– women activists stage protest outside Health Ministry

By Tiffny Rhodius

Women’s rights activists are calling on the Medical Council to speed up its investigation in the case of the doctor who botched an abortion resulting in the death of an 18-year-old, but the council said its work cannot be rushed.
On Tuesday, a small group of women’s rights activists picketed the Health Ministry demanding justice for Karen Bahdal. Bahdal, a mother of two, passed away in December of 2011 following a botched abortion.  Bahdal was reportedly four months pregnant when she had an abortion done at a doctor’s clinic on December 23. She was subsequently admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on December 24 after she began vomiting incessantly, and complained of severe abdominal pains. It was discovered that Bahdal’s uterus and bowels had leaked into her intestines and become inflamed.

Women protesting the lack of affordable abortion options

A post-mortem performed on the teen revealed that she died as a result of a perforated uterus and acute peritonitis. Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran had launched an investigation into the teen’s death following public attention of the incident in January.
Five months later, supporters and relatives of Bahdal want justice and want the doctor who botched the abortion to be “punished”.  “We were waiting; we were giving the Medical Council time to do their investigations. We were giving the police time to do their investigations; time has come and gone we still haven’t heard anything; we just heard the doctor is still practicing,” Sherlina Negeer, organiser of the protest said.
Negeer led a small group of women from various rights advocacy groups and Bahdal’s mother-in-law in a silent protest outside the Health Ministry’s Brickdam Office, demanding that the doctor be held accountable.  “The Medical Council needs to investigate and there needs to be justice done in this case. There are children who have no mothers now simply because this man was reckless, and this shouldn’t be,” Stella Ramsaroop of the S Forde Foundation said.
But Guyana Medical Council Chairman Dr Sheik Amir said the council is still dealing with the matter and encouraged the public to “be civil as we are with the courts”.  “We have to give people time to respond to us. We don’t have the luxury to send bench warrants. We are dealing with the matter; we have not finished with the matter,” Dr Amir said in an invited comment.

Two women activists protesting outside the Health Ministry (Carl Croker photo)

Meanwhile, Negeer said that Bahdal’s death should be the last time a woman dies because she cannot afford the services of a licensed medical practitioner to conduct an abortion. The women at the protest said they would like to see services being offered in the public hospitals for abortion.
“We’re calling on the minister of health to make abortions accessible. We have a law that says it’s legal, enforce the law,” Negeer declared. The 1995 Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act was enacted for two major purposes: to enhance the attainment of safe motherhood by eliminating the deaths and complications associated with unsafe abortion; and to enhance the dignity and sanctity of life by reducing the incidence of induced abortion.
The law makes abortion legal so long as it is done within the first eight weeks of pregnancy, and is with the consent of the pregnant woman, and by a licensed practitioner.  Between eight and 12 weeks from conception, abortion is only legal if the pending childbirth would result in health risks for the woman or the foetus, or if the pregnancy occurred despite the use of contraceptives.
Between 12 and 16 weeks, an abortion can still be legally performed, but only if the health of the woman or foetus is in danger. After 16 weeks, it is only possible to perform an abortion in the case of severe health-related circumstances.

– Ramotar tells OAS Permanent Council

President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday called on governments to do more to “reduce poverty and inequality” because they pose “the greatest threat to democracy and security” in the region, and “can only be addressed through hemispheric cooperation”, during an address to the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS).

President Donald Ramotar flanked by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett with OAS staff (OAS photo)

In a protocolary session of the council at the OAS headquarters in Washington, DC, President Ramotar said, “for Guyana, no priority is greater than to combat poverty, extreme poverty, inequality and social exclusion through policies that promote economic growth, access to education, health care and housing in order to better achieve sustainable development with social justice”.
The Guyanese president noted “the critical importance of development to democracy as well as to multi-dimensional security compels the OAS to maintain and strengthen the role it plays in sustainable development”. He went on to warn that there cannot be debate on democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean “outside the context of our intolerable levels of poverty, when 57 million people, or 11 per cent of our population live on less than one dollar a day, and 23 per cent exist daily on less than two dollars”.
President Ramotar called on countries of the region to “resolve that poverty eradication be the historic task of our generation”, and noted that “democracy cannot be safeguarded without reducing poverty; neither can poverty be effectively combated without addressing inequality”. On the harsh effects of environmental change on the region, the Guyanese leader said the international scientific community agrees that “less developed countries and communities in the region are already suffering from the impact of climate change”. According to a World Bank report he cited, Caricom countries will lose US$4 billion in the tourism sector and US$ 5billion for direct damages from natural disasters, floods and storms caused by climate change.

