Guyana Times Daily - March 3, 2015

GECOM under fire for ties with US IRIfunded youth group

Police hunt duo over teen’s execution

Neesa Gopaul murder trial: Judge overrules no-case submission

...alleged killers make spirited defence

EU to plug €34M into Guyana

...to boost social sector, infrastructure

Granger promises 24-hour electricity for Region 1

tuesday, march 3, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

US stands firm with Guyana

...against Venezuela’s “aggression”

By Alexis Rodney

The United States of America said it stands ready to support the Government of Guyana on the position it has taken against the Venezuelan Government, which, in a recent move of provocation has warned the oil exploration company Exxon Mobil against drilling in Guyana’s waters.

Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy here in Guyana Bryan Hunt told Guyana Times on Monday that the US has taken a negative stance of any attempt by any government that would seek to disrupt the work of Exxon Mobil.

Exxon Mobil is a USbased oil exploration company which was recently awarded concession by Guyana to undertake exploratory work in the Stabroek block. The Venezuelan Government, late Saturday evening however, objected to the dispatch of a rig to dig an exploratory oil well in a concession granted by Guyana to the oil company. The Foreign Affairs Ministry here immediately responded to Caracas, asking the oil rich country to desist from taking any actions that would stymie this country’s development.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela desist from taking any actions that could only result in the stymieing of the development of Guyana and its people and that would be in contravention of international law,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said, in a release.

Venezuela’s contention is that the area at which the oil company will be drilling is within its territorial border. But opposition leader David Granger remarked that Guyana is well within its right and pointed out that the territorial controversy between the two countries was resolved more than 115 years ago by an international tribunal.

Alluding to this emerging issue involving ExxonMobil, he said Guyana should be allowed to explore its economical potential as a small developing state.

Meanwhile, the US official told Guyana Times that his Government, recognising fully Guyana’s authority in issuing the concession to the private company, was heartened by the fact that Georgetown had clearly indicated to Venezuela that it has the sovereign right to award contracts for develop-

ments within its territory. He said the US has also supported Exxon Mobil’s ability to move forward with the development of its concession here.

“It is our hope that the government and Exxon Mobil continue to collaborate and continue to have a very successful partnership in moving forward in authority to move forward toward its natural resources”.

Military intervention

Asked whether the United States is prepared to intervene militarily should the Venezuelan Government maintain its stance, the US official said he would not want to speculate, or tread on such grounds, but maintained that the US will stand with Guyana’s government on this.

The United States had recently suggested that Caribbean countries seek to loosen their ties with Venezuela, which currently provides them with oil through the Petrocaribe deal.

US officials had said Caribbean governments should leverage existing market trends and embrace gas as a near-term bridge fuel to promote energy security and facilitate investment in regional intercon-

nection infrastructure.

Asked if this call has been justified giving the recent move by the Venezuelan Government, the US Charge’d Affaires said his country’s view on Venezuela is a simple one that is derived from the numerous actions that have been taken by the Government.

“We are very concerned by the deteriorating state of human rights and democracy in Venezuela and what appears to be an attempt by the Venezuelan Government to deny its own citizens the basic economic social and political rights”.

He said he believes that it is appropriate for all countries of the Organisation

of American States to call upon the Government of Venezuela to live up to the democratic and human rights that are laid out in the various documents.

He said he hoped the Caribbean countries would join with the many others to make their voices heard to the Venezuelan Government that it has an international responsibility to uphold the treaties of the OAS which deal with the social economical and political rights of all people in the Americas.

The US backing on the issue adds to a position already taken by the main political opposition A Partnership for National Unity, which said it stands firmly behind

the ruling administration, against the latest objection by Venezuela. Granger had suggested that the country’s action was consistent with past occurrences as he alluded to the attempted ‘Essequibo Annexation’.

“The Venezuelan Government, under President Raúl Leoni Otero (1964-1969), placed an advertisement in the Times newspaper of London on June 15, 1968 to the effect that Essequibo belonged to Venezuela and that it would not recognise economic concessions granted there by the Guyana Government,” he explained.

He further stated that President Leoni had also issued “Decreto No 1.152” on July 9, 1968 claiming a ninemile wide belt of sea along Guyana’s entire Essequibo coast. Additionally, President Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodriguez (19691974) had blocked Guyana’s attempt to permit petroleum exploration rights in the Essequibo by DEMITEX, a German company.

As such, APNU is calling on Venezuela to comply with Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations for the Pacific Settlement of Disputes and to desist from resorting to force in the Guyana-Venezuela matter.

IDB balks at WPA’s objections to loan disbursement to Guyana

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has distanced itself from any political affiliations here in Guyana, pointing out that its loan agreements and disbursements in any country are strictly on a procedural basis.

In response to the concerns raised and allegations levied by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), which forms part of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), that it needed to question the financial institution’s commitment to transparency, accountability, ethics and the rule of law, the bank told Guyana Times that it has a responsibility to carry out its duty.

“IDB adheres closely to its publicly available policies and procedures that ensure the operations we finance are independent of the political cycle in any borrowing member country,” the Bank told this newspaper in an invited comment on Friday.

Established in 1959, the IDB is said to be the leading source of development financing for Latin American and Caribbean countries, with a strong commitment to achieving measurable results, increased integrity, transparency and accountability. It also has an evolving reform agenda which seeks to increase its development impact in the region. The

WPA had last week raised concerns over the Bank’s approval of a second loan to the Government of Guyana, while it had failed to declare whether a prior loan has yet been disbursed.

It was concerned too that the bank inked the agreement during a time when the country’s Parliament was prorogued, in the absence of parliamentary supervision and a few months before the holding of General and Regional Elections.

The party, had also raised eyebrows, noting that with all that the bank has so far done, the only thing left is for it to endorse the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

“The bank’s collusion with the Government at this stage would leave the WPA, in consultation with the members of the joint Opposition, no choice but to re-examine the validity of the loans, and by extension its repayment.

We are appalled that the IDB could assume arrogantly that it could ignore the legitimate calls by the WPA and indeed the entire parliamentary Opposition to show some restraint in its dealings with the PPP/C Government on the eve of General Elections…It is entirely up to the IDB whether it wishes to further tarnish its developmental record by going into the political bed

of the PPP/C,” the WPA had said.

However, the IDB related that bank loan contracts establish the conditions to be met prior to disbursing loans. It said Guyana’s Government had complied with all prior conditions for loan 3422/BLGY (Strengthening of the Environment Sector II) and noted that the funds were disbursed in accordance with the loan contract.

The preparation of the project began in 2013 and culminated with its approval by the bank’s board early last month, the IDB said.

The WPA was quite vocal in its objections to the IDB claiming that the bank continued to “disrespect Guyanese in tandem with Government’s electioneering.”

“To date the IDB has refused the Guyanese public and their parliamentary representatives the courtesy of a response.

We wish to place on record our strongest condemnation over the egregious actions of the IDB in the face of repeated calls from the Opposition, Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and other Guyanese stakeholders to tread carefully on issuing loans to the Guyana Government on the eve of national elections.”

United States Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt

tuesday, March 3, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 3 – 14:30h-16:00h and Wednesday, March 4 – 14:30h-16:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 3 – 15:05h-16:35h and Wednesday, March 4 – 15:40h-17:10h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings at 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers can be expected in the morning, with heavy rain showers in the early afternoon. Thundery showers in the late afternoon will give way to thunderstorms in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 3.57 and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 03:14h and 15:30h reaching maximum heights of 2.35 metres and 2.46 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:04h and 21:26h reaching minimum heights of 0.84 metre and 0.73 metre respectively.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Glenn Lall goes ballistic on staff over tax fraud

...after embarrassing article on his credibility

aieteur News Publisher

KGlenn Lall has been accused of verbally abusing and threatening his staff last week over a hard-hitting article in the media weeks ago, which questioned his credibility as an anti-corruption crusader.

A leaked email on Lall’s outburst to his staff was circulated on the Guyana Press Association (GPA) mailing list over the weekend and was proposed as a matter to be discussed at the Association’s Annual General Meeting held on Sunday at the Theatre Guild, Georgetown.

Some Executives of the body suggested that Lall be approached privately on the issue and the allegations contained in the report be first verified.

Guyana Times contacted a very senior official of the newspaper who confirmed that Lall did verbally abuse staff, referring to it as “his usual style”.

The leaked report, which was anonymously sent to a senior journalist’s email, stated that “staffers of the Kaieteur News’ Editorial Department were under siege last Thursday afternoon, when the newspaper’s “narcissistic publisher Mohan “Glenn” Lall went on an hour-long, profanity-laced tirade during a general meeting, following his return from a lengthy vacation in the United States”.

According to the report, usually reliable sources disclosed that the notoriously egotistical Lall was furious with his employees, and particularly abusive to senior management, for what he perceived was their “unacceptable” failure to notify him in a timely manner (in his absence) of a detailed investigative report on February 15 in the media.

Cover up

According to the leaked report, the article highlighted “Lall’s apparent clandestine efforts to coverup what many around the country, including in diplomatic circles, have surmised, was an obvious attempt to defraud the country’s revenues of at least $100 million via concessions

provided for remigrants”.

The article was also highly critical of Lall’s elusive nature since the sudden withdrawal of criminal charges against the businessman, his wife and a remigrant couple.

“A clearly humiliated Lall mercilessly cursed his employees for what he insisted was their obvious lack of concern for his and his company’s well-being, when he spoke in detail of the sequence of events on the day that the article was published,” the leaked report said.

Lall, according to the report, said he was only aware of the “malicious” critique of his actions, when he stumbled upon the article late that evening while browsing the online edition of the publication.

“The publisher in an expletiveridden segment of his tirade was, above all, infuriated with what he claimed was his senior editors’ complete lack of urgency in duly informing him of the “scandalous and malicious” nature of the commentary on him, and the slothfulness in crafting a response in support of him and completely rubbishing the claims.”

According to the report, Lall became even more emotional (to the point of tears) and menacingly stared at each of his senior editors, when relating that junior staffers had apprised him in detail of the uncaring manner in which their seniors had addressed the issue in his absence, and that they (the seniors) had been ‘soo-sooing’ behind his back, about their belief that he had indeed struck a deal with the Government and the Guyana Revenue Agency (GRA), in which his newspaper would stop criticising the Government during the important pre-election period.

The report said Lall, in concluding, emphasised that he could not believe that he had surrounded himself with a bunch of people who he thought were loyal to him and were supporting his anti-corruption and pro-Guyana stance, but who were actually happy to witness his public humiliation.

The absence of Lall was quite noticeable at the court hearing in Georgetown on February 6 in which his $100 million tax fraud case was settled “amicably” with the Guyanese taxauthorities.

His attorneys advised the court that he, along with his co-defendants – wife Bhena, and “friends” in the fraud, Narootandeo and Gharbassi Brijnanan were in the United States, where the fraud originated.

While it was widely reported that Lall had fled the jurisdiction and was hiding out in the US, the Guyana Times has received credible information that Lall was actually trying desperately to clean up the paper trail of the financial fraud in the US.

He was trying to avoid the inevitable investigation by the US Internal Revenue Services (IRS) about the unreported transfers of large sums of money along with several discrepancies in the records of the purchase of the two Lexus SUVs in the US, without mandatory filings on them.

This had prevented Lall’s return to Guyana for a prolonged period.

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

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

Dr Jagan's legacy

Cheddi Jagan was born, and he died, in the month of March. It is only fitting, therefore, that as we gird our loins to choose our leaders for the next five years, we reflect on the legacy of this man who came out of the sugar plantations of Berbice to lead Guyana into the modern political era.

If all of western philosophy is considered to be mere footnotes to the speculations of Plato, then all of Guyana's political history since 1950 are footnotes to Cheddi Jagan's political ideas and actions.

WWI ended in the year of his birth and Indian indentureship had ended just the year before - in fact both his parents had arrived as "child immigrants". Cheddi Jagan's boyhood, then was governed absolutely by the "means of production" - the sugar plantation owned absolutely by British capital.

But by coming up to Queens College in Georgetown to finish his high school education, he was exposed to the more complex - and oppressive - social relations fostered by the urban setting, which housed the ruling strata of the colony.

His tertiary education in the US further opened his eyes to a more direct oppression between the classes and races in a society, as he traversed an America segregated along those same lines. But returning to Guyana in the middle of WWII, he saw possibilities of breaking down our own race and class divisions in our country through imbuing the incipient struggle for independence with the non-racial ideology of Marxism.

And we have to acknowledge this decision as his most lasting legacy to Guyana's history. Before his entry into Guyana's politics, the aspirations of the people were channeled along the lines of race and class cleavage perpetuated by the British through its "divide and conquer" policy. We had the League of Coloured Peoples, the British Guiana East Indian Association, the Portuguese Association and the Chinese Association.

While we may differ in our assessment as to how successful Jagan was in breaking down those barriers, we cannot ignore his inflexible position not to pander to race and ethnicity, which he maintained to the end.

The Peoples Progressive Party, which he launched in 1950, focused on the contradictions of class, and if this policy had been maintained, Guyana would unquestionably be among the most developed countries.

Today, revisionists may propose that Jagan ignored the Cold War between the US and the USSR, which played out ideologically for the supremacy between capitalism and communism. And that Guyana paid the price.

This is arguable because if Burnham had not provided himself as the vessel through which the US could push its own interest, it is quite likely that Guyana would have evolved into a more stable democracy where parties would compete for votes on issues rather than race.

It is gratifying that the PPP/C has not abandoned the legacy of Dr Cheddi Jagan and it is hoped that, at the Jagan Memorial function at Babu Jaan this weekend, the clarion call of the great man for an end to "race politics" will be sounded.

More than ever, this is needed since the successor to Burnham's leadership of the PNC has fallen to David Granger, who is emphasising racial cleavages in his so-call movement for "national unity". He did this when he accepted the AFC's claim that they would be bringing 11 per cent of "Indian" votes to the alliance he created with the PNC and four other parties - A Partnership For National Unity (APNU).

This crude, open racial calculus was even rejected by Forbes Burnham as far back as 1962, when he expelled Eusi Kwayana from the PNC.

Dr Jagan was a man for all seasons and left legacies in many fields - which should be commented on as the monthly March unfolds. But we do feel that at this crucial point in our history, his non-racial legacy should be emphasised.

No reputable literary award accepts self published works as entries

Dear Editor,

Because Ruel Johnson and I have had friendly exchanges in the past, I feel that I have been too harsh in my public criticism of him.

However, I think he has become grandiose and wholly insufferable, especially over the Guyana Prize which he speaks about with authority as if it is his personal property.

But what is the Guyana Prize other than a substandard literary award tailored to Guyana? No reputable literary award accepts self published works as entries. Nor manuscripts – I understand that manuscripts can also be submitted.

Given that publishers are now available to everyone everywhere, shouldn’t this policy be revised?

Yes, Martin Carter self published but we, none of us, are as grand as Martin Carter. And everyone knows that he never cared about awards and never wrote with the idea of winning any. As with every serious poet and writer, he wrote for his personal satisfaction, because he had talent, and because he had a whole lot to say, and in beautifully stirring ways.

In a news report of February 27, Johnson complains that the University of Guyana (UG) never invites him to speak or lecture to its students. Universities abroad do not usually use self published books in their curriculum.

However, given that UG manages the prize and accepts self published works as entries, perhaps their standards, too, are different.

In a nutshell, Johnson has won prizes because this is Guyana and the Guyana Prize does not operate to internationally accepted standards. Is this Government’s intent or would they rather have a prize that stands as one of the world’s reputable literary awards?

I do not believe we have enough good writers and poets around to sustain such an award which is probably why the prize has become corrupted by cronyism and worse.

I would advise restructuring it to a purely local award for promising writers with the winners getting medals or trophies. Perhaps, it should be tied to schools’ reading and comprehension classes. And it should be under new management.

I do believe Johnson and I are engaged in some cross talking. Bocas, Small Axe, Guadeloupe and Amsterdam do not register on my antenna as a writer, but given that Johnson is obviously satisfied with such accolades from abroad, why does he still crave public and official recognition here?

Does he value the approbation of our mostly illqualified state officials that much?

There are other writers and artists here who are never invited to participate in official Government delegations. This is not victimization. I see it as a feather in my cap that I upset the powers that be. It is a tribute to your independence to be ignored by every official around.

It appears that Johnson is expecting to be a grand public official himself in a new post-elections Administration and insults me with his anticipated patronage, saying he will invite me to sit on a forum. Eh-eh! But he tek his soand-so eyes pass me!

Unlike Johnson, I do not crave participation in any forum. All his criticisms of the current Administration

would be commendable, except that they are now exposed as mere self aggrandizement, geared to gaining him a position with a possible new dispensation. Such machinations do, however, make him perfectly suited for a position as a public official in Guyana. With all his busyness with policy making, etc, he does appear to be more of a typical local politician than a writer.

In a conversation I had with Johnson a while back, I told him, vis a vis the idea of a cultural policy, that culture is something of the people, by the people, for the people and from the people, and that Government has no business in any of it.

I also questioned the anachronism of having a Ministry of Culture. We are still being moulded into what the state wants?

Writers and artists of integrity do not usually sit in committee rooms to make policy. They are most often found outside looking in, armed with their criticisms. That’s where the revolution happens. If Johnson does become a grand official, he knows where I will be.

Ryhaan Shah

Holi: the victory of good over evil

Dear Editor,

During this month of ‘Falgun’ (Phagwah), I take the opportunity to give my expression on this holy occasion. It was the happiest time for us in our village in Guyana in those days of Phagwah.

It started from the planting of the holika. Holi in Sanscrit/Hindi as “holy” in English has the very pronunciation and meaning; is sacred, the divine quality, in the spirit of God. Similarly, ‘Fal–gun’, the end of the Hindu year, is similar to

Fall in the English year. Holi, which falls on the full moon day, in the Hindu month of ‘Falgun’, is the last major festival of the year in India which starts the Indian New Year, which is early Spring. People celebrate this festival with enthusiasm and without making any discrimination between rich and poor or high and low.

Days before the festival people start gathering wood for the lighting of the bonfire called Holika in India and all over the world. In

Guyana we collect sugarcane trash and dry plant branches. The preparation in Guyana is similar to that of India and other parts of the world. Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as 'holika'. The festival finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras. Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India.

It is interesting to note that the festival of Holi is significant for our lives and body in many other ways than providing joy and fun. We also need to thank our forefathers who started the trend of celebrating Holi, where ever they moved, at such a scientifically accurate time, and for incorporating so much fun in the festival. It is very difficult to state, when this festival started, but the name of 'Holikotsav' had been mentioned even in the Vedas and the Puranas.

A fruit vendor plies his trade in an innovative way on Mandela Avenue behind the Botanical Gardens, Georgetown (Carl Croker photo)

Campaign seeks to ignore pre-1992 events

Dear Editor

I am one of the younger members of society. I grew up in the time of the PPP/C. I have seen many developments in my country. I understand the importance of elections to a modern day society.

I also value the informed opinion of the people. Recently, I’ve come across the MoveFoward campaign on Facebook. Their campaign includes posting a picture of themselves, along with their opinion.

This campaign is targeted at the youths of Guyana, mostly those born post-1992. The main objective of the campaign is to drive youths away from looking at what happened before 1992.

I was born in 1994, but that shouldn’t stop me or anyone my age from knowing what went on before my birth.

As I was looking at the television show “Da Vinci’s Demons”, I came across

Berbicians were part of UGBC’s development at one time

Dear Editor,

We, the civic leaders of Berbice and concerned citizens, noted with interest in one section of the printed media the comments of the former Director of UGBC about the state of affairs at the University of Guyana.

He has never failed to be straight up in his comments and this nation appreciates his candid opinions in all things, but especially about UG. Here are a few facts:

1. The Berbice Campus experienced an amazing number of developments since he took over in 2008.

2. All Berbicians were part of that development: schools, the GPF, farmers and fishermen, businesses, IDCE, the poor, the handicapped, the elderly, victims of domestic and child abuse, victims of fires and floods, sportsmen and women, youths. Berbice Campus was part and parcel of the entire society.

