Guyana Chronicle New York Edition E-Paper 15 07 16

No. 104560

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MONDAY, MAY 23, 2016

JULY 15, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

‘New’ GuySuCo in the making

–– Dairy, livestock, rice farming among new ventures to be pursued

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–– Wales to be used as diversification ‘model’

‘Country Boy’ first hit at 68 9 P

New head of ‘National Events ...’ 14 P

When ‘warriors’ meet

Guyana’s Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo attended the Guyana Amazon Warriors v St Lucia Zouks Caribbean Premier League match at the Guyana National Stadium on the evening of Tuesday, July 12, 2016. In photograph, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is seen with Lance Gibbs, legendary former Guyana and West Indies off-spinner and former world record holder for the most Test wickets (left) and former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Percival J Patterson (right).

Venezuelans extorting Guyanese miners 13 P

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

More reports of robbery and hijacking at cricket Sunday night - Patrons of the National Stadium urged to take precautions SUNDAY last, while thousands of Guyanese gathered in their numbers to witness the Guyana Amazon Warriors face off with the Trinbago Knight Riders at the Guyana National Stadium, two young men made life miserable for some fans.

Rajin Tulsidas and Gary (only name given) were robbed of a pair of Serengeti Sunglasses and a Samsung Galaxy Smartphone respectively, in what would have gone down as a case of “simple larceny’ until the thieves decided they needed a car to make their escape, leading up to a hijacking.

The duo had just left the cricket match at around 23:00 hours and were heading to Rajin’s car which was parked in front of the M.S. Supermarket, 7 Layton Avenue Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, when two other young men, described as teenagers, confronted them and held them at gunpoint.

The gunmen reportedly fired behind the

duo in an attempt to scare them and damaged a Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Canter in front of the supermarket in the process.

At that point the duo was then robbed after which the gunmen ran over the road to hijack a car to make their escape.

The hijacked car belonged to Ganesh Persaud of La Grange, West Bank Demerara. Perasud and his family left the stadium at around 23:00 hours and was driving his car around Peter’s Hall in an attempt to easily maneuver out of the heavy traffic moving away from the stadium traffic when he witnessed the robbery.

The gunmen ran over the road, entered his car and demanded that he continue driving. Persaud said that he refused to comply with them and came out of the car.

It was at this point that the gunmen took away his car keys and made their escape.

Ganesh described the two perpetrators as young men who seemed to be about 19 years of age.

The car, PLL 1699, is a Silver Toyota Carina 212 with “SWEETNESS” written at the front in yellow. Persaud and his wife Nandi have also said that the car also contained many valuable documents including ID and Bank Cards.

Both parties Rajin and Gary and the Persaud family made reports to the Providence Police Station almost immediately after the incidents occurred.

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan has asked the Guyana Police Force (GPF)to analyse auto theft or theft of auto parts during major events.

“It is so strange that in that high kind of activity area, with so many policemen, there have been allegations of cars being stolen, and I’ve asked for an analysis,” Ramjattan is quoted as saying by the Government Information Agency (GINA).

It was noted that at the CPL 20/20 cricket hosted over the weekend at the National Stadium, several vehicles were

broken into during the matches and car stereos, other valuables and even batteries were stolen.

Commander of ‘A’ Division, Clifton Hicken told GINA that he was not aware of any increase in reported incidents of stolen vehicles. However, he pointed out that police were able to thwart two separate attempted car “break-ins” during last Sunday’s cricket match at the National Stadium.

Commander Hicken advised that persons attending major events park within the designated areas that are usually announced before the event. Motorists are also advised to go to the events early so that they can park their vehicles in a suitably safe location.

Alternatively, patrons can make arrangements to be dropped off and collected by fellow drivers, at the end of the event, if they are uncomfortable with the parking facilities provided.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

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Shaping a ‘new’ GuySuCo –– Dairy, livestock, rice farming among new ventures to be pursued –– Wales to be used as diversification ‘model’

By Nafeeza Yahya IN the first public pronouncements on the diversification plan for the sugar industry, Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder Wednesday pointed to

duction target of 242,287 tonnes of sugar due to poor weather conditions in the latter part of 2015 and early 2016.

However, he said he was happy that the corporation has recognised the

facilitate the expansion and sustainability of the industry.

“I said it once and I would like to reiterate it here, government is committed to securing the future of the approximately

GuySuCo honoured 29 workers in various fields across all the estates, with 10 champion workers receiving $50,000, a gold brooch, and a trip to Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls for themselves and spouse.

The 10 first runners-up received $30,000 and a certificate of appreciation, while nine second runners-

GuySuCo’s champion workers who were honoured on Wednesday a range of economic activities meant to maintain jobs across the industry.

“The new GuySuCo (Guyana Sugar Corporation) will not be about sugar alone, but a business in which sugar is but one activity.

“It will include other activities such as co-generation, aquaculture, fruit crops, dairy farming, livestock farming and rice cultivation,” Holder told sugar workers at the Albion estate where champion workers were being honoured.

He said the new business ventures would be geared to make a profit and be “cash” positive, both individually and collectively.

So far, he said the corporation is attempting to utilize its assets to generate funds and this includes land sales and diversification to other products.

Holder announced that GuySuCo has established a diversified products division, recruited a coordinator and will establish a diversified Products Sub-committee of the board of Directors.”

Acting CEO of GuySuCo, Paul Bhim, said “Guysuco is a business and has to function as one and that the future of Guysuco lies in the combination of profitable non-sugar activities and some sugar production.”

Holder said it’s unlikely that the corporation will achieve its 2016 pro-

need to continue on the road to diversification with the launching of the “New Guysuco” by introducing two campaigns, namely “One GuySuCo” and ‘Putting GuySuCo first.”

“For the first crop of 2016, we have experienced underperformance of 29% with actual production of 56,825 tonnes, compared with a budget of 80,270 tonnes.

“This will clearly have financial implications and solidifies the grave need for GuySuCo to continue on the road to diversification to revitalize the industry.

“It is heartening that the board and management is [sic] pursuing a one-year change management programme,” Holder stated.

He explained that the two campaigns are geared to enhance team-building and collaborative initiatives that promote shared values among the employees to achieve the new GuySuCo. “It is this positive attitude and team-spirit that will propel the industry forward and undoubtedly contribute to future success.”

Minister Holder said the Wales estate, which was identified as the least productive estate, is earmarked as the model for diversification and feasibility studies are presently ongoing and should be out

by October of this year. He said the government will

17,000 persons employed in the sugar industry and their dependants.”

Bhim also thanked the government for their recognition of the state of affairs of the industry and plugging funds to help them, but assured that GuySuCo must function as a business and with the diversification, the corporation will weather the storm to become a profitable organisation.

The minister stated that the ministry will work with the management and board to “put the industry on sound footing.”

This, he said, continues to be “the core target of our government as both sugar workers and their families remain close to our heart.”

The Agriculture Minister applauded the workers for their hard work, stating that “you are the main reason for the corporation exceeding the 2015 target by 3,627 tonnes.”

Minister Holder cautioned against industrial action and called for a new industrial relations climate where the union, workers and management [would] work together for the betterment of the industry and workers.

According to Minister Holder, the 193 strike actions during 2015, even though it was one less than the previous year, amounted to G$181.5 million or 70,129 in man days and wages lost.

up received $20,000 and a certificate of appreciation for their efforts.

The honour scheme recognises workers who championed above others in their respective field of operations and sought to motivate others to strive for excellence.

The champion workers awarded were: Haresh

Balram of Skeldon Estate; Hugh Orin Thomas of Albion Estate; Jagdeo Phillips of Rose Hall Estate; Hansram Jagdeo of Blairmont Estate; Peter Budhu of Enmore Estate; Ramlochan Ramoutar of LBI Estate; Kevin Floyd Edgar of Head Office; Ryan Petrie of the Demerara Sugar Terminal; Chandraite Dharundhar of Wales Estate; and Kalicharran Ramnaraess of Uitvlugt Estate.

Acting CEO Paul Bhim, in his brief remarks, applauded the efforts of the champion workers, whom he said rose above negative criticism and publicity to become champions in their respective fields.

He also appealed to others to be motivated and take a page out of the books of the champions as a lot more of similar efforts are needed to get the sugar industry back on track.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

Job well done!

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

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––UK lauds Guyana for aiding in April 2015 cocaine bust

By Svetlana Marshall THE Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have been cited for support given to the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which has resulted in the conviction of two Turks who were caught trafficking in excess of 3.2 tonnes of cocaine.

Once adulterated, this haul of cocaine had an estimated potential street value of £512M. The substance was found hidden on board the Tanzanian-flagged MV Hamal in April 2015; and following a 12-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Scotland, the ship’s captain, Mumin Sahin, and first mate, Emin Ozmen, were found guilty of two counts of drug trafficking on Monday. They will be sentenced on August 12.

In light of this conviction, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, has expressed his appreciation to the two local agencies for the pivotal role they played in the trial’s success.

“Her Majesty’s Government and the UK National Crime Agency are extremely grateful for the support and assistance provided by the Guyana Customs Anti-Nar-

cotics Unit and the Guyana Police Force during the investigation,” he said. “We are also grateful to those witnesses from Guyana who were willing and able to give

Emin Ozmen evidence during the trial.

