As the Earthly One returns

We are rambling dangerously....on this special day:

As the Earthly one returns to Guyana, his worshippers are gathering at the Airport to welcome and worship him. Gerry Gouveia's invitation to the corporate world invited all to join him in the pilgrimage to the airport to receive The Big Ego. The Ministers, the Advisers, the soup drinkers, the account holders, the contract receivers - will all be driving hummers and prados and other SUVs to the airport tonight....polluting the air with their gas guzzlers while their environmental hero arrives in a cloud of pollution into his loving crowd of corruption.

No sweat! We dont begrudge the man for his award that was made on the backs of lying about the forests and the amerindians while sharing the profits from selling dolphins, mining concessions and large blocks of land and properties to Boyer, Gouveia,Brassington, Yong, Ramroop etc. No sweat at all!

But remember that while he is sashaying across the world, zipping from one country to another, we sweat it out in Guyana. Taking licks from the police, paying 16% VAT and 33% income tax on our earnings. No, no sweat that the Mighty Ego will be riding high in the next couple of weeks. After all, all the awards and degrees are like the presidency - fake, just paper awards - no real work done.

Caution to Kissoon, Christofer Ram, Ramjattan etc etc... watch out.... the Mighty Ego will be riding high during the next couple of days. He will lash out about Lumumba and its terrible indictment on him. He will lash out at the kaieteur and stabroek and will cut off ads.

He will lash out at the PNC, AFC, the UG protest and anyone who dares to criticize....sigh...those whom the Gods want to destroy they first make them mad.

Double sigh....But the cunning ways will continue as the $50-million hydro, $17-million road, $37 million cable and countless contracts will be awarded just like he has been. The stink of corruption is rising to high heaven. Welcome home oh mighty ego.

A US$15-million man and his bodyguard

Two pictures of a US$15-worth Fip and his bodyguard.

Surveying the market while Ashni decides what to do with the G$77-million per year unaccounted "consultant money" and Jagdeo decides what to do with the 2010 lotto funds before the case is called to court.

The stink of corruption!

Finally someone woke up and smelled the stink of corruption. Hats off to Desmond Trotman and his lawyers. I vote the "citizen of Guyana" award to Desmond!

Well known WPA Activist Desmond Trotman has sued the government for not paying the Lotto Funds into the Consolidated Fund- we all know and as stated in the media these monies were being spent without the necessary Parliamentary Approval. Well parliament be damned, spent without even any care for accountability!

When King Jagdeo on his Cabinet Outreaches would give away a $50 million here and a $20 million there. These exclude the millions prepaid for pipes, pharmaceuticals, rooms at hotels, Limo at Miami, etc.

Even the PNC (which has denounced this act many many times) could not muster up the courage and will to take this matter to court-we wonder about the many lawyers in that party - maybe they are all beneficiaries of the lotto-unaccounted-free-flowing-money.

The Audit Office of Guyana has reported this illegal act many times in multiple reports. In its just recent report of the 2008 accounts, the Auditor General (which is co-headed by the wife of the Finance Minister) said:

“The Contingencies Fund continued to be abused with amounts totaling $670.343 million drawn from the Fund being utilized to meet expenditure that DID NOT meet the ELIGIBILITY criteria as defined in the ACT”

Page 12 of the AG’s 2008 report also states that Expenditure in respect to services which by law are directly chargeable to the Consolidated Fund DO NOT form part of the voted provisions approved by the National Assembly.

These expenditures include:
1. Repayment and servicing of Public Debt
2. Emoluments of holders of Constitutional Offices
3. Pensions and gratuities of Public Officers

The Financial Management Act spells out how and why exactly monies should be extracted from the Consolidated Fund.

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh in this case must show that “urgent, unavoidable and unforeseen NEED for the expenditure has arisen”, for which NO money can be reallocated as provided for under the FMA- or for which no money has been allocated for, or for which the sum allocated is not sufficient.

When the Minister does the above, this is to be tabled in the National Assembly. According to the 2008 AG Report more than 80 advances totaling more than $4 billion were drawn from the fund.

Of course, by the end of 2008, the Ministry of Finance could not account for more than 17 of those advances totaling more than $1 billion.

The Auditor General Deodat Sharma in his report said that his previous reports “highlighted the continual abuse of this fund”. The report listed several instances where monies were taken from the Fund showing wanton abuse. These included:

1.More than $200 million to the Public Works Ministry for support to the Transport and Harbour Department

2. More than $180,000 million to the Guyana Defense Force

3. More than $77 million to the Finance Ministry for Consultancy

4. More than $72 million to the Home Affairs Ministry for Carifesta expenses

These are only a few sums that were captured by the AG Office for 2008. One can only wonder what took place in 2009!

We congratulate Desmond Trotman for the long awaited move as we await the outcome of this court matter.

We take this opportunity to caution Desmond, Ram and Fitzpatrick - look our for nasty 'letter' on your wife (or wives), girlfriends, cars, any duty free if you ever had, any tax free if you ever had, any fetish if you ever had....and of course even if you didn't have, they will now get dirty.

Owned and operated by the office of the president

Signboards across Guyana used to read (in the old days) "owned and operated by the people of Guyana." That may still be up in some places, but the truth is captured in our headline.

The BLUEprint
The Guyana Sugar Corporation’s Strategic Blueprint for the years 2009-2013, we believe, is a little late in life of the one of the most important industries for the survival of this country. Not only is it late but the simply incompetent and corrupt people that are expected to implement this plan leave a lot to be desired.

The Plan which was approved by the government was done in one of the most miserable years of the company’s life- it had fallen short of its target production, the price of sugar had fallen on the worlds market and industrial action on the estates had increased by 75%.

The Plan which by its own admission seeks to “create a transformed industry with competitive cost base…” has done but little to achieve its goals for 2009.

A check and balance system was never employed to ascertain if indeed the Company was able to perform in 2009 and more so this Plan was never made public and not even tabled in the National Assembly for all to scrutinize. Only people the Office of the President saw, owned and approved the Blue plan.

Following are some of the targets of the plan. Should we ask the officials were any of these realized?

