Bharrat Jagdeo is one of TIME Magazine’s Heroes of the Environment 2008
October 5, 2008
There are many who would disagree with Bharrat Jagdeo being referred to as a “Hero of the Environment” considering his plans to monetize Guyana’s rain forest, yet here TIME Magazine writes an article spotlighting the president as a visionary who is “leading a poor country with a priceless resource.” Read more
Media operatives/sports personnel targeted to assist in raising awareness on domestic violence
October 5, 2008
Geetangeli Gheer, Head of the Domestic Violence Policy Unit targets hosts of entertainment themed shows and sports personnel in an effort to help spread awareness on domestic violence.
Read more
Corruption verses investment by Peter Ramsaroop of Vision Guyana
October 2, 2008
INTRODUCTION
The Guyana Government this week once again got the same marks as previous years: “The second most corrupt country in the Region” outside of Haiti. The spin doctors immediately tried to discredit the report. There are two sets of people that know about the corruption: the people that get the special contracts that put money in officials’ pockets and the officials that take the money.
The report is a deterrent to foreign investment in our nation. Most foreign companies will use this report as a benchmark in their investment strategy. This also affects Guyana’s place in the hunt for global capital and the jobs that may follow.
Instead of our nation becoming competitive in an increasingly fierce battle for foreign investment, sadly, instead it seems that all too often we are trying to keep an economy more akin to a mouse on IMF life-support. With all of our resources, how can this be? It seems that the government’s goal is to sustain poverty.
CORRUPTION
There are many examples of corruption all around us. Only certain persons enjoy the benefits of all the IDB and IMF money that is loaned or given to us for roads, bridges, healthcare and other activities.
Also, the excessive taxes that are collected from us the citizens are given to a select few again in contracts and concessions. That is one way the Transparency International Report data is derived in order to rank Guyana Government as one of the most corrupt in the world. I am sure no one that waves any of the opposition flags publicly got any of the contracts.
This week, the City tried to deliver Rates and Taxes on my Office Building which was purchased in 2005 from a very wealthy and prominent family. They had gotten full compliance from all the official agencies in order to sell the property and even got a private hearing at the Registrar’s Office to get the Transport passed.
The city now says the Building owes them almost $2M. I am in that building. I wonder how much that person paid in order to get their Compliance (all taxes paid) to sell me the property, and now the city wants to stick me with the bill.
MOVING AHEAD STILL
Our years of lobbying for the paving of the Guyana-Brazil Road are showing signs of moving ahead. There are also positive movements with the Brazilian interest in Guyana. In the early 90s, when Stanley Ming and Eric Phillips first presented the Guyana 21 plan to then President Jagan, he vowed to move ahead with the plans and turned it over to his ministers for implementation.
Nothing happened. Eric and I presented a research project that was included in a major Brazilian Government publication on the benefits of structural and economic connection between our two countries. Since then that research has found its way into the Brazilian congress and progress has been made in many key areas. Our cabinet has finally approved their portion, years late.
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS (FDI)
Economists and policymakers around the world generally agree that an overall policy framework built on economic and political stability, with clear rules regarding the entry and operations of international businesses, a clear privatization policy, and the presence of bi- or multi-lateral agreements on FDI are the main components of the public sector’s responsibility for creating a positive climate for FDI.
Other concrete steps that have proven to attract investors are simplified administrative features, investment facilitation services, and incentives such as tax reduction/abatement or subsidies, and above all, less red tape.
Traditionally, foreign direct investment has also been built on a large number of purely economic factors such as the availability of raw materials, low cost of labour, and the capacity of physical infrastructure to get goods to market. Other factors such as market size, local growth, and regional integration play a part in determining the appeal for foreign investors.
Efficiency factors also need to be considered, such as the productivity of labour, the size and availability of sufficient skilled labour, the services sector’s capacity, the sophistication of local financial markets, and the market-friendliness of trade policy.
From this discussion it is clear that Guyana has opportunities and obstacles. The availability of raw materials, labour and the possibility of regional integration are all clear opportunities. Policies and a climate conducive to investment, sadly, are less clearly positive. We must fix areas of government corruption and the private sector must do their part in not fuelling this practice.