3. We know that he went out and asked for scholarships for the brightest and poorest of Berbician students. He got 14 scholarships in 12 months from Guyanese inside and outside of Guyana.

4. We know that new buildings went up at UGBC with air-conditioned offices for lecturers and other staff.

5. We know that the library grew by leaps and bounds because the diaspora was engaged.

6. We know that research and publication increased in amazing ways, especially in Agriculture and the Sciences.

We can ask the current Director about his confes-

sion in front of us that it was the former director who took his own money and sent this current Director to conferences.

The former director also corrected his papers so that they could be published. He said: “Professor is the real Director!” The current Director is at least honest.

We know that the qualifications of staff increased in ways never seen before at UG. Three doctors came to serve. he resigned. These qualified people left immediately after his resignation and went back to North America.

7. We know that UGBC suddenly had a surplus rather than being in the financial red like Turkeyen and UGBC before 2008. There was no stealing and waste.

8. We know that the campus was open to all citizens at all times.

9. We know that all of this and more was done in spite of the oppressive tactics of the people at Turkeyen.

It is also important to note that almost 7,000 Berbicians signed a petition in less than four days to have an Independent Berbice Campus and for his return. UG is now what it is.

Instead of placing our finest brain to head UG, a smalltime lecturer was hired. The result is the “chaos” (he is reported to have used that word) that is UG. We throw away our own brilliant people and all of Guyana with it. Guyana must stop selling out our best and brightest Guyanese. We Guyanese are the ones paying the price.

Very Concerned Citizens

a statement that I think is of great importance to this movement. The statement was, “History is a lie that has been honed like a weapon by people who have suppressed the truth”.

I find this statement of particular importance because I think this movement, whether consciously or not, is in some way suppressing the truth.

History is very important. It has a lot of relevance in a modern society. I’m a firm believer that the present state of the country should be compared and contrasted with the past.

Judging the present in isolation would not give a proper representation of the truth. Knowledge of the past gives us a better understanding of where we have come from. This movement is preventing the population to see how far we have come as a nation.

How would we possibly know what progress we have made if we don’t know where we’ve come from?

The PNC Administration ruled Guyana for 28 years. In that time, Guyana became the second poorest country in western hemisphere;

the Guyana dollar inflated 3150 per cent; Guyana moved from 50th ranked country in per capita GDP to 133rd; racism was much more prevalent; the press was muzzled; elections were rigged; Guyana was highly indebted; the health sector fell through; among others.

This movement has shown strong support of the same party, with some of the same members. We have come a really long way as a country. This movement is based on is the flawed principle that this time period should be viewed in isolation.

Holi: the victory of ...

So 'Holi-kotsav' has been celebrated since the Vedic period. During the ancient time, oblation was offered to the sacred fire of the Holi, amidst the chanting of the Vedic mantras. These mantras were chanted with the specific wish of destruction of the demon.

Celebration of the Holi; even today, people enact the scene of 'holika's burning to ashes' every year to mark the victory of good over evil. In several states of India, especially in the north, effigies of Holika are burnt in the huge bonfires that are lit, similarly to that in Guyana.

There is even a practice of hurling cow dungs into the fire and shouting obscenities, as if at holika. Then everywhere one hears shouts of 'Holi-hai! Holihai!'. The tradition of burning 'Holika' is religiously followed in many parts of India. In India, people render their gratitude to Agni, the God of Fire, by offering gram and stalks from the harvest with all humility.

Further, on the last day of Holi, people take a little fire from the bonfire to their homes. It is believed that by following this custom their homes will be rendered pure and their bodies will be free from disease.

Next day, is of course the main day of Holi celebrations. The day is called ‘Dhuleti’ and it is on this day that the actual play of colours take place. In Guyana, the tradition of playing colours is particularly rampant in the countryside, there can be no comparison to the Holi of Mathura and Vrindavan. People take extreme delight in spraying color water on each other with pichkaris or pouring several buckets of it.

According to one symbolic Hindu myth, there was a king named Hiranyakashipu who, like a lot of demons and Asuras, had the intense desire to be immortal. To fulfill this desire he performed the required ‘tapas’ (penance)

until he was granted a boon by Brahma. Since the God's do not usually grant the boon of immortality, he used his guile and cunningness to get a boon which he thought made him immortal.

The boon gave Hiranyakashyapu five special powers: he could be killed by neither a human being nor an animal, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither at day nor at night, neither by astra (weapons that are launched) nor by any shastra (weapons that are hand held), and neither on land nor in water or air.

As this wish was granted, Hiranyakashyapu felt he was invincible, which made him arrogant. He decreed that only he be worshiped as a God and punished and killed anyone who did not accept his orders. His son Prahlad disagreed with his father, and refused to worship him as a God. He continued believing in and worshipping Lord Vishnu. This made Hiranyakashipu very angry and he made various attempts to kill Prahlad. During a particular attempt on Prahlad's life, King Hiranyakashyapu called upon his sister Holika for help.

Holika had a special cloak garment that prevented her from being harmed by fire. The King asked her to sit on a bonfire with Prahlad by tricking the boy to sit on her lap. However, as the fire roared, the garment flew from Holika and covered Prahlad. Holika was burnt to death while Prahlad came out unharmed. Vishnu appeared in the form of Narasimha - half human and half lion. At dusk when it was neither day nor night, he took Hiranyakashyapu at a doorstep which was neither indoors nor outdoors, placed him on his lap which was neither land, water nor air, and then used the lion claws to fight Hiranyakashyapu - which was neither a hand held weapon nor a launched weapon.

I find it mind boggling that members of the society are showing a public ignorance of history and are refusing to accept its relevance. Many members of the previous administration that mismanaged the country’s resources are still here today. It’s a shame to see this blatant negligence of history. I think that no one should try to hinder the delivery of education. I would like youths of our society to help foster education in history and not try to halt it.

Davendra Kissoon

In this form, the boon of five special powers granted to Hiranyakashyapu was no longer useful. Hiranyakashyapu was then killed. Prahlad and the kingdom of human beings were thus free from the compulsion and fear of Hiranyakashyapu. The good was victorious over evil.

According to the Narad Puran, this day is celebrated in the memory of Prahlad's victory and the defeat of his father's-sister 'Holika'. Holi is also celebrated as the triumph of a devotee. As the legend depicts that anybody, howsoever strong, cannot harm a true devotee and, those who dare torture a true devotee of God shall be reduced to ashes. Holi also celebrates the legend of Radha and Krishna, Ogress Pootana, Lord Shiva and Kaamadeva. Bhagwan Ram told Mata Sita that she has to enter the “sacred fire” to prove her innocence also.

A prayer for everyone on this occasion: “Oh my lord, kindly lead us on the right path to reach you, as you are the knower of all our actions. Kindly remove all hindrances on our path to you with your blessings.”

S N Singh

Struggling child? 3 things she needs from you now

If your child is struggling – socially, academically or behaviourally – she is probably getting a lot of your attention right now. So much attention, in fact, that you may feel like you have nothing left for yourself at the end of the day. Working, taking your child to tutoring or counselling, running back to school to pick up his forgotten homework, and arguing with him daily about responsibilities can leave you depleted – physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Pull quote

Remember: the only way your child learns what it means to be a grown up is by watching and living with parents who are grown-ups. In this article, I’m going to talk to you about three things your child needs from you right now, and they don’t involve giving him more attention. Rather, I’m going to suggest shifting more of that attention to you. Because, believe it or not, the more we focus on ourselves, the more our children benefit, whether they are struggling a little or a lot.

Your child needs you to grow yourself up Growing yourself up is the only way your children can grow up. It means standing on your own two feet and managing your own “self” well. It’s the key

to having your children learn how to stand on their own. If we constantly manage them instead of ourselves, then they learn to rely on our two feet instead of their own. And no one ends up being a real grownup. We are all just leaning on each other to be able to stand tall.

When your children are young, you help them to learn to tie their shoes. But once they have mastered that skill, you have to get busy tying your own shoes well and let them struggle to tie their own.

up parent does not anxiously run back to school to rescue her by getting her the books, nor does she lecture, scold or punish. She manages her own anxiety about her child’s lack of responsibility and allows her

focusing on your adult relationships. If you fall into the pattern of making your child your primary focus, it can actually prevent the development of healthy family relationships. Here’s how this plays out in fam-

es on her child.

Her child provides a natural place for Mom to put her focus. It’s easier than dealing with the problem. Now we have a triangle. Having a third person diverts the anxiety away from the issues between her and her husband. It places it onto her child and they never really resolve their issues as a couple. This might serve to stabilise the marriage (for a while), but it ultimately burdens the child because he takes

tal anxiety. Over time, the child gets too tention and the riage (or adult

This applies to almost everything in their lives. For example, if your child once again forgets her homework in her locker, you can help her to grow up by remaining a grown-up yourself. The grown-up parent calmly asks the child how she plans to manage this situation and then she gets on with her day. The grown-

does not interfere with his development or her own. It is the way her child can learn responsibility.

Your child needs you to focus on your adult relationships

Managing your “self” means spending less time worrying about your child’s latest crisis and more time

she can. She’s painfully aware that she never has enough time for herself. She’s also angry and upset that her husband doesn’t make time for her anymore. Instead of addressing that with her husband because that can be difficult, without even being aware of it, she over-focus-

tionship) gets way too little, taking a toll on both the child and the marriage.

The fact is that the more you invest in growing your own self up and maturing your adult relationships, particularly your marriage, the more your child will reap the benefits from you as parents. Remember: the only

way your child learns what it means to be a grown up is by watching and living with parents who are grown-ups. Watching you care for yourself helps your child learn how to care for herself and make herself a healthy priority. She learns how to be a good marriage partner, a good parent and a person who manages herself well. These things cannot be taught; a child needs to see and live with parents who live it.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care for your child’s emotional and physical needs. It just means your child needs you to balance the amount of energy and investment you’re putting into her with what your putting into yourself.

Your child needs you to not “depend” on her

We all want our children to be successful and behave well. But if we rely on their success and good behaviour to help us feel valued and affirmed, we become dependent on their achievements for our own validation. We have to allow our children to be children. Whether they’re twoyear-olds, 10-year-olds or 25-year-olds, we have to allow them to make mistakes, fail, falter and find their own way.

Imagine the dad who needs his son to be the super star soccer player. When Dad needs that success, he’s doing more than sharing in the glory; he’s reflecting off his son’s glory. Often, the child feels the pressure of this expectation and either tries to please his dad or gives up the sport altogether even though he loves it. The pressure is just too much. Dad would do better if he joined his own soccer team and competed to be a top performer, if that’s important to him.

We have to find our own sense of worth, affirmation and balance – apart from our children – so we don’t burden them with our neediness.

Taking good care of yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually is what your children most need from you now and always. When you grow yourself up, they will feel free to grow themselves up. Then, an open and healthy relationship can result. Take some time and think about five ways that you can better care for yourself this month and every month moving forward. Your kids will appreciate it…and so will you.

(empoweringparents.com)

Police hunt duo over teen’s execution

By Bhisham mohamed

Police have launched a manhunt for Jermaine Simon and his aunt, Tessa of Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara (EBD) who were allegedly fingered in the execution of Ryan Sooklall, 19 of Lot 27 Providence, EBD on Sunday night.

The young man was reportedly shot twice in the back by the suspect who is also referred to as “Lapsy” and who had accused him of throwing an improvised bomb on his aunt’s house in Bagotstown. According to information, the teenager and his friends were at a shop in Parker Street, Providence when the man suspected to be in his 20’s stormed into the yard and opened fire. From reports received, Sooklall ran towards the backyard but he was shot twice from behind. He reportedly ran some distance but collapsed.

The incident occurred at about 18:35h but his body was found in a clump of bushes at about 21:30h

by his friends who had launched a search party. An eyewitness, Brenda Robe told Guyana Times that she was sitting on her front step when she saw the suspect running towards her home with a gun in his hands. By the time she could have raised an alarm, Simon started to shoot indiscriminately hitting the front of the shop with the first bullet. The now dead teenager, she added ran to save his life but the man discharged two bullets in his direction. At that time there were not aware that Sooklall was shot.

Robe added that the suspect escaped on a pedal cycle. According to her, as night approached efforts to locate Sooklall were futile. Several calls to his mobile went unanswered. “I left to make a report at the Providence Police Station but as I was there, I received a call telling me that they find Ryan… me and the Police hurried home but they de hurrying with he to the hospital”, the woman stated. She later learnt that the teenager had two bullets wounds to his back. He was found a short distance away from where the shooting occurred. Robe reiterated that it was bright and such got a clear view of the shooter. Guyana Times understands when the Police visited the home of the suspect; the house was cleared of its belongings.

At the home of the teenager, his mother Shanaz Ali told Guyana Times that on the day of the incident, she was at the creek with family members and it was while they were on their way to home, her daughter,

Amanda received a call informing her about the shooting.

The motive is not yet established but she recalled a resident of Bagotstown called “Tessa” visited her home of Sunday morning along with a Police to enquire about her son but he was not at home. “They claim that he and he friend went to the village and trouble she and her family and if the Police can’t find he, they go find he and finish he off… and that is what exactly happen”, the woman stated.

The grieving mother stated that after they received the call, she visited the Diamond Hospital where she saw her son’s lifeless body and was told that by the time he arrived at the medical institution he was already dead.

She recalled seeing her son on Sunday morning during a visit to her relative’s home on the West Bank Demerara (WBD). They had requested that the young man joined them during the outing at the creek but he refused, she added. In tears,

the woman dismissed a report in a section of the media which referred to her son as a member of a gang. She defended her son’s character and stated that he did not have to steal and be a part of a gang since he was living a luxurious life.

“Everything he wanted, we gave him… He used to work with me at my store in Lombard Street and he would get paid… he has his room close to mine and after he comes home from work, he would go and meet he lil girl friends but most of the time, he stayed in his room listening to music”.

Contrary to her story, the Police have stated that the young man had several brushes with the law and is well known to law enforcement officers. He is allegedly part of ring that indulges itself in stealing mirrors and other parts from vehicles. However, his mother stated that her eldest son died about five years ago. He was killed in an accident and now to perform her second son’s funeral is heart rendering.

Meanwhile, the Police in a statement said investigators have since retrieved at least two spent shells at

the scene. Sooklall’s execution is the third such incident to occur on the EBD in the past two weeks. Minibus driver, Beepat Taijram, 28 of Albouys Street, Albouystown was shot by two men in Campbell Street, Grove, EBD during a robbery two weeks ago. On Friday last, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Engineer Trevor Abrams was executed by a high powered assault rifle while driving along the Diamond Public Road. He was shot at least four times. The Police are continuing their investigations into the murders.

False number plate found at suspect’s home

Aman believed to be the prime suspect in the execution of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Engineer Trevor Abrams remains in custody as Police continue their investigations.

The Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident was taken into custody on Sunday along with the motor car suspected to be the getaway car after the shooting incident on Friday last in the vicinity of the Demerara Distillers Limited, Diamond, EBD.

According to information reaching G uyana Times , a false number plate was found in a drum on the man’s premises on Sunday, which he claims was placed there by someone else. Police sources also stated that the suspect had gone into hiding when the Police arrived at his home but eventually came out.

During questioning, his story had several loop holes and was consequent-

ly taken into custody along with the car bearing registration number PLL 5966 at the Diamond Police Station.

The man claimed that the car was rented to someone on the day of the incident. When asked to produce the name and telephone numbers of the client, he was adamant to reveal same. The Toyota Carina AT 212 Silver grey car had damages consist-

ence with a vehicular accident.

Investigators are of the view that the man along with an accomplice might have committed the murder but there needs to be circumstantial evidence, a senior Police rank stated. He added that the Police are verifying whether the suspect was a deportee.

In addition, the rank further stated that a motive for the killing is yet to be established while not-

ing the lack of cooperation from the detainee. The senior rank is however, optimistic that they will have a breakthrough in the case.

The 31-year-old engineer of Lot 129 Samantha Point, Grove EBD was on Friday last executed while driving along the Diamond Public Road.

According to information received, the young man was driving his Silver Grey Toyota Allion bearing registration number PSS

6855 when another car pulled up alongside him.

Several gunshots were reportedly heard as the two cars sped away.

From all indications, Abrams attempted to escape and accelerated, but crashed into a utility pole and ended up in a nearby canal. The other car disappeared.

Moments after the car plunged into the trench, public-spirited citizens ran to Abrams’ rescue and

managed to pull him from the submerged vehicle. He was rushed to the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital (Diamond Diagnostic Centre) where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police have since confirmed that a high powered assault rifle was used to carry out the attack on the government official. Police are continuing their investigation into the execution.

Ryan “Plywall” Sooklall

Beepat Taijram

The area where the young man’s body was found

Trevor Abrams

Houston man admits to verbally abusing mother

Aman, of Houston Housing Scheme, Greater Georgetown, pleaded guilty to verbally abusing his mother before Magistrate Annette Singh on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Police Prosecutor

him money.

Prosecutor Inniss said on February 27 of this year, the defendant went to his mother’s home to borrow money from her, but she refused and he let loose a string of “f’s and s’s”. The matter was subsequently reported and the defendant charged.

Kevin Christopher Balkaran ‘cussed out’ his mother after she refused to give him money

Adduni Inniss told the court that it was a fact that the defendant, Kevin Christopher Balkaran, would regularly give his mother, Usha Balkaran, a tongue lashing, more so when she refuses to give

The defendant did not deny the charge levied against him, but complained that on the day in question the VC had thrown his clothes outside

and had proceeded to burn some of them, as she wanted him out of the house. He explained that he had slept out the night before and his mother had gotten upset and wanted him to leave. He said that she had even told him that he could sleep on the streets when he mentioned that he had nowhere to go.

Magistrate Singh verified that the defendant was indeed homeless and sentenced him to one month in prison.

Mahaica man remanded for assault

Aresident of Belmont, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was remanded on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for allegedly inflicting bodily harm on another man.

It is alleged that on December 15, 2014, the defendant, Collis Wills, unlawfully caused grievous bodily harm to the Virtual Complainant (VC) Godfrey

Grant.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that the defendant attacked the VC at Stone Hill Landing near the Cuyuni River.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was granted $100,000 bail and his case was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for trial on March 5.

Uncle saves Meadow Bank man from theft conviction

Acharge of theft was dismissed against a 25-year-old resident of Meadow Bank, Greater Georgetown, on Monday when he was brought before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Mark Griffith was released after the Virtual Complainant (VC), Delisa Naomi Caesar, dropped the charge against him.

Magistrate Singh stat-

ed that the young man had been accused of stealing a Samsung cellphone valued $5000 and two other cellphones valued at $80,000 and $5400, a total value of $94,000, on February 20 at the Rupert Craig Highway.

The Magistrate had informed the defendant that he was not required to plead to the charge as it was indictable. She was about to arrange for a date for trial when the defendant’s law-

yer asked that the matter be tried so that his client would be able to plead. This was allowed and the defendant pleaded guilty.

Nevertheless, the Defence Attorney then requested that the case against his client be dismissed as the VC was willing to drop the matter.

The VC was asked to take the stand where she testified that the defendant’s uncle was willing to

compensate her for all the items taken by his nephew. She explained that the items were never recovered and the young man in question was her friend. The court gave the VC the choice of having the case adjourned to a later date when she could be sure of her items being returned to her; however, she insisted that the case be dismissed that same day.

The matter was thus dismissed.

Miner remanded on fraudulent conversion charge

A48-year-old miner was remanded on Monday for allegedly selling a laptop and a pair of gold earrings he was entrusted with.

Fazle Mohamed was brought before Magistrate Annette Singh in Court One of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on the charge of fraudulent conversion. It is alleged that he took a laptop valued $147,000 and gold earrings valued $80,000 which he

had been entrusted with by Anastacia James and converted same for his own use.

Police Prosecutor Adduni Inniss told the court that on October 10, 2014, the defendant asked the Virtual Complainant (VC) to use her computer to transfer some information. The VC had also given him the earrings for safekeeping. However, the defendant went away with the items and never returned.

