Guyana Chronicle New York Edition E-Paper 26 05 2017

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(TbronicU STHE NATION'S NEWSPAPER

ISSUE NO. 51

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WEEK ENDING MAY 26,2011

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The Golden Arrowhead flutters in the breeze as fireworks emblazon the sky and President David Granger stands at attention at Thursday night's heralding of Guyana's 51st year of Independence (See page 12)

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

operative Republic of Guyana, some years Where is that super sleuth Sherlock Homes when you need ago, is something which I dwell on from him? The famous fictional English detective is very much time to time. I feel that I just can't accept needed here in Guyana at this time, to crack the cold that, that beautiful arch has just disapcase of, The MISSING RIJIMVELDT INDEPENDENCE ARCH. peared into thin air and no one those who At this time of Guyana's cold cases the many cold cases; the murder of Mon- ought to know, are willing to say anything history, we need some help from the ica Reece, the Ronald Waddell assassina- about it. Such a situation should not be acBritish, and wc do have some help right tion as well as that of Courtney cepted by the Guyanese People. I helped now in the person of Russell Combe, a Crum-Ewing. Of course the most notori- to pay for that arch, and you too, as a Tax British Senior Security Sector Reform Ad- ous case is that of the assassination of Payer, helped to pay for it. It has to be viser. Since his arrival in Guyana, the Government Minister Sash Shaw and found sooner or later.

When riding in a taxi or mini bus British Security Ace has been meeting members of his family, including the famalong the Ruimveldt Public road, and a with ministers of government and the ily dog, and also the Security Guard. passenger says to the driver or conductor, country's top brass in National Security, This, of course, is not intended to including the Police Force, the Defense cast aspersions on the Force and the Prison authorizes. professional abilities It has already been announced that and successes of GuyMr. Combe is also on the move around the ana's current Crime country, meeting with stakeholders. Un- Chief, the 18-year vet/> / fortunately, I have not met the gentleman eran, Senior Superinmyself to find out directly from him, tendent Wendell Balanwhether he has any plans to go after, THE hum, who I have to MISSING RUIMVELDT INDEPEND- admit, I have lots of reENCE ARCH. spect for. And so I subAs you continue to read this feature, mit that Crime Chief I implore you not to rush to judgment and Wendell Balanhum is accuse me of having a colonial mentality. doing a great job. HowAccuse me of being the possessor of an in- ever, there are those ternational mentality, and I'll plead times when even the // "GUILTY", immediately, since I do be- best of professionals do lieve that "No Man is an Island", and no need to seek some assiscountry stands alone on the face of the tance, especially in earth; not North Korea; not South Africa, cracking the many cold not East Samora or West Germany when cases in this Cooperative it existed as a separate country. We are all, Republic of Guyana 5 in one way or another, inter-connected. with a population of less At this time of bandits roaming all than one million. around Guyana like A1 Capone's Chicago, The mysterious disaprobbing, and shooting and killing, Guyana pearance of that beautican do with the extra assistance of that ful Ruimveldt Indepensuper detective Sherlock Holmes and his dence Arch, the property loyal assistant Dr. Watson, to help solve of the People of the Co-

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"Give me Independence Arch", when approaching the AlexanBy der Village enFrancis Quamina trance, comes Farrier like a sharp dagger to my patriotic heart. While some Guyanese still see that missing Ruimveldt Independence arch in their mind's eyes, even though the arch is nowhere to be seen with the physical eye, at least not by almost everyone, that monument and symbol of Guyana's Freedom from colonial

rule, has been taken away, and no one has been made accountable â&#x20AC;&#x201D; so far. That is unacceptable. Guyanese need to know where that Ruimveldt Independence Arch has gone, and who has taken it, if indeed it has been taken by someone with sticky hands and expanding pockets.

That attractive Ruimveldt Independence Arch, which was in full view of the Ruimveldt Police statation was removed to facilitate the widening of the Ruimveldt Public Road. It was stated by the government of the day, that it would have been reassembled and remounted at the completion of the road works. That, unfortunately, has not happened. As an investigative journalist, I approached a few individuals over the years, who should know, but I haven't gotten any answers. A few years ago, I also approached the former Minister of Communications and Public Works, Hon. Robeson Benn, MP. As a matter-of-fact, my approach to Minister Benn was within the hallowed Hall of the Guyana Parliament Chamber during a break in the sitting, as the parliamentarians were filing out to enjoy their 4.00 p.m.

Tea Break, paid for by the hard-working (continued on page 3)

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

Where

is

(from page 2)

the

3

Ruimveldt Independence Arch Guyana, and from all indications, enjoying his visit.

So, as we celebrate Guyana's 51st Independence anniversary, we still do not know where the Ruimveldt Independence arch is; something which I still intend to pursue, until the facts come to light. When found, I would recommend that the Ruimveldt Independence Arch be transported to the Essequibo Coast and mounted at Anna Regina, around the High Bridge area. Meanwhile, there is a new Independence arch which was constructed at Agricola, for Guyana's 50th Independence anniversary in May 2016, and sponsored by Banks D1H Limited. As someone who spent my formative years in that East Bank Demerara district, I wrote a short poem for the occasion which 1 included in a programme of Poetry and Storytelling, shortly after its unveiling, for the students of my Alma Mater, the St. Ann's Primary School at Agricola.

Yes, there is also the newly constructed Independence

Arch located at the eastern entrance to the city of Georgetown. However, that does not mean that the Guyanese people should not know what has happened to that beautiful Ruimveldt Independence Arch. Someone knows where it is, or where it has been sent. That person, or persons, ought to let the nation know. Or maybe we should have Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson come here and join forces with our own Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Wendell Bianhum, to crack the case of The Missing RUIMVELDT INDEPENDENCE ARCH, handing over the suspects to SUCO for their action, and likely prosecution, trial and imprisonment.

Happy 51st Independence

Guyanese Taxpayers.

My approach to the Honourable Minister, with my usual respectable personality, was returned with gleaming eyes, and an unwelcoming smirk on his face. Before putting my video camera into record mode, I respectfully requested of the honourable gentleman, whether I could ask him a question. He nodded in the affirmative. My finger touched the record button of my valuable video camera.

I was ready to get an answer, on-camera, to that very important question for which many Guyanese want an answer; "Where is the Ruimveldt Independence Arch?"' I felt more like the English sleuth Sherlock Holmes, than Anniversary to all my the veteran Guyanese investigative journalist which I am. fellow Guyanese at home and Minister Robeson Benn, having given a half-hearted permission for me to interview him, gathered up his papers in the Diaspora, and began to exit the Parliament Chamber. 1 followed him.

Just outside the chamber, I tried to manoeuvre myself in front of the swiftly moving minister, but that proved somewhat difficult, since there were many other persons standing or moving around in the area. Although e %JVew the minister had indicated that I could ask him a question, he was not making it easy for me to do so and get an answer. He was moving away from me. DeterHkM mined to get an answer, I decided to put the important > question once and for all, even if the question was delivered to a subject who was walking away and backing the camera. "Minister, minister, could you say Sn where the Ruimveldt Independence Arch is, Sir?" I 9 J asked, as I chased after the Honourable Minister of Works and Communication.

My heart was pounding as I navigated the Resfaurarrt and many parliamentarians and non-parliamentarians who were moving around in my path. "I've told you before, that was before my time", the minister re121-14 yVvcnuc sponded, as he disappeared into the Tea room to enjoy his snack. He never paused, or suggested that Richmond Hill, NY 11419 I contact anyone else at the Ministry. I checked the recording on my video camera, which was for me, very special, and it made riveting viewership when .\ it was later broadcast on television on The Evening News. Here was a senior politician and minister of government, giving an answer to a question posed HO by a senior journalist, while walking away. But that was not the first time that I got such an interesting IVION - THUR 1 1 :00/WI — 1 2:00 IVIIDIMIOHT inter-action from a senior politician.

FRI.- SUN 1 1 :00 AJV1 — 2:00 /MVl The previous incident occurred in Trinidad. I r had approached the Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley, then a senior member of the government Opposition in Trinidad and Tobago. It was after a political rally held by the PNM party in Woodford Square in the capital city of Port-of-Spain. My intention was to ioi~ Crodil Cards get a comment from the Tobago-horn politician, about a statement I had read in a T&T newspaper OUR COURTEOUS AND PROFESSIONAL S" earlier that day, in which the Hon. gentleman had stated, that he felt like he was stabbed in the back WAITING TO SERVE YOU by a brother. I was in Trinidad at the time, and had CHECK OUT OUR DAILY SPECIALS read that statement in the local newspapers.

Rowley's published statement was in response J to a situation between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, regards the Paris Debt write-off, and how the 3 then Guyana Minister of Finance, Hon. Bharrat Jagdeo, had changed some aspect of that Paris agreement, which was signed by Jagdeo's predeces□ sor, Hon. Asgar Ali, which was more to Trinidad and D Tobago's benefit. I chased after Dr. Keith Rowley S after he had exited Woodford Square at the end of Jjr the rally, and was walking along a pavement towards his car. I introduced myself and asked him for a comment regards his statement against Guyana. His response was,"I don't want to talk to any reporter from Guyana." It was so heartening to see that Dr. The Honourable Keith Rowley, now the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad-and-Tobago, re^Tyining on ^"Wo ^^Tloor cently making a visit to the Cooperative Republic of

4

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

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0 Knowing the oil industry

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Every oil nation may look on Dubai and probably wished they had just a tiny bit of that country's luck to make such a great development on the sale of its natural resource.

Although it was last said that only five percent of the city's immense wealth now comes from the natural commodity, it was oil that started the now successful economic activities that seemed inevitable based on promising business prospects that accompanied bold and innovative risk taking.

While every country is unique; have their own challenges, and some may witness greater success than others, it may very well be the ability of a government to manage and make the right deals with its partners to ensure the best benefits from any contract entered into. The government on behalf of its citizens is expected to make the best deals possible, and in Guyana's case with the foreigners who are drilling for the oil, that, according to the Guyanese government, the nation is unqualified to do for itself.

Currently the take in Guyana is whether an oil refinery is feasible for the country. The government is facilitating this discussion by holding public forums through its Ministry of Natural Resources and other bodies.

So far, an expert hired by the government has said it is not financially worthy to construct a refinery

in Guyana due to the billions of US dollars that would have to be invested, without the guarantee of reclaiming the investment, far less making a meaningful profit.

move into its production phase.

Guyanese are very excited. Despite the contract between the government and Exxon; which was signed under the then People's Progressive Party (PPP) government has not been made public and it is not exactly clear how much Guyanese will actually benefit from the venture, citizens remain optimistic about possi-

The law speaks to a specific period for a company to conduct exploration, royalties, taxes to be paid, contributions to the Guyanese work force, the specific usage of local goods and services, production sharing, the refining and sale of petroleum, the total development of the industry by an investing company, and the fact that the responsible Minister could legally repeal certain laws on the licensee on entering into a production sharing agreement with the government among many other things.

In relation to the laws above, it is unclear how much of this would have been taken into account by the previous administration and then by the current government.

To become acquainted with the legislation, would however allow citizens to have an idea as to what is going on and what are some of the questions that they need to be asking.

.

It must be remembered however, that Guyana's oil and gas sector is a very new one and has not poured one barrel as yet. The main company working on pouring the first oil barrel. Exxon mobil, recently started to

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The New York Edition (Guyana Chronicle) is a weekly newspaper, carrying news, views and comments from the Diaspora, Guyana and the Caribbean and is circulated every Friday in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, as well as on our webpage (www.guyanachronicle.com).

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ble reliefs that's will come, as being touted.

However.

Guyana Sprouts would put forward that all Guyanese at home and abroad acquaint themselves with information pertaining to the oil and gas sector so that they could help to protect and manage the nation's resource by actually understanding what is happening and thus being able to speak on it in an informed manner.

This is said because it was only recently that the Sprout was able to access a copy of the oil and gas legislation and saw many stipulations that had to be fulfilled before a company is granted an exploration license and even a prospecting license for exploration. There were several other things the law pointed to and the Sprout could not help but wonder if those requirements were placed in the contract between Guyana and the US based Exxon.

After getting some information on the Angola mining contract with Exxon, it was seen that the country explained clearly how they were being paid from Exxon whether they got their share in oil or hard cash or how that country would turn its oil into revenue. Whether it would be responsible for transporting its own oil from ridge to location and whether they would be getting oil from Exxon at a cut cost for local use.

Guyana Sprouts believes it's in the best interest of citizens to pay attention to the developing oil and gas sector as to not let another one of the country's natural resources go without making a meaningful contribution to the country.

Last year, the country celebrated 100 years of bauxite and not much could have been said about the contributions made since then. Companies such as OMAI are said to have poured millions of ounces in gold but only honoured royalty payments as losses were very often claimed.

These are just some of the sectors were Guyana has opened up to foreign investment, but ended up benefiting very little. Local commentators are saying this cannot be allowed to happen with oil.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017 The

Tilings

5

TlMt

Botlaer

Me

Handel Andrews Column 1borrow this title from Desiderius Erasmus's great satirical book. In this, I beg the

indulgence of literary

purists for my employment of literary license.

Bpm

The

j?

brilliant work praise, among other things, self-deception and madness. My thrust is our acceptance of folly, mad-

'

'

Great reporters and commentators dare to speak truth to power.

ness and incompetence in the White House. Our Founding fathers were children of the Enlightenment, who did not suffer fools gladly and saw, as our future leaders, the

WALTER CRONKITE These days, our analysts "He always spoke tmu. to power." an(| commentators rely

brightest, the most honorable and trustworthy among us.

There was a time in our glorious history that we held our Presidents to these high standards. Today, we accept

on stupid tweets to build their

mediocrity, dishonesty and rudeness as norms.

QUALIFICATION FOR PRESIDENCY There should be additional qualifications for the Presidency.

The Constitution requires that a Presidential candidate must be a natural born citizen of the United States, a resident for 14 years and 35 years of age or older.

I suggest that another requirement should be that the candidate be a person who was or is a member of Congress for, at least, 1 term.

This would avoid the pitfalls of inexperience. The Daily News (May 15, 2017) reported that President Trump "shared secret state secrets about ISIS with Russian diplomats in the Oval Office." This was shared with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak in a White House meeting last week.

The White House is busy trying to explain President Trump's leak of this classified information.

There is no argument that such leak by a US President is legal, because he can declassify any document at any time on his own. There is also no argument that he might have been merely boasting about our capabilities. However, these are not the points. The party who shared the intel with us is very annoyed and it has our allies scratching their heads. I submit that the President's action is the direct result of inexperience. He thinks that he is on a television reality show.

Donald Trump ran on a platform that he was a deal-maker (After all, did he not write "Art of the deal"?), that he was a successful billionaire businessman and an outsider to Washington.

uninspiring editorials. The

The first two qualities are helpful to an experienced politician. However, on their own they do not tend to success. Running a business is far different from running the government of the most powerful country on earth.