1) Did the company increase land cultivation from 43,668 hectares to 46,608 hectares?
2) What lands did they plan to increase cultivation on and was those lands even prepared?
3) What about this 20% replanting target per year?
4) Improve the working standards and quality across the industry?
5) What about increasing the rate of mechanization at the Enmore factory by 20% (is that factory even up and running?)
6) Was the management teams on all locations improved or there was the wanton dismissal of officials over a period of time?
7) In 2009, GuySuCo wanted to reduce cost of cultivation per hectare to less than G$490,000 - since it spent more than G$3 billion previously on this activity ( We guess we’ll have to await the 2009 Annual report to be table in Parliament in another 5 years)
8) We know that the Company is in the process of transforming the Health Centres to the Government of Guyana and we have questioned whether or not this is the best move in the interest of the workers.
9) We know of the disposal of non-performing assets and the sale of lands but what we don’t know if the prices and who got them! (HUSH HUSH NICIL)
10) Did the head office of Guysuco relocate to Enmore as suggested in the 2009?
11) The plan suggests the dredging of the Demerara Channel (along with the government) as a mean of lowering freight costs of imports- but this is someone’s dream - 'cause no one could explain why we closing all the East Bank Estates?
12) The Enmore Packing Plant- Construction began
13) Regaining and finding new market niches for direct consumption of sugar (cant produce why search for market?).
14) Sourcing financing for the ethanol plant to be operational after the elections year (well sorry, Jagdeo is presently busy with his $47-million Cable & $15million road-for-Power).
15) What is the update on the Power Purchase Agreement with GPL (for increased co-generation supply from Skeldon) – couldn’t happen in 2009 and will not happen in 2010 because Skeldon Factory still has major defects.

Bitter Sweet – how much more bitter will our sugar be as we continue to examine the GUYSUCO-BLUEPRINT

What a web we weave

Who really do we question? Bharrat Lumumba or Odinga Jagdeo?

A) Year 2005 – Jagdeo gave him Tract C, rear of Botanical gardens (for G$2.5 million) – (Jagdeo was president).

Flash back: Who “gave him these lands and for what price”
1) 4000 acres at Manarbisi: Sometime before the PNC have him land at Manarbisi – the Skeldon II project was then in the air (since early 1990’s) – so they carved out a piece of land there for price later (lumumba admits spending money on the land to develop ‘rice or sugar’). Cheddi is dead – so accuse the dead man of requesting your land – where is the documentation? That should be published for all to see.
2) 10,000 Acres at Akawini – again given by the PNC (why are we accusing Burnham of Swiss bank account – this is the guy!)

B) April 5, 2005 – Jagdeo gives Lumumba $4million for “enhancement of the sport”. Show me another such donation by Jagdeo for any other type of sport – or to any other person.

C) October 2003, Lumumba as head of McNeal Enterprises received money to ‘host’ the Ms. Guyana Universe (he was the holder of the franschise) and "gave aid" to lots of girls.

D) In 2010 jagdeo gives Lumumba a $200 million dollars’ worth of mining concession – which Lumumba sold for $200million. Claimed that someone took away his land again (sounds familiar).

E) The billion dollars’ dolphin scandal was given presidential approval. He was rewarded with the title of “presidential adviser”.

More to come.

Flips, Fibs, Fling, Flassington and Flagdeo

FIP’s FIBS

Well Fip, Ashni and Winston ought to be awarded for the Best Actor and Best Supporting actors respectively in the movie Synergy or not!

Kudos to Kaieteur News for the excellent piece of journalism this week, that skin up the PPP government and their lies as they sought to give another friend more of our tax payers money!

Well Fip lied when he said that Synergy Holdings built road in the state of Georgia in the US.

The good folks in the transparent State Department in Georgia must be wondering ‘who the heck is Fip and what the hell is Synergy ?’ cause the plot thickened when We found out that poor Fip and Synergy never had any Road Building experience!

Now now, the government will have to explain why exactly it was given Fip US$15 million! Because we KNOW that Fip would not be building any roads to the Amaila Falls.

Our sources indicated that that this money could have been to bluff investors that the project is starting while helping their dear Friend Fip to get on his feet.

Fact is, Synergy Holdings has NOT done a single work anywhere in the world! NO one really knows what they are all about their webpage is just a cheap publicity stunt.

Amazingly, since 2002 when Fip presented the government with a proposal he couldn’t get this thing running??!

But we know that 2011 is closer and the PPP has to offer its supporters something for them to be returned to office, even if it’s a road in the forest.

Just be reminded that Fip claimed that he is doing windmill projects in Minnesota and Kansas also and we are still looking for those projects!

We wonder if Brassington is in his right sense when he says that ‘ this is the single most important project at this time’ He forget the fibre optic cable he and his friends are suppose to be bringing from Brazil.

Shucks! this is really a talk half left half piece!

But we will leave you with Synergy Holdings Mission Statement:

MISSION STATEMENT
To plan and develop projects that offer the greatest benefits to the most people with the least impact on our environment. We firmly believe that progress and development can be accomplished synergistically with the environment, not at its expense.

Odinga Lumumba, CA

Let us look at the national figure: Odinga Lumumba, CA (con artist)

Soup drinker, political prostitute, promoter, dolphin catcher, exporter, pageant/franchise holder, miner, businessman, MP, adviser to the President- and all of this adds up to one man- A scamp- Odinga Lumumba.

After being embroiled in a controversial mining deal recently with a certain HBTV Ch 9 Man, Lumumba, the enterprising con has now been linked to another.

But this time he is claiming that the media and some forces are out to get him cause he is black.

But here is what confuses us- Lumumba the political party hopper has secured himself a nice small change by selling a piece of land he has acquired cheaply by the PPP and selling it back for millions more!

Lumumba acquired the of Tract C land at Mandela Avenue at a lil hush price of $2.5 million from the PPP (eh eh Nicil?) and went on to sell it for a whopping $35 million.

Even though he has failed to address this issue in the many interviews he gave to several media houses- and the letter he sent to Stabroek News- Lumumba said that he sold the land at MARKET VALUE- Well…

Dear Odinga Lumumba, could you tell us how you should a piece of land at market value when you didn’t even buy it at market value? Name us on piece of prime city property that could be bought for $2.5 million in 2005?

Lumumba could only explain his shady deal with an explanation that he has given up land to the PPP that was acquired by him under the PNC. (land that he developed in Canjie and supposedly voluntarily gave 4000 acres to farmers)

The Former Thug is nothing but a common thief who has a fancy title of Presidential Adviser to hide from prosecution under Mother Jagdeo’s gown!

Lumumba who was named in the Dolphin Scam and now who holds a controversial post on the Land Use Committee( Dealing with Mining) is also a miner !

HE and Dr. Grantley Waldrond scampishly fostered a deal that would see them acquiring mineral rich lands!

Walrond who is now an avid soup drinker has been bought up now that he holds a mineral map! Shame on you!

But back to Lumumba who has been a key recipient of the government’s slush funds to fund pageants, foot ball matches and entertainment shows.
HE is yet to talk about the millions of dollars in duty free concessions he has received to do these, included the special request to bring the once banned Mavado. (Poor Rohee couldn’t fight this one off as hard as he tried)

But before we leave could Lumumba explain why he has not traveled to North America or Europe in years?