The Prosecutor detailed that the VC had made several efforts to contact the defendant to retrieve her belongings, but all efforts proved futile. She thus reported the matter, and this led to the arrest of the defendant, who was subsequently charged.

The prosecution told the court that the accused had pending legal matters, as he had tried to swindle a taxi driver.

However, the defend-

ant contended that the VC was the one who was trying to swindle him, as she had told him of land that she was interested in selling and had invited him to stay at her house the night although she had not known him for more than a day. He said that it was afterwards she had stated that he had slept by her and took the items.

Magistrate Singh remanded the defendant until his trial on March 16.

41-year-old accused of assaulting woman, burglary

Forty-one-year-old Earl Jerome on Monday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on separate charges of assault and break and enter, allegedly committed on two women for which he was remanded and placed on $75,000 bail.

It is alleged that the defendant on September 20, 2014 broke and entered the home of Jenny Henry and unlawfully assaulted Gloria Peters on October 31. Both incidents occurred in North Ruimveldt, Greater Georgetown.

Police Prosecutor Adduni Inniss stated that around 09:30h, the VC was at her neighbour’s house when the defendant approached. She

said the VC pointed at the defendant and called him a murderer, so the defendant picked up a “large rock” and pelted the VC in her stomach.

Prosecutor Inniss said

that the VC immediately collapsed, but the defendant kicked the elderly woman and stabbed her on her right hand. The VC got treatment for her injuries and had the matter subsequently reported.

Meanwhile, the prosecution detailed, the VC was home when the accused broke in, strangled her and threatened to kill her.

Prosecutor Inniss stated that the VC screamed and the defendant escaped. However, the matter was reported and the defendant was arrested and charged for breaking into the VC’s home as well as assaulting her.

Prosecutor Inniss stated that given the nature and seriousness of the offences

committed, and the fact that the defendant and the two VCs know each other, the accused should not be released on bail.

The charges were indictable; however, Magistrate Singh gave the defendant the choice to have the case tried at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts or at the High Court. The defendant opted for the former and pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Magistrate Singh remanded the defendant, but placed him on $75,000 bail for the charge brought by Henry. Jerome is expected to be tried twice for the offences against both VCs, on March 16 and April 8 respectively.

Eyew tness

Debates...

...for Presidential Candidates?

There are calls for "Presidential Debates". Of course! Why not?? They have them in the US, no?? Then we should have them too. Well, this Eyewitness is still trying to find out which great US President those debates produced.

"Slick Willie" Clinton? Sure...we really saw his true character from those well-crafted soundbites, didn't we? And Obama really kept those promises made during his debates to end the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

From where this Eyewitness sits, if we need "debates" to help us make up our minds on who to vote for, we're confirming all the doubts about "democracy" that've been expressed since old Plato penned his "Republic". How do you get "leaders" to do what's "good" for the country when they just have to say things that "please" the voters??

And Presidential debates do nothing more than exacerbate this flaw in an otherwise salutary form of governance.

Debates favour the glib over the thoughtful. And is a degeneration of our "doctor politics" that was derided by some of our more thoughtful commentators over the years. At least the "doctors" like Eric Williams - who impressed followers with their "wit and wisdom" - had a bit of theory to guide them in some of their policy choices.

But as we found out from our own dictator Burnham, who was the "glibbest" of them all, good sound bites don't necessarily lead to good programmes. On the contrary glib politicians come to believe they can "talk" their way through all the mess they create.

To judge politicians, we have to look at their actions - and while that's true for all folks, it applies in spades to homo politicus. "Actions speak louder than words!" should be our guiding principle.

Right now we've got to look at the past actions of the individuals who've lined up on opposite sides to run the Government. But this is where incumbents like the PPP/C have quite a disadvantage: they have a record that had to be defended while the Opposition APNU/AFC challengers can literally promise voters "the moon and the stars".

If you've done nothing - you have nothing to defend!! The PPP/C Government has been "doing" for 22 years....Sure there are a whole heap of things they could've done better. But are there some things they did get right?? Elections aren't meant to be occasions when "the good is interred with their bones", while the "bad" lives on.

As for the Opposition - let's look at the things they did do. Like the AML/CFT Bill they refused to pass even though they had no problems with it and simply wanted to "stick it" to the PPP/C. But stuck Guyana.

...by two writers

There's quite a healthy debate going on between Ryhaan Shah - who's had three novels published abroad - and Ruel Johnson who's been waging a battle with the Government for not doing enough for writers in general and him in particular at home. Now these kinds of debates are OK...these are folks who work with words so it gives us a chance to see them behind their veil of words to see what makes them tick.

Shah reiterated what this Eyewitness has been saying for a long time: it's not healthy for a writer to be fighting so fiercely to become a member of the establishment. The establishment means "the status quo" and writers are supposed to be always exposing the ligaments of power that keeps that exclusionary status quo in place.

People like Johnson just want to get their hands into the State Treasury. While pushing his "Canecutopia" agenda to exclude and oppress you know who.

...missed

The Muckraker keeps trotting out Dr Fenton Ramsahoye to support Glenn Lall's application for a radio license. Maybe the good doctor can help him fill out the application form properly? The defects noted by Ms Shaddick were fatal.

Earl Jerome

GECOM under fire for ties with US IRI-funded youth group

... Dr Surujbally defends partnership

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has expressed its strong objection to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) partnering with the Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) to encourage more youths to cast their votes in the upcoming general and regional elections, saying that the role of a US-funded project in the group meant that there was interference from the United States.

The ruling Party through its General Secretary, Clement Rohee on Monday noted that it was alarmed when it learnt that GECOM was teaming up with the youth body to implement a programme aimed at bringing out more youths to the May 11 polls.

The General Secretary sought to question the credentials of the group stating that as far as the party was concerned, it was a “selfanointed” entity. He further went on to state that based on his Party’s analysis the Council has no authority to represent Guyana’s youths who make up more than 60 per cent of the population.

According to him, the youth group was a creature of “external interference” through the USAID Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Project that was executed by the International Republican Institute (IRI).

“The PPP/C is concerned with this partnership for two reasons first the organisation claiming to recognise Guyana’s youths has no authority to do so.

As far as the PPP/C is concerned, this youth group-

ing is a creature of external interference through the LEAD Project and is nothing more than partisan persons who are attempting to hijack the name Guyana National Youth Council,” the general secretary stated.

In North Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East , Honduras and Venezuela, the IRI worked through youth groups tilted to the Opposition to effect regime change.

He said the decision to engage the Guyana National Youth Council in getting more youths to vote was not made by the seven-member commission and as such steps should be taken to have the “imposition on the electorate of Guyana” addressed.

“This matter was never under discussion by the Guyana Elections Commission. The PPP/C rejects this and the proposition on the electorate. The matter should be brought

to the highest level for review and discussions. We are concerned that officials at GECOM have entered into a formal relationship with this body,’ he said.

When questioned on whether the party was afraid that youths will be drawn to the Opposition if they are convinced of the need to vote and as such, this was the reason the PPP/C was lashing out at the partnership, Rohee admitted that indeed this was a concern of the party and they’d wish to have clarity on it. “That is what we would like to have clarity on because we don’t see how GECOM can enter into this

kind of formalistic relation with a youth organisation led by the LEAD project.”

The controversy surrounding the USAID LEAD Project began in late 2013 when Government rejected the project, stating that it was not consulted when it was being drafted and further when the Washington, DC-based International Republican Institute (IRI) began implementing the project here.

Government had subsequently made several calls for the project to be halted; however, that was not done until they revoked the work permit of the project head, Glen Bradbury.

While the Guyana National Youth Council has declined to comment on the matter when contacted by this publication, Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Steve Surujbally, in an invited comment related that the decision taken by the Commission to utilise the youth organisation to assist in voters education was in keeping with its mandate and as such, no rule has been broken.

He noted that the Commission was ready and always willing to work with any and all civic organisation including the University of Guyana to ensure that the young people of the country are encouraged to play their part in the elections process.

Asked to respond to statements made by Rohee that the decision was made with no input whatsoever from GECOM’s Commissioners and other officials, Surujbally said that there is no need for the seven-member commission to have an input or to approve the Elections Commission’ partnership with the Guyana National Youth Council since an open decision had already been made with regards to the body’s mandate of maximizing participation at the General and Regional Polls.

“Wherever these youths are in civic society already existing then I think one doesn’t have to go back to a commission to get that (approval). The Commission has given its overall ruling that we must focus on getting people out to vote,” he said.

Man’s body found in Square of the Revolution canal

The body of a yet-to-be-identified male was Monday found in a pond at the Square of the Revolution, Georgetown.

The man who appeared to have been middle aged and of Indian descent was removed from the water by undertakers from the Lyken Funeral Home.

A passerby said that he observed several schoolchildren at the edge of the pond-like section of the canal paying keen attention to something in the water and then engaging in conversation.

He related that he proceeded to speak to the children since he realised that it was only 14:00h but they were out of school.

MICS Survey for release soon

The Report on the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) Round Five in Guyana is scheduled to be released at the end of March.

According to the Head of that project, Michael Giddings, the final tables and graphs have only been received on Monday. These he said, will have to be sent for final analysis before the report is finalized.

“Once this is done, there will be a stakeholders meeting followed by the release,” Giddings said.

The data- collection campaign, which was launched in March 2014 at the Bureau of Statistics, is a study to look at the welfare of women, children and men because, previously, no such information was collected, but this time, statistics on men’s health are being gathered.

UNICEF’s Resident Coordinator for Guyana, Marianne Flach had previously pointed out that for most countries, MICS are used for situation analyses, policy decisions and programme interventions, and for influencing public opinion on the situation of children and women.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud shared that MICS provide the wide range of information needed to address several areas which include education, child protection, water and sanitation, and many health issues, including HIV and AIDS. The information is also used to address special health issues for men, women and children.

Dr Persaud also pointed to MICS enabling the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including those related to hunger, primary education, gender equality and environmental sustainability, which are proving to be

more elusive and costly to attain. He observed that the Ministry of Health is looking forward to the results of the MICS, since there are always other pressing health matters that have to be faced, including the emergence of new diseases.

The project was funded by the Government of Guyana and UNICEF.

MICS is a household survey developed by the agency in response to the World Summit for Children, held in 1990, to measure progress towards an internationally agreed set of goals for children. Since the inception of MICS, four rounds have been completed in 1995, 2000, 2005-6 and 2009-10.

The first was conducted around 1995 and although Guyana did not participate, it was one of the 65 countries involved in the second round of global surveys conducted in 2000 and participated, again, in 2006. This has given the country, its decision- makers and its donors, quality data that maps out development trends for the country.

While Guyana has either achieved or is well on course to achieving several of the MDGs, including those related to hunger, primary education, gender equality and

environmental sustainability, other goals are proving to be more elusive and costly to attain.

Among those is the goal of reducing infant and maternal mortality, but while it has made significant progress in reducing it under five years through better vaccination coverage and management of childhood illnesses, neonatal mortality is still a critical issue.

While many children still die from preventable causes within the first month of life, MICS data can provide the information needed to identify these trends and plan effectively to address them.

It is an important monitoring tool for assessing the well-being of children, women and their families, as it gathers facts for over 20 of the 48 MDG indicators.

The MICS is the largest international household survey to collect information on so many MDG indicators in such a short period and for Guyana to continue making progress as a lower middle- income country, sound information on child rights indicators is crucial for formulating and revising national and sub-national policies and for monitoring to ensure the country’s progress toward the achievement of the MDGs and other global commitments aimed at promoting the welfare of children.

MICS Five will address the current data gaps in Guyana, and for children, this means that they will be better able to identify the critical areas which need to be addressed and ensure that they are protected, have better access to quality health care and education and make better life choices, so that they will have a sustainable future as they grow into adulthood. With the completion of data- gathering, the final report is expected to be available by the end of December.

Upon enquiring of their reason for being there, the man told the Guyana Times that it was then pointed out to him by the children that there was a body in the pond.

After confirming this, he called the Police and waited for their arrival.

It was reported that the dead man may have been under the influence of alcohol and might have slipped and drowned since his body bore no marks of violence, while an empty Ivanoff bottle and his bag were found on the parapet.

His body is at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting identification.

GECOM Chairman Steve Surujball

Chief Medical Officer

Dr Shamdeo Persaud

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

Jagdeo reiterates medical evacuation was not paid for by Govt

…says local media, Opposition continue to distort truth

In the wake of fresh allegations, most recently last Sunday's Editorial in the Stabroek News, about his medical evacuation from Guyana in February 2014 being paid for by Government, former President Bharrat Jagdeo has again confirmed that his expenses were not funded by the State.

According to figures released on July 10 last year in Parliament, there were absolutely no Government payments related to a medical evacuation of the President back in February 2014, which the Opposition had claimed.

When the former President took ill, upon medical advice, he was taken to a hospital in Florida in the US to be treated and upon his recovery, returned to Guyana.

Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the time pointed out that the Party has never questioned the urgency or necessity of any Opposition politician or public official travelling abroad upon the instruction of their medical advisors or caregivers.

“The PPP/C wishes to remind the Opposition that several of its members, including former Opposition Leader Robert Corbin and the late Sheila Holder, benefited from assistance from the State to seek medical attention abroad when it became necessary.

hopes of a speedy recovery,” the PPP/C said in a statement.”

The same courtesies had been extended to Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman Nigel Hughes when he fell ill in the interior.

Against the background of no payment being made by Government for Jagdeo’s expenses, the Kaieteur News and the Stabroek News obdurately refused to report the truth of the matter.

Instead, they again went on to imply that they had been covered by the State.

Who get off and who get half

Aman who wife get a baby de other day start to cuss out he in-laws. Accordin to de son-in-law, he in-laws behavin like outlaws and he lookin to de laws to help he see he own pickney.

He further believe that de law should allow fuh that. He also hopin that de in-laws don’t get off from de law like de outlaws in de cowboy days.

No body can blame de son-in-law fuh tinkin like this, because nuff people gettin off from the law these days. It got some who runnin from de law and it got some who hidin from de law, even in de snow. So de country gettin more lawless.

The Opposition politicians also jumped on the bandwagon to suggest the funds were paid for by the Government.

Taking note of all the allegations, the People’s

Immediately, some sections of the media speculated and then reported as fact that the arrangements were all paid for by the Government of Guyana.

“Even to this day, the self-proclaimed independent press has never questioned the quantum of Corbin being medivaced.

“In the most recent past when former Deputy Speaker Deborah Backer was ill and flown abroad for medical attention, this Party offered nothing but best wishes and

From the onset of the former President’s medical evacuation, the Opposition refused to even consider that the trip was not funded by the Government.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the former President reiterated that his medical evacuation and treatment at the time of his illness did not come from Government.

UG workers sign deal for 10% pay hike …strike called off, classes resume

After weeks of fighting for better working conditions, some level of normalcy will be returned to the University of Guyana, as the bodies on Monday signed an agreement on the terms of resumption.

Students are scheduled to resume classes today, as the official accord between the University Administration, the UG workers’ Union (UGWU), and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) was signed in the presence of Pro Chancellor Bibi Shaddick and Vice Chancellor Professor Jacob Opadeyi.

Already several classes had restarted on Monday afternoon.

The terms of the resumption agreement, which includes an interim salary offer of ten per cent (10 %) payable from January 1, 2015 for all categories of staff, also promises that there shall be no victimisation or harassment by either side, no break in service, no loss of pay for strike days and no loss of work for the University.

The parties will resume negotiations at the bilateral level within seven days of resumption of duties, and will first address allowances and other conditions of work in the memorandum of demands.

The parties will then address the multi-year salary agreement. And should they fail to resolve their differences by June 30, 2015, the Ministry of Labour will conciliate in the matter.

In a press Statement moments after the signing,

President of the UGSSA Dr Melissa Ifill related that the signing of the documents “represents the end of a very protracted period of industrial unrest which ultimately resulted in a virtual standstill at the University of Guyana”.

“The collapse in negotiations between the UG administration and the UGSSA/ UGWU on salary and nonsalary benefits following the cancellation of the negotiation meeting scheduled for January 15, 2015 by the University of Guyana Council on January 14, 2015; the attempt to impose a Workload policy without any attempt to get the input of the academic community and the UGSSA; the refusal of the University to negotiate with the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association –the Union long recognized by the UG Administration as the legitimate representative of the academic staff”, Ifill said in the statement made on behalf of the two unions.

In response to these events, Ifill said the Unions demanded that the UGSSA be recognized by the University Council as the bargaining unit for academic and non-academic staff and that the university must negotiate with a joint UGSSAUGWU team, the UG negotiating team must be given the remit and negotiations must recommence with both Unions.

Staff members are expecting too that the workload policy document be withdrawn from the Council and face the academic communi-

ty and negotiations with the UGSSA before approved by the University Council.

These agreements underscore the unions’ standing as important stakeholders at the University of Guyana.

“The five weeks of industrial action were about more than money, benefits and improved working conditions for staff, though these were all extremely important matters that have been pending for over three years. The industrial action was also about: demanding respect for our work and sacrifice (not just manifested in monetary terms); resistance to dictatorial impositions from either the Council or the VC; insisting that tertiary education must be a national priority; and demanding better education for our students”, the statement said

Staff members, for over five weeks beginning late January, had been clamoring for, among other things, a 60 per cent salary increase, a 200 per cent increase in their travelling allowance, a better medical scheme, increases in allowances for books and other materials, duty-free concessions and yearly research grants.

The UGSSA and UGWU have for years been in a prolonged struggle with the University Administration and the Council.

Dr Ifill had claimed that there was never any true attempt by either side to address the issues affecting the University’s workforce.

Due to the continuous gridlock, Dr Ifill and the UGSSA had began call-

ing for the realignment of the Council and the Administration. According to her, only then better management would prevail.

GRA

A man from Moco Moco get off from de law even though he do some ting to a lil gyal and people ketch he. A presidential guard get off de other day too. Then a Guvament Minister get off and yuh hear nuff people mouth when de Dee-P-P seh no charge.

But when Uncle Rafeel as well get off, dem same people stay quiet. Uncle Rafeel even put duct tape pun Lil Johnny mouth, so not even Lil Johnny coulda open he mouth, except when he deh with Uncle Rafeel.

Then of course it got Police men and women who does beat up people and get off. Some get beat up till dem drop down dead and some get burn all over dem body parts. But de Police still get off every time.

A woman from West Coast was supposed to turn up and ID de Police who beat up she husband and kill he. But she so friken that she also gon get beat up, she ain’t bother to show up. And de Police get off again.

A man who want not one but two Lexus get off not one but two time de other day from de Tax Man, who don’t let any body else get off.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Some body seh while de Lexus man get off, de Tax Man get half!

commences sale of liquor licences

...even as bottom house rum shops flourish

Still unable to control the hundreds of illegal ‘bottom house rum shops ‘across the country, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has commenced the sale of all Liquor, Trade and Miscellaneous Licence for 2015 and has promised to prosecute those found in breach.

Police and other stakeholders have said in the past that the many illegal rum shops were contributing to high incidence of road fatalities in the country. ‘Bottom house rum shops’ is a feature in most rural communities, with patrons sometimes spending hours imbibing before climbing into their vehicles to drive far distances to get home.

According to a GRA notice, licence holders are required to have their licenses renewed with immediate effect. Further, in accordance with the Intoxicating Liquor Licencing Act, Chapter 82:21, failure to obtain the relevant licences to operate can result in enforcement actions being taken and goods forfeited.

Over the years the GRA has threatened to crackdown on illegal rum shops, but has failed in its bid. Many of these illegal outlets trade in uncustomed liquor.

Previously a Maria’s Lodge, Essequibo businessman, Whithman George had complained about the unfair competition posed by some of the illegal shops.

George in a letter to the editor had said that he is a licensed owner of a liquor restaurant and provide employment for two persons on a daily basis. He said too that he subscribes to all the regulations and laws in relation to operating a liquor restaurant and bar.

“But my biggest problem is the constant unfair competition that I have to endure from the so-called bottom house rum shops that operate with impunity in my village.

