“Which lunatic asylum did these Guyanese leaders escape from?”

The same one you did.

Quote "Tell me if as a journalist or a citizen you wouldn’t laugh at the following.  Rohee said that the opposition politicians are friends of the drug traffickers. Asked to produce evidence, a simple educated answer should have been; “At the appropriate time, I will release such.” Here was Rohee’s reply to the reporter, “I ain’t dealing with that.” unquote

Isn't the same is true that although you ghotay the PPP stealing, you never produced any evidence of that? Where is the arrest and or conviction? "Ain't nobody gat time for dis kind ah propaganda".

more apprentice PPP smartmanism from skeldon_man

well . . . i guess there are no drug lords in Guyana either, nah suh bai?

HEHJEHE Looney Toone on the run.

It is FUNNY a Book thiek calling he Mattie thieves.

Ramroop operating three radio stations

with one licence

- Authorities promise investigations

The country’s regulators are moving to investigate reports that a radio company misused its licence by illegally operating three different broadcast stations on frequencies that should have been used as repeater stations for an extended broadcast.
Chairperson of the Guyana National Broadcast Authority (GNBA), Bibi Shadick, also said yesterday that the broadcast authority is hiring a number of lawyers to go after television and other broadcasters who are operating without

Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop

licences.

During a press conference at her South Road office, yesterday, to update on the work of GNBA, Shadick made it clear that it would be a breach of law for any company issued with multiple frequencies to use them to transmit different content instead of being utilized specifically as relays to reach outlying areas.
The company, Radio Guyana Inc. (RGI) is reportedly broadcasting on 89.3FM (Essequibo), 89.5FM (Georgetown) and 89.7FM (Berbice). Under the conditions of the licence granted, the radio station would use one frequency to broadcast with the rest to increase its signals.
Observers have complained that RGI, owned by Queens Atlantic Investments Inc. (QAII), a company with close links to former President Bharrat Jagdeo, has instead been really operating three different stations.
Shadick yesterday said she is unaware of the possible breaches but will investigate.
However, the official disclosed that GNBA is taking any breaches seriously with the law expected to take its course. She maintained that the current broadcasting laws are clear on the actions. In the past, under the old regulations, authorities have used their powers to even seize broadcasting equipment.

BREACH
One TV station on East Coast Demerara, HGP Television Channel 16/Cable 67, she said, was warned after moving equipment intended for a relay to its primary location and then transmitting on another frequency. The station has received its licence but has been told to halt broadcasting on the other.
There have been fears that the multiple frequencies, controversially granted by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, would have been used for setting up numerous radio stations. However, Government has been reassuring that this can never happen, that the additional frequencies were for use as repeater stations.

GNBA’s Chairperson, Bibi Shadick

Days before he ended his term in office back in 2011, Jagdeo breached a decade-long agreement with the Opposition not to issue new licences by approving permission for several radio stations and a number of cable TV operations.
QAII got five frequencies. So too did the New Guyana Company, printers of the Mirror, the ruling party’s newspaper, and the overseas-based sister of Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud.
Several media houses, including Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Capitol News, CNS 6 and WRHM were all bypassed, sparking days of protests. Back then, it was felt that it was a move to give a few persons who are close to the administration, total control of the airwaves. A few others were given one frequency each.
Yesterday, Shadick said that GNBA is still to start examining new applications. Kaieteur News and several media houses had been asked to make fresh applications. The official is hoping to start the process before the year is over, but could not give a deadline.
She said that her broadcast authority will be meeting by December 16, next.
So far, under the regularization of the airwaves, GNBA has issued television licences to TVG 28, GWTV Channel 2, Pinnacle Channel 8, MTV Channel 65, CNS Channel 6, DTV Channel 8 and HBTV Channel 9.
Radio licences have also been issued to RGI, Telecor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc. ( the company linked to Minister Persaud),  NTN 89.1FM and Hits and Jams Entertainment.
For the cable TV licences, GNBA would have issued licences for E-Networks, Atlantic Cable Networks, Ali Broadcasting Corporation, Infinity Telecommunications and E3 Communications.
According to Shadick, two television licences were issued to Countryside Broadcasting and Guyana Learning Channel. Spectrum and broadcasting fees will be waived for the state-owned Guyana Learning Channel.
However, several others are not in order, and in some cases have not paid their fees.These may be facing trouble.
While there was an October 31 deadline by the GNBA for all operators to be licenced, the move by the authority to now hire lawyers is significant as several operators are without licences and with only a few weeks remaining for the year.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

Quark Communications which has been approved a cable TV licence by Jagdeo, has problems with the name of its company.
Approval letters have been issued to Skar TV 102; WRHM which is eligible for two licences;  21st Century Communications and RBS 13. RBS 13 and HGP TV 16/67 are two of four companies which have sued over new broadcasting fees which have been introduced.
Also without licences are NTN TV and radio stations; New Guyana Company Limited (The Mirror); Rudy Grant radio, Wireless Connections radio; Linden Wireless; Pinnacle Radio and TTS of Bartica.

