Guyana Times Daily - February 21, 2016

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Berbice Nursery schools stage anti-suicide march Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2774 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

February 21, 2016

PRICE

Burnham, PNC politicised Army, dehumanised Guyanese

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

2 sex P8 workers placed on $25,000 bail for robbery

Page 3

Mon Repos bond fire...

… Rodney was not the only victim during era of terror politics — CoI report

Smoldering debris puts Children “wooed” public at annual Costume and Float parade investigation on hold

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Carpenter robbed at Wismar P

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Justice Chang quashes cancellation of farmers’ P6 leases A section of the Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) contingent at Saturday's Children's Mashramani Costume and Float Parade (Marceano Narine photo)

Guyana/Norway Forest partnership…

Teixeira writes Norwegians over Govt’s “continued lies and attacks” P11

– PPP will support hold on projects funded under REDD+

Govt likely to mount challenge

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– Clerk says Speaker will decide on course forward

PNC State responsible for assassination P9

Technocrat Ministers ruling...

... same

people in power today – Ramotar

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SunDAY, february 21, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Nursery schools stage Old One Mile Primary structure to be demolished anti-suicide march

Old One Mile Primary School

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he structure, which previously housed the One Mile Primary School at Wismar, Linden (Upper Demerara/Berbice) is expected to soon be demolished.

Parts of the structure had remained following a fire that completely gutted the school during a wave of protests over a proposed rise in electricity tariffs back in 2012.

The One Mile Primary School was one of several buildings torched in the com-

munity by arsonists, displacing over 800 students in the process.

A new school building had been erected by the previous administration which currently houses the students.

They have been housed there since the beginning of the school term in September.

An executive member of the One Mile Primary Parent Teachers Association (PTA) recently revealed that the former remains of the school is expected to be demolished, ahead of the new school’s for-

mal commissioning ceremony to be held some time in the near future.

Residents of Linden, under the stewardship of former Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon had sought to rebuild the school through self-help.

Works had begun to rebuild, using the former structure, however former Education Minister Priya Manickchand had declared it unsafe to do so based on professional advice.

Rose Hall Town Nursery, with their little ones dressed as butterflies marched under the banner ‘Love the Life You Live and Live the Life you Love’

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undreds of nursery schools from New Amsterdam and communities along the lower Corentyne, in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Friday took to the streets in a massive anti-suicide parade, as part of the Mashramani 2016 celebrations.

The event, which was

organised by the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) in collaboration

with Scotia Bank, was held under the theme ‘Say Yes To Life and No To Suicide’. The parade saw children accompanied by their parents and teachers marching through Williamsburg and Rose Hall depicting various aspects of life while displaying antisuicide slogans.

Prior to Friday’s parade, several schools held their own Mashramani parades in their communities. At the end of the parade, schools were awarded for their performances. Rose Hall Town Nursery, marching under the banner ‘Love the Life You Live and Live the Life you Love’, with the little ones dressed as butterflies, received the first place trophy. The float was designed by teachers of the school.

Roaming jaguar caught in Mainstay/Whyaka trap

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

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esidents living in the Amerindian community of Mainstay/ Whyaka in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) woke up Friday morning with a sigh of relief as a huge jaguar that was roaming the community for months was caught in a trap at Jump Jump village. The jaguar weighs approximately 300 pounds and measured seven feet in length.

For months, the com-

at night with guns to catch the jaguar but that method proved futile.

The miner further explained he knew some other strategy had to be drafted and the residents of the community came together and made a wooden trap.

The wooden trap also failed, since the jaguars bit and destroyed the trap.

Allen said that he didn’t give up and was determined to execute another plan.

With the help of Hilary Allen, his uncle, they made

The captured jaguar

munity has been affected by several ferocious jaguars that have reportedly killed over 50 dogs, ducks, chickens and sheep in the area.

Residents were fearful for their lives and made several calls on the relevant authorities for necessary intervention.

At around 06:00h on Friday morning, residents flocked around the trap that was brilliantly set by the Allen family in an effort to assist the situation. The trap was set by Chris Allen, a miner in the community, who said for too long, residents were living in discomfort and their livelihood hampered, due to the presence of the jaguars and fear for their safety.

Allen who recently returned from the interior said that he knew something had to be done in an effort to save his community’s pet dogs and poultry, and as such, he ventured out on a mission to catch and trap the jaguars.

Optimistic, Allen said that several residents set out

a trap with barb wire and a section for a dog which served as bait for the entire plan. In the space of a week, the jaguar successfully entered the trap with the intention of eating the bait dog and was caught.

As the news quickly spread through the small community located in the dense forest, residents were in loud praise Allen, age 37.

Although they knew it was not the end of their situation, since the animals hunt in packs, they were at ease as they skillfully executed a plan that was successful.

The community will be setting numerous traps along the junction areas where the jaguars usually roam.

According to residents, there are more jaguars as the animal’s tracks are seen daily. The captured jaguar is currently in the trap and will be handed over to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is believed that the jaguar will be tranquilised and brought to Georgetown.

NEWS

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SunDAY, february 21, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, February 21 – 14:30h-16:00h and Monday, February 22 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, February 21 – 15:30h-17:00h and Monday, February 22 – 16:10h-17:40h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Light rain fall with cloud cover can be expected throughout the day, while lightly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to East North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.81 metres per second.

High Tide: 03:45h and 16:00h reaching maximum heights of 2.46 metres and 2.57 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:34h and 21:57h reaching minimum heights of 0.74 metre and 0.63 metre.

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Burnham, PNC politicised Army, dehumanised Guyanese … Rodney was not the only victim during era of terror politics — CoI report

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he grim realities of the “Burnham Dictatorship” during which hundreds of Guyanese were constantly harassed, threatened or assaulted – and some murdered – for merely being supporters of the political Opposition finally came to light in a comprehensive investigation conducted by a renowned international three-member panel and categorically compiled in the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report.

All the while, these depictions and interpretations were just hearsay from political leaders but having it validated on paper brings somewhat a new meaning to the harsh realism endured by many in the military-controlled State that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) persistently warned about, commentators have stated.

Based on testimonies given, evidence gathered along with the events and circumstances that occurred at the time, the report concluded that the then Prime Minister, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, had such an “absolute” grip and control over the society that he “de-humanised and belittled many Guyanese”.

The 155-page document provided extensive details on the relentless abuse and misuse of the State in carrying out activities that were in blatant breach of legislation which separated the Executive arm of Government from the doings of the armed forces.

According to report, Dr Rodney’s brother Edward Rodney in his testimony identified that the Guyana Police Force was acting as an arm of the ruling party; that the Police were being used to break-up strikes against people who were standing in lines and being unruly or waiting to get bread, kerosene and the Mounted Police were used to threaten and intimidate.

Notably, this was just one of the dozens who came forth to narrate the bleak cir-

Dr Walter Rodney

cumstances that plagued the country during that era in the country’s history.

It was also revealed that the People’s National Congress (PNC) youth arm, the Youth Socialist Movement (YSM), was part and parcel in numerous of the beatings administered to Guyanese who opposed the dictatorship rule of Burnham. Two days ago, the PNC celebrated the birthday of their “founder leader” Burnham with great pomp and lauded him as a great leader of Guyana.

An excerpt from the CoI Report highlighted that the YSM was involved in violent activities in support of the PNC. “At one stage, the YSM was led by Robert Corbin (former PNCReform Leader) and it worked in close cooperation with the House of Israel in carrying out acts of violence and intimidation against the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) members,” the report stated.

It also recapped that Reverend Gilbert testified that on one occasion, he was grabbed and rammed in his ribs by the YSM which eventually resulted in two broken ribs just before he was handed over to the Police.

It was also taken into account, the somewhat discreet threat declared by Burnham against the WPA – against Dr Rodney.

At the Third Biennial the PNC Congress of (August, 1979), Burnham exclaimed, “We are a party of peace, but we are not paci-

fists, and literally and metaphorically, we promise to match steel with steel and fire with fire…”

“So comrades, let us deal now with another of them – the Worst Possible Alternative. That is what they must be known by. What does WPA stand for?”

“Comrades, they had better make their wills, because so far as we are concerned, we are not asking them for quarter and we will not give them any…”

“Comrades, we are now in the Roman Amphitheatre.

The lion and the gladiator cannot both survive; one must die, and we know that the People’s National Congress will live.”

The Rodney CoI Report expressed that there has been much debate whether the words used by Burnham represented rhetorical excess or whether they were serious and threatening words reflecting the extent to which Rodney and the WPA had become a matter of serious con-

cern to him.

According to the report, many of the testimonies subscribed to the view that Burnham’s statements were indeed a threat.

Based on thorough considerations of these and many other incidents, the Commissioners concluded without hesitation that both the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the YSM along with those in command and Superintendents of those agencies were tasked with carrying out actions of violence against the Opposition.

The report concluded that there were constant surveillance on civilians, killing innocent persons who were associated with the Opposition; breaking up of political meetings, harassing, threatening, assaulting or beating members or supporters of the Opposition; arresting, locking-up or charging members or supporters or carrying out searches of homes and other places without reasonable or probable cause.

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Editorial

Justice for Rodney – finally

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t was said by the ancients, alluding to the mills that pulverised their life sustaining grains, “the wheels of justice grinds slowly but very fine”. They attributed the grinding as directed by the gods, but in Guyana today, it came for Dr Walter Rodney via the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) established two years ago by then President Donald Ramotar on the importuning of the widow and family of the word famous historian and scholar.

The conclusion of the CoI was unequivocal: “Given all the relevant facts, events and circumstances set out in the Report, we unhesitatingly conclude that Gregory Smith was not acting alone but had the active and full support, participation and encouragement of, and/or was aided and abetted by the GPF, the GDF, agencies of the State, and the political directorate in the killing (of) Dr Walter Rodney.”

The CoI did not leave the identity of the “political directorate” to conjecture: “Dr Walter Rodney was a man of large and significant stature both in Guyana and beyond at the time of his death. He could only have been killed in what we find to be a State organised assassination with the knowledge of Prime Minister Burnham in the Guyana of that period. It was a controlled society and Burnham had a large and detailed knowledge of whatever was being done by the state and its agencies.”

Most unbiased Guyanese would not be surprised at these findings that had long been accepted as “what it was”: the surprise is that they took so long to be given an official imprimatur. Rodney was no ordinary man but one who was respected by and in communication with the same progressive forces who Burnham was courting to gain respectability on the world stage. The fact that Burnham could have a role in Rodney’s assassination is an indicator of the depth of the antipathy the latter aroused in the former.

This was partially precipitated by the political threat Rodney represented to his dictatorship. Unlike the PPP and Jagan against whom Burnham could play the race card, Rodney had greater claims to be representing AfroGuyanese interests, which Burnham exploited to justify his dictatorship. Rodney was a Pan-Africanist who had been lauded from Jamaica to Tanzania for his consistent stance against racism by imperialism, while Burnham tried to buy his way into the grouping by offering a contribution to the anti-Apartheid struggle in South Africa.

In Guyana, Rodney was attracting both the lumpen African youths as well as the young professionals and intellectuals. Even more alarming to Burnham was that some of the younger officers of the Guyana Defence Force, formed to buttress Burnham’s rule, were gravitating towards Rodney and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), of which he was the leading light.

Rodney was able to also accomplish what Burnham had hoped for since the 1950s: earn the respect and the support of the Indo-Guyanese segment of the populace.

Rodney’s cross-racial appeal was epitomised when he deconstructed the contempt Burnham actually held for Afro-Guyanese when he moved the treason trial of PPP activist Arnold Rampersaud from Berbice to Georgetown, expecting a jury from the latter locale would automatically give him a guilty verdict.

The antipathy was also personal and reflected Burnham’s pettiness. The unathletic dictator prided himself on his “intellectualism” which he confused with verbal glibness of a facile nature. But Rodney, also from Queen’s College, was an athlete who gained his PhD at 24 and wrote books that are still used in universities. Burnham once mocked Rodney’s high-jumping prowess after his goons violently broke up a WPA meeting and the scholar was forced to scale several fences.

Yesterday, the PNC - the largest party in APNU - lauded Burnham on his Birthday. It is hoped that they do not continue with the obduracy in resisting the Rodney CoI and now its findings.

A student of the David Rose School at this year's Children's Mashramani Competition

Wales workers need to be heard in Parliament Dear Editor, The sugar workers of Wales Estate should have been allowed, at the very least, to exercise their right to free speech in Parliament, and speak about their estate closure.

The message to them

that they are prohibited from speaking about Wales in Parliament, is a loud message to all sugar workers and their families across Guyana that they have no business speaking in Parliament about their estate-related conditions.

This refusal even suggests that they are not benefitting from representational government, and the coalition may well be inviting nationwide industrial action.

The speaker of the house who seems to have become a speaker of the coalition, is

clearly aligning himself with the coalition when he ought to preserve the independence of Parliament. People should take note of this gentleman and monitor the decisions he makes.

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

Missing materials at Aurora Primary School Dear Editor, On Monday, January 18, 2016 the Aurora Primary and Nursery Schools that once housed the Secondary School also was dismantled by a contactor in order that a new concrete and wooden building would be erected on the very site. This building was carefully taken down to preserve the materials and zinc.

As expected the residents from the community made an approach to the Regional Executive Officer Rupert Hopkinson to have some of the materials in order for them to build or extend pens for rearing of poultry, livestock, pigs and cattle.

The REO rightly advised those persons to put their request in writing and send it to his office for consideration, because all the materials would be taken to Anna Regina into custody of the Regional Administration.

