Guyana Times Daily - April 22, 2015

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 2471

Thursday, April 23, 2015

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Jagdeo declares “no confidence” P8 in MMU

– Ramotar says will expand small business enterprises P41age

Bush truck fire contained at Eccles gas station Page 43

US prepping Guyana for P10 oil, gas find

Man shot dead, 1 injured in separate shootings P43 CIOG to help monitor elections P44 Father of P44 1 commits suicide at Affiance

...conflagration averted The damaged Two Brothers Gas Station at Eccles, East Bank Demerara and the bush truck that caught fire (inset) (Photo by Shantanand Anude)

GDF Chief warns ranks against partisan behaviour Page 2

Jagdeo cautions Ramsaran for “distasteful” remarks Page 3

CANU guards charged P44 for stealing seized cocaine

2 news

thursday, april 23, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

PPP/C women condemn Ramsaran for outburst A mid the furore over the harsh outburst

by Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran against a rights activist for which he has apologised, two of the most influential women in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) have come out in condemnation of his actions, and also called on society to speak up against similar atrocities by other leaders.

Minister Ramsaran on Monday, in his apology to activist Sherlina Nageer, explained that he was “rudely interrupted and provoked.”

Nageer and Dr Ramsaran had a very heated exchange outside Whim Magistrate’s Court, Berbice during the hearing of a case against former President Bharrat Jagdeo brought by accountant Christopher Ram. According to reports, Nageer was outside the court when she spotted the Health Minister giving an interview to two reporters. It was while the Minister was speaking to the reporters

that she approached him, interrupting his interview.

The activist was heard asking him why he was outside the Magistrate’s Court while the incidence of maternal mortality continues to rise. She suggested that he was wasting her money and the monies of other taxpayers by travelling to Whim to support former President Jagdeo.

The Minister then responded, making some disparaging remarks even as she responded in a similar manner.

Dr Ramsaran had said that on Monday at around 09:30h, he had joined a group of peaceful persons at Whim Magistrate’s Court to give solidarity to former President Jagdeo. The Minister said that as he was about to depart, two journalists sought an interview on the matter at hand to which he readily agreed, but was soon “interrupted, rudely so

by Nageer”.

The Minister said that despite his attempts on several occasions to move away and to prevent a confronta-

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran

tion, she persisted in interrupting the interview. The Health Minister related that he now regrets his actions and as such, wished to apologise to the woman. “It was unfortunate that I was provoked into anger and uttered harsh words at her for which I now regret. I, therefore, wish to apologise for uttering those words,” the Health Minister said.

Meanwhile, in a terse statement, PPP/C Prime

Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper, in condemning Minister Ramsaran, said the remarks made by the Minister were unacceptable and an affront to women. “I condemn his utterances in the strongest possible manner.

It is yet another example of how much more needs to be done in ensuring that women are treated with respect and dignity especially by the exemplars of our society.”

Harper noted that the incident is not an isolated case, but is symptomatic of the way our society can still be at times despite the huge strides “we have made in advancing the rights of women.” She said it also reinforces her own personal intention and commitment to champion the cause of the vulnerable in society.

For her part, Education Minister Priya Manikchand noted that what Dr Ramsaran is reported to have said is nothing short of sexist, noting that he would not have thought of strip-

ping a man.

“He must apologise and retract what he said. I unreservedly condemn his choice of words. I believe he could have and indeed he was entitled to defend himself if he felt threatened by an assault. I don’t believe he is entitled to slap anybody just for fun or to strip anybody.... and it is these backward utterances that he must apologise for,” Manikchand, a former Human Services Minister, said. According to her, Minister Ramsaran may also wish to do some soul searching “and see if that is really how he feels about women, irrespective of whether they are irritants. He must examine how he feels about his responsibility to answer members of the public irrespective if those said members are asking questions in an unconventional way.”

Manikchand also reasoned that those who have been calling for his resignation must understand that they contributed and con-

tinue to contribute to a place that allows this kind of sentiments.

“When you didn’t speak about Henry Green getting an injunction against a woman who was claiming he raped her, you laid the ground for this sentiment and comfort expressing this sentiment.

When you failed to speak up when Raphael Trotman got an injunction against a rape victim, prohibiting that victim from telling his story, you laid the ground for this sentiment and comfort expressing this sentiment (because women are by far the most victims of rape).

When you heard Felix saying on a tape he will plant drugs on a maid at the airport because his friend had complained that she had stolen some money from Congress Place, and you failed to then call for his resignation and further accepted him as a leader now of the Opposition, you essentially built a throne for sentiments like Ramsaran’s.”

GDF Chief warns ranks against partisan behaviour

A

gainst the background of heightened scrutiny on the military for the upcoming elections Brigadier General Mark Phillips on Tuesday briefed his charges, warning them to desist from any form of campaign on the army base, and also to be professional at all times.

Phillips, Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, made the comments while addressing GDF servicemen and women as well as the Force’s civilian staff on their role, regarding the conduct of their duties and their service to the nation as soldiers and citizens for the upcoming national elections. He emphasised that a

professional approach is to be demonstrated and maintained at all times.

According to a GDF statement, Phillips commenced his address by stating that contrary to what has been peddled nationally, the GDF is a professional organisation, and remains the stable band in the society. “Service to the nation remains our motto,” he added. “Ranks you have a civic responsibility as citizens to exercise your franchise during national elections by casting your vote. You are free to vote for whichever person or political party you choose, since it is your Constitutional right.

However, do not allow anyone to make that decision for

GDF Chief-of-Staff Brigadier General Mark Phillips

you. Your vote and who you cast it for is your personal and private choice!” he emphasised.

All were reminded that it was unprofessional to exhibit any form of campaigning on any military base.

“Guyana is still being governed by President Donald Ramotar who was duly elected to the Presidency.

He is still the Commanderin-Chief of the military, and in that regard, still has the right to give instructions to the military,” he said.

“Ex-military officers also have the right to participate in the political activities of Guyana. We respect their service to Guyana. However, our current operational decision-making is not influenced by ex-military officers. We take orders from the duly elected President

of Guyana, our Commanderin-Chief, President Donald Ramotar,” he added.

The Chief-of-Staff explained that there will be a large number of representatives from several countries and international bodies in Guyana during the elections period, serving as observers, and repeated his concern that the highest level of professionalism must be displayed at all times.

“You are to avoid any type of confrontational situations regarding political matters, and, if approached by political representatives on matters regarding the GDF, you must refer those persons to me.”

Military personnel and

other members of the Joint Services will cast their ballots on Saturday, May 2.

Military personnel will be confined from May 6, in preparation for deployment in support of the Guyana Police Force as becomes necessary. It is traditional for the military to vote several days ahead of the general public so that troops can be available for service to the nation as need be, during, and even after the period of National Elections are over.

Phillips insisted that the military is a professional institution and remains committed to the defence and security of the state of Guyana and upholding the nation’s Constitution.

news

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thursday, april 23, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, April 23, 2015 – 08:30h-10:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, April 23, 2015 – 06:55h-08:25h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Jagdeo cautions Ramsaran for “distasteful” remarks strongest possible manner.

It is yet another example of how much more needs to be done in ensuring that women are treated with respect and dignity especially by the exemplars of our society,” the release read.

The statement went on

Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings on: Thursday, April 23 – 06:00h, 11:00h and 17:00h

WEATHER TODAY

personal intention and commitment to championing the cause of the vulnerable in our society,” the release concluded.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand also took to social media to express her dissatisfaction

Thundery and heavy rain showers are expected to prevail throughout the day, with thundery showers in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 3.12 metres per second and 5.36 metres per second.

High Tide: 06:39h and 19:09h reaching maximum heights of 2.72 metres and 2.53 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 12:41h reaching a minimum height of 0.52 metre.

WEDnesday, april 22, 2015

LOTTERY NUMBERS H

02 05 17 28 10 23 09 Bonus Ball

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

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

By Devina Samaroo

F

ormer President and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Executive Bharrat Jagdeo joined his Party colleagues in condemning the behaviour of Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran for his remarks against rights activist Sherlina Nageer.

“First of all, personally I think it should have never happened, it was very distasteful, and we should never say anything about anyone, particularly a woman…,” Jagdeo told media operatives during a press conference at Freedom House on Wednesday.

Nageer and Dr Ramsaran were on Monday involved in a very heated confrontation outside the Whim Magistrate’s Court, Berbice during the hearing of a case against Jagdeo brought by accountant Christopher Ram. Reports indicate that Nageer rudely interrupted the Minister while he was being interviewed by two reporters. The activist was heard being loud and provocative towards the Minister, after which he responded with disparaging comments. He, however, recognised he had erred and issued a public apology via a press release to the media later that day.

The former President noted that he recognised the Minister’s explanation of the untimely situation, but nonetheless affirmed that Dr Ramsaran was wrong to respond the way he did. “I gather Bheri Ramsaran said he has apologised for this … he claimed he was provoked … but in spite of that, he should not have said anything of that nature,” Jagdeo made known.

While on the topic, the former President took the opportunity to clarify the allegations surrounding him and his ex-wife, Varshni Singh. “I saw they said that I beat my wife…

let me make it clear to everyone … I have never physically abused a single woman in my entire life, including my ex-wife…so that is clear…,” he pointed out.

Noting that he cannot speak on behalf of the PPP/C on the situation, Jagdeo disclosed that it was in the Party’s practice to condemn any disparaging remarks against women, especially if it was done in a way that seemed sexist.

Imprudent conduct Meanwhile, the former President is not the only official from the PPP/C camp who raised concerns about the Minister’s remarks. Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper issued a press release to the media on Wednesday condemning the Minister for his imprudent conduct.

“The remarks made by Minister Bheri Ramsaran are unacceptable and an affront to women. I condemn his utterances in the

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran

to point out that this incident was not an isolated case. “It is symptomatic of the way our society can still be at times despite the huge strides we have made in advancing the rights of women.

“It reinforces my own

with the conduct of the Minister. Similarly, Jagdeo had noted his hopes that the media and the general population would respond with the same vigour in condemning similar behaviour expressed by anyone against another person.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, april 23, 2015

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

Editorial

D

Aid for Trade

eveloping our trading linkages is crucial to our transitioning to a developed country status and we hope that, now that the parties' manifestos are imminent, subjects like these will be debated.

The Aid for Trade (AfT) initiative launched by Caricom five years ago is a crucial element in our efforts to boost our trade. AfT had been proposed unilaterally by G-7 in 2005 at the Hong Kong Ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Ostensibly launched in reaction to the growing gap in exploiting the opportunities in trade opened up by globalisation, the AfT regime is intended to assist developing countries with building their trade capabilities in line with their own development plans. The catch phrase was that "market access must be converted into market presence."

This capacity building is critical since with the freezing of the Doha Round of the WTO, the developed world has focused on creating trading regimes in which the less developed countries are not in a position to benefit from their trade commitments.

A good example was the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that Caricom entered into in 2008 with the European Union (EU). The Caricom nations were by and large in no position to exploit the "trade opportunities", unlike the case with the EU nations.

As part of the EPA, the EU had made a commitment to proceed with the AfT and to work with both Government and the private sector, especially the latter to boost their trade capacity. However, only Britain and one other EU nation followed through with their commitment - and this to five of the smallest states.

The WTO has more specifically emphasised that AfT must be deployed to assist developing countries to enter the Global Value Chain (GVC) in which production is spread among any number of countries and value is added at each stage of the transfer. Much of today's global trade is in intermediate goods which are imported, value added and then exported.

The problem is that most value is captured in the design and conceptual stage of the value chain, as well as in the final sales and marketing end of the GVC. However, this is not where most developing countries are located. They are generally located in the lower value manufacturing section of the GVC, and even then, this is true for some, not all developing countries.

The benefit a country gets from participating in the GVC will depend on where a country is lined up in terms of it technological capacities; the depth of their manufacturing capacities; how developed their services sectors are; the size of their enterprises; their managerial expertise; their ability to meet the standards of the international markets, to name only a few criteria.

Due to these and other limitations, developing countries could open up, and they could become more integrated, but the quality of their integration may not be of real benefit.

Mere liberalisation will not upgrade countries’ technological or services supply side capacities. Nor will Trade Facilitation Agreements – expediting the entry of imports through a range of customs procedures.

So the focus of AfT to increase trade via GVC's has to be deepening the production capacities of developing countries so that they can garner a bigger share of the value added.

We suggest that the impetus must be more directed to engender the movement of our manufacturing capacities beyond being assembly lines; creating a more vibrant agricultural sector – including agro-processing and increased production capacities in a range of services sectors.

The latter is crucial because with the entry and exit of intermediate goods between countries, the service component of the GVC has grown exponentially. It now surpasses trade in manufactured goods.

Failure to engage in structural transformation especially of services and deepening of production capacities could mean that our countries will continue supplying raw materials or at best, sites for low value added manufacturing tasks.

On the occasion of Earth Day, celebrated every April 22, we ponder the magnificence and frailty of our world and how we can help heal her wounds. Places like Ha Long Bay in Vietnam remind us of our role as stewards of our planet, our home and how easily these places may be lost as a result of our wilful neglect and abuse (Reuters/Kham)

What in Mr Granger's record has he conquered to make him reassuring?

Dear Editor, APNU/AFC’s ex-military leaders find more support from Floyd Levi, a retired GDF Lieutenant Commander, writing in a letter titled, "The US has had 26 out of her 44 Presidents entering office as military veterans".

No joke. But examine the irony of a former GDF veteran brandishing the laudable democracies of the US and Europe to justify electing David Granger as President of a democratic Guyana.

What in Mr Granger's record has he conquered to make him reassuring? Ballot boxes?

With the time for apologies long expired, Mr Levi, should clarify, no personal slight intended, whether there exist differences and what are the solutions between the "democratic right to run for elections and political office" (which he is currently exercising) and the "automatic entitlement to political office by race" in total repudiation of democracy's free and fair elections.

Race entitlement assumes everything has been predetermined making democracy totally unnecessary. How more insensitive can Mr Levi become?

He cannot be so out of touch about Mr Granger's history to again destroy Guyana's democracy and wreck our economy should he be elected? Mr Levi's indifference

to the 1973 shooting death of two unarmed Guyanese, both protesting PNC rigged elections, has expanded the ignored hole in his balloon endorsement of Mr Granger's election.

Mr Granger has dismissed all those protesters of the 1973 rigged elections as mere "gangsters". He contemptuously denies any responsibility for the murder of Dr Walter Rodney and is adamant the PNC will not apologise, make amends, or provide reparations for those who suffered under PNC misrule. With Mr Granger's previous strategic military collusion, the PNC unfairly acquired and kept power by many non democratic means and instituted a debilitating dictatorship, which led to Guyana's economic ruin.

