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The National Toshaos Council is not independent Aug 23, 2024 Letters Dear Editor, Wednesday 21st August 2024 between 10:30hrs and 10:50hrs, I had an experience that convinced me beyond doubt that, I live in a country that is nothing short of a dictatorship. I attempted to enter the main meeting room of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre where the National Toshaos Council (NTC) was having its Conference. As I pushed the door, the Permanent Secretary (PS), Ministry of Amerindian Affairs was exiting. I stepped back to allow him to pass. We exchanged greetings. As I was proceeding (or rather attempting to), the PS placed his arm across the doorway blocking my access.  He asked where I was going. I explained that I had an interest in the ongoing deliberations of the NTC conference and again tried to go through the door. Again, he stopped me.  This time, with his hand on my chest.  He told me that he could not let me enter. He told me that he would not allow me to enter the meeting area. Upon inquiry, he told me that it was a “closed door meeting”. I produced an extract from the Amerindian Act, specifically, Section 43 (3) (b) and read it aloud to the PS as follows: “The National Toshaos Council shall- … allow Amerindians to attend its meetings…”. The PS accused me of (a) ‘not understanding the law’ and (b) ‘reading it in isolation’. He, in turn referred to section 43 (1) [erroneously referring to it as section 41 (1) ] which provides that: “The National Toshaos’ Council may determine its own procedure and may, in consultation with the Minister make rules governing such procedures.” I pointed out to the PS the mandatory provision of section 43 (3) (b) versus the optional nature of section 43 (1)’, making the point that, in the exercise of 43 (1) there is a process that involves the meeting of minds and the documenting of the procedure which could be compared with a minister making regulations.  I, therefore, requested to see the documented procedure he referred to. By then, a plainclothes security officer who was summoned by the PS arrived.  Shocked, I inquired why the PS would summon security when we were engaged in a civil conversation. By then, the Minister of Amerindian Affairs arrived.  I engaged her, requesting her intervention and compliance with section 43 (3) (b).  The minister was dismissive. She said that it was not her meeting. Parliamentarian Seeraj arrived and so too did a senior commissioned police officer who said that he was there because of a threat of a security nature. The policeman (Williams) interrupted my conversation with MP Seeraj demanding to know if I was “invited” to the conference! The Vice Chairman of the NTC, a PPP activist, joined the conversation making it clear (after brief interaction) that it was her “final position” that I would not be allowed in the meeting room. Kwame McCoy then showed up armed with a cell phone, holding it up to my face. McCoy, a minister of government, phone camera aimed at me, followed me everywhere I went including the washroom. I brought this to the police officer’s attention and was told that this is a public space and people can video whatever they wanted. I provided a detailed account of my encounter at the NTC conference to make the following points: The PPP would stop at nothing to dominate and control every person and situation in furtherance of its political agenda The PPP engineered the election of its party activists to the NTC executive who would blindly contribute to the fulfilment of its agenda The PPP would openly persecute, intimidate, and harass any person or organisation it sees as a challenge to its brutish, naked abuse of power The PPP violates whichever law it wants to as it pursues its political objectives The PPP cherry-picks bits of legislation it finds convenient to its cause The PPP has an iron grip strangle hold on key members of the NTC executive, particularly its activists that it positioned there The PPP is ensuring that the Indigenous leaders do not interact with persons not associated with the government. It is instructive to note that the agenda speaks only of “presentations” and “interactive discussions” and mentions nothing of “closed door meetings”.  That the PPP would go to the lengths they have to exclude Indigenous Guyanese from the NTC conference, in clear violation of the law tells the tragic story of a government that has lost its way.  This PPP government has no respect for citizens and the rule of law. This cannot be a democracy. The struggle for the rights of Indigenous Guyanese continues. We were here before others arrived.  We will always be here. Yours faithfully, Mervyn Williams Related Similar Articles

