FDC PARTY’s message to the Parliamentary Committee on Legal.(Exec.summary), 19.05.2015

ELECTORAL REFORMS TO ESTABLISH A CREDIBLE ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN UGANDA

A.            Preamble

1.            Thank you Chairman and Members of the Committee for inviting the FDC to interface with you with regard to your ongoing work on constitutional reforms. As a Party, FDC is part of the non-partisan coalition – the Free and Fair Elections Campaign – whose goal is to advocate for the establishment of a credible electoral management system in Uganda. It is therefore in this context that we address this Committee today.

B.            Our Messages to the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

2.            As the Forum for Democratic Change, we are obliged to submit the views that are shared across by the citizens of Uganda, organizations and citizens’ formations that subscribe to the Free and Fair Elections Campaign. We are therefore here to deliver three specific messages:

i)             Upon careful review of the Bill, we have resisted every temptation to characterize it as “stupid” like several members of this Committee have aptly characterized it. However, the purported Bill represents the growing arrogance and impunity that has come to characterize the Government under the NRMO regime. Consequently, in considering it during these public hearings and the plenary, your task is not so much to consider a bill that is both empty and devoid of substance but also to have the courage and confidence to cut through this arrogance and impunity.

ii)            Secondly, the Free and Fair Elections Campaign has been mobilizing citizens across this country to demand for comprehensive electoral reforms to ensure that a credible electoral management system is established. We have previously delivered the Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, as well as all the mandated Governmental of Uganda ministries and agencies. All these agencies have chosen to ignore us and present to you a Bill that does not contain any of our views. We are therefore here to, once again, on behalf of thousands of Ugandans who participated in the Free and Fair Elections Campaign process and thousands others that are signing in support of the Compact, to deliver to you our electoral reform proposals.

iii)           Our third message is about the place of the 9th Parliament with regard to the reform process. We recognize that this Parliament is, itself, a result of electoral processes that had fundamental defects, which our proposals seek to address. This Parliament is still a vestige of the “Movement Political System” and the proposed reforms are, in a large part, intended to complete the transition to “Multiparty Political System”. That’s why a “National Dialogue” by citizens, in their most diverse formations, as was attempted in the process that generated the “Uganda Citizens’ Compact on Free and Fair Elections” is a vital and more legitimate source of getting the genuine views of Ugandans on these fundamental political issues.

iv)           Finally, the tenure of the 9th Parliament is coming to an end in less than 10 months. For almost 5 years, the 9th Parliament has either by commission or omission failed to respond to the loud voices of the citizens of Uganda to ensure that the Executive introduces appropriate electoral reforms well in time before the scheduled elections in February 2016. Like the Government has done in 2005 and 2010, electoral reforms are brought late to Parliament and you are stampeded to enact peripheral reforms that do not address the structural problems inherent in our electoral system. We are therefore here to implore you not to be stampeded by the Executive once again and through this Committee, to invite the 9th Parliament to join us in demanding for elections after comprehensive reforms have been put in place.

C.            About the Free and Fair Elections Campaign

3.            The Free and Fair Elections Campaign (FFE Campaign) is a non-partisan effort by Ugandans Citizens in their various formations: political parties, civil society, religious organizations, professional associations, women’s and youth organizations, pro-democracy pressure groups and eminent Ugandans committed to fight for reforms that will result into the establishment of a credible electoral management system to guarantee free and fair elections in our country.

4.            The FFE Campaign is a product of the failure by the Parliament of Uganda to do its fundamental constitutional duty and power to legislate for the good governance of our country as it is commended by article 79 of our Constitution. Like the 7th and the 8th Parliament, the 9th Parliament will go down in the annals of our history as abdicating this duty because of its failure to invest in reforming our electoral laws over its 5 year tenure and then scampering and pleading for time during these last days towards the general elections scheduled for 2016. Mr. Chairman and Members, you very well know that you have been around for 5 years and therefore the apparent stampeding of the reform process is your making and hence unwarranted.

