Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 23 09 2016

Labour pains No. 104683

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

…unions seek audience with President over alleged labour violations

P.3

Lewis set to take command of GDF P.2

…as Brigadier Phillips bows out

Police nab suspect in Plaisance line top murder We got to stamp it out’ P.3

Da Silva’s Optical opens branch in Parika P.5

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, declares open the Da Silva Optical Outlet at Parika in the presence of Dr Shannon Da Silva and Dr Philip Da Silva

Centre

‒ Minister Lawrence alarmed at rate of child abuse in Linden

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Lewis set to take command of GDF …as Brigadier Phillips bows out COLONEL George Lewis, Deputy Chief-of-staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is set to take over command of the military when current chief, Brigadier Mark Phillips retires early next month.

A farewell parade billed for October 3 in honour of Phillips will be the same day when Lewis will take up office. The Guyana Chronicle was told that Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President David Granger, will soon promote Col Lewis to the rank of Brigadier in time for his ascension to the chief-of-staff post.

Phillips who hails from Linden where he attended the Christianburg Primary School and the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (Multilateral

School), joined the GDF in December 1980. He is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom and has held several appointments, including Colonel (Administration and Quartering), and Colonel (General Staff) in the GDF’s Defence Headquarters, during his 30 years of military service. He was also Guyana’s Head of Delegation to the Inter-American Defence Board from 2008 to 2009, and was up to 2011 Guyana’s non-resident Military Attaché to Venezuela. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier back in 2013 by then President Donald Ramotar before he took command of the GDF. He succeeded Rear Admiral, Gary Best.

Meanwhile, asked about

the impending change of command in the GDF, President Granger said there is a “succession plan” when Phillips demits office. “… the next senior officer is going to take his place,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

The President made it clear that there will be a smooth transition and more details will become available in the next few weeks.

“There is no surprise there. The present Deputy Chief-of-Staff is Colonel Lewis, [there is] Colonel Nazrul Hussain, Colonel Persaud…about half a dozen colonels,” he added, noting that the Defence Board has a wide field of choice.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that the Defence Board will meet when he returns to Guyana and make its choice on who will manage the GDF. “The defence board will make the final decision,” said President Granger who is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Members of the Defence Board also include Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of State

Colonel George Lewis

Joseph Harmon, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and the Commissioner of Police.

Colonel Lewis’s appointment as Chief of Staff means that he joins the number of esteemed Chiefs-of- Staff including, Colonel Ronald Pope, Brigadier Clarence Prince, Major-General Retired Norman McLean, Major-General Joseph Singh, Major-General Michael Atherly, Brigadier Edward Collins and Rear Admiral Gary Best.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

Efforts commence to remove sunken vessels OFFICIALS from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) have met with officers from Crown Mining to discuss efforts to remove the sunken dredge at Perimap Falls in the Mazaruni River.

“Over the past few months, Crown Mining assiduously commenced efforts to remove the dredge from its current position.

Unfortunately, the high tide and the location of the dredge between rocks in the waterfalls made it impossible to maneuver special equipment to the site,” MARAD explained in a statement on Thursday.

Despite the situation passage has been created, thereby allowing the more than 40 students from the villages of Isseneru, Kangaruma and Tassarene in Middle Mazaruni to attend school in

Bartica, Region Seven.

There were transported recently to Bartica by a jet boat.

However, this was after a team from MARAD visited the site to ensure navigation was safe for passengers and cargo vessels. A professional salvager recruited by Crown Mining had also assessed the site to see which measures could be taken to salvage the dredge.

It was confirmed by MARAD officers that passenger and cargo vessels can traverse the area where the dredge is located, and bypass channels are available for the smooth maneuvering of vessels.

Meanwhile, Crown Mining will continue with their efforts of removing the sunken dredge with the use of excavators and operators.

Berbice chambers president robbed A LONE thief robbed Berbice Chambers of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) President, Ramroop Rajnauth of a gold chain valued $700,000 after he returned home from the Guinness Bar in New Amsterdam Thursday morning.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that Rajnauth, the owner of Danzie’s clothing and auto sales had left the bar at Main Street and Lad Lane, just a corner away from his home, about 01: 30hrs and soon after the incident occurred.

On arriving home, he exited the vehicle to open his gate, and as he was about to drive into his yard, an identifiable male snatched the chain off his neck and fled on foot in a westerly di-

BCCDA President Ramroop Rajnauth

rection on the Strand Road.

There were security guards in proximity but they were unable to capture the bandit.

Labour pains

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

…trade unions seek audience with President over labour violations

The meeting underway in the GTUC’s boardroom, Critchlow Labour College

By Svetlana Marshall TRADE unions across the divide will be seeking an audience with President David Granger to discuss among other things the industrial relations climate here and the country’s growth and development.

This is according to a joint statement issued by the unions on Thursday, following a high-level meeting at the Critchlow Labour College. In attendance were presidents and general-secretaries from the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), the National Union of Public Service Employees, Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers Union, Clerical and Commercial Workers Union, General Workers Union, the Guyana Teachers Union, the Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers, Guyana Local Government Officers Union, Printing Industry and Allied Workers Union, Guyana Agricultural

and General Workers Union, the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees, the Guyana Public Service Union, United Minibus Union and the People’s United and General Workers Union.

The meeting was held to determine and chart a course forward in light of the current threat to the existence of labour, the unions said in their statement. As such, a number of issues were raised, discussed and deliberated upon with respect to workers’ well-being and labour’s role in representing their interests, in the workplace and wider society.

“It is not lost on the trade union community that the state of affairs between employers, including the Government, is one that poses a threat to a harmonious industrial relations climate, production, productivity, and the nation’s overall growth and development,” the unions

stated.

The unions said they are concerned that the Constitution of Guyana is being breached by those who fail to recognise trade unions in Guyana as a major stakeholder in the decision-making process.

The Trade Union Recognition Act (Chapter 98:07) Section 23 (1) states that employers are required to treat with recognised trade unions and engage in good-faith negotiations, however, the unions said in many instances the law is being observed in the breach.

“The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) as in the case of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) where since 2009 the employer refuses to treat with the union,” the unions pointed out as they cited an example. They said too that the Guyana Teachers Union has been affected similarly with the Ministry of Education

abandoning negotiations and imposing increases in wages and salaries.

Additionally, the unions said the Good-faith principle which guides Collective Bargaining is not being upheld by the Government with respect to its negotiation with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).

The Government has recently indicated that it will go ahead and pay a 1-10 per cent increase to public servants, saying that it was the last offer that will be made to the GPSU. Sugar workers, the unions posited, are also being affected by decisions made in the absence of their unions.

“We are mindful [that] if these violations and transgressions are not addressed soonest they can become widespread with dire consequences,” the unions said, while signalling their intention to dispatch a letter to President Granger. When the meeting is held, the unions will discuss the steps needed

Police nab suspect in Plaisance line top murder The prime suspect in the killing of 28-year-old Orette West, of Guyhoc Park,on June 3, 2016 was apprehended Thursday and reportedly confessed to the murder, police confirmed.

The incident had occurred shortly after midnight during the usual ‘Thursday Night Lime’ at the Plaisance Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara. The police hunt came to an end after acting on information re-

ceived regarding the place where the suspect was hiding.

Reports indicate that the suspect and the deceased had an old grievance over the young woman with whom West, a bodywork technician, was at the ‘Line-Top’ lime with. On seeing West, a

heated argument ensued between the two men and the suspect, known only as “Kevin”, whipped out a knife and stabbed West before fleeing the scene.

The young woman who was with West at the time of the incident gave a statement and cooperated with the police.

to be taken to correct these anomalies in the system. The unions reminded that they will continue to be guided by their constitutional duty, rights and responsibilities stipulated in Articles 38, 147, and 149C. With the exception of the GLU and the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union, all the other unions were in attendance.

Earlier this week, GTUC’s General-Secretary Lincoln Lewis told this newspaper in an interview that it is important to convene the meeting, given the number of “flagrant violations to the Guyana Constitution, Laws of Guyana, International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions, and respect for time-honoured principles.”

“These matters have direct impact on the survival and well-being of our right to exist as a stakeholder in this

society, and be part of the decision-making processes that affect the well-being of our membership,” Lewis stated.

Lewis had said too that matters involving the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) and RUSAL will be among top issues on the agenda. The GTUC has long accused the Russian bauxite company (RUSAL) of disregarding its workers’ rights to operate in safe conditions. Fifty-seven persons were, in 2009, dismissed by RUSAL in a matter which remains unresolved. Additionally, the company has failed to recognise the union representing those workers.

“On every occasion that the ministry has met with the BCGI on RUSAL, the issue of engaging with the trade union has not been discussed.

What they are doing [is that] they are walking around that issue; they have never said, and they do not say, that the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU) is the recognised trade union for the workers; they [are] always talking in abstract about respecting [the] workers’ right to join a union,” Lewis declared.

He said failure to engage the union is a breach of the law – Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act. “So it comes over as if the Government or the Ministry of Labour is an accomplice of the act of seeking to keep the union from representing the workers,” Lewis charged.

Lewis is also contending that the Government is promoting and protecting the interests of the business community and doing the contrary for labour.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

Syrian army declares offensive in city

THE Syrian military has announced a new offensive in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, where a quarter of a million people are living under siege.

Jets pounded rebel positions in the city on Wednesday night as a week-old truce collapsed, reportedly killing at least 13 people.

It is unclear whether the new offensive will involve ground troops.

Talks between the US and Russia on reviving the collapsed ceasefire have broken up without progress in New York.

Russia and the US support Syria’s Government and opposition respectively.

The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, said Washington could not be the only one trying to hold open the door to peace. The US wants Russia to

press the Syrian Government to ground its warplanes.

Kerry added that he would hold further consultations with the Russian team on Friday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that would amount to a “unilateral pause”.

Some had attempted to present the ceasefire as if only the Syrian Government should be taking steps, he said, but the opposition also needed to stop

…

The week in New York is heading towards disastrous diplomatic failure, he adds.

NEW OFFENSIVE Syrian state media quoted army officials as urging civilians in eastern parts of the city to avoid areas where “terrorists” were operating.

They said there were exit points for those who wanted to flee, including rebels.

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Women and children are believed to be among those killed in the latest bombing.

Some reports put the death toll as high as 45.

An AFP news agency journalist reports that his entire street in the southern Bustan al-Qasr district was left burning after warplanes dropped

incendiary bombs.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UKbased group of opposition activists, said 14 air strikes had hit Bustan al-Qasr and the neighbouring Kallasa district, starting “massive fires”, as rebels and troops clashed.

Israel asks Abbas to address parliament ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to address Israel’s parliament.

Netanyahu said that in exchange he would gladly accept any invitation to speak to the Palestinian parliament.

He made the comments at the UN General Assembly, calling on Abbas to work for peace, instead of “stoking hatred”.

Abbas earlier called on the UN to declare 2017 as the year in which “Israel’s occupation” came to an end.

“In June 2017 half a century of this abhorrent Israeli occupation will have passed.” Abbas said.

He urged the UN to “enhance Palestinian legal and political status” as it pushed for “full membership in international organisations”.

Palestine is not a full UN member state, though it has observer status.

Netanyahu spoke shortly after Abbas at the UN. “Wouldn’t it be better if, instead of speaking past each other, we were speaking to each other we were speaking to one another,” he said.

“President Abbas, instead of railing against Israel at the United Nations in New York I invite you to speak to the Israeli people at the Knesset in Jerusalem and I will gladly come to speak to the Palestinian parliament in Ramallah.”

“I am ready to negotiate all final status, but one thing I will never negotiate is the right to a one and only Jewish state,” he added, pointing out that the recent turmoil in the Middle East could lead to better relations between Israel’s neighbours.

The Palestinians have turned down Mr Netanyahu’s previous bids to hold meetings, arguing that such get-togethers will not make any progress because of the prime minister’s hard-line stance on core issues.

