Kaieteur News

Monday August 01, 2016

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Where have the Labour Unions Are Govt. and Opposition not for Municipal Workers Gone? obligated to work together?

DEAR EDITOR; City Hall has gone right back to the pre Carol Sooba era. That is punishing workers by paying them their wages and salaries weeks and weeks after the stipulated times, withholding their contributions to the National Insurance S c h e m e , t h e Guyana Revenue Authority and other agencies thus compromising the well being of the workers, owing every creditor in town that has given them credit of goods and services, owing all of their contractors except for one, failing to purchase tools and materials to allow for municipal works to be completed, lacking in the maintenance of municipal buildings, compromising the occupational health and safety standards of its workers with unsafe and dilapidated buildings and work sites and much much more.

But in spite of all of the aforesaid, it is evident that during Sooba and the other Town Clerks tenures, the failure to pay salaries on time resulted in all sections, inclusive of the Markets, Solid Waste, Drainage, Abattoir, even Gravediggers at the Cemetery downed their

tools. Those who didn’t went on ‘GO SLOW’ The question then is why? Why then and not now. Hope all concerns are taking note. Indeed politics in Guyana is so interesting!

But the real question to be asked is what has happened to the Guyana Local Government Officers Union and the Guyana Labour Union, the two organizations that were selected to represent the collective interests of workers of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown in negotiations with their employers over wages, hours, benefits and working conditions?. It seems as though they have been silenced by the Council.

Maybe they are making a new movie called ‘The Silence of the Lambs Part 2’ The poor representation by these two unions to the serious issues affecting municipal workers should lead to a loss of confidence in the leadership of both of them. Why is there no serious attempt being made to attain justice for the workers of the M&CC whom they represent despite pleas by many for betterment.

It is certainly time that the unions are refreshed and new

faces installed to fight for rights of the workers of the Georgetown Municipality. It would seem as though the President of the GLU, Carvil Duncan, is too busy with his legal troubles to pay keen interest to matters which affect the Council’s workers who are represented by his union.

Meanwhile the GLGOU’s new president Wendy DeCunha seems more interested in travelling to overseas conferences rather than the welfare of the GLGOU’s membership.

It is time for these unions to ensure that municipal workers are paid on time, that they are properly remunerated, that they are not superseded by friends and family of the ‘Big Ones’ who have been employed en masse, that they encourage equality and fairness , ensure job security, facilitate better training for workers, and guarantee the health and safety of the workers by repairing and refurbishing the ramshackle municipal buildings and work sites buildings which accommodate its employees; provide appropriate furniture, tools and equipment for employees.

Shanta Singh

Dr. Sam Ovid Isaacs has passed away DEAR EDITOR; After a long while of taking a hiatus from writing letters to your newspaper, I am sending this letter in these moments of grief and sorrow in order to let the readers be acquainted with a man who passed away on Thursday, 28th July, just a week short of his 72nd birthday.

Dr. Sam Ovid Isaacs, an American graduated dentist (New Jersey School of Dentistry) and a specialist in Maxillofacial Surgery at Harlem Hospital in New York for 19 years, was also a qualified M.D.(Medical Doctorate) and earned a Masters degree in Public Health.

He worked with me in my office on Charlotte Street for the last 13 years and previous to that, he worked in my office in Brooklyn, NY for 10 years up to1993- all those years on a consultative part-time basis.. “ Big Sam”, as I called him was well respected and loved by all of my staff and, indeed by my 3 children and my wife.

For me , the loss of my good friend has really made me realize that he was not just

an associate in our profession, but a big brother in more ways than one.

Brother Sam Ovid Isaacs was, through and through, a patriot of Guyana-the type of patriot who did not seek accolades or mention of his contributions to public service in Guyana; a patriot who did not see race or party politics in his everyday life; a patriot who came home even though he could have stayed in the USA and enjoyed his pensions and health insurances which he worked very hard for, over many years; a patriot who always was concerned with the plight of the Guyanese people and proved it in his daily exertions in the health care sector.

Big Sam was a natural educator and he loved teaching different courses in Medicine and Dentistry here at the Dental School and at an off-shore medical school (AISM) which he piloted and played a leading role for the longest while.

He also preformed multiple oral surgeries in this country, helping Guyanese from all walks of life. His grasp

of clinical medicine and dentistry was awesome and furthermore, his methods of training young interns were second to none.

In fact, Big Sam was very gifted with knowledge about African history, especially North African and Egyptian narratives and he taught such courses (part-time) in the 1980s and 1990s at Medgar Evers University in Brooklyn, NY. From being a regular policeman in the 1960s in Guyana to his achievements in the USA, it tells a story of unusual success which Big Sam was always proud of and which every Guyanese should share in celebrating his life.

Editor, my brother, Sam Ovid Isaacs, was an avowed optimist in Guyana’s future and he put his love of living here above all else, even the comfort zone he created for himself and his family in New York- that is the crucible of patriotism.

His big smile and his big heart conjured among those he lived in contact with, a person who cared not about money nor titles, but a serious commitment to the health of the Guyanese people-that is the crucible of patriotism. His Continued on page 6

DEAR EDITOR; I purposely abstained to pen any letter to the press, and in the process I was able to absorb and reflect on the reality of life in my beautiful country. By the time this letter is published, our country would have celebrated Emancipation Day, as we reflected on the significant contribution our brothers of African descent made to our great country. I trust that the day of reflection will renew our energy to make Guyana a better place for all of its citizens. Happy Emancipation Day to all.

The Holy Bible is the religious book revered by the majority of Guyanese. Within this framework, I would like to posit my letter by quoting from the book of Job in the Old Testament. Chapter 1 verse 6 says, “One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them”.

In my reading of the scriptures, I am heartened that God would not only invite his arch enemy to be in his presence, but God would engage him/her in a conversation. I was and am still elated.

I then looked at the New Testament book of Colossians, chapter 1 verse 16 which reads, “For by him (God) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him”.

One can realistically use these passages of scriptures and find all the faults in our human leadership, whether it’s in the home, the boardroom or the government.

The truth is that there are challenges everywhere, but the wise person makes the best decision that will inculcate the needs of those affected. It is ironic to note that in Job, the supreme God can sit down and have a one and one conversation with his enemy, but our political leaders cannot do the same.

If God sets up rulers and they cannot follow his example, then we have a very serious problem.

Are our leaders more supreme that almighty God, that they cannot sit down and bring concrete solutions to

our many problems at home. I am talking about the members of the Government and the Opposition who are only trading negative remarks against each other’s performance. Are they not obligated to work together for the benefit of all Guyanese?

A Government must understand that when they are elected into office, they are required to govern the country without fear or favor, in the interest of all. In a democracy, a government must recognize that its citizens will support different political parties of their choice.

However, when a government is installed into office, it cannot govern only those who voted for them. A government must govern for all, knowing that many have voted against them. I supported APNU/AFC in the last election, because I believe that no country should be governed by any political party for more than two (2) terms.

Countries that have chosen to change their government at regular intervals have seen more progress than those that have one government for long, extended periods. Look at Caricom and we will see that all of these countries change their government at regular intervals.

I was excited and happy when the coalition won. I believe then, and I still do now, that President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo will carry our country to greater prosperity.

There are some decisions, however, made by this government that concerns me.

There is a long list, but I will paraphrase a few of my own observations: 1. With a population of just over 750,000 persons, we have too many Ministers of the Government. How can one reasonably justify this?

2. Not only did we appoint all these Ministers, with all the perks that the office is entitled to, we have doubled their salaries. Now when they leave office, the Guyanese taxpayers will be burdened

with their retirement benefits until they die.

3.

The President appointed “Presidential Advisors” from one ethnic group only. This has really disappointed me, because I believe that the President was a man above ethnic politics.

Are the appointments made by the President or APNU? And whether it was the President or APNU, are there no qualified Guyanese from other ethnic groups who can be advisors to the President?

4. The Prime Minister also appointed the majority of his staff from one ethnic group?

What message are the President and Prime Minister sending to the Guyanese public?

My hope and wish is that these Gentlemen understand that they are President and Prime Minister for all of Guyana, not just their ethnic group. We cannot continue to be a divided nation; it will only make us weaker. The tone that is set at the top will permeate the entire society.

Mr. Editor, the Opposition has not made it easier for the Government. They continue to rant against the Government when staff are sent home, claiming ethnic cleansing.

This is largely untruthful, and the opposition knows that.

The Opposition, when in Government, appointed many of their crony friends and family for top jobs.

Well, many of their performances have been mediocre, and it is within the government’s right to change them.

The fact is that the Opposition, when in Government, appointed more people of one ethnic group, so who will the Government fire now?

It will have to be people of that ethnic group. I honestly do not believe that this Government is sending people home because of their ethnicity, but more of corruption and mediocrity. For the Leader of the Opposition to preach racial politics, it is not good for him or the country.

Charles Sugrim

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Kaieteur News

Monday August 01, 2016

Govt. can create jobs in keeping THE WORLD STAGE WILL NOT BE THE with their campaign promise DEAR EDITOR; It was pointed out that three years after winning the 2011 Elections, the PPP/C failed to make good on its promise to create 2000 jobs in Linden, Region 10.

During the APNU+AFC campaign trail, they also made promise to create jobs for the unemployed, mainly the youths who came out in their numbers and voted at the 2015 general and regional elections in support of the coalition, with the expectation that when the APNU+AFC win the elections they will fulfill their promise.

But to date, the Government is still to put

systems in place to fulfill their job creation promise.

The People United and General Workers Union is confident that the APNU+AFC Government can create and have jobs available for every unemployed Guyanese. In doing, so the government needs to not to mainly depend on private and foreign investors. It needs to start creating jobs on its own by establishing and reopening factory that was closed years ago for e.g.

(1)Re-establish cotton cultivation at Kimiba. The operation at Kimiba will involve cultivating, in the intermediate savannahs, and

Dr. Sam Ovid Isaacs...

From page 5 simplicity and lack of moneyed appearances plus his down to-earth attitude to regular Guyanese, which I saw firsthand on many occasions, exemplified a man committed to the betterment of his dear country-that is the crucible of patriotism.

Editor, the blow of losing my dear friend and brother leaves me with an empty feeling in my heart but I know that Big Sam is smiling that big smile and his heart is now beating strongly as he ascends on the wings of angels to God’s own paradise.

God bless you, big brother Sam Ovid Isaacs and rest in peace.

Cheddi (Joey) Jagan(Jr.)

process it into cotton fabric at the textile factory that was built by the Chinese government in Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The factory at Georgetown will need to be rebuilt in a state of the art manner, the operation at Kimbia will create employment for the Amerindians and other persons who live in Kimbia/ along the Berbice River and the factory at Georgetown will create employment for the residents of Georgetown where the factory will be located and re-opened.

(2) The Government should relocate and reestablish the glass factory which was established by the PNC government.

(3) The Government should re-establish the clay brick factory that was established under the PNC government.

The factory can be established in Region #10 at Ituni. Residents of Ituni mainly depend on logging to make their daily living, If the factory is

established residents will be able to move away from logging and seek employment with the factory this will ease cutting of logs which will strengthen the Guyana and Norway agreement etc.

(4) The government should re-establish the food canning factory. ( 5) Open a waste recycling factory.

(6) The government should establish a plant which will recycle tyres and manufacture rubberized bitumen. Such a plant would create employment for Guyanese and help the economy since better roads would facilitate the transporting of goods from one area to another, as well as boost agriculture. Vehicle owners could sell their used tyres to the factory to help pay for new tyres for their vehicles. (It will be remembered that the APNU+AFC Government has banned the importation of used tyres.)

(7) The government should establish a food plant that will dry and package fruits. The AFC had promised on their campaign trail to establish said a factory in Berbice.

Micah Williams General Secretary The People United and General Workers Union

SAME AGAIN DEAR EDITOR, We are seeing a revolution in American Politics like never before.

The American voters are beginning to realize that they never had much of a choice in their democracy. Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump proved that America is truly divided and is disgusted by the status quo.

However, now that the candidates have been selected we are left pondering and scratching our heads. On one hand, you have a woman who is not really a true reflection of the woman struggle since she have a distinct track record of driving the agenda of the “good old boys club” and more so on the world stage, with her role in the “Arab Spring”, Benghazi, Corruption in Clinton Foundation and of course, the emails.

And on the other hand, we have the worst thing to show its head since Governor Wallace from the “Jim Crow” era. An era where we saw the southern states pushed aggressively to keep the blacks oppressed with no intention to release its noose from the necks of black people.

Narcissism, Ego, Machiavellian, Racial, Fear, Con are just some of the words that fairly sum up who Trump is.

I truly feel the

disappointment of Sanders supporters, because I believe they are the future of a good America, an America that understands how to bridge the divide and pave the way for our children to secure a good standard of living that’s inclusive and multicultural in a genuine way.

On the international scene, the world is at a loss of words on what exactly is going on in the USA and is not sure what to make of this madness that America calls a “Democracy”.

These countries must be wondering if this is the democracy that America has been exporting and enforcing on others for over eight decades, leaving bloodshed and despair in its path.

But we must not lose focus on what the outcome may be, because believe it or not, our future around the globe will depend on what happens next. Regardless of the outcome of this election, the world stage will not be the same again.

If Hillary wins, you can be sure that there will be many more Arab Springs coming to a neighborhood near you.

And if Trump wins, his pure arrogance and stupidity will generate flash wars and conflicts that will create instability on a gigantic scale.

Now let’s watch the show!

Malcolm Watkins, CSCP.

City Council disproportionally burdens the poor DEAR EDITOR, There seems to be the belief by Royston King and the Dark Forces at City Hall that poor people deserve their poverty.

Why else would they have rounded up the poor vendors from downtown Georgetown and forced them into the infamous ‘Parliament View Mall’ an awful, cramped out of the way facility to vend their goods?

Why else would they impose a ‘Container Tax’ that would not be borne by the importers or the shipping companies but the poor consumer at the end of the line?

Why would they force pensioners and other poor home owners in Georgetown to pay an increase in general rates rather than have a proper valuation exercise done in the city to capture those monstrous buildings in the city owned by the wealthy who are not paying their fair share?

Why would he not pay poor municipal workers on time?

The City Council’s tax systems disproportionally burden the poor.

It seems as though this Town Clerk seems to have forgotten President Burnham’s maxim of the “De Small man is de real man” and that not so long ago, he, King was also a small man, when he was an Office Assistant at Inland Revenue Department.

As the famous local saying goes “never curse the bridge you crossed” He needs to cut poor people some slack and not forget where he came from.

