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Murder/suicide rocks Kartabo guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 2776

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Page 6

…as miner kills fiancée, turns gun on self

Man stabbed to death at Santa Mission Page 6

Rigged Burnham elections

GECOM Chairman should be nonpolitical – Rodney Page 3 CoI recommends

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt, Opposition P9 divided on agency responsible for SOCU The Race to LGE 2016

Clinical psychologist to improve P17 security, housing utilities if elected

Guyhoc man wanted for P2 murder

Cocaine in the baggage hold

Wanted bulletin issued for immigration P2 officer

A delegation from Guyana's 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee (New York) met with Guyana’s President, David Granger in New York and briefed him on Guyana’s Golden Jubilee of Independence celebrations planned for New York City from June 4 to 12, 2016. The meeting with the President and the Committee’s Chairman, Rickford Burke, Vice Chairman Attorney Rhonda Binda and Co-chair for Public Relations & Diaspora Engagement, Janice Hall, took place at Guyana’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, following President Granger’s meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

National Service PPP to No $50,000 will be voluntary Govt: bonus nor – Basil Williams “Release 20% pay hike Rodney for Police Report!”

Budget 2016

Page 17

Page 6

“We don’t need National Page 18 Service, we need youth empowerment and employment opportunities” – Essequibians

Freddie Kissoon faeces incident

McCoy, P8 Abdullah and Hinds on $100,000 bail each

2 news

Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

man Gold Board employee slapped with larceny charge Guyhoc wanted for murder A L lab technician employed by the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) was on Monday released on $200,000 bail by Magistrate Judy Latchman when he appeared before her charged with stealing a quantity of gold from GGB. Ronald Singh, 30, of Lot 161 Hibiscus Avenue, “AA” Eccles, East Bank Demerara

(EBD) denied the allegation, which stated that on February 19, he stole from GGB, eight ounces, nine grams of gold valued at $2,153,034.

Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick told the Court that on the day in question, the manager of the GGB noticed a quantity of gold missing and questioned staff. During questioning, they received in-

formation, and based on that information the accused was called in and questioned. He subsequently returned the gold but was charged for the incident by Police. The Court heard the man was employed

by GGB since 2013.

Attorney George Thomas who appeared for the accused made a bail application, telling the Court that his client is

willing to lodge his travel documents for insurance of his return to Court.

Bail was granted in the sum of $200,000 on the condition that Singh report to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) every Friday.

He will have to return to Court on March 11.

Cocaine in the baggage hold

Wanted bulletin issued for immigration officer

T

he police have issued a wanted bulletin for another immigration officer for questioning in relation to trafficking in narcotics on February 2 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

He has been identified as Kidron Junior Waldron, 20, of Lot 00, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara.

Based on investigations by the Custom AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), Orin Parris, 24, of 74 Timehri, EBD, Oral David, 29, of

Wanted: Kidron Junior Waldron

401 Nonpareil, East Coast Demerara, Raduskie Wright, 24, of 271 Number 77 New Housing Scheme, Corriverton, Berbice, along with Roraima Airways Security officer Diane Jackson, 31, of Lot 17 Soesdyke Linden Highway, were all charged with conspiracy to traffic a quantity of cocaine which was found at JFK in the baggage hold a Dynamic Airways Flight.

Waldron has since gone into hiding.

It alleged that the men col-

luded with others to place cocaine in the baggage hold of a Dynamic Airways Flight.

The cocaine was detected upon landing at the JFK International Airport. The cocaine reportedly weighed about two pounds.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Kidron Junior Waldron is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-1111, 226-2870, 227-1149, 2256411, 226-7065, 911 or the nearest police station.

awrence Browne, 25, is wanted by police for questioning in relation to the murder of Eddie Branch, on December 20 which occurred at Big Hope, Waini Backdam.

The last known address of Browne is Lot K-54 Guyhoc Park, Georgetown.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Lawrence Browne is asked to contact the police on phone numbers 4552267, 455-2241, 225-2227, 225-6411, 911 or the nearest police station.

All information will be

Wanted: Lawrence Browne

treated with strict confidence.

Murder suspect wanted

T

he police are asking the public’s assistance in locating Fedel Williams, 22, wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of Naldinho De Costa Sousa killed on February 9 last at Fish Creek Backdam, Cuyuni River.

The last known address for Williams is River’s View, Essequibo River.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Fedel Williams is asked to contact the police on phone numbers 455-2267, 455-2241, 225-2227, 225-6411, 911 or the nearest police station.

All information will be

Wanted: Fedel Williams

treated dence.

with

strict

confi-

Drysdale St man remanded for armed robbery

A

resident of Drysdale Street, Georgetown was Monday remanded to prison by Magistrate Judy Latchman when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with three counts of armed robbery.

Odinga Haywood, 20, of Lot 2 Drysdale St, Georgetown, denied the allegation which stated that on February 21, at Waterloo Street, Georgetown, being armed with a knife, he robbed Trevor Singh of a Samsung Galaxy cellular phone valued $60,440.

He also denied the charge which alleged that on that same day at Lamaha Street, Georgetown, while being armed with a knife he robbed

Ibrahim Takur of a Samsung Galaxy cellular phone valued $70,000.

He entered a not guilty plea to yet another charge which stated that on the same occasion, armed with a knife he robbed Mohamed Takur of an iPhone and headset valued $122,000.

Attorney George Thomas, appearing for the accused stated that his client would be willing to lodge his travel documents and comply with any bail conditions.

However, the Prosecutor objected to bail stating that a weapon was used and the defendant had admitted to the offences after he was arrested.

Bail was denied and the case will continue on March 10.

news

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Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, February 23 – 05:30h-07:00h and Wednesday, February 24 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, February 23 – 16:45h-18:15h and Wednesday, February 24 – 05:25h-06:55h.

Rigged Burnham elections

GECOM Chairman should be nonpolitical – Rodney CoI recommends

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Heavy to light rain showers can be expected throughout the day into the evening, sometimes accompanied by thunder. Light cloudy skies are expected in the late evening hours.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 4.02 metres and 5.81 metres per second.

High Tide: 04:56h and 17:11h reaching maximum heights of 2.62 metres and 2.69 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:46h and 23:05h reaching minimum heights of 0.57 metre and 0.54 metre.

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The CoI Commissioners: Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbadian Queen’s Counsel and CoI Chairperson, Sir Richard Cheltenham and Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline Samuels-Brown from Jamaica

R

ecommendations emanating from the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry Report regarding the dangers of a partisanship of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman comes on the heels of numerous allegations of biasness mounted against current GECOM Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally.

In light of the spate of rigged elections that plagued the country during the People’s National Congress (PNC) rule, the report recommended that the GECOM Chairman should be a person of the highest integrity and nonpolitical and his/her appointment should meet with the approval of the opposition groups and sectoral interests.

In fact, the report suggested that the Chairman ought to be sourced from a Caribbean Community (Caricom) Member of State, if necessary.

Additionally, the report made it clear that the political opposition and other interests should be adequately represented on the Commission.

These recommendations

come at a time when Dr Surujbally’s creditability is on the line following the recently concluded General and Regional Elections on May 11, 2015.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) strongly believed that Dr Surujbally was part and parcel in the rigging of the last elections which led to its narrow defeat against the A

2015 General and Regional Elections, the Party has been calling for the immediate resignation of Dr Surujbally.

The call was mounted particularly because of his failure to acquiesce to the Party’s request for a total recount of the ballots, as it contended that the elections were rigged.

The Party had also charged that the recruit-

ment of polling staff reportedly connected to the coalition was known by the GECOM Chairman.

At one point also, the PPP/C accused Dr Surujbally of bullying and intimidating staff and his actions cumulatively compromised the independence of GECOM, its functions and role as an agency to ensure free and fair elections.

On the other hand, the GECOM Chairman on more than one occasion derided the statements made by the Parliamentary Opposition, maintaining that he will not be going anywhere on the demands of the PPP/C. Meanwhile, with the local government elections fast-approaching, the PPP/C is still concerned about the competence, ability and creditability of GECOM to deliver free and fair elections.

Members of the Guyana Defence Force seen packing ballot boxes during the 1973 elections

Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) government.

Since the announcement of the results of the

4

guyanatimesgy.com

Tuesday, february 23, 2016

Views General Editor: Michael Younge News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Republic Day 2016

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epublic Day 2016 should force all Guyanese to reflect deeply on the state of our Republic, 50 years after independence and 46 years after republican status cut all strings from the coattails of Britain. The day falls amidst the startling revelations of the leaked Report of the Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) which was submitted to the Government on the 8th of this month, but was not yet officially released.

Dr Walter Rodney had been killed a decade after we moved to republican status and the revelations paint a sordid descent of the state into a veritable hell for members of the Opposition, especially for members of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). If nothing else, the Report should remind us of the path not to be travelled – especially on policing.

There were the detailed descriptions from almost every witness, of the subversion of the Police Force which became a veritable “goon squad” for the political directorate. Citizens who had not broken the law were kept under surveillance and harassed routinely if they were suspected of being part of the political Opposition. While no one would deny the present Guyana Police Force (GPF) has come a long way from those days, no one can also say it has achieved the professionalism demanded in a world where we accept that the human rights of all citizens must be protected and guarded by the State.

We can never become a true republic when citizens have to live in fear of the Police, but that is still the reality for many. This does not mean there are no individual Police personnel who are professional, but there are definitely enough “bad apples” to give the entire barrel a bad name.

Of all the State institutions, the Police Force is the one that is most ubiquitous in the quotidian lives of the citizenry and the relationship between the two groups to a great extent can be a telling indicia of the health of the State.

For too long, we have put off a root-and-branch reform of the Police Force: this we no longer can do. We can do worse than start with the name. A decade or so ago, the late Debra Backer proposed in Parliament the name of the organisation be changed to the “Guyana Police Service”. Yet two years ago, when then Minister of Home Affairs (then in charge of the Police Force) proposed the name change within the wider ambit of a completely new strategic direction, the Opposition APNU and AFC voted it down simply because it was an “initiative” of Clement Rohee in whom they had “no confidence”.