CONCLUSION
Stamping out corruption at all levels of government is very difficult. When concessions are given to friends, when key private sector businesses are harassed because executives expose corrupt practices, when television stations can be shut down, when only certain stories are carried in the state run paper, and he fact we have only one radio station to ensure control of the people all make it difficult to get our country on the right path for success where all people can benefit and prosper.
This can only be done when we get rid of corruption and government stops taking most of the hard earned dollars of our citizens and giving it to a few.
Peter Ramsaroop
Humor: Guyanese bread makers have formed “Association of Bakers”
September 25, 2008
Minister assures there will be no increase in prices for bread and biscuits
By Priya NauthMINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, has expressed disappointment with National Milling Company Limited (NAMILCO) flour prices and has assured that there will be no increases as indicated by the Association of Bakers.
At a press conference yesterday at his ministry on South Road, Georgetown, Prashad reassured the public that there will be no price increase as indicated in a press release issued by the Association of Bakers Tuesday.
A release from the association announced that it was introducing new prices for bread and biscuits because the price of flour has reverted to the pre-subsidiary levels which are approximately 22 per cent higher than the subsidized price.
“In keeping with our civic and social responsibility, yet mindful of our very survival as viable business entities, a meeting was held with the Management of the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) and we succeeded in obtaining some further reduction in the price of flour,” the Association had said.
However, Minister Prashad said, “We heard an organisation calling themselves the Association of Bakers announced a 22 per cent increase…there is no organised association, it is just a few people lobbying and a few bakers come together and issued this press release.”
Taken from www.guyanachronicle.com September 25th 2008
Parking Meters - Revenues for Georgetown by Peter Ramsaroop of Vision Guyana
September 23, 2008
The Mayor of Georgetown advocated aggressively for new revenue in order to improve the city. The fact that the Government does not pay its share of taxes to the city on time and holds the city hostage is sinister.
Withholding our taxpaying dollars from the city and other institutions such as Critchlow Labour College is a blatant disregard for the well-being of the citizens.
The need to invest in new technologies in order to improve public service efficiency and increase revenue is needed.
There are a few systems that are standard in the developed world that would fit practical improvements, if implemented in Guyana.
I will touch on one such system below and will address the other “License Office Technology” in Friday’s Economic Corner.
PARKING METERS
I was elated last year when I heard Deputy Mayor Robert Williams announce that they were introducing a parking meter system in Georgetown.
With the influx of so many vehicles in the 1990s to present, if not parking meters, they could have instituted some formal parking system.
As it is today, vehicles are parked where their owners feel like parking them and there are few legal parameters as to how people should park.
With a parking meter system and legal parameters of how we in the city should park, we can address a few issues: Regular congestion, parking-induced congestion (Congestion due to an ill-equipped parking system) that allows cars to over congregate in the main commercial areas resulting in crowding and stagnation on city streets, pollution; with the ever increasing flow of traffic into Georgetown, deleterious effects have resulted from the CO2 emissions from trucking, minibuses, taxis and private cars.
With this system the society can be encouraged to get back to the bicycle revolution like what is taking place in NYC and around the world. We can create safe zones and secure zones for people riding into the city to park or lock their bicycles.
COST
The implementation of such a system would require some form of technology (organization of knowledge, people and things to accomplish practical goals) It would also require some major investment in equipment and with the council strapped for money, the Government will need to pay up its taxes in order for the city to accomplish this goal.
Many would support such a plan for a structured parking system and some parking meters within the city. It is something we need.
With the upfront outlay of money to implement the system, it will definitely pay for itself over the years. There are two types of technology that the city can use to accommodate this.
1) Park and Display systems are used in many countries. This technology is simple, and instead of having one meter for every car, they can have one meter to cover a wide area.
Motorists will then pay at a station bay (Pay and Display Meters), receive a receipt and display this receipt inside the front windscreen of their vehicles and go ahead and park within the area marked as a pay to park.
One of these meters cost US$8,000 - US$10,000 and with a few sprinkled around Georgetown it would be good enough to collect revenue to justify its existence.
2) The second technology is what they call park by phone. This is an easy and far cheaper to operate technology. This technology will allow drivers to pay for their parking via their mobile phones.
They can either have it engineered here locally by GT&T and Digicel or let a developer/third party carry out the task.
