guyana
Friday, August 17th 2007
Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
In the light of many some unsolved ghastly crimes in Guyana, some (e.g . Freddie Kissoon, and the Editor of SN) have been publicly calling for the establishment of a modern Forensics Laboratory in Guyana. Both persons argued that we should be able to do DNA testing here, since these modern techniques are also practised in the Carib-bean. I guess the Crime Scenes Investigation (CSI) series have captured the public's imagination that with good science the police would be able to do more to apprehend wrong doers and bring them to justice.
During my tenure at UG, I was able to see first hand the state of science in Guyana. In one of our laboratories, my students were the first UG's students to prepare DNA on the Turkeyen Campus or anywhere else in Guyana. I had previously documented the difficulties in executing these basic laboratory sessions. These deficiencies and needs of the other science laboratories have also been well documented and corroborated by others, including Dr A Daljeet, Mr Freddie Kissoon, and Mr Albert Bhulai. The conditions under which the students learned and worked were ignored, and their potential as future scientists lost or undeveloped. Worse still the consequences down the road for the nation by this wilful neglect of science and technology did not receive the attention of the Hon President Mr B Jagdeo-appointed VC Dr James Rose.
It seems perplexing that the President has seen fit to reappoint Dr Rose. The President himself must take direct responsibility for the sad state of the University and in particular the state of science and technology at UG and therefore in Guyana.
For example, I had outlined the importance of the modern fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, and biotechnology to such varied areas as medicine, medical technology, agriculture, fores-try, silviculture, fisheries, etc. However, my pleadings fell on deaf ears. The disastrous consequences of neglect are being felt by the nation. Who is the scientific adviser of the President?
The government is quite right in not having a forensic laboratory to do DNA testing. As pointed out previously in my commentaries in running the biochemistry labs, one requires a constant and stable supply of electricity and water. These are required to run electrophoresis techniques. In addition, there is need for stable refrigeration (0, 4, and - 20 degrees centigrade) to store the expensive and temperature sensitive reagents. (This is why the Iwokrama laboratory on UG's campus failed!) The basic workers required to run such a forensic laboratory would normally have first degrees in science (Biochemistry, Bio-technology, etc); these would have come from a functional programme of UG. The mid-level workers would have a Master's degree; and the laboratory supervisor or head would be a person with a Doctoral degree. It takes a lot of good science from well-equipped laboratories and well-trained staff to support the investigative efforts of the police in the field. Unless the science is sound and impeccable, it can be questioned in a court of law. The Guyanese people should be told why modern crime fighting techniques cannot be introduced in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Seelochan Beharry, PhD
Link
Friday, August 17th 2007
Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
In the light of many some unsolved ghastly crimes in Guyana, some (e.g . Freddie Kissoon, and the Editor of SN) have been publicly calling for the establishment of a modern Forensics Laboratory in Guyana. Both persons argued that we should be able to do DNA testing here, since these modern techniques are also practised in the Carib-bean. I guess the Crime Scenes Investigation (CSI) series have captured the public's imagination that with good science the police would be able to do more to apprehend wrong doers and bring them to justice.
During my tenure at UG, I was able to see first hand the state of science in Guyana. In one of our laboratories, my students were the first UG's students to prepare DNA on the Turkeyen Campus or anywhere else in Guyana. I had previously documented the difficulties in executing these basic laboratory sessions. These deficiencies and needs of the other science laboratories have also been well documented and corroborated by others, including Dr A Daljeet, Mr Freddie Kissoon, and Mr Albert Bhulai. The conditions under which the students learned and worked were ignored, and their potential as future scientists lost or undeveloped. Worse still the consequences down the road for the nation by this wilful neglect of science and technology did not receive the attention of the Hon President Mr B Jagdeo-appointed VC Dr James Rose.
It seems perplexing that the President has seen fit to reappoint Dr Rose. The President himself must take direct responsibility for the sad state of the University and in particular the state of science and technology at UG and therefore in Guyana.
For example, I had outlined the importance of the modern fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, and biotechnology to such varied areas as medicine, medical technology, agriculture, fores-try, silviculture, fisheries, etc. However, my pleadings fell on deaf ears. The disastrous consequences of neglect are being felt by the nation. Who is the scientific adviser of the President?
The government is quite right in not having a forensic laboratory to do DNA testing. As pointed out previously in my commentaries in running the biochemistry labs, one requires a constant and stable supply of electricity and water. These are required to run electrophoresis techniques. In addition, there is need for stable refrigeration (0, 4, and - 20 degrees centigrade) to store the expensive and temperature sensitive reagents. (This is why the Iwokrama laboratory on UG's campus failed!) The basic workers required to run such a forensic laboratory would normally have first degrees in science (Biochemistry, Bio-technology, etc); these would have come from a functional programme of UG. The mid-level workers would have a Master's degree; and the laboratory supervisor or head would be a person with a Doctoral degree. It takes a lot of good science from well-equipped laboratories and well-trained staff to support the investigative efforts of the police in the field. Unless the science is sound and impeccable, it can be questioned in a court of law. The Guyanese people should be told why modern crime fighting techniques cannot be introduced in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Seelochan Beharry, PhD
Link
Guyana - Finally someone with Vision
Shaping our economic future
By Peter R Ramsaroop
Friday, August 17th 2007
Stabroek News
Recently, I have re-introduced concepts from the Guyana 21 plan (Stanley Ming and Eric Phillips) and my two books; Hope for the Nation, Guyana Vision 2020 and the Road to Eldorado These plans acknowledge that in their own right, Guyana is a country of significant commercial opportunities for any nation. However, according to these plans, there are 16 key "hardware" elements that would have to be implemented in addition to the other major plank we have explored in this column, the "alternative energy" For those who are not familiar with these concepts I have relisted them in order for one to envision what Guyana would look like if all or some are implemented.
The 16 hardware elements of the Plans are as follows:
* A high span bridge across the Berbice River with the associated development of a commercial area. (In development)
* A four-lane highway connecting Georgetown to the Soesdyke-Linden highway (partially completed but needed to be a new road versus expanding the old road that now is in people's yards)
* A high span bridge across the Demerara River (Burnham Bridge still in existence)
* A highway from Soesdyke to Wales on the West Bank of Demerara
* A highway from Parika to Monkey-Jump on the East Bank of Essequibo
* A new international airport capable of accommodating large aircraft.
* A series of bridges and causeways linking the islands in the Essequibo Delta to Morasi and Supenaam
* A high span bridge across the Essequibo River at Monkey-Jump
* A highway from the new international airport to Makouria on the East Bank of Essequibo
* A deepwater harbour and EPZ at the mouth of the Essequibo river (Hogg Island). This should be high on our priority list.
* A highway from the new international airport to Morasi on the East Bank of the Essequibo river
* A highway from Timehri via St Cuthbert's, Mahaica to Berbice
* A high-speed highway from Monkey Jump via Linden to Lethem (Brazil border) with the possibility of a parallel railway. (Feasibility study started, bridge in final stages)
* A highway from Monkey Jump to Bartica
* A highway from Supenaam to Kamaria on the Cuyuni river
* A highway from Charity, Pomeroon to the Venezuelan border.
Given the long-term political consequences of ownership for this architecture, the opportunities for foreign companies are obvious. Building a free market Guyanese brand is an essential aspect of laying a solid foundation for potential investment opportunities. Marketing Guyana as "Open for Business" is crucial to our success in expanding economic opportunity. We need global markets, businesses to buy our companies and products, and the jobs that come as a result.
The "hardware" elements of the Guyana 21 Plan also have a "software" package that is synergistic and necessary for success. This success is defined as the ability to attract capital, the ability to attract Guyanese human capital from abroad, the ability to manage these large scale projects, the ability to add significant value to village economies, the ability to grow the Guyanese economy and the ability to create strong commercial partnerships with Brazil and Venezuela, countries which would significantly benefit from the deep water harbour. There are seven software elements associated with this Plan:
* Macro economic policies designed to transform, modernise and diversify the economy to make it globally competitive and relevant
* Nation building policies in health, education and housing
* Environmentally friendly frameworks to protect Guyana's wealthy biodiversity for sustainable development
* Knowledge management and a core of highly qualified technocrats
* Governance that facilitates inclusiveness at a political level and financial integrity at a commercial level
* Strong international relationships with key partners in South America, North America, Europe and Asia
* Strategic leadership that is competent, visionary, open minded and incorruptible
Overall, the implementation of the "hardware" and software elements of these plans would engender political will to open up the economy to international trade and investment while ensuring Guyanese ownership through debt equity swaps, dividend equity conversions, soft loans, in-kind contributions of land and mineral rights etc.
The goals of our plans are:
* Achieve a 10-12 percent annual economic growth rate
* Create approximately 100,000 jobs over a 5-year period
* Attract US$300 to US$500 million in investment annually
* Forge Guyanese ownership through public private partnerships
* Convert Guyana's natural resources into exports
* Make Guyana a trans-shipment hub for Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela
* Create an export driven economy while encouraging food sufficiency
The government is slowly accepting these initiatives as their own and we want to continue to lobby them to take up the other initiatives as priorities also.
Until Next Week "Roop"
Link
By Peter R Ramsaroop
Friday, August 17th 2007
Stabroek News
Recently, I have re-introduced concepts from the Guyana 21 plan (Stanley Ming and Eric Phillips) and my two books; Hope for the Nation, Guyana Vision 2020 and the Road to Eldorado These plans acknowledge that in their own right, Guyana is a country of significant commercial opportunities for any nation. However, according to these plans, there are 16 key "hardware" elements that would have to be implemented in addition to the other major plank we have explored in this column, the "alternative energy" For those who are not familiar with these concepts I have relisted them in order for one to envision what Guyana would look like if all or some are implemented.
The 16 hardware elements of the Plans are as follows:
* A high span bridge across the Berbice River with the associated development of a commercial area. (In development)
* A four-lane highway connecting Georgetown to the Soesdyke-Linden highway (partially completed but needed to be a new road versus expanding the old road that now is in people's yards)
* A high span bridge across the Demerara River (Burnham Bridge still in existence)
* A highway from Soesdyke to Wales on the West Bank of Demerara
* A highway from Parika to Monkey-Jump on the East Bank of Essequibo
* A new international airport capable of accommodating large aircraft.
* A series of bridges and causeways linking the islands in the Essequibo Delta to Morasi and Supenaam
* A high span bridge across the Essequibo River at Monkey-Jump
* A highway from the new international airport to Makouria on the East Bank of Essequibo
* A deepwater harbour and EPZ at the mouth of the Essequibo river (Hogg Island). This should be high on our priority list.
* A highway from the new international airport to Morasi on the East Bank of the Essequibo river
* A highway from Timehri via St Cuthbert's, Mahaica to Berbice
* A high-speed highway from Monkey Jump via Linden to Lethem (Brazil border) with the possibility of a parallel railway. (Feasibility study started, bridge in final stages)
* A highway from Monkey Jump to Bartica
* A highway from Supenaam to Kamaria on the Cuyuni river
* A highway from Charity, Pomeroon to the Venezuelan border.
Given the long-term political consequences of ownership for this architecture, the opportunities for foreign companies are obvious. Building a free market Guyanese brand is an essential aspect of laying a solid foundation for potential investment opportunities. Marketing Guyana as "Open for Business" is crucial to our success in expanding economic opportunity. We need global markets, businesses to buy our companies and products, and the jobs that come as a result.
The "hardware" elements of the Guyana 21 Plan also have a "software" package that is synergistic and necessary for success. This success is defined as the ability to attract capital, the ability to attract Guyanese human capital from abroad, the ability to manage these large scale projects, the ability to add significant value to village economies, the ability to grow the Guyanese economy and the ability to create strong commercial partnerships with Brazil and Venezuela, countries which would significantly benefit from the deep water harbour. There are seven software elements associated with this Plan:
* Macro economic policies designed to transform, modernise and diversify the economy to make it globally competitive and relevant
* Nation building policies in health, education and housing
* Environmentally friendly frameworks to protect Guyana's wealthy biodiversity for sustainable development
* Knowledge management and a core of highly qualified technocrats
* Governance that facilitates inclusiveness at a political level and financial integrity at a commercial level
* Strong international relationships with key partners in South America, North America, Europe and Asia
* Strategic leadership that is competent, visionary, open minded and incorruptible
Overall, the implementation of the "hardware" and software elements of these plans would engender political will to open up the economy to international trade and investment while ensuring Guyanese ownership through debt equity swaps, dividend equity conversions, soft loans, in-kind contributions of land and mineral rights etc.
The goals of our plans are:
* Achieve a 10-12 percent annual economic growth rate
* Create approximately 100,000 jobs over a 5-year period
* Attract US$300 to US$500 million in investment annually
* Forge Guyanese ownership through public private partnerships
* Convert Guyana's natural resources into exports
* Make Guyana a trans-shipment hub for Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela
* Create an export driven economy while encouraging food sufficiency
The government is slowly accepting these initiatives as their own and we want to continue to lobby them to take up the other initiatives as priorities also.
Until Next Week "Roop"
Link
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Guyana - Stadium legacy - Vegetable Patch
According to the report below, the Stadium and its environs have basically become a vegetable patch. Click the link below article for pictures of those fruits and vegetable patches. It also appears the grounds people spend alot of time on these vegetable patches. No word on whether the parking lot has been paved yet, but we have been given promises by our visionless president that flood lights will be erected by 2010 just in time for the next elections we suppose.
Not to forget that presidential moment in the presidential suite when the President told someone to "Go Downstairs" as a preluded to his divorce. It's a pity our visionless president did not get a chance to fertilize the firs lady's vegetable patch to produce a first child as promised.
We are guessing former Minister of Hydraulics and Transport Anthony Xavier is keeping the bar facilities at the stadium well stocked with his favorite drink - imported Absolut Vodka. Considering his track record we really don't know why he was appointed the facilities manager for this facility - not much is happening as you read below. Only empty promises and rhetoric one can expect from this visionless administration.
Not to forget that presidential moment in the presidential suite when the President told someone to "Go Downstairs" as a preluded to his divorce. It's a pity our visionless president did not get a chance to fertilize the firs lady's vegetable patch to produce a first child as promised.
We are guessing former Minister of Hydraulics and Transport Anthony Xavier is keeping the bar facilities at the stadium well stocked with his favorite drink - imported Absolut Vodka. Considering his track record we really don't know why he was appointed the facilities manager for this facility - not much is happening as you read below. Only empty promises and rhetoric one can expect from this visionless administration.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Guyana - Is the Stadium parking lot paved?
Four months on, plans for stadium still in the making
By Miranda La Rose
Wednesday, August 15th 2007
Stabroek News
Four months after Cricket World Cup (CWC), concrete plans for the Guyana National Cricket Stadium to generate funds for its upkeep and to make it a profitable venture, as well as a "special management formula" to administer its affairs, are still in the making. (This could be the new Everest Cricket Ground Rum Shop)
Though enquiries are being made for the facilities to be used for an entertainment show, an evangelical crusade and a football competition to involve two teams from neighbouring countries in the coming months, some follow-up work is still to be done, the administrator of the stadium Anthony Xavier said.
At present the administration and management of the multi-million dollar stadium is in the hands of Xavier, a former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, and one of his focuses is keeping the facility in tip-top shape.
Xavier told Stabroek News that at present, "We are focusing on keeping the stands, buildings, pitches, practice facilities and outfield clean and up to international standards."
