- - Terrorists, Not Ex-servicemen In Gangs Retired army colonel Carl Morgan said drug trafficking and corruption in high places were responsible for the violent criminal uprising and he dismissed claims that ex-servicemen were behind the two recent mass killings, asserting that there were two gangs, one of which was associated with the drugs trade and the other comprising home-grown terrorists who saw no future in a society offering few opportunities. Morgan, the current President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce is also the President of the Guyana Legion and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Guyana Veterans Foundation. He told Stabroek News in an interview on Tuesday that several ex-servicemen were particularly disturbed at recent utterances by President Bharrat Jagdeo and other government officials that former soldiers were behind the slaughter of innocents at Lusignan and Bartica. Morgan said those comments were unfortunate, noting that a quick look at the wanted criminals and those who had been killed would reveal that none of them was an ex-serviceman. "We cannot just apportion blame to anyone and randomly accuse people. If we don't know who are the killers then let's stay quiet," Morgan stated. He said he noticed that Jagdeo, at his recent press conference, attempted to clear the air on the issue, saying that 99% of the servicemen might be living orderly lives. Morgan said this was a welcome development although he was of the firm view that the damage had already been done. [continues 1163 words]
Businesses Not Showing Interest - Rohee The business community has shunned the government's crime stoppers programme, one of three major security projects which were introduced to the nation over the past three years but are yet to take off. Two other projects, the ambitious drug strategy master plan and the Citizen Security Programme have also had a long shelf life. On Wednesday the latter will be finally launched. In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) recently, Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee acknowledged that the administration had been pushing for the Crime Stoppers Programme to be implemented but it has not been receiving support from the private sector. "It's not because of the lack of will on the government part. I have been aggressively pushing for this programme to come on stream but you see, the Crime Stoppers Pro-gramme internationally, is based on the involvement of the private sector," Rohee was quoted by GINA as saying. [continues 1271 words]
As Guyanese mules continue to be held abroad and a family was recently granted asylum in Canada because of threats from a drug lord, the government's much-vaunted drug master plan which promised witness protection and other innovations has barely inched out of the starting blocks. Last month a Guyanese family of three was granted refugee status in Canada under the Canadian Immigra-tion and Protection Act after arguing that the police here provided no protection when they had been threatened by a drug lord. The decision handed down on September 28, 2007 in Toronto, Canada, by AC Knevel, the tribunal judge acting on behalf of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada said they were accepted as refugees under the UN Convention based on their claims. The case was heard on September 21. The family was represented by Guyanese immigration barrister and solicitor living and working in Canada, Balwant Persaud who had told Stabroek News from Toronto that the family fled Guyana after the head of the family, a former wharf manager of a leading shipping company, was asked to turn a blind eye to shipments of mainly rice, concealing narcotics destined for Europe. Several shipments of products from Guyana - including rice and timber - have been he! ld abroad after cocaine was found hidden in them. Several shipments have also been found at wharves here. [continues 1102 words]
Confirm him or let him go is the clarion call by some opposition Members of Parliament and leading private sector officials as government continues to prevaricate over the appointment of Henry Greene to the substantive post of Commissioner of Police. Greene, a lawyer by profession, has been acting in the capacity of Police Commissioner since last year July when Winston Felix demitted office. His tenure at the helm of the force has been marked by the US revocation of both his diplomatic and visitor's visas and a spate of serious, unsolved crime. [continues 2020 words]
The Summer Of Love Was An Illusion The class of 69 tuned in and turned on, but was wrong about almost everything There is a photograph of my wife, taken in 1969, the summer of love. She is wearing flowers in her hair and a skirt that ends only just below her waist and next to her is a bloke who, because I do not wish to ruin his retirement, I am going to call Barry. His hair is almost as long as hers and he is wearing a garment rarely seen these days outside theatrical costumiers. I have examined it closely, however, and there is little doubt that it is a kaftan. [continues 3445 words]