MUSCLE
The GNBA official said that its monitoring arm has been activated to regulate the broadcasts to ensure compliance. The monitoring committee of the GNBA comprises Major General (Ret’d), Norman McLean; University of Guyana’s communication specialist, Dr Paloma Mohamed; head of the Guyana Learning Channel, Seeta Shah-Roath and attorneys-at-law, Fazil Azeez and Sase Gunraj. Azeez is a veteran broadcaster. McLean was a former member of the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB).
Shadick does not see Shah-Roath’s presence as being a conflict on the monitoring committee as the Guyana Learning Channel is not considered a competitor to the normal TV operations.
The committee’s first task will be to revamp old regulations to fit the new laws.
Questioned whether GNBA may be moving too slowly to process new applications, thus allowing the current operators time to expand, Shadick pointed out that Trinidad took four years to get its act together.
She admitted that there will be complaints but the authority would prefer to take its time than rush

Corruption in PPPC’s Guyana here, there and everywhere…

Georgetown, Guyana: November 7, 2012 – Have you ever wondered why Guyana does not release statistics on unemployment, and by ethnicity or age category, or why we have no view into the number of mortgage and business loans made by banks by ethnicity, or why there is no procurement commission in place after 20 years of PPPC leadership, or why you have to ‘see a minister’ to benefit from even the most basic government services?  Why more services in Guyana aren’t computerized, why you have to ‘know someone’ to get business accomplished, why processing for basics can’t be done online, why the police department continues with random and numerous road stops yet can’t stem the flow of illegal trafficking in hundreds of lbs and millions of dollars of cocaine, gold, diamonds?  Why a Minister who makes around $4000 USD per month can afford to purchase outright or pay for mortgages on 3, 4, 5, 6 or more homes, how he can afford to send his kids to US colleges or take numerous US vacations?  Why there are no job opportunities, no ‘room in the Inn’ for brilliant young, questioning minds from UG, and why the education system is a failure, why ‘bottom house’ propaganda is so critical and why the masses are mired in poverty.

The answers are quite simple and relate to an uncomplicated by effective plan by the Communist trained PPPC cabal to hold on to power in perpetuity.  So, if a Minister is central to all operations, he obtains deity status, which is good for his flagging self-esteem, he gains influence which is good for his stature, he can directly solicit bribes which is good for his pocket and he gets to ensure that citizens who are not loyal to his party are efficiently kept out of the economic system, which of course assures that his detractors gain no financial leverage in society.

 

Additionally, if no data is gathered, then it cannot be used to support claims of discrimination or patronage or corruption.  If there is no procurement commission then the PPPC can continue to have their friends create ‘fly by night’ companies and benefit from lucrative contracts from which they receive their frequent kickbacks.  If the judiciary is not independent, then the privileged remain ‘above the law, if the masses live in poverty and do not benefit from the educational system, then they are too tired from hustling for their daily bread, or too hungry, or too depressed or too scared to pay attention to how they are being molested and hustled by PPPC government officials who should be representing their interests.

 

One question that weary citizens should ask of their political representative is, why the numerous roadblocks continue unabated even when they never help to identify the mega drug dealer, the gold and diamond smuggler, those who traffic in persons, or those who commit numerous and daily robberies, but yet continue to infringe on the democratic rights of Guyanese citizens who are subjected to intrusive and often illegal searches, designed for the sole purpose of extracting their hard earned money?

 

President Ramotar and his cohorts created this system and it is working just as it was designed to work.  The pièce de résistance of the filthy, corrupt PPPC government  enterprise is not their bungling attempts to ‘fix corruption’ or their brazen commitment to the illegal in the face of multiple accusations, no, it is the familiar retort by any Government official or compromised crony like Gerry ‘the ostrich’ Gouveia who when asked about massive corruption in Guyana either instinctively denies or says, “show me the proof”‘.  Of course citizens cannot show them the proof because the system was designed to obscure the proof.

 

And so the people continue to suffer, crime continues unabated, the police continue to infringe on the rights of citizens, politicians continue to benefit from kickbacks, ineptitude due to patronage continues, the educational system will see no improvement, the bribes by roadblock will continue,  gold and drug smuggling endures and lying and corrupt PPPC government officials will continue to take to the airways to ask the question, “where is the proof?”…. while the people continue to suffer.

these are the things that the PPP leadership starting with Jagdeo should be locked up for

"the arc of the moral universe . . .," and all that

ask Ed Ahmad

Guyana: Land of Poverty, lawlessness

and government corruptions

http://www.stabroeknews.com/20...ommon-enemy-poverty/

Quote "In Guyana the issue is stark and immediately obvious. Poor people die at public hospitals for lack of medicines and oxygen, while the elite can charter private jets to overseas hospitals to treat their fevers. The masses are locked up for speaking out against injustice, while the rich drive their 4×4 vehicles recklessly, cause accidents, and face no consequences. The children of the wealthy attend the best private educational institutions, while our poor children have to fetch water to flush toilets in public schools. So, are we, the poor masses supposed to put up with this forever?

The experts agree that to change things we must act together; we cannot allow the elite to continue to divide us. Indigenous Guyanese in Lethem are suffering in constant blackouts, poor fishermen in Berbice are being attacked by pirates, Georgetown’s residents are living in a garbage city and our brothers and sisters in Linden have no jobs.

We, the poor masses, must change things. We must insist on a living wage, access to decent education, gainful employment and quality health care. We must reject all attempts to divide us; we are all Guyanese facing a common enemy: poverty. We must use our voices, our pens, our votes, to remove and replace anyone who would keep us down. We are the masses; we have strength in unity and in numbers. We will not be divided and trampled on by the few, no matter how much money they have.

