Black Immigrant Daily News
As the holiday season approaches, kindly take note of the extended hours that the Antigua and Barbuda Customs and Excise Division will be introducing.
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Gary Griffith. File photo/Sureash Cholai
Early next year former police commissioner Gary Griffith will know the outcome of his lawsuit against the Prime Minister and members of his National Security Council over the controversial firearm user’s licence (FUL) audit report in Parliament.
On Friday, Justice Devindra Rampersad said he will give a decision in Griffith’s substantive lawsuit by the end of February or early March.
In three weeks’ time, on December 12, he will rule on Griffith’s injunction application to prevent the report being laid in Parliament.
On October 28, Rampersad granted Griffith leave to pursue a judicial review claim challenging the legality of the setting-up of the committee to do the audit and its investigation.
Named in Griffith’s lawsuit are Dr Rowley; former attorney general Faris Al-Rawi; ministers Fitzgerald Hinds, Colm Imbert, Stuart Young, and Marvin Gonzales, as members of the NSC; and retired police officers Wellington Virgil, Raymond Craig and Lennard Charles, who formed part of the audit team.
On Friday, attorneys for Griffith, the Prime Minister and his ministers, and the police officers said they had agreed to a timetable for the filing of submissions on the judicial review claim.
However, they did not agree on an undertaking by the PM and his ministers on the publication of the report, as lead counsel for Dr Rowley and the NSC members said Young had given an assurance that it would not be published.
“We are not giving an undertaking, because we have given our word. We are not going to devalue the word of ministers or the Cabinet. If we say so, we say so. We don’t have to give an undertaking in a court setting…But we will obey any order the court makes,” Martineau submitted.
He was responding to an earlier submission by Griffith’s lead attorney, Avory Sinanan, SC, who referred the judge to a Newsday article on a sitting of a joint select committee of Parliament at which Hinds referred to contents of the firearms audit report.
Sinanan said because of this the bonafides of the assurance given was questionable.
“It is not a proper assurance.”
He said Young’s assurance gave his client no comfort because of the information his colleague had revealed in Parliament.
Sinanan said Griffith did not want to be “railroaded by the heavy hand of officialdom” by having the report “leaked in drips through the back door.” He accused the Government of not wanting to “take the short step and go the extra yard” to give an undertaking that could be sanctioned by the court.
“My client cannot sacrifice the vindication of his right on the altar of expediency. Clearly what they have given is a half-cocked assurance, and ‘if you don’t like it, we are not giving you anything more.’”
Rampersad said since the parties were not in agreement on an official undertaking, he would rule in chambers on the injunction application and notify the parties of his decision by e-mail on December 12, after they send him their submissions. He is also expected to decide whether a fourth police officer, who also sat on the audit committee, should be joined to Griffith’s lawsuit.
In his lawsuit, the former top cop wants the court to order the PM and his ministers to disclose the names of the members of the audit committee and grant declarations that the decision to commission the report infringed his rights and was illegal, unlawful, and irrational, since they did not have the power to appoint the committee.
Griffith is also asking for the quashing of the report or any part of it that concerns him.
Griffith is also being represented by Larry Lalla and Ajay Baball. Kerwyn Garcia, Tenille Ramkissoon and Kendra Mark-Gordon are appearing alongside Martineau for the PM and the council. The members of the audit committee were represented by Gilbert Peterson, SC, Rishi Dass and Brent James.
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San Fernando City Hall which is under renovation. –
SAN FERNANDO commemorated 34 years as a city on Friday.
A civic reception, where a number of citizens were honoured for their contribution to the development of the city, was the highlight of the day.
A J’Ouvert celebration will follow on Saturday.
San Fernando Mayor Junior Regrello said there is a lot to celebrate after two long years of unprecedented restraint.
“Our city and by extension our nation is ready for its new renaissance.”
In an interview on the eve of City Day, Regrello said, “We have something of great significance to celebrate in 2022.
“Along with so many others, we have passed through the ‘eye of a storm’.
“Uncertainty and hardships were the hallmarks of this global pandemic. All layers of society were negatively affected. Economic and social hardships ensued, and many have felt the adverse impact on a deep and personal level.”
In spite of this, he said, “We have witnessed the strength and perseverance of our medical sector, and we salute our brave and hardworking doctors and nurses whose love and dedication shone like a beacon while they worked on the frontline during this pandemic.”
After two long years in the shadow of this global catastrophe, he said, San Fernando can now say, “Let the celebration begin” – which is also the theme of this year’s celebration.
