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Bartica's transition into a green locale accelerating P13 THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyana-times.com

Issue No. 2818

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

PRICE

Guyana Govt corrupt – TIGI

WHAT'S INSIDE:

House goes up in flames at Karawab P2 after domestic dispute

Page 3

…wants full disclosure of campaign financiers, those rewarded by State Page 9

Deadly prison riot

TIGI President, Rev Compton Meerabux

Selection of Mabaruma Mayor

PPP/C to block swearingWardens sell cellphones in of Mayor, Deputy

to prisoners COI hears

$80 vat included

Page 13

Teachers oppose marking SBAs for P7 free …want teacherto-student ratio to be respected

– to file court case today

Non-payment of import taxes

GRA seizes BaiShanLin’s luxury vehicles

CJIA seizure

Businessman slapped with failure to declare US currency, P10 exporting without permit charges

Page 7

...owners could strike a deal similar to Glenn Lall's case

Tapakuma P8 miner charged with unlawful wounding The two luxury vehicles that were seized by the Guyana Revenue Authority on Tuesday from controversial Chinese logging company BaiShanLin Forest Development Inc. Inset: Glenn Lall proudly poses with a Lexus SUV which he too had owed taxes on and eventually settled arrears with the GRA

GCCI gets new President, Executive

Page 16

Govt secrecy UGSS' cries on NGSA to be taken to President Granger changes unacceptable Page 13

Page 2

– Manickchand

Bulkan P16 unlawfully appointing NDC Chairmen – PPP Commissioners

2 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Govt secrecy on NGSA changes unacceptable – Manickchand

F

ormer Education Minister Priya Manickchand has blasted Government, particularly the Education Ministry, for failing to disclose the changes that will be made to the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

With just three weeks to go before the sitting of the NGSA, the Education Ministry has not yet made any disclosure of changes that will be made to the examination.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and the Chief Education Officer Olato Sam could not be reached for a comment; however, sources at the Education Ministry confirmed that some changes would be made, but could not speak to the specifics.

Manickchand, who served as Education Minister for a number of years, said it has come to her attention that the Ministry intended to change the manner in which the NGSA, or a part thereof, was going to be written and marked. This change will begin at the 2016 exams, which are scheduled to be written on April 27 and 28.

She said up until now, Government has failed to inform all the relevant students, parents and teachers about the changes that are to be made.

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand

She, however, could not say what the changes are.

“What precisely are the changes?

Are our young children going to learn about these changes when they enter the examination room? Can they be ex-

pected to do their best in these conditions?

“This type of lazy, contemptuous governance is what the nation is coming to expect of this incompetent Government. In this instance, however, this is not acceptable, as it can severely, adversely affect the lives of our most valuable resource – our children,” the former official wrote.

According to her, “these changes” are the ones the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government had begun to put in place and had publicly spoken of, “but these changes were never meant to be a secret, hidden from the children, their teachers and parents and sprung upon them as a surprise”.

She, therefore, called on Government to immediately fully disclose what the changes will be, when they are intended to take effect and for immediate and public release, widespread instructions and information as to how a student may best comply with these changes by publishing samples, infomercials, etc, so that our children can be assessed for what they actually know and not for how quickly they can adjust to secretive, even if well intentioned, changes.

House goes up in flames at Karawab after domestic dispute

P

olice in G Division (Essequibo IslandsCoast) are currently investigating the origin of a fire which engulfed a house in the Karawab Amerindian Community in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

According to reports, the residence, which is owned by 22-year-old Collen Richard, went up in flames after he and his wife had a heated argument.

Guyana Times understands that the argument started after Richard went home on March 31, 2016, and requested food. His wife, Neeta Curstin, then told him that she did not cook as she had insufficient groceries. Richard became angry and assaulted Curstin. He

appeared in court on April 4, 2016 charged with assault and threatening behaviour.

He was charged and granted bail for both offences.

According to Prosecutor, Haimraj Ramsewack, the living quarters of the couple went up in flames immediately after the argument. He told the Court Police were currently investigating the matter, but no one was hurt.

Meanwhile, Richard told Guyana Times he had no idea how the fire started, but he lost everything that was in the house. He could not estimate his losses. The aunt of Richard, however, said the fire could have been caused by the kerosene stove, which was found on the floor the next day.

GTU’s patience hangs on a thread

…as it awaits word from President, Harmon on the way forward

General Secretary of the GTU, Coretta McDonald

E

ven as the suspense prolongs, the Guyana Teachers Union’s (GTU) patience is running thin as it awaits response from President David Granger and Minster of Sate Joseph Harmon, on the way forward, concerning issues afflicting the Union and its teachers.

With the saga continuing to intensify between the Union and its counterpart, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), President Granger is still to issue a formal response to the GTU. In February, the President had finally replied to one of the Union’s letters, highlighting his intent of getting involved to restore professionalism and calm.

Speaking with Guyana Times, General Secretary of the GTU, Coretta

President David Granger

McDonald, stated that the Union has been awaiting a reply from the President on the way forward with the TSC, but this has thus far “gone down in vain.”

McDonald related that President Granger had indicated to the Union via letter that a solution can only be derived once consultations were carried out between himself and the Education Ministry.

Aside from the request for the President’s intervention, the Union had taken the matter to the court of law in an attempt to arrive at afeasible solution. This case is said to be still ongoing in the court.

However, as they await a reply from the President and the judgment of the court, the Union continues to have discussions on the way forward as a body. turn to page 12

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news

wednesDAY, april 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, April 6 – 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, April 7 – 05:00h-06:30h

Guyana Govt corrupt – TIGI

...wants full disclosure of campaign financiers, those rewarded by State

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, April 6 – 15:45h-17:15h and Thursday, April 7 – 16:35h-18:05h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Heavy to light rain shows can be expected throughout the day, with sunny conditions prevailing in the later afternoon. Light cloud cover is expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 03:42h and 16:05h reaching maximum heights of 2.82 metres and 2.86 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:38h and 21:58h reaching minimum heights of 0.36 metre and 0.35 metre respectively.

TIGI President, Reverend Compton Meerabux The APNU/AFC Cabinet

T

he Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) has issued scathing assessments of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, essentially concluding that the coalition Government is facilitating and proliferating corruption in Guyana.

TIGI premised its arguments of the coalition’s corruption on the circumstances surrounding the “honorary” appointment of CEO of BK Industries, Brian Tiwari, as a Business Advisor to the Government and also Minister of State Joseph Harmon’s alleged actions with regard to his intervention in the work of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Harmon, in defence of his appointment of Tiwari, a known financial supporter of the coalition, said his appointment was “honorific” and that “we have issued several instruments like these to persons both from the APNU and the AFC side and you would notice that I have signed it for many persons who have helped us in the campaign and those who have the capacity to help us further.” It has been pointed out by analysts that it is common on US official business trips for business officials to accompany Government dignitaries so as to explore business opportunities. This was the case, for instance, in President Obama’s recent trip to Cuba.

According to TIGI, “the Minister of State is confirm-

ing that the Government has been using its position to employ and reward, out of State resources, its supporters and donors. By the Minister’s own admission, well-paying and prestigious jobs and other privileges were up for sale during the 2015 elections campaign in which the party stood on an anti-corruption and transparency platform. By any international standard, the conduct of Mr Harmon and by extension, the Government, constitutes corruption.” However, one Government official pointed out that it is making assertions that are unsubstantiated since Harmon never said “jobs and other privileges were up for sale” and only “honorific titles” were assigned for developing business for Guyana.

TIGI, in rejecting the state of affairs of the APNU/ AFC Government, called for the Government to immediately release all its information on the instruments of appointments made by the Government and the criteria used by them to make such appointments, in addition, to the identity of the donors pre- and post-elections 2015 and the “amount and or value of their contributions”.

The bodies reasoning for the disclosure is premised on the recognition that “the absence of transparency usually spawns authoritarianism and corruption.”

TIGI remarked that it expected the APNU/AFC coalition which campaigned on the anti-corruption platform to immediately tackle the

corruption they were so vigorously speaking out against once they took up office.

“Regretfully, the action

by Mr Harmon and the inaction and silence of the coalition on corruption suggest that any expectation of early improvement in the perception of corruption in Guyana is at best premature and at worst dangerously misconceived,” the Institute said.

Calls to Minister Harmon to provide a response to the damning remarks levied against the coalition Government proved unsuc-

Scessful.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had expressed similar sentiments to that of TIGI, when they said that the APNU/AFC coalition is rewarding campaign financiers. Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo had outlined that the move was a “payback” for the financial and other support that APNU/AFC received.

TIGI, which is headed by Reverend Compton Meerabux, opined in its release that the Minister’s action has “set a dark cloud over the operations of the current Government.”

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wednesDAY, april 6, 2016

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Editorial

Integrity and governance

T

he A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition, while campaigning for the 2015 General and Regional Elections, promised to deliver to Guyanese “clean and lean governance” with specific emphasis on promoting high levels of transparency, accountability and integrity once they won those elections.

From time to time, senior coalition partners were heard chastising the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government for its arrogance, excessiveness and failure to listen as well as respond effectively to the needs of the populace.

They were heard demonising the Government in many respects and promising to never govern in their own interest, but rather in the interest of the populace, again with heavy emphasis being placed on ethics, morality and social conscience.

Now in Government with a slim majority, which is being contested currently at the level of the courts, the coalition seems to have thrown some of their core principles out of the window which would have undoubtedly set it apart from successive PPP Governments. Not only is the Government now justifying wrong doings, both clandestine and clear as day, but it appears to have developed a knack for shielding its Ministers from public scrutiny and accountability.

Only recently, the public learnt of desperate attempts by Senior Minister Volda Lawrence to defend the candidacy of a party comrade who has been not only accused but charged with child molestation on at least three occasions.

There were thunderous calls by social activists and other organisations for the Minister to apologise or resign after her comments on the matter were published.

President David Granger when questioned by the media on the issue said almost three weeks ago that he would be demanding an explanation from the Minister before making any decisions. We were satisfied at this point with his initial response.

Now we hear from the President that there would be no attempt to remove the Minister by him directly from her post and that the People’s National Congress will have to deliberate and deal with the matter. This is most unfortunate as there appears to be a passing of the baton from one person to another with no one willing to make the final call. This Minister had taken an oath to protect the nation’s children from child molesters and predators, she cannot be allowed to defend them and get away with it.