They accuse Netanyahu of rejecting a settlement freeze, rejecting the 1967 borders as the basis for talks, rejecting any division of Jerusalem and pledging not to uproot settlements in the West Bank.

The two leaders disagreed over the causes of their decades-old conflict which recently has seen a flare-up in violence, with over 200 Palestinians - mostly attackers, Israel says - and 35 Israelis killed since last October.

While Abbas castigated “Jewish settlement expansion”, Netanyahu argued that the conflict had never been about the settlements or about establishing a Palestinian state.

“It’s always been about the existence of a Jewish state, a Jewish state in any boundary,” he said. (BBC)

Rebel-held parts of Aleppo have been pounded by Syrian and Russian jets

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fighting.

The UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, described the meeting as “long, painful and disappointing”.

This feels like a very serious breakdown with little obvious room left for dialogue until the major powers find new space for compromise, the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent, James Robbins, reports from New York.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

Da Silva’s Optical opens branch in Parika

DaSILVA Optical on Thursday expanded its services to Parika, East Bank Essequibo, as it seeks to meet the needs of residents there as well as residents of Bartica and Wakenaam who usually travel to Geogetown to get their eyes tested.

The newly opened outlet is located at 298 Highway Parika, in the Lens building, and is managed

by Dr Shannon DaSilva.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Da Silva said that she always wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps, pointing out that she began her journey by qualifying herself overseas.

The services provided

Optometrist Dr Shannon Da Silva does a preliminary examination on Minister Dr George Norton

by the business include eye examinations, glaucoma testing, progressive lenses, repairs and adjustments, diabetic retinopathy testing, transitional lenses and sun glasses and contact lenses.

It has also created employment opportunities for four persons, namely an optometrist, an assistant optometrist, a lab technician and a janitor.

Dr Da Silva said more persons will be employed as the outlet expands operations.

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, who was present at the launch congratulated the Da Silva

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family for expanding their business to cater for rural residents as well as for their outstanding service in the field of eyecare.

“The Da Silva family has started this business 61 years ago in Guyana and they continue to give quality service to the communities,” Dr Norton said, as he pointed out that the younger generation in the family has kept the legacy of excellence alive through innovation.

Da Silva Optical is one of the oldest optical services in Guyana with operations also in Georgetown, Linden, and Berbice.

All set for bauxite centenary anniversary

By Clifford Stanley

MEMBERS of the Bauxite Century Planning Committee are well on top with planning of activities to mark the 100th anniversary of bauxite mining in Guyana next month.

Committee member Paula Walcott-Quintin last week listed some of the activities which will comprise the programme for the period October 23 -29.

The celebrations will begin with services at churches that the bauxite company contributed significantly in building, namely: Christ the King Anglican Church, the St Aidan’s Anglican Church and the St Joseph Catholic Church.

On October 25, there will be debating and quiz competitions finals, featuring primary and secondary school students. Preliminary rounds will be held prior to the finals.

This will be followed by a symposium and launching of the Centennial Magazine, which chronicles the history of bauxite over the past century, on October 26.

On October 27, four centennial stamps will be unveiled by the Guyana Post Office Corporation at Three Friends Mine, and a dinner will be held on October 28.

On November 21, an arch will be unveiled, and a Centennial Park at the junction of Washer Pond and Casaurina Drive will be opened.

The unveiling ceremony is considered a signature event. The arch is a gift

from Chinese bauxite company BOSAI, to celebrate both the 100th anniversary of bauxite mining in Guyana and also the 50th anniversary of Guyana’s Independence.

In 1916, the Demerara Bauxite Co. (DEMBA), owned by the Aluminium Company of America (ALCOA), established a mining town at Akyma and built a bauxite drying plant (50,000 tonnes per year capacity) at Mackenzie, on the eastern bank of the Demerara River, opposite Wismar.

DEMBA also built a pier to accommodate oceangoing vessels.

Bauxite mining commenced in October 1916 at Three Friends, an area named after three friends, namely Messrs Spencer, Blount and John Dalgleish Patterson, who settled in the area in the late 19th century after fighting against the French in the Caribbean during the

Napoleonic War. Bauxite mining also started the same year at Akyma, eight miles south of Mackenzie. Bauxite Centenary activities were formally launched on May 23, at the Old Railroad Yard in Mackenzie, currently the site of several ‘relics’ of bauxite mining, including the bucket from an excavator, a refurbished and brightly painted “scooter” that transported workers to the mines, plus a locomotive that moved overburden to the plant.

This old railroad Yard, the former transport hub for workers heading to and from the mines, will be the future site of an open-air living museum since more relics will be added as the centennial commemoration project progresses.

The bauxite Centennial Committee comprises former senior mining executives,

union representatives, managers and communications personnel, as well as current executives of BOSAI, former and current Region 10 leaders, non-profit participants, members representing the Linden Museum, local tourism and the Linden Fund USA. During the May 23 launch, James, the chairman of the Bauxite Centenary Committee noted that the bauxite industry has been sustained in

Guyana for 100 years and pledged that the Planning Committee will develop a

programme to appropriately commemorate this significant milestone.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com

Editorial

Humane Governance

GOOD governance, also known as humane governance, has to do with management of the people’s business within the confines of laws, international conventions, charters and time-honoured principles, tempered by respect for the people.

President David Granger is known to express his thoughts on matters impacting Guyanese and decisions taken by the state and government, irrespective of tier, by calling for a humane approach in doing things. For quite some time this thought, much less expressed view, was absent or played minimal part in influencing decisions. It cannot be over-emphasised that all Guyanese, irrespective of historical experiences, have more in common with what unite us. It redounds to the strengthening of nationhood when attention is paid to our commonalities. As such, it would be difficult to find amongst us anyone who does not want to be treated humanely, including those who act inhumanely to others.

It is oft overlooked that in making decisions or what is being said, what the person first registers is the tone/treatment being meted out and from this would flow acceptance or rejection. Colloquially said, it is not what you do but how you do it. Within recent weeks, President Granger weighed in on the relocating of Georgetown vendors and called for the matter to be handled humanely. In his Weekly Public Interest programme broadcast on 9th September, he said: “I would urge the City Council to deal with these issues in a humane manner, at the same time ensuring that before any move is made, any action is taken, there is an alternative.”

APNU+AFC councillor Andrea Marks also took a similar approach at the Council’s statutory meeting on 13th September, where in expressing the need for City Hall to do its work, called on her colleagues and the town’s administration to, “let’s do it in the right way.” Another issue the President spoke to is the less-than-humane treatment meted out to NCN staff, Natasha Smith and Jocelle Archibald-Hawke.

Ms Smith’s issue surrounded her pregnancy and the latter was disciplined for expressing an opinion, for which an apology was requested and made, but was found not to be to management’s satisfaction.

Another noted public pronouncement on pursuing the humane approach came recently from Vice- President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. New prison officers were charged by him to seek “balance between security and control in the prisons on the one hand, but maintain humanity and justice on the other.” He went on to say, “It is very important that we know the two hands as it were. Proper balance between security and control and humanity and justice is very vital for a public service that is as vital in the public security sector.”

What is encouraging is that should the charge be enforced, it could minimise conflicts in the prison population, which adversely affect the society. Andrew Coyle’s handbook, ‘A Human Rights Approach to Prison Management’ (2nd edition) notes that human rights are an integral part to good prison management, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it works in ensuring operational efficiency and stable relations between staff and inmates.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

Harry Gill out to mislead the public Dear Editor,

I REFER to a letter carried on the letter page of the Guyana Chronicle dated Wednesday, September 21 and captioned: “Contradicting Region Five RHO by personal experience.”

This letter was submitted by Mr Harry Gill MP (PPP/C). In his letter, Mr Gill saw it fit to make several sweeping generalisations about the status of the health-care system in the region, the majority of which are amazingly based on a single personal experience he said he had at one institution.

It is my view that in recent times more and more Guyanese are developing the perception that the political opposition finds it difficult to find hard evidence to support the allegations that they would like to make and are in fact reduced to making sweeping allegations, based on nothing more than emotions and conjecture with the whimsical hope of fooling the naïve and the gullible.

Mr Gill’s letter is a glaring example of the depths to which these opposition politicians are willing to sink in the hope of scoring some points against the Government. Mr Gill writes of a shortage of drugs at the Fort Wellington Hospital. As Regional Executive Officer, I have successfully exposed the inaccuracy of this claim before and I will not deal with this further, but merely wish to draw the attention of the public to a recent, highly successful health-care exercise held in the region on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th September last.

On these two dates, the visiting overseas-based Bridges Global Medical Team and Senior Medical personnel from the Georgetown Hospital and the Fort Wellington Hospital held a medical outreach at the Fort Wellington Hospital, during which they saw and treated over 2,000 residents of the region for a wide range of ailments. The visiting teams did not bring any drugs to Fort Wellington Hospital with them, yet each of the 2,000-odd patients who requested help from this outreach were supplied with all the medications prescribed by the doctors.

In the face of the spurious allegation by MP Gill that there is a shortage of essential drugs in Region Five, where did the drugs to provide relief to 2,000-odd people over a period of two days, come from? From out of thin air?

Mr Gill’s writing that the face masks given to his wife by staff at the Fort Wellington Hospital, when

she experiences attacks of asthma are unsanitary, is another case in point of a politician callously twisting the facts to support his theory. These face masks, also known as nebulizers, are sterilised for re-use using highly expensive equipment at the Hospital bought incidentally by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic during its term of office, for the very purpose of ensuring that they can be re-used.

Mr Gill wanted special treatment for his wife: Brand-new face masks, immediately discarded after use (at least three during an hour and fifteen minutes of treatment ) even though medical science has proven that it is impossible for nebulizers to host bacteria/germs during use and impossible for bacteria/germs to survive the rigorous process of sterilisation after use.

Mr Gill has been in the habit of trying to bully the staff of Fort Wellington Hospital, using his credentials as a Member of Parliament. He once got upset when he wanted to sit in a restricted area of the said Hospital and was told by staff that he could not do so. He once demanded of senior staff of the hospital that they provide him with a list of the drugs available at the hospital and he took umbrage when he was told that he had no authority to make such demands.

In his letter to the Chronicle, he further alleged that only one thermometer was in use at the hospital at the time he visited. But I have been advised that this is standard procedure at the hospital. Nurses on duty specialise in the use of equipment. One nurse is assigned to take blood pressure, another assigned to giving the injection, another nurse assigned to the dressing of injuries and another to using the thermometer to take temperatures and so you will have just one thermometer in use at any one point in time.

Indeed, I have been advised that if each nurse was given a thermometer in addition to other equipment while on duty, then this would increase the possibility of mistakes being made.

But MP Gill is not a medical professional and instead of accepting this and seeking clarifications, he chooses to speak from the bottomless depths of his ignorance on such issues. His portrayal of the status of the health cat Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice though is downright dishonest.

The health centre at Bath Settlement was built by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic while in government, smack in the middle of a catchment

When society sees officials, elected and appointed, are placing emphasis on humane governance such are encouraging signs in responding to calls to make the political culture receptive to and respectful of the people. It breathes life into the society and its motto, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”

Many can recall the truism instilled in us from young to ‘do unto others as you’d like them to do unto you.’

This is the principle that not only informs religious thinking, but underpins human rights declarations and

area (Woodley Park to Catherina’s Lust) which was already being effectively served by the Woodley Park Health Centre.

Its construction at that location amounted to a redundancy, since the population was already being adequately served. Contrary to his allegation that this health centre is being neglected by this regional administration, this facility was put into operation in August of this year. Because of its location in a catchment area already being adequately served, our healthcare people have literally had to beg people to come to this health centre for treatment. I am advised that on any given clinic day not more than four or five people would turn up for treatment.