Yours faithfully, Mark DaCosta

you guys have to understand the difference between thieving and taking them ppp boys believe the people tax money is what they moma leave for them

Their eyes are covered with boo boo, need a hard brush to get that out

Shortage of medication…Lack of

communication a bogus excuse – Dr.

Norton

Shadow Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton believes that the real reason behind the shortage of pharmaceuticals in the country lies with its sourcing.
He is of the opinion that the excuse of lack of communication between regional health services and the Ministry of Health’s storage bond at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, is one that is bogus.
“It can’t be that, let’s face it. We have drugs going around with short shelf lives, then we suddenly end up with an abundance of expired medications that can’t be used, and the Ministry then has to ration what they have, so that there is the underlying problem,” Dr. Norton asserted in an invited comment on Wednesday.

APNU’s
Dr. George Norton

“This has to stop. The Ministry of Health needs to stop playing around with people’s lives, and create a level playing field for pharmaceutical suppliers, so that people don’t have to die like this.”
Norton was at the time reflecting particularly on the death of a six-year-old boy at the Leonora Cottage Hospital due to the lack of oxygen at the facility.
The child, Henesh Ramlakhan, was suffering from a heart condition, and according to his mother, Vidya Persaud, all he needed was a supply of oxygen, and “he would ah been good to go.”
Instead, the child was pronounced dead at the hospital, about 30 minutes before the arrival of an ambulance from the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
Persaud told this newspaper that she did not want to risk taking her son to as far as Georgetown, and therefore opted to rush the child to the nearest health facility so that he can get a quick supply of oxygen, which she suspected that he needed.
“…Like I couldn’t even believe it. Dah really shocked me,” the irate mother said.
In addition to not having in store the basic supply of oxygen, the facility at Leonora has also been short of other essential drugs. But this is not the only location that has been experiencing such shortages.
Over the past months, there have been continuous reports of health centres and hospitals across the country, which have been operating without an adequate supply of medication.
These include saline, strips to aid the testing of diabetes and eye drops among others.
Just recently, Indra Chandarpal, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services told this newspaper that the shortage is as a result of poor communication between Regional Health Authorities and the Ministry of Health’s bond at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
Chandarpal explained that the health centres on the West Demerara would have to send their request to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, which would in turn request the drugs from the national bond.
She noted too that the shortage of medical supplies at health facilities should not be a regular feature, since the Regional budgets cater for health services.
Meanwhile, this newspaper was told by Region Three Councillors that during a recent statutory meeting, the Regional Health Officer, Nadia Coleman, declared that she was no longer prepared to deal with the region’s health struggles, since the shortage of drugs cannot be pinned on her. It was explained too that it is not the case where communication between regional authorities and Ministry is bad.
According to at least two of the councillors, Coleman explained to them that whenever she requests four or five oxygen cylinders, the region would receive two or three.
“I was made to understand that they does be telling her that the supplies are wasting, so they only providing what they thing would be used, so that’s the situation,” Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor, Harry Deokinanan said.
He claims that when the region’s administration receives the short stock of oxygen, Coleman is forced to make the call as to which one of the hospitals and health centres should benefit from the supply.
Meanwhile, in addition to the inadequate supply of drugs, there is also a possibility that the existing supply of medications is expired.
According to Alliance for Change Councillor, and member of the Region Three Health Committee, Dr. Kamal Narine, whenever health centres and hospitals request drugs from the storage bond at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, protocols are often not followed, and instead of being lodged at the bond of the requesting hospital for inspection, the medications are sent directly to the individual departments.
“This is a mad, mad situation. In situations like this, you even got people being treated with wrong doses. Then there is no proper audit of the drugs, so I am sure that many are expired,” Dr. Narine said during a recent interview.
Because he is a member of the region’s health committee, who has insights on the health issues facing the district, he does not utilize the services offered.
“It’s frightening. I would prefer to go to a private institution,” Dr. Narine declared.
In January, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud had said that shortage of essential medicines can be as a result of many scenarios. These include the situation where supplier(s) fail to comply with the recommended delivery schedules.
Dr. Persaud had acknowledged also, the relatively short shelf life of the medication, noting that caution remains in the procurement process of the drugs.
In light of the many challenges facing the health sector, APNU’s George Norton also made the call for Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, to resign.
“It goes without saying, he should just do the honourable thing and leave,” Dr. Norton said.
His call was seconded by AFC Councillor, Dr. Narine.
“We have the Minister doing nothing. Before, we used to have problems, yes, but this new Minister…I don’t know what he’s doing,” Dr. Narine said.

Shortage of medication…Lack of

communication a bogus excuse – Dr.

Norton.

Seems like the PPP/C thief out

all the money

Guyana’s “development” is influenced

by corruption

June 30, 2013 | By KNews

Corruption has become pervasive in Guyana with some Government officials compromising quality of works executed by contractors for kickbacks on projects; manipulating inside information to enrich themselves through surrogates and providing information to influential businessmen.

