Even your thread title is in caps!



Even a school child knows that the Chronicle is the newspaper taken least seriously in Guyana - by far!

quote:

According to the insider, of the two persons who might be suitable to fill the void, Trotman and Cathy Hughes, none of them is willing to work under Ramjattan, whom they described as ‘too arrogant’.The party’s faithful believe it is not too late to shift Ramjattan to the Prime Ministerial position and have Trotman return as Presidential Candidate.

.

quote:

Originally posted by asj:

quote:

According to the insider, of the two persons who might be suitable to fill the void, Trotman and Cathy Hughes, none of them is willing to work under Ramjattan, whom they described as ‘too arrogant’.The party’s faithful believe it is not too late to shift Ramjattan to the Prime Ministerial position and have Trotman return as Presidential Candidate.

.

Keep peddling

The reason for the Chronicle story is to distract from this:

How NIS Berbice Branch costs $69M…There was this $2.8M public convenience toilet
SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

A public toilet facility at the controversial Corriverton branch of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) was estimated at an overpriced $2.8M, released documents have indicated. The toilet facilities, according to the Engineer’s Estimate released by government, are 13.33 feet long, 12.92 feet wide and nine feet high. There were three cubicles with two for the public.


Front view of the “public” toilet facilities at the controversial $69M NIS branch at Corriverton, Berbice.

Glaringly, each toilet set was estimated at $55,000. Four were provisioned for but there were only three cubicles. It was unclear where the extra toilet set was going. For this structure, the roof sheeting was estimated $195,000 while plumbing…$260,000. The Bill of Quantity also said that roof sheeting should be of 26-guage, a thicker more expensive material.

Again, we are publishing the Bills of Quantities and the photographs of the toilet facilities. It will be recalled that following the announcement that the NIS branch cost $69M and the subsequent questions that arose, Kaieteur News published pictures of three homes which were built for staffers and which cost less than $7M each. The newspaper had requested from Head of the Presidential Secretariat and NIS Chairman, Dr. Roger Luncheon, the details of the costs of that $69M facility. Dr. Luncheon, in turn, requested that the newspaper provide the Bills of Quantities for these homes. The newspaper and the Office of the President then exchanged documents with the latter providing the Engineer’s Estimate for the NIS Building.


Back and side view of the public toilet facilities which NIS said would cost $2.8M to build.

On Tuesday, last week, media workers including Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall and Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris were both refused entry to that Corriverton branch. The security on recognizing the newsmen immediately shut the gates and later disclosed that NIS’ General Manager, Doreen Nelson, had ordered that they be kept out. The Branch Manager, Louise Bryan, was seen hiding at the back of the NIS building.

The Engineer’s Estimate for the entire project was $50,667,948. Based on this estimate, tenders later went out for local contracting firms to submit bids. Government, who commissioned that Corriverton facility late last month, said that the completed structure cost NIS $69M. In light of the many questions, Kaieteur News over the weekend offered to conduct an on-site post-construction audit to determine whether the $69M was well spent. The newspaper has also asked for a copy of the engineering drawings, which was never provided by the government and copy of the payment certificates detailing the work completed that was paid for. There has not been a response as yet from government.

Source

And this:

Like i tell yall..the AFC gann fu channa rass

quote:

Originally posted by SuperMike:
Like i tell yall..the AFC gann fu channa rass

That remains to be seen.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

quote:

Originally posted by SuperMike:
Like i tell yall..the AFC gann fu channa rass

That remains to be seen.

Love yu spirit bro..

quote:

Originally posted by SuperMike:
Like i tell yall..the AFC gann fu channa rass

Indeed Mikey, thats how it looks,

.

quote:

Originally posted by SuperMike:

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

quote:

Originally posted by SuperMike:
Like i tell yall..the AFC gann fu channa rass

That remains to be seen.

Love yu spirit bro..

Not giving up. Don't know how to bro

Mission to deflect, is not working.

.

quote:

Originally posted by asj:

quote:

Originally posted by SuperMike:
Like i tell yall..the AFC gann fu channa rass

Indeed Mikey, thats how it looks,

.

welll we all know this was happening all along...only time for it to come to light...Trotman used Rumjattan good and pra pra rass...after this election they will all join the likes of Roopnarine, Clive, Kwayana and the rest in the trash can.

quote:

Originally posted by asj:
Mission to deflect, is not working.

.

What? Deflect from this?

Jagdeo's Appreciation: Who's paying?.. It's a Wikileaks wash
Written by Denis Scott Chabrol Thursday, 15 September 2011 15:30

The political opposition is pouring cold water on an Appreciation Ceremony for President Bharrat Jagdeo billed for the Providence Stadium on Friday, accusing government of misusing state resources and attempting to divert attention from the Wikileaks fall-out.

Despite denials by organizers of the event that the event is being funded by private individuals rather than the state coffers, the AFC raised eyebrows about who is paying for the parachute display and gymkhana by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Guyana Police Force (GPF). “As it is, we find it utterly ridiculous and deceitful for them to say that no taxpayers money is being used and this is something entirely the purview of private organisations,” said AFC Executive Member, Gerhard Ramsaroop.

The AFC wants the organizers to prove that no money from the treasury is being pumped into the event and publicly invite persons to donate rather than target certain businesses for contributions help offset expenses for the event said to cost GUY$80 to GUY$120 million. One of Jagdeo’s close friends, a media owner, is said to be among those soliciting funds.

Advertisements are saturating the airwaves of the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) and government-friendly television stations, inviting the public to the event- “A World of Thanks President Jagdeo! In tribute to the contribution of His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo to the economic, social and political transformation of Guyana.” Spokesman for the event, Juan Edghill insisted on television Thursday night that the Evening of Appreciation was not a State event.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s presidential candidate, David Granger believes that the Evening of Appreciation is aimed at cleansing the PPP-Civic’s image of some of the dirt emerging from the Wikileaks cables. Those US diplomatic correspondence largely point to alleged links between the government and narco-traffickers and death squads. “It is quite clear that the reports from the Wikileaks over the last three weeks or so have had a toll on the self confidence of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic and my perception is that the event tomorrow night is a form of damage control to divert attention from the damage that has been done to the reputation of the administration,” Granger said.

Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine deemed the event a “requiem” aimed at putting Jagdeo’s tenure to rest. “I think it is a brazen piece of electioneering, they are doing their mobilization,” he told a news conference at the APNU’s campaign headquarters.

Source

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

quote:

Originally posted by SuperMike:

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

quote:

Originally posted by SuperMike:
Like i tell yall..the AFC gann fu channa rass

That remains to be seen.

Love yu spirit bro..

Not giving up. Don't know how to bro

yu is a tru tru gaad fighter...yu going dung fighting to the last drop bro...i do admire your style.

quote:

Originally posted by SuperMike:

quote:

Originally posted by asj:

quote:

Originally posted by SuperMike:
Like i tell yall..the AFC gann fu channa rass

Indeed Mikey, thats how it looks,

.

welll we all know this was happening all along...only time for it to come to light...Trotman used Rumjattan good and pra pra rass...after this election they will all join the likes of Roopnarine, Clive, Kwayana and the rest in the trash can.

Like I said, remains to be seen. Just a few weeks more Supa

Is dis true Supa an asj? This is what Iman been hearing.

quote:

Those US diplomatic correspondence largely point to alleged links between the government and narco-traffickers and death squads. “It is quite clear that the reports from the Wikileaks over the last three weeks or so have had a toll on the self confidence of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic and my perception is that the event tomorrow night is a form of damage control to divert attention from the damage that has been done to the reputation of the administration,” Granger said.

quote:

Originally posted by cain:
Is dis true Supa an asj? This is what Iman been hearing.

quote:

Those US diplomatic correspondence largely point to alleged links between the government and narco-traffickers and death squads. “It is quite clear that the reports from the Wikileaks over the last three weeks or so have had a toll on the self confidence of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic and my perception is that the event tomorrow night is a form of damage control to divert attention from the damage that has been done to the reputation of the administration,” Granger said.

It is all alleged Similarly I can say that it is alleged that the AFC were into Drugs concealed in Pepper Sauce

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Guyana heading for narco-statehood; govt lukewarm about drug trade - Wikileaks
Written by Demerara Waves Saturday, 27 August 2011 13:47

The United States (US) badly wants a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) office in Guyana because the South American country is approaching narco-statehood, already resulting in drug seeping into almost all layers of the society. “Post requests the formal establishment of a DEA office at Embassy Georgetown. Guyana is well on its way to narco-statehood - a prospect that poses a real threat to U.S. interests,” said then American ambassador, Roland Bullen. The cable was dispatched on May 24, 2006 to, among others, the US Secretary of State, DEA Headquarters in Washington. "The level of narco-trafficking influence on the political, judicial and economic systems in Guyana creates ripe conditions for the emergence of a narco- state,” the Grenada-born ambassador told his principals as well as counterparts in Trinidad, Suriname and Venezuela.

The American envoy believed that a DEA presence in Guyana would significantly improve the US government’s ability to fight drug trafficking in Guyana. Bullen noted that while Guyana, with a population of 750,000 people and an official Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of less than US$1 billion does not attract much US government attention, narco-traffickers regarded Guyana where they can “operate with impunity” partly because of its geography, law enforcement corruption and a government that is less than enthusiastic about smashing the drug trade. “They see a country with porous borders, corrupt and ineffective law enforcement, little or no control over its airspace, vast swaths of uncontrolled land, ready access to the Caribbean, North America, and Europe, and a government that has been lukewarm about clamping down on the drug trade,” Bullen said in his missive.

In an earlier cable dated January 6, 2006, Bullen noted that the two countries have been talking about setting up a DEA office here since 1999 and questioned the Guyana government’s sincerity in wanting one. “The current stumbling block is the GoG's inability or reluctance to give approval for basic logistical details. Post's position remains the same - the USG is ready to work with and advise the GoG as soon as the GoG is fully prepared to move forward in its fight against narco-trafficking.” The Guyana government has, over the years, complained bitterly that countries like the US have been reluctant to provide enough funding and other rescources to combat the narco-trade. Guyana expects support through the one-year old US-Caribbean Basin Secuity Initiative (CBSI) to fight the narcotics trade and money laundering.

In the May 24, 2006 cable, the American envoy described as “an especially disturbing development” was Guyana’s involvement in “drugs for arms; financing for insurgent groups like the FARC throughout the region. In addition, large-scale Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) infiltration into Venezuela has led to their playing a significant role in narcotics smuggling activities on the Guyana/Venezuela border, he said. The US embassy’ primary objective in 2008 of disrupting criminal organisations was, he said, difficult by the lack of a permanent DEA presence in Guyana. The office in Trinidad is fully pre-occupied with the counter-narcotics initiatives in their host nation.

Describing the narco-situation in Guyana as “severe”, he said the DEA could work more effectively to accomplish the critical MPP counter-narcotics objectives and provide more sustained support to local law enforcement agencies in Guyana. The DEA was expected to establish a vetted counter-narcotics unit in Guyana but the ambassador told the Secretary of State that he was worried that it could become infected by corruption. “An important challenge facing this unit is the pervasive corruption in the country, which has undermined previous Guyanese counter-narcotics initiatives,” he said, adding that establishing a DEA office will allow close and constant monitoring of the vetted unit to help alleviate this problem.”

Source

Ex-US ambassador’s fears of narco-influence prompted DEA request - accused gov’t of reluctance
By STABROEK STAFF | LOCAL | SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2011

Former US Ambassador to Guyana Roland Bullen made a case for the establishment of a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) office here, warning that the influence of narco-trafficking was creating conditions for the emergence of a narco-state. “The level of narco-trafficking influence on the political, judicial and economic systems in Guyana creates ripe conditions for the emergence of a narco-state,” Bullen said in a May 24, 2006 cable, titled “Request and Rationale for DEA Office in Guyana.” He also cited government’s indifferent attitude to the situation, a judgment that was later echoed by one of his successors.


