GUYANA Berbice
Phillip Moore backers have disappeared
– relatives say too many promises, no action
BY NAFEEZA YAHYA
Hailed as a great cultural icon whose sculpting of the 1763 Monument remains one of his finest pieces of work, Phillip Moore must be turning in his grave today for all the support he received at his death, but the virtual abandonment of his legacy two years later.
Led by the spirited Georgetown intelligentsia, a political storm was created regarding his place of interment and all the other trappings to go with a man of his stature, but two years later, his backers have backed off.
“All that has been happening is sheer talk... We want something done in Berbice for him preferably in his hometown of Manchester so that people can recognise that he was a Berbican and would have to travel down here to relate to his roots and see where he got his
inspiration from,” his daughter Coorine Munroe said. Relatives during an interview with Berbice Times said Moore’s dream was to have a museum to display his art so that people, especially the younger generation, could reflect on them and learn many of life’s lessons. However, since his passing, the family has been made a lot of promises from various organisations, including the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) and the government, but they are yet to see any materialise.
ACDA had lobbied for the body of the late Moore to be exhumed and inducted at the Seven Ponds, but his family feels that he is happy at the Auchlyne Cemetery as he is lying next to his wife. They, however, still want something tangible to be done in his memory.
They are of the opinion that enough is not being done to ensure his legacy lives on for the next generation.
Flashback: Andrea de Caires showing Phillip Moore pictures of her father Dr Carl A Fields (whom Moore knew from his time as the artist in residence at Princeton University) from the time he had known him more than 35 years before
The 1763 Monument at the Square of the Revolution, Georgetown
Since my return to Berbice in 2008, we have been fortunate to have a distinguished line of B Division commanders. There was George Vyphius, Steven Merai, Derrick Josiah, and now Brian Joseph. Commander Josiah was recently taken from us. We mourn his loss and send heartfelt regrets to his family and to the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Josiah was a man of honour; the uniform sat proudly on him.
I have had the honour of interacting with each of these gentlemen. They were different from each other. Commander Vyphius was aloof, but unfailingly polite. Commander Merai was earnest and formal, but with a straight-faced sense of humour. Commander Josiah was almost shy, but was always ready to speak to that which was correct. And Commander Brian Joseph is straight-forward but softspoken.
Berbice was indeed fortunate to have had them here in service, leading the charge to uphold law and order. Of course, they had many good police officers under them, which made their work more effective.
These commanders were different men with different styles – different administrative styles, different policing styles, different relational styles – all adding to our pool of excellence in terms of policing. They all, however, had one thing in common – apart from their dedication to law and order. They all had this great regard for education. When we spoke, we spoke about law and order, about lawlessness and disorder.
But that topic of conversation inevitably gave way to the need for formal education within and without the GPF. Police work was their profession and their calling; education was their passion. And this is true of every single dedicated law enforcement officer that I have met since I returned to Guyana. It would be hard to name all, but Clinton Conway (former police force training officer); Jairam Ramlakan (assistant superintendent); Ian Amsterdam (senior superintendent); and Lyndon Alves (senior superintendent) stand out. There are numerous younger law enforcement officers that I could mention.
In tangible ways, these commanders’ passion for education manifested itself in the unprecedented relationship that was built between the Felix Austin Police College B Division and the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC).
UGBC trained the police in subjects like oral communication and mannerly conduct, written communication, ethics and ethical behaviour, information technology, conflict resolution and domestic violence, the fundamentals of law, first arrival medical treatment, and so on. We drew expertise from every profession, and some of our good UGBC lecturers gave of their time.
Berbice and Guyana gained much. Regrettably, this has fallen by the wayside in recent months. Guyana and Berbice have lost much indeed.
These concrete types of engagement did not just come about by magic; they came from many hours of conversation with these gentlemen. To their credit, these commanders did not draw neat lines between “teaching”, “training”, and “coaching”. They saw that discipline in any area yields discipline in other areas of professional and personal life.
They could teach those of us in formal education quite a few things. The thing is, are we willing to learn?
