Monkey see, monkey do
Stabroek News Editorial. April 24, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2174#more-2174
Had President Bharrat Jagdeo not been a member of the cabinet for nearly fifteen years, his latest instruction for an investigation into illegalities at the Guyana Revenue Authority’s Customs and Trade Administration would have been an impressive initiative to excise the cancer of corruption. But the President’s resort to a non-judicial probe is not new, is not surprising and is not going to solve the problem of graft in the government.
First, as special economic adviser to the Minister of Finance in October 1992, then as junior Minister of Finance from October 1993 and as senior Minister of Finance from May 1995, Mr Jagdeo has been well placed to observe the corrupt way business has been conducted at the Customs and Trade Administra-tion. Back in 1999, soon after he had assumed office as President, he announced that “everyone in my government would have to conduct their business transparently or they would not have a part in the government.”
The next year, President Jagdeo declared that the Customs Department was “renowned for corruption,” adding, “We all know that there is corruption in that department. You have patrol officers and junior officers who come into the service and work for three, four months and they can buy a car and a house. Senior civil servants who worked their whole life can never be able to own the assets that those people own.” So, it seems evident that Mr Jagdeo knew this much in January 2000, over eight years ago. What has he done to deal with corruption there?Back in July 2003, when the contraband crime of the day was fuel-smuggling – estimated to cost the state up to $6 billion annually in lost revenue – the President had launched another little probe. Then, he reported that “there is a probe going on now and hopefully we can find those people involved and take action against them.” Yet, everyone knows that fuel smuggling continues. Then, as now, little probes have not solved the big problems of contraband and corruption.
If the President is serious about uprooting corruption, his own cabinet would be a good place to start. The US Department of State revoked the visas of two senior cabinet ministers who are still serving in his administration. Several suspicious fires have destroyed government buildings belonging to the ministries of Agriculture, Education, Housing, Local Government, and Public Works that contained irreplaceable evidence and financial records. Ministers are responsible for all of the departments in which graft has been detected. Yet, no minister has ever been held accountable for wrongdoing.
Over the past fifteen years, there have been a score of ‘scams’ that became landmarks of lawlessness. Although a few clerical grade public servants occasionally have been charged for these offences, the general pattern has been that the most senior persons involved have either remained at their posts or, without prejudice, have had their ‘services terminated’ or simply allowed to resign without facing formal trials in courts of law. Senior police officers against whom credible reports have been made for felonies such as unlawful killing and involvement in narcotics trafficking are still at their posts. Juniors see all these things.
Corrupt practices could not have continued for so long, or have involved such huge amounts of money, or occurred in so many government departments, without the compliance or connivance of senior administration officials. It is they who have been the real role models for malfeasance. Juniors have seen and imitated their seniors’ misconduct.
Pervasive graft is symptomatic of a dysfunctional state. Corruption distorts the economy and discourages investment. The Transparency International Corrup-tion Perception Index 2006 – the most widely used benchmark to gauge businessmen’s and experts’ beliefs about the extent of corruption in various countries – gave Guyana a score of 2.5 out of 10, ranking it at 121st of the 163 countries surveyed.
Well governed countries have avoided the worst consequences of governmental graft. This is not because their citizens and civil servants are more honest but because laws are enforced and mechanisms are supervised more rigorously to prevent graft from overwhelming legitimate administration. Neither the Guyana Police Force nor the Guyana Revenue Authority has a Serious Fraud Office that is up to this job. Everyone knows that the so-called Integrity Commission has been a waste of time from the day it was established.
Despite the prevalence of grand contraband, the police pretend to be paralysed until the President personally steps in to order one of his little ad hoc probes. What is needed is a permanent, properly staffed, impartial agency to investigate these crimes in a sustained and systematic manner, publish their reports, and bring criminals to justice.
This administration has been indifferent, almost irresponsible, to the issue of contraband and corruption. Now, as would have been expected, juniors like monkeys have clumsily copied what they saw seniors succeed in doing with impunity.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
A case can be made for marginalisation without the use of statistics
A case can be made for marginalisation without the use of statistics
Stabroek News, April 24, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2110
Dear Editor,
I have been following the discussion about marginalisation of African-Guyanese in the newspapers and the claims of Dr Prem Misir that statistical evidence is needed to argue marginalisation. Statistical evidence is not always required if we look at one major act of marginalisation and two consequences of being on the margins. The first is the act of naming for the names you are called tells you what your fate is going to be. Letters appear in the print media, particularly the state owned Chronicle, defining Africans by hateful, degrading and persecutory labels such as criminals, murderers, rapists, lawless, two-faced, untrustworthy, violent, only interested in sex and drugs etc. Not only has there been the relentless criminalisation of Africans as a group, but there has been the relentless criminalisation of the entire village of Buxton. We do not see letters of this kind being applied to East Indians as a group so that the message that is conveyed is one of East Indian supremacy.
To make it worse, these letters, more often than not, have non-East Indian signatories so the letters are aimed at inculcating self-loathing. Africans are being taught, through the print media, to accept their own inferiority and the negative consequences of being African, but at the same time, it gives the alleged East Indian writers the justification for their own superior position with respect to Africans. The racist speech therefore creates a social reality in which Africans have to function by constraining their liberty. Since the life opportunities of Africans are limited, the use of violent language to construct a meaning of inferiority makes racist speech an act of marginalisation.
A consequence of racist speech is that Africans are in a weakened position since they have been pushed to the margins of society, which means that discriminatory state policies can be put in place with the intention of deepening social divisions. The fact that these letters appear primarily in the state-owned Chronicle means that the state is active in promoting divisions and the consequential violence in the society.
The effect of racist language that is encouraged by the state is the attempt to destroy institutions that are associated with Africans. Very recently, there has been the withholding of funds from Critchlow Labour College, to not only destroy the college, but the Guyana Labour Union, which historically is associated with Africans.
The second, and even worse act of the consequence of marginalisation, has been the systematic killing of Africans, particularly African men. These acts are carried out by the state’s police force, and more recently, the army. The fact that the African-dominated police force and army are being used to kill Africans again illustrates the promotion of self-loathing. In 2002, at the height of killings by the Black Clothes and rogue elements in the police force, the President congratulated the police force for “its excellent work” (Guyana Review, April 2002), but he has consistently refused to have any investigations into extra-judicial killings by the police. He explained his reluctance by stating “I do not want to put policemen on trial because they are the good guys; they are not the bad ones” (Guyana Review, June 2003). Thus not only does the President make sense of the world by dividing it into neat camps of good and bad, but the killings are just. Therefore, from the President’s perspective, there is no need for investigations. More recently, at the Christmas celebration in December 2007, the President stated that he was pleased with the army’s recent performance and the way it has collaborated with the police and other divisions to fight crime. The army was given a monetary reward for allegedly torturing citizens, particularly those of Buxton. The co-opting of the army into the domestic sphere shows that the intention is not just simply to control crime and alleged criminals, but to kill anyone. The systematic killing of Africans and the attempt to destroy Buxton is what happens to all those who have been pushed to the margins.