As we wrote in this space at the time, it was imperative that there be a change in “the orientation of the Police towards the citizenry: they are to be protected and served not subdued and cowed into submission. This foundational paradigm change was encapsulated in the legislation that former Minister Rohee introduced in the last Parliament to change the name of the “Guyana Police Force” to the “Guyana Police Service”. “ Now that Mr Rohee is no longer in Government, there is no excuse for delaying Police reform towards its professionalism and, in fact, the President and several of his spokespersons have promised this. However, there is a lacuna in the equation that was being stubbornly avoided by the previous Administration and sadly this one even though it directly affects Police professionalism: the composition of the Force.

Even before independence, there had been efforts to rectify an “ethnic imbalance” which was the consequence of a historically induced pattern of differential recruitment into the GPF which became structurally entrenched from within and without the organisation.

The latest effort at rectification was with the Disciplined Forces Commission (DSC) of 2003, of which President David Granger was a member. If Mr Rohee’s plans were deficient maybe the 164 DSC’s recommendations might suffice?

Children tramping during their costume parade on Saturday

URP condemns electoral violence, urges civil campaign Dear Editor, Parties and voters complain about intimidation and harassment as the campaign heats up for the March 18 Local Government Elections (LGE) vote. Posters of opposing camps are being defaced and Flags pulled down, similar to what happened during last May’s general elections. There are media reports of violent attacks on candidates.

The United Republican Party (URP) strongly condemns the violent attack on a candidate and supporters of Team Benschop and all other election related violence and intimidation and the attack on the paraphernalia of parties. Our party was subject to similar abuses and electoral rigging last May when our posters were destroyed and our flags pulled down and destroyed around various parts of the country.

Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) and the police must enforce the law and punish culprits responsible for these varied attacks on candidates and destruction of campaign materials of parties.

Posters and flags should be untouched until the mandated time to remove them the day before the election. Our party urges the police and Gecom to ensure a civil campaign and a free and fair election.

The URP calls on both bodies to take all necessary measures to protect candidates, supporters of all parties, and the public at large from violence so they can exercise their right to freely participate in the Local Government Elections.

Gecom must not be a mere spectator as happened last May to electoral violations and attacks on candidates or on their campaign materi-

als. Gecom should exercise its authority and sanction those candidates who encourage violence or egg their supporters to intimidate and/or perpetrate violence on supporters of opposing camps.

Political parties have also complained they have not had access to the voters list as required by law and that Gecom has failed to meet their requests to ensure a free and transparent election. The same problem existed last May. Gecom must take measures to avoid a repeat of last May. Gecom must carry out its legally mandated responsibility of providing access to the list as well as provide a list of locations of all polling stations.

The URP has chosen not to participate in the LGE because of our experience with electoral rigging and violence last May. But we encourage participation in the Local

Government Elections. While our party has not endorsed any party, we encourage people to consider voting for independent candidates or those from the minor parties.

Local government is about local issues and the major parties have largely ignored the interests of local communities. We also feel the central government should not be involved in the administration of local governance.

Power should be devolved towards the local communities as the major parties had promised during the last campaign.

Nine months later, little effort has been made to empower the local bodies. Thus, URP calls on voters to empower themselves by voting and to vote against the major parties.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bandhu URP Leader

State violence is only part of the political violence Dear Editor, Dr David Hinds waxes eloquent on the Rodney CoI about the need for an end to state violence. He lists the recent victims of such violence as being Crum-Ewing, Ronald Waddell, the Linden Martyrs, the over 400 Black Men, and the Blackoriented Freddie Kissoon.

I, too, am against state violence. I go further and declare I am against all violence and I expected a man of Dr. Hinds’ supposed integrity to have also listed the violence against Indians by Africans that have also been very much part of this country’s political violence.

That violence goes back even to our very arrival on these shores and became part of the open political violence waged by the PNC from the 1960s, on through the PNC dictatorship and which continued during the PPP/C’s 23 years in office under the various guises such as the PNC street protests, brutal crimes

that targeted Indians and Indian businesses, and the terrorism that was openly centred in Buxton and went on for years from 2001. These were perpetrated by well over 400 Black Men. The refusal to honour historical facts of this country’s political violence is one of the reasons we continue to fail “miserably in the area of human rights for our weak, our powerless, our sufferers and those who dared to stand with them” to quote Dr. Hinds’ own words.

Some of those weak and powerless, Dr. Hinds, were Indian girls and women who were brutally raped and assaulted by African Guyanese men. By his attempts to forget or rewrite history, Dr. Hinds assassinates honesty and makes himself a tool of repression.

Their continual emphasis on state violence to the exception of every other kind of political violence allows Dr.

Hinds and groups like GHRA to cover up their racism. They use it as a legitimate excuse to skewer the “coolie” government and their Indian supporters when it is Indians who have felt the brunt of racial/political violence in Guyana, and who have been raped, murdered and brutalized for the PNC/APNU’s grab for power even up to and in the aftermath of the May 2015 elections.

GECOM Chairman Steve Surujbally spoke publicly of the threat made by the PNC/ APNU/AFC supporter after the May 11, 2015 elections that “the matches are being warmed up”. Georgetown would have burned and Indian businesses destroyed, yet again, had the Coalition not “won” the elections.

Dr. Hinds is still a supporter of the Coalition Government – and of their tactics of racial/ political violence? By disregarding the political violence aimed at Guyana’s largest eth-

nic group he shows himself to be very much part of the continuing problem of prejudice and racism.

Perhaps he feels he can only speak for the Black Man being a proud Black Man himself. Well, I am a proud Indian Woman and I speak for the Indian Woman when I say that Dr. Hinds should shut up until such time as he is able to forgo his racism and speak honestly, fairly and justly about Guyana’s political violence.

Only a part of that violence is state violence. From the Indian Woman’s perspective, the greater political violence is the racial violence against Indians which has been ongoing for over 50 years.

As a matter of record, is there a list of the names of the over 400 Black Men allegedly murdered by the PPP/C Government? This One Indian Woman wants to know.

Yours truly, Shanie Jagessar

guyanatimesgy.com

Tuesday, february 23, 2016

5

Jamaica’s election results Kitty Market repairs welcomed will be interesting Dear Editor, Our sister Caricom nation Jamaica goes to the polls on February 25 to choose a new parliament and government.

Opinion polls put the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) out front to win the elections over the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). There are other parties in the fray but not expected to make any showing in terms of seats. Unlike in Guyana, people don’t vote “race” although there are loyalist bases or traditional strongholds similar to Guyana.

There are 63 seats in the elected House that also has a nominated Senate (appointed by both the winning part and official opposition as in Trinidad and the rest of the Anglophone Caricom region).

Unlike in Guyana, elected Members are chosen under the First Past the Post system. In the last general election, the PNP won 42 of the 63 seats trumping the then incumbent JLP that won the remaining 21 seats.

When I was in Jamaica in 2014, a majority of people I interviewed at random were not pleased with PNP’s governance although they were also displeased with JLP. But more people were supportive of JLP than PNP, putting the JLP ahead to wrest power.

A year ago, polls put the JLP ahead and my visit also affirmed a change in mood that was favouring the PNP. But mid-last year, polls gave each party a 50-50 probability of winning. And the last opinion poll in December gave the PNP a four per cent advantage in popular support and a projected 43 seats to 20 seats.

Voters are turned off by

all the parties and candidates.

Voter turnout is decreasing and is likely to be near 50 per cent so the diehards will determine the election. People told me they were fed up with JLP and PNP. They see both as two sides of a coin with being seen as failures and uninterested in devolving power to the people.

A whopping 49 per cent of the eligible voters told one pollster they do not intend to vote in the next general election. Traditional JLP supporters have demonstrated apathy because of leadership issues.

Supporters of PNP are more likely to vote.

According to one poll, incumbent PNP Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, has greater acceptance among the party’s diehards than JLP leader Andrew Holness among his party’s diehards.

The poll says PNP is likely to get more private donations for its campaign because of party unity and the economic ‘successes’, all of which gave the PNP a 55 per cent chance of winning re-election.

It will be an uphill, though not impossible, task for JLP to pull off a victory. A swing of five per cent support could take JLP to 34 seats according to analysts.

Only 32 seats are needed to form the government. And PNP, through what is considered as garrison support (safe seats from a loyalist base), has more safe seats than JLP’s.

The contests that put PNP ahead in non-garrison seats are very close and upsets in several seats are not improbable.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor, Kitty Market stallholders and vendors welcome the long overdue restoration works being carried out on the Kitty Market.

We wish to put on public record our deep appreciation of the collaborative effort by Central Government and the Georgetown City Council to restore the market to economic viability.

We note with profound gratitude the action of the APNU/AFC government, which has been in office for only 8 months, doing what the PPP/C government failed to do in 23 years.

We feel it is appropriate to recall that former President Bharrat Jagdeo in two successive general elections campaigns visited the Market and told his captive audience that his government was committed to build a new structure.

History will record that he left office without honouring the commitment which he publicly made to the stallholders and vendors.

Former Presidents Jagdeo and Ramotar were written to on separate occasions by Mayor Hamilton Greene of the Georgetown City Council and the Kitty Market stallholders and vendors, requesting their support for the restoration of the market.

Neither of them dignified the correspondence with a reply.

However, the Ramotar government through the then Minister of Public Works committed Central Government to work with the City Council to come up with plans to repair the market. Noting came out of that process.

While we do not want to unduly politicise our protracted struggle to save the market and our businesses, we find it necessary to draw the nation’s attention to the

fact that President David Granger, who has never made a political visit to the market to seek our votes, has demonstrated an understanding of our sufferings and acted responsibly. His government has allocated $240,000,000 to repair the market. Thank you, President Granger.

The restoration of the Kitty Market will restore community pride, and allow the market to once again play its historic role of providing meaningful service to the residents of Kitty and the surrounding communities.

In reflecting on our marathon struggle, we wish also to express our gratitude to

the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) of the University of Guyana (UG) and to its former Director, Professor Clive Thomas, who in the early days of our efforts, raised funds and carried out a study, produced and submitted an economic/ social plan to the authorities for restoring the economic viability of the market. This assistance by the IDS, in a large way, played an important role over the years of struggle, in cementing our belief and strengthened our resolve that the market can have a variable future.

We also want to thank Mayor Hamilton Green and

those progressive Councillors of Georgetown City Council, who throughout this struggle, remained committed to the restoration of the market and the need to have it remain a community and city asset.

To Town Clerk Royston King who is responsible for the execution of the restoration project, you have our full support and cooperation in this endeavour. We look forward to consultations as the work progresses.