If we have the local phone companies engineer the system, they will be paid from a percentage of the parking fees that are collected via their systems.
If we start by using ten of these meters (US$100,000), park by phone system (US$65,000) and a good citation/ticket writing system($90,000US) a total investment in equipment of US$255,000.
I know that there are enough car parks within this city, using the systems everyday, to have revenues totaling that and over within two years.
CONCLUSION
This is a basic automated system that should be fully supported and will be useful for a developing society like Guyana.
As usual, we tend to take a very long time to implement any proposed plans. I believe the city already has a proposal on the parking meter system ready to go.
With all the noise from the council that they are strapped for cash, I would think that they would vigorously seek to implement this project.
They will be able to raise some funds and get some credit for bringing some form of order to the city that is desperately needed.
This system will employ many young people, broaden the technological scope of Guyana and provide a much needed infrastructure that can be built upon and improved for the overall betterment of society.
Send responses to peter.ramsaroop@gmail.com
Peter Ramsaroop
America’s backyard in trouble by Peter Ramsaroop Chairman of Vision Guyana
September 23, 2008
Last week in my Sunday column, I discussed the aggression by Venezuela both on Guyana and the United States.
Our President said he doesn’t want to get involved in big nation politics; therefore he ignored the military exercise over our airspace and probably in our waters.
All the Caribbean leaders, including Guyana, that have signed the PetroCaribe agreement with Venezuela were extremely quiet.
The arms buildup in Venezuela must be of concern for us the Guyanese people whether or not the President wants to get involved.
Venezuela has claimed most of our country and has held it hostage to development for decades, yet our Government does nothing about it.
The conflict is bigger than just Venezuela’s involvement, given Russia’s position against the US for the Georgian conflict and the installation of missiles in Poland by the US.
They have found an ally in Venezuela to come into America’s backyard and Venezuela in turn had already paved the way by buying out CARICOM with the oil deal.
The Kremlin wants to establish its presence once again around the world and this should not be allowed to happen.
I was serving in the US Military in Europe in the late 80s and saw the poor economies at that time in East Germany and other Soviet bloc countries. We the people of Guyana must reinforce our alignment with the free world.
America must pay more attention to its own backyard. Guyana by signing the PetroCaribe deal has already taken its stand with Venezuela and possible alignment with Russia.
THE SECRET WAR
The fact that Russia, Iran, and Venezuela are binding together in our region should be both a concern for Guyana and for the United States.
There are now direct flights from Iran to Caracas, with stops in Syria. There are discussions on nuclear potential in Venezuela. Some of these countries are known for terrorism.
China has been waging the secret war in South America over the last decade, buying out and owning major raw materials in its quest for economic dominance. The US has been busy fighting the war on terror in the Middle East and Afghanistan, and has failed to concentrate on Latin America.
Many countries have gone leftist such as Ecuador, Bolivia and Nicaragua, among others. Bolivia, like Venezuela, is moving towards dictatorship. Guyana is lost somewhere between communism and elected dictatorship. The President has been anti-west in most of his policies.
I have a hard time believing that our President was not aware of this exercise as he said. He received one of the highest awards last year from Mr. Putin, who is now in a third term through the backdoor, bypassing the Russian constitution where he could not serve as the President but serve as the Prime Minister. I believe that out of courtesy Russia would have notified Guyana, given its friendship.
THE BUDDING CONFLICT
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, one of the closest allies of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, visited both Venezuela and Cuba, this past week.
It is generally believed that Russia is forming greater alliances with Venezuela and Cuba, in response to the USA’s support of Georgia. This is a huge change in relationship between Washington and Moscow.
US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, said “Russia’s international standing is worse than at any time since 1991.” The Kremlin is furious about USA’s plans to establish anti-missile shields in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Russia is also arming the Republic of Iran. There is speculation that Russia will establish bases in both Venezuela and Cuba. Russia is believed to be exporting arms to 80 countries.
Venezuela bought Russian fighter jets and helicopters worth 540 million pounds Sterling, in 2006, with Indonesia buying a similar amount in 2007. China’s arms deals with Russia were worth one billion pounds Sterling, a year.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE
The involvement of Iran, Russia and Venezuela outside of our borders is a very dangerous development for Guyana, since we still have an unresolved border problem with Venezuela.
