Detailed Guyana News -- May 21, 1997.

EC head to receive perks, privileges

Georgetown — President Samuel Hinds has advised Chairman of the Elections Commission, Doodnauth Singh that he would be getting a diplomatic passport and other perks promised at his appointment.

In a May 15 letter, Hinds said the government has agreed to provide Singh a duty-free motor vehicle, a diplomatic passport, and use of the VIP facilities at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.

The privileges are in accordance with conditions for Singh's appointment as chairman of the commission a year ago.

Singh had earlier this month told the President, in a letter released to certain sections of the local press, he would resign if the promised perks were not granted.

The Elections Commission Chairman's protest came after a Customs narcotics officer at the airport asked him to open a briefcase for a check before boarding a flight for Trinidad recently.

President Hinds, replying to the letter, said he deeply regretted the inconvenience.

"Please be assured that the Government of Guyana holds the Office of the Chairman of the Elections Commission in high esteem and will do its utmost to uphold the honour and dignity of that office," Hinds said.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon told reporters Friday the "administrative hurdles" which prevented Singh from accessing the benefits have now been overcome.

Luncheon said he presumed the security officer at the airport, in the absence of any statement to the contrary, was doing her job and performing legitimate responsibility entrusted to her in the Singh incident.

He added that the important thing was to verify that "perfectly legitimate action" was being carried out.

The Cabinet Secretary said he saw Singh's letter and was notified of the "effect of the finalisation of a long-outstanding contractual matter."

He noted there were some administrative hurdles not addressed that precluded the chairman, a Senior Counsel, from accessing facilities promised at the time of his appointment.

These had to do with the exercise of discretion, Luncheon said. He explained that regulations prescribe conditions under which certain facilities can be accessed.

"If the appointment of the Chairman of the Elections Commission does not allow for these prescriptions to be met, then someone has to exercise a discretion and say nonetheless, go ahead. That was finally done," he said.

GDF continues search for lost men

Georgetown — The search continues for two soldiers missing in dense jungle since April 24. The army is heading the search for Privates Eustace Thomas and Jermaine Morrison with assistance from Amerindians.

The search team opted to reorganise its strategy over the weekend, an Army spokesman said. The decision on the fresh approach came after a senior Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officer visited the area and assessed reports and evidence garnered on the missing men.

The new plan will entail the search team concentrating on a specific part of the New River Triangle border region with Suriname, where evidence was found that the soldiers had been there, a GDF spokesman told the Guyana Chronicle.

The Army, which has also dispatched a fresh supply of rations to the team, was still optimistic about locating the missing men, the spokesman said.

Some 25 GDF soldiers and eight Wai Wai Amerindians were in the search for the men who disappeared after they left to hunt a pack of wild hogs they spotted on the trail, the Army said.

Thomas and Morrison are from the 1 Infantry Battalion, and were part of a 45-member unit posted to the location for a four-month tour of duty. They and other ranks were due to be relieved later this month.

The Army said the search group recently stumbled on signs of the missing soldiers, including traces of footprints, discarded monkey fruit, young palm, and congo pump. 

GPSU protests work ethic comments

Georgetown — The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) is upset because two Cabinet ministers have openly said the work ethic in the public service is far from what is desired.

It has taken offence at what it calls "demeaning references" to the public servants by Works Minister, Anthony Xavier, and Minister in the Agriculture Ministry, Satyadeo Sawh in a Guyana Chronicle interview.

In a statement, the union said it wrote President Sam Hinds on the matter, and was demanding official rectification of the statements by the ministers in the interview in the May 4 issue of the Sunday paper.

The two owe it to their office to retract those sentiments, the union argued.

GPSU President, Patrick Yarde, argued in the letter to Hinds that in the course of the interview, the ministers made various references to public servants and the Public Service, which the GPSU feels were intended to insult and humiliate public servants.

It claimed that Xavier's comparison between the story line in the film Night of the Living Dead and the performance of the country's public servants was "odious."

Xavier told the Chronicle's Editor-in-Chief, Sharief Khan: "These people just walk around; they seem to be alive but they are not, and that's the kind of people you are dealing with."

Sawh felt the problems facing the Public Service stemmed from nepotism and the lack of professionalism.

The GPSU argued that the ministers should not have made such statements when the Government was acknowledging the "critical importance of the role of the Public Service."

It referred to what it called the "dichotomy" between the supposedly official position, and the seeming "rogue" sentiments by the two ministers.

