Guyana Times Daily

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Majority rejects APNU/AFC coalition

An opinion poll conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) in February showed a majority of the nation opposes the formation of an alliance between the two opposition parties A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC).

Voters feel the alliance, instead of fostering the defeat of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C/C), will help in its re-election. For supporters of AFC and PPP/C, a PNC-led ticket evokes memories of past abuses.

Supporters and sympathizers of the AFC are seething in discontent with the party for entering into a union with APNU, or the People's National Congress (PNC), leading to an exodus in support for the party.

Supporters of the PNC are also angry with their leadership for giving up too much to the AFC to form the alliance that may not win the election. Members and supporters of AFC are also are turned off by what they perceive as the leadership cutting deals for positions for themselves and not consulting with them on entering into an alliance with the PNC. Overall, a majority of voters express the view that the AFC has erred in forming an alliance with APNU and say it will pay a heavy price even if the alliance wins, because many feel the PNC cannot be trusted with power given its past.

The poll showed that the nation is largely divided along race on the alliance matter, as well as on other issues. Almost every Indian voter is opposed to the alliance, while

a large majority of Africans and Mixed people endorse it. A majority of Amerindians are also opposed to the alliance.

It is generally felt that had the AFC remained independent from the PNC, it would have built on its current support. The AFC supporters said if former PPP/C stalwart Moses Nagamootoo were the Presidential Candidate of the newly formed alliance, they would have considered voting for it.

Some among other ethnic groups who had planned to vote for AFC have also had a change in heart for the party because of the alliance.

Many Indians support Ralph Ramkarran as a consensus Presidential Candidate saying if he were the candidate of the alliance, they would vote for it. Ramkarran enjoys support among all ethnic groups as Presidential Candidate of the alliance.

He is one of a few political figures with support from both sides of the political and racial divide. It is also felt that a Ramkarran-Nagamootoo ticket would have swept the election. A Donald RamotarRamkarran ticket would also

have won a landslide with many saying the incumbent President should have chosen Ramkarran as his Prime Ministerial running mate (before he announced Elisabeth Harper).

The findings of the poll are obtained from interviews with 620 voters to yield a demographically representative sample (42 per cent Indians, 31 per cent Africans, 17 per cent Mixed, nine per cent Amerindians, and one per

cent other races) of the population.

The poll was conducted in face-to-face interviews and was coordinated by New York-based pollster Dr Vishnu Bisram. The results of the poll were analyzed at a

95 per cent significance level with a statistical sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points.

Queried whether APNU and AFC should jointly contest the elections as one party, 55 per cent said no, 38 per cent responded yes, and seven per cent said not sure.

Almost every Indian said no, with a large majority of Africans and Mixed races saying yes, and most Amerindians also opposed to it. Many APNU supporters also register opposition to the alliance saying their party would have had a good chance of capturing power if AFC had contested separately and split the PPP/C support base.

Asked if they support the secret nature of the negotiations between the APNU and AFC to form an alliance, 83 per cent said no, feeling they have something to hide. Only

eight per cent supported the secret talks between the two parties, with nine per cent offering no opinion.

Asked who should be the Presidential Candidate of the alliance, Indians overwhelmingly back Nagamootoo while Africans overwhelmingly support Granger. Some respondents feel Carl Greenidge should be the Presidential Candidate, describing him as the most qualified and experienced and internationally exposed among the potential contenders.

Asked if there were no alliance, who should be the Presidential Candidate of APNU, supporters are divided down the middle between Granger and Greenidge.

For AFC, if there were no alliance, Nagamootoo leads Nigel Hughes in Presidential preference among supporters.

Almost every Indian and Amerindian supporter of

AFC backs Nagamootoo while Africans and the Mixed lean towards Hughes. The poll also queried voters on how they plan to vote. The findings will be released in a subsequent report.

PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar

APNU/AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate Moses Nagamootoo

APNU/AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger

Former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran

Sunday Editor: Michael Younge

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Autochthonous

institutions

One of the pastimes of the Guyanese political class is evidently to concoct institutions of governance that promise to resolve our political impasse. The Chinese recent rejection of the "division of power" premise undergirding western models of governance reminds us that by simplistically restricting our choices to those presented by the west, we may be setting ourselves up for an inevitable failure.

For most countries, their governance structures evolved organically in the course of their history. Britain, which once ruled us – and to which we have traditionally looked for our bearings – was once smaller kingdoms that gradually merged into four – England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, and then into "one" through conquests.

Through hundreds of years of economic development pushing political accommodation they arrived at their model that works for them. One does not have to be Marxist to acknowledge their broad movement of accommodation involved a gradual diffusion of political power.

Our challenge is that we have turned that process on its head. We are seeking to engender equitable economic change through political structures that have worked for others which, almost inevitably, followed completely different historical trajectories.

In modern times – the last hundred years or so – we have had several countries in the Far East, most recently the behemoth China – develop economically at increasingly faster rates. But if we were to examine their political development, in almost every instance, their political democratisation lagged significantly behind the economic growth.

But the other salient fact is that, just as uniformly, they adapted traditional institutions to the exigencies of the challenges presented by modernity. They did not imitate the west "wholesale".

In Japan, for instance, which was the first to experience the "economic miracle" in the Far East, they utilised their traditional close societal relationships to alter the western business model, in which employment is much more precarious than in Japan. The concern for employees' welfare went a far way to dull criticisms of particular business families leading economic development through.

The point we wish to make is not that we should follow "the Far Eastern Model" because we would be repeating the same mistake that have made so far in following the west. We have to begin with an understanding and acceptance of the nature of our society and only then propose and craft institutions that can exploit our strengths and minimise our weaknesses in the development of our country in both economics and politics.

Take the political question that is now on the table with elections less than three months away. For the last 50 years, the "experts" noted that one group constituted an absolute majority of voters. But with the other group only a whisker away, it made rational choice for each to try to agglomerate their members but for the loser to deny legitimacy to the loser.

There is a great deal of truth in that concededly simplified analysis. But what the "experts" have to now concede is the demographics have changed and so must the mobilisational tactics. There is no one group with fifty percent of the electorate, so for any group to win a majority, it must have "cross-ethnic" appeal which should confer legitimacy.

There is no need for the crude resort to coalitions by selfappointed "racial" representatives: this merely reifies the old schisms. In the present "solution" presented by the APNU/ AFC alliance, the 11 per cent Indian Guyanese vote that the AFC has promised to deliver to the "African-dominated" APNU will perpetuate all the old polarisations on "legitimacy".

The PPP/C is the only party in Guyana that has remained steadfast in its recognition and acceptance that a cross-ethnic ideology – represented in their case by Marxism – must form the core of their mobilisational efforts because of the nature of our society. When they obtain their majority, legitimacy cannot be denied them. They are as autochthonous as you can get.

Multiracial politics should be welcomed rather than viewed through prism of race

Dear Editor, Brooklyn-based Rickford Burke in a missive in another section of the press made comments about Janet Jagan and Sam Hinds that are totally inaccurate and made up events that never happened to tar the PPP/C as a racist party.

He claimed “PPP/C eviscerated President Sam Hinds” following the untimely death of Dr Jagan in March 1997. That is incorrect as President Hinds served out Dr Jagan’s term from February throught December of that year.

Burke must be suffering from amnesia and no doubt has racialism as an undercurrent in his thought process. Why else would he focus on race when it was not a factor in Hind’s succession as President and when the PPP/C never removed Hinds as President?

Burke wrote, “The PPP/C forced President Sam Hinds to resign and make Prime Minister Janet Jagan succeed him.” Such an act never occurred and raises a question about the motif of inventing information and injecting “race” as the reason for the PPP/C

engaging in an act that never occurred.

As a historian, I cannot let that statement go uncorrected. The facts would reveal that after Dr Jagan suffered a massive heart attack in February 1997, he was airlifted to Washington for medical treatment with Mrs Jagan by his side.

Then Prime Minister Hinds acted as President. I believe Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud was appointed Acting Prime Minister (I stand to be corrected). Following the death of Dr Jagan, Hinds was sworn in as President.

Following the funeral of Dr Jagan, Janet was appointed Prime Minister by Hinds. Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud (who was Agriculture Minister) was appointed Deputy Prime Minister. He may also have acted as Prime Minister during the period that Dr Jagan was hospitalised (stand to be corrected).

Hinds was never asked to resign from the Presidency and Mrs Jagan did not replace him. President Hinds visited the US as President and spoke at the UN in September, as well as ad-

dressed gatherings in Brooklyn and Queens. My recollection was Burke was present at the Brooklyn meet. I wrote on that visit as a reporter for publications in Guyana and North America. Mrs Jagan became the PPP/ C’s Presidential candidate with Hinds as the Prime Ministerial candidate in elections in December. Janet was sworn in as President after the party won with Hinds as Prime Minister. A media house has an obligation to state facts and to review and edit (delete) letter comments, especially from writers who have an axe to grind, that are not factual. Clearly, Burke’s comments were not in the remit of facts.

As a lawyer, he ought to know better and not manufacture information, a la the Freddie Kissoonian method. The paper’s Editor and the writer ought to verify claims before putting them out in the public domain.

Burke wrote of "PPP/C’s concealed racism" in describing a non-act he used to tar the party. Since the event never happened, there could not be any rac-

ism there, and by extension the PPP/C could not be a racist party. The same cannot be said of Burke’s party (he proudly said he was advisor to Hoyte) that discriminated against Indians, and that refused to put an Indian as a Prime Ministerial candidate under Burnham and Hoyte. At least the PPP/C has put an African as its Prime Ministerial candidate in every election since 1992 In manufacturing information and peddling them as a facts, is Burke not guilty of racism? And why would a person denigrate the appointment of a brilliant African-Guyanese female like Elisabeth Harper as a Prime Ministerial candidate by the PPP/C, albeit a largely Indian party, as the country strives to overcome race-based politics?

Every effort at multiracial politics should be welcomed rather than be viewed through the prism of race. Burke owes the nation an apology for penning a falsehood and spreading a racist agenda.

Vishnu Bisram

Burma deaths a great loss to the families and our nation

Dear Editor, The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) wishes to express its deep sorrow at the tragic accident that claimed the lives of seven at Burma Road Mahaicony.

It is even sadder to learn

that six of those who succumbed shared the innocence of children. This is certainly a great loss to the families and our nation.

The CIOG wishes to express to all the parents of the children, the relatives of the teacher and all family

members of those who perished our deepest and sincere sympathies.

Let us be comforted by the fact that almighty God is in control of our destinies, and this is His will.

Let us pray that God almighty will grant us the

strength to bear this loss with patience and perseverance, with the true and sure knowledge that He will grant peace and comfort to those who have lost.

CIOG

These three youngsters enjoy a sunny afternoon at the Kingston Seawall, Georgetown as they gleefully splash around in the refreshing waters of the Atlantic Ocean. But this practice could be dangerous if children are unsupervised (Shantanand Anude photo)

A strong female technocrat will make a difference next election

Dear Editor,

It is a very critical issue when it comes to business, that is, being in step with the customers, without this core principle any businessman will suffer the consequences of being alienated, isolated, and his enterprise ruined.

I have used a crude example but nevertheless it brings home the message that nothing successful will come your way if you distance yourself from the people.They are the central theme of any discussion when political leadership is concern.

People are a very critical issue for anyone accessing leadership role in any country that is to identify with them. The fact is they are the ones you will have to rule over, and they are the ones you depend on to vote for you.

So, it behooves political leadership to be cognizant of the fact that before you lead you must serve. Serving people should always be the focus as you broaden the entire outlook in life with a positive expectation for the future.

Mrs Harper has fitted that description perfect-

ly, she has served her people with distinction and now is time for her to take the mantle on to the national stage. It is this people concept that has caused President Ramotar to name Mrs Elizabeth Harper to be on his team.

Making this strategic move places him miles ahead of his political counterparts. His detractors are now running scared, frightened at the thought of running against an intelligent, young, female technocrat. How would they fare against such a strong woman?

More praise for Albert Boodhoo

Dear Editor, I applaud Oscar Ramjeet (and GAWU) for having written so touchingly about Albert Boodhoo who recently passed away in New York City.

Indeed, Albert (always Comrade) was a veteran; his commitment to Guyana’s sugar cane workers and trade union work – eventually, as head of GAWU –was remarkable. I’d often wondered why he and his wife, Leela, were allowedto live in almost straitened circumstances for many years in the US!

Oscar Ramjeet covered a good deal of his activism and dedication to party work, his trials, and his achievements.

Perhaps I knew Albert in a special way, because his wife Leela and I are close cousins (we grew up together in the same home in Canje, Berbice: I was like her elder brother); and Albert had lived with us, months at a time in the early years.

I remember how he would regale me about the workers’ plight during his nascent activism. Discussion about scientific socialism was inevitable; he was an ideologue, deterministic in his thinking (as Marxists are inclined to be).

Hence he brought Ranji Chandisignh (the 1960s version of him) to our modest home for a group discussion. Albert was truly committed to the workers struggle and GAWU’s adversarial strugglesagainst the MPCA are well known.

I have a vivid memory of when Albert’s first son was born. We all kept waiting in the living room at our home until past midnight: as Leela in a side room was in labour (midwife in attendance); but Albert merely talked politics with us, with all the males around.

I fictionalised this, maybe in one or two stories (in my “Jogging in Havana” and “Black Jesus and Other Stories” books).

Indeed, his wife bore the brunt of parenting ¬looking

after her boys while Albert kept up his advocacy work and his going abroadsometimesfor long intervals. I would chafe at this: for his wifehad to bear the brunt of raising her family (in the early years).

But Albert was truly dedicated! The Party came first, and family second (I was of the opposite view: the personal and emotional tied to the particular came first; the universal, second).

Whenever I would return to Guyana on short visits, he often came to see me: to talk about politics. Any countervailing “Canadian” geopolitical point I made never went far with him. Things were often binary: capitalism versus socialism. The immediacy of the workers’ plight was all: he was a progressive.

When I’d first come to Canada to live in the Lake Superior region as a univer-

sity student, he gave me the world’s thickest woollen sweater as a gift (what he might have acquired in an Eastern-bloc country); he figured I was going to the Arctic.