James Mc Onnell

Monday August 01, 2016

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Kaieteur News

After 178 years of Emancipation…

Afro-Guyanese still to unshackle their minds says, “There has been no - WPA Executive Member -bigger sinner against the While 178 years after Emancipation, AfricanGuyanese have a lot to be proud of, Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds insists that they still have a lot of work to do to emancipate themselves from self-hatred and cultural blindness, or simply put – ”Mental Slavery.”

In his recent writings, Hinds said that AfricanGuyanese are guilty of derailing the foundation left by their ancestors. He said that somewhere along the way many Afro-Guyanese lost their way, lost their faith in their ability to overcome,

dumped the emancipation spirit and stripped themselves of their cultural clothing.

The University Professor said that every group has its strengths and they must be celebrated. He noted however that progress is premised not only on the celebration of strengths, but on the recognition of and struggle against weaknesses.

He stressed that this is one of the most profound lessons of Emancipation.

“So, as we observe Emancipation, we must be conscious of the challenges facing the African-Guyanese community; they are enormous,” Dr. Hinds added.

The political activist said that it pains him to see AfroGuyanese run from their “blackness.” He said, too, that there has been no bigger sinner against the “Blackman since emancipation, than the Blackman himself.”

“Some Black people don’t seem to understand that you can be all you want to be; socialist, capitalist, Muslim, Christian, non-racist, multiracial and still be Black.”

Dr. Hinds said that in a highly race-centred world, identity is a central part of one’s existence, especially when that identity happens to be a historically subjugated one. He opined that while he

believes in the brotherhood and sisterhood of mankind, his “brotherhood” to those of another ethnic group would be a sham if he denies his own ethnic identity or, worse yet, hates it.

“It pains to see and hear some Black people trying to act whiter than whites. As the calypsonian, Chalkdust, so accurately puts it in one of his most profound calypsos ‘Though slavery done…there are some black people still providing whites with

the court where an ordinary citizen who felt that they were slighted based on the colour of their skin, could have gone to make a report.

She said that if the PNC was so serious about fighting racial discrimination then it would not have taken the actions it did to ensure the ERC became dysfunctional.

The PNC had at the time put forward several claims against the ERC and called for its reconstruction.

It was alleged that the Chairman of the body Juan Edghill could not have been trusted to be impartial. Further, the proceedings of the Commission were deemed unconstitutional, since the term of the Commissioners had come to an end in 2007.

Additionally, the then opposition cited unconstitutional decisions by the Commission, lack of quorum and interference in elections. The June 2011 injunction was filed months before General and Regional Elections which were held in November of that year.

The PNC had accused

Juan Edghill of interfering in elections when he held a meeting with the Guyana Elections Commission seeking to play a role in the (then) forthcoming local elections.

The PNC also took the position that the three Commissioners, Juan Edghill, John Willems and Carvil Duncan could not have constituted a quorum, since meetings needed the presence of the Chairman and not less than four members.

Added to the injunction which was filed, the combined opposition had reduced the budgetary allocation to the ERC from $99.41M to a meagre $1.

After the May 2015 General and Regional Elections, the reconstruction of the Commission was further stymied when the new parliamentary opposition was absent from the National Assembly on several occasions.

At present, the Commission is still before the Parliamentary Committee to be recreated.

Blackman since Emancipation, than the Blackman himself.”

Teixiera accuses PNC of destroying Ethnic Relations Commission With claims of racial and political discrimination being made by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, People’s Progressive Party Civic member Gail Teixiera has accused the People’s National Congress of destroying the Ethnic Relations Commission.

Teixiera made these statements at a recent press conference held at Freedom House in the company of former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall.

The ERC was established in 2003. Its primary purpose is to hear and investigate the complaints of citizens who believe they have been mistreated based on their race.

But the ERC has been dormant since.

According to Teixiera, once the Commission had begun functioning, it became very active in exposing instances of discrimination, particularly in the matters of procurement and scholarship awards.

She said the then Leader of the Opposition Robert

PPP/C MP, Gail Teixiera Corbin had moved to the court to file an injunction to stop the Commission from working. This was done in June 2011. The injunction was lifted in March 2014 upon a decision by the presiding Judge Brassington Reynolds.

According to Teixiera, by the time the injunction was thrown out, the members of the Commission had been fired. She alleged that the PNC disrupted the work of the one body outside of the league of

jokes…How can a Barbadian be more Yankee than a Yankee…Them people laughing at we.”

With the aforementioned perspective in mind, Dr. Hinds said this Emancipation anniversary is a good time to start correcting some of those wrongs. He said that the AfroGuyanese must begin the task of self-love today.

“He must begin sending his children to school again.

She must begin to engage in productive economic activity, both individually and collectively. He must support Black endeavours, not out of spite against another race, but out of genuine intra-group solidarity. She must join African cultural organisations.”

Professor Hinds said that whether in Guyana or the Diaspora, the African man and woman must organise not simply to put a party in power, but more importantly, to recapture their cultural balance.

He said that they must fight not for racial or political domination, but for equality of opportunity, equality in management and equality of

WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds outcome. He stressed that being insulting and aggressive to, and jealous and contemptuous of other races will not lift up Afro-Guyanese.

Significantly, Dr. Hinds emphasized that after the emancipation celebrations, members of ACDA, Cuffy250 and all the Pan-AfricanistsAfrocentric elites and believers must get to work. He said that the task of emancipation is constant.

On this note, the political activist said that the Cuffy250 Organization sets the ball rolling on August 7, when hundreds of AfricanGuyanese are expected to meet at the Critchlow Auditorium for the fourth annual State of the AfricanGuyanese forum organised by the Black Consciousness organisation Cuffy250. The forum will be addressed by President David Granger and (continued on page 8)

PAGE 8

Monday August 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

Set up committee to protect taxpayers’ money from reckless investments - Goolsarran By: Kiana Wilburg Given the “wild” investments made over the years by the former regime with taxpayers’ moneys, Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran believes that Government should seek to implement several investment committees.

Staffed with competent, experienced and qualified individuals, Goolsarran said that such a committee would prove to be an extremely beneficial mechanism in guarding against the mismanagement of tax dollars.

The former Auditor General said that there are a number of instances which could easily justify why taxpayers would call for systems which ensure checks and balances. One case he pointed to was the $5.2B investment made into the Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) Limited some years ago by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

Goolsarran said that this money, which was recklessly invested into CLICO is yet to be recovered and no one has been held accountable for it.

The Chartered Accountant is of the view that the NIS former Board members, such as Dr. Roger Luncheon, should have been “hauled over the

coals.”

The former Auditor General insists that an investment committee would only serve to increase transparency and accountability when it comes to the use of taxpayers’ moneys as it would be responsible for protecting the nation from risky investments.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan clarified yesterday that Central Government has not made a final decision on servicing the NIS $5.2B investment lost to the CLICO debacle. He said that Cabinet will soon consider all options and decide on the way forward. Some analysts believe that there is very little hope of NIS getting back the money via legal means.

On this perspective, Jordan stated that the sad reality is that any legal avenues in the CLICO situation might very well turn out to be a long, drawn-out process, as Guyana is not even on the radar when it comes to the settlement process in the Caribbean as yet.

“So Government is going to have to step up to the plate and find another way of recouping the losses for NIS in this regard. Government gave a commitment in this regard, and it will have to make good on its promise to find a resolution on getting back the money.

“And this is yet another mess that we inherited from the

past administration that we are saddled with fixing with money that could have been put to better use,” the Minister said.

Jordan noted that NIS is beset with a number of problems.

He said that the $5.2 billion that remains caught in the CLICO debacle represents more than 20 percent of its assets that are not earning income.

He said that actuaries have projected that the Scheme is in trouble and something has to be done urgently to address the problem. He recalled that in the National Assembly, there was the passage of Resolution No. 82 of 2009 “calling upon the Government to take all possible actions to secure the investments made in CLICO (Guyana) by the NIS on behalf of contributors and beneficiaries of the Scheme to prevent any consequential loss in benefits to them.”

The Finance Minister said that sadly, the PPP/C Government did nothing on that Resolution, resulting in a persistent deterioration in the Scheme’s financial position.

He reminded that a new Board of Directors has been appointed and it has been charged the responsibility to come up with solutions to address the underlying problems of the Scheme.

The Finance Minister said, too, that the National Insurance Scheme has faced several

challenges over the years, such as the lack of compliance by both employers and employees, combined with unprofitable investments.

Jordan maintained that Government intends to examine options for the expedient repayment of $5.24 billion owed

by CLICO. To this end, the Finance Minister said that the Government will start discussions on the modality of an arrangement that will see NIS recovering this money over the long term.

Additionally, he said that the management of NIS will work diligently to ensure greater compliance through the enforcement of the laws. This year, the Finance Minister stated that management will be targeting delinquent businesses and employers, in order to recover the $1.3 billion in arrears owed to the Scheme.

He said that the NIS will also be examining an appropriate investment policy to guide its investments to ensure that future investments are profitable.

It was on January 2, 1994, that CLICO International Life

Insurance Limited opened its doors, taking over the life insurance operations in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean of Colonial Life Insurance Company (Trinidad) Limited. CLICO served the Caribbean for over 60 years. Its mission was to become the company of choice among life insurance buyers in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

At the helm was Leroy Parris, former chairman of CLICO Holdings Barbados Ltd., which included services such as CLICO International Life Insurance Ltd. With 60 years of service under its belt, the company became one of the largest local conglomerates in the region, encompassing over 65 companies in 32 countries worldwide, with total assets exceeding US$100 billion.

By the turn of the century, rumblings of fraud and money laundering at CLICO were felt.

By 2005, there was talk of naive and greedy managers.

There was talk of failure of government, regulators and auditors; of incompetence and failures at every level and

Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran at the highest levels within the company; and finally, fear and talk of CLICO needing taxpayers’ bailout.

Understanding the situation from his bird’s-eye view within the company, the Chairman decided to protect his interest and before the mess hit the fan, CLICO was presumably being looted.

By 2007 to 2008, there was no hiding the fact that CLICO was limping financially as well as its branches in other Caribbean territories, including Guyana. CLICO Guyana had approximately $6.9B invested in the Regional Insurance Company.

Afro-Guyanese still to unshackle ...

From page 7 others.

The Cuffy 250 Committee came together in 2013 to observe the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Revolt, led by Cuffy, against the Slave System. According to Dr. Hinds, the group wanted to celebrate and draw inspiration from those who

resisted slavery.

“We wanted people to remember that though enslaved against their will, they did not sit down and do nothing. They did not accept that they were born to be slaves. They resisted and fought back. But more than that, we wanted to draw attention to the deteriorating

economic, political, social and cultural conditions in the African-Guyanese community today and to say to our people that just as your fore-parents struggled to change their situation, you can do so today.”

This year’s forum is being held under the theme: AfricanGuyanese Self-Realisation: Challenges and Prospects for the next 50 years. The forum will discuss the way forward for African-Guyanese and help chart an AfricanGuyanese Cultural and SocioEconomic agenda as part of the larger national thrust for the next 50 years of independence.

Among the topics to be discussed are: The Restoration of the Village Economy; Reparations; African-Guyanese and Entrepreneurship; AfricanGuyanese and Social Cohesion; Education and AfricanGuyanese Empowerment; African- Guyanese SelfActivity; and Centreing African-Guyanese in Guyana’s Socio-Economic Agenda.

The proceedings begin at 9am at the Critchlow Labour College. Registration is $300.

Apart from the President, other speakers include Eric Phillips, Judy Semple, Vincent Alexander, Dr. Simpson DaSilva, Norman Ng a Qui, Norwell Hinds, Dr. Grantley Walrond, Floyd Haynes, Estherene Adams, Elsie Harry and Dr. David Hinds.

Monday August 01, 2016

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Self-employment is not the answer The supporters of the APNU+AFC were promised jobs during the election campaign. They were told that young people were jobless under the PPPC government. The manifesto promised jobs for the jobless.

The cry now from the coalition is that the jobs will have to come from selfemployment. In other words, forget about what was promised. You have to work with yourself. The young people are being urged to be their bosses. They are being told to go into business even though most of them have no business acumen.

The President has urged that people not look towards the public service, the police and the army for jobs. He says they have to look for self-employment. It is strange that he is saying do not look to the police for jobs since the police is woefully short of ranks.

The Minister of Finance addressed the issue more elegantly. He said the job of the government is to create an enabling environment for the creation of jobs by the

private sector. In other words, do not look to us, look to the private sector for the jobs.

The private sector is saying that things are tight in the economy. They are claiming that money is not circulating. The jobs are therefore not available, in the numbers required, within the private sector.

This is not what the supporters of the APNU+AFC had in mind when they cast their votes in May of 2015.

They did not expect these explanations from the government. They expected that jobs would have been created, thousands of jobs so that the young people who were unemployed under the PPPC could gain employment.

A great many unemployed persons have gotten jobs since the new government took over. A good estimate would be about three thousand persons have been employed by the government itself. They have done so, unfortunately, at the expense of other persons who were either dismissed, forced to resign or whose contracts were either terminated or not

renewed. In other words, persons have been let go to create space for others.

This is not job creation. It is job substitution. One set of workers have been substituted for another set of workers.

When the new government came in, they were under a lot of pressure to find jobs for their supporters. The new Ministers were spending a great deal of time meeting persons whose only mission was to either find a job for themselves or someone they knew. Also, a great many retirees suddenly decided that they wanted to work.

The dismissals and terminations therefore did not represent creating new jobs.

It involved making space for other persons to be employed. The PPP, so far, has failed to produce a comprehensive list of all those dismissed, forced to resign or whose contracts were not renewed. This list may run into the thousands.

But it is obvious that thousands have been let go or are gone from their jobs

Dem boys seh...

ONE DOCTOR SORRY HE FIGHT DEM BOYS When de Waterfalls paper win de lawsuit against de doctor, nuff people was vex.

Fuh one, de doctor was vex because he did want money to paper he bed. De spring was boring he skin and he didn’t trust de newspaper. He got to look somewhere else fuh de paper.

But was some people in de court who mek dem boys laugh. One of dem who rule that de Waterfalls paper must pay more than wha de first judge order get de news and he holler, “Damn” like if somebody ketch he wid he hand in de cookie jar.

But was de lawyers fuh de doctor who mek dem boys laugh. Dem spend dem money to do de case an dem lose suh it mean that dem can’t get de money dem plan. One of dem claim how he could get bankrupt.