Instead of saying as he alleges, that the centre is being ignored by the regional administration because it is located in a PPP/C stronghold, he should ask why it was built in that location in the first place.

This health centre at Bath Settlement is in fact a glaring example of the arrogant misuse of public funds for tenuous political gains employed by the former administration.

His puzzlement of why patients from New Amsterdam and Georgetown Hospitals are being referred to the Fort Wellington and Mahaicony Hospitals for drugs again reveals his lack of understanding of how the system operates. When staff at the Georgetown Hospital or New Amsterdam Hospital are finished diagnosing patients, if they are residents of Region Five, they don’t give them medication, they send them back to Region Five to collect medication. I am advised that on some days staff at the Fort Wellington Hospital get countless referrals from the Georgetown and New Amsterdam Hospitals and this influx can cause drugs on the shelves to be fully used up on a given day. However, those who do not get medication on that day are requested to return the very next day to collect their medication and they do get their medication without fail. Mr Editor, it is indeed a sad day when an educated person who is a Member of Parliament can feel free to jump to conclusions based on emotion and conjecture, rather than verified and independently verifiable facts. Then to arrogantly assume that readers are fools.

OVID MORRISON REO Region Five

laws. There is an abundance of literature and best practices on humane governance and management and in the technological age such are easily accessible. Treating each other humanely ought not to be reliant on status in society -- social, economic, or political -- but because it is the decent thing to do and necessary for establishing and maintaining human relations sans conflicts. It is also the making of good politics/ management to avoid internecine, confrontational relations with the very people relied on for support and success.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

Central Bank needs to be revitalised Dear Editor

THERE is tremendous public pressure on the current administration to deliver more jobs, and higher wages in the public sector. The public sector wage issue has its roots buried in the late 1980s to early 1990s, with the implementation of the Economic Recovery Programme under the aegis of the International Monetary Fund, and subsequent IMF/ World Bank Structural Adjustment Programmes, and it is an absolute certainty that both this and

job creation will continue to dog this and subsequent administrations until properly addressed.

Both issues are sore points in the media which need no further address. At issue are appropriate solutions. Both have simple remedies which need to be worked out within a larger policy framework to facilitate dialogue and agreement as a national proposal. I remember His Excellency, the President, Brigadier (Rt’d) David A Granger, addressing senior ranks across the ministries on the need to strengthen

their technical skills to deliver on the mandate he envisages for his government http://www.motp.gov.gy/ index.php/2015-07-20-1853-36/1132-president-minister-of-state-engage-permanent-secretaries. He is not off his mark. A hallmark of the former administration was its strategy of underdeveloping the public sector.

Another instance of institutional weakness in delivering on solutions for our economic problems falls directly within the portfolio of President Granger himself.

The Bank of Guyana is tasked

Publicly applaud our lawmen ‒ when they do good Dear Editor, ON Saturday, September 3, 2016, I was a passenger on the 06:00 hrs ferry from Supenaam to Parika, when, shortly before departure time, a party of policemen from ’G’ Division, some in plainclothes and others in uniform boarded the ferry and conducted a search for a wanted man. I did not know like most other passengers that there had been a robbery at Henrietta on the Essequibo Coast earlier the said morning, during which the victim was shot in this heinous crime. The suspect on seeing the ranks broke into a run, only to end up in the arms of a waiting cop. He was swiftly taken away.

The passengers were very happy to know that the police had got their man. But that was not all a passenger saw when the person was arrested by the police; shortly before his arrest,he had hid a bag in an area. The captain and crew were informed and my understanding is that on searching that bag a handgun and some jewellery were found. It would have been after some intense interrogation and investigation by the police that caused

the ranks to be at the Parika Ferry Stelling awaiting the arrival of the ferry when another arrest was made of another person said to be an accomplice in the crime.

I would now say that this swift action by the police can be described as both efficient and intelligent police work, for which praise and commendation must be given to them.

They are times when criticism is directed towards the police; yes, there are times it may be justifiable, but many times it is not. We quickly and conveniently forget the many times our policemen and women put their lives on the line, in order to effect arrests of dangerous criminals, and in so doing, sometimes recover valuable stolen property.

We must say good things loudly about our Police Force, when there is need to so as to encourage and motivate our police ranks and in so doing we are sending a message to the criminals or those with criminal intent about the length and strength of the arms of the law; and taking a line from the late Ben E King song, there is no place to hide. Not only to the Commander of ‘G’ Division and his ranks but to the entire Police Force, I say thank you and keep up the good work you are doing.

ARCHIE CORDIS

with advising government on economic policy matters, and the problems that have beset the bank are exactly those which straddle the government ministries, namely a paucity of technical resources and individuals dedicated to policy formulation and development.

Again, this was all part of the former administration’s plan, since policy, more particularly decisions on expenditure, was developed directly at, or above the Office of the President at the time under the able eye of Jagdeo. There was no need for professionals to be engaged in policy development in the ministries or the bank below the most senior level of these institutions, save contracted cronies.

I have already summarily addressed some of the more pertinent issues within the Bank of Guyana. (http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2016/01/01/ demand-greater-accountability-and-transparency-from-the-bank-of-guyana/). Just two months prior to this article, the Honourable Minister of Finance, who was already familiar with the bank’s issues, was fortunate

to secure the services of Dr Terrence Smith, who has in excess of 20 years of service at the United States Federal Reserve (http://guyanachronicle.com/central-bankgets-new-deputy/). Both his qualifications and experience immediately qualify Dr Smith for the post of Governor of the Bank of Guyana, and this is definitely one of the avenues the President should be exploring in strengthening his administration to deliver on the promises made by his government leading up to the elections.

One of the important points the President would not miss, and should not be overly concerned about regarding his actions in respect of the current governor and the bank, is that the current governor’s installation and rise through the bank was purely political. He was appointed by the former administration, served the interests of that administration, and will continue to do so, should he remain at the Bank of Guyana. Given that the previous administration’s agenda centred on corruption, cronyism and self-enrichment schemes, retaining this gen-

tleman will leave more than a few questions unanswered http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2015/04/13/people-must-disregard-ppps-terror-tactics/, http://www. kaieteurnewsonline. com/2015/03/21/the-economics-of-bharrat-jagdeo-2/.

It is standard practice globally that political appointments are squashed with a change in government, and the current governor’s appointment should be treated no differently.

While this may appear to infringe on the bank’s independence, replacing the bank’s current political appointee in the present circumstances will in fact restore that independence.

The bank has suffered enough with the current governor in authority. To negotiate the kinds of solutions needed to address our current problems, there needs to be a changing of the guard, and the longer this is drawn out, the more time is lost, something which is evidently becoming a festering issue almost with each passing day.

CRAIG SYLVESTER

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

PPP reiterates call for Surujbally’s removal

By Svetlana Marshall

THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is calling for the immediate removal of Dr Steve Surujbally from the chairmanship of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), even as it questions Government’s silence on his decision to demit office later this year.

The calls and concerns were raised on Thursday

by Bibi Shadick, Robeson Benn and Sase Gunraj – the GECOM Commissioners representing the interest of the Opposition.

Addressing reporters at Freedom House, Benn, a former PPP Minister, said Dr Surujbally should be immediately removed from office over his inability or unwillingness to hold statutory meetings with the commissioners and by extension his perceived failure to be answerable to the commissioners.

“Going forward I don’t think that the Chairman has any locus standi anymore at GECOM. I think he should

made no public announcement of the Chairman’s retirement from office and the date from which this will come into effect, nor approached the Leader of the Opposition to submit his six names ‘not unacceptable to the President’ in accordance with Article 161(2).”

Shadick also complained bitterly over the fact that the Chairman and the Chief Elections Officer are on leave but continue to frequent the secretariat.

From left: PPP members of GECOM Sase Gunraj, Robeson Benn and Bibi Shadick at Thursday’s press conference

go now, I think he should go now, if he is unwilling to hold meetings where questions can be put and we don’t have answers, that the Commission is in default of its responsibility and of its activities,” Benn contended.

It was explained that while Dr Surujbally has been on leave since August 30, he has been in office regularly conducting meetings with the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield and other

officials, but has not opted to hold statutory meetings with the commissioners.

According to Benn, GECOM is a “badly run” and “dysfunctional” organization, which is being stymied by the Chairman, particularly in the area of governance.

Benn was strongly supported by Shadick, who complained bitterly about the conduct of the chairman of the Commission.

Referencing an article in the Guyana Chronicle entitled “Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Dr Steve Surujbally writes Gov’t on retirement,” Shadick questioned Government’s silence on the issue.

She recalled that the Chairman, Dr Surujbally, had called on the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo several weeks ago, during which he indicated that he would be proceeding on leave and demitting office on November 30.

During that meeting, the Opposition Leader was reportedly told that President David Granger was also informed.

NO COMMUNICATION However, Shadick noted that the Opposition Leader has not seen a copy of the Chairman’s resignation nor has he received any communication from the President’s Office advising him of the imminent retirement of the Chairman of GECOM. In a statement that followed the press conference, the PPP said: “This formal communication from the President to the Leader of the Opposition is an essential and initial step in the selection of the new chairman.

The Leader of the Opposition plays a critical role in accordance with Article 161(2) in the nomination of six names to the President from which the President selects and appoints the chairman.”

According to the Constitution, the Chairman of the Elections Commission must be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental

political parties represented in the National Assembly.

According to the PPP, if the content of the article is true, and the Chairman has indeed resigned, then there should have been a formal public announcement by the Ministry of the Presidency.

“According to sources, Government has made it clear to Dr Surujbally that effective on the day of him demitting office will be the date of the assumption of office, (swearing in of the new chairman).

Additionally, Government has insisted that all arrangements and decisions be made to ensure that the secretariat is stable and that the work programme of the Commission continues seamlessly,” Shadick said as she quoted sections of the article from the Guyana Chronicle.

On this note, she questioned whether the position highlighted in the article is an indication that Dr Surujbally would be required to remain in office until these conditions are met.

“Maybe this explains why the Government has

F GRADE Additionally, Shadick gave herself, and that of the other PPP Commissioners an ‘F’ grade for their failure to execute their duties in keeping with the oath of office.

“Today I am saying to Guyana and the constituents who I was asked to represent there, whose interest I was asked to represent, I have failed in the oath that I took to represent (the) people,” the PPP Commissioner said.

Shadick explained at length that Article 161 A (1) requires the Commission to oversee the functioning of the secretariat. According to her, when questions are put to the chairman and chief elections officer, commissioners are ever so often met with a brick wall.

“We meet a brick wall every time we ask a question, concerning personnel staff at GECOM,” she complained.

According to Shadick, it is the high level of secrecy at GECOM that has led to the distrust.

“Even lodges give out more information that GECOM does and lodges are secret organisations. When people distrust GECOM they have a right,” the PPP commissioner contended.

Relatives praying for Savory’s safe return Relatives of Shawnette Savory, 37, believe that something sinister has happened to her following her disappearance more than three weeks ago.

They have contended that it is unlikely that Savory, a mother of one, would have left home and not returned.

The missing woman was last seen on August 30, 2016 when she left her Lot 222 Last Street, Prospect, East Bank Demerara home A check at her rented apartment saw everything intact, including her cell phone

charger, passport and other documents.

The woman’s aunt,Ruby Ramcharran,said her niece is a very reserved individual and rarely spoke about her problems with anyone.

She related that two weeks after Savory went missing, a woman telephoned her to say that she saw her photo and story in the newspapers and she believes that it was the same woman she observed heading to the interior.

The caller stated that she believes that Savory is being held against her will and was

Missing: Shawnette Savory

forcibly taken away.

The missing woman

works part-time at a toilet paper factory at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, and has an 18-year-old daughter who resides with her father overseas.

Calls to Savory’s cell phone are forwarded to voicemail. Relatives told the Guyana Chronicle that they are hopeful she will return and are praying for such.

