Vol. 57, No. 12 Organ of the PNCR DECEMBER 2014 newnation_gy@yahoo.com Price: $100

PNCR Christmas Cheer

Children Christmas Party, Aberdeen, Pomeroon

Children Christmas Party, 2 Mile Primary School, Bartica

Sophia Literacy Project Christmas Party, Congress Place

Georgetown District Children Christmas Party, Congress Place

PAGE 2 NEW NATION DECEMBER 2014

FEATURE

Granger applauds Shivdat's successLeader of the PNCR, Brigadier David Granger

has applauded Mrs. Sandra Shivdat for the excel-lent educational work and efficient managementof the Lusignan-Good Hope Learning Centre.Mrs. Shivdat is the Centre's founder and director.Brigadier Granger visited the centre and met res-idents of the community during a walkabout onMonday 8th December 2014.

Sandra Shivdat and her brother, Noel Naraine,established the Centre five years go. The Centre,despite early challenges, is now a beacon of hopefor the educationally disadvantaged and anacknowledged social success for persons in diffi-cult circumstances. It provides education to near-ly 200 children from the neighbouring Lusignan

and Good Hope communities on the East CoastDemerara.

Brigadier Granger lauded Mrs. Shivdat's visonand strong sense of mission. She explained to himthat the Centre, built entirely by private funds,emphasises literacy and numeracy among school-age children.

Brigadier Granger took the opportunity to inter-act with teachers, students and parents. Residentswith whom the Leader spoke expressed theirappreciation and support for the Centre's educa-tional work. He said that he was very impressedwith the Centre's work and thanked Mrs. Shivdatand Mr. Narine for their continued commitmentand the contribution to the community.

parties participating. We have always had co-existence of cultures; our multi-cultural diversity has madeus unique and resilient. We must draw on that strength to bring us together, and not allow politicians andmischief makers to keep us apart. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) will give us a chance to build astrong and lasting union that will have the interest of the people paramount to the interest of any one party.This is a moment for all of us to put country first, and with our votes put an end to one party rule in Guyana.

Having presided over the worst Administrationin this nation's history, the People's ProgressiveParty/Civic (PPP/C) will spend its last days inoffice trying to bribe their way back to power. Inthis period of economic weakness, where over 21percent of Guyanese are unemployed and publicsafety, education and corruption are problematic,the governing party's strategy will be two fold;bribery and inciting racial animus in order tosecure votes and divide the nation. Over the lasttwenty-two years some of our brothers and sis-ters have thrown their support behind the PPP/Cbelieving that they would deliver on pre-electionspromises and secure for them the good life thatall Guyanese deserve. These supporters who areworking men and women, mostly poor, have tra-ditionally been neglected and marginalized. Fordecades they have been used as political pawnson the electoral chess board by the PPP, and thendiscarded once the elections results are secured.

It is our firm belief that Guyanese are tired ofone party rule, we have tried it, and we know itdoes not work. Over the last twenty-two years oneparty rule has left us as an under-developedcountry, still struggling to embrace modernityand true national unity. Next year (2015), theforthcoming election gives us a chance to turn anew page and vote our hopes and not our fears.We must look to those who inspire us, and rejectthe politics and politicians who will seek to keepus divided.

Despite their less than stellar tenure in officethe PPP/C is already fanning the flames of divi-sion and suspicion. We must not allow them tosucceed. In many areas, they come bearing giftsafter years of disrespect and neglect. Suddenlyroads and bridges are built, shopping malls arepromised, laptops, solar panels, outboardengines, chainsaws, mini-buses and cash aregiven to the Amerindian Communities. Along thecoast, Indian supporters will be given a steadydiet of reasons why the 'PNC' should not get backinto power, by the same people who neglectedand disrespected them for the last twenty-twoyears. Political activists who come bearing giftsand spewing hate must be confronted with thefacts. This type of politicking has brought thesmall man nothing good.

The working poor, both African and Indianremain poor while the rich get richer. The smallman and woman still struggle with daily periodsof black-outs. In the 21st Century, our womenand children are still fetching water, many house-holds do not have indoor plumbing and most ofthe working poor still live in inadequate housing;jobs are hard to find and the Berbice river bridgetoll too expensive to pay. The 16 percent ValueAdded Tax (VAT) does not discriminate, it is aneconomic noose around our collective necks, asall Guyanese workers struggle to make endsmeet. Rampant crime has affected all Guyanese;drugs and gun violence has sadly become a partof our daily lives, regardless of race, class or partyaffiliation, and the PPP continues to turn a blindeye.