But people know that nuff people see how de Waterfall paper successful and dem want mek money. One of dem who know that is de man who wouldn’t even go near any airport. He was de one who suing from long distance.

Dem boys willing to pay de man passage to come to Guyana. Dem even willing to provide transportation fuh he come from de airport if de police allow him to walk past

immigration. If that can’t happen then dem boys gun sue de lawyer who want waste de court time.

But one thing is certain, somebody got to pay dem boys fuh mekking dem waste time. Now de man who did sue de Waterfalls paper got to pay cost. Fuh sure he can’t treat de court like how he treat he lawyers. He got to pay. He

might end up paying all de money that he get in de first judgement and more.

Dem boys can now sit back and relax. De man above don’t sleep. He does always stay in the corner of the right and just. He in dem boys corner.

Talk half and keep following the Waterfalls paper.

since the new government took over.

Despite employing so many persons, there is still a deficit in the job market.

Young people in particular are not finding work. They are becoming frustrated. They do not know what to do. The supporters of the APNU+AFC, however, are restrained in criticizing the government. They do not want to make their government look bad but they are feeling the pain at the bottoms.

The government’s answer is self-employment. But selfemployment in a small economy like Guyana will not create many jobs. It is not the answer.

The PPP had a different plan. Their plan was to create jobs through specific investments, not through the creation of an enabling environment. The PPP felt that they had for twenty years been creating an enabling environment and it was time for job-creating investments.

They promised 10,000 new jobs. They had plans to back that promise. There were plans for industrial parks and call centers. They had gone as far

as to provide buildings in rural areas which were intended to house call centers.

One call center firm had a major expansion which was started under the PPP but which was completed under the new government.

Another call center company which was granted approval under the PPP was established under the new government and began with over 750 jobs. So the private sector has been creating jobs.

The problem is that business, as distinct from the economy, is in a slump. There, are pressures on businesses to not expand. Guyanese businesses have a reputation, second to none when it comes to retaining workers in times of economic and business slowdown.

Guyanese businesses do not usually lay off persons. So there have not been mass layoffs. This will come later this year when Wales Estate closes The government is therefore not faced with a problem of job losses. In other words, the situation is not getting worse. It is not as if there is a net decline in jobs in the economy. But the demand for jobs is so high that there is still a clamor for jobs.

The government’s answer to this need for jobs is to tell the unemployed to create your own employment. This however is easier said than done. Self-employment is an excuse, not a solution.

PAGE 10

Kaieteur News

Monday August 01, 2016

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Evidence of discrimination against Africans by the PPP Government The talk coming out of the mouth of the Indian dominated PPP and its tribalist supporters is that there is ethnic bias against East Indians by the APNU-AFC Government.

The PPP has latched on to certain dismissals in the public sector.

These same tribalists were on another planet when African Guyanese were supplanted in the same public sector and in scholarship awards.

Mark Benschop was charged for treason.

Oliver Hickson was charged for sedition and refused bail. A young mother Carol-Ann Munroe and her army husband Bruce were

charged for treason along with a family friend, Leonard Wharton. All five named here were African Guyanese.

Where were the voices of the PPP and the tribalist fanatics that are shouting accusations of Indians being targeted? To make matters worse, all the special Prosecutors hired by the State to prosecute these five victims were Indians.

When an Indian, Chabilall Ramsarup was put in charge of Trade and Customs Administration of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) over Ingrid Griffith, a senior GRA official who once acted in that position,

the tribalists, including the swamis, were on vacation in India.

Ramsarup at the time had no previous experience with Customs and Excise details.

When the Jagdeo cabal refused to confirm Genevieve Whyte-Nedd as Chief Education Officer thereby diminishing her pension entitlement, the entire PPP leadership was on vacation in India.

When the Board of South Ruimvedlt Secondary school recommended Ms. Dawn English to be Headmistress, the promotion was denied by the Teaching Service Commission, headed at the time by Mrs. Leila Ramson, the wife of Charles Ramson, former Attorney-General.

Where were the PPP supporters when Ms. English was denied her right to be Frederick promoted? At the same time, in the Ministry of Education, Ms. Bibil Ally, mother of Minister Irfan Ally, was promoted to Deputy Education Officer for Development and Mrs. Manickchand (Priya’s mother) was promoted to Placement Officer for Secondary Schools.

That job at the time was held by an African Guyanese Mary Luke. Smith, Whyte-Need and Luke were not promoted but Ally and Manickchand were. Would the swamis care to comment?

When Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slowe refused an edict by Home Affairs Minister, Gajraj to return a firearm to a Berbician who was under police investigation, Slowe was cast aside in an obscure office at Eve Leary.

Where were the Indian voices of condemnation? When CANU officer, Maurice Smith searched the suitcases of the DPP and her husband at the airport, Smith was subsequently charged for drug trafficking.

During the court trial it was revealed through his lawyer, Mr. Nigel Hughes that the DPP had written to Smith’s superiors in the Police Force requesting his dismissal.

Smith’s case was that he was charged out of spite by the DPP. He was acquitted. How come the PPP didn’t see ethnic bias in the motivation to charge Smith?

When researcher Lyris Primo was investigating ethnic preference in the awarding of scholarships in the public service that favoured Indians, she was met with a stonewall by the Public Service Ministry which refused to release data to her. She completed her study without the statistics from the Ministry.

Where was the voice of the Indians who are now crying about discrimination?

Did these voices know what happened to the father of the West Indies superstar cricketer, Carl Hooper at Guyoil under the PPP? Did they cry racial discrimination then? Do the Indian criers in July 2016 know that between 2007 and 2010, 47 employees were dismissed from GWI and only one was Indian Kissoon the internal auditor? Did these people read the 2010 Budget? It revealed that in that year the number of special contract workers for all the Ministries and ten Regions were 3312. Of that number 82 percent were Indians.

Here are some names of PPP’s witch-hunt in the state media.

The following African Guyanese were ousted; Margaret Lawrence, Ave Brewster, Enrico Woolford, Basil Bradshaw, Kim Backer, Stan Gouveia, Cynthia Nelson, Roger Moore, Dean Adonis, Mark Young and of course Adam Harris.

Here are the names of Permanent Secretaries who became victims of ethnic cleansing under the PPP; Reginald Brotherson (Amerindian Affairs), Noel Adonis (Education), Claudette Moore (Labour), Philip Hamilton (Ministry of Information), Nigel Gravesande (Trade); Steve Bovell (GEC now GPL); ; Winston Jordan (Budget Director), Allan Johnson (Georgetown Hospital CEO) What you have read here is just the tip of the iceberg of ethnic cleansing under the PPP starting with Cheddi Jagan but it was under Jagdeo and Ramotar that ethnic demonization of African Guyanese became official policy. Yes! I stand by the word, “official.”

Monday August 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Jagdeo has transformed PPP into ‘ethnic interest’ party A former stalwart of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) since 1962, Ralph Ramkarran, has called out Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo for comments he made during a recent meeting in Queens, New York, which have since attracted much condemnation.

Ramkarran, who had sharp words for Jagdeo on his weekly blog, ‘The Conversation tree’, grew up surrounded by the ideals of the PPP. A former contestant for the Presidential nomination within the party, he stated that party founder Dr. Cheddi Jagan “must be turning in his grave” at Jagdeo’s recent utterances.

Ramkarran posited that during Jagdeo’s speech, where he called for “Indians” to be defended in these “dark” times, among other statements, he in effect revealed the PPP’s new agenda; one where the party was an ethnic one representing narrow and singular ethnic interests.

“He said we going to take back Guyana.

That must mean that ‘we’ own Guyana, that it was taken away from ‘us’ and that ‘we’ must now take it back,” Ramkarran said. “He did not say from whom ‘we’ will take back Guyana, whether it is from the Peoples National Congress, or from Africans? He clearly meant, even if he did not say it, that ‘we’ will then rule Guyana in ‘our’ interests because it belongs to ‘us’. The big question is, who are ‘we’?”

“In full hyperbolic flow, Mr. Jagdeo answers the question himself,” Ramkarran went on to say. “He said, there is an assault on people of Indian origin. There is an assault on supporters of the PPP. What we thought would never return to Guyana in one short year, has returned with full force and even worse in some regards than the Burnham era.

“Dr. Cheddi Jagan must be turning in his grave” - Ramkarran

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo He promised to defend our people in these dark times.”

Ramkarran pointed out that after being faced with a torrent of criticism, Jagdeo turned out several of his adherents, such as PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, Chief Whip Gail Teixiera and PPP Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall, “as he usually does when under pressure, to prove discrimination.”

“But charges of discrimination which Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP have made before are not new. What is new are his emotive appeals to defend Indians in these dark times and his promise to Indians to take back Guyana for them.”

Stirring up ethnic division?

Ramkarran, who served as Speaker of the National Assembly while the PPP was in power before resigning in 2012 , described this as a wholly new dimension to the PPP’s agenda.

He stated that the two main political parties had always maintained a posture of being multi-ethnic and of representing both major races in Guyana.

“But from 2006, particularly in the National Assembly, the PNCR began to explicitly say that it was speaking on behalf of its supporters’ interests. Now that the PPP is in opposition, they have adopted the same posture as evidenced by Mr. Jagdeo’s speech.”

Ramkarran, who was a Central Committee member of the PPP since 1974 and a member of the Central Executive from 1975, was at one time a party insider and on the cusp of becoming a presidential candidate.

Ramkarran also served two terms as Speaker of National Assembly. But he often clashed with Jagdeo before finally tendering his resignation after his calls for corruption allegations to be addressed by the party led to internal wrangling.

Jagdeo had found himself at the centre of criticism after a video of him claiming that the Government of Guyana practised ethnic discrimination went viral. He was at the time addressing the Queens, New York Diaspora.

Jagdeo had made claims that “There’s an assault on people of Indian origin; there’s an assault on supporters of the PPP (People’s Progressive Party). What we thought would never return to Guyana, in just one short year

Former PPP stalwart, Ralph Ramkarran has returned with full force, and even worse in some regards than the Burnham era.”

He had gone on to say that transported lands are being “snatched” and that “140 new taxes were increased.”

This development, he said, has been targeting the rural poor, who are mainly the supporters of the PPP. He had stated that the country had taken “a turn for the worse” and”whenever the elections come again, we’re going to take back Guyana…we’re going to take it back from these people.”

The Government subsequently issued a statement condemning, “in the strongest possible terms, the irresponsible, hateful race baiting and malicious fabrications and falsehoods uttered” by Jagdeo.

PAGE 12

Monday August 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

BEETLE MANIA

First there was President Barack Obama. According to the Washington Post (April 26, 2014), “Obama is a parasite. He’s also a fungus, a spider and an extinct lizard.”

Sounds like Donald Trump?

But The Donald would not have been delighted unless he was a candle-fly.

The Post explained, “But before President Obama’s critics rejoice, having unappealing species named after you is apparently a good thing.” Jason Bond, an Auburn University profession, said, “Honestly, it’s difficult for me to envision a higher honor.

It’s permanent.

In science, there are few things that we do as scientists that have the permanency that taxonomy does.” Bond, a spider expert at the university’s Department of Biological Sciences and its Museum of Natural History, discovered several new species of trapdoor spiders in late 2012, and named one of his favorites, “Aptostichus barackobamai” after the president. Bond said that like

Obama, the spider had unique characteristics. According to LiveScience, the spider builds a protective shield and hides behind it before attacking prey.

In April 2009, a researcher at the University of California Riverside found a new lichen species, which is a kind of fungi, and named it “Caloplaca obamae.”

Actually, as one friend explained, Obama can be a really fun guy.

But how do you explain a bright orange fish speckled with blue marks named “Etheostoma obama”? Is it that there is something fishy about his birthplace?

Actually, the story is that in November 2012 new fish species were named after Democratic presidents who were committed to environmental protection.

The other partisan fish are named for former Presidents Clinton, Carter and Roosevelt. A fifth fish is named for former Vice President Al Gore.

It does not end there. It was reported that in April

2012, a new parasite was discovered near Obama’s father’s birthplace in Kenya.

The hairworm, unique because it can reproduce without a male, is named “Paragordius obamai” in honor of the president. In December 2012, just after Obama won re-election, Yale scientists named an ancient extinct lizard species “Obamadon.”

The Boston Globe reported that the scientists waited until after the election because if Obama lost they didn’t want him to think they were calling him extinct. Some political analysts are already saying that support for The Donald, who claims his favourite meal at McDonald’s is the fish delight, will “tank”.

As one critic quipped, “That is because he looks like a Blob fish.”

President Obama is not alone. Nelson Mandela had not just a sea slug named after him, but its whole genus and family. Calling the slug the Mandelia mirocornata was a huge honour, bigger than a .45 Magnum.

Among the beetles, there is the Aegomorphus wojtylai named for Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II), and Agathidium bushi for President George W. Bush. In the 1930s, Adolf Hitler got a blind beetle that lives in caves in Slovenia, the Anophthalmus hitleri.

There are also the Marxella and Marxiana wasps, named after Karl Marx, the Mirina Confucius moth, named after Confucius, the Orontobia Dalailama moth, named after the Dalai Lama and the Cheguevaria beetle, named after Che Guevara.

Publicly, neither the creatures nor the celebrities ever made a fuss about their taxonomic fame or tried to bury it. Now that has changed.

A patriotic Chinese scientist named a newly-discovered beetle species after Chinese President Xi Jinping (known also as Big Daddy or Daddy Xi).

The taxonomist responsible, Cheng-Bin Wang, named the beetle as a ‘tremendous honour’ for the president.

Writing in the taxonomy journal Zootaxa, he said, “The specific epithet is dedicated to Dr Xi Jin-Ping, the President of the People’s Republic of China, for his leadership making our motherland stronger and stronger.” Mr. Wang told the AFP news agency he greatly admired the leader of the Chinese Communist Party and saw the beetle as a symbol of Mr Xi’s achievements.

He said: ‘The Rhyzodiastes (Temoana) is very rare – you might not encounter a single one even after 10 field collection sessions – and it also eats rotten wood for food. So it’s a metaphor for Xi Jinping, a rare person you only encounter once a century, and specifically his controls on corruption, which will allow Chinese corruption to gradually disappear.”

Mr. Wang’s eight-page paper, published last month, went into great detail about

the magnificent creature, especially the “lustrous” sheen of its body and its “ g e n i t a l segment...moderately long and narrowly rounded at tip”.

Whether it is Wang’s revelation about the size of his wang, or the fact that the beetle feeds on decaying matter, the President was not amused and, in fact, it really bugged him.