Security, human rights
Turning to the issue of security, human rights and peace, the president noted that they are all critical to the progress of any state. On the issue of crime, the president said for a region that has a homicide rate that is twice the global average; it must be acknowledged that certain aspects of insecurity, such as transnational organised crime are posing serious challenges to nations.
“The end result is that factors such as crime and violence along with the natural disasters, economic shock and climate change are having too serious an impact on the development prospects of many of our countries,” President Ramotar stated.
He charged the international community to provide the resources to strengthen and empower the institutional structure and capacity of countries such as Haiti. “The multi-dimensional threats to security, some new and old spun a multitude of political, economic, social, health and environmental challenges to our security and stability.”

President Donald Ramotar addressing the OAS Permanent Council on Tuesday

He added the work done by the OAS is commendable, noting that Caricom countries are satisfied that special security concerns of the small island states and low lying coastal states of the region form a structured part of the OAS security agenda. “These threats should be a matter of serious concern to countries large and small since the stability of the small island states is integral to the security of the hemisphere as a whole. Insecurity arising from climate change is particularly notable.”
The president said too that Guyana is eagerly awaiting the commencement of the 42nd regular session of the OAS General Assembly to be held in Cochabamba in Central Bolivia from June 3 to 5 that will address food security. Guyana, President Ramotar said has contributed significantly in its partnership with the OAS since it joined in 1991.
Lobbying for more support for Haiti following the devastating hurricane that struck the country some two years ago, Ramotar said, “We are continuing to integrate Haiti into our community and to advocate to the international community on her behalf. In this regard, we call on all international community to make good on its pledges to Haiti expeditiously.”
The OAS Legal Affairs Secretary Jean Michel Arrighi welcomed President Ramotar on behalf of Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, and Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin. Arrighi noted that “Guyana’s commitment to regional integration is shown in many ways”, among them, he said was the fact the country “is a founding member of Caricom and hosts the secretariat”.
Arrighi went on to welcome the presence of the Guyanese president, saying “It is a particular honour that you have chosen to visit the OAS just a few months after being elected on December 3, 2011.” “This confirms the important priority that Guyana places on hemispheric relations,” he added.
Meanwhile, Permanent Representative of Honduras to the OAS Leonidas Rosa Bautista noted the “long and solid political career” of President Ramotar inside and outside his country, and “the strong relationship between the OAS and the people and government of Guyana”.
President Ramotar travelled to the U.S. with Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues Birkette; Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh; Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali; and Foreign Affairs Ministry Director General Elizabeth Harper.
He will also be meeting with representatives of the U.S. State Department and will be looking to strengthen collaboration with the U.S. in several areas, including the  Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) and investment projects.
Following the president’s tour of the U.S., he will be heading to Barbados on Sunday for the Caricom Mexico Summit on political and economic cooperation.

By Bhisham Mohamed

Rayman Madray, 22, of Lot 3 Bennett Dam, Rosignol, West Coast Berbice was on Sunday evening killed, while six others are nursing injuries at various medical institutions following a two-vehicle collision at Number Two Village, WCB. The accident reportedly occurred at about 23:00h.