“Our cooperation has resulted in a significant drug interdiction and the conviction of those involved in this crime. We look forward to continued cooperation in the coming months and years,” Quinn said in a statement yesterday.

DETAILED STATEMENT In a detailed statement yesterday, the NCA explained that the vessel was intercepted by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Somerset and Border Force cutter HMC Valiant in the

North Sea, approximately 100 miles off the Scottish coast of Aberdeenshire.

“They were acting on intelligence supplied by the NCA, working in cooperation with the French customs investigation service DNRED and the UK’s National Maritime Information Centre,” the NCA explained, adding that its officers were then deployed on the HMS Somerset as the MV Hamal was boarded and escorted into the Port of Aberdeen.

“Subsequent to the vessel’s arrival at the port on April 24, the authorities commenced a search, during which in excess of 3.2 tonnes of cocaine was unearthed.

“Ballast tanks on the Hamal were pumped out so that search crews could gain access. As they began to drill through a metal panel inside one of the tanks, a white powder was seen on the drill bit; it tested positive for cocaine. The panel was removed, revealing bales of cocaine concealed inside a neighbouring compartment,” the NCA said.

“The way the bales were stacked inside showed that there must be another access point in the vessel. Investigators began a detailed search for the main access point, and in crew quarters above

the compartment (and) underneath a medical cabinet they found an area of floor that had been cemented over.

They chipped through the cement and found a sealed

Ship Captain Mumin Sahin (Photo courtesy of NCA) metal hatch, which provided access to the tank containing the cocaine.

“Border Force officers wearing specialized breathing equipment entered the tank, and over a period of two days, 128 bales of cocaine were removed, each weighing approximately 25 kilos. The total weight of the cocaine taken off the MV Hamal was in excess of 3.2 tonnes.

INITIAL STAGES During the initial stage of the investigation, nine

Turkish crew members were detained and questioned in Aberdeen, while investigators scoured the ship for clues as to the vessel’s route.

According to the deck log and engine log books, the MV Hamal had spent time in West Africa after leaving Turkey. However, analysis of the ship’s navigation system showed that even though the AIS navigational beacon was turned off, GPS had continued to monitor movements on a laptop computer.

“This proved that the ship had sailed from Tenerife on March 8, 2015 and travelled across the Atlantic, arriving in Georgetown, Guyana, on March 21.

“It left five days later, and, significantly, paused its journey for around 12 to 15 hours around two days after leaving port. This is where investigators believe the drugs were loaded on,” the NCA posited.

COLLABORATION “As a result, NCA international liaison officers collaborated with the Guyanese authorities here to trace the location of the vessel whilst it was in Guyana, and individuals associated with it.

“Mobile phone evidence

placed a number of the crew in the Georgetown area of Guyana, contradicting the log books,” the UK crime agency said, adding: “Officers also recovered a coded satellite phone email message from the vessel, containing a series of numbers. When checked against a key found in a notebook on board, this corresponded with coordinates for a location in the North Sea north of the Dutch/German border, where investigators believe the drugs would have been offloaded.”

According to NCA senior investigating officer John McGowan, the seizure was “unprecedented in scale” and represented the largest ever Class ‘A’ haul in the UK, and possibly the biggest ever maritime seizure of cocaine in Europe.

“While we suspect that the end destination for this load would have initially been mainland Europe, there is no doubt, given the size of the seizure, that a good percentage would have ended up being sold in the UK, and fuelling further criminality.

“Our investigation has been truly international, and we have relied on support of law enforcement colleagues across the globe, including France, Turkey, Guyana and Tanzania.”

Border Force cutter HMC Valiant moving in on the Tanzania-registered MV Hamal in April 2015 (Photos courtesy of NCA)

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor-In-Chief Editor

Godfrey Wray Nigel Williams

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

Editorial Editorial Race Relations in the U.S

Dennis A Nelson –– dennisnelson. wnigel10@hotmail.com newyorkchronicle@yahoo.com –– 917-379-6590

gnnleditorial@gmail.com

THE recent shooting deaths of Philando Castile in Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Louisiana, two black men by white police officers, have heightened concerns about the treatment of and regard for lives of Blacks/African American by the police and white race.

Then, as persons were staging demonstrations in cities across America, protesting the police killings, a black man, using a sniper rifle, killed five police officers and injured nine persons, including seven officers. This attack took place on 7th July as the police were providing protection to demonstrators in Dallas, Texas in response to police shooting of the two black men.

These matters have engaged the attention of all and sundry, from the highest political leadership as in President Barrack Obama to the man and woman in the street. Instructively demonstrations calling for respect for black lives also see white involvement, carrying placards like: “Black Lives Matter,” and in white communities messages such as: “White silence equates to violence, so speak out” To say in the black community there is increasing concern about their lives at the hands of the police is a justifiable statement. At a press conference dealing with the Dallas shooting, black surgeon Dr. Brain Williams who attended the white officers shot by the black military veteran of the Afghanistan war said, even though he does his best to show his respect for police, he still worries for his personal safety when around officers in uniform.

When fear for the police - who by its function is established to maintain law and order which are underpinned by societal values and human rights - exists and a person, regardless of his socio-economic status, carries the burden of being targeted because of race, deservedly should be of concern to all.

Race relations in the United Sates (U.S) dates back to the nation’s founding in what some has described as its “original sin”, i.e. the enslavement and decimation of the coloured community - Africans and native Americans - which remains in its DNA, and is still confronted on a daily basis in as much as laws and others institutions are established to eliminate and deal with it.

In a society that prides itself on makings de-

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

Barrels of liquor at CPL cricket: What’s wrong with this picture?

TO say that we at The Caribbean Voice are aghast that barrels of liquor flowed at CPL matches at the National Stadium would be an understatement.

We do understand that the liquor companies are businesses that must do promotion and focus on the bottom line.

H o w e v e r, w e b e lieve it is time for these businesses to recognise that social responsibility goes beyond sponsoring events and activities. To this end, we urge liquor companies to recognise the fact that alcoholism is at the very core of many social pathologies in Guyana. We also urge them to craft and execute strategies that would help to tackle this issue, including statements in their advertisements and commercials emphasising, “responsible drinking,” “don’t drink and drive,” “no drinking by pregnant women,” “no drinking by minors,” “regular excess drinking can lead to addiction and

various health problems” and the like.

The fact is that statistics show that the Guyanese drinking culture (rum culture) where most persons “drink to get drunk”, frequently at excessive and harmful levels, is associated with many forms of entertainment and participation in social events. Flowing barrels of liquor at sports actually play into this cultural trait with no consideration given to its debilitating effects, not to mention the messages conveyed to youth and minors, hundreds of whom were at these matches. So what are the quantitative indicators of this trait and what are its effects?

On average, Guyanese, aged 15 or older, consumed more than eight litres daily of pure alcohol in 2010, compared to the global figure of 6.2 litres, the World H e a l t h O rg a n i s a t i o n (WHO) said in a 2014 report. However, the average drinker in Guyana

cisions based on scientific evidence and responding to the needs, inclusive of cries of its people, the issue of race and police brutality has not escaped the attention of the President, the country’s first as an African-America.

As Obama often says in dealing with race, it is a complex issue that requires continuous work, and though the society has made progress, there remains ways to go to atone for this sin. He has also pushed back against claims by some that his ascension to office is tantamount to America being a post-racial society.

And as blacks grapple with the issue of race and justifiably cries out for parity and respect in the society, some whites are also bound to ask the question, given the Dallas shooting ‘doesn’t white life matter, too?’ The answer in both instances is a resounding yes. All lives matter and on both side of the divide the killings were senseless.

But saying all lives matter has to go beyond the affirmative to that of action through institutional strengthening via laws, reforms and the races taking time to talk with each other as against talking past each other, being prepared to listen and empathize with the lens through which the other views the world, and where scepticism of the other exists work together to fix same. It is fair to say some efforts are being made to have such conversations.

Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and major rival Bernie Sanders, both white, in addition to condemning the killing, calling for it to stop, have also called on white America to pay attention to what

consumed more than 3.5 gallons/13.7 litres of total alcohol daily. One-seventh of this consumption (14%) was unrecorded - homemade alcohol, illegally produced or sold outside normal Government controls.

About 15.2 per cent of male drinkers (10% of the population aged 15+) engaged in heavy, episodic drinking, that is, consumed at least 60 grams of pure alcohol at least once per month.

Also, 8.6% of males and 5.9% of all Guyanese aged 15 and older are classified as having alcohol use disorder (a pattern of alcohol use which causes mental or physical damage to health), with 3.9% and 1.9% respectively classified as alcoholics.

A 1997 study found that 54% of youths aged between 12 and 25 years, were occasional drinkers and 7.5% were regular drinkers. Also, a 2013 survey by the Organization of American States/ Inter-American Drug

Abuse Control Commission (OAS/CICAD) found that the overall average among the Caribbean (Guyana included) for first use of alcohol was about 12 years old.

Furthermore, the average for males was about 11.9 years and for females 12.5 years. The survey also found that Guyana outstripped all the other Caribbean nations in terms of binge drinking among students.