In addition, the stadium was working along with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the National Sports Commission on some programmes in which they were using the facilities almost every day for outfield and net practice for the young cricketers. On the weekends they hold either a one-day or two-day game.
Since CWC 2007 some 35 local cricket matches have been played at the stadium and this week the CLICO Under-17 Berbice versus Demerara would be played there. However, these are not money-making activities.
Later in the year, regional cricket is scheduled to start and it is expected that some, if not most, of the games that would be played in Guyana, would be at the stadium. The administration of the stadium is working in close collaboration with the Guyana Cricket Board on this matter.
There are sports promoters who have indicated an interest in hosting a football championship at the stadium. They have indicated that they would like to bring teams from Brazil and Suriname.
Another promoter has indicated that he would like to use the facilities to host an international (entertainment) show in November. The interest from the promoters and the other one wishing to hold a big crusade was only expressed verbally and Xavier said he was still awaiting their requests in writing to put them through for processing.
Asked about the board or body of persons that President Bharrat Jagdeo had said would be appointed to oversee the affairs of the stadium, Xavier said that, "it is still part of the overall plan but that has not been put into effect as yet."
Jagdeo had also said in May, this year, that a "new management formula" was being looked at for the stadium.
Jagdeo had said too it was intended that the stadium would be used to the maximum to include some sporting events, concerts and church activities and it would be run in such a way to generate its own maintenance revenue.
When asked, Xavier said that, "Maintenance costs are not too expensive, at present. It is ongoing. Every time we host a match we use a lot of gasoline and oil for machines and equipment. We have groundsmen working on the pitch and they also use the brush cutter to keep the outside clean."
While he did not disclose the sums being spent on maintenance costs, he said that in relation to the maintenance of the stadium, it operates on a budgetary allocation that has been set aside for such purpose under the purview of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
Asked whether there were any income-generating events held there since the CWC or any specific plan for generating income, Xavier said that whoever holds any major activity there would have to pay the rental for the stadium and its facilities. "Automatically that is a source of revenue for the stadium," he said.
He noted that there was a very long concourse area and a large car park which could accommodate any type of show without having to use the grounds in the stadium. That area, he noted, could be used for a number of purposes. However, since seating is not available on the outside that would have to be catered for. (Is the car park paved?)
Two companies have already booked to hold fun days there, including Ansa McAl.
Also international shows and crusades could be held on the inside because of full seating capacity.
While he welcomes interest in using the facilities, he said that those renting the facilities and patrons would have to keep the place clean and desist from causing any damage.
Cigarette butts
He said recently he had a very frightening experience. "After a cricket game was held we walked around to see if there was any major maintenance work to be done. Lo and behold! We found that people were outing their cigarette butts on the back of the plastic chairs. I found that to be very disappointing. It is an international facility. It is costly to maintain and we need to keep it clean." (I thought Mr. Xavier mentioned earlier that the maintenance costs are not very high, so is it expensive or not? )
He noted, too, that the stadium has garbage receptacles all around the stadium and the concourse, yet, patrons throw their empty food boxes, and disposable glasses "on the ground scattered all over the place." (Why aren't we suprised at this?)
The workers on the ground consist of a small administrative staff, nine groundsmen and two cleaners. Their maintenance work at this stage requires inputs such as gasoline, diesel, and fertilizers, among other materials to keep the place spic and span. (Buddys could possibly supply these free of charge.)
Earlier this year, representative of the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE), Mel Sankies had said that architects and engineers, who are members of GAPE and who had visited the stadium, felt that the plastic seats in the stands would not last for five years. (Are these plastic or fiberglass seats?)
One engineer had also said that maintenance costs could be considerably high and if the stadium was not properly utilized to generate its own income, it could be a burden on taxpayers. He assumed that if the cost of construction for the stadium complex was US$40 million, it meant that for every single month of the year, maintenance would be in the vicinity of US$100,000 a month or US$1.2 million a year.
When asked about the stadium's design earlier this year, Jagdeo had said that stadiums worldwide, were basically the same and he did not see the issue of shelter being such a big matter. He had challenged those questioning the architecture to "Google" on the internet to look at designs. (The more I listen to Jagdeo the more I realize what a pompous, arrogant visionless president he is.)
Jagdeo, who among others, had lauded Guyana's successful staging of the Super Eight Matches held from March 28 to April 9 had said that Guyana would be bidding to hold some of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Championship Trophy matches to be played in the Caribbean in 2010.
By this time, he said, other facilities for the stadium would include additional lighting for playing cricket at night and a whole range of activities. (Is the parking lot paved as yet?)
With the exception of the stadium at Providence, the majority of those built or renovated and upgraded for the CWC 2007 are mostly covered to deal with the elements.
Sabina Park in Jamaica which involved major rehabilitation with a seating capacity of 21,000 and which hosted the opening match, group stage matches, and one semi-final match has 90% permanent covered stands.
The Queens Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago with a permanent seating capacity of 17,000 seats is 90% covered; the Kensington Oval in Barbados which was virtually rebuilt with permanent and temporary seating capacity of 28,000 for the final CWC 2007 match is mostly covered; the Grenada national stadium built by the Chinese to accommodate 17,000 for the CWC is mostly covered and so too are the 10,000 permanent seats of the new stadium built in Antigua and Barbuda. With temporary seating the stadium in Antigua had a seating capacity for 20,000.
The Providence stadium seating capacity of 14,800 is mostly exposed to the elements and the colour of the seats is currently fading. During the world cup matches here, patrons had complained about being exposed to the elements. (The sun bun stadium.)
After CWC 2007 the stadium continues to be an attraction. Between May to July groups from about 200 schools and from July to last Friday 70 overseas visitors had visited the stadium.
During an impromptu visit to the stadium on Friday morning, an excited group of children from the Linden branch of the National Library had just completed a tour.
Sprucing up
This reporter was also pleasantly surprised to find the stadium and its environs four months later taking on a life of its own with some amount of work done in sprucing it up with flowering and non-flowering plants. This includes a number of palm trees behind the Presidential Suite and the Players' Pavilion. All around the perimeter fence was weeded in contrast to tall grass and shrubs just beyond.
There are also trees two or three metres in height behind the Grass Mound. In time these should provide some shade from the morning sun. The general overlay plan had also made provision for some trees to be planted on the mound itself. No tree is there at present.
Of interest was a clump of tomato plants already bearing in front of the Grass Mound. The stadium's Office Assistant, Mahindar Ghanshim told Stabroek News that the tomato plants were a "legacy" of CWC. They were not planted by the staff but the gardener and other staff began to water and fertilise them.
Similarly, a number of water melon vines grew, blossomed and bore several watermelons much to the delight of the ground staff. The seeds were also left by fans.
While talking to the groundsmen in the vicinity of the pitches, where they were watering the ground, they warned this reporter "To be careful with your heels on the pitches" causing her to make a detour and walk on tip-toe at one stage. (Why is this reporter wearing high heels on a cricket field?)
And while sheltering from the rain in the service centre, the groundsmen told Stabroek News that they were "very proud of working at the stadium."
They explained that once it does not rain, they water the ground every day, and apply fertilisers as necessary. They said that only the two end pitches of the six-pitch field were allowed to be used for local competitions. The other four were used for the CWC matches and they would be reserved for test and other international matches.
Very noticeable is the tint that now graces the glass windows of the media centre. That was not there during CWC 2007.
Click here to see photos
By Miranda La Rose
Wednesday, August 15th 2007
Stabroek News
Four months after Cricket World Cup (CWC), concrete plans for the Guyana National Cricket Stadium to generate funds for its upkeep and to make it a profitable venture, as well as a "special management formula" to administer its affairs, are still in the making. (This could be the new Everest Cricket Ground Rum Shop)
Though enquiries are being made for the facilities to be used for an entertainment show, an evangelical crusade and a football competition to involve two teams from neighbouring countries in the coming months, some follow-up work is still to be done, the administrator of the stadium Anthony Xavier said.
At present the administration and management of the multi-million dollar stadium is in the hands of Xavier, a former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, and one of his focuses is keeping the facility in tip-top shape.
Xavier told Stabroek News that at present, "We are focusing on keeping the stands, buildings, pitches, practice facilities and outfield clean and up to international standards."
In addition, the stadium was working along with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the National Sports Commission on some programmes in which they were using the facilities almost every day for outfield and net practice for the young cricketers. On the weekends they hold either a one-day or two-day game.
Since CWC 2007 some 35 local cricket matches have been played at the stadium and this week the CLICO Under-17 Berbice versus Demerara would be played there. However, these are not money-making activities.
Later in the year, regional cricket is scheduled to start and it is expected that some, if not most, of the games that would be played in Guyana, would be at the stadium. The administration of the stadium is working in close collaboration with the Guyana Cricket Board on this matter.
There are sports promoters who have indicated an interest in hosting a football championship at the stadium. They have indicated that they would like to bring teams from Brazil and Suriname.
Another promoter has indicated that he would like to use the facilities to host an international (entertainment) show in November. The interest from the promoters and the other one wishing to hold a big crusade was only expressed verbally and Xavier said he was still awaiting their requests in writing to put them through for processing.
Asked about the board or body of persons that President Bharrat Jagdeo had said would be appointed to oversee the affairs of the stadium, Xavier said that, "it is still part of the overall plan but that has not been put into effect as yet."
Jagdeo had also said in May, this year, that a "new management formula" was being looked at for the stadium.
Jagdeo had said too it was intended that the stadium would be used to the maximum to include some sporting events, concerts and church activities and it would be run in such a way to generate its own maintenance revenue.
When asked, Xavier said that, "Maintenance costs are not too expensive, at present. It is ongoing. Every time we host a match we use a lot of gasoline and oil for machines and equipment. We have groundsmen working on the pitch and they also use the brush cutter to keep the outside clean."
While he did not disclose the sums being spent on maintenance costs, he said that in relation to the maintenance of the stadium, it operates on a budgetary allocation that has been set aside for such purpose under the purview of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
Asked whether there were any income-generating events held there since the CWC or any specific plan for generating income, Xavier said that whoever holds any major activity there would have to pay the rental for the stadium and its facilities. "Automatically that is a source of revenue for the stadium," he said.
He noted that there was a very long concourse area and a large car park which could accommodate any type of show without having to use the grounds in the stadium. That area, he noted, could be used for a number of purposes. However, since seating is not available on the outside that would have to be catered for. (Is the car park paved?)
Two companies have already booked to hold fun days there, including Ansa McAl.
Also international shows and crusades could be held on the inside because of full seating capacity.
While he welcomes interest in using the facilities, he said that those renting the facilities and patrons would have to keep the place clean and desist from causing any damage.
Cigarette butts
He said recently he had a very frightening experience. "After a cricket game was held we walked around to see if there was any major maintenance work to be done. Lo and behold! We found that people were outing their cigarette butts on the back of the plastic chairs. I found that to be very disappointing. It is an international facility. It is costly to maintain and we need to keep it clean." (I thought Mr. Xavier mentioned earlier that the maintenance costs are not very high, so is it expensive or not? )
He noted, too, that the stadium has garbage receptacles all around the stadium and the concourse, yet, patrons throw their empty food boxes, and disposable glasses "on the ground scattered all over the place." (Why aren't we suprised at this?)
The workers on the ground consist of a small administrative staff, nine groundsmen and two cleaners. Their maintenance work at this stage requires inputs such as gasoline, diesel, and fertilizers, among other materials to keep the place spic and span. (Buddys could possibly supply these free of charge.)
Earlier this year, representative of the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE), Mel Sankies had said that architects and engineers, who are members of GAPE and who had visited the stadium, felt that the plastic seats in the stands would not last for five years. (Are these plastic or fiberglass seats?)
One engineer had also said that maintenance costs could be considerably high and if the stadium was not properly utilized to generate its own income, it could be a burden on taxpayers. He assumed that if the cost of construction for the stadium complex was US$40 million, it meant that for every single month of the year, maintenance would be in the vicinity of US$100,000 a month or US$1.2 million a year.
When asked about the stadium's design earlier this year, Jagdeo had said that stadiums worldwide, were basically the same and he did not see the issue of shelter being such a big matter. He had challenged those questioning the architecture to "Google" on the internet to look at designs. (The more I listen to Jagdeo the more I realize what a pompous, arrogant visionless president he is.)
Jagdeo, who among others, had lauded Guyana's successful staging of the Super Eight Matches held from March 28 to April 9 had said that Guyana would be bidding to hold some of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Championship Trophy matches to be played in the Caribbean in 2010.
By this time, he said, other facilities for the stadium would include additional lighting for playing cricket at night and a whole range of activities. (Is the parking lot paved as yet?)
With the exception of the stadium at Providence, the majority of those built or renovated and upgraded for the CWC 2007 are mostly covered to deal with the elements.
Sabina Park in Jamaica which involved major rehabilitation with a seating capacity of 21,000 and which hosted the opening match, group stage matches, and one semi-final match has 90% permanent covered stands.
The Queens Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago with a permanent seating capacity of 17,000 seats is 90% covered; the Kensington Oval in Barbados which was virtually rebuilt with permanent and temporary seating capacity of 28,000 for the final CWC 2007 match is mostly covered; the Grenada national stadium built by the Chinese to accommodate 17,000 for the CWC is mostly covered and so too are the 10,000 permanent seats of the new stadium built in Antigua and Barbuda. With temporary seating the stadium in Antigua had a seating capacity for 20,000.
The Providence stadium seating capacity of 14,800 is mostly exposed to the elements and the colour of the seats is currently fading. During the world cup matches here, patrons had complained about being exposed to the elements. (The sun bun stadium.)
After CWC 2007 the stadium continues to be an attraction. Between May to July groups from about 200 schools and from July to last Friday 70 overseas visitors had visited the stadium.
During an impromptu visit to the stadium on Friday morning, an excited group of children from the Linden branch of the National Library had just completed a tour.
Sprucing up
This reporter was also pleasantly surprised to find the stadium and its environs four months later taking on a life of its own with some amount of work done in sprucing it up with flowering and non-flowering plants. This includes a number of palm trees behind the Presidential Suite and the Players' Pavilion. All around the perimeter fence was weeded in contrast to tall grass and shrubs just beyond.
There are also trees two or three metres in height behind the Grass Mound. In time these should provide some shade from the morning sun. The general overlay plan had also made provision for some trees to be planted on the mound itself. No tree is there at present.
Of interest was a clump of tomato plants already bearing in front of the Grass Mound. The stadium's Office Assistant, Mahindar Ghanshim told Stabroek News that the tomato plants were a "legacy" of CWC. They were not planted by the staff but the gardener and other staff began to water and fertilise them.
Similarly, a number of water melon vines grew, blossomed and bore several watermelons much to the delight of the ground staff. The seeds were also left by fans.
While talking to the groundsmen in the vicinity of the pitches, where they were watering the ground, they warned this reporter "To be careful with your heels on the pitches" causing her to make a detour and walk on tip-toe at one stage. (Why is this reporter wearing high heels on a cricket field?)
And while sheltering from the rain in the service centre, the groundsmen told Stabroek News that they were "very proud of working at the stadium."
They explained that once it does not rain, they water the ground every day, and apply fertilisers as necessary. They said that only the two end pitches of the six-pitch field were allowed to be used for local competitions. The other four were used for the CWC matches and they would be reserved for test and other international matches.
Very noticeable is the tint that now graces the glass windows of the media centre. That was not there during CWC 2007.