This year let us celebrate what unites us as apeople, our common struggles, and find ways toforge a new way forward. APNU in Governmentwill declare war on poverty and crime and placeGuyana on a path to progress, where all regard-less of ethnicity or political affiliation can enjoy agood life. APNU will form a Government ofnational unity with members of all politi-

Let's CelebrateWhat Unites us

as a People

EDITORIAL

Picture above shows the PNCR Leader, Brigadier David Granger and Mrs. Sandra Shivdat withsome of the students of the Learning Center, while picture below shows him chatting with twostaff members of the Center.

NEW NATION DECEMBER 2014 Page 3

POLITICS

The People's Progressive Party(PPP) is desperate. President DonaldRamotar's troubled, three-year pres-idency has been a governmental cat-astrophe. The PPP's provocative pro-rogation of Parliament has dissolvedin disaster. Its performance in theNational Assembly has been an igno-minious car crash. Its web of flawedfinancing for flaky mega projects isunravelling. Confidence in certainsenior Ministers has been eroded.High rates of crime, corruption andunprecedented public criticism havetaken their toll on the nation.Tolerance for an arrogant and over-bearing Administration is evaporat-ing.

At a time when prudence and dis-cretion are needed, the PPP hasrecklessly launched its dirtiest mostdivisive and dangerous campaignever as general and regional elec-tions approach. The Party's GeneralSecretary and its apparent electionscampaign manager, Clement Rohee,has been in the forefront of the con-troversial campaign. He has beenissuing ludicrous but libelous attackson opposition leaders and politicalparties and doing everything possi-ble to deepen disdain for what hasnow become a 'lame-duck' govern-ment.

The PPP's general elections cam-paign started several months ago.Rohee, speaking at the annual com-memoration at Babu John on 9thMarch, said that people were grow-ing restless and uncomfortable polit-ically and "only general electionscan change the situation." The PPP,for most of the year since then, hasbeen deliberately fomenting consti-

tutional crises in order to justify itsdecision to return to the polls to seeka new mandate from the electorate,to vilify the opposition and to divertattention from its own sordid recordof corruption and mismanagement.

The PPP, meanwhile, has beenpreventing the holding of local gov-ernment elections while preparingfor general and regional elections.Rohee has been conceited in theextreme boasting that his Party was"as confident as confident can be"and that, when there is a move togeneral elections, the PPP willemerge easily with a majority. ThePPP intends to win at all costs and byany means necessary, even byindulging in fear-mongering, race-baiting, vote-buying and lying.

The PPP's scurrilous press state-ment dated 26th November is one ofthe most obscene and outrageous tohave ever been issued by a politicalparty. The PPP, referring toOpposition MPs by name, statedplainly: "Both Mr. Granger and Mr.Greenidge…would unleashvengeance against anyone they per-ceive to be associated with the PPPand the PPP/C administration…these threats can only be seen astantamount to the Demerara Riverflowing red with blood should theAPNU and PNC come to power."

Rohee said earlier that "it is awell-established fact that the oppo-sition parties have links with crimi-nal elements in our society" and thatthey have used these criminal ele-ments in the past, and in morerecent times, "to create mayhem inthe country." Such irresponsiblestatements are calculated to breed

fear by threatening a 'blood bath'and to "create mayhem" if APNUwere to win the next election.

The PPP has been publishinginflammatory, racist statements inorder to influence the attitudes andbehaviour of ethnic groups, especial-ly of Amerindians and persons ofIndian origin. The PPP, on the 1stDecember, falsely claimed that theindigenous population had been"battered" under the PNC regimeand that the Opposition was"attempting to disenfranchise theAmerindians. The PPP maliciouslyaccused the PNC of being "bent onmarginalising the indigenous popu-lation." This, of course, is a lie.

In fact, it is the PPP which hasbeen accused by the Alliance ForChange (AFC) of creating "…ethnicand geographic apartheid inGuyana" and of "…stirring anti-African fears, conjuring up the so-called 'black jumbie' to scareIndians and to woo them awayfrom the AFC."

