Moontown

Mr. D. St. E. KELLMAN: Mr. Speaker, as I came to
this Chamber this morning, Sir, I had no intention of taking
part in this debate.

But as one listened to the speeches of Honourable
Members whether it be on this side or on the other side
one realises that one has a right and a rightful reason to
represent those people who are constituents of a rural
constituency. And now, Sir, that we are dealing with land
acquisition and the sewerage plant we must also be aufait
with the workings of the sewerage plants that have been
built or are about to be constructed in this country.
One would have to find out, when this plant is
completed how it is going to be financed. We have to be
sure that we do not find ourselves in a situation where a
sewerage plant is constructed and we the constituents of
rural constituencies find ourselves in a situation where we
have to help finance a project without any direct benefit to
ourselves.

When this debate first started, Sir, there was
discussion whether sewerage plants were the ideas of the
Barbados Labour Party or the Democratic Labour Party.
But as the debate went on we heard of years like 1974 and
we heard the word “environment”. It is quite interesting
that in 1974 you would have heard of the word
environment because I want to say to you that the
Democratic Labour Party has always been a party setting
a lead and a standard for other countries to follow and it is
quite interesting that in 1974 we would have been looking
after the environment of Barbados by building a sewerage
plant. And, in the 1990s the word “environment” is a big
word just like the phrase “rural development” is a popular
phrase.

We on this side will be supporting this Resolution.
We do not have any problems with it but we also have to
answer a couple questions. We are hearing about $72
million for this project and as far as I know this is to do
with internal sewage. In a day and an age like this, Sir, we
have to ask ourselves if we are going to spend US$72
million on internal sewage, how much are we prepared to
spend on external sewage? When we are hearing situations
where people are saying “over their dead bodies” and some
people are saying to me that I must be prepared to take
some external sewage I will have to ask the relevant
Minister how much money are we prepared to spend on
external sewage? I am dealing with sewage, Sir. I would
like to know, Sir, that in 1994 why is it that we must be
arguing in this House of Assembly which constituency
would have to deal with the external sewage.
Mr. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for St.
Lucy, I have been really trying to follow the gist of your
presentation. I did not want to interrupt you. But could you
focus on the Resolution? It is really not so clear, the gist of
your presentation.

Mr. D. St. E. KELLMAN: First of all do you want
me to answer what is external sewage?
Mr. SPEAKER: First of all you are talking about $72
million for sewage. You are talking about sewage or
sewerage? What are you talking about?

Mr. D. St. E. KELLMAN: On the sewerage plant, Sir.
That is what I am talking about. Anyhow, Sir, I am saying
that if we are going to external garbage and internal
garbage - is that what you are saying, Sir? 2.25 p.m.
Mr. SPEAKER: You proceed. Proceed. Proceed.

Mr. D. St E. KELLMAN: Yes, Sir. What I am
saying, Sir, is that we need to find out from the Minister
that in the same way we are going to spend US$72 million,
how much is he prepared to spend on the other plant?
Because we cannot find ourselves in a situation where the
urban and suburban areas ate prepared to spend US$72
million and where we have come to this House of
Assembly prepared to spend this money.

Mr. SPEAKER: I am sorry to cross you again. But
you are talking about this plant and the next plant. Did the
Minister mention another plant this morning?
Mr. D. St. E. KELLMAN: No, I am linking the two,
Mr. SPEAKER: What are you really referring to? Aside.
Mr. D. St E. KELLMAN: I am hearing an aside now
that St Lucy is the ideal place for the other plant.
Mr. SPEAKER: Is there another plant now?

Mr. D. St. E. KELLMAN: I am hearing that from the
other side, Sir, in an aside. But I am saying that it cannot
be in St. Lucy because we are near to the sea and, when
leachate goes into the sea, the leachate will come to the
South Coast So St. Lucy will not be the place for it, Sir…
Aside.