Anyone with information as it regards to Savory’s whereabouts are asked to contact relatives on 233-3699, 689-0171 or 654-1536.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

The danger of rating crime by gender BECAUSE our opinions in the culture of interpreting information are guided by the organisations we have come to recognise in various areas as authorities on this or that, we tend to rationalise their pronouncements, believing them to be guidelines grounded on solid information, researched and beyond reproach.

By all means, it is expected that those organisations must ensure a prudence in what they dispense; casual statements on important topics become irresponsible, and attract and develop a life energy of their own.

When the president pardoned women prisoners last June, it was considered by ‘John Public’ a normal courtesy extended to the general low-offence, ‘human’ prison population; and we believe in the redemption of the soul, thus the requirement of probation reports and in some cases mental evaluations.

At the time, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) issued a statement that harks back to another era. What it said, in essence, was that “Women have no place in prison”, a position supported by arguments that cannot be justified in the real world in which we live.

I did not read the article when it was published back then; I brushed it aside.

A colleague later sent me a copy by email; again, the burden of work and meeting normal mundane deadlines kept me distracted, though it did nudge corners of my mind to just read it.

Then on Saturday, September 10, I happened to read Freddie’s column, which was titled, ‘Longevity in office breeds a possessive mentality.’

In that column, the head of the GHRA, Mike Mc Cormack, came up among others whose timeline record does not justify their being there today. This sparked that familiar echo of the muse taunting, “I did tell yuh to read the GHRA release, eh?”

So, I did.

expressions [in this case with females] from both systems.

And as such cases stand before us in the courts, women are brought to the fore as the masterminds, with some male addict the clumsy and hungry assassin.

Hence, the subliminal message sent by this release is that if female criminals are too fragile to pay for their crimes, which men are in some way responsible for, then where do they belong: As the good housewives with the babies and the picket fence?

That scenario, however, with its harsh economics and rights reforms, most 20th Century women cannot even

ADJUST AND EVOLVE Turns out the problem is not longevity in office, as Freddie claimed, but performance; the ability to evolve and adjust to the ‘Tradewinds of our time’, and shelve ideals no longer applicable.

According to the GHRA release, “90% of women are in prison for three offences: petty theft, drug trafficking and murder, all related to disordered relationships with men.”

Well, not even women will agree with this; it’s absurd, and demonstrates isolated views, and, should I say, heterosexual male bashing, and malicious stereotyping.

FACT: In Georgetown, the four most notorious ‘Drug Yards’ existing today can be found in Bourda, Lacytown and Werk-en-Rust; and they’re all run by women.

I know of a situation back in the early 1980s when ‘ganja’ was pressed and packaged for trafficking. I knew the mules; these were women who were in control; no male enslavement. Rather, the males were recipients of handouts and not the managers.

Gender, race, social status,and religion are no longer criteria that can compete in

today’s world for exemption from accountability for common criminal and deviant criminal acts committed.

FACT: The last woman hung in this country in 1950 for the ritual murder of the child, ‘Lillawatie’ was not a male-tormented woman. Nor were the female SS warders of the concentration camps who were condemned and hung at the Post-WWII Nuremburg trials.

NO ONE FORMULA Murder is not a crime, the cause of which fits into one formula; there are female serial killers and psychopaths, thus a blanket statement is dishonest and misguiding.

The crime of spousal and family murders for economic benefits goes both ways; male and female, with young and not so young offenders. Case studies of this nature can be extracted from our media publications, both print and electronic, with outcome data from the courts.

The article also highlighted that prisons were created to protect society from dangerous men. Not so! Prisons were developed as a feature of the touted age of western enlightenment against a backdrop of holding dungeons, where the swift, savage machinery of

torture were stored, and public methods of hanging, impaling, burning alive and stretching on the rack followed.

Females were also imprisoned for prostitution, sorcery and witchcraft, which latter crime amounted to the use of herbal, mind-altering and lethal concoctions to poison and neutralise their victims.

As such, this release into the public domain served not to enlighten, or to be factual or objective.

GENDER ISSUE The gender contentions in Guyana are driven by two ancient and distinct systems, namely: Patriarchal and matriarchal. Both systems apply rules for gender positions that produce disadvantages.

With the patriarchal system, women are generally overlooked in the disbursement of family legacies; that priviledge invariably belongs to the sons. The matriarchal, on the other hand, places the mother at the apex, hence the origin of the term, “Mammy gone, family done.” Here, scarce incomes go to daughters mostly. These cultural norms apply to gender interactions differently, but do overlap. But with the criminal-minded, elements can be drawn from criminal

conceptualise. But this does impinge, through defamation, on the rights of men. Should the GHRA require a research contractor, at a reasonable stipend, I’m open.

That release does question the knowledge, scope and construct of an organisation much needed in any nation today; it’s difficult to rationalise what inspired such a narrative.

Scientifically, it’s not yet been proven that gender determines the nature of any criminal, with the human behaviour evidence existing. Thank God law enforcement by experience has a more realistic understanding!

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Labour feels slighted …GTUC’s Lewis tells ILO consultations

By Shauna Jemmott GENERAL-SECRETARY of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) Lincoln Lewis told an International Labour Organisation conference on Wednesday that the labour movement here has been largely ignored by the government- a charge

dismissed by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Lewis told the conference-‘Guyana Decent Work Country Programme’ hosted by government and the ILO at Herdmanston Lodge, Georgetown, that governments taking office after late President Jagan have excluded unions from decision-making though the

national constitution and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention provide for their inclusion.

However, Nagamootoo said: “The labour movement should not in any way be excluded from the national agenda… there is no justification whatsoever that the labour movement

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

should in any way be excluded from the national agenda.”

He said while the main focus of the consultations, “Decent Work” is an issue fundamental to trade unions, those unions must be included at the table when certain issues are being discussed and decisions made. “And decent work is in fact a fundamental issue to all authentic trade unions, to all authentic union leaders, and they have to be sitting together in the state and business in the tri-partied committee to hammer out those issues that affect the labour movement and workers.”

Earlier, the GTUC General-Secretary had expressed concerns that government over a decade has been ignoring the principles on which the operations of the labour force stand. He listed those principles as the Guyana Constitution, and other laws including collective labour agreements and the ILO core labour standards.

He said while the APNU+AFC Government is “espousing a developmental thrust built on the green economy,” that green economy is built on three vital pillars. “…Green economy speaks to labour policies, sustainable development and the environment,” Lewis said, and added that the achievement of such economy from the perspective of

labour can never be realised without the implementation of the ‘decent work agenda’ as a matter of principle and commitment.

As such, he said, “We can’t tell people clean the gutters without the appropriate protective clothing.

We can’t tell people build the building without the appropriate protective gear.”

He urged government to adopt the correct principles in its move towards progress, ignoring no one pillar, since creating a “green economy is not painting the place green and planting trees to make it green… these three pillars, we have to respect them. If you start wrong you’re going to end wrong. You gatto do what is right,” Lewis emphasised.

He expressed disgust that labour unions have been shut out, and that their rights as stakeholders are being violated. “Shutting labour out of what the constitution has so designated for us is not only a violation of our right as a stakeholder in society, but it undermines ILO convention 87 and 98, which 50 years ago the Government of Guyana ratified. It is labour’s concern as to efforts to sideline us and deny us of what is constitutionally designated for us.”

He said while the growth of the economy depends on its human capital, which is most vital, “The government… is called on

to treat all equally.”

Pointing to articles 38:147 and 149c of the Guyana constitution, he said the law has clearly outlined the role of trade unions as major stakeholders in ensuring the pursuit of an economic route which will ensure workers are engaged in production and productivity.

“This is reinforced in Article 147 that protects the fundamental rights and freedom of workers to join a trade union of choice and the employers engaging with the workers’ representative in collective bargaining… Article 149c cements our role.”

He said while the unions’ constituents represent past, present and future work force and their interests in the workplace and society at large, participating in decision- making at the national table would impact the management of issues affecting those constituents. He hailed the forum as one which provides for a major change with social partners taking steps to correct existing deficiencies by revisiting and effectively addressing the issue of ‘decent work.’ “We must commit through collective action that will be borne out, out of respect for the role and respect of respective stakeholders, to make this event work,” Lewis urged.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

Renovation work at Kitty Market almost done ‒ nearly 200 persons apply for new stalls

By Telesha Ramnarine MOST of the renovation work at the Kitty Market has been completed and Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis says that City Hall is working assiduously to meet the November 1 deadline that Town Clerk Royston King had given to the city engineers some months ago.

However, continuation of the work depends on the availability of resources and how timely residents pay up their taxes. In the past, there have been many delays to the project due to the unavailability of finances.

Lewis told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, in an invited comment, that the Kitty Market is not a special project for which City Hall is receiving financial help.

“It’s based on our revenues and that is dependent on how taxpayers would pay their rates. We really wanted to complete it for those vendors who are selling outside so that they can

have a roof over their heads.

We do understand the inconvenience. We have all the carpenters and masons on the ground and they are working to ensure its completion.”

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Most of the work on the top floor has been completed so far and Lewis said that it is only the painting job that is still to be done.

“All the rooms have been identified and we have a stage inside the market to facilitate community activities. We want to do a modern, state-of-the-art facility.”

According to the PRO, there will no longer be butcher stalls in the market but meat will be stored in freezers and fridges. The same goes for vegetables, apart from those that will be sold outside of the market.

Meanwhile, City Hall has received more than 170 applications from citizens who wish to occupy new

stalls in the market, while the ground floor is costing the Council roughly $35M. The market, which has great historical significance and bears much pride for the Kitty community, is to feature a traditional health centre, an office for rates and taxes, and space for the community councillor.

The Town Clerk had said: “We are also contemplating putting some space for the councillor’s office at the market; and this is not only at Kitty but wherever we have municipal buildings we intend to make space available for councillors working with their local communities.”

DECENTRALISATION According to King, there will be a decentralisation of Council’s work, as the market will take into account the needs of communities between Cummings Lodge and Kitty.

The upper flat of the market is being remodelled to include a rates and taxes

office, as well as a municipal clinic. “People from Cummings Lodge to Kitty don’t have to come all the way to City Hall to pay their rates and taxes. We are aiming to reintroduce the system that was in place many years ago,” Mayor Patricia Chase-Green had

told the Chronicle.

The upper flat of the market will also accommodate new vendors, and installing a clinic there is also being considered.

The Kitty Market was established in 1882, two years after the Bourda Market had come into being. Like the Bourda Market, Kitty Market is timber-framed. The 19th

century structure had suffered massive deterioration over the years prior, causing vendors operating in its environs to lodge numerous complaints with the City Council.

The Council had however, long been citing financial woes as the reason why the market had continued to remain a “threat to life and limb.”

A ‘sneak-peek’ at the new-look Kitty Market

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

US blockade of Cuba limits access to food market ‒ Cuban envoy THE economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba for almost 60 years continues today as one of Cuba’s major constraints in accessing international food markets, says Cuba’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Julio César González Marchante.

Although Cuba has one

of the most comprehensive social protection programmes in the world, and has achieved the eradication of both chronic and child malnutrition, the envoy said the food sector is one of the most affected by the unilateral American measure.

According to the report on the damage that the blockade has caused, which

is to be presented to the UN General Assembly on October 26th, between April 2015 and April 2016,the cost of the blockade with respect to food exceeds 605,706,000 dollars.

The figure was calculated based on information provided by the Cuban ministries of Agriculture and Food Industry, according to the text.

RISING PRICES The envoy noted that the effects are manifested in the rising prices of fertilizers, spare parts for agricultural equipment, seeds for production, and other supplies that have to be acquired in geographically distant markets because of the prohibition in the United States.

In addition, González Marchante said there is the obligation to use intermediaries in third countries, which substantially increases the cost and sometimes affects food production on the island, as a result of the inability to make timely imports.