Rohee, in a thinly-veiled racialthreat, warned the AFC thatBerbicians were never really sup-porters of the AFC. They are, he said,"the prodigal sons and daughters ofthe PPP." The PPP is playing a dan-gerous game by resorting to racialissues in a multi-racial society.

The PPP has been unfairly spend-ing state resources in certain target-ed communities in order to win theirvotes at the forthcoming elections.Several Ministers have been spend-ing state funds at a phenomenal ratein order to "buy" votes. TheMinister of Local Government and

Regional Development unilaterallylaunched a multi-million dollar'clean-up-my-country' pro-gramme. The Minister ofAmerindian Affairs has been pre-senting villages with school uniformmaterial. The Minister of Educationwaited over six months to start dis-bursing the $10,000 grant promisedto the families of schoolchildren. ThePrime Minister and junior FinanceMinister have been lavishing net-books (laptop computers) on severalrural communities.

The PPP lied when it describedShaquille Grant, who was killed bythe Police, as a "criminal." Thiswas an infantile attempt by theauthor of that lie to show that theLeader of the Opposition was "in bedwith the criminal underworld." ThePPP was forced earlier this week toapologise to Ms. Shonette Adams,the boy's mother, for that maliciouslie. The PPP statement mendacious-ly went on to claim that "Mr.Granger indicated he will go on a'witch hunt' and through his'lynch mob,' would throw dueprocess out the window." This is adamned lie ? a fabrication that wasconcocted by a sick mind.

The People's Progressive Party(PPP) campaign, led by ClementRohee, is playing with fire. Its lies,inflammatory language and racialincitement have started to cause fearand to stoke the flames of racialhatred.

The PPP and its General Secretarymust bear responsibility for the con-sequences of these reckless state-ments and ferocious behaviour.

Lies, damned lies and race: The PPP's dirtiestelections campaign ever

Brigadier David Granger, Leader ofthe Opposition and of A Partnership forNational Unity (APNU), has expressedsatisfaction with the responses andassurances given by the GuyanaElections Commission (GECOM) rela-tive to issues which the Partnershipraised at a meeting between these twoorganizations on Thursday December11, 2014.

Foremost among the issues dis-cussed were the processes to be imple-mented during the conduct of theupcoming General and RegionalElections, possible payment of PartyAgents, possible issuance ofCertificates of Employment to PartyAgents, and the location of PollingStations.

Dr. Steve Surujbally, Chairman ofGECOM, who led the Commission'sTeam, gave the APNU the assurancethat the Commission will deliberate onthe pertinent issues in a timely manner

at forthcoming Commission meetingsand provide feedback accordingly.Also, the Chairman undertook to keepthe Partnership informed, every step ofthe way relative to overall preparationsfor and the conduct of the upcomingelections.

Brigadier Granger expressed confi-dence that GECOM appears fairly com-mitted in its determination to holdelections in a fair and transparent man-ner. Further, he pledged thePartnership's support to GECOM rela-tive to the conduct of the upcomingGeneral and Regional Elections.

The APNU team also included Ms.Amna Ally, Mr. Basil Williams, Mr.Joseph Harmon and Mr. WinstonFelix.

GECOM's Team includedCommissioners Mr. Vincent Alexander,Mr. Mohamood Shaw, Ms. SandraJones, Mr. Arun Mangar, Mr. CharlesCorbin and Dr. Keshav Mangal.

APNU meets with GECOM No Justice for Amerindian TeacherMore than one week after being

assaulted by members of PresidentDonald Ramotar's security detail, 27year old John Adams, an Aishaltonteacher, is still awaiting justice. OnWednesday 3rd December Adamsattended a People's Progressive Party(PPP) public meeting where PresidentDonald Ramotar was the main speaker.During the address, Adams was said tobe openly questioning the policies ofPresident Donald Ramotar and hisAdministration

The young teacher told New Nationthat at first he was only making jokeswith his friends but as the speech woreon and President Ramotar continued tobad talk the media, the APNU and AFChe then started to voice his criticisms ofthe President and his Administration.

"I was speaking the truth." saidAdams. "I asked Mr. President 'whahappen to Nandlall" and "Why youprorogued Parliament?"