Additionally, the current PNC leader has absolutely no nexus or experiences with democracy or economics management. In fact, Mr Levi's quoting of the democratic tradition of the US and Europe (and their election of former military veterans) makes his case even worse by its striking dissimilar contrasts.

APNU's entire top heavy militarised management tradition follows the military's top to bottom style with their automatic expectation of a snap to attention acquience, mechanical salute, about turn and complete following of their or-

ders.

That's not how democracy works. In a democracy, the people are in charge.

The elected are just custodians, not the boss.

Mr Granger's election will negatively impact the future trajectory of everyone's happiness and their daily quality of life. Since the past always decides the future, the cause for alarm of Mr Granger's election, is daily becoming more frightening.

Mr Levi however has every democratic right to tout his former superior officer to become President. But Mr Granger who has adamantly denied complicity to all damaging charges, in aiding and abetting yesterday's PNC historical rampage, has today skillfully shed his military camouflage to blatantly and ruthlessly rig himself to become the PNC leader.

When even PNC delegates' opinions at their supreme party congress lose all their validity, by public intimidating gunfire, what makes Mr Granger super clean?

Long since convicted by public opinion, Mr Granger now spearheads a fragile coalition which guaranteed the AFC 12 seats win or lose.

Already coalition trauma finds them unable to agree on their joint manifesto.

Mr Levi suggests that "if the USA and UK (ranked number one and six respectively on the World Bank’s

Global Economic Index) find it beneficial to embrace (please note) military veterans within their elected political hierarchy, why should Guyana (ranked 161 of 192) be worried about having its retired military officers participate (please note) in politics"? Amazing!

What is it that enhances Mr Levi's bold hijacking of the US and UK's higher World Bank (its capitalism) economic ranking to Mr Granger's benefit? Is it to rob and supplant it to benefit the PNC's "hand to mouth" basket case economics with some grand promise of emulating those economies? If it is to boost Mr Granger's election, where is the correlation? Not logical, honourable or fair at all, soldier.

Maybe Mr Granger hopes to transform himself by becoming born again humble, salvage any credibility left and restore Guyana's economy to first world status despite his questionable history. Sorry, but Guyana is no military laboratory for experiments with human lives. Mr Granger will remain steadfastly firm and stiff that the PNC is without any guilt in raping Guyana's democracy. He is completely incapable of any remorse, personal confession, and totally rejects making atonement by reparations for national reconciliation.

Sultan Mohamed

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, april 23, 2015

5

PPP/C has no interest Moses destroyed in promoting race or his appeal when he denied race-based politics letters continued on page 18

Dear Editor, It is amazing the length to which some people would go to misinterpret and distort what is being said by PPP/C leaders at political meetings and rallies.

If there is one party that has always embraced racial and national unity, it is the PPP/C and any attempt to deny this fact is disingenuous if not dishonest.

The PPP/C has no interest in promoting race or race-based politics. This is because as a party it always embraces values which transcend race, religion or creed.

It is the largest multi-eth-

nic party in the country and draws its support from people of all races and ethnicities.

The fact is that in the rough and tough of political campaigns, it is acceptable for the incumbent party to make the case why the opposition parties should not take power especially when there are good and justifiable reasons based on past experiences.

The fact that the PNC regime stole power by way of rigged elections for over two decades cannot be wished away or buried under the carpet as Granger is at-

tempting to do. And who can deny that in a situation of economic decline all Guyanese suffered, regardless of race or ethnicity as under the previous PNC regime!

I am of the strong opinion that those who accuse the PPP/C of race baiting do not understand the party and the way the it operates.

There is no place for people who promote divisions based on race. The PPP/C family is a reflection of our ethnic diversity and no amount of political spin by opposition elements can erase this fact.

This election is not about

race. It is about the future of this country and the way forward. This is why those who attempt to impute racial overtones in our political discourse when none exists should be exposed and rejected.

The good thing is that Guyanese are much wiser and discerning than the Opposition would give them credit for.

Let us be careful and vigilant and reject those wolves in sheep’s clothing who try to divide us as a people.

Hydar Ally

his identity

Dear Editor, The PNC has once again returned to its bag of tricks to remove the PPP/C from Government.

The trick is to accept the AFC as a new addition in its never ending game of “we are more diverse than the PPP/C and therefore we represent change”. The same was said when the WPA was accepted into the PNC fold only to be placed into the back burner to be paraded every once in a while to prove that they are

Sherlina Nageer’s well-thought out ploy should be condemned too

Dear Editor, In the midst of having a peaceful discourse with Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran at the corner of the road adjacent the Whim Police Station and Magistrate’s Court, Guyana Times Journalist, Nafeeza Yayah and myself were interrupted by a young lady who butted in while Ramsaran was speaking about the court matter involving former President, Bharrat Jagdeo which had just concluded in the court there.

“Who is this woman,” I thought? “And what is her damn problem butting in our conversation?” which was being recorded, by the way. I had noticed her earlier with Attorneyat-Law in the Jagdeo court case, popular anti-Government, just-turned politician, Christopher Ram, but never gave the lady much thought.

“And Bharrat Jagdeo hasn’t had any issues with his wife?” were her first utterances, as the Minister stopped in his sentences and started to address her. “Who are you?” he asked. “Why are you here?” she questioned.

“Which job? I am a candidate…I am a candidate…” he said. She could be heard inaudibly on the sound bite saying, “You are the Minister….” Ramsaran obviously got very upset. “Shut your mouth and get out my face!”

“A number of babies are dying under your watch!” she retorted, speaking about the maternal deaths at the hospitals in Guyana.

“Don’t touch me,” she shouted (I cannot recall seeing the Minister ever touching her, for her to have made

such a statement (I could be wrong). “I am not entertaining you,” Ramsaran added, as she continued her tirade, “We have many children are dying under your watch.”

But the Health Minister defended his position. “We have less maternity deaths now! I am having a press….”

Hoping to get my interview back on track I questioned the Minister as to how many persons were injured by anti-Government protestors at Number 51, Corentyne while PPP/C supporters were on their way home from the Albion rally, but clearly he could not have concentrated.

He seemed very bothered by the woman’s continued probing questions. I can only speculate that this Minister, having defended his policies in the health sector, especially that regarding the maternity deaths and strides made by the current PPP/C Administration – with me on numerous (TV) and other interviews, felt saddened by the accusations of the individual, and especially in the manner in which it was done.

He could not have composed himself to continue an interview. “F- off! F- off!

You are being recorded,” she said to the Minister. “(Inaudible…you ...(inaudible) piece of s*it…”

Ramsaran told her. “Little piece of s*it? Well you are a bigger piece of shit,” she replied, as she moved back and forth towards Ramsaran.

A senior rank in ‘B’ Division passed by and saw what was taking place. He did or said nothing. “Idiot!,” he added. “If I am a piece of shit, you are a bigger piece of shit,” she replied.

The Minister then saw the approach of another senior officer, who apparently noticed what was taking place. “Officer, I am a candidate…”

“Yes, let’s go…three women…three people were injured, while going up the Corentyne – one boy, one girl and a 30-something year-old woman….” He continued to answer the questions.

He gathered composure to himself once more, since she was accosted by the officer away from the scene.

The Minister then uttered some unsavoury language, during which time, my recorder had been paused (but for which I would have been glad to have recorded).

As such, I would have recorded (absent-mindedly only the heated exchange portion of the confrontation.

I would later learn that the woman was women rights activist Sherlina Nageer, Facebook name, “Lina Free”.

I would later learn, too, that she had messaged me earlier in the year complimenting me on my bold stance on coming out as gay in the press two years ago in the Stabroek News and my views on the LGBT community and such like issues in Guyana.

I also learnt that Nageer was involved in a similar confrontation with Police and law enforcement officials at the opening of the Guyana Marriott Hotel last week. It is my view that it is her r’aison d’etra to have these public confrontations - like episodes, especially whenever media are present.

I saw a new purpose and a whole new meaning to the entire Bheri Ramsaran-

Sherlina Nageer incident.

Social media and the local Guyana (Opposition) media were flooded by the events that transpired.

Overarching the entire matter were the insults hurled by Ramsaran to the woman. I began to engage posts on Facebook and other social media forums, and while I did not condone or defend Ramsaran’s actions or remarks, I mentioned how the bigger picture was overlooked in the entire matter; that this was planned out to go the way it did and yielded the results it yielded.

In the end – a Minister of the Government was ‘exposed’ in public for ‘derogatory’ remarks he made to a woman – an activist nonetheless.

It was shameful. Not only the Minister’s heat-ofthe-moment-remarks, but the political mileage set out in the offset by this individual to get the official fired

up, baiting him as it were, to hurl such nasty insults.

He did apologize. But this is certainly the example whereby any and everything is being used during this election season to turn events into opportunities for gains.

I know Minister Ramsaran at a personal level and I end by saying that I have known him to have the utmost respect for women, and he is a strong defender of the health policies he has been instrumental in shaping in Guyana over the years.

Notwithstanding, and while Ramsaran’s remarks to her should be condemned, so too should we (condemn) Sherlina Nageer’s wellthought out ploy. During the entire confrontation one of her friends were busy taking photographs. It was well planned.

Leon Suseran

alive.

Moses’ initial thrust into the PPP/C strong hold has now lost its appeal. Moses has single handedly destroyed that appeal when he denied his identity, which was the major reason for the PNC/APNU to be so exciting about the merger.

Moses’ failure to put together a programme that shows in detail how he can change the makeup of the armed forces is another glaring example of the AFC being a talk shop. Does Moses have any detail how to make the sugar industry more profitable? We would like to know.

The PNC/APNU and the AFC have been trying desperately to convince us that we must forget the past in order to move forward. Does this mean that Cuffy statue should be torn down because it represents the distant past?

The PPP/C continues to be the only beacon of hope for the Guyanese people. In 2008 when the United States and the other Western Industrial countries suffered near collapse of their financial systems because of poor management, Guyana was unaffected.

Guyana was unaffected because of the sensible financial policies of the PPP/C Government.

Granger has now declared that the war is over.

Does this mean we should prepare the ground works to bring the war criminals to trial? Does it mean that this election result will not be contested once the winner is declared?

Latchman Mohabir

6news

thursday, april 23, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

APNU and a duty of care

By L T Willcom

I

n over ten years as a tutor in Politics at the University of The West Indies, I always felt a sense of excitement whenever I was about to treat with the topic Political Parties.

It was always a gratifying moment to see the growing appreciation of the students as they understood the Role ,Functions, and Purpose of Political Parties, and by extension, their importance in the development and preservation of the democratic process.

Appreciation, I suppose , because they had never given it thought, and even more so because most Political Parties never do fulfill the obligations and responsibilities that they are duty bound to do.

A disturbing feature of the current political campaign is the behavior of the supporters of the Opposition Alliance. The disturbance is even more acute because of the deafening silence of the leadership in pronouncing in a definitive way on the escalating descent into thuggery and vandalism.

This disturbing development has once again drawn me to engage in some political classes, albeit without the attendant excitement.

A political Party must see itself as contributing not only to a country’s political development , but also to the nurturing and socializing of its member-

ship. The need for responsible political action and respect for institutions must be seen as essential, in order to create an environment where persons can exercise their democratic right freely and without fear.

The existence of more than one political party in any country provides choice, checks and balances and dynamism in the system.

The aim of any party must be to attain political office ,but not at any cost. To seek power at the expense of damaging ones institutions and systems leads to collapse and decay , even anarchy .

Two of the most important functions of the political party are to educate and mobilize.

Education is a core function. It ensures that the membership, especially its youths are knowledgeable about the party’s values , guiding principles , history and vision. It goes further. It educates its members about the country’s systems and institutions and instills a sense of belonging, love and duty to country in its membership.

A truly national party must mobilize .It must strive to increase membership and involve citizens in meaningful action for the country’s development. A party’s mobilization efforts must take place both within and outside of the election season. Mobilization is

the lifeblood of the party.

It should be very obvious therefore that if you mobilize a membership that is ignorant of the values and principles that hold in a society; if you mobilize a membership that has no respect for individuals and institutions and if you mobilize a membership that puts personal gain above duty to country , then my friends, you sow the seeds of the eventual destruction of a nation.

As I write , fresh in my memory is a scene where, persons purporting to be APNU supporters had the effontry to place their party’s flag on the property of the PPP/C and dared PPP/C members present at the time to remove it at their own risk. This, following up on the countless acts of removal and destruction of the PPP/Cs posters and property across the country.

I can only surmise that one party taught its membership well, while the other didn’t.

My friends I really hope that my words are read by persons on both sides of the divide . This country has seen enough division and hate.

Let us defy the odds and have a fair, peaceful election .Let us have the maturity to disagree without being disagreeable and opposed without being hostile.

APNU you owe Guyana a duty of care.

Brassington broadsides KN for vile articles, fake ad edition, stating that the contract for the taxi service at the Marriott Hotel had been given to his brother. While on Monday, the newspaper sought to issue an apology in which no one was named, in its subsequent edition on Tuesday, attached with a message of “From the desk of the Publisher”, the newspaper carried a full-page satirical article with regard to taxi drivers, Winston Brassington

Atlantic Hotel Inc Chairman Winston Brassington

C

hairman of the Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI), the entity responsible for the construction of the spanking new Marriott Hotel Guyana, Winston Brassington has lashed out at the Kaieteur News for what he says are its malicious, calculated and misleading articles designed to tarnish his reputation and that of his family.

Brassington, speaking with the Guyana Times in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, said that the Kaieteur News has sunk to a new level by trying to tarnish his name by attacking his family, but more particularly his brother, Patrick Brassington by trying to insinuate that he was being granted favours.

According to Brassington, while he has become somewhat accustomed to the attacks and malicious reports which have emanated from the news outlet, it is now becoming unacceptable that it is now targeting his family members to peddle its own agenda.

He was at the time responding to the article which was published by the Kaieteur News in its Sunday

tion…,” the Chairman related to the Guyana Times.

New angles of attack

Brassington said that it would seem that the Kaieteur News was searching out new angles to attack him as despite its negative and biased reports, the Marriott Guyana Hotel had still managed to become a reality, an accomplishment which he says has upset the newspaper tremendously.

“As a whole, the Kaieteur News has been one of the major critics of the Marriott Hotel. It is always seeking to print information that is negative and in many cases, untruthful. As a fact, I would say that with the completion of the Marriott Hotel, the fact that we have succeeded despite the attacks on derailing the project – and the Kaieteur News has been mostly behind this – they are very upset that we’ve been able to deliver this

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

and the Marriott Guyana Hotel.

“It is a fabrication! It is a blatant lie. My brother has absolutely nothing to do with the Marriott Guyana Hotel or its taxi service… My brother has been in this business for 15 years. I do not interfere in my brother’s business. The report is totally unfounded,” Brassington said.

