Guyana Observer News

(from the Cliffview Pilot)

A ruthless team of would-be extortionists tried strong-arming a wealthy Englewood Cliffs woman into paying more than $500,000 to keep them from sharing “compromising” video and audio of a family member with her neighbors and other relatives, but she went to the authorities instead, police said this afternoon. Arresting them wasn’t easy, however. Although they had threatened to show uAdd an Imagep early Monday, the New York City trio backed off at least once before finally heading toward their elderly target’s house, Englewood Cliffs Police Chief Michael Cioffi told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “They were coming, they weren’t coming,” Cioffi said. “But they remained in the area.” Cioffi said they had told the woman they’d give her the recordings in exchange for the money. At about 1:30 in the afternoon, the trio drove past the woman’s house. One of them got out of the car.

My dear friends and country kin folk, speaking as leader of and on behalf of, the Independent Party, I crave your indulgence and tolerance in order to share some thoughts with you. We are going through the most trying and difficult of times here in the land where our ancestors were either indigenous, kidnapped, enslaved and trafficked, indentured under the most horrible of conditions, or by force of circumstances elsewhere, wended their way to our native land of Guyana. I am sure that none of them, in their most fearful and foreboding imaginations, anticipated the experiences their descendants would be facing today. Absence of such fears and forebodings notwithstanding, the reality is we are where they never expected us to be, and thus we are morally and ethically obligated and responsible to ensure that our present do not become the future of our children and their children, or their children‘s children. And that will be the central focus of my literal communication with you.

Social Activist Mark Benschop and Kaieteur News Columnist Freddie Kissoon were released on $1 bail each yesterday, when they appeared before Magistrate Chandra Sohan, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on obstruction charges. The cash bail amount was comfortably the lowest in years, most likely decades. The two men, who were represented by defence attorneys Nigel Hughes, Christopher Ram, Khemraj Ramjattan and Gino Persaud, were charged with obstructing municipal workers and pedestrians. They pleaded not guilty. The charges stemmed from Benschop’s positioning himself in front of the western gate of Le Repentir cemetery to prevent the entry of garbage trucks to the dumpsite, stating that it was a health hazard to the environs. It is alleged that on Monday, last, on Cemetery Road, the defendants obstructed municipal workers from performing their duties at the dumpsite and wilfully remained on the said road in such a manner, which caused obstruction to other road users.

The caption of the Demerara Waves online article “Kissoon - Benschop arrested for blocking landfill site; Government intervenes in chaotic landfill” and comments by Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn surely give the impression that the problem at the Le Repentir Disposal Site (LRDS) was caused by the Georgetown Municipality. However an examination of the facts reveals a totally different perspective. The situation at the La Repentir Disposal Site is the result of a crime perpetuated against the citizens of Georgetown by the PPPC Government. It is known that the Le Repentir Disposal Site “… started operation in 1994 as an exhibition site to demonstrate the art of sanitary landfilling.” That it was expected to be in operation for two years but that after six years of operation it gained the attention of the international community as a problem for the municipality and the residents of Georgetown. The World Health Organization in it Solid Waste Sectoral Analysis (2004) concluded that “This actual situation at the national level reflects the absence of any coordinated plan or programme …..” It is observed in the report that the Le Repentir Disposal Site is surrounded by drainage canals and does not have linings, soil cover or gas control.

The prolonged detention by the Guyana Police Force of Social Activist, Mark Benschop and Kaieteur News Columnist. Freddie Kissoon, for the “heinous crime” of daring to highlight the dangers caused to citizens by the infamous Princess Street dump site, is nothing but spiteful, vicious and vindictive. WPA believes that the detention of Kissoon and Benschop is a travesty of justice when set alongside the Police’s recent release on station bail of a man who was caught on the West Bank of Demerara with more than 21 kilos of cocaine. The police’s behavior in the these two cases has signaled that as far as they are concerned, possession of cocaine, at least by some, is a lesser offence than highlighting the grave threat to the health of the citizens who live  in the noxious vicinity of the overflowing dump. What is even more alarming is that the alleged offence of Benschop and Kissoon does not incur a custodial penalty under the laws of Guyana. Under what authority have the police acted?

 By Freddie Kissoon

I would like to thank all of our lawyers, especially Nigel Hughes, who put his brilliance to work the very minute he walked into the Brickdam lock up and heard that for a very simple traffic offence, the Commander of Brickdam, Mr. George Vyphuis, refused to grant bail. Hughes said something was not right so the best route was the habeas corpus application. Hughes was right. It saved Mark Benschop and me from spending Christmas in jail. I hope Priya Manickchand is reading this article. She just became a mother and will have her baby with her for the holidays. Why should the state take me away from my only child at Christmas? Why do the same to Benschop? He has an eleven-year-old son. This year will make 22 Christmases with my soul mate – my wife. Why jail me for the holidays and prevent me from being with my spouse? And for what? A harmless traffic offence – obstruction – that carries a ticket. The maximum fine is $7,500. The bigger cause of exposing one of the worst environmental disasters that could face the Caribbean; the Le Repentir cemetery

The management of solid waste in the city of Georgetown and the incarceration of Mark Benschop and Freddie Kissoon are of concern to the Congress. Man's basic need is a life to prosperity and happiness. From these needs spring institutions, rights and freedoms to realise them. If man has life he will want to ensure his life is healthy. A healthy citizen is a healthy worker. A healthy worker means optimum production and optimum production can realise national development. What is happening in the city today in regard to waste management poses a threat to one’s rights, happiness and prosperity