The union suggested that the publishing of the interview was "irresponsible use of the State media to vilify public servants."

It also claimed that the interviewer appeared to be performing a function which exceeded the impartial posture expected of journalists, appearing to be an interested party while his line of questioning seemed, at times, designed to elicit responses of a particular nature.

The statement said GPSU General Secretary, Lawrence Mentis has sent "appropriate" letters of protest to Xavier and Sawh, and General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Joseph Pollydore.

In the Chronicle interview, Xavier reflected on the "long bureaucracy" he has come across in the public sector, which is absent in the private sector where he worked until he took up the current appointment last year.

Said Xavier: "I find that the people in the public sector, especially the employees — I don't know if this has happened over the years that they have worked there — but they are in a state of complacency. They just walk around.

"I don't know if you have seen the movie Night of the Living Dead. These people just walk around; they seem to be alive, but they are not, and that's the kind of people you are dealing with.

"Now, if I were to find that in the private sector, that kind of person would not last one week... they would be asked very politely to leave and go somewhere else."

He said he was reviewing the organisational structure of the ministry and has found "heavy overlapping in most areas."

He noted: "I mean they even have people who are supposed to be on pension and are still working and these people are not really functioning the way the are supposed to function... (I am) trying to fine tune it, trim it and try to get a more elite fighting force — really and truly."

Said Xavier: "At 7:30 in the morning, I called for somebody and there is no one (in the office); at 8:00 no one there. Employees complain to me about the transportation problem; they are now even using the road rehabilitation programme as an excuse — claiming the bridges are holding them back from getting to work on time.

"Someone told me the other day the humps on the road are now keeping them back, they slowing down — it's a tremendous amount of excuses. I believe they have gone through this and are in it right now.

"What I am trying to do is to pump a little private sector into the public sector. You have to create the balance. The public sector needs to get certain rules and regulations, but where your work and decisions are concerned, there must be expediency. People must be able to make decisions — there is no use of initiative, none."

Sawh said he did not think it was a situation comparable to Night of the Living Dead, "but certainly there are bottlenecks in the system."

"And coming from a society like Canada, and Venezuela to some extent, into Guyana, you don't have to look far to see and feel the difference in work ethics, in professionalism," Sawh said.

He told the interviewer: "There are many reasons people would advance for this and... the number one reason you would hear is `We ain't getting pay for it, you ain't get the equipment for it.' The late transportation, 'You ain't getting mini-bus' and the other new ones we have heard from Minister Xavier.

"What I find lacking is the work ethic. The ethic and pride in having a job to do and the satisfaction in fulfilling that job — I find that missing to a large extent. Not in everyone.

"There are some people who are conscious of their job and make a determined effort under the difficult conditions at times to get their job done to the best of their ability, and I congratulate those people.

"But, by and large, there are those just going through the motions, coming into work and saying I am at work. And some of them even work long hours, but it is not how long you actually come to work or sit at your desk — it is how productive you are during that period and creative, and that is where my problem is."

Sawh blamed this on the "28 years of PNC misrule."

"That dictatorship forced many of our skilled people to migrate out of this country. You have had a new set of people growing in a new culture, a culture where they grew up understanding and believing that corruption was a way of life, that 'thiefing,' skulking from school, and all the vices we know about, were acceptable because they saw it, and they read it and they experienced it to some extent by those who were governing them illegally.

"Square pegs in round holes is how our late President described it, and that wasn't just a phrase he liked — it was rock bottom reality. So you had people like those growing, up getting jobs because they had party cards, getting jobs because their uncle was a big one in the party and all that sort of thing.

"And than the lack of professionalism — that is where it was created."

Govt and TUC continue with talks

Georgetown — The Government and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) are continuing structured talks aimed at better State-labour relations.

The process was started by the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan. President Sam Hinds and a ministerial team on Friday met a high-level TUC delegation headed by the body's acting President, Randolph Kirton and General Secretary, Joseph Pollydore.

The discussions lasted four hours in the Cabinet Room of the Office of the President and covered several matters of interest to the Government and the trade union movement, the Guyana Information Services (GIS) said.

Among these was the relationship between the State and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), the GIS said.

In the constructive exchange the Government apprised the TUC of progress on the Trade Union Recognition Bill, to be taken before a Select Parliamentary Committee before passage in the National Assembly.

