Brazilian miners forced to pay up to $200,000 for work permits

However, it has come with constant complaints that persons were forcing the foreigners to pay up to $200,000 (US$1,000) for permits.

The middlemen or agents, as they are called, are acting in complicity with government officials, reportedly from the Ministry of Home Affairs and other state agencies. The Home Affairs Ministry is tasked with handling the processing of the permits.

HASEEF YUSUF, AFC Councillor, Region 6: IT is with profound thought and extreme deliberation that I have finally made this decision to let the public know, especially the Alliance For Change (AFC) members and supporters in Berbice of the corrupt and fraudulent practices of certain AFC members in Berbice, more specifically a Member of Parliament (MP).
He has been on DTV 8 for the past few years where he hosted a programme called ‘Issues of the People’, where he vehemently lashed out at the government, the PPP/C, GPL, GWI and the Guyana Police Force, Guysuco, etcetera. He proclaimed himself as the ‘champion’ of transparency, justice and accountability. He entertained anyone who claims to have a grievance and he would lash out without any supporting evidence. He also claimed on numerous occasions that he would ‘singlehandedly’ deliver Berbicians from oppression and corruption, even if the AFC fails to do so.
However, certain post-election events greatly contradicted this image he is trying so hard to portray on TV. I will deal chronologically with these events and you be the judge.
Just after the November elections, three AFC groups submitted financial reports on campaign activities to the Head Office: New Amsterdam, Whim and Upper Corentyne. Two of these groups submitted detailed reports with the necessary supporting documents; however, the Whim Group headed by this MP failed to do so. He submitted a financial report without supporting documents and he furthermore made a ludicrous claim. He claimed that he spent $4.5 M from his pocket and that the party should reimburse him. Two points should be noted here:
I) He was not authorised by the executive or the Campaign Manager to spend in excess of what funds were given to him through the party or by way of donations;
II) He provided no documentary evidence whatever to support his claim of $ 4.5M. In fact, he claimed that he was too busy for that. Right now he is asking for same such evidence in Parliament!
I want to add here that even for funds collected, no receipts were issued. In fact, he would tell a woman working at his house to ‘throw it in the box upstairs.’
The central executive of the party categorically refused to entertain his spurious and unsubstantiated claim for reimbursement. This led to the next linked event.
On February 1 this year, he convened a meeting at his Whim office where 51 members were present. At this meeting, he emphasised that the party owed him $4.5M and he tried to solicit funds through donations and fund- raising activities in order to recoup his claim of $4.5M ‘owed’ to him. He then convened an election to form a Regional Management Committee and to establish an AFC Office at his Office at Whim. One of the functions of this RMC would be fund-raising through which he would get ‘his money back.’
I was unanimously elected by all 51 members present as the Chairman, Mr. Lionel Howell as the Vice- Chairman and Ms. Donna Mathoo as the Secretary.
Among other things, I put forward fund-raising suggestions to the members present and asked their suggestions as to what should be done with excess funds above the needs of individual groups and everyone unanimously agreed that all excess funds should be placed into a bank account to take care of future expenses. No one present agreed that monies collected should be used to offset the claim by the MP. This irked him.
At this same meeting, he also suggested that a certain female be selected and employed to work at the AFC office to be opened at Whim. I strongly objected to this sort of cronyism and suggested that applications be invited so that there is fairness and transparency and that the most suitable person be selected. Can you imagine a fledgling party behaving in this undemocratic manner? Suddenly I became this MP’s number one enemy, but I can live with that!
The third event unfolded on April 16, 2012. Unknowing to Donna Mathoo (the Secretary) and I, another election meeting was convened to re-elect office bearers to the Regional Management Committee. The meeting held on February 1, 2012 was declared unconstitutional by the General Secretary, Mr. Sixtus Edwards. I knew about this meeting two days later when Mr. Lionel Howell called me to hand over some funds and documents to him, the new Chairman.
However three points should be raised here:
i) Donna and I were never officially or unofficially informed that the election held on February 1 was null and void and that we were no longer the Chairman and Secretary respectively, and that the office will become vacant;
ii) We were not invited to present ourselves for nomination or otherwise; and
iii) A public announcement was not made about the election meeting. The AFC’s Constitution Article, Section 8, has made it clear that all groups in the region should be invited for any such meeting. Less than 20 members were present. Why the MP did not make a public announcement on DTV 8 the week before so that members could take notice? Why only a selected handful of members? Is this not rigging? Is this not fraudulent?
It is time to take out the ‘beam from thine own eyes’ Mr. MP!
And lo and behold the very same female whom the good MP recommended was employed to work in the AFC Office! And yet speakest thou about cronyism! This is a shame and disgrace to the very principles which the AFC stand for or claims to stand for!
The million dollar (or 4.5 million) question that I want Mr. Ramjattan to answer is: Was the MP acting in the interest in the AFC or in his own self-interest?
The other questions are:
i) Where is the accountability within the AFC?
ii) Where is the transparency in the electoral process?
iii) Isn’t there cronyism within the AFC?
iv)What are you going to do about these matters?
v) Afraid of another defection if you drop the hammer?
I doubt whether Mr. Ramjattan has the courage to act decisively in these matters since I have emailed him three times and on the third occasion he said that he was too busy and that the General Secretary will deal with these matters.
In any other country the misuse and abuse of campaign funds are dealt with criminally, especially where a person is making unsubstantiated claims in order to enrich himself or herself. But alas ! In Guyana such a person will be promoted to high offices.
I still want to know which university made that terrible blunder to confer that MP with a doctorate as he is unfit for public office and should be severely reprimanded for his actions. I call upon the party’s Chairman, Mr. Ramjattan and the Central Executive to act decisively now or face the consequences later.
At this point I am undecided as to what my next move will be, but I am sure that it hinges on how the party will take it from here

Unconcious, aren't you tired of posting the same shit daily? You stupid rass want fo we kick yo backside out of the game or what?