Click here to see photos
Guyana - Overland tours website
Mission Statment:
To provide the extreme adventure experience in Guyana's Rainforests Savannah and Mountains. Whilst ensuring safty and maintaining the natural environment.
Check out their website
http://www.extremeguyanatours.com/default.aspx
To provide the extreme adventure experience in Guyana's Rainforests Savannah and Mountains. Whilst ensuring safty and maintaining the natural environment.
Check out their website
http://www.extremeguyanatours.com/default.aspx
Guyana - Race, Class, Politics
Race, Class, Politics and Family Life
The Web site of Raymond T. Smith
Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago.
This web site is a repository of materials that deal with the relationship among economic, political, and domestic relations in complex societies where class and race are salient, including the United States, Guyana, Jamaica and other societies of the Caribbean. It contains research data and theoretical discussion of the matrifocal family and the social policy issues generated by that concept as well as analysis of colonial societies and their successor states.....read more
The Web site of Raymond T. Smith
Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago.
This web site is a repository of materials that deal with the relationship among economic, political, and domestic relations in complex societies where class and race are salient, including the United States, Guyana, Jamaica and other societies of the Caribbean. It contains research data and theoretical discussion of the matrifocal family and the social policy issues generated by that concept as well as analysis of colonial societies and their successor states.....read more
Guyana - Windsor Forest Plantation
WINDSOR FOREST PLANTATION by Raymond T. Smith
In January of 1956 I arrived in British Guiana and quickly decided upon Windsor Forest as the site of my own fieldwork. Just a few miles from Vreed-en-Hoop, the terminus of the ferry across the Demerara River from Georgetown, Windsor Forest had been an important sugar plantation until the early part of the twentieth century. Prior to 1908 Windsor Forest was owned by a British Company, with a resident population of East Indian immigrants, a few Chinese, most of whom had drifted into shopkeeping, some Africans—many of whom were descendants of Barbadian immigrants—and a few Europeans who managed the plantation. The company failed to maintain an efficient sea defence or to pay taxes and eventually abandoned cultivation. After selling a few house lots to the residents, the government finally stepped in, placed the estate up for sale at Execution and bought it in order to protect its financial interest in the outstanding tax debt.......read more
In January of 1956 I arrived in British Guiana and quickly decided upon Windsor Forest as the site of my own fieldwork. Just a few miles from Vreed-en-Hoop, the terminus of the ferry across the Demerara River from Georgetown, Windsor Forest had been an important sugar plantation until the early part of the twentieth century. Prior to 1908 Windsor Forest was owned by a British Company, with a resident population of East Indian immigrants, a few Chinese, most of whom had drifted into shopkeeping, some Africans—many of whom were descendants of Barbadian immigrants—and a few Europeans who managed the plantation. The company failed to maintain an efficient sea defence or to pay taxes and eventually abandoned cultivation. After selling a few house lots to the residents, the government finally stepped in, placed the estate up for sale at Execution and bought it in order to protect its financial interest in the outstanding tax debt.......read more
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Guyana - Trip to Suriname
Reported by Robin Banks:
TRIP TO SURINAME AUGUST 10 – 12, 2007
DAY 1
4:00 am Depart home for Georgetown to board bus
4:10 am Depart Georgetown with 3 additional passengers – Canadian Guyanese home for holidays and going to Skeldon for a Jag.
4:20 am Pick up additional passenger in Prashad Nagar and begin journey to Rosignal
6:10 am Arrive at Rosignal. Both the truck and the car lines were over 20 vehicles long. A ferry was moored at the stelling but there was no sign of it moving. Bearing in mind there were on-going repairs to the New Amsterdam Stelling and we would have to exit at Stanlettown wharf, we all anticipated delays. Some of the truckers said that they arrived there since 3:30 am and were still not crossing. Washroom facilities became a problem and we had to pay our way into a fast food outlet to use their toilets.
8:00 am The ferry in dock finally departs for Stanleytown. But we are still in line. Of course there are lots of fights going on with mini buses boring into the lines. Most of the passengers waiting were due to catch the Suriname ferry which normally leaves at 11:00 am from Moleson creek, past Crabwood Creek in Berbice. Luckily our bus had a priority pass and we managed to get on to the ferry first, much to the annoyance of others.
9:00 am Ferry departs Rosignal.
9:20 am Arrive at Stanley town and we start our approximately 2 hours journey to Moleson Creek.
11:04 am Arrive at Moleson Creek after dropping off our Canadian Passengers. We were hoping that we were not too late to get the ferry. But more delays – the management of the ferry decided to wait for any passengers who were delayed at Rosignal. So we sat in the sweltering heat in air polluted by the stench of waiting tigers and a giraffe. These served as good entertainment for all the waiting passengers though since many Guyanese had never seen a live giraffe.
1:00 pm Depart Moleson Creek, Ferry is a simple drive on drive off type. As my mother commented, even the ropes used were clean. It was an amazing change even though there was a Guyanese crew on the vessel. Everything was well maintained, the passengers were suddenly very orderly and everything went smoothly. However, it seems as though when you get to Suriname there is normally a hassle to clear immigration and customs especially when you are crossing with a vehicle. So the driver of the bus, who seemed well connected, spoke with the sailors to allow the vehicles off first so we could clear quickly. Rumor has it that this process can last up to an hour.
1:35pm Arrival in Suriname. Off the bus we went racing though immigration and it paid off. We managed to clear in about 15 minutes and off we went. We Suriname are now in Suriname and the drive begins. First was an all weather Time) road for about 30 minutes. Then on paved roads for another 4 hours. Through farm lands, rice fields and small villages. This was probably the worst part of the trip and at this stage we learnt our first Dutch word – “dremple” which to us in Guyana means sleeping policeman and they are all over Suriname.
7:30 pm Arrived in Parimaribo and checked in the Hotel. My mother was pooped but son was ready and rearing to go again.
8:00 pm Left the hotel, visited a mall.
9:00 pm Dinner at a Chinese restaurant like our New Thriving but larger. Slow service but good food.
10:30 pm Back to the hotel. There was the possibility of a casino but we were not so inclined.
DAY 2
6:30 am Wake up fully rested.
7:00 am Breakfast.
8:00 am Me, mummy and son got dropped off in downtown Parimaribo And the rest went their own way. Where we were was like the equivalent to Regent Street in Guyana, minus the traffic congestion. Their pavements are about 15’-0” wide and traffic flowed smoothly. Things were fairly reasonable and most of the stores took US dollars. Also many persons speak English so communication was not a problem. I would compare Parimaribo with part of Port of Spain. They do not have such modern buildings but all stores have AC and good service.
12:00 pm Meeting point at McDonalds. This was pretty crowded but good service. We left McDonalds and visited a couple other stores and then returned to the Hotel. Actually a different hotel this time which had nice rooms and amenities.
2:00 – 4:00 pm Rested and then got picked up by a lady who works with in Suriname. She took us on a historic tour around Parimaribo, drove over the bridge, visited some historical sites and supermarket. Then we visited another mall bought some stuff and scoped out others for future visits.
8:30 pm Dinner at an Indonisian Restaurant. Nice food with some lemon grass flavours.
10:00 pm Back to the hotel.
DAY 3
3:30 am Wake up call.
4:00 am Depart hotel for Ferry Stelling
9:00 am Checked in, bought some liquor at the duty free shop at very low prices. Hung around and checked out the traders with their big bags.
11:00 am Departed Suriname back to dear old Guyana.
11:30 am Back to Guyana, the same immigration delay transpired and then we started for Stanley town.
12:30 pm Stanleytown. A long line awaited us but luckily the priority pass worked again.
1:30 pm Crossed to Rosignal and it was smooth sailing from then.
4:30 pm Back home safe and sound.
TRIP TO SURINAME AUGUST 10 – 12, 2007
DAY 1
4:00 am Depart home for Georgetown to board bus
4:10 am Depart Georgetown with 3 additional passengers – Canadian Guyanese home for holidays and going to Skeldon for a Jag.
4:20 am Pick up additional passenger in Prashad Nagar and begin journey to Rosignal
6:10 am Arrive at Rosignal. Both the truck and the car lines were over 20 vehicles long. A ferry was moored at the stelling but there was no sign of it moving. Bearing in mind there were on-going repairs to the New Amsterdam Stelling and we would have to exit at Stanlettown wharf, we all anticipated delays. Some of the truckers said that they arrived there since 3:30 am and were still not crossing. Washroom facilities became a problem and we had to pay our way into a fast food outlet to use their toilets.
8:00 am The ferry in dock finally departs for Stanleytown. But we are still in line. Of course there are lots of fights going on with mini buses boring into the lines. Most of the passengers waiting were due to catch the Suriname ferry which normally leaves at 11:00 am from Moleson creek, past Crabwood Creek in Berbice. Luckily our bus had a priority pass and we managed to get on to the ferry first, much to the annoyance of others.
9:00 am Ferry departs Rosignal.
9:20 am Arrive at Stanley town and we start our approximately 2 hours journey to Moleson Creek.
11:04 am Arrive at Moleson Creek after dropping off our Canadian Passengers. We were hoping that we were not too late to get the ferry. But more delays – the management of the ferry decided to wait for any passengers who were delayed at Rosignal. So we sat in the sweltering heat in air polluted by the stench of waiting tigers and a giraffe. These served as good entertainment for all the waiting passengers though since many Guyanese had never seen a live giraffe.
1:00 pm Depart Moleson Creek, Ferry is a simple drive on drive off type. As my mother commented, even the ropes used were clean. It was an amazing change even though there was a Guyanese crew on the vessel. Everything was well maintained, the passengers were suddenly very orderly and everything went smoothly. However, it seems as though when you get to Suriname there is normally a hassle to clear immigration and customs especially when you are crossing with a vehicle. So the driver of the bus, who seemed well connected, spoke with the sailors to allow the vehicles off first so we could clear quickly. Rumor has it that this process can last up to an hour.
1:35pm Arrival in Suriname. Off the bus we went racing though immigration and it paid off. We managed to clear in about 15 minutes and off we went. We Suriname are now in Suriname and the drive begins. First was an all weather Time) road for about 30 minutes. Then on paved roads for another 4 hours. Through farm lands, rice fields and small villages. This was probably the worst part of the trip and at this stage we learnt our first Dutch word – “dremple” which to us in Guyana means sleeping policeman and they are all over Suriname.
7:30 pm Arrived in Parimaribo and checked in the Hotel. My mother was pooped but son was ready and rearing to go again.
8:00 pm Left the hotel, visited a mall.
9:00 pm Dinner at a Chinese restaurant like our New Thriving but larger. Slow service but good food.
10:30 pm Back to the hotel. There was the possibility of a casino but we were not so inclined.
DAY 2
6:30 am Wake up fully rested.
7:00 am Breakfast.
8:00 am Me, mummy and son got dropped off in downtown Parimaribo And the rest went their own way. Where we were was like the equivalent to Regent Street in Guyana, minus the traffic congestion. Their pavements are about 15’-0” wide and traffic flowed smoothly. Things were fairly reasonable and most of the stores took US dollars. Also many persons speak English so communication was not a problem. I would compare Parimaribo with part of Port of Spain. They do not have such modern buildings but all stores have AC and good service.
12:00 pm Meeting point at McDonalds. This was pretty crowded but good service. We left McDonalds and visited a couple other stores and then returned to the Hotel. Actually a different hotel this time which had nice rooms and amenities.
2:00 – 4:00 pm Rested and then got picked up by a lady who works with in Suriname. She took us on a historic tour around Parimaribo, drove over the bridge, visited some historical sites and supermarket. Then we visited another mall bought some stuff and scoped out others for future visits.
8:30 pm Dinner at an Indonisian Restaurant. Nice food with some lemon grass flavours.
10:00 pm Back to the hotel.
DAY 3
3:30 am Wake up call.
4:00 am Depart hotel for Ferry Stelling
9:00 am Checked in, bought some liquor at the duty free shop at very low prices. Hung around and checked out the traders with their big bags.
11:00 am Departed Suriname back to dear old Guyana.
11:30 am Back to Guyana, the same immigration delay transpired and then we started for Stanley town.
12:30 pm Stanleytown. A long line awaited us but luckily the priority pass worked again.
1:30 pm Crossed to Rosignal and it was smooth sailing from then.
4:30 pm Back home safe and sound.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Guyana - Historic website
ABOUT US
In 1972, the office of The National Trust of Guyana was established by an act of Parliament. The Trust is committed to the preservation, conservation and public display of all aspects of the cultural heritage of Guyana.
OUR MISSION
The preservation of buildings of national or architectural, historic or artistic interest and the augmentation of the amenities and of those buildings and places and their surroundings.
The preservation of the furniture and pictures and chattels of any description having historic or artistic value.
The access to and enjoyment by the public of such buildings, places and chattels.
The promotion of the permanent preservation for the benefit of the nation, of property of beauty or historic interest.
The Trust is also obliged to propagate the awareness and a wholesome understanding and appreciation of the relevance and significance of these aspects of the nation's heritage to the national psyche.
Click here for website
In 1972, the office of The National Trust of Guyana was established by an act of Parliament. The Trust is committed to the preservation, conservation and public display of all aspects of the cultural heritage of Guyana.
OUR MISSION
The preservation of buildings of national or architectural, historic or artistic interest and the augmentation of the amenities and of those buildings and places and their surroundings.
The preservation of the furniture and pictures and chattels of any description having historic or artistic value.
The access to and enjoyment by the public of such buildings, places and chattels.
The promotion of the permanent preservation for the benefit of the nation, of property of beauty or historic interest.
The Trust is also obliged to propagate the awareness and a wholesome understanding and appreciation of the relevance and significance of these aspects of the nation's heritage to the national psyche.
Click here for website
Guyana - Birding website
Guyana Birding
In Guyana more than 800 species of birds from 72 different families have been documented. Plus, there are many more species that remain unidentified. Guyana's coastal capital city, Georgetown, hosts more than 200 of these species from 39 families alone.
Click here for website and trip reports
In Guyana more than 800 species of birds from 72 different families have been documented. Plus, there are many more species that remain unidentified. Guyana's coastal capital city, Georgetown, hosts more than 200 of these species from 39 families alone.
Click here for website and trip reports
Guyana - The evolution to development continues under the PPP
Cattle trespass on the highways is now common unlike colonial times
Saturday, August 11th 2007
Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
Reading the letter written by R. Khan about stray animals on the Essequibo road (07.08.07) I get the feeling he does not come out of mainland Essequibo often or probably he hasn't noticed that all our roads, highways and byways are one big cow pasture, also our city.
On the East Bank of Demerara we have a new four lane highway with traffic lights and all and it is still a cow pasture.
I do not know how young Khan is so I must let him know that when our country was a British colony cows could not be seen on our roads and sea defences, but that was then.
You see the law in British Guiana provided for each cow, donkey and horse to be branded when it was six weeks old and a cow could only be on the road when it was led tied with a rope and the person leading the animal had to carry a red flag.
Of course try telling the owner of the cow about the law and he or she will most likely reply: "what wrang wid you since me was lil child me cow been grazing on de road and de housing scheme, me neva hear about dat law." Finally as far as I am aware a cow without a brand is not owned by anyone, but then probably the law has changed without my knowledge.
Yours faithfully,
WP George
Link
Blogger's Note:
This is what is called infrastructure development under the PPP, building roads without a proper foundation or drainage will only cause the roads to erode, not to mention cowshit might be very 'corrosive' to assphalt.
