Guyana Times Daily

Avon pulls products, ends operations in Guyana

Avon, one of the world’s leading beauty and cosmetics companies, has announced its decision to cease operations in Guyana and the Caribbean with effect from the end of campaign five 2015, which was February 17.

Corporate Communication Officer for Avon Products located in New York Lindsay Fox told this publication that Avon will no longer accept orders from territories in the Islands market that fall under US distribution.

She stated that the company will now focus its resources on restoring the health of the US business to deliver future growth.

When asked for a more transparent reason for pulling the plugs on the operations in Guyana, thus affecting many livelihoods, Fox said she is unable to share any more information in that regard.

Reports indicate that as many as 16 Caribbean nations will be greatly affected by this decision.

However, Fox pointed out that Hawaii, Guam and Saipan and the other islands served through Avon Puerto Rico distribution will not be

affected by the closure of these Islands markets.

Local agents were made aware of this transition via a brief email. The message further warned them to desist from promoting Avon products.

According to one displaced representative, the termination came without any warning or prior notice.

Speaking on behalf of the other representatives in Guyana, she said many are gravely concerned about the heavy impact it will have on their livelihoods.

Avon Products, Inc, known as Avon, is an American international manufacturer and direct selling company in beauty, household, and personal care categories.

It is the fifth-largest beauty company and second largest direct selling enterprise in the world, with 6.4 million representatives.

$7.8M bridge linking Moruca Road in Region 1 under construction

Residents living in the Moruca district Region One, (Barima ─ Waini) now have easier access to various other regions within the Amerindian Community of the Moruca sub district.

The Region One Administration under its Capital Work Programme has expended the sum of $7.8 Million towards the construction of a steel reinforced bridge.

During a recent visit, to the community Region

Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud said he is happy over the development and for construction of the bridge to usher in a new era.

Persaud who is a senior representative of the PPP/C inspected construction work on the bridge. He was accompanied by party organiser Orlanzo (only name).

Persaud said that the bridge is another testimony of Government’s development work in the Barima ─ Waini Region. He said that the bridge will assist many communities inclusive of farmers, residents and drivers in the area.

The bridge was constructed by an Essequibo Contractor Bacchus.

Robbery spree ends with Albouystown duo being remanded

Two men from Albouystown were refused bail on Friday for stealing millions of dollars in items from five persons.

Nineteen-year-old Keon Simon and Akeem Marshall appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the charge of armed robbery against Nadira Rambakan, Chandra Deol Rambakan, Ineze Hope, Christopher Langevine and another complainant.

Magistrate McLennan stated that Simon along with his accomplice stole $400,000 worth in jewellery from Nadira Rambakan while simultaneously stealing $695,000 worth in items from her husband, Deol Rambakan. It was pointed out that the duo carried out the brazen robbery using a handgun.

Meanwhile, it is alleged

that Marshall along with another accomplice, stole $1,600,000 worth in jewellery while holding another virtual Complainant at gunpoint on January 15, 2015. However, Magistrate McLennan stated that on February 2, 2015 the two defendants teamed up to commit an armed robbery against Hope and Langevine. In relating the facts of the matter, the Magistrate said that while on Balm Street, the duo stole $1,680,000 in jewellery from Hope and $40,000 from Langevine. Simon and Marshall were not required to plead to the indictable charge.

Police Prosecutor, Deniro Jones, asked that bail be refused, explaining that the defendants had no fixed place of abode. Simon and Marshall were subsequently denied bail. They are scheduled to reappear in Court on March 24, 2015.

Man apprehended after snatching chain

Police said a man (name not given), who allegedly snatched a gold chain from a woman in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market area on Friday and attempted to escape, was apprehended.

The arrest was made at about 20:30h by a member of the City Constabulary who was in the area at the time.

From reports received, the woman raised an alarm after

the perpetrator snatched the chain and the rank immediately responded. He went in pursuit of the man and successfully managed to arrest him.

Upon his arrest, an unlicensed .32 revolver along with one matching round was found in his possession. Charges are expected to be laid shortly.

Avon’s local office at Camp and Lamaha Streets, Georgetown

The bridge is being built over a creek and links the Main Road at Haimaruni, Moruca

BRIDGE OPENINGS

Elections 2015…

PPP/C’s PM candidate: Elizabeth Harper!

... Hinds offers congrats; bows out after 20 years

The

FERRY SCHEDULE

WEATHER TODAY

Winds:

High

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) on Saturday made one of the most unexpected announcements by naming Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Elizabeth Harper as its Prime Ministerial Candidate to contest the May 11 Regional and General Elections.

The revelation was made by President Donald Ramotar and General Secretary of the PPP/C Clement Rohee at a hastily called press conference on Saturday at the party’s headquarters. According to Rohee, the tradition of having the Central and Executive Committees involved in the process of selecting the Prime Ministerial Candidate from the Civil society was maintained. It was in this process he said, that the Ambassador was chosen.

“The Central Committee of the PPP, the second highest decision making body of our party after Congress has just concluded a historic meeting. Having considered a report from the Executive Committee on the subject of a Prime Ministerial Candidate was presented with a single nomination for the candidate to be the Prime Ministerial Candidate for the PPP.

The Central Committee unanimously endorsed the nomination presented by the Executive Committee and reaffirmed the tradition established since 1992 whereby the PM candidate would be a member from Civil Society,” Rohee told media operatives.

He noted that while there were several other contenders in the race for the position, it was Harper who managed to receive the unanimous votes of the Committee due to her wealth of experience and qualifications.

“Mrs Elizabeth Ann

Harper brings to the table, that sparkle; that burst of freshness that will energise and inspire membership, supporters and well wishers to work hard for the party’s victory at the polls. Mrs Harper has for years, laboured in the ravines of international diplomacy in service of our people and nation. She is a proven servant of the people in service of our country and nation.

youthful leaders who have enjoyed their democratic right, we are focused on renewal and reached out to the best in the interest if the people of Guyana. There are many well deserving individuals within and outside of our ranks who received our attention and consideration… Chosen was a Guyanese who has served our nation with distinction – not a par-

She is a proven servant of the people of Guyana. The consummate public servant and totally committed to placing at the disposal of the PPP Government, her invaluable skills and experience she has accumulated over the years and which will contribute immensely to a strong, stable and secure Guyana,” the General Secretary shared.

Meanwhile, President Donald Ramotar in a brief statement told media operatives that while there were many contenders for the position, he was happy that the choice was Harper, who has time and again proven that she is a Guyanese by working for the good of the country.

“While we have had many tried, tested and

tisan but a patriot who for her entire career as an outstanding diplomat has dedicated her service to ensuring our great land remain united and sovereign,” President Donald Ramotar expressed.

Ramotar noted that he strongly believes that with Harper running alongside him in the upcoming elections, the PPP/C will not only win the election, but will do so with a majority since he had every confidence in Harper’s ability.

“Her experience, dynamism and loyalty for this country will compliment her leadership qualities,” he said.

Harper, 57, who hails from Kitty, Greater Georgetown, has worked in the foreign service for

decades. Harper succeeds outgoing Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds who has held that position since 1992 when the PPP/C was voted into office for the first time in 28 years.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in French from the University of Guyana as well as the title of the Best Graduating Student (1981-1986) as well as a Certificate in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford, England. The newly elected PM candidate who also holds the Golden Achievement Award, began her career at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1976 as a Registry Clerk, moving her way to hold the title of Director General at the Ministry.

She has previously served as Director, Department of the Americans and Asia at the Ministry from 1996 to 2001; a Consular at the Guyana High Commission, London 1991-1995, Head of the Frontier Division, Foreign Affairs Ministry 1990-1991.

She has been a member of Guyana’s delegation to various meeting of the Caribbean Community, The Latin American Economic System, The Association of Caribbean States (ACS), The United Nations (UN), the Commonwealth, the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), among others.

Harper has served in several other positions as Ambassador to Caricom (2003 to present), Non-resident High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago (2003-present), Non-resident High Commissioner to Barbados (2004-present), Non-resident High Commissioner to Grenada (2006-present and Non-resident High Commissioner to St Kitts and Nevis.

PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate Elizabeth Harper

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

Race and class in Guyana

One of the salient characteristics of Guyana becoming an independent nation, and then a Republic, was a collection of leaders who were very aware of the challenges of our demographics. The most pertinent feature of the latter was the interaction of class and race in the formation of our national identity - or lack of one.

Against a background of an overt policy of "divide and rule" along racial lines by the British for more than a century - we were even taught in schools that we were "a land of six peoples" - it was not surprising that race loomed large in the ethos of the ordinary citizen.

Even from an economic standpoint, race and class became coterminous: the means of production as well as the Government and its bureaucracy were controlled by the "whites" and the "almost white".

It is to the credit of Dr Cheddi Jagan, that when he returned to Guyana from his studies in the USA, he recognised the barriers race created to an effective independence movement. He had seen and experienced first hand in the US, the vicissitudes of the "race line" in a country that was ostensibly "democratic". He rejected the invitation of the then dominant "race" organisations and opted to stress "class" from a Marxist standpoint to mobilise the Guyanese people.

He argued that the overwhelming majority of the Guyanese people were "working class" and it made tactical, in addition to moral, sense to organise them all. However, he accepted some of the "old guard" in the fledgling People's Progressive Party (PPP) because he recognised that an independence movement must be as broad-based as possible.

But he insisted that the thrust of the movement would always be justice for the working class as a whole rather than honing in on racial demands.

When Burnham split the PPP in 1955, most interestingly he not only took African Guyanese with him but the Indian traditionalists like Jai Narine Singh and Latchmansingh.

The African leftists who agreed with the class approach remained with Jagan and in 1958 Burnham's completed the racial reorientation of Guyanese politics when he merged his "PPP" group with the United Democratic Party (UDP)comprised of the elite from the League of Coloured Peoples - to form the People's National Congress (PNC).

After he was ousted from office in 1964 by the CIA with PNC's support, Jagan moved even more radically left and changed the PPP to an explicit Marxist Leninist party in 1969. While he had been trenchantly criticised for not "acknowledging" the realities of American hegemony in this hemisphere, Dr Jagan and the PPP have never been given enough credit for rejecting race as a mobilising tool and insisting on class - which encompassed all Guyanese.

Within the PPP, no one could (or can) ever argue for one race over another, since this contradicted the principle of the party that "class was more fundamental than race". It is to his credit and success, that Dr Walter Rodney, accepted also this tenet and mobilised accordingly in coordination with Dr Jagan and the PPP.

When so called "liberals" like Khemraj Ramjattan, a former leader of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) argued at PPP Congresses for the Marxist Leninist line to be abandoned, they were not only making "accommodations" to the US realities but more insidiously, were undermining the non-racial legitimacy of the PPP.

Today Guyana is witnessing the absolute embrace of race by both the PNC (and its fig leaf successor APNU) and the Alliance For Change. But even though they are counting on youths being unaware of the fruits of that racial whirlwind Guyana reaped in the 1960s, those same youths have already been turned off by the cynical and callous racial arithmetic of the AFC, boasting that it will add its 11 per cent "Indian" vote to the PNC’s 40 percent. Racial means cannot become non-racial ends.

Prevailing sense of misunderstanding exists on the part of GGDMA

Dear Editor,

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) notes with interest and consternation an article headlined, “Miners hammer Gov’t shields: the reality is we haven’t got anything, just press releases”, and is purportedly to have emanated from the statements of Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) identifying areas where assistance to the mining sector has not been forthcoming.

Given the article, there seems to be a prevailing sense of misunderstanding and/or miscommunication on the part of the GGDMA and as such, the Ministry takes this opportunity to provide and seek clarifications on these matters.

The following issues/ concerns were noted in the article:

Fuel licence

Given the request and appeals of the GGDMA regarding the high cost of fuel as a primary input into the production process, a fuel importation license was requested and granted in 2013 to the GGDMA in or-

der to facilitate cheaper import of fuel.

Additionally, at the request of the Association, the Government approved the waiver of 10 per cent of the applicable tariff on imported diesel fuel under the said License.

It should be noted that the Guyana Revenue Authority and Guyana Energy Agency also provided extensive guidance to the Association on the advancement of their proposed operation.

To date we are still awaiting a response from the Association who has requested permission to use local dealers in the interim whilst they develop storage facilities.

Duty free

Notwithstanding that All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), excavators, bulldozers and other machinery that small and medium scale operations continue to benefit from duty free concessions granted to miners, the Government, working closely with the GGDMA, approved the granting of waivers for double-cab pickups to various categories of miners based on their pro-

duction levels.

As indicated by the GGDMA, the approval was granted effective from January 2015 and the Association has been invited to review and sign the agreement to commence the process.

Spares

The Government is working with miners on this and to date approval has been granted on the waiver of tariffs and duties on matting that the GGMDA pointed out was pivotal to their operation.

The list of suppliers recommended by the GGDMA was approved for tax waivers on the importation, and we are advised that to date, a number of transactions have been processed.

Security

The MNRE facilitated meetings between the Minister of Home Affairs, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and GGDMA with the understanding of the security concerns and constraints facing the sector and established a working relationship between GGDMA and the Guyana Police Force.

In addition, we are advised that a committee was created to address security matters.

However, if the mechanisms implemented to address security concerns prove to be inadequate, then we are sure that when the Association reaches with Head of the GPF and the Minister the situation will be addressed.

The Government through the Ministry wishes to reiterate its support for the mining sector and will continue to work earnestly and assiduously to ensure that the industry remains viable and sustainable.

In this regard, the Ministry finds the recent comments by the Association surprising after there would have been numerous engagements and deliberations on these very same matters.

Additionally, you might be aware that a meeting has been arranged for March 5 at 13:00h with President Donald Ramotar to further these discussions.

Joslyn McKenzie Permanent Secretary, MNRE

A Tufted Capuchin Monkey left off his food to pose for a photo at Yarakabra Creek, Guyana (Shantanand Anude photo)

Recognizing and supporting good governance

Dear Editor,

I have no clue of the identity of Punti Peraud, the author of a letter, “Harry Gill now speaks from the other side of his mouth”. I also have no clue of the gender of this person or whether anyone bearing the name, “Punti Peraud”, really exists.

But this letter caused me to take a break from my busy schedule to respond appropriately. I hope it is given the same prominence in the newspaper which published it.

It is no secret that I had once foolishly and unjustifiably attacked the Jagdeo Administration while living in New York, believing then that I was an authority on the domestic policies of Guyana simply by reading the an online newspaper and listening to a hate radio on the internet.

I was wrong then, and I personally and publicly apologized to former President Bharrat Jagdeo for my indiscretions.

Over the years since, I tried to right a wrong and to recognize and support the PPP/C for good governance; for rescuing Guyana from economic disaster caused by the policies of the PNC Government; and for improving the quality of life of every Guyanese, including those living in Opposition strongholds like Linden and Buxton.

It is obvious that the letter writer, “Punti Persad”, is

as brainwashed and misguided as a close relative, whom I love, but no longer have a relationship with after issuing threats to my personal safety on behalf of the PNC party he foolishly continues to serve.

In an effort to silence me, I was told that Robert Corbin was really upset by my letters attacking the mismanagement of Guyana’s resources under past PNC Administrations that led to the nation’s bankruptcy, and was told:

“Harry, they’re some people in the PNC who could hurt you really bad... I cannot protect you if you don’t stop writing letters criticizing the PNC.”

This is the same family member who called me in Bartica during the 2013 Regatta to say that he has no respect for David Granger because Granger failed to thank him and others in Region Three (West DemeraraEssequibo Islands), who worked tirelessly for the APNU campaign during the 2011 general election.

