April 2012

The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide Blog: guyaneseonline.wordpress.com

Georgetown is 200 years old this month - The Picture above was taken from the Bank of Guyana Building.

March 30 - Budget Day Budget cuts could be reversed – Presented by Dr Ashni Singh. Minister of Finance Brig. (retd) David Granger Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Finance Minister presents whopping $ 192.8B Leader of the Opposition David national budget -exemplifies a continuation of economic Granger says the cuts the opposi- growth tion parties have made in the budget could be reversed later if Georgetown, GINA, March 30, 2012 the government accedes to the de- History was again made today in the mands they see as necessary to National Assembly as Minister of ensure a better life for Guyanese. Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh pre- Brig. David Granger Speaking to reporters Wednesday Dr Ashni Singh sented Guyana’s largest national evening April 26, Granger said that the parliamen- budget; the first in the life of the Tenth Parliament. tary process currently underway is not the end of Presented under the theme, “Remaining on course, the road. united in purpose, prosperity for all”, budget 2012 “We will continue to work for our supporters be- worth $192.8B, is fully financed without the introduc- cause we will use the leverage we have gained this tion of any new taxes. evening to go back to the government and continue Correct size Minister Singh in his succinct presentation said that talks until we get what we want. We haven’t closed with the new parliamentary dispensation, whereby the the door. governing Party does not hold an absolute majority, We want to make sure VAT is reduced, we want to beckons the country into a new political epoch and make sure that the cost of living is reduced, we heralds an opportunity for the nurturing of a new politi- want to see the University of Guyana gets increased cal culture. subvention, we have not given up,” he said. “Budget 2012 comes to this House when the Guy- According to the APNU Chairman, they have told anese economy is at its strongest in recent memory. the government that they are prepared to consider Our productive base is showing increasing signs of requests for supplementary provisions if they get resilience and dynamism and is more diversified than the items they feel that could promote development. ever before, with real growth in gross domestic prod- uct averaging 4.4 percent over the past five years,” he He pointed to cuts of GUY$527M made in the allo- said….. cation for GECOM and said they could be reversed Read complete summary: Guyana 2012 National Budget – if the necessary reforms happen for local govern- Summary (GINA) ment elections to be held this year. But Granger said the government has not given “full considera- The BUDGET DEBATE 2012 tion” to their demands other than the one to in- The BUDGET DEBATE in Parliament officially begun on April crease the Old Age Pension. 10th. There were some meetings with the Opposition parties but no agreements were made to revise the Budget except the raising “We are prepared to use the device of supplemen- of Old Age Pensions to GUY$10,000 (US$50) per month. Later tary estimates to provide funds to the government meetings in Parliament saw deep cuts of GUY$21billion to the as long as it provides some of the concessions we Budget voted on by the Opposition parties. See reports on pages requested because we are convinced that those 5-8, with comments and revisions voted on in Parliament, where concessions are necessary for the economic and the Budget was passed, with revisions, on April 26, 2012. social development of the country,” . [more]

The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide Blog: guyaneseonline.wordpress.com 2 EDITORIAL April 2012

The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide

Welcome to the Guyanese Online Newsletter Guyanese Online

By: Cyril Bryan. Editor and Publisher The Guyanese Online Newsletter and the Guyanese This is the 25th edition of the Guyanese Online Online Blog Website are independent publications that Newsletter. It culminates two years and two have been designed, edited, produced and published by months of publishing the Blog/website and the Cyril Bryan. Organizations get FREE advertising. Newsletters. Thanks for your support…... Cyril Bryan Individuals, Organizations, Associations and Guyanese GUYANA in May 2012 groups should send e-mails with their announcements, features, news, pictures, videos, ideas, event reports and By: Cyril Bryan — Editor advertisements for publication to the editor:

Guyana will celebrate 46 years of independence on May Cyril Bryan’s E-mail: [email protected] 26, 2012. We will be commemorating, as well, the begin- or [email protected] ning of a new era in Guyanese politics, where for the first time the government and opposition have to bargain and Mar 28 – Apr 27 - 30 Most popular entries agree in Parliament for the funding and governance of Click to view entries on the Blog/Website projects and government institutions. This is new for Guy- ana, but we in the Diaspora, especially those living in the USA and Canada, know about minority governments and 1. The End Of Johnnie Walker how they operate. The politicians and their supporters will 2. Some scenes from the old British Guiana – now Guyana eventually settle down and agree that there has to be 3. Trinidad – Promotional Video “balance” in governance for Guyana to fully develop. 4. GEORGETOWN – Celebrating 200 years on 29 April 2012

th 5. Johnny Braff – It burns inside – music video The 2012 Budget was tabled on March 30 with no con- 6. Barbados – Scotland’s Sugar Slaves – 4 videos sultations beforehand with the opposition on this matter. 7. Famous People of Guyanese Heritage Therefore, it is no surprise that there is intense conflict as the ruling party deals with the new reality of a Parliament 8. “The Golden Age of Georgetown Characters: 1930-1960″ that can veto expenditure and contracts, as Parliament is 9. Royal Tour 1958: “Princess Margaret in British Guiana” – no longer a “rubber stamp” of the Executive branch of 2 videos Government. Guyana’s politics and the expenditure of the 10. British Guiana 1953 – Tension in British Guiana – video people’s funds have entered a new era. Meanwhile the 11. Dr. Asante Vanwest-Charles-Le Blanc – an unconven- salaried folk look on and hope that the future does change tional woman for them – getting a 5% raise when inflation is more than 12. Fruits of Trinidad and Tobago – and Guyana 5%/yr holds them in a static economic position, while 13. President expresses optimism after visit to offshore oil rigs many in “business” pay little or no taxes. 14. Henry Greene resigns — also Justice Chang’s decision – I said in my last editorial that: “We, in the Diaspora, are updated mainly observers hoping that somehow the country will be 15. World Maps – This is a fantastic information tool reorganized to achieve its fullest potential. We would like 16. Oil in Guyana: Optimism is not enough, Sir Ron to see harmony and co-operation between the political 17. “A GALA EVENING WITH GUYANA’S CRICKET HEROES” parties so there is ‘value for money’ in the various devel- 18. Budget 2012: Income tax threshold, old age pension in- opment projects. There is no doubt that most Guyanese, creased irrespective of party affiliation, want to see the reduction in 19. “Cheddi and Janet Jagan must be turning in their graves” – corruption and the wasting of money by Government and Government entities”. Nadira Jagan-Brancier 20. Argentine family touring in bus arrives in Guyana The City of Georgetown celebrates 200 years this month. 21. LORD KITCHENER – three music videos We all know that its present condition is a disgrace, 22. Trayvon Martin and St Vincent’s UN Ambassador: the Rac- and we see efforts now being made by the municipality to ist Similarities clean it up. However, Georgetown will never be “fixed” 23. Zipparah, Mr Zip, Tafari Where me keys, where me phone until its subvention from the Central Government matches its percentage of the total population of about 40%. The 24. GUYANA PERSONALITIES – 1970-1971 city’s tax collections for properties have collapsed as many 25. TAKUTU BRIDGE – Rupununi. Guyana individuals, companies and government, have not paid 26. Olympic hopeful: Matt Centrowitz Jr – Guyanese roots taxes for years. Therefore there is not enough money for 27. Canada scraps some skilled immigrant applications infrastructure and maintenance. We hope that the city will 28. Old Jet Magazines – from 1950 onwards somehow be revived so that we are once again proud of 29. Andre Rieu – playing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” the “Garden City” we see in the pictures of pre- 30. The Bronze Woman – by Cecile Nobrega independence Georgetown. May God Bless Guyana! April 27, 2012 - Total views to date = 533,650

The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide Blog: guyaneseonline.wordpress.com April 2012 3 COMMENTARY

