Guyana Times Daily

4 pilots receive wings for Roriama Airways Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2732 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

January 10, 2016

PRICE

As crime spirals out-of-control

Double murder rock Bush Lot, WCB – 3 in custody

Page 15

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Sensationalistic Muckraking….

Republic P Bank to sue Kaieteur News

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Radio licence saga

Missing British Teen

Jagdeo Godbrother, friend rubbishes confess to beating, Vieira’s burying 18-year-old claims Mud banks halting Hope Koker fishing activities Page 3

Page 9

– Police remove decomposed remains

People’s Militia relaunch P18

President denies militarising society

– Ramotar, others fearful of return to military control P16

Patentia bridge in need of repairs

Page 8

SARU needs legal power, legislative P10 base

– British envoy

The fishing operations at the Hope Channel have come to a standstill as the build-up of mud banks is preventing boats from using the channel

Bar Association wants CoI into fatal Carifesta Avenue high-speed chase – Raps Govt, SOCU on illegal operation

Page 12

P17 AFC’s Region 2 donations not accounted for – supporters want probe of operations

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NEWS

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, January 10 – 05:30h-07:00h and Monday, January 11 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, January 10 – 16:40h-18:10h and Monday, January 11 – 05:05h-06:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily.

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Light rain showers with cloudy conditions can be expected throughout most of the day, with sunny weather prevailing in the late afternoon.

Light cloud cover can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Missing British teen

Godbrother, friend confess to beating, burying 18-year-old

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inutes after Police issued wanted bulletins for Aaron Hing and Staymon George in connection with the disappearance of the missing British teenager, they were arrested. They have since confessed to beating and burying the young man.

Winds: East to East North-easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 16:53h reaching a maximum height of 2.77 metres.

Low Tide: 10:27h and 22:54h reaching minimum heights of 0.59 metre and 0.43 metre respectively.

The body at the scene

Saturday, January 9, 2016

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Dominic Bernard

Hing was reportedly found in a city hotel on Friday evening, while his accomplice was arrested at a house in Tucville, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, after news spread about the discovery of a decomposed body at Alness, Corentyne, Berbice, Hing went to the city hotel.

The Police subsequently

received a tip-off and went to the hotel where they took him into custody.

Further, after receiving information about George’s whereabouts, Police swooped down on a house at Tucville, Georgetown where he was arrested while attempting to escape.

Based on reports received, Dominic Bernard was brutally beaten by the two men who then robbed him of an undisclosed sum of cash. His godbrother admitted that he and two others took the body to the back

Staymon George moments after being arrested

determine if it was Dominic Bernard’s. turn to page 7

LUCKY 3 5

of Alness and buried it.

They reportedly told investigators that they had collected the young man from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on the night of October 14, but it was not clear when the murder took place.

One of the men reportedly claimed that it occurred on the night of October 14 and the other claimed that it was a week after.

The two murder accused were taken to the alleged scene of the crime by Police ranks. They have also reportedly implicated a third person for whom the Police are looking.

Samples of the decomposed body taken by detectives are expected to be sent overseas for DNA testing to

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

Undertakers removing the body from the backdam

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Views Sunday Editor: Michael Younge Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Creating a responsible media

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here have been renewed calls by members of the Government to create a regulatory environment for the media. Five years ago, this newspaper had identified some issues that needed to be addressed. One was the failure of our local media to contextualise its coverage of the news and to allow a sensationalist obsession with executing private vendettas to become a fetter to our developmental thrust.

The editorial was written in the midst of the “News of the World” scandal, which was seen to take press sensationalism to its nadir. The scandal resulted in a Judicial Inquiry, and the first part of the 2012 eponymous Levenson Report inquired into “the culture, practices and ethics of the British press” and made recommendations for a new independent body to replace the existing Press Complaints Commission, which would be recognised by the State through enactment of new laws.

Of recent, our sensationalist press has also reached a nadir with its prodding for extreme action against individuals and institutions that earned its ire. We agree with proposals that some regulation of the press is necessary, but we hope that the views of the wider society will be taken into account and a shield does not become a sword.

In most liberal democratic countries, free speech is guaranteed but is subject to reasonable restrictions by various modes – through Press Councils, through punitive laws, through regulatory bodies and through media watch activism. None of these are preventive (as in censorship), but are expected to work as effective post facto interventions that deter repeated violations of widely accepted professional ethics.

The Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) that is given life during election campaigns offers a clue as to how a watchdog body might function once the journalistic parameters are clearly outlined. The rules of that game were approved by the media operators. They accepted that they had a responsibility during the elections to ensure their coverage was balanced, not inflammatory, etc – all for the national good.

What we are advocating is that broader ground rules should be drafted and agreed on to address the wider concerns, also for the national good. The name and shame strategy of the MMU will have to be augmented with a body such as the Advisory Council on Broadcasting (ACB) – which of course only has the power to advise the authorities to impose sanctions.

The composition of such a body should include, of course, nominees of the media with no Government involvement.

But it must be headed by an individual in whom there would be wide acceptance that the rules – and sanctions – would be applied in a fair and impartial manner. One suggestion would be, a retired member of the Appellate Court, who will be fully versed in the constitutional rights and obligations to be imposed, should be that person.

Because of the sensitive nature of the issue of media content that would be scrutinised, such a body should not be given a detailed road map, but rather a broad direction towards which the media should be travelling. One would expect, as with case law in the judicial arena, for a tradition to develop. Because of concerns that the body might fall into State control, it should be financially independent.

Its mandate should be to protect the media from any interference by the State in its exercise of free and fair speech, and simultaneously to rein in the rogue elements in the media who destroy the democratic values in public life and retard national development.

This latter imperative need not be through censorship (as in prevention of any content from airing), but by holding the media accountable through well laid-out disciplinary procedures.

It is clear that even the media in Guyana does not deny the need for a regulatory body. A good place to start would be to examine the fate of the recommendations of the Levenson Report in Britain.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and Peoples Progressive Party Civic Irfaan Ali were guests at an activity hosted by the Muslim Youth League at Monument Gardens, Georgetown

Probe the NICIL fiasco, accident

Dear Editor, I have been following closely news reports surrounding the deaths of three persons in a vehicular accident, two of whom were in one vehicle giving chase to the neighbour of “on leave” chief executive of NICIL, Winston Brassington.

Initially, I supported the reported view of President David Granger that this chain of events did not warrant any full-scale probe.

However, having read the statement of the young lady who is the wife of a sitting Opposition parliamentarian, I am now in favour of a full-scale probe and would recommend that one be carried out sooner rather than later.

While this surveillance operation pales into insignificance in comparison to the operations of

the phantom squad and its hundreds of alleged murders under the previous Administration, for which there has been no independent probe, the reason d’être for my support of an independent probe of this recent operation is that this new Government had promised change. From reading Ms Seebarran’s account of what took place that fateful night, there could be no other conclusion that this surveillance operation was clumsy, unprofessional and tactically if not legally flawed. It must be investigated so as to avoid any reoccurrence of such unprofessionalism.

I have a few questions.

First of all, why would there be surveillance of Brassington’s home? If there is reasonable belief that documents are at his home, then why not get a

search warrant and conduct a search? It is well known that Brassington and his family have left Guyana legally, reportedly on vacation and the authorities had to have known that.

How could intelligence sleuths not be armed with accurate information about the exact location of Brassington’s home? If they suspect a link between Brassington and parliamentarian Charles Ramson Jr, who was himself abroad at the time of the operation, why was a search warrant not sought for Ramson’s home?

Now this was supposed to be a surveillance operation. My understanding of surveillance operations is that the operatives observe and report without approaching their targets.

Why were the two targets

approached by these operatives while failing to show any identification that they were law enforcement officers? Why were they asked to wait until “the boss” turned up? Was the boss bringing an arrest warrant?

Why were they chased? If on official duty, why did the GDF intelligence operative have his wife in the car? He was not going to a cocktail party, was he?

Many things aren’t right about this operation. My sympathy to the relatives of all those who lost their lives. These lives should never have been lost. This is recklessness of the highest order. Who gave the instructions for this surveillance operation? This person should be held accountable.

Regards, Wesley Kirton

It’s time for Mayor Green to go Dear Editor, I welcome the submission by the Mayor of Georgetown that his successor should be a young and able citizen even if this advice comes from an octogenarian who held on to the position for the last two decades.

Clearly, he is saying to those grumpy old men and women presently serving as Councillors that it is time

for them to get into their rocking chairs and not harbour any thoughts about returning as a city father or mother as they are now all old, tired, worn out, mentally bankrupt and out of touch with the modern times. They had their time: they had seven consecutive terms without facing the electorate; it is time to make way for the younger generation.

What is needed in

Georgetown are Councillors and a Mayor who have fresh new ideas of how to transform the country and its capital into a modern smart city.

Today, cities are changing faster than ever before –presenting local Governments and municipalities with unprecedented challenges. The new Mayor and Councillors of Georgetown must be competent and equipped to bring innovative responses to the

new public service management needs that the present Council does not have.

I ask the political parties as they make up their lists not to make the mistake of recycling the present Councillors for yet another term, but rather to give young bright persons a chance.

Sincerely, Mark Roopan

guyanatimesgy.com

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Islamophobia is wrong Dear Editor, The January 7, 2015 attack on the offices of satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo made Europe sit up and realise how unguarded freedom of speech really is.

Terrorists walked in, rained down bullets on unarmed civilians, all in retaliation for the apparent brazen disregard for religious sentiments shown by the staff of the publication. Charlie Hebdo became infamous for its staunch and often petulant secularism, as was evident by the images that adorned its covers.

Particularly, in the wake of the January 7 attacks, Charlie Hebdo became a byword for the right to ridicule, the freedom of expression, and most importantly, for the right to criticise without fear of persecution. Je Suis Charlie,

echoing the same line of thought as the slogan “I am Malala” in the case of Nobel Laureate Malala Yousufzai, went viral across the globe, with a large part of the world standing in solidarity to uphold the virtues of free speech and freedom from terror.

However, little has obviously changed one year on.

France was once again the target of a series of vicious attacks on November 13, 2015, as Paris reeled from coordinated assaults on multiple sites, leaving close to 130 dead and almost 400 injured. Since then, European leadership has gotten together to formulate stricter laws and rules to prevent any further repeat of such incidents.

January 7, 2016 saw the world coming together to remember all those who per-

ished a year earlier, to uphold the ideals they stood for even in death – that free speech is the most sacrosanct right of all. India in particular should look to this day to assess its own experience with freedom of speech and expression, in light of recent debates regarding rising intolerance in that country.

Various campaigns have sprung up in the subcontinent of India, including those to target the famous perceived intolerance in the country. Secularism was at one point simply a statement of liberal identity – you can’t be considered a liberal without adhering to staunch secularist values.

Now, secularism has itself donned a more militant colour, and Charlie Hebdo is a symbol of that very strain of thinking.

Charlie Hebdo gained notoriety for poking fun at religious ideas, usually through its often graphic depictions of religious leaders and even God. In fact, on the eve of the anniversary of the January 2015 attacks, its cover depicted a bearded ‘God’ toting a Kalashnikov on his shoulder, wearing a bloodstained tunic.

Islamophobia is just as wrong as lampooning the beliefs of Muslims. The ban on beef is as insensitive as having a steak barbequing outside a Hindu temple. And most importantly, sometimes making fun of somebody’s faith can be as hurtful as taking a dig at your mother. The world is at present battling numerous forms of terror garbed in the robes of religiosity, but as we put forward a vision of a world where secularism is at the

The shameful harassment of Merriman Mall vendors Dear Editor, The recent attempt by Royston King and his ragtag Police outfit to harass, bully and prevent hardworking farmers, gardeners and wholesale produce vendors from vending their produce on the Merriman Mall is a most shameful, callous and self-serving act.

All over the world, there are farmers’ markets where citizens are given the opportunity to purchase fresh produce on specific days at special prices and this is what happens two days a week on the Merriman Mall. King’s lame excuse that they are

not meeting the high standards of excellence expected of them by the Council is laughable. How does he then explain the failure by all the other hundreds of vendors in the downtown area and around the city, who do not meet these lofty standards but who are not being moved? Is it because these vendors are deemed to be weaker or is it because they cannot be shaken down by the City Constabulary?

It is clear that King and company have their eyes set on acquiring the Mall for their own purposes as this brutal action comes on

the heels of similar vile attempts to remove the Pan African Movement from the same area.

The vendors should not sit back and believe that the battle has been won, as they were only allowed to return to the area based on the intervention of the President and not on the goodwill or good sense of King or the Council.

What are these honest, hardworking rural Guyanese agri producers expected to do for a living?

Are King and company not aware of how pervasive the crime situation is in this

country already? C’mon, use your band of Constables to make the city safer not to pester small businesspersons.

Sincerely, Nadine Jerrick

forefront, let us not forget that secularism is not about the elimination of creed, but its relegation to one’s private life. In countries like India where religion still holds such an important place in the lives of most people, secularism can only reach as far as Government policies, where no one religion can be given preferential treatment over another. Now that may not be the ground reality, but it is preferable to the (close to impossible) goal of eliminating faith entirely from public life.

