Education
Multi-year deal for teachers inked, but some union members, teachers cry foul: In a move that has sparked outrage, the leadership of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) has signed off on a new salary and benefits agreement with the Ministry of Education, despite strong objections from the union’s negotiation team and general membership. The agreement, which was finalised in a meeting on Wednesday August 21, 2024, includes a 10% salary increase for teachers for this year; a figure many have deemed insufficient to keep pace with the rising cost of living in Guyana. “When we look at 10% and we do the calculations, and we look at equivalence in dollars, you tell us, how is 10% going to cushion the cost of living?” General Secretary of the GTU Coretta McDonald asked at a press conference held yesterday at GTU. The agreement was struck after 75 days of industrial action. McDonald highlighted several key discrepancies between the government’s proposals and the union’s demands. Notably, there was a $10,000 shortfall in uniform allowances, and a salary increase that, after accounting for inflation, amounts to only a 5.5% real increase. McDonald criticised the union’s President Mark Lyte and Vice President Julian Cambridge for deceiving teachers by presenting the agreement as more favourable than it is. She accused them of colluding with the government and misleading the General Council, which was not properly informed about the terms of the agreement before it was signed. This lack of transparency has led to accusations of betrayal among the union’s ranks. Attempts to contact Lyte has been futile as he repeatedly declined calls from this newspaper. McDonald further stated that Lyte’s decision to sign the deal despite requests for more time was disrespectful and dismissive of the council’s role. Vanessa Kissoon, a member of the negotiation team, corroborated McDonald’s claims, expressing frustration over the lack of consultation. “The president gave our members the impression that his non-salary benefits were all in our favour, which was not so,” Kissoon said, accusing him of deceiving the negotiation committee and the broader council. The General Council, which was expected to play a crucial role in approving or rejecting the agreement, was reportedly sidelined. Kissoon recounted that the final 10% salary offer was presented abruptly and without sufficient consultation with the team. According to her, the negotiation team was not informed of the details until after the General Council had already voted. She expressed concern that the issues extend beyond mere financial terms, pointing to allegations of a lack of transparency and possible collusion between the union’s leadership and the government. “The president and the second vice president already knew what they were going to do, what they planned to do today, and in layman’s terms, we would say, sell out teachers,” Kissoon said. “As a man of integrity, a man who calls himself a pastor, all he did was to deceive the teachers,” she added, referring to Lyte. She further expressed he’s disappointment with the process.
Education
CSEC pass rates at Maths and English still falling: The 2024 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results show a mixed bag of performances with some core subjects experiencing a decline, while others have seen notable improvements. There is a slight decrease in the pass rates for both Mathematics and English, alongside several areas of academic progress. These results were announced on Tuesday at the Queen’s College Auditorium by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand and Chief Education Officer Saddam Hosein.
In English, the pass rate at Grades 1 to 3 dropped from 72% in 2023 to 69% in 2024, a reduction of 3%. However, English B (Literature) experienced an improvement, rising from 64% to 70% over the same period. Mathematics also saw a decline, with the pass rate falling from 34% in 2023 to 31% in 2024. Conversely, Additional Mathematics recorded a positive trend with a pass rate of 53%, reflecting an increase from the previous year. Minister of Education Priya Manickchand addressed these results by highlighting that the impact of recent strikes was mitigated by strategic measures taken by the ministry. She said, “We dropped 3 percentage points, while the Caribbean average fell by 7 percentage points. Our preemptive measures and resource allocations helped us perform better than anticipated.” To further support students, she announced that all Grade 4 students will receive essential educational materials, including scientific calculators and geometry sets by September. Additionally, ongoing monitoring and evaluations will be implemented to ensure continuous improvement. Despite a slight decrease in the number of candidates from 12,108 in 2023 to 11,612 in 2024, the number of subject entries rose to 75,018. The overall pass rate for Grades 1 to 3 in both General and Technical Proficiency subjects was 67.23%, a slight decrease from 67.34% the previous year. Notable improvements were observed in several subjects. Agricultural Science led with an impressive 98.85% pass rate, followed by Theatre Arts at 98.98% and Family and Resource Management at 91.18%. Human and Social Biology saw a significant increase from 65% to 85%, and Integrated Science’s pass rate rose to 59%. In Business subjects, Principles of Business saw a slight increase to 74%, while Economics declined to 61%. Office Administration and Electronic Document Preparation and Management both demonstrated considerable progress, with pass rates rising to 88% and 93%, respectively.