Guest Editorial - APNU’s deals with the government Stabroek News: Editorial - April 23, 2012 comments be achieved is the expressing of the 33 opposition No matter how it is parsed or spun, APNU’s deal- votes in Parliament as compared to the govern- making last week with the PPP/C government will be ment’s 32. Reducing this equation to 33, 26 and seen as a continuation of the historic engagement of seven is pure senselessness. the duopoly that has bestridden the political land- Solidarity undermined scape for the last 55 years or so and which has left the country wallowing in the backwaters of develop- Just months after the elections, APNU has managed ment and deeply divided. to undermine whatever solidarity existed with the AFC and it now has a lot of repair work to do. Fur- AFC excluded from meeting ther, it has `tied bundle’ with a notoriously untrust- In respect of the expectations of the AFC, many blunt worthy dialogue partner in the PPP/C whose recalci- descriptions can be applied to the nature of APNU’s trance, prevarication and backsliding have been well foray into the Office of the President when certain established particularly in the last decade. The failed commitments were given and it seems that the glim- Jagdeo-Hoyte and the Jagdeo-Corbin talks are a mers of a deal for the passage of the 2012 budget stark testament to the failure of our politicians at the developed. If APNU wanted its mission to OP to be highest levels. What happens if these talks between described as honourable and statesman-like then it APNU and the government fall apart? Wouldn’t required at least a modicum of courtesy to the AFC; APNU have to recombine its 26 with the AFC’s perhaps a discussion of what should be broached with seven? What sense does the separation at this early President Ramotar or the inclusion of an AFC repre- point make at all except if there was a larger deal on sentative. There was inexplicably none of this. the table e.g. a government of national unity as APNU wants but even then the AFC would still have “Which cap?” .. Mr. Granger to be involved? Worse, APNU appeared to want to keep this meeting Whatever epiphany APNU conjured up of the Ramo- a secret for as long as possible. Did APNU’s Head, tar administration, it has embarked upon a course Mr. David Granger go to OP with his APNU cap on or that will lead to harsh judgements from its constitu- as Opposition Leader? Neither capacity justifies the ency and other stakeholders if expected radical re- exclusion of the AFC. Mr Granger would no doubt un- forms aren’t evident in reasonable time. The majority derstand that wherever he goes these days he is first which voted against the PPP/C’s record would have and foremost the Leader of the Opposition and that done so for many reasons foremost among which entails representing not only the views of APNU MPs would have been the twisted governance, corruption, but the AFC’s MPs. In a consultative democracy rep- shady deals, a stagnant economy and the enriching resentation requires consultation at the minimum with of a select few while poverty remains insidious in the various groups, in this case, the AFC and the con- parts of the country. stituents of APNU. APNU’s shutting out of the AFC is just as crass as the government’s disdain for the op- Budget passage .. maybe position parties in the 9th Parliament. No doubt APNU’s engagement with the government APNU’s freedom of Action could lead to the passage of the 2012 budget. That would be a positive development for the country but APNU undoubtedly has complete freedom of action would it be a budget shorn of the wastage, unafford- but its constituency would no doubt counsel that this able employment contracts and ill-advised deals? freedom be exercised wisely, judiciously and honoura- This was what the AFC appeared to be trying to do bly. For the first time since 1992, the opposition has by seeking cuts of the budgets of various ministries. been gifted – via the elections results – with the op- These proposed cuts appeared to have given APNU portunity to hold the blatant excesses of PPP/Civic cold feet after the engineered protest in the vicinity of governance in check. The clearest and most uncom- Parliament or there might have been some other plicated way for that to be accomplished is by means factor that drove the meeting earlier in the day be- of a common agenda subscribed to by the two opposi- tween APNU and the government. It must be said tion parties and then presented to the government for that the government and its ministers engaged in the mature discussion. The clearest and most viable most shameless exaggeration and scaremongering mechanism through which this joint programme could Continued on next page The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide Blog: guyaneseonline.wordpress.com 4 COMMENTARY April 2012

Guest Editorial - APNU’s deals with the government Continued from previous page It had been sensibly argued that the opposition about the planned cuts, intimidating public servants should bless no change to the broadcasting spec- into protests. The AFC initiative was clearly not tar- trum until a new and independent broadcast author- geting the humble cleaners, drivers and messengers ity is in place and this authority would then make the and those qualified to earn what they are earning. It decisions. The government can now properly argue was targeting the questionable contracts of several that APNU has agreed to the Linden television ex- dozen contract employees who have been conven- pansion under the same framework that former iently hidden among other contract employees pre- President Jagdeo operated under last year. cisely to avoid exposure. APNU, however, cut the Other important issues AFC initiative off at the knees even though it was re- ported to have given tacit approval the day before. APNU and the government may well continue this engagement but the real test will be when the really Achieving Budget Objectives serious questions arise. Was Mr. Henry Greene’s No one is suggesting that the opposition holds the departure one of the outputs of this engagement? If government to ransom over the budget but by the so, it is another public relations disaster for APNU as same token the opposition should by all means use he has completely escaped any accountability for his the instruments available to it in the budget approval abuse of office. What is APNU’s view on this? What process to achieve its objectives. The consideration will happen when the former president’s benefits of the estimates provides for this exactly and this is Acts comes up for review in parliament? Will an the point at which APNU and the AFC should have APNU MP mysteriously miss that session of Parlia- trimmed wherever it was deemed necessary. APNU ment or will all of APNU backtrack? What of this has clearly lost the plot. long-talked about probe of the Roger Khan era, CLICO, the Skeldon factory fiasco, the public pro- As to the deals reached so far, APNU has already curement commission and myriad other issues? trumpeted a commitment from the government to What of the reforms of GECOM? APNU, its mem- hike old-age pensions from $8,100 per month to ber groups and its members clearly have much pon- $10,000. This is commendable but came only after dering to do before they go farther down this road. the government had offered a measly $600 increase on $7,500. What sort of government offers an in- Commentary: crease of $600 to the impecunious and then more Forked tongue: Guyana's Stabroek News' than triples that figure as an inducement for political criticism of APNU for following its advice support? It is the same type of cynical governance By Dr David Hinds - April 24, 2012 that APNU and the AFC should be trying to rein in. Stabroek News’ April 23, 2012, editorial (APNU’s There is already great discord over what was reput- Deals with the Government) … waded into the oppo- edly agreed in relation to electricity tariffs for Linden. sition APNU for secretly meeting with the PPP gov- Prime Minister Hinds and Mr. Granger have differed already over whether tariffs will go up in July. The ernment without the smaller opposition AFC. increase in tariffs has also been linked to three is- According to the Stabroek News: “No matter how it is sues: the age-old dust nuisance, more small loans parsed or spun, APNU’s deal-making last week with financing via the Linden Enterprise Network and ac- the PPP/C government will be seen as a continuation cess to more television. This was quite hare-brained of the historic engagement of the duopoly that has negotiating by APNU as the government had already bestridden the political landscape for the last 55 been under immense pressure to deliver all three of years or so and which has left the country wallowing these and would have had to. Surely APNU should in the backwaters of development and deeply di- have sought some other concession. vided.” Further, by agreeing with the government that televi- But it is this statement that caught my attention: sion service would be expanded in Linden, APNU “Further, it has `tied bundle’ with a notoriously un- and the Leader of the Opposition have wittingly or trustworthy dialogue partner in the PPP/C whose re- unwittingly given the green light to the radio licences calcitrance, prevarication and backsliding have been hurriedly and improperly assigned by former Presi- well established particularly in the last decade. The dent Jagdeo last year. failed Jagdeo-Hoyte and Jagdeo-Corbin ...[more]

The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide Blog: guyaneseonline.wordpress.com 5 April 2012

Parliament of the

Cooperative Republic of Guyana

Guyana’s Coat of Arms and an aerial view of Guyana’s Parliament Buildings

Note: Click headlines to read the articles in full Guyana’s Parliament

UPDATES UPDATES No bad blood between AFC, APNU – Opposition gouges $1.7B from Ramjattan Demerara Waves – April 23, 2012 Budget; NCN, GINA allocated $1 each Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj APRIL 26, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS By Gary Eleazar Ramjattan says there is no bad blood between his – as OP talks breakdown party and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in Following a breakdown of talks at the Office of the the wake of last week’s developments which saw the President between Opposition Parties and Head of blossoming of a closer relationship between the latter State Donald Ramotar on the passage of the 2012 opposition party and the government. [more] Budgetary Estimates the opposition made good on Joint opposition propose over $26B in its threat to make sweeping cuts to allocations. “They have chosen their [more] budget cuts Demerara Waves – April 23, 2012 The parliamentary opposition on Monday submitted More historic developments as… proposed cuts amounting to more than GUY$26B Budget approved, $21B slashed from the GUY$192.8 national budget to the conster- APRIL 27, 2012 | FILED UNDER KNEWS By Gary Eleazar nation of the government. …CANU, LCDS, ERC, State Planning feel the slice

Notice was given in the National Assembly on Mon- Pull Quote: “You may want to prove a point. You got a seat more and you want to day ahead of Tuesday’s consideration of the alloca- prove a point, but you are making a dangerous move…this will haunt you,”- Gail Teixeira warns tions which come under the Ministry of Finance and Office of the President headings. The government The Combined Opposition yesterday for the first time called a press conference shortly afterward where it in Guyana’s history, managed to dramatically gouge labelled the proposals “extremely alarming” [more] a significant portion of the monies allocated for spending in various sectors. A.P.N.U PRESS STATEMENT Tuesday 24th April 2012 Following two days of cuts by Alliance for Change APNU/AFC ON COMMON GROUND (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alli- the 2012 Budget was slashed by $21B with the entire ance for Change (AFC) have decided to stand on $18.5B allocation for the Low Carbon Development common ground to resist the passage of the 2012 Strategy (LCDS) projects gutted and reduced to $1. National Budget unless significant changes are im- This followed the previous day’s cuts to the tune of plemented in the public interest. some $2.23B which targeted the Guyana Power and APNU recalled that, soon after the 28th November Light Inc. (GPL) subsidy as well as GINA, NCN and 2011 General and Regional Elections, it called for GECOM, among others. the establishment of a Tripartite Budget Committee The first victims of yesterday’s cuts as proposed in to collaborate on the crafting of a national budget the motion by APNU’s Carl Greenidge were the Cus- that would be acceptable to all sides. The People’s toms Anti-Narcotics Unit, Ethnic Relations Commis- Progressive Party/Civic Administration adopted the sion and the State Planning Secretariat. [more]

The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide Blog: guyaneseonline.wordpress.com April 2012 6 GUYANA NEWS

