Guyana Observer News

“Nobody is afraid of anybody!” This was the response of Divisional Commander George Vyphuis in response to a query about the police investigation into what appears to be yet another case of abuse by Information Liaison to President Bharrat Jagdeo, Kwame McCoy. McCoy is once again in the hot seat following his alleged verbal abuse of the police at the Ruimveldt Police Station on Saturday night. Reports reaching this newspaper stated that McCoy, using expletives, verbally abused officers at the station after they had detained a man believed to be one of McCoy’s close associates. It all started when the man was arrested by members of a Community Policing Patrol unit who were accompanied by a police rank. The man subsequently escaped from the patrol vehicle but was recaptured and taken to the station.

 By Freddie Kissoon

On Sunday, Mr. Jagdeo addressed those who attended the death anniversary programme of Dr. Cheddi Jagan. There were the expected eulogies of the PPP and how great it is. There was the usual dig at the media. But this time, President Jagdeo took an unusual departure in his criticism of the media. There were Freudian windmills spinning in his mind and they came to the surface. What Mr. Jagdeo could not consciously admit, he pronounced in a Freudian way. He told his Berbician listeners that the Government has critics whose arguments are alluring and sound attractive and that there is a battle out there between the Government and critics for their minds. There are no alluring criticism of Mr. Jagdeo and his government that sounds attractive from the private media.

-new gender justice advocate

Newly-appointed advocate for gender justice within Caricom Dr Rosina Wiltshire is warning that until violence against women is addressed, the downward slide of societies across the region, including growing violence in schools and communities would continue. “Gender justice requires that we pay more than lip service to gender equality,” Dr Wiltshire told a grouping of mostly women gathered at the Caricom Secretariat yesterday, where she informed that her advocacy will begin by focusing on eliminating violence against women. Her new role is aimed at putting the spotlight on the issue of violence against women, and she will be conducting research and working closely with governments throughout the region.

 By Peeping Tom

Guyana’s failure to qualify for further support under the Millennium Challenge Account should be seen as an opportunity rather than a setback. It allows the government to address one of the serious concerns of international agencies when dealing with small developing countries. That concern is corruption. The public cannot be fooled by the window- polishing that is taking place in an attempt to spruce up the image of Guyana in terms of transparency. It will require much more than what is being done; and there are many in Guyana who feel that not much is being done. Following the demise of communism, the western countries rushed to impose their brand of democracy throughout the world.

Unsatisfactory handling of reports of domestic violence and continuing allegations of corruption were among the challenges which faced the Guyana Police Force last year. Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, on Friday, said that some of the deficiencies observed at the station and the sub-divisional include the unsatisfactory handling of reports of domestic violence. mong the other shortcomings he identified were the complaints of impropriety and corruption against certain members of the Guyana Police Force. In addition, he pointed to poor responses to some reports made by members of the public at police stations. He said also that evidence emerged of inadequate accounting arrangements at the main police accounting unit. In addition, Rohee pointed out that some ranks use police facilities in a careless manner, while some mistreat prisoners. He said that the Force has taken steps to correct deficiencies that were identified during 2009.

Temporary staff attached to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), are up in arms over the non-payment of their salaries for the past two months. The workers who were contracted to work during the Claims and Objections period have not received any payment since December last year. According to the angry workers, they were trained and contracted to work for the Claims and Objection period with the contract ending January 31. However, they continued to work up to today. The workers told this newspaper that whenever they enquired about their pay for January and February, GECOM officials offered then very little explanation.

- GRA urged to reduce risk of fraud

Two companies owe the Guyana Revenue Authority in excess of $12B in taxes but complex court cases may see no monies coming into the treasury for a while. In one case, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been dueling in court for almost 15 years now. In the other, for over five years. Yesterday, Commissioner General of the GRA, Khurshid Sattaur, before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), disclosed that at least one of the unnamed companies may be fighting its case before of the Caribbean Court of Justice. Sattaur was at the time being grilled over the 2006 Auditor General’s Report on GRA. The official complained that the minor court cases take as long as three to four years to be handled for persons failing to file tax returns. The fine, on conviction, is $15,000. Along with the Commissioner-General were several of his managers.

In preparation for the upcoming Local Government Elections, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been working with political parties and other interested persons/groups to clarify matters surrounding the elections. GECOM recently met with the political parties at a workshop held at Hotel Tower Ltd. on Friday last. According to a press release issued by GECOM, the workshop was titled “Preparations for Nomination Day” and it followed a similar one that had been held on February 17th 2010.
Those present included all the major political parties as well as a few others, less well known, along with a number of independent candidates and voluntary groups.