As the night went on, Adams saidthat two of the Presidential Guardscame up to him saying "So is you whobeen talking up." Adams, aMathematics teacher at the AishaltonSecondary School, described the menas tall. After telling him to be quiet, theshorter of the guards purportedly

slapped the teacher, "bursting" his lipin the process.

Afterwards, Adams explained thatthe taller of the guards told him, "Youbetter go or we gonna drop you to theground."

John Adams said that he went to theAishalton Police Station to make areport that night but no one was there,however, a report was made the follow-ing day Thursday 4th December. Onthe same day, A Partnership forNational Unity (APNU) in a pressrelease called on Commissioner ofPolice, Seelall Persaud to mount aninvestigation into the alleged assault onone of our first people.

John Adams

NAME THE DATE NOW!

PAGE 4 NEW NATION DECEMBER 2014

SOCIETYProfile: APNU Member of

ParliamentDr. Rupert

Roopnaraine, MP,was born on 31st January1943 in Kitty,Georgetown and is thefather of Dr. TerryRoopnaraine and AliciaRoopnaraine. He is aworld class professor andinstructor of liberal artswho has lectured at someof the most prestigiousUniversities and learninginstitutions around theworld, and who is nostranger to Guyana's pol-itics and the struggle ofthe working class of thiscountry.

He has been in thefront line of the nationalpolitical movement since1977 as a member of theleadership of theWorking People'sAlliance (WPA). Heserved as a Member ofthe Faculty of theUniversity of Guyanafrom 1976 to 1990 and asa Member of Parliamentfor a number of years. Hebrings to the leadershipof A Partnership forNational Unity (A.P.N.U)

his vast political experi-ence and the WPA'sunwavering commitmentto the building of aGuyana of social justiceand racial harmony.

He was educated atQueen's College(Guyana), CambridgeUniversity (UK), andCornell University (NewYork, USA), and holds aDoctorate inComparative Literature.

Dr. RupertRoopnaraine, as part ofAPNU's Shadow Cabinetin the Tenth Parliament,holds the portfolio ofAgriculture andEnvironment.

NEW NATION DECEMBER 2014 Page 5

CHRISTMAS CHEER

Country Buy SellUSDUSA

205.98 208.44

CADCanada

177.98 180.04

EUREuropean

255.73 258.98

GBPGreat Britain

322.63 326.68

XCDEC

74.04 -

BBDBarbados

94.35 -

BZDBelize

99.96 -

JMDJamaica

1.80 -

TTDTrinidad

30.50 -

Exchange Rates as at 2014-12-15

PNCR Public Relations Department

Editor: Mark Archerarcher1109@juno.com

Editorial Advisor & Consultant: E. Lance Carberryelancar64@googlemail.com

Design & Layout/Public RelationsOfficer:Kim Chungkimchung266@hotmail.com

Address:Congress Place,Sophia,Georgetown, GUYANA

Tel: (592)-225-7852 - 5

E-mails:newnation_gy@yahoo.compnc_reform@hotmail.compeoples_national_congress@yahoo.com

Foreign Exchange Rate

NEW NATION

PNCR spreads Holiday CheerDuring this festive season of giving

and receiving, the Leader of thePeople's National Congress Reform,Brigadier David Granger and othermembers of the Party travelled toseveral regions and visited commu-nities to bring Christmas cheer tochildren. Brigadier Grangerlaunched his Christmas OutreachProgramme on Sunday 7thDecember 2014 with a visit toAberdeen, Essequibo River,Pomeroon-Supenaam Region(Region No. 2). He was accompa-nied by his wife Mrs. SandraGranger, Ms. Amna Ally, M.P,Annette Ferguson, M.P, ShondelHope, Doreen Duncan and otherRegional and Party Officials.

The team travelled by boat toAberdeen where the leader was wel-comed by over two hundred chil-dren, parents and Party supportersfor a children Christmas party.Brigadier Granger lifted the spiritsof the children of that riverain com-munity as he and his team distrib-uted toys to all who were present.

While on the Essequibo River, theLeader of the PNCR took the oppor-

tunity to meet with residents andbrought them up to date on the cur-rent political situation in Guyana,including the prorogation of theNational Assembly and the status ofthe Anti-Money Laundering legisla-tion and the People's ProgressiveParty/Civic Administration's squan-dermania in preparation for theforthcoming elections.

