The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
April 6 – 05:30h-07:00h and Tuesday, April 7 – 05:00h-06:30h
The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Monday, April 6 – 05:15h-06:45h and Tuesday, April 7 – 05:45h-07:15h
FERRY SCHEDULE
Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings on:
Monday, April 6 – 05:00h, 09:00h and 17:00h
Tuesday, April 7 – 05:00h, 09:00h and 17:00h
WEATHER TODAY
Sunny weather can be expected throughout the day, with clear skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East north-easterly between 4.02 metres and 4.47 metres per second.
High Tide: 05:29h and 17:51h reaching maximum heights of 2.76 metres and 2.70 metres respectively.
Low Tide: 11:25h and 23:38h reaching minimum heights of 0.43 metre and 0.55 metre respectively.
Nomination Day: PPP/C to unveil “diverse, competent” list of candidates
The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) said it will, on Nomination Day (Tuesday), unveil to the nation its List of Candidates to represent the Party at the General and Regional Elections on May 11, promising that the candidates will represent diversity and competence.
Parties will present their papers on Nomination Day at City Hall.
In a statement, the Party said that as President Donald Ramotar had assured the nation in a previous interview, the List would be a truly representative one. “It will reflect the diversity of the country and is made up of persons who are aptly competent to continue to take Guyana forward. The PPP/C is a political force that is clearly identifiable through its commitment to democracy, freedom, diversity, non-violence, gender equality and global sustainable development. Its track record has been one sprouting with real development of which the evidence is overwhelming across the 10 Regions.
“A casual comparison of Guyana today against two decades ago would realise that the positive transformation is not a dream, but a reality where every day something is being done to
make the lives of Guyanese much better.”
According to the Party, its main objective is not to give glorious promises that cannot be realised but to give society real tangible goals which are already in the pipeline. “In the next five years, our Party-led
Government and leaders will continue to foster positive sustainable management practices. Our framework is predictable with policy implementation flowing from a societal consensus for function and desired outcome. As our Party seeks re-election, we should be judged by our fiscal development and infrastructural track record which has transformed the lives of all our citizens,” the Party stated.
It noted that as the country rapidly evolves with dreams of homeownership becoming a reality for citizens, “our government was not given the opportunity during the 10th Parliament to develop our country even further. The choice that you make on May 11 will determine whether Guyana continues on its developmental path. The challenges over the past three years have reemphasised that only a majority PPP/C Government can ensure, through its prudent management, our na-
tion’s potential of becoming a developed country which would create a brighter future for all,” the PPP/C said.
We urge all Guyanese to cast their ballots on May 11 for the PPP/C and by so doing, allow for the growth and development momentum unleashed by this current Administration to continue its work of community development and restoration work within dear Guyana.
Meanwhile, political parties will be expected to use the Avenue of the Republic as the entrance to City Hall and exit through Regent Street. It was previously reported by this newspaper that the political parties have expressed their satisfaction with the preparations made for Nomination Day, when they will know whether they are eligible to contest the upcoming polls. On this day, the parties through their respective Representative and Deputy Representative will present their List of Candidates. According to an advisory from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the Representative or the Deputy in submitting the list to the Chief Elections Officer must ensure that it is submitted in the prescribed form, noting too that a Statutory Declaration will be required for each candidate and for the President
named in the National TopList.
GECOM says no one on the list could be on more than one Geographical Constituencies’ List. The Representative must also ensure that the necessary corrections are made and submitted to the Chief Elections Officer no later than the 29th day before Election Day. If a List of
Candidates is in any way defective, the party will be required to make an application in writing to the Chief Elections Officer for the allocation of a symbol no later than the 32nd day before Election Day. This symbol must be approved by the Elections Commission.
PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar
PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper
PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee
Editor: Nigel Williams
Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134
Christianity commemorates its belief in the resurrection – that is, the ‘rising from the dead’–of Jesus Christ, three days after he had been crucified on Good Friday. The changing date of the festival annually reminds us of the antiquity of the religion and harks back to a time when events were commemorated according to phases of the moon. Easter was established as falling on the first Sunday after the full moon following the northern hemisphere’s vernal equinox.
In the Caribbean, the pre-Lenten Carnival is a raucous prelude to the solemnity of the Lenten period which starts on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Good Friday, with Easter Sunday being a joyous occasion. But in its spread across the world, the festival has acquired unique expressions in almost every country Christianity is practised. In Rome where the Christian religion took early root under the guidance of Peter who was a direct disciple of Jesus, Holy Week events in the Eternal City include a ceremony in which the Pope washes the feet of a dozen men at a service commemorating Christ’s gesture of humility to his apostles. This gesture is replicated by the local Catholic Bishop in Guyana.
One of the most controversial ways of commemorating the sacrifice of Jesus is found in the Philippines. Filipinos take part in bloody rituals in which half-naked penitents whip their backs with blades and bamboo sticks as penance during the week leading up to Easter as a form of worship and supplication. These rituals are believed to cleanse the sins of the devotees, cure illnesses and even grant wishes. Devotees walk barefoot in sweltering heat, stopping every few hundred yards at makeshift altars while local residents recite texts narrating Jesus Christ’s suffering. The Catholic Church in the Philippines has tried to distance itself from the tradition, calling it “un-Christian”, but to no avail.
For some, the traditions utilised by various peoples over the years to represent the idea of eternal life embodied in Jesus have become so entrenched that they believe Easter would not be Easter without them. For example, decorated Easter eggs are quite common in the western European countries and those countries such as the US where their descendants form the dominant group. They also have ‘egg rolling’ games.
In Colombia, turtle-egg omelettes, iguana soup and fried capybara are the traditional Easter dishes.
The hot cross bun, which has a venerable history – even predating European Christianity – is a fixture and a favourite of peoples from all religions during the Easter season. In the British Caribbean, stretching from Guyana to Bermuda, we have also picked up kite flying in the weeks before Easter Sunday – building to a peak on Easter Monday, which is a public Holiday. For Guyanese, outside the Christian faith, Easter is firmly identified with kite flying. Some say that the tradition was started to demonstrate the ascension of Christ to heaven, but there is no conclusive evidence to verify this.
Given our imitation of the pre-Lent Trinidad Carnival, maybe we might consider adopting the T&T Easter tradition of “Beating the Bobolee”. The Bobolee is an effigy of Judas Iscariot made out of old rags and then left out to be beaten by passers-by as symbolic punishment for Judas’ betrayal of Christ. Interestingly, of recent, the Bobolees have been made to resemble local politicians leading to more enthusiastic beatings.
Happy Easter Monday, Guyana.
In what must have been a pleasant surprise to hundreds of children in Bath, Shieldstown, and other villages in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) on Saturday, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, accompanied by Region Five Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth, brought lots of joy and smiles when he distributed kites for the Easter holidays
AFC+APNU rekindling the party paramountcy principle
Dear Editor, The AFC+APNU coalition is chanting the mantra of forgetting the past, but the past actions of the PNC is very much evident in Berbice and some members of the Guyana Police Force is bent on ensuring that the legacy of the PNC remains intact.
They are now rekindling the party paramountcy principles even before the advent of the “second coming of Burnham”. Remember the days when the GPF used to do the biddings of the leaders of the PNC?
On Good Friday, a group of Afro Guyanese Policemen literally destroyed the ‘good’ on that day by arresting a group of nine villagers of Chesney Village whose only crime was playing a game of cards under some trees.
This patrol was from the Whim Police Station and this incident took place at Chesney, Albion at around 17.15h in the afternoon. This game of cards is the regular pastime for these hard
working GuySuCo workers. They were not gambling.
The Policemen bundled these respectable family men into the vehicle and drove off in the direction of the Police Station.
These men were then abused and reviled by the Corporal in charge of the patrol for not attending an AFC/APNU meeting that was to be held earlier in the week. That AFC+APNU meeting was cancelled.
I wrote about the cancellation of this meeting in one of my letters a few days ago. I said that the carload of Policemen was there but no AFC/APNU speakers were present. This letter was published in the Guyana Times, in which I unambiguously stated that the residents of Chesney boycotted that meeting and wanted nothing to do with the coalition since they see it as betrayal by Nagamootoo and the AFC.
The Police corporal told these men that “all yuh have time to play cards, but
yuh don’t have time to attend APNU/AFC meetings”.
A few minutes later he released the men and they had to walk back to the village.
These men were severely traumatized and were shaking with fear, but they had a taste of what was a regular feature during the PNC dictatorship. These men had no previous problems with the law but was racially profiled and targeted simply because they were residents of Chesney who boycotted an AFC/APNU public meeting.
Is this the way APNU+AFC intends to run their election campaign?
They are asking Guyanese to forget the past, but they themselves have not the capacity to forget and erase their past misdeeds. It is embedded in their hearts and souls and no amount of rhetoric and denial will ever erase that from their psyche actions. It is indelible! It will last forever!
What was the crime that these villagers committed? They were merely indulg-
ing in a game of cards under some trees. They cannot afford to visit expensive clubs. These are family who lead respectable lives. They sweat and toil in the cane fields. They do not take bribes and involve in corrupt practices. They have the democratic right to attend any public meetings they choose and they have the democratic right to vote for a party of their choice. But this is a result of the direct racial incitement of Ramayya, Charrandass, Marl Ross, Ramjattan and Nagamootoo, who have been continuously making racist remarks against the Indians, and have been telling Berbicians especially that they do not want a Black man to rule them.
Three or four times a week Indians in Berbice have been hearing and viewing this on DTV Channel 8. I have also written about this in the press but to date it seems that the authorities are incapable of handling this.
Didn’t you want to buy into the same “corrupt” Marriott project, Mr Badal?
Dear Editor, I was reading the Kaieteur News (April 1) when I came across an article headlined, “Marriott’s reputation will suffer for colluding with ‘corrupt’ PPP/C – Pegasus Owner!”
Please bear with me, but wasn’t Mr Badal the same man who claimed, not so many months ago, that he had US$8 million to invest in the Marriott, whilst wav-
ing around a hypothetical US$8 million cheque?
I am confused - which is it Mr Badal - is the project corrupt or not? Or is it only a legitimate project if you are allowed to invest in it?
Your statements in the press are starting to sound more like sour grapes and selfishness rather than genuine concern for the taxpaying Guyanese.
Later in the article Mr
Badal is reported to have said that the Marriott management is given a blank cheque on poor tax payers’ resources to poach employees of local hotels and established businesses.
Apparently Mr Badal does not understand how a free market economic system and movement of labour works. We Guyanese are free to work wherever and with whoever we want.
Whosoever offers the best wages, conditions and opportunities will be entitled to our labour. Mr Badal should be more focused on improving the working conditions, wages and management style of his operations and the exploited Guyanese taxpaying employees he employs and worry less about the Marriott’s reputation.
Selina Harris
Comparing the track record of the PPP/C and PNC-APNU
Dear Editor,
The 2015 General and Regional Elections should be centred and based on the track record and economic performances of those parties which aspire to lead the nation, because without clear guidelines and sound economic policies, a nation can suffer and go bankrupt.
The PPP/C has put Guyana on economic growth for the past nine years, despite challenges. Many institutions are showing positive growth. The private banking sector is showing robust profit, and shareholders in companies are receiving higher dividends.
The track record of the PPP/C Governmentt in the social sector is impressive. It spends about 35 per cent of its budget on the social sector – meaning health, housing, water, education, school children feeding programmes and uniform allowances, senior citizens’ pension, water and electricity allowances.
Productive sectors are accelerating. Rice has set a new record over 600,000 tonnes, sugar is bouncing back, cash crops are moving upwards, and gold, bauxite and timber are doing well, despite a slump in gold price. Guyanese today are experiencing a better standard of living with better health services and are much happier.
The PPP/C Government has a blueprint for the development of a successful Guyana. Implemented already are a modern stadium at Providence, a world
class swimming pool at Linendal, an impressive synthetic track at Lenora, a state-of-the-art five-star Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, four-lane highways, a road leading to the hydro station, over 100,000 house lots allocated in all regions in Guyana, longer runways for passenger jets to follow a modern airport, and oil exploration has started.
Now let us examine the track records of the PNC, now calling itself APNU. In 1964, Guyana’s economy was higher than Singapore and South Korea, the British pound was valued $4.80, and the US dollar was valued $2.00.
The PNC ruled Guyana for 28 years with an iron fist (1964-1992) – the private sector fled from Guyana because wrong economic policies were carried out by the PNC Govovernment.
The private media was muzzled and attacked constantly, and human rights violations were many. To put in a nutshell, after 28 years of PNC rule, Guyana became the poorest country in South America and the Caribbean.
These are facts. Young people must research, because these are issues they must confront before voting in 2015. A classic example of the PNC-APNU rule is the city of Georgetown called the M&CC.
For example in America, take the city of New York. If the Republicans or the Democrats win the Mayorship of that city, they
try to achieve many developmental programmes to enhance re-election to higher office.
But let’s look at the PNCAPNU control of the M&CC in Georgetown. Have they delivered services? Look at garbage collection, weeding and cleaning drains and parapets, maintenance of roads, the La Repentir Burial Ground, city markets, collecting taxes, keeping financial records, paying workers on time, and paying GPL and NIS.
No they have not delivered services. The 19932015 PNC-APNU M&CC is a reflection of the PNC Government of 1964-1992 –poor policies, poor tax collection and poor accountability, etc.
The “Clean-Up-MyCountry” exercise witnessed city residents complaining. The M&CC has not weeded and cleaned their drains and canals for decades. Roads are in a deplorable state, independent reports have shown widespread corruption at City Hall, and ther is no money in the bank.
Now workers are receiving their salaries on time and bills are being paid. Now fellow young people, do you want a political party such as PNC-APNU, which cannot even manage a city (Georgetown) to be your Govebnment?
Do you the citizens of Guyana want a Government with this kind of track record?
R Setaram
There is no superior race or culture
Dear Editor,
The recent cold blooded and brutal slaughter of 147 college students in Kenya reportedly by al-Shabab Islamic extremists must be condemned by all right thinking people throughout the world.
This is indeed a barbaric act committed by religious fanatics and people of sick minds. According to media reports, Christian students were targeted in the killings, and many more might have been killed were it not for their professed belief in the teachings of Islam.
This action was rightly condemned by Pope Francis, the UN Secretary General and the US President among other world leaders.
There is need, however, for the Muslim community both locally and internationally not only to condemn such actions but to openly disassociate themselves with terrorist groups, which is only giving the religion of Islam a bad name by their destructive and terrorist actions.
At a more fundamen-
tal level, there is need for the teaching of religious and ethnic tolerance starting from the nursery level which must be reinforced in the home.