Police in Berbice secured an eight per cent increase in convictions in the courts this year and have seen a drop in serious crimes, ‘B’ Division Commander Brian Joseph has said.
There has been a 25.8 per cent decrease in reported indictable matters, while reports of summary offences declined by 29.1 per cent.
“Serious crimes, including murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, break and entry and larceny, burglary, rape, etc, were recorded at 14.7 per cent below the figure for last year, while there has been an increase by 21.6 per cent of cases made, with successful prosecutions resulting in an increase in convictions by 53 per cent,” Joseph said.
Murders
He disclosed that so far unsolved murders dropped to 17 per cent in 2013 as against 50 per cent in 2012. Robbery under arms (firearm) declined by 58 per cent. Also in 2013, the average number of daily reports of break and enter and larceny was relatively stable at 1.6.
In Berbice, this year, 19 persons lost their lives on the roadways. Joseph said experience has shown that nothing short of fearless enforcement will convince road users that the law is meant
to be obeyed. “We recognise that we have the challenging duty to enforce a desirable standard of compliance with the road traffic regulations,” Joseph said.
On the industrial relations front, he said the division has been faced with unrest in the sugar industry, but such instances have been resolved without any undue strain on the community-police relationship.
“Our community policing groups have been providing tremendous support in our common quest to make all communities free from the fear of crime and it is in that regard that I wish to ex-
tend all the very best wishes to all our CPG [Community Policing Group] members for every success in our framework of structured and continuous collaboration.
“I also wish to take this opportunity to challenge all communities to come out in support of your brothers and sisters in uniform,” he said, pointing out that every time police officers leave their homes, they accept the possibility that they may not return to the bosom of their families.
Bribery
“I think that it is only fitting at this time to remind all ranks that in spite of the many good things we have done and continue to do, our image is sullied by allegations of bribery and corruption. It is, therefore, incumbent upon all of us as law enforcers to recognise that corruption, in whatever form, is a criminal offence.
“Reinforcing ethical policing practices in an effort to eradicate corruption within the division should be a matter of great concern to all,” said Joseph.
“We have started work on police reforms and in this regard we will be looking to ensure that the proposed framework is translated into more effective and efficient police services. If we do not
embrace reforms which lead to a modern and widely respected police force, it can result in serious citizen disillusionment with far-reaching repercussions for the rule of law.
“On that note, let me once again appeal to all stakeholders to come forward in support of the crime-fighting initiatives of the Guyana Police Force,” he said.
Joseph said at this time the families of officers and victims of crime who suffered injuries or paid the ultimate price in the course of duty should be remembered.
“Our debt of gratitude to these fallen officers is indeed profound. I also take this opportunity to personally thank all officers and other ranks for their dedication to duty in 2013.
“I particularly extend my gratitude to those officers and other ranks that will be on patrols in ‘B’ Division and every other part of the country – particularly those who will be away from the comfort of their family and friends during this festive season,” he declared.
“My wish for all of you this season is that you have an opportunity to enjoy a sense of peace, joy and security in your lives. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God,” he added.
Phillip Moore backers...
The family is presently appealing to everyone not only in Guyana but in the diaspora to make contact with them if they have a piece of art from their father. They would like a photo, the name of the piece and if possible the story behind it, so that they can create a catalogue.
This, according to Phillip Moore Jr, is mainly for the fu-
ture generation to see, especially the grandchildren.
Moore, who attended the Manchester High School, started painting at the age of 19. His son, Phillip Moore, Jr said his father has thousands of pieces and that is something significant for Guyana and the Caribbean at large. He told Berbice Times that his father also had a passion for songs and poems and wrote many inspirational poems and songs.
Remarkable
“His art did not just reflect a painting or a sculpture but the meaning behind any piece of his work was remarkable. His idea of putting so many things to art was a blessing and he should be a man to remember,” said the younger Moore.
While none of his children or grandchildren has a passion for art, many of them know how to paint, as they were taught by Moore.
One of his granddaughters, Latesha Davis, who is currently holidaying in Guyana, said her grandfather was a very loving, calm and quiet individual, who loved nature. She related that she did not know how popular he was until she started school and was unaware he designed the 1763 Monument.