It must be noted that all those figures quoted above would most likely be higher today.

Also, children and young people who misuse alcohol are at greater risk of suffering negative health and social outcomes compared to adults, because they have not yet fully developed their mental and physical faculties.

Data and research on underage sexual activity shows evidence that indicates a positive correlation between early see page 7

black America is saying. The interjection of these high profile persons will aid in elevating and amplifying the issue and moving race relations to another level.

The society has also called for the police to be held accountable and commitments from officials have been given.

Former Republican President George W. Bush weighing on the racial tension and polarization at the memorial on Tuesday for the Dallas officers said, “Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions. And this has strained our bonds of understanding and common purpose” America’s experiences on race relations are in many instances similar to ours. Even as Guyanese residing in the U.S are encouraged to take all precautions when encountering and engaging the police, and as the U.S is evidently is working through this bump in human relations, we too, both in diaspora and home, can make these teachable moments.

Guyana is still marred by racial prejudices and discrimination and require relentless and persistent efforts and institutional strengthening to eliminate them. Police profiling and brutality are also characteristics of the Guyana Police Force. Though in fairness, it seems as though deliberate efforts are presently being made to curb police excesses.

Together we can learn from and build on both experiences for the benefit of countries and world at large.

It was the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said injustice anywhere poses a threat to justice everywhere. Thus together we can aspire, must work, and shall achieve.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

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Barrels of liquor at CPL ...

From page 6 regular alcohol consumption and the early onset of risky sexual activity with attendant high risks of teenage pregnancy (Guyana has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the Caribbean) and STDs, including AIDS (The Caribbean Voice is aware of a number of such cases with at least one young lady becoming suicidal).

While reliable statistics are not available, it is a fact that alcohol has an overall economic cost to all nations and takes a toll on workplace productivity. In fact, alcoholism has been identified as a major reason for absenteeism in Guyana’s sugar industry.

Other substantial costs to society include property damage, job loss and health service costs.

Alcohol abuse has many potential consequences, including accidental falls; burns; drowning; brain damage; impaired driving resulting in accidents, deaths and injuries; poor school performance; work productivity loss; sexual assault; truancy; violence; vandalism; homicides; suicides; lowered inhibitions and increased impulsivity; risky sexual behavior, including early initiation of sexual behaviour and multiple sexual partners often leading to pregnancy and STDs. Also, it is generally well known that a relatively small proportion of incidents, involving alcohol-related violence, are reported to police, making it difficult to determine the full extent of alcohol-related violence.

Media reports continually cite alcohol as an important risk factor for domestic violence, child abuse and neglect. The high rate of alcohol involvement in intimate partner homicide continues to be widely reported. The consumption of alcohol, either by the offender or victim or both, is also a significant contributing factor in incidents of non-fatal domestic violence, with

research demonstrating that women whose partners consume alcohol at excessive levels are more likely to experience domestic violence.

Additionally, alcohol use and abuse often lead to increased family dysfunction and to other family members ending up with mental health problems such as anxiety, fear and depression, as well as increased criminal behaviour as alcohol loosens inhibitions and makes it easier for individuals to become prey to peer pressure, and/or to be coerced and manipulated. Who knows whether alcohol may not be contributing to the current high crime rate among the youth (including teenagers) as inebriated youngsters wanting to fit in, became involved in that first act of crime and then its downhill from there. In fact, The Caribbean Voice is aware of a number of such cases.

The direct alcohol death rate for Guyana is 1.6 per 100,000, but again this figure could be much higher today.

And since alcoholism also plays a significant part in suicides, and in domestic violence and child abuse, which often lead to fatalities, the overall death rate (direct and indirect) would also be much higher.

Against this background, existing realities serve to foster alcohol consumption and alcoholism. According to the WHO, while some countries are already strengthening measures to protect people, including increasing taxes on alcohol, limiting the availability of alcohol by raising the age limit, and regulating the marketing of alcoholic beverages, Guyana has, “No written policy adopted or revised pertaining to the fight against alcoholism, no legally binding regulations on alcohol advertising and product placement, as well as no legal regulations on alcohol sponsorship sales. A national legal minimum age limit for purchase of alcohol exists, however,

it is not enforced.”

Furthermore, Guyana has only four in-house alcoholism treatment centres, all of which have high costs associated with their programmes, all of which are located in Georgetown and all of which show only about a 25% recovery rate. Then there are: * The failure of the Criminal Justice system to appreciate rehabilitation as an alternative to incarceration as well as lack of any structured rehabilitation programme in prisons; * A benevolent attitude towards alcoholics and drinking on the whole, often with wives and mothers actively fostering this as a social activity among fathers, husbands and children; * The easy availability of alcohol not only with respect to licensed liquor bars/rum shops openly selling liquor to all and sundry, but also with respect to unlicensed bottom house bars springing up all over the place.

So what then, should be done? In addition to the need for liquor businesses to expand their

concept of social responsibility as pointed out above and the need for implementation of measures referenced by WHO above, other steps include: > Creating substance abuse-related education, assessment, intervention, treatment and recovery services and making them available nation wide; > Expanding the number of behavioural health provider options in an effort to increase the number of citizens served; > Exploring new funding sources from donor communities for behavioural health programmes, services, and providers and increasing gov’t funding for same; > Partnering with NGOs and faith-based organisations to implément evidenced-based prevention programmes that teach personal responsibility for one’s health. > Maximizing the use of social media to its fullest public health potential to educate the public, particularly those under the age of 18. > Improving the internal culture at the Health

Department by attracting and engaging high-quality staff; ensuring professional excellence by concentrating on ongoing professional development and training, providing training funds and tracking all training; developing leadership competencies; and developing a succession plan and mentorship programme. > Leveraging technology/infrastructure by implementing an electronic health record (EHR) system. > Establishing at least one Rehabilitation Treatment Centre in each of Guyana’s 10 regions, which was a goal of the previous government.

It must be pointed out that these measures would not be standalone ones but inclusive and scaffolding. Thus treatment centres can also deal with drugs and mental health issues.

And social media can be harnessed to promote overall health care. Ditto for funding and training.

In fact, all of this can be built into an integrated health care system, as advocated by WHO, so that resources are maximized and health care

becomes comprehensive and inter-related.

Finally, may we suggest that from next year, the government enters into an agreement with CPL to foster awareness of suicide, alcoholism, drugs use, teenage pregnancy, trafficking and related issues. In addition to posters and banners strategically placed around the stadium (and which can be used continuously over time), cricketers can deliver messages via mass media, commentators can deliver messages during commentaries and so on. This collaborative approach is very costeffective and can be a policy that harnesses every opportunity – sports, culture, entertainment, mass assemblies, training programmes, festivals and so on. For example Mashramani is another great opportunity to focus on these issues.

There has been enough rhetoric and excuses; it is time for the government to rework priorities relating to the welfare of the citizenry.

THE CARIBBEAN VOICE

‘Pay you will’

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

–grieving mother tells daughter’s alleged killer as he goes to court

By Clestine Juan

Suresh Ganesh

“YUH is a murderer and a lowlife junkie; you’re a monster,” were just some of the expressions of condemnation and hurt that were hurled at 28-yearold fisherman, Suresh Ganesh, as he exited the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Ganesh, who reportedly hacked his wife and

Dead: Vanessa Sukhram-Persaud and her son, Joel Ganesh two-year-old son to death about two weeks ago, made his first court appearance before Magistrate Clive Nurse, charged with two counts of murder, and was remanded to prison until August 29.

Prior to his appearance, he was taken for psychiatric evaluation, where doctors determined that he was fit to stand trial.

Ganesh, called “Battery” and “Tarzan”, was not required to plead to the charges, which alleged that on Friday, July 1, at Best Village, he murdered 34-year-old Vanessa Sukhram-Persaud and their two-year-old son, Joel Ganesh.

The family of the un-

represented man quickly left the court before Persaud’s relatives could have confronted them.

The dead woman’s mother, Anita Persaud, who was also present in court, could not contain herself as her reputed sonin-law was being escorted out of the courtroom.

“My daughter and grandson didn’t deserve to die like that,” she told him. “I will see that you pay, even if it’s the last thing I do,” the grieving woman said.

Having gotten that bit off her chest, the woman broke down in tears outside of the court, murmuring, “My daughter was murdered all because of

love. She kept telling me, ‘Mommy, this boy need help, and I’m going to help him.’ And this is what she got in return.”

According to the mother, the five years her daughter was living with the accused was like ‘living in hell’, since she would often be abused by him, his mother and sister.

“Yuh know, just about a month ago, Suresh mother run my daughter with a cutlass and even threatened to kill her, while his sister, who live in the back house, used to cuss out Vanessa. But I keep telling her don’t tek them see page 9

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

‘Pay you will’ From page 8 on,” Persaud said.

She alleged that Ganesh’s mother knew he wanted to kill her daughter, since she (Ganesh mother) had reportedly told a matron working at the Best Hospital so.

The mother also said that she had taken the couple’s older son, Samuel Sukhram, since they were unable to take care of him. “I tek away Samuel then she gone and mek another one… I left this country like four months ago, but I used to send money fuh mine she, ‘cause he never used to do none,” Persaud lamented.

