peace, me pikney

Tiday ah satiday and meh see dat dere is some genuwin efforts wid da peepl at Linden.

But dat boi, de King of Israel - sorry, king of linden, soloman gat foh kno wen fa press on an wen fa bak dung. Leh dere be peace nah maan, leh de poor peepl get food and thing and mek yuh struggel wan intellectual struggle.

All dem years of racial fighting did nat help anny of us. Fram 1964 till tiday, how many black peepl and coolie peepl lass dem lives bekase of race hatred and foolish leadership? And did we gain anything?

Maak, yuh and fredny and roopie need to take note too. Egging peepl on nah gun mek us betta. When u put me lil pickney in de front line, imagin how dem gun grow up, wid hate and anga.

Ow meh pickney, leh we change course in guyana. Laan from Martin Luther or Gandi. If de peepeepee cant put guyana first, leh we do it.

Maak and Danal, Baart and Fredny

Curioser and curioser...as the saying goes:

1) Maak is on a paat a venegence. No let up for dat bai. Peter pay foh Paul and Paul pay all. Baart put Maak foh watch dem boys in Jale.

Fredny mek sure dat Maak stay in jale becas he rite up week pon top week bout Maak.

Suh now Maak staat up ah radio station pon d GT&Tnet. He maybe gat GTnT to sponsor it becas dat boi at GTnT use ta sponsa everybady, but sanita na deh pan da. She gun cut he off quik quik, afta all he ah blackman who bin ah jale, and sheh doan wan fa do nottin with jail peeple.

Suh, Maak deh pon it, nite an day. beatin up pon de pee-pee-pee.  An yuh know dat any place dat smell like truble, maak and freddy run deh fus. Maak staat fo get personal pon pee-pee-pee. He fogot dat Baart gaan an dat Danal is the new presidont. Dis presidont dont do nuttin widout Baart seh-so.

Wen Linden staat fi get trubel, guess who bin deh fuss fuss? Meh boi Maak and Meh boi Fredny. Po Maak, in he vendatta staat fo foget dat he can also do sum good in de worl.

Bai Maak, foget de politics....u mek a gud cut as a yung man....Widen yuh cumputa thing and go behin dat....giv up de hate Maak. Wedda yuh do wha yuh do or naat, Danal will continu put he foot in he mout. Cyant stap da.

2) Danal, pleese grow up and becom a maan. Yuh doan hav to do everitin dat Baart wan fi do. Stap bein a lil pee-pee-pee bay and grow yuh own weenie - and use it.

3) Fredny, boi, we sarry yuh get punch. We raaly sarry. But meh boi, lisen to dis ole man. Yuh nah wan jurnalist - yuh ah wan pollytican (not). Suh doan call we jurnalist fa help yuh....we cyant.

Meh guh taak to yall mo next time. Ee get late, me gat fa sleep.

GRA officials in yet another bribery scam - telephone company implicated

Secret deals seems to be the thing of the day as We learn of yet another series of secret deals between GRA officials and persons from the private sector. Millions of dollars are being spent every year on paying off the customs officials. Based on our reports from one ex-customs officer, the largest payoffs came from a telephone company and a hardware store. In this first expose, we will deal with the overall accusations.

The telephone company under the microscope recently fired its chief financial officer for "conflict of interest" without disclosing what those conflicts were. We are left to wonder if the CFO was involved in this scandal and would like to talk with Mr. Rachpaul (Mr. Rachpaul, if you read this, please contact us on corruptionexpos_e@hotmail.com.

Joe Singh's emergence, as M. Maxwell questions in the Stabroek News, indicates another clear conflict of interest. However, Joe Singh was being paid off by ATN to sit at the office of the president to influence the Government's action (or inaction) on the legislation and so his conflict is obviously not in the same class as the CFO's. It was during Singh's years that the telephone company paid over 20 million dollars (per year), that's $20,000,000 in bribes to GRA officials to allow its goods to avoid detection. The ex-customs officer said that GT&T cannot produce any record of their payments to GRA, since it was all paid as bribes.

