Guyana Chronicle New York Edition 03 03 2017

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

Probe

Into

cocaine

ship

likely

.. .suspected transfer vessel held by local agents raises concerns PRIOR to the massive high seas drug bust, which ensnared four Guyanese nationals and netted cocaine worth US$71.7M,70 nautical miles north of Suriname in international waters, there was another vessel which was being tracked

by Guyana's drug enforcement authorities.

Top sources told the Guyana Chronicle that the vessel was initially spotted in Guyana's waters off the Corentyne Coast.moving north and was being tracked by the local authorities and when it was in the vicinity of Shell Beach it was intercepted and brought into the Waini River and searched. Narcotics were not found but a crew comprising of one Guyanese national and five Spanish speaking foreign nationals were on board and the vessel was subsequently released.

The release of this suspected cocaine ship is now under scrutiny as it is believed that this vessel had transferred the large cocaine shipment to the mother vessel which was

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The boat carrying the cocaine was stopped and searched by authorities on February 16, during a joint patrol by the crews of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter, Joseph Napier, and the Coast Guard of Trinidad and Tobago subsequently seized by the US authorities and found to be carrying over four tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of US$71.7M. Sources said that in spite of efforts by the Guyanese authorities, the cocaine mother ship - Lady Michelle - eluded them but ended up in the US dragnet in international waters off Suriname. While it is believed that the Guyanese

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authorities exercised vigilance after being alerted to the secondary vessel and brought it in. questions are being asked about the larger vessel which seemed to not have been noticed by the local authorities.

How this cocaine mothership eluded the Guyanese authorities is the subject of controversy and likely to lead to an investigation.

The Head of CANU. James Singh.has been sent on

leave pending inquiry, (see other story on page 2) Since assuming office, the Coalition Government has heightened and intensified efforts to counter narcotics trafficking on land, by air and at sea. Coastal aerial surveillance and mounted branch border patrols have been reactivated and are done on a regular and continuing basis. The MV Tamakay, a float-

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ing police station, is now permanently stationed at the mouth of the Waini River. It was in the Waini River some years ago that a suspected cocaine semi-submersible was uncovered. In 2016,an abandoned aircraft suspected of transporting narcotics was uncovered in the Rupununi village of Yupukari.

Meanwhile. Singh.who was heading the CANU at the time of the bust, told the Guyana Chronicle that no record exists showing that the boat had left Guyana. When questioned about Guyana's involvement or collaboration in making the bust possible. James revealed that, "there is not official record to show that the boat had been in Guyana since 2015." He told this newspaper that since four Guyanese are involved, investigations are ongoing internally to see "whether there are further links (in Guyana), if any."

Singh's instructions to proceed on annual leave comes just a day after four Guyanese.now identified as Mark Williams. Neville Jeffrey. Richard La Cruz and the captain Mohammed Nazim Hosein.were intercepted aboard a fish-

ing vessel off the Surinamese coast. They have all been charged.

When a comment was sought from the American Embassy on the collaboration between local agents and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). confirmation was given that the Guyana arm of the agency was actively involved in the investigation.

This newspaper was told also that. "The US Government regularly works with all relevant entities within Guyana to together combat the scourge of narco-trafficking."

The Embassy said too that no comments could be given about the investigation. but confirmed Guyanese involvement and a large quantity of cocaine being confiscated. The Embassy said that since the DEA opened a Guyana office, "cooperation with the Guyanese authorities has been excellent."

Singh told this newspaper,however, that from the Guyana end, investigations are continuing to make the local connection. In relation to the exchange of information, he said too that work with the DEA is ongoing. The cocaine was discovered in a 70-foot long fishing vessel that was stopped and searched by authorities during a joint patrol by the crews of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Joseph Napier and the coast guard of Trinidad and Tobago. The crew of the Napier, which is based in Port Canaveral, Florida, towed the detained boat to St. Vincent and the four Guyanese were taken to the U.S. Virgin Islands to face criminal charges, while the cocaine was taken to San Juan in Puerto Rico. Guyanese authorities say that the drug boat is a St Vincent vessel.

Authorities say this latest cocaine bust has been the largest since 1999.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

CANU

Chief

3

sent

-Atherly takes charge of agency

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Major General (rtd), Michael Atherly HEAD of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh has been sent on 42 days of accumulated leave, even as government takes steps to beef-up the country's premier anti-drug agency.

The decision to send Singh on leave, coming two days after news broke of a major drag bust which involved four Guyanese nationals, has generated speculations, but Minister of State. Joseph Harmon said it was in line with government's policy.

Singh proceeded on leave effective from Wednesday and Major General. Retired.

Michael Atherly has taken full command of the operations of CANU. Atherly currently heads the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA). which also has overarching responsibility for CANU. In statement issued by the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP). Minister of State.

Joseph Harmon said that in line with Government's policy to ensure that officers do not accumulate annual leave and in turn request pay in lieu of such. Singh has been asked to proceed on leave immediately.

"This is the practice that we have embraced since we came into office and. therefore. Mr. Singh, who had some leave accumulated. has been asked to go on leave with effect from today (Wednesday) and Major General. Michael Atherly will be heading CANU." Harmon was quoted as saying in the MOTP release.

The MOTP said this decision was communicated to the Minister of Public Security.

Khemraj Ramjattan. who is the person responsible for CANU. Harmon reminded that public officers have always been encouraged to take their leave, "and we want to discourage this practice of accumulating large amounts

of leave and then asking for payment in lieu. So we are trying to ensure that all public officers get their leave during that year." Minister Harmon said.

Major General (ret'd) Atherly was responsible for leading the review of the National Drag Strategy Master Plan 2014-2018. This review led to the development of the National Drag Strategy Master Plan 2016-2020. which was launched last December.

Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on May 20th 1971. Atherly rose to the rank of Major General in May 2004. He held several appointments including: Officer Commanding Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School; Commanding Officer 3. Special Forces Battalion; Commanding Officer.

Training Corps; Commander 1. Infantry Battalion Group and Colonel General Staff.

Defence Headquarters. Major General Atherly also served

Civic (PPP/C) Government fired the agency's head. Orville Nedd. Singh was recently accused by convicted drag trafficker. Barry Dataram. of being involved in the drag trade.

Dataram had made damning allegations against CANU agents, contending that they are involved in the narco-trade. Dataram made this

on

revelation during an interview on HGPTY Channel 67's Nightly News: "CANU them is the most corrupted, rogue security force in this country."

He also claimed: "They are the biggest drag dealer this country has. The same drag that they seize, half of it goes back on the street."

Dataram reportedly said that he decided to go public with this information after CANU officers had conducted a raid on his nephew's house and removed $13 million, but

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leave

could account for only $10 million. Singh had rushed to deny the allegations, saying Dataram was trying to distract attention from the proceedings of the court, and bring the operations of the unit and its members into disrepute. However. the Col into corruption allegations against CANU made by Dataram had cleared the agency of the allegations.

Following the Col, government had announced that through establishment of the National Anti-Nar-

cotics Agency (NANA), it was moving to correct deficiencies discovered in the operations of the CANU. Ramjattan had said then that NANA will be implemented as an umbrella agency, under which all agencies in the fight against illicit drugs will operate. He said CANU was found to be deficient in its operations, and its shortcomings are not abnormal, but "can be remedied and should be remedied.

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CANU Head, James Singh as Deputy Commander of a multi-national Commonwealth Military Training Team to Uganda. He was appointed Chief of Staff in April 2000.

He was educated at numerous international military institutions, including the Canadian Staff School in Toronto. the Canadian Command and Staff College in Kingston Ontario, the Camberley Command and Staff College in the United Kingdom, the Lester Pearson Peacekeeping College in Nova Scotia Canada and the National Defence University in the United States of America. He has been honoured at the national level with a number of awards that included the Military Service Medal and the Military Service Star.

Meanwhile, he was appointed as head of CANU back in 2008 when, following a series of polygraph tests, the People's Progressive Party

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

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US When staffers of the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were briefed last Monday on the possible effects of the immigration policies of the current United States administration, one of the questions asked was how Guyana would respond.

The briefing saw a presentation

by Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, titled "The emerging Trump Administration Foreign Policy and dynamics related to Guyana and the Caribbean."

Director of the Foreign Service Institute, Ambassador Ronald Austin explained that recent decisions on immigration by US President, Donald Trump will have immediate effects on the lives of Guyanese.

A government report on the briefing had quoted Austin as saying, "We have to, I think first of all, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and I think throughout the Government of Guyana, decide how we respond to the emergence of President Trump and the consequences of his policies." It was noted that what is now being faced are, ". . . direct consequences of a man who has decided to change the way the United States sees the world, and in particular as far as the immigrant population is concerned in the United States."

Clearly, those residing in the US would be concerned, especially when the US Department of Home-

land Security has already revealed plans such as the enforcement of immigration laws that have been deemed aggressive and discriminatory against Muslims.

Even before President Trump had assume office, Caribbean lead-

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the

policy

Jamaica Observer. Many undocumented Caribbean nationals in the US are concerned that they could be sent home, while governments are worried about the numbers that could be deported and the pressure it will put on their countries' already tight economies.

Yet, one cannot be upset with the US for enforcing their laws. Despite being a nation built by slaves and immigrants, it is still the nation, that Third World countries like Guyana want to emulate. To create

%

ers were murmuring about possible effects of new immigration policies.

The matter is such a concern that word of Guyana initiating talks about addressing the new US policies on Monday had hit regional news by Tuesday making it in the

and

ŠICE v laws for better control and technological advancement, among other things but mostly to live the lifestyle described in the American dream.

Indeed the US is the leading nation in the world and has been so for a while now. People risk their lives and freedom to get to America. Now America is sending people who have criminal records home. Country wide raids are rounding up undocumented immigrants and reports say new authorization has been given for the relevant agencies to have "some more authority" during their raids.

The question remains however, what will be the response by Guyanese if they are sent back to Guyana? How will the government respond?

Guyana itself is still "catching" its footing. As far as could be seen the government is still repairing what they describe as broken systems, and in some cases, trying out policies to better suit the new emerging economy. Sections of the country

have complained about slow business, while increased opportunities seem to be cushioning that a bit.

Business sectors are seeing a revitalized interest by persons who claim they are now being given a chance to become part of the industries and are now enjoying a leveled play field.

Guyana Sprouts advocates for the advancement of Guyana and believes that only Guyanese can ensure their development. There is only one logic with such a mentality and it entails Guyanese depending on Guyanese and the rest of the Caribbean where suitable.

For one thing, it is hard to understand why there are so many foreign products in our supermarkets, when Guyana is filled with the same foods. Some goods come from countries, some of us may never see or countries where it is expensive to go and requires too much documentation to get in. There should be a deeper pride to use Guyanese products.

The construction sector continues to grow in Guyana, so much so that the Housing Ministry is hosting a housing expo that will be a model for other housing schemes. The Housing Ministry has even been looking outside of Guyana for contractors and building designers.

The Education sector is wide open for earnest investment. Many foreigners are opening bogus schools here and are making Guyana a laughing stock, while our prominent teachers and scholars are heading to foreign universities to become lecturers when they are needed here.

The manufacturing industry needs much help and there lies great opportunities.

Guyana imports peanut butter, ketchup, and other items, which is fine for variety, but there are little to no such local products although the ingredients to make those items are grown locally.

Nationals are willing to disown their country for America and in some cases give up their freedom.

Guyana is not perfect but we definitely need more Guyanese hearts and hands to help build this nation and make it great..

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

5

The Handel L

Things

That

Bother

Ms

Andrews Column

I Give

IS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF

You

Historic

Facts

When Donald J. Trump was elected President of these United States of America, I was shocked.

Something seemed wrong. A man who cursed on national television, called women pigs, an unapologetic bigot, among other things, was President. Among the reasons for this was America's political climate and the downright failure of the Democratic Party to build on

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make

the

call

Jurists, such as Curt Rothenberger, Franz Schlegelberger, and Josef Altstoetter were tried in the Jurists' Trial of the Subsequent Nuremberg Proceedings on charges of "judicial murder" and other atrocities.

US 2016 ELECTIONS AND THE EMERGENCE OF D. J. TRUMP The US 2016 political climate was ready for a Donald Trump. The White vote is critical to winning the Presidency. Barack Obama could not have won without the White working class votes.

1 However, they did not feel included in the great economic upswing of the Obama years.

They felt abandoned by a rapidly globalizing economy and believed that International Trade takes away American jobs. Like Hitler, Trump speaks to their fears. He promises to kill the Trans Pacific Partnership and reform NAFTA (the trade agreement among Canada, Mexico and the US) to "America's advantage."

He promises to restore tariffs on most goods produced by the signatories. He promises to have bilateral trade agreements with individual member states in the Pacific Partnership. As usual, he has not given any details of his proposals, as to the consequences of his

Barack Obama's two election wins.

POLITICAL CLIMATE 1933. He immediately set about making Wikipedia Encyclopaedia defines himself absolute ruler of Germany. it as "The current mood and opinions As a writer put it, "Gone was the of a populace about political issues that Charlie Chaplin image of Hitler as the also currently affect that population," laughable fanatic behind the Beer Hall For starters, let us examine the political Putsch. The beer hall revolutionary had climate of Germany when Adolf Hitler been replaced by the skilled manipulafl was swept into office by the most edu- tor of the masses."

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP cated population in the world.

The rest, as they say, is history. proposals. Do not look for details. As Hitler's first move was against the THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC Paul Ryan said February 28th, praising press. The Propaganda Ministry conThe period between 1919 and this trend, "He is not a President that trolled the content of news and edito1933 in Germany is unofficially known gives details." A President who does not rial pages through directives distributed as the Weimar Republic. It started with give details is a Resident. in daily conferences. Guidelines stated the collapse of its stock market in 1929.

