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Roses
I so agree with you. The gold teeth I see so many guyanese rock looks ridiculous. I can understand the old folks for they may not know better. But for all those 40 and younger........please, a gold cap is not cute actually it looks quite unsophisticated and you will be stereotyped once you come to the USA. When I went back to Guyana, I realized that many just overdue it with the jewelry. I guess wearing a lot of gold conveys that one is well off financially. Well at least one positive thing I can say about people in Guyana is that most at least take pride in their appearance which is something I could not say for the people of Nigeria and Benin. I went to both countries a couple of years ago with my friend and I swear grooming just was not a priority for the vast majority of the people. My friend who is nigerian blamed this on the fact that people were so poor but as I reflect back on Guyana, many of the poor people I met at least tried to look groomed and smell good. Even Stabroek Market with all the trash, debris and sweaty patrons could not smell as bad as Nigeria or Benin. The smell just really knocks you out.
By denobrega
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

THE PREPONDERANCE OF UNDENIABLE TRUTH!!!!!!!
Dear all,

Constantly being reminded LFSB and the PNC are no good, both the PNC and PPP destroyed Guyana, both shouldn't?t hold the reigns of government, to accept these arguments/held beliefs they have to be compared/ contrast against something.

The process of self government started in1953. LFSB governed from 1964-1985 (21 years), the PPP 1953-64 (give and take 10 years) and from 1992 to present (17 years and counting). The PNC totalled 28 years; the PPP give and take 27 and counting.

Those who have not lived through the colonial era or Premier Jagan have relatives who did. I have read and know personal stories of racial strife that led to lost of lives and property and forced relocation. Of civil servants who were witch hunted under Jagan, the 53 days strike for improved wages and working conditions, African property taken away, and the Kaldor Budget.

Timing projects and polices executed under LFSB, here?s some of what were achieved- free education from nursery to university; co-education, universal free health care; expansion of roadways, housing developments, schools, health care facilities, industrial, agriculture and manufacturing sectors; enviable diplomatic corp and foreign policy, racial respect and pride, indigenous financial sector, upgrade in rice, yield and storage facilities. Note, the USA, 200 plus years after statehood is now fighting for universal health care and has expanded National Service which offers students paid college tuition in exchange for work in the community -sounds like LFSB eh? Did the colonial authority or Cheddie best LFSB?

We continue to be told LFSB killed Rodney despite evidence of a CIA Declassified Report that listed Rodney?s death as a successful operation and the PPP refusal to conduct its promised Commission of Inquiry. Those who want us to remember LFSB killed Rodney never forgets to remind us even as they fail to hold the PPP accountable by reminding it of its promise.

51 years after the shooting of armed sugar workers on the East Coast Demerara estates by colonial police, the Janet Jagan government in 1999 ordered the police shooting of unarmed striking public servants. In 1948 at the agitation of the Jagans, trade unions and other interest groups the colonial authorities conducted a Commission of Inquiry. In as much as the trade unions today agitate for similar treatment the PPP refuses to comply, yet every year they pay homage at the Enmore Martyrs? Monument built by the PNC as its covenant to the workers that they will never ever again in their struggles be shot by the police. It was a covenant kept while the PNC was in office.

From 1992- present we continue to (helplessly) witness the systematic oppression and marginalisation of a group of people by the PPP, annihilation of hundreds of young black men by Roger Khan and Government Phantom Squad, impose wages/salaries, arbitrary dismissal of workers and disregard for the Collective Bargaining process in the sectors that Africans dominate, destruction of a self contributory pension plan, destruction of a Bank, refusal to settle issues of ancestral lands, denying choices to education and jobs by taking away state funding that was given for four decades, killed the GNS, and stripped us of our budding pride. A narco and criminalised economy. Yet we say the PPP and PNC are the same and they both destroyed Guyana. How could this be? Were the PPP (1953-1964) better than LFSB? LFSB era worst than the colonial? Or cumulatively the PNC worse than the PPP? Where?s the summed total to prove the argument?

There was a time when leaders (LFSB, Hoyte, Cheddie and Janet) made us feel that it was acceptable to know about their health and what illness they suffered from. Information was volunteered not extracted. There?s now a shift to withholding information and when asked accusations are made of privacy invasion even as those ?fast? people shoulder the responsibility of paying the bills. The Government is thanked and the people who gave the government their money to pay the bills not thanked but slammed.

For years the PNC has been asked to apologise for the ?wrongs? during governance. Pure petty politics to paint a group/party as tyrants and therefore ineligible to govern, it has gained traction and has one again risen to the fore. Efforts to shift the debate to one of substance is misunderstood and dismissed. Were this debate to be elevated the society would benefit, because for one to apologise, guilt has to be proven. Those who have accused shoulder the responsibility to prove. As a matter of fact this does not hurt the PNC it actually helps it, since it would have forced a revisiting of the ingrained folklore; myths that have becomes ?facts? and political taking points; and part of our formal education.

Rabbi Edward Washington served jail time for crimes of lesser gravity than Roger Khan who boasted of his bedding relationship with the PPP, now indisputably confirmed thanks to the USA justice system. Hoyte re-instituted hanging in response to the kick down the door crimes. Both Hoyte and LFSB didn?t tolerate the level of corruption and cronyism that mark the PPP administration (the only PNC hater that feels no emasculation to acknowledge this is Freddie Kissoon). Yet we continue to hear the PNC was Guyana?s worst criminal, corrupt and should apologise. Or the PNC is like the PPP

It is said LFSB and Jagdeo are alike and they are both dictators. We fail to see or acknowledge LFSB?s polices did not target the disempowerment and disembowelment of a people, country or pride. Mistakes were made but these mistakes were not in the policies they were in the execution, timing and affordability. Jagdeo?s mistake are that his polices are deliberately designed to oppress and marginalise a people, rape the treasury and treat tax payers? money as though it?s his. There?s this labelling, demonization and condemnation of a ?dictator? who polices were comparatively more equitable as against another whose policies and tactics emulate the democratically elected Adolf Hitler.

It is decided both the PPP and PNC are no good for government and the country deserves new leadership (these anointed leaders are yet to be identified and even those who we may assume are the proposed leaders are yet to prove themselves worthy even in their little sphere of influence) out of the PNC and PPP fold to form a new government in spite the fact a democracy recognises a competitive process, both parties accumulated more than a century of political experiences and continue to receive overwhelming support. In efforts to change the political course attention is not paid to the facts that these pronouncements violate a person?s constitutional right to choice, association and electing their leaders. Given this fact what guarantee the electorate has that any other form of government or leaders would respect their civil and human rights? And isn?t this at the core of our problems today?

There is an understanding that economies are cyclical experiencing boom and bust; growth, recession and flat-line; and there is preference for one theory over the other or an admixture. But we close the door of learning/sharing these to better understand and contextualise our realities.

I am deeply perplexed and troubled by what we continue to do to ourselves as a people. Our politicians have failed to lead. Our seniors have suppressed the genius of wisdom. Our academics have failed to research and analyse. Our leaders have failed to treat us with respect and fail to recognise that we too can think. For some unknown reason there seems to be more confidence and dedication in keeping the minds in chains, even as we condemn the physical enslavement of our ancestors. Our reasoning and writings are not adding up and it raises serious concerns about our understanding/documenting/speaking to our realities?. No wonder our black youths are so lost and misguided...

Minette.
By supererro
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

WHEN YOU FIRST COME TO NORTH AMERICA
I'm starting a segment here called "When you first come to North America". A friend of mine who is a HR Manager recently told me about an incident she had with a woman who just came to the US from Guyana. She has a degree from UG but wow.. no interviewing skills whatso ever. She couldn't speak well, she was dress horribly inappropriately, and worse than that.. SHE HAD A GOLD TOOTH.

So, everyone, let's go. My tip for today.

When you come to North America, first and foremost. TAKE THAT STUPID GOLD TOOTH OUT OF YOUR MOUTH. It is not cute, no one will take you seriously with it and you will be considered ghetto. Also, for my people in Brooklyn, I know things are cheap at Bobby's but seriouisly, stay away from that store.
By Roses1
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

SO WHAT IS THIS??? YOU CAN'T CRITISIZE THIS SITE????
I Totally agree with you Roses1, I also agree with your previous coment about the site no being updated as much as we would like it to be. It would be good if there wasn't any activities going on at that specific time you could have a headline sayin bout upcoming events webmaster.
By lova_boy01
Tuesday, June 09, 2009

SO WHAT IS THIS??? YOU CAN'T CRITISIZE THIS SITE????
Why was my post removed? Is there no free speech here? Let me know? The site is what I said it is. What's the problem with me saying that?
By Roses1
Monday, June 08, 2009

CONDOMS
As I viewed the pics from the Last Lap party A FEW things stood out, lack of self respect, slackness at best and I SAW NO PICTURES OR BOOTH THAT WAS GIVING OUT CONDOMS. ONE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT SOME OF YOU DID NOT RETURN TO YOUR RESPECTIVE HOMES WITH A FEW EXTRA GUESTS IN YOUR BODIES.
By Pondering
Monday, June 08, 2009

Point taken, BUT IS ANYONE WILLING TO BELL THE CAT????
Is anyone observing Guyana, is anyone talking against these injustices?
June 8, 2009 | By knews | Filed Under Letters

Dear Editor,

With reference to some pertinent new items in the mainstream media in Guyana over the last few days on ?CLICO sending home more employees?, I will choose to reiterate my previous concerns on the leadership of Ms. Gita Knights.

Ms Knights is the biggest threat, weakness and drain on the future of CLICO and this is nothing personal. The time when Ms Knight should have called it a day has long gone and I am convinced she is being deliberately retained for reasons know only to the powers that be.

In the second half of 2008, key connected people in Guyana were deliberately allowed to withdraw their funds with the full knowledge that the business was about to collapse and I challenge anyone to provide the evidence to prove me wrong. This act was to the detriment of the other investors including our very own National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

The Government is now saddled with the financial burden of refilling this financial hole left by CLICO in the books of NIS over the next 10 years. This is billions of dollars that could have gone otherwise on a youth development programme to reposition our youths away from hopelessness into revenue generative venture. Ms Knights, unfortunately, you karma dictates that you and the entire Duprey outfit will be saddled with this burden for many lives to come.

Reading one newspaper article which cited the quantum of Ms Knight monthly remuneration, it then became crystal clear to me why there is no need for ethics or honour and why it is imperative that the lower level workers must go. Her monthly salary package can pay 45 ordinary employees of CLICO every month.

Thus as the cash runs out in the company, tough choices have to be made, should we let go of one executive or should we let go of 30 people who may have families to feed and no hope or knowledge of what will happen to them next month?

I am not arguing for one or the other. I have spent enough time working with companies in stressful situations to realise if the cash is running out, everyone has to give a little.

