By Brushell BlackmanAgriculture Minister,Cheap Jerseys Online, Robert Persaud, said that he will not be distributing cash to rice farmers in the wake of the current low rice price issue.Speaking to Kaieteur News while on a visit to drainage structures aback of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, the Minister said that other interventions are being contemplated.Persaud said that consultations between rice farmers countrywide have begun in an effort to decide the approach which will be taken for the use of the $400M awarded to the industry by President Bharrat Jagdeo.Some of the options that are being examined are; support for the cost of inputs in the industry,NFL Jerseys China, investing in infrastructure such as drying floors for farmers or support for the Rice Producers Association (RPA) with a production stabilisation fund.Explaining how the fund will operate, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud says that once the cost of production is established, the government will start a fund that will be sustained by contributions from farmers and millers.He said that in the event that paddy falls below that production cost, farmers will be able to access the fund by way of a voucher system and support for cost of input to the farmers. Persaud believes handing out cash ‘willy nilly’ will not solve the problem.The Minister believes that the consultation will take weeks.Interventions are important as they will increase competitiveness in the industry, sustaining it in the medium and long term,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, he added.Although he is desirous of finalising the proposals quickly,Cheap Jerseys For Wholesale, he is unsure that they will be forthcoming for the upcoming crop. While dispelling the notion that there is a crisis in the rice industry, Persaud is imploring farmers not to panic.He said that government was successful in securing an additional market for what might be a surplus of rice from the current crop.Mervyn Williams,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, PNC/R Region Three representative, who was on the site visit, shares a different view for the use of the funds. According to him, there needs to be a holistic approach to the issue rather than mere injection of funds into the industry whenever a crisis arises.He said that the government needs to look beyond the dollar value and seek imaginative ways of arresting the problem. He believes the situation will continue to rear its head if a different approach is not adopted.He believes that the rice industry can benefit from better land preparation practices and better marketing of rice, thus removing the dependence on the traditional overseas ones.Additionally, Williams is calling on Government to re-examine the issue of the withdrawal of Guyana from the OCT (Other Countries and Territories) route.Williams said this route served the industry well and another such facility can only boost what is considered by many to be a crisis situation. He says it is disheartening for farmers to sell large quantities of rice and in the end get very little for their efforts in the field.The current situation arose after farmers were receiving $2000 for a bag of paddy.A prominent rice miller said that the genesis of the crisis has its roots in a US-owned company signing contracts with a few local millers and exporters at $355 US per 1000 kg cargo. He said this move is what contributed to millers being unable to pay more than $2000 per bag for paddy.He was at a loss as to who authorised the agreement, according to him,Discount NFL Jerseys, the move meant millers were unable to bargain for higher prices when selling abroad and this filtered down to the farmers.He assured them that millers’ hands are tied “we don’t want a war between the millers and the farmers… we would have paid more if we could.”He said that he feels for the farmers since no one should operate at a loss. Farmers were calling on millers to pay at least $3500 per bag of paddy. They explained that they are operating at a loss.Farmers explained that it costs $74,000 to produce an acre of rice, noting that an acre yields thirty bags of paddy and farmers were losing $15,000 on an acre.The rice industry is second only to sugar as a major foreign exchange earner.

The recent revelation of the appointment of businessman Brian Tiwarie, as a Ministerial Advisor onPPP/C’s Chief Whip,Gail TeixeiraBusiness Development, managed to raise eyebrows. In addition, following a statement from the Government stating that it has rescinded Tiwarie’s appointment without explaining why, it paved the way for further scrutiny.The businessman’s appointment as a ministerial advisor was not announced by the government but was signed “secretly” by the Minister of State,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, Joseph Harmon on January 19, 2016.Harmon in his response stated that the appointment was a mere ‘honorific title’ and emphasised that the facts of the matter are being twisted. He firmly believes that the criticisms, which have since ensued,Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys, are all part of a wicked plot to jeopardise his political career.With a fraction of the nation kept in the dark, some Ministers – according to reports – were also clueless with regards to this development.No doubt, it has also attracted the attention of the main Parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) who hosted a press conference at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown yesterday.PPP/C’s Chief, Gail Teixeira,NFL Jerseys China, told media operatives that the government seems to be developing a habit of not informing the populace on issues of significant importance,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, and if this should continue, it would have dire consequences down the road.“It appears to become a habit of the Government of not telling people anything until you wake up in the morning and find it,Wholesale Jerseys,” she said.This she said, goes against the transparency and accountability that the David Granger-led administration had promised since taking office in May, 2015.She continued that while the Government has a right to have and cater for presidential advisors,Wholesale NFL Jerseys Online, this trend of new ministers having advisors is a “new development.”She also related that the PPP/C during the Budget Estimates Debate held in January last, had requested that the names of Presidential Advisors be submitted to the house. Names were called out, she said, but Tiwarie’s name was never mentioned.Requests were also made for ministers to name their advisors, however, “many” she said, refused to provide names.On the issue of Tiwarie being appointed with an ‘honorific title’, the Chief Whip said that there is a difference that the PPP/C does not know about, however, the receipt of any title given by government, allows the holder to have some sort of superiority – the ability to “open doors” and the ability to close them.She also raised concerns about the “many” advisors that were appointed in the Diaspora.“We had asked the government about the advisors overseas; who they were? What they were doing. Are they being paid? Are they not being paid? Are they like the honorary consuls where they get a little stipend? We can’t get answers on that,” Teixeira said.The Chief Whip also registered her concerns about news of extortion being carried out by the government against several levels of society.“We have to, at this Press Conference, also not be oblivious to the fact that more and more the culture of fear is taking place in a number of levels in our society. We are hearing more and more about extortion of members of the business community to make donations to the ruling party and/or projects, with the threat that they would not be considered for contracts,” Teixeira said.