These materials were

then loaded into trucks on different dates and time; and the trucks headed into the direction of Anna Regina where all materials are lodged, stored and parked for the Region.

More than a week after, the last of about 20 trucks laden with materials left the Aurora School but not a single truck with materials turned up at the Ministry’s location where they were intended to be stored.

The REO was contacted by concerned citizens of the community and other areas of the region, as a result, he made contact with persons from Aurora, I included. A discussion was held with us on Sunday 31 January 2016; we were not impressed with the reasons he advanced for him not being able at that point in time to account for the peoples’ materials.

We are contending among other things that our grandparents, our parents,

we, our children and some of us our grandchildren attended that school we say it is galling to see it is stolen from us.

It is generally agreed we would have preferred to see these materials given to the Muslim, Hindu and Christian Churches in Aurora, and to the many play-grounds in the region for the construction and extension of pavilions.

I am saying a lot of people from within the community, that is to say Good Hope - Pomona and elsewhere are totally dissatisfied. There are persons, particularly the REO who is the Accounting Officer for the region, must say how much they know, when they knew it and what they did.

It is interesting to note that I caused an article to be published in the Kaieteur News on Friday 15 January under the caption ‘The story of a missing Heart Machine’

also mentioned in that article was the disappearance of dental equipment. At the time of writing this letter I am not sure the authority have located this needed piece of equipment or if persons were held for questioning.

Now less than a month later it is the story of a missing school. Now what should we expect, failing to have a thorough investigation into this nasty act would be an indictment on the part of the regional authorities, for they rightfully would be accused of supporting criminal activities.

It is the belief of many people that this issue would add to the long list that already exists during the previous administration. I hope that they are wrong.

Archie W Cordis Former AFC Councillor Region

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

Investigate sex abuses Dear Editor, The ongoing sex investigations on and filing of rape and sexual assault charges against popular TV star Bill Cosby has brought the issue of sexual abuse of women to the forefront worldwide.

In Guyana, in your letter columns, allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against elements of the police and armed forces. During the period of the Burnham dictatorship, elements in the government bureaucracy and the PNC hierarchy were also accused of sexual abuse of women (and even some sodomising boys); there were allegations also of sex abuse when PPP was in office.

There were reports of widespread rape at the PNC mandated National Service.

An investigation is warranted on all rape allegations and criminal sex charges (from independence till now) filed against perpetrators in addition to granting monetary compensation to the many victims.

Action is needed against those culprits to send a clear message to those who may contemplate committing sexual assaults that their actions will result in serious consequences.

Action against rapists and abusers of women will also have the effect of increasing the country’s evolving understanding of rape and sex abuses and help to end this deviant behaviour.

Rape is not only when the male violently forces his way (with a weapon or physical strength) onto the woman.

Cosby did not use a weapon or violence to engage in sex assaults; he drugged some and use his popularity to overcome others.

Rape is also when perpetrators use their position of authority (in government, party, army, police, national service, etc) to force others to commit involuntary sexual act and/or when the perpetrators use such authority to sexually abuse people including many who went to police stations to report crimes (including domestic abuses, rapes, etc).

Such sexual misconducts were widespread during the

period of the dictatorship and some kind of atonement is needed to prevent a recurrence.

In Guyana, in the security forces and at national service some used their position of authority to force their way on innocent women who wanted nothing to do with them. In some cases, the women (involuntarily) submitted their bodies to avoid persistent harassment and intimidation in exchange for kind treatment (access to food, light work, excuse from drills, etc) at national service; that is rape.

The PNC-AFC coalition government has announced it is resuscitating the dreaded national service (terminated by the PPP) where sexual transgressions were common.

People are pained to read and hear about so many cases of rape at national service.

Before national service becomes full blown again, there should be an investigation of sexual abuses at national service. Many crimes were committed on innocent students serving in mandatory national service in order for them to get their diplomas.

There were unwanted pregnancies; some children did not even know their fathers from the rape when the girls were passed on from one rapist to another. The abuses carried out by the culprits brought shame and disgrace on so many families. The nation cannot afford to return to that era.

A commission of inquiry into sex (and other) abuses is required even if national service is not restored, to send a clear unambiguous message to would-be sex abusers.

Where are the women’s groups on this issue?

Women’s groups should demand an investigation and offer support to victims encouraging them to come forward and finger the perpetrators of such horrendous crimes.

In the meantime, women should seek civil compensation if not criminal prosecution by taking the perpetrators and the state to court.

Lawyers should volunteer to assist the victims obtain justice as is being done in the US against Bill Cosby and

other Hollywood celebrities.

Multiple lawsuits for monetary compensation have been filed against perpetrators in American courts in several states on sexual misconduct and allegations of crime.

Guyanese Americans should also look into filing civil cases against criminals (even if crime committed in Guyana) and the Guyana government in American courts for compensation.

American laws allow for lawsuits in some cases where crimes were committed in a foreign country. And many of the perpetrators of sex crimes in Guyana have migrated to the US. These sex crimes are no different from those committed in Rwanda, Burundi, Sarajevo, Bosnia, etc. There is a “Cosby effect” of ongoing reports of sex crimes committed as far back as the 1960s.

The US armed forces have set up a hotline to report sex abuses with no statute of limitation; allegations are being reported from decades ago. The same is needed in Guyana where a confidential office should be established to take reports of sex crimes.

All across the US, there has been a sharp increase in reported rapes, many very old assaults, as a result of what is now known as the Cosby effect. Cases of rape should not have a statute of limitation.

In the US, in the interest of justice, allegations against Cosby have gone as far back as 1965.

In Guyana, rapes were carried out with the intent of having fun without any concern for the victim’s religious practices, traditions and customs and other cultural values and respect for the victim’s or family’s honour.

The perpetrators of sexual assaults must not go unpunished. This will alter the way how men treat women and how law enforcement handles rape investigations as well as the behaviour of males in authority whether in government, police or armed forces.

The PPP let down the country in not mounting an inquiry into sex abuses at national service and government offices and pursuing reports of sex crimes.

The APNU-AFC coalition should see to it that justice be done to victims of sexual abuses at national service and in the bureaucracy.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

More needs to be done for Lodge Dear Editor, As a resident of Lodge Housing Scheme, I am saddened to see every day a stagnant moss-covered, mosquito-infested, main drain/canal that is located north of Joseph Pollydore Street.

Since the end of October 2015, the water level has remained high although the sun is blazing hot overhead during the day. To date nothing is being done to clear this drain so that the water can flow out freely. Our bridges are constantly threatened of being swamped. As a result of the minimal downpour from last week the water level has risen at a dramatic high, threatening to flood our homes.

Editor, it is not that we are not used to our homes being inundated by flood waters from the said drain/canal during the rainy season, but this time around is not flood water, since the long period of stagnated water in the drain is breeding ground for mosquitoes and other vermin to proliferate and thrive, making life a living hell for us. There is also the constant threat of water coming into our homes, and our wooden bridge is affected by high water.

Added to our woes is the alleyway to the north that is bushy and abandoned not due fully to resident’s faults, since it requires the help of the City Council, this alleyway

was partially cleaned in the last big cleanup in 2014, and not cleaned or cleared since by the relevant authority.

Unfortunately, fogging cannot remove stagnated water, and mosquito population continues to thrive. At present, mosquito-borne illness - dengue, malaria, chikungunia and now zika are all a worrisome treat!

On behalf of my fellow residents, I am calling on the relevant authority to act with haste so as to avert an impending health crisis in this important ward of the Garden City.

Thank you, Concerned Citizen

AG Williams will be embarrassed again

Dear Editor, I have observed with absolute dismay the misplaced and irresponsible criticisms from Attorney General Basil Williams of the Chief Justice and the two decisions handed down yesterday.

As a result, I feel compelled to clarify a few issues.

The Chief Justice delivered eight decisions yesterday and not two. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a judge coming out of his leave period to complete outstanding cases. Judges have been doing that for decades.

Mr. Williams complained that he was not heard. I am flabbergasted by this contention because the nation would recall that the press published widely the submissions which the Attorney General made in the court.

Additionally, he submitted written submissions spanning over 20 pages. Indeed, in the ruling, the Chief Justice referred to those submissions and overruled them. To now say that he wasn’t heard is

a flagrant fallacy.In 2006, Raphael Trotman, of the Alliance For Change (AFC) had filed a legal challenge against the then government, questioning the constitutionality of a decision of then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, to name ministers before naming Parliamentarians.

On that occasion, Chief Justice Carl Singh, delivered a written ruling and explained that the Constitutional provisions are clear on who is an elected member of the National Assembly.

An elected member of the National Assembly is every person on a successful list of candidates, but you can only extract such number of persons to take up seats in the National Assembly, based upon the votes, the list gains at the elections.

This decision of Justice Carl Singh was either ignored or forgotten by the Coalition Government and they have obviously misinterpreted the Constitution again. Justice Chang has ruled the same

way that Justice Carl Singh did on this issue. Therefore, the decision of Chief Justice Chang is not as earth shattering as the Attorney General would want us to believe.

Another judge ruled that way 10 years ago and unless the Constitution changes that will continue to be the interpretation. I do not understand why Justice Chang is being faulted for reading and interpreting the Constitution correctly.

That is all he has done.

I read those very provisions and that is the interpretation, which I placed on them also.

Hence the legal challenge which I filed.? Mr Williams has indicated that he will appeal. I am happy. He will be embarrassed again.

As is characteristic of the Attorney General, rather than accept responsibility and blame, he deflects it to someone else. It is his modus operandi.

Regards, Anil Nandlall Former AG

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Foundation Justice Chang Creating a republic quashes cancellation

“The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself.” – Plato, The Republic

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Anu Dev

n my first year of Medical School at UWI, I was somewhat taken aback they would offer a compulsory course on Caribbean History.

(Actually “The Diversified Caribbean in the 16th, 17th and 18th Centuries; Caribbean Sexuality and Gender Relations”) But as I reflect on our Republic Day, which falls this Tuesday, I must say that the assigned text, “Beyond Massa: Sugar Management in the British Caribbean, 1770-1834” offered me a new perspective on the period of slavery in our Caribbean. I realised that the creation of our societies was much more nuanced in that the “struggle” was not only waged in pitched battles by individuals such as Cuffy, but in the daily routine of plantation life by ordinary people who cumulatively did extraordinary things to regain their humanity. The course was taught

by the author of the book, Dr John Campbell.

The text dealt with the running of a sugar plantation, Golden Grove, in eastern Jamaica during the years 1770-1834. The setting and time frame are both significant since at the time, Jamaica was the most profitable British colony in the Caribbean and yet there were pressures developing in England for the abolition of slavery, the “peculiar institution” from which the wealth from sugar was generated.

The author used as his primary source of data the correspondence from the manager of the plantation, Simon Taylor, and the absentee owner Chaloner Arcedeckne.

His innovation was to utilise analytic constructs from the contemporary Human Resource Model of study of managing workers to place emphasis on the social interactions between the enslaved people and the managers rather than the contemporary conventional historiographical focus on the economic aspects of plantation society. From this perspective the Caribbean produced not only the first mass agricultural and manufacturing enterprises in the world, but

from the seemingly undifferentiated institution of “slavery” innovations in Human Resource Management.

Campbell focused on the working relationship between the white managers and their white overseers and well with the enslaved people. He emphasised that there was a two-way negotiated space where the enslaved people had more ‘agency’ than previous studies had accredited to them.

The study also contended that the differences between the West African form of slavery, from which the slaves were brought and Caribbean chattel slavery were crucial in the new dyadic master-slave relationship. In the West African form, the slave was still considered a person while under the chattel slavery system; the slave was completely dehumanized and considered “property”.

And it is because the enslaved people were accustomed to this more benign concept of slavery, that HRM techniques could work. There could be opportunities for bargaining and negotiation.

Taking the logic to its limit, the author posits a third and controversial thesis - that the enslaved people “wanted

to change the tone of British West Indian slavery”.

The historiography on the institution of West Indian slavery has in the main been dominated by three perspectives. There was firstly the British writers who focused on the “civilising” mission of the enterprise for the African slaves who were not considered fully human. In the later years of slavery as the movement for abolition grew, the cruel conditions of slavery were conceded, and the putative humanitarian motive shifted the beneficence of the British government in ending slavery.

This perspective was challenged by historians such as Eric Williams, who later became the first PM of T&T. He proposed a more Marxian, economic based approach which stressed the role of slavery in laying the material foundation of Britain’s industrial revolution. Abolition, under this perspective simply reflected the fact that free trade rather than Mercantilism would benefit Britain more since the abolition of the former and the acceptance by the latter would increase the markets for British manufactured goods.

of farmers’ leases

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n a ruling at the High Court on Friday, former Chief Justice Ian Chang has quashed the ‘Cancellation of State Land Leases’ issued by the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/ Agricultural Development Authority against a group of West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica/ Berbice), rice farmers.

The MMA/ADA by virtue of an advertisement in a section of the print media on September 26 last year under the title, ‘Cancellation of State Land Leases in Rear of Seafield, West Coast Berbice’ informed the public that it had cancelled the leases of the farmers who operate under the Seafield

bid the MMA/ADA from carrying out its ‘Cancellation of State Land Leases’ order on the group of West Berbice farmers and also prohibited the authority from preventing the farmers accessing their lands. “… Orders or Rules nisi of Certiorari and Prohibition granted on the 8th October 2015 against the MMA/ADA must be made absolute. The court so orders,” the judge declared in his ruling on Friday.

