Dayclean
Official Organ of the WPA
guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com
Vol. B No3 October 2000.
Guyana Between A Rock and A Rocket
Guyana
now stands balanced on tiptoe between the Rock of careful planning of a just
constitution, full consultation with the people and the Rocket of rushed,
quick-fix elections in January 2001.On October 1 the government was still
to present a plan for get help from UNDP to draft new laws.
These are required to bring in the altered constitution and election laws.
Elections Observer :
Dr .Rupert Roopnaraine , invited by the Commonwealth Secretariat left Guyana
for Zanzibar, through London on September 28 to observe the 29 October 2000
election in Zanzibar. He has been chosen as part of a small advance team.
IDB, LONG SILENT ON VIKAB AND CASH RACKET, ENTERS SEA DEFENCE ROW
The IDB, says it is the IDB and not the PPP/Civic cabinet which found that
only B&K Tiwari put in a "responsive" tender for sea defence works recently.
Guyana’s’ leading lender, said nothing during the 1997 stone import issue,
involving Mr.Roopchand of the Ministry of Finance and now of the Revenue Authority,
Luis Austin (missing) and others, including the P.S.who was sent home and
became Consultant to the deeply involved Ministry of Works. Now IDB has taken
a stand. There is evidence, however, that the IDB and GOG have flouted Guyana’s
financial regulations.
JUSTICE MARCH: "No Justice, No Peace!"
The Justice March called by C N Sharma, Clem David and Sherwood Kendall took
to the city streets on Saturday, September 23. It was highly successful and
brought out the gut anger of those taking part over conditions in the country.
Mr Sharma and the other organisers said they welcomed the turnout. The route
given by the police was Square of the Revolution-north road-Albert Street-Lamaha
Street-Main Street-Middle Street –Independence Square. Among the marchers
were the widow and children of M.Shadeek, custody victim.
Voters’
List, or Jokers’ list?
Sharp differences have come to light over the size of the voters’ list. WPA
has done no field tests but is following the argument. The draft official
list, accepted by the PPP- Civic, is 516,000 of a maximum possible maximum
population of 750,000. One PPP writer, Dr.L. Ramsammy assumes a 723,000 population
and a voters’ list of 516,000. Dr.Asgar Ally estimates the voting population
at 427,000 of 750,000.With the vote at 18, what percentage of the total population
normally qualifies to vote? The Elections Commission’s draft list has 516,
000 which is 68.8% of 750,000. Dr.Ally’s estimate for voters is 427, 000 of
750, 000, that is 56.0%. Dr.Ramsammy’s 516, 000 of 723,000 is 71.4%. Normally
it should be around 50 per cent.
ROOPNARAINE REMINDS ASSEMBLY
The H-accord tied the major parties and the country to an agreement to reform
the constitution and to hold elections under it by January17, 20001. Both
major parties were in a weak position. The new President (PPP/CIVIC) had been
secretly sworn behind the backs of the Commission members in the very Elections
Commission building, before she had 50% of the counted votes. TV cameras later
showed that the new President had thrown court documents over her shoulder
to the delight of the Elections Commission Chairman, an interested party.
PPP also could not govern. The PNC was reeling from blame for the excesses
and atrocities of January 12,1998. It went on the defensive. The PPP could
not govern. Both were willing to comply with ‘fatherly’ Caricom wisdom. After
the signing, the major parties went back to their corners in the ring, sulking.
PNC made light of the two years cut from the new term of office. PPP regretted
losing them.
The fate of the country was left for them to talk about, with Barbadian, Mr.King
chairing. They talked about talking and talked very little.
It took ages to get the constitution reform going again. In the end both went
against deep reform of the form of the Executive. Power would continue to
be one-party power, with more rights for the people here and there. Indigenous
people have won a new Commission. Rejecting the idea of shared government
(power-sharing) the parties settled for an Ethnic Relations
Commission, for ethnic grievances. They gave parliament all party committees..
Some powers of the President are down for removal, but not the power to share
the wealth.
In l991 the WPA, joined by the DLM resisted the jokers’ list and it had to
be scrapped. Is there now another jokers’ list for a voters’ list?( Not the
laws, but the 1980 constitution says that every citizen of age of Guyana has
the right to register. )
In June 1999, sensing the mood and the things to be done, WPA’s Rupert Roopnaraine
put an appeal for a more sober approach. He called for the time between the
H-deadline and the natural end of the term of office to be filled by a "national
government" composed "according to the declared results of the l997elections".
The proposal was made because brother Roopnarine was convinced that the pre-
election tasks could not be properly carried out before January 2001. These
included the reform of the constitution and a referendum.
How did the "Majors" answer it?
They said, "WPA wants a piece of the action." Amen.
Speaking in the National Assembly a day after returning from a stay with his
family abroad, Rupert Rooparaine warned against noises he had heard of a need
to "refine" some recommendations of the Oversight committee. He said that
would be going down the wrong road. Dr. Rooparaine manented that the fact
that because of the rush to meet the H-deadline, there would be no referendum
to get the approval of the people for the reformed constitution.
He warned against any attempt to turn back the all-party decisions of the
Oversight Committee. Although the constitution did not undergo deep changes,
Roopnaraine insists that there are good changes in it which need to be defended,
because they give people more space.
BAUXITE UNION THINK TANK PRESSES ON.
There was much activity on the Bauxite industry in week ending September 23
. Workers were discussing plans for getting the industry out of the slump.
The plans are put by a human resources network connected with the industry
and wishing it well .So far the government has not been able to find a possible
partner with any track record.
Aroaima ( a Reynolds-Guyana government company) had made a bid during the
recent privatisation process. Reynolds sold out to ALCAN, but never paid a
dividend (shareholders profit share) the Guyana government. Reports say the
workers have found a credible partner, not one of the big world Eight.
President Jagdeo has repeated that the sugar industry will be defended and
not privatised.
MINISTER RUNNING RIOT
Minister in the Local Government Ministry, Mr. Collymore, MP ordered an acting
overseer not to obey the law requiring that officer to take action to fill
vacancies for Chairman and Deputy. this time on the date fixed by you." The
Minister mounted an enquiry, but RDC 4 Councillor Trotman pointed out it was
out of order. The Minister is to meet the RDC.
WPA Studying Elections
The WPA Executive is at present studying its approach to the forth- coming
elections fixed for mid January 2001. Options have been circulated to active
member and they are studying them for decisions at an early date voting patterns
in Guyana reduce WPA’s electoral support. This is one factor to be considered.
WPA’s MP made public the party’s opinion that it is impossible to hold a proper
election by the H-deadline.
Though WPA is active all year, at election time the gut concern on the coast
is "Which race is going to win."
The Truth is out
Dayclean Vol B.No 2 had questioned the source of HE Jagdeo's spending. THE TRUTH IS NOW OUT. It is irregular use of Lotto funds. The Stabroek News October 9 showed the Auditor General's comment.
Shafeek's Inquest
All
organizations except the PPP called for an enquiry into the death in police
custody of Mr. M.Shafeek. The DPP finally ordered an inquest. Attorney at
Law R Eleazar said that in an inquest the Coroner would invite witnesses.
It should be an enquiry, he said.
Model Fredericks
WPA in a statement saluted the life and career of the late Roy Fredericks.
It described him as a player who looked hostile bowlers "in the eye" went
for them and broke them down.
Bauxite
WPA on October 9 issued a call for a ear statement on the bauxite industry.
It was heard on Evening News. The two national dailies did not carry it up
to October 15.