Respect for religious and cultural diversity is the hallmark of civilisation and any society which fails to inculcate and reinforce such val-
ues do so at their own peril.
It has been scientifically established that there is no superior race or culture and it is therefore imperative that we inculcate these ideas and precepts in our children in their early formative years.
Hydar Ally
Kaieteur News article inaccurate
Dear Editor,
The Guyana Police Force is responding to an article published in the Kaieteur News on April 5, under the headline, “Ex-cops, ex-soldier paid to murder GGMC Engineer.”
In the article it is alleged that police investigators have received information that a businessman with ties to the mining sector had recruited a former army intelligence rank and two ex-Policemen to kill Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Engineer, Trevor Abrams, who was shot and killed while driving a motor vehicle along the roadway
at Diamond, East Bank Demerara on February 27.
It is claimed in the article that this information was provided to the Police by one of two men who were arrested in a house at Diamond, recently, in which a firearm and ammunition were found. The men have been charged and are presently on remand in the Georgetown Prisons.
The Guyana Police Force categorically refutes the allegation that its investigators have received such information from either of the two men as the investigations continue.
Noting that this inaccurate information to the
Kaieteur News has been attributed to “top Police sources”, the Guyana Police Force wishes to remind media operatives that the authorised persons within the Police Force from whom information on criminal investigations can be sought are the Commissioner of Police, the Assistant Commissioner Law Enforcement, the Public Relations and Press Officer and the respective Divisional Commander.
Ivelaw Whittaker
PolicePublic Relations and Press Officer
AFC+APNU rekindling...
But I have warned then that this race baiting will escalate in violence if nothing is done. We have now seen that some members of the GPF are willing to take this race baiting to a higher level. Force and threats are now being used to get Indians to vote for the AFC+APNU coalition.
Should we now blame Minister Rohee for this? The AFC presenters on DTV 8 always see it fit to always target Mr Rohee whenever members of the Guyana Police Force commit infractions and involve in alleged criminal activities.
I wonder if Rohee instructed these Policemen to threaten Indians to vote for the coalition? How do we reconcile him in this equa-
tion? This goes to show the ridiculous nature of those accusations and false allegations against the Minister.
There are rogue elements in the GPF who are making it clear which political party they belong to and it is evident that many of these will do everything possible to tarnish the GPF in order for the Government to look bad and to usher the PNC into power once again.
This is a fact and it is time we face the truth. The same is happening in the health sector and other sectors as well.
It is time for change indeed and it is time to put an end to this type of racial politics which is propagated and practiced by AFC+APNU.
Lastly, I am pleading to
the Commissioner of Police to thoroughly investigate this matter and ensure that those responsible will face the full brunt of the law since the action of those policemen are criminal in nature.
I call on all civil society to condemn what was done to my villagers. Their freedom of choice, their liberty and their democratic right were snatched away from them! It is time indeed, to ensure that the PNC, in whatever disguise, should not be returned to power.
This is a review of the past and a preview of what is to come should voters make a wrong turn!
Haseef Yusuf
Page Foundation
The dangerous mistake parents make when measuring a child’s medicine
BY LISA RAPAPORT
Children’s liquid medicines should only be measured in metric units to avoid overdoses common with teaspoons and tablespoons, US paediatricians say.
Tens of thousands of children wind up in emergency rooms after unintentional medicine overdoses each year, and the cause is often badly labelled containers or unclear directions, said Dr Ian Paul, a Paediatrician at Penn State Milton S Hershey Children’s Hospital and lead author of new metric dosing guidelines from the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP).
be dosed using millilitres (abbreviated as “ml”).
Also, prescriptions should include so-called leading zeros, such as 0.5 for a half ml dose, and exclude so-called trailing zeroes, such as 0.50, to reduce the potential for parents to misunderstand the dosing.
suggest.
into an oral syringe.”
Children and temper tantrums
“Even though we know metric units are safer and more accurate, too many healthcare providers are still writing that prescription using spoonbased dosing,” said Paul.
“Some parents use household spoons to administer it, which can lead to dangerous mistakes.”
For example, he said, accidentally using a tablespoon instead of a teaspoon would triple the dose.
To avoid errors associated with common kitchen spoons, the guidelines urge that liquid medicines being taken by mouth should
While the AAP has been pushing for more accurate dosing of children’s medicines since the 1970s, the new guidelines are the most extensive call for metric dosing to date and are in- tended to reach drug man - ufacturers, retail - ers, pharmacists, prescribers and caregivers.
Cups or syringes provided with medicines should be labelled in metric units, and not be much larger than the maximum dose. Ideally, the drugs should be dispensed with syringes that have a flow meter because that’s the most accurate way to measure liquid, said
In addition, electronic health records should make it impossible for non-metric doses to be prescribed by clinicians or processed at pharmacies, the guidelines suggest.
To avoid overdoses and errors,
“For this to be effective, we need not just the parents and families to make the switch to metric, we need providers and pharmacists too,” said Paul. Manufacturers should eliminate lableling, instructions and dosing devices that contain non-metric units, the guidelines
Director of the pharmacy at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.
Parents can put the syringe in the side of the child’s mouth and release the medicine slowly. “It’s easier for the child to swallow and you know the dose you get into the child is accurate,” said Poole, who wasn’t an author of the guidelines. “Those little cups that come with the medicine should really only be used to pour out liquid that you then draw
weight and body temperatures should also be recorded in kilograms and degrees Celsius rather than in pounds and Fahrenheit, said Lois Parker, a Paediatric Pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
“Weight is a source of medication errors because if the parent reports the weight in pounds and we
base the dosing on kilograms that can lead to the wrong dose,” said Parker, who wasn’t involved in the AAP guidelines.
Among prescription drugs, narcotics present the biggest overdose dangers, said Dr Brian Smith, a Paediatrician at Duke University who wasn’t involved in writing the AAP guidelines. Children who are the sickest, who go home from the hospital with numerous medicines, are often the most vulnerable to errors as parents struggle to keep track of the dosing and timing for all of the drugs. For over-the-counter drugs, Smith worries the most about acetaminophen (Tylenol), because overdoses can lead to liver failure. It’s also dangerous to give children a wide variety of non-prescription drugs at the same time, because they might accidentally get more than one medicine with the same ingredient, leading to unintended overdoses.
“Children do get overdosed; it happens in the hospital with all of these safeguards in place and it happens at home,” said Smith. “Children come to the emergency room with unintentional overdoses and they get sick and some children die. Anything we do to reduce errors by making the dosing clearer will save lives.” (Yahoo! News)
Or try these: In this family, we don’t hit, push, or shove
There’s no screaming allowed
There’s no door-slamming in our house
There’s no name calling We don’t do that in this family
You may not throw things or break things on purpose
Coping strategies for children
Children who’ve learned that it’s not okay to yell, hit, and throw stuff when they’re upset need other strategies for calming down when they’re angry. Offer some ideas to help them learn safe ways to get the anger out or to find other activities that can create a better mood. Take a break from the situation. Tell your children that it’s okay to walk away from a conflict to avoid an angry outburst. By moving to another part of the house or the backyard, a child can get some space and work on calming down.
Find a way to (safely) get the anger out. There may be no punching walls, but you can suggest some good ways for a child to vent. Doing a bunch of jumping jacks, dancing around the bedroom, or going outside and doing cartwheels are all good choices. Or your child can choose to write about or draw a picture of what is so upsetting.
Learn to shift. This one is tough for children – and adults, too. Explain that part of calming down is moving from a really angry mood to a more in-control mood. Instead of thinking of the person or situation that caused the anger, encourage children to think of something else to do that might bring about a better mood –like a walk around the block, a bike ride, playing a game, reading a favourite book, digging in the garden, or listening to a favourite song. Try one of these things together so you both experience how doing something different can change the way a person feels.
Building a strong foundation
Fortunately, really angry episodes don’t happen too often for most children. Those with temper troubles often have an active, strong-willed style and extra energy that needs to be discharged.
Try these steps during the calm times – they can prevent problems before they start by helping children learn and practice skills needed to manage the heat of the moment: Make sure children get enough sleep. Sleep is very important to their well-being. The link between a lack of sleep and a child’s behaviour isn’t always obvious. When adults are tired, they can be grumpy or have low energy, but children can become hyper or disagreeable or have extremes in behaviour.
Robert Poole,
Granger criticises pace of Police reforms
...wants DFC recommendations implemented
Presidential Candidate of the PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition, retired Brigadier David Granger said the Guyana Police Force must do more to curb crime and also criticised what he described as the sloth in the full implementation of key reports such as the Disciplined Forces Commission Report (DFCR).
One of Granger’s top aides, Winston Felix is a former Police Commissioner who presided over the Force when more Police were killed than at any time in GPF’s history related to the banditry centred in Buxton.
Granger, during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Times, claimed the current administration only would announce strategic plans to tackle crime and corruption in the country, but would fail to effectively implement them.
“I can show you 15 strategic plans which have not been fully implemented, because the Ministry of Home Affairs had not demonstrated the will to ensure that the plans which need to be implemented to improve the
quality in the Police Force have been in fact implemented,” Granger claimed.
He said all the plans that have been developed by Government have been just a “bluff” by the administration. “We have a National Drug Strategy Master Plan which has not been implemented; and drugs continue to be poured into Guyana; so what’s the point putting out the bogus plan and you don’t implement it?” Granger asserted.
With that said, the APNU/AFC Presidential Candidate noted that he has a whole host of recommendations that would improve the capacity and efficiency of the Police Force. Granger, a former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Commander appointed ahead of several senior officers nine months before Walter Rodney was assassinated by a sergeant of the GDF, stated that Policemen should be paid better than they are being paid and pro-
Govt still hopeful for land deal with TT investors
Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said Government was still to receive word from its Trinidadian counterpart on the way forward in relation to the agricultural land deal pending between the two countries.
Guyana and Trinidad back in 2013 had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), opening up avenues for Trinidadian investors to use Guyana’s lands for agricultural purposes. At the signing ceremony, Minister Ramsammy and Trinidad’s Food Production Minister, Devant Maharaj had said the programme was developed to address the need to improve food security and reduce the food import bill of the two countries.
Back in December last year, investors from the twin-island republic visited and had begun screening Guyana’s landscape with particular focus on the Canje Basin and Intermediate Savannahs. Discussions then were focused on investment incentives in Guyana, foreign agricultural investments here and the Trinidadian company Cooperative Citrus Growers, land availability, soil types and market trade logistics.
Though no agreement was signed then, Ramsammy had said the discussions had taken the countries one step closer to fulfilling the objective of the MoU, which was designed to facilitate TT investment in Guyana for agricultural production.
According to him, the next step would have been the presentation of scoping proposals for potential investment even as dialogue continued between the two countries.
sented by the Trinidadian investors will determine the sites, but emphasised that the primary focus was on the Canje Basin and Intermediate Savannahs. He explained that the Intermediate Savannahs is an area of interest because there is already a Trinidadian company, Cooperative Citrus Growers, operating in the vicinity. Cooperative Citrus Growers was allotted 1000 acres of land, of which 200 acres are already under cultivation and another 200 acres are being cultivated.
However, in an invited comment on Thursday, Ramsammy told the Guyana Times that he was still awaiting those proposals from the business groups. While certain projects had been identified during another recent visit, the groups were still to submit their proposals to Guyana’s Government. He said, however, that there has been progress on the extension of Cooperative Citrus Growers’ citrus plantations and they were moving towards preparing concentrates.
According to the Trinidadian Food Production Minister, his country imports around 90 per cent of its citrus from Belize and Costa Rica and he could not see why the same could not come from its closest neighbor, Guyana.
Trinidadian investors are interested in six products including corn, soya, sorghum and fruits. According to the Trinidad Minister, corn is needed for the poultry industry there.
Minister Ramsammy had said the scope of work pre-
vided with the necessary assets that would be valuable in performing their duties.
“The Police should be provided with assets to enable them to patrol the border and the coastland…,” Granger insisted.
Additionally, Granger believes a Police college should be established for the training of officers and the retraining of the entire Police Force. “I feel that these are important recommendations which have not been implemented and in addition to that they are five dozen of other recommendations which have not been implemented. I cannot go in to all of them now, but failure to implement those recommendations, including recommendations dealing with the Community Policing Group, has led to the present state of inefficiency in the Police Force,” he noted. The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C Government) has opened three new Police Training Schools in addition to one for officers.
On that note, the Opposition Leader blamed the ineffectiveness of the Police Force, not on the officers, but on the Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who he said is responsible for the state of policing in Guyana.
Granger has, throughout the years, criticised the capability of the GPF. But, despite these claims, the Home Affairs Ministry of stands firm in its grounds that the incumbent Administration, the PPP/C has been doing its part to improve the security sector. Late last year, Cabinet approved plans to boost the size of the GPF by 1500 ranks. In a recent press release, the Ministry noted that Guyana has seen a significant reduction in the instances of piracy, especially on the Corentyne River.
This, the press release stated, is as a result of Government’s commitment
to public safety and security.
A GPF Marine Floating Base was commissioned to operate collaboratively with other law enforcement agencies and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), which has a similar floating base located at the mouth of the Pomeroon River. The $49.9 million capital investment was complemented by the procurement of a boat imported from the US, costing $71.4 million, in addition to four new vessels built at a cost of $4.9 million.
“Government has consistently demonstrated its commitment to public safety and security and this is evident in capacity-building by way of training provided to the marine wing of the Police,” the release noted.
Moreover, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud had recently highlighted the successes of the Police Force, including the Cops Faith Project, the Albouystown Impact Project, the introduction of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and the establishment of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). Persaud had noted that SOCU had already begun several investigations and have made several seizures of money thus far.
The TT Food Production Minister echoed similar sentiments, noting too that thus far, the investors were impressed.
The MoU between the two countries addressed programmes and activities; core areas of cooperation, monitoring and coordinating mechanism; mutual responsibility, commitments and settlements; rights and obligations, and scope for termination.
Recognising that global food insecurity remains a major problem across the world due to rising food prices amid declining food production levels due to climate change, the parties had signed the agreement in their quest to reduce their food import bills. For Trinidad, this plan is in keeping with its National Food Production Action Plan 2012-2015.
The MoU provides guidance for the development, promotion and strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the countries through the development of joint ventures and activities that will contribute significantly to promotion of food security, but it does not impose action targets for either Guyana or Trinidad.
Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said that the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) was an important national institution, and could be said to possess the same character as the Bank of Guyana, which is in its 50th year.
He said because of its importance to Guyanese, the Government has committed to the Scheme’s long-term viability. Dr Singh made the remarks at the commissioning ceremony for the Scheme’s $35 million Patrick Martinborough multi-purpose complex, on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown last week.