If Trump has his way (it seems as what stories could or could not be reThe following year, unemployment rose if he will in this age of no principles ported and how to report the news. to 6 million. Like the US, the country Congress), America would lose milJournalists or editors who did not folwas in the grip of a Great Depression. lions of jobs and costs of consumer low these instructions could be fired or In July 1930, Chancellor Bruining goods would skyrocket. He can kill insent to a concentration camp. He did proposed cutting Government spenddividual trade deals, but he CANNOT not have to call the news fake. He saw ing, wages for Government workers kill globalization. to it that it was. and unemployment pay. Because the Germany had some of the most BREAKUP OF THE Reichstag (German Parliament) did not brilliant jurists in the world. However, DEMOCRATS approve his proposals, President Hinmost of them interpreted the law to suit Hitler's Nazi Party rose to power, denburg used Article 48 to pass the the Third Reich. After WW2, prominent measures by decree. The people were (continued on page 10) angry, frustrated and turned away from the ruling party. i \ & They turned to the Nazi Party, then $: \ Boston Sflipping led by Adolph Hitler, a brilliant orator and "Germany first" politician. His â– campaign for power was financed by /Enterprises, Inc. wealthy businesspersons, including Jews. The political climate was conWe Make Shipping Overseas as Easy as Shipping Next Door ducive to his political rise. "Hitler offered something to everyone: work to TO WE SHIP the unemployed; prosperity to failed GUYANA, JAMAICA BARRELS business people; profits to industry; exTRINIDAD & TOBAGO pansion to the Army; social harmony BOXES and an end of class distinctions to ideGRENADA, BARBADOS DOCUMENTS alistic young students; and restoration ST. VINCENT LUGGAGE of German glory to those in despair. He promised to bring order amid chaos; a ST. LUCIA, HAITI APPLIANCES feeling of unity to all and the chance to & Other World Wide Destinations FURNITURE belong. He would make Germany CONTAINERS strong again; tear up the Treaty of VerFAST RELIABLE SERVICE sailles; stamp out corruption and deal CARS & REASONABLE RATES harshly with the Jews."

On September 30, 1930, election day, the Nazi Party received 6,371,000 votes and 107 seats in the Reichstag.

By July 1932 they had 230 seats and were the largest party. The man who was considered a buffoon by many Germans became Chancellor in January

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Ciutorial

GuySuCo's

future GOVERNMENT is set to make a major announcement on its plans for the sugar industry and the future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

This announcement will no doubt be anticipated by many- not least the families of those who have benefitted from the industry. The administration so far has shown no inclination in totally closing down the industry and will more than likely announce plans to restructure it and at the same time make it more viable. When Minister of State.

Joseph Harmon makes the announcement later this week, we are more than likely to hear of plans to lease sugar lands to cane farmers and other workers of the industry among other initiative. Such a move cannot be downplayed in the context of the struggles of the industry.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan during his budget speech back in November had made it clear that the status quo of the sugar industry can neither be sustained nor maintained. He said then that as currently structured, the industry would require Government's support to the tune of $ 18.6 billion and $21.4 billion for the years 2017 and 2018. respectively, he told the House in his budget presentation on Monday.

This. Minister Jordan said is an untenable position, pointing out that it would seriously jeopardise the fiscal stance of the Government, while compromising resource allocation to other critical and important areas. "Radical re-organising of the sugar industry is required as a matter of urgency, for the continued postponement of the hard decisions on GuySuCo's future would result in the corporation incurring even more debts (estimated currently at $80 billion) and an escalation of the demands on the Treasury."

As a national entity. GuySuCo is interwoven into the structural development of Regions Three. Four. Five and Six. Examining the industry's present status and decision as to its future cannot ignore this framework. Sugar also has its historical development dating back to slavery and indentureship. two systems that have shaped our political behaviour.

The divide and rule policy that characterised the culture of the plantation society and relations among diverse groups must only serve as lessons to avoid, not repeat.

Women

power

...Justice Cummings new acting Chancellor, George-Wiltshire Chief Justice FOLLOWING consultations with Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, President David Granger on Wednesday appointed Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards as acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire as the new acting Chief Justice.

Prior to her appointment.

Justice Cummings-Edwards acted as the Chief Justice.

Former Chancellor of the Judiciary. Carl Singh.officially demitted office on February 23. 2017. paving the way for the new appointments. According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP). the President met with Mr Jagdeo and consulted on the appointments, as is constitutionally required, late Wednesday afternoon.

According to the release.

Minister of State. Joseph Harmon, and Attorney General. Minister Basil Williams accompanied the President at the meeting. The release noted that Minister Harmon said that the discussions betiveen the Head of State and Mr. Jagdeo were 'meaningful' and 'very frank and fruitful'.

He added, however, that though the Opposition Leader requested a period of seven days to submit additional names for consideration, there is no requirement for him to agree for appointments of Acting Chancellor and Chief Justice and the President can make such appointments once consultations are held according to the Constitution of Guyana.

For the substantive posts of Acting Chancellor and Chief Justice. Article 127 of the Constitution says.

"The Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall each be appointed by the President, acting after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of

the Opposition."

According to MOTP. to ensure that there is an open and transparent process that helps the President and the Leader of the Opposition to reach an agreement, the Government has begun a process of selection, which will include consultations betiveen the two parties.

Both posts were advertised and applications have been received as recommended by President Granger.

"A panel was put together. which comprised former Justice of Appeal.

Ms. Claudette Singh. Mr. James Patterson and Mr. Harold Lutchman. The panel of course met and we are awaiting the report of that panel. Once that is submitted to His Excellency, the President. he will in due course make his decision on the matter." Minister Harmon was quoted as saying in the release.

That report and the information derived from the interview process will be submitted to the Leader of the Opposition, according to the Minister of State.

"We will have to have consultations, so at that point the Leader of the Opposition will be invited to consultations...that process also requires that he be given, in advance, the names of the persons who are proposed. the Curriculum Vitae of those persons and all information, which we will have at our disposal, and that information will come out from the interviewing process, which took place recently. So we will submit all of that information to the Leader of the Opposition so that he will recognise that the choice which was made was a good one and I'm sure, will find his agreement." the Minister of State was quoted

Recent debates in the press, on GuySuCo's future even after several rounds of consultations which the government initiated with stakeholders including the opposition have seen the emergence of sharp views by both the opposition and the sugar unions. It would have been better for tins nation's diversity and simmering divisive political culture had it not happened.

Admittedly. GuySuCo's financial and economic performance. its structural development, and activities cannot be dealt with separately, given the interlinked relations. In the regions mentioned above, this company has developed and maintained community centres, play grounds, and healthcare infrastructures. These serve not only the workers but the general public within the communities and adjoining areas.

Several canals along the coastland that are managed by the company are interlinked with major canals and rivers managed by central, regional and local governments.

as saying.

According to MOTP. the Minister of State said that Government believes that this process sends a strong signal to professionals in the conduct of their public life as their record will be scrutinised as they seek to advance in their careers.

"What we have done is to basically introduce a process. which will add to the entire architecture of the legal system in this country that will see our Judges going through a process before they are actually appointed and. therefore, the things like the quality of the judgement. which they give once they want to move to higher office, all of these are issues which are taken into consideration." he said.

The Opposition Leader was accompanied by Member of Parliament. Mr. Anil Nandlall.

JUDGES FOR COURT OF APPEAL Meanwhile, a statement from Jagdeo's office last night noted that he will not insist on the formalities of a letter accompanied by the names of the persons who are the President's nominees to act in these offices along with their curriculum vitae. as is the practice. The Leader of the Opposition indicated that his reason for dispensing with these formalities is because the filling these vacancies are of national importance and the President's departure for overseas is imminent.

According to the statement. the Leader of the Opposition then raised the issue of the absence of action in relation to the unanimous recommendations made to the President since February 2016. by the Judicial Service Commission that Justice Rishi Persaud and Justice

Dawn Gregory be appointed to the Court of Appeal and Mr. Sandil Kissoon and Ms. Damone Younge. Attorneys-at-Law. be appointed as Puisne Judges. The statement further noted that Jagdeo reminded the President that he [the President] has no alternative but to act upon recommendations made by the Judicial Service Commission.

"The Leader of the Opposition emphasised that equal urgency attaches to both sets of appointment because there is currently no sitting Judge in the Court of Appeal, a three member Court and certainly, the appointment of a person to act in the position of the Chancellor alone will not fill the critical void which currently exists in that Court." the statement noted.

It was further noted that the Leader of the Opposition adverted to a public perception that the delay in acting upon the recommendations of the Judicial Service Commission is deliberate and intended to await a differently constituted Judicial Service Commission, which may not have confidence in the recommendations of their predecessors.

"Additionally, he pointed out that the delay in elevating the two Judges to the Court of Appeal as recommended by the JSC for over a year, places them at a comparative disadvantage in respect of seniority. The Leader of the Opposition also enquired whether the recommendations of the JSC will be implemented at the same time when these acting appointments will take place."

According to the statement, the President promised that he will address the concerns of the Leader of the Opposition at a meeting which will be held on the March 8,2017 at 15:00hrs.

However, over the years Central Government has been giving GuySuCo significant financial assistance (tens of billions) to meet its operational cost. For 2017 the Government allocated $9 billion to support the financing of GuySuCo's operations, bringing the amount of resources that would have been provided to the corporation since August 2015 to $32 billion.

None can honestly deny the company has made some bad decisions and also the Government (e.g. the Skeldon Factory). The consequences of these continue to see scarce dollars being diverted its way at the expense of pushing other national projects. That being said, it is to Guyana and every Guyanese interest having arrived at where we are today to recognise that linger pointing and emotive arguments will not deliver solutions, which are badly needed.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017 A view from New York

7

A.

Nation

Of Hypocrite sx

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We Have Become! _ Iam no fan of IVIilo Yiannopoulos the Alt-Right darling. In fact, I the Republican Party is extremely anti- many Americans that die sooner than positively loathe the man. He's a bloviating, hate-spewing egoistic abortion. Leaders from President Don- they should have, be "pro-life?"

Then there is the pervasive ald Trump to Speaker Paul Ryan, have buffoon. So when CPAC, the Republican Ultra-Conservative organization withdrew its invitation to him as a featured speaker after to declare themselves "pro-life" in ways hypocrisy of Republicans and conserthat define them as the defenders of vatives incessantly, like a well-worn a videotape surfaced that showed him speaking personally about his ALL life. Again, it would be hilarious if mantra, calling for "smaller governviews on "boys having sex with men," I was mildly amused. That's bethis was not a very serous issue consid- ment." Fact is. Republicans love govcause I did a Google search for "men having sex with boys" and the ering the fact that many of these "red ernment — big AND small — with a result was over 6 MILLION hits. Yes, there are thousands of websites states" that are "strongly conservative" few caveats: as long as these governon the Internet that promote this sick activity that has become "nornow lead America in their use of the ments enforce their ideology, policies, mal" in some circles. Don't believe me? Check out this site death penalty. For example, "Pro-life" and programs that benefit ONLY (https://www.xnxx.coin) that I found without any trouble at all and Republicans in states like Texas rou- THEIR PEOPLE. They are the largest you'll get my point. Besides CPAC is one of these ultra-conservative tinely brag about how often they exe- recipients of Food Stamps, government pro-Republican groups that have promoted and articulated some cute convicted murderers. welfare and entitlement programs, pretty controversial crap over the years.

There is a level of hypocrisy here be- while simultaneously labeling poor Yet moralistic conservatives, who tween calling your- Black and Brown people lazy and unkeep railing in righteous self-indignation self "pro-life" while ambitious "welfare queens." They use of W&ENEmM as the self-appointed guardians of family boasting about how government to enforce issues like denyB values, and religious purity, are the most often your state kills ing the right of gays to marry or restrictlSrA\5b\HC-A rabid and avid consumers of pornography human beings. ing a woman's right to have control APDOTUBTHE in in ALL its forms than the rest of America.

But beyond these over her own body without a moment's These so-called God-fearing, Bible-toting obvious contradic- pause. Then they're the first ones SWlHl Christians, who conflate "Pro-Choice" tions is a more eas- loudly proclaiming their "love for the with "Pro-Abortion," and are Biblical litily viewed daily government" by passing new, highly ineralists, spend a disproportionate amount occurrence: how trusive laws invading the private lives ABOLISH of time getting their jollies on by consumABORTION exactly is it pro-life of Americans and those "others" who ing pom in large and copious quantities. to support cuts to are not conservative or Christian.

Check out this article at http://www.salon social programs that And I just love this one because it is .com/2014/10/19/why_red_state_conserput food on the the very zenith of White American vatives_are_the_biggest_porn_hounds_p plates of poor hun- Christian hypocrisy. Its called "Christian artner/ for more information. Yeah, yeah, gry children? In- Values." Conservative Republicans just we expect Northern costal states like cluding millions of love to quote "the good book" for everyNew York and California to be huge statement as sure as night follows day.

White, Black and Brown children? thing they can think of and the justificaAmerican conservatives keep pom-lovers. They are not particularly How is denying Americans affordable tion for things they did — good and bad. telling everybody that they are, in the noted for being paradigms of religiosity health care, that results in the deaths of (continued on page 25) main, "Pro-Life." It's clear today that or pious preachers of moral values and puritan sexual behavior. Point is from the Deep South upwards Americans have become selectively moralistic.

Case in point, conservatives and P<& BaRerv & Restaurant most right-leaning Americans are f W GT STYLE quick to defend "freedom of speech."

The First Amendment (as it relates to 917 Utica Ave. Catering for all Occasions Breakfast ■ Lunch ■ Dinner 718-485-2020 speech) is simple and clear. It protects your right to say almost anything you want without fear of legal prosecution by the government. However, the key Delicious Home Breads issue is what it DOES NOT allow. You cannot say anything you want at any time you want about anything under the sun, without being held accountable for those comments by other entities — such as an employer or a group of your peers. Or just some "special interest" and community group. EVERY DAY people spew objectionable content and are penalized for them. They are excoriated in the media and judged in the court of public opinion, especially in the age of the Internet and Social Media. You try shouting an anti-gay slur in New York City and suddenly your "First Amendment Rights" are over — period. The "Hate Speech" label will latch on to that

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

EMPHASIS ON TRAVEL AND TOURISM

NEW DIRECT FLIGHT: LONDON HEATHROW-

BARBADOS - BY VIRGIN ATIANTIC Commencing Winter 2017, travellers will be able to fly directly between London Heathrow Airport and Grantley Adams International Airport, thanks to a new service from Virgin Atlantic. The new, twice weekly service will launch on December 12,2017, and flights go on sale from Saturday, February 25.

Currently, flights between Barbados and London are only available to Gatwiek Airport. CEO of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), William Griffith, noted that the addition of the new Virgin service will open doors for Barbados. "London Heathrow is the largest airport in the U.K., handling over 70 million passengers annually.