Guyana’s Parliament and Governance Budget 2012 Reports Note: Click headlines to read the articles in full Opposition decries massive spending 2012 Budget Debate…Guyana’s debt without corruption safeguards higher than 1992 – Moses Nagamootoo March 31,2012—KNEWS APRIL 13, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS The Parliamentary Opposition yesterday charged that Guyana is more indebted than it was 20 years ago. the 2012 national budget is one designed to prop up At least that is what Moses Nagamootoo, the Alli- Government corporations plagued by inefficiency and ance For Change (AFC) Parliamentarian, expressed mismanagement. They added that the budget also in his presentation during the Parliamentary debate provides for handing a select group of people con- on the $192.8B National Budget on Tuesday. In a tracts without safeguards on corruption.. fiery presentation, Nagamootoo insisted that Guy- Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh announced that the ana’s debt is now about a $1B more than itwas in government will take $4 billion from the public purse 1992. to bail out the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) In that year, when there was a change of govern- and save it from its bitter state. He also announced ment to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic that Guyana Power and Light (GPL) would receive (PPP/C), the debt stood at US$2.1B. [more] US$6 billion. [more]

$4B bailout will not solve GuySuCo’s APNU will demand that NICIL be brought problems – AFC to books – Greenidge APRIL 8, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS April 4, 2012 -KNEWS “It will be good money in the hands of a bad man- The 2012 Budget Debates are set to commence agement” The Alliance For Change (AFC) is con- immediately after the Easter celebrations and from vinced that no amount of bail-out will ameliorate the all indications it will be a fiery period in the National extremely deep crisis that the sugar industry is in. Assembly. Government plans to inject a whopping $4B to prop up the industry which has been in crisis mode for The National Industrial and Commercial Invest- close to a decade. ments Limited (NICIL) headed by Winston Brassing- This plan was announced by Finance Minister Dr. ton and the proposed Georgetown Marriott Hotel are Ashni Singh during his recent budget presentation. expected to hold a spotlight in centre stage during The AFC is of the view that the problem with the the debates. The Proposed Marriott Hotel is owned sugar industry has to do with bad management and by a Special Purpose Company established for its the planned bailout will just be money wasted. [more] construction, called Atlantic Hotels Inc (AHI) and is also headed by Brassington. [more]

Our participation in local govt. elections hinges on reforms – APNU $7.8B budgeted to fortify Drainage & Irri- April 6, 2012 - KNEWS gation structures Opposition coalition, A Partnership for Unity Georgetown, GINA, April 02, 2012 (A.P.N.U), yesterday insisted that it is unlikely the The 2012 National Budget has allocated $7.8B for coalition will be willing to participate in elections until the continuation of drainage and irrigation invest- local government reforms become a reality. ments made in 2011. The Local Government Elections were planned for this year, after several postponements dating back to This is part of a strategic policy framework to con- the ‘90s. tinue “to place emphasis on the improvement, up- APNU also slammed the government over moves to grading and strengthening of the drainage and irri- “surreptitiously use state resources to place that party gation network and infrastructure aimed at reducing in a decidedly advantageous position when the long flooding, providing effective water management and overdue local government elections are held later this improving the livelihood of farmers and rural house- year”. [more] holds,” Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh said during the budget presentation. [more] The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide Blog: guyaneseonline.wordpress.com April 2012 7 GUYANA NEWS

Articles related to Guyana’s Governance 'Operation El Dorado' launched to reduce REPORTED SCAMS illegal mining in Guyana Caribbean news Now - April 24, 2012 $60 million GPHC shed devalues to $21 GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- The Ministry of Natural million

Resources and the Environment’s Guyana Geology APRIL 21, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS and Mines Commission (GGMC) is continuing to en- GPHC head said he had $16 million in his head force Guyana’s mining regulations by means of the There is even more confusion surrounding the cost recently launched ‘Operation El Dorado’ designed to of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation combat widespread illegal mining. (GPHC)’s waste processing facility and waste collec- Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, tion truck. Officials are now recanting earlier state- Robert Persaud; chairman of the board of directors ments about the cost. According to GPHC’s Chief of GGMC, Major General (rtd) Joseph Singh, and Executive Officer, Michael Khan, the Hydroclave fa- other senior government officials recently met with a cility and waste [more] high level delegation from the State of Roraima, Bra- zil, following the detention of scores of illegal Brazil- GPL rents US$900,000 generator for ian miners as part of Operation El Dorado. [ more ] US$720,000 annually APRIL 19, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Chinese company that bungled US$200M The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) last year Skeldon plant given US$48M GPL contract paid a hefty US$8.6M to rent 12 Caterpillar generat-

MARCH 27, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS ing sets for a period of one year. It could have spent Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL)’s Executive just US$2.2M more to buy them all. Last week, the yesterday underwent an inaugural review of the com- company said that renting the generators was the pany’s performance targets by the Public Utilities only feasible option, as opposed to buying [more] Commission (PUC) which resulted in a fiery session between stakeholders and company officials. It was pointed out by PUC Chairman Justice Prem Persaud Auditor General, police probe possible that the review of the GPL’s performance targets in- fraud at GGMC, mining company cluded Consumer [more] MARCH 31, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS The Auditor General and police are investigating National Assembly oversight for State re- possible wrongdoings with a transaction involving an sources during electioneering needed- EAB overseas mining company and the Guyana Geology March 26,2012—Demerara Waves and Mines Commission (GGMC). While government The Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) wants the declined to name the company on Thursday, a state- National Assembly to play a major role in the use of ment from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the State resources six months before General Elec- Environment said that GGMC has been [more] tions- the date of which should be fixed by law- and any violation should be a criminal offence. Grove/Diamond residents attack govern- The recommendation is contained in a 52-page ment for corruption cover-up document titled “Lessons Learned from 1992-2011: APRIL 19, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Recommendations for Reforming the Electoral Sys- Several residents of the Grove and Diamond vil- tem of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.” That lages, East Bank Demerara have written beverage- document accompanies the “Report on the Conduct giant Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) to hold off on of Polls: 2011 General and Regional Elections in rates and taxes payments amidst allegations of cor- Guyana.” [more] ruption at their Neighbourhood Democratic Council Note that this article and the Report outlines the blatant (NDC). These residents have put together a dossier use of state resources by the Governing party to influence of a list of grievances and cases of corruption and voting in the General and Regional Elections 2011. mismanagement [more]

The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups April 2012 8 GUYANA NEWS

" Note: Click headlines to read the articles in full Georgetown News NBS earns $180M from Berbice Bridge in 2011 HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGETOWN - New Headquarters opening soon CELEBRATING TWO HUNDRED YEARS! April 4, 2012 | KNEWS By Leonard Gildarie The capital city of Georgetown will celebrate two hundred – disburses record-breaking $4.2B in mort- years this year. The city of Stabroek was renamed gages, earns $772M profit – moving to increase Georgetown on 29 April 1812 in honor of England’s mortgage ceiling to $15M King George III. On 5 May 1812 an ordinance was passed to the effect that the town formerly called At the end of 2011, mortgage lender New Building Stabroek, with districts extending from La Penitence to Society (NBS) had recovered $584M, representing the bridges in Kingston and entering upon the road to the almost one-third of its total investments in the Ber- military camps, shall be called Georgetown. [Read more] bice River Bridge. The society, weeks before it com- missions its spanking multi-million-dollar new head- quarters on Avenue of the Republic [more] City Hall’s current clampdown –editorial

Stabroek News—Editorial - April 10, 2012 It comes as no surprise that there are eating houses, guest houses, barbering and hairdressing services and a host of other business ‘hustles’ in the city that are in breach of municipal public health and safety regula- tions. That is simply part of a wider pattern of lawless- ness that has long prevailed in our capital, and if precedent is anything to go by there is every reason to believe that City Hall’s threatened clampdowns on these indiscretions will pass without any significant change in the status quo. [more] NBS new headquarters on Avenue of the Republic

Stabroek Market’s environs to be fully G/town Chamber elects new executive sanitised – M&CC APRIL 15, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS

APRIL 20, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and In- After citing major health hazards in the environs of dustry (GCCI) on Friday elected a new executive the Stabroek Market, the Mayor and City Council’s whose members will focus on a number of issues Market and Public Health Division, has decided to that directly involve and serve their membership. have the area “fully sanitised and free of disgusting Newly-elected President of the GCCI, Clinton Urling, and repelling odours”. Former Mayor and Chairman of will work closely with fellow executives; Senior Vice the Markets and Public Health Committee, Ranwell President Lance Hinds, Junior Vice President Sean Jordan, in an interview [ more ] Ramrattan, Secretary [more]

Councillors mull approaching Auditor Gen- UG, One World team up to help city eral on City Hall’s financial discrepancies youths APRIL 1, 2012 | KNEWS APRIL 16, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS The University of Guyana (UG) is currently working Councillors of the Georgetown Municipality are yet to with One World Youth Project (OWYP), an interna- decide if they would engage the Auditor General to in- tional education non-profit organisation, to empower vestigate alleged financial discrepancies at City Hall youths in Georgetown, with international perspec- that were unearthed by Chairman of its Finance Com- tives and 21st century skills. Through the OWYP mittee, Junior Garrett. This is intended to weed out cor- programme, university student participants gain the ruption from all levels of City Hall’s administration. tools to teach global competence and local leader- Some of the discrepancies Councillors would [more] ship in secondary school classrooms. [more]

The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and 9 GUYANA NEWS March 2012

