on www.demerarawaves

on www.demerarawaves.com Call for after-interview discussion on +718-404-9243 or Skype-to-Skype. Our Skype contact name is newstalkradio

Dr. Richard Van West

Dr. Richard Van West Charles, a son-in-law of  late President Forbes Burnham and a leader-aspirant of Guyana’s main opposition Peoples National Congress Reform (PNC), speaks of the condition and future of that party in today at at 6PM (Guyana/ Eastern Caribbean Time); 5 PM (Toronto and New York Time) and 10PM (London Time) on www.demerarawaves.com Call for after-interview discussion on +718-404-9243 or Skype-to-Skype. Our Skype contact name is newstalkradio

Listen to an interne

Listen to an internet radio interview with late President Forbes Burnham’s son-in-law, Richard Vanwest Charles LIVE at 6PM (Guyana/ Eastern Caribbean Time); 5 PM (Toronto and New York Time) and 10PM (London Time) on www.demerarawaves.com Call for after-interview discussion on +718-404-9243 or Skype-to-Skype. Our Skype contact name is newstalkradio

H1H1 Vaccines?

In relation to this information we are wondering when will Guyana receive this number of vaccines as promised?

No US Accolades for Kwame

It would seem as if the US are not impressed with the “Kwame” tapegate scandal and subsequent non-action which seems to have died a natural death with Kwame back in his little seat of power at OP.

I guess there are no accolades for Kwame this year with reports emanating that the US Embassy has revoked his visa. Better go bathe in some salt water bhai, better luck next year.

This public display of disapproval from the Americans is sure to be seen as a slap in the face of the administration which has continued to defend Kwame. The Opposition and opposition media will have a field day.

Et tu US Embassy?

USE SECURITY FORCES BARBARISM TO WELD RACIAL UNITY

Earlier today, I read comments on Demerara Waves’ Facebook against the shock expressed by Gino Persaud, Attorney-at-Law on his blog. The comments were made by his colleague lawyer, Ronald Burch-Smith, who is a signatory to the very statement that was signed by the group of 25 lawyers, and my colleague-in-journalism, Julia Johnson.

This is my reaction as posted on Demerara Waves Facebook:

While one may want to construe these latest events as shocking; the last thing that Guyanese should ever want is the further entrenchment of racially-motivated division over this matter to the detriment of the larger cause.

If we erroneously accept that race is the reason for shock; then the Indians among us must be condemnend squarely for saying nothing about the barbaric killing of the gold-jeweler’s employee by Guyanese Coast Guardsmen.

In fact, this should be a turning-point in seizing the moment of broadening and strengthening the front on this issue and cease harping back on what should or should not have been.

Guyana is undergoing a cycle of events much like the 1970s under the PNC. The outrage against the Burnham/PNC era did not start overnight but with a cumulative effect of the labour-related and political atrocities that had been committed against the Blacks in the bauxite industry and public sector and the East Indians in the sugar belt. Then came the House of Israel thuggery (Fr Bernard Darke’s killing), restriction of newsprint, food-bans and restrictions, beating up of anti-government activists by official officially-blessed state actors, etc. that had welded the outrage across race and class lines, notwithstanding the pre and post independence periods of racial tension aming Blacks and Indians.

In essence, the outrage against the Burnham PNC by sections of the society did not begin overnight. People at the then time had to be motivated and educated over a period of time. The Guyanese collective across all lines had to feel the pain themselves and for each other before it became manifest that the then rulers of the day could no longer be tolerated. UNFORTUNATELY THAT CYCLE CONTINUES AND SO IS THE STRUGGLE FOR PEOPLES’ POWER! One day, born out of post-colonial experiences will yield a model of governance that is truly indigenous to Guyanese.

The last thing that anyone wants in the current scheme of things is the fracturing of a potential unity-platform on the basis of “we and dem”. Forward ever to racial and working class unity among all classes and strata.

The recent position taken by the group of lawyers must be used as the rocket rather than the anchor rather than a weapon against forging the so necessary unity between proletariat and petty bourgeoisie.

It is only through such unity, rather than harping on what should have been done or has not been done on the basis of race, that the apparent paralysis that has inflicted the political opposition, civil society, private sector and the religious community will be healed, galvanised and mobilized.

Ramotar Securing His Interests?