As the world comes to

grips with its ideas of free speech, the viability of lending any sort of importance to religion, and how best to combat terror which, nine out of 10 times, involves misplaced expressions of faith, it is best to promote fellow feeling regardless of a person’s opinions on faith, trust or even pixie dust. The immortal words from Monty Python’s Life of Brian come to mind at this point - “always look on the bright side of life!”

Yours faithfully, Rooplall Dudhnath

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Foundation

The Flu AND ITS COUSINS 4 Roraima Pilots "Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference has never tried to fall asleep with a mosquito in the room." – Christine Todd Whitman

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Anu Dev

n life, everything is context. Here we were in New York City, hoping to enjoy the best of both worlds in what was a record warm spell during a New York winter. But within a couple of days, in the midst of checking out the joys of Manhattan – Sephora anyone?! – both my parents began complaining of feeling cold and having aches and pains.

My brother and I thought it was time and tide taking its toll and insisted we hit all our favourite haunts. Like that picturesque Italian “family” restaurant on 45th Street, Bucca de Beppo.

With no sign of relief, they went to a doctor …but were told it was just "a flu". Back in Guyana, the doctor quickly diagnosed –Dengue!!

Context!! New York doctors probably never heard of Dengue. Well, my parents are both back in the swing…

but the rest of us should be on the lookout for the flu and many of its medical cousins sweeping our region.

Normally when we think about people getting the flu, it's an infection with the influenza virus – you really can't spell influenza without the 'flu', it would become 'inenza' which sounds like some kind of exotic foreign word.

But there are so many other viruses that cause diseases with symptoms resembling the flu. Recently, the Zika Virus has been in the news a lot – and with good reason. Up until now, the virus was mostly contained i n Asia and Africa.

But now it's spread to our neighbour Brazil and the Caribbean. I t ’ s only a matter of time it reaches Guyana.

Dengue’s been around for a while, but there's recently been a disturbing increase in the prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases – Chikungunya, and now Zika, all spread by the Aedes mosquito. I always hated mosquitoes because

they're annoying, but now they're establishing themselves as much more than just a nuisance. One hypothesis that has been prop o s e d for the increased p r e v - alence of these d i s - eases is that the warmer temperatures (due to g l o b a l

warming) are making it easier for mosquitoes to survive and thus infect more people.

T h e w o r s t s y m p toms of Dengue a n d Chikungunya seem to be the severe pains in the joints – and the latter name literally means “that which bends up”. Many people infected with the Zika Virus seem to recover without any further complications, but there seems to be a link between infection with the virus and pregnant mothers giving birth to babies with

small skulls (microcephaly). So pregnant mothers are definitely advised to avoid travelling to areas with confirmed cases of the virus.

With this sort of viruses, prevention is definitely better than cure, seeing as there really isn't a cure – just management of symptoms and allowing your body to fight off the virus. So you know, get those cans of insect repellent out, make sure your homes have been sprayed with Baygon or whatever bug spray you swear by and make sure there're no stagnant bodies of water around your home.

All of these things they tried to teach us in primary school.

As Mad-Eye Moody from the Harry Potter books would say, "Constant vigilance!" Sure, he was referring to being wary of Death Eaters practising the dark arts, but in our world if there were ever creatures that were completely pointless and evil, it would be mosquitoes.

So be wary of mosquitoes and take care if you start having flu-like symptoms because it mightn't be just the flu. Check in with your doctor…here they know about our medical threats.

Stay safe, Guyana!

receive aviator’s badges

Captain Gerry Gouveia Jr receiving his wings at the Wings Commission Ceremony from Lieutenant Larry London

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our Roraima Airways’ Pilots were on Saturday evening bestowed with their aviator’s badges, commonly called ‘wings’, at a simple Wings Commission ceremony at Duke Lodge.

The Pilots – Captains Collin Martin, Gerry Gouveia Jr, Ryan Prashad and Terrence Trot, received the badges in lieu of being promoted to Commander Pilots.

Major General (Retired) Norman McLean, in a short address to the gathering, urged the Pilots to raise the standards of airline services in Guyana.

Captain Gerry Gouveia Sr, in his remarks, related that the success that Roraima Airways enjoyed was on account of the hardworking staff, especially the Pilots who have made great sacrifices to ensure that they serve their country to the best of their ability.

He recounted tales of the young Pilots having to rush to interior areas to fly medical evacuations – a recent example being Captain Prashad’s rescue of an ill newborn infant who was airlifted to Georgetown in the nick of time, resulting in his life being saved. Gouveia explained that in order to

receive their wings, the Pilots underwent rigorous training and as such, he congratulated them for reaching that milestone in their career and lives.

“I want to congratulate them, it was hard…it was rough,” he stated.

Captain Gouveia Sr announced that Roraima would improve its airline services by continuously training its Pilots thereby increasing their skills.

“We have our challenges, but with the hard work, the commitment, and teamwork of all of Roraima’s staff, this company has been doing well.

This company is a very diverse and complex company with a lot of ordinary Guyanese doing extraordinary things in planes, boats and hotels, and making tourism work in Guyana,” he stated.

At the ceremony, he also announced that the annual Wedding Expo would be “bigger and better” this year, with a whopping $3,000,000 set aside for the winning couple’s wedding. “We’ve already started to look for the winners for the Race to the Altar, and when we find that couple, we will get them married right here at Duke Lodge at a fairytale wedding,” he closed.

NEWS

Republic Bank to sue Kaieteur News

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epublic Bank Limited (Guyana) is set to take legal action against the controversial Kaieteur News media outlet following the publication of two misleading articles that implicated the commercial bank in questionable activities linked to money laundering.

Republic Bank is demanding that Kaieteur News issue an apology and retraction of the articles published and in addition pay $5 million in damages.

However, Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall has indicated that he has no intention of complying with the

Kaieteur News Editor–in –Chief Adam Harris

commercial banking institution’s request.

Contacted for a comment on the matter, Lall pointed this newspaper in the direction of the satirical “Dem Boys Seh” column which surmised that the media outlet will not take the Bank’s threat seriously.

According to the column, “Dem boys ain’t know wha dem saying sarry for or wha dem must pay $5 million for… Dem boys get so much of threat in dem lifetime that dem don’t know wha fuh tek serious and wha fuh mek joke.”

The commentary then deduced that the threat “got to be a joke”. It went on to say that if Republic Bank was serious about the money, then its legal representatives should “come to de Waterfalls paper Monday morning, bright and early”.

Meanwhile, Republic Bank said it will proceed with legal action if the Kaieteur News failed to comply with the demand after January 16.

In the first article published under the headline “SARU probes local Bank accused of money laundering”, the newspaper alleged that

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Godbrother, friend confess...

Police sources stated that based on the condition of the body, it had been buried for a long time, giving credence to the tale that the teenager was murdered on October 14 hours after he arrived in Guyana.

Family in shock

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) is probing money laundering activities at the local Bank following reports of “a huge deposit of $82,068,617 (that) was effected to the bank account of a sitting Government Minister on June 16, 2011” without the knowledge of the account holder.

The article further mentioned that Precision Woodworking Limited (PWL) Managing Director, Minister Ronald Bulkan, had written the Bank’s external auditor, Christopher Ram, in June 2014 informing him that he (Bulkan – the account holder) was in possession of information that could prove the deposit of $82,068,617 was effected by Haresh Narine “Chinee” Sugrim, the proprietor of Guy-Trac.

The second article, headlined “Probe into money laundering by SARU: No evidence of wrongdoing by Republic Bank — says Central Bank”, published the statement of the Central Bank but ac-

cording to Republic Bank, Kaieteur News still defended its untrue statements.

Following the publication of the article, Republic Bank and Central Bank both issued statements condemning the media entity for publishing such spurious information.

Businessman Sugrim also came forth to deny the allegations.

“Not me. That’s a lie. I would be glad if somebody could give that kind of money now. The only money I deposit in my account are monies in relation to my business that has to do with supplies,” he revealed.

Chartered Accountant Ram also denied the allegations made in the article.

“Ram & McRae wishes to make it very clear that the firm was never provided with any proof of any deposit of $82,068,617 to any account holder of Republic Bank Limited, including Precision Woodworking Limited,” he said in the statement.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the teenager in a statement said that although no formal identification has taken place, they were devastated to have learnt that Hing and Staymon have confessed to the murder of the young man.

“Dominic was full of hope, ambition, creativity, self-respect, faith and trust.

He was very much loved by all his family as well as a wide circle of friends. He was a talented film-maker and we are in no doubt that he had a bright and successful future ahead of him,” the family added.

The statement further stated the young man travelled to Guyana on October 14, to pursue his dream of studying film-making.

Already an accomplished photographer, director and editor, with several music videos under his belt, Bernard was in the process of taking up

an offer from an American school to work alongside and be mentored by established movie directors in the United States, the relatives said.

“Dominic has never been particularly academic, but he left school at 16 with five good GCSEs. He enrolled at a local college, but rather than sitting behind a desk, he preferred to be out there actually gaining experience by working and he has been very successful with his production company,” the family stated.

Body removed

The body was removed on Saturday afternoon and taken to Ramoo’s Funeral Parlour to await a postmortem.

On Friday, investigators, including personnel from the Major Crime Unit (MCU), visited the village and then went into the backlands where the shallow grave was discovered.

The badly decomposed body was found in a onefoot sand grave which had been flattened at the top. At the time of burial, the body was clad in what appeared to be a white V-neck T-shirt and short pants; both were

from page 3

Aaron Hing

discoloured.

The shallow grave with the unidentified body was found about 200 meters off the Kildonan Middledam, three miles from the main access road.

Immigration documents proved that the teenager left London on Flight BW903 at 12:50h on October 14, and arrived in Trinidad at 17:30h the same day. He then boarded Flight BW483 from Port of Spain to Georgetown, arriving at the CJIA at 21:50h.

Airport records show that the young man cleared immigration, but unfortunately, his trail ended there.

The father of the missing teenager made a report to the authorities after his son did not return home on November 7.

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SunDAY, january 10, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Mud banks halting Hope Eyew tness Koker fishing activities Slicing, dicing…

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ishermen who operate at the Hope Channel and Koker, East Coast Demerara (ECD) have now been forced to halt their fishing activities owing to the build-up of mud banks in the channel which are impeding their boats from going out to sea.

As such, they are calling on the Agriculture Ministry to make good on its promise to offer some assistance in clearing the channel.

Speaking to Guyana Times, one fisherman related that over 100 fishermen were dependent on this channel as fishing was the only means of them earning an income for their families. It was explained that the channel has been in this dysfunctional state for over six months.

The fishermen stated that it was difficult for boats to leave to go fishing when the water was low and many days they had to wait on the high tide to bring out their boats, usually late at nights.

As a result, their customers were usually gone by the time they returned and

…and playing fast and loose with confidentiality

The fishing operations at the Hope Channel have come to a standstill as the build-up of mud banks is preventing boats from using the channel

their catch was left to spoil.

According to the fishermen, contact was made with the Ministry for assistance with clearing the channel and they were promised that the issue would be resolved. However, thus far, the promise has been unfulfilled and their pleas have gone unanswered.

It was related that presently the Hope Koker was not functional and as such, the channel is also being used to discharge water from a pump that was located next to the koker during the rainy season. The fishermen are also calling on the Government to provide support to the fishing sector, by providing duty-free

concessions on fishing items and an ice factory, as they opined that the fishing industry plays an important role in the creation of employment, and contributes to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product. They are pleading with the Government to pay more attention to the sector, as well as provide some sort of representation.

ur country’s facing a clear and present danger by some rogue agencies. They’re even more dangerous because they don’t see themselves as ROGUE agencies – but as acting to protect the interest of the State. There’s that old John Travolta flick “Swordfish” which illustrates the point way better than your humble Eyewitness ever can. Check it out.

A Federal Agent (Travolta) who’s working undercover to take on international terrorists on behalf of a Senator on the Intelligence Committee goes rogue. He and the men under his command take on (and eventually take out) other agents AND the Senator – because he believes he personally knows what’s good for his country. And that’s exactly the mindset playing out in Guyana in the CANU and SOCU capers.

Your Eyewitness has gone into some detail about the SOCU outrage – and we now have the firsthand account of its target in the operation that literally backfired.

So he’ll confine himself to the less gruesome – but no less outrageous – matter of the overreach of SARU and its head, Clive Thomas. All his life, Thomas has been an academic economist – with absolutely no experience in actually implementing his ideas.

Imagine his claim to fame was a book he wrote decades ago that proposed we (and the rest of the Third World) cut ALL links with the West and go it alone! Yes, that’s right – let’s revert right back to the Stone Age! Who but a crackpot could think, for instance, we could do without the technological advances of the West. Pol Pot of Cambodia tried it and look where they ended up – after one third of their population were killed off “for their own good”.

So finally, he gets a squeeze (because he’s a member of ACDA and WPA) to head SARU, the mandate of which one would think was clear from its name – State Assets Recovery Unit. And fast approaching 80 – he suddenly decides he’ll use his 15 minutes of fame to spill his guts on all the confidential info he has access to – to the Muckraker.