It seems that the CEO's of GT&T have a history of such dealings since it is public information about the foreign exchange deals that were done by the former CEO, Jagan (current CFO). It was also under CEO Jagan's so called “guard” that a few of the Government's properties were sold for cash. These Government properties were claimed by GT&T to be their own, so they sold it off (where was Brassington??). This deal had also included the payment of this ex-GRA officer.

Conflict of interest?

By STABROEK STAFF  |  5 COMMENTS  |  LETTERS | TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012 

Dear Editor,

Guyana has one of the most archaic, uncompetitive and monopolistic telecommunication sectors in the western hemisphere. Long-suffering Guyanese have been crying out for reform and competition in this sector for a long time. The PPP tabled telecom reform legislation last year and then strangely and unceremoniously withdrew it in September 2011.

Tele-Atlantic Network Inc’s 2011 annual report states “On December 15, 2010, the Government, through the Office of the President, sent a letter to GT&T indicating that GT&T’s Licence was renewed until such time as a new legislative and regulatory regime to reform the telecommunications sector in Guyana is brought into force; however, GT&T formally notified the Government that it is entitled to an unconditional renewal of both the exclusive and non-exclusive licence grants for an additional period of 20 years or until such time as GT&T and the Company enter into a negotiated settlement with the Government.” Then in April 2012, the PPP sold its 20% stake in GT&T to a Chinese company, Datang Telecom Technology and Industry Group. This foolish move not only eradicated the government’s, and by extension, the Guyanese people’s voice and stake in the GT&T monopoly despite solid revenues, it most egregiously put another foreign company as part of the nation’s telecom monopoly. Withdrawal of the legislation in September 2011 also meant GT&T’s monopoly continues with the monopoly now controlled by two foreign companies. The sector continues to be an uncompetitive eyesore.

This is the mess we are in with respect to the telecoms sector. GT&T is the dominant player with exclusivity and a monopoly. Retired Major General, Joe Singh, was GT&T’s CEO from 2005 to July 31, 2010. He became GT&T’s CEO again at the end of June 2012. Mr Singh is also an advisor to the President.

It is important to know when Mr Singh became an advisor to the President to determine whether he was advising the state when the telecoms reform bill was withdrawn and the government’s shares in GT&T were sold.

Mr Singh’s forgoing of his monthly salary as presidential advisor is immaterial and inconsequential to the real issues here. Who knows when Mr Singh decided to forgo his salary; was it in the past week when his massive monthly remuneration as an advisor to the President was revealed or did this occur shortly after he became CEO of GT&T at the end of June 2012? The critical issue is the potential for influencing and for a conflict of interest raised by Mr Singh’s presence as an advisor to the President and continued presence in that role. Competitors to GT&T, the telecom industry, companies seeking to enter the market and the general public cannot benefit from the current CEO of a telecoms monopoly advising the government , which holds the power to pass legislation and reform the sector.

The President cannot be relying on Mr Singh for advice in his capacity as advisor to the President and then with respect to full accountability and transparency be negotiating and bargaining in good faith with Mr Singh in his capacity as CEO of GT&T for that negotiated settlement GT&T seeks. This puts the President in a position where he is constitutionally mandated to act in the best interests of the nation but receives advice from an individual who is acting in the best interest of his company. Joe Singh cannot realistically be acting in both capacities on this issue and not be in a conflict of interest. This scenario would never be repeated in the jurisdiction of GT&T’s parent company without the US President and the CEO of Tele-Atlantic Network Inc facing not only public outrage but potentially investigations into their connections, actions and conduct.

GT&T’s 2011 annual report confirmed its fears about coming telecom reform in Guyana. At this point, the PPP has withdrawn the bill. One is left to speculate that it may be a delaying tactic to ensure the status quo by default, or is it to allow GT&T to strengthen itself before the competition arrives? It is obvious that competition within and reform of the telecommunication sector is vital to Guyana’s future despite the PPP’s backward moves. Guyanese need affordable, high-quality and fast telecoms services, particularly in data, so those PPP cart-before-the-horse election-gimmickry laptops can be put to better use than centerpieces, and be marshalled to delivering knowledge empowerment.