Agriculture and Mining Rice continues record-breaking move- RUSAL to expand bauxite operations in ment on economic front Guyana

APRIL 1, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS April 6, 2012 GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA) -- As the country’s Dr Ashni Singh has reported an 11.3 increase in rice economy continues to prove its robustness, more production. He told the House on Friday, that the rice companies, investors and organisations are showing industry extended its stellar performance of recent interest in investing and expanding their operations in years with total production last year of 401,904 ton- Guyana. The Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc nes. He said that during the year the industry contin- (BCGI)/ RUSAL has invested over US$21 million in ued to expand acreage under cultivation and earned additional equipment for its operations at Aroiama, higher yields, [more] Region 10. [more]

Mere two years after commissioning… US$200M Skeldon factory set for major Potable water rehab programme in Linden overhaul about to start April 25, 2012 Demerara Waves APRIL 3, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Just two years after launching the country’s most ex- Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) on Wednesday an- nounced that the start of preparatory work for the Linden pensive project to date, the government yesterday Water Supply and Rehabilitation Program (LWSRP) which announced plans to begin a major overhaul of the is funded by the Government of Guyana through a loan Skeldon factory. The US$200M factory, on which from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at a cost Guyana has been pinning its hopes to revive a strug- in excess of US$12 Million. gling industry which is the country’s biggest em- According to Program Manager, Omar Bissoon, the pro- ployer, has been plagued with problems. These gram seeks to significantly enhance the quality of life ex- problems [more] perienced by GWI customers in Linden through a massive rehabilitation of the water supply system. [more]

GuySuCo’s failures force Antigua to im- CGX pushes back drilling schedule, port sugar from elsewhere stock plunges APRIL 4, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS APRIL 11, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Antigua and Barbuda has been given a 20-month Stock in CGX Energy Inc. closed down more than 11 waiver to import brown sugar outside of its main sup- plier, Guyana, in a move aimed at ending the current per cent after heavy trading yesterday following the shortage. This means that the commodity would not announcement of a delay in completion of drilling on attract the Common External Tariff (CET) that is nor- its Eagle-1 offshore well in Guyana. CGX in a state- mally applied on such items imported from outside ment said “minor mechanical issues” on the Ocean the region, a report [more] Saratoga semi-submersible rig and weather condi- tions had pushed back [more] UG research finds Orange Rust Disease in Guyana Special unit to oversee expansion of April 26, 2012 | By KNews | . sugar yields under threat bauxite operations, investments

Research by the University of Guyana has found the APRIL 11, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS presence of Orange Rust Disease in the country. Amidst positive trends and increasing demands for This disease afflicts sugar cane leaves and has the Guyana’s bauxite, government yesterday announced potential to decrease sugar yield by up to 65 per the creation of a Bauxite Development Unit within the cent, and if left untreated, could have devastating Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). consequences for the entire sugar industry. The special unit has been mandated to coordinate, According to Director of the Berbice Campus, Profes- oversee and assist in making recommendations re- sor Daizal R. Samad, an active researcher attached lated to all aspects of the economic, social, environ- to the institution, [more] mental and occupation health and [more]

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Note: Click headlines to read the articles in full Other News from Guyana Lindeners seeing dark economic future Guyana leading Caribbean in EPA imple- APRIL 2, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS mentation, says EU regional director Residents of the mining town of Linden have reacted Published on April 25, 2012 angrily to the announcement that their electricity rates will be drastically increased to bring them on GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA) -- Guyana has par with the rest of the country. They are convinced lived up to expectations in the aspects of the Eco- that the decision was taken to punish them for their nomic Partnership Agreement (EPA) of which it was rejection of the ruling PPP/C at last year’s [more] a signatory and has taken the lead in the Caribbean region in the area of implementation. Gov’t defends increased electricity tariffs for Lin- This was the view of Latin America and the Carib- den bean and European Commission Directorate of De- APRIL 8, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Claims necessary to compensate for GPL shortfall velopment and Cooperation [more] Government is defending the impending electricity 106-year- old Patamona mother honoured by hike in Linden. The new tariff was announced by Fi- nance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh during the recent her community Budget presentation. On March 30, last, the Finance APRIL 2, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Minister noted that electricity tariffs were last ad- Very little is known of the history of the Patamonas justed in 2007, when light and heavy fuel oils [more] who have resided in parts of the Pakaraima Moun-

tain, Region Eight, for a very long time. Patamona is GPL set to lose US$200M this year – PUC an Amerindian tribe that is mostly found in mountain- APRIL 8, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS ous areas. An early contact between them and Euro- Rabindra Rooplall Last year was a difficult year for peans was made in the early nineteenth century Guyana Power Light (GPL). Since power generation when [more] is mainly fossil fuel based, its cost of operation will invariably remain high and by extension its tariffs, according to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) 2011 annual report. The commission disclosed that the power company had budgeted [more] Brazil trade… Lethem Authority to be established APRIL 10, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Government has announced plans to move ahead with the establishment of a Lethem Authority to help develop trade with that Region Nine area which bor- ders Brazil. Over the weekend, President Donald Ramotar met with the Rupununi Chamber of Com- merce and stressed that entrepreneurs in the district are in an advantageous position to benefit. [more] Next National Census expected in second half of 2012 Georgetown, GINA, April 2, 2012 Government says the next national census to be executed in the second half of 2012. The date will be decided based on the advice of Bureau of Statistics. Dr Ashni Singh said in his Budget, that the Census every ten years is in keeping with Census releases conducted in 2002 and previously in 1991. The last census, conducted in September 2002, showed a population of 751, 223 people.

The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide Blog: guyaneseonline.wordpress.com CANADA

11 BUSINESS April 2012

Chinese firm buying gov't 's GT&T shares for US$30M April 5, 2012—Demerara Waves The Guyana government has agreed to sell its 20 percent stake in the Guyana Telephone and Tele- graph Company (GT&T) to a Chinese firm for US$30M even as the company's management ex- press surprise at the sale. Cabinet secretary Lunch- eon announced at a press conference today: Guyanese invest in regional carrier

“That sale was at a sum of US$30M. The party to …airline set for April take-off which the sale was made is an Asian Chinese enter- prise that had conducted its due diligence with GT&T Jamaica’s newest carrier, FlyJamaica, partially subsequent to the decision made and communicated owned by Guyanese, Ronald Reece, is now sitting on to GT&T.” [more ] the ramp at the Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston, after several months at the Fort Lauderdale Small and medium businesses to benefit airport in Florida. from investment fund The airline’s 757-200 Boeing aircraft, which has the APRIL 4, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS capacity to accommodate approximately 200 passen- Small and medium scale business operators engag- gers, was ferried into the island Saturday afternoon to ing in similar ventures within the same area who are undergo document and demonstration evaluation, the prepared to work collectively could benefit from fi- Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority confirmed. [more] nancing from Government. Within months, the ad- ministration will be launching a Small Business De- First Suriname-Guyana financial venture velopment Fund creating and building incentives for launched the small and medium scale businesses. [ more ] April 2, 2012– GINA on Caribbean News Now Guyana (GINA) -- The first trans-border financial ser- Bank of Baroda opens Mon Repos branch vices venture between Guyana and Suriname has

Demerara Waves March 26, 2012 been realised with the launch of two services of As- suria NV, the largest insurance company in Suri- The Bank of Baroda has opened its second branch in name. The company launched its Assuria Life (GY) Guyana, a more than GUY$40M investment at Mon Inc. and Assuria General (GY) Inc. Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar and Finance The new branch, housed in a leased building, comes Minister Dr Ashini Singh joined Suriname’s ambassa- some 46 years after the Indian bank first started busi- ness in Georgetown and was in response to a call dor to Guyana. Dr Manorma Soeknandan; [more ] made by former President Bharrat Jagdeo for more banks on the ECD corridor. [more ] Guyana’s 2011 export earnings top US$1.1B

APRIL 2, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Vandals targeting GT&T cables …Rice, gold return stellar performances April 2, 2012—Demerara WAves During his review of the performance of 2011, Fi- Telephone and other telecommunication services for nance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh reported on a positive thousands of customers including businesses in and note, saying that Guyana’s export earnings topped around central Georgetown have been repeatedly the US$1B mark with rice and gold returning stellar disrupted over the past weeks as a result of what performances. Dr. Singh reported to the House dur- seems to be organized rampant vandalism, GT&T ing this year’s budget presentation that in 2012 there says. was an 11.3 increase in rice production. A release from the company on Monday stated that He told the House that the rice industry extended its their records indicate more than 12 attacks over the stellar performance of recent years with total produc- past weeks. [more] tion in 2011 of 401,904 tonnes. [more]

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EDUCATION Note: Click headlines to read the articles in full

Articles on Education in Guyana

GUY$26.5B for education; UG, CPCE to Guyana, UNICEF in US$15M p'ship to boost benefit women, children rights March 27, 2012—Demerara Waves March 312, 2012 Budget 2012 The Guyana government and UNICEF on Tuesday The government has allocated GUY$26.5B to the signed a five-year US$15.2M project agreement education sector this year, some GUY$2.5B more which will see the agency assist this country in its than the 2011 figure. efforts to bolster the rights of women and children in This was announced by Minister of Finance Dr. keeping with the Millennium Development Goals Ashni Singh when he revealed the GUY$192.8B na- (MDGs.) tional budget. The education allocation is the largest UNICEF Guyana/Suriname Representative Dr. in the budget. The 2011 figure of some GUY$24B Suleiman Braimoh told reporters at the signing of the had represented a 13 percent increase on the 2010 Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) 2012-2016 allocation. [more] that there are two phases to the project. [more]