A cultural icon Davis said Moore was admired for his work and she did not realise how much his work influenced and showcased the African Guyanese struggle until his death when people spoke about him and what his contributions did for them personally and nationally.
“He made art very popular and used it as a medium to express his opinions and feelings. He saw everyone as equals and the need to look beyond the exterior and focus on the inner self.” That, she believes, would make a huge
difference to the world and can solve a lot of problems.
Another of his grandchildren, Amil Davis recalled that his grandfather’s message to him was that one does not need talent to do art, instead it has to come from within “and you simply use art as a medium to express yourself”.
Moore was the recipient of many awards, including the Cacique Crown of Honour. Most of his works are displayed in the National Art Gallery, Castellani House and apart from his painting and sculpture, he taught at the Burrowes School of Art and Princeton University, USA.
The most fundamental work of Moore is the 33-foothigh bronze monument which depicts the Berbice Slave Rebellion led by Cuffy. The sculpture commemorating Cuffy and his fight for freedom stands at the Square of the Revolution, Georgetown.
Professor Daizal Samad
‘B’ Division Commander Brian Joseph
The late Phillip Moore
Number 64 Village located immediately after the Number 63 Beach on the Corentyne is home to a mixed community of people and there is a special place of interest for residents and visitors to go when they need to find peace, solitude, comfort or to just unwind and relax.
Joe’s Park named after its visionary founder, Hanooman Nanram, also called Joe Budhram, of Babylon Number 64 Village is that place. Speaking to Berbice Times, Nanram related what inspired him to venture on this initiative. He said in 1976 when he started working at the Skeldon Estate he saw how beautiful and unique the estate compound looked and as such, he decided to buy trees from the estate and planted them on the land, which still is government reserve.
Nanram said back then when he set out to develop it, the area was overgrown with bushes.
Uncle Joe, as he is fondly called, said that after planting numerous trees of various species, the actual construction of swings, seesaws and other structures necessary to complement a park commenced in 1985.
“Gradually, it took shape and people start coming here, especially the young schoolchildren to eat their lunch and to even study, “he
explained. Nanram pointed out that since the park has been completed and fully operational, he saw a need to assist in tutoring school drop-outs, slow learners and children whose parents could not afford to give them an education, hence the building of a shed equipped
ed that since he is influential and respected by all, he has the assurance that the educational aspects of the park will be fully utilised. ”I feel happy to see everybody coming to visit the park and having so much fun and enjoy, me feel happy about that because my vision was
The New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission (NJASHM) has commenced the establishment of a humanitarian mission village at Ankerville, Port Mourant. The vision is to educate and empower the less fortunate through education, to help those willing to help themselves, and to eliminate poverty in Guyana.
This project is influenced by the high rate of school dropouts, teenage pregnancies, and acts of gender-based violence, rape, suicide and poverty in Guyana and encompasses in phases, the construction of a benevolent home for seniors, victims of gender-based violence and a skills training development centre.
poline and a concert which the children were all part of.
The event, which started in 2004, is spearheaded by Dr Vishalya Sharma, medical superintendent of the New Amsterdam Hospital. This publication caught up with the busy doctor and asked her what inspired her to initiate this annual
with benches, tables and a chalkboard to teach these individuals.
“I already ask a couple of retired teachers to help out and they say yes, but I personally will teach them how to make hollow block and other area of skills so they can be able to get jobs,” he said. Another structure is currently in the making Joe revealed and that would serve as a library for anyone needing to use it. He posit-
successful and it’s free for all, “he said.
Last week, the park was full to capacity as the community held its fifth annual village fete targeting the needy children in the area.
The day’s activity saw more than 200 children being served a hot meal with beverages and many other goodies; each child received a gift from Santa. There were also many interesting games, face painting, tram-
event. “I came here to the park one day and sat in a swing just relaxing and contemplating, looking at the children playing I saw a need to do something extravagant for them, when suddenly like a brainstorm a thought came to me on how to bring cheer to the less fortunate in my village, so then and there I pledged to do this annually,” she reflected.
