Peace must be of paramount concern - bar association

Peace must now become this country's paramount concern, the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) is urging.

In a press release the GBA, while acknowledging "the role of the police force as a crucial stabilising element, is equally cognisant that citizens are entitled to have their fundamental rights recognised and respected... In this vein, a strong appeal is hereby made to both parties and to all other sectors of society and government to redouble our efforts to ensure peace and good order prevails. Disorderly and violent protests must be roundly rejected and condemned along with police brutality."

The GBA states, "attacks on the person and property of citizens nationwide are absolutely condemned."

The GBA mentioned a criminal attack on its President Anande Trotman, who told Stabroek News that she had a gold chain snatched from her neck while driving in the vicinity of the Strand Cinema on Monday afternoon. The GBA also condemned attacks on the property of the Supreme Court and member Moen McDoom, SC, as well as the police assault on member Robert Corbin. (Back to top)

GAP/WPA, PNC/R meeting today

GAP/WPA will meet the PNC REFORM today in a move to encourage talks between the two major parties.

WPA co-leader Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said the meeting, which was upon the invitation of the PNC/R, would obviously be discussing the national situation and he restated his party's commitment to dialogue as a means to solve the current impasse. He mentioned that GAP/WPA would also be sharing its proposal for regional administration. Dr Roopnaraine said the party was hoping to have talks today with the PPP/C.

Dr Roopnaraine has decided not to take up a seat in Parliament and Stabroek News understands that WPA executive member Sheila Holder has been proposed for the national seat along with GAP geographical candidate Shirley Melville for Region Nine. (Back to top)

WPA calls for condemnation of, end to 'backward' violence

Channel Nine appeal dubbed act of extremism

The violence in town and in the countryside is not revolution. It is backward, says the WPA, and it is calling for a Commission of Enquiry into the recent acts of criminality.

In a press release yesterday the Working People's Alliance (WPA) said that "street robbery has been staged so as to link itself with the marches and other protests carried out by persons who do not carry out street robbery. Leaders of the protests must at once say, as we do now, whether they approve or do not approve of this unlawful, provocative and violent action. We condemn police violence. But not only police violence. We condemn all violence against any person who did not attack others physically.

"A private call has been made for a Commission of Enquiry and we support this call. It must be considered by all sincere actors in the scene who have nothing to hide. "

The press release co-signed by Eusi Kwayana, Andaiye and Rupert Roopnaraine also contemplates the violence in the countryside. "We appeal for a stop to the behaviour which puts fear into the minds of people innocently passing through your villages by day or night. Such actions are not revolution. They are backward. The chief persons affected are Indian Guyanese females and children."

The WPA warns the perpetrators: "If your own race is in a majority in one place, always remember that it can be a minority in another village or another place... By acting violently against strangers or people who have a right to pass along public roads in your own village you are endangering people you do not know and cannot help.

"Every Guyanese young and old of all races must be free to walk peacefully...

"A letter in Stabroek News and some citizens have reported a statement on Channel Nine advising certain persons how to seek protection. Such a call, out of the blue, and without stated provocation is an act of extremism and it is hoped that the political party implicated will clarify its position on this threat if it was made. Such a threat is the most naked threat made in peacetime anywhere and cannot be ignored.

"To those on both sides who are using the media to worsen the already sensitive race relations we say that the situation can get much, much worse unless the drift to madness is halted."

The letter in yesterday's Stabroek News refers to a bulletin on Channel Nine calling for Indians who supported the PNC/R to report to their local PNC/R area office for protection. The letter writer concluded that "if you are not African or a supporter of the PNC/R you are fair game..."

Kwayana noted that this call could be interpreted that the protection was needed because persons were under attack, but this was not said and as such the comments were "very menacing."

He said in his many years involved in race relations "this situation is one of the most disquieting that I have experienced." The only solution is for both sides to show commonsense and restraint. "I would like Guyanese to realise that the country is going down a long road with which the younger generation is unfamiliar and does not have the capacity to handle." (Back to top)

Govt will assist businesses affected by fire - Jagdeo

Government is expected to offer some form of assistance to businesses razed in Monday's fire which saw damage running into several hundred million dollars and hundreds of persons out of work.