Former Ambassador to Guyana Roland Bullen

In the cable, Bullen argued that “the great and increasing influence” of the narcotics trade and related transnational crimes in Guyana, and the resulting threat to US interests justified the establishment of a permanent DEA office at the Georgetown Embassy. He said while Guyana did not at the time garner much attention relative to more powerful and/or troublesome nations in the region, it was of interest to narco-criminals. “They see a country with porous borders, corrupt and ineffective law enforcement, little or no control over its airspace, vast swaths of uncontrolled land, ready access to the Caribbean, North America, and Europe, and a government that has been lukewarm about clamping down on the drug trade,” he said. “In other words, these narco-criminals see Guyana as a country where they can operate with impunity.”

The cable, which was made public by WikiLeaks last Friday, was addressed to US Secretary of State, the Department of Justice and DEA Headquarters in Washington, DC, as well as and DEA Offices in Puerto Rico and Miami along with US embassies in Trinidad, Venezuela and Suriname. A subsequent meeting was planned for the next month with Michael Braun, DEA Chief of Operations, to discuss the formal establishment of a DEA office.

‘Pervasive corruption’

Bullen acknowledged the then plans for the DEA to assist in the establishment of a vetted counter-narcotics unit in Guyana, but noted that “pervasive corruption” in the country, which undermined previous counter-narcotics initiatives, was a major challenge. Establishing a DEA office will allow close and constant monitoring of the vetted unit, he argued, would help alleviate the problem.

It is unclear what came of the discussions, but embassy Charge d’ Affaires Michael Thomas, in an August 29, 2007 cable, requested that a US$100,000 allotment for the creation of the vetted unit be reallocated for drug demand reduction project. He noted that no funds from the allocation had been used, since government’s positions had scuttled the initiative. “The vetted unit project is no longer viable due to the Government of Guyana’s failure to identify an acceptable location for the unit and their lack of progress in addressing drug trafficking issues,” Thomas said. President Bharrat Jagdeo has repeatedly criticised the US for not supporting local efforts to combat drug trafficking.

‘Disturbing development’

Guyana’s borders with Venezuela, Suriname and Brazil, according to Bullen’s request, saw a “steady” illicit flow of contraband across its borders. Further, he said that “an especially disturbing development” was Guyana’s involvement in “drugs for arms financing for insurgent groups,” like Colombia’s FARC, throughout the region. In addition, he said large-scale Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) infiltration into Venezuela has led to their playing a significant role in narcotics smuggling activities on the Guyana-Venezuela border.

Although the DEA mission in Trinidad was responsible for Guyana, Bullen noted that it was fully pre-occupied with the counter-narcotics initiatives in the twin-island republic. “DEA has done an excellent job serving both nations, but Guyana demands greater focus and its own DEA staff to fully address the severe narco-trafficking situation on the ground,” he said. He added that a permanently manned office at the embassy in Georgetown would ensure that DEA can work more effectively to accomplish the mission’s counter-narcotics objectives and provide more sustained support to local law enforcement agencies in Guyana.

Additionally, in a January 6, 2006 cable, Bullen had noted that the US government has held discussions with the Government of Guyana (GoG) off and on since 1999 about setting up a DEA presence in Guyana. He said several issues have prevented the establishment of a DEA presence here. “The current stumbling block is the GoG’s inability or reluctance to give approval for basic logistical details,” he explained. Bullen added that while the US government was ready to work with and advise the GoG “as soon as the GoG is fully prepared to move forward in its fight against narco-trafficking.”

Earlier this year, Guyana and the US signed an agreement to establish and support projects aimed at countering money laundering and narcotics operations over the next three years, under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI). The agreement covers two key areas: law enforcement support and tracking money laundering, the US Embassy said. “The law enforcement support is designed to enhance the Guyana Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) capability to conduct counter-narcotics operations at Guyana’s ports of entry,” it explained.

The CBSI is a partnership between the United States of America and the Caribbean nations designed to advance citizen security in the region. Through this programme, the US and Caribbean countries have agreed to undertake cooperative efforts to reduce illicit trafficking, advance public safety and security, and promote social justice.

Source

Roger Khan enjoyed protection from senior gov’t officials – Bullen in cable - says eyewitnesses related seeing drug lord leaving Office of the President
By STABROEK STAFF | LOCAL | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

Following the capture of Roger Khan, US Ambassador Roland Bullen told Washington that the now convicted drug lord had been protected by two senior government officials and he also said that persons had related to the embassy that they had seen Khan leaving the Office of the President. In perhaps his frankest comments on the relationship between Khan and government officials, Bullen was asked to respond to a series of questions by Washington including the following “Is there evidence, beyond possible conjecture, that Khan enjoys some level of political protection from senior officials of the Guyanese Government and, if so, from whom? Bullen’s response in a cable classified as secret but revealed by the WikiLeaks website was that “Khan did enjoy political protection from GoG officials at the highest levels”. At a minimum he cited two officials.


Roger Khan

One official, he said, had orchestrated Guyana’s death squads in 2002-3 and the other had intervened and ordered the authorities to release Khan and return the spy equipment he had been captured with in 2002. He then said that eyewitnesses had said they had seen Khan leaving the Office of the President. Bullen – who had publicly said while stationed here that more needed to be done by the government to fight drugs – told Washington that ever since Khan’s May 2006 indictment in the US on drug charges the Government of Guyana had tried “assiduously to distance itself from him”.
The US envoy was also dismissive of government’s efforts to fight drug traffickers.

“Even in the unlikely event that the GoG and the security forces were on the same page and determined to go after narco-criminals, their ability to do so is extremely limited.” “The narco-criminals have entourages of highly-trained, well-armed ex-tactical squad members at their disposal. The GPF cannot compete with them. In addition, corruption and tip-offs are so rampant that the GPF and GDF rarely enjoy the element of surprise.”
“Even if these challenges were overcome, a successful arrest would stand little chance of progressing through the judicial system. Guyana has not convicted a single drug trafficker of note,” Bullen declared.

Robin Hood figure

Contending that Khan had pursued active public relations and tried to paint himself as a Robin Hood figure, Bullen said Khan had polarized Guyanese public opinion. Bullen said that in private conversations PPP insiders had revealed “their paranoia about the security forces’ connections to the political opposition…In this environment, Khan finds an Indo-Guyanese audience willing to believe that he is their protector. However, there were limits to this, Bullen said, as he pointed out that recent demonstrations organized and bankrolled by Khan protesting the conduct of joint services raids on the properties of suspected criminals fizzled out quickly.