According to the Chief Justice in the 13-page ruling, it was not up to the MMA/ADA to determine the legal validity or invalidity of the grant of the leases and to further pur-

(To be continued)

Attorney Anil Nandlall along with some of the farmers following the decision at the High Court on Friday

Cooperative Society Limited.

Three of the affected farmers had taken legal action last year in the form of a motion after they were forced off of the lands by the MMA/ADA, which claimed that the leases were issued in breach of an Order or Rule of Nisi issued by Justice Nareshwar Harnanan.

In the motion filed by Attorney Anil Nandlall on behalf of the farmers, it was stated that the leases were signed by former President Donald Ramotar and therefore, the MMA/ ADA has no authority to cancel the leases.

To this end, the attorney requested the court to declare the decision by the MMA/ADA as unlawful, a position the former Chief Justice upheld in an injunction he granted in October and in his ruling on Friday.

The injunction had for-

port to cancel it on the basis of its own findings.

“The MMA/ADA could not simply determine the legal validity or invalidity of the grant and then, taking its determination of invalidity as final, proceed to ‘cancel’ the lease on the basis of its own finding. This court does not view the grant of the lease as a flagrant invalidity. Indeed, it does not appear to be invalid at all on the basis of any contravention of the Orders made by Justice Harnanan,” he stated.

Justice Chang further outlined that while the Orders of Certiorari and Prohibition were issued by the judge, it was former President Ramotar who granted the lease. He pointed out too that Justice Harnanan had issued the Orders to the MMA/ADA and not against the former President. turn to page 10

– Clerk says Speaker will decide on course forward news

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SunDAY, february 21, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Technocrat Ministers ruling...

Gov’t likely to mount challenge – Clerk says Speaker will decide on course forward

G

overnment has indicated that it is likely to challenge the recent decision of former Chief Justice Ian Chang who ruled that Ministers Winston Felix and Keith Scott are unconstitutionally sitting in the National Assembly as technocrat members, since their names appeared on the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) successful List of Candidates, thus making them elected members of the House.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams told the Government Information Agency (GINA) on Friday, subsequent to the handing down of the ruling that he is “disturbed” by the recent judgment and the manner in which it was made by the outgoing Chief Justice.

According to the report, Williams pointed out that a ruling of such a nature is bound to be controversial especially since the judge had to come out of retirement leave to deliver a decision.

Nevertheless, he noted that Government will adopt whatever action it deems appropriate.

“The ruling in this matter signifies a dot on the administration of justice in this country… we are going to take whatever recourse we consider necessary in this matter. What would impel him to

Attorney General Basil Williams

Former Chief Justice Ian Chang

Attorney Anil Nandlall

do that? I find it unusual and it’s something we will address further,” he stated.

Government could have the decision appealed and file a stay of execution as one of its immediately options.

The Attorney General went on to say that the outgoing Chief Justice had committed to fully hear the entire matter before handing down a decision and had promised to inform the AG’s Chambers via notice so that he can present his substantive arguments on the matter.

However, Williams said that Justice Chang failed to communicate with his office, thus denying him the opportunity to present his substantive arguments and to respond to submissions made

by Attorney Anil Nandlall, representing the applicant Desmond Morian.

“I was informed today (Friday) that the matter

was for decision at 1:00 pm.

I’m very surprised that the learned Chief Justice would purport to proceed to give a decision without hearing from me,” the Minister remarked.

Moreover, Williams outlined that during the hearing of the proceedings, Nandlall was allowed to make substantive arguments in the matter despite his (AG) objections.

“I had appealed to the Chief Justice to just limit ourselves as he had no jurisdiction to proceed to hear the matter because it was not by way of an election petition,” he stated.

General, rather than accepting responsibility and blame for something that goes wrong, to deflect it onto others.

In the statement released

by Nandlall, he sought to respond to the contentions of the Attorney General, calling them “misplaced and irresponsible”. He pointed out that there was nothing wrong with the outgoing Chief Justice delivering a decision while on leave; in fact, he said that it was a responsible thing to do as he wrapped up several of the cases pending before him.

“The Chief Justice delivered eight decisions yesterday [Friday] and not two. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a judge coming out of his leave period to complete outstanding cases. Judges have been doing that for decades,” Nandlall stated.

Addressing the claims by

Anil’s rebuke

On the other hand, Attorney Nandlall has welcomed any move to challenge the decision, stating that Williams will be “embarrassed” once again. He posited that it has become a characteristic of the Attorney

his successor that he was not given the opportunity to be heard substantively in the proceedings, the flabbergasted former Attorney General outlined that the press would have widely reported on the submissions Williams made in court.

“He submitted written submissions spanning over 20 pages. Indeed, in the ruling, the Chief Justice referred to those submissions and overruled them. To now say that he wasn’t heard is a flagrant fallacy,” Nandlall remarked.

Moreover, the former AG referred to a litigation filed in 2006 by Alliance For Change Executive Member Raphael Trotman, against the then People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government, in which he questioned the constitutionality of a decision of then President Bharrat Jagdeo, to name Ministers before naming Parliamentarians.

According to Nandlall, Chief Justice Carl Singh had delivered a written ruling and explained that the constitutional provisions are clear on who is an elected member of the National Assembly, that is, every person on a successful List of Candidates, however only extract a specific number of persons can be extracted to take up seats in the National Assembly, based

upon the votes, the list gains at the elections.

“This decision of Justice Carl Singh was either ignored or forgotten by the coalition Government and they have obviously misinterpreted the Constitution again. Justice Chang has ruled the same way that Justice Carl Singh did on this issue. Therefore, the decision of Chief Justice Chang is not as earth shattering as the Attorney General would want us to believe,” he added.

According to Nandlall, that decision, which was delivered 10 years ago, will continue to be the interpretation unless the Constitution changes. He further noted that the outgoing Chief Justice should not be faulted for reading and interpreting the Constitution correctly.

Furthermore, while Justice Chang in his ruling did not give any order to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland, he anticipates that the Speaker will take necessary actions in accordance with his ruling.

When contacted by Guyana Times on Saturday, Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs said that he had just learnt about the ruling and was yet to contact the Dr Scotland about it. Nevertheless, he noted this is a matter that is to be decided by the Speaker.

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SunDAY, february 21, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

2 sex workers placed on $25,000 bail for robbery

T

wo sex workers on Friday were placed on $25,000 bail each after they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged for robbery.

Collis Abrams, 22, a sex worker of 91 Enmore, East Coast Demerara and David Bisson, 22, also a sex worker of Lot 651 Best Plantation, West Coast Demerara both stood before the court to an-

Collis Abrams

swer to the charge which alleged that on Wednesday February 17, at King Street they robbed Ray Anthony La Cruz one radio value $100,000 and $50,000 cash before or after the time of the robbery they use of personal violence against the virtual complainant.

As there was no objection to bail they were placed $25,000 each and the matter was adjourned for March 7.

David Bisson

Kissoon’s faeces case

Crime Chief unable to justify delayed charges

H

ead of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Superintendent Wendell Blanhum was unable to justify his department’s decision to only now bring charges against Okene Fraser and former Office of the President (now Ministry of the Presidency) employee Jason Abdulla, who along with self-confessed death squad member Sean Hinds, allegedly threw faeces on controversial newspaper columnist Freddie Kissoon almost six years ago.

The trio is accused of hurling a container of faeces at Kissoon on May 24, 2010, in the vicinity of Nigel’s Supermarket, on Robb Street, Georgetown.

Kissoon had just emerged from the supermarket and had entered his vehicle when a man approached and threw

Guyana Police Force Superintendent Wendell Blanhum

the substance on him.

The allegation is being strongly denied by the three accused who claimed that they were forced to sign a document after being repeatedly beaten and threatened.

When asked why only now these

charges are being brought against the accused, Blanhum said with a chuckle,” I can’t answer that question...’

When asked if the investigation into the Kissoon incident was active since 2010, Blanhum said, “I won’t answer that question.” The trio is also accused of a December 2012 attack on former Guyana Power and Light Inc Finance Director Aeshwar Deonarine.

When quizzed on the long delay in bringing charges in this matter as well, Blanhum said “those questions you are asking, I can’t answer… I am the Crime Chief now, you are asking about things that happened in the past, how many years ago,” Blanhum stated, as he questioned, “How I could answer now?”

Pics saved as ‘Ash Deonarine’, ‘Sean Hinds’, ‘Blanhum’, ‘Freddie Kissoon’, ‘Jason Abdulla’, ‘Abdulla bandage’

Patentia man placed on $15,000 bail for stealing from ex

A

Patentia, West Bank Demerara, man on Friday was placed on $15,000 bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan charged for stealing.

Andre Hardeen, 35, of Patentia stood before the Georgetown Magistrates’

Court to answer to the charge which stated that on Monday, February 15, at Princes Street, he stole a Samsung cellular phone value $60,000, a pair of blue jeans value $4000 and four boxers value $6000 property of Jenny Henry his ex-partner.

When questioned the man told the court that he had four previous matters in the court that involved Henry and that she have been harassing him ever since he moved on with his now fiancé and that he cannot find peace.

He alleged that the

woman has stolen the photograph of his fiancé and stressed that he felt as if he has already lost his job due to the torment.

However, he was placed on $15,000 bail and the matter was adjourned to March 21.

Eyew tness Diversionary ploy...

...on Rodney’s revelations n February 9 the Rodney CoI handed over their report, which was two years in the making.

Even though it was a “Presidential Commission”, the Commissioners were told by the Ministry of the Presidency to “drop it off” at the Attorney General’s Chambers. The AG, of course, being Basil Williams who’d locked horns on numerous occasions with the Chairman of the CoI, Barbadian Queen’s Counsel Sir Richard Cheltenham.

No love was lost between them after Cheltenham bitched slapped Williams something fierce for making “baseless objections” as the lawyer representing the PNC’s interest. That party, of which Williams is the Chairman, was not “participating” in the CoI, but you’d be forgiven for having your doubts based on Williams’ obstreperousness. But then no one was surprised since every Guyanese – and a good bit of the Third World intellectuals – knew it was the PNC’s dirty deeds that were being exposed.

So we had Williams’ secretary collecting the Report – and then.....SILENCE. Not a word about what was in the report to this day from the President or his legal representative. But then there WAS a dramatic action six days later: three fellas were picked up by the Police in the “ongoing” investigation of Crum-Ewing’s murder.

The police took pains to label the fellas as “activists” of the PPP - which included Sean Hinds, who’d sung like a canary a few months ago about how he’d been trained by the PNC to murder PPP supporters.

So what was the dramatic “new” information obtained from the arrests? Well, an allegation that they’d thrown some “miasmic” substance at the Muckraker’s columnist Kissoon! This Eyewitness, not being a lawyer, isn’t too sure as to the statute of limitations on throwing “miasmic substances” at columnists... But really!! Is this it? What’s the breakthrough on Crum Ewing? Well, some more singing by Sean Hinds. But if he was chirping offkey last year and they had to let him go, what’s different now?

The Rodney CoI Report’s out... that’s what! And the Report has definitively concluded – after reviewing the evidence over TWO years – that Burnham, the GDF and the Police were all involved in the assassination of Rodney by Sgt Gregory Smith. This Eyewitness is of the firm opinion that the confluence of the CoI Report’s release and the Crum-Ewing’s arrests aren’t coincidental.

It’s a diversionary tactic by the PNC to take attention away from the criminality of their Founder Leader, whose birthday they celebrated in fine style yesterday. But they should know that evil will out and it IS now out.

The PNC might’ve taken cover under APNU but they couldn’t hide the stench of murder most foul.

O

...on sugar

GuySuCo and the Sugar Union are at loggerheads over the Wales closure that’ll eventually put 1700 workers on the breadlines – no matter how they slice or dice it. And even as that sore has burst into the open, the sugar corporation’s now taken on the Union on a new battlefield – the workers’ Annual Production Incentive (API).

After claiming they couldn’t pay out the agreed amount at the end of the last crop – after workers exceeded their targets – GuySuCo asked the union to “wait till next year”.

So while government workers enjoyed their end-ofyear bonuses, sugar workers had to “suck salt”. Ok... somebody had to make some sacrifices. But here we are in the new year and GuySuCo’s trotting out the same excuse. They want sugar workers to make a further sacrifice and cut their API by almost half.

Did they ask the beneficiaries of “central costs” – salaries and HQ expenses comprising almost one-third of labour costs - to “sacrifice”?

...on economic collapse

By the time this government’s through with its “Jubilee spending”, they would’ve blown over $1 billion.

Even though it’s one way to keep the citizens’ minds off the economy, they’ll discover – like the Romans - bread and circuses aren’t cheap!

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

news

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SunDAY, february 21, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Miners urged to become tax compliant, PNC State responsible adhere to safety practices Rodney CoI findings

for assassination

... same people in power today – Ramotar

Former President Donald Ramotar

D

ecades have elapsed since Dr Walter Rodney’s death, and now finally, a sense of vindication now reigns especially for those whose lives were greatly impacted by the commanding historian who did nothing but represent the social and political rights of Guyanese during a time when fear of the government was bountiful in the minds of many.

Former President Donald Ramotar and Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive David Hinds have both declared, “We have been vindicated!” following the revelations of the contents of the Rodney Commission of Inquiry Report which confirmed the longstanding belief Dr Rodney’s untimely death was indeed politically orchestrated.

“I feel somewhat vindicated and even though the government (APNU/

AFC) tried their hardest, and they curtailed the Commission of Inquiry, the truth has come to light… I would say that justice has finally been done in this country since the Rodney assassination,” Ramotar told Guyana Times Saturday in an invited comment.