As distance and time inexorably came between us, and then his own departure in 1990 from a politically dark and tumultuous Guyana, we occasionally kept in touch, mainlyas family (his charismatic brother Sam was special, too).

From his limited New York base as he and I talked (I was mainly interested in narrative), he invariably steered the discussion to the proletariat and workers’ plight – including those in America – so uncompromising, unwavering he was.

May he rest in peace!

Cyril Dabydeen

Ramotar realizes that the time had come for his prime ministerial running mate to bear a new face. Not that the party is severing ranks with Mr Samuel Hinds, far from it, I think there will be room for him in the new government in the capacity of advisor to the president.

But we need a change, twenty continuous years of quality service is more than enough time for Mr Hinds to step aside in grace. Our heartfelt thanks to you Sam. So, let me get back to my main idea President Ramotar has embarked on

a new era in our political sojourn here in Guyana by choosing Mrs Harper.

She is young – taking political age range for a leader – educated, intelligent andone who carries a dignified personality. She is also a woman which means that she is sure to bring the female voting public with her.

Women form a major portion of voters in any jurisdiction and Elizabeth will make a huge difference in the way women vote in the next election.

Mrs Harper allows for the distinct possibility of choice when voters go to

the polls. We would not be "burdened" with the task of only selecting a group of men. The voting public can now look at a fresh new female face with which they can identify.This is something that the opposition never took into consideration, that a female technocrat would have been prime ministerial choice for the PPP/C. They were caught off guard.So, Mrs Harper being an Educated, Strong Black Woman will cause a major political shake-up come May 11th.

Neil Adams

The time frame provided appears over-ambitious

Dear Editor, I admire and learn a lot from the prolific writings of our Dr Henry Jeffrey who must be congratulated and thanked for a recent comprehensive offering, “A time-bound coalition programme is essential”.

However, the timeframe provided appears over-ambitious and impracticable not only in terms of the nature of the items contemplated but also having regard to the limited availability of skills and competencies required to undertake the 20 items contained in the proposed programme.

It has been suggested that all the 20 items be initiated within the first four

months with eight for immediate action, two for action within two weeks, seven for action within one month, two for action within two months and one for action within four months.

The mere consultation with stakeholders and assembling of the necessary human resources required for most of these items can take several weeks, even months.

With due respect for the competencies of fellow Guyanese, “national and international stakeholders” et al, it is difficult to see how so much can be achieved within the short timelines given.

The appearance of prom-

ising too much, of biting off more than can be chewed, risk incurring the cynicism of the electorate and their dismissal of the proposal as yet another political ploy just to get votes rather than a serious, well-thought-out programme that is indeed actionable because it is realistic.

I respectfully suggest that the 20 items which are indeed well-thought out be prioritised with timelines that better reflect their doability having regard to the unique demands of each of them and the availability of the required human resources.

Nowrang Persaud

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

Page Foundation

OAnu Dev

ne of the courses we have to take in medical School at UWI is "Professionalism, Ethics and Communication in Health" (PECH). It's new and in fact it was introduced in 2013 when I started my studies.

Even though sometimes I've gotten a bit testy, sometimes thinking that some of the topics take away from "real medicine" I've grown to appreciate the course, since it does to provide a context for practicing medicine.

Last week, we were shown a documentary that featured the US health care industry and its connections with the insurance industry. I'm using the word "industry" advisedly since the US is the only country in the world in which medical care is so dependent on the "for profit" private insurance companies.

It is an INDUSTRY.

This serves to distort medical care in the US – not only in pushing its already astro-

Health care and costs

"Health care is one-sixth of our economy. If the Government can control that, they can control just about everything. We need to understand what is going on, because there are much more economic models that can be used to give us good health care than what we have now" – Benjamin Carson, US Neurosurgeon and Presidential candidate

nomic costs upwards (a concern for patients) - but also in heavily influencing doctor-patient relationships because the doctors also have their (stratospheric) medical malpractice woes.

This makes them double think – and double test – everything, pushing medical costs even higher.

I got into a bit of an argument with my colleagues because I thought since the premises of providing medical care in the Caribbean are completely different, we were off a bit of a wild goose chase.

Here, we follow the British system in which the state is supposed to provide free medical care to its citizens. Since it's our tax dollars that eventually pay for the care, it's not really free... but you know what I mean.

In both the British and our models there are of course, private medical hospitals at which patients have to pay for the care provided. And these are supported very heavily by people who may have private medical coverage.

In Guyana we have our National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to which employed persons made contributions

along with their employers and which cover payments (or parts of them) to private hospitals.

For us in Guyana, it is useful us to understand what goes on in the US by imaging that if you didn't have NIS or free medical care at hospitals, what would happen to you. You'd be dead, that's what! And that's no laughing matter. In the US, medical care for the rich is no problem... They have oodles of money.

The very poor also get free care through MedicAid. But it's the middle and lower class workers that get the shaft and the brunt of paying for medical insurance. Almost half of them go without any coverage or very minimal ones that ensure they become bankrupt if they ever have a major illness. They have to pay Russian Roulette with their lives.

Another effect that private insurance has on US medical costs is that tests and medicine are over prescribed since patients with health insurance think, "the insurance will pay it".

We've heard so much criticism about "Obamacare"

in Guyana and of President Obama. All it is, is an attempt to make Health Care insurance coverage accessible to more Americans.

That is, he's trying to make health care in the US closer to our system in the Caribbean. Affordable and caring- and for that he has been accused of being a "socialist". That’s a curse word in the US, apparently! Very sadly it's used by some of the very people that Obama is trying to help.

The "argument" I alluded to above had to do with one of my classmates from Trinidad claiming that "their system" was no different from the US. Apart from the usual Trini chest-thumping that we Guyanese are inherently backward, her answer really demonstrated that most folks here and abroad really have no clue as to what our governments do… including medical care and how they're funded.

Thankfully, apart from adopting American traditions like Halloween and Thanksgiving, we in the Caribbean haven't adopted the American dogma that "socialised medicine" is on par with dancing with the devil!

Neurosurgical Dept making an impact at GPHC

Though still in its initial setup stage, the newly specialised Neurosurgical Department, at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has already recorded many successes.

Neurosurgeon, Dr Amarnauth Dukhi, who was recently placed at the Georgetown Public Hospital, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the department has already made an impact, as over the past few weeks, it has managed to successfully complete 15 surgeries.

Dr Dukhi said that one of the surgeries carried out was on a 28-year-old male, with a massive temporallobe tumour.

This patient had shown high-grade symptoms, which were only diagnosed three months ago, when he visited the department.

“He was being asked to go overseas, but then he came to GPHC, I saw him at my clinic, he was diagnosed and we prepared him for surgery, ” Dr Dukhi said, adding that the patient had surgery and “I was able to remove the brain tumour”.

The patient, Keyon Gonsalves, recovered and was discharged from the medical facility on February 9, the day of his 29th birthday.

“I am very thankful to the doctor for a great job that he has done, and to God for saving my life. It is like I have a second chance,” Gonsalves said.

He also noted another successful neurosurgical intervention; this time a neural-tube defect, a baby born at the Georgetown Public Hospital with this congenital type of malformation.

The doctor explained that this child was born with part of his brain outside of his skull.

With the corrective surgery performed successfully, the baby has been discharged from the hospital. He is just around 60 days old, Dr Dukhi said.

Commenting on the scenarios of the patients operated on, the specialist declared:

“I think that they would have deteriorated over a period of time, because most of these cases, especially that of the 29-year old male, he would have gotten all the complications associated with increased intra-cranial pressure, which most likely would have cut short his life.

"However, now he is fine and we are hoping that with co-management, with oncology, he would be able to have some level of quality of life.”

Neurosurgical Consultant, Dr Ivor Crandon, also a Guyanese with many years of experience in the field, has been providing service to the Georgetown Public Hospital during periodical visits, and still does.

Dr Dukhi was one of many young Guyanese who were afforded the opportunity to study medicine through the Guyana-Cuba Scholarship programme. Studies and practical sessions were done in the Spanish speaking island.

A smiling Keyon Gonsalves a few days after his surgery

President Ramotar commissions $45M restaurant, hotel at Aurora

By IndrawattIe natram

Head of State, President Donald Ramotar has commissioned a spanking new multimillion-dollar hotel and restaurant located at Aurora, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The new restaurant and hotel is owned and managed by Essequibo Businessman Nazeer Buksh and his wife Bibi Shaleeza who have invested over $45 million into the project.

Speaking at an official commissioning ceremony, President Ramotar lauded the investment, expressing his satisfaction with the magnitude of the investment made thus far.

He said the fact that such an investment was made is indicative of the confidence

that domestic Private Sector officials have in the Guyanese economy and Government’s prudent fiscal macroeconomic policy initiatives.

Owner of the new “Gold is Gold, Family Hotel and Restaurant”, Nazeer Buksh said that he is impressed with the positive economic growth in Region Two and this encouraged his investment in the multimillion-dollar venture.

The 50-year-old father of one, said the hotel and restaurant was opened eight months ago and has been constantly upgraded since then.

Buksh said he decided to embark on the venture since there were no other conveniences of this nature around the southern end of the Essequibo Coast (towards Supenaam).

He added that often, fam-

ilies in communities in and around Supenaam do not have a proper family dinning facility to go to in the evening to relax and enjoy family time apart from the confines of their own homes.

He said having noticed the desire for such an entity, he proceeded to construct the modern facility that caters for the needs of families and relaxation.

The rooms are fully air conditioned and self contained with prices ranging from $8000 for a single room to $12,000 for a double room.

After commissioning the new modern edifice, President Ramotar and other officials including Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Alli Baksh; Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud; and Regional Vice Chairman

Buskh said his business not only addresses the taste buds of his customers but most importantly, provides employment for 10 staff members.

He said persons are employed as cooks, maids, housekeeping, receptionists and care-takers. The restaurant also does catering.

Vishnu Samaroo were given a tour of the building. They also tasted some of the delicacies prepared by the hotel’s chefs. Only recently businessman Ganesh Jaigobin opened a three-storey Chinese restaurant “RedBud” at Cotton Field. That restaurant also created employment for 10 persons.

Beharry Group renews contract with Habitat for Humanity

Beharry Build, a lowincome housing project, and a member of the Edward B Beharry Group of Companies, has renewed its partnership with Habitat for Humanity for the duration of six months in order to continue assisting with the housing developmental needs of low-income families.

The extended partnership is a joint initiative aimed at helping more families realise their dreams of home ownership, thus breaking the cycle of poverty.

Director of Habitat Rawle Small noted that within a year of partnership with Beharry, the company succeeded in building four houses and repairing two.

Clive Richmond of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara; along with

and Sharon

of Le

West Bank Demerara, are the four beneficiaries who are now able to turn the keys of their own homes.

The houses, which measure 25 feet by 25 feet, are built to accommodate two bedrooms, a bathroom, toilet and kitchen.

Each house cost $2.5 million while the repairs cost between $400,000 to $600,000.

Habitat for Humanity has also executed works in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Region 10 (Upper DemeraraUpper Berbice) and is currently expanding its reach to the Essequibo Coast and Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

President Donald Ramotar cuts the ribbon to officially commission the new $45 million investment along with owners Nazeer Buksh and his wife Bibi Shaleeza, as other officials look on

The newly commissioned “Gold is Gold, Family Hotel and Restaurant” located at Aurora, Essequibo Coast, Region Two

Donna Monsammy; Tomeicka Miller-Patterson

Castello

Parfaite Harmonie,

Habitat for Humanity Guyana at a building site

Litter Unit continues strict enforcement

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has noted the constant illegal dumping of garbage along Mandela Avenue, Georgetown during the past year and, in addressing this illegal activity, the Agency’s Litter Enforcement Unit is currently conducting stake-out exercises within this littering hotspot.

Residents within the East and West Ruimveldt areas are advised to take note that identified polluters will be fined $50,000 and issued a Cleanup/Litter Removal Order.

Investigation at this hot spot on February 19 revealed the identity of several residents, including Lynden Colin

Shipley of East Ruimveldt, Nicholas Jermaine Cameron of East Ruimveldt, and Grenda Smith of West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme.

The EPA intends to take legal action against these individuals and others found littering and illegally dumping.

During the month of February, Clean-up Orders were issued to Tejram Lall (West Coast Demerara [WCD]), Ravindra Shivpersaud (Plantain Walk, East Coast Demerara[ECD]), Fedel Gordon (WCD), Kodvatalli Ramujohn (WCD), G Basdeo (Hadfield Street, Lodge), Jagnarine Singh (Better Hope NDC Chairman), Hardeo Ganpat (ECD), Adrian

Desouza (Campbellville Avenue, Georgetown), Maxi Prince (Better Hope, ECD), Sharmilla Vishnand (Better Hope, ECD), and Amin [only name given] (Success, ECD).

Further, two Litter Removal Orders were issued to Devon of Better Hope, ECD, and A Bacchus of Success Gas Station Road, ECD.

The Unit is working closely with the Georgetown Solid Waste Management Department in tackling the issue of illegal dumping in the city.

Kamwattie Boodhoo of C&F Supermarket on Regent Street, Georgetown was identified as a polluter from investigations of business doc-

The Fitness Express...

uments including bills and statements at an illegal dump site at Church and Camp Streets.

The dumping of construction waste was acknowledged by G Basdeo of Regency Hotel, who improperly disposed of the waste on the Government reserve in front of the hotel.

Both parties acknowledged their wrongdoing, and were issued a Fixed Penalty of $15,000, and a Clean-up Order to remove the waste in their respective areas

To report cases of illegal dumping, please call 6000620, 219-2630, 225-0506, or email greenguyana@gmail. com.

Eyew tness

Things Guyanese…

...like food

Folks’re always moaning and groaning that we don’t have enough going for us. This Eyewitness thinks we’re just looking in all the wrong places. Why don’t we start with the kitchen? We Guyanese have one of the most eclectic collections of foods in the entire world. By we’re so foreign minded with eyes cast resolutely abroad.