Another private citizen within the PPP has expressed a view on a controversial topic – whether President Jagdeo deserves a third term.

The General Secretary of the ruling PPP has formally stated that the goodly pandit’s stance on this matter is a personal one and not reflective of the party’s intention. This statement evoked memories of former President Janet Jagan’s stance on the pulling of state advertisements from the Stabroek News which were deemed to emanate from her as a private citizen.

It is widely rumoured that Ramotar is a leading contender for the  2010/2011 slot as the PPP’s presidential candidate. However, he  faces a more formidable and intellectually heavyweight challenger in the person of Mr. Ralph Ramkarran seen by many as a venerated Statesman and highly respected by the West.

BREAKING NEWS: Illegal FM Station broadcasting

Demerara Waves is confirming that there is an illegal radio station currently broadcasting on 99.9 FM. Word of this started to spread some two days ago. It is also reported that the station is being heard as clear as crystal from a listener in Herstelling on the West Bank of Demerara.

The station is broadcasting music including some moments ago a discriminatory song against homsexuals being parliamentarians. The relevance of this, if any, is unclear although it would almost certainly incur the wrath of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD); an immodest number of Herstellians as well as right thinking Guyanese in general. Demerara Waves condemns all forms of discrimination

This audacious illegal broadcasting is remniscent of some years ago when Tony Viera started an FM illegal radio station. It was shut down by the government and a court case was filed culminating in the recent decision by the Court of Appeal that the government’s monopoly of the radio is illegal.

Our legal sources indicated that without question the ruling of the Court of Appeal is correct and keeping in conformity with established decisions in the region and other common law jurisdictions. If the Court of Appeal had ruled otherwise it is doubtful whether such a decision would have been able to withstand the scrutiny of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

However, the timing of the Court of Appeal’s ruling is viewed with great suspicion in the context of the government’s hints over the past year or so that they will be opening the airwaves soon coupled with the fact that the Appellant (Tony Viera) in those proceedings who had a pending radio licence application sold out to the Ramroop Group of Companies owned by Dr. Bobby Ramroop – a friend of the government – who also runs the Guyana Times which so far has not directed any kind of substantial criticisms against the government and ruling party.

While it is felt that it was only a matter of time before the monopoly was broken there is a strong view that the goverment will be hesitant to open the airwaves before the next general elections.

It is also felt that the first radio licence to a private entity may go to the Ramroop media entity which recently purchased Viera’s Channel 28 television station whose owner Anthony Viera had submitted an application for a radio licence some time ago which is still pending.

What is for certain given the chain of events over the past year is that there is more to the mortar than in the radio spectrum pestle.

Another Regent Street Fire

Guyanese woke up this morning to the shocking news that yet another fire razed buildings housing prominent businesses in the commercial district of Regent Street. At approximately 3:30 this morning, a fire originated from and completely destroyed Household Plus, Wireless Connections and China Trading. The latter two businesses were housed in what was formerly known as the Fullworths Store. No back buildings were burnt.

This fire came swiftly on the heels of another massive fire some nine days ago, on the 9th October, which destroyed DM Sales Beauty World, Regent Household Electronics Store and two back buildings.

The Household Plus and Regent Household Electronics businesses are owned by members of the prominent entrepreneurial Hamid family (Hamid’s General Store).

On the 25th April, 2008 a fire completely destroyed Hamson’s General Store which is also owned by a member of the Hamid family.

Five days ago Demerara Waves Blog wrote on the state of fire hydrants in Georgetown.

Julius & Mother must facilitate investigation into Kwame Mc Coy’s alleged homosexual relations with boy

If Julius and his mother in the ‘Kwame-Julius’ imbroglio are genuinely interested in the elimination  of child abuse generally and the punishment of the alleged perpetrator, then they will have to do all that they can to facilitate a proper investigation by the police and child welfare authorities.

 

While Guyanese are often concerned about the performance of the Guyana Police Force for various reasons, including various perceptions of bias; it’s high time that victims come forward directly and indirectly so that at the end of the day any accusations levelled against the police and other State and non-state actors will be justified beyond contradiction.

 

Like in pursuing international legal remedies in most cases; the international courts must be satisfied that all domestic remedies have been exhausted. So, too, the Guyanese police must be given that fair opportunity to execute its mandate as far as is practicable.