Careful Freddie Kissoon more than your slip is showing Aug 23, 2024 Letters Dear Editor, Freddie Kissoon asked me to show proof of the words “hungry belly negroes”. I sent him 17 of the 40 pages of racial insults and he has not even acknowledged it. He continues to write from the Chronicle but although I send responses to his letter to the Chronicle, the Chronicle has not printed nor acknowledged any of my four letters. I know Freddie has received the 17 pages. This is the intellectual coward he is. After debunking all of his accusations about working for Granger and SARA pursuing Amerindian Lands Rights issues, he continues to lie. His latest question was why I left SARA. Well Freddie, after being wrongfully accused about having a conflict of interest with the application for an oil block, I write President Granger and asked for the Attorney General to investigate this accusation. Well Freddie Kissoon, the investigation showed I had no conflict. I resigned from SARA so as not to impede their work which began to show evidence of scampishness in the allotment of the last two oil blocks, one being given out two weeks before the PPP left government. One of the agreements had a typed date crossed out, and instead had a new hand written date, attempting to show the application was years ago instead of recently. Imaging, the allotment of an oil block worth US$ billions on a contract that was back dated, in someone’s handwriting. Not typed. Perhaps Freddie should seek that contract and ascertain whose handwriting it was. So Freddie, keep pelting lies from your sanctuary of the Chronicle, while the management, ownership and leadership of the Guyana Chronicle refuses to allow my responses. By the way Freddie Kissoon, the 17 pages I sent you had racial epithets and nasty slogans against African Guyanese of the worst type most people would even imagine. Words that would make any normal Guyanese cringe. And this was on the Facebook page of a major political party. Should I take out an advertisement and print them. I have sent these to the Embassies to illustrate the state of “fear” that existed in the last “fair” elections. Don’t you think Freddie Kissoon that this created the environment that resulted during the last elections? Did you write any of these statements Freddie? Check the website that promoted this racist agenda against Africans during the last election. Freddie, you may be suffering from either amnesia or dementia. You forgot in 2006, you called me “Hitler” when I wrote about an African Renaissance in Guyana. This is normal for liars. Go read your columns of that time. As a “reporter/columnist” who claims to have studied Freud etc., don’t you see a link between these horrible racist statements and the killing and mutilation of the Henry brothers? Careful Freddie Kissoon, more than your slip is showing. Finally Freddie, as you and your newspaper don’t have any integrity because of the refusal to have my responses to your lies and idiocy, I will no longer respond to you. I know you like attention so seek it elsewhere where the intellect is the same and where one has to “look down to look up”. I no longer will waste my time attempting decent or intellectual debate with you. It is like throwing water on a two-back duck. Respectfully yours, Eric Phillips Related Similar Articles

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Govt. floats giving more incentives to Chinese manganese company, diamond miners amid low market prices – Min. Bharrat Aug 22, 2024 News Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat Kaieteur News – Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, on Wednesday highlighted the importance of the Government of Guyana (GoG) supporting companies operating in Guyana’s manganese and diamond sectors given the challenges posed by unfavourable global market prices. Speaking at an event, Bharrat stated, “The manganese company [Chinese owned Guyana Manganese Inc. (GMI)] too has been producing in Region One, unfortunately like diamond, the prices in the world market haven’t been too favourable and we have to work with these companies that are engaged in diamond and manganese production.” He further stressed the importance of keeping these companies operational in Guyana, noting, “It is important that we keep these companies in Guyana and work with them incentivising [them].” Bharrat pointed out the critical role GMI plays in local employment, particularly in the Matthews Ridge and Port Kaituma areas. “The manganese company employs almost 200 individuals from Region One, particularly those in the Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma area and employment in those areas are critical. There aren’t many opportunities as we have on the coast so it is important that work with these companies to ensure that they stay in operation and continue to produce and employ Guyanese.,” he said. In 2022, Guyana resumed exporting manganese for the first time in 54 years.  GMI is a subsidiary of Chinese-owned bauxite BOSAI, a bauxite producer in Linden, Region 10. According to reports, in 2016, Canadian company Reunion Gold sold its Matthews Ridge manganese project to BOSAI for US$10 million. Related Similar Articles