In an exclusive interview with Berbice Times, Pandit Kamal Dhanesar, adviser to the organisation, said that the commencement of their first major project – the empowerment centre is well on stream with a projected completion date of April 2014.
“Prior to this project, the mission’s normality was to give handouts to the less fortunate; however, it came to the realisation that if we want to succeed in removing people from the line of poverty, the best way forward would be through empowerment,” he said.
Target group
Pandit Dhanesar pointed out that the target group was school dropouts and the aim was to give them a second chance in life through the empowerment training that will be provided so they can work with others who have related business or become entrepreneurs. This would be a vital part of the training.
Some of the skills training that will be offered are welding and fabrication, joinery, garment construction, food catering, and computer skills. The computer training would be more in the field of relevant software and programme design.
Design training can be done in the related skill area that the mission would have trained students for and computers can be used for fashion design, creating menus for food, catering and creating architectural designs.
“The other field we are thinking along is agriculture practice, specifically in the area of hydroponics. In this area, we will assist not only youths that would be attending the centre, but also small farmers within the
community so as to expose them to this area whereby they can do their own farming using this system,” he said.
Pandit Dhanesar said he has contacted the Partners of the Americas (PoA) consultant for Regions Five and Six to assist in the initiative. They have expertise in this area and will provide plastic for shade houses, seedlings for the first crop, and fertilisers. All free of charge.
The PoA, through its consultant Shazeena Seetayah, will also provide continued technical support for participants.
Ending poverty
Meanwhile, in a telephone interview, Pandit Suresh Sugrim from his New Jersey location told Berbice Times that the project is seeking to snap the chains of poverty by empowering the less fortunate in Guyana via education and teaching them new skills so that they will earn a livelihood.
“I have seen so much sufferings coming from many of our mothers, sisters, daughters ,and sons who are uneducated. The key to success is education and without an education, we are like in a house without a lamp – total darkness,” he said. He contended that social problems are rampant in many rural areas because there is a lack of education and empowerment.
“The Humanitarian Mission Village will serve people of all faiths, regardless of their ethnicity and religion, to address the glaring needs that we have identified.” He posited that the mission firmly believes that the only way to break the vicious cycle of poverty is through empowerment and education, equipping the less fortunate individuals to be self-sufficient. He noted that people should not just be hooked to handouts and joining lines, because there is no vision for the future without empowering and educating them.
“There are many homes with land filled with grass that could be put to good use. We are putting in place initiatives that will make use of talent and resources. I have seen many families with nothing to eat and sleep on, but their children are walking with BlackBerry and high end phones; after all, they still come and join lines looking for help,” he emphasised, adding: “I will not waste our donor’s hard working dollar to help those who have no vision and [are not] willing to help and motivate themselves.”
Dr Vishalya Sharma, some of the children and Santa at the park during the annual party
A section of Joe’s Park at Number 64 Village
Uncle Joe developed this play park from scratch
The Region Five African and Culture Group of Calcutta on the East Coast of Demerara last Friday held its annual Kwanzaa celebrations at the Calcutta Primary School Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.
Kwanzaa is a week-
held a grand cultural programme with the aim of bringing an awakening among the young African Guyanese to ensure they know where they came from, their achievements and where they are heading in the future. This holiday, which
long celebration held in the United States and also in the western African diaspora and in other nations of the Americas, including Guyana. This celebration honours African heritage and is observed from December 26 to January 1 each year, culminating in a feast and gift-giving.
The African and Culture Group of Calcutta
was first celebrated in 1966 has seven principles: Unity, Self determination, Collective work and responsibilities, Cooperative economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. Friday’s event saw the participation of more than 200 persons from different parts of Guyana who were engaged in different activities such as African drum-
ming, singing, and the display of African dishes, outfits.
During an interview with Berbice Times , a member of the Calcutta group, Joan James said Kwanzaa teaches seven values with the hope that Africans will live up to the principles in their daily lives so that they could create unity among themselves, a purpose for their lives, serving to achieve what they want
and to make their own decisions.