Why have we not put together a legal team as we did with the Suriname border dispute and take it to the UN?
This is our chance to make the world aware that Venezuela is holding our country hostage with its threat to invade if we develop the land they claim as theirs.
We the people of Guyana must stand up to our government to get this problem that has haunted us for decades over with.
We lack a strong foreign policy; we lack bold leadership and act weak when it comes to defending our nation. We need to develop our Essequibo region and bring prosperity to our people.
Send your response to peter.ramsaroop@gmail.com www.visionguyana.com
Guyana: Photos from Michelle Singh
September 17, 2008
Essequibo River is the longest river in Guyana. The name of the river came from the Arawak meaning “hearth- stones”. This is explained as the Arawak custom of collecting stones from the riverbanks for their firesides. The colonists remained on friendly terms with the Native Americans of the area, establishing riverside sugar and cacao plantations. Essequibo is also the name of a former Dutch colony founded in 1616 and located in the Region of Essequibo River that later became a part of British Guiana, [now Guyana.] Approximately 16 km from the mouth of the mighty Essequibo River is Fort Island. On this island are two structures: Fort Zeelandia and The Court of Policy or Dutch Church.During the period of Dutch occupation the Fort and the Court of Policy were part of a large urban settlement that extended along the northeastern section of the island. This was the seat of the Dutch administration in the colony of Essequibo.
Fort Zeelandia was constructed in 1744. It was constructed to protect the interests of the Dutch West India Company from European rivals such as the English and French who frequented the eastern coast of South America in search of the spoils of war. In addition it was meant to serve as a stronghold against internal forces such as rebellious slaves.
The Court of Policy served multiple functions. It was a store and at the same times a church, court, seat of government and a sales office. Inside the Court of Policy are the tombs of three Dutch Officials. It is the oldest non-military structure in Guyana. To this day church services are held there.
Carifesta IX: Photographs from Guyana
September 14, 2008
The origin of CARIFESTA “the Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts” was held in Guyana in 1972. Two successive Conferences of outstanding Caribbean Writers and Artists in 1966 and 1970 recommended to then Prime Minister of Guyana, Hon LFS Burnham that they would welcome the invitation to an annual Festival of the Arts. Prime Minister Burnham had related his vision of a cultural mecca for the Region’s people. It was a vision of peoples with roots deep in Asia, Europe and Africa coming together to share, to perform their art forms. The dream embraced the literature inspired by our peculiar Caribbean temperament, paintings inspired by our tropical jungles and art visualising our forefathers in the distant past.
The following Photos were taken by Michelle Singh for New York. The Baiganchoka team would like to thank Michelle from sharing her photos with us.
Guyana
September 9, 2008
Guyana is an Amerindian word meaning Land of Many Waters, and the country is mostly characterized by the vast unspoiled rain forests dissected by numerous rivers, creeks and beautiful waterfalls. It is also famous as the location of the Legendary El Dorado, the inspiration for The Lost World, for its friendly multicultural society, high biodiversity, prize-winning rum, wooden architecture and Demerara Gold Sugar.
Fort Zeelandia And The Court Of Policy.
Approximately 16 km from the mouth of the mighty Essequibo River is Fort Island. On this island are two structures: Fort Zeelandia and The Court of Policy or Dutch Church.During the period of Dutch occupation the Fort and the Court of Policy were part of a large urban settlement that extended along the northeastern section of the island. This was the seat of the Dutch administration in the colony of Essequibo. [Guyana]. Fort Zeelandia was constructed in 1744. It was constructed to protect the interests of the Dutch West India Company from European rivals such as the English and French who frequented the eastern coast of South America in search of the spoils of war. In addition it was meant to serve as a stronghold against internal forces such as rebellious slaves. It is said that the design followed a pattern lozenge-shaped forts, which were common in West Africa during that period. Within the compound of the Fort are the Armory used for the storage of ammunition and several canons reminiscent of the belligerent history of the site.
The Court of Policy served multiple functions. It was a store and at the same times as a church, court, seat of government and a sales office. Inside the Court of Policy are the tombs of three Dutch Officials. It is the oldest non-military structure in Guyana. To this day church services are held there.
Are Bollywood Movies More Westernized Now?
