New york edition e paper 03 30 2018

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ISSUE No. 95

WEEK ENDING MARCH 30, 2018

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Italian Oil Company Interested Guyana Goes To Court In Drilling Offshore Guyana

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- application to validate 1899 Arbitral Award between Guyana and Venezuela submitted to ICJ

AA For Guyana Route ►

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Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman (center) with Italian Oil Company ENI officials at the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Happy Easter Bridging The Information Gap►

Page 12

-- President Granger commissions multimillion-dollar radio station at Orealla

$30B Bond Secured To Revive Sugar Industry ►

Page 23

‘ExxonMobil Contract To Be Reviewed In Four Years’ - Trotman ► Page 24

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week endingMarch March30, 30,2018 2018 Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending

Italian Oil Company Interested In Drilling Offshore Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — An Italian oil and gas exploration company could be the new kid on the block if the Guyana government gives it the go-ahead to carry out exploration offshore.

ENI is a multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Rome. It is considered one of the world’s largest publicly owned oil and gas companies, also known as a supermajor. It operates in 79 countries and is currently the world’s 11th largest industrial company with a market capitalisation of 68 billion euros.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman yesterday met the

company’s Senior Vice President, Guido Zappala and his team at the Natural Resources Ministry, where he received a packaged plan of action from the company’s representatives.

“We had a long discussion with them about their practices elsewhere, what they are looking for.

And obviously Guyana’s basin has become attractive and they have assured us that they are not worried about the current issue between Guyana and Venezuela. They are prepared to pursue and should there be any cause for concern they will manage,” Trotman said after the meeting.

The minister said that ENI,

which is partly owned by the Italian government, has an excellent track record in terms of safety and good environmental practices, and the company has been lending its support to other countries, helping to develop their renewable energy capacity.

“Thirty per cent of the shares are owned by the government. So, you actually have a company that is undergirded by the government and is a main driver of the economy of Italy,” he said.

RAPHAEL TROTMAN Trotman said his next move Minister of Natural Resources will be to prepare a report to present to President David Granger for his another meeting in the next two consideration. weeks.

(Caribbean360) The company has suggested

Venezuela oil 68 Dead in Venezuela Prison Fire Solar lights installed workers clash

at National Park

VALENCIA, Venezuela (AP) ' about poor conditions in prisons Photos shared by the group Nearby, National Guard Distraught families are clam- and jails. A fire at a prison in the troops wearing flak jackets and showed prisoners being taken out limbs frozen in oring for information about western state of Zulia killed more carrying rifles slung across their on stretchers, their CARACAS (Reuters) awkward skin peeled backs walked in and out of the AngryasVenezuelan oil detained relatives THE Guyana Energy Agen-following a than 100 inmates in 1994.

Onestaadvantage of thesepositions workers demanding betcy (GEA) has installed 45 systems is that they are not With tears streaking cheeks, tion. Fire trucks and ambulances off. fire that Venezuela's chief ter benefits to countintegrated stand-alone sopowered by the utility, therestood outside.

Unused stretchers people waiting outside the station er crushing Carlos Nieto Palma,hyperinfladirector prosecutor says killed 68 peolar- powered 80W Light by avoiding the use of fostion and food shortages leaned against a wall.

Wednesday said dozens of deEmitted Diode (LED) street sil-based energy the of Afrom Window to Freedom, ofple when it swept through the clashed with said security lights at the Guyana Nagrid and the associated costs. officials during a rare A Window to Freedom, a tainees had been kept in squalid should be held accountable cellsPark. of the state police stational Additionally, ficials these lights protest in the cafeteria nonprofit group that monitors conconditions and they feared the The move is in keeping are not affected utilityto address forby failing thecompany poor conof state oil PDtion. with GEA’s mandate to carry failures.and VSA’s headquarters on ditions at Venezuela's jails worst for their loved ones. ditions in police station jails. The Angry out research intorelatives all sources fought with Dr Mahender Sharma, Friday. but Executive un- group Some people buried their prisons, said preliminaryChief of energy, including said be-to Officer of overcrowding Venezuela ishas home police outside the those facility Wednesthe world’s largest crude sources presently used in the Guyana Energy Agency come common throughout day after being unable reserves, but its creaking Guyana for the generation of to get any expressed gratitude to British state-led economic modVenezuela, with detainees being energy, and securing High Commissioner Greg information on more casualties from el has all but collapsed, efficient utilisation of energy Quinn and his kept staff forlong their past customary brief fire, which townsWednesday's sparking four-digit inflaand sources of energy. support in making it possible tion and long for holding periods before beinglines let go GEA’ssaid Energy Engineer people erupted after a disturto provide renewable energy everything, from milk to Brian Constantine, who mon- detainees. and efficient lighting or senttotothelarger jails to await trial. medicines. bance involving itored installation of the users of the National Park.

Many struggling oil Officers used tear 'It's grave andhave alarming,' lights, explained that gas the to disperse The CEO also thanked workers kept mum project was financed by the Denise Fraser, Commissionfor fear of losing their jobs the crowd, and local officials Nieto Palma said. 'What happened British High Commission er, Protected Areas Comand health insurance as would confirm only the that there were today in the Carabobo is a sign of Maduthat.' in Georgetown, through mission and the staff of President Nicolás ro’s government takes an UK’s Prosperity Fund, at a National Park for the support fatalities.

Opposition lawmaker Juan increasingly tough line on total cost of G$8,158,288. throughout the project’s imLate Wednesday, Attorney dissent. demanded that He further explained that plementation. Miguel Matheus But in a rare display the supply Tarek and installation Commenting on the projGeneral William From Saableft said the pro-government leader to right: GEA Chief Executive Officer Dr Mahender Sharma; Commissioner of public anger, dozensof of cost translates into a unit cost ect, High Commissioner Greg on his official Twitter account that of the Protected Areas Commission Denise Fraser, British High Commissioner Gregg oil workers blocked access Carabobo state inform relatives of $178,500 per light.

Quinn said: “It is incumbent and Department of Environment, Ministry of the Presidency representative Sandra to the cafeteria that caters 68 people were dead andQuinn nearly on us all to doabout what we can happened. what Britton atall the commissioning ceremony to PDVSA and the adjaproject the He said the to mitigate our impact on the of The them wereinvolved prisoners. cent Oil Ministry during 'The desperation replacement of inefficient to ensure that they are not module. lighting at nights using ener- environment and to improve lunch hourofonrelatives Friday to dead included two women who mercury vapour lamps in the shaded and have sufficient energy efficiency.

The High I t i s e s t i m a t e d t h a t gy-efficient LED lights. demandwith,' the payment of should not be played he said.

National Park, each rated at space the existing poles to 49,275kWh of energy and The lights are controlled Commission therefore weldelayed benefits, three theonstawere staying overnight at 250 watts, with the more accommodate the structures. 29,565kg of CO2 emissions by a light-sensitive and tim- comed the opportunity to sources closeprisoners to PDVSA between tion, but he didn't any fur- separate poles annually will be avoided/ er-controlled circuit to switch work with the GEA toClashes energy-efficient 80-Wattprovide soinstall told Reuters.

Otherwise, hands in their faces. Others had to confirmed information indicated and guards are not uncommon in Videos circulating lar-powered LED lights. ther details. have to be installed to accom- saved through this invest- the lights on in the evenings these lights.” on social media showed the riot began when an armed debe supported by friends and family Venezuela.

Inmates are frequently Prior to the installation, modate the lights, which can ment. This translates to over and turn them off at dawn.

The GEA will continue Saab said four prosecutors workers pushing and shovGEA had conducted the rel- add to the cost. In implement and to spearthe casecollapsed of G$2,800,000 yearly Some in sav- tainee As part ofanthe ener- intothe shot officer leg. able as they in despair. obtain ing weapons and drugs with green-uniformed had been namedastosolardetermine what project, it was ings in electricity costs. The gy-conservation features of head such evant evaluations projects as part this particular soldiers after a fire broke quietlysimple and payback clutched their with the help ofNational corruptGuard guards and powered streetatlights notpolice of the out, realisation of the determined the existing on this in- Shortly the initiative, thethat technology happened the are state head-that wept trying to keep order. appropriate for deployment at poles at the National agency’s objective to scale Park vestment is about four years. with dims the lights by 50 per cent in prayer. flames growing quickly as the heavily armed groups “Get control out!” thecellemquarters town in hands all locations. in Valencia, awould be utilized, as just miIntegrated solar-powered when motion is not detected up solar power and other ployees are heard yelling, 'I don't know if my son is blaze spread to mattresses in the block fiefdoms.

Locations for the use of 100 nor modifications were need- street lights use renewable and returns to 100 per cent forms of renewable energy Carabobo state about miles as a huge photo of late solar-powered street lights ed to minimise the and energy-efficientCopyright techamount energy from the sun toParra, charge cells, brightness whenRescuers motion is apparently dead or ofalive!' cried Aida it said. leader Chavez tow(c) Hugo Novinite.com.

(160 kilometers) west of Caracas. have to be carefully reviewed shading on the surface of the the batteries, which provide detected. nologies. ers above the mayhem.

It was one of the worst jail who said she last saw her son the had to break a hole through a wall Published with permission via Big

with security

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending March 30, 2018

3

Guyana Goes To Court

- application to validate 1899 Arbitral Award between Guyana and Venezuela submitted to ICJ GUYANA Thursday morning submitted its application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) requesting the court to confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award regarding the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.

The application was handed over to Philippe Couvreur, Registrar of the ICJ by Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, who will serve as Guyana’s agent in the proceedings before the court.

In a statement to the media, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the application follows the decision of UN Secretary General, Antonio Gueterres, in choosing the ICJ as the next means of

resolving the age-old controversy that arose as a result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 regarding the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela was null and void.

According to the statement, Guyana in its application highlighted that Venezuela had for more than 60 years consistently recognised and respected the validity and binding force of the 1899 Award and the 1905 map agreed by both sides in furtherance of the award.

“Venezuela had only changed its position formally in 1962 as the United Kingdom was making final preparations for the Independence of British Guiana and had threatened not to recognise the new State, or its

Registrar of the International Court of Justice, Philippe Couvreur (left) and Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge (right)

boundaries, unless the United

the 1899 Award and cede to

Kingdom agreed to set aside

Venezuela all of the territory

west of the Essequibo River, amounting to some twothirds of Guyana’s territory,” the statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Guyana contends that while Venezuela has never produced any evidence to justify its belated repudiation of the 1899 Award, “it has used it as an excuse to occupy territory awarded to Guyana in 1899, to inhibit Guyana’s economic development and to violate Guyana’s sovereignty and sovereign rights.”

The UN Secretary-General’s authority to choose the ICJ as the means for resolving the controversy is rooted in the Geneva Agreement of 1966, negotiated just before Guyana attained Independence.

On January 30, 2018,

Secretary General Guterres concluded that the Good Offices Process, which the parties had engaged in for almost 30 years, had failed to achieve a solution to the controversy and chose the ICJ as the next means of settlement.

Meanwhile, Minister Greenidge said that Guyana, in filing its application to the ICJ, has respected the secretary general’s decision and placed its faith in the ICJ to resolve the controversy in accordance with its statute and jurisprudence, based on the fundamental principles of international law, including the sanctity of treaties, the maintenance of settled boundaries and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States.

Palms now boasts new-look infirmary, out-patient clinic

- with doctor on duty round-the-clock

By Lisa Hamilton SOME 194 residents at the Palms Geriatric Home now have access to a brand new G$18M infirmary and medical out-patient clinic, allowing for in-house observation and treatment of diseases and communicable infections.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Monday morning to mark the official opening of the new facilities, which are located at the bottom floor of the Home on Brickdam, Georgetown.

Speaking at the launching, Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally said that the improvement of services provided to the elderly are developments which the government takes keen interest in, and something that it

cannot ignore.

She congratulated the Director of Social Services within the Ministry of Social Protection, Wentworth Tanner and other departmental heads for working at the forefront of the project, and called on staff members to provide the very best of service to the elderly.

“Today, this is a manifestation to show that we really do care for the elderly of the Palms… For those residents of the Palms, this government wants to ensure that you have a comfortable life, and that we can provide good services as far as practicable,” Ally said.

The medical outpatient clinic includes a waiting area, doctor’s office, dispensary, washrooms and beds, while the infirmary is equipped

A room at the new infirmary

with an “infectious ward”, medical epoxy flooring, a doctor’s office, and washrooms with special bath rails and stools.

A total of six persons can be accommodated at a time

stitutions where we have facilities.”

According to Tanner, now that the project, which has been in its planning stages since 2016, has been completed, residents at the Home will receive the additional care they need.

“Before now, all cases

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, being taken on a tour of the new facilities by Director of Social Services within the Ministry of Social Protection, Wentworth Tanner

The trestle-like housing in the foreground is where one of the three elevators will be installed (Photos by Adrian Narine)

at each of the facilities, and a doctor will be on hand to provide around-the-clock service, with the aid of three nurses.

Asked whether other geriatric homes around Guyana can expect similar amenities, Minister Ally said: “We’ve started at the Palms, and I can assure you that as time unfolds, we are going to look at other in-

had to be transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital,” he said. “But we found it necessary to reduce the amount of referrals, because in some cases, they are not serious enough to go to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

“The quality of care can definitely be better, because, of course, there are smaller numbers. And with smaller numbers, you can give more

attention,” he added.

Due to age, some of the main ailments residents suffer from are respiratory infections, diabetes and hypertension, which previously resulted in approximately eight to 15 referrals monthly.

In addition, Tanner says that the facilities will help to ensure that cautionary measures are taken with residents when underlying concerns remain, even after their visits to the hospital.

“Many times,” he said, “there are cases where when persons come back from the hospital, they’re not yet at a place where we feel comfortable taking them back to the ward.

“So now we can bring them here for observation, and complete their recovery before we send them to the ward.”

Meanwhile, separate works are still ongoing for the construction of elevators at the Home so as to make it easier for porters to move wheel-chair residents in and out of the building, especially in the case of an emergency.

The bases and frames of the three lifts have already been constructed, and are currently awaiting the installation of the elevators for the completion of the project, which is also being funded by the government.

4

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

A Plan to Develop an Ecotourism Industry in Guyana G

uyana does not possess “the sun, sand and sea” paradigm of tourism found in many Caribbean nations. Because of its unique ecosystem, Guyana does possess a form of tourism called ecotourism or adventure and wilderness tourism. There are four ecotourism destinations in Guyana, 1) Kaieteur Falls, 2) The Shell Beach Marine Turtle Breeding Grounds, 3) Iwokrama International Center for Rainforest, Conservation and Development, and 4) The Lethem Rodeo.

1. The Kaieteur Falls which is estimated at 741 feet in height, is the tallest single drop waterfall in the world.

It is reached most easily by airline flight from the Ogle aerodrome in Georgetown or from the Baganara airstrip near to the town of Bartica. There is another rugged overland route from Linden which takes the more adventurous visitor from Linden by way of the mining community of Mahdia to Pamela Landing on the Potaro River. From there, it is a two-and-a-half- hour boat ride from the base of the Amatuk Falls. Then there are short boat rides and treks up the Kaieteur Gorge which culminates with a fourhour climb to the Oh My God Mountain which takes the visKaieteur Falls itors up to the top of the Kaieteur Gorge. After spending a night at the Kaieteur Guest House, the visitor can explore the Kaieteur National Park.

The Kaieteur National Park consists of a variety of birds, plants, butterflies and wild life. It contains Guyana’s most flamboyant bird — the orange colored Cock of the Rock, the leks, which is a species that has their nests hidden behind the waterfall. At sunset each day, hundreds of these birds could be seen doing their daily fly over the majestic Kaieteur Falls, then retiring to their nests behind the falls.

Also located in the park, are the giant Bromeliads which grow to a height of 9 feet and constitute the home of the Golden Dart Frog. Also found in the park, is the most fascinating species of butterflies in the world. The Morpho Becuba, and the Blue Morpho with a wing span of 8 inches is among the largest butterflies in the world, which has striking iridescent wings. Visitors on day trips can sometimes view rare wild life, such as the elusive ocelot, tapir, crab dog, and red howler monkey.

2. Shell Beach— which is located in the northwest region of Guyana, between the Waini/Burima and the Pomeroon rivers is the nesting ground for four of the most

endangered species of marine turtles in the world — the Leatherback which is the largest sea turtle in the world is about six feet in length with a body mass of about 1,000 pounds. The Green Turtle has a shell length of about four feet and a body mass of about 600 pounds; the Hawksbill has a shell length of about three feet and a body mass of about 160 pounds; and the Olive Ridley has a shell length of about 26 inches and a body mass of about 100 pounds.

3. Iwokrama International Center for Rainforest, Conservation and Development contains about one million acres of tropical rainforest, and is one of only four pristine rainforests in the world. The visitor to Iwokrama has a choice of accommodations. They can stay at the Iwokrama field station, the Turtle Mountain Camp, the Atta Rainforest Camp or Fairview Village. They can view a series of sites and activities. They can climb the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, which consists of a series of suspension bridges, and viewing decks, about 100 feet above the floor of the rainforest, which affords them a unique opportunity to see the tropical hardwoods that are

Shell Beach

endemic to Guyana – the Bullet Wood, Green Heart, Strangler Fig and Waramadam trees. They can also view the Petroglyphs painted by the ancient Makushis who inhabited this forest for thousands of years. Visitors can also get a view of the Kurupukari Falls and the butterfly farms, not far from the village of Fairview. Among the activities planned at this location, are nocturnal wild life spotting, boat tours, horseback riding, white water rafting, navigating nature trails, visits to the waterfalls, bird watching and sport fishing.