Washington also asked, “What is Khan’s ability to help destabilize the Guyanese Government and/or elections?” Said Bullen: “While active in Guyana, destabilizing elections did not seem to be a priority for Khan. Keeping a pliable PPP in power through a successful re-election suited his interests. However, even in custody Khan could potentially cause great embarrassment to — or even bring down — Guyana’s government by revealing his links with the PPP and the skeletons in its closet.”

Who would succeed Khan?

This communication to Washington addressed two other major issues: who might succeed Khan as the new drug kingpin and what was the relationship between Khan and Desi Bouterse, former coup leader and convicted drug trafficker and now the President of Suriname. On the question of who might succeed Khan, Bullen related aspects of a conversation with a senior government official. Bullen cited two leading candidates who were older than the “upstart Khan” and had been active in drug trafficking for years. One was described as the “godfather” of organized crime in Guyana. Bullen said that the government official was eager to share views on the risk and instability that Khan’s capture caused in Guyana. The official said that one of the possible successors had been keeping very quiet and was rumoured to have been working with the US. In his comment on the possible succession, Bullen said, “GoG leaders were comfortable with Khan because they thought he was on their side; the possibility of a new kingpin allied with the political opposition makes them very nervous indeed”.

Bouterse

On the question of Khan’s relationship with Bouterse, Bullen was asked about Bouterse’s relationship with the ruling PPP. Bullen replied that he was unaware of any link between Bouterse and the PPP but that Bouterse had links with the PNCR. Bullen said a government official had told him that Bouterse’s link with Buxton was a “key factor” for Guyana and Suriname because so much “revolves around”. In his own note at this point, Bullen said: “(Note: Buxton, an Afro-Guyanese community about 10 miles east of Georgetown, is a hot-bed of criminal/militant activity. Desi Bouterse’s son Dino organized a Surinamese soccer team’s trip to Buxton a few years ago. It is believed that the team bus carried weapons to Buxton.)” Bullen also told Washington that he did not believe Guyana would grant Bouterse asylum or provide him with other support.

Source

The related Cable:

SUBJECT: (C/NF) GUYANA RESPONSE: DESI BOUTERSE AND SHAHEED
ROGER KHAN ACTIVITIES (C-AL6-00586)

REF: A. SECSTATE 92995
¶B. PARAMARIBO 399
¶C. GEORGETOWN 433
¶D. 02 GEORGETOWN 1425

Classified By: Ambassador Roland W. Bullen
For reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

¶1. (C) Post presents response to ref A. Noting that Shaheed
“Roger” Khan is now in custody, Post takes this opportunity
to mention other narco-criminals in Guyana eager to take over
Khan’s turf (see paras 14-17). As Minister of Home Affairs
told Ambassador at their June 23 meeting: “When one star goes
down, another one goes up.”

¶2. (S/NF) WHAT IS THE STATUS OF DESI BOUTERSE AND SHAHEED
“ROGER” KHAN’S CURRENT RELATIONSHIP?

See previous SIMO reporting from Georgetown.

¶3. (S/NF) HOW AND THROUGH WHAT MEANS DOES KHAN SUPPORT
BOUTERSE? WHAT CAN OR DOES BOUTERSE OFFER IN RETURN?

No longer applicable.

¶4. (S/NF) IS KHAN ACTIVE IN THE NARCOTICS TRADE, AND IF SO,
WHICH DRUG TRAFFICKING GROUPS DOES HE DEAL WITH? DOES HE
MAINTAIN TIES TO ANY OTHER CRIMINAL GROUPS, SUCH AS TERRORIST
OR ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS? WHAT FINANCES AND TECHNICAL
CAPABILITY DOES HE HAVE AT HIS DISPOSAL?

Khan is a known drug trafficker who is believed to have ties
with Colombian, Brazilian, and Venezuelan drug trafficking
groups. Post does not know that Khan has ties to terrorist
groups. Post does believe that Khan has ties to organized
crime groups. Khan had access to large sums of money and
could purchase whatever technical resources he needed. In
2002, for example, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) detained
Khan and two others (including a Guyana Police Force (GPF)
officer) after finding them in possession of an armored
vehicle, military arms and cell-phone surveillance equipment
(ref D). The latter was a Cellular Protocol Analyzer model
CSM 7806 manufactured by Smith-Meyers. Khan and the others
were hastily released, the charges dropped, and the equipment
returned.

¶5. (S/NF) HOW OFTEN, AND WHERE, DOES BOUTERSE TRAVEL TO
GUYANA? REF C INDICATES KHAN WAS LAST IN SURINAME IN JANUARY
2006, BUT ANALYSTS WOULD WELCOME INFORMATION ON HOW OFTEN HE
TRAVELS TO SURINAME.

Post is unaware of any specific travel by Bouterse to Guyana.
However, he has stated publicly that he travels to Guyana
and Brazil despite the Interpol Red Notice against him.

¶6. (S) OTHER THAN THROUGH VIOLENCE, DO BOUTERSE OR KHAN HAVE
ANY PLANS TO CREATE CIVIL UNREST THROUGH PROPAGANDA, RUMOR
CAMPAIGNS AGAINST GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OR POLITICAL LEADERS,
OR STIRRING RACIAL OR SOCIOECONOMIC TENSIONS?

Yes. Khan has pursued a very active “public relations”
campaign to paint himself as a Robin Hood figure, polarizing
Guyanese opinion in the process (ref C). Through his
intermediaries, this campaign continues even after his
arrest:

– Khan claims that he fled to Suriname because Guyanese
security forces were on a hunt to murder him.
– He accuses the USG, the GDF, GPF, and the PNC/R (Guyana’s
main opposition party) of colluding to remove the PPP
government.
– He disseminated two secret recordings (there may be
others) of Police Commissioner Winston Felix’s conversations
in a bid to force him out.
– He claims credit for bringing the 2002-03 crime wave in
Guyana under control, meting out vigilante justice on behalf
of the government.