As an Advisor on Empowerment, he didn’t get a chance to accompany the government at the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, Why?

Do we need an ambassador to China?

We believe that it is the most idiotic move in the history of this Country’s Foreign Relations and we have written about it: The PPP have failed or should we say refused to appoint an ambassador to one of the largest and growing economies in the world, China.

And we are already facing the consequences.

Guyana is still struggling to finance its Alternative Energy Programme, we have seen the failure of the Hope Wind Farm, well it was never conceived and we are looking on as the government prematurely tries to defend move to restart the Amelia Hydro Project with wacko Fip.

But lets look at what has been going on this same Region for this year.

China and Venezuela signed a series of agreements just last month! To do what?!

Well Venezuela is moving to exploit its Orinoco’s reserves belt for oil and is looking to develop it Hydro Electricity capacity!

China is now providing our neighbor with more that US$20 billion for its Energy Sector.

Such a shame we were not able to cash in on that, but we are guessing that Mr. President who is also our Finance Minister missed that one juggling so many portfolios and projects!

Here is a little hint PPP, Bilateral Trade between China and Venezuela has netted more than US$7 Billion for our neighbor!

But maybe he will take a hint as his government and the rest of Caricom plans to face off with Brazil next week, don’t waste any more time!

That 15million USD

We have found one of the planned uses of the 15million that has been donated to Synergy Holdings.

The attached picture give us an idea of how much work has to be done for the Head Office of Synergy Holding, Guyana office.

We estimate that 4million USD will be spent on this building. We also would be on the lookout for another building that will be built simultaneously. This second building is usually a gift.

The APA's let down of PPP

The Political manipulated National Toshaos Council allowed itself to be prostituted by the government when it stormed the APA meeting to protest.
The less than competent Minister Pauline Sukhai is been urged by High Government officials to help shut the Amerindian People’s Association up.
The aim? Well the government has realized that the APA is not being fooled by this Norway Agreement and has found a way to sensitize its people against those frivolous ‘consultations’ the government said it held on the LCDS.

What is at stake in the millions that the Norwegians are to give Guyana under this slop shot agreement to save our forests.

What has even more annoyed our dear government is that international groups, organizations and donors are paying attention to the APA.
They too may have realized that the government did nothing who fooled people calling their Cabinet Outreaches, ‘Consultations’.

What we do know is that the Jagdeo Administration has promised any of those association with the NTC, monetary contributions for their villages if they support the LCDS. Jagdeo himself, straggled himself with a few supporting Amerindians to the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen but has never embraced the critics (usually egotiscal attitude)

But here is an interesting point Pauline Sukhai does not stress on, She tells the Chronicle that the members of the NTC are elected by Amerindians to represent them, right, but Pauline doesn’t the government provide an ‘unbudgeted’ subvention to this same group. The group does not have an independent office and have no other source of funding for the government, its no wonder they were prostituted in the way they were.

No severance pay for Guysuco Diamond workers

So, the NEWS is out: Guysuco is not willing to pay the hundreds of workers of the Diamond Estate their severance. Not willing or not able to? Sources said that the Management of the Sugar Company delivered the bitter news to the Sugar Union GAWU today in a letter.

The Company told the Union is will not pay the workers severance (totaled in millions of dollars) while the workers are expected to be relocated to other estates on the East Coast of Demerara.

Reports indicated that the Labour Ministry has been asked to intervene (lets see what will happen here since the same Ministry is yet to intervene in the Bauxite Workers issue after 6 months)

Diamond Sugar Workers simply want their monies to move on, hundreds have signed a petition saying that they do not want to work on other estates and would look for alternative work.

Guysuco should have made alternative arrangements to pay these workers their severance since it knew from its TURN AROUND plan that it was moving to close the Diamond Estates as part of its plans to close the East Demerara Estates.

TAP! TAP! Tap dancing the turn around plan!

Tap dancing seems more descriptive of GuySuCo TAP (turn around plan). Every year they come up with a new plan (blueprint, strategy, Business plan...you name it...like the movies..names and names), that is, 'till they realize they were dancing their way through a self-created maze. So they aptly named the last one, TAP.

Lets look at the art of dancing in the TAP.

While Guysuco is pretending that it is a worker oriented company that cares about the well being of the thousands of Sugar workers, these workers must remember a couple of things. Everyone knows about the low wages and salaries, harsh working conditions and refusal of the company to address several issues affecting workers.

But, workers must now remember PAGE 4 of the much talked-about Guysuco Turn Around Plan (2009-2013).

Int his plan, the Company proposes the transfer of community and health centres to the Government! Yes the government who already cannot pay its nurses and doctors much less care and run some of the community centers it has under its wings.

It is more than likely the heavily subsidized Sugar Company is trying to ease itself of some of the financial strains and at the same time accumulate some finances.

We know about the sales of lands to friends and family (oh NICIL!) and the disposal of Hermanston House and other so-called "non-performing assets"(one wonder if they had an opportunity to sell human beings too, what would happen)

But back to the ‘transfer’ of these centers to the Government. How is this exactly in the interest of the workers?

Let's point out a few things first, Nowhere in the Government's 2010 Budget (under the Culture Ministry) has sums been allocated for the operating and runs of ANY Community Centre, government or otherwise. A measly $25 million has been allocated for just a few youth oriented Training Centers and none of those are related to Guysuco.

We are sure that with this plan being presented in 2009, the government’s move to ‘help’ Guysuco out would have been calculated as catered for in the 2010 budget. (fishy)

There is no budgetary allocations for the take over or operations of new centers in the Budget under the Health Ministry either!

Now the never-in-tune Minister Bheri Ramsarran wanted to fool the country when said that the Government is ‘taking away’ the Health Centers from Guysuco.

GAWU was quick to tell public that it never had any discussion about the government ‘take over’ of the health centers and that Ramsarran’s statement was ‘factually incorrect, and misleading’ (GAWU SAID that).

GAWU put over perfectly what we want to ask the government in that statement, it said that it “wonders whether the pressure of work, the already challenging state of government health services or an outright intention to undermine the two unions (NAACIE and GAWU) credibility is responsible for this false figment of the Minister’s imagination”

We wonder when the dancing will stop and the turn around of Guyana will start.

The spin artists of GoG

The innner works of the Government can be seen in its many incarnations. Groups like CREEP (3rd term) have been 'launched' with specific purpose.

Liveinguyana blog is the work of some Jagdeoites who believe that they are going to be rewarded for their vigilance and high praise for the government. Two of them will soon be sold as used tyres! They will never find themselves on the closer side of the PPP supporters.