 

At the same time, concerns about likely police intimidation and incarceration of Julius and his mother cannot be taken lightly in light of alleged batteryity forces of  persons at the hands of the security forces. Surely, this entire episode from contact with the alleged perpetrator to the recording and the publicity must be traumatic for Julius.

A midlle-ground  has to be found and any other similar cases that may emerge in the future. Options may include his signature and those of  his mother and other persons claiming to be knowledgeable about the entire episode to a sworn affidavit. Mind you, an affidavit will have to be ultimately tested in a court of law.

 

Should this approach be taken, it will be less of a stress and hassle on Julius’ mother and himself. At the same time, it will further enhance their position that they are bent on getting justice and minimize any doubts about their own involvement in black-mail, extortion and wiretapping.

 

As genuine as the tape sounds, the media must not allow this case to fall flat on its face whether in favour of the perpetrator or the victim. Failure to do so is to set a bad precedent that the media can be ‘used’ by people to achieve narrow, partisan agenda. The media have a responsibility to get to all sides of this sordid affair or its own credibility can be called into question, particularly if the mother refuses to cooperate to the full extent possible with the police and Child Protection Agency as well as any non-governmental organisation that is specialized in child and sexual abuse.

The police, too, need not wait on Julius or Julius’ mother to take steps to authenticate Kwame Mc Coy’s voice. It’s an utter shame and disgrace for the police to use the denial of one’s voice as an excuse for not using modern technology to ascertain whether one is lying. This must be done now, less the police force is accused of partisanship because Mc Coy is a functionary of the governing party and the Office of the President.

 

Clearly, the identity of the boy needs to be protected at all costs because that in itself can be a source of grave embarassment and trauma. However, this must be balanced with the dispensing of justice as an example to all right-thinking Guyanese.

Georgetown businesses & Chamber need to pressure gov’t for new fire hydrants

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                                                                                                      THE STATE OF THE FIRE HYDRANTS BETWEEN REGENT ST. AND ORANGE WALK AND REGENT AND ALBERT STS.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Even as the smouldering debris at the scene of last Friday’s massive fire on Regent Street in commercial Georgetown awaits removal, the fire victims and the business community need to take some of the blame for not agitating within its body and outside to the government authorities.

The fact of the matter is that very few if any of the fire hydrants in close and  far proximity to the fire had worked during the raging inferno that has resulted in millions of dollars in losses and rendered several persons jobless 
It’s high time that the business community in the city pressure the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and the Guyana government departments to immediately fix these facilities that are supposed to gush millions of gallons of water in the event of a fire must be placed squarely at the feet of the Guyana government authorities.
 
The chamber may very well retort by saying that most businesses in the city are not on its members-roll. But what better way to demonstrate the power and might of the Georgetown Chamber by effectively and efficiently representing the interests of the business community. An organisation is as strong as its members.Had the fire hydrants been working, the fire-tenders would have been able to control the spread and intensity of the fire by suing water in their tanks even as fire-fighters were screwing on hoses to nearby hydrants to continue the battle with the venomous flaming tongues of fires that devoured everything in its path.
 
However, this was not to be as more than 97 percent of the hydrants between Orange Walk and Albert Streets are inoperable because they are choked or simply do not have the capacity anymore for hoses to be screwed on and have been stuffed with garbage.

Residents say the fire hydrant opposite the fire-scene did not work on the day of the blaze but the next day fire-fighters had devised a method to use the hydrant. Rather, valuable time was lost to the hungry blaze as firefighters and public spirited citizens rolled out hoses to nearby canals. The bacteria-laden water from these canals, by the way, is also an Occupational Safety and  Health hazard to the fire-fighters.  
 
An inventory on the condition of fire hydrants by the Ministry of Home Affairs appears to be gathering dust somewhere on Brickdam because there is absolutely no visible and tangible proof that the authorities are moving with even the minutest of alacrity to get this problem fixed. 

Ordinary citizens, too, have a public responsibility and duty to report vandalism or damage to hydrants. Guyanese have to cease blaming the authorities alone for the condition of many of our facilities and start shouldering some of the blame for failing to report these shortcomings to the competent authorities so that remedial action can be taken.
While authorities get their act together; the Chamber of Commerce and the fire-affected business owners and residents should knock heads together to explore all available recourse for prolonged negligence that may have contributed to inefficient and ineffective fire-fighting.
 