September 3, 2008
From someone looking on the outside, Bollywood movies are beautiful with their bright colors, melodramatic plots and the infamous dance items with large amounts of people all simultaneously dancing, synchronized. Majority of Bollywood movies are based on guy meets girl, they fall in love and some disaster drama unfolds why they can’t be together and they try to battle it through out the 3 hour film. Some feel that they are heavily influenced by westernized culture and may lack East Indian flavor. I argue that it has always been heavily influenced by other cultures through out all eras of Bollywood movies. Check out some music videos from the 50s-70s and correlate it with American movies from the same era- seems like the same clothes, dance moves, and even maybe the attitudes which people talk.
In watching a Bollywood movie, what I find intriguing are basically the music videos. They have so many categories like the “item song”, “theme song”. I mean any movie would be about 3 hours if you incorporate the soundtrack with a whole choreographed skit. What a lot of people have an issue with watching newer Bollywood movies is that they feel that it becomes to westernized, meaning it seems more and more like American films with half dressed Indian women and men, doused in baby oil rubbing up on each other looking as if it’s a reggae music video. Let’s face it, sex sells and it doesn’t need to be “westernized” to do so. Besides, I don’t see why people make it an issue. I know individuals, like my father always complain how he hates watching the newer movies because he doesn’t feel they have culture or they lack in theme and focus on costumes. It may be so for some films, but I’ve watched a few older Bollywood movies from the 50s-70s and they basically do the same. Isn’t the whole point of watching a Bollywood movie is to see the eye pleasing costumes and dancing? It seems that Westernized cultures always had a huge impact on Bollywood films. If you see older videos “the classics”, some refer to them as, the women sport the same hairstyles as American teens with their high hair and thick eyeliner, the style of clothing, the way they talk like using certain slang words and even the choreography is impacted. Look at the difference in watching a Kathak dancer and a Bollywood/ Filmi dancer; you do see the Indian influence but as well as the westernized influences. Now it’s easier to see it since some songs incorporate rap, reggae and remixes and even background singers that are heavily popular in the westernized culture as well as the language cross over from Hindi, Punjabi, Spanish to English lyrics in just one song.
I don’t think the westernization of Bollywood movies is a new thing at all. I think it was always there. People are always impacted on other popular cultures. Even the title “Bollywood” is a spin off of Americana culture “Hollywood”. I don’t feel it dissects Indian culture but just brings movie watchers together. I watch them and I don’t understand a word of Hindi, there are always subtitles and even watching certain parts without using subtitles you can kind of figure out what’s going on. Besides even using other influences in these films, it just shows how similar everyone is. There is always a version or a twist that people put on a certain trend to make it their own. India has does it with their film industry and so has every other culture. This example happens to use movies to show the influences but there are always underlying messages with the clothing, hair and songs… it seems people want to be like each other. I guess it’s true what people say, I guess you can bring the world together through song and dance.
Pady
Breaking News: Guyana Fine Man Dead
August 28, 2008
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has reportedly shot and killed Guyana’s most wanted fugitive Rondell Fineman Rawlins during a shootout on Thursday.
According to unconfirmed reports, Rawlins, along with a gang of men attempted to rob the GDF base at Camp Stephenson on the Linden Soesdyke highway on Thursday morning and was killed during the resulting shooting.
Reportedly killed along with Rawlins was multi-murder accused “Skinny”.
We all know the story of Fine man and his gang when the two massacres occurred in Bartica and Lusignan. I bet Fineman tried to get his hands on some weapons to use at one of the Carifesta venues. Well I am happy he is out for good and Guyanese can feel a bit safer. Who knows what he was planning to do with those weapons. In the end, Guyana Defense Force and the Police Force could not get Fine Man; He had to come to them.
http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/breaknews-10168–13-13—breaknews.html
Andrew
A One Million Dollar Suit! What Nonsense.
August 28, 2008
After reading in www.guyanatimesgy.com that WRHM filed against NCN for airing some of the Olympic Games, I started to laugh and laugh and laugh. It was just the Olympic Games and this is Guyana. This is not the US where any and everyone sue for anything. As many stations that could have carried the game the better it would have been for the people. So who care if NCN did not buy into the contractual agreement? I am sure a lot of kids got to see the games through NCN and were inspired to do bigger and better things. So it is all about money not the people. Well this is one of the reasons why Guyana continues to suffer. The same way some upper Berbicians get television from Suriname, the Surinamese station should sue for that but it would be just silly. In the end does it matter, Carifesta came and is now going and Guyanese all around Guyana turned off their television sets because they were disappointed with the opening ceremony but they tuned in to watch the games so who should pay for that?