One of them already has a record that stinks more than the Le Repentir Dumpsite. An alleged child molester who was caught on tape soliciting sex from a minor and who has been embroiled in many scandals is the number one writer of this pathetic idea of a blog.

The sometimes very market vendor behavior displayed by him shows a person who is battling with its hormones.

The second person is the son of a minister of the government who is known for his display of arrogance almost everywhere he goes. This young man strives off the name of his father since having returned from studying in England he was placed in a minimum wage paying job at the Office of the President to observe what critics are doing (look out Prem Misir)

With John DaSilva dead there is no doubt that this young ‘lawyer’ will be co-opt in the letter writing section of OP soon, as he already has one letter.

The Third person, a GGMC official- is the son of a man know as ‘The Hammer’.

The malnourished young man is infamously known for offering a policeman bribe on the East Bank Highway and then using his father’s name to have his matter dismissed in court. He apparently has been very active in getting pictures and updating this blog.

We understand that emails confirming their association with this blog are being circulated. We await our copies.

Spin! Fip! Brassnicil! Money gone!

Shameless !!
The government gives another other sweet heart deal, this time to Fip Motielall saying that Synergy Holdings was the lowest bidder for the road to Amaila Falls Hydro Project. Well, so says a NICIL source (look who opening his mouth) who told Stabroek News that the $15 million road building contract was awarded to SH since it was the lowest bidder !

Why worry about the future of Guyana when we have geniuses like these? What a combination! Lowest bidder with no experience wins contract. In this case lowest bidder, no road building experience! Wow!

NICIL (and We know damn well who got the ‘voice’ to speak on this project at NICIL) said that 4 tenders were submitted. We would like to hear names! Cause I know one big contractor who has been gunning for this project since 1999 feels cheated. Even though responded to Stabroek News last week about all these concerns, he has not uttered one word about his company’s road building capabilities.

At least two new agencies have reported on a Request for Proposals document. Stabroek News said that the documents said that the construction is based on a time of essence basis (after 15 years) and must be completed in 8 months !

But wait !!! The same document says that our Dear Fip’s company must reach various criteria!
- He must have done a similar project,
- He must list examples of previous works and
- he must submit details of the equipment he owns and human resources.

Fip must know that he has to repair an existing roadway and build a road on virgin territory. What is the default clause this time?

Sickly spin doctor Roger said last week that those who are questioning the awarding of this contract have sinister motives, So Roger put a spin on this one.

Spin! Fip! Brassnicil! Money gone!

(We have been watching the developments of this project as many would have noticed in out previous post asking FIP to flip the switch on this project. This project has been in an incubator for more than 15 years)

How will history judge Jagdeo?

His usual egotistical rants and premature dismissal of international reports and criticisms will follow him as a legacy as much as he wants to be remembered as a Champion for Guyana’s Forests and all time good guy.

One thing is sure about Bharrat Jagdeo, he does not like to acknowledge that he has led one of the most corrupted governments in this hemisphere and one of the most sinister administrations in the history of this country.

Will corruption in Guyana be his legacy?

When the PPP inherited office it inherited a miserable state of affairs of Guyana. There was 100million central reserve and many of the state assets were under-performing and cried out for recapitalization.

Then came the wave, nay, the tsunami - first evidenced by Pradoville. The PPP fell prey to the changing times, the demand for money and its impact on the socialist-mind-capitalist-lifestyles.

Then one contact after the other, one scam to another, one bank account start feeding the other. This became visible under the jagdeo-led PPP as the PPP started to accessorize itself with the indulgence envied even by the Guyanese rich-and-famous.

The Jagdeo-run administration now has proved itself as an ‘indulger’ to massive corruption.

Some would argue that some of the scams may not have been committed under his direct leadership. The fact is that he has done LITTLE to ensure that prosecution was in the name of the day when others occurred. What he did do was launch into market-woman-type-'busing’ of local critics and international organizations who spent considerable time in assessing our still very corrupt government.

For instance, as we well know, Transparency International continued to rank Guyana as among one of the most corrupt countries in the world, Jagdeo was quick to they were coming to the country and making “blanket statements”.

But a number of scams and frauds committed has left one asking where are the serious investigations and prosecutions.

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.biodiversityreporting.org/article.sub?docId=13762&c=Guyana&cRef=Guyana&year=2005&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!

How will history adjudge Jagdeo?

FIU- a tooth less pit bull

Jadgeo continues to stifle the Financial Intelligence Unit and is now trying to lecture that is has work to do.

The hands of the ONE MAN money laundering fighting engine has been tied since the Money Laundering Act has been passed more than 5 years ago.

The FIU an office operated out of the FINANCE MINISTRY to this date is still equipped with a single computer and one secretary, along with boss Paul Geer of the GBTI fame.

While Sources close to the UNIT said that it has been awaiting amendments to the Money Laundering ACT- the UNIT has been limited in its working capacity.

Paul Geer the former managing director of the Guyana bank of Trade and Industry cannot act as Sherlock Holmes, police prosecutor and trail blazer all at the same time. (Reports are that there are no increases in the financial allocation to this unit-and there is no record in the National Budget that this Unit is funded at all)

The man simply does not have the human resources at his disposal.

To date there has been no annual report from this unit nor does the Finance Ministry provide no statements on its operations.(Note that any entity directly associated with Jagdeo, like the NICIL, does not comply with financial regulations).

We do accept that this is an intelligence agency but as the PPP lead government preaches transparency could see just get a lil' peep into the work of the FIU? One lil' peep.

For those who don’t know, Geer has the power to investigate all suspicious transactions and significant movement of money. He can also investigate the movement of money for large investments and sale of properties.

We may soon have to publish some work here for Mr. Geer to follow up on starting with his ‘friend’ RKS sudden departure from GBTI and AP’s ‘escape’ to Maimi from Citizen’s Bank.

Working at the Skeldon Factory

Working at the Skeldon New factory is a working pleasure.

For dis out ah crop we bin gat fi clean crap. Here is a group abee wokkin on de canal pan which de punt dumper tray sit down. De manaja dem emty de canal an den we had to use abee chitta bags to fetch de mud outta de trench.
How we do it? Me video go show we in akshun. We fus dig a hole near the dam (throw de mud on de dam), den dig out the mud from unda de punt dumper to fill de odder hole. Sung ezzy, but dutty wok.

Source of crap
No plan seem to be in place for this type of problem. When the punt dumper operates, it drops a lot of canes under its carriage. This mixes with the mud that is remixes every time the punt dumper carriage comes into the trench to pick up another punt.

Oh Fip! Jagdeo awards G$3bln contract without tender.

Not so long ago we questioned why FIP hasn’t flipped the switch on the Amaila Hydro Electricity. Then, lo and behold! we hear that Master Planner and ‘Strategiser’ Jagdeo has awarded a whopping US$15 million to SYNERGY Holdings to build an access road to the Amaila Falls dam site ! That's 3 BILLION G$!