Raymond Madray

According to information received by this publication, Premaul Madray, 29; Kevin and Kimberly (only names given); Rajpattie Persaud, 35, of Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, along with two other passengers, are nursing injuries.  In a release, police spokesman John Sauers stated that investigations revealed that Madray was at the time driving motor car PFF 9723, with three passengers, east along the northern side of the road and while negotiating a turn, he collided with another car, PHH 8004, driven by Persaud who was proceeding in the opposite direction.
The injured are at the New Amsterdam, Fort Wellington and the Georgetown Public hospitals, all in stable condition.
According to reports, Madray died on the spot and his brother, Premaul was pinned in the wrecked car. He was rescued by public-spirited citizens who used an arc-welding torch to get him out.  Premaul Madray, along with the five other injured people, were subsequently rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital, but a few were then transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital. The more serious cases were referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
When Guyana Times contacted the man’s family on Monday, the dead man’s sister-in-law, Natasha explained that her husband was the front-seat passenger and Kevin and Kimberly were in the back seat.
She said that her husband and his brother left Number Two Village and were on their way to collect their mother at Rosignol, but in the vicinity of Amin’s Service Station the two cars collided.  She stated that they received a call that the accident happened, and they immediately rushed to the scene where they saw people desperately working to get out her husband from the wreckage. He sustained a broken leg and other injuries.  She disclosed that her husband celebrated his 29th birthday on Sunday.
The deceased Madray was employed with his father who distributes animal feed in West Coast Berbice. He was described as a jovial person. The dead man’s mother was too distraught to talk to this publication, but according to her daughter-in-law, she is still trying to come to grips with reality.
The dead man’s father, Malcolm could not have been reached for a comment since he was reportedly visiting his son at the hospital. Madray leaves to mourn his parents, two siblings and other relatives. A post-mortem examination is expected to be performed on his remains on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in a statement Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said he has taken note of the recent statistics that were released by the police indicating that there has been a decrease in the number of road fatalities for the year so far when compared with the figures last year. According to the figures released last week, 31 persons lost their lives to traffic accidents as of May 9, 2012 as against 40 for a similar period in 2011. “While we can take some amount of comfort in the declining statistics on traffic deaths for a specific period, we are saddened by the reports of lives lost on our roads through reckless driving by some drivers and the careless use of our roads by some motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians,” Rohee said.
“We take this opportunity to remind all road users that safety is a shared responsibility and as such the Ministry of Home Affairs encourages all categories of road users to exercise utmost caution when using the roads. While the government of Guyana has been working assiduously to: enhance the quality of our roads; improve traffic legislation and management; provide traffic education to persons of all ages, it is imperative that road users adopt safer road use practices to avoid road accidents.”
According to Rohee, his ministry is yet to be satisfied that enough care is taken by road users. “We take this opportunity to urge all categories of road users to support the Guyana Police Force in its efforts to reduce traffic accidents.”

Amid all the controversy stirred up by the Alliance For Change over the affairs of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), two groups closely affiliated to the party – Guyana Stores Limited and Guyana Stock Feed Limited are currently in court for owing the company together in excess of $2 billion.
In a statement, NICIL said Guyana Stores Limited(GSL) & Royal Investments Inc (RII), led by Tony Yassin and director Glenn Lall (owner of Kaieteur News), have not held a shareholders’ meeting since 2000.  NICIL and Property Holdings Inc (PHI) have three separate lawsuits against GSL and RII. Government has claimed against RII – US$2 million (G$400 million) plus interest for over 10 years. A second legal action for recovery of G$96 million against GSL is also outstanding.  Since privatisation, GSL has occupied four properties (the garage property on Water Street, the former Electrical property on Main Street, Georgetown and its Berbice and Lima branches) and had not paid any rent since that time.
These properties are owned by PHI with over 1000 shareholders. Since privatisation, no dividends have been paid to its shareholders; it is also expected that substantial tax liabilities have not been paid.
Meanwhile, with respect to Guyana Stock Feed Limited (GSFL), owned by Robert Badal who is also  the owner of the Pegasus hotel and a member of the AFC, NICIL said in 2008 it obtained judgment against Badal for the loss in value from 38 per cent of GSFL to seven per cent. At the current stock exchange price, the loss of value to NICIL/government is approximately G$500 million.  The matter has been appealed by Guyana Stock Feed Limited. NICIL has various other actions against GSFL for loss of property. Badal has been in the public eye since privatisation, given his record of busting unions and robbing minority shareholders through his various inside deals with the company, NICIL said in its statement.  The Guyana Pegasus, a company controlled by Badal, has suffered a similar fate with the unions, firing of employees and management.  In the case of the Pegasus, shareholder reports have not been seen for some years.