Background: The ruling PPP (supported by Indo-Guyanese)
distrusts the GPF and GDF because they are staffed and led
mostly by Afro-Guyanese. In private conversations, PPP
insiders reveal their paranoia about the security forces’
connections to the political opposition and possible
coup-plotting. In this environment, Khan finds an
Indo-Guyanese audience willing to believe that he is their

protector against Afro-Guyanese criminals. Khan exploits
this to stir racial tensions and discredit his enemies. But
this influence has its limits. Recent demonstrations –
organized and bankrolled by Khan and his associates –
protesting the conduct of joint services raids on the
properties of suspected criminals fizzled out quickly.

¶7. (C) HOW CAPABLE ARE THE SURINAMESE MILITARY AND POLICE TO
QUARANTINE ANY DISTURBANCES? HOW MUCH INFLUENCE DOES
BOUTERSE HAVE ON SURINAME’S MILITARY AND POLICE?

Post defers to Embassy Paramaribo’s response.

¶8. (S) WHAT IS BOUTERSE’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RULING
PEOPLE’S PROGRESSIVE PARTY (PPP) IN GUYANA? IS THE PPP
SUPPORTING BOUTERSE’S EFFORTS?

Post is unaware of any relationship between Bouterse and the
PPP. However, Bouterse has links with the PNC/R (ref B). As
Home Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira recently told Ambassador:
Bouterse’s link with Buxton is a “key factor” for Guyana and
Suriname because so much “revolves around him”. (Note:
Buxton, an Afro-Guyanese community about 10 miles east of
Georgetown, is a hot-bed of criminal/militant activity. Desi
Bouterse’s son Dino organized a Surinamese soccer team’s trip
to Buxton a few years ago. It is believed that the team bus
carried weapons to Buxton.)

¶9. (S) WILL EITHER GUYANA OR VENEZUELA GRANT BOUTERSE ASYLUM
OR PROVIDE HIM WITH OTHER SUPPORT? IF SO, WHY WOULD THEY DO
SO?

Post does not believe that Guyana would grant Bouterse asylum
or provide him with other support.

¶10. (S) DOES BOUTERSE HAVE TIES TO ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTS
THAT MAY CONSIDER OFFERING HIM ASYLUM OR OTHER SUPPORT?

Post defers to Embassy Paramaribo’s response.

¶11. (C) WHAT IS KHAN’S ABILITY TO HELP DESTABILIZE THE
GUYANESE GOVERNMENT AND/OR THE ELECTIONS?

While active in Guyana, destabilizing elections did not seem
to be a priority for Khan. Keeping a pliable PPP in power
through a successful re-election suited his interests.
However, even in custody Khan could potentially cause great
embarrassment to — or even bring down — Guyana’s government
by revealing his links with the PPP and the skeletons in its
closet.

¶12. (S/NF) IS THERE EVIDENCE, BEYOND POSSIBLE CONJECTURE,
THAT KHAN ENJOYS SOME LEVEL OF POLITICAL PROTECTION FROM
SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE GUYANESE GOVERNMENT AND, IF SO, FROM
WHOM?

Khan did enjoy political protection from GoG officials at the
highest levels. At a minimum, former Home Affairs Minister
Ronald Gajraj and long-time Head of the Presidential
Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon collaborated with Khan.

SIPDIS
Gajraj (now Guyana’s High Commissioner to India) orchestrated
Guyana’s “death squads” in 2002-03 — certainly in close
collaboration with Khan. Luncheon (President Jagdeo’s
deputy) is known to have intervened and ordered the
authorities to release Khan and return his equipment as
described in para 4. Also, eyewitnesses say they have seen
Khan leaving the President’s office.

Ever since Khan’s May 2006 indictment in the U.S. on drug
charges, the GoG has tried assiduously to distance itself
from him.

¶13. (S/NF) WHAT ARE THE GUYANESE GOVERNMENT’S OPTIONS AND
CAPABILITIES, ASSUMING THERE IS THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO SO,
FOR, AT A MINIMUM, CONTAINING KHAN AND HIS ACTIVITIES OR, AT
BEST, SUCCESSFULLY APPREHENDING AND PROSECUTING HIM?

Even in the unlikely event that the GoG and the security
forces were on the same page and determined to go after
narco-criminals, their ability to do so is extremely limited.
The narco-criminals have entourages of highly-trained,
well-armed ex-tactical squad members at their disposal. The
GPF cannot compete with them. In addition, corruption and
tip-offs are so rampant that the GPF and GDF rarely enjoy the
element of surprise.

Even if these challenges were overcome, a successful arrest
would stand little chance of progressing through the judicial
system. Guyana has not convicted a single drug trafficker of
note.

——————–
WAITING IN THE WINGS
——————–

¶14. (C) Khan was the brashiest of Guyana’s narco-criminals,
but he was by no means the only one. Others will certainly
try to fill the void left by Khan’s departure from the local
scene. Two leading candidates are Bramhanand (Alt: Bramhand,
Brammanand) Nandalall and Clayton Hutson (DOB:31-Dec-64).
Older than the upstart Khan, they have been active in drug
trafficking for many years. Nandalall is the “godfather” of
organized crime in Guyana. Khan and Hutson both worked for
him before setting them up their own criminal organizations.

¶15. (C) Ambassador met with Home Affairs Teixeira June 23 to
discuss Khan and other matters. Teixeira was eager to share
her views on the risk and instability that Khan’s capture
causes in Guyana. She guesses Hutson might become the next
kingpin. She said that Nandalall is keeping very quiet and
is rumored to be cooperating with the U.S.

¶16. (C) Teixeira warned that Khan’s departure from the scene
opens the door for the criminal situation to become more
political — she said it will no longer be about “just
narcotics, but about ethnicity” as well. She fears that if
Hutson uses this opportunity to assume a larger role, then he
and his accomplices will pose a serious political threat with
the help of drug and gun trafficking.