D.            The Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections

5.            As you may be fully aware, the FFE Campaign started three years ago and has been focused on mobilizing citizens to push both the Executive and Parliament to their job and enact appropriate laws to establish a credible electoral management system for our country. The campaign moved with significant momentum in 2014 when numerous public rallies jointly organized by political leaders and civil society were organized across the country.

6.            In the second half of 2014, 14 regional forums on free and fair elections were held in:

i)             Karamoja

ii)            West Nile

iii)           Acholi

iv)           Lango

v)            Teso

vi)           Busoga

vii)          Bukedi

viii)         Bunyoro

ix)           Buganda

x)            Ankole

xi)           Toro

xii)          Kigezi

xiii)         Sebei

xiv)         Bugisu

7.            Each of these forums was attended by 200-400 political, religious, business and civic leaders representing a wide cross section of our society. An estimated 4,700 citizens directly participated in these forums while thousands engaged through popular radio talk shows. The FFE Campaign process culminated into the National Consultation on Free and Fair Elections, which took place on November 24, 2014. Over 1,300 participants representing political parties, professional and civic organizations, religious leaders and eminent Ugandans attended the National Consultation. Although the National Resistance Movement Organization (NRMO) did not send an official delegation, NRMO leaders (at least 17% of all representation from political parties) from across the country attended and participated fully in the deliberations.

8.            The Free and Fair Elections Campaign also took into account fairly comprehensive proposals prepared and submitted by:

i)             The Inter-Party Organizations for Dialogue (IPOD)

ii)            The Citizens Coalition on Electoral Democracy (CCEDU)

iii)           The National Consultative Forum (NCF)

iv)           The Electoral Commission (EC), and

v)            The Cabinet proposals contained in a matrix published in June 2014.

9.            The National Consultation on Free and Fair Elections adopted the Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections containing 17 electoral reform proposals and 1 proposals regarding its implementation. We believe that given the nature of the FFE Campaign process, the Citizens Compact reflects a national consensus on the fundamental reforms needed to create a credible electoral management system in the country. Accordingly, we are asking this Committee to recommend to the plenary to enact comprehensive electoral reforms covering the following:

i)             Establishment of a new and independent electoral commission.

ii)            Ensuring the integrity of the voting process.

iii)           Clearly delineating the roles of security agencies in the electoral process and prohibiting the use of Government trained and political party led militia groups.

iv)           Securing the integrity of the campaign process.

v)            Addressing and dismantling the current system of patronage.

vi)           Separating the state from the current ruling party and developing safeguards to ensure that this does not happen in future.

vii)          Prohibiting gerrymandering through the creation of new administrative units and electoral constituencies.

viii)         Restoring and securing the freedoms to organize and assemble that are continuously being eroded through legislative and administrative actions.

ix)           Reforming the system of selecting presiding officers.

x)            Securing the process of processing electoral materials.

xi)           Ensuring the integrity of the tallying process.

xii)          Securing the independence and boosting the integrity of the judiciary as an arbiter for election disputes.

xiii)         Strengthen the internal democracy of political parties.

xiv)         Preserving the mandate of the electorate regarding their elected representatives.

xv)          Reviewing the representation of special interest groups with a view to ending special representation by the UPDF and workers.

xvi)         Establishing a more reliable funding architecture for local governments to enhance their autonomy and capacity to deliver public services.

xvii)        Restoring and entrenching presidential term limits.

10.          Mr. Chairman and Members, on behalf of the thousands of Ugandans who participated in the public rallies, the regional consultation forums and the National Consultation on Free and Fair Elections, and the thousands of Ugandans that continue to sign up in support of the Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections, we lay this Compact before you as the legitimate expression of growing national consensus on electoral reforms.