Though he is yet to get a copy of the report, he explained that from what he read in the newspapers, he is satisfied that there is now an official document that highlights clearly who was responsible for the world respected scholar’s demise.

Further expanding, Ramotar posited that it is worrying that the same people who were part and parcel in Dr Rodney’s death, are the same people who are running the country once again.

“The same party in power then - THE PNC - is in power now… The lesson for today is very important because many of the people in government now are some of the disciples of that time… and we already see them beginning to practice some of the same things like abusing our security forces to harass people and the army intelligence following and staking out the house of civilians… and so we have to learn the lesson of that time and not allow the regime to get away with these things” Ramotar warned.

… as GGDMA appoints community reps

Holbert Knights

I

n light of the abundant issues consistently being expressed by local miners, its union the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) embarked on a series of outreaches into key mining areas with the intention of establishing a systematic network whereby every miner would have their concerns addressed in a more concrete approach rather than falling on deaf ears.

The main objective of this exercise was to ensure miners comprehend the GGDMA’s role in representing their rights by lobbying for better conditions and to directly address

grievances of the miners in all categories.

During those outreaches, which commenced at the beginning of the year, miners raised several issues including the absences of a Gold Board at Mahdia, a GRA office in some of the areas, gold buyers not issuing receipts, and paying below world market prices for minerals.

Other concerns were that of the availability of lands with reserves, problems with the Guyana Geology and Mines

equipment pool for smallscale miners, and access to duty free concessions.

The GGDMA made a record of all the complaints and has committed to having them addressed during meetings with the Natural Resources Ministry and the GGMC, and to continue to fervently lobby for all miners in an inclusive manner.

On the issue of duty free concessions, the association informed miners that they needed to address their tax status and

Commission (GGMC), the bad state of interior roads and access to mining claims, establishment of an

become tax compliant since it is only then they would be eligible for assistance in that regard.

Additionally, miners were urged to be even more observant of safety practices and laws and to exercise extra care in the handling and use of mercury to ensure there is no contamination of the waterways.

Meanwhile, community representatives were elected to address miners’ concerns and communicate same with the GGDMA. Miners in each of the respective areas are encouraged to attend meetings hosted by the elected regional representatives on a (yet to be decided) monthly/bi-monthly basis and to raise concerns and make suggestions regarding problems facing them.

The elected representatives will receive complaints, offer assistance and communicate matters that need addressing with the GGDMA. Meetings were held at Mahdia, Bartica, and Port Kaituma and the elected representatives’ area for Bartica representatives, Judith Blair and Holbert Knights; Mahdia representatives Timothy Junor and Marabel Thomas; and Port Kaituma Representatives Edwart Perry and Errol Barrow.

East Canje man remanded on ganja charge

A

n East Canje, Berbice, man charged with possession of narcotics, was refused bail when he appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the New Amsterdam court on Friday.

Vickanand Doodnauth of Sheet Anchor, East Canje,

pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on February 18, 2016, he had in his possession 113 grams of cannabis sativa.

Police Prosecutor Phillip Sherriff told the court that on the day in question, mobile ranks were at Sheet Anchor when the defendant

was seen with a transparent plastic bag in his hand.

Upon seeing the police, Doodnauth dropped the bag.

It was retrieved by the ranks who found the content to be seeds, stems and leaves of what appeared to be cannabis sativa.

The defendant told the

court that he did not have the plastic bag but was passing when the police arrested him.

He will return to court on March 21, 2016 when police are expected to provide a report on the matter.

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SunDAY, february 21, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

News

Mon Repos bond fire...

Smoldering debris puts investigation on hold

S

ome two days after a massive inferno completely gutted an East Coast Demerara (ECD) storage bond, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is yet to commence a probe to determine the cause of the fire.

Around 22:00h on Thursday, fire broke out at the Lot 41 Second Street, Mon Repos, ECD, premises which housed unoccupied living quarters on the second flat, while the lower flat was used as shortage space for items such as household appliances, generators, tyres, toys and even grocery items, estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dol-

lars. These items were being stored to be retailed to other businesses, hence the entire premise was shielded and tightly secured all around.

However, Divisional Officer of the Fire Service, Compton Sparman, told Guyana Times on Saturday that investigators have not had a chance to go through the debris to determine the cause of the fire.

He noted that because the items stored in the premises, there is a lot of combustion at the sight. Sparman added that fire tenders have returned to the sight on a daily basis to completely put out the fire.

The destroyed storage bond in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara

“We can’t get to do anything as yet, the fire is still going… so we have to wait to check the debris to determine the causation,” he explained.

According to reports reaching this newspaper, the fire started in the front of the bottom flat and quickly spread throughout the premises. Neighbours claim that the Fire Service arrived on scene about 20 minutes after the fire started and spent the next six hours putting out the blaze. Due to the items that were stored in the bond, they had a difficult time trying to get the

fire under control.

One of the next door neighbours related that he was inside his house when he started smelling smoke and upon inspection, saw the fire.

“My father said like something burning and the place was kind of smokey so I decided to go check and when I look through the window, all I saw a lot of smoke coming from the building and the fire inside,” the young man stated.

He noted that neighbours rushed out and assisted with soaking his house to prevent the fire from spreading. The young man noted that there were several loud explosions as the fire continued to raze.

Guyana Times was told that the owner of the premises, Fizal (only name given), is overseas; however, the bond/business is being

managed by Satesh Balram who lives a short distance away from the bond.

Speaking with this publication, Balram recalled that sometime after 22:00h, a taxi driver went to his house and informed him about the fire at the bond. He said that he, along with some other young men went over to the scene but it was too late, as the entire building was engulfed in flames.

Balram said he does not know what could have caused the fire, when asked.

Nevertheless, the GFS is continuing its investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

When this publication visited the scene on Friday, smoke was still seen emanating from different parts in the yard, where there was nothing left but burnt debris.

M&CC upset over corruption cries against entity

T

he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has rejected and accordingly expressed its deep concerns over the recent upsurge in the number of corruption complaints against the entity.

In a media statement on Saturday, the agency posited that the concerns being raised, particularly in the media and not through the proper channels, are baseless and are being done with the sole intention of damaging the entity’s reputation.

“The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has noted with disgust a despicable and malicious assault launched on the entity. It has been recognised that aconsorted effort is being made to discredit and further taint the agency’s already fragile image, while baseless claims of corruption and other wrong doings are unjustly being levied against the agency’s senior functionaries,” the statement stated.

Labelling the claimants as “political actors”, the Council

contended that their actions are wholly unbecoming, noting that some of those expressing concerns of corruption are also employed at the Council.

“It has been verified also that a disgruntled former employee who was recently dismissed from City Hall, and a Councillor seeking his ownpolitical gain has teamed up with a political party contending this LocalGovernment Election in pursuing this divide and conquer campaign tactic to City Hall’s offices,” the statement read.

The M&CC argued that the alleged corruption and wrongdoing taking place at the Council still carries an unfavourable past still very fresh in everyone’s mind and on that note urged that citizens do not fall prey to.

“A new dawn has come for our Capital,” the Council said in its statement.

Some of the most recent allegations of corruption were published in the February 20, 2016 edition of local newspa-

pers.

One letter writer, Riley Matthews, pointed out that Government is wasting its time by giving the M&CC hundreds of millions of dollars because he believes the money will eventually be mismanaged, misappropriated or misspent.

“Indeed, it is just being used to fill the pockets of a few,” the letter writer penned.

Another writer, Amber Valentine, expressed, “As a dedicated taxpayer in the city of Georgetown, I demand an explanation from the Mayor and or the Town Clerk regarding the very crooked manner the City Constabulary is being run,” in the opening paragraph of her correspondent.

She too affirmed her strong belief that the Council reeks of corruption.

Notably, there was the Burrowes Commission of Inquiry which found evidence of inept and ineffective management permeating City Hall for decades.

Justice Chang quashes...

“Indeed, no prerogative writ can be issued against the president. It is therefore difficult to see how the grant of the lease by the President

under Section 3 (1) (b) of the State Lands Act could have been breached or in contravention of any Order a Rule nisi of Certiorari or of Prohibition when those orders or rules could not bind the President (against whom it could not have been issued in any event),” Justice Chang posited.

Moreover, the Chief Justice went on to say that if the MMA/ADA is aggrieved by the Presidential grant, then they could have file proceedings in court not against Head of State but against the Attorney General.

In addition to quashing the ‘Cancellation of State Land Leases’, Justice Chang also ordered that the applicants by paid costs in the sum of $40,000 against the MMA/ ADA.

from page 6

Following the delivery of the decision on Friday at the High Court, Attorney Nandlall told reporters that the MMA/ADA had breached the injunction previously granted by the court and as such he has filed further proceedings – Contempt of Court.

He urged that authority remove the trespassers, who have since taken over the farmers’ fields and destroyed their crops, and allow the farmers to access the lands so that they can continue to earn their livelihoods.

Meanwhile, one of the farmers, Phillip Johnson, expressed relief that they were given back access to the lands.

“I’m feeling happy and light… the MMA can now assist us and get the other farmers off the land who are trespassing,” he stated.

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SunDAY, february 21, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Race to LGE 2016

De Kinderen to be taken to new heights By: Kizzy Coleman

W

ith the approach of Local Government Elections (LGE) 2016 on March 18, candidates are seeking to strengthen their campaigns by bringing to the fore their plans for the various communities.

This can be said of the candidate for constituency 6 - De Kinderen, Savethri Li who is representing

tainly succeeded to a certain extent but I would like to continue my fight as there are more developments that I would like to see” she said passionately.

Li explained that currently the community needs a ‘clean up’ as there are numerous problems residents are still facing and that it is her conviction to ensure these change.

She told this publication she would also like to

Guyana/Norway Forest partnership…

Teixeira writes Norwegians over Govt’s “continued lies and attacks” – PPP will support hold on projects funded under REDD+ PPP/C Governments, mainly to foreign investors.

Teixeira in her four-page missive said that the attacks followed statements by Finance Minister Winston Jordan during his 2015 Budget presentation that it will be “a downright criminal act of deception were we to proceed with Amaila Falls.”

“These irresponsible public statements on Guyana’s forestry management and Amaila Falls seek to tarnish the Peoples’ Progressive Party’s track record on forest conservation, sustainable forest management and climate change,” Teixeira said.

She also charged that the stateNatural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

C

the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Li will be running against the A partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) and other independent candidates.

The single-parent mother of one has been looking into the interest of the community of De Kinderen for the last 15 years and it is her hope to continue doing so for a number of years that is, if she is elected.

Speaking with Guyana Times she disclosed that she has been living in De Kinderen for the last 25 years and as such is passionately vying in the election as there are many changes that need to take place.

Motivated, Li explained that when she first moved to the community, she was dissatisfied with the state that the community was in. She related that this is what moved her to action, causing her to become an activist.

She added that it is now her duty to eliminate the woes facing her community.

“In the past as an activist representing De Kinderen, I fought hard for a lot of the development that we see today if we look around the community. We had no light, we had water troubles, lack of jobs and many other problems. I had started on a venture many years ago to ensure that this came to an end and I cer-

address issues that many youths in the community face, one of those being the lack of jobs.

“We need programmes for these youths, because they are on the streets and nothing is being done for them; this is something I feel strongly about, and is something that needs to change”.

Women she explained, will be given priority as the community of De Kinderen has a high rate of teenage pregnancy. She explained that programmes need to be formulated to tackle this urgently and that there are plans in store to tackle these issues if she is elected.

“Because these young girls get impregnated at an early age, most of them are left uneducated and cannot fend for themselves or those that they are responsible for. We need to ensure that these women do not feel like life is over, we need to give them hope and provide means for them to be educated” she explained.

Recreational facilities are lacking in De Kinderen, as such it is Li’s conviction to have a community centre established where youths can relax and avoid being on the streets, which is often dangerous.

“There are a lot of issues to address and it is my hope that if I am elected to represent this community to take De Kinderen to new heights”.

hief Whip of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Gail Teixeira has written to the Norwegian Government, expressing what she described as the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s continued “lies and attacks” on the integrity of the GuyanaNorway partnership on climate change and forests.

In a letter dated February 16, 2016, to the Director of Government of Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative, Per Fredrik Ilsaas Pharo, Teixeira said that her party was gravely concerned about the recent attacks in recent days coming from the Government.

She singled out a recent statement in the National Assembly during the 2016 National Budget by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who said that all of Guyana’s productive forest was allocated by previous

Director of Government of Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative, Per Fredrik Ilsaas Pharo

ments also deliberately question the integrity of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the Guyana-Norway partnership for which forest conservation is a key pillar and the Amaila Falls Hydropower plantis a flagship project.

She called on Trotman to issue a full retraction and to apologise to the

people of Guyana, since his statements are not based on facts.

Teixeira said that publicly available data will show that about seven million hectares of forest have been allocated for concessions, less than 38 per cent of Guyana’s 18,483,000 hectares of forest or about 55 per cent of the State Forest Estate.

She added about 2.8 million hectares of large concessions were allocated by the PPP/C Government between 1992 and 2015, and about half of the large concessions were issued by the People’s National Congress Government before 1992, including the seven million hectares to Barama.

Some 5.5 million hectares of the State Forest Estate remains unallocated.

The Opposition Chief Whip called on Trotman to explain what he meant by 100 per cent of the productive forest was allocated by the PPP/C Government. turn to page 14

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SunDAY, february 21, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

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SunDAY, february 21, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Our failed Republicanism

By Ryhaan Shah

O

n Tuesday, Guyana will be 46 years a republic.