Therefore, this rather short letter shows that it is very easy to discuss African marginalisation without all of the statistical information that Dr Misir is requesting. Of course, it is relatively easy to collect the official number of Africans vis-a-vis other ethnic groups who have been murdered by the state or its agents since the PPP came to power in 1992.
The violence in the society will not come to an end, for the marginalised always fight back, until the state comes out of denial and accepts that dividing the society along racial lines is destructive. It is imperative that every citizen be regarded as a human being and consequently has the right to life.
Yours faithfully,
Kean Gibson
Stabroek News, April 24, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2110
Dear Editor,
I have been following the discussion about marginalisation of African-Guyanese in the newspapers and the claims of Dr Prem Misir that statistical evidence is needed to argue marginalisation. Statistical evidence is not always required if we look at one major act of marginalisation and two consequences of being on the margins. The first is the act of naming for the names you are called tells you what your fate is going to be. Letters appear in the print media, particularly the state owned Chronicle, defining Africans by hateful, degrading and persecutory labels such as criminals, murderers, rapists, lawless, two-faced, untrustworthy, violent, only interested in sex and drugs etc. Not only has there been the relentless criminalisation of Africans as a group, but there has been the relentless criminalisation of the entire village of Buxton. We do not see letters of this kind being applied to East Indians as a group so that the message that is conveyed is one of East Indian supremacy.
To make it worse, these letters, more often than not, have non-East Indian signatories so the letters are aimed at inculcating self-loathing. Africans are being taught, through the print media, to accept their own inferiority and the negative consequences of being African, but at the same time, it gives the alleged East Indian writers the justification for their own superior position with respect to Africans. The racist speech therefore creates a social reality in which Africans have to function by constraining their liberty. Since the life opportunities of Africans are limited, the use of violent language to construct a meaning of inferiority makes racist speech an act of marginalisation.
A consequence of racist speech is that Africans are in a weakened position since they have been pushed to the margins of society, which means that discriminatory state policies can be put in place with the intention of deepening social divisions. The fact that these letters appear primarily in the state-owned Chronicle means that the state is active in promoting divisions and the consequential violence in the society.
The effect of racist language that is encouraged by the state is the attempt to destroy institutions that are associated with Africans. Very recently, there has been the withholding of funds from Critchlow Labour College, to not only destroy the college, but the Guyana Labour Union, which historically is associated with Africans.
The second, and even worse act of the consequence of marginalisation, has been the systematic killing of Africans, particularly African men. These acts are carried out by the state’s police force, and more recently, the army. The fact that the African-dominated police force and army are being used to kill Africans again illustrates the promotion of self-loathing. In 2002, at the height of killings by the Black Clothes and rogue elements in the police force, the President congratulated the police force for “its excellent work” (Guyana Review, April 2002), but he has consistently refused to have any investigations into extra-judicial killings by the police. He explained his reluctance by stating “I do not want to put policemen on trial because they are the good guys; they are not the bad ones” (Guyana Review, June 2003). Thus not only does the President make sense of the world by dividing it into neat camps of good and bad, but the killings are just. Therefore, from the President’s perspective, there is no need for investigations. More recently, at the Christmas celebration in December 2007, the President stated that he was pleased with the army’s recent performance and the way it has collaborated with the police and other divisions to fight crime. The army was given a monetary reward for allegedly torturing citizens, particularly those of Buxton. The co-opting of the army into the domestic sphere shows that the intention is not just simply to control crime and alleged criminals, but to kill anyone. The systematic killing of Africans and the attempt to destroy Buxton is what happens to all those who have been pushed to the margins.
Therefore, this rather short letter shows that it is very easy to discuss African marginalisation without all of the statistical information that Dr Misir is requesting. Of course, it is relatively easy to collect the official number of Africans vis-a-vis other ethnic groups who have been murdered by the state or its agents since the PPP came to power in 1992.
The violence in the society will not come to an end, for the marginalised always fight back, until the state comes out of denial and accepts that dividing the society along racial lines is destructive. It is imperative that every citizen be regarded as a human being and consequently has the right to life.
Yours faithfully,
Kean Gibson
Corrupt practices are increasingly widespread
Corrupt practices are increasingly widespread
Stabroek News, April 25, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2175
Dear Editor,
A recently reported admission that there was corruption in certain quarters, presumably in high places, comes as no surprise and is an almost unnecessary confirmation of what has long been considered as normal activity in our social condition.
It would appear that with the increasing impoverishment of our people there is a general worsening of morals, as well as a greater incidence of petty and serious criminal activity. These have all been in existence for so long the people have accepted that the low standards will prevail and have had time to make the adjustments to their daily routine to survive as best they can.
The conditions now obtaining with almost daily reports of some criminal incidents are accepted as the norm and anyone attempting to correct the situation may be considered a meddler out to disrupt ‘peaceful’ living conditions. Whatever the reason the public are involved and should be very concerned because the act of dealing with corruption usually involves expending large amounts of public funds. It is precisely in this area, which affects the majority of people that the large sums of money are usually involved and that action in the public interest seems ineffective either in exerting just punishment, in obtaining cessation of the corrupt practice(s) or in obtaining restitution. Or so it would seem.
Corrupt practices are widespread and those interested in enriching themselves quickly and easily seem attracted to the political arena. This however is not to say that the private sector is exempt from this practice. In this sector, it may be just as prevalent but may be given different names or be completely hidden in bigger issues. The best area for enriching oneself has always been contracting, especially building contracting. As long as the employment of labour is involved, the possibility of chicanery is present.
If the contract involves large sums of money the possibility of corruption increases accordingly. And where the contract is not subject to the control of a qualified quantity surveyor the big C become almost a certainty. It is the combination of contracting and the use of public sector funds, which present the best fields for playing this ‘game’.