4. Lethem and Rupununi Rodeo. Every Easter weekend, Lethem becomes a destination of choice for thousands of visitors throughout Guyana, Northern Brazil and the United States, who come to view the Rupununi Rodeo. The few hotels in Lethem — The Savannah Inn, the Takutu Lodge and the Cacique Guest House are booked to capacity. The festivities begin on Good Friday night when there is a party at the Takutu Lodge. Amerindian cowboys from the Dadanawa Ranch and Brazilian tourists from Boa Vista rub shoulders with visitors from Georgetown and the Diaspora, to have a rollicking time. On Saturday and Sunday the event moves to the rodeo grounds where

the best vaqueros from the ranches in the Rupununi and Brazil test their skills at bull riding, horseback racing, steer roping, bronco busting and cow milking. Most of the steers and horses from the event come from the Dadawana Ranch, which at one time had a reputation of being the largest ranch in the world. Several episodes of the Wild Kingdom were shot at Dadanawa Ranch. Mr. Stan Brock, the one-time manager of the Dadanawa Ranch captured America’s attention by wrestling a giant anaconda in the waters of the Rupununi River, while a Black Caiman and flesh-eating Piranhas swam in the waters, and where jaguars roamed the banks of the river.

by Colin A. Moore

CONSTRAINTS ON ECOTOURISM There are two main constraints to the development of ecotourism in Guyana a. Lack of a transportation infrastructure from Georgetown to the four ecotourism destinations; and b. The lack of proper accommodation at these destinations.

There is no viable overland route from Georgetown to the Kaieteur Falls. The visitor must travel through pot-holed roads, through remote mining communities, then have to travel by boat up the Potaro River, have to walk through long treks in the jungle and have to scale steep hills. The only viable transportation is from the aerodrome at Ogle to the Kaieteur Falls. The cost of transportation by air is exorbitant for the low budget tourist. The only means of transportation to Shell Beach is by boat from Mabaruma, and there are no wharves at Shell Beach to permit the visitor to exit from the boat, without wading in the water. The only overland means of transportation to Iwokrama is by mini-bus or private transportation. Because of the poor conditions of the roads, this journey is often called “the journey through abortion alley.” The construction of a highway from Lethem to Linden will make it easier for the visitor from Georgetown to undertake the overland journey to Iwokrama and Lethem. The accommodations at these three tourist destinations – Kaieteur, Shell Beach and Iwokrama is not exactly in the five star category. The guest house at Kaieteur Fall does not possess cafeteria or restaurant facilities. The warden encampments at Shell Beach consist of tents, hammocks and mosquito nets. There are no toilet facilities or running water at Shell Beach. The accommodation at Iwokrama are not primitive, they can best be described as spartan or functional. Lethem has three or four low budget hotels with modest accommodations and restaurant facilities.

PROPOSALS The Guyana American Patriotic Forum (GAPF) submits the following proposals to develop an eco-tourism industry in Guyana: • The Government of Guyana should solicit competitive bids from leading hotel chains, such as, Sandals, Hilton, Marriott, and Ramada Inn to establish ecotourism resorts at the four tourist destinations in Guyana — Kaieteur Falls, Shell Beach, Iwokrama Forest Reserve and Lethem. These resorts will consist of ecolodges, souvenir shops, art and craft museums,

(continued on page 19)

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

The Carlyle

Harry Column

5

ONE GUYANA PLATFORM We Can Also Do A March

T

he near million students' March on Washington last week Saturday, concluded with a protracted rendition of a song called 'CHANGE'.

Popular singer, Jennifer Hudson and a choir led the huge crowd in belting out the tune.

YES — Change is inevitable; YES — Change is the only CONSTANT in life; YES — Change towards racial and political unity is what We — Guyanese living inside and outside of Guyana yearn for, and should continue to work towards . . . Hence the 'ONE GUYANA PLATFORM'.

When I saw the thousands of students participating in their respective rallies, and giving speeches from their respective podia, it dawned on me that local and overseas (Guyanese) youths could duplicate those efforts, since the adults seem to have resigned to the status quo.

Some might ask WHY? . . . Because the recent birth anniversary of Mr. Burnham in February; and birth and death anniversaries of Dr. Jagan showed that not much has changed, or is changing.

Those two anniversaries allowed journalists; columnists; analysts; OpEd , letter-writers and interest group leaders to revive debates and discourses on the origins and presence or racial and political divisions in Guyana.

Roy Paul summed it up this way, "It is clear that the politicians have been the greatest villains both over the areas of racial and political divisions, as we carry on the policy of 'divide and rule’ that we inherited' — giving us a winner take all political culture, and the 'we and them' tradition that was encouraged among our two main races which has permeated all other areas of our lives" The pens were reproducing terms like 'the Indian-backed PPP', or the’ Black-backed PNC’ . . . They also spoke about the indianized PPP, or the Black-leaning PNC. One advantage those labels donate to the present APNU+AFC Government is that they can grow, develop and fertilize a multi-race Outfit and Political Administration.

You see what I mean, you see what I am getting at. Since it does not appear that Guyanese adults are keen, motivated or stimulated to attack these divisions, especially since some adults

are earning their raisons d'etre from those divisions — it has to be the young ones who have to rally for racial and political accommodations.

I believe that it is going to take the will(s) and the drives of our young (local and overseas) Guyanese to cut through the molasses-thick adult resistance in order to foster cultural adjustments and amendments for the future. They can follow their American counterparts and arrange national/regional rallies on say Labour Day. They can do like their American counterparts and pledge to vote for their desires. They can push to have Guyanese massage their similarities,

instead of accentuating their differences. They could meet with various elected officials. They could work with the Ministry of Social Cohesion to organize common socio-economic activities and projects that would have multi-racial inclusion and involvement, and variables that could and should unite us.

Poverty, sharing in PAGE 5 spoils. meetings with elected officials, and other relevant stakeholders. Like the rallying students did on March 24th in America, Guyanese young people can follow similar themes like "Enough is enough", and "Never again, must we have racial and polit-

School Children marching in Washington, DC to protest Gun Violence.

ical divisions".

The power of our young people must match and possibly overcome the power of the elected officials. We can't be from the cooperative Republic, if we — the people are not politically and racially uniting and cooperating.

Let me conclude by returning to Roy Paul, he emphasized "with oil, Guyana is on to something big, really big, we thus need to rethink the situation on the national level, in which we see ourselves from a fresh perspective, and make an effort to once and for all change the relationships that we now have and share, and really join together to contribute to the mutual development of our people." ********** We all want Change, It is not out of our range.

Raise your voice, Make a lot of noise, Look to your left, Look to your right, Let's stop the fight, Let's travel to new heights, Fellow Guyanese Let us Unite.

Let us CHANGE our behavior and strive towards a cooperative future.

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6 6

Guyana Chronicle NewEdition York Edition week ending March 30, 2018 Guyana Chronicle New York Week-ending January 19, 2018

AA for Guyana route

…to coincide with launch of expanded CJIA

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Potable water for all WORLD Water Day was observed on 22nd March with the focus on the importance of water. The theme for World Water Day 2018 was ‘Nature for Water’ – exploring nature-based solutions (NBS) to the water challenges we face in the 21st century.

The campaign is called ‘The answer is in nature’ and raises awareness of NBS. The central message is that NBS, such as planting trees to replenish forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands, is a sustainable and cost-effective way to help rebalance the water cycle, mitigate the effects of climate change and improve human health and livelihoods.

Damaged ecosystems affect the quantity and quality of water available for human consumption.

Today, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home, affecting their health, education and livelihoods. President David Granger who recently addressed the Eighth World Water Forum in Brasilia, Brazil, said, “The protection of the sources of the world’s freshwater sources is essential to ensuring citizens’ entitlement to water; communities’ access to safe and sanitary water; and countries’ and the continent’s water security.”

The President pointed out, “The adverse effects of climate change – droughts, flooding, rising sea levels and extreme weather events – are exacerbating water quality and environmental security.

The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has forecasted that climate change will result in reduced surface and ground water in most sub-tropical regions. The protection of the world’s freshwater sources, therefore, is essential to global water security.

“Rivers must be protected from pollution, including that caused by environmental degradation and the discharge of effluent from industry, mining and agriculture. River pollution impacts adversely on water quality, on health and on the economic and social well-being of citizens.”

Sustainable Development Goal six commits the

AMERICAN Airlines, a major United States carrier, will from December this year fly the Miami-Guyana route, the airline announced on Tuesday.

The timing of the take-off will seem to coincide with the completion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) which is scheduled to be completed by December 2018. When completed, the US$150M expansion project is expected to yield two passenger boarding bridges for arrival and departures; a 450seat departure area, escalators and elevators, in addition to its extended runway catering for larger categories of aircraft.

Meanwhile, the airline in a release said that it has a rich and robust history serving Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America (MCLA). “And American is continuing to grow its presence in the region with the addition of four new destinations. Next winter, customers looking for history, culture and warm climate will have access to three new cities in South America: Georgetown, Guyana (GEO); Pereira, Colombia (PEI) and Cordoba, Argentina (COR); and one new city in Mexico: Oaxaca (OAX).”

According to the release, American Airlines is also introducing a service to Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE), from its West Coast hub at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), making American the first and only airline to offer nonstop service between these two major cities.

“We’re creating a world-class customer experience and as the largest U.S. carrier in Mexico and South America, we are committed to offering more choices with the best schedules for our customers in the region,” said Vasu Raja, vice president, Network and Schedule Planning. world to ensuring that everyone has access to safe water by 2030; this includes targets on protecting the natural environment and reducing pollution. By using NBS to help meet the water needs of a growing population, we will contribute to the creation of a circular economy, at the same time as helping to protect the natural environment and reduce pollution -- both key targets in Sustainable Development Goal 6, which commits the world to ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

While the world celebrated “World Water Day” last week, Guyana has made significant strides in ensuring that its citizenry from all 10 administrative regions benefit from and have access to potable water. Government’s flagship for water distribution and management, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), has provided access to potable water with the highest standards at an affordable cost.

The traditional focus of GWI had been on certain urban areas of the country with the exclusion of many and very limited service in the hinterland. The government has mandated

“As we look to strengthen our network, we’re excited to add more nonstop flights to places like Buenos Aires, maximizing connections across our network.”

Reacting to the news, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson said, “I am delighted that American Airlines will commence flying to Guyana in December. This will coincide with the launch of the newly expanded Cheddi Jagan International Airport and demonstrates a confidence in destination Guyana. not only as a desirable tourist destination but as an emerging oil economy as well. The government has been working at various levels to provide more options to travellers to and from Guyana, to North America, with increased airlift, and American Airlines' commitment to destination Guyana is recognition of government's work since coming into office in 2015.”

Minister Patterson back in January had said that the new arrivals terminal building, generator building, pipe installation, pump station and water tank, boarding corridor and passenger boarding bridges would be completed by the first quarter of this year. Works on the checkin and departure lounges and the first phase of the departure terminal, Screening and VIP areas and the south-west runway will be completed by the end of June. All other works will be completed

by December 2018.

The terminal building area will increase from 13,431 to 13,737 square metres; checking counters will be increased from 20 to 32, and the runway length increased from 10,066 metres to 10,090 metres.

Meanwhile, for his part, Minister

a policy of ensuring equity of access for all regions, hence, GWI’s planning for improved service delivery includes the neglected communities and the rural and hinterland areas. This new focus brings certain challenges which the corporation has identified in its Situation Analysis documentation and plans for programme execution have been set out in this strategic plan.

Government’s assistance is expected through The Water Resource Council which is charged with monitoring water quality and this agency is expected to regulate activities in the hinterland areas, especially regarding mining to guard against adverse effects on water supply.

GWI has been instrumental in rolling out a five-year plan which ensures that the levels of service provided to communities, decommission non-functioning wells and drill new wells; extend distribution and transmission mains; create district-metred areas, construct and complete new treatment plants; and increase hinterland communities coverage and conduct aquifer studies.

Over 20,000 residents are now ben-

Disclaimer: Disclaimer:

of Business, Dominic Gaskin noted that “this is good for tourism, good for business and good for Guyana. Only last week LIAT announced direct flights to POS from ECIA (Ogle) so this will give Guyanese and visitors to Guyana two additional travel options in this year alone."

American Airlines and American Eagle offer an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. American is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members and members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily flights to 150 countries.

American also recently announced a new service between its hub at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Mexico City (MEX) beginning July 5, which will enhance trans-Atlantic connectivity from Mexico. By expanding its footprint in MCLA with these new routes, American will offer up to 270 flights per day to the region. American Airlines and American Eagle offer an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. American is a founding member of the one world alliance, whose members and members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily flights to 150 countries.

efitting from water services for the first time in years in the Sophia area. But while water has been identified as a critical factor for the corporation’s service delivery, the previous plan had failed to address quality issues that required speedy identification and remedial action, especially in the hinterland areas.

Given the fact that surface water is most vulnerable to infiltration and causes water-borne diseases, it remains critical for water-quality testing processes and timely decision-making .

Government through GWI must continue to demonstrate the fulfilment of its responsibility to provide the people of Guyana with access to clean, safe, and potable water, which has been articulated in the MDGs and now in the 2030 Agenda: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Specifically, Goal six that speaks to water quality, security, and accessibility . GWI’s new plan, if successfully implemented, will continue to meet the government’s water and sanitation sector objectives, while adhering to international standards as enunciated by the United Nations.

Theviews viewsand and opinions expressed in articles in this newspaper The opinions expressed in articles in this newspaper are are thoseofofthe theauthors authors and necessarily reflect policies those and dodo notnot necessarily reflect the the policies and and viewsofofthe themanagement management New York Edition of the Guyana views of of thethe New York Edition of the Guyana Chronicle.

Chronicle.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 20188 Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending March 30, 2018

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The Rags to Riches Story of a Caribbean Millionaire in London . . . he successfully fought a legal battle to keep most of his fortune from his ex-wife

A

s the Caribbean millionaire in England reflects on his life story, the enterprising businessman has every reason to smile all the way to the bank.

The 85-year-old man who like more than 250,000 Guyanese, Bajans, Jamaicans, Grenadians and

By Tony Best other West Indians opted in the 1950s for a sojourn to England in search of fortune, if not fame is today singing the praises of English justice.

Perhaps courts in several Caribbean countries, Guyana’s included, can learn a lesson or two about the swift delivery of justice and the importance of Lord Heward’s words who in a 1923 reminder told everyone that “justice should not be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.”

Worth the equivalent of almost three billion Guyana dollars, the man who was born in Grenada breathed a sigh of relief recently when a British Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling that the

West Indian should keep most of his fortune but must give his former wife some 2.4 million British pounds instead of the 50-50 split she had demanded. A judge said she was not entitled to such a large slice.

Consider the era when an important chapter in the life of Matthew Joseph was being written in Grenada, Barbados and London.

It was in the 1950s when Lyons teashops, the London Transport, hospitals and even the British Army were recruiting Guyanese and other Caribbean workers, nurses and solders in droves. They were being hired to fill low-paying, entry-level positions that native-born “Brits” were ignoring. Back then Joseph landed in Barbados from his birthplace, Grenada. No, he wasn’t thinking about going onto Guyana or settling in any of Barbados’ 11 parishes. But he had his eyes firmly focused on England, the so-called “mother country” of then British Guiana.

Like thousands of Grenadians and Guyanese who answered the calls for work, Joseph boarded a ship with dreams of someday making it and living the good life in the

U.K.

“He had dreams of a better future in England and began to save for his passage to that country,” a Justice in England’s court of appeals said the other day. “He flew to Barbados and travelled by boat to Italy.

From there, he traveled overland by train to London. He found a bedsit in London and secured his first job here sweeping floors at a teahouse run by Lyons & Co.” By dint of hard work alongside Guyanese, Jamaicans and other West Indians, Joseph saved his money, ventured into the property business and operated two care homes in Harwich in Essex and Ringwood in Hampshire. By all accounts, including a report in the Daily Mail Online, the West Indian was highly successful, so much so that by the turn of the 21st century, 2000 to be exact, he had amassed millions of British pounds in assets and had a comfortable life in England where he met his wife, Margaret. She was about 20 years his junior when they decided to become husband and wife.

But after 13 years of marriage, the couple decided to go their sepa-

rate ways via the divorce court. The trouble came over the division of assets. Mrs. Joseph, an American from Mississippi who is in her late 60s, sought half. But two years ago, after hearing the evidence in the Family Division of the High Court in London Mrs. Justice Roberts decided that yes, she was entitled to some but no, certainly not half of her husband’s property.

It didn’t come as a surprise to many when Mrs. Joseph complained that the court had short-changed her.

Hence, her appeal to a higher court.

That brings us to a recent weekday when Lord Justice Moylan dismissed her appeal saying the trial judge had made the correct call, a judgement the justice was entitled to hand down.

The rags to riches story about the divorce battle between the West Indian businessman and his American spouse attracted the attention of media organizations, including Ireland’s Daily Mail on Line which concluded that Joseph’s “ex-wife who wanted a bigger share” of her former husband’s fortune of 10.4 million (British pounds) had failed to prove her case.

Went on driving and drinking spree

… no money to pay

A 30-YEAR-OLD man appeared before a city magistrate on Monday to answer three charges of incurring debts and simple larceny Oswin Randy Archer who resides at Third Avenue, Bartica, is alleged to have stolen one cell phone worth $30,000, the property of Jamal Dazzle.