Saturday, August 11th 2007
Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
Reading the letter written by R. Khan about stray animals on the Essequibo road (07.08.07) I get the feeling he does not come out of mainland Essequibo often or probably he hasn't noticed that all our roads, highways and byways are one big cow pasture, also our city.
On the East Bank of Demerara we have a new four lane highway with traffic lights and all and it is still a cow pasture.
I do not know how young Khan is so I must let him know that when our country was a British colony cows could not be seen on our roads and sea defences, but that was then.
You see the law in British Guiana provided for each cow, donkey and horse to be branded when it was six weeks old and a cow could only be on the road when it was led tied with a rope and the person leading the animal had to carry a red flag.
Of course try telling the owner of the cow about the law and he or she will most likely reply: "what wrang wid you since me was lil child me cow been grazing on de road and de housing scheme, me neva hear about dat law." Finally as far as I am aware a cow without a brand is not owned by anyone, but then probably the law has changed without my knowledge.
Yours faithfully,
WP George
Link
Blogger's Note:
This is what is called infrastructure development under the PPP, building roads without a proper foundation or drainage will only cause the roads to erode, not to mention cowshit might be very 'corrosive' to assphalt.
Friday, August 10, 2007
USA - Distribution of Guyanese in the US as of year 2000
Ten states with the largest foreign-born population from Guyana, 2000
Area /Number/ Percent
United States / 211,189 / 100%
New York /142,154 / 67.3%
New Jersey /17,746 / 8.4%
Florida / 16,651 / 7.9%
Maryland / 6,190 / 2.9%
California / 4,053 / 1.9%
Georgia / 3,689 / 1.7%
Connecticut / 2,940 / 1.4%
Texas / 2,213 / 1.0%
Minnesota / 2,053 / 1.0%
Virginia / 1,841 / 0.9%
Link
Area /Number/ Percent
United States / 211,189 / 100%
New York /142,154 / 67.3%
New Jersey /17,746 / 8.4%
Florida / 16,651 / 7.9%
Maryland / 6,190 / 2.9%
California / 4,053 / 1.9%
Georgia / 3,689 / 1.7%
Connecticut / 2,940 / 1.4%
Texas / 2,213 / 1.0%
Minnesota / 2,053 / 1.0%
Virginia / 1,841 / 0.9%
Link
Guyana - Minister Robert Persaud steals $40,000 US dollars
...I also asked if the $40,000 (US) SSI had submitted with it's applications would be returned to us should the government change the rules after the fact and remove the properties from consideration. Both Minister Persaud and Commissioner Singh agreed that this was a reasonable accommodation as it was the government changing its rules and not of SSI's making....
....All it did do was allow government to come up with a completely different answer that would allow it to keep our US$40,000......read more
....All it did do was allow government to come up with a completely different answer that would allow it to keep our US$40,000......read more
Guyana - Investing & the hurdles
Guyana Airline Owner Scents New Growth in Old Backwater
New York Times
By SIMON ROMERO
Published: April 27, 2000
Flying over this country's bountiful rain forest in a noisy propeller plane seating nine people can unnerve the most seasoned traveler. And what if the pilot shows up wearing sneakers and a T-shirt?
''Not in this company, mister,'' said Gerald Gouveia, the owner of Roraima Airways, an upstart Guyanese airline. After Mr. Gouveia saw the unsettling effect such attire could have on foreign visitors, he decreed a dress code for his pilots: tie, slacks and black leather shoes.
''Even if we must sweat,'' said the 44-year-old executive, clad in such clothing because he sometimes pilots his company's planes, one hot day here in Guyana's capital.
Mr. Gouveia is one of the more outspoken business executives in Guyana, the only English-speaking nation in South America. Working to discard more than two decades of isolation after independence from Britain in 1966, Guyana's economy has slowly become more capitalistic over the last decade, and people like Mr. Gouveia are leading the way.
He got his start in aviation in the armed forces, where he spent 15 years, eventually rising to chief pilot of the army air corps. During that time he got some experience working under pressure after the mass suicide late in 1978 of more than 900 followers of Jim Jones, the doomsday cult leader who constructed a city, Jonestown, in Guyana's interior.
''The smell of the place was disgusting, but there I was -- flying the world's media into the middle of nowhere,'' Mr. Gouveia said in lilted Guyanese English that resembles the accent of Jamaica. ''What a rush!''
After leaving the military, Mr. Gouveia moved north, like many of his countrymen, to Canada, where he worked as a flight instructor in Montreal.
In fact, more Guyanese still live outside the country than in it, leaving the population at little more than 700,000. The largest communities of Guyanese abroad are in Toronto and in New York, where as many as 130,000 people are largely concentrated in Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Jamaica, Queens; and in Crown Heights and Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Although the financial stability to be found in North America was attractive, he returned to Guyana in the early 1990's to work for Golden Star, a Canadian mining company, organizing their transportation for a large gold-mining operation in the interior.
Then, in 1992, elections brought in a government perceived as more favorable than its predecessor to private investment. So after some market-friendly changes, like the privatization of the national telephone company and the awarding of a concession to a Malaysian concern for a large-scale timber operation, he started his own airline eight years ago.
Mr. Gouveia called it Roraima Airways after Mount Roraima, the remote peak that serves as the backdrop of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's adventure novel ''The Lost World.'' It is also where the borders of Guyana, Brazil and Venezuela meet, a region of economic potential if Guyana chooses to forge stronger ties with its South American neighbors.
With that idea in mind, Mr. Gouveia initiated the first regularly scheduled flights between Guyana and Brazil, linking Boa Vista, a city in the upper reaches of the Brazilian Amazon, to Georgetown. But lack of passenger demand on the route soon made Roraima Airways drop it.
Mr. Gouveia attributed this lack of demand to concern among some Guyanese government officials over the possibility of their small country becoming a mere appendage to its neighbor to the south, with 170 million people.
Recently, though, progress has been made in strengthening Guyanese ties with Brazil with the forming of a tourism and trade commission headed by Mr. Gouveia. Although he is still critical of what he calls foot-dragging, he said that ''Guyana is realizing that much of its future is linked to better Brazilian relations.''
Commonly called Gerry, or Captain Gerry, Mr. Gouveia is known for his blunt criticism of Guyana's government. The country's politics remain polarized by race issues, and though people from different racial backgrounds mix freely on the streets of Georgetown, they tend to vote along ethnic lines.
Still, a vibrant democracy has emerged, enabling people to express their views. Since 1992, the Indo-Guyanese majority, descended from people from the Indian subcontinent, has governed the country, after more than two decades of rule by Afro-Guyanese -- those descended from Africans.
Mr. Gouveia is a member of still another minority, the Portuguese, descended from laborers from Portugal who came to Guyana more than a century ago.
Mr. Gouveia's biggest feud with the authorities came a year ago, after he acquired the country's first civilian helicopter. With the new machine, he hoped to organize tourist expeditions into rain forest lodges and to fly supplies to mining camps.
But soon, the army began competing with him, using its helicopters to organize sorties into the interior. And because the army did not pay taxes on fuel, it charged less, eventually squeezing Roraima Airways out of the helicopter business.
''Gerry's a little bitter about the helicopter issue,'' said Moses Nagamootoo, the minister of information. ''But we're a very poor country. We encouraged our army to get into things like farming, or to use their helicopters to make a little extra money. What harm is there in having an army that is not in dire straits?''
Facing such obstacles, Mr. Gouveia does not expect to become another Richard Branson anytime soon. His fleet comprises three small planes, none of them jets. And his company is smaller than the country's two other airlines, Guyana Airways and Trans-Guyana. Still, that does not stop him from thinking big.
''We've got it all in Guyana for a big air travel market -- the preserved natural beauty, the natural resources, the exports,'' he said, counting on his fingers the nation's production of rice, sugar, timber and gold. ''It takes a crazy capitalist like me to get off the sidelines and make sure we don't lose this chance.''
Link
New York Times
By SIMON ROMERO
Published: April 27, 2000
Flying over this country's bountiful rain forest in a noisy propeller plane seating nine people can unnerve the most seasoned traveler. And what if the pilot shows up wearing sneakers and a T-shirt?
''Not in this company, mister,'' said Gerald Gouveia, the owner of Roraima Airways, an upstart Guyanese airline. After Mr. Gouveia saw the unsettling effect such attire could have on foreign visitors, he decreed a dress code for his pilots: tie, slacks and black leather shoes.
''Even if we must sweat,'' said the 44-year-old executive, clad in such clothing because he sometimes pilots his company's planes, one hot day here in Guyana's capital.
Mr. Gouveia is one of the more outspoken business executives in Guyana, the only English-speaking nation in South America. Working to discard more than two decades of isolation after independence from Britain in 1966, Guyana's economy has slowly become more capitalistic over the last decade, and people like Mr. Gouveia are leading the way.
He got his start in aviation in the armed forces, where he spent 15 years, eventually rising to chief pilot of the army air corps. During that time he got some experience working under pressure after the mass suicide late in 1978 of more than 900 followers of Jim Jones, the doomsday cult leader who constructed a city, Jonestown, in Guyana's interior.
''The smell of the place was disgusting, but there I was -- flying the world's media into the middle of nowhere,'' Mr. Gouveia said in lilted Guyanese English that resembles the accent of Jamaica. ''What a rush!''
After leaving the military, Mr. Gouveia moved north, like many of his countrymen, to Canada, where he worked as a flight instructor in Montreal.
In fact, more Guyanese still live outside the country than in it, leaving the population at little more than 700,000. The largest communities of Guyanese abroad are in Toronto and in New York, where as many as 130,000 people are largely concentrated in Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Jamaica, Queens; and in Crown Heights and Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Although the financial stability to be found in North America was attractive, he returned to Guyana in the early 1990's to work for Golden Star, a Canadian mining company, organizing their transportation for a large gold-mining operation in the interior.
Then, in 1992, elections brought in a government perceived as more favorable than its predecessor to private investment. So after some market-friendly changes, like the privatization of the national telephone company and the awarding of a concession to a Malaysian concern for a large-scale timber operation, he started his own airline eight years ago.
Mr. Gouveia called it Roraima Airways after Mount Roraima, the remote peak that serves as the backdrop of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's adventure novel ''The Lost World.'' It is also where the borders of Guyana, Brazil and Venezuela meet, a region of economic potential if Guyana chooses to forge stronger ties with its South American neighbors.
With that idea in mind, Mr. Gouveia initiated the first regularly scheduled flights between Guyana and Brazil, linking Boa Vista, a city in the upper reaches of the Brazilian Amazon, to Georgetown. But lack of passenger demand on the route soon made Roraima Airways drop it.
Mr. Gouveia attributed this lack of demand to concern among some Guyanese government officials over the possibility of their small country becoming a mere appendage to its neighbor to the south, with 170 million people.
Recently, though, progress has been made in strengthening Guyanese ties with Brazil with the forming of a tourism and trade commission headed by Mr. Gouveia. Although he is still critical of what he calls foot-dragging, he said that ''Guyana is realizing that much of its future is linked to better Brazilian relations.''
Commonly called Gerry, or Captain Gerry, Mr. Gouveia is known for his blunt criticism of Guyana's government. The country's politics remain polarized by race issues, and though people from different racial backgrounds mix freely on the streets of Georgetown, they tend to vote along ethnic lines.
Still, a vibrant democracy has emerged, enabling people to express their views. Since 1992, the Indo-Guyanese majority, descended from people from the Indian subcontinent, has governed the country, after more than two decades of rule by Afro-Guyanese -- those descended from Africans.
Mr. Gouveia is a member of still another minority, the Portuguese, descended from laborers from Portugal who came to Guyana more than a century ago.
Mr. Gouveia's biggest feud with the authorities came a year ago, after he acquired the country's first civilian helicopter. With the new machine, he hoped to organize tourist expeditions into rain forest lodges and to fly supplies to mining camps.
But soon, the army began competing with him, using its helicopters to organize sorties into the interior. And because the army did not pay taxes on fuel, it charged less, eventually squeezing Roraima Airways out of the helicopter business.
''Gerry's a little bitter about the helicopter issue,'' said Moses Nagamootoo, the minister of information. ''But we're a very poor country. We encouraged our army to get into things like farming, or to use their helicopters to make a little extra money. What harm is there in having an army that is not in dire straits?''
Facing such obstacles, Mr. Gouveia does not expect to become another Richard Branson anytime soon. His fleet comprises three small planes, none of them jets. And his company is smaller than the country's two other airlines, Guyana Airways and Trans-Guyana. Still, that does not stop him from thinking big.
''We've got it all in Guyana for a big air travel market -- the preserved natural beauty, the natural resources, the exports,'' he said, counting on his fingers the nation's production of rice, sugar, timber and gold. ''It takes a crazy capitalist like me to get off the sidelines and make sure we don't lose this chance.''
Link
Guyana - What you did not know about Ethanol
IDB should provide a loan for a prototype plant for large scale ethanol production
Friday, August 10th 2007
Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
We refer to an article in SN and DC 07/08/07 on the subject of the IDB President Mr. Moreno glorifying Guyana's agricultural ability to meet all gasoline and bio-fuel needs as well as half of its electrical demands through alcohol and other products of sugar cane.
He also went on to state that Guyana could replace 10 percent of its current gasoline consumption by constructing one single ethanol plant at a cost of US$ 6.5 M that could save Guyana US$ 5.0 M per year in imported gasoline.
These figures are indeed impressive and may very well help Guyana out of its economic woes.
The report states that Guyana could recoup nearly 80 percent of its initial capital cost after one year of operating a single ethanol plant. We are sure the bank and Mr. Moreno have done their homework, having knowledge of production and economic conditions in Guyana and the various costs involved in producing ethanol from sugarcane cultivation. However, ethanol would not be able to replace gasoline altogether in Guyana since you need a fuel mixture ratio of 90/10 of gas/ethanol for motor vehicles to operate in Guyana. A higher percentage is achievable but with a change of engine types. The energy from ethanol is also 30 percent less than that of gasoline so there will be a reduction in mileage capacity and a complementary increase in operating cost. But these are small problems compared to the saving in foreign currency.
The Government should seize this financial opportunity with the backing of the President of the IDB and apply for a loan from IDB for a prototype plant so Guyana can move forward with this plan. Guyana may need to put its water resources projects, hydro-power development etc on the back burner for now and start building ethanol plants since we know how to cultivate sugarcane very well. In a few years Guyana would be energy rich selling ethanol and providing jobs for the majority of young people in Guyana.
It is a pity the government embarked on the Skeldon project. Some of the money spent there could have built several ethanol plants solving all of Berbice's problems for years to come. Click here to follow progress of Skeldon Factory
Yours faithfully,
Malcolm Alli P
Michael Ragwen P
Link
Friday, August 10th 2007
Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
We refer to an article in SN and DC 07/08/07 on the subject of the IDB President Mr. Moreno glorifying Guyana's agricultural ability to meet all gasoline and bio-fuel needs as well as half of its electrical demands through alcohol and other products of sugar cane.
He also went on to state that Guyana could replace 10 percent of its current gasoline consumption by constructing one single ethanol plant at a cost of US$ 6.5 M that could save Guyana US$ 5.0 M per year in imported gasoline.
These figures are indeed impressive and may very well help Guyana out of its economic woes.