The two-storey building is equipped with a bar, kitchenette, conference and training rooms, an office, and a pavilion, and
will benefit the 610 staff members stationed at NIS offices countrywide. “The NIS was established two or three years after Guyana attained political independence to provide a robust social security and national insurance programme to the people of the newly-independent Guyana… The Scheme has gone through tremendous growth and maturity, good years and challenging years,” the Finance Minister explained. Notwithstanding economic challenges, Minister Singh said that the Scheme continued to grow and discharge its functions.
To this end, the Minister reaffirmed Government’s commitment to the longterm viability and success of the NIS. “I want that to be crystal clear, your
Government is firmly committed to the long- term viability and strength of the scheme, and we will do all that it takes to ensure that the NIS rides through the challenges it might be facing, traverses them and emerges to an even stronger institution,” Minister Singh reiterated.
However, the task of ensuring a strong NIS is not only for Government but those who benefit and those who are expecting to benefit from the Scheme. Minister Singh commended those employers who have registered their employees and pay their contributions. To those who were yet to register their employees, and were delinquent in paying contributions, he stressed they were running the risk of denying their employees
extremely important benefits.
Legal requirement
Dr Singh said that the Scheme was not only targeting employed persons, and urged those self- employed entrepreneurs to participate in the Scheme. “Contributing to NIS is not only a legal requirement, but it is in your best interest to do so,” Minister Singh emphasised. He urged the NIS team to escalate their efforts to ensure that people understand the immense value of the Scheme.
Timely processing of contributions is a pressing issue, and Minister Singh urged the staff to dispose in a prompt manner of the backlog they have with respect to posting all contributions received to contributors’ records.
Minister Singh then expressed gratitude to former General Manager Patrick Martinborough for allowing the use of his name on the facility which will be the home of many activities, including conferences and training sessions.
Meanwhile, General Manager Doreen Nelson said that this patientlyawaited facility would be of great benefit to all the NIS members, especially since it will facilitate training sessions and conferences. She expressed appreciation to the Finance Ministry for spearheading the approval of finance for the facility, and the management and staff for their patience.
Eyew tness
To be or not to be...
... a fake
Lalloo Ram has again rushed to the defence of Nagamootoo – about the latter playing fast and loose on the question of his identity. Quelle surprise!! But with a friend like Lalloo, Nagamootoo doesn’t need enemies. Lalloo’s playing the fool and pretending the question is whether Nagamootoo denied being an “Indian National” – a question of citizenship.
No one’s ever questioned this of Nagamootoo – but they certainly can do so with Lalloo!! Asked whether he was the PNC-led APNU/AFC List Candidate, Lalloo regretfully demurred, saying, as a “British Citizen”, he was disqualified. But now, defending Nagamootoo, he claims he has a Guyana Passport – which states that his “nationality” was Guyanese. So now Lalloo....could you state what’s the answer to the same question on your British Passport??
And this Eyewitness isn’t even going to raise the issue of “residency” occasioned by the US Green Card. But back to Nagamootoo. The question was about his heritage or ethnicity – which is tied to one’s place of origin. Nagamootoo accepted an award for being a “Person of Indian Origin” – handed out by the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin. Yet Nagamootoo went out of his way to remind a Queens, New York fundraiser –the majority being of Indian Origin – that he wasn’t an “Indian”.
What made the question politically relevant – and why it’s being raised now – is that Nagamootoo has specifically promised to deliver 11 per cent “Indian votes” from Berbice to APNU to become their Prime Ministerial candidate. Were these “Indian” votes from Berbice “Indian nationals”?? Has Nagamootoo padded the list with thousands of illegal Indian Nationals?? But if Lalloo’s getting senile, the rest of Guyana knows what’s going on.
The point is – folks like Nagamootoo and Lalloo’ve spent their whole lives denying the Indian component of their identity. Hence Nagamootoo’s disavowal to a Queens audience he wrongly assumed is like him. The US encourages ethnic identity!! Yet Nagamootoo can bargain away people with such identities as pawns for his political ambitions. So they curl up their mouth and “Babu Jaan” becomes “Babu John” while “Lallbachan” becomes “Christopher” who wears suspenders even in the bedroom.
But self-hate can never become pride and that’s why people like these will always remain “Mimic Men” as so well described by Naipaul. Nagamootoo’s in for a fall which all of Lalloo’s protestations can never prevent.
The no-shows by the “Indian” villagers of Whim at the Nagamootoo wedding rally was not on a whim.
They’ll teach him the difference between “Indian Heritage” and “Indian Nationality” comes May 11.
...on a scholarship
Your Eyewitness is a bit nonplussed by the revelations on the scholarship scheme that was introduced by President Ramotar. First, there was the non-issue raised by last year’s top performer who’d performed so magnificently last year at the CSEC. It has to be that someone put her up to claim that the Government wasn’t honouring a promise to send her to the school of her choice - in her case, Yale. Turns out the child hadn’t even applied to Yale –which in any case demands CAPE grades and SAT scores. But the tempest in the tea cup revealed that the whole programme needs to be reviewed. Evidently, the winning students can pursue any course of study and doesn’t have to return to serve their Guyana. This is ridiculous for an underdeveloped country like ours.
We must do as the late Lee Kuan Yew did in Singapore: issue scholarships to deserving students – but in fields that Guyana’s development plans demand.
And they must serve for five years.
...Brigadier Granger
Your Eyewitness wonders why partisans of Granger boast about his “army background”. He denies being involved in the most famous accomplishments of the army – seizing ballot boxes to rig elections, sending scabs to cut cane, marching through “PPP” villages to intimidate them...Is it because they’re “notorious” rather than “famous”??
The Patrick Martinborough Multipurpose Complex of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown
Tiger Bay lad crushed by speeding minibus
Aformer pupil of Starters Nursery School was on Saturday killed by a speeding minibus after he ran across Water Street in the vicinity of Giftland OfficeMax, Georgetown.
Jayden Charles, four, of Queen Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown was stuck down about 13:35h and succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital shortly after 14:00h.
According to information reaching the Guyana Times, the lad was seen purchasing a kite in Giftland OfficeMax after which he ran out of the store and into the path of the minibus. The driver of the minibus reportedly told investigators that he was not cognisant that he hit the child until he felt the wheels of the bus ran over “something”.
The Guyana Times understands that the driver attempted to flee the scene, but was forced to stop the vehicle by one of his passengers – a social worker. He reportedly picked up the child and rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital soon after which the child died.
The driver was taken into custody.
Omeal Charles, the mother of the now dead child, told the Guyana Times that she was purchasing groceries in Mattai’s (about a block away from Giftland OfficeMax on Water Street)
when she received the message that her son had been struck down by a Route 45 minibus and sustained severe injuries.
As a result of him being run over by the bus, he suffered several broken ribs and a fractured skull, a hospital source stated. The official said the child was conscious when he arrived at the hospital, as he gave the names of his relatives to the doctors who were trying to save his life.
Charles explained that after she left the store, a friend took her to the hospital where she saw her son hooked up to a bottle of oxygen. The grieving mother stated that she was with him when he took his last breath.
“After a few minutes, I feel he hand get cold cold and I know he wasn’t going
to mek it,” she cried, referring to her now dead son as a “miracle baby”.
The Guyana Times was told that the child was left in the care of an older sister, but she was unaware that he had left the home with another lad. She recalled being at home when she received the devastating news and she ran to the scene. There, she was told that he was taken to the hospital.
The lad leaves to mourn his parents and four siblings. A post-mortem is expected to be performed on Wednesday.
1
in custody for 9-year-old’s death
One person was reportedly taken into Police custody for questioning into the suspected murder of nineyear-old Shaquan Gittens, who was found dead in a canal on Saturday afternoon behind Cane View, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
The former pupil of South Ruimveldt Park Primary went missing on April 1 after flying his kite in his community with a few of his friends. The gruesome discovery was made about 15:00h.
Doysha Gittens, mother of the now dead child, when contacted on Sunday morning, told the Guyana Times that “whoever did that to my son will pay in
4 arrested for guns, ammunition found at Arau Landing
Four men are now in Police custody facing possible charges of unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition following the discovery of two guns and several rounds of ammunition on Saturday at Arau Landing, Wenamu River.
Police in a release stated that ranks conducted a raid on a mining camp in the area where an unlicensed Smith and Wesson .45 semiautomatic pistol and an unlicensed Smith and Wesson .38 revolver were found along with three matching rounds.
According to information received, Police ranks were conducting an investigation into a shooting incident at the Landing earlier in the day which left one man nursing gunshot wounds to the neck. The incident stemmed from an argument.
As the ranks closed in on the mining camp, the four men who were there stated that they knew nothing of the ammunition and weapons. They were cautioned about the crime and taken into custody. They are likely to face charges Tuesday. The Police are continuing their investigations.
the Blood of Jesus”.
The devastated mother told the Guyana Times that her son would have never walked to the area where he was found and more so, without trousers. “Whoever put my son there had to take the body during Friday night … they too wicked and I leave them to Jesus, who will decide their punishment,” she said.
The woman stated that her son troubled no one and whenever he was home, he was in the churchyard playing football with the other boys from the community. Gittens explained that her son left home as per normal to play and fly his kite but after time elapsed and he did not return home, she got worried.
Missing
“We searched all over and we couldn’t find him … I know something was amiss at that time … but thought that he will come home,” she said. The child
was left in the care of his 15-year-old brother who last saw him alive when he took lunch at 12:00h. The mother was reportedly at work and upon her arrival at home, she became aware that the child was missing.
She recalled that she was at home on Saturday when she received a telephone call from someone informing her that the body of a child was found floating in a canal at Cane View and it could possibly be her son.
“I run up the road, but when I reach, I then learnt that it was in the backdam area… I recognise my son by the jersey he was wearing… His buttock was in the air and his body started to swell… his pants and his trousers were nowhere,” she related.
She explained that she was told two children were in the area and found her son’s body in the canal, but she did not believe such was the case as the area was more or less farmland and children were not authorised to be there, since the area has several guards at the main entrance.
As she spoke to the Guyana Times via phone, she said she was at a loss over her son’s death and would be happy to know that the Police have found the perpetrators. One day after the discovery, the Police have not spoken to the mother, but family members have been in contact with them.
Police are continuing their investigation into the matter.
Dead: Shaquan Gittens
Dead: Jayden Charles
"Promises...promises": APNU/AFC to Essequibians
...PPP/C's been there, done that, says Minister Ali
Leader of the Opposition and Presidential Candidate for the PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity- Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), David Granger has urged Essequibians to offer their votes to the coalition, come May 11.
Speaking at the APNU /AFC’s public rally which
was held at Damon’s Square, Anna Regina, Essequibo, on Saturday evening, Granger told the crowd that the coalition was the way to go for a better life, developmental opportunities and further growth and development of that region and the country’s economy as a whole.
It was along this line that the Presidential
Candidate urged the crowd that they must undo what they had done in 2011 at the polls and give not the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) their votes, but rather, the APNU/AFC.
“You are the backbone of the country; we have come here to share your talents with us. We need you Essequibo, we need your rice, we need your vegetables but most of all, we need love and unity. We need you Essequibo. We believe in strong regions...we want strong municipalities. We have come here to tell you about the future… of what Essequibo can become... don’t give us 5000 votes and give the PPP 12,000 like you did at the last elections or don’t give us 3000 and give PPP 5000... Give us the votes for a better life ...bring a Government that cares about you...,” Granger told the people.
In trying to win the votes of the Essequibo Coast, Granger promised residents that should his party win the May 11 polls, he will ensure that security reform, educational reform and the advancement of technology, which will include better Internet access and telephone service, are provided
for Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), which he touted as “full of potential”.
Road accidents
On the issue of security reform, Granger said that his Government, should he win, would ensure that the number of road accidents and accident-related deaths was reduced; the level of crime was brought down and the Police Force was far more equipped, better trained and paid to carry out their mandate. “You need to be safe. You don’t need crime. We don’t want to come here to hear about women who were raped and murdered. This country will never be safe under the PPP/C because they don’t care. We need a worldclass Police Force, a Police Force that cares about women and children and you will get that under the APNU/ AFC. We will have a Police Force that cares about you and your daughters and your women. We know the problem. Clement can never solve the problem. We have to pay them better, we have to equip them better – over 2001 murders in the country…We will make Region Two safe,” he said.
behind the region’s economy, with emphasis being placed on the agro- processing industry to ensure that Essequibo prospers. “Everything you produce is wanted by the Caribbean; it is in high demand but what you need, what you want is a government that cares, a government that will provide packaging machinery… bottling equipment. You need a new Government,” the Presidential Candidate noted.
Additionally, he has promised more educational opportunities, including students of the Essequibo Coast being able to acquire their tertiary and University education without having to
According to him, the road used to be called Abortion Road, but today, it is 38 miles of paved road. Ali added that investments in the region’s physical infrastructure two years ago stood at over $528.21 million. The targets have been rehabilitation and expansion of major highways, upgrade of almost 90 per cent of internal community roads and upgrade of farm to market roads from mud dams to fair weather roads.
Turning his attention to the social sector, Ali noted that Essequibo again stood out, particularly where education is concerned. The country’s top Caribbean Secondary Education
He told the Region that they had the potential to develop and to become one of the richest regions but this can only be achieved if they exercise their voting rights to put the coalition into Government. “...give us the chance to develop you and to make you richer and more powerful…we will make you powerful...you have the potential,” the Opposition Leader noted.
As he continued, he expressed to the gathering that it was time to talk about their future, the rights of their women, their paddy and rice farmers and their children, noting it was his party which had the interests of the people at heart. “We are the ones who care... we are going to make you rich and powerful... we will give you what you need,” he promised.
If elected, he noted, systems would be put in place for the agricultural sector, which is the thriving force
leave the region; better infrastructure, including the provision of school boats and the provision of better Internet service, and electricity; and the introduction and fostering of power, declaring that Essequibo had great potential and it can only be realised under the new Government of APNU/ AFC.
Ali rebuts
However, in an invited comment, Housing Minister Irfaan Ali said that Granger and his coalition were all about empty promises. He said most of the things Granger has promised Essequibians the PPP/C Government has been doing. Ali said that the Essequibo Coast has been significantly transformed during the 23 years of the PPP/C Administration. He cited the road from Adventure to Anna Regina, saying that it took vehicles five and six hours to traverse it.