E.            The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2015

11.          As we have already stated, the purported Bill represents the highest degree of arrogance and impunity with which Government under the NRMO regime approaches matters of importance to our country. This Bill is both empty and devoid of substance. It ignores every common-sense electoral reform proposal contained in the numerous submissions by the Electoral Commission (EC), the Inter-Party Organizations for Dialogue (IPOD), the Citizens Coalition of Electoral Democracy (CCEDU), the National Consultative Forum (NCF) and the Free and Fair Elections Campaign (FFE Campaign). Indeed, it is unfortunate that parliament has to spend Ugandan taxpayers money to enable you spend valuable time to conduct public hearings on this empty Bill. That is why we have chosen not to address any specific aspects of this purported Bill because we find it unwarranted.

F.            Our Call to the 9th Parliament

12.          We wish to implore this parliament to do everything possible to resist the current course that the Executive has put you on, to drive our country to yet another cliff. As Members may recall, our country has suffered numerous episodes of violence and conflict in the majority of cases triggered by contested elections. In 1980, the current president took up arms and subjected our country to a protracted military conflict leading to the death of an estimated 500,000 people and the decimation of state and civic institutions and the destruction of our economy. Since the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution, which sought to reset the governance button and return our country to sanity and good governance, the results of the elections held in 1996 and 2011 were highly contested because of disputes over a level playing field, which is rooted in our current electoral system and the absence of an independent electoral commission.

13.          We end by reminding you and ourselves that this Committee and the Parliament of Uganda does not legislate for the Executive that gave you the purported Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2015. Both the Executive and the Parliament legislate for the Citizens of Ugandan. The Bill before you seeks to disenfranchise us, concentrate power in the office of the President and render this Parliament peripheral in the governance of our country. We therefore implore you to reject the purported bill, use your inherent legislative powers to enact and ensure full implementation of electoral reforms before elections are held. You are our representatives. Listen to us and the sense of reason as contained in the Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections and other reform proposals submitted by various citizens platforms as already stated above. And when the history of this country is written again, it can be put on record that when that historical moment as to whether to move backward or forward, the 9th Parliament chose going to the future against going to the past.

For God and My Country

May 19, 2015

Kampala-Uganda

Burundi – Under the Rainbow

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There isn’t everyday are Rare Earth Mineral site get a different companies from all over the globe into action. This didn’t happen today. Still it’s worth researching and doing background checking. I wish I had all the pieces to the puzzle. I miss the contract or agreement between the Government of Burundi (GoB) and Rainbow Rare Earth Limited. Not that had seen the one between Southern Crown and GoB. This story will be what I have had the ability to uncover at this point. Hope you will enjoy.

Pre-Rainbow:

In 2011 February update from the Australian based mining company was awaiting cabinet approving in the Burundian Parliament, even with being approved by the minister at the time. The Australian company was Southern Crown. The license was to be for the area called Garaka Project in the Garaka and Karonge. The area is a area filled with REE (Rare-Earth Minerals). By the 2010 prices they estimated that the Ore in the area with carbonated REE was valued up to $5169M (Southern Crown). Two years later on the same company Southern Crown did release on 27. April 2012 they shut down the Garaka Project because of cooling of the rare earth market and also funding (Southern Crown2).

So this happen and the business on the ground of Garak Project went sour when Southern Crown went through with business in mining in Zambia instead of Burundi. To give an issue on how business deals are set in Burundi. After that I will tell you the timeline for the new companies on the ground. Look under timeline:

International Crisis Group reported in March 2012 how the agreements were between companies and the Burundian government:

“The allocation of mining and oil concessions also poses a problem. Under previous regimes, consideration of applications for mining exploration permits was entrusted to experts and an inter-ministerial committee, which reported to the Council of Ministers. However, this committee has not met since the CNDD-FDD came to power. The contract to exploit the rich nickel deposits in Musongati in eastern Burundi,71 which could amount to 5 per cent of world reserves, was negotiated at the highest level and in the greatest secrecy.72 Permits have since been granted in a non-transparent way: although licenses are granted by presidential decree on the proposal of the appropriate ministry, as in many countries, applications for exploration and exploitation are handled by a committee restricted to the presidency before being presented to the Council of Ministers” (International Crisis Group).