These new flights will make Barbados more accessible to passengers travelling on many major airlines that only fly into London Heathrow.

We expect that this new route will make Barbados a more competitive and attractive destination to visitors choosing holidays."

The flights will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays as part of the Winter 2017 schedule using an Airbus A330. This new service means that Virgin Atlantic will now

offer up to 11 Barbados flights per week from three U.K. Airports Gatwiek, Manchester and Heathrow.

Shai Weiss, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, welcomed the new service, commenting that "The Caribbean has always been a core market for Virgin Atlantic and so we're excited to announce we're offering more choice to our customers with the option of flying from Heathrow, Gatwiek or Manchester direct to Barbados."

This news comes on the heels of remarks from the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, the Honourable Richard Sealy, that in 2016 Barbados recorded an all-time high of 6.7% growth in air visitor arrivals. During that year, the U.K. was the primary source market, contributing 35% of stay-over arrivals to the island.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

City

Hall

- draws down 20 THE Mayor and City Council has announced on Wednesday that it has received its 20 per cent takings from Smart City Solutions under the Parking Meter Project.

This money is taken from the gross earnings of the initiative, the M&CC said, adding that the Council has no responsibility for expenses related to this project and all expenses are managed by Smart City Solutions.

The money from the

5

years

cop teen

who in

for

killed

accident

er Pond Public Road.MacKenzie . L inden.while being the driver of motor car PRR 6502. Washington drove dan-a gerously thereby causing the death of the teenager. v He was ^v, fined$25.000 each on the charges of failing to stop after the accident and failing to render IS assistance.

DEAD : Denelsion Rose called 'Nello According to reports. Rose.POLICE Lance Corporal, Marlon Washington,was called 'Nello' of Noitgeon Wednesday sentenced dacht. Linden, was on his to five years imprison- way home when he met his ment for causing the death demise; his body was found of 16-year-old Denelsion by passersby. He was a Rose, who was struck sixth form student of MacKdown and killed in 2015 enzie High School.

Special Lance Corporal on the Washer Pond Road Washington was reportedly in Linden.

Washington. 49 of Wis- intoxicated while behind roc Housing Scheme, was the wheel at the time of the found guilty of the charges accident.He then fled the of causing death by dan- scene and failed to pay the gerous driving, failing to toll to cross the bridge to get render assistance and not to his Wisroc. Linden home.

The police,after restopping after the accident.

The trial was held before viewing surveillance footMagistrate Clive Nurse at age,were able to confirm the Linden Magistrate's the identity of the drivCourt and was prosecuted er of the getaway car. A

by Inspector. Vanetta Fin- breathalyzer test allegedly indicated that he had douder.

Particulars of the first ble the prescribed limit of charge stated that on Oc- 35% micrograms of alcotober 24. 2015 at Wash- hol in his svstem.

-

cashes

in

% on controversial Parking Meter Project

parking meter initiative has been earmarked to do certain civil works in the City, including upgrading existing Council roads, constructing new ones, developing sidewalks and pavements for pedestrians, clean and sustain drains and canals, build bridges and foot paths and implement a City transport system, particularly for children and senior citizens.

"The money is needed to enhance the CounciTs very narrow revenue base to

jail

9

provide a wide range of vital municipal services to local communities and the city as a whole. These include public and environmental health services, street lighting. maternal and child welfare services, maintenance of cemeteries, enforcement of the city building codes and by-laws and open spaces. parks and recreational facilities." the city council said in a release.

The Council said too that it is also happy to report that more motorists are

WCB

using the parking meters, particularly, in very busy areas of the central business district of the city.

The Council, through a special technology, can see. in real time, the performance of the parking meters, on a daily basis.

The Georgetown municipality remains committed to deliver to all citizens a clean, safe, healthy city and to transform Georgetown to a 21st century modern capital, the release said.

man

A TWENTY eight-yearold man was on Tuesday sentenced to nine months in prison for assaulting and threatening his reputed wife.

He appeared at the Blairmont Magistrate's Court where he received three months in prison for choking his reputed wife and six months for threatening her with a knife. Magistrate Rhondell Weever handed down the sentence on Regan Garette.a cane harvester of Cotton Tree Village.West Coast Berbice.after she found him guilty of the two offences commihed on Jan-

jailed

uary 29th last.

Led by Prosecutor.Police Corporal Racquel Mars.the virtual complainant said that herself and Garette lived in the same home but on the day in question she decided to go to her father's home to spend the night because she knew that Garette had gone to a wedding house, where she expected him to consume alcohol, after which, on returning home in a drunken state he would ahack and beat her.

She said that the man showed up at her father's home and as was expect-

ic

* â&#x2013; V r

The Mayor and City Council says it has received its 20 per cent takings from Smart City Solutions under the Parking Meter Project

for

choking

ed, was under the influence.

He demanded that she go home with him and she refused. She said she even invited him to spend the night at her father's home, but he became infuriated. He accused her of being unfaithful and rashed towards her and grabbed her by the neck with both hands. While he was choking her.a female relative intervened and he was forced to let her go.

She said that on being thwarted.Garette ran into the kitchen, grabbed a knife and lunged at her.

Largely because he was so intoxicated, she managed

wife

to escape. She then called the police, who responded promptly by visiting the home and arresting the inebriated man.

At The Blairmont Magistrate's Court yesterday,Garette pleaded not guilty to both charges of assault and threatening behaviour. He,however,failed to convince the Magistrate of his innocence but was granted some measure of leniency in that he would only serve six months in jail since the two sentences would be allowed to run concurrentlv.

New magistrate for Mahaica-Mahaicony Courts WANDA Samantha Fortune has been appointed magistrate by the Judicial Service Commission with effect March 1.

She is expected to preside over the Mahaica and Mahaicony Magistrates' Courts. Young, vibrant, confident and talented, the 30-year-old nurtured her dream of becoming a lawyer while growing up in Sophia. Greater Georgetown.

She graduated from the International Business College (IBC). formerly located in Thomas Street. North Cummingsburg. as the most outstanding student at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Fortune then began at-

tending sixth form at St. Stanislaus College in September 2004. where she obtained passes in Law Units I and II, Sociology Units I and II, History Units I and II, Caribbean Studies and English Literature.

Pressing on. she made her way to UG in September 2006. where she graduated with credit while obtaining her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree, the first professional degree in law.

Fortune served as a member of the President's Youth Award (PYARG) programme; as the Administrative Assistant for the UNAG Peace Project during April and September 2010; volunteered at the

Newly-appointed magistrate, Ms Wanda Fortune Guyana Legal Aid Clinic for over two years while she was studying at the

University of Guyana; and was a Liaison Officer for the St. Lucian Delegation at CARIFESTA. She briefly worked with now Attorney General Basil Williams, through whom she learned of court proceedings, the filing and servicing of documents, and the procedures connected therewith. She also had the opportunity to attend court to observe the law in action.

In early October 2012, Fortune, having graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad, was admitted to practise at the Guyana Bar in the presence of proud relatives and friends.

10

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

Dr. Basil Springer's DON'T AGONIZE. ORGANIZE Column "So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt...ifyou say to this mountain, "Bel removed and be cast into the sea," it will be done.'" â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Matthew 21:211 solution individually or at the national ing the present, we can turn our lives When a country is not doing well then it affects everybody level by (1) rescheduling the national and countries around in the interest of government employees are laid off, private sector employees are laid off, particularly the ones employed with more debt through innovative strategies, (2) a better life for us and those within our recognizing that enterprise develop- spheres of influence. fragile businesses. A state of panic is often induced. ment is the new growth sector, (3) cre{Dr. Basil Springer GCM is With this in mind, this last week tory has been victorious in some way. ating the enabling environment for Change-Engine Consultant, Caribit appeared to me that I was bom- However, the heavy toll negates any start-up enterprises to sign up new bean Business Enterprise Trust Inc. barded by random gems of good infor- sense of achievement or profit. business contracts and (4) monitoring - CBET. His email address is mation and advice which served as a Then there is the principle shared economic growth one successful busibasilgf57@gmail.com and his colreality check not only for me, for oth- by Reverend A.R. Bernard Sr. of ness after another using an appropriate umns may be found at www.cbeters, for nations but also for the Christian Cultural Center in New rolling cash flow template." model.org and www.nothingbeatsbusi Caribbean and beyond.

York: "Every setback in life is nothing The answer is don't agonize, or- ness.com.)

The first was from the U.S House but a setup for a comeback". Do not ganize.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Demo- give up, think positively.

Individuals and crat -San Francisco) at a CNN teleI recall a statement attributed to DON'T AGONIZE, ORGANIZE countries get themvised town hall meeting: "We don't Trinidadian businessman Sydney selves in seemingly Agonize, We Organize." This philos- Knox which states: "A good manager ophy seems very relevant to address is not necessarily one who can float at untenable situations.

Experiencing Challenges?

Some blame it on the the state of panic. the top of a successful organization external environment the preSe Then a quote from Margaret but one who can turn around a comand some accept reMead, cultural anthropologist: pany when fortune is against it." When sponsibilities for their "Sooner or later I'm going to die, but the going gets tough, the tough get own inefficiencies.

I'm not going to retire." I empathized going. z. ft: Whatever the reason, with this as I plan to continue conBarbados Today's editorial, on no amount of agoniz& 0) tributing for as long as I can. I imme- Friday, February 3, quoted the Govero ing will help. To ago-a â&#x2013; 3 diately created Basil's personal and nor of the Central Bank of Barbados r-*nize about our current ZT professional activity map to start re- as follows: "We cannot continue to E situation is a non-proCD o ordering my priority because my life have a deficit and we cannot continue ductive emotion.

71 is one where I always have more to do to have a wage bill as high as we do C However, if we than I have time available. I have been because the only way we can afford to told that I have great difficulty saying do that is by the Central bank provid- have faith and adopt the principles of man"No!". ing financing." He gave an analogy agement which inAnother gem was from Don based on the operation of an ordinary clude learning from McMinn: "Anticipate Pyrrhic victories householder: "If you are earning the past (decade by rand know when to avoid them". He $2,000 per month, you cannot be decade), visioning the OTHIHG BEATS im m explains that a Pyrrhic victory is one spending $2,500 per month."

ESS SUCCESS future, planning, orthat inflicts such a devastating toll on As I implied it a recent column ganizing, staffing, the victor that it is tantamount to de- on debt management: "Let us adapt a leading and monitorfeat. Someone who wins a Pyrrhic vie-

IS

HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF... (from page 5)

because of the opposition parties' incompetence. In the 1932 elections, together they gained 67% of the votes; but then inability to see the Nazi threat kept them divided.

In the US 2016 elections, the grassroots, foundation Democrats' support, felt ignored. Many did not vote and some voted, unthinkably, for Donald Trump.

The problem for America is that the Houses of Congress and the Executive are controlled by one Party. Very soon the Supreme Court would have a majority of Republican nominees. President Trump would be a virtual dictator. The Congress and Senate would support everything he does and the democrats would not be able to stop them SCAPEGOATS Adolf Hitler used the Jews as scapegoats for his racism. His real view

of race was that the Aryan race (of which Germany is part) was the superior human race. Wishing to make Germany fully Aryan, he exterminated many Jews and detained many more in concentration camps.

Donald Trump says he wants to make America "great again." What he really means is he wants to make America White again. To achieve this, he will further marginalize Blacks, ban Muslims and deport "unwanted" Mexicans.

THE PRESS The press is extremely important as a watchdog on the branches of Government. The first action of a dictator is to control the press and prevent the free flow of news. Donald Trump attempts to delegitimatize the press, calling its news briefs "fake news."

Jim Rutenberg {New York Times, Jan 12, 2017) makes a brilliant point: "The news media remains an unwitting

accomplice in its own diminishment as it fails to get a handle on how to cover this new and wholly unprecedented President. It better figure things out, fast, because it has found itself at the edge of the cliff. And our still-functioning (fingers crossed) democracy needs it to stay on the right side of the drop."

I give Mr. trump an A for his ability to manipulate the media. He deliberately tweets nonsense and the duped media covers every one. He knows that foolish talk will get people's attention and, through this technique, he controls the conversation. Moreover, news commentators are afraid to speak truth to power. There was a time in our nation's history when they did.

Remember Walter Cronkite's parting speech on the CBS News broadcast of Feb. 27, 1968? It made President Lyndon Johnson suspend bombing of North Viet Nam in favor of Peace Talks

and announce, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my Party for another term as your President. Would President Nixon's involvement with the Watergate break-in and his subsequent resignation have occuired without the investigating and reporting of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein?

Hitler made many promises to the German people; but failed to deliver on most. Our President has made many promises and mentioned some of his plans during his address to the joint sessions of Congress. It is early in his Presidency and I will give him the benefit of the doubt until he is impeached.

In the words of George Santayana, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat." Or the paraphrase, " If we do not learn from the mistakes of history, we are doomed to repeat them."

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

11

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"Well," said the patient, "I finally decided after 37 years of life that I would like to be circumcised."

Steve stared at him in horror and screamed, "HELL! THAT'S the word!"

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WORD MAKES Steve says to the doctor, "I want to be castrated." "What on earth for?" asks the doctor in amazement. "It's something I've been thinking about for a long time and I want to have it done" replies Steve.

"But have you thought it through properly?" asks the doctor, "It's a very serious operation and once it's done, there's no going back. It will change your life forever!"

"I'm aware of that and you're not going to change my mind — either you book me in to be castrated or I'll simply go to another doctor."

"Well, OK.", says the doctor, "But it's against my better judgment!"

So Steve has his operation, and the next day he is up and walking very slowly, legs apart, down the hospital corridor with his drip stand. Heading towards him is another patient, who is walking exactly the same way. "Hi there," says Steve, "It looks as if you've just had the same operation as me."

BE THANKFUL FOR SMALL MERCIES Awoman was trying to board a bus, but her skirt was too tight and she couldn't step. She reached behind her and lowered the zipper a hit and tried again.

The skirt was still too tight. She reached behind her and lowered the zipper some more. She still couldn't get on the bus and lowered the zipper a third time.

All of a sudden, she felt two hands on her butt, which proceeded to push her up onto the bus. She spun around, with anger in her eyes and said very indignantly, "Sir, I do not know you well enough for you to behave in such a manner."