Sincerely, Tacuma Ogunseye for Kitty Market Action Committee

6 NEws

Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Murder/suicide rocks Kartabo No $50,000 bonus nor 20% Budget 2016

…as miner kills fiancée, turns gun on self

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esidents of Kartabo, Essequibo River, were plunged into a state of shock after a man allegedly shot and killed his fiancée before turning the gun on himself Monday.

Dead are Glenda McCurdy, 19, and Terry Alexander, 22, a gold miner. McCurdy was reportedly shot to the chest while the man shot his head.

According to information, Alexander went to the home of McCurdy and an argument ensued during which he reportedly picked up a piece of wood and dealt her two blows to the head. He then pulled out a gun and shot the young woman to her chest.

The teenager’s mother Beverly McCurdy told Guyana Times that he pointed the gun in her direction and pulled the trigger but it did not go off.

“After the gun didn’t go off, I start to run to an area where

Dead: Glenda McCurdy

there are people but he started to run behind me… I run about half mile and he reach me up and pull the trigger again but it didn’t go off again but he then place the gun to his head and pulled the trigger but this time, it went off,” the woman tearfully recalled.

The grieving woman added that after he fel, she ran and alerted some residents who

rushed to the scenes and found the couple dead.

She was taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital where she was treated and set away.

McCurdy explained that the young man returned from the backdam Friday and went to her house on Saturday but they had travelled to Bartica to attend church.

After finding no one at home, he became angry and accused her daughter of seeing another man and also accused her of encouraging the relationship.

The young woman has left to mourn her parents and two siblings. Attempts to contact relatives of the dead man proved futile.

Guyana Times understands that McCurdy and Alexander had been together for just over a year.

pay hike for Police

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

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embers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) should not put too much hope into the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance

For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s election promise of a 20 per cent pay hike.

On Monday, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said the 2016 Budget does not cater for another $50,000 bonus nor the 20 per cent increase in salaries for the police.

Ramjattan, while responding to questions from his predecessor Clement Rohee of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), said a 20 per cent hike “has not been catered for.”

He added that, in relation to the $50,000 bonus which was paid to all public servants as well as the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force last year, he is not in a position at this time to say whether this will be paid, but based on all indications “it doesn’t appear so.”

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had said recently that government could not keep its election promise to pay the Guyana Police Force higher salaries because the coffers could not afford it.

He blamed the $12 billion which government had to divert to the bail-out of the Guyana Sugar Corporation when it assumed office, as well as the $3 billion which had to be paid to rice farm-

ers after Venezuela did not pay for rice and paddy supplied, and also, the financing of a foreign policy campaign to counter Venezuela’s ag-

gression over the Essequibo Region as responsible for not being able to pay the increase.

“It is not a campaign promise wasn’t kept! Yes, on the surface it wasn’t kept but it was not because of bad-mind or whatever sake we didn’t keep it. The fact is we just didn’t have the resources to do,” he said.

On the campaign trail leading up to the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections, the APNU/AFC coalition promised a 20 per cent increase in salaries to members of the security services, sugar workers and public servants.

Already in 2015, the government did not pay the security forces the usual onemonth tax-free salary in December, but instead opted to give them the $50,000 tax-free bonus which was given to public servants.

Man stabbed to death at Santa Mission

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man was tragically stabbed to death moments after an

altercation with another at Santa Mission, Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) on Monday morning.

Dead is Joseph Jaundoo, 42, of Santa Mission.

According to reports, at about 01:00h Monday, both Jaundoo and the suspect were at a wake where an argument ensued between them. The argument quickly turned into a scuffle which ended after the intervention of other persons.

The dead man reportedly left the wake house and went home but as he was standing on his stairs, he was attacked and stabbed several times by the man with whom he had the argument earlier.

Jaundoo fell and his relatives raised an alarm. He was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Guyana Times understands that both men might have been under the influence of alcohol.

The suspect has been arrested and is expected to be charged with murder shortly.

A knife suspected to be the murder weapon has been retrieved as police continue their investigations.

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Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

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Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Freddie Kissoon faeces incident

McCoy, Abdullah and Hinds on $100,000 bail each

Freddie Kissoon

By Ahreefa Bacchus

F

ormer Presidential Spokesman Kwame McCoy, Freedom House Clerk Jason Abdullah and self-confessed death squad member Sean Hinds, were each placed on $100,000 bail when they appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on

Monday charged with unlawfully assaulting newspaper columnist Freddie Kissoon.

The trio entered Court heavily guarded by Police, as scores of protestors turned up at the Court, hurling insults and threats at McCoy and Abdullah.

McCoy, 40, of Lot 336 Section A, Great Diamond; Abdullah, 34, of Lot 56 James and Barr Streets, Albouystown; and Hinds, 51, of Lot 2548 Albouystown, Georgetown were not required to plead to the charge, which read that on May 24, 2010 at Georgetown, they unlawfully assaulted Freddie Kissoon.

Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick related that on the day in question, Kissoon, a very vocal critic of the previous Administration, was on Robb and Light Streets in the vicinity of Nigel’s

Sean Hinds

Kwame McCoy

Supermarket heading towards his car when he was allegedly pounced upon by a man who doused him in human faeces.

According to the Prosecutor, an investigation was recently launched and the Police apprehended Abdullah and Hinds who admitted to executing the at-

tack on Kissoon. However, the two alleged that McCoy was the mastermind of the attack, and he was later arrested and charged.

McCoy was represented by Attorney Latchmie Rahamat while Attorney Glen Hanuman appeared for Abdullah. Hinds was unrepresented, however, Attorney Euclin Gomes made a bail application on his behalf.

Hanuman and Rahamat both requested that their clients’ matter be heard before a Judge and Jury at the High Court.

As there were no objections to bail by the Prosecutor, the Magistrate granted bail in the sum of $100,000 each. The conditions of bail are that they lodge their travel documents and report to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) every Friday.

The men will return to Court on March 11, 2016.

Reports are that on the day of the incident at about 19:00h, Kissoon had just emerged from Nigel’s Supermarket on Robb Streets, Georgetown when a man walked up to his vehicle and threw the substance on him.

Kissoon then pursued the perpetrator however, the man entered a waiting white Toyota AT 192 Carina car and escaped.

Last Wednesday, McCoy was arrested in relation to the execution of ex-soldier Courtney Crum-Ewing.

McCoy’s colleagues Abdulla and Hinds were arrested last Monday after new information reportedly surfaced in relation to CrumEwing’s murder.

Eyew tness Republicanism, Political investments...

I

...and urea contract

t would appear that the doctrine of “political investment” - adumbrated by Raphael Trotman has taken off like wildfire in the operations of the APNU/AFC government.

The said doctrine promulgated the notion that campaign contributors to political parties view their action as “investments” which obviously must deliver a dividend to justify the outlay.

It all came about after Minister of National Security and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan bigged up a businessman, for funding the AFC’s headquarters - just as he’d bid for billions in Pharma supplies to the state and also was awaiting an approval for a purchase agreement from GPL for electricity from a proposed wind farm. While the dividends have not yet been declared officially, word is they’ll be massive.

While pro quid quos had long been suspected in politics - witness the murmurs on the case of the Specialty Hospital involving the same Ramjattan and one Fedders Lloyd - this was the first time it was so publicly accepted. Not merely as a “what is” - that is, in a “positivist” sense - but as what is normative and should not be reason for arched eyebrows.

Some say Trotman should be commended for his honesty.

But the question is, don’t we the Guyanese people have any say in how we expect our Republic’s affairs to be run? And it certainly is OUR affairs since all the dividends will be coming out of our hard earned tax dollars. Or loans we and our grandchildren will have to pay off. The thing is the government isn’t really asking anyone to do it any favours... so why don’t they demand good services without “investments”?

We all know it’s because of the greed of the politicians to whom the “investment” is directed by the businessmen.

And in these matters, we the public only see the tip of a very large iceberg of the “investment” with the 90 per cent under water actually moves “under the table” into the pockets of the politician.

And we arrive at the latest revelation on a $420M contract for urea for our beleaguered rice farmers that was given to some APNU/AFC campaign contributor from Long Island, New York. Now this latest dividend for a political investment is really shameless. Right now rice farmers are facing a crisis - both from market prices and then from Mother Nature in the form of an El Niño drought.

And this dividend rather than lowering the price of their most expensive input will now leave them sucking salt.

But at least they know why, don’t they? Let’s see where they place their “X’s” next time.

...and the Social Contract

Unlike the political investments of campaign contributors, the citizens of a republic invest all of their inherent, God-given freedoms to establish a state that will save their lives from being, in the words of one theorist, “nasty, brutish and short”. And on this Republic Day, it’s time to consider whether the republican dividend - the good life, as it’s called - is being delivered by our state.

Well, if the truth be told, we have to admit that life is still quite nasty. What with us having the lowest per capita income in the old British West Indies - and the economy headed just where the PNC left it back at the end of the seventies when they were preparing to assassinate Walter Rodney.

Brutish? We just have to look at the domestic violence, the suicide and violent crime statistics - not to mention all houses converted to iron-grilled jails... to have an idea of that! Short? Well, we’re not doing that badly there.

But the good thing about the social contract is it’s renewable every five years. Make sure your vision is 20/20 in 2020!

...and Mash

Can you believe we won’t be Mashing this Republic Day? FREE at Last! free at last!! Thank God almighty!! We’re free at last from that degradation of Cuffy’s struggle!!

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

news

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Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Govt, Opposition divided on Clean-up begins in Fiji after cyclone agency responsible for SOCU A

Minister Joseph Harmon

Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

Clement Rohee

here continues to be massive confusion over the agency responsible for the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

SOCU was budgeted for under the Ministry of Presidency to the tune of $40 billion. This is despite being identified as an agency of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

State Minister Joseph Harmon had told the National Assembly on February 15 that this was a temporary arrangement, adding that the Unit will soon be moved under the Public Security Ministry.

However on Monday, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan told the National Assembly that some budgetary allocations were made for SOCU under his Ministry under the GPF’s budget.

Also on Monday, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee during his weekly media conference, contended that SOCU should be working in tandem with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) which falls under the Finance Ministry as part of Guyana’s international obligations to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML&CFT) apparatus.

Meanwhile, former

Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran, said SOCU was intended to be a police unit operating under the authority of the Commissioner of Police but with a close relationship with the FIU. However, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud appears to be unaware of the Unit’s operations – at least, he has been deafeningly silent all throughout the many controversial exercises involving SOCU, the prime one being the Carifesta Avenue crash during the Christmas holidays.