By Bhisham Mohamed

Hours after celebrating Mother’s Day in grand style, a mother of six was found dead Monday morning at Swan Turn, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, one mile from where she lived. She is suspected to have been raped and then murdered.
Judith “Judy” Joseph, 56,  of Swan Turn, Soesdyke/Linden Highway was discovered at about 04:05h at a small shop in the village where a Mother’s Day get-together was held on Sunday evening. According to reports, the woman left the shop at about 12:30h for home. Villagers and the shop owner are shocked by the way the woman met her demise. Guyana Times understands that one man is in police custody assisting with investigations.

The shop near which the discovery was made

At the murder scene, the woman’s daughter, Orlene Joseph struggled to remain calm as she explained the last time she saw her mother was on Sunday evening when she left the ‘sport’. She disclosed that on Monday morning at about 04:15h, she received a telephone call from the shop owner informing her that something was wrong with her mother and she should come. “When I reached, I see my mother lying on the ground lifeless,” the woman stated.
She said that blood was oozing from her mother’s mouth, her blouse was lifted above her breast, her pants were around her knees and her underwear was askew. The distraught daughter   explained that her mother lived across the road and they were at a mother’s day get-together at the shop which was partly organised by her mother.
“I left her at 11 o’clock last night (Sunday) and went home; she was sitting on the bench with her head on the table sleeping,” the woman added. She was last seen mingling with the owner of the shop and a male friend. The pregnant woman highlighted that while she was about to leave, the shop owner enquired if she was taking her mother home, but due to her present condition she could not have done so. The owner of the business reportedly suggested that Joseph spend the night at her place and return to her house in the morning.
The dead woman’s sister, Juliette Charles, who was shocked at the death of her sister, said at just after 4:00h on Monday her phone rang and her husband answered.
“It was Aunty Felicia who has called to say that Aunty Judy was on the floor and was not moving. I went over to my daughter and told her and at the same time informed her that I was going out to enquire,” the woman said. She told this publication the last time she saw her sister was on Sunday evening when she informed her that she was invited to a Mother’s Day dinner. “She even asked me to accompany her, but I told her that I was going to church. She was to come by me this morning, but that was the surprise I got,” the woman said.
Meanwhile, the shop owner, Felicia Pierre, who discovered the body explains that she had a get-together for Mother’s Day but the party ended at about 23:05h on Sunday. She said the circumstances surrounding Joseph’s death are unclear, but was certain that the act was not committed at her business place.
“I discover the body at about 4:00h and immediately made contact with the family and police.” She disclosed that the party she hosted was attended by primarily family members. Pierre, who was a friend of Joseph for the past 19 years, stated that Joseph’s relatives were at the party but left her behind. “She was sleeping so I woke her up and asked her if she wasn’t going home and she said yes. I also told her that if she walks fast enough, she will catch up with her daughters. I watched her walking through the track to go home and I went to bed,” Pierre added.
Pierre said she woke up on Monday morning and went into the shop as usual to collect groceries to cook and went back upstairs. When she later came back down, she saw someone lying in front of the shop. “It was dark, so I pitched the torch light when I realised it was Aunty Judy,” she said.
She claimed that she did not hear any unusual sounds during Sunday night, so she believes that the woman might have been raped and killed while she was on her way home and dumped at the shop.
The woman’s body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Home to await a post-mortem examination. She leaves to mourn her six children; 21 grandchildren, nine siblings and other relatives.

United States Ambas-sador to Guyana, D Brent Hardt and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett last Friday signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) amending the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) that was signed in April 2011.
The signing took place at the ministry’s office.