Let us say for argument sake, Ms Knight has that special skills set that no one else in Guyana has and she must be retained, then why is the company maintaining the status quo with respect to the salary structure.

The world at CLICO is very different from what it was a year ago and thus Ms Knight should be magnanimous and gave a little to the company that she led into the gutters. The workers are giving up their jobs in the process, so who is bearing the heavier part of the Cross?

Where is the Economic Services Committee of Parliament, where is MP Raphael Trotman, where is the President of Guyana, where is the Bank of Guyana, where are the Unions? We are all sitting by and doing nothing to stop this social apartheid at CLICO where the gap between the management and the workers continues to get wider and wider and the only one who is being called upon to bear the brunt of this mismanagement is the ordinary workers, when the real culprits are the managers.

These are the reasons oppressed people use for a revolution. I recommend all Guyanese to read Hugo Chavez autobiography called from Mud Hut to Perpetual Revolution by Bart Jones. That book clearly outlined how a few well connect people in Venezuela believed they owned that country and can do anything they wanted, but what they did not know is the impact of people?s power.

Now with the migration outlet to Barbados and other Caribbean countries being closed, the pressure pot will have no way of letting out that steam and ask any housewife what happens to the pressure pot when the cap on top gets clogged. Is any one observing Guyana, is any one listening, is any one talking against these injustices?

Where are the Jaganites of Guyana, who are supposed to be the custodian of the Guyanese consciousness? Why are they not speaking up?

Commodore Gary Best, you are becoming a more and more important man in Guyana as the days go by since some one, some institution has to take that responsibility of becoming the barometer of the Guyanese consciousness. I hope that essential people in Guyana see reason before it is too late.

Sasenarine Singh

By supererro
Monday, June 08, 2009

lawlessness
I REALLY DON'T LIKE TO SEE MATURE WOMEN CARRY THEMSELEVES SO RIDCULOUS IN THE PUBLIC COME ON!! LADIES STOP DOING THESE LAWLESSNESS ON STAGE WITH THE ARTISTE HAVE SOME PRIDE IN YOURSELF AND SET EXAMPLE TO THE YOUNG WOMEN IN LINDEN AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY,STOP IT, U ALL LOOK RIDCULOUS AT THE TOWN WEEK 2K9 WITH TONY MATTERHORN WHAT ARE THESE MEN THINK ABOUT U? STOP IT GET A GRIP OF YOURSELVES.

By sweetp117
Saturday, June 06, 2009

A new Movie from Youths in Promotion & Movements Sound
look out for a new movie coming from Linden produce by Youths in Promotion and Movements Sound. You dont want to miss this one. More info will be on this site soon.
By mic james
Saturday, June 06, 2009

coal pot saga. ole house 1&2. Tanimerl & she junky.
Persons giving full permission to sell our Movies. J&M Internet Cafe Burnham drive, Fredco Photo Studio, Republic Avenue Major Sports Center (Leap building) Jamos Varity Blue Berry Hill,Superior Music House Wismar Market. In Georgetown Matts record Bar & Gift land office max For persons living in U.S.A and Canada please contact the following persons for your copies: Mr. Collie Allen (aka DJ Strimpy) at 631-704-2982 . Mr. Mark Mosley 973-493-4609 Mr. Albert Massay 4042102227 and Mr. Gary Tim 225-803-5573

By mic james
Saturday, June 06, 2009

a very powerful piece....this was a response from a letter written by David Hines
David Hinds- This is the best analysis of the Guyana present racial political history that I have read for some time. Its facts are completely correct based on my knowledge and statements made by Burnham, Jagans, King, Carter and Westmaas at the time. Many people do not know the real history of those early days and a lot of misinformation and lies is being peddles as truth. Freddie Kissoon is one of the only people I know who is trying to publicly enlighten younger Guyanese as to the real honest history of Guyana since 1953.

One of your most revealing statements is: ?In retrospect the 1956 split of the PPP when Sydney King, Martin Carter, Rory Westmaas et al were forced out of the party was even more deadly for race relations than the 1955 split.? This was the start of the racial politics whereby the PPP decided to be a truly ethnic party?. The die was cast ? and your analysis of the reaction of the non-Indians is completely correct.

I was stationed in Guyana at the time, and being a student of economics and politics I was deeply involved in what was happening. I remember the elections of 1953, the suspension of the Constitution after 133 days; the jailing of political leaders; the troops etc. I also remember the split between Jagan and Burnham and the two PPP factions fighting the same elections in 1957. I know that Sydney King (now Eusi Kwayana), was the most selfless and honest of all, and his banishment by the Jagan PPP faction along with most of the other intelligent Afro- and mixed PPP members in 1956 cast the mold of the PPP today ? an Indian party with a few subservient and powerless Afros window dressing its image as an all inclusive party.

The 1957-1961 reign of the PPP was a disaster for Guyana. The exodus to Barbados, Canada, the USA and the UK started soon after that as the middle class of all races, and non-Indian businessmen sought their future elsewhere. The ?Apaan jaat? or Indian for Indian solidarity was the cry and the triumphant ?country Indian? with little education lording it over the African peoples. There began creeping ?Indianisation? in the higher management levels in government departments and a fear by Africans and others that there would be no place for them in the future Guyana.

There was the Kaldor Budget and the disruptions and riots of 1963-64, which culminated in the imposition of Proportional Representation with the aim of making voting not based on where (constituency) you lived. This is a fairer system especially for Guyana. Burnham?s PNC teamed up with D?Aguiar?s United Force to win the 1964 elections and then started the 28 year reign (with vote rigging), of the PNC until 1992. Burnham?s downfall was not accepting the free market system like we did in Barbados, and working with D?Aguiar to attract private enterprise and development. He opted for the socialist/communist nonsense of a state run economy (which Jagan also liked), and thus started the downward spiral for Guyana. Desmond Hoyte followed after Burnham died in 1985, and he started to dismantle the Burnham state companies and encourage foreign investment ? but the economic and social damage was already done.

The USA did not care about Burnham?s socialism? they just saw Burnham as the lesser evil? as they did not want a Communist country in South America run by Cheddi and his wife Janet Jagan to team up with Cuba against the USA. They did not get involved until the USSR was no more and the Iron Curtain fell. The PPP sabotaged the Guyana economy using their support in the sugar and rice industries. They also used the WPA, the leading opposition to Burnham, while giving only token frontal opposition to Burnham. The PPP liked the fact that Burnham was not going the Capitalist route, and basically bided their time as they built their popular support with an exploding Indian population. With 1992? it became the revival of the ?Indian triumph over the Blackman? that has now ensured the cowing and the suppression of Black people using economic and other means.

The PPP embraced the Indian businessmen in 1957. Hoyte did the same between 1986-1992. Nothing is wrong with that as parties need financing and money wins elections. However, one has to understand human behavior, especially in the case of the Indians ? many are strictly into making money and will support those who support their aims. Now with the growing drug trans-shipment business and money laundering the ?businessman? has become even more powerful. They Indian businessmen see the PPP as their means of getting even richer as they pay few taxes and smuggle and bribe their way to success. So the PPP just have to convince their followers of the PNC and Burnham and banning flour? and everyone falls in line? especially if there are some ?Murders of Indians? to awaken their voters?.It happens in every elections ?That is the reality in Guyana today.

The PPP has lost a great opportunity of healing Guyana. Thousands of Afro and mixed Guyanese left Guyana were persecuted and left during the Burnham years. The PPP paints the picture that only Indo-Guyanese suffered under Burnham. In the early 1990?s many Guyanese would have returned home to rebuild Guyana if the PPP was more all-inclusive and nationalistic. What is the PPP today? Well I see a party that spouts socialism and communism in its party manifesto. Practices the systematic raping of Guyana?s resources by a few rich Indian businessmen; prevents real investment by making it difficult for non-Indians to invest; a country where the rule of law is dependent on race and money; NIS paid by salaried workers (mostly Afro-Guyanese), while most of the economy is underground with Indians not paying their fair share; a neglect of beautiful Georgetown - because region 4 is run by black people; the ongoing begging for aid by Jagdeo, that hardly trickles down to the people. The daily life of the people seems to be getting worse and the people keep leaving in droves to better run countries like Barbados who now want to send them home to fix their own house.

Guyana, with all of its resources should be attracting people from the Region, and now successful Guyanese should be returning home to rebuild Guyana. However we keep exporting people to ease the pressure and get remittances Maybe the PPP like it just the way it is? that is why nothing has changed!

By denobrega
Friday, June 05, 2009

Re: police brutality in the caribbean
Denobrega in the caribbean and guyana police practice torture and brutality on it's citizen and it's just the norm and the thing to do, imagine in guyana a police can come to your house at 4 in the morning and wake you up to carry out search without a warrant and if you protest you get charged for obstructing justice, a police officer can just slap you up for talking back to him, you can be thrown in the lock up for no reason or just on suspicion of a policeman, it's terrible in guyana and the caribbean at large, and the govt does nothing about it, if you speak out you are targetted, here in the u.s police brutality takes on a differnt spin, the only good thing about it you can sue the police if you are brutalize, but in guyana you can't even do that, unless you are connected and your family has money to pursue justice.
By amen-ra-ta
Thursday, June 04, 2009

helo
hello linden you guys doing a wonderful job and of such yall please keep it up
By Dervon
Wednesday, June 03, 2009

police brutality in the Caribbean
i have been following the incidents of police brutality in guyana, trinidad and jamaica and things seem to be intensifying. is there really an increase in police brutality or is this simply a normal in most third world societies. well i cant say its only a facet within third world societies since we here in the usa have our own issues
By denobrega
Tuesday, June 02, 2009

MURDER OF A GYN
I'm thinking about the murder of this doctor who was shot in his church for performing abortions. I don't have any idea but what's the situation with women wanting to have an abortion in Guyana? Are doctors deal with these kind of religious bullshyt? I hope not. When are people going to get their noses out of women's croches?
By Roses1
Monday, June 01, 2009

DISCLOSURE!!!!!!
PRESS STATEMENT
By
MR. ROBERT H. O. CORBIN
LEADER OF THE PEOPLE?S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM
AND
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009

ILLNESS OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

It is well known that on Saturday April 25, 2009, I was hospitalized at the Woodlands hospital after experiencing severe chest pains. Since then I was under the care and supervision of several doctors, surgeons and specialists in Georgetown and the USA who were able to provide the necessary care and attention and who have now pronounced me to be in good health. I returned to Guyana on Saturday May 23, 2007 but could not meet the Press before because of a sore throat due to a cold I appear to have contracted shortly before my return.