He wanted me to relay this message to Granger, as he knew Granger and I were both staying at the same hotel in Bartica.

Surprisingly, David Granger did not know who my relative was, a man who served the PNC with loyalty and passion since the days of Burnham.

But I merely mentioned him in this letter to illustrate that nothing this PPP/C

government does would ever change the hearts and minds of those who blindly disregard all the positive changes taking place here that have made life much easier for them and their families under the same Government they so despise.

Anyone who knows my relative will agree that he has achieved more wealth conducting honest business under this PPP/C government than he ever did taking tremendous risks under the PNC, but for him to admit that, would be seen as blasphemous given his loyalty to the PNC-APNU.

The writer, “Punti Peraud”, asked that I itemize “the new projects which have come on stream” to justify development in Guyana. This person must be either blind or lives on the summit of Mount Roraima, far away from civilization.

For everywhere who one goes in every region of this country, there are real signs of ongoing development and economic prosperity. New businesses and beautiful homes can be seen everywhere.

More Guyanese own their own homes and house-lots; and more families now own a car, a necessity that was only a dream 20 years ago.

And while the Opposition will argue that these are privately owned, the PPP/C government has made it possible through good governance and a growing, stable economy,

to allow commercial banks to give mortgages to new and existing homeowners and loans to buy vehicles.

If the economy of Guyana was bad or unstable like it was in the days of the PNC, banks would not have money to lend, and Courts would not risk giving credit to anyone to purchase furniture or appliances as they willingly do now.

New projects are so commonplace that most Guyanese now take them for granted: new schools; new roads and bridges; new hospitals and health centers with new ambulances and modern medical equipment; a new Police Training Centre; new Police vehicles and technology to fight crime; a new forensic lab; a brand new Marriott Hotel soon to be opened; incentives given to the Private Sector for job creation; and new sports facilities, just to name a few.

And despite efforts by the joint Opposition to derail progress under the PPP/C Government, Guyana will soon have a Speciality Hospital; a new international airport; another bridge over the Demerara River, and the Amalia Falls Hydropower Plant... all because we now have a caring, responsible Government that is committed to improving the lives of every Guyanese.

A student of economics, Davendra Kissoon, wrote the following in a recent letter:

“Under the PPP/C,

Guyana has seen tremendous growth in standard of living, land, life expectancy and economic stability. During the PPP/C reign, we have seen a dramatic increase in the per capita Gross Domestic Product Purchasing Power Parity (GDP PPP).

“In the year 1992, the per capita GDP PPP was US$509.37 and was ranked 133 globally. By the year 2013, the CIA estimated Guyana’s per capita GDP (under the PPP/C) at US$8500 and was ranked 104. This represents a growth of $308 per year growth in per capita GDP, or a 17 times growth.

“There has also been an increase in overall standard of living as shown by the Human Development Index. In the year 1990, the Human Development Index of Guyana was 0.509, by the 2013 it has increased to 0.638. Guyana has moved 0.129 points up the index. This shows an overall increase in the living standards of the country.

“Over the last 23 years, Guyanese have seen increases in life expectancy. In the year 1992, the average life expectancy was 62 years, by the year 2012, the life expectancy had risen to 66 years. This represents an increase in life expectancy by four years. This is due to tremendous improvements in the diagnostic capabilities and overall improvement in the health sector.

“Under the PPP/C, the in-

flation rate has been stabilised. The total inflation of the Guyana dollar in relation to the US dollar from the era before the PPP/C was a massive 3150 per cent, while in the era of the PPP/C was 66 per cent. This represents a massive reduction in inflation or an average inflation of 2.9 per cent in comparison to the US dollar.

“Another triumph of the PPP/C was the overall reduction of debts and the reduction of the debt to GDP ratio. In the year 1992, the debt to GDP ratio amounted to a massive 602 per cent. In comparison, Guyana’s present public debt only amounts to 60 per cent. This is a massive reduction and a very important one.

“Guyana now boasts the fastest growing economy in the Caribbean: better access to healthcare, better accessibility, better schools, press freedom and democratic elections.

“According to the GRA, there are approximately 36 new car owners per day and eight persons who will own a home for the first time each day. Guyana has also experienced eight successive years of economic growth.

“The points presented are only a small part of the many improvements we have seen under the PPP/C. A lot of these improvements are now things we take for granted.” I rest my case.

Harry Gill

AFC-PNC merger, selection of PPP/C PM Candidate and opinion polling

Dear Editor,

One would have thought that the opposition AFC and PNC (APNU) would have used some kind of measuring device to test support among their followers, if not the nation at large, for their plan to merge to contest the upcoming General and Regional elections.

Instead, the parties rushed headlong into an alliance without considering the views of supporters. And it was done in secret. And we now learn that aside from a handful of top officials, no one else was asked about their view of the proposed merger between the PNC and AFC.

Now there are recriminations and falling out in support, even public condemnation and ridicule of both parties with the latter being affected with more falling out than the PNC, whose supporters want to strangle the negotiators for giving up so much.

Had the parties done so, that iss, test support for their proposed marriage, they would have gotten an idea of where that position stands regarding voters. And as such the parties would have made an informed decision about whether to form an alliance.

PNC supporters are upset that the party has given away the store and AFC supporters feel betrayed that their party is so desperate for a man that

it is willing to accept anything.

In modern politics, politicians use available tools to determine support for proposed policies and proposed positions.

Opinion polling is very critical in politics in THE modern era. Bill Clinton successfully used opinion polling in the US when he was President to test support for his plans and became one of the most popular and successful American Presidents. Every President thereafter used that strategy in America to test, influence, and shape public opinion and support.

Polls are conducted every week in the US and over a dozen of pollsters conduct polls for various entities weekly on support for candi-

dates, parties and on policies.

So why isn’t the AFC utilizing the same device to make decisions? Dick Morris could have conducted an opinion poll for AFC as it did in 2006 showing it winning the election. Or Cadres could have conducted a poll as it did for AFC in 2011 showing it winning the election.

Leading personalities in the AFC are complaining they were not consulted about entering into negotiations with the PNC for a marriage. The party’s supporters are also angry about the merger.

How could experienced politicians like my friends Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan make such blunders to sign an agreement and not even bother to consult with key individ-

uals much less its supporters? So even if the party did not want to conduct a poll, could it not have asked its supporters where they stand on a proposed union with the PNC? AFC supporters are not pleased with this marriage.

Opinion polling is critical in modern politics and parties are encouraged to use them to determine their support as they campaign for the upcoming general and regional elections. The polls will assist them to tailor their campaign message to bolster support.

Also, the PPP/C could have had an opinion poll conducted to determine support for various proposed Prime Ministerial candidates.

Vishnu Bisram

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

Page Foundation

Anu Dev

Well, tomorrow is Republic Day and it really is an important day. I certainly wasn’t around way back in 1970, to know personally what it must've been like to live in a country still under the rule of another.

But I do know it feels better to be in control than to be controlled. And we won that right on Republic Dayto make our own decisions without second guessing by a Crown. It’s like an ultimate version of becoming an adult.

My favourite hero in WI history was Toussaint L’Ouverture. To have a man – born a slave – take on the full might of one of the greatest European powers of the day, for the right to be free, was awe inspiring. He was indeed an “Opening”: the eventual independence of Haiti showed the path that every other colony had to walk.

So on Republic Day at

Republic Day!

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will” – Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

least, we should make a point of being proud to be Guyanese. On that day we commemorate the earlier rebellion of our own Cuffy, in our own Berbice, for that same struggle to be free.

I know some people try to raise some Guyanese pride on Republic Day, but unfortunately for most, it’s just about the Mashramani parade.

Granted, everyone has different ways of celebrating, of showing joy. Some people express themselves by parading down the streets in various states of undress in honour of Republic Day. Other people have more demure gatherings to celebrate the day.

But the problematic thing about it all is that most people don’t parade because of national pride. They parade to dress up (or undress) in costumes and ride on floats. Because it’s all about Mashramani – the celebration.

We’ve gotten so caught up with the celebration festivities, that we’ve completely forgotten why we’re celebrating in the first place. Who thinks of the meaning of Cuffy or Toussaint in the definition of what ‘freedom’

means?

One of the aspects of being free means that we’re a democracy – we can elect our own Government. I know I’m thrilled that I’m finally 18, so I can vote in the next election. Even though I just get one vote out of the thousands that are cast on Election’s Day, it still makes me feel like I have a say in who’ll be in charge of running our country.

And I’ll be thinking long and hard about which party has the best interests of the country at the top of their agenda before I cast my vote. Oil's on the way... who's going to introduce a petroleum engineering degree? A healthy nation's a productive nation – which party will implement the best healthcare programme for the country?

Our kids are the future of our country and they need to have a sound education to ensure that they can have successful careers to continue the development of Guyana.

We still have so few scholarships that kids have to write over 20 subjects at CXC to try to grapple for either the regional prize or the two scholarships that

Guyana gives out. Why aren’t we giving out scholarships to children for the different streams, example Science, Arts and Business?

That’ll encourage children to be the best in their chosen field, instead of having to spread themselves too thin to write subjects from all of the streams.

I’ll definitely be voting for whoever addresses the many issues that are currently plaguing our education system.

So don’t just wait until it’s close to elections time to think about whom you’re voting for- that’s when everyone will be standing on their soapbox making grand promises for a bright and shiny, new and improved Guyana.

Look at their actions during the year – what Bills are they pushing for in Parliament? Are they the type of people you’d want representing you?

We’re a Republic now, Guyana. We have the right to vote for who governs our country. So let’s think long and hard and make the decision that’ll be best for our country and our future.

Happy Republic Day!

Batavia residents receive solar light kits

The Guyana Foundation under the Gift of Light Programme distributed several solar light kits to residents of Batavia, Region seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), a remote riverine community 20 minutes from Bartica, on Valentine’s Day, . The programme aims to provide solar light kits to underprivileged residents of communities without electricity supply.

The residents were also shown the simple steps of installing the lights in their homes.

The beneficiaries indicated that the lights will allow them to improve their way of life.

“Children in the community to study after dark, while also benefiting single mothers and those who need to use outdoor restrooms at nights,” a release from the Guyana Foundation stated.

The Foundation’s

Managing Director Anthony Autar explained that they attempted to secure duty and tax-exemption for these light kits, and though they were unsuccessful in that quest, it did not deter them to transform the lives of people who have been neglected.

“The Foundation remains focused on its mission to bring relief to people all across Guyana, and we will continue our efforts to fundraise locally and internationally to ensure that our brothers and sisters in need receive the necessary support to secure a better future for themselves and their families,” Autar said.

He was also hopeful that the Foundation will be granted duty and tax exemptions on the next shipment of solar kits imported.

The distribution of light kits in Batavia marked the completion of the first phase of the programme.

Essequibians benefit from free eye care

Nine hundred and fifty-nine individuals residing on the Essequibo Coast and in the Pomeroon area, benefited from free vision screening and eye examinations.

The free Eye Care Clinic, a five day initiative, was hosted by the Lions Club of Essequibo Coast and conducted by a team of Canadian doctors and specialists, some of whom were also Lions in their homeland.

Of the 959 individuals, 833 persons were fitted with spectacles free of cost.

Apart from Essequibo, the Canadian team ventured to different parts of Guyana, collaborating with other Lions Clubs and organisations to assist the needy with free vision screening and spectacles.

The Eye Care Clinic has been the club’s signature project and is one of the most anticipated among Guyanese. The clinic lasted from February 15-19 at the Anna Regina Mandir.

The Board of Directors and members of the Club expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all those who would have contributed towards making the project a success.

The beneficiaries indicated that it is usually quite costly to obtain spectacles and expressed gratitude to the Lions Club of Essequibo Coast and the Canadian team for organising the project.

Volunteers of the Guyana Foundation with some of the recipients

An elderly woman getting a free eye examination

Rigged elections – Part 1 (1968

and 1973)

October 5, 1992 has been referred to as the ‘Dawn of a New Era’ and ‘the Return of Democracy’ to Guyana. Since 1992 the PPP/C has nurtured the growth and consolidation of a democratic culture in Guyana. The inalienable right of a people to choose a government through the ballot is a fundamental principle in the free world. This commentary seeks to examine the conduct of the 1968 and 1973 general elections in Guyana where the PNC engaged in the massive rigging of the elections that paved the way for the creation of a totalitarian, militaristic and racist regime.

This democratic freedom that we today enjoy under the PPP/C government was non-existent during the infamous 24 years of the PNC

never forget and never take the democratic freedom we enjoy today under the PPP/C government for granted. Let us resolve as a people to give our fullest support to the People’s Progressive Party as the lessons of 1968 and 1973 should be a stark reminder of the undemocratic and vicious nature of the PNC now parading as A Partnership for National

Unity (APNU).

APNU’s Presidential candidate Mr. David Granger who was a former army officer and military liaison to Forbes Burnham, in an interview with Neil Marks, published in the Kaieteur News on Sunday April 10th 2011, when questioned about the rigging of elections by successive PNC governments since 1968, refused to

undemocratic rule where the vast majority of the population was and all the PPP supporters were systematically and methodically disenfranchised. We must recognize that not only was a democracy destroyed but an entire generation was denied the fundamental right to vote, to work, and live free from fear and be part of the political society in Guyana. Hundreds of thousands of persons were forced to migrate in search of a safer environment. Not only were they excluded from the body politics of this country but were also denied opportunities of a peaceful livelihood in the country of their birth.

Careers were destroyed; families were displaced as the PNC crushed every democratic aspiration. This is a period in our country’s history that we must

admit that elections under the PNC were rigged.

By virtue of the subversion of the democratic process through rigged elections for the period 19681992, the PNC established an Exclusionary One Party Sate. In Burnham words, “it matters not how you vote; what matters is who counts the vote”.

The PPP’s charge of this period of rigged elections has now been supported by the US State department declassified documents on Guyana for the Period 1964 – 1968. See: Foreign Relations 1964 – 1968, Volume XXXII, Dominican Republic; Cuba; Haiti; Guyana)

A memorandum prepared for the 303 Committee on a progress report on “Support to Anti-Jagan Political Parties in Guyana” and dated June 05, 1968 reflects part

Following APNU/AFC pact…

Corbin to be used on campaign trail

Fof the PNC strategy to rig the 1968 elections. The following is a direct quote from this report:

“…representatives met with Prime Minister Forbes Burnham in late April to discuss operational matters related to the electoral campaign. At this meeting Burnham stated unequivocally that he plans to conduct the registration and voting in such a manner that the PNC will emerge with an absolute majority in the Guyana National Assembly. Burnham said that he will never again allow the life of his government to depend upon his coalition partner Peter D’Aguiar and that if the voting should turn out in such a manner that he could not form a government without the help of D’Aguiar, he would refuse to form a government. Burnham said that he plans to register 17, 18, 19, 20 year old PNC adherents (minimum voting age is 21 years) to make up the vote he needs and will direct his campaign in such a way as to attract enough additional East Indian voters to put the PNC approximately on par with the PPP in Guyana. The additional votes he would need to give the PNC an absolutely majority would come from the overseas Guyanese.”

Abuse of the Proxy System

The Commonwealth Team of Observers reporting on the conduct of the General Elections of December 1964, Paragraph 12 of the report states: “the one administrative position which seem open to manipulation was the proxy vote, we cannot ignore the possibility of misuse of proxies. We feel that it is our duty to point out that the proxy system is liable to abuse.”

Proxy voting was in the following order in the last three general elections: 300 in 1961, 6,675 in 1964 and 19,000 in 1968. This abuse was evident in the 1968 elections that saw over three times the amount of proxy votes in the 1968 elections as against the 1964 elections.