It was also alleged that Archer obtained credit in the sum of $38,000 by travelling with Jamal’s motor car and refusing to pay, and too, on March 6 at Main Street, he incurred another debt at Palm Court by obtaining credit to the tune of $21,000 for the purchase of eight Guinness stouts, four Maltas , three Hennessey shots, one serving chicken nuggets, one chicken fried rice and chicken with fries.

Archer pleaded not guilty to all three of the charges, According to the facts as presented by the prosecutor, the accused ordered the food and didn't have money to pay. Also that he obtained credit by false pretence when he hired the motor car and went to the airport and Berbice. He refused to pay when asked for the money for the use of the taxi.

Bail was granted by Magistrate Judy Latchman in the sum of $160,000, the matters were adjourned for March 29, 2018.

EMPHASIS ON TRAVEL AND TOURISM

8

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending March 30, 2018

Training begins for oilfield operators

TOTALTEC has signed a five-year contract with a UK company, Aberdeen-based First Competence Limited to develop and deliver world-class training at its academy. CEO of TOTALTEC Oilfield Services Limited, Lars Mangal (right) reaches agreement with Paul Thomson, Managing-Director of First Competence Limited in Georgetown in January 2018 to deliver world-class oilfield training in Guyana for Guyanese

TOTALTEC Academy will today launch its inaugural Oilfield Operator Training Programme (OTP) with 24 young Guyanese recruits.

The academy is strategically located at the heart of the emerging and developing

oil-and-gas hub at Houston, Greater Georgetown, adjacent to the recently developed and now operational shore base for ExxonMobil, Guyana Shore Base Inc. Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman

conducted the ground-breaking ceremony on February 8, 2018 during the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit and Exhibition (GIPEX 2018), as the patron of the newly established Oilfield Service Training

US passport fee to increase for citizens

Some American citizens will see a fee increase the next time they apply for their American passports and the change will go into effect worldwide on April 2, 2018, the US Embassy here announced on Monday.

The “passport execution” fee will increase

by US$10, from US$25 to the new fee of US$35. The new US$35 fee is applicable to all first-time passport applicants and certain other applicants who must apply in person, such as minors under the age of 16 years.

American citizens who apply for a passport

renewal by mail will not see a fee increase.

According to the embassy, there are no other changes to fees for consular services at this time. Further information is available at the Embassy’s website, http://gy.usembassy. gov/, and on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, travel.state.gov.

To make an appointment to renew their passport in Georgetown, American citizens should contact the Consular Section via the Embassy’s website http://gy.usembassy. gov/.

Academy.

According to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TOTALTEC, Lars Mangal, the “amazing speed” at which the TOTALTEC team has been able to complete its first field classroom of the academy, develop the 60 courses which will be part of the OTP programme and recruit 24 Guyanese candidates to become the future workers of our oil-and-gas industry must be commended.

“The OTP programme will be run by two dedicated, highly experienced international instructors with over 40 years of experience in the industry between them.

From basic safety, through to specific environmental practices and technical training on specialised lifting operations, rigging and slinging and forklift driving will be

included in the programme,” Mangal, a Guyanese, told this newspaper.

Mangal said that the OTP programme will run for just under three months, during which recruits will be fully immersed in every aspect of basic operational and safety training required in the industry. This is to ensure that every recruit will be given the opportunity to develop and perform to the worldclass standards expected in the international oil-and-gas industry.

“Academy recruits will have the opportunity to be exposed to a number of highly experienced oil-andgas industry professionals and learn from them along with determining and developing their own career aspirations and ambitions,” said Mangal.

The Chairman and CEO

of TOTALTEC believes this is a unique opportunity for TOTALTEC and other companies involved in the emerging oil-and-gas industry of Guyana to contribute to the development of an accelerated participation of Guyanese in its own industry.

“Typically, without this catalyst to accelerate local-content development being established, one would not see a strong participation of Guyanese for years to come, which would be a missed opportunity,” Mangal said.

Industry sources said that the programme which has been developed is a unique one, in that it has never been done with this level of commitment and investment towards local-content development in any emerging oil-and-gas market around the world.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

EMPHASIS ON CARIBBEAN AFFAIRS

9

1

A MAJOR SHAKEUP IN JAMAICA CABINET

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has reshuffled his Cabinet, making major changes to some vital ministries, including bringing in a recently elected MP to be the new Minister of Finance and replacing his Minister of National Security.

The changes announced yesterday see Dr. Nigel Best, who won the by-election in St. Andrew North West earlier this month, becoming the new Minister of Finance and the Public Service.

Audley Shaw, whom he reJamaican Prime Minister placed, has been reassigned to the ANDREW HOLNESS Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, which Economic Growth and Job Creation.

Dr. Horace Chang, who was was previously led by Karl Samuda, who now moves to the Ministry of previously a Minister without port-

folio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, will now take the ministerial lead in the crime fight as the new Minister of National Security.

Robert Montague, who previously held that position, is now Minister of Transport and Mining, while Mike Henry who had responsibility for Transport and Mining moves to the Office of the Prime Minister, as Minister without portfolio.

Other changes see Fayval Williams appointed Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service. She previously held the post of Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.

The Prime Minister also announced changes in the junior Min-

ister ranks.

Alando Terrelonge is to be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports; and Zavia Mayne is to be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Pearnel Charles Jr. moves to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. He previously held the post of State Minister in the Ministry of National Security. Rudyard Spencer, former Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, moves to the Ministry of National Security.

Prime Minister Holness says other members of the Cabinet remain

in their respective portfolios.

(Caribbean360)

Buju Banton’s First Concert After Release From Prison Set for Trinidad & Tobago PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Trinidad and Tobago will be the first country that Grammy-winning reggae singer Buju Banton will perform in after he is released from prison later this year.

Jodian Ebanks, a member of the singer’s marketing team, made the announcement at a media briefing during the Love and Harmony Cruise on the Celebrity Summit.

Buju, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was incarcerated in 2011 for 10 years, for his role in setting up a cocaine deal in 2009.

He is due for release on December 8 this year.

The Trinidad and Tobago concert is scheduled for April 22 at a venue yet to be

BUJU BANTON

disclosed, and will be followed by a show in the type of concert it deserves,” Ebanks said.

Jamaican’s homeland at a later date.

“Trinidad was chosen as the dates, travel “Buju is very excited about being on the schedules, and all the other variables all came toroad again. Jamaica is very special to him and he gether for that time of year and was the best fit.” wants to be able to give his home country the (Caribbean360

10

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

EMPHASIS ON CARIBBEAN AFFAIRS

2

CCJ Sends Back 2014 Dismissal Case to Barbados Court of Appeal PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has ordered that a 2014 case concerning the firing of three employees of luxury resort Sandy Lane in Barbados be sent back to the local Court of Appeal for an expedited hearing.

This, after it said it had no jurisdiction to hear the case.

The fired employees had first challenged their dismissal in the local Magistrate’s Court on the basis that they were dismissed without cause — a breach of the procedures outlined in their contracts.

The Magistrate determined on September 24, 2014 that the way the employees were terminated violated the terms of their contract and, on the same day, the company, through its attorney, verbally informed the magistrate of its intention to appeal the decision. The attorney followed this with a letter to the Magistrate on October 1, 2014, informing her that he was appealing and requesting the court’s reasons for its decision.

A debate ensuued between the Court of Appeal and the hotel’s legal team over whether or not the appeal ought to have been filed under the Magistrate’s Court Act, in which case it would have had to be done within seven days of the verdict, or under the Civil Procedure Rules, which provide for a time limit of 28 days to appeal.

While the hotel held that the appeal was properly filed as

it fell under the Civil Procedure Rules, and argued that, in any case, it had given verbal notice within the seven-day period as stipulated under the Magistrate’s Court Act, the Court of Appeal saw it differently, citing an earlier CCJ judgment in the case of Deane v Allamby.

It also rejected the hotel’s letter of October 1, 2014 on the grounds that it was addressed to the Magistrate and not the clerk. Therefore, it dismissed the appeal.

However, in its judgment yesterday, the CCJ distinguished its decision in Deane v Allamby from the circumstances of the Sandy Lane case, pointing out that in Dean v Allamby it did not even consider whether the Civil Procedure Rules had any relevance since the appellant in that case had not filed a notice of appeal under the rules.

In this case, the CCJ determined, the appellant had in fact given “immediate, public notice of its intention to appeal,” which was subsequently followed by a notice in writing, and both were within the time period prescribed by the Magistrate’s Court Act. The regional court said that in all the circumstances, notice was given as a matter of substance and it should not matter that neither counsel nor the clerk regarded those notices as compliant with the requirements of the Magistrate’s Court Act. Therefore, the CCJ concluded, the appellant had com-

plied with the notice requirement under the Magistrate’s Court Act. It also recommended that the regime for appealing under the Magistrate’s Court Act requireed legislative intervention to harmonize it with the procedure under the Civil Procedure Rules, the latter being acknowledged as more convenient for appellants.

The CCJ ordered that the appeal to the Court of Appeal be restored and heard on an expedited basis.

(Caribbean360)

Not in Barbados! Government Minister Says No Gay Marriages Will Be Allowed BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Minister of Social Care and Community Development, Steve Blackett is sending a clear message to “external and internal forces” that same-sex marriage will not be tolerated in Barbados.

In an address at a meeting of the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP), he complained that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people were “badgering” Government to accept same-sex unions. But he said that while he was tolerant of the LGBTI community, the DLP administration would not cave to their demands.

“This LGBTI lobby is so insistent, so persistent, claiming this community is being

marginalized and stigmatized. They have been so insistent and persistent that I, as a straight person, you as a straight person, we’re beginning to feel marginalized, harassed and stigmatized by them,” the Minister contended.

“If you want to be same-sex, that’s your business . . . nothing wrong with that at all. Barbados has always been tolerant to homosexuals among us. Any of us who grew up in Barbados know of what they used to call ‘she-she men’ in your communities . . . and they integrated into our communities. They are our relatives, our family or friends, our kith and kin, our hairdressers, our tailors . . . Same-sex relation-

ships in most neighbourhoods are nothing new,” he added.

Blackett made reference to a recent newspaper article featuring two persons in a same-sex relationship, and asked: “Is this the precursor to the new norm after the general elections, aided and abetted by constant and persistent lobbying by the LGBTI lobby, from external and internal forces?”

He did not name either the external or internal forces, but it was a clear reference to a report last week by the powerful human rights organization, Human Rights Watch, which is closely linked to the United Nations.

In the report. entitled ‘I Have to Leave to be me: Discriminatory Laws Against

LGBT People in the Eastern Caribbean’, Human Rights Watch suggested the time had come for Barbados to recognize samesex marriage and provide the sort of atmosphere in which the LGBT community can live freely and without fear of persecution or victimization.

The New York based organisation also said Barbados must “repeal Section 9, Chapter 154 of the Sexual Offences Act of 1992, which criminalizes consensual samesex conduct”.

“End legal discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people by repealing all existing laws criminalizing same-sex conduct,” it recommended.

The DLP has also stated repeatedly that morality would be part of this year’s election campaign, in what is seen as a veiled attempt to link the Barbados Labour Party to same-sex unions.

Blackett told party faithfuls at the meeting that the Human Rights Watch recommendations were nothing new, because LGBTI people had at all times featured prominently in, and were vital parts of, this island’s communities.

“What is new, though, is an attempt to transpose and to transplant a foreign culture into Barbados called same-sex marriage. Now that is what I have a problem with. We must also watch this creeping attempt to offend and insult our moral sensitivities here in Barbados,” he warned.

(Barbados Today) (Caribbean360)

STEVE BLACKETT

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

11

Ease The Tension — Enjoy A Laugh MY DOCTOR IS PRICELESS

FISH PUDDING Ingredients: 1 lb. white fish 4 ozs. white breadcrumbs salt and pepper to taste.

1 tsp. chopped parsley.

2 eggs beaten 2 ozs. melted margarine about 3 tsps. brown breadcrumbs

4. Press into a baking dish greased and sprinkled with brown breadcrumbs.

5. Cover with greased paper and bake for 45 minutes.

6. Serve with vegetables. 4 servings.

1. Cut the fish into small pieces after removing skin and bones.

Method:

2. Mix together the fish, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper and parsley.

3. Add the beaten egg and melted margarine.

Let me tell you about my doctor. He is very good.

If you tell him you want a second opinion, he will go out and come in again.

He treated one woman for yellow jaundice for three years before he realized she was Chinese.

While he was talking to me one day his nurse came in and said, “Doctor, there is a man here who thinks he is invisible.” The doctor said, “Tell him I can’t see him.”

Another time a man came running in the office and yelled, “Doctor, doctor, my son just swallowed a roll of film.” The doctor calmly replied, “Let’s just wait and see what develops.”

One patient came in and said, “Doctor, I have a serious memory problem.”

The doctor asked, “When did it start?“ The man replied, “When did what start?”

I remember one time I told my doctor I had a ringing in my ears. His advice: “Don’t answer it.”

My doctor sure has his share of nut cases. One said to him, “Doctor, I think I’m a bell.” The doctor gave him some pills and said, “Here, take these. If they don’t work, give me a ring.”

Another guy told the doctor that he thought he was a deck of cards. The doctor simply said, “Go sit over there. I’ll deal with you later.”

When I told my doctor I broke my leg in two places, he told me to stop going to those places.

THE AGING PROCESS

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when

IT’S A FACT

by JAMES SYDNEY

BARBARA JORDAN

A Memorable Black Legislator and Speaker

I

n the long struggle by African Americans for recognition in the political arena, Barbara Jordan played a significant role.

This remarkable woman, a powerful speaker, was born on February 21, 1936 in the Fifth Ward of the city of Houston, Texas. Her parents were Reverend Benjamin Jordan and his wife, Arlyn.

Barbara Jordan’s father, a strict Baptist, emphasized high standards, respectability, and excellence. Her mother also was a capable speaker. Her grandfather, John Ed Patten, introduced her to literature and philosophy, helped her improve her speaking skills and encouraged her to be bold.

Barbara lived her first 20 years in the Fifth Ward, a poor, close knit ghetto community with middle class values in the Jim Crow South. She knew what being part of a community felt like. It included the church she and her family attended regularly.

In 1952, after high school, Barbara Jordan began attending Texas Southern University (TSU).

At TSU, Dr. Thomas Freeman, the University’s debate coach helped her use her naturally strong and clear speaking voice to the best advantage.

Barbara attributed much of her success as a speaker to him.

In 1956, Barbara Jordan graduated from TSU with honors, and went on to Boston University Law School. Graduating in 1959, she passed both the Massachusetts and Texas bar examinations, then set up law practice back homein the Fifth Ward.

In 1960, an election year, she volunteered at the Kennedy Johnson Headquarters in Houston.

By 1966, she had made history by winning resoundingly against a White opponent and the

Texas Senate had its first Black member since Reconstruction.

Jordan was a Senator for six years, during which time she authored many bills that improved the quality of life for minorities, the poor and women. She was the first African American to preside over the State Senate and chair a major committee.

President Lyndon Johnson saw her as a political asset and found ways to get her national exposure and experience. In 1972, she was elected to serve in the 93rd Congress, becoming the first African American woman elected to Congress from Texas and the first African American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the South.

During her six-year term, Congresswoman

BARBARA JORDAN

Jordan introduced many important pieces of legislation. In 1976 she was the Keynote Speaker at the Democratic National Convention where she nominated President Jimmy Carter.

She was the first African American to give a Keynote speech at a major party’s political convention. In that much-remembered speech, she said, “It was one hundred and forty-four years ago that members of the Democratic Party first met in convention to select a Presidential candidate.

Since that time, Democrats have continued to convene once every four years and draft a party platform and nominate a Presidential candidate. And our meeting this week is a continuation of that tradition. But there is something different about tonight. There is something special about tonight.

What is different? What is special? I, Barbara Jordan, am a Keynote Speaker.

“When — A lot of years passed since 1832, and during that time it would have been most unusual for any national political party to ask a Barbara Jordan to deliver a Keynote Address. But tonight, here I am. And I feel — I feel that notwithstanding the past that my presence here is one additional bit of evidence that the American Dream need not forever be deferred.”

She ended this way: “Now I began this speech by commenting to you on the uniqueness of a Barbara Jordan making a Keynote Address. Well I am going to close my speech by quoting a Republican President and I ask you that as you listen to these words of Abraham Lincoln, relate them to the concept of a national community in which every last one of us participates: As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of Democ-

we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10-years-old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. "How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life comes . . . You become 21.

Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21 . . . YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sourdumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would! So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70!

After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. " I'm 100 and a half!"

MAY YOU ALL MAKE IT TO A HEALTHY 100 AND A HALF!!

racy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no Democracy.”

Almost upon arrival, Barbara Jordan found herself involved in the Watergate deliberations. In Washington, the House of Representatives held its formal inquiry into the impeachment of President Nixon.

The motion was put on the floor to adopt the Articles of Impeachment. After the committee debate, each member, in order of seniority, was allowed 15 minutes to summarize.

It so happened that Barbara Jordan’s speech would be at the peak of television’s prime time and the nation heard her. She said: “Earlier today, we heard the beginning of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States:” We, the people. It’s a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed on the 17th of September in 1787, I was not included in that We, the people. I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation and court decision, I have finally been included in We, the people.

Today I am an inquisitor. A hyperbole would not be fictional and would not overstate the solemnness that I feel right now. My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total.

And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution.”

Later she ended: “Has the President committed offenses, planned, directed and acquiesced in a course of conduct which the Constitution will not tolerate?

That’s the question. We know that. We know the question. We should now forthwith proceed to answer the question. It is reason, and not passion, which must guide our deliberations, guide our debate, and guide our decision.”