Timeline – Under the Rainbow:

President Pierre Nkurunziza was the Chairman under the Cabinet Meeting the 25th February 2015 where this was the outcome on the matter:

“The Rainbow Company has received the exploration permit for REE and related ores in May 2011 on Gakara perimeter and that permit was renewed in July 2014. After three and a half years of research, the company filed a feasibility study containing the entire technical and economic requirements for the exploitation of reserves located in an area of 39 square kilometers contained in its prospect perimeter measuring 135 square kilometers” (…)“The exploitation agreement was the result of a consensus between the Burundian technicians and those of Rainbow. The company plans to produce 5,000 tons of rare earth ores per year, with an investment of 7.7 million US dollars” (Council of Ministers).

On the 8th April Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd. could announce that they got funding from Pala Investment Limited to do develop the Gakara project. The financing they got to was up to $12M. The first stage of the project is use $6M in a 6 month period to get the trial mining starting. Second stage is to get the capital and get more effective mining. The Pala Investment Limited has an option if the phasing up more loan to another $6M to build and facilitate infrastructure on the site of Gakara Project. Martin Eales commented on this saying: “We are very pleased to have secured this investment from Pala, who will provide both financial and technical advice and will be a valued partner going forward. Their detailed due diligence and subsequent participation provides significant third party endorsement of the potential and quality of our project.” (…)“With the recent approval of the Mining Licence and Mining Convention from the Burundian government, we can now make rapid progress, and I look forward to reporting on further developments in due course” (Rainbow Rare Earths Limited).

If you wonder where the monies for the loan is from it’s from the independent London based Chrystal Capital Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). “The financing agreement is for an investment of up to US$12m, subject to the completion of certain milestones, which will fund the project through to full production” (Chrystal Capital).

So for you who can read can see that the funding from Chrystal Capital Partners is the initial loaner of $12M who will be used on the 2 first phase, that supposed to be spent by Pala Investment Company. Pala Investment Company is financing Rainbow Rare Earth Limited who also happens to be a subsidiary of Pella Resources Limited, who also happens to be a subsidiary of Pella Resources Limited, who is actually the mining-company on the Gakara Project. So the Monies are going from London (Chrystal Capital) – Switzerland (Pala) – Guernsey, UK (Pella Resources Ltd) who happens to run the subsidiary Guernsey, UK (Rainbow Rare Earth Limited). Well this story has not ended.

On 14th April 2015 the German Company of ThyssenKrupp Metallurgical Products signed an agreement with Rainbow Rare Earth Limited to sell their resources and future production to the German counterparts. Kai-Norman Knötsch who is a Chairman in the Management Board of the company commented: “We look forward to successful cooperation with Rainbow Rare Earths. As the exclusive marketer of these high-quality products, we will have the opportunity to strengthen our customer relationships long term and gain further market share around the world” (ThyssenKrupp). This will secure the economic and the future of the Garaka Project. Since the Germans will buy the RRE from Rainbow (Pella) who then can pay the loans for the funding to Pala and Chrystal Capital. Do you follow me?

This is how it is so far. I wonder how it will go and how reports on the ground will be. And if the agreement between Rainbow Rare Earth Limited and the Government of Burundi will ever surface and come into light again. If so a brother wants to read that one. In the meantime we have to wait on reports on the earnings on the mining and how that will be spent in the country. That can be exiting read as well. Peace.  

Reference:

ThyssenKrupp – ‘ThyssenKrupp Metallurgical Products signs offtake agreement for rare earth elements’ (14.04.2015) Link:  https://www.thyssenkrupp.com/en/presse/art_detail.html&eid=TKBase_1428993710593_117572636

Chrystal Capital – ‘Chrystal Capital raises $12 million for Rainbow Rare Earths’ Link: http://www.chrystalcapital.com/chrystal-capital-raises-12-million-for-rainbow-rare-earths/

Rainbow Rare Earths Limited – ‘Funding secured for the development of the Gakara Rare Earth Project in Burundi’ (08.03.2015) Link: http://www.pala.com/images/media/44_Funding%20agreement%20with%20Pala%20-%20Final%20-%2008.04.15.pdf