 The Guyana government cannot on the one hand enforce Occupational Safety Health rules but at the same time expose workers to possible injury and death on the job by failing to ensure that all fire hydrants in commercial Georgetown are in working order all year round.

 Strange but true! The replacement of the fire hydrants can be successful only if there is an inter-agency approach involving not only the police and fire service but also the Ministry of Human Services and the Ministry of Health. One of the major reasons for the condition of our hydrants in the city is the stealing and damage to these facilities by  vagrants and copper-seeking ‘junkies’ (drug-addicts) so that they can satisfy their habit. The Ministry of Human Services’ much vaunted campaign to rid Georgetown of street-dwellers who include ‘junkies’ appears to have collapsed because many of them have returned ‘home’ to their ‘wandering fixed’ place of abode.

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Cycle of traffic lawlessness robs treasury, guarantees bribery

Helmeted but overloaded on busy Camp Street.

This female motorcyclist and two girls, presumably her daughters, were today well helmeted on the scooter.

While the woman must be highly commended for ensuring that they all were wearing this invaluable protective head wear, it must not be lost on fellow ordinary Guyanese that she is still breaching the traffic laws by carrying more than one pillion riders. 

Unfortunately, these breaches are so routine because the lowly paid and limitedly educated Guyanese traffic police ranks are more concerned with taking bribes.

The police do not often prosecute road users for such infractions. Rather, they substitute legal punitive action with subtle and not so subtle pressures for people to offer money to escape the court system.

Two things happen here that perpetuate the problem: The cycle of a loss of public confidence in the law enforcement agencies continues unabated and Guyana’s national teasury loses millions each month in traffic fines alone. (Note that we are not talking about more serious crimes like narco trafficking that are not visible like traffic offences). Monies lost from the failure to prosecute means less funds for the state to pay police and attract a higher social and academic quality of recruits.

In passing, I cannot help recalling one day seeing a route 42 minibus overloaded with children in the vicinity of the New Building Society. A traffic policeman who confirmed to me that he was on duty refused to take action when I pointed the bus out to him. Another day, a uniformed cadet officer was in the front seat of a Route 45 minibus which was being driven dangerously to the extent that a passenger was almost injured. The cadet officer did nothing- probably his reward for a free ride from police headquarters that normally costs GUY$60.

Sadly, policing is no longer a career but an avenue to earn quick bucks clothed in the ‘government’s boots.’

Chances are that that female cyclist and the two girls will be seen on this cycle for many months to come. The girls, too, may grow up seeing nothing wrong doing the same thing under the eyes of official bribe takers clothed in police uniform.

The seeds of today’s corruption were sown decades ago when basic food items and Income Tax clearance certificates were among the country’s scarcest goods and services. Paying to escape the long hand of the law or to acquire a service began back in the 1970s and is now a way of life. The authorities need to stem the tide of corruption now or one day Guyana will follow Haiti in having to get the United Nations to help restructure the police force and weed out the bad cops.

Presidential self-profiling? (NOT INTERESTED IN JOB-SOURCES)

WELL PLACED SOURCES CLOSE TO AGRICULTURE MINISTER, ROBERT PERSAUD  TELL DEMERARA WAVES BLOG THAT CONTRARY TO THIS POST BELOW, HE IS NOT INTERESTED IN THE PRESIDENCY.

As Guyana prepares for a possible snap general election, presidential hopeful-Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud- spares no moment in profiling himself for the countrys top office.

While some may call it presidential mimickry, the reality is that Persaud’s profiling alone appears to send strong signals that he is eager to or is being groomed to sit behind the cacique crown on New Garden Street.

Take, for example, the fact that the Agriculture Minister is the only cabinet member to have had a personal assistant with him on all public engagements. Mind you,I am not talking about a bodyguard.

From sheltering Persaud from rainfall, the young man is now carrying coffee for the President-to-be. This he did today at the opening of the National Agriculture Research Institute’s research conference shortly after Persaud arrived and took his seat. That’s a key feature of President Jagdeo’s public appearances at meetings and conferences-his bodyguard gets him a cup of hot coffee, often carried around in a ‘presidential flask’.