Similarly, the ambassador noted that the blockade causes an increase in the volume of stocks and the raw materials and supplies needed to ensure the production of eggs, milk and meat for the Cuban population remaining in warehouses.

If they could be bought in the United States, the storage period of these products would be about 15 days.

However, Cuba is required to retain them for six times longer because of the blockade, the report stated, which also explains that the permanence in warehouses is in order to provide for an unexpected shortage in the international market.

In addition, González Marchante explained that the

Cuba’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Julio César González Marchante

blockade limits the access of the Cuban pharmaceutical industry to raw materials needed for the production of vaccines against diseases affecting the livestock sector.

This situation forces them to resort to European suppliers, creating an increase in costs and complications due to the requirement for a Certificate of Origin, issued by an American veterinary institution.

For this reason, many suppliers are afraid to risk being detected and fined, through the traceability of such certification.

No arrests yet after robbery at Ogle feed shop FOLLOWING the Temple Street, Ogle, East Coast Demerara,armed robbery on Tuesday morning when two bandits posing as ‘customers’ relieved the family of more than $2M in cash, jewellery and electronics, no arrests have yet been made, police reported.

The residence houses a feed shop,where customers are allowed to enter the yard and make their purchases.

It was about 09:00 hrs when two men, who arrived on a motorcycle, entered the yard and enquired about the price for a bag of rice bran after which they held up the victims and ushered them into the lower flat of the house and demanded money and jewellery.

At the time, two neighbours, a customer and mem-

bers of the extended family were at home.

The bandits grabbed computers, iPhone, iPads, money and jewellery from the home before making good their escape. Sooklall said they also relieved him of the day’s sales of $15,000 he had in his pockets before locking them inside the house and escaping on the motorcycle.

The man stated that the robbers bundled the items into a bag while they pointed their gun at them when his daughter-in-law was hesitant to hand over valuables.

The Sooklalls, a family of seven,including four children, have been operating a feed shop at their residence for the past eight years and this is the first armed robbery incident.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

‘Disorderly murders’ still a problem in hinterland ‒‘F’ Division Commander

By Michel Outridge

‘F’ DIVISION Commander Rabindranauth Budhram has said that ‘disorderly murders’ have always been a problem in the hinterland, as mostly miners imbibe heavily and get into drunken brawls over women, among other things.

The Commander related that the leading contributors are alcohol abuse, domestic violence and worksite disputes, involving workers and bosses.

According to police statistics, ‘F’ Division recorded 13 murders, most of which are ‘disorderly’ murders between January and September 2016.

For the corresponding period last year police tallied 17 murders.

STATUTORY RAPE Moreover, he disclosed that there is an increase in sexual offences - rape, sexual harassment and incest - in reservation settlements.

According to the statistics ‘F’ division has recorded 23 reports of statutory rape this year, and 24 in 2015, from January to September for both years. They also had five forcible rape cases and four last year for the same period.

Budhram told this newspaper that they have the police Social Crime Prevention Programme in several areas to target early school leavers and unemployed youths.

He stated that the responses have been positive so far with the involvement of 75 youths from Mabaruma, more than 100 from Bartica/ Agatash/Itaballi, 45 youths from Lethem and 45 from Baramita.

He disclosed that in Baramita, Region One, suicide and substance abuse are spiralling out of control and it is of great concern to the police. Therefore, during their visits they encourage children to remain in school and about 18 who have never been to school were enrolled for the first time.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL DRIVE Budhram disclosed that they also initiated a backto-school drive for school children whereby backpacks,

stationery, shoes and uniforms were presented to schoolchildren in several hinterland communities with assistance from the business community.

The commander said they have had an increase in resources to boost the crimefighting strategy with boats being outfitted with outboard engines, All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and the inputs of the Mounted Branch in Lethem.

He noted that for now they are working with what they have to respond to crimes with vehicles for overland transportation and boats for riverain communities.

ALCOHOLISM Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) Urica Primus said there are some constraints in the hinterland areas, noting that if the police cannot get to the location in a timely manner some people feel vulnerable as they need protection.

She related that last year during a visit to Baramita, Region One (Barima/Waini) the effects of alcoholism were highlighted.

Primus explained that some people in that location consume alcohol on a daily basis and when they get home they beat up on their wives, female partners and even children.

She added that often there is no money in the home because the men spend all the cash to satisfy their alcohol cravings.

Primus said in some farflung areas there is a multitude of issues when in some cases both parents are alcoholics and often abuse their children.

NO CLOSURE She stated that as it relates to the murder of miners, there is no real investigation and it is troubling because some men leave their homes to work in the interior and never return.

Primus said there is no closure for some families and in one case a woman was pregnant when her husband, a miner, was killed last year and no one was arrested for that crime.

She explained that people are afraid of the repercussions because when you talk, the same fate could befall you

in the interior so witnesses refuse to cooperate with the police.

Primus noted that is the reason why there are automatically no eyewitnesses to many of the brutal murders taking place in hinterland locations.

She told the Guyana Chronicle that we can talk all

we want about these issues but they must be addressed because they will not disappear overnight.

Primus pointed out that in the Cuyuni area, nobody wants to say anything, especially if there is a murder of a miner because they are scared to come forward since there is no protection against the

suspects.

RAPE VICTIMS Regarding rape in the interior, Primus said the victims often face difficulties in filing police reports and GWMO would step in and ensure a statement is taken by the police even if they have to take the victim to the nearest police station. She related that too

often the suspects are not arrested even when they are in plain sight and this should not be.

Primus however said that the relationship between the GWMO and the police has improved within recent times in Regions One, Seven and Nine, but much more needs to be done in Regions Eight and Ten.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

‘We got to stamp it out’

By Vanessa Braithwaite

WITH 52 cases of child sexual abuse and 267 cases of child abuse in Linden in the first seven months of the year, Social Protection

Minister Volda Lawrence said serious attention is being paid to ‘stamp out’ the situation.

She gave the assurance at a rally in observance of Child Protection , themed ‘Break

the silence’ on Wednesday in the mining town of Linden.

Lawrence told the well-attended rally that her ministry and the Child Protection Department have serious business to ‘take care of’ in

Region 10 and no one should be silent.

“We are silent because we want to wear a ring; some of us, we are silent because we want people to know we have a partner; some of us,

we are silent because we owe Courts; we owe Singers; we want things; some of us, we are silent because we gotta pay the rent; we gotta eat; we gotta live and some of us, we are silent because we too

‒

were abused and some parents are very bold to tell their children so what if it happen to you, it happen to me too,” she pointed out.

Lawrence said investigations suggest that the figures are way higher than what is reported and because of this, her ministry is in action mode.

“I’ve started to do myself and my staff and we are here in Linden today but even as we set out to do, we need you to hold our hands, we need you to reach out and touch, we need you to give hope to those persons who are afraid to come forward.”

She also urged persons to address other social issues, and called on teachers and health workers to play a role in breaking the silence.

Baraca

‒ parents assisti

At left: Pandit Surij Surim, Childcare Protection Agency Director Ann Greene; Minister Lawrence and UNICEF Deputy Representative Paolo Marchi at the Linden rally

BARACARA Nursery School Headteacher Kim Sampson has complained that the school is in dire need of teachers and parents have been called in to assist.

Aside from this, she lamented that the boat donated by President David Granger a few months ago has not been put into operation.

T

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

‒ Minister Lawrence alarmed at rate of child abuse in Linden LENGTHY PROCESS Minister Lawrence also bemoaned the bureaucratic process of bringing the abusers to justice. She said too many battles are lost in court because of insufficient evidence as a result of limited investigations.

“It takes too long; at the end of the day you are dealing with a child and the child is tired… the case started when the child is three, the child is 33 and the case still going on.”

The Social Protection Ministry is engaging the Chancellor of the Judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General to put more efficient systems in place to address the situation.

“That is why the Ministry of Social Protection welcomes

the night courts, because we believe that it will work in our interest and the public’s interest.”

SHORTCOMINGS The minister also pointed out that there are far too few officers to deal with the many cases from Region 10, but the ministry is in the process of strengthening the regional office and will forge closer collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders.

Child Care Protection Agency Director Ann Green said reported cases of child abuse are just a tip of the iceberg, noting that child sexual abuse is a hidden crime.

She pointed out that most of the children are silent because they are too young to

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence addresses the gathering in observance of Child Protection Week in Linden on Wednesday

speak or to even understand what is going on. Greene stressed that abuse mostly occurs in the home and by trusted persons, and parents should be cautious in whose care their child is left.

Deputy Representative of UNICEF Paolo Marchi underscored that breaking the silence is everyone’s responsibility.

“We need to work together, we need to break the silence, breaking the silence is every body’s business… if we fail to act today, if we fail to act tomorrow, we are failing our children,” he affirmed.

Representatives of faithbased organisations and other stakeholders in Region 10, including the Regional Democratic Council, the Mayor and Town Council, the Guyana

Police Force and the Linden Hospital Complex also spoke at the rally.

The rally , though starting over an hour late, was well attended by schoolchildren, members of NGOs, residents and regional and Government officials.

According to statistics, in Linden from January to July, some 52 cases of child sexual abuse and 267 cases of child abuse were recorded. During that period, 441 cases of sexual abuse and 2238 cases of child abuse were recorded countrywide.

Child Protection Week is observed annually to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of primary prevention in a bid to reduce child abuse and neglect in society.

ara Nursery urgently needs teachers

ing headteacher

Baracara is situated some 65 miles away from New Amsterdam. It is a forested area which can only be accessed by boat, a journey that can take as long as six hours, depending on whether a passenger uses a paddle or a motorised vessel along the Canje River in East Berbice/ Corentyne.

During a visit to the com-

munity on Wednesday, the Guyana Chronicle learnt that the primary and nursery schools are housed in the same building and collectively, they have a population of 83 pupils, with only two teachers.

Currently, there is a shortage of teachers: One is on a special appointment, and another on maternity leave, resulting in parents having to assist in the nursery school.

With respect to the pri-

The Baracara Nursery School

The Baracara Primary School

mary school, Sampson said a teacher was transferred, and another was expected to assist with the Grade One and Two levels.

But instead of doing so, the teacher applied and got through at the Cyril Potter College of Education, even though she was not released

by Sampson.

The teacher in question reportedly told her superiors that she cannot allow the two years to go wasted, and has

opted to attend classes at the teachers’ training college.

As a result, the headteacher has to manage Grades Three to Six, which accounts for four classes, while the other teacher is tasked with teaching Grades One and Two. Headteacher Sampson said she was advised to seek persons to teach the children, even though they may not have Mathematics and English Language, but so far she

has found no one.

Meanwhile, the motorised vessel donated by President Granger to ferry children to the lone school in the Canje River is yet to be put into operation because of the unavailability of licensed captains.

This newspaper has learnt that while there is no immediate need for the vessel, since parents would walk through the trail with their children during the dry weather,

it would be much needed during the rainy weather when the trail is flooded.

Several persons had applied for the position of captain/driver, but none of them was certified.

The school is tasked with making a shed for the boat, but parents are currently unable to raise the money to build it as they are unable to access profitable markets for their produce.

Grade One pupils at the Baracara Primary school

Baracara Primary School Headteacher Kim Sampson

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

Walcott’s ‘Ti-Jean’ wows local students The full cast

By Jasmaine Payne LOCAL students were over the past few days given the chance to experience the magical world created by award-winning St. Lucian poet and playwright, Derek Walcott.

The occasion was the staging of the local adaptation of Walcott’s famous Ti-Jean and his brothers at the National Cultural Centre from Tuesday to yesterday.

The play, directed by Al Creighton and Subraj Singh, was staged as a collaborative effort of the National Drama Company, the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama, and the Unit of Allied Arts in honour of Education month, and is part of the current Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) syllabus.

“One of the things that the drama company does is to educate through theatre,” Creighton said.