The report states that Guyana could recoup nearly 80 percent of its initial capital cost after one year of operating a single ethanol plant. We are sure the bank and Mr. Moreno have done their homework, having knowledge of production and economic conditions in Guyana and the various costs involved in producing ethanol from sugarcane cultivation. However, ethanol would not be able to replace gasoline altogether in Guyana since you need a fuel mixture ratio of 90/10 of gas/ethanol for motor vehicles to operate in Guyana. A higher percentage is achievable but with a change of engine types. The energy from ethanol is also 30 percent less than that of gasoline so there will be a reduction in mileage capacity and a complementary increase in operating cost. But these are small problems compared to the saving in foreign currency.
The Government should seize this financial opportunity with the backing of the President of the IDB and apply for a loan from IDB for a prototype plant so Guyana can move forward with this plan. Guyana may need to put its water resources projects, hydro-power development etc on the back burner for now and start building ethanol plants since we know how to cultivate sugarcane very well. In a few years Guyana would be energy rich selling ethanol and providing jobs for the majority of young people in Guyana.
It is a pity the government embarked on the Skeldon project. Some of the money spent there could have built several ethanol plants solving all of Berbice's problems for years to come. Click here to follow progress of Skeldon Factory
Yours faithfully,
Malcolm Alli P
Michael Ragwen P
Link
Guyana - This is how your loan money is spent
Director sacked for reporting improper Doppler radar siting.
Kaiteur News
The Director from the Civil Aviation Authority, who was sent on leave pending investigation into the spending of some $40M proposed Doppler radar tower at Timehri, has been fired.
Information reaching Kaieteur News stated that the Director never returned to work but was instead fired by the subject Minister following his initial 36 and a half days' leave. The reason for his sacking was said to be because he blew the whistle on the poor siting of the Doppler tower.
The director was sent on leave on June 22 last, after subsequent investigation by the Office of the President reportedly revealed that the wasting of the money was as a result of ‘carelessness.'
The proposed Doppler radar tower has been relocated closer to the South Dakota Racing Circuit, a safe distance away from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport 's Very High Frequency Omni Range (VOR).
About three months ago, Kaieteur News reported that the construction of the building to house the Doppler weather system was too close to the airport's VOR, thus causing disruption.
The VOR is an electronic navigation system that provides signals to aircrafts.
An investigation was launched and it was eventually concluded that the tower had to be relocated.
By this time some $40M had already been spent on the proposed site.
This sparked an unsympathetic response from President Bharrat Jagdeo who announced that the incident with the tower was not going to ‘slide under the carpet just like that.'
The project is funded by the European Union to the tune of $596M, and implemented by Caribbean Meteorological Organisation.
The Government of Guyana has allocated $50 million for electricity, water and road works to the radar tower.
The Doppler radar upon completion will be used to provide continuous real-time radar surveillance out to 400 kilometres and will allow weather forecasters to increase effectiveness in the prediction of the weather.
This system will assist forecasters to more accurately define the areas where severe weather is likely to form, identify the characteristic patterns indicating a high probability of severe thunderstorms, and improve forecasting time, intensity and location of heavy precipitation.
Blogger's note:
All whistle blowers take note, either you go with the flow of corruption and incompetence or you are out like south under the (VOR) Voice Of the Retarded PPP administration.
Kaiteur News
The Director from the Civil Aviation Authority, who was sent on leave pending investigation into the spending of some $40M proposed Doppler radar tower at Timehri, has been fired.
Information reaching Kaieteur News stated that the Director never returned to work but was instead fired by the subject Minister following his initial 36 and a half days' leave. The reason for his sacking was said to be because he blew the whistle on the poor siting of the Doppler tower.
The director was sent on leave on June 22 last, after subsequent investigation by the Office of the President reportedly revealed that the wasting of the money was as a result of ‘carelessness.'
The proposed Doppler radar tower has been relocated closer to the South Dakota Racing Circuit, a safe distance away from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport 's Very High Frequency Omni Range (VOR).
About three months ago, Kaieteur News reported that the construction of the building to house the Doppler weather system was too close to the airport's VOR, thus causing disruption.
The VOR is an electronic navigation system that provides signals to aircrafts.
An investigation was launched and it was eventually concluded that the tower had to be relocated.
By this time some $40M had already been spent on the proposed site.
This sparked an unsympathetic response from President Bharrat Jagdeo who announced that the incident with the tower was not going to ‘slide under the carpet just like that.'
The project is funded by the European Union to the tune of $596M, and implemented by Caribbean Meteorological Organisation.
The Government of Guyana has allocated $50 million for electricity, water and road works to the radar tower.
The Doppler radar upon completion will be used to provide continuous real-time radar surveillance out to 400 kilometres and will allow weather forecasters to increase effectiveness in the prediction of the weather.
This system will assist forecasters to more accurately define the areas where severe weather is likely to form, identify the characteristic patterns indicating a high probability of severe thunderstorms, and improve forecasting time, intensity and location of heavy precipitation.
Blogger's note:
All whistle blowers take note, either you go with the flow of corruption and incompetence or you are out like south under the (VOR) Voice Of the Retarded PPP administration.
Guyana - VAT and the external forces
By TK:
Why are you guys blaming Kurshid Sattaur? He is only following orders from the President who decided to implement VAT, which is an IMF conditionality – a key requirement before more loans are released.
You see the typical person under the bottom house does not know this. Because the PPP party fully depends on the IMF for financing and technical advice. The Guyanese people have to suffer from an UNNECESSARY policy – the VAT.
I have said before there was no need for VAT at this stage of the country’s development. Guyana is not ready for a tax like this. As usual they (I mean the President and the IMF) focus on the wrong policy prescription.
What we need are policies to place the economy on a sustained path of growth. We do not need an economy perpetually propped up by aid, remittances, soft loans and coke! Tell your President these things the next time you see him.
Why are you guys blaming Kurshid Sattaur? He is only following orders from the President who decided to implement VAT, which is an IMF conditionality – a key requirement before more loans are released.
You see the typical person under the bottom house does not know this. Because the PPP party fully depends on the IMF for financing and technical advice. The Guyanese people have to suffer from an UNNECESSARY policy – the VAT.
I have said before there was no need for VAT at this stage of the country’s development. Guyana is not ready for a tax like this. As usual they (I mean the President and the IMF) focus on the wrong policy prescription.
What we need are policies to place the economy on a sustained path of growth. We do not need an economy perpetually propped up by aid, remittances, soft loans and coke! Tell your President these things the next time you see him.
Guyana - Road Trip to Development
By Emile Mervin:
Guyana is in fast reverse drive down a slippery slope. The President in the driver seat with his feet glued to the accelerator, Janet Jagan in the passenger seat with a road map to pieces of a stream, Sam Hinds behind the President with a box of baby diapers, Freedom House commies strapped on to the hood, OP staff in the trunk with a decomposing dolphin, and Guyanese tied to the front bumper with their eyes blindfolded.
One helluva ride
Blogger's Note:
It's a bus! it's a train! no it's a corkball ride! watch de ride.
Guyana is in fast reverse drive down a slippery slope. The President in the driver seat with his feet glued to the accelerator, Janet Jagan in the passenger seat with a road map to pieces of a stream, Sam Hinds behind the President with a box of baby diapers, Freedom House commies strapped on to the hood, OP staff in the trunk with a decomposing dolphin, and Guyanese tied to the front bumper with their eyes blindfolded.
One helluva ride
Blogger's Note:
It's a bus! it's a train! no it's a corkball ride! watch de ride.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Guyana - On the road to developing its tourism product
My suitcase not here after six days
Wednesday, August 8th 2007
Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
I travelled to the British Virgin Islands, on July 4 last and returned on the 31. I travelled on a Liat flight from Beef Island to St Martin on to Antigua where we changed planes bound for Barbados. On arrival at Barbados we boarded flight #521 bound for Guyana. On arrival at CBJ Timehri after being greeted by some wonderful African drumming and served with conkie and drink, to the dismay of 99% of the passengers we were told that our baggage did not arrive with us on the plane.
We now had to line up at the baggage claims section where only one staff member was at work.
We were told to keep checking, and were given a number to call. Since then I have been calling four times a day by cell phone, I don't have a land line.
I called on August 3 and was told by the man who anwered the phone that the suitcases arrived and are with customs and I must call back, he will check with them and he will have information for me.
I did not wait, I called customs myself only to be told that this is what persons are being told when they call to query about their luggage.
I called the baggage claims section again, this time I spoke to a very polite sounding female, I gave her my name and I heard her riffling through papers. She asked me my name again and she searched and said she did not find my name. She also said the majority of the luggage came but mine was not in that set. She told me to call back next morning (4th) as a set of luggage was in Barbados and the flight was coming in that night.
I had to return to work on the 2nd and I had things in my suitcase that I needed to facilitate my return to work. I also brought things for persons who were now ringing off my phone.
How much more of this nonsense should Guyanese take as this kind of treatment is not meted out to any other Caribbean national.
Up to the time of writing this letter I have not received my suitcase.
Yours faithfully
Roxanne Ramprashad
Link
These jokers in Government expect to develop the country and tourism by maintaining the status quo. On six consecutive occasions my luggage was left behind in Trinidad by then BWIA airlines, so I can empathize with Roxanne. Guyana is one of the most difficult and harassing places to get to in terms of airline options, traveling at ungodly hours and downright poor service. Why is it Guyana can't seem to attract Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada or British Airways considering the number of Guyanese living in the origins of these airlines. Also these are the airlines that will bring the tourists from the target markets, why do we have to depend on over priced charter operations or poor service from the Trinidadian carriers on a regular basis?
Wednesday, August 8th 2007
Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
I travelled to the British Virgin Islands, on July 4 last and returned on the 31. I travelled on a Liat flight from Beef Island to St Martin on to Antigua where we changed planes bound for Barbados. On arrival at Barbados we boarded flight #521 bound for Guyana. On arrival at CBJ Timehri after being greeted by some wonderful African drumming and served with conkie and drink, to the dismay of 99% of the passengers we were told that our baggage did not arrive with us on the plane.
We now had to line up at the baggage claims section where only one staff member was at work.
We were told to keep checking, and were given a number to call. Since then I have been calling four times a day by cell phone, I don't have a land line.
I called on August 3 and was told by the man who anwered the phone that the suitcases arrived and are with customs and I must call back, he will check with them and he will have information for me.
I did not wait, I called customs myself only to be told that this is what persons are being told when they call to query about their luggage.
I called the baggage claims section again, this time I spoke to a very polite sounding female, I gave her my name and I heard her riffling through papers. She asked me my name again and she searched and said she did not find my name. She also said the majority of the luggage came but mine was not in that set. She told me to call back next morning (4th) as a set of luggage was in Barbados and the flight was coming in that night.
I had to return to work on the 2nd and I had things in my suitcase that I needed to facilitate my return to work. I also brought things for persons who were now ringing off my phone.
How much more of this nonsense should Guyanese take as this kind of treatment is not meted out to any other Caribbean national.
Up to the time of writing this letter I have not received my suitcase.
Yours faithfully
Roxanne Ramprashad
Link
These jokers in Government expect to develop the country and tourism by maintaining the status quo. On six consecutive occasions my luggage was left behind in Trinidad by then BWIA airlines, so I can empathize with Roxanne. Guyana is one of the most difficult and harassing places to get to in terms of airline options, traveling at ungodly hours and downright poor service. Why is it Guyana can't seem to attract Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada or British Airways considering the number of Guyanese living in the origins of these airlines. Also these are the airlines that will bring the tourists from the target markets, why do we have to depend on over priced charter operations or poor service from the Trinidadian carriers on a regular basis?
Guyana - Will develop by the year 4021
Mr Kumar should provide the evidence of corruption
Thursday, August 9th 2007
Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
Please permit me to reply to Mr Donald Kumar's extremely prompt response to my letter to the editor (SN, 05/08/07 - "Is Guyana an improving investment environment?'), albeit my initial piece was not good enough to earn a spot in the Kaieteur News letter column.
First, I would like to address the direct question posited by Mr Kumar: "As a Third World country, is Guyana an improving investment environment?" Instead of accusing me of 'shamelessness' and being dishonest, Mr. Kumar should be reminded that I did state that the stats in question do not paint the most superb picture of our investment environment.
But at the same time, in an effort to join the trend of castigating the government for every single policy it seeks to implement, he should not lose focus of the developments that have been achieved in this sphere. Only a few months ago the Support for Competitiveness Project was signed for implementation between the Government of Guyana and the IDB. The main objectives of this project are to enhance Guyana's competitiveness and to achieve higher levels of private investments and exports by improving the environment under which businesses operate. If this is not a major step by the Government to boost our investment environment, then I do not know what would be!.........link
Thursday, August 9th 2007
Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
Please permit me to reply to Mr Donald Kumar's extremely prompt response to my letter to the editor (SN, 05/08/07 - "Is Guyana an improving investment environment?'), albeit my initial piece was not good enough to earn a spot in the Kaieteur News letter column.
First, I would like to address the direct question posited by Mr Kumar: "As a Third World country, is Guyana an improving investment environment?" Instead of accusing me of 'shamelessness' and being dishonest, Mr. Kumar should be reminded that I did state that the stats in question do not paint the most superb picture of our investment environment.
But at the same time, in an effort to join the trend of castigating the government for every single policy it seeks to implement, he should not lose focus of the developments that have been achieved in this sphere. Only a few months ago the Support for Competitiveness Project was signed for implementation between the Government of Guyana and the IDB. The main objectives of this project are to enhance Guyana's competitiveness and to achieve higher levels of private investments and exports by improving the environment under which businesses operate. If this is not a major step by the Government to boost our investment environment, then I do not know what would be!.........link
Guyana - Beribice Floating Bridge
Was a floating bridge the right choice?
Thursday, August 9th 2007
Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
The current situation with the ferry service in Berbice, the inconvenience and perils for especially those who have to commute daily make one consider the options. The Government of Guyana has promised the people in Berbice that a bridge will be constructed within one year, that was about three years ago or longer. They have even printed in the daily newspaper a full plan on cost and construction. Even if this promise is fulfilled we need to ask ourselves and the government, is a floating bridge the best option?
Normally, floating bridges are constructed, in calm environments, where there is not much undercurrent, strong winds and tide changes. Have all of these things been taken into account? I doubt it, most bridge builders know the conditions applied are like these guidelines taken from a website:
* Low flow velocities, usually less than 0.25 feet per second. The upper limit of velocity depends on the structure's design and the anchorage. Many manufacturers can provide information to calculate the upper limit of flow velocity for a particular design. No significant debris flowing in the stream.
* Exposure to no more than gentle wave action. Most designs with proper anchorage can withstand typical waves on lakes and waves caused by boat wakes.
* The site should be mapped and inventoried before a floating structure is constructed. The inventory should include:
* Possible floating bridge locations
* Types and amount of expected use
* Existing recreational, commercial, scientific, or other forest uses
* Water levels (high and low), water depth, wave heights, and current direction and velocity
* Navigational and recreational hazards
* Prevailing wind direction and strength
* Land and aquatic flora and fauna (especially endangered or threatened species)
* Existing Recreational Opportunity Spectrum classification of the trail and surrounding area
* Environmental concerns
* Anchorage points
To locate the floating bridge in the best possible site, select the trail location last. The bridge is likely to be more expensive and difficult to site than the trail.
I don't believe our government has taken all or some of these things into consideration.
