Can the Guyana Police Force really justify making in front of Hotel Tower a No Parking Zone

Guyana has never established an institutional body that deals with parking. It seems that the Guyana Police Force is left to deal with most issues of parking in and around the city. Unfortunately with the consistently large influx of vehicles into Guyana over the years, there still are no established parking lots available for persons to park when in Georgetown. On-street parking remains unregulated. There is no underground parking or multi-storied car parking facilities in Georgetown or anywhere in the country.

The decision to disallow parking in front of one of Guyana’s oldest hotel is astounding as it is asinine. Where is the documented evidence that parking in front on Hotel Tower impedes the free flow of traffic when compared with other parts of the city? If one were to believe the words of Traffic Chief Neil Semple, then there should be the eager expectation that parking would be prohibited in front of a number of places. Some of these businesses are John Fernandes Ltd, Republic Bank, Fogarty’s, GBTI, and many other businesses on Water Street since to my knowledge and experience, the free flow of traffic on that street is reserved only for Sundays outside the Christmas season.

I empathise with Mr. James Manbahal proprietor of Hotel Tower who has invested millions of US Dollars in Guyana’s flagging tourism industry and is now being given the unfair treatment of the state. With this kind of treatment meted out to current investors, it will only adversely affect the way potential investors view the eco-political climate of Guyana.

Hotel Tower’s parking facility cannot have a greater impact on the free flow of traffic on Main Street than other businesses on that same street that allow parking in front their premises. The Guyana Police Force needs to commission a certified scientific time and motion study that highlights that the Hotel Tower ‘parking lot’ is affecting the free flow of traffic on Main Street more than other businesses on that street. Unless that study can also showcase the Hotel Tower ‘parking lot’ impedes the free flow of traffic more than other areas in front of other businesses in Georgetown, then the Police need to allow parking to continue in front of Hotel Tower or disallow parking in front of business places on Main Street altogether.

Like many Guyanese, I know that there is a greater obstruction to the free flow of traffic in other streets in Georgetown that should have attracted the attention of the Guyana Police Force.  

Dancehall reggae needs to regain its authenticity

I read with deep interest an article in the Wednesday January 12, 2011 edition of the Jamaica Observer entitled, Reggae sales slump in 2010: poor marketing sales to be root of global decline, in which a number of contributory factors were discussed attempting to plausibly explain the reason for this dilemma in reggae’s profitability.

The article mainly argued that a lack of robust global marketing strategies might be the contributory factor in the decline in reggae sales. While I agree that indeed more vigorous marketing can result in some degree on improved sales, there might also need to be an equally enthusiastic approach towards the quality of the music being produced.

This emphasis on quality of music applies more daringly to dancehall reggae which of late continues its morphology into a genre that is overloaded with hip hop influences. While I will agree that maybe this new generation might find their musical gratification in the new direction in which dancehall reggae is heading, I also feel that the genre is somewhat losing its authenticity.

During what I always refer to as the golden era of dancehall: the 90s, dancehall artistes did flirt with numerous cross over riddims as was evident in some of the recordings by Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, Cutty Ranks and a number  others. However, dancehall still managed to remain ‘pure’. I’m afraid that with a product not being what it ought to be, it would cause great difficulty to its marketers to convince customers to buy it.

The international market want dancehall reggae not convoluted synthesized keyboard chords being often overpowered by robotic drum loops. Dancehall reggae gained notoriety worldwide as a rhythmical genre that bore with it the authenticity of its place of birth: Jamaica.

A good point to note is that whenever there is a glut of any product existing in any marketplace sales will be severely affected. The proliferation of dancehall riddims that are churned out almost on a weekly basis cannot help the dancehall cause. Maybe the emphasis really needs to be shifted to the quality rather than the quantity of dancehall reggae being produced.  

Late last year Sean Paul performed to a huge maddening crowd on the beach in Abu Dhabi and the pieces he chose to perform are what I considered his dancehall standards. The crowd simply soaked it up. Mr. Paul might have himself been surprised to see that so many people in the Middle East turned out and knew all of songs. It was a very special moment for me to witness the effects of this powerful genre.

I sincerely hope that 2011 bring better prospects for dancehall reggae and reggae album sales as whole.

The Richard Francois Blog: Banks DIH Groovy Soca Competition should be an annual event

The Richard Francois Blog: Banks DIH Groovy Soca Competition should be an annual eventI would like to congratulate the winner of the inaugural Banks DIH Groovy Soca Monarch competition, renowned Guyanese and Caribbean recording artiste and entertainer extraordinaire, Mr. Jomo Primo. Also, the other two top finalists, Michelle ‘Big Red’ King and Dallas Forte along with the other finalists who provided fierce competition ensuring that a high quality of groovy Soca musical excellence was maintained, must be commended as well.