Republic of Burundi-Council of Ministers – ‘MEDIA RELEASE CONSECUTIVE TO THE CABINET MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 25TH OF FEBRUARY 2015’ (26.02.2015) Link: http://www.burundi-gov.bi/IMG/pdf/cabinet_meeting_three-1.pdf

Southern Crown – ‘February Company Update’ (02.2010) Link: http://southerncrown.com.au/joomla/images/announcements/pp.pdf

Southern Crown – ‘MARCH 2012 QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES REPORT’ (27.04.2012) Link:  http://www.infomine.com/index/pr/PB503217.PDF

International Crisis Group – ‘Burundi: A Deepening Corruption Crisis ‘(21.03.2012) Link: http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/africa/central-africa/burundi/185-burundi-la-crise-de-corruption-english.pdf

Corruption is like a ball of snow…

snowballfeatureimage1-420x215

“Corruption is like a ball of snow, once it’s set a rolling it must increase” – Charles Caleb Colton.

It’s been a while since I have addressed this matter. Well, the world continues to spin and the rain keeps falling. Still there is some Civil Servants, Government Officials or greedy corporate men who want to earn a quick buck. Here are a few stories from all around the world. To prove that it doesn’t matter where you live, it’s how you live. And for some reasons when somebody finds out it will be an easy way to get something extra without much work. But first I have to write about somebody who deserves credit. Then after this, I will tell stories about corruption cases that are going on all around the world.

The then editor of ‘The Elderly’ Vietnamese state-owned print and online magazine Kim Quoc Hoa he reported 2500 cases since 2007. He has been charged with “revealing confidential information related to national security” (…) “abusing freedoms and democratic rights in publishing articles that disseminated false information” (CPJ). The publication ‘The Elderly’ has also been shut down and gotten a fine of around $32 000. This is all happening before the Communist Party Congress of 2016 (News24).

In the American country of Panama a former minister has a case corruption case against him. The Former Finance Minister Frank De Lima has been charged with inflating multimillion dollar contracts with National Help Program (NHP) (PanAMPost). The embezzlement is that the money $1.7M for the NHP has been skimmed away. That was supposed to go “grain contracts” (Rodriguez).

In Edinburgh, Scotland the former employees of the Edinburgh Council Charles Owenson and James Castello that wasn’t just some swell seats at football matches for Hibs or Hearts. They both worked for the Council of the town as part of Property Care Service. The Council members got extra services from ABC Limited. The money and services they got was after the company got contracts with the county. One even bragged about “One witness states that Costello bragged about the money being spent by ABC and on one occasion claimed a night out he had attended must have cost ABC £5000”. They have pleaded guilty and in a month time the sentencing will happen (STV).

In Fiji the former Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Pio Tikoduadua is claiming that the Land Transport Authority is widespread with corruption. He fears for quality of the roads and commuting on the roads with buses as well (Vuniwaqa).

In Canada in the city of Montreal last Wednesday a former construction entrepreneur Lino Zambito pleaded guilty in court of St. Jerome that he was guilty of offering kickbacks to public officials for a public contract to build a $28M Water Filtration Plant in Boisland (CTVNEWS Montreal).

I know I just picked a few for you. There are always more stories on this. And when you search for sweet stories you end up picking this ones, to prove that it’s a worldwide phenomenon. I know wanted to prove that it’s everywhere. Mr. Colton saying the facts: the snowball is running and it’s increasing in size. Wonder when it going to end. Peace.