The question remains unclear as to who does SOCU report to or who does SOCU take orders from.

Ramkarran had expressed concerns over SOCU deviating from its original mandate.

In his weekly blog the Conversation Tree, Ramkarran stated, “But SOCU’s mandate was clearly vastly expanded under the new APNU/AFC Government with no public announcement. This secretive new role came into sharp focus in a spectacularly tragic manner.”

In fact, Ramkarran concluded that SOCU may be out of control.

SOCU’s role was brought into greater focus in recent days with the Parliamentary

Opposition questioning many of its operations and expressing deep concerns in that regard.

The Party expressed concerns that SOCU may be operating under political instructions to randomly target supporters of the Opposition.

President David Granger had dismissed those concerns, simply stating that no politician was giving directions to SOCU, but rather those instructions have to come from the Police Chief.

T

clean-up operation has begun after the most severe cyclone to hit Fiji in living memory killed at least 20.

Rescue workers said that number could rise as some of the worst-hit outlying islands have yet to be reached.

Thousands are now in evacuation centres while many parts of the country remain without power.

Cyclone Winston, which hit over the weekend, brought winds of over 320 kilometres/ hour (200 miles per hour), torrential rain, and waves of up to 12 metres (40 feet).

The category five storm – among the biggest ever to hit the southern hemisphere – moved westward after making landfall at 18:30 local time (06:30 GMT) on Saturday in the north of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu.

It changed direction at the last minute, sparing the capital Suva the full force of its winds. Aerial imagery showed some villages, particularly in outlying areas, were completely destroyed. A man in Viti Levu told Reuters the damage was so extensive that “it looks

The clean-up operation has begun after the most severe cyclone to hit Fiji in living memory killed at least 20

like a different country”.

The national disaster management office told local media on Monday that the death toll had jumped to 20 people.

The cyclone cut electricity and communication lines and destroyed hundreds of homes.

Thousands are now living in 750 evacuation centres opened by the Government, which is now encouraging people to start returning home to clean up.

George Dregaso, of Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office, told the Associated Press that about 80 per cent of the nation’s 900,000 people were without regular electricity.

The Government has declared a state of emergency and called on private companies to help provide transport and relief supplies. Officials had also put in place a nationwide curfew, giving Police extra powers of arrest, but it was lifted on Monday.

Schools have been ordered to shut for a week, but the main airport has re-opened to receive humanitarian supplies and allow tourists to leave.

Australia and New Zealand have authorised the release of emergency aid supplies held in Suva. They have also supplied planes to help assess the damage from the air in remote areas. (Excerpt from BBC News)

10 news

Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

APNU/AFC victory dance is over, or is it?

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ast week President Granger stated: “The result of May 2015 election, I do not regard as a victory. I see it as an opportunity. For one side to win 207,000 votes and the other side to win 202,000 votes is not a grand victory. Rather it is an opportunity for collaboration, not conflict; for a contract to cooperate and to understand that working together, not fighting, is a formula of the future.”

Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine The aforesaid statements reveal a desperate regime coming to terms with the reality that the victory dance is over, that the honeymoon period is over, and that “victory” now means a victim of circumstances. None of the above was echoed by the President and his team during the election campaign and now since the hope of meeting the expectations of the 100 days manifesto rag is unrealistic, there is a call for collaboration and cooperation based on the US political system of the social contract.

Simply put, the social contract or functionalist approach to governance implies that citizens must give up some rights to government in return to receive and maintain social order, among other things.

The aforesaid statements also reveal defeatism rather than determination, resignation rather than resurgence and a double standard rather than the practice of democracy. The tone of electoral triumphalism has suddenly given way to the tone for togetherness.

In the midst of witch-hunting, surveillance, harassment, partiality in Parliament from the Speaker, crime, social ills, the President is calling for national cooperation. In the midst of the now ruling elites who believe that they have been wronged and deprived materially and under-compensated and who are now enriching themselves and abusing institutional power for personal gains, the President is calling for national collaboration.

In the midst of imposed anxiety on the residents at Wales Estate, the President is asking for working together.

In the past, I have asked if this regime has a psychologist or psychiatrist. That individual is needed now more than ever. The nation has hit rock bottom, wrapped in dystopia.

That said, the President’s call for national cohesion and national unity may be bonhomous but his timing, his approach and his speech are bloviating. It is a national aberration to ask the now infect and defect non-supporters of this regime to come under the sway and swagger of the coalition without providing any sound supporting mechanisms for them.

Look at what is going on at Wales Estates, at the rice industry and at Bath Settlement where street lights were stripped and you will see that these are innocent people who are now guilty simply because they voted for the PPP. These individuals have been living a life bound by deprivation and social violence and to place the above pressure on them is hideous and heartless.

What is disturbing is that the regime continues to conceal cleverly its frictions, fissures and fractures while at the same asking the nation for national unity. Why and how these political left-overs have come to occupy political power after bringing Guyana down to its knees will go down as one of saddest chapters in the history of the Caribbean. What a shame.

These so-called political doyens of PNC, AFC and WPA were packing their bags waiting for retirement when they realised they could collectively exploit the masses and assume power.

Their occupancy in important political positions has suffocated opportunities for younger minds to take on the mantle of leadership. One wonders how long the country will be betrayed by this gang of dictatorial despots. One is optimistic that the pledged but deceptive fealty cannot sustain itself, like under the PNC, in the modern globalised world.

To this regime, a properly ordered society depends largely on applying lip service to its critics. It does not believe in addressing strong oppositional views. If you do not believe me check out the grandstanding of Carl Greenidge in Parliament recently; the wild and sweeping statements about the status of Guyana’s forest by Raphael Trotman; as well as Simona Broomes’ conflict of interest in the Ministry of National Resources.

Their hauteur has no place in a society looking for change.

To these individuals, change does not mean something different, something new. Rather, change means simply going back to the old ways, the PNC days of horror and terror.

The enthusiasm for promoting social cohesion is also questionable. There is no convincing evidence of anything meaningful being achieved in social cohesion. What is more certain is that the regime displays more reticence than reconciliation on critical issues.

The stable of Cabinet members, especially in the AFC, believes they should be ennobled for removing the PPP from power. Apparently, this is the regime’s highest point so far, and it is clutching at this “achievement” like a drowning man to a straw. (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu)

What's inside:

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Pg 12

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Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

By Utamu Belle

F

lamboyant costumes carried along by glittering faces; people gyrating to the sounds of masquerade bands, calypso and steel pan music; hundreds lining the streets to get a glimpse of the spectacle, with smells of delicious Guyanese cuisine permeating the atmosphere.

Over the years, these features, which mark the observance of Guyana becoming a Republic (back in February 1970) have never failed to amuse Guyanese and the rest of the Diaspora.

Mashramani, or “Mash” as it is often called – the official Republic anniversary celebration – has a long history dating back to its birthplace, Linden. It all started when the Jaycees of Linden, who had

Hotel Tower circa 1930

been organising the country’s chosen for the festival, which Independence celebrations was intended to celebrate since 1966, sought to have the much-anticipated “Birth a carnival-like festival to of the Republic”. It was mark Guyana obtaining its Republican status. In 1970, chaired by popular West Indies cricketer Basil Butcher, the Jaycees Republic Committee was formed and included members such as Jim Blackman, who then served as Deputy, due to Butcher being selected to form part of the tour of Australia; resource personnel Adrian Thompson, Wo r d s w o r t h Hazel Figueira - Mash Queen McAndrew and Arthur 1970 (Godfrey Chin photo) Seymour. Following the formation of the Committee, its members then began consultations so Butcher who that a relevant name could be made the suggestion that

Hotel Tower 2016

an Amerindian name would be best suited. After the members of the Committee agreed, they contacted several

Amerindians, including Allan

Fiedtkou. Fiedtkou suggested a name which, he learnt from his grandfather, was used by Amerindians when they gathered to commemorate an auspicious event.

As Fiedtkou would have explained, the celebration would last over the course of several days, sometimes even up to a week.

According to him, it was like “Muster Many”, or the Amerindian term “ M a s h i r i m e h i ”, which sounded like “Mashramani” in Arawak.

Since there was no confirmation or denial that Mashramani, known as an Amerindian term for celebration after hard work or a job well done, was the Arawak word for festival, the Committee decided to call the festival just that, with the aim of hosting a national observance.

And so on February 23, 1970, Guyana’s first Republican festival was staged at Linden.

The celebration was deemed a successful one, and featured three days of exciting competition and fun, which attracted large crowds from across the other administrative Regions. It eventually managed to secure sponsorship from the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL). Guyanese were said to have welcomed the observances with as much splendour as they welcomed the status of becoming a Republic.

Enjoyed by many, Mashramani’s popularity quickly grew.

In 1972, it was taken to Georgetown, following the then Government’s intervention to have the festival hosted in the capital city, since it was to become a national observance.

Government official David Singh met with the Jaycees Committee and discussed the idea, prior to then President Forbes Burnham granting permission. That year, the

bauxite company in Linden sent a 500 strong contingent to Georgetown to participate in the parade. A witness to the celebrations in those days recalled it being somewhat different to the “bachannal style” prancing down the streets these days.

“It was not like what we see these days, we used to hold hands and do an Amerindian type dance, moving from side to side. We would form a line, and the line would be in so much order, but there was no Soca style jamming, just an orderly, peaceful dance,” she explained.

The move saw the event being held in Linden, Berbice and Georgetown, but Linden failed to garner much sponsorship to sustain the costume and float parade.

Eventually, it was centred in Georgetown and as the years went by, other areas across Guyana joined in.

In recent years, the Linden celebration has been held approximately one week after the grand float parade in Georgetown. Costumes are usually sponsored by the Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) Democratic Council (RDC) and a few businesses.

However, the float parade can be considered miniature to that of the capital city’s. Many wonder if there will be a return of the grand float parade to its birthplace. Nevertheless, Lindeners remember with much pride that there is where it all began 46 years ago.

While there will be no float parade this year, for the first time since Guyana obtained its Republican status, a grand parade marking 50 years of Independence is expected to be held on May 26. As for the observances in Linden, the birthplace of Mashramani, an event called “Mash Bash” is set to take place. The activity will see a fun day like atmosphere in the community, as the country awaits its grand float parade, which will feature 50 floats, symbolising 50 years as an independent nation.