While I am not afraid of competition I strongly believe that the playing field must be level at all times. I am totally surprised and grossly dissatisfied that despite several reports to the Suddie Police Station and to the Customs Department, no effort to the best of my knowledge has been made to ensure these unlicensed places of business cease to operate.”

GRA has said that there is a distinction between licences approved by the Commissioner-General and those approved by the Liquor

Licensing Boards. In the case of the former: A malt liquor and wine licence authorises the sale in any licensed store, shop, floating shop, room, shed, stall or yard, of malt liquor and wine, whether to be consumed on the premises or not.

An Off-licence authorises the holder of the licence to sell spirituous liquor, wine or malt liquor not to be consumed on the premises.

An Occasional Liquor and Tobacco Licence, permits the sale of both malt and spirituous liquors and tobacco for such period as stated in the licence but not exceeding twelve consecutive hours. On the other hand, the appointed Liquor Licensing Board within each county deals with disputes and approve applications for the issue and renewal of generally all licences permitting the sale of spirituous and malt liquors for consumption on the approved premises.

According to the GRA a licence must be issued to that person only, who holds a certificate granted by a board under Section 19 of the Act. These include a licence for a hotel, restaurant, members’ club, and tavern or spirit shop.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

Guyana seen as one of the best sport fishing destinations

Afilming crew from GM Productions, out of the United States, has just concluded the filming for a new documentary here titled ‘The Obsession of Carter Andrews’ to be aired on the Outdoor Channel in May 2015.

The Sport Fishing Documentary was shot in the Rewa Area, North Rupununi, and follows renowned angler and guide Carter ‘Big Boy’ Andrews as he tackles his single obsession: fishing.

With a household reach of 40 million, the Outdoor Channel spotlights Carter who journeyed to Guyana to wrangle our ‘river monsters’. He has led expeditions with friends and clients to 15 different countries and manages nearly 300 days of fishing annually, and he has earned the reputation of being the most ‘complete’ angler on the water today.

The power of his obsession is strong enough to reverberate through incredible televi-

sion stories and even social media, where fans can participate with him. Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh was quick to highlight the benefits such international exposure will have for the country, with efforts to promote Guyana as a sport fishing destination well underway.

“Guyana will be featured on the Outdoor Channel for the first time. Often called the “Land of Many Waters” or the “Big River Country” Guyana’s rivers are still unspoilt and Sport Fishing is a new area of tourism attraction in Guyana with many unchartered river terrains virgin to man,” Haralsingh explained.

In the waters surrounding Rewa Village, anglers can target Peacock Bass, Arapaima and Pyara among many others; the rivers hold plenty of fishing options to explore in an exciting catch and release experience. “I just got back last night from one of the greatest fishing ex-

periences of my life, fishing for Arapaima in the Jungles of Guyana...” Andrews commented.

Rewa Village is situated on the confluence of the Rewa and Rupununi Rivers. This remote Amerindian settlement is a fast growing tourism destination, known for its wildlife and fishing adventures. All of the fresh water fish species known to the Amazon Region can be found in the Essequibo, Rupununi and Rewa Rivers including the Payara, Arowana, Himara, and what is considered by professional anglers worldwide as the world’s most popular fresh water game fish, the Peacock Bass (Lukanani).

Local Handler, Deborah Sutherland from Travel Experts facilitated the trip and provided logistical support to the crew and cast.

OCEARCH (Ocean Research) and Costa Del Mar companies, GTIS/USAID in the past, assisted with the development of sport fishing regulations in Guyana. (GTA)

Inmates start small fire at Georgetown Prison

Chaos broke out at the Georgetown Prison, located on Camp Street, Georgetown, on Monday evening after inmates reportedly started a fire in a section of the facility.

According to information reaching the Guyana Times, the fire began after 20:00h. Initial information revealed that prisoners in Section A of the penitentiary had lit a mattress on fire in protest of the inhumane condi-

Neesa Gopaul murder trial: Judge overrules nocase submissions

…alleged killers make spirited defence

By Vahnu Manikchand

Justice Navindra Singh on Monday overruled no-case submissions put forward by the defence attorneys representing a woman and her lover accused of killing her 16-year-old daughter, Neesa Lalita Gopaul.

Jarvis Small, called

with her murder, which they allegedly committed between September 23 and October 2, 2010, at the Emerald Tower Resort, Madewini, Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

On Monday, Attorney Glenn Hanoman representing Small in association with Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam and Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, and Gopaul’s Attorney, George Thomas, both made no-case submissions, asking the court not to call on their clients to lead their defences.

The submissions by the Attorneys were done in the absence of the jury (voir dire). The Prosecutor responded to the Attorneys before the presiding judge overruled both no-case submissions. Justice Singh subsequently called on the two accused to lead their defence in the presence of the jury panel. The Judge informed the two accused that they do not have to prove or disapprove anything to the court since it was the State’s job. He further put the options to the accused on how they could lead their defences and both accused elected to give unsworn statements from the dock, where no one was allowed to question them.

tions they were being kept in.

However, Director of Prisons Welton Trotz rubbished such reports but could not divulge any further information, stating that he was on the ground at the time gathering information about the incident.

When the Guyana Times visited the scene, there were three fire trucks outside the facility; however, the fire was already out. There were armed Police officers stationed strategically outside the penitentiary while firefighters assessed the damage.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, when contacted, disclosed briefly that he was informed of the fire and was only told (up to that time) that the small blaze was put out by the time firefighters got there. Only in October last year, a minor fire broke out in a section of the facility.

Small, the number one accused, immediately declared his innocence. “Sir, I’m innocent of this charge. I did not kill Neesa Gopaul or played any part in killing her!” He turned to the jury and said that he grew to love Neesa and her younger sister Mariam like his own daughters, adding that he would never want to do anything that would cause any harm to the teenager. “I would like the Police to find the real killer and let them pay for what they did to Neesa,” he said.

The accused went on to say that he never told then Sergeant Mitchell Caesar that he knew who killed Neesa, but noted that Officer Hugh Jessemy did ask him if he knew who may want to kill the teen and he said he did but would only say so in the presence of his lawyer. Small admitted that he and

Bibi did share a relationship; however ,it ended long before September 23, 2010.

“On September 25 (2010), Bibi called me and told me Neesa was missing. She was crying and wanted to see me. I agreed to meet with her but away from public’s eye so that my wife would not find out,” he stated. The accused further told the court that his freedom was taken away not only from him but his wife and children for a charge he knew nothing about and of which he was innocent.

Small denied encouraging his ex-lover to kill her husband, Javed Gopaul, or anyone else. He said that he was

a Christian, a father of three children, brother of five sisters and husband to a wife whom he loved very much. “I did backslide. I did cheat, but I never killed! I’m not a killer! I’m a family man,” he declared.

Following his statement, Attorney Amsterdam informed the court that they would not call any witnesses and closed their case.

“Protector”

The number two accused, Gopaul, also opted to give an unsworn statement. The woman stood for almost three hours in the dock relating to the court various events leading up to and after her teenage daughter’s death. She stated “Sir, I protected my daughter; I didn’t kill her! I didn’t allow anyone to hurt or kill my child. I love my husband, I love my children. I admitted I did wrong in having an affair, but I ended it, Sir. I never said anything in nature regarding to crime or crimes to (Simone) De Nobrega or nobody else. I never kill me child or husband!”

Gopaul told the court that on September 23, 2010, she picked her daughters up from the ISA Islamic School on East Street, Georgetown, and they went home. She continued that after going through their normal routine, including doing homework and chores and having dinner, they went to bed together, where they watched television until they fell asleep. The woman said that when she woke up the next morning, she did not find Neesa in bed, but thought that she was somewhere in the house; however, when she later searched for her, the teen was nowhere to be found.

“It’s not the first time Neesa might go out without me knowing or go somewhere without me sending her… I

waited out one day and she didn’t come back… Next morning very early around 5 o’clock, I went to the station to make a report that Neesa was missing,” she related. According to the woman, she had enquired from persons who might have seen her daughter and those she might be with about her whereabouts but got nothing. She recalled that on the morning of October 3, 2010, she received a call from Detective Superintendent of Police Terrace Paul, who she first made the missing person’s report to at the Leonora Police Station, and the officer told her that they found Neesa and that she was dead. With tears rolling down her cheeks, the woman said that she was taken to the police station, where she was questioned and then taken to another station before being taken to the funeral parlour that night. “I was shown a body, the top was like a top Neesa had on – like Neesa used to wear. I thought she was my daughter but I didn’t know: she had a cover from here (pointing to her chest going up over her head). I couldn’t see her,” the woman recounted. Gopaul added that while she was with Small, he had assaulted her and fractured her

arm. She noted that she had filed a report with the Police and the matter had gone to court during which Small was remanded. The woman added that Neesa had confided in her that Small had sexual intercourse with her ; hence, it was reported to the Police. The woman disclosed that the only reason she had signed an affidavit to withdraw the matter against Small was because she was fearful for her life and those of her two daughters after he had threatened to take the teenager “out of the picture”. The accused mother further stated that while she was in the lock-ups, she never made any confessions to De Nobrega, the State’s star witness, or anyone else. In fact, she disclosed that she hardly ever spoke to anyone up to now. The woman said that she never watched Small killed her daughter nor helped to put her body in any bag to throw away. Additionally, a sobbing Gopaul related “Sir, I didn’t kill my husband or feed him poison”, adding that she was married to him for almost 20 years before he died in September 2009. She noted that her husband had diabetes since they got married.

GTA’s Director, Indranauth Haralsingh, Carter Andrews and crew at the Princess Hotel after filming

“Barry”, and the teen’s mother, Bibi Sharima Gopaul, are indicted

Dead: Neesa Gopaul

Bibi Gopaul

Jarvis Small

Fire tenders outside the Georgetown Prison, where inmates reportedly started a fire

tuesday, march 3, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

PYO members fan out in Berbice outreach

– AFC member's behaviour condemned

The Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) over the weekend continued its outreach programme across the country. Hundreds of Youths assembled in Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) where activities included a visit to Canaan Children’s Orphanage at Port Mourant and the Kamal Home in Chesney/Kilcoy.

Youths also interacted with both customers and vendors at the Port Mourant Market where the response was reported to have been overwhelmingly positive towards the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government, as were areas of Anchorville, Hamsphire, Belvedere, Adelphi Village, Reliance Settlement, Reliance Abondon and Sections of Canefield, Canje.

According to a release from the organisation, the general consensus was that most persons were receptive to the PYO and the PPP/C.

“There were a number of documented areas of persons expressing frustrations with the misinformation and propaganda made by the Alliance for Change (AFC).

"More over many persons viewed the action of the AFC as they join hands with the APNU in a coalition as a betrayal of trust and insult to the people who supported

Caricom Rice Mill Tragedy Investigations

near completion –

family to receive compensation

Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul disclosed that the investigations into the fatal industrial accident at the Caricom Rice Mill on the Essequibo Coast are expected to be completed within a week.

The accident, which claimed the life of 18-yearold Threeson Gittens, occurred on February 5 at the rice mill’s Cotton Field location in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The Labour Minister had noted that the accident occurred in a manner that suggested that it could have been prevented if proper safety measures were initially in place.

Minister Gopaul explained that the most severe penalty for an industrial accident is closure of the company, noting that a company would only be allowed to recommence operation when it was in compliance with the health and safety regulations.

Speaking with the Guyana Times on Monday, the mother of the victim, Pamela Gittens revealed that she would not want the factory to be shut down, noting that many persons depend on its operations for their livelihood.

Gittens also disclosed that discussions were in progress to gain compensation from the Rice Mill.

It was reported that the Caricom Rice Mill covered the funeral expenses and now the family was expected to receive “industrial benefits and insurance” from the company.

Gittens said, at this point, she was unaware how much money they would be collecting from the company.

Though she deeply regrets the way in which her son met his demise, the grieving mother said if investigations do reveal that the Rice Mill was at fault and liable for closure, it would not bring back her

son.

On that note, Gittens said she was grateful that the company was cooperating and would be providing the monetary assistance to the family.

On the day of the incident, Gittens was in a huge metal rice silo when the cone attached to the top broke. The cone usually stores approximately 300 bags of paddy. Gittens saw the bottom of the cone coming off and tried to escape, but, unfortunately, he was trapped by the paddy pouring down.

The two other employees who were in the tank with Gittens managed to escape from the tank unhurt. They were reportedly closer to the door.

The teenager was retrieved by officers from the Anna Regina Police Station and was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Singh was also taken to the hospital.

Netherlands Ambassador presents Letters of Credence

gions discussed their experiences and how the movement has served to empower and develop their leadership skills.

Many young people also shared their personal stories of how the PPP/C has empowered young people

teract with two orphanages within the region as this is an integral of the Youth movement work. The youth organisation said it would continue to work and promote conditions that would enable social and economic justice for every citizen es-

them,” the PYO statement said. In addition, according to the PYO residents further viewed the statements of Moses Nagamootoo that he will deliver 11% Indian votes as derogatory and an insult to their intellect.

“Some of the residence referring said that it proves that Nagamootoo only concern is his personal ambition for power. They asked the PYO to send a strong message to Mr Nagamootoo, “that he don’t own them and can’t buy, sell or trade them as if they are merely commodity,” the release stated.

The PYO also conducted two television programmes where members from the re-

through its investment in education, health, housing and expansion of the economy towards the creation of more jobs.

“Youths throughout the region are exited at the prospect of Guyana’s first ICT park to be financed by the Indian Government. They expressed their confidence that the parliamentary situation would be corrected so that this project would not be stymied by the Opposition as others like the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project and Speciality Hospital were.”

The PYO also took the opportunity to visit and in-

pecially the youths.

Meanwhile, the PYO leadership said it is outrage at the behaviour of Charandas Persaud, a leading activist of AFC who requested a photograph with members of the PYO after being critical of the coalition. He then went on to commend the PYO for its work.

However, in the requested photograph while hugging the youths he raised his middle finger behind their heads. “This is the type of immoral leadership that the AFC -APNU coalition possesses and the PYO would expose them for who they are,” the statement said.

Newly-appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ernst Noorman, presented his Letters of Credence to President Donald Ramotar on Monday and vowed to improve the good relationship between the two governments.

Receiving the ambassador, President Ramotar offered his best wishes to His Majesty of the Netherlands, Willem – Alexander, adding that Guyana has always “placed much value on its relations with your country, and it is my hope that through your appointment we can advance the traditional bonds of friendship and cooperation which have preserved these relations”.

The expertise of the Netherlands in managing water and maritime technology is recognised by Guyana, and the continued collaboration in this regard would be a welcome development, particularly given its legacy locally with the protective seawalls and kokers, which are still visible today and more relevant than ever, in the face of climate adaptation and mitigation measures, President Ramotar stated.

Initiatives that would bring the business communities closer, and “expand trade links”, would also be welcome, the president noted. Guyana is also ready to partner with the Netherlands or any other country committed to the principles and purposes of the United Nations, President Ramotar explained. “We look forward to working with the Netherlands in the international arena to continue to

contribute to ongoing efforts, to find solutions for critical challenges such as extreme poverty and food security”.

The Guyana Government, the Head of State emphasised remains “fully committed to ensuring that our elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner”. Ambassador Noorman, in his remarks, said that the two countries shared a common history, which is still visible locally in the names of locations such as Uitvlugt and New Amsterdam. Given the Netherlands’ history of engineering to combat flooding and water control efforts, it stands ready to assist Guyana in this regards, the ambassador added.

He noted that given Guyana’s efforts to diversify its economy, he will “draw the attention of the business community” from his country along with others such as Aruba and Curacao to the possibilities in this country. His country, he added, stands ready to contribute to peace, justice and development, as it presents itself

as a candidate for the NonPermanent United Nations Security Seat for the 2017 to 2018 term. He asked that Guyana support this quest. It was noted by the ambassador, that President Ramotar made it clear how important food security is, during his last presentation to the UN and his country supported this call as, “You’ll find us at your side, at the United Nations for this theme”. He said that his country recognises that fact the Guyana is only one of 17 countries to be recognised by the Food and Agriculture Oganisation (FAO) for meeting the goal of reducing hunger by half and improving the nutrition of it people. The announcement by the president that Guyana will host General and Regional Elections on May 11 was also welcomed by the ambassador. “May I extend my wish for transparent and peaceful elections and a prosperous and harmonious future for the nation and people of Guyana”.

Members of the PYO during their outreach to Berbice

The Kingdom of the Netherlands Ambassador Ernst Noorman presenting his Letters of Credence to President Donald Ramotar

The PYO leadership is outraged at the behaviour of Charandas Persaud, a leading AFC activist, who requested a photo with members of the PYO. However, in the photo, while hugging the youths, he raised his middle finger behind their heads in total disrespect, as shown in inset

EU to plug €34M into Guyana

...to boost social sector, infrastructure

European Union (EU) High Representative and Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica announced on Monday that 30.5 billion euros worth of EU development cooperation shall come on stream following entry into force of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF).

Guyana will benefit from 34 million euros (some G$8 billion) of the aid. “The EU and its Member States remain collectively the world’s largest donor, providing more than half of global official aid. As an important part of its external action, the EDF is a cornerstone of the EU’s international cooperation and development policy that concretely implements our partnership and dialogue with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries under the ACPEU Cotonou Agreement,” a

statement from the EU on Monday said.

With a total of 30.5 billion euros, the 11th EDF will finance EU development cooperation projects until 2020 to assist partner countries’ own efforts in poverty eradication. These funds come from EU Member States and will be managed by the EU to target the people most in need and to finance different sectors such as health and education, infrastructure, environment, energy, food and nutrition. The promotion of good governance, democracy and the rule of law are also other key areas that are supported as is sustainable development, including sustainable agriculture and rural development.

These are ways how the EU and its Member States are clearly signalling support to the future post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals so that they continue focusing all efforts in countries where the EU aid can

have the most impact. This is in line with EU vision set out in the 2011 “Agenda for Change”.

EDF long-term development programmes are always agreed in close partnership with each of the countries or regions. This ensures that cooperation is aligned to the respective national or regional priorities and that partner countries exercise their ownership of the development process.

The allocation to Guyana comes to 34 million euros until 2020 and will focus on climate change adaptation, disaster reduction and sustainable infrastructure (including sea defences), building upon successful cooperation in this area in the past. The EU is the largest grant donor to Guyana and is a committed partner to Guyana’s development. This year will mark the celebration of 40 years of EUGuyana cooperation.

New UK envoy accredited

The new High Commissioner of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, James Quinn was received by President Donald Ramotar when he presented his Letters of Credence at the Presidential Complex on Monday.

The president in brief remarks, offered his sincere wishes for the continued well- being of Queen Elizabeth and of the people of the United Kingdom. President Ramotar said that Guyana views its relationship with the UK as a “very important one”, hence he was confident that the high commissioner’s appointment would advance and further strengthen it.

Guyana, the president added, has had “very good cooperation initiatives” in the areas of debt relief, education, water supply, restructuring of the sugar industry, public sector reform and the strengthening of the judiciary and law enforcement, adding that, “we look forward to working with you to build on these and other initiatives”.

Mention was also made of the planned increase in the number of Chevening Scholarships offered, a

APNU/AFC coalition

Huge Phagwah celebration set by Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha T

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has put together a massive agenda to celebrate Phagwah this year starting with Holika Dahan or the burning of Holika on Thursday.

This occurs annually on Phalgun Purnima or the full moon day of the Hindu month of Phalgun which occurs this year March 5. It is the last day of the Hindu year based on Vickram Samvat. Phagwah will be celebrated the following day.

This year, the moon turns exactly full in the Americas on Thursday, March 5 at varying times but at 14:07h in Guyana.

As such, Guyanese will not be able to witness this auspicious occasion. However, the moon will appear full in the skies on March 5, lighting up the nighttime from Thursday

dusk (or nightfall) until dawn Friday.

Special Holika Dahan Satsangh will be held at the Shri Krishna Mandir, Campbellville on Thursday March 5 at 19:00h after which the Dharmic Rama Krishna Chowtaal group will lead devotees in process to the Camptown Ground, Campbelville for the burning of Holika.

Phagwah or Holi will be celebrated on Friday March 6. The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha invites everyone to celebrate the festival in a dignified way observing both its spiritual and social content.