“Suresh used to get Vanessa trapped inside of the house; even his brother in a recent news interview said he used to lock her inside of the house; and the family know that,” sobbed the woman as she blamed herself for not being there to save her daughter.

As the woman struggled to continue, she disclosed that Ganesh tried to cover his tracks by chopping up things in the house and fixed the bodies to look like if they were asleep.

“She died while fighting to save her child; but look what happened,” Persaud said as tears rolled down her face.

She added: “Vanessa wanted to leave him but she was awaiting her cousin arrival from the bush on July 28 to take her away from this monster- but it was too late,” the mother said as she wiped the tears away.

Sukhram-Persaud, a mother of two, was found on a blood-soaked mattress with her neck almost

Wrote first song at 68 LEONARD Grandison, was born in Guyana in 1948. “A country boy” who went on to join the Fire Service, settle down and have a family. Singing and songwriting were never on his radar.

Leonard and his family immigrated to Scotland and his journey took him to the tough housing scheme of Milton, where he has lived for a number of years. By chance one day he found a flyer lying on the ground at the Milton bus terminus advertising guitar/ songwriting classes at the local hall and as a music lover of all genres Leonard decided to give it a go.

It didn’t take long for people to realize he was a very special talent when he sang for the first time.

This was sealed and confirmed

LEONARD GRANDISON

Anita Persaud severed and with chops to her jaw, arms and fingers. Her son was found lying next to her with his intestines protruding.

The fisherman went berserk on the day in question, killing his family and almost severed the arm of his mother.

This newspaper understands that the alleged killer told the police that his wife had been unfaithful, and he was “stressed out” since he is unemployed and had difficulty finding a job.

According to reports, Ganesh was arguing with his wife over food, claiming that he was hungry.

His mother overheard the heated argument, and decided to take a piece of bread over to the shack where Ganesh lived with his wife and son. The shack is located behind his mother’s house.

As she was taking the bread to his house, she was attacked by her son who was armed with a cutlass. The woman dropped the bread and ran towards her home, but the young man chased her and continued his chopping spree.

when he wrote his first song shortly after, at the age of 68, and he has just kept on writing ever since, an outpouring of bottled up timeless classics from another era written in contemporary times. ‘Stay a While” is his first single released on MAP 75 Records and he has also started working on his debut album which will be completed by the end of the year. “A genuine raw talent” (www.leonardgrandison. com) MAP 75 RECORDS was setup by local arts project run by local people. Our aim is to simply record and release great local music, to support our local punks. Leonard Grandison’s Stay A While will be the label’s second release.

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New completion date for GPHC’s maternity ward

THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) maternity ward will be open to the general public before the third quarter of this year.

“The construction… has been ongoing and I think its closing to the end, hopefully before the next quarter we should be able to formally open that unit,” Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud is quoted by the Government Information Agency (GINA) as saying.

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton is quoted by GINA as saying that the delay in the completion of the unit is due to a breach of contract by the contractors and the

ministry is considering legal action.

“I have a document where the contractors are justifying the non-completion of the building because they are saying to us that they had to stretch their resources to complete other projects and as a result have neglected this wing that they are doing.

“I don’t think that they are in the right path. I said it before, if not legal action, at least some form of sanctions should be imposed on them,” Minister Norton explained.

Dr. Persaud explained that, “The Georgetown Hospital has been under tremendous pressure when it comes to maternal/child

The new maternity wing to be completed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

Training room, ground floor, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s new maternity wing lives. Of course, maternal health is quite an area of concern for the ministry.”

The construction of the new wing is intended to assist in the number of referrals to the GPHC. On

completion, it is expected to house 50 beds, two operating rooms, the birthing room, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on the top floor.

The project which

started in February 2015 with $263M allocated by the previous administration, received $89M, which was allocated in the National Budget in 2016.

Inside the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s new maternity wing (ground floor)

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Venezuelan gang extorting Guyanese miners ––Army, police to investigate claims

By Shauna Jemmott THE Guyana Police and Defence forces (GPF and GDF) are investigating reports that a Venezuelan gang operating in the areas of Arau and Mango Landing -- in Region Seven, along the Wenamu River in the Cuyuni Mining District and close to the Venezuelan border -- has been terrorizing Guyanese miners, demanding from them gold, cash and other items.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Brigadier Mark Phillips, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, confirmed that the army has received complaints of the attacks and is working with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to investigate the matter.

He said soldiers and police stationed at Eteringbang have visited the area after receiving from the Guyanese miners

complaints about harassment by Venezuelans armed with guns. The army has also received follow-up reports, and is preparing to dispatch another team of soldiers into the area, Brigadier Phillips said.

The Guyana Chronicle was first approached with reports on the matter on Sunday afternoon, when a woman expressed concern about her brother being in danger in the Arau backdam, near the Venezuelan border. Requesting anonymity, the woman said her brother telephoned her a week ago and told her of the presence of armed men operating from across the border demanding cash and gold from Guyanese.

The woman said her brother usually sends out gold to her in Georgetown and she sends items to him, but that has since stopped, as the Venezuelans are trying to control the waterways and boat captains

are skeptical of working in the area.

Also requesting that the identity of her brother not be revealed, the woman said he had been scheduled to travel to Georgetown soon, but told her if the situation is not resolved, he may not be able to do so.

The Guyana Chronicle spoke on Monday with another person who had visited the Ministry of Natural Resources to lodge a formal complaint about the matter. The man, who operates a dredge in the area, had travelled into Arau last Wednesday, where he was confronted by the armed Venezuelans. According to the man, gang members indicated that they “come to control things there”, and were demanding a certain amount of gold from dredge and shop owners. “(They) control everything at their terms,” the man complained. He said the gunmen are pirates reportedly from

a group called “Cindy Cathas”, which also terrorises Guyanese on the Wenamu River. The man said that while persons know they should not pay the Venezuelans, they cooperate because their lives and the lives of others are at risk.

“Most people (are) using the Wenamu River because that is the only way you go by boat. They hold somebody boat there and they (later) give back the boat.

I don’t know if (the person) paid or what.

We want to work in peace; we shouldn’t be bullied and harassed…,” he said.

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, has been informed of the miners’ plight, and has since reported the matter to the GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips. More than 100 Guyanese reside in this area that is being frequented by the gun-toting Venezuelans.

Venezuelan army to combat food shortages

VENEZUELA’S military has started monitoring ports and food processing plants, in a new effort to guarantee supplies of food and medicines.

In a decree, President Nicolas Maduro has or-

Mr Maduro accuses rivals of waging an “economic war” dered the army to co-ordinate the production and distribution of items.

Venezuela is going through a deep econom-

ic crisis, despite having the world’s largest oil reserves.

Basic products are increasingly scarce and many say they struggle to feed their families.

Maduro says the measure is to fight the “economic war” he claims is being waged against his Government by political foes and businessmen, with US backing.

But the opposition says the Government has mismanaged the economy, and has called for a referendum to oust the president.

Maduro created a Government initiative called Great Mission of Sovereign Supplying, which will be headed by the country’s defence minister.

Among other things, it can establish how purchases and distribution of food, medicine and household goods are made.

Meanwhile, Maduro accused Citibank of

Queues are now commonplace outside the shops in Venezuela mounting a “financial blockade” on the country, after the US bank decided to close the Government’s international

payments account with it.

Citibank said the decision followed a “periodic risk management review”, but did not ex-

plain further. It would be implemented within 30 days, it added.

Due to strict currency controls in place since

2003, the Venezuelan Government relies on Citibank for foreign currency transactions.

(BBC)

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

GDF Colonel heads Department of National Events

PRESIDENT David Granger on Monday officially established the Department of National Events, and placed same under the Ministry of the Presidency (MoP).

This Department, headed by Colonel Nazrul Hussain of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), is tasked with planning and execution of all national events in the country.

An MoP release has President Granger as saying that national events must be planned and executed in a manner that would make Guyanese people feel pride and patriotism.

“Public events are important for our political culture, for our national identity; (they declare) who we are, and my expectations are that Guyanese must feel proud of their national symbols, monuments, their national festivals.

“We have already seen, over the last year, how proud Guyanese feel even to see the national flag being raised, and we want to ensure that this feeling permeates Guyanese at all levels and in all of the regions. And my expectations are that Guyanese will emerge more unified and more proud of their identity, history and heritage than ever before,” President Granger said.

The Head of State noted that national events require extensive coordination and collaboration among a number of ministries and Government agencies, especially those events of a large magnitude. Therefore, it is important for someone to assume specific responsibility for these events, so that they receive the required attention.

“We want to ensure that [national and international events] are done and performed in a very high standard, and there has to be a high level of coordination as well.

Many of these events involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Education, which has responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport; the Ministry of the Presidency; the Ministry of Public Infrastructure; (and) the Ministry of Communities. So you need somebody who can

Colonel Nazrul Hussain coordinate the work of the various Ministries in ensuring that these public events are done at the highest possible level; so we felt that it would be good for us to have that function within the Ministry of the Presidency….

“We expect that we will be having not only a high standard of performance and coordination among the various Ministries, but that the public will be satisfied with the purposes of these occasions,” he said.