He noted that if the socalled news outlet was serious about its reporting, it should have made efforts to verify the information it had received.

“They could have made efforts to verify this. They could have called him; they could have turned up at the hotel and ask, but they didn’t make any effort to verify the informa-

Kaieteur News Editor Adam Harris

project…,” he expressed.

Brassington said that he was of the strong belief that the attacks were “deliberate, malicious and calculated” specifically aimed at tarnishing his reputation, while expressing that it was a clear indication of the “gutter journalism” which the news entity practised. “This is gutter journalism. They have no respect for proper and fair journalism,” he passionately expressed.

He lamented the fact that there were no sanctions or actions taken against the news outlet despite its malicious attacks on public and Government officials, noting that it would seem that the publication was operating with impunity.

Further, the Chairman pointed out that nothing was being done by the Guyana Press Association (GPA) despite complaints being lodged to address the matter, highlighting that this was giving the Kaieteur News, the impunity to further carry out its attacks and agendas. “The Press Association gives them impunity…it does not stand up and protect the rights of those who are being attacked.”

Brassington said, however, that he would continue to do what needed to be done and would not be silenced or intimidated by a news agency which practised gutter journalism and which had no respect for proper and fair journalism. “Glenn Lall seems obsessed with me… but I am going to continue to do my work.”

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thursday, april 23, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

NEW GPC responds to “sole sourcing” claims of pharmaceuticals peddled by Opposition and its media arms KN and SN

T

he NEW GPC INC is once again being falsely accused of benefiting from “sole sourcing” in its supply of pharmaceuticals to the Ministry of Health and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

This has been repeatedly refuted by several stakeholders – including the Ministry of Health, the Secretary to the Cabinet and indeed, the NEW GPC itself, over the years.

The company republishes the information below because it concerns a matter that is life and death to Guyanese – the pharmaceutical supply chain – which should not be made into a political football.

Ministry of Health statement

The truth is that the procurement of medicines and medical supplies by the Ministry of Health and the GPHC is strictly in accordance with the laws of Guyana, with recommendations from the Auditor General’s Report and with good supply chain management practices.

The Ministry of Health and the GPHC procure medicines and medical supplies through two mechanisms: • Medicines and certain medical supplies are

procured through a list of prequalified suppliers. This list of prequalified suppliers has been determined after an open tender process, using public tendering modelled after a World Health Organisation (WHO) model and recommended specifically by the World Bank.

• Certain specialised medicines, laboratory supplies and medical supplies are procured through regular, open tender as the need arises.

NEW GPC

Following the recommendation of the Auditor General, in 2010 medicines and certain medical supplies began to be procured through a list of prequalified suppliers.

Between 2011 and 2013, four international entities: • Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) • United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) • United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) • United Nations D e v e l o p m e n t Programme (UNDP) • I n t e r n a t i o n a l Dispensary Association

The NEW GPC facility at Farm, East Bank Demerara

(IDA) • and two local ones, MediPharm and NEW GPC, were prequalified under the stated criteria.

For the years 20142016, there has been an advertisement soliciting suppliers from Guyana and members of Caricom to be prequalified and be added to the list of international suppliers. Seven companies applied and, the NEW GPC was the only one that fulfilled the publicly stated criteria according to WHO and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards.

HPS

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon also set the record straight. He affirmed that neither the Health Ministry nor the National Procurement and Tender

Administration Board (NPTAB) is sole-sourcing drugs for the GPHC or the Ministry of Health from the NEW GPC. He said that any drugs procured by the Government are subject to a competitive pricing process with international suppliers.

Any time, a local pro-

vider is selected, that provider’s submission has to be competitive vis-à-vis international providers, the HPS informed.

The international providers used as benchmarks are the same ones enumerated above.

In order for a company to be awarded a contract to provide drugs, it has to

offer a more competitive price than those companies. If any of those companies offers better prices than the other bids submitted, then Government is obligated on the basis of the country’s pricing policy, to go with the lowest bid.

This, the HPS, affirmed, is a competitive component of procurement and not sole-sourcing.

The NEW GPC wishes to emphasise the importance of Guyana sticking to WHO/World Bank standards that were formulated after tragic disasters in the Third World issuing from counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals entering the supply chain.

Additionally, local capacity building in this crucial area of national life is enhanced.

Labourer jailed for larceny

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labourer was sentenced to nine months in prison by Magistrate Leron Daly on Tuesday at the Providence Magistrate’s Court for simple larceny.

Aubrey Price, 24, of Lot G Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), pleaded guilty to the charge, which stated that on Friday, April 17 at

Third Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD, he stole one handbag containing a cellphone valued at $100,000 and other personal belongings of Virtual Complainant (VC) Lalita Sohai.

According to the facts, on the day of the incident, the woman was walking along the road heading in a northern direction when

the defendant rode up on a bicycle behind her and snatched the handbag. A report was immediately made to the Police, who promptly responded and apprehended the defendant who was in possession of the VC’s handbag and other belongings.

The man was taken into custody and charged for the offence.

8 NEWS

thursday, APRIL 23, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Jagdeo declares “no confidence” in MMU F

By Alexis Rodney

ormer President Bharrat Jagdeo has criticised the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Media Monitoring Unit (MMU), saying that he has no confidence in the work of the unit.

Speaking at the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) news conference at Freedom House on Wednesday, Jagdeo said that the MMU has not been carrying out its duties effectively.

He said GECOM is the entity responsible for the unit, as it has been receiving funds from Government to carry out its functions in preparation for the General and Regional Elections, and as such, it should oversee the work of the unit. Until this is done, no shred of confidence will be attached to it.

“I have no confidence in the MMU, unless it reports to GECOM. GECOM should be able to have oversight of the MMU, because they will never deal with the issues. There are numerous cases of distortion and intimidation of reporters,” Jagdeo said, as he made mention of the recent sacking of Kaieteur News Berbice Correspondent Leon Suseran.

“He wrote a story they wanted to distort, and he complained about it and they told him take a break until after the elections,” the Former President ex-

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

plained.

Jagdeo said the Guyana Press Association (GPA) and the MMU have failed to address this issue. The former head of state said, the party is now fighting two campaigns, one against the combined political Opposition and the other, against the media outlets that support the work of the Opposition.

“So when you read the stories, make sure you read between the lines because you will never get a fair share from a few people. But in spite of all that I think it will not work”, Jagdeo promised.

His comments come a week after similar concerns were raised by the Government through Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, that it has issues

with the body tasked with overseeing the operations of media houses in the lead up to General and Regional elections. According to Dr Luncheon, it is expected that the views of GECOM would be brought to bear on the report that is publicised by the monitoring unit. Doing so is among the constitutional mandates of GECOM, Dr Luncheon added.

He said in the monitoring exercise, it is expected that the views of GECOM be highlighted, noting that media monitoring is “indeed intricately caught up in GECOM exercising its constitutional mandate.”

He further lambasted the unit for its inference on the remarks made by Jagdeo last month during

the commemoration ceremony of founding leader of the PPP Cheddi Jagan at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, Corentyne.

“The MMU in its exercise of its monitoring mandate should not act independently of GECOM. It is felt that its output needs to be drawn to GECOM’s attention prior to its publication,” Dr Luncheon said at the office of the President.

Meanwhile, GECOM’s Chairman Steve Surujbally told Guyana Times that the MMU operates with a large degree of autonomy. He said it may be expected that the unit, tasked with overlooking the operations of both Government and privately-owned media houses in the lead-up to General and Regional Elections, present its reports to the governing body of GECOM before releasing them.

The MMU recently released its inaugural report; where it slammed sections of the media for either their bias, or supportive reports of the opposition coalition or the Government.

Some media houses were criticised for what was described as the “swelling antipathy towards good journalism practices” and the lowering of standards. The MMU therefore called on all media operatives to uphold their journalistic ethics and principles in carrying out their mandates, while noting that some currently being exercised were of low standards.

British national found with cocaine in footwear

R

anks of the Guyana Police Force’s Narcotics Branch on Tuesday intercepted a foreign national with a quantity of cocaine.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ivelaw Whittaker, the bust was made around 13:10h at the Ogle International Airport.

Reports revealed that the ranks were conducting routine checks when they unearthed the illicit substance in a pair of footwear.

Further investigation revealed that the item belonged to a British national (name withheld). The illicit drug amounted to 837 grams. The foreign nation-

al has been taken into custody and is assisting with the investigation.

This bust was made one day after a similar one was made involving another foreign national.

On Monday, Police from the Narcotics Branch also arrested an outgoing American citizen after discovering a quan-

tity of cocaine in her suitcase at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). The interception was done sometime about 15:10.

The Police disclosed that some 937 grams of cocaine was found in the woman’s suitcase. She was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.

Eyew tness Honorary...

T

...women

he PNC-led APNU/AFC's trying to convince the Guyanese public that it didn't comply with the requirement for its list to have at least 30 per cent women because of "an oversight".

Oversight my eye!!

This Eyewitness has been pointing out for over a year now about the "anti-woman" stance of PNC leader David Granger. For all his talk about being a follower of Forbes Burnham, that dictator knew and acknowledged the influence of women in general and that of women in his traditional constituency in particular.

But Granger's misogynic to the core...and PNC women know what Africo Selman said about him is true to the bone. He wants to keep women "in their place - that is to be "barefoot and pregnant".

"Barefoot" so that they'll stay in the house and "pregnant" so that they'll be busy "minding" baby. How else can you explain that the coalition had to rush ...after nomination day...to "find" women.

If they spent a whole month negotiating with Nagamootoo just to get a wish and a prayer that he'll bring in 11 per cent Indians. Then gave him 40 per cent of the seats. How come women who're 50 per cent of the electorate wasn't on anybody's agenda??

We'll tell you why - because the PNC of Granger blasted well take their "eyes pass" women, that's why. Nagamootoo made sure AFC's women were on the list. But this Eyewitness is personally very disappointed that Vanessa Kissoon didn't take the advice offered by Africo Selman.

Selman didn't tell Kissoon to leave the PNC and join the PPP/C. Just that she should take into consideration all the slights that Granger had dumped on her and take a stand against his high-handedness.

More importantly, suss Granger out by showing what a liar he is for claiming she was left off the list because "she'd been in Parliament twice". Rather than because she wouldn't get on her knees and beg "forgiveness" for representing her constituency and her conscience.

It was very poignant to see Kissoon lumped with the "other women" at Merriman’s Mall and obviously being forced to eat "humble pie". How many roads must a woman walk down, before they see her as equal?

But it had to be rubbing salt into PNC's women's wound at not only being excluded from the list - but to be told that the men present were going to become "honorary women". Really?? So they'll now be treated like yesterday's leftovers by Granger?? And they'll be put on the back bench in Parliament if they speak up? Or have Oscar lock them out from the PNC's office??

Listen Granger...gwan one side!

...AFC Leader?

OK...OK...Your Eyewitness knows you dear readers must think he's on some kinda weed or something. Honourable Ramjattan???? Well, the fella's a Member of Parliament, ain't he?? And they're all "honourable men" aren't they??

But then again they're called that only by each other and "self praise is no recommendation", is it?

Anyhow, where the heck IS Ramjattan?? Has he gone AWOL or something??? Or is he just sulking? Just the other day, your Eyewitness heard Ramjattan was going to be at Plaisance to speak at the PNC-led APNU/AFC meeting.

So he ambled over. Not just to see how Ramjattan was taking his displacement by that old faker Nagamootoo, but (to be honest) the line-top at Plaisance is a fun spot. Your Eyewitness can bend his elbows before and after all the sh*t is spewed!!

But will someone solve the mystery before your Eyewitness puts out a missing person claim with Police??

...debater??

David Granger's getting ridiculous on the debate he'd agreed to engage President Ramotar in. We know he's a plodding and ponderous speaker and all that - but still...why doesn't man up and face the fire.

Isn't he embarrassed to be hiding behind Mrs Harper's skirt?? Peek-a-boo...we see you!!

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thursday, april 23, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Sophia stabbing

Suspect reportedly spotted in Soesdyke boarding bus to Mahdia

Dead teen: Alissa McPherson

T

he prime suspect for the murder of 18-year-old Alissa McPherson was reportedly spotted in Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD) boarding a Route 72 minibus to Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

This was according to one of the dead teen’s relatives during a phone interview with the Guyana Times on Wednesday.

McPherson was stabbed 41 times by her jealous boyfriend at a dance in Sophia, Greater Georgetown on Sunday morning.

The suspect has been identified as Shivanand

(only name given), also called “Tuck”, of School Street, Grove Housing Scheme, EBD. The relative told the Guyana Times that based on reports received, the young man was earlier seen at his relatives in Kuru Kururu, SoesdykeLinden Highway and was subsequently seen boarding the bus. In addition, the relative stated that the young man might have gotten rid of the long hair he was sporting up to the time he committed the heinous crime.

A Police source, when contacted, stated that they were not privy to the new information, but the relative claimed that he had informed investigators at Turkeyen Police Station, who were handling the case. Nevertheless, the source stated, once the investigators would have received such information, they would have alerted their colleagues along the route to Mahdia.

Meanwhile, he stated that the body of the teenager was handed over to the family, who were making funeral arrangements for Monday.

According to initial

cumbed around 07:30h while receiving treatment.

The Guyana Times was made to understand that the couple were having problems and a few weeks ago, the teenager caught the suspect with another woman at his mother’s home.

This newspaper was also informed that a torn photograph of the couple was found in the teenager’s

Murder suspect: Shivnand, aka “Tuck”

reports, McPherson, of Cappies Place, C Field Sophia, went to a party with some relatives and someone informed the suspect that she was having an affair with another man. The young man subsequently arrived and an argument ensured between the couple. It was further reported that he took the young woman into a corner where he stabbed her about her body.

McPherson was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she suc-

Investigation into murder of Hamson’s proprietor intensifies

A

s the investigation continues into the murder of Hamson’s proprietor Farouk Ghanie, who was found dead at his Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara home with a single stab wound to his chest, several family members and associates are being questioned.

Speaking with the Guyana Times on Wednesday, Crime Chief Leslie James stated that they have intensified their investigation and have been working on several leads. He did not comment further on the persons who were being questioned and noting that they were hoping to make a breakthrough as soon as possible.

This publication understands that a man with whom the businessman had an argument days prior to his death has been questioned and released.

The man’s common-law wife, Vanessa (only name given), was also questioned since she was the one who found the body.

The hardware store owner was Thursday last in the morning hours found

Dead businessman: Farouk Ghanie

dead at his home after several calls to his phone from his spouse went unanswered. The 56-yearold who lived alone was found lying on his back and might have been dead for more than 12 hours.

The businessman was last seen dropping off a worker in Georgetown before heading home.