U.S. Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett last Friday signed a Letter of Agreement for the release of additional funds

According to a U.S. embassy statement, the LOA will make an additional US$500,000 available for Guyana’s CBSI programme, increasing the original allocation. These funds will continue to support efforts in law enforcement capacity building and anti-money laundering. In addition, it will strengthen counter-narcotics control capabilities and enhance communications to assist with information collection and identification of drug trafficking organisations.
This expanded commitment reflects the determination of the United States government to deepen its security partnership with Guyana.  The new funds will be used to increase interdictions, seizures and eradication operations, and to reduce the incidence of drug-related violence.
The CBSI is a multinational partnership between the United States of America and the nations of the Caribbean designed to advance citizen security in the region.  Through the CBSI, all partner nations are undertaking cooperative efforts to reduce illicit trafficking, advance public safety and security, and promote social justice.
Back in February, it was announced that Guyana’s maritime capabilities will be boosted with river patrol vessels that will be provided under the CBSI.
Ambassador Hardt had said that the vessels are expected to be in Guyana by 2013. This, he said, in terms of military supplies is one of the main areas of support on the bilateral agenda; however, there are many other areas of cooperation in which the two countries are involved.
In October 2011, Guyana hosted the second meeting of the CBSI Commission, where maritime and aerial domain security cooperation which focuses on improving the maritime security capabilities of the regional forces and partner nations – devising a common strategy for air and maritime operations and sustaining the capabilities of individual countries – was comprehensively addressed.
Additionally, the U.S. is working closely with partner states to implement initiatives such as the Cooperative Sensor and Information Integration programme; information sharing (which led to the procurement of Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) equipment for six Caribbean countries, including Guyana); and providing technical assistance with regards to justice sector reforms for Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries, among many other vital areas of assistance.
The CBSI was crafted bilaterally by Caricom and the U.S. government subsequent to the decisions taken at the Summit of the Americas held in Trinidad and Tobago in April 2009. At that summit, U.S. President Barack Obama announced his country’s intent to pursue a security partnership with the Caribbean. Since then, governments of the region and the U.S. have met on several occasions to jointly define and develop the goals and scope for the CBSI.  Guyana is a signatory to the Declaration of Principles and the Framework Agreement of the CBSI, and has therefore pinned great expectations on the realisation of the objectives within the framework of the commission.

Phillip Moore, whose seminal work has to be the controversial 1763 Monument, unveiled May 23, 1976, to mark Guyana’s 10th independance anniversary, has died

