Skeldon workers,Wholesale Cheap Jerseys China, on a two-day strike over the firing of four of the colleagues,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, have agreed to end their action and were expected to return to work last night.According to Chief Executive Officer (ag) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Paul Bhim, management of the Skeldon estate will now be prepared to talk to the workers and the unions.On Wednesday, skeleton staff comprising senior officials and others managed to grind several hundred punts of cane which were harvested but faced the threat of being damaged.GuySuCo had faced the prospect of losing more than $40M if the cane had spoilt, Bhim said yesterday.Yesterday, several of the factory workers on strike were gathered in front of the Skeldon estate and while they agreed to return to work last evening, blasted management and said the decision to send home the workers, including a Shift Manager, was an arbitrary one.The factory workers went on strike since Tuesday.The strike action stemmed from a fire on August 7 in the factory’s bagasse plant on a number of conveyor belts.Four persons, including the senior Shift Manager, the Boiler Engineer and a Belt Attendant were among those fired.Five other persons, including two senior officials were also suspended.The workers claimed that there were no fire alarms on the estate and there was only one fireman. Before, there were three of these workers on a shift. They also claimed that the number of fire extinguishers was inadequate and incapable of handling a significant fire, the magnitude of which occurred earlier this month.“The General Manager and the higher authorities must take the blame for what happen and they are trying to put the blame on the smaller workers… we are the scapegoats,” said one factory worker yesterday.Herman Kissoon, the fireman on duty the night of the fire, and one of those dismissed, said that he received word of the fire around 03:00 hrs while he was on duty in another section of the factory. The worker said, when he got the message, he raced to where the alarm came from.The workers claimed that there was no water in the hose system. By that time the fire was getting bigger and help was sought from the Guyana Fire Service.Plant Foreman, Vishnu Jagnarine, said that he was nowhere around when the fire occurred. He had worked the shift before and had left the premises some nine hours before the fire started. He said he was informed by the engineer around 03:15 hrs that there was a fire at the estate. He immediately went to the location where he assisted in quelling the fire.Workers’ representatives, Mangal and Jagdat Mohabir, were adamant that the workers were wrongfully dismissed and said that the union will not accept what was done to the workers. “They were not given a hearing… at no time were they a part of any investigation (the worker or the union) as to the cause of the fire. The workers were not given a letter. They were only told that they were either dismissed or suspended and they should leave.”Chairman of GuySuCo, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, on Wednesday, was clear in his message to the 100-plus factory who downed tools on Monday to protest the dismissal of four employees, “no talks until work is resumed”.According to the Chairman, by moving to strike actions, workers immediately breached the Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) which spells how grievances can be addressed.“I am very disturbed by the breaches in CLA and in the industrial relations procedures. We have taken steps to grind the harvested canes to prevent spoilage, and we will be doing so this evening (Wednesday night).”The official made it clear that GuySuCo and management of the Skeldon estate would be willing to have dialogue, as long as workers return to their duties.With factory workers on strike, harvesting work was also affected with management unwilling to bring in more punts of cane until there were assurances it would be processed.On Tuesday, GuySuCo issued a statement calling for workers to return to work since harvesting was in full swing.The Corporation disclosed that an investigation into the fire found gross negligence which resulted in the fire not being detected early, and it is estimated that millions of dollars will now have to be spent to repair the damage.A total of nine employees were disciplined.GuySuCo,NFL Jerseys Outlet, in pointing out that the incident occurred on the same day the estate was slated to commence its second crop production for the year, disclosed that based on the extent of the damage, it was clear that the blaze actually started much earlier than the time it was first reported – in fact,Nike Shox Clearance, three hours earlier.“A full investigation was conducted which revealed that the incident resulted be

A Cross Street,Cheap Jerseys From China, Werk-en-Rust resident was remanded yesterday for allegedly robbing a policeman at gunpoint on July 30.The victim,cheap nfl jerseys online, Brinsley Adonis, a member of the Guyana Police Force,Cheap NBA Store, alleged that he was robbed by Nigel Mc Calman.The virtual complainant (VC) said that he was approaching his home on Leopold Street when the incident occurred. Adonis claims that he was relieved of one Rolex wrist watch valued at $5000,Authentic NFL Jerseys Cheap, one cell phone valued at $62,Cheap Jerseys Outlet,000 and $3,Wholesale NFL Jerseys,300 in cash.Mc Calman told the court in his defence that he usually sells drugs to the VC. He went on to tell the court that he did not know that the man was a police.The accused even insisted that the police return to the scene of the alleged crime to conduct an investigation to determine whether indeed a crime was committed on the VC.Police prosecutor Denise Griffith told the court that bail should be denied due to the seriousness of the crime. Bail was denied by Magistrate Priya Beharry. The accused is to make his second appearance on September 19.