Wang tried to reason with him, “Hello! Beloved President Xi! This is a rare beetle! The name of the species will exist for ever! A tremendous honour!” The President clearly does not agree and posts about the beetle have been removed from Chinese social media sites. As one newspaper says, “Chinese censors fumigate the internet yet again.” *Tony Deyal was last seen asking how does every Chinese joke start. By looking over your shoulder.

Guyana to have National Cultural Policy before year end By: Kiana Wilburg Due to the complex nature of a National Cultural policy, completion and implementation can take approximately five to 10 years. Therefore, what will be in place in the interim to ensure that some amount of meaningful changes take place in the Culture and Arts sector?

According, to Cultural Advisor, Ruel Johnson, there are a series of planned interventions.

In an exclusive interview, Johnson said that the most concrete of these is Copyright legislation which will precede an actual policy tabled in National Assembly. Johnson said that he has put together a stakeholder working group to guide the process over the next three months.

Johnson said that he hopes to have the National Cultural

- Advisor promises Policy tabled in the National Assembly around the end of November, but certainly before the end of the year.

To bring context to the history and importance of a National Cultural Policy, Johnson shared that Guyana has only ever published one such policy. He said that one came out of a process supervised

by AJ Seymour via support

by UNESCO. He noted that there have been two subsequent drafts, one put together by then Education and Culture Minister Dale Bisnauth, which he has not seen and one put together in 2009 by then Chairman on the National Trust and now Director of Culture, Dr. James Rose.

Johnson said that there are those who insist that the latter document, which has never been published and which was produced without any significant consultation, constitutes the de facto National Cultural Policy. He said that no explanation has been offered for why it is not in the public domain.

The Cultural Advisor said, “The answer of course is that it is primarily inadequate as a modern cultural policy and those areas that it did get right, the then Ministry of Culture under Dr. Frank Anthony, who commissioned the policy, did nothing to advance it…”

Johnson said that his Caribbean counterparts involved in cultural policy planning have spoken about processes that indeed have lasted several years, and even ones with existing policies are in the process of being redesigned.

The Cultural Advisor said that now is actually the best time to begin the creation of national cultural policies since there is greater global support for cultural policy formulation both in terms of financing and technical support.

Because of the absence of a proper policy and the general lack of competence in the Department of Culture, Johnson said that Guyana in 2013 missed its first statutory Quadrennial Periodic Report under the 2005 Convention.

Given the new thrust in policy development in accordance with contemporary international policy direction and best practices, Johnson said that he was able to give a preliminary report on the new government’s progress. He said that the comment from the UNESCO Secretary to the Convention, Danielle Cliche was that Guyana’s presentation was the only one structured in the format that is necessary for the next actual report scheduled for 2017.

As for strategy being put in place for meaningful change, Johnson said it goes to how he has structured the policy process.

He said that the first level is

Cultural Advisor, Ruel Johnson the abstractions and in a month or so he can finish refining those since what he has been doing is matching local priorities with international frameworks, such as UNESCO CELAC’s 2016-2021 Work Plan on Culture.

The next level he said is a 10year plan made up of two five year cycles which speaks to more specifics, particularly when it comes to mainstreaming culture in development. The third level he said is five two year action plans that set out concrete projects in keeping with set indicators coming out of the two other levels.

“For example, within the 20162017 cycle, there will be the ICA infrastructural development and accreditation project which will fall into priorities established under the first five years of the 10 year process.”

“My original work plan as of

September of last year saw the general policy at levels one and two plus a level three action plan for 2016-2017 being tabled, after about four months of consultation and two months of review, to the NationalAssembly, which would have been around this time.”

Johnson said what he failed to take into account was the size and scope of the Jubilee celebrations that not only took up the attention of the Ministry of Education but also other ministries that are necessary for collaboration.

He said that planned engagements with Ministers Cathy Hughes and Dominic Gaskin to develop functional cooperation ties were only possible in the past month. He still has to engage about nine other government agencies to inform of what his general plans are and their roles in these plans.

In keeping with integrating plans into a larger government framework, Johnson said that the greatest progress has been with the Ministry of Social Cohesion. He said that this Ministry will be the Culture Department’s key partner in crafting government’s programme under the ‘Mainstreaming Culture in Development, Citizenship agenda’ of the policy.

The Cultural Advisor said that he initially met with Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally earlier in the year and currently sits on the Ministry’s InterMinisterial Steering Committee on Social Cohesion.

Monday August 01, 2016

Message from the Coalition Govt. of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on the occasion of Emancipation Day 2016 On August 1, 1838, following two hundred years of abhorrent enslavement, the freedom of Africans was restored. Captured, brought to the Caribbean and the Americas and forced to work on European owned plantations, the restoration of their freedom represents the original independence in our nation’s history.

The emancipation of African slaves predates the abolition of indentureship, the struggle for universal adult suffrage and labour rights, independence from colonial rule and the attainment of Republican status.

On this occasion, 178 years later, we reflect on the struggles of the indomitable, original freedom fighters – Cuffy, Quamina and Damon and their comrades with whom they organized and mobilized to effect redress to the darkest of horrors of Caribbean history.

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Kaieteur News

On August 1st each year, we celebrate freedom, liberation and emancipation from an inhumane and repugnant system of human enslavement even as we reflect on the pre-1838 conditions and tribulations of the foreparents of so many of our countrymen and women.

While physical enslavement is a distant memory, as a nation, we must resolve to continue to emancipate ourselves from whatever vestiges of psychological bondage that may persist.

Boldly, is it declared in the preamble to our constitution that “[we], the Guyanese people, proud heirs of the indomitable will of our forebears, in a spirit of reconciliation and cooperation, proclaim this Constitution in order to: safeguard and build on the rich heritage, won through tireless struggle, bequeathed us by our forebears; affirm our sovereignty, our

independence and our indissolubility.”

We must continue to organize, mobilize and collectively lift our nation to higher heights socially, economically and culturally.

We must elevate our mindset, eschew mediocrity and believe in a culture of excellence.This year, 2016, the year of our Golden Jubilee is an ideal opportunity for us to renew our commitment to these noble ideals.

There are, as well, powerful lessons following the abolition of slavery from which we must draw equal inspiration. The movement by the freed slaves to purchase land and establish independent coastal villages against challenging odds, remain one of the potent lessons of social upliftment in our history.These villages endure to this day and were the precursors to the modern layout of our coastal plain where the vast majority of our

population resides.

This initiative and the struggles and efforts of our African ancestors redound to the benefit of all Guyanese.

As a diverse nation of six peoples we must collectively build on these triumphs, persevere and resolutely aspire to greater heights and a deepening of the spirit of social cohesion.

His Excellency, President Brig. David Granger, First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger, Prime Minister and First Vice President The Honourable Moses Nagamootoo, Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo and the Coalition Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana wish a happy, peaceful and safe celebration of this most significant occasion in our nation’s history and implore all Guyanese to inculcate in their own lives the lessons of perseverance, intolerance for unacceptable conditions and the struggle for a good life for all.

GUYANA TRADES UNION CONGRESS The Guyana Trades Union Congress joins with all Guyana in celebrating freedom from the world’s most inhumane system and treatment of man towards man. As Guyanese mark emancipation of Africans from chattel slavery, in a world where injustice to one poses a threat to justice for all, this day is not only a victory and progressive step in relations between the once enslaved and enslaver, but for all.

Freedom from bondage came with it some measures of expected uncertainties, such as what would life be post-slavery and relationship between groups, where there existed a history of domination and subjugation, built on unscientific notion of superiority and inferiority. In that Africans, having given of their labour for centuries, under brutal conditions that deprived them of fundamental rights and decency, were able to move off the plantations and set up progressive life independent of same, is no small feat.

Pooling the pennies acquired during the four years of amelioration (1834-1838) and being able from the get-go to use their meagre earnings to buy up plantations, converting them to villages, and establishing an indigenous system of government and economy are remarkable. These achievements speak of a people possessing of intellect, though ignored as a

justification to enslave them, and the spirit of camaraderie and determination to establish a life and succeed independent of a system that would have told them they are incapable of.

Outside of laying the topography of coastland Guyana with their lives, blood, sweat and tears, Africans have laid the foundation of the indigenous system of government, which came to be known as Local Government, that laid the foundation for National and Regional governments, and a village economy built on the cooperative principles, which is a part of the nation’s tri-sector economy.

Africans have contributed to every facet of this nation’s growth and development, giving of the labour and talent in the various sectors, processes and areas of endeavour. These achievements and contributions must not only be recounted but must see redoubling of efforts to preserve and motivations to grow from strength to strength. For emancipation will mean nothing if Africans, who fought for and achieved this landmark moment in the world’s calendar, were to accept or participate in any action that would threaten or repeat the domination, marginalisation and oppression their forebears rightfully fought against.

Onward, upward, we must ever go!

The People’s Progressive and liv-elihood came Party (PPP) interests under th-reat by the planter The People’s Progres-sive Party (PPP) salu-tes our Afro-Guyanesebrothers and sisters- on the occasion of E-mancipation Day. This- is indeed a fitting -moment to reflect on -the sacrifices made b-y our African ancesto-rs who were brought t-o the shores of Guyan-a in chains in order -to provide free labou-r to the sugar plante-rs.

To say that our Afric-an ancestors suffered- at the hands of the -sugar planters would -be an understatement.- Indeed, they were st-ripped of their human-ity and dignity and m-ade to toil long hour-s to keep the wheels -of the sugar mills tu-rning and in the proc-ess churning out prof-its for the expatriat-e sugar barons.

Many -were tortured and bru-tally killed for stan-ding up for their rig-hts but the spirit of- resistance finally w-on the day and freedo-m was eventually won -in August 1838.

Sever-al epic battles and r-ebellion took place d-uring the long march -to freedom, the most -notable of which was -the Berbice Slave reb-ellion led by Cuffy.

Despite the hardships- and cruelty of plant-ation life, the freed- slaves were successful in forging a socie-ty after emancipation- and by dint of hard work and thrift purch-ased a number of vill-ages where they eked -out an independent ex-istence despite attem-pts by the sugar plan-ters to sabotage thei-r newly won independe-nce.

There can be no -doubt that the founda-tions of a modern soc-iety and economy werefirmly laid by our A-frican ancestors who -peacefully coexisted- with the indentured -labourers after slav-ery was abolished and- in several instances- lent mutual support to each other when th-eir

c-lass.

The strong bonds of solidarity between Africans and indentured -labourers, the vast majority of whom came -from India is testimo-ny to the fact that r-ace was never a barri-er when it comes to t-he defense and protec-tion of fundamental h-uman rights including- the right to work an-d to live in an envir-onment of peace, pros-perity and respect.

The PPP from its ver-y inception as a poli-tical party has consi-stently embraced the principle of racial e-quality and a governa-nce mechanism where e-ach and every Guyanes-e regardless of race,- colour or creed be g-iven an equal opportu-nity to contribute to- the good of society.- The PPP wishes to re-iterate this commitme-nt to free, democrat-ic and cohesive socie-ty, one in which thei-r is no privileged ra-ce but where all race-s work and live in un-ison to build a stron-g and prosperous Guya-na.

The PPP is proud of t-he fact that it remai-ns the largest multi--ethnic political part-y and will continue t-o welcome all Guyanes-e into its ranks from- all races and ethnicities who, like our f-oreparents share the- vision of a society where the good life i-s enjoyed not by a pr-ivileged few but by t-he society as a whole.

The PPP is aware of a-ttempts by the curren-t Granger administrat-ion to sow the seeds- of discord among theGuyanese people by r-einvoking the bogey -of race but like all -previous attempts it -will fail to sully th-e image of the PPP as- the only genuine and- true multi-racial pa-rty in Guyana.

Once again, Happy Ema-ncipation greetings t-o all Guyanese, in pa-rticular ourAfroGuy-anese brothers and si-sters.

The Working People’s Alliance Guyana Public Service Union The Working People’s Alliance hails the African Guyanese community as it observes another emancipation anniversary. African Guyanese, despite various challenges, have continued to inspire our country through their creativity and labour. In that regard they have kept alive the emancipation spirt of independence and nationhood.

Having said that, WPA wishes to remind African Guyanese and the wider Guyanese society that although 178 years have passed since August 1, 1838, there is still work to be done to make the promise of emancipation a reality. This year’s emancipation anniversary comes as we observe and celebrate 50 years of freedom from colonial rule. Because the WPA views our independence as an extension of emancipation, it strongly feels that confronting the institutional challenges arising out of slavery and colonialism should be very high on our national agenda.

There is no doubt that as we celebrate emancipation that the African Guyanese community is grappling with a new wave of

alienation brought on by rising socioeconomic depression. Structural Adjustment and its attendant marketization along with the politics of domination have taken a toll on the selfconfidence of African Guyanese, particularly the poor. WPA feels that this situation cannot be left to fester; it has to be confronted head on.

In this regard we feel that the government in collaboration with the African Guyanese elites and the wider community should look towards widening the space for African Guyanese empowerment. This should be done within the context of closing the gap between the rich and powerful and the poor and powerless.

WPA, therefore, urges the African Guyanese community to lift their voices in their own advocacy and for their own empowerment. Self-Emancipation comes primarily from self-activity. We also call on the African Guyanese leadership to be more proactive in mobilizing the community from the bottom and the neglected corners.The aim of emancipation must be social equality and security for all Guyanese regardless of ethnicity and social class.

The Guyana Public Service Union wishes to extend its warmest wishes to Guyanese across our country and wherever else they may reside in the diaspora on the occasion of Emancipation Day 2016.

While, naturally, we set much store by the cultural rituals and ceremonies in which African Guyanese immerse themselves to commemorate Emancipation Day, we must remember, as well, what Emancipation Day means in t e r m s o f t h e contribution that African Guyanese as a free people and as patriots must continue to make in building a cohesive society out of many people, many cultures, many beliefs.

Differences, we must

remind ourselves, must not be thought of as being synonymous with separateness.

If physical manifestations mean that we cannot change who we are on the outside, African Guyanese, as much as any other race, must be animated by hearts that are open to the virtue of accommodation.

We must gracefully and gratefully embrace the reality of our multi-ethnic, multicultural circumstance, as a nation. Simultaneously, we must, of course, celebrate the proud and wondrous heritage of African-ness.

In the process all Guyanese who share the

same space must be encouraged to experience the generosity of spirit and the warmth that is second nature to African Guyanese.

We m u s t c o n t i n u e with determination and focus in pursuing the goals of our virtues and values, fearlessly but fairly, we must not permit any form of compromise or disrespect being displayed to our contribution to our national cause nor our work and worth.