Also, the Councillor shockingly revealed that no one within the coalition demanded his resignation even though the group of parties had given this impression when they initially withdrew support.

That aside, Minister Trotman’s rebuke of an independent group in Bartica which challenged the coalition for control of their own community at the recent Local Government Elections (LGE) was distasteful and antidemocratic. The APNU/AFC does not own any part of this country and citizens have the right to govern their own communities, full stop. No one has called out the Minister on this assault on local democracy.

These are but two issues in which the coalition is demonstrating high levels of double standards and confusing the electorate.

They come on the heels of the Ministers justifying their entitlement to a significant salary increase and spike in perks as well as benefits; their decisions to unjustly dismiss thousands of young Guyanese professionals while personally attacking others because of their link to the PPP; the sole-sourcing of numerous contracts for various projects and goods as well as services from APNU/AFC financiers and supporters; the creation of jobs for the boys in almost every Government agency and Ministry without justifiable cause; the continued assault on parliamentary democracy by running not well-thought-out or prepared bills through Parliament without proper consultation and the continued interference in the operations of the State-owned media entities.

That aside, the Government has much to explain about its frequent travels abroad and its politicisation of the State bureaucracy with party hopefuls and diaspora rejects.

The truth is, integrity and good governance demand that the new Government, at least, clearly explain its intentions, modus operandi when certain concerns are raised by the populace.

But the only recent response is one press conference per week, Ministers who refuse to speak to the media, and continued silence on the part of the Head of State about core matters that run deep to the core of the decisions being made every day by the Government appointed advisers, his Ministers and their political agents.

This is not the change nor integrity in politics much less good governance that was promised by the coalition.

The Demerara Criminal Assizes opened with the usual pomp and ceremony on Tuesday

A big slap in the face of licensed firearm holders

Dear Editor.

The budget is now over.

We are now faced with the harsh reality of several increases of licences’ fees. The one that concerns me the most is the increase of the firearm licence fee from $5000 to $25,000, a whopping 500 per cent increase for a handgun. What in the world the holders of this instrument of security have done to incur the wrath of the APNU/AFC Government.

This increase speaks of violence and vengeance against the businessmen/women of this country who are holders of a licensed firearm. Why a 500 per cent increase? This instrument of security sits with us or in a secure corner and doesn’t bring in a cent when the year is up. It is not a luxury nor a privilege, but a necessity for protection and our survival. With all the taxes we are already paying, the

Guyana Police Force is incapable of guaranteeing us protection. Let us not forget the period when numerous businessmen were killed and robbed. The Police were virtually helpless. Many businesses closed down and owners migrated. fact, about 30 In Policemen lost their lives during this period. The remaining were even afraid for their own lives much less to protect us. During this period, many Police Stations had big padlocks on their gates.

The business community and the country at large were virtually left on their own. The brave businessmen and women stepped forward with the help of the then Government.

All we ask for was firearms to help secure our lives.

We made tremendous sacrifices for our survival. Many still lost their lives and prop-

erty due to the unprecedented crime that invaded our country.

Today, we are no less vulnerable. Crime is still a big deterrent to our business climate. The Police still cannot guarantee us safety. We still have big expenses installing security cameras and grilles to our homes and businesses.

The APNU/AFC Government is fully aware of our plight.

Mr Granger himself promised to make Guyana safe.

To murder us with a 500 per cent increase on this licence can be considered an indictment against the APNU/AFC Government. The business community that supported the coalition never bargained for this kind of vengeance.

This leaves us worried as to what next is there to come.

I remember when Guyana had transportation crises in the 80s, the late President Hoyte give duty-free conces-

sion to anyone who brought in vehicles for this purpose.

The crises came to a swift end. Similar policy is needed to solve our crime situation. I would expect more responsible individuals from various communities to be granted firearms and to work closely with the Police. It is no secret that criminals have a harder time penetrating some communities or dare risk doing so where armed response is likely to be high.

I hope President Granger will relook at these missteps for surely it has created a poor impression of his Administration’s ability to initiate policies to protect the vulnerable business community. This move is a big slap in the face of all licensed firearm holders.

Regards, A Concerned Businessman

PPP must be open to critics Dear Editor, Dr Baytoram Ramharack this week penned a scathing critique on PPP governance that partly contributed to its defeat at last May’s polls: the Party alienated too many of its supporters and influential people or was too arrogant as Bharrat Jagdeo put it.

And PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee recently roasted me for penning a critique of PPP for not seeking reconciliation with estranged (as well as excommunicated) members (Nagamootoo and Ramkarran) and those it alienated.

Admittedly, the timing of a critique on the PPP is not appropriate (now that it is in Opposition and the ruling APNU/AFC coalition has been persecuting PPP supporters). But the PPP leadership has not shown that it

has learnt any lessons from defeats in 2011 and 2015 as it has not taken measures to reconcile with critics or pursue reforms.

It appears that PPP leadership is stuck in a time warp and not prepared to heed (friendly) advice to make it electable whenever the next election is held.

Unless the Party heeds advice of independent political experts and stop seeing every critic as an enemy, it will remain in Opposition for a long, long time.

A critical problem facing PPP is elements among its leadership have been around so long and their thinking is from the Stone Age that when they are accustomed to a bad smell for a long time, they become insensitive and immune to it and as such don’t smell an thing foul.

The leadership has built a wall to prevent new ideas

from seeping in and the leadership has become very arrogant as even Bharrat Jagdeo confessed when given realpolitik advice.

Elements in the leadership and some Party workers did not pay attention to the endless complaints of supporters and members in the last several years of governance in which supporters virtually begged for service, reconciliation and democratic reform to save the PPP Government from losing the elections.

The leadership was stone deaf and blind to appeals for internal change and paid a hefty price with loss of office.

The Party leaders should not remain nose insensitive or visually blind, but they so remain. They need to get out of those conditions and socialise with people to find out how people view them. They will be shocked to find that

their own supporters despise many in the leadership.

The leadership has shown it is not open to critiques of flaws and blunders made in Government and in Opposition. Such behaviour will not ingratiate it with voters come next general election.

The PPP leadership must not view every critique as anti-PPP. The era of “if you are not with us, you are against us” is long gone. The PPP leadership has to be open to criticism and heed suggestions on how to transform it into a modern party that will appeal to defected supporters and new voters.

Otherwise, it will remain in Opposition for a long time.

Unless the Party heeds current warnings and accept critiques for what they are, it will not win the next general election. continued on page 5

guyana-times.com

wednesDAY, april 6, 2016

5

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Response to APA’s President, Vincent Alexander responds to Cox on alleged loan non-payment Sharon Atkinson

Dear Editor, I addressed a public message issued by President of the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA), Sharon Atkinson two days ago on a social media platform. Ms Atkinson indicated that this message was her expression of a “war dance” and I encourage all to research it, for clarity on the purpose of my aforementioned statement.

The Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) project under my watch, titled six villages: Kambaru-Omanaik, Four Miles, Kariako, Tuseneng, Karisparu and Batavia. The titles were granted based on the original descriptions provided by each community, and as such, no lands were “chopped off”. Hence, her claim is false.

Under my watch, no village extensions were granted since the 2015 elections crept up on us, resulting in the project being stalled.

However, investigative consultation for 15 villages was completed. Her claim is again false. Perhaps she should direct her question to the subject Minister, as to why one year later, no progress has been made in land titling.

Under my watch, four villages were demarcated: Konashen, Karisparu, Batavia and Tuseneng.

Subsequently, claims regarding surveys and villages being “left out” are false.

I have received or heard of no “false reports” on the Santa Rosa and Little Kaniballi villages being granted extensions. However, what I recall is that during our fourday visit to Santa Rosa, the Amerindian Affairs Ministry representative on our team was attacked by APNU’s Mervyn Williams who attempted to tarnish her name and who now sits in the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry, while he was conducting a campaign meeting. The crowd riled at the lies which were being peddled against the woman and when she attempted to respond, this was denied to her – democracy according to the APNU. I recall seeing Ms Atkinson at the bar located right above a Digicel outlet in Santa Rosa, in the company of Williams, as she was overheard badmouthing the said official’s name, a woman who was once the Vice President of the APA. Strangely, though I chaired the consultations in Santa Rosa, Ms Atkinson participated throughout meetings without making a single objection. She even approached us, shook that woman’s hands, smiled and chatted. Where were the objections on FPIC then? FPIC for us meant no less than six months of intense investigation and research which included Amerindian participation. If Ms Atkinson has a complaint on the FPIC process, she must subsequently direct it to the UNDP, which

was responsible for overseeing its implementation.

Contrary to Ms Atkinson’s claims, I have spoken out against the wrongs of the former Administration, but I speak of what I have experienced in my short stay at the MOAA within the ambit of my contractual obligations. I spoke against Robert Persaud’s deliberate non-cooperation with regards to Tasserene and Kangaruma.

I spoke out against the lack of investment in cultural preservation. I drafted the Arawak Revival Project and the Amerindian Resources Centre project which the new Minister is implementing this year.

I documented indigenous affairs for future reference so that people like Ms Atkinson who peddle lies can be corrected. This, I didn’t take 23 years to do, but less than a year and half and gratuitously – the time I spent at that Ministry, before the coalition Government disbanded the ALT project. What has Ms Atkinson done besides antiGovernment activism? Why didn’t she stand up against the nine months interruption of ALT, and the dismissal of its project unit?

The ALT land surveyor was a young father of two.

His wife was pregnant when their family was deprived of a source of income. The project associate was a young Amerindian who dedicated his entire life to indigenous affairs and was forced to leave the country in search of betterment, a form of brain drain. None in the unit were political appointees so why did Sharon Atkinson remain silent?

As for the hardship that the APA went through, I have never doubted that. No one does. What I doubt and will continue to doubt is the legitimacy of the APA in light of its dying activism and silence, as though indigenous rights activism has nothing to fight for today. For clarity, the APA has never cooperated with ALT under my watch. All that ALT re-

ceived from the APA was a letter in 2014, from its legal advisor David James, who demanded the titling of Tasserene and Kangaruma.

Ironically, he is now Advisor to the Honourable Sydney Allicock, while Tasserene and Kangaruma are still untitled and no one seems to care in the APA. In an effort to foster cooperation, the APA was copied to a letter addressed to the Natural Resources Ministry by GEPAN in February 2016, regarding the Tasserene fiasco. There has been no response to date.

