Latest update December 5th, 2024 1:40 AM
Jun 04, 2011 News
The Alliance for Change has adopted a wait and see approach to the recently activated computerized scanning service for metal containers to be shipped out of Guyana.
The Guyana Revenue Authority, three days ago, announced that its US$1 million container scanner, acquired since May 2010 is now fully operational, and for the first time puts Guyana in confirmation with requirements of the International Maritime Organisation’s regulations on exportation of goods to other territories.
The information on the functioning of the scanner, which is said to be capable of detecting irregular items in a container, including illegal drugs, comes after a recent discovery in Jamaica of a large quantity of cocaine in another container shipped from Guyana.
“We can’t ignore the fact that it took well over a year to get this [scanner] up and running,” said AFC candidate for prime minister in the coming general elections and Member of Parliament, Sheila Holder. She added, “We are watching and waiting rather than making any pronouncements on the issue.”
Mrs Holder’s statement came Wednesday during the AFC’s weekly media briefing at the party’s Fourth Street Campbellville headquarters.
Also at that briefing the party commented on a visit to Kwakwani, and Government’s re-introduction of national awards.
AFC stated that on its May 28 and May 29 visit, public meetings were held in Kwakwani and Aroaima where the party found receptive audiences, who told the politicians about a number of issues affecting their communities.
“For instance, there was the flooding in Lamp Island, during the rainy season because of the failure of the administration to dredge the Berbice River.”
The party reported on ‘widespread’ joblessness in Kwakwani, and pointed out that this is the root of poverty and underdevelopment in the community.
It said that residents received information that the bauxite company planned to introduce electricity rates, which may be higher than those paid by Lindeners.
“The AFC was appalled by the Linden to Ituni road which is clearly a disaster.
One can only conclude that the maintenance of this road is entrusted to PPP party sycophants instead of to competent engineering personnel,” the party stated.
It reported that bauxite workers complained about what was described as ‘arbitrary and shoddy treatment’ meted out to them by the bauxite company. The workers are said to have also spoken of a likelihood of being dismissed without notice.
The visiting AFC team comprised its presidential candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan, prime ministerial candidate, Sheila Holder, Mr Fitz Herbert Ralph, and Mr Neil McKenzie.
The AFC welcomed Government’s re-introduction of the National Awards, saying it has long held the position that recognizing the yeoman service of Guyanese patriots is an important part of national life.
The party pointed out, however, that since 1971 national awards – announced on republic anniversary, and handed out during independence celebrations – had become a feature of national life.
But, “With the accession of the PPP to administrative office, this tradition was for some strange reason discontinued. The AFC viewed this as a facet of the degeneration of government.”
“The AFC believes that the National Awards Committee needed to be more broad-based in its selection of the awardees as a number of outstanding Guyanese across the political divide have not been recognized”.
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