There was an initial belief by my Physicians that my chest pains were heart related. While a heart attack was very early ruled out, they considered it necessary to have urgent investigations done to evaluate the functioning of my heart. It was for this reason I was transferred to the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI), which was under the ultimate control of Doctors in the United States. I have been advised that they requested my urgent travel to the USA because, although new facilities have been constructed here for angiography, such procedure could not be carried out without the relevant specialist surgeons on location to treat any abnormality that may be determined during the procedure.

On arrival in the United States, I was admitted to The Heart Center, St Francis Hospital in Long Island where I underwent cardiac catheterization. The angiography revealed normal LV Function and the coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries. In summary, they found me to be a person with chest pains, but with a perfect functioning heart. Consequently, they recommended further medical therapy to deal with my symptoms, the determination of which required several tests and evaluation.

After undergoing several medical tests, including a complete abdominal sonogram, a HIDA/Biliary scan and an endoscopy, it was diagnosed that my pains arose from the malfunctioning of my digestive system including a dysfunctional gallbladder. Surgery was determined necessary for the removal of the gallbladder to be followed by a course of medical treatment related to the stomach.

Surgery was successfully completed on Thursday May 7, and I am soon to complete the postoperative treatment. Let me state clearly, for the avoidance of any doubt, that, but for my bout of influenza, I am in good health. I am also feeling fine and energised.

Sincere Appreciation To All
I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to all the Doctors, Nurses and other medical personnel who provided the necessary care and attention during my recent period of illness, and ensured my recovery. These include medical personnel at Woodlands Hospital, The Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) at the Georgetown Hospital, the St Francis Hospital, North folk Radiology and the Peconic Bay Medical Center.

I wish to express my appreciation to the Government of Guyana for the assistance provided during my illness. I also wish to place on record my appreciation of the many expressions of concern and good wishes for a speedy recovery from friends, supporters and well-wishers. These messages, which were relayed to me during the period of my illness, provided the comfort essential to aid recovery.

Disclosure
I have noted in the media that there have been many views expressed about the nature of my illness, the need for full disclosure of the details of my complaint as well as the expenditure involved. I wish to clarify that I have no problems with full disclosure of my medical expenses paid by the Government whenever it becomes available or with disclosure of the general nature of my illness, which I have already done here today. However, I am convinced that the right of full disclosure on my medical condition is one to be exercised by me and no one else. I have read all the releases from the PNCR, my brother Charles and the reports in the local media during the period of my illness and am satisfied that there was always full disclosure. There is therefore absolutely no basis for some of the comments and criticisms made. Some of those observations were baseless, distasteful and unethical.

There are two other issues, which arose during my period of illness that I would like to comment on at this time. The Integrity Commission and the abandonment of Local Government Reform by the Jagdeo Administration.

INTEGRITY COMMISION

Two letters, signed by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat and dated May 7, 2009, were dispatched to the General Secretary, PNCR with respect to the desire of the President to conclude his engagement with the Leader of the Opposition on the three nominees for appointment to the reconstituted Integrity Commission and requesting ?a possible time for an engagement? with the Leader of the Opposition to conclude discussions on Bills under review by the Bi-Partisan Local Government Task Force, respectively. The inference was that the illness of the Opposition Leader was in some way the cause for the delay in treating with these matters. I wish therefore to reject these inferences and set the record straight.

The sudden urgency by the President to constitute the Integrity Commission is at best illusory especially since he appeared content to have an unconstitutional Body remain in Office for nearly four years before attempting to rectify the error. The manner in which these new efforts were addressed is now a matter of public record.

The process of consultation commenced in January 2009 with President, (ag.), Samuel Hinds. A letter followed this from the Leader of the Opposition dated February 11, 2009, addressed to His Excellency, expressing some concerns and requesting information. To date, there has been no formal response to my letter of February 11, 2009. However, information on three nominees was eventually supplied and an undertaking was made to provide a new nominee for the Chairmanship of this body. To date the name of the new nominee has not been made available to me. It is therefore mindboggling that the President would declare his anxiety to complete the constitution of the Integrity Commission on May 7, 2009 when at the time that the Opposition Leader fell ill on April 25. 2009, more than two months had elapsed since my last communication with him and more significantly, the basis for its reconstitution, that is, a proposed Chairman has not yet been identified and made known to the Leader of the Opposition. The facts speak for themselves and the public can therefore draw their own conclusions.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM

The entire nation is also aware that the work of the Task Force on Local Government Reform was unilaterally terminated by the President on April 7, 2009 without any consultation or communication with the Leader of the Opposition or any other parliamentary opposition party. Since then, the Leader of the Opposition, like the other opposition parties in Guyana, has been treated with total disregard as the PPP Administration and President Jagdeo foisted on the public several untruthful and deceptive statements about this matter. Meanwhile, there was absolutely no interest or desire shown to consult the Leader of the Opposition up to the time he fell ill on April 25. The letter of May 7, 2009 was therefore no more than an exercise of political expediency as the President had publicly stated his intention of merely having a perfunctory meeting with the Opposition Leader before sending the proposed Local Government Reform Bills to Parliament. It is evident that the PPP objective after eight long years of study, discussion, and consultation with the people of Guyana, is to subvert the Local Government Reform process.
I wish to make it clear that I have no interest in superficial meetings, which are intended to satisfy the political agenda of the PPP. My interest, and that of the PNCR, however, is in the successful implementation of Local Government Reform. We will accept nothing less. It is evident, therefore, that no piecemeal approach will be accepted. All the Bills, which will give legal effect to the entire Local Government Reform process, must be simultaneously addressed and the consensus, as reflected in the Report of the Task Force, implemented.

People?s National Congress Reform
Congress Place, Sophia,
Georgetown, Guyana
Friday 29 May 2009

Visit our website @ www.guyanapnc.org

By supererro
Saturday, May 30, 2009

Re: Ivan Van Sertima
Another one of guyana's scholar has passed Dr. Van Sertima was well known nationally and internationally, i've read his book they came before columbus over 15yrs ago and it opened my eyes of the african presense in the americas long before columbus in 1492, i attended his many lectures here in harlem, he was well know in the historical world and mingled with such scholars as Dr. Ben, Dr Clarke, Prof. Jeffries and many others, he will be greatly missed. Rest in peace my brother.

Hotep
By amen-ra-ta
Friday, May 29, 2009

mad
Rest in Peace simone coleridge. you are the ideal example of a hard working guyanese mother remind me of my own mom.my sympathy goes out to all your love ones.The animals that did this to you, God saw them...
By sarg
Friday, May 29, 2009

First Annual Silvertown kids day April 2k9
We would like to thank all the sponors in making this day special for the kids, we will do it bigger next year if anyone would like to be a Sponor please let us know .Its all about the silvertown kids day .
Sponors: Sharon Barnwell from Caribbean Int Shipping in ATl
Lennox Parris AKA Gummie John
David Larose AKA Glamma
Roger Jonas AKA Buck
Trevor Larose AKA Dj Slim
Kevin Hope
Crazy Hype family
Doretta Harry

Local Sponors: Ean Murray AKA Nuclear

Mr Patrick and Garfield Jones

Many thanks to the Hope family in preparing the foods .
If anyone interestesd in being a sponor you can contact Lennox Parris,David Larose ,Roger Jonas and Kevin Hope for more information.

Thank you.

By althea
Thursday, May 28, 2009

First Annual Silvertown kids day April 2k9
We would like to thank all the sponors in making this day special for the kids, we will do it bigger next year if anyone would like to be a Sponor please let us know .Its all about the silvertown kids day .
Sponors: Sharon Barnwell from Caribbean Int Shipping in ATl
Lennox Parris AKA Gummie John
David Larose AKA Glamma
Roger Jonas AKA Buck
Trevor Larose AKA Dj Slim
Kevin Hope and Crazy Hype family

Local Sponors: Ean Murray AKA Nuclear
Doretta Harry
Mr Patrick and Garfield Jones

Many thanks to the Hope family in preparing the foods .
If anyone interestesd in being a sponor you can contact Lennox Parris,David Larose ,Roger Jonas and Kevin Hope for more information.

Thank you.

By althea
Thursday, May 28, 2009

Lady Guymine
Wow never heard of her until I saw info about her on Guymine.com Maybe I had heard some of her songs in the past and didnt evern realize it. In any case big up to all guyanese artist. I know for awhile guyana really was not producing much but things seem to be changing. Guyana is now full of talented artist. The socas comming out of Guyana are really nice. The chutney music....well sorry if Im offending anyone but I dont really too care for the way Indians sing......sounds annoying like they are crying and the lyrics are just really corny. I remember the one night when I was at Buddys and all they played were these chutney pieces.....i thought i was going to go crazy. I guess I had to have grown up in Guyana to like Indian music cause the black people were enjoying it as much as the indians. Guess im just to Americanized
By denobrega
Thursday, May 28, 2009

Re: Lady Guymine
My condolences goes out to her family on her passing, she was a true performer, her music will live on forever in the memory of guyanese and the the people the caribbean.
By amen-ra-ta
Thursday, May 28, 2009

LADY GUYMINE GONE!
THE PRIDE OF GUYANA & THE CARIBBEAN
Lady Guymine
HAS PASSED

THE GUYANA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION NEW YORK Inc./Guyana Folk Festival
share with you the passing of Monica Chopperfield, our beloved "Lady
Guymine."
A friend of the Guyana Folk Festival and an important cultural icon.

We Celebrate the Life of
Monica Chopperfield
"Lady Guymine"
“An important Caribbean 20th century calypsonian”

Monica Chopperfield was born on July 31, 1932, in Berbice and has lived in
Georgetown, Linden, and New York. Her performing career started in a show
produced by Zelda Martindale at the roofless Olympic Cinema on Lombard
street. For that show she was billed as ?Baby Monica.? In the audience
was her mother Mary Skeete, a singer of classical music whose
contemporaries included Madame Fraser-Denny and Iris Grimes.
Chopperfield would go on to sing across Guyana, in Trinidad and Tobago,
Barbados, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, and the United States. She
would perform in many musical genres, meet some of the world’s leading
performers and leave an indelible mark on music in Guyana.
Monica Chopperfield recalls traveling with shows produced by Zelda
Martindale and performing in cinemas, halls, and rice mills. For the shows
in the rice mills, the audience sat on bags of rice, and the empty rice
bags were used to create dressing rooms.
After Martindale resigned from show business in British Guiana,
Chopperfield joined the Sam Chase and Jack Mellow company and established
herself as a ballad singer. After a peri
od she joined the Syncopaters Band as the principal female balladeer. Her
contemporary was Annie Haynes, and these two women became the innovative
jazz and swing vocalists.
Monica Chopperfield ventured into calypso in 1966, when she participated
in the Mashramani celebrations in McKenzie as Lady Guybau. The rest is
history. Her prowess was noticed by the Mighty Sparrow, and for two years
she toured with him and performed in his calypso tent in Trinidad and
Tobago.
Over the years, Chopperfield’s stage name reflected changes in the
bauxite industry - from Guybau to Guymine. Lady Guymine has been
recognized as one of the important Caribbean 20th century calypsonians.
She was ranked Number 4 during the 1985 World Calypso Competition. She has
a loyal following and is popular with Caribbean audiences in North
America. She is a fixture at the Mothers Day shows in New York.
Lady Guymine considers herself fortunate to have worked with some of
Guyana’s most versatile calypsonians - ‘32,’ Lord Canary, and Lord
Inventor. They composed some of her most popular calypsos. Lady Guymine
has a special fondness for the creative space in Georgetown that includes
Bourda, Regent Street, Charlotte Street, Wellington Street and Robb
Street. It was the location of cinemas, record stores, dance halls, and
show promoters. Musicians could meet one another and observe various
aspects of Guyana’s social, cultural, and political life.
Lady Guymine has experimented with many Guyanese musical flavours and is
particularly proud of th
e masquerade flounce in her rendition of 32’s The Donkey Story. She
regrets that Guyana did not give Tom Charles’ Bhoom the respect that it
deserved.
Lady Guymine is a true Guyanese cultural hero. She has received a national
award from the people of Guyana and is a 2003 Guyana Cultural
Association/Guyana Folk Festival Wordsworth McAndrew Awardee. Lady Guymine
is a grandmother with more than 65 years of outstanding performance
history - Granny fit!? ? ? ? ? ?