Three police ranks,Cheap NFL Jerseys, including a Cadet Officer,Cheap China Jerseys Authentic, are to appear in court today charged with the larceny of almost $4M.The money represented a part of the total cash recovered following last Thursday’s $17M river heist, involving three ranks from the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, which led to the death of 23-year old Bartica resident, Dweive Kant Ramdass.The three policemen were charged on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions,wholesale nfl jerseys, who returned the file on the matter to the Criminal Investigations Department yesterday.The money was allegedly stolen at a roadblock near the Demerara Harbour Bridge where the policemen had intercepted a car traveling from Parika to the city.Following the arrests of the three ranks attached to the GDF Coast Guard at Parika,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, the police had set up the roadblock after they learnt that persons in a car had picked up a part of the loot.It was at one of these roadblocks,Wholesale NHL Jerseys, manned by a Cadet Officer and a few junior ranks that a car with two persons inside was stopped.One of the occupants turned out to be the brother of one of the three GDF ranks.A search of the car unearthed in excess of $5M.The men were detained and the cash confiscated.However, only $1.5M was handed over to the ranks investigating the matter at the La Grange Police Station.

…Child Care unit seeks ‘Julius’ to provide assistanceThe Child Care and Protection Services Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security is currently actively seeking the 15-year-old male identified as Julius on a tape-recording with an older person. The teen called this older person Kwame and the conversation continues with this older person soliciting sex from the teen.According to a well placed source within the Ministry, the officers are concerned about the young man’s psyche in light of the extensive coverage that has been given to the sex tape.The source noted that should the conversation prove to involve Kwame McCoy then he should resign from the Rights of the Child Commission forthwith. It is a despicable thing for someone to be soliciting sex from a minor.It was pointed out that in light of McCoy’s denial the unit has to wait until President Jagdeo returns to ascertain the likely course of action.Meanwhile Shadow Minister of Human Services,Adidas NHL Jerseys China, Volda Lawrence,Wholesale NHL Jerseys, has said that the current controversy surrounding Kwame McCoy, given his role on the Commission for the Rights of the Child is casting a bad light on the work of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.She said that it matters not whether the allegations are true or not.She noted that the Head of the Presidential Secretariat should launch an investigation,Cheap Jerseys, given that based on the telephone records the call was made to a number at the Office of the President.No person can just walk off the street and access a telephone in the Presidential Complex.Meanwhile, Kaieteur News was yesterday served by Court Marshall with an ex parte injunction and libel suit by Press Liaison to the President, Kwame McCoy,Cheap Jerseys From China, who moved to the High Court before Chief Justice Ian Chang against this publication as well as Prime News and Enrico Woolfood of Capitol News.McCoy,Cheap Jerseys Online, who is being represented by Attorneys-at-Law Sase Gunraj and Bibi Shadick,China NFL Jerseys, managed to secure a temporary injunction wherein the Chief Justice ordered that the named defendants refrain from further publishing words or images that have the effect of insinuating or suggesting that Kwame McCoy is involved in acts of child molestation and sexual predation on minors until the determination of a summons to continue injunction.McCoy is also seeking damages in excess of $50M from each of the named defendants for what he calls libel.The matter is returnable on September 29.