This commitment was given by President Bharrat Jagdeo when he toured burnt-out businesses yesterday afternoon in order to get a first-hand look at the extent of the damage.

According to President Jagdeo, he will make arrangements to meet all the affected owners to assess what form the assistance could take.

The President, who was accompanied by President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Manniram Prashad, and several store owners whose establishments had been destroyed, pledged to look at a form of assistance when the situation in the country was stabilised.

He joined the businessmen in praising the work of the firemen and police officers, whom he said did an extremely commendable job under difficult circumstances.

Jagdeo deplored what he termed as "irresponsible acts" to destabilise the economy which created unemployment. The Head of State said that it was the duty of every citizen to condemn the acts of destabilisation, which he forecast would not only affect one group but all persons irrespective of their political persuasion or ethnic origin.

According to the head of state, government had increased equipment to both the police and the fire service despite the limited resources of the state. This re-tooling he added was set to continue during the administration's new term.

He called on the PNC REFORM (PNC/R) to condemn the current acts of violence. The President further stated that the government would not be pressured by the actions of bands of criminals bent on terrorising people on the streets.

While respecting the right of persons to protest once it was peaceful and did not affect others, Jagdeo deemed as irresponsible, the campaign of the PNC/R, which continued to call for `slow fire' and `more fire'. He expressed concern about the political party holding a vigil with lighted flambeaux scheduled for last evening at the Square of the Revolution.

In commending the actions of the security forces, the head of state said that persons were quick to cry police brutality when the police had to deal with criminal elements in the language that they understood.

He also urged the judiciary to support the work of the police rather than just releasing persons as was done by a particular judge recently. (Back to top)

Private sector calls for urgent Jagdeo/Hoyte talks

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has told President Bharrat Jagdeo that Guyana cannot afford street demonstrations, violence or arson and what is needed urgently is dialogue with the PNC REFORM.

President Jagdeo invited the members of the private sector to a meeting on Tuesday, held at the PSC headquarters in Waterloo Street. He used the opportunity to update the sector on the political and economic situation and re-emphasised that he was willing to sit with PNC/R leader Desmond Hoyte and discuss the future of Guyana.

George Jardim, chairman of the PSC, said that the private sector emphasised in the meeting with the President the need for dialogue to have a conducive environment for business.

Jardim told Stabroek News that the Monday fire, which gutted nine buildings helped no one but rather put people out of work and such situations needed to be avoided. He said whilst the private sector was not sure how the fire was caused, it has deduced that it was probably related to the street demonstrations and a recurrence has to be avoided.

The PSC in the past took on a role of initiating the dialogue between the government and the opposition and Jardim said the PSC was likely to make a statement on the issue shortly.

Jagdeo was reported to have asked for a meeting with the private sector two weeks ago but this could not come off because of the problems with his swearing in.

Another private sector official said Jagdeo also indicated that he was willing to look at various models of naming a head of the public service, an issue that has resulted in the PNC/R taking to the streets. The PNC/R is objecting to Dr Roger Luncheon's reappointment as head of the Presidential Secretariat, as the holder of that post is seen as the substantive head of the public service.

Some persons also raised concerns about the role the media was playing in the current situation.

Stabroek News was told that the President had intended to discuss the government's investment policy with the private sector but this had to be postponed because of the current political climate. (Back to top)

City inferno

Third party insured will recover claims early

-insurance officials

As investigations intensify into the cause of Monday's fire, which razed several downtown properties, insurance assessors were out examining the extent of the damage.

Several assessors were yesterday taking photographs and making notes. One of the officials told Stabroek News that all parties, once insured, should be able to recover from the companies they had their policies with.

Questioned as to the need for specific categories of coverage prior to consideration of claims, the official stated that this was not necessary as most of the burnt properties would be covered under third party insurance since the fire did not start at their sites.

Also speaking briefly with this newspaper yesterday was Chief Fire Officer, Prince Dickenson, who confirmed that the probe was ongoing. This investigation, he asserted, also involved members of the police force.

Most of the businesspersons with whom this newspaper spoke, stated that their establishments were insured and that they would be approaching these companies to file claims.