I once defended the APA until I saw the bitterness which drove its members and stymied its own progress.

With regards to my column, everything that I publish is fact based, and all are invited to verify. It is why none of the APA members have to date deconstructed anything I’ve written. The ALT unit left the truth with the Honourable Sydney Allicock and his new APA team, with copies in the Cabinet drawers of the second room to your right upon entering the Ministry on Thomas Street.

Archives can also be found on three hard disks, three computers and the Secretariat’s emails.

I speak for the people I managed, but I do not speak for politicians. I also speak against the hypocrisy of the APA. However, unlike the members of the APA who have insulted me on several occasions using social media, I do not relate to scandal and crass. As the President of a non-profit, Ms Atkinson should have had the professionalism required to engage me on a personal level or in the public sphere where I write. She should also abstain from the indecent language she uses, if she wants to set an example for her members and beneficiaries.

I expected no better from those of the APA, but I hope for it on behalf of Amerindians.

Sincerely, Anna Correia

Dear Editor, As promised, I am responding to your request re Clairmonte Cox’s letter. I will respond to his four points first, then provide some pointers based on the attachments.

My response focuses on his accusation of slander and libel. Mr Cox claimed four falsehoods as his bases.

1. Whether he did a BA or cannot can hardly be categorised as libel or slander. There is nothing degrading about that.

2. He was the beneficiary of a loan by his own admission: “This sum will be in addition to the five thousand dollars ... already being deducted from my salary, ..., and paid to the Students’ Loan Agency for the same course”(sic) (Cox’s letter to Vice-Chancellor Rose, February 01, 2004)

3. Even if he never graduated from UG, with a BA, such a statement can hardly be intended to cause harm or have the effect of causing harm.

4. My reference to him defaulting in honouring his loan agreement is in reference to the agreement of 2000 and the agency’s refusal to grant subsequent loans during the remaining period of the programme, 2001 through to 2003. It has nothing to do with claims of payments to the agency in 2004 and beyond.

Please note that in the instance where I stated that he took a loan ‘on condition’, I clearly stated ‘that he had requested a loan to pay for the law programme and was granted the loan conditionally because of a previous default or age disqualification.’ He was required to

commence repayment, immediately, by monthly instalments.

For the period 2000-2001, he defaulted on that agreement. It should be noted that by his own admission, in 2004, he claimed ‘indebtedness to the University’, but simultaneously demanded that the University release his grades for courses done in 2003 and clearly not paid for as was the case as of 2001 semester one. If this response does not suffice, please let me know.

His second and fourth points are clearly sleight of hand.

The first and third are clearly not libellous or slanderous and are subject to verification.

Unfortunately, the University’s records are not, at the moment, available to me.

Yours sincerely, Vincent Alexander

PPP must be open...

At any rate, voters expect elections to be rigged.

Reforming the PPP and reconciling with excommunicated members will increase manpower and more watchful eyes to help reduce avenues for rigging and improve the PPP’s chances at the polls.

In 40 years of studying politics, I have learnt there are no permanent enemies. There are permanent interests. The leadership should and must always think of what is in the best interests of its supporters.

It should not be the best interests of a select few (out of ego to get back at perceived enemies or critics) – which cost it the Government.

What harm would have been done if the leadership had reconciled with Ralph Ramkarran who was excommunicated in 2012 or Nagamootoo who was forced to quit in 2011? Would the Party not have remained in office winning majorities? Is it not better to be in office rather than in Opposition?

After the Party lost its majority in 2011, why did it not support Nagamootoo as Speaker as proposed by AFC when incumbent Ramkarran was not viable. The PNC (renamed APNU) made it clear it would not support Ramkarran or Naga.

Why then did the PPP persist with the candidacy of Ramkarran who himself had

earlier endorsed the idea of Naga as Speaker. Ramkarran recognised PNC would not support him even though Ramkarran was perhaps the most neutral and objective Speaker in the history of the Parliament and the best person for the job. The PPP was prepared to give the speakership to an ex-PNC (now AFC Raphael Trotman) and deputy speakership to a PNC member rather than to an ex-PPP member in the name of Nagamootoo.

The Party was warned about that position by independent friendly advisers who it viewed as critics. How did the PPP benefit from making Trotman Speaker? Did such a position promote the interest of the Party and its supporters?

Was that not arrogance at its worst leading to further political fallout from among its supporters. Had Naga been supported by PPP as Speaker in 2011, it would have paved the way for reconciliation preventing loss of power in May 2015?

PPP was advised in 2011 to start introspecting for so many errors. Five years later, it is yet to begin the process. It needs to identify the root causes of its loss of support and not apply a

from page 4

“quick fix” or blame others for the problems facing it. This will bring temporary relief, but the structural problems won’t vanish. It must get independent experts to analyse issues confronting it. And it must seek solutions to internal conflict from both scientific and experiential perspectives – it cannot afford to have permanent enemies or refuse to engage with critics.

There are some in the PPP who prefer to have PNC rule them rather than accept friendly critiques just like how it was willing to accept a PNC Speaker rather than a former PPP member who defected.

The PPP must be prepared to change the way it functions and how it perceives critics in an attempt to resolve many challenges seemingly affecting its chances at the next election.

The Party has to change its mores so that it can win back office. The Party needs to look at itself and its reactions to critics. The Party cannot do things the same way and expect different results. It must also open itself to outsiders in leadership positions.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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WEDNESDAY, april 6, 2016

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guyana-times.com

Foundation

Teaching your children civility 10 ways to be a wonderful grandparent and why it matters now – teaching civility means helping your children recognise the humanity of others and put the common good above their self-interest

By Denise Daniels

E

verywhere you look these days, it seems we’re living in a time of uncivil war: Presidential candidates hurl personal insults and spurious accusations at each other. The emotional disconnect of online anonymity enables vicious cruelty in tweets, comments, and posts.

People with differing viewpoints resort to disrespectful language and ridicule in their “arguments”. It’s gotten so bad I can hardly stand to turn on my television or my computer!

While I fear it may be too late to change the behaviour of the so-called adults in these scenarios, one thing gives me hope: the youngest generation. Children aren’t born wanting to mock or hurt others; in fact, I believe they’re hard-wired for empathy. That’s why it’s critical to start early in modelling and teaching our children the tenets of civility: having respect for others, showing empathy, using restraint, and treating other human beings with decency.

Civility means recognising the humanity of others and putting the common good above self-interest. These are the values that are crucial to forming positive relationships in our own lives and to creating a productive society and a generation of civil children who will become civil adults.

Learning civility also has personal benefits for children: They develop positive self-esteem, enjoy lower stress lev-

els, and have stronger social skills that help them form healthy relationships with others. Needless to say, it’s also great for character development!

Teaching civility doesn’t have to involve preachy lectures or onerous rules. The great thing about children is that they’re sponges – they absorb everything we say and do! So the best move that you as a parent can make is to model the behaviour you want to see your child adopt.

Here are a few helpful tips for teaching and modelling the civility that will help your children make the world a better

iment with facial expressions and discuss the corresponding emotions, so they have a sense when others are feeling sad or fearful and can offer comfort.

Model tolerance and acceptance

Children are naturally curious and observant of differences. But they’ll also follow your lead: When you and your child see someone who is noticeably different from you (whether through disability or age or any other distinguishing feature), show your child by your easygoing response that these differences are meant to be accepted and

love a three-year-old who says, “May I have some water please, Dad?”)

Serve the community

Get your children involved in community service at an early age. Children love being given a small task to do that they can easily manage – it gives them a great sense of accomplishment and pride – and all the more so when they know it’s helping other people or making their community better. Children can put sandwiches inside lunch bags for distribution at a local soup kitchen. They can gather toys or clothes they no longer use for donation to a shelter. They can (while wearing gloves!) help pick up trash during a beach clean-up or a civic pride event. There are many ways to participate in the life of your community, and your child will grow up understanding that this is just what good citizens do.

Walk the talk

place (but no pressure!):

Look out

By this, I mean, look outside yourself, and encourage your children to do the same.

Encourage them to notice other children who may be alone on the playground or at school and who might enjoy some company. Help them observe and recognise signs of emotions in other people. For example, use a mirror to exper-

understood. If your child has questions, answer them in a matter-of-fact manner, without staring or pointing.

Teach manners

Sometimes it really is the little things that count the most. Children who learn to say “Please” and “Thank you” and “May I” create a civil environment that generates a positive response in everyone around them. (Who doesn’t

Try to set a positive example in all that you say and do.

No one’s a saint, and no one is perfect, but making the effort shows that you believe it’s important and worthwhile – and your child will learn that, too.

As hard as it sometimes is to believe, we will survive these uncivil times. And I feel truly hopeful that with the right foundation at home, today’s children can create a more tolerant and generous world in the future. I’d even turn on my television to see that! (Parenting.com)

– the role of the grandparent is often unclear

By Barbara Greenberg, PhD

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ndividuals of all ages and at all stages of life visit my consultation room.

Most of them have the best of intentions often coupled with confusion regarding how to interact most effectively with significant others in their lives. I talk to children and teens, parents and grandparents.

I hear stories about wonderful grandparents who are nurturing to their grandchildren, while at the same time being supportive to their adult children. I also, of course, hear stories that are rife with disappointment and frustration. Mothers ask “How come my mother continues to undermine me with my own children?” A frustrated son-in-law asks why his in-laws are so emotionally unavailable to his children.

The children and teens tell me endearing and heartwarming stories of grandparents with whom they have incredible bonds. Yet other children complain that their grandparents are deeply critical of them and their parents. Yep, there are many ways to be a grandparent just as there are many ways to parent. None of our roles in life are clearly defined and grandparents have an especially difficult set of roles trying to both bond with their grandchildren in a manner that is satisfying and at the same time trying not to step on the sensitive toes of their adult children. And, let me tell you that those can be some very sensitive sets of toes. Walking on pins and needles takes on a special meaning when a grandparent is dealing with their children’s children. Many of you out there have been in all three roles – a grandparent, a parent and a child. Others have been in two of these roles. And, then there are the majority of grandparents who would like a bit of an instruction guide on how to handle this grand-parenting role. That’s why I am here today – to help you negotiate this role. Stay with me as I offer up 10 tips to becoming a more effective grandparent, while at the same time not compromising your rela-

tionships with your own children.

Well here goes: 1. Never ever disagree with your adult children about their parenting styles in front of their children. If you disagree with them and you feel that it is important enough to discuss then do it when you are alone with your children. Grandchildren do not benefit or thrive from observing friction. No one does, right?