In 1978, Jordan left Congress and returned to private life as a Professor at the University of Texas’ Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs in Austin. She also continued to participate in public service activities and was honored in many ways.

She left a lasting legacy as a powerful force in American politics.

12

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending March 30, 2018

All Guyana to be connected -- President Granger commissions multimillion-dollar radio station at Orealla

RADIO Orealla 95.1 FM, a spanking, new multimillion-dollar radio station in East Berbice, Corentyne, was commissioned on Sunday with President David Granger telling residents that the radio is not for town, but for all.

In what residents described as the biggest event in the history of the Amerindian communities of Orealla and Siparuta, the President and a large delegation of high-level government officials commissioned Radio Orealla-95.1 FM, and pledged to provide access to information to every Guyanese across this vast nation.

“We have embarked on a programme where at the end of the programme every single region is going to have a regional broadcasting service station. Sometimes you wonder why it didn’t happen before because this is so necessary, but from Orealla right around the country, from Aishalton right down to Mabaruma, we are going to make sure the entire Republic of Guyana is connected.

Every Guyanese everywhere you go in this Republic must be in touch with his national broadcasting service,” President Granger said.

He said the radio station will serve as a medium to empower communities and boost economic ventures while noting that access to public information is the right of every citizen that the government will honour regardless of geographic location.

“Wherever you are in Guyana you must be able to tune in to our public broadcasting service. Why? Because this service is a public good, everybody can benefit, everybody will have access to this public good without

diminishing this good, and that is why we are on this programme, not to look after some personality, not to conduct propaganda, but to make sure that every Guyanese citizen has access to public information. It will empower you with information so you can make informed choices. This radio will help you establish equality with other citizens of Guyana. We are all equal in Guyana; radio is not for town, radio is for all,” the President told the large gathering.

The Head of State reminisced on his days growing up listening to educational programmes on the radio, and to this end he encouraged residents to use the opportunity to promote their culture and showcase their numerous talents to the rest of the country and neighbouring Suriname.

President David Granger is assisted by Toshao of Orealla David Henry, to unveil the plaque to officially commission Radio Orealla 95.1, while Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock, look on

improve you economic livelihood. This radio will help

is a costly one that private companies would seek to

that the radio station is only a small part of the plan by government to decentralise its services and provide equal opportunities and access to Guyanese across the nation.

National Communications Network (NCN) Chairman, Enrico Woolford, said there are a lot of creative and talented people in Guyana and through partnership with the government, radio stations across the country have been expanding as they provide a platform for creativity to be channelled to the masses.

“NCN has already started a process of change within its organisation, change that will allow you to see and hear radio stations that are built as you are seeing now, TV stations are to follow, content is moving and migrating, we

President David Granger is greeted by eager and curious children as he made his way into the community

Residents of Orealla turned out in their numbers to witness the commissioning of the radio station in their community

“Radio will be a vehicle for educational broadcast, not only for the Ministry of Education, but other ministries of the government, Ministry of Health, Telecommunications, so that if there is a health threat or a security threat you will be warned about it. This radio will help you to participate fully in the economic life of the country and also to

recuperate costs and make profits, the President stated that the investment by the government is one for the people.

“Some people pursue profits; we pursue service to the people and that is why we are here,” he told the gathering.

The President also noted

you to promote your village economy… and to establish contact with the other markets in the country so your economic opportunities will be increased. We can’t function without information,” the President said.

FOR THE PEOPLE While noting the venture

are rebranding and reforming radio, TV and our online presence. We intend to revitalise the creative sector in this country,” he said.

Woolford explained that through a private partnership with GTT, the NCN is able to utilise their tower free of cost, saving millions in capital costs and provide services to communities.

BRIDGING INFORMATION GAP GTT’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd, said his company is happy and proud to be a part of the historic event that helps in bridging the information and communication gap, which is part of its mandate to improve communications in hinterland communities.

He also pledged GTT’s continued support to developing communities across the country.Toshao of Orealla and Siparuta thanked the government for the investment.

“Radio Orealla will indeed be of great benefit to our people both now and for many, many generations to come. This new development is a historical milestone that will trigger further development in numerous areas such as education, sports, tourism, forestry, culture and agriculture of both Orealla and Siparuta. Learning and employment opportunities will be provided in particular for our youths to become journalists, radio announcers and other technical staff of radio Orealla,” he said.

Also present at the launch were: acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge; Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock; Minister of Social Cohesion George Norton; Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe; Members of Parliament; and regional officials.

In addition to the commissioning exercise, the President donated a quantity of sport gear, kites, books and radios to the community.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

13

HONORING SIX WOMEN CENTENARIANS O

n the afternoon of Wednesday, March 28, a rare and special ceremony took place at the McKinney Nursing Home . . . It was a Women's History Month ceremony which honored six female centenarians who are residents at the 320- bed Facility.

The McKinney Nursing Home is located at 594, Albany avenue in Brooklyn.

The six honorees were:-

REBECCA GILMORE REBECCA HONOR GILMORE was born on Jan 7, 1918, in Ridgeville South Carolina to the late Mr. & Mrs. John & Ella Honor. Rebecca and her twin brother the late Isaac Honor were the eighth of her parents ten children.

She migrated to New York in 1937, where she met and married William Gilmore. From this union were two sons the late William Jr. and Eddie Gilmore.

Because Rebecca knew and loved her Lord, she quickly became a member of Bethel Tabernacle AME church, then later moved her membership to Bridge Street AME church.

Volunteerism meant a lot to Ms. Gilmore.

This kind act of service and calling led her to the commitment of volunteer work in the church.

She visited the sick and shut in members did anything that was needed to be done in and around the church. Fellow members could always depend on her for her kindness and generosity. An avid and dedicated provider, her family members were never in want of anything, you asked and Ms. Gilmore provided.

Ms. Gilmore was also a very fashionable and impeccably dressed woman and this was seen at church and at the Orhbach’s Department store where she was employed for many years.

Her favorite scripture is Psalm 27: The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” this Psalm is her guide along with those hymns she loves to sing because they keep her at ease, songs such as “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”, “Amazing Grace” and “I Will Trust In The Lord”.

CAROLINE BINNS CAROLINE BINNS, was born in Kingston, Jamaica on February 9, 1918. She was the only child for her mother, however she was raised primarily by her dearly beloved “Aunt Ann”. She attended Alpha Girls Elementary

school, then later went on to attend Excelsior College for a short time. Caroline was a very industrious, independent and self-sufficient young woman. She has five daughtersand one son.

Today, she is a proud grandmother of 20, 40 great-grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren.

Caroline worked for the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipality, for 29 years. Upon her arrival in the U.S., in 1977, Caroline was determined to make something of her life and she went back to school and obtained her Home Health Aide Certificate (HHA) in N.Y. C. She worked in this field for many years, where she was loved and trusted by the consumers in her care and their families. She would continue to successfully work in this field until she retired at 70-years-old.

After retirement, Caroline continued a very active and independent lifestyle. She was very mobile and capable of getting around on her own, as many found out they went with her on some of her many errands and tried to keep up with her fast-paced walking.

Unfortunately, in 2003 she was struck by a vehicle while on one of her errands. Sadly, her legs were badly injured in the accident. This injury affected her both physically and psychologically. As a result, she was not as active as she wanted to be, but as God would have it, she is still alive to celebrate her 100th Birthday

CAROLYN BURTON CAROLYN BURTON was born March 30, 1918 in Ashville, North Carolina. She attended the Stephen Lee High School in North Carolina.

Ms. Burton came from a large family of 12 siblings. She took care of many of them along with cousins and nieces.

She dedicated her life to her careers first employed at Bonmache, Department Store and then went on to be a Librarian.

One can tell there was a close relationship with her father as she speaks of him all the time.

Two past times she enjoyed was travelling and she loved playing with her dog.

Her secret to her longevity is always staying close to God by attending a church — any church.

LUCILLE WATSON LUCILLE WATSON was born April 22, 1918 in Charleston, South Carolina. She came to Freeport, Long Island as a baby.

She attended kindergarten at Freeport and the Grove Street Public School also in Freeport, Long Island.

by Carlyle Harry

Some of the relatives and friends wno attended the special occasion.

Ms. Watson began her tenure in the health field as a Home Health Aide, and tenured at Kings County Hospital Center as a Nurse’s Aide for many years.

While living in the community, Ms. Watson attend the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church and was involved with a lot of community based organizations.

Ms. Watson has been a resident at McKinney for almost 20 years and she still enjoys it there.

As she reminisced she spoke of travelling to places such as Hawaii, and when not travelling she enjoyed time with herself.

Her key to her longevity is “Trusting In God: He Will Carry You Through.”

ENID PETERKIN ENID ODESA PETERKIN was born November 25, 1915 in Barbados, W.I. She was the ninth of 11 children. She migrated to America resided in Brooklyn, New York since 1961.

Enid worked as a dressmaker; she is what one might say — an entrepreneur, since she also used her culinary skills to garner an income.

Ms. Peterkin was married to Livingston Payne and they have a son, Carlton Peterkin.

Her devoted son, Carlton visits his mother regularly and is very involved in her care. Ms. Peterkin was a Nurse’s Aide for 17 years in Brooklyn, New York.

She loved attending church and is still an active member of the Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church. Her church friends still visit her on a regular basis, they would sing with and to her.

Enid, not only enjoyed her culinary art skills but she also loved acting and would use her good sense of humor and comedy to make people laugh.

To this day, Ms. Peterkin brings laughter to her friends and the staff at McKinney.

Centenarians with some members of the staff (from right) Enid Peterkin, Rebecca Gilmore, Caroline Binns, Carolyn Burton and Lucille Watson (missing from is Margaret Alcindor) (at the podium are) Ms. Angela Cooper, Assistant Director and Ms. Sheron Joseph, Chief Nursing Officer (inset is Mr. David Weinstein, CEO).

MARGARET ALCINDOR MARGARET ALCINDOR was born June 26, 1917 in Gros Islet, St. Lucia. She attended Gros Islet Grade School and is fluent in Creole and English.

Margaret grew up on a very large estate and she loved to spend time there with her father.

She has a rich legacy through her five children, 21 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren. Because she was a full-time housewife, Ms. Alcindor loved to cook and sew and to this day she is very fashionable and always wants to be seen with her earrings on.

In her earlier life she was a socially outgoing person. A devout Christian from the Roman Catholic faith, a lot of her time was spent with her church friends and her family.

Her daughter, Ms. Duncan visits her mother regularly and is very involved in her care.

Prior to the honorees being presented with'McKinney's Centenarian Experience Awards' and Citations — the audience comprising of relatives and invitees were addressed by senior staff-members of the Nursing Home.

The addresses were followed by a variety concert that consisted of dance-presentations, poetry-reading, musical serenades, and centenarian stories.

The formal ceremony was chaired by Ms. Angela Cooper — Assistant Director of the Nursing-Home, as well as Director of Public Affairs.

In her welcoming remarks, Ms. Cooper pointed out the the McKinney Nursing Home was the only Facility in New York that was currently housing six female centenarians . . . Hence the ceremonial theme "An Evening of 600 Stars: Nevertheless They Persisted.".

After a rendition of the United States' National Anthem by Mr. Hilton Samuel, the Invocation was done by Ms. Eslyn Simpson — the Director of Social-Services.

As Ms. Simpson prayed, Activities' Therapis, Rodrigo Bermudez supplied background music by playing the Lord’s Prayer on his flute.

Addresses were given by:-- Mr. David Weinstein, Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing Home; Ms.Charmaine Lewis-Purcell, Deputy Executive Officer; Dr. Steven Kaner, Chief Medical Officer; Ms. Sheron Joseph, Chief Nursing Officer; and Ms. Pearl John, Recording Secretary of the Nursing Home's Auxiliary.

Each Speaker traced how his/her department has been historically and currently contributing to the team of care-givers in order to provide qualitative services to the recipients.

Elected Officials — Congress Woman, Yvette Clarke; New York State Senator, Jesse Hamilton; and City-Council Member, Mathieu Eugene sent Messages and Proclamations to the Honorees.

Centenarian Lillian Watson gave a response on behalf of her colleagues.

14

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending March 30, 2018

Ratio confident --despite challenges, sees bright prospects in Guyana

DESPITE two dry holes by CGX Energy Inc in 2012 and the Venezuelan military’s forcible removal of Anadarko’s survey vessel in 2013, Ratio Oil pressed on in acquiring a Petroleum Agreement for exploration offshore Guyana, declaring it was not afraid of Venezuela.

This is according to Eitan Aizenberg, Chief Geologist and Manager of technical aspects of Ratio Guyana Limited. He gave a public lecture on Friday night at the Theatre Guild Playhouse under the auspices of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

“Immediately we submitted an application for Areas B and C in 2012. The area was open… no one wanted it. But what happened? Two very important wells were drilled in 2012 – Eagle 1 and Jaguar 1,” he said.

The wells turned out to

be ‘dry holes’ and the risk was increased for the Guyana Basin.

“When this happens, you are standing in front of your investors and you have to justify yourself. They thought I was crazy anyhow,” he said.

According to Aizenberg, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment at the time was reluctant to give Guyana Limited too much area to explore.

He said the ministry asked the company to choose either Block B or Block C. “So… we applied again in 2013 and we submitted for Block B,” he said.

However, in October 2013, the Venezuelan military seized a survey vessel, Teknik Perdana, which was carrying out survey operations on behalf of Anadarko. The crew of the vessel (some two dozen) was taken into custody.

“This [amounted to] an-

Eitan Aizenberg making his presentation at the Theatre Guild Playhouse on Friday

other risk. Again I had to stand in front of the investors and say I don’t care about the Venezuelans. I will find a way to do it… we have to go ahead,” he said. According to the geologist, during a

meeting in Miami, he stood up and said, “we are not afraid of Venezuela. We want to go ahead and find a way to work in Block B… now it is called Kaieteur,” he said.

“So we found a way to

work around the Venezuelan crisis and in April 2015, the agreement was signed,” he said. Observers are of the view that the determination

by Ratio to press on in the face of failed drilling campaigns and a clear and present Venezuela threat is testimony to the potential that Guyana’s offshore basin has and the confidence that international companies are placing in the offshore basin and investment landscape.

The Kaieteur Block, which is approximately 250 kilometres offshore in ultra-deep water, is located to the north and adjacent to the Stabroek and Canje blocks.

Ratio Guyana Limited completed a 3-D seismic survey of the Kaieteur block in 2017.

The Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) between Guyana and Ratio has costoil percentage of 75 per cent

and the 25 per cent balance profit-oil split 50/50 for government and contractor.

Further, a royalty of 1 per cent payable by the government’s take of the profits is specified in the Ratio Guyana Limited contract.

The Ratio Guyana Limited agreement was signed on April 28, 2015 by then President Donald Ramotar and the President of Ratio Energy Limited, the parent company of Ratio Guyana Limited.

Ratio Guyana Limited, whose parent company is Israel-based, is a joint-venture partner of ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) in Guyana’s offshore Kaieteur Block. EEPGL has the majority stake at 50 per cent, while Ratio Guyana Limited and its parent company, Ratio Energy Limited, each have a 25 per cent stake.

Black Bush farmers reap bumper rice crop dant crop to proper field management and the correct use of fertilisers and insecticides.

According to Ramnarine, he had previously planted the hybrid strain referred to as GRDB 10, however, this crop he tried a hybrid strain from Brazil.

It should be noted that some farmers who have planted the GRDB 10 have also reported similar yields to those of Ramnarine.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan who recently met with some of the farmers, pointed to the fact that the

reduced cost to hire trucks and combined harvesters for this crop had a positive effect on operational costs, resulting in larger profits for rice farmers.

The chairman also explained that the regional administration is tackling the issue of ensuring that the fields in the backlands (Black Bush Polder) remain dry for harvesting, while those in the front lands, expected to be harvested in a few weeks, receive water that will be pumped into their fields.

“So that is a little prob-

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

RICE farmers in Black Bush Polder are celebrating a bumper crop with yields of 45 bags of paddy per acre.

In the Black Bush Polder, 18,000 acres were cultivated and a further 24,000 in the front lands of the Corentyne coast between Adventure and Number 43 Village.

Sixty-five per cent, of the 18,000 acres of rice cultivated in Black Bush, has already been harvested. Another 4,500 acres remain in the fields to be harvested.

Roshad Gafoor, of Yaku-

sari, Black Bush Polder, said he has 45 acres under rice cultivation and is expecting to receive $1.9M for his paddy.

Another satisfied rice farmer is Sasenarine Ramnarine, whose 21 acres have yielded him an average of 35 to 40 bags of paddy per acre.

Ramnarine described this crop as an excellent one, particularly since during the previous crop some farmers were reaping 25 bags of paddy per acre in the Black Bush Polder.

He attributed this abun-

A rice field in Black Bush Polder

Rice farmer Sasenarine Ramnarine

lem that we have to keep the

water in the canal at a level that it can reach to the front lands for those farmers; and also at a level that if it rains, there will be no flooding in Black Bush because then the farmers will not be able to reap and those who have not finished reaping will have big losses,” he said.

He also gave the assurance that the administration is looking into the “erection of a solid fence” to separate the rice-cultivation area from the area where cattle are grazed, in order to prevent destruction of rice fields.

Armogan said that this will be carried out as a capital project in 2019.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending March 30, 2018

15

‘Help retool sugar workers’

…Trotman calls on oil investors to train former sugar workers As TOTALTEC launches its oilfield Operator Training Programme on the grounds of the Guyana Shore Base Inc. on Monday, its Patron, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman called on investors to help “retool” former sugar workers to make them fit for the oil and gas industry.

