Black Immigrant Daily News

If you missed the recent commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the inaugural Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta, held in Guyana between August 25 and September 15, 1972), then that means you’ve really missed this “virtual world that’s fast enveloping the human species”. “Virtual world?” you mutter, imagining your kids hooked on the games on the laptops and smartphones to which they’re permanently tethered.

Well…yes, and no. THAT virtual world has sent out its looong tentacles waay beyond Generation Z, and roped in even geezers like your Eyewitness. Now, the oldsters – anyone over 35!! – mightn’t be ensnared into VIRTUAL REALITY of the Metaverse, that pushed Facebook to change its name to “Meta”, but they’ve been enticed to plunge their toes into the ether through Zoom and all those platforms, that allow you to speak to each other from across the world!! These platforms give a whole new meaning to the term “talking heads”!!Anyhow, these very woke folks did hold the commemoration over Zoom, and wrote about it in their very woke local daily. One thing that jumped out right away to your Eyewitness (maybe because it was on top of the article??!!) was a map of the world showing – through dots of various sizes – where the viewers and participants originated.

It verified the local anecdotal claim that Guyanese are everywhere”!! Well, almost!! Even though there was a dot each in Japan and Alaska, there wasn’t a single one in the entire continent of Africa – from where most of our Caribbean people originated!! What gives?? Your Eyewitness knows there are lots of Guyanese in that particular “Motherland”. So, does the immersion give them amnesia about their ole mudland?? Say it ain’t so!!

But back to the commemoration. There WAS a dot for Guyana, but NOT nearly as big as the humongous blob that threatened to cover the entire East Coast of the United States!! Even the dot in French Guiana was bigger than the one in Guyana?? So, your Eyewitness was wondering why there’s this clear (studied?) lack of interest in the land where the subject under discussion – Carifesta 1 – was held?? Was it because the memory of the man whose baby it was – Burnham – was too painful for most locals?? After all, WE have to live with his (benighted) legacy!!

For your Eyewitness, he always wondered how enthusiasts of Carifesta – like Barbados’s Kamau Braithwaite – could live with themselves after they validated Burnham for his “vision”! They would’ve met Martin Carter, who’d jettisoned Burnham and the PNC Government in 1970 – after participating in the meeting of Caribbean intellectuals to plan the festival earlier in that year?But the great man did write wryly, “The mouth is muzzled by the hand that feeds it”!!

…agitation

But the virtual platforms don’t just seek to INFORM. No Siree, Bob!! They’re being used to MISINFORM, more than anything else!! Just last week, the NY Times ran a piece captioned “A Journey into Misinformation on Social Media”, which explained ruefully that its reporters concluded, “Disinformation and misinformation on social media have only grown worse since the 2016 election”!! Sadly, in Guyana, much of the misinformation is from the political partisans.

Another study demonstrates that social platforms have “been used to promote instability, spread of political conflict, and call for violence.There’s some good advice one commentator gave to your Eyewitness about information on social media: “Who’s posting it? What information are they sharing? What’s their intent? In terms of who’s posting it, you want to look at the qualifications and potential for bias.” In Guyana, we shouldn’t be surprised that partisans are twisting their “facts” to support their party. “Fact checking” by going to other sources, who does that??There’s the “confirmation bias” we all suffer from.What’s the Government’s role??

…politicians

The time’s coming when we won’t ever be seeing these politicians in the flesh looking for our votes. Their holographic images would stand in our living rooms showing us where to place that “X”!!Scary, eh??

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Black Immigrant Daily News

REAL NEWS- Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh threw out the alleged victim’s testimony in a criminal case brought against Elvis Murray Watkins, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross, after the Prosecution stopped the trial.

In March this year, Watkins was charged with grievous bodily harm after the woman claimed he had used his fist on her.

He was taken before Magistrate Dexter Wason, who remanded Watkins to Her Majesty’s Prison for 10 days, with the understanding that he would remain there until April 6, at which time Wason would review the matter and decide whether to grant bail.

The matter came up for trial on Tuesday, August 30, and was transferred to Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh (who was Acting Director of Public Prosecutions when the matter was first brought to court).

However, as the Prosecution was proceeding with its case, it was noted that the testimony of the complainant – the only witness in the matter – was not matching up with the evidence.

Reportedly, the offense had occurred on October 31, 2021. However, the woman made a report to the Police only five months later – in March 2022 – and visited a doctor at that time, as well.

The doctor’s report could not corroborate the injury the woman claims she sustained. Rather, the doctor noted only that she had complained of pain in the area. Reportedly, she also lied to the medical practitioner about the date on which the alleged incident had taken place.