On Monday 15th December 2014,Brigadier Granger also visited theCuyuni-Mazaruni Region (RegionNo. 7) to spread Christmas cheer tothe children of Bartica. He wasaccompanied by his wife, Mrs.Sandra Granger; Ms. Amna Ally, MPand Assistant General Secretary ofthe PNCR; and Ms. Shondel Hope,Regional Councilor, Demerara-Mahaica Region.

The Christmas party, which wasorganised by the Regional Chairmanof Region No. 7, Mr. GordonBradford, was held at the Two MilesPrimary School. Over three hundredand fifty children participated wherethey were all treated to toys, lots offood and drinks and had a wonderfulday.

Mrs. Sandra Granger (left photo) assisted in distributing gifts to thechildren at Bartica on Monday 15th December. PNCR Leader,Brigadier David Granger (right photo) assisted in distributing gifts tothe children at Aberdeen on Sunday 7th December 2014.

Sophia Literacy Project ChildrenChristmas Party

On Saturday 13th December 2014, the coordinators of theSophia Literacy Project held their annual Children's ChristmasParty at Congress Place, Sophia. Over one hundred and fiftychildren were provided entertainment by singing carols anddancing to music provided.

PAGE 6 NEW NATION DECEMBER 2014

HEALTH

It seems that for almost two decades thescientists whose primary interest andexpertise is genetic research are anxious touse human beings as their "subjects" in abig way. The motive is without doubt dri-ven by the excitement of dramatic achieve-ments including morphological modifica-tions in addition to the treatment of manydiseases culminating in complete cure. Theethical dilemma is a whole issue by itselfbut the critical factor is the reality may bejust an illusion.

Perhaps the genetic acrobatics with dogsmay have resulted in the euphoria. Mediareports about the gene for red hair, alco-holism, or breast cancer give the falseimpression that most traits are governedby just one or a few genes. In fact,Tinkertoy genetics of dog morphology is acomplete aberration. In nature, a physicaltrait or disease state is usually the productof a complex interaction of many genes,each one making a fractional contribution.Height in humans, for instance, is deter-mined by the interaction of some 200 generegions.

For reasons both practical and whimsi-cal, man's best friend has been artificiallyevolved into the most diverse animal onthe planet. This is a staggering achieve-ment, given that most of the 350 to 400dog breeds in existence have been aroundfor only a couple hundred years. Thebreeders fast-forwarded the normal paceof evolution by combining traits from dis-parate dogs and accentuating them bybreeding those offspring with the largesthints of the desired attributes.

The scientists gave no thought, of course,to the fact that while coaxing weird dogsinto existence, they were also tinkeringwith the genes that determine canineanatomy in the first place. The researchershave since assumed that underneath themorphological diversity of dogs lay anequivalent amount of genetic diversity. Buta recent explosion in canine genomicresearch has led to a surprising, and oppo-site conclusion. The vast mosaic of dogshapes, colours, and sizes is decided large-ly by changes in a mere handful of generegions.

So why is this not possible with ushumans who have the identical inherentgenetic mechanism? The answer, theexperts say, lies in their unusual evolution-ary history. Canines are the earliestdomesticated animal, a process whichstarted somewhere between 20,000 and15,000 years ago. So because dogs havebeen genetically segregated into numerousbreeds developed from just a few originalindividuals, each breed has a much small-er set of errant genes compared withhumans. Remember, errant genes arewhat cause disease and abnormalities.Often, only one or two genes would cause adisease in dogs (for example, the degener-ative eye condition known as retinis pig-mentosa), while it would take hundreds toelicit the same disease in humans.

Students of Guyanese heritage honoured inthe Bahamas

This Week with Dr Robert McGreggor

The Golden Arrowhead Awardceremony sponsored by theGuyana Bahamas Association washeld on Saturday 14th December2014 at the UWI Open Campus inNassau, Bahamas.The Guyana Bahamas Association

was formally established on the30th March 1996 in Nassau,Bahamas. It fosters the need tomaintain and promote the culturalidentity of the Guyanese peopleand seeks to encourage unityamong Guyanese residing in theBahamas.

Annually, students of Guyaneseheritage are awarded for theirexceptional performance in theschool system with recognitionbeing given for Grade PointAverage (GPA) which is 3 pointsand above. Students were alsohonoured with the BahamasJunior Certification (BJC) and theBahamas General Certification forSecondary Examination (BGCSE)awards.