At the inauguration of the academy, Minister Trotman urged the investors to partner with local academic institutions like the University of Guyana (UG) in order to help Guyana “delink” and go through the “pains” of

rightsizing the sugar industry.

“We have able-bodied men and women who can make a contribution to the oil and gas industry which will replace sugar,” said the minister.

Minister Trotman encouraged the investors to support Guyanese and the Government because they need “all hands on deck” to develop the local oil and gas industry.

Minister Trotman had conducted the ground-breaking ceremony for the TOTALTEC Academy building in February during GIPEX 2018, as the Patron of the

Recruits already engaged in the theoretical sessions

newly established oilfield service training academy.

The training will comprise some 60 courses and

recruit 24 Guyanese candidates to become the future oilfield workers. Two highly-experienced international instructors with over 40 years of experience in the industry between them will coordinate the training. The programme will encompass basic safety, through to specific environmental practices and technical training on specialised lifting operations, rigging and slinging and forklift driving.

The programme will run for just under three months and will allow recruits to be fully immersed in every

aspect of basic operational and safety training required in the industry to ensure that they are given the opportunity to develop and perform to the world class standards that are expected in the international oil and gas industry.

The recruits will have the opportunity to be exposed to a number of highly-experienced oil and gas industry professionals and learn from them while determining and developing their own career aspirations and ambitions.

Essequibians call for oil spill Hindus celebrate training in Region Two Ramnavmi ---as Exxonmobil hosts response presentation

By Indrawattie Natram

SEVERAL persons who attended the presentation hosted by Exxonmobil subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Limited (EEPL) on Oil Spill response on Monday in Region Two, have called on the oil company to train persons within the region on how to respond to an oil spill if the need arises.

This request was made by fisherfolks, businessmen and also the regional democratic councillors who believe that Region Two personnel should be equipped with the necessary knowledge in an event of an oil spill.

Chairman of the Essequibo Chambers of Commerce, Deleep Singh, said that fishermen as well as environmental officers should be trained in the field.

Singh therefore called on Exxonmobil to provide local training within the region to young people who will in turn act as “oil spill” trainers disseminating information to residents.

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt agreed since in his opinion Regions One and Two would be seriously affected if anything unfortunate should happen.

The fishermen who attended the presentation were particularly interested on how their livelihood would be affected in an event of an oil spill. Also, they wanted to know if compensation would be provided to them should there be a spill.

In response, Safety and Regulatory Manager for Exxonmobil, Michael Persaud, told the gathering comprising of major stakeholders from the agricultural region that the company had recently facilitated training for persons throughout Guyana. He said it was unfortunate

that even though invitations were sent to all the Regions to submit the names of persons the regional administration would have wished to be trained, Region Two did not submit any. Persaud however said that he would be making the request to the company for training for personnel from there.

‘DEALING WITH OIL SPILLS’ Meanwhile at the Oil Spill response presentation held in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council, Oil Spill advisor for Exxonmobil Thomas Thomblin, said prevention was the greatest tool to deal with any such eventuality and gave the assurance that the company was fully equipped to deal with same. He also told the gathering that Tiered Response resources and containers recently arrived in Guyana to respond to same if the need arises.

Thomblin said the main objective of Exxon was to safeguard the people, protect the environment and protect the company’s assets and its reputation. Giving an overview on oil spill response, he also said that in an event there is an oil spill in Guyana then ExxonMobil would be prepared to act effectively by offering assistance to the authorities, give technical advice with the appropriate legal safeguards, as well as respond rapidly to life-threatening situations.

Thomblin further explained that the general roles and responsibilities of the company is to support the field response, mobilise resources, people and equipment, formulate strategies to manage the key issues, establish communications with the host Government, the field- impacted businesses, senior management, assess the worst-case scenario and the incident’s potential global

impact as well as to assist to coordinate business-continuity activities. There is an establishment of a Regional Response Teams Global Coverage that is in the America’s, Europe, Africa, Asia/ Pacific and Middle East.

Thomblin said that while presentations are important, training and exercises also play an integral role. He said that training was crucial to ensuring adequate preparedness.

Touching on the Tier 1 response, the oil advisor said that the EEPGL (Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited) on site is responsible for mobilising the Tier 1 resources. The Tier 1 equipment held in Guyana’s onshore and offshore operations include shore bases, fueling terminal, support vessels, drilling rig, tankers. Also, that the FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading ) systems will be available for rapid deployment in an event of an incident. There is also Tier 2 resources which will see equipment and trained personnel available through the terminals and shore bases to initiate an on shore offshore response.

The Oil Spill Response presentation was held by Exxonmobil in partnership with the Region Two Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at the request of persons who had attended the company’s last public scoping meeting held in the region.

Attending the presentation were persons from the business community, representatives from the health sector, environmental officers, Neighbourhood Democratic Councillors, Regional Democratic Councillors as well as representatives from Exxonmobil.

Members of the Golden Fleece Mandir performing puja in observance of Ramnavmi

HINDUS on the Essequibo Coast celebrated the Festival of Ramnavmi with congregational worship at various temples on Sunday.

Ramnavmi coincides with the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is known as Maryada Purushottam – an embodiment of chivalry and virtue.

The conclusion of Navratri was observed with persons paying homage to the Hindu Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Swarswattie during nine nights of fasting.

On Sunday, many persons engaged in congregational worship of Lord Rama, whose birthday falls the 9th day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Chaitra (MarchApril).

In Hinduism, Ramnavmi is one of the most important festivals and on the auspicious day, devotees repeat the name of Rama with every

breath and vow to lead a righteous life.

In observance of the day, many persons fasted, temples were decorated and special offerings of sweetmeat and prashadam were offered to the Lord.

At mandir services, pandits read the Ramayan, a text that traced the life and work of Lord Rama.

The day ended with many visiting temples to make their offerings and recite special prayers in obeisance to Lord Rama.

Lord Rama was born as the eldest son of Kausalya and Dasharatha, king of Ayodhya. He is also referred to as Maryada Purushottam, literally the Perfect Man or Lord of Self-Control or Lord of Virtue. His wife Sita is considered by Hindus to be an avatar of Lakshmi and the embodiment of a great woman.

16

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

The Handel Andrews Column

T TH HE E H HI IS ST TO ORY RY PA PAG GE E

The Great Man Norman Eustace ‘Nebo’ Cameron

N

orman Eustace “Nebo” Cameron was a Guyanese of rare talent — teacher, writer and mathematician, among other things.

Guyana has produced many multi-talented persons, but Nebo was “primus inter pares”, greatest among equals.

EARLY YEARS AND EDUCATION He was born on January 26, 1903 in New Amsterdam, Berbice, British Guiana (now Guyana), birthplace of notables such as Dr. Habibullah Niamataly Ameerally, first Rhodes scholar from Guyana; Sir Shridath S. Ramphal, the Commonwealth’s second SecretaryGeneral, and the first from the Third World; Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence Haynes (J. O. F.), Chancellor of the Judiciary and, arguably, Guyana’s greatest advocate and his mother Ruby McGregor, music teacher of all New Amsterdam in her time..

‘Nebo’ attended Christ Church Primary school and in 1916 won the Government Junior Scholarship which enabled him to attend Queen’s College.

In those days there were no General Certificate of Education (GCE) exams, and students sat the Oxford and Cambridge, junior, senior and higher senior exams. He passed the Higher Cambridge with distinctions in Latin, French, English, Mathematics and Religious Knowledge. This placed him first among candidates from Barbados and Guyana and earned him the Guyana Scholarship.

This enabled him to pursue studies at Cambridge University, where he obtained First Class Honors in the B.A. and M.A. degrees.

‘Nebo’ returned to Guyana in 1926 and later founded The Guyanese Academy, where he taught mathematics from 1926-1934. From 1934-1958, he was Senior Master at his alma mater and its Deputy Principal from 1958-1962, during this period he authored four high-school text books on mathematics (1942), Mention must be made of some of his brilliant colleagues during the 50s — Brian Hetram, brilliant Latin teacher and first local Principal of the school; the extraordinarily fluent French teacher: S. R. R. Alsopp.; and Cecil Clayton, extraordinary English teacher at Queens College.

‘Nebo’ also served as Professor Emeritus of mathematics at the University of Guyana from 1968.

THE HISTORIAN Most QC old boys know about Nebo’s brilliant book about the history of their school. Before discussing it, I must mention his magnus opus, “The Evolution of the Negro in 2 volumes.” It is fitting to do this, since it was a favorite of

my father and was prominently displayed in his library.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE NEGRO Dr. W. E. B. Dubois had written an article in the New York Times in 1910 titled “Fifty Years Among Black Folks”, which months later was published in various periodicals as “Evolution of the Negro.” It is a solid history of the American negro from slavery to freedom, Mr. Cameron’s book, printed by The Argosy Company Ltd. Georgetown,

On August 5th, 1844, Queen’s College Grammar school was opened with 15 students under two tutors. It was housed at the Colony House, near what was then the Victoria Law Courts. It was a fee-paying Anglican school, its curriculum consisted of Latin, Greek, Mathematics, Geography, writing and arithmetic.

In 1875, Q.C. became a government institution. Exley Percival was the school’s first principal.

‘Nebo’ records details of Q.C.’s main premises ‘Colony House’ from 1854-1918, at Brickdam from 1918 to

1951 and Thomas Lands from 1951.

Queen’s College of Guyana (inset is Norman ‘Nebo’ Cameron)

British Guiana in 1929, is one of the most detailed books about Black history. It is not easy reading and demonstrates the author’s penchant for precision.

Volume 1 treats the Civilization of the Africans before and during the time of their involuntary voyage to the Americas.

Volume 2 treats of the various aspects of the Eure-Africa slavery and outfrom development negro lines emancipation to the present.

HISTORY OF QUEEN’S COLLEGE In 1951, F. A. Persick Ltd., Georgetown, British Guiana, published N. E. Cameron’s brilliant “History of Queen’s College”, which was updated and re-published in 2009 by the QC Alumni Association in Toronto, Canada.

Professor Frank Birbalsingh observes: “In his History, Cameron maps out the historical development of QC with chronological precision, relying on crisp, short chapters often with a multitude of facts.”

I was impressed by ‘Nebo’s’ description of Queen’s beginning. He states that on July 11th, 1844, Anglican Bishop William Piercy Austin held a meeting to discuss his idea of the founding of a new school that would keep the children of the more wealthy [English residents] in the colony [British Guiana] for a longer period.

GEORGETOWN STREETS Last week, I read an interesting article about Georgetown streets in Stabroek News, October 30, 2009 by ‘Nebo’. It was first published in Kyk-Over-Al, Vol. 2, No. 8, June 1949. The following is an excerpt: “There is much to interest us about “our streets”, even to the point of fascination . . . All our avenues are filled up trenches — East Street, Carmichael Street, Hadfield Street, etc. The trenches are one of the features which remind us forcibly that almost all of Georgetown was once estate land, the cultivation being sugar or cotton.

Some of the streets bear the names of the old estates or of their owners or attorneys, e.g. Vlissengen Road after Vlissengen Estate; Bourda Street named after a famous colonist Mr. Joseph Bourda; Forshaw Street is the only street in the city named after a colored man. Forshaw was prominent in securing Queenstown from the proprietors of Pln. Bel Air and council thought it fitting to name a street in that ward after him.”

LITERATURE It is ironic that one of Guyana’s greatest mathematicians wrote its first Anthology of poetry. N. E. Cameron published it in 1931 and it covers the period 1831 to 1931. Three years later, C. J.

Ramcharitar Lalla published an Anthology of Local Indian Verse.

Guyana Chronicle, September 20, 2014, in an article on Guyanese poetry states: “For N. E. Cameron — working his way through the poetry in the Reading Rooms of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society in Georgetown — the production of the first anthology of Guyanese literature was the answer to a request: “to give some account of the literature of this country.”

This response, given to friends at Cambridge while Cameron was in the UK as a student, provided the impetus for a pioneering collection of work that took seriously Guyana’s literary legacy from the 19th to the 20th century. The results are an anthology that charts not only the rise of poetry in colonial Guyana, but also one that surveys an emerging national poetics, the poetics of Empire and slavery, experiments in literary form, and one that provides a key chapter in the country’s history of the book.

The author continues: “The hundred years’ period that Cameron researched for his anthology covered slavery, emancipation, indentureship, the age of British imperialism and intimations of its decline. What is striking about the anthology for us today is how the poetry of that century registers its present, and the formal choices of the poets.”

One of the flaws in Cameron’s “Anthology” is that it does not include any Indian poets. This has led to the charge that it is “racist.” Some have suggested that this led Ramcharitar to compile his Local Indian Anthology.”

‘Nebo’ also wrote plays that dealt with African and biblical history, such as Balthazar (1931), Adoniya (1943) and Sabaco (1947).

Wikipedia says that he “wrote on almost every topic from history and mathematics to politics.” Unfortunately, many of his writings are not available outside Guyana. It is possible to find most at the Archives or the Carnegie Library.

The Caribbean Press is doing a commendably important job in bringing Guyanese literature to the public and schools. My question is: Why are the first and second Anthologies of Guyanese poetry not included? Why is The Evolution of the Negro omitted? Is it not a classic?

On July 30, 2012, an article argued that Edgar Mittleholtzer needs to be honored. What about N. E. Cameron. For that matter, what about George G. M. James, who wrote an international classic, “Stolen Legacy”?

CONCLUSION Sometimes, as John Milton, says, “Ours is not to reason why.” Suffice to say, the man about whom I have written was great by any standards. His works are like vintage wine. They become greater by the passing of years.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

What a week it was in Biblical Politics

17

by Francis Quamina Farrier

observe a commemoration of when Jesus rose triumphantly from the dead. I thought of the 'resurrection' of the City of Georgetown which was in a way, dead and buried under tons and tons of slime, litter, filth and garbage for over two decades. The massive Clean-Up campaign during the latter months of 2015, was in a way a "Resurrection" from an aesthetic death of a city which is now back to a life of preparation for an 'ascenBefore I continue, I have to remind you too, are those which lined Church Street in sion' into a state even better than when it was that I am, as President Forbes Burnham used Georgetown, and so many other city streets. previously known as, "The Garden City of to classify folks like myself, "Political In- Thank goodness that there are still some the Caribbean". fants"; those of us who were in the imagi- beautiful Century palm trees lining the road Easter Sunday 2018, is also April 1st, nary kindergarten political class and really inside the Botanical Gardens in Georgewhich traditionally is known by Guyanese not doing so well. However, having made town. Such beauty! as, "All Fools Day". We know that for some that disclosure, I have to say that President The other important day for Christians citizens, Easter is for fools who believe in a Burnham recognized my own "stunted po- during Holy Week is Good Friday. As the God, and who have accepted that Jesus litical development", as well as my non-par- Holy Bible relates, Jesus, the Son of God, Christ, the Son of God, came to earth, lived, ticipation in any political organization not as was betrayed by one of his special friends, died and rose from the dead. Holy Week something negative, but as something he had with a kiss. Jesus was then arrested by some 2018 has come and gone into history. How no choice but to live with. He was also smart very rough Law Enforcers and taken to court we observed it, can in no way whatsoever be enough to have recognized that he could use for trial. A number of eager witnesses gave undone. my unbiased, non-partisan professional ex- false testimony against Jesus and he was And during Holy Week 2018, I also pertise in a positive way. condemned to death. The Roman trial Judge, thought of how fortunate I am to live in a While an up-and-coming Film Pro- Pontius Pilate, became so fed-up with the nacountry in which there is freedom to worducer at the Ministry of Information, back in tive Jews, who wanted Jesus dead, because ship, and that in Guyana the the 1970s, I was the one chosen to various religions co-exist in produce a film documentary on the peace and harmony. On Saturprivate life of President Forbes day February 3, 2018, I perBurnham. That was a big surprise formed two poems at an for me, since in a way, I was a politInter-Faith Concert produced ical outsider. I like to commence by the Guyana Council of such projects with a working title; in Churches held at the National this case "A Man of the People", Library in Georgetown. Perwhich remained the final title of the forming at that concert were Film Documentary.

Christians, Hindus, Muslims Burnham would have seen my and Rastafarians. What an exwork, and for whatever reason, he ample for those countries decided that he wanted me to be the where there is so much relione to do the documentary. The Pogious intolerance, that some litical geniuses at the Ministry were A Hindu Dancer captivated the audience with her people find it necessary to atsomehow overlooked, much to my The Bandstand and the imposing Century Palms in the dance at the February 3, 2018 Inter-Faith concert. tack and kill others in the name consternation. Could it have been Botanical Gardens, Georgetown .

(Photo by Francis Quamina Farrier) of their Creator.

(Photo by Francis Quamina Farrier) that Burnham had taken the advice What we in Guyana could do now, is of Jesus who had said, "And a little child his preaching went against the grain. At the other begged for forgiveness, and was reshall lead them"? I was, and still am, a "Po- intervention of his wife, Pontius Pilate just portedly promised Heaven by Jesus. How prepare to go out on Easter Monday and fly litical Infant." Anyway, that's another story. washed his hands of the entire fiasco, and can we forget the reaction by some citizens our kites in a safe place, away from electric when President David Granger grants par- wires, and enjoy ourselves, in that Guyanese We have just come out of Holy Week, and walked away from the Trial Bench. don to some prisoners; thieves among them. traditional way of Social Cohesion. HAPPY that's what I am attempting to focus on.

Easter Sunday 2018, Christians will EASTER to one and all.