Memory and historical records are full of allegations as well as proven cases of politicians enriching themselves at the public expense. It does seem, however, that the political area provides ample opportunity for enrichment with adequate cover for the perpetrators so that in many cases the ‘incident’ is observed under another name and never surfaces even as an allegation. A good example of this is the crime of insider trading in the business world but which might be covered by a ‘finder’s fee’ in political circles.
Misappropriation of public property is as old as the hills; the biggest single incident being the enclosure of lands a few centuries ago. The beneficiaries of the proceeds of corrupt actions in earlier times have all now become respectable, especially so in the older industrialized countries. Corrupt practices now seem to proliferate in the ‘developing’ world, again with much evidence in the political area. And everywhere the people are suspicious. An SN report of a survey in Trinidad stated that a majority of Trinidadians, 90%, believe that not only their politicians are corrupt, 85% of the people sampled believed the police service and 80.3% felt the business community is corrupt with the public service coming up smartly with a figure of 72.6% of the sample of 1000 of their citizens. But Trinidadians and Tobagonians are not alone in their suspicion that many of their eminent citizens are corrupt.
Mr A Moraias commenting on an April 13, Time Magazine report on Brazil wrote:
“God blessed it (Brazil) with a rich soil, abundant water, lots of minerals and the world’s biggest rain forest. But Brazilians are cursed with a bunch of politicians who are selfish, nepotistic, corrupt and robbers. These politicos work only three days a week. They retire after a few years in office with high salaries. Scandals involving them pop up in the media every month. They don’t do their work. They only talk and talk. You can count the honest Brazilian politicians on the fingers of one hand.”
A few years ago, I was taking one of our Ministers to task about the corruption in this country. Referring to the epidemic situation obtaining in another neighbouring country his response went something like this. ‘You haven’t seen corruption yet. When I was there a senior civil servant about to retire asked his superior officer about the pension he was going to receive. He in turn, was asked “how long have you been working in this job?” to this the civil servant replied, “33 years,” only to receive the simple question, “And what were you doing all this time?”
Yours faithfully,
RO Westmaas,
Dip Arch, ARIBAMSVP
Stabroek News, April 25, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2175
Dear Editor,
A recently reported admission that there was corruption in certain quarters, presumably in high places, comes as no surprise and is an almost unnecessary confirmation of what has long been considered as normal activity in our social condition.
It would appear that with the increasing impoverishment of our people there is a general worsening of morals, as well as a greater incidence of petty and serious criminal activity. These have all been in existence for so long the people have accepted that the low standards will prevail and have had time to make the adjustments to their daily routine to survive as best they can.
The conditions now obtaining with almost daily reports of some criminal incidents are accepted as the norm and anyone attempting to correct the situation may be considered a meddler out to disrupt ‘peaceful’ living conditions. Whatever the reason the public are involved and should be very concerned because the act of dealing with corruption usually involves expending large amounts of public funds. It is precisely in this area, which affects the majority of people that the large sums of money are usually involved and that action in the public interest seems ineffective either in exerting just punishment, in obtaining cessation of the corrupt practice(s) or in obtaining restitution. Or so it would seem.
Corrupt practices are widespread and those interested in enriching themselves quickly and easily seem attracted to the political arena. This however is not to say that the private sector is exempt from this practice. In this sector, it may be just as prevalent but may be given different names or be completely hidden in bigger issues. The best area for enriching oneself has always been contracting, especially building contracting. As long as the employment of labour is involved, the possibility of chicanery is present.
If the contract involves large sums of money the possibility of corruption increases accordingly. And where the contract is not subject to the control of a qualified quantity surveyor the big C become almost a certainty. It is the combination of contracting and the use of public sector funds, which present the best fields for playing this ‘game’.
Memory and historical records are full of allegations as well as proven cases of politicians enriching themselves at the public expense. It does seem, however, that the political area provides ample opportunity for enrichment with adequate cover for the perpetrators so that in many cases the ‘incident’ is observed under another name and never surfaces even as an allegation. A good example of this is the crime of insider trading in the business world but which might be covered by a ‘finder’s fee’ in political circles.
Misappropriation of public property is as old as the hills; the biggest single incident being the enclosure of lands a few centuries ago. The beneficiaries of the proceeds of corrupt actions in earlier times have all now become respectable, especially so in the older industrialized countries. Corrupt practices now seem to proliferate in the ‘developing’ world, again with much evidence in the political area. And everywhere the people are suspicious. An SN report of a survey in Trinidad stated that a majority of Trinidadians, 90%, believe that not only their politicians are corrupt, 85% of the people sampled believed the police service and 80.3% felt the business community is corrupt with the public service coming up smartly with a figure of 72.6% of the sample of 1000 of their citizens. But Trinidadians and Tobagonians are not alone in their suspicion that many of their eminent citizens are corrupt.
Mr A Moraias commenting on an April 13, Time Magazine report on Brazil wrote:
“God blessed it (Brazil) with a rich soil, abundant water, lots of minerals and the world’s biggest rain forest. But Brazilians are cursed with a bunch of politicians who are selfish, nepotistic, corrupt and robbers. These politicos work only three days a week. They retire after a few years in office with high salaries. Scandals involving them pop up in the media every month. They don’t do their work. They only talk and talk. You can count the honest Brazilian politicians on the fingers of one hand.”
A few years ago, I was taking one of our Ministers to task about the corruption in this country. Referring to the epidemic situation obtaining in another neighbouring country his response went something like this. ‘You haven’t seen corruption yet. When I was there a senior civil servant about to retire asked his superior officer about the pension he was going to receive. He in turn, was asked “how long have you been working in this job?” to this the civil servant replied, “33 years,” only to receive the simple question, “And what were you doing all this time?”
Yours faithfully,
RO Westmaas,
Dip Arch, ARIBAMSVP
The closure of Channel Six shows a disregard for constitutional rights
The closure of Channel Six shows a disregard for constitutional rights
Stabroek News, April 26, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2257
Dear Editor,
The closing of Channel 6 for four months by President Jagdeo is indisputable proof of the wanton disregard of constitutional rights that now seriously undermines the quality of life in Guyana. CN Sharma, the owner of the station, though not as erudite and urbane as others in the media is a staunch critic of the many abuses of the present government. He has, in recent weeks, allowed the main opposition parties to use the station; an opportunity that is constantly denied them by the government controlled Channel 11.
Mr Jagdeo’s edict is based on the rebroadcast of a call, which was deemed a threat to his life. The President’s decision is disturbing for several reasons. He evaluated the facts of a matter in which he was the aggrieved party, and also imposed punishment. It is a fundamental tenet of fairness that requires a party who is a part of an action not to sit in judgment of the facts, and certainly not in the penalty phase where the party’s bias may tarnish his objectivity.