Renowned Guyanese artist and sculptor Phillip Moore died on Sunday at age 90 at his Corentyne, East Berbice home. According to relatives, Moore who suffered for years from heart ailments died at approximately 05:00h at his Lancaster home.
Speaking with Guyana Times, a relative identified only as Sheera, said after being fed on Saturday night, Moore developed a breathing problem that saw him panting for breath.
“He was in bed, I fed him last night and he was blowing fast… then we fell asleep, when we wake. He was blowing heavier… and then he died.”
The internationally acclaimed artist and sculptor, who whose work include the 1763 Monument had been bedridden for some time, Guyana Times was informed. Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony in an invited comment described Moore as “a Guyanese icon” whose work was outstanding not only in Guyana, but further afield.
“We are very saddened by the death of Mr Moore, he was an iconic figure in the art and culture world… we are mourning his passing,” Dr Anthony said. He said his ministry will be issuing a detailed statement today on Moore’s passing.
Similarly, City Mayor Hamilton Green said he regrets the passing of Moore, noting that it is “a loss of an icon, a man who has made tremendous contributions to cultural and social development of Guyana”.
The city mayor indicated that he has personal collections of Moore’s work, particularly paintings. “He was well respected, a unique person… it is really a great loss to society.”
According to him, the young people of Moore’s village, Lancaster and across the country should attempt to mirror Moore as his contributions to Guyana, the Caribbean and the world as large.
Eric Phillips of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) told Guyana Times that the organisation was “saddened” by the death of Moore, noting that “he has been one of our heroes at emancipation celebrations on four different times”.
He added that Moore’s death was expected as he was of age, while noting that he was born on African Holocaust Day celebrated on October 12, an important day in African culture. He said, too, the sculpting of the 1763 Monument also speaks to the significance of Moore in the African tradition.
“He is one of the most significant figures in African cultures,” Phillips told this publication, pointing out that ACDA has paid several visits to Moore during his aliment. ACDA will be conducting several activities to commemorate his life and work.
“ACDA will hold the wake,” Phillips said, noting that the wake will be done in accordance with the African tradition. “There will be libation and so on.”
Phillips said Moore’s work of art always depicted spiritualism, and as such, “his greatness” must be recognised. During Emancipation, he said a special exhibition would be held at the National Park to display some of Moore’s creations. That aside, at the FAM event on May 26, some of his work will also be on display.
“We are in talks with the Ministry of Culture, and the Burrowes School of Art… they will be visiting his family today.”
He continued: “It is a great, great loss to Guyana, we hope that those who have pictures will give it to us to use on display of some of his works… we will be compiling a booklet of all his works in his memory.”
Additionally, Phillips said ACDA will be naming something after Moore. He said Moore’s death “shows we need to honour those amongst us”.
Moore was the recipient of the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH), a resident tutor at the Burrowes School of Art and a Professor at Princeton University, USA. He produced hundreds of works that were displayed locally, regionally and internationally, but his most impressive was the 1763 Monument mounted at the Square of the Revolution. That monument was unveiled May 23, 1976 to mark Guyana’s 10th independence anniversary.
He was also a poet and self-proclaimed musician. Moore had an interest in cricket and did several pieces that were exhibited during the World Cup cricket match in Guyana. Moore began his career as an artist and sculptor in the late 1940s after he said he had a vision of God reaching down to him while working on a plantation with a sculptor’s tool.  He leaves to mourn his relatives and children.

T

The graduates of the Roadside Baptist Skills Learning Centre

he Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre, Region Six has been playing a significant role in changing the lives of Berbicians by providing them with opportunities to be trained to ensure they elevate themselves.
The centre’s efforts were Saturday afternoon lauded by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, performing the duties on behalf of the president.
The centre was established with the aim of creating opportunities through the provisions of adult education, skills training and social services for young people, to improve their quality of life. On Saturday, it  held its 19th graduation ceremony.
The PM, speaking at the graduation of 153 persons from the centre, said government recognises and is much appreciative of the training being offered by Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre as it helps to ensure that everyone can answer the call to make a

From left to right at head table: First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar; Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, and U.S. Ambassador D Brent Hardt at the graduation ceremony

contribution to building and developing Guyana.
Minister   within the Finance Ministry, Juan Edghill; First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, U.S. Ambassador D Brent Hardt and Region Six Chairman David Armogan were among some of the guests who witnessed the graduation at the school’s Number 63 Village, East Berbice location.
The event also served as the launch for the centre’s newest social service programme, the Berbice Male Action Network (BeMAN) funded by a grant under the USAID Governance Enhancement Project with the aim of seeking out and engaging men in the region, in discussion towards effecting positive changes in the prevalence of domestic violence.
Addressing the graduates, Prime Minister Hinds called on them to recognise the acquisition of the skills as a step in the right direction in a process of ongoing daily education. He told them that government has been very focused on equipping youths with the right education to empower them and to develop the country. The prime minister said the focus is reflected in the heavy allocation to the education programme and the continuous reform of these programmes.
Government’s concern is still on those who, for one reason or another, may not have been able to take maximum advantage of the primary, secondary and tertiary educational opportunities available to them. Minister Edghill urged the graduates to strive to emulate the right persons and reject the concept of being defined by circumstances.
He said that if they start thinking in a more positive manner, then they will be better persons. Attitude, he advised, is a key factor in self-development and warned that how high someone goes and where, is determined by the person’s attitude.
“Our altitude is all determined by attitude,” he warned. He also recommended that the graduates take time to admire the right things in life as whatever saturates them will determine what comes out of them. The minister also spoke to the issue of domestic violence, and said the answer to this and other social-ills resides in “fixing our men”. He said to do this society has to first help men to understand their purpose. He said this lies in understanding their spirituality which in turn will liberate them to play the role they were born to play; to protect and improve the female.
A man’s failure to fully understand this purpose results in the abuse of the female.  First Lady Ramotar also spoke about the second chance being afforded the graduates and the need for them to make full use of it.  Lauding them for having taken advantage of the opportunity provided, she said that this shows their ambition and determination to improve their status, a mark of distinction and a sign of their development.
Ambassador Hardt also commended the graduates’ push to become better. Chosen to formally launch the BeMAN programme, the diplomat said that USAID decided to collaborate with the centre on the programme because of the effectiveness and quality of the previous joint initiatives.
USAID has been associated with the Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre for the last 10 years and collaborated with it on a number of initiatives. The centre also served as a training hub for the One Laptop Per Family Programme.
Adult education and skills training services are also provided by the centre to the community, including remedial education, summer enhancement programmes, reading and writing skills and library services.  The BeMAN programme, in addition to addressing domestic violence, also seeks to conduct sessions with teenage and adult males on conflict resolution, and quarterly, to engage 150 in-school males on gender roles, anger management and healthy relationships.
The 153 graduates completed training in the following programmes: information technology (IT); English;  mathematics; Human Immune-Deficiency Virus (HIV) peer education; domestic violence; and counselling.