And we arrive at the revelations on claims that Republic Bank’s laundering money – based on statements by his colleague Ronald Bulkan – when SARU isn’t even supposed to be dealing with money laundering! Now, if others (auditors) could be charged for leaking information that led to the SOCU deaths – why shouldn’t Clive Thomas be charged for undermining one of the pillars of our banking system – and thus directly undermining our economy?

And imagine these are the people who played the “holier than thou” role for so many years!

…Constitutional Agencies

Your Eyewitness just wants to know how many betrayals of our Constitution and its principles will Nagamootoo be allowed to get away with, before we call him for what he is – a charlatan and a fraud? So, once again, this NEUTERED INVERTEBRATE shows up in Parliament and leads an assault on democracy – and is allowed to get away with it. Purporting to EXTEND our democratic practices, he represented they were continuing the PPP’s practice to give GREATER independence to the Constitutional Agencies –such as the ERC and the Office of the Opposition Leader.

But as usual under Nagamootoo, they flattered to deceive. While the right hand placed the nicesounding Bill on the agenda, the left hand SLASHED THE ALLOCATIONS from all the agencies they had problems with when in Opposition. Like the ERC – which it’s clear, is being supplanted by the Social Cohesionists.

The coldest cut was done in two swipes. First, they combined the allocation for the Opposition Office with that for Parliament.

And then AXED that figure! Ouch!!!

…rice exports

After boasting they’ll find replacements for the Venezuelan rice market, the Ministry of Agri (yes, we do have one of those!) revealed we received US$25 million less for 36,000 tonnes more rice shipped!

But wait until Nagamootoo’s Mexican market comes in!

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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SunDAY, january 10, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Radio licence saga...

Drifting French yacht

Jagdeo rubbishes Man, dog sustained Vieira’s claims gunshot wounds

T

F

Former President Bharat Jagdeo

ormer President Bharrat Jagdeo has described as “nonsense”, the claims

by Chairman of the Subcommittee of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Anthony Vieira that the 11 broadcasting licences issued to radio and television owners back in 2011 were through illegal means.

Vieira earlier this week told Guyana Times that the GNBA found the licence issued by the former Head of State were flawed and that the Authority would soon be moving, after consultation with the licence holders, to make a revocation.

Vieira maintained this stance in the face of word from GNBA Chairman Leonard Craig, who told Guyana Times the body had made no such decision.

Speaking to this publication Friday, Jagdeo said, “What he is saying is nonsense. The radio licences are part of people’s property rights”. He said it would be illegal for any attempt to revoke the licence, calling on Vieira to come out of his “bubble”.

Craig told Guyana Times no official decisionhas been taken to revoke thelicencesand that the matter was under discussion.

In October last year, Craig had said the reviewing of radio licences issued by the former government did not mean they would be revoked.

“All licences will be reviewed, but review is not necessarily synonymous with revocation. Whatever is done here, during the review process, will be fair, transparent and aboveboard. I am not in a position to say what form or shape it would look like, that is a decision the entire board would have to make,” the GNBA head had stated.

He said he thought the move by the previous government to issue the licences in that manner was wrong; however, there was no confirmation that those who benefited would lose their licences.

Among the persons is-

sued licences by the previous government were Robert Persaud, the Little Rock Television Station (Berbice), Hits and Jams, Maxwell Thom, Dr Bobby Ramroop, Alfro Alphonso, Haslyn Graham and Anand Persaud.

Meanwhile, speaking to Guyana Times owner of Hits and Jams and 94.1 FM Kerwin Bollers said he could not make any move in this regard since he was awaiting word from the

GNBA Sub-committee Chairman Anthony Vieira

Authority.

“I’m not too familiar about what is going on with that. I have heard talks of it before, but we have not heard anything that would confirm their action. We are awaiting official word from them. They have not indicated anything to us” he said.If there is an indication that his licence would be revoked thenhe would have to talk to his attorneys first.

Haslyn Parris of Linden told Guyana Times he would not be bothered by any decision the authority makes in this regard. “I would let the law take its course. Whatever decision the broadcasting authority makes I guess they have been able to do their own research in order to make a decision.”He said the research carried out will determine who were granted illegal licences.

Guyana Times also spoke to a few other licence holders, who said they may take legal action and requested that their names be withheld until word from the broadcasting authority.

he yacht that was spotted drifting in the Atlantic Ocean with the bodies of the suspected captain and his dog was finally brought to Port Georgetown on Saturday morning and an investigation has been launched by local law enforcement officers.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, when contacted, told Guyana Times that the man whose identity was yet to be made available to the media sustained gunshot wounds to his face. It was also revealed that the dog’s body had a gunshot wound.

Blanhum added that the man’s body was in a sitting but slouching position with a shotgun nearby. The Police also unearthed three other shotguns on the vessel. As

Areial view of the Drifting French yacht off the coast of Guyana in the Atlantic Ocean

Police continue their investigation, further searches of the vessel are expected to be conducted.

The Crime Chief added that the Police would contact the French authorities to provide assistance in the investigation if the need

arose.

Guyana Times understands that foul play was not ruled out, but it is believed that the man might have killed the dog before turning the gun on himself.

The French-registered vessel was spotted on

Wednesday last about 200 miles offshore Guyana by another vessel in the area.

Contact was made with the Lighthouse in Georgetown and the information was passed on.

The Lighthouse immediately contacted the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Coast Guard as well as the Police.

The agencies embarked on a mission to locate the vessel; after some time and difficulties, it was found and towed to the city where the investigation commenced.

The man’s body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Home to await a post-mortem examination.

Family members of the French national were contacted.

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SunDAY, January 10, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

News

SARU needs legal power, legislative base – British envoy B ritish High Commissioner Greg Quinn has stated that the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) needed “proper” legislative backing as it carried out the mandate given by the Government of Guyana.

Speaking with reporters on Friday, High Commissioner Quinn disclosed that his office has been lending assistance to SARU in various areas, including legislation-wise. He noted that the aim was to ensure that the Unit got the appropriate and relevant legislation so that it operated within the confines of the law.

“So one of the things SARU needs to do is to get a legislative base, I think, for themselves which is what Clive (Thomas who is heading SARU) has said,” the diplomat noted, adding that a United Kingdom official has been helping the Unit in this regard.

According to the British High Commissioner, the idea of an asset recovery unit is not particularly unique, pointing out that the UK also has a unit which is designated to seize assets from

people who have been convicted of criminal activity.

“If somebody is convicted of something, then the State, in the UK and elsewhere, has got a right to seize their assets, if those assets have been illegally procured… but it needs to be set on a proper legislative basis,” he stated.

Asked by Guyana Times whether Government was justified in conducting the widespread forensic audits, the diplomat posited that Governments were allowed to do audits especially if they have come into office after several years in Opposition as in the case of the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration.

“It makes sense to me for a government which is new after 23 years to want to look into what has happened … I think it’s perfectly legitimate for a government that has been out of office for 23 years to want to sort of look at the books, especially given the accusations and claims. There were lots of stuff which was flagged up before, so it would be odd to me if the (current)

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn

Government was not actually doing audits,” the High Commissioner opined.

However, he outlined that while there was no problem in doing the audits, it was imperative that whenever, if at all, the probes led to prosecutions, they be done on the assigned legal basis.

Moreover, Quinn underscored the importance of conducting “proper” audits, pointing out that Government would not be able to get a conviction if there was not sufficient evi-

dence.

“One of the ways in which to get evidence is by doing the audits… because if you haven’t got the physical evidence, you can’t convict someone or if you do convict someone, you have to do it fairly,” the diplomat stated.

He went on to say that it was evident persons were frustrated with the process of the forensic audits because of the time they were taking. “You know if a forensic audit is being done on an agency, you just can’t do it overnight,” he said.

Quinn further explained that the work did not end with the audits. He noted that after the audits were completed, the findings would have to be examined and Government would have to analyse how to proceed in terms of who to prosecute and under which law.

Upon its assumption to office back in May last year, the David Granger Administration commenced a series of forensic audits at various State agencies to determine how State assets were sold, disposed of or transferred by the previous Administration with the intention of unearthing corrupt practices. Some $133 million in taxpayers’ dollars were expended on the audits.

S u b s e q u e n t l y , Government established SARU to hunt for assets that initially belonged to the Government.

SARU and SARO

S

atiricus was amused. Here it was that everyone and their uncle were carrying on about SARU and why was it getting involved with the business of SOCU. The latest to pull its hair out was PUSU. These were the big business magnates who really run the economy behind the scenes. But PUSU should be the first one to understand why SARU was doing SOCU’s work.

It was clear as day and it all had to do with their names.

PUSU got its name because like the country, it was putting “multiculturalism” into practice. When people talked behind closed doors or under their breath – especially about other people – Indian-Guyanese called this “PUSU PUSU”. And since the captains of industry and salt goods stores were always talking behind their closed doors – “PUSU PUSU” they became. Or “PUSU” for short.

It was the same with APANU. When the Pee an See wanted to make itself kinder, gentler and more attractive to Indian Guyanese, it picked an Indian name when it joined up with some alphabet soup parties – APANU. This was a Hindi word that meant “ours” – or in Indian Creole “abee wan”. And the tactic worked, didn’t it? APANU was able to attract those quintessentially Indian Berbician Babus, Naga Man and Rum Jhaat. “And the rest as we know,” thought Satiricus, “ is history”.

So PUSU should have known that the Indian Guyanese name for two completely unrelated fellas who marry two sisters become “SARO” – or as some call them (especially Berbicians like Naga Man and Rum Jhaat), “SARU”. SOCU Was actually “SONU” – like that fella Nigam. But, since Berbicians pronounced it “SOCU” and THEY now had all the power being two Vice Presidents and all, SOCU it was.

What PUSU should have realised was that SARU and SOCU being related so closely (married to GrainJa and HardMon) would help out each other without bothering with formalities.

They were family. Like SURU AND DURU. Satiricus was soooo touched. He wiped a tear that rolled down his cheek.

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SunDAY, january 10, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

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SunDAY, january 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Bar Association wants CoI into fatal Carifesta Avenue high-speed chase – Raps Govt, SOCU on illegal operation

T

he Guyana Bar Association (GBA) is calling for a Commission of Inquiry to be launched into the controversial operation in-

volving Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant Robert Pyle and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) which resulted in the death of three

persons, including two civilians along Carifesta Avenue following a high-speed chase on December 30.

Recently, President David

GBA believes that Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud has a duty to address the nation on the recent occurrences given the fact that he is the statutory authority to initiate the call for assistance from the GDF for any civilian activities.

According to reports, GDF Sergeant Pyle was assist-

GDF Sergeant Robert Pyle

Granger announced that a full probe into the botched operation is unnecessary since the GDF Sergeant was on an “official mission”. However the GBA in a statement said it fundamentally disagrees with the President’s pronouncement and called for, at a minimum, a Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths - as is mandated by law.

“The President is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and Chairman of the Defence Board. He would wish to avoid any perception of any conflict of interest, undue influence or political interference in the operations of the Disciplined Services, or of an operation that went horribly wrong,” the GBA stated.

The GBA is also questioning the entire nature of the operation including its legality and strongly believes that it is time the government and relevant authorities break their silence on the matter which has generated overwhelming apprehension within the public.

“The deaths and their surrounding circumstances are cause for the gravest concern among citizens… The Bar Association believes that an explanation is required for the use of GDF officers to engage in such activities and the legality thereof,” the Association said.

Particularly, the

was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The GBA said the probe into the botched operation must take into consideration the level of sanctity of human life; the extent of the right to secure protection of the law including the holding of independent inquiries into the loss of human life; the importance of citizens being able to go about their lives and businesses peaceably; the recognition and regard for the privacy and private life of an individual; the duty of the State to act in conformity with the law and to protect its citizens; the role and function of the Guyana Defence Force, a body established under the Defence Act to carry out its

Stacy Pyle

ing SOCU on a surveillance operation on the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) head Winston Brassington, who is on leave.

On the night in question, the special team reportedly staked out and hunted down the wife and brother-in-law of People’s Progressive Party parliamentarian Attorney Charles Ramson Jr. Reports suggest that the special team thought the pair to be Brassington’s children.

In a case of mistaken identity, the special team approached the pair but failed to properly identify themselves in the process.

Their approach triggered fear within the two civilians who attempted to flee the scene. This led to a highspeed chase which took a turn on Carifesta Avenue, resulting in the death of GDF Sergeant Pyle, his wife Stacy who was in the vehicle with him throughout the operation and a Canter driver Linden Eastman who unfortunately

Linden Eastman

responsibilities set out in the Constitution; the role, duties and functions of the Guyana Police Force and the Commissioner of Police in these circumstances; the establishment and operation of SOCU, its legal underpinning, staffing and reporting lines; the wrongful death, criminal liability, civil liability, immunity and appropriate redress; and the scope, operational procedures, reporting lines and accountability of Operation Dragnet which was announced not by the Commissioner of Police but following a meeting of the Cabinet.

Boat Captains decry unfair competition with unlicensed operations

– threaten protest action unless situation addressed

L

egitimate boat operators working the Supenaam to Buck Hall route in Essequibo are up in arms over the prevalence of competing unlicensed boat captains and the apparent non-action from the relevant authorities in addressing the situation.