It is plainly unthinkable that in this modern world a Head of State would engage in such untoward conduct even in a country masquerading as a democracy. The stench of prejudice is so overwhelming that reasonable Guyanese must feel ashamed of their President’s irrational conduct. The caller was anonymous. There is no evidence connecting the caller to the owner of the station. Owners of television stations must behave responsibly. The rebroadcast of the offending call on February 22 and February 23 does not, however, rise to the level of irresponsibility to justify this closing. The owner said he was unaware of the rebroadcast. A highly plausible explanation in a business environment with various employees.
An examination of the language shows it to be distasteful but not a real threat. The caller said in relevant part, “Because look at these killings and nobody can’t give account about these people’s lives and Jagdeo going to take a high risk going and tell people to calm down; he’s going to bury the dead bodies. If anything going to happen to my family, I am going to kill Jagdeo.” These words reveal an upset person. If security considerations compelled caution, then the caller should be punished, not the station.
The call was devoid of content and style to move others to serious action. Justice Oliver Holmes, the noted American jurist, has stated that “Eloquence may spark treason”.
It would demand more than extrapolation to categorize the call as one that would ignite imagination and rebellious action.
Mr Jagdeo also acted without the advice of the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting ( ACB) whose explicit responsibility is to advise the relevant minister on compliance by licensees and to recommend sanctions for violations.
The President is constrained by the specific language of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on November 7, 2001, by the late leader of the Opposition, Desmond Hoyte, and himself, and which reads in pertinent part:
“The Parties agree that the Minister, in the exercise of his power pursuant to the Act and the wireless Regulations made hereunder, with respect to television station licences, will act in accordance with the advice tendered by the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting.”
One of the principal reasons for the signing of the agreement was that the ACB was a temporary body, and was to be replaced once the long delayed broadcast legislation was enacted. Another signal reason was that the inherent political partisanship and bias that attended the review of a compliance controversy by a government minister would be tempered, if not removed, by requiring the minister to follow the recommendation of the ACB.
Mr Kit Nascimento in a letter to the Stabroek News of April 19, 2008, said cavalierly that the government is not bound to the MOU because it is a political agreement. A pathetic pronouncement in the light of the political milieu in which the MOU was inked. The agreement was designed to settle ongoing issues that were contributing to unrest and serious mistrust between the main political factions within the country. If Mr Nascimento’s position were to be followed, a vital article of governance would be taken away in an already troubled body politic.
The Jagdeo juggernaut must be stopped. It has imprisoned Hinckson without any legal basis. There has been no inquest in the murder of Donna Herod. The killers of Ronald Waddell remain at large. Known drug lords have not been prosecuted. Corruption is still common in the precincts of government.
Guyana is indeed doomed to failure unless decisive steps are taken to stop this assault on the fundamental rights of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of conscience as guaranteed by the Constitution.
Yours faithfully,
Terrence Simon
The Brooklyn
Chapter -PNCR
Stabroek News, April 26, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2257
Dear Editor,
The closing of Channel 6 for four months by President Jagdeo is indisputable proof of the wanton disregard of constitutional rights that now seriously undermines the quality of life in Guyana. CN Sharma, the owner of the station, though not as erudite and urbane as others in the media is a staunch critic of the many abuses of the present government. He has, in recent weeks, allowed the main opposition parties to use the station; an opportunity that is constantly denied them by the government controlled Channel 11.
Mr Jagdeo’s edict is based on the rebroadcast of a call, which was deemed a threat to his life. The President’s decision is disturbing for several reasons. He evaluated the facts of a matter in which he was the aggrieved party, and also imposed punishment. It is a fundamental tenet of fairness that requires a party who is a part of an action not to sit in judgment of the facts, and certainly not in the penalty phase where the party’s bias may tarnish his objectivity.
It is plainly unthinkable that in this modern world a Head of State would engage in such untoward conduct even in a country masquerading as a democracy. The stench of prejudice is so overwhelming that reasonable Guyanese must feel ashamed of their President’s irrational conduct. The caller was anonymous. There is no evidence connecting the caller to the owner of the station. Owners of television stations must behave responsibly. The rebroadcast of the offending call on February 22 and February 23 does not, however, rise to the level of irresponsibility to justify this closing. The owner said he was unaware of the rebroadcast. A highly plausible explanation in a business environment with various employees.
An examination of the language shows it to be distasteful but not a real threat. The caller said in relevant part, “Because look at these killings and nobody can’t give account about these people’s lives and Jagdeo going to take a high risk going and tell people to calm down; he’s going to bury the dead bodies. If anything going to happen to my family, I am going to kill Jagdeo.” These words reveal an upset person. If security considerations compelled caution, then the caller should be punished, not the station.
The call was devoid of content and style to move others to serious action. Justice Oliver Holmes, the noted American jurist, has stated that “Eloquence may spark treason”.
It would demand more than extrapolation to categorize the call as one that would ignite imagination and rebellious action.
Mr Jagdeo also acted without the advice of the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting ( ACB) whose explicit responsibility is to advise the relevant minister on compliance by licensees and to recommend sanctions for violations.
The President is constrained by the specific language of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on November 7, 2001, by the late leader of the Opposition, Desmond Hoyte, and himself, and which reads in pertinent part:
“The Parties agree that the Minister, in the exercise of his power pursuant to the Act and the wireless Regulations made hereunder, with respect to television station licences, will act in accordance with the advice tendered by the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting.”
One of the principal reasons for the signing of the agreement was that the ACB was a temporary body, and was to be replaced once the long delayed broadcast legislation was enacted. Another signal reason was that the inherent political partisanship and bias that attended the review of a compliance controversy by a government minister would be tempered, if not removed, by requiring the minister to follow the recommendation of the ACB.
Mr Kit Nascimento in a letter to the Stabroek News of April 19, 2008, said cavalierly that the government is not bound to the MOU because it is a political agreement. A pathetic pronouncement in the light of the political milieu in which the MOU was inked. The agreement was designed to settle ongoing issues that were contributing to unrest and serious mistrust between the main political factions within the country. If Mr Nascimento’s position were to be followed, a vital article of governance would be taken away in an already troubled body politic.
The Jagdeo juggernaut must be stopped. It has imprisoned Hinckson without any legal basis. There has been no inquest in the murder of Donna Herod. The killers of Ronald Waddell remain at large. Known drug lords have not been prosecuted. Corruption is still common in the precincts of government.