“Let there be cordial exchanges and playing with those who are so inclined. Do not drench people wantonly and use any impure substances. Perfume, Abrak, Powder and Abeer should be sprayed and applied moderately. Persons should dress

befitting the occasion and not inelegantly. We must celebrate with pride and decorum,” the organization said in a statement

On Phagwah morning, Holi Satsangh takes place at the Rama Krishna Dharmic Sabha Mandir, Barr Street, Kitty at 8:00h.

Holi Utsav will be held at 15:30h at the Everest Cricket Club GroundGeorgetown, Ocean View Mandir Ground, West Coast Demerara and Bath Market Tarmac, West Berbice. There will be colourful stage programmes featuring top Guyanese artistes, colour throws, powder giveaways and more.

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has been calculating its Hindu festival dates for more than 40 years on the basis of the Bhavani Shankar Panchang, one of India’s most renowned and reputable Panchangs.

move that the president said he was pleased with. The top UK official noted that the two countries possess a long and varied history, recalling the “impact of many Guyanese figures on the UK” such as Baroness Amos, Trevor Phillips and Clive Lloyd. He said that he was looking forward to many “productive and effective years” during his posting here. “We

have much to do, be it on politics, be it on the economics, be it on the culture. I look forward to interesting and stimulating conversations in the coming years.” He added that the friendship between the two countries is also made stronger by the honest, productive and truthful exchanges, and expressed the hope that many more such activities would occur in the coming years.

Design of symbol completed

he symbol representing the newly formed coalition between A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) has been finalised and is set to be officially launched along with the campaign on Wednesday.

The new icon, which was leaked to the press, merges both parties’ individual symbols into one, with APNU’s symbol: a palm, resting upon the AFC’s key.

Reports say the idea which represents a collaborative effort between both parties, was to maintain individual party’s identity. It was also noted that the youth groups of both the AFC and APNU played an integral role in crafting the design.

The symbol now has to be presented to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for its approval and inclusion in the template for ballot papers.

Meanwhile, it was last reported that the two parties have decided to retain the names APNU-AFC until it launches its campaign.

APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon had noted that the decision to preserve individuality is an element of the “Cummingsburg Accord”.

“While we maintain the party identity, we are going with a single slate and a single list of candidates,” Harmon said.

On February 15, the two parties announced the decision to join forces in an at-

tempt to defeat the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration.

This was made possible with the signing of the “Cummingsburg Accord”.

As stated in the Accord, APNU Leader David Granger will be the Presidential Candidate of the coalition while AFC Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo will be the Prime Ministerial Candidate.

In addition, the AFC was assured 12 seats in the 65 seat Parliament.

In the construct of a new Government, APNU will be allocated one Vice President while AFC will be allocated two Vice Presidents, both of whom will be members of the Cabinet.

The parties further agreed that Cabinet positions will be allocated on a 60/40 basis between APNU and AFC. Both the representative of the list and the

Speaker of the House will be neutrally selected by both parties from independent members from Civil Society.

Taking into consideration the possibility of constitutional reform in the future, Granger had said both APNU and AFC have agreed that the President as “Head of State, Head of Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces” will be responsible for the appointment of constitutional agencies and commissions with the required and agreed democratic mechanisms of consultations.

Furthermore, the President will be directly in charge of foreign affairs, international relations and international non-commercial treaties, national security policy, the Defense Board, the Joint Intelligence Committee and the Guyana Defence Force.

The President will also delegate several responsibilities to the Prime Minister, including the chairmanship of the Cabinet and matters supporting the domestic affairs.

On the other hand, the Prime Minister will make recommendations for the ministerial appointments and providing the organisational structure of the ministries for the approval of the President.

Appointment of heads of agencies and non-constitutional commissions will also be done by the Prime Minister following the agreed democratic mechanism of consultation.

United Kingdom High Commissioner, James Quinn and President Donald Ramotar following the diplomat’s presentation of his Letters of Credence

APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has been calculating its Hindu festival dates for more than 40 years

Venezuela tells US Embassy in Caracas: Cut staff by 80%

Venezuela on Monday ordered the US Embassy in Caracas to reduce staff from 100 to 17 amid the worst diplomatic flare-up between the two ideological foes since socialist President Nicolas Maduro was elected in 2013.

Maduro, who like his predecessor Hugo Chávez frequently locks horns with Washington, has stepped up accusations in recent weeks that the United States is seeking to topple him.

The measures announced in response to alleged coup plotting are the most significant against Washington of Maduro’s nearly two-year rule, though foes say they represent a timeworn tactic to distract Venezuelans from their economic troubles.

“They have 15 days to reduce the size of their embassy to 17 staffers,” Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez

said after a meeting with the US Chargé d’Affaires Lee McClenny, Washington’s most senior diplomat in Venezuela.

Maduro has said 100 staffers work at the embassy, an imposing ochre building perched on a hill overlooking Caracas. Venezuela has 17 staffers in Washington, according to Maduro, who says the embassies should be on par.

Maduro over the weekend he announced that his Government had detained US citizens, including a pilot, on suspicion of espionage. The pilot’s identity remains unclear.

Four American missionaries held for questioning for several days have been released.

US officials said they had no information about the pilot or information on additional citizens being detained.

Washington has repeatedly denied meddling in Venezuelan affairs. “There has been a lot of anti-American rhetoric coming out of the Venezuelan Government with a lot of baseless allegations,” said State

Department spokeswoman Marie Harf.

“The meeting gave the Chargé an opportunity to express our concern about some of the announcements that had been made.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

Cuba signals readiness to fast-track US diplomatic ties

Cuba is willing to restore diplomatic relations with the United States as soon as the Obama Administration declares its intent to take the country off a list of state sponsors of terrorism, according to a senior Cuban official.

That could take place before both sides are ready to open embassies, Josefina Vidal, the head of the United States division at the Cuban Foreign Ministry told state media.

It is the first time Cuba has said publicly it is willing to restore relations before it is removed from the list.

Delinking the opening of embassies could make it easier for diplomatic rela-

tions – broken 54 years ago – to be renewed prior to a regional heads of state summit in Panama on April 10-11.

“In our view, it’s not necessary to put it all in one

package because if, for example, in a few weeks we receive some satisfactory notification in regards to the matter of Cuba’s removal from terrorist list, I think

we will be ready to then begin talking about how to formalise the re-establishing of relations,” Vidal said in an interview published on Sunday in Cubadebate.

US and Cuban officials have held two rounds of talks following the December 17 announcement that they would work toward normalising relations.

At talks on Friday, Cuba said removal from the list was a “priority” not a precondition for re-establishing relations. Cuba also raised a logistical issue – the lack of a bank willing to accept its account because of US sanctions on banks that do business with countries on the list. (Excerpt from Reuters)

4 foreign nationals dead in horrifying crash in Jamaica

Death came quickly and brutally to four foreign nationals –three from the Dominican Republic and one from Spain – after their rented Toyota Yaris motor car crashed into a truck laden with sand on this section of the North Coast Highway near dawn Sunday. Blood, crushed bones and chunks of human flesh scattered across the crash site, horrifying evidence of the violence of the smash that Police immediately attributed to bad road conditions caused by early morning showers and possible speeding in an area known as a death zone. The four dead men

were identified as: Sergio

and

They were all employed at a St Ann hotel. Trelawny Police who put the time of the crash at 4:35 am, said the four were travelling in the direction of St Ann’s

Bay when the car drifted into the path of the truck which was heading in the opposite direction.

The truck overturned but the unidentified driver and a female passenger apparently suffered only minor injuries and were treated at the nearby Falmouth Public General Hospital and sent home, Jamaica Observer sources said.

Meanwhile, a large crowd of onlookers swarmed the scene of the carnage, some expressing shock at the dreadful view of the mangled motor car and the overturned truck, which spilled most of its cargo of sand. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Tina Insanally Foundation draws raffle

The Tina Insanally Foundation (TIF) held the drawing of its fundraising raffle Friday at the Foundation’s office in the Guyenterprise Building, Lance Gibbs and Irving Streets, Queenstown.

In the presence of members of the media, students, friends and Directors of TIF, the lucky tickets were pulled.

In the presence of members of the media, students, friends and Directors of TIF, the lucky tickets were pulled.

Alicia Smith with ticket #3437 won the first prize of

a return trip to New York; Antonia Kinch (#8638) won the second-place prize – a 40” television set; and Lisa Ramkumar (#9814) will be taking the trip for two to Kaieteur Falls for the third-place prize. Terrence Fox (#4424) and N Dookie (#8575), who won a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 and a pair of gold earrings respectively, rounded out the top five winners. Winners can claim their prize at the Foundation’s office or contact Maria Leung on 226-9874 to finalise arrangements to collect their prizes.

St Lucia’s Prime Minister optimistic about future of LIAT

St Lucian Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony has expressed optimism about plans by the regional airline LIAT, to streamline operations to cut costs and become more efficient.

“The changes do provide a basis for optimism. I think some courage is finally being applied to deal with the situation with LIAT,” Anthony told reporters.

The airline recently announced plans to cut 180 jobs, dispose of its Dash 8 fleet and reduce the number of aircraft based in Antigua and Barbuda.

The plans are aimed at putting more capacity into Barbados with two additional aircraft from the end of October 2015, resulting in fewer flights out of Antigua.

“Obviously, it is not going to be easy for the Government and people of Antigua, but they have to understand that Governments cannot contin-

ue to pump money year after year into LIAT, despite the carrier’s losses.” He added that LIAT’s shareholder Governments have understood that the time has come to take “dramatic action” to deal in a deliberate way with the problems of the carrier. The remaining two aircraft will be based in Trinidad. (CMC)

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro gestures during a meeting with supporters at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, February 19

The head of the Cuban delegation, Josefina Vidal, appears at a news conference during talks between the United States and Cuba at the State Department in Washington on February 27

Gonzales, Garvin Arias and Ruiz Farael of the Dominican Republic

Oliver Torres of a Spanish address.

The crumpled remains of the blue Toyota Yaris motor car which crashed into a truck laden with sand along the Braco section of the North Coast Highway, killing four foreign nationals

David Goberdhan of TravelSpan Inc pulling the lucky winning ticket for the first prize donated by his company

St Lucia Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony

Netanyahu warns Obama on Iran deal, says he means no disrespect

tween Iran and world powers, which he said would allow Tehran to become a nuclear-armed state.

“As Prime Minister of Israel, I have a moral obligation to speak up in the face of these dangers while there’s still time to avert them,” Netanyahu told a cheering audience at the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the largest US pro-Israel lobby.

Netanyahu said the relationship between his country and the United States was “stronger than ever” and not in crisis.

IAround the World

Ukraine rebels take “piecemeal” approach to ceasefire – Kerry

US Secretary of State John Kerry has accused pro-Russia separatists of a “piecemeal” approach to the ceasefire agreement for eastern Ukraine.

Speaking at the United Nations, he said the rebels were only withdrawing heavy weapons from the front line in selective areas.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said there had been “tangible progress” with the truce.

Both Ukraine and the rebels say they are withdrawing heavy weapons in line with the deal made in Minsk last month.

Monitors from a European security group have reported weapons movements on both sides, but say it is too early to confirm a full withdrawal.

Kerry and Lavrov held talks on Monday as tensions remain high over the conflict. The fragile ceasefire is said to be broadly holding, despite some fighting in recent days.

Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council, Kerry said he had warned Russia that it faced further sanctions if the conditions of the ceasefire were not met in full.

But he said he was optimistic the truce could be

completed in “hours, certainly not more than days”. “I’m very hopeful that it will in fact be the start of a change which would be an improvement for everybody,” he told a news conference in Geneva.

Fighting began in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions last April, a month after Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula.

Kerry’s meeting with Lavrov – the first since he accused Russia of lying about its role in Ukraine’s war – coincided with the release of a UN human rights report. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Outgoing Namibian President Pohamba gets

US$5M award

sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the United States on Monday that the nuclear deal it was negotiating with Iran could threaten Israel’s survival and insisted he had a “moral obligation” to speak up about deep differences with President Barack Obama on the issue. Even as he set the stage for a Washington visit that has strained US-Israeli relations, Netanyahu sought to lower the temperature ahead of his controversial address to Congress today, saying he meant no disrespect for Obama and appreciated US military and diplomatic support for Israel.

The tense personal relationship between Obama and Netanyahu has sunk to a new low over the Israeli leader’s planned speech to Congress just weeks before an end-of-March deadline for a framework nuclear accord with Iran.

TThe Israeli Prime Minister left little doubt, however, about his objections to ongoing talks be-

Netanyahu is expected to press US lawmakers to block a deal with Iran that he contends would endanger Israel’s existence, but which Obama’s aides believe could be a signature foreign policy achievement for the President. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bangladesh Police arrest suspect in blogger’s murder

Bangladesh security forces have arrested a suspect in the killing of a BangladeshiAmerican writer who was a prominent critic of religious extremism.

The arrest of Farabi Shafiur Rahman came four days after attackers wielding meat cleavers killed Avijit Roy as he walked with his wife on a crowded pavement in the capital Dhaka on February 26.

A spokesperson for the anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion said Farabi was

arrested at a bus stop.

Mufti Mahmud Khan, the spokesperson, said Rahman had made death threats against Roy, adding that a case has been filed against Farabi, and that he would be handed over to the Police.

“The mystery will be revealed after the interrogation,” Khan said.

Rahman, a Muslim blogger who denounced atheism, had threatened Roy in Facebook postings, Khan said, quoting him as writing: “Avijit Roy lives in America, so it’s not possible

to kill him right now. But he will be killed when he comes back.”

Responding to his posts against “atheists”, most of Farabi’s followers said they ought to be killed to protect Islam.

While Rahman acknowledged making the threats, Khan said, authorities refused to say if they believed he was one of the attackers.

Roy, a Bangladesh-born engineer with American citizenship, was an outspoken atheist and critic of the intertwining of religion and politics. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Police, civilians wounded in Cairo bomb blast

Amidday bomb blast in one of the busiest boulevards in Cairo’s business district has wounded nine people, according to police.

Shortly after Monday’s explosion, a little-known group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The bomb was hidden under a car parked near the High Court – the country’s highest criminal court – and went off in Cairo’s Ramses neighbourhood.

The area is very crowded, with dozens of street vendors selling their ware on stalls set up on the asphalt.

Nearby are several bus stops, a railway station and a subway station.

Egyptian private The Seventh Day TV broadcast footage of the site, showing hundreds of onlookers around cars with smashed windows and blood on the pavement.

Police cordoned off the area and state TV later reported that a second bomb was dismantled before it went off.

The Interior Ministry and the Health Ministry said there were no deaths, correcting an earlier state TV report that said one person died.

The wounded included three officers, two conscripts and four civilians.

A group calling itself Revolutionary Punishment claimed responsibility on its Twitter account for the attack, saying they targeted a Police checkpoint.

Egypt has seen a wave of attacks, mostly targeting the country’s security forces, since the military toppled President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013.

The group is believed to mostly consist of political activists seeking revenge for the ongoing crackdown on Morsi’s supporters. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

he outgoing Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba has won the world’s most valuable individual award, the Mo Ibrahim prize for African leadership.

The US$5 million award is given each year to an elected leader who governed well, raised living standards and then left office.

But the previous award was the fourth in five years to have gone unclaimed.

Pohamba, a former rebel who fought for his country’s independence, has served two terms as Namibian President.

He was first elected in 2004, and again in 2009. He is due to be succeeded by President-elect, Hage Geingob.

Salim Ahmed Salim, the chairman of the commit-

Hifikepunye Pohamba was a founding member of Namibia’s Swapo liberation movement

tee that awarded the prize, said that under Pohamba, Namibia had cemented its reputation as “a well-governed, stable and inclusive democracy with strong media freedom and respect for human rights”.

A statement from the Namibian Presidency said Pohamba was “humbled by

this gesture”.

According to the statement, the President hoped to use the prize to advance the objectives of the Hifikepunye Pohamba foundation, which helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue higher education.

Pohamba was a founding member of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), an armed movement that waged a decades-long campaign against South African rule.

Since the country won independence in 1990, Swapo has dominated politics, usually winning huge majorities in elections.

Before becoming President, Mr Pohamba served as a Minister for Land Affairs. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Council of Europe “set to criticise France on smacking”

French parents are allowed the “right to discipline” children

Europe’s top human rights watchdog is to rebuke France for its failure to explicitly ban smacking children, Le Monde newspaper reports.

French law forbids violence against children,

but recognises the parents’ “right to discipline” children.

The Council of Europe will say that the laws on corporal punishment are “not sufficiently clear, binding and specific”, Le Monde says.

The council did not comment. It is to issue its formal ruling on Wednesday. It follows a complaint by British children’s charity Approach, which argues that France and other council members are violating a section of the European Social Charter calling on signatories to protect children.

The council has called for all of its 47 members to ban corporal punishment of children. So far, 22 have banned the practice.

The laws in France have occasionally caused controversy. In 2013, a father was fined US$560 for spanking his nine-year-old son, a case that reignited the debate about corporal punishment in France.

The Council of Europe is due to announce its decisions on other countries included in the Approach complaint in May. (BBC News)

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference in Washington on March 2

tuesday, march 3, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Granger promises 24-hour electricity for Region 1

Presidential Candidate Brigadier David Granger promised residents of Region One (Barima-Waini) that should the A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance For Change (APNU-AFC) coalition win the upcoming elections it will address the region’s chronic electricity supply problem.

Granger made the promise during a campaign outreach in the region over the weekend. Remarking that “energy is the midwife of enterprise and economic development,” Granger pointed out that without cheap, renewable energy the residents of the Region would not be able to become efficient farmers, agro-processors, manufacturers, traders and exporters.

He said that, for a region that is four times the size of Trinidad and Tobago, it is unimaginable that residents of Mabaruma, its administrative centre, should receive only five hours of

electricity daily. Granger promised that an APNUAFC government would work towards providing the region with electricity “24/7”. An APNU-AFC government, he said, will invest in wind, solar and

hydro-electric power and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Granger said that the retention of the aging ‘Lady Northcote’ and MV Kimbia ferries to service the entire region was holding back commerce and devel-

GPHC welcomes new batch of Operating Room Technicians

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation has welcomed the fifth batch of Operating Room Technicians to its training programme, which opened on Monday.

The eighteen technicians from various hospitals across the country will be trained over the next year. During the first nine months they will undergo rigorous training while the last three months will involve preceptorship (a period of practical training).

According to a GPHC release, at a simple welcoming ceremony held at the GPHC’s Resource Centre, Manager of Training and Development of GPHC, Soogrim Singh urged the trainees to pay keen attention to the programme and to always be punctual. He said: “We have had 100% success so far and we don’t want this time to be any different. Don’t give your tutors any hard time, you are here to learn and whatever

they instruct you have to follow, this is a very intense programme and it calls for your full concentration.”

He noted that the students will be monitored periodically. Singh also stated that when the training programme initially commenced, it was only limited to GPHC’s employees, however after a while local hospitals began expressing interest for their employees to be trained as well, as a result the hospital amended its admission requirement.

Meanwhile, Clinical Supervisor, Gail Gill told the students that honesty is an important trait in Operating Room Technicians adding that dishonesty can cost the life of a patient. She told the trainees to work together as a team and they will succeed. The fifth batch of trainees includes persons from GPHC, West Demerara Regional Hospital, Davis Memorial Hospital, Georgetown Medical Centre, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Region 2 and Region 10.

opment. Government has stated that the ferry to be acquired with the $1.6 billion (US$8 million) loan recently approved by the Indian Government will service the GeorgetownNorth-West District (NWD)

route.

