By Larry Jaskaran
PRIME MINISTER Hamilton Green this week dealt with corrupt practises, constancy and priorities at the City Council when he delivered the main address at the conference of employees of the Municipality of Georgetown.
Mr Green read parts of a letter which he received and which he said, told of the behaviour of some members of the City Constabulary. He said the letter questioned the legality of fines imposed by the constables, the training of members of the constabulary and their attitude to stall holders. The letter also dealt with the problem of refuse collection, the rates of landing fees, the protection of stalls and the identification and disciplining of corrupt officers.
“We have had many complaints about corruption in the Municipality. Corruption which led to the selling of persons’ property in very strange and unusual circumstances,” the Prime Minister said, adding that one such case has reached the Ombudsman.
After outlining the facts of the case, Mr. Green declared, “there is nothing in this world that will tell me there is not collusion between the officers of the Municipality and a very famous and popular gentleman.” He added that the law has since been amended to take care of that type of situation.
“At the top of the priority list should be sanitation and the cleaning of the City,” the Prime Minister advised. He added that as a result of recent discussions, himself and President Hoyle have decided to join forces with the Mayor in “the battle to clean up the environment of Georgetown…
GARDEN CITY
Mr. Green told the gathering of Council workers that they are responsible for promoting Guyana’s image. Most visitors to this country only see the capital city, Georgetown, and so if they see something bad they will go away feeling the entire country is bad.
Also speaking at the one-day conference last Wednesday were Councillors Hugh Chan, Samuel Moffatt, Olga Britton, Hans Barrow, Muntaz Majeed, Deputy Mayor Compton Young and Mayor Robert Williams.
The conference was held at the Sophia auditorium and was attended by a large gathering of council workers of different categories. The Council’s theme for this year is “Committing ourselves to Sustained and Disciplined Work.”
Preserve the Sea Turtles
– Pritchard
A LEADING English- born, United States-based Zoologist, has appealed to the Guyana authorities to ensure the protection of the four species of Sea-turtles resting on the beaches of Guyana’s northern coast.
Dr. Peter Pritchard, attached to the Florida Audubon Society in Miami, told Stabroek News Guyana has four of the eight known species of sea turtles around Waini Point each weighing between six and eight hundred pounds. These species, Leather Back, Green Olive, Ridley and
Hawks Bill need protection from persons who may want to export the young sea turtle and from those who use the meat.
The English-born Zoologist who has been coming to Guyana since 1964 was in Georgetown to present the Society’s 1988 Latin American Conservation Award to Dr. Karen Pilgrim of the Ministry of Agriculture.
New Women’s Group Making Exercise Books
THE “Red Thread” women’s group is trying to ease the shortage of exercise books for students by making some locally and putting them on the market at cheap prices.
Andaiye, a co-ordinator of the group says that 15 Red Thread members have recently been producing exercise books which are being sold to students at three dollars each.
She says, however, that despite their best effort to prevent the books from being sold on the blackmarket, members have received reports that the item has been sold for exorbitant prices.
A Canadian organisation CODE, contributes free paper to the exercise book project and the books are produced at facilities at Meten-Meer-Zorg, on the West Coast, Demerara, she said.
Red Thread was formed in October, 1986 and has its headquarters in Quamina Street in the city.
Andaiye explained that the group consists of between 80-120 employed and unemployed women “who are trying to create situations with opportunities for women to earn more financially.’
Andaiye is a senior member of the opposition Working People’s Alliance (WPA) but she stressed that Red Thread is non-WPA.
“All the group is trying to do is to help women in management, skills and training to meet their real needs. She noted.
She said the group strives to be multi-racial and it does work with Black and Indian communities. It has also developed informal links with Amerindian women she added.
Red Thread also produces embroidery and other items which are sold locally. Exports of the group’s products are limited.
Among the areas Red Thread concentrates on are generating income for women, research, documentation and establishing networks, Andaiye said.
It is hoping to involve other women’s groups in launching soon a new book by Guyanese Neisha Haniff. The book profiles Caribbean women, both known and unknown.
The book is sponsored by the Women Development Unit of the University of the West Indies and the idea behind the project is to get it on the school’s curriculum here, she said.
Haniff’s book,- ’Blaze O’ Fire” is expected to be released in March.
The group is also into joint projects with a sister organisation in Jamaica called ‘Sistren’ using drama to educate.
(Nivedta Kowlessar)
Charles, Thomas exhibition at NBIC
ARTIST Dudley Charles and Prime Minister Hamilton Green examine a painting at the NBIC- sponsored five-day art exhibition at the bank’s Water Street Headquarters.
The exhibition displays the work of Charles and Gary Thomas. The two have already won awards to exhibit their works at the Washington-based IDB headquarters later this year.
Charles and Thomas are members of the South Ruimveldt-based Roots and Culture Gallery.