Yours faithfully,
Donald Lindie
Link
Thursday, August 9th 2007
Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
The current situation with the ferry service in Berbice, the inconvenience and perils for especially those who have to commute daily make one consider the options. The Government of Guyana has promised the people in Berbice that a bridge will be constructed within one year, that was about three years ago or longer. They have even printed in the daily newspaper a full plan on cost and construction. Even if this promise is fulfilled we need to ask ourselves and the government, is a floating bridge the best option?
Normally, floating bridges are constructed, in calm environments, where there is not much undercurrent, strong winds and tide changes. Have all of these things been taken into account? I doubt it, most bridge builders know the conditions applied are like these guidelines taken from a website:
* Low flow velocities, usually less than 0.25 feet per second. The upper limit of velocity depends on the structure's design and the anchorage. Many manufacturers can provide information to calculate the upper limit of flow velocity for a particular design. No significant debris flowing in the stream.
* Exposure to no more than gentle wave action. Most designs with proper anchorage can withstand typical waves on lakes and waves caused by boat wakes.
* The site should be mapped and inventoried before a floating structure is constructed. The inventory should include:
* Possible floating bridge locations
* Types and amount of expected use
* Existing recreational, commercial, scientific, or other forest uses
* Water levels (high and low), water depth, wave heights, and current direction and velocity
* Navigational and recreational hazards
* Prevailing wind direction and strength
* Land and aquatic flora and fauna (especially endangered or threatened species)
* Existing Recreational Opportunity Spectrum classification of the trail and surrounding area
* Environmental concerns
* Anchorage points
To locate the floating bridge in the best possible site, select the trail location last. The bridge is likely to be more expensive and difficult to site than the trail.
I don't believe our government has taken all or some of these things into consideration.
Yours faithfully,
Donald Lindie
Link
Guyana - BMWs will be too expensive
These 20 BMWs may be unaffordable
Wednesday, August 8th 2007
Stabroke News
Dear Editor,
I have been reading in the press of the fiasco being created over the disposal of the 20 BMWs that were purchased for the World Cup.
I quote from Kaieteur News July 27, 2007 "President Bharrat Jagdeo had said the government's agreement to purchase the cars was not readily accepted by local car dealers since the dealers wanted the government to waive 75 percent of the taxes which would have seen the government losing $400 million in taxes."
$400 million in taxes on 20 BMWs is $20 million each. The cars cost the government $168 million or $8.4 million each; so that to recover the costs, the cars must be sold for at least $28.4 each.
I wonder how many times government will have to re-tender while the cars continue to rust.
Yours faithfully,
R J Eleazar
Link
Wednesday, August 8th 2007
Stabroke News
Dear Editor,
I have been reading in the press of the fiasco being created over the disposal of the 20 BMWs that were purchased for the World Cup.
I quote from Kaieteur News July 27, 2007 "President Bharrat Jagdeo had said the government's agreement to purchase the cars was not readily accepted by local car dealers since the dealers wanted the government to waive 75 percent of the taxes which would have seen the government losing $400 million in taxes."
$400 million in taxes on 20 BMWs is $20 million each. The cars cost the government $168 million or $8.4 million each; so that to recover the costs, the cars must be sold for at least $28.4 each.
I wonder how many times government will have to re-tender while the cars continue to rust.
Yours faithfully,
R J Eleazar
Link
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
New York - The need for free media in Richmond Hill
Need for a free media in Richmond Hill
by Roy Bhusia
New York, July 01, 2005: Liberty Avenue has become a beehive of non-stop commercial activities over the years. A repetitive pattern in business types can be observed as one walks down Liberty Avenue. Over the years Liberty Avenue has become the heartthrob of the Guyanese community. Richmond Hill is now known as little Guyana. The pattern of development saw the mostly Irish and Italian immigrants & businesses move out as their places were rapidly taken by mainly Guyanese immigrants and subsequently Trinidadians and South Asians. The Guyanese business epicenter started between 124 and 125 streets and radiated outwards towards Van Wyck to the east and Lefferts Blvd to the west. Beyond Lefferts Blvd was considered off limits for a number of years since a large white population still lived there. It was only until around the late 80's when Guyanese started to move to areas beyond Lefferts Blvd. Below is a list of approximately 244 owned West Indian business entities on Liberty Ave between 96th st and the Van Wyck Expressway (40 blocks), the majority being owned by Guyanese. This list does not take into consideration all the other West Indian owned businesses located on the side streets and Avenues parallel to Liberty Avenue.
24 -99 cents stores
2 -Accountants
2 -Architects
1 -Auto parts
3 -Auto Sales
5 -Bakery stores
19 -Barber shops
15 -Bars
1 -Church
3 -Dentists
1 -Disco Club
16 -Doctors
1 -Electrical repair
1 -Furniture store
21 -Grocery stores
1 -Hardware store
1 -Insurance
15 -Jewelery
5 -Law offices
3 -Liquor store
2 -Mandir
1 -Masjid
2 -Media outlets
5 -Motgage bankers
10 -Music
2 -Optical
4 -Pharmacies
1 -Printing
18 -Real estate
29 -Restaurants
18 -Sari clothing
2 -Shipping
2 -Taxi
8 -Travel agencies
Years ago Liberty Avenue was nothing like it is today. A small influx of Guyanese migrated to the area during the sixties and seventies and paved the way for many more as the years went by. The political un-stability of Guyana and lack of real sustained growth and progress has forced many more Guyanese in the recent years to flee Guyana by any means possible, many of them ending up in Richmond Hill making it a home away from home. These new Guyanese brought with them many of their customs and practices whether good or bad, and not having to adapt like their predecessors did, continued on with some of their lawless behavior. For example at the corner of Lefferts Blvd and Liberty Avenue has begun to look like Stabroek Market Car park with many Guyanese drivers doing illegal part time taxi business with their personal cars to make ends meet, and to help pay for that recently bought home.
Huge strategically placed billboards focus on prominent businessmen in the real estate community such as Ed Ahmad advertising his real estate services. Unfortunately there is an overcrowding & housing crisis in the area. This has led to many single-family homes being converted to two family homes where basements and attics are increasingly being occupied by tenants. Overcrowding has become a problem, this is a double-edged sword, on one hand it increases demand for electricity, water, parking space, traffic lights, garbage collection and other services and affects quality of life. On the other hand it provides affordable housing for poor immigrants and income to new home owners to help pay their high mortgages. Also it continues to provide critical mass for real estate agencies and other businesses to target. The bottom line is, zoning regulations are violated and safety is compromised when these types of illegal conversions take place to accommodate a population density, which the community was not originally planned for.
Schools have subsequently become over crowed requiring the need for two sessions to accommodate the increase in students. New housing units are in demand and relatively few are being built by the housing authority because of the density of the area and lack of land space. What is frequently happening is, old houses are bought by contractors affiliated with Real Estate brokers, demolished and in turn two to three housing units are built on the same land space. As a result of supply and demand in the area, the cost of housing has gone up tremendously and has become quite a lucrative market for real estate brokers and investors feeding on the new immigrant population.
Schenectady
Mayor Albert Jurczynski of Schenectady has tried to capitalize on this overcrowding problem in Richmond Hill by enticing Guyanese immigrants to come live in chenectady, which is located in upstate New York. In his quest to bring more Guyanese to Schenectady, he has latched on to two proven facts about the Guyanese immigrants. They love rum and they love cricket, he promised to build a cricket stadium in Schenectady when 50,000 Guyanese have moved there, this statement was made at a roundtable meeting with the business community in between a few drinks, El Dorado 15 year old was the rum of choice.
As a result many businessmen in the Richmond Hill community have teamed up with the Mayor of Schenectady to help attract Guyanese to go live in the area. Mortgage Broker Herman Singh facilitates this by using chartered buses taking Guyanese to see the area on weekends. Herman Singh also has a radio program, which promotes Schenectady to the Guyanese community. Kawal Totaram a lawyer in Richmond Hill is also affiliated with the Mayor in helping to relocate Guyanese. Totaram has not bought any properties in Schenectady as yet but has underwritten mortgages for Guyanese who have. Now let us "back track" just a bit and look at some data on migration patterns obtained from New York City Department of City Planning.
Migration patterns
The top six countries with the highest immigrant population in New York City as of year 1990 were:
1. Dominican Republic 225,017
2. China - 160,399
3. Jamaica - 116,128
4. Korea - 98,868
5. USSR - 80,815
6. Guyana - 76,150
The top six countries with the highest immigrant population in New York City as of year 2000 were:
1. Dominican Republic - 369,186 Country pop. 8,950,034
2. China - 261,551 Country pop. 1,306,313,812
3. Jamaica - 178,992 Country pop. 2,731,832
4. Guyana - 130,647 Country pop. 765,283
5. Mexico - 122,550 Country pop. 106,202,903
6. Ecuador - 114,944
Notice Guyana has jumped from #6 in 1990 to #4 in 2000 showing a tremendous increase in population migrating legally from Guyana. It is interesting to note Guyana has the smallest country population of the countries in the top six. This shows Guyana is unable to provide an environment of growth and prosperity for its population. Those who can, have to migrate to get the opportunities for growth and prosperity. It is believed that to date there are over 200,000 Guyanese in the Richmond Hill area alone. The population growth from 1990 to 2000 was 54,497, below are the settlement patterns for these recent immigrants from Guyana. This also provides good fodder for the real estate market and various cricket teams.
Most of these migrating Guyanese of Indian origin settle in Queens:
Richmond Hill - 17,600
South Ozone Park - 8,600
Woodhaven Ozone Park - 7,200
Most of these migrating Guyanese of African origin settle in Brooklyn:
Flatbush - 5,500
East Flatbush - 5,800
Crown Heights - 4,800
The socioeconomic characteristics of Guyanese in New York City:
% not English proficient - 3.1%
% High School Graduates - 65.4%
Average workers per household - 1.5
Median household income - $41,960
% in poverty - 13.4%
The majority of Guyanese immigrants with respect to industry work in Manufacturing, Construction and in Service industries. The largest employer in New York's economy is Educational, Health and Social Services in fields such as hospitals, elementary and secondary schools, home health care, nursing facilities, colleges and universities. Guyanese are underrepresented in Public Administration.
Real Estate dynamics
Guyanese migrants view land and property as a means of social and economic mobility. The Guyanese immigrant whilst living in a basement, attic or sharing an apartment with other extended family members are constantly bombarded with advertisements in the free community newspapers and community television shows. Ads stating they can buy a house for zero dollars down, low mortgage rates. The new immigrant jumps at the prospect of homeowner ship and the American dream. Some of them are able to buy their own home in the span of five years either on their own or with the help of family. Some on the other hand become victims of predatory lending whereby they are not able to pay their mortgages and their homes end up in foreclosure. Below is a list of free newspapers and the % of Real Estate Ads targeted at the Richmond Hill Community, these free newspapers can be picked up at Grocery stores, Real Estate offices, Bars and Restaurants.
Free Paper /Pages /Real Esate ads/ % of ads to pages
Carib Sun /24 /6 /25%
Caribbean Daylight /76 /35 /46%
The West Indian /68 /31 /46%
Cricket International /40 /3 /8%
Global News /32 /9 /28%
Caribbean New Yorker /68 /24 /35%
Kaieteur News /40 /7 /18%
The Careibbean Voice /44 /7 /15%
Below is a sample list of television shows and the time dedicated to ads versus content. These shows were aired on Saturday 8/27/2005 on Time Warner Cable ITV Channel 503 from 8:00 am to 9:30 am. Also a rating is given on the right, (1) being extremely poor and (10) being excellent. There are numerous shows like this which are sponsored by Real Estate and Mortgage brokers to attract a relatively unsophisticated target audience who are still taken up with the Bollywood song & dance entertainment as they were accustomed to back home.
Unless you are interested in buying a house, spare your self the torture and go buy yourself a DVD music video for $5 dollars, available in bootleg at the numerous Music shops on Liberty Ave. Original might cost you $10 - $15 dollars.
Cricket dynamics
Cricket is known as a gentleman's sport and played to the highest possible standards. Today in Guyana these standards are maintained, a lot of discipline, dedication and sacrifice are made by players who want to make something of themselves in Cricket. Players in Guyana unfortunately have to give up their education to pursue a career in cricket with the hope of getting on the National team or more importantly getting an overseas contract whereby they would be able to migrate. Now let me "backtrack" to New York, during the 80's cricket was played by mostly older educated Guyanese who were looking for a social outlet and a way of maintaining tradition by playing these friendly matches on whatever grounds were available. Softball cricket competition at that time was non-existent in New York.
Fast track to year 2005 and the scene has changed tremendously in certain areas but has remained stagnant in others, hardball cricket has expanded and softball cricket has become extremely prevalent. There are more teams today as a result of migration and there are less grounds as a result of not having Guyanese or other West Indians in Public Administration who could lobby for such grounds.
Today in the New York hardball league there are 140 teams in 8 distinct leagues playing cricket on about 15 grounds. Each league has its own organizations with every league pulling in a different direction. There obviously has to be some financial gain to be made by forming separate leagues.
-American cricket league
-Brooklyn cricket league
-Commonwealth cricket league
-Eastern American cricket league
-New York cricket league
-New York Nassau cricket league
-Metropolitan cricket league
-Bangladeshi cricket league.
The softball cricket league has about 53 teams and play on grounds, which are separate from hardball cricket grounds. Sometimes two matches have to be played simultaneously on one ground to accommodate the teams. But not withstanding the whole dynamics of the game has changed, it is no longer a gentleman's sport in New York and it wouldn't be surprising to see umpires on occasion being chased with a cutlass or bat. Umpires who, incidentally might not get paid if they don't make favorable decisions. Big stakes are involved these days, it is more of a commercial enterprise where the team manager who has the most money would most likely win the major competitions.
Many business owners are able to bring in overseas players and pay them each $5,000 to $10,000 dollars to play a couple of games for their team, teams are able to acquire visas for such players. One such business owner was able to afford to fly in good players from the Caribbean and Canada just so that he would be able to open the batting and the bowling. This business owner is now wearing an ankle bracelet and is on a hiatus in Florida. This is the enticement that many prospective cricket players in Guyana hear about and are willing to sacrifice for since opportunities are not available in other avenues.
Betting on games has become prevalent in New York, team managers bet as much as $10,000 dollars on softball games. The players on the winning team will earn about $100 and up depending on their skill and performance that day. This is a lucrative deal for some and a way to make some extra cash, but is this good for the game and is it legal?
Conclusion
If one were to read the sponsorship labels on team uniforms you would most likely see Real Estate names, Sports Bars or Restaurants, with the majority of the teams being sponsored by Real Estate companies because that is where the cash flow is plentiful for obvious reasons. Cricket in the New York region is mired in controversy and lack of cooperation amongst the parties involved to take it to the next level where corporate sponsorship will be good for the game. Cricket in New York is an efficient means for business to target potential customers. That is why Ahmad Group of Companies is sponsoring the Caribbean Cup in New York (Former Red Stripe Cup) because he realizes the potential of exposure that traditional advertising dollars cannot purchase. In the mean time the others need to continue advertising in the free newspapers and television infomercials disguised as song and dance shows to try and capture their market share.
