Pull quote: “On Christmas morning waking up in prison is nothing easy, the first thing that comes to your mind is family and friends. The next thing is the joy you are missing out on when you are behind these four walls. To be punishing on death row and in prison so long is worse than death.”? – Hafeez Hussain.?? ?By Rabindra RooplallImagine waking up on a beautiful morning such as this one, facing four close walls and a steel door, and awaiting permission to have a bath and return to that stifling enclosure for the entire day.This has become an annual routine of Hafeez Hussain who is an inmate on death row, and has spent 19 Christmases behind bars.As thousands of people wake up to family and relatives on Christmas Day to exchange good wishes, gifts and a sumptuous meal, there are many who would have to endure not having any family or friendly contact for the season and beyond.In a letter exchange with the inmate, Hussain describes himself as someone who only wants justice in an unjust world.He said many of his days are passed reading and hoping for a better day, especially when the year comes to an end.In describing his feeling at this time of the year, the death row inmate says that Christmas is just another day of isolation, with surprisingly, a more palatable meal compared to any other day.Hafeez HussainHussain explained that out of 24 hours daily, there is one hour given to them to walk along the corridor called the “catwalk.” He said that during that time he would have to bathe, empty his eating utensils and clean out his cell and sanitary bowl.In spite of this almost maddening routine, Hussain insists that he has never lost hope with each year and every Christmas that passes, he says that he always looks forward to spending the next holiday with his family as a free man.The inmate said his first Christmas behind prison walls was filled with emotional turmoil, and as they (the years) “piled up” it became even more heart rending.Hussain, who was a cash crop/rice farmer and a businessman,NFL Jerseys Clearance, also had a grocery and liquor restaurant. He has been a prisoner since 1993, and had been convicted with the offence of robbery/murder. He has lost all of his appeals, and is seeking a judicial review or a pardon from the President.The 47-year-old father of three, who described himself as a hard worker, said he had a committed family life, where he worked tirelessly to secure a solid future.“I have two daughters, 25 and 24, and my son is 20 years old. I also have three grandchildren that I have never seen,” Hussain lamented.After his incarceration, the inmate grieved that he could not have been able to give his family the life they deserved.“On one occasion I had to sell two and a half acres of land to support my children’s education, they are all secondary school teachers…my sister also helped in supporting my children.”The death row prisoner related that he had on many occasion written letters to his children advising them to develop their lives while making a meaningful contribution to society.At Christmastime he reminisces on what his life could have been like, “if I had had a fair trial”, and the many joys of freedom which are taken for granted by many in society.“After all this time, there is no prerogative board of mercy or an ombudsman or any impartial judicial body in which I can ask for them to investigate the circumstances of my incarceration….there should be a human rights body to assist persons in a similar situation to mine.”The isolated man is still optimistic of being with his family for Christmas one of these days – he continues to plead with the judicial system to give him a retrial.“On Christmas morning waking up in prison is nothing easy, the first thing that comes to your mind is family and friends. The next thing is the joy you are missing out on,Cheap Stitched Jerseys, when you are behind these four walls. To be punishing on death row and in prison so long is worse than death,” Hussain stresses.“This will be my 19th Christmas in the same condition, yes, I continue to count them, and by the grace of God I can only hope it will be the last, and for the judicial system to give me a fair review.”Hussain revealed that only on Christmas Day, inmates can look forward to bread and pepperpot for breakfast, and “proper Chowmein or Curry Chicken with rice” for lunch. Dinner, he insists, is not worthy to be noted.He explained that he had filed a petition to the United Nations Human Rights Committee under the Optional Protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The application to the UN Human Rights Committee was registered as Complaint No. 862/1999.Residents from Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, Berbice, had sent a signed petition with their names and addresses to former President Bharrat Jagdeo, stating that Hussain was innocent and was not a part of