“So we felt we could make some contribution, given that it is part of the syllabus, and it would be a good experience for students to see the play, and also to demonstrate the kind of theatre that the Drama School and the Drama Company does,” he told The Buzz in an interview.

A DELIGHT And the experience itself was a delightful one, in which Walcott’s magical but eerie vision of a universe where animals tell stories, and humans make deadly deals with the devil, is expertly and creatively portrayed through the collab-

orative direction of Creighton and Singh.

The play itself differs in genre to what the Guyanese crowd is accustomed to, straying away from realist traditions and instead utilising aspects of post-modernism and folk tales.

“I think it’s important for Guyanese theatre to catch up with what the rest of the world is doing, especially in the Caribbean,” Singh said.

“We see this kind of theatre a lot in Jamaica and Trinidad, and we are doing our part to ensure that Guyana gets there with everybody else,” he added.

FAMILY AFFAIR Ti-Jean and his brothers features a poor woman with three sons: The strong but arrogant Gros-Jean (played by Ackeem Joseph), the self-righteous but naïve Mi- Jean (played by Keon Heywood), and the meek and fearful Ti-Jean (played by Nikose Layne).

They make a deal with the devil (played by Mark Luke Edwards and Nicholas Singh as the devil disguised as ‘Papa Bois’) that whoever out-smarts him will be rewarded. While the two older brothers fail and are killed, it is Ti-Jean’s playfulness, patience and wit that ultimately defeat the devil.

It is a tale as old as time; one which features the dualities of good over evil, and which has been told in numerous forms, perhaps the most famous being the tale of David and Goliath, one of the many biblical references in the play itself, but which was beautifully and magically captured in this local

adaptation.

MAGICAL Indeed, the magic could almost be seen in the vibrant colours of the fabrics used in the costumes and stage design, and heard in the music compiled by local musicians throughout the production.

Moreover, perhaps it was the sound effects, the use of lighting; perhaps it was the sinister chanting or the sight of the demons crawling on stage; or maybe it was the general conditioning of our minds that the presence of the devil in any narrative should induce fear, but the production featured genuinely chilling aspects that unnerved the entire audience at various sections.

Creighton and Singh’s adaptation is infused with unique elements such as dance, exaggerated folk elements and strong influences from Trinidad’s Carnival (the chant of the devil from Trinidad’s Devil Mas is repeated throughout the play) which help to enhance the play, and add to Walcott’s own genius.

“I am happy to be part of this, because of the opportunity it provided to do a different kind of theatre,” Creighton said, adding: “To do Walcott is also a privilege and an honour; he is one of the world’s leading poet playwrights.”

It was also a pleasure, he said, to work with Singh, who he says has a promising future in Guyanese theatre.

Seems the respect was mutual, as Singh said of him: “It was equally an honour to work

Mark Luke Edwards as the Planter/Devil and Keon Heywood as Mi-Jean

with Al Creighton, because he comes with this wealth of experience, which is nice to tap into.”

As to the play, he said: “And for me also, it was a great honour to stage a Walcott play, not only because it is Walcott, but it is an important play, especially the way in which our adaptation balances modernity and history, because we have post-modernist techniques and borrowed from folk tale traditions of the Caribbean.”

Other actors who were part of the production were: Tashandra Inniss, Nicola Moonsammy, Nirmala Narine, Melinda Primo-Solomon, Sonia Yarde, Esther Hamer, Kimberly Fernandes, Ayanna Waddell and Onix Duncan. Music was provided by Lisa Adams, Kimberly Samuels, Ricardo Stanton.

Nicholas Singh as Papa Bois (left), and Nikose Layne as Ti-Jean (Photos by Keron Bruce)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

‘Aracari’ hits all the right notes

--with launch of spanking new sports bar

a banquet hall and a restaurant.

EXCELLENT PACKAGES The resort also offers excellent packages to suit the tastes of academic institutions, religious groups, corporate entities, and even the regular family looking to have the real ‘family picnic experience’ under luxurious benabs beside a pool.

Patrons can also enjoy a drink at either the wellstocked bar, or the poolside, enjoy the serene atmosphere of the lounge, or perhaps even enjoy a game of ‘pools’, as the facility also caters for fans of this beloved past-time.

And perhaps if you’re really good at the game, you can enter the Sports Bar’s weekly Three-Round Knockout Pools Competition, where $100,000 in cash is up for grabs.

As if that was not enough, one must try the restaurant’s extensive and diverse Kiskadee menu, which offers a total of 19 new fast-foods, inclusive of a special ‘French fries’ basket, English baked potato, Brazilian grilled chicken salad, Dougla cookup rice, Mr Chung’s fried rice, Latin chips and salsa, healthy chick burger and much more.

MUST-HAVES ‘Must-have items’ on the new menu also include Weekend Chick Burg-

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er, West Bank Fish Fillet Burger, Brother Bob’s Vegie Burger, Calypso Wings, Sticky Dutch Bar-b-Que Wings, Calypso Wings and much more.

That aside, the Kiskadee Sports Bar and Grill also has on offer 12 exciting cocktails to satisfy the fantasies of cocktail lovers.

Said Wayne, “It is unlike all the other fast-food outlets on the ‘West Side’. The menu is different; they offer 18 different dishes, inclusive of three different types of burgers, five different creole dishes. And the prices are better than elsewhere.”

Persons interested in experiencing the facilities can do so by calling Aracari Resort: 592-264-2946-8

Minister of Business, Mr Dominic Gaskin, delivering the feature address at the opening last Friday of the Kiskadee Sports Bar and Grill

By Tamica Garnett WEST Siders no longer have to worry about travelling all the way to Georgetown when they’re looking for that ideal chill spot that hits all the right notes.

That’s because the Aracari Resort at Versailles, West Bank Demerara, now boasts a brand new hideout called the Kiskadee Sports Bar and Grill.

Amidst much fanfare, the Sports Bar was launched last Friday, and has been building quite a clientele ever since.

Speaking of some of its finer features, Poolside Manager/Events Coordinator, Alex Wayne said: “The most impacting aspect of it is the service: Meals are prepared in a timely manner; the service from the Kiskadee girls is of a high quality; and the food is just fantastic.

“Overall, the resort is perfect for persons looking for that really great family or picnic experience; it’s a healthy environment, from the service right down to the music. The

entire layout, the ambience, even the prices are better than elsewhere.”

The opening of the Sports Bar follows the recent upgrade of the resort’s poolside and gym facilities to offer better pool and gym services to the general public. Both facilities are now open from 08:00 – 22:00hrs daily.

Located just one mile north of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the Sports Bar complements the Aracari’s other facilities, which include a hotel with 52 rooms, a salon and spa,

Aracari CEO, Sase Shewnarain (centre) with the Kiskadee waitresses

Juke Ross makes ‘stunning first impression’ GUYANESE musician Juke Ross is clearly making moves, and has recently caught the eye of US Entertainment Magazine, Subtsream, which have said that the singer made a “stunning first impression” with his single ‘Colour Me’.

Here’s the weigh in, posted via a September 22 article on the Magazine’s Website: “Sometimes you hear a song that stops you dead in your tracks, and just overwhelms you. It’s a powerful experience, and one that makes music an exceptionally powerful art form.

“Prepare yourself, because you’re about to have that feeling. Juke Ross, just 22 years old and hailing from the South American country of Guyana, just released an absolutely beautiful track, ‘Colour Me’.

“The track is simple, primarily Ross and his guitar, with a little piano and percussion sparsely thrown in for good measure.

It’s in this simplicity that Ross’s musicianship shines. Ross’s voice drips with emotion and longing as he sings, and the lyrics tell a powerful tale of love.

“It’s a song that is aimed directly at the listener’s heart, and Ross deftly hits the mark in a way that will leave anyone a weeping mess.

“We are extremely interested in hearing more from Ross, and we’ll keep you informed of any more releases from him in the future.”

‘Substream’ focuses on rock music, including all its subgenres like punk rock, metal and alternative rock.

The magazine bills itself as “a bi-monthly music and lifestyle magazine that focuses on discovering and sharing the best in new music, fashion and entertainment.”

--on US entertainment magazine

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

‘Brangelina’ headed for divorce ‘The Weeknd’ names new album

‘THE Weeknd’ hasn’t been wasting any time. Since the summer 2015 launch of Beauty Behind the Madness, a multi-platinum album that completed the Ethiopian-Canadian singer, Abel Tesfaye’s transformation from underground R&B prodigy to pop superstar, the artist has been busy touring and recording at a rapid clip. Recent reports had him in the studio with Daft Punk.

In the meantime, a healthy output of featured verses on the albums of other artists (Kanye West, Beyoncé, Travis Scott, Future) has kept his listeners reasonably satisfied, but fans, longtime and new, have still been hungrily anticipating the next album-length chapter in Tesfaye’s own saga.

That wait isn’t over, but its end is in sight. Two minutes after noon yesterday, Tesfaye released, via his Twitter, the name of his upcoming album (Starboy), and an image of its cover art, created by Nabil.

Given that ‘The Weeknd’ has always been meticulous with cover art, it’s worth taking a closer look at it. As with all the artist’s major-label releases (his mixtape covers starred women in various states of disarray), the ‘Starboy’ cover is centered around Tesfaye’s face.

Lit in dim blue light, and dressed in what looks to be dark leather, the singer is seated, looking forward and upward with his hands on his head. He’s wearing rings, and a cross around his neck, all of which look expensive.

The iconic mass of Medusa dreads gathered at the top of his head has, shockingly, been shaved off. The background is red, and the letters of the title are yellow.

(Vulture.com)

ANGELINA Jolie has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt after two years of marriage and 12 years together, leaving fans stunned.

The 41-year-old star, who cited irreconcilable differences, decided to end their marriage amid claims that she was unhappy with the way Brad had been parenting their six children.

“This decision was made for the health of the family,” Angelina’s attorney Robert Offer said in a statement, while Brad, 52, was quoted as saying that his focus is now on the “well-being” of their brood.

In a statement to ‘People’, Brad said: “I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids.

“I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.”

Angelina’s lawyer Robert Offer said: “This decision was made for the health of the family.

“She will not be commenting, and asks that the family be given its privacy at this time.”

After news of their divorce broke, gossip sites in the US began to speculate that Brad’s friendship with his ‘Allied’ costar, Marion Cotillard, had put extra strain on his marriage.

According to ‘Page Six’, Angelina had hired a private eye to watch her husband. “He’s in the throes of a midlife crisis, and Angie is fed-up,” a source told the website.

The pair were last pictured together just two months ago, enjoying a happy family dinner with their twins, Knox and Vivienne.

However, it’s now claimed that Hollywood actress Angelina filed for divorce from her husband just weeks after the outing, with the date of separation listed as September 15.

The pair were snapped exchanging smiles with their kids during a birthday breakfast in West Hollywood on July 12.

Brad met Angelina in the summer of 2004 on the set of ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’ while he was still married to ‘Friends’ star, Jennifer Aniston.

Angelina was previously wed to Billy Bob Thornton and Johnny Lee Miller.

The couple made their first red-carpet appearance together at the premiere of Angelina’s ‘The Good Shepherd’.

The couple married in an intimate secret ceremony at their French estate in 2014 after 10 years together. (Mirror.co.uk)

Nick Cannon film debuts at TIFF

NICK Cannon‘s highly anticipated dancehall movie, “King of the Dancehall” made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last week.

So far, the film has been getting rave reviews among dancehall fans. KOTD also

marks Cannon’s directorial debut, and saw him traveling to Jamaica last year to shoot the film in actual street-dance events.

Besides Cannon, the film also features some other big-name stars, among them Busta Rhymes, Canadian singer Kreesha Turner, Whoopi Goldberg, Lou Gossett Jr., dancehall artist Collie Buddz, and rising Jamaican actress Kimberly Patterson in her first major role.

Speaking with Fader, Cannon opened up about his decision to base the film on Jamaica and dancehall culture.