Mining
US$1.8M pact signed for mineral mapping: Government and United States Company Global Venture last Wednesday inked a US$1.8 million (approximately $374 million) agreement for a one year, on-the-ground mineral mapping exercise here and announced that the company gave a 5% discount from its original US$1.9 million bid. With $400 million budgeted this year for the project, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat yesterday said that the one year duration where four key areas would be mapped was just one phase in the government’s overall plans for the mapping of this country’s mineral resources to obtain cutting edge target detection. “This project is for one year and we focused on four main mining districts, being Mazaruni, Potaro, Northwest and Cuyuni. We did those and not Rupununi or Berbice for a number of reasons but mainly environmental sustainability as we don’t do too much mining in those areas… and most of the mining occurs in these four anyway,” he explained. Bharrat explained that mineral mapping was a costly exercise and prioritizing areas for funding was also taken into consideration along with the type of mapping. Aerial mapping, he informed, costs “way more” but it is hoped that at some time in the future Guyana would be able to pay to obtain this type of data. This newspaper understands that the average quote for the aerial mapping was pegged around US$40 million (approximately $8 billion). One day after the mineral sold at the all-time record high of US$2531 per ounce, Bharrat said that while gold plays a significant part in the mapping exercise, “gold is not the only commodity that we are responsible for and are producing”. He announced that bauxite here was “turning around” and companies here were poised to increase their production. He also posited that lithium might be the most sought after mineral in the future. He has said that he believes, making clear he has no empirical data, that Guyana, a South American nation holds lithium deposits and the mapping exercise can highlight this. “We believe that there are traces of these critical minerals in Guyana…we are hoping that this project would highlight or point out to us that, yes Guyana does have minerals…,” he said.
GECOM
GECOM still to be officially informed of Mohamed’s resignation as Eccles/Ramsburg councillor: Two months after President Irfaan Ali announced that embattled Eccles Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) councillor, Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed resigned because of imposed United States sanctions, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said that it was still awaiting notification of the vacant post. As such, no plans could be put in place nor a date set for a by-election to elect a candidate to fill the position. “Unless GECOM is informed that there is a vacant post and it needs to be filled, it can’t act,” Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud told the Stabroek News yesterday when contacted. Asked if GECOM had received any official word from the NDC, he replied, “Not as far as I am aware.” In June, this newspaper had reported that a by-election had to be held following Mohamed’s resignation from the NDC and that GECOM had to be informed to initiate plans for that by-election. “The clerk of the NDC is to notify GECOM of the vacancy following that resignation, but as far as I am aware, this has not yet been done. Until GECOM gets that, it cannot start the process for a by-election,” GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander had explained. “Now that the seat is vacant, GECOM has to extract a list of the constituency (and) go through all the processes with its list. The people in the area must then get the opportunity to vote at that elections… It is everything like an election but restricted to a constituency,” he added. It is unclear why the NDC clerk has not yet informed the elections body of Mohamed’s resignation although President Irfaan Ali had announced it since June. “Mr. Mohamed who has been a PPP/C councillor, I have seen a resignation from the post at the NDC,” Ali had told a press conference hosted at State House, Georgetown, in response to a question from Stabroek News. Mohamed has declined to speak with this newspaper since the US instituted the sanctions earlier in June.