Students and workers,Cheap Jerseys, including senior staff, of the University of Guyana will today begin a protestFreddie Kissoonover the termination of Freddie Kissoon’s contract,Wholesale Cheap Jerseys, and other issues which affect the University.This follows a meeting of the University of Guyana Students Society, the University of Guyana Workers Union,Cheap Jerseys Store, and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association.Kissoon was Monday formally told that his contract was being terminated with immediate effect by the University’s Council. He was a political science lecturer who functioned in that capacity for 26 years. The University Council has not formally given a reason why Kissoon’s contract was terminated.At the meeting yesterday, the three bodies stated that the University’s Council usurped the function of the academic community which determines how a lecturer performs.The decision of the students and workers to stage a protest from today sprung from the termination of Kissoon’s contract, which he sees as politically motivated given the heavy criticisms he has heaped upon the government through his column in the Kaieteur News.However,Wholesale Jerseys From China, the students and workers are also protesting what they see as discrimination against Registrar Vincent Alexander.They say that while the Council took a decision to advertise Alexander’s position as vacant, meaning that he has to re-apply,Nike NFL Jerseys China, two other posts – the Director of the Berbice Campus and the Bursar – were renewed without any advertisement.The students and workers are also protesting conditions at the University, such as the situation in which chemistry students have to use acids without any protection.The protest will continue until Monday when the students and staff of the University will hold a general meeting to decide on what further action would be taken.

By Tusika MartinGovernment has offered to sell its 20 percent shares in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T).Chairman of the Privatisation Union, Winston Brassington, told Kaieteur News that the announcement was made at the company’s Annual General Meeting,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, yesterday.The initial offer of sale, he said, is being made to GT&T’s parent company Atlantic Tele-Network Inc.“We have offered to sell it to ATN, and if ATN does not want to buy it or if we cannot agree on a price,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, then we reserve the right to sell it to whoever we want.”According to the Head of the Privatisation Unit, the telephone company’s financial status is excellent, making it a prime time to sell its shares.“We are hoping to get a very good value…You value your share based on how much money you can make…I do not believe that any other company in Guyana is doing as well as GT&T,” Brassington added.He stressed that the administration will not ‘give away’ or sell its shares ‘cheaply.’Even as the administration prepares to sell its shares in the company,Cheap Jerseys From China, yesterday it did not vote in favour of the 2008 accounts.Speaking about the decision not to vote in favour of the 2008 accounts, Brassington said that Government objected, and did not vote, primarily because they are not satisfied that the six percent advisory fee to ATN is a legitimate expense.Each year, the company has to pay ATN six percent of its total revenue as advisory fees.“Last year at the annual general meeting in respect of the 2007 accounts, we had abstained from voting any accounts because we raised some questions about the nature of the services that accompany the six percent advisory fee.”This particular expense, he said,Cheap NFL Jerseys, is not backed by invoices since according to him the company categorizes it as ‘general services.’“We do not believe that those services amount to a great deal, definitely not worth $1B a year…In the last five years over $5B has been paid as advisory fees.”Brassington explained that it is believed that the six percent advisory fee is a profit distribution.As a shareholder, he added, the government should be entitled to its 20 percent shares.“If it’s treated as profit as opposed to expense, it also means that it would not be deductable for tax purposes.”He added that ATN has the majority and the company can approve the accounts without the concurrence of the government which is the minority shareholder.The agreement with the company, he added, states that management services can be acquired but the administration’s contention is that what is being paid to ATN is not ‘backed up’ by any evidence of services.“If they can prove that they were providing services on an ‘arms length’ competitive services then it would be different but instead they have been consistently been charging six percent of the revenue.”GT&T’s profit after tax was $4B in 2008 and this was after it had deducted the $1B in advisory fees,Cheap China Jerseys Authentic, Brassington said.If the $1B expense is not legitimate, Brassington said, then there are several implications including having to pay 45 percent more in taxes and paying more to the government as a minority shareholder.