WE REMEMBER "Granny Fit"

Granny's farewell benefit in Brooklyn: ? ? ? ? ? ?

On FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2008, at Restoration Plaza, Fulton Street, in
Brooklyn, New York the Guyana Cultural Association New York joined with
Howard McLeod and Les Slater, promoters of the annual Mother's Day Concert
at Madison Square Garden, and other Caribbean organizations? and friends,
in saluting Lady Guymine, the pride of Guyana and the Caribbean.

Article from Tangerine Clarke:
Published after the Benefit.
THE red carpet was rolled out for Calpyso diva of the Caribbean, Monica
Copperfield, best known to her fans as Lady Guymine, who braved the
downpour in Brooklyn two Fridays ago to attend a celebration of her life
and benefit concert in aid of her to return to her beloved homeland of
Guyana sometime later this year.

Afro-Caribbean Entertainment Incorporated's head honchos, Howard McLeod
and Les Slater, in collaboration with the Guyana Cultural Association,
tapped into the talent of some of the Caribbean's most acclaimed arti
stes for this special cause.

Talented singer and stage performer, Trinidad-born MC Wassy, showered the
treasured performer with praise as he called on the crowd to applaud
Guymine for her tremendous contribution to calypso.

Fans came out in droves for the benefit and to honour the ‘Granny Fit’
calypsonian, who, after 40 years of thrilling thousands with her witty
lyrics and infectious body movements, will finally trade in her dazzling
array of costumes for a life of leisure in her birthplace.

Guymine's fellow artistes, who went all-out in a rousing presentation,
stunned the popular Mother's Day Concert performer, who herself had wowed
crowds at Madison Square Gardens and Brooklyn College for many years.

Guyanese Hilton Hemmerding and African drummer, Menes de Groit opened the
show with a tribute in folk songs and poetry that reflected Guymine's
cultural heritage. Lady of Soul, Rita Forrester, then surprised Guymine
with a calypso, before the youngest performer, Yonette Hooper, did
‘Passing Memories’, a favorite 60s recording by her father, the late
Eddie Hooper.

The Trinidadians then took over the stage for an evening of hard-hitting
calypso music that kept the admired performer entertained.

Sitting close to the stage, the aging singer was at times moved to tears,
but was later seen to be moving her body to the infectious music of
theSunshine Band, which accompanied the artistes, many of whom had had the
privilege of performing with Guymine back in the 60s under the calypso
tent of The20Mighty Sparrow in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago.

The posse included Brown Boy; Winston So-So; Brother Mudada; Trinidadian
KC, reputedly the James Brown of Soca; Poser; and the visually impaired
Claude Clement, who taught the audience how to 'wine and dance' during an
incredible performance.

Lord Nelson, who flew in from the Caribbean especially to salute Lady
Guymine, lit up the stage. Wearing a stunning red costume to match his
fiery performance, Nelson got the calypso icon on her feet for a memorable
moment of revelry.

Susan Kennedy then donned a pair of black tights and thong bikini -- one
of the artiste's favourite stage costumes -- and proceeded to dance to the
Number One hit song, ‘Granny Fit’, accompanied by Pablo G, to spoof
Lady Guymine.

Sesame Flyers later made a donation of money and a plaque to the popular
singer. A Guyana Cultural Association award was also handed over to this
outstanding daughter of the soil, who has entertained so many over the
years.

Lady Guymine, in turn, thanked everyone, saying: “I am touched by the
outpouring of love and support that I received from everyone.” Noting
that she was overwhelmed with sadness, she joked that she may well decide
to stay in the US after all.

Each guest was given a programme titled, ‘A Tribute To The Pride Of
Guyana And The Caribbean - Lady Guymine’ to take with them as a keepsake
of the memorable occasion. Comprising of tributes and photos chronicling
her superb life, t
he memento was designed by Claire Goring.

Les Slater referred to Guymine as an exceptional individual who has
demonstrated a love for, and commitment to, calypso that “we could only
admire in sheer wonderment,” adding that “she was, without question, a
great asset to the Mother's Day weekend festival and other evens of our
making, beyond which we have always found her to be a model of absolute
corporation, and forever willing, to give of herself whenever the occasion
arose.”

At Farewell Concert, Guymine said to the audience ........
"I am Loved"

Farewell Granny!
My Granny, Your Granny, Granny Fit

By supererro
Thursday, May 28, 2009

Re:denobrega
Denobrega believe your uncle drug money runs guyana, remember you don't live there and they know more than we do.
By amen-ra-ta
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

silvertown
I agree with you one hundred percent. Oh how I wish you could be at hand when my cousin and I are debating this subject. He always tries to discredit me by saying that I dont live in Guyana therefore Im in no authority to have any opinions regarding the country's economic state. In his mind, Guyana is progressing because people like him with foriegn capital are investing in the country and he is trying to urge all Guyanese to do the same. Based on my last visit to Guyana It was hard to say weather things are getting better or worse. If I went by the Guyanese news sources, I would think that Guyana was imploding. But going there and seeing things for myself, i would say that despite the high poverty level, the country at least Georgetown seems to be up and comming. I mean I saw so many new modern beautiful buildings going up everywhere. There seemed to be a major construction boom going on. I also saw a lot of nice residential areas including my cousin's gated community off the East Bank. When I entered the development, I thought I had honestly left Guyana. The place was plush and immaculate and contained some of the most beautiful homes Ive ever seen. So I kind of left Guyana feeling a little proud of the developments that were taking place until my uncle burst my bubble by calling me naive and statiing that all the so called development is being funded by drug money. I do hope he is wrong though
By denobrega
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Denobrega
There are exceptions to every event in life...Check out the Normal Distribution Concept. There are those who succeed and those who will fail regardless of the circumstances. The people who return to Guyana and succeed are far less than those who return to Guyana and literally "run" because of immenent or inevitable failure. You don't want me to name some- Splashmins, etc.
Not everyone is cut out to sell stuff...some people do better swapping their skills for money, power, recognition, etc. Those people are consumed in industries outside Guyana requiring services to achieve their objectives. Wherea re those industries in Guyana. If they do exist, do they have the capacity or the infrastructure to utilize the skills overseas based Guyanese will bring?
Let your cousin answer those qestions?
By Silvertown Man
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Private enterprise: the only road to financial independence and success in Guyana
In my opinion Guyana is a land of opportunity primarily for those who want to engage in business. Other professions like nursing which would guarantee big money in America and Canada do not really pay much in Guyana. Thus those professionals would be forced to seek greener pastures abroad.
By denobrega
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

silvertown man
My question stems from an ongoing debate I've been having with my cousin who has a business in Georgetown and travels back and forth between New York and Guyana regularly. In light of the recent news about Guyanese facing discrimination in Barbados and other Caribbean nations, we have been arguing about the reasons why Guyanese leave in the first place. I take the position that Guyana lacks opportunities for economic advancement. My cousin begs to differ and cites himself and others in our family who either remained or returned to Guyana to open and operate thriving businesses. He even cites the many Asians and Brazilians who are opting to relocate and do business in Guyana and argues that if these people are willing to come to Guyana, then why are Guyanese running. In other words, Guyana is a land of opportunities but unfortunately, the Guyanese people themselves are not willing to take advantage of them and because of this, Guyanese are leaving in droves, taking all their skills and knowledge with them. I thus just wanted to know how others felt about this phenomennon
By denobrega
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Movies from Linden Guyana
Persons giving full permission to sell our Movies. J&M Internet Cafe Burnham drive, Fredco Photo Studio, Republic Avenue Major Sports Center (Leap building) Jamos Varity Blue Berry Hill,Superior Music House Wismar Market. In Georgetown Matts record Bar & Gift land office max For persons living in U.S.A and Canada please contact the following persons for your copies: Mr. Collie Allen (aka DJ Strimpy) at 631-704-2982 . Mr. Mark Mosley 973-493-4609 Mr. Albert Massay 4042102227 and Mr. Gary Tim 225-803-5573
By mic james
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Can the Guyanese immigrant population be blamed partly for Guyana's demise
YES!!! So are the Europeans, West Indians, Africans, etc. etc. for leaving their respective countries permanently for other countries. The overriding cause - the inability of the countries to sustain the means to keep its natives - educated or not. Many Guyanese I know capable of contributing to the overall growth of Guyana but residing overseas wish dearly to return home. The question remains : Are systems in place in Guyana capable of providing a livelihood for those brothers and sisters?
"Self preservation is the first law of creation". And do remember, America became the power it is because of the migrants who came here and found the ways, means and rewards bountufully available with hard work - they prospered and the country as a whole did the same.
The day might come again when people head to Guyana, but the infrastructure to sustain that "reverse migration" must be put in place.
By Silvertown Man
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Hey Guys
All the best to you guys:
Supererro I must commend you for your piece on the literacy situation in Guyana, although it's a bit amusing, it's a very srious situation. I would consider myself to be product of the Burnham era, during our time in Guyana we took pride in our education, and had constant debates on material you read, to make matters worse we had free education, not all of us became doctors and lawyers, but we became some thing that we all can be proud of.
I am 48 and a parent too, now there is no excuse for parents who went to school during my time to be illiterate,Burnhan ensured that,so how come so many people are illiterate
By Chiney
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Re: Cause for concern
As i was reading this article i couldn't help but laugh out loud, i was in stitches reading about the crooks and the sign they couldnt read and their lawyer making excuses for them not knowing how to read, although it was funny i came to the realization that illiteracy in guyana is no laughing matter something serious has to be done to correct this dilema, can you imagine adults can't read and write and the younger generation is worse, and it truly breeds criminals, i hope the govt and private sectors take a look at this trend and set up literacy programs to help those that can't read and write, guyana had one of the highest literacy standard in the region once upon a time under the pnc, but now we have denigratated.