And if you think that’s all; well Persaud is the only other cabinet member apart from President Bharrat Jagdeo who has a fully functional, equipped and well staffed media relations department. This department, which is responsible for keeping Persaud in the media several times each week, is perhaps the third largest such unit after the Presidents press and publicity unit and the Government Information Agency (GINA).

And how can we miss Persaud’s luxurious four wheeled drive vehicle which is fitted with a wireless two way communication system.

All of these props and preps Persaud expects to pay off as early as next year when snap general elections could be called. He, however, has to work harder to bypass political seniors like Peoples Progressive Party general secretary, Donald Ramotar and PPP executive council member Ralph Ramkarran.

At the end of the day, only one of the trio can be the President when early general elections are possibly held next year instead of 2011.

And don’t forget that you can log on to www.demerarawaves.com to listen to a live internet radio discussion this week Saturday at 6.00 PM on Periscope on Politics. We will be talking about the prevailing factors that point to a possible early general election.

Agriculture Ministry wastes water

The Agriculture Ministry, which has been advocating efficient water use,was today wasting potable water in its headquarters yard.

A man who was washing vehicles in the yard left the pipe on with the hose connected. It’s unclear whether the pipe is defective or the water conservation education programme is not even reaching the staffers of the Agriculture Ministry.

…and by the way, October is Agriculture Month in Guyana. Nevermind last nights thunderstorm. We are still in el nino drought.

Food for thought by Guyanese journo Nazima Raghubir, her journo colleagues and experts at an Agriculture forum in Brussels.

Guyana’s broadcasting system cannot withstand a disaster

DEMOLISHED: Broadcasting House, High Street. Operations are now centralized at NCN Homestretch Avenue so all operations are affected at once

Tonight’s thunderstorm exposed how vulnerable are our radio and television broadcasting systems should a major storm pound Guyana’s coastland, particularly Demerara, which has the highest concentration of broadcasters.

Daylight-bright lightning followed by peals of thunder forced almost all television stations, including the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) off the air. NCN’s three radio frequencies – Voice of Guyana, 98.1 HOT FM and Radio Roraima were also off the air.

In an era where disaster preparedness experts around the world place a supremely high premium on mass communication, mainly through the medium of radio broadcasting, the authorities must move swiftly to avoid a repeat of this total shutdown in the future. While both the private and state-owned broadcasters must be commended for taking steps to ensure that their transmitters were not damaged beyond repair; it is a critical period such as a storm or any other natural or man-made disaster that sends people scampering to either their radio or televisions for any vital information.

In periods of potential disaster and uncertainty, the State broadcaster assumes an even greater role in fulfilling its mandate of remaining On Air for as long as is practicable even through the roughest periods of the storm as is the case in many Caribbean islands that are hurricane-prone.

Time was when the transmitting station at Sparendaam was equipped with a standby emergency studio facility to continue offering limited broadcast content in cases of emergency. Perhaps, the shutdown on Sunday evening of both state radio and television must be the price that the government is paying for centralising all its radio and television operations in one building. Disaster cannot be seen in isolation of  national security and mass communication is also a key component of disaster management.

Perhaps, the authorities found no use in learning their lesson from the closure of the studios at the old Guyana Broadcasting Service (GBS) Hadfield Street location that had once served as a ‘back-up’ or standby whenever Broadcasting House at High Street had been flooded or had no electricity.

Though, as was stated earlier, there is a higher degree of expectation and responsibility on the part of the State broadcaster;  the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) and the policy-makers in Cabinet should consider making it legally compulsory for at least three private television stations with the widest reach to have stand-by facilities in case of an emergency like Sunday’s thunderstorm.

Building specifications should include both natural and synthetic ‘earthing’ to withstand lightning, considerable elevation off the ground to avoid flooding, roof design and construction similar to those in the Caribbean’s hurricane belt and a standby generator with sufficient fuel.

Both private and public broadcasters should always have specially pre-recorded programmes on standby that can be played at a moment’s notice and be relevant to the type of emergency. Such content may include music, public service announcements and other programmes highlighting precautions to be taken depending on the circumstances.

While Guyana is on mainland South America and away from the hurricane zone, there are some basic lessons that both public and private broadcasters can learn when it comes to staying on air during a natural disaster. If its new name- Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is to mean anything, then it should play a lead role with broadcasters around the region in crafting protocols, procedures, content and codes for staying ON THE AIR in times of distress for a disaster will be much too late.