Mangrove Restoration Project…UG to re- Poor nursing education highlighted in the search related climate change issues National Assembly

APRIL 18, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS APRIL 11, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS The National Agricultural Research & Extension The poor quality of nursing education, resulting in an Institute (NAREI) has entered into a $6M agreement 80.5 percent failure rate at the Georgetown School of with seven University of Guyana (UG) lecturers to Nursing, was roundly criticized in the National As- undertake, over the next year, 12 research projects sembly last evening by A Partnership for National focusing on abating climate change in relation to Unity member, Dr. George Norton. Norton, in his mangroves and its management. The projects, worth budget debate presentation, pointed out that in Guy- in excess of $10M, are in line with [more] ana, nurses, assistant nurses and midwives [more]

APNU calls for ‘quality product’ in Educa- NGO focuses on the East Ruimveldt tion Secondary School APRIL 18, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS APRIL 11, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s shadow In order to improve the education system at the Minister of Education, Amna Ally, has said that there East Ruimveldt Secondary School, the GY Alumni, a is no doubt that training and development is vital in Non-Governmental-Organization (NGO) recently this sector, and her party feels that Guyana does not started a one-week reunion programme which is necessarily benefit from mass production, thus “we aimed at facilitating the school’s library and sports must not lose sight of quality production”. “I feel very facilities. According to the NGO’s vice president, proud when [more] Maloma Bristol, the members are not only trying to bring the [more] GT&T donates DVDs to Learning Channel Queens College Alumni of NY APRIL 19, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS 21st Anniversary Celebration The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) donated DVDs of the just concluded ‘Know Sat, May 19, 8pm – Sun, May 20, 2am Your Stuff’ Literature Quiz Competition to the Guy- ana Learning Channel, last Thursday. From the first Astoria World Manor broadcast from February to March 2012, will now be 25-22 Astoria Blvd, New York, NY 11102 re-broadcasted on the said channel (Channel 80) at the somewhat fitting time when students [more] Admission: $90.00 map

The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups 13 GUYANA NEWS April 2012

MEDICAL Note: Click headlines to read the articles in full

News items from Guyana on Medical related subjects Govt stands firmly behind HPV vaccina- Primary health care is a paramount need tion programme APRIL 18, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS

APRIL 4, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS – says Transplant Surgeon Government, from all indications, is standing firmly Primary health care has always been, and will con- behind its decision to administer Gardasil, a vaccine tinue to be, a paramount need in any country, particu- aimed at reducing the likelihood of young girls con- larly in a developing country, says Dr. Stephen Guy. tracting the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Finance The kidney transplant surgeon, who is currently at- Minister Dr Ashni Singh in his presentation of the tached to the Drexel University College in the United 2012 Budget under the theme “remaining on course, States, has over the past few years been [more] united in purpose, prosperity for all” has [more]

Health Inspectors commence crackdown Linden Hospital Complex a disaster- on illegal operations APNU

APRIL 4, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS - barbers, restaurants and salons on radar APRIL 17, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS The $2.2B Linden Hospital Complex, built to provide City Hall launched its inspectors around the city yes- free health services in Region Ten, was denounced terday to verify if salons, restaurants, barber shops as a disaster in the National Assembly by A Partner- and common lodging houses were in compliance ship for National Unity’s Parliamentarian, Vanessa with basic public health and sanitation rules and Kissoon. Kissoon, in her Budget debate presentation, regulations as prescribed by the Municipal Act Chap- highlighted several ‘eyebrow raising’ issues affecting ter 28:01. According to acting Public Relations Offi- the hospital, including poor infrastructure and inade- cer, [more] quate equipment, all impacting [more]

Govt. budgets $672 million for Speciality HIV on the decline in Guyana – says PANCAP Hospital Global AIDS Progress Report 2010-2011

APRIL 2, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS APRIL 15, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Touted as a means of placing emphasis on universal The HIV prevalence among the general population access to primary health care and expanding access in Guyana has been steadily decreasing since 2004 to specialised care, Government has budgeted the from 2.4 percent to 1.07 percent in 2011. Additionally, sum of $672 million to commence construction of the the proportion of all deaths attributable to AIDS has much talked about speciality hospital at Liliendaal, also steadily declined by 56 percent since 2002. Ac- Greater Georgetown. According to Finance Minister, cording to Guyana’s Global AIDS Progress Report Dr Ashni Singh, this 100-bed state-of-the-art facility 2010-2011, there is a body [more] when completed, [more]

British High Commissioner makes dona- Visually-impaired girl heading out to tion to Health Ministry Trinidad and Tobago for surgery

APRIL 19, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS APRIL 17, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS The British High Commission yesterday donated 50 The visually-impaired father of 11-year-old Paula assessment kits, containing supplies and equipment Cottom, who needed financial aid to fly to Trinidad for occupational, speech and physiotherapies, to the and Tobago for an eye surgery has been ‘beating’ the Ministry of Health’s Rehabilitation Division. The kits pavement tirelessly to raise the balance to provide are to be used by the rehabilitation assistants to as- their meals and accommodation, said the United sess and treat children and adults with disabilities. Women for Special Children. The United Women for Emphasis was placed on remote areas such as Re- Special Children (UWSC) has also played [more] gions One, [more] The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide Blog: guyaneseonline.wordpress.com 14 TOURISM April 2012

Note: Click headlines to read the articles in full Website Links Hotels, Eco-resorts. etc Suriname Airways returns to Guyana first country to host Adel’s Rainforest Resort Guyana after six years tourism conference twice Ariantze Sidewalk Hotel Café and Jazz Club APRIL 17, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS - By Kristen Macklingam As Guyana continues to gain interna- Banganara Island Resort tional recognition in the areas of tour- ism and hospitality, the 13th Annual Blue Wave Apartment Hotel Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Devel- Bradsville Apartments opment Conference (STC 13) was offi- cially opened Sunday evening at the Cara Hotels Guyana International Conference Cen- tre (GICC). more] El Dorado Inn

President Donald Ramotar and Suriname President Des Bouterse Tourism Development Confer- Evergreen Adventures exchange views shortly after the arrival of Flight 737 ence…LCDS can promote sus- APRIL 4, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS By Kristen Macklingam tainable environmental policies Grand Coastal Inn – offers direct flights to Miami Herdmanston Lodge After six years, Suriname Airways has APRIL 18, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS – said President Ramotar at the 13th returned to Guyana and is now offer- Hurakabra River Resort ing non-stop flights to Miami. The in- Annual Caribbean Conference on Sus- augural flight arrived yesterday at the tainable Tourism Development (STC- Hotel Tower – Emerald Tower Cheddi Jagan International Airport 13) under the theme “Keeping the Resort (CJIA) at 10:00 hrs. On board were Right Balance: Sustaining Our Re- Iwokrama Canopy Walkway Surinamese President and Caribbean sources”. A reception was hosted on April 17, for delegates and media rep- Community (CARICOM) Chairperson, Iwokrara Forest - Desi Bouterse [more] resentatives at State House. [more] Kanuku Suites CJIA Expansion Update US$22.5M into CJIA expansion, CJIA expansion will dislocate Le Grand Penthouse Hotel awaits Chinese loan Timehri residents Pegasus Hotel

APRIL 2, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Budget 2012… APRIL 5, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Princess Hotel The expansion of the Cheddi Jagan In early September, residents of International Airport (CJIA), along with Timehri East Bank Demerara area Radisson Apartment Suites initial peripheral works has been were hopeful that the issue of attaining pegged at US$162M ($32.4B). This is land titles would be addressed before Regency Suites Hotel some US$19M more than the price the holding of the general elections on quoted by Former President Bharrat November 28, 2011. Now, after the Rock View Lodge, Rupununi Jagdeo, who said that the project will reading of the 2012 Budget, some four cost some US$143M. [more] Roraima Airways, Hotels and months after the elections, the future Companies for these residents seems [more] CJIA’s $150M expansion…Govt. Sleepin International Hotel eyes Indonesia, Singapore, South Not a priority…Marriot, CJIA pro- Splashmins Resort & West African Markets ject should be halted – AFC, APNU Surama Eco-Lodge Rupununi APRIL 18, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Budget 2012… April 22, 2012 | Filed Under News Budget 2012… – US$130M loan one that country can ill Government will be spending at least Status International Hotel US$150M for the expansion of Cheddi – afford at this time Government’s inten- Jagan International Airport (CJIA), tions to spend more than US$170M on two major projects is not going down well with Timberhead Eco-Resort saying on Monday (April 16), that Guy- the Parliamentary Opposition parties. They Trans Guyana Airways ana stands to potentially benefit from say that the investments are not priorities untapped markets in Africa, Indonesia to Guyana at this time. The two projects and Singapore. [more] under fire are [more] Wilderness Explorers

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15 ASSOCIATIONS April 2012

Religious organizations, Health Ministry CENTURY21 CAMDEC Real Estate Ltd. Celebrates host medical outreach 35th Anniversary in 2012 APRIL 16, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Hemthorn Investments Corporation Celebrates Over 300 Guyanese have accessed free medical at- 26th Anniversary in 2012 tention within proximity of their respective work Camille De Castro FRI formed CAMDEC Real Estate Ltd. on January 4 1977. places, as the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Rupert De Castro joined Camille in CAMDEC in August 1977. CAMDEC the corporate community provided medical care in- joined the CENTURY 21 system in 1978 at which time, Camille and Rupert cluding eye care and dental services. A similar activ- were the only agents.

ity is scheduled for Masjid al Nur in Parfait Harmonie, Hemthorn, owned by Camille and Rupert, owns and manages the 17,000 sq.ft. Region three on April 16. This medical [more] building from which CENTURY21 CAMDEC operates. The majority of space is divided into private, fully furnished offices which we rent from $309.00/mth on short terms, 1-24 months +. Cuban nationals donate 62 units of blood At the “peak” of the market in 1989 Camille and Rupert worked with 230+ sales associates speaking APRIL 17, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS some 30 different languages, 23 support staff, opened the office from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. 7 days a - plan to assist Guyana in other service areas week and closed $6.75 million in commissions (1988).