Neighbours claimed that they did not see or hear anything unusual except for the man’s house being in darkness Wednesday night.

At that time, they thought that the man was out of the country, but even in that case, he would normally have someone turn on the exterior lights.

Upon the discovery on Thursday morning, the neighbours were terrified and called for Police patrols in the area.

His brother, Fizal Hamid, explained that he received a call from the man’s common-law wife informing him of the news.

He too concluded that the murderer had to be someone who was familiar with the man’s premises and dogs.

Hamid also stated that his now dead brother did not have any enemies and he was not sure who would want to kill him in such a brutal manner. He recalled that his brother had a confrontation with an ex-employee.

A post-mortem performed on the businessman’s body proved that he died from shock and haemorrhaging due to a single stab to his chest. He leaves to mourn his five children and siblings.

handbag.

A post-mortem examination conducted on the teen’s body revealed that she was stabbed at least 41 times. McPherson reportedly sustained stab wounds to her eyes, chest, hands, neck and abdomen among others. She suffered a punctured lung and her uterus was severely damaged as a result. The cause of death was giv-

en as haemorrhaging and shock due to multiple stab wounds.

Following the autopsy on Monday, the mother of the teenager, Denise McPherson, explained that she was unaware of what transpired between the teenager and the suspect that led to her daughter’s death. Police are continuing their investigations.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, april 23, 2015

News

US prepping Guyana for oil, gas find T

he United States of America (USA) through its Embassy here in Guyana has partnered with the Government through its Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry to provide the necessary training for the country to smoothly transition into a possible oil and gas economy.

At a capacity building workshop on Wednesday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, which was designed to enhance Guyana’s technical and human resource capacities for an emerging oil and gas industry, workers from the Natural Resources Ministry, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were all engaged by the Embassy personnel on the successes and challenges which were encountered by the US during her transition to that economy.

Delivering the opening remarks, US Chargé d’Affaires to Guyana Bryan Hunt underscored the importance of good governance if the country’s economy is to

US Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt delivering his remarks as Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud and other stakeholders pay attention

progress. He said that poor governance of the industry can result in mismanagement and corruption which can further lead to a cycle of underdevelopment.

It was on this note that he said that it is imperative that countries which are entering into the oil and gas production business, put systems in place to avoid these problems before production starts and money begins to flow. To this end, he registered his satisfac-

tion in Guyana’s decision to engage international donors with the necessary technical capacity and expertise in order to develop such systems.

“The unique technical and economics associated with natural resources extraction make this sector particularly prone to corruption and mismanagement…

In this sector, one thing makes itself clear again and again: Transparent management of the energy sector is crucial to open gov-

ernance, helping bring the benefits from the energy resources to the citizens of the countries where they are found as well as improving the stability and reliability of all energy producers is a clear priority for the United States at home and abroad,” he said.

The diplomat explained that given this need in the sector, it was felt by the US that Guyana could benefit from a discussion on the US’ experience in developing their own resources including the best practices developed and the lessons learnt

from their challenges.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud in delivering his remarks promised the US Chargé d’Affaires that as Minister, he will try his best to ensure that accountability and transparency are hallmarks of the sector while expressing his thanks to the US Government for its continued support to the country.

“I wish to emphasise that the US has been a very consistent and an important ally in ensuring that Guyana mobilises the investment but also we undertake the efforts to develop our natural resources even in light and even in the face of some unjustified and unwarranted attempts by some external forces who seek to push back our efforts in first exploring but also developing our natural resources both offshore as well as onshore…,” Minister Persaud said.

He was at the time making reference to the ongoing controversy between Guyana and its neighbour, Venezuela, which from the time of the announcement of ExxonMobil’s intentions to drill for oil has been trying to stymie the project through

the issuance of threats.

In continuing, however, he pointed out that the Government was particularly appreciative of the role the US is playing in the sector while pointing out that the country would have already been successful in launching its Oil and Gas Upstream Policy.

Meanwhile, the Minister told the attendees that as ExxonMobil continued with its drilling efforts, he is expecting good news in the coming weeks.

“We are still in the exploration phase, so we have to temper expectation as we know we have Exxon currently carrying out drilling and they are well on schedule, all of us have our fingers crossed hoping that in a few weeks we will be able to have some good news…we are preparing for this sector and the Government is firmly fixed in ensuring that even as we move through the phase of exploration that we are well advanced and well prepared,” he said.

Technical and environmental planning, monitoring the industry operations and enforcing environmental safety regulations were among topics covered during the one day workshop.

Albouystown girl accidentally shot by cop

A

teenager is now nursing a gunshot injury to her abdomen after she was accidentally shot by a Police rank at her Albouystown, Georgetown home on Wednesday. The shooting incident took place at about 13:00h.

The teenager, Shaqueena Anderson, 18, of Lot 30 Albouys Street, Albouystown Georgetown was up to late Wednesday afternoon undergoing an emergency surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to information received, the teenager and the Police rank stationed in the community were in the house when the .38 revolver suddenly went off.

Guyana Times understands that the Police rank and the teenager were playing around with the weapon, and might have accidently pulled the trigger. The teen was shot to the right side of her abdomen.

After the gun went off, the Police rank reportedly panicked and fled the scene.

As he ran, he disposed of the firearm in a canal on Sussex Street, Georgetown. The weapon was later recovered by other ranks who rushed

Injured teen: Shaqueena Anderson

to the scene upon hearing the sound of the gun.

The teenager was reportedly picked up by another rank, placed in a vehicle and whisked away to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was admitted.

Hospital officials confirmed that Anderson was admitted in a stable condition. There was no sign that the bullet exited the young woman’s body hence the emergency surgery was needed to take it out.

A great aunt of the teenager, who refused to give her

name, stated that the Police rank and her niece are mere friends, and he would often frequent the house. She added that after her niece was shot, the young man, Sue (only name given) ran away from the scene. “He probably think she was dead and he panicked…he run and as he run, he throw away the gun in the trench,” the woman stated.

She further stated that her niece was very much conscious when she was taken to the hospital but due to the lodged bullet an emergency surgery was needed.

Up to late Wednesday afternoon, she could not confirm if the bullet was removed but expressed her anger at the way the young Policeman handled the situation.

“At least, he could have rendered assistance…but we just come from the station and he didn’t turn himself in,” she disclosed.

Crime Chief Leslie James when contacted told Guyana Times that an investigation has been launched. James could not give the facts of the case but confirmed that it involved a teenager and a serving rank of the Guyana Police Force.

thursday, april 23, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

“Never again to the dark days MARAD extends safety of PNC” – Finance Minister campaign to Region 2

“Y

ou must come out on the 11th of May and make your voices heard by putting your ‘X’ next to the cup and by returning the People’s Progressive Party to a resounding majority, so we can continue to bring progress and development to Guyana…,” Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh told an ecstatic crowd of supporters at the Party’s Albion Rally on Sunday.

“Onward with progress; we will never return to the dark days of the PNC [People’s National Congress} rule!” the Minister continued to screams and cheers from the gathering. Dr Singh, who was instrumental in organizing the rally dubbed the largest so far, also succeeded in grabbing the attention of the thousands in the crowd, joined in solidarity with them in reflecting on the pain, horror and struggles endured under the PNC era. “It is always a great pleasure for me to speak in Berbice on political occasions like this, because I believe that the people of Berbice understand the political history in Guyana, the people of Berbice understand how valuable our democracy is and how valuable the freedom we fought for,” he said.

He urged them to compare the vast differences between the two Governments and vote for the party which stood with them through their ups and downs.

“Comrades and friends, you have seen the track record of the PPP, you have seen the outstanding leadership of President Bharrat Jagdeo

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

and President Donald Ramotar…you have seen the work we’ve done to improve roads and create jobs… you have seen the progress we have made, you have seen the efforts we’ve made,” Dr Singh highlighted to the thousands who nodded their heads in agreement.

“Dastardly attack”

In thanking Berbice for their demonstration of support by attending the rally, Dr Singh in a televised program also used the opportunity to condemn the attack on PPP/Civic supporters following the Albion rally.

The attack which involved three persons, two school age children, who were enroute to their homes on the Corentyne, Berbice by a group of people, alleged to be Opposition supporters. It is reported that unknown persons tossed missiles at the truck transporting the individuals as it passed through Leeds Village, Corentyne.

“I wish to say this emphatically, that this is a dastard-

ly attack and it is an assault on democracy and it is to be condemned in the hardest possible way. There can be no justification, there can be no excuse, there can be no defending this vile act,” he declared. Dr Singh implied that, “given the threats of the history of violent behaviour by the Opposition” and their “traditional refusal to accept the outcome of the democratic process”, it is extremely alarming when such a development should occur under those circumstances.

“We have already signalled that the Opposition is preparing their supporters for not accepting the result of the democratic process… and so, without a doubt there is an element of desperation setting in amongst their leadership and for that reason, this incident can only be interpreted as an assault on the democratic process by their supporters…,” Dr Singh said.

He urged the PPP/C supporters to not be threatened by the Opposition’s violent outbursts, noting that if they were, they would allow the Opposition to win. “You should not be intimidated… because if you allow yourself to be intimidated, then every right that you enjoy will be taken away because that is the intention of the APNU/AFC coalition… remain calm…do not be fearful…do not respond in kind; demonstrate to them and to Guyana that the supporters of the PPP/C are people who respect democracy and freedom, and who are peaceful people.”

Mahila Mandalee encourages early intervention in domestic violence matters

I

n the wake of the brutal stabbing to death of an 18-year-old girl by her jealous 21-year-old boyfriend on Sunday, the women’s arm of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has expressed concern over the increasing number of violent crimes being committed, especially against women and children.

The Mahila Mandalee said it was deeply concerned about the situation, and urged the Police to make every effort to find the perpetrators and bring them before the courts. And further encouraged members of the public who witness abuse in their homes and communities, to not be passive observers but to come forward and provide support to the victims and also to make reports to the Police.

“Do not wait until it is too late. Where necessary, go to court and provide the evidence,” the organisation stressed in a press statement.

It provided a list of measures to enhance the fight against domestic violence: • Neighbours must contact the Police when they hear violent fights in their neighbourhoods. Don’t turn up the television to block out the sounds of the drunken argument next door.

Call the Police.

• Teachers should be alert to signs that students have witnessed or been subject to violence at home.

• Medical professionals who see the victims of violence need to ask them about these crimes. Too often, doctors or emergency room personnel accept the statement of fearful victims that their bruises or cuts are the result

of household accidents or falls. When a woman with a black eye says that she fell and hit the doorknob, doctors and nurses must ask: “Did someone hit you?”

• Religious leaders and organisations need to become more involved as well. Don’t just tell a battered spouse to “go home and make it work”. Sending a woman back to a battering relationship often places her life at risk.

The Mahila Mandalee said “while we recognise that we can’t tell a woman who lives in a violent relationship what to do, we can make a greater effort to let her know that other options are available for her and her children.

Early intervention is crucial”.

“At a time when we are seeing so many instances of abuse and the grossest violence against our women and young girls, it is instructive to reflect on and remind of the high regard women are accorded in Hinduism.

In Hinduism, God is worshipped as both Male and Female. Indeed, the only words for strength and power are feminine – “shakti’’ means “power’’ and “strength’’.”

“Women are placed on the highest pedestal in our scriptures – “YatranaryastupujyanteramantetatraDevata, yatraitaastunapujyantesarvaastatrafalaahkriyaah” (Manusmriti 3.56) or wherever women are given their due respect, even the gods like to reside there and where they are not respected, all action remains unfruitful.” The Taittriya Upanishad teaches us ‘Matridevobhava’ – “Let your mother be God to you,” the release concluded.

A representative of MARAD handing the lifejackets over to a Lilydale Primary School representative

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s part of its continuous safety campaign, a team from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) travelled to Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Friday, April 17, to distribute lifejackets and erect safety signs.

In a press release on Tuesday, MARAD said a total of 192 children’s lifejackets were distributed to four schools in the Pomeroon River – Martindale Primary

School, Marlboro Primary School, Lilydale Primary School and the Hackney Primary School.

The heads of these schools gleefully accepted the lifejackets on behalf of their students and expressed their gratitude for this timely initiative, the Department said. The officers from the Department demonstrated to the students and teachers the proper way in which the jackets are to be worn, and stressed the importance

of wearing a lifejacket every time when on a open boat.

Meanwhile, safety posters were erected at the Supenaam and Charity Stellings.

MARAD will continue with campaigns of this nature throughout the country with the hope that it will inculcate a maritime safety consciousness in Guyana, an attitude of wearing a lifejacket, and most importantly saving lives on our waterways.

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Ramotar touts education as key driver of economy I

f Guyana is to go forward, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics must play a bigger role, President Donald Ramotar told a public meeting in Berbice on Tuesday afternoon.

He said because of this fact the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration has as its major goal ensuring that Guyana has the best educated people in the entire Caribbean. The Head of State made the comments while addressing a public meeting at Canefield, East Canje, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). He noted that in the past only a few schools

in Guyana recorded excellent results at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams.

However, today, the situation has changed and in nine of the past 10 years Guyana has had the top students in the Caribbean at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams.

According to the President, while the country has depended heavily on sugar in the past, new sectors are coming on stream which will require Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. “Right now, just less than 100 miles off shore here, they spending

President Donald Ramotar

US$200 million to drill for oil … and for us to become a producer of oil and natural gas, we have to have the technical workforce so that we can produce refined gasoline, diesel, lubricants and products in the cosmetic industry which include petroleum jelly and other products that come from the oil sector. We could produce hundreds of jobs for our people and that is why we have to prepare now for the future that is ahead of us,” the President said.

The meeting attracted more than 1000 persons and was held in a community that depends heavily on the sugar industry, which the Opposition coalition has

New Peace Corps Volunteers arrive

The new batch of Peace Corps volunteers

F

orty-three Peace Corps trainees arrived in Georgetown on Tuesday to begin their two years of service to the people of Guyana.

The new trainees make up the 27th group of Peace Corps Volunteers to serve in Guyana, and they will soon begin their pre-service training. According to a release by the US Embassy, for the next

12 weeks of training, trainees will live with local host families who will teach them the Guyanese way of life as they learn how to cook local food, negotiate in the market place, and participate in community activities.

Pre-service training also entails a technical component within both the health and education sectors where trainees will be engaged

in field practicum in local schools and health centres.

This enhances their abilities to meet the needs of the communities they will serve.

The group is expected to be officially sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers on July 8, 2015.

The Peace Corps was first active in Guyana from 1966-1971.In 1993, Peace Corps was invited

to return to Guyana by the late President, Dr Cheddi Jagan, and the first group arrived in 1995.