The man smiled coyly and said, "Lady, I don't know you well enough either for you to unzip my fly three times either!"

■ v

i1/3

ll

by JAMES SYDNEY

OLD TIME FOODS -1[HEY AREA-CHANGING they continue to eat and enjoy traditional ▼

T

Guyanese foods. However, while some of these

foods are well known and popular, others are little known or not known at all.

Cassava bread is one of the items not seen as often these days. It was once much used at breakfast time in Guyana.

Farine, flour made from cassava, is all but absent from the kitchen.

Cassava is to Amerindians what plantains are to some other Guyanese.

Ripe and green plantains are used boiled, fried, roasted, pounded.

Plantains are pounded to make plantain foo-foo. The name foo-foo came from Africa, where plantains and cassava are used to make it. Conkey is a special. It uses cornmeal or pumpkin, ripe plantains crushed or pounded to hold the ingredients together. Conkies are wrapped in plantain leaves. Plantain porridge also used to be a favorite.

Plantain flour is called conquintay or gongotay and is used to make coo-coo and plantain porridge as well.

Fewer people are sitting down to a

large cup of plantain water, the dark (they claim iron-rich) water left after boiling plantains, preferably with salt beef. Almost never seen these days is the plantain, sliced through lengthwise to firmly clamp into place a bit of salted pork, and called plantain-pork.

Cookup is still going strong, but the callaloo, salt-beef and rice -sometimes called all-together- is not seen as often.

In British Guiana, the Madeiran Portuguese of old ate cush-cush, made of wheat and looking much like rice. They also ate melio — cornflour boiled, poured into a place, cut up when cold, and fried.

There were many coo-coos: cassava coo-coo, cornmeal coo-coo, breadfruit coo-coo.

The huge cake called jackass collar, or simply collar by children, has gone forever. Sage cassava (some people

called it quinches) - cassava bread folded to enclose sweetened, grated coconut is not often seen these days.

A popular by-product of the manufacture of coconut oil at home was

chancee or poonac.

Coconut rice and oil rice appear to have come from India. So has curry.

Curry is immensely popular even today, but who knows about catahar curry?

Catahar is a fruit.

And do you know about badaamlacha, jillaby, khaja and meethai? Some people —mostly East Indians — still enjoy these sweets, but many have never eaten them.

Food times are changing.

Milk, rice and sugar were once popular as a child's meal. And there was the coconut milk and rice porridge combination called sabadanna. Gone! rri

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12

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

HW m CONU CIlllllinB 47'

tDinUClMMWMIH miillD PlUH On February 24, 2017, Hon. Barbara Atherly, Consul General of the Co-operative Republic of

▼

nu' :r,

Guyana and the Guyana Republic Day Committee held a reception commemorating Gu\ana,s 47th Republic Anniversary. Master of Ceremonies was Jonathan Locke, who is a member of the Mashramani Committee.

After the Guyana and United States National Anthems, invocations were done by representatives of the Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Indigenous People religions.

Introductions were done by Ms. Patricia Jordan-Langford. The Consul General gave the general welcome and Republic Message.

In her message, she noted that, "On this the 47th Anniversary of

O

and cultural diversity."

She further stated that the Consulate is ready to support Guyanese "in whatever way possible."

The musical portion of the program was very impressive. Fusion Drums of Freedom featured Ancient African drums with Master Drummers Menes De Groit and Akoyo Rudder. The performers of Ancient Indian Tassa were Terry

"•N.

U.tlF: ll'U £ worth McAndrew's "Old Higue."

Akoyo Rudder, Menes de Groit and Ricford Dalgetty sang a medley of Guyanese folk songs with audience participation.

one for coming and promised that next year's event would be bigger and better.

It was a wonderful evening that made me proud to be Guyanese.

Deputy Consul General Ms. Jacqueline Hamer thanked every-

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♦ The members of the Guyana Republic Day Committee: (From left) Khyume Khan, Patricia Jordan-Langford, Ave Maria Brewster, CG Barbara Atherly, Paula Walcott-Quintin, Penelope Lambert, Tangerine Clarke, and Jonathan Locke.

Photos: Courtesy of Tangerine Clarke Guyana becoming a Republic, we celebrate under the theme "Celebration with Dignity, Liberty and greater unity. Guyanese have much

Naraine, Robin Naraine and Satyen Naraine.

Churdell Pack and Chandary Pack sang "O Beautiful Guyana"

to celebrate, our rich history, successful struggle for independence

and "Yet still I rise."

K.S. Naraine read Words-

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

Suruibally

13

leaves

GECOM

By Alva Solomon - urges revamp of commission Quoting Martin Luther King's "Free at last , Thank God Almighty I'm free at last " on his last day on the job, outgoing Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) , Dr Steve Surujbally, is calling on the powers that be to revamp the configuration of the electoral commission.

According to the GECOM website, in addition to the Chairman, the Constitution (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2000. provides

suggests Guyana can assist Haiti's electoral process in the world where three persons sit as representatives of political parties on two sides of an electoral body. "That is no solution, that is a recipe for partisanship for polarization." he said.

He said that Guyana has had a turbulent electoral history, one in which persons died. "I would like a revamp of the entire electoral commission." he re-

ternational observers, "they thought that our process is good."

During the 28th Intercessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Governments of CARICOM in February. President Granger had noted that the regional

body stands ready to assist Haiti to rebuild its economy. According to Surujbally. GECOM has reached a state where it can assist in strengthening the electoral process of that country.

"Haiti is in such need of electoral help in their meth-

odologies which we have so well covered. " he said.

Speaking about his future, Surujbally said that his time will revolve around his personal life.

Asked whether migration lies in his plans, he staunchlv noted that he

will "never leave this country." Being someone who rose from being a little boy from Robb Street to become the chairman of GECOM, he said his story may be one which he can pen in a book, but he noted that such a feat may be a self-serving move. He added however, that he has a "bucket-list" and there are two outstanding items on his list.

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MARCH 11, 2017 102-16 89th Avenue, 10 AM Outgoing Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Dr Steve Surujbally smiles during his last press briefing at the electoral body's headquarters on High Street, Kingston on Monday for the appointment of six members of the Commission; three members appointed by the President, acting in his own deliberate judgment . In addition the amendment provides for three additional members to be appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition after he has meaningfully consulted the non-governmental opposition parties represented in the National Assembly.

Surujbally. officially worked his last day at High Street on Febraary 28. 2017. after fifteen years at the helm of GECOM following his appointment by Former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

During a press briefing on Tuesday at GECOM's headquarters. the straight-forward Surujbally said that he does not know of any place

iterated. Over the years.

GECOM has been criticised post-election day as regards the timely release of results but according to Surujbally . several factors . including considerations of Guyana's terrain and the complexity of travelling to remote areas to ensure the numbers are correct, impact the timeliness and accuracy of the release of results.

Surujbally noted that GECOM's expertise can also be utilised within CARICOM. Having headed an eight-member team as Chef de Mission of a CARICOM observer group to observe Haiti's elections last November, he noted that GECOM can approach the International Standards Organisation (ISO) for certification. He said based on comments from observers in the past, including in-

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14

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

Major

By Shauna Jemmott BUXTONIAN Farmers have said that through challenges and setbacks over the past 10 years, they have discovered permanent blessings and are taking rightful ownership of their community for a development for which they cannot depend on anyone else to help them accomplish.

Chairman of the 'Buxton Friendship Grantees' Leroy Hamer said although the co-operative society, which has ownership of over 2.000 acres of land in the area, has celebrated 108 years of existence on Tuesday February 22. citizens of Buxton/Friendship have only discovered the secret of their wealth in 2009. 100 years after it was handed down.

Hamer. in 2009. received in hand a legal document from the Land Registry allotting the land binding the tw o communities, making only the generations of their

boost

ancestry the real owners of Buxton/ Friendship.

"The grant states "absolute forever" which means that nobody can take that from you. And that is over two thousand and something acres of land." Hamer told the Guyana Chronicle in an interview.

Had Buxtonians known earlier of their legal rights to the lands, the community would have been much more developed and many struggles and negative tales never would have existed in the literature of the Buxton/Friendship tw in community.

He said the grant was approved in 1909 but only entered the registry on Febraary 22. 2009.

"The children of the ancestors are called the 'Grantees'. I will say that something was hidden from us because we didn't know until the destraction passed in 2008. When we go and uplift the grant, the grant was a hundred years lay down there.

And based on the Land Registry Act. it direct us what to do. which

for

we did." Hamer said.

At the beginning of the area where the grant controls, there is now a label of ownership at a gate giving entrance into the backlands onBrasche Dam. Friendship.

Now Buxtonians must be made aware of what belong to them and regulations regarding its control and operations.

The society has begun planning programs for the area and several farmers have occupied sections of lands for farming, with some farms for years being beautifully developed.

"Even the people in Buxton will say 'Who is the Grantees'." he said.

Individuals who would have written books about the community made mention about the grant but never a word of the Grantees.

"That is like you hide the people there. After I go at Lands and Surveys and I pick up the document that is how I know about the Grantees.

The plan that attached to the grant

Buxton

never state well Harry own here.

Tom own here or whoever."

Hamer said in times past individuals and even governments had invaded the community and destroyed crops belonging to them, even redesigning the drainage system within the farm lands and creating opportunities for easy flooding.

In 2008. also during a crime spree, the PPP/Civic government had an invasion destroying acres of farms in an effort to "flush out criminals". This operation affected severely the livelihood of the people in the backdam area as almost every home there depended on the farms for a living.

"Based on the Land Registry Act the document state that any land that you cannot prove ownership by document belongs to the state.

And the same Act says that you must do a declaration of ownership.

So when the government did come and grade the land we didn't have nothing, so that is when we go and

uplift the grant and do a declaration "Buxton Friendship Grantees" Coop Society." Hamer explained to the Pepperpot Magazine.

The grant was uplifted in June 2008 and from that day Buxton/ Friendship residents secured the right to defend and develop their claim. With some citizens still crying out for help. Hamer said help is already there as the real Buxtonians begin to take charge. He said without much support from the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) they are moving on.

But with inspiration from the President's Initiative for a green economy, planters are planting on a large scale again.

"We follow the act based on what it state and that is how everything worked. I would say that we make a lot of progress from that time to now. The authorities. NDC members, are supposed to visit the farmers... they don't come there.

NARI visit us and take informa-

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community. Pit latrines became flush toilets and shacks became houses. There was now ranning water and electricity .

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By Vanessa Braithwaite SITUATED in the heart of Wismar, Linden, nestled neatly between several communities on the western shore of the mining town is the little community of Victory Valley.

Formerly called Valley of Tears in the early years of Linden's existence, Victory Valley is the home to the myriads of creeks, springs and streams crisscrossing the hilly landscape which birthed the idea of the original name Valley of Tears. As a result of the negativities derived from the name Valley of Tears which seemed to describe a place of lamentations and depression, the Indigenous residents of the community changed the name to Victory Valley which puts forth a more positive outlook.

The establishment of Victory Valley came as many of the other communities in Wismar which initially accommodated

modest dwelling places for men who sought employment at the then bauxite company Demba. Since Linden was a company managed town, the only residents allowed on the eastern shore known as Mackenzie were employees of DEMBA so those gaining employment would later migrate over to Mackenzie, but the unfortunate ones would remain in Wismar. Since their hope of gaining meaningful employment was not materialised, poverty was rampant on the Wismar shore and more so in Victory Valley.

Shacks, pit toilets, dilapidated buildings and infrastractures were common sights of Victory Valley. As time progressed and the men started making families, their only hope was pork knocking in the interior. Many of them journeyed to the "gold bush" in search of work leaving their families behind for months. Many of these were successful and things started looking up for the once impoverished

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Young Victory Valley resident Candacy Adams who aspires to be a cosmetologist, practicing her hair braiding skill at her home

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

15

i/Friendship

tion."

He personally had the largest farm at the time of the last destractionbut he started anew with a thriving farm. As long as there is land Hamer said, there will be his farm.

"I had the biggest farm at the time when it was grade down and that farm was three years... and the other farm started in 2008. I have bearing coconut trees that I put back.

I have bearing mango trees that I put back. I have bearing cherry trees that I put back. I have bearing soursop trees that I put back."

"We are also on that (President's) initiative where we plant close to 500 trees already in the same area." Hamer stated and added that while no other president has ever recognized the Coop Society, they are grateful that President David Granger, has acknowledged the organization even in writing.

"We must offer congratulations to him for giving us recognition because the other Presidents before

they never recognize us. The only body mention about Grantees in writing was Mr. Granger ... I feel that we now gat a President because that is the duty of a President to recognize the people. And if you know that something is in writing and you is the person that supposed to ensure that the people get it and you fail, that mean that you fail." Hamer said.

He said he has planted on the new farm, over 70 Buxton Spice trees, of which 30 are currently of bearing age.

"I didn't lose much Buxton Spice in that operation, what I lose I lose plenty katahar. soursop and cherry."

Field Manager of the Grantees Ronald Roberts said the group has major plans.

The Grantees group said their only setback for massive production is that of not having enough market for their produce. They said as long as they have market they will produce on a major scale.

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A farmer leaving after a good day's work and the sandy access track became a paved road. Some of the women decided to open up small businesses to bring in income while their spouses were in the interior and so money was circulating more in Victory Valley. The children were now accessing education so their futures were more secured.

Crime was at an all-time low and the small community became closely knitted with every one looking out for each other. Mrytlyn Scotland who lived in the community for 6 decades reminisced on those good old days. "Long ago it was better because ya getting hundreds in ya hand and ya coulda still make it do. but this time ya getting the thousands and because of cost of living, it harder, parents can't send children to school, can't find things to put in the kit and all of that." she related A TURN FOR THE WORST After a while, the men were not gaining employment in the interior back dams as several large scale dredge owners and companies began claiming the land they previously worked on. With most of them working in the back dams most of their lives, without acquiring a skill or academic qualifications, they quickly became unemployed. Unconstructive social activities became rampant and on every comer were limers and gamblers and drags became popular.

"The young men use to go in the gold field and when they come out they help their families but now they can't go because people own the land and no jobs in out here so they end up liming and gambling and smoking." Mrs Scotland

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Healthy sorrel fruit from the Grantees farm (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

mentioned.

There was an upsurge in crime and the police were often seen conducting raids in the Valley which created a bad image. In fact, the Valley was now labelled as 'Linden's getto'.