In business, one could delegate most duties. As President, one can also delegate some functions.

That is why there are Ministries in the Government. However, the President must supervise and make suggestions to these. How can he make suggestions about what he does not know? This begs the question if a person who gets all his political information from television is qualified to head the Executive Branch?

i \

President's crudeness is explained as

u

his way." His lies

are called ^alternative facts."

We need real, good, unbiased news reporting and analyses.

— Handel Andrews

With respect to being an "outsider" president, the electorate should be wary. There is much wheeling and dealing in Washington. The first instinct of a Washington outsider is to dictate to and bully Congress. This will not work

for long. The Republican-majority Congress is sticking with this inept, out-of-control President. However, when the writing appears on the wall against their re-election, they (continued on page 22)

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017 NÂŤw York Edl Chronicle

^

Iâ&#x20AC;˘ w

I Jilnr In ( liict Nigel Williams

THE THING THAT BOTHERED ME

Editor â&#x20AC;&#x201D; INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY

Godfrey Wray Fdilorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com ^nigcllOc" hoi mail.torn gnnlcditoriuh'' gmail.com For All Publishing and Advertising in New York consult our New York Representative: Dennis A. Nelson dennisnelson.nychronicle@yahoo.coni Tel: 917-379-6590

Ciiitorial

Oil

must

kill

not

other

productive

sectors THE discovery of oil offshore Guyana about two years ago has been welcome news to her citizens here and abroad and they would all be happy when this country becomes an oil-producing nation by 2020.

By then, oil prices which have experienced a slump over the past few years have been projected to get back on track, much in Guyana's favour. Oil ~ or "black gold" as it is often referred to ~ is a globally demanded commodity and as such, is a major revenue generator and when managed well can significantly transform the social, economic and infrastructural image of a country.

Saudi Arabia. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates quickly come to mind; and it would be vital that Guyana puts systems in place to prudently manage its oil wealth, so that the country and all of her citizens benefit. It is encouraging that Guyana has already taken some initial steps in this direction by seeking membership in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a global standard for accountable management of oil. gas and mineral resources.

Pradent and transparent management of our natural resources cannot be over-emphasised, since an abundance of wealth never experienced before can be both a blessing and a curse in the absence of a clearly thought-out strategy to utilise it. The world has seen Nigeria, a major African oil-producing nation, and closer to home. Venezuela, among several other developing nations falling victims of the paradox of plenty ~ all valuable lessons Guyana should

Dear Editor, The thing that bothered me three weeks ago. was an article in the Guyana Chronicle of May 5,2017 by my good friend and compatriot.

Handel Andrews. What is unusual is that Handel and I share the same historical perspectives and political ideology. What I objected to was not his historical analysis, which was quite profound and informative, but his conclusion. After positing that the Indenture system was the functional equivalent of slavery, Handel concluded that "Indian Arrival Day is a welcome and appropriate celebration to a pivotal event in the land of six people," Therein lies the paradox. If Indians arrived under a system of abject oppression, when we are celebrating their arrival, are we not also celebrating the oppressive system under which they arrived? How can we separate the event from the circumstances under which the event occurred?

If Africans were to celebrate the African arrival in the new world, would we not also be celebrating the origin of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade? Maybe, that is the reason why Africans in the Diaspora do not celebrate the oppressive conditions under which they arrived, but rather celebrate the abolition of the slave trade, and the emancipation of the

African people. Surely our Indian brothers and sisters should similarly celebrate the abolition of the Indenture system in March 1917, rather than the genesis of the Indenture system in May 1834.

Handel quoted three individuals who subscribed to the proposition that the Indenture system was the functional equivalent of slavery.

Hugh Tinker described Indenture "as a new system of slavery." Anthony Trillope, a novelist, described it as a "despotism tempered with sugar" and Walter Rodney referred to "its neo slave nature."

There is a compelling historical reason why the Indenture system should not be celebrated as a national holiday in Guyana. Walter Rodney pointed out in "A History of the Guyanese Working People" that the importation of Indian labor on the sugar estates coincided with the displacement of the African working class from the sugar estates, and created ethnic resentment between the two working class communities for generations.

The Indian indentured servants arrived at the same time that African workers, who had been recently emancipated, were negotiating for a sustainable wage on the sugar estates. When the Africans conducted strikes, the Indian indenture servants were used as strike breakers. When

leam to avoid.

The case of Venezuela stands out. When oil was discovered there, exports from other sectors virtually disappeared and now with a global decline in oil prices, the economy of the Bolivarian Republic has been thrown into turmoil. Guyana will have to take careful note and should always engage in forward planning to circumvent unforeseen eventualities.

Greater than committing in rhetoric would be for Government to commit in action to protect other productive sectors, so that Guyana at no one time is solely dependent on oil revenues to stay afloat like Venezuela, whose economy is 95 per cent oil- dependent.

For this reason, it would be pradent that some of the oil funds are invested in agriculture and cheap energy, so that Guyana remains food-secme and impetus is given to the manufacturing sector. Big industries such as rice and sugar should be diversified with emphasis on added value to avoid loss of jobs and to create new avenues of employment. And it is time that Guyana gives more attention to developing the coconut

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COLIN A. MOORE the displaced African workers from the villages passed by the sugar estates, they saw the Indian indenture laborers working on the sugar estates from which they had been evicted.

When the African migrated to the cities, the sugar planters in the Court of Policy imposed a tax on them to pay for the expense of importing indentured labor.

A.R.F. Webber, a member of the colored middle, class observed that, "The African workers were forced to finance the cost of their evictions from the sugar estates."

We welcome the arrival of our Indian brothers and sisters to Guyana, but let us celebrate, not the birth of the indentured system in May 1834, but the abolition of indenture ship in March 1917.

Respectfully, Colin A. Moore

industry, which is among the fastest-growing industries in the world. With more money at its disposal, greater emphasis should also be placed on a modem approach to agriculture with the establishment of mega farms producing a variety of crops, as well as large-scale animal rearing, making greater use of modem technology.

Oil at no time should result in an abandonment of traditional sectors, but rather, developing and strengthening of them. It is necessary that Guyana moves along this path, since the oil will not be with us forever. We should look at where we would want to be after the oil dries up.

Aside from agriculture and cheap energy, it would be important that focus be placed on modernising public infrastructure, improving education, health-care, citizens' standard of living and development of tourism. With a world-class tourism industry, a thriving manufacturing sector, an educated nation and a diverse and advanced agriculture sector, the future of Guyana will be secured for generations and generations after oil is no longer with us.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in articles in this newspaper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies and views of the management of the New York Edition of the Guyana Chronicle.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017 Part 1

A view from New York Why

of

The American

Three Part

WITH MICHAEL DEREK ROBERTS robertsconsulting@gmx.com * (347) 279-6668

Dream

Never Was

Series

From the time children are born in America there is What Americans Think of the American Dream

this narrative about the "American Dream" and "American Exceptionalism." Drilled into the minds

Percentage of Americans who consider the following very or extremely important in their vision of the American Dream:

of impressionable youths in classroom civics courses, this 78%

drumbeat of how the system of capitalism is a socio-eco-

75%

71%

nomic phenomenon and miracle that "lifts all boats," —

67%

if you work hard, play by the rules, and apply yourself. But 54%

I contend that this is a hollow myth, a created social hologram fix that is tinkered, embellished, and re-crafted over time to hoodwink and bamboozle (I'm borrowing from

23%

Malcolm X here) people into thinking that somehow Americans are born better, blessed by God, and are unique among mortal homo sapiens.

In these series of articles, I want to submit a different view-

realized at the expense of sustained, ruthless, and unrelenting

point. I want to set the premise by saying that there was no "Ameri-

exploitation of a helpless group of humans at the hands of White

can Dream" and the facts that I'll present here point to a system that

Americans. This system was legendary for its record of immoral

called segregation. This is the second system of American socio-

ganizations like the Ku Klux Klan.

The result was that segregation

is predicated on exploitation, never adapted to changes in the so-

and unjust human suffering that it encouraged, sustained, legalized

economic historical development.

created a large army of unskilled,

ciety, that has left the American

and spawned.

I will deal with that in another article in the series. Suffice to say

unemployed (and in some cases unemployable) labor that was eas-

here that segregation was little different from chattel slavery in that

ily exploited, while at the same time dealing out unbelievable re-

it was quite literally "segregation with slavery benefits." This period

pression as a by-product.

was characterized by state-sponsored terrorism and brutality

systems, driven by and built on the exploitation of unpaid slave labor

economy, and thus the society and nation, lurching from crisis to cri-

economically untenable, the un-

sis. The system is also characterized by economic boom and bust,

derlying reason for its abandonment as the driver of the American

HAVING PERSONAL FREEDOM

And when slavery became

an endless cycle that now entrenches unparalleled inequalities,

economy, American politicians and staunch advocates that sup-

national disenfranchisement, and endemic and systemic poverty,

ported owning "human property," developed a new system of slavery

HAVING BASIC NEEDS MET

ACHIEVING ONE'S POTENTIAL

HAVING ENOUGH FREE TIME

BEING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

ACHIEVING AFFLUENCE

It was these two previous

meted out to these "former slaves" by "white is might and right" or-

(continued on page 22)

across all classes and groups in America today.

For the purposes of this series of articles, I'll divide America's progress and development

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over 200 years into three distinct periods. These periods were highlighted by economic institutions and systems that drove social and political developments and cultural norms and behavior. The

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appropriation of the labor of enslaved Black African slaves — the legal property of White Americans. Slavery was an economic system that helped drive ALL aspects of American life. But the most enduring fact of American chattel slavery was that the economic, social, political and cultural gains of the society were

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

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in

S2B

...to broaden range of technological solutions DESPITE encountering a few challenges, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) recorded $2.04B in profits after tax for the year ending 2016, an increase of 1.5% over 2015.

The bank held its 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday at its head office in Kingston.

Georgetown and this disclosure was made by Chairman of the GBTI Board of Directors. Robin Stoby in his report.

As a result of the $2.04B garnered in after-tax profits, the bank was able to maintain their level of dividend-payout. bringing the total dividends for the year to $17 per share. Additionally. Stoby related that total assets of the bank have amounted to

1.4B (2.3% increase from 2015) and the capital base has grown to $14.6B. within which the bank has $13B available to sustain future expansion activities.

There was also a 1.1% increase in the net operating income of the bank (all revenue minus all necessary operating expenses) from the results of the 2015 report; this increase totalled $6.2B. While the bank managed to record its colossal $2.04B in after-tax profits, the bank did encounter a few challenges throughout the year.

In the report of the Chief Executive Officer John Tracey. he noted that 2016 had been the most challenging year for the bank for the past five years. Tracey said that the national downturn affect-

i

ed the bank. This downturn, he said, resulted from lower commodity prices, inclement weather conditions and high costs of production coupled with the sluggish state of the economy and pressure on the exchange rate at year-end.

Guyana's real GDP growth, which was projected to be around 4% in the national budget, was actually 2.6%. Both Stoby and Tracey reflected that the bank, as the rest of Guyana, remains speculative but optimistic about the discovery of oil

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off our shores and what this means for our economy.

The slowdown affected the loan portfolio growth of the bank, as total loans and advances were recorded as $45.5B. down 5.2% from 2015. The bank's deposit portfolio and operating expenses were consistent with previous years, however.

Stoby noted that amendments to financial and business legislature and new regulations also affected the bank by pushing up operational and compliance costs. This compliance has not only become more costly, but has required several changes in the banking system and operations.

Two thousand and sixteen (2016) was nevertheless the final year for the bank's five-year strategic plan and Tracey related

tax

that the bank was able to achieve most of its objectives and of course, highlighted the bank's ability to garner its $2.04B in after-tax profits. As the bank will be celebrating 30 years of existence this November, the chairman of the bank underscored that the bank aims to broaden their range of technological solutions to further enhance costumers' banking experience in terms of service, functionality, experience and customer fulfilment. This will be affirmed through the bank's 2017-2021 Strategic Plan, in which emphasis will also be placed on security measures, since the bank is wary of its vulnerability to cyber threats, hacking, data leakage and other securitv breaches.

Chairman of the GBTI Board of Directors, Robin Stoby

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Bandits rob Parfaite Harmonie family ARMED bandits robbed a family in Onderneeming, Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, after entering through an opened door at the northern section of the house on Monday night.

The bandits carted" off jewellery, cell phones and cash.

Reports indicate that two of the armed robbers surprised the family while they were socialising in the hall of their home.

One of the occupants was gun-butted and within minutes the men relieved the four persons of their valuables before fleeing on foot and firing a round in the air.

The injured man was identified as Ramesh Singh.

He was treated at the hospital and sent away. The police were contacted and statements were provided as investigations continue.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

C J1A

9

improvement

new

Guyana in the near future, the improvement of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (C JIA) is going to provide a new and refreshing experience for travelers accessing the facility and its ling with a baby having to use facilities not catered to them.

In this regard the airport has been designed to accommodate all persons abled or disabled. "The airport has been

Ghir also highlighted the ongoing process with new airlines that are being engaged.

Apart from the airport, the Ministry of Tourism and the Guyana Civil Aviation Author-

ity arc also engaging airlines; with a number of favour-able responses.

Ghir noted however that the airport expansion and the increased services this will provide will work well throughout the facility. "Our traffic numbers have increased significantly in the past few years and are continuing to rise," Ghir related. He also said

^ ■i-

the upcoming oil and gas sector will attract larger numbers of people and the airport is will be equipped to handle this increase in traffic.

The CEO opined that while more visitors arc anticipated in Guyana, larger aircraft would be needed to make it all possible. It is for that reason that an expanded airport and an extended runway is important.

Artist's Impression of the CJIA

•>•3

By ZEN A HENRY that the facility will be completed by year- end.

The facility's capacity, service and security is expected to be upgraded, with improvement in the general aesthetics.

Minister Hughes explained that travel in all parts of the world has become more difficult for passengers, especially the number of security checks and new regulations put in place. The Minister who once held the portfolio for tourism said that the process of travel via the airport system is not as easy as it was 20 years ago.

In her view however, the expanded CJIA airport will contribute immensely to tourism by making the first impression on visitors a good one. "We want to make sure that passengers landing at the CJIA, are able to traverse the airport with efficiency, in comfort and of course, in the shortest possible time."

The expansion will provide more breathing space to accommodate the increased number of persons expected to visit Guyana as the growing tourism sector begins to take off, for business investment or just passing through.

Visitors from North America, Europe and other parts of the world, should feel relieved and at home when they arrive in Guyana. Hughes said imagine a wheel-chair bound person, those with other disabilities or a mother travel-

provide

experience

Coinciding with the number of foreigners expected to flock

services.