Reference:

CTVNEWS Montreal – ‘Lino Zambito pleads guilty to corruption-related charges’ (13.05.2015) Link:  http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/lino-zambito-pleads-guilty-to-corruption-related-charges-1.2371937

CPJ – ‘Vietnamese editor faces anti-state charges for reporting on corruption’ (13.05.2015) Link: https://www.cpj.org/2015/05/vietnamese-editor-faces-anti-state-charges-for-rep.php

News24 – ‘Vietnamese editor charged for publishing graft reports’ (13.05.2015) Link: http://www.news24.com/World/News/Vietnamese-editor-charged-for-publishing-graft-reports-20150513

Rodriguez, Juan Jose/Business Insider – ‘Panama gripped by millionaire ex-president’s graft scandal’ (15.05.2015) Link: http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-panama-gripped-by-millionaire-ex-presidents-graft-scandal-2015-5

PanAMPost – ‘Panama Corruption Probe Arrests Key Martinelli Ally’ (14.05.2015) Link: http://panampost.com/panam-staff/2015/05/14/panama-corruption-probe-arrests-key-martinelli-ally/

STV – ‘Corrupt officials given lap dances in return for council contracts’ (15.05.2015) Link: http://news.stv.tv/east-central/1320605-corrupt-edinburgh-council-officials-given-lap-dances-by-builders/

Vuniwaqa, Bola-Bari – Fiji Times Online – ‘Corruption Concerns’ (18.05.2015) Link: http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=306231

Press release: Kenyan Treasury Announces Clearance of VAT refund backlog (19.05.2015)

Tax Kenya

Uganda: Dr. Kizza Besigye and Lord Mayor Lukwago under house arrest and more.

1905Kam

Police siege Besigye and Lukwago’s homes.
Police are currently surrounding the houses of former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president, Dr. Kizza Besigye in Kansangati, a Kampala suburb and embattled Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago in Wakaligga on assumptions that they will cause chaos. Besigye is trying to find his way out but in vain. He is supposed to be at parliament to present reform proposals upon the speaker’s invitation. Last week the two were arrested as they tried to hold a public meeting on electoral reforms at Nsambya Youth Sharing Center.

1905Kam2

 

There is reports that as she was leaving the City Hall Ms. Ingrid Turinawe was taken to custody today. And that fellow activist Hamidah Nalongo Nassimbwa was serverly wonded and left at Mulago hospital.

Before this happen:

The 10 Electoral Reform Activists who were remanded last week have been given a non-cash-bail here at KCCA court.

Here is the Youtube clip on the matter:

Guyana-Norway Cooperation on the deforestation, the Low-Carbon Development-Strategy(LCDS) and REDD+ Program in Guyana

Virgin Forest Resource

Today is the day after we have celebrated our Constitutional Day here in Norway. This is the day after the giant national party. Last week it just happened to be an election in the small South-American state Guyana which is in-between Surinam and Venezuela. As the Corruption Perception Index shows the magnificent position that Guyana in the world that there in the place of number 124 of 175 countries. Here is the chart from Transparency International:

Guyana Transparency

 

To follow the story, I have looked for sources and how it has gone. This I had to do after reading Chris Lang’s report ‘Why did Norway agree to pay US$40 million just before Guyana’s election?’. That he published on the internet page red-monitor.org. As a Norwegian I haven’t really heard anything about the election or the funding of the rainforest projects in Guyana. We have seen our development minister Erik Solheim travelling to Brazil and looking at the crazy animals and green trees in the rainforest. So I had to check what has been said. Here is what I have found. And hope it’s worth five minutes of your day.

The now former president of the Republic of Guyana H. E. Donald Ramotar on the 5th payment on the 7th of May 2015 stated this: “Fellow Guyanese, I am pleased to announce today that Guyana has received a payment of $8 billion (Guyana) from the Government of Norway. This is a billion more than last year’s payment, and brings the total received from Norway to $38 billion” (…) ”All Guyanese should feel proud of the vote in confidence expressed by Norway in announcing that they are willing to pursue a second agreement up to 2020, a policy that only the PPP/C supports in Guyana. And all Guyanese should feel proud that we have earned the most money from a forest partnership in the world, after Brazil. Money that is being directly spent on the people” (…) ”the LCDS has done a lot. Guyana has now deployed US$120 million into projects, which are enabling the rehabilitation of Cunha canal that will protect Georgetown, and the communities and farms along the Mahaica River from floods like we saw back in 2005” (…) ”First, the opposition tried to stop Norway from paying Guyana the money that we earned from keeping our forests standing. When the opposition failed to achieve this, they tried to stop us from spending this hard earned money on the Guyanese people by cutting the entire LCDS budget!” (…) ”we have always been fighting to protect our nature so that we can leave an even more beautiful Guyana as a legacy to our children – and today we are leading the world in showing how finances can flow to forest countries. Guyana was once known for rigged elections and economic decay – today we are known for global environmental leadership. The benefits are for all our people, and we must not throw them away”.