Ralph Ramkarran

This is according to Ralph Ramkarran, former Speaker of the National Assembly and former Executive member of the People’s Progressive Party Civic, which has been in power from 1992 to date, in a blog entitled “The Kleptocratic Republic of Guyana”.
Ramkarran, who had been a party stalwart since 1962, resigned from the PPP/C in June 2012. According to party sources, Ramkarran’s resignation was triggered by abuses from party insiders following his comments on the need for the party to address allegations of corruption.
However, only recently and perhaps because of growing pressure from members of the Opposition, private sector and media fraternity for the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission Ramkarran on his blog addressed the matter of corruption and Government’s unwillingness for this Commission.
According to Ramkarran, since the November 2011 National Elections, several revelations have emerged of corrupt, and even potentially criminal activities by persons currently or previously associated with the PPP and who have friends in the leadership or access thereto.
He added that corruption could no longer be hidden from the press and police. And, the evidence that is now present was not as a result of any action initiated by the Government without prior exposure.
“It is now clear that the adamancy of the government and the PPP in refusing to acknowledge the level of corruption in the society, and to do something about it, is linked to where the corruption is located. It is not known whether Government spokespersons are still so blind about corruption that they are still asking, where is the evidence? Guyana will soon qualify as ‘The Kleptocratic Republic of Guyana,’ Ramkarran said.
Without mentioning names of the corrupt bureaucrats and beneficiaries of contracts, Ramkarran narrowed his comments to persons in leadership capacities and those closely aligned to the party. He also wrote of “a group of wealthy and influential businessmen who have high political connections”.
Whilst examining the various categories of corruption, the former Government insider said that there is a group of wealthy and influential businessmen, who have high political connections and access to pertinent information.
He said that these men meet regularly to examine business opportunities and potential deals and map out strategies as to how their plans can go forward, and implement those plans.
“They have access, through their political connections, to information of the potential opportunities that are likely to emerge in the near to medium term and are in a position to make the investments now so as to cash in on those opportunities down the road,” Ramkarran said.
Another level of corruption involves some bureaucrats (government official), who are usually in charge of funds, contracts, supplies and they easily maneuver around the regulations to enable them to perpetrate their corrupt deeds.
This particular group of people he speaks of, utilizes their positions to manipulate contracts so that the rewards go to them directly or through surrogates. “They establish companies with their friends or relatives and steer the contracts to these companies. This is a well known practice that is widely engaged in. They also have friends in the party leadership or access thereto”.
He said that many infrastructural projects such as roads, bridges and buildings are poorly done because some contractors are forced to give bribes to many officials.
He said, “It is not merely that the contractors are dishonest. They tell you openly that if they have to bribe so many officials, then there is not enough to spend on the works to complete them in accordance with the contracts and to make a profit for themselves at the same time… Of course, they willingly collaborate with this state of affairs… Many of these contractors, businessmen and suppliers of goods and services have close links with the PPP, including members of the leadership.”
According to Ramkarran, “The PPP leadership is supported and financed by all of these groups and state decisions are influenced by their interests. The PPP is no longer motivated by working class ideology although it still clings to its historical connections. The reason that the Public Procurement Commission, a vital instrument in the struggle against corruption, will never be established is that the PPP is a political organization that now represents a section of the petit bourgeoisie, those three parts of which are described above, whose interests are antagonistic to those of the working class and conflict with acceptable standards of integrity.”
In explaining the genesis of corruption under this Administration, Ramkarran said it began after 1997 with the State’s interest in the Community Development Committees (CDCs) started to wane and eventually withered.
He stated that the CDC was created by Dr. Cheddi Jagan in 1992 with the intent of having community members equipped with contracts to help to monitor projects.
Using his institutional knowledge he added, “Even though the intention was not clearly articulated at the time, the CDCs would have assisted in the transformation of the functioning of Party Groups and Bodies whose roles had to be reassessed in view of the collapse of socialism and the attainment of office by the Party.
“Cheddi Jagan must have understood the great danger of the emergence of corruption which he had been fighting vehemently during the PNC years. At the same time, the focus of Party Groups needed to be shifted to development and service issues so as to keep their activities relevant to the new situation. All of that has now collapsed in the scramble which was allowed to develop for jobs, gun licences, house lots and contracts.”
According to Ramkarran, despite the extent of corruption there are thousands of public servants, businessmen, contractors and others who perform services of a high quality with dedication and integrity.

NDIA alleged fraud…CEO approves

millions in illegal spending

October 14, 2013 | By KNews

An audit report for April 5 to September 30, 2012 has fingered National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA)’s Chief Executive Officer in a scheme involving the approval of millions in illegal payments.
The report, which was prepared by the then Field Auditor, Pablo Singh, stated that funds, released under the Community Drainage and  Improvement Project (CDIP), were misappropriated by the Chief Executive Officer, Lionel Wordsworth, and that even the Minister of Agriculture benefited from the fraud.