By amen-ra-ta
Monday, May 25, 2009

CAUSE FOR CONCERN!
The extent of illiteracy is frightening

May 24, 2009 | By knews | Filed Under Features / Columnists, My Column

Some time back I wrote about the inability of many young people to read. The students of the University of Guyana became angry to the point that they actually challenged me to prove to them that they really could not read. There were others who thought that I was unfair.
So one day I conducted a simple test in the Prime News studios. I gave a few of them a newspaper to read. Then I asked them to paraphrase what they had read. I asked another set to simply read a few passages for the purpose of recording.
I still remember this graduate student breaking down in tears after trying a few times to read a simple paragraph.

Then on Thursday at a meeting at Kaieteur News, I learnt that many of the reporters, including those who consider themselves senior reporters, do not read the newspapers at all. They could not tell me what was there in some of the pages. There were the few who perused the pages to see if their story was carried.
I suppose that reading is a dying custom. The other day I happened to be talking with some welfare people and the conversation gradually veered to the extent of illiteracy in the society.

I do not think that I would be exaggerating if I conclude that 40 per cent of many young men walking the streets cannot read or write.
I know for a fact that many of the young criminals cannot read, and by young, I mean men between the ages of 16 and 35. As a young man, the people who could not read were the old people who had grown up in this country when there was no compulsory education, when women were groomed to be housewives and therefore did not need an education although I wondered how they would count the money their spouses gave them.

I remember writing that there is no greater joy than ploughing through the pages of a book and forming the mental images. I now wonder how does an individual feel when he sees a newspaper and cannot decipher what is on the pages. The words, perhaps, look like decorated lines.
I cannot but help recall the two criminals who went to a home to help themselves to whatever they could. They encountered a sign at the gate that read, ?Beware?the dogs bite?.
One turned to the other and asked what does the sign say to which he got the reply that the homeowner was indicating that he was not at home and people could leave what they have at the gate.

They jumped the gate and came face to face with three sizeable dogs. And the animals were not smiling. There was the expected confrontation and the two men eventually managed to scale the fence and into another yard where there were ?more flingings? with some other dogs.
I saw the two bleeding men limping and hurrying along the road as I was heading home and concluded that they were the victims of some robbery or at worse, an attack from some people. One of them was crying. They were hard put to explain their injuries to the police who happened by a short while later.
In court their lawyer made an interesting point. He argued that people with vicious dogs should put up a sign so that innocent people may be warned. He argued that his clients were innocent and that the homeowner had no sign.

These two men actually said that there was no warning sign. The photographs tendered proved otherwise but as if for fun, the magistrate asked them to read the sign. And again one said that it was a notice informing people that the homeowner was not at home.
The lawyer then tried ?a thing?. He said that the homeowner should have placed a picture of a dog on the sign to accommodate those who cannot read.

I still remember the days when, as a young man at La Jalousie, I had to read letters for the recipients. It was a community effort, actually, because on Saturdays I had to read three of four letters to a group of people.
Today, I would have to do the same to young people. What is worse is that these are the people who cannot qualify for certain jobs but they want money so they turn to crime. Christopher James was one.
I posit that once this trend continues, the society would not be safe because being unable to reason, these young men are going to invade wherever they think they should. Life would be pretty uncomfortable.
These are the very people who give a statement and when asked to read it back to ensure that it is accurate, cannot. Their lawyers then claim that the statement was given under duress.

It is this illiteracy that fosters so many repeat criminal offenders like the chain snatchers and the carjackers. And the Education Ministry is not doing much because it apparently does not know where to start.
Imagine a woman getting a result from a medical examination and not knowing what that result is.
I travel and young people sitting next to me on an aircraft would ask me to fill their Customs declaration forms. Immigration officers have to do the same for them. The education system has collapsed and this collapse was not long in the making.

By supererro
Monday, May 25, 2009

APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT???????????
There should be apology for past wrongs, Van West Charles says
By Stabroek staff | May 24, 2009 in Local News - Alexander feels all parties need to atone

Admitting that the PNC has made mistakes and some members may have done wrong in the past, prospective leadership candidate Dr Richard Van West Charles says the party has to take the blame, apologise as a principle and move forward.

?I am not ashamed of the PNC,? he told Stabroek News, ?this does not mean that the PNC has not made mistakes. Every institution makes mistakes. Members of the PNC have done things that are wrong to people and because they are members of the PNC, the PNC has to take that blame. It is not the PNC, as an organisation, that goes out and says I am going to do evil.?
But Van West Charles, who served as health minister in the PNC administration, adds that before arriving at blame, an evidenced-based approach would have to be taken to address those questions about the party?s time in government. Additionally, he believes that some consideration needs to be given to the political context in which it operated, including the pressures brought to bear by the cold war and domestic attempts to sabotage the economy.

Richard van west Charles
Political analysts have often argued that in order to move forward, the party needs to confront its past, thereby freeing itself of the political baggage of its association with a dictatorial governance that saw electoral fraud, rights abuses and victimisation. It is also an argument that members of the party have wrestled with when considering the question of widening its support base, with some favouring and others opposed. It is certainly is a question that had been asked about both former party leader Desmond Hoyte and current leader Robert Corbin.

Baggage

To be sure, the candidacy of Van West Charles as well as the potential candidacy of Dr Aubrey Armstrong brings the legacy of the party?s 28 years into sharp focus. In addition to his ministerial post, Van West Charles was the son-in-law of the late party founder and president Forbes Burnham, who has been labelled a dictator. Armstrong, meanwhile, was at one time a member of a pressure group, Compass, that was among the resistance to the Burnham regime.

Stabroek News attempted to contact Armstrong for comment about his involvement with Compass and his view on the question of the PNC administration, but was unsuccessful. However, in a recent interview he said his association with the group demonstrates that he thinks independently, which he expected that not everyone would like it in and out of the party. He also said it was well known that he left the country because the then prime minister gave him an instruction that he thought was wrong.

Van West Charles, however, does not view the party?s mistakes or lingering questions about its legacy as political baggage. He says the PNC has made a significant contribution to the development of the country in every sector, citing in particular education, health, infrastructure development and international relations as areas where there was success. ?One can go on and on in terms of the PNC?s performance in government and therefore I am not afraid to be associated with that period,? he says, while noting that today the country is wrestling with crime, including a high level of fear and the easy access to guns, discrimination as well as multi-faceted corruption. ?Let them compare this period to the [PNC?s],? he declares.

At the same time, he admits that the PNC made mistakes while in government. In general terms, he says the party was trying to do a lot in a short space of time in every sector, without the requisite technical acumen in place. ?We had some managerial issues, in terms of the implementation, in moving down the road,? he says.

Evidence-based

Vincent alexander
Asked whether persons in the PNC administration did wrong, Van West Charles says he cannot identify any person specifically. ?We may have had members who did wrong things, therefore, the organisation has to apologise for those wrongs as a principle,? he explains, ?I can?t say who, with what specifics [but] if the cases are brought before me and one can see that persons have done wrong, I have no difficulty in saying ?yes?.?

But he emphasises that such a process cannot be based on hearsay or rumour, saying it would not move the situation forward. He did not rule out incidents of victimisation, but was firm that it was not a policy of the party. ?But, that does not mean that the party must be absolved from it, because if a member commits wrong, the party has to take that blame and deal with it,? he points out, adding ?once there is evidence, one way or the other, we have to say?if it is perceived we did wrong?we apologise and move forward. It does not mean other operatives have not done wrong in the political realm of the country.?
Accusations could be made back and forth, according to him.

Cold war

He cautions that context also has to be considered when making a judgement of the Burnham era. He talks about the political context in which Burnham operated, saying because of the ideological position of the cold war powers there was ?significant pressure? exerted on the government. ?Let?s take the flour issue?operatives were sent into the country hoping we would have bread riots,? he says, explaining that government?s attempt to import flour under the PL-480 plan was hindered by delay tactics. ?We tried to get a line of credit to have the flour come and we eventually got a line of credit via the Bank of Baroda. When we got the line of credit? they refused to accept it? By that time, we had to get the line of credit via Barclays Bank. When we acquired the line of credit, they said the boat had sailed to somewhere else and we couldn?t get the flour,? Van West Charles recalls. Similarly, in the case of the MMA, the government had acquired a soft loan but in mid stream was asked to meet harsher conditions, he adds. ?So those are the political determinants of the cold war at the time, based on ideology, seeking to ensure pressures were brought on the government. When you look at the terrorist action, in terms of the destruction of the cane fields, the strikes, in an attempt to destroy the economy of the country and what you have got to do to respond, those are the issues you have to put into the discussions before you arrive at blame,? he concludes.

In 2004, Corbin floated the idea of setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in a bid to give closure to those who are still aggrieved about the country?s past. Van West Charles says it would be dependent on how it is structured. It needs to be clear that it will bear fruit in the way of moving the country forward and explained that what is needed is a framework that addressed immediate issues such as governance and race and ethnic discrimination, he says, in a dialogue that takes place from the bottom up. He adds, ?We are a young nation and we have to begin to set those parameters in place to ensure that the nation is going to move and develop in a strong way and not based on the pathological perception that people have about each other.?

Sharing blame

?All parties?the PNCR and the PPP in particular?have to bear some responsibility for what happened to Guyana,? says former party vice-chairman Vincent Alexander, ?And therefore, I still don?t see the [PNC] being involved in any exercise of atonement, as if they are the sole and gravest wrongdoers.? He says the question of blame is one that is relevant, but not in a reductive way, limiting it to one party. ?The relevant question is one of plurality?a question of all the players,? he points out, while noting that with the debate about ?the Janet Jagan era? and her participation, people should be more conscious of the fact that it is not a question of pointing a finger at any one player.

According to him, if the party engages in any exercise on its own, it would have to be what he calls a ?contextualisation? of the Burnham period, rather than an act of contrition. He admits that such a process could lead to the conclusion that there was wrongdoing, but also aid the understanding of the context in which it occurred, thereby allowing a fair judgement of the late former president and his administration. In this vein, the Burnham Foundation, which Alexander chairs, is embarking on a project that will be launched later in the year aimed at providing a fuller understanding of the Burnham era. It would be based on historical information, he explained, examining the era from its genesis.

Asked whether there was wrongdoing by the PNC administration, he says there may have been but adds that the issue is whether it was malicious. ?You may have wrongdoing that was conceptualised almost differently,? he argues, ?You may also have wrongdoing that, if contextualised, may in retrospect be understood, if not accepted, and in the Guyana context there is some of that as well.?