Certificate (CSEC) performers for 2013 hailed from the Essequibo Coast. Two students copped 20 and 18 grade ones respectively. Ali said their success was attributed to the investments that have been made in the education sector throughout the country. He said during the period 1992 to 2012, all schools in Region Two were rehabilitated while new facilities were constructed. Among them are the Aurora and Wakapao Secondary Schools, the Guyana School of Agriculture and the Essequibo Technical Institute. In agro-processing, which is the future for adding value to Guyana’s primary agricultural products, the government has launched a Rice Cereal factory on the Essequibo Coast, which will employ some 200 Essequibians. He noted that Essequibo also had its own Police Training School and a new ferry and wharf.
APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger being welcomed by the crowd at the coalition’s Anna Regina public rally, most of whom were "bussed" in
APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger
Part of the crowd at PNC-led APNU+AFC rally at Anna Regina
Times Notebook
Youth in Guyana’s development
The youth 14-35-years old represent one of the largest groups in the country and political parties are pursuing them by putting on display their youth resume.
The Opposition has accused the governing party of not involving and engaging youth in the development of Guyana. They have further accused the Government of not providing opportunities for young people.
We examined this premise, not only looking at the record of the PPP/C, but looking at the records of the other political parties. In fact, the PPP/C has an impressive track record. Under a PPP/C Government, Guyana ranked high on the first ever Commonwealth Youth Development Index (YDI).
The first YDI was completed in 2013 and data were collected for 170 countries around the world. Guyana was ranked Number 10 in the Commonwealth, with only Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago ahead of it in the Caribbean.
The top countries in the world were Australia (1) and
Canada (2) which had scores of 0.83 and 0.82. The USA was Number 7 with a score of 0.80. Guyana’s overall score of 0.73 compares extremely well with the scores of these rich countries. Guyana was ahead of Barbados and the Bahamas, two of the richest Caribbean countries.
Guyana was in the top 10 overall and in the top 10 in two of the five areas that were evaluated. The five areas evaluated were education, health, employment, political participation and civic participation. Guyana scored top 10 spaces in health and civic participation.
We should note that the PPP/C has a history of commitment to young people. Its founding leaders were very young people. Dr Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, Ashton Chase, Forbes Burnham and others were very young when they started the political movement for freedom, a movement that still exist today as the PPP/C.
Indeed, when the PPP won the 1953 elections, the first under adult suffrage, Mr Ashton Chase was named the Minister
of Labour at the age of 27, the youngest Government Minister anywhere in the world at the time. This was the beginning of a long list of achievements that underline the PPP/C’s commitment to youth and its development.
We must not forget that the PPP/C broke all records and bucked tradition among countries of only selecting people with long years of service and political leadership, older people for the Head of State portfolio. In 1999, it selected Bharat Jagdeo at 35 as the then world’s youngest President.
This is not the only accolade of a still young man – when he was appointed Finance Minister by Dr Jagan in 1995, at 31 years old, he was the youngest ever Finance Minister in the world.
This is just one among many notable achievements of young people, and we can understand why the PPP/ proudly speaks of its commitment to youth and its development. The PPP/C, however, points to other achievements in its repertoire as its main arguments
that it is the only party that meets its commitment to young people.
Guyana has universal access to primary education and has virtually achieved universal access to nursery and secondary education. Few developing countries match Guyana’s commitment to education and access to technical and vocational and tertiary education.
This is one of the most important areas in youth development. Access to scholarships to study for professional careers locally and abroad has grown tremendously under the PPP/C since 1992.
The number of doctors, engineers, accountants, lawyers and other professionals today places Guyana ahead of many richer countries in terms of the number s of these professionals for every 1,000 youth today.
The number of businesses owned by young people that
have sprung up throughout Guyana, business like salons, mechanic shops, stores for clothing and other goods, computer repair shops, telephone repair shops, restaurants and other businesses has reached unprecedented levels.
Home ownership, vehicle ownership and the general ownership of property by young people in Guyana rank high in the world.
The development of sports, culture and entertainment in Guyana is far superior in the last two decades. The PPP/C has built a sports infrastructure that has transformed sports in Guyana. There have never been so many opportunities for young people to engage in cultural experiences and in entertainment.
There are good reasons why persons like young Africo Selman did not feel at home in APNU. When it had a chance to go with a younger candidate, APNU+AFC de-
cided to stay with older people as its Presidential and Prime Minister Candidates.
Because of their marriage of convenience in which positions have been negotiated, the May 11 elections will mean that young people will be squeezed out in the sharing out of positions, should APNU+AFC has a chance to govern.
Perhaps the best resume line any political party can claim is the consolidation of freedom and democracy so that young people could have their say. Guyana’s democracy has withstood challenges and had to overcome a brutal dictatorship.
Yet young people are deeply engaged today in the political live of their country. They will determine the future of our country. It is an exciting time for young minds.
Readers are invited to send their comments by email or Facebook to times. notebook@gmail.com.
“As the kites soar you must aspire to higher heights”
– First Lady urges Berbice youths
Just as the kites go high into the air, children must aspire to higher heights. So says First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar.
Her comments came as she addressed hundreds of children at New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir (NJASM) Humanitarian Mission Easter Sunday Gymkhana held at Babu John, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The First Lady, who was accompanied by members of the First Lady Foundation (FLF), also extended Easter greetings on behalf of President Donald Ramotar who is out of the country on official business.
She told the more than two hundred children of the importance of attending school. “School will be reopened after we would have had an enjoyable Easter holiday; you have to study hard so that you can get to a higher class,” she said. Turning her attention
to parents, the First Lady said they must ensure that their children attend school. There should be no excuse for lack of attendance, she emphasised.
“Because the Government is giving a lot of subsidies; they are getting free uniforms, a hot meal, and free books, so you have to send your children to school. Only an educated child can get out of poverty. Education is empowerment for all of us here. So we have to make sure that all of the children go to school and take in their education,” she added.
She told the children that just as how it is difficult to raise a kite at times, but with perseverance the kite eventually goes up, so they will find it with their school work, but with work hard they will succeed. “Your future lies before you and your future is our future.”
She said parents also have a role to play in providing the moral guidance. “If you look in our society
there are a lot of issues, we have suicide, domestic violence, so we have to make sure that our children get the love and understanding to be honest and trustworthy individuals.”
The event, which was organised by the NJASM, saw children participating in several games and also being presented with a kite each from Deolatchmee Ramotar.
The event was sponsored by Parmanand Lutawan of Broadway Poultry and Banks DIH Ltd.
In brief remarks, Lutawan who is originally from Number 48 Village, Corentyne, said he always wanted to spend Christmas with the children on the
Corentyne but his job does not permit him. “So I had to choose Easter. I always wanted to come and give gifts, an opportunity that I didn’t have. I grew up in a poor family, I know what it is being poor and I have been on the other side of the coin too. Being poor is not an excuse for us not to go to school, it is not an excuse for us not to have an education.”
Organiser of the event and President of the NJASM, Pandit Suresh Sugrim said there are many issues that have been destroying the fabric of family foundation but he said only a united society can work to overcome these challenges.
Another accident strikes at Camp and Quamina
Two drivers escaped unharmed after their vehicles collided on Saturday afternoon in the vicinity of Camp and Quamina Streets, Georgetown.
At around 16:00h, a silver Allex PPP 6161 was reportedly struck by a black Field Wagon HC 4693, resulting in it crashing into a nearby fence on Camp Street.
Shortly after the accident, driver of the silver Allex, Naphlayah Fernandes told Guyana Times that she was proceeding North along Camp Street whilst Dorian Sam, owner of the wagon was proceeding onto Camp Street from Quamina Street.
According to the woman, it was while Sam was crossing over Camp Street that his car collided with hers, re-
sulting in her vehicle crashing into a nearby fence.
However, Sam denied that he was the cause of the accident and placed the blame solely on the woman. He stated that “if she could have drive, then this accident would not have occurred.”
Late last month a similar accident occurred on Camp and Quamina Streets. At the time of the accident, a Suzuki motor vehicle was making its way east along Quamina Street when a Route 44 minibus that was driving South on Camp Street crashed into it, causing it to slam into the parapet of the Guyana Times’ building. While most of the accidents at this junction are luckily not fatal, they usually incur a lot of expense.
One of the two cars that got smashed last Saturday afternoon
The First Lady sharing out kites to the children
Some of the children enjoying the season of Easter
PYO urges Guyanese to reflect on lessons behind Easter celebrations
The Progressive Youth Organisation of Guyana (PYO) extends Easter Greetings to all Guyanese more particularly our Christian brothers and sisters. For us, Easter is the celebration of one of the most important events in the Christian Calendar which is the commemoration of the Death and Resurrection of
Jesus Christ.
As youths, we believe that Guyanese must take a moment and reflect on the lessons that can be derived from the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and make the necessary applications to their own lives with the aim of leading more productive lives.
We hope that the Easter
spirit of togetherness and joy will continue throughout the year and that righteousness will prevail in this beautiful country of ours.
The PYO hopes that the symbolism of our kites soaring to the heavens inspires all Guyanese to continue to support the progress and development that have transformed our economy over the
last two and a half decades.
We must remain calm and committed to the lessons that dominate this season with the aim of soaring higher even when we are met with indomitable challenges to our social and political fabric as a nation.
Once again, a Happy Easter to one and all!
PNCR extends Easter greetings to all Guyanese
The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) extends Easter greetings to all Guyanese and more especially to members of our Christian Community, both here and around the world, on the occasion of the celebration of one of the most important events in the Christian Calendar. This festival, which commemorates the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, contains both in its symbolic significance, and its secular relevance, important and powerful messages.
For the members of the
Christian Community, the Easter story represents the fulfillment of God’s prophecy that mankind would be offered the hope of eternal life through the sacrificial death of His son, Jesus Christ and His subsequent Resurrection from the dead. It is this faith which has kept the worldwide Christian Church alive and enabled its followers to significantly contribute towards making the earth a better place for all mankind.
The Easter season in Guyana is best known for the widespread kite flying activity that is seen by many
as a representation of the theme of the Resurrection.
Whatever may have been its origins, kite flying attracts widespread participation of Guyanese, from all walks of life, regardless of religion, ethnicity or culture. It, therefore, offers another opportunity for Guyanese to share common experiences and understand each other better.
As we celebrate Easter this year, we, in the PNCR, bemoan the corruption, crime and general moral decay that have become pervasive in our land. On May 11th our country has an opportunity with the
Coalition, A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) to experience good governance through a Government of National Unity; a chance for a rebirth of national pride and national unity.
Let us hope that the symbolism of our kites soaring to the heavens inspire all Guyanese to emulate the example of Jesus for the renewal of hope for the resurgence of the conditions needed for the future development and prosperity of this our Dear Land of Guyana.
APNU+AFC calls on Guyanese to refresh their spirit
APartnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) extends Easter greetings to all Guyanese, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters. The festival of Easter commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians recognise that, during his earthly life, Jesus demonstrated His concern for the poor and powerless in society, as well as his opposition to ills and evils many of which regrettably now afflict our country and hamper our development.
As the celebrated Indian national, KulapatiVani wrote many years ago, “… festivals are gatherings for
refreshing the spirit and enjoying life.” We urge all Guyanese to use this occasion of Easter to refresh their spirit and enjoy life and to participate fully in this colourful festival and enjoy the rich elements of our religious and cultural diversity.
As a nation let us find spiritual inspiration in the promise of the resurrection and brace ourselves against that which has impeded equal opportunity and to restore equity, justice, peace and prosperity to our dear land.
Easter signals a season of renewal, of change, of moving ahead. It is time for change, and on May 11th Guyanese will have a chance to vote for change.
Crum-Ewing’s murder investigation:
Police awaiting phone records from Digicel
Digicel Guyana Inc has come under critisism by investigators probing the murder of ex-soldier Courtney Crum Ewing for not readily making available the phone records of the now dead man.
As Police continue their investigations into the execution-style killing, a senior investigator noted that while they understand the procedure involved in getting a printout of phone records, they believe that it should be fast-tracked taking into consideration the sensitivity of this particular case.
The official stated that a written request was made to the top management of the phone giant on Wednesday, March 11 and to date, they have not received a positive response. The phone re-
cords, he noted, are vital in the investigation process since they can lead to the murderer(s).
Requesting the printout has always been a challenge with Digicel when compared to the other network, he added. On this note, the official recalled the murder of taxi driver Trevor Kissoon, 27, whose body was found in a trench at Bramfield, Number Seven Village, East Coast Berbice, on June 10, 2010.
He said that it took the phone company two years to release the phone records of the dead man’s handset, and in the end, based on the analysis of the calls, the perpetrator was arrested, charged and is awaiting trial in the High Court. That case, he added, proved the importance of phone records but at
the same time they must be granted in a timely manner.
Procedure
When contacted, Digicel Guyana confirmed that it has received a request from the Police Commissioner soliciting the phone records and it has responded via a docu-
ment last week. An official at the phone company stated that in such instances, only the Police Commissioner can request the phone records by writing.
The official also stated that the request has to now go through a procedure which will take some time.
Region 7 residents briefed on
Residents of Bartica, Region Seven were recently educated on Guyana’s approach to addressing climate change, and the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), as Government continued its LCDS outreach programme.
The Office of Climate Change (OCC) took its awareness sessions to Bartica where residents from various riverine communities, including Itaballi and Batavia, were educated on climate change, its impacts and actions taken by the Government, including the protection of forests.
OCC Head Gitanjali Chandarpal outlined in her presentation an overview of climate change, explaining to the large gathering that climate change is a serious threat that demands global attention. She added that climate has been changing rapidly due to global warming, which is a result of an increase in greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Chandarpal stated that over the last century there has been an increase in the Earth’s temperature by approximately one Degree Celsius, and a significant increase in Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions in the atmosphere. She reported that scientific studies have shown that by the end of this century, temperatures can rise by up to four Degrees Celsius, noting that 2014 was the hottest year on record. Further, Chandarpal added that this rise in temperature contributes to the rising of sea levels which could have significant impacts on Guyana.
Notably, Guyana has been experiencing some unusual and extreme weather patterns such as intense rainfall and dry periods.
These weather patterns have resulted in severe flooding and threatened sectors such as agriculture and health. Chandarpal indicated that there were two measures which can be generally taken to address climate change. These are: mitigation, which includes the reduction of CO2 emissions and; adaption, which is understanding the situation and adapting to it. Guyana has taken action to support both.
Chandarpal further pointed out that Guyana
other Caribbean countries and forested countries in its global fight against climate change. Partnerships are very important given the limited global financing thus far. In this regard, Chandarpal indicated that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which Guyana signed with Norway is monumental as Norway (a developed country) committed to providing Guyana (a developing country) with up to US$250 million by 2015 for its work on Reducing Emissions from
has placed great emphasis on preserving its forest through sustainable forestry management, which means using the forest for development and timber production while doing so in an effective manner which would not lead to high levels of deforestation.