While happy to kick off a year of renewal of spirit, Regrello said the lifting of health restrictions and the resumption of schools, businesses and other activities has brought with it the challenge of traffic management.
He pledged to work with stakeholders, to find logical and mutually beneficial traffic management-oriented solutions and infrastructural upgrades.
This 34th-anniversary celebration, Regrello said, will be used as a clarion call “to reinvigorate our cultural, economic and social spirit back into high gear.”
He spoke of the ongoing beautification of Harris Promenade which has integrated local flora to mitigate the impact of heat in the city, plus a display of murals showing the city’s cultural heritage on the bandstand, meant to lift the spirit of citizens.
City Hall, one of the most historic buildings in San Fernando, has been ravaged by time, but Regrello said there is a commitment to ensure its preservation as a landmark.
During his tenure, Regrello has been renaming streets, which previously reflected the country’s colonial past, after men and women who contributed to the development of the city.
He said the redevelopment of the Skinner Park sporting facility and the continuation of the San Fernando waterfront redevelopment project aim to do just that.
“As we begin the celebration that we intend to take into 2023, we wish to express our gratitude for the continued work in our city and look forward to how it integrates into our localised economy.”
Responding to criticism from some quarters about his focus on “partying” and “fete,” Regrello emphasised that Carnival is a multi-billion-dollar annual affair.
“The City of San Fernando will seek out a share for our citizens to give thriving entrepreneurs the opportunity to diversify into a mature self-propelling industry that has critical world acclaim. This will allow us to grow and increase our business space into the service and entertainment industry.”
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Satnarine Bachew, CEO of KC Confectionary, at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago’s 13th Annual International Finance and Accounting Conference at the Hyatt on Thursday. – Photo by Sureash Cholai –
IN THE absence of a proper regulatory framework to protect the environment Satnarine Bachew, CEO of KC Confectionery Ltd, challenged accountants at the ICATT Beyond Finance conference held at the Hyatt Regency on Thursday to take a stand against unsustainable practices in the businesses they represent.
He issued the challenge in his presentation at the conference on building institutions for sustainable development.
“I think the accounting fraternity has an important role to play in that, as the gatekeepers to companies and the people who report on finances. It can’t just be the bottom line. We have to put a lot of factors in there. Sometimes you have to put your hand up against the flow of the tide like a salmon that swims upstream to say, “This is wrong,” he said.
Bachew said that if TT wants to build organisations geared toward sustainable development organisations must take its corporate responsibility seriously. He said that starts at a global level then at a national level and finally at an institutional level.
“Through our education programs as organisations, we can drive (sustainable environmental practices) down to the man on the street – so we would not throw things out the windows of our vehicles, or look for somewhere to dump the old fridge,” he said. “We will do things properly.
“Institutions have a tremendous role to play in driving this all the way down, but sometimes we shirk that responsibility and say ‘that doesn’t affect me. I need to make money and that’s it.’”
He took to task several industries such as the quarrying industry, and knocked people’s practice of polluting the water courses. He also highlighted the phenomenon of people constructing buildings in areas without approvals.
“In foreign countries you cannot put a stake in the ground without an approval,” he said. “Here, well, you do anything and everything. If you wake up in the morning and say you want to stretch or you say you want to put up an apartment next door, you can go and put it. Then when we have flooding the authorities say ‘unapproved development.’ People are changing the courses of rivers on their own. How did that happen?”
He said that TT’s lack of a regulatory framework for sustainable environmental practices was a “tremendous opportunity” for businesses and organisations to now make a difference. However, he said TT would be putting itself in great risk of feeling the full brunt of bad practices if no one takes a stand.
“Go back to 2008 and 2009 with the financial crisis. Reports show that people knew, and they stayed quiet. And we had a global meltdown. So what does that tell you?”
Bachew holds a bachelors of science degree, a master of science degree, and an executive master’s degree in business administration. He served as a director on the TT Manufacturers Association and as the chairman of the Airports’ Authority. He also served for 20 years at TCL, and for ten years was its general manager.
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The Northern Division (Gros Islet and Babonneau Police Station), along with the Bicycle Patrol Unit and Special Services Unit of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force conducted several traffic related operations over a three-day period in the north of the island.
During the operations, a total of one hundred and eight-four (184) motor vehicles were processed.
Officers issued twenty-seven (27) traffic tickets for various violations, including operating a motor vehicle without proper insurance, registration and valid licences or permits.
The officers also had cause to impound six (6) motor vehicles for being in contravention of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act.
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Three (3) outstanding Warrants were also served on individuals located as a consequence of the vehicular check points. Additionally, one male individual was cautioned for Disobedience to a Lawful Order and Obstruction.