Social ills such as teenage pregnancy, domestic violence and school drop outs were dominant and according to one resident the Valley soon became a 'condemned community.' When the Guyana Chronicle visited the community on Tuesday, the roads were in a deplorable state, in fact the taxi driver was even hesitant about driving pass a certain point stressing that the road will damage the car. "Car in want come in the road and me knee bothering me and car in want drop me in so I does say like we is condemn." 71 year old Scotland said. While she spoke of the social ills of the community, she said that it is being exaggerated. "Valley has so many different route, you could meet Blueberry Hill, you could meet Wisroc. you could meet in the Scheme so anybody do their story they running in the Valley to make the escape and then when they get ketch ya hear is the Valley. yes you would get one and two bad things like any other place, drugs does do like any other place." she said.

GIVEN LIMITED ATTENTION According to the residents the officials are just promising to look into the terrible state of the community's infrastructure but those promises are not being materialised and they believe that is it because of the stigma attached to the community. "To my mind nothing is not doing.

nothing in the line of development, job creation, nothing to say well after school where these young people can go." another resident Lulu Bynoe concluded. In addition to the deplorable roads, there are no street lights and in the nights it is extremely dark to walk in even as cars refuse to drop the residents in.

Bynoe related that the Community Development Council is not functioning as it should for the betterment of the community as there are personality clashes among members which is affecting the development of the community. Currently the lone Community Centre is not being utilized by the community as it should as some members are usurping powers over its management. "They have some people operating like that Centre belongs to them like is their father or mother build it. We are a part of the CDC group and we trying to raise funds and get the youths involved and we trying but they get a next set of people on the one side behaving real ignorant and just causing problems."

Bynoe said.

The Community Development Council Secretary, Yvonne Duncan, explained to this publication that CDC is not functioning as it should and fund raising activities are being hindered. She also spoke of the limited recreational facilities for the youths who are left with nothing much to do but idle. She believes that if the residents work together and there is more support from the authorities, Victory Valley will become a place of more victories than sad stories.

16

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

Hope

for

Albouystown

- residents look to mining to tackle youth unemployment

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r Members of the True Vision Foundation from Albouystown. From left to right: Founder of True Vision Foundation Chairman, Randolph Thome, Arlene Khan, Leon Adams (small miner), Dexter Hatton, and Benjamin Mascoll

By Svetlana Marshall APPROXIMATELY three years after their application for two blocks of mining lands were rejected by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) residents of Albouystown are forging ahead with their plans.

"We applied for two blocks in 2014 and after a royal run around, we were told to return and collect our monies." Randolph Thome.

Chairman and Founder of the Trae Vision Foundation told Guyana Chronicle.

Trae Vision Foundation, a not for profit organisation, was established in 1995

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with the aim of creating employment opportunities primarily for young and vulnerable youths within the community of Albouystown.

Cognisant of the fact that many of the young people in the community were faced with the issue of unemployment, the founda-

tion in 2014 applied for two blocks of mining lands in Buck Hall in the Essequibo Islands. West Demerara region with the hope of creating much needed employment.

However, its vision of entering the lucrative industry was met with a stumbling block, when the foun-

youths

dation received a letter from GGMC indicating that its application was rejected and a refund for the $70. 000 paid will be made available.

Three years after.

Thorne said he is happy that all hopes have not been lost. He said when the foundation heard of the Natural Resources Ministry's announcement that mining syndicates will be given special preferences; it knew that now is the opportune time to reapply for mining lands.

Currently, the foundation is in the processing of forming a sub-organisation: the Trae Vision Foundation Syndicate in an effort to fulfil the requirements stipulated by the Natural Resources Ministry and GGMC. "So far. we have nine interested persons, and instead of two blocks we will be applying for eight blocks this time around six blocks in Puruni and tw o blocks in Karrau." Thorne told this newspaper.

A confident Thorne said when the application is approved; the syndicate will begin operation soonest, noting that it has a donor on board who will be financing the initial stage of the operation.

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FIXED SOURCE OF INCOME "I see it (mining) as an advantage for the unemployed youths in Albouystown." he posited, noting that once employment opportunities are made available to them, they will have a fixed source of income. and as such would be able to provide for their families.

A very outspoken Dexter Hatton told this newspaper that the syndicate will provided much needed employment for the youths of Albouystown.

"It will help them to get rid of the get rich syndrome whereby they will now be employed gainfully, earning their own money." Hatton posited.

He said too that the syndicate will also provide an opportunity for residents to raise their standards of living.

Hatton said too that Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Simona Broomes. ought to be applauded for reaching out to small and potential miners who have been experiencing many challenges within the industry, contending that the National Syndicate Project is an excellent initiative.

Leon Adams. 48. said he had to down his equipment and return to Albouystown because there was "no land to work."

"I had a four inch dredge and I had to cut it down because we didn't have land to work." he told the Guyana Chronicle.

With his experience in the field of mining. Adams said he was encouraged

by Thorne to be a member of the syndicate. Optimistic about the future. Adams said once all goes well he will be able to put his dredge back into operation.

Arlene Khan and Benjamin Mascoll. two other members of the Trae Vision Foundation expressed similar sentiments, saying that bright days are head for the people of Albouystown.

Thorne and his team were among small and potential miners who had attended a meeting with Minister Broomes at the Natural Resources Ministry on Friday to discuss the National Syndicate Project.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

17

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By Shauna Jemmott "THEY ARE hungry, they're thirsty for something and they just don't need to be in Albouystown stagnated; they need to move on."

With this simple observation, Albouystown resident Kim Morgan, unselfish in her bid for development, gathered a group of single parent women and formed 'Women on the Move' - an organization aggressively working to lift the standards of living of the Georgetown community through empowerment and skills training.

Nine of the 35 members of the organization recently graduated with Business Empowerment certificates from international organizations CUSO International and Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) at the mosque in Albouystown. and each of them now has a business plan to take them to their next level.

Kim Morgan . chairman of 'Women on the Move' told the Pepperpot Magazine she was inspired to bring the women together while as a volunteer with the Civil Defense Commission managing a shelter in Albouystown during a flood in July 2015. She spoke to the women and understood that they needed help and a spirited effort for motivation.

"The status of the women is very low in the community, so you just don't need to have them being at home when they can help themselves. So I decided to have some classes with them. Kinda having them bringing out everything locked down in their minds all the while. If we have any issue we would call the Ministry of Social Protection whose representative will come in and see how much counseling or public assistance is needed." she explained.

She said the majority of Albouystown women were single parents and dropped out of school as a result of teenage pregnancy or poverty.

"So you can understand the plight of the women in the 'forgotten community.' The children are coming home with homework and mommy don't know anything because

of her status. You just can't focus on the children of the community, you have mommy there so you have to take her out from the home so that she can be independent." she explained.

The group meets every Monday afternoon for discussions and skills training, and ilplik

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Chairman of the Albouystown group, Kim Morgan to plan activities. Classes in cake decorating, leather craft, fashion designing, first aid. cmtain-making. drapery, floral arrangements, and information technology are being held and the women are now going through the processes to make attractive their business plans and secure loans.

Organisations such as Red Cross. Community Development Committee (CDC).

Disaster Risk Management and the Ministry of Social Protection have been very supportive of their efforts and some had even joined

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and distributed free spectacles to children in Albouystown.

"I myself I used to do SB As home typing but due to the flood my system is down. And then miming in the program with the women now. I'm like the mother of the women, so I'm starting back my business too which is '4Ts' which is typing. SBAs. stationary comer." Morgan told the Sunday Chronicle.

Registration of the group is soon to be done at the Small Business Bureau and they are hoping to be recipients of a $300,000 small business grant.

And even as five of the women received small grants from the Ministry of Social Protection to start businesses, she said. "We're just praying that at least three women can get grants from there (Small Business Bureau)."

Women on the Move has brought hope and confidence in family life in Albouystown with the single parent women who once did nothing, becoming empowered and independent and making a difference in the lives of their children.

"These young women would have been at home doing nothing, so it kinda change them telling them they don't just want to be at home sitting on the comer or on the steps looking out. We need to do something for ourselves and nobody is coming to say 'we can help you.' she noted.

With the help too of 'A' Division Commander Clifton Hicken. the women said they could not have asked for a more supportive commander as he would supply certain needs of the group, and has allowed them access to a computer to do their documentation. The group is aiming to establish the first Day Care Center in Albouystown.

"We're not registered as yet but we still have a brand. Without the help of the councilors of the community we're doing it as women, trying to make the women in the area feel better because they are hungry."

Treasurer of the group Donna Plass said the group's goal was to push for the development of the women.

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"As we mobilize them and they come fonvard and they say what they would like to do. Ms. Kim will get into the areas and get it to them."

Another member. Lorraine Nurse, said she teaches the rest of the women craft even while benefiting from skills training and other empowerment programs. She now owns a stall on Regent Street where she retails her products.

"I took the program because I need to get certain things straightened out and understand the business." she said.

Volunteer Youth Corp (VYC) executive Goldie Scott said the international organization was working beyond training and had also established linkages to micro-financing institutions after the women would have submitted their individual business proposals.

"Our goal is to link them to micro-financing institutions such as Small Business Bureau and we have basically reviewed the business plans and improve on them. We want to take those business plans to IPED or Small Business Bureau so they can access financing."

She said that though it might not be a large sum of cash it could go a long way as an investment. VYC was working on quickly getting the businesses started and the Small Business Bureau will host training and advisory meetings in areas of financial management and small business management, among other areas.

"They must be able to not only have linkage, but access, so complete that business plan and we can go on to any other interest that both groups can have on our side and their side." Scott said.

Scott explained that VYC intervened in the community with an interest in the development of children and youth through access to quality social and economic support.

"But where we have weaved women in is because of our need to improve the quality of families. We are working with children and youth, when they go back home the economic condition is still the same, so you really haven't made the sort of change that you wanna see. That is why the last five years they have diversified their focus to include women," she said.

18

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

Emphasis on Real Estate, Some Simple

Steps to

Taxes and Business S TAXES

The Edgar Henry Column

We all fear receiying a notice from the Internal Revenue Service of an audit. However, there is a lot you can do to be prepared for one. Most of us think audits are totally random. Not really. While you can never be one hundred percent sure you won't be audited, the following are simple steps you can follow to minimize the chance that the IRS will take an interest in you and if they do, you should be ready.

POLITICS IN AUDIT During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump became the first major party nominee since 1972 not to release his tax returns.

The calls for disclosure come as Trump and White House aides have doubled down on their decision to withhold the documents, saying he is waiting for an IRS audit to be completed. IRS officials have said there are no rales barring Tramp from releasing the documents before the audit is finalized.

Tramp and his aides have pointed to his election victory in arguing that most Americans are not concerned about the documents. Since there is only one Donald Tramp, and he can be audited, regardless of the disparity in income and investments, we have to be ready to defend what we declare on our IRS forms.

COME CLEAN - DO TH RIGHT THING You must accurately report all of your taxable income, including not only your W2"s and 1099 Misc. statements, but also your income from other sources such as capital gains and alimony payments. Once you file your return, the IRS calculates what it calls your Discriminate Information Function (DIF) score, which rates the probability of

inaccurate information on the return. More recently, the IRS started calculating what is called an Unreported Income Discriminate Information Function (or UIDIF) score. For example, if you have a huge mortgage but little taxable income, and that mortgage payment by law is reported by lending institu■v:' O

Avoid an IRS Audit If you have to fill in your tax forms by back-up receipts for everything. Get organhand, remember that your third grade ized. The best way and approach is for you teacher was correct — penmanship counts. to prepare files at the start of each year and If your nines look like fours to Mr. IRS, place records, receipts and tax information you're in trouble. In the present technolog- into them all year and then, when it is time ical age, we should all aspire to utilize the to prepare, you will have your records in current systems that are available. Using one place — no searching around the house electronic forms on the computer is not just or waiting for credit card companies and easier and faster, it is neater and can save banks to send duplicate copies of missing you heartaches later. If you aren't great on data. Try to treat your tax documents the the computer, then go to tax preparation same way you treat your important papers companies or certified preparers, such as such as your birth certificate, deed, life and the writer of this article that can prepare fire insurance policies, will, your certificate your computerized taxes for you with very of deposit (CD), stock certificates etc., fully little expense and hassle. We all tend to secured in a safe deposit box other than at your home. This eliminates the theft or fire risks, and in the event of an audit they will be readily available regardless of any unforeseen circumstances.

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Simple Steps to Make Filing Easier, Reduce the Chance of an Audit and Save Money loose papers, files and documents occasiontions both to you and the IRS, so they are ally. With the advent of the computer, once aware of it. Consequently, you might earn a it is stored we can always retrieve and print dangerously high UIDIF score. Returns with that information and be ready if the IRS the highest DIF and UI DIF scores are the calls for an audit. most likely to be selected by the IRS for auKEEP NOTES, SAVE RECEIPTS dits. Why? It just does not add up. This is AND GET ORGANIZED tantamount to having $20 in your wallet or If you are itemizing your deductions, purse yet you are showing proof of spending $500. These are the little areas the govern- good records are crucial. Having a paper ment would monitor and put you at risk for trail is the best defense should you get audited. Make sure all of your reported deduca potential IRS audit. tions are legitimate and that you have NEATNESS DOES COUNT

BEWARE OF THE PITFALLS OF CERTAIN JOBS If you are self-employed or have a job that traditionally pays in cash, you are more likely to be audited. Those who must attach a Schedule C to their taxes are three times as likely to be audited, than those who have a Form W-2. In certain professions, like cab drivers, waiters and bar tenders, home attendants or those who work exclusively from home and deduct their home office expenses, are also under closer scrutiny by the IRS. What the IRS is looking for is to determine whether or not accurate representations are made and if so you should have proof to substantiate the declaration in those areas. Short of changing your type of employment, there is nothing you can do about it - except make absolutely sure you follow the - come clean, do the right thing, keep notes, save receipts, get organized scenario as stated earlier.

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For heavens sake, do not take tax advice from your best friend's brother or your mailman. If you have a complex tax situation or even if it is to your view a simple return; hire an accountant or a tax preparation expert to help you as you may very well overlook a change in the tax law which you were not aware that could put extra bucks in your pocket. The added benefit, as I indicated before, is that these professionals know how to prepare neat and organized tax returns in a timely fashion and, of course, they are familiar with the tax code.