One businessman had already done so and had been told by his insurers that they were awaiting the arrival of assessors from Barbados today to look at the claim.

However, he was optimistic that the claim would be dealt with speedily so that they could resume their operations. An insurance official also echoed these sentiments positing that once the fire did not begin on the premises there was not much to investigate.

According to the insurance official, most of the affected parties could commence their rebuilding work as soon as insurance officials have completed their examinations and settlements were paid.

Payments of claims it was stated should be forthcoming as promptly as clients present them.

City inferno

More details emerging on how fire set

As investigators continued their probe of Monday's inferno in the commercial district more testimony is emerging that people in a disaffected crowd were responsible for the blaze at Kissoon's Furniture City which then spread along two streets.

On Monday, Stabroek News was told by an eyewitness that the fire was started by men who broke the show window of the furniture store and threw burning objects into it. This was corroborated yesterday when another eyewitness spoke to this newspaper.

The man said that there was a group of about 40 youths in front of the store on Regent Street and he noticed them attempting to break the showcase glass.

He said that after several attempts the persons succeeded in making a hole in the show window and a youngster walked up to the opening and threw a small flambeau into the building.

According to the man, the lighted bottle fell on a chair and the fire erupted.

Two other eyewitnesses spoke about seeing a chair on fire in the building. According to the two men, they were standing on Robb Street when they noticed a group of people pelting a building opposite Kissoon's Furniture City.

The men said that shortly afterwards a man passed and told them that Kissoon's was on fire but they did not believe.

However, they decided to investigate and upon arriving they noticed a chair on fire in the building.

The men said that since they saw the blaze from Robb Street and did not venture into Camp Street, they could not say if the show window on that street was broken at that time. Sources say at least three or four persons have provided information to the police saying that they saw sections of the crowd that had gathered in the area setting the blaze. These persons were believed to have been part of the protests earlier that day against the re-appointment of the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon. After the protest was broken up by the police sections of the protesters regrouped in various parts of the city.

Yesterday, during a visit to the burnt-out block, President Bharrat Jagdeo said that the police force and the fire service were capable of determining the cause of Monday afternoon's fire. He suggested that the cause of the fire was already known from reports received.

The fire destroyed Kissoon's Furniture City, which also housed Bossie's International and RJ's Pharmacy, Archie's Electrical Co Ltd, Garden Restaurant and Tau'Am's Associates, all of which were located on Robb Street.

On Regent Street the fire destroyed Global Enterprises, Sookraj and Sons, which housed the office of Madagabar Resort, Anand's Discount Store, Lotus Restaurant, Kirpalani's and the Guyana Import and Export (GIMPEX) building. This building housed the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA), Alicia's Wholesale & Retail Store, Daswaney's General store and Shamdas Kirpalani store. Other establishments housed at this location included Hall's Piano Warehouse and Colgrain Dental Laboratory. Three families, who also lived in the vicinity - the Halls, the Pickerings and the Khans - lost their homes and belongings. (Back to top)

Father of two dies after freak road accident

A 43-year-old man lost his life on Tuesday evening when his motorcycle bumped into a pile of mud in the vicinity of D'Urban Street and Louisa Row in what appears to be a freak accident.

Dead is Onassis Stanley of 'Y' Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

Eyewitnesses said that at about 1830 hrs, the Frandec employee was travelling west along the dark city road when two females stepped into his path. He swerved left into the corner to avoid hitting them but encountered the small mud pile.

Radio station workers back on the job

Board promises to address grievances

Workers at the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) returned to work on Tuesday following a day of industrial action at the High Street radio station, on the understanding that the Board of Directors would address their long-standing grievances.

They said they would not relent on their stance that proper terms of reference be instituted regarding the appointment of Acting General Manager David De Groot whose six-month contract was extended for another three months.

On Monday the workers including some supervisors and managers staged a protest and sit-in calling for De Groot's appointment to be rescinded.

Chairman of the Board of Directors and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Dr Prem Misir, visited the corporation on Monday afternoon to hold discussions with De Groot and Board member Dr Monica Benn.

When the workers demanded to meet Dr Misir, he declined stating that he was only going to meet with them separately from the managers and supervisors, a worker told Stabroek News.

