“MY TASK has ended…I am functus officio.” With these words, former Chancellor Victor Emanuel Crane, concluded his assignment as Chairman of the Awards Assessment Committee during the presentation ceremony of the President’s Awards to Private Sector Industry last Saturday night. The venue was the National Cultural Centre.
Mr. Crane did not appear to have been fully briefed in his role as announcer of the prize winners.
His announcement that some of the applicants for awards had not complied faithfully with the conditions set out by his committee left the audience wondering why the committee had not written them for more information in the time available.
Mr. Crane did not have the names of some of the persons who were to appear on stage to collect awards or information on some companies, which had won prizes. This suggested a breakdown in communication and cast a shadow on an otherwise impressive ceremony.
The climax came when Mr. Crane, in stentorian tones, told one of the young men, whose name he did not have, as he arrived on stage to receive the prize for his company to turn to the audience and give his name. This was done, somewhat hesitantly, by the bemused young man.
There were two other aspects of the evening’s ceremony which aroused some comment. Why, people asked, were the usheresses, charming young women wearing white gloves?
It was also asked whether it is against protocol to place the President’s chair close enough to the persons on stage, so that he would have someone to talk to during a lull in proceedings or to make an observation.
At the awards ceremony on Saturday night, the President’s chair was about four feet away from Mr. McIntyre on his right and Mr. Crane on his left.
The President to all appearances, was left isolated and displayed a special brand of tolerance throughout the evenings proceedings as he looked repeatedly at the programme as if to break the monotony.
Gold Output Could Top 20,0000zs
OFICIAL gold production is likely to once again top the 20000 ounces mark this year but production will still be below target.
Mr. William Thomas, General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board declined, to provide production figures to date claiming he could not give “unaudited” data
Stabroek News learnt from other State officials, however, that 17000 ounces of gold had been declared by miners up to the end of November.
“This is the first time in a long time we expect to bridge the 20000 ounces gap,” one official said.
Gold declared to the State Gold Board by miners has averaged about 10000 ounces annually in recent years.
Increased prices for gold by the Gold Board and Government’s concession of a foreign exchange retention scheme for miners pushed gold sold to the Government to over 14500 ounces last year.
Official projection this year was for in excess of 25000 ounces but this is not expected to be achieved.
The Gold Board currently pays over $10000 per ounce of raw burnt gold sold to it.
An outbreak of Malaria in the gold mining areas has affected production and mining operations, but officials believe much more gold than is officially declared is smuggled out of the country.
Snatcher Shot
A YOUNG man was shot in his knee after an early morning robbery in North Road.
According to reports, early Tuesday morning, two young men followed a girl and robbed her of a gold ring. She raised an alarm and Rural Constable Mr. Peter Walks gave chase followed by the Chairman of the Lacytown Policing Group, Mr. Chandranarine Sharma and Secretary Mr. Vivian McDonald.
One of the men escaped while the other was found stripped to his underwear and hiding in a rubbish bin in Waterloo Street. Upon their approach, the suspect attacked them with a cutlass and Mr. Sharma was forced to open fire.
The Police are investigating and the suspect is under guard at a City hospital.