Last Sunday, March 25, 2018, ChrisThat got me to thinking about the situtians all around the world celebrated Palm ation within the Judiciary in Sunday, a commemoration of the day Jesus Guyana over the past 15 Christ rode triumphantly on a donkey (The years, when so many legal Harley Davidson motor cycle of the day), operatives, from the Chaninto Jerusalem to chanting crowds, who cellor of the Judiciary, to the waved palm branches and proclaimed Jesus Chief Justice, to Chief Magas "King of Kings and Lord of Lords". The istrates et al, were functionuse of palm branches got me to thinking of ing in ACTING positions for the decreasing Century palm trees in years and years.

Georgetown.

Unsolved murder cases Back in the 1940s and 1950s, travelling from Monica Reece, to from McDoom Village on the East Bank of David Kennedy and more Demerara where I lived, and going to the recently controversial murcity of Georgetown, I saw lofty Century der cases such as Courtney palm trees all along the dusty Houston Pub- Crum-Ewing, the massacres lic road, beautifying the extension of what at Lindo Creek, Lilliandall was then "The Garden City of the and Bartica are also cases Caribbean". Those Century palm trees are which have and remain very now all gone. controversial and which Also almost all gone, are the Century swirled around my conpalm trees in Le Repinter Cemetery. Gone, sciousness during Holy

Y

ou do not necessarily have to be a Christian to think deeply on what happened between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, which includes Good Friday, as recorded in the Holy Bible.

Now let's review the past week on the Christian Calendar and in what way it impacted a few of my thoughts about our Beautiful Guyana, and my efforts to juxtapose ‘Holy Week 2018’, with a very small slice of our own recent political history.

Week.

The Passion of Jesus Christ saw the worst in Public behavior, as maybe many of the very people who shouted "Hossana to the son of David" on Palm Sunday, were some of the very people who rooted for the release of the notorious terrorist, Barabbas, and in unison shouted "Crucify him, Crucify him", for Jesus, all less than a week later!

During his trial, all of his close associates abandoned Jesus; one even cursing and saying , "I know not the Man." All one can say is that human nature hasn't changed much from time immemorial! What was abundantly clear, was that the women were fearless in the face of the dreaded Roman soldiers, and kept close to The Master, as he climbed with his cross to Mount Calvary.

Many Guyanese women have been very supportive of their political leaders through thick and thin, as have been demonstrated so many times over the years.

On Good Friday, as Jesus hung dying on the cross, there were two thieves also on crosses on either side. One cursed Jesus. The

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

18

Emphasis on Real Estate, Taxes and Business The Edgar Henry Column

A

s the saying goes “Out of the frying pan into the fire.” One problem surely leads to another, as the homeless seek refuge in vacant buildings across the nation for shelter, security and comfort, particularly during the cold season; But at whose expense?

Here is the scenario; you purchased your home; you lost your job and you cannot afford to meet the monthly mortgage payments; you probably are experiencing fierce divorce proceedings; for some reason you had to vacate the premises; you did the right thing by placing your American Dream on the real estate market; you are willing to take a loss if necessary; basically to avoid foreclosure or having to file bankruptcy, or to mess up your credit score. You want to deliver the property vacant for a quick sale, so you remove the contents for easy viewing of potential purchasers since you cannot afford to pay a watchman for security. Low and behold you recently discovered that the property is now occupied by homeless squatters.

The numerous vacant homes available for sale have created a haven for homeless people. On any given night they are outnumbered in some cities by vacant houses. Some street people are taking full advantage of the opportunity by becoming temporary or in some cases permanent squatters.

Foreclosed homes often have an advantage over boarded-up and dilapidated houses abandoned because of rundown conditions. Generally foreclosure homeowners would leave their lights, gas and water facilities in working conditions to encourage real estate professionals and their clients to visit the premises, demonstrating the functioning of the utilities, faucets etc. Also and especially during the cold season, homeowners would leave the heating systems running and intact so as not to allow the water pipes to become frozen or busted which could create tremendous expenses. Now that some states are experiencing the winter months, heating in these vacant homes provide adequate

and suitable conditions for vagrants.

This is a good gesture, but squatters are aware of those houses that have these facilities and they gravitate towards them.

CONVENIENCE The problem with these squatters is that they could be hostile uncooperative crack heads, while others are real-time bums. By the same token some are easy to communicate with and are willing to vacate when caught.

It is a tedious task keeping track of properties left vacant by the foreclosure process. Homeless advocates agree that locations even with utilities cut off would be inviting to some. Of course there are hazardous risks involved for squatters, including fires from the use of candles, confrontations with drug dealers, prostitution and a storage facility for thieves. Homeless people view this state of affairs as an opportunity to provide shelter. These somewhat smart squatters

Homeless Occupy Foreclosed And Abandoned Homes would occupy and sneak into vacant houses late at night and would leave at daybreak. They consider this a welcomed convenience.

PRESCRIPTIVE RIGHT A prescriptive right is a right of ownership acquired through constant use, and is essentially ownership that comes into being without the explicit consent of the owner. This law recognizes that the use must continue for the length of a prescriptive period. The time factor for occupancy varies from state to state. Now if you are not keeping an eye on your property, you can easily fall

prey to an educated homeless person who occupies your property for an extended period of time. This is really serious since squatters may very well emerge owning your property.

SHELTERS Homeless individuals, who violate the rules that apply to shelters, now have an inventory of recent foreclosed and boarded up property as alternates, and they treat it as a business. If they are kicked out of one home they know the exact location of another vacant one to occupy. They are cognizant of the increased availability of boarded-up homes and they utilize it to their advantage. There also exists a problem among squatters fighting for occupancy supremacy, on a somewhat “First come first own” basis meaning if I arrive and take temporary residence before you; later for you and I would assume temporary occupancy rights. You will not be allowed in, perhaps until I leave. However, it depends on my judgment whether I am willing to share space with you or not.

Evidence of increased homeless persons moving into foreclosed homes is on the rise. Recently foreclosures

offer the best prospects to squatters. The situation poses a real time problem to many homeowners. Homeless persons have different categories, and they range from poverty, drug abuse problems, bankruptcy and a host of other reasons.

RISK FACTOR Law enforcement authorities across the country must deal with squatters and vandalism involving vacant homes. A foreclosed or boarded up home can be a target since they attract drug dealers, prostitutes and are considered fire hazards. Candles burning in boarded-up homes set the stage. Many cities oust the homeless from vacant homes, which more typically will be used temporarily by drug dealers or prostitutes than a homeless person looking for a place to sleep.

Apart from the deteriorating of the neighborhoods, by this practice, the situation presents potential hazardous and risk conditions. If this problem is not skillfully addressed the nation would have compounded problems as we forge ahead into the electoral process.

The risk is too great to send case workers into vacant homes to check for the homeless needing help subsidies.

Authorities have to be very wary entering such properties. There’s a potential danger as the floors may not be secure and could probably cave in. Even the inviting ideas of countless foreclosed empty homes present a risk factor.

In some states three or four boarded-up homes in certain neighborhoods have homeless living there from time to time. Rapid turnover of occupancy is also the tendency of smart homeless squatters. “Now you see me then you don’t” policy is administered so that they are not caught that easily.

If for some reason, you are faced with this problem, ask your immediate neighbors to look out for you; ensure that you take the necessary steps to secure your property or possibly hire a security service to protect your interests and your valued assets. Insert cameras that could be viewed by your cellular device. If you don’t, the price you will pay could be astronomical.

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

To have all your real estate questions answered — FREE CONSULTATION — call: Edgar Henry @ (718) 930-9526

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

19

A Plan to Develop an Ecotourism Industry in Guyana ognized public relations firm in the United States to promote ecotourism in Guyana.

• While commercial tourism should be encouraged, Guyana should also promote community-based tourism. Commercial tourism caters to the more affluent tourist, whereas community tourism which is focused on the establishment of modest guest houses and bed and breakfast facilities will focus on the low budget tourist.

Guyanese entrepreneurs should be encouraged to establish guest houses and to develop all-inclusive packages which will involve providing transportation, accom-

restaurants, casinos and night clubs.

• The Kaieteur resort can promote a Laser Light and Sound Show, utilizing the Kaieteur Falls as a backdrop, while local entertainers, such as folk singers or steelband players provide musical entertainment. The light and sound shows can also focus on the Kaieteur Falls and highlight the butterfly farms, the giant bromaleids, golden dart frogs, rare wild life, such as, ocelot, tapir, crab dog and the red howler monkey.

• The resort at Shell Beach can promote a documentary film, highlighting the migration of the Iwokrama marine turtles from Africa to Guyana and focus on the four endangered species — the Leatherback, the Blue Turtle, the Hawksbill and the Olive Ridley.

• The resort at Iwokrama can highlight the Canopy Walkway, the Kurupukari Falls, the Ancient Petroglyphs of the Makushi people, dating back to more than six thousand years.

• The resort at Lethem can play a rerun of the Wild Kingdom in which Stan Brock, the onetime manager of the Dadanawa Ranch could be seen wrestling a giant anaconda in the waters of the Rupu- modation and local Creole dishes to the nuni River, while a Black Caiman and low budget tourists.

Flesh eating Piranhas swam in the waterss • The Guyana Tourism Authority nearby, and where jaguars prowl the banks (GTA) and The Tourism Hospitality Assoof the Rupununi River. ciation of Guyana (THAG) should be au• The construction of the Lethem to thorized to inspect and evaluate guest Linden highway will make the tourist re- houses throughout Guyana to determine sorts of Lethem and Iwokrama accessible whether they are eligible to operate as apto the tourists who stay in Georgetown. It propriate accommodation for international will take only a bus ride of two hours to tourists. Once a certificate is granted, the travel from Georgetown to Iwokrama and operator of the guest house should underanother two hours to travel from George- take an intensive course in hotel managetown to Lethem.

• However, the tourist resort at the Kaieteur Falls and Shell Beach will only be accessible by aircraft. The cost of airfare from Georgetown to these destinations, are still prohibitive. We propose that the Ministry of Tourism negotiate with the hoteliers, local airlines, and tour operators to offer a competitive airfare that is within the budgetary capacity of the less affluent tourist.

• The Guyana tourism authority should pursue the vigorous program of promoting eco-tourism in Guyana by disseminating flyers, pamphlets, maps and CDs’ highlighting the tourists destinations in Guyana. They should also organize seminars and symposiums at the convention center in Turkeyen, at hotels and guests houses. They should also be attending regional and international conferences in the Caribbean, South America, North America, Europe, Asia and Africa to promote Guyana’s unique tourism product.

They should also take the lead in teaching the basic principles of ecotourism to Guyanese entrepreneurs who might be interested in investing in the tourism business.

• The Ministry of Tourism should retain the services of an internationally rec-

(from page 4)

ment, ecotourism, cultural tourism and heritage tourism and will be eligible to apply to the Ministry of Tourism for credit to expand his/her operations.

• The Ministry of Tourism should consult with local hoteliers, local and international airlines and local tour operators about developing moderately- priced allinclusive packages to the tourist destinations of Kaieteur Falls, Iwokrama, Shell Beach and Lethem.

• The Guyana brand of ecotourism should also be focused on promoting other aspects of tourism, for example, sports

Rupununi Rodeo, Lethem

tourism, cultural tourism and heritage tourism.

• Guyana has always had a very vibrant program of sports tourism, which has been focused on encouraging cricket competitions from various regional and international teams, such as the West Indian Cricket Team and cricket teams from the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries that play cricket . Guyana has also hosted soccer matches with Trinidad

and Tobago, Jamaica, Haiti, Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, etc.

• Guyana has a very vibrant cultural potpourri consisting of Indo-Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese and Amerindian cultural traditions. The Indo-Guyanese cultural traditions are highlighted at Hindu festivals, such as Diwali, Paghwah, and Muslims festivals, such as, Eid-Ul-Azha and Eid-UdFitur. The Afro-Guyanese cultural traditions are normally displayed at the Emancipation Day celebrations and at Creole festivals, such as, Mashramani and West Indian Day carnival. The Amerindian traditions are highlighted at the Amerindian Expo in the Rupununi.

• Guyana is a dynamic cultural hub which has been open to cultural influences from the Caribbean, United States of America and Europe.

Guyana has attracted internationally recognized entertainers from the Caribbean, United States of America and Europe.

Among the musical genres that are popular in Guyana are calypso, soca, reggae, soul, rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel and hip-hop.

Guyanese entrepreneurs should be encouraged to promote carnival, jazz, reggae, gospel and hip-hop festivals in Guyana.

• The University of Guyana and other tertiary institutions in Guyana should add ecotourism to their curriculum. Among the subjects that should be taught are hotel management, business administration, public relations, advertising and marketing, cultural tourism, sports tourism, heritage tourism, adventure and wilderness tourism.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

20

EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

In The Mail

SUSTAINING THE CHRONICLE

Dear Editor, I did read the two previous letters that had appealed for public and private sector support towards keeping the New York edition of the Chronicle alive.

I concur with the contents of both letters, though I thought that the APNU+AFC administration

O

would have been more forthcoming in undertaking the survival of the newspaper.

I say that because very early in the life of his Government, President Granger had declared that the State needed an organ like the Chronicle that would highlight and promote what was going on within

Guyana's rural and urban locations.

President Granger rightly pointed out that because of the profit motive, the privately-owned newspapers would not go beyond certain endeavors.

Given President Granger's point on observations, there should be no obstacles standing in the way

of the ministry that is in charge of public information to provide long term financial support to the New York Edition of the Guyana Chronicle.

I wish you and your staff all the best, Keep up the good work.

HAPPY EASTER. Jerome Khan

BP DIAZ CELEBRATES WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

n Tuesday, March 27, 2018, annual Women’s History Month Bronx Borough President Celebration, honoring women who Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted his have contributed to the growth and

(From L to R) This year’s honorees and panelists; Deputy Bronx Borough President, Marricka Scott-McFadden; the New York Fire Department Lt. Maureen O’Neill; Manhattan College General Counsel Tamara J. Britt; Bronx District Attorney, Darcel D. Clark; Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr.; Associate Professor-Manhattan College, Margaret Groarke; and Acting Justice-Supreme Court, Hon. Llinet Beltre-Rosado.

promotion of our borough, our city and our nation.

The event featured a panel discussion on the many obstacles women have had to conquer throughout our nation’s history and what can be done to break barriers in the present.

“The largest demographic in

The Bronx are women and they are the backbone of our society, leading in their homes, in the community and various industries. Without the women in our lives, and in our communities, we would not be able to achieve all that we can,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

To advertise your business, a special milestone, your wedding anniversary, your child’s birthday, your organization’s fundraiser or any special occasion in the New York Edition of the Chronicle

call: (917) 379-6590

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

New York Chronicle Horoscope

21

CROSSWORD CROSSWORD

ISSUE 94 CROSSWORD ANSWER

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You may find that romance will unfold through business connections. Make alternate plans just in case you need to make a career shift. Make love, not war, and all will be fine. You can make new friends who could turn into intimate connections if you join club or take creative courses. Your lucky day next week will be Wednesday.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) You will have to do a lot of running around, so be prepared to fall short of your expectations. You may find out that someone has not been completely honest with you. You will find your personal partner taxing this week. You can make progress if you deal with the right individuals. Your lucky day next week will be Saturday.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Take time to talk things over. Travel for business or pleasure. You can make a big difference to children if you try to understand the difficulties they are experiencing. Concentrate on home improvement. Small de tails will make a difference. Make a point of working nexton yourself. Your lucky day this week will be Monday.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) Put your money into a safe place that will ensure a profit if you let it sit long enough. Get out and rub shoulders with people in high positions if possible. You could be emotional if you didn’t take care of problems with loved ones. You can help a close friend find solutions to personal problems. Your lucky day tnext week will be Wednesday.

LEO (July 23 - Aug 22) It might be best to keep your ideas to yourself this week. You can have a great time if you go out with the one you love. Tempers will mount if you’re too pushy at work or at home. Your partner may be somewhat irritable this week. Your lucky day next week will be Sunday.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 23) Your diplomacy will be of utmost importance this week. You will be able to get along well with colleagues. Look into ways that you can make extra cash.

You may have to take a short trip to visit someone who hasn’t been well. Your lucky day next week will be Tuesday.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23) Exhaustion will lead to a minor injury if you don’t know when to quit. You might want to spend some time by yourself in order to decide exactly how you feel. Opportunities to get ahead are evident. Someone you work with could have a personal interest in you. Your lucky day next week will be Saturday.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Avoid getting too close to co-workers or employers. Take part in stimulating debates that will allow you to show off your intelligence. Do some research if you want to find information that you can apply against the opposition you face. Love and romance are evident. Your lucky day nexts week will be Friday.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21) You can get your point across and make valuable connections. You can mix business with pleasure to get favorable results. Your unique contribution to the organization will enhance your reputation. You should sign up for creative courses. Concentrate on your work. Your lucky day next week will be Sunday.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) You can open up to your mate and let him know what you expect out of this relationship. Your fun-loving approach will be admired and appreciated by others. Think twice before you agree to take on any new projects.

Implement your ideas into your projects at work. Your lucky day next week will be Saturday.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) Good friends will give you honest answers. Travel could be in order. You will benefit through hidden assets and property investments. Your personal partner may be less than willing to accommodate you next week.

Your lucky day this week will be Sunday.

PISCES (Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) Try to curb your bad habits. Get busy on projects that improve your own image; you’ll have the discipline to succeed. Don’t overreact if your partner has a poor attitude. Try to curb your habits, or you could find yourself in an awkward financial position. Your lucky day next week will be Saturday.