EXCELLENCE President Granger assured Guyanese that they can certainly expect national events to be displays of excellence which are reflective of nationalism and pride.

“People are very proud of Mashramani, they are proud of Independence, they are proud of Enmore Martyrs’ (Day), they are proud of honouring our veterans on Remembrance Day, they are proud of Emancipation Day and all of the other celebrations; and I expect that once (these national events) are well organised, there will be greater participation and there will be greater satisfaction on the part of the general public.

“This is what we want to see: Guyanese who are proud of being Guyanese,” the President said.

According to the release, Colonel Hussain has said he is honoured by the responsibility bestowed on him.

He vouched to ensure that all events under his watch are executed in an efficient manner, so that Guyanese would be proud.

“I am elated to be selected to head the Department of National Events, as was established in the meeting today; and the President, based on the previous events, would like us to do things with a better flair, with the watchword being excellence.

“This department was established to standardise all of our national activities, and to execute all national activities with excellence in mind. It will entail having a diary which reflects all of the national events and observances, and to plan and execute some of the traditional and some new ones that we will be working on, and to ensure that we have a manual of standards that we can refer to (to) ensure that there is no deviation from the standard of excellence that we are going to establish,” he said.

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Renewed efforts to remove vagrants in front Parliament Building

THE Ministry of Public Security is seeking technical advice on the permanent removal of vagrants who continue to squat around Parliament building. Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that to effec-

tively remove these persons poses “a huge problem” to the Guyana Police Force.

According to GINA, Ramjattan pointed out that while on some occasions police have had to place some of the vagrants in holding cells, they would always return to the area once they are

released.

“We have a huge problem there…when you start taking them and putting them in the lock-ups because we don’t really have space for them,” Ramjattan said.

The Public Security Ministry is part of a committee estab-

lished by the Ministry of Social Protection to address the welfare management of the homeless, mentally challenged and addicted persons on the streets. The committee also includes representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council.

Vagrants outside Parliament building

“We have to construct a half-way house, and we’ll have to get the funding from Social Protection Ministry for that purpose,” Ramjattan explained as one solution to address the problem.

Last month, the Ministry of Social Protection had

indicated that it had identified a building in Region Five to house street dwellers where they will be evaluated to determine whether some of them can be treated externally, placed in a home or be referred to the National Psychiatric Hospital.

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Coconut Festival slated for October - farmers want coconut water declared the ‘national drink’

AS the Ministry of Tourism prepares to host a major Coconut Festival this October, large-scale coconut farmers have proposed that government officially declare coconut water the national drink of Guyana.

The Ministry of Tourism said while coconut farmers in Essequibo are excited about the festival which will be hosted at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, a Region Two Tourism Development Association is also in the making to promote the region as an official tourist destination.

A press statement signed by Ministry

of Tourism Director General Donald Sinclair, who is also Chairman of the Coconut Festival Planning Committee, said he, along with Raymond Trotz, Chairman of the National Coconut Stakeholders Platform; Agri-Tourism Specialist Gemma Wenner; and Norman Sukhu of the Guyana Tourism Authority, all members of the organising committee, visited the Essequibo Coast “to assess the full scale of private sector investments in coconut plantations and production”.

The team visited the operations run by Alfro Alfonso (Golden Brook), Ramesh Ramotar (Rooster), Henry and

Vilma da Silva (Henvil Farms) and Beni Sankar and Daleep Singh, and inspected coconut farms, coconut water and coconut oil producing facilities, fish and goat farms, and hospitality facilities.

“The Planning Committee shared with these stakeholders some plans for the upcoming Coconut Festival, and they participated in a lively discussion about the challenges facing the region, as well as the prospects for immediate development.”

He said discussions were also held on the pollution of the Pomeroon River with coconut shells, and other issues related to maintaining the cleanliness and boosting the image of Charity to make it a tourism destination.

The main players from Essequibo, including the owners of Henvil Farms,

Original Juice, Golden Brook Edible Oils and Ramotar Investments, have forwarded several proposals, one of which is to have coconut water officially declared the national drink of Guyana.

The coconut entrepreneurs and product developers in Essequibo have also planned a “Speedboat-cade” which will be held on the Pomeroon River, and pledged also to set up a specially branded “Essequibo Zone” at the Coconut Festival.

The “Speedboat-cade” is slated for Sunday, October 16, the first day of Coconut Awareness Week 2016, with the objective of increasing awareness of the importance of the Pomeroon River to the livelihood of the community and the need to maintain it in a clean and healthy state.

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Stop posing as a British knight, Antigua-Barbuda envoy warned

OFFICIALS at Buckingham Palace have written to a controversial Antigua and Barbuda special economic envoy warning him again to stop masquerading as a British knight.

Anthony Bailey received a knighthood from the governor-general of Antigua and Barbuda in 2014, in a process one contemporaneous fellow recipient called “irregular”, but he has frequently flouted convention by using his title in the UK, much to the dismay of Buckingham Palace and the Foreign Office, which has also asked Bailey to desist.

Bailey turned up in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot last month sporting a badge saying “Sir Anthony Bailey”, despite repeated warnings he is not allowed to refer to himself as such in the UK, Britain’s Mail on Sunday newspaper reported.

Ascot itself also forbids the use of overseas titles by British nationals.

According to the article by Mail on Sunday journalist Ned Donovan, Bailey insisted there was nothing he could do about it.

Bailey’s lawyers reportedly said the badge was ordered and issued much earlier in the year. They claimed he returned the badge and “requested a new one” but was given a replacement that still featured the title “Sir”.

Buckingham Palace and the Foreign Office declined to comment on individual titles but well-placed sources told the Mail on Sunday that officials are furious at Bailey’s continued use of the foreign honour.

Meanwhile, until his lawyers were alerted by the Mail on Sunday last week, Bailey was still using “Sir” on his Instagram account, featuring countless pictures of himself captioned #siranthonybailey.

Along with previous articles by the Mail on Sunday, Private Eye, a well-known British satirical and current affairs magazine, had also reported that simmering official exasperation at the antics of “puffed-up popinjay” Bailey finally boiled over last month with an unusual notice in the official London Gazette, jointly issued by Buckingham Palace, the Foreign Office, the College of Arms and the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood that was aimed squarely at him.

On June 1, 2016, the Gazette announced: “Notice is hereby given that, in line with the long-established convention concerning foreign titles, British nationals who have been awarded an honour by another country may not use any associated title that the award might bestow, in the United Kingdom.

Only those British nationals, including dual Anthony Bailey turned up in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot last month sporting a badge saying “Sir Anthony Bailey”. (Photo: Mail on Sunday) nationals, awarded a British Knighthood or appointed to a British Order of Chivalry as a Dame, may use the title ‘Sir’ or ‘Dame’ in the United Kingdom.”

Yet this didn’t stop Bailey posing for pictures with his ‘Sir’ badge at Royal Ascot later in the month.

According to an earlier Mail on Sunday report, after the Palace clarified the rules on foreign honours, Bailey also faces the prospect of having his current British passport revoked and a new one issued, removing the title “Sir”, unless he can produce evidence of a British title.

Bailey, who styles himself “His Excellency Sir Anthony Bailey, KGCN, OBE, GCSS, Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations and Delegate for the Caribbean of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George”, took over the obscure Catholic order in 2003, transforming it into what Private Eye described as a “networker’s nirvana”, awarding Constantinian “knighthoods” to “eminences such as Bashar al-Assad”.

The Syrian dictator repaid the favour by awarding Bailey the Syrian Order of Outstanding Merit, First Class.

One of the two other men approved for Antigua and Barbuda knighthood by the country’s previous administration at the same time as Bailey was Nadmi Auchi, who was convicted of fraud and bribery in a corruption scandal in France in 2003. The other is Bulgarian businessman Spas Roussev, who apparently had “questions about the arrangement from the start”.

Roussev was reportedly “approached and offered an Antiguan honour in exchange for supporting local charitable projects”.

According to his spokesman: “It became clear that all was not well, the process involved was irregular and not as originally described. Mr Roussev therefore withheld all payments and asked to return the honour, but this was refused. He has been pursued for payment ever since.”

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that the knighthood awarded to Bailey is now under “review”. Bailey’s friends who were knighted with him in Antigua have already had their honours revoked pending an investigation.

Browne said that all three knighthoods had been arranged prior to his Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) coming to power in June 2014.

“By the time we came to office, this was a fait accompli and we honoured the arrangements without any knowledge of the prior discussions,” he said. (Caribbean News Now)

Human remains found aback Bee Hive

By Shauna Jemmott A HUNTER looking for iguana and labba in the Bee Hive farmlands stumbled upon a human skull and a quantity of bones in the backlands of the East Coast Demerara village on Sunday.

And the Guyana Police Force has since visited the area to investigate the find.

‘C’ Division Commander Assistant Commissioner Marlon Chapman told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that a single skull and bones of a human body were discovered in

the backlands, some eight miles into Bee Hive.

Villagers told the Guyana Chronicle Sunday night that a farmer made the find some days ago, as he went on his daily hunting trip.

Commander Chapman said the Guyana Police Force is investigating the matter and a post-mortem examination will be done on the remains to determine the cause of death.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that while there were no reports of anyone missing in the community, the remains appear to have been there “a long, long time ago”.