Minister Leslie amsammy

CDIP was established in 2006 by the Caribbean Development Bank to the tune of US$5.050M ($1billion). The programme was funded in 2007 directly through the Ministry of Finance, with a sum of $800M and shifted to the Ministry of Agriculture under NDIA.
According to the report, which was seen by Kaieteur News, no financials for NDIA was prepared reflecting the expenditure of the project. NIDA is required to maintain its own accounting records and is subject to separate reporting and audit.
It was recommended that financial statements for NDIA should be immediately prepared monthly, including CDIP’s releases and expenditure and supporting systems put in place so that the NIDA Act of 2004 is complied with.
Singh, who was dismissed last year from NDIA for breaching protocol by sending the damning audit report to President Donald Ramotar, discovered a series of financial irregularities in the operations of the entity. Singh had recommended the dismissal of Wordsworth and a Senior Engineer Aneel Chowbay. Besides the non-renewal of Chowbay’s contract, no other action was taken at the entity.
Payment to MMA
The report stated on May 28, 2012, $2M requested by the Accountant was approved by the CEO and paid to Mahaica/Mahaicony Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA), Region Five, without any documented reason, appropriation or a request from the Region.
It was noted that a CDIP staff and the Accountant signed an MMA-ADA receipt as receiving the $2M cheque, instead of a designated MMA-ADA staff on June 1, 2012.
The report stated the Accountant and an individual, who was identified, confirmed no works were done, but MMA-ADA claimed $7.8M on February 24, 2013 and March 29, 2012 for the month of February 2012.
The Region was asked by Wordsworth to suspend works for the month of February due to cash flow problems.

Lionel Wordsworth, CEO

“It is audit’s opinion that this disbursement by CDIP approved by the CEO-NDIA was illegal since no work was done,” the report stated.
Breach of Procurement Act
Singh reported that the procurement process was breached by NDIA deliberately sole-sourcing Phoenix payroll application from Phoenix Software for $825,000 on January 19, 2012, instead of utilizing the open tendering process. “It must be noted that there are other providers of payroll applications available at the time,” the report said.
Though there should be no negotiations between the procuring entity and bidders, NDIA re-negotiated with Phoenix Software, resulting in the procurement of the application for $799,000. “It is audit’s opinion that the breach of the Procurement Act 2003 and findings under this section were fraudulent by manipulating the open tendering/quotation procurement process avoiding the review and approval of NPTAB,” the report stated.
Minister Ali Baksh
According to the report, $10,000 of the CDIP funds was used to cover transportation costs for two truck-loads of items from Food for the Poor to Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture Ali Baksh’s residence in Campbellville. The request for payment was done by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, George Jervis and approved by Wordsworth.
Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
The report revealed that office furniture for Dr. Ramsammy’s office, costing $402,000 was illegally paid to Starcomm using CDIP funds. The CEO who approved the payment explained that the Permanent Secretary submitted the request.
Payments to New Thriving Restaurant
Singh’s audit unearthed that a sum of money, reportedly spent on a technical meeting under the CDIP, was actually spent for a farewell function and personal use.
The report revealed that payment of $70,000 was incorrectly made using a quotation for dinner to New Thriving Restaurant via cheque dated August 14, 2012. The dinner was for participants attending a meeting with technical staff and overseas visitors on the said date.
The Company Secretary, who was responsible for the payment of the bill, allegedly made an additional claim of $36,618 and deliberately stated the expenses were for the technical meeting.
The report said a breakdown of the total cost of $106,618 revealed that $45,702 was spent on August 14 and $2,538 and $58,378 were spent on August 17 and 24.
It was noted that upon inquiry on September 9, the Company Secretary admitted that the monies were utilized for an attachment staff’s farewell and $2,538 was used for his personal expense and proceeded to refund the money the next day.
“It is audit’s opinion that (name given) Company Secretary made an attempt to pay his personal bill using CDIP’s fund and misrepresented the additional costs by stating the monies were for the technical meeting.
Singh had recommended, “Disciplinary action should be taken against the Company Secretary for his initial misrepresentation of expenses subsequently corrected upon audit’s intervention.”

Private housing developers given

preference over poor Guyanese – APNU

- Party wants inquiry into Housing Ministry

Parliament’s largest Opposition faction, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has joined calls for a review of the system used by the administration to allocate large tracts of lands, across the country, to private developers.

APNU MP, Joe Harmon

AFC Leader,
Khemraj Ramjattan

Yesterday, APNU Member of Parliament, Joseph Harmon, who overlooks public infrastructure development, said that the coalition has been studying the issue for awhile now and has prepared a list of questions to be tabled in the National Assembly which reconvenes this month.
Harmon’s disclosure comes one day after Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, revealed that his party is finalizing a number of questions on Government’s housing programme.
The questions have to do with lands earmarked for housing that have been placed under the control of several private developers who are reportedly building gated communities and other homes. The homes are selling for millions.
Government has said that the public-private partnership initiative is to ensure that the level of housing standard is improved with the introduction of new players.
But there has been an absence of information as to what system was used by the Ministry of Housing to allocate the lands.
The tracts are located in prime areas and there have been complaints that ordinary Guyanese were pushed to take up house lots located further behind these.
According to Harmon, the entire housing allocation process has been engaging the attention of APNU.
“We have received complaints… from persons who have purchased a number of those small, turn-key homes at Providence… about the quality of works done. We don’t know who built these homes. We don’t know what kind of supervision was carried out. We don’t know how the contracts were tendered. What we do know is that people have been complaining.”
Large tracts of lands, on the East Bank and West Bank of Demerara are under development. At Leonora, West Coast Demerara, an area reportedly under the control of embattled US-based Guyanese real estate entrepreneur, Edul Ahmad, is under construction.
From Eccles to Providence, hundreds of acres have been allocated to several individuals for the purpose of private development. Still more land has been earmarked or allocated to private individuals, between Herstelling to Little Diamond.