“Africans should be more aware of their culture and they must learn about them…they must practise it and live it and if we follow the values that our fore-parents set for us, we will appreciate the sacrifices they made… because if we follow their journey across the seas, some of
them were thrown overboard half dead and so on, while some were still determined to live and they came here,” James stated. James said that African Guyanese have to practise self-determination to achieve set goals, while reiterating that young Africans should be proud of what our standards therefore, determination is necessary to continue and better what our foreparents accomplished.
A bishop performing a libation
Tahirih Farrell speaking on the meaning of one of the principles of Kwanzaa
A representation of the Spirit of Kwanzaa
A section of the gathering
By Alexis Rodney
Gertrude Edwards
Gertrude Edwards was at the peak of her womanhood. She was smart and beautiful, with an infectious smile that would make any grieving heart find solace.
She was talented, loved singing and dancing and would often find herself at any bar that had a karaoke set. She was a waitress and a great friend. She was also a mother; a mother who did not live to see her most prized possession – her children grow up.
It was midnight on May 8, 2009 at the West Bank Berbice village of Ithaca, when owners of a nearby supermarket found Edwards at their gate begging for a drink of water. She had stumbled over to the residence, holding her neck and tummy, trying to contain the heavy blood flow.
Drinking that cup of water was the last thing she did before she collapsed in the yard and died. Back home, her daughter, Kerry Edwards, 13, and cousin Samantha Charles, 16, laid in bed, soaked by blood that was gushing out from their throats.
They were too afraid to venture outside the room they shared, afraid that they would be attacked again. But somewhere in the crowd outside, their attacker, Gladstone Williams mingled, then disappeared.
Kerry, now 17, remembers the incident as if it were just yesterday. She adored her mother and it was quite evident in the way she spoke. She said she andher cousin Samantha were asleep when she felt one of her foot paining and while getting up, she saw Williams over her mother.
Being a child, she thought that they were doing “something”, but then she smelt blood. She then heard her mother choking. She got up and from another angle saw her stepfather “cutting her mother’s throat”.
Kerry said she began shaking the very muscular Williams, who got up, looked her straight in her eyes and sliced her throat as well. In shock, she quickly turned to her cousin Samantha, who was still sleeping to alert her, but was a bit too late. Her stepfather had already jumped on the bed and sliced Samantha’s throat. Kerry said Williams then left in search of his reputed wife who had escaped. Apparently, he did not find her because when he left, she returned asking for a drink of water.
“When she asked for the water, I showed her my throat and blood was coming out, she looked at me, opened her eyes wide and ran out.” Kerry said that was the last she saw her mother alive, as she died at the neighbour.
The younger Edwards said her mother had moved away from New Amsterdam to Ithaca Village to be at peace from her “abusive husband”. However, she would normally take her two younger siblings to see their father, since her mother did not want her stepfather to know where they lived.
On May 8, Gertrude had again taken the children to see their father. She even spent the day with her family in Angoy’s Avenue. Another niece said they were trying to persuade Edwards to remain and spend the night in New Amsterdam, but she insisted that she wanted to be at home. Williams must have followed her back to her home and waited until midnight to attack. Kerry recently completed her secondary education at the Berbice High School. She hopes to join the nursing profession in the near future. She and her cousin Samantha will forever wear those scars on their throats, inflicted by a jealous and abusive man who is currently spending many years behind bars.
The New Amsterdam municipality will continue to remove solid waste from the homes of citizens despite claims by the Local Government Ministry that the management of solid waste is now in the hands of a private garbage collector, Mayor Claude Henry said. “We had no consultation; we were invited to a meeting, but were just told of the new arrangement,” Mayor Henry revealed, speaking on the issue.
The council, he added, is the body that is so authorised according to the law. “The council is the sole organisation that is responsible for the collection and disposal of solid waste in the town. That is what we are working with. Now, you cannot bring a contractor and say to the council ‘look, we are going to take money from those people and we are going to take money from you also’. They want us to pay $1600 a tonne for our garbage when we have our fleet of garbage collecting tractors; we have our workers working in that sanitation department. What will we do with them?” Henry questioned. He was at the time speaking at the presentation of the council’s $133 million 2014 budget.