Culture icon dies
Guyanese icon Dave Martins has died: Guyanese cultural, musical and literary icon, the legendary Dave Martins passed away on Sunday at the age of 90. His wife Annette Arjoon Martins last evening posted on her Facebook page that she was “eternally grateful to have shared fifteen years of unconditional love, support and especially shared passions for everything Guyanese with my soul mate.” Tributes poured in online for the man whose lyrics have made indelible memories for Guyanese and people across the Caribbean. President Irfaan Ali expressed sadness at Martins’ passing as he reflected in a Facebook post, on the man he believes was “a true Caribbean icon”. Stating that Dave Martins’ music was “the heartbeat of our region,” the President said, “As the leader of the Tradewinds band, Dave captured the essence of the Caribbean spirit and its identity, blending upbeat rhythms with biting satire that spoke to our hearts and minds. His music not only invited us to laugh at ourselves but also encouraged us to stand tall and be proud of our Guyanese and Caribbean heritage. “‘Not a Blade of Grass’, his timeless anthem, stands as a powerful statement to our nation’s collective resistance against threats to our sovereignty and territorial integrity. In our moments of challenges, it was Dave’s music that lifted our spirits, reminding us of the strength and resilience we hold as a people and our duty never to surrender an inch of our territory. Dave Martins was more than just a musician; he was a true Caribbean person whose influence extended beyond borders, touching the lives of countless individuals across the region.” According to the President’s message of condolence, Martins’ loss is deeply felt, not only in Guyana but throughout the entire Caribbean and in the diaspora. “Whenever his music plays, no matter where you are, it stirs a deep sense of pride in being a Caribbean person. The rhythms and melodies carry the essence of our shared heritage, reminding us of who we are and where we come from. Dave Martins’ music connects us to our roots and fills us with a profound love for our Caribbean identity,” Ali expressed. “I am confident that while he has passed on, his music will live on. Guyana and the Caribbean are indeed poorer for his passing, but we are infinitely richer for having had the privilege of experiencing his art, his passion, and his deep love for our country and the culture of the Caribbean. Dave Martins will be dearly missed, but his spirit will forever resonate in the rhythms of our Caribbean identity,” he added.
Amerindian
Ali in thunderous political speech as toshaos conference opens: Following a moment of silence to honour Guyanese legend Dave Martins, President Irfaan Ali launched into a dynamic 30-minute, campaign-style speech at the opening of the National Toshaos Council Conference 2024 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, last week. Speaking of the “significant strides” made under his administration in improving the rights and development of indigenous communities in Guyana, he highlighted increased budget allocations, enhanced land titling, and various developmental programmes, contrasting these achievements with the previous administration’s record. Amid his passionate delivery, Ali announced that this year, indigenous communities would receive 26.5% of Guyana’s earnings from carbon credits — a notable increase from the usual 15%. This allocation, amounting to US$23.2 million or $4.84 billion, will be directly transferred to indigenous villages, marking a major milestone. Ali also addressed land titling with similar enthusiasm, revealing that nearly 8,700 Amerindians had received legal title to their lands under his administration, which he said was a significant improvement compared to the stagnation from 2015 to 2020 under the APNU-AFC government. But even as the Head of State waxed lyrical about his administration’s contribution to the Amerindian community, in an exclusive interview with Stabroek News, Toshao Romario Hastings expressed frustration about not receiving the conference’s agenda in a timely manner. He noted that the morning’s agenda was only circulated by 9:30 am, leaving attendees with little opportunity to prepare. “This isn’t the first conference, so something as crucial as the agenda should have been sorted out in advance,” he said. “We were told printing was an issue, but if that was the case, they should have sent an e-copy.” The full agenda was only provided in the afternoon, which Hastings found unacceptable. He also criticised the President’s presentation, describing it as fiery and politically intense. “As a young leader, I don’t look forward to this kind of aggressive rhetoric,” Hastings said. “There are appropriate venues for such political campaigns, and the speech felt like a constant attack on the APA [Amerindian People’s Association] and the opposition party. The repetition made it feel like the whole speech was summed up in what I just said. I hoped for a better approach, especially since we were engaging with indigenous leaders. Instead, it felt like unnecessary hostility.”