Climate financing
It was emphasised that global funding to address climate change has been shortcoming and vulnerable countries like Guyana are the ones that will suffer the greatest. Guyana partners with many likeminded countries such as
Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). She further noted that the country has thus far successfully received US$150 million.
This money has been used to invest in priority projects under the LCDS such as the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF). This project enables the provision of financial support for the socio-economic development of Amerindian communities and villages through the implementation of their Community Development Plans (CDPs). To date, 26 communities have started to implement their CDPs. Under Phase
As Police continue their investigation into the murder, the phone belonging to Crum-Ewing remains in custody as well as the bullhorn that the now dead man was using at the time he was gunned down.
Police have confirmed that, thus far, eight persons have been arrested but they have all been released owing to the lack of evidence.
Investigators are also awaiting the fingerprint analysis done on the bullhorn.
Crum-Ewing, a father of three, came to the public’s attention after he held a one-man demonstration for 80 days in front of the offices of Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, following revelations of a taped conversation between that official and a senior reporter of Kaieteur News.
He was gunned down while urging residents of the Diamond Housing Scheme to go out and cast their ballots on May 11.
An autopsy report proved that Crum-Ewing was shot five times – three bullets to the head, one to the back of the neck and the fifth bullet entered under one of his arms. All the bullets were fired from behind and at close range except the one that hit under his arm and exited through his shoulder.
It was also reported that the bullet wound to the back of the man’s neck was at point-blank range and gunpowder residue was found on the collar of the shirt he was wearing. Two .38 warheads were removed from the dead man’s head.
climate change, LCDS
Two of the project approximately 160 remaining communities will begin to receive funding to implement their CDPs.
Further, the finances are also used to fast track the Amerindian Land Titling process. Chandarpal noted that renewable energy initiatives such as the Amaila Falls Hydro Project are very important as they aim to reduce greenhouse emissions and enable longterm cost savings for the country.
Another very important project is the Cunha Canal rehabilitation project, which is expected to improve water management at the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC). Rehabilitation of the Canal will increase its discharge capacity and will contribute to reducing the risks of the embankment overtopping and flooding areas along the East Bank of the Demerara.
Other key projects funded under the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) include the biodiversity research centre project, the development of a climate resilience strategy and action plan, and the LCDS communication and outreach project.
Agricultural diversification
Agriculture Ministry Permanent Secretary George Jervis gave the feature address of the Session. He encouraged agricultural diversification and outlined the importance of climatesmart agriculture. He pointed out to the large gathering of residents, representatives of various governmental and Non-Governmental Organisations along with other attendees that Government has been working to put measures in place to address the issue of cli-
mate change, particularly at the Agriculture Ministry.
The Permanent Secretary encouraged residents to support the Ministry’s drive for food security. Residents can engage in agricultural activities and diversify their livelihoods. This can have an added benefit of improved quality of vegetables and fruits for personal consumption. It is also a form of additional income.
Further, through diversification, persons can have the opportunity to expand their businesses and can even reduce costs and become more competitive.
Jervis further pledged the Ministry’s support to the residents in providing aid for them to produce their own food in a climate-smart way, which will help in the preservation of the coun-
try’s forests as well as the Earth as a whole. He pointed out that the Ministry has also encouraged the promotion of technologies such as drip irrigation, sprinkler and micro-sprinkler systems, greenhouses, modern farming techniques such as hydroponics, and plastic mulch among others to support environmentally friendly practices. Earlier this year, OCC conducted similar outreach sessions with residents of Regions Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). Within the coming months, similar outreach sessions will be conducted in other Regions across Guyana.
Courtney Crum-Ewing
A section of the gathering at the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) awareness session in Region Seven
Pope at Easter prays for peace
Pope Francis prayed peace and called for an end to the persecution of Christians in his Easter Sunday address, commemorating the students massacred by Islamist militants at Garissa University in Kenya.
Francis, after saying Mass for thousands of people in a rainy St Peter’s Square, delivered a mostly sombre and grim “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message.
Attacks on Christians in Africa and the Middle East have been the grim backdrop of all Holy Week ceremonies leading up to Easter.
“We ask Jesus, the victor over death, to lighten the sufferings of our many brothers and sisters who are persecuted for his name, and of all those who suffer injustice as a result of ongoing conflicts and violence – and there are many,” he said.
The Pope spoke as churches in Kenya, where al Shabaab gunmen massacred nearly 150 people, singling out Christians for pointblank executions, turned to armed guards to protect their congregations on the
most important day of the Christian liturgical year.
“May constant prayer rise up from all people of goodwill for those who lost their lives....”
Calling for peace in Libya, the Pope appealed for an end to “the present absurd bloodshed and all barbarous acts of violence”.
He prayed for peace in
Syria, Iraq and Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria.
“We ask for peace and freedom for the many men and women subject to old and new forms of enslavement on the part of criminal individuals and groups,” he said. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Around the World
Kenyan university attacker identified as official’s son
Kenya’s Interior Ministry has identified one of the al-Shabab gunmen who massacred students at a north-eastern university as the son of a Kenyan Government official.
Mwenda Njoka, an Interior Ministry spokesman, said Abdirahim Abdullahi was among four gunmen who attacked the Garissa University College campus on Thursday, killing 148 people.
“The father had reported to security agents that his son had disappeared from home ... and was helping the Police try to trace his son by the time the Garissa terror
attack happened,” Njoka told the Reuters news agency in a text message.
The Kenya Today website identified Abdullahi as the son of Abdullahi Daqara, the Chief of Bulla Jamhuri in Mandera county. It described Abdullahi as a former gifted law graduate who had studied at the University of Nairobi.
As Kenya began three days of national mourning and dedicated Easter prayer services to the victims of the attack, reports emerged that Kenyan Special Forces were not deployed to the site of the attack, near the border with Somalia, for at least seven hours.
Kenya’s major Nation newspaper said it took until just before 14:00h for the main response team to reach the scene, despite alarm bells going off in Nairobi as soon as the first reports of the predawn attack emerged.
The Nation said that the first plane to the city carried the Interior Minister and Police Chief. Some journalists based in Nairobi who drove the 365 kilometres to Garissa after hearing the first reports of the attack arrived before the Special Forces, who came by air, the newspaper reported.(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
St Kitts Electoral Office breached, computers accessed externally, says AG
“We are having a wider investigation of the Office; how the Office operated... we’re looking at the procedures of the Office. As well too, we’ve had to look very carefully at the computer systems that had crashed, as these had been accessed externally, were online and we’re very careful to find out what has been going on,” the Attorney General said. The investigations
into the operations of the Electoral Office are two-fold, the Attorney General explained on Thursday, The first being an examination of the conduct of the February 16 General Election.
“It deals with the matters dealing with the day of election and the activities that played out in front of the entire nation and the Region... that investigation has involved... the Police, in-
asmuch as there have been reports of a breach of the Electoral Office. The Office has been sealed, and the Police have been conducting interviews,” Byron said.
“The investigation is ongoing. I’m happy to say that we’re nearing the end of the investigation and we will be able to say very shortly, when the Office will be able to continue,” he noted. (Excerpt from West Indies News Network)
Pope Francis prayed for an end to the persecution of Christians in his Easter Sunday address
monday, april 6, 2015|
Recommit to Guyana’s development in the true spirit of Easter – PPP/C
The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) extends Easter Greetings to all Guyanese, in particular our Christian brothers and sisters.
Easter which is celebrated in observance of the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is celebrated throughout the world with prayers and flying of kites.
This year’s Easter celebrations is taking place at a critical time in our political life when the country is preparing itself for another General and Regional Elections which resulted from a power-hungry political Opposition. These ele-
ments are trying feverishly to deceive and betray the Guyanese people through subterfuge and false promises.
But like Jesus Christ who tested the will and eventually triumphed over the betrayal by his one-time disciple Judas, in the same manner the democratic forces will prevail over our present-day Judases who are prepared to sell their souls for the gratification of their egos and political ambitions.
The PPP/C remains confident, however, that the Guyanese people will allow good sense to prevail and reject these power-hungry elements who are so obsessed with the love for power that they
will stop at nothing to realise their ambitions.
The PPP/C takes this opportunity to call on all Guyanese to reflect on the teachings of Jesus Christ and his humility and exemplary life.
Let us also at this time reflect on the enormous progress we have made as a country over the years and strive to ensure that the gains made over the years are not squandered by those with unpatriotic and anti-national predisposition.
As we celebrate Easter, let us recommit ourselves to do all within our power to help our beloved country to soar to even greater heights in the true spirit of Easter.
Easter: The resurrection of Jesus Christ
Easter Sunday is one of the most holy days of the year for Christians. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Early Christians celebrated Jesus’ resurrection on or near the date of the Jewish Passover.
Due to the use of different calendar systems over the years, the dates for the Passover and Easter have drifted apart. Western churches now celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after the full moon that comes on or after the vernal equinox marking the beginning of spring. That date, may be anywhere between March 22 and April 25.
Persons from all over the world attend churches, engage in kite flying activities, picnicking and other social activities. Apart from all the Easter activities that persons indulge in, one must not forget the true meaning behind the season of Easter.
Easter is a religious holiday, but some of its customs, such as Easter eggs, are likely linked to pagan traditions. The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring.
In every country, the
Early detection critical in addressing autism – First Lady
In observing Autism Awareness Day, Guyana’s First Lady, Deolatchmee Ramotar emphasised the importance of detecting the disorder in its early stages, noting that early detection can result in early intervention.
Autism is a spectrum of disorders that ranges from mild to severe. It is a mental condition that can be detected from early childhood, usually during the first three years of life.
Signs of autism can be identified by children’s inability to communicate, poor social skills and or repetitive behaviour. Autistic children tend to have difficulties in making eye contact and in engaging people.
In addressing the nation, the First Lady said research has shown that early detection and interventions can help persons with autistic conditions to realise their full potential.
“While detection occurs during the primitive years, autism persists throughout a person’s life. Therefore, our work with and for people with autism should not only be limited to early identification and treatment but should also include thera-
pies, educational plans and other steps that lead towards sustained lifelong engagements,” she said.
On this note, she underscored the importance of promoting awareness for the very complex and often misunderstood disorder.
“Persons living with autism are forced to cope with the negative attitudes of society, inadequate support for their needs and, in some cases, blatant discrimination.” She added that often times these treatments are as a result of obliviousness and wrong perception of the behaviors of autistic people.
The First Lady pointed
out that this year, Autism Awareness Day was observed under the theme “Employment: The Autism Advantage,” with the aim of painting the picture that people with autism are capable of working.
According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the unemployment rate of adults with autism is above 80 per cent. In an effort to bring this high percentage down, the Secretary General said it is critical to invest in appropriate vocational training that would allow autistic persons to apply their special skills and realise their full potential.
“In Guyana, we are happy to note that significant efforts have been made to invest in vocational education. Over the years, we have seen the establishment of vocational educational training centres across the country. These include Corriverton, New Amsterdam, Linden, Anna Regina, Leonora, Mahaicony and Georgetown,” she pointed out.
The Eighth Annual Autism Awareness Day was observed across the world on April 2.
TT assumes chair of the OAS Permanent Council
The Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Neil Parsan, last assumed the Chair of the Permanent Council of the hemispher ic institution, a position he will hold for the next three months and in which he follows the Ambassador of Suriname, Niermala Badrising.
Easter tradition is observed differently. In Guyana, kite flying activities start weeks ahead of the actual celebration. Children from all over the country get hold of their beautifully coloured kites and engage in the wonderful season.
In every region, the different schools ranging from day care to tertiary engage in special programmes with some of them paying homage by celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through reenactment of the crucifixion while some engage in singing and dancing and other Easter related activities.
As it leads up to Easter Monday, persons often go on the seawalls, in the National Park, Botanical Gardens and Joe Vieira Park to fly their kites. It is for a fact that every year these areas are hot spots for Easter activities.
Upon assuming office, Ambassador Parsan ex pressed the honour he felt at leading the Permanent Council and reiterated the “commitment of Trinidad and Tobago to the values and principles of the OAS,” which he promised to defend during his term.
The diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago recalled that with the new mandate, the countries of the Caribbean countries will have held “for the fifth consecutive time the Chair of the Permanent Council” and recalled that during this year the Chair has been held by Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and now Trinidad and Tobago. “CARICOM is very fortunate to have these challenges,” he added.
Ambassador Parsan also expressed the will of Trinidad and Tobago to collaborate with the OAS General
Secretariat and member states to comply with the mandates of the hemispheric institution during his term at the head of the Council.
For her part, the Permanent Representative of Suriname and outgoing Chair of the Council, Niermala Badrising, said that during her tenure she presided over the latter part of the process of electing the new authorities of the OAS, which ended on March 18 with the election of the next OAS Secretary General and the next Assistant Secretary General.”I have to admit that the last three months were the most exciting of my stay at the OAS,” said the Surinamese diplomat. Ambassador Badrising expressed her gratitude for the support received dur-
ing her term “both from the General Secretariat and from member countries” and also noted her satisfaction in transferring the Chair to another member state of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). “I am proud to transfer the mandate to another Caribbean state,” she added, before symbolically delivering the gavel used to chair meetings of the Council to her successor, Ambassador Parsan.
The event was held at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC, and was attended by the OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza; the Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin; and the Permanent Representatives of several member countries. The statute of the Permanent Council establishes that the Chair be held by each of the Permanent Representatives in turn, following the alphabetical order in Spanish of the names of their respective countries, and the office of Vice Chair, in the same way, following reverse alphabetical order. The Vice Chair of the Council over the next three months will be exercised by the Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Chief of Staff-designate of the OAS Secretary Generalelect, Jacinth Lorna HenryMartin.
A picture symbolising the resurrection of Jesus Christ
One of the largest kites built in 2014 to mark the occasion of Easter
Guyana’s First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar
Ignorance to be best ignored?
Dear Editor,
Could you be so kind to indulge me a wee little bit? Freddie Kissoon, in the Kaieteur News of April 3, wrote: “I am not East Indian. I am Guyanese”! Is he
to be pitied or celebrated?
Ignorance to be best ignored?
Sultan Mohamed PS: You have failed to post
your “ideological racism” paper online. Do you have any academic brothers outside Guyana? Nothing to fear right, brother?
Forestry officers think they’re above the law, or have no respect for it
Dear Editor,
It is with great dissatisfaction and concern for the law that I decided to pen this letter. It is my hope that the authorities will attend to this matter since it can become the source of great controversy.
On the East Bank of Berbice some forestry officers are operating as if they are above the law and breaking into private property claiming that it was part of executing their duties.