On the occasion of Emancipation Day, the Guyana Public Service Union wishes to extend its very best wishes for the creation of a strong and cohesive Guyana.

>>> Continued on page 23 <<<

PAGE 22

VACANCY

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application.

Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535.

INNOVATIVEMARKETING& PUBLISHINGINC–TEL:6004212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822 RAMDASS VISA APPLICATION & immigration services, room A-4, Maraj Building, Georgetown. Call Samantha: 227-0295; 615-9295 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Guytec Repairs Services & Spares to washing machines, pressure washer, dryer, stoves, refrigerator, treadmill, vacuum, etc –Call: 680-2377 Hello the doctor is back!

Have your gas stove service and repairs. Call: 601-0595; 220-4073; 220-5785 Brian Moe @ 642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165: Home and Office visits at your comfort!!

Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158

EDUCATIONAL Electronic Course. Starting 9th August. Hands-on training repairing all types of TVs, etc. Call: 226-6551; 225-0391 IAE: Register for full time school (Grades 7-11) CSEC lessons; adults and school leavers CXC classes. Call Mr. Roberts: 683-5742

Monday August 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Teepee Suites Apartments: Lot 7 Princes Street, Charlestown, Guyana.

Call: 592-223-7903/email: teepeesuites@yahoo.com One 2 bedroom apartment located at Section ‘A’ Block ‘X’ Great Diamond, E.B.D. For more information, please call: 643-9286; 603-0067 2 Bedrooms bottom flat to rent lot 5 Wallers Delight, W.C.D -$45,000 monthly. Call: 6744929; 662-0187 1 Complete 3 storey building for rent at 68 Pike St. Kitty Call: 615-8176 Two bedrooms apartment located at Stanleytown, W.C.D. Call: 696-8714 One 2 bedrooms apartment, one 1 bedrooms apartment at Timehri –Call: 658-4754 1-3 bedrooms apartment bottom flat @ Norton street, Lodge $50,000 per month + 2 months security- Call: 6230076 Self- contained apartments $30,000 and $28,000 per month + security @ South Ruimveldt- Call: 623-0076 1 Snackette with warmer & glass cases, 1 grocery & bar @ 7 Durban street Lodge- Call: 690-5796 Business place in prime location, fully grilled, spacious and air conditioned @ East street, North Cummingsburg- Call: 2266592, 643-8833

Vacancies exist for workers @ Ice Factory and Meadow Bank Wharf. Call: 231-1408; 642-9191 8am-2pm Janitorial Staff with experience, able to work flexible hours. Applications must be sent to PO.BOX 12329 Taxi driver wanted – Call A1 Taxi Services: 220-1000 Female room attendant. Tel: 225-0198 or visit 233 South Road, Lacytown.

Assistant cook. Apply within call: 611-5615; 225-7933 or visit us at 173 Sheriff Street Part-time Babysitter with valid US visa Experience with children.

Hiring on excellent recommendations ONLY. Tel# 655-1560.

Two (2) Experienced Legal computer clerks- Phone: 6247087.

Email: husainsaphier@yahoo.com Cook (food handler’s certificate), assistant cook.

Knowledge in all cuisines.

Preferably female. Salary $23,000- call:222-7334/-63 Exists for a real estate agent, stipend paid & CommissionText-648-2345

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc.

- Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000.

Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Earn a certificate in cosmetology; enroll now at Artee’s Beauty Salon & School of cosmetology. Call: 275-0267; 680-0156

40X32 House @ Anna Catherina, W.C.D –price $13.5M negotiable- Call: 6462341; 225-7164 Property with 6 bedrooms at Pouderoyen, Coghlan Dam, WBD, Third Lot on the Left of Street -$4.5M- Call: 6787355 Property for sale at Lot 32 Princess street Werk-EnRust- Tel: 621-8767 East Ruimveldt corner $15M. East La Penitence $13.7M 2 storey, Aubrey Barker road (corner) $30M- Call Shawn (Broker) 231-2199, 618-7483

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

1 Unfurnished 2 bedrooms apartment at Eccles Park $55,000- Call: 648-7004

FOR SALE

2010 IST -$2.6M, 2011 BLUEBIRD -$2.7M, 2011 RACTIS -$2.6M, 2009 AXIO -$2.4M, 2009 BELTA -2.4M. CALL: 617-2891

Used XBOX 360 and play station 3- $35,000, plastic barrels -$4,000. Call: 6217497; 603-8643 1 Transported property, 1 5L Hilux Pickup, 1 complete music system- Call: 265-3586

SALE! SALE! 2010 IST $2.4M, 2009 NOAH -$2.5M, ARUIS -$2.5M- CALL: 6172891 3 TON CANTER ENCLOSE AND OPEN BACK WITH 4D ENGINE, PRICE -$3.6M, NEVER REGISTERED – CALL: 617-2891 2009 RX8, Allion, Music Bus, Small bus, Motor cycle, Benz.

Call: 265-4979 1 Nissan Blue Bird 2006 Model- Call: 674-2170 owner leaving country Toyota AT212, in good condition -$900,000- Call: 690-3352; 267-1308; 6262841 1 Toyota Noah Wagon – Call: 227-4339/ 227- 8772 One 2007 Fielder stick gear $2.7M negotiable. One B12 Sunny $300,000- Call: 6165974, 618-8703 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pitbull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 Toyota Vigo, excellent condition, $2.1M negotiable Call: 668-4553 Model M truck GTT series $3.9M negotiable- Call: 6667380, 603-7090 ACCOMODATION Harmony Inn- furnished apartments and rooms (long term & short term) affordable prices- Call: 668-0306/6947817/ 218-1400

1-Leyland 45 Truck $1.5 MContact# 650-0402 Sheep & duck for sale. Call: 695-6139 Toyota IST-$1,895,000, Toyota Fielder-$1,895,000, Toyota Spacio-$1,895,000, BMW 318i-$2.3M, Audi A4$3.7M. Contact#650-0402 1 Nissan B13 Car any good deal accepted. Call: 687-2835; 684-3195 1 Toyota Super GL minibus, (Pitbull), 2008 model, power window & fully A/C. Only 1 month old. Call: 652-4640; 664-2088 Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games, applications & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call:2259032;647-2943;604-5198 ADORABLE FLUFFY PUPPIES FOR SALE. CALL: 615-0146 TO LET (2) Bedrooms, bottom flat apartment, toilet & bath inside, grilled & sealed. Location: Canvas City Linden- Call: 6706479,616-2752

One fully furnished apartment $80,000 monthly & one unfurnished room $18,000 @ Diamond- Call: 6680306, 694-7817

We have interest in buying lands at Farm & Herstelling.

Call: 266-0693 Land for sale at Eccles and Diamond. Call: 609-7766 Tushen $2.2M, $3.5M, Parfaite Harmonie- Call:6421252

LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

One 6 base music set with QSC amps, RCF speakers.

Call: 622-0503; 689-9932

2 bedrooms house to rent, new, Herstelling Call: 6847366, 617-8739

Bobcats & Excavator Rentals.

Call: 679-0374; 683-2122

FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

VEHICLE FOR SALE

LAND FOR SALE

2 bedrooms furnished top flat front house for rent Tel # 6381112, 647-3054 Hair station rental at convenient location, Georgetown, Call: 638-1106, discounts given to newcomers, persons with experienced & clients

PROPERTY FOR SALE Corner property in Grove, 1 block from Main Road- Flat House, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572 High value transported land and 2 bedrooms newly built house, Greater Diamond E.B.D -$16M negotiable. Call: 265-4338 Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Newly built @ Craig E.B.D (land size: 91X50 feet), (House 40X28), 3 rooms, 1 self contained. Call:718-213-6496; 679-8091 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities -Price Reduced – Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 One (2) family house lot 32 Ann’s Grove housing scheme, land 100x50 $20M negotiable- Call: 623-5423 House & land 2 storey concrete building (4 bedrooms; 2 self-contained), semi-furnished in Grove & Diamond New Scheme. Call: 216-1861

WANTED Welders & persons to use torch set- Call: 673-7991, 6947385

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL. COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM Wings 4WD pickup rental: 679-3525 Aidan’s Car Rental: 4WD pickup. Call: 698-7807

MASSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heavens touch, visit us today! –Call: 690-6079 The Gent’s Spa: take time for yourself with lovely masseuses.

For appointments call: 658-6677 Continue page 23

Monday August 01, 2016

>>> From page 21 <<<

VAT CRACKDOWN…

Govt. hires monitors to ensure businesses pay taxes Trinidad Guardian Government is cracking down on business operators as it moves to ensure compliance with tax regulations, Value Added Tax (VAT) in particular.

The GML Enterprise Desk has confirmed that the Ministry of Finance retained VAT compliance monitors who have been mandated to find out whether established businesses throughout the country are registered or not.

“The officers will be traversing the country— North, South, East and West—to see if businesses are registered or not, asking for their VAT registration and BIR numbers to see if they are complying,” said a source at the Ministry of Finance.

If the VAT compliance monitors are not satisfied with what is presented to them at the respective businesses, they can request an audit be done to determine the level of tax compliance.

They will be working closely with field auditors at the

Ministry of Finance.

The initiative comes even as government’s tax amnesty to citizens and businesses remain in effect.

The amnesty came into effect on July 1 and is effective until September 16. It applies to income tax payments, corporation tax, business levy and Green Fund levy payments, VAT collections, petroleum tax, as well as annual company returns that were due and payable up to December 2015.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert explained that it gives citizens “the opportunity to honour their tax obligations to the State without penalties and interest accrued over the years.”

But he warned that after September 16, “the penalties, interest, further taxes and additional taxes which have been payable will be revived and become payable as if a waiver had not been granted.”

Venezuela attorney general says Congress illegally formed CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The conflict between Venezuela’s socialist government and its opposition-led Congress is growing even sharper.

The country’s attorney general says the National Assembly is now illegally constituted because in recent days it swore in three members who’d been ruled out by the governmentfriendly Supreme Court.

Attorney General Reinaldo Munoz said Saturday that the congressional action threatens democracy and indicated that bills it passes would be invalid.

President Nicolas Maduro’s government has largely ignored Congress in any case. And the Supreme Court has sided with the executive in every case.

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Finance Minister Colm Imbert Government is optimistic it would get more than the $500 million, since previous amnesties have proven to be quite successful.

Under the People’s Partnership government there were two tax amnesties, the first was in 2011 under then finance minister Winston Dookeran.

That amnesty brought in $1.8 billion to the Treasury.

The second amnesty was in 2014 by then finance minister Larry Howai, who had hoped to raise $500 million in taxes.

The amnesty eventually brought in close to $800 million.

Meanwhile, several people doing business like hairdressers, taxi drivers, small food and sweet operators, and others doing businesses in their homes who do not pay VAT will continue to remain under the radar for now.

The VAT monitors will not be targeting this group at least on this occasion, the Finance Ministry source said.

A financial expert, who asked not to be named, said a tax amnesty is really a tool meant to bring people who are not paying taxes into the net, and once they are brought in they stay on.

But amnesties that are offered too regular defeat the purpose, the expert said, because it now becomes a method of collecting taxes and can be abused by delinquent taxpayers.

The financial expert said the failure to collect taxes has a lot to do with a lack of proper monitoring on the part of the Board of Inland Revenue, which will have a clear idea of who is complying and who is not by going through its records.

But the department is said to be understaffed. One financial expert, on condition of anonymity, said that “enforcing is a problem because there is a lack of capacity to enforce.”

The Cuffy250 Committee The Cuffy250 Committee joins the rest of Guyana in saluting our African Guyanese brothers and sisters on this 178th anniversary of the abolition of chattel slavery in Guyana.

These almost 18 decades have seen Guyana move from the demise of slavery to political independence.

During that time our people had to endure 138 years of colonial rule which ensured that the promise of full emancipation from plantationhood was further delayed.

Emancipation, therefore, has been an ongoing process for the sons and daughters of the formerly enslaved.

Although the physical chains were removed in 1838, the scars of bondage continued to haunt the Africans in Guyana and the rest of the African Diaspora.

In 2016, the African Guyanese community still confronts structural barriers to full emancipation. These barriers are manifested in the challenges faced by African Guyanese particularly in the economic sphere. While the community has made strides in the face of these challenges, the inability to compete in the private economic sector has served to blunt those successes.

It is against this background that Cuffy250 calls on the African Guyanese community to use this emancipation anniversary to initiate a movement towards the revival of the spirit of self-realization that was so pivotal to the struggle against slavery and colonialism and for the survival and advancement of the community.

Cuffy250 intends to lead by example at its 4th annual “State of the African Guyanese Forum” on Sunday August 7 at Critchlow Labour College in Georgetown beginning at 9am.

The theme of this year’s Forum is “African Guyanese SelfRealization: Challenges for the next 50 years.”

The Forum brings together activists, scholars and professionals along with the wider African Guyanese community for a day-long conversation on the challenges facing African Guyanese and crafting an agenda for overcoming those challenges.

Among the topics to be discussed are The Restoration of the Village Economy; Reparations; African Guyanese and Entrepreneurship; African Guyanese and Social Cohesion; Education and African Guyanese Empowerment; African Guyanese Self-Activity; and Centering African Guyanese in Guyana’s Socio-Economic Agenda.

President David Granger will deliver the keynote address.Other speakers are Dr. Grantley Walrond, Norwell Hinds, Estherene Adams Vincent Alexander, Floyd Haynes, Dr. Simpson DaSilva, Eric Phillips, Elsie Harry, Dr. Norman Ng A Qui, Judy Semple-Joseph and Dr. David Hinds.

Registration is $300. For early registration please call 231 7888.

Comica Johnson Cuffy250 Chairman

Cub Scouts treated to...

From page 19 with politeness, humility, respect, compassion and honesty.

This contributes to your culture, your societies' culture and inevitably a country's culture”.

The Minister acknowledged that the Guyana Scouts Association is part of the international culture of the scouts that for over a century has practiced the fundamental principles of spirituality, self-discipline and self-worth which have inspired generations especially our youth to live better, more meaningful lives. “This is the scout culture and you all are an integral and important part of that,” she declared.

Before leaving the podium Minister Henry reiterated that 2016 is a historic landmark year for Guyana because on Thursday 26th May this year we celebrated our 50th anniversary of Independence. “We have a theme for our 50th here in Guyana, and I would like to use it in conjunction with tonight's entertainment; therefore, please, enjoy and continue to “Reflect, Celebrate and Inspire” each other,” Minister Henry said.