On the 8th May “The Government of Guyana this morning announced the receipt of US$40 million from the Government of Norway for maintaining low deforestation rates and improving forest governance” (PRNewswire).

To the Antigua Observerer President Ramotar is quoted on the agreement with Norway: “(This is) a policy that only the PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/Civic) supports in Guyana. And all Guyanese should feel proud that we have earned the most money from a forest partnership in the world, after Brazil, money that is being directly spent on the people.” (…) “believe that not a single Guyanese living on the coast should need to worry when there’s heavy rainfall that their community will flood. And not a single Guyanese in the hinterland should need to worry about not having water during droughts. Nor should any Amerindian community need to worry about having enough economic opportunities to support their development.” (…) “Today, Guyana is one of the leading countries in the world in managing natural resources sustainably. And every Guyanese is benefitting from this. Our most recent deforestation rate was even lower than the previous year.” (…) “All Guyanese should feel proud of the vote in confidence expressed by Norway.” (…) ““I urge every Guyanese to think hard about what is at stake and to make the best decision next Monday to continue down a path of development and progress,” (Antigua Observerer).

On the 12th May reports was saying: “Guyana has received $40 million for climate services and intends to use part of the money for a transformational hydroelectric project in order to reduce the cost of electricity” (…) “The payment was made by the Government of Norway and represents earnings from the Guyana-Norway partnership which in total now amount s to $190 million out of a potential $250 million” (Caribbean News Service).

On the 16th May this new has arrived: “HIS Excellency, Brigadier (rtd) David Arthur Granger, is Guyana’s duly elected and sworn 8th Executive President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Head of State of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. President Granger was administered the Oath of Office yesterday at the Public Buildings by Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh, in the presence of the thousands that converged to witness history. The Oath was administered following the reading of the Official Proclamation by Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally” (…) “The official Inauguration Ceremony for the new Government is slated for May 26, at the Guyana National Stadium, and as had been promised by then coalition presidential candidate, Brigadier (rtd) Granger, Guyanese will celebrate the nation’s 50th Independence Anniversary from its colonial masters, under an APNU+AFC Government of National Unity” (Eleazar).

Newly elected David Arthur Granger said on the inauguration: “I extend the arm of friendship to former president, Donald Ramotar, and the members of the PPP to join this great movement of national unity.” (…) ”let us embrace each other regardless of religion, regardless of race, regardless of class, regardless of occupation…as fellow Guyanese let us work together to realise our inspiring national motto, One People, One Nation, One Destiny” (…) ”Guyanese, the elections are over, the people have chosen their representatives, the Constitution has been respected, our democracy has been fortified, let us now put past rivalries behind us and work in unity to banish poverty, ignorance, fear and hatred” (Eleazar).

Tweedie of the Morning Star tells the story of how close the election in Guyana really was: “GUYANA’S ruling party has alleged fraud in the general election, with just 43 votes separating the two main presidential candidate” (…) “It claimed that the opposition Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) received almost twice as many votes as there were voters in some regions” (…) “The PPP also expressed concern over the “extremely high” number of rejected ballots and accused the APNU of intimidating its representatives and chasing them away from polling stations” (…) “And the APNU declared victory for its candidate David Granger on Tuesday, long before the vote was complete” (Tweedie).

Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran has commented: “No longer motivated by his high ideals, it (the PPP/C) allowed one-man rule, arrogance, crime, corruption, nepotism and high living to flourish and become dominant features of its governance” (…) “Ramkarran said that the PPP/C ignored the fact that it lost a significant percent of its support at elections held in 2011. “It deluded itself by a self-serving analysis that apathy caused its supporters to stay away from the polls in 2011. This prompted an expectation that elections with a divisive political strategy will restore its majority. Thus it rejected any idea of a coalition government.”(Rockecliffe).