Let’s look at the facts. We’ve got Chinese...that’s the food of more than a billion folks. We have Indian... add another billion...then there’s African, Amerindian, Portuguese, European – another billion?

Truth be told, we’ve practically got the globe covered. OK...we don’t do Eskimo! So with all this variety, why’re we hollering about “progress” just because another American Chicken joint has landed??

We’re not even gonna get into the dumping of another product they’ve discovered isn’t good for their citizens – but by some miracle is good for folks like us in the Third World. It has nothing to do with maintaining the return on investment for the US corporate owners. What needs to be done is to promote our own foods. We have to make them exciting. How do we do this?

Well we could start by doing what every other culture’s doing with their foods: cooking shows! The Internet gives them global reach. Your Eyewitness happened to catch a new Morning Show – The Morning Times – on the sister station of this newspaper, Channel 28. And there it was – this beauty queen...winner of a major world pageant – showing how to prepare and enjoy “Bigan Choka” and “Sada Roti”. Indian peasant food.

This Eyewitness immediately hopped over to Bourda Market to get his “Bigan”. The dish didn’t just look delectable...it was super healthy...with no processed ingredients. Think of it. Bigan – or Boulanger or Eggplant, or Aubergine – call it what you may...plucked fresh from the plant.

(The stalks of the ones from Bourda Market were oozing sap!) All you had to do was insert pepper and garlic...roast it over the fire – crush everything with some fried tomatoes and onions and voila! Bigan Choka! Accompanied with simple (Sada) Roti made from flour, water and baking soda!

The vivacious chef mentioned that in some (refined) quarters abroad they call the Bigan Choka “Eggplant Caviar”!! Maybe if we call it that more of us will eat it??

Well now that we’re pushing tourism and our fabulous Marriott’s about to be opened at the junction of the Demerara River and Atlantic Ocean...maybe Eggplant Caviar should be on the menu?

In fact, we should insist that at least half of the menu should be Guyanese. Meaning African, Indian, Chinese, Amerindian, Portuguese, Continental etc...etc!!

...like our history

Your Eyewitness noticed some efforts to import “Black History Month” from the US – in February. Maybe like Thanksgiving and Halloween? And here it was he’d always thought if the Caribbean ever wanted to celebrate its African history, August was the month. That’s the month when Britain finally had to concede Emancipation to Africans they’d kept in bondage for hundreds of years.

And that Emancipation started with our own Cuffy, and Toussaint, and Bogle, and Quamina and all the others who gave their lives to the struggle. Eric Williams showed that it wasn’t British humanitarianism that led to Emancipation. While the American slave experience is connected with the Caribbean’s, they’re still fighting a power structure presenting different challenges. And will come up with some different answers.

Here, we’ve been in control of our own countries for over half a century. Shouldn’t our own history be deployed to help in this task...than still trying to “get a squeeze”?

...like

the

crab dog mentality

Mouth open and story jump out. Like the dog in the manger...we’ve found out that since Nagamootoo couldn’t be the Presidential Candidate for the Alliance between AFC and APNU...he nixed the choice of his erstwhile comrade Ralph Ramkarran! Ouch!!

Policemen and women join the "Fitness Express" on the Rupert Craig Highway East Coast Demerara, as the Police Force embarks on new policy to ensure that Officers remain fit and lead healthy and productive lives

Berbicians celebrate Black History Month A

By Andrew CArmiChAel

The importance of un-

derstanding the history of Africans across the world and their struggles was underscored when the Vrymen’s Erven Training Centre, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) held an awareness programme recently as part of activities to mark Black History Month 2015.

The centre which falls under the Culture Ministry and caters for young school dropouts staged the event under the theme ‘African inventions: reclaiming and benefiting from our stolen legacies’.

The Vrymen’s Erven Training Centre is a multiethnic institution. Those who participated in the program exhibited the unity which exists between those of different ethnic backgrounds in Guyana.

The programme included displays of African clothing, music and video documentaries on native Africans.

Speaking at the event, African Cultural Activist Erick Welcome explained that many Guyanese are not aware of the African culture.

He said Guyanese of African descent also lack the appreciation for African originated music and other forms of cultural expressions, adding that this is a sordid reality.

“Our people don’t teach our children our history because we were told during slavery and colonialism to hate ourselves. Africa is where we originated. Guyana is our geo-political place”, he remarked.

He says the term ‘Asiatic

Blackman’ which is being used to describe persons of African descent should not be used.

“It means that we came from Asia and not from Africa. The pyramids were built by Africans. What they are trying to tell you is that those people came from Asia and went to Africa.”

According to Welcome, today many young Guyanese seem more interested in associating themselves with a North American culture.

He says if many persons took time out to study black or African inventions they would be astonished.

Meanwhile, one of the facilitators of the event, Poet Stephaney Bowery noted that programmes such as this are very important and could become effective.

“This is because we don’t want to lose sight of our history and culture, and we want particularly to help young people to be able to see it and be able to understand it. This may result in them wanting to be part of it”, Bowery explained.

She told this publication that we could be in danger of losing our culture if we do not practice it.

“That is the reason why this programme is so important. The old people die and the young ones will carry on tomorrow and unless we teach them from know, they will fall short… a people without a history do not exist”, she remarked.

Bowery believes that already ongoing efforts to enlighten the masses are bearing fruit.

Bartica Secondary School dormitory damaged by fire

n early morning fire of unknown origin at the Bartica Secondary School dormitory has left a section of the facility badly damaged.

According to reports, no one was injured in the fire and all students have been accounted for.

Region Seven Chairman, Gordon Bradford, related that one of the students said was awaken by a crackling sound which he thought were gunshots. At this time, Bradford said the windows of the building started to crack.

An alarm was immediately raised. The Regional Chairman said up to midday Saturday the school’s administration was still trying to determine whether the children should be relocated to another area of the building to avoid smoke inhalation.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle revealed that an investigation is being conducted into the matter to determine the source of the fire.

This facility was reconstructed after being destroyed by fire several years ago.

The damaged dorm

More Opposition fallout: APNU's Selman resigns as MP – says tired of infighting, confusion

Longstanding member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) arm of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Africo Selman (MP), has resigned from the her position as a Member of Parliament.

According to APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon, Selman had resigned from the National Assembly on February 26 for reasons unknown to him.

However, her official resignation from the party was accompanied by a letter stating that she is “tired of the infighting in the APNU”.

Harmon told this Guyana Times that Selman expressed her disgust with the confusion within the

party which prompted her resignation.

Nonetheless, Harmon boldly claimed Selman is an insignificant loss to the party. “We have been able to attract more persons than when Selman was here… her resignation is not a complete loss in APNU,” Harmon bluntly declared.

When questioned as to whether the party has suspicions of anyone else leaving, Harmon responded in the negative. “I can’t read people’s minds… and I don’t like to make speculations.”

On that note, he reassured that everyone on the APNU team is fully engaged with their work in the party.

Speculations about Selman’s future with the People’s Progressive Party/

Africo Selman resigned from her position as Member of Parliament

Civic (PPP/C) surfaced following her resignation but Harmon said he is not in a position to say whether or

not it is true.

Instead, he noted that if Selman does join the PPP/C, then she will only “confine herself in the life of the Opposition again.”

Selman, who attended Queens College and the University of Guyana, is a youth development activist.

According to the PNCR website, Selman was described as an effective speaker and a very articulate representative of the issues affecting young people.

Selman's resignation comes in the wake of a series of defections from APNU's coalition partner, the Alliance For Change (AFC), including more recently former General Secretary Sixtus Edwards and businessman Balwant Persaud.

APNU/AFC coalition wants stronger copyright laws

By Erica Williams

In an effort to help propel the local music industry, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition plans to work on establishing copyright laws if it wins the upcoming elections. This ambitious statement was made by Christopher Jones, APNU

Member of Parliament and Youth, Culture and Sport Shadow Minister, during a recent interview with Guyana Times Jones admitted that he believes the implementation of such laws will be challenging.

“I am aware it will not be an easy task, but it’s something that has been in discussions for quiet something and something we

will definitely look into.”

He added that his party plans to look at the way the law is implemented in other Caribbean countries to fortify a similar pattern of implementation in Guyana.

However, he guarded against persons thinking that the implementation of such laws would completely eliminate the problems faced by aspiring local music artistes.

He explained that “even in North America where those music laws are fully implemented, there is still plagiarism of recorded music and other literary works.”

What copyright laws will do, according to Jones, is put measures in place to ensure offenders are held accountable for illegal sale of peoples’ work.

Over the years local recording artistes and record producers have called for the implementation of copyright laws. Persons in some quarters have even concluded that the lack of copyright laws have resulted in potentially successful and talented artistes leaving Guyana’s shores and venturing into the musical market in countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

Artistes such as Tamika Marshall, First Born, Adrian Dutchin and Natural Black are some who have left Guyana to record abroad. Persons have said these artistes have left

Return of RAW Corban

Satiricus sighed with delight. After more than five years off the scene – political, social and otherwise – the announcement that RAW Corban was going to be back on the hustings warmed the cockles of his heart.

The theatre scene in Guyana wasn’t very vibrant, if the truth be told. But every five years – excepting when the Peean-See riot in the streets and upset the schedules – elections provided enough theatre to last more than a decade...much less five years.

But ever since Corban had handed off the baton to GrainJa things had really gotten deadly dull. Satiricus had always wondered about that handing over. Of course, there had been calls for Corban to go... that he had lost the fire in his belly.

Some had even dared to suggest that Corban had sold out!! His explanation that he was trying to change his image (and the Pee-an-See’s) didn’t play well. There were mean mutterings about leopards not being able to change their spots and such like.

One well-placed comrade said that Corban had become seduced by his position at the helm of the Pee-an-See and was beginning to think he was a BurntHam or Hite. He forgot he was only given the spot because all his middle-class comrades thought he was the man to manners that uppity PPCEE. Jagdesh had given them the spunks to actually challenge the Pee-an-See in the streets??!! That was Pee-an-See’s territory and street Corban would show them!!

He would deal with them “condignly” – as the Comrade Leader used to say. Corban had earned his stripes when he was just a kid...taking care of business for Robert Jordan during the ethnic cleansing of Wismar. Once a sidekick of Green Ham, he had vaulted that old duffer with his vicious inside moves.

But Satiricus had to confess that Corban hadn’t been the Corban of old after Jagdesh had whupped him in 2006. Seemed to have defanged him. “But hold it!” thought Satiricus. “Maybe that’s why Corban had handed off to GrainJa! He knew after three years, GrainJa was going to look like Rambo!”

And now Corban was back on the campaign trail. Maybe he’d been laying low to grow back some fangs? Or had some inserted. Unfortunately, his old nemesis Jagdesh was also back!!

Satiricus rubbed his hands thinking of Jagdesh-Corban II. Jagdesh was going to wipe the floor with him again!

because there is little to no reward for musical talent in Guyana.

“As soon as artistes make music, it is readily available on all the music carts being sold for next to nothing and we get nothing out of it,” a local recording artiste recently stated.

Persons closely affiliated with the local music industry, such as Richard Francois has also called for copyright laws.

In a letter published a few years ago in some sections of the media, François said, “It is high time Guyana introduces copyright laws and focuses on making music profitable in Guyana for Guyanese.

"We talk of enhancing the tourism industry and making tourism profitable. What about music?

“When I started in the industry there were fewer recordings but most got out there, now there are many more recordings, however, many of those don’t see the light of day on the radios stations,” Blackman said. When asked of financial rewards of persons in the music industry, “Well it pays the bills,” was Blackman’s response.

However, Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo, during a recent interview with Guyana Times said he believes local artistes need to "up" their game.

“While I think the music of local artistes need to be more promoted, at the same time people will not listen to nonsense,’ Primo said. He urged local recording artistes to be more innovative in the work they produce.

In countries like Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad music plays a big part in their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures. And that is not by chance; it is because they have chosen to invest in the industry and to protect its profitability.” Meanwhile, Charmaine Blackman who has been a Guyanese recording artiste since the late 1980’s is of the view that many young Guyanese are showing interest in music production.

APNU/AFC Member of Parliament Christopher Jones

Rigged elections – Part 2

(1968 and 1973) continued from February 21

The Overseas Vote

PAnnoyance of music cart vendors continues unabated

aragraph 12: “The Government also enacted legislation for overseas voting. Guyanese who had emigrated and had been citizens abroad, no matter how long, were regarded as still domicile in Guyana and registered by secretly selected PNC agents. They and their nonGuyanese wives were permitted to vote in the 1968 election.”

1968 general elections 50.7 per cent of votes in Guyana as compared with 41.0 per cent in 1961 and 40.5 per cent in 1964. Proxy votes alone accounted for seven per cent of the total votes cast. With overseas votes the PNC total rose to 55.8 per cent.

General Elections – 1973

The Civil Liberties Action Council (CLAC)

Paragraph 13: “The Granada Television Company Limited UK in two films “The Trail of the Vanishing Voters” and “The Making of a Prime Minister” exposed the fraud in the overseas voters list”

Paragraph 19: Another disgraceful aspect was that the PNC “won” 95 per cent of the overseas votes as compared to only 50.4 per cent “won” inside Guyana.

Paragraph 20: This fantastic feat was achieved not only by padding and tampering but denying the right to vote to legitimate voters.

Tampering with Ballot Boxes

Paragraph 34: Ballot Box tampering has been a decisive factor in the ruling PNC’s Party “victory”. At the 1968 General Elections, for the Pomeroon district Essequibo, four parcels of ballot papers bound with rubber bands and marked PNC were found in a ballot box”

Paragraph 35: In the Buxton area, a PNC stronghold in the central Demerara district, the final count showed that the persons who voted amount to 102 per cent in that specific registered area.

Paragraph 59 of this CLAC memorandum to the United Nations of the General Elections of 1968 summarises as follows:

Fraud and Lies

It is this fraud and scandal that have been responsible for the PNC usurping absolute power at both the Central and Local Government levels. Because of padded voters list, proxy voting and tampering with ballot boxes, the PNC obtained at the

which has been monitoring the fraudulent electoral processes in Guyana sent two memoranda to the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations exposing in documented complaints the rigged electoral results in the 1968 and 1973 General Elections.