The Northern Division and by extension, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force remains resolute in its commitment to reduce crime and increase citizen security. These operations are a continued effort towards achieving our mandate.
SOURCE: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force. Headline photo: Police check (Stock image)
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The National Junior Squash Titles were decided at the National Lotteries Authority Squash Centre at Paul’s Avenue here in Kingstown last Saturday.
In the Boys Under-13 Final, Darius Humphrey defeated Savante Parmore 11-8, 11-3, 11-9; and Raejon Dover beat De Quan Garrick 11-3, 11-9, 12-10 in the 3rd Place Play-off.
Jaydon Williams clinched the Boys Under-17 Title bating Jayden George 10-12, 11-6, 12-10, 11-9 in the Final, and Deron Lewis defeated O’Neil Sprott 11-0, 1104, 11-6 to win 3rd Place.
Nadira Morgan won the Girls Under-17 Title with a 11-7, 11-6, 11-7 win over Ciara George in the Final. The 3rd place was won by Caeli George who defeated Amiyah Bascombe 11-3, 11-8, 11-6.
Amiyah Bascome emerged as the Most Improved player in the Girls Championship. The Most Improved Award in the Boys Competition went to Savante Padmore.
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The Barbados volleyball fraternity is mourning the loss of one of the greatest contributors to the game – former president of the Barbados Volley Association (BVA), John Griffith.
Griffith passed away on Sunday, November 13 after battling illness. The 66-year-old held the BVA’s top post from 1996 until 2018. During this tenure, he also served as treasurer of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) from 2004 to 2017 and was the former vice president of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA).
Griffith, a Fellow of Chartered General Accountants, was the financial controller of the Barbados National Bank for over two decades and he worked as the director of finance in Bermuda for three years prior to retirement.
He oversaw a golden era of Barbados volleyball where the men won 10 successive Caribbean titles and the women clinched six with Barbados’ national teams taking part in North, Central and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (Norceca) Championships, Central American and Caribbean (CAC) and Pan American Games as well as World Championship Qualifiers.
Current president of the BVA Kenmore Bynoe indicated that Griffith’s financial acumen and his style of management led to the significant maturation of the Association and Barbados’ volleyball.
“John allowed his council members to grow into their respective roles which empowered the individuals and fashioned the BVA into a very competent and stronger unit. His drive to guarantee the successful future of volleyball saw John placing the greatest of emphasis on the development of our junior players.
“John’s declaration that the national players should focus on training and playing while leaving funds-raising to the BVA played a key role in Barbados’ tremendous regional success for over two decades,” said Bynoe.
The Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) also remembered Griffith for his invaluable contributions as treasurer.
“It is with much sadness and regret that The Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) Inc. learnt of the death of our former Treasurer, John Griffith.”
“During his tenure with the BOA, he freely shared his financial expertise and established a number of accounting systems that are still in use today,” BOA said in an official statement.
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…Dec 31 earmarked for review of first schedule
The Private Sector has on Thursday lobbied for an increase to the current 40 services which oil and gas companies and their subcontractors must procure from Guyanese, as prescribed in the Local Content Act.
The Private Sector Commission has held a Sensitization and Local Content Forum aimed at garnering feedback on the First Schedule of the Local Content Act. PSC Chairman Paul Cheong underlined that advocating for local content has always been high on the agenda, and evaluating the landscape has become even more paramount.
The Private Sector Commission had formed its Local Content Advisory Committee, which works in conjunction with the Local Content Secretariat to keep the Private Sector informed and engaged on the topics of local content, while raising concerns facing local Private Sector bodies.
The first schedule to the Local Content Act sets out the minimum threshold and level for local content levels in relation to the procurement of goods and services. There are 40 areas, with local participation up to 100.
PSC Chair Paul Cheong is asserting that it is time to expand these categories to maximise benefits for Guyanese. Cheong expressed, “We believe the time (is ripe)to expand those 40 categories, as now the capacity and the skill of Guyanese have expanded. Many companies have invested and have established partnerships. It is now up to us to up our game and deliver quality services in keeping with the standards and requirements of the oil and gas sector.”
He commended the Natural Resources Ministry for addressing the payment period, but shared concerns in relation to contract bundling.
“With regards to contract bundling, we will have come across cases where companies are issuing tenders for a minimum number of services on the one contract, when specific areas could be competitively tendered for to allow local companies to participate. How can there be commitment to local content and the participation of Guyanese businesses in the value chain when there remain efforts to maintain contract bundling?” Cheong pointed out.
Stakeholders at the private sector forum on local content
Regarding the Private Sector calls, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat recognises there is a capacity deficit which should be analysed beforehand.