These AFC boys could really eat. Think about what would happen if they get into gov't and where greater opportunities to eat and drink exist.

With all due respect, and in fairness, whenever one makes such a specific accusation, should they not be willing to present and listen to the facts.  While My Yusuff seem to find ample time to make the media rounds, write articles, he was too busy, unavailable to meet with the investigative team led by the GS.

With regards to the food in reference, this was food made available to the general public at AFC's campaign rallies.  Given the hundreds who attended the various rallies in that region, one could summize 900k food could have been consumed.

That being said, it also reasonable to expect robust documentation to avoid such mis-understandings.  I am confident the AFC leadership will get to the bottom of the matter.

SHAMELESS PRICKS!!!!

Fair enough, could you then furnish some facts as you know them apart from what the accuser has been saying in the media.

Look, TH BLOODY THIEVES and Snakeoil Salesmen got caught with their pants down but the SHAMELESS THIEVES they are, they will do nothing about it.

Oh yes, could you furnish some independent facts as best you know, apart from what the accuser is saying in the media.

How can I do that, isn't the accuser the one to do that. Can the KFC prove the man wrong?? It is as simple as that. I think the time and energy KFC is spending talkin CRAP, they should use to address this very serious problem. Or is thiefing not considered a problem in the eyes of KFC???

No, you have a clear position on the issue, a position molded by some knowledge and impression.  You do have a right to form an opinion however, the strength and depth of your opinion seem to suggest you can corroborate what the accuser is saying.  You have become the judge, jury and executioner with the "facts" you have at hand.

They are serious about addressing the issues however, when the accuser does not avail himself for a meeting to go though the facts and circumstance of the accusation, but instead shows up on the media, what should the accused and others do.  It certainly delays the process of getting to the bottom.

BTW, please tell us who "tief" from who?

THE GOVT OF GUYANA IS BEING CALLED THIEVED DAILY BUT I NEVER SEE YOU ASKING DEM NIMAKARAMS FOR EVIDENCE!!!!

The Govt of Guyana, vs an individual/personal accusation are different things.  On the other hand, my position has always been one of accountability and transparency as without that, people's imaginations run wild.  In the absence of such, one will summize when the inner circle of the ruling clan has grown immensely wealthy, and they make sure you see it, then one questions the source of wealth.

Remember, a political figure in a position of power does fall under a different benchmark that the average person.  Making opaque and favorable decisions to ensure favorable outcomes to a specific set of individuals and then reaping some benefit without ever placing your hand in the till is no different that they person who takes from the till.  This is why Burnham and the rest of his ruling kabals were deemed "thieves".

Man do you really read the daily CRAP here from GR, Warrior and others???

I do, and you also see I do not always agree with content of approach.  I would not classify it as all "crap", but I do not agree with it all, though some I do.

My point is you can disagree but be civil, thoughtful and intellectual and do not rush to judgement on anyone.  You can add value alone by applying commonsense and take a position of the other side and see how it looks.  I understand, no one has access to all the facts however, rational and logical reasoning alone will lead one to question some assertions.

As I said to you, no one 100% irrational and there are more than one sides to any issue.  I have always operated on the premise, when something makes no sense, then I must be missing some pieces of the facts.

i HAVE TRIED THAT MANY MANT TIMES. iT JUST DONT WORK WITH THESE iDIOTS!!!!

Guyanese politicians on the whole are hypocrites. Just think about the kind of attacks that present-day AFC leaders such as Ramayya, Tarron Khemraj, and others launched against Nagamatoo, Bissesar, and Ramjattan when they were in different political camps -- PPP and ROAR.  On many occasions Nagamotoo whipped out the pen and fired away at these people who would stick him in his side about his Marxist Ideology. Today, members of the now defunct ROAR organization are rallying behind the same Marxist Naga and Ramjattan as if they are pure and innocent as the Mother Sita. They're telling the nation and the world that they are opposed to the PPP because of dictatorship, racism, and corruption. Dictatorship does not exist nor does the gov't practices racism. Corruption does exist and it will always be there. There is no justification for it but we have to live with the fact that there will never be a truly corrupt-free gov't. The opposition, APNU and AFC, don't have proper record to speak of when it comes to corruption. This does not mean they should silent on issues of corruption. My problem with these guys is that personal bitterness and vendetta within the ranks of various political parties have let them to seek revenge on the PPP. That's the crux of the matter.

I AM NOT QUALIFY TO SAY IN ANY BETTER. THANK YOU BHAI.

The onus is on you to keep yourself above the very lowest common denominator you criticize.  If you allow this to happen, then you have failed your own test and have compromised your principles.  Such is a dangerous person, the type who I stay away from as he/she is not true to themselves, much less those around them.

Baseman does not hold himself superior to anyone however, there are certain principles to which I adhere and, as such, will have run-ins with all sides from time to time.  It does not matter who you are or what you offer, baseman will not be led down any path which conflicts with my set principles.  By doing this, I ensure i'm not blinded by muddy waters.

Berbicians should demand a resignation from Ramaya