From page 22

WANTED Buying non working appliances: washing machine, treadmill, refrigerator, pressure washer, etc. whatsapp picture: 6618802 Girls wanted to work at a popular bar in MahdiaCall:662-4738 Salesgirl & porters. Apply with written application at 1E Dennis & Middleton Street, Campbellville.

Fly wheel 3S gear box. Call: 609-1490; 261-3645 Wanted to buy fresh cuts Wamara & Tonka bean logs.

Call: 664-5150, 648-1619 Salesgirls- apply at Dian’s Deli, Bar Street, opposite Kitty Market. Call: 225-3700 2 Experienced handyman & bar/shop workers for Interior, 1 handyman for G/ Town, age 18-35yrs. Call: 231-0363 Mon-Fri 9:00-11:30 & 1:30-4:30pm Labourers.

Contact Friendship Slipway & Co. Ltd, 7 Friendship, E.B.D. Call: 266-2217; 266-0311 between 7:30am-4:30pm Experienced sand truck driver – Call: 227-8529; 2237356 Drivers/Dispatchers to work @ Gem’s Taxi Service- Call: 225-5075; 231-3709 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 ONE HANDYMAN contact 223-5273/4 Experienced cashiers needed to work in general store on the East Coast (willing to train)- Call: 6454238, 274-0285 Wanted land to buy @ Tushen, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, Parfaite Harmonie. Best price offered- Tel: 642-1252 One lorry driver, experienced in selling water Tel: 671-8909 Drivers & Labourers for garbage trucks Contact: 6707920 One used Nissan Bluebird Sylphy to purchaseCall:676-1697, 225-6138 One live-in experienced waitress 18-25 years, salary $70,000-$80,000 monthly.

Boarding & lodging freeCall:610-5043 Technicians: refrigeration, washing machine, gas stove/electronic- Call: 2254822/ 629-4946

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Monday August 01, 2016

Buxton, rich in African cultures Formerly Plantation Orange Nassau, Buxton, is one of the most established African communities on the East Coast of Demerara, located approximately nine miles from the capital city, Georgetown. The community got its name from Sir Thomas Buxton, who fought for the abolition of slavery.

HISTORY Buxton was bought for $50,000 by exslaves in 1840. Its sister village Friendship, formerly Plantation Friendship was purchased in 1841 for $80,000 and together these two villages were amalgamated, forming BuxtonFriendship, whose inhabitants call it just Buxton.

This move represented victory for Buxton’s post -emancipation. During that time, one of the first things the slaves did was to make lands available for the construction of schools and churches, for housing and farming, drainage and other infrastructure, Community Leader, Fitzroy Young told the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Young explained that the purchasers sought to provide the necessary infrastructure to ensure that the people educated themselves, and they built a church in order to thank God for their freedom.

The ex-slaves also provided large expanses of lands for farming cash crops. Dr. David Hinds, an Associate Professor, a Buxtonian and Village leader noted that after

Residents engaging in farming at Buxton

Buxtonian Neptune on the drums

a period of struggle, the villagers managed to create their own government by establishing a village council to manage the community’s affairs.

“They created an economy because once they distributed the house lots at the front of the village, the distributed plots of land at the back of the village, which they call the Backdam and those plots became productive

Monday August 01st, 2016 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Today requires careful planning on your part -- and fortunately, your thinking is deliberate. It's a great time to absorb all the variables and come up with something bold and unexpected. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Someone is trying to get attention by breaking all the rules -- and while you're tempted to bust them for it, you may just be playing into their hands. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You should be seeing things quite a bit differently by the end of the day -- so make sure that you're ready for a big shift in perspective. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You have got to display adaptability today -- even if you'd rather just slink home and crawl back under the covers. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): You need to take greater care with a person or project that seems to be taking up more mental space than it deserves.

It is actually important, so make sure that you're taking it seriously. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

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********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22):You can get a deeper sense of what other people are going through today as long as you tap into your positive mental energy. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21):It may be a bit harder for you to open up to new ideas today -- so see if you can trick yourself! Just because you're not feeling it, that doesn't mean you won't have a change of heart tomorrow. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): It's a great day to keep your mind wide-open -as long as you're not just going along with any kooky idea that comes your way. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): It's time to change something up -- maybe your look, or maybe your career goals. It's also a good time for you to step into a new role, as long as you're not just jumping for the sake of jumping. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): Your divine energy is radiating out in all directions, attracting all the right people to your brilliance. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): Change is coming, like it or not. The weird thing is it feels really sudden, but if you just let it wash over you, you should quickly realize that it's been coming for weeks or even years.

plots where they would plant cash crops and sell on the open market. They also got into cane farming, where they planted canes and sold to the estate,” Dr. Hinds explained.

Even after the village gained its freedom, the struggle continued since the slaves who worked on the plantation removed from that system and the colonial masters now had to pay for labourers.

In 1856, the British Guiana Legislature gave the government the right to enact improvement taxes on the properties of the villagers; this led to a standoff between the government and the purchasers of Buxton.

Further, in another effort to settle this dispute, some villagers led by the women decided to block the train carrying the Governor, and forced him to listen to their grievances. With his train surrounded by angry villagers, the Governor promised that Buxtonians would be exempted from those taxes.

Dr. Hinds noted that even against all those odds, the villagers still managed to build an economy, in fact small businesses became part of the character of the village, several cake shops, grocery stores, even bakeries, coconut factories and a mattress factory were established.

Community Leader, Linden France explained that the Africans, especially those in Buxton have contributed significantly to business development in Guyana, which includes going into the gold fields to find jobs.

“Why hasn’t there been a transition of those businesses?…We had all these baker shops, some say we had 11 but I can recall seven, but we had all these baker shops but we don’t own a major bakery selling bread throughout the country and exporting other things we produce, and that’s a question we need to answer as we ponder the future of BuxtonFriendship,” France explained.

He noted that the famous folk song ‘Itaname’ originated from Buxton when seven brothers drowned while paddling in a boat passing the Mora Falls trying to get into the gold fields.

In 1938, a monument was erected on the 100th Anniversary of the abolition of slavery, to separate the farm lands from the housing areas. During that same period the railway embankment was established to facilitate the selling of goods and produce.

Community Leader, Yvette Herod explained that Victoria, also located on the East Coast of Demerara was the first to be bought by slaves. However, Buxton got its transport first leading some to query whether Buxton was the first to be bought.

BUXTON TODAY Today, this community is known as one of the most traditional African settlements on the East Cost of Demerara, with a population of 8000. On any given afternoon the community is mostly quiet. Men and women on bicycles

or on foot are returning home from work and guiding their livestock from the open pastures on which they have spent the day grazing.

This community sits on very fertile land which is surrounded by an irrigation system, including the well-known company canal. Local farmers produce a variety of vegetables and fruits including Buxton Spice mango. This mango is unique to Buxton, being fleshy and sweet like others, but having a unique spicy taste.

Buxton is characterised by its churches, two primary and nursery schools, a health centre, a secondary school, a Practical Instruction Centre and a water distribution system among other amenities. This community also has an established bakery and a service station which is being transformed into a mini mall. There is also the famous Tipperary Hall, which is used for community activities.

But while these infrastructures are in place, the education system within the community had deteriorated over the last two decades, Community Leader and Educator Deon Abrams said.

At one time, the community was considered to be highly affected by external criminal influences, which caused activities to cease by 4:00pm in the afternoon under state imposed curfew. The community also moved from two high schools to zero, from four primary schools to two. All of these negatively impacted the collapse in the education system within the community.

The village leaders believe that the establishment of a village policy and literacy programme by the Government can improve the many challenges faced by the community today.

CONTRIBUTION TO PRESERVING AFRICAN CULTURE The Buxton community has significantly contributed to the preservation of the African culture in Guyana. Each year, the community organises a week of activities to celebrate Emancipation Day on August 01. On the eve of the Emancipation Anniversary, there is a cultural presentation in the community, where the residents participate in drumming and singing of folk songs.

On August 1, there is a feeding programme for the elderly where the young people will take a variety of traditional foods including conkee, cook-up, metemgee and the drink, mauby to their homes. The Buxton First of August Movement has been playing a major role in these activities, Community Leader Herod noted.

As part of their cultural practices the community continues to have their queh-queh on the eve of weddings, and to teach the young people folk songs. Buxton also has a very vibrant steel band group known as the Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra. This group has won several national steel band competitions and usually participates in national events.

Monday August 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

Turkey culls nearly 1,400 from army, overhauls top military council Reuters - Turkey dismissed nearly 1,400 more members of its armed forces and stacked the top military council with government ministers yesterday, moves designed by President Tayyip Erdogan to put him in full control of the military after a failed coup.

The scale of Erdogan’s crackdown - more than 60,000 people in the military, judiciary, civil service and schools have been either detained, suspended or placed under investigation since the July 15-16 coup has unnerved Turkey’s NATO allies, fuelling tension between Ankara and the West.

Adding to the acrimony, Turkey’s EU Affairs minister hit out at Germany yesterday after its constitutional court upheld a ban on Erdogan making a televised address to a rally of pro-government Turks in Cologne.

The new wave of army expulsions and the overhaul of the Supreme Military Council (YAS) were announced in the official state gazette just hours after Erdogan said late on Saturday he planned to shut down existing military academies and put the armed forces under the command of the Defence Ministry.

According to the gazette, 1,389 military personnel were dismissed for suspected links

President Tayyip Erdogan to the Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is accused by Turkey of orchestrating the failed putsch. Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in the United States, has denied the charges and condemned the coup.

It comes after an announcement last week that more than 1,700 military personnel had been dishonourably discharged for their role in the putsch, which saw a faction of the military commandeer tanks, helicopters and warplanes in an attempt to topple the government.

About 40 percent of Turkey’s generals and admirals have been dismissed since the coup, in which Erdogan says 237 people excluding the plotters were

killed and more than 2,100 wounded.

The government also said its deputy prime ministers and ministers of justice, the interior and foreign affairs would be appointed to YAS. The prime minister and defence minister were previously the only government representatives on the council.

They will replace a number of military commanders who have not been reappointed to the YAS, including the heads of the First, Second, and Third Armies, the Aegean Army and the head of the Gendarmerie security forces, which frequently battle Kurdish militants in the southeast. The changes appear to have given the government commanding control of the council.

Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and possible death on the night of the coup, told Reuters in an interview on July 21 that the military, NATO’s secondbiggest, needed “fresh blood”.

German media said authorities had decided to bar Erdogan from addressing a rally via videoconference in the city of Cologne on Sunday due to concerns over public order, prompting an angry response from Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik.

As ‘caliphate’ shrinks, Islamic State looks to global attacks Reuters - Islamic State, losing territory and on the retreat in Iraq and Syria, has claimed credit for a surge in global attacks this summer, most of them in France and Germany.

The wave of attacks followed a call to strike against the West during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in June and July, in an apparent shift in strategy by the jihadist group, which has been hammered by two years of U.S.-led coalition air strikes and ground advances by local forces.

Instead of urging supporters to travel to its self-proclaimed caliphate, it encouraged them to act locally using any means available.

“If the tyrants close the door of migration in your faces, then open the door of jihad in theirs and turn their actions against them,” said an audio clip purportedly from spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, referring to Western governments’ efforts to keep foreign fighters from travelling to the join the group.

Radicalised followers have responded to that call repeatedly in the past two months, in countries part of the international coalition battling Islamic State, including shooting people at a Florida nightclub, running them over with a truck in the French Riviera, and hacking them with an axe on a train near Munich.

The perpetrators had varying degrees of

connection to the Middle East-based jihadists.

Some had tried to travel to Syria and were on the authorities’ radar, while others displayed few outward signs of radicalism until their deadly acts.

“There’s a growing understanding that the idea of the caliphate is dying and more and more the leadership is calling on foreign fighters not even to come to Iraq and Syria but to go elsewhere or to commit violence locally,” said Max Abrahms, a professor at Northeastern University in Boston who studies extremist groups.

Looking ahead, security experts and officials in the Middle East and the West predict the military campaign against the group in Iraq and Syria will ultimately end its goal of establishing a caliphate but in doing so may lead to a sustained increase in militant attacks globally.

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Kaieteur News

High court rules against free and fair elections bid

Gaston Browne Daily Observer - The Free and Fair Elections League has failed in its bid to get the High Court to declare that Prime Minister Gaston Browne did not have the authority to appoint an 11-member Cabinet.

The League’s lawsuit also contended that the size of the Cabinet allowed the ruling administration to enjoy supremacy over the legislative branch of government.

In a press release announcing the ruling, the Prime Minister says he hope the League will not

appeal the High Court’s decision.

In handing down the judgment, the High Court said the declarations being sought were denied because based on records before it, did not show that Browne violated the sections of the Constitution under which the lawsuit was brought.

The press release describes the legal action as frivolous, with the Prime Minister Gaston Browne saying he always regarded the lawsuit as an attempt to distract attention and waste the time of the Executive.

According to the PM, his Cabinet is among the smallest that has been selected since 1976, when the number of constituencies was increased from 10 to 17.

Browne alleges that the decision to bring this matter before the Court is tainted with the same motive that has seen frivolous lawsuits brought against PARADISE FOUND, and being threatened against other projects.

Monday August 01, 2016

Agriculture Grew 13% In Second Quarter Of Year – Samuda The Gleaner - Agriculture Minister Karl Samuda has disclosed that the agricultural sector grew by 13 per cent for the quarter ending June this year.

This he says is based on figures supplied to the Ministry of Agriculture by STATIN. Additionally, he says the sector contributes 33.3 per cent overall to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

“This is the ministry that is going to increase the level of growth on which everyone has to rely.

We must produce in order to allow Jamaica to reach the golden target of 5 per cent,” Samuda said while attending the three-day Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show now under way in May Pen, Clarendon.

After a tour of the agricultural exhibits Samuda said he was proud to be leading the ministry in the right direction as the agriculture sector is poised to drive the country’s economy

Olive Downer-Walsh (centre), general manager of AGRO Grace shows her produce to Agriculture Minister Karl Samuda (left) and president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society Norman Grant, during the opening day of the 2016 Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show Saturday. and provide growth.

T h i s y e a r ’s e v e n t i s

being held under the theme: ‘Grow what we eat...

Eat what we grow through climate smart agriculture’.

Monday August 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Monday August 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

PM May pledges new action to tackle ‘barbaric evil’ of modern slavery Reuters - Prime Minister Theresa May set out a drive to tackle modern slavery in Britain yesterday, pledging more funding and a new cross-government taskforce to help stamp out what she called a “barbaric evil”.