“We need to recognize that there is a capacity deficit in Guyana. It is a fact. Nobody is to be blamed, because we are moving at such a speed sometimes it is hard to keep up. So, we need to ensure that we build capacity to truly benefit from local content. The Government is open to revising the schedule, but do we truly have the capacity?” he asked.
In December 31, an assessment of the first schedule will be conducted to look at the 40 services currently outlined for Guyanese. Minister Bharrat added that this capital-intensive sector requires partnerships, as he said, “So we are genuinely competitive in nature, but we got to realize the difference. We got to realize that we’re dealing with a sector that is very capital- intensive.”
Guyana is reaching unprecedented heights, producing 380,000 barrels of oil per day with a one-million-barrel daily projection in some four years’ time.
Employment
During the forum, Senior Petroleum Coordinator Bobby Gossai placed emphasis on measuring how local content is impacting the population.
“The emphasis here is on wanting to measure, because we want to be able to present to you how much local content has impacted on this economy, and we know by now that we are the fastest growing economy in the world. We are going to be a model type of economic system next year and into 2025,” he explained.
He added, “So, in terms of the procurement activities, for us, we want local content to be seen as an opportunity for procurement in Guyana not to be measured in any ad hoc manner, but to be measured in a direct manner as well as an indirect, if you are providing an interrelated service to a secondary business.”
Between January and June, over $310 million entered the economy from registered stakeholders. Gossai pointed towards enhanced collaboration to have real time information to monitor and evaluate. He added that employment is one of the key things to measure, and a pattern has already been observed. The system is now reflecting more Guyanese and less migrant workers.
“Employment is one of the key things that we need to measure for the Local Content Secretariat and the local content reports that are coming in. In fact, what we have been doing is looking at a number of Guyanese against the number of foreigners that have been employed in sector. We have seen the change in patterns, we will also see the projection of new hires for each year. What we want to make sure is that this is on a sliding scale for Guyana,” Gossai pointed out.
Through this engagement, Private Sector stakeholders have been able to share their individual views on how the 40 areas are performing, and how they can be expanded.
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The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is in the process of verifying applicants who are qualified to benefit from the government’s cement and steel initiative, according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal.
Minister Croal revealed that a total of 4000 persons across the country uplifted applications for the homebuilder’s support initiative which was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali back in July.
To date, Minister Croal said 575 persons have registered. Of that amount, 450 applicants met the criteria and are awaiting the inspection phase.
“So, how it works is that they apply, there is a checklist that must be satisfied in terms of their ownership as well as, the approval of their plan along with their estimates… we have, to date inspected over 101 locations,” he told the Department of Public Information (DPI) in an interview on Thursday.
Under the programme, persons constructing homes costing $6 million or less, will be given the steel needed and one sling of cement for the construction of the foundation.
For home builders spending $6 million to $25 million, two slings of cement will be provided to them.
Once the verification process is completed, persons will begin to uplift their vouchers at the approved suppliers.
“So, within a week, the first set of persons will receive the voucher that will allow them to proceed and take that to the recognised and approved distributors to uplift their steel and cement,” the minister stated.
Minister Croal said that persons continue to visit the respective offices daily. He anticipated that there will be an influx of persons over the coming weeks.
“You have persons who want to benefit from the programme and are going through the process of getting their plans approved…those persons will be dealt with,” he said.
The government is expected to invest approximately $700 million in the programme by the end of the year. [Extracted and modified from DPI]
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See below for a statement from GAWU on salary increases for workers of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc:
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) on November 16, 2022, have been able to conclude negotiations for 2022. Through the agreement reached, workers of the company will enjoy pay rises of between nine (9) percent and fifteen (15) percent. The negotiated increases are retroactive to January 01, 2022.
Additionally, through our discussions, the parties agreed to revise the salary scales. Those workers whose earnings fall below the new scales will be brought up to the new minimum of the scale. This would see such workers receiving in excess of fifteen (15) percent pay increase.
Apart from wages, the GAWU and the BBCI have agreed that all allowances would be increased by nine (9) percent across the board. Through the agreement reached, arrangements regarding the scheduling of staff engaged in the retraction of the bridge on weekends and holidays were clarified and addressed. The issue of year-end bonus also received attention during the negotiations as well.
The workers and the Union are pleased that we were able to reach agreement at the bilateral level. The discussions, we believe, were cordial, respectful and frank and assisted in reaching a speedy conclusion. For their part, the workers are pleased with the increases secured by the Union and at this time, the Company is addressing the retroactive payments.
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