Mr. D. St. E. KELLMAN: Right, which is near to the
cement plant You are right But that is also near to the
sea, Sir. I am saying that we are dealing with the Sewerage
Plant and the problems with the sea. We cannot put it in
that quarry, Sir.
I am saying to this House that we cannot have a
situation that when you are dealing with the urban and
suburban areas you are quite prepared to spend a lot of
money, Sir, but when you are dealing with rural
constituencies or other areas, we are not prepared to
Sir.

spend the money. I am saying that, if an incinerator is the
right thing for Barbados and I am hearing the figure from
the other side of $130 million, in the same way one
sewerage plant can cost US$172 million and Bds. $130
million for the incinerator that we should be prepared to
spend Bds. $130 million to look after a problem that is
nationalistic or islandwide, if you want to say that So that
my friend in St. George South would not have to worry
about the Workman’s landfill. I am saying to this House
that we must be serious and we must be prepared also to
look after the problems of the rural constituencies. That is
why I am asking the relevant Minister or the one who led
off the debate properly if they are prepared to spend $130
million to look after the whole of Barbados or if they are
going to come everytime to ask us to vote $72 million or
agree with them to finance a project for $72 million for a
particular area. We are hearing about three plants and three
by 72 is US$216 million which is Bds. $432 million. As I
said before, Sir, we have no problem in looking after the
environment because since 1974 we have been doing so,
Sir. So we have no problem with that and we are saying
that we should not be arguing whether we should have
landfills or not My argument is that $130 million for an
incinerator is a good figure for the whole country and we
should be prepared to come into this House and make a
vote for that figure so that the country would not have to
worry whether the landfill is going to St. Thomas, St.
Andrew, St. George or even to St Peter. We in St. Lucy
have had our fair share already and I will not be supporting
anything for a landfill in St. Lucy.

Thank you very much.

-UK, Sweden pose questions on phantom squad

Guyana is today slated to defend its human rights record before the United Nations in Geneva and it faces a barrage of questions on issues such as the phantom squad, torture, capital punishment, violence against women and gay and lesbian rights.

The grilling in the Swiss city will take place in the framework of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) under which the human rights record of each state is extensively reviewed every four years.

Each member state is required to produce a national report in accordance with a UN Human Rights Council resolution and Guyana has complied. However, there was no widespread publicizing of the preparation of the report here or an invitation for civil society input. Georgetown has also not publicized today’s session or announced who will be representing the country if at all.

The United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Norway are among the countries that have submitted questions.  According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights website the UK submitted questions in advance including whether enough had been done to address allegations of government links to the 2002-6 phantom squad.

“Serious allegations of Government links to a ‘Phantom Squad’ in 2002-6, led by a convicted drug trafficker, have been a regular focus of political and media concern and debate in recent years. Does the Government of Guyana feel it has addressed these allegations sufficiently and would it consider an independent investigation to bring to justice those responsible and bring closure to this issue, including for the relatives of the numerous victims?” the UK question read.

London, which withdrew an offer of security sector assistance after deep differences with the Guyana Government, has also asked for an outline of what “concrete” steps will be taken within security agencies to ensure that recent cases of torture such as that of the teenager who was burnt on his genitals will be prevented in the future. The UK also posed questions to Georgetown on to what extent it thought that ethnic discrimination and alienation are problems for the country and when Guyana will end its state monopoly on radio broadcasts. It also quizzed the government on the extent of national consultation on the report which is up for consideration today.

Norway, which recently entered a huge forest protection agreement with Guyana, has tabled a question on what measures have been taken to date to create mechanisms “to fulfil the rights of indigenous peoples to be consulted in accordance with international human rights law”. The question will resonate here following the recent flare-up between the government and the Amerindian Peoples Association on whether there had been free, prior and informed consent in relation to the government’s much-vaunted Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Norway’s funding pledge of a maximum of US$250 million over five years is predicated on the achievement of many of the LCDS benchmarks.

Oslo is also seeking to discover what steps the government will take to engage civil society organizations on the following up and implementing of the recommendations from members of the UN Human Rights Council.

A slew of questions have been forwarded by other countries including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and the Czech Republic. They ask for information on child prostitution, allegations of widespread police brutality, criminalizing of homosexual relations and cross-dressing. Sweden also posed a question on what measures the government had taken to “thoroughly investigate the human rights abuses allegedly committed by a “death squad” between 2002 and 2006.

Eight human rights groups also made submissions including Amnesty International (AI) and a group that includes the Guyana-based Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).

Amnesty expressed concern at reports of excessive use of force by the police and army and referred to the torture of the teen last year and two others. AI also cited the allegations about the workings of the phantom squad and its connections to serving and former police officers and government officials. It recommended that Guyana conduct a “fully independent” probe of human rights abuses by a `death squad’ and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. The human rights group also voiced concern over the high levels of physical and sexual violence against women and children while recognizing recent steps by the government to address violence along with the recently approved Sexual Offences Bill.