Padding of Electoral List

The Civil Liberties Action Council (CLAC) in its memorandum to the United Nations refers to the heavy padding of the electoral list (Paragraph 6): “The resultant electoral lists thus became heavily padded with the names of the dead, under-aged and fictitious persons. This manipulation accounted for the fact that the voters roll in Guyana at 300,500 electors represented a 21 percent increase in the 4-year period 1964-1968, as compared with an 18 per cent increase for the 11-year period 19531964.”

ormer Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Robert Corbin is set to make a return to the political arena when the Alliance for Change ― a Partnership for National Unity (APNUAFC) pre-election coalition launches its elections campaign.

Corbin who has not been in the limelight since the 2006 elections will be a feature in the AFC―APNU’s coalition campaign. This is according to General Secretary of the A Partnership for National Unity, Joseph Harmon who was at the time speaking at the two parties’ joint press conference on Friday.

According to Harmon, the party has realised that its past members as well as it present members can make all the difference in the results of the elections and as such, the party intended to make use of every available member.

Used in Linden

“We do not exclude anybody. You see the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is bringing back former President Bharrat Jagdeo and so we are going to utilise all of the resources at our disposal and so Mr Corbin and anybody else from the APNU that had that talent that can come out there and can help to motivate the people to get them out there to vote, we are going to utilise them. So Mr Corbin has a role to play,” Harmon stated.

Meanwhile, Harmon also revealed that the past leader of the PNC has been playing a silent but pivotal part in

healing the wounds suffered by Lideners following the fallout between Congress Place and key leaders in the mining town.

“Corbin is heading a oneman commission to Linden in an attempt to solve the prevailing issues between that region and the party,” Harmon said. “Mr Corbin was actually asked by the leadership of the PNCR to go to Linden to deal with that matter.

Several weeks ago, we had a General Council meeting at which the problem which had existed in Linden was raised and it was fully ventilated at that meeting. As a consequence of the recommendations, Mr Corbin was appointed to head a one man commission to go to Linden to deal with that matter,” he explained.

This, he said has proven to be successful and as such reinforced the need for Corbin to be on board, adding that this has cleared the way for elections campaigning to be taken to that region.

The General Secretary told media operatives that now that all of these issues are being addressed and will no doubt be solved, Region 10’s Chairman Sharma Solomon has been selected to manage the party’s campaign in that region. “I can say to you now that based on the excellent work that he did, we’ve been able to start moving our campaign forward. The campaign team has been named. Mr Sharma Solomon is our campaign manager and the issues are being addressed and it will not affect our campaign”, the General Secretary further stated.

Corbin, who earned his spurs as a teenager during the ethnic cleansing in Wismar back in 1964, was first elected to the National Assembly of Guyana in 1973, became one of the leading lights in the PNC, serving the party as Senior Vice Chairman and General Secretary as well as holding a number of Government Ministries, including the office of Deputy Prime Minister from 1985 to 1992. Elected PNC Chairman in 2000, in December 2002 became acting party leader following the death of Desmond Hoyte. In February 2003, he was officially chosen to lead the PNC.

A disappointing defeat for the PNC in the 2006 legislative elections saw Corbin's leadership come under scrutiny, although ultimately his two prospective challengers withdrew before a contest could be organised and his leadership was affirmed. In July 2012 Corbin was succeeded as party leader by David Granger.

Former Leader of the PNCR Robert Corbin

Congress Place

David Granger

Forbes Burnham

Multimillion-dollar Popeyes franchise opens on Water Street

By Devina Samaroo

Signalling further de-

velopment in the local economy, Guyana Restaurant Inc has opened its third Popeyes franchise at Water and America Streets, Stabroek, Georgetown.

During the grand opening ceremony on Saturday, Chairman of Guyana Restaurant Inc Ram Lalbadhur Singh spoke of the significant achievements the franchise has made since commencing operations in 2010.

“Over the years, business has developed at a pace

where it is now necessary to have a third store since the demand for our products is increasing. It is found that there is a need in this part of Georgetown for a facility of this type because of several offices and businesses which are located in the area. The consistent growth of the economy over the years also added to the encouragement of having an expanded business operation,” Singh explained. This new branch has created employment for 36 persons and will provide additional employment for local businesses that the restaurant will source raw materi-

als from.

Though he did not reveal the cost of this new franchise, Singh disclosed that Guyana Restaurant Inc is seeking to establish other branches across the country in areas like Berbice, West Demerara and possibly the Essequibo Coast.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh who delivered the feature address, acknowledged the importance of this new franchise to the business sector in Guyana.

es that our country have been undergoing over the years; it is reflective of the continued abiding faith of Guyanese entrepreneurs… it is also testimony of continued confidence by both local and international businesses in Guyanese economy,” the Minister said.

Former Attorney General to Guyana Charles Ramson, along with several prestigious local entrepreneurs, was among those present during the opening

“Every day, sometimes unconsciously, a transformation is unfolding before our very eyes… This is a transformation we shouldn’t take for granted. It is testimony of the chang-

ceremony.

Only in September 2014, the franchise had opened its second restaurant at the cost of $700 million (US$3 million) on Camp Street, Georgetown.

Manhunt launched for key suspect in Grove shooting

The Police have launched a manhunt for the key suspect in the shooting to death of ex-Police Constable Beepat Taijram, age 28, of Lot 55 Albouys Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, on Monday last in Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

A Police source told Guyana Times that based on the description of the suspect received, one of the two men was recently released from the Camp Street Penitentiary after serving time for murder. The senior rank said that the

other man is also known to the Police.

They have since visited the last known address of the two men but came up empty handed.

The now dead man was no “saint”, since he too was reportedly charged and placed before the court for simple larceny and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was subsequently dismissed from the Force about two years ago. Up to the time of his death, he was working as a minibus driver.

On the day of the shoot-

ing, Taijram had dropped off a passenger at Campbell Street, Grove, EBD, after which he was attacked by the two men who remained in the minibus. During the commotion, one of the men pulled out the gun and ordered the now dead man to hand over the chain he was wearing but he resisted.

It was then, he was shot to his neck and in a bid to escape, he opened his door and attempted to run but collapsed. The gunman then walked up to the man and pumped another bullet into his body.

From all reports, the two bandits were after Taijram’s gold chain he was wearing at the time of the shooting.

At the time of the incident, a Guyana Defence Force vehicle which was in the area gave chase and one of the ranks discharging a round at the bandits but missed.

The men reportedly made good their escape leaving some personal belongings behind. Taijram was picked up and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Eyew tness

Team building for Guyana...

...with the good and the bad

Well, the choices in front of the electorate on May 11 are becoming clearer by the day. On Saturday, anticipating his re-election, President Ramotar created a “New Economic Council” (NEC) and placed former President Jagdeo in charge.

While the exact details haven’t been released yet, the former President will “assist in conceptualising and crafting economic strategies and initiatives as well as support in the oversight in the implementation of various projects and strategic interventions.”

We rather suspect the Council will be composed like - and perform along the lines of - similar institutions in modern economies. As such, we should see along with Jagdeo, some other high level economists, statisticians and analysts providing “sophisticated guidance to the President”.

In this globalised world that’s still being integrated under all sorts of liberalising regimes, there’s no economic decision that can be taken in isolation any longer - even in a small economy like Guyana’s.

And who’s better to fill this role than the former President who began his stint in government as a Junior and then a Senior Minister of Finance?? It’s said that you can’t teach success - it can only be achieved through a confluence of personal characteristics, training and experience. And once you’ve achieved success, it becomes part of the architect’s “gut reactions” which can’t be duplicated.

But what do we have on the other side - the PNC which became PNCR then PNC R1G then APNU and now APNU-AFC - for guidance on matters economic?

Carl Greenidge, that’s who!! A man who was Burnham’s and Hoyte’s Finance Minister who presided over their bankrupted economy so far into the hole that even the IMF refused to deal with them!

The point is you have no one in the PNC/APNU/AFC coalition who can inspire any confidence in economic development, the way Jagdeo can. Clive Thomas?? Well, he complained that APNU wasn’t meeting with him and WPA even once a month! We wonder about the Donkey Cart Economist Khemraj, who jumped ship from AFC to APNU as a Granger acolyte. Has he slunk back to Florida?

Thing is, just as success breeds success, failure breeds failure. There’s no one in the new coalition who really know the difference between “Moutar” and “guitar”. As such they just make sounds that have no meaningespecially when it comes to economic matters. If folks like Nagamootoo and Ramjattan stay true to form, we can expect them to start undermining any Granger administration.

Jagdeo, on the other hand, has every incentive to ensure that his legacy of high level growth in the Guyanese economy continues uninterruptedly. Go with winners!!

...and with the ugly

Meanwhile, over in the Opposition, more dirt’s emerging on the mountain of labour that produced a mouse - APNU-AFC. And a dirty, stinking mouse it is. This Eyewitness has spent an awful lot of time exposing the hypocrisy of the AFC - but mainly as political pimps who sold their supporters for a mess of pottage to the PNC. And a mess is what it’ll be!

But out of the mouth of one former fervent supporter, immigration lawyer Balwant Persaud, he’s revealed that in addition to there being a “Gang of five” who’re totally controlling the AFC - there has been some serious financial hanky panky going on in that den of inequity. But then can you expect better for their rogue’s gallery of leaders??

According to Persaud - who’s singing like a twatwa because the Gang of Five broke their foundational principle not to merge with either the PNC or PPP - tens of millions of dollars are missing from the AFC’s kitty. This might call for jail time even BEFORE the elections!!

...and the West Indies team

We know “one swallow doesn’t make a summer”. But you gotta admit...that overwhelming victory over Pakistan did feel good, no?? How sweet it is!!

The new Popeyes franchise at America and Water Streets, Stabroek, Georgetown

New staff at Popeyes ready to serve

Opposition coalition reacts to Harper’s selection as PPP/C PM Candidate

By Vahnu Manikchand

General Secretary of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Joseph Harmon, has stated that the appointment of the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Director General, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, as the Prime Ministerial Candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is a “manifestation of a power struggle” within the party.

Harmon told Guyana Times shortly after the announcement was made by the ruling party on Saturday that after analysing the move, it was clear that the PPP could

not have found a consensus candidate within the party so they had to look outside for someone with credibility.

“They had to compromise on the candidate because of the struggle for leadership within the PPP party,” he stated. Harmon underscored that the ruling

party has been rumoured to consider a lot of persons for the position including its General Secretary Clement Rohee and even Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.

Harmon claimed that the party would have used Minister Rodrigues-Birkett to attract Amerindian

votes but following the incident at Aishalton and recently Moco Moco, they realised that such a move will not work.

He further stated that Amerindians have more access to information now and no longer depend on the release by a Government Minister.

The APNU General Secretary believes that with the appointment of Harper, the ruling party is hoping to get “legitimacy” but added that no one – no matter how legitimate or competent – can undo the damages within the PPP/C party.

“They’re hoping that she will bring legitimacy to an administration that is

deep in a sea of corruption and incompetence… but one person can’t make the whole system legitimate,” Harmon said. He nevertheless acknowledged that Harper is a “decent” public servant who has displayed great competence in her role over the years at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Harmon continued that the party is robbing the Public Service of a person who did fairly well and is putting her in the political arena, where she has little or no experience. “They are putting her out there to deal with issues that she never dealt with over the years,” he added.

Meanwhile, when contacted by Guyana Times on Saturday the Alliance for Change ‘s(AFC) Moses Nagamootoo, briefly commented that Harper’s appointment is a little too late. “She is a fine, charming lady but I don’t think it will change the outcome of the PPP/C’s fate come May 11,” expressed Nagamootoo.

This move by the PPP/C comes as a surprise to many as there have been much speculation over the past weeks since the party announced that it will return to the May 11 polls with President Donald Ramotar and its Presidential Candidate.

Rice harvesting commences in Region 2

Harvesting of the rice crop commenced in the southern part of Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) in areas such as Perseverance and Golden Fleece on Friday.

Based on reports, farmers are receiving a bumper harvest with many already flocking the mills.

According to reports from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Office at Anna Regina, the crop is thriving well under the hot weather conditions without any disturbance thus far.

It was noted that the production is expected to surpass the set target of one million bags. Some 37,000 acres of fertile land are under cultivation and is expected to be harvested.

Many of the farmers have been paid for paddy sold during the last crop to millers. Only five per cent has outstanding payments.

Meanwhile, during an interview with Guyana Times, Regional Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo said the region’s drainage and irrigation department has commenced the grading and levelling of access dams leading to rice growing areas in an effort to assist farmers, who will soon need to transport their paddy. Samaroo said that the Water Users Association (WUA) is currently conducting filling some dams leading to rice lands.

According to Samaroo, there has been tremendous progress in the Rice

Industry since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) took office on October 5, 1992.

The Vice Chairman explained that the country now has access to a variety of rice markets at competitive prices, compared to primitive years under the People’s Nation Congress (PNC) Government. He commended the Agriculture Ministry, the GRDB and the Rice Producers Association (RPA) for their continuous effort in improving the industry.

Samaroo explained that huge sums of money were spent to improve drainage and irrigation throughout the entire coast.

The regional official recalled that under the PNC Government, the rice industry was down, with many farmers abandoning their fields due to lack of drainage and irrigation facilities.

“There were no proper production, no new variety under the PNC now APNU Government, rice farmers suffered at the hands of PNC,” Samaroo noted. He boasted that the industry began to bloom under the PPP/C Government, with more and more farmers being trained in the six-point farming practice, hence improving their yields. Farmers are also benefiting from many technical programmes, paddy bug intervention, grading training, lower cost of fertiliser and better seed paddy through GRDB and RPA.

Elizabeth Harper

Moses Nagamootoo

Joseph Harmon

New case on Presidential benefits intended to create mischief – Jagdeo

Asecond case has been filed in the High Court that specifically names former President Bharat Jagdeo as a beneficiary of the suit without him having anything to do with its initiation. The latest suit concerns the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act 2009 which spells out the benefits that are due to Presidents after they demit office. Right now several presidents, namely Samuel Hinds, Donald Ramotar and Bharat Jagdeo are affected, but only Jagdeo was named.

The suit was filed last week by one Colin Pilgrim from Charlestown, Georgetown through his attorney Mursalene Bacchus. It claims, inter alia, that the state did not enact the

required enabling legislation so that the enumerated benefits could be accessed.

Specifically, Pilgrim claims the state breached its statutory duty pursuant to section 22 (1) of the General Clauses and Interpretation Act, Chapter 2:01 by not laying the required Subsidiary Legislation (Regulations) as required by Section 3 of the Act for giving effect to the provisions of the said Act.

The other case was filed at the beginning of this month by another Georgetown resi-

dent, Cedric Richardson from West Ruimveldt and sought to have the two-term constitutional limit on placed Presidential service and enacted by Jagdeo be declared null and void because it was

not sanctioned by a referendum.

Contacted by this newspaper Jagdeo confirmed that he did not initiate either suit.

“I am saying categorically that I did not initiate these suits and the question is: who is behind them and for what purpose? It would appear to

me that by specifically invoking my name in what are general questions on constitutional matters, someone, or some group are attempting to muddy the political waters during a time of heightened political awareness occasioned by the May 11 general elections.”

He pointed out that in

terms of the term-limit case, if the restriction were to be removed all living and future Presidents would be affected.

“And for the umpteenth time, I am restating that I am not interested in a third term,” he added. “Furthermore,” he contained, “in the case of the Presidential Benefits these go back to all the presidents - all the way to President Arthur Chung”.