But Alexander does not agree with the view that confronting its past would be beneficial to the party in the way of broadening its support base.?I don?t know that even if the PNC did wrong or they were to admit that they did wrong, that there is any automaticity that there is going to be a different approach to the PNC,? he says, adding that it would be used by the party?s rivals as a reason not to support it. ?There is no prudence in the context of the inter-party rivalry that we have in Guyana for one party to go out there, in some act of admission, with the hope that it going to convert people,? he adds.

Naivety

The idea of the need for the party to shed its baggage is a trend that Alexander attributes to naivety and opportunism. He explains that the sentiment is often expressed by people who do not understand the political culture, as well as others who he believes are trying to use the party to gain credibility ?by saying ?I wasn?t involved? and by saying that ?the PNC should apologise.??
Alexander does believe there is need for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission involving the participation of all stakeholders, to settle any outstanding questions. ?We?ve all got to bear our souls and in that process somebody might be [guiltier] than the other?if that is the case?but it is not the case where there are the innocent and the guilty,? he says.
Further, although he acknowledges that a party looking for plurality would have to go beyond its traditional supporters, Alexander remains unconvinced that apologising is a prerequisite in this regard. He explains that there is a need for everyone to take responsibility for moving the country forward, rather than laying its problems at the feet of one set of people while proclaiming that things will be alright. ?Things are not going to be alright?,? he emphasises, ?the genesis of the problems is the plural nature of the society and the recognition of it and the need for there to be some kind of mechanism to give justice to all in a state of plurality; that is what we are not addressing.?
He adds that while people appear to have moved away from those issues as if they have disappeared, they have not. Alexander says there has been a failure to ?address those fundamental issues? over the years, making them more endemic as they have been exploited for political gains and ignored.

Reversal

According to Alexander, young people in particular have very limited exposure to Burnham beyond the criticism of him and his policies. As a result, he says they have not been given the opportunity to analyse all of the facts related to him and gain a complete picture. People are sold a negative image, according to him, and are feeding off what he calls ?a state of ignorance rather than enlightenment.
But he adds that there has been some reversal of the attitude to Burnham. The group that he thinks was most effective opposition to the Burnham regime was not the PPP but the Working People?s Alliance, whose support cut across the racial divide. ?You will find a number of WPA people who will not say what he did was acceptable, but in retrospect they now understand there was a beast he was dealing with that he understood. They are now dealing with the beast, allowing them to understand why he did what he did, even if misguided,? he says.

By supererro
Sunday, May 24, 2009

Amenrata
The Brain Drain has always been a reason for why so many third world countries are doing so poorly. Now all the sudden its being dismissed by by you as it relates to Guyana. My argument was simply based on the precmise that if most skilled and educated people that left Guyana stayed to contribute their talents to Guyana, would the country be better off. This wasnt a personal attack on you. I am not blaming you for breaking Guyana because you left in 86. Im just saying that collectively if we all stayed back would the situation be better.....you know what never mind..lol
By denobrega
Sunday, May 24, 2009

Re:denobrega
Denobrega i will not feel guilty for guyana's demise, blame the political parties not me, me leaving guyana has nothing to do with that, when i left guyana in 1986 guyana was doing well jobs was aplenty, the bauxite industry was doing well, crime was not rampant and at that time the guyana dollar was about 50 to one u.s dollar compare to now, my point is even if i left guyana that shouldn't break guyana, why not blame your parent for leaving guyana and dragging you with them, they could have left you with relatives and when you got big you would start to help develop guyana, anyway i'm done with this topic.
By amen-ra-ta
Sunday, May 24, 2009

FACTS not HEARSAY..............
I will be candid for a little bit here. I left Guyana in 1989, 5 days short of my 30th birthday and even though the economic situation was not the best; Guyana was never HELL under Burnham or Hoyte. The cynics and naysayers may want to disagree but before you do, answer these questions.

Would it be fair to say that all those islanders we had in Guyana was there because their original home was HELL?
Might it be because they believed individually that they could have made a better living in Guyana than their home country?
Did all Guyanese who RAN from GT left because Burnham was intolerable?
Would you agree that Guyanese are leaving Guyana NOW more than anytime prior to 1992?

Now, whether you like it or not, the government of Guyana prior to when I left had its equal share of Indians and blacks in the public service and ministerial levels.

''Racism and politics played a great role in whatever happen to Guyana therefore our nationals had no other choice but to ''CUT AND RUN. Is this really true?

In the joint forces, there are ?untouchables,? who were untouchables during the PNC reign?

In Guyana today, there is REAL fear. Was this the same kind of fear during the PNC reign?

In any country one can be locked up for anti government activities. If you decide to take the law into your own hands, shouldn?t your safety be a concern?

?Could Guyana have been a better place if many who appear on this forum had stayed in Guyana to contribute to its development and not added to its braindrain.? GOOD QUESTION!

Yes and no! Indeed, had we stayed the ruling cabal may not have seen the light of day. I believe in any part of the developing world citizens would have left for greener pastures. I also believe it is unfair to compare the American experience with ours. The idea of Socialism is not bad in principle but dictatorial practices are. The suppression of a people by an individual or faction has its retributions and what we as Guyanese thought was HELL during our transition from Colonialism to Socialism is coming back to haunt us.

I will concede to no one in defense of Burnham as being RACIST, even though he failed in his effort to make black people believe that individually they must EMPOWER themselves! I will also defend his purpose and logics to remain in power ?by any means necessary.? Come on people, we have gone through this before; seventeen year of PPP rule has shown us clearly why Burnham had to stay in power (by unethical means if you may) because this cabal simply CANNOT GOVERN fairly.

The Indian businesses survived (they got wealthier) under Burnham, why can?t ours? Where was the MARGINALIZATION THEN? Are we saying that Burnham marginalized his own (black) people? If so, how could he have been a racist? Ask Freddie Kissoon, who fought against the rule of Burnham; how silly he feels TODAY!

By supererro
Sunday, May 24, 2009

amenrata
Do you believe that guyana would be better off today if most of us in the diaspora had stayed and contributed our skills and knowledge to uplifting the nation insteading of running away when things got bad. Are we, well not me cause i was only 5 or 6 but for those who made a concious decision to leave guyana to be partly blamed for guyana's demise.
By denobrega
Sunday, May 24, 2009

carnival baby
I left Guyana as a child but I know life in Guyana was hell in Burhnam's latter days. My mother has tons of Guyanese friends who left guyana in the 70's and went to Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua and Trinidad. It really says something about a nation if its citizens are running to other 3rd world countries for a better life. I remember when my grandmother who wasnt really into politics because of her religion first came to the states and used to actually whisper Burhnams name when ever she talked about him. At first I used to wonder why but then my cousin schooled me that it was because Guyana was not a place where you could freely exercise your right to talk negatively about the government like here in the USA. I was stunned.
In any case, how is it though that Guyanese are so willing to cut and run when at the same time you have Brazilians and Chinese nationals comming into Guyana and making a good life for themselves. Just wondering.
By denobrega
Saturday, May 23, 2009

Re: Denobrega
Denobrega remember america and other western countries became rich and powerful all because of the 500 years or more free labor from the enslaved africans, and it's pillage and plunder of other countries resources, so that's why everyone flock to these countries, and one more thing the african in america went through some of the worst of times, slavery, jim crow, segregation, ethnic prejudices and the only reason they didn't run is because they don't have anywhere else to go.
By amen-ra-ta
Saturday, May 23, 2009

Denobrega's understatement
That is such an understatement ,i don't know where you are or where were you in the days of LSF Burnham,life was so darn hard in Guyana,America and some countries of the caribbean did not put their citizens through half of what our government put us through.And then to top it off ''Racism and politics played a great role in whatever happen to Guyana therefore our nationals had no other choice but to ''CUT AND RUN.
By carnivalbaby_1
Saturday, May 23, 2009

Can the Guyanese immigrant population be blamed partly for Guyana's demise
It just occured to me that most of the contributors to this forum live outside of Guyana. I also remember a comment made by someone not to far back that the reason why America has remained such a strong nation is because Americans have remained in America through good times and bad. Is it therefore fair to assume that the many Guyanese who now live in the USA Canada, Britiain or the Caribbean have contributed to Guyana's demise. Could Guyana have been a better place if many who appear on this forum had stayed in Guyana to contribute to its development and not added to its braindrain.
By denobrega
Saturday, May 23, 2009

ONWARD, UPWARD! May we ever GROW?
Linden Citizens Committee wants Linden Town Week financial report made public
By Stabroek staff | May 22, 2009 in Letters

Dear Editor,
The Linden Town Day which began in the year 1996 evolved to become the Linden Town Week. The community of Linden and its environs has supported the town?s activities for the past thirteen years, but to this day the organizers of the event have failed to present their financial report to the residents of the community.

Some time ago the then Chairman for that year?s Town Day went on television and promised the people of Linden a financial report for the said year. After the Town Day activities ended, the Town Day head told residents that the proceeds from the Town Day had been used to pay policemen for their services. On Wednesday, May 6, 2009 there was a (call-in) programme by the Linden Town Council IMC Chairman concerning the 2009 Town Week. The Linden Citizens Committee (LCC) was disappointed with the response made by the IMC Chairman. It was expected that he would have used the television to present a financial report to residents. A telephone caller asked for a financial report and the Chairman responded by saying that it was the Glow party and the pageant contest, which made most of the money. The caller did not ask who made most money. The Chairman failed to answer the question.

The Chairman went on to say that he had sent a financial report to the Ministry of Local Government, and would soon present one to the Linden Town Council. The LCC supports the dispatching of a report to the government ministry and the one intended for the Linden Town Council, but reminds the Chairman that his first obligation is to the residents of Linden and its environs.

Hence, we of the LCC are requesting that the IMC Chairman of the Linden Town Council make public a detailed financial report of the 2009 Linden Town Week event, so residents of Linden and its environs will be able to read it in the national print media, and also see a television report as soon as possible.
Yours faithfully,
Maurice Noble
Chairman
Linden Citizens
Committee

By supererro
Saturday, May 23, 2009

?D & R CREATIVE DESIGNS?
Hi Ladies now open at El shadiddia Shopping Mall Burnham Drive Wismar Linden is ?D & R CREATIVE DESIGNS? We are specialize in: Nail Art, Manicure, Pedicure, Facials and much more: CALL US: (592)442-1294/699-2262. Check us out for the best price and service you won?t regret it.
By mic james
Friday, May 22, 2009

amenrata
Well she's a black womanist activist who claims to be the former girlfriend of Osama Bin Ladin. She also claims to be Sudanese; the offspring of a light skinned Egyptian father and a black mother and was later adopted by a black american family in Washington DC. She asserts that Bin Ladin kept her as a concubine because she was circumsized. I have her book and she is one interesting character. Look her up on youtube when you get a chance
By denobrega
Thursday, May 21, 2009

Question
1] Who was the world's first physician?