The Government also indicated that the Severance Pay Bill will proceed for ratification at the Cabinet and legislation on Avoidance of Discrimination in Employment will be reviewed by Cabinet, GIS said.

With President Hinds were Prime Minister Janet Jagan, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon; Minister of Labour, Dr. Henry Jeffrey; Public Service Ministry Minister, George Fung-On; Information Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; Permanent Secretary in the Public Service Ministry, Rabindranath Sivanand and Chief Labour Officer, Mohamed Akeel.

Included in the TUC delegation were Patrick Yarde, Leslie Melville, Samuel Walker, Robert Hunte, Burchell Halls, and Seelo Baichan.

Discussions also focused on the need to minimise conflict and avoid irresponsible conduct in the workplace, with the government side stressing the importance of unions ensuring that a skeleton staff is provided, in all instances of industrial action in essential services, the agency reported.

Addressed too were the privatisation process and the need to protect workers' welfare and the national interest, the pursuit of avenues for employees' shareholding in State entities and their shared interest in improving recreational facilities for the public servants.

GIS reported that much attention was placed on efforts to arrest physical and environmental deterioration in Georgetown and the Government's on-going programme to fix the city's infrastructure.

The release pointed out that the TUC voiced concern for any implications of the repair programme that could result in redundancy of City Council workers, adding that the labour absorption capacity of the programme was great and the issue of redundancy did not immediately pose a threat.

Another was the issue of non-payment or delays in payment of wages and salaries to certain categories of government employees and remuneration to hinterland teachers on training in Georgetown.

Although discussions on several other matters were inconclusive, both sides agreed that such gatherings should be continued as a monthly exercise, GIS said.

The next meeting is scheduled for June 20. 

Govt helps boy with heart surgery

Georgetown — Little Raul Hinds of Kaow Island on the Essequibo River returned here on May 9 after heart surgery in Canada.

The operation, which will allow the boy to live a normal life, was made possible by the Guyana Health Ministry.

Raul was welcomed back home at a Health Ministry ceremony last week.

Health Minister Gail Teixeira said Raul, who is four years old, had a ventricular septal defect — a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart.

The hole is usually closed surgically, but this can also be done with a special device, she explained.

Teixeira said Raul was the first of three Guyanese children recommended by the ministry for the top Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.

He is a symbol of hope for children suffering heart defects, Teixeira said.

According to the minister, the operation was funded by Herbie's Foundation based in Canada and set up for children from developing countries.

100,000 more eligible to vote in ’97 

Georgetown — Almost 100,000 more Guyanese are likely to be eligible to vote at general elections due this year than the number in the poll just under five years ago, the Elections Commission has indicated.

The commission said it is expecting a final voters list of 480,000, up from 383,000 for the historic October 5, 1992 elections which marked the restoration of democracy in Guyana after almost 30 years.

But the numbers are likely to change when the preliminary tally is published for claims and objections from June 1-27.

The commission said the preliminary list would be presented to divisional registrars this month before being posted for public scrutiny.

Political parties represented in Parliament were due to receive copies of the list Monday afternoon.

The claims and objections period will allow persons 18 years and older on the qualifying date, September 30, 1997, whose names do not appear on the list, to be added to it.

It is also to delete the names of those that have since died and correct wrong spellings and addresses.

The commission has also advised that some 20,219 citizens who have not yet been photographed for the polls and new national identification cards, should do so during the claims and objections phase.

Some 50 percent of these persons are eligible to vote, and would be able to do so if they have their pictures taken in the stipulated period, the EC said.

A voter education programme is being planned for the claims and objections period, and steps voters need to take on polling day.

EC Chairman, Doodnauth Singh has promised the voting day process will be smooth and efficient as there will be more polling stations and the numbers served by each division will be considerably reduced.

Representatives of political parties in Parliament last week complimented the EC for its efficiency in preparing for the polls, the statement said.

Its members, advisors, senior managers and supporting staff were praised for the "transparent, inclusive and expeditious manner" in which they have been proceeding, the EC reported.

The team has been working long hours for the elections, scheduled later this year, and the compliments were paid at a public session of a just-concluded strategic planning retreat.

Party representatives noted that it was the first time in the history of the political process that a commission or any similar body submitted draft copies of the preliminary voters list before it was published.

The statement said Minority Working People's Alliance co-leader, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine described the preparatory work of the commission as a "remarkable achievement."