The 1968 election was completely fraudulent and two new dimensions were added to the electoral fraud in 1973. These were the intervention of the army and postal voting. The PNC as part of this massive fraud introduce the use of proxy and overseas and postal voting and also the country’s army to guarantee a fraudulent two thirds majority.

In the Corentyne, two young supporters of the PPP (17 year old Jagan Ramessar and 43 years old Jack Bholanauth (Parmanand) were shot dead on election day by security forces when the army intervened to forcibly commandeer the ballot boxes from this PPP stronghold.

The CLAC is of the view that the entire conduct of the 1973 General Election by the PNC Government constitute a blatant violation of a fundamental right – the right of the people to elect, freely and fairy as government of their choice.

In the “Army Intervention in the 1973 Election in Guyana” Janet Jagan writes, “In Guyana, the word ‘election’ has become synonymous with fraud. Nowhere in Guyana, not even among the most fanatic PNC supporters can anyone be found who will declare unequivocally that the 1973 elections were free or that the results represent the will of the people.” She further writes that

“in an Extraordinary issue of the Official Gazette, on July 14, 1973, two days before the elections, the Chief Elections Officer announce that all counting of ballots, contrary to all previous arrangements for counting would take place at three buildings, all in Thomas Land (North of Georgetown) where are also to be found the headquarters of the Army and the Police.

It was to this area, cordoned off by the security forces that the ballot boxes were taken on July 16 and thereafter held for many days in the Army compound, out of sight of elections agents, candidates, counting agents and even Government appoint election officers.

It was here that the final rape of people votes took place, behind guns and Army equipment; in the blacked out rooms where the true ballots casts by the voters of Guyana were destroyed and replaced by

proved. On Monday July 23, 1973, Granada’s “World in Action” program accused the PNC as conducting a gigantic electoral fraud. Their research revealed evidence that vote rigging on a massive scale took place among British Guyanese community.

2. The Postal Vote –Because the misuse of the proxy vote created such a scandal in the 1968 election with one person being allowed to vote for as many as three other persons, the PNC introduced a new form of indirect vote – the postal vote. No one knows the exact extent of the fraud but it appears that some 20,000 to 21,000 names were forged onto applications for the postal vote.

In 1973 electoral fraud was expanded and a new dimension was added in the Army Intervention and the seizure of and tampering with ballot boxes. In 1968, the PNC used extensive fraud to remain in office. In 1973 when the peo-

those not marked or cast by the voters but by agents of the PNC.

It was these thousands of false ballots (and there is proof in abundance) that give to the PNC the 37 seats or the two thirds majority it threatened it would take.

The following points to the mechanism of fraud that the PNC engaged in in the 1973 elections:

1. The padding of the Voters List – the local votes increased in 1968 by 20.9 per cent over the 2964 registered voters or if the overseas votes are included by the fantastic figure of 49.6 per cent. The local votes increased in 1973 by 24.5 per cent over the 1968 votes.

Yet the official government stats show an average increase in population of 2.5 per cent per year. As a result of the expose of the overseas vote particularly by the Granada Television in UK, the overseas list was reduced – from 68597 in 1968 to 34801 in 1973 but even this new list was calculably false as the Granada Television

ple understood and were prepared to block fraud the PNC used force. The Granada Television UK followed up on their “The Trail of the Vanishing Vote” and “The Making of a Prime Minister” of 1968 with “Mr Burnham Does it Again” in 1973.

For further details of the PNC rigging of the 1968 and 1973 elections, please refer to the following:

1. Declassified US State Department Documents for the period 1964 – 1973

2. The Civil Liberties Action Council (CLAC) Memoranda to the Human Rights Commission to the United Nation exposing in documented complaints the rigged electoral results in the 1968 and 1973 General Elections

3. “Army Intervention in the 1973 Elections in Guyana” by Janet Jagan

4. Granada Television (UK) Documentaries “The Trail of the Vanishing Votes”, “The Making of a Prime Minister of 1968” and “Mr. Burnham does it again in 1973”.

By Vahnu Manikchand

Noise nuisance continues to be one of the most well known aggravations to many Guyanese with numerous complaints being recorded at Police Stations and even penned in newspapers about shops, parties and in some cases neighbours playing loud music.

However, over the past two to three years, a new phenomenon has been developed – music cart vending. These can be seen swarming Central Georgetown with music blasting. While some persons may enjoy the loud banging in their ears, others are grossly disgusted.

However, one cannot deny that these music cart vendors, who may have been given a lease, continue to disturb the already limited ‘peace and quiet’ that is sometimes needed.

Only on Friday last, High Court judge, Justice Navindra Singh, found a music cart vendor guilty of contempt of court and subsequently sentenced the man to pay a fine of $2000 or face an alternative 27 days imprisonment.

On a previous occasion, about two weeks ago, the judge warned two drivers who were blasting music from their vehicles outside of the Court. Loud music, whether from music carts or vehicles passing by, has been disrupting Court proceedings not only at the High Court but at the Magistrates’ Courts.

They are not even mindful around the precinct of medical facilities, another institution that loud music should not be around. The Parliament Building, places of worship and residential areas also forbid loud music.

While it must be recognised that these vendors are working to earn an honest living, they ought to be cognisant of their surroundings and people in it. Persons have been complaining and are appalled by the vulgar choice of music that the op-

erators play.

Music cart vending is not only a nuisance confined to the city but is also making its rounds in communities across the country. It has been pointed out that music can serve as a distraction to drivers on the roadways since it can suppress the sound of vehicular horns, pedestrians’ voices and a potential warning of danger.

On the other hand, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, while commenting on the issue questioned what was the important element in this issue. “Now there are some people saying ‘man you know these are poor people, they’re pushing the music carts around, they’re earning a living and we taking bread out of people mouth’. Which is more important? Us taking bread out of your mouth or you who are breaking the laws that could cause somebody’s life?”

In July 2013, a move was made to regularise pushcarts under the condition that they are in a designated location and refrain from playing loudly by utilising earphones. But many of the vendors had opposed this, claiming that the loud music attracts customers.

However, Minister Rohee had explained that the vendors are offering a service and customers do not need to have the music blasted in their ears for them to know what they want.

Furthermore, back in 2008, a law was passed in the National Assembly banning music in buses and hire cars. Initially, this law was strongly enforced, with Police clamping down on minibuses, especially for blasting music. Today, many public transportation vehicles are beginning to pick up the trend once again.

Mini-bus operators tend to play loud music and whenever a Police officer is sighted, they would lower the volume. The Police had claimed that unless persons report such buses, they cannot do anything.

A Push Cart Operator plying his trade

Protesting in Buxton

Wismar building on fire, May 1964

Political campaigning in full swing from today

By Devina Samaroo

Today, political parties contesting the May 11, 2015 elections will enter full elections campaigning mode following the dissolution of the 10th Parliament on Saturday.

These parties are expected to launch their offi-

cial elections campaign; advertising agenda and other plans to woo voters as there are only 71 days left until the General and Regional Elections are held.

With Parliament dissolved, members of the major political parties will no longer be designated as Members of Parliament, therefore, is expected that they will pay more focus on their campaign strategies for their respective political parties and constituencies.

Nomination Day is likely to be April 9 this year and already, the political parties have started putting their regional and national lists together.

General Secretary of the ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Clement Rohee has already admitted that the party is engaged in lots of ground work and has been meeting continuously

with its constituents to ensure that their names are on the voters list and they are ready to return the majority to the party.

He has maintained since last year that the PPP/C was not an electioneering party and was always engaged

in grassroots meeting and other activities aimed at understanding the problems of Guyanese.

Guyana Times understands that the PPP/C has been engaged in massive house to house exercises and outreaches quietly in Regions Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and Eight so far.

The party’s reorganised Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) led by PPP/C Executive Irfaan Ali has been playing an integral role in doing lots of ground work for the party.

In fact, the PYO has been meeting with residents and making an impression on large pockets of young people across the country.

Also the party’s Executive has been monitoring its popularity and the feedback garnered from the outreaches of its various groups and organs.

This newspaper understands that focus is also being placed on the work of the Guyana Elections Commission as the PPP/C prepares for tightly contested elections this year.

APNU/AFC coalition

The atmosphere is undeniably heating up as the newly formed coalition between A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) is set to officially launch its campaign on Wednesday, March 4 at the Pegasus Hotel, Savannah Suites.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Thursday evening, Harmon said the party was in full swing with preparations, noting that, it is in the process of fine-tuning details for the campaign.

Harmon also said the two parties will be campaigning on one platform in keeping with their ultimate goal and theme of a government of national unity.

“Everyone is enthused, man. The Guyanese people’s long wait for change won’t be a long wait anymore. There are only a few more days to go. The kind of government that they want to move forward will be here,” Harmon enthusiastically said.

When questioned about the response the coalition has been receiving from its support base as it takes its campaign across the country, Harmon claimed that the support has proven to be much more than they had initially expected.

Theocracy Party

The recently formed coalition is not the only party that is optimistic.

The Healing the National Theocracy Party (HTNT), which caused quite a buzz in the political environment will be penetrating the markets to lure indecisive voters. HTNT Prime Ministerial candidate Ras Leon Saul noted that some 130,000 persons did not vote at the last elections in 2011 because they were not presented with a party that represented real change.

Saul believes that the majority of that grouping were Rastafarians who believe their rights were not represented by the then existing political parties.

“We want to bring them

into the frame because the other parties did not represent their interests,” Saul said.

“Of course, Rastafarian is also a philosophy. We promote one love and unity across all communities,” he continued, noting that the HTNT is sure to receive an overwhelming response as soon as their campaign intensifies.

He pointed out that their strategy mainly includes reaching out to particular communities that will most likely “sympathise” to their condition and beliefs.

Independent party

The Independent Party, headed by popular political activist Mark Benchshop, is also tapping into that particular electoral market. Benchshop made it clear that he is not concerned about other political parties’ campaigning strategies as he will gain support by promoting change.

With this confidence, he said his party will be targeting those groups of people who are still undecided on a party to vote for. Given his background in the political arena by reaching out to those felt neglected by the Government, Benchshop is optimistic that his party will receive an overwhelming

welcome when it begins its groundwork in the communities.

“It won’t be a difficult sell,” Benchshop boldly pronounced.

In fact, he believes that, with AFC out of the way as the third political party, the Independent Party will now become the third force.

URP

However the United Republican Party (URP) also believes it has what it takes to the third driving force in Guyana’s politics. According to URP Presidential candidate Vishnu Bandhu, his party already campaigned in seven of the 10 administrative regions in Guyana and is well on its way to visit the remaining three.

Based on the response received during these visits, Bandhu is optimistic that the URP will be the next big party in the local political scope.

Prime Ministerial Candidate, Guyana National Theocracy Party Ras Leon Saul

Presidential Candidate, United Republican party Vishnu Bandhu

Presidential Candidate, The Independent Party Mark Benschop

APNU/AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger

Missing high-powered Army weapons...

Harmon denies involvement

still unwilling to make CoI appearance

By Gomatie GanGadin

Former Lieutenant Colonel in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and now General Secretary of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Joseph Harmon on Friday denied any involvement in the alleged disappearance of scores of high-powered weapons from the security entity while he and several others were in command of the GDF during the 1970s and 80s.

Harmon, speaking with Guyana Times during an exclusive interview, also denied any knowledge of weapons going missing while he was playing a lead role in the army three decades ago.

His denial of involvement in the fiasco comes at a time when General Secretary of the ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Clement Rohee is calling for Opposition Leader and former retired Brigadier David Granger and Harmon to appear before the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to provide answers for the weapons which went missing under the People's National Congress (PNC) Administration that was in power during their tenure.

Rohee speaking at the party’s press conference on Tuesday, told media operatives that the questions over the weapons which were loaned to the Ministry of National Development of the PNC Government during the

1970s and 80s and are now missing must be answered.

“I think and I am convinced of the need for the CoI to summon Mr Granger and Mr Harmon to appear before the Commission. They must not be allowed to get away scot free precisely because of the fact that the party which Mr Granger now heads, that party’s name has been called within the commission’s evidence taking and as Mr Granger is now at the head of the PNC Congress, the party whose name has been called so often it seems to me logically that summons should be made,” Rohee said.

According to Rohee, the two members of the APNU who were in the GDF at the time of Rodney’s death and who are now significant members in the PNC are the ones who should be summoned by the Commission to give the whereabouts of the weapons.

In an earlier interview on

22-year-old guilty of assault

Wilfred Ford, age 22, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was found guilty on Friday of assaulting the Virtual Complainant (VC) Hardeo Singh. Ford, who appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts was accused of unlawfully assaulting the VC on January 20, at Middle and Hunter Streets, La Penitence, Georgetown. Ford and Singh live in the same area.

In presiding over the matter, Magistrate Annette Singh said that she does not believe the defendant’s claim that he suffered any injuries at

the hands of the VC, stating that she found the defendant guilty “without any doubt.”

The Magistrate stated that the issue between the two parties seems to be an ongoing one; hence she urged them both to avoid conflicts by living in peace.

She encouraged the defendant to walk a different path so he will not have to pass Singh’s home.

She placed both parties on a one year bond to keep the peace. If the bond is breached, then the parties will be imprisoned for one month. The accused was also fined $10,000.

Man on self bail for threatening language

APrincess Street, Lodge, Georgetown resident was released on his own recognisance on Thursday when his case of using threatening language against Roxanne Caesar was heard at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that on February 25, 2015, the 38-year-old parch nut vendor, Clifton Frank, made use of threatening language to the virtual complainant.

In relating her story to

the court, Caesar pointed out that Frank has been sentenced to one year in prison due to a previous encounter with the law. This was confirmed by the prosecutor who also objected to bail.

In Court Eleven, presiding Magistrate Annette Singh explained that the defendant will be in jail to face his one year sentence thus he would not be able to pay any bail. As a result, she placed him on self bail. His trial begins on April 14.

the issue President Ramotar had pointed out that Granger was “the Commander” at the time that the weapons were loaned to the PNC. As such, the President highlighted that Granger must have some knowledge of the whereabouts of the weapons.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the President said that while the efforts of the Police will remain unwavering to tackle the issue of gun-related crimes head on, the missing Army weapons must be found and those who may have been involved in this matter owe it to the country to ensure their retrieval.