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Region 10 honours top NGSA students

MINISTER of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, said on Monday that she was “particularly proud” to be presenting the 2016 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) top performers in Region 10, Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice, with bicycles and backpacks.

The Minister congratulated Region Ten for doing extremely well at the NGSA, having four of its top students earning places at Queen’s College;

Granger’s vision to make Guyana “an education nation”.

Since commencement of the Five Bs Programme (Boats, Buses, Bicycles plus Breakfast and Books), 10 buses, nine boats and hundreds of bicycles have been donated to children and communities, all aimed at reducing inequalities to education, she said.

“I want to say to you, Region Ten, that you are very fortunate, as you are

programme operated by the previous administration, “It is not about the $10,000, it is about providing a better life for our people… It is about providing opportunities for our young people to be better citizens of this country,” she said.

Minister Ally also extended thanks to His Worship, Mayor Carwyn Holland, who advanced the Ministry’s plans to reward the top students in his

accessible to all the nation’s children.

“I’m very much pleased to know that we have a government that is pursuing education; that is supporting all initiatives that will lend to the extension of education among our children and young people. I’m extremely happy,” he said.

Other attendees at the gathering included Ms. Keane Adams, Regional Education Officer (ag), who represented

Some of the top students in the Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice Region display their bicycles and backpacks 10 at the Bishops’ High; four at Saint Stanislaus College, and three at St. Roses High.

Twenty-one students were selected to be honoured for sterling performance; and the one who did not attend today’s ceremony will receive his bicycle and bag at a later date.

“Top students, top schools,” Minister Ally said, as teachers, parents, students and other supporters erupted into loud cheers during the ceremony, held at the Department of Education at Republic Avenue in Linden.

Minister Ally noted that this is the first time in many years that the top regional performers are being honoured, and she lauded President David

enjoying many of the ‘Bs’. You have enjoyed boats: three boats have been allocated to this region, Berbice River, Demerara River and Essequibo River, because we recently gave [one to] River’s View…. You already have one bus…and you are now fortunate to get bicycles and bags,” the Minister said.

She charged the gathering to pool their resources to develop their town, region and country. “I ask you, Region Ten, to become builders: another ‘B’ in this region…Linden is doing well,” she said.

The Minister said that while there was much furore when the Government stopped the poorly administered distribution of the $10,000 school voucher

constituency by donating a number of bicycles for distribution.

Mayor Holland recalled that he had once benefited from support during his school years, and he said he has been inspired by the President’s Five Bs Programme. Further, he announced that he would establish the Cecil Holland Fund for Top Students in memory of his father, who died recently and who had been a source of support to one of the top students honoured today.

The Mayor also pledged to provide the bicycle for the honouree who was not present at today’s event.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Renis Morian said he was pleased with Government’s efforts to make education

Regional Education Officer; Ms. Marcia Paddy-Andrews; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms. Valerie Patterson; Member of Parliament Mr. Jermaine Figueira; Ms. Sandra Adams, Director of Community Development and RDC Councillor; Ms. Maylene Stephens, Deputy Regional Executive Officer; Ms. Lana Mosley, who chaired the programme; councillors of the RDC and of the Mayor and Town Council.

Ms. Delcia Casim wowed the audience with her rendition of Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All”. The gathering also sung “Let us co-operate for Guyana” as the spirit of nationalism permeated the ceremony. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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Brazil beefs up security ahead of Olympics THE federal government in Brazil says it is releasing additional funding to beef up security ahead of next month’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Sports Minister Leonardo Picciani said the armed forces would get an extra $24M (£18M) to help them meet security needs.

The military would begin patrolling sports venues from 24 July, he added.

More than 80,000 police and soldiers will patrol the streets of Rio for the duration of the games.

The state of Rio de Janeiro has recently cut budgets across the board, including that of the police.

The police in Rio recently staged demonstrations against the late payment of salaries, and a lack of basic necessities like car fuel and toilet paper.

Correspondents say the protests are a symptom of

Brazilian Public-Safety National Force personnel on patrol at Olympic facilities in Rio (Fabrizio Bensch/ Reuters)

Gunmen caught after robbing vendors

P

UBLIC spirited citizens apprehended two gunmen who carried out a daring robbery on two vendors at Bourda Market on Monday.

According to a police report, the robbery was committed on Wayne Miller, 51 years and Darmenna Wong, 43 years, vendors of Bourda Market and both of whom reside at Block ‘Y’, Section ‘C’, Grove, East Bank Demerara.

The robbery occurred at 23:00h and the men carted off $500,000 in cash.

Investigations have so far revealed that the vendors were in the vicinity of Orange Walk and Robb Street, Bourda, when two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, approached the victims and robbed them of the cash mentioned. The victims raised an alarm and the suspects were apprehended by public spirited citizens.

The police were summoned and one 9mm pistol and five live matching rounds were found on one of the suspects.

They are in police custody assisting with the investigations.

the political and economic woes which have engulfed Brazil in recent times.

Brazil’s Senate suspended the country’s President Dilma Rousseff in May, and then began impeachment proceedings against her over allegations that she manipulated the government budget ahead of her 2014 re-election campaign.

On the economic front, government figures for the first quarter of 2016 showed that Brazil was experiencing its worst recession in 25 years.

And the Olympic organising committee has had to deal with news that several famous sportsmen -- including golf world number one Jason Day -have withdrawn from the games because of fears about the Zika virus.

However, the CEO of the games has said that concerns about the virus affecting the Olympics have been “blown out of the proportion.” (BBC)

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

Hague conference, pioneer in child rights, opens

–– President sees need for consultation before new commitments on international family law, legal cooperation and commerce LEGAL implications and ramifications of conventions aligned to the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) must be understood, President David Granger said Wednesday evening as he emphasised the need for consultation.

The President was speaking at the opening of the Hague Conference at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.

HCCH is an organisation that develops international treaties and conventions that deal with international issues involving private individuals or commercial operators and the creation of an environment that is conducive to cross-border trade, cross-border investment, cross-border commerce, the creation of legal certainty and predictability for people and operators, so that all the rules are known, before participation in commercial transactions or overseas investments.

The conference also deals with child adoption, child abduction and child rights.

“We have to commit to understanding more fully the legal implications and ramifications of the adoption of these conventions of the “Conference’ – a process that must be preceded by consultations with national stakeholders,” President Granger said as he delivered the feature address at the opening of the conference.

Nevertheless, he said Guyana’s hosting of the conference is a demonstration of its commitment to examine ways in which its domestic and international human rights architecture, especially on the issues of international family law, legal cooperation and commerce, can be strengthened.

The foundation has been laid for a solid, legal architecture of child protection

but the country, he said, must commit to improving existing legislation and similarly commit to fostering an enabling environment for commerce and trade in keeping with the promise of a “good life for all Guyanese.”

“A ‘good life’ means more than economic growth.

It is about the creation of a caring and protective society, especially for its most

va of 1924 – a landmark in international law –recognised that mankind owed to the child the best that it had to give, the President said.

That ‘Declaration’ had triggered discussions which culminated in the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

“The Hague Conference, in the meantime, produced

measures for the protection of children. The conventions of the Hague Conference have complemented and supported the United Nations’ efforts in the protection of children, have encouraged the development of national systems of legal protections for children and have been instrumental in the development of family law.

Zooming in closer to

conference will assist us in improving our systems – both legal and administrative – for the protection of our children,” he posited.

In the area of commerce, he said Guyana will be looking to HCCH for guidance on possible steps to be taken to improve legal certainty and predictability in trade.

“Trade is important to every country. Our country

organising the event locally, reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment in supporting the Hague Conference.

In reinforcing the country’s commitment, the AG nominated Chief Justice Yvonne Cummings-Edwards and Justice Roxanne George as Guyana’s representatives on the International Hague Network of Judges.

“I have no doubt they

Students of the Success Elementary Primary choir perform for the audience at the opening of the Hague conference Wednesday evening vulnerable members, its children. A ‘good life’ means respecting the rights of children, protecting them from abuse and providing greater opportunities for them to have successful lives,” he said.

According to him, this can achieved at the level of the family, the community, the state and international organisations.

It was pointed out that the Hague Conference has been a pioneer in the protection of the child.

The Declaration of Gene-

two important conventions which impacted on the protection of children: Convention on the law applicable to maintenance obligations towards children; and Convention concerning the recognition and enforcement of decisions relating to maintenance obligations towards children,” President Granger explained. .

Additionally, several other conventions were produced relating to the protection of minors, adoptions, child abductions and child support and maintenance and

home, President Granger pointed out that here in Guyana a number of important laws relating to the protection of children have been instituted including: Status of Children Act; Child Protection Act; Adoption of Children Act; Sexual Offences Act; and Custody, Contact, Guardianship and Maintenance Act. “Guyana’s legal architecture – relating to the protection of children and to issues of family law – is far from finished. We expect that the deliberations of this

can be the gateway both to markets on the continent and in the Caribbean and the wider world. Legal certainty and predictability in international commerce will provide assurances to exporters and importers trading in regional and international markets.”

Additionally, he said the conference can play a leading role in providing legal certainty and predictability in international contracts.