TRY ELECTRONIC FILING The IRS has to hire workers to handenter all paper filings — a costly and time consuming endeavor. More than 80% of all tax returns are now filed electronically and that number is growing significantly. Electronic filing decreases the IRS's statistical probability of an audit because there are more electronic filers in the pool and, thus, your chance of an audit decreases. When it comes to avoiding an audit, it is best to get lost in the crowd rather than being singled out and raising a red flag. "// is always better to have information and not need it than to need it and not have UN

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

19

.■ HARRIS @ LARGE (Ed Harris Column)

GUYLUCIANS CELEBRATED THE 47th ANNIVERSARY

OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA IN FINE STYLE!!

Guyanese Ihing in Saint Lucia had double celebrations, firstly the 38th Anniversary of Saint Lucia's Independence on Tuesday 22nd February, 2017 with the theme "Celebrating Excellence, Fostering National Pride", and secondly the 47th Anniversary of the Republic of Guyana on the 23rd of February, 2017 with the theme — "Celebration with Liberty, Dignity and Greater Unity."

IGuyLucians living in Vieux Fort which is located in the South of the island got together with friends and well-wishers to mark the occasion with an After Lunch Get Together in Vieux Fort on Sunday, 26th February, 2017. The event was coordinated by Miss Sandra Knights, ably assisted by her friends. Everyone was happy with the outcome and plans for the 51st Anniversary of Independence are already in the works.

In the midst of the feeling of accomplishment and mustering of the will to achieve even greater heights, I was invited to deliver a motivational lecture on 23rd Febmary, 2017. I take this opportunity to share extracts of my presentation with you. I believe this is timely as we strive to build a nation with citizens who truly understand the meaning of self-determination.

My topic was entitled "You Can Be Anyone You Want to Be!" and I have even adapted a subtitle, "If you think you can — You can!"

Let us take stock of where you are today. Have you achieved everything you wanted to achieve in life? Are you satisfied with where you are today? Are you growing or are you stagnant? Life is a continuous learning process — are you learning? Some people will live up to 80 years but they die at 20. Those persons will wait for 60 years to be laid in their final resting place — doing nothing.

My key message to you is "Do something — challenge yourself to do something you always wanted to do" within the sphere of your career or outside of your career, or both. Just do something!

WHERE DO YOU STAND TODAY? Each one of you in this hall has DREAMS and ASPIRATIONS - the underlying truth is that we all want to do better.

Who is your role model? Who do you want to emulate. If you cannot identify anyone, create in your own mind the person you will want to be.

You are fortunate to be working in an organisation where you can have a lifelong career, and many of you have. Have you grown? Have you experienced Upward Mobility? Have you undertaken any related courses that will advance your career? While this may not be possible for everyone, everyone should within their area of service do their best to build the efficiency and goodwill of the corporation.

TRANSFORMATIONA ADVANCEMENT: How are you going to create this transformational advancement in your life? Each one of you was provided with an action list when you entered this hall. Whatever I share with you today is what I have done. There is no limit to what you can achieve, once you put your mind to it.

President John F. Kennedy left us a

great quote "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!" Replace the word Country with Corporation.

My challenge in this presentation is to encourage you to be a better person in your personal life and on the job, no matter what position you hold. Every task is measurable.

This book has been my life changer.

Think and Grow Rich — Napoleon Hill —http:// www.seektoclarify.com • Celestine Prophecy — James Redfield Today I am standing before you, delivering this presentation because of a reason that was predestined.

I quote the author — James Redfield "Wf must assume every event has significance and contains a message that pertains to our questions . . . .this especially applies to what we used to call bad things . . . the challenge is to find the silver lining in every event, no matter how negative!'

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CONCLUSION: My friends, I invite you to live the life you deserve. Remember always "You can be anyone, you want to be" and if you think you can — you can! Just do something beginning from today.

I leave you with this quote; "To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man!' William Shakespeare My Blessings be with you.

Remember always to Keep the Faith, knowing that God is in Charge - Dream Big and Expect Miracles!

Edward Harris: Biblicist, Author/Publish-er, Business Consultant, Real Estate Agent/Broker, Networker, CSR/Small Business Advocate & Motivational Speaker.

Email: jobfreelife72@yahoo.com.

Website: www.stluciasimplybeautiful.com Facebook Page: w ww.facebook .com/edharrisbiz

r

Guylucians displaying their flags It is said that a chain is as strong as its weakest link. Your customer service must be outstanding, and while you may see it as a department, the reality is everyone is involved. I implore you from this moment onward to be united in all your efforts. Speak with one voice. UNITY is STRENGTH. Every day I go to work, I go to work with a song in my heart, I am grateful for the opportunity — I have to have a job! My goal is to make the people around me happy and encourage them to be the best they can. We need each other.

This is my proposed transformational route: Readers are leaders: This is a truth.

One of the surest ways to gain knowledge is by reading. I have listed the following books for you to expand your reading experience.

• The Holy Bible King James online version — https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org Seek ye first, the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things shall be added unto you. I am currently reading the Bible for the 5th time and I invite my friends to join my Facebook Page dedicated to this goal.

• How to Gain Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie If you have difficulty in your relationships with family or colleagues — read this book. As a young man, I was very argumentative which didn't go down well with many adults. This book changed my life.

• The Power of Positive Thinking — Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER Knowledge is Power, only when put into action.

For those of you who no longer read books, there is no excuse, once you have access to the internet, you can make use of the information provided.

I have done my best to provide you with a few tools that are certain to bring about the needed transformation in your life. Let's say everything is OK with you — then challenge me to be engaged in living life to the fullest, even in your twilight years. If I can, you can!

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20

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

Chinese

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...agroprocessing, rail road, youth development

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_ From right: Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland; Chinese Ambassador Cui Jiancho and his wife; Regional Chairman, Renis Morian,and Economic and Commercial Counsellor, SHEN Huiyong

By Vanessa Braithwaite IN AN EFFORT to bring relief to the ailing food security and agricultural sector in Region 10, Chinese Ambassador, His Excellency Cui Jiancho, has put the idea forward of having the Chinese Government establish an agro processing factory in the region. The project modules for this he said can be completed by the first half of the year.

He put forward this solution on Friday to Regional

Chairman. Renis Morian.

Mayor of Linden. Carwyn Holland, and other regional officials during an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two parties.

His Excellency Cui Jiancho visited Linden with a Chinese delegation including his wife and Economic and Commercial Counsellor.

Shen Huiyong. The regional officials put forth to the Ambassador several areas in need of assistance with agriculture and food security

Guyana PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday met with China's Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Cui Jianchun at State House to discuss the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries. The Ambassador was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Yang Chenqi and Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy, Mr. Shen Huiyong. Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Patrick West was also present.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency. during the meeting.

President Granger explained that poor infrastracture. particularly in the hinterland, has impeded the development of tourism, agriculture, and the extractive sectors and has been a deterrent to foreign

and

investors. Noting that there is an existing cooperation agreement between the GDF and the Chinese military, the People's Liberation Army (PLA). the Head of State said that Guyana could benefit tremendously from infrastractural development training for GDF officers.

"We want to develop a strong engineering corps at the GDF so that they can make a bigger contribution to infrastructural development in this country." the Head of State was quoted as saying in the release.

The Ambassador informed the President of his plan to convene a forum to further engage the Government of Guyana in discussions so as to identify priority areas in which the two countries can collaborate.

being prioritised.

Regional Chairman. Renis Morian. posited that in the context of disaster risk management the sector was lacking terribly and the region was in dire need of assistance. "In the area of agriculture we want to move from just planting. We want to look at agro processing.

We have the land, we have the waterways and the airstrip to do this." Morian outlined.

This was reiterated by Former Regional Chairman.

Mortimor Mingo. who al-

China

luded to the food crises that strack Region 10 during the 2005 coastal flood. Since most of the region's food supply comes from the coastland. the region was terribly affected and the same will reoccur in the eventuality of another disaster since the region continues to be heavily dependent on food from other regions.

It is in this regard that the officials reached out to the Chinese Embassy for cooperation and collaboration.

"In Region 10 itself we have

to

the capacity to feed ourselves once we have the kind of assistance to use the lands available under effective production, we do have a number of farming groups in the region and it is on behalf of these groups that we are seeking assistance." Mingo mentioned.

His Excellency Cui Jiancho. revealed that China too was experiencing food security issues and he was willing to share the techniques his country was using to alleviate the problem and to lend whatever assistance was needed to have these techniques utilized. "We can pool our ideas together to assist in agro processing not only to the local community." he said.

Mayor of Linden Carwyn Holland requested assistance for a complete digital mapping in Region 10 which he believes can assist in the development of the agriculture sector. "This would give you a better view of areas that you can tap into, you would be able to better track and know what is going on," he affirmed. Holland also spoke of having a rail road service along the Linden to Lethem road which will even be more beneficial for Region 10's development since it will also provide jobs for thousands of persons.

The Chinese Officials

also mulled assisting the region with youth development as it relates to providing up to 10 scholarships per year for students to study in China and also in assisting with transportation for students experiencing difficulty travelling from Linden to Georgetown daily to attend the University of Guyana and other institutions.

To aid in Linden's general development. His Excellency Cui Jiancho. affirmed that there was need for investment in the town to see it move forward. He alluded to the imminent construction of the first phase of the Linden to Lethem road and the rebuilding of the new airport at Timehri which he believes will aid Linden tremendously especially in the area of tourism. "I think it is a very important policy if you want to develop this region for you to attract more foreign investment.

We could see more Chinese investment being here." the Ambassador said.

The Chinese Embassy also positively responded to support in building a constabulary, dredging of the river's channel, assisting in the area of ICT and support for sports development. His Excellency Cui Jiancho also donated a photocopy machine to the Linden Mayor and Town Council.

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From left: Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Yang Chenqi, China's Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Cui Jianchun, President David Granger and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Mr. Patrick West

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

New York Chmlcli Horoscope AMES (Mar. 21 - April 20) Your emotions will be touched off concerning recent encounters with your lover. Don't do something silly just to get back at your mate. Travel opportunities must be taken advantage of. You may find yourself interested in more than one person. Your lucky day next week will be Sunday.

TAURUS (Apr. 21 - May 21) Your involvement in groups will be favorable for meeting new and exciting individuals. Your ability to deal with others will help you in getting the support you need. Elders may get you going this week. Your best gains will come through helping others emotionally. Your lucky day next week will be Saturday.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Stay calm and focus on things that will help you understand the situation better. Expect temper tantrums on the home front if you haven't been letting someone have their way. Jealousy may get in the way of a good relationship. You're in the mood to do things such as competitive sports, or perhaps a night on the town. Your lucky day next week will be Monday.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) You can be sure that any dealing with large institutions should go well.

Efforts made to improve yourself will turn out to your satisfaction. You can look into new jobs but don't count on getting help from someone who may have promised you assistance. Lovers may no be truthful. Your lucky day next week will be Thursday.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Don't donate more than you can afford in order to impress others. Be prepared to counteract the damage that adversaries are about to create. Business conducted in your own office will proceed smoothly. Don't expect new acquaintances to be completely honest about themselves. Your lucky day next week will be Sunday.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 23) Talk to peers who you trust in order to get sound advice. You will be accident prone if you aren't careful this week. You can make money if you concentrate on producing services that will make domestic chores easier. You can pick up information that will give you an edge. Your lucky day next week will be Tuesday.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23) Tone down and put some of that hard earned cash into a safe, long-term investment. Intellectual stimulation is what you are looking for. You may find yourself in a heated dispute with a friend if you try to change your mind. You could meet potential new mates if you go out with friends or take pleasure trips. Your lucky day next week will be Sunday.

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Opportunities to meet new lovers will come through pleasure trips or social events. Don't sign up for too many extra activities or you'll have trouble fulfilling your obligations. Be sure to pay attention to your bank account.

Your lucky day next week will be Thursday.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) Don't beat around the bush; state your case in plain and simple terms. You will be able to make changes regarding your living arrangements. Focus your efforts on details, and keep to yourself in order to finish your work.

You mustn't give too much to your children. Your lucky day next week will be Tuesday.

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PISCES (Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) Minor health problems will cause setbacks if you haven't taken proper care of yourself. Physical work or exercise should be part of your schedule. You are in a high cycle where travel, education, and creative endeavors are concerned. Put your energy into moneymaking ventures. Your lucky day next week is Sunday.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

EMPHASIS ON

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

WILLIAMS SPEAKS OUT AGAINST TRUMP'S

RENEWED IMMIGRATION BAN STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS Council Member Jumaane D. "Trump's continued assault on immigrants Williams, Deputy Leader, reis deeply troubling, and continues to further dileased the following statement regarding vide this country. His new Muslim ban will President Donald Trump's renewed imtranslate into the unwarranted and unconstitumigration ban and creation of the Victional profiling of people because of their ethnicity and race. This new xenophobic version of tims of Immigration Crime Engagement his executive order does nothing to comfort immigrant communities. It is just another signal to organize, and resist his divisive policies and rhetoric.

"In addition, to create an office such as Vielims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office (VOICE) takes that division a step further. By creating a government bureau as a propaganda machine to further a climate of fear, we can then allow horrible things to happen to human beings and families. This is from a playbook we've seen before, and it is terrifying to watch so many / "Give me your tired, acquiesce. Suggesting that a crime committed by an undocumented immigrant deyour poor, serves its own bureau or division is an affront to all victims in this country. It unyour huddled masses fairly compares loss and pain, by placing n yearning to breathe free." victims in different categories based more on who the assailant was, than helping to deal with the pain and developing real solutions to actual crises.

"From 2004 to 2013 data shows that 313 Americans died from terrorism. Real people and families, but, during the same time DONALD TRUMP HAS WAGED WAR period 316,545 Americans were killed by gun violence. Yet no concrete solutions or AGAINST THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY real outrage has been offered to deal with around gun proliferation. Toddlers kill a HOW DO WE DEFEND OURSELVES person weekly with unsecured guns in this AGAINST THIS ATTACK? country, far outpacing other threats. Yet something as basic as a mandated lock box KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND DEFEND YOURSELVES in homes with children still faces fierce opAGAINST THE IMMIGRATION RAIDS position. Something as simple as allowing the CDC to just study the problem is still THE GUYANA AMERICAN PATRIOTIC FORUM (GAPF) not allowed. All while statistics show guns are likely the biggest threat to an American IN COLLABORATION WITH today.