Chief scrutineer of the non-parliamentary, Good and Green Guyana group, Lennox King also said he was "heartened to know that at this stage (the approaching claims and objections period), the long fought-for new political culture (of inclusion) can unite us all and move us forward as a mature nation truly and really developed."

The ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic General Secretary, Donald Ramoutar recommended the media be used to raise people's confidence in the electoral machinery.

The Minority People's National Congress Vice Chairman, Vincent Alexander suggested parties contesting the polls be allocated equal time on the state-owned radio.

And the Minority The United Force leader, Manzoor Nadir agreed with the commission that running an election was a matter for Guyanese looking after their own affairs, the statement said.

Bishop George calls for mature politics 

Georgetown — Anglican Bishop Randolph George is urging Guyana political leaders to resist any temptation to pander to the lowest forms of appeal or fuel racial insecurities in the run-up to general elections due in the country this year.

"Such behaviour fosters fearfulness of diversity rather than a celebration of it," he cautioned in a charge to the 125th regular annual session of the Synod of the Church in the Diocese of Guyana.

Bishop George said a current pressing issue is how to restore a sense of inclusiveness into the Guyanese society, noting that one of the prouder elements of Caribbean culture has been the ability to accommodate diversity.

"Our different religions, different races and different traditions have over the generations converted diversity into an asset, compared with many parts of the world where these features are a liability to peace and harmony," he said.

But it is equally true, he added, that social assets now seem to be evaporating rather than accumulating.

"We witness a tendency to cultivate images of racial victimisation in which all racial groups seem to look to ethnic explanations for their plight, when the real reasons may be entirely elsewhere," the outspoken Bishop said at the recent Synod.

Indulging and encouraging such tendencies is a form of violence, emphasising the elements that divide rather than those shared in common, he said.

Bishop George said he is reminded in this respect of the strenuous efforts of Archbishop Desmond Tutu in his work as Chairman of the Truth Commission in South Africa, which is dealing with restoration and reconciliation.

He observed that western forms of justice are dominated by penal concerns whereas in Africa it aims predominantly to restore the community.

The concept is captured by the African word ubuntu or 'wholeness,' conveying the idea that while some are sick, the community as a whole cannot be healthy, he said.

"There is of course a profound Christian truth embodied in this concept, namely the community as the Body of Christ whose wholeness is measured by the incorporation and restoration of all.

"Restoring the community, recapturing and recognising unity in diversity is a particular challenge to us in Guyana."

Bishop George contended this is a challenge that does not sit comfortably with the obsession with personal accumulation of wealth, which is the current form of national salvation.

"Clearly, economic growth is necessary for the prospects of a decent life for all Guyanese, but growth without justice will encourage divisiveness."

The Anglican Church head noted that competition creates winners and losers, with increasing numbers inevitably left with a sense of unfairness.

"Rightly or wrongly the feeling of exclusion fosters resentment and a sense of discrimination, whether based on gender, race disabilities or other characteristics. These trends need to be counter-balanced by restorative and reconciliatory influences and measures."

According to Bishop George, without prospects of hope to mitigate resentment or initiatives to keep reconciliation at the forefront, the threat of violence, which comes in many forms, looms larger.

He listed reckless behaviour on the roads, lack of concern for the elderly, brutalising of children by parents, resentful fathers brutalising partners and children, desperate mothers excessively beating children, embittered young people turning to crime, exploitative behaviour against employees, and erratic and excessive sentencing by the causes of confrontation, domination and division rather than reconciliation and restoration of the community.

People do not readily relate criminal violence to these other manifestations, but the link is obvious, he said.

Physical, psychological and verbal violence contributes to a culture that culminates in people doing murderous violence to each other.

Bishop George noted that this is a seamless tapestry in which people practice lesser forms of violence which contribute to a violent society.

The odd thing, he added, is when faced with the ultimate consequences of the lesser forms of violence, citizens call for the police and the courts to take corrective measures with even harsher sentences and methods.

But a safe and healthy environment can only emerge when each person takes more responsibility for his or her own behaviour and realises that private behaviour has public consequences, he said.

Bishop George stated that democracy and tolerance are incompatible with violence and exclusion and as a nation, Guyanese must consciously set about creating from their diversity a respectful and restorative culture or they shall be brutalised by divisiveness and exclusion.

"As Christians, the call to us is to leave our narrow worlds and go out to meet our fellow countrymen, our fellow country-women seeking God in those around us, all those with whom we share this beautiful land he has entrusted to us as a nation."