The Opposition had politi-

cised the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act 2009 and upon securing a one-seat majority at the 2011 elections proceeded to enact Bill (No. 29 of 2012) titled “Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill 2012. The Opposition conflated aspects of the President’s Pensions Bill, which had also been computed using the same formula for all Presidents with the benefits package and which had been collected by all beneficiaries including the widows of the late Presidents Chung, Burnham, Hoyte and Jagan and for which former Presidents Hinds and Ramotar would also be eligible.

The only difference was that quantum had been increased to match the salary of the Attorney General who had been earning more than the President. This anomalous situation arose because Burnham wanted to make a former Chancellor of the Judiciary his Attorney General and had to raise the

Behind the negotiations scene

Satiricus was satiated with political news. As a self confessed political news junkie, he had to admit that with the goings on surrounding the actual launch of the KFC/Pee-an-See coalition, his cup had runneth over.

It started with the drama when RumJhaat told GrainJa it was "leader or nothing" before he would sign along the dotted lines!

Satiricus breathed a sigh of relief when the Jhaat skinned his teeth and confessed it was "just a thing ah trying. I mean, how much can GrainJa take?" thought Satiricus. It was enough for GrainJa to sit at the same table at the Georgetown Club with the NaggaMan - Satiricus noted GrainJa's gritted teeth - but to be UNDER him??!!

But Satiricus also noticed the NaggaMan and RumJhaat also made great efforts to pull themselves up and not offend GrainJa's delicate sensibilities. Not once did they pick their noses or even wiped their noses with the backs of their hands. It may be that the Georgetown Club atmosphere got to them. Their only faux pas was when they ordered a bottle of rum with fried Banga Mary as cutters.

GrainJa gently told them that they had to buy drinks by the glass and order hor d'oeuvres like cheese and cherries on a toothpick. But they could order as much as they wanted: he'd pay since he was a member.

The two KFC honchos didn't need to be told again. But they did raise a fuss when they switched to beers and the waiter didn't leave the bottles on the table; insisting on pouring it out into glasses.

RumJhaat and NaggaMan had never drank beer from glasses before. But more than that, they were disoriented that their table top couldn't be covered with beer bottles like in the rum shops they habitually frequented.

And so it was, within an hour, RumJhaat and NaggaMan would've handed over their firstborns if GrainJa had asked them.

"OK...OK..me guh tun tek de PM wuk," slurred NaggaMan. "Once wan police car gon put on siren when meh drive."

"You'll get siren," agreed GrainJa.

"But what about de name me suggest?" said RumJhaat carefully. "Partnership Alliance for National Trust - Yes! - "PANTY! ?"

"Absolutely not!!" said GrainJa firmly. "Can you see me telling people "Vote PANTY! while waving one in the air?? Let us just stick to the original names."

"OK Boss!" said NaggaMan. "But me can tek home some a dis cheese thing?? Me gat fuh mek up wid me grand son since me tell he fuh shut 'e so and so mouth."

latter’s salary to the former’s. As the Minister of Finance noted at the time the Opposition’s vindictive action in 2012, the Former Presidents’ Facilities and Benefits Act (2009) was also part of a holistic package en-

compassing a comprehensive benefits package for the leader of the parliamentary Opposition and that of the Office of the Former Spouse of the President. However, the Opposition did not seek to reduce the benefits package of the Opposition leader.

The Opposition’s action in stripping the benefits to Presidents when they left office, to the bone was deemed “unconstitutional” by

President Ramotar, who refused to enact Bill (No. 29 of 2012) into law for that reason. The case filed by Pilgrim last week raised some of those issues of unconstitutionality if the benefits were to be denied to Hinds and Jagdeo because it was a settled matter of Guyanese law that these former presidents have a reasonable expectation of enjoying the enumerated benefits and that these benefits constituted “property” which cannot be taken away by ex post facto legislation.

When the Opposition moved to pass the legislation reducing retired Presidents’ Benefits in 2012, several analysts remarked on the vindictive and even racist implications of the action, since not a voice was raised by them when other presidential beneficiaries collected their Benefits. If the Opposition had their way and their new Bill became law, retired Presidents would, for instance, be restricted to $5000 monthly for medical expenses. In the meantime, because of the enabling legislation not being passed former President Jagdeo has been unable to collect any benefits.

President Donald Ramotar

Former President Janet Jagan

Former President Desmond Hoyte

Former First Lady Joyce Hoyte

Former President Cheddi Jagan

Former President/Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

Former President Arthur Chung

Incident at Aishalton…

Rift between AFC/APNU leaders in Berbice widens

– as AFC’s support dwindles

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Senior officials of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) mainly those from People’s National Congress (PNC) are not comfortable with having to share the same platform with senior members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) in the region.

Two of the more senior members of the alliance have been heavily criticised publically for statements which they have been making in recent times. The two are Attorney Charrandass Persaud and the herbalist, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya.

They appeared on a local television program Saturday evening, a few hours after the announcement of the coalitionAPNU-AFC, and attempted to garner support but instead were both criticised by party supporters.

Several callers said that they have been let down as the new coalition is now trying to force them up a road they never wanted to go.

Persaud had in the past referred to APNU as an “Afro Guyanese party” and the PPP/C as an “Indo Guyanese party”. One caller asked what was going to

happen to East Indians who had come to the AFC seeking refuge in a group which initially claimed that it was not into race politics.

Ramayya was also criticised for statements he made on television in the past. His statements on Saturday’s TV program have angered some key supporters of APNU in Berbice.

“All we wanted was a piece of the pie… We got Home Affairs Ministry, Agriculture, Tourism…” Ramayya said, as he boasted publically of the ‘piece of the pie’ that the Alliance for Change has been promised.

Those comments have stunned senior members of APNU in Berbice. “All they wanted is a piece of the pie,

but we have to do all the work. Their own supports are vexed with the statement,” one senior APNU member remarked.

Another party official after listening to the program which was televised in both Regions Five (Mahaica/ Berbice) and Six (East Berbice Corentyne), noted that within moments of the announcement AFC started to lose support in Berbice.

“We have a skeleton on our back to carry. Charrandass and Ramayya have to go and clean up their mess. They are the ones who were criticising the PNC all the time on television,” the APNU official said.

Sources close to the party say that the AFC activists are not welcome to use APNU’s New Amsterdam office.

The AFC office in New Amsterdam has been closed for more than one year and sections of it have been taken over by vegetation. The two offices are about 200 meters apart.

Meanwhile, during the call-in program the hosts called on Indo Guyanese who feel neglected by the ruling PPP to join their aaliance which in the past had been preaching national unity.

Recently Vice Chairman of the AFC, Moses

Nagamootoo referred to APNU as a party which attracts and supports Afro Guyanese.

He was at the time addressing a rally in New Amsterdam only a few days before the Cummingsburg Accord was signed. He told Berbicians that the AFC will be able to bring in the ‘Indian votes’.

On Saturday’s televised program Berbicians were critical of the party which said that it was focusing on a particular ethnic group to pull support from.

Ever since the announcement of the coalition on Saturday, there has been heated street corner debates over the issue as support for the AFC continues to decline.

Amerindian leaders attend forestry seminar

Amerindian leaders from various hinterland communities, especially those affected by logging, attended a four-day seminar to discuss the possibility of Guyana signing on to a Volunteer Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union Forestry Law Governance and Trade (EU FLEGT) programme.

Guyana has been engaging the EU in negotiations under its FLEGT VPA programme with the aim of having the country’s forest resources placed under international scrutiny.

“Since Guyana is an exporter of timber and timber products to the EU, we want to get into this agreement to ensure that only legal timber and timber products are exported to the EU,” Project Assistant Laura George told <<Guyana Times.>>

She explained that it is crucial to have national support and so the indigenous communities were brought in since they are greatly impacted by the logging sector.

George added that while this is a trade agreement, the VPA must be centered on social and economic impacts.

At one of the seminars, the Toshao of Waramadong Clyde Henry said that the indigenous people have always cared for the forest. He strongly be-

lieves that it is important that the forest continues to be effectively managed to secure the future of their children and generations to come. As such, he openly welcomed the FLEGT VPA.

He also urged that customary land claims of hinterland communities be satisfactorily addressed before any forest concession can be granted, in accordance with all the applicable international legislation which Guyana has signed on to.

Another core goal of the seminar was to contribute to a process of harmonising all relevant legal norms into a clear, unambiguous definition within the Guyana-EU FLEGT VPA that would have the wide support and consensus of all stakeholders.

The representatives of the indigenous communities were given an opportunity to voice issues and present recommendations for the draft Legality Definition and overall Legality Assurance System (LAS). “All of this is to ensure that in the end we have a strong and very good VPA with the EU,” George said.

EU and Guyana officially started VPA negotiations in December 2012 and they are expected to conclude before 2016.

According to Head of the Trade Unit of the EU

Delegation Joachim Jakobsen, the process is one that necessitates the involvement of all stakeholders to ensure that

the final agreement can be implemented to benefit the entire country and all interest groups.

DPP recommends no charges against Presidential Guard

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)

Shalimar Ali-Hack has advised that no charges be filed against the Presidential Guard accused of slapping the Aishalton teacher who reportedly heckled President Donald Ramotar during a visit to the community in December last.

According to reports, the teacher’s Attorney Nigel Hughes received a letter from Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud informing him of the DPP’s decision.

It was further reported that the Commissioner’s letter to Hughes stated that following Police investigations carried out on the matter, a report was compiled and submitted to the DPP.

Subsequently, the DPP advised that no charges be filed against the guard.

The teacher at the centre of controversy is John Adams, who has filed a complaint against the Presidential guard stating that he was accosted and slapped across the face by the guard during

a political meeting.

Adams had claimed that he was roughed up and slapped after he voiced concerns about the state of the country and the President’s constant blaming on the Opposition parties and independent media.

A purported recording of the proceedings was subsequently released.

Following widespread speculation on the matter, the Presidential Guard Service claimed that the teacher was never physically assaulted by any of the Presidential guards but rather, was warned about his behaviour.

Residents of the Aishalton community had also begun calling for the teacher to step down from his post following the incident. They claimed that the teacher would bring alcohol to school among other actions that displeased the community.

The teacher had also complained that he was not expecting any results from the matter because of the length of time the investigations took.

Charrandass Persaud

Dr Veersammy Ramayya

John Adams

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack

Dismissal of magistrates based on solid grounds

The decision by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to dismiss two magistrates recently was based on sound grounds, according to a reliable source.

City Magistrates Geeta Chandan-Edmond and Magistrate Chandra Sohan were both dismissed by the JSC for a number of incidents dating back since 2013. A source familiar with the work of the Commission explained that these decisions have been pending for a while.

“The Commission recently begun functioning so all the matters that have been pending are now being brought up and are being looked at. So there was no special reasons that the two magistrates were dismissed, the Commission was able to review the matter and make decisions they found to be appropriate.”

In relation to Sohan’s dismissal, it was pointed out that he left the country back in 2013 without being granted permission for leave. But the most important issue at hand is some discrepancies that have been found in the magistrate’s conduct in the courtroom.

“There have been some funny happenings with matters that he presided over whereby; his court records on decisions handed down varies from the records taken by

the police prosecutors. It was reported that he would make an oral pronouncement on matters (which the prosecutors would record) but write something different on the court Jacket.”

The source further stated that when the magistrate was called up before the Commission, he refused to cooperate and his lawyer had even walked out on him.”

On the other hand, the source further revealed that there were a lot of matters filed against Magistrate Chandan-Edmond that would have led to her eventual dismissal. However, he rubbished claims that this action was in some way linked to a particular case that she was presiding on, that is, the assault charge against the son of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

Chandan-Edmond had found Samuel Hinds Jr guilty of assault on February 6, but had deferred sentencing until February 20, pending a probation report.

“This (Saturday) morning was the first time the Commission heard about the case with the Prime Minister’s son. We had no concerns about that, it didn’t cross the minds of the Commission at all and it definitely could not have influenced its decision to dismiss the magistrate because the Commission does not know or aware of what cases are being tried in courts unless a matter has been brought to its attention.”

According to a statement released by her attorney, Nigel Hughes, on January 16, last year, Chandan-Edmond was written to by the Judicial Service Commission in re-

lation to the following allegations; absence from a Magistrate’s Association meeting to discuss the Sexual Offenses Act, medical leave for two days between the 5th and 7th June 2013, absence for sick leave, failure to report absence of work to the Chancellor, inability to deliver 19 decisions, failure to respond to queries from the Chief Magistrate and departure from Guyana on the 20th day of January 2013 without approval.

The attorney alleged that at that time there was no allegation of misconduct leveled against his client nor was there any hearing or any invitation to any hearing on the allegations for the entire year of 2014.

He went on to state that on the February 18, 2015, the Magistrate attended the Judicial Service Commission where Counsel for the Magistrate inquired about the rules under which the Commission intended to deliberate , the procedure to be adopted particularly whether it was an adversarial or inquisitorial proceeding during which it was pointed out to the JSC that there was no rule which required the Magistrate to notify the Chancellor and or seek his permission prior to her departure from the country.

Amerindian leaders attend forestry...

from page 11

FLEGT had been recommended for Guyana under its forest partnership with Norway.

The seminars were organised by the Amerindian Peoples’ Association and the Forest Peoples’ Programme under the title “Essential Elements for a Legality Definition and a Legality Assurance System in the Guyana-EU FLEGT VPA.”

The seminar lasted from February 18-20 and saw participation from representatives from Region One (Barima Waini), Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), Region Six (East Berbice Corentyne), Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) and Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

Several NonGovernmental Organisations and Government agencies such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry also participated.

Younge’s Take

Trotman’s ‘mamaguy’

On Friday, CoChairman of the PNC-led APNU/AFC Coalition campaign, Raphael Trotman reportedly told media that the Alliance For Change (AFC) is not too worried over the resignation of two influential and founding members of its political stock.

Trotman, who is still Speaker of the National Assembly, wearing his political hat, is also quoted as saying, “For every Balwant Persaud and Sixtus Edwards that we lose, we are getting hundreds to replace them. It is not a matter of concern.”

He also welcomed their resignations, while seeking to cast aspersions as to the reasons why they may have decided to leave the party, referring in the process to information he allegedly had, which suggested that one of them might have been “compromised”.

Trotman’s statements could at best be described as ungrateful and shameful.

His attempt to downplay the resignations and concerns raised by the two men who decided last week to share their stories with the media, failed and has not escaped the watchful eyes of the AFC’s membership.

A closer analysis of Trotman’s posture and statements proves that the AFC is ungrateful to those who have toiled, laboured and undertaken yeoman tasks with the aim of building the party and its electoral support.

It is also indicative of the overall psyche of the leadership of the party when it is met with strong, damaging and constructive criticisms about its decaying morals, values, economic bill of health, internal and democracy.

Neither Trotman nor the members of the “Gang of Five” has responded to the charges of corruption, financial mismanagement, cronyism, and nepotism leveled against the party’s leadership.

Trotman and the Gang of Five cannot continue to lecture to the public, PPP/C and Government about accountability, transparency, democracy and good governance for as long as they allow these allegations to be floating around in mid-air.

This gang must end its façade, remove the mask, demonstrate political maturity and address the concerns raised by Sixtus Edwards, Balwant Persaud, Shamir Ally, Tarron Khemraj, Dr Asquith Rose, Rab Mukraj, Gomatie Singh, Haseef Yusuff and a slew of others.

Would Trotman argue that there was not a single truth among the accounts given by those who have left the AFC that needs to be addressed?

Would he argue that the Gang of Five which purportedly includes Khemraj Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo, David Patterson, Cathy Hughes and Nigel Hughes have always upheld the AFC’s founding principles, values and convention?

The time for window dressing is over and the time for cosmetic enhancement has also passed.