Read full article here.
Lara
Kids First Fund: Moments in Time
August 27, 2008
Who are we? Kids First’s objective is to provide funding for poor children who require emergency medical treatment, regardless of race, religion and political affiliation. Why? There is a backlog of approximately 1700 children on the Ministry of Health waiting lists, some of which have been there for years, because of very limited funding in this sector, lack of specialists, equipment and facilities. Read more
Kids First Fund: The Future of Guyana is in the Hands of its’ Children
August 27, 2008
The Kids First Fund is a not for profit, non-governmental organisation, registered as a friendly society (no.801) since 11 February 2000. Kids First’s objective is to provide funding for poor children who require emergency medical treatment, regardless of race, religion and political affiliation.
Emergency, is an umbrella term and covers things like air fares, surgery costs, medicines, consultation fees, diagnostics: CT/MRI scans, blood tests, ultrasounds, X-rays, eye tests, dispensing eye glasses, hearing tests/aids, walking aids, wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs and in cases of malnutrition, food and milk.
Why? There is a backlog of approximately 2000 children on the Ministry of Health waiting lists, some of which have been there for years, because of very limited funding in this sector, lack of specialists, equipment and facilities.
Since 2000, the government has injected in excess of GY$4billion dollars a year into the health sector, but when in order to access surgery, children and an accompanying adult have to be sent outside Guyana and the cost is thousands of sterling, Trinidadian or American dollars, it is not nearly enough.
What else does Kids First do? Co-ordinate teams of doctors to come to Guyana, hold clinics for children and adults, perform surgery at no cost, train local doctors, lecture to medical practitioners, advise on community awareness/educational programmes. Run an eye care programme for children who can’t afford eye examination, glasses, medicines and surgery.
KidsFirst has organised clinics in the fields of neuro-surgery, plastic surgery, neurology, general and cardiology. Over the past 2 years approximately 300 children have been evaluated by visiting cardiologists and had echocardiograms done.
We now know exactly what kind of heart problems the children have, ranging from simple PDA, (open chest surgery, 10 cases were done successfully in Guyana in 2002) to serious VSD’s & ASD’s (hole in the heart) to the most complex Tetrallogy of Fallot.
Heart surgery costs approximately $20,000 - $25,000 USD in Trinidad. ($4M-5M GYD). The average family would be unable to afford such huge sums in their lifetime much less at short notice.
In September 2005 the Kids First Heart 2 Heart Save A life Appeal was launched, with 4 children having open heart surgery. So far 46 children and 14 adults have benefited from this program. All the surgeries were successful, except for one and done by Dr KM Cherian and his team at the Frontier Lifeline Hospital, in Chennai, India.
Kids First is trying to establish similar linkages in the UK, India and Brazil with hospitals and medical schools specialising in oncology, haematology, cardiology, cancer, orthopaedic, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, burns, HIV/Aids care and emergency medicine.
Kids First has established working partnerships with the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, the International Hospital for Children, in Richmond, Virginia and the Frontier Lifeline Hospital, Chennai.
Kids First is self-financing and has to do constant fundraising to pay hefty hospital bills and other related costs. In November’03 Kids First raised approximately $44,200USD in 2 weeks to help 3 children who urgently needed neurosurgery to remove tumours by hosting nationwide telethons on NTN, holding auctions and sending letters of appeal.
Most recently $21,000 USD was raised in 48 hours by charity minded citizens of Guyana, America, Canada and the UK to pay for the airfares of 10 patients who needed heart surgery.
Kids First tries to do unusual kinds of fundraising from plays and dance theatre at the Cultural Centre, to Grass track races, basket ball tournaments and is always trying to find new ways in which to entertain supporters and raise much needed cash.
The bills for leukaemia and brain tumour patients sent to Trinidad run to millions of Guyana dollars. If leukaemia and other drugs could be sourced free and the expertise brought to Guyana, this would reduce costs significantly.