Guyana Times received several complaints from concerned operators who claimed that many Captains were operating without speedboat licences or safety equipment, creating unfair competition and posing a great threat to themselves and others on the waterways.

A boat operator speaking under condition of anonymity told this newspaper that the licensed operators made numerous reports against the unlawful operators, but so far nothing has been done to address the situation.

He stressed that the situ-

ation was unjust and it was distressing that the authorities seemed not to care. “ M a r i t i m e (Administration) never sent any Cadet Officers; they have many officers that they can send anytime to examine the matter and put system in place. The certification process only take two weeks as long as you have everything required, so I can’t see why they can’t go through the right process. Boats have to be taken for inspection. If a man operates without compliance, the Police could even charge him. This has been going on for too long and something has to be done. Many reports have been sent to Maritime and as to date, nothing has been done. I want to now send a letter to Maritime indicating that if they cannot answer to my report, then the matter will reach to the Ministry

which could even lead to a picketing as we need help!” the distraught man declared.

He noted that some of the unlicensed boat operators were mere teenage boys who were often reckless and hostile while plying their trade.

“I know everybody got to earn a living, but you got to do it the right way, man,” he stated.

Several other operators voiced similar concerns.

“All I want is for the other people to get their licence to drive and properly equipped their boat, like the boat in Vreed-en-Hoop. It’s an unfair competition, every boat has to go through Maritime’s inspection before it can work, but there is this individual who own around four to five boats that operate without anything no licensed, no life jackets and others have to comply,” another operator vented.

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SunDAY, january 10, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

GRANGER DANGER

EU donates $75M to “Child Rights Alliance” project

I

t is impossible to read the dailies or watch the nightly news and not feel a sense of impending doom which, according to street talk, is attributed to the phenomenon being called “Granger Danger”.

This past week President David Granger brushed aside as merely “unfortunate” an accident that claimed the lives of GDF Sergeant Robert Pyle, his wife Stacy, and canter driver Linden Eastman.

The circumstances of this accident has grave implications Ryhaan Shah about the surveillance of private citizens, about the role of the army in such surveillance, about government’s hand in the matter, and the rising fear that Guyana is once again in the grip of state repression as during the Burnham era.

The statement made to the police by Mrs Alana Ramson and her brother Raymond Seebarran, the people who were being chased when the accident occurred, points up gross ineptitudes of the surveillance team, and relates a frightening experience of state terrorism that was directed at innocent civilians.

In Ganger’s most damning statement, he said that his government was unaware of the details of the operation that led to the accident. It is not just the president’s very open and chummy relationship with the GDF that makes his statement disingenuous but it begs the question as to who then is in charge if the president himself was not fully briefed about what was obviously a very high-powered joint surveillance involving police and army operatives.

And, if as the fiasco shows, the police and army bungled so very badly should the head of state not be alarmed enough to immediately order up a full investigation that would answer such questions as to why Mrs Pyle was in the car with her husband while he was on a stake-out?

Children have lost their mother because of what was clearly a breach of operational protocol and that the president can be comfortable about leaving the investigation in the hands of the GDF when two civilians were killed in the crash, and two others were terrorised in a high-speed chase confirms that there is no right-thinking leadership in Guyana.

It is clear that a cover-up is in progress and Granger’s statements were intended to lessen the gravity of the implications of his government’s involvement in the surveillance of ordinary citizens. The next obvious question is: who else is being watched and why?

The parallels that can be drawn between this kind of surveillance and what occurred during the 1970s when Walter Rodney and WPA members faced similar terror tactics are more than a little indicative as to why Granger moved to curtail the investigative work of the Rodney CoI as soon as he came to office.

The GHRA has stated that government’s many investigations into the previous administration’s “scampishness” is being conducted with little political prudence or impartiality and warns that a unified future for Guyana is being jeopardized by the polarizing effects of poor political decision-making by the Granger government.

Given the administration’s overt partisanship in every area of government there is good reason for Indian and Amerindian Guyanese or any opponent of government to be fearful of becoming targets for surveillance and worse.

The Granger administration hardly attempts to even provide a façade of national unity or concern. Its highhandedness and cronyism are on unapologetic display in every area of the public service.

GPL’s Colin Welch remains comfortably ensconced in his position while no investigation is yet mounted into his alleged corruption involving a multi-million dollar prepaid meter contract.

Minister Simona Broomes is swept into a new portfolio in Natural Resources while admitting that she owns three mining operations herself and neither she nor Granger sees any conflict of interest in her ownership.

The “Kaieteur News”, a rabid pro-government organ, screams about money laundering activities at Republic Bank (Guyana) Ltd during the PPP’s term in office one day only to have the whole thing unmasked as a fiction the next.

The lack of concern for fact, ethics and any semblance of principled behaviour on government’s part has given rise to a Wild West scenario that is driven by the clearest lack of accountability and responsibility at the very top.

The surveillance that employed terror tactics and ended in fatalities was more than just “unfortunate”. Given government’s behavior and attitudes, it was inevitable.

Because we have experience of the past PNC regime, we must hope that the many voices already raised in dissent and criticism will help to forestall the grave dangers of the homegrown terrorism and repression that marked that era of darkness.

Guyana can hardly withstand such a cycle of brutality again.

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to shah@guyanatimesgy.com

Ambassador Videtic and Ms Madray exchange copies of the contract in the presence of EU Delegation

C

hildLinK Managing Director Omattie Madray on Thursday signed an agreement with Head of the European Union (EU) to Guyana, Ambassador Jernej Videtic to implement the “Child Rights Alliance” project, which aims to prevent violence against and abuse of children.

The EU in a statement said that the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) has committed $75 million to facilitate the project which will benefit 6000 children in Guyana.

The project’s focal point is

to “build a national coalition led by the Rights of The Child Commission to work strategically with stakeholders across all regions creating higher levels of awareness of child abuse to safeguard children from all forms of abuse,” Madray said on Friday in a statement.

Ambassador Videtic voiced his concern about the ongoing issue of child abuse and his expectation of the new project.

“Human rights are one of the core values of the European Union and its member states.

The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights

provides the possibility to support civil society projects in this area also in Guyana. The rights of vulnerable groups, especially children, are particularly important in this regard and the ChildLinK proposal convinced us. We look forward to a successful implementation,” the Ambassador said.

The idea of the project was proposed by ChildLink, a NonGovernmental Organisation established in 2009. Its priority is to partner with other related organisations to implement plans which will reduce the cases of child abuse and pro-

vide the abused children with essential psychological help which is necessary for them to overcome their experience.

Madray noted that “ChildLinK’s vision is a Guyanese society where children are growing up in safe families and communities”.

“This new initiative, the Child Rights Alliance (CRA), builds on our previous and current work more specifically on the work of the Child Advocacy Centres which were all funded by the European Union.

Whilst the Centres will continue to provide services to abused children, greater emphasis must be placed on prevention of abuse of children, to give more children a better chance to grow up without the trauma of abuse,” she explained.

According to Madray, three other grants were made by the EIDHR for a total of $86 million.

Both organisations expressed their enthusiasm to work together along with other institutions such as the Child Care and Protection Agency to develop the CRA, which will combat the issue of child abuse and enforce the rights of children.

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SunDAY, January 10, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Younge’s Take The Public’s Right to Know

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overnments, the world over, elected on democratic platforms are day-by-day understanding the importance of sharing factual, truthful and unbiased information with their citizenry.

This leads to the creation of a more informed society where there are lesser levels of discrimination and inequalities as well as higher levels of respect for the rule of Michael Younge law and civility.

These Governments, most of them independent and developed, continue to learn by trial and error that concealing and withholding factual information from the public can have dire consequences on their bill of health, perception and performance ratings, re-election campaigns and the notion of public trust.

In developed countries where Governments refuse to practise good governance and continue to tell the public half truths, the media stands as the people’s watchdog and aggressively takes the State to task for its misdeeds and misinformation or lack thereof on a variety of issues.

Within the Caribbean, however, the situation is different and leaves much to be desired. Governments still are battling to understand the importance of the public’s right to know.

Those that understand it refuse to respect it and engage in all sorts of shenanigans aimed at frustrating the truth and withholding critical information under the guise of acting in the public’s interest, especially when they have made missteps in the area of handling national security matters, including those related to public health matters.

The situation is made complex too, because the media is under constant attack from political regimes because of the fact that it relentlessly pursues the information being withheld.

While some media houses have the financial and human resource capacity to stand up to these regional Governments, others are weak and inexperienced and unable to sustain the pressure on the State for critical information.

In Guyana, the situation leaves much to be desired too.

Since the election of the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change Government, the media has been in a constant fight with the authorities to get sometimes basic information about its projects and policies.

It is almost impossible to get information, statistical data and other documents from public officials about matters that concern the development of the country and the citizenry.

These officials are not empowered to speak competently and this has robbed them (some) of developing the skill of becoming effective communicators.

Instead, the media is pointed to the political directorate of the entities who, most times, are unfamiliar with the facts and information requested. As a result, they mamaguy the media and offer blanket responses to queries.

Some APNU/AFC Ministers have become so arrogant that they chose which media houses to speak to and who to leak information to. So despicable is the culture created by the new Government that simple requests for information about its spending, incidents and other matters of national import are dismissed if a media entity is perceived to be anti-Government.

Yet, its official disseminators of information, including GINA, are engaged in spreading positive propaganda that lacks depth and form for public and media consumption.

The recent incident which saw the media exposing facts about what really led to the deaths of two civilians on Carifesta Avenue as a result of the actions of public security officials who were on a “legitimate mission” brings home the focus of this column.

Up to this day, the Government, the Guyana Police Force and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) have not found it fit to offer the public an explanation on a variety of concerns.

The media has, for days, been chasing SOCU’s Sydney James, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud and other officials for answers.

President David Granger and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan have offered politically coated responses which have only increased public speculation and exposed Government to more criticisms from right-thinking Guyanese.

They must be held accountable for the deaths of the two civilians and the GDF rank. Someone may be responsible for poor judgment and oversight of the supposed ‘probe’ that was being conducted.

Another example can be seen in the manner in which the secret and shameful nature of the salary increases for Ministers was exposed by the media and the many lies aimed at a cover-up that followed.

Other examples can be found in the Government’s own breach of its electoral promises and the secrecy in which CoIs, audits, and investigations are being done. Information is reaching the media in a piece-meal, politically directed manner.

There is no release of copies of the reports to the entire public nor are there press conferences with the commissioners and conductors of the probes so that the media can ask questions.

The sooner Ministers and their officials understand that the public’s right to know cannot be wished away, the sooner Guyana will begin mushrooming into a more civil and developed country.

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sunDAY, january 10, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Double murder rock Bush Lot WCB – 3 in custody

BY ANDREW CARMICHAEL

T

hree men are in custody following the chopping to death of a West Coast Berbice (WCB) couple on Saturday morning. The incident is said to be robbery-related.

Dead are Arthur Rajkumar, 81, and his reputed wife Dianne Chamanlall, 41. Reports are that the couple who operate an icecream parlour at Bush Lot, Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) were attacked by three men who ransacked the building and took away cash and jewellery after killing them. The

Dead: Arthur Rajkumar

couple live alone and had no children together.

Police in a release said at

about 03:00h on Saturday, acting on a report received police ranks went to a home at Bush Lot, and as they approached the building three men were seen jumping over the fence on the premises. The police gave chase but the men escaped.

Upon checking the house which was ransacked, they found the couple with multiple chop wounds about their bodies. They were taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where Rajkumar was pronounced dead on arrival and Chamanlall succumbed while receiving

The ransacked bedroom where Chamanlall was found

Dead: Dianne Chamanlall

medical attention.

According to the release four men have been arrested and are in police custody assisting with investigations.

Eyewitnesses speaking with this publication say they heard screams coming from the building at around 03:00h. No one however went to investigate. “I just hear she hollering, ‘Alyu kill me an done, yo kill me husband already.’ ” said one resident.

According to a source close to the investigations, when the police received the phone call, they responded promptly but did not know exactly where to go to. “We did not know which house, so when we driving around, like the men see us and run out the house and get away,” the source said.

Meanwhile one source who witnessed the body

of Rajkumar before it was removed, said there were several chop wounds about the body and his neck was almost severed.

Speaking of Chamanlall, the now dead wonam’s brother, Vishal Jodhan said it was a brutal attack on his sister. “An see she get about nine chop all over she body; she head, she han; all tow ah she han, she face, the middle of she head…”

According to the source,

hands. Investigators say the four in custody all are known to the police and have a criminal past.

Saturday was the third time bandits invaded the home of the couple; the last occasion was three years ago when Chamanlall was injured. About two decades ago her father was killed when bandits went into his home.

She leaves to mourn a daughter and eight siblings while Rajkumar

The house at School Street, Bush Lot where the murders took place

one of the four now in custody was seen late on in another part of the village trying to wash blood off his

leaves four children and eight siblings.

The investigations continue.

Port Mourant, Skeldon Hospitals woes exposed By: Kizzy Coleman

T

he Region Six Health Committee was apprised of the lack of medical supplies and other issues facing both the Port Mourant and Skeldon Hospitals and as such the team paid a visit to the hospitals to investigate the issues.