The Sexual Rights Initiative in conjunction with SASOD raised concerns about the consistency of response to Lesbian and Gay persons who are in need of health care among other issues.
National Report

The report submitted by Guyana describes what it said was the inclusive governance model and referred to provision for the appointment of human rights commissions. Nearly a decade later several of these commissions are still to be activated including the overarching Human Rights Council and this point was noted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights which prepared a report for the UPR.

Guyana’s 25-page report also highlighted the committee system in Parliament, cabinet outreaches and national stakeholder fora as evidence of the inclusive model of governance. It averred that human rights are protected through the courts and service commissions. It addresses efforts in relation to culture, food security, housing and water, social security, health care, education and the right to work, labour, market training and participation in the workforce.

In what will likely be the most controversial section of the report, the government sets out what steps have been taken to ensure freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Critics have often charged that the government and the security forces have turned a blind eye to many acts of torture and have acted in only the most extreme cases. Indeed, the paper prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for the UPR pointed out that in 2008 the special rapporteur on torture sent a communication regarding three men who died in police custody. It also adverted to the report of the independent expert on minority issues which noted concerns by Afro-Guyanese and others regarding the killings of numerous Afro-Guyanese men since 2002 and the existence of the phantom squad. “According to the independent expert, the perception was of a collusion of government and law enforcement with criminals to facilitate the targeting and killing of young Afro-Guyanese known to the security services. The government rejected the allegations,” the report to the UPR pointed out.

The government also talked up electoral reforms, administration of justice and achievements in poverty reduction. It also highlighted initiatives on Amerindian issues, rights of the child and measures to address violence against women and cited the various challenges to national security.

The national report asserted that Guyana upholds the right to freedom of expression but made no mention of the 17-month cut-off of state advertising to Stabroek News which was widely condemned here and abroad as an attack by the government of Guyana on press freedom.

According to the UN human rights web site, “The UPR was created through the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 by resolution 60/251, which established the Human Rights Council itself. It is a cooperative process which, by 2011, will have reviewed the human rights records of every country. Currently, no other universal mechanism of this kind exists.

The UPR is one of the key elements of the new Council which reminds States of their responsibility to fully respect and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The ultimate aim of this new mechanism is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur.” (Stabroek News)

President Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday commissioned a $400 million water treatment plant at Cotton Tree which was once an area most affected by water shortages.

The plant, according to a Government Information Agency (GINA), is capable of supplying 15,000 residents with clean and safe water. This project was jointly funded by the government and the World Bank which contributed the significant portion after it had indicated in 2003 its intention to finance a water supply intervention.

A technical study and a feasibility study were conducted by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in 2004 and construction commenced the following year after the contract was awarded to UEM Inc; a Trinidad and Tobago company. However, most of the civil works were done by local company Home Designs and Engineering (HDE). HDE is also currently undertaking the construction of the Queenstown water treatment plant.

The Cotton Tree plant, GINA further reported; “draws raw water from the Rosignol pump station which enters a new transmission main then to the retention tank where it is settled and oxidized.

The water is then filtered and purified in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.” The sand filtration system – one of the most modern – was installed in the plant.

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali said the plant’s storage capacity is equivalent to approximately “800 black Rotoplastic water tanks”.

He pointed out that this year will see six water treatment plants completed across the country.

Meanwhile, Jagdeo said the initiative demonstrates progress and gave the assurance that government will continue to invest in the welfare of citizens. Water, according to the President, is a very important resource, of which it is predicted, there will be shortages around the world in the future.

Potable water is very expensive, Jagdeo noted, and will continue to take a central role in government in the future. He urged that this resource should not be wasted.  Jagdeo described Berbice as the hub of a development pole and said the commissioning of the Cotton Tree plant is one of many outcomes of longstanding efforts to restore the economy from a bankrupt state to one of financial viability.

Region Five Chairman Harrinarine Baldeo; World Bank Country Representative Giorgio Valentini; Project Manager of the Capital Investment and Planning Unit of the GWI Ramchand Jailal also joined the West Bank Berbice community for the commissioning. (Stabroek News)

Several medical practitioners who ran operated private practices at the hospital were badly affected by yesterday’s blaze as they lost expensive and state-of-the-art modern equipment as well as, in some cases, all their patients’ records.

Dr Jennifer Bulkan, who has conducted a private dental practice at the hospital for about 10 years, when contacted yesterday, said her office was completely destroyed and she was unable to save anything. Her office was in the front building in the compound, she said.

She was unable to estimate her losses but said that her office was insured.