One of the private housing schemes under
development on the East Bank of Demerara.

With the East Bank of Demerara becoming one of the hotspots for housing in the country, the demand for house lots there has been growing in leaps and bounds.
Persons have been complaining that they have waited for years for house lots. Government has already announced plans to open new housing areas in the Soesdyke/Linden area.
“So yes, we are not clear how these private developers got the land. More importantly, if there was a demand for house lots and you go ahead and give these lands to friends and persons close to the Government, then how can this be explained? You are saying that private developers have been given preference over our people, poor Guyanese who badly want a piece of land?”
Like the AFC, Harmon said that questions will include what price Government was paid, when it was paid, and who were the players that have been granted tracts of lands to develop.
APNU will also be joining Ramjattan in asking the Housing Ministry to indicate when the decisions were taken to allocate lands to private developers and whether the process was advertised to allow other interested persons or companies to take part

Private developers awarded lands

before it was advertised

OCTOBER 20, 2013 | BY KNEWS

More corruptions within the PPP/C

Who will vote for these crooks:

Here is a list of SOME of the early days scams that rocked us:

STONE-SCAM:
This is a multi million dollar mission - Importation of poor quality stones from a Trinidadian Construction Company for an Essequibo Road Project. And we supposed to 'gat stones'.

MILK:
Low-grade vegetable milk was supplied to SIMAP in place of cream milk by Hanson Import and Export. The multi-million scam saw PPP MP Hugely Hamnoman resigned from his seat and migrating, missing out on police prosecution while a low level officer was dismissed.

CANE GROVE BREACH:
After being paid million of dollars the infamous BK International’s shoddy work on the Sea Defense left Cane Grove farmers (all diligent supporters of the PPP) at the mercy of the sea.
BK was not prosecuted but was rewarded with more government projects.

CHARITY WHARF FRAUD:
Well it sank, after billions of dollars was used to build it. (what a fraud - but evidence is underwater!)

LAW BOOK:
Over US$200,000 dollar contract to update law books given to PPP friend Kawal Totaram’s company New Global Consults Inc.
Never advertised locally; the contractor was no legal expert and a law student reviewed the sample copies of the laws. Please Don’t Ask!

RE-MIGRANT VEHICLES:
This saw more than 50 vehicles being imported by persons who falsely declared remigrant status - some of these were/are PPP supporters and businessmen who evaded millions of dollars in duty.

WILD LIFE:
Export of precious wildlife amounting to more than $50 million and who gets blamed? EPA’s head Bal Persaud was blamed but jumped to the media to refute the claims and guess who is the advisor to the President named in this one?

EXPORT OF DOLPHINS:
Thug, soup drinker, miner and Adviser to the President Lumumba spare headed this one. But we rather not comment on this one when we could send you to http://www.biodiversityreporti...;date=January%202005
More to come on this guy who was given a concession by Jagdeo and promptly sold it for US$2million.

POLAR BEER:
$300 million fraud that rocked the Guyana Revenue Authority after cashers, customs officers and a broker were fingered in this scam. Most of them, (some plead innocence) were dragged to court - while CHIEF CULPRIT, an already Shady character and one of the persons behind the defunct LEAP and Caricom Insurance( also of the Scared Heart Church fraud) Mr. Joshua Shafeek blamed all the  wrong doings on the broker and cut himself a sweet deal and skipping prosecution. (remember the Plea bargaining Legislation).

These are but a small list of the many scams of the proud PPP administration. This is where my money is going!

http://whatzpositiveguyana.blo...agdeo-be-judged.html

MAYBE SOMEONE WILL TELL US ABOUT THE SCAM INVOLVED HERE

AND AN AVERAGE OF HOW MUCH US DOLLARS WERE SIPHONED OFF.

THE DREGS OF SOCIETY ARE RIPPING OFF THE POOR IN GUYANA.

BRO JALIL WILL EXPLAIN THIS IN A MORE DETAIL WAY

Asj

With all due respect, do you have any documented proof to support all these allegations? If not, you have no solid ground to stand on. Throw all KN rumblings in the toilet.

Skelly, what documentary proof do I need? You have the largest circulated newspaper in Guyana,  everyday bombarding the Corrupt PPP/C with accusation of Corruptions and thiefing. If it was not true, then you would have seen Kaieteur News being sued on a daily basis, this not being the case....the PPP/C remaining dumb apart from a few scumbags on GNI, what does that tell you? I already mentioned to you that if you take off that boo boo from your eyes, you will be able to see things better perspective.