Despite what Trotman or the Gang of Five say, the AFC’s support is dwindling following its decision to break bread with the APNU and enter into an elections coalition of convenience.

The party is drowning and there is no life-jacket or buoy in sight. The AFC must admit that it made the biggest mistake in the history of politics and now its internal structure (if there is any) is imploding.

Trotman tried to ‘mamaguy’ media personnel by telling them that since entering the coalition, thousands have been running to the AFC’s fold but what he is not admitting is that thousands have been walking away from the party as well, back into the arms of the PPP/C.

It would be interested to hear what is Trotman’s response to the argument put forward by the PPP/C, that the AFC was “living home” with the APNU for many years and now they have decided to formalize their union through a marriage.

Perhaps, Trotman would deem it fit to supply publicly the records of the Returning Officer from the last AFC Conference, minutes of the consultations which were held where AFC supporters approved the coalition with the APNU, and the name of the accounting firm or professional who audited the AFC’s financial statements back in 2012 and 2015.

Trotman must not try to practice ‘Naga’ politics.

Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond

Magistrate Chandra Sohan

Nursing students’ protest politically driven – Health Minister

... relocation concerns downplayed

In response to a protest staged by students of the Georgetown Nursing School over a decision to relocate them, Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said that the action is disingenuous and politically driven.

“This is the politics of the moment playing out,” Dr Ramsaran said during a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Saturday.

On Friday, several nursing students protested in front of the East Street complex against the decision taken to relocate the school to Kingston Annex.

“We didn’t even know. It was Friday when we were at class, the contractors came and interrupted us and told us that they received orders from the Ministry of Health. They started breaking down walls and everything,”

President of the Georgetown Nursing School Maylene Thomas said.

Thomas explained that the students are upset because they were not formally informed of the relocation, noting too that the building in Kingston cannot accommodate the 460 students.

She opined that the Kingston Annex is a small building that already houses another batch of students and is unequipped with the necessary systems needed for the nursing programme.

“There is no lab; we do not have a library, no canteen...,”

Thomas cried.

She also argued that most of their practical sessions are conducted at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and a stipend of merely $16,000 is inadequate to facilitate travel to and from the two distant locations.

However, the Health Minister firmly stated that their cries are merely mischievous and the Ministry has no grounds for “this nonsense.”

He pointed out that the building in Kingston is already equipped as a nursing school, noting too that students are currently being trained there without any problems.

He further stated that moves are afoot to upgrade the facilities at the Annex and create a better ambience that will be ideal for the nurses.

“We will be strengthening more and more the base at Kingston,” Dr Ramsaran said, as he disclosed that overseas officials are currently in Guyana to improve the in-house training programme for nurses.

On that note, he reiterated his belief that the protest was politically motivated.

Dr Ramsaran said he is “almost convinced” that a senior staff is behind the protest because the individual is against evening classes –something that will have to occur once the students are relocated to the new building.

In addition, he lashed out at those students who are involved in the protest.

“You find that some of those very students in the protest, who are leading the protest, they are some of the major failures. I advise them to go study and focus on their weakness because they have poor performances.”

Meanwhile, according to information reaching Guyana Times, the nursing school on East Street will now facilitate some doctors from GPHC in order for them to be accredited.

Reports indicate that representatives from the student society visited the Health Ministry where they were informed by Ministry officials that the building “was signed, sealed and handed over (to the doctors).”

Medical student busted with gun, high-powered ammunition

A27-year-old medical student along with four family members was arrested on Friday afternoon following the discovery of a huge cache of ammunition at his clinic at Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown. According to a well placed source in the Guyana Police Force, 1371 rounds of 7.62x39 ammunition were discovered. These bullets, he explained, are mainly used in AK-47s and RM 70 sniper rifles.

The Major Crime Investigation Unit within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) also found 100 rounds of .223 ammuni-

tion which are mainly used in rifles. In addition, the ranks unearthed 22 rounds of .9mm ammunition used in pistols.

The senior Police rank also told Guyana Times that upon the arrest of the main perpetrator at his Subryanville home, a .9mm pistol was recovered. This newspaper was also told that the medical student has been under radar for well over a month since the unit suspected that he was involved in the trafficking of guns and ammunition.

On the day in question, Police reportedly went to the clinic where they conducted the search which unearthed

Mere hours after his arrest, Moco Moco village Region Nine (Upper Takutu, Upper Essequibo) Toshao, Mark George was released from police custody on his own recognizance in Lethem.

According to reports, the Toshao was taken into police custody following allegations that he raped a 13-year-old girl from his village. Sources say he was under investigation by both the Police and the Child Care Protection Agency prior to his arrest

A release from the police said the 13-year-old is a student of the Moco Moco Primary School.

“The report of the incident which is alleged to have occurred on February 01, 2015, was made to the po -

lice at Lethem on February 17, 2015, by the Regional Schools Welfare Officer based on information obtained.”

Police said it is believed that there was some attempt to cover up the matter initially by members of the village because of George’s suspected involvement. In addition, the release said that police were earlier unsuccessful in contacting the victim and were only able to do so on Friday.

George has since denied the allegations against him and said a report was made to the police right after he had denied President Donald Ramotar entry into his community for a campaign visit.

He further stated that neither the teen nor her

the huge cache in a safe.

In addition to the gun and ammunition, there were several illegal drugs that were found. He explained that before drugs are imported, the necessary permission has to be solicited from the Health Board within the Health Ministry.

The young medical doctor has since admitted to the crime while implicating a known drug dealer as his business partner. As such, the Police have launched a manhunt for his associate.

This is the second successful bust for the unit in a week. On Wednesday last, Oswald Dass Senior, 66; Mechanic Ivan Dass, 33; and farmer Oswald Dass Junior, 21, all of Lot 51 Kuru Kururu, Linden/Soesdyke Highway were arrested following the discovery of one.9 mm pistol, one 12―gauge shot gun and three rounds of 20 gauge cartridges.

The discovery was made at their Kuru Kururu, Linden Soesdyke/Highway home by ranks of the unit. The father and his two sons were remanded to prison after being charged with three counts of illegal possession of guns and ammunition.

A30-year-old man who stole a gas cylinder was sentenced to six months at the Camp Street Prison on Friday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court in Court Two.

Roy Persaud was brought before Magistrate Ann McLennan on Friday for the charge of break -

ing and entering the home of Muniram Rambhorose and stealing his cooking gas cylinder valued $20,000.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones stated that the gas cylinder was never recovered, informing the court that the defendant has no children nor wife.

Persaud pleaded guilty

family made a report in relation to the allegations against him.

Further, he said a report was made to the police in relation to the matter by another villager.

Moco Moco Toshao accused of rape, released Gas cylinder thief jailed

to the charge, while admitting to the court that he sold the gas cylinder.

The defendant pleaded with the Magistrate to be lenient with him in her sentencing as he had never been in jail before.

Sentencing was handed down and Persaud will spend the next six-month incarcerated.

Mark George

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran

The gun and ammunition which were seized

From the sands of Linden to the sands of the coastline…

Colin Gittens realises his dream of becoming an Engineer

Many take for granted the engineering marvels that protect and enhance lives.

This was not so for Colin Gittens, a young enthusiastic boy who took his first school trip at the age of nine to Georgetown. One of the places he visited was the Georgetown Seawall, and this may have been the beginning of an incredible journey for him.

“There I was a boy from Linden wondering who built the long stretches of concrete walls and why and how these structures were built,” recalled Colin Gittens, a Monitoring Technician attached to the Sea and River Defence Unit, of the Public Works Ministry.

Today he is on the path of becoming a Coastal Engineer.

“Over the years, Colin devColin knew that his zealousness alone will not help him on his career path,

25

thus enrolled and completed a Diploma in Civil Engineering as a part-time student at the Government Technical Institute (GTI).

The four years at GTI, Gittens said, gave him the foundation he needed to excel and gain entrance to the University of Guyana.

Shortly after completing

GTI, the young professional embarked on his tertiary education. Over the years his dedication to his job, experience and excellent work ethics helped him to receive a full Government scholarship in 2013 to attend the University of Guyana.

This aspiring young Engineer has been working with the Ministry for the past seven years, two of which were spent in the Force Account Unit (FAU) as a Checker on road projects.

He was soon to realise his journey had just begun. “There was an opening in the Sea and River Defence Unit in 2010 and I immediately applied. I think what gave me the edge was that I was working there and I was also a student at the Government Technical Institute (GTI) pursing a diploma in Civil Engineering,” he disclosed. Currently the 28-year-

old’s responsibilities include monitoring and overseeing sea and river defence projects along the coastal belt.

Now in his final semester to complete his Diploma in Civil Engineering, Gittens will read for his Degree at the same institution. After that, he is eyeing the Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands to pursue his Masters.

Inspiration

The former Linden Foundation Secondary and Mackenzie High school student credits Public Works Minister Robeson Benn; Kevin Samad, Chief River and Sea Defence Officer; and Senior Engineers Jermaine Braithwaite and Maitland Stewart as his role models. The young professional is also appreciative of the support given to him by his wife Kezia Gittens. “She is my rock, and understands the long hours.”

per cent of men admit to being abused – CMO

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) within the Health Ministry, Dr Shamdeo Persaud said approximately 25 per cent of the men who participated in recent gender-based violence workshops have admitted to being abused by their significant other.

This disclosure was made during an interview with Guyana Times after one such workshop on Thursday at the Ocean View International Hotel.

Dr Persaud said while only 25 per cent of the men have bravely admitted to being victims of domestic abuse, there are many who remain silent.

“It’s very under reported… more and more it’s not reported. So we have less than 5 per cent of all the cases reported are men. But in the groups, it’s different,” he said.

As a part of the Health Ministry’s strategic plan to curb the issue of domestic violence, the CMO said root of the problem is being analysed.

“We find that a lot of it is centered on the issues that men aren’t dealing with, so

Pastor Patrick Findlay interacting with the men during the workshop

we’re deliberately focusing on men to try to hear from their perspectives and try to address those issues”.

On that note, Dr Persaud said in some cases, several abused men eventually resort to violence against their partners.

“Because of the role, they have issues and it builds up in them and eventually it becomes a point where it is unbearable and they resort to violence,” he explained.

Workshops were held in

Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Region Six (East-Berbice Corentyne) and Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). Workshops are currently being conducted in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica).

A total of 50 men from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Salvation Army Men’s Social Centre attended the first session in Region Four.

The session was headed by the Labour, Human Services

and Social Security Ministry Permanent Secretary, Pastor Patrick Findlay who delivered an extensive presentation on the difference between gender roles and the rights of men and women in society.

“This is all about a conversation with men, engaging men and encouraging them and reminding them that they are a significant part of the solution to the whole issue of gender-based violence in society,” Administrator of the Men’s Affairs Bureau, Pastor Diego Alphonso said.

He said it is quite unfortunate that “every time we talk about men in Guyana it seems like we have to talk about gender-based violence with males being the main perpetrator.”

Alphonso explained that these burning issues in society need constant intervention from the relevant authorities and as such the Men’s Affairs Bureau will be collaborating with various organisations to conduct similar activities with the aim of addressing the problem.

Police continue probe into death of tyre shop owner

As police continue their investigations into the execution of South Road businessman, Randolph Singh on Wednesday evening, no arrest has been made but the police are working with several leads that can be of assistance.

Guyana Times was told that the police have retrieved at least six .38 spent shells. A senior police rank stated that a background check on the man’s life is presently being conducted.

This, he noted is important in determining the mo-

tive behind the killing. At about 22:00h on the night in question, Singh, 41

of Lot 207 Charlotte Street, Georgetown was riddled with bullets while in the company of two employees. According to information received, as the men sat opposite the vulcanizing shop, a man who was armed with a firearm approached and discharged several rounds in their direction and escaped on a motorcycle. From all indication, Singh was the target and would have received the blunt of the attack while another employee, Dilbert Mohamed, 33 was also shot at his right elbow.

Probe launched into Mahaicony accident

An investigation has been launched into the Burma, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara accident which claimed the lives of seven persons on Friday. Officials are trying to determine the cause of the tragic accident.

Six pupils of Augsburg Primary School and a senior teacher were killed when the car they were travelling in entered a nearby trench at Burma. The seven occupants reportedly drowned before they could have been rescued.

Dead are: 41-year-old Shondell Duke; sevenyear-old Martina Persaud; nine-year-old Justin Abel; 10-year-old Asiyah Abel and seven-year-old Raydon Abel along with nineyear old Atisha Woolford and Asaficia Fraser, all of Burma.

Reports revealed that the senior teacher took the children to participate in a Mashramani programme at Calcutta Primary School and were on their way home when the accident occurred. The bodies of the seven occupants were fished out of the water minutes after passersby saw the toppled

marks” on the road to make such insinuation.

“I didn’t see anything on the road to indicate that the road was the cause of the accident,” he outlined. Following the accident, residents in the area complained that the condition of the road might have been a contributing factor to the accident, but Works Minister Robeson Benn stated that it would be up to the investigating team to make such pronouncement.

Minister Benn, in rebutting the sentiments of the residents, explained that the relevant authorities including engineers, traffic specialists and the Police would be looking into the matter and would determine what caused the accident.

Both men were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Singh was pronounced dead on arrival and Mohamed was treated and sent away.

A senior police rank told Guyana Times that investigators have ruled out robbery and they are now trying to ascertain whether Singh had any enemies. The rank added that based on reports, the businessman only returned from the United States of America less than a week ago thus leading in the direction that ‘some deal went sour’.

car in the water.

Guyana Times understands that the Region Five Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has already commenced an investigation to determine whether the road may have been a contributing factor as it relates to the cause of the accident.

During an interview with this newspaper, Regional Engineer, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Dhanpaul Sukha said that he cannot confirm or deny whether the accident was caused as a result of the road until the probe is completed. “I can’t say for sure, we still have many checks to do before I can make such pronouncements,” he stated.

However, he noted that the Works Services Group (WSG) from the Public Works Ministry is expected to travel up to Mahaicony to take measurements of the crash site and conduct other examinations to determine whether the road was the cause of the accident. But the regional engineer pointed out that there were no “skid marks” or “tyre

“Some weeks ago, the road southwards going in was in very poor condition … the first section of the public road was done. I visited the road on three occasions. I was there on Wednesday afternoon,” he told Guyana Times In the meantime, father of seven-year-old Persaud, who loan his car to the teacher to take the children to the event, said that the car was working fine when he handed it over to Duke, ruling out that it may have caused the accident.

“There is nothing wrong with the tyres, they are not bent or anything… we don’t know what happen,” the grieving man told this publication. He added that while he has not yet taken the car to the mechanic, only then they will know if the vehicle had any problems.

Deputy Regional Executive Officer Govind Singh told this newspaper that the community has been plunged into mourning. He noted that on Saturday morning a team from the Regional Education Office visited the families of the victims. They team included: Regional Vice Chairman, Singh, Sukha, the Regional Education Officer and Education Officers within the Regional Education Department. The Assistant Chief Education Officer –Primary and Secondary – from the Education Ministry was also a part of the team.

Colin Gittens

Dead Randolph Singh

Public-spirited citizens desperately tried to rescue the teacher and students from the car that crashed into the trench along the Burma Road (Carl Croker photo)

$1M up for grabs in Moussy promotion

One lucky shopper of Moussy products will have a chance to win at least one million dollars as its distributor Southland International launched its second edition of the “Colour Your Life” promotion on Saturday at its head office, Brickdam, Georgetown.

Colour Your Life (CYL) depicts an experience for consumers to refresh and enjoy the ‘new genre’ of malta in Guyana, as opposed to the culture of dark malt beverages. The versatility of this product offers a healthier alternative than soft drinks, shandy or ales.