– Dr BindaAimed at tackling cervical cancer in sexually active women of child-bearing age, the Visual Inspection with Ascetic Acid screening, commonly referred to as VIA, has been yielding much success.? This notion was highlighted recently by Dr Angela Binda, Administrator (ag) at the Leonora Diagnostic Center. The occasion for her disclosure was Region Three’s observance of World Health Day which was characterised by a mini-health exhibition last week Thursday.VIA was introduced in the public health sector about three years ago at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation but has since morphed into a full-fledge mainstream feature at hospitals across the country.? In Region Three this free public service is available exclusively at the Leonora Diagnostic Centre and the West Demerara Regional Hospital, according to Dr Binda.? VIA screening,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, she said, is designed to detect precancerous lesions on the cervix, thereby allowing the relevant health professionals to administer appropriate treatment. Precancerous lesions,NFL Jerseys Outlet, she disclosed, are treated with a type of therapy that freezes and destroys them, thus preventing cervical cancer from developing altogether.? Several women who were detected with precancerous lesions have since been successfully treated, Dr Binda disclosed.“VIA is being viewed today as very important in protecting women against cervical cancer. A lot of people would know about mammogram and its importance in the prevention and early detection of breast cancer and while the VIA does basically the same thing for the cervix, it is a little bit better in that you detect and treat at the same time…,” Dr Binda asserted.Though there has not been any real campaign to promote VIA screening in Region Three,Wholesale Jerseys Group, the doctor revealed that women have been taking advantage of the service.? This she attributed to the fact that screening is very effective, hassle-free, pain-free and simple to do. Women, she noted, are encouraged to be screened since they can have “immediate result and immediate treatment and be able to safeguard themselves against cervical cancer.”The response to VIA screening has been “tremendous” Dr Binda said,Cheap NFL Jerseys, adding that initially the service was offered once a week at the Leonora hospital but had to be increased to twice weekly to accommodate the demand.? The West Demerara Hospital, she said, has seen a similar response.? “We have been having over 30 patients per day…All we did was put up a poster in the hospital and the word just spread around; women have been coming in to get registered and now we are having women coming in their numbers.”“We are really surprise because this is a relatively new idea and it is catching on which is in fact a very good thing,” she noted.The Ministry of Health,Cheap NFL Jerseys, according to Dr Binda, has been advocating for women between the ages of 20 to 49 to access VIA screening.? She explained that VIA screening is not ideal for women who are post-menopausal as the area on the cervix which is used to detect the presence of cancerous legions would have regressed.? “The older you get it becomes more difficult to detect and so we advice older women to do a pap smear instead.”? In essence, she noted that the introduction of the VIA test has served to replace the pap smear in younger women.Dr Angela Binda

Incidence of counterfeiting has increased rapidly over the years. To defeat that, the Bank of Guyana (BOG) has added new features to its $1000 and $500 notes.To date, one million of each currency is in circulation. Bank officials indicated that the $500 notes have been in effect since November 4,holesale NFL Jerseys, while the $1000 notes were released on November 23.According to the Director of Operations Department,China Jerseys NFL Wholesale, Joseph Lall,Cheap NBA Jerseys Authentic, the $500 note was last changed 11 years ago while; the $1000 note was changed five years ago.He explained that the purpose of the change is to defeat counterfeiting with the availability of the new security features.According to Lall,China Jerseys NFL, one of the new features includes a longer holographic strip across each note with small BOG initials reflecting on each note. He further noted that since the holographic strips are longer, counterfeiters are easily conquered.Based on past records,Cheap Air Max 90, counterfeit money was highlighted in the media early in 2008 when Customs officers unearthed $14M in counterfeit Guyana currency hidden among some items in a barrel that had been sitting at the John Fernandes Wharf for almost two years.

President David Granger on Friday evening,Cheap NFL Jerseys, told the senior officials gathered at the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Inspectors and Sergeants dinner at the Marriott hotel, that Guyana will once again become a safe and securePresident Granger is greeted by some of the senior officers including Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, upon his arrival at the Marriott hotel on Friday.place for the children of Guyana, once they remain dedicated and committed to the country and its citizens.The President said that the government, through the weekly National Security Committee meetings, has been putting plans in train and taking decisions, which will see not only improvements in the country but will also result in better conditions for the serving men and women.“My being here is a reflection of my commitment to the Guyana Police Force. You are the middle belt and the force has been undergoing a tremendous amount of change and of course,Cheap Nike Huarache Shoes, criticisms.“I am, however, convinced that the path that you are on,cheap jerseys online, the work that you do,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, the commitment that you display,Cheap Jerseys Outlet, will eventually make Guyana a more secure place for our children to live. I know there are difficulties but we have set some institutions in place. We meet every week to ensure that we put every ounce of effort into policing in this country. We are trying to bring the police force up to strength… We want to ensure that you all have theSome of the attendees at the Guyana Police Force’s Inspectors and Sergeants dinner at Marriott on Friday.conditions, that you have the resources to enable you to do your job,” the President said.He expressed thanks for the work done during the past year, noting that he hopes 2017 brings more success for the Force.