“We know that some of them found their way into the hands of criminal elements a few years ago, in Mahaica/ Mahaicony when the Police had a confrontation with criminals,” the President said. It was revealed dur-

ing the current inquiry that 237 weapons were issued to Wilfred Skeete of the Ministry of National Development and Robert Corbin, between 1976 and 1979, by the GDF. To date, only 82 of these weap-

Granger has always denied knowledge of the weapons and the loan transaction.

But Harmon when asked specifically whether he had any knowledge or information about the disappearance

ons were returned to the Army. The other 155 weapons are still missing and it is unknown if they still are in the possession of the PNCR.

of the guns during that time, responded in the negative.

Asked to respond to the calls by Rohee for him and Granger to appear before the

Commission, Harmon noted that since the Inquiry began, the Commission has called numerous witnesses to testify according to the need and their relevance to the proceedings of the Commission.

As such he noted that this is not Rohee’s call to make. “If the Commission of Inquiry feels the need, they can summon people so if they want me to appear before the Commission, I will be summoned,” Harmon stated.

Until this is done, he noted that he will not attempt to take on Rohee nor will he dignify him with a response. He also claimed that that the PPP/C’s General Secretary has no regard for truth.

“I do not have any time with Mr Rohee. He has no factual basis for any of the statements he makes. He must be careful. He has no regards for the truth,” the APNU General Secretary expressed.

Former GDF Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Harmon

Some of the high-powered weapons used by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) over the years

GGMC Engineer executed with AK-47 – Police

As Police continue their investigation into the execution of Guyana Geology and Mines (GGMC) Engineer, Trevor Abrams, they have confirmed that an AK-47 assault rifle was used.

A senior Police rank stated that while the motive for the execution has not yet been established, several spent shells were retrieved and are being analysed.

However, the senior rank rubbished reports in sections of the media about Friday’s execution being linked to that of Randolph Singh, who was gunned down about a week ago on South Road, Georgetown, and the attempted execution of ex-Police Officer Otis Grant, on Regent Street.

He said that the assumption is inaccurate, explaining that all three matters are being dealt with in different ways. He noted that with respect to the South Road shooting, a .38 revolver was used and in the case

of the ex-Policeman, a .9mm pistol was used.

Nevertheless, he stated the investigations are in their early stages and it’s too early to speculate or make any link.

To date, he noted that no one has been arrested for the execution of the vulcanising shop owner or the attempted execution of the ex-Policeman but they are working with several leads at their disposal.

He added that from investigation thus far, the Police have failed to link Abrams’ execution with any that occurred recently. The Police have questioned several family members of the now dead man and are working on several theo-

ries.

The senior rank was also not aware that Abrams was on Police radar, explaining that for someone to be on radar means that they are into “bad business” and based on information received about the young man, it is definitely not the case.

The Engineer was on Friday morning executed while driving along the Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Abrams, 31, of Lot 129 Samatha Point, Grove Village, EBD, was shot at least four times by occupants of a Carina 212 motor car in the vicinity of Demerara Distillers Limited around 11:00h.

Local writer calls for open-door policy for Guyana Prize

Local novelist, Ryhaan Shah, is calling on the management committee of the Guyana Prize for Literature to adopt an opendoor policy in the process of selecting a winner.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a string of debates in the local media on the process of selecting winners for the prizes. Local writers had even made calls for an investigation into the competition.

Shah, in a letter penned to the media, pointed out that the “secret society, back-door-deal” process that has been adopted in selecting the winners is unacceptable. She opined that the pieces that are submitted for the competition should be published so that the public can also have an input.

“Hopefully, we will not see the same old faces, those multiple-time winners who are proud of their multiple wins

and never stop to ask themselves why they have won one, two, three times,” she stated.

The three-time published author questioned whether such persons win the competition frequently because of a lack of good local writers or because they are “favoured to win” regardless of the type of work they submitted.

“Either way, this is more than enough reason to scrap the prize and mount an investigation... Since Mr (Ruel) Johnson has written to the media on so many occasions to hold Government accountable, I am sure he too will insist on this investigation by whoever forms the next Government,”

Shah mentioned.

hopes for in a post-elections Guyana. Tables around, which a privileged, hand-picked few will meet to make decisions for all of us? This will constitute a free expression of ideas rather than the cross talking that a free press supports?”

Younge’s Take

Granger is no action man

APNU and AFC have announced that their newly formed coalition has selected David Granger as its Presidential Candidate in the upcoming May 11 elections.

While the rationale for selecting Granger is still not known, the coalition has taken a major gamble, considering his past inability to create real change within the movements he has led, and the fact that he still remains unappealing as a candidate that would be endorsed by a wide-cross section of Guyanese.

The truth is, since Granger’s sudden debut into the political realm back in 2010, much is not known about his ideology, the principles which he stands for as a politician, and the policies he would peddle that could cause a massive change in the governance and administration of the socioeconomic affairs of the State.

Granger, having bullied his way to the helm of PNC after being hand-picked by then party leader Robert Corbin, has presided over chaos, confusion and deepening rifts within the PNCR.

Under his stewardship of the party, many PNC stalwarts and persons, who disagreed with the decisions he made which they felt would have long term negative impacts of the legacy and future of the PNC, distanced themselves from Congress Place.

Granger’s elitist style and authoritarian tactics in the PNCR led to party hardliners like the late Dr Faith Harding, Dr Van West Charles, Aubrey Norton, Clarissa Rheil and a host of other leaders withdrawing public support for some of the action plans, initiatives and policies of Granger, which conflicted with the spirit of the founding principles of the party.

Shah referred to Johnson’s recent articles/letters in local newspapers that claimed that this discussion is too important for the media and needs to be done by “bringing serious, knowledgeable people together.”

According to Shah, Johnson is hopeful of a new dispensation where writers and artists would be free of fear from victimisation, adding sarcastically that he has been so victimised. The writer further pointed out that maybe Johnson can show when and how this (victimisation) occurred, especially given the fact that he won his two Guyana Prizes under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

However, she outlined that since free press is fundamental to democracy and good governance, “providing a free and open forum where ideas can be exchanged and debated, one must wonder what Mr Johnson

“Mr Johnson is proud that he succeeded in getting the Guyana Prize deadline extended and continues to exhort writers to network and workshop to get their work ready for the competition and the goal of a prize, because he is well aware that the milliondollar prize can go to the best of a bad lot. It can be won by work that is poor, badly edited and shows only some promise, making it incomplete,” she opined.

Nevertheless, Shah advises new and upcoming writers to maintain their personal integrity; a quality she said is an extremely rare commodity in Guyana. She further encouraged them to stand above it all and take time to think, write, review and reflect then rewrite.

Shah added “when their work is good and ready, and is the best they can do, then they submit it. They should have their own standard of excellence since Guyana has none”.

Shah is the author of three novels: her first A Silent Life A Death in the Family and her most recent Weaving Water She had won the Guyana Prize for Literature First Book Award in 2007 for “A Silent Life.”

The Guyana Prize for Literature was established in 1987, by former President Desmond Hoyte to provide encouragement and development of good creative writing among Guyanese.

Under Granger’s watch, there was a negative militarisation of the PNCR which has spilled over the APNU. It appears that Granger has hand-picked his old Army and security allies to be cemented into key portfolios within the bureaucracy of the PNCR and APNU.

For instance, how does one justify the selection of Joseph Harmon, also a newcomer and a political novice, into the post of Shadow Minister of Infrastructural Development, Public Works, Housing and Water, then APNU General Secretary and now the Campaign Manager of the newly formed coalition?

Apart from those decisions, Granger is presided over a series of rigged elections, including at the PNCR’s 18th Biennial Congress, which led to widespread disaffection and divisions within the party’s biggest strong hold in Linden.

Granger also sidelined Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) Representative Vanessa Kissoon after her physical encounter with his hand-picked General Secretary Oscar Clarke last year. That aside, as a parliamentarian, Granger, who has less than three years parliamentary experience, has failed to make any positive impact on the lives of his constituents.

In fact, his colleague Carl Greenidge has piloted more motions and bills, and dealt with far more policy issues in Parliament and Government, while Granger held to his obsessions with commissions of inquires.

Granger who aspires to become President of Guyana under the new coalition still has not responded to charges made against him and his party at the historic Rodney Commission of Inquiry.

He and some of his military allies who turned politicians have avoided voluntarily appearing before the CoI to give evidence which would explain the role they played, and that of the PNC, during the time the renowned Guyanese scholar was bombed to death.

Granger must respond to the allegations made against the PNC and the role he played in loaning army weapons to non-State actors, which in turn were used to wreak havoc in the country.

He might be hoping that under the coalition, he can wish these things away and Guyanese will somehow develop new levels of trust for him and vote him in as their President.

But it might be instructive for Granger to understand that Guyanese people hardly suffer bouts of amnesia or selective retention, and therefore it would be wise for him to hold a press conference and speak frankly to all of these issues which hang over his head.

Then again, Granger is no action man!

Guyanese Author, Ryhaan Shah

Trevor Abrams

Guyanese woman, children charged following Brazil drug bust Race to the Altar concludes

– couple number 2 wins all-inclusive wedding

After a series of compatibility tests and quizzes, Winston Waddle and his beautiful bride-to-be Natasha Goodridge were announced the lucky winners of the 7th Annual Wedding Expo’s “Race to the Altar” at the Roraima Duke Lodge on Friday evening.

Amid the bittersweet ambiance, the excited couple could not help but share an intimate kiss for they are now winners of an all-inclusive wedding scheduled for March 29.

The other participants of the competition also walked away winners of complimentary trips, quite suitable for their honeymoon.

Couple number one: Michael Demattos and Iyana McLennan who placed second won a trip to Kaieteur

hunting above the scent range of wild animals).

The couples then hit the water where they kayaked through “Alligator Alley” while being tested on their communication, coordination and strength.

At the finale event, the couples were faced with one last quiz that assessed each partner’s knowledge of their lovers.

They were presented with personal questions such as “Where is the strangest place you’ve ever made love”, tricky questions such as “What is the month of her mother’s birthday”, and romantic questions such as “Describe in as much details, what your bride is wearing right now.”

The couples were also tasked to collectively per-

Falls while couple number three: Rayburn Johnson and Tandica McGarrel won a trip to the Arrow Point Resort.

The fourth competing couple, Daison Blackett and Latoya Benn, were absent from the event.

Meanwhile, the exhilarating competition was held as a part of a countdown to the spectacular Wedding Expo slated to commence on March 27.

The “Race to the Altar” began on the renowned ‘Day of Love’ February 14 as the four couples ventured on a romantic journey at the Arrowpoint Nature Resort, Pokeroro Creek, Santa Mission where their love was put to the test.

The day kicked off with a nature walk through the rainforest, followed by a sprint up to the Wabini (a mounted platform used for

One week after two Guyanese and two Brazilian nationals were held in Brazil with a huge quantity of compressed marijuana, another Guyanese family was on Thursday evening arrested with almost nine pounds of marijuana.

Those arrested are 49-year-old Khumwattie Narine Adams and her two children Abiola Adams, 28, and Joseph Adams, 25. They were subsequently charged in the act of trafficking and association for trafficking.

The mother and daughter were reportedly sent to the women’s jail while the son was taken to the Agricultural Penitentiary of Monte Cristo. He is also being investigated for his possible involvement in a murder in Brazil.

According to information received, the family was being monitored for about two months after an anonymous call revealed their involvement in drug trafficking. The group, according to the Drug Enforcement Agent,

was supplying the capital with marijuana stocks.

At the time of their interception, some of the illicit drugs were found in the women’s handbag while the rest was found hidden inside the vehicle in which they were travelling. In addition to the drugs, Brazilian authorities also found G$23,500, US$4 and BRL$242.

Several mobile phones belonging to the family were also seized. Guyana Times understands that the family is well known in the Lethem/Brazil area for such activity.

In February, two

Guyanese were among four persons arrested in Boa Vista, Brazil attempting to smuggle over 25 kilograms of compressed marijuana into the neighbouring country.

The dried illicit plant was found stashed in the doors of the vehicle in which they were travelling.

The men were identified as Eric Eldon Bobb, 34 and Clyve Lloyd King, 38 of Guyana and Jose Rodrigues Montague 58 while the lone female is Magdalene Romao, 30 of Brazil.

According to reports, Brazilian authorities say they received a tip that a

quantity of drugs was expected to flood the market for Carnival celebrations.

The four persons were charged for trafficking and association for trafficking. The men were remanded to the Penitentiary Agricultural Monte Cristo in Brazil while the woman was referred to the Public Women Jail.

With the two recent busts, Guyanese Drug Enforcement Officers are working closely with the Brazilian authorities to put a dent in the drug trade which has now become rampant at that port of entry.

Recently, Head of Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh told Guyana Times that his officers will be monitoring the situation and more so, establish whether the drugs originated from Guyana.

Guyana’s borders have always been an issue of concern for law enforcement officers since it is believed that many illegal activities are prone to be carried out at unmanned locations.

form an item of their choice.

Couple number one expressed their love through a beautiful song while couple number three performed a romantic skit through a poem which highlights that love has no boundaries.

But couple number two stole the spotlight with a passionate dance that surely made everyone in the room feel in love.

Last year’s winners Ryan and Maria Fletcher also graced the audience with their presence.

Roraima Duke Lodge’s Wedding Expo is an event that provides couples preparing to be wed, as well as those assisting them, with an excellent opportunity to see and interact with local businesses that offer the services necessary for planning and executing a seamless wedding.

The three Guyanese in Police custody in Brazil

Winston Waddle and Natasha Goodridge expressing their love through a spectacular dance performance

Previous winners Ryan and Maria Fletcher reflect on their year together as husband and wife

SunDAY, mArch 1, 2015 | guYAnAtimeSgY.com

Guyanese honoured with int'l award from University of Florida

Basil Bactawar, a County Extension Director and Assistant Professor who exemplified University of Florida’s efforts to help solve global issues has earned an international award from the institution.