2. Do not undermine your children by undoing their rules when you are alone with your grandchildren.

If mom and dad don’t allow specific activities, video games, foods, etc, then don’t make these available. You don’t create harmonious relationships by incurring favour in this way.

3. Do tell your grandchildren fun stories about your own life and life with their parents as little children.

Show them lots of photos.

The goal is to enrich their lives, give them history and for them to hear fun (not embarrassing) stories about their parents. This humanises their parents and what child doesn’t enjoy stories?

4. Show respect and love for your children and their spouses to the best of your ability in front of your grandchildren. This gives them a wonderful message and a great dose of role modelling.

You are showing them the importance of showing love and respect.

5. Please don’t be too over-indulging with your grandchildren.

Certainly, you will want to be a bit indulgent if you have the resources because grandparents and grandchildren love this, but everything in moderation please. And, please consider the importance of experiences in addition to or instead of purchasing gifts.

6. Stay involved. Listen if your children or grandchildren are having issues.

Spend a lot of time listening and perhaps even commiserating before you offer up advice. And, before you offer advice ask if advice is wanted or if they simply want to be listened to or a shoulder to cry on. (Excerpt from psycholo-

gytoday)

to be continueD

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wednesDAY, APRIL 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Non-payment of import taxes

GRA seizes BaiShanLin’s luxury vehicles

Jamaican remanded for cocaine in shoe soles

…owners could strike pay-off deal similar to Glenn Lall’s case

The luxury vehicles that were seized on Tuesday

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Alfred Wellingston Glenn Lall

T

he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Tuesday seized two luxury vehicles from controversial Chinese logging company BaiShanLin Forest Development Inc, over millions of dollars in duties owed to the Authority.

The vehicles, a Lexus SUV with registration number PRR 2888 and a Nissan minivan with licence plate number PRR 3888 were taken to GRA’s storage bond at Eccles, East Bank Demerara following the seizure executed by officials from GRA’s Customs Department.

Guyana Times was told that the Chinese logging company allegedly owed some $50 million in outstanding duties, which it failed to pay within the stipulated timeframe, and as such, the revenue collection body has been trying to recoup the monies for some time now.

When contacted by this

newspaper on Tuesday, GRA Chairman Rawle Lucas indicated that while he was aware of plans afoot to seize the vehicles, he was yet to receive updates at the time (mid-afternoon) on whether this operation was carried out.

“I am still awaiting an update on the situation…

GRA has indicated that it intended to take possession of some vehicles and it’s supposed to be doing that,” Lucas noted.

While the Chairman did not go into details about the operation, he did note that it was premised on non-compliance on taxes by the company. “I don’t have a full report on the operation. I’m waiting on a full report of the operation. As far as I know, it’s ongoing,” he stated.

Guyana Times understands that BaiShanLin has been under the radar of the revenue collection body for

years and recent efforts by the Authority to confiscate the vehicles were blocked.

According to reports, a Government official had instructed the revenue body not to remove the vehicles when customs officers had previously attempted to confiscate them.

In 2014, the GRA highlighted fraudulent activities whereby two Lexus luxury vehicles were seized and charges were subsequently laid against a remigrant couple, Narootandeo and Gharbassi Brijnanan, along with Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall and his wife, Bhena Lall, for allegedly defrauding the Revenue Authority of more than $100 million in customs duties on the two vehicles.

The tax regulatory body claimed that the Brijnanans of Number 61 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, imported two Lexus LX 570 SUV motor vehicles into Guyana in September 2013, under the Government’s Remigrant Scheme.

But the two vehicles were not kept or used by the remigrants, in a breach of the Customs Act and the conditions of the grant of

Teachers oppose marking SBAs for free …want teacher-to-student ratio to be respected

Teachers hold the belief that it should not be their duty to mark these assessments, according to GTU

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eachers across the 10 Administrative Regions in Guyana are objecting to marking the School Based Assessments (SBAs) which they are required to do prior to the sitting of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) secondary exams.

The issue of being obligated to mark the SBAs was raised during one of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) conferences.

According to information provided by GTU

General Secretary Coretta McDonald, most of the teachers who hold the responsibility of marking SBAs had raised the issue of marking them for free, citing their opposition.

Although the SBAs are only done within Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Form for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), teachers hold the belief that it should not be their duty

to mark these assessments.

However, McDonald said that the teachers indicated that they had no problem with aiding the students with the completion of the projects, and offering guidance and correction where necessary, but that should be their only task in regard to these projects.

The teachers are, therefore, proposing that the Ministry reviews the system for marking SBAs. McDonald said that the proposal is to have the SBAs sent to CXC for marking.

This would be after the teachers had made their contribution by giving guidelines throughout the course of the project.

The teachers have also come up with a Plan B as to how the SBAs can be marked if the Council declines to mark them. They are suggesting that if the SBAs are marked by the school, teachers be paid for this extra work. turn to page 10

GRA Chairman Rawle Lucas

the duty-free concession.

The GRA said investigations have revealed that the vehicles were being driven by Lall, and his wife, Bhena.

The Authority seized the vehicles and filed six criminal charges against the four.

However, the matters were dismissed when the parties came to a settlement with the GRA. “After some discussions, we were agreeable with the proposal put before us, as we are more inclined to amicable resolutions rather than litigious ones.

Notwithstanding, we are prepared to go the distance to protect tax revenues,” then GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur said in a subsequently statement.

he Jamaican national who was busted with cocaine in his show soles was on Tuesday remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Alfred Wellingston is accused of having 1.324 kilograms of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking on April 2. It is alleged that ranks from the Police Anti-Narcotics Unit conducted a search on a house at Friendship Squatting Area, during which the compressed cocaine was found in the soles of the defendant’s shoes.

Additionally, the 50-yearold man was also charged for forgery and for overstaying in Guyana. On those charges, it is alleged that between April 18, 2011 and April 2, 2016, he failed to comply with the conditions of the permit granted and overstayed his time in Guyana.

Wellingston was accused of conspiring with a person

or persons unknown to forge a driver’s licence in favor of himself to show that same was issued by the Licence Revenue Department.

In court on Tuesday, Attorney Peter Hugh represented Wellingston. The Attorney told the court that on April 2, Police indeed searched his client’s home but did not find any drugs.

According to the lawyer, his client was then taken to the lower flat of the building where he was shown a bag containing the alleged narcotics. The lawyer told the court that Wellingston did not accept ownership of the drug.

In addressing the court, the lawyer claimed that Police stole a quantity of cash that was in his client’s passport during the search. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers in objecting to bail told the court that the cocaine was found in the presence of the defendant since he showed officers where the drug was located.

Inspector Jeffers also pointed out that the man is a fight risk since he is illegally in Guyana. The Prosecutor also stated that the Police are in possession of Wellingston’s passport.

Magistrate McLennan refused the accused his pre liberty trial on the grounds that no special reasons were put forward for bail to be granted. He was remanded to prison. The case will continue on April 25.

8 news

wednesDAY, APRIL 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Essequibo friends in court over damaged bicycle

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ohit Lall and Kavindranauth Sundar, two friends from Devonshire Castle on the Essequibo Coast, have ended up in court over a damaged bicycle.

Twenty-year-old Rohit Lall was on Tuesday slapped with two charges after he made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

Lall was charged with

threatening behaviour and unlawfully and maliciously damaging Sundar’s bicycle.

He pleaded not guilty to the threatening behaviour charge and guilty to damaging his friend’s bicycle.

Police said on April 4, 2016, Lall made use of threatening behaviour towards his friend. It is alleged that during an argument, Lall damaged Sundar’s bicycle valued $14,000 and a Plum cellphone valued

$13,000.

Lall, who was unrepresented, told the Court that he had no idea about the phone, but admitted to damaging the bicycle.

He explained that he visited his friend’s home midnight on April 4 and was viewing television when Sundar asked him to lower the volume.

Lall said that an argument ensued which made him angry and caused him

to pelt the bicycle onto the public road.

He told the Court that he was willing to purchase a new bicycle for his friend.

He is expected to return to court on April 26, 2016 after purchasing a new bicycle for Sundar.

Lall was placed on a bond to keep the peace and to stay away from his friend’s yard; failure to do so could result in him spending time in jail.

Tapakuma miner charged with unlawful wounding

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wenty-year-old Georgry Shoo of Tapakuma Amerindian community in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) was on Tuesday granted $60,000 bail after allegedly lashing Troy John with a piece of wood.

Shoo made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on the charge of illegal wounding.

Police alleged that on April 1, 2016 at Tapakuma Lake, he unlawfully

wounded John after he took a piece of wood and dealt him several lashes about the body.

The miner, who was not represented by legal counsel, denied the charge, stating that he did not lash the Virtual Complainant (VC)

with any wood but slapped him after they had an argument. He was then granted bail. Police Prosecutor Haimraj Ramsewack did not object to bail.

The defendant is expected to return to court on April 20, 2016.

Clothes vendor accused of gold band theft

A

clothes vendor was on Tuesday granted $30,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts accused of stealing a gold band.

It is alleged that

Ceon David, 37, of Lot 164 Charlotte Street, Georgetown, on April 2 at Regent Street, Georgetown, stole from Godfrey Thomas one gold band valued $200,000. David denied the charges.

The Prosecutor did not

object to bail in the matter after taking into consideration the fact that the stolen item was recovered by the Virtual Complainant (VC).

The defendant told the Court that on the day in question, he and a Police Officer got into a scuffle on

Regent Street because the Policeman was “troubling” his girlfriend, which resulted in him being arrested and falsely accused of robbery. Magistrate McLennan granted the defendant bail and adjourned the matter to April 25.

Teen slapped with illegal firearm charge

A

17-year-old was on Tuesday slapped with an illegal possession of firearm charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The defendant is accused of having an illegal .22 pistol in his possession on March

12 at East La Penitence, Georgetown. It was alleged that Police stopped and searched the teen, and found the gun.

In Court on Tuesday, the Prosecutor objected to bail and his objections were upheld.

The teen was remanded to prison until April 25 when the matter will be called again.

Eyew tness

Mouth open...