“We, as a council, are
authorised and that is why we are providing that service and until it is changed by way of legislation, we are going to continue to provide that service.”
Landfill issues
He said that the council has been told of plans to close its dump site at Esplanade and to utilise a landfill site at Belle Vue on
the East Bank of Berbice, six miles out of the town.
“This landfill site is still to be completed and the same site that we are expected to close, the person that is collecting garbage is using to dump his garbage.”
The mayor noted that since 1891, the town council has been removing solid waste from homes and about the town. “In those days, I was told that you never had it in the streets.”
“If the garbage collector is removing from your homes, what will happen to the streets? Who will remove solid waste from the road shoulders? Persons who don’t have money to pay to have their garbage removed, what you think they will do with their garbage? They will throw it on the road shoulders,” the mayor stressed.
He said dead animals will also have to be removed from the community. “Those are some of the questions that we did ask and we didn’t get a proper
answer.
At the moment, there is a proposal that was given to the council by the contractor and we are looking at it; we have been perusing it for the longest while and that is what we will continue to do.”
The mayor says that the council is providing the best possible service to residents and urged citizens to pay their property taxes.
Berbicians turned out in their numbers at the Port Mourant Centre Ground for three days of fun when Inspire Inc hosted its first ever Christmas Carnival.
The event was held from December 22 to 24. Families came from as far as Skeldon and New Amsterdam to be entertained by lively characters such as Spiderman, Superman, Hulk, Batman, Dora and Diego, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Snow White and Tinker Bell.
Santa Claus and his
elves also made a special appearance which thrilled the children. Five-yearold Nazeema Khan told Berbice Times that she loves Dora and was very happy to have a photo opportunity with her.
Inspire Inc Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Yog Mahadeo said he is pleased with the turnout and is inspired to do another carnival next year. Mahadeo said Berbice is often neglected when it comes to pure entertainment and he was happy to see families coming out and having a good time.
“Berbice is a blessed place and most of the time
Berbice is neglected by a lot of things and the truth is that we have thought it best to see if we could have come and motivate and inspire.
Our vision is to inspire across the country, every activity that we planned is aimed at lifting people, helping, encouraging them and this is just another example. Our main aim was to bring families out, it gives out pride and joy see family together having clean fun,” he said.
Mahadeo told Berbice Times that he is looking forward to a similar event next year.
New Amsterdam Mayor Claude Henry
Regional Executive Officer Paul Ramrattan presents a copy of the contract to Shrikissoon Ramjanam in the presence of Local Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persaud and other officials
Garbage on a street in New Amsterdam, Berbice
By Alexis Rodney
T...as logging business dies out
he sister communities of Orealla and Siparuta some 60 miles up the Corentyne River will soon see major growth in their economies as plans are well underway to begin rice cultivation and the establishment of a furniture factory.
The communities, which have been involved in logging for as long as the living can remember, have decided to seek other avenues to increase production and income. Orealla and Siparuta are sustained fundamentally by the exportation of logs and cash crops.
However, according to Toshao Floyd Edwards, recently there has been a depletion of the species of wood used for exportation hence a decision was made to approach the Amerindian Affairs Ministry with plans to diversify.
Proposals
The proposals were readily accepted and money was made available from the Amerindian Development Fund for the construction of the factory. Support has also been garnered from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Upon completion, the factory will see the construction of household furniture, including wardrobes, tables and
chairs, which will be sold countrywide.
The cultivation of rice was never a major economic activity in the farming community, as it was done on a small scale by individual families. However, residents realised that it was far more economical to plant the rice themselves. “What we
realised in Orealla is that we have been consuming approximately over three hundred bags of rice per month and that has been coming in from the coast. We find too that for one acre, when we plant it in our own way; that is, dispersing, allowing it to grow then reaping it manually, we actually get good yield,” Edwards told BerbiceTimes
For the community to produce rice on a large scale, there is need for a mill. This plan, he further noted, was also presented to the Amerindian Affairs Ministry and received positive reviews. Williams was confident that the project will be to the communities’ advantage. “I do believe that if we receive the mill, a lot of farmers will come on board and that is why we have submitted the plan to the ministry to have a holler (mill) to be used in Orealla.” The toshao said this project will be undertaken soon after the completion of the furniture factory.