Opposition indigenous leaders evicted from toshaos conference: Disputes unfolded at the National Toshaos Council Conference (NTCC) on Monday and Wednesday, leading to accusations of unlawful conduct and eviction from the Arthur Chung Conference Centre of Member of Parliament and Leader of the Guyana Action Party (GAP) Vincent Henry, and Central Executive Committee member of the PNCR Mervyn Williams. Speaking with Stabroek News yesterday Williams said, “I was not even allowed in. I will write a press release on my experience. But what I will say is that with all I have read about North Korea, I strongly believe that what we in Guyana are rapidly accepting as the norm, is taking us down the road of living in a dictatorship like North Korea. We have people here who are ruling with an iron fist and screaming ‘this is democracy’.” Henry, who is also a member of the Parliament Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources, said he was forcibly removed from the conference despite his claims of rightful attendance as an Indigenous leader. According to Henry, he had registered, received a badge, and was seated among other attendees. However, he was later approached by a staff member and subsequently a police officer, who alleged that he was impersonating someone and instructed him to leave. Henry asserted his entitlement to attend based on the Amerindian Act of 2006, which mandates that all Amerindians are welcome at National Toshaos Council events. He maintained that his removal was unjustified and contrary to his rights under the Act. The altercation, a recording of which was seen by this newspaper, featured Henry being repeatedly told to leave despite presenting his parliamentary identification, and being called an “imposter”. A police officer, identified as H Hamer justified the eviction by stating that MPs were not allowed at the meeting, which he claimed was exclusively for toshaos—village leaders.
Henry described his eviction as a violation of his rights as he emphasised his role in representing hinterland communities, where mining activities and Indigenous concerns converge. “I am Indigenous! As a parliamentarian and leader of the Guyana Action Party, it is my duty to represent the hinterland communities, where mining impacts both people and resources,” Henry asserted. “The Amerindian Act of 2006 allows all Amerindians to be part of the National Toshaos Council. Even though not everyone can attend due to space constraints, I felt it was essential for me to be present, listen, and ensure proper representation.” He expressed disappointment that not all members of the sectoral committee were invited to the NTCC, a point he believes should have been addressed.
Kako’s toshao calls for respect, constructive dialogue between govt and Indigenous leaders: Calling for mutual respect and constructive dialogue between government and community leaders, Toshao of Kako Romario Hastings last Wednesday took Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo to task over his apparent angst with the Amerindian People’s Association and his suggestion that toshaos could opt out of the carbon credits scheme. Speaking at the National Toshao Council Conference on August 20, Jagdeo said: “Any toshao who believes that this programme is not serving their people and their community is free to opt out because the APA doesn’t want you to collect this money. You’re free not to take it; the money could easily go to the villages that want it.” Acknowledging the potential benefits of the carbon credits scheme, Hastings said, “As a young leader, I agree that it’s a brilliant initiative to generate revenue from our forests. Indigenous people rightfully deserve every dollar from these funds.” He emphasized that any disagreements with specific aspects of the scheme does not diminish the entitlement of Indigenous communities to the funds. He further expressed concern over the notion that communities should have the option to opt out if they are dissatisfied. “I don’t believe any village or Indigenous person should be told they can opt out as if refusing the funds is an acceptable choice. That should not be the case and that should not be the dialogue. The dialogue should be respectful and indigenous people’s territories are where you find the majority of the forests that are standing so we deserve that money even if we don’t agree or fully agree. We deserve that revenue and we stand by that. It is benefiting communities, villages, but that doesn’t mean there is no room for improvement. We can have a fair, honest and respectful dialogue about it. It’s not really about attacking one another.” Hastings also addressed the role of toshaos in these discussions, asserting that their opinions should be valued based on their leadership positions within their communities. He clarified that while he collaborates with the APA, his perspectives are offered as a toshao, not as an APA representative. “When we enter those halls, we do so as leaders of our villages, and our opinions are based on our roles as toshaos. We should be able to express our views respectfully and expect the same in return,” he stressed.