“I mean, why hasn’t this been done before?” the actor said, adding: “That’s what

I felt as soon as I stepped foot in Jamaica. I couldn’t understand how such a rich culture had never been shared with the whole world before, especially when you think about everyone who has borrowed from it: The Number One song from Drake today, Justin Bieber’s video... All the dance moves mass media falls in love with from Beyoncé stem from what’s going on in Kingston.

“And then when you think about the passion that’s involved wth Jamaican culture, it’s like, they’re not sitting around waiting for things to get all pretty; they want it raw and dutty.

“That should be shared in the way of Dirty Dancing

or Saturday Night Fever; it doesn’t get any more passionate than Kingston, Jamaica.”

Clearly, it’s been a while since we’ve had a movie like this based on Jamaican music culture, but it’s certainly not the first. Jimmy Cliff’s cult classic, “The Harder They Come” was perhaps the first and most powerful film based on reggae culture to come out of Jamaica.

The 1997 classic, “Dancehall Queen” was also a huge success.

“King of the Dancehall” also saw cameos from Ky-Mani Marley, Barrington Levy, and Beenie Man, who narrates part of the film. (UrbanIslandz. com)

Buzzing this weekend

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

THE Guyana National Youth Council will today host an Open House Potluck at Moray House from 17:00hrs to 21:00hrs.

Find out what the Council has been doing, or inquire about how you can become a part of it.

Don’t forget, it’s a potluck, which means that every attendee is required to walk with a dish to contribute to the hang.

C o n t a c t G N Y C ’s Derwayne Wills on 670-

0375 or his email, derwaynewills@gmail.com for more details.

TOMORROW Come and celebrate the anniversary of HotspotGY and City Sky at Club Privilege (Tower Hotel) on Main Street from 21:00hrs. Tickets cost $2,000.

Jumo blessed us with his tantalizing dance moves and lyrics, so it’s time to celebrate his career anniversary.

The event will feature music from Japanese DJ Kang, as well as other DJs, including DJ Shizzle and Gully Ras. Admission: $2,000; ladies free before 22:00hrs.

Jumo Primo presents a grand Soca Party: Short Pants Edition at the Palm Court from 22:00hrs.

It’s been 20 years since

SUNDAY Feel like a Hash Run? Well, join the Guyana Hash House Harriers outside the British High Commission

at 09:30hrs, from where they will move off to the secret start position of the run.

Cost per person is $3,000.

Or maybe you feel like taking a cruise. Then join Epic Events and Crystal Entertainment for their Chutney Cooler Cruise from Parika to Bartica.

Enjoy a fun-packed trip while listening to your favourite chutney tunes.

Tickets cost $3,000 ( $4,000 at the boat).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

It has to stop ‒ GPA blasts NCN for intimidating and harassing its employees

By Svetlana Marshall THE Guyana Press Association (GPA) has called out the National Communications Network (NCN) for harassing and intimidating its employees, particularly News Anchor Natasha Smith and Sports Editor Jocelle Archibald-Hawke.

In a strongly worded statement, the GPA said it is disturbed by the farcical, inhumane and degrading positions and actions being taken by state broadcaster NCN against its employees.

The association said while it was satisfied that Smith had returned to the anchor’s chair after being removed due to her pregnancy,

it was appalled to learn that NCN management had asked the news anchor to withdraw her statement.

It was explained that Smith was summoned to a meeting, in the presence of a consultant namely Abraham Poole Monday last to again address the issue.

During that meeting, the NCN management again denied that Smith was removed from anchoring the news because of her pregnancy by this time suggesting that her clothing was “too tight”.

“Further, callously, Smith was asked if she would be willing to retract her statement given the ‘explanation’ she was given,” GPA added.

In addition, the news anchor was asked to disclose the names of the managers who had informed her of the CEO’s decision. While saluting Smith for refusing to withdraw her statement of the events that followed the August 8, 2016 Board Meeting, the GPA said it was sickened by the actions of those at the helm of the State-run agency.

“The GPA is disgusted that Ms Smith continues to be subjected to this sort of harassment and stress over an issue we thought was over with. The matter has long been established, as outlined above, that Ms Smith was removed because of her pregnancy and NCN’s

latest attempt to resurrect the issue by dragging Ms Smith into the ugly episode she has been enduring for the past two months to seek to exonerate itself is most inexcusable,” GPA stated.

The association added: “If NCN wants to do damage control, it would do well by not seeking to intimidate and harangue Ms Smith during this crucial time of her pregnancy.”

On her Facebook page, Smith said: “I am in labour, my baby is four weeks premature thanks to all this crap.... I know that I have a 50 /50 chance that’s why this is no time to shut up about thus ... tired (of) playing nice...BTW (by the way) I

won’t be surprised if I’m fired for this.”

Meanwhile, in addressing the matter surrounding Archibald-Hawke, the GPA supports her decision not to attend NCN’s management meetings without a representative of the Clerical & Commercial Workers’ Union (CCWU).

“NCN’s statement Wednesday that it was the company’s ‘compassion’ that caused it to review the one-month suspension against Mrs Archibald-Hawke is most unfortunate. NCN should desist from flaunting lofty principles it is failing so miserably at by breaching workers’ fundamental rights,” the association posited.

“NCN can go to the moon and back about why Mrs Archibald-Hawke was suspended; the fact remains that Mrs Archibald-Hawke was suspended solely on the grounds of a post she made on social media against another colleague; NCN should therefore drop the hogwash about her past record,” GPA added.

Over the more than nine years of service at NCN, Archibald-Hawke received an excellent performance rating. Just before she was suspended, she received

NCN News Anchor Natasha Smith

her gratuity in full. “It was clear that whatever may have been management’s grouse with her in the past were never considerations for disciplinary action and by suggesting that her suspension had anything to do with her past infractions is disingenuous and an attempt to discredit her character and work, and to drag her through the mud,” GPA is maintaining.

GPA has once again issued a call for the intervention of the Chairman and Board of Directors of NCN and the Office of the Prime Minister to look into the operations of NCN.

Friday, September 23, 2016 - 10:30 hrs Saturday, September 24, 2016 - 12:30 hrs Sunday, September 25, 2016 - 13:30 hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

Mourinho, Ranieri issues ‘prehistoric’ LEICESTER manager Claudio Ranieri says Jose Mourinho “is a fantastic person” and any issues between the two are “prehistoric”.

The champions play Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow, with the two managers having clashed in the past.

Mourinho called Ranieri “a loser” after replacing him at Chelsea and also insulted him while Inter Milan boss.

Ranieri said: “Mourinho is a fantastic manager, intelligent, clever. “(The issues) were a long time ago.”

Mourinho replaced Ranieri at Chelsea in 2004 and said that the club considered the Italian to be “a loser”, before the pair repeatedly fell out while both managing in Serie A. The Manchester United boss won the treble with Inter at the end of his threeyear spell 2010, with Ranieri in charge of Juventus and Roma during that period.

Mourinho criticised Ranieri’s command of English, said he was “almost 70” when he was 56 and again questioned whether he had the mentality to win titles.

But Ranieri said any complaints were “prehistoric, not now.”

Claudio Ranieri told a news gathering that issues between himself and Jose Mourinho are ‘prehistoric’. (Sun photo) “It (their relationship) is fantastic, very good, no problems,” he said.

“Why? Do you remember in the summer when we had the Soccer Aid, I managed the Rest of the World team against Jose’s English side.

“Maybe he has to offer me a good red wine. I love red wine and if he offers I will go and drink it with him (after Saturday’s game).”

United ended a run of

three defeats with a win at Northampton in midweek, after which Mourinho called his critics “football Einsteins”.

Mourinho - who won his third and most recent Premier League title with Chelsea in 2015 - saw his team heavily criticised after defeat at Watford last weekend.

He told MUTV: “We had a bad week. I know that some football Einsteins, they tried to delete 16 years of my ca-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Friday September 23, 2016) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Darren Sammy & Shahid Afridi (Gros Islet, St. Lucia, 2011) Lendl Simmons & Junaid Khan Today’s Quiz: Who is the first player to hit a half-century in a WI/PAK T20 International match?

Who is the first player to claim a four-wicket haul in a WI/PAK T20 International game?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

reer and delete an unbelievable history of Manchester United and focus on a bad week and three bad results.

“But that’s the new football - it’s full of Einsteins.

“I can understand com-

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pletely the disappointment for the fans with the last week, but I’m sure, back at home, they will be behind the team like they always are.”

United captain Wayne

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Rooney has also been criticised for his recent form, but he told MUTV: “I don’t really listen to what a lot of people out there are saying, because a lot of it is rubbish.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

Westwood questions Wood’s Ryder Cup appointment (REUTERS) - Europe’s Lee Westwood believes Tiger Woods could have an adverse effect on America’s Ryder Cup chances after the 14-time major winner

was named as a vice-captain on the U.S. team.

Woods has not played competitive golf since the Wyndham championship in August 2015, and has been

sidelined for much of the past year while recovering from multiple back surgeries.

The former world number one was recruited by U.S. captain Davis Love III

Tiger Woods of the U.S. tees off on the eighth hole during the third round of the inaugural Turkish Airlines Open in the southwest city of Antalya November 9, 2013. (REUTERS/Umit Bektas/Files) as a team tactician for next week’s event but Westwood, a wildcard pick for Europe, said he was not convinced Woods’ presence would have the desired impact.

“I don’t know what impact there will be from having Tiger around,” Westwood told ESPN.com.

“They have always struggled to find a partner for Tiger that’s been successful. He could have an adverse effect in the team room. People have always seemed to try to do too much when they have partnered him.

“It might be different if he’s one of the vice-captains,

you don’t know.”

Europe, fielding six rookies in Minnesota, will be gunning for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Ryder Cup victory next week, and Westwood expects the pressure to be firmly on the hosts to deliver.

“They have got a strong side and probably are favorites, but they haven’t won it for a while and they are playing in front of a home crowd.

“There is a lot of pressure on them. That is going to keep building in the next week or so and by the time the Ryder Cup comes around, it is going

to be pretty intense for them.”

Love will announce his final wildcard pick on September 25 and Westwood, making his 10th consecutive Ryder Cup appearance questioned the American captain’s omission of one former major winner.

“There seem to have been issues about team spirit and chemistry. Love has not picked Bubba Watson and I don’t know what that does for team spirit; he was first outside the points qualification and is No. 7 in the world.”

The Ryder Cup begins at the Hazeltine National Golf Club on September 30.

New system for players breaching ICC code of conduct

PLAYERS who repeatedly breach misconduct rules will face harsher punishments under changes introduced by the International Cricket Council.

Yesterday the ICC introduced ‘demerit points’ to its code of conduct, which will be added each time a player offends during a twoyear period.

Punishments, usually fines, will remain for minor offences such as showing dissent and using obscene language.

But players guilty of offences can be suspended if they break rules again.

All players start on zero point.

The ICC confirmed that planned changes to the decision review system (DRS) - making it easier to overturn not-out lbw deci-

England’s Stuart Broad was fined 30% of his match fee for showing dissent during the second Test in South Africa in January. sions - also came into effect yesterday.

For on-field lbw decisions to be reversed by the television umpire, at least half of the ball must be

shown to be hitting any part of the stumps.

Previously, half of the ball would need to be hitting a zone between the centre of leg and off stumps.

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

New Zealand tour of India, 1st Test …

Boult, Santner rip through India (ESPNCricinfio) - India seemed to have made the ideal start to their 500th Test.

They had won the toss on a pitch full of cracks that were expected to widen and offer lots of help for the spinners from the third day onwards.

Their top order had made a confident start, and halfway the first day they were 154 for 1.

New Zealand, though, had come to India with the belief that they had the tools they needed to compete hard. Over the second half of the day, their five-man attack showed what they were capable of, and left India 291 for 9 at stumps.