Transport Minister Robeson Benn had told this newspaper that the Guyana Government had written to India requesting funding for the ferry. He noted that there were prior discussions between the two Governments on the matter. During a recent State visit to India President Donald Ramotar was able to secure a line of credit to purchase the ferry. Benn had disclosed that on the arrival of the new ferry, residents of the North-West region can expect new and improved services. According to the Minister, there are currently two ferries that operate the North-West route. MV Kimbia runs the Georgetown to Mabaruma and Komaka routes while MV Lady Northcote plies the Georgetown to Port Kaituma route. He further stated that once the new vessel is in place, Government would remove the two existing ferries,

one of which will be put out of service while the other would be sent to Region Six ( East Berbice-Corentyne) to service the Berbice River route. The Minister stated that MV Kimbia would most likely be the vessel transferred to the Berbice River, since it was initially built to operate there.

Meanwhile, Granger promised increased investment in infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, energy, education, and agro-processing.

Every region, he said, must have a regional agricultural institute and a regional technical institute to prepare young adults to embark of satisfying careers that would make them financially independent while developing the economy of the region. Granger was accompanied by APNU parliamentarians Dr. George Norton, Winston Felix and Rennita Williams and former parliamentarian Richard Allen.

Massy donates TV set to Eccles Nursery

Eccles Nursery School’s literacy and numeracy programme has been enhanced with the timely donation of a television set by Massy Gas Products at a ceremony held at the School at Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara last Friday.

According to a release, Catherine Hinds, Head teacher said she was extremely thankful to Massy

Gas Products for coming on board with this venture since the school is on a drive to promote literacy and numeracy as mandated by the Ministry of Education.

“We want to make sure the children can read, write and count as they prepare for primary school education and the television is a learning tool since there are programmes featured

on the Learning Channel that promotes literacy and numeracy,” she added. Rhonda Wilson, Human Resources Supervisor of Massy Gas Products said the Company has been supporting the school for a number of years. The presentation ceremony was attended by pupils, teachers, members of the PTA and officials of Massy Gas Products.

MMU begins scrutinising media reports

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Monday said that its recently launched Media Monitoring Unit (MMU), has commenced monitoring the country’s mainstream print and broadcast media, as well as selected online media, as of March 1, 2015. This comes after staff of the Unit completed a rigorous five-day Media Code of Conduct familiari-

sation exercise, during which they were given expert guidance in understanding, interpreting, and implementing the 2015 Elections Media Code of Conduct.

The MMU will be producing its first report for the monitoring period March 1 – 31, 2015, and will make it available to all media houses sometime between the first and second weeks of April, 2015. The

analyses in the reports to be produced by the MMU will primarily be aimed at providing a complete picture regarding: the level of journalistic professionalism employed by all media operatives; the access granted by Media Owners/ Managers/Editors to candidates and/or political parties in the mass media; whether the coverage provided by media houses is fair and

balanced; the tone of media coverage towards candidates and political parties and whether the electorate is gaining diverse, comprehensive and impartial information from all media in order to make an informed choice on Election Day. The findings of the MMU reports will be in line with the recently signed Elections Media Code of Conduct.

Opposition Leader David Granger addressing residents of Region One

Some of the Operating Room Technician trainees at the welcoming ceremony

Customer Service Officer of Massy Gas Products Elicia Chapman presents the television set to a teacher of Eccles Nursery School in the presence of pupils, teachers and parents.

Albert Boodhoo supported our struggle for democracy in NY

Dear Editor,

It is with sadness that I learned of the passing of New York-based Albert Boodhoo who was a grass roots activist of the PPP/C and a strong trade unionist who served GAWU and the working class with distinction.

He greatly admired Dr Cheddi Jagan for his selfless struggle against the exploitation of the working class, and he took a page out of his book to serve the sugar workers. He also fought against the PNC dictatorship for the restoration of democracy.

Albert, as we called him in New York, came from humble beginnings on the Corentyne with his parents, grand parents and great grand tied to the sugar estate. Not surprisingly, he grounded with the poor and the working class and committed to improving their lot.

I first met Albert around 1991 in Richmond Hill at a public forum when I was a discussant on the freedom struggle against the PNC dictatorship. He gravitated towards me for my political analysis on Guyana. He was at several political meetings thereafter, even after the restoration of democracy, and he attended several cultural events, including the annual Phagwah parade. Boodhoo was a supporter of the Association of Concerned Guyanese

(ACG), New York branch, though not an activist like others who were members of the ACG, or the handful of us who were deeply embedded in the struggle against the dictatorship.

Albert attended several meets when Dr Jagan, Janet Jagan, Sam Hinds, and Bharrat Jagdeo visited our community in Queens and addressed the public, giving updates on the political situation. He also admired the political work and intellect of stalwarts like Ralph Ramkarran and Moses Nagamootoo and he was most disappointed that both left the party they so long served for almost 50 years each.

He was especially praiseworthy of Ramkarran, who he felt, would have made an excellent President. I did not see Boodhoo when President Donald Ramotar visited over the last several years; understandably, he was wheel-chair bound.

In our limited interaction, Albert gave a lot of details about Guyana’s politics, race relations and labour affairs. He would query about my polls and was concerned about Guyana’s politics and the direction of the PPP/C.

He was a source of information for several topical issues. He possessed a tremendous amount of knowledge on labor issues. He was a human library on labour

matters; he knew virtually everything about the history of labour even though he was not college educated.

Albert was a fine gentleman who exuded compassion and care for the dispossessed and poor working class. He was professional in his demeanor and spoke candidly about politics in his former homeland.

He was not afraid to speak out against what he perceived to be errors made by the PPP/C Administration. He felt the working class was being neglected and not much was being done to alleviate the hardship of sugar workers.

I was not aware that Albert was ailing, and it was only recently I inquired about his well-being as well as that of his partner who we called Bristol with whom I met several times in Queens. During his stint as GAWU President, he interacted with 20,000 sugar workers and the leadership as well as membership of other unions.

I join with friends and former sugar workers in saying farewell to a former stalwart of GAWU for his outstanding contribution to labor activism and workers’ rights in Guyana. His deeds in the fight for the restoration of democracy and for the dignity of the working class in our homeland will remain deep in our memory.

Vishnu Bisram

Scandalous assertions

Dear Editor,

The Government Information Agency (GINA) has noted the pronouncements by the Kaieteur News regarding “The Guyanese”; a fortnightly newspaper distributed freely for the Diaspora in New York.

GINA wishes to forthrightly state that such pronouncements are glaring examples of the Kaieteur News’ proclivity to engage in sensationalism, to deliberately misinform and to publish falsehoods.

In addition, the said article remained steadfast to the Kaieteur News’ thrust to vilify and besmirch the character of Government officials. GINA rejects the Kaieteur News’ mischievous assertion with regards to the sum spent on “The Guyanese” newspaper, and is not unmindful of the numerous inaccuracies contained in the article in question. The Kaieteur News should be reminded that GINA has a mandate to provide information pertinent to Government’s programmes and policies to all Guyanese. Since its establishment, GINA has been producing literature, including local newspapers, for free distribution as part of its mandate.

These publications remain in demand. Only last October, GINA launched a new developmental oriented magazine, of the same name, “The Guyanese”. This in-flight magazine is produced with all Guyanese in mind, including the Diaspora.

With regard to “The Guyanese” newspaper, GINA wishes to state that its production is within its mandate and funded from the Agency’s budget. The first edition was October 10, 2014.

The initiative to produce the newspaper is premised on the fact that the Diaspora is an important part of our society and an equally important partner in development. Like every Guyanese, aside from those residing here, the Diaspora is constitutionally entitled to receive information pertaining to Guyana’s development.

The Diaspora has been subjected to allegations of lies, half truths and innuendos published in the Kaieteur News which produces a weekly edition for free distribution in New York. The Kaieteur News’ real motive, to publish the article alluded to becomes suspicious, especially since

An election year for many in Caricom

Dear Editor,

2015 seems to be election year in the Caribbean Community (Caricom), with six countries holding general elections. In fact, one was already held on February 16 when Dr Denzil Douglas who served 20 years as Prime Minister of the federation of St Kitts and Nevis failed in his bid to retain power.

The tiny island of Anguilla is carded to have its election on April 25 when Hubert Hughes will try to retain power. International Observers will be present to monitor the election. Hughes is on his first term after he defeated Osbourne Fleming's Anguilla United Front (AUF) in 2001.

Guyana is the next country scheduled to hold elections. President Donald Ramotar was forced to call elections on May 11 after he suspended Parliament in order to avoid a No Confidence Motion filed against his PPP/C by the Opposition parties.

The two major Opposition parties, APNU (merger of the PNCR, WPA and JFAP) and the AFC merged on Valentine’s Day to defeat the PPP/C which has been in power for almost 23 years.

The electoral system in Guyana is different from the

other countries in the region, since it is being conducted on Proportional Representation (PR) – where the electorates vote for a party and not a candidate.

A party must have to poll 50 per centof the votes in order to effectively form a Government. In the last election, the PPP/C failed to secure half of the votes, but it nevertheless formed a minority Government, but encountered difficulties in its Administration because the combined Opposition outvoted the governing party.

However, the party which secured most of the votes (not necessarily 50 per cent) will choose the President.

As I write, Belize is preparing for Local Government elections, which will be held on March 4 and political pundits say that the results will determine whether two-term Prime Minister Dean Barrow will continue as head of Government.

His United Democratic Party (UDP) will get stiff opposition from Francis Fonseca's People's United Party (PUP). At the last general elections, the UDP gained 17 seats while the Opposition movement secured 14.

Elections in the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago are due be-

fore the end of this year and no doubt it will be keen struggle for Kamla Persad Bissessar of the UNC to retain her position as Prime Minister, since there are signs that her party's merger with three other parties are showing signs of "cracking up", especially from the large Congress of the People (COP) movement.

The People's National Movement (PNM) has a relatively new leader in Keith Rowley and he has been criticized for "wining down" with a 17-year old during the carnival festivities.

In St Vincent and the Grenadines, elections are constitutionally due in December, but there is rumbling that three-term Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves might call elections a few months before, since the Argyll International Airport cannot be completed by year end and he might in electioneering tell the electorates that if they want the airport to be completed they have to return his United Labour Party (ULP) to office.

Moreover, it it is rumoured that there is "in-fighting" within the Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) headed by economist Arnhim Eustace.

Oscar Ramjeet

How to reduce controversy over compensation for politicians

Dear Editor,

it has never in the past questioned previous publications.

It therefore begs the question that since October last year, why only now would the Kaieteur News choose to concoct an article permeated with unsubstantiated information regarding “The Guyanese” newspaper.

“The Guyanese” newspaper is distributed from over 100 locations in New York, and the feedback of its impact has been overwhelmingly positive. It has been welcomed by Guyanese residing there who have expressed their satisfaction with this initiative. It is in this context that GINA believes that the sole reason for the Kaieteur News’ fabrication, through the article, is probably because it feels that its financial viability may be threatened given that its impact in New York is beginning to wane.

GINA also wishes to note that given the scandalous nature of the Kaieteur News’ article in question and the wanton attack on two government officials, it has sought the advice of its lawyers.

For some time now the media have been reporting continuing controversy, animosity and friction regarding the compensation (that is, the pay, benefits such as health and retirement and related working conditions) payable or allowable or claimed/received by people holding political office for themselves and their families.

The recent exposure about claims made/approved for health-related benefits has again brought this matter to a head and appears to be detracting from the more urgent and critical issues that should be engaging our attention, especially in this crucial electioneering period.

It is interesting to note the comment reportedly made by David Granger, Leader of the APNU/AFC coalition, about the need for “systemic policy and guidelines to be structured” and hopefully implemented equitably.

In that context, I wish to suggest serious consideration of the virtually standard, universal practices derived from the discipline of human resource management and practiced in progressive businesses, governmental and non-governmental organizations, including the United Nations,

in all of which fields I have been fortunate to have had some hands-on experience as a human resource practitioner and advisor.

Briefly and simply put, these guidelines/practices require the entity to take the following steps independently, or in consultation with stakeholders, such as trade unions or staff or employers’ organizations where they exist (or in the case of political/governmental entities the Opposition elements, etc):

1. Decide if the entity will base its compensation content and level on what is applicable among the leaders or say top quartile, or average, etc, in the relevant field (example, Private Sector, Public Sector, Government, NGOs etc).

For example, in the case of the UN, it is typically based on what is applicable in the US civil service with post adjustments made for five different categories of location depending on certain obvious variations.

2. Periodic surveys are done to ensure continuing relevance/comparability; on this basis adjustments are made.

Adjustments are sometimes also necessary due to significant changes beyond the control of the individual entity, for example, signifi-

cant changes in the cost-ofliving, fortunes of the entity, such as affordability and market influences, etc.

3. It goes without saying that once public, transparent and objective bases are established and strictly followed by and for all concerned, the room for abuse, acrimony, friction, dissatisfaction and public controversy will be considerably reduced so that our energies and attention can be better utilized for our collective good.

4. Of course, the foregoing ignores another quite relevant consideration which has to do with the fundamental question: should people like politicians expect, seek, demand compensation like regular employees?

Are they not civic, publicspirited people who, at least initially, volunteer, freely offer their services, as servants of the public, who are motivated by the noble desire to serve the populace and the country from a position and platform of pure patriotism, love of country, of fellow citizens who need their leadership and public service, etc, from a position of altruism and not for selfish gains?

Nowrang Persaud

The actions of a Christian must be based on sound conviction

Dear Editor,

It would appear that the old PNC propaganda that the PPP/C is ungodly and should not be supported by Christians is being revived and even being encouraged by some in the media.

In 2011, I publicly stated that a man’s holiness or righteousness is not determined by the political party he supports and the campaign of demonizing persons of Christian extraction who support or vote for the PPP/C has no basis in Biblical theology.The actions of a Christian must be based on a sound conviction that the teachings of Scripture are not violated in anyway. The bottom line is what Jesus would have done? Let us examine:

How did he treat with a woman who was caught in the act of adultery? Her accusers condemned her and called for her to be stoned to death. He embraced her, offering her forgiveness and a chance of renewed life.

How did he deal with the notorious public official named Zacchaeus who was despised by society? He went to his house had dinner with him; a changed life was the end result.

How did Jesus deal with a woman who was a prostitute? He engaged her even though the onlookers criticized and found fault. She became a worshipper.

How did he deal with the lepers – those rejected by society? He broke the barrier and identified with them. He did not only heal them but he touched them, which was unheard of; since leprosy was an incurable disease and no one dared touch a leper. How did he deal with the Samaritan woman? He, being a Jew, according to the tradition and culture should have had no dealings with Samaritans (what levels of prejudice) but he went to meet the woman of Samaria at the well; even she was surprised of

his bold engagement with her. He crossed the lines of prejudice.He paid his taxes even when the society felt that the tax regime was oppressive and he called on all to render to Ceaser what was due to Ceaser.

It would appear that emotionalism, rather than deep theological thought had been the guiding principles that would have informed the Christian church’s engagement in things of a political nature. So the immature response has been that the church should not get involved in politics. This misconception and erroneous view is not supported by scripture.

Secondly, the creating of an image of the PPP/C being heathen and idol worshippers has flourished, unchallenged for decades in the church. This was to facilitate and justify the church’s support for a dictatorial and oppressive PNC Government.

The few church leaders who challenged the PNC were all ostracized by the leaders and members of the Christian church in the past.My actions and giving support to the PPP/C runs counter to that norm. Hence, the unfounded criticism of my views. I reject the sensationalism and suggestion that my statements are blasphemous. If mine are, then the pronouncements from the pulpit in several Christian Churches over decades would not only be blasphemous but can be best considered as diabolical, abominable, outrageous and downright wicked but I cast no such judgment on our vhurch leaders and fellow Christians.

The biased prayers and supposedly prophetic utterances about God’s will for the PNC, now APNU, to be in Government and the introduction of various Presidential Candidates to their congregations in the run-up to previous

election as “God’s choice” and “God’s man” to govern Guyana were not only misleading and manipulative, but were using the Church to promote APNU as godly (acceptable to God and God’s choice). None of them won the elections. In my 30+ years of church ministry I have seen all of the above mentioned in the Evangelical, Protestant, Pentecostal and Traditional churches. Jesus was crucified by the religious order of the day, not by the ungodly, because he dared to challenge the status quo in declaring truth and bringing redemption to mankind.

Let’s stop promoting race prejudice by using Christianity as a guise and wrapping. Several prominent Christian Leaders have mounted the PNC/ APNU platform in the past; some were on its electoral list; some served as Members of Parliament.

They used scriptures in their speeches, used songs of a Christian nature with varying degrees of sarcasm as weapons against the PPP/C. No one said a word. It was a cause in support of the PNC so it was right!

Every Christian should vote based upon their conviction. I have stated why I support the PPP/C.

Let all those who oppose my views come out publicly and state their position on why they are supporting the parties that they are supporting and what their justifications are.

Let those, some of whom are my respected elders who have used veiled language and would have sermonized in very suggestive ways to support APNU and AFC explain their actions. Is this not the height of hypocrisy? The reality is that I know of scores of pastors and church leaders who have broken that barrier of feeling condemned and less of a Christian because of their non-support to the

traditional Christian view as it relates to politics.

Christians support the PPP/C. Christians have voted for the PPP/C in the past and more will vote for the PPP/C in 2015. The propaganda of the PNC having the divine right to rule Guyana has been rejected by independent, objective and well researched Christian leaders and Churches.

If I offend by my boldness, I apologize. But for the truth and the principles I believe in, I stand by it. I am guided by what I believe Jesus would have done in these circumstances.

Bishop Juan Edghill

All files at DPP are dealt with in a professional manner

Dear Editor, Pursuant to a published article titled, “Pointless pursuing criminal proceedings against Finance Minister now - Basil Williams...", in which Williams purported that the Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar AliHack has indicated that she was not interested in Ramjattan's matter.

The Director of Public Prosecutions hereby states that she never indicated that she was not interested in Ramjattan's matter.

All files that come to

the DPP Chambers receive professional advice based on the facts available in the files and the prevailing Law.

The Director of Public Prosecutions emphatically states that she does not have to be interested in any files that come to the Chambers since all files are dealt with in a professional manner.

Liz Rahaman Communications Officer DPP

Phagwah gives assurance that evil doers are doomed to failure

Dear Editor, Phagwah or Holi is the festival of Spring. The festival of Phagwah commemorates the regeneration of nature from her slumber. This unique festival found its way on these shores with the arrival of Hindus from India as indentured labourers.

Hindus after traversing thousands of miles from India brought to Guyana their many festivals among which Phagwah has a special place. The significance of Phagwah is manifold. It is a time of gaiety, splendour and pomp when nature is converted into a beautiful garden full of colours.

The religious aspect of Phagwah gives to mankind the reassurance that evil doers, perpetrators of unholy acts, architects of injustices, and those associated with such actions are inevitably doomed to failure and extinction.

In the story of Phagwah there is evidence that the dark forces of evil is eventu-

ally conquered by the forces of truth.

The symbol of the burning of Holika serves to reinforce that no matter what, once our intentions and actions are malicious, the results will always remain destructive. Sowing evil will result in degeneracy and decay – wrong-doers will be punished in order to change.

This festival also commemorates the destruction of King Heranyakshyapu, the father of Prahalad who spared no pain at torturing his subjects and his son, his conceit was unparalleled and was the cause of his death.

Let us like Prahalad, be disciples of the virtues of righteousness, courage, faith, determination, forthrightness and leadership. Prahalad stood for what was right, and in spite of the several tortures inflected upon him by his father, and the criminal attempts on his life, Prahalad rose triumphantly to be a living model

of fearlessness and truth. Let us demonstrate love and cooperation. Let the true spirit of Phagwah prevail, let the beautiful coloured water be squirted on each other and let us not smear each other with mud and other prohibited things.

Let us allow this festival to be a binding force among us Guyanese and stamp out differences and spread the message of peace and goodwill which Holi brings.

On behalf of the Guyana Pandits’Council, Hindu Parishad, Laxmi Sabha, Youth Organization and the Management Committee of Radha Krishna Mandir, I extend Holi greetings to the entire nation.

May this festival of Phagwah serve to enrich our own individual lives, strengthen our society and promote the happiness and well-being of our nation. Happy Holi.