Guyana is indeed doomed to failure unless decisive steps are taken to stop this assault on the fundamental rights of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of conscience as guaranteed by the Constitution.
Yours faithfully,
Terrence Simon
The Brooklyn
Chapter -PNCR
Guyana is a safe haven for drug lords and money launderers
Guyana is a safe haven for drug lords and money launderers
Stabroek News, April 26, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2255
Dear Editor,
A Mr Anand Persaud wrote a letter entitled “The whole of E.C.D. is traumatised, not only Buxton” (KN 08.04.23) in which he asked 16 questions and used my name 16 times in a fashion normally associated with a judge asking questions or someone smirkingly shouting “I got you”.
Is Anand Persaud genuine in his search for truth or someone who may be practicing “identity theft”, or someone who is taking ghost writing to another level of mischief and propaganda. I settled for ghost writing because this writer uses a well worn approach of “soft-hard love” to project a kinder, gentler approach while hiding his cynical contempt of his “got ya now”. Thus he started his letter with “He (Mr Phillips) should be commended for providing support for his Afro-Guyanese brothers. Please permit me to ask Mr Phillips some questions, if I may:”
To accommodate this peculiar approach, I will use his own format to answer him.
1. Didn’t the Guyana government provide financial reimbursement to the Buxton farmers for the hardship that they and their children endured as a result of the operation of the Joint Services?
No. This hardship started in 2002. In the most recent escalation, very little has been paid to the farmers, less than 25% of that promised and an insignificant amount compared to the damage done to their crops. There also has been nothing paid for the hardships their children have been enduring since 2002. Now, their livelihoods have been totally destroyed, a prelude to forced poverty for fruits (mangoes etc ) and vegetables don’t produce the day after you plant them.
2. Were the operations of the Joint Services in Buxton necessary and long overdue? All law-abiding Guyanese will think so.
The Joint Services have been in Buxton since 2002. Many African Guyanese are dead because of this. What action are you talking about? If you wanted to clear farms, it is the human thing to discuss it with farmers.
The joint forces had a camp for months in Buxton. Why didn’t they clear the bush since then and with respect for other people and their livelihoods?
3. There are lots of wealthy and successful Afro-Guyanese. Was financial and food assistance requested from them, in addition to soliciting assistance from the various embassies?
Where are these lots of wealthy Afro-Guyanese?
4. Does Mr Phillips agree that Buxton is a haven for notorious criminals?
Does Mr Persaud agree that Guyana is a safe haven for notorious drug lords, money launderers, extra-judicial killers, corrupt government officials and bandits of all shapes and sizes? Check all branches of government and do your own assessment. Did you read what Dr Clive Thomas has written so extensively about without any rebuttal from Prem Misir. Dr Clive Thomas states there exists a deep link between this government and criminals. He calls Guyana a “criminal state”. Do you know the American government indicated it was monitoring 28 businesses? Do Africans own these?
5. Did ACDA ask the Guyana government for food assistance?
Carifesta was launched on Wednesday this week. The government did not invite ACDA. Should ACDA call and ask for an invitation even though it is Guyana’s largest cultural organisation and attracts approximately 40,000 people of all races every year on Emancipation Day?
6. Is Mr Phillips aware that Indians were also brutally and mercilessly gunned down in Bartica, and a fund is yet to be set up?
Were only Indians gunned down in Bartica? Are you certain Indians weren’t part of the gang as they were in the Rose Hall Bank robbery? Why didn’t a newspaper set up a fund for Bartica as was done for Lusignan?
This seems to be the general process. ACDA just held a Memorial Concert in Dartmouth for Ivor Williams, the soldier who died in Buxton. It was completely packed on April 19.
7. Our country has been under siege for several years by merciless murderers. Does Mr Phillips agree that most of the criminal elements responsible for the crime surge are from Buxton (and Agricola)?
The biggest and most merciless killers are those involved in drug smuggling. Mr Persaud, do you know how many lives are destroyed and how many people are killed because of drugs? Corruption and white-collar crime are just as violent and merciless as physical crime and much more destructive in the long run. Do you know 30% of Guyana’s budget is projected to be lost from corruption? These criminals live outside Buxton and Agricola. They have nice homes and their children and families live off blood money.
8. Does Mr Phillips recognise the psychological impact on the families whose loved ones were senselessly and brutally gunned down by the criminal elements in Buxton? In most cases, sole breadwinners were massacred. Life for the surviving spouses and children will never be the same.
Ask your bosses about the psychological siege on Buxton and about extra-judicial killings, kidnappings, torture and the illegal occupation of Buxton.
Ask normal people how they would feel if they lived in Buxton. Buxton has been crying for years because of injustices and there was indifference.
9. Is Mr Phillips suggesting that only the people in Buxton have feelings and undergo trauma?
You are being purposefully idiotic and cynical in this question, Mr Persaud.
10. Mr Phillips indicated that “Buxton is a severely traumatised community”. What about the entire East Coast Demerara? Many of my relatives who reside on the East Coast Demerara cannot sleep at nights, have nightmares, suffer from anxiety, depression, hypertension, etc.
Aren’t they innocently traumatized?
Guyana is traumatised because of autocratic rule, state sponsored extra-judicial killing that Roger Khan said he participated in, the lack of economic vision, insatiable corruption, racism and victimisation, marginalisation and poor leadership. Don’t you agree?
11. Mr Phillips stated that Minister Rodrigues “is representing a very unjust regime and the world knows this”. This is an irresponsible and dangerous statement to be made by someone who is representing the Afro-Guyanese community.
It is not only erroneous, but is also a blatant lie. The entire global community (government and financial) has praised Guyana for its thrust towards democracy, and unanimously agreed that Guyana is on a progressive track. Why the inaccuracy, Mr Phillips?
I guess this blatant lie will result in me being charged with treason, Mr Persaud. Inclusiveness has a new reality namely drug lords, extra-judicial killers, torturers, murderers of Guyanese dreams and hopes.
12. No one in Guyana is envious if any village receives money. What makes Mr Phillips think so, since we are all struggling to make ends meet and to face the global rise in food prices?
Why would a government complain about a gift of US$500 in food or less than US$7.50 per farmer?
The majority of Guyanese are struggling to make ends meet. This just government that is praised by the entire global community (government and financial) runs a country that is rich in resources but that is dirt poor. Its economic vision is poverty relief yet VAT has made people poorer.
It has taken plentifulness and drugged-economied it into nothingness.