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Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

SECOND PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA FIRST SESSION 1969 RESOLUTION NO. XXVI Cleveland W Hamilton

Words by: Cleveland W Hamilton, Music by: Frank Daniels

From Pakaraima’s peaks of pow’r To Courentyne’s lush sands, Her children pledge each faithful hour To guard Guyana’s lands.

To foil the shock of rude invader Who’d violate her earth, To cherish and defend forever The State that gave them birth.

We’ll forge a nation’s mighty soul Construct a nation’s frame; Freedom our everlasting goal, Courage and truth our aim,

Frank Daniels

Unyielding in our quest for peace Like ancient heroes brave, To strive and strive and never cease With Strength beyond the slave.

Guyana, climb the glorious perch To fame, prosperity; Join in the universal search For world-wide comity.

Your people what soe’er their breed Their hue or quality, With one firm never changing creed The nation’s unity.

HEREAS the Constitution of Guyana makes provision in paragraph (5) of article 73 thereof whereby Guyana may become a Republic and accordingly cease to be part of Her Majesty's dominions pursuant to alterations to the Constitution set out in the Second Schedule thereto; AND WHEREAS such provision requires a resolution of the National Assembly, upon a motion introduced by the Prime Minister, that Guyana shall become a Republic and that the said alterations to the Constitution shall have effect on such day after the passing of the resolution as may be specified therein; AND WHEREAS by virtue* of such provision notice of such a motion may be given on or after 1st January, 1969, but not less than three months before the National Assembly proceeds upon the motion; AND WHEREAS in fulfilment of the processes of National Independence it is fitting that Guyana should become a Republic pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution; AND WHEREAS the twenty-third day of February in each year commemorates the revolt of enslaved peoples on that day in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three in the then Colony of Berbice — being the first significant blow struck for freedom in the territory now comprised in the State of Guyana: RESOLVED by this National Assembly in pursuance of paragraph (5) of article 73 of the Constitution of Guyana that on the twenty-third day of February in the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy Guyana shall become a Republic and accordingly cease to be part of Her Majesty's dominions and that for that purpose the alterations to the Constitution of Guyana set out in the Second Schedule to the said Constitution shall have effect.

Passed by the National, Assembly this 29th day of August, 1969.

M B HENRY, Acting Clerk of the National Assembly

Parliament Building circa 1966

Parliament Building 2016

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Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

– reminiscences by Guyana’s senior citizens

By Susan David

M

ashramani, the celebration after hard work is one of the oldest traditions in Guyanese society, commemorating its birth as a Republican State. This festival takes place on February 23 every year.

Revellers decked out in a kaleidoscope of radiant colours gyrate to the beats of drums as they prance through the streets during the costume and float parades.

The early celebrations of Mashramani were more subdued, allowing participants to showcase their talents and skills. Catching Guyana Times up on these celebrations, residents of St

Roel Stoll

Thomas Moore Men’s Home situated in Lamaha Street Kitty fondly reminisced on their youthful years.

The calm and soft-spoken Roel Stoll who hailed from Bartica eagerly shared his memories. His

life was centred on the mining industry in the interior and as Mashramani approached, he packed and left for the capital city to begin celebrating one week in advance. Finally, the long-awaited holiday arrived. All decked out in costumes, revellers marched through the streets of the city along with the floats, to the beat of steel pans.

He related that he enjoyed tramping in the band that was pulled by a Land Rover, and moving in the floats that were placed on wheels. In a cheery tone, he explained the most anticipated moment was viewing the judging of the float competition, which was won every year that he can recall

by Banks DIH under the

Claude Pile

theme “Thousand strong band float”.

The bubbly and energetic Claude Pile said Mashramani was welcomed with “much excitement” by himself. Although he was not actively in-

volved in participating in the costume and float parade, he enjoyed watching them as they rolled slowly down Church Street. He explained that the floats were mainly from business entities and displayed their logos advertising the businesses.

“My focus was turned to the after-party after the floats were gone,” Pile noted. He explained that the celebration started with the consumption of alcoholic beverages, and plenty of food and large tents were pitched on the Merriman Mall, where a dance was held. Music blared through the stillness of the night from several music systems into the wee hours of

Keith Chan-a-sue

have a fun-filled day, which began with a games competition, with voluntary participation of persons there.

Her most anticipated moment was the arrival of the floats in radiant colours, accompanied by the steel pans. As the costumes were being judged, she enjoyed watching the emotional expressions of the winners. Chichester noted that costumes were decent, as they were made to cover all parts of the body modestly. Later in the evening, she joined the party on the streets until the activities were over.

The aged but still vibrant Honora Cheong from Essequibo sadly related

Caroline Chichester

the morning. As the break of dawn approached, the activities ceased as revellers made their way home.

Another resident of the home, the plainspoken Keith Chan-a-sue, who grew up in Georgetown, joyfully recounted the Mashramani experience in his youthful years. He recalled early in the morning of the 23rd, his family would pack their picnic basket and head out to the National Park. They then pitched a small tent on the grass to seek shelter from the sun and enjoyed a closeup view of the float parade.

Chan-a-sue related that he enjoyed the tunes of the steel pans as the float parade assembled in the Park for the judging. Families also played games as part of the day’s activities in the park.

As the sun set in the horizon, he and his family made their way back home at the close of the parade. There was no partying for them.

Guyana Times also caught up with some energetic elderly ladies over at Byers Senior Citizens Home, located in Robb Street, who also reflected on Mashramani in their younger days.

An animated Caroline Chichester, who hailed from Cottage, Mahaicony, related that she was “excited and gainfully” occupied in all the festivities of Mashramani.

Chichester explained that after the picnic basket was packed, she headed to the National Park with her family to

Honora Cheong

that Mashramani festivities were not of much importance to her family in her younger days. However, she recalled that her parents accompanied her to view the costume and float parade which was accompanied by the sounds of steel pan music and an entourage of “band marchers” behind the last float.

The Mashramani festivities have changed vastly over the years. People travel from the outlying regions to celebrate this occasion. Costumes are skimpily made. The float parades are larger, accompanied by loud music from large music sets on trailers behind the float. Revellers gyrate down the streets behind the floats. The busy roadways are cramped for space with onlookers and stalls selling a variety of delicacies, while the floats proceed to the National Park to be judged. Meanwhile, parties are in full swing across the country, as the revellers have a grand time until the break of dawn.

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Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Message from President David Granger People’s Progressive Party message

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he independent nation of Guyana declared itself a Republic on this day 46 years ago. It assumed the name “The Cooperative Republic of Guyana”.

The establishment of the republic was by no means a perfunctory, post-colonial affirmation of statehood or the adoption of an ornamental title. It marked a transition from Guyana’s status as a ‘monarchy’ to a constitutional ‘democracy’.

Our first Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham, advised: “… in the context of Guyana, there is an indescribable incongruity about having the Queen of Great Britain [as] the Queen of Guyana. Moving to the status of a Republic represents, to my mind, a further step in the direction of self-reliance and selfconfidence.”

The declaration of republican status was an audacious and ambitious political decision. It consummated the covenant of Independence that had been earned four years earlier in 1966.

It severed the residual vestiges of Guyana’s dependency on our former colonial rulers.

Guyana joined the majority of states of the world which, today, are also republics. Guyana, by becoming a Republic: Effaced the incongruous • image of the Queen of Britain being the Head of State of our nation. It allowed us to appoint a Guyanese, of humble origins, the descendant of indentured labourers, as our first President; • Emancipated our new nation from the ignominy of having our final court of appeal located in the country which, for 150 years, had exercised colonial dominion over our citizens; and, Elevated the status • of our people and enhanced their self-esteem; expedited the ‘Guyanisation’ of society and promoted the mobility of Guyanese in public institutions and international organisations.

Guyanese must seize the opportunity of this anniversary to work for greater national unity.

We can be one nation only if all sections of our population feel that they are an integral part of and share in our country’s development.

National unity must be pursued at all levels. We must, in

President David Granger

2016, narrow the differences and divisions between our political parties through the promotion of dialogue and the intensification of political cooperation and consensus-based decisionmaking.

Guyanese must, at the national level, eradicate the suspicions that promote tensions and strife. We must dispel prejudice and hatred amongst individuals and groups.

We must move forward as a united nation, constantly reaffirming our national motto: “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.

Democracy is about placing power in the hands of the people.

The changes wrought by becoming a republic were part of a process of democratic renewal. They were intended to place power into the hands of the people by making “the small man the real man”. They enabled the common folk, through their communities, collectives and cooperatives, to promote their economic selfimprovement.

We will fulfil our promise to conduct Local Government Elections in order to empower our citizens in their village communities and municipalities after two nightmarish decades of municipal despotism. Local Government Elections will empower residents and enrich communities.

Guyanese must use this opportunity of the holding of Local Government Elections on 18th March to continue the process of democratic renewal which has been denied to our people for 22 years.

Local Government elections will re-emphasise the

People’s National Congress Reform

T

he People’s National Congress Reform is pleased to extend greetings and good wishes to all Guyanese as we celebrate the 46th anniversary of our republican status.

This year, 2016, our nation celebrates its Golden Jubilee, 50 years as an independent nation.

The national celebration of Mashramani, therefore, is an occasion for reflection and assessment of the state of our nation, 46 years after Guyana was declared a Republic and 50 years since we achieved our independence. In this regard, it must be evident to all that we, as Guyanese, need to redouble our efforts to banish crime, disease, ignorance and poverty.

We must strengthen national unity, expand national infrastructure, fortify national

institutions, ensure national security and extend public services. Our party has joined our partners in APNU/AFC to declare and dedicate our energies to making 2016 the Year of Renaissance.

This year, we must all stand as one. This is the year for national unity. In the words of our Party Leader and President, “It is a year for recalling and re c o m m i tt i n g towards the dream of a free, united and prosperous Guyana, one in which the good life is attainable by all.” Accordingly, the PNCR wishes all of the Guyanese people a Happy Republic holiday, and a joyous celebration of Mashramani, as we pray that the spirit of peace, love and unity will dwell among us on the 46th anniversary of our Republic.

importance of our communities.

Local Government Elections will empower elected local representatives thereby allowing citizens to administer their own affairs more competently and to contribute more fully to the development of their communities.