The workers did not find favour with this request and no meeting was held until after 3:00 pm when Misir had a change of heart. At that two-hour meeting, held in the GBC canteen, the workers dictated a list of grievances to the chairman, which was recorded by Dr Benn, saying that all of them stemmed from what they termed De Groot's "autocratic" management style.

The workers were promised that at least by next week they should receive feedback on the matters they raised.

Contacted on Tuesday, Dr Misir said he had already attended to at least three of the several issues thus far.

"The issue is not just about De Groot," Misir said, noting that many of the functions of De Groot were tempered by the Board.

Misir noted though that the workers' demands were not unreasonable.

He said De Groot's appointment would be assessed on a month-by-month basis until the end of July when his tenure ended.

By that time arrangements would be put in place for retaining him or installing another person to act until Fazil Azeez the substantive man at the helm of the corporation returns from two years of study leave.

However, he rebutted last Monday's newspaper report that he misled the workers about the holding of a board meeting to discuss De Groot's appointment.

Misir dubbed the contents in the article as "erroneous."

Branch Chairman of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union Dale Andrews had said that the workers had cried foul after Misir promised that the board would not address the matter of De Groot's appointment and later discovered to their chagrin that De Groot's extension of tenure was agreed by the board at a postponed meeting last week.

According to Misir, Andrews approached him on matters affecting the workers and asked that they be addressed at last Wednesday's Board meeting, to which he replied that the agenda of the board was packed and they would have to be addressed at a subsequent meeting. Misir said he asked Andrews for a list of the workers grievances but received none.

He said the meeting of the board, which was billed for last Wednesday had to be postponed to Thursday because of the preoccupations of the board's six members. He said he was the only one present on that Wednesday.

Expressing their desire for an urgent meeting with the Head of State, the workers dispatched a letter to President Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday demanding his intervention into "the unprofessional way the corporation is being run".

"We feel that the professionalism and credibility which we cherish with pride have been significantly eroded since the appointment of Mr De Groot and there is concern that morale is at an all time low," read the one and a half page letter.

Since De Groot's appointment, "workers of the GBC can no longer cover significant assignments without fear of being attacked as a result of the misconceptions that we are biased," said the letter.

It went on to talk of examples of double standards, misuse and mismanagement of resources.

"While we have no personal problems with Mr De Groot we feel that his intense autocratic style of management and his evident" opposition to the PNC REFORM do not augur well for the employees and the objectivity of the radio station, the letter noted.

The radio station ran on a skeleton staff on Monday as a result of the protest action, and this was evident by its three sister stations commencing transmission later than usual.

Whereas the Voice of Guyana signs on at around 4 in the morning, this station began broadcasting at around 5, followed by Radio Roraima and 98.1 FM at approximately 6:45 am.

These last two stations normally begin their programming at 5 am. (Back to top)

City inferno

Rice body worker attacked as he evacuated building

Archie's trio providing voluntary service

An employee of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) had a harrowing experience on Monday night, even as fire ripped through the city engulfing the building that once housed the office in which he worked.

Stabroek News caught up with Chandrat Mangra yesterday as he looked through the rubble of the Guyana Import and Export (GIMPEX) building in which the GRPA office was.

Mangra revealed that when the fire started at the Kissoon's Furniture City building he was still at work. He said he knew of the fire but never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that it would have reached his building.

The man said that after some time he was affected by severe smoke and he felt the intense heat and decided to evacuate the building still not thinking the building he was in was in any real danger.

He said that since he was at the back of the building he really did not see what was taking place on Regent Street and was stopped cold in his tracks when he saw a large crowd in front of the building.

Mangra, still traumatised, said that when persons in the crowd saw him coming out of gate they started pelting him.

Afraid for his life, the father of four children said that he started to run to the back of the building but was met with the smoke and heat. He decided that it would be better to run the gauntlet than burn to death and he braved the pelting and ran out into Regent Street.

In his haste to escape, the man said, he fell into a drain and was assisted by some men who were not known to him. He said that the men carried him to Wellington Street and from there he hurried home.

He had been working with the RPA for the last five years and it was his only source of income to support himself and family. "I don't know how I go look after my family now," the man said.