The committee after its visit released findings of serious shortcomings affecting the treatment of patients.

The Port Mourant Hospital is currently facing a serious drug shortage.

The hospital administrator Melissa Ramdeen explained that out of 95 items of drugs requisitioned only ten were delivered.

She blamed this directly on the materials management unit (MMU). It was pointed out that the slothfulness of this unit, the bureaucratic red tape, incompetence of its staff, along with high staff turnover may have accounted for its frequent delays.

The administrator explained that medical supplies have to be borrowed from to facilitate the Ophthalmology Vision Centre, as published earlier by this newspaper, and the entire hospital.

“When medical supplies are requisitioned for one month the

A part of the Port Mourant Hospital

hospital receives two weeks’ supply. By the time they receive the next supply, a shortage is created.

This has been a regular feature” she explained.

In addition to the lack of midwives, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is currently not functioning, thus preventing the proper care of ill and newborn infants.

A new X-ray building at the hospital is still inoperable.

Additionally, the facility is also plagued with a low-voltage prob-

lem. The air-conditioning unit in the waiting area and the laser room of the Ophthalmology Hospital are not functioning. The toilets are in a deplorable condition.

The admin officer of the Skeldon Hospital Dr Chand also addressed the many issues facing that hospital.

He pointed out that the operating theatre stands completed but that only minor surgeries are being done. At the hospital, there is an acute shortage of staff, such as

porters, midwives and laundresses.

“Some night-shifts do not have midwives. There is a need for four additional midwives since the average delivery rate is 21 per month. Porters go out at 22:00h and therefore there are no porters in the night as well” Dr Chand pointed out.

The hospital gets electricity from the Skeldon Sugar Estate and when this source is out the supply is from a 1000 watt generator which can only keep the lights going. In addition, the facility is plagued with a low-voltage problem.

The laboratory is plagued with leakage from the ceiling. This can seriously compromise the results of tests due to cross-contamination.

The toilets have serious plumbing problems according to the committee at the time of the visit.

There is no incubator and additionally there is no incinerator so medical wastes are transported to New Amsterdam.

Recommendations are being made by the committee for investigations to be launched into the root cause of the problems faced by these two hospitals.

“The NICU in the Port Mourant Hospital needs to be functioning and more midwives need to be employed. Washroom facilities should

be properly repaired and be functioning. This is something very basic in a health institutions” the committee stated.

According to the committee an investigation into the drug shortage issue is a really urgent issue.

“Midwives from the clinics used to augment the shortage of midwives at the Hospital but REO Rammayya refused to pay these midwives and as a result they have refused to continue to work.

Regular midwives only work up to 16:00h. This has resulted in doctors doing deliveries. There is a need to investigate this problem.

The REO should pay these midwives immediately” the committee explained.

The Health Committee said there is urgent need for an incinerator and open-backed vehicles should not be used to transport bio-hazardous wastes.

“There is need for a filing cabinet in the lab, the leakage in the lab should be addressed urgently, the toilets need urgent repairs and the low-voltage needs to be rectified immediately”.

Guyana Times made several attempts to contact Public Health Minister Dr George Norton for a comment regarding the findings of the Health Committee but these attempts were futile.

16 news

SunDAY, January 10, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Region Two D&I issues affecting rice crop

P

oor drainage and irrigation and lack of adequate water in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have placed over 20,000 acres of rice lands under threat of being lost across the region.

The lands are currently dry and cracked and rice farmers said if water is not made available in a timely manner then their entire crop would be in jeopardy.

Despite that the Region Two Administration on January 4 commenced pumping from the Dawa Pump station, farmers are still not accessing the type of relief they require.

Guyana Times has learnt that two of four pumps are operating at the Dawa Pump station. The other two are down and the operator reportedly does not have the necessary tools to effect repairs.

Most of the water flowing in the Pomeroon River has become relatively salted and hundreds of acres of rice lands in the Cozier areas are affected.

Additionally, there has been a significant drop in the level of water in both the south and north conservancies canal of the Coast in villages Anna Regina, Richmond, Devonshire Castle, Aurora, Spring

ranks of a mobile patrol conducted a search on a car at Schoonord Public Road, West Bank Demerara during which an unlicensed .9mm pistol and nine matching rounds were discovered.

The occupants were ar-

rested after it became evident they were not holders of licence to carry firearm and ammunition.

They were taken to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station where they are assisting with investigations.

Caribbean to access multimilliondollar UK grant soon A rice field which is significantly dry due to lack of water

Garden and Good Hope. At the moment farmers are frustrated as they cannot source sufficient water to fertilise their crop.

Rice farmers who spoke with Guyana Times said the situation is “bad” and if they are not given water at the appropriate time then their crops will be late.

“This is so hard, first the price is less, we weren’t sure if we were going back in fields, we took the chance and now this is very frustrating, the land is so dry” farmers related.

Meanwhile Region Two Vice Chairman Nandranie Coonjah accompanied by councillor Hardat Narine aka Sham recently visited the Dawa Pump station.

Coonjah said farmers are struggling for water and confirmed that many lands are very dry and pumping was essential from the Dawa Pump station.

The vice chairman said she visited several farmers in their fields and listened to their complaints.

The Good Hope relief structure also needs urgent attention from the Ministry of Agriculture. The structure is broken and “wasting” a lot of water while other farmers are in need for water.

Farmers and residents living in the Good Hope Pomona area continue to call for the construction of a new drainage and irrigation structure to replace the broken obsolete one.

Delapidated 'Big Bridge' at Main Entrance

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T

hree men are now in police custody and are expected to be charged after they were found to be in possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition on Saturday.

According to information, at about 10:20h,

Patentia bridge in need of repairs

decades-old bridge leading into Patentia Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara is in a dilapidated state.

Reports are that initial damage was caused by a loaded truck traversing the bridge about one year ago.

One resident stated that continued use has contributed to the decline of the area’s main transit point.

Residents and sellers in the community expressed concern about the deterioration. People have continued to use the bridge in spite of its deterioration.

It was claimed by many that one of the sellers in the vicinity had fallen while using the bridge sometime late last year.

One resident who was born and grew up in the community says, “it really inconvenient for those children because they have to

WBD men arrested with illegal firearm

walk round and once [they] walk on the road, it can be very dangerous.”

Omattie, a vendor there since 1976 stated that the current condition has made it hard for vehicles, pas-

as well. “De bridge convenient for everybody,” stated Omattie.

Laveena, a resident said, “we happy if the bridge could make back.”

Residents claimed that

S

ome four months after British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the multimillion-dollar grant to eight Caribbean countries, works are progressing for the beneficiaries to access the monies soon.

In an interview with Guyana Times Friday, British High Commissioner to Guyana Greg Quinn disclosed that his Government will be signing an agreement with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) later this month. He explained that the countries will be able to access the funding through the bank.

“Once we sign the agreement with the CDB this month the CDB will send information to the governments, explaining what the process is for getting access to the grant,” he stated.

According to the High Commissioner, he has already had discussions with the Government of Guyana in relation to the grant and Government has expressed the desire to have the money invested in areas of infrastructure, that is, roads, bridges, ports, stellings, and aerodromes.

“Government is looking in the areas that are specified in the grant because although it will be grant funding, there will be conditions in terms of we have to spend it on these broad areas,” Quinn stated.

However, he noted that Government has not airmarked any specific projects since they have to await guidelines from the CDB. In efforts to re-engage and strengthen its relations with the Caribbean which is stained from colonial ruling, the United Kingdom has pledged some $550 million

in the form of aid.

With this grant, the UK has become one of the largest bilateral donors to the region. However, only the Commonwealth Caribbean including Guyana will be benefitting. The others include Jamaica, Grenada, Dominica, Belize, St Lucia, Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Previously High Commissioner Quinn had explained that some $450 million of the grant will be directed towards infrastructure works. In addition, he outlined that the British Prime Minister also announced some $45 million to be plugged into improving healthcare facilities as well as another similar amount to boost economic growth in the benefiting countries.

Quinn emphasised that the money is not a loan as such and will not have to be repaid. He noted that the monies will be given to the

various governments to be injected into projects agreed upon. The UK will be working along with the various Caribbean Heads to identify and establish their respective projects. The UK Government in collaboration with the CDB will be monitoring the programme.

However, at this point it is unclear how much of the grant will be given to Guyana but the High Commissioner had stated that while no specific amount was allocated to any one of the eight countries, the expectation is that the monies will be disbursed evenly among them.

He did note however that the determination of the allocated amount will also be dependent on the nature of the project and request submitted.

Additionally, he outlined that there is no requirement for the countries to use contracting companies from the UK to carry out their projects.

stand the weight of heavyduty drink and gas trucks.

These vehicles carry their load to nearby shops in the housing scheme.

Justice of the Peace and Pandit, Chandeeca Persaud, claims to have had discussions on bridge matters with regional officials. He said that the once secondary bridge which is nearer to the Wales Estate, was constructed to facilitate vehicles whilst the main bridge would be converted into a concrete structure.

“I talked to one of the NDC members and they told me that we already have a bridge there but he didn’t elaborate too much. But I told him a bridge there is

good but the main bridge is important.”

There is also historical significance as Pandit Persaud says that since its original construction, the bridge has existed since the genesis of the scheme in the late 1940s.

Some vendors and residents allege that no one from the Neighbourhood Democratic Council has addressed their plight and are hoping for someone to look into their concerns. It is believed that the ToevulgtPatentia NDC is waiting on the upcoming Local Government Elections for funding.

Red cloth warning vehicles not to cross

sengers to come out, school children and the vendors

the bridge built some years ago is not equipped to with-

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn

news

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SunDAY, january 10, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Controversial NICIL probe…

Put criminals under surveillance, not civilians – Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce

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he business community in Berbice has joined the large number of individuals and organisations condemning the surveillance of the home of Chief Executive Officer of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Winston Brassington, and an ensuing high-speed chase which left three persons dead, including a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Intelligence Officer, Sergeant Robert Pyle on December 30, 2015.

The Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) in a statement Saturday said it is indeed a travesty that army intelligence officers are pursuing law-abiding citizens in movie-type chases instead of these criminals, pointing to the deadly high-speed chase of Alana Seebaran, wife of Attorney and Opposition Parliamentarian Charles Ramson Jr, along Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown on

December 30.

“Let the army put under surveillance known criminals and help the police to bring some semblance of order to this country,” the CCCC statement said.

The business umbrella body said there needs to be an explanation from government as to why law-abiding citizens are being treated in this manner, when criminal elements are allowed to continue their rampage unhindered.

“We are not impressed by the President just dismissing the recent army action that resulted in three deaths, we need an explanation why ordinary citizens were treated in this manner, especially given what we experienced in the seventies and eighties coupled with a recent announcement of the resuscitation of the People’s Militia. The government has to be more sensitive, and like the Private Sector Commission, we are

very concerned,” the CCCC said.

The Chamber suggested that the army’s intelligence officers will be better used to support the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in going after criminals, especially in Berbice, as it highlighted the murder of businessman Arthur Rajcoomar, 81, and Dianne Chamanlall, 44, of Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice at about 03:00h Saturday, who were chopped to death by cutlasswielding bandits.

“Why, why should a senior citizen be slaughtered in his home at 3:00 am in the morning?” the statement queried.

It also lashed out at government’s inability to arrest the current spiralling crime situation in the country, pointing out that hardworking citizens are butchered in their homes without seemingly any protection by authorities. “…the Minister of Public

Security and the government as a whole seems impotent to arrest the situation.

We would like to remind the Minister of his many calls whilst in opposition for the resignation of the then minister of home affairs for situations exactly like what we are facing. Whilst we are not asking for him to resign, we are demanding that they go after these ruthless killers and let them feel the consequence of their actions,” it said.

The business representatives said the authorities must arrest the situation instantly.

“We need results and not more plans from the Government,” it said, suggesting that government solicit international assistance in the form of specialist personnel, modern technology in intelligence gathering, and more advanced and innovative policing.

AFC’s Region 2 donations not accounted for – Supporters want probe of operations

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lliance for Change supporters in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are calling on the party’s national executives to launch an immediate investigation into the operations of the regional office and the apparent inability of officials there to account for millions of dollars in donations received.

According to the supporters, donations are being put for the regional leaders’ personal use as opposed to the AFC account.

Guyana Times is in receipt of correspondence provided by supporters that point to financial irregularities and lack of transparency and accountability within the party.

A letter on the matter was sent to AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan and chairman Nigel Hughes informing them of the standoff in the Region on December

One of the letters sent to AFC executives

10 last. It was written by the secretary of the AFC party in Region Two, Karan Chand.

According to the letter, since the RMC election on July 18, there has been a standstill.

Former secretary of the party Roop Persaud refused

to hand over any records or stamp unless there is an audit.

In addition, former treasurer Bandan (only name given) said he needs Naithram’s receipt book before he balances his books and turns over the records and monies to the new treasurer.

The letter also stated that the process of handing over has been delayed for months since Naithram has refused to turn over his receipt book.