It has been the most popular and preferred nonalcoholic beverage of choice especially during religious occasions. Apart from the grand prize of $1 million, 18 lucky shoppers will have the opportunity to win six 40-inch Samsung flatscreen Smart TVs, grocery vouchers worth G$20,000 and US$50 cash prizes each.

Each prize will be drawn weekly at select outlets countrywide in Georgetown, Corentyne Coast, West Coast/West

Bank of Demerara, Linden, Bartica and Essequibo. The first drawing will be held on March 21, where three lucky winners will win fabulous prizes.

To enter the competition, customers must submit three Moussy Caps along their names, addresses and telephone numbers in deposit boxes nationwide.

There will be seven drawings during the period of the Promotion with the grand drawing at the Buddy’s Parking Lot (Southland International Inc)

Last year’s winner was Pere DeRoy of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, a post graduate student in International Studies at the University of Guyana. At the time of her wining, she indicated that her luck struck at a perfect time since the money assisted her boarding expenses as she furthered her studies in Canada.

MOUSSY Malt is a nonalcoholic malt based beverage brewed for over 40 years according to its original Swiss recipe using only carefully selected first class

barley malt combined with natural fresh water.

It is manufactured in France under strict ISO certification and has been certified HALAAL in territories such as Saudi Arabia. It is used as a healthier alternative to conventional soft drinks, ales, dark malts and alcoholic beverages.

The beverage is available to Guyanese in unique refreshing malty flavours such as Pomegranate, Strawberry and Peach essences.

Southland International Inc is a growing company whose principal activity is the exclusive importation and distribution of quality beverage products in Guyana.

The company began its operations in August 2013 and operates at 23 Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown (bottom flat of the Buddy’s Building) with a complement of 30 staff members comprising a Board of Directors and principal officers, sales and marketing, warehouse, human resources, administration and logistics divisions.

Suspected ganja users get bail

Two youngsters were each placed on $30,000 bail on Friday in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after being found with two grams of cannabis each on their person.

Nineteen-year-old Troy

Gonsalves and 21-year-old Anthony Mangul both of B Field Sophia appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two.

Magistrate McLennan said on February 18, 2015 at Second Street B’ Field Sophia the defendants were found with a total of four grams of cannabis (marijuana).

Police Prosecutor, Deniro Jones told the court that Police officers were patrolling Sophia at around 17:10h when they saw the defendants standing in the vicinity of Second Street.

According to Jones, the Police reported that the men were behaving in a suspicious manner, hence they were approached. A quick search was executed during which the marijuana was found. They were subsequently arrested and taken to the Brickdam Police Station where they were officially charged.

Gonsalves, who works

King Pearai is 2015 Calypso Monarch

Manoel Pereira, also called “King Pearai” was on Saturday evening crowned the 2015 Calypso Monarch when the final was held at the Demerara Park (Thirst Park) before a huge audience.

The judges gave their decision just after the stroke of midnight on Saturday – one that was very much accepted by the audience. Dressed in a costume made of colourful feathers and straws, his performance was enough to dethrone the 2014 monarch, Lester “De Professor” Charles who performed “Stop abusing women.” He was adjudged the second best.

years.

Initially, the father of two stated that after the first draft of the lyrics for “King Pearai” was written, his managers thought that it needed some modification if it were to win the competition. This, he noted, was done and was proud to reiterate “I am the monarch.”

On this note, he explained that as the monarch, he intends to work with other calypsonians to develop the industry. He added that for the longest while, they have been neglected and treated unfairly, hence

he will work to enhance social commentary in Guyana which will ultimately gain its due respect.

Late start

However, the show started more than one hour after the scheduled time but the wait was worth it, since the competitors performed to the crowd’s satisfaction. Pereira nailed his performance as he performed on stage.

During his performance, he made native Amerindian sounds that caught the attention of the crowd.

In his piece, he said that Amerindians are being treated unfairly and are being taken for granted; making reference to its vegetation that is being harvested for overseas market. His rhyming indeed captivated the hearts of the audience and more so, the judges.

The former monarch, “De Professor” came with something different this time around which shocked the audience, since they are accustomed to hearing him “bash” the Government. He chose to educate men about domestic violence and how they should treat women.

His supporters were close to the stage but his performance did not move many in the audience. A favourite for the monarchy, Roger Hinds also called “Young Bill Rogers”, who performed “Guyanese Fed-up,” failed to get the nod from the judges. There were other performances that persons thought were a recap of the previous years.

Pereira walked away with $600,000 as the first place winner and “De Professor” will receive $450,000, while and $250,000 and $100,000 was awarded to the third and fourth place winners respectively.

with a foreign company, stated that the Police officers took away their phones and have not returned them. While his colleague, who is a mason, stated that he only had one gram of marijuana on him not two as the Police officers claim. “I use it to open ma appetite,” Mangul told the court.

Nevertheless, both men pleaded guilty.

With bail, the Magistrate placed them on 16 hours community service at the Brickdam Police Station which could become three months jail time if they fail to so do.

Coming in third was Kenroy Fraser who performed “De Tecking Pay” while the fourth position was shared by former Junior Calypso Monarch, Diana Chapman out of Linden who sang, “No Politics In Calypso” and John Marcus who performed “The Law Is An Ass.” Moments after winning the title, the Pomeroon River born singer was speechless but managed to give thanks to his managers Bonny Alves and Charmain Blackman.

As the win sunk in, he said that he was elated to have won the title for the first time, noting that he started to perform calypso seven years ago. He reminisced that he never thought he would make it to the final of the National Calypso competition more so, to win. Pereira, who also participated in the Health Song competition, claimed that he has been singing for the past 35

The newly crowned Calypso Monarch Manoel Pereira, also called “King Pearai”

Representatives of Moussy at the launch of the promotion on Saturday

Guyana falter despite Singh, Barnwell half centuries

Contrasting half-centuries from Vishaul Singh and Chris Barnwell went in vain as pacer Miguel Cummins snatched his third fivewicket haul in regional first class cricket, to undermine Guyana Jaguars in Barbados on Saturday.

Playing on the truncated second day of their seventh round WICB PCL match at Kensington Oval, championship leaders Jaguars found themselves struggling at the close on 173 for nine – still 139 runs adrift of Barbados Pride’s first innings total of 312.

Singh produced a patient top score of 60 while Barnwell’s 56 was a cameo but Jaguars lost wickets steadily as Cummins ran through the innings with a spell of five for 48.

Off-spinner Ashley Nurse supported with two for 35.

Rain had earlier ruled out play before lunch but on resumption, the hosts lost their last five wickets for 54 runs as they collapsed from a relatively

strong overnight position of 258 for five.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo was the best bowler with six for 94.

Guyana were immediately in trouble against Cummins and crashed to 75 for five.

Speedster Tino Best, who shared the new ball, started the slide when he had Rajindra Chandrika

SCOREBOARD

BARBADOS 1st Innings (overnight 258 for five)

*K Brathwaite c Beaton

b Bishoo 102

K Corbin b Permaul 46

K Edwards c Johnson

b Bishoo 19

S Hope c S Chanderpaul

b Bishoo 69

R Chase c wkp Bramble

b Bishoo 12

+S Dowrich wkp Bramble

b Bishoo 7

J Warrican b Beaton 24

C Brathwaite c Beaton

b Bishoo 6

A Nurse c wkp Bramble

b Permaul 12

T Best c wkp Bramble

b Beaton 5 M Cummins not out 2

Extras (w4, nb4) 8

TOTAL (all out, 130 overs) 312

Fall of wickets: 1-69, 2-100, 3-240, 4-243, 5-252, 6-263, 7-269, 8-298, 9-307, 10-312.

Bowling: Beaton 19-5-422, Reifer 11-2-48-0, Barnwell

6-0-29-0, Permaul 37.4-1164-2, Deonarine 16-6-350, Bishoo 41-12-94-6. GUYANA 1st Innings

V Singh b Nurse 60

R Chandrika c K Brathwaite b Best 5 *L Johnson lbw b Cummins 3 N Deonarine c C Brathwaite b Cummins 3

S Chanderpaul c Hope b Cummins 0

R Reifer c and b Nurse 10

C Barnwell lbw b Cummins 56 +A Bramble c Nurse b Warrican 0 V Permaul c wkp Dowrich

b Cummins 19

D Bishoo not out 7

R Beaton not out 0

Extras (lb2, nb8) 10

TOTAL (9 wkts, 45 overs) 173

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-25, 3-43, 4-43, 5-75, 6-127, 7-128, 8-150, 9-173. Bowling: Best 7-2-151, Cummins 10-0-48-5, C Brathwaite 9-1-40-0, Nurse 112-35-2, Warrican 8-0-33-1.

caught at first slip by captain Kraigg Brarthwaite for five, in the third over of the innings.

Cummins followed up by removing skipper Leon Johnson, lbw for three playing across the line to leave Jaguars 25 for two.

Five overs later, the right-armer struck twice in the same over. First, he had the in-form Narsingh Deonarine caught by Carlos Brathwaite in the cordon for three fending off a rising delivery and two balls later, claimed the prized wicket of Test veteran Shiv Chanderpaul caught at backward square without scoring, hooking.

Singh added 32 for the fifth wicket with Barbadian Raymon Reifer who made ten in threequarters of an hour at the crease before giving Nurse a return catch.

Barnwell and Singh then combined to defy the Pride attack, in stand for the sixth wicket worth 52.

Left-hander Singh faced 121 balls in just 2-3/4 hours at the crease and counted seven fours while Barnwell hammered four fours and two sixes in a 67-ball knock.

Nurse gained the breakthrough, bowling Singh to spark another collapse that saw four wickets tumble for 46 runs. (CMC)

Wins for Craig Primary, Agricola and Herstelling

Craig Primary has assumed the lead in the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport (MCY&S)/East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-11 Pee Wee League, which continued ON Saturday at the Grove ground with three matches.

Also in winners row was Agricola Red Triangle, who recorded their first win, a 1-0 triumph over Mocha Champs, while Herstelling Raiders continued their winnings ways with a 3-1 effort over Diamond United.

netted in the 26th minute to seal Grove’s faith, their second successive loss.

With the win, Craig assumed the pole position on the points table with eight, leaving Grove on six points.

Agricola romped to their first win in four matches, compliments of a 22nd minute penalty that was converted by Leon Hope against Mocha Champs, who lost their second game by a similar 1-0 scoreline.

Herstelling were in rampant form once again, this time erasing a one goal deficit to hammer Diamond United 3-1.

Jarvis rocked the back of the nets.

The half ended with the score unchanged; the second half saw end-to-end play with neither team giving up too much in their respective goal areas. But it was Herstelling who would finally break the deadlock in the dying moments of the game.

Craig Primary, the only team with an unbeaten record in the six-team competition, was carried to victory on the back of a double off the boot of Trevon Davidson, both coming in the second half. His first came in the 18th minute with the sealer

Diamond assumed the lead seven minutes into the game through a Joel Ross goal, but three minutes later, that advantage was cancelled out when Herstelling Raiders player Shamar

Sending them ahead was Sheldon Wickham in the 28th minute, and on the stroke of fulltime, Shoran James, put the icing on the cake to seal full points for Herstelling, who now move to six points and joint second place with Grove Hi Tech.

Matches will continue on Saturday at the same venue and clubs who have not yet submitted the birth certificates of their players are reminded that they have until this Saturday to do so. MCYS/EBFA Pee Wee league…

Traditional events set for 3rd development meet today

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will be hosting their third develop meet of the year when athletes converge on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground, Camp Ayanganna today.

The traditional events will be run unlike the last two meets that saw odd events being contested.

The reason for the switch to the traditional events was due to the coaches asking for the change in an effort to

gauge the level of their athletes before the competitive part of the season starts.

Most of the top juniors will be in action especially with Carifta about two weeks away. The meet is expected to start from 11:00h.

Craig Primary’s Trevon Davidson (centre), who netted both goals in a winning effort, weaves his way forward against Grove Hi Tech on Saturday at the Grove Playfield

Miguel Cummins in full flight

Rugby’s dominance at NSC awards…

“Great feeling of accomplishment,” says Green

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Peter Green, has expressed great elation at his discipline copping the lion’s share of the accolades at the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) annual awards for top performers of 2014.

Following the voting by an esteemed panel of judges on Friday morning at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, rugby copped five of the six categories of award it was nominated for.

“Indeed, I am happy for the GRFU. For my part it wasn’t work, it was fun. The day it becomes work it’s time to go. It is probably a great feeling of accomplishment as well I am sure for the past Presidents and officials, who laid the groundwork over the years,” Green said during an exclusive interview with this publication on Saturday.

Leading the way was the national Men’s team, which copped Team-of-the-Year.

The Guyanese created history in 2014, winning both the NACRA 15s and Sevens titles. It was the first instance of a Caribbean country topping both competitions in the same year.

the sport is the lack of adequate funding to not just execute its programme, but more importantly, fully finance teams for international engagements.

To some extent, that changed in 2014 with the Union receiving tremendous support from key stakeholders at critical times.

an away game to Trinidad on April 11 in South Zone. Winning both games will see Guyana playing either USA South, Cayman Islands or Mexico, who will be contesting their North Zone segment. The Men’s Sevens squad fly out to Hong Kong in March for the prestigious World Hong Kong Sevens tournament as a warmup for the Olympic Sevens qualifier, as well as NACRA championships in June, before playing in the Pan American Games in July,” Green revealed.

Captain of the national Men’s rugby team, Ryan Gonsalves, was nominated for Sportsman-of-the-year, but lost out to cricketer Veerasammy Permaul, who won that category.

Blueprint Green added, “I am certain that rugby will continue to grow as the Union has a development blueprint encompassing all playing ages, as well as coaching, referee and administration training and certification with the aid of the world and regional bodies. But with national recognition of this magnitude hopefully more sponsors will be encouraged to

The GRFU won the Sports Association-of-theYear award and the Most Improved Association, while Theodore Henry was named Coach-of-the-Year and Green clinched the Male Sports Personality-of-theYear award.

be a part of an organisation that gives back value.”

Quizzed on what may have attributed to the remarkable success of the sport, Green said the reason is simple.

“Rugby Guyana is guided by rugby values practiced the world over, which encompass Integrity, Respect, Solidarity, Passion and Discipline. Assistance from corporate sponsors, the government, private sector coming together at the right time to support a dedicated executive, coaches, referees, supporters, players to create a seemingly invincible force dubbed by captain Ryan Gonsalves as the “Green Machine”, which played unbeaten in 2014 in both for-

mats of the game,” Green divulged.

Despite the enormous success, Green highlighted that the journey has been equally bumpy with many challenges confronting the sport.

“But the Union was able to put its collective heads together and brainstorm. United we stand, divided we fall has become the watchword. At times the executive agreed to disagree, but rallied for love of the sport. No one was bigger than the game. In the end love of the sport won,” the GRFU head explained.

Funding

One of the perennial challenges that has plagued

“The full backing of the Guyana Olympic Association, led by Mr Juman Yassin, the government, through His Excellency President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Sport Dr. Anthony, along with the timely appointment of past President Kit Nascimento as Patron enabled the Union to source significant support and funding to transform hardwork and talent into reality,” Green mentioned.

He continued, “Performing at the highest level requires money. As a lesser supported sport compared to cricket or soccer the Union will always be severely hampered in sourcing and allocating funds for not only international level participation, but local development of the game.”

Not giving up

Despite the bugbears, Green boasted that 2014 was just the beginning, as another hectic programme of activities will soon be rolled out for the 2015 season.