¶17. (C) COMMENT. GoG leaders were comfortable with Khan
because they thought he was on their side; the possibility of
a new kingpin allied with the political opposition makes them
very nervous indeed. Other sources indicate that Nandalall
is more likely than Hutson to take over as Guyana’s number
one narco-criminal. Judging from Teixeira’s tone, Hutson
leans politically towards the PNC/R. Nandalall’s political
stance is uncertain, but it is telling that the PPP
government has never gone after him during his many years of
criminal activity. END COMMENT.
BULLEN

Source

quote:

Originally posted by asj:

quote:

Originally posted by cain:
Is dis true Supa an asj? This is what Iman been hearing.

quote:

Those US diplomatic correspondence largely point to alleged links between the government and narco-traffickers and death squads. “It is quite clear that the reports from the Wikileaks over the last three weeks or so have had a toll on the self confidence of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic and my perception is that the event tomorrow night is a form of damage control to divert attention from the damage that has been done to the reputation of the administration,” Granger said.

It is all alleged Similarly I can say that it is alleged that the AFC were into Drugs concealed in Pepper Sauce

.

and the Sources on this "alleged pepper sauce deal"?

Where is the evidence of corruption insinuated by Kaieteur News?
Written by BALDEO MATHURA
Friday, 16 September 2011 00:17

AFTER all the bold headlines, front page coverage, comparisons etc., Kaieteur News apparently ate ‘humble pie’ because the follow-up story it carried in its Sunday September 11 edition titled: “How NIS Berbice branch cost $69M …” did not provide us with the evidence of corruption insinuated when it first covered the reconstruction of the National Insurance Scheme’s (NIS) Corriverton office. And this comes after the newspaper boasted of having the top auditors in its employ go over the bill of quantities provided by the NIS.
The other side of this though is that after causing significant public embarrassment to those concerned with this project and their families as well as to the government, Kaieteur News is simply allowed to move on. Had such actions been meted out to a citizen by an entity of the state the heavens would’ve been brought down on earth.
This particular brand of journalism being practised by the Kaieteur News where sensationalism is used to fuel sales in an ever competitive market and where one citizen uses his ownership of a newspaper to settle personal scores with his adversaries is deplorable and also deserves condemnation.
Kaieteur News should report on the facts and stop being sensational.

.

.

quote:

Originally posted by cain:

quote:

Originally posted by asj:

quote:

Originally posted by cain:
Is dis true Supa an asj? This is what Iman been hearing.

quote:

Those US diplomatic correspondence largely point to alleged links between the government and narco-traffickers and death squads. “It is quite clear that the reports from the Wikileaks over the last three weeks or so have had a toll on the self confidence of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic and my perception is that the event tomorrow night is a form of damage control to divert attention from the damage that has been done to the reputation of the administration,” Granger said.

It is all alleged Similarly I can say that it is alleged that the AFC were into Drugs concealed in Pepper Sauce

.

and the Sources on this "alleged pepper sauce deal"?

asj, seems you know something about it, why are you not informing the authorities? You are aware withholding of information makes you an accessory, yes? Or are you withholding because you recognise the truth in what the Americans are saying, that the PPP is not interested in going after narco-criminals? Yes?

Western countries withholding security aid until reforms agreed - cable
By STABROEK STAFF | LOCAL | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

Following the UK’s cancellation of a security reform programme here, the US, Canada and the EU agreed not to fill the gap until the Guyana Government agreed to policy and structural reforms, according to a cable dispatched to Washington by the US Embassy here. In what was an inaugural fortnightly dispatch from the embassy to Washington, Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy, Karen Williams on October 28th, 2009 referred to the UK’s withdrawal of security aid over the government’s refusal to fundamental reforms. She adverted to an explanation of the withdrawal by Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon which Williams later noted was not true.


Karen Williams

She recounted: “Responding to a BBC Caribbean report on October 27, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon expressed regret but defended the GoG’s loss of a nearly USD 8 million security sector reform project, citing concerns about sovereignty and “ownership” of the project’s management, but attributed cancellation to U.K. displeasure with the GoG denying permission for a British military live fire exercise. (Note: In reality, the live fire exercise was approved and already took place).”

In the aftermath of this fiasco, Williams said that the UK had said that the Guyana Government had resisted meaningful reforms throughout the two years of negotiations and was unwilling to compromise. She further related that the US, Canadian and EU missions had agreed not to fill the gap left by the British withdrawal “unless the GoG agrees to policy and structural reforms”.

Williams however said that the Inter-American Development Bank had initiated a substantial police training programme that largely gave the government what it wanted but without the institutional reforms. She later commented: “This episode reinforces the GoG’s image as an unnecessarily difficult assistance partner prone to erratic rhetorical outbursts and rash judgments when firm and effective (and difficult to evade) conditionalities are attached.”

Source

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

quote:

Originally posted by cain:

quote:

Originally posted by asj:

quote:

Originally posted by cain:
Is dis true Supa an asj? This is what Iman been hearing.

quote:

Those US diplomatic correspondence largely point to alleged links between the government and narco-traffickers and death squads. “It is quite clear that the reports from the Wikileaks over the last three weeks or so have had a toll on the self confidence of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic and my perception is that the event tomorrow night is a form of damage control to divert attention from the damage that has been done to the reputation of the administration,” Granger said.

It is all alleged Similarly I can say that it is alleged that the AFC were into Drugs concealed in Pepper Sauce

.

and the Sources on this "alleged pepper sauce deal"?

asj, seems you know something about it, why are you not informing the authorities? You are aware withholding of information makes you an accessory, yes? Or are you withholding because you recognise the truth in what the Americans are saying, that the PPP is not interested in going after narco-criminals? Yes?

This was taken from the Stabroek News: It was an allegation

Jagdeo stated: “One of the pepper-sauce men that get caught with drug-dealing was a major funder of that party too…they love to accuse the PPP but go quiet sometimes; they have a lot of skeletons in their cupboard.”

He was referring to a major cocaine bust last December in which the substance was concealed in dividers of boxes filled with bottles of pepper sauce.

The president also accused the AFC had of using money obtained from unlawful means to hire American political consultant, Dick Morris to come to Guyana during the 2006 General Elections campaign.