Since its establishment, more than 700 American volunteers have served the people of Guyana. The late US President John F Kennedy created the Peace Corps in March 1961 to provide human resource and technical assistance to developing countries that have requested such engagement.

The Peace Corps welcomes the opportunity to work with the people of Guyana and extends its gratitude to the Government and people of Guyana for their hospitality and for the possibility they offer the Volunteers in working together to advance Guyana’s development aspirations.

promised to close if it were to win the upcoming General and Regional Elections. The President, in addressing the issues of the sugar industry, said as citizens looked to the future of a modernised Guyana, one of the main focuses will be on the sugar industry, which, in recent times, has experienced some difficulty. He said for the sugar industry to survive, it has to be restructured and become modernised and machine friendly. “We have to make the industry not just a producer of sugar but try to make it a complex with new revenue streams. We want to make the industry flexible so that we can switch from one product to another depending on which has the best market price in the world at the time.”

Sugar

Ethanol is another product the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is currently focusing on.

“GuySuCo is also in talks with big companies like Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola so that we can produce liquid sugar for them. We are also looking at getting a refinery, so that we can produce white sugar of a high quality,” Ramotar noted.

However, he noted that the sugar industry can only move forward if it gets help.

Government, the President, said has committed itself to helping the sugar industry and will be spending $20 billion over the next five years on the industry.

Meanwhile, Ramotar said despite efforts being made to

develop Guyana, some sections of the media were not kind to his Administration.

He singled out the Stabroek News and the Kaieteur News. “The Stabroek News represents some of the rich people in our country and they feel that Cheddi Jagan deprived them of their privileges that they had … The Kaieteur News hate us from another point of view. They want to protect the newly rich in our country, the people who made money when things were bad in Guyana and they made their money by smuggling items into the country. They have money, but don’t have political power and that is what they want,” he said.

Also addressing the meeting was Region Six Chairman David Armogan, who noted that persons who may have misplaced their Identifications Cards and have their names on the Voters’ List will still be able to cast a ballot on May 11.

He said such persons need to go to the place of poll on Election Day and they will be allowed to vote because there will be a photograph at the place of poll of all voters. His statements rubbished claims by the Opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) that the PPP/C had been offering persons from the opposition camp $10,000 in exchange for their Identifications Cards in order to prevent them from casting a ballot in favour of the Opposition on Election Day.

Xenon Hotel opens branch in Georgetown

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ssequibo-based Xenon Hotel has opened its first branch in Georgetown, a release from the hotel has said.

The popular hotel brand on the Essequibo Coast, now boasts a modern 29 room hotel in the heart of the city.

The multi-million dollar investment is meant to complement the investment in the 704 Food and Entertainment Bar, and is located opposite the bar at Lamaha and Albert Streets.

The brand new hotel boasts all the modern facilities one has come to expect including hot and cold shower, air conditioned rooms, free Wi-Fi, cable television and adequate parking. There are 25 rooms and 4 suites, and all are serviced by an elevator.

The hotel management says that they are expecting that the investment will complement Guyana’s tourism package as visitors now have another option for accommodation within the city.

The Xenon Hotel was first opened in Charity on the Essequibo Coast, and has been one of the main hotels in that district.

The Xenon brand has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Special packages are

The Xenon Hotel on Albert Street, Georgetown

available for visitors who wish to visit Georgetown and Essequibo. The hotel promises that it will provide modern conveniences with the charm of Guyanese hospitality and assures that its rates are affordable.

The brand new hotel is catering to international and

local travellers and says that the comforts it offers will astound even the most discerning traveller. The New Xenon hotel is located 87 Albert Street, Alberttown.

Georgetown and can be contacted on telephone number 225-0254.

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More commercial banks in new Govt

– Ramotar says will expand small business enterprises

By Gomatie Gangadin

P

resident Donald Ramotar on Wednesday promised the business and private sectors in Guyana several major developmental plans should his Government be returned to power on May 11 when General and Regional Elections are held in the country.

Among these, he said, will be the issuance of commercial bank licences to reputable banks to operate here.

Speaking at the Presidential Candidates’ Business Luncheon, which was organised by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), the Presidential Candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and current president told the business community that they can expect bigger and better plans for the sector once he was returned to power.

Ramotar pointed out that Guyana has not seen a new commercial banking institution since the 1990s, something which he detailed, was intentional since Guyana’s economy was relatively small back then and could not have accommodated more.

“Since the 1990s, we’ve not given any commercial bank licence and that was because of the small economy, the size of the economy was very small at that time. It was a conscious decision on our part, because we didn’t want to balkanise the economy… that is why we didn’t give more since the early 1990s, but my intention is to issue more com-

President Donald Ramotar addressing the packed room

competition will bring.

The PPP/C’s Presidential Candidate said that while his Government would want to establish a specialised developmental bank in the country, this would not be done now. Rather, he explained that for the time being, more fiscal measures would be implemented which he believed can serve the same purpose.

To this, he cited examples of the interventions which the Government had made using the fiscal policies which included the agreement that was brokered with several banks in offering home loans at a reduced interest rate and the Women of Worth (WoW) programme which provided loans of up to $250,000 to single mothers without collateral to invest in a business idea.

He said that thus far, these measures have proven to be effective and successful and as such, he had no doubt that they can be used to produce the same results for the other sectors. “ We want to extend that experience into other sectors and we hope that we can do that in other sectors to stim-

Hydropower project would be started before the year ended. He explained in detail how the project would work, and the benefits the country stood to gain.

“Guyana will save over $3 billion over 20 years and then that project will come to us for free … we will have absolutely no debt. We will be buying hydropower from the company for about half the cost we are generating it for,” he said.

The President also assured the businessmen and women present that he will be keeping all taxes under review so as to ensure that their businesses are always protected, noting that he will ensure that the macroeconomic policies and measures are implemented and monitored for the continued growth and development of the country.

Other plans

The President has also promised a new airport, a deepwater harbour and more roads to assist with the transport of goods and services, the opening of Lethem as a free zone for manufacturing and warehouse facilities, a contin-

A section of the gathering at the Business Luncheon

mercial banking licences in the future,” he said.

According to the President, this is an important step since it is his belief that while the banking sector has done very well, there is conservatism on the part of some banks in making loans available to those who may desperately need it. To this end, he related to the business community that his Government would not just embark on such a plan, but would seek to investigate and entice reputable banking institutions from across the globe to open operations here so that Guyanese, particularly the small and medium-scale operators could benefit from the reduced interest rates the resultant

ulate small and mediumsize enterprises to grow… we all know the role played by small and medium-scale enterprises and that would help to stimulate more business and help to sustain the growth we have been having. This will be done without the cost of the bureaucracy associated…,” the President shared.

Cheaper electricity

Meanwhile, amid concerns raised by GMSA President Clinton Williams of the need for cheap and reliable electricity especially for manufacturers, Ramotar promised that this would be addressed, pointing out that should he be re-elected, the Amaila

ued investment in the human capital of the country to ensure that an educated and skilled workforce is always available, improved security in the country, which he said he has begun to address and the much-anticipated liberalisation of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

The GMSA President, in his remarks, congratulated the President for the five per cent growth which has been recorded by the country over the past few years.

He, however, noted that much more can and needed to be done so that the Private Sector can achieve its potential which is yet to be fully realised.

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private cane farmers Political leaders All are treated alike should tolerate dissenting voices Dear Editor, In Caribbean political culture, political dissent is generally not tolerated within a party. In all Caribbean societies, dissenters are thrown out of a party or denied a seat as a candidate on a party’s list.

Rarely is a Member of Parliament not penalized for questioning the leader (or dominant forces) of a party; an example is when Dr Keith Rowley criticized Patrick Manning who allowed him to contest his seat in 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2010.

In Caribbean politics, it does not matter whether an MP contributed significantly to debate in Parliament or is held in high esteem by supporters or is extremely popular.

All the parties, including minor parties, are guilty of the practice or offense of sidelining popular dissenters.

I remember well Basdeo Panday’s move in Trinidad to expel Ramesh Maharaj and Trevor Sudama, two of the hardest working MPs and Ministers (2001) because they criticized him on corruption allegations.

So it is not surprising that certain dissenting individuals are excluded from the list of a party in Guyana and elsewhere because they question decisions of their party’s leadership.

Some of the MPs in Guyana are justifiably excluded from the list. Some MPs are not befitting of the title honorable. They behave like fishmongers and are scoundrels. They

are without class attacking people at will and exhibiting racial prejudice.

But others have been outstanding with uplifting demeanor, who were sharp in Parliament and who did thorough research when debating in Parliament.

Also, some of them hardly did anything for their (geographical) constituents and were not seen throughout the entire term of Parliament.

But others had provided outstanding representation and were seen by constituents at every function (wake, barahee, kangan, wedding, funeral, koran sharief, Christian service, jhandi, bhagwat, etc).

Some MPs truly care for their constituents and got tremendous benefits for supporters. For others, it does not matter whether Saturday falls on a Sunday as they are/were only concerned about themselves and the lives of their families.

Also, with regard to leadership, a leader being intolerant of dissent in a party’s rank is a cause for concern. It sets the stage for authoritarian rule; such a leader cannot be trusted.

Dissent and debate are healthy for democracy. Otherwise, there would continue to be rigging for leadership post if people don’t speak out. Those parties and or political leaders that allow their members and MPs to voice their opinion about candidates should be applauded. Others should emulate them. Tolerance of criticism and intra-party com-

petition allow the level of politics to rise.

It enhances democratic governance. In this day and age, people yearn for transparency and want to hold their MPs and leaders accountable. Thus, dissenters should not be punished but saluted for their position if it is based on principles.

On political leadership, some of the well known candidates truly care for the nation and for people – Jagdeo, Ramotar, Bandhu, Nagamootoo, etc – individuals who I studied and have known over the years – have shown compassion for people and appear very caring.

They are humble and serve with humility without egos. They have developed a reputation as wanting to assist the poor, dispossessed, and the weaker sections of society.

I can affirm that in my polling, kudos have come for Jagdeo from a wide array of constituents around the nation, and he has remained an extremely popular political figure, long after he left the presidency.

Contrary to what appear in the media by critics and detractors, Jagdeo is well liked among all groups of voters.

It is not surprising, therefore, that he has wide appeal among voters in the PPP/C camp and that the party has attracted huge crowds to hear him and Ramotar, among others at campaigns.

Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor, In response to Mr Balkarran’s misleading letter dated April 20, please be informed that all private cane farmers in Guyana are treated alike and through GuySuCo’s cane farming officers, are all similarly entitled to extension services.

Recently, new farmers at Blairmont Estate showed an interest to do private cane farming from a recent advertisement in the local papers. It is interesting to note that most of these new farmers come from the Estate’s workforce and are they being encouraged by GuySuCo to get organised into effective groups.

It is part of GuySuCo’s Strategic Plan in action and the manner in which small private cane farmers are being engaged in private cane farming.

The very Belle Vue Coop Society was formed with Wales Estate lands leased to them. Today, these farmers are presently engaged in good cane farming practices and supplying canes to Wales Estate.

NCFC also has a finan-

ther was freed after winning his case on appeal. Myself and Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, who successfully challenged the earlier conviction, pointed out this inaccuracy on separate instances.

Unfortunately my dad, who served the PNC (now APNU-AFC) along with Rabbi Washington and the House of Israel, is once again fodder in the APNUAFC’s quest to obtain the votes of Indo-Guyanese.

Hoyte would’ve done the right thing by jailing these two men.

The truth though is that

my father continued to serve the PNC even after being jailed by Hoyte. He provided an enormous amount of service during Hoyte’s “Mo Fyah, Slow Fyah” campaign in 1997.

I recall listening in on a phone conversation in which Hoyte’s creature was being instructed which and which businesses were not to be targeted. In fact, my father served the PNC so well that during the 1997 election, a command centre was set up at one of his properties and was run by a female.

From this centre persons were mobilized and trans-

whereby Farmers are allowed to witness their cane analysis to determined sugar and done by GuySuCo workers who are also farmers’ relatives.

Cane scales are tested weekly whereby Farmers’ representatives are requested to attend and witness same.

GuySuCo and the Government have long since recognised the importance of private cane farmers and have been involving them at all forums from time to time in the decision making process for the growth and development of private cane farming in Guyana.

It is most unfair to say otherwise and apportion blame on GuySuCo and the Govt, especially at this time.

I do not believe Mr Balkarran is an attention seeker every time he visits Guyana or is canvassing for any political party. But if he needs more information, he can make an appointment at my office.

Walter Persaud NCFM

The poor can get justice at the CCJ Dear Editor, It is a known fact that appeals to the Privy Council cost a fortune, and dozens of Caribbean nationals were denied justice because they could not afford to move to the London based Privy Council.

However litigants who live in the four jurisdictions which abolished appeals to the Privy Council who are destitute can still have their appeals heard by the Port of Spain-based Caribbean

My dad served the PNC up until his death Dear Editor, My attention was recently drawn to an election poster on the APNU-AFC Facebook page in which the following is stated: “Desmond Hoyte jailed Rabbi Washington and Errol “Taps” Butcher for crimes committed. When the PPP/C gained power, they set them free!”

The contention that Butcher was somehow freed by the PPP/C after being imprisoned by Hoyte was first made by disgruntled exPPP/C member, now turned David Granger cheerleader, Malcom Harripaul.

The truth is that my fa-

cial assistance programme in the form of a revolving fund, whereby small farmers (almost all in Demerara) have and continue to benefit from small loans at zero interest.

The larger-scale farmers would approach banks (of their choice) and seek funding at the respective banks’ terms and conditions.

GuySuCo has been granting concessions for short periods to farmers who are in need. At present, there is a review of the cane punt charges with the view of reducing same for all farmers who are using the Estate’s cane punts.

It is not that the manner of computation is wrong, but now considering as a relief and encouragement of private cane farming. The following procedures have been implemented and are active: Farmers are the Chairman of the Estate’s CFLCs and the NCFC and are done by election by the farmers. Farmers canes are Brix sampled prior harvesting.

Transparency exists at all Factory Laboratory

ported to various locations to partake in multiple voting.

When the 2001 elections came around being overseas denied him the opportunity to serve once again. His services were so important to the PNC’s cause that numerous efforts were made to have him come home.

He died a year later and up until his death remained in service to the PNC (now APNU-AFC) despite being “jailed by Hoyte” and “freed by the PPP/C” as its Facebook page now asserts.

Jason Abdulla

Court of Justice (CCJ).

The CCJ recently celebrated its 10th anniversary since its inauguration and President of the Court Sir Denis Byron made reference to the case of “Ross vs Sinclair”, in which the regional court heard the case under special rules for poor people and the lawyers, both for the appellant and respondent, agreed to do the case pro bono (free of charge).