What is very obvious is that this official ‘ELECTIONS’ time has the PPP government flicking (in this case FIPering) backwards to make some of their promises a reality- we see them trying to pour all the ‘portions’ and magic dust to make the Skeldon Factory work and now more than 15 years after the promise of cheaper electricity they are building roads to the site! Wow ! 15 years ago we didn’t realize that we needed. roads to the Amaila Falls area.

But here are our concerns about this other SHADY JAGDEO commitment-
- The President took it upon himself (last week) to announce the award of this US$15 million contract to Synergy Holding for the building of roads to the proposed Hydro Project site.
- This means that a Company with NO history or experience in road building will build a road - and in 8 months! (Brass around the corner).
- The 2010 Budget showed an allocation for this project under the Ministry of Finance saying that it is allocating a apart of $615 Million to construct an access
to the Falls and for related infrastructural works. Note the difference between the Budgeted allocation of 615million to the award of 3 BILLION.
QUESTIONS
We ask:
1) When was a Tender for this project published? In what the Media?
2) When did Synergy Holdings bid for this project and who are the other Companies that bid?

Sadly we conclude that this is yet another eyepass on Guyana.

In addition, this announcement is so murky you are left to wonder like Alice - what exactly happens to the existing road, an all weather road through Tumatumari?

Reports are that Synergy said that it needs 30 miles of new road and may have double those demands two years ago.

Here we have a government that is moving with haste to build a road to the Hydro site when there is no proper road from Georgetown to Madhia?

MADNESS
This is beyond madness or poor planning - to get to the Site- you have to take a plane to Kaieteur Falls and use the same Tumatumari road in- to get there by road you have to use the Georgetown to Madhia road and then haul materials in from there- the Madhia road is in no state to transport heavy duty equipment and materials to build this road Synergy is now task to build!

EPA
NOW that we have vented on those points, we can also ask: Please Mr. Jagdeo, tell us where is the Environmental Impact Assessment from the EPA?? And more so the Benn Land Use Committee??

Can we imagine that with the demand of more than 60 miles of new road - those Norwegian Satellite images would not be pretty!

As Janette Bulkan explained recently ‘the government will need to report the deforestation and loss of forest carbon as a result of the road upgrades and new construction to the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative’

So, its not Oh 'fip' it's once again, "Oh Jagdeo!"

Special talent - significant skills

Geeta Singh Knight - the person who caused the most flagrant abuse of investment laws in Guyana has been praised for her special skills by the President of Guyana.

In a recent press release, Jagdeo praised Knight for her significant skills. I guess, no one was looking at Jagdeo to see which foot was in his mouth as he made that statement. He then went on to note that no one siphoned moneys out of Clico Guyana.

What are the facts?
There are laws that control the amount of money that can be invested overseas by any institution. Apparently, Ms. Knight (like Jagdeo) realized that she had significant skills and the laws did not apply to her. So she sent (no siphoned) all the poor people's money to Bahamas.

With the realization of the impending crash, she spoke to Jagdeo. They arranged for certain transfers to save certain institutions and persons. Todate no public declaration has been made as those last minute deals that took place.

What deals took place between NIS (headed by Luncheon), Berbice Bridge (Headed by Knight herself) and NBS (Headed by Gopaul) and Jagdeo? No one will know of the liquid flows of money!

But, the poor people who tied up their savings for annuity - and even the mighty GAWU was not spared the blemish of Ms. Knight's significant skills.

Criminal
Is it not criminal therefore that she broke the investment laws or insurance laws or whatever they are called?

However because of the things she now has to hide, she is awarded with heading the Audit Committee of the largest sugar company in the Caribbean!

What more? She is supposed to be the spouse of a former Finance Director of the same sugar company.

Significant skills! This is $$ not Samille!

The state of Diplomacy in Guyana

It’s a down right shame!

The State of Our Diplomacy is a shame. Fine enough we have had to see Clement Rohee head the Foreign Affairs Ministry (he didn’t know the difference between Dominica and the Dominican Republic), Sam Hinds take his written address to a Foreign Delgation from his pocket, and Bharrat Jagdeo taking his friends for a ride around the world as if they were diplomatic officers.

But the State of our Foreign Service is a down right shame! It is at an all time low. Imagine the Foreign Service Institute has been closed! This department which was once used to train career diplomats is now closed! But we simply do not need such an office because to get a diplomatic post as you need is a party card.

The faces of Guyana’s diplomacy are not those who were trained to negotiate strong bi-laterals. Maybe this could explain why Brazil decided to open the Takutu Bridge without informing us, why Suriname flinging an old threat in our way and why we cannot make the most out of China, by far one of the most important and growing players on the world stage.

Recent diplomatic posts are just plain PARTY CARD HOLDERS:

- Merlin Udho (Women’s Progressive Organization Member) is Ambassador to Suriname.
- Mitra Devi Ali (wife of a late former PPP member) and former Permanent Secretary in the Legal Affairs Ministry is the Ambassador to Cuba
- Harrynarine Nawbatt- Former Housing Minister is the Ambassador to Brazil, yes Brazil one of the largest economies in South America.
-Ronald Gajraj- Former Home Affairs Minister and of the Death Squad fame- Ambassador to India, another world player.

While these appointments have happened in recent times, the government has failed to appoint a representative to the United Nations!

The young Ms, Anyin Choo is the Charge d’Affaires in Guyana’s Embassy in China!
There seems to be no bold move to name a career diplomat to take that post!

A couple of other old heads who are around and have grown to be respected are Dr. Patrick Gomes- Ambassador to Brussels and the EU, Odeen Ishamel, Ambassador to Venezuela, Laleshwar Singh, Guyana High Commissioner in London and Bayney Karran who has served in Washington as Representative to the OAS.

But what is will happen to our diplomatic face? Already the President feels that it is his personal mission to ensure that he meets with and negotiates or begs Foreigners. Between 2008 and 2010 he has been to Iran twice, Dubai, Libya, Greece, Jordan, Kuwait and Syria. Not forgetting Russia, where we are sure he brokered some deals.

However the details of the personal deals remain undisclosed. The public is only privy to any ‘deal’ when upsurge of activity takes place in certain areas. Until such time, we are told of ‘debts’ and ‘partnerships’. It is when we see Russian TV relayed on Ch 28 or dolphins shipped out that we know how deep the deals are.

Meanwhile the face of Guyana’s diplomatic community remains shrouded in a veil of presidential choices.