This is according to Minister of Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes who gave her views on the airport following a media tour of the facility last week. Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson during his update on the ongoing construction, said

to

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& f designed to accommodate everyone. The counters, doors, etc. could be accessed by everyone."

Mothers travelling with babies arc also catered for.

Additionally, CJIA's security will be significantly boosted. Airport Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramesh Ghir said that the new terminal building will be upgraded with new screening equipment and additional security staff.

He said expressions of interest for equipment and security personnel has already been received by the airport, while other critical inhouse security equipment has been procured by the facility.

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10

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

Toronto-based

seek

to

set

up

Guyanese

tourism

body

By Frederick Halley PLANS are afoot to establish a tourism body in Toronto, consisting mainly of Guyanese nationals residing in the North American city, an idea fully endorsed

by Donald Sinclair, Director-General, Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Business, Guyana.

This was one of the main decisions emanating from the Diaspora Business and Tourism Foram. held at the JC Banquet Hall. Scarborough. Toronto. Canada, on Friday last, with Sinclair urging participants to accelerate its implementation.

Sinclair further said that he is eagerly looking forward to the formation of the body, which he suggested could comprise about 300400 committed individuals.

Those chosen should also be tasked with initiating further discussions on fan trips to Guyana, another area which those present felt should be pursued.

But while Sinclair was in full agreement with the call for fan trips, which will consist mostly of media personnel. the director- general also suggested that road shows should be included. Sinclair however warned that the private sector will give support to fan trips only if they know

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c

T Head table panellists: From left, are Syed Rayman, Lindsay Davidson, Cecil Bryan and Mohamed Khan that the persons coming will bring business for them.

According to Sinclair.

"It is a sad fact since some of the local industries are not so enthused about diaspora visitors as they feel these people only visit their families and don't make any serious contributions to the tourism industry." He however declared that's not his view, as he was of the opinion that people from the diaspora go to Guyana and spend more money than the other visitors. He referred to the belief as just a myth.

Sinclair made reference to the annual Linden Town Week, which showcases the town and despite acknowledging that the planning needs polishing, pointed out that it involves overseas Lindeners. while the Berbicians are also very passionate about happenings in the An-

GuySuCo

cient County.

As for Essequibo. Sinclair reminded the forum that during last year's Golden Jubilee celebrations, three planeloads of Essequibians had visited from Atlanta.

Despite these visits. Sinclair disclosed that "we need to tell the diaspora that there is a Guyana that you do not know, since you may have left over 50 years ago. There is a Guyana we need to introduce to you and in this regard, we need to create a diaspora watering hole â&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially in the hinterland."

The creation of a diaspora watering hole should cater for Guyanese music, pictures of Guyana and also include Guyanese foods. Sinclair suggested.

Sinclair also disclosed that while arrivals in Guyana for the first tw o months of 2017 have doubled from

previous years. 2016 had been a bumper year, largely because of the jubilee season and that last December was the best ever in terms of numbers for that particular month. He said the aim is to double the overall arrivals by 2025. which should be in the vicinity of half a million.

"We are trying to spread the planning of tours from the bottom up and we are also in consultation with the authorities in the various regions, with a view of identifying the various tourist hotspots."

Sinclair pointed out that his department wants to raise the profile of diaspora tourism. "since we recognise the importance of the diaspora, not only in tourism, but in other areas."

On sports tourism. Sinclair lauded the recent staging of the sports tourism seminar, which saw Joseph

pleads

communities understand their roles in sustaining the sugar industry. "GuySuCo has been a major part of the economics and a key player in providing services such as. drainage and irrigation, health care, community development. education and other services. The second crop commences in mid-July. help the corporation to achieve the highest possible target for this upcoming crop. GuySuCo needs your support." the corporation said.

Meanwhile. GuySuCo

on Tuesday announced that as part of the Uitvlugt Estate Improvement Programme (UIP). the board of directors has approved that interested cane farmers with the requisite capacity be leased lands at Uitvlugt Estate. The corporation said a significant percentage of the canes that were milled at the Wales Factory are closer to Uitvlugt Estate and will now be transported to and milled at the Uitvlugt factory. "Cane farmers who were farther away from Uitvlugt Estate, who found it uneconomical

"Reds" Perreira as its main contributor. He was however critical of several sports organisations for their tardiness in planning events where several countries are involved. "We have to understand that if several countries are coming to Guyana for a sporting event, we can't plan it in two weeks. Sports organisations need to understand this calls for forward planning well in advance."

Questioned as to why there was a disbandment of the Ministry of Tourism, which was under Minister Cathy Hughes. Sinclair assured the forum that despite that, the money allocated for tourism, which now falls under the Ministry of Business, has since been increased. He said President David Granger wants special attention to be paid to Information Technology (IT), hence the estab-

for

...offering leased lands at Wales to cane farmers THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) has made an impassioned plea to residents and businesses in sugar-dependent communities, to assist it in its mobilisation programme to increase harvesters' attendance for the Second Crop 2017.

These include communities within the vicinity of Skeldon. Albion. Rose Hall.

Blairmont. East Demerara and Uitvlugt Estates. GuySuCo said in a release. According to the sugar corporation, it is important that these

I

to transport their canes to the Uitvlugt factory, were encouraged to apply to lease lands at Uitvlugt Estate." the GuySuCo release stated.

It added that the factory at the Uitvlugt Estate is configured differently from the Wales Estate factory, hence modifications are currently being done to enable the factory to accommodate farmers' canes delivered in trailers.

According to GuySuCo. prior to closure of the Wales factory, cane farmers had transported their canes to

lishment of the Ministry of Telecommunications which Hughes now commands.

In a message, delivered at the forum on behalf of Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin. the minister said the Department of Tourism is committed to drafting a diaspora tourism policy to better inform and support the management of diaspora tourism.

The discussion panel was chaired by Lindsay Davidson. Public Relations Adviser to the Ontario government with the other members being Professor Mohamed Khan. Syed Rayman and Cecil Bryan, while Jennifer Singh served as rapporteur.

The foram. organised by the Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Business of Guyana, in collaboration with the Consulate- General of Guyana. Toronto, targeted mainly Guyanese-Canadians who are active in tourism. travel and business; education; the media; sports; culture and entertainment; social work and diasporapromotion activities.

Among those in attendance were acting ConsulGeneral Candida Daniels, who introduced DirectorGeneral Sinclair and former Guyana Government minister Edith Bynoe.

labour

Wales Estate by punts and also by road in tractor/trailer units, both of which were unloaded by a cane gantry.

On the other hand, the Uitvlugt factory, as presently configured, can only unload punts and uses a punt dumper for this task.

The modifications at Uitvlugt include the relocation of the cane gantry, cane scale, feeder table and auxiliary carrier from the Wales factory to Uitvlugt, this would be completed in time for the commencement of the second crop, 2017 at Uitvlugt. A temporary trailer parking area and wooden bridge across the

irrigation canal carrying water from the Boerasiri conservancy is also in progress for completion by the start of the second crop - a permanent Trailer Park, concrete bridge over the irrigation canal, upgrade of dams (including Pumpkin Dam) to all-weather roads and other infrastructural works will follow in due course. The relocation of the gantry, cane scale, feeder table and auxiliary carrier is contracted to Nabi Construction Inc., whilst the Uitvlugt Estate is undertaking works on the temporary bridge and trailer park.

11

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017 Lighte \ A 4 o

*

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\ IU '

^

My

â&#x153;&#x201C;

Favorite

Recipes

VEGETABLE LO-MEIN Ingredients: 8 ounces cooked spaghetti (cooked only until al dente) 'A cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon dried chili pepper flakes (can use more to taste) 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms 1 medium carrot, peeled and shredded 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and sliced 1 medium onion, chopped 1 -2 tablespoon minced fresh garlic 1 -2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger 2 cups fresh bean sprouts 1 large green onion, chopped 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 cup canned chicken broth A cup hoisin sauce 2 tablespoons molasses or 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon soy sauce 14 teaspoon curry powder salt and black pepper chopped cashews (optional) or peanuts (optional)

Directions 1. Heat oil in a large wok or skillet.

2. In a small cup whisk together the chicken broth with cornstarch until combined; set aside.

3. Add in the chili flakes and stir for 30 seconds.

4. Add in the mushrooms, carrots, bell pepper, onion, garlic and ginger; stir-fry until tender (about 3 minutes).

5. Add in bean sprouts and green onion; cook for about 1 minute.

6. Add in the chicken broth/cornstarch mixture along with the hoisin sauce, molasses, soy sauce and curry powder; cook, stirring until thickened and heated through.

7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

8. Mix in the cooked spaghetti to the mixture; toss to combine.

Sprinkle with peanuts or cashews if desired.

MAKES FOUR SERVINGS

ITS

A

ARE YOU READY A couple from Minneapolis decided to go to Trinidad for a long weekend to thaw out during one particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the very same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years ago.

As both had jobs, they found it difficult coordinating their travel schedules. It was decided that the husband would fly to Trinidad on a Thursday, and his wife would follow him the next day.

Upon arriving as planned, the husband checked into the hotel. In his room there was a computer, so he decided to send his wife an email back in Minneapolis.

However, he accidentally left out one letter in her address, and sent the e-mail without realizing his error.

In Houston, a widow had just returned from her husband's funeral. The dearly departed was a minister of many years who had been called home to glory following a heart attack. The widow checked her e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends. Upon reading the first message, she fainted.

The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:

FACT

by JAMES SYDNEY THE FASCINATING ARMADILLO The armadillo is a fascinating animal. It has a curious appearance and many aspects of its life are unusual.

Its name, from the Spanish for "little armored one" was given to it because of its appearance. The most well known species, called the "nine-banded armadillo" (Dasypusnovemcinctus) has, in reality, 7-11 bands of bone plates covering its sides, top, tail and the top of its head. It also has leathery brownishblack to gray skin. These features make it look as tough and formidable as a little war tank. However, it is only the size of a house cat and weighs between 8 and 17 pounds.

This armadillo has long ears, a long pig-like snout, and a long tail with between 12 and 15 rings. Cousin to the anteater, the armadillo has a very long, sticky tongue to slurp up ants as quickly as possible. It is also equipped with stout legs and strong claws to tear open ant nests.

Armadillos are found overmuch of South America, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and south central and southeastern USA. They thrive in rainforests, tropical

forests,and grasslands.

When crossing shallow water,armadillos just walk across the bottom. If the water is deep they gulp air into the digestive tract to make themselves buoyant and paddle across like dogs. They can hold their breath for many minutes at a time.

When foraging, they primarily use their sense of smell. The nine-banded armadillo mainly eats ants, small reptiles, amphibians, birds,and carrion. It will also eat fruits and berries. It makes grunting

ISC

k\

sounds as it forages for food and squeaking or squealing noises when it feels threatened.

Dillos have also been known to outrun dogs and people, but they do not always succeed in getting away from predators.

Apart from humans, these include raccoons, black bears, bobcats, foxes and dogs.

However, in the United States most nine-banded armadillos are killed by cars.

They regularly emerge from their burrows at night to feed on road kill and are themselves often killed.

Armadillos jump straight up in the air when startled. This can surprise a predator and give the armadillo time to get away. However, this behavior is fatal to them when cars are involved. They end up jumping right into the front or underside of the car and are killed.

Unlike three-banded armadillos, common in South America, ninebanded armadillos do not curl into a ball when threatened. They often wedge themselves into the tunnels and burrows they are always digging. Protected by their backs, they are extremely hard to dislodge.

To: My Loving Wife Subject: I've Arrived.

I know you are surprised to hear from me.

They have computers here now and you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones. I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then!

Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.

P.S. Sure is hot down here!

Your Husband.

THOSE TRICKY LAWYERS A doctor and a lawyer in two cars collided on a country road. The lawyer, seeing that the doctor was a little shaken up, helped him from the car and offered him a drink from his hip flask.

The doctor accepted and handed the flask back to the lawyer, who closed it and put it away.

"Aren't you going to have a drink yourself?" asked the doctor.

"Sure, after the police leave," replied the lawyer.

Nine-banded armadillos almost always give birth to four identical young. It is the only mammal known to do so. All four young develop from the same egg and even share the same placenta.

Female armadillos can delay implantation of the fertilized egg during times of stress, thus being capable of giving birth as many as two years after mating.

The armadillo is not a dangerous animal. In some areas, however, they are treated as pests because their search for insect food causes them to dig up flowerbeds, wreck lawns, and even burrow under houses.

Wild armadillos have been known to be infected with the bacterium that causes leprosy (Hansen's disease). The only cases of transmission from armadillos to humans resulted from eating undercooked armadillo meat.

Armadillos are unlikely to be suitable as pets for most people. They are nocturnal and would sleep all day and become active at night when the household is asleep. They would then begin foraging, bumping into and knocking over things and generally disturbing the night as they grunt their way through. In addition, armadillos also have a musky smell that most people find unpleasant.

In many areas of Central and South America, armadillo meat is regularly eaten. The meat is said to taste like "finegrained, high-quality pork."

During the Depression years, armadillos were often eaten in the U.S. by poor people. The 'dillos were called "Hoover hogs" after then President Herbert Hoover.

12

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

THE ATTAINMENT of Independent status some 51 years ago represented a 'free state', and President David Granger believes that all citizens should be inspired to work together to preserve the 'free state', establish a 'green state' and create a 'cohesive state'.

In his Independence Day address themed 'Diversity and destiny', the Guyanese leader stressed the need to recommit to social cohesion by learning to accept and respect each citizen's values and beliefs as well as to share "the common space we call our homeland." He noted that Independence Day celebrates the unique combination of people who came to Guyana: the Africans. Chinese. Indians and Portuguese, who with the Amerindians have contributed to the "creation of a multi-racial and multi-religious state."

"The 'free state' is one that is free from discrimination; it is one that is built on the basis of respect for cultural diversity, political inclusivity and social equality. The 'free state' recognises our common and complex heritage. It

My

reminds us of Chinese Arrival Day. celebrated on 12th January; of Portuguese Arrival Day. celebrated on 3rd May; of Indian Arrival Day. celebrated on 5th May; of African Emancipation Day. celebrated on 1st August and of Indigenous Heritage Month, observed throughout September." the President said.

He noted too that the notion of a 'free state' "recommits us to dismantling the divisions of geography." while adding that disparities betw een the hinterland and coastland and rural and urban communities, must be eliminated so that no group feels excluded.

The Head-of-State made it clear that a cohesive state constructs a multi-cultural society which creates conditions for diverse peoples to co-exist.

"Society needs to be strengthened in each occupational sector, in each geographical region, in each community and in each social stratum. The 'cohesive state' is not a political expedient. It can be realised only by respecting the differences and the diversity of society and by the removal of anger, hatred.

m i j,/1

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wm

President David Granger on the dais

ignorance and poverty. It can be created by mutual respect for each other's cultural and religious differences." said President Granger.