Guyana timelines_0

Afterthought:

If this isn’t getting your minds to think and I understand the thoughts of Chris Lang and Redd Monitor. I am just thinking. What is the real measure of the money spent into the saving of the rainforest? How will this sizeable funding scheme really be governed? We now can read reports of possible election frauds in Guyana, also considering the number and place of the country considering their position as the 124 of 175. There are expected that the former President will be happy for the agreement between Norway and Guyana. This is the 6th Payment and also building a Hydroelectric plant in Guyana for 40$B. If this doesn’t make your mind boggle a bit and how this doesn’t seem right. I get worried when the politicians and campaign talks about this funding of deforestation. If you don’t mind I will snip out the most questionable quotes from the ‘Joint Concept Note’ that both government agreed on 6th May 2015. Also the letter from Guyana Forestry Commission from 13. Januar 2015. Hope you enjoy! Peace.

GuyanaJCNGuyanaJCN2 GuyanaJCN3GuyanaJCN4GuyanaJCN5GuyanaJCN6GuyanaJCN7

GuyanaJCN8GuyanaJCN9

 

GuyanaJCN10GuyanaJCN11

The letter from Guyana Forestry Commission:

GFCP1GFCP2GFCP3

PS: If  that wasn’t cool enough for you. Peace!

Reference:

Antigua Observer – ‘Norway pays over $8B to Guyana – signals willingness to partner with Gov’t until 2020’ (08.05.2015) Link: http://antiguaobserver.com/norway-pays-over-8b-to-guyana-signals-willingness-to-partner-with-govt-until-2020/

Caribbean News Service – ‘Guyana $40 Million Fund to Help Develop Hydroelectric Project’ (12.05.2015) Link: http://caribbeannewsservice.com/now/guyana-40-million-fund-to-help-develop-hydroelectric-project/

Eleazar, Gary –  Guyana Chronicle Online – ‘David Arthur Granger sworn in as Guyana’s 8th Executive President …extends ‘Olive Branch’ to ousted PPP/C administration …says let us put past rivalries behind us and work in unity’ (16.05.2015) Link: http://guyanachronicle.com/david-arthur-granger-sworn-in-as-guyanas-8th-executive-president-extends-olive-branch-to-ousted-pppc-administration-says-let-us-put-past-rivalries-behind/

Rockcliffe, Abena – Kaieteur News – ‘A Guyana void of poverty, corruption and nepotism awaits – Ramkarran’ (18.05.2015) Link: http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2015/05/18/a-guyana-void-of-poverty-corruption-and-nepotism-awaits-ramkarran/

Tweedie, James – Morning Star – ‘Guyana Election: Ruling Party Alleges Fraud as Candidates Lie 43 Votes Apart’ (15.05.2015) Links: http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-81e1-Guyana-elections-Ruling-party-alleges-fraud-as-candidates-lie-43-votes-apart

PRNewswire – ‘Guyana receives US$40 million payment from Norway for climate services and continued low deforestation’ (08.05.2015) Link: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guyana-receives-us40-million-payment-from-norway-for-climate-services-and-continued-low-deforestation-300080282.html#

Professor PLO Lumumba on “A pan-African perspective…Decolonising the Mind of Africans” (Youtube-Clip) – (04.11.2014)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfOFcjMRlgo

Well, I know that I’m as European man, and never the less, I am very moved by this speech! Hope you are as well my brother. If not, I don’t know what gives! Listen to the wise words of Professor PLO Lumumba! Peace! 

Burundi: Rebel Brig.General Ndyayambaje speaks out on coup attempt (NTV-Uganda Youtube-Interview)

#DontForget: The Whitehouse(USA) congratulates Dr. Mohamed Morsi on the Election (24.06.2012)

EgyptWHMorsiElected

FDC President Muntu: Burundi scenario possible in Uganda (NTV-Uganda Youtube-Clip)