Only two publications are worthy of reading if you are not interested in buying a house, Cricket International & The Caribbean Voice.
http://www.caribvoice.org/Investigations/Free%20Media.html
by Roy Bhusia
New York, July 01, 2005: Liberty Avenue has become a beehive of non-stop commercial activities over the years. A repetitive pattern in business types can be observed as one walks down Liberty Avenue. Over the years Liberty Avenue has become the heartthrob of the Guyanese community. Richmond Hill is now known as little Guyana. The pattern of development saw the mostly Irish and Italian immigrants & businesses move out as their places were rapidly taken by mainly Guyanese immigrants and subsequently Trinidadians and South Asians. The Guyanese business epicenter started between 124 and 125 streets and radiated outwards towards Van Wyck to the east and Lefferts Blvd to the west. Beyond Lefferts Blvd was considered off limits for a number of years since a large white population still lived there. It was only until around the late 80's when Guyanese started to move to areas beyond Lefferts Blvd. Below is a list of approximately 244 owned West Indian business entities on Liberty Ave between 96th st and the Van Wyck Expressway (40 blocks), the majority being owned by Guyanese. This list does not take into consideration all the other West Indian owned businesses located on the side streets and Avenues parallel to Liberty Avenue.
24 -99 cents stores
2 -Accountants
2 -Architects
1 -Auto parts
3 -Auto Sales
5 -Bakery stores
19 -Barber shops
15 -Bars
1 -Church
3 -Dentists
1 -Disco Club
16 -Doctors
1 -Electrical repair
1 -Furniture store
21 -Grocery stores
1 -Hardware store
1 -Insurance
15 -Jewelery
5 -Law offices
3 -Liquor store
2 -Mandir
1 -Masjid
2 -Media outlets
5 -Motgage bankers
10 -Music
2 -Optical
4 -Pharmacies
1 -Printing
18 -Real estate
29 -Restaurants
18 -Sari clothing
2 -Shipping
2 -Taxi
8 -Travel agencies
Years ago Liberty Avenue was nothing like it is today. A small influx of Guyanese migrated to the area during the sixties and seventies and paved the way for many more as the years went by. The political un-stability of Guyana and lack of real sustained growth and progress has forced many more Guyanese in the recent years to flee Guyana by any means possible, many of them ending up in Richmond Hill making it a home away from home. These new Guyanese brought with them many of their customs and practices whether good or bad, and not having to adapt like their predecessors did, continued on with some of their lawless behavior. For example at the corner of Lefferts Blvd and Liberty Avenue has begun to look like Stabroek Market Car park with many Guyanese drivers doing illegal part time taxi business with their personal cars to make ends meet, and to help pay for that recently bought home.
Huge strategically placed billboards focus on prominent businessmen in the real estate community such as Ed Ahmad advertising his real estate services. Unfortunately there is an overcrowding & housing crisis in the area. This has led to many single-family homes being converted to two family homes where basements and attics are increasingly being occupied by tenants. Overcrowding has become a problem, this is a double-edged sword, on one hand it increases demand for electricity, water, parking space, traffic lights, garbage collection and other services and affects quality of life. On the other hand it provides affordable housing for poor immigrants and income to new home owners to help pay their high mortgages. Also it continues to provide critical mass for real estate agencies and other businesses to target. The bottom line is, zoning regulations are violated and safety is compromised when these types of illegal conversions take place to accommodate a population density, which the community was not originally planned for.
Schools have subsequently become over crowed requiring the need for two sessions to accommodate the increase in students. New housing units are in demand and relatively few are being built by the housing authority because of the density of the area and lack of land space. What is frequently happening is, old houses are bought by contractors affiliated with Real Estate brokers, demolished and in turn two to three housing units are built on the same land space. As a result of supply and demand in the area, the cost of housing has gone up tremendously and has become quite a lucrative market for real estate brokers and investors feeding on the new immigrant population.
Schenectady
Mayor Albert Jurczynski of Schenectady has tried to capitalize on this overcrowding problem in Richmond Hill by enticing Guyanese immigrants to come live in chenectady, which is located in upstate New York. In his quest to bring more Guyanese to Schenectady, he has latched on to two proven facts about the Guyanese immigrants. They love rum and they love cricket, he promised to build a cricket stadium in Schenectady when 50,000 Guyanese have moved there, this statement was made at a roundtable meeting with the business community in between a few drinks, El Dorado 15 year old was the rum of choice.
As a result many businessmen in the Richmond Hill community have teamed up with the Mayor of Schenectady to help attract Guyanese to go live in the area. Mortgage Broker Herman Singh facilitates this by using chartered buses taking Guyanese to see the area on weekends. Herman Singh also has a radio program, which promotes Schenectady to the Guyanese community. Kawal Totaram a lawyer in Richmond Hill is also affiliated with the Mayor in helping to relocate Guyanese. Totaram has not bought any properties in Schenectady as yet but has underwritten mortgages for Guyanese who have. Now let us "back track" just a bit and look at some data on migration patterns obtained from New York City Department of City Planning.
Migration patterns
The top six countries with the highest immigrant population in New York City as of year 1990 were:
1. Dominican Republic 225,017
2. China - 160,399
3. Jamaica - 116,128
4. Korea - 98,868
5. USSR - 80,815
6. Guyana - 76,150
The top six countries with the highest immigrant population in New York City as of year 2000 were:
1. Dominican Republic - 369,186 Country pop. 8,950,034
2. China - 261,551 Country pop. 1,306,313,812
3. Jamaica - 178,992 Country pop. 2,731,832
4. Guyana - 130,647 Country pop. 765,283
5. Mexico - 122,550 Country pop. 106,202,903
6. Ecuador - 114,944
Notice Guyana has jumped from #6 in 1990 to #4 in 2000 showing a tremendous increase in population migrating legally from Guyana. It is interesting to note Guyana has the smallest country population of the countries in the top six. This shows Guyana is unable to provide an environment of growth and prosperity for its population. Those who can, have to migrate to get the opportunities for growth and prosperity. It is believed that to date there are over 200,000 Guyanese in the Richmond Hill area alone. The population growth from 1990 to 2000 was 54,497, below are the settlement patterns for these recent immigrants from Guyana. This also provides good fodder for the real estate market and various cricket teams.
Most of these migrating Guyanese of Indian origin settle in Queens:
Richmond Hill - 17,600
South Ozone Park - 8,600
Woodhaven Ozone Park - 7,200
Most of these migrating Guyanese of African origin settle in Brooklyn:
Flatbush - 5,500
East Flatbush - 5,800
Crown Heights - 4,800
The socioeconomic characteristics of Guyanese in New York City:
% not English proficient - 3.1%
% High School Graduates - 65.4%
Average workers per household - 1.5
Median household income - $41,960
% in poverty - 13.4%
The majority of Guyanese immigrants with respect to industry work in Manufacturing, Construction and in Service industries. The largest employer in New York's economy is Educational, Health and Social Services in fields such as hospitals, elementary and secondary schools, home health care, nursing facilities, colleges and universities. Guyanese are underrepresented in Public Administration.
Real Estate dynamics
Guyanese migrants view land and property as a means of social and economic mobility. The Guyanese immigrant whilst living in a basement, attic or sharing an apartment with other extended family members are constantly bombarded with advertisements in the free community newspapers and community television shows. Ads stating they can buy a house for zero dollars down, low mortgage rates. The new immigrant jumps at the prospect of homeowner ship and the American dream. Some of them are able to buy their own home in the span of five years either on their own or with the help of family. Some on the other hand become victims of predatory lending whereby they are not able to pay their mortgages and their homes end up in foreclosure. Below is a list of free newspapers and the % of Real Estate Ads targeted at the Richmond Hill Community, these free newspapers can be picked up at Grocery stores, Real Estate offices, Bars and Restaurants.
Free Paper /Pages /Real Esate ads/ % of ads to pages
Carib Sun /24 /6 /25%
Caribbean Daylight /76 /35 /46%
The West Indian /68 /31 /46%
Cricket International /40 /3 /8%
Global News /32 /9 /28%
Caribbean New Yorker /68 /24 /35%
Kaieteur News /40 /7 /18%
The Careibbean Voice /44 /7 /15%
Below is a sample list of television shows and the time dedicated to ads versus content. These shows were aired on Saturday 8/27/2005 on Time Warner Cable ITV Channel 503 from 8:00 am to 9:30 am. Also a rating is given on the right, (1) being extremely poor and (10) being excellent. There are numerous shows like this which are sponsored by Real Estate and Mortgage brokers to attract a relatively unsophisticated target audience who are still taken up with the Bollywood song & dance entertainment as they were accustomed to back home.
Unless you are interested in buying a house, spare your self the torture and go buy yourself a DVD music video for $5 dollars, available in bootleg at the numerous Music shops on Liberty Ave. Original might cost you $10 - $15 dollars.
Cricket dynamics
Cricket is known as a gentleman's sport and played to the highest possible standards. Today in Guyana these standards are maintained, a lot of discipline, dedication and sacrifice are made by players who want to make something of themselves in Cricket. Players in Guyana unfortunately have to give up their education to pursue a career in cricket with the hope of getting on the National team or more importantly getting an overseas contract whereby they would be able to migrate. Now let me "backtrack" to New York, during the 80's cricket was played by mostly older educated Guyanese who were looking for a social outlet and a way of maintaining tradition by playing these friendly matches on whatever grounds were available. Softball cricket competition at that time was non-existent in New York.
Fast track to year 2005 and the scene has changed tremendously in certain areas but has remained stagnant in others, hardball cricket has expanded and softball cricket has become extremely prevalent. There are more teams today as a result of migration and there are less grounds as a result of not having Guyanese or other West Indians in Public Administration who could lobby for such grounds.
Today in the New York hardball league there are 140 teams in 8 distinct leagues playing cricket on about 15 grounds. Each league has its own organizations with every league pulling in a different direction. There obviously has to be some financial gain to be made by forming separate leagues.
-American cricket league
-Brooklyn cricket league
-Commonwealth cricket league
-Eastern American cricket league
-New York cricket league
-New York Nassau cricket league
-Metropolitan cricket league
-Bangladeshi cricket league.
The softball cricket league has about 53 teams and play on grounds, which are separate from hardball cricket grounds. Sometimes two matches have to be played simultaneously on one ground to accommodate the teams. But not withstanding the whole dynamics of the game has changed, it is no longer a gentleman's sport in New York and it wouldn't be surprising to see umpires on occasion being chased with a cutlass or bat. Umpires who, incidentally might not get paid if they don't make favorable decisions. Big stakes are involved these days, it is more of a commercial enterprise where the team manager who has the most money would most likely win the major competitions.
Many business owners are able to bring in overseas players and pay them each $5,000 to $10,000 dollars to play a couple of games for their team, teams are able to acquire visas for such players. One such business owner was able to afford to fly in good players from the Caribbean and Canada just so that he would be able to open the batting and the bowling. This business owner is now wearing an ankle bracelet and is on a hiatus in Florida. This is the enticement that many prospective cricket players in Guyana hear about and are willing to sacrifice for since opportunities are not available in other avenues.
Betting on games has become prevalent in New York, team managers bet as much as $10,000 dollars on softball games. The players on the winning team will earn about $100 and up depending on their skill and performance that day. This is a lucrative deal for some and a way to make some extra cash, but is this good for the game and is it legal?
Conclusion
If one were to read the sponsorship labels on team uniforms you would most likely see Real Estate names, Sports Bars or Restaurants, with the majority of the teams being sponsored by Real Estate companies because that is where the cash flow is plentiful for obvious reasons. Cricket in the New York region is mired in controversy and lack of cooperation amongst the parties involved to take it to the next level where corporate sponsorship will be good for the game. Cricket in New York is an efficient means for business to target potential customers. That is why Ahmad Group of Companies is sponsoring the Caribbean Cup in New York (Former Red Stripe Cup) because he realizes the potential of exposure that traditional advertising dollars cannot purchase. In the mean time the others need to continue advertising in the free newspapers and television infomercials disguised as song and dance shows to try and capture their market share.
Only two publications are worthy of reading if you are not interested in buying a house, Cricket International & The Caribbean Voice.
http://www.caribvoice.org/Investigations/Free%20Media.html
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Guyana - Bharat Jagdeo is an impotent waste
The President is attacking his critics
Tuesday, August 7th 2007
Dear Editor,
After almost a decade, the Jagdeo/PPP Government cannot put together any semblance of a thriving and prosperous economy for Guyana. This has occurred despite Guyana being a resource rich country, having a technically capable Diaspora, and a sympathetic international community and friends.
Unfortunately, the results are: the economy has hit rock bottom; the crime (violent and non-violent) rate is high; technical and tertiary education stymied; loss of confidence in the integrity of the police, judiciary, and the army; visible corruption with impunity everywhere; an increased sense of hopelessness and despair and more migration (legal and illegal of trained and untrained Guyanese).
The only area in which success has been achieved is soliciting aid.
After a decade of handling the economy President has not learned or realized what are the consequences of his own handiwork. There is not a legacy of growth, stability, and prosperity that anyone can proudly point to. Regrettably, instead of listening to his critics and taking the necessary corrective actions he has embarked on a new approach to handle the country's economy. This new approach is to silence his critics (within and without the party) - this being eerily similar to the actions of the late President LFS. Burnham.
We are at the stage today where the PPP 'ghost-writers' and 'spin doctors' are in full throttle.
They are writing numerous letters in every local newspaper. They are trying their best to firm up the powerful image of their boss, President Jagdeo. And it has become difficult to have replies to the PPP ghost letter writers published. This letter was sent to Kaieteur News three weeks ago when Mr Frederick Kissoon was under attack.
Despite the Chinese write-off of loans, Japanese aid, European grants, Indian technological aid, Cuban medical help, and IDB loans to build roads, etc, on the front pages of the local media, the decline continues. Worst the begging cup image does not go away.
It comes as no surprise that the latest attack is on Mr Frederick Kissoon who is a respected critic of President Jagdeo's government. Mr Kissoon like the WPA of the past is the only person that has brought the true picture of the current situation that working Guyanese face on a daily basis.
This attack to silence Mr Frederick Kissoon in the press has not and will not work. It only serves to convince Guy-anese that Mr. Jagdeo's Presi-dency has nowhere to go. It is a reminder of the past PNC administration. It sure will not spur any economic grow-th.
After attacking Mr Frederick Kissoon in the press, what or who is next President Jagdeo?
Yours faithfully,
Anand Daljeet
Link
Bharat Jagdeo can't even keep his marriage together much less a country, whatever happened to the child he promised if he won the elections, is he going to adopt now?
Tuesday, August 7th 2007
Dear Editor,
After almost a decade, the Jagdeo/PPP Government cannot put together any semblance of a thriving and prosperous economy for Guyana. This has occurred despite Guyana being a resource rich country, having a technically capable Diaspora, and a sympathetic international community and friends.
Unfortunately, the results are: the economy has hit rock bottom; the crime (violent and non-violent) rate is high; technical and tertiary education stymied; loss of confidence in the integrity of the police, judiciary, and the army; visible corruption with impunity everywhere; an increased sense of hopelessness and despair and more migration (legal and illegal of trained and untrained Guyanese).
The only area in which success has been achieved is soliciting aid.
After a decade of handling the economy President has not learned or realized what are the consequences of his own handiwork. There is not a legacy of growth, stability, and prosperity that anyone can proudly point to. Regrettably, instead of listening to his critics and taking the necessary corrective actions he has embarked on a new approach to handle the country's economy. This new approach is to silence his critics (within and without the party) - this being eerily similar to the actions of the late President LFS. Burnham.
We are at the stage today where the PPP 'ghost-writers' and 'spin doctors' are in full throttle.