The High Court action between the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited and Royal Investment Inc. which owns and operates Guyana Stores,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, was again called up before Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire,Cheap NFL Jerseys, yesterday.Royal Investment Inc. is headed by proprietor Tony Yassin. NICIL is being represented by Rafiq Turhan Khan, while Yassin is being represented by Senior Counsel Rex Mc Kay and Edward Luckhoo.Royal Investment Inc. has been sued by the Privatisation Unit/ NICIL for failing to pay the balance of US$2 million for the 70 million shares in Guyana Stores which the company acquired for US$6million.At yesterday’s hearing, Head of the Privatization Unit, Winston Brassington, was cross-examined by Senior Counsel McKay about several annual audited reports of Guyana Stores Limited. Brassington was first asked if he had ever seen Guyana Stores’ 2000 audited report. The witness said that he had never seen it. There was no objection for the document to be tendered into evidence. Brassington was questioned about the authorization of the payment of dividends. According to the witness he was aware that the payment was authorized by the shareholders. The witness was then asked if it was paid out of profits of the company, to which he answered in the affirmative.Senior Counsel McKay then proceeded to question the witness about the audited report of 1999 and the minutes of a board meeting. Brassington was then asked whether he had sought approval from the board for a loan of $300M from Republic Bank.According to Brassington that loan was to pay dividends. The lawyer cautioned the witness to answer directly instead of giving a lengthy explanation.Brassington was then reminded that he had said that he had paid the dividends from profits,Cheap Adidas Hockey Jerseys, but is now claiming that it was paid from the loan. The witness was then asked if he was knowledgeable about the Companies Act section 50. Brassington replied in the negative.He was then asked if he was aware that he was in violation of the Company’s Act,Wholesale MLB Jerseys, to which he said that was not his understanding. The witness admitted that by October 1999, a buyer for Guyana Stores Limited was identified.Senior Counsel McKay suggested to the witness that he was stripping the company of its assets before the sale since several items were being sold prior to Yassin taking control.It was noted that during one of the board meetings, that the loans which were taken would have to be repaid by whoever gained ownership of the company. A letter which was written to Brassington by the Finance Manager at Guyana Stores sought to have several issues clarified.However Brassington told the court that he did not remember the letter,Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic, but would not deny that it was sent to him. He was then asked about the steps he took to meet the requests the finance manager had raised.? The witness told the court that he did not recall.Senior Counsel McKay, then put the question to Brassington that he was making steps to reduce the assets of the company before handing it over. He denied that assertion by the lawyer. He was then asked if it would be true to say that the decisions Brassington made, caused Guyana Stores to suffer loss of profits.The witness sought to give a long explanation,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, but was cautioned by the lawyer that he needed to be direct. “Don’t be shy…answer the question,” McKay told Brassington. The matter was later adjourned to September where it is expected that Nazham Ali will go into the witness box.In an affidavit signed by Mr. Tony Yassin, he admitted that on October 4, 2000, he entered into an agreement with National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (Privatisation Unit) to purchase the shares in Guyana Stores Limited which was owned by the Government of Guyana.Furthermore it was stated that before entering into the agreement with National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited, Yassin was given various information memoranda on June 5, 1996 and packages in March 1999 in respect of the matters and facts which were peculiarly within the knowledge of the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited, Government and Privatisation Unit.To these, the defendant stated, he had no access method of verifying through its own investigation and inquiry.