Quite a remarkable feat by any standard. Take away remittances (43% of GDP), take away drug smuggling and the underground economy (up to 60% of the economy), take away donor funds and we are one of the worst run countries, worst run economies in the entire world.
13. Indian communities do not receive the “most money per capita”, as he suggested. Where are the numbers, Mr Phillips?
Mr Persaud, go read your budget. Go visit African villages and then visit Indian villages. Go look at the GMMP programme. Go look at the strategies to implement the Agricultural Diversification Programme. Go ask your ministers.
14. Why doesn’t Mr. Phillips use his influence in USA and Africa to solicit additional assistance? The government is limited financially.
Guyana , if properly run should sustain all of us “with plenty left over”. We have political and economic dunces running us into mendicancy.
15. Everyone knows that the majority of Buxtonians are decent human beings. When will Mr Phillips provide help to the authorities to seek out the very small percentage of criminals who are giving Buxton a bad name? Remember the saying, “One bad apple spoils the whole barrel”.
How am I going to provide this help, Mr Persaud? I welcome your suggestions on this matter.
16. Mr Phillips’s recent write-up on marginalisation lacks substance. When will Mr Phillips provide credible back-up data?
I have written a personal response on marginalisation to the editors of the two major newspapers.
Mr Persaud, court is over. Perhaps you can tell me how to contact the “bad apples in Buxton”. Then again, you may be charged with terrorism and treason as was Oliver Hinckson.
Finally, like you Mr Persaud, I also am a law-abiding Guyanese who wants a progressive Guyana . This will only happen when all criminals, white collar and blue collar, whether in government or not, are locked up and when we have shared governance.
Yours faithfully,
Eric Phillips
Stabroek News, April 26, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2255
Dear Editor,
A Mr Anand Persaud wrote a letter entitled “The whole of E.C.D. is traumatised, not only Buxton” (KN 08.04.23) in which he asked 16 questions and used my name 16 times in a fashion normally associated with a judge asking questions or someone smirkingly shouting “I got you”.
Is Anand Persaud genuine in his search for truth or someone who may be practicing “identity theft”, or someone who is taking ghost writing to another level of mischief and propaganda. I settled for ghost writing because this writer uses a well worn approach of “soft-hard love” to project a kinder, gentler approach while hiding his cynical contempt of his “got ya now”. Thus he started his letter with “He (Mr Phillips) should be commended for providing support for his Afro-Guyanese brothers. Please permit me to ask Mr Phillips some questions, if I may:”
To accommodate this peculiar approach, I will use his own format to answer him.
1. Didn’t the Guyana government provide financial reimbursement to the Buxton farmers for the hardship that they and their children endured as a result of the operation of the Joint Services?
No. This hardship started in 2002. In the most recent escalation, very little has been paid to the farmers, less than 25% of that promised and an insignificant amount compared to the damage done to their crops. There also has been nothing paid for the hardships their children have been enduring since 2002. Now, their livelihoods have been totally destroyed, a prelude to forced poverty for fruits (mangoes etc ) and vegetables don’t produce the day after you plant them.
2. Were the operations of the Joint Services in Buxton necessary and long overdue? All law-abiding Guyanese will think so.
The Joint Services have been in Buxton since 2002. Many African Guyanese are dead because of this. What action are you talking about? If you wanted to clear farms, it is the human thing to discuss it with farmers.
The joint forces had a camp for months in Buxton. Why didn’t they clear the bush since then and with respect for other people and their livelihoods?
3. There are lots of wealthy and successful Afro-Guyanese. Was financial and food assistance requested from them, in addition to soliciting assistance from the various embassies?
Where are these lots of wealthy Afro-Guyanese?
4. Does Mr Phillips agree that Buxton is a haven for notorious criminals?
Does Mr Persaud agree that Guyana is a safe haven for notorious drug lords, money launderers, extra-judicial killers, corrupt government officials and bandits of all shapes and sizes? Check all branches of government and do your own assessment. Did you read what Dr Clive Thomas has written so extensively about without any rebuttal from Prem Misir. Dr Clive Thomas states there exists a deep link between this government and criminals. He calls Guyana a “criminal state”. Do you know the American government indicated it was monitoring 28 businesses? Do Africans own these?
5. Did ACDA ask the Guyana government for food assistance?
Carifesta was launched on Wednesday this week. The government did not invite ACDA. Should ACDA call and ask for an invitation even though it is Guyana’s largest cultural organisation and attracts approximately 40,000 people of all races every year on Emancipation Day?
6. Is Mr Phillips aware that Indians were also brutally and mercilessly gunned down in Bartica, and a fund is yet to be set up?
Were only Indians gunned down in Bartica? Are you certain Indians weren’t part of the gang as they were in the Rose Hall Bank robbery? Why didn’t a newspaper set up a fund for Bartica as was done for Lusignan?
This seems to be the general process. ACDA just held a Memorial Concert in Dartmouth for Ivor Williams, the soldier who died in Buxton. It was completely packed on April 19.
7. Our country has been under siege for several years by merciless murderers. Does Mr Phillips agree that most of the criminal elements responsible for the crime surge are from Buxton (and Agricola)?
The biggest and most merciless killers are those involved in drug smuggling. Mr Persaud, do you know how many lives are destroyed and how many people are killed because of drugs? Corruption and white-collar crime are just as violent and merciless as physical crime and much more destructive in the long run. Do you know 30% of Guyana’s budget is projected to be lost from corruption? These criminals live outside Buxton and Agricola. They have nice homes and their children and families live off blood money.
8. Does Mr Phillips recognise the psychological impact on the families whose loved ones were senselessly and brutally gunned down by the criminal elements in Buxton? In most cases, sole breadwinners were massacred. Life for the surviving spouses and children will never be the same.
Ask your bosses about the psychological siege on Buxton and about extra-judicial killings, kidnappings, torture and the illegal occupation of Buxton.
Ask normal people how they would feel if they lived in Buxton. Buxton has been crying for years because of injustices and there was indifference.
9. Is Mr Phillips suggesting that only the people in Buxton have feelings and undergo trauma?
You are being purposefully idiotic and cynical in this question, Mr Persaud.
10. Mr Phillips indicated that “Buxton is a severely traumatised community”. What about the entire East Coast Demerara? Many of my relatives who reside on the East Coast Demerara cannot sleep at nights, have nightmares, suffer from anxiety, depression, hypertension, etc.
Aren’t they innocently traumatized?