We have emphasised the importance of communities by naming the Ministry of Communities, by enhancing the role of Community Policing, by strengthening our Community Development Councils, by refurbishing our Community Centres and by revisiting the idea of Community High Schools.

Guyanese must seize the opportunity of this anniversary to improve the communities in which they live in order to avert decline. The social problems – alcoholism and drug abuse; crime; homelessness; interpersonal violence; poverty and suicide – and the threat they present to the common good demand urgent attention and action, especially at the level of the community.

Communities give primacy to the needs of individuals, families and households. They recognise that residents are social beings and they seek, therefore, to harmonise the interests of the individuals with those of society as a whole. These problems cannot be addressed by any single group – be it Government or NonGovernmental Organisations.

These problems are national in scale. They require national responses.

Let us cooperate for Guyana!

God bless the Cooperative Republic of Guyana!

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to extend greetings to all Guyanese as the nation observes its 46th anniversary as a Republic. Becoming a Republic in 1970 was not only a historic moment in our history when officially governance by our colonial master was severed, but an occasion that imbued a profound sense of pride to begin charting our own course.

The PPP believes that while it is an occasion to demonstrate pride and patriotism for self-governance and achievements, it is also a time for reflection. Our nation’s observances as a Republic generally crescendo with the much-anticipated Mashramani float parade.

However, in this, our 50th year, as an independent nation, the Government has shifted this mega event to May for the jubilee celebration.

No doubt there would be some level of disappointment since all Guyanese look forward to Mash Day. However, expectancy is for May. Since the change of government in May last year, Guyanese have become despondent which has been exacerbated by the economic slowdown and a creeping dictatorship. This has caused many to ask: what is there to celebrate even if the annual Mash parade was

held?

Over the last 46 years under self-rule, Guyanese would have experienced the extremities of being impoverished and hopeless to being prosperous and hopeful. Those with authentic recollection would have seen demarcation of austerity, oppression and endemic poverty under the People’s National Congress’ Government and unprecedented development, prosperity and freedoms under the PPP leadership.

Unfortunately, given what has transpired under this new Administration, our democracy is under threat and it appears that our country could be pushed once again into economic turmoil and authoritarian rule.

As we observe the nation’s 46th anniversary as a Republic and prepare to celebrate its jubilee year of Independence, all must guard against any

attempt to suppress freedom and derail progress.

The pride demonstrated on these occasions is driven not only by a sense of freedom from our colonial masters, but with the security of knowing that our hardfought democracy would be protected.

As we demonstrate our patriotism on these national occasions, we must make our voices heard against all efforts to reintroduce any semblance of oppression.

As the Golden Arrowhead flutters proudly for this anniversary, so must all of us in our hearts knowing that our freedoms, which are once again under threat, must remain paramount. It is our Party’s fervent hope that as our nation observes yet another milestone, the despondency that prevails would be dispelled.

Happy Republic anniversary to all!

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Tuesday, february 23, 2016| guyanatimesGY.com

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news

Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

PPP to Govt: “Release Rodney Report!”

T

he People’s Progressive Party is calling on the People’s National Congress-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to immediately make public the findings from the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

During a press conference on Monday at Freedom House, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee demanded an explanation for the delay in the Report’s official release.

He also expressed that the parliamentary Opposition would most likely use the Report for political points.

“The question is why is the Government taking so long to put it on the GINA [Government Information Agency] website, they should release it to the public … the public deserves to see the contents of the Report, so the longer they dillydally and take to make up their mind what to do with it and think that the

Dr Walter Rodney

Opposition will take political mileage from it – well, naturally that is going to happen, but the longer they dillydally, the more speculations will increase…,” Rohee stated.

He refrained from commenting on the leaked contents of the Report, noting that the Party would issue a statement when Government

officially handed over the document to it or made the Report public.

The leaked document has generated quite a storm of discourse, with commentators from all sections of society weighing in on the findings which confirmed the age-old notion that the Linden Forbes Burnhamled PNC Government was responsible for the assassination of Dr Rodney.

Both former President Donald Ramotar and Working People’s Alliance Executive Member, Dr David Hinds have commented on its findings, unanimously declaring that Dr Rodney’s comrades have been vindicated.

Moreover, Ramotar had previously expressed his firm belief that the Government would outright reject the Report, since its findings have implicated the PNC in the murder of Dr Rodney.

Notably, Government is yet to issue a statement on the findings of the Report.

Businessman robbed after leaving bank – bandit escapes with $500,000

M

inutes after exiting a bank at Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), a businessman was robbed when a lone bandit broke into his vehicle and carted off a bag containing some $500,000.

The businessman, Nandkumar Bahabur, owner of Kumar Variety Store, located in Parika, told Guyana Times that he conducted business at a local bank at Parika after which he proceeded to a butcher shop in Good Hope, EBE. He stated that he parked his bus, in which the cash was stashed in a bag, and went into the butcher shop.

“While sitting and waiting on the owner, a white Spacio pull up in front of me and blocked me from looking at my vehicle, so I couldn’t see anything. At the time, I did not realise that the vehicle was there to distract me, so when I finish

Surveillance footage obtained showing the suspect

at the butcher chop I notice the Spacio speeding off and when I got to my bus, the bag containing the money was gone,” the distraught man related.

Nandkumar told this publication that he believed that he was followed after leaving the bank.

“The man traced me from Parika because how would they have known that the exact person gone over to the butcher shop to block my path, so that I couldn’t see my bus?” Mohabir

pondered.

He further related that he did not see the person who broke into his bus, but a nearby business captured surveillance camera, which he reviewed.

The footage shows a man of African descent wearing a red shirt and blue pants breaking into the minibus with licence plate BRR 1159.

The matter was subsequently reported to the Parika Police Station and an investigation has been launched.

The Race to LGE 2016 Clinical psychologist to improve security, housing utilities if elected

C

linical Psychologist and Pastor Dr Mark Constantine is aiming at improving the security and basic housing utilities of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD), if elected as a Councillor at the upcoming Local Government Election (LGE).

Constantine, who is a candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), is contesting for Constituency Seven, Malgre Tout to Meer Zorgen, WBD. The religious leader, active member of the Community Policing Group of the Housing Scheme, stated that there are a number of issues plaguing residents of the area which needs to be addressed, and posited that he is capable of attending to those needs.

“My main area of focus is the development as well as the security of our community. Residing in a newly developed housing scheme such as Parfaite Harmonie, we are faced with challenges of proper garbage disposal, challenges of proper roads in our community, and one of the major challenges, which we want to see improved, is access to better water supply,” Constantine stated.

Dr Mark Constantine

He explained that the quality of water and adequacy of supply need to be examined as there are concerns being raised by citizen in the area. “The water is discoloured due to rust and other particles, so the water supply and quality is terrible.

That is due to the fact that we do not have a water treatment plant in Parfaite Harmonie,” he related.

Constantine explained that the issue has also been an economical challenge to households as they are forced to purchase distilled bottled water on a daily basis, and this growing need has seen at least five suppliers established in the community.

He further explained that residents are also inconvenienced by a lack of infrastructural developments such as proper drainage, roads and sanitation. “In any community where any proper infrastructural amenities such as roads and proper drainage are challenging, these things pose a threat,” the candidate explained, adding that these will be addressed first, should he be elected by the community.

“We’re going to appeal to the Government and relevant authorities, and ensure that in a vast developing community such as Parfaite Harmonie, proper and adequate water supplies are put in place, as well as proper roads and lighting,” Dr Constantine affirmed.

He encouraged the Community to vote for him, stating he is of good reputation and has been engaged in providing service to his community such as medical clinics for the underserved.

“I am a reputable individual in my constituency and for many years I have been doing a lot of community-based service. They know that I am a person who is credible and that I am the person who gets things done,” the candidate declared.

18 news

Tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

National Service will be Speaker, Govt abide voluntary – Basil Williams

by High Court ruling “We don’t need National Service, we need Technocrat Ministers

– Scott, Felix no longer in Parliament

BY EDWARD LAYNE

S

peaker of the National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland on Monday upheld Justice Ian Chang’s decision, which declared that Citizenship and Immigration Minister Winston Felix and Minister within the Social Protection Ministry Keith Scott cannot sit in the house as non-elected members, since they were candidates on the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) List of Candidates for the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections.

At the commencement of Monday’s sitting which continued consideration of the 2016 Budget Estimates, Dr Scotland said while he was not officially served a copy of the High Court ruling, he is aware of it and believed it should be acted upon.

“I must tell this House that I had determined as of yesterday (Sunday) that the information in papers was sufficiently reliable. The position is therefore that the Speaker will uphold the Court’s decision… acceptance of a decision of the court must be unequivocal at all times,” Dr Scotland added.

At the time when the Speaker made his declaration, both Felix and Scott were not in the House.

Attorney General Basil Williams told the National Assembly that the government intends too, to obey the court order until it is discharged or set aside.

“We will leave no stone

youth empowerment and employment opportunities” – Essequibians BY: INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

A

Winston Felix

Keith Scott

unturned to return our brothers to the House,” he vowed.

Justice Chang’s contention is that while government is allowed to name technocrat Ministers to sit in the National Assembly as nonelected members, those persons should not be on the candidates list for the party.

The ruling, described as one of the most historic in Guyana’s most recent political history, is as a result of a Motion filed

by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) member Desmond Morian against Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams and Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland, challenging the appointment of the two ministers, stating that they are illegally present in the National Assembly as technocrats.

The Motion states: “Winston Gordon Felix and Keith Winston Harold Scott are not lawful members of and cannot sit in the

National Assembly of the 11th Parliament of Guyana”.

Justice Chang in his ruling declared that no legal or constitutional basis could be found upon which the two ministers have the right to sit in the Assembly. He explained that Felix and Scott cannot sit in the National Assembly as Technocrat Members since they are on the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) successful List of Candidates and are therefore elected members of Parliament.

He stated that seats of National Assembly are allocated to the successful lists of candidates cumulatively.

Hence, it follows that members of that list are constitutionally recognised as “elected members” even before the stage of allocation of seats between those successful lists is reached, let alone before extraction is made. continued on page 19

ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams has told Essequibians that the coalition Government is presently revisiting the idea of National Service with the intention of making it voluntary.

He was at the time responding to a question by a resident of Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) during a meeting Saturday last at the Anna Regina Town Hall.

The resident was questioning the proposed employment opportunities for young people, pointing out that large a number of youths are without jobs and are frustrated.