They are writing numerous letters in every local newspaper. They are trying their best to firm up the powerful image of their boss, President Jagdeo. And it has become difficult to have replies to the PPP ghost letter writers published. This letter was sent to Kaieteur News three weeks ago when Mr Frederick Kissoon was under attack.
Despite the Chinese write-off of loans, Japanese aid, European grants, Indian technological aid, Cuban medical help, and IDB loans to build roads, etc, on the front pages of the local media, the decline continues. Worst the begging cup image does not go away.
It comes as no surprise that the latest attack is on Mr Frederick Kissoon who is a respected critic of President Jagdeo's government. Mr Kissoon like the WPA of the past is the only person that has brought the true picture of the current situation that working Guyanese face on a daily basis.
This attack to silence Mr Frederick Kissoon in the press has not and will not work. It only serves to convince Guy-anese that Mr. Jagdeo's Presi-dency has nowhere to go. It is a reminder of the past PNC administration. It sure will not spur any economic grow-th.
After attacking Mr Frederick Kissoon in the press, what or who is next President Jagdeo?
Yours faithfully,
Anand Daljeet
Link
Bharat Jagdeo can't even keep his marriage together much less a country, whatever happened to the child he promised if he won the elections, is he going to adopt now?
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Guyana becoming major exporter of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacists
JFK cocaine suitcase
Airport workers colluding with traffickers -Travelspan
Saturday, August 4th 2007
Travelspan Guyana says it is clear that there was collusion among persons working at the Timehri airport and drug traffickers, following Wednesday's interception in the US of a suitcase carrying 35 kilogrammes of cocaine.....link
Airport workers colluding with traffickers -Travelspan
Saturday, August 4th 2007
Travelspan Guyana says it is clear that there was collusion among persons working at the Timehri airport and drug traffickers, following Wednesday's interception in the US of a suitcase carrying 35 kilogrammes of cocaine.....link
Guyana - Caribbean Court of Justice
Cecil Ragana is constructing a building to house the Caribbean Court of Justice opposite the Caricom HQ. He apparantly has already received 1 year's rent in advance. Don't know if the fact that his wife is the Junior Minister of Finance has anything to do with this.Guyana - More Berbicians running away - vote PPP
Crabwood Creek terror may be drug related - police
-family flees country
By Shabna Ullah
Saturday, August 4th 2007
Police yesterday said that the terrifying assault on a Crabwood Creek Corentyne (CWC) family on Thursday morning "may have been drug related" and efforts here and in Suriname have been stepped up to determine a motive and arrest the perpetrators.
A passer-by was killed in the two-hour, bullet-riddled rampage during which the police were not evident. Yesterday, the family which had been targeted by the gunmen hurriedly packed their suitcases and left the country.
In the wake of the high profile robbery and shooting at Grant 1805 Crabwood Creek, businesspersons are planning to shut down their operations from CWC to Number 66 Village on Monday.
The businesspersons told Stabroek News that the move is to demand better security and to put an end to "cross-border smuggling" - an easy port for the criminals to enter Guyana from Suriname with arms.
About 12 heavily armed bandits stormed the home of Shamnarine Narine around 2 am on Thursday and sprayed bullets for about two hours. They entered the yard by ripping apart the barb wire above the concrete fence. The bandits shot at the steel door and after it did not budge they cut open the grill to the window and entered the house.
The gunmen seemed determined to find Narine who remained in hiding in a room in the house with his wife, Sharmilla and two children, ages 13 and eight-years-old. The attackers spent close to two hours discharging a fusillade and ransacking the entire house.
After their efforts were unsuccessful they decided to destroy everything in the house and shot at the television set, water tanks, a Lexus and four other vehicles belonging to Narine.
They also set the house alight before escaping in a waiting speedboat close to a sawmill behind the house. They tied up a fisherman, Ramnauth who was close to the sawmill before leaving.
Narine was shot on his left leg when a bullet pierced the wall while he was in hiding. He heard the men shouting, "leh we find dem and shoot dem. We ain't going till we nah find them. Shoot the ceiling and see if dem in there." The bandits also threatened to come back for the family.
They reportedly tried to use the cooking gas to start the fire but that effort failed. They then lit a fire in two sections of the house after spraying them with Baygon.
After the gunmen left Narine's father, Hareshnarine "Chinee" Sugrim, proprietor of Sugrim Industries who lives obliquely opposite, and neighbours ran over and put the fire out.
Two of the men remained on the road and three were in the yard firing shots while their accomplices were in the house. Neighbours heard the men communicating with each other on radio sets.
A woman, Fay Campbell, 28 years, of Cumberland, East Canje was killed while she was a passenger in a truck. Driver of the truck, Mukesh Bridgemohan, 34, of Black Bee, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara was shot thrice in his left shoulder, once on his right and on two of his fingers.
His cousin Premnauth Sukra, 34 of Kaneville, EBD who was seated at the end of the cabin was shot in both legs. Narine's watchman, Abdool Fazal Ghanie, 50, was shot in his right jaw and the bullet is still lodged there. Ghanie told SN he was hiding behind the vehicles in the yard when a bullet hit him.
Narine was treated at the Skeldon Hospital and sent away while the three men were referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital. Bridgemohan was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital yesterday while Ghanie and Sukra were discharged.
At the time of the shooting Bridgemohan was driving a truck, GJJ 3080 along a desolate road in CWC and was almost two miles away from the robbery scene. They are employed with the owner of the truck and had been hired to transport equipment for the Tom and Jerry Fun Park to Suriname.
Bridgemohan told Stabroek News they had gone to Skeldon to purchase food from a restaurant and were returning to the Molsen Creek Ferry Stelling when the incident occurred.
Chartered
When SN revisited the scene yesterday morning the family had already packed their suitcases and were awaiting a chartered plane from Air Services Limited to transport them to catch another flight out of the country.
Other businessmen were also there to offer support to the family while relatives and friends were helping to clean up the mess.
The businesspersons ex-pressed disappointment that "the army base did not come in the area to try and find any trace of the bandits. That was a high profile robbery where AK-47s were used and the police recovered 22 pounds of shells as well as live rounds," they said. "Yet although this is such a popular businessman none government official showed a little respect for him by calling and visiting."
They are calling on the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee to "do something about the cross-border smuggling. We want to see Rohee in Berbice. There should be better police protection and government should arm the force with high profile weapons."
Sugrim who provides employment to over 250 persons in the area told this newspaper he is putting up some of his business operations for sale and a lot of people would be affected.
He said the family could not sleep because they were still traumatized. They were hearing speedboats passing in the river and thought the bandits were indeed returning.
There were suggestions that the bandits came from Suriname since the sledgehammers had markings in Dutch. But Sugrim said it appears that the bandits are Guyanese and that some of them came from Georgetown.
Meanwhile President of the Upper Corentyne Cham-ber of Commerce, David Subnauth told this newspaper "the chamber is disgusted at the spate of crime… A lot of people are complaining they cannot operate their business and they can't sleep in peace."
He said with the type of weapons that were used in the recent shooting, residents could not have retaliated even though they had guns.
He congratulated the police for the quick response at a shooting incident at Number 69 Village. He noted that while "the police came out at CWC they did not have the manpower and the type of weapon to act."
He is of the opinion that "social issues have to be addressed to stop these types of crimes."
Meanwhile, in a statement yesterday, Region Six commerce chambers said they are alarmed at the escalating crime in the region and called on the government to respond urgently.
According to a press release signed by President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, Ramesh Maraj, Secretary at the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, K Raghunandan, and acting President the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, David Subnauth, government must prioritise crime and security on its agenda. The groups said they are requesting an urgent audience with President Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee to air their concerns and to discuss the following recommendations for the region: reintroducing the joint patrols by the police and army; carrying out the death penalty for convicted persons who have exhausted their appeals; to introduce the death penalty for armed robberies where firearms are used and to introduce the three-strike laws.
The groups contend that crime is the biggest impediment to progress and investment in the region and the police seem incapable of engaging the heavily armed bandits and bringing a halt to the situation. The chambers said they are fearful that if immediate and drastic action is not taken there will be civil unrest and a complete breakdown of law and order.
Link
-family flees country
By Shabna Ullah
Saturday, August 4th 2007
Police yesterday said that the terrifying assault on a Crabwood Creek Corentyne (CWC) family on Thursday morning "may have been drug related" and efforts here and in Suriname have been stepped up to determine a motive and arrest the perpetrators.
A passer-by was killed in the two-hour, bullet-riddled rampage during which the police were not evident. Yesterday, the family which had been targeted by the gunmen hurriedly packed their suitcases and left the country.
In the wake of the high profile robbery and shooting at Grant 1805 Crabwood Creek, businesspersons are planning to shut down their operations from CWC to Number 66 Village on Monday.
The businesspersons told Stabroek News that the move is to demand better security and to put an end to "cross-border smuggling" - an easy port for the criminals to enter Guyana from Suriname with arms.
About 12 heavily armed bandits stormed the home of Shamnarine Narine around 2 am on Thursday and sprayed bullets for about two hours. They entered the yard by ripping apart the barb wire above the concrete fence. The bandits shot at the steel door and after it did not budge they cut open the grill to the window and entered the house.
The gunmen seemed determined to find Narine who remained in hiding in a room in the house with his wife, Sharmilla and two children, ages 13 and eight-years-old. The attackers spent close to two hours discharging a fusillade and ransacking the entire house.
After their efforts were unsuccessful they decided to destroy everything in the house and shot at the television set, water tanks, a Lexus and four other vehicles belonging to Narine.
They also set the house alight before escaping in a waiting speedboat close to a sawmill behind the house. They tied up a fisherman, Ramnauth who was close to the sawmill before leaving.
Narine was shot on his left leg when a bullet pierced the wall while he was in hiding. He heard the men shouting, "leh we find dem and shoot dem. We ain't going till we nah find them. Shoot the ceiling and see if dem in there." The bandits also threatened to come back for the family.
They reportedly tried to use the cooking gas to start the fire but that effort failed. They then lit a fire in two sections of the house after spraying them with Baygon.
After the gunmen left Narine's father, Hareshnarine "Chinee" Sugrim, proprietor of Sugrim Industries who lives obliquely opposite, and neighbours ran over and put the fire out.
Two of the men remained on the road and three were in the yard firing shots while their accomplices were in the house. Neighbours heard the men communicating with each other on radio sets.
A woman, Fay Campbell, 28 years, of Cumberland, East Canje was killed while she was a passenger in a truck. Driver of the truck, Mukesh Bridgemohan, 34, of Black Bee, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara was shot thrice in his left shoulder, once on his right and on two of his fingers.
His cousin Premnauth Sukra, 34 of Kaneville, EBD who was seated at the end of the cabin was shot in both legs. Narine's watchman, Abdool Fazal Ghanie, 50, was shot in his right jaw and the bullet is still lodged there. Ghanie told SN he was hiding behind the vehicles in the yard when a bullet hit him.
Narine was treated at the Skeldon Hospital and sent away while the three men were referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital. Bridgemohan was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital yesterday while Ghanie and Sukra were discharged.
At the time of the shooting Bridgemohan was driving a truck, GJJ 3080 along a desolate road in CWC and was almost two miles away from the robbery scene. They are employed with the owner of the truck and had been hired to transport equipment for the Tom and Jerry Fun Park to Suriname.
Bridgemohan told Stabroek News they had gone to Skeldon to purchase food from a restaurant and were returning to the Molsen Creek Ferry Stelling when the incident occurred.
Chartered
When SN revisited the scene yesterday morning the family had already packed their suitcases and were awaiting a chartered plane from Air Services Limited to transport them to catch another flight out of the country.
Other businessmen were also there to offer support to the family while relatives and friends were helping to clean up the mess.
The businesspersons ex-pressed disappointment that "the army base did not come in the area to try and find any trace of the bandits. That was a high profile robbery where AK-47s were used and the police recovered 22 pounds of shells as well as live rounds," they said. "Yet although this is such a popular businessman none government official showed a little respect for him by calling and visiting."
They are calling on the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee to "do something about the cross-border smuggling. We want to see Rohee in Berbice. There should be better police protection and government should arm the force with high profile weapons."
Sugrim who provides employment to over 250 persons in the area told this newspaper he is putting up some of his business operations for sale and a lot of people would be affected.
He said the family could not sleep because they were still traumatized. They were hearing speedboats passing in the river and thought the bandits were indeed returning.
There were suggestions that the bandits came from Suriname since the sledgehammers had markings in Dutch. But Sugrim said it appears that the bandits are Guyanese and that some of them came from Georgetown.
Meanwhile President of the Upper Corentyne Cham-ber of Commerce, David Subnauth told this newspaper "the chamber is disgusted at the spate of crime… A lot of people are complaining they cannot operate their business and they can't sleep in peace."
He said with the type of weapons that were used in the recent shooting, residents could not have retaliated even though they had guns.
He congratulated the police for the quick response at a shooting incident at Number 69 Village. He noted that while "the police came out at CWC they did not have the manpower and the type of weapon to act."
He is of the opinion that "social issues have to be addressed to stop these types of crimes."
Meanwhile, in a statement yesterday, Region Six commerce chambers said they are alarmed at the escalating crime in the region and called on the government to respond urgently.
According to a press release signed by President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, Ramesh Maraj, Secretary at the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, K Raghunandan, and acting President the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, David Subnauth, government must prioritise crime and security on its agenda. The groups said they are requesting an urgent audience with President Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee to air their concerns and to discuss the following recommendations for the region: reintroducing the joint patrols by the police and army; carrying out the death penalty for convicted persons who have exhausted their appeals; to introduce the death penalty for armed robberies where firearms are used and to introduce the three-strike laws.
The groups contend that crime is the biggest impediment to progress and investment in the region and the police seem incapable of engaging the heavily armed bandits and bringing a halt to the situation. The chambers said they are fearful that if immediate and drastic action is not taken there will be civil unrest and a complete breakdown of law and order.
Link
Friday, August 03, 2007
Guyana - Some important developments
Heavily armed gang invades Crabwood Creek home
Woman shot dead, four men injured -attempt made to set house on fire
Story and photos by Shabna Ullah
Friday, August 3rd 2007
A passer-by was shot dead and four men injured after 12 heavily armed bandits invaded the home of a businessman at Grant 1805 Crabwood Creek (CWC) around 1:45 am yesterday setting fires in the house, shooting wildly and sending shivers throughout Berbice......read more about why Berbician will continue to migrate and come desideovha
Guyanese man held at JFK with 70 lbs cocaine
-sniffed out by dog
Friday, August 3rd 2007
A Guyanese man is now in custody in the United States after he was found to have 35 kilos of cocaine contained in brick-shaped objects in his suitcase at the John F. Kennedy Airport....and read more about the chances they will take to get a start in life
Woman shot dead, four men injured -attempt made to set house on fire
Story and photos by Shabna Ullah
Friday, August 3rd 2007
A passer-by was shot dead and four men injured after 12 heavily armed bandits invaded the home of a businessman at Grant 1805 Crabwood Creek (CWC) around 1:45 am yesterday setting fires in the house, shooting wildly and sending shivers throughout Berbice......read more about why Berbician will continue to migrate and come desideovha
Guyanese man held at JFK with 70 lbs cocaine
-sniffed out by dog
Friday, August 3rd 2007
A Guyanese man is now in custody in the United States after he was found to have 35 kilos of cocaine contained in brick-shaped objects in his suitcase at the John F. Kennedy Airport....and read more about the chances they will take to get a start in life
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