It pays to have friends

Pharmaceutical baron turn media Mogul Dr. Bobby Ramoop may never speak publicly, as a matter of fact he will never avail himself to the media or such agencies to be questioned. We would not respect any interview he gives to Times Tv or Guyana Times but Dr. Ramroop as a ‘major’ player needs to open his mouth.

The man rose to fame as a major player in his company, the new Guyana Pharmaceutical Company, a company known for the local producing medical supplies and medication but also receiving shady contracts from the Health Ministry (the same Company that produced ARVs that saw the watchful eyes of the US Government pulling its funds from that Project forcing us to seek ARVs overseas)

But, Dr. Ramroop’s bread is well buttered, a friend of a President and close confidant, the man could close his eyes and breathe money. The well known ‘indian elite’ is also noted for receiving a ‘sweetheart’ deal, better known as the Queen’s Atlantic Deal, a series of unlawful concessions for Ramroop’s Company.

These deals might have been backed dated to when Ramroop acquired the Sanata Textiles Property but who is checking?

But will Dr. Ramroop ever speak publicly?

Reports are that he was once cornered for an interview by a Former Stabroek News Senior Journalist but told her that he would grant her an interview when she leaves that Newspaper.

Ramroop may never be able to explain how he single handedly acquiring billions of dollars in contracts from the Health Ministry?

He may never be able to explain why he and Eddie Boyer continue to fight Robert Badal over the East Bank Demerara Property

He may never venture to explain the Queen’s Atlantic deal and how he got duty free concession to import pieces of equipment that are still to be used.

And what about explaining this telephone company and Commercial bank, Ramroop is now touted be behind??

It pays to have friends.

Stories of the dark - Safdar Ali

As all eyes were on Shadfar Ali, the REO now infamously known for being wanted by the Police.

One B. Johnson and Nanda Kisson were busy writing President Bharat Jagdeo and the Dr. Roger Luncheon about other characters, Sewchand, the Permanent Secretary in the Local Government ministry and Ashford Ambedkar the Deputy REO. As long back as 2008 Johnson wrote President Jagdeo asking him for an investigation into Sewchand.
This Johnson said that he is a staff member of the Local Government Ministry.

In a letter dated 27th May, 2008 Johnson said that it looks like all the contacts recommended by the Sewchand are awarded by the National Tender Board.
He told the President in this letter that a contractor from region 5, one ERROL LALL tendered in the later 2007 for Purain #2 Bridge at Blairmont, but Lall was not the lowest bidder. Johnson said that Lall won the $17 million contract because he was recommended by SEWCHAND.

Johnson went on to say that LALL won the award for the Lusignan Nursery School. Lall again was not the biggest bidder.

Johnson added in that letter to the President that SEWCHAND continues to make several recommendations for contracts to be given out. He listed the purchase of a Low bed for Region 6 and the construction of the Region four RDC office.

Johnson alleges that Sewchand continues to collect quotations and send to the Regional offices and tells them who to buy from.

All this information is in writing to President Jagdeo and yet not one investigation!

In another letter, Nanda Kisson of Nanda Parlour Grocery in Enmore wrote Dr. Roger Luncheon displaying what she described as frustration with the attitude of Deputy Region Four Executive Officer, Ashford Ambedkar.

Kisson said that she was a supplier for the region in 2009 but every time she received her payments he would have to give Ambedkar with 5% of the payment!

Kisson said that one Saturday morning Ambedkar called her and told her that his telephone and electricity would be disconnected is the bills are not paid. Kisson said that

Ambedkar threatened that if the bills were not paid he, Kisson would not receive payments due to her.

Kisson in the letter to Dr. Luncheon said that she borrowed money from her sister and paid the bills.

Kisson in that same letter said that on Christmas Eve day. Ambedkar called her and told her that ‘things brown for the holiday and if nothing na dey’.
Kisson said that she hired a taxi and sent Ambedkar $25000. Kisson told Dr. Luncheon that Ambedkar also requested $35000 in beverages.

The Single parent of Two told Dr. Luncheon that she would be willing to testify if necessary. That letter was copied to the Auditor General, the Local government Ministry and the Public Service Ministry.

To date…

Nepotism and abuse of state funds

(According to News Center of MoneyControl) Caricom heading for bankruptcy, says Guyana President

It would appear, according to Jagdeo, that Caricom is heading for bankruptcy. Well, he has to know what he is talking about as he is clearly bent on putting Guyana in the same position.

In a previous article we positioned Jagdeo's intent on his fiber optic cable that should see the successful completion of the Queens Atlantic data center and IT center. This blog has learnt that after the fall-out of the Norwegian US$30 million deal, Jagdeo has vowed that he will build his cable with local funds.

However, no one has seen the feasibility study of Jagdeo's cable and its total cost to Guyana. What is becoming more real than apparent is the sidling off of state funds to complete the
President's Pet Projects, a PPP - which will continue long into the PPP's next election victory.

STRANGE THINGS
While the data project seems noble, this blog will be proven by the test of time for the use of Jadgeo for e-governance. We predict that the cable will be completed, will be used by the Bees (the Bees will form the management committee) - all achieved by abusing Guyana's national treasury for meeting personal financial goals.

Meanwhile, the abuse of state funds will continue. More Presidential Pet Projects will be done by state funding and the 2011 elections will see the national reserves at an all time low of 300 million (which incidentally will be 200m more than what the PNC had). Donald will boast about the 300m as being a better performance than the PNC.

CONCLUSION
Before year end, the sale of state assets will ensure the rebuilding of the reserves.
So?
So, the Bees will have be laughing all the way to the bank - with my money!

Guyana features in Poker News

Guyana Opens First Casino, But Locals Barred from Gambling

The Princess Hotel in Guyana officially opened the country's first casino last week, but because of a law passed in 2007, Guyanese residents are forbidden from playing there. The Gambling Prevention Act restricted Guyanese gambling after several religious leaders and politicians led an anti-gambling crusade. For now, the only people who can gamble at the casino's 300 slot machines and 11 gaming tables are international ecotourists and the many Brazilians the casino hopes will travel there to gamble.

The government decided to grant limited casino licenses to hotels with a minimum of 150 guest rooms as a way to accelerate the growth of the country's young tourism industry. Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo denounced the hypocrisy of opening a casino where only foreigners are welcome, saying that freedom of choice should outweigh antigambling concerns. “For me, this is something that I find distasteful. I believe that Guyanese should enjoy all of the choices in the country… our society is a moderate one…there was opposition, but we will give people choices,” Jagdeo said.

The Princess Hotel is owned by Turkish hotel group Princess Group, which owns 14 hotels internationally. The company, which bought the hotel for $15 million in 2008, is exploring legal loopholes that would allow Guyanese residents to gamble at the casino as long as they are guests of the hotel. In addition to slots and table games, the casino plans to host poker tournament satellites in the future.