According to the University’s Vice President Jack Payne, “This is a great distinction and honour that reflects the global stature of his career accomplishments, and the high esteem in which he is held not only here at University, but also worldwide.”

Upon receiving the award, Bactawar said, “I feel humbled and happy because I was able to make a difference in the lives of people who needed my help the most. If we from the University who have the knowledge cannot help the folks overseas, then who would?”

Bactawar spent over a decade working with farmers and agricultural enterprises as a volunteer in nine countries while carrying the duties of his full-time job in Canada and lat-

er in the USA.

During 2013 to 2011, he collaborated with stakeholders to develop feeding programmes for the cattle, swine and poultry industries in Mali, Liberia, Ghana and Uganda.

In 2010 he collaborated with Kenyan Bureau of Standards and Kenyan Feed Manufacturing Association to develop standards for the production of quality poultry feeds that brought about much needed improvement in this sector.

This initiative has reduced complaints by poultry farmers who were dissatisfied by the poor quality of feeds that they were being sold. In 2007 to 2009 he found

himself working with dairy farmers in Belize, Bolivia and Egypt to reduce the cost of production of milk by feeding cheaper agro-industrial byproducts to dairy cattle. The outbreak of avian influenza crippled the poultry industry in Azerbaijan at the start 2006.

This volunteer was invited to Azerbaijan to formulate concentrate feeds for beef cattle in March of 2006 so that the millers could stay in business.

The feed millers requested his service again in November of the same year to formulate feed concentrate for dairy cattle. One of these mills is now the leading producer of livestock feeds in country.

Bactawar is no stranger to exceptional achievement. In 2010 he received a Meritorious Service Award in recognition of 16 years of dedicated and valued service to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in British Columbia, Canada.

His career began in 1972 when he began his studies at Guyana School of Agriculture and later at the University of the West Indies.

Opening of Family Court in limbo 5 years after building completed

After almost five years since the building was completed and handed over to Government, the opening and operationalisation of the Family Court remains in limbo.

Works have been ongoing for about seven years to have the Family Court established.

date the courtrooms, the judges’ chambers, and a children waiting facility, while the lower flat, where the inquiry is being held, will be the Family Court’s Registry.

During the 2014 Budget debates, Minister Nandlall told the National Assembly that the Family Court will

Judiciary (ag) Justice Carl Singh said that the facility is expected to be in operation soon but did not give a specific time when asked.

In 2010, then Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand had said the establishment of such a court was prompted by observa-

At one stage, the opening of the court, which is located in the compound of the High Court in Georgetown, was stalled as furniture for the facility was being acquired; however that was subsequently done.

Then Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall had disclosed that there a few things that need to be put in place in order for the facilities to be operationalised. He had pointed out that the ongoing Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) is delaying the opening of the court.

The Rodney CoI is currently being held on the lower flat of the building, which houses the law library. The building was also used in September 2012 to February 2013 for the Commission of Inquiry into the killings of the three Lindeners in July 2012.

Guyana Times understands that the upper flat of the building will accommo-

be commissioned soon, adding that even the rules have also been completed. With the Family Court coming into operation, Judges of the High Court will likely migrate to that building.

This, according to the AG, will create physical space for new appointments to be made, as there is no space to accommodate a new judge in the Supreme Court Building.

Last week, this newspaper reported that two new female judges have been appointed and are expected to be swornin soon. Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jo-Ann Barlow are the new additions to the complement of Puisne judges.

Guyana Times was told that the two new judges are expected to be placed at the High Court while two existing judges will be transferred over to preside over the Family Court. When contacted, Chancellor of the

tions that Guyanese family units are affected by societal demoralisation. It is expected that the services of the Family Court would be mostly sought by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, through the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA).

The court was established to address problems arising from the dysfunction of the family unit, and to give special attention to child rights issues. It will handle issues such as divorce, division of property, domestic matters, adoption, guardianship, and custody.

Last year, allocations were made in the National Budget for the construction of another building in the compound of the Georgetown Supreme Court to facilitate the Land Court of Demerara, a Registry and storage facilities for the Supreme Court. This building will house a minimum of two courtrooms and chambers for the Judges.

Scrap metal dealer remanded for suspected assault, theft

A22-year-old scrap metal dealer was remanded on Friday for stealing the phone of the Virtual Complainant (VC) Champattie Singh while landing her a number of blows about her body.

The defendant, Junior Nurse was brought before Court Eight and Nine at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that the VC was walking along a roadway in Georgetown when the defendant rode up on a bicycle, dismounted and proceeded to hit her before and after he had taken her Samsung Galaxy S4, valued $60,000.

Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman in detailing the case told the court that the de-

fendant then ran away, however, he was pursued by bystanders who had seen the defendant beat and rob the VC. He was subsequently apprehended by bystanders and taken to a nearby close Police Outpost where he was arrested and charged.

The prosecution objected to bail for the defendant due to the nature of the offence, the punishment attached to what he did, the value of the item and how the offence was committed.

Miner reportedly found with ecstasy placed on $75,000 bail

Agold miner was released on $75,000 bail on Thursday after being held for possession of 1.9 grams of a controlled substance; methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (ecstasy).

In the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry stated that the defendant, 25-year-old Adonis Fletchman, was found in a house in Section A Campbellville, Georgetown where the psychoactive drug was found.

His Attorney Paul FungA-Fat stated that the defen-

dant had no knowledge of the drug in the house, stating that the defendant was renting the house.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant had no objections to bail. The case was transferred to Court Three where Magistrate Judy Latchman presided.

At Court Three, Prosecutor Shellan Bailey lamented that the details of the matter appeared to be incomplete, stating that she only had the facts before her and not the relevant statements. The statements were ordered and the defendant’s trial began Friday.

Basil Bactawar

The Family Court building located in the compound of the High Court

ElisabethHarper ready to become Guyana’s next PM

– vows to eradicate domestic violence

y M ichael y ounge

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The lone woman vying to become Guyana’s next Prime Minister (PM) under the ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) says she is ready for the campaign trail and believes that she can make a difference in the socio-economic affairs of the country if given the chance.

Fifty-seven-year-old Elisabeth Harper who hails from Kitty, Georgetown, speaking during an interview broadcast on the National Communications Network (NCN) on Saturday afternoon, said she accepted the offer made by the PPP to run as its Prime Ministerial Candidate alongside incumbent President Donald Ramotar after praying and consultation with her family.

“I hesitated because I had to pray about it. That was my number one priority and secondly I had to consult with my family. I felt led to accept the offer”, she remarked.

Harper, clad in an orange dress during the interview, believes that she can influence the affairs of the country positively and become one of the leading role models for Guyanese especially women.

Explaining that she felt excited and honoured to be selected by the PPP/C, Harper said if the party were to be successful at the upcoming polls, she would be offering a “public service” as Prime Minister.

“I believe that I can use the almost 40 years that I have spent in the Foreign Service promoting Guyana’s interest abroad to con -

tribute even further to Guyana’s development, particularly in the area of the creation of jobs, a better education system, reducing crime…” a relaxed and low toned Harper said.

She also spoke about the need for youths to be further encouraged to remain in Guyana and to participate in the building of its future.

Harper spoke about the need for efforts to be made to further improve the education system here which she believes can have redounding positive effects on the moral stock of the population.

The former Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry also advocated for equal opportunities to be made available to all Guyanese regardless of the socio-economic differences.

“So once you have an educated population and workforce, you have a better standard of living and better life and the society becomes more comfortable”, she articulated.

In fact, Harper is very concerned about championing the preservation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. She also wants to work to secure more economic growth which is key to building Guyana’s future.

“I believe that we must have a zero tolerance policy on crime… families must be strong... children must be secure”, she said during the interview.

On a more personal note, Harper said that she is treating the negative criticisms about her decision to run as the PPP/C’s Prime Ministerial Candidate differently.

The new coalition has alleged

that Harper would not draw votes and would pose no threat to their bid to remove the PPP/C from office while admitting that she was a competent and professional woman.

“I am trying to look at it differently because I am trying to understand that this is a new role. I will be in the spot light. My family will be but for me I want the issues to be highlighted that people in Guyana wants us to focus on”, she stated.

According to PM Candidate, she would not allow herself to be daunted by the criticisms.

“I am ready for the challenge because whatever I put my mind to, I like to succeed. This is not for Elisabeth Harper; this is for Guyana, the country that I have lived and served for just about four decade”, the former diplo -

mat said.

Anti-domestic violence stance

Harper admitted that she suffered physical abuse at the hands of her first husband, and vowed to work closely with all concerned to eradicate the scourge from society.

“Being able to tell my story from where I came and how I did it… I feel I can encourage women and interest groups to help us… rid us from this scourge”, she insisted.

Spoke of being denied the opportunity to further her education and career in her first marriage and being subjected to poor treatment.

“My first marriage did not last because he did not support my decision to further my career at the University.

"He became abusive and I just felt that that was not right… for me to subject myself to that environment… it was not healthy”, she confessed.

She opened up about becoming pregnant at 17 and the fact that her mother did not make her feel less loved.

“… she was disappointed because I was about to do my A levels… but four sisters were supportive. I know that mom had it hard because she was a single parent and my dad died while I was 12 years old. But she was strong and I believe that I took my strength from her”, a very likeable Harper informed.

She expressed gratitude to her current husband, Mark Harper, describing him as “extremely supportive and interested” in what she does.

She explained that he lends a lot of support to her within

the home and is very concerned about her overall wellbeing.

“He takes care of everything. We are a blended family because he also has a daughter and she lives with us and I consider my daughter too”, Harper stressed.

She recalled starting back in 1976 as a clerk in the registry within the Foreign Affairs Ministry and then giving service at the High Commission in London for four and half years. She returned to Guyana in 1996 and was appointed Director General of the Ministry in 2001.

Recalling one of the things that steered her in the right direction, Harper said “an instance where I had passed a file to the desk officer and I had made a notation on it with some advice and he took to the Permanent Secretary and both of them thought I had some potential and I was moved from the registry into another department.

"I believe that was a turning point in my career. It thought me that to take initiative was not such a bad thing”, she said.

She has three biological children – Melissa, Regan, Natasha whom she declared that, she is very proud of. She also has two grandchildren and a step-daughter.

Harper also spoke about her passion for the elderly and caring for her mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

“It is important that we acknowledge the contributions of our elderly…we need to honour them and respect their needs”, she said before declaring that she was “prepared for the campaign trail”.

A Cinderella story in Canje

By Devina SaMaroo

With nearly five weeks into a series of protest actions on the grounds of Guyana’s premier tertiary educational institute, the University of Guyana’s Administration along with the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU) are expected to sign an agreement to facilitate the resumption of classesmaking way for the restoration of normalcy on the campus.

Both unions met with the Administration on Saturday where they agreed to sign two agreements outlining the necessary conditions for the resumption of duties and recommencement of classes.

The two agreements – Terms of Resumption Agreement and an Interim Salary Increase Agreement – were concurred under the auspices of the Labour Ministry and is expected to be signed on March 2 by the Unions, Vice Chancellor, Pro Chancellor and an official from the Labour Ministry.

The contents of both agreements were endorsed by the Finance Ministry and the University’s Negotiating Team.

The Terms of Resumption Agreement clearly states that should classes be recommenced, there shall be no victimisation or harassment by either side such as dismissals, demotions, transfers, among others.

It also states that there shall be no loss of pay for strike days and no loss of work for the University.

Arrangements will made for staff to work back the time of the duration of the strike in order to complete the backlog of work and meet the various deadlines.

Some of the other terms and conditions include the right for salaries withheld for strike action to be released upon the signing of the agreement and resumption of negotiations within seven days of resumption of duties.

The first issues to be addressed, as outlined in the agreement, will be allowances and other conditions of work according to the demands of the Unions.

Subsequently, the multi-year salary agreement negotiations will commence.

The Administration is also expected to broker agreements with the management of the Guyana Revenue Authority, National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Credit Unions and all other loan agencies paid through the University to prevent penalties to staff members for outstanding payments.

Some of the other demands made by the Unions are for projectors to be installed in all large classrooms, well refurbished blackboards and whiteboards must be available in all classrooms, sufficient markers, chalks, whiteboard and blackboard erasers, among other teaching material must be available, adequate internet supply, and for comput-

ers to be supplied to the desks of all Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, Heads of Sections and Coordinators.

If the parties fail to resolve their differences by June 30, the Labour Ministry will conciliate the matter.

If the conciliation fails with seven days, the parties will go to arbitration under a tripartite and the Labour Ministry will appoint the Chair.

Industrial unrest had begun at UG after the administration failed to meet the demands of the UGWU and UGSSA of a 60 per cent salary increase among other benefits.

Instead, the workers were assured an incremental increase of 25 per cent over a three-year-period – an offer they adamantly refused.

In addition to the 25 per cent increase, workers were also assured benefits such as house lots and duty-free concessions for the purchase of vehicles for lecturers with Master’s Degrees and 10 years of service.

An offer was also made to buy the material needed for work outfits for some staff as well as provide bursaries to their children who performed well in the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA); the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

The story of Cinderella and her happily ever after is one widely read and viewed on television but for Debra Ann Samay of New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) it was very real. Orphaned from the age of nine, Debra accepted all the hardship that comes with growing up in an orphanage hoping that one day all that would change.

On Saturday, the 18 year-old lass got married to Alexander Moore, a six-foot four-inch tall 23-year-old, with whom she had fallen in love. The wedding was sponsored by President of the New York Vighneshwar Mandir; Mochan Persaud who frequently visits the Kamal Home at

Corentyne, Berbice, and several others.

This represented the fulfillment of a promise he made to the young woman during a previous visit.

Debra, described as ‘quiet and shy’, stayed at two orphanages as a child. The former Vrymen’s Erven Secondary School student has not returned to the class room since Grade Seven. The flower girls and some of the bride’s maids were those Debra knew as her younger sisters. At the ceremony, performed by Pastor Azam Gaffar, her story was told which brought tears not only to the bride but those in attendance. The groom has constructed a house for himself and bride.