“Guyana defends its 15s title on March 7 at the National Park against Barbados, before playing

He added, “The Women’s Sevens team has been hard at work training and will make a return to rugby in June as well in the qualifiers, as well as NACRA championships. Our Under-19 squad will be going into intensive training for a meet before the year is out. Local competitions, get into rugby programmes, beach rugby, schools rugby, coaching and referee seminars amongst others will make up the bulk of the 2015 activities.”

Green also reserved special mention to all those who supported the GRFU during the past year, among them Ansa McAl Trading, Beharry Group, Banks DIH Limited and GT&T. The awards ceremony is fixed for March 13, and no doubt the entire rugby fraternity will be basking in the glory, as another chapter is added to the success story of the sport.

Eastman wins feature event

In perfect conditions for racing, Hamaz Eastman edged Orville Hinds to win the feature 35-lap event of the 24th annual R&R International 11race cycle programme on Saturday at the inner circuit of the National Park.

Eastman took pole position in 1 hour, 15 minutes and 03 seconds, leading

Hinds, Alonzo Ambrose, Mark Harris, Mario King and Akeem Wilkinson.

Eastman took a sprint prize with Hinds winning four, Jamal John 2 and the other went to Ambrose.

Before the feature event, veteran under 50, Junior Niles took the top podium finish and sprint prize, besting Taikaram Sookhai and Wilbert Benjamin, who finished

second and third respectively.

Linden Blackman was the lone rider to contest the Over-50 category.

Alexander Leung rode away with the BMX Boys’ 6-9 event from Shay SuHang and Esan Talsingh.

Sherwin Sampson took pole position in the BMX Boys’ 9-12 race from Jonathon Jagdeo.

Sampson also won the

BMX Boys’ 12-14 category, from Adealie Hodge and Thuran GarbarraN, while Mikal Day take the spoil in the BMX 12-14 open event after being the lone rider in that category.

Davenand Kapilnauth was the winner of the 1214 Boys and Girls race ahead of Daniel Pereria and Rakem Blair.

Wilfred Thom rode away with the Veterans’

Over-60 trophy while Jaleel Jackson took the top position in the Juveniles 10-lap event. Romallo Crawford and Jamal John occupied the second and third spots respectively. Crawford and Christopher Griffith won the two primes. Seon Budhan carted off the spoils for Mountain Bike race.

R&R Int'l Ltd 11-race cycle meet …

Funding has always been a bugbear for rugby. Here members of the GRFU receive a donation from Government, represented by Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony and Director of Sport Neil Kumar

Hamaz Eastman collects the winning trophy for his victory in the feature 35-lap event of the 24th

annual R&R International 11-race cycle programme

The winners in the various categories with their trophies after the race

Turnaround inspires hope for West Indies

It was a sight to gladden the hearts of West Indies fans. Jason Holder, the young and callow leader; Denesh Ramdin, the Test skipper; and Darren Sammy, a predecessor of them both, now a senior statesman in the side. Three captains in a group hug, celebrating a West Indies victory, a record win over Pakistan, no less. You wouldn’t have expected it seven hours earlier.

Just before 11am, the West Indies players had stood dutifully in line as their anthem, Rally Round the West Indies, rung out over Hagley Oval. Holder looked as if he was vaguely mouthing some of the words. Few other players did. “This Caribbean nation is rising fast, a sunbeam cutting through a clouded past.” The lyrics just did not ring true.

If the past is a foreign country and they do things differently there, for West Indies the past is 10 countries doing things differently. That is to say cohesively, successfully, dominating the cricket world. In recent times, there have been rare peaks, such as the World T20 triumph in 2012, and

frequent troughs. But the past few months have been right up there, or down there.

From the moment the West Indies players walked out of their tour of India in October over a pay dispute, observers feared it could have been the beginning of the end. Could cricket in the Caribbean recover from the humiliation? How could it have come to such an extreme state of affairs be-

tween the players, their representatives, and the board?

The omissions of Dwayne Bravo, the captain on that tour of India, and Kieron Pollard from the World Cup squad in January fueled the flames. Chris Gayle slammed the board, suggesting it was a case of victimisation. The selectors argued the World Cup squad was chosen purely on merit. Neither men had been in peak form, but it felt a lit-

tle like plausible deniability from the selectors.

Holder was put in charge despite being the squad’s third-least experienced ODI player. West Indies then lost to Ireland in their World Cup opener. Rumours swirled on Twitter that Gayle had only just now received a disciplinary letter from the board for his selection comments. When they lined up for the anthems in Christchurch, they looked

Gayle still a force – says Russell

Talisman Chris Gayle maybe finding runs hard to come by but teammate Andre Russell says just his presence in the squad is having a great impact on team morale.

The left-handed opener has been enduring a dismal run, with just 43 runs from four innings – including three single digit scores – since arriving at the ICC Cricket World Cup.

His latest failure came on Saturday against Pakistan when he scratched around for 14 deliveries over four before top-edging a swing at seamer Mohammed Irfan to long leg to fall in the fifth over.

“From the warm-up games Chris has been struggling and we’re still scoring 300 runs and he’s not giving us those big performances, even Marlon Samuels who is one of our main batters as well,” Russell pointed out.

“So, I just think when these guys peak at the right time, West Indies has the ability to score over 350. They have been good in the dressing room ... the way they keep motivating the team and the team spirit is very good.

“Chris is not moody. Chris is just an amazing guy that you share the changing room with. Even now he’s not scoring and he’s not miserable, he’s not grumpy. He’s happy, he’s laughing, and he’s cheering everyone on the field, and that’s what we want from a big guy like him, so it’s very good.”

Gayle also struggled in the fivematch one-day series against South Africa last month, making just 71 runs

from five outings, and has now gone 20 months without a hundred with just a single half-century in the interim.

In Gayle’s absence, however, Russell has been one of the players to step up, and his scintillating 13-ball, unbeaten 42 helped lift West Indies to a 150-run crushing of Pakistan at Hagley Oval on Saturday.

He said the victory had left a buzz in the dressing room, especially following the team’s shock four-wicket defeat to minnows Ireland last week.

“[The mood] is very good in the

dressing room. We needed this win after that defeat against Ireland,” said Russell, who grabbed the Man-of-theMatch award for an all-round performance which included a three-wicket haul.

“Everyone is laughing and we’re happy with the way we performed. It’s just always a fun dressing room, and I think from the last game things didn’t go well for us, and we just turned up today and wanted to show the world that we are not just a pushover.

“We are always a good team and we can fight. It happened today, so it was a very good performance.”

Defending 310, West Indies started brightly when fast bowler Jerome Taylor wiped out the top order to leave Pakistan four wickets down with just one run on the board, in the fourth over.

Russell followed up with his medium pace to help hurt Pakistan and seal the victory but was quick to downplay his own performance.

“It is very big to contribute to the team and win the Man-of-the-Match award, but at the end of the day, the other contributions from the other guys [were important],” the Jamaican said.

“We didn’t get the start that we wanted, but the guys in the middle, they kept it together and they set the innings perfectly for me to come and do my thing. It just goes to show that we’re a good team and playing as a team you’re always going to get the job done once everyone contributes.”

(CMC)

like a team on edge. Or on the edge.

Then Gayle fell for another low score. Then the WICB president, Dave Cameron, retweeted a comment from a West Indies supporter that read: “Gayle goes ..can’t buy a run ..let’s give him a retirement package ..can’t fail repeatedly and still front up based on reputation.” It was hardly an example of rallying around the West Indies players.

And then West Indies were given the gift of Pakistan.

Dwayne Smith had been dropped on 11. Marlon Samuels was dropped on 25. And on 27. Darren Bravo was dropped on 45. Lendl Simmons was dropped on 44. Runs were let through, batsmen let off, West Indian confidence let to slowly rise again. Against an imploding Pakistan, West Indies didn’t have to do much, but they did enough.

Their batsmen set up a position that allowed Andre Russell to come in and finish the job. Russell walked to the crease with 2.5 overs remaining. He made 42 not out off 13 balls. It included a

dot ball he felt should have been called a wide, and four leg byes. Russell’s hair and beard is cut in Mr T style at the moment, and you had to pity the fool who got in the way of any of his strikes today. He scored more in 13 balls than Pakistan’s top five batsmen combined. Jerome Taylor destroyed the Pakistan top order. They were 1 for 4. The West Indians hustled between the wickets, Ramdin sprinting from end to end between overs like he thought he was Usain Bolt. West Indian fans similarly ran around the grass banks at Hagley Oval waving regional flags, national flags, patchworks of flags.

After the loss to Ireland, Tony Cozier wrote that West Indies’ fielding had been “embarrassingly inferior” compared to that of Ireland. Here, nothing could have been worse than Pakistan’s fielding. West Indies dropped a couple of sharp chances, but were generally clean. They ended up winning by 150 runs, their biggest win over Pakistan in an ODI. (Cricinfo)

Bravo to stay with WI despite injury

West Indies lefthander Darren Bravo will stay with the West Indies’ team despite sustaining a torn hamstring during the ICC Cricket World Cup Group B 150-run win over Pakistan at Hagley Oval on Saturday.

West Indies media manager Philip Spooner told reporters Bravo had been taken to hospital for an MRI

scan after retiring hurt during West Indies’ innings. He said the injury had been diagnosed as a lower-grade tear.

“He has not been ruled out, he remains with the team,” Spooner said, but added however, that Bravo was “highly unlikely” to play in Tuesday’s match against Zimbabwe in Canberra.

(Windies Cricket)

Darren Bravo

Chris Gayle

Jerome Taylor jolted Pakistan during a run-chase that never really got started

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2-stage cycle race on today

The Burnham Foundation in collaboration with the Guyana Cycling Federation will today stage the annual cycling road race in memory of the former president of Guyana and founder of the People’s National Congress, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

The two-stage event will take place in the county of Demerara, and is being coordinated by the long-serving national coach, Hassan Mohamed.

The first stage will start in Linden at 08:00h and conclude just outside the Help and Shelter building on Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown, while stage two will commence at 14:00h in front of the Ocean View International Hotel at Lilliendaal, proceed to Belfield on the East Coast

of Demerara, before returning to the start point for the finish.

“We can expect a very competitive race as all the riders are preparing for a long season ahead. Several races are carded for the month of March, so Sunday’s race will help to build momentum,” Mohamed said earlier in the week.

Team Coco’s Raynauth Jeffrey emerged the overall champion last year, despite not winning any of the two stages. He clocked three hours, 52 minutes, 43 seconds (03h: 52m: 43s) and was followed by Michael Anthony (3h: 53m: 30s), Hamzah Eastman (3h: 54m: 33s), Shaquille Agard (3h: 54m: 35s), Junior Niles (3h: 55m: 23s) and Godfrey Pollydore (3h: 55m: 55s).

A new champion will be

crowed this year, as Jeffrey is currently overseas. Anthony was the top Junior rider, while Niles took the spoils in the Veteran category.

The first leg was won by Geron Williams in a time of two hours, 50 minutes, 08 seconds (02h: 50m: 08s), with Anthony and Niles winning the Junior and Veteran categories respectively, while stage two was won by Niles in a time of one hour, two minutes, two seconds (01h: 02m: 02s). By virtue of the win, Niles automatically took the Veteran segment, while Alonzo Ambrose was the top Junior. Representatives of the Burnham Foundation will witness the day’s activities and later assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion. (Avenash Ramzan)

Windies revive World Cup campaign...

The left-handed Gayle fell in the fifth over for just four, top-edging a swing at seamer Mohammed Irfan to Wahab Riaz at long leg, with the score on 17 for one.

Three overs later, Smith edged pacer Sohail Khan to Haris Sohail at slip, after striking four fours, to leave the Windies in a spot of bother.

Helped by ordinary outfielding that saw no less than four catches put down, West Indies then rebounded first through Bravo and Samuels who put on 75 for the third wicket to revive the innings.

The left-handed Bravo struck three fours while Samuels faced 52 deliveries and played with abandon for his four fours, before holing out in the deep in the 25th over off left-arm spinner Haris Sohail at 103 for three.

Bravo and Ramdin then gathered a prudent 49 for the fourth wicket to keep West Indies ticking along at nearly five runs an over. The left-handed Bravo lived a charmed life, given out on 14 in the 15th over to a catch at the wicket off legspinner Afridi before suffering a reprieve on review, and was then dropped on 46 at square leg by Afridi, after fiercely pulling Haris Sohail in the 29th over.

He was forced to abort his innings soon after, pulling up after taking a quick single.

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His absence did little to impede the momentum of the innings as the in-form Simmons joined Ramdin to add a further 42. Soon after raising his seventh ODI half-century, Ramdin holed out in the deep in the 40th over off left-arm spinner Haris Sohail.

However, Sammy clobbered three fours and a six off 28 balls, putting on 65 for the fifth wicket with

Simmons, before Russell and Simmons finished off the innings in style.

Russell was belligerent, smashing three sixes off Sohail Khan in the penultimate over of the innings which leaked 22 runs.

Taylor then gave West Indies a dream start, removing Nasir Jamshed and Younis Khan in the first over of the Pakistan innings, both without scoring.

The left-handed Jamshed lobbed a pull off the second ball of the innings to Russell at mid-wicket and four balls later, the dangerous Younis Khan nicked a beauty to Ramdin behind.

In the third over, Haris Sohail squeezed Taylor to substitute Jonathan Carter at backward point to also fall without scoring and

from back page

when the dashing Ahmed Shezad sliced seamer Jason Holder to Lendl Simmons at gully in the fourth over for one, Pakistan were reeling at one run for four wickets.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq tried to dig in, facing 21 balls for his seven but edged Russell for Gayle at first slip to take a smart catch moving to his left in the 11th over.

Akmal hit five fours and a six and Maqsood, four fours and a six, as they resisted for 15 overs to offer Pakistan a faint glimmer of hope. However, once Maqsood lifted Sammy’s low full toss for Benn to take a brilliant tumbling catch running around from midon, the last five wickets perished for 55 runs. (CMC)

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES

D Smith c Haris Sohail

b Sohail Khan 23

C Gayle c Wahab Riaz

b Mohammad Irfan 4

D Bravo ret. hurt 49

M Samuels c sub (Yasir Shah)

b Haris Sohail 38

+D Ramdin c sub (Yasir Shah)

b Haris Sohail 51

L Simmons run out 50

D Sammy c Shahid Afridi

b Wahab Riaz 30

A Russell not out 42

Extras (b2, lb6, w14, nb1) 23

TOTAL (6 wkts, 50 overs) 310

Did not bat: *J Holder, J Taylor, S Benn.

Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Gayle, 5 overs), 2-28 (Smith, 7.5), 3-103 (Samuels, 24.1), 3-152* (Bravo, ret. not out), 4-194 (Ramdin, 39.5), 5-259 (Sammy, 47.1), 6-310 (Simmons, 50)

Bowling: Mohammad Irfan

10-0-44-1 (w1), Sohail Khan 10-1-73-1 (nb1), Shahid Afridi

10-0-48-0 (w1), Haris Sohail

9-0-62-2, Wahab Riaz 10-0-67-1 (w4), Sohaib Maqsood 1-0-8-0. PAKISTAN

Nasir Jamshed c Russell

b Taylor 0 Ahmed Shehzad c Simmons

b Holder 1

Younis Khan c wkp Ramdin

b Taylor 0 Haris Sohail c sub (J Carter)

b Taylor 0

*Misbah-ul-Haq c Gayle

b Russell 7

Sohaib Maqsood c Benn b Sammy 50 +Umar Akmal c Smith

b Russell 59

Shahid Afridi c Holder

b Benn 28 Wahab Riaz c wkp Ramdin b Russell 3 Sohail Khan c wkp Ramdin b Benn 1 Mohammad Irfan not out 2 Extras (lb3, w5, nb1) 9 TOTAL (all out, 39 overs) 160 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Nasir

(Misbah-ul-Haq,

10-160 (Sohail Khan, 39) Bowling: Taylor 7-1-15-3 (w2), Holder 7-2-23-1 (w1), Russell 8-2-33-3 (w2), Sammy 8-047-1, Benn 9-0-39-1 (nb1).

lAnd FOR SAle

Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248

Milo Under-20 school football tournament… Defending champs Lodge Secondary continue to roll

By TreisTon Joseph

Defending champions, Lodge Secondary School played an all-round game to pull off a comfortable 2-0 win against Central High School on Saturday when the Milo Under-20 School football tournament at the Ministry of Education ground.