Legalized Gambling illegal to Guyanese - Imran Khan

Legalized Gambling illegal to Guyanese
By Imran Khan

Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err. It passes my comprehension how human beings, be they ever so experienced and able, can delight in depriving other human beings of that precious right – Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Following comments made by President Bharrat Jagdeo at the formal opening of the Princess Casino there has been a reheating of the debate on the virtues of casino/gambling legislation in Guyana. The President finds himself in some difficulty with regard to what appears to be an about face on the issue given his most recent comments and has been copping some criticism.

There is merit in most of the criticisms I have seen, however I have found that a narrow view is being mostly propagated (perhaps for political and other convenience) when there is a critical larger issue which needs to be ventilated.

The point of conditional and thus discriminatory casino/gambling legislation, in my opinion, takes a U-Turn from basic human equality – an essential facet of life now, apparently, taken much for granted to the point where it is treated with scant regard by even our National Assembly.

In my mind the issue is a simple one which can be a sorted through by asking a basic question. “How can an individual – regardless of who he or she is – have a legally protected right to partake in an activity in MY country which legally I, as a citizen of said country, am debarred from participating in?”

I am not a gambler and I may never visit a casino in Guyana or anywhere else, however I take offense to any law which prevents me from participating in an activity which foreigners are allowed to freely partake in. There can be no moral justification of it in what we all consider – perhaps to varying degrees – to be a democracy. The freedom of choice has been withdrawn from locals while foreigners have that option.

I have agonized over this to find some way of accepting that it can be. I am unable to find even an iota of sense or good judgment in it.

My view is that gambling should either be made legal and permissible for all in Guyana (whether Guyanese or not) or it should be an illegal activity for all. Legislation which discriminates on the basis of nationality reverses hundreds of years of social advancement.

It cannot be legal for some and illegal for others. Surely we have not forgotten times when there were restaurants for some, washrooms for some and when the front of the bus was only for some among other discriminatory practices.

The contention that government should allow vices for foreigners in our land whilst ‘protecting’ its citizenry from these vices is a flagrantly dangerous one as it is grounded in false logic and flawed thinking.

It is, in fact, the bedrock of hypocrisy.

The legislation as it now stands allows a loophole which defeats the presumed intention of the law. A local can very well enter and partake in the activities of the casino if they are a guest of the hotel. Therefore there is no real protection of the citizenry against the vice. It is in fact a worsening of the vice.

Whereupon a Guyanese wishing to gamble could have just walked into the casino and so do, they now have to expend additional financial resources to book a room to qualify themselves to gamble. For persons who are intent on gambling this is not a deterrent, it is a mere inconvenience. Addicts will find a way of overcoming the hurdles and the current design of the law aids them in so doing.

Also for government to take the role of – based on the construct and operations of our Parliament – unilaterally determine what is good and what is not for citizenry and enshrine same in law is to set a scandalously treacherous precedent – the perils of which, through unkind experience, I am sure most are all only too familiar with.

What next? Exclusive dining options for foreigners? Special airport transportation services only for foreigners?

The precedent has been set.

THE ROTTING CORPSE OF THE MARRIOT AWAITS BURIAL

In January 2009 the President assured Guyanese of an alive and well Marriot Hotel, aback of Kingston.

With the government already spending millions of dollars on relocating and revamping 42 sewage pipes it was a done deal ! or so u would think.

Why has President Jagdeo held on to a deal that is dead with no real hope of revival? One can only think that he believes that there was such a DEAL.

WHY ? Why? EXACTLY WHY HASN’T THE MARRIOT HOTEL BUILT?? We refuse to believe that the Marriot Deal was used to moved squatters off the seawall, we refused to believe that the Marriot could have replaced the Pegasus and we refuse to believe that the President dreamt that he has a deal with the company, Marriot Incorporated.

This ‘Marriot Hotel deal’ was expected to be closed since mid 2008 but then the President said that “That was the time when the turmoil in the capital markets escalated with the collapse of some financial institutions and you had the catastrophic drop in the stock exchange and the credit crunch deepened and therefore, traditional sources of capital that were identified were no longer there. So the financial closures simply could not have happened,”

In May 2009 government advertised for expressions of interest in a joint venture for the a location aback of the Kingston Seawall. The Privatisation Unit said the government was seeking interested investors for the project, a total of 6.9 acres of land situated in the north-western part of Kingston bordered by the Atlantic and the Demerara River. The government was look for an investment of US$20M.

Oh well and in 2010? We still await this government rated 5 Star hotel or RIP Marriot.

Boycott looms for Guyana's 1st elections since '94

Boycott looms for Guyana's 1st elections since '94
(Associated Press)


GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Opposition leaders in this South American country threatened Thursday to boycott the first municipal elections in 16 years over a plan to give a government-dominated commission control over local affairs.

The government says the proposed seven-member commission would reduce the central government's power over cities, but critics note that the government would still appoint a majority of its members.

"We can't agree with this and are not prepared to work with this," said Oscar Clarke, general secretary of the main opposition People's National Congress.

Clarke said his party might boycott planned April elections if the government doesn't agree to give local governments greater control over their own affairs, such as helping decide how to allocate funds.

He complained that the current system gives the central government power to fire and hire key city staffers, as well as to withhold funds for municipalities and neighborhood councils.

The government has proposed the commission plan to parliament as an alternative.

Vishnu Persaud, Guyana electoral commission spokesman, said officials are planning elections for a still-unset date in mid-April to choose mayors and councilors of six towns and 65 rural districts.

Guyana has not elected mayors, district and village leaders since 1994, largely due to continuing disputes about how to update voter registration lists.

Disputes over voting lists also prompted delays in several recent presidential elections.

Plans to hold municipal elections last year were scrapped because officials said new voter cards based on updated lists were not yet ready and a redistricting project had not been completed.

Presidential and general elections are scheduled to be held next year.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Business Monitor International rankings

The recent (March 2010) issue of the BMI's Latin America and Caribbean Monitor gives Guyana a very low ranking for a number of areas. BMI has also provided a scathing outlook and its own projection of growth for Guyana.
A summary:

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Guyana scores 38.1 in BMI's business environment ratings, ranking it 117th out of 167 states.

SUGAR
"According to Finance Minister Ashni Singh, sugar production will add 1.0 percentage points to real GP growth in 2010, in contract with our own more cautious stance on state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation's growth potential. as a result, we hold to our 3.5% real GDP forecast for 2010."

BMI view on Government
"Domestic opposition to government intervention in the economy is becoming the biggest threat to the ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) electoral hopes in 2011. with little chance of a constitutional amendment to allow President Bharrat Jagdeo to stand for re-election,t he party will be hard pushed to regain its majority, in our view."