T

...on Trotman’s perfidy

hey say the husband’s the last to know in matters of betrayal. Well, we don’t really know who was the husband and who was the wife when Rafael Trotman and Khemraj Ramjattan hitched up to form the AFC back on September 29, 2005, but we now know for sure, Ramjattan was cuckolded by Trotman. Or as the Trinis say...”Boy....Ramjattan get real horn”. Or as we Guyanese might cackle, “Ramjattan get big blow from Trotman!!”

In a speech recorded during the LGE campaign in Bartica, Trotman was effusive as he tried to head off a challenge to the APNU/AFC candidates from the independent BIGA candidates. But as an AFC official – evidently wearing his yellow shirt – he felt constrained to connect with what he felt was a PNC crowd. And as they say, “mout’ open and story jump out!”

He revealed that “10 years ago” – which would be in 2005 – he was at some conference in Nassau, Bahamas, when he and then private citizen David Granger had a private tete a tete. In Trotman’s words – lest your Eyewitness be accused of fabricating: “So we met that night and he shared certain things with me, and up to today, he speaks about it. But in the end of it, certain things were done. On the day when the (2015) election results were announced, he shook my hand, I told him, “Congratulations!” He said, “Raphael, this is Nassau.” The point I am trying to make is that the man had a plan.”

First let’s talk about the Nassau meeting. On the AFC website, we are informed: “During 2005, Mr Trotman was invited to participate in The United States Department of Defence sponsored Advanced Policy Making Seminar on: “Transformation, Defence and Security Challenges in the Caribbean”, Nassau, Bahamas, February 2005.”

Mr Granger was also there so Trotman isn’t fabricating the circumstances. But was the attendance of the two coincidental or was it orchestrated by other forces brokering a plan to oust the PPP – which would cause Mr Granger to exultantly SAY “Nassau!!” after his 2015 victory?

The AFC site also noted Trotman attended “The European Union Visitor Programme at EU headquarters in Belgium and Luxembourg in January 2005.” And “The United Kingdom Government sponsored visit to Houses of Commons and Lords and meetings with senior Government officials in March 2005.” So in January, February and March of 2005, Trotman was given the grand grooming tour by the West for the finale in September when the AFC was launched. When Ramjattan would be “given blow”.

Or is he like those wives who know what’s going on but go along for the perks?

...”sharing” gone fuh channa

For some reason which escapes this Eyewitness, some folks are surprised APNU/AFC took all of the seats on the Finance Committees for the Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Bartica and Linden municipal Councils!

What did they expect? That the APNU/AFC would share with the Independents? Heck! If the AFC complained APNU wasn’t sharing fairly after the LGE...who are the Independents to think they’d get a piece of the action. And trust this Eyewitness, baby – the Finance Committee’s where the action gonna be in local government! As the Americans say, “It’s the money stupid!”

APNU’s been talking this “sharing talk” even since the PNC snagged some paper-parties to form a “coalition”.

Some coalition! What power do any of those “partners” have today? Ditto for the AFC. If APNU could de-gut a signed “sharing agreement” with the AFC – remember Cummingsburg? – what about “no agreement”?

The Independents’ goose was cooked the moment AFC backed off from their 40 per cent split!

...on Lall’s SUV’s deal?

There’s a big brouhaha brewing over luxury SUV’s seized by the GRA over “import taxes”. Reminds this Eyewitness of the $100 million the Government was bilked by Mook Lall with his two Lexus SUV’s.

Will TI – struck dumb then – now call for the veil be Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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wednesDAY, APRIL 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Deadly prison riot

Wardens sell cellphones to prisoners, CoI hears

By Shemuel Fanfair

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s the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly prison fire which left 17 dead continues, the Commissioners heard on Tuesday that prison wardens are the ones that sell mobile phones to prisoners.

Carl Brown, who is currently serving 13 years for murder, took the stand at Tuesday’s session, where he shockingly revealed that prisoners can purchase the mobile devices for $7000 in the Camp Street Prison.

The inmate, who is presently on his seventh phone since being incarcerated, often times updates his Facebook account about life in prison. Brown told the Commission that whenever a phone is seized, a fee is paid and the phones is returned.

Giving evidence about the night of the fire, Brown told the Commission that assistance was only rendered to prisoners after officers began to “smell human flesh”.

Brown, along with fellow Camp Street prisoner Roy Jacobs, told the Commission that the events stemmed from ill treatment of prisoners and lengthy waiting times for sentencing.

Roy Jacobs, 38, who is serving a five-year sentence, in his testimony restated the testimony of other prisoners, who posit-

Inmate Roy Jacobs testifying about deadly events

"Social media" prisoner Carl Brown

ed that Deputy Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels reportedly said that the prisoners should be left to burn.

“The heat was so much that he (Kojo, a mechanic) back off, then Samuels said leave them alone, dem set de fire let dem bun,” Jacobs stressed.

Commission Counsel Excellence Dazzell questioned Jacobs further on what he observed next after these alleged comments were made. “Mr Samuels went back in Capital B Division, where words were exchanged and bricks were shying; after this, bow!” the prisoner said.

Attorney Dexter Todd, who represented two inmates, asked an increasingly agitated Roy Jacobs if he attempted to mislead the Commission due to his previous run-ins with the Deputy Director of Prisons.

Jacobs was vociferous in his denial of this assertion.

The Attorney also grilled Jacobs on alleged plans which inmates had to start the fires. Todd also posited to Jacobs a supposition that perhaps there was an attempt of suicide.

When Jacobs was asked if he had ever heard the inmates planning to “commit suicide” by way to burn themselves to death, a “no” was the response that he posited. The inmate admitted that there have been sporadic incidents of fire over time but noted that those in March were the most serious.

CoI Chairman James Patterson made several objections to Attorney Selwyn Pieters’ – who is representing the Prison Service – constant references to video footage of the prison fire which was not available for the Commission to review. In the exchange, Patterson raised concerns over the way in which the

video footage was released to the public.

In the video footage, which was shown to media operatives on Monday, prisoner Collis Collison and members of a riot forces engaged in an altercation.

The CoI was adjourned and Pieters will continue his intense grilling of witness Roy Jacobs at the start of this morning’s session.

Linden Bus Park shooting

Suspect for court today

T

he prime suspect in the murder of minibus driver Alvin Lorrimer who was killed two weeks ago at the Linden Bus Park is expected to make an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts today.

Lorrimer, 53, of Kara Kara, Linden, was standing on the roadway at the Linden Bus Park, Hadfield Street, Georgetown, around 21:00h on March 22, when two men rode up on a CG motorcycle, one of whom discharged rounds at him before riding away.

Lorrimer was hit to his chest and left foot, and was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

Investigators had arrested a suspect whom they believed was the person who rode off with the gunman after the bus driver was shot. The motorcycle was also impounded. The Police have since been on the hunt for the main suspect, Terry Cromwell, also called “Jim Carey”, who was finally arrested on Saturday last.

Police sources confirmed that eyewitnesses identified Cromwell as the shooter on the CG motorcycle that night. Head of the

Dead: Alvin Lorrimer

Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times on Tuesday that Cromwell would be taken to court today to answer to the capital charge of murder.

It is unclear whether the biker, who was held for assisting Cromwell in escaping, is still in custody and would also face charges.

10 news

wednesday, april 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Region 5’s stalled 2016 work programme

Contracts to be advertised following discussions between REO and RC

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fter a period of inaction, Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Roderick Edinboro has finally promised to advertise contracts for the region’s 2016 work programme. This came after reports that this year’s budgetary allocations to advance the programme were left in limbo even as approval had long since been passed in the National Assembly.

The REO on Tuesday met with Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal to discuss the issues. In the meeting, which saw Ramphal outlining justifications for the programme’s implementation, Edinboro revealed that in two weeks, the Government will advertise contracts for the maintenance and improvement of the region’s agricultural infrastructure.

He explained that necessary documentation was not finished in a timely manner and noted that the bill of quantity needed revising.

Meanwhile, the Regional Chairman welcomed the move to advertise the contracts and said that he is hopeful that residents will be able to benefit from the services the region has to offer.

Guyana Times was told that many of the contractors have been awaiting the renewal of their compliances. Regional Vice Chairman Rion Peters had alleged that some of the region’s contactors are not affiliated with the current Administration, and as such, “delaying tactics” were used to “accommodate those contactors”.

Peters had previously called on the REO to “strategically and swiftly” im-

Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal

plement the region’s work programme to bring relief to residents.

For weeks now many farmers in the area have lost much acreage of rice and cash crops and have long been calling on the

Government and the relevant agencies to assist them in their plight. Regional Vice Chairman Peters on Thursday last complained that it was over a month since the region could acquire the benefits from this year’s approved sums.

It was previously noted that the region has been going through “immense hardships” as a result of the non-approval of the funds.

This newspaper had reported that the region’s infrastructure is poor, there is a lack of improved services and that the agriculture sector is dwindling.

In February, the $230 billion National Budget was passed and it was cited that it would improve the lives of citizens.

This year’s budget was presented under the theme “Stimulating Growth, Restoring Confidence. The Good Life Beckons.”

CJIA seizure

Businessman slapped with failure to declare US currency, exporting without permit charges

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he Better Hope businessman, whose jewellery and money were seized at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) while he was an outgoing passenger, was on Tuesday arraigned on the charge of attempting to export without being the holder of an export licence. Additionally, the businessman is facing a charge of failing to declare a large quantity of US currency.

Richard Ramjit, 36, of Lot 4 Bissoon Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts to answer to the charges. To both offences, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution is contending that on January 19, 2016 at the CJIA, Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Ramjit had in his possession 19.1 ounces of gold valued $4.15 million without having an export licence. The second charge read that on the same day at the same location the businessman had in his possession in excess of US$10,000 without declaring same.

When the case was called on Tuesday, Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones unsuccessfully objected to bail.

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) laid the charges against Ramjit whose jewellery was seized in relation to a money laundering investigation.

Ramjit has since told the SOCU officers that the jewellery that was in his possession – a gold chain and a wristband – had been worn by him on many occasions when travelling to the USA. Attorney Anil Nandlall, who is representing the defendant, has since voiced his dissatisfaction at the charges calling them ‘absurd’.

“I maintain most resolutely that SOCU officers continue to abuse their

powers and misuse the law in order to attempt to justify their illegal actions of seizing the jewellery in the first place. It is obvious that this gentleman was not exporting gold jewellery he had on his person, so they are stretching the law to a state of absurdity in order to justify their actions,” Nandlall stated. businessman The has since been placed on $100,000 bail and the case will continue on April 25.