The resident also requested educational programmes, youth empowerment courses and more recreational facilities to be established in Essequibo region.

In responding to the question, the Attorney General told those gathered that government will revisit the National Service policy and make it voluntarily so that young people can be meaningfully occupied. He said National Service will compliment youth empowerment courses and will equip youths with valuable training.

He said National Service will provide a focus on skill development, making youths more marketable in the field

Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams

of work.

“Young people are too idle, they have nothing to do, National Service will keep them occupied, we find that those young people that are not occupied and pursue their time in idleness they find themselves at NOC,” Williams noted.

He stressed that additional skills training will provide young people with ample opportunities and avenues to tap into, hence government will be able to provide the “good life” promised to Guyanese.

However, many residents questioned the government’s motive, pointing out that training programmes can be implemented within the region.

“We don’t want to send our children outside the region. They right at home and are misbehaving much less outside we eyes. What we want this government to

understand is we voted for them and we need better things like skill training at all community centres across Region Two; let the training come to us,” a resident from Anna Regina argued.

Other residents suggested that community centres be utilised for providing educational sessions, free counselling and other services within the communities. They also lobbied for an agro- processing facility so that youths can be employed.

Only recently, in light of the re-establishment of several military and paramilitary organisations, People’s Progressive Party General Secretary Clement Rohee had sounded an alarm of the possible return of a “police controlled state” as what existed during the Burnham era.

Rohee had declared that with the reintroduction of the Guyana National Service and the People’s Militia, it is clear Guyana is going back to the past.

“You have to have experienced and lived through those days to be able to speak with authority on what is perceived to be emerging now… the use of the coercive apparatus of the state to monitor… to do reconnaissance on persons who are suspected to be political opponents whether individually or within an organisation,” he had stated.

19

news

tuesday, february 23, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

“Surujbally’s opinion is Wales workers on strike today grounded in madness” – Rohee – despite threats to halt entire crop …dismisses claim that PPP/C inserted fraudulent SoPs

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

he People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has rubbished claims that it was responsible for placing the fraudulent Statements of Poll (SOPs) into the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) machinery during the General and Regional Elections on May 11, 2015, and has called on those making the allegations to provide the evidence.

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, during a recent news conference, strongly hinted that the PPP/C may have been the ones behind the fake SoPs. “Nobody could imagine that someone could stoop so low, so vicious, and so transparently evil to bring in false Statements of Poll … When I tell my colleagues in the Caribbean, they cannot believe a thing like that can happen,” Dr Surujbally said, noting that those who might have been responsible would be those who had the most to gain in the entire process.

Responding to these statements, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee declared that the Party would not be bothered by the insinuations.

“It sounds as though it is grounded in madness…his (Surujbally’s) opinion is an element of madness,” Rohee stated at the Party’s weekly press conference at Freedom House.

The PPP/C had raised concerns about the placement of fake SoPs into GECOM’s system following the General and Regional Elections last year.

The Party has since contended that the discovery of fake SoPs proved that the elec-

T

tions were not free and fair, and the elections may have been rigged in favour of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

The Party subsequently filed an election petition in the High Court and on Friday last, outgoing Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang ruled that the petition could go forward in trial.

This was after a summons was filed by the GECOM Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield to have the petition thrown out.

However, before the Court can proceed with hearing the substantive case, there are several other summonses that will have to be heard and determined. One such summons is the summons filed by the representative for the APNU/ AFC List of Candidates, Professor Harold Lutchman seeking “further and better particulars” in the election petition.

Moreover, with Justice Chang slated to retire at the end of February, the case will have to be heard now by Chief Justice (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards or she can assign it to be heard by another Judge.

D

espite threats to halt sugar production by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), workers are moving ahead with today’s planned strike action.

This newspaper was told that many workers will down tools to vent their dissatisfaction over the imminent closure of the Wales Estate and the collapse of talks over salary incentives.

This continues last Tuesday’s industrial action, which saw labour turnout at Wales Estate touch 20 per cent while Blairmont had a 28 per cent turnout and Albion had a 70-80 per cent turnout of staff.

GuySuCo, in a statement, condemned the strike actions and laid the responsibility at the feet of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).

“Such behaviour by the Union would leave the Corporation with no alternative but to put a halt to the current crop until the Union gives its fullest commitment to allowing the crop to proceed unhindered,” the statement from GuySuCo said.

At last Tuesday’s strike, Head of No 12 Gang, Talat Khan stated that the deci-

Speaker, Govt abide...

“Article 160 (3) (a) (v) makes it pellucidly clear that extraction is made from the lists of candidates who have been elected. Therefore, the status of a candidate as

an elected member of the Assembly necessarily precedes any act of extraction made by the representative of that list to be holders of seats in the Assembly on behalf of the oth-

Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle

sion to close Wales must be changed. He had also posited that negotiations over an increase in 2015 wages and discussions on the Annual Production Incentive (API) would have continued with the Union and Labour Department within the Ministry of Social Protection.

On Saturday, Guyana Times reported on Thursday’s deadlock between GuySuCo and GAWU. It was reported that Chief Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officer (CLOSHO) Charles Ogle, who has been acting as the conciliator, described the situation as a deadlock since

From page 18

er persons named thereon,” Justice Chang stated.

According to the former Chief Justice in his 15-page decision, members on a successful list of candidates who

are appointed seats in the National Assembly are entitled to all the rights of a parliamentarian in order to represent the electorate, who would have voted for them.

the two parties failed to meet any compromise on the API for 2015.

GuySuCo stated on Thursday that its total revenue for 2015 was $18. 4 billion, with sugar sales having contributed some $17.2 billion. The Corporation further added that the revenue generated could not cover 2015 employment costs as it stood at $21.6 billion.

It was also posited that the Corporation was amenable to the payment of incentives. In 2015, the seven estates achieved 94.41 days which allowed workers to earn $1.099 billion in Weekly Production Incentive [WPI].

Further, the sum of $1.009 billion was also earned as Personal Performance Incentive (PPI) by cane harvesters. These incentives equate to $2.1 billion of tax free earnings to GuySuCo employees which is approximately 10 per cent of the Corporation’s employment costs.

The press statement had further added that despite the declaration, the Union should accept the 2.72 days’ pay valued at approximately $223 million, which would allow GuySuCo to go ahead and make the payment in keeping with its commitment to the employees.

Government confirmed the closure of the Wales Estate in January after Guyana Times published that a decision was made to close the entity. The rationale behind the closure was that this year Wales would account for $1.6-1.9 billion in losses.

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tuesday, february 23, 2016| guyanatimesGY.com

21

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22

guyanatimesGY.com

Tuesday, february 23, 2016

GVF addresses pertinent issues at AGM T

he Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) last Saturday at the Guyana Olympic Association’s headquarters where it rolled out its calendar for the 2016 season and addressed other issues pertinent to the smooth running of the Federation.

The federation heard nominations to fill the posts of General Secretary and Public Relations Officer, two of three posts that were vacated for various reasons during 2015.

Robert Millington was elected to serve as General Secretary, while Ian Wills filled the vacant post of PRO, however, the third vacant post, Assistant General Secretary, still remains vacant and will be addressed in the near future, according to president of the Federation, John Flores.

A tightly packed calendar of events was also rolled out, which includes a number of school, female and beach tournaments, the main areas of local volleyball Flores intend to tackle this year.

In his opening remarks and an-

nual report, the president emphasised his intention to address aggressively those three areas of the sport locally.

He pointed out, “Men’s volleyball is not in such a bad state, judging from their performance in Brazil last September at the South American Championships.

However, female volleyball is clearly in need of attention and beach volleyball is basically still in its infancy stage locally so more attention needs to be paid to them while not neglecting the senior male aspect of the game.”

Flores also emphasised the need to address volleyball in the schools, an area which he pointed out “is basically the only feeder for club and national teams.”

Also in his sights for this year, the president outlined that there are lots of hidden talents in hinterland regions, an area he feels is best suited to producing the best level of beach players because they play only outdoor volleyball and are already used to playing in sandy areas.

To this end, Flores intends to initiate an action plan aimed

John Flores

at regularising volleyball programmes in hinterland areas through the development of proper coaches and proper structuring of volleyball programmes. To achieve this, Flores pointed out that his federation will have to start doing outreach programmes to initiate the kind of structure and level of understanding of the game he

intends to create in the hinterland areas.

While rolling out his list of local and international tournaments to the two Associations present at the AGM- Demerara and BerbiceFlores wasted no time in commending the two newly elected bodies which he says he recognised have already hit the ground running with volleyball events in 2016 and who already have similarly packed calendars for their respective associations.

Among the events planned this year on the GVF calendar, there is noticeably the inclusion of females, beach and schools tournaments, while the federation has also committed to its marque event, the Tradewind Tankers International tournament in November, among other local tournaments.

The federation has also acquired a coaching course from the International body FIVB and has also made commitments to continue to push for a trilateral InterGuiana Games among Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana federations at various age levels.

However, the highlight of the

international calendar for 2016 are the South American Junior Championships for Under-19, Under-21 and Under-23 male and female teams between July and October, which the Federation has already pledged to participate in.

The GVF president, along with presidents of the two active associations, Levi Nedd and Trevor Williams of Berbice and Demerara respectively, and the newly elected General Secretary have already planned a meeting with the Minister of Education with responsibility for sport, Nicolette Henry, to discuss a number of matter important to the further development and the smooth running of volleyball locally.

One such area for discussion is a commitment by the FIVB to develop playing facilities in Guyana.

Meanwhile, Flores will head off to the South American Federation (CSV) Congress early in March where he intends to continue to push for support for the development of volleyball in Guyana, one of only two Level One federations in CSV, the other being French Guiana.

West Berbice Chamber of Commerce to sponsor 20/20 cricket

W

est Berbice Chamber of Commerce is supporting young cricketers and the development of sports in Region five (Mahaica/ Berbice).

In its bid to achieve that goal, the Chamber will be staging a 20/20 cricket show down on February 28, at the C3 Recreational Park, Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice The one day tournament will be contested between four top teams including Cotton Tree/D’edward Combined, Blairmont/West Berbice Combined, Universal DVD Port Mourant, and Young Warriors. The winners of two preliminaries will clash in the finals.

The first game is sched-

uled to commence at 09:00h.

Admission will be free.