From the unedited recordings of the finals I’ve seen, there was no doubt that Jomo’s international experience and his captivating stage presence and performance made him the clear favorite among the judges to be the winner.

Banks DIH must be lauded for conceptualizing and executing such an innovative and successful competition that has produced some very musically appealing groovy soca pieces for Mash 2011 and beyond. Mr. Birchmore Simon and the entire Kros Kolor team must also be applauded for their invaluable role in making this competition a success.

Groovy Soca is a sub-genre of Soca and is arguably a more memorable and musically digestible form of Soca music that inevitably finds its way into the clubs and parties held in the months leading up to Carnival/Mashramani and those that follow. It is easy to dance only requiring its listeners to engage their hips in a minimum continuous rotation to the rhythm.

I hope that as the Banks DIH executives review their reports on this major initiative, they are significantly satisfied with the amount of brand visibility and awareness that was created as a result of this competition and of course the high quality of the musical pieces that it produced. I’m sure that as a result of this competition, Banks DIH achieved an elevated brand position among the minds of Guyanese.

This ought to be an annual event! I sincerely hope the management of Banks DIH shares this view.

Guyanese must be proud of Banks DIH for producing a unique competition of such high quality. In return we must show our support for the Banks DIH brand by supporting their various products.

Banks DIH Groovy Soca Competition should be an annual event

I would like to congratulate the winner of the inaugural Banks DIH Groovy Soca Monarch competition, renowned Guyanese and Caribbean recording artiste and entertainer extraordinaire, Mr. Jomo Primo. Also, the other two top finalists, Michelle ‘Big Red’ King and Dallas Forte along with the other finalists who provided fierce competition ensuring that a high quality of groovy Soca musical excellence was maintained, must be commended as well.

From the unedited recordings of the finals I’ve seen, there was no doubt that Jomo’s international experience and his captivating stage presence and performance made him the clear favorite among the judges to be the winner.

Banks DIH must be lauded for conceptualizing and executing such an innovative and successful competition that has produced some very musically appealing groovy soca pieces for Mash 2011 and beyond. Mr. Birchmore Simon and the entire Kros Kolor team must also be applauded for their invaluable role in making this competition a success.

Groovy Soca is a sub-genre of Soca and is arguably a more memorable and musically digestible form of Soca music that inevitably finds its way into the clubs and parties held in the months leading up to Carnival/Mashramani and those that follow. It is easy to dance only requiring its listeners to engage their hips in a minimum continuous rotation to the rhythm.

I hope that as the Banks DIH executives review their reports on this major initiative, they are significantly satisfied with the amount of brand visibility and awareness that was created as a result of this competition and of course the high quality of the musical pieces that it produced. I’m sure that as a result of this competition, Banks DIH achieved an elevated brand position among the minds of Guyanese. 

This ought to be an annual event! I sincerely hope the management of Banks DIH shares this view.

Guyanese must be proud of Banks DIH for producing a unique competition of such high quality.  In return we must show our support for the Banks DIH brand by supporting their various products. 

Clarks

Last week provided another proud moment for Dancehall Reggae as the Canadian dance reality show and competition entitled: So you think you think you can dance; featured the recent hit song Clarks. As some might know, Clarks is a song paying homage to a Jamaican fashion tradition of wearing the British made Clarks shoes especially the Desert Boot and Wallabees. The song was produced by ZJ Chrome, and features Vybz Kartel, Popcaan and Gaza Slim. It continues to get major airplay on European, American and Caribbean radio stations.

Competitors Bree Wasylenko and Edgar Gilbert Reyes performed a dancehall set for the Canadian show using Clarks, to rave reviews from the judges and voting public. The video of the performance which shows the dancers beginning their routine with Edgar (toothbrush in hand) brushing off his Clarks before unleashing well choreographed authentic dancehall moves, along with behind the scenes footage of both performers trying to say the opening line, ‘wha ah gwan Popcaan’, instantly went viral on social networking sites especially Facebook.

Clarks is the third dancehall song to be performed on the Canadian dance show preceded by Erups’ Click Mi Finga and Sean Paul’s So Fine.

Dancehall producers need to take serious note of the kind of dancehall music that makes it to mainstream audiences. The lyrics are clean and all the songs are homophobia free. No dancehall song promoting murder and ‘shotta’ culture is taken seriously by mainstream audiences who possess the financial ability and influence to take the industry and the genre further.

It was just at the end of June that the UK Guardian newspaper carried an entire feature on the Clarks song entitled ‘Vybz Kartel puts Clarks footprint on Jamaica’. The writer of that article traced the over 30 year history of this Jamaican fashion staple and pointed out how the song sparked a renewed demand for the footwear brand among the young generations of dancehall. It posited that overall sales of Clarks in Jamaica, England and the US rose astronomically as the popularity of the song grew.