The Court facilitated their arguments by way of teleconference rather than them traveling to Port of Spain and save traveling and hotel expenses.

So far only four countries, Guyana, Barbados, Belize and just recently Dominica have severed ties with the London based Privy Council. St Lucia and Grenada are expected to go on board soon.

Sir Denis is baffled that most of the countries have not yet cut the apron string with Britain.

The CCJ is a breath of fresh air and we must embrace it, said Indira Rampersad a lecturer in Political Science at St Augustine, UWI. President of the Trinidad and Tobago Bar Association

Reginald Armour said “there can be no turning back on the road to maturation of the Caribbean”.

I am disappointed that Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have not yet joined the Court, since these two big countries in Caricom have been advising the smaller territories long before the inauguration of the CCJ to sever ties with the Privy Council and join the regional court.

So far on Guyana, Barbados,Belize and very recently Dominica have joined the Appellate Division of the CCJ. All Caricom countries are members of the original jurisdiction of the court which interprets the Treaty of Chaguaramas.

It was the CCJ in its original jurisdiction which determined the Shanique Myrie case when it ruled that the Barbadian immigration authorities breached the Treaty of Chaguaramas when they denied the young Jamaican woman entry into Barbados.

I wish to state that Guyana abolished appeals to the Privy Council since 1970.

Oscar Ramjeet

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“Bush truck” fire contained at Eccles gas station ...conflagration averted

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“bush truck” burst into flames on Wednesday evening while parked at the Two Brothers Gas Station at Lot Y, Eccles, East Bank Demerara, but quick response by the Guyana Fire Service prevented the inferno from spreading to the building and nearby homes.

The inferno started around 19:10h. The Guyana Times understands that the fire erupted in the cabin of the truck while the driver was inside. Persons at the scene were surmised that the man might have been smoking. Further reports revealed that after the fire began spreading and it became difficult to contain, the driver fled the scene.

Despite attempts by staff of the gas station to extinguish the fire, the flames became uncontrollable and quickly spread over the entire truck. It is unclear whether the barrels in the tray of the truck were already refilled.

The flames then leapt to a fuel tanker that was parked parallel to the truck.

The Fire Service responded promptly and was able to prevent the fire from spreading to the pump station area.

Initially, the first responders began tackling the massive fire and were backed up by the second responders from the Central Fire Station, who used foam to douse the flames. This newspaper understands that the owner of the truck, Allicock (only name given) has operations in the interior.

Meanwhile, Owner of the Gas Station, Javed Ali, told this newspaper that he was at home when he received a call from the supervisor of the gas station that a customer’s truck was on fire and she had already alerted the Fire Service.

“She told me that the staff was outside with the fire ex-

ed.

Owner Javed Ali at the gas station

tinguisher, trying to contain it. So I immediately left my home in Vergenoegen (West Coast Demerara) to come down, but I was in contact with her all the time. Then she told me that the Fire Service reach,” he related.

Ali further revealed that when he arrived at the station, the fire was already extinguished. He noted thankfully no one was injured by the fire, but it has left his staff, along with their family members, traumatised.

One of the workers in an invited comment could not say how the fire started; however, she recalled seeing the blaze in the truck while her colleagues battled to put it out.

A nearby resident told this publication that when he arrived home he saw the huge flames at the gas station. He noted at the time the Fire Service had not arrived yet but came shortly after. He recounted that it took them about 25 minutes to completely extinguish the flames.

“You have to give them credit. The response was timely, they came and even though it was a risky situation, they went right into it and started to put out the flames… it was a huge fire, I have never seen anything like it before,” the man stat-

Meanwhile, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle told reporters that about 19:15h the Fire Service began receiving reports of the fire at the gas station and immediately raised the alarm level to ‘Three’.

He stated that two stations responded – West Ruimveldt and Central Station. Given its proximity to the scene, West Ruimveldt Station was the first to arrive and after observing the magnitude of the blaze, immediately informed Central Office about heavy flames from a tanker and requested ‘special support’.

“Special support came from Central Station in the form of a large water bowser and one of the new Chinese specialised water tenders,” Gentle told reporters. He explained that this specialised water tender was not like the conventional ones, as it carried both water and foam. “Foam is a chemical concentrate made up of certain chemicals that retard fires involving special liquids or flammable liquids including fuels. That was used here and used very copiously to suppress this fire.”

The Fire Chief further explained that the risk in this situation was far greater because it was a gas station that had two tankers with fuel as well as fuel stored underground. However, he disclosed that most of the safely systems at the gas station were operational; as such, there was an immediate automatic shutdown of the gas pumps.

“The station went into its passive mode so that the risks of explosions and what not could not have occurred.

Nevertheless, we still have our investigations to do, we cannot say what caused the fire to ignite,” he disclosed.

Man shot dead, 1 injured in separate shootings

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man was on Wednesday evening shot dead executionstyle in a minibus outside the Alpha Hotel at Agricola, Greater Georgetown.

He has been identified as 32-year-old Gladstone George, of 40 Brutus Street, Agricola, a father of one. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to information reaching the Guyana Times, the man was in the vicinity of the Alpha Hotel, when he stopped a Route 42 minibus which was heading to Georgetown. Eyewitnesses recounted that the man entered the minibus and proceeded to the back seat where he sat waiting for the vehicle to pull off.

A lone gunman on a bicycle then rode up to the

bus and began shooting indiscriminately at George.

While the shooter was unmasked, eyewitnesses could not describe his features as they noted that they scampered for cover as the shots rang out.

However, they related that the incident took place just as a tanker truck had exploded at the Two Brothers Gas Station at Eccles, thus leading them to believe that the shooter took advantage of the residents becoming distracted by that incident.

According to relatives, the dead man was a frequent interior worker, but had only returned from Suriname some two weeks ago. Some of his relatives, however, said that they were unaware that George was in the country until they re-

ceived the devastating news that he had been shot dead.

Shooting and kidnapping

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, businessman Abdul Kadir Naseer was shot when gunmen attacked him at his home in Canal Number One Polder, West Coast Demerara on Wednesday evening.

According to reports reaching this publication, the gunmen after shooting him, hijacked his black BMW motor car with his friend inside, as he managed to escape.

The man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he remains a patient.

In the meantime, the Police have been searching for the vehicle and the kidnapped friend, whose identity is not yet known.

Jagdeo fears future Army under Granger …says PPP/C has spent more on military than PNC

By Alexis Rodney

F

ormer President Bharrat Jagdeo has dismissed claims that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was never supportive of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and all other military institutions, noting that it has always stood solidly behind these bodies. He also said he was fearful of what the military would become under a David Granger-led Administration.

Jagdeo was at the time addressing media operatives at Freedom House on Wednesday, and lambasted the current “militarised” leadership of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition.

Presenting a copy of the 1992 estimates, presented to the National Assembly by then Finance Minister Carl Greenidge, a current member of the Opposition party,

Former Rear Admiral Gary Best

Jagdeo showed figures of the capital budget of the Army which at that time stood at some $300,000. Leader of the Opposition coalition and retired Brigadier Granger was also at that time the National Security Adviser to the President. Jagdeo said the Army’s economic footing back then was at an embarrassingly low standard.

“Today, they love soldiers so much and speak about how we are not doing anything for soldiers and that was their shameful record,” Jagdeo told journalists. He continued, “A private soldier today, the lowest ranking officer in the army , if his annual salary is converted in US terms, it would show that he earns more in a year than the capital budget for the entire army in 1990.”

Jagdeo said during his 12-year tenure as President, the total capital budget of the Army had moved by leaps and bounds compared to the figures under the PNC Government. He said by the time he left office in 2011, the Army’s capital budget had moved to some $6.6 billion, leaping from $1.5 billion in 1999.

He said for those opposition leaders to now come about and say that he did not respect military people is highly outrageous, as they had his full support

Retired Brigadier David Granger

when he was President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

He said his record in assisting soldiers “is in the numbers and they can’t beat that”. “I am prepared to look at the numbers. We sought to rebuild the Army, the dignity of the Army and the professionalism of the Army. We never gave illegal; instructions, never asked them to come support the PPP, as was done in the past by the PNC that Granger defended.”

He said his interest in the welfare of the Army and its officers was demonstrated, when he gave full instructions to the Chief-of-Staff telling him that Government was allocating money, in a special account to ensure that each soldier left the institution with a skill. He said instructions were given that members of the Officer Corps must obtain a degree by attending the university.

“For the Police Force that had problems with middlelevel management, I said to the Army, let us train 50 young Cadet Officers and put them into the Police Force to strengthen middle-level management, because in the next five years, these are young bright people who understand modern policing. Fortynine of them were trained and sent over to the Police Force.

I did the same thing for the Prisons and Fire Services and they were sent to strengthen their middle-level management.”

Under pressure

Jagdeo said he believed that the Army and Police would come under serious pressure, should the Opposition get into power, “to go back to those days when illegal instructions were given like they were forced to take ballot boxes, contrary to the Defence Act; they were forced because of political purposes and Granger was the critical line between the Army at that time and the Office of the President, defending the paramountcy of the party”.

Turning his attention to the current crop of Opposition officials, Jagdeo said it was hypocritical of many of those officials, whom he personally supported to now speak about “discrimination”.

“They talk of discrimination and suddenly we

don’t like soldiers anymore,” Jagdeo said, noting that he had chosen to appoint APNU’s Shadow Minister of Home Affairs Winston Felix to the post of Commissioner of Police. “We had four candidates, including an IndoGuyanese, but I chose Felix,” Jagdeo retorted. He said the same was done during the appointment of retired Army Chief- of-Staff Gary Best, who before had complained of being sidelined on such appointment, and against the protest of his colleague Brigadier Edward Collins. “We have to be crazy that we discriminate so much and these are the people we chose to head the Army. And if we were so bad, why didn’t they refuse to serve under the PPP/C Government,” Jagdeo questioned.

Jagdeo, who sought not to get into much details, said he could say reasons, which he had ignored that Brigadier Collins shared with him, for not appointing Best. He said

Former Brigadier Edward Collins

in retrospect, “then maybe Best would remain quiet today”. But I think maybe Collins was right,” he related.

“I know when Gary Best came over to the Office of the President and complained that he was sidelined. I don’t want to get into those details, but if you are in the Army all the time and you say you are a professional and the Government is so bad, why hold the top position and take all the illegal top positions that we are ostensibly supposed to give them and the day you leave, you shift focus. That shows that you are destroying trust in the executives. How could the executives trust people that act differently.”

Jagdeo said Granger, who was now “pretending” to be in full support of the military institution, really did not have its best interests at heart. This, he said, could be qualified from his track record as a once senior official in the Army. He said he was fearful of what the Army, tasked with the security and defence of Guyana may become, should the APNU/AFC win the upcoming polls. His fears do not only surround the decline in its professionalism, but also a return to the state it was under the PNC Administration.

44 NEWS

thursday, april 23, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

CANU guards charged for CIOG to help monitor elections stealing seized cocaine

T

he Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) wishes to inform the public that the Organisation will be playing a key role in the monitoring of the General and Regional Elections scheduled for May 11 in conjunction with the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB).

The Organisation endorses that it is in our country's best interest to ensure that the elections are held in a peaceful, respectful, and morally correct man-

ner. Democracy is an important aspect of freedom and must always be safeguarded. Hence, the elections ought to be free and fair unaccompanied by any form of intimidation and violence.

Reports of supporters of one political party being attacked and injured were indeed very disturbing.

CIOG has noted the intolerance exercised in the destruction of campaign billboards, flags, banners and other paraphernalia.

In addition, the derogatory depiction of effigies, the vile and nasty online campaign through social media which is geared at instigation is of deep concern to us.

The CIOG wishes to remind Guyanese that elections are part of our democratic process and we must, therefore, respect the rights of each other in our individual and collective capacity in our decision to elect and support the party of our choice.

Parika stelling damaged

T

he Transport and Harbours Department has disclosed that the Parika Ferry Stelling has suffered minor damage as a result of a collision with the MV Sabanto on Wednesday.

In a release, it said around 09.00h, as the MV Sabanto was manoeuvring to depart the Parika Ferry Stelling, it pivoted against a mooring bollard resulting in its collapse.

Four bollards were emplaced for operations. Divers will examine the damaged structure to help determine its re-instatement.

Meanwhile, operations will continue – albeit with more time now necessary for mooring and departure at Parika.

Updates will be provided as more information becomes available, the release conMV Sabanto when it previously ran cluded. aground on Wakenaam

ran

Deportee hacked to death during drinking spree

A

50-year-old man was on Wednesday afternoon hacked to death following an argument with another man during a drinking spree at Rose Hall Town, Berbice.

The incident occurred at approximately 13:00h. The dead man was identified as Shawn Pestano, who moved to the town some three days ago.

Based on information provided, it was alleged that Pestano, who was deported to Guyana some time back from the United States, was involved in an argument with the suspect and he was dealt several chops about the body.

According to reports, the 21-year-old suspect has been

identified as Leon La Rose.

It is alleged that the argument started after the now dead man made a derogatory comment about the suspect’s mother. La Rose, who lives a short distance away (Williamsburg Village), went home, retrieved his cutlass, came back, and dealt Pestano several chops about his body, chopping off one of his feet at the ankle in the process which caused him to lose a lot of blood quickly.

Prior to the chopping, Pestano, La Rose and three other persons were at an occupied house in Rose Hall Town imbibing, according to the deceased’s uncle, who also disclosed that about three days ago his nephew

moved to Rose Hall and his last place of abode was unknown. The relative said he got a call saying that his nephew was involved in an incident.

He further related that after Pestano was attacked, he was picked up and rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The suspect was subsequently arrested and was currently in custody assisting with the investigation.

According to some reports, he is said to be of unsound mind as a result of being hit sometime back in the head and used to receive treatment at the National Psychiatric Hospital in New Amsterdam.

Father of 1 commits suicide at Affiance A 37-year-old father of one from Affiance Village on the Essequibo Coast has ended his life tragically consuming a quantity of poisonous substance.

Dead is Daveanand Saytoo. According to information reaching the Guyana Times, Saytoo, who recently returned from vacation in the United States, were having constant domestic problems. He and his wife are

Daveanand Saytoo

separated and despite that, he was said to be having constant rows with her.

Saytoo drank a quantity of poison on Tuesday evening and succumbed that night. The news has sent shock waves through the quiet community of Affiance.

Apart from personal problems, Saytoo, a popular driver, was known as a very jovial individual in his community. He leaves to mourn his daughter and parents.