This year, A Partnership forNational Unity (APNU) and theGuyana Youth and StudentMovement (GYSM), youth arm ofthe People's National CongressReform (PNCR) came on board insponsoring trophies for some ofthe honoraries.

Awardees for this year, 2014, are:

1. Jonnel Todd, 7, BJC2. Jarel Todd, 8, BGCSE3. David King, GPA 3.184. Kgosia King, GPA 3.095. Sasha Bowen Khellawan, GPA

3.566. Nnika Corbin, 6, BJC7. Samuel Corbin, GPA 3.528. Shanae Thomas, GPA 4.009. Shamara Thomas, GPA 3.410. Akila Thomas, GPA 3.7511. Kelsie Thomas, GPA 3.2312. Nahnankumar Jagroo, GPA

3.0

13. Vasudey Jagroo, GPA 3.8914. Damani David, GPA 4.0

Receiving the David GrangerAwards were top student JarelTodd, 8, BGCSE for BEST BGCSEresults and Jonnel Todd, 7, BJC forBEST BJC results. GYSM Awardwent to Shanae Thomas for thehighest GPA PRIMARY 4.00.

We wish to congratulate all theGuyanese children who continueto fly the Guyana flag exceptional-ly in academics.

Morphology

Leader of the Opposition,Brigadier David Granger accompa-nied by A Partnership for NationalUnity (APNU) Members ofParliament, Mr. Ronald Bulkanand Mr. Christopher Jones, heardcriticisms against the People'sProgressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)dominated Regional DemocraticCouncil of the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region (Region No. 2).

Brigadier Granger and Mr.Bulkan speaking to audiences atAnna Regina and Suddie explainedhow President Donald Ramotarand the PPP/C Government hadobstructed the holding of localgovernment elections and pro-rogued Parliament. Parliament hasnot met for over four months.

The APNU Members ofParliament also discussed thestalled Anti-Money Laundering

and the Countering ofFinancing of TerrorismBill, the No-ConfidenceMotion and theGovernment's squander-mania in preparation forthe forthcoming elec-tions.

Residents complainedabout conditions in theAnna Regina Market andthe state of human safetyespecially road safety.Education and youthunemployment issueswere also raised.

Brigadier Grangerencouraged residents toregister to vote, organizethemselves and mobilizetheir communities to par-ticipate in the forthcom-ing elections.

Residents criticise Regional Administration

Little Sasha Bowen Khellawan receiving her award for GPA 3.56.

Leader of the PNCR, Brigadier DavidGranger speaking to residents of AnnaRegina and Suddie at a meeting on 29thNovember 2014

Section of the audience at the Public Symposium held at the St. Stanislaus Collage on Sunday 14thDecember 2014 in observing the 50th Anniversary of the Election of the People's National Congressto Executive Office on the 14th December 1964.

NEW NATION DECEMBER 2014 Page 7

REGIONAL ROUND-UP

The Neighborhood DemocraticCouncil (NDC) located No 52-74 inEast Berbice, was the object of aprotest on Tuesday 18th November,2014 by residents. The InterimManagement Committee (IMC) wasaccused of locking out residentsfrom their Community Complex.The residents stated that the IMCsought to take actions against themon several occasions before thisrecent incident. Among the list ofcomplaints were the selling of theirreef sand by the NDC and theattempted take-over of theirComplex. The adversarial relation-ship deteriorated when the IMCordered the locks changed.Residents then descended on theNDC and protested. The protestedthe "sand for money" deals and thelock-out.

Daphnie Taylor, who serves asSecretary to of the ComplexCommunity, railed against the cur-rent IMC. She stated that the mem-bers of the IMC does not have anyunderstanding of who built theComplex or how the Complex wasbuilt. She explained that the com-munity residents pooled theirresources and purchased concrete

blocks to build the Complex severalyears ago. When asked how thebuilding was constructed, the IMCChairman Mr. Moti, responded, "Idon't know."