Meanwhile, Ramjit has since filed a $10 million lawsuit against the SOCU after being detained at the CJIA. That case was first called in the High Court on March 17.

A stand-up guy

S

atiricus was very miffed how everyone was picking on poor Kam-Run and the WICD Board. Satiricus like all other West Indians ate, breathed and slept cricket. Not that Satiricus was any great shakes with either bat or ball. But that made him admire the players on the field even more. "How the heck did they do all those feats on the field?" he asked himself. "Because of all the people supporting them off the field, of course!"

Satiricus answered himself. "Like that stand-up guy KamRun." Satiricus was one of those "off the cricket field" people in his village club. He knew all the hard labour that went into getting those 11 men on the field in their gleaming whites or multicoloured garish maroons. As he read all the snide comments about Kam-Run, all he could think was what Brother Bob had crooned back in the day, "Only those who feel it, know it". And Satiricus felt it – just like Kam-Run. Did anyone know what it is to fly all over the world first class and sleep in five-star hotels just to arrange the games for the cricket teams to play? Did all the critics ever have to eat those four course meals in first class? KamRun was a down to earth West Indian like Satiricus who just liked to eat jerked chicken with his fingers. Do people know what torture it was for Kar-Run to dab the corners of his mouth with a napkin in those French restaurants he had to take those ICE officials in London? "Only those who feel it, know it?" murmured Satiricus.

So why were so many people upset the players were seen returning home with their trophies in third class?

This was the kind of thinking that'd gotten West Indies in trouble before. They started to fly first class after that Packer guy opened up his purse strings....and had gotten soft, soft, soft. Kam-Run knew athletes were like gladiators and had to be kept rough and tough. Flying third class ensured their legs weren't stretched out too long and lose that spring they needed to jump into the air to pluck balls from beyond the boundary.

And the players not receiving their uniforms before they arrived in Bangoadesh? "No appreciation of the extra thought of Kam-Run", sighed Satiricus. He knew KamRun had ordered the uniforms from some sweatshop in Bangladesh so the players could smell the freshness of new uniforms!

But that's what the off the field officials in cricket get.

No respect!!

Teachers oppose... from page 7

McDonald informed Guyana Times that these proposals have already been discussed with the Education Ministry and further consultations are needed to arrive at a decision.

The Union is hoping that the Ministry acts in its favour on this matter.

Teacher-to-student ratio Meanwhile, the Union and teachers are reiterating the call for the teacher-to-student ratio to be addressed promptly.

Teachers are arguing that the large number of students being assigned to one teacher is affecting classroom learning and one-on-one interaction.

According to McDonald, the Union continues to push for this with the Ministry, but thus far there have been no response on a decision.

The Union believes that constitutional reform is needed in order to eliminate delays in addressing matters on

the GTU front-burner.

As highlighted in its memorandum of agreement, the Union is proposing class sizes be cut down based on the grade.

The ratio of students to teachers agreed on is 15 students to 1 teacher for nursery schools, 20 to 1 for Grades 1 and 2, 25 to 1 for Grades 3 throughout 6, 25 to 1 for secondary schools and 15 to 1 for practical instructional centres.

The Union believes that with this being introduced in the public school sector, learning would become more effective in the classroom as teachers would have the opportunity to address the needs of each student based on their capability.

Over the past months, the Union has said it would continue to bargain for the rights of its teachers and have consultations on their behalf to have its proposals implemented.

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News

C Division upping the ante against crime

A

fter solving last weekend’s murder of Roger Manikam within two days’ time, Police ranks within C Division (East Coast Demerara) came in for high praises as the Division continues to record reductions in its crime and traffic figures.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Divisional Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner Marlon Chapman, noted that there has been a general decrease in all categories within C Division.

According to the Police’s monthly statistical report for February, crime as well as traffic cases have decreased compared to the same period last year.

Having spent most of his career in the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Commander expressed his satisfaction at the performance of ranks within his division, particularly in solving this recent murder.

“As you know, crime is not something we can stop but we can work our utmost to suppress it, and my investigators did extremely well (in investigating the case).

We know who the perpetrators are, they are in custody and now it’s just us getting legal opinion on the way forward,” he stated.

Chapman noted that one of the most prevalent offences within the Division is break and enter but this has also gone down significantly. He said this shows that the ranks are stepping up to their tasks and carrying out their duties diligently, as more matters are being solved within a short

C Division Commander Marlon Chapman

time span.

The Commander noted that while there is always the need for more manpower as well as equipment to effectively and efficiently execute their duties, his Division has managed to carry out its mandate with whatever resources they have.

“We have challenges, like any other system, but we work with what we have.

There is always a need for more human resources and transportation but we always work with what we have,” he stressed.

Moreover, Chapman attributed this drive within his ranks to the unwavering support from the Force’s administration. He also recognised the impact that the renewed trust of the public in the Police Force has on policing within his division.

“We have seen more members of the public coming out and coming forward

with information that assists the Police in carrying out their duties. So we now have better information flow from the public to Police and this assists us greatly,” the Commander remarked.

According to him, the Division’s Community Relations Department, through its many social crime prevention initiatives, has contributed significantly to the raise in public confidence in the Force.

Meanwhile, as it relates to traffic in C Division, Commander Chapman said this too is under control, with there being a reduction in all categories of accidents.

Statistics from February revealed that there were two deaths from two accidents within the Division thus far for the year, compared to eight deaths from two accidents during the same period last year.

He disclosed that there have been various interventions to curb road accidents, including ranks being stationed at strategic points along the East Coast highway to maintain order on the roadways.

In addition, there are random exercises where ranks would be out with their radar guns to catch those drivers who want to turn the East Coast highway into the South Dakota Circuit, he said. Chapman added too that the traffic ranks are very active, adding that they are constantly out on the roadways with the breathalysers to capture those who often drink and drive, endangering their lives and that of others.

The Commander noted that speeding and overload-

ing by minibus operators are matters traffic ranks are constantly dealing with. He noted also that the Division recently acquired a new

batch of traffic ranks from the training school, so there is more Police presence on the roads.

“That is what is assist-

ing us with the reduction because we have the heavy presence of ranks on motorcycle, cars and on foot,” he stated.

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wednesDay, APRIL 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

2016 LGE

GECOM absolves self from investigation into refused PPP/C candidates

F

ollowing reports of two People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Toevlugt-Patentia candidates being refused their Oath of Office, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has disclosed that it does not have responsibility for this matter.

GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO) Tamara Rodney on Tuesday explained to this publication that now the Elections were over and the names of candidates have been gazetted, the Communities Ministry was the responsible authority to address these matters.

“That is out of our hands, as we are responsible for the management of elections,” Rodney reiterated.

In light of this disclosure, Guyana Times made several attempts to contact Permanent Secretary in the Communities Ministry, Emil McGarrell to provide clarity on the situation, but he was “unavailable”.

PPP/C Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha had told Guyana Times on Monday that the Party has been in contact with GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield and it was promised that the matter would be rectified. While Mustapha at the time could not speak

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

to the status of the supposed investigation, he had highlighted that the Party remained hopeful that the situation would be soon resolved.

It was at a meeting on Friday last at the Good Intent Office, West Bank Demerara that Overseer of the Local Authority Area of Toevlugt/ Patentia in Region Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara), Glenis Castello’s prevented Saheed Khan and Ravi Chandra Rickhee from taking their Oath of Office.

The Overseer’s justification was that the name of these candidates did not appear on the list of names of Councillors which she had in

her possession.

Guyana Times was told of an apparent mix-up with two lists, and that the Overseer possessed the “wrong list”.

“They kind of did it behind closed doors, some people tried to by-pass the system,” an individual close to the Council had disclosed.

In a statement issued by the PPP/C on April 2, it was noted that the two Councillors displayed to the Overseer and all other Councillors, their Certificate of Election which had been issued by GECOM on March 22.

The Party added that if the matter was not resolved, it would be “a subversion of the will of the electorate in this Local Authority Area”.

LGC in limbo

Meanwhile, as this election saga continues, the establishment of the Local Government Commission (LGC) remains in limbo.

The LGC will be tasked with oversight over all local authorities rather than the Communities Minister. The Commission will monitor and assess the performance of the local government organs, administer disciplinary action and implement policies such as tax collection.

Communities Minister

Ronald Bulkan is yet to provide clarity on how the LGC would be operationalised, including its location and associated costs.

On March 19, the Minister had said that the operationalisation of the Commission was expected to be “fairly imminent”. He had also posited that the appropriate Government property to house the Commission was identified and had further explained that a rental fee may have to be paid.

Bulkan had last year announced that the body would be established and operational in early 2016. LGE were held on March 18 with an overall turnout of just over 47 per cent. These polls were previously held some 22 prior in 1994.

GTU’s patience hangs... from page 2

McDonald cited that only recently, the Union had its biannual conference with teachers across the region, where the matter was discussed.

Although not divulging the outcome of those discussions, she however said that the Union had agreed on a proposal outlining the powers the Union has and how it can use its power to address the matter.

She added that a meeting will be convening shortly between the union and its Attorney to discuss the proposal.

Duty-free concessions

Meanwhile, the GTU has also indicated that it is still expecting Minister Joseph Harmon to finalise the decision to reintroduce the duty-free concessions.

After years of proposing the renewal of the duty-free concessions for head teachers and their deputies, it was finally reapproved in February.

This decision was announced following a meeting between the GTU and Minister Harmon.

When this had been announced, 87 head teachers and 46 deputies were indicated to be the first batch of beneficiaries of the restarted project, which was signed in 2011 to cover the years 2011-2015.

Over the years, more than 200 names of eligible teachers were submitted for the duty-free concession benefit, but these were overlooked, even after negotiations.

The decision had come even as the Union had threatened to take industrial action since its proposals were being ignored even though there were active discussions with the Administration.

Keeping it real

R

Facebook and the threat to the President

ecent reports in the media about a Guyanese from Essequibo who made threatening remarks against President David Granger have received a lot of attention. As most people know, social media, particularly Facebook, is a powerful tool of communication.

This platform ensures that information can be Dr Baytoram Ramharack transmitted within seconds and can be accessed by people around the world. But one thing is for sure: social media, while being a tool of communication, can be misused by people who are not aware of their responsibility when using social media. Most people are not aware who are reading their posts on these sites. It can get you into big trouble.