BMI's view on Data and forecasts
"Our concerns over Guyana's fiscal woes have been exacerbated by the Government's 2010 national budget, which pledges a substantial uptick in infrastructure and social expenditure. If revenue flows fail to meet government's expectations - which we expect will be the case given that our own 3.5% real GDP growth forecast for 2010 is lower than Government's 4.4% forecast - the fiscal gap could be substantially above 2009 levels. Until we get a clear breakdown of the planned budgetary expenditure, we hold to our GY22.3bln (or 7.9% of GDP) central government deficit forecast.


UPDATE (WPG update)
WPG has been reliably informed that the Norwegian's LCDS promise is evaporating faster than the carbon emissions. The money will now be tied up in the World Bank's coffers until that institution is satisfied that proper accountability is in place for its use.

The LCDS fund was the main source of funding for the Government's fiber optic cable and the road to Amalia falls. Since that is now uncertain, we opine that Jagdeo will force Finance Minister to get Parliamentary release of funds for those projects.

With a clear majority in parliament, they will get what they want - resulting in greater deficits per the BMI projections.

Who will prevail - Guyana's PPP Presi-race

The battle continues for the Presidency candidate for the ruling party.

Some are secretly endorsing others while some are declaring ‘goat aint bite me’
But who will prevail?

We have already analyzed and opined the possibility of constitutional changes that can see the young dictator continuing his rule. For instance, the pursuit of overseas voting by filing a constitutional motion can see GECOM postponing the holding of any elections to have those in the Diaspora registered.

This postponement of the elections could see the government holding office for the next two years (and dictator holding unto presidency)

Then there is another theory being touted:
The Dictator steps out the race, returns to "help" as Prime Minister and then sworn in as President.

Guyana's Constitution says that the any president is barred from running for a third term for that Office. But the current dictator will not run for the Presidency or better yet be elected as President. He could be the Prime Minister or serve as another Minister in the government and be sworn in as President if the President at that time is unable to perform the duties of President.

With that aside, from the looks of things the Opposition Parties may not have a chance at even grasping at the seats of government.

The PNC is virtually dead, probably presently on saline solution but is dying a slow death. The only other real party at this time is the Alliance for Change, but what chances they really have in picking up the needed votes for change? They are gonna pick up a few votes from the young and professional, but there is no real indication that Guyanese are really ready to vote on issues and not race.

So who will actually be around in 2011?

Well, the race is apparently still on between Donald Ramotar, Ralph Ramkarran, Clement Rohee and possibly Moses Nagamottoo for Presidential candidate.

These could be all a puppet show.

Word out is that a few have been booted and a few promised promotions. For instance:
--> Carolyn Rodrigues is tipped to be Prime Minister while
--> Sam is said to be rehired as a consultant.
-->Robeson Benn who was once tipped to be Prime Minister but who has ‘hammered’ too many wrong nails is tipped to be Minister of Mining. (a post set up to ensure that mining is minimized to capitalized on the LCDS finds)
--> Donald Ramoutar will be Minister of Works
--> A Ministry of Communications is to be shared by someone close to the President and yet to be named.
--> There is word that Odinga Lumumba will be made a Junior Minister (possibly the Sports Ministry)
--> Irfaan Ali is expected to be the Culture. Youth and Sports Minister
--> The current Culture Minister will probably be a serving doctor at the Georgetown Public Hospital or head a foreign funded health programme.
--> Pauline Sukhai will remain Amerindian Affairs Minister.
--> Kellawan Lall is said to have already gotten the boot.
--> Manniram Prashad will not return (he is making no money holding the post of Tourism Minister)
--> Priya Manickchand will remain and her sisiter Jaya Manickchand is tipped for a Junior ministerial role.
--> So is Attorney General in waiting Anil Nandalall (and no, he will not be AG) Charles Ramson will remain there until someone else gets Senior Counsel Status and accepts the job.
--> Region 6 Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha is tipped for a ministerial post.
--> Robert Persaud will retain his post.

But there are a few who MAY retain their post for the fear of interdiction by the United States. Leslie Ramsammy is one of those.

These are The Happy Faces of the PPP government to come in 2011 !

Guyana's faux pas - data vs power

Wikipedia says:
"The electricity sector in Guyana is dominated by Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the state-owned vertically integrated utility. Although the country has a large potential for hydroelectric and bagasse-fueled power generation, most of its 226 MW of installed capacity correspond to inefficient thermoelectric diesel-engine driven generators."

Wikipedia also notes that Guyana's blackout (power outage) is the highest incidence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The most incisive statement is that,"Electricity prices in Guyana are the third highest in the Caribbean." The rates range between US$0.25cents for residences and US$0.35cents for businesses (kWh). See GPL site.

The promise of cheaper power has been echoed for more than 30 years by several governments and now seems only a comfort to fools. It has been years since we have been told of Hydro Electricity and how such a venture would save us of billions of dollars we already spend each year on our fuel bill. For instance, our petroleum import bill for 2007 was almost 40% of our GDP. Not much has changed since then has it?

However, the Government of Guyana is now throwing more than US$37million behind bringing another fibre optic cable, a cable which benefits are still to be calculated.

In 2008 the President of Synergy Holdings Inc. (Makeshwar Motilall) spoke of bringing the Amaila Falls Hydro Project to a working state as he calculated an investment in this project at $400 million. Since 2002 we hve heard that the Hydro project has been slated to begin year after year. In 2006 Mr. Motilall was quoted as saying that the financial closing and ground breaking for this project were targeting for 2007 with December 15 2010 as the latest commence of work date. This 100 mega watt station is said to aid in the development of large scale industries and domestic consumption.

But has the government changed its course of direction in pursuing hydro power? Since the Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the government and Synergy Holdings Inc, the Company has repeatedly been quoted in the local press as saying it is awaiting financial closure.

As noted above, The government has now quickly secured more than US$37 million to bring a competing fibre optic cable to promote e-governance and break the Guyana Telephone and Telegraphy Company monopoly. While the President has said that his cable will be used for egovernenace, his Ministers and the PPP MPs have insisted (even in Parliament) that their cable will be competitive.

At the same time, the telephone company (GT&T) has said that it was/is investing US$60 million on a new undersea cable.

So, while the Government is finding US$37 million for a data cable, it is hard pressed to find a Lesser amount for hydro electricity?

Why are they investing in something that others are investing in when they cannot supply basic power? What will the GoG's customers pay for bandwidth prices and will the GoG be regulated?

Also, what will power up the customers' data customers?

There is more to this data cable deal than can be explained by economics, politics or by the lame excuse that they want to bring data prices down by their (GoG) own cable.