Mr. Ravindra Dass, the Overseer atthe NDC, spoke to this reporterabout the matter. He explained that

he was on his two week vacationwhen the incident occurred and thatthe issues are being dealt with by theMinistry of Local Government. TheIMC was installed approximatelythree years ago by the Minster ofLocal Government and replaced theelected Councillors. One such elect-

ed Councillor is Mr. Vibert Welch.He contested the election in 1994 asa representative of Friendly Farms.He now serves as the Chairman ofthe Complex Committee. Mr. Welchsigned a contract with the NDCapproximately ten years ago. Thatagreement expired one year ago andthe Region Six Administrationsought to intervene.

Mr. David Armagon, Chairman ofthe Region, met with the parties andsought to settle the matter at theRegional level. However, the IMCmade an independent decision tochange the locks at the Complex,sparking protests at the NDC and atthe Complex itself.

No. 53 Village/Union is one of theseveral villages in Guyana whichwere purchased by former slaves.The Community Complex, as well asthe land on which it rests is ownedby the Community. The Complexwas built as a result of self-help workby community spirited residents.They embarked on a dollar per blockprogramme to build the two storystructure. Both the NDC Overseerand the IMC Chairman failed toacknowledge the historical facts.

LOCKED-OUT: Residents protest outside No. 52-74 NDC Office

Residents protesting outside of the No. 52-74 NDC Office

A Partnership for National Unity(APNU) continues its outreach tocivil society in the wake of the proro-gation of the 10th Parliament ofGuyana by President DonaldRamotar on the 10th November2014. Since the prorogation of theParliament, APNU has held severalmeetings with labour unions andother civil society organizations. Themeetings which were held at theOffice of the Leader of theOpposition, forms part of a series of

engagements to determine a wayforward from the present constitu-tional crisis caused by PresidentDonald Ramotar's prorogation ofthe Parliament of Guyana.

APNU also used these opportuni-ties to iterate its position that therewill be no negotiations with thePeople's Progressive Party/Civic(PPP/C) Administration, unless thePresidential proclamation of proro-gation is reversed and Parliamentreconvened.

PAGE 8 NEW NATION DECEMBER 2014

NEW NATION

LEGAL CORNERKnow Your RIGHTS

Meeting with the Public Service Union (PSU)

Hire Purchase

Hire Purchase is the most common method ofobtaining goods without paying for them in full atone time. It is the method of paying for somethingby installments. People generally buy "on H.P."when they don't want or can't afford to buy some-thing outright. When you buy on hire purchaseyou pay for the goods gradually after you havetaken possession of them. You normally have toput down a deposit; you will end up paying morefor the goods than if you had bought them out-right. If you don't keep up with the payments thegoods can be taken back by the seller. You will notactually own the goods until you've paid the lastinstallment.

The hire purchase agreement: When youbuy something on hire purchase you will have tosign a hire purchase agreement with the seller.This will set out what you have to do in order forthe goods to become yours and you should read itcarefully especially the small print. If you don'tunderstand get someone (not the seller) toexplain it to you BEFORE you sign it. Once youhave signed, you must take delivery of the goodsfrom the seller; take reasonable care of the goods;not try to sell the goods (remember they don'tbelong to you until you pay in full); pay theinstallments when due and return the goods tothe seller if the agreement comes to an end beforethe goods have become yours.

Remember: Read the agreement carefully andmake sure you understand it before you sign. If indoubt seek advice. If you fail to pay just oneinstallment the goods may be taken from you. It isillegal for the seller to discriminate against you onthe grounds of gender, e.g., if you are a woman byrequesting you to get a male guarantor.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

Democracy in Guyana is Dead

APNU engages unions and civil society organisations

It is almost 3 months since the APNU started a series of peaceful picketing (commencing onthe 23rd September) calling on the PPP/C Government for the holding of local government elec-tions, among other major issues. This has since lead up to President Donald Ramotar prorogu-ing Parliament to prevent debate on the Opposition 'no-confidence' motion; to prevent debateon financial excesses and impropriety; to protect the reputations of his Ministers from parlia-mentary sanction; to permit the PPP's campaign for general and regional elections to proceed;and to permit the continued expenditure of state funds without parliamentary scrutiny.

Below are pictures of the picketing.

Meeting with the Clerical & Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) Meeting with the Private sector Commission (PSC)

People’s National Congress Reform, Congress Place, Sophia, Georgetown. Tel: (592) 225-7852-5

23rd September 2014 14th Octoberr 2014

9th December 201425th November 2014