After all, something is desperately needed to lift the mental mass index of politicians in this country.

Yours faithfully,
M Maxwell

Is there an explicit conflict of interest in Ms Gitanjali Singh’s case?

by E.A.B John (Stabroek News, JUly 30,2012)

Dear Editor,
After reading and re-reading Mr Anand Goolsarran’s carefully crafted letter to SN, Sunday, July 22, one feels compelled to make some observations, even though they relate to what may be regarded as (minor) details.
The actual records will reveal the following:

i)   Ms Geetanjali Singh’s actual qualifications include the ACCA and Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management.
ii)  She rejoined the Office of the Auditor General in 2002. At 2005 her position was Assistant Auditor General.
iii) In the year 2005 the respective incumbents were as follows: Auditor General (ag) – Balraj Balram; Deputy Auditor General (ag) – Deodat Sharma.

The first demitted office. His replacement was Mr Sharma and Ms Donna Ellis was appointed to act in the latter’s position.
2005 was the year arrangements were made to reorganise the Audit Office, following its transition from a regular budget agency to a constitutional entity reporting to Parliament via the Public Accounts Committee. The new organisation structure was formally approved by Parliament. The posts of Senior Deputy, Deputy and Assistant Auditor General were deleted from the structure.
The reorganisation structure included the following specific auditing components:

Mr Goolsarran may not have been aware that the new structure which was instituted included the deliberate assignment of specific groups of auditees to the respective Directors (3), to each of whom an Audit Manager reported. (So it could not have been any recent accommodation of the Auditor General (ag)). From 2006 therefore the regulatory framework provided for the senior management team of directors to collate reports and formulate related opinions. Accordingly the latter could not be attributed to any one official, although the Auditor General (ag) would have to take final responsibility therefor.

Incidentally at no time did Ms Singh occupy the position of Deputy Auditor General. In the new dispensation she was one of the Audit Managers (ag).

Further, none of the commentaries so far have asserted their acquaintance with the actual Conflict of Interest Code which is part of the Regulations to the Act, or else they would have recognised the real potential of all the auditing teams being vulnerable.

The question being posed is, if as currently constituted Ms Singh’s portfolio does not include auditees who report to the Ministry of Finance, is there an explicit (and exclusive) conflict of interest?

In this connection it seemed to have been overlooked that by law the Audit Office itself is subject to audit.

A final question relating to a comment that Ms Singh was one of two qualified audit/accounting officials, the other being the Auditor General (ag): Does Mr Goolsarran consider a UG degree in Accountancy a professional qualification, taking into account international standards with which the discipline is required to comply? If yes, then it should be noted that two other (now) Audit Managers have the same qualification as their boss.

So far as the Auditor General (ag) is concerned, however, there are certainly substantive issues of ethical standards, independence and competence. Witness the non-submission of relevant reports on critical national projects retrospective to several years, and to which attention has repeatedly been drawn.

As observed by Mr Goolsarran, the urge should be for his replacement.

Yours faithfully,
E B John

Deconstructing GeeGee

The famous loudmouthed GeeGee a chief advisor (along with Joeseph Govinda Singh). It is these two that gives advice on army options and where to find people in the terrain. Gobin was seen leaving OP late evening just before the linden massacre took place while GeeGee boasts publicly about his advisory role to the Government on security matters. 

GeeGee, a fist-pounding apologist for a former president, owner of Roraima and a couple of aircrafts, recipient of Government's Gift - Duke Lodge, Guyanese-extraordinaire who peddles information to Jadgeo and from Jagdeo to his friends. He is famous for his deal with Duke Lodge that he acquired as a member of the Privitization Unit. He sold to himself this prime real estate and built an ordinary hotel which is boosted by his constant gab as well as political frends.

GeeGee owns a number of small aircrafts that flies to interor locations as well as Suriname and Trinidad. His small planes makes night flights to various mysterious areas and he drops off people and stuff. He also picks up people and stuff. GeeGee was part of the original story of a missing aircraft - He also runs facilities at all the airports that stows bags and suitcases to international and local flights.