Additionally, he said the country's national tapestry is stronger because it is weaved "from our separate, but sturdy, strands. It is more resilient because it represents and reflects the talents of different groups."

"Guyanese. Independence bequeathed to us a state through which we became heirs of a magnif-

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icent patrimony. Guyana is a beautiful, blissful and bountiful country that is becoming a 'green state'."

Meanwhile. President Granger noted that the concept of the 'green state' is a natural product of our "verdant and luxuriant environment"- the country's ecosystems - our coastland. hinterland, highlands, islands. wetlands, grasslands, lakes, rivers, rainforests and waterfalls - are our birthright.

He noted too that the country's bi-diversity rep-

Is

resents an "endowment of our ancestors, the patrimony of all Guyanese and the bequest we hold in trust for posterity." The 'green state' he noted can flourish and furnish a 'good life' for future generations to engendering a spirit of shared social responsibility.

"The 'green state' must embody a common commitment to the environment that arises from our unique, shared patrimony and that will lead to a prosperous future." said President Granger who extended fraternal

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congratulations to all Guyanese. President Granger reminded that the achievement of Independence on May 26. 1966 represents a moment in history when after 350 years of Dutch and British colonization, we abolished foreign rule. The birth of a new nation also represented a new life, with the hope of equality and the eradication of poverty.

It was then that Guyana adopted its own constitution and erected institutions to govern it and guarantee its freedom.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

EMPHASIS ON

The

13

BUSINESS

Tropical Jade

—catered by

a

2

Restaurant

chef with

a Master's

INDEPENDENCE child, Michael Liang, has two sci-

degree

/

4 ■

ence degrees but he has been in the restaurant business

& Bar

Jk" ^ If

all his working life and he and his wife now owns and operates two restaurants and bars on Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York City.

It's was around 6:30 on a rainy late mid-February. spring afternoon. In the Tropical Jade 2 Mike and his Trinidadian-born wife restaurant, music was playing for the din- Dianne opened their first restaurant seven ers entertainment. Several groups of peo- years ago, the Tropical Jade Garden at the ple were conversing or watching news south eastern corner of 108th Street and from TVs which are located at various Liberty Avenue. It was a Chinese take-out vantage points to enable everyone to view food house and in 2010, they bought it and them in comfort while enjoying an alco- converted it to a restaurant complete with holic beverage, a tasty meal or delectable a bar to cater for a Cafribbean community. cutters.

Mike is the chef for the Chinese cuisine Five minutes later, Mike emerges and Diane for the Indian dishes, attracting from the kitchen and heads to the upper a Caribbean clientele, predominantly from floor where families are dining, away from Guyana and Trinidad.

Mike was born into the restaurant

By G. Isaiah Chappelle business, on May 27, the day after the hectic atmosphere of the ground floor. Guyana's Independence Day celebration It's a family-friendly area and heavy in the city of Linden, Guyana, he is the drinking is not allowed here although second of three children and the only boy there's a bar to cater for some social throat- in the family. His parents owned the Tai wetting, for as Mike points out, it's the Tung restaurant on Burnham Drive in Caribbean way of life, where there's food Wismar, both sisters and his parents now there's drink. reside in Canada.

"We don't want children to be exHis formal education started at St. posed to too much heavy drinking and Aiden's Primary School, he later attended downstairs also caters to the sports enthu- the Mackenzie High School, and from siasts, who might be wataching some 1995 began reading at the University of sporting event which might lead to loud Guyana in Georgetown, graduating with a speaking and that is not conducive to fam- Bachelor of Science degree in Computer ily dining," Liang explains. There's even Science. His final year project was outa separate door from the street which leads standing; he wrote a program to computdirect to the top floor, so that children erize the University of Guyana's Library. would not be exposed to the more adult atAt the time, there was a shortage of mosphere on the first floor. And the music computers at the University's Computer is at a level that would allow conversation Center and Michael had the use of a comamong members of a family gathering. puter for only about 25 minutes per day.

There's a new dark green canopy So he worked on his assignments in the across the pavement over the entrance. night and even completed his major papers I

WARMING

I

«

with white lettering stating Guyanese, West Indian and Chinese food is served.

The decor in both floors is modern and tasteful. Well, it's just three months since this restaurant and bar at 121-14 Liberty Avenue opened its doors to customers in

the same way. He now applies his computer skills in managing his restaurant business.

"I learned to manage time. It now helps me a lot in my life," Mike declares.

After the presentation of his project.

FAMILY DINING UPSTAIRS

—^ 2REiSTAURANI

I GUYSUCO (Guyana Sugar Corporation) offered him a job but he declined the offer.

Instead in 1999 at age 21, he headed to the United States to read for a Master's degree, majoring in telecommunications and graduated in 2004.

To support himself, he had a full-time job in a restaurant while also attending university full time. He was the chef, cashier, and utility man at the restaurant.

He was so busy at work that he was unable to attend his graduation ceremony.

With two science degrees in his resume, Mike still continued working at the Guyana Oriental restaurant at 115 Street and Liberty Avenue, until it was sold in 2009.

"The restaurant business was more lucrative, especially in this neighbourhood. I have no regrets departing from the computer field," he relates.

However, Mike still uses his computer knowledge. He's designed the computer system for his businesses, wrote the programs, and installed the network, the cameras, and other technical installations.

He, also, designed the kitchen at the new location, while his wife created the decor.

The duo bought the new facility in December last year because they saw more potential in the new location. Since then, he's been working 16-hour days, seven days a week, firstly setting up the restaurant and bar, and now managing both restaurants and handling the major cooking. And when he gets home, he spends another two

BAR

or three hours on paperwork.

"In this business, you have to be with it —in order to grow, you have to oversee the food and drink, and ensure there is good customer service," Mike points out.

It's been three years since Mike took a break, back in 2014 he went on vacation to Guyana. He went for a month, but after two days he was bored, missing the fastpaced business life in New York City. Mike is most satisfied with his unique career and loves creating new dishes. But his biggest challenge is finding stable workers.

There's a staff of 12 at the new location and 14 at the original restaurant. The businesses open from 11 pm until 2 am, catering for lunch and dinner, and some elbow bending into the wee hours of the morning. In the near future, breakfast will be included on the menu.

But the expansion doesn't stop there, they have their sights set on another food house, the Tropical Jade Express, which will be a roti shop and bakery.

The Liang's have a four-year old Independence son, who was born on May 25. So this Independence Day, they will have a grand celebration — two birthdays and the successful opening of a new restaurant and bar, the Tropical Jade 2.

Mike wishes all Guyanese at home and abroad a Happy 51st Independence Anniversary — You can view his advertisement on page j of this newspaper — I recommend you try their food — You Will Love It.

14

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

Youth

fair

targets

talent

By Vishani Ragobeer STUDENTS from various parts of Guyana were treated to a youth exposition and health fair aimed at providing a comprehensive guide to choosing their careers or furthering their studies while encouraging health consciousness.

The exposition and fair on Wednesday was held in observance of National Youth Week at the D'Urban Park. Georgtown.

According to Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for Culture. Youth and Sport. Nicolette Henry, the event was tailored to provide "comprehensive and up-to-date" information to assist youths in their quest of seeking careers or in furthering their education to qualify their future professional aspirations.

Aligned with the address of Minister Henry, the fair featured a wide array of stakeholders across various government ministries and other governmental bodies; non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA); business agencies like the Small Business Bureau and Global Technology; and ed-

r

7

development the development of a National Youth Policy and the launch of a National Youth Corps in 2018.

Public Telecommunications Minister. Catherine Hughes, who also spoke, expressed sentiments.

"We need to focus more on our young people." Minister Hughes stressed.

. ^1

the government is trying to give them while striving for excellence.

Responding to the calls for all stakeholders to become involved in developing the future leaders and workforce of Guyana, one stakeholder- Global Technology presented the Department of Culture. Youth and Sport with 10 scholarships.

The scholarships given to Minister Henry by Global Technology Chief Executive Officer (CEO). George Melville, were in memory of Kevon Scipio. the lad who died amid last year's Jubilee celebrations.

ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES She reflected upon the daunting tales of some unfortunate children in Syria and conceded that while more can be done for young people in Guyana. Guyanese

1 ' y 7/ ■*' *

ttzm Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Technology, George Melville, presents the 10 scholarships to Minister Henry ucational institutions such as the Rajiv Gandhi University of Science and Technology.

E.R Burrowes School of Art and the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).

Students were allowed to peruse various booths showcasing opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering, agriculture, the arts and many more and engage with representatives of the various institutions on offers available to them.

The Public Health Ministry hosted several booths seeking to raise health consciousness among youths.

Notably, there was emphasis on mental health awareness.

The junior Education Minister attested that while the nation faces many challenges. perhaps the greatest challenge lies in its ability (or lack thereof) to adequately create the best workforce that is able to compete with the rest of the world.

r '• /

Students at the Ministry of Public Health booth

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Two students of the New Amsterdam Multilateral School at the booth facilitated by the Ministry of Public Health's Mental Health Unit. (Photos by Adrian Narine) Thus, she accounted that are still fortunate to be in a The scholarships afthe future prosperity of Guy- country with "endless op- ford 10 young persons who ana depends on identifying portunities". are financially challenged, the talents, skills and creHughes also noted that to complete full proativity of her youths and young people in Guyana are gramme courses of their the undertaking of measures afforded immense access to choice at Global Technolnow. such as this exposition, information and technology. ogy. Melville asserted that to harvest and hone them.

"To whom much is giv- while these scholarships In this regard, she highen. much is expected." she are only being given this lighted the government's said in her concluding re- year, the business entity endeavors towards developmarks and encouraged all would be willing to engage ing youth with the launch of young people to make full with the Ministry again the $50M Youth Innovation use of the opportunities next vear.

Project of Guyana (YIPoG).

*

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L. £ £1 First Lady Sandra Granger along with students of Brickdam Secondary and Queen's College engage with one of the facilitators

v'a / _ [L-R] Public Telecommunications Minister Catherine Hughes; Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry and First Lady, Sandra Granger applaud a cultural item

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

'This

is

a

15

call

to

service'

-Harmon tells state media boards MEMBERS of the Boards of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) and the National Communications Network Inc. (NCN) on Wednesday received their instruments from Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and were called upon to serve the country and not seek self-gratification.

At a simple ceremony held at the home of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. Minister of State.

Joseph Harmon urged those appointed to the two state boards to remember that they are not appointed to serve themselves but to serve the people.

"This is a call to service." said Harmon as he assured that his administration is not going to intervene in the work of the appointed boards.

"We are not here in the government to tell you what to do. We believe our work speaks for itself. I believe in transparency; the boards should have integrity, and that you should be open to the Guyanese people. At the level of State, we look forward to service from you." he said.

Harmon explained that since taking office, there

has been a change in the landscape of the country and noted the importance of information being filtered to all parts of the country.

The newly-installed Chairman of GNNL is former magistrate. Geeta ChandanEdmond and she is accompanied by new board members: Hakim Khan. Sherod Duncan. Hilbert Foster and Arron Fraser.

Re-appointed directors are Ruel Johnson. Karen Davis. Bert Wilkinson and Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.

Wilkinson and Sarabo-Halley are both overseas.

Meanwhile. NCN's board is chaired by veteran broadcaster. Enrico Woolford and he is supported by veteran broadcaster. Margaret Lawrence. Lawrence is the only returning member from the previous board. The new NCN directors are: journalist Gordon Moseley. Iwokrama CEO. Dane Gobin. new media specialist. Michael Leonard and Kamal Persaud. the Deputy Mayor of Bartica.

Meanwhile. Harmon noted that his administration has changed the way the nation views boards and entities that operate under the state sector and stressed that entities are now independent.

"We have made these entities independent, we have

given them the resources to perform their duties in an independent and impartial way. and in that regard we expect out of these boards to give guidance on policy in relation to broadcasting and in relation to the print media." he said.

The Minister of State said too that it is critical that citizens are informed of government's action and stated that it is the two state entities. Guyana Chronicle and NCN that are responsible for informing the nation of developments.

"I believe your work is important... you are at the forefront of what we do and say in the government.

If as a state we are unable to communicate the work which we do. we are unable to communicate our message to the length and breadth of this country, then people will say. 'y'all are doing nothing as a government'." he emphasised.

Meanwhile. Prime Minister Nagamootoo. who has oversight of the state media and public information said.

"We have the defined function for public information that delimits the temptation of partisan slant."

He further noted that the new boards have been incorporated during an "auspi-

*

/

%

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*

Chairman of GNNL's board of directors, Geeta Chandan-Edmond receives her instrument of appointment from Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo on Wednesday at the residence of the Prime Minister

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Some members of the board of directors of the Guyana National Newspaper Limited (GNNL) stand with Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on Wednesday at the Prime Minister's residence. Also in photo are General Manager (ag), Moshamie Ramotarand Editor-in-Chief, Nigel Williams

it.,

/ Some members of NCN's board of directors stand with Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; NCN's CEO Lennox Cornette and Editor-in-Chief (ag), Sharda Lall, on Wednesday

cious time".

"We are now re-positioning the public information platforms to serve the people of Guyana to be able to take information as well as government policies, activities to the people ..." said the Prime Minister who stressed it is necessary to ensure that the public receives value for money.

"No section of our population should feel left out of the flow of information." added the Prime Minister who noted that the boards comprise of highly respected individuals with a wide range of professional competencies.

He urged the new boards to work together to give clear policy direction to the two state media

bodies and who will lead the continued improvement in the provision of fair and balanced content and stressed that both GNNL and NCN have a higher responsibility to the citizenry to report on all matters pertaining to the three arms of the state - the executive, the legislature and the judiciarv.

16

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

ExxonMobil

to

flood

EXXONMOBIL Guyana has donated a total of G$5M to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to assist in relief efforts for flood affected areas in Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven) and Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight).

Senior Director. Public and Government Affairs at ExxonMobil Guyana.

Ms. Kimberly Brassington. made this commitment on Wednesday to Acting Director General of the CDC. Major Kester Craig. a release from the Ministry of the Presidency noted.

According to the release. she said that the company takes it corporate social responsibility to the citizens of Guyana seriously and added that in times of crises it is important that resources are combined to ensure a rapid response.

"We would like to support the CDC and the Re-

IbEA

relief

gions to respond rapidly to address the needs of the affected residents. Anywhere ExxonMobil operates. including Guyana, we take our corporate social responsibility seriously and this is a situation and opportunity. where the communities are in need and we can come together and find a way to help." Brassington was quoted as saying in the release.

It was further noted that Minister of State. Joseph Harmon, who has responsibility for the CDC and disaster response and risk management, welcomed the donation and said that the Government thanks all members of the private sector. including ExxonMobil that have made resources available to the CDC to support their work.