He questioned “how a small party like that could fund such an expensive consultant.”

http://www.stabroeknews.com/20...-cocaine-allegation/

.

quote:

Originally posted by asj:

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

quote:

Originally posted by cain:

quote:

Originally posted by asj:

quote:

Originally posted by cain:
Is dis true Supa an asj? This is what Iman been hearing.

quote:

Those US diplomatic correspondence largely point to alleged links between the government and narco-traffickers and death squads. “It is quite clear that the reports from the Wikileaks over the last three weeks or so have had a toll on the self confidence of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic and my perception is that the event tomorrow night is a form of damage control to divert attention from the damage that has been done to the reputation of the administration,” Granger said.

It is all alleged Similarly I can say that it is alleged that the AFC were into Drugs concealed in Pepper Sauce

.

and the Sources on this "alleged pepper sauce deal"?

asj, seems you know something about it, why are you not informing the authorities? You are aware withholding of information makes you an accessory, yes? Or are you withholding because you recognise the truth in what the Americans are saying, that the PPP is not interested in going after narco-criminals? Yes?

This was taken from the Stabroek News: It was an allegation

Jagdeo stated: “One of the pepper-sauce men that get caught with drug-dealing was a major funder of that party too…they love to accuse the PPP but go quiet sometimes; they have a lot of skeletons in their cupboard.”

He was referring to a major cocaine bust last December in which the substance was concealed in dividers of boxes filled with bottles of pepper sauce.

The president also accused the AFC had of using money obtained from unlawful means to hire American political consultant, Dick Morris to come to Guyana during the 2006 General Elections campaign.

He questioned “how a small party like that could fund such an expensive consultant.”

http://www.stabroeknews.com/20...-cocaine-allegation/

.

Yes, that is an old story. Your bringing it up now, what is the relevance? Do you or the President have any new information? What are you trying to peddle here, asj? Please explain.

Further, do you believe the President is interested in going after narco-criminals, asj? Yes or No?

asj?

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

quote:

Originally posted by asj:

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

quote:

Originally posted by cain:

quote:

Originally posted by asj:

quote:

Originally posted by cain:
Is dis true Supa an asj? This is what Iman been hearing.

quote:

Those US diplomatic correspondence largely point to alleged links between the government and narco-traffickers and death squads. “It is quite clear that the reports from the Wikileaks over the last three weeks or so have had a toll on the self confidence of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic and my perception is that the event tomorrow night is a form of damage control to divert attention from the damage that has been done to the reputation of the administration,” Granger said.

It is all alleged Similarly I can say that it is alleged that the AFC were into Drugs concealed in Pepper Sauce

.

and the Sources on this "alleged pepper sauce deal"?

asj, seems you know something about it, why are you not informing the authorities? You are aware withholding of information makes you an accessory, yes? Or are you withholding because you recognise the truth in what the Americans are saying, that the PPP is not interested in going after narco-criminals? Yes?

This was taken from the Stabroek News: It was an allegation

Jagdeo stated: “One of the pepper-sauce men that get caught with drug-dealing was a major funder of that party too…they love to accuse the PPP but go quiet sometimes; they have a lot of skeletons in their cupboard.”

He was referring to a major cocaine bust last December in which the substance was concealed in dividers of boxes filled with bottles of pepper sauce.

The president also accused the AFC had of using money obtained from unlawful means to hire American political consultant, Dick Morris to come to Guyana during the 2006 General Elections campaign.

He questioned “how a small party like that could fund such an expensive consultant.”

http://www.stabroeknews.com/20...-cocaine-allegation/

.

Yes, that is an old story. Your bringing it up now, what is the relevance? Do you or the President have any new information? What are you trying to peddle here, asj? Please explain.

Further, do you believe the President is interested in going after narco-criminals, asj? Yes or No?

Well I give my answer to the question "and the Sources on this "alleged pepper sauce deal"? and that is the relevance, is it not?

Got to get some sleep....G'night GR

.

quote:

Further, do you believe the President is interested in going after narco-criminals, asj? Yes or No?

I need your answer on that, asj. The question will await when you come on again.

Your answer on the relevance is a cop out too. There has been nothing new for over two years - therefore, I will still require an explanation. So that too, will be there for you.

Sleep well.

quote:

This was taken from the Stabroek News: It was an allegation

Jagdeo stated: “One of the pepper-sauce men that get caught with drug-dealing was a major funder of that party too…they love to accuse the PPP but go quiet sometimes; they have a lot of skeletons in their cupboard.”

He was referring to a major cocaine bust last December in which the substance was concealed in dividers of boxes filled with bottles of pepper sauce.

The president also accused the AFC had of using money obtained from unlawful means to hire American political consultant, Dick Morris to come to Guyana during the 2006 General Elections campaign.

He questioned “how a small party like that could fund such an expensive consultant.”

http://www.stabroeknews.com/20...-cocaine-allegation/

Wait a minute now, Stabroek News reported that Prez Jagdeo stated something about a pepper sauce deal but thus far....nothing,hmmm
If he is the Prez, and he has the power to do anything ( even such a lowdown scummy thing as having a child arrested and jailed for sticking out his middle finger) you're saying that he couldn't do something about drug dealing?
I would not put my trust in anything jagdeo said, everything I've read shows the man is a liar, a cheat,woman hater,butthead etc. and we are to believe something HE said? Come on asj, I'm sure you're much more intelligent than that.

Wikileaks on the other hand, hmmmmm, well now, that's a whole new story we got there, this is intelligence, something that Jagdeo knows nothing of,not an inkling, the man is , a loser.
I and others who have a brain would believe their reports more than we'd believe Jagdeo's.
He is a bully,a liar, a piss poor President, look doan get my rass started again yeah.

Jagdeo makes Burnham look like a friggin saint.
The sad part about all this. I was proud that a young man got in power...what a letdown.

quote:

Originally posted by cain:

Wikileaks on the other hand, hmmmmm, well now, that's a whole new story we got there, this is intelligence, ..

I and others who have a brain would believe their reports more ..

WikiLeaks stated .. paraphrase ..

.. PPP/C is the only organised political group in Guyana ..

So DG let me ask you something.
Because wikileaks states that the ppp is the only organized political group in Guyana, does this give them the right to be corrupt?

Criminals also are organized, they're into organized crimes.

Don't forget now,wikileaks also mentions something along those lines regarding the Guyana Govt.