Guyana is traumatised because of autocratic rule, state sponsored extra-judicial killing that Roger Khan said he participated in, the lack of economic vision, insatiable corruption, racism and victimisation, marginalisation and poor leadership. Don’t you agree?
11. Mr Phillips stated that Minister Rodrigues “is representing a very unjust regime and the world knows this”. This is an irresponsible and dangerous statement to be made by someone who is representing the Afro-Guyanese community.
It is not only erroneous, but is also a blatant lie. The entire global community (government and financial) has praised Guyana for its thrust towards democracy, and unanimously agreed that Guyana is on a progressive track. Why the inaccuracy, Mr Phillips?
I guess this blatant lie will result in me being charged with treason, Mr Persaud. Inclusiveness has a new reality namely drug lords, extra-judicial killers, torturers, murderers of Guyanese dreams and hopes.
12. No one in Guyana is envious if any village receives money. What makes Mr Phillips think so, since we are all struggling to make ends meet and to face the global rise in food prices?
Why would a government complain about a gift of US$500 in food or less than US$7.50 per farmer?
The majority of Guyanese are struggling to make ends meet. This just government that is praised by the entire global community (government and financial) runs a country that is rich in resources but that is dirt poor. Its economic vision is poverty relief yet VAT has made people poorer.
It has taken plentifulness and drugged-economied it into nothingness.
Quite a remarkable feat by any standard. Take away remittances (43% of GDP), take away drug smuggling and the underground economy (up to 60% of the economy), take away donor funds and we are one of the worst run countries, worst run economies in the entire world.
13. Indian communities do not receive the “most money per capita”, as he suggested. Where are the numbers, Mr Phillips?
Mr Persaud, go read your budget. Go visit African villages and then visit Indian villages. Go look at the GMMP programme. Go look at the strategies to implement the Agricultural Diversification Programme. Go ask your ministers.
14. Why doesn’t Mr. Phillips use his influence in USA and Africa to solicit additional assistance? The government is limited financially.
Guyana , if properly run should sustain all of us “with plenty left over”. We have political and economic dunces running us into mendicancy.
15. Everyone knows that the majority of Buxtonians are decent human beings. When will Mr Phillips provide help to the authorities to seek out the very small percentage of criminals who are giving Buxton a bad name? Remember the saying, “One bad apple spoils the whole barrel”.
How am I going to provide this help, Mr Persaud? I welcome your suggestions on this matter.
16. Mr Phillips’s recent write-up on marginalisation lacks substance. When will Mr Phillips provide credible back-up data?
I have written a personal response on marginalisation to the editors of the two major newspapers.
Mr Persaud, court is over. Perhaps you can tell me how to contact the “bad apples in Buxton”. Then again, you may be charged with terrorism and treason as was Oliver Hinckson.
Finally, like you Mr Persaud, I also am a law-abiding Guyanese who wants a progressive Guyana . This will only happen when all criminals, white collar and blue collar, whether in government or not, are locked up and when we have shared governance.
Yours faithfully,
Eric Phillips
Iwokrama, Tigerwood earn UK forest stewardship certification
Iwokrama, Tigerwood earn UK forest stewardship certification
Stabroek News, April 26, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2281
The Iwokrama International Centre and its joint venture partner Tigerwood Guyana Inc (TGI) have achieved Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for the Iwokrama Rainforest in Guyana.
The CEOs of the two entities – Dane Gobin of Iwokrama and Sir Ronald Sanders of TGI – made the announcement yesterday in Georgetown. They revealed that the certificate was issued after the forest management and sustainable harvesting operations in Iwokrama were closely examined by FSC appointed auditors, Woodmark of the UK last year.
In a press release, Iwokrama said that FSC’s model of certification allows products that flow from certified forests to enter the global marketplace with a credential that is unique. It said too, “Any FSC labelled product can be tracked back to a certified source, and confirms that forestry operations are conducted in accordance with international social, environmental and economic best practices. It also confirms that the local communities are fully integrated into the business both at the strategic and operational levels and are involved in the decision making process.”
Gobin said it is a proud moment for Iwokrama and TGI. In securing the certificate for the Iwokrama forest and its operation, Guyana has been placed firmly on the map of responsible forest management. “We are the only venture in the area of the Guiana Shield to now enjoy FSC accreditation,” he said.
Speaking for TGI, Sir Ronald declared: “FSC certification was difficult to accomplish. It called for a commitment to sustainable harvesting that that had to be backed with greater resources than a normal harvesting operation in order to achieve higher standards.” He also pointed out that the sustainable harvesting operation is also contributing to the maintenance of the valuable eco-system services of the forest which benefits all mankind.
Both Gobin and Sir Ronald said harvesting was being conducted in strict accordance with the principles of Reduced Impact Logging. The objective is to minimise damage and maintain the forest in an intact condition. Felling blocks will be closed to allow for natural regeneration of plant species according to the 60-year cycle as soon as selective harvesting is completed, the press release said. They also pointed out that a significant number of members of the surrounding Amerindian communities have been gainfully employed in the forest operations and, as these expand adding value-adding activities, more community members were expected to fin jobs in the forest. This will help to alleviate poverty while contributing to the communities’ cohesiveness.
Stabroek News, April 26, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2281
The Iwokrama International Centre and its joint venture partner Tigerwood Guyana Inc (TGI) have achieved Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for the Iwokrama Rainforest in Guyana.
The CEOs of the two entities – Dane Gobin of Iwokrama and Sir Ronald Sanders of TGI – made the announcement yesterday in Georgetown. They revealed that the certificate was issued after the forest management and sustainable harvesting operations in Iwokrama were closely examined by FSC appointed auditors, Woodmark of the UK last year.
In a press release, Iwokrama said that FSC’s model of certification allows products that flow from certified forests to enter the global marketplace with a credential that is unique. It said too, “Any FSC labelled product can be tracked back to a certified source, and confirms that forestry operations are conducted in accordance with international social, environmental and economic best practices. It also confirms that the local communities are fully integrated into the business both at the strategic and operational levels and are involved in the decision making process.”
Gobin said it is a proud moment for Iwokrama and TGI. In securing the certificate for the Iwokrama forest and its operation, Guyana has been placed firmly on the map of responsible forest management. “We are the only venture in the area of the Guiana Shield to now enjoy FSC accreditation,” he said.
Speaking for TGI, Sir Ronald declared: “FSC certification was difficult to accomplish. It called for a commitment to sustainable harvesting that that had to be backed with greater resources than a normal harvesting operation in order to achieve higher standards.” He also pointed out that the sustainable harvesting operation is also contributing to the maintenance of the valuable eco-system services of the forest which benefits all mankind.