Finance Ministry still to release tens of millions – GECOMBy Mondale SmithPayments amounting to tens of millions of dollars owed to scrutineers and persons who worked for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) during the ‘Claims and Objections’ period nationwide, are cast in a cloud of uncertainty.This is the report from GECOM officials following complaints from some who worked and have been waiting for more than a month.The almost nationwide exercise involved thousands who represented 71 local authority areas, 65 neighbourhood democratic councils and six municipalities and to date,NFL Jerseys Outlet, none have been paid.GECOM’s financial and administrative management falls within the ambit of the CEO Gocool Boodoo,China NBA Jerseys, the Chief Election Officer. When this publication contacted his office,Wholesale China Jerseys, a female employee said that he was out for the day and she referred all queries to the Public Relations Officer,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, Vishnu Persaud.Yesterday,China Jerseys Wholesale, Persaud confirmed that no payments have been made to scrutineers to date. He assured that his commission has submitted all the necessary information and documents to the Ministry of Finance and stated too that “We are still working on getting the monies from the Ministry of Finance but we have not yet received the release of funds from the government.”He however assured that “when we do (get the money) we will make payments”.Persaud said too that Boodoo has done all the necessary filings from GECOM’s end to the Ministry of Finance and that there were some minor queries which were addressed by the CEO and so “we are now awaiting the release of funds.”Persaud was emphatic that “When that (release from Government) will happen is what we are not sure of. It’s all up to the Finance Ministry”.On the basis of anonymity for fear of victimisation, the contention of some persons who worked for GECOM during the claims and objections period is that “We need someone to shed light on when people will be paid because it’s been more than a month and still no word and no one seems to know what is happening”.One man from the North Georgetown district told this publication that he received payments for services rendered in December but afterwards “we have not been paid for works carried out during the period January and February”.The claims and objections period has been completed since February 28.Unofficially, some continued working after February 28 for about two weeks, and yesterday one woman said “When we queried about our payments through the Registration Officer for North Georgetown,Cheap Stitched Jerseys, we were told she don’t know when we are going to be paid…That is what she always keep saying every time we query.”All of the complainants agree that when they started working they signed contracts that stipulated hours of work and some who worked from 15:30hrs until they finished working.“We were registering people up to 19:00hrs then after that time we would be in the office tallying the day’s work. We got no meals or transportation and on most occasions we worked until 11 yet now we can’t get our pay”, one of the irate people said.

Violence against women and children is a universal phenomenon that persists in all countries of the world.The perpetrators of that violence are often well known to their victims.Domestic violence, in particular,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, continues to be frighteningly common and is allowed to continue unchecked in too many cases eventually resulting in deaths—deaths that are entirely preventable.Eradicating this form of crime is a serious concern for the Ministry of Home Affairs.On June 11, 2008,China NBA Jerseys, when the National Policy on Domestic Violence was launched Minister Clement Rohee was present.He had much to say on the policy and the impact that the policy would eventually have on the country. He highlighted the fact that there were weaknesses in the policing system when examined from the perspective of taking complaints of domestic violence as well as the subsequent follow up that such complaints merit.Almost two years later, at his recent briefing on the review of the Ministry for the year 2009, the Minister glossed over one of the challenges faced by the Police Force which was the unsatisfactory treatment of reports of Domestic Violence.The force,Cheap Jerseys Online, which is not running at full steam due to a shortage of ranks,NFL Jerseys Cheap, is doing what they can but there is still some work to be done in educating the ranks especially if one considers that the first person with whom a crime victim comes into contact is usually a law enforcement officer. The attitudes of these officers play an important role in determining whether not these victims may be able to overcome their fears long enough to do what is necessary.The precarious psychological state of victims makes it hard for the police to persuade them that to report an incident of abuse, press charges and follow through is absolutely vital.The hesitation of the victims to press charges or taking the abuser to court is also a factor that affects the willingness of the police to commit resources to resolve the issue,Cheap NFL Jerseys, especially when there is a high probability that the matter will never reach the courts due to the fear that typifies these complainants.In short, the door swings both ways, Police ranks need to be better educated on methods of addressing these cases in terms of the necessary interpersonal skills as well as the professional patience that will allow them to treat each report seriously until they manage to take the one report that gives the state the opportunity to stop the abuse.On the other hand, victims need to find the requisite courage to reach out and take the help being offered by the State, if they cannot do it on their own then they can find help at the numerous agencies set up expressly for the purpose of delivering advice and support for those victims of domestic violence.The impact of domestic violence goes beyond the immediate harm caused; it has a traumatic effect on those who experience it as well as those who witness it,Cheap Jerseys Store, particularly children. It shames states that fail to prevent it and societies that tolerate it, perpetuating a vicious cycle that can only be broken through a concentrated effort on the part of every sector of society through legal and civil action.