An urgent call for blood throughout the country In April of 1989 the market turned: The average house price in Toronto dropped prompted the Cuban nationals to donate over 62 from a peak of $273,698 in 1989 to $198,150 in 1996.

units of blood yesterday. Head of the Cuban Medical Then the market turned to the positive again. The average price increased in Brigade (CMB), Dr. Maria del Carmen Lozada Con- 1997 and has done so each year since, to an average of $465,294 (year to date cepcion led the drive. The volunteers were Cuban October 2011). With interest rates set to rise, one would expect the pace to be tempered. doctors, nurses, technicians, Medical [more] It this a good time to buy a house as an investment? NO.

Campbellville residents to build Fun Park It this a good time to buy a home to live in? Yes, especially if you can accom- modate a tenant in a separate entrance apartment in your basement. Rent of MARCH 31, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS $800 per month carries $150,000 + of your mortgage. This process affords you Residents of Campbellville are now working hand in the opportunity of buying another property as an investment sooner. hand to make their dreams of having a community For more information on buying your first home or selling your property for the recreational park a reality. Kaieteur News spoke to maximum price with the least amount of inconvenience and within your time the architect behind the plan, Russell Braithwaite, frame and/or building a portfolio of investment properties (houses), I am a who noted that the initiative was further developed phone call away c: 416-817-7604 – 24 hours or Email ([email protected]). after Carl Carew, who works with the Community Bush Master Outpost in helping to develop [more] Are you in your 20’s/30’s ++ and want a better chance of becoming a million- aire? The younger you are the greater time advantage you have. Buy a house and another and then another. I will lease the property for you to your first tenants at no cost and will literally teach you how to handle your investments. Canada constructs guest house at Capoey - Essequibo Coast TALK TO SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE PROCESS AND IS WILLING TO IMPART HIS KNOWLEDGE OF RESIDENTIAL REAL ES- APRIL 19, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS TATE INVESTMENTS (HOUSES). SOMEONE WHO HAS HIMSELF Canadian High Commissioner, David Devine, re- DONE IT.

cently visited the Essequibo Coast and duly commis- INFORMATION IS PROVIDED WITHOUT OBLIGATION. sioned a guest house at Capoey. The building repre- sented a donation from stakeholders in Canada. The guest house, which has three rooms, a balcony, TALK TO SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE kitchen, living quarters and toilet facilities was com- PROCESS AND IS WILLING TO IMPART HIS KNOWL- pleted at a cost of $7.7 M. [more] EDGE OF RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS (HOUSES). SOMEONE WHO HAS HIMSELF DONE IT. Peace Corps Volunteers inducted INFORMATION IS PROVIDED WITHOUT OBLIGATION

MARCH 31, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS -32 Americans to serve Guyana in education, health A. Rupert De Castro CMA, By Kristen Macklingam Guyana will now benefit from Broker of Record the work of 32 American Peace Corps Volunteers Bus. (416) 298-2800 Res. (416) who were inducted on Thursday at the Theatre Guild, 292-1056 Cel. (416) 817- 7604 Kingston, and will be deployed throughout the country within a matter of days. [more] “When young, build assets… Then build cash flow.”

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16 ASSOCIATIONS April 2012

GUYAID - 27th Annual Tribute to Mothers— Greenbelt. Maryland. USA.

A Fabulous Luncheon, Salute to Mothers,

Steel Pan Music CACCI GWAN Violin Music, Poetry, Song & Dance Sunday - May 13, 2012 1:00 p.m.

At Martin’s Crosswinds 7400 Greenway Center Drive Greenbelt, Maryland 20770 [ map ]

Donation: Adults $50.00 Children (under 12) $25.00

For Ticket information Call: 202.643.3415, 301.509.7496, 202-445-0054, 703-926-8998 or on line at guyaid.org Tickets In Advance Only

The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide Blog: guyaneseonline.wordpress.com April 2012 17 ARTS – CULTURE

Ruminations by Carl Hazlewood a BOOK: Mohandas K Gandhi ,Thoughts, ‘Foreign Guyanese’ Words, Deeds- His Source of Inspiration: Bhagavad Gita "Pretty Angel Baby," Carl Hazlewood. Mixed Media Installation. 2012 Book Review By : Leonard Daby- Carl E. Hazlewood is a Guyanese deen, October 24, 2011 artist, writer and curator, living in Brooklyn, New York. He is co- A new book about Mohandas Karam- founder and former curator chand Gandhi or Mahatma ( the of ALJIRA, A Centre for Contempo- Great One) may appear blasé for rary Art, in New Jersey. many, or some few who have had the There have been several occasions in recent years where opportunity to trace, glimpse, or even I’ve been accused of being a ‘foreign Guyanese,’ that term browse or seriously read any of the being used deliberately to suggest, I felt, that I had no right many books written about this luminary spiritual and to be involved with things I assumed was within my cultural political leader from India. But this debut work of non- sphere of interest as a ‘born’ Guyanese. As one might fiction, Mohandas K. Gandhi Thoughts, Words, imagine, such encounters induced moments of extreme Deeds- His Source of Inspiration: Bhagavad-Gita psychic dissonance for me. What was I? Who am I? Why do I feel such a responsibility to folks who seem so disinter- written by prominent Guyanese-born Canadian crimi- ested in whatever I had to offer? And what is the responsi- nal and immigration lawyer, Ramnarine Sahadeo, bility of that place and those people to me? comes with a new visionary insight for peace, pro- gress and prosperity into our vicious world of anger, I was taken to the United States at around the age of hate, violence and a cornucopia of thirteen or so. I was there to have a congenital heart undesirables. defect repaired. And except for a period of about two or three years when I was a teen, I’ve since resided in The book itself, either in hardcover America. Thus, I’ve spent only a fraction of my life ac- or paperback is just 159 pages and tually located in Guyana. But what does that mean makes for easy reading for any lay about the quality of my experience as someone of that reader, student in college or univer- place and of that soil? When my little family [more] sity. It is not by any escape a reli- gious text to be dubbed cynical by Guyanese artist Carl E. Hazlewood in Leonard Dabydeen some, or to be dismissed with an Formed Perceptions Exhibition expression; nor is it a guided summary compendium of do’s and don’ts. Although it emphatically sketches Carl E. Hazlewood,(more here) from Guyana, South the life of Gandhiji, …. [Book Review continued] America is an artist, writer, and curator currently living in Brooklyn. He is also the co-founder of Aljira, A How a trip to Guyana became a short-listed novel Center for Contemporary Art in Newark, NJ. Cricket writer, Rahul Bhatta- Hazlewood’s current collection of Angels are site spe- charya goes to the Caribbean and discovers an India that Indi- cific constructions made of a variety of painted pa- ans don't know about pers, textiles, and strings. “I frankly seek that buoy- ancy, tough beauty, and strong form that could sus- (CNNGO).-What does it mean tain them for their brief life while up on the wall. Like to "really travel" in a world those other angels, these forms appear, make an im- where so much is connected and so little seems pression and disappear rather quickly.” These tempo- new? One answer may be to spend a year in a place rary constructions react with light and float up the that everybody else seems to have forgotten. And, walls of the gallery space. from there, to write a novel so adventurous and Art, circles around our daily lives and warps, bends, and ex- beautiful that it reminds us how much of the earth pands our perceptions of form place and color. Formed Per- there is left to see. ception on view at Corridor Gallery April 13th – May 20th challenges our relationships with the standard white cube and Former cricket writer Rahul Bhattacharya does just morphs the viewer’s perceptions of a gallery into a transcend- that. The result of his year-long stint in Guyana was ing, swirling, and grounding experience through painting, "The Sly Company of People Who Care" -- short- sculpture, print making, projections, and installations. [more] listed for this year's Man Asian Literary Prize. [more]