Even if the RPA was relocated Mangra would still be without a job for some time until the association got back on its feet.

And over at Archie's Electrical store, which was also gutted by the fire on Monday night, three of his employees could be seen just walking around listlessly looking at the remains of the building.

Andre Legall, a father of two, said that he had been working with the owner of the business for the past 20 years. He is the brother-in-law of his boss's wife.

The man said he was now jobless and had no way of supporting his wife and children.

His two colleagues, Allister Graham called 'Soapy' and Noel Softley, who were security guards at the business, said they were also contemplating how they were going to support their families.

But even as the men mused over their plight they were also worried about their boss who had lost everything. "He was a good man and he did not deserve this," the men said. They noted that their boss had worked very hard to build his business.

According to the men, their employer treated all of his employees equally and they lived like family.

Softley spoke about how he had to assist his boss in evacuating his home, which was above his business place, and they were unable to save anything. He said he had been working with the company for about 12 years and said his employer was a "very good boss."

Graham said that he has been with the company for the past four years and it was his only source of income. He said he had a lot of bills to pay and did not how he would do that now. "I think I would just take a holiday", the man said.

Legall said his boss had visited him at home since the fire, but did not want to come down to look at the gutted building as he felt it would be too much for him to bear.

All three of the men said that they were now providing voluntary service to their employer in making sure that no one went through the rubble as they might be able to salvage something when the fire was put out completely. Seven dogs and four pups were burnt to death in the fire. (Back to top)

Police body condemns threats against members of force

The Police Association has voiced its condemnation of recent threats against members of the force while they are on duty.

A press release from the Office of the Police Association has called for an immediate cessation of these threats by "all television stations and persons" who may be responsible.

"This is certainly a dangerous exercise as these threats only serve to endanger the lives of these policemen/women," the police body stated.

The release noted that there were instances when the names of policemen/women and their families were mentioned during the threats.

The association stressed that such activities "are grossly unethical, disturbing and only serve to dampen the professional responses of members of the force." (Back to top)

Fire victims call for government aid

Three families lose all they owned

The families who lost their homes in the Robb/Regent streets blaze on Monday night are calling on the President and government to come to their aid.

The Pickering, Hall and Khan families had their homes situated between Robb and Regent streets, behind Archie's Electrical Co Ltd. All three properties were destroyed as the fire swept through the block.

Twenty-one members of the Khan family occupied a two-storey building in the yard and yesterday, the daughter of the homeowner, Bibi Farida Khan, spoke to Stabroek News about the night when fire destroyed their home. "We were standing outside our gate on Regent Street watching a group of protestors passing on the street," she explained. "They were hollering 'Burn Down!' and pointing at the businesses. We thought it was meant to be a joke."

The family then shut the gate and stood inside it to avoid any confrontation. "The mob then passed to the corner of Camp and turned to face north," she elaborated. "We heard glass breaking up and I sent down my little cousin to see what was happening. He said he saw youths pelting up the stores and by the time he came back to us we could see people coming up from Camp Street jumping up with their hands in the air. They were shouting that Kissoon's was on fire.

Police, army to mount patrols on Friday

The police and the army will be mounting patrols on Friday following reports that have reached them that there would be attempts to make the day another `Black Friday', a release from the Police Public Relations Department yesterday said.

The release called on the Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Guyana Manufacturers' Association, the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry as well as members of the public to support the efforts of the security forces in their preventive patrolling effort.

However, army sources have told Stabroek News that any patrols mounted on that day would be part of the Guyana Defence Force's (GDF) continued programme of patrols that have been mounted this week. The GDF responds to requests from the civilian law enforcement agencies when they are unable to deal with them adequately and when it responds it is in support of those agencies.

In 1999, a circular was sent to the media indicating that the media committee of the Joint Services Council was the authorised source of information about the activities of the Joint Services. The Joint Services include the army, police, Fire Service and the Prison Service. A copy of this circular was yesterday released to the press by the joint services media committee in an apparent response to the press release that had been issued by the police.

However, a police spokesman told this newspaper that the circular did not apply to releases issued by the police. (Back to top)

Police arrest four in robbery splurge in downtown Georgetown