Free shipping contacts have been made Mike Harrison Shipping in the
UK and Global Shipping in New York. This means anyone who wishes to support us by donating clothes, books, toys, medicines etc can do so at no cost to them.
Contact with major manufacturers of pharmaceuticals is being made with the view to obtaining either free medicines or buying at a discounted rate.
The UK and Canadian arm of Kids First has been launched, with supporting groups in the USA and the Caribbean to follow.
Kids First Fund is unique in that we have no overheads or administration costs. Therefore the Fund guarantees that every dollar raised goes totally towards helping the children.
How Can You Help? We need access to items on our wish list, both medical and non-medical resources like over the counter medicines for children and adults, clothing etc With emphasis on specialised medication for leukaemia, epilepsy, eye and ear infections, finance to fund our programmes and pay hospital bills and finally access to medical expertise, like surgeons, doctors and nurses.
Kids First Fund Head Office is located at:
5 Hadfield Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, Guyana, South America
Tel: (592) 226 6231 or 226 5926 Fax: (592) 226 6214
Email: kidsfirstfund@hotmail.com
Donations are payable into our Guyana bank accounts:
Please make all cheques or drafts payable to kids first fund.
Scotia Account number 39415 or The New Building Society Account Number 7332
Kids First Fund Wish List 2008
Specialised Medication:
Leukaemia: Mercaptopurine, Methotrexate, Vincristine (When needed)
Epilepsy: Phenobarbatone, Dilantin, Tegritol, Epilim, Topomax 100mg & 75mg
L-Carnitine 250 mg or 500 mg, Caltrate (pure) 600mg
Over the counter medication: Aspirin and Paracetamol & Pain relief ointments, sprays
Building up tonics and powders
Cold and flu remedies & Cough linctus (adults and children)
Antifungal & Antibiotic ointments
Skin ointments, E45 cream, Hydrocortisone
Eye / ear drops/wash, antibiotic/ anti-inflammatory drops
Multi-Vitamins tablets / chewable
General: Powdered Soya/cowsmilk
Children’s eye glasses, frames and lenses, various strengths
Contact lenses, prosthetic eyes and tools
Walking aids, prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, crutches, walking sticks
Books, school and leisure, story books, comics, school supplies, Toys
Clothes, summer clothes for children from ages 0-21 years old
Medical supplies: plasters, bandages, cotton wool, colostomy bags (adults &
children), nappies (children & adults) etc
Baby products: feeding bottles, powder, vaseline, cream, nappies, dummies, teats,
teething jelly/powder, push chairs
Shunts for craniotomy for children with hydrocephalus
Kids First Fund: making a difference in the lives of sick children Reg No. 801
♥KIDS FIRST FUND HEART 2 HEART – SAVE A LIFE PROGRAMME ♥
The Kids First Fund’s Heart 2 Heart Save a life programme, is in partnership with Dr KM Cherian and the Frontier Lifeline Hospital, Chennai, India.
The programme started September 2005 when 4 children, Anjani Pritipaul, Casey Clifton, Romel Hassan and Premdai Harrichand were the first beneficiaries of the Heart 2 Heart programme.
Dr Cherian followed up by holding a free evaluation clinic in Guyana during November ’05 with his colleague Dr Prem Sekar, where approximately 300 adults and children were diagnosed as having cardiac complaints.
In March ‘06 the 2nd batch of patients went; 9 children and 6 adults (adults were paid for by the Ministry of Health, NIS and some themselves) and in May ’06 the 3rd batch of 13 children and 4 adults, this trip was financed by a generous sponsor from the USA.
In March ’07 9 children and 4 adults benefited (adults were paid for by the Ministry of Health). The hospital bill came to $55,000 USD Kids First had part paid $29,000 USD and were given time to raise the $26,000 USD balance. So far 46 children and 14 adults have been helped by this program.
All the surgeries were successful, except for one and done by Dr KM Cherian and his team at the Frontier Lifeline Hospital, in Chennai, India.
Just to give you a little background on the situation in Guyana:
There is a shortage of a number of medical specialists in Guyana, in particular we have no cardiologists or cardiac surgeons. There are approximately 269 children in need of heart surgery, and time is against us.