GeeGee was one of the master minds in the Government's action during the elections 2011 as well as the previous one. He is a very able advisor to Jagdeo's group and tradesmarks himself as righteous and plain-spoken, but his certificates read Schizophrenia (a mental disorder that makes it hard to: Tell the difference between what is real and not real; Think clearly; Have normal emotional responses).

As the owner of one of the largest buildings in Georgetown, GeeGee built so that his sewage runs through the neighbor's yard while his guttering is in the neighbor's property. Nextdoor (east) to his building is a haunted house whose occupants habitually inhabits his building too, leading to GeeGee's behavioural imbalances.

GeeGee is a pilot, always on the high. His constant dialogue with the Americans reveals the details of Government's actions and plans. From 1996 to current date, GeeGee runs the Private Sector Commission and directs their actions - and the PSC became an arm of the PPP Government.Geegee is also one of the male friends of Jagdeo; a satellite to Jagdeo, wherever there was one, there was the other. He related all the details of certain businessmen to Jagdeo, so that PPP could squeeze the businessmen. He uses his position to inset himself into every aspect of business and government.

GeeGee sits on the privitization unit that sold Guysuco lands, pegasus, the new home of Sam Hinds, GT&T shares, Duke Lodge, Thrust co, etc. In all these deals, GeeGee spied on businessmen and aided Government to sell the business out or to compete with the business, like the GT&T shares and Pegasus(Marriott). GeeGee voted to sell duke lodge to himself, while months before voted in favor of repairing Duke Lodge for 80million. He voted to sell the telephone company shares while spying on the telephone company and running his own evesdropping scam.

GeeGee made his millions during his army days while doing army shipment. Goods were never delivered, flights never made but the logs were created to show delivery and flights, so payments for the goods were made (to GeeGee), the flight was paid for (to GeeGee) and the other goods were uplifted from army barracks and sold (by GeeGee).

Geegee was named in Wikileaks and allegations of drug running have not created a dent in his verbose vituperations. His proud forays into the interior are referred drop points while his wealth built up during the National Service days.

For all his good work, this paragon of virtue today wears a national award for his service to his bank account.

He runs an escort service at Duke Lodge that provides mainly amerindian, and brazilian tastes for the friends of GeeGee. This compliments the similar activities in the Santa Mission area where he has his resort, built by the funds from the airplane that was lost. He also runs a news outfit with his buddy Dookoo (bis.gy) that reports on businessmen and is fronted by Alex Graham and turns over lots of money.

GeeGee forms a perfect role model for our kids who wish to break every rule book and make it big.

Linden's cry

It is always a sad day when police and citizens clash. The current woes of Lindeners are multi-faceted.

The politicians of Guyana continue to lead people, like the pied piper, blindly to point of no return. The Linden situation has many layers.

1) Why should the rest of the country pay for the electricity cost of Lindeners? It is criminal of the PPP government to NOT charge Lindeners for electricity, which the rest of us have to pay for. Each persons must bear their own burden! We are all suffering. In this case, therefore, we support the move to have a small cost of electricity to be borne by the consumers in Linden. We understand that they still will get their first 50 watts free, thereafter they pay a fraction of the national rate. So it is still subsidized. We feel that over five years, Lindeners should be brought to the national rate level.

2) We disagree with the violent approach of the police. While we understand the nature of crowd hostility, killing is unwarranted. Guyana is not the only country with its share of problems and civil unrest. We are not the only country whose small minded politicians-wannabees go out to incite crowds. So let us learn how other countries manage these things! We must not kill our own citizens.

3) The protesters continue to exhibit zero human sense in their approach to challenging Government. Always its the women and children in front, while the call-to-arms by Bond and his ilk are making Guyana return to the days on unrest and mass killings.Where was the Linden Chamber of Commerce before the chaos descended? Where was the Private Sector Commission before the chaos came? Why have they not met with the Government to demand a solution? Where are the NDC? the School teachers? the churches? the town council????