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The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide Guyanese short film at Caribbean film festival CineGuyana Films have been screened for the pub- lic at The Billy Holiday Theatre, New York; The Uni- versity of Warwick, UK; The American Film Institute, Washington, The African Film Festival in Nigeria and Guyexpo. The making of the films was also supported by USAID. Guyanese across the regions of Guyana will have an opportunity to view these films when the local caravan rolls out on April 20, 2012. Schedules will be published on the CineGuyana website and Face- book pages as well as the local press. One of the eight films is also expected to be included in the European Union’s Film festival carded for the Thea- tre Guild later this month. Founded in 2010, the CaribbeanTales Film Festival Masquerade Band @ Island Inn Barbados is a multi facetted event that includes a Film Festival, an Industry Symposium, “Tradition”, one of the eight short films and a Content incubator, all aimed at stimulating the (CineGuyana) produced under The President’s Film development of a vibrant world class Caribbean film Endowment 2011, established by President Bharat and television industry. Jagdeo, was shown at the Caribbean Tales Film Fes- tival in Barbados on Thursday, April 12, 2012. CaribbeanTales is a group of companies that pro- duces, markets and exhibits Caribbean-themed films The Festival is organised by Caribbean Tales, The for regional and international distribution. These in- Caribbean Diaspora's most dynamic film festival clude: CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution, that group --- with bases and events in Toronto, Barbados links producers and buyers of quality filmed enter- and New York, and partnerships across the region tainment; the CaribbeanTales Film Festival Group and the globe. It showcases works made by filmmak- that produces annual events in Toronto, Barbados ers from Caribbean backgrounds and/or that cele- and New York; the Caribbean Incubator Program for brate and explore Caribbean themes, and themes of Audio Visual Entrepreneurs that delivers training for interest and relevance to people from the Caribbean filmmakers, and CaribbeanTales.ca, a non profit that Diaspora. promotes citizen participation through the medium of “Tradition” was one of 8 features and 15 shorts se- film, contributing to an inclusive Canadian society. lected from over 70 entries in this year’s Cartibbean Demerara Waves—April 7, 2012 Tales festival. It was conceptualised and directed by Arts & Craft association to open central Margaret Lawrence and written by the team of Law- shopping plaza rence, Richard Pitman (Producer) Ayanna Waddell, Russell Lancaster and Yaphet Jackman (Director of APRIL 20, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS Cinematography ) . Executive Producers were Dr. In recognizing that Guyanese local artists are faced Paloma Mohamed and Brian Zahm, MFA. with the daily and overwhelming challenge of mar- keting their produce, the Guyana Arts and Craft Pro- “Tradition” a 10 minute cultural fiction is about a ducers Association (GACPA) has opted to open a family battling personal loss and the anger that this central shopping plaza, where artists from all across brings while a young boy tries to hold on to the tradi- the country can go to sell their produce. tions of his father and the yearnings of his heart. Through the cultural artifact of the Masquerade, the About one year ago, former President Bharrat Jag- past, present and future collide in a surprising end. deo met with executive members of the GACPA to “Tradition” stars Lavonne George, Kijana Lewis, Jo- discuss ways forward. The Association was awarded hann David and The Golden Arrowhead Masquerade the old Transport and Harbours building obliquely Band. opposite to the Municipal Abattoir on Water Street, Kingston in Georgetown. [more]

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The Newsletter and Blog for Guyanese Individuals, Associations and Groups Worldwide

1823 Demerara Revolt monument, Instit. of Creative Arts coming - gov't

The Guyana government says it is erecting a 15-foot Other activities on the government’s cultural agenda bronze monument to honour those who died in the for the year include the set-up of eco-museums and 1823 Demerara Slave Revolt as part of the com- work on a creative institute. memoration activities which marked the UN’s Inter- “This year the [National] Museum will be collaborating national Year for People of African Descent ob- with various hinterland communities to develop eco- served last year. museums. These are fundamentally different from the This was revealed by Minister of Culture, Youth and traditional museums because they offer the visitor a Sport Dr. Frank Anthony when the week-long debate lived experience that is a more holistic interpretation on the 2012 national budget continued. of the communities’ cultural heritage‘ ...the minister explained. ….preserving the culture and practices of “The renowned Guyanese sculptor Mr. Ivor Thom is the communities, and will also promote the sustain- presently working to complete this project and I able economic development of the communities. heard the Honourable Mrs. [Deborah]Backer asking about what we did last year for the International Year Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony said the government will be for People of African Descent; this is one of the tan- working this year towards the establishment of the gible projects that will be coming out of that year,” Dr. “Institute of Creative Arts” to expand the scope of edu- Anthony said. cation and improve the quality of cultural education being offered. The project started last year and is expected to be finished this year but a site for the monument is still “This would be a consolidation of the Burrowes’ to be chosen with the minister saying the sugges- School of Art, the National School of Dance and the tions are either in Georgetown or on the East Coast National Music School under one umbrella. In addi- Demerara where the revolt had taken place. Dr. An- tion, we will work to develop two other faculties, one in thony said the monument is being created at a local drama and the other in film.” foundry. Meanwhile, he added that they will com- Guyana will also be hosting the Inter-Guiana Cultural plete the rehabilitation of the 1763 Monument later Festival this year which is intended to bring the three this year and will be looking to restore the fountain Guianas – Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana – and add lights to the site. together. WALTER RODNEY – 70 YEAR ANNIVERSARY—23 MARCH 2012 Dr Walter Rodney was born on the 23rd March, was widely acclaimed for its hitherto unusual chal- 1942, in Colonial Guyana, formerly British Guiana. lenge to the conventional Eurocentric approach of Despite his very modest socio-economic back- the day: the patronising assumptions of European ground, Baba Rodney was recognised as a very historians about African history. He therefore helped gifted and talented pupil at a young age. He attended to set new standards of exploring the history of Afri- the Queens College in Guyana, where he excelled kan people from an Afrikan-centred perspective. well academically as well as athletically and where As a student in Jamaica, Baba Walter Rodney main- he made a reputation as a formidable debater. tained an active interest in the politics of the island

and the region as a whole. He campaigned vigor- In 1960, he won a scholarship to the University of the ously in the 1961 referendum for the accomplishment West Indies (UWI) in Jamaica, where he graduated of a Federation of the Caribbean States. By the in 1963 with a first class honours degree in history. same token, whilst studying in London, he fre- Thus, he earned an open scholarship at the School quented Hyde Park Speaker Corner to hone his craft of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, as an orator, par excellence. During this time he met UK. In 1966, at the age of only 24, he was awarded a and became an avid student of notable scholar and PhD with honours in Afrikan history. His PhD disser- activist CLR James. From the day of his childhood tation was focused on the so called Transatlantic when his politically active parents would take him to ‘slave trade’ on the Upper Guinea Coast. It was pub- the meetings of the then highly radical People’s Pro- lished in 1970 by Oxford University, entitled ‘A His- gressive Party, the young Walter Rodney had never tory of the Upper Guinea Coast,’ 1545-1800. This looked back. [more—Walter Rodney article]

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Caribbean: Tourism central to region’s future growth The View from Europe - By David Jessop Recently, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Associa- A further interesting example of a nation that has tion had their yearly meeting in Nassau, Bahamas. fully recognised the dynamic role tourism has in un- derwriting growth is Cuba. There, very senior mem- Caribbean tourism is now a long way from its origins. bers its government unconnected with the industry From an industry originally run by gifted amateurs speak positively about the central economic contribu- and mavericks it is now a hugely important profes- tion they intend the industry making as it moves up- sional activity at the centre of the Caribbean econ- market and Government encourages investors to lo- omy which, irrespective of the aversion that some cate facilities in newly created development zones. international financial institutions and non- governmental organisations have to it, now plays a Sustainable and professional management vital role in Caribbean economic development. The key as Barbados, Cuba , Jamaica, Aruba and Bahamas fully supports Tourism others in the region have found is that the Caribbean has to make tourism sustainable, professionally run In the Bahamas the Government from the Prime Min- and monitored if nations are to be able to compete ister down, the media, the unions and the private globally. sector all understand this and accept tourism’s cen- trality to the islands’ economic survival. As a conse- This is an important step forward from the sometimes quence tourism has for a long time now been a mat- grudging support given by some Governments ter about which virtually every member of the Baha- across the region to an industry that parts of the pub- mas Cabinet and opposition has a positive view. lic sector and academia still seem unwilling to ac- cept. Until relatively recently this could not be said about much of the rest of the region despite the fact that Having said this it is clear that 2012 will not be an tourism, its allied services and its ever increasing de- easy year for the industry. [more] mand-shadow now lie at, or close to, the centre of the modern Caribbean economy in all but a very few Caribbean Tourism: The Cruise Industry nations. The View from Europe - By David Jessop More nations now focus on Tourism Caribbean Governments, tourist boards and hoteliers Thankfully more nations have in the last few years are no strangers to the difficulties of dealing with the come to realise that tourism, unlike any other form of cruise lines when it comes to issues that touch their investment, can turn economies around rapidly and loosely regulated but highly profitable industry. in real time; provides a non-national source of in- They may therefore be less than surprised by the come to support social commitments at hopefully re- public response to some of the more worrying as- alistic levels of taxation; and has a wider cash impact pects of the January 13 capsizing of the Costa Con- that can benefit everyone from the farmer producing cordia off the Italian coast with the loss of sixteen eggs to the accountant or junior physician. lives. In an approach that ought to be more common Although still to be the subject of formal investigation among financial institutions across the region, the and trial, it is already clear that the ship’s captain Barbados Central Bank Economic Review in Decem- took the vessel too close to the small island of Giglio. ber provided a detailed focus on the tourism industry. As a consequence the ship, carrying around 4000 This identified trends in visitor spending and high- passengers and crew, hit a submerged rock tearing a lighted the impact of the global recession on spend- hole in its hull, causing it to capsize and the passen- ing by visitors from the United Kingdom, the island’s gers having to abandon ship in chaotic circum- largest source market. The Review also contained a stances. useful study estimating the average length of stay of visitors over a seven year period, an approach cen- Unusually for a maritime accident, within forty eight tral to determining how much the tourism sector con- hours of the disaster, the vessel’s Italian operators tributed to GDP and by extension its long term role in Costa Crociere, one of a number of cruise compa- the economy. nies owned by the Carnival Corporation, [more]