2] Who was the father of medicine?

By amen-ra-ta
Thursday, May 21, 2009

Re:Denobrega
Denobrega i've heard about her some years ago, but i never followed up on her, what info do you have on her.
By amen-ra-ta
Thursday, May 21, 2009

amenra
have you ever heard about a women named Kola Boof...look her up on youtube and tell me what you think
By denobrega
Sunday, May 17, 2009

Question
Is god the son, or the sun the god.
By amen-ra-ta
Sunday, May 17, 2009

Marginalization by any other name would appear just the same

By: Dr. Linden Beaton

There is little doubt, at least in the opinion of the author and, perhaps, a wide cross section of Guyanese populace, that the deteriorating quality Policing in Guyana can be directly linked to the quality of the political leadership that Guyana has been laboring under over the past 17 years. of The Guyana Police Force was once a preeminent law enforcement organization, with abilities and members that were the envy of many Caribbean Commonwealth territories. Its officers were continuously being recruited to train or head the Police Departments of several island territories. Today, by any objective examination, the Guyana Police Force has become a shell of what it once was, dragged down to the depths of incompetence and perversion by little napoleons more interested in political revenge and payback, than in progress and development of the Force. In 16 years or thereabouts we have watched in horror a metamorphosis in the values and principles of Policing in Guyana. Where once the political leadership of the force publicly championed and stressed adherence to the ?Rule of Law?, ?Due Process? and the ?Presumption of Innocence?, today?s bosses publicly defend the atrocities of ?Collective Punishment?, ?Selective Prosecution?, and ?Extra Judicial Justice?.

The ?Rule of Law? is supposed to ensure that the distribution of justice is equalized across all fronts. It is supposed to be a buffer against potential abuse of its awesome power by those empowered to directly or indirectly take away the life or liberty of citizens in societies governed by such laws. The rule of law was designed with the intention of promoting and ensuring balance and fairness in the administration of justice, and thus reducing the risk of conflict because of abuse of the power of the Law. The contemptuous discarding of a legally issued subpoena by the late PPP leader Janet Jagan in 1997, graphically illustrates what plans that party made when it came to the rule of law.

Throughout the period of the ?troubles?, if they can be so described, The President of Guyana engaged in the Pavlovian exercise of criticizing the performance of Law Enforcement, unless in the course their functions black heads were bloodied, or bodies were riddled with bullets. Whether the force used during this period was justified becomes irrelevant when the leader of a nation make pronunciations of guilt against individuals and selected communities, and skillfully use reinforcement mechanisms of reward and punishment in order to manipulate the operations of Law Enforcement. The results that unfolded saw Law Enforcement walking a tight rope when they were dealing with Guyanese of Indian descent, and metamorphosing into replicas of ?Mr. Hyde?, in their interaction with Guyanese of African descent. So when Tain erupted in anger over alleged Police misconduct, burning stuff in the roadway and blocking them with obstacles, the Cops handled the protestors with kid gloves, and Ministers of the Government called for the heads of the subjects of the complaints. In contrast however, when Buxtonians protested the shooting to death of Donna Herod by the Police, the harassment and illegal arrests and abuse of residents of the village including kids, they were described as hoodlums and hooligans, accused of harboring criminals, and the joint services were sent in to bust more heads and keep them in line. The rule of Law in Guyana under the tenure of the PPP had metamorphosed into collective punishment for people of African descent, and the sending of a clear message to them that they had no rights which this regime was duty bound to respect.

Law, in the context of Guyana, is loosely defined as ?a rule of human conduct, enforced by its authority, the Courts?. As a civilized specie, we Guyanese collectively make and agree to these arrangements of order, of protection, of sanction. The Rule of Law represent the highest principles that we Guyanese, as a society, collectively agree to observe in our interaction with each other as individuals and groups. Abandonment of the Rule of Law in any society opens a Pandora?s Box of injustice, oppression and yes, conflict. For when injustice and oppression replaces the Rules of Law in any society, conflict will become the inevitable consequence.

Under the Laws of Guyana, everyone accused or suspected of a crime is entitled to Due Process. That is to say their arrest, their custody, their right to bail pending the determination of their case etc, are protected by a set of rules, statutes and regulations that are binding on Law Enforcement and the Criminal Justice System . What has emerged with the PPP coming into power in 1992 however is blatant selectivity in according these rights to suspects or accused persons. Roger Khan and another Guy named Sugrim, were both caught with arms, ammunitions, and in the case of Khan, a prohibited piece of electronic eavesdropping equipment. Nothing became of those matters. In fact the equipment was returned to Khan who proceeded to use it to monitor the phone calls of the then Commissioner of Police. In contrast, Mark Benschop who was framed with treason charge and was the beneficiary of an 11 to 1 jury verdict in favor of innocent, was refused bail under circumstances of politically applied pressure on the judiciary, and forced to languish in prison for more than five years. You see, he failed the pencil in hair test that seem to be the get out of jail free card acceptable to the PPP. For them, Justice has come to mean ?just us? getting our heads bashed in, being riddled with police bullets, and being carted off to jail.

A sitting Minister of the Government, in broad daylight, committed the criminal offence of ?Discharging a Loaded Fire-am with intent?, and got away unscathed. He was not censored. He was not prosecuted. In fact the PPP and its idiot assembly dealt felonious wounds to the writings of the relevant Statute under the Firearms Act in order to excuse and justify his actions. There is nothing in the firearm act that allows any licensed firearm owner to fire warning shots in the air. There is nothing under the firearm acts that permits the licensed owner of a personal firearm to draw and fire it, unless he or she is under attack, and are unable to protect or defend themselves by any other means. The circumstances surrounding the Minister drawing and discharging his weapon met the evidentiary requirement for a charge of ?Discharging a Loaded Firearm with intent?. But he passes the pencil test, and according to the current regime?s understanding of Due Process, that amounted to a finding of Nolle Prosequi in his case.

In Guyana today, the Police are given instructions to summarily arrest and process black youths in a frightening re-enactment of what obtained in Soweto South Africa during the era of Apartheid Governance. Protest against this kind of collective and selective Law Enforcement persecution elicits rejoinders from the PPP Government and its acolytes that these kids are of a type that will become criminals and terrorist. We thought that this kind of thing was exclusive to places where the politicians in Charge were white, and the oppressed were black or brown. What we are discovering here in Guyana, is that the traditional prejudiced stereotyping and bigotry that bred injustice to blacks in places like the US and South Africa, have been co-opted by the current regime to rationalize and justify their illegal and unlawful actions. So black kids in places like Buxton and Agricola are destined to be criminals according to the rationale in place, and the Cops are being encouraged to preemptively hasten that destiny into a current reality.

The very foundation of Due Process rests on the presumption that every suspect is considered innocent until and unless they are found guilty at a duly constituted trial. It is said that it is preferable for ten guilty men to go free than for one innocent person to be wrongfully sanctioned by the law. Those concepts were jettisoned with disdain as a criminal narcotic trafficker and the then Minister of Home Affairs, assembled a motley crew of killers to cull black communities of men they determined were criminal suspects. The drug trafficker claimed he was saving the Government from a coup, while the civilian Minister of Home Affairs hubristically claimed his association with the characters had to do with information gathering. Again, nothing in the laws of Guyana or the Constitution permits a civilian to engage in functions reserved for duly sworn law enforcement officials. The police act does require able bodied citizens to come to the assistance of officers who make such request, but those persons in such pursuit become subject to all the rules and regulations that govern the actions of police officers.

As mutilated bodies of mostly black young men, the signs of torture clearly evident on the corpses, appeared in living color day after day on the front page of the Kaieteur News, the civilian guardians of the rule law and all of its moderating appendages remained silent. There were no protests from the Government to this modern day lynching of black men. There were no indignant urgings from the Government for those engaged in this mass murder to desist from their actions under pain of punishment. In fact many members of Civil Society, including known supporters of the PPP, took to the letter columns of the newspapers to rationalize and justify these killings, and adorn the killers and their minders with glorious halos. Those who were repulsed and aghast over the barbarous development, and made their revulsion known in the press, were accused of supporting and giving aid and comfort to criminals. This became the foundation of the re-election campaign of Bharrat Jagdeo, and he topped it off by telling a homogeneous audience of supporters assembled at Babu John that if the black party won the elections they would give AK47s to criminals.

In one of the great examples of irony, the PPP leadership heaped vituperative criticism on the Government of the United States of America after Roger Khan was taken into custody by the DEA in Trinidad and Tobago. They accuse the US of denying Due Process to Roger Khan, the man who had fatally taken away that right from hundreds. The Government that had not uttered a word of protest while hundreds of citizens were being lynched by murderers under the command of Khan, made an about face in his defense. By this they sent a clear message to the black community of Guyana that they had no problems with Due Process and the Presumption of innocence, providing the suspects or accused could pass the pencil test.

Guyana is at a perilous stage in its transition to democracy, because no group of people can be persuaded to trust a regime that has one standard for one set of citizens, and a different one for another group. Black communities in Guyana, like Ithaca, like certain parts of Georgetown, like certain villages on the East Coast and upper Demerara, are being subjected to marginalization practices that are economic debilitating and socially dehumanizing. The majority black town of Linden where voters en masse voted against the current regime, are confined to getting information from PPP controlled public media. They are denied the right to own and operate Radio Stations or Newspapers. There is not a single black owned newspaper in the country, while there are two Indian owned newspapers, and the publicly owned state organ is under the control of the Indian Party. Although Guyanese of African descent contribute heftily to tax revenues, none the two black owned television stations receive state ads, while those owned by Indians do.

There is no difficulty in identifying evidence of marginalization of blacks in Guyana. The barefaced denials of the Government in the face of this kind of evidence are testament to the mendacious predisposition of the political administration. How can the President in the exercise of the portfolio of Minister of Information give his Indian friend a license to start a newspaper while denying that right to citizens of African descent? How can the Government enhance the economic operations of Indian Media through the facility of ad revenue, while denying even a pittance to struggling black owned media? And most importantly, how can the Political State of Guyana consider this as fair and balanced governance, and ignore the claims and perceptions of black people? If this situation was reversed, would the PPP not be screaming bloody murder to the world at large? You tell me.