The Chamber in a release said it is delighted to be part of the initiative since it believes that investment in youths represents investment for the future. According to the release, the chamber welcomes the undertaking and urged all related communities to come out and support the matches. It says it will continue to support the development of the communities within which it serves.

Meanwhile interested partners and sponsors are asked to come on board and support this initiative. For more information they can contact telephone numbers 592-328-7977, 687-9009 or email wbcic2015@gmail.com.

(Andrew Carmichael)

RHTY&SC teams...

The teams since 2010 has also successfully completed over 600 community related programmes under the name of their sponsors with the main objectives of making a positive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate.

The RHTY&SC’s CEO also committed the teams to uphold the high tradition they have set themselves in the past, most importantly to be role models to their peers and be ambassadors of both club and sponsors.

Marketing Manager of Gizmos and Gadgets, Earl Gomes, stated that his company was delighted to be associated with the RHTY&SC and expressed thanks to the management of the club for affording the company to be the team’s official sponsor.

The club, Gomes stated, was a role model organisation, which others

from page 23

should seem to emulate. The cricketers, the Marketing Manager stated, have represented the Gizmos and Gadgets to the best of their abilities and has made the company proud.

He also expressed congratulations to the First Division team for its championship honours in the recently held Busta Champion of Champions 50-over, Berbice River Bridge 50over and Tenelec Inc. 50over First Division tournaments. He committed the sponsor to fully supporting the teams in 2016 and urged them to uphold their high standards of discipline, hard work and commitment.

The RHTG&G in 2016 would be led by Captain Shawn Perriera and vicecaptain Clinton Pestano, while Hilbert Foster would serve as manager. Collis Butts would be the coach.

guyanatimesGY.com

Tuesday, february 23, 2016

Bakewell extends long-term relationship with RHTY&SC G

uyana’s leading youth and sport organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club’s (RHTY&SC) well known ability to maintain a long-term sponsorship was once again exemplified late last week when Bakery giant, Bakewell, renewed its cricket sponsorship for the 17th consecutive year.

The Georgetown based business establishment would be pumping $230,000 into the club’s Under-17 and Second Division teams for 2016.

Bakewell would also during the year, co-sponsor the RHTY&SC annual youth magazine, annual cricket academy, annual awards ceremony, charity outreach programmes, educational summer camp, as well as sponsor the annual Naem Nasir 5-over memorial cricket tournament.

Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, hailed Bakewell as one of RHTY&SC’s main foundation of success and described the company as one the club’s best friends.

Quoting former Patron of the Club, Beverly Harper, the longstanding Secretary/CEO stated that the RHTY&SC was a small club from a small community doing great things and creating miracles.

Bakewell, he stated, has been sponsoring the two teams since the year 2000 and over the years the teams have won a combined eight

Bakewell Administative Assistant, Natasha Bhikhari, hands over sponsorship to RHTY&SC club captain Shawn Perriera in the presence of other officials of the club

Berbice championships and numerous local tournaments. The Second Division team is currently waiting to play the semi-finals of the NBS 40over tournament, while the Under-17 team is also waiting to play the long delayed Under-17 Berbice wide quarter-final.

The RHTY&SC, Foster stated, is proud to be the bearer of the Bakewell brand in Berbice and would continue to do so in the future with pride and passion.

Foster informed that players like James Fraser, AkshayHomraj,

RHTY&SC teams receive support from Gizmos and Gadgets

Niketa Jackson (Web Express representative) and Bonnita Bisessar (Company Secretary) of Gizmos and Gadgets hand over the sponsorship cheque to RHTY&SC Captain Shawn Perriera

E

lectronic competition Gizmos and Gadgets of Wellington Street, Georgetown, has renewed its cricket sponsorship of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) teams for the year 2016.

The company would be sponsoring the Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets Under-23 and First Division teams at the cost of $375,000, and would also be providing coloured uniforms to the First Division team from an overseas-based supplier at the cost of close to $160,000.

The Georgetown-based electronic store has been sponsoring the teams since 2010, when it replaced Windies Sports Bar as the official sponsor. Secretary/ CEO of the club, Hilbert Foster, at the presentation ceremony recently, hailed the partnership between the RHTY&SC and Gizmos and Gadgets as highly successful. He noted that the RHTY&SC, under the spon-

sorship, has won 12 major cricket tournaments and has produced numerous players for Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies.

Over the years, the calibre of Assad Fudadin, Esaun and Royston Crandon, Shemaine Campbelle, Delbert Hicks, Jason Sinclair, Khemraj Mahadeo, Dominic Rikhi, Collis Butts, Rajiv Ivan, Erva Giddings, Keon Sinclair, Eon Hooper, Clinton Pestano and Troy Mathieson have all represented the teams under the Gizmos and Gadgets’ sponsorship. The RHTY&SC in 2010 also copped its fourth Guyana Board Club of the Year award under the sponsorship.

Foster expressed gratitude to Ravi Mangar, CEO and owner of the company, for his continued confidence in the RHTY&SC, and noted with pride that the two teams played a major role in promoting the company and its products across the country. continued on page 22

Micheal Trim, Khemraj Mahadeo, Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Abdel Fudadin, Jason Sinclair, Shemaine Campbelle and Erva Giddings have all represented the Bakewell teams over the last 17 years.

The teams, which have special responsibilities for the RHTY&SC’s ‘Say No to Drugs, Crime and Suicide’ programme, have also completed a total of 804 projects/activities under the name of the sponsorship, with special emphasis on youths in the Lower Corentyne area.

Both teams have committed themselves to successfully completing eight projects/activities during 2016 under the sub-heading of sport, religion, anti-drugs, anti-suicide, charity and youth development.

The club, whose Patron is President David Granger, expressed gratitude to the management of Bakewell, especially its General Manager Rajin Ganga for its continued support and confidence.

Ganga stated that Bakewell has never regretted its sponsorship of the club and has watched on in admiration as the RHTY&SC has transformed itself as the leading youth and sport organisation in Guyana.

The Bakewell brand has received major promotion via the cricket teams and he offered congratulations to the RHTY&SC on being awarded a national award- the Medal of Serviceby the Government of Guyana for its outstanding contribution to the development of the country.

The Bakewell Under-17 team in 2016 would be led by national junior cricketer Kevlon Anderson with Keith Simpson as his deputy, while Major James Fraser would lead the Second Division team with Anderson as his deputy. Keith Hicks and Ravindranauth Kissoonlall would perform the duties of Manager.

23

Richardson’s double leads... from back page

On resumption of the second half, Jags came out firing on all cylinders with a number of attempts on goal.

However, just as the visiting team were beginning to exhume confidence, Richardson latched onto a cross from Joshua Browne where he nonchalantly placed to the left side of the net to be the last of any chances in the match.

Due to the match being an international friendly, more than three substitutes were permitted.

Jaguars: Konata Manning, Devon Millington, Trayon Bobb, Dwayne Lindie and Delon Lanferman for Grant, Alleyne, Mills, Nelson, Richardson and Peters. Suriname: Galgyto Talea, Jual Pengel, Yvanildo Miesidjan and Sercinio Profijit.

The Golden Jags will continue training until their next engagement against Anguilla on March 23 in the Caribbean Football Union’s Caribbean Cup. (akeemg@guyana-

timesgy.com)

tuesday, february 23, 2016

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

Richardson’s double leads Golden Jags to 2-0 win over Suriname

By Akeem Greene

I

n what can be considered a dream return to the Golden Jaguars team, Captain Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson did not fail to live up to expectations as he powered the Golden Jaguars to a commanding 2-0 victory over the visiting Surinamese at the National Stadium, Providence.

Two superb strikes in the 17th and 72nd minutes by the prolific forward were enough to help Guyana in the win.

The game had the attention of many with the squad being composed of mainly local players.

From the blow off the whistle the Jaguars were looking to pounce on any opportunity to take an early lead as a shot from Richardson within the first minute of action was sent straight to the hands of custodian Claydel Kohinor.

The teasing plays eventually brought joy in the 17th when winger Eon Alleyne, playing on the left, made a valiant run down the line and made a precise pass to Richardson who then settled and powered the ball into the left side of the net to send the crowd in frenzy.

Richardson about to take off for jubilant celebration after scoring the first goal. (Marceano Narine photo)

turn to page 23

BCB appreciates Jaguars, Pride play to tame draw Hetmyer’s achievements WICB/PCL 4-day Cricket….

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T

uyana Jaguars earned a draw against Barbados Pride when seventh round action of the Professional Cricket League Four-day competition concluded in Barbados.

Set a mammoth 405 to win; Guyana Jaguars, resuming on 52 without loss, closed the final day on 252-7 with Raymon Reifer on 19 and Devendra Bishoo on nine.

Opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul top scored with 69, while skipper Leon Johnson made 50 and Test batsman Rajendra Chandrika scored 49.

Roston Chase bagged 5-77 to finish with 10 wickets in the

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

match. Final scores: Barbados Pride 274 and 320-4 declared; Guyana Jaguars 190 and 2527.

In the other matches, Evin Lewis’s maiden first class hundred headlined a convincing Trinidad and Tobago Red Force win as they predictably

trounced Jamaica Scorpions by eight wickets. Scores: Scorpions 225 and 155; Red Force 206) and 178-2.

Windward Volcanoes and Leeward Island Hurricanes played to draw: Scores: Hurricanes 327 and 171-8; Volcanoes 389.

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has recognised the outstanding achievement of the World Cup winning West Indies Under-19 Captain Shimron Hetmyer.

The BCB took advantage of the motorcade organised by the Young Warriors Cricket Club and the business sector to honour the young Berbician for leading the West Indies under-19 team to their first ever victory ICC U-19 World Cup win.

A statement by the county’s cricketing board said “the BCB is proud of you Shimron Hetmyer for your achievement of leading the West Indies under-19 team to their first ever youth World Cup which concluded recently in Bangladesh. As a board, we try our best despite the challenges faced to fulfill our mandate and we continue to produce outstanding players for Guyana and West Indies teams. Your former under-19 team mate Gudakesh Motie is excelling at regional senior

West Indies under 19 captain Shimron Hetmyer (left), receives a token of appreciation from Angela Haniff on behalf of the BCB

cricket already. The board is confident that soon both of you will be wearing the maroon colors. We wish to encourage you to continue to be humble, work hard and stay focus”.

The board also took the opportunity to congratulate the other two Guyanese Tevin Imlach and Kemo Paul, who soon will be presented with plaques by the BCB.

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