GCCI Senior Vice President Lance Hinds

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Senior Vice President Lance Hinds is calling on local businesses to become more proactive in the promotion of their companies.
Speaking at a workshop organised by the Caribbean Export Development Agency, Hinds chided local business owners for being extremely laid-back, urging them to become more dynamic and aggressive.
“The chamber interest is driven by the fact that despite the existence of these and similar initiatives in the region, for many years the participation of Guyana at these events has been extremely limited,” Hinds lamented.
The Carib Export Development Agency is a regional export trade and investment promotion organisation which provides financial assistance to small businesses with export potential through a direct assistance scheme funded by the European Union (EU).
Hinds said he could not overemphasise the importance of small business enterprises to the development of Guyana and the regional economy.
The business executive cited his attendance at an innovative conference in Belize last year, and said he was distressed to discover than less than five per cent of the proposals were from Guyanese.

Senior Grant Advisor Kirk Brown

“Now we can discuss all the reason why this situation exists but as a primary business support organisation in Guyana, we want to make it clear that it is the position of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce that this state of affairs cannot continue, and as such, we are committed to being a primary instrument in the significant improvement in the situation,” the business executive said.
Hinds, who is a beneficiary of the programme, admitted that the reality, however, is that most small businesses are unable to access the facilities available in the local environment due to certain conditionality and regulations.
According to him, it is agencies like Carib Export that can fill these gaps, in many instances, to support the growth of many businesses.
Hinds noted that the agency can help local businesses to scale-up, expand their regional presence, and extend their reach.
He added that GCCI plans to engage further to see how best it can partner with other agencies to ensure local businesses continue to participate in regional trade initiatives in keeping with the chamber’s mandate to be a strong advocate for the business community.
Local businessmen and women are being given an opportunity to increase their eligibility for grant funding under the Regional Private Sector Development Programme and the 10th European Development Fund (EDF).
The loans are applicable to the 15 member Cariforum grouping, which includes all Caricom countries excluding Montserrat, and including the Dominican Republic.
Senior Grant Advisor Kirk Brown emphasised the need for interested businesses to be registered.
“You need to be legally registered as an individual or as a company here in Guyana or any other Cariforum member states. So again, let me state that if you have two companies that are legally registered here in Guyana, even though you are the major shareholder, you can apply for this programme. We are not concerned about how many companies you own.”
Brown provided tips on ways to write grant proposals, and lamented the fact that there was no Guyanese applicant in the small loan category last year.
“We in the Caribbean just like big money, we do not like to creep, we don’t like to crawl; we like to run fast. The truth is we need to realise that we can attack those areas which can provide maximum returns,” Brown said.
When this is not heeded, Brown said that businesses are exposing themselves and are not in a position to properly articulate projects or finance it, and put themselves into a very competitive process.
“This is important because only the best of the best are awarded grant funding.”
He explained that business support organisations such as the GCCI or Go-Invest, can apply directly for the larger grant funding and outlined reasons for this.
“Let’s say Go-Invest wanted to take a number of persons to establish a business and expose them to markets there and the export process, they certainly can apply for funding for that as well,” Brown explained. The senior grant advisor said many firms have complained that the process is onerous and too complicated, and that only certain businesses benefit from grant schemes.
However, he disclosed that since the Caribbean is a very “word of mouth” society that is accepting of hearsay, people are not prone to seek out facts.
He advised that businesses cannot properly apply for the scheme if they are unaware of the guidelines and fail to read the source documents.
Brown identified this as one of the biggest hindrance and mistake businesses make in accessing the scheme. The application is available in Dutch, French, English and Spanish since the organisation is regional, and caters to the needs of the 15 member states.
The grant fund covers a wide range of businesses, but does not support start-ups, firms in operation for less than two years, universities, NGO, social groups or human rights organisations.