12. Hoard 13. Blows it 16. Expo Presentation 18. Do as directed 22. Phyllis Diller's "husband" 24. Feline vibrato?

25. Suspires 26. Follow 27. Sonata section 49. Difficulty 28. Country's Brooks 51. Tonic's Partner 29. lt mighl be airtight 52. Commendation 30. Brown ermine 55. Get 32. Accept 59. Certain refrigerant 33. ___ a high note 62. Rivers 34. Satinhkisghnote 65. Determines one's 36. Last Greek consonant relative position 37. Bloke 66. Public assemblies 40. Squeezed 67. Eggs on 41. By and btt 68. Like Santa's cheeks 46. Analyzed 69. Big toumament 48. Subcompoact 50. Brewer's equipment DOWN 51. ltinerant 1. "Don't move!"

52. E.P.A. concern 2. Web Page 3. Neighbor of Pakistan 53. Novice: var.

54. Three oceans touch it 4. Namely 56. Defunct ruler 5. Bother 57. FormerYugoslav leader 6. Extended 58. Lummoxes 7. Blockhead 59. Clip 8. 1952 Olympics site 60.

Charge 9. D.C. Politico, for short 61. Extended family 10. Corrupts 63. Powers that be 11. Pond organism

1. Gangste/s blade 5. Choir Part 9. lnvestment 14. Topological shapes 15. Certain vendor 17. Rivers 19. Craving 20. Underside 21. Piles 22. Whimsical 23. Go (for) 25. Get sidetracked 28. Bombast 31. Wedding helper 35. Unwrinkle 36. Equivocate 38. Latish lunchtime 39. Rivers 42. Secreted 43. Soldier's knapsack 44. Corner 45. lncline 47. Chart maker 48. Dawns

ACROSS

W O R D F I N D

L A N D L O C K E D

ANDORRA ARMENIA

64. Blinking light, mabbe

C O U N T R I E S

MALI

MOLDOVA

AUSTRIA

MONGOLIA

BOLIVIA

NIGER

BELARUS

NEPAL

CHAD

PARAGUAY

HUNGARY

SERBIA

ETHIOPIA LAOS

RWANDA

SLOVAKIA

LUXEMBOURG

S\MAZILAND

MALAWI

ZAMBIA

MACEDON!A

UGANDA

ISSUE 94 WORDFIND ANSWER

22

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending March 30, 2018

Chronicle returns to profitability

AFTER two years of losses, the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) has returned to profitability with company chair, Geeta Chandan-Edmond hailing the performance as “quite an achievement”.

Chandan-Edmond, who has been at the forefront of reform at GNNL, announced the good news at the company’s Annual General Meeting held at Herdmanston Lodge, Queenstown, Georgetown on Wednesday.

At the end of December 2016, GNNL recorded its best performance in the last decade, raking in a profit before tax of $63.7 million, a remarkable turnabout from the $1.54 mil-

lion loss recorded in 2015.

“We are optimistic that we will continue the profit-making trend in the coming years as we diligently pursue measures to enhance revenue and keeping our expenses minimal,” Chandan-Edmond said.

She pointed out that during the year, the company, robustly in pursuit of its receivables, achieved an 18 per cent reduction over that of 2015, thereby minimising risks of bad debts and allowing for a healthy bank balance of $127 million at the end of 2016.

This figure represented a 102 per cent increase from the previous year.

Persons who owe the company, she said, are being encouraged to enter into

direct agreements to repay their debts within specified time periods.

“Court action is being initiated against those persons who refuse to enter into such agreements, as well as those who enter but breach them,” the chairman said.

A system has been implemented to ensure outstanding balances are carefully monitored, Chandan-Edmond told the gathering as she thanked members of the board, managers and staffers for their diligent work in returning GNNL to profitability. “Our company would not have been in this strong position had it not been for our committed and dedicated staff.

Ivelaw Hall who has 38 years of service to GNNL receiving a token of appreciation from Chairman Geeta Chandan-Edmond at the AGM Wednesday

GNNL Board of Directors, management and long-serving employees following the AGM on Wednesday

WANTED — ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES

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The New York Edition of the Guyana Chronicle is a weekly newspaper, carrying news, views and comments from the Diaspora, Guyana and the Caribbean.

It is circulated every Friday in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, as well as on our webpage(www.guyanachronicle.com).

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One of our core strengths is the capability and experience of our team. This is born from a culture of empowering and developing our talents to succeed at every level and encouraging accountability, innovation and excellence,” the chairman said.

During the year, several departments were rehabilitated, thereby lifting staff morale. Employees benefitted from local and overseas training; bursaries were awarded to children

of staffers and vendors; and the company enjoyed cordial relations with the Clerical and Commercial Workers’ Union—the union representing its workers.

Award winning journalists were also honoured.

The Guyana Chronicle, the chairman said, has a responsibility to report the news without bias and with less sensationalism than its competitors. She noted that it is also the duty of the newspaper to report on all sectors and segments of

development and to promote national unity.

Chandan-Edmond praised the commitment of staff, managers and board members throughout the year and urged advertisers, vendors, readers and other customers, locally and overseas to continue to support the nation’s newspaper.

During the AGM, 26 long-serving employees whose services range from 10 to 38 years were honoured with gifts for their dedication and hard work.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending March 30, 2018

23

$30B bond secured to revive sugar industry

By Ariana Gordon THE National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited’s (NICIL) Special Purpose Unit (SPU) has secured a $30B syndicated bond to aid in the revitalisation of the country’s sugar industry.

“We have made strides in the international markets to secure a syndicated bond for $30B. I am pleased to announce we have been very, very successful and we have very good rates,” announced SPU’s head and Chairman of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Colvin Heath-London.

London told Guyana Chronicle that the entity will be receiving the cash in two weeks’ time and will have a five-year repayment period.

Heath-London said he was not in a position to disclose specifics on the securing of the bond or the terms related to same. Syndicated bonds are deemed the most common way to sell debt and it is widely used by companies, governments and other organisations.

A group of banks are usually paid to demand from other investors and so if the entire bond is not sold then the banks must buy that which is left. Through this process, the borrower can be confident of raising the entire amount desired.

REVITALISED In an interview Wednesday, done for the Ministry of Finance’s tele-

vision programme Dollars and $ense, Heath-London said the sugar industry has to be revitalised to be successful. “One of the things we have to do is recapitalise GuySuCo. It has always been my firm belief that we should not be dependent on the government and by extension taxpayers for our viability,” said the SPU head.

Heath-London explained that preliminary discussions have been made with some of the banks GuySuCo is indebted to “with a view of them taking a hair cut in terms of what is owed to them.” “The banks seem to be very favourable and myself and the technical team are working towards bringing this to fruition,” said Heath-London who noted that the goal is to make GuySuCo debt-free in the medium to short term. “We can’t keep spending on the industry just to try to maintain the production of sugar and to revitalise,” stating that GuySuCo needs to bring on board more capital projects.

He said the company has to be re-energised to look at markets and move away from only a sugar-producing company to a value added company where it should be market and sales driven.

In the interview which is aired every Thursday on TVG and HBTV9 at 20:00hrs, with rebroadcasts on HGPTV67 on Sundays at 18:00hrs, NTN69 at 16:30hrs and NCN on Tuesdays at 20:05hrs,

Chairman of GuySuCo and Head of the SPU, Colvin Heath-London

Heath–London said it means GuySuCo has to produce what the market wants and move away from being a raw sugar manufacturer to a value sugar product manufacturer.

“What we are trying to do now is have a paradigm shift, where we shift from being just a production sector to a sales business and marketing model. This is the only way we can be profitable and survive,” said the SPU head.

He said it is the plan of the company to start co-generation that would allow GuySuCo to earn revenues to produce electricity for the national grid, to get involved in sugar juices such as mo-

lasses and cane juice, additional packaging for concentrated markets and start “plantation white sugar”.

These projects Heath-London said will be different and viable income streams for the company.

“So we can be in the short and medium terms on the road to profitability,” he said noting that GuySuCo has a future here.

Meanwhile, the acquisition of the syndicated bond comes exactly one month after the SPU said it was seeking $30B over a four-year period to provide much-needed capital injection into the Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt estates. The sum is aimed

at covering infrastructure maintenance, upgrades and development of new co-generation capacity to support operations of the estates and sell power to the national grid. The unit said it was confident in its business case for GuySuCo and expects positive results with respect to securing funding for the sugar operations. It is the SPU’s responsibility to secure funding for GuySuCo’s current and short-term operations.

SPU took control of the Skeldon, Rose Hall, Enmore and Wales estates, when government decided to close operations early this year in order to maintain the viability of the sugar industry.

In January 2018, the SPU was tasked with having the estates valued and preparing them for sale, but Minister Jordan said that in order to add to the process of selling the estates or at least attracting a buyer(s), the two estates should be reopened.

“We cannot keep them closed and moth-balled, because when the buyers come they would probably not be as impressed as if they were working … once in operation they (investors) could also see that they are valuable properties to acquire,” Jordan told reporters.

The APNU+AFC coalition government upon assumption of office in May 2015 said it discovered the extent of debt facing the sugar corporation. A Commission of Inquiry (CoI)

established into the operations of GuySuCo found all of the corporation’s earnings were being spent on wages and salaries, a situation which could not be sustained by government bailouts.

GuySuCo was for years being bailed out by the government and in the first six months of taking office, the coalition government provided $16B to keep paying wages and salaries. GuySuCo earned about US$90B annually but that was not sufficient to pay wages and salaries. Further, the decision to restructure GuySuCo stems from several factors, including the financial challenges presented by high production costs and low world market prices following the removal of preferential sugar prices to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries by the European Union (EU).

It was also discovered that the Skeldon factory was producing at US 60 cents per pound and selling at US 15 cents; Albion produced at US 20 to 25 cents and selling at US 15 cents; Rose Hall produced at US 45 cents a pound, selling at US 15 cents; Blairmont produced around US 22 cents, selling at US 15 cents; Wales produced around US 55 cents, selling at US 15 cents; Uitvlugt producing around U.S. 30 cents, selling at US 15 cents.

Linden garbage woes will now be a thing of the past

THE Linden Mayor and Town Council will now be in possession of five compactor trucks and two tractors and former Mayor Carwyn Holland said that Linden’s garbage-collection woes will be a thing of the past and residents will no longer have to pay private companies to collect their garbage. For the first time in years, the municipality in 2017 was able to purchase two spanking new compactor trucks, which are currently on the wharf and are expected to be in Linden in a few days. The Chinese Government through Bosai Minerals Group Guyana will also be gifting the municipality a compactor truck and the Council has already passed within their budget $1.5 M to repair one of the two compactor trucks that is not functioning properly.

With five working trucks and two tractors which the Council already has, Holland said that one of the major ills of the Council has

been solved and is happy that he was able to accomplish this during his tenure. “I want to be thankful to God that during my tenure, I would have seen an increase of the compactor trucks and we were able to purchase two compactor trucks.

I believe that this is the first time in decades that we were able to purchase two compactor trucks….. which is a remarkable achievement,” Holland told the media on Wednesday.

With the Council’s trucks being in a state of disrepair, almost 90% of Linden’s residential garbage is collected by Cevon’s Waste Management. This service costs each household $1,600 monthly.

“It is my belief that Linden people deserve a break from all these bills and all these things that face us.

Linden has been impoverished for so long, I believe no one in Linden should be paying for garbage collection once everyone hold their rates and taxes; once these things [are] coming in, I believe we should

provide a service to our community and I think we can become the first town to achieve this,” Holland said.

With the swearing in of the new Mayor Waneka Arrindell and Deputy Mayor Wainright Bethune on Wednesday in Georgetown, Holland said that he is leaving office with a complete heart that he would have accomplished a lot. In addition to better garbage collection, Holland said that Linden’s economy is better off than in 2016 when he was sworn in. The town, he said, was starved for investment, but with networking and collaborative efforts, investors are now coming to Linden and things are looking up. As it relates to the economy of the municipality, the return of the toll booth has resulted in a significant amount of income for the Council and many projects were undertaken. One of the major accomplishments for the Council since the return of the booth, is the increase in salaries

for workers and the Council’s ability to pay off debts as well as to honour workers’ NIS payments. “Today that is a thing of the past and the Council is in a far better financial position and is able to execute many projects in the town,” Holland said.

As a young mayor, his interest in youths has been deemed overwhelming. From the forming of a youth group to personally sponsoring many, Holland posited that the development of youths is his passion and even after demitting office, will continue to be a catalyst for youth progression. Similar energies were also directed to the elderly. “I feverishly worked with youth groups on several projects, assisted with scholarships, personally sponsored activities for youths, found jobs for many, founded the Linden Youth Leaders Group and all of this was honouring the promise I made at my swearing-in ceremony, where I promised to expend much energy incorporat-

ing youth and youth initiatives in my daily activities…..during the Christmas season I cleaned up the yards of many elderly persons on the Wismar shore, who could not afford to pay for such services as part of the Elderly Care Project which I launched. The project also has a component whereby doctors and nurses are hired privately to do periodic check-ups of the elderly.”

As it relates to sports, Holland believes that he had done a lot.

Only recently, he held the Linden Games and the Carwyn Holland swim meet.

Carwyn Holland will remain a municipal councillor and President of the Guyana Association of Municipalities (GAM). He said that he did not run for a third term, since he wants to further his studies, but will continue to serve his community and hometown as he was doing even before being elected mayor.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending March 30, 2018

‘ExxonMobil contract to be reviewed in four years’ - Trotman ALL terms of the ExxonMobil Petroleum Agreement will be up for review in four years, said Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman.

However, the minister defended the much-criticised contract, maintaining that there is no such thing as a ‘perfect contract’. He said that the signing of the agreement with ExxonMobil was made in the interest of attracting investors to Guyana.

Trotman , speaking to the press yesterday, said that up until 2015, for many years there had been no discoveries of oil in Guyana and the country is still not completely ‘de-risked’, realities which must be taken into consideration.

He noted that what is more important is for the

country to shift its focus to more pre-eminent concerns such as how best to utilise the volume of money it will be receiving to safeguard a better life for its citizens.

“We’ve been going through the finances with the International Monetary Fund only last week and they tell us that we are going to be earning billions of dollars.

“I think now the more important question is what do we do with what we are going to earn and how do we prepare for future generations in terms of health care, roads, bridges, the opening up of the country,” Trotman stated.

The minister said that in the future, the government will have improved opportunities to negotiate different terms for any new contracts

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman

due to the country’s changing realities.

Minister Trotman indicated that after some years of experience in oil production, there may be a number of things the government will want to address when the ExxonMobil contract is up for review.

Responding to allegations rumoured to have originated from the Bank of Guyana, that the US$18M signing bonus from ExxonMobil to Guyana has been transferred or spent, Minister Trotman said: “I’m not aware of that. I know that the money was set

aside for a specific purpose and the Minister of Finance has been speaking to Cabinet about this over a year on how it is going to be disbursed.

Once we qualified for our appearance at the World Court…then that triggered some release of funds, but that’s a matter for the Bank of Guyana and the Ministry of Finance.”

The Natural Resources Minister said although there is much commotion surrounding the number of blocks awarded to ExxonMobil, the said number was decided upon in 1999 by the then government which made the decisions for strategic reasons. “[They] ensured that the blocks span the two extremes of our boundaries. In 2015 and 2016, the new government saw wisdom in that and so we did not interfere with the size of the block and neither do we intend to,” he said.

“Despite all that is claimed, the Minister of Natural Resources, or whoever is the minister at the time responsible for petroleum, does have the authority, under law, to vary sizes of blocks,” said Minister Trotman.

The minister said that there are a few blocks remaining, some which are located near to the shore and

others deep offshore.

Trotman also addressed comments made by Trinidadian Engineer Richard Small, who stated that Guyanese should be involved in engineering, design and fabrication on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel being constructed in Singapore.

In response, the minister said that there is presently no Guyanese that has experience in FPSO construction, but a team will be heading to Singapore in the next few months to make observations.

In addition, there are presently 12 Guyanese in Brazil being trained for the same purpose.

On the Local Content Policy for Guyana's oil- andgas sector, Trotman said that a final draft has been sent in

by Trinidadian Energy Consultant Anthony Paul, with which the government will continue to work, with April as the proposed deadline.

Meanwhile, the formation of the Department of Energy is underway, as discussions are proceeding with President David Granger and models have been generated for future finalisation.

Trotman fetes children at LHC for Easter

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman distributing kites to children at LHC

MINISTER of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman on Wednesday with an entourage visited the Linden Hospital Complex and shared kites and gifts to spread Easter holiday cheer.

The minister, his wife Teresa Trotman and fellow Alliance for Change Region 10 officials, visited the paediatric ward and the hospital’s Little Friends Child Care and Drop-in Centre. He interacted with the children, nurses and caregivers. The minister said that he was in Linden in a private capacity to check on the

construction of a house for a family in need and took the opportunity to visit the hospital.

Public Relations Officer of the LHC, Toshanna Allicock, expressed appreciation to the minister for his thoughtful gesture and felt confident that although the children were hospitalised during the Easter holiday period, the gifts will lift their spirits. Easter kite flying will be enjoyed on Monday in many countries.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending March 30, 2018

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

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GOOD LUCK, BUT FIGHT HARDER, WEST INDIES! F

irst, congratulations to the West Indies for making it to the World Cup 2019. However, there are some gaps in the team. We need an experienced wicket taking spinner to bowl the middle overs, even opening the batting if needed.

