Guyana Observer News

 

Andrew Meredith, the City Treasurer of the Mayor and City Council, sought refuge at the Guyana Revenue Authority’s Licence and Revenue Office (LRO) in Georgetown yesterday after he was confronted by a man who is accusing him of accepting a bribe. Leon Phillips, 24, of 169 D’Aguiar’s Park, East Bank Demerara, alleged that Meredith took $80,000 from him as an inducement to make a final payment on the purchase of a low bed and hauler. The police were summoned and they escorted Meredith out of the GRA premises. They had come from the Brickdam Station. Phillips, who is a debt collector, told Kaieteur News that RRT Enterprise had sold a hauler and low bed trailer to M&CC for $10M. He stated that the first payment of $6 M was made by the M&CC on March 16. Another payment of $2M was made on April 23. The remainder was outstanding. Meredith said that there was a delay on paying the remainder because money was not available and because RRT did not provide City Hall with the documents to the hauler and low bed. He said that at the instigation of the City Engineer, he paid a further one million dollars on October 12, by declining to pay NIS contributions and PAYE.

Woman (Tiffiney Jackman) badly beaten back in September of this year by her Jealous child-father, is still seeking justice. No help from the police and women groups in Guyana, we wonder why?

By Freddie Kissoon

I was watching a Harrison Ford movie on illegal migration into the US the other night and after I pulled out the disc from the DVD player, I saw on television, President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the guests at the lightening up ceremony of the Christmas tree at Houston. I was glad I saw it because his delivery wasn’t featured in the private print media (I do not read the Chronicle and honestly don’t know the last day I set eyes on a copy of the Guyana Times; really a waste of a very good newspaper press) I heard Mr. Jagdeo describe Guyana as the only country that saw high growth last year in both the Caribbean and South American regions. That is not true. That is egregiously incorrect. Quite a number of economies in Latin America experienced high growth rates in 2009 with Brazil way at the top.

Cleveland Thomas, a Christianburg head teacher who refused to promote low achievers in his secondary school was summoned to appear before the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) yesterday sparking protests by parents who support his stand. Following yesterday’s meeting in Georgetown, the TSC is to write to him setting out its position on the matter. “Sir Thomas is saying that, I will take a stand and whatever the consequences I will pay the consequences.” That was the emphatic statement made by Thomas, head teacher of the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School as he took a stand against the Ministry of Education’s `No child left behind’ policy. The summoning of Thomas to appear before the TSC was passed on to the Parent-Teachers Association of the school and its members decided that they would show their support for his stand.

- Accuses Govt. officials of racism

The Ministry of Labour yesterday morning attracted some of the sacked Rusal workers, their friends and union leaders, each with placards in hands held high, depicting their disgust and anger with the way Government has responded to their pleas for help as it relates to their labour dispute with the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BGCI), (RUSAL). Approximately one year ago, BCGI issued suspension and dismissal letters to a majority of their workers who were involved in a strike. In the end, 57 of these were dismissed. The bauxite company had also notified the Labour Ministry that it had erratically terminated the Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) that it had signed previously, and in simple words, would no longer honour that agreement.

- say company made $2B profit in 2009

Hundreds of workers of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) went on a countrywide strike as wage talks fell through.   The hardest hit departments were the Transmission and Distribution and the Generation section, all crucial to the operations of the state-owned utility company. GPL warned that members of the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), are aware of possible repercussions while the union said that the company has made enough money to pay. Both GPL and NAACIE issued separate statements yesterday. According to NAACIE, all sectors of the utility company were affected by the strike action yesterday. The union blamed GPL for the strike actions and said that it stemmed from the “refusal to discuss an increase in wages/salary for its workers” who are represented by NAACIE. The union noted that a proposal for negotiations was sent since the first quarter of 2010.

- says GuySuCo’s actions tantamount to breach of law

In a day that was marred by strikes and protests, sugar workers, represented by the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), joined the current countrywide industrial strike. Deeming the actions of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) as unilateral, NAACIE said that it is supporting the action taken by sister union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), in the quest to maintain the right to bargain. GuySuCo has warned that it may close the operations of the eight estates to save money until the strike is over. However, officials confirmed yesterday that a skeldon staff managed to operate the facilities there to grind several punts of harvested canes that were left when the strike was called last Friday.

Winston Murray dead. De news spread slow. Then it pick up speed. People start fuh talk and some cry. But dem boys know that dem had some people who just want something to talk about; something that gun cause confusion. People call Corbin; he claim how he ain’t hear nutten. But he was de fuss man when Murray collapse. Dem boys want to know how come people didn’t inform he that he main man in Parliament dead. Then dem call some of de friends. People didn’t want to believe. Dem call every number dem had. Ronald de Austin even call Murray cell number and when a lady answer he tell she sorry, “Wrong number”. Then he ketch heself and realize that is a number he use to call steady. Dem boys seh that he woulda faint if Murray brother did answer de phone. Murray brother sound like he. But is dem people who believe in jumbie. Dem boys seh that dem had people who use to mek life rough fuh Murray. Dem ain’t sleeping tonight because dem believe that Murray still vex and that he gun haunt dem. All of dem suddenly decide that dem is good people and all of dem asking forgiveness. But Winston Murray was a good man. May his soul rest in peace.
Talk half. Lef half.