Guyanese tend to get into trouble with social media for a number of reasons. One, most Guyanese in Guyana are new to the use of social media. But it is a growing trend which is part of popular culture. Anyone looking at some of the comments that are being made on Facebook will be appalled at the use of unflattering and obscene language.

Two, many of these people are not aware of the implications of their posts on these sites. Once posted, the information has a global reach for everyone to see. I remember a case where accusations were made against an individual regarding sexual harassment. The victim later recanted the allegations and recalled the information.

However, the damage was already done. The accusations were flying like crazy from place to place because the person who was being accused was already determined as being guilty in the court of public opinion. Even when the accusations were withdrawn, people continued to believe the accusations. A person’s reputation can be severely damaged in such cases.

Three, many social media users are addicted to this use of modern technology. They are often not educated or trained to understand the nature of the dangers of their postings, or the responsibilities that accompany such postings. This is also the case with Guyanese. Many reputable companies around the world are now asking prospective employees to show them their Facebook page just to ensure that whatever information is posted may not place the company in a negative image.

This brings us to the Essequibian who was accused of threatening the life of the President. It was reported that the CID was questioning a 52-year-old woman, Bibi Safaoora Salim who made unflattering comments on her Facebook post. At the time of writing, it seems that her comments may have been supported by a few other persons who responded to her post. I am guessing that based on the comments, Ms Salim was an angry person who is peeved over the loss of a job, which she blames on the new Government.

The laws of Guyana provides for a Racial Hostility Act (Chapter 23:01) which stipulates that perpetrators could be charged for attempting “to incite excitement, hostility or ill-will on grounds of race” and that “a person shall be guilty of an offence if he willfully excites or attempts to excite hostility or ill-will against any section of the public or against any person on the grounds of their or his race…” The law also provides for a fine of $65,000 and two years’ imprisonment for anyone convicted of such an offence.

If Ms Salim is guilty of anything it is that her words were uttered during a moment of anger. It was in response to a perceived grievance which she attributed to President Granger. There is no credible indication that this lady has taken steps to carry out her threat (because she obviously did not intend to carry out this act). Nor does her history indicate that she has a criminal background in Guyana. This is substantiated by the fact that there is no evidence linking her words to any planned actions designed to inflict harm on the President. As such, her words, as silly as they sound, are not considered “hate speech”. I suspect a warning from the authorities might be enough to put this matter to rest.

The lesson learnt here is that free speech is not absolute.

Words uttered on social media can get you into trouble. Be careful what you post on social media.

Send comments to BRamharack60@gmail.com

News

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wednesDay, APRIL 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

UGSS’ cries to be taken to President Granger

Selection of Mabaruma Mayor

PPP/C to block swearingT in of Mayor, Deputy — to file court case today

0

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) says it will be moving to the courts today to block the swearing-in of the Mayor of the newly-created town of Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) who was selected by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, contrary to the Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter 28:01.

In the municipality of Mabaruma, the Opposition PPP/C and the ruling A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) each snapped up six seats on the Council – leading to a tie when the Council voted on Saturday and Tuesday to elect a mayor.

In an instance like this, Chapter 28:01 Section 13 (6) provides that the Town Clerk shall appoint a date for the election of a Mayor by the people. This date shall not be later than December 28 of the same year.

However, without that vote, Minister Bulkan applied Section 13 (4) which

states “where at an election [as prescribed above], two or more Councillors secure an equal number of votes the Minister shall direct which of those Councillors shall perform the functions of the office of Mayor; and that Councillor shall assume and perform those functions until such time as the Mayor or Deputy Mayor as the case may be is able to act.”

The Minister named APNU/AFC Councillor Henry Smith as his choice for the post of Mayor.

Following this the six APNU/AFC Councillors elected Ashtrilla Gammel, another APNU/AFC Councillor as Deputy Mayor.

Speaking on Bulkan’s action, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said that his Party would be moving to the courts this morning to block the swearing in of the two “unlawfully-appointed” officials.

“We will restrain them from functioning and we will quash the appointment.

We will seek the courts’ in-

tervention to seek an order that will prevent them from acting in office or secondly quash the decision that appointed them,” Nandlall told Guyana Times Tuesday evening.

He said that the Minister clearly violated the law and has acted precipitously and prematurely by making appointments without going back to the electorate as the law dictated.

“In other words [he] has usurped the functions of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and certainly violated the law and it is an attack on democracy, it is stealing of the will of the electorate; the people are required by law to go to an election again and only when it fails to yield a result or yield a tie result, the Minister’s powers are activated,” the former AG explained.

Bulkan also went ahead and named the Chairpersons for some five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) where there were also ties between the APNU/AFC and the PPP/C.

Bartica’s transition into a green locale accelerating

T

he Office of Climate Change (OCC) in Guyana has intensified its efforts to move Bartica, in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) into a thriving green community.

The OCC capitalised on the occasion of the Bartica Regatta to step-up its engagements with residents and visitors, providing pertinent information on initiatives to foster a green economy and informing them about their roles and responsibilities as citizens of a green town.

A team from the OCC – which included Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Rear Admiral (ret’d) Gary Best – was able to cover a wide area. An information booth was set up where residents were able to collect brochures and other paraphernalia on a green economy and where they were up-

Some of the brochures and other paraphernalia on a green economy displayed

dated on the transitioning process.

The OCC has organised several activities to specifically target school children who are seen as a major stakeholder group in this entire process. A debate competition is scheduled for May with students of the Bartica and the Three Miles Secondary schools. This will be followed with a spelling bee competition for students

at the primary school level.

These activities will be done in collaboration with the Department of Education in Bartica.

Additionally, a mobile app, which is currently being developed, will also be launched in May. This application will ensure information on Guyana’s first green town is readily available to citizens all across the country.

he University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) has not given up on its quest for better service at the country’s top tertiary institution and said that another protest will take place at the gates of the Ministry of the Presidency today.

It is not clear whether the Administration of the University has taken note of the cries of the student body, but the Society is bent on taking their concerns to the ear of President David Granger.

UGSS President Joshua Griffith told Guyana Times on Tuesday that the body was seeking to meet with the Head of State on campus; however, because he did not show, the picketing would be taken to his office.

On Monday, students began what they said would be a series of protest actions against the mounting issues which continue to cause inconveniences at the University.

Monday’s protest saw the students demanding better standards of services, as opposed to a raise in tuition fees which the Administration intends to impose.

“The issues here are real and we know because we faced them. Mr President, do you know that because of the services provided by the same loan agencies and the laxity thereof and the substandard delivery, that students are unable to write ex-

ams because they don’t get their loan awards on time!”

Griffith, with a loudspeaker in hand and the colours of the Guyana flag draped around his neck, revealed at the protest on Monday.

Students under the Faculty of Natural Sciences are beyond perturbed over the fact there were no labs for first- and second-year students.

Faculty representative

closed that there were rumours that there would be the announcement of another increase.

“They are raising our fees so by now we expect some sort of change because our fees are bumped up so high. My mother is a single parent, you understand, she has to find money to pay for me to come to this University and they are treating us this way… we need a change, it is about time,” ex-

UG students are protesting the poor services and proposed increases in fees

Xiomara Griffith explained that the Administration proposed that all outstanding labs be done during the summer.

The untimely release of students’ grades also continues to be a concern.

According to one student, they usually have to wait about three months before their grades are released.

Students are also concerned about the customary increase in the various fees. They dis-

plained Chelsea Lewis.

Likewise, law students are up in arms over the injustices that continue to be meted out to them, especially regarding the extra mile they are required to take in order to pursue an education in the field.

Demands for a local law school were renewed in the face of concerns over the limit on the number of students who are entitled to move on to attain their legal certification.

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News

Digicel launches 50th Independence fitness camp

Participants of the ‘Fit in 50’ Fitness Camp at its launching on Monday

W

ith the 50-day countdown to the most anticipated Golden Jubilee anniversary, mobile service provider Digicel Guyana opened the curtains on Monday on its fitness camp.

Launched under the name ‘Fit in 50’, the fitness camp will coincide with this year’s 50th Independence anniversary, ensuring that persons, as the name suggests, are fit and in good shape for the celebration.

Taking a switch from previous years, the camp will now mark the Independence anniversary, whereas in previous years, it concurred with Republic Day celebrations.

The initiative, which was introduced five years ago, had been a consistent activity for Digicel; one of the many ways the company observed Mashramani.

However, with this parade being pushed back to place emphasis on the independence anniversary, the provider had been tasked with renewing the initiative’s focus.

With the main focus being on fitness and 50, the well thought of initiative was introduced to patrons who were encouraged to get their names enlisted for the 50-day camp.

The official launching held at the Guyana Cricket Club ground (GCC) saw a large turnout of persons eager for a spot in the fitness camp since there is limited space.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the company Vidya Sanichara said that even though there has been an alteration to what persons were used to, the camp generally remains the same.

Sanichara said that over the 50 days, the company is giving participants the opportunity to be engaged in workouts so that they will be ‘in shape’ for the grand Independence Day parade.

The company’s PRO added that even though the activity over the years had been supported by the public greatly, this year saw the largest turnout as persons have become engrossed in the anniversary celebra-

tions.

“We are catering for 300 persons but I think we are going to exhaust that number as more and more persons begin to come in for registration as the word spreads,” she cited.

These workout sessions will be led by two competent and experienced fitness trainers – Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts and Victor Logan – who will be on board with the company for the 50-day camp.

Over the 50 days, sessions will begin at 17:30h up until 18:30 hours during which the participants will undergo complete training and workout.

Digicel has joined a long list of companies/agencies which have gotten onboard in support of the Jubilee anniversary.

This year’s celebration is set to be the largest and most captivating in Guyana’s history. The Government as early as last year had already began planning events and activities to observe the monumental celebration.

Canadian mental health team hosting Code White/Restraint workshops

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton delivering remarks at the opening of the workshop

T

he Public Health Ministry in collaboration with a Canada mental health team is hosting a two-day workshop on de-escalating potentially dangerous situations in a non-violent manner.

Dr Peter Kuhnert is leading the Canada-Guyana mental health team to host the ‘Code White/Restraint’ workshops. Among the participants are social workers, Counsellors, Police Officers, nurses and medical doctors.

The workshop commenced on Tuesday with two sessions held and will continue on Thursday when another two sessions will be held. Approximately 15 persons will participate in each session.

This is the first time a workshop of this nature is being hosted by the Public Health Ministry and its objective is to train persons on how to de-escalate potentially dangerous situations in a non-violent manner.