In another letter, addressed to the leaders, the members were deeply concerned with the current state of affairs in Region Two, and the status of the AFC. In the letter it stated that after the May elections no one from the national leadership of the party came to meet the people and express gratitude or just to

touch base with them.

A third letter alleges that Naithram has been collecting monies from supporters and converting it to his personal use.

It was stated that Rohini Boodram, Naithram’s wife, did transactions on behalf of the AFC. Supporters also explained to Guyana Times that they feel ignored and shut-out since the AFC married the APNU. Supporters who campaigned during the elections expressed their dissatisfaction with the treatment they are receiving from their national leaders.

They have expressed strong feelings that they will not lend support towards the upcoming Local Government Elections.

They also noted with disgust that several emails and phone calls to the leaders often go unanswered.

No sign of H1N1 virus in health workers – Dr Norton

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fter the death of a Guyanese who contracted the deadly H1N1 virus, immediate attention was given to the healthcare professionals who dealt with the patient as well as their relatives but to date there is no sign of the virus in those persons.

Public Health Minister Dr George Norton made the announcement in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) on Saturday stating that “thus far no one has come down with the signs or symptoms of that particular

viral infection”.

The minister stated that preparations are still being made to combat the virus: “there is a tablet that we use and we have it available. There’s also a vaccine.”

Trinidad and Tobago which is currently suffering an outbreak of the virus is suffering a shortage of medical supplies and as such is seeking assistance from Guyana. Having sufficient supplies, the Public Health Ministry has made arrangements to assist with tablets.

“This influenza-like vaccine is done occasionally

in times of crises, and we have not reached that stage where we would go and give the vaccination to everyone.

However, not so long ago, Guyana has on record vaccinated 120,000 Guyanese, using that same vaccine; so if it becomes necessary we will do so, but so far we don’t have to as there’s no need for that,” he assured.

The GINA report states that port health officers in Guyana are also capable and ready with preventive treatment to fully deal with any unpleasant situation.

“They are there present at the Timehri International

Airport and the Ogle International Airport, along with the Moleson Creek crossing, the Lethem Bridge as well as Charity. But of course… we’ve got the porous border. The water is low in the Takatu River in the Ireng River and people are literally walking across those rivers. In all the different parts of the Rupununi like for instance, Achiwib and places like that, also in Region 8, in the Kanapang, Itaback areas, you have persons who cross that river just walking across,” minister Norton explained. turn to page 18

THE

Keeping the IPC on a short leash

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he Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC) submitted a proposed 2016 budget of some $66 million for approval. Only a mere $23 million was accorded which warranted surprise considering the special efforts to invest in Amerindian development, previously promised by the coalition Government.

Anna Correia $23 million might appear to be a hefty sum but in reality, for a constitutional body which is mandated to investigate issues pertaining to indigenous rights, this might barely be sufficient to cover logistical costs and administrative fees.

For instance, one trip to a village in Regions 1 or 9 for two persons, inclusive of costs for transportation, accommodation and meals, would amount approximately to $150 000. For a village in Region 8, this sum can attain $250 000 depending on the weather and means of transportation employed. Travelling to a village in Region 7 would be just as expensive, if not more due to the scarcity of goods in the Mazaruni. Travelling to Konashen/Gunns in Region 9 would amount to no less than $1.3 million. Additionally, the extensive mandate of the IPC detailed in the Constitution, cannot efficiently execute each of its functions with $23 million. This will inevitably force the body to prioritise some functions at the detriment of other areas necessitating equal if not urgent attention.

The IPC, itself being comprised of members from different Regions, cannot possibly cover administrative and functional costs and hope to make real interventions in Amerindian communities. It cannot summon the participation of the people it represents if the budget is not even adapted to its own administrative needs.

Regardless of the justification provided by the Government – in this case it was the question of over-budgeting – the message it has sent to Guyanese and Amerindians in particular, is that it intends to keep the IPC on a leash, a very short one considering that the body would not submit a budget of $66 million if it did not programme a plan for such an expenditure.

While every Member of Parliament (MP) – in particular those of Amerindian lineage - who at some point actively engaged in Amerindian affairs and governance under the former administration stood up to object to such a harsh budget reduction, none of the Amerindians who aggressively defended indigenous rights during their tenure as members of the former Opposition, said a word.

Neither Junior Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe nor Minister Sydney Allicock sought to justify the reason for such a small allocation to the IPC. Other Amerindians such as Minister George Norton and Junior Minister Hastings remained silent.

None from the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA) showed concern over the slash in the proposed budget.

Perhaps this is because the organisation has become more of an ally to this government, if not a governmental body itself, considering the positions granted to quite a few of its members and affiliates under this administration.

So as the budget of the main constitutional body for the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights was eroded to almost one third of the proposed sum, the very people who once acted on behalf of Amerindians sat from their thrones of power and condoned this violation of the rights of the first peoples to have set foot on this land. The hollow promises of this administration have become an illusion destined to keep the people’s hope alive, for not one solid investment in the sustainable social, economic and overall human development of Amerindians was made in their eight months in Office.

Minister Allicock, in his usual laxity, will destroy the achievements and progress the country has made in becoming a pioneer of indigenous rights in South America and the world over the last two decades, should he choose to continue with such complacency. He has repeatedly shown that he is illinformed, inexperienced and unprepared to incarnate the firm leader which indigenous peoples need to represent their interests nationally and in the international arena. He cannot even do it in our own Parliament.

While one MP reminded the House that the budget approved for the IPC equals the cost of the Prime Minister’s luxury vehicle, a more judicious comparison would have been to use Minister Allicock’s $17 million Toyota Land Cruiser.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SunDAY, january 10, 2016

NEWS

9 murders President denies in 9 days militarising society People’s Militia return…

– Ramotar, others fearful of return of military control

A

mid widespread fears and concerns of Guyana becoming a military state and in light of the recent relaunch of the People’s Militia by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) government, President David Granger has sought to justify the return of this paramilitary organisation which existed during the People’s National Congress (PNC) regime.

President Granger during an interview on the Public Interest, assured that the return of the militia is not an attempt by government to militarise society.

He added that once the programme gets going, Guyanese will begin to understand the great potential

of the programme towards development of the country.

“We are not trying to militarise society but it’s a very useful organisation. In the time of flood for example, militia people can turn out and mobilise and help in flood relief,” the President said.

Notably, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is already adequately staffed and supported by hundreds of volunteers who come together to assist in executing relief initiatives in times of flood and other disasters.

Back in 1976, the GPM was launched amid fear that the country was under

President David Granger

threat by forces opposed to its socialist thrust.

The latter would have included continued relations with Cuba and nationalisation of the bauxite and sugar industries as well as all banking institutions in the country.

After initially offering support in a show of “anti-imperialist” unity, the People’s Progressive Party and its ally in the sugar industry, GAWU, soon condemned the GPM as another “PNC front”, especially when GPM’s members acted as “scabs” in GAWU’s 135day strike for recognition.

In view of experiences with the GPM, such concerns and fearfulness have lived on in the memories of many who are now opposed to the resuscitation GPM. Former President and Chairman of the Defence Board Donald Ramotar strongly believes that the relaunch of GPM is an at-

tempt to militarise supporters of the PNC-led government to instil apprehension within the country.

“I think it’s an attempt at militarising and arming mainly supporters of the PNC/APNU… The last time, it was used to give military training to the supporters of the PNC and I am fearful that this will happen again,” Ramotar said.

He explained that during the Burnham era, the government introduced the GPM under the pretext of a “reserve” of military personnel in the event of a national emergency.

However, the military training was offered discriminatorily, Ramotar stated.

“And so from the experience of the past about the

People’s Militia programme, I don’t see anything new that will give me confidence that this new programme will be different,” the former President posited, noting that since the new coalition administration took office, it has engaged in an abundance of discriminatory activities; particularly through the firing and hiring of staff.

Additionally, the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) in a statement expressed concern about the return of the GPM. “We are not impressed by the President just dismissing the recent army ac-

No sign of H1N1 virus...

The H1N1 is transmitted in the same way as the seasonal flu which is mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing.

Symptoms include coughing, fever, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, head-

aches, chills and fatigue.

Persons who appear to have the symptoms are urged to use a swab and get a sample of their body fluid to the National Reference Laboratory, located at Thomas and New Market Streets, which is already on

Former President Donald Ramotar

tion that resulted in three deaths, we need an explanation why ordinary citizens were treated in this manner, especially given what we experienced in the seventies and eighties coupled with a recent announcement of the resuscitation of the People’s Militia,” part of the statement read.

The fear of being once again governed by a militarised government has its origins in the odious days of the PNC tenure. PNC Leader Forbes Burnham had made the officer corps of the Disciplined Forces swear loyalty to him while his successor Desmond Hoyte had once spoken of his party’s “kith and kin” in the Disciplined Forces.

During that period also, serving members of the Disciplined Forces actively engaged in politics such as seizing ballot boxes and sequestering them at Camp Ayanganna.

These concerns were repeatedly raised by PPP/C Executive Member Dr Roger Luncheon who, on many occasions in the lead-up to the recently concluded elections, sounded alarm bells about the dangers of being governed by the military.

In fact, Dr Luncheon had reminded that those same military personnel who had violated their oaths as officers and the Constitution of Guyana to politically serve their President of the day are the same personas who were contesting to be leaders of Guyana.

from page 17

high alert.

The minister had explained that the National Reference Laboratory will run preliminary tests to determine whether or not persons are infected with the H1N1 virus. If it is suspected this is the case, then

the sample will be sent to the advanced Caribbean Laboratory for confirmation.

Citizens are urged to abstain from travelling to countries where the H1N1 virus is present unless it’s very necessary.

J

ust over a week into the new year, Guyana is just one short of hitting double figures in terms of the number of murders that have occurred up to Saturday.

The gruesome murder of a Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice couple early Saturday morning brought the country’s murder toll up to the staggering figure of nine deaths in just nine days.

With four murders alone on January 1, a bloody trend seems to be developing, with at least one murder every other day up to Saturday.

The bloodshed began mere minutes into the New Year. On January 1,

Dewaun Baksh

about 00:10h, 24-year-old Asif Hafeez of Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice, was imbibing with another man in the village when an argument ensued between them. During the confrontation, Hafeez was fatally stabbed to his neck. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Skeldon Hospital.

Then around 14:15h that same day, Ganesh Ramlakhan, 34, of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), had an argument with his cousin during which he was also stabbed about his body.

The injured man was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Later that night, around 21:30h, 20-year-old Deokumar Basdeo of Cane Grove, ECD, was involved in an altercation with a group of men in a motor vehicle and was subsequently found injured on the Cane Grove road. He was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he later succumbed.

An hour later, Dewaun Baksh, 22, of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), had an altercation with a group of men at Greenwich Park, EBE, during which he was fatally stabbed about his body.

Meanwhile, on January 3, 49-year-old Anita

Anita Baichan

Baichan of Hope, West Coast Berbice, perished in a fire after two bandits set her house ablaze before escaping with cash and jewellery. According to reports, the men used duct tape to tie the hands and feet and cover the mouth of Baichan and her son, Moshim Khan, 28. They then started the fire and escaped; however, Khan, who sustained chop wounds, managed to roll out of the burning building. Efforts by him, with assistance from neighbours, to save his mother were futile.

Then on the following day, the body of 49-yearold Shahabudeen Haniff, a fisherman of MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, was found in the net of a fishing vessel that was working in the vicinity of the Berbice River.

On January 6, two armed men entered the home of 42-year-old Patrick Mohabir, of Belvedere, Corentyne. The businessman resisted the men and was shot and chopped by the perpetrators. He too died while receiving medical attention.

On Saturday around 03:00h, the Bush Lot couple – 81-year-old businessman Arthur Doodnauth Rajkumar and his reputed wife, Diane Chamanlall were found with multiple chop wounds about their bodies at their home.

According to reports, Police ranks, based on information received, went to the home, and as they approached the building, three men were seen jumping over a fence on the premises. The Police gave chase, but the men managed to escape.

Upon checking the house which was ransacked, the ranks found the couple, who were taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where Rajkumar was pronounced dead on arrival and Chamanlall succumbed while receiving medical attention.

Four men have been arrested and are in custody, assisting with the investigation.

SunDAY, january 10, 2016

19

WICB contracts for Jaguars beat Hurricanes by 72 runs Johnson, Bishoo L and Chandrika WICB/NAGICO Super50…

– Sammy, Russell chopped from list

gal action, also does not feature on the list.

The other two to miss out are Shivnarine Chanderpaul and the out-of-favour Dwayne Bravo.

The contracts, issued for the period from October 1, 2015, to September 30, 2016, include several batsmen who made their Test debut over the past year and a half, including Jermaine Blackwood, Leon Johnson, Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope and Chandrika. Fast bowlers Shannon Gabriel and Sheldon Cottrell were also

T

Darren Sammy

hree Guyanese have been contracted by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for the 20152016 season, while West Indies T20 captain Darren Sammy and fellow all-rounder Andre Russell have been cut from the list.

Opening batsman Rajendra Chandrika, legspinner Devendra Bishoo and middle-order batsman Leon Johnson are the three Guyanese among the 15 in the list issued on Saturday by the WICB.

Andre Russell

given contracts.