The game started at a fever’s pitch which resulted in Lodge striking early with a goal from Jarel Grannnum in the eight minute after dribbling past two defenders before releasing a powerful shot into the back of the net.

Both teams slowed the pace down as they exchange possession with a few chances going wayward of the goals to end the first half 1-nil.

On the resumption of play in the second period Lodge showed their creativity in the midfield with a combination of passes that allowed Sylvester Richardson to score quite easily in the 58th minute.

South Ruimveldt Secondary made easy work of a shorthanded St Stanislaus College with a 4-nil win.

St Stanislaus playing with only nine players never had much of a chance as South Ruimveldt walked all over their defence.

Kevin McPherson led the way with a double in the 11th and 27th minutes while Shaquille Blair and Dequan Alleyne followed with goals of their own in the 40th and 70th minutes respectively. In the final game of the

day Queenstown Secondary put a hammering on Cummings Lodge with a 6-2 drubbing.

Kelsey Benjamin led the way for Cummings Lodge with a hat-trick, scoring in the 23rd, 45th and 57th minutes respectively while Shakeil Somner, Welinson Meneses and Vickram Chandranan scored a goal apiece in the 31st, 37th and 69th minutes respectively.

Britton Cypriano and Desales Joseph scored the two goals for Cumming Lodge in the 53rd and 60th minutes respectively.

Meanwhile St Mary’s Secondary gained a walkover win against Ascension Secondary as the tournament will continue today at the said venue.

Media XI, PMCC square off in benefit match today

The Guyana Media XI and Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) will go head-to-head today in a feature hardball cricket match at the Port Mourant ground in East Berbice from 10:00h.

The match is being dubbed the “Calvin Robert Benefit Game”, as proceeds from the encounter will be handed over the former Guyana Media XI captain

and sport journalist, who has been diagnosed with renal failure.

Both teams have named strong squads from which the final XI will be derived.

Guyana Media XI skipper John Ramsingh said that while his players are cognisant of the reasons for the game, his boys will be gunning for nothing less than a victory.

“We had a good game against Gas XI on Friday, and although we lost in a close finish, we were able to get a fair idea of where we are in terms preparation for this game against Port Mourant,” Ramsingh said. In that game, the Media XI posted 133-8 from the allotted 20 overs with Rajiv Bisnauth hitting 56, before Gas XI responded with 1343 in 17.3 overs. The Media XI were without two key players in that game, namely Ramsingh, who was nursing a finger injury and could not bat, and wicketkeeper/ batsman Daniel Singh. Ramsingh said he is fully fit for today’s match-up, while Singh is set to take up his position behind the stumps and in the middleorder.

Guyana Media XI squad reads: John Ramsingh (Captain), Rajiv Bisnauth, Daniel Singh, Ravi Persaud, Shahrukh Imran, Avenash Ramzan, Clifton Ross, Keon Blades, Navin Budhai, Ishaka Jackman, Treiston Joseph, Rene Stoby, Orlando Charles, Dicquan Murray and Mertyl Semple.

PMCC squad reads: Joshua Ramsammy (Captain), Arif Chan, Parmanand Narine, Andy Mohan, Darmesh Seenarine, Demetri Cameron, Nicholas Cameron, Nagma Budhoo, Avinash Wajib, Manoj Lokhnauth, Samuel Kishnasammy and Jamar Lancaster.

Big money at stake in Jumbo Jet Sprint Classic horse race meet

By raJiv BisnauTh

Close to 70 of the country’s top horses will be in action today when the Jumbo Jet Sprint Classic horse race meet is being stage at the Rising Sun Turf Club.

Information reaching Guyana Times Sport on Saturday revealed that an impressive line-up of animals have entered for the day’s event.

The meet will now be a seven-race programme after organisers were forced to shelve the Four-year-old and H1 and Lower races because of the limited entries received. All the races are set to compete over a distance of 1100 metres.

The feature event is for animals classified D1 and Lower. The winning prize is $1 million and a trophy.

The Shariff Racing Stable

heads the feature line-up with three entries; the likes of California Strike, Spit Fire and Swing Easy.

The Jumbo Jet Racing Stables has Appealing Harvest and Jack is my Style, while the Jagdeo Connection, from all indications, will be going with Right to Rule and the fit again Country Armage. Others, such as Red and Lovely, Passion for Song and Money in Return, will be looking to make their name.

However, all eyes will be on the newly imported and highly rated Piz a Holiday of the Elcock/Poonai Stable as it makes its debut on the local arena.

Other races include the Three-year-old Guyana and West Indian bred race, which will fetch a winning take of $500,000 and a trophy.

The E Class event will now be for E2 animals, and not E3, with the winner

set to race away another $500,000 and a trophy. The G1 and Lower animals have a $400,000 winning money and trophy to aim for.

The Three-year-old Guyana bred animals will gallop for a winner’s pocket of $250,000 and a trophy, while the event for I3 and Lower animals will see the winner taking home $200,000 and a trophy.

The final event is for animals classified J3 and Lower for a pole position prize of $150,000 and a trophy.

The day’s activities will be conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and, according to organisers, those rules would be rigidly enforced. Race time is 12:30h.

The one-day meet is organised in collaboration with the Jumbo Jet Business Enterprise and Racing Stable.

Kevin McPherson’s shot evades St Stanislaus goal keeper and rocked the back of the net

Flashback! Calvin Roberts bowling in the nets during a training session with the Guyana Media XI last year

An action packed day is anticipated in today’s Jumbo Jet Sprint Classic horse race meet

GCB U-15 Inter-County 50-over competition…

Berbice reclaim title with 31-run victory

Berbice whipped Demerara by 31 runs to reclaim the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-15 Inter-County 50over title on Saturday at the Wales Community Centre Ground.

Chasing 161 for victory, Demerara were humbled for 129 in 44 overs with Kevlon Anderson (4-15), Navindra Persaud (2-12), Kelvin Omroa (2-28) and Nigel Deodat (1-34) being the main destructive forces.

Earlier, Demerara had put in a disciplined bowling performance to restrict the Berbicians to a modest total despite Garfield Benjamin’s impressive half-century, after Demerara skipper Ashmead Nedd won the toss and put Berbice in to bat.

Benjamin top-scored with a 124-ball 59, inclusive of six boundaries to steadied the in-

nings but Berbice failed to build on his effort with the rest of the batsmen had difficulties in getting the ball away.

The bowling was good enough to restrict West Indies to 160-5 in 50 overs, and at the

innings break, it looked like an easy match for the taking for Demerara.

All the Demerara bowlers were economical with Pradesh Balkissoon (2-20), Alphius Bookie (2-31) and

Omar Torrington (1-32) were the successful bowlers.

Junior Sinclair (19), Brandon Mangal (17) and Seon Glasgow (16) were the other batsmen to offer any resistance. However, in reply Demerara

lost their last six batsmen for 40 runs.

Demerara lost Robin Williams (09) with the score on 20, but Adrian Hinds and Pradesh Balkissoon added 39 for the second wicket to put

their team on course.

However, skipper Anderson then provided his team with the breakthrough when he had had Balkissoon caught for 17.

Hinds then shared in a third wicket stand of 24 with the level-headed Alphius Bookie.

The pair seemed untroubled as they kept the score board ticking. But Berbice stuck a double blow which proved to be the turning point of the game.

Left arm spinner Omroa disturbed the stumps of the left-handed Hinds for 24 before Anderson had Bookie caught and bowled for 16 as the host slipped to 89-4.

The Berbicians maintained a decent line and length and only Qumar Torrington of the remaining batsmen reached double figure, an unbeaten 14.

Malteenoes SC working to improve infrastructure

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

The Neil Barry-led Malteenoes Sports Club is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to become one of the top clubs in Georgetown,

and by extension Guyana. During a recent visit to the facility, it was quite noticeable the massive upgrade the Thomas Lands-based ground has received.

A few years ago, the

is quite visible the magnitude of work the executives, led by President Neil Barry, were able to put in to lift the aesthetics of the venue.

“What we did with that money- because it came at a time when we had to relay our cricket pitch, which is very important of course to our development of the sport- we were able to do that, increase the width and size of the playing areas and also we had rough areas within the 30-yard circle,” Barry explained. He continued, “We were able to upgrade that; bring in sand, bring in equipment and get it levelled so what you’re seeing out there today, all of this is as a result of that grant we got two years ago.”

While infrastructural development is critical to the growth of any club, Barry added that Malteenoes is also focusing on expanding its membership, and while the main area is cricket, persons desirous of playing other sport can also sign up.

Barry related. “To enhance that project as well, we intend to place to the south of the building, an all-weather surface where we can have cricket lanes, basketball, volleyball and table tennis facilities. We also want to

refurbish our gym, so these are all plans in place to increase the membership of Malteenoes.”

Barry noted that while its membership is predominantly Georgetown-based,

Government of Guyana unveiled its venue upgrade initiative, whereby clubs desirous of improving their facilities were given a million dollars each.

The Malteenoes Sports Club was among the first set of beneficiaries, and it

“What we have done is relaunch our youth initiative, not only for cricket, but also table tennis because we do have a table tennis academy upstairs as well. Of course, we have been reaching out to our former members to come back and play a part,”

it is not limited to the capital city. The club is open to persons who can align themselves with its aims and objectives, and abide by its rules and regulations.

The Malteenoes Sports Club is one of the oldest clubs in Georgetown. Only

this week, its groundstaff were blessed with a brand new mechanical grass cutter, compliments of Friends of Malteenoes- U.S.A. Chapter.

Speaking at the brief handing over ceremony, Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony, who was instrumental in facilitating the

clearance of the machinery into Guyana, praised the leadership of the club for the progress it has been able to make in recent times.

“We see that they have very leadership here and over the years they have been very strong in developing young cricketers through their academy and

that is something we want others to emulate,” the minister pointed out. “Not only have they been building capacity and producing cricket players through their programme, but they have also embarked on a drive to improve to improve the infrastructure and facilities here at Malteenoes.”

The victorious Berbice Under-15 team

The picturesque Malteenoes Sports Club

Neil Barry Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Windies revive World Cup campaign with massive win

West Indies took a giant step towards banishing the painful memory of their shock defeat to minnows Ireland, by producing a magical allround performance to hammer a sloppy Pakistan by 150 runs and pick up their first win of the ICC Cricket World Cup in New Zealand on Saturday.

Sent in at Hagley Oval here, West Indies overcame another stuttering start to blast their way to 310 for six off their 50 overs – their second successive 300-plus total – with wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and Lendl Simmons striking up tempo half-centuries.

Ramdin top scored with 51 from 43 balls with seven fours while Simmons was run out off the very last ball of the innings for exactly 50 from 46 balls, after gathering four fours and two sixes.

The innings was given a fitting climax by the power-

ful Andre Russell who pummelled an unbeaten 42 off just 13 balls. He crunched three fours and four massive sixes, adding an exhilarating 51 off 17 balls for the sixth wicket with Simmons.

All told, West Indies gathered 115 runs off the last ten overs.

Along the way, Darren Bravo carved out 49 off 78 balls before limping off the park in the 32nd over with a left hamstring injury, while Marlon Samuels cracked 38, Darren Sammy, 30 and opener Dwayne Smith 23.

In reply, Pakistan were stunned by outstanding speedster Jerome Taylor, to be all out for 160 off 39 overs. The Jamaican snatched three early wickets to leave the Pakistanis four wickets down with just one run on the board in the fourth over.

They were tottering further at 25 for five in the 11th over before Sohaib Maqsood and Umar Akmal combined

New Constitution will change football

forever,

says Urling

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Chairman of the Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Clinton Urling, said the new Constitution ‘will change Guyana’s football forever.’ He made the comment during a wide-ranging interview with local media operatives last week.

Urling, who is heading the FIFA appointed Normalisation Committee, pointed out that constitutional reform is ongoing, and the world governing body for the sport, FIFA, is exclusively in charge of that process.

According to Urling, the Constitution is currently being drafted, after which it will be forwarded to the Member Associations (MA’s) for perusal and changes if necessary.

“But I can tell you, that Constitution will change football forever in Guyana. It’s a revolutionary Constitution,” Urling, a businessman, said with confidence.

He added, “FIFA is going to come back maybe two days before that vote and they will sit with all the MA’s, and the MA’s who don’t like any aspect of it just need to justify to them why. It’s not going to be ‘I don’t like it, just take it out.’ You need to justify. If the MA’s don’t adopt it when FIFA returns, it means the life of the Normalisation Committee will be extended.”

While the five-member Normalisation Committee, which was installed last

September is operating with a mandate from FIFA, the current GFF Constitution still stands.

“The only difference is that Executive Committee and when it comes to how Congress is organised. The Normalisation Committee is not a creature of the Member Associations; it’s a creature of FIFA. There is no way within the GFF Statutes that says anything about a Normalisation Committee. That’s in the Statutes of FIFA. So when it’s activated it’s through FIFA’s mandate; when it comes to us reporting and answering, we respond to FIFA.”

The Normalisation Committee, comprising Urling, Dr Karen Pilgrim, Stuart May, Rabindranauth Chanderpal and Tariq Williams, was put in place to regularise Guyana’s football at all levels.

This was after warring factions had brought the game down a point where a simple discussion on the way forward for the sport seemed elusive.

in a 80-run sixth wicket stand to prevent an embarrassing collapse.

Akmal hit 59 from 71 balls and Maqsood, 50 from 66, and were two of only three batsmen to reach double figures, with the dashing Shahid Afridi chipping in with 28.

Seamer Russell followed up with a haul of three for 33 to claim Man-of-the-Match honours while left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, in for his first game, finished with two for 39.

The victory lifted West Indies to second in Group B behind leaders India while Pakistan remained rooted to the bottom without a win.

Desperately needing a victory to boost sagging morale, West Indies suffered another dodgy start when they lost openers Chris Gayle and Smith cheaply to be 28 for two in the eighth over.

Tourism Ministry helps motor racing team

The Ministry of Tourism on Friday handed over an undisclosed sum of money to aid the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club for the upcoming first leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships in Jamaica.

At the simple ceremony held at the Ministry of Housing boardroom, Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali noted that the Ministry was pleased to be associated with

the sport of racing.

“We believe motor racing has a tremendous future for tourism in Guyana, football is on the rise but if we can develop this sport into the product it should be we would see it bring a lot into tourism and for us it’s the top three sport bringing tourism into Guyana,” Ali noted.

Further Ali highlighted that the Tourism Ministry will aim to do more in order to help push the sport, “It is

the high point of November and I can assure you from a tourism perspective to look forward to a more proactive approach,” Ali stated.

President of the Motor Racing Club, John Carpenter displayed his gratitude and noted that the team has the ability do well.

The team will wing out to Jamaica on Wednesday to participate in the first leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship.

Clinton Urling

Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali (right) hands over sponsorship cheque to Captain of the team Danny Persaud

Andre Russell plays an outrageous shot during his 13-ball 42