Mere two years after commissioning…

US$200M Skeldon factory set for

major overhaul

Just two years after launching the country’s most expensive project to date,

the government yesterday

announced plans to begin a major overhaul of the Skeldon factory. The US$200M factory, on which Guyana has been pinning its hopes to revive a struggling industry which is the country’s biggest employer, has been plagued with problems. These problems were there since the sugar factory was commissioned in August 2009, raising questions whether Guyana had received its value for money. Government has been blaming the “hiccups” on teething problems with accusations that the Chinese contractor had failed to deliver. Even former President Bharrat Jagdeo had promised to “personally” intervene in a project that went wrong in the construction phase. According to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) yesterday, it will now be gearing to re-engineer the bagasse feed system, re-design the cane conveyors, drill a new well and replace a five-megawatt alternator to a power engine. These were all handed over and suppose to have been fully working within months of the August 2009 commissioning, plus or minus a few defects. It will also be modifying the problematic punt dumpers, build a section of all-weather road, upgrade the drainage and water management system and convert additional lands for mechanized harvesting. Financing? While the GuySuCo statement yesterday did not immediately say where the money will be coming from to carry out the “major rehabilitation” as the works were described, last week’s National Budget of $192.8B had earmarked a $4B allocation for the sugar industry. It is unclear whether that $4B will be used to facilitate these works but Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, is yesterday quoted as telling the government’s NCN that GuySuCo faced a deficit of $2M last year. To meet the 265,000 tonnes of sugar target for this year, it is more than likely much more than the allotted $4B would be needed, NCN reported. According to GuySuCo yesterday, in keeping with a plan approved by its Board of Directors, GuySuCo has begun to implement plans to undertake several major rehabilitation projects at Skeldon Estate during the upcoming out of crop period -June 2012 to August 2012- as part of its efforts to “turn the industry around”. “Working wíth reputable international engineering experts and technical professionals in the area of diffusion technology together with agricultural specialists, GuySuCo identified the major factors that are preventing the estate from reaching its full potential and design capacity. As such, it will undertake several major projects in both the factory and cultivation at Skeldon Estate,” the Corporation said in the statement. GuySuCo disclosed that in an effort to enhance the cooperation and communication among the major stakeholders in the industry, it’s Board, management and the unions (GAWU and NAACIE) and workers’ representatives recently met and discussed a number of issues including bolstering production and the rehabilitation projects at Skeldon estate. Production increase “GuySuCo anticipates that additional projects will be undertaken during 2013 resulting in a significant increase of production.” The construction of the Skeldon factory was part of a modernisation plan by GuySuCo that involved expanded cane cultivations, the establishment of a refinery, and the co-generation of electricity for the national grid. Guyana had lost the preferential prices offered by its biggest customer in Europe, losing around $10B annually in revenues. In 2008, the sugar industry directly sustained some 18,000 jobs. Sugar exports account for as much as 20 percent of the country’s annual revenue. Therefore, the survival of the industry is seen as crucial to the country’s economic and social stability. The new factory was intended to increase national production to more than 450,000 tonnes. It was to be the most modern sugar factory in the Caribbean. The factory also uses bagasse (the waste of the sugar cane) as fuel part of the co-generation power section of the factory that would have provided most of the daily base load power requirement for Berbice. The factory was constructed with a combination of self-generated funds and loans from the Caribbean Development Bank, the People’s Republic of China and the Government of Guyana. The Project Engineer was Booker Tate, UK Ltd and the Contractor was CNTIC Ltd, the Chinese company. Government fired Booker Tate saying it failed to supervise the construction of the factory properly. Several millions of US dollars were reportedly withheld. The Chinese contractor, CNTIC was supposed to fix several defects plaguing the factory and while some were fixed, many of them were still outstanding. That amount is unclear. It is also unclear how many still have to be fixed as the defects liability period- the time in which the contractor has to fix problems- has already elapsed. GuySuCo’s officials remained unavailable for comments yesterday. Skeldon factory has been failing to meet its production targets since the commissioning two and a half years ago.

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....-for-major-overhaul/

Every day a new PPP fraud is uncovered.

Every day an AFC lie is exposed.

The AFC cannot even fight corruption in their own party. AFC is finished.

Five more years for the PPP. Five more Years.

AFC is now clinging on to Toilet Paper reporting from KN. 

This was just the tip of the iceberg. A precursor of bigger things to come.

OK, YUJI getting it down and getting stupid.  To late in the night for so much dotishness from YUJI.

The stench of these PPP scams is unbearable but Yugi supports this tiefin once it's the PPP raping the treasury.

The stench of corruption in the AFC made TK and others flee for their lives. 

THE TEXT BOOK SCAM

Guyana Ministry of Education involved in text

book scam, including purchasing photocopied

books

Toilet Paper reporting at its best.

QUOTE "A local book dealer is calling on President Donald Ramotar to immediately launch an investigation" UNQUOTE

If a poor parent have to go and buy a text book for his son/daughter, they would not stoop so low as to go as to go copy a text book and give their kids. How more low and immoral can the Corrupt PPP/C get?

Guyana Ministry of Education involved in text

book scam, including purchasing photocopied

books

Guyana hogtied by Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s ‘secret

deals’

Would seems that way

Guyana most corrupt country in

English-speaking Caribbean

-watchdog body calls for Procurement Commission, new Integrity Commission,

“When desperately needed development funds are stolen by corrupt individuals and institutions, poor and vulnerable people are robbed of the education, health care and other essential services.”- UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon

Four days before the world observes the United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day, new rankings have placed Guyana as the most corrupt country in English-speaking Caribbean countries. According to rankings released yesterday by watchdog corruption body, Transparency International (TI), the 2012 Annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has placed Guyana at a lowly 133 out of total of 174 countries. Guyana managed a miserly 28 points out of 100. And in the presentation of the Transparency International findings, head of the local chapter, Attorney at Law, Gino Persaud, and Secretary Frederick Collins, both lauded Kaieteur News which has been highlighting corruption in Guyana. The newspaper has been investigating the various contracts issued under questionable circumstances and examining the numerous projects, many of which were believed to be overpriced.