She made the pledge as a review into the 2015 Modern Slavery Act, pioneered by May in her previous role as interior minister, showed that in 2015, 40 percent more victims had been identified and 14 percent more slavery offences had been prosecuted.

Nearly 46 million people are enslaved globally, according to the 2016 Global Slavery Index, which estimated there were 11,700 victims living in Britain.

“From nail bars and car washes to sheds and rundown caravans, people are enduring experiences that are simply horrifying in their inhumanity,” May wrote in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

“This is the great human rights issue of our time, and as prime minister I am determined that we will make it a national and international

mission to rid our world of this barbaric evil,” May said.

The International Labour Organisation estimates that forced labour generates global profits of about $150 billion per year, mainly from the Asia-Pacific region and developed economies, including the European Union.

May, who took office earlier this month, said 33.5 million pounds of the overseas aid budget would be put into a five-year fund designed to tackle the issue in countries, like Nigeria, which are the source of proven human trafficking routes into Britain.

May also said she would set up a taskforce that would hold regular meetings “to coordinate and drive further progress in the battle against this cruel exploitation”.

The Modern Slavery Act, seen as a milestone in the international fight against slavery, requires businesses to disclose what action they have taken to ensure their supply chains are free of slave labour. It also introduced

Theresa May tougher criminal sanctions for perpetrators and more victim protection.

A year after it was introduced, a review found a 289 slavery offences had been prosecuted in 2015, up from 253 in 2014, while the number of referrals to the national support system for victims had risen to 3,266 from 2,340.

The review’s author, barrister Caroline Haughey, welcomed the impact of the new laws, but said more needed to be done to make sure they were being applied consistently across the country.

Clinton says Russia behind DNC hacking, draws line to Trump Reuters - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said yesterday that Russian intelligence services hacked into Democratic National Committee computers and she questioned Republican rival Donald Trump’s overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We know that Russian intelligence services hacked into the DNC and we know that they arranged for a lot of those emails to be released and we know that Donald Trump has shown a very troubling willingness to back up Putin, to support Putin,” Clinton said in an interview with “Fox News Sunday.”

The White House has declined to speculate on who was behind the hack of Democratic Party computers, referring to an ongoing investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Cybersecurity experts and U.S. officials, however, said they believed Russia engineered the release of the emails to influence the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election.

Reuters reported a computer network used by Clinton’s campaign was hacked as part of the broad cyber attack on Democratic political organisations.

The United States would not tolerate that from any

Hillary Clinton other country, especially one considered an adversary, she said.

“For Trump to both encourage that and to praise Putin despite what appears to be a deliberate effort to try to affect the election I think raises national security issues,” Clinton said.

Asked if she believed Putin wanted Trump in the White House, Clinton said she was not going to jump to that conclusion.

“But I think laying out the facts raises serious issues about Russian interference in our elections, in our democracy,” Clinton told Fox in the interview, taped on Saturday.

The Republican presidential nominee has

praised Putin, saying he was a stronger leader than U.S. President Barack Obama, a Democrat.

Trump last week invited Russia to dig up tens of thousands of “missing” emails from Clinton’s time at the U.S. State Department.

“Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” Trump told reporters.

He later said he was being “sarcastic” in his comments, which raised concerns among intelligence experts and criticism that Trump was urging a foreign government to spy on Americans.

Senator Jeff Sessions, a supporter of Trump, criticized Clinton for leaving her email system vulnerable to Russian penetration and defended Trump’s comments.

“I have people come up to me all the time and say ‘Why don’t you, if you want to find out where those 30,000 emails are, why don’t you ask the Russians?” Sessions told CNN. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange refused to answer questions yesterday about whether a foreign government leaked the DNC emails to the group. “It’s an interesting speculative question for the press,” he told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Monday August 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

US issues travel notice for C’bean island due to presence of Zika ATLANTA - (CMC) – The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel for the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba due to the presence of the mosquito borne Zika virus.

Saba, is a five-squaremile in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, 28 miles southwest of its international hub, the island of St Maarten.

Formally part of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010, Saba became part of a Special municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, together with the islands of St Eustatius and Bonaire.

In the advisory issued Saturday, the CDC said it is working with other public health officials in the Caribbean and Latin American to monitor ongoing Zika virus transmission.

In posting the latest Zika viru travel notice for Saba, the CDC said it has also issued travel notices – level 2 for people

traveling to destinations with Zika.

These previously included the Caribbean islands and territories of Barbados; Bonaire; Aruba; Curaçao; French Guiana; Cuba; Dominica; Belize; US Vi rg i n Islands; Martinique; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Guadeloupe; Puerto Rico; St Martin; Sint Maarten; Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o ; Guyana; Haiti; Dominican Republic; Anguilla; St. Lucia; Grenada; St Eustatius; Suriname; St Barthelemy; and Jamaica.

The CDC warned that travelers to areas with cases of Zika virus infection are at risk of being infected with the Zika virus.

“Mosquitoes that spread Zika are aggressive daytime biters,” the CDC said. “They also bite at night. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika virus.

The best way to avoid Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites.

Until more is known, the CDC said it will continue to

recommend that pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant take a number of precautions.

It said pregnant women should not travel to any area with Zika. If

they must travel to or live in one of these areas, “talk to your healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites,” the US health agency said.

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Monday August 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

Trump ‘not thrilled’ with debate dates, Clinton vows ‘to be there’ Reuters - Republican candidate Donald Trump said he is unhappy with the dates set for this fall’s presidential debates, but White House rival Hillary Clinton countered that the schedule was decided long ago and vowed to show up regardless of his objections.

The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three televised debates ahead of the Nov. 8 election - Monday, Sept. 26, Sunday, Oct. 9, and Wednesday, Oct. 19. The dates were set almost a year ago.

Trump and other Republicans said they should be changed because of

conflicts with National Football League games.

“I think two of the three are against the NFL, so I’m not thrilled with that,” the Republican presidential nominee said in an interview with ABC’s “This Week” that aired yesterday.

Speaking to reporters while campaigning at a cheese barn in Ashland, Ohio, Clinton noted that the debate schedule had been established long before the two major political parties chose their nominees.

“I’m going to be there.

That’s all I’ll say,” Clinton said just days after the end of the Democratic National Convention, where the former

Donald Trump secretary of state accepted her party’s presidential nomination.

Tens of thousands of Congolese rally to demand Kabila step down KINSHASA (Reuters) Tens of thousands of Congolese demonstrators chanting anti-government slogans and waving opposition flags rallied in the capital yesterday to demand President Joseph Kabila step down when his mandate ends in December.

Kabila, 45, who has been in power since his father was assassinated in 2001, is under pressure at home and from increasingly exasperated world powers to step aside and call an election to choose a successor.

The vote is due on Nov. 27 but Kabila’s government has said logistical problems are likely to delay it and has not set a new date. The electoral commission started enrolling voters yesterday, but has said the process would take more than a year.

Some Kabila supporters want a referendum scrapping term limits so he can run again, as many African leaders have already done, and opponents accuse him of trying to cling to power.

Joseph Kabila “If the electoral commission does not convene the electorate, that will be high treason,” revered opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, 83, told yesterday’s rally during a halfhour speech, drawing loud cheers from the audience.

Among the crowd, one protester waved a white cross with the words: “Adieu Kabila, RIP.” Tshisekedi, who returned to Congo last week after

spending two years in Europe for unspecified medical treatment, was runner-up to Kabila in a 2011 election that observers said was marred by fraud.

Tshisekedi formed Congo’s first organized opposition platform under long-time autocrat Mobutu Sese Seko in 1982 and his homecoming has energized an opposition that failed to mobilize more than a few thousand supporters in a series of protests over the last two years.

Past opposition rallies have turned violent and authorities have arrested dozens of Kabila critics since last year, but Sunday’s protest near parliament was peaceful.

Riot police remained several blocks away.

Foreign donors fear political tensions could easily lead to armed conflict — Congo’s mix of ethnic strife and foreign interference driven by competition over its fabulous mineral wealth has bloodied it for two decades.

Industry official says Haiti’s ban on DR products is illegal SANTO DOMINGO- Dominican Republic – CMC – President of the Dominican Republic Industries Association, has called a ban implemented by Haiti on over twenty products from the Dominican Republic – “illegal and contrary to the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WHO)” However, AIRD President Campos de Moya, said while the situation with neighbouring Haiti is of concern “we should not be hurling allegations and creating uproars with a country which we need to be in peace and cooperation.”

Haiti is Dominican Republic’s second most important export market, but as a result of the ban, bilateral trade fell by US$400 million.

On Thursday, Industry and Commerce minister

José del Castillo revealed that Haiti has expanded the ban, which now includes chicken soup and flours from the Dominican Republic.

Haiti’s unilateral executive order to ban the entry of products from the Dominican Republic from crossing the border overland came into effect in October 2015, bringing to a halt 88.72% of the US$467.9 million yearly trade between the two countries.

The ban has placed a dent in trade, particularly at the bilateral market held on Mondays and Fridays.

The ban was enacted despite the Dominican Government’s request that Haiti to “rethink” the measure, and the European Union’s warning of an impending jump of 40% on the price of foods and other items in Haiti.

Monday August 01, 2016

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Kaieteur News

JUNIOR CARIBBEAN CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 – ROAD RACE

Administrative glitches and absence of Coach cost Guyana podium spot

By Franklin Wilson in St. Lucia compliments of Fazia’s Collection, Fitness Express and Germans Restaurant The absence of Guyana’s Coach Randolph Roberts at yesterday’s Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships (JCCC) Road Race, which attracted the most countries ever in the history of the event, severely affected the young Guyanese chances of medaling in the Junior category which was their pet event.

The four riders, Christopher Cornelius who placed 16th overall in 2h21’32"69 with Andrew Hicks 18th in 2h21’39"46, Raphael Leung 19th(2h21’48"28) and Jornel Yearwood 28th(2h21’55"42) of 37 finishers, while 13 did not complete the distance including four of the six host nation riders.

In fact, Yearwood was well placed with two laps to go and was in the lead pack of 5 but due to not being fed water

on a humid afternoon he started to cramp up and was eventually sucked in and dropped by his rivals.

His teammates, Cornelius, Leung and Hicks tried their utmost to protect him {Yearwood} by keeping the chasing pack under control but that didn’t work out as they too suffered as a result of lack of hydration as a result of not having enough manpower to assist.

Manager, Marc Sonaram who followed the race in a car provided by the St. Lucia Cycling Association was not allowed to feed his cyclists and there was no cooperation from the feeders on motor cycles for the Guyanese riders despite their pleas to assist.

They quartet informed Kaieteur Sport that they even gave their water bottles to the motorcyclists but was never given them back as it went to other riders.

The race, which was reduced by one lap to 7 around the 12.4KM Vieux Fort

DEJECTED BUNCH! The Guyana junior riders and Manager all exhausted and disappointed after the road race yesterday in St. Lucia.

Laborie Highway / Vieux Fort La Resource Circuit, was eventually won by Phaeton Collins of Guadeloupe who clocked 2h 18’53"36 outsprinting Martinique’s Jordan Plumbert (2h18’53"71) and Deloumeaux also of Guadeloupe who was timed at 2h18’56"73 for the gold, silver and bronze.

The fourth place went to Alban Clerc of French St Martin in 2h18’58"96, the other rider who was on the break with Yearwood and the top three.

Collins had one day before took the bronze medal in the Time Trials while Plumbert was 11th.

Guyana’s lone competitor in the juvenile 5-lap race, Zaman Khan on debut, was always going to find it an

uphill task competing against nations that had their full complement of 4-riders each.

He tried his best and managed to place 31st out of 34 competitors that completed the race, 4 riders didn’t.

Khan was timed at 1h58’02"97. The gold medal in this category was taken by Trinidad and Tobago’s Jabari Whiteman who maintained the trend of the Individual Time Trial bronze medalists, taking gold in the Road Race.

He clocked 1h41’01"27 to win from Sebastien Arcade (1h41’01"83) of Martinique and Kianny Noel (1h41’01"91) of French St. Martin.

In the female race, it was almost like the Junior segment where the bronze medalist in

the Time Trials stormed to victory in the Road Race.

Puerto Rico’s Jougna Baez-Jimenez topped her colleagues which numbered six, with one not finishing, to take the gold medal in the 4lap contest in 1h38’00"59 relegating the gold medalist in the Time Trials, Alyssa Rowse of Bermuda to the silver medal in 1h38’01"00 in a close sprint home.

Another Puerto Rican, the Time Trials silver medalist, Charliette Golderos-Truillio had to settle for the bronze medal in 1h38’01"08.

Sonaram in summing up the local cyclists performances said that Khan did his best and battled to finish the event which was great. “With more training and exposure, he can do better.”

He noted that the junior riders also did well but lamented the fact that the coach, Randolph Roberts was unavailable complaining of feeling unwell due to a headache.

“All four juniors fought well and they also completed the distance in challenging conditions. A crash made a break open and it was hard for them to catch up back. We had a good opportunity but lack of assistance on the road created a few problems,” Sonaram informed.

He also noted that there was no assistance to feed his riders from the motorcycle assistants which cost Guyana medals. “I couldn’t feed from the car but motorcycles were allowed to do so but we got no help.”

The juvenile gold, silver and bronze medalists take a pic with Mr. Jose Manuel Pelaez President of the Pan American Cycling Confederation and Member of International Cycling Union Management Committee of Cuba at left and St. Lucia Cycling Association President, Cyril Mangal (right) following the presentation.

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Kaieteur News

Monday August 01, 2016

DIGICEL SCHOOLS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Chase Academic Foundation crowned NEW CHAMPS - Sir Leon win third place playoff

Most valuable player of the Championship Job Caesar collects his accolade from Tournament Co-ordinator Lavern Fraser yesterday.

Part of the action in the final that featured new champions Chase Academic Foundation and Christianburg / Wismar yesterday.

He has the distinction of scoring the first ever goal in the Digicel Schools Football Championship albeit for a different school, but yesterday Job Caesar netted perhaps the most important goal in his short career when he delivered a firecracker of a

free kick in the 24th minute to hand Chase Academic Foundation their first title yesterday in the final against defending champions Christianburg / Wismar, at the National Stadium.

Played before a somewhat disappointing turnout that

included Company CEOs Gregory Dean and Kevin Kelly, Head of Customer Care Sherwin Osborne, Tournament Co-ordinator Lavern Fraser, Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde, Director of Sport Christopher Jones

among other dignitaries, Caesar lined up inches outside the penalty area to hit a cracking shot over the wall and into the far corner which eventually proved to be the vital strike of the game.