The average cost of cardiac surgery in Trinidad (which is the nearest place doing such surgery) is $20,000 - $25,000 USD, ($4-5 million GYD) in Canada it is $60,000 CAN, in the USA its $100,000 USD and in the UK £100,000. The exchange rate of the Guyana dollar to the USD is approximately $200 GYD - $1USD.
When the average wage of the families that come to us for help is often $10,000 GYD ($50 USD) or less, per week; to run households, send children to school, pay for transportation/rent/ and put food on the table, you can understand the difficulties facing parents with sick children.
Kids First only deals with financially challenged families and without the help of the Ministry of Health, the Fund, the Private Sector and the general public, they would have no way of affording this life saving surgery by themselves.
Once the type of cardiac defect is diagnosed, the only beneficial way forward is surgical correction, which can only happen if you can pay for it before hypertension sets in.
Once a patient gets hypertension, it matters not if you have a billion USD’s at your disposal. The small window of opportunity to do anything meaningful surgery wise, would have been lost and the child will eventually die from heart failure.
The Heart 2 Heart programme offers sick children the chance to access a new lease of life free and at the fraction of the cost elsewhere to us, who have to pay for it. In India we get world class health care, at a very attractive price and no visa restrictions to access it.
We are doing constant fundraising in order to help as many children as possible before it is too late. It is expected that after timely surgery, the children can be as vivacious as their peers and lead normal lives.
Caribbean Airlines and Air India are long standing humanitarian partners renewed their commitment to the cause and the programme and granted us special rates for the air fares ,from Guyana to the UK and then to India, which are very expensive. Money saved in fares can be used to help even more children.
For $6,000 USD ( $1.2 million GYD) we can transform the lives of our children from one of ill health, pain, fear and inactivity to a normal pain-free, fearless, energetic, educated and adventurous life, just how children are supposed to be !
We need to act now and act fast so that children can access this life saving surgery and lead normal productive lives like their peers. We can not do this alone and humbly request your help.
Anyone wishing to donate to the kids first heart 2 heart appeal can do so by:
Please make all cheques or drafts payable to Kids First Fund and send them to either,
Kids First Fund Head Office:
5 Hadfield Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, Guyana, South America
Tel: (592) 226 6231 or 226 5926 Fax: (592) 226 6214 Email: kidsfirstfund@hotmail.com
Or in the UK :
Ms Kieran Singh
c/o Guyana High Commission, 3 Palace Court,
Bayswater Road, London W2 4LP, UK
Tel: 0207 229 7684 Fax: 0207 727 9809 Email: Kieran_74_1@hotmail.com
or Kieran Singh 07956 530 474
Or in the USA:
Mr Ishamel Gurmohamed
1751 Bussing Ave, New York 10466
Tel: 718-515-5795 or 718-325-5407
Donations are payable into our Guyana and UK bank accounts:
Guyana: Scotia Account number 39415
or The New Building Society Account Number 7332
UK: Abbey
Sort Code: 090000
Account #: 00050005
Role No./Ref No.: K7105123KID
Wow! What took them so long?
August 25, 2008
All CARIFESTA X venues except the National Stadium now Ticket Free
THE CARIFESTA Secretariat yesterday announced that all CARIFESTA X performance venues except for the National Stadium will not require a ticket.
Persons are, however, advised that entry to events will be on a first come, first served basis.
This decision took effect from yesterday. - Guyana Chronicle
It seems like Guyanese living in Guyana can actually get to see and partake in some of the Carifesta festivities. But the question is how many will? According to our sources living in Guyana, Carifesta flames went up in smoke on Friday night where many across the nation and other parts of the Caribbean switched off their television sets in the midst of the proceedings. Moreover, it seems like the Guyana Chronicle and Stabroek News are at odds with each other. Both prints are running opposite stories. Guyana Chronicle staying on the positive side and Stabroek News on the negative side. What’s going on? That’s the question. I’ve watch a few of the videos on YouTube and Stabroek news, and the scenes were as ghetto as ever. If what I saw was not a display of disorganization then, I don’t know what is. But Guyana again is not ready to host any type of regional event at all and I hope other Caribbean nations have noticed the same too. What was Frank Anthony thinking when he thought he support an event of such magnitude? I do hope for the remainder of Carifesta, working Guyanese actually get to attend some of these events because is a time for all Guyanese to enjoy, not the privileged few.
Andrew