It was during cross-examination by Watkins’ attorney, Wendel Robinson, that most of the discrepancies and contradictions reportedly came out.

The woman claimed the Police had not given her the customary medical form to consult a doctor, and that she was not familiar with the procedure – although she has two brothers who are members of the Force.

Further, she claimed she did not want to bring the case against the Red Cross President, and she also did not report to the Police alleged threats he made against her life.

Explaining her reason for reporting the alleged offence some five months later, the woman said she was afraid that Watkins would stop paying her.

Reportedly, she and Watkins had worked together at the Red Cross. She alleges that she was not paid after the altercation took place, and is owed money – but has become a teacher since leaving that job.

The woman told the Police that she and Watkins had been in a relationship for seven years; but, during her testimony in court, said it was for two years.

On the night in question, the complainant allegedly had gone to Watkins’ home, where he was entertaining another guest, and the incident allegedly ensued.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

News

File photo –

POLICE are investigating the murder of Jevon Joseph, who was shot and killed on Tuesday afternoon in Santa Cruz.

A police report said the 26-year-old gardener of La Canoa Road, Lower Santa Cruz, was walking near Cakes Land, La Canoa Road, around 2.15 pm when gunmen shot him several times.

Police found Joseph lying on the road. He was pronounced dead on the scene and his body was taken to the Forensic Sciences Centre for an autopsy.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

News

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar

AS the country celebrates 60 years as an independent nation, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is advising nationals not to be fooled by the PNM into thinking it fought for independence.

“The British were shedding their empire at the time. The British weren’t fighting to keep us as colonies. They said, ‘Go, go, please go.’

“All of (their) former colonies got independence around the same time. There was no fight,” she said at the United National Congress (UNC) Monday night virtual meeting.

Explaining the scenario at the time, Persad-Bissessar asserted, “There was a fight when we went up to Marlborough House, between the Government and the then Opposition, to ensure balances and checks were in place in the Constitution to protect all people and to provide an equal place for all in the country.

“After the Second World War, we were…pulling them down. Sugar had gone, we were lucky we had oil.”

She said the PNM inherited from the British a country blessed by God with abundant natural resources and a multicultural population, living in harmony and safety

“After 50 years of PNM in power, they have wreaked havoc and destroyed our country, with its worst incarnation happening in the last seven years under Keith Rowley.”

At the time this country become independent, she said, it was on the same GDP per-capita levels as Singapore and Hong Kong.

“In fact, ours was slightly higher.”

Having been blessed with so many gifts, she said, TT should have still been on par with those countries.

“Today, after 60 years, where do we stand compared to Singapore and Hong Kong? Singapore GDP per capita (is) US$72,000 and Hong Kong, over US$49,000 .

“Remember we were richer than these countries, so where are we, when you compare? US$15,000 GDP per capita.

“Rowley said he had to shut down the refinery because we had to import oil. In Singapore, they have not one drop of oil, but still operate one of the biggest refineries in the world. They import every single drop of oil to run it. They not stupid like the leaders here.

“The PNM destroyed the foundations of our society. The railroad destroyed, Caroni and agriculture destroyed, Petrotrin destroyed, Point Lisas destroyed, iron and steel production destroyed, safety and security destroyed, national harmony destroyed, democracy destroyed. The trail of destruction goes on and on, from way back.”

After 60 years, too many citizens feel there is no hope for then or their families and want to migrate, she said.

“The obstacle to our development for the past 60 years has always been the PNM, and the Rowley government is the worst of them all.”

Instead of singing the many patriotic songs on Independence Day, she urged, “Sing, ‘Rowley must go’ for Independence.”

Denying she was anti-Caricom as he accused, Persad-Bissessar said the PM seems to have forgotten his attempt to support what she said was (former Guyanese president David) Granger’s attempt to steal the election in Guyana as he paraded with Guyana’s current president as if they were best friends.

Persad-Bissessar said she will not be attending the Community Spotlight on Friday, as this was just another pappyshow.

She chastised the PM for statements acknowledging the poor state of the roads, but justifying the money was spent to keep citizens alive during the pandemic.

“This government received no less than US$644 million, roughly $4.5 billion, from the IMF during the pandemic. They took loans throughout the period amounting to billions. They claimed to have spent $5 billion on covid-related support.

“Yet the citizens must not complain in the face of gross mismanagement, corruption and blatant theft.”

She said she hoped the trade unions took note of his recent boast that he did not lose the election despite closing Petrotrin.

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