"I want to thank all the companies for their response and for making their resources available to the

P

donates

efforts

m r

*■ V®

Kimberly Brassington, Senior Director, Public and Government Affairs at ExxonMobil Guyana; Mr. Carlton James, Public and Government Affairs Manager, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited; Major Kester Craig, acting Director General of the Civil Defence Commission and Ms. Sophia Gafoorfrom the CDC Civil Defence Commission. We will ensure that whatever donations are made cater to the needs of

the people. It is heartening to see everyone coming together and doing whatever they can at this time to

bring relief to the residents affected and it is a culture like this that we want to promote in Guyana; where

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we all come together to do our best if our brothers and sisters are affected." Minister Harmon was quoted as saying.

Acting Director General of the CDC. Major Kester Craig. said that the donation will go a long way towards providing immediate relief to residents in affected areas.

"On behalf of the Civil Defence Commission and the Government of Guyana. I would like to express profound appreciation and gratitude for the timely and most appropriate intervention for bringing relief to the residents of the affected communities. I can assure you that the grant will be utilised to ensure that the most suitable needs are given to the affected." he said.

To date, the Government has spent more than $8M on disaster response and relief activities as a result of flooding in the affected regions. This amount does not reflect donations, which have been made by private individuals and companies over the past few days.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

Guyanese The talk in Guyana about the possible tax on remittances from the United States is getting louder as concerns are expressed on the effects of having the much-needed foreign transfers decreased.

It was noted that in late March, the Border Wall Funding Act was introduced to the House of Representatives seeking to amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to have a charge placed on remittance transfers to certain foreign countries.

Guyana is said to be among the more than 40 countries making up that list. The collected fee from the remittances will go toward improving the US's border control which could include in the near future, a

brace

for

17

US

wall separating the US and Mexico.

When the media asked the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon about the new fee, he said that there was nothing the identified countries could do since that will become a law of the US. He noted however that persons would be affected because its money out of their pockets.

According to the related information the remittance transfer provider will collect a two percent fee from the sender on every dollar that makes up the transaction amount.

It is expected that no later than September the transfer provider, Homeland Security and other relevant agencies will have to come up with a mechanism to have the system ready to collect the fee.

tax

on

remittances

1

*4, J

11 «■ .

V It is said however that the draft law penalties against remittance evaders and other unlawful activities could lead to fines of US$500,000 or twice the value of the funds involved in the remittance

transfer, or imprisonment involving as much as 20 years.

The countries that will be paying this tax are Third World nations within the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Diaspora makes up Cooperative Republic of Guyana '...We do not consider you just persons who are coming here looking for investment, we consider you to be an integral part of the make-up of what we call the Cooperative Republic of Guyana." Those were the words of Minister of State Joseph Harmon earlier this week when he declared open the Regional Project for "Effective and Sustainable Diaspora Engagement for Development in the Caribbean".

He was at the time explaining to overseas-based Guyanese in the country seeking investment opportunities, their invaluable worth to the nation's development. The event, "Go See Visit 2017 ', is part of a regional project involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

It focuses on providing entrepreneurs of Guyanese origin residing overseas with an opportunity to explore prospects for establishing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their home country, based on an assessment of the major sectors, while helping to establish networks and create opportunities for new and innovative

No

fake

The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has made it expressively clear that no plastic or fake rice is being produced in Guyana and any such item bearing a Guyana label is the work of impostors. The GRDB was earlier this week addressing an issue in Trinidad and Tobago where video footage of fake rice bearing a Guyanese label was being circulated, when he indicated that all rice being shipped out of the country is authentic.

In that vein, consumers in the United States should be aware of another fake rice product currently bearing the label "Guyana

entreprenettrship initiatives, including those geared to increase employment in low income communities in Guyana.

At least 10 participants from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States are attending workshops, interacting with local stakeholders and agencies, and conducting site visits to areas relevant to their business interests. These interests range from software development to maternal and child healthcare services.

Minister Harmon told the potential investors that, it is no secret that the Guy-anese Diaspora comprises the country's men and women; as many as those who reside in Guyana and arguably, even more, as was

rice

posited by some commentators.

Harmon assured however that, "... the Government of Guyana is extremely mindful of the importance of each and every one of you and of the commitment groups that make up the Guyanese Diaspora; wherever it is, in the Caribbean, in North America, in Europe, in Africa, and other areas of the world. As a Government, we are committed to ensuring, at all times, that our stated and functional Diaspora strategy reflects this policy in a transparent and even-handed manner."

Even as the overseas-based Guyanese 3* M %

-> r -:

A

£91 Some of the overseas- based Guyanese taking part in the investment seeking project

coming

Gold". Several weeks ago the Facebook video footage surfaced from the US where a woman was explaining how she bought the rice, "Guyana Gold" to try it out. She said she was conscious of the recent splurge in fake rice and was looking for a good or reliable product to use.

The woman explained however that the rice boiled for a very long time and when she tasted it, it had a strange taste. The way it looked was even stranger the woman claimed, as the rice seemed to be moving.

After watching a video on how the fake rice rolls easily into a ball and bounces, the (continued on page 19)

are partaking in the investment seeking project, Harmon noted that the New Diaspora Engagement Strategy and Action Plan, which will formally guide the relationship with the Diaspora, is in its final stage and will soon go to Cabinet for viewing.

Harmon told the group that, "The Government has absolutely no equivocation whatsoever about the critical role they must play in Guyana's development and as the country moves toward achieving the sustainable development goals in 2030 and beyond.

out

of Guyana

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

Emphasis si Real Estate, Mistakes

Home

Taxes and Business $ TAXES

The Edgar Henry Column

— Selling a home is a complex, multi-faceted process. From choosing a trustworthy real estate agent to pricing your home accurately and presenting it properly, the selling process can be downright daunting, especially for first-time sellers.

As eager as you may be to make some assessment of your home's worth, research money and close the sale, words of caution the cost of similar homes in your neighborare needed. Do not rush the process. Perhaps hood and price it accordingly. Avoid pricing you have a new home mortgage or luxury a house based on your immediate needs.

OUTSIDE APPEAL sports car waiting to be financed. Nevertheless, take the time to research the real estate You don't have to invest thousands of marketplace as well as the credentials of your dollars into redecorating your home. But potential buyers and do not hesitate to bom- there are some basic steps you must take to bard your agent with any questions or doubts present your house in the most positive light. you may have.

When people drive by a home they're either Let's say you did your homework well. turned on or turned off. There's nothing more You crossed all the T's. You've advertised important than the exterior of your home, as your home in the local newspapers. You've a first impression. I once showed a home that planted a big "Open House" sign on your had a magnificent interior decor. Ceramic front lawn. You've saturated the neighbor- 18x18 tiles, modern equipment, perfect sethood with sale soliciting flyers. You've pro- ting etc., but guess what? It had an old ugly vided refreshments to pass out to potential looking front porch that buyers visiting your home. So the proverbial hadn't been painted in question persists. Why aren't people lining years. As my grand mother up at your front door? would say an "eyesore."

That could be a real turn OVERPRICING YOUR HOME off.

It's of paramount importance to be realistic about the value of your home. Sellers OVERDOING HOME IMPROVEMENTS must make their agents present them with Don't go overboard objective criteria for pricing. Do not arbitrarily pull a price out of a hat. Comparative in- with staging your home. formation is most critical in getting a house You don't want your house priced properly. While all sellers are tempted to be so pristine that it to see how much they can get for their feels so overdone that it homes, once you ask for too much, it's hard looks like it's out of a magto ask for less later on in the process. You run azine; rather you want it to feel warm and the risk of buyers thinking 'Oh boy, I wonder welcoming. Sprace up the yard, remove that why they had to reduce this one. There must old garbage container, plant some flowers, be something wrong with it.' To get a realistic de-clutter the home's interior, rid the home

O.G.

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Sellers of unpleasant smells, and apply fresh coats of paint to all walls and doors.

MISUNDERSTANDING THE BUYER'S OFFER Carefully review how much deposit the buyer has agreed to put down — is it a significant deposit? Has the buyer asked for some credits to cover loan costs? Is the offer contingent upon the owner selling his or her current home? If so, how is the selling process going?

NOT GETTING YOUR HOME INSPECTED BEFORE LISTING IT Have general inspections done ahead of time. Even though buyers will often have the house inspected again, it's best to prepare for any potential problems. It can be very costly to the seller if he or she does not go ahead with the inspection before the offer is placed.

You don't want to get stuck with an $8,000 fee because the termite, dry rot, and fungus

m report determined that the wood in the foundation of your house had deteriorated so badly that the whole house needs to be leveled.

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Make WITHHOLDING INFORMATION FROM POTENTIAL BUYERS While it is tempting to hide or fail to mention the downfalls of a home—perhaps it's a haven for cockroaches or located in an area that's prone to floods or earthquakes — it is best to give buyers full disclosure. This kind of information can greatly affect the value or desirability of the property. For instance if the home is situated in a flood zone, let the purchaser be aware and also explain the importance of the mandatory flood insurance policy.

NOT BEING OBJECTIVE ABOUT YOUR HOME While you may think your purple walls or poly-classic columns are great, it is best to keep that opinion to yourself. Sellers may feel they know then home best but that doesn't mean they are the best people to sell it.

One man's meat is another man's poison. It is highly recommended that sellers leave their home while the agent shows it. Also a lot of people feel uncomfortable looking at a home if the buyer is right there. It's essential to give the buyers space.

POORLY COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR AGENT Sellers should take a proactive approach to the selling process and not rely solely on the agent. Sellers should insist upon regular updates about the house and never assume the agent has taken care of everything. Ultimately, it is the seller's responsibility to ensure everything is running smoothly.

NOT INVESTIGATING YOUR BUYER Once you have an offer on the table, it's important to secure letters of pre-qualification or loan approval from the buyers.

These letters should not only state that the buyers" credit has been checked but also that it was acceptable to the lender. Also, it's vital to ask buyers to complete a loan application and submit it to their lender within a few days after acceptance of the offer.

NOT PROOFREADING THE CLOSING STATEMENT Carefully review the statement, including the loan balance, repairs, and other expenses that are detailed in order to avoid last-minute surprises or errors. Make sure you get an estimated statement a few weeks prior to closing and compare the final statement to the Pro Forma or estimated one. If these tips are followed you can avoid miss steps and your home would be sold quickly and a smooth transition of title can be acquired .

It is always better to have information and not need it than to need it and not have it."

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

Guyanese

woman

19

Armed

police to

be

placed

at

-doctors back West busted

with

in hair [BAHAMAS TRIBUNE242] - A WOMAN from Guyana has been arrested at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) for attempting to smuggle cocaine into the Bahamas concealed in her hair weave.

Police report that alert Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers took the Guyanese woman into custody following the seizure of just over two pounds of cocaine on Tuesday afternoon. May 23. 2017.

Cop

charged

woman A POLICE Constable accused of assaulting a woman with a glass bottle, was released on $75,000 bail

by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan on Wednesday.

Constable Gadi Hoyte. 26. of Crane Housing Scheme.

West Coast Demerara. denied that on December 3. 2016 at Ekereku landing. Mazaruni River, he unlawfully and maliciously assaulted Maxi Duncan, causing actual bodily harm.

Police Prosecutor. Arwin Moore explained that while Constable Hoyte was stationed at the Ekereku police station, Duncan went to report a matter and the two parties

cocaine

weave Shortly after 3pm, the Bahamas Tribune242 reported that a team of officers assigned to the DEU conducted a search of a Guyanese female passenger who had just arrived on a Caribbean Airlines flight from Suriname, at the Bahamas Customs arrival area at LPIA. During the search, one taped package containing cocaine was found concealed in a weave attached to her hair.

with

assault of

r

Constable Gadi Hoyte conceals his face had an argument. Moore said that the officer reportedly left the station and went to Ekereku landing and the woman confronted him there during which Hoyte took a glass bottle and lashed the woman to the left side of her face.

The prosecutor made no objection to bail but requested that the officer stay away from

Duncan. The Chief Magistrate released Hoyte on $75,000 bail and transferred the matter to Kamarang Magistrate's Court for June 20. 2017.

Additionally, the Magistrate ordered the Constable to stay away from the victim and bounded him on good behaviour until the completion of trial.

No fake rice coming out of Guyana (from page 17) woman did the same thing in her video and the fake "Guyana Gold" rice rolled into a ball and bounced on her kitchen table.

The woman said that while she did not want to ruin any county's reputation, she warned viewers against the fake products.

In relation to the Trinidad issue, the GRDB said in their public missive said that they noted with great concern the presence of video recordings being circulated of plastic rice and wished to make it clear that there has been no confirmation of plastic rice in our market.

They said, "The homemade video recordings being posted on social media, alleging to be plastic rice is labeled as "Product of Guyana". The most recent case involves a video recording emanating from Trinidad & Tobago of packaged rice labeled "Product of Guyana", Packaged for Naisa Brand Products Ltd. Trinidad".

"The Guyana Rice Development Board states categorically that no rice mill in Guyana produces artificial rice, and expresses grave concern about such rice being labeled "Product of Guyana"."

The GRDB said it is willing to facilitate any verification of rice being produced

Dem.

EMERGENCY room doctors are back at work in full strength following their public discontent over their security fears, conditions of work and the physical state of the department at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH).

"The problems at the WDRH were essentially managerial issues but the doctors are back at work in full strength." the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) quoted a senior official as saying in a release on Wednesday.

According to the release, emergency room doctors "took sick leave" the last two days thus leaving the health institution short of critical staff.

"A senior health official was adamant that the doctors' decision was not an industrial action or strike." the release noted, adding that the ministry and concerned officials of the WDRH met Wednesday and were able to find common ground and

Hospital at work

iron out most of the difficulties with both sides agreeing to a raft of measures, some of which will be implemented in the short term.

These include armed ranks of the Guyana Police Force to be a permanent feature at the hospital to beef up security for doctors who have been perennially abused - verbally and physically - by Region Three (Essequibo IslandsAVest Demerara) residents, especially when they are under the influence of alcohol or believe they have waited long enough to see a physician.

According to the release, the WDRH and the MOPH are awaiting the approval from the Commissioner of Police while Region Three officials are prepared to fund this initiative.

"The official said that locks will be installed on several doors of the Hospital to enable doctors and nurses to better secure themselves in the face of impending assaults by irate patients or their families." the release

stated.

The parties also agreed to hike the number of attendants working at the hospital and there is also expected to be a rise in the number of cleaners operating at the regional health institution. A better remuneration package for the doctors was also discussed at the meeting.

Employees at the WDRH have been facing abuse by residents and recently a female doctor said she was pinned against a wall by an irate and inebriated patient. Workers have been appealing for a "safe space" at the hospital to secure themselves from the almost weekly attacks. Most of these attacks were unreported.

In the face of escalating aggression against hospital workers, Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence met ranks of the Region Three Police and senior Region Three leaders to work out a plan to better protect workers and boost their morale.