The groom Alexander Moore, and his bride Debra Samay standing next to her "Fairy God Father" Mochan Persaud

PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper

Jagan cycling trilogy commences today

– organisers anticipating large turnout

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

One of the major events on the local cycling calendar, the Cheddi Jagan Memorial cycling extravaganza, will commence today with the first of three races carded for the month of March.

Road

to Mecca II…

Part one of the trilogy is billed for the West Demerara roadways this morning, with the organisers hoping to attract the usual 50-55 riders who compete on that leg on an annual basis.

This is the seventh year the race is being staged in West Demerara, and according to chief organiser Hassan Mohamed, all systems are in place for today’s activity,

which is being sponsored by Nazeer Ahmad of Cell King.

“I can tell you that everything is in place at the moment; the police have been contacted and they will be on the road maintaining order as the race passes through the various villages,” Mohamed said on Saturday afternoon.

Today’s first stage will start at 08:00h in front of the Wales Police Station, proceed

Ravens overcome tough VVR to advance

By TReisTon Joseph

Defending Champions

Dynas Ravens overcame a tough Victory Valley Royals (VVR) challenge on Friday to advance to the final of the Road to Mecca II National Club Basketball Championships being held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Both teams struggled with their offence but played a very physical style of basketball that made scoring very hard for both sides.

However, Ravens created better open chances with their passing while VVR had too many turnovers to stay in the game.

While VVR cut Ravens lead from 10 in the fourth to just five, Ravens with their offensive boards stretched the lead back to double digits as the game ended 76-65.

Ryan Stephney while missing a few shots from the perimeter, constantly got to the cup as well as the stripe to register a game high 19 points.

Dominic Vincente, Ryan Gullen and Akeem Kanhai had 12, 11 and 10 points respectively to help in the win.

Orlan Glasgow was the VVR’s leading scorer with 18 points Harold Adams had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Sharpshooter Chris Williams had 14 points and 13 rebounds while Lawrence

DeCosta had 11 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.

The Bounty Colts held off the Pepsi Sonics in a thrilling contest that ended 7672 behind Shelroy Thomas’ near triple-double.

Thomas led the way for the Colts with a game high 17 points while grabbing six steals and seven rebounds in a game changing performance

Dave Causway supported Thomas with 16 points while Shane Webster scored all of his 12 points in the post.

Retrieve Raiders easily topped Kashif and Shanghai Kings to be the only Linden side to advance to the semifinal with a 69-44 win.

Raiders dominated in every facet of the game, never allowing Kings to get into

any sort of offensive groove.

Neil Marks led the raiders with a team high 15 points while Keon Cameron had 10. Omally Sampson was the game’s leading scorer with 19 points for Kings while Quincy Easton had 14.

In the final game of the evening, the Trinity Grid Holding (TGH) Pacesetters held on to win against the Plaisance Guardians with a final score of 64-54.

Randy Richardson was beast in the post scoring a game high 21 points while creating a number of second chance opportunities with his offensive rebounds.

Travis Burnett continued to penetrate the defence of the Guardians easily showing off his quick crossovers to register 13 points to end the night’s proceedings.

to Bushy Park, Parika, before returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge, covering a distance of 50 miles.

The ever-improving Michael Anthony of Linden won this leg last year, completing the course in a time of one hour, 54 minutes, 32.05 seconds (01h: 54m: 32.05s).

On March 8, the second leg will take place in the Ancient County of Berbice.

It will commence in New Amsterdam, proceed to Number 63 Village and return to Jagan’s resting place at Babu John, Port Mourant, for the finish.

Roraima Bikers Club’s rider Alanzo Greaves emerged as champion of this leg in 2014, pipping his competitors in a photo finish. He clocked two hours, 17 minutes, 08 seconds (02h:17m: 08s).

The third and final stage is set for March 22 in Essequibo, where villagers usually line the roadways to catch a glimpse of the country’s cyclists locked in fierce battle.

Jagan, one of the founders of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, was an avid supporter and follower of the discplines.

The former Head-of-State passed away in March 1997.

Seasoned campaigner Godfrey Pollydore was the top rider on that leg last year, copping the top podium spot in a time of two hours, 10 minutes, 24.41 seconds (02h: 10m: 24.41s). The race will ride off at Supenaam, head to Charity and return to Anna Regina for the finish.

MCYS/EBFA Pee Wee league…

Agricola needle Herstelling; Mocha

draw with Grove

Compliments of an own goal off the boot of Herstelling Raiders’ Shoran James in the 10th minute, Agricola Red Triangle ended their quest for top honours in the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports (MCY&S) sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Pee Wee League with their second win in five matches.

It was billed as a clash of the defensive-minded teams and that is how it unfolded. Agricola held their nerves to latch on to the win, which has taken them to second in the points standings behind leaders Craig Primary, both on eight points; the latter enjoying a better goal aver-

age.

Bothe teams enjoyed good moments with Herstelling having the edge in offensive raids, but Agricola played with heart and never allowed the opposition to settle in the final third.

Saturday’s opening game produced a 1-1 tie between Grove Hi Tech and Mocha Champs, who registered their first point. Grove have only themselves to blame for not securing full points, throwing away a penalty and scoring against themselves, which handed Mocha their first point.

Six minutes into the game, Grove’s leading goalscorer, Devon Padmore, was

on the score sheets again, but this time against his own team much to the delight of Mocha. It was actually Mocha’s first goal in their third game of the league. It took some time for Grove to even the score, but 20 minutes after, Jamal Thom rocked the nets to equalise and ensure that the home team earned an equal share of the points, which saw them ending the competition on seven points from their five matches.

The boys from Mocha still have two games to play, having joined the competition late, while Craig and Herstelling have a game each remaining.

The country’s top riders are slated to blaze the West Demerara roadway today

Dr Cheddi Jagan

Hassan Mohamed

Ryan Stephney finds his way to the cup for an easy lay in

The Agricola players on the attack against Herstelling Raiders at the Grove Playfield on Saturday

"Pitches a major concern in the Caribbean" – Shiv

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

The issue of improper cricket pitches in the Caribbean has once again raised its ugly head, with one of world cricket’s top batsmen, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, expressing grave concerns over the quality of turfs that are being prepared for regional competitions.

Chanderpaul comments come days after he was involved in a brilliant partnership with Narsingh Deonarine to lead Guyana Jaguars to a tremendous victory after being set a huge target of 333 by Barbados Pride in the seventh round of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day competition.

“The pitches are a major concern in the Caribbean. It’s not the same type of wickets we used to play on in the past. These same wickets we use to play on in the past, the ball used to come on better, more bounce, more pace… the bounce used to be a lot truer; not so uneven as these wickets we’re playing on now, the pace is inconsistent,” the ace West Indies batsman explained.

Chanderpaul, who has been plying his trade on the international circuit since 1994, said the current pitches in the Caribbean do little to help the current crop of regional batsmen aspiring to play at the highest level.

He continued, “It’s difficult for batters to improve and get better, especially when you play on wickets like these, and when you go play international games the wickets are much better, the ball is coming on better. It’s hard work batting on these wickets in the Caribbean, you have to be more watchful these days and you can’t be as fluent as you would like to be. It’s a major concern.”

The West Indies second highest Test runscorer referred to the pitch at the National Stadium, Providence, as typical of what obtains around the region, whereby batsmen don’t have the luxury of playing freely.

“The wicket [at Providence] is not like Bourda; unless they dig the wicket out and remove the sand only then it will become better. But it is not one of those wickets that as a batsman you want to play on, especially when the ball is rolling; some will pop on you, it will stop when you try to hit it, uneven bounce, uneven pace, you don’t know what to play for,” Chanderpaul explained.

The quality of pitches are being reflected in the numbers of the Four-day tournament, with only 14 centuries from seven rounds of competition, with just two individual scores over 150. There have been 13 totals over 300, with only three above 400; while there have been five under 100.

The spinners have reaped the bulk of the benefits, with seven of them in the top ten.

The spin trio Veerasammy Permaul (46), Devendra Bishoo (38) and Imran Khan (36) sit at the top of the pile.

After five matches, Chanderpaul is number nine on the runscorers list with 332 runs at an average of 41.50 with three half-centuries. The only Guyanese above him is Deonarine with 435 runs at number three.

Barbados Pride opener Kraigg Brathwaite, with three centuries, is the leading runscorer with 516, followed by Devon Smith of Windward Islands Volcanoes with 458.

At the completion of seven rounds, Guyana Jaguars lead the points standing with 107, followed by Barbados Pride (82), Windward Islands Volcanoes (80), Jamaica (60), Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (47) and Leeward Islands Hurricanes (17).

The competition will resume next Friday with action in round eight.

Courts behind Mashramani race in Berbice on Sunday

Cyclists in Berbice will be on their wheels to compete against each other as Mashramani activities continue in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Sunday with the Courts Guyana Inc annual 40-mile Mashramani road race.

The event, which will pedal off from outside Courts’ New Amsterdam Branch at Main and St Ann Streets, was launched on Thursday and will coincide with the Berbice Mash event.

It will bring together athletes from Trojan Cycle Club as well as the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC).

Branch Manager of Courts New Amsterdam, Stanley McKenzie, speaking at the launch, said that the company was happy to host the event, which was one of the several ways the company sought to contribute to the community’s development.

McKenzie noted that getting involved with cycling was one of Courts’ ways of aiding in the development of sports.

“It also gives kids something to do which helps them to interact, stay healthy and out of trouble. We at Courts

Media

know that if youths are involved in such activities, like sports it would result in less young people being involved in the use of illicit drugs.”

The event is being organised by FACC Treasurer Randolph Roberts and will see the first six finishers receiving awards along with the first three beginners.

The race is expected to start at 07:30h, head to Adventure, Corentyne before returning to the point of origin for the finish. Six sprint points will also be up for grabs.

is Andre “Padlock” Green of the Trojan Cycling Club. He will be expected to receive a stiff challenge from his club mates Romello Crawford and Juban Crawford. (Andrew Carmichael)

XI, Cultural CC square off today

The Guyana Media XI will travel to West Demerara today to take on hosts Cultural Cricket Club in a feature 20/20 match, set to bowl off at 13:00h.

Both captains said they were looking forward to the encounter, which should be an exciting one. Cultural skipper Tejpaul Persaud said while his team would be more than happy to share their great hospitality with the Media boys, they would be looking for nothing less than victory.

Media XI Captain John Ramsingh said his boys were looking forward to the match-

up, and were aiming to rebound from an eight-wicket loss to Gas XI last Friday at Everest.

Ramsingh pointed out that the Media practitioners have been utilising the Everest Ground for training on a weekly basis and they were fully prepared for what Cultural throws at them.

Below are the two squads from which the final eleven will be selected.

Cultural Cricket Club, sponsored by ND&S Furniture Store, will come from: Tejpaul Persaud (Captain); Steve Haripaul; Seecharran Persaud; Seenarine Mathura;

Chabiraj Ramcharan; Ghansham Mahabal; Daianand Roopnarine; Sidieq Sulaman; Rohan Parsram; Yuvraj Motilal; Dhanpaul Deonarine; Sheik Mohamed; and Feroze Karimullah. The Guyana Media XI squad reads: John Ramsingh (Captain); Daniel Singh; Ravi Persaud; Shahrukh Imran; Rajiv Bisnauth; Avenash Ramzan; Treiston Joseph; Navin Budhai; Keon Blades; Ishaka Jackman; Diquan Murray; Merthel Sammy; Clifton Ross; Esan Griffith; Orlando Charles; Kizan Brummell; and Zaheer Mohamed.

Kiwis top Australia while India run through UAE

New Zealand top Australia by one wicket with Kane Williamson putting the finishing touches on the run chase to end the

Australia were bundled out for 151 as Trent Boult took five wickets for 27 runs. Brad Haddin was Australia’s leading run scorer with 43.

SCOREBOARD

United Arab Emirates innings (50 overs maximum)

Amjad Ali c †Dhoni b Kumar 4

AR Berenger c †Dhoni

b Yadav 4

Krishna Chandran c Raina

b Ashwin 4

Khurram Khan c Raina

b Ashwin 14

SP Patil† c Dhawan b Ashwin 7

Shaiman Anwar b Yadav 35

Rohan Mustafa lbw

b MM Sharma 2

Amjad Javed c Raina b Jadeja 2

Mohammad Naveed b Ashwin 6

Mohammad Tauqir* b Jadeja 1

AM Guruge not out 10

Extras:(lb 4, w 9) 13

Total: (all out; 31.3 overs) 102

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-13, 3-28, 4-41, 5-44, 6-52, 7-61, 8-68, 9-71, 10-102.

India Bowling: B Kumar 5-019-1, UT Yadav 6.3-2-15-2, R Ashwin 10-1-25-4, MM Sharma 5-1-16-1, RA Jadeja 5-0-23-2. India innings (target: 103 runs from 50 overs)

RG Sharma not out 57 S Dhawan c Rohan Mustafa

b Mohammad Naveed 14 V Kohli not out 33

Extras: 0

Total: (1 wicket; 18.5 overs) 104

Did not bat: AM Rahane, SK Raina, MS Dhoni*†, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, B Kumar, UT Yadav, MM Sharma.

Fall of wickets: 1-29. UAE Bowling: Mohammad Naveed 5-0-35-1, AM Guruge 6-1-19-0, Amjad Javed 2-0-120, Krishna Chandran 3-0-170, Mohammad Tauqir

2.5-0-21-0.

Brendon McCullum played well for his half century of 50 for New Zealand before a Kiwis collapse that almost saw them lose the game before a gutsy 45 runs from Williamson that saw New Zealand reach 152 for 9. Mitchell Starc took 6 for 28 in Australia’s bowling effort.

Meanwhile India made easy work of minnows

United Arab Emirates (UAE) by nine wickets.

India got rid of UAE for just 102 runs off 31.3 overs as Shaiman Anwar led the way for UAE with 35 runs.

Ravichandran Ashwin bagged his first four wicket haul for India, ending with figures of 4 for 25.

India during their run chase got to 104-1 off 18.5 overs losing Shikhar

Dhawan on the way to victory.

Rohit Sharma and Virat

Kohli had 57 and 33 runs respectively to see India home.