COUNCILMAN JUMAANE WILLIAMS "Terrorism and crime of course is a real threat that should not be ignored and WILL SPONSOR AN IMMIGRATION FORUM ON taken for granted. Still, the question is why SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2017 — 4:00 P.M. some fully ignore addressing a very real pandemic of epic proportions like gun vio@ ST. STEPHEN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH lence, preferring instead to manufacturing 2806 NEWKIRK AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11210 a real concern to a full blown crisis.

"The honest answer is bigotry and prej— ALL ARE INVITED — udice. If we are honest, we all have some.

The best in ourselves allows us to work to ITIIAW VAIIR RlfiHTC check those prejudices and recognize humanity. There are times when leaders exploit our prejudices and create an DEFENI YtVESELF MUURST TIE TRUMP ATTRCK atmosphere for it to run unabated. We are in such a time and Donald Trump is such a leader.

GALL 718-643-0285 "Thankfully history despises those moments."

NEW YORK, NY - On March 1,

Office (VOICE).

The renewed policy builds on a previous executive order that banned citizens from even Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States and temporarily suspended the entry of all refugees. Under the modified policy, legal permanent residents and existing visa holders will be excluded from the ban.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

EMPHASIS ON

23

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

WILLIAMS CONDEMNS WAVE OF THREATS TO

JEWISH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY NEW YORK, NY - On Feb. 27, Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, Deputy Leader, released the fol-

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lowing statement regarding the most recent threat made to Jewish community centers on Monday. This is the latest in a wave of bomb threats targeting Jewish communities across the country. There have been 69 threats to 54 community centers in 27 states, including 11 threats made on STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS "I am proud to represent a diverse NYC district that includes a substantial Orthodox Jewish community. I along with many are very concerned about the wave of antisemitic threats in recent weeks, including today, at the JCC of Staten Island. The threats against the Jewish community, irrespective of real or hoax status, is troubling to a community understandably already concerned.

"Although anti-semitism has existed for generations, we must

last Monday alone. never allow ourselves to become desensitized to it. While we unfortunately have witnessed these types of attacks before, it is irrefutable that anti-semitic and bigoted rhetoric, threats and attacks have increased since the election of this president.

We must be honest about the results of the atmosphere this administration is creating. We must also not wait until it is 'us' or 'our group' before we speak.

"We must continue to stand up vehemently against every bigoted threat to any group. We are NYC, we are America."

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PRESIDENT AARON

ENVIRONMENTAL

FOR "PEOPLE'S

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (March 1,2017): Medgar Evers College will host its 22nd annual conference on environmental issues on Saturday, March 11, 2017. Sierra Club President Aaron Mair will give a keynote address calling for a "people's climate movement," to build an inclusive environmental rights movement composed of labor, civil rights groups, and other progressive organizations.

The Sierra Club, with 2.7 million members and supporters, is the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.

Mair, a long-time environmental activist, argues that action on the climate is essential for both racial and economic justice, and charges that the current administration has "polluted our democracy" in the same way that bigmoney fossil fuel corporations are polluting our air, water, and climate. The Trump administration has called for deep cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency. The Sierra Club - as well

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as many Democrats â&#x20AC;&#x201D; opposed Scott Pruitt's appointment as the EPA chief because of Pruitt's stance on climate science and his numerous lawsuits against the EPA. More positively, Mair contends that grassroots organizations and institutions like Medgar Evers College, which has a social justice mission, can collaborate to create a green job economy even at a time when many workers are trapped in competing for vanishing fossil fuel industry jobs.

Mair is the Sierra Club's 57th president and its first African-American president. He currently works as an epidemiologist-spatial analyst with the New York State Department of Health.

He joined the Sierra Club in 1999 after leading a 10-year fight to shut down a polluting solid waste incinerator in an inner-city neighborhood in Albany, N.Y. Residents succeeded in a lawsuit to close the facility and won a $1.6 million settlement. Mair was also a key figure in securing the Sierra Club's participation in the Clean Up the Hud-

ISSUES

CLIMATE

XT I

MAIR

CONFERENCE

MOVEMENT"

son campaign, which resulted in a settlement between the EPA and General Electric to dredge toxic sediments from the Upper Hudson River.

Medgar Evers College's Environmental Issues conference is sponsored by the College's Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science and the Department of Public Administration. It brings together students, community residents, and small business owners with environmental professionals. The conference features panels and discussions on several subjects, including the urban impact of environmental policy in the Trump administration; urban environmental resources; career opportunities, as well as resea

AARON MAIR

WHAT: MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE'S 22ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WHEN: 8 A.M.-3:30 RM. SATURDAY, MARCH 11,2017.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS @ 10:20-10:50 a.m.

WHERE: 1650 BEDFORD AVENUE, BROOKLYN, N.Y. FOUNDERS AUDITORIUM WHO: AARON MAIR, SIERRA CLUB PRESIDENT

24

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

Little "LITTLE deeds of kindness, little words of love make this earth an Eden, like the heaven above," said centenarian Victor Lewis, called 'Little Johnny' or 'Old Police' as he reminisced on his life's journey at his home at Brighton Village, Corentyne Coast on Saturday.

BomonFebruaiy 25.1917. to James Lewis called Johnny Lewis and Rachel Albert of Eversham Village, which is a short distance from where he currently lives. Lewis was nurtmed by his paternal grandparents James and Maty Lewis at the very place he today calls home.

"I grew with Elric. He was my cousin. We were children of tw o siblings. My grandparents were farmers. They cultivated ground provisions, com and bananas. We were never hungry, but if we were, we would just go to the farm, pick a few ripened bananas off the sucker or parch and pound com before eating it with sugar.

"Life was not as it is now.

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People farmed and the villagers despite their ethnicity, lived in unity. In those days if an African family had a funchon and did not invited their East Indian neighbom that would be a big problem and the uninvited person will enquire what was the reason for him/ or her not receiving an invitation before presenting themselves.

Life was so good, without the politicians." he chuckled, while clasping his hands between his legs.

The bespectacled gentleman in his formative years attended the Eversham Primary School, when James Henry was headmaster. However, while he completed his schooling, he was unable to take the then School Leaving Examination, which was held at Rose Hall Scotts School in Rose Hall Town.

"I cannot now remember what prevented me from going to write the exams, but my now deceased friends Albert King and Marth Douglas, they were successful at the exams and had

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Lewis with some of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren

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ing in them being educators.

I became a carpentry apprentice. under the stewardship of 'Brother Grant' of Phillipi Village.

"As a small boy. I had visited the village shop and had observed Brother Grant doing some carpentry and he asked me whether I was interested and after responding in the affirmative. I started to leam the trade and have since specialised in all areas of carpentry." he said.

According to the widower, his trade took him to many places in Guyana, including the mining town of Linden and Matthews Ridge, and his markings are on all the multilateral schools, and other learning institutions across the country.

However, he was quick to add, that as soon as he received his wages, he would hurry off to the nearest post office, where he would send the money to his wife Monica (now deceased).

They had 11 children, namely Denzil. Eon, Victor Jnr. Eldon. Fay (now deceased).

Wendy. Patricia Brenda. Kim, Yonnette and Denise. He has also fathered a son, Leon, who resides overseas.

NOTABLE "I used to give towards the upkeep of my home, wife and children. I have not remarried although my wife died over 30 years ago. When you have a wife you have to give and I am not able with that now." he chuckled.

An elder of the Brighton Presbyterian Church. Lewis said church attendance was not an option for his family.

"We had to go. Sunday is the day to serve the Lord.

We have to look to our maker

I

A

Centenarian Victor Lewis for everything. In these days, parents asking children if they would like to go to church.

But I was never taught that, it was not an option, ft was a necessity."

The centenarian, who experienced short bouts of memory loss during the interview, was quick to point out that as a youth he was a member of the Boys Scouts organisation which would instill values in youths just in case it was not instilled in the home.

Lewis also told Guyana Chronicle about an incident that rocked his village some 30 years ago. Nine members of the Cummings family were killed under mysterious circumstances.

"The news had stated that a snake was killing the family. but it was not so. One of the young men had married a woman of another ethnicity and one of his sisters was in conflict with the woman, and as a result they were subsequently poisoned. That stoiy had placed our village in the news." he

recalled.

That apart, the village which is bordered by Eversham and Kiltem was known for horse racing, but with time, the passion for the game has dwindled. According to Lewis, young men are not committed to it.

"They want money and more money, but they are not committed when it comes to enhancing community relationship. so with time, the interest in horse racing has gone."

Lewis said the youths are aimless, just standing around "doing absolutely nothing."

However, his daughter Patricia. inlcrjcclcd saying that the Guyana Police Force has a youth club in the community.

Lewis, who is fondly called "Grandpa", has 30 grandchildren and 12 great grands.

He was thankful to God for allowing him to reach the magical 100, and said while there is no secret to his longevity, persons must always honour their parents and their days may be long.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

25

7^ , Peter Haynes

GO-SEE GUYANA ATIBACTS OVERWHELMING

SUPPORT FROM GUYANA'S DIASPORA The Diaspora in North America, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean has responded overwhelmingly to the Guyana government's stated policy to attract investment in their homeland.

The response to the invitation for the Guyana Diaspora to participate in the 'Go-See Guyana' project attracted twice as many applicants rth for the available places nullifying earlier critics that the Guyana Government was not involving the Diaspora in development programmes President David Granger from the inception of taking office issued calls to the Diaspora to return home, invest and contribute to the development of their homeland.

The Go-See Guyana project which is supported by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is under the heading " Effective and Sustainable Diaspora Engagement for Development in the Caribbean". The project is funded Darlington, coordinator and Foreign by the IOM and is scheduled to be Service Officer respectively in the implemented at the end of April this Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs, yearThis disclosure was made by Ms. Anyin Choo and Ms. Sophia

The project is a Government of Guyana initiative and is administered by the Diaspora Department of

Nation (from page 7) and militaristic global domination by his "White, chosen people." "God Bless America," a speech-ending phrase uttered by all modem American Presidents, is as self-serving as it sounds that ONLY America is worthy of the blessings of the Supreme Father.

But, if we're to believe the Bible, the same holy book conservatives swear on and by, Jesus Christ devoted his entire life and ministry (and spoke at length about) to helping the poor, the needy, accepting others, loving others, being hopeful and not judging those who are different from yourself. And He was scathing in his comments and often warned against greed and false prophets. So I just can't reconcile the illogic of worshiping someone who lived his life devoted to those values by supporting a political party that's constantly cutting funding for the needy; judging the poor; hating people different from themselves; being afraid and paranoid; then supporting economic policies that are built on feeding greed while every-

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The initiative is designed to explore possibilities for economic and social investment in Guyana.

\

m Twenty individuals from the Diaspora applied for the ten available places. The selected individuals will be announced shortly. The IOM will provide a round trip airfare up to US$1,100.00 and a one-time

US$370.00 stipend for each successful applicant, for a total funding of US$114,700.00. The successful applicants will be required to cover other costs not supported by the IOM. The length of stay will vary depending on the nature of engagement with investors or business partners.

The Foreign Affairs Diaspora Department is in the process of identifying a consultant who will conduct a six-week 'sector survey study' to prioritize potential initiatives and areas of business potential.

The consultant is expected to start work within two weeks, with the completion of the study set for the end of April.

The applicants have stated their areas of interest, primarily to do Value Added Operations in Agriculture, Arts and Craft, Housing and Energy.

While in Guyana, the potential investors from the Diaspora will participate in workshop sessions related to investment and doing business in Guyana in specific sectors and also make site visits to various parts of the country

Of Hypocrites

one else pays the price. That's called doing the complete opposite of what Jesus Christ stood for and exposes conservative and Republican hypocrisy to the hilt.

Finally, there's the loud, constant screeching about the Republican Party being the party of fiscal responsibility.

That's another hilarious illusionary claim made by politically blinded conservatives. The conservative narrative and Republican Party faithful continue to push this narrative by denying ALL historical facts to the contrary. These facts clearly say that you can't go for over five decades since a President from your party balanced the national budget and call yourselves the party for "fiscal responsibility."

Even the Republican "conservative icon" Ronald Reagan nearly quadrupled the national debt during his eight years in office. And George W. Bush then doubled it during his time in office. The truth is that like free speech and big government, conservatives and Republicans actually love spending giant loads of money on programs that

they agree with and on. Like big oil subsidies, tax breaks aiding corporate welfare for the rich, and giant defense contracts to favored companies only to become "fiscally responsible" whenever that spending doesn't fit their party's prevailing narrative.

To sum up: Right wing Christian conservatives, many of whom populate the Republican Party, fervently believe in a higher, omnipresent and all-good being they call God. They truck no opposition, dissent, or tolerate any political party that does not promote "good Christian values" â&#x20AC;&#x201D; of the White kind.

Conservative-Christians hate reason, and by extension, science. There is no arguing or convincing a group that believes that thunder and rain are caused

by God and Jesus acting in concert, ably supported by something that they call "the Holy Ghost." Thus, to preserve their political views and stances, they also have to preserve and protect their religious views and beliefs. It's what sustains them; their reason for being.

The reasons for belief are simple as an explanation for the causes of the

.

.

.

seemingly unexplainable natural and human events, a "Creation tale." It's also a religious way to trump Death, without offering a rationale or facts but "a belief." Thing is anyone can believe what they want but that does not make it real or provable.

Pitiful hypocritical arguments, long ago rebutted, still proliferate today and tire promoted by priests still the custodiEins of falsehoods and deviant behavior. They still infect the flock and reinforce long-outmoded belief systems. So Democrats bellowing about "reaching out" to "our conservative RepublicEin brothers Eind sisters" is like trying to sweep the waves on the seashore back into the ocean â&#x20AC;&#x201D; its impossible.

How do you convince members of a group that they should join your progressive party that genuinely believe that Black people Eire the result of the Curse of Ham, and that a guy named Jonah lived for a short period in the belly of a fish Eind was vomited up on dry lEind?

Get the point?