Remove ‘Constitutional Socialism’ tag

 Georgetown — The ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic alliance in Guyana has suggested a clean break with the constitutional socialism tag the People's National Congress (PNC) had pinned on the nation while it was in power.

While in Government, the now Minority People's National Congress had espoused 'Cooperative socialism,' dubbed Guyana a Cooperative Republic and claimed the country was in transition to socialism.

But in submissions to reform the PNC-drafted 1980 Constitution, the PPP/Civic has backed a break with the socialist label.

Referring to the specific section, the ruling party said: "Many of the provisions in this chapter (Chapter Two) are admirable and acceptable, but many others do not accord with the Guyanese reality and are too contentious to be included in a Constitution even though this section is not justiciable.

"We would support the modification of this section of the Constitution so as to make it acceptable to all Guyanese by deleting references to 'socialism,' 'socialist democracy,' 'cooperativism,' 'national planning' and other similar ideas which are unacceptable."

The PPP/Civic also recommended to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reform that the country should be named the Republic of Guyana instead of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the Guyana Chronicle reported.

It made its recommendations at the second public hearing on constitutional reform at the Public Buildings, Georgetown.

"It is and has always been incorrect to characterise Guyana's social and economic stage as one of transition from capitalism to socialism," the PPP/Civic document said.

It was presented by party executive, Ralph Ramkarran.

The name 'Cooperative Republic of Guyana' was a derisory attempt to foster the concept of a 'cooperative socialism', "which was not and has never been accepted by Guyanese," the party said in its written memorandum of submissions.

It suggested that Article One be amended to provide for Guyana being an indivisible, secular, sovereign state, and that its name should be the Republic of Guyana.

Other PPP/Civic suggestions include changes to the chapters dealing with the Supreme Organ of Democratic Power, the composition of the National Assembly and local democracy.

At the first public, the Minority Working People's Alliance (WPA) made its first oral presentation in support of two memoranda it submitted to the committee.

According to a statement by the Review Committee Secretariat, the WPA is advocating, among other things, that reform of the constitution be implemented in two stages.

The first stage, deemed preliminary reform, would remove the most insupportable features of the 1980 Constitution, address reconciliation mechanism and strengthen and make Parliament and parliamentary procedures more effective.

The second stage would involve a sharing of power and should begin in January next. The party feels this stage could be most effectively presided over by a government of national unity.

The Constitutional Review Committee is a Special Select Committee of the National Assembly appointed on December 1, 1994 to review the present Constitution and make proposals for its reform.

The committee has been empowered to invite and receive memoranda from individuals and organisations, and receive evidence and the process was continuing this week.

It has been mandated to complete its work in time for the establishment of a new constitution before the date when new national elections are due.

The PPP/Civic has also suggested that the issue of local government should be opened to public debate to get the widest possible views on a new path in this regard.

The alliance recommends that the words 'organs of local democratic power' should be replaced by the words 'local government bodies'; and that the word 'ten' should be deleted and replaced by 'such.'

The regional system was an undemocratic imposition on the people of Guyana and the division of the country into ten administrative regions was "arbitrary."

"The number of regions, their sizes, boundaries, their composition and the method by which they are established, should be the subject of professional study and democratic debate in Parliament," the party argued.

Although the PPP/Civic admitted not having a clear idea on how to move forward in this area, it said it would like to see a democratic participation in the restructuring of the current system.

Questioned by the WPA representative on the committee, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine on the subject, Ramkarran said the country ought to return to the system of village councils where each village has an elected leadership. The WPA proffered a similar recommendation during the first public hearing.

"We certainly feel... there should be some sort of a regional system. Whether there ought to be 10 or 15 (administrative regions) is another matter. Whether the regions should be made smaller and should have a larger number for more effective management of the communities is another matter," Ramkarran said.

He said another avenue could be the use of an "indirect democracy" system where village councils form district councils.

"Those are all ideas we can look to, but the whole idea of having local democracy is so that the people can manage their own affairs, rather than being directed from the centre.

"In those areas where it is not possible for one region or other for them to be incorporated into the system of local democracy, then obviously some management from the centre is necessary," Ramkarran submitted, adding that local government should not be dealt with as a matter of partisan politics.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, a member of the PPP/Civic team appearing before the committee, said the Government has fostered in the people a sense of identity and purpose, so it would be logical and appropriate to task them with administering their own affairs.