Recounting what happened yesterday, Dr Bulkan said she received a call in the morning informing her that the hospital was on fire.

She said she did not go to the fire scene immediately but eventually went to the site around noon to determine the extent of the damage and found her office completely razed.

Despite her massive losses, Dr Bulkan already has plans to restart her practice.

She told Stabroek News that from tomorrow, she will be seeing patients at the office of one of her colleagues and patients can contact her on telephone number 648-1818

Dr Roger Viapree, an ear, nose and throat specialist, whose office was on the top floor also lost everything in the fire and is now deciding on the way forward.

Well-known paediatrician Dr Rohan Jabour was also housed close to Drs Bulkan and Viapree on the top flat of that building. Drs Fredericks and Searwar also had offices in the now razed building.

Meanwhile, as word of the fire spread, representatives of the hospital’s insurance agency turned up in an attempt to assess the damage. However, they were initially denied access to the building by the police as the firemen were continuing their efforts to contain the blaze. (Stabroek News)

St Joseph Mercy Hospital’s main structure was yesterday devastated by an early morning fire of unknown origin, but plans are in train to have it up and running again and its board will meet shortly on this issue.

Shahan Rahim

The hospital, one of the country’s leading healthcare institutions, stood as a long-serving Roman Catholic institution and an enduring historical structure. The blaze temporarily brought the Kingston area, where the hospital is located, to a standstill. Patients and employees alike scrambled to safety from the burning building. “Me great uncle in the hospital and I don’t know if he safe! Oh lord, please help that he come out safe,” a woman said, as she ran through Parade Street. She was among persons on their way to visit relatives who were in-patients. The police quickly established a heavy presence at the scene, setting up barriers and keeping the swelling crowd that converged at bay.

Reports estimate that the fire started just before 7 am and it took close to two hours before it was brought under control. Fire fighters were still soaking the demolished wooden structure yesterday afternoon, hours after the flames were doused. Police said last evening that the origin of the fire was still unknown but investigations were ongoing.

President Bharrat Jagdeo toured the burnt out site late yesterday afternoon and he said the administration will assist Mercy Hospital in the short term and long term. He said initial assessments on the fire are not yet in but stressed that the important thing was that patients were shepherded to safety. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Mayor Hamilton Green also visited the fire scene early yesterday morning and the mayor noted the loss of the historical building.
‘It was terrible’

Fire rages at the hospital yesterday.

Shahan Rahim, who many staffers credited for saving their lives because of his early detection of the smoke in the building, told Stabroek News he saw the smoke at around 7 am. On observing the smoke, he alerted staff to the impending danger and began assisting in the evacuation. “I told them everyone has to come out of the building and I even opened my car and offer to put some of the patients in there,” he explained said. “It was terrible, because two just-born babies had to go in the car and everyone was screaming and the fire was getting bigger,” a still shaken Rahim added. He said eventually, as the heat intensified, people were forced to retreat. Some paused to weep and tears flowed openly as the hospital building was engulfed.

Stabroek News arrived at the scene around 7 am and the inferno was raging; thick grey clouds of smoke were seen from the central portion of the hospital, which was built in 1945. In a matter of minutes, the wooden structure was engulfed. Patients, including some still hooked up to saline bags, as well as hospital staff were hurried, wheeled and in some instances fetched out of harm’s way. They were initially taken to the Police Sport’s Club Ground and later to the Guyana Red Cross Society building nearby.

Roman Catholic Bishop Francis Alleyne speaking with senior officials and other staff of St Joseph Mercy Hospital at the Red Cross building yesterday.

The fire service had a negligible presence on the scene initially. At most, there were only two hoses trained on the front part of the structure in the crucial 20 minutes after the blaze erupted. Police from the nearby Eve Leary Headquarters quickly set up barricades and kept the rapidly gathering crowd at a distance.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle told reporters that the exact source of the fire was not yet known but several theories were being explored. “It’s very open,” he said.

Gentle said they received a call at 6.59 am and three units responded; two from the central station and one from Alberttown. “When they got here, they reported that the entire top floor was fully engulfed,” he said. He added that other tenders responded with two large water tanks. He said the aim was to contain the blaze and he noted that water was easily accessible. There were reports yesterday that the fire may have been electrical in origin and may have started in a doctor’s office in the main building. Among the buildings reportedly spared were the operating theatre and the entire western wing, which includes the pharmacy, the dormitory and the canteen, among other facilities.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said he was impressed with the level of coordination between the hospital staff and those assisting from other health institutions. He said staff, including doctors, were at the scene giving full support to the rescue efforts. He noted that other private institutions were also helping. Rohee also spoke on the historical value of Mercy Hospital, calling the hospital a landmark building. He said the tragedy saddened the nation.