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Quotable Caribbean is now accepting a small number of advertisers. at rice mills in Guyana and will be monitoring the situation closely.

The Ministry of Agriculture informed the public that any reports of fake rice being present on the market or emanating from Guyana are wholly false.

Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder is said to be in contact with the relevant authorities in Trinidad and Tobago and further updates will be provided on this matter.

Facebook videos have also shown how the fake rice is being produced. At least two of the videos seen online show persons believed to be Chinese in what looks like "bottom house" setups creating the fake rice out of paper, plastic and other substitutes.

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20

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

SOCU

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probe

purchase

water

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The water cannon that never worked THE purchase of a water cannon that never worked under the stewardship of Clement Rohee, while he headed the Ministry of Home Affairs is among several other issues which were turned over to the police on Wednesday for investigation.

On Wednesday Jaipaul Sharma. Minister within the Ministry of Finance, met with Commissioner of Police.

Seelall Persaud. at Commissioner of Police's office to

Khan

hand over the Final Reports of the Forensic Audits of National Insurance Scheme (MS). National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

Guyana Lotteries Committee.

Scrap Metal Unit. Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs' Purchase of a Water Cannon. Present at the handing over, in addition to Sharma and Persaud. was also Sydney James - Assistant Commissioner of Police and Head of the Special Organised

Crime Unit (SOCU).

A forensic audit conducted by Nizam Ali and Company has revealed that the equipment was bought at a price of $20.8M from Shiyan Yunlihong Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd, a company from China, as opposed to the previously reported price of $37M. According to the audit report "The Ministry engaged in public tendering, as required under section 25(1) of the Procurement Act of Guyana 2003 (the Act).

takes

Minister within the Ministry of Finance hands over the reports to Seelall Persaud, Commissioner of Police, while Sydney James - Assistant Commissioner of Police and Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) looks on No response was received for the invitation to tender.

The MOHA then engaged in procuring the equipment, using a three quote system."

charge

The report noted too that the auditor could not find any "available evidence" of a study or evaluation to determine the need for this

of

equipment. Also, it was noted that there was no study to determine the merit of this particular type of equipment.

DPI/GINA

...PM seeks change ofi GIN A brand' DIRECTOR of Public Information, Imran Khan is now head of the Government Information Agency (GINA) with the former director, Beverly Alert being seconded to the National Communications Network as its Public Information Coordinator.

The full merger of the DPI and GINA will take effect from January 2018. at which time the official name of the unit will be Department of Public Information. Prime Minister and First Vice-President Moses Nagamootoo. explained that since 2015. some work has been done towards changing the content of information produced by the agency. "While we are doing better.

we have not done enough; we have been able to get into news outlets more than we had done in the past, but at the same time we have not been able to significantly change the brand.

The GINA brand, it was a party propaganda instrument, the politicisation from a party's point of view of the public information that we would like to guard against." the Prime Minister pointed out.

As of January 1. 2018. the merged agencies will generally be referred to as the Department of Public Information (DPI). Beverley Alert, who served as Director of GINA since June 2015 has been seconded as Public Information Co-ordinator to the National

Communications Network (NCN). Imran Khan will assume the posihon of Managing Director of the new DPI. The Prime Minister met with staff of GINA and DPI on Wednesday and enlightened them of the expectations to be observed as the staff enters into the new name and management. He added that GINA's work has changed significantly and expects this merger to enhance what has already begun.

"It is for the first time that GINA has assumed a role of covering what the opposition does in the parliament, and what the judiciaiy is doing, and what the executive is doing, as well as what parliament is doing, (what) the speaker of

* /T _ Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo meeting with staff of the Government Information Agency (GINA) parliament is doing at the level of the legislature, so that we have the defined functions for public information that dehmit the temptation of even partisan slant to public information." the Prime Minister highlighted.

The Prime Minister remarked that all information agencies of the government have a key responsibility of ensuring factual evidence-based information is disseminated. He added that

with a highly professional and trained public relations arm of the government, timely and accurate information will be filtered through various mediums for public consumption.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

New York Chronicle Horoscope

21

2

5

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Your nerves are frazzled. Business trips might prove unproductive. Help an older member with a problem that faces them. Don't let your mate stop you from attending an event that could be most important. Your luckiest event next week will occur on Sunday.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) You can make personal changes that will enhance your reputation and give you greater self confidence. Try to calm down emotionally about personal financial matters. Romance will develop through work. Be very careful while in transit or while traveling in foreign countries. Your luckiest event next week will occur on Sunday.

m

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) Don't make those you live with feel unloved or unworthy. Be diplomatic but stem. You must try to include your mate in your activities this month.

Don't volunteer private information about yourself unless you're prepared to be talked about behind your back. Your luckiest event next week will occur on Saturday.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Don't let siblings put pressure on you. Don't let your anger consume you and don't allow important matters to go unattended. Your uncanny insight will help you make the right choices. Get together with friends and do something entertaining but not too expensive. Your luckiest event next week will occur on Thursday.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 23) You must refrain from overspending on entertainment. Your ability to relate will close the generation gap. Lovers will be less than accommodating, and decisions regarding personal direction a necessity.

You can enjoy your involvement in organizations that make charitable contributions. Your luckiest event next week will occur on Saturday.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23) Changes will not be easy for the youngsters involved. Refrain from using the highway as a racetrack. Concentrate on work. You need to interact with others if you want to expand your knowledge. Your luckiest event next week will occur on Sunday.

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SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Your tendency to take on too much will end in fatigue. Ask family members for help and you will be able to complete the projects more quickly.

Moves or the possibility of having someone different living with you may be difficult at first. Try to take care of the needs of those you love. Your luckiest event next weekh will occur on Thursday.

it v\ fir1

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21) You should put your efforts into creative projects. Your confidence is growing and advancement is apparent. Go out with friends and avoid the situation on the home front. You may be angry if someone tries to take credit for something you did. Your luckiest event next week will occur on Tuesday.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) The emotional state of peers may cause a problem for you. Think about taking the time to complete unfinished domestic chores. You may have been too nice to a friend who just wanted to take advantage of you. Ideas may sound good, but be careful if people are just looking for handouts. Your luckiest events this month will occur on Friday.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) Don't let relatives make demands of you. Self-deception regardingyour own worth may lead you down the wrong path. Look into joining groups that can give you hands-on advice about business. You can enhance your reputation if you treat family and friends with respect and dignity. Your luckiest event next week will occur on Monday

PISCES (Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) You can offer your mate a commitment or promise that will help stabilize your personal life. Children could cost you more than you can afford. Don't divulge secret information. Try not to lose your cool, and make your point known. Your luckiest event next week will occur on Thursday.

10

9

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Wide shoe width 8 59 60 12. Metal fastener 4_ ■_ 15. "Monsters, " ACROSS 37. Slow mollusk 19. Newspaper workers (abbr.)

1. Compass pt.

39. Rescue worker (abbr.) 20. Shark features 4. Pierre's refusal 40. "Frozen" character 21. Wax melodramatic 7. 1.6093 kilometers 42. Gandhi's nation 22. Word in USNA 11. Resident (suffix) 44. Protective compart24. Pained 12. Aria ment 25. Ashley and Wynonna's mom 13. Author Wiesel 46. Rival 28. Actress Jillian 14. Modern offices 47. Salt City 29. "Prelude _ Kiss" (2 wds.)

16. Noted fashion 50. Flows forth 30. Cycle start for a tot magazine 55. He loved an Irish 32. " smile be your umbrella" 17. Gp. once headed by Rose (2 wds.)

Heston 56. Damages 37. Paulo (Brazilian city) 18.

57. Fight 38. Roaring felines 20. White picket 58. Fix 41. Invite a ticket 43. Teacher's gp.

23. Actor lones 59. Suffix for a doctrine 45. Ashton's ex 26. " Loser" (2 wds.)

60. Busy insect 46. Cultivate land 27. Electric units 31.

DOWN 47. Flee hastily Pres. Coolidge 1. "Get 'em. Rover!"

48. Lincoln's nickname 33. Turkey Day mo.

2. Letters after R 49. Family reunion guests 34. .. borrower a 3. Spider's net 51. Mothers, informally lender be" 4.1916 Lopez song 52. New Deal org.

35. Rake's partner 5. Barcelona "rah" 53. Herr's article 36. Train terminal (abbr.)

6. Snack 54. Fixed '

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ARIES (Mar. 21 - April 20) You can make money through solid investment plans. You will benefit through hidden assets and property investments. You can make changes to your home that will be pleasing to all concerned. Don't be too pushy or demanding or you may find yourself all alone. Your luckiest event next week will occur on Wednesday.

8

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22

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

(from page 5) will desert him.

Lynden Baines Johnson is the best example of how a President with vast Washington experience gets things done. Like Donald Trump, he was rude, crude and unpopular; but he got things done. He engaged Congress. This allowed him to pass the most civil rights legislations of any US President.

President Trump cannot hope to get the support of Congressional Democrats, if his modus operandi is merely to undo all that President Obama did. He must come up with proposals that will garner non-partisan support if he hopes to pass major legislation.

LIMITS ON PRESIDENCY There is a sense in which the US constitution tends towards a benevolent dictatorship when one party controls the Executive and Legislative branches of Government. This is exemplified in some of the powers of the President in this situation. Let us examine the firing of FBI Director James Coney. I do not accuse the Presi-

Why

dent of wrong doing in this. He acted within his power. I disapprove of the way it was done. An FBI Director serves at "the pleasure of the President", who can fire him without cause.

I suggest that the constitution should be amended to change this.

The President cannot appoint a Director on his own. His candidate must be approved by Congress. If he needs Congressional approval for the appointment of a director, why should it not be the same for a Director's firing?

WHY IS TRUMP SUFFERED GLADLY? We have always had great analysts and commentators on television and the press. Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, who did sterling reporting on the Watergate scandal and broke it; Helen Thomas, who was a longtime member of the Washington Press Corps and known for her no-nonsense questioning; Walter Cronkite who was respected for his speaking truth to power.

In February

1968,

at the

The American

(from page 7) and brutality that set the stage for the third period of American progress that we're in right now.

The problem is that an economy that was built on racism, repression, discrimination, and brutality found it very difficult to adjust once slave labor was not a factor.

In fact, the American economy jumped from slavery to segregation and finally to STAGNATION. Officially, American segregation ended in 1964. Between 1964 and 1971, when wages for workers tanked, the social and economic upheavals were undergirded by a political leadership unable to stem the drastic rise in unemployment, social friction, discontent, and an economy going from one crisis to another.

So if you can point to the socalled "Golden Era" of American life and when, did this thing called the American Dream ever was a

height of the Viet Nam War, he closed his report on the war, with an excellent editorial. It ended, "But it is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could." This was great commentary.

Following the great editorial report, President Johnson is reported to have said, "If 1 have lost Cronkite, I have lost Middle America." Several weeks later, the great man announced that he would not seek re-election.

Great reporters and commentators dare to speak truth to power.

These days, our analysts and commentators rely on stupid tweets to build their uninspiring editorials.

The President's crudeness is explained as "his way." His lies are called "alternative facts."

We need real, good, unbiased news reporting and analyses. Anderson Cooper, John Lemon, Rachel Maddow, Bill O'reilly (I did not always agree with him; but he is bril-

Dream

liant), do a fair job. However, their voices are drowned by the chatter of their mediocre brethren.

WHO IS TO BLAME? I have suggested that some powers of the President should be changed; that the press, television and news outlets should cover the White House bravely and speak truth to power. In the final analysis, the people are to blame. Alexis de Tocqueville, a distinguished French man of letters, said, "A people elect the government they deserve."

An informed electorate chooses an enlightened leader. A racist, bigoted uninformed one elects, not the best candidate for Presidency, but the one most like itself. Many voted against Hilary Clinton, because she was viewed as too much like Obama. Others did not vote for her because she was a woman. The tragedy is that America must live with its bad choice for four years and, even then, we might not have learned from our mistake. Until a change is made to the buffoonery in high places and among us, raise your glasses in praise of folly.

Never Was

reality, I will sell you the Brooklyn Bridge. But Americans are told

labor of White people for free and not tap into the large army of for-

and the yawning income gap is the greatest in a generation. College

about this in civic classes, history books, and just about every politi-

mer slave labor by coercion (as in Jim Crow days), also given that

tuition is beyond the reach of millions of families and over 47 mil-

cian wrapped in the flag and reeking pseudo-patriotism. America

the level of skills in this labor force was at low levels, (it was a

lion Americans live in poverty.

Thousands will die for want of

skipped feudalism; the country went from slavery to segregation

crime to educate slaves), America first wooed immigrants from Eu-

proper healthcare as medicines and life-saving drugs are way, way

to stagnation. There was nothing in between. This exposes and highlights the facts of American

rope (the Irish, Polish etc.) to fill out its growing labor force. But even though they were also ex-

beyond the reach of most Americans.

progress, ALL of its progress, depended (and still depends) on the total exploitation of entire groups, discriminated and oppressed, to

ploited, there were opportunities available to these immigrant laborers that were not there for Blacks.

And they too soon faced the kinds

produce goods and services for the benefits of "the others" â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Whites

of discrimination and racism that Blacks endured during segrega-

in the society.

tion.

But that's ultimately unsustainable. What a prudent, forward thinking leadership should have done was to move expeditiously to

Old habits die hard. These social, economic, cultural and production relations have changed very little since the first African

reform and revolutionize the economy and society in a more hu-

slave was brought to America in chains. Today, America has a bro-

mane, just and fair manner. What did the American political class

ken economy that is controlled by the uber-rich and not working for

be bought, sold, traded or in-

do? Unable to appropriate the

the average Joe. Wealth disparity

herited.]

No, there was no "Golden Age" or American Dream. Its a myth perpetuated by the ruling class to keep "we the people" in check.

[Chattel slavery is what most people have in mind when they think of the kind of slavery that existed in the United States before the Civil War, and that existed

legally

throughout

many parts of the world as far back as recorded history. Slaves were actual property who could

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

23 1

EMPHASIS ON

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

J

COUNCIL PASSES WILLIAMS'

RESIDENTIAL

TEMPERATURE

BILL

NEW YORK, NY: On May 24, the New York City Council passed Intro 0722, which amends the minimum temper-

A

ature to be maintained in residential dwellings overnight.

The bill, sponsored by Council Member Jumaane D. Williams at the request of Manhattan Borough President

w!

Gale A. Brewer, would also remove the outside day time

3 /

and night time temperature trigger, which normally "Sufficient heat is a quality of life issue that cannot be ignored in the larger conversation of tenants' rights. "Currently, outdoor temperatures have to be 40 Degrees to require a landlord to turn on the heat, and even then the minimum indoor temperature mandates is only 55 Degrees," said Council Member Williams. "I don't think many people realize just how cold that is.