The party has also recommended that the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs and the Supreme Congress of the People be abolished.

In addition, it has proposed that the Bill of Rights be strengthened and that the powers of the President, as these relate to the dissolution of Parliament, be reduced.

The current Constitution empowers the President, among other things, to dissolve Parliament if he is being investigated for any wrongdoing.

The PPP/Civic team included Shaikh Baksh, Khemraj Ramjattan and Dr. Beri Ramsarran.

Agriculture Minister and First Vice-President, Reepu Daman Persaud, of the PPP/Civic, chaired the session instead of Attorney General, Bernard De Santos who was out of the country.

Central govt moving to clear arrears

Hon. Clinton Collymore Minister in the Ministry of Local Government

Georgetown — Central Government is moving to clear some (G) $14.9 million in rate arrears for its city properties, according to Minister in the Guyana Ministry of Local Government, Clinton Collymore.

In a statement on a budget review meeting by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, he said the City Council has submitted a detailed a list of the arrears.

The Government, Collymore added, had "already undertaken to pay" the sums, the interest on which was $4 million, the Guyana Chronicle reported.

The council has also undertaken to provide lists of recalcitrant ratepayers in the business community, who up to last year owed some $50 million, the statement said.

Collymore said that at the meeting various aspects of the city budget were carefully examined and suggestions were made pertaining to adjustments in the revenue and expenditure columns.

The purpose of the meeting was to seek ways to forgo proposed increases in rates and taxes for 1997, Collymore explained.

"There was hard bargaining at the meeting. This is expected to continue and possibly conclude at the resumption in a few days," he reported.

The minister added that the various sides are expected to present packages for consideration.

At the discussions were Euclin Gomes and Beulah Williams of the City Council, David King and Peter Tomlinson of the Private Sector Commission, Lurlene Baird of the Ministry of Finance, Anthony Greene, Principal Regional Development Officer, and Jean Mendonca of the ministry.

Parliament approves re-naming airport 

Georgetown — Parliament last week approved the redesignation of the Guyana International airport as the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. But the issue was dogged by controversy.

The three opposition parties in the National Assembly, opposed to honouring the late President Cheddi Jagan by renaming the international airport at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, maintained their stand as the Government moved to legislate the measure.

People's National Congress (PNC) Leader, Desmond Hoyte led a walkout by his party from the National Assembly and the redesignation Bill was passed by the Government majority.

Outside Parliament Buildings groups, including Amerindians, demonstrated for and against the bill.

Placards carried by those in support stated, 'Guyana welcomes Cheddi Jagan International Airport', and 'Our father deserves more.' Opponents had signs reading, `Democracy is lacking' and `Wake up Amerindians — Unite', among others.

Some anti-Government protestors cried "Leave Timehri alone" and "Shame, Shame!" when the Government benches voted in favour of incorporating Dr. Jagan's name in the official designation of the airport.

Amidst heckling from the Minority side, Vice-President and Leader of the House, Reepu Daman Persaud, set the passage of the bill in motion — after its introduction on April 17, and said the opposers were definitely "in the minority."

He stated that this was revealed in a survey of Amerindian communities by Government Ministers, calling the idea that it was a slight to the Indigenous peoples "a manufactured perception" and "a strategy to score political points and political advantage."

Recalling the widely hailed struggles of Jagan, who died on March 6, Persaud said the renaming was linking legend with legend, and it could not be argued by anyone that the bill will denigrate Amerindians.

The PNC and other opponents have charged that Amerindians were dishonoured by Jagan's name being associated with Timehri, the title of Amerindian rock paintings that gave rise to the Timehri designation of the airport under the previous government.

But Persaud declared: "We should all be proud today in this Honourable House to give this recognition to the greatest son of the soil. This act of ours will not only be supported now, but history will record its appreciation," he said.

Persaud piloted the bill through its final stages on behalf of Attorney General, Bernard DeSantos, who was attending a conference overseas.

Persaud said the new name will win favour beyond the borders of Guyana and serve as a welcoming sign of progress, development and prosperity.

"Isn't it a good thing if you are travelling in an aircraft and hear people say they are going to the Cheddi Jagan Airport at Timehri?" he queried to loud thumping from Government colleagues.

"I want to put it on record that this bill is influenced by humility, modesty, and it is seen as one of the correct actions to give due recognition and honour to our late President. I want to repeat, the name Timehri will remain."