T

wo security guards attached to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) who allegedly stole drugs seized by the Unit were placed on $350,000 bail each, on Wednesday

by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Kevin Dookie, 21, of 199 Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown, and Teon Ambrose,51, of 954 Sophia, Greater Georgetown, both pleaded not guilty to the charge, which read that on Thursday, April 16, at Homestretch Avenue, they stole eight parcels of cocaine valued $936,000, property of CANU. According to Police Prosecutor Steven Telford, CANU officers had conducted a narcotics interdiction exercise at Diamond, East Bank Demerara during which a large quantity of cocaine was seized and four persons were taken into custody. The Prosecutor stated that on the day in question, the two accused were on duty at the CANU office. He explained that at the time of the incident, 428 packets of the illicit substance were being stored in a freezer while the officers processed an additional packet.

Footage

Later in the day when checks were made, it was discovered that eight packets were missing. CANU officers then reviewed footage of the area and it was

discovered that Dookie had gone into the freezer and left with a bag which, allegedly contained the stolen items.

It was further explained that Dookie was seen, on surveillance footage, conversing with Ambrose, who then opened the gate and let him exit with the bag.

The Prosecutor said that upon his return to the compound, the defendant was no longer in possession of the bag.

Speaking on Dookie’s behalf, Attorney-at-Law

Teon Ambrose

Latchmie Rahamat argued that in the footage shown to her client, he was never in possession of any bag, and during a search of his house and person none of the packets were found in his possession. Therefore, there was no evidence linking him to the crime.

It was further stated that there was a gap in time between the period that Dookie left the compound and returned, adding that anyone could have

Kevin Dookie

accessed the freezer. She requested that the Court view her client as innocent until proven guilty, adding that he did not have any previous conviction or any pending matters. An application for bail was made on those grounds.

Representing Ambrose, Attorney-at-Law Paul Fung-A-Fat stated that there was no evidence nor was there any substance to link his client to the crime.

He was only doing his duty when he opened the gate, Fung-A-Fat said. He added that Ambrose, who is a father of 11, has an unblemished record and made an application for bail, in a reasonable amount, on these grounds.

The Prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offence.

However, the Magistrate granted the men, on the grounds that there has not been sufficient evidence offered against them. The matter will return to court on May 7.

Yacht found abandoned at Wakenaam, German owner missing

A

n unidentified Catamaran Yacht was discovered aground on the Mofarm Foreshore, Wakenaam, Essequibo last week, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) reported on Wednesday.

There was no sign of the crew when the discovery was made late Friday night and the vessel was vandalised.

Law enforcement officers initially inspected the vessel, MARAD reported.

They were followed by an officer from MARAD, who was dispatched to the area on Sunday to also commence investigations into the circumstances which may have caused the vessel to make landfall in Guyana, and the status of its crew.

On Sunday evening, it was successfully salvaged and taken to a more secure location at Wakenaam. The vessel’s name and port of registry were not visible.

On Monday afternoon, a German identification card (#802861887) in the name of Axel Verlohr of Nuremberg,

The abandoned, unidentified Catamaran Yacht

and a note were discovered on the vessel.

The note also contained the name and telephone numbers of a woman in Germany, who has since been contacted and who has identified herself as Verlohr’s sister.

According to the woman, he was supposed to be travelling alone from an island

off the West Coast of Africa to Trinidad and Tobago.

All of the relevant national law enforcement agencies are involved in investigating this occurrence, and MARAD is also liaising with the German authorities.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry was informed of this development.

nEWS

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45

PCA now equipped with investigative team

T

welve years after the Disciplinary Services Commission (DSC) recommended that the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) be equipped with its independent investigative team; a four-member team was installed on April 1 last.

PCA Chairman, Retired Justice Cecil Kennard made this disclosure during a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday.

The four-member team includes Retried Senior Superintendent of Police, Frederick Cesar; Retired Chief Inspector, Sydney Charles; Retired Inspector, Gladwin Hercules; and Retired Captain of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Cecil Ramnarine.

Justice Kennard expressed his elatedness on the appointment of the senior men who all have a vast experience in the field of investigative work. He explained

PCA Chairman, Retired Justice Cecil Kennard

that they will be tasked with investigating complaints made by the public against the Police, and will be mandated to present a report on every case to him.

Once in possession of those reports, he will peruse them, and make the neces-

sary recommendations to the Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud to be executed. Justice Kennard is sure that with the team on board, the unit will be able to work at a faster rate in completing complaints made.

He recalled that in 2003, the then Chairman of the DSC, Justice Ian Chang would have recommended that the PCA be given an investigative unit. Topped with that recommendation, Kennard has been reiterating the need for such a unit in almost everyone of his annual report.

Kennard explained that before the investigative team was installed, complaints had to be sent to the Commissioner of Police for an investigation to be carried out, after which a report with the relevant statements was forwarded to the PCA to consider whether or not the rank against whom the complaint was made

should face disciplinary charge.

“If it is so decided, then the matter is sent back to the Commissioner of Police for a disciplinary hearing.

If the rank is found to have been at fault, the matter is referred back to the Police Complaints Authority for a recommendation as to the appropriate penalty to be imposed.”

Without its own team of investigators, then, each complaint has to be forwarded to the Commissioner of Police for an investigation and report, which is time consuming. Now with the team of investigators, the complaints will be dealt with in a more expeditious manner.

Finally, he highlighted that the PCA can only entertain complaints against members of the Guyana Police Force from the ranks of Assistant Commissioner of Police to a Constable.

Mocha resident remanded for drug possession

A

resident of 178 First Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was refused bail on Wednesday after he was allegedly found with illicit drugs.

Thirty-four-year-old Junior Fleu was brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

The court heard that the

defendant was found in his home with 63 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana) on Tuesday, April 21.

The defendant explained to the court through his Attorney, Paul Fung-A-Fat that he was home when the Police roused him from his bed. They had been chasing a man who ran through his yard and he had been thus arrested.

Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves objected

to bail as the defendant’s explanation of his arrest was no special reason why he may not be guilty of the offence.

Magistrate SewnarineBeharry subsequently remanded the defendant to prison.

His case was transferred to Court Five where Magistrate Fabayo Azore will be presiding. He is expected back there on May 6.

Junior Fleu

Plaisance man before court for allegedly emptying lover’s home

A

39-year-old man will be going on trial next month at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was accused of emptying the house his lover left him to take care of.

The defendant, Keon Byass of Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, was brought to the court on Wednesday after his lover of a few years came home from her sojourn overseas to find he had emptied her house of all its furnishings.

The prosecution, led by Corporal Deniro Jones, told

the court that the Virtual Complainant (VC), Amanda Alphonso, and the defendant have been in a relationship for some time, but live apart – as the VC has a husband and Byass has a wife.

The VC had migrated from Guyana on October 3, 2014 with her husband, but prior to that, had decided to leave her lover as caretaker of her fully furnished house, at 49 David Street, Georgetown.

However, Alphonso was informed by residents of the area that he was removing several household items.

Keon Byass

When she came home on December 8, 2014, the VC was able to see this for herself as all her furniture and other articles had been removed.

She reported the matter to the Kitty Police Station and the defendant was thus charged and arrested.

However, Byass told the court that he was not guilty of the charge.

His trial is expected to commence on May 19 after the relevant statements are collected on April 29.

Byass was released on $100,000 bail.

29-year-old bus driver accused of cutting girlfriend in the face

A

29-year-old man was on Wednesday placed on $100,000 bail

by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was arraigned for allegedly cutting his girlfriend’s face.

Nigel Payne, a bus driver of 1010 Durban Street, Lodge, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge

which stated that on April 23 at Kingston he maliciously and unlawfully wounded the Virtual Complainant (VC), Trevica Van De Cruise.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru stated that the VC and the defendant shared a relationship and on the day of the incident, they were at the Kingston seawall with friends. It was explained that Payne who was at the

time in possession of a glass bottle of beer approached the VC and told her that he was ready to return home and she replied that she was not ready to leave. In response, the man broke the beer bottle and cut her on the left side of her face.

She was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital and a report was later made to the Police. An investiga-

tion was carried out and the man was arrested and taken into custody.

Speaking in his own defence, Payne stated that he did not intend to cut the young woman and it happened accidentally when he grabbed her. The prosecutor made no objection to bail. The matter will return to court on May 8 for statements.

46

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, april 23, 2015

Busta Soft Shoe quarterfinalists decided – knockout round starts this evening

Players battle for possession during one of the games on Tuesday night at the GFC ground, Bourda

T

he exciting new Busta Soft Shoe concept will be taken to another level this evening when business end or knockout stage of the tournament gets into full swing with quarter-final matches at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda.

The format has already caught on with the fans, judging from their turnout for the preliminary stage, and with the competition now at a stage where it’s ‘win or go home’, interest is bound to catapult among the followers of the respective community teams.

Tonight’s opening game at 20:45h will bring together Cross Street and Alexander Village in what is match 37 of the competition, while Ballerz and Queen Street- Tiger Bay will collide in game two of the

night at 21:30h.

This will be followed by West Front Road tackling North East La Penitence at 22:15h, with the final game set to involve Festival City and Albouystown, starting at 23:00h.

Meanwhile, in the last round of preliminary action on Tuesday evening at the same venue, three of the six games ended in stalemate.

In the opening match-up, Sophia and Durban Street played to a 2-2 draw with Dwayne Lowe (4th and 12th) scoring a double for Sophia and Jermaine Gilbert in the 23rd second and Quincy Ashby in the 30th minute accounting for Durban Street goals.

West Front Road drew 1-1 with Queen Street- Tiger Bay. Hubert Pedro netted for West Front Road in the 14th

minute, but five minutes later Deon Alfred levelled the score for Queen Street- Tiger Bay. In a high-scoring draw, Charlestown and California Square blasted in three goals each to walk away with an equal share of the points.

Troy Heyliger (5th), Shane Morris (6th) and Andrew Gibson (25th) found the back of the net for Charlestown, while Dillon Kelly (8th and 12th) and Nash Moe (15th) were on target for California Square.

Other results saw North East La Penitence edging Hope Street 3-2, Sparta Boss gaining a similar margin of victory over Alexander Village, and North Ruimveldt pipping Back Circle 2-1.

The winner of the inaugural tournament is guaranteed $600,000 and bragging rights for one year.

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2015…

Raina, Nehra send RCB rock bottom

S

uresh Raina’s 32-ball 62 set Chennai Super Kings on course to 181 for 8, before Ashish Nehra’s four wickets for 10 runs sent Royal Challengers Bangalore’s chase into the Chinnaswamy Stadium dirt. Not even a halfcentury from Virat Kohli could lift his team off the bottom of the table, as Super Kings caught superbly, and bowled with discipline to find the hosts 27 runs short.

Dwayne Smith struck his customary early boundaries, blasting two successive sixes and a four in David Wiese’s seventh over, but it was when Raina began to accelerate that Super Kings appeared to be headed to a daunting score.

He had hit Harshal Patel for successive fours, then launched Wiese into the sightscreen in the Powerplay, having arrived soon after Yuzvendra Chahal’s leg-spin undid Brendon McCullum.

But it was Raina’s dominance of spin that was the feature of his knock, and Iqbal Abdulla was his first slow-bowling victim. Raina advanced to send Abdulla’s first ball way back into the stands beyond longon, before cracking him for a four past point then lifting him into the long on stand again two overs later.

When Chahal came back into the attack, Raina became even more bloody-minded. A still out-of-sorts MS Dhoni turned the strike over to him at the start of the 13th over, and Raina went on the rampage.

He ran down at the bowler and lifted him over long on, again, for six. He expected Chahal to drop the next one short, and stayed in his crease but, even when the bowler delivered a good-length ball, swung it high and hard over cow corner. The

next slog-sweep was stuck less cleanly, but still comfortably cleared the rope. His undoing came when he tried to hit his first six against the spin, next ball. Rilee Russouw ran around from long off to pouch him comfortably.

At 124 for 3 after 13 overs, Super Kings may have had designs for a score over 200, but Royal Challengers’ bowlers claimed wickets often enough to rein the run rate in.

Having dropped Chris Gayle for this match, Royal Challengers’ chase began brightly enough. Manvinder Bisla hit a boundary either side of the wicket in Ishwar Pandey’s first over, then he and Russouw plundered 19 off Mohit Sharma. Nehra struck twice in the fourth over, and

the hosts’ run rate plummeted from there.

Virat Kohli began cautiously then freed his arms to hit two fours and a six off R Ashwin in the eighth over, but he could not hold onto his partners, thanks in part to Super Kings’ excellent fielding. Dinesh Karthik was out to a good diving catch from Dwayne Bravo at long-on, then when AB de Villiers turned to take a second run three overs later, Dhoni turned a mediocre throw into a run-out, by flicking the ball briskly onto the stumps to catch the batsman short of his ground.

Kohli continued to watch wickets fall at the other end, and the chase foundered in the middle overs. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Chennai Super Kings innings (20 overs maximum) DR Smith c †Karthik b Patel 39 BB McCullum c Rossouw b Chahal 4 SK Raina c Rossouw b Chahal 62 MS Dhoni*† c de Villiers 13 b Chahal RA Jadeja c Kohli b Iqbal 8 Abdulla F du Plessis not out 33 DJ Bravo c de Villiers b Iqbal Abdulla 5 R Ashwin c Bisla b Wiese 5 2 MM Sharma b Starc A Nehra not out 0 10 Extras (b-1, lb-6, w-3) Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) 181 Fall of wickets: 1-12 (McCullum, 1.5 ov), 2-70 (Smith, 8.5 ov), 3-124 (Raina, 12.5 ov), 4-132 (Dhoni, 14.1 ov), 5-135 (Jadeja, 15.2 ov), 6-156 (Bravo, 17.3 ov), 7-168 (Ashwin, 18.2 ov), 8-177 (Sharma, 19.4 ov) Bowling: MA Starc 4-0-24-1, YS Chahal 4-0-40-3, HV Patel 4-028-1, D Wiese 4-0-46-1 (1-w),

Iqbal Abdulla 4-0-36-2 (2-w) Royal Challengers Bangalore innings (target: 182 runs from 20 overs) MS Bisla c du Plessis b Nehra 17 RR Rossouw b Nehra 14 V Kohli* c Smith b Nehra 51 KD Karthik† c Bravo b Pandey 10 AB de Villiers run out (Smith/†Dhoni) 14 SN Khan c Sharma b Jadeja 11 D Wiese c Smith b Bravo 22 HV Patel c Bravo b Nehra 0 MA Starc not out 9 6 Extras (lb-5, w-1) Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) 154 Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Bisla, 3.3 ov), 2-33 (Rossouw, 3.6 ov), 3-61 (Karthik, 8.2 ov), 4-85 (de Villiers, 11.3 ov), 5-97 (Khan, 13.3 ov), 6-123 (Kohli, 16.1 ov), 7-123 (Patel, 16.2 ov), 8-154 (Wiese, 19.6 ov) Bowling: IC Pandey 4-0-211, A Nehra 4-0-10-4, MM Sharma 4-0-39-0, R Ashwin 1-0-17-0 (1-w), RA Jadeja 4-037-1, DJ Bravo 3-0-25-1

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, april 23, 2015

47

Foreign Affairs Kumars, Warner help Sunrisers win in rain Ministry Sports S Day set for Sunday Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2015…

T

he Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Office Assistants in association with staff of other ministries/agencies will host the 2015 Workers Day of Sports on Sunday at the St Stanislaus ground on Carifesta Avenue from noon.