Pandit Rudranauth Sharma

Illegal weapons have been a recurring problem

Dear Editor, Guyana is a dangerous place to live when you look at the numerous cases of gun related crimes being perpetuated on a daily basis. Guns are surfacing in every conceivable place available, in so many areas that you might be asking yourself the question where did all these guns come from? Where did they come from is the question on everyone's lips. Over the years the use of these illegal weapons has been a recurring problem for everyone here, especially when you view the many deaths resulting from the direct use of it.

Truly, a morbid picture is painted of this country we call home, and if steps are not taken to address it, woe be tide. So, let us again ask the question, where did all of these guns come from? And the answer comes back – they were issued these weapons for the "revolution". A revolution! What revolution?

take place. Those firearms are still in circulation, waiting for that time. If I should interject here to bring to your attention that the recent University of Guyana impasse has as its rallying theme "revolution".

Guyana does not have a civil war and the present situation involving gun use does not in any way relate to civil strife. I am in total agreement with this question and answer session but hasten to say if you listen in carefully at the Rodney COI you will get another answer - the real answer - to the quiz. The true answer is that firearms were at one time issued to supporters in the event an overthrow should

This is not a chance occurrence in the use of that word. Its deliberate use was meant to intimidate the Government, while at the same time exploit the political climate that prevails. But the question still remains what does the present gun usage have to do with a "revolution." I reply, it has everything to do with it. You see, dear readers, these guns were issued to them in the event of. But what we see happening in the interim, between the then and

now, is the usage of the illegal weaponry to commit untold crimes.

Gun use follows a range of activities from armed robberies to paid assassins in execution style murders. The idea is "get rich" in the intervening period. These are portentous signs, of the greater danger that lie ahead come May 11.

I hope the PPP/C's hierarchy are taking note of the course of events. I do hope they have put systems in place to deal with post election violence? Violence has shown its ugly head at every election in Guyana, and this one wouldn't be any different.

Post elections drama where violence is concern is real and a comprehen-

sive plan ought to be put in place. This fact should never be lost sight of seeing this election marks a desperate attempt by forces who are hell bent on winning by any means necessary.

One of the ways the ruling party can and will counteract this unlikely occurrence is to flood this country with international observers. Have observers in constant circulation, especially in the hot-spot Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) where an already touted rigging plan has been set.

The plan is to rig to get a close victory and create instability and doubts in the minds of the public.

This will quite certainly set up a situation of chaos and confusion which

would eventually lead to the planned "revolution".

This situation was fomented in 1997 and should have been carried out again in 2006. However, the proliferation of observers threw cold water on their plans. Those same plans are still in place for the upcoming polls.

And again I urge the PPP/C Government to apply the same strategy to thwart their plans. It is simple and clear, you cannot rig when others are watching. I have prepared a document that will be sent to the ruling party on the above plans. I am not worried about the election, I am concerned about the events that would take place thereafter.

Neil Adams

GSSF stages successful Steel Challenge to start season

The air on Saturday at the Guyana Defence Force Yarrowkabra Range was filled with the sound of gunfire as local handgun sport shooters engaged steel plates in the hope of making melodic ‘ringing’ tones.

Competitors came out shooting for top honours in the latest Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF) Steel Challenge Tier 1 Match, sponsored by Boodram’s Bakery and Why Pay More Trading.

GSSF is affiliated to the Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA), which promotes the sport as one of the fastest shooting competitions in the world.

The competition consisted of two SCSA stages and saw competitors racing for prizes in the Wildcat and Limited Divisions under clear skies and a cool tropical breeze.

Each stage required the shooter to engage five different steel targets set out at various angles and distances, one of which is designated as a “stop plate”, which is shot last and when hit stops the time.

The total time taken is used for the score. There are penalties for misses – three seconds for each.

Competitors are scored using an electronic timing device which records the time at every gunshot.

Ultimately, the shooter with lowest time wins. Hence, speed and precision is required.

Match Director, Captain Roul Bhudu, in declaring the match open, welcomed

spectators and members to the event and encouraged shooters to have fun while keeping safety paramount throughout the match.

The first stage shot was “Pendulum”, which saw the four furthest targets set at 18 yards and the stop plate enticingly located at a close 10 yards from the shooting box. This caused some ex-

ment to shoot at least two strings from an alternate shooting box.

Two strings had to be shot from one shooting box and two from the other box situated six feet away, which ultimately changed the angles of target presentation. The competitors had to choose from either box to shoot their fifth and

the benchmark score that he set.

Needless to say, a lot of extra rounds were fired as several seasoned competitors relentlessly attempted to rise to the said challenge: some at times firing several shots in rapid succession in the ‘spray and pray’ technique; others who were quite determined

nal timing data was entered by stats officer, Dr Pravesh Harry into the official scoring software.

McKinnon emerged as the champion of the Limited Division, finishing ahead of Joseph Chin and Ray Beharry, while Harry won the Wildcat, leaving Peter Hugh and Roul Bhudu to settle for second

Persaud also thanked member Mohamed Qualander of Queensway for the invaluable support rendered to make this particular match a success. The GSSF is also grateful for the kind gesture of future support offered to the Federation by T Jagmohan, who was on hand to witness what he dubbed an excit-

citement as some seasoned shooters in their rush to get fast scores shot, missed this plate and had to fire make up shots to stop the running clock during their strings.

The second stage “Showdown” saw two rectangle targets located some 25 yards away and the smaller plates at a closer 10 yards, while the stop plate was set at 12 yards.

However, this stage was seen as tricky to tackle, since there was a require-

final string and many competitors deliberated over their ‘better side’ to avoid accidentally hitting the tricky stop plate located in the centre. This, however, still caused confusion and was still hit by a seasoned shooter thus adding penalty time to his score.

Local Steel Challenge ace Ryan McKinnon was urged by all to be the first shooter for both stages, as other competitors took notes and honed their strategies to try to better

took their time to hit every plate on every shot, while some queried if the wind was shifting the solid steel plates as they were anchored to the ground by each target stand.

String after string, competitor after competitor, in the cool breeze and setting sun, the silence of the afternoon was punctuated by the melodic ‘pings’ of lead impacting steel, images of smoking guns and periodic laughter.

As it all settled, the fi -

and third respectively.

GSSF President Vidushi Persaud conveyed thanks to the Match Committee and members of the GSSF, who assisted in hosting such matches. Special thanks were expressed to Eric Doobay of Why Pay

More Trading located at 7 Houston Public Road, East Bank Demerara and to Raymond Islam of Boodram’s Bakery located at 18A Foulis, Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

ing sport. Copies of “Front Sight” Magazine – the official journal of the United States Practical Shooting Association, were presented to members who were participating in their first SCSA competition. The GSSF also wishes to thank the Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Mark Phillips; acting Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud and his ranks of Tactical Services Unit (TSU) and A Division (Georgetown).

BCB shortlists 20 players for U-17 training

Following two trial matches over the weekend, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) junior selection panel led by Leslie Solomon has shortlisted 20 players, who will go into training shortly for possible selection for the upcoming Inter-County Under-17 tournament.

Those players shortlisted are: Adrian Sukwa, Sasenarine Sookoo, Zameer Inshan, Kevon Sinclair, Steve Deonarine, Kris Ramnarine, Joshua Harrichand, Matthew Hardyal, Asif Ally, Deon Sinclair, Filan Crandon, Sylus Tyndall, Rameshwar Samaroo, Raymond Vankenie, Daniel Samaroo, Karran Rajpaul, Abdur Ajib, Brandon Stewart, Junior Williams, and Javed Karim. A final 14-man squad

will be selected at the completion of the final of the long-awaited 2014 Republic Bank Guyana Limited Inter-Zone Under-17 game between New Amsterdam/ Canje combined and Lower Corentyne.

The final is slated for Saturday at Albion Sports Complex.

The BCB has appointed Rabindranath Saywack as Manager, while former West Indies youth player and former national senior cricketer Andre Percival will perform the duties of Coach.

Players will be contacted by the Manager with regard to practice sessions. However, players can also make contact with the Manager on 660-0049 or

232-0255.

Meanwhile, in the first match played at Albion

Sports Complex, Adrian Sukwa XI batted first and were dismissed for a paltry 112 against Jushua Harrichand XI.

Former national Under-15 player Steve Deonarine topscored with 19. He got support from Kevin Ramkishun and Skipper Sukwa with 15 each. Bowling for Harrichand XI, Brandon Stewart and Rameshwar Samaroo were the best bowlers on show claiming five wickets between them.

In reply, Harrichand XI batted until the 50 overs expired reaching 1489. Sasenarine Sookoo top scored with 36, and was supported by Filan Crandon with 34 and Daniel Samaroo,

32. Karran Rajpaul took two wickets. In the second trial match played Sunday at the Cumberland Ground in Canje, Harrichand's XI batted first and made 175-5 in their allotted 50 overs.

Kevon Sinclair made an attractive unbeaten 58. Kris Ramnarine, 31; Zameer Inshan, 30; and Mathew Hardyal, 21 not out, supported Sinclair. Sukwa’s XI in reply made 130, with Sasenarine Sookoo scoring a dashing unbeaten 66. He got support from Steve Deonarine and Kevin Ramkishun with 21 and 19 respectively. Kevon and Deon Sinclair shared five wickets between them.

The top performers of Sunday’s activity pose with officials of the GSSF

Kevon Sinclair

Sasenarine Sookoo

NZ in need of a steadier outing

The uneven schedule of the World Cup is far from ideal, with gaps of longer than a week between some team’s matches, but on balance it’s probably a good job New Zealand have some time off before their next outing against Afghanistan. After Saturday at Eden Park everyone needs a moment to catch their breath and, in Brendon McCullum’s case, shake off the bruises.

As the emotion subsides from that incredible daycourtesy of Trent Boult and Mitchell Starc a much shorter day than it might have been - it will also be worthwhile for some calm assessment of the “learnings”, as Mike Hesson termed them, which can be taken from New Zealand’s heart-stopping run chase.

It’s plainly clear that their bowling is in fine fettle and it may seem churlish to try to find weakness in a campaign that is now four wins from four, swept along on a wave of emotion that hit new levels on Saturday. But it is often wise to be critical from a position of strength.

Before the match against Australia (and, for that matter, England although that is now appearing a gross over estimation) it was billed as the true test of where this New Zealand side had progressed to, especially with their batting line-up. The England game proved little - except how far McCullum

could hit a ball - and for a period the Australia contest appeared to be heading in the same direction.

But then the collapse set in. Firstly a wobble as McCullum, Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott fell in the space of one run before the more eye-popping demise from 131 for 4 that almost cost them the game.

Before going further it should be restated how outstanding Starc’s spell wasone of the great white-ball bursts, as was Boult’s a few hours earlier. Still, some techniques were also left wanting, as Michael Clarke made plainly obvious with his comments about Australia’s performance. Hesson was a little subtler about the challenges of facing swing. “It’s something

we’re going to have to be a little bit better prepared for next time,” he said.

Adam Milne and Tim Southee can be excused for their swift departures to Starc, but Elliott was not in the same postcode when he faced the first ball after the interval, while Taylor did not give himself the best chance by playing across the line. The zing bails never threatened to stay in their grooves and will have needed recharging.

Taylor’s form is shaping as the key concern for New Zealand. His World Cup hasn’t started yet. A scratchy innings against Sri Lanka, a slog against Scotland, a brief not out against England and then 1 off two deliveries against Australia.

He entered the tournament with some strong numbers under his belt - 96 against Sri Lanka then unbeaten scores of 59 and 102 against Pakistan - so it is far from a crisis, especially for a player who averages 41.18 in ODIs, but the way New Zealand structure their innings, with early aggression the order of the day, makes the role of Nos. 3 and 4 even more vital.

Kane Williamson is ticking along beautifully, but he can’t be expected to shoulder all the burden of travelling in the slipstream of McCullum. Martin Guptill’s frustrating knack of progressing smoothly but not converting means, as against Australia, a blistering start can soon become something less secure.

There remains a school of thought that McCullum should rein himself in rather than blazing on regardless but New Zealand have built their team to allow him that freedom. His numbers in 2015 - an average of 40.58 and a strike-rate of 142.39 - shows he is marrying two elements and in the last three World Cup matches the success of his attack has allowed him a free approach. They are also a vast improvement on 2014 when he averaged 20.33. But that does not mean that the prospect of him at the crease for closer to 30 overs rather than 10 is not a tantalising one (unless you are a bowler).

(Cricinfo)

Disciplined Windies can defeat India

Chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd believes India are formidable opponents but says a disciplined West Indies effort can see the reigning World champions beaten, when the two teams meet at the WACA Ground here Friday.

India are unbeaten in three outings in the ICC Cricket World Cup while West Indies have lost two of four games, and both teams will be eyeing victory as crucial especially with a place in the next round looming.

“The point is that we have a good bowling attack, good batsmen, and a good all-round side,” Lloyd said here Monday.

“If we bat, we have to make enough runs to win and defend. We do have the bowlers to do so. This pitch is quite good – it’s got very constant bounce. It’s a good cricket pitch. They (India)

have won three out of three, so we can’t fault their bowling or their batting.”

He added: “One-day cricket is about who plays well on the day and gets their disciplines right. If we do that, we give them a good run for their money. They’re defending champions and they want to be in this World Cup as long as possible.

“It’s obvious that this game is important to us, and to you for that matter. We want to do well and if we play to our ability, we’ll be able to do so.”

India opened their campaign with a 76-run victory over Pakistan and followed up by crushing South Africa by 130 runs. They overpowered minnows United Arab Emirates to win by nine wickets.

Despite India’s form, Lloyd said he

Windies not a one man team – Lloyd

Legendary former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has dismissed suggestions the Caribbean side has become overly dependent on ace opener Chris Gayle and was missing regular faces like Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo from the middle order.

Speaking to media here Monday, Lloyd said while Gayle was a key member of the Windies batting department, the team was blessed with good talent

posted big scores.

“I don’t think we have any problem there [in the middle order]. Once we bat to our potential, we will do extremely well.”

The left-handed Gayle blasted a World Cup-record 215 against Zimbabwe in Canberra recently, to end a slump which had seen him with just one half-century in 20 months and an average of 14.

was hoping to see West Indies put up a strong challenge.

“India’s always a formidable side and they’ll continue to be so. But when you set a standard, people expect you to keep that standard all the time,” he pointed out.

“India are doing well, but I hope they don’t do too well on Friday. It will be a good game. India will be good opponents. They’ve been playing well and we’ve been sporadic in our play but we’re hoping that this pitch will suit us quite well. It should be quite an exciting game.”

West Indies’ recent record against India does not make for good reading. They have lost their last four series and have suffered defeats in 13 of their last 20 meetings.

On last October’s ill-fated tour, they won the first game of the series convincingly before going on to lose the aborted series.

Lloyd noted the Caribbean side was coming up against the core of the same squad from last year.

“It’s nearly the same sort of side. Your pace bowling seems to be pretty good and you have a good spin bowler in (Ravi) Ashwin,” the legendary former Windies captain said.

“You’ve got a good variety, and I think you have good all-round strength. Virat Kohli has been a tremendous player over the last two years and now you have the likes of (Shikhar) Dhawan coming through. I think you should do well.” (Windies

which allowed them to bat deep.

“Before the Zimbabwe game, Gayle hadn’t really contributed. It’s great whenever we get a good start with him,” said Lloyd, the current chairman of selectors.

“He scores rather quickly. He’s a very strong player. Whenever he takes off, it gives the team a good impetus.”

He continued: “I think we have a formidable side. We bat to eight or nine; everybody from one to nine has done extremely well,

Prior to that innings, Gayle had put together scores of 0 and 1 in the official warm-up matches against England and Scotland, and 36 and 4 in the first two group stage matches against Ireland and Pakistan.

West Indies lost to Ireland by four wickets but beat Pakistan by 150 runs.

Gayle’s double hundred led West Indies to a 73-run win but his failure against Pakistan – he made just three – saw the Caribbean side plunge to a 257-run defeat to South Africa in Sydney.

West Indies face India in their fifth match at the WACA Ground on Friday.

Despite the Windies’ recent struggles, Lloyd held out hope for the Caribbean side especially in the fast bowling area, noting that the results would be seen soon.

“It’s quite obvious [the pace reserves have declined],” he said. “We’d love to have (Andy) Roberts, (Michael) Holding, (Curtly) Ambrose and (Courtney) Walsh but it doesn’t happen in any other country.

“We’ve had a little bit of a decline, but we have one or two young players coming through and you’ll hear about them in another year or so.” (Windies Cricket)

Brendon McCullum and his team could perhaps do with a match that isn’t quite as helter-skelter

Cricket)

Chris Gayle

Clive Lloyd

A disciplined West Indies effort can see the reigning World champions beaten, when the two teams meet

Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte St, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034

YELLOW PAGES

tuesday, march 3,

Pietersen to work on return to England

Khemraj & Son -landscaping & plant nursery. Lot 77 Independence Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara. Landscaping, planting grass, weeding, killing wood ants, killing roaches, rats & mealy bug, treat plants, coconut trees and flowers, cleaning ceiling, grafting coconut plants: 18 months bearing period, treating land, grass & spraying grass, grafted papaya plants: 6 months bearing, grafted cherry plant, sour sop & sapodilla, cutting big trees & removing, treated mould for sale & flower plants for sale. Tel 627-5969/ 603-1134 Shalom Driving School, lot 2 Croal Street, Stabroek. Enjoy 20% discount. Phone: 227-3869, 622-8162, 644-7052, 227-3835

Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315

Caterpillar parts sale! Sale! Sale!

Genuine parts for all caterpillar machines. Navparts. Tel # 642-5439. Email: navpartsgy@gmail.com. www.facebook.com/navparts

TAxI

SeRVICeS

GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 2257878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

Fully furnished 3 self contained bed room house to rent. 643-8292

Two bedroom upstairs apartment. $60,000 monthly with parking. Couples preferable. Tel 233-2607 / 644-7089

Two Self contained single bedroom furnished apartments for rental. Self contained 7 bedroom bungalow idea for family/ guests/ students local or overseas long/ short term rental. Contact # 622-7097 / 624-7111

proved.

Balwant Persaud & Associates. Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 655-3105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca

Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 2750322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 943-1515 for the perfect trendy touch.

Eccles: two flat executive concrete house; three bedrooms upper, two bedrooms lower (separate flats). Price negotiable. Tel: 602-2135

Eccles: Build your own home in a modernized, gated community. Lot size 60’x100’ $7.5M. Call: 227-2913, Cell: 689-3033.

Eccles: Commercial lots $14M. Call: 227-2913, Cell: 689-3033

One two-storeyed concrete building with four apartments at Fort Ordinance Canje. Size: 50 x 30 feet. Contact Indera Gupta at Telephone: 627-3095 for further details.

Two storey house in good location; Lot 55 Section ‘B’ Non Pariel-First Street, ECD ($12m or best offer. Quick sale preferred. Contact 6518901.

One 2004 NZE 1.750 M. one 2001 stick gear 212 carina 1.9 M. Call: 616-5974 or 618-8703

JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA NOAH; TOYOTA VOXY; TOYOTA IST (NEW SHAPE); SUZUKI SWIFT; DAIHATSU MOVE (660CC); MERCEDES BENZ C200 KOMPRESSOR; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; TOYOTA HIACE MINIBUS RZ; PITBULL-STYLE FREEZER VAN; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED 4WD EXTRACAB PICK-UP; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, 3L SOLID DEFFERNTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 4 TONS FREEZER; 3 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; NISSAN ATLAS 2 TONS OPEN TRAY

TRUCK. PRE-ORDER YOUR UNITS

EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICES AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

Laborers and forklift operators/ helper must be hardworking and able to work flexible hours. For more information call 231-8344

Kevin Pietersen says he is going to work on a possible return to the England side.

The batsman, 34, was sacked in February 2014 but was given encouragement that he might be able to return to the team in future by incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves.

Graves said the first step back for Pietersen would be to play county cricket.

Pietersen said: “I’m going to try to work this out for sure.”

The batsman also said he was humbled by the support since Graves’ comments.

Graves was speaking to BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek on Sunday and later told the Daily Telegraph that the selectors “can’t ignore” Pietersen if he “scores a lot of runs” for a county side.