…for attempting to pervert course of justiceAttorney at Law and former Magistrate, Gordon Gilhuys, was arrested yesterday morning at the LindenAttorney at Law and former Magistrate,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, Gordon GilhuysMagistrate’s Court for attempting to pervert the course of Justice.According to CID Inspector Singh,Cheap Jerseys Online, Gilhuys is representing Michael Franklyn who is facing a charge of rape of a minor.The allegation is that Gilhuys went to Woman Corporal Quimby and told her that he had spoken to the Virtual Complainant’s relatives and that they were prepared to drop the case. The allegation continued that the Corporal was told by Gilhuys that she must write the statement and place it in the file.Singh said he was informed and he sent ranks to arrest the lawyer who reportedly said, “I am not going anywhere. If he wants me,Cheap NFL Jerseys, let him come for me.”Singh went to the court at Wismar where the Attorney was,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, and arrested him and took him to the Mackenzie Police Station,Cheap Hockey Jerseys, where Gilhuys denied the allegation.Gilhuys was placed on $10,NFL Jerseys China,000 station bail. The file will be sent to the DPP for advice.

By Dr. Prem MisirThe General and Regional Elections in Guyana made its five-yearly visitation upon the nation on November 28, giving Guyana for the first time a unique constitutional political challenge.And there are forces dissatisfied with the election results,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, who would like the nation to believe that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) lost the election, since it did not win at least 51 percent of the votes. The current proportional representation electoral system stipulates that the party winning 51 per cent of the votes can constitute a majority government.Under existing constitutional arrangements, the PPP/C’s acquisition of a mere majority of the votes without gaining 51 per cent, allows the PPP/C,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, to constitute the government, to secure the Presidency, and to remain as the ruling party.While it may not have full control of Parliament, the President has full veto powers over practically anything presented in Parliament, which may not be in the interest of the nation. Keep in mind, too, that currently, the U.S. Democratic Party does not wield full control over the House of Representatives, the legislative arm of Congress; in fact,Wholesale Jerseys From China, Democrats are in the minority in the U.S. House of Representatives.And notwithstanding the huge challenge he faces in the U.S. House of Representatives, President Barack Obama is plodding away at improving the economy, where today, the unemployment rate was pegged at 8.6%, the lowest level for about two and a half years; and has called for a payroll tax reduction. For these reasons, it is not beyond the capacity of the PPP/C Administration without full majority in the unicameral legislature,NFL Jerseys China, to eke serious social and economic reforms in this society.This idea of a government without the majority of seats in parliament is new to the populace of Guyana, and apparently conjures up images of instability, including the holding of several general and regional elections within the next five-year period. Keep in mind that the Guyanese people are accustomed to observing and experiencing only one general election during each five-year term.At any rate, this notion of instability associated with a minority government cannot be discounted as historical evidence of the volatility of minority governments abound. Studies of minority governments with minority presidents present perceptions of ineffective government, persistent intensity of government-parliament conflict, and the gradual erosion of democracy.Nonetheless, this scenario has become popular because of it sole focus on the number of votes, and not on governmental performance.Even so, the PPP/C minority government does not necessarily have to be equated with destabilization. For instance, President-elect Donald Ramotar’s PPP/C policy platforms,NBA Jerseys China, the President’s full veto powers and its legislative capacity in parliament in terms of rational policies, may breed some level of cooperation among the apposite stakeholders (Negretto, 2006).Generally, one of the ways of firming up the legislative power of a government without a majority in parliament is to attract coalition parties within the cabinet; which may strengthen a government’s hand in parliament.Anyway, constitutional arrangements in Guyana would not favour coalition party formation within the Cabinet subsequent to the elections results. For this reason, in order to reinforce the PPP/C government’s legislative and policy-oriented capacity, President-elect Ramotar would face a huge challenge, but which does not have to include offering portfolios to the opposition.The relationships between the legislature and the government (executive) in modern times define a government without a majority in parliamentary democracies; where the action is more directed toward rational policies and social problems, rather than solely on votes the parties won (Strom, 2004); and Strom noted that what could be more political than these intragovernmental relationships. The number of votes does not primarily define such intense political relationships.Politics has to do with making the lives of the poor and vulnerable better, and it is this parameter in the long run that defines the solidity of a ruling party, with or without a majority in parliament.Studies on minority governments in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Venezuela in the 1960s and 1970s demonstrated the necessity to transform a president without majority support into a majority president, in order to sustain stability (Negretti, 2004).? These governments without a majority were able to attract parties to coalesce with them to strengthen their legislative hand in parli