Since this will be commemorated without the usual, vulgar street parade, the day could lend itself to quiet reflection about our country, and ourselves as republicans.

The annual Mashramani wine down has been shifted to Independence Day. With its disregard for decency and lawfulness it is always a true Ryhaan Shah testament to the cultural degeneracy that accompanies our continuing social, political and economic failures.

When Prime Minister Forbes Burnham took the country into the further independence of republicanism on February 23, 1970, he was providing us with a bold vision for ourselves and our country. Sadly, that vision has never been fulfilled.

It is a matter of perspective as to whose fault that is since republicanism is hinged on a social contract between government and the governed with both sides having duties and responsibilities to ensure its success.

The irony of Burnham ushering in republicanism cannot be lost on anyone given that the key components of a republican government are the guarantee and protection of the people’s inalienable right to life, liberty and property. Burnham trampled on every one of those rights and went on to preside over a most brutal dictatorship.

As then, we continue to live in a bizarre world where public officials speak words that are contrary to our realities. They get away with their dishonesty because in a country deeply divided by race each side feels duty bound to support its own even to the detriment of the whole.

This is the antithesis of republicanism. In every sense, we preside over our own underdevelopment and destruction because of our division, and make all the ideas and ideals of republicanism and democracy farcical.

A republican government is elected by the people and upholds the ideals of universal political participation, fairness and transparency, the need for separate powers (especially between the political and judicial), and a healthy reverence for the rule of law.

In return, the people are expected to act reasonably towards the government. The republican idea of civic virtue goes beyond paying taxes to support the development of infrastructure – roads, bridges, hospitals, schools – for the common good.

As the foundational idea of republicanism, civic virtue supports the view that while government is elected to safeguard the wellbeing and security of the collective republic, the people must play a similarly active and participatory role.

Should government break the social contract, become corrupt, and abuse its power, the people are justified, even obligated, to overthrow the government and form a new one.

Interestingly, all the philosophical writings on civic virtue agree that this is not an inherent human quality but one that has to be developed. In Guyana, we have, in 46 years, failed miserably at developing this key component of republicanism.

This failure is a direct result of our racial divide which, in turn, is the stumbling block to Guyana’s development. The Granger government is paying much lip service to this issue by bandying about the words “social cohesion” even as the respective “ministry” is unmasked as a fraud.

The “ministry” is a mere department of government but is headed by a fully-fledged Minister of Social Cohesion who receives a ministerial salary complete with all the perks.

This farcical situation not only points up the boldfaced corruption of the Granger administration but lays bare our own continued failure to exact any change from our government or to quite rightly rout them from office. Our racial divide guarantees government’s safe keeping and allows them to flout all the ideals of republicanism and democracy without compunction.

Whereas in a republic, people are guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty and property which cannot be taken away by any government, the majority government of a democracy can impose its will on minorities.

Most modern nations are democratic republics and Guyana continues to masquerade as one such when the virtues of both political states are mostly nonexistent here.

In great part, we continue to allow ourselves to be victims of, and to be enslaved by our history.

Independence from colonialism never freed us from that past and our continued divisiveness simply weakens us and makes us ready prey for powerful international interests and manipulation.

We are not yet free in any way, shape or form, and we are as complicit in our underdevelopment as the leaders we choose to elect.

Those who will rush to “celebrate” in the annual wine down on Independence Day will actually have it right. The public degeneracy is a perfect match to our many failures.

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

14 news

SunDAY, february 21, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Case dismissed against couple previously cross-charged

Younge’s Take

case was dismissed against a couple when they appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday cross-charged with difference offences.

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A

Charles Clement, 46, a construction worker stood before the court to answer charges which alleged that on Monday, February 15, he unlawfully assaulted his common law wife Wanita

Jacobs, 32, a security guard, at their 195 Laing Avenue, Georgetown, residence.

It was also alleged that Jacobs on the same day made use of threatening behaviour against Clement.

However, they both requested that the matter not proceed any further and the cases were dismissed while the woman was advised to obtain a protection order if he ever tries to assault her again.

Teixeira writes Norwegians...

“We fear that Minister Trotman’s attacks are symptomatic of a wider attack on the GuyanaNorway partnership,” Teixeira said, adding that “We also ask that you engage with Minister Trotman and request him to substantiate his recent statements.”

Teixeira also highlighted that since the change of Government, a number of initiatives regarding the partnership have been falling by the wayside, including no LCDS MultiStakeholder Steering Committee meeting, the absence of information

about GRIF-funded projects on the LCDS website and Amerindian and other stakeholders not being consulted on the LCDS or the Guyana-Norway partnership.

“We have real concerns about the Government’s commitment to the standards required by the partnership – especially as they relate to transparency, accountability and the quality of technical work,” she stated.

Teixeira noted Norway’s decision to maintain a 2015 decision to suspend the disbursement of money to Guyana has not been lifted

since a new Government is in place. A payment of US$40 million remains pending.

She said the Opposition was also concerned that there seem to be no progress towards a new agreement, despite the fact that the last payment under the partnership was to be paid for performance up to the end of 2014.

“Our party continues to believe that the GuyanaNorway partnership can be good for Guyana and for the world and therefore, the Government must show it is serious about adhering to the standards the

from page 11

agreement requires,” she sated.

“In that situation, the PPP will have no choice but to support Norway putting on hold projects and funds to be administered under the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) pending independent investigation of Minister Trotman’s claims” she said.

She reminded that her party wants to see the Guyana-Norway partnership regain its original high levels of ambition and the party will support the Government in any action that is in line with this vision.

Politics behind the Crum-Ewing saga

he more things change, the more they remain the same.

In 2015, thousands of Guyanese voted in support of the People’s National Congress Reform-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition which propelled it to the Presidency and Executive branch of Government.

The coalition accepted Executive authority in the midst Michael Younge of the thunderous objections from then incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) that was still hurling allegations of electoral fraud and rigging.

That party has since tempered its voice and partially accepted the political status quo while awaiting the outcome of its 2015 elections petition which has recently been green-lighted by the High Court to proceed to trial.

The coalition, while campaigning, made no fuss about committing itself to jailing PPP Ministers and party executives for their perceived wrongs. Almost all of the coalition key spokespersons promised the voters that they would “go after” those in the PPP who they assumed were wicked, vile and corrupt.

They were also sending a clear message to the security forces and those with entities bestowed with Constitutional powers that in order to achieve their political aims, their support would be needed.

When the coalition finally accessed office, there was hardly anything it could complain about but this did not stop the skilful spin doctors and conspiracy theorists in the Government from manufacturing controversies and spreading political propaganda to rile-up the public against the PPP. As it settled, the Government realised that it had real work to do and a Government to run but it remained conscious that it also had to keep the political pressure on the PPP in order to bolster and maintain public resentment of the PPP. It is, therefore, not surprising that the PNC-led coalition is now showing its true colours and re-engaging in political witchery and state-sponsored persecution of PPP Executives, its affiliates and open supporters.

The truth is, the PNC-led coalition has not managed to “jail” any of the PPP top brass despite being in power for eight months. It did however manage the cause action to be taken against Jennifer Westford who will over the next few months defend herself in the case filed against her relating to fraud.

So, it is easy to understand the PNC-led coalition’s return to scare tactics, bullyism and misuse of the state-empowered security forces.

This is arguably one of the reasons why the coalition, running high on desperation, has gone after former talk-show host Kwame Mc Coy, Jason Abdulla and other persons are members of the PPP, so as to insinuate guilt of the latter by association.

They have to go after the “small fries” first so as to set the tone for a wider plot to attack other individuals within the party.

The coalition, working closely with the Guyana Police and Guyana Defence Forces which incidentally has traditionally supported the PNC and WPA, is hoping to intimidate other PPP stalwarts if there is no public outcry over the manner in which Mc Coy and Abdulla are treated.

The detention of those two individuals have nothing to do with the death of Crum Ewing and everything to do with a plot being hatched at the Ministry of the Presidency to send a clear signal to Freedom House as to what it has in store for others there.

What is surprising is the fact that the Commissioner of Police and Chief of Staff would allow their organisations to be utilised in this unprofessional way in these modern times.

While Guyanese hold their breath, it would be interesting to see the quality and type of evidence the Police will put forward in court if these men are charged. Already, there are worrying reports of police excess and torture surfacing under the new Government and this comes only weeks after the GDF was involved in a high-speed chase of civilians which resulted in the death of three persons.

It also comes fresh on the heels of the questioning of key PPP officials who served in Government and mass dismissals of young professionals.

Also, the state is involved in the harassment of business owners and the confiscation of their property under the pretence that money laundering raids are being carried out.

Make no mistake about it, the Government has already signalled that it will revamp the People’s Militia and National Service.

All of this is troubling given the explosive findings of the recent International Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry which exposed how the PNC, its Prime Minister Forbes Burnham who played the role of Pontius Pilate, and state agencies conspired, organised and assassinated Dr Walter Rodney because he posed a threat to their power grab.

One can only wonder who is next and which dissenting view will be silenced in this period of political enlightenment. The dark days are returning and the PNC disguised in new clothes and fresh faces cannot conceal its spots any longer. It is itching and agitating to demonstrate its massive experience with power, silencing the masses and setting examples of how to deal with dissenting political personalities.

Soon but not now… it is not time yet!

15 Tourism Minister praises Durban Park project news

sunDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

BY SHEMUEL FANFAIR

T

he D’urban Park restoration project should be completed in time for Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes in an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday praised the project which will see the transformation of the once swampy and bushy D’urban Park area, which is situated between Hadfield Street and Homestretch Avenue.

“It is another venue that can at least hold a larger capacity of people for national events and then of course when it’s completed, it certainly will be the kind of location that will highlight what we have achieved,” the Minister explained.

Though this project does not fall under the preview of her Ministry, Hughes emphasised that this developmental project will have positive impacts on the tourism sector. The Minister recently noted in the National Assembly that 2015 saw 206,908 non-resident persons visiting Guyana.

“It’s going to be a place where people can go and visit and enjoy a safe and beautiful space as you know it would have ponds… it would be a location where you would have concerts – all of that impacts on tourism,” posited Hughes.

Members of public, espe-

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), “the centre piece of the event will be the hoisting of what will be the

cially residents in the surrounding environs have also stated their satisfaction over the project with many noting that it will transform the communities.

“I feel that they are doing something good. It has been good for the community, good for me. I like how the place looking, I think about it every moment of the day.

I pass by there I always keep looking at it,” stated Irmine Alleyne of Hadfield Street, Lodge. Alleyene told this

publication that residents should keep these facilities clean and further opined that citizens should always ensure that their environment is clean since “Charity beings at home.”

On February 18, a 200-foot flag pole which stands 180feet high was installed by workers of Nauth Construction in assistance with members of the Guyana Fire Service in preparation for a flag raising ceremony at the location.

Jubilee Festival for May 19-22

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s excitement and anticipation grows over the 50th anniversary celebrations, a Jubilee festival will be held this May at the National Park, over a four night period. Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes in an interview with this publication expressed her enthusiasm for the event which is slated to see a wide variety of musical talent performing from May 19-22.

A gospel themed night is slated for May 19, while May 20 will see local and foreign talent performing under a ‘Regional and Folk Night’ theme. On Saturday May 21,

Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes

a Legends Evening will see the resurgence of many veteran acts, with a performance from the acclaimed Sammy Baksh who has showcased

his vocal ability at a number of festivals over the years.

The final evening of the festival will cater to the younger generation as Sunday May 22 falls under the Next Generation theme.

This Jubilee festival forms part of the myriad of events which have been ongoing over the last few weeks to usher in the celebration of Guyana’s Independence from Great Britain which was attained on May 26, 1966.

In the 2016 National Budget, the Government has allocated some $300 million to finance the activities associated with celebrations.

Region 9 teens to benefit from new GPL apprenticeship programme

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or the next four years, three teenagers hailing from Region 9 (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) will benefit through the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) apprenticeship programme aimed at facilitating the professional development of youngsters who had qualified to be a part of the initiative.

The three beneficiaries, Andrew Abbensetts, 17, Kenroy Robinson, 19, and Esther Eusebio, 17, will join other selected youngsters in developing mechanical and electrical technologies.

The trio were all enthusiastic to begin their new lives in Georgetown and more so follow their chosen career

path which they saw as a golden opportunity.

The young adults will be challenged with the task of developing Region 9 while boosting the technical skills of the Lethem Power Company (LMPC) in their district.

The fresh graduates who acquired experience in the electricity sector prior to being selected for this programme, said they all were astonished when they received the calls to participate.

Grasping the opportunity the teens joined other youngsters on the same programme which officially starts on February 22. 2016.

Eusebio believes that taking this field of work associated with males will be en-

couragement to other females interested in programmes like these, but are held back because of what society is saying.

However, upon arriving at her place of employ she was elated to see five other females had also chosen that field of work.

Both males were also eager to commence the programme, but expressed gloom at being away from their families and way of life.

Over the next four years, the trio along with others will engage in theoretical and practical activities that will enable them to become highly qualified individuals in the electrical sector.

largest Golden Arrowhead, atop the tallest flag pole ever erected locally.”

Project Manager Larry London stated in January

that the Park is expected to have a capacity of 30,000 persons; both seated and unseated, and will be able to accommodate literary events, concerts, sporting activities and other public events.

President David Granger on a tour of the location had stated that he looked forward to the commissioning of D’urban Park.