By supererro
Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Movies from Linden Guyana
Below are the only persons giving permission to sell our Movies. J&M Internet Caf? Burnham drive, Fredco Photo Studio, Republic Avenue Major Sports Center (Leap building) in Georgetown Matts record Bar & Gift land office max For persons living in U.S.A and Canada please contact the following persons for your copies: Mr. Collie Allen (aka DJ Strimpy) at 631-704-2982 . Mr. Mark Mosley 973-493-4609 Mrs. Karen Massay 678-488-6407 and Mr. Gary Tim 225-803-5573 or radioortv@yahoo.com
By mic james
Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Big Sand
Is that the only negative issue you saw about the Town Week celebrations? What about some of the things that'll make you return next year? K & S strive economically whenever they are attacked in that manner. Just leave them alone and they'll receive their just reward.
The people of Linden need to mobilize and organize to clean up MSC and keep it that way. It is in the state it is, because everyone is looking in the wrong direction for help. They need to get that done themselves. How? I don't know but I do know that there are folks in Linden capable enough to find a way to get it done.
By Silvertown Man
Wednesday, May 13, 2009

K&S
As a lindener who just returned after our Town Week i must say that i am very disappointed with Mackenzie Sports Club and persons that live in this area. Now as i was about to enter this club that i joined since i was a youth in the early 60's i saw a BIG SIGN with K& S next to the basketball court. This angered me immediately, how the hell can this be accepted in this area when these two SPINELESS persons RAPE this area of all the money they can get, move the tournament to Providence and got the NERVE to let that sign stand tall. Mr. Trim and all of the officers of that club needs to have that sign removed immediately. the Town Councel along with the Refginol Chirman needs to act now. For every moment that this sign is up Lindeners should be paid. During the month of December K & S have tournament all over the country and i have yet to see any of their signs at any ground, why the hell they have it there. Lindeners assisted them to become BIGS in Guyana and now that you are making money and you have found a bigger and better place where you will become richer take your sign with you, Why leave your dirty dishes in our sink. Since you have deserted us take your nasty belongings with you.
You have not done anything for us and we all know that before long the very Government that supports you will reject you soon, As the song goes "IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME". We at linden will be right there when you come CRYING and if they remain as they do now we will wipe your EYES with the HEAVY SAND PAPER. You gave us blood so we need to see yours also. All them FLAT SCREEN TV's that you have in you homes will be sold. Robbers are heartless and K&S I AM CONVINCED THE YOU BOTH HAVE NO HEART.

By big-sand
Wednesday, May 13, 2009

VENDETTA or SPITEFULNESS???????????
Owen John, sons charged after Agricola raid

By Stabroek staff | May 12, 2009 in Local News

Three members of the John family, who were allegedly assaulted by police ranks during a raid at their Agricola home last Saturday, have been charged with unlawfully assaulting a peace officer, behaving disorderly and obstructing a police officer.

Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday placed Owen John on self-bail when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrate?s Court.

John had informed the court that his sons Fabio and Michael John were not aware that they were also charged and so were not informed that they had to appear in court.

Owen John denied that he unlawfully assaulted Assistant Superintendent of Police Dinard Cambridge, while he was executing his duties at their home at Romulus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara on May 2.

He had also denied that on the same day he behaved disorderly.

He said that on the day in question about 4 am he and his family were awakened by a loud noise. He said when he got up to enquire where it was coming from he saw a policeman on his fence. Owen John said he demanded that the officer get off his fence. He said another police officer then asked him to open the gate. While he was getting the keys to do so, he alleged, a police officer threatened to kill his dog for barking loudly.

He said when the police got to him he enquired why they were at his home and was informed that there were looking for arms, ammunition and drugs.

Owen John went on to say that at that point a policeman told him ?ah warning yuh big man shut yuh mouth.?

He alleged that as he was objecting to the search which was done without a warrant ?one ah them tell another one to arrest me while another seh fuh shoot me.?

He said that when his son, Michael, came upstairs to enquire what was going on, he was slapped and when he asked why he was slapped he was slapped again.

He said Fabio then came upstairs three policemen jumped on him while another choked him.

He said he overheard a policeman saying that he had always given them trouble whenever they had to search his home. Owen John noted that this was the third time that his house was raided.

On the last occasion his daughter, Michelle John, was traumatized for days afterwards, he said. Michelle John is a local table tennis star, who is currently studying overseas. Owen John further stated that he and his sons were taken to the police station where they were kept for about eight hours and at one point had to expose their private parts.

The prosecution made no objection to John?s bail application when he requested it.

The magistrate subsequently placed John on self-bail and ordered that he return to court on June 12.

Owen John is the Chairperson of the Rome Athletics Club and also a Vice President in the Agricola Restoration Association. Fabio is a trained teacher at a primary school in Agricola, while Michael is currently a student at the University of Guyana and a layout artist at a newspaper.

By supererro
Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Tantimerl and She Junky
Anyone living in any part of the US or Canada interested in the movie (Tantimerl and She Junky) or the others, Just call me on 631-704-2982 or 631-968-0334 after 5pm. Weekends, anytime. I will advise you what to do and I will get the package to you. It doesn't where you live, Brooklyn or Alaska. I name Shrimpy. Just call me and then you will laugh later. Especially those who haven't went home for the longest while, you'll see places that you and your family members will debate and argue about. You will also hear sounds like the chirping of crickets at night (when last you heard that sound?)
Call me.
Collie Allen (Shrimpy)
By Shrimpy
Monday, May 11, 2009

Guyana Beach Football launches in Linden
Why is there no mention of the launching of Guyana Beach Football on this web site, when it was on the back pages of all the New Papers except for the Guyana Chronicles. Also how come nothing on the big manager from Linden that got Guyana its first MSL player and 3 or 4 other players in the signed to big contracts around the world. I am starting to get the feelings that GUYMINE.com is part of the GOVERNMENT scheme to keep we Linden People narrow minded with our ONE TV TV Chanel and ONE RADIO STATION.
By ShyGuy
Monday, May 11, 2009

tanty merle
can any one say where i can get a copy of the movie in brooklyn?
By blondie
Monday, May 11, 2009

Sup
Hi everyone!
By roy1
Sunday, May 10, 2009

Tantimerl and she Junky ( special thank you)
The Production Team of ?Tantimerl and She Junky? say special thanks to the following persons for their support in making this film successful: GUYMINE.COM. Miss Debra Christie, James Texaco Gas station, Mr. Leon Roberts, Mr. Collie Allen, the Linden town week committee, Pastor Leroy James, Mr. Randy Hall, Miss Shamaine Haynes and to everyone who buy the movie from the right source. Below are the only persons giving permission to sell. Fredco Photo Studio, Republic Avenue Major Sports Center (Leap building) in Georgetown Matts record Bar & Gift land office max For persons living in U.S.A and Canada please contact the following persons for your copies: Mr. Collie Allen (aka DJ Strimpy) at 631-704-2982 . Mr. Mark Mosley 973-493-4609 and Mrs. Karen Massay 678-488-6407
By mic james
Sunday, May 10, 2009

From Mr.Collie Allen (aka DJ Strimpy)
Hello all Guyanese,
If you?re down and out or up and in and you want to relax and laugh after a hard days? work, just watch ?Tantimerl and She Junky? This is a movie about a fairly ambitious young man finds himself falling to the use of elicit drugs, what happens to him and his family during this period. It will inspire, move, make you cry and laugh... It?s really funny, emotional and hilarious. Most of all, it was filmed in Linden , Guyana . The music was suitable for every seen, the actors who I give CREDIT to are super actors could be family, friends or associates of you, who are back home in Guyana and doing a fantastic Hollywood job. This is another laugh till you belly bus movie written, produced and directed by our own Michael James of Linden .

Can you imagine that the Mackenzie mini bus park was packed with fans, you would believe is some kind of show by some foreign artist performing? No my friends it was ?Tantimerl and She Junky? been shown on a big screen and you can hear the laughter of hundreds of viewers from where I was (Diamond Touch Variety Store). Later I took it and showed the movie on my BIG screen just opposite the said venue where I sell CDs and DVDs the next night and magnetized the crowd again. Road block, you can imagine.

I would like to congratulate Mr. MICHAEL JAMES and cast for the wonderful job you?re doing and keep your heads up high and go ahead and make more medicine.

Please don?t forget there are other productions like ?Ole House Pon Ole House? part 1 and 2 and ?The Coal Pot Saga?. You will kill yourself with laugh.

I personally know that there are critics all over the world but if anyone especially our own who saw the movie and wish to make a negative comment, please email Michael James himself, don?t put the brother down. I know how we Guyanese stay you know. Remember the song? Feel The Rhythm? The lyrics ?I don?t know, I don?t know, why they got people bad minded so, if yo try to reach the top, they will want to see yo drop??
I think you got my message; please support the guy and his cast all of Linden .
Shrimpy.

By mic james
Sunday, May 10, 2009

RE: Suicide
My condolences goes out to the family of the deceased, as a original silvertown man i'm familar with that tenement yard where the young woman allegedly committed suicide, i was talking to someone who reside in silvertown and knew the deceased well, and was told that it wasn't a suicide she was killed by some one close to her, and that someone was the person who discovered her dead, and that same person had threatened to kill her, so he needs to be investigated closely.
By amen-ra-ta
Friday, May 08, 2009

GODBLESS YOU 29
I am questioning your comprehension skills. Did I not indicate verbatim that I feel sorry for the trauma that the mother is going through. I believe we are all entilted to our opinion and views. Its funny how your throw up scripture and consigning on sucide in proxy. No one said life would be easy , this is why you always ask father to watch over everyday. Like JahCure said' In my life I have seen many things......''
By joy1010
Friday, May 08, 2009

Don't Judge
First of all My heart goes out to Rondell's mother, I left Guyana when I was young but I do remember them as neighbours... You and your family are in my prayers and I know that the Lord will sustain you in this difficult time. Secondly, Whatever the situation is that caused her to feel like that was her only way out... None of us really knows because we weren't her, I do not agree with anyone taking their own lives but my job is not to judge anyone... So to those that disagree with what has happened in the sense of it being a suicide, you can choose to disagree but you are in no position to make judgement... We are all sinners in one way or another so instead of bashing anyone in such a tragic time... Uplife her family because its never easy losing someone you love, no matter what way it is. No disrespect intended but even as Christians so of us act as though we are above everyone else but a true Christian judges no one. "Judge not , that you be Judged." Matt 7:1
By GodBlessYou29
Friday, May 08, 2009

Denobrega
Its funny how you can use God and Sucide in the same sentence. From the intial reports I am not sorry for her or her partner. I am sorry for her mother. How cold can you be to put your elderly mother through such a trauma, Self at best. No one said this life was gone be easy but to take one's life NO NO NO. I am simply saying that do you think in 3 months he will be griving for her. I think not. I mean find a church move out the district. You have a job, how little it might be. Its hard because sometimes the heart can't help who it loves but you have to love yourself more and sometimes see a someone for who they are and leave. YOU CAN'T FORCE SOMEONE TO LOVE AND DO RIGHT BE YOU. ITS NOT POSSIBLE.
By joy1010
Friday, May 08, 2009

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