For person with stroke and physical disabilities we have herbal baths and spiritual massage medicine call 220-0708, 687-5653, 612-6417

Surinamese spiritualist. Resolving all problems. Money, love, blockage etc. Call 223-6834/600-7719.

We can help you- remove evil spirit, bad luck, blockage, reunite family and lovers, money problems, jobs, pregnancy, uplift business, skin problems, sexual problem, legal matters and much more. Call today for tomorrow may be too late. Call 674-5317/ 683-5228/ 612-1975

Dutch spiritual healing in removing evil spirit; bad luck; evil sickness; spells; reuniting lovers and prosperity to business etc, Call 612-6417, 220-0708/687-5653.

Cleansing of spiritual problems of all kinds. Powerful Ifá protection against evil. Get help to overcome problems with love, relationships, legal, sexual, pregnancy, business, sickness, jobs, enemies, work, money. Call 592-690-1824 from 10:0016:00h Email:anew-life@live.com

Suriname’s Astrology, Palmist and Hindustani Spiritual Healer, solve all purpose problems, 100% confidential guaranteed. Phone: 679-4672 HEPHZIBAH MINISTRIES 24 hrs Prayer Line 322-5081,337-4510,3374259,337-4583,337-3070,337-5103. For healing, deliverance, financial difficulties, marriage issues call now. Jesus Cares.

The ECB then moved to clarify the situation over the prospect of Pietersen returning to the international fold.

“Colin Graves is correct. Nothing has changed,” said an ECB spokesperson.

“Only players who are playing consistent highquality county cricket and who are seen as a positive influence will be selected.”

Pietersen played for Surrey last season but is without a county at the moment and his current commitments could make it difficult for him to play in English cricket’s domestic competition.

The 2015 county season starts on 12 April but Pietersen is scheduled to play in the Indian Premier League, which takes place between 8 April and 24 May.

He also has commitments to the Caribbean Premier League, which is being held in June and July, and there is the possibility of him working in the media during the summer.

ECB managing director Paul Downton appeared to end speculation over a pos-

sible Pietersen return as recently as December, saying “more bridges have been burnt” after the South African-born batsman released an inflammatory autobiography in October, critical of many key ECB figures.

National selector James Whitaker said at the time there was “no way Kevin Pietersen will ever get back into an England team”.

BBC Test Match Special summariser and former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott said Pietersen needs to meet with Graves, Downton and Whitaker.

“It sounds as if our new chairman wants the door open but then he says that he is going to back the selectors,” said Boycott.

“If the selectors are still there - that’s James Whitaker the chairman and above him is managing director Paul Downton, who sacked Kevin Pietersen - are they going to do an about face?

“Are they going to be too embarrassed to change their mind? Or, are they going to be big enough to change their mind? That is the question in the air.

“It’s all right the chairman saying he has to play county cricket but if he does

that and gives up a lucrative IPL contract and Downton and Whitaker are still not going to pick him, that’s like leading him on isn’t it? And that’s not fair.”

He added: “If Whitaker and Downton can’t accept a change of plan or opinion from the chairman then they have to resign don’t they? It’s simple. They have to do what the chairman tells them or go.

“We need to listen to our chairman from Yorkshire. He is no fool. He is very quiet and a nice man but underneath he has got some steel about him.”

Meanwhile, England suffered their third defeat in four games at the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, with batsman Joe Root saying talk of a Pietersen return was “irrelevant”.

“If I ever become the chairman of the ECB then I’ll be in a position to comment on that,” he told BBC Sport.

“It’s completely out of my hands. They are the decisions that need to be made at the top. I’m here to play cricket, not make them.

“We’re in the middle of the World Cup and stuff like that is completely irrelevant to us.” (BBC Sport)

Sunderland footballer arrested on suspicion of underage sex

England and Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson has been arrested on suspicion of having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Durham Police said a 27-year-old had been arrested earlier on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16, and remained in police custody.

Sunderland AFC said he had been suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation.

News of the arrest of a Premier League footballer was revealed earlier in The Sun newspaper. The Sunderland-born winger has also played

for Middlesbrough and Manchester City, and represented his country 12 times. He was due to travel with the team to east Yorkshire for Tuesday night’s fixture at Hull.

wAnTed

Adam Johnson

Kevin Pietersen

Anns Grove replace GDF in 25th K&S tournament

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Monday stated that due to their participation in this year’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship, they will not feature in the March 20 to April 5 Kashif and Shanghai knockout football tournament.

The tournament this year marks 25 years of existence and will see Anns Grove replacing the GDF, who now focus their attention entirely on the CFU tournament that will also see Alpha United joining them as Guyana’s representatives.

Fixtures for this year’s tournament were released on Saturday last when the contesting teams met at the 704 Sports Bar with the organisers and it was noted that the Army, along

with Linden’s Hi-Stars and Winners Connection, were all a ‘no-show’ at the important event.

Anns Grove will now travel to Linden where they will play Winners Connection on March 23 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, the same day Western Tigers clash with Hi-Stars.

Georgetown Football Club (GFC) will meet with Den Amstel, while Riddim Squad face off against New Amsterdam United on the tournament’s opening day at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground.

When the competition continues on March 21 at the Victoria Community Centre Ground, two-time champions Fruta Conquerors will play Mahaica Determinators and 2008 winners Pele come up against Grove Hi-Tech.

Final first-round match-

es in the ‘win or go home’ formatted tournament will see Guyana’s number one club Alpha “The Hammer” United playing newcomers Agricola Red Triangle, and Slingerz FC, who themselves are playing in their first Kashif and Shanghai tournament, feature against 2001 champions Victoria Kings at the DCC Ground.

The DCC Ground will also host the quarter-finals matches on March 27 and 28, while the recently-built stadium at Leonora will be the battleground for the tournament’s semi-finals on April 1 and the final will be played at the Guyana National Stadium on April 5.

Winners of this year’s tournament will walk away with $2 million, runner-up $1 million, while third and fourth will pocket $500,000 and $250,000 respectively.

Persaud spins Cultural CC to win over Media XI

Forty-eight-yearold Sham Persaud rolled back the years on Sunday, with an incisive spell of spin bowling to lead Cultural Cricket Club (CCC) to a 24-run victory over the Guyana Media XI in a feature 20/20 match at the Club’s ground in Canal Number Two Polder, West Coast Demerara.

Inserted to take first strike on a wicket that made conditions conducive to bowling due to some moisture, the hosts battled the challenges well to post 113-9 from the allotted overs.

Persaud then went to work, ripping through the middle and lower order to finish with 6-15 from four tantalising overs of off-spin, as the Media boys were routed for 89 in 18.3 overs, much to the delight of a fair-sized crowd that witnessed the encounter.

Persaud, whose guile and accuracy suited the conditions, removed opener Ravi Persaud and Rajiv Bisnauth in his first over to start a dramatic collapse after the Media practitioners were coasting at 50-2 in the 10th over.

He then followed up with a hat-trick in his third over

As part of a concerted effort to give back to the society in which it operates, ND&S Furniture Store, located in West Coast Demerara, has sponsored the full uniform kit for the Cultural Cricket Club (CCC).

During a simple ceremony on Sunday morning at the CCC Ground at Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara, members of the team were presented with a complete set of branded burgundy and yellow outfits, along with blue caps. The presentation was made by Managing Director of ND&S Furniture Store, Sham Mahadeo, to Captain of the team, Randy Persaud in the presence of other members of the team prior to the clash with the Guyana Media XI. Mahadeo said he was pleased to support the CCC, given the enormous

Man-of-the-Match

and another wicket in his final over, as the visitors lost the last eight wickets for just 35 runs. Persaud received solid support from Steve Haripaul and Ghansham Mahabal, who picked up 2-14 and 2-17 respectively.

national youth player Dayanand

Ravi Persaud topscored for the Media XI with 29, while fellow left-hander Daniel Singh made 21.

Earlier, seamer Keon Blades picked up 4-13 from

ND&S Furniture Store outfits Cultural CC

amount of talent that exists within the Club. He urged the players to care for the outfits and wear

them proudly. Persaud, speaking on behalf of the players, expressed gratitude to

Mahadeo for the kind gesture, noting that the players will endeavour to represent the company to the

CCC, Gobin Persaud.

who was dropped thrice on his way to a topscore of 39.

The left-hander, who was first dropped early in his innings, hit two fours and two sixes, and received support from former national wicketkeeper/batsman and guest player, Sheik Mohamed, who made 23.

At the presentation ceremony, which followed the game, Persaud took away two trophies for best bowler and Man-of-the-Match, while Roopnarine was the best batsman of the day. Trophies for the teams were also given out, all compliments of Tiger Sports of Old Road, Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

CCC President Gobin Persaud said his executives were elated to host the Media XI, and said he was hopeful that the alliance with the players would be a long and successful one. He lauded both teams for the spirit in which the game was played, noting that camaraderie and brotherhood were evident during the on-field exchanges.

Media XI skipper John Ramsingh expressed gratitude to the CCC for being great hosts, adding that the hospitality was excellent. The two teams are looking to play a rematch shortly in Georgetown.

best of their abilities. Also present at the simple ceremony was President of the

Anns Grove Football Club President Major Raul Jerrick (right) collects the tournament’s rules and regulations handbook from organiser Kashif Mohammad

Members of the Cultural Cricket Club (CCC) pose with the trophies on Sunday

and best bowler Sham Persaud receives one of his trophies from a spectator who attended the game

four overs and Bisnauth 2-22 to limit the hosts to below 120. The total could have been much less had the Media boys not left off for-

Roopnarine,

Managing Director of ND&S Furniture Store Sham Mahadeo (blue shirt) presents a jersey to CCC Captain Randy Persaud and President Gobin Persaud in the presence of other members of the team (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

Eastman wins Jagan cycling West Dem leg

Team Coco’s Hamzah Eastman emerged champion of the opening leg of the Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cycle Road Race on the West Demerara roadways on Sunday.

The talented youngster clocked one hour, 54 minutes, 50 seconds to win the 50-mile event, which attracted 47 starters. It started at Wales Police Station proceeded to Bushy Park, Parika, before returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.

Michael Anthony rode in second, followed by Paul Choo Wee Nam, Alanzo Greaves, Paul DeNobrega and Orville Hinds in that order. Eastman and Anthony captured two prime prizes each, while Mark Harris and Hinds had one apiece.

Jeffrey starts successful title defence

Defending Caribbean motor racing champion Kristian Jeffrey started his title defence successfully on Sunday in Jamaica.

Jeffrey driving his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 in Group Four won all three of his races despite having mechanical problems during his first race.

However, in his second race of the day, Jeffrey clocked his fastest lap time

of 1.08.785s.

Rameez Muhammed in his Toyota Starlet Turbo copped the second position in two out of three Group Three races, while Affraz Allie in his Toyota Glanza Turbo was able to finish in second and third in two out of three races in the same group.

In the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) Super stock Bikes, Stephen Vieira won two out of his three races while fin -

Raffik and Sons 2nd Division cricket...

ishing second in his third. Elliot Vieira was not far behind winning one of his three and finishing second in the other two.

Meanwhile, Jamaica leads in the overall points standing with 323 points, while Guyana falls in second with 156 points. Trinidad finished third with 126 points, Cayman Islands third with 62 points, and Barbados 0 due to no participation.

(Treiston Joseph)

Wins for Fyrish, Tain Block 4, Big Star and Mibicuri Strikers

TChristopher Griffith took top honours in the junior category ahead of Raphael Leung and Andrew Hicks, while Junior Niles won the Veterans’ category ahead of Ian Jackson and Kennard Lovell.

The Mountain Bike segment was won by Deeraj Garbaran, with Michael Holder second and Julio Melville third, while Anthony Ferrier was the top Veteran Over-60 winner. The second leg will be held on Sunday in Berbice, with the final stage set for March 22 in Essequibo.

The event was attended by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr Frank Anthony and Director of Sport, Neil Kumar and was organised by national coach Hassan Mohamed.

Barbados shortlists 24 for Guyana rugby clash

Rugby authorities in Barbados have shortlisted a squad of 24 players from which the final unit will be chosen to represent that island against Guyana in the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) 15s qualifier this weekend.

The all-important fixture, the national ruggers’ first for 2015, will be played at the National Park Rugby Field on Saturday.

The game is the locals’ first on a path to retaining

the NACRA 15s title, which Guyana won in 2014, along with the 7s trophy. Guyana created history by becoming the first Caribbean nation to win both titles in the same year.

The Guyana Rugby Football Union is slated to announce Guyana’s squad today.

The Barbados squad reads: Neil Grantley Forde, Jerrin Akeen Clarke, Romeo James Mayers, Rajk Keyeuteyen Edwards, Anthony Reno Faggiani,

Patrick Ramsey, Kevin Cedric Murrell, Kevin Jamal Carter, La-andro Leo Jordon, Nico Jason Blunt, Greg Andre Moseley, Caston Henderson Howard and Enrique Kristen Oxley.

he 2015 Raffik and Sons Construction Services SecondDivision 20 Overs Cricket Competition for teams in the Lower and Central Corentyne areas commenced recently in Berbice with four games. At Fyrish, Fyrish beat Fyrish Road by 43 runs. Fyrish accumulated 1665 in 20 overs with Wazim Mohamed making 59, Yugendra Chinapen 50, and Mahendra Shirkissoon 23 not out. Shazad Khan took 2-31. In reply, Fyrish Road were bowled out for 123 in 18 overs with Saif Latchana hitting 39, and Saud Ahmad, 36. Safraz Bacchus (2-15) and Yugendra Chinapen (242) were the best bowlers on show for the winning team. At Tain, Tain Block Four beat Mibicuri Jaguars by eight wickets. Mibicuri Jaguars made 93-9 in 20 overs.

At Albion Primary School Ground, Big Star beat Toopoo Rising Star by 35 runs. Big Star put together 118-7 in 20 overs, with Tosho Forrester topscoring with 36. Toopoo Rising Star in reply were bowled out for 73 in 18 overs.

Krishnanan Balgobin (210); Mahendra Baldeo (2-4) and Veeram Baldeo (2-13) were the main destroyers for Tain Block Four, who replied with 94-2 in 11 overs, with Madan Budhram scoring 55 not out and Mahendra Baldeo, 26.

At Mibicuri, Mibicuri Strikers beat Kildonan by 18 runs. Mibicuri Strikers had 118-8 in 20 overs with Narine Rameshwar scoring 37 and Komal Ganesh, 28. Kildonan replied with 100 in 18 overs, with Cliff McKenzie ending up on 32 not out. Komal Ganesh and Reaz Alli both claimed three wickets apiece.

The top performers pose with members of the Jagan Commemoration Committee

Jamal Omar Gonsalves, Jermaine Jamal Bynoe, Stephen Millar, Mikyle Forde Walcott, Bryan Michael Cummings, Kenneth Payne, Troy Anderson Grant, Ramin McDonald Downes, Kevin Dwight Cobham, Tahaire Shabazz Niels, Shane Kevin Taylor, Daniel

Kristian Jeffrey celebrates with the chequered flag after the race

Road to Mecca II...

Burnett’s brilliance leads Pacesetters to title

Some knock his inabil-

ity to hit a 19-foot jumper consistently, some believe that he is flawed but Travis Burnett proved that he is one of the best guards in Guyana today with a performance that helped lift his Trinity Grid

With the Pacesetters down by two heading into the final quarter, Burnett exploded to score 16 points in the final period (the first eight points for the Pacesetters) with all going at the rim for a 65-61 Pacesetters lead.

Burnett would continue his one-man show, with

Pacesetters remain in the lead despite the Colts closing to within one point of taking the lead.

Earlier, the Colts were cooking with both Dave Causway and Shelroy Thomas hitting shots, while playing well within their half court offence.

However, in the third pe-

Holding (TGH) Pacesetters to a 85-76 championship win against the Bounty Colts on Sunday evening at the

Anderson Sports Hall.

his sick ball-handling skills, scoring his next eight points in the waning moments of the game, six of them from the stripe to ensure the

riod they fell into the trap of pushing the pace of the game, which played into the Pacesetters’ hands, as that suited their style of basket-

ball and eventually allowed them to reduce a 10-point lead to just two.

Burnett scored a gamehigh 28 points while Stephon Gillis had 19 points, unloading from beyond the arc.

Ruel Ritch had nine crucial points, hitting some gamechanging threes.

The win now means that the Pacesetters are $400,000 richer, while the Colts will be in receipt of $200,000.

For the Colts, Thomas had 19 points while Causway had 17 points. Haslyn Hooper had 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Niko Fraser had 10 points.

Meanwhile, in the third place playoff, the Dynas Ravens defeated the Retrieve Raiders 72-51 behind Jermaine Slater’s beastly performance of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Marlon Rodrigues added 10

points in the win for the former champs. Keon Cameron was the leading scorer for the Raiders with 19 points, while Stephan Tappin blocked shots from all directions with eight rejections, 12 points and nine rebounds. Prior to the commencement of the main fixtures, Eagles defeated Masters 6528 in an exhibition encounter.

Lara ready for WICB presidency

Legendary West Indies

batsman Brian Lara is ready to throw his hat in the ring and contest the post as president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

In an exclusive interview with the Trinidad Guardian, Lara, who is currently doing television commentary at the World Cup in Australia/ New Zealand, said he is becoming increasingly concerned at the deficiencies in the management of the sport here in the Caribbean,

and he would have no hesitation in accepting a nomination and contesting the top post as president of the WICB.

Lara said he is frightened by the breakdown of an institution that has been mostly responsible for giving him the opportunity to become the person he is today.

“If you are a West Indian, and understand what cricket means to us, you have to feel that we could do a lot better than we are currently

Upcoming World Cup matches (with Guyana time)

Tuesday: 25th Match, Pool B- Pakistan v UAE, 21:00h

Wednesday: 26th Match, Pool A- Australia v Afghanistan, 02:30h

Wednesday: 27th Match, Pool A- Bangladesh v Scotland, 18:00h

Thursday: 28th Match, Pool B- India v West Indies, 02:30h

doing. We have had so many talented young men coming up and suddenly, they just disappear off the scene, while our cricket continues to decline. Nobody appears to care about them.”

Lara said there was too much bickering and fighting between players and administrators, and it appeared that people in top positions did not understand their roles. He said he was approached some months ago by T&T Cricket Board president Azim Bassarath to get involved in the administration.

“Mr Bassarath had suggested that I should get involved and he and his Board would seriously consider supporting me. I am here in Australia with most of the top administrators and players, and even they appear to be concerned at the state of our cricket. The way they speak is like they have little faith in our future. I am ready to get involved.”

Contacted, T&TCB president Bassarath said he was delighted that someone of Lara’s stature was interested in taking charge of West Indies cricket. “I believe that Brian would be an ideal person to lead West Indies cricket, and as a matter of fact, I approached him a few months ago about such a possibility. But unfortunately, he is too late for us to nominate him for the elections which will take place

on Saturday. The constitution of the WICB does not allow us to nominate him at this late stage, since nominations closed one month before the elections.”

Bassarath said that his Board would be supporting another former West Indies cricketer, Joel Garner, on Saturday. The T&TCB will also support Baldath Mahabir as vice-president.

Bassarath said he hopes that whoever wins the elec-

tions would heal the current wounds in West Indies cricket and lift the region’s credibility. He said it was reassuring and refreshing to know that whatever the outcome of the elections, Lara was waiting in the wings for the chance to serve.

“The presence of someone as great as Lara on the West Indies Board can give us so much credibility and stature in the eyes of the rest of the world. It’s a pity he is unable to be part of this year’s process.”

Incumbent Dave Cameron will contest Garner for the job at the WICB’s annual general meeting on Saturday.

Cameron has been under fire for his handling of the recent aborted tour of India, and has angered West Indian fans with a retweet of an attack of West Indies opening batsman Chris Gayle, which suggested that he should pack up and leave West Indies cricket. (Trinidad Guardian)

Brian Lara

By TreisTon Joseph

Cliff

Travis Burnett skies to the rim during the final

The TGH Pacesetters celebrate their tremendous win on Sunday after the final