In the past, D’urban Park once housed a horse race course before Homestrech Avenue and a park where children could play. Over time, the park was disused and vegetation reclaimed the area.

16 NEWS

SunDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

B Division targeting reckless, Region 2 residents drunk drivers raise concerns about Regional O Tender Board

fficer-in-Charge of Traffic, B Division (Berbice), Assistant Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud says all measures will be taken to make the roads in Berbice safer but while enforcement is being tightened, education must play a key role in protecting lives on the road.

Persaud’s comments came on Thursday as he addressed more than 300 students at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) as he met with the school on traffic and road safety.

According to Persaud, the time has come to ensure that all road users pay more attention to the way they use the road, especially the young.

“Out of the 30 persons killed on the roads in Berbice last year, fifteen were between the ages of 15 and 25 and twelve of the drives were between the ages of 15 and 25.”

lights, brakes and reflectors.

“We are not charging those persons and placing them before the court, but we are detaining their bicycles for them to go and get it fixed; they have to go and get bells, lights and so on, before they are allowed to continue to use the bicycle. But we will not be doing that much longer; in a couple more days we will start taking persons before the courts. The fine is $5000 for each of the offences,” the Assistant Superintendent warned.

Officer-in-Charge of Traffic, B Division, Assistant Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud

Statistics Traffic enforcement has resulted in a total of 50,715 cases being made against errant motorists for 2015. Of that figure, 21,576 cases were for speeding, 2206 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 1156 for the use of cell phone while driving, and 2046 for failing to wear seat belts.

So far in 2016 there were 107 drivers prosecuted for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in B Division, four were suspended for one year

and 1016 were prosecuted for exceeding the speed limit.

Speaking with this publication, the senior traffic officer said traffic awareness is not getting the support like suicide, even though suicide is more difficult to control as against road users doing the wrong thing.

“We need to stop using the road carelessly and road users need to stop consuming alcohol once they are going to be driving or riding. Drivers are the ones responsible for most accidents but other categories of road users also need to be careful of how they use the road and especially cyclist.”

Persaud explained that the department has started a campaign against cyclist that ride bicycles without bells,

olice in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerice) have commended the efforts of residents of Block 22, Wismar, Linden, for providing information which led to the “swift” apprehension of a cutlass wielding trio that robbed a carpenter in the community on Tuesday.

The perpetuators, identified as Kurt Nelson, 21, of 195 Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown; Anthony Kenbell, 22; and Ronaldo Johnson, 21, both of Block 22, believed to be friends, robbed Oswald McAlister.

It is alleged that the trio, while armed with a cutlass,

Appeal to pedestrians Meanwhile, he is also appealing to pedestrians to be very careful in the way they use the roads. He says too many young children are allowed to use the roads unattended. A similar situation exists with the elderly where too

many of them use the roads alone. “Many of them cannot judge speed and this causes problems for drivers,” the traffic officer told this publication.

So far this year three geriatric pedestrians were involved in road accidents in Berbice, with their ages being 69, 84 and 69 while one 3-year-olf child was also seriously injured in Berbice this year.

There were 43 fatal accidents in 2015 which were caused by speeding; 32 were as a result of inattentiveness; 17 resulted from drunk driving; and one each as a result of failure to conform to signs, breach of traffic light signal and error of judgment. Pedestrians represented the highest number of road fatalities at 40, followed by 22 passengers in cars, 15 motorcyclists and 14 drivers.

The roads in Berbice have been deadly

Carpenter robbed at Wismar P robbed McAlister of $10,000 in cash, a cellular phone and a number of carpentry tools.

The incident occurred in the vicinity of the Bayroc Sports ground at Wismar.

McAlister is a resident of Wisroc, Wismar and also of Melanie Damishana, on the East Coast of Demerara.

– say 5 contracts awarded to one contractor

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

R

esidents in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are very concerned about the way contracts are being awarded within the Region Two administration.

Several residents raised concerns about the system used by the Tender Board with Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams during his visit to Region Two on Saturday.

According to a resident from Queenstown, one contractor has been awarded more than one contract and this she described as “unfair”.

She further stated that under the previous Government, the said contractor was benefiting from huge contracts also.

Another resident, Jones (only name given) said that the system needs to be fair to avoid one set of persons benefiting alone.

At that point, Minister

Attorney General Basil Williams

Persons further claimed they have evidence of the unscrupulous practice. They have called for the removal of the Secretary from the REO’s office.

Hopkinson said that at no time can a Secretary influence the decision on a Tender Board. He also justified that when he took office, he had to select persons that could help in the development process.

“You need to listen to us that put you in office,

Police said based on information obtained from residents, the alleged perpetuators were apprehended within an hour of committing the brazen robbery. They were later positively identified by the victim during an identification parade on Wednesday.

A section of the gathering at the meeting held at the Town Hall

Williams asked the Region Two Regional Executive Officer (REO), Rupert Hopkinson to comment on the statement made by the resident.

According to Hopkinson, who is the Chairman of the Tender Board, everything that happens on the Board involves transparency and accountability.

“No clerk, no engineer or no DREO is sitting on the Regional Tender Board, everything goes according to procedure, this is not the past, no one is influencing no system,” Hopkinson argued.

By that time, another resident got up, saying that the system is not fair, alleging that the Secretary from the REO’s office is leaking information to contractors.

got to learn we are telling you that your Secretary is not credible and she is undermining you,” a resident got up and told the REO. Naithram, an Alliance For Change representative, also said that there is a “gang” of persons, including engineers and other personnel, that assist contractors in uplifting contracts.

He said that this practice is not only dishonest but unfair, while informing the Minister that they were instances of “sole sourcing”.

At the end of the meeting which was held at the Town Hall, residents were disgruntled as they accused the Regional Executive Officer of not doing his job.

NEWS

17

SunDAY, february 21, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

THE

February 16: a sad day for Amerindians

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ithout any efforts at dissimulation, democracy is being stripped from the people, and the indigenous peoples of this country are not exempt.

Perhaps the most pellucid demonstration of this violation of their constitutional; indigenous and political rights has been the meagre 10 minutes Anna Correia allotted for the Indigenous Peoples Affairs parliamentary budget debate held last Monday, February 16.

In an aberrant show of disdain for basic democratic principles, the Speaker of the House put an abrupt end to the debate, without regard for the concerns of the Opposition party. In this political system where democracy ought to be guaranteed to the people who manifest their will through their elected leaders, the voice of the Opposition was wiped out, and so were the voices of their Amerindian constituencies. It was as though the very legitimacy of the Opposition, and by extent the people it represents, was revoked, reducing its members to outcasts in a system which is no longer politically tolerant toward its own.

At no point did the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister and Junior Minister request a prolongation of the abnormally short budget debate. One would have thought that pride and genuine concern for transparency and accountability to their people and to all Guyanese, would have motivated them in this direction. Instead, technocrat Minister Sydney Allicock cowered in his seat, probably relieved that he would no longer have suffer the Opposition’s intense interrogation at the grips of Charlie, Dharamlall, Pearson and Sukhai. His fumbling and apparent disorientation during his defence could account for his complacency in light of the Speaker’s imposition. Whatever the reason may be, his inaction can only be interpreted as cowardice and betrayal to the people he was placed to serve.

Many anticipated some form of explanation from the indigenous affairs Ministers, justifying the Speaker’s decision and reassuring their indigenous peoples in some way or the other of his judicious discernment. Sadly, Amerindians and all Guyanese are still awaiting an answer as to why the debate was literally gutted in stark comparison to previous deliberations, some of which endured for hours.

The arrogance of this gesture conveys a strong message to Amerindians, that they do not share equal political rights and are not of equal importance as are other Guyanese. It also demonstrates that the elected indigenous leaders have not garnered support and respect from their Government insofar as it was not even proposed that the debate roll over to the following day, if it was just a matter of timing as the Speaker had insisted.

This questions the very role of the indigenous leaders within the ranks of Government, as well as their capacities in executing the mandates with which they were bestowed in an environment where they cannot represent their electorate and where consequentially, the voice of the people is being muzzled.

February 16 will remain a sad day for Amerindians, as decades of efforts injected to develop and secure indigenous rights in this country, were throttled and thrown to the wolves. It is a day, on which the memory of Steven Campbell and all those who came after him and fought for the elevation of Amerindians, was insulted and denied the place which it has earned on the pedestal of our history.

It symbolises this Government’s bifurcation from working class politics and social policies which elevate the small man and woman regardless of ethnicity, gender, religious or political creed, to form a system where politicians are no longer accessible and where political leaders no longer incarnate the will of the people.

Hopefully, the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister will surface with an excuse for what transpired last Monday, and explain why for instance, provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), in particular Article 5, were overridden to accommodate the whims and fancies of one of the most biased and power drunk Speakers to have ever graced the Parliament of Guyana.

So far however, Allicock has proven to be nothing more than an untrustworthy and inefficient braggadocio, who is yet to prove his worth to the Amerindians of this country whether at the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry or in Parliament.

Linden Municipality to develop municipal development plan

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he Communities Ministry is presently working in collaboration with the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) to craft a developmental plan, which will see the post local Government Linden Municipality benefiting from a number of initiatives.

Staff from the Communities Ministry recently visited the Linden Municipality and interacted with Councillors, in an effort to foster the initiative.

Consultant within the Communities Ministry Kevin Bonette said the plan will see the involvement of various stakeholders and is intended to garner effective results which will benefit

the Linden community over the next five years.

“The Government of Guyana, as part of that process, wants to give the municipalities in particular, the opportunity to craft their own municipal development/plan for the benefit of their community or municipality,” Bonette said.

He added that the Government has prioritised three critical areas as part of the process, including Democratic renewal, institutional strengthening and financial stability.

This, he noted, is in an effort to develop a municipal development plan over a period of five years. The process would include develop-

ing ideas derived from the Council and stakeholders.

“What are some of the challenges facing them and how can we address these challenges?

Where the Council wants to go in the next five years from now,” Bonette said are all questions up for discussion in crafting the initiative.

He said there will be more autonomy under the system of local government and the aim is to help the municipality work through the process. He said the focus will be on how it can become a vibrant municipality and get communities involved in development in addition to helping them figure out how to raise their

own revenue to sustain their financial stability.

“Also, how can they strengthen the Council internally so the Council can sustain itself... walking them through that process to help them”, the consultant stated.

He said during the process, the team has reached out to approximately eight wards across the municipality, in an effort to reach out to stakeholders in compiling their ideas which were then cross referenced.

The consultant explained further that there will soon be a new Council which will replace the present Interim Management Committee (IMC).

Children “wooed” public at annual Costume and Float parade

The contingent from St John’s College

I

n what looked like a kaleidoscope of colours, hundreds of children took to the streets on Saturday morning for the Education Ministry/GTT sponsored annual Children’s Costume and Float parade.

The parade which commenced at the Promenade Gardens, in Georgetown, headed North along Camp Street, then East along Lamaha Street, before turning North on Albert Street into the National Park.

At the National Park, the schools and regions were judged on the costumes, creativity and performance.

From all indications, the parade on Saturday was perhaps the biggest hosted to commemorate Guyana’s Republic anniversary thus far.

Starting around 10:00h with the kiddies decked in the most colourful and well-designed costumes, accompanied with sparkles on their bodies, the children revelled to soca music that boomed through elevated music systems on lorry trays.

As they danced through the streets, the children were cheered on by those who gathered to get a glimpse of the parade. The kiddies were followed by the bigger children who obviously brought their “A” game to the roads.

Gyrating to the music, the youths did not disappoint in their performances as they had their eyes on the prize which was to win in their various categories.

From jaguars to beautiful

young ladies in shimmering attire, the crowd loved every moment of the action.

Most of the costumes, however, depicted Guyana as it approaches its

Independence Jubilee celebrations, with certain artefacts of the six races living in Guyana. The message of peace and harmony was also echoed by several of the

floats and more so, Guyana’s rich natural resources.

As the floats and revellers made their way onto the tarmac of the National Park, there were loud cheers by those seated. On the tarmac, the children would have had a last opportunity to impress the judges.

The largest contingent was definitely from the Guyana Police Force which was represented by several youth groups from various parts of Georgetown and the East Bank of Demerara.

Without a doubt, the 2016 Annual Children’s Costume and Float Parade would have been a resounding success.

18 news

SunDAY, februARY 21, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Horrible treatment of patients at GPHC

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ersons seeking treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) are complaining about the appalling treatment they receive by staff members of the hospital.

Keshon Ramkellawan, a man who suffered a broken hand and was seeking treatment at the GPHC on Wednesday evening was peeved and horrified at the reception he received from a doctor and a security guard at the hospital.

According to the man, he was in the waiting area at the Accident Emergency Ward of the hospital awaiting treatment when a young woman was brought into the unit suffering from a seizure.

Ramkellawan told Guyana Times that the young woman was frothing and needed emergency care as such he volunteered to give up his spot so that she could get the attention she needed. He relayed that his request was met with an outburst from a security guard at the hospital who told him that he was not permitted to do so.

He added that he insisted and a doctor was called who also refused to oblige to his request.

“I told the mother of the young woman to go ahead of me as her daughter was battling for her life and the security told me that he could take me to court for that.

A white doctor who wears glasses came and he also refused to treat the young woman, he told her mother to push her back out of the ward”.

The upset man further disclosed that he refused to take treatment before the young woman and was told that he will not get any treatment at all by the hospital as “it didn’t look like anything was wrong with him”.

Ramkellawan told this newspaper that as he was not being treated, he reluctantly left the hospital headed for home.

“I was so appalled at the treatment that I received and I want everyone to know what is going on at GPHC” he remarked.

