KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BALL!

Dec 05, 2008 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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I truly cannot explain it but over the past ten years it seems as if the women in Guyana have become more beautiful. And none is prettier that the winsome Sarah, who appeared on Sunday as Kaieteur News’s Beauty of the Week.

Guyana has very beautiful women. And from what I have been observing over the past years, I think I can safely say that we have the most beautiful women in the Caribbean.

At this time when all kinds of insinuations are being peddled about the reputations of our women in Barbados, we need to celebrate all aspects of womanhood in Guyana: the breathtaking physical beauties, the hardworking housewives, the selfless single mothers, the devoted and faithful spouses, as well as the ambitious and assertive career women.

I welcome this new Beauty of the Week feature by this newspaper since I have always associated the word beauty with the female gender and the word handsome with males.

Unfortunately, this very issue caused a storm of protests within the editorial room since some of the males felt that not only women should be featured but also men since men can also be attractive.

In fact, word has reached me that both Uncle Adam and Uncle Freddie are looking forward to their pictures appearing this week as Mr. Handsome.

I have always known Adam to consider himself a looker, but I was completely taken aback when it was revealed that Uncle Freddie is also very vainglorious about his appearance.

Another of the features that I enjoy even though it has stolen my thunder is the Food for Thought column. I would encourage all readers of this newspaper to read this particular column published in our Sunday edition. It is thought-provoking and provides answers to life’s big and small questions.

It can inspire you, move you to tears and help you to become a better person without affecting any of your existing philosophical or religious beliefs.

I look forward to many more new features by the Kaieteur News. I truly enjoy this newspaper both as a columnist and as a reader. Glenn Lall has done wonders for this country through his own insightfulness as to how best his newspaper can make a difference.

The media can also make a difference through in-depth investigative reporting and this is an area which I wish to challenge both the Kaieteur News and the Stabroek News – I have little regard for the other newspapers.

I urge both of the main dailies to delve into what is taking place in our society, especially those that concern the sale and disposal of State assets.

The media, the Fourth Estate, is the watchdog of society. This is one of its legitimate functions. There are a great many things happening in Guyana which the media needs to be paying attention to.

I was in Linden the other day and saw a beautiful building called the Watooka House. I wondered if a few months from now that building will be up for sale. I also wondered whether it forms part of the BOSAI deal.

I am also interested in what was paid by Jerry for Duke’s Lodge. I have been given a figure but I need official confirmation. I also need to know whether the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has been sold.
I need to know the status with the sale of the former GAIBANK building in Parade and Barrack Streets, right next door to the Privatisation Unit.

I have noted that the Privatisation Unit and NICIL is offering for lease land and assets located at Surapana, Linden. I want Kaieteur News to be on top of this one and find out about these plots and what were they used for in the past.

The one that really tickles me, however, is the invitations for expressions of interest to develop and operate a section of the Omai Mine Site. To quote from the public advertisement inviting expressions of interest, major infrastructure that will form part of the lease arrangements includes:

1) Hotel –style facilities–in excess of one hundred self contained rooms, kitchen and dining facilities, laundry and a domestic water treatment plant.

2) Landing area on the Essequibo River, providing boating trips up and down the river.

3) Access to the whole Omai property, including wetlands and a clear water lake; good prospects for spotting birds and animals, and also for fishing.

4) Area for developing a golf course and other sports games.

A few questions are bothering me. First of all, why is a franchise being offered rather than an outright sale of the property? I can see some of the top business entrepreneurs being interested in an investment of this sort but I am sure they would want to own the place rather than simply lease it.

I am also wondering whether this invitation for expressions of interest has been advertised outside of Guyana. How can we attract really large investors who would wish to buy out the entire property if we do not advertise in some of the prestigious magazines?

I am also concerned that the deadline for expressions of interest is only up to December 22, 2008. Now if I had to assemble a proposal to develop and operate this place, I would need at the minimum, three months to assemble the capital and develop plans for the place.

I surely cannot meet that deadline and I do not think that we will be ensuring that we get the best possible deal by having such a short deadline. The media has to ask these questions because they are of public interest.

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