Sammy had turned out for West Indies in the T20s against Sri Lanka as recently as November last year, though he was left out for the preceding ODI series on that tour.

Globetrotting T20 specialist Russell had played both the ODIs and T20s on that tour. Left-arm spinner Benn last represented West Indies during their home Test series against England in April 2015. (Cricinfo)

Dwayne Bravo

Sammy has not been contracted, along with allrounder Russell and spinner Sulieman Benn.

Chris Gayle, who had previously turned down West Indies contracts more than once, including last year, is not on the list of centrally contracted players, which was increased from 12 to 15.

Sunil Narine, who had also turned down a contract last year and is currently suspended from bowling in internationals due to an ille-

Sunil Narine

ed by a well-composed 83 from Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Guyana Jaguars defeated Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 72 runs to record their first win of the NAGICO Super50 on Saturday in St Kitts.

Batting first, Guyana Jaguars posted 219-9 from the allotted 50 overs, before a solid all-round bowling performance saw the Hurricanes being blown away for 147.

Hurricanes innings got off to the worst of starts when, in the second over, opener Shane Jeffers (02) was caught by wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble by one that moved away from him slightly off the bowling of medium-pacer Paul Wintz.

Wintz, who was getting the ball to swing both ways on the flat surface, caused much headache for the Hurricanes’ top order.

Nkrumah Bonner (06) soon fell as he was caught by Leon Johnson trying to force a slower ball from Steven Jacobs into the on-side.

Danger-man Chesney Hughes (27) was smartly run out by Raymon Reifer when he attempted to steal a single. After 24 overs, Leeward Islands were limping along at 68-4. In the next over, skipper Jahmar Hamilton was trapped leg before by Gudakesh Motie, going neither forward nor back.

Spinner Veerasammy Permaul was introduced in the 30th over when the required rate run rate was already 6.17. The Hurricanes, who were 102-5 after 34 overs, then suffered a dramatic collapse, being dismissed for 147 from 45.5 overs.

Permaul was the pick of the bowlers with 3-32 from nine overs and Motie chipped in with 2-16. Extras accounted for 22 of the Hurricanes runs, and no doubt the Jaguars will need to stem the flow of extras going further in the tournament.

Earlier, the Hurricanes won the toss and inserted the Jaguars to bat. That decision was vindicated as openers Assad Fudadin and Vishaul Singh with the score less than 40 in the 13th over.

However, Chanderpaul and captain Johnson took the score to 50 in the 17th over. Jaguars had hit five fours and one six to reach that landmark. But soon after, Johnson was brilliantly

Veerasammy Permaul

caught by Shane Jeffers off the bowling of medium-pacer Daron Cruickshank.

Reifer was the new batsman, but he soon went for 13 via the leg before route, attempting to sweep a straight ball from leg-spinner Odean Browne which he missed.

Wicketkeeper Bramble joined Chanderpaul and the pair took the score to 102-4 in the 32nd over with a partnership of 32 from 38 balls.

The team’s 100 came off 196 balls and was inclusive of six fours and two sixes.

Bramble eventually fell for 21 when he was caught at deep mid-wicket trying to hit Browne out the ground.

Guyana slipped 167-6 as Royston Crandon (09) skied Quinton Boatswain down to Cruickshank on the midwicket boundary. Next ball, Chanderpaul, looking to up

the scoring, was caught by the same fielder for 83.

In a late innings burst, Veerasammy Permaul (30) and Steven Jacobs (11) added 43 runs in 22 balls to boost the total.

Cruickshank was the pick of the Hurricanes’ bowlers with figures of 10-2-26-2.

In the other Group B game, Windward Islands Volcanoes and Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners shared the points after rain brought a premature end to the contest.

CCC Marooners made 240 from 40 overs batting first. Volcanoes, needing 239 to win via the Duckworth/ Lewis method, were 40-3 when play was called off.

Guyana Jaguars next match is against the CCC Marooners on Monday.

20

guyanatimesGY.com

sundAY, january 10, 2016

Chandrika looking to make positive steps Stoinis, Pietersen ensure Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars, BBL 2015-16, Docklands…

Stars triumph

Rajendra Chandrika scored 87 runs in four innings in the series, but it was 52 more than what senior batsman Marlon Samuels managed in five innings

By Avenash Ramzan

O

n paper his scores would not jump out at you, but taken into context, they were invaluable on a tour that provided another torrid time for West Indies batsmen overseas.

Rajendra Chandrika’s maiden trip to Australia provided a stern test for the opener, and though he fell for a third Test duck in the first Test, he was able to stitch together three good innings that provided glimpses of his ability to occupy the crease for long periods.

Coming off a pair on Test debut against Australia in Jamaica in June 2015, and warming the benches on the tour of Sri Lanka, many felt the Guyanese right-hander was fortunate to be selected for the Australia tour.

He managed to return to the First-Class scene and crack a maiden hun-

dred, a brilliant 146 against Windward Islands Volcanoes at Providence, an innings that may have swung the pendulum in his favour.

On the tour of Australia, he started with scores of 10 and 21 against Cricket Australia XI, as the West Indies slumped to a heavy 10-wicket defeat in the lone warm-up game ahead of the first Test.

Thrown in to partner Kraigg Brathwaite at Hobart, Chandrika made 25, and was one of only three batsmen to pass 20 in the first innings, but he failed to get off the mark second time around, as the hosts romped to an innings and 212-run win.

In a rain out warm-up again ahead of the second Test, he made 28 against Victoria XI and looked to have finally gotten accustomed to conditions “Down Under.”

At Melbourne, Chandrika would keep the Australians at

bay for a total of 206 balls and 259 minutes for scores of 25 in the first innings and a careerbest 37 in the second. Despite his best efforts in the series, West Indies went down by 177 runs. He missed the rainmarred third and final Test in Sydney with a left thigh injury, and was greeted with the news of his father’s death back in Guyana.

It was a test of character for the 26-year-old. Reflecting on the series, Chandrika said it was one of the toughest places to play cricket, but he is looking to take the positives forward and build on them to enhance his budding international career.

The West Indies Cricket Board on Saturday named the Enterprise Busta Sports Club cricketer on the list of centrally contracted players for 2015-16, a clear indication of a long-term investment in the opener. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)

Akmal banned from first NZ T20 due to misconduct

U

mar Akmal has been slapped with a onematch ban for breaching the PCB’s code of conduct, which means he will be unavailable when Pakistan take on New Zealand in the first T20 on January 15.

It is learnt that Akmal did not adhere to proper clothing guidelines during the Quaide-Azam final earlier this week, between his team Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and United Bank Limited.

“PCB has informed us that Umar Akmal was handed one-match ban by the match referee last week in Karachi for breach of code” Pakistan team manger Intikhab Alam told ESPNcricinfo. “The suspension applies to the next game regardless of whatever the format and level is, and we are not going to play him in first T20 against New Zealand but he will be available for next games.”

Department teams like SNGPL can wear only one logo, which needs to be approved by the PCB, on their uniforms. But ESPNcricinfo understands Akmal was sporting a different one. This

Umar Akmal will not be available for the first T20 against New Zealand on January 15

constitutes a Level 1 offence - “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a match” - according to the PCB’s code of conduct.

Akmal had already been warned for a similar offence on two previous occasions in the QEA Trophy, and since this was his third violation the match referee Anwar Khan issued a penalty. Then the PCB extended it to the opening T20 that Pakistan

play against New Zealand in Auckland next week.

This is the second series in a row that Akmal has faced scrutiny from the PCB. He was omitted from the squad picked for the T20s against England in November after reports suggested he had been involved in “immoral activity.” But he was subsequently cleared of those allegations by the PCB and was brought back into the team.

(Cricinfo)

Kevin Pietersen scored his second fifty in this edition of the BBL

A

week (that feels like a lifetime) ago, Chris Gayle was a columnist for Fairfax Media. In his final column - he has since filed a defamation case against the company for allegations made in its pages - he claimed he and Kevin Pietersen were the Melbourne derby’s big draws, but Pietersen was no match for him. This week, with all the build-up surrounding Gayle for the wrong reasons, Pietersen did as Pietersen does, and stole the show in style.

There was only ever one way Gayle could have responded to an eye-popping week with anything approaching elegance. It is now his bat that has to do his talking, as Channel Ten have ruled out any further involvement in their coverage, and he won’t speak to media again during the competition, even if he scores a century. From his first ball, when he miscued a slog sweep off Michael Beer, it was clear that he knew this.

After losing his opening partner Tom Cooper early, this mis-hit caused Gayle to go into his shell (if he has one), with seven of his next eight deliveries dots. That was until Adam Zampa entered the attack. Gayle rocked back and sent his second delivery into the second tier, and three balls later, he had six more in a similar region. But the introduction of Marcus Stoinis ended Gayle’s tired innings just as it looked like waking up, as he swatted a short ball to long-on. Gayle’s meaningful contributions were done, and many would have been relieved to note the evening even passed without any overt “Stand by Gayle” moments among the crowd of 43,176 as there had been on Wednesday when the MCG

confiscated banners.

Vocal distaste was shown towards Cameron White, who moved across town this season, not Gayle. But after a sprightly innings from White, in which he sent the first two balls from the unusually expensive John Hastings for six then four, he fell the ball after Gayle, edging behind when looking to glide Stoinis to third man.

When Peter Nevill was runout in extraordinary fashion at the non-striker’s end off his own bat and Adam Zampa’s nose, and Aaron Ayre was lbw first ball, the Renegades were in deep trouble at 5 for 78.

Dwayne Bravo marshalled the rebuild with some fine hitting. He shared 66 with Tom Beaton, who cut powerfully and was strong through square leg and also fell to Stoinis; a clever, looping slower ball sneaking under his bat. Bravo had gone after Hastings, taking him for 23 from 10 balls, including three fours in an over, and a six in the last over almost spectacularly saved by

Stoinis at long-off, and the Renegades ended on 155 two balls later.

After the second innings of the match was delayed by lingering smoke from ill-advised fireworks involved in the half-time entertainment, the Stars flew out of the blocks. The first three overs cost 32, with Stoinis looking in sublime touch, with drives and pulls through the leg side. Luke Wright had four fours of his own by the end of the third over, and the Renegades managed just four dots in that time. Bravo, and a wonderful trickily disguised slower ball, saw Stoinis bowled behind his legs.

Wright continued upon his merry way, before slapping youngster Cameron Stevenson to cover for 37.

For Stars, this was barely a speedbump, but Renegades, who are all but out of contention having only taken 22 wickets in six games, were profligate.

Pietersen, who offered a tough return catch to Bravo on 7, was joined by Peter Handscomb, who timed his pull shots wonderfully from the start, and the pair ran brilliantly between the wickets. In consecutive overs, with the Renegades in the last chance saloon, Pietersen skied Bravo into the off side and substitute Ben McDermott, running in from deep cover, and White, running back, let a catch fall between them, and soon Bravo let a Handscomb swipe through his hands for six on the midwicket fence.

Much in the manner of Wright and Glenn Maxwell a week ago, the pair just calmly chipped away at their total. There were fireworks, a pair of magnificent Pietersen sixes over long-on for instance, but this was the calculated, efficient and ruthless unpicking of an inferior team. Stars are missing big names but, as they cruise towards the finals after their horror start, have plenty left in reserve. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Melbourne Renegades innings (20 overs maximum) CH Gayle c Quiney b Stoinis 21 TLW Cooper c †Handscomb b Hilfenhaus 1 CL White* c †Handscomb b Stoinis 29 DJ Bravo not out 59 PM Nevill† run out (Zampa) 7 A Ayre lbw b Zampa 0 TM Beaton b Stoinis 29 CJ Gannon not out 1 Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 6) 8 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 155 Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Cooper, 1.1 ov), 2-56 (Gayle, 8.4 ov), 3-56 (White, 8.5 ov), 4-77 (Nevill, 12.3 ov), 5-78 (Ayre, 12.5 ov), 6-144 (Beaton, 18.4 ov) Bowling: MA Beer 3-0-180 (1-w), BW Hilfenhaus 4-0-

20-1 (1-w), JW Hastings 4-0-46-0, A Zampa 4-0-351 (2-w), EP Gulbis 3-0-23-0 (2-w), MP Stoinis 2-0-11-3 Melbourne Stars innings (target: 156 runs from 20 overs) MP Stoinis b Bravo 13 LJ Wright c White b 37 Stevenson KP Pietersen not out 67 PSP Handscomb† not out 39 Extras 0 Total (2 wickets; 18 overs) 156 Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Stoinis, 3.2 ov), 2-62 (Wright, 7.3 ov) Bowling: XJ Doherty 4-0-270, CP Tremain 4-0-34-0, CJ Gannon 3-0-29-0, DJ Bravo 4-038-1, C Stevenson 3-0-28-1

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21

Djokovic beats Nadal to win Qatar Open title W

orld number one Novak Djokovic claimed his first title of the year with an impressive 6-1 6-2 win over Rafael Nadal in the Qatar Open.

The Serb continued his recent dominance of the 14time Grand Slam winner with a ninth victory in 10 meetings - the last five in straight sets.

The 28-year-old broke twice in both sets as Nadal, 29, had no answer to the pace and power of his groundstrokes.