Guyana Times contacted the Public Relations Officer of GPHC Mitzy Campbell

the following morning, but who claimed to have no such information therefore pushing around my son still in shock and grief as he tried to view his deceased baby and deal with the necessary paperwork so he could take his child home for a proper and respectful burial. The staff was of no help,” he had related to this newspaper.

Sandy Baldwin also in

The Georgetown Public Hospital

who in intervened into the matter. Ramkellawan later returned to the hospital and received treatment for his injuries.

She told this newspaper that she has since launched an investigation into the reports she received and will take relevant steps to ensure this does not happen again.

GPHC has a history of patients complaining of not receiving fair treatment from the staffs of the hospital.

In January of 2015 a woman diagnosed with chronic renal failure, jumped to her death through a window at GPHC. Her son had complained about her being treated poorly by staff of the

hospital but this was allegation was shut down by the hospital.

In October of 2015 a St. Cuthbert’s man decried the horrific treatment he received at the hospital as well.

Damon Corriea after he lost his grandson explained that staff at the hospital were hoggish and inefficient as they had him and his family waiting at the hospital for hours without disclosing information to them when they requested this.

“From the guard who was a hoggish brute, to the mortuary workers, and the person who was supposed to have records of all deaths and births from the previous night, by

October of 2015 had related what she witnessed at the hospital as a nurse asked a patient that was in labour “if she was making an antiman”.

The woman had stated that nurses seem only to be doing their jobs for money with little care for the humane requirements of their profession.

Road safety initiative launched in Region 3 By: Kizzy Coleman

T

he Guyana Police Force Traffic Department collaborated with the West Demerara Road Safety Association (WDRSA), and the Guyana National Road Safety Council to launch public awareness aimed at sensitising the public on the safe use of the roadways.

The awareness drive with theme ‘The time is now, don’t drink and drive, stay attentive, drive defensive’ was formed as a means to aid in the reduction of road fatalities nationwide.

The initiative commenced on February 14 at Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) and will move throughout the country to address issues that are contributing to road fatalities.

Speaking to Guyana Times about the initiative Shahab Hack, Public Relations Officer of WDRSA explained that it is important for all road users including pedestrians and pedal cyclists to be informed about the main tool the organisation

hoping for. We met persons having a passion for road safety and who have great ideas as to strategies that we can take to add to our own strategies and this is what we welcome”.

This newspaper also caught up with chairman of WDRSA Owen Trotz who emphasised the need for awareness on road safety practices by all road users.

Trotz related that the statistics show that road deaths have tied with suicide to be the leading causes of death in Guyana.

“We are concerned with road deaths and one road death is far too many. So we are asking drivers, don’t speed, and drive within the speed limit. We continue to have a lot of reports of drivers who drink and drive, we are asking drivers not to do this because if you drink, you are causing the death of not yourself but of also other road users” he cautioned drivers.

Trotz also made an appeal to passengers using public transportation to get in-

Public Relations Officer of WDRSA Shahab Hack and other members along with Police Officers and volunteers at the Vreeden-Hoop Bus Park exhibition

will use this year to aid in the reduction of road fatalities.

“We’re going to go wherever we have to go to spread awareness, Georgetown Bus Park, Linden Bus Park, and Berbice Bus Park, that is how we intend to do it, that is spread awareness on road safety”.

Hack added that since the launch of the initiative, the response has been tremendous.

“When we visited the Vreed-en-Hoop Bus Park on Thursday last, we started handing out flyers and talking to passerby and so forth, and we stayed all day there. We were there since 8 the morning and we stayed there until 5 in the afternoon”.

Hack further stated that during the two exhibitions that was held thus far, a number of persons have approach him wanting to come on board initiative.

“We have met a lot of professional people who are willing to come on board and that is the response that we were

volve stating, “if you are in a minibus or car and the driver is speeding, you need to say something, don’t be quite”.

Deputy Traffic Officer in charge of West Demerara, Officer Mingo explained that in an aid to educate the public, the organisations have prepared flyers and posters that are being distributed.

He disclosed that the organisations participating in the initiative are funded by raffles, etc as they are both non-profit and he further called for more support.

“It’s all about education, educating drivers, pedestrians, pedal and motorcyclists on simple yet important things like the need for them to wear their helmets and other road safety rules”.

The next exhibition will be on in Georgetown where the organisations will be tackling as many bus parks as possible to spread the word.

Safety does not come with lucky, it has to be prepared.

sundAY, february 21, 2016

guyanatimesGY.com

NBS 40-over second division competition…

19

GISE, Star Party Rentals & Trophy Stall first division…

Rutherford, Imlach ECC, TSC locked in battle spur DCC to title for first innings points

S

olid half-centuries from Guyana youth player Sherfane Rutherford and West Indies Under-19 wicketkeeper batsman Tevin Imlach spearheaded the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) to Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) New Building Society (NBS) 40over second division title on Saturday.

Playing against host Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), DCC set 218 for victory, got there with ease, thanks to an entertaining third wicket partnership between Imlach and Rutherford. The pair added 133 as DCC responded with 219-6 with four overs to spare.

Both players fell in the late overs of the chase,

Rutherford for 76 and Imlach for 65. Martin PestanoBelle (2-8) and Ronaldo AliMohammed (2-38) were the chief wicket takers for GCC. The home side total was built on captain Devon Lord’s attacking 49, while Mohammed made 43.

Carlton Jacques with 2-39 and Rutherford 2-49 were the leading bowlers for DCC.

McCullum hits fastest Test ton in retirement game

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r e n d o n McCullum scored the fastest Test century in his 101st and final match for New Zealand before retiring.

The 34-year-old captain needed just 54 balls to reach his 12th century in a majestic display against Australia on the first day of the second Test.

It beat the mark of 56 balls set by West Indies great Sir Viv Richards against England in 1986, and equalled by Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq in 2014.

“I was trying to hit every ball for four or six,” said McCullum.

“Viv was my idol Brendon McCullum’s hundred came off only 54 balls growing up, he was an incredible cricketer. I’m New Zealand, who lost Christchurch, but recovalmost a little bit of embar- the opening game of the ered to 370 all out before rassed to go past him, to be two-Test series, were 32-3 Australia closed on 57-1. honest.” at one point on day one in (BBC Sport)

E

verest Cricket Club (ECC) and Transport Cricket Club (TSC) are locked in an intriguing battle for first innings points at the Police Sports Club Ground on the first day of the Georgetown cricket Association (GCA) first division two-day cricket.

At close of play, TSC were 166-8 with Miguel Park (04*) and Anthony Antonio (03*) at the crease in response to ECC’s 240 all out.

TSC innings was comprised handy knocks by Charwayne McPherson (49) and Shemroy Kendal (22).

Chanderpaul Hemraj

Javid Rasheed with 2-33 and Saheed Mohammed with 2-29 are the most successful bowlers thus far for the Camp Road side.

Earlier, ECC batted first and former national senior team batsman Chanderpaul Hemraj made a sparkling 88 and shared an 88-run fifth wicket partnership with Dwayne Adams, who made 51.

Off-spinner Kevin Ross and medium-pacer Shawn Massiah with 3-57 and 3-47 respectively led the destruction of ECC. Action will bowl off at 10:00h today.

GCB/Banks DIH Limited/Digicel’s NSSCL Combine Elite Phase…

ECD/Mahaicony name squad to play Georgetown

A

s the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Banks DIH Limited/Digicel’s National Secondary Schools League (NSSCL) continues, players with outstanding performances and those who demonstrated good promise, have been earmarked by the selection committee of the league for training.

The Combine Elite Stage of the competition sees the top players from different schools within a zone combining to form a zone team, which is used to represent their respective zones in the Inter-zone/ Inter-district stage of the competition.

A 20-man East Coast

Rajendra Singh

Demerara-Mahaicony team has been identified by the se-

lection committee of the league to participate in a training session on February 22 at the Enterprise ground from 14:00h.

The East Coast DemeraraMahaicony Combine team will play a Georgetown Combine team on the February 24 at Everest ground from 09:00h.

The players called for training with a view of selection are: Robin Williams, Damuka Ngqindo, Pradesh Balkishun, Tameshwar Motiram, Reaz Mohamed, Daniel Mootoo, Ayube Sammy, Chandra Mohan, Rajendra Singh, Wendell Fordyce, Gopaul Applesammy, Amar Persaud, Bhaskar, Yadram and Javelle Fraser.

20

guyanatimesGY.com

sundAY, february 21, 2016

26 goals scored Police FC trounce Camptown 2-0 in Milo football GFA/Stag Premier League…

P

olice FC continued their impressive run in the Georgetown Football Association’s (GFA) Stag Premier League when they defeated Sunburst Camptown 2-0 in latest action.

Playing at the GFC ground, Bourda, it did not take long for Police to take the lead as Anthio Wallace opened the scoring in the 22nd with a header over the head of the goalkeeper.

It should have been 1-1 when Camptown’s Joel Jemmett had what can be deemed an easy opportunity with a one-on-one with the keeper, but spoiled the chance in the 30th minute.

Early in the second half Camptown again had another chance when Anthony Sancho out-ran the defence to receive a ball just inside the box, but sent it straight into the hands of the outstretched goalie.

After Joel Bond was given a red card in the 68th minute for a distasteful foul

T

on a Police player, the leaping Quincy Holder headed the ball to the left side of the net in the 75th minute.

The indiscipline of the Camptown side continued as Kenneth Jackson was sent

off in the 83rd after picking up his second yellow card for a wild challenge.

The second game of the evening saw Riddim Squad and Northern Rangers playing to a nil-all draw.

The League will continue at the same venue on Monday with Western Tigers FC playing Flamingo from 18:30h and Santos tackling Northern Rangers from 20:30h.

he goalkeepers in the Milo Under-20 Schools football competition had their work cut out on Saturday as a total of 26 goals were scored, as round three action got underway at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Tucville Secondary stitched in nine unanswered goals against a hapless St Winefride’s side.

Calvin Peters (13th, 21st, 48th and 57th) and Kiefer Brandt (3rd, 24th, 46th and 59th) netted hat-tricks, while Sherwin Reid added another in the 40th minute.

Defending champions Chase Academy stormed to a 7-0 win over East Ruimveldt with a hat-trick from Keith Caines (44th, 47th and 52nd), and doubles each from Jeremy Garrett (16th and 23rd) and Job Caeser (36th and 50th).

The Dolphin Secondary boys were also in ripping form, storming past Cummings Lodge 6-1. Leon

Richardson was the leading marksmen with goals in the 10th, 32nd and 34th minutes. Shawn Mohamed (55th and 67th) supported with a double, while Joshua Perreira opened the scoring in the fifth minute. On target for Cummings Lodge was Elroy George in the 33rd minute.

The other game of the day proved to be relatively calm, with St Mary’s edging Kingston 2-1. Andel Smith (5th and 39th) netted for St Mary’s, while Vincent Thomas (30th) scored for Kingston.

Another three games will be played at the same venue today, the first of which will start at 12:30h, when North Georgetown face off with St Joseph’s High. An hour and a half later, Brickdam Secondary will collide with Lodge, followed by North Ruimveldt versus Queen’s College in the day’s final contest, commencing at 15:30h.

GCB U-15 Championship…

Dave West Indian Exports Guy-NY is major sponsor

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orporate Guyana continues to join forces with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in financing critical national competitions. The latest of these corporate sponsors is Dave West Indian Exports Guy-NY whose sponsorship was secured on Friday for the GCB Under-15, Intercounty 2016.

The Inter-county championship will comprise the three county teams and a GCB President XI team, which shall comprise mainly reserve players from the three counties.

Dave West Indian Imports was started in 1990 by Dave Narine and has grown to become one of America’s largest importers of West Indian and Caribbean products. This family-owned and operated business supplies distributors, wholesalers and retailers in North America with the finest products at reasonable prices.

This sponsorship comes at a time when Guyana’s Under-15 teams are dominating regional tournaments, winning the titles back-to-back in 2014 and 2015.

“Sponsorships go a long way in assisting this level of success continues. Hence, the GCB is extremely grateful to have Dave West Indian Imports on board as its new Under-15 sponsor and is eager for this partnership to continue in years to come,” the GCB said in a release.

This corporate entity also came onboard with cricket in Berbice. Such initiative is seen as a fruitful intervention as it helps the organisers to run their competitions smoothly and further assist in the long term development of our cricket.

The Under-15 championship will bowl off today with Demerara versus Essequibo at DCC and Berbice versus GCB President XI at GCC. In round two on Tuesday, Berbice will take on Demerara at DCC and Essequibo will clash with GCB President XI at Wales ground.

The third round is on Thursday with Essequibo going up against Berbice at the Enterprise ground and GCB President XI taking on Demerara at the Wales ground. The final will feature the two top teams at GCC on February 27.

sports

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Ansa McAl, AAG team up for Youth and Junior Championships

sunday, february 21, 2016

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21

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Amanda Hermonstine (third from right) of the AAG receives the sponsorship cheque from Ansa McAl’s Anjeta Hinds in the presence of other AAG officials and its president Aubrey Hutson (extreme right)

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nsa McAl Trading, under its Smalta brand, has joined forces with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) to host the National Youth and Junior Championship, scheduled for February 27-28 at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

At the launch on Friday at Olympic House, Smalta Brand Coordinator, Anjeta Hinds, was keen on the development of youths. “There is nothing more important

in this world than developing our youth in a positive manner. We look forward to giving our young champions the opportunity to show off their amazing skills and excelling, and we can only expect greater things from them. Smalta is happy to be on board,” Hinds said.