Education
The communities together have a population of more than 3000 residents, including children and young adults. Nursery and primary education is available within the communities. Recently, a secondary department was added to the
primary school, but, even with this new addition, students still attend school on the coast after sitting the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) exams, and are housed at the Amerindian hostel in Corriverton, Corentyne. The toshao said much emphasis was placed on education in the two villages.
However, the challenges of drugs, alcohol, teenage pregnancy, crime and school drop-outs are not strange to the communities, Williams lamented. Leaders, in desperation, have turned to the government for help. “We have approached the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport to see in what way they can help us, and the honourable Dr Frank Anthony has been assisting the villages a lot”.
He said through the ministry, a number of children were given the opportunity to attend the Kuru Kuru Training College. Another batch of students is currently receiving heavy-duty training at the Upper Corentyne Training Institute. This is being funded by the Basic Needs Trust Fund.
The Orealla Village Council represents the affairs of residents in both Orealla and Siparuta. The administrative body comprises the toshao, deputy toshao, senior councillors from Orealla and Siparuta, the treasurer/secretary and other councillors.
Belvidere Industrial Site to be ready next year – Armogan
The long coming Belvidere Industrial Site should be up and running next year, Region Six Chairman Six David Armogan said.
He gave the assurance while speaking about the region’s performance in 2013.
“In 2014, we expect investors and business persons to take advantage of the infrastructural works being done to establish the complex. This new development will create more employment opportunities for the young people in the region,” Armogan said, adding that every square metre of available land is being taken up for rice cultivation. He explained that rice cultivation is expected to grow to more than 60,000 acres.
Meanwhile, the Region Six Administration has completed its 2013 work programme, noting that it was a successful one for the people of the region. Reflecting on some of the achievements for the past year, the chairman said despite starting most of its works in the second half of the year due to the late approval of the national budget, the administration was still able to achieve all that it set out to do.
In the health department, Armogan said the region was able to complete repairs to four doctors’ quarters.
“Rehabilitation was done on the Mibikuri Hospital’s kitchen and mortuary, the Bara Cara Health Centre and a shed was constructed at the Berbice Regional Health Authority compound. Works were also done on health equipment such as cardiac monitors, ultra sound machine, pulsimeters and others were purchased for the hospitals and health centres. A boat and engine and ATV were provided to Orealla and Siparuta.”
Rehabilitation to schools
In the education department, he said work was done on the Albion Front Nursery School second phase while an annex was constructed at the Lower Corentyne Secondary School as well as a sanitary block at the Belvidere Primary School.
“Extension works at Berbice High School and New Amsterdam Secondary were also done. The JC Chandisingh Secondary School came in for major rehabilitation works and most schools in the region were repaired as part of our ongoing maintenance programme.” During the past year, education officers also visited schools regularly to ensure students and teachers were working in accordance with the planned programme.
He noted that a minibus was purchased for the education de -
partment to help them to monitor schools more efficiently.
“Furniture was purchased for all schools in the region and a new nursery school was opened at Glasgow Village on the East Bank of Berbice.”
Excavation and revetment works were done at Enfield, Kilmarnock, Rotterdam, Crabwood Creek, Orealla and other areas in the region.
New sluices were constructed and existing ones repaired, the chairman also pointed out.
Timber and concrete bridges were also built at Black Bush Polder, Lighttown, Albion and Angoy’s Avenue, among other areas during the year.
“Residential drainage was given a major boost with central government providing six miniexcavators to clean and clear
drains in the residential areas. These machines will be moved around the entire region in the New Year to ensure a better drainage system in all our villages and towns. A new pump was also installed at Black Bush Polder for irrigation purposes.”
Roads
Almost 100 roads were done in the region through its Capital Works Programme and the Public Works Ministry is in almost all the different areas in Berbice,” Armogan said.
“This is a major programme and is expected to continue in 2014 as our government is serious about improving the road network in the region to make it more convenient and comfortable for our people. The housing and construction sector experienced a boom in 2013 and this should continue in 2014. More persons were allocated land for housing at Kilcoy/Chesney and other areas.”