Australia innings (50 overs maximum)

AJ Finch b Southee 14

DA Warner lbw b Southee 34

SR Watson c Southee b Vettori 23

MJ Clarke* c Williamson b Boult 12

SPD Smith c †Ronchi b Vettori 4 GJ Maxwell b Boult 1

MR Marsh b Boult 0 BJ Haddin† c sub (TWM Latham) b Anderson 43

MG Johnson c Williamson b Boult 1 MA Starc b Boult 0 PJ Cummins not out 7

Extras: (b

Meanwhile, BMX riders will be involved in a one-mile race at the completion of the 40-mile event. They will ride from the New Amsterdam Technical Institute to Courts. The first three BMX finishers will receive prizes. The defending champion

FACC Treasurer Randolph Roberts (left) receives the sponsorship cheque from Courts New Amsterdam Branch Manager Stanley McKenzie – Providence turf among them

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (right) and Narsingh Deonarine during their match-winning partnership against Barbados Pride last week

game.

Ravichandran Ashwin finished with 4 for 25, his first four-for in ODIs

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Squash tournament heats

Former junior champion, Nyron Joseph (-16) topped former champ Ashley Khalil (-3) on night four of the Digicel sponsored Bounty Farm Ltd handicap tournament on Friday evening at the Georgetown Club Squash Court.

Joseph showcased his athleticism and speed to overcome a skillful Khalil in two straight sets at 15-6 and 15-9.

Meanwhile Jason ray Khalil top Ben Mekdeci in two straight sets that ended at 15-7 and 15-6 in a match that previewed the possible winners of the tournament.

However, earlier Mekdeci topped Daniel Islam in two sets at 19-17 and 15-13 to end the night as one of the better players in the tournament.

Full Results; Open Category: Nyron Joseph-16 defeatedAshley Khalil - 3 15 – 6, 15 – 9, Raphael De Groot -13 beat John Maikoo +7 18 –16, 14 – 16, 15 – 13, Nicholas Narain -15 defeated Regan Pollard -16 16 – 14, 15 – 10, Ben Mekdeci -11 defeated Daniel Islam +7 19 – 17, 15 –13, Jason Ray Khalil -24 defeated Ben Mekdeci -11 15 –7, 15 – 6.

Category A: Michael Alphonso -1 defeated James Mekdeci +7 17 - 15, 15 – 13, Lucas Jonas -3 defeated Kirsten Gomes +4 15 – 12, 12 – 15, 15 – 8, Demetrius De

Abreu -1 defeated Madison Fernandes +3 15 – 8, 15 – 10, Ethan Jonas -1 beat Liam Carpenter +9 15 – 9, 15 – 10.

Open category Plate: Alex Cheeks +7 beat Timothy Jonas +10 17 – 15, 15 – 10, MedhiRamdhani +5 beat Andrea King 15 – 10, 15 – 12, Taylor Fernandes +6 defeated Robert Hiscock +8 15 – 9, 15 – 12, Stephen Fernandes+7 beat Shayne Seebarran +11 15 – 9, 15 – 7, Anil Singh +10 beat Sarah Lewis +11 15 – 9, 15 – 11, Tiffany Soloman+8 defeated Tristan Gomes +11 15 – 6, 15 – 8, Joe Mekdeci 0 beat Dwayne Yan +9 12 – 15, 17 – 15, 15 – 13, Rebecca Low +9 defeated Ingram Edwards +4 15 – 17, 15 – 12, 15 – 10, Stephen Fernandes +7 beat

Taylor Fernandes +6 15 – 10, 15 – 12, Joe Mekdeci 0 beat Rebecca Low +9 8 – 15, 15 –13, 15 – 13, Tiffany Soloman +8 beat Anil Singh +10 17 – 15, 13 – 15, 15

Action between Ashely Khalil and Nyron Joseph (Treiston Joseph photo)

wAnTed

Fixtures out for K&S football tourney

Representatives of the participating teams in the upcoming 25th edition of the Kashif and Shanghai tournament gathered at the 704 Sports Bar on Saturday for a team briefing and the unveiling of fixtures for the competition.

The tourney will kick off with Georgetown Football Club (GFC) against Den Amstel, followed by Riddim Squad versus New Amsterdam United in a double-header on March 20 at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground.

On March 21 at the Victoria Community Centre ground, two-time champions Fruta Conquerors will play Mahaica Determinators and 2008 winners Pele will come up against Grove HiTech.

On day three at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground, the Guyana Defence Force will play

Winners Connection and 2009 champions Western Tigers will collide with HiStars.

The final first round matches in the ‘win or go home’ format tournament will see Guyana’s number one club Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United playing newcomers Agricola Red Triangle and Slingerz FC

making their Kashif and Shanghai tournament debut 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 battle ground for the tournament’s semi-finals

on April 1 and the final will be played at the Guyana National Stadium on April 5.

The winners of this year’s tournament will walk away with $2 million, while the runner-up will pocket $1 million. Third and fourth placed finishers will receive $500,000 and $250,000 respectively.

Everest President rolls out plan for new term

Attorney-at-Law

Stephen Lewis, who was on Friday evening returned unopposed as President of the Everest Cricket Club, rolled out a packed agenda for the next term in office, even as he expressed appreciation to the members for the “overwhelming confidence bestowed in me.”

Immediately upon being re-elected the Annual General Meeting (AGM), Lewis implored on the Executive Committee to uphold the constitution, rules, and bylaws of the club and safeguard the best interest of the club.

“Going forward, we will continue to develop the club by undertaking more works and projects in the area of ground and building, the completion of the outdoor kitchen and bar. A comprehensive upgrade of our computer and accounting system,” Lewis said.

Another area of focus for Lewis would be revenue

generation that will fuel the club’s sustenance and activities.

“My committee and I shall endeavour to look closely at the debt collection and put in place more stringent measure to realise out receivables. We shall set up a committee to reach out as far as possible, to the more than 70 per cent of members, who have not been paying dues,” Lewis remarked.

The President also spoke of the need to increase mem-

bership at the facility. “We shall continue to endeavour to increase our membership, and to this end, I urge you the members to bring the purposes of enrolling as members at least two persons for the year 2015.”

With the exception of a changing of guard at the Assistant Secretary post, all the other executives were returned unopposed. Daniel Singh has replaced Paul Parsram in that position.

The Executive Committee

members are: Stephen Lewis (President), Rajesh Singh (1st Vice-president), Charamchan Rambarran (2nd Vicepresident), Manichan Rai (Secretary), Royston Rachpaul (Treasurer), Daniel Singh (Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer), Anthony Rampersaud (Assistant Treasurer) and Shaheed Mohamed (Club Captain).

The Committee Members are Looknauth Persaud, Harry Yankana, Mark Singh and Johnny Azeez.

Chandrika eying maiden FirstClass century

– blames lack of concentration, soft dismissals for average season so far

By Rajiv Bisnauth

After seven rounds in the inaugural West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League four-day tournament, the Guyana Jaguars have chalked up six outright wins, and is certainly in control of the title for the first time in 17 years.

The South Americans are at the top of the table with 107 points, a clear 25 points ahead of Barbados Pride.

During the terrific performance, the Jaguars have definitely clicked as a unit.

The batting has been the dominant force with four batsmen with more than 300 runs so far.

Narsingh Deonarine (435), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (332), Rajendra Chandrika (324) and Vishual Singh (302), are among twelve batsmen with more than 300 runs.

Deonarine and Singh are among eleven batsmen to have scored hundreds. But despite missing out on his maiden First-class century, opener, Rajendra Chandrika was among Guyana’s best batsmen on show, displaying a high level of consistency – something that eluded him during his short career at the regional level.

The right-handed batsman has stood tall, scoring three half-centuries with the highest of 83.

However, the 25-yearold, during an interview with this publication on Friday, expressed mixed feelings about his perfor-

mance so far.

“I think I’ve had an average tournament so far. I am pleased with my efforts, but at the same time, very disappointed not to have scored at least one century,” Chandrika pointed out.

Considered one of the more technically correct young batsmen in the Caribbean, Chandrika, who represented Guyana in 28 First-Class matches, seems to have settled as a regular opener in the side, blamed a lack of concentration and soft dismissals as factors in him not being able to convert his starts into a triplefigure score.

“Yes, concentration has been major reason for me not being able to convert to three figures but having said that, I think I had some soft dismissals too” Chandrika said.

With Guyana set to host the Jamaica Franchise from Friday and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force from March 13, Chandrika is keen on making maximum use of the remaining opportunities in the tournaments, as he seeks to register his maiden First-Class ton.

“Yes I am looking forward to the remaining games but my main focus is to score my maiden FirstClass hundred,” Chandrika, who also represented the Sagicor High Performance Centre, said.

The Jaguars will play hosts Windward Islands Volcanoes from March 20, in the final round.

Member of the organising team briefing representatives of the participating clubs at 704 Sports Bar on Saturday

Everest President Stephen Lewis (centre, front row) pose with some members of the Executive Committee following Friday’s AGM

Rajendra Chandrika drives during his knock against Barbados Pride

Chanderpaul excited about maiden stint in CPL

calls new coach Hooper a people’s person

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

After missing out on the first two years, ace West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul said he is eagerly looking forward to making his debut in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20, set to run from June 20 to July 26.

The veteran Guyanese left-hander, who at 40 is the oldest active cricketer in the Caribbean, was snapped up by the Guyana Amazon Warriors at the CPL Player Draft in Kingston, Jamaica, on February 5. He was bought in Round 12 for US$10,000, and is one of six players to represent the local franchise for the first time.

The former West Indies captain said he is excited to get an opportunity to play in the “Biggest Party in Sport”, which will once again be contested by six franchise-based teams.

“Yea definitely, you know I have been playing Premier League cricket around the world; Sri Lanka, Bangladesh; I’ve been to India the first time…but I’ve never played [T20s] in the Caribbean, so I’m actually

sweep for

happy to play this year in the Caribbean Premier League,” Chanderpaul pointed out.

The “Tiger”, as he fondly called, was bought by the St Lucia Zouks franchise during the inaugural CPL tournament in 2013, but missed the entire competition due to contractual obligations with English county side, Derbyshire. Although he was available for selection last year, the Caribbean’s secondhighest run-scorer in Test cricket went unsold. Now with his name firmly etched on the Guyana

Amazon Warriors roster, the region’s most experienced cricketer with a record 161 Test matches to his name is looking to play his part in ensuring the Warriors go one step further and win the title this year. The Guyana Amazon Warriors finished as runner-up on both occasions so far, losing to Jamaica Tallawahs in 2013 and Barbados Tridents last year.

Chanderpaul said he is keen to work along with the group of players and management team, especially the new coach and his former

teammate, Carl Hooper.

“Hoops is always a cool fella. He’s very understanding; he’s one of those guys you can talk to. Yes, he likes to get the job done, but he’s a very relaxed guy and not one to stress any player out,” Chanderpaul said of Hooper.

He continued, “He played at the highest level for a long time, he knows the stress and everything you have to deal with when you play at a higher level. He’s a guy who knows how to deal with people and he is a guy I have had respect for over the years, and it will always be that way.”

Great asset Team Operations Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Omar Khan, in an exclusive interview with this publication last month said Chanderpaul’s inclusion will definitely boost the morale of the squad.

“Shiv is still playing cricket; Shiv is very active, still very fit, still scoring runs, so his experience and knowledge will be a great asset to the team. He will bring that to the table where he will help motivate the guys,

he will help add experience in match situations and help support the overall team effort,” Khan said with confidence.

He continued, “Shiv is also a legend of West Indies cricket. He has been representing Guyana and West Indies so consistently well over the years, and when the opportunity came for us to pick Shiv it was a great opportunity to give him a chance to be a part of the team, not only in terms of his cricketing skills, but his experience as an international player, his experience

as a professional cricketer.” Chanderpaul, with over 20,000 runs at the international level and 41 centuries, has appeared in 79 domestic T20s, with a highest score of 87 not out and a strike rate of 106.

He joins Australia’s Brad Hodge, Sir Lanka’s Thisara Perera, and the Guyanese trio Assad Fudadin, Paul Wintz and Devendra Bishoo as the newcomers in the squad.

Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga and Tillakaratne Dilshan, Trinidadians Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons and Denesh Ramdin, along with Guyanese Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton and Trevon Griffith are the other members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors unit.

The CPL is the Region’s premier T20 tournament, attracting sold-out crowds and is viewed by millions across the globe. It will once again feature six franchises, namely, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Lucia Zouks, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

Golden Jaguars, St Lucia to square off March 22

With the aim of affording the Golden Jaguars every opportunity to play competitively ahead of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, set to start in June, the Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has finalised an international friendly game against St Lucia on March 22.

The match will be played at the Guyana National Stadium, marking the return of international football to the venue after a brief hiatus.

“In keeping with its mandate of playing more football at every level, the Guyana Football Federation’s Normalisation Committee is pleased to formally announce that we have successfully negotiated with the St Lucia Football Association to play an international friendly match. The game has been confirmed for Sunday March 22, 2015

Upcoming World Cup matches (with Guyana time)

Monday: 24th Match, Pool B- Ireland v South Africa, 23:30h

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

at the Guyana National Stadium Providence, kicking off at 19:30h,” the Normalisation Committee said via a release.

The game will be the Golden Jaguars’ second international friendly of the year, following their 2-2 draw with hosts Barbados on February 1.

The release continued, “In a similar vein, this St Lucia engagement will serve to also give the Head Coach and Technical Team another chance to further assess where our competitive game is as we continue to prepare for the CONCACAF preliminary qualifying round in June for the 2018 FIFA

World Cup. More players would be given the opportunity to impress the technical staff as we aim to put together the best possible team to represent Guyana.”

The Head Coach and Technical Team for the upcoming game will be assembled this week and the Normalisation Committee will host a press conference on Wednesday to announce the appointments. The Normalisation Committee is also currently exploring the possibility of hosting another international friendly against a yet to be named country, almost immediately following the St Lucia game.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has previous experience in T20 League cricket. Here he plays a reverse

Una Next against Wyamba United in the Sri Lanka Premier League

Carl Hooper

Flashback! The Golden Jaguars players take a break from training ahead of the Barbados game