Dancehall reggae is a powerful genre that can directly influence the young and the young at heart.  We have seen the damage that the Gully/Gaza feud recently had on the industry and the youth of the Caribbean. We have seen many instances where dancehall reggae has tarnished society through its foul, murderous and derogatory lyrics. The very Vybz Kartel who performed Clarks is guilty of spewing murderous, profane and sexually derogatory lyrics in much of his music. 

I sincerely hope Kartel, his management team and rest of the dancehall administrators and producers recognize that when good quality dancehall is produced and marketed properly, the genre gets positive recognition internationally.

With recent songs like Clarks and Gyptian’s Hold Yuh, it can be emphatically stated that dancehall reggae is not dead; at least not just yet.

GPL needs to ensure it provides proper enforcement in the fight against electricity theft

It is indeed very inspiring to see that Guyana Power and Light (GPL) along with the Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Samuel Hind (who has ministerial jurisdiction over to the power company) are embarking on the Electricity Sector Reform (Amendment) Bill 2010.  Electricity theft remains a major challenge for the power company as it strives desperately to reduce losses.

Already there are arguably strict penalties for persons who are caught stealing electricity. The last time I checked, I believe the fine for anyone caught stealing electricity is that of 50,000 Guyana dollars and a compulsory one-year jail term.

This to me is quite a frightening penalty to pay for illegal electricity. Some have even paid with their lives when electrocution fatally administered judgment on the careless culprit. Even the innocent suffered unsuspectingly if they came into contact with illegal wires. Some have even lost precious household items to fires caused by illegal connections.

What confuses me however is the fact that such harsh penalties exist for electricity theft and still this now cancerous problem remains prevalent in every corner of the Guyanese society.  The light that ever so often conveniently shines on electricity theft would lead the public to believe that this problem is only prevalent in one section of society. That is not so! Electricity theft is ubiquitous.

GPL has set up a division to focus entirely on loss reduction. And while loss reduction embodies the reduction of both technical and nontechnical losses, more energy must be focused on eradicating the many ingenious forms of electricity theft that prevail. 

GPL needs to deal severely with persons found stealing electricity in whatever form they find. GPL needs to make examples of those persons in the business community who steal electricity. Regardless of whether a person is a friend or a foe to the organization if they are caught stealing electricity they must face the full brunt of the law.

The amendments being made are good. It is heartening to see the power company working towards stricter legislation to combat electricity theft. However if the proper enforcement is not practiced, if the persons caught stealing power are not prosecuted accordingly, these amendments would be but an academic exercise.

Maybe the Honorable Prime Minister needs to set some specific targets for GPL to achieve with regard to the tangible reduction of electricity theft. This problem needs to be eliminated. I would appeal to GPL to ensure that those in charge of the Loss Reduction Division are properly qualified and are functioning efficiently and effectively in the fight against electricity theft. If proper enforcement does not accompany these new amendments things would remain as the saying goes: with Peter (the legitimate consumer) paying for Paul.

West Indies team, then by their mere performance they could command more airtime

It must be a really good season of sports TV in Guyana. With World Cup Football, the NBA playoffs, the recently concluded Montreal Grand Prix and of course the West Indies first test against South Africa. I could not help but notice an exchange in the letter columns about the relegating of cricket coverage to highlights to make way for World Cup Football.


While in ‘ordinary time’ test cricket with the West Indies team would be the dominant sport on TV, we must realize that World Cup Football comes around once every four years and therefore should be allowed significant air time.

While I know some cricket fans might be fuming because they were not able to see the full length of the test match that was played in Trinidad, they must understand that unless they are supporting South Africa nothing much was missed. The West Indies team operated with their usual lack lustre, unprofessional, incompetent sporting displays ensuring South Africa won by 163 runs!

But I know some sporting fans that support cricket are fiercely divided and saturate all the social networking sites trading insults, bets and seemingly infallible predictions for the scorching hot NBA playoffs between the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics. This year’s playoffs have been deeply rooted in rigorous competition with both teams displaying their skill, strategy and execution and an unshakable desire to win. With a game seven in the playoffs for the first time in five years, one can understand that tensions and expectations are high. The Lakers-Celtics rivalry is an old one and it’s good to see a young generation keeping it alive. Sadly fans find it hard to replicate the same excitement and anticipation with West Indies cricket because our cricket has been consistently taking a beating for almost two decades.

If only sporting fans can see some of the determination, professionalism, strategy, discipline and execution being displayed in other professional sports in the West Indies team, then by their mere performance they could command more airtime when other sports are being broadcast. But until then, and as long as we continue to see a West Indies team persisting on serving up its natural losing performances, not only do they run the risk of being the first to be dropped from mainstream TV if other more interesting sporting events are on, but they can also run the risk of finding sponsorship soon. No serious business wants to be associated with a losing brand!