He said the region is well poised to continue in its path of growth and development.
“Our people have to take greater responsibility for protecting our environment and keeping their own surroundings clean and tidy. We will take care of the public places,” the chairman noted while wishing all Guyanese a happy New Year.
Toshao Floyd Edwards
Region Six Chairman David Armogan
The two most successful boxing coaches in Berbice, Jeff Roberts and Orlando “Pocket Rocket” Rodgers are throwing punches at each other and without a referee in the middle.
Roberts is accusing Rodgers of trying to steal his boxers, while Rodgers is levelling the same accusations against Roberts. The quarrel started when Rodgers appeared on a Berbice television station seeking funds from the business community to assist with transportation costs for a boxer headed to a boxing engagement.
Rodgers appeared as coach of the boxer; however, Roberts claimed that he is the boxer’s coach. Shortly after the programme was aired, the two coaches were involved in a heated argument. Roberts is claiming that the boxer had moved
over to his gym.
Over the past four months, the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym has been dormant, as Rodgers left a job he had with the New Amsterdam Prison Service after a magistrate issued an arrest warrant for him. Most of the boxers who fought under that gym then aligned themselves with Roberts Champions Boxing Gym and started fighting out of that gym.
Rodgers recently reappeared in New Amsterdam, while the boxers remained under Coach Roberts who recently staged a ‘Fight Nite’ card in the town. The two coaches are seeking the honour of having some of the best amateur boxers in the country, along with some outstanding local professional boxers fight out of their gym.
The cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) since 1990 have been organising a series of programmes during the festive season every year, with the main aim of making a positive difference in the lives of children, the elderly, and less fortunate.
The teams during the period December 5 to 22 hosted a series of activities under the multimillion-dollar Christmas programme. These events were organised by the Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes
Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Gizmos & Gadgets First Division and Under-21 and Metro Female teams.
Among the major programmes was a massive Christmas party for 500 less fortunate children, a joint project with the Radio Needy Children’s Fund. Each child received a warm meal, liquid refreshments, a special Christmas goodies bag and a toy. Three thousand children across the Ancient County also received toys from the cricket teams via their churches, non-governmental agencies, schools, and cricket clubs, while 300 food hampers were shared out to less fortunate families.
A total of 120 senior citizens on Sunday, December 22 were also treated to a luncheon and also received a special food hamper and collection of items, including cosmetics valued $8000 each.
Hundreds were also provided with warm meals during the general feeding programme with the same number of less fortunate youths and families also receiving $2 million worth of clothing, footwear, educational and hygiene kits.
Children’s homes
Staff members of the Rose Hall Town Post Office and several members of the Guyana Police Force also received hampers. All members of the club’s first division team received a special collection of gifts. The club and its young cricketers would like to express gratitude to the numerous donors to its Christmas outreach, including the hundreds of residents who donated food items and toys
who are too numerous to mention individually.
The teams also provided hampers and gifts to the Berbice Cricket Board for umpires in the Ancient County and also provided toys to the Berbice Cricket Board for distribution to the Eden Children Home and those in the Children’s Ward of the New Amsterdam Hospital.
The club also sponsored a series of Christmas programmes for its founder, the St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Youth Group, including the 2013 Christmas Concert, gifts for every church member, toys for every Catholic child in Region Six, youth get-togethers and lunches, and toys for orphans at the Port Mourant Canaan Children Home. The St Francis Youth Club also benefitted from the sponsorship of prizes, including a bicycle and educational materials for an essay competition.
Hard work
RHTY&SC Chief Executive Officer/Secretary Hilbert Foster stated that the 2013 Christmas programme was the largest in the history of the club, and was the result of the hard work of executives and members of the different cricket teams.
The club, Foster said, strongly believes in making positive differences in the lives of others. “The club is the only of its kind in Guyana that spearheads such large-scale charity programmes and the RHTY&SC cricketers are taught via these programmes that all sportsmen and women must make contributions to the development of society and those less fortunate than themselves,” he noted.