The Linden Legal Aid Centre is set to receive financial support from the government of Guyana and United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to ensure its longevity.
This is according to Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster. The minister said, although the Linden Legal Aid Centre does not receive financial funding from the government, provisions have been made for 2012 via a joint venture.
“In the joint government of Guyana/UNICEF work plan, resources have been allocated in 2012 for the continued operations of Linden Legal Aid Centre (LLAC).” Webster also noted that a request was made by the administration of the Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry to have LLAC directors provide a copy of the 2012 budget proposal.
Additionally, the Legal Aid Centre is expected to supply a copy of the audited accounts for 2012. The  human services and social security minister was at the time responding to a question raised by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Parliamentarian Vanessa Kissoon concerning the Linden Legal Aid Centre with regards to funding from the government. In Notice Paper Number 47, published on April 16, 2012 in the National Assembly, Minister Webster stated that the centre does not receive financial support from the government.
The minister explained that the government started subsidising the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic, formerly known as the Georgetown Legal Aid Clinic in December 2007 after a promise was made to expand the legal aid services across the country.
“Prior to that, services throughout Guyana – the Georgetown Legal Aid Clinic had received funding from international partners. The provision of funding for the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic by government had begun prior to the establishment of the Linden Legal Aid Centre.”
She further explained that in June 2009 when LLAC requested financial assistance from the government, there were no funds available at the time.
“Government then sought an alternative mechanism, so that support could be provided, and advocated at UNICEF that funding be provided from country funds to support the operations of the Linden Legal Aid Centre.”
According to the minister, support was given to the centre during the period August 2008 to August 2009, to the tune of $6.8 million and subsequently $6 million for the period December 2009 to December 2010. The sum of $9.1 million was also given for April 2011 to December 2011.
The questioned posed by Kissoon comes after a verbal battle erupted in March 2012 when Guyana Association of Women Lawyers President Emily Dodson pleaded with parliamentarians to ensure that Region 10 receives adequate legal aid services.
Dodson at the time contended that the government provides in excess of $30 million per year for citizens to access free legal aid services across Guyana, with Region 10 being an exception. According to Dodson, financial support is offered by UNICEF, hence residents of the region are benefiting from free services, but at times, they are inadequate.
Dodson made the comment at the National Congress of Women (NCW) symposium in observance of International Women’s Day 2012.
Linden Legal Aid Centre Company Secretary Joan Ward, who was in full of support of Dodson, subsequently stated that due to limited funds, senior lawyers mainly offer their services for free.
The Legal Aid Representative added that the lawyers usually travel to the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court to offer their services to approximately 20 clients per day.
She noted that additional services are offered to the people of Linden at the High Court in Georgetown. The company secretary maintains that the Linden Legal Aid Centre has always been transparent about its financial status, noting that the audited and annual reports are available on the centre’s website: www.justiceforlinden.org.