Meanwhile, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams who was responsible for

will bring to this prestigious network a wealth of knowledge that will contribute positively to operating and functioning of the Hague Conference,” Williams said.

The conference, which is themed “International Family Law, Legal Cooperation and Commerce, Promoting Human Rights and Cross-Border Trade in Guyana through the Hague Convention,” was organised by HCCH, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Government of Guyana.

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Guyanese in U.S. murdered in home

By Shirley Thomas

THE body of a 62-year-old Guyana-born American citizen was last Friday found dead in her Landover Hills home in Maryland, bearing marks of violence, King George’s County Police have said.

Dead is Lenise Fredericks, formerly of 245 Luckhoo Street, Lodge Housing Scheme, where she (an only child) lived with her mother, Mrs Beaulah Fredericks before migrating to the United States of America about 25 years ago.

Prince George’s County police said the 62-year-old Fredericks was discovered dead inside the home located in the 4000 block of 71st Avenue around 18:00 hrs Friday, after they were called to her house for a welfare check.

When found, she was suffering from trauma to her upper body, and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Meanwhile, Prince George’s County Police have since arrested a man, Robert James Crosby, in connection with Fredericks’s death.

Dead: Lenise Fredericks-Mangal

Police said Crosby and Fredericks were neighbours and that the motive was robbery.

Police confirmed that Crosby, 61, also of Landover Hills, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and robbery. He is being held on a no-bond status.

Meanwhile, the dead woman’s husband, Russel Mangal, devastated on making the discovery, told her relatives that he had just finished working and was waiting for her to pick him up. They would both drive home.

However, after not seeing nor hearing from her, he made a few calls but they went unanswered. Mangal said he eventually decided on taking a bus home and on entering the home, he got the shock of his life. His wife was lying dead on the floor.

The distraught husband said he immediately thought that she might have suffered a heart attack and so he called the PGC Police.

On arriving, they examined the body and also searched the house. That is when they broke the shocking news to him that his wife had been

murdered.

The husband began to scream and immediately phoned the caregiver taking care of his mother-in-law who also lives in the United States.

But the hardest three days later and they are still pondering how to break the news to his 96-year-old mother-in-law who in the meantime is daily asking “Where is Lenise? Why isn’t she coming to see me? She never does that.”

Meanwhile, all plans being made by Lenise to host a surprise 96th birthday party for her mother on August 3 have been shattered. Back in Guyana, her only surviving aunt, Beryl Godette, and her husband Dr Lloyd Godette are devastated by the news but are trying to stay strong.

Lenise Fredericks, while in Guyana, was employed at the University of Guyana as a Cartographer,at Lands and Surveys and finally at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission after securing her Master’s Degree in Holland.

Rewarding excellence –– overseas-based Guyanese gives backpack, other supplies to top performers of Lichfield Primary

By Clifford Stanley NEW YORK-BASED Guyanese Marcia Nicholson, a former resident of Lichfield, West Coast Berbice and pupil of the Lichfield Primary School, has rewarded that school’s top 11 pupils at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations with backpacks and

other school supplies; and has given similar gifts to the three top pupils at the Grade 5 examinations, in order to encourage them to work hard preparing for the Grade Six examinations next year.

These incentives were given to recipient pupils during the school’s graduation exercise held recently, where Nicholson re-

Overseas-based Guyanese Marcia Nicholson (right) and Grade Six teacher Shawn Thompson with some of the gifts she donated to the top performers at the school at the recent National Grade Six Assessment

The top 11 pupils with their backpacks and other gifts minded parents, teachers and pupils that her father -- the late Alwyn Nicholson, also known as Alwyn Prince – had, in recent years, been donating prizes to the school’s NGSA top performers before his death last year; and that her mother, Cynthia Nicholson, had been a Senior Mistress at that very primary school.

“I am hereby taking up the slack left by my father’s death.

I am committed to encouraging you, children in the village and its environs, to excel in your school work; and to support the work of the teachers who nurture you. God willing, I will do this every year. I will continue where my father left off,” she said.

Marcia Nicholson was a Senior Mistress at the Bladen Hall Multilateral School on the East Coast of Demerara before she migrated to the

USA in 2002, where she is still engaged in teaching. She visits Guyana regularly. Her visit this year was timed to coincide with the graduation exercise of the Lichfield Primary School.

She said that when she returns to New York, she is committed to sending additional reading materials to the school through a Guyana/America friendship group based in the USA.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

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Battered by floods, Mahaicony farmers cry for help

By Ariana Gordon

MAHAICONY farmers, reeling from losses as a result of floods, want to see robust intervention by government to relieve them of their plight.

The farmers along the Mahaicony creek say the “severe flooding” brought on by persistent rainfall has cost them millions of dollars in losses.

“We have been suffering since April and we are not seeing anyone. Every

the same things happening,” the frustrated man remarked.

The Minister, Mr Noel Holder, denied that government has turned its eyes away from the plight of farmers, saying that there have been interventions by a number of government agencies.

With the loss of income for approximately four months, Nizam said he is unable to pay for his two tractors that are currently damaged. He is fearful that

rainfall but explained that the fixing of some of the issues in the Mahaicony Creek area will take time.

“All the work the farmers want us to do takes time… they won’t happen immediately,” he remarked while stating that “it is not fair for them to be saying they are not getting help.”

Parbu Nowcharran of Pine Ground, Mahaicony Creek, said the water has receded slightly, but lamented the losses he has already faced; noting that

The dam used by farmers to access rice fields at Mahaicony Creek, Region 5 official that passes through goes to Moraikobai (an Amerindian settlement located up the Mahaicony River),” said Nizam, a rice farmer from Esau and Jacob, Mahaicony.

The farmer claimed he has lost approximately 40 acres of rice but was optimistic that assistance would be rendered by Government officials.

“The rice ripe to cut but you can’t cut it because the water too much,” said Nizam, who has been a rice farmer for more than 15 years. He explained that he would reap approximately 30 bags per acre, with each bag sold at $2700.

“The Minister of Agriculture never go in there… he sits in his office all the time while we suffer here…just like the previous government. The Government change but is

the bank would repossess the tractors, as he has no money to pay for them.

But despite the complaints made by the rice farmers, General Manager of the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary-Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), which has responsibility for water control, Aubrey Charles told the Guyana Chronicle that while things are not where they should be, government has assisted the rice farmers in the Mahaicony Creek.

“Government did a lot of work there…a flood embankment was built, a Mahaicony façade drain was dug and a pump station installed there,” he stated.

According to Charles, the flood embankment is not in the best of conditions due to the consistent

farmers would have to wait for some time before the creek returns to a state of normalcy. “All farmers are affected… we can’t plant. We are willing to plant but we can’t get into the field. The dam is bad,” he explained.

Nowcharran said by the time the water recedes, it will be too late for farmers to plant the next crop. As such, rice farmers would have to wait until next March to begin planting again. He said he lost about 15 acres of rice due to the floods.

He complained too that no government officials had gone to visit the farmers.

There is one drainage pump located at Pine Ground, but according to the rice farmer, the lone pump is not enough.

“The pump is there but is only one and we need

more to drain the water,” he told Guyana Chronicle.

IMPASSABLE Nowcharran noted that he will attempt to “shy paddy” into the field as a last resort. He said the dam is impassable and poses serious danger to life and could also serve to damage equipment.

“The dam is really, really bad. I have got paddy ‘to shy’ but I have to walk and throw them,” he said.

The frustrated rice farmer said the situation is taking a toll on his family as that is his only source of income. “It is very hard, very, very hard on me,” he said.

Mangru Bhogpaul of Gordon Table told Guyana Chronicle of his challenges. He explained that he leaves his village to go to neighbouring Pine Ground to work.

Bhogpaul explained that Gordon Table does not have any drainage pumps and with the constant rainfall, the farms remain inundated.

“We need the dam to be repaired,” he stressed as he explained that if the land was not flooded, “we would have gotten big rice.”

“We depend on the rice to look after our family and with the rainfall it isn’t possible for us to take care of our family… inside

Nizam, a farmer from Mahaicony Creek, claims to have lost 40 acres of rice due to floods here you nah got work… you have to look for work and when we cut (rice) that’s how we get money,” Bhogpaul told this publication Monday afternoon after attempting to visit his rice field.

Meanwhile, Naranyan Chintamani of Pine Ground would only call on Government to assist rice farmers in the Mahaicony Creek area to “provide a hymac to fix the dam before the next crop”.

The dam which is an integral access point for farmers to their land must be fixed immediately, the Pine Ground resident stressed. He said for as long as the land remains flooded, rice farmers would not be in a position to plant.

With 100 acres of land under water, another farmer Mahendra Persaud, said the rest of the year is forecasted to be

a challenging one if the flooding persists. He said the rain which started in April is nothing new to farmers but noted that the May/June rains are usually over in July.

NEED DRAINAGE PUMPS He believes that placing sufficient drainage pumps in the area will reduce some of the troubles facing farmers.

“If the rain stops now, we’d have to wait a month and a half before planting back but it will be too late to start planting then… we won’t be able to work.

When the land gets dry we’d have to prepare the land and wait for next March.”

Persaud explained that when cultivated late, the rice “gets diseases”.