Arguing that "only envy and jealousy can provoke opposition to this bill, nothing else," Persaud urged the Minority parties in Parliament to be "broadminded and give Jack his jacket."

Noting this was a time when citizens were reminiscing on Jagan's unmatched record of service and achievement and dedication, he asked "are we doing too much to simply name one building — the airport of this country — Cheddi Jagan International Airport?"

But the Minority parties ignored his calls for unanimous support, the Chronicle reported.

Hoyte contended they had no problem naming a monument or structure after Jagan, or any citizen who has made a worthwhile contribution to Guyana's development.

But the PNC took exception to the manner in which the Government proceeded, he stated, claiming there was "a rush to make use of the death of the President for political purposes."

Accusing the ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/Civic) of seeking political mileage out of the death, Hoyte argued that his party had expected some logical, understandable explanation and rationale for the changing of a name established by what he called a popular procedure.

He said that in 1969, after the airport, formerly known as Atkinson Field, was transferred to the Government of Guyana, a competition was sponsored by the National History and Arts Council, and the name Timehri was recommended by more than 1,000 persons.

"What we are seeing here is a desperate effort to milk political mileage out of the death of the President; it borders on vulgarity, and we will not stay to have any further part in these foul proceedings," Hoyte declared just before marching out.

Working People's Alliance (WPA) co-leader, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine also argued that there was rush on the matter, saying the issue has caused division in the society which had taken a "lead" to unite through a national outpouring of sympathy following Jagan's death.

Saying the late President deserved honour, he suggested the bill be withdrawn and a commemoration commission set up because there was no need to hurry.

The United Force (TUF) leader, Manzoor Nadir endorsed Roopnaraine's views, but felt the matter should be put on the ballot paper for the general elections this year as a referendum item.

He said the Government had only put forward two reasons for the renaming — that it followed a pattern in many countries, and that it honoured Jagan.

Asking for petitions on the issue, Nadir charged that the House had more pressing matters to deal with, such as uncontrollable squatting by homeless people.

After PPP/Civic Parliamentarian, Pauline Sukhai and Amerindian Affairs Minister, Vibert De Souza made presentations in support of the change. Persaud concluded the debate, saying honouring the late President was a common view and should be acted upon.

He insisted the renaming was not a political issue, but a "fitting tribute."

The redesignation of the airport incorporating the late President's name will be implemented when President Sam Hinds signs the bill into law shortly, Persaud said.

EC wants public debate on deposits 

Georgetown — The Guyana Elections Commission says it wants a public debate on whether parties planning to contest general elections this year should pay a deposit and other issues.

This was indicated by Commission Chairman, Doodnauth Singh at the close of a two-day retreat earlier this month on enhancing the electoral process.

A spokesman told the Guyana Chronicle the authority was striving for total participation in the process and had "left the question of regulating the parties to members of the public."

Talk about introducing a deposit and regulations have upset some interested in contesting the elections.

Several tiny parties have sprung up and the possibility of more than 20 in the polls due this year has spawned operational problems for the commission, including getting ballot paper big enough to hold all the names of the groups, and boxes of a size to hold enough huge ballots.

A likely deposit of (G) $1 million by each party registering is also being considered, though no decision has yet been taken by the authority, sources said.

At the opening of the retreat Singh insisted parties should be regulated and pay a deposit.

He called for dialogue and consensus, noting parties currently only become eligible on nomination day by submitting lists of candidates backed by the signatures of 200 voters.

The commission wished to have a process of inclusion, not exclusion, but aspirants should "appreciate that there ought to be some type of regulatory machinery," the chairman urged.

Omai marks 1 million-ounce gold output 

Georgetown — Omai Gold Mines Limited has recorded its million-ounce output from its concession in the Essequibo River.

Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Rejean Gourde said the firm poured its one-millionth ounce of gold on May 1.

Omai began production four years ago and output for the year so far is 113,390 ounces. The 1997 target is 343,105 ounces, officials said.

"In the first quarter of 1997, we have bettered our production target by 14,228 ounces with a resultant 9.1 percent incentive bonus being paid to all of Omai's employees," Gourde told reporters at the site last week.

The company has been granted a licence to explore two other areas adjacent to the current operation.

Gourde said Omai was pleased with the Guyana government's mineral policy and the company had no problem doing business in Guyana, where there is potential.