Both Gobin and Sir Ronald said harvesting was being conducted in strict accordance with the principles of Reduced Impact Logging. The objective is to minimise damage and maintain the forest in an intact condition. Felling blocks will be closed to allow for natural regeneration of plant species according to the 60-year cycle as soon as selective harvesting is completed, the press release said. They also pointed out that a significant number of members of the surrounding Amerindian communities have been gainfully employed in the forest operations and, as these expand adding value-adding activities, more community members were expected to fin jobs in the forest. This will help to alleviate poverty while contributing to the communities’ cohesiveness.
Two Customs Officers fired -Fidelity fraud probe
Two Customs Officers fired -Fidelity fraud probe
Stabroek News, April 26, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2294
Two Customs officers were dismissed yesterday and several others have been sent on indefinite leave as the independent probe into fraudulent activities allegedly carried out by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Fidelity Investment intensifies.It is the first shake-up at Customs since the probe was initiated by President Bharat Jagdeo last month but immediately after the dismissal letters were served, angry GRA staff numbering around 20 erupted calling it “unfair and an attack against the lower level staff”.
The two officers were dismissed for their alleged involvement in the Polar beer scandal with Fidelity that led to 73,000 cases of the beverage being smuggled into the country without the required duties being paid.
Stabroek News was shown the dismissal letters yesterday, which said the men contravened the GRA Schedule of Disciplinary Measures No.5. Inefficiency and Incompetence; and No 16. Failure to obey known rules and code of conduct, conflict of interest and post employment codes.
A cashier at Customs House was also dismissed on Thursday for her alleged involvement in the deal with Fidelity but she was told to resume duties yesterday after cashiers at the office called a sick-out in protest of her being fired.
Disgruntled but relieved to be back on the job the cashier told Stabroek News last night that she was targeted unfairly since according to her, her job description did not include a lengthy scrutiny of documents to see what has been forged.
Since the probe got underway, 17 GRA staff including four key ranking officials have been sent on indefinite leave. The two officers dismissed yesterday were among those sent on leave and in the past week, they had been grilled about the role they played in the scandal.
One of the officers said he was fired because his signature appeared on the invoice that was prepared when the shipment of Polar beer entered the country. He said a team of custom officials would usually inspect the shipment and according to him, several persons did and what they saw was aerated drinks. He stated yesterday that if the Polar beers were there, they were not visible at the time they checked.
What happened next was that they drew up the invoice for aerated drinks and the taxes were paid on the shipment. He said that a member of the task force set up by the President had been pressuring him to confess to clearing the shipment of beer and passing it off as soft drinks in exchange for not handing him over to the police.
“I don’t see how they can dismiss me and the investigations are ongoing. They have to complete the investigations then start firing people not before. I am being made a scapegoat,” he said.
A key Fidelity figure has already spilled information to the task force, fingering top GRA officials in the scandal and revealing how the company had entrusted a Customs broker with $142 million to get the shipment off the wharf. The man reportedly came up with a deal with Customs to clear the Polar beer under the category of ‘assorted soft drinks’, which draws less tax than beer. The sum of $32 million was then paid to revenue body in taxes and another $70 million was paid to a top customs official who allowed the shipment to leave the wharf and who is also alleged to have facilitated documents being falsified for Fidelity.
GRA staff, who assembled at the Guyana Public Service Union yesterday, expressed anger over how the investigations are being carried out and they are threatening to take serious action if more persons are fired. They said the individuals conducting the probe have not shown professionalism and that staff in the lower tier of Customs were being targeted, “while the one with the information and who benefited from the deal are being spared”.
Stabroek News, April 26, 2008
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=2294
Two Customs officers were dismissed yesterday and several others have been sent on indefinite leave as the independent probe into fraudulent activities allegedly carried out by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Fidelity Investment intensifies.It is the first shake-up at Customs since the probe was initiated by President Bharat Jagdeo last month but immediately after the dismissal letters were served, angry GRA staff numbering around 20 erupted calling it “unfair and an attack against the lower level staff”.
The two officers were dismissed for their alleged involvement in the Polar beer scandal with Fidelity that led to 73,000 cases of the beverage being smuggled into the country without the required duties being paid.
Stabroek News was shown the dismissal letters yesterday, which said the men contravened the GRA Schedule of Disciplinary Measures No.5. Inefficiency and Incompetence; and No 16. Failure to obey known rules and code of conduct, conflict of interest and post employment codes.
A cashier at Customs House was also dismissed on Thursday for her alleged involvement in the deal with Fidelity but she was told to resume duties yesterday after cashiers at the office called a sick-out in protest of her being fired.
Disgruntled but relieved to be back on the job the cashier told Stabroek News last night that she was targeted unfairly since according to her, her job description did not include a lengthy scrutiny of documents to see what has been forged.
Since the probe got underway, 17 GRA staff including four key ranking officials have been sent on indefinite leave. The two officers dismissed yesterday were among those sent on leave and in the past week, they had been grilled about the role they played in the scandal.
One of the officers said he was fired because his signature appeared on the invoice that was prepared when the shipment of Polar beer entered the country. He said a team of custom officials would usually inspect the shipment and according to him, several persons did and what they saw was aerated drinks. He stated yesterday that if the Polar beers were there, they were not visible at the time they checked.
What happened next was that they drew up the invoice for aerated drinks and the taxes were paid on the shipment. He said that a member of the task force set up by the President had been pressuring him to confess to clearing the shipment of beer and passing it off as soft drinks in exchange for not handing him over to the police.
“I don’t see how they can dismiss me and the investigations are ongoing. They have to complete the investigations then start firing people not before. I am being made a scapegoat,” he said.
A key Fidelity figure has already spilled information to the task force, fingering top GRA officials in the scandal and revealing how the company had entrusted a Customs broker with $142 million to get the shipment off the wharf. The man reportedly came up with a deal with Customs to clear the Polar beer under the category of ‘assorted soft drinks’, which draws less tax than beer. The sum of $32 million was then paid to revenue body in taxes and another $70 million was paid to a top customs official who allowed the shipment to leave the wharf and who is also alleged to have facilitated documents being falsified for Fidelity.
GRA staff, who assembled at the Guyana Public Service Union yesterday, expressed anger over how the investigations are being carried out and they are threatening to take serious action if more persons are fired. They said the individuals conducting the probe have not shown professionalism and that staff in the lower tier of Customs were being targeted, “while the one with the information and who benefited from the deal are being spared”.
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