Most of the 32 in-patients were taken to the Woodlands and Davis Memorial hospitals while a few were also transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy said that while the fire will have a severe impact on the health sector because of the hospital’s vital role in the delivery of health care, the ministry and the GPH will offer all the support needed to ensure it rejoins the health sector. He revealed that Director of Health Services at the GPH Dr Madan Rambarran and the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan, along with other key personnel, have been instructed to assist Mercy Hospital in all areas. Importantly, the GPH is on standby to offer the hospital any medical supply needed. Ramsammy said he did not see Mercy Hospital as a private institution but rather as part of the health sector and as such no resources would be spared in assisting it.
‘Immediate needs’
Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Hospital Helen Browman offered no comment to the media, but a statement was subsequently issued by the Guyana Red Cross Society on behalf of the hospital late yesterday afternoon. It confirmed that the fire destroyed the oldest wing of the institution. “All patients were safely evacuated.  The destruction of the original hospital building is significant.  Presently, the hospital’s governing board, doctors, administration, staff and Sisters of Mercy are dealing with the most immediate needs of patients, their families and employees,” the release said. It announced that from 9 am today, the hospital’s outpatient services will be available at the Red Cross Building. Persons are asked to contact the hospital’s published phone numbers for more information.

Hours after members of the fire service managed to put the fires out, anxious hospital employees still stood around in an effort to get a glimpse of the charred remains of the burnt out section. The employees were told to go home and assemble this morning at the Red Cross building, but many of them braved the rain and remained beyond the police barriers. At a meeting held with Browman and other senior personnel at the Red Cross building after the fire was under control, staff members were told that their jobs were still secure. “The union turned up but we told them there is no need for the union because we not firing anyone,” the staff was told by a senior staffer. The staff prayed together and they praised members of the Guyana Police Force and members of the Guyana Fire Service.

But while the administration assured the workers of their jobs, many worried whether the hospital would be able to afford to pay them a salary at the end of the month. And those who worked directly in the destroyed building wondered if they may indeed have to look for another job, since it is highly unlikely the hospital can find immediate work for them. Some are expected to return to work today.

Meanwhile, Head of the Roman Catholic Church in Guyana Bishop Francis Alleyne said the lost section of the building is a great piece of history that is no more. The Bishop said he got the news of the fire while sitting at Hosoro, Region One, awaiting a flight to Georgetown. He said he saw the fire from the air and journeyed straight to the hospital upon his arrival at Ogle. He said it was difficult to say what plans are in train to rebuild but added that the idea is to have the hospital up and running and the board of directors will be meeting shortly to discuss it.
‘Services’
Mercy Hospital offered a variety of vital services that no other hospital offered, including MRI, CT scan, massage therapy, pastoral care services and physiotherapy. Writing on her blog on the hospital’s website, CEO Browman in her last post on April 14, said that the hospital saw a record 99 surgeries in March month. At that time, she said the administration was working on a number of projects. “These include the upgrade of the ICU to a four bed unit, an area dedicated for the paediatricians to put their patients, procurement of instruments for the urologist, pilot project on the north wing of distributing stocks in an efficient manner and looking at housing of all the resident care patients in one area so that they can receive further specialised care.”

According to its website, the St Joseph Mercy Hospital had its beginnings when a group of Catholic laymen of the “Sword of the Spirit” movement saw the need for another hospital in Georgetown. The Sword of the Spirit was an association of lay people pledged to the love and service of others with no exception. The idea of a Catholic hospital was not a new one and over the years was being considered by different people, but for one reason or the other, had to be put aside. It was at a group discussion of the “Sword of the Spirit” that the idea of a Catholic hospital was once again considered and a challenging decision was taken to build a Catholic hospital. “They envisioned that this hospital would have as its philosophy, the commitment to serve the community by making available competent health care to those who sought it, irrespective of race, colour or creed, mindful of the teachings of Jesus Christ, Gospel values and the spiritual/physical nature of humankind endeavours. The dignity and individuality of every person was to be honoured by rendering this care in a compassionate and Christian manner.” The hospital said a majority of employees in the nursing service are graduates of the hospital’s School of Nursing. (Stabroek News)