AAG president Aubrey Hutson, who noted that he expects a great championship simply because some of the youths are on the same level with local seniors, also

thanked the beverage giant for the sponsorship.

“Again Ansa McAl has come on board to sponsor this event in a major way and we thank them for the support they have shown to the AAG and to the development of our youths in athletics,” he remarked.

The competition, which will be branded the Smalta National Youth and Junior Championships, is expected to start from 10:00h on each day.

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guyanatimesGY.com

sundAY, february 21, 2016

USA-based athletes to compete at AP Invitational Road to Mecca III starts March 4

By Treiston Joseph

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ocal athletics fans will be in for a treat in June when some of the top America-based Guyanese athletes make their way to the Land of Many Waters to match strides with their local counterparts at the firstever Aliann Pompey (AP) Invitational Track and Field meet.

The meet, which will be held on June 18 at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, will see the best local and American based athletes compete against each other.

According to Pompey, the USA-based athletes set to compete are Winston George, Adam Harris, Jeremy Bascom, Stephan James, Jason Yaw, Jenea McCammon, Jermaine Griffith, Kadecia Baird, Melissa Caddle and Alita Moore.

Pompey highlighted the impact she believes this event could potentially have.

“Before I retired from competition, it was my dream to compete in Guyana. I’m eternally grateful to Colin Boyce and Edison Jefford for

Aliann Pompey

making that happen. Since then, we’ve seen an amazing increase in the talent level and potential of our athletes.”

She added, “With one dream realised, there’s more we can accomplish. I want to showcase our talent against those of the world. To be able to do that in Guyana is a tremendous step forward.

It almost makes me wish I was still competing...almost.

This is a power move for athletics, and I’m glad to have the full support of the AAG and the GOA. This really is

a huge group effort.”

Meanwhile, the overseas-based athletes are eager to compete at the event.

Olympian Harris, who has never competed on Guyana’s soil, said, “I am excited to run my first competition on Guyana’s land, on a brand new track, in a meet for such an iconic Guyanese athlete. I look forward to such a historical meeting in Guyanese track and field.”

Guyana’s only World Junior medallist (silver), Baird, is also looking forward to competing in

Guyana.

“Participating in the AP invitational is a meet that we are really looking forward to and it’s also an honour to do something like this .This is the first time Guyana will be hosting a meet like this for us and we are really excited to go home and put on a show for our supporters, family and friends. It’s always a pleasure to represent your country, but it’s even more sweet when you get to do it on home soil,” the Carifta gold medalist noted.

Olympian George, known for his focussed approach to every meet, was also in high spirits when asked about the event.

“Well, well, it’s the AP international track meet, the hottest and biggest thing to hit Guyana’s new national track since Bakewell started with slice bread and Winston George, yours truly, will be coming to give his Guyanese fans some show time so come out and watch out, it’s gonna be hotter than hot y’all,” the national 400 metres record holder quipped.

The one day meet will commence at 13:00h.

GCB/Banks DIH Limited/Digicel’s NSSCL...

Lower Corentyne to face Chase Academy in national semi-final

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ower Corentyne Secondary crushed Rosignol Secondary by eight wickets to book a place in the national semifinal of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) sponsored

by Banks DIH Limited’s Coca Cola and Rainforest Water, along with Digicel.

Playing at Cumberland, Lower Corentyne Secondary won the toss and chose to bowl first. Their bowlers

The Lower Corentyne boys have booked a place against Chase Academy in the semi-final

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uyana’s best basketball tournament is back for another edition as the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) launched the Road to Mecca III: the National Club Basketball Championship on Friday at the 704 Sports Bar. President of the GABF, Nigel Hinds, in revealing that over $1 million will be up for grabs, said the tournament will remain as the benchmark for national selection. Hinds also indicated that his team is dedicated to providing a quality tournament for the fans.

“It is important that we keep the sport at a very high standard. We’ve done so for both Mecca I and Mecca II, so we look forward to a competitive championship,” he noted.

Hinds also revealed that the federation is high on providing the fans with both entertainment and giveaways.

“The plan is to make the championships bigger and better...we are committed to good halftime entertainment and entertainment during [the] two minute breaks,” Hinds said, adding that music, giveaways and cheerleaders will form part of the tournament.

The GABF boss and former national hockey and basketball player also noted that tickets will be given to schools in order to spark interest at the school level.

made full use of a helpful pitch as they routed Rosignol Secondary for 64 off 22.5 overs. The pick of the bowlers was national Under-15 player Junior Sinclair, who took 3-17, while Ezekiel Kempadoo supported well with 2-5.

In reply, Lower Corentyne Secondary made

Nigel Hinds

The top four teams will receive cash prizes: $500,000; $250,000; $150,000 and $100,000 for the teams placing first to fourth along with trophies. There will also be individual prizes for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament and final.

The championship will have all the tenets of Guyana’s celebration of 50 years of Independence, including the singing of the National Anthem. In addition, systems for adequate security, both internal and external, at the venue are also high on the agenda.

The Round-of-16 matches will be held on March 4, 5 and 6, while the quarter-finals or super eight will bounce off on March 11 and 12 before the semi-final or final four on March 13. The grand final will be held on March 19 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. light work of their target, racing to 65-2 in just 10.5 overs as Junior Sinclair returned with the bat to top score with 28.

Lower Corentyne Secondary will now play Chase Academy in the national semi-final, while the second semi-final is Uitvlugt Secondary and Anna Regina.

sundAY, february 21, 2016

guyanatimesGY.com

23

DVA holds successful coaches refresher course

Andrew Woolward (left) with DVA president Trevor Williams (right) and GVF head John Flores

C

oaches and prospective volleyball coaches across Guyana were recently exposed to a refresh course on the fundamentals of the sport, through a workshop conducted by former player turned coach, Andrew Woolward, of the United States of America.

The National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue was a hive of activity with coaches and those

with a desire to entire the field took the opportunity to be part of the one day activity.

Staged by the Demerara Volleyball Association (DVA), the event was held with the aim of building on the knowledge already acquired by those personnel, according to recently elected president of the association, Trevor Williams.

“We see it as strength-

KPL softball tourney

Contrasting wins for unbeaten Regal

Mahase Chunilall

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egal defeated Mike’s Wellman by one run when the KPL 20-over softball tournament continued recently at the Carifesta Sports Complex ground.

Batting first, Regal posted 194-9, with Mahase Chunilall getting 61 and Troy Kippins 30, while Mike Singh claimed 3-25. Wellman responded with 193-6 with Lloyd Rooplall scoring 85.

Regal got the better of Amazon by 46 runs. Regal scored 202-5, taking first strike.

Chunilall made 51, Faleem Mohamed 49, Mahendra Hardyal 28 and Eon Abel 25. S. Ghanie took 2-28. Amazon were sent packing for 156 in 19.3 overs with Rudolph Perreira making 41 and S. Ramesh 22.

Hardyal snared 4-36 and Ramesh Sunich 3-28.

Parika Defenders defeated Superior Woods by six runs. Defenders batted first and mustered 178. Ramesh Rambharose cracked 33, B. Singh 30 and A. Basdeo 25; extras contributed 25.

R. Persaud captured 3-27.

Superiors Woods responded with 172-6 with R. Rodrigues making 49, D, Mangru 30 and Mark Fung 29; Rambharose had 3-34.

Fisherman XI overcame Wellman by 117 runs.

Fisherman XI got to 252-8, taking first knock. R. Mohan led with 50, Jagdesh Persaud made 46, B. Heeralall 42 and Ramo Malone 37 not out. A. Kallicharan and L. Singh took two wickets each.

Wellman were bowled out for 135 in 15 overs in reply. S. Samlall and A. Kallicharran made 37 each as P. Singh and Samuel Kingston picked up three scalps apiece.

Fisherman also defeated Tropical Spring by six wickets. Batting first, Tropical Spring were skittled for 71 in 12.5 overs. P. Singh and B. Heeralall had three wickets each. Fisherman responded with 73-4 in eight overs.

Ishwar Persaud made 32; R. Khan claimed 3-16.

Amazon got the better Pune Warriors by two wickets. Pune Warriors scored 164 all out in 20 overs. B. Lakeram scored 37, R. Persaud 28 and D. Mohanram 24. S. Ghanie got 3-30 and R. Narine 2-10.

Amazon made 166-8 in 18.2 overs. Rudolph Perreira led with 62; R. Bisraj made 20 and H. Ghanraj 18. M. Ifill and B. Lakeram took two wickets each.

The competition will continue on Sunday at the same venue with Regal facing Tropical Spring and Fisherman playing Success at 09:30h. At 13:30h, Mike’s Wellman will play Pune Warriors, Superior Woods will battle Amazon and Regal will face Fisherman in the Over-40 division.

In the Open segment at 09:30h, Princess will play Accomplishment, who will later take on Herstelling at 11:30h. Meanwhile, Trophy Stall, Rubis and Clear Water have thrown their support behind the tournament.

ening the fundamentals for volleyball where we’re interested in moving the game to a higher level. We want more clubs to participate, but we also want skills competence in the club structure so we can produce more players with the fundamentals and techniques that are right,” Williams pointed out.

Labelling Woolward as one of the most knowledgeable persons in the game, Williams thanked the instructor for “giving back” to the sport through the workshop.

President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation, John Flores, lauded the Demerara association for investing in such an initiative, noting that it falls in line with the governing body’s mandate to always seek to develop the sport.

“I think any opportunity we have to develop the technical capacity of volleyball in Guyana we really would welcome. As Trevor said, we’re trying to spread the game, so if we spread the game we’ll have to have

Players showcase their skills during the workshop held recently

technical capacity; we’ll need more coaches who understand the game and probably more referees. I know the time [of the workshop] is short, but we hope it will serve as a catalyst for other clinics to follow,” Flores explained.

The interactive workshop was conducted by Woolward, a talented and successful

volleyball player and coach with 10 years of coaching and 20 years of playing experience at various levels.

During the stint, Woolward focussed on teaching basic techniques and drills, planning sessions based on the time of season and exercises to prevent injuries.

Public Relations Officer of the DVA, Allana Bose,

noted that the workshop was a success, as it achieved its intended objectives. She added that the turnout was beyond what the association expected. Over 20 male and female coaches and aspiring coaches attended the session.

The event was the first for the newly elected executives of the DVA.

sundAY, february 21, 2016

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Richardson to lead Golden Jaguars against Suriname today

E

Officials of the Guyana and Suriname contingents, as well as GFF and Banks DIH Limited’s executives at the pre-match press briefing on Saturday at the Pegasus Hotel (Avenash Ramzan photo)

ffervescent strike Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson will lead the Golden Jaguars in the International friendly against perennial rival Suriname at the National Stadium, Providence, this evening.

Richardson, who last suited up for the senior national team back in 2012, said “it is good to be a captain for your country”, noting that he is looking for-

ward to a solid comeback against the neighbouring Dutch-speaking nation.

“We got some good youngsters to take over from “Jackie Chan” soon, and I’m just sharing my experience with them, helping out the programme,” he pointed.

“Certainly looking forward to a good game tomorrow [today], especially from my behalf.”

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz stated that the cap-

Barbados Pride in command at Bridgetown

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arbados Pride were in total command against Guyana Jaguars at stumps on day two of the PCL Four-day match at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

Starting the day in response to the Pride’s first innings 274, the Jaguars were dismissed for 190 in 61.5 overs

with Roston Chase claiming 5-27 and Miguel Cummins 2-51. Skipper Leon Johnson topscored with 40, while Tagenarine Chanderpaul made 31 and Veerasammy Permaul 30.

With a lead of 84 on first innings, Pride coasted to 71-1 at the close, securing a lead of 155 heading into today’s third day’s play. Kraigg Brathwaite was dismissed for 33, while Kyle Corbin and Shai Hope are not out on 28 and nine respectively.

In another game, Jamaica Scorpions were leading Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by 32 runs. Scores: Jamaica 225 and 13-0; T&T 206. Elsewhere, Winward Islands Volcanoes were 21-0 in response to Leeward Islands Hurricanes’ 327.

taincy will pose a new challenge for Richardson. “It’s a huge challenge for him; it’s easier for him to be a bad boy than to be a good boy and a leader…and he has shown tremendous leadership in the training sessions.

He has helped and made the coaching a lot easier, by helping the young players.”

Today’s game will be the Golden Jaguars first game since drawing 4-4 with St Vincent and the Grenadies

last June in the World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium. The last time Guyana and Suriname met, the Dutch nation used home advantage to good effect to eke out a 1-0 result.

This time around, the Surinamese are coming with a completely different squad from that encounter, but will be missing players from the country’s top club Inter Moengotapoe, who are on international duty.

Nevertheless, the visitors are using the game to test their preparedness for participation in the Caribbean Cup. The Guyana Jaguars’ line-up is all local based players, drawn from teams competing in the ongoing Stag Elite League.

Meanwhile, Banks DIH Limited, through its Banks Beer and Coca Cola brands, is the title sponsor of the match, and the company’s senior executive, Brian Choo

Hen, said the beverage giant is pleased to partner with the Guyana Football Federation.

The Guyana/Suriname game will kick off at 20:30h.

Prior to that, All Star teams of the Georgetown Football Association and the Upper Demerara Football Association will square off at 18:00h. Admission to the venue is $1,500 (General seating) and $5,000 (VIP).

NBS 40-over second division competition…

Rutherford, Imlach spur DCC to title

Members of the DCC team pose with their winnings on Saturday afternoon

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