The great Chris Gayle’s fitness and age seem to have taken its ‘toll on the ‘Universe Boss. Sunil Narine may be the best candidate for recall, especially since his batting has improved also, but he has to get his action cleared. Shai Hope has to increase his scoring rate, while Bishoo has to air the ball more, and bowl more accurately. Shimron Hetmyer is one of my favorite young batsmen, and we hope he makes use of his undoubted talents and makes it all the way to the top.

Some sort of amnesty must be worked out to get match winners like Pollard, the Bravo brothers, Simmons, Badree, Russell and others who are definitely more suited for One Day cricket.

Also, why is Phil Simmons not a part of the West Indian management outfit?

Simmons had proved his coaching ability with assisting lesser teams, most recently Afghanistan in reaching the World Cup qualifiers, despite all odds.

We hope West Indies will compete hard and effectively. Hopefully win, if possible, although that is very unlikely.

The other team members cannot leave everything to the captain Holder. The fact that he had to summon Evin Lewis from the pavilion to take the field to qualify to open West Indies batting, and step up in all roles when his team fails, happens too often. Every player needs to pull his weight. Cricket remains a game of glorious uncertainties, so step up Windies, the entire Caribbean will be rallying around you!

TO AUSTRALIA: THAT’S DEFINITELY — NOT CRICKET! “It is far more than a game, this Cricket” — Sir Neville Cardus “The Australian public has a line, too. And with their culture of sledging, whingeing, hypocrisy and arrogance, our cricketers have been head-butting it for so long that they have become an insufferable national migraine” — Bryon Coverdale, Australian journalist

The fundamental nature of cricket being a gentleman’s game is memorialized in the preamble to the MCC's laws of cricket relating to "the spirit of the game," which make it a breach "to direct abusive language towards an op-

he was a tough, uncompromising captain, attitudes have sunk way below the line he drew, although his physical assault on Vic Insanally at Bourda, and his baring of his naked butt (“mooning”) to Sir Don Bradman almost ter-

FLASHBACK: West Indies were World Champions in the 1975 inaugural World Cup. Players like Kanhai, Lloyd, Fredericks, Greenidge, Richards, Boyce, King, Julien, and Kallicharran (in picture above) always let their bats talk for them Photo Credit: ICC World Cup site. whenever they were sledged while batting. ponent or an umpire" or "to seek to minated an otherwise impressive distract an opponent either verbally or career. by harassment with persistent clapping Previously, we wrote that South or unnecessary noise under the guise Africa’s doctoring of home pitches and of enthusiasm and motivation of one's their whining when it came their turn to own side." face the music “was just not cricket, the Australian players are by far the gentleman’s game.” However, Auschief culprits who front up to their op- tralia’s ball tampering has taken this to ponents like street thugs, chins thrust another level. The verbal harassment, out aggressively, the adrenalin pump- threats and thuggish body language of ing, are you talkin' to me attitude. Their many Australian cricketers inflicted on abuse on the field was so gross that opponents over the years have become South African batsman and captain, Faf endemic and despicable, and while du Plessis, said they were like a “pack some may defend it as tough gamesof wild dogs,” while former New manship, tampering with the ball in Zealand captain Martin Crowe decried such a manner cannot be tolerated or their “thuggish" behavior. However, justified in any way. It is the last straw.

Australian authorities have been unNow, caught on candid camera, willing to clamp down on them, but captain Steve Smith hypocritically said now the wheels have fallen off. the team's collective integrity would "I think a lot of what they're cop- rightly be called into question by events ping at the moment comes from the in Cape Town, and said he was far from way they have played their game," proud of the events that had transpired.

England’s coach Bayliss, an Aus- He added that he would still have felt tralian, said. "It's almost like teams and regret about the team's actions even if people around the world have been they had not been picked up by televiwaiting for them to stuff up so they can sion cameras at the ground. lay the boot in. I don't think you can "The leadership knew about it, we say when any culture has changed. It's spoke about it at lunch. I'm not proud one of those things that continually, of what's happened, it's not within the over a period of time, builds and builds spirit of the game," Smith said. "My and unfortunately on this occasion it's integrity, the team's integrity, the leadgone too far . . . including the ership groups integrity has come into Cameron Bancroft-Jonny Bairstow question and rightfully so. It's certainly not on and it won't happen head butt incident in Perth.”

Steve Waugh started it all as cap- again, I can promise you that under tain, with his ''mental disintegration'' of my leadership.” the opposing team after Ian Chappell Bancroft, a rookie Test cricketer, inaugurated modern sledging. Although was the sacrificial lamb who found

The ALBERT BALDEO Column himself taking blame for “volunteering to carry out the ideas discussed by more senior members of the Australian side.” The "leadership group," with Smith, consists of the vice-captain David Warner, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and coach Darren Lehmann.

An angry and ashamed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has also called the incident a "shocking disappointment." "We all woke up this morning shocked and bitterly disappointed by the news from South Africa," Turnbull said. "It seemed completely beyond belief that the Australian cricket team had been involved in cheating.”

Well, Mr. Prime Minister, your Australian “champions” have always engaged in uncivilized conduct in the past. Where were you? It was always “win at all cost” for Australia. Ask the other players who your guys sledge, ridicule and beat up mercilessly. This is merely the tip of the iceberg. You should have called them out long before.

When former captain Steve Waugh told Herschelle Gibbs "You've just dropped the World Cup,” after Gibbs dropped a simple catch in 1999, which proved to be a prophetic sledge with Australia winning the trophy, that was an acceptable wise crack. However, it crosses the line when Warner angrily and disparagingly told Indian Rohit Sharma to “speak English.”

Warner’s response? He defended his actions, saying he “did the polite thing.”

Well, we have seen how “impolite” Warner can get.

Indeed, it definitively reaches too far, like when former captain Michael Clarke was heard through the stump microphone on the field telling England’s James Anderson that he should "get ready for a broken f----ing arm,“ or feared speedster McGrath asked Sarwan provocatively, "What does Brian Lara's d--k taste like?" "I don't know, ask your wife," Sarwan replied, a counter attack typical of a “not a man move” cover drive. Unbeknownst to Sarwan, McGrath's wife Jane was very ill at the time, and it was an unfortunate sledge that backfired on the Australian bowling great as he proceeded to hurl abuse back at Sarwan and point his finger in a very threatening manner.

Or like when Shane Warne was suspended for a year for taking a banned diuretic, or when Warne and Mark Waugh were the subjects of public shame for providing pitch and (continued on page 27)

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 30, 2018

27

West Indies delay squad announcement for Pakistan series LAHORE: West Indies Cricket Board on Wednesday delayed the announcement of its squad for its tour to Pakistan due to unavailability of its key players.

According to reports, all-rounder Jason Holder withdrew his name from the series. As many as five players are expected to debut for the visiting side in the T20I series against Pakistan scheduled from April 1-3 in Karachi.

The Windies team is expected to arrive in Karachi on Saturday evening.

Andre Fletcher, Chadwick Walton and Samuel Badree will be part of the squad.

Pakistan announced its 15-member squad for the three T20Is on Monday.

The trio of young PSL performers Asif Ali, Hussain Talat and Shaheen

Shah Afridi were rewarded for their outstanding performances during the Pakistan Super League.

Imad Wasim and Ruman Raees

were not considered for the squad owing to injuries sustained during PSL. Usman Khan Shinwari also made a comeback in the team after recovering

from an injury.

T20 squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain & wicketkeeper), Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Muhammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Usman Khan, Shaheen Afridi Tickets for the three-match T20 series between Pakistan and West Indies are available for purchase in Karachi.

The last time Karachi hosted an international match was in 2009, during the ill-fated Pakistan-Sri Lanka tour, which resulted in eight deaths. Seven visiting players were also injured.

International cricket, however, has returned to Pakistan with the successful conclusion of the PSL in the city on Sunday.

(Caribbeannews.net)

Asif Ali, Talat and Shaheen Afridi picked for WI T20Is

S

trong performances in the PSL have brought rich rewards upon three uncapped Pakistan players — Asif Ali, Hussain Talat and Shaheen Afridi — who have been called-up to the international side for the upcoming T20I series against West Indies in Karachi. Asif, Talat and Shaheen form part of the 15-man squad for the series, with left-arm fast bowlers Rahat Ali and Usman Khan also coming back into the fray.

Imad Wasim and Rumman Raees, meanwhile, missed out, having failed to recover from their injuries in time. Imad sustained a concussion after his head slammed into the ground after complet-

Asif Ali, Hussain Talat & Shaheen Afridi ing a catch, while Raees trod on a ball on the boundary and damaged knee ligaments. Ahmed Shehzad kept his place at the top of the order, while Shoaib Malik, who missed the second half of the tour to

New Zealand with concussion after being struck on the head by a wayward throw, also returned.

The T20I series will be played across three consecutive days: April 1, 2 and 3. All matches will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi, which recently hosted the Pakistan Super League final. It will be the first time international cricket will be played in Karachi since 2009, and the first T20I to ever be played at the venue.

Talat, Asif and Afridi have been three of the standout performers in this year's PSL. Talat's composure under pressure and solid technique saw him play vital roles in close games, while Asif's

power-hitting, culminating in a six-ball 26 in the final that all but secured the title. Lahore Qalandars' left-arm bowler Shaheen Afridi is understood to have a strong admirer in Mickey Arthur, who compared him to a young Mitchell Starc days after the 17-year old took five wickets for four runs, the best ever figures in the PSL. T20 squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Muhammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Usman Khan, Shaheen Afridi.(ESPN) (Caribbeannews.net)

AUSTRALIA — THAT’S DEFINITELY — NOT CRICKET!

weather information to a bookmaker, or like when the otherwise stylish Greg Chappell ordered his brother Trevor to bowl underarm, which was within the laws of the game, but in poor taste, or like when wicket-keeper Rod Marsh once told Sir Ian Botham “How are my kids and your wife?” Botham, unperturbed, replied: “The wife's fine, the kids are retarded though.”

There are also instances far more serious, like when Lillee provoked and threatened Miandad, who raised his bat to defend himself ominously, when Lillee blocked, kicked and pushed him out of the way while batting in Australia. Sobers had to teach Lillee a lesson to stop bowling so many bouncers at him, in retaliation to curb Lillee’s overdone bodyline thunderbolts by bowling some of his own at Lillee, when he came to the crease. Bully Lillee was unpleasantly surprised and “turned completely pink,” that Sir Gary’s versatility gifted him the ability to bowl vicious bouncers also.

(from page 26)

Roy Fredericks, Rohan Kanhai and others have related the “cauldron of prejudice, intimidation and aggression when you play Down Under (in Australia).” They said that the crowds are no different than the players, and want to see your blood, although they will respect you if you stand up to them. Fredericks related that he was so angry at the Australian tactics and fear shown by his other team members, that he just decided to lash Lillee, Thomson and Gilmour in 1975, when he plundered 169 off only 145 balls at the then lightning fast Perth pitch, hooking, slashing and pulling them imperiously. "His flashing bat could be described as lying somewhere between a rapier and a bludgeon," England’s legend, Frank “Typhoon” Tyson, who is rated as one of the fastest bowlers of all time, wrote in his tour book “The Hapless Hookers.”

Rohan Kanhai withstood an early barrage and excruciating body blows bravely when Lillee bowled unrestricted bouncers and beamers at him

during the ‘Rest of the World’ tour of Australia in 1971. Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his book “Idols” that he was reduced to an entranced spectator at the other end as Kanhai cut loose, and watched in amazement as “the master” blasted Lillee and others to all parts of the ground in an innings Gavaskar rates as one of the best he has ever seen — 118 at Perth. “Watching Kanhai bat was an education on how to play pace bowling,” Gavaskar wrote. Sobers, who struck 254 in the same series, an innings Bradman rates as the best he ever saw on Australian soil, Richards, Lloyd, Kallicharran, Rowe, Greenidge and Lara, in their heyday, also gave commanding lessons in how to meet fire with fire, employing majestic stroke play and dominance over insults and taunts. But how many players have similar abilities to overcome unsportsmanlike and illegal tactics?

On the historic 1960-61 tour, Sir Frank Worrell and fellow West Indians showed Australia and the world sports-

manship and statesmanship with the gracious and exemplary way they played the game, while rival captain Richie Benaud also helped to make it one of the best sporting contests ever.

Enough is enough. Australia, and other nations who are following in their footsteps, must lift themselves from this morass of poor sportsmanship. It is bad for the ‘Gentleman’s Game’.

The ICC must initiate and enforce uniform codes of conduct that are not mere slaps on the wrist.

Note: Albert Baldeo is a civil rights activist and community advocate. After years of advocacy, he got the MTA to install a subway elevator at the Lefferts station in Richmond Hill/Ozone Park. As the President of the Baldeo Foundation and Liberty Justice Center, he has continued the fight for justice, equal rights, dignity and inclusion for all. He can be contacted at the Baldeo Foundation: AlBaldeo@ aol.com or (718) 529-2300.

Guyana’s CARIFTA Games contingent off to the Bahamas … Hutson optimistic of medal haul

By Michelangelo Jacobus THE largest Guyanese CARIFTA Games contingent to date departed the ‘Land of Many Waters’ for the 2018 CARIFTA Games in the Bahamas yesterday.

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) held a small but significant briefing at their Light Street, Georgetown office just before the team’s departure.

At the briefing, AAG president Aubrey Hutson revealed that he, along with the executive body, is pleased to have been able to select the largest contingent

(18 athletes) so far to represent Guyana at the Easter Weekend CARIFTA Games.

He maintained; “We are proud to have selected what we believe to be the largest contingent for CARIFTA and I’m very optimistic that we will do well, so to the athletes I just want to wish them well.”

Meanwhile, one of the two coaches, who were selected to accompany the athletes, coach Moses Pantlitz, exuded confidence in his charges, saying that it will be the best CARIFTA team to date, given the level of talent.

The Guyanese contingent shortly before departure; the overseas athletes will join their compatriots in the Bahamas later this week.

Newcomer to the international scene, coach Niall Stanton, felt that the team was well prepared for the

Games.

“I think preparation was good. We did what we could and with regard to acclima-

tising, we had the athletes training at different time periods during camps; but it’s the Caribbean so I don’t

expect much of a difference … we have 18 athletes and I think we are capable of bringing back 18 medals.”

The squad was selected by the AAG based on performances and times worthy of podium spots at last year’s CARIFTA Games.

The Games will begin on March 30 and finish on April 2.

The squad is as follows: Daniel Williams, Chantoba Bright, Deshanna Skeete, Shaquka Tyrell, Princess Brown, Anthony Williams, Tremaine Brown, Jermaine Simmons, Murphy Nash, Tortque Boyce, Kenisha Phillips, Cordell Charles, Avon Samuels, Joanna Archer, Onasha Rogers, Kissana Glenn, Kezra Murray and Claudrice McKoy.

Depleted Windies squad for Pakistan T20s BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – West Indies selectors yesterday belatedly named a 13-man second-string squad for the historic three-match Twenty20 tour of Pakistan, with several of the leading stars opting out because of security concerns.

Captain Carlos Brathwaite, the hero of the Caribbean’s side T20 World Cup triumph two years ago, headlines the absentees, with superstar opener Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard all failing to make the trip.

However, veteran Marlon Samuels, along with regulars Samuel Badree, Kesrick Williams, Rovman Powell and Andre Fletcher have all

made themselves available, while seasoned wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin returns to Windies colours for the first time in 17 months.

Four uncapped players have been included in the squad with Youth World Cup star Keemo Paul, along with Andre McCarthy, Veerasammy Permaul and Odean Smith, all poised to make their debuts in the shortest format.

Chairman of selectors Courtney Browne said his panel had “fully accepted” the position of those players opting out of the tour but believed the replacements were fitting.

“We had a few players that opted not to tour Pakistan, due to their or their families’ security concerns and CWI

fully accepted their position,” Browne said ahead of the Windies arrival in Pakistan tomorrow.

“This series, therefore, provides opportunities for new players to state their claim for a regular place in the team, plus gain vital experience in different conditions. We expect the series to be highly competitive.”

The Windies series in Pakistan is the first by a major Test-playing side since the now infamous terrorist attacks on a Sri Lankan bus in 2009 which injured several players and left members of the security forces dead.

And while the Pakistan Cricket Board had confirmed the tour as early as last month, Cricket West Indies remained

silent, with their first public acknowledgement of the series now coming three days before the opening match at the National Stadium in Karachi on Sunday.

In an effort to further assuage fears over the security situation, CWI chief executive Johnny Grave said the regional governing body had been assured by experts that the risk was “manageable” and could be “mitigated to an acceptable level.”

“This tour is a further major step for our friends at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to bring their cricket back home, and we are pleased that our players and support staff have recognised this and supported this venture,” the Englishman said.

“Independent security advisers, Eastern Star International (ESI), have confirmed to both CWI and WIPA that they are satisfied that the risk is manageable and can be mitigated to an acceptable level.

“We have made it very clear to the players and support staff that had personal reservations about this tour that we fully understand and accept their position.”

The squad will be led by Jason Mohammed, who has just six T20s to his name, following his debut last April.

He is fresh off the ICC World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe where he served as vice-captain on the ODI side but featured in only two matches.

Browne said he expected

the 31-year-old to bring his experience to bear on the leadership role.

“Jason is our One-Day International vice-captain, and he has been asked to step up and lead the team with the unavailability of Carlos. He has lots of captaincy experience at first-class level.”

Paul, meanwhile, has continued his quick rise in the senior ranks, following his recent call-up for West Indies A and subsequent ODI debut in the qualifiers.

The 19-year-old fast bowler is joined by Guyana Jaguars teammate Permaul, who has already played six Tests and seven ODIs, along with the Jamaica Scorpions pair of McCarthy and Smith.