The results were released by Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI), the local contact of TI. TI would have conducted its surveys gauging perceptions to corruption by examining relations in the public sector, the local police, Customs, procurement and doing business. The index has become a signature tool widely used around the globe to measure the perceived levels of public sector corruption in countries and looked at keenly by investors and multilateral lending agencies. Denmark, Finland and New Zealand tie for first place with scores of 90, helped by strong access to information systems and rules governing the behaviour of those in public positions. Guyana tied Comoros, Honduras, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Russia. “This ranking places us at the bottom of the English Speaking Caribbean with only Haiti below us at 165. It is noteworthy that in the Caribbean, Barbados ranks at 15 with a score of 76; both St. Lucia and Bahamas rank at 22 with a score of 71 and St. Vincent and the Grenadines rank at 36 with a score of 62,” TIG’s President, Gino Persaud said during a press conference at the offices of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Waterloo Street. Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia once again cling to the bottom rung of the index. In these countries, the lack of accountable leadership and effective public institutions underscore the need to take a much stronger stance against corruption. At the press conference also were former Auditor General, Dr. Anand Goolsarran, who is TIGI’s Vice President; and Director, Frederick Collins. Persaud, a lawyer, said that the advocacy body will be writing government on the findings of the index.

Integrity Commission… TIGI listed a number of measures that Government will have to implement to raise Guyana’s rankings. These include the appointment of competent and independent members of the Integrity Commission to scrutinize the financial disclosures of politicians and bureaucrats and with adequate staff and resources to ensure the Commission can adequately fulfill its mandate. Persaud noted that Prime Minister Sam Hinds in June had promised to have new members of the Integrity Commission sworn within a week. Among other things TIGI is also calling for the urgent appointment of members of the Public Procurement Commission to regulate government contracts and minimize their involvement; the implementation of modern anti-corruption legislation; implementation of whistle-blowing legislation; the enforcement of existing anti-corruption laws by investigating and prosecuting the corrupt and the strengthening of existing anti-corruption institutions such as the Guyana Police Force and the Financial Intelligence established under the money laundering legislation. “These institutions are weak and unable to counter serious white collar crime and corrupt activities,” Persaud said in his read statement. Guyana should also appoint an Ombudsman to address grievances from members of the public; ensure that all public monies are placed to the credit of the Consolidated Fund, and no public expenditure must be incurred without Parliamentary approval. TIGI also called for all appointments to public offices to be advertised and made with due regard to technical competence, and not loyalty; and for the Access to Information Act passed in Parliament to be strengthened and made operational. TIGI also called for the strengthening of civil society and for organisations such as the Guyana Bar Association, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Private Sector Commission, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and the Guyana Press Association to become more involved in combating corruption by speaking out against corruption and being proactive within its own membership on tackling corruption and by partnering with us for collective efforts. “We call on the press corps to be more vigilant in acting as a professional, impartial and responsible watchdog body against corruption.”

Corruption exists According to Goolsarran, most countries are doing everything possible to “get to the top of the table” of rankings. He urged, as a start, that government accept the index in good faith and do something about it. The officials drew reference to a judge in Brazil who targeted a number of politicians close to former President Lula and who was the laughing stock of many. The politicians were brought to trial. Asked to comment on the impact of the findings, Dr Goolsarran said that serious investors use the findings by Transparency International to determine whether they would invest in a country. Many have opted to cancel plans for investment in Guyana. TIGI is seeking funding now to educate Guyanese and will seek to meet with government and Members of the Parliament to discuss the issue which ultimately affects the way Guyana is perceived. The TIGI officials refused to be drawn into answering questions whether President Donald Ramotar had done enough to tackle corruption in Guyana. According to Collins, newspaper reporters and even the Auditor General’s annual report have been indicators of the situation of corruption in Guyana. TIGI also disclosed that it has been asked by the Minister of Natural Resources to work with his Ministry on mining, an area which has been besotted with issues of corruption and lawlessness in recent years. According to TIGI, the index demonstrates that corruption continues to ravage societies around the globe. Two-thirds of the 176 countries ranked in the 2012 index score below 50, on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean), showing that public institutions need to be more transparent, and powerful officials held more accountable. According to Huguette Labelle, the Chair of Transparency International, “Governments need to integrate anti-corruption actions into all public decision-making. Priorities include better rules on lobbying and political financing, making public spending and contracting more transparent and making public bodies more accountable to people. After a year of focus on corruption, we expect governments to take a tougher stance against the abuse of power.” UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon has said that corruption afflicts all countries, undermining social progress and breeding inequality and injustice. “When desperately needed development funds are stolen by corrupt individuals and institutions, poor and vulnerable people are robbed of the education, health care and other essential services. All of us have a responsibility to take action against the cancer of corruption.” The private sector, too, stands to gain enormously from effective action, he said. “Corruption distorts markets, increases costs for companies and ultimately punishes consumers.” According to the BBC, corruption was the world’s most talked about issue in 2010 and 2011.

'Transparency International (TI), the 2012 Annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has placed Guyana at a lowly 133 out of total of 174 countries.'