AFC lambastes govt over hinterland kindergarteners using pit latrines: Fiery criticisms rained from the Alliance for Change (AFC) last Saturday against the government’s lapsed developmental plans for indigenous education. The party highlighted that despite Guyana being the fastest growing economy, students from as young as five years old are still forced to use pit latrines and lack access to proper sanitation. And given that the government boasts that substantial income is acquired through carbon credit revenues, former Amerindian People’s Association head turned AFC Executive Laura George lamented that both children and adults continue to suffer and are not part of the planning for the biased distribution of that money. “In the upper Maz [Mazaruni, Region Seven] you should see the pictures and injustice meted to our children. The discriminatory practices that are applied to our people in the health sector, in the education sector…,” George lamented in her first public speaking appearance at an AFC rally, held in Linden on Saturday evening. The photos she referred to were taken during a visit to Region Seven by the AFC and posted on the party’s Facebook page. Party Leader Nigel Hughes said that party members were shocked when they saw the pit latrines being used and even more appalled to learn that children of kindergarten age had to use them. He said that the United Nations Children Fund had made recommendations to help eliminate this practice by volunteering grants for flushable toilets and running water and questioned why the government had not taken up the offer. In 2008, nine-year-old Tenesha De Souza, a student of Santa Rosa Primary School at Moruca had fallen into a pit latrine and died on her first day of school. The then PPP government had said that it would initiate plans to assess how many other schools were still using latrines. What brought further outrage, Hughes said, was the residents lamenting that given the amount of students using the facilities daily, the latrines got filled quickly and required moving “further and further away from the school”. Currently, he said, residents were bemoaning the fact that they are running out of space and would have to go even further. On his social media page, he stated, “While the country earns $65 million per hour and in excess of $1.4 billion per day just from oil, [is this] the best we can do for our fellow citizens? Last year, 95% of the National Resource Fund (NRF) was spent by the government. Some US$1 billion. One is forced to ask exactly what was this money spent on and who has benefited from emptying the NRF. It is evident that the indigenous people have not benefited.
Accident
Mason, 21, dies after hit by car on his birthday: A young mason who celebrated his 21st birthday on Sunday died that same night after he was hit by a car on the public road at Number Two Village, West Coast Berbice, leaving his family in mourning. Dead is Aaron Dookaran, 21, a mason of Rosignol, West Bank Berbice. According to the police, the incident, which occurred around 11 pm, involved motor car PAG 8265 driven by Gansham Munshi, motor car PZZ 4450 which was parked by 20-year-old Everest Japal and Dookaran. The police said they were told that Dookaran allegedly ran across the road into the path of PAG 8265 resulting in a collision. The young man was flung into the air on impact and landed on PZZ 4450 which was parked on the other side of the road. He was picked up by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital, where he was seen and examined by a doctor on duty who pronounced him dead on arrival. Dookaran’s aunt, Nareefa Singh of Lot 23 Rosignol Village, West Bank Berbice, relayed that they received a phone call on Sunday night, informing them that he had passed away. “We drive and go straight to the hospital and when we reach hospital he been done dead. He lie down on the stretcher and blood deh all over,” she explained tearfully. “I wasn’t there. I didn’t see what happened, but everybody saying he didn’t run over. If you see where his slipper was and where he pitched you will see. Everybody saying he didn’t run across the road.” According to her, Dookaran sustained major injuries. “Blood been a run all over, from he side and from he face. Them had one bucket a side like them been a catch blood,” she added.