I'm heading to bed, see ya.
tbc

quote:

Originally posted by cain:

So DG let me ask you something.

Because wikileaks states that the ppp is the only organized party in Guyana, does this give them the right to be corrupt?

WikiLeaks made no mention on your reference about right to be corrupt.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

quote:

Further, do you believe the President is interested in going after narco-criminals, asj? Yes or No?

I need your answer on that, asj. The question will await when you come on again.

Your answer on the relevance is a cop out too. There has been nothing new for over two years - therefore, I will still require an explanation. So that too, will be there for you.

Sleep well.

GR, what the President does, it is not for me to speculate on, but my honest answer will be that if there is enough proof to go after someone (I mean proof not speculations or 'dem seh') then by all means......it is a job for the Police.

Next Q?

.

AFC Infighting, Incompetence, Continue to be Revealed
Mirror: Friday, 01 July 2011

The AFC is a house divided against itself. This fact is well known, with the line clearly drawn between the Trotman and Ramjattan factions. Ramjattan’s exclusion and sidelining of Trotman and his supporters has been accompanied by aggressive promotion of newcomers like Tarron Khemraj and Sasenarine Singh. Sasenarine was once, like Ramjattan, an ambitious aspirant in the PPP but who became disillusioned and jumped ship when the PPP refused to pander to their self-centred agenda for self-promotion and self-aggrandisement.

Taron Khemraj was one of the leading members of the now defunct ROAR.
But the Trotman/Ramjattan divide is not the only one being unfolded in the AFC. The latest divide is the rapidly unfolding contest between the same Tarron Khemraj and Sasenarine Singh, who are currently in a raging competition to assert themselves as the economic and financial czar of the AFC and to prove who is smarter. The only problem is that they are both technically inept and hopelessly clueless about economic policymaking.
The latest example is Sasenarine’s letter on the current account deficit, which he sent to the press swiftly after Tarron’s letter on factor productivity, so that he won’t fall too far behind in the race with his supposed party colleague. Regrettably, instead of helping to showcase his brilliance, the letter actually only served to disclose Sasenarine’s incompetence and explains why he was fired from almost every job he held while he was flirting with the PPP.
Put aside for a moment the obvious grammatical mistakes, e.g., “citizens … borrows” (sic), etc., in his letter, it is clear that Sasenarine does not even understand the basic concepts that he is referring to in his letter. Yet he uses these concepts in a brazen attempt to deceive the public, impress the simple-minded, and make himself appear technically knowledgeable.
To begin with, his definition of the current account deficit is completely flawed on technical grounds. It is perfectly possible for a country to have an external current account deficit and still not increase its borrowing. This would be the case, for example, where a current account deficit is incurred as a result of imported goods and services exceeding exports, but where this excess is financed by foreign direct investment. So a country going through a period of rapid expansion through foreign direct investment would probably by definition experience a current account deficit, but would not necessarily increase its net indebtedness.
Secondly, it is clear that Sasenarine does not even understand the distinction between the external current account deficit, i.e., on the balance of payments, and the fiscal current account balance. Instead, he glibly slips and slides from one concept to the other, paying no heed to the important distinction between them.
Thirdly, it is clear that Sasenarine is completely out of touch with reality. While Guyana’s current account deficit might be standing at 11 percent, there is nothing unsustainable about this level of deficit because it is fully financed by foreign direct investment and by concessional official external financing. In fact, more prosperous Caribbean countries have even larger external current account deficits. The Bahamas, for example, has a current account deficit estimated at 14 percent, while Jamaica as recently as two years ago had a current account deficit as high as 18 percent. And, Guyana’s debt to GDP ratio is today one of the lowest in the Caribbean, thanks to prudent policies and responsible economic management.
Fourthly, Sasenarine’s alienation from reality is reflected in his assertion that Guyana is not investing in productive capacity. Clearly, he is either unaware of recent developments in our country, or he wishes to pretend not to know that a large part of Guyana’s import bill reflects capital equipment and other capital inputs for investment in infrastructure and in productive capacity. One has only to examine the mining sector to see how imports into that sector have skyrocketed, fully financed by FDI into that sector.
In like manner, he speaks disparagingly about electricity and competitiveness, yet his party has done nothing but oppose the Amaila falls project, instead of coming out and supporting the project for the clear transformative impact it would have. He attacks the skills that reside in the PPP Government to conclude the Amaila deal. It would be useful for Sasenarine to shed some light on what skills he and Tarron Khemraj, the AFC economic top notch armchair policymakers, have. What is their employment track record? What are their major career accomplishments? What major deals have they ever negotiated and concluded? Absolutely none. Sasenarine should himself be a little more transparent about his own track record. What is his employment history? What are his major accomplishments in each job that he has held? Yet, he presumes onto himself the right to criticise others.
Sasenarine also outlines a long list of pipe dreams that the AFC has been promising the people, knowing fully well that these are nothing but hot air. He and his party know fully well that they are only deceiving the nation with empty promises that will never be able to deliver. Fortunately, they are not succeeding in deceiving anybody but themselves.
In short, Sasenarine comes across for exactly what he is, a disgruntled power-seeker, who having been found out to be incompetent and rejected by the PPP, now seeks refuge in the AFC. He still has a few hurdles to cross within the AFC, however, the first of which is to put in a decent performance in the contest against Tarron Khemraj. Right now, he is way behind even in that internal small-timers contest.

.

asj, you are not very different from Jagdeo, he must educate the youth of the hatred of the past, to keep them as PPP supporters.

Deal with issues that are happening NOW, not from what was written by a PPP supported newspaper, months ago.

It is people like you that will continue to destroy Guyana with race voting.

quote:

Originally posted by cain:
Is dis true Supa an asj? This is what Iman been hearing.

quote:

Those US diplomatic correspondence largely point to alleged links between the government and narco-traffickers and death squads. “It is quite clear that the reports from the Wikileaks over the last three weeks or so have had a toll on the self confidence of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic and my perception is that the event tomorrow night is a form of damage control to divert attention from the damage that has been done to the reputation of the administration,” Granger said.

Look who talking about links to death squads when the US is known around the world for murdering and slaughtering millions of innocent people.