By then, each of the New Zealand bowlers - two leftarm quicks of differing methods, an off-spinner, a leftarm orthodox spinner, and a leg-spinner - had struck at least one vital blow. Mitchell Santner, attacking the stumps with his left-arm spin and varying his pace well, chipped out three wickets.

Ish Sodhi took out the set M. Vijay in the last over before tea. Mark Craig dismissed Ajinkya Rahane in a testing post-tea spell of flight and drift.

Trent Boult went wicketless with the first new ball, but swung the second one devastatingly to rip through India’s lower order. The biggest wicket, though, went to Neil Wagner, who turned the mood of the match with the wicket of Virat Kohli.

It was the definitive hinge

Trent Boult’s late strikes give New Zealand the edge, India v New Zealand, 1st Test, Kanpur, yesterday. moment. New Zealand had just broken a century stand between M. Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara, and the opposition’s captain and best batsman had walked in to deafening noise.

Kohli had begun confidently, slapping Santner to the cover point boundary and then stepping across to hook a good short ball from Wagner to the backward square leg boundary, with a bit of help from a Sodhi fumble on the boundary.

Two balls later, he tried the same shot, but this time Wagner had switched from left-arm around to left-arm over. Kohli had to work against the angle, and only managed a top-edge that settled nicely in Sodhi’s hands.

Green Park went quiet.

Unlike Kohli, Vijay hadn’t taken on Wagner’s short balls,

and through both his spells - one with the new ball and another, spanning seven overs, in the afternoon session - he had swayed out of the way, dropped his wrists, and simply watched balls go through to the keeper.

He had been similarly watchful against the other bowlers, permitting himself only one indulgence - the late cut. This shot, played off balls that were barely short or wide, had fetched him boundaries against Wagner, Santner, and Trent Boult, but in the last over before tea, batting on 65, he tried it against Ish Sodhi’s leg spin and nicked to the keeper BJ Watling.

Four down at tea, India were quickly five down as Rahane, reaching out to defend Craig’s off-spin, failed to get near the pitch of the ball, and inside-edged to short leg.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

West Indies not weakened by Gayle’s absence

PAKISTAN are not assuming the absence of batting superstar Chris Gayle to mean West Indies will be a weakened unit for their three-match Twenty20 International series starting Saturday.

“I don’t think that there is much of an advantage when it comes to T20 cricket when players have changed,” captain Sarfraz Ahmed said.

“True, they don’t have Chris Gayle but they do have some other good players. Our focus is to do well on the field. We finished on a good note in Manchester (against England earlier this month) and I hope we start on a good note here.”

Gayle, one of the most

destructive batsmen in the game’s shortest formats, was not available for selection after also missing the two-match series against India in Fort Lauderdale, United States last month.

He was joined by Lendl Simmons who was also unavailable because of medical reasons while dynamic all-rounder Andre Russell pulled out of the squad last week for ‘personal reasons’.”

However, Sarfraz pointed out that regardless of the lineup, the key to winning T20s was execution.

“In T20, you cannot win by names alone. You need to go out there and play well,” he contended.

Chris Gayle

“If you see, England are a good team and we have quite a few young and exciting players who have performed well. And I’m sure they will do well here too.”

West Indies have been installed as heavy favourites, especially after lifting an unprecedented second T20 World Cup title in India last April. They are currently ranked number three with Pakistan four places lower in seventh.

Despite the absence of Gayle, Simmons and Russell, West Indies boast the likes of all-rounders Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, along with leg-spinner Samuel Badree and off-spinner Sunil Narine.

But Sarfraz said while

there was no doubt about the quality of the Caribbean side, Pakistan would not be daunted.

“They are the best T20 team in the world and won the Twenty20 World Cup,” he noted.

“We are also a good team and when we played against England, we didn’t think that we were playing the T20 World Cup finalists and that they are one of the best T20 teams in the world. Our focus was mainly on that we should play well and play good cricket.

“That is the same focus here. Our aim is to play good cricket and play a good brand of cricket and beat them.” (windiescricket.com)

UCCA U-19 cricket

Wins for Scottsburg, No. 72 Cut and Load

SCOTTSBURG United and No. 72 Cut and Load recorded contrasting wins in the first round of the TWINS (Bayo) Beer Garden/Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) Under-19 cricket competitions, which bowled off last Saturday with two matches.

Scottsburg United defeated No. 72 All Stars by 134 runs, while No. 64 Fighting Marines forfeited the game to No. 72 Cut and Load.

Playing at home, Scottsburg United batted first and were bowled out for 160 in 31 overs. Alex Burnett 44, Stefon Mangal 21 and Saif Ghannie 15 were the top scorers.

Bowling for No. 72

Sanjay Deochand and Gavin Chaterpal with 2 wickets each.

In reply, No.72 All Stars were bundled out for a meagre 26 runs from 11 overs. Extras top-scored with 10.

Doing the damage for Scottsburg was Aeron Jamaludeen taking 5 wickets for 2 runs off 2 overs and he got good support from Rudy Jamaludeen with 3 wickets, while Stefon Mangal picked up 2.

At the No. 72 ground: No. 72 Cut and Load won by virtue of No. 64 Fighting Marines’ forfeiture of the game after the game was severely interrupted by rain with only 7 overs bowled. No. 64 had

reached 19 for 4.

The UCCA has since launched an investigation into the matter since there was time for a reduced-overs match. The match was awarded to No. 72 Cut and Load.

RCMTC&SF race meet rescheduled to October 30 Aeron Jamaludeen All Stars, Taleshwar Baichan took 3 for 11 and received good support from Khameshwar Chaterpal,

ORGANISERS of the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports Facilities (RCMTC&SF) have rescheduled the club’s horse race meet to October 30.

The meet was originally planned for this Sunday at the club’s track Alness, Corentyne Berbice.

However, chief organiser

Marcel Crawford Jr indicated that the race meet has been postponed due to a number of unforeseen circumstances.

Crawford Jr further indicated that the original programme remains the same, but with the club moving to regulate the level of racing in Guyana, a number of new initiatives will be

introduced by the new date.

Eight races are planned, where over $3M in cash, trophies and other incentives are up for grabs.

The feature race is the classified Alness Classic over 1600 metres for a first prize of $600 000.

Other races planned for the day are: G and Low-

er, Two-year-olds race for Guyana-bred horses, H and Lower, K and Lower, J’1’, L ‘1’, and there is an event for unclassified horses.

Interested persons can make contact with Marcel Crawford Jr on 678-5342 or Compton Sancho on 602-1567 for any clarifications.

T&T Football

SSFL to review safety measures in wake of Manning Cup tragedy (SPORTSMAX) - The Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) has pledged support for its Jamaican counterparts in the wake of the tragic death of St George’s College Manning Cup team Dominic James.

James, the captain of the George’s team, collapsed on the pitch during a schoolboy football match on Tuesday and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

“As a league we empathise with the situation.

We want to send condo-

lences to the parents of the young man and I hope that the league would look at ways of probably making sure things like this don’t happen in the future,” first vice-president of the SSFL William Wallace told Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

The official admits that while the situation is difficult to access at the moment the SSFL is already considering adjustments to safeguard the health of students. Concerns have been raised since the incident regarding the availability of

sufficient medical care at games.

“The thing is the person collapsed and died so I am not sure whether how much safety we could have put in place or anybody could put in place to deal with that. However, it is something that

we would have to definitely take into consideration whether it is we get persons doing medicals before they embark on playing for their schools,” Wallace added.

At present medical testing for the teams is not compulsory.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 23, 2016

Rugby America North (RAN) Finals

Guyana welcomes Argentinian Rugby coach … Great Human potential - Giannantonio

By Stephan Sookram GUYANA’S Green Machine have added another trump card to their arsenal with the introduction of an Argentinian scrum coach on Tuesday.

Deiego Giannantonio was presented to the media and other rugby stakeholders during a simple ceremony at the Argentine Embassy in Georgetown yesterday, where it was announced that his stint with the unit would be just about two weeks.

In that time, he will work exclusively with the national 15s team as they prepare to play the final against their hosts Mexico on October 1.

Speaking through a translator Nicholas Frazer, the coach who arrived on Monday and begun work on Tuesday contended: “I’d like to give to you in this short time I have, some tools for this very important game against Mexico.”

“In the short time that I have seen them, I believe that there is great human potential in the players as well as the staff, but I believe that they must work a lot more as a team. Technically, I think that they can still get better but I see them now as very good,” Meanwhile, Argentinian ambassador said, “This is a good example for future cooperation,” noting that the process on

Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine (left) converses with National coach Lawrence Adonis, in the presence of GRFU Patron Kit Nascimento and Ambassador Luis Alberto Martino. Robbie Roberts, Peter Green and Avery Corbin are also part of the conversation. (Samuel Maughn photo) his end took three days and some assistance from the Argentine Rugby Association and Foreign Affairs Ministry.

“He (Deiego) has been working for many years with the world of rugby, he himself was a senior member of the Pumas, the 15s national team in the 90s,” The second of the three parties involved, the Guyana Olympic Association through executive member Charles

Director of Sport Christopher Jones hands over a cheque to GRFU president Peter Green.

Corbin, contended that the body jumped at the Idea of support for the sport.

He noted that the GOA covered the airfare and accommodation for Mr Giannantonio and feels that more mixtures of cultures and tactics from coaches outside of Guyana are the way forward.

National coach Lawrence Adonis feels, “He (Deiego) is really and truly helping us out in our weaker parts of the game, especially in the scrums, the malls, the wraps, lineouts and so on and even some of the structures we currently have.”

“It is working well for us, and we would like to see if we can keep him a bit more or have him back sometime,” continued Adonis.

The third party in the agreement, the Government of Guyana, represented by Senior Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, stated that sport makes for more rounded individuals.

Others in attendance at the ceremony were Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Patron Kit Nascimento, president Peter Green, manager Robin Roberts, senior player Avery Corbin and Director of Sport Christopher Jones Meanwhile, the government also chipped in by providing $2M towards the team’s preparation for the RAN finals, with the funding expected to go towards getting the team further acclimatised to the Mexican altitude.

Giannantonio will be a part of the team’s touring contingent to Mexico and from there, he will return to Argentina.

Guyana lacking representation at UCI Tour of Tobago THE United Cycling International (UCI) Tour of Tobago is scheduled for October 2, 2016. In the same event last year, two of Guyana’s cyclists Romelo Crawford and Raynauth Jeffrey turned in impressive performances.

For Crawford it was the Division two 20-lap Plymouth Criterium race in Tobago

… after creditable performances last year

Hassan Mohamed

Cycling Classic Four race series. The young Berbician won the race in an exciting sprint ahead of Junior Caribbean champion Tyler Cole and Nicholas Paul.

There were 42 starters in the event. Jeffrey, on the other hand, placed fourth in the event but

was disqualified for not following an unmarked section of the course towards the finish of the race.

This year, it appears as if Guyana will be unrepresented according to Guyana Cycling Federation Race Secretary Hassan Mohamed. When questioned

by the Guyana Chronicle, Mohamed stated he was unable to comment on Guyana taking part.

“I’m unable to comment at this time, it does not look like we will be sending cyclists due to financial constraints,” stated Mohamed.

He added that most cy-

clists secured their own sponsors through the federation but at this point there were no requests for sponsor licences.

The UCI Tour of Tobago starts in nine days and if Guyanese cyclists are looking to take part they will have a short period of time to find sponsorship.

Guyana lacking representation at UCI Tour of Tobago (See Story on page 31 )

Rugby America North (RAN) Finals

Guyana welcomes Argentinian Rugby coach

Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine makes a comment during yesterday’s press briefing.

West Indies not weakened by Gayle’s absence (See Story on page 30 )

Newly acquired scrum coach Deiego Giannantonio shares a moment with one of the embassy staff.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

New system for players breaching ICC code of conduct (See Story on page 28 )

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016