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is scheduled to commence its annual Constituency Meetings today. These meetings are expected to be concluded on Friday, May 21,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, 2010. During this five-day period, the Commission will engage representatives of its various Constituencies namely; Hindu,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, Muslim, Christian, Women,Cheap Jerseys From China, Youth, Labour and Private Sector. A meeting will also be held with members of Civil Society, according to the ERC.The ERC stated that the aim of these meetings is to provide feedback from the Commission’s stakeholders on its work over the years in promoting harmony and good relations, as well as encouraging a more tolerant and cohesive society. This is to facilitate an evaluation process which the Commission will be conducting on its work from conceptualisation to present.It was revealed that the Strategic Assessment Process seeks to review the ERC’s performance and the impact the Commission would have had on society and the country as a whole,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys China, which resulted in the ERC contracting the services of a Consultant to lead the assessment process.According to the ERC, the objectives of the assessment include: conducting a strategic review of the ERC by reviewing documentation and meeting with stakeholders, facilitating a retreat of the ERC to discuss findings, validating findings with stakeholders and producing a final report of the process.Following these in-house meetings, the ERC will also conduct regional meetings with its stakeholders to garner their feedback on the work of the Commission over the years.Since its formation in 2003, the ERC has worked across Guyana and continues to work to promote inter-ethnic relations by addressing issues such as equality of opportunity,Cheap Jerseys For Wholesale, discrimination,Jerseys NFL Cheap, conflict resolution and respect for each other.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) says that with all the glowing reviews of the country’s economic performance by Finance Minister Ashni Singh, his analysis is based on sectors that are susceptible to external shocks and price uncertainty.Dr Tarron KhemrajThis is according to AFC’s economic advisor Dr Tarron Khemraj who told journalists at the party’s weekly press conference that essentially, this growth is based on selling Guyana’s primary resources without any major added value taking place at home.He said that the present tepid growth rate could have been much better if the PPP government got the Skeldon Sugar Factory in proper working order, which in turn includes planting the adequate amount of canes.Furthermore, he said an average growth rate of just below four per cent is far below the minimum target of seven per cent of the AFC,NFL Jerseys From China, which has outlined a plan to meet that growth target.“We have missed the sugar price boom that will not continue indefinitely. In addition,NFL Jerseys From China, we are benefitting from very high gold price but actual production of value added gold jewelry continues to lag price. We missed the great economic boom of the 1990s and also the early 2000s,” Dr. Khemraj emphatically said.He said that the PPP is boasting of the country’s housing development as a major growth factor in the economy.“While we support housing for the masses, we believe the Minister is mistaken to believe this sector can sustain long-term growth in the Guyanese economy. First, housing creates short-term jobs during the period when construction occurs. Second, there is no major industrial or service sector emerging that will produce the kind of income to pay off the housing loans. Third, we believe the PPP is setting up the banking sector for our own subprime-type housing financial crisis. Fourth,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, most house building materials are imported, thus the housing programme is not contributing to the kind of industry linkages the AFC envisages.”The economic advisor said that the economy is yet to undergo significant structural change, especially with new emerging tradable sectors that can break new foreign markets. Housing, he said, is a non-tradable sector where a house is not something one can export.“The AFC’s vision for housing would be to link the construction of houses to locally made components that could eventually be exported – thus adding a tradable component to housing. This will be true production transformation. We cannot wait another nineteen years to see the realization of these obvious economic activities,NFL Jerseys Outlet,” he asserted.Noting that the AFC has articulated an alternative vision for Guyana,Cheap Jerseys From China, Dr Khemraj said that their economic policies will be financed by a portfolio of inflows ranging from diaspora investments, foreign direct investments,Wholesale Jerseys From China, local investments, a state development bank and private capital markets. In addition the party will also seek multilateral concessional funding from the traditional sources. “We do not place all of Guyana’s financing in one basket as does the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). We do not see any of this in the PPP’s economic plan, which is meant to keep the masses at subsistence level. Moreover, there can be no development if the masses remain at subsistence.”