Djokovic is preparing to defend his Australian Open title from January 18.

This was Djokovic’s most convincing victory against Nadal in their 47 meetings, a head-to-head he leads for the first time.

Nadal made just 13 unforced errors but was bullied off the court by an inspired opponent who gave him perhaps the most uncomfort-

Novak Djokovic leads Rafael Nadal 24-23 in their head-to-head

able 73 minutes he has faced on court.

Djokovic, who has reached the final of every event he has entered since losing to Ivo Karlovic in the quarter-finals of last year’s Qatar Open, lost just nine points on his own serve.

Nadal, meanwhile, won only 48% of points on his own first serve and made nine winning returns com-

pared to 30 from Djokovic.

Djokovic, for whom this was a first Qatar Open title, said: “I played very much perfect tennis.

“From the beginning, I hit every shot the way I imagined I would hit it. Those two sets give me a great feeling.

“It gives me a lot of confidence and satisfaction, particularly against Rafa.”

(BBC Sport)

WICB/NAGICO Super50…

McCarthy, Jacobs lead Scorpions to win

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The only other frontline batsman to make it past 20, however, was former captain Tamar Lambert with 28, while Sheldon Cottrell chipped in with a cameo 29,

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batting at number seven.

Fast bowler Jeremy Gordon was the best bowler with 3-32, while Muhammad Khan claimed 2-63.

In their turn at the

crease, the Americas never posed a serious challenged and slumped to 76 all out off 26.4 overs.

Nitish Kumar top-scored with 42 but was the only batsman to pass 15 and only one of two to reach double figures, as Jacobs destroyed the innings with 5-22.

Fast bowler Nicholas Gordon picked up 2-17.

The victory was a welcome boost for Scorpions following their disappointing defeat to title-holders Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on Thursday, while ICC Americas slid to their second straight defeat, on the heels of their opening round loss to Barbados Pride. (windiescricket)

WICB/NAGICO Super50…

Ottley, Hope guide Red Force to easy victory

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jorn Ottley and Kyle Hope carved out classy, unbeaten half-centuries as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force capitalised on a feeble batting effort from Barbados Pride, to cruise to a nine-wicket victory in their second game of the Regional Super50 on Saturday.

Opting to bat first at Queen’s Park Oval, Pride produced an ordinary display to collapse to 161 all out with three balls left in the innings.

In-form Roston Chase top-scored with 50, while Justin Greaves, batting at number eight, chipped in with a valuable 31 and Shamarh Brooks, 25.

Off-spinner Jon Ross Jagessar, in only his second game at regional level, hurt the innings with 3-24, while leftarm spinner Yannick Ottley (2-31) and seamer Rayad Emrit (2-45) supported with two wickets apiece.

In defence of a paltry total, Pride started brightly when they prised out the dangerous Evin Lewis cheaply off the second ball of the innings, but Ottley stroked 80 not out and Hope, an unbeaten 70, to see guide Red Force to victory in the 36th over.

Kjorn Ottley and Kyle Hope during their partnership

22

guyanatimesGY.com

sundAY, january 10, 2016

Chris Gayle’s on-air flirtations…

Chappell’s comments should not be taken lightly – Sarwan

Ramnaresh Sarwan

By Avenash Ramzan

F

ormer Guyana and West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan believes that Ian Chappell’s calls for an international ban on Chris Gayle, following his on-air comments to a female journalist during the Big Bash League, should not be taken easily by West Indians.

Last Monday, Gayle, during a boundary side interview with Ten Sport journalist Melanie McLaughlin, said, “I just wanted to have an interview with you as well, that’s why I batted so well. Your eyes are beautiful, hopefully we can win this game and then we can have a drink after as well. Don’t blush, baby.”

The comments attracted widespread attention, especially on social media, and the 36-year-old Jamaican, who plays for the Melbourne Renegades, was subsequently fined A$10,000 (US$7,000)

by Cricket Australia.

Commenting on the matter last week, Chappell, the former Australian batsman, said, “I wouldn’t have a problem if Cricket Australia said to the clubs, ‘he’s never to be contracted again in this country.’ And I also wouldn’t have a problem if Cricket Australia said to the ICC, ‘what we’re doing should be worldwide.”

Ian Chappell

He continued: “You’d have to talk to the individual countries then … but I wouldn’t have a problem if it was tabled at an ICC meeting that Cricket Australia said, ‘this is what we’re doing and we would recommend that everybody else do the same.”

Sarwan, a long-time teammate of Gayle at the international level, did not see eye-to-eye with the 72-year-

old Australian, becoming the first West Indian to comment on the issue on Saturday.

“I think we as West Indians should respond to that, especially the guys who have played with him [Chappell]. I don’t think that we should take that very easily- to have someone call on one of players to be banned around the world or to try and campaign for that to happen,” Sarwan, 35, reckoned.

Sarwan and Gayle share a close friendship, and the elegant right-handed Guyanese was firm in his opinion that the Jamaican’s utterances were a mere joke.

“I think if you really know the guy, you would know he’s joking and he doesn’t really mean anything. The comment was just a casual comment and a joke, and if you share the dressing room with him or be around him that is just a normal thing for him,” Sarwan revealed.

He added, “He doesn’t re-

ally mean any harm, and I think if he really wanted to invite her for a drink or anything else, he would have done it off the television. So the fact that he did it on tele-

guess people interpret things differently.”

Following the McLaughlin episode, Gayle was faced with fresh allegations of indecently exposing

Chris Gayle

vision, he was joking about it. If you speak to Chris one on one, he’s very funny, everybody knows that, and I’ve always said that he’s one of the funniest persons I’ve ever met in my entire life. But I

himself to a female during the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia. He has since taken legal action against Fairfax Media for publishing that article. (aramzan@ guyanatimesgy.com)

“We will do better as a team”– Warrican

By Akeem Greene

W

est Indies newest Test spinner Jomel Warrican in an interview with the Guyana Times Sport revealed that the regional side has the ability to perform at more acceptable standard in international cricket.

West Indies’ recent performance in the threematch Test series in Australia summed up a decade of decline in both the Test and One Day arena.

The 23-year-old, who made his debut against Sri Lanka in October 2015, said, “Yes, I do think we will get better; as you can see we have improved as [the] tour went along. We are working hard as [a] group and we will continue to get better.”

The most evident struggle of the team on the tour was the lack of mentorship by the senior players.

Only four players on the tour “Down Under” have played more than 40 Test matches- Denesh Ramdin (72); Marlon Samuels (64);

Jerome Taylor (46) and Darren Bravo (42).

For a tour of such difficulty, many pundits of the game felt more input should have been given by the senior players, considering the captain Jason Holder has only played 13 Test matches and Vice-captain Kraigg Braithwaite has 27 matches under his belt.

The St Vincent born Warrican, who played most of his cricket for Barbados, when asked about the need for advice from the senior guys in the team, revealed

Jomel Warrican

that “it was very important seeing how difficult the tour was…also it’s good because they share valuable information and you can learn from them.”

Quizzed about how as a player, one keeps motivated to play competitively despite their team is constantly losing, Warrican said, “It’s very easy because if you do well you can help the team win, especially if we perform as a unit. Also, I want to be part of the team that changes West Indies cricket; I think that is my biggest motivation; give the fans something to be proud of again.”

The left-arm orthodox spinner, who has played 21 First-Class matches for Barbados, picking up 83 wickets at an average of 21.42, including six five-wicket hauls, is a former West Indies Under-19 player and also had a stint with the Sagicor High Performance Centre.

He strongly believes the region has the players who can stem the decline in West Indies crick-

et. “Yes, I do, but I think we need to put things in place the help us excel and develop; [we] need more academies like the HPC [High Performance Centre],” the spinner said.

Unresponsive pitches On the tour to Australia, in the most bizarre statistics, Warrican was West Indies best bowler in a series where the Australian batsmen dominated.

In his three games, he picked up five wickets at an average of 76.00. The appalling fact is that the next best bowler is first change Jason Holder with two wickets at an average of 93.00; it sums up how difficult a tour it was for the bowlers.

Warrican’s overall figures in Test cricket are a bit more pleasing to the eye, as he has 11 wickets from four matches at an average of 46.27. Since he made his debut in Sri Lanka on pitches that are conducive to turn, coming to Australia would have been a major change in conditions.

In recognition of this

he said, “Well coming Australia I knew it was always going to be a challenge especially knowing the pitches wouldn’t be in my favour. I had to adopt quickly; especially because the Australian batters target me”.

He further added that the conditions “helped me to improve my game, both physically and mentally, as it gave me a measure of where I am at and where I need to be at if I want to compete or challenge the best players in the world.”

The spinner might still be reveling with delight in the manner he got rid of Australia’s skipper Steven Smith and currently ranked world number one Test batsman on the first morning of the Hobart Test.

Warrican landed a delivery on middle and leg which gripped the surface and took the batsman’s edge, and the catch was taken at slip by Jermaine Blackwood. “It was a special feeling; especially the way I got him out made the joy better,” the bowler said.

When asked about where he needs to improve on, he responded, “I just need to be patient and also analyse the situation faster.”

In the upcoming calendar year, the West Indies will be engaged primarily in the limited over format.

Asked whether he thinks he has the skills to be an effective spinner in the shorter format Warrican said, “I think I am very capable of playing the shorter form, but still have to prove myself; the 50 overs [NAGICO Super 50] is coming up in Trinidad and it’s a perfect opportunity to do that.” (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com).

sundAY, january 10, 2016

guyanatimesGY.com

23

Sarwan unveils Fitness53 gym at Providence

Fitness53 is located at Providence, sandwiched between the National Stadium and Princess Hotel

By Avenash Ramzan

I

n a move geared to lure a growing population of fitnessoriented Guyanese, former Guyana and West Indies batsman Ramnaresh “Ronnie” Sarwan on Saturday unveiled a spanking new gym, dubbed Fitness53, at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Located a stone’s throw away from the National Stadium and the Princess Hotel, the modern fa-

cility will cater to all Guyanese, whether they engage in an active lifestyle or play professional sport.

Boasting the latest in fitness equipment and some top local trainers, the state-of-the-art facility will be opened to the public on Tuesday morning, after a grand opening ceremony on Monday afternoon.

Sarwan, the former West Indies captain, took the media on a tour of the multi-million dollar facility on

Rebels Tennis Club tournament starts January 15

Jamal Goodluck (right) and Tandy Primo should be in action the competition

T

he Rebels Tennis Club (RTC) is set to host its first invitational tournament, dubbed the “RTC Championship” as part of its one year anniversary celebrations, beginning January 15 and lasting for one week.

This is the first tournament of the year on the Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) calendar and it will be divided into a Men’s and Women’s Singles category.

The venues that will be used are the National Racquet Centre, the National Park Court and Nash’s Tennis Club. Lights will be provided for all courts to allow the games to be played from afternoons into the evenings.

Representative of the Rebels Tennis Club, Jamal Goodluck, explained that “the GTA would normal-

ly be running the tournaments but in order for tennis to grow, clubs have to step up; that’s why Rebels Tennis Club is taking the forefront to create a tennis tournament run by a club.”

The club, which was formed in January last year, is coached by Andre Erskine, who Goodluck revealed is one who “really wants to see tennis grow in terms of capacity and to see it grow as very prestigious sport.”

Quizzed on the unique name of the club, Goodluck, who is also a player of the sport, said, “It is a unique name because, it is not just in terms of being a rebel, you have stand out in terms of performances, academics and everything else; so you stand but you stand out in a positive way.” Prizes will be awarded to the top performers.

Saturday where he pointed out that it was always his desire to construct a gym, especially with Guyanese becoming health conscious and fitnessoriented.

This first business venture in Guyana by the middle-order stroke player was conceptualised about five years ago, and he shared the reason for investing in such an area.

“Because I think we in Guyana are becoming health conscious and I thought it was really a good opportunity to open a gym that is very modern and different,” Sarwan declared.

Quizzed on what makes Fitness53 different from the other gyms across the country, Sarwan, who turns 35 in June, reasoned, “I think the people will have to judge that. I don’t want to judge it myself but I think, as you can tell, it is more of a modern kind of gym… and we’ve really a good team together to try to get this up to the standard it is at the moment.”

Sarwan, whose ODI shirt number, 53, was incorporated into the business name, revealed that the response has been good so far, noting that the initial registration fee will be $6,000 per person, and

$5,500 monthly thereafter.

While not divulging any specific figures, the former West Indies captain said the investment was huge, but noted that the main aim was more of satisfying a personal ambition of his.

“I don’t think that is important [the magnitude of the investment], I think it is something that

the public that they would enjoy, and of course help them with their health. That’s our focus here,” the elegant right-hander explained.

Among a staff of about 16 are several trainers, who will work along with clients, but Sarwan, in an effort to up the standard and delivery of service, will have a trained professional from Trinidad

Some of the equipment at Fitness53

I’ve worked very hard to accomplish for the past year, year and a half, and I just wanted to put it together and offer something to

and Tobago to have “a crash course” with the local trainers.

Fitness53 will be opened to public from 05:00h to 22:00h daily.

sundAY, january 10, 2016

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

guyanatimesgy.com

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