Several concerns to this effect have been raised in the past and several complaints have been made to the authorities in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), but it seems as if those complaints have fallen on deaf ears.
On March 20, while I was at a funeral and no one was left home, two forestry field officers (one name given) broke into my property at Ma-Retraite Scheme and spray painted some wallaba posts (about 50) that I had recently purchased and some other wood (about 500 BM) that I purchased over a year ago, both of which I have receipts for and both of which have been cleared by the Forestry Department at the time of purchase.
Upon returning home, I discovered that my fence was breached and some of my farming equipment were missing and the wood I referred to above, were all spray painted.
At the time, there were four Policemen from Central Police Station, New Amsterdam on duty at a community meeting in the area. I took the Policemen to my place and showed them what the officers have done.
The Policemen reiterated that forestry officials have no right to break into private property when the owners are not at home and that they should have made contact with me and scheduled a visit to check my property if they have to. After speaking to the Police, I left my
home and went to my son’s residence in South Glasgow Housing Scheme, where my wife and I were spending the weekend.
At 21:00h on the said day, one of the Forestry Officers (name given), a Police Officer (name given) and another who failed to identify himself came and demanded that I go down to the Police Station.
I questioned what this was for, and I presented the receipts for the wood I purchased. The Forestry Officer replied and said that “we have orders to take you to the station”. I repeated my question to the Police and asked why I needed to go to the Station.
Despite this, I was ordered to go to the Station. When I arrived at the station, the Officer who was taking the statement indicated to the Police and the Forestry Officer that he had no reason to hold me, as I was cooperating with the Police, and also, that there was no ground for him to hold me.
He also questioned why I was taken to the station when I presented a receipt for the wood that the Forestry Department was interested in. The Police Officer then instructed me to go home and said that he will be going to verify the wood with me and the officials the next day.
On March 21, we went and verified the woods at my residence. I provided my receipts to the Forestry Officer and the Policemen to verify the wood. They verified that the quantities of wood that were at my place was exactly what was stated on the receipt and that everything was cleared by Forestry at the time of purchase.
They also verified that my property was broken into and that my farming equipment were missing. The Police Officers indicated to the Forestry Officer that he had no right to break into my place and that his allegations are flawed.
The Police also mentioned to the Forestry Officer that except when ordered by the court, Forestry Officers should not be breaking into any private property. The Forestry Officer refused to return my receipts after the verification. I can only assume that his intentions are to destroy the evidence that I have in a desperate attempt to justify his actions.
This is very unprofessional and unbecoming behaviour, one that can potentially turn nasty when it becomes unbearable. People are extremely tired with these Forestry Officers. What stopped them from making contact with me and informing me of their interest to conduct a verification at my place?
I want to believe this is what they were supposed to do. What if residents had confronted these officers after they broke into private properties? This is gross disrespect for the rule of law and for private property.
What is more provoking is that during an election time when people are impersonating Police Officers and involved in all sorts of killing and robbery, Forestry Officers thought it best to conduct their work by breaking into someone’s residence.
Is this what these Forestry Officers are being taught and trained to do by the Forestry Department? Is this the modus operandi of the Department? Is this a display of good judgement of these officers, or a lack of it?
If the Department recognizes that these actions are misrepresenting the Department of Forestry, and amidst several complains to the Department of these actions by it Officers, it is worrying why nothing has been done to abate this injustice.
Upon my investigation, I discovered that the Forestry Department has to compensate Officers for the use of their private vehicle every time they conduct an inves-
DPP’s Office should give its version in Shellon
Peters vs Leona Ram matter
tigation.
Another way of saying this is the more they drive, the more they get paid for their vehicles. What system is there to prevent Forestry Officers from abusing tax payer dollars and harassing anyone purchasing wood in order to make a super salary?
Don’t get me wrong, I have no interest in what Forestry Officers are being paid, but there seems to be a clear conflict of interest in the procedures set by the Department.
I was also informed that many allegations of the same nature were brought to the Department in recent months. It is against my own understanding and that of other concerned citizens why something like this is allowed to continue.
Ordinary families should not be taken advantage of like this, especially when they are following the law and striving to make a happy life for themselves.
It is my hope that those in authority at the Department of Forestry with a responsibility to ensure that its Officers operate within the confines of the law will attend to this matter before it becomes a nightmare.
Ramjagan Singh
Forgiveness
All of us want peace of mind in our lives and believe it or not, this is possible when we let go of any grudges we are holding on to.
By no means am I saying it is an easy thing to, but the moment we let go of our grudges, we will be free and will be able to move on with life with our heads held high. It actually will be a changing moment when we are strong enough to forgive and forget and even to forgive ourselves for not allowing peace to enter into our lives any sooner.
There is an old saying that when we forgive ourselves, we give ourselves permission to live life to the fullest. And to me this is very well true, because I do not know of too many people who intentionally try to hurt anyone – sometimes things are not perceived the right way.
Generally speaking, people do things based on their abilities, so we really can’t put our lives on hold or live unhappy because of someone else’s action. If we are willing to forgive, then we are avoiding the risk of being bitter and we will become better instead, which is a good goal. As I have mentioned several times before, we all have a choice to make, to either be happy or unhappy.
Something to keep in mind is that when we forgive someone, we are doing ourselves a favour. I know it is not uncommon for us to think the opposite way. For example, we might think that by us not forgiving the people who did us wrong, we are allowing them to suffer the same way we did.
The way I see it is that though forgiveness is probably one of the hardest things to do, at the same time it has a very powerful outcome. It is like being stuck in a box and not being able to discover anything else. Granting forgiveness to me shows as well that we are strong and it can eventually boost our self-esteem.
The bottom line is we all have the power to forgive, but at the same time we have to be ready and have the willingness to do it. There is no point of us forcing ourselves to do it. We have to know when the time is right. This does not mean we are allowing the other person to win, but at the same time we don’t want to put our lives on hold because of someone else’s lack of intelligence or action.
Although it is a huge challenging step to forgive someone, I am sure there will come a time when we probably say that enough is enough and that we need to be strong enough to forgive people. I have learnt over the years too that those who are weak will never do so, which means that forgiving is a sign of the strength that we have within us to move on.
Send questions, comments or feedback to mcnarine@ rogers.com.
A bitter experience after making a Police report
Dear Editor,
A bitter experience emerged for me after making a report at the Suddie Police Station about a daylight breakage into my home, during which cash and other valuables totaling some $500,000 were discovered missing.
From the detrimental consequences that followed, much to my embarrassment, humiliation and indignity, it would now seem to be much better for me had this not been done.
that were on the ground for finger prints, although the entire home was ransacked.
A prime suspect living in the same yard with me, but in the front house about 20 meters away was taken in custody, but he was released a few hours later with an explanation given by the detective that the result of the finger prints, which had to come from the city, was being awaited before anything further could be done.
$10,000 station bail, the Police advised me to attend court to answer two separate charges for threatening the suspect and his wife, but when this was done, I pleaded “not guilty” to both offences in keeping with my innocence in what was a well orchestrated concoction.
Dear Editor, It appears that the Police are misleading the public in the Shellon Peters vs Leona Ram matter, as per a letter by Ivelaw Whittaker, Police Press and Public Relations Officer on March 19. According to the letter, the Police conducted an impartial investigation into the matter, but this is far from the truth, having regard to the fact that (name given) had also beaten and threatened to kill me, but no charges were instituted against him.
Once legal advice was sought as it was claimed, it is unreasonable to accept that the DPP’s Office did not
recommend for charges to be instituted the individual. Something is fishy here and an explanation needs to be given for this. Come on. Don’t hide the truth. The DPP’s Office should also give its version as a matter of public interest.
Shellon Peters
No one was at home when the discovery was made around 16:30h by my wife on her return from work at the residence at Lot “G” Perseverance Village, Essequibo Coast on February 11.
After being contacted by my wife just about time to be off duty, a report was made by me at the Station, with a detective visiting the scene, where he dusted only four louvre window panes
Much to my surprise and out of sheer malice, the same suspect about one month later made a false report against me for using threatening language to him and his wife on March 9.
The report caused me to be incarcerated in the lockup for 17 hours, and while there, no rank ever questioned me about anything, even though I was ready, prepared and willing to give a statement.
After being released on
Last Friday, being March 20, the magistrate found me guilty, with a monetary penalty of $15,000. The other charge relating to his wife was postponed to April 2. It is as clear as daylight that had it not been for the report made by me, such a wicked and mischievous fabrication would not have been made against me.
For the past nine years I have been living there with my family and I never had a problem with anyone. So going at the Police Station to get protection has done more harm than good to me.
Purushram Kishore
Narine Dat Sookram
SUDOKU
ARIES (March 21April 19)
TAURUS (April 20May 20)
(May 21June 20)
CANCER
You may be in a bit of a quandary regarding important partnerships. Think of the repercussions before saying something that you could live to regret. Clear the air without placing blame or criticising.
Putting extra effort into your job will gain you recognition from the powers that be. If you are humble about your achievements, your co-workers will be less likely to react with jealousy.
Make an effort to prove your loyalty and admiration to a cause or person. Plan a trip or make arrangements to attend an event or activity that encourages togetherness.
LEO (July 23Aug. 22)
VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)
Unexpected visitors will upset your schedule. Be courteous, but don’t allow anyone to take advantage of your good nature. Put your responsibilities and needs first.
The trust that others have in you will be lost if you participate in gossip. Now is the time to keep your innermost feelings private. A co-worker will try to damage your reputation.
Make your career your No 1 priority. Keep on top of developments in your field. Revamp your resume to highlight your strengths. Apply for lucrative positions.
LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)
You can master whatever you put your mind to. Your actions and ideas will be noticed and will help you garner support. Speak up about your plans, and promote your objectives.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)
Don’t believe everything you hear, and don’t judge a new acquaintance without getting to know him or her first. Basing your opinions on hearsay will make you look bad.
CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)
Remain focused, and push your projects through to completion. You have a number of people on your side, but that doesn’t mean your workload will be lessened.
(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)
PISCES
(Feb. 20March 20)
Don’t allow professional issues to interfere with your personal life. You won’t be able to loosen up around your friends if you are complaining about what your co-workers are up to.
You can learn a lot by observing others and listening to them. Look for people who are in a position to help get you ahead, and discuss your intentions and plans with them.
Your generous nature will lead to difficulties if you are too trusting. Don’t make donations or loans to groups or people until you are sure of their integrity.
AQUARIUS
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Djokovic too good for Murray, wins Miami Open
Novak Djokovic extended his winning streak against Britain’s Andy Murray to seven matches with victory in a gruelling Miami Open final.
The world number one prevailed 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-0 in hot and humid conditions to win his fifth Miami title.
Djokovic, 27, takes his record against Murray to 18-8, and the Serb will tie Rafael Nadal’s total of 141 weeks at the top of the rankings on Monday.
Murray, who gets married next Saturday, will move up from fourth to third.
The Scot, 27, twice led by a break in the first set and looked to have the momentum heading into the decider, but ultimately came up short once again.
“It has been a good start to the year for me so far,” he told the crowd afterwards. “I’m not quite there where Novak is at, but I feel I am getting there. I just need to keep working hard.”
Djokovic beat Murray in Indian Wells only two weeks ago and the Briton’s last victory came in the 2013 Wimbledon final.
Murray clearly decided it was time to try a different approach and attacked relentlessly from the outset, especially on the return of serve.
It brought rewards, but
the tricky end, the Scot recovering from 0-30 to force a tie-break.
Some loose play saw Murray fall 4-0 behind, still facing the sun, and two poor forehands let Djokovic off
both men were struggling with the bright Florida sunshine and the first 10 games were all won from the same end of the court.
Murray had seen two leads disappear in that time and did well to hang on after Djokovic finally held from
the hook after he twice got back to within two points.
Djokovic duly closed out the set after 67 minutes and, with the temperature nudging 30C and a humidity level of 65%, both men headed to the locker room at the break.
There were fleeting signs
of Djokovic hobbling and both men showed flashes of irritation as the encounter became increasingly punishing in the second set.
Overheads were missed by both and after Murray saved four break points in game three, he was furious to miss a chance of his own with a backhand in game four.
It was the Scot who found the inspiration when it mattered, however, playing a terrific return game at 5-4 and crunching away a backhand winner on set point.
Djokovic erupted furiously in the direction of his player box, and then the umpire after receiving a code violation, but once play resumed he quickly regained control of the contest.
Murray failed to put away three smashes in a row and then netted a volley as he dropped serve at the start of the third and Djokovic all but sealed it with a second break for 3-0.
The Serb had finished off Murray with a love set in the Australian Open final and he did so once again to become the first man to win the Indian Wells-Miami double three times. (BBC Sport)
England can beat West Indies to end Kevin Pietersen talk – Gooch
Former England captain Graham Gooch says a successful tour of the West Indies can put a stop to continuing talk of a return for Kevin Pietersen.
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman-elect Colin Graves has hinted Pietersen could return to the team for the first time since the 201314 Ashes.
“The best thing England can do is to win well in the Windies and all these comments might go away,” said Gooch. England begin the tour with two two-day games, the first of which is on Monday.
The tourists play a St Kitts & Nevis Invitation XI and face the same opposition in another two-day fixture which begins on Wednesday.
Gooch, who was re -
placed as England’s batting coach by Mark Ramprakash last year, said the pressure will be on coach Peter Moores given their disappointing performance in the recent World Cup, when Eoin Morgan replaced Alastair Cook as one-day captain but the team failed to progress beyond the opening group stage.
“If they don’t win, Moores’s job will be on the line but it would difficult to change a coach so close ahead of big series against New Zealand and Australia,” Gooch told BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek programme.
“Peter’s judgement has to be questioned in the World Cup with regard to selection.
“The coach is the main driving force in terms of selection so to change your captain shortly before the
start and also your perceived template comes into question and I think that was poor.”
On the subject of Pietersen, who was sacked by England last year but has heeded Graves’s wishes by signing to play county cricket, Gooch said: “He is box office and still good enough - it is whether he has the will and appetite to go to these places and turn it on for Surrey.
“Ever since he was disposed of by England, I think him and his media team have wiped the floor with the ECB. He has won the media PR battle, his name is up in lights and he is looked at as the saviour of English cricket.
“We need to get our cricket right. Cook needs to lead from the front - he has had three months off and is refreshed and has been working hard.
“It is a great media story to get Kevin back in, but I think if he doesn’t get a call-up, he will be off to the Caribbean Premier League mid-summer.”
Pietersen later hit back on Twitter, making reference to Gooch’s involvement in a “rebel” England tour of apartheid-era South Africa in 1982, for which Gooch and the other players were banned from international cricket for three years.