“It is very difficult, See page 26

Cows feed in the inundated rice lands at Mahaicony Creek

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

Battered by floods, Mahaicony ...

From page 25

very hard. I have lost about 200 bags of paddy…the dam is bad…I had to leave some in the back dam.”

The dam to access rice fields is inaccessible and Persaud has called for assistance in the construction of an all-weather road.

“Most times during the rainy season there is a problem…once there is consistent rainfall there is flooding,” the rice farmer added.

Another farmer Ramcharran Bholagosin told the Guyana Chronicle that several complaints have been made to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) but to no avail. He said he has lost about 30 acres of rice and it is proving to be really difficult for him.

“I owe for a tractor and I can’t pay my installment for it… the rice that I cut is just for fertiliser,” said Bholagosin. He explained that he has approximately 50 acres of land to plant, but due to the unfavourable conditions, he is not in a position to do so.

Tractors parked at Esau and Jacob, Mahaicony Creek as rice farms remain flooded

Farmer Mahendra Persaud

He explained that what is needed immediately is a proper dam so farmers can access their rice fields. The frustrated rice farmer said a representative of the NDIA, whose name was given as “Dave” would visit the area from time to time and promise to assist but “we call NDIA every day and they keep promising to come… this water nah drop!”

But despite the complaints from the rice farmers the MMA-ADA General Manager maintained that government has assisted the Mahaicony creek farmers. He said since the rainy season began, water has been pumped out of the land through the intervention of the NDIA. “We have been doing that; we had hiccups to get fuel to the pump station,” he noted but said when there was daily persistent rainfall water would be pumped out every day. He said now the pumping schedule has been reduced.

“The rain eased so we do not pump everyday…we

pump as the need arises,” he told Guyana Chronicle.

Charles explained that the Mahaicony façade drain is the main drainage channel in that area. The drain, he said, channels all water to the pump station at Pine Ground and that water is pumped into the Mahaicony River. That pump station was commissioned last year.

The MMA General Manager sought to assure that government is doing its best to assist the farmers and noted that assistance is not provided on an individual basis but collectively. He said however that in specific cases, individual farmers would have benefited from assistance.

“NDIA has an excavator in the area that farmers have access to,” Charles added. He said the excavator is used to help farmers move their paddy sacs from the land into the pontoons given the rainy season.

The Mahaicony Creek area is supervised by Moses Ramphall who visits the location regularly.

New board of Linden TV still to meet THE Linden Television Station Board of Trustees is still to hold a meeting as was mandated by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who urged that this be done within seven days.

However, twenty days have passed and the meeting is yet to be held, which is aimed at acknowledging the eleven members who emerged from the various stakeholders. These members are to be added to the Trust and to be legally embedded.

A well-placed source from the current Trust explained to this newspaper that correspondence was sent

by Councillors of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), stating that they do not endorse those chosen to represent their entity, claiming it was done unilaterally.

Councillor Vladimir Glasgow revealed to the Guyana Chronicle that he is one of the Councillors who penned the letter as he is in disagreement with those chosen by the Regional Chairman to represent the RDC. Councillor Gordon Callender, who held a press conference the day after the meeting was held with the Prime Minister, exclaimed his disapproval in which the names were chosen.

“The Regional Democratic Council had no discussion at none of the statutory meetings concerning the TV station; I am saying that is wrong, let us vote the person who we want to represent the TV station,” said Callender.

The representatives of the RDC are Regional Chairman Renis Mo-

rian who will also chair the board, Councilor Sandra Adams and concerned citizen Mr. Phillip Bynoe.

The other members to be added to the Trust are Mayor Carwyn Holland and his deputy Ms. Waneka Arrindale, Regional MPs Mr. Jermaine Figueira and Mr. Audwin Rutherford, Mr. Leslie Gonsalves and Ms. Merna Adrian.

The call for the Trust to be extended was made in February at a consultation held in Linden and chaired by the Prime Minister, who recommended that the membership be extended to include a wide cross section of stakeholders in the Region. Given this mandate, Secretary of the Trust Sharma Solomon sent correspondences to the various stakeholders requesting that a representative be chosen to join the Board

of Trustees.

“The board immediately held a meeting with all five members and agreed to facilitate and have that bone of contention dealt with and settled by having all those members at the stake holders meeting to be a part of the board,” said Solomon.

Mayor Holland, who was also present at the meeting with the Prime Minister, posited that the ongoing controversy surrounding the television station will finally go to rest and the way forward has been paved.

The television station’s Trust was formed by Sharma Solomon during his tenure as Regional Chairman after realizing that the law does not allow for a television station to be controlled by an RDC or an individual but only by a Trust or a company.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending July 15, 2016

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‘The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory’ –– says Guyanese who graduates from Russia’s Friendship University

By Svetlana Marshall “DON’T ever succumb to a little challenge, the harder the battle – the sweeter the victory,” 27-year-old Patricia Anthony said as she offered a word of advice from a distant country.

Anthony, a Lindener by birth, is among five Guyanese students who were offered an opportunity to fulfill their academic dreams at the People’s Friendship University of Russia, compliments of the Bauxite Company of Guyana (BCGI).

After five long years of

the decision of ‘Finance Management’ or ‘Business Management.’ Finance Management would be an ideal specialty but I’ve always had great interest in Business Management. One day in the not too distant future I wish to have my own business, and Business Management would be of absolute value to me.

So even though I haven’t completely decided, come September it’s very likely that I’ll be pursuing Business Management,” Anthony told Guyana Chronicle during an online interview while sitting in her room in

However, after one year of trying to master the art of speaking Russian, the former MHS student commenced her studies in Economics.

“The first two years were just general economics I would say; the most valued courses were Micro and Macro Economics. At the end of second year, we had to choose our desired specialty, for me it was “finance and credit”, and that’s where the courses got more specific,” she explained.

Finance, Finance Management, Market Stocks and Bonds were among the courses Anthony would have done

Patricia Anthony, who hails from Linden, Region 10 being presented her certificate after successfully reading for a Bachelor of Economics at the People’s Friendship University of Russia the wonderful feeling you get makes you realise that if you had to do it all over again the same way, you would, because it was absolutely worth it,” she said with a feeling of accomplishment.

Patricia Anthony and her mother Grace Craig (in the middle) with other Guyanese pursuing higher education in Russia intense studying, Anthony was the lone Guyanese and CARICOM national to have graduated from the People’s Friendship University of Russia on July 30, 2016.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Economics in Finance and Credit. Her colleagues Kiefer Bacchus, Tenesha LesFlores, Kollis Smith and Dendre McGarrel will complete their studies in 2017 and 2018.

But the former Mackenzie High School (MHS) student is not ready to come home just yet – she has decided to seize yet another opportunity to make herself even more marketable.

Come September, Anthony will return to the People’s Friendship University of Russia to move onto the next level -- to do her Master’s in Economics. But the big question is: Will she specialise in Finance Management or Business Management?

“I am still stuck between

Moscow.

CHALLENGES While it is a ‘blessing’ to study in Russia, she said the journey has been one of many challenges as she alluded to the change in the weather pattern and the initial language barrier when she first arrived in September 2011.

“The journey has been tough from the very beginning. When we arrived in Russia during autumn, so it was already cold, the leaves had already fallen from the trees and the skies were always a gloomy grey, it made me feel sad every time I looked outside. The biggest challenge was the cold followed by the language,” she said.

After the first year, she had gotten use to the language but the winters were still “brutal.”

“Even after five years, I still don’t think I can say I’m used to it,” she posited.

as she pursued her Degree in Economics which included both theoretical and practical knowledge.

However, in her final year, she focused on Guyana’s Monetary Policy as she crafted her thesis. Dubbed “Monetary Policy in Guyana,” Anthony successfully drew an analysis between the policies in Guyana – a third world country and those of Russia – a developed nation.

NEVER GIVE UP As she prepares to start another chapter in her ‘book of life,’ the Russian-based Guyanese are telling young people like herself “never to give up.”

“Don’t ever succumb to a little challenge – the harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.

It has been one battle after the other for me, bad living conditions, prejudice teachers, harsh weather, language and culture barrier. But it’s not until you’ve reached the end,

“Stay focused and reach for your goals. When you add your stars to your crown, no one can take them away!”

Anthony added.

Her mother, Grace Craig, who recently returned home

after visiting Russia to witness her daughter’s graduation, told Guyana Chronicle she feels a sense of pride and joy.

“I am proud of her and the decision she has taken to go even higher to complete her master’s,” Craig said, as she sang praises to the Almighty.

“We are backing them all the way, not just Patricia but all the other Guyanese students and Caribbean nationals studying in Russia.

It is not easy for them you know, they leave their homes and adapt to what they have in Russia, it is a struggle but it is a sacrifice and at the end of it all, they will be proud of themselves and we will be proud of them,” she added.

Craig said she hopes that, BCGI, which forms part of Russian aluminum company RUSAL, will continue to offer scholarships to other Guyanese.

SportS CHRONICLE

Victory lap!

The Guyana Amazon Warriors after their final home game Tuesday night. Over 10,000 spectators watched Guyana beat St. Lucia Zouks by eight wickets at the National Stadium (Adrian Narine photo)