The two teams that have enjoyed many close battles

Police holds massive anti-suicide fitness run and walk in Berbice

Police ranks and members of the public participate in the recently held fitness event.

As the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues their country wide community interactive sessions, the force has decided to up its interactive session a notch as it leads the way in tackling the many social ills that is plaguing the society at this time.

The Police B Division has been receiving kudos for its lead role in doing things

differently.

Led by Divisional Commander of the Police B Division, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam, the ranks recently joined with a number of community based and Non-Governmental organisations to successfully organise a fitness run and walk against social ills in the society.

The walk was held in subdivision No1 which is the New Amsterdam/ Canje, East Bank, East Coast Berbice areas through the Streets of New Amsterdam.

Commander Amsterdam was accompanied by a number of senior officers from all the subdivision including the No2 (Lower and Upper Corentyne and

Corentyne River) and No3 (West Berbice) along with Traffic department, CID and Special Constabulary, Neighbourhood Police and Community Policing Groups.

Some members of the public also participated in the event.

The walk, which was coordinated by Station Sergeant of the Central Police Station Marlon O’Donoghue and Woman Inspector Yonnette Stephen, began at 07:00 hrs at Lot 60 Stanleytown, traversed along the main road in New Amsterdam and concluded at Central Police Station at the B Division Police Headquarters at Strand and Couburg Street New Amsterdam.

At the station the ranks were carried through a series of warm down exercises and drills by Assistant Commissioner Amsterdam and other senior ranks.

Apart from the activity being a part of the force’s 177th anniversary celebrations, it was also a part of the 50th Independence Anniversary observance, it was also held to keep ranks fit and to incorporate members of the public in the police activities.

(Samuel Whyte)

lived up to all expectations as they traded heavy shots in both halves with Chase Academic Foundation clearly the better team in the opening period, creating quite afew chances and were unfortunate not to go to the break with a more decisive advantage.

However, from the start of the final stanza, Christianburg / Wismar played with more urgency and they too were unlucky not to net the equaliser with star player Omar Brewley spraying wide and Captain Kishawn Dey hitting a bouncing ball from a corner that landed in the box just over the crossbar.

All night Caesar and Kelsey Benjamin threatened, but a mixture of determined defending and errant shooting kept the match on a knife’s edge.

Shaquille Campbell, who had replaced Antwaine Gill at the start of the second period brought some energy to the Christianburg / Wismar side, but just as they had done, the new champions led astutely by Captain Jeremy Garrett stood firm and shut down most of the aerial salvoes with admirable competency.

In the end when the final whistle sounded, it was a fitting final between two teams that were arguably the best in the tournament.

The winning team will receive $1million, while Christianburg / Wismar take home $700,000, all towards school projects.

In the playoff for third place, Sir Leon Lessons defeated a game, but clearly inferior Bush Lot team by a 42 margin. Adrian Aaron scored a brace in the 30th and 45+1 minutes, while Omari James and Keifer Brandt supported with solitary strikes in the 55th and 69th minutes respectively.

For Bush Lot, Tyrone Miller and Shaquille DeHarte scored in the seventh and 71st minutes respetcively.

Sir Leon Lessons walked away with $400,000, while Bush Lot received $350,000 that must be utilised to benefit each institution.

In the individual awards, Caesar was named the Most Valuable Player; the Best Goalkeeper accolade went to Chase Academy’s Kevis Fraser with only two concessions, while the Highest Goal Scorer award went to Keifer Brandt of Sir Leon Lessons with 17 goals.

Windies staring down...

From page 37 appeared to be getting into stride when he fell on the stroke of the hour.

He had just punished Bishoo with a leg-side six and two boundaries to mid-wicket in the first over of a new spell which leaked 16 runs, when he turned an ordinary delivery from Chase into Rajendra Chandrika’s waiting hands at short leg.

Ravi Ashwin, with a hundred behind him in the opening Test week, failed to have any impact this time around as he was trapped lbw for three by a full length delivery from Bishoo.

Rahane, who has faced 87 balls and struck six fours and a six – a beautiful straight hit off Chase – kept the scoreboard ticking over in a 31-run, unbroken sixth wicket partnership with wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who was unbeaten on 17 at the close.

Monday August 01, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis National Novices Boxing Championships

Don Cumberbatch impresses as semi-finals action concludes A gutsy display of skill and raw courage earned GDF representative, Don Cumberbatch, a 3rd round stoppage and a place in the finals of the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis National Novices Boxing Championships, after he scored a devastating technical knockout over Republican bantamweight, Ewart Cobis, when the second night of that championship concluded at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, last Saturday evening.

It was action from the very first gong and the two boxers went after each other as if to settle an old grievance. Blows rained as both boxers tried to inflict maximum pain on the other resulting in a vicious toe to toe battle for the entire first FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: GDF boxer Don round.

Cumberbatch (left) scores with a wicked right to Cumberbatch, the taller the head of an advancing Ewart Cobis. boxer, used his height to good advantage and unleashed a The fight ballooned into a ‘no holds barrage of punches even as Cobis refused to wilt. The Republican took his blows and barred’ affair in the final round and the referee returned the favour, at times pushing his man was kept busy doling out mandatory counts to the ropes. The war rolled over to the second to both parties. The bout began to take its toll round with Cumberbatch scoring with telling and as the two went ferociously after each blows early in the round. Cobis found his other, it was obvious that one of them would rhythm and retaliated with crunching blows have wilted and indeed it was Cobis who that staggered his man and forced the referee received several clouts and drifted into the ropes for the referee to institute the mandatory to institute the mandatory 8 count.

The two then engaged in a delightful count and eventually waved the bout off after exchange where both received clouts and the deciding that the Republican was too hurt to referee had to institute counts to both parties. continue. The time was 2:37secs of the final stanza.

The action spilled into the bantamweight The war continued with both boxers lashing out and when the bell sounded, the referee division where Julius Kesney (RHJ) triumphed had to separate them in one of the neutral over Jushaine Ferrier (GDF) to win by TKO in corners where they were engaged in a 2:46secs of the 3rd round. Earlier, the two boxers were engaged in delightful exchanges delightful exchange of punches.

with each taking the initiative. The tide changed in the 3rd stanza after Kesney scored with a wicked right hand that forced the mandatory count. Upon resumption Kesney upped the tempo and after he had delivered several unanswered blows to Ferrier’s head, the referee decided that he had seen enough and halted the contest.

The welterweight encounter between Omar Natuhsokhodo of the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) and Mark Blake (GDF) was indeed a gem. The taller boxer, Natuhsokhodo used his height to good advantage, delivering long range punches that kept his man at bay.

The lanky boxer was, however, cited for infringement of the rules after delivering several rabbit punches.

All this time, Blake pressed forward and reaped some results when the FYF boxer became tired and opted for close range combat. This is Blake’s territory and he took advantage with several combinations that pushed the lanky Natuhsokhodo backwards.

Realizing that Natuhsokhodo was tired, Blake mustered his energy and lashed out with several telling blows that pushed his man to the ropes where he (Blake) continued the onslaught and in the end influenced the judges who awarded the soldier the fight on points.

In other results, John Phillips (GDF) turned up the heat against Orin Rodrigues (REP) and forced the referee to halt their bantamweight contest at 1:20secs of the 2nd round moments before lightweight boxer, Triston Browne, eked out a split decision verdict over his gym mate, Chris Cummings.

There were two bouts in the jnr/ welterweight division and in the first, Colin Hinds (GDF) won on points from Kenroy Fraser (REP) while Leon Semple (GDF) prevailed over Henry Belgrave (PRBG).

Julius Kesney

Bobby Hou-yen (REP) could not contain Joshua Joseph and lost on points in their welterweight bout while Geraldo Phillips (REP) unanimously won from Jamal Allman (GDF).

Joel Peters (GDF) lost by TKO in the 1st round at the hands of Joshua Fraser (GDF) in the middleweight division while Light/ heavyweight , Renaldo Niles (GDF) won on points over Sean Kirton (REP). In the heavyweight division, Mark Jhingoree (GDF) lost unanimously to Bryan Leitch (REP) while Germaine Williams (REP) brought the curtains down with a unanimous victory over Ryan Roberts (GDF).

The boxers were at it again last night where the respective champions, best gym, best boxer and other awards would have been established.

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Monday August 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

TKR, Zouks prevail in meaningless games

Johnson Charles reverse sweeps during his knock. (CPL)

By Sean Devers in Florida In Association with Stag Beer, Noble House Seafoods, Bounty Supermarket, Payless Varity Store & Trophy Stall A fair size crowd made of up of mostly Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) supporters clad in Red and Black and waving T&T flags, saw

TKR beat St Kitts Patriots by eight wickets in steaming heat in the first Hero CPL t20 game yesterday at the Broward Central Park in Florida after the team from Carnival Country had suffered an upset defeat to the same opponents on Friday.

The Zouks continued their good showing by defeating Jamaica Tallawahs by 17 runs in the second

Denesh Ramdin and William Perkins during their innings for the Trinbago Knight Riders who won comfortably. (CPL)

ACDA Sports Committee holds Emancipation Day of Sports today The African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) will stage their Emancipation Day of Sports today at the National Park staring at 11:00hrs to mark Emancipation Day celebrations.

The programme is organised by Johnny Barnwell and will see Softball cricket for both male and female teams, 5-a-side football and penalty shootout for area teams and Under-13 players along with small goal football for female teams. Sixty (60) meters flat race for boys and girls is also on the cards.

A 5 miles freedom run and Dominoes competition is set for Mahaicony on Sunday August 7.

Among those assisting with donating prizes for the event are P&P Insurance, Trophy Stall, Mr Pyle, Fun City, Paul’s Import, John Lewis Styles, John Fernandes, Mr Phillips and GWI among others.

game on a day where the results were only of academic interest.

The Patriots batted first and by an unbeaten 60 from 40 balls with three fours and four sixes from Trinidadian Lendl Simmons and 23 each from Steven Powell and Jonathon Carter who shared in a 52run fourth wicket stand reached 1376 from 20 overs.

DJ Bravo captured a tournament best 4-13 from four overs for TKR who eased to their target with 18 balls to spare, finishing on 138-2.

Denish Ramdin made 52 not out from 46 balls with six fours and Brendon Mcullum, who reached the boundary twice and cleared it three times in 28- ball 43, enjoyed an unbroken 72 run third wicket to see TKR leave Florida on a high.

In the other game, Andre Fletcher, with 70 from 54 balls with four boundaries, Johnson Charles,64 from 35 balls with nine sixes and two fours and Shane Watson’s belligerent unbeaten 17-ball 42 with five sixes, powered the Zouks to 1943 from 20 overs.

Rovman Powell had 2-45 for the Tallawahs who reached 177-8 from 20 overs despite 30 from 15 balls with three fours and two sixes from Chris Gayle, 24 from Kumar Sangakkara and a 35-run partnership between Andre Russell (22) and Powell (28).

Shane Shillingford had 2-30.

In the noon encounter, Kieran Powell, who flirted briefly with a baseball career, launched into Ronsford Beaton and stroked him majestically for two boundaries before clobbering a quick short ball in baseball fashion four rows back into the stand behind long-on for what some curious American youth thought was a home run and the second over cost 16.

Sunil Narine was introduced in the third over an immediately befuddled the Left handed Powell with both ways spin.

Evin Lewis, another Trini in the Patriots team, only managed a single before edging one that bounced from Bravo and was brilliantly taken at slip by William Perkins, diving to his

right to leave the score on 24-1.

Faf Du Plessis was yorked by Bravo without addition to the score but Simmons hammed left-arm spinner Paul Devcich for a couple of boundaries in the over.

Powell smashed one back to Devich and he stretched out his left hand to hold a stunning return catch at 25-3, while Carter lofted left arm spinner Nikita Miller for two huge sixes in the 11th over.

However, the Bajan left-hander missed a wild swipe at Narine and was stumped at 69-4.

Simmons continued to bat attractively and along with Shamarh Brooks (17 from 17 balls) added 54 for the fifth wicket before Brooks and Devon Thomas (8) were quickly removed by Bravo whose 4-13 saw him go past Warriors’ Sohail Tanvir 18 wickets by one scalp. Narine took 1-9 from four overs.

When TKR began the reply with their fans producing a sea of red under clear blue skies, Hashim Alma (6) fell in the first over from Jeremiah Louis with just six runs on the board.

The consistent Amla, who missed a match due to International duties, finished the preliminary rounds with 369 runs with three fifties.

William Perkins slammed 29 from 24 balls with four fours and a six and along with McCullum who steered Samuel Badree for four behind point.

After the second game was delayed due to Lightening, Fletcher and Charles were brutal and added 104 before Charles, who became the tournament’s leading run scorer with 408 runs, was removed by Gary Mathurin before Powell got rid of Mike Hussey (8) at 133-2.

Ramdin and McCullum played an array of scintillating shots to see their team to victory.

Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 138-2 (D Ramdin 52*, J Louis 1 for 25) beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 137-6 (L Simmons 60*, DJ Bravo 4 for 13) by eight wickets with 18 balls remaining.

In the second game, Watson and Fletcher took the score to 152 before Grenadian Fletcher provided Chadwick Walton with third catch as he departed in the 18th at 152-3.

Watson exploded with a six off the final ball from Powell as the 20th over produced 18 to ensure that the last five overs produced 61 runs.

Darren Sammy faced just two balls in the unfinished 42-run stand with Watson.

Gayle smashed Delorn Johnson for a four and a six and then dumped Jerome Taylor for six. He then stroked Watson for four but was taken at long-off in the same over to end his cameo and when Sangakkara departed in the 10th over at 75-3 the Tallawahs never recovered despite the stand between Russell and Powell.

The Warriors face the Tallawahs on August 3 at Warner Park in St Kitts, while the Zouks battle TKR the next day at the same venue. On August 5 the winner of TKR match oppose the loser of the Warriors game.

The final is set for August 7 with the winner of the August 5 matchup and the winner of the August 3 game.

Scores: ZOUKS 194 for three off 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 70, Johnson Charles 64, Shane Watson 42; Rovman Powell 2-45) beat TALLAWAHS 177 for six off 20 overs (Chris Gayle 30, Rovman Powell 28, Kumar Sangakkara 24, Alex Ross 23 not out; Shane Shillingford 2-30) by 17 runs.

The Trini fans urged their team on yesterday in Florida.