The day’s activities are being coordinator by Sports Officer James Lewis and will include softball cricket, 3-a-side small goal football, domino, whist, athletics and novelty events.

Teams entered so far are: Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Forestry Commission, Lands and Survey, GuySuCo, Cyril Potter College of Education, Prisons, Guyana Fire Service, Cheddi Jagan International Airport, National Insurance Scheme, Caricom, Digicel, Guyana Rice Development Board, Laparkan, Auditor General, Bank of Guyana, Guyoil, Hand-in-Hand Trust, Banks DIH Limited and all the government ministries.

Lewis said those participating, and others who would be cheering on in the stands, are assured of an ex-

James Lewis

citing day of action.

“If workers could remember the days of sports in the seventies and early eighties, it used to be fun and excitement. So I got together with a group of young workers in my ministry and other ministries to organize what we call Workers Day of Sports.

Prizes, medals and trophies will be donated by ministers of the government and sponsors,” Lewis said.

Interested teams are asked to contact Lewis on 672-6179 or 666-5857 for more information on the event.

Mayweather’s unbeaten record a “burden”, says Calzaghe

F

loyd Mayweather’s unbeaten record is “a massive burden” but he will still beat Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2, according to former undisputed world champion Joe Calzaghe.

American Mayweather has won all 47 of his professional bouts, 26 by knockout.

Calzaghe, 43, who retired with an undefeated record of 46-0 in 2008, says that record could affect him.

“There will be a lot more pressure on Mayweather than there will be on Pacquiao,” he told BBC Sport.

“Pacquiao has been beaten so he’ll be more relaxed than Mayweather. The ‘zero’ is a massive burden.”

The Welshman added: “I don’t think Mayweather was that impressive in his last two defences against Marcos Maidana. He made hard work of those fights.

“But you can’t overlook a guy that’s never lost.

Mayweather is a fantastic fighter who always finds a way to win so he will be ready for this fight.” Filipino Pacquiao goes into the fight with a record of 57 wins, five losses and two draws.

“Pacquiao can fight and there’s always one great fight left in somebody, but I think the win will go to Mayweather,” Calzaghe added.

The long-anticipated match-up between Mayweather, 38, and 36-yearold Pacquiao was agreed in February, after more than five years of on-and-off negotiations.

The two men are considered the best fighters of their generation and the May 2 showdown is expected to be the most lucrative bout in history. Mayweather says he will have just one more fight after Pacquiao.

If he manages to retire unbeaten, he will join Calzaghe and just 11 other fighters who have ended their careers without a loss.

“When you’ve been at the top of the sport for so many years, it’s your life and it becomes very difficult just to quit boxing and find something else to be happy,” said Calzaghe.

“Sometimes you’re not happy for a while and you get lost but eventually, you do realise that this has to be the end of what you did.

“The older you get, the more it wears down on your body and it takes longer to recover.

“Also, psychologically it’s hard to pick yourself up for big fights but, saying that, this is bigger than anything so I’m sure Mayweather will be completely up for this fight.

“It’s a fight the whole boxing world is waiting to see.”

(BBC Sport)

unrisers Hyderabad overcame a limp finish to their innings, a Duckworth-Lewis re-adjustment, wet outfield, dropped catches, and fumbles in the field to successfully defend 117 in 12 overs. For the first 8.4 overs of the chase, 80 runs came during which the game was headed towards Kolkata Knight Riders, but a back-of-the-hand slower ball from Ravi Bopara and then three exceptional and yorkerfilled overs from the Kumars of the badlands of Meerut made sure Knight Riders couldn’t score 37 off the last three overs.

It was all going wrong for Sunrisers: David Warner found little support to his 55ball 91 with the rest failing to even double the score in 10 balls more, Duckworth-Lewis wasn’t exceptionally kind to them, the conditions were wet ruling the spinners out, three catches were missed in the first four overs, and Andre Russell and Manish Pandey were threatening to turn this into a stroll. Russell was 19

off 9, Pandey 20 off 14, to go with Robin Uthappa’s 34 off 21, but then Russell went for a big hit off Bopara.

It was a slower ball bowled out of the back of the hand, hit the bottom of the bat, and went straight to Dale Steyn at long-on. Steyn had seen two catches go down in his first two overs, but made no mistake here. Still with seven wickets in hand, wet conditions, and 38 required off 19 you would have backed the chasing side.

Not, however, when Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Praveen Kumar are bowling to Indian batsmen. These two skilled but military medium quicks, who play first-class cricket for Uttar Pradesh, have got better of every batsman on the Indian circuit.

For the next 15 balls they put on a workshop on how to defend when conditions are against you.

While the Kumars did it with the ball, the batting was largely dominated by Warner. On a slow pitch, with the ball turning,

Warner batted a level above the others. He used a switch hit, some bullying, and some crisp hitting to get the better of spinners. Shikhar Dhawan at the other end struggled to time the ball, but he provided Warner support going at a

run a ball.

When Warner fell, though, for 91 out of the 130 scored when he was in the middle, Sunrisers needed Dhawan to step it up from his run-a-ball innings until then.

(Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Sunrisers Hyderabad innings (20 overs maximum) S Dhawan c Botha b Russell 54 DA Warner* c †Uthappa b Morkel 91 RS Bopara c Botha b Morkel 2 18 NV Ojha† b UT Yadav 7 MC Henriques not out KL Rahul not out 0 Extras (b-1, lb-1, w-1, nb-1) 4 Total (4 wickets; 20 overs) 176 Fall of wickets: 1-130 (Warner, 14.2 ov), 2-143 (Bopara, 16.1 ov), 3-162 (Dhawan, 18.3 ov), 4-170 (Ojha, 19.2 ov) Bowling: J Botha 4-0-26-0 (1-w), M Morkel 4-0-31-2, SP Narine 4-0-38-0, YK Pathan 2-0-18-0, UT Yadav 4-0-40-1 (1-nb), PP Chawla 1-0-15-0, AD Russell 1-0-6-1

Kolkata Knight Riders innings (target: 118 runs from 12 overs) RV Uthappa† c P Kumar b Henriques 34 G Gambhir* b P Kumar 4 MK Pandey not out 33 AD Russell c Steyn b Bopara 19 YK Pathan c Sharma b B Kumar 6 2 SA Yadav not out Extras (w-3) 3 Total (4 wickets; 12 overs) 101 Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Gambhir, 3.4 ov), 2-49 (Uthappa, 5.5 ov), 3-80 (Russell, 8.5 ov), 4-94 (Pathan, 11.2 ov) Bowling: DW Steyn 3-0-240, B Kumar 3-0-24-1 (1-w), P Kumar 2-0-18-1, KV Sharma 1-0-5-0, MC Henriques 1-09-1 (1-w), Bipul Sharma 1-014-0, RS Bopara 1-0-7-1

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

thursday, april 23, 2015

West Indies v England, 2nd Test, St George’s, 2nd day…

Cook, Trott put seal on improved display squeezed past slip off the outside edge, although it was possibly a bump ball, while Cook was also dropped at short leg

by Jermaine Blackwood. It was a tough chance, straight off the face of the bat and at ankle height, which hit Blackwood’s right hand and rebounded out.

When he had made 17, Cook went past Alec Stewart on England’s Test run-scorers’ list, with only his mentor, Graham Gooch, above him.

The only figure that will matter to him when the innings resumes is three figures, a mark he has not reached for almost

A

Marlon Samuels celebrates his seventh Test hundred

lastair Cook and Jonathan Trott put on England’s highest opening stand since Perth in December 2013 as they strove to provide a sound platform in response to West Indies’ 299.

The second Test has stuttered along, again losing significant time to rain, but the surer footwork of their two openers allowed England to end the second day with an eye on the sort of promontory from which they can dictate the rest of the game.

Both were happy to leave the ball, intent on not departing into the sunset, and Trott

in particular looked more composed at the crease, his head more still, as he whipped the ball off his pads in trademark style. Not having to face Jerome Taylor would certainly have helped, although the ball did not swing much for West Indies on a clear evening. A Trott nudge to fine leg brought the pair their first 50 stand together.

Devendra Bishoo, whose cameo with the bat added to England’s earlier frustrations during a last-wicket stand of 52, caused Cook a couple of moments worry with the ball as well. One delivery was

two years.

There was no sense that Cook has turned his mind to batting when his bowlers were held up during the afternoon session. England had, by general consensus, failed to make full use of winning the toss and inserting West Indies but, led

by Stuart Broad, they were more clinical with the second new ball on Wednesday. Broad finished with 4 for 61 and was appreciably quicker but England then came across a familiar foe: No. 11.

After Marlon Samuels’ obduracy was rewarded with a

SCOREBOARD

West Indies 1st innings KC Brathwaite b Anderson 1 DS Smith c †Buttler b Jordan 15 DM Bravo c Cook b Broad 35 MN Samuels c Bell b Anderson 103 S Chanderpaul c Ali b Stokes 1 J Blackwood lbw b Jordan 26 D Ramdin*† c †Buttler b 31 Broad JO Holder c †Buttler b Broad 22 1 KAJ Roach c Root b Broad D Bishoo lbw b Ali 30 20 ST Gabriel not out Extras (b-5, lb-6, w-1, nb-2) 14 Total (all out; 104.4 overs) 299 Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Brathwaite, 2.1 ov), 2-28 (Smith, 13.6 ov), 3-65 (Bravo, 28.4 ov), 4-74 (Chanderpaul, 33.2 ov), 5-129

(Blackwood, 53.5 ov), 6-223 (Samuels, 82.6 ov), 7-233 (Ramdin, 87.1 ov), 8-246 (Holder, 89.6 ov), 9-247 (Roach, 93.2 ov), 10-299 (Bishoo, 104.4 ov) Bowling: JM Anderson 24-10-472, SCJ Broad 24-9-61-4, CJ Jordan 25-4-65-2 (2-nb, 1-w), MM Ali 13.4-1-47-1, BA Stokes 17-7-66-1, IJL Trott 1-0-2-0 England 1st innings AN Cook* not out 37 IJL Trott not out 32 5 Extras (nb-5) Total (0 wickets; 26 overs) 74

Bowling: KAJ Roach 6-1-21-0 (2nb), ST Gabriel 4-1-16-0 (3-nb), JO Holder 6-2-20-0, D Bishoo 7-2-16-0, MN Samuels 3-2-1-0

seventh Test hundred he was one of four West Indies wickets to fall in 10 overs. But Bishoo and Shannon Gabriel provided further needle in taking their side to a respectable total, considering the conditions in which they had been asked to bat. Both set Test bests during a merry hit before Moeen Ali eventually removed Bishoo, lbw despite a review.

Play began late for the second day running, with

Grenada’s National Stadium cloaked by low cloud and regular bursts of rain. Samuels, having counterattacked late on the first day, was 94 not out overnight and England would have wanted to make him wait even longer before reaching the milestone - the persistent showers aided their cause. It was around 14:00h local time, more than four hours after the scheduled start, when Samuels finally got there. (Cricinfo)

Mayweather’s unbeaten record a “burden”, says Calzaghe Page 23

The winner of the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight will receive a $1M diamond and emerald-encrusted belt

GFF unveils “Next Generation Project” T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has unveiled an ambitious developmental plan, dubbed “Next Generation Project”, to take Guyana’s football forward over the next four years.

A six-page condensed version of the plan was presented to the media on Wednesday during a press conference at GFF headquarters in Campbellville where a more in-depth report was outlined

by Technical Director Claude Bolton, in the company of Assistant General Secretary, Diedre Davis.

The plan simplifies and articulates the next steps that are necessary to the aid the development of the next generation of players, coaches, clubs, fans, corporate partners, associations and federations. According to Bolton, growth and development of the sport will revolve solely around the players.

This new endeavour places at the forefront of Guyana’s football development the areas

of Grassroot, Youth, Women and Coaches Education.

In the area of Grassroot development, it is the aim of the GFF to implement a programme that has systematic continuity.

“To do so, satellite programming, headed by Youth Development Officers, can allow for 8-10 week programmes that can be conducted two periods per year. With this in mind, the focus of our grassroots programming on the field will be that of age appropriate game activities as opposed to drills,” the plan outlines.

With regards Youth development, the GFF will employ a long-term athlete development strategy as a guide for planning optimal performance for all stages of athlete development.

The plan states, “We must approach youth football with a careful understanding of what are the goals at each age group and stage of development. While competition is an

GFF Technical Director Claude Bolton makes a point to journalists at Wednesday’s press conference. Sharing the head table is Assistant General Secretary Diedre Davis

imperative facet of our young footballers’ development, we should be adamant that we create an environment for “meaningful competition”, so that competition is a servant, not a master. This will help us to achieve three outcomes: physical literacy, improved performance and lifelong participation in sport.”

Women’s football, which peaked in 2010, when the se-

nior national team- The Lady Jags, made history by qualifying for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Mexico, is also set to receive significant attention under the project.

According to the GFF, part of the decline of women’s football over the ensuing years was the lack of competitions to carry forward the momentum, as well as keep potential national footballers active.

“Due to this erosion in the women’s game, it is imperative that we begin a twopronged approach towards revitalising and invigorating the development of women’s football. One arm will address and ensure that girls have access at the youngest age to the same programming as boys.

Secondly, by gathering, recruiting, and educating all those proponents and advocates of women’s football, we will build the foundation for a competition that will be focused on aims and objectives.

We need women to play- now,” the plan highlights.

The Coaches Education segment of the project is geared to raise the level of coaches, thereby advancing the quality of players that is ultimately filtered into the national system.

“The GFF will create, formally, a National Coaching License structure that can support and sustain a minimum coaching level. We will be certain that this standard

be on par with minimum international levels. That is to say, we will seek the guidance of our neighbours in the CONCACAF football fraternity and strive to have accreditation that can and will be recognised outside of Guyana,” the plan summarises.

Under the “Next General Project”, the country will be divided into three districts, with District One involving Essequibo, Bartica, West Demerara and Georgetown; District Two will target Upper Demerara, East Bank, East Coast and Berbice, while District Three will revolve around Rupununi.

The GFF says it is committed to utilising the best practices of the expertise in Europe, South America and CONCACAF. Models that have proven to be successful in a CONCACAF setting will be moulded into a Guyanese context to ensure the “Next Generation Project” is a success.

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