Toronto News

Locals to mark Guyana's 31st birthday

By Romeo Kaseram

Toronto — Guyanese in Toronto will mark the homeland's 31st year of political independence with a festival and thanksgiving service put on by the Consulate General and major community organisations.

The event, which will be held at the L'Amoreaux Community Centre in Scarborough on May 24, will see Guyana's Minister of Finance, Bharrat Jagdeo in attendance.

Highlights of the festival will see a special award going to Pauline Thomas (Auntie Comesee) for her pioneering contribution to Guyanese storytelling and its language.

As well, a photographic exhibition, 'This is Guyana,' will be put on by photographer Robert Fernandes.

A concert is also in the works, as well as events depicting Guyana's cultural diversity through tassa drumming, masquerades, chutney music, folk songs, and a steelband.

The next day will see an inter-faith service, starting 10 a.m., at the Agincourt Community Centre in Scarborough.

In his message to the Guyanese community marking this anniversary, Consul General, Geoffrey Da Silva noted the "deep loss" of Guyana's late President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, who died on March 6.

This anniversary was the first time in Guyana's history that it will be celebrated "without the physical presence" of Jagan, said Da Silva.

"But his spirit and example lives on," Da Silva noted.

"What stood out from his long life was his unswerving commitment to principles, his honesty and integrity, his foremost loyalty to the causes of working people, his burning desire to bring about social and economic justice and his tremendous optimism even on occasions when the situation was grim."

Said Da Silva: "Dr. Jagan had a vision for a better quality of life for the people of Guyana, and for the world. He was an authentic democrat flawlessly devoted to his country."

Da Silva said the government, led by Jagan, confronted "the challenge of reconstruction," and the successes were "startling."

Among the successes were the economy growing by seven percent, and inflation decreased to under five percent. Other positive indications were increases in local and overseas investment, and "dramatic" growth in the agricultural and natural resources sectors.

The result is Guyana is "now out of the abyss, and is on the road to progress," Da Silva said.

He added: "Dr. Jagan won new recognition and respect for Guyana. He attracted boundless international goodwill and support."

Da Silva noted that a significant part of that support "came from Guyanese community organisations and individuals in Canada, who continue to increase their contributions towards the rebuilding and development of Guyana."

Said Da Silva: "The Guyana Consulate relays the deepest respect and appreciation from the nation and Government of Guyana for your selfless support, including the long hours doing monotonous tasks, which you have provided to help in the rebuilding of hospitals, health clinics, educational institutions, and community projects throughout the length and breath of Guyana."

Editorial

Mixed signals from BWIA?

Amazing scenes were witnessed at the Timehri International Airport on April 10.

First, a BWIA flight left ten minutes early. And then the aircraft, Flight 465, turned around after ten minutes in the air and returned to the airport to pick up a passenger who had not arrived on time, and had been left behind.

That passenger was Minority Leader of the Opposition and head of the People's National Congress, Desmond Hoyte.

We cross our fingers with hope as we take this opportunity to encourage Trinidad and Tobago's national airline, BWIA, to continue with this stupendous achievement of leaving an airport ten minutes early. And if this precedent of an early departure cannot be continued, then it is our fervent wish that the airline at least leave on its designated time.

However, for the record, we must take issue with Flight 465 returning to pick up Hoyte, even though the airline has since apologised to the passengers, among them Guyana government Minister of Trade and Industry, Michael Shree Chan. As it stood, BWIA's customers on that flight did not have a choice in the unprecedented move by the airline to return to Timehri.

According to the reports out of Georgetown and Port-of-Spain, Hoyte arrived at the airport around the time the flight's pre-departure procedures were well advanced. His pre-flight formalities had been done ahead of his arrival by his protocol officer, with baggage checked and loaded.

BWIA may have made the decision to return because Hoyte is the leader of the PNC and Minority Leader of the Opposition. However, in the level playing and paying field that customers stand on who use BWIA's services, we wonder whether the airline would have returned to the airport for a late customer and ordinary Guyanese national, for example, who spent the same sum of money as Hoyte did for his airline ticket.

By its actions, was BWIA saying that all customers are equal, but some are more equal than others?

We certainly hope not.

Indo Caribbean World

312 Brownridge Drive, Thornhill,

Ontario. L4J 5X1

Telephone: 905-738-5005 (B); 905-738-3927 (F)

Publisher: Harry Ramkhelawan

Editor: Romeo Kaseram

E-mail: [email protected]

Next Issue: June 4