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Trinidad and Tobago News Jamaica News

Good News for Trinidad’s Economy Jamaica 50 to cost J$688 million

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday April 16, (Jamaica Gleaner: April 4, 2012) 2012 – The Trinidad and Tobago economy is mak- The Government is to ing a turnaround following the global economic re- spend $688 million to cession. And according to a March 25, 2012 report celebrate Jamaica’s from the International Monetary Fund, the country’s 50th year of Independ- economy was expected to show growth in 2012. ence. That report outlined that Commercial Bank credit, This is a serious cut especially in the business sector, expanded since from the J$2.5 billion mid-2011 for the first time since early 2010, while budgeted by the previ- retail sales increased by 6.4 per cent up to the third Picture from Last year’s celebrations ous administration. Cul- quarter of 2011. [more] ture Minister Lisa Hanna said the final figure was ar- rived at after a restructuring of the programme plans. Trinidad in big oil find Stabroek News - March 31, 2012 - (Trinidad Express) Meanwhile, Hanna said Jamaica 50 celebrations will The people of this country can expect better times start in mid April right up to main celebratory period of ahead as State- owned Petrotrin has struck “black August 1 to 6. The celebration will go under the ban- gold” with the discovery of 48 million barrels of ner “Jamaica 50 – A Nation On A Mission”. crude oil, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Among the programmes are a series of concerts, cul- said on March 29. tural exhibits and the staging of a major 24-hour event Petrotrin’s Khalid Hassanali said the company, dis- which will be aired on local and international TV. covered the oil off the Gulf of Paria four miles west of Point Fortin in 60 feet of water. [more] Chinese break Jamaica sugar marketing Trinidad Opposition Leader dismisses monopoly “massive oil find” as a hoax (Jamaica Gleaner) Pan Caribbean Sugar Company PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Wednesday April 04, (PCSC) is to be conferred with ‘agent’ status, effec- 2012 – Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has dis- tively ending the monopoly on the marketing of Jamai- missed government’s announcement of a major oil cans sugar crystals held by Jamaica Cane Product find as a hoax. Sales, but sugar regulators say the status quo will re- This assertion was supported by Diego Martin North main for the current crop. East MP Colm Imbert who said the “alleged discov- Pre-divestment, the sugar sector was configured for ery has all the distinguishing features of a hoax. No all players – both private and publicly owned opera- two ways about it”. [more] tions – to pool their production. At a practical level that meant that each factory sold Award of large contract to Chinese com- their produce to the sole Sugar Industry Authority- pany worrying – T&T senator designated agent, JCPS, which in turn negotiated Stabroek News On April 25, 2012 (Trinidad Guardian) price and supplied all markets mainly in Europe and The award of a TT$.5 billion contract to the China the United States. Jiangsu International firm is a “worrying sign” for The Chinese-owned PCSC, a subsidiary of COM- Government senator David Abdulah. He said T&T PLANT group, however, negotiated with the Jamaican will never develop if local capacity was not maxi- government the right to sell its own sugar when it mised. He was speaking at a seminar organised by bought up the biggest factories in 2010. the T&T Local Content Chamber at the Linx Hotel in San Fernando—on the same day it was reported In 2010, sugar export volumes and earnings hit a low that the Chinese construction firm got the contract to point of 92,899 tonnes and US$45.8 million, respec- build the University of the West Indies South cam- tively, according to the most recent Planning Institute pus. [more] data. [more]

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Suriname News Barbados News Suriname lawmakers grant immunity for Several advantages to doing business 1982 murders with Barbados, says PM

On April 4, 2012 PARAMARIBO, (Reuters) – April 25, 2012 Caribbean News Now Lawmakers in Suriname granted amnesty today to WASHINGTON, USA -- The United States business the killers of 15 opponents of President Desi Bout- community was reminded on Monday by Prime Min- erse 30 years ago in a move that is certain to draw ister Freundel Stuart that there were several advan- fresh criticism of the South American leader. tages of doing business with Barbados; and he en- Bouterse – a convicted cocaine smuggler who previ- couraged companies to further explore these bene- ously seized power in two coups and is wanted in the fits as the US Chamber of Commerce gets ready to Netherlands to serve an 11-year prison sentence for open an office in Barbados later this year. [more] drug trafficking – still faces a trial in his own country for the 1982 murders. Guyana’s Consul General to Barbados He has refused to attend those court sessions for four years, and it is unclear whether the prosecution presents Letter of Commission will proceed after the vote by the National Assembly, April 25, 2012—KNEWS which approved the amnesty bill 28-12 after three Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, has stated that on days of debate. [more] April 25, 2012 Consul General Mr. Michael Brother- Netherlands raps Suriname over killings son presented his Letter of Commission as Consul General of Guyana to Barbados to the Hon. Maxine amnesty McLean, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Barbados. AMSTERDAM, (Reuters) - The Netherlands slammed as “totally unacceptable” a vote by lawmakers in its former col- “The decision by the Government of Guyana to up- ony Suriname granting amnesty to the suspected grade its consular representation in Barbados was killers of 15 opponents of President Desi Bouterse 30 taken in the light of the strong relationship between years ago. Bouterse, who was elected in 2010, was Guyana and Barbados and the increased contact among those on trial over the 1982 murders. Dutch between the two countries both at the Government Prime Minister Mark Rutte warned that April 4, 2012 and people to people levels. decision would have serious consequences, and said A permanent presence in Barbados would allow for the Netherlands had summoned its ambassador to improved consular services and the development of Suriname back to The Hague . [more] relations with the Guyanese Diaspora. The Govern- ment of Guyana will also work with the Government of Barbados through its Consul General to promote Heightened security at Suriname’s borders trade and investment and bilateral cooperation in key April 11, 2012 (de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – areas,” the statement concluded. Common interests compel Suriname and French Guiana to closer cooperation in the areas of security Barbados to build first waste to energy and law enforcement. Last week a start was made with heightened security in the Albina/St. Laurent plant at major landfill area. The tight patrols are now moved southwards BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 12, 2012 - A waste-to- down the entire border. energy facility expected to process approximately Tighter security measures for the border with Guy- 350 tonnes of solid waste a day, and provide be- ana in the west are also well under way, police com- tween 10 to 14 megawatts of electricity is on the missioner Hendrik Setrosentono tells de Ware Tijd. cards for Barbados. In the east, illegal Brazilian gold miners, the so-called This was announced by the island’s Minister of the garimpeiros, moving into the hinterlands of French Environment and Drainage, Dr Denis Lowe, as he Guiana and Suriname and damaging the environ- disclosed that Cabinet had recently approved ment, pose the biggest threat due to large scale use BDS$377 million for the creation of a Mangrove of mercury as well as arms smuggling. [more] Pond Green Energy Complex. [more]

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More Caribbean and Regional News IMF says Caribbean economy to grow Leaving Trinidad more costly 3.5% over two-year period April 25, 2012 Caribbean 360

APRIL 20, 2012 | FILED UNDER NEWS PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday April 2, 2012 – The Caribbean economy is expected to grow this Departure tax coming from Trinidad and Tobago’s year and next year. So says the Washington-based Piarco International Airport has doubled. International Monetary Fund (IMF). The international financial institution says Latin America and the Carib- Approval for the increase of the island’s departure tax bean is “on a glide path to steady growth” as the by 100 per cent came from the board of the Airport global economy picks up pace, but cautioned that Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT) on February “dangers remain.” In its latest [more] 2, and will be added to airline tickets. Travellers leaving the twin-island state will now pay Remittances to Caribbean rose in 2011 TT$200 in departure tax up from TT$100. [more] March 9, 2012 WASHINGTON, USA -- Latin American and Carib- bean migrants sent $61 billion in remittances to their TCL on the brink—cement producer facing home countries last year, up 6 percent from $57.6 shutdown - - strike now in 10th week billion in 2010, according to a report released on Thursday by the Multilateral Investment Fund. [more] March 28, 2012—GuardianMedia [This article gives the background and effects of the strike] Caribbean women entrepreneurs network As the strike at Trinidad Cement Ltd enters its fifth launched week, the Claxton Bay-based cement producer is be- April 12, 2012 ing pushed closer and closer to the brink of financial WASHINGTON, USA -- The Caribbean Women En- collapse, which could throw thousands of workers on trepreneurs Network Caribbean was launched in to the breadline, disrupt the country’s construction Washington DC recently at the close of the Carib- drive and an important part of its manufacturing sector bean Women Entrepreneurs Forum, an event that and lead to tremors among the country’s financial in- saw 22 leading women entrepreneurs from [more] stitutions. [more]

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