26

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017 may

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conclusion

The E.W.Swanton's Xl-Berbice match was played on March 28-301961 at the Rose Hall "Oval", Canje before a large crowd. It was the third occasion that a first-class match which featured top-class world players was hosted at this once famous ground. The touring Pakistani side was the first to grace the ground in 1957 against a Guyana East Indians XI. We were fortunate to see the legendary Hanif Mohammad in action and the famous "Mohammad family Twirl." What is the Mohammad family Twirl? Before Hanif faces any haD he gives his hat the Mohammad family Twirl (he spins the hat a few times upwards, and then bends and wait on the howler), he is prepared to face whatever the howler may deliver. One guy who copied that style was Basil Nohar who played for the Rose HaD Youth Club. I recall we played Canefield Cricket Club in a final, and Nohar opened the innings and before he could get the bat down, he had his wicket spread-eagled by speed merchant Sookraj Beharry.

E.W.Swanton's XI won the toss and parts of the ground to the delight of the ectook strike on a placid wicket, with brilliant static spectators. They took the score pass sunshine overhead and a fast and trim out 100, but no sooner Hussain was beautifully field. Ronald Gale and Ian McLachlan stumped by Smith off McLachlan for 34. failed to take full advantage on the ideal Solomon was joined by Basil Butcher and a condition which existed and with the score square cut to the boundary by Solomon sent at 22, McLachlan was first to go for 10. He up his 50. Solomon seemed well set, but was magnificently caught by Persaud in the with his score at 54 and the total at 160, covers off the bowling of Beharry, who in Solomon was dismissed Ibw to off-spinner the opening spell seemed to be bowling a bit "Bomber" Wells. Butcher and Amsterdam faster than his usual self. I figure he rose to took control of the situation and displayed the occasion, bowling all out on all cylin- beautiful shots. Butcher excelled with his on ders. The young Oxford University scholar drives while Amsterdam punched them Abass Ali Baig looked impressive at first but failed to negotiate an out swinger and had his off stump racked back by Beharry.

Baig went for 4 with the score at 34. The Nawab of Pataudi got a rounding applause from the crowd and he didn't disappoint. He Immediately started to execute lovely shots to all parts of the ground. He was particularly severe on Beharry, straight driving to the boundary on three occasions and played the cover drives with much precision and aplomb. Gale who had opened the innings was going great guns and passed 50 in fine style. The partnership had added 121 runs but with the score at 155, the Nawab was caught by Butcher off Mohabir for an entertaining 63. Ten runs later, Beharry who was LESLIE AMSTERDAM all fired up and still bowling on all cylinders struck once more. He had Gale caught through the covers. They took the score to behind by Bissoon for a well-made 78. 222 before pace man "Dusty" Rhodes Everton Weekes and skipper Ingleby struck a vital blow in dismissing Butcher MacKenzie added a further 88 for the fifth Ibw for a robust 73. As if inspired by getting wicket before Weekes was caught and Butcher's wicket, Rhodes pushed relentbowled by Persaud for 41. MacKenzie saw lessly forward and created further inroads the score pass 300 before he went Ibw to when he had Amsterdam caught behind for Mohabir for 74. Bob Barber, who a few 33, and as if not satisfied, he snapped up years earlier had made 98 runs before lunch Ramnarace, once more caught behind as in an Ashes match against Australia and Berbice innings went into a decline at 246 Allan Smith plundered the Berbice attack for five. Mohan 20 and Vic Harnanan 24 ofadding 113 in record time before Barber fered token resistance as Berbice innings was bowled by Mohabir for 83, with the came to an end at 282-113 runs behind. Bob score at 415 for seven before the declaration Barber was the most successful bowler takwas made. Smith was left undefeated on 44. ing four wickets for 88 runs in 26 overs of Pace bowler Beharry and left-arm spinner which seven were maidens. Rhodes chipped Mohabir shared the wickets taking three in with three for 67. each for 114 and 90 rans respectively.

Enjoying a lead of 113 runs, Batting late in the afternoon, E.W.Swanton's XI chased after quick runs.

Berbice ended the first day's play on 33 for Gale and Baig were in a punishing mood two. Both openers Basil Mohabir and Char- putting on 122 for the opening stand before lie Bissoon went without making any sig- Ramnarace bowled Gale for 56. McLachlan nificant contribution. Right-arm leg spinner joined Baig who made amends for his failBob Barber accounted for both men; Mo- ure in the first innings with delightful shots habir first went with the score at 28, when to take the score to 159. McLachlan became he was caught and bowled by Barber for 16, Ramnarace's second victim when he was and one ran later Bissoon failed to read one caught by Butcher for 28. Baig and the from Barber and was bowled for 11. Skip- Nawab took center stage with their belligerper Joe Solomon and Nabbie Hussain re- ent batting, with Baig scoring 68 and the sumed on the second day and made hay Nawab an attractive 73 before the declarawhile the sun shone with crisp shots to all tion came at 228-2. Set the daunting task of

by SHAN RAZACK scoring 362 for victory, the Berbice had reached 227-4 as the match petered out into a draw.

V* Berbice suffered an early set back when they batted; Bissoon ft was caught by McLachlan off v Wheatley with the score at 11.

One run later, disaster once more struck, this time Mohabir was smartly stumped off Barber, and to compound the Berbice woes, Basil Butcher was comprehensively bowled by Barber's first ball for a duck. Butcher hardly troubled the scores and rarely did he fall so cheaply. In came Leslie Amsterdam with a hattrick hovering over his head who blasted his way with a performance never seen before. He and Joe Solomon added an entertaining 167 before Solomon fell to Pataudi caught and bowled for mm 49. Amsterdam went on his jolly way with scintillating batting The Mohammad brothers Mustaq, Hanif and at the end was left undeand Sadiq feated on 105.

True, Amsterdam did not During the period 1959-60 the MCC attain the pinnacle as some of his more il- made their presence felt with an array of lustrious compatriots, but surely his per- outstanding players. When they toured the formances over the years will put him West Indies and Guyana, they played a among the finest batsmen to emerge from match against the Berbice XI at Rose Hall, the Ancient County, nay, Guyana. In select- Canje. The highlight of the match was a ing my Guyana XI of the 20th century, I double century — the first and only one was more or less inclined to have Amster- made by the berbice skipper, Joe Solomon dam open the innings with Roy Lredericks and a superb 131 not out by Basil Butcher. in preference to Leonard Baichan, Clayton The local hero Rohan Kanhai flattered only Lambert, Bruce Pairaudeau, to deceive, for after scoring Steven Camacho or Glen13 with two promising don Gibbs. He possessed fours, he tried to hook the correct technique, dediDavid Allen out of the cation and most of all guts ground but was beaten and and was never afraid of the bowled by a slow offgenuine fast bowler. He bebreak. lieves in the concept: "Pear The MCC side enterand be slain!" tained the crowd with cenThe gifted left-handed turies by Ken Barrington, stroke player should have Ray Illingworth and Jim m been on the national side Parks who hit a record since 1957 when the touring number of sixes — eight Pakistan side under skipper — Parks struck three conJOE SOLOMON Abdul Karder first came to secutive sixes off off-spinthe Caribbean — Joe Solomon who had per- ner, policeman Lloyd Benjamin. The first formed so well got the nod over Amsterdam one sailed out of the ground straight towards in a close tussle between the two 'giants', a house at the back of the Northern Solomon never looked back, and as they say sightscreen. the rest is history! Amsterdam had a colorful At one time the spectators thought it career in the summer game, and if he had was a bird, and it seemed to crash against played in more first-class matches I would the upper glass panes. But the late Reggie have unhesitatingly given him the nod to Bhagwandin, a plucky cricketer from Provopen the Guyana XI innings with Roy Lred- idence on the East Bank of Berbice, looking ericks. Make no bones about it, if Amster- out from a vintage point had no such fear. dam was playing today, he would have He stood his ground, and as the ball was enwalked into the West Indies side, one- tering the house, he made one of the neatest legged. But we remain thankful for the joys catches you could imagine. Rightly so, he had given us — joys that will remain Bhagwandin kept the ball as a souvenir. treasures for all time. We may never see his Whenever this match is mentioned in cricklikes again. eting circles there is much discussion on the catch. I vividly remember this match after MCC vs BERBICE XI at so many years, I was a bare-kneed high ROSE HALL school student, then assigned the task of I would be remiss if I didn't mention scoring for two radio commentators. Ken one of the mathces that I saw at Rose Hall Wishart and Harry Cresall, relaying the Ground, and it left an indellible print on my match for the first time from the beautiful memory. I remember that match as if it were Rose Hall "Ovaf'in Canje. played yesterday.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 3, 2017

Jimmy Adams

West

Indies

hopes

for

selection

immy Adams has admitted West Indies' selection policy is "not sustainable" and is "not helping our cricket".

Currently, only those players who have made themselves available for Caribbean regional tournaments are considered for West Indies' international sides. However, overseas domestic leagues such as the BBL, the PSL and the IPL - all of which overlap in some way with the Caribbean regional competitions - are proving irresistible to many of the most talented players, leading to a situation in Test and ODI cricket, in particular, where their best players are often deemed ineligible for selection.

But Adams, who was appointed as West Indies' director of cricket about five weeks ago, has confirmed that a review of the policy is underway and intimated that he is keen to adopt a less hard-line approach.

And while the prevailing attitude of West Indies management appears to have been negative towards overseas

27

leagues in recent times, Adams admitted he could see benefits in Caribbean players participating in them, accepting that many of their best had been "battle-hardened" by their experiences.

"The outstanding issue now is player eligibility," Adams told ESPNcricinfo. "I'm encouraged by the fact that most, if not all parties are in agreement that what is in place now is not sustainable and might not be helping our cricket in the short or long term.

"I'm not the only person who is going to be involved in the decision.

But I'm certainly of the view that it [the selection policy] needs reviewing.

There's a process behind that which means it probably won't happen overnight. The review is ongoing and has started but, if a change of direction is to happen, it won't be overnight as there is a process that backs that up. But it is being reviewed. A lot of stakehold-

ers in our cricket appreciate now that it does have to be looked at.

"I also think that a lot of our international players - the Chris Gayle generation - will have started under Stanford, but will have developed and become battle-hardened in leagues outside the Caribbean. And if I'm waving a magic wand, I'd like to have the standard in the Caribbean where, if they do play overseas that's fine - certainly from a financial point of view - but in terms of developing our own T20 to an international standard, then we want our cricket in the Caribbean to be a lot stronger.

"I'd like to have the best players available. I'm not going to stick my neck on the block. It's a selection panel decision as to who the best players are but, ideally, you always want the best players available for selection."

Adams knows that he has quite a challenge in front of him in his new role. As if improving results is not tough enough - West Indies did not qualify for this year's ICC Champions

West Indies

Eondon [United Kingdom], Mar.1 (ANI): Uncapped Surrey seamer Tom Curran, has been called up to join the England one-day squad in the Caribbean as cover for the injured Nottinghamshire pacer Jake Ball.

Ball, according to The Guardian, suffered a knee injury during Monday's nervy eight-wicket win

over a West Indies Board XI in St Kitts - their final warm-up before the three-match one-day series begins in Antigua on Friday.

England has now turned to the elder of Surrey's two Curran brothers for what is his first senior call-up.

Curran has pressed his case for a national team call-up with 10 wickets in the drawn two-match first-class series against Sri Lanka A at which the selector Angus Eraser was present. (ANI)

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JIMMY ADAMS Trophy and currently sit eighth in the Test rankings - he has entered into an environment so toxic it has sometimes seemed UN peacekeepers would be more appropriate than cricket administrators .

But while he accepts he inherits a tough situation - "I may not live to see the promised land" he says at one stage - he is also optimistic that, if the sense of frustration that exists in the Caribbean over the decline in their cricket can be unified, progress can be made.

"I'm pretty realistic about where we're at," he said. "Our standards aren't good enough across the board and it's reflected in the cricket that we play.

"But we have the raw materials; we have good young players. What we need is a system that can take this raw talent and convert it into an international product that's world class. We have the potential to achieve a lot more if we can get people singing off the same hymn book going forwards.

"We do have one thing in common across the board: everyone wants to see stronger cricket.

"I sense more and more that more stakeholders appreciate that and are getting to the point where maybe, as an entity, we all need to be more willing to give a little bit to make that happen. I think that has to happen. I don't think everybody can keep holding onto their territories for much longer given where we are. I want to encourage that. I want to be an agent for that change to happen."

George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo. He will be covering England's tour of the Caribbean in association with Smile Group Travel, specialists in hosted supporters' packages.

New York

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The Chronicle can also be read @ http://www.guyanachronicle.coin

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WITH a new coach and director of cricket in place, Jason Holder is seeking consistency from the West Indies.

Jason Holder has called on West Indies to make his life as captain easier amid a "clean slate" for the team.

West Indies host England in a three-match oneday international series, which begins on Friday in Antigua, and serves as the first challenge for new coach Stuart Law. who replaced Phil Simmons in January.

A host of West Indies stars, including the likes of Chris Gayle. Lendl Simmons and Marlon Samuels, are missing from the ODI squad - that trio all having starred in the ICC World Twenty20 triumph last year.

The absence of many of the big names is largely down to a spat with Cricket West Indies - which new director of cricket Jimmy Adams is working to fix.

And Holder, who insists he is happy with the team he has at his disposal for the series, believes the arrival of Law and Adams gives the Windies a fresh start.

Holder said: "It feels as though it's a clean slate, we've got quite a few changes in our administrative part, it's just a situation for us players to adapt to it. get accustomed to the new coach, new director of cricket. It's

important for us just to deal with cricket, that's the only thing we can control.

"Our main thing is to be more consistent than we have been in the past.

I think once we do that we can be moving in the right direction."

Holder is also the Test captain but is enjoying the strain of being the skipper in two formats, saying of his tenure: "It's been interesting, I've enjoyed it, it's been tough. If I didn't enjoy it. I probably wouldn't be doing it.

"I feel as though I'm probably the right person to do it. I've been supported well by my team-mates and once we continue to be consistent as a side it will make my job a lot easier."

The Windies did not qualify for the Champions Trophy in June, but Holder thinks their absence could actually aid the side's development.

"We're not in the Champions Trophy, it gives us more time to reflect, more time to get things in order moving forward, we look obviously towards the World Cup." he added.

"We need to qualify for the World Cup and it's our goal to qualify for the World Cup, we have to take it stage by stage, our first engagement is England."

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Guyana leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo bowls in the nets at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium in Antigua