He tweeted: “Graham Gooch - you captained a rebel tour of SA, got banned & then returned to the England team. I don’t think I’ve done anything as bad!”
Following the warmups in St Kitts, England play the Windies in Tests in Antigua (13-17 April), Grenada (21-25 April) and Barbados (1-5 May). (BBC Sport)
BCB to pay PCB $325,000 as compensation for postponed tours
The BCB has decided to pay the PCB $325,000 as compensation for postponing the two tours to Pakistan in 2012. The PCB has accepted the terms but the tour schedule is yet to be announced.
The announcement ended the recent impasse between the two boards after the PCB, in January, had set conditions for their tour to Bangladesh.
After Sunday’s board meeting, the BCB president Nazmul Hassan said that the PCB had asked for $900,000 dollars but the BCB weren’t willing to pay more than $300,000. Ultimately they are paying $25,000 more.
“We have decided to
give 325,000 US dollars to the PCB,” BCB president Nazmul Hassan said. “They demanded 900,000 US dollars. We didn’t want to give more than 300,000 dollars. I think it will solve the situation. We have come under this agreement. We have let them know in a letter that this cannot be discussed in the future. It has been cleared.”
In January, the PCB had demanded 50% of the tour revenue in addition to tours by the Under-19 and A teams. The BCB had responded and said the conditions laid down by the PCB were “not realistic” but later said that they may pay tour costs. (Cricinfo)
Webb pleases with progress of CONCACAF
President of CONCACAF Jeffrey Webb believes CONCACAF is growing from strength to strength and headed in the right direction.
“We started on a journey two-and-a-half years ago of really reforming our confederation and becoming the catalyst for real transition,” Webb said.
Webb, who is from the Cayman Islands and also Vice-President of FIFA, says since 2012, CONCACAF has been working very hard to achieve many goals to make it more competitive on the world stage.
“I believe when you look at the investment we’ve
made in governance, we’ve made so much progress, but we have so much more work to do,” Webb said. The president believes seeing three of the four CONCACAF teams progress to the Round of 16 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil is an example of the improvement in the region. Webb pointed out that the advent of the Under-15 CONCACAF Championship, which began in the Cayman Islands two years ago, gives young budding football players both male and female an opportunity to enhance their skills and play football regularly, and at a competitive level.
Novak Djokovic
Jeffrey Webb
GTA launches season
The Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) will serve off its 2015 season on April 11 with the rebranded Assuria Open Singles Classic formerly called Assuria Invitational.
The tournament was rebranded as an Open Singlesonly tournament to increase the number of participants and its popularity among
At the recent sponsorship meeting, the Surinamese insurance giant was represented by General Manager Yogindra Arjune and Operations Manager Clyde Muntslag. They both recommitted the support of the company towards tennis development in Guyana, while expressing their desire to see tennis grow later-
spectators can frequently visit, foster comradeship and partnerships and witness matches being played in the evening under floodlights.
Current and former Presidents Grace McCalman and Ramesh Seebarran respectively were both in attendance and lamented the numerous annual attempts by all recent Presidents to
tournament to evolve into one of international standard starting with the introduction of Surinamese players, but this can only happen when there is significant improvement to the available tennis infrastructure and supporting framework.
Registration forms for the tournament have been
players. The decision was also influenced by the loss of two of the top three men seeds since its inception in 2013.
The GTA has since added two categories, Men’s Over-45 Singles and Novice Medley to the usual lineup of Ladies Open Singles, Men’s Open Singles and Men’s Over-35 Singles.
The tournament will be played at two venues the National Racquet Centre at Woolford Avenue, Georgetown and the Le Ressouvenir Tennis Court, East Coast Demerara.
ally throughout communities outside of Georgetown.
However, the management team voiced their concern about the insufficient spectatorship for the sport in Guyana.
The GTA noted that it was aware of the limited spectators trend, which developed with the loss of the Pegasus Open from its calendar in 2013, a tournament which was the source of excitement for several years.
No ‘home’ for tennis
Local tennis lacks a ‘home’ where players and
NBA roundup…
seek better tennis facilities, which would allow the sport to grow exponentially.
The Presidents, including Wilfred Lee and Christopher Ram, made the efforts for a total of 11 years since the reestablishment in 2004 of the Association, which had been defunct.
Nevertheless, in spite of all of the shortcomings, Assuria’s management sees the need to provide necessary support to ensure that the tournament is once again successful and brings out the best in advanced players.
It is the intention for this
distributed via the GTA Facebook page and at clubs.
The due date is Wednesday, April 8.
Draws will be done at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground on Thursday, April 9 at 17:00h. The opening ceremony for the tournament will be held at the National Racquet Centre at 09:00h on April 11.
All officials and players are asked to attend as match time is scheduled for a 09:30h start. Spectators are asked to come out and give support to their favourite players.
Barca win outs them on top of La Liga
Barcelona restored their four-point lead at the top of La Liga with a tense victory over Celta Vigo, who ended with 10 men in bizarre circumstances.
It took 73 minutes for the breakthrough - Jeremy Mathieu scoring the only goal with a back-post diving header from Xavi’s free-kick.
Celta had Fabian
off, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring five goals for the first time in his career.
But Barcelona faced a much more well-organised side in mid-table Celta Vigo, with Barca boss Luis Enrique returning to the club for the first time since leaving them last summer.
Celta created plenty of chances, with Joaquin Larrivey blazing over a sim-
Orellana sent off for throwing some grass at Sergio Busquets as he was getting ready to take a free-kick.
Lionel Messi chipped over late on.
Despite the significance of the result, the game might be better remembered for Orellana’s dismissal with two minutes left.
The Chilean, frustrated with how long Busquets was spending to take his freekick, picked a lump of grass off the ground and threw it in the face of the Spain international, who held his face and started to go down.
Real Madrid had closed the gap with a 9-1 demolition of Granada in the early kick-
ple chance from eight yards.
Neymar had a goal marginally ruled out for offside early in the second half and substitute Xavi fired a shot wide before setting up Mathieu for the decisive moment.
It was a second consecutive La Liga goal for the French defender, following his opener in the 2-1 win over Real Madrid, after he had failed to score in his first 19 league games since his summer move from Valencia.
Celta put late pressure on Barcelona after Orellana’s farcical red card but they were unable to find a way through. (BBC Sport)
Hawks tie franchise record with win
Al Horford and DeMarre Carroll each scored 20 points to help the Atlanta Hawks match a franchise record with their 57th win, a 13199 home victory over the Nets on Saturday night.
However, the Hawks lost forward Paul Millsap, their leading scorer and rebounder, to a right shoulder injury after he collided with the Nets’ Earl Clark with 1 minute 52 seconds left in the first half. There was no foul called. Millsap, sprawled on the floor, grimaced and held his shoulder while walking off the court.
Millsap did not return and finished with 8 points and 5 assists. The Hawks did not immediately provide details on the injury.
Jeff Teague added 17 points for Atlanta, which never trailed while ending the Nets’ season-best sixgame winning streak.
Bojan Bogdanovic led the Nets with 19 points.
“They beat us. From start to finish,” Nets Coach Lionel Hollins said. “It was a good whipping. There’s nothing else that I can say.”
The Hawks topped their previous season high of 130
points on a John Jenkins 3-pointer with 54 seconds remaining.
Hawks Coach Mike Budenholzer has rested his starters since the team clinched the top seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Hawks returned to a normal rotation against the Nets, and they looked ready for the postseason while racing to a 66-48 halftime lead.
The teams could meet in the playoffs, but Budenholzer said before the game: “We can’t hold anything back. We’re just going to play.”
Warriors 123, Mavericks 110 Klay Thompson scored 21 points and Golden State clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs with its 12th straight victory, beating host Dallas.
The Warriors (63-13) need one more victory to finish with the best record in the N.B.A. for the first time since 1975-76. They hold the tiebreaker on Atlanta for the top overall seed.
Dirk Nowitzki had 18 points to lead the Mavericks, who lost for the sixth time in eight games but are close to securing the seventh seed in
the Western Conference.
Wizards 92, Grizzlies 83 Bradley Beal scored 20 points, John Wall added 18 points and 14 assists, and Washington won at
added 10 points for the Wizards, who won their third straight.
Marc Gasol led Memphis with 18 points, and Mike Conley scored 14 points,
Al Horford
Memphis.
Drew Gooden added 16 points for Washington, connecting on 6 of 10 shots, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. Rasual Butler
but they were the only two Grizzlies in double figures a night after the team had six in a win over Oklahoma City.
Clippers 107, Nuggets
92 J. J. Redick scored 24 points, DeAndre Jordan had 14 points and 22 rebounds and Los Angeles beat host Denver.
Chris Paul had 23 points and 9 assists for the Clippers, who moved a half-game ahead of San Antonio for the fifth seed in the Western Conference with their ninth win in 10 games. They are a game back of Memphis for the third seed and will host the Grizzlies on Saturday.
Celtics 117, Raptors 116
Marcus Smart hit a buzzer-beating layup in overtime, and Boston beat host Toronto.
With 2.6 seconds left and Boston trailing by one, Smart took a pass from a driving Isaiah Thomas and sneaked behind the collapsing Toronto defense to score the winning basket, silencing the sellout crowd of 19,800.
Thomas scored 25 points, Tyler Zeller had 20 points and Evan Turner added 18 points and 10 assists for the Celtics, who moved one-half game ahead of Miami in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth after the Heat lost at Detroit.
Pistons 99, Heat 98
Reggie Jackson scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, including the winning layup with five seconds remaining, and Detroit rallied to beat visiting Miami. Andre Drummond had 11 points and 17 rebounds for his 44th double-double as Detroit rallied from 15 down in the fourth and closed with a 21-6 run over the final 5:36.
Dwyane Wade scored 24 points, and Goran Dragic had 21 for the Heat.
Hornets 92, 76ers 91 Gerald Henderson’s driving layup with six seconds left lifted host Charlotte to a win over Philadelphia. Kemba Walker had 24 points, and Mo Williams added 18.
The Hornets are now a game behind Miami for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
Magic 97, Bucks 90 Tobias Harris had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Nikola Vucevic scored 20 points and visiting Orlando beat Milwaukee. Ersan Ilyasova scored 18 points for Milwaukee. (The New York Times)
From left: Assuria General Manager Yogindra Arjune, GTA Secretary Elizabeth Persaud, Assuria Operations Manager Clyde Muntslag, GTA President Grace McCalman, GTA Vice President Ramesh Seebarran during the handing over ceremony
Jeremy Mathieu scored the only goal in the game
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Ronaldo hits five as Real crush Granada 9-1
Real Madrid forward
Cristiano Ronaldo hit his quickest hattrick on the way to netting his first five-goal haul in a 9-1 drubbing of Granada on Sunday that lifted Real to within a point of La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Portugal captain Ronaldo struck three times in eight minutes in the first half and added two headers after the break on a festive, sundrenched afternoon at the Bernabeu to help fire Real to their biggest victory in almost half a century.
Ronaldo’s five goals took his tally in La Liga this season to 36, four ahead of Barca forward Lionel Messi, who will have a chance to reduce the deficit when Barca attempt to restore their four-point lead at Celta Vigo later on Sunday.
“Cristiano is a phenomenon,” Real forward Karim Benzema, who struck twice in quick succession in the second half, told reporters. “He always chases goals and tries to do his best to help the team and he deserves everything.”
After failing to find the net in his previous nine outings, Gareth Bale netted his fifth in his last four appearances for club and country to put Real ahead in the 25th minute.
The Wales winger and world record signing pounced on a defensive error, rounded Granada goalkeeper Oier Olazabal and slotted the ball into the empty net.
Ronaldo clipped home his first of the game five minutes later, added a second after more poor defending in the 36th minute and a third in the 38th when Oier could only palm his fierce shot into the net.
Benzema made it 5-0 at a corner seven minutes into the second half, Ronaldo nodded his fourth two minutes later and Benzema grabbed his second a further two minutes after that as Real put a woeful second-bottom Granada to the sword.
Crushing victory
Robert Ibanez pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 74th minute before Granada defender Diego Mainz put the ball into his own net seven minutes from time and Ronaldo nodded his fifth in the final minute.
Ronaldo, the World Player of the Year, has scored three or more goals 24 times in La Liga, equalling the record set this season by Messi.
The Portuguese has 31 career hat-tricks overall but Sunday’s effort was only the second time he has netted one in the first half. He has scored more goals in La Liga this term than 53 of the 98 teams in Europe’s top five leagues.
The crushing victory for second-placed Real was just the tonic they needed after a run of three defeats in four games in all competitions, including a 2-1 reverse at Barca in the ‘Clasico’ on March 22.
“We started the game well and our attitude was spectacular,” Real fullback Marcelo told Spanish television.
“We didn’t stop for a moment, we knew how to respect Granada and keep playing how we know and that’s why we scored nine goals,” added the Brazil international.
“We have improved. You could see that on the pitch. We had a positive attitude and the confidence is back. We have to continue the same way.”
Barca have 68 points from 28 matches, with Real on 67 from 29. Champions Atletico Madrid are third on 62 points after they won 2-0 at bottom side Cordoba on Saturday.
Valencia missed their chance to climb back above Atletico when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by sixth-placed Villarreal on Sunday and have 61 points in fourth. (Reuters)
Defoe’s cracker seals derby win for Sunderland
Jermain Defoe made himself an instant Sunderland hero with a sensational volleyed goal to seal a vital 1-0 win over North East rivals Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday.
Londoner Defoe, signed in January from MLS side Toronto to help Sunderland climb away from danger, sent a dipping thunderbolt over Newcastle keeper Tim Krul just before halftime to send the home fans into delirium.
It proved enough to earn Sunderland a first league win in eight attempts and give manager Dick Advocaat a victory in his second match in charge since replacing Gus Poyet.
Relegation-haunted Sunderland moved up to 15th place in the table, three points above thirdfrom-bottom Burnley who had earlier drawn 0-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
It was Sunderland’s fifth derby win in a row and they deserved the spoils after playing the better football in a typically frenetic clash, with Defoe impres -
sive throughout.
His winner arrived out of nowhere in first half stoppage time and in its own way was just as spectacular as Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam’s 60-metre goal at Chelsea on Saturday.
A long punt forward was flicked on by Steven Fletcher and Defoe, lurking just outside the area, connected with his left foot, sending the ball on an unstoppable trajectory over Krul.
The former England striker appeared close to tears as he walked off the Stadium of Light pitch at the break and was given a standing ovation when he was substituted later.
“It’s unbelievable,” Defoe told Sky Sports as he watched a video monitor showing his goal.