There are a lot of seniors and young people who cannot deal with 55 Degrees, which ends up exposing them to health risks. I'm pleased that I was able to work with the Administration and my colleagues to get this bill passed that will impact thousands of New Yorkers from next winter season."

"Every winter, too many New Yorkers are cold in their homes when they don't have to be," said Manhattan Borough President Brewer. "Our bill will make city policy on heating during the coldweather months simpler and fairer, so residents — and especially older New Yorkers — aren't left shivering in their homes."

During the winter season, thousands of New Yorkers struggle to stay warm. Tenants have a right to adequate heat from October 1 to May 31; yet the current heat mandates are not sufficient enough for a number of residents, who still complain they grapple to keep warm.

Intro 0722 is essential to remedying this problem by raising the inside temperature to 62 degrees (up from 55) between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Under this bill, the outside temperature trigger of 40 Degrees would be removed, thus allowing for a minimum temperature of 62 degrees at all times, regardless of outside temperature.

During the last winter season, there were 65,000 heat complaints.

Owners who fail to maintain heat at the current 55 Degrees overnight are subject to civil penalties ranging from $250 - $1,000 per day for heat violations.

"It's important that seniors have the right temperature because they are the ones suffering, and it leads to other kinds of health is-

1

s

prompts when inside heating should kick in.

Council Member Jumaane Williams speaking and (from left) Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, Council Member Deborah Rose, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Council Member James Van Bramer.

Photo Credit: Tristan A. Massalay-EIMs, NYC Council

sues," said Vice President of Midwood Senior Center Lenox Hudson.

"No one should have to live like

this."

Intro 722 goes into effect October 1,2017.

THE HEALTH AND EDUCATION I iELIE ORGANIZATION FOR CANCER, INC. CH-E.R.O.C) p resents

A DRE-WDNAN PLAV TV ST. STEPHENS CHURCH HALL 2608 Newkirk Avenue corner of 28th Street) Brooklyn, Now

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\ Midwood Senior Center Vice President Lenox Hudson (center) standing with Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (left), Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer (back right) and housing advocates during a December 2016 rally calling for the passage of the Intro 722.

Photo Credit: Vania Andre, NYC Council

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24

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

Brazil-led operation

in

Haiti nears

Violence in Port-au-Prince flared in 2004 when the Brazilian military took control of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (Minustah). The Caribbean country was being assailed by armed gangs in a ciril war that broke out after the resignation of President Jean Bertrand Aristide. Thirteen years later, the operation was given a fixed date for its conclusion: by October 15 this year, the military from Brazil and 15 other countries are to leave Haiti.

In addition to the extreme poverty fac- tah troops were the pacification of the Cite ing the country throughout the period, the Soleil community, their work during the operation was reshaped after the 2010 earth- 2010 earthquake, and the efforts following quake, which left 220 thousand dead. Hav- hurricane Matthew. ing to deal with the devastation of over a "Brazil's military control, as decided decade, the military agents helped rebuild- by the UN, is an honor to, and a great expeing the country by taking up social and hu- rience for the country, in addition to being a manitarian duties. major display of power," said International

By October, some 37 thousand agents Relations Professor Antonio Jorge Ramalho, from the 15 countries will have taken part from the University of Brasilia (UnB). In his in the mission-including the last detach- view, after a years-long operation, the police ment, made up of 950 professionals. Agents forces in Haiti must be capable of maintaintotaled 30,359 from the Army, 6,299 from ing security autonomously. the Navy, and 350 from the Air Forces. The RECOGNITION Defense Ministry believes that the biggest A researcher into international security. challenges tackled by the Brazilian Minus-

Caribbean AFTER four consecutive years of contraction, Latin American and Caribbean

exports

exports returned to a path of growth. In the first quarter of 2017, the value of

increase

goods exported increased 17 percent year-on-year, having contracted 2.9 percent

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"It was the first time in history Haitians saw the military building something," he said. Engineering projects spearheaded by the military became part of people's everyday lives in previously violence-ridden areas (Agenda Brasil - 21st May, 2017)

Ramalho directed the Brazilian Center for Studies in Haiti from 2006 to 2008. "After a more critical moment, in the first years of the operation, Haitians started seeing the military wearing blue helmets also in outstanding reconstruction actions."

for first time in 2016.

The recovery was driven primarily by a rebound in commodity prices, according to an analysis conducted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) using detailed data for 25 countries in the Region.

The update to the annual report Trade Trend Estimates of Latin America and the Caribbean argues that, in 2016. regional exports followed a trend similar to that of world trade, whereas the recovery observed in the beginning of 2017 was more intense. 'The trend reversal is great news for Latin America and the Caribbean. Yet. in the current context, one should not overestimate the drivers of this export expansion, which remain unstable and still restricted to a few regional economies." said Paolo Giordano. Principal Economist of the Integration and Trade Sector and coordinator of the report.

Countries with a high share of oil and mineral products in their export supply posted the largest increases, due to the recovery in commodity markets. Meanwhile, export volumes in the entire Region registered only a slight acceleration of 2.2 percent on average, and real export growth was observed in just a few countries.

South American countries exhibited the strongest recovery. with an average export growth of 23 percent. Noteworthy in this group were the performances of Venezuela, with a 75 percent increase, followed by Peru with 39 percent. Ecuador with 34 percent Colombia with 31 percent.

0

in

four years

and Brazil with 24 percent.

Mesoamerica (Mexico and Central America) and the Caribbean registered an expansion of 11 and 12 percent, respectively. The return to an export growth path marked the end of the longest trade recession in the Region's recent history, which lasted 24 months. Despite the expansion, the value of exports remains 10 percent below its peak registered in 2014.

For this incipient and unstable recovery to be-

come sustainable, factors that have been generating uncertainty in the global economy need to be significantly reversed. Real growth in China, the United States and the European Union could sustain the export recovery in the next trimester. However, efforts to promote competitiveness and regional integration should be intensified, while the risks of implementation of protectionist policies should be overcome.

GROWTH OF EXPORTS BY SEIECTED COUNTRIES (Year-on-year growth rate, percentage) E KPORTIHGSUBR EGIOK/COUHTRY

msm 201S VS t -1,5 MESOAMERICA Mexico » n 0.9 Central AmarSca t ii 8 7.0 Costa Rica -2.7 El Salvador t H -2.0 Guatemala t 12 Honduras, -1£ i 23 ma -U Nicaragua -8.8 Panama ft -2 n.a Z5 Dominican Republic •4.6 SOUTH AMERICA t 23 Argentina 2 17 '10.7 Bolivia t 4 -3.1 Brazil t 24 4 -2.6 Chile 31 430 Colombia -8.4 ft 34 Ecuador 21 Paraguay ft 12 7.7 59 Peru ■6.4 Uruguay « 4 -241 Venezuela t 75 -5.7 CARIBBEAN t 12 -14.7 Bahamas t -16 SO earbados -24.9 Belize « 25 na 25,3 Guyana 3 ■20.5 Haiti « 32 -9,2 Jamaica t 13 42.4 Sunname n,a n.a Trinidad and Tobago -29 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN t 17 Source: ID© in/iegrsuoriiard iraaeSectw basKl onofhoaJ nafoonaJ sourcei.

Notes Gfcwth rales lot the first ouartef erf 2017 are «oixx>kJ lo the nearest ur»t The arrows eompare the variation m trend in tQJOI f w 102016 with resoect Co J016 w JOIS fJefer to Ihe report Iraae Trend Estimates 04 Lahn Ameoca and ihe Canbbeari K3 20TT Update tor inrfwmaticn on procodwei time periods and data souroes used in the oswnawt

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

The

25

ROAD ACCIDEMS TAKING A SERIOUS TOIL

Peter Haynes \

Column OF THE NATION'S FOREIGN RESERVES

Ten months ago, the Guyana Police Force initiated "Operation Safeway" with the prime intention to nab drunk drivers and those drivers who exceed the speed limits by using Radar Guns and Breathalyzes Kits, which were acquired shortly before the launch of the campaign. Reports stated that initially, the campaign yielded very good results.

The Police force also assigned an by blown tires — not reckless and additional 200 ranks to exert vigilance drunk drivers. on the country's roads, attempting to The drain on the economy instem the rash of accidents. The ques- flicted by the reckless and drunken tion being posed today is whether the drivers goes even further, as the Insurcampaign is still being waged and sec- ance Companies must pay out very ondly what results are being achieved large sums of money to the owners of compared to the results reported when insured vehicles to either effect rethe campaign was initiated. pairs or contribute to the purchase of It has been some time since the a new vehicle.

Police Traffic Department made pubLooking inward at the Police lic corresponding figures as they relate to accidents — fatal, serious and * the extent of the damages caused to I the vehicles involved in those accidents .

An important feature of the road accidents is the cost of repairs which has a direct impact on the country's "foreign reserves"even without hazarding a guess of the amount of foreign reserves being spent on replacement parts for the damaged vehicles . And not to mention when the vehicles are totaled, the replacement of new vehicles contribute even greater impact on the utilization of foreign reserves.

When the Government announced that there will be restrictions on the importation of used car tires, some opposition politicians who seek Force, the travelling public still must every conceivable area to criticize to deal with those rogue cops who are gain cheap political mileage, criti- still performing as "Road Magiscized the decision. These individuals trates". who summarily execute what from the opposition are ready to ac- they consider to be 'justice' on the cuse the government of taking bread country's roadways. If the reports are from the importers and salesmen of indeed true, these "Magistrates" will "used car tires", thus putting them out not stop their illegal activities until they are caught and tried forthwith, of business.

Additionally, these headline with heavy fines imposed and reseekers in the opposition said that quired to be paid upon sentencing in there will also be excessive hardships lieu of imprisonment. on vehicle owners who will be forced Why am I revisiting this topic of to purchase new tires. True the new the carnage on the country's roads? tires will initially cost more than the The answer is obvious, as within reused and reconditioned tires, but did cent weeks, the spate of road fatalities these critics for one simple moment has returned and are of concern to stop to consider the long-term benefits every Guyanese — except maybe the of purchasing new tires? With new Funeral homes. tires fitted to the vehicles, they proUnfortunately, much of the lives vide the driver/owners with greater lost are young people, many of whom value for their money. Additionally, had bright futures or at least had the new tires provide longer life and dreams of bright futures, but these better road handling, which ultimately dreams were dashed on the road due lead to safer use of the roads and help most likely through speeding, drunk to reduce accidents which are caused drivers or basic recklessness.

It was also proposed that before the enforcement to proceed in a manner that is transparent and broadly acceptable, several audits should be undertaken. It was suggested that important among these is clarifying the extent of the problems surrounding the validity of the licenses with which drivers are operating, and so an investigation should be mounted to ascertain the following: (a) What was the age of the driver when the license was received? (b) Based on the minimum driving experience required before a license was issued to a "Minibus or Taxi Driver", was there compliance for this driver?

*

in compliance with the requirements and/or regulations, that persons must be required to demonstrate how the license was acquired and from which authority or personnel. With such an audit, any conspirators identified as being currently involved in the issuance of unearned licenses, be they from the Police Force or the G.R.A, must also be prosecuted — because they are responsible for granting permission to a 'driver' who does not possess the basic requirements to be issued a license to use a vehicle as a lethal weapon.

Last year, the question was asked whether "Operation Safeway" would be sustained all year? An answer should be provided with the statistics of the enforcement to support the answer.

Traffic Education programmes must be increased in every aspect of the Guyanese life — in schools, offices, churches and even in the 'alley'.

The appeal for the "Operation Safeway to be continued with greater zeal is being sounded; have 'sting' operations to deal with the rogue police officers; and make education a daily exercise to ensure that Guyana's roads are safer.

We must eat, sleep and believe that road safety is everybody's business ... it is taking a heavy toll on the very fabric of our society and more particularly it is draining the nation's much needed foreign reserves. HALT THE CARNAGE NOW!!

I WISH ALL GUYANESE AT HOME AND ABROAD A HAPPY 5ist INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY. MAY OUR COUNTRY CONTINUE ON ROAD TO PROSPERITY

(c) Did the Minibus or Taxi driver complete the required process that is stipulated before being issued with a Certificate of Competence?

The immediate question to be answered by the Guyana Police Force is whether the suggestions were ever taken seriously, given the fact that these suggestions came from an individual advertise who is not, was not and too old now to be a Police Officer. But for individuin this als who might venture to question the suggestions, please accept the fact that newspaper when the National Road Safety Council was extremely vibrant, I had the privilege and honor to serve for many years as a Vice-President of that Council.

On the suggestion, if the audit is done and not every individual is found

call

^^cnnis

at;

917-579-65*90

26

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

Tribute to the late Anan Sookram (1949-2017)

7 \

)

Anan Sookram's Incredible Fight Back in Table Tennis, but loses out to Life \ J

by SHAN RAZACK He was the first Guyanese player to wear the West Indies ble reason, Madray decided to call it a day, game lasted exactly five minutes and the Junior Tahle Tennis crown. In 1965 Anan Sookram when, in fact, they was so much more for crowd saw Tiwari, in his most aggressive him to accomplish and all within his capa- mood, force a surprised Sookram to resort achieved this honor by winning the West Indies Junior bility. to defense. Tiwari again had things his own Tahle Tennis title in Barbados. He played unbeaten at the West InGopie Beasmonie was also a fine way in the second game. His graceful backdies championships, first disposing of title-holder Trevor Manning player and what is interesting about the arm smashes and his forearm thunderbolts of Barbados and as fate would have it he met and beat his fellow youths from Port Mourant is that they were had Sookram bewitched, bothered and beall pre-occupied in other games as well, wildered. He sent many of Sookram's servcountryman Benfield Munroe for the title.

While this is a significant achieve- player of the celluloid game. Dr. Cheddi mainly cricket. There is not a youngster ices rocketing back as Sookram stood ment in Sookram"s career, nonetheless, it is Jagan, then Premier of British Guiana and there who could not play cricket and table stranded, unable to play them. Tiwari won the manner in which he fought back, from an illustrious son of Port Mourant was there tennis with the same love, nay, passion. convincingly 21-15. Tiwari, the little man the jaws of defeat, into glorious victories to cheer Seunarine. At the end Dr. Jagan Beasmonie was selected on the first-ever from Blairmont, (which also produced Roy that he is most remembered. Thrice, he was commended Seunarine for a wonderful dis- West Indies Youth Cricket team to tour Fredericks, the first Berbician to represent two straight games down in a set of five play and extended his best wishes for the England in 1970. He was one of two Guyana in the West Indies Table Tennis schoolboys from Berbice, the other player championships in Jamaica), pressed home and fought back with such courage and future. tenacity to win in convincing manner, The left-handed Anan Sookram was was the exciting all-rounder Kennedy the advantage in the early stages of the third which I intend to highlight later in this col- not allowed to play in the Sugar Estates Venkersammy, they made their presence set and when the score was at 17-12 in his umn.