“I just concentrated on the strike. As soon as it left my foot I knew it was a goal. An unbelievable feeling, words can’t describe the way I felt.”
Newcastle applied some late pressure in a desperate bid to avoid a fourth consecutive league defeat and the home fans
had their hearts in their mouths when Ayoze Perez fizzed a volley just over the crossbar as full-time approached.
Newcastle remained in 13th place with 35 points.
Tottenham held
If there was tension aplenty at Sunderland, Burnley’s home stalemate with a lacklustre Tottenham side resembled a training ground kickabout at times.
Spurs barely managed an effort on target while Burnley’s best two chances fell to striker Danny Ings.
He fired straight at Tottenham keeper Michel Vorm after some sloppy defending early on and then forced a fine save from the Dutchman with a curling effort just before the interval.
Spurs, who could have moved above Liverpool into fifth with a victory, showed little attacking intent with England new boy Harry Kane, captain for the day, largely anonymous.
Burnley remained in the relegation zone but moved back above Queens Park Rangers into 18th
place, two points behind Aston Villa who lost 3-1 at Manchester United on Saturday.
Despite not capitalising on the game’s best chances, Burnley manager Sean Dyche said he was happy enough with his side.
“It was a strange game and that sometimes happens when the sun shines out of nowhere -- especially up here,” he told the BBC. “Every point is vital and it’s a clean sheet against a good side. Sometimes you’ve got to be realistic and accept that.
“We’re not disappointed. We went for the win and created chances that could have won the game.”
Tottenham clambered ahead of Southampton into sixth spot with 54 points, the same as Liverpool, but their hopes of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League are fading fast.
On Saturday Chelsea stretched their lead at the top to seven points with a 2-1 victory over Stoke, although Manchester City can cut it to six if they beat Crystal Palace on Monday.
(Reuters)
CAR RenTAlS
Cristiano Ronaldo scores a first half hat-trick to lead Real Madrid
CP Got Even conquers Score’s Even to Win Guyana Cup Fever
CP Got Even stormed passed a star studded field to cross the finish pole first and take the Guyana Cup Fever feature event for horses classes A1 and Lower.
Windies players stakeholders in inaugural Canadian Premier League
Several of the biggest name cricketers from the West Indies are said to be stakeholders in the first-ever Canadian Premiere League (CPL) set to be bowl off at the Montreal Olympic Stadium on July 31, despite not yet being sanctioned by Cricket Canada.
Wolverines will compete in the tournament, with the final scheduled for Sunday, September 28. Each team will consist of 15 professional cricketers from around North America and across the globe. Each squad will be filled by invitation only to key players.
Other races for the day
On the breezy Easter Sunday afternoon at the packed Port Mourant Turf Club, the animal from the Poonai Racing Stable galloped across the finish line ahead of Jack in my Style, Diplomatic Cat and Curfew Tower in the 1800 metres event. Pre-race favorite was beaten handsomely.
were the co-feature D3 and lower and Four-year-old event, F1 and Lower event for animals classified Three-yearold West Indies and Guyana bred, G3 and Lower event for West Indies and Guyana bred Three-year-old animals, West Indies and Guyana
bred Three-year-old animals, Guyana bred Three-year-old I Class animals and the J2 and Lower and Guyana bred animals.
However, results for those races will be published in Tuesday’s edition of the Guyana Times.
Williams and Sanicharran slam centuries
– local cricket teams demolish USA
Local boys Robin Williams and Nan Sanicharran slammed centuries to propel their teams to mammoth victories today over USA in the sixth and final round of the USACA Tour of Guyana 2015 at the Police Sports Club ground.
Guyana U-15 deflated USA by 184 runs. Guyana batted first and posted 297/5. Robin Williams hammered 105 and got support from Alpheus Bookie who made 86.
In reply, USA was strangled for 111 in 34.1 overs. Glasgow capturwd4/21.
Meanwhile at the Ogle Community Centre ground, Bel Air Rubix trashed USA by 86 runs. Rubix took to the crease first and scored 196/9. Nan Sanicharran blasted 103 while Andrew Samaroo gave him support with 32. Akhil Kumar took 4/11.
USA never looked in controlled and was bowled out for 110 31.3 overs. Sanicharran was the pick of the bowlers with 3/31 while Michael Pooran and Azande King took two wickets each.
Over at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, East Bank U-18 got the better of USA by one wicket. USA was bowled out for 113 in 31.3 overs with Josh Patel making 31. Ershad Ali and Daniel Basdeo grabbed 4/11 and 3/18 respectively.
East Bank reached 119/9 from 36.3 overs. Troy Domingo and Daniel Barker made 19 and 18 respectively. Giranshu Sharma was the main wickets taker with 4/31 while Sahil Patel accounted for 3/27.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is said to be a director while Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin and Keiron Powell are listed as co-owners.
According to founder and Chief Executive Officer Guyanese Roy Singh 10 teams, namely The Snow Owls, The Hummingbirds, The Condors, The Predators, The Hornets, The Huskies, The Sentinels, The Bobcats, The Spartans and The
Bravo, Chris Gayle, Powell, Chanderpaul and Ramdin as well as Australia’s Shane Warne and India’s Sachin Tendulkar are some of the players expected to play. A total of 48 games will be played during the tournament, with all games scheduled to be televised internationally to a worldwide audience upwards of 300 million people. (Digicel SportsMax)
Protect your legacy – mills to Bolt
That was the message from coach Glen Mills to his recordbreaking charge Usain Bolt, ahead of his three-year swansong, which gets going with a return to Beijing for this year’s IAAF World Championships.
Bolt’s tour de force kicked into gear almost seven years ago in the Chinese city at the 2008 Olympic Games, with the Bird’s Nest providing the stage for the birth of one of the greatest sportsman of all time.
Now with six Olympic gold medals, 10 World Championships medals (8 gold), records in the 100m (9.59), 200m (19.19) and the 4x100m (36.84) to his CV, Bolt, who announced that he will be hanging up his spikes after the 2017 Worlds in London, will be focused on staying on top and ensuring his legacy is intact when he does decide to call it a day.
“As you know he (Bolt) has expressed from his standpoint that he is in a three-year programme leading up to retirement because he said he would bow out of action after the World Championships in 2017,” reasoned Mills during a recent chat with the Sunday Gleaner, before throwing some doubt into the mix.
“People have always set retirement times and sometimes they go back on it so we wait and see if it becomes a reality.
“In the immediate pre-
sent, he is working towards going back to Beijing, this time for the World Championships. So far I think we started out at a low intensity but we have picked up significantly and he has a promotional race in Brazil and a couple that are being announced and the plan is to use those races to get into competitive condition leading up to the World Championships,” Mills added.
The coach, who has been working with Bolt since 2005, shared his conversation with the sprinter, ahead of the start of the season.
“I told him that despite the fact that he has achieved all that he has set out to achieve in the sport, as long as he is competing ... he has to maintain the standard that he has set for himself and its important because if he doesn’t he could hurt his legacy by hanging around and performing at a level below his standard,” Mills said. “Not many people remember vividly the past accolades, they tend to go by what you’re doing now and it’s important that as long as you’re in the sport actively, that you maintain the standard that you have set. That has got to be the motivation going forward - protect your legacy.”
Bolt has so far been confirmed to compete at Diamond League races in New York.
(Jamaica Gleaner)
Team Evolution take top positions in Powerade 50-mile Road Race
Team Evolution’s Raul Leal and Orville Hinds finished first and second, dominating the fourth edition of the Banks DIH Ltd Powerade 50-mile
Road Race on Sunday on the West Demerara roadways.
The race – which started at Wales, proceeded to Bushy Park and ended at Schoonord – saw Leal clocking a time of one hour, 55 minutes and 44 seconds to defeat Hinds who was the defending champion of the event.
The teammates were so dominant in the race that they won six of the eight sprint prize – three each.
Berbice’s Andrew Hicks finished third while Paul DeNobrega outsprinted Team Evolution’s Akeem Wilkinson to take fourth. Veteran rider Ian Jackson filled out the top six paid positions.
Leal and Hinds took control of the race at Bushy Park and held off the pack before cruising home for the
CARIFTA Games: Taylor shatters Bolt 400m record
Christopher Taylor continued to write his name in track and field history books after he broke a long-standing record belonging to one of the sport’s greatest, Usain Bolt, on Saturday at the 44th CARIFTA Games, at the Silver Jubilee Stadium in St Kitts.
Sixteen-year-old Taylor clocked 46.64 seconds to beat the 47.33 seconds set by a 15-year old Bolt in the Bahamas, in 2002, as he won the Under-18 boys’ 400m title.
He was pushed all the way by Trinidad’s Jacob Clair who ran 46.73 seconds, also under Bolt’s old mark, while Jamaica’s Devaughn Ellington was given third place after he was tied in 47.43 seconds, same as Jamal Walton of the Cayman Islands.
Akeem Bloomfield’s transition into a 400m runner continues to go well as
he won the Under-20 boys event in 45.85 seconds to beat Antigua and Barbuda’s Rai Benjamin, who was second in 46.19 seconds, and Henri Deluz of the Bahamas took bronze in 46.81 seconds.
Junell Bromfield also won a gold medal in the one lap race after clocking 53.48 seconds to win the girls Under-18 in a fast 53.48 seconds.
Jamaica took the quinella as Shanique Walker won the silver in 54.23 seconds, while Grenada’s Meleni Rodney took bronze in 54.56 seconds.
The Bahamas’ Shaqunia Dorsett got a fast start and held off Jamaicans Dawnalee Loney and Tiffany James to win the Under-20 girls 400m.
Dorsett was timed in 53.40 seconds, Loney in 53.58 seconds and James in 53.71 seconds. (Digicel
win.
At the presentation ceremony held after the event, organiser of the event, Hassan Mohamed and representatives of Banks DIH Ltd congratulated the cyclists on their efforts.
Rohit seeks room for on-field banter
Players are hoping umpires will allow them a little more leeway for on-field banter during the upcoming IPL season, if a unique interaction on Saturday is a sign to go by. The point is believed to have been made by Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai Indians captain, during an interaction with match officials on the first day of the two-day IPL officials’ conclave.
It is understood that Rohit urged umpires to not intervene when players are involved in banter that stays within stipulated boundaries. Rohit was all for players behaving well, but urged that they be allowed to express themselves in the heat of the moment as long as they don’t cross the limits.
One of the key reasons for the BCCI to invite a captain for the conclave was to make the officials understand players’ perspectives.
Rohit Sharma wants players to be allowed to express themselves on the field, as long as they don’t cross the limits
The BCCI officials also felt the need for such an initiative because of the increased involvement of Indian match officials. For the first time since the IPL’s inception in 2008, Indian officials this season will considerably outnumber their overseas counterparts. Of the 26 match officials recruited for the IPL’s 2015 season, 1713 umpires and four match referees - are Indian.
The officials welcomed the initiative and were de-
lighted to have heard the players’ views in an informal situation. According to one of the officials in attendance, the initiative would “definitely be helpful for the umpires as well as players.”
Besides Rohit’s interaction, the first day of the workshop saw Simon Taufel, the ICC’s umpire performance and training manager, brief officials about the dos and don’ts of umpiring in high-pressure situations. (Cricinfo)
Orville Hinds
Raul Leal
Christopher Taylor
Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Futsal tournament
Beterverwagting A rout Melanie B to win East Coast leg
By TreisTon Joseph
Beterverwagting
(BV) A destroyed Melanie B to win their first championship of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” East Coast leg on Saturday evening at Haslington. The final started at a frantic pace as BV went on the attack early, stunning Melanie B with a goal from Delroy Dean in the fifth minute of the game.
Melanie, in their disappointed state, continued the mental lapses and
Dean receive a perfect pass before finishing down the middle in the sixth minute and Melanie were unable to catch themselves.
A minute later, Melanie seemed lifeless as Akin Curry rocked the small goal in the seventh minute before troubling the goal again in the 10th minute. The Melanie side had no answer to the first half onslaught.
With the first half over and the second half in progress, BV A locked up shop but displayed their crisp passes that continued to get
them easy looks at the goal, while Melanie continued to struggle with their rhythm.
BV thoroughly outplayed and outclassed their opposition; however, Melanie salvaged some pride in the 20th minute with a consolation goal from Odel Gulliver.
With the win, BV A were the recipients of $300,000, while Melanie B received $150,000 for their secondplace effort.
Meanwhile in the thirdplace playoff, Nabaclis came from behind to defeat Plaisance A 3-2 to take the $100,000 prize.
Plaisance opened the scoring early with a quick strike in the fourth minute from Carlos Matthews before Nabaclis scored three goals in succession, with Seretsi Huntley netting the first in the 10th minute before Kellon Semple’s double strike in the 27th and 28th
minutes. Warren Gilkes scored Plaisance’s second goal in the 29th minute as they took home $50,000 for their fourth-place finish.
Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste was pleased with the event and noted that he believed BV A, once they continued in the same vein, can compete with the Georgetown and Linden teams in the national tournament set for May.
Narine cleared to bowl in IPL
Sunil Narine will play the IPL this season for Kolkata Knight Riders after the BCCI’s sub-committee dealing with suspect actions gave him a clean chit.
Narine had taken a retest at Sri Ramachandra University, an ICCaccredited centre, on Thursday where he was put through various tests by the panel comprising former India captain S Venkataraghavan, former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath and exinternational umpire AV Jayaprakash.
“The committee concluded that Mr. Sunil Narine, who had remodelled his bowling action, was within the ICC approved limits for all types of deliveries that were assessed and has hence recommended to the BCCI, that his name may be removed from the warning list of bowlers with suspect action,” a BCCI press release said.
This means Narine will be available for selection for the defending champions who play the tournament opener against Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens on April 8, and in
Sunil Narine
all BCCI-organised tournaments henceforth.
Narine was first called for a suspect action last October during the Champions League T20. Subsequently he was asked by the BCCI to get it tested at any of the ICCaccredited centres with a rider saying that he would need to travel to Chennai centre if the panel deemed fit. Objecting to this condition, Knight Riders management sought the intervention of BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya and lodged a protest. It was Dalmiya who
made the first call to Knight Riders to inform that Narine was cleared. “The work has been done. Sunil Narine has been cleared,” Dalmiya told ESPNcricinfo.
Venky Mysore, the Knight Riders’ chief executive, said the franchise was relieved that Narine, their premier match-winner, was available to play again. “It is a matter of genuine relief. We are very thankful to the BCCI president, secretary and other board officials for bringing the matter reach the appropriate conclusion.” (Cricinfo)
Delroy Dean scored his second goal during the final
BV A celebrate their inaugural win of the East Coast leg of the tournament