Championships, because at the time, the felt among the runs. Claudwin Appanah favor, it seemed as though the title holder Sookram, started playing table tennis tournament was restricted to senior players was a "master-blaster" in terms of powerful had been decided, or was it? in 1959 at the tender age of six — his head only. This did not deter him in anyway. In- attacking shots and would make quick "Wonder Boy" Anan Sookram, not in was hardly above the table. Five years ear- stead, he was encouraged by the estate's work of his opponent. Samuel Duke, the least dejected by the humiliation had lier in 1954, the estate community center welfare officer Mr. Mohamed Baksh to Kissoon. Lall Chunilall and Raymond suffered in the early games, came back conwith all the necessary facilities had come play the celluloid game. He featured in Ahmad were all fine attractive players on fidently and courageously in the picture .He on stream and no doubt he was influenced many exhibition matches, in and lapsed completely into his defense to win by such outstanding players as Latchman around the club. nine straight points and take the third set at Doobay, Isaac Seunarine, Bragraj Rawan, At long last, his chance came 21-17. Then it was there the fans saw Phillip Mohabir and Selwyn Ross who then when the tournament for junior playSookram change from the ace of defense to ruled the roost at Port Mourant. ers was introduced among the esan attacker of class. He flicked and stroked Doobay won the first-ever table tennis tates. Anan came out on top and the ball with unbelievable accuracy exchampionships in Berbice in 1954, when he reigned king for two years after celling with his body sway smashes, and ousted Hector Ousley of Skeldon in the which he was promoted to the senior the crowd went wild with excitement. He final. It was an all day affair at the Port division where he played unbeaten. scored repeatedly on Tiwari who was by Mourant Community Centre, and I recalled Sookram is yet another outstanding then visibly shaken by the new turn in the other players like (Basil) Butcher, (Joe) son to emerge from Port Mourant, mm trend of things and went down to Sookram Solomon. (Randolph) Ramnarace, (Roy) which has produced world renowned in the fourth set, a near thing 20-22.

Fredericks, (Leslie) Amsterdam, (Colvin) cricketers, Kanhai, Butcher, v'Tension was so high in the hall Plummer, (Ivor) Liverpool and Tilakdharry Solomon, Madray, Kallicharran and one could almost put out one's hand and wielding their racquets in fine style. the late and great John Trim. He has •'>V feel it. The late Leslie Amsterdam was sit.■ Doobay, an attacking player along with the an impressive record for the 60s, ting on my left and you could literally hear other players made Port Mourant one of the which, is aptly described as the his heart beat...thump...thump...thump, leading table-tennis clubs in Berbice — "Golden Era" in Berbice tennis, and on my right a young woman stood tearma nay, Guyana which only few players can hope to tmS. S. ing her handkerchief into shreds. Ken VinBerbice got its first significant boost achieve, much less surpass. He led cent, the Berbice table tennis president was when Isaac Seunarine played the then the Berbice junior side to victory in CO uneasy, and kept pacing the floor many South American champion. Bariba Da the Inter-County series and deANAN SOOKRAM times. There was a particular young man throned Mike Clarke for sgr ■ who was so much entrenched in the game the national title, which he held the go and would usually mix aggression that he forgot he had a lighted cigarette in for three years. Sookram showed with defense. I cannot help remembering ,0 his hand, as a result he suffered burns about r immense potential in doing well how Sookram amazed everyone with his his fingers. As for me, my nerves were all against Bariba DaCosta, the agility, concentrative powers and superb jangling and I could hardly restrain myself.

A South American ace, when they tactics when he beat his club-mate and I shouted myself hoarse! Five hundred and met on DaCosta's trip to the mentor Isaac Seunarine for the Berbice senover delirious fans — the biggest ever — country. It was most pleasing to ior championship 10-21, 21-13,21-17 and that night at the Port Mourant Community • • see him return some of Da- 21-19.

Center could hardly control themselves as * In 1972, Anan Sookram, after trailing Costa's powerful smashes as the -u.

Sookram steadily inched away from his .. T South American was using the two games and down on his knees in the rival and at one stage the score was 10-3 in ■ unusual table tennis style the third at 15-20, staged the greatest comehis favor.

Tiwari in the fifth game was cer"Pen Holder" grip. He secured back of all times, to defeat Raika Tiwari for tainly, not the player he was in the first I victory over Suriname's cham- the title. However, this is nothing unusual three, and, he visibly cracked up in the final pion Albert Dors and gave a for Sookram who, on two previous occastages of the game, to bow to the superior creditable performance against sions, found himself under similar circumm play of Sookram, who recorded the game former world champion the late stances and stormed back magnificently to beat Benfield Munroe for the National jun- 21-14, to wear once more, the crown and Richard Bergman. title of the senior table tennis champiBefore I proceed with some ior crown. He then retained the sugar estate m% onships of Berbice. It would be sheer joy v of Sookram's exploits in the title from Balkissoon, one of the finest; if to relive those cherished and glorious mogame, it is important that I make not the best attacking on-side player ments , once more! mention of some of the "hottest" Guyana has ever seen.

Thank you Anan! We will certainly Recapping the magical moments youngsters who graced the scene at the time. I recall seeing the through my mind's eyes, both players had cherish those wonderful moments and joy youngster, Ashton Madray, who their supporters in the crowd and they were you gave us. You will forever be rememCosta in 1964 in an exhibition game at showed great promise. He possessed a wide there, each and every one of them to see bered whenever table tennis is being disQueen's College. The Brazilian was at the array of shots and would often attack his their man win. Tiwari took an early lead cussed in the Ancient County, nay Guyana. time on a world tour with Richard opponent from the word go. His reign how- and created quite a stir to take the first My condolences to the family. May your Bergman, perhaps the greatest defensive ever, was short-lived. For some inexplica- game with attacking strokes at 21-13. The soul rest in peace!

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending May 26, 2017

27

West Indies could rethink DDI selection policy West Indies could have their limited-overs stars in the fray for national selection, particularly for the 50-over format, after Courtney Browne, the chairman of selectors, hinted at the possibility of the VVICB revisiting the eligibility criterion.

Currently, the WICB has followed a stringent policy of considering only those players who have featured in the domestic 50-over competition, one that goes back to 2010, under the regime of Julian Hunte and Ernest Hilaire.

The current criterion has ruled out a bunch of senior players including Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell. None of them were part of West Indies' most recent series against Pakistan, which they lost 2-1, falling further behind in their race to be among the top eight teams in the ICC rankings and so qualify directly for the 2019 World Cup. But if this change in selection policy is cleared, West Indies could significantly boost their chances of fielding a full-strength team leading up to the showpiece event.

"There is some discussion going on about revisiting the eligibility rule,"

Tearful

Usain

Browne told Line and Length, a Barbados-based network. "I know it's with a working committee. That will then go to the board. But we have to understand our domestic cricket is key.

"Players coming out of domestic cricket and showing they can perform at the international level is important.

Yes, we have to look at it [the eligibility rule] but also be mindful that we have to develop our own domestic product, a stage where we can have a very good standard of regional cricket."

However, Browne also made it clear he would rather not have a situation where young players who have come through the regional system are ignored. Vishaul Singh and Shimron Hetmyer, who captained West Indies to the Under-19 World Cup title last year-, are two examples he cited while explaining the need to maintain continuity. The pair gave modest returns - 159 runs in 12 innings between them - having played their first three Tests over the last couple of months.

"We have a lot of young developing players, they're all bunched together in terms of number of Tests, that's par for the course. When you have a bunch of people you're exposing to international cricket, you will tend to get these sorts of performances. But the good

m 'm ÂŤ< v I, .

a

Dwayne Bravo hasn't played DDI since October 2014 thing about it is, you have the coaching team and you have to give them some time to develop players.

"There's no regret [in giving them opportunities]. They came through the system, we understand they're young players and need time to develop.

When you're looking at development process, it's going to be a slow process.

We're not going to find a sensation overnight."

Browne was pleased with the enthusiasm of the new recruits. "They've shown the fans here's a bunch of young

people who are showing fight. It has shown the players too that with determination and passion like that, you can be competitive."

Bravo had recently said he was available for T20 selection but would not give up his contracts around the world to play domestic cricket in the West Indies because playing in those tournaments did not guarantee selection. He had also said things could change if "structure changes or something different happens".

Bolt says goodbye to British

ESPNCricInfo

high jumper

Usain Bolt paid a tearful farewell to Great Britain high juniper best friend Germaine Mason after serving as a pallbearer at his funeral. The 34-yearold was killed after a motorcycle collision in East Kingston, Jamaica, last month and scores of people gathered to lay him to rest.

Olympic champion sprinter Bolt, 30, was pictured holding back tears behind his sunglasses at the emotional service, also in Kingston.

Mason won a silver medal for Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after switching allegiances from Jamaica in 2006.

Bolt was joined by former Bolton footballer Ricardo Gardner and Tranmere player Ian Goodison in carrying the coffin at the Hagley Park Seventh Day Adventist Church.

The Jamaican sprinter was also filmed helping to dig Mason's grave in the days leading up to the funeral.

Mason died in April after his Honda CBR motorbike crashed and was later pictured twisted and mangled.

British athletes also expressed

ttheir sorrow in the wake of the tragedy, with Dame Jessica EnnisHill tweeting This is just awful. Such sad news', while Linford Christie wrote: 'Heart goes out to friends and family of Germaine Mason on this sad day. RIP Germaine. Never forgotten.'

Mason, whose father is from London, was one of only four British athletics medallists at the 2008 Games but faced major setbacks in and out of the sport in the subsequent years.

He was plagued by knee problems and his brother Andrew was later jailed for his part in a gang murder of a 22-year-old student in west London.

Mason's Olympic success was by far the standout achievement of

Bolt, right, was one of the pallbearer's for the British high jumper's final farewell along with former Bolton footballer Ricardo Gardner and ex-Tranmere player Ian Goodison, left. In picture at bottom left: Usain Bolt was pictured in tears his career, with his jump of 2.34 me- since 2002 and I'm very happy for tres equalling his personal best and him. putting him in behind Russia's Andrei 'He had knee surgery and he's Silnov, who took gold. coming back now, so I'm happy for He was seen celebrating at him. To me, it doesn't really matter trackside in Beijing with Bolt, who who he runs for.'

Caribbean news.net said at the time: 'We've been friends

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Banks DIH Limited under their GT Beer Brand yesterday became the title sponsor of the Xtreme Clean and Maintenance Co. Futsal tournament, scheduled to kick off tonight at National Gymnasium with six games beginning from 19:00 hours.

Banks DIH Communications Manager. Troy Peters indicated at the simple ceremony at Thirst Park that the company is "pleased" to be associated with the tournament.

"This is a format that we at Banks own and GT Beer can be called the 'Champion of Champions' of football in Guyana. We want to thank Xtreme Clean for having us as a part of this tournament. We are grateful to them a look fonvard to another successful tournament." Peters said.

Managing Director of Xtreme Clean and Maintenance Co.. Shanai Gomes was elated; expressing her gratitude to Banks DIH for partnering with the new company, she informed that their support is indicative of how far Xtreme Clean has come as an organisation.

Some of the country's top Futsal teams will descend at the venue for the event that is set to kick off at 6pm each night; the tournament will continue tomorrow and Sunday.

The other playing dates include June 6. 8 and 13 before semi-finals on June 15 and Finals on June 17.

Twenty four teams were invited to participate in the tournament. The winning team will win a whopping $500,000 (2 Vi ounces of gold) while second place takes home $200,000 (1 ounce of gold), third place $100,000 (/t. ounce of gold) and fourth place $50,000; trophies will accompany all of the cash prizes. The MVP will also receive gold jewellery.

The proprietor of the Xtreme Clean and Maintenance Company informed that they have engaged all major stakeholders to make the event a possibility, including the Guyana Police Force, which will be providing security each night for the Futsal showdown.

In addition to the hefty cash prizes for the teams, there

Drakes

A.m H

u:

f _ _ GT Beer Brand Manager, Geoff Clement (third, left) hands over the sponsorship to the Managing Director of Xtreme Clean and Maintenance Co., Shanai Gomes while the Banks DIH Events and Sponsorship Manager, Mortimer Stewart (right) and Communication Manager, Troy Peters (left) among Xtreme Clean officials, Kester Gomes (second left) and Seraiah Clarke share the moment at Thirst Park yesterday. will be giveaways each night for patrons, who will have the opportunity to win pennyweights of gold through novelty activities such as the penalty kick and freestyle skill challenge.

for

training camp in the southern English city of Southampton before moving to the city of Leicester for the formal start of the Women's World Cup programme.

"We are eager to get the group together." said Drakes in a WICB media release.

"It's an exciting line-up of players with a balance of established players, a couple of returnees and a group of four new faces.

"This camp will enable the team management unit to spend valuable time with the players and start to build the desire for success in the team, as they get ready to

GREAT TASTE, GREAT TIMES

- ii-.ss m

relishes

period BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) - West Indies Women's head coach Vasbert Drakes said he was looking forward to the next month of preparation, as he gets his side in gear for the ICC Women's World Cup, starting next month in the United Kingdom.

Team-bonding activities, personal development sessions and physical assessments will be on the schedule during a five-day camp when the 15-member squad assembles here today .

Following the team's departure next Wednesday, they will have a 17-day

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World

West

ca Vasbert Drakes face the challenges of the World Cup." Drakes added: "It will be a good opportunity for us

Some of the other sponsors include Trophy Stall, Fasgrafix and Jefford's Distribution and Sales; Giftland Distribution Store and FARMSUP Mining Investments Inc.

Cup

Indies

to re-create the strong team culture that was a hallmark of our side over the last tw o years as we worked very hard to qualify for the Women's World Cup. "We want to help the new players integrate, while rekindling the camaraderie and relationships with the familiar faces, so that there is a healthy team environment in which everyone can focus on performance and ultimately be successful at the World Cup." The preparation period in England will include practice matches against an England Women's XI on

preparation

squad

June 6 at Loughborough and the Southern Vipers on June 9 at the Ageas Bowl before they play official World Cup warm-up matches against Pakistan on June 20 at Leicester and South Africa on June 22 at Oakham.

"We will have almost a month in the UK prior to our opening game in the World Cup to get the team into game mode." said Drakes.

"We will spend that time trying to get acclimatised to the conditions and being purposeful in our build-up to the tournament, so that we can significantly improve on our past performances

and prepare to take on the World."

The Windies Women were ranners-up at the previous Women's World Cup in India, when Australia Women claimed their sixth title with a 114-run victory at the Braboume Stadium in Mumbai.

Stafanie Taylor's side earned automatic qualification to the Women's World Cup following their fourth place finish in the ICC Women's Championship - a tournament contested between the top eight sides in the World over the last two years.