Delivering brief remarks at the opening of the workshop, Public Health

Minister, Dr George Norton noted that mental health is high on his Ministry’s agenda; as such, he underscored the need for advancing mental health care in Guyana, but noted that this cannot be undertaken solely by the Public Health Ministry.

According to Dr Norton, the public health care system is a people-oriented one, and the Public Health Ministry views with significant importance the safety of patients and the medical personnel who attend to them.

“A ‘Code White’ response is intended for a situation in which a patient is behaving in a potentially dangerous manner towards himself or others. During your educational sessions, you will be trained in areas such as patient safety, team safety, de-escalation of conflict and how to avoid a Code White situation,” the Minister stated.

He went on to outline that core training and education on non-violent crisis intervention and de-escala-

tion techniques are very important and can go a long way in patient care.

Addressing the behaviour of patients in a respectful, caring, safe manner is critical to the process of preventing situations which may prove dangerous to patients, health care workers or other members of the public, the Public Health Minister noted.

He added that it also allows you to prevent damage to property.

Minister Norton urgethe participants to take full advantage of the training opportunities presented to them as well as to pass on the knowledge gained to their colleagues.

He also extended gratitude to Dr Peter Kuhnert, Larysa Brown and their team for facilitating the training sessions over the two days.

The Canadian mental health team will also be donating de-restraining units, text books and endotracheal tubes and stylets to the Ministry.

Guyanese participate in exchange programme on “Combating Corruption”

T

wo Guyanese recently returned from the United States after participating in the Embassy-sponsored International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) exchange on “Combating Corruption”.

The programme lasted from March 6 to 16, 2016. The participants were Judy Stuart, Senior Legal Adviser, Ministry of Legal Affairs and Office of the Attorney General Chambers, and Guyana Press Association President Neil Marks.

The duo met with US Ambassador Perry Holloway and shared their programme experiences and discussed how they hoped to apply the insights gained from their experience to the benefit of their organisations and communities as a whole.

During the programme, Stuart and Marks, along with their counterparts from the Caribbean, visited several cities including Washington, DC, Manchester, New Hampshire, and Raleigh, North Carolina where they met

IVLP participants at the Court, Manchester, New Hampshire

with Government officials, members of the Private Sector, and media houses.

These visits provided various insights and understanding into the vital role of public/ private partnerships and media in supporting good governance and discouraging corruption.

The programme afforded participants the opportunity to examine the dynamics of political campaign financing and Government procurement. Participants also examined the mechanisms that enable citizens to foster good governance, ethical standards, and accountability at the local, state,

and federal levels.

Among the highlights of the programme was a visit to the Centre for Whistleblowers. Stuart noted that this was indeed timely as the Government of Guyana was in the process of drafting legislation for Whistleblower and Witness Protection aimed at pre-

venting corruption, encouraging ethical leadership and transparency, and ensuring accountability and responsibility to the public.

Meanwhile, Marks noted that participation in this programme has amplified his awareness of the critical role that the media play as “watchdogs” and part of civil society in promoting good governance and human rights.

Ambassador Holloway encouraged them to build on the many professional linkages they made with US institutions and other IVLP participants to strengthen their work within their respective organisations and in communities throughout Guyana.

The IVLP is the US Department of State’s premier professional exchange programme. The IVLP brings together emerging leaders in their respective professions to learn how U. experts in their professions operate, and to share best practices with the other programme fellows who hail from across the globe.

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Around the World

“Panama Papers”: Iceland Russia pledges full support for UN-brokered Syrian peace talks Prime Minister resigns R I celand's Prime Minister has resigned – the first major casualty of the leaked Panama Papers that have shone a spotlight on offshore finance.

The leaks, from Panamabased law firm Mossack Fonseca, showed Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson owned an offshore company with his wife, but had not declared it when he entered Parliament.

He is accused of concealing millions of dollars' worth of family assets.

Gunnlaugsson said he sold his shares to his wife and denied any wrongdoing.

He is one of dozens of high-profile global figures mentioned in the 11.5 million leaked financial and legal records, which were first published on Sunday.

Pressure on

ussia will support the efforts of United Nations mediator Staffan de Mistura to promote direct and inclusive talks between the sides in Syria's conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told de Mistura on Tuesday.

"As in any conflict, it is, of course, key that we ensure the inclusive character of the negotiations and

Iceland's President refused Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson's request to dissolve Parliament

Gunnlaugsson to quit had been building since then, with thousands of people protesting outside the Parliament building in the capital Reykjavik on Monday and Opposition parties tabling a confidence mo-

tion.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Prime Minister asked President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson to dissolve Parliament and call an early election. (Excerpt from BBC News)

South Africa's Zuma survives impeachment vote

S

outh African President Jacob Zuma survived an impeachment vote in Parliament on Tuesday that was launched after the constitutional court ruled that he ignored an order to repay State funds spent on his private home.

Zuma had the support of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which controls almost two-thirds of the assembly.

Despite rumblings of discontent within the ANC party over a series of scandals

involving the President, 233 lawmakers voted against the impeachment motion, while 143 voted in favour.

Zuma did not attend the impeachment proceedings, which were delayed after Opposition politicians demanded that the Speaker of Parliament recuse herself from presiding over the proceedings.

The court ruled last Thursday that Zuma had flouted the Constitution by failing to repay some of the money spent on renovating

his private home at Nkandla in the eastern KwaZuluNatal province.

The project, which cost taxpayers US$16 million, included a swimming pool, a chicken run, a cattle enclosure and an amphitheatre.

On Friday, 73-year-old Zuma, in a televised address, apologised and said he would pay back some of the money, as ordered. He said that he never knowingly or deliberately set out to violate the Constitution.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Brazilian top court justice orders Temer impeachment

A

Brazilian Federal Supreme Court Justice on Tuesday ordered Congress to start impeachment proceedings against Vice President Michel Temer, in a surprise ruling that risks deepening a political crisis gripping Latin America's biggest country.

Justice Marco Aurelio Mello told the Lower House to install a special committee to analyse the potential ouster of Temer over charges he helped doctor budget accounting as part of President Dilma Rousseff's Administration.

Another committee is already analysing similar charges against Rousseff, who is scrambling for support to defeat an impeachment vote in the Lower House expected as early as mid-April.

Although the decision can be overturned by the full Supreme Court, Mello's decision raises questions about the future political leadership of a country mired in its

that they are focused on promoting a direct dialogue between the two sides," Lavrov was quoted as saying by RIA news agency.

"We will give you our full support in this," Lavrov was quoted as saying in opening remarks at a meeting with de Mistura, who was visiting Moscow.

The UN mediator said he was hopeful for a new phase in negotiations about a po-

litical transition for Syria.

So far talks in Geneva between a Syrian Government delegation and the Opposition have stalled because Damascus was unwilling to engage in discussions about President Bashar al-Assad possibly leaving office as part of that transition.

The talks are scheduled to resume in Geneva on April 11. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Former top China military official “took huge bribes”

T

he military in China say a former top military official, Guo Boxiong, has confessed to taking "huge bribes" in return for promotions.

General Guo, 74, stepped down as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission in 2012. The Government began investigating him last July.

He has now been handed over to Prosecutors, the military said.

President Xi Jinping has led a major anti-corruption campaign since taking office three years ago.

Dozens of high-level officials have been jailed as part of the drive.

However, some observers

The military said General Guo was a "greedy degenerate"

see the campaign as a way for the Communist Party to rein in officials seen as becoming too influential, and say it could be used in political infighting.

General Guo was found

to have taken bribes worth US$12.3 million, but that is thought to be a small fraction of the wealth he actually amassed, sources told the South China Morning Post.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

India's Bihar state bans alcohol

0

Authorities in the eastern Indian state of Bihar have announced a complete ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had earlier announced that the ban would be gradually imposed across the State in the next six months.

But he advanced the deadline on Tuesday, saying "now was the right time for social change in Bihar".

The ban was one of Kumar's campaign promises during last year's assembly elections.

Kumar said he decided to go for a complete ban after he received "great support" from the public in the first four days of a ban on locallybrewed alcohol.

"In the first four days of the ban on country liquor [locally-brewed alcohol], it has become a social movement... And so I feel this is the right time for social

change in Bihar," the NDTV website quoted him as saying.

Kumar's decision has been supported by all political parties in the state as 243 lawmakers have taken a pledge to "stay away from alcohol".

The ban has received support from women because they generally link drinking by men with domestic violence, harassment and poverty. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Venezuela arrests Interpol detective over cocaine haul

I Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff (left) talks to Vice President Michel Temer at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil

worst political and economic crisis in decades. If Rousseff is impeached, Temer would succeed her.

Brazil's currency, the real, extended losses following the ruling, frustrating investors who hoped a Temer administration could

help pull the economy out of recession faster than Rousseff's. Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha, who had previously declined to start impeachment hearings against Temer, could appeal the decision, according to local media reports.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

nterpol's chief detective in Venezuela has been arrested over allegations he was involved in shipping 349 kilograms (770lb) of cocaine to the Dominican Republic.

Eliecer Garcia Torrealba, 42, is accused of using his post to allow a plane laden with the drug to take off from Barquisimeto in western Venezuela.

Dominican Police searching the Cessna plane found three suitcases and two bags filled with cocaine.

Sixteen people are being held in connection with the case.

Prosecutors say Chief Detective Garcia Torrealba "coordinated the necessary

The Dominican counternarcotics Police seized the cocaine on March 24

actions inside the airport in Barquisimeto to allow the plane laden with cocaine to take off".

There was no immediate comment from Garcia Torrealba.

Among the other people arrested are five members of

the Venezuelan military and three airport security officials.

A Venezuelan businessman, Pablo Cardenas, has also been detained on suspicion of being the mastermind behind the cocaine shipment.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

16 NEWS

wednesDAY, april 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Bulkan unlawfully appointing NDC Ramsammy’s Ruminations Honorific is Chairmen – PPP Commissioners

P

eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) Commissioners are pointing an accusing finger at Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan for allegedly seeking to select Chairmen for six Local Authority Areas where there have been a tie.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Commissioners Sase Gunraj and Bibi Shaddick said that the Minister was acting outside the remit of the law.

According to them, Section 13 (6) of the Municipal and District Councils Act provides that in the event of an equality of votes in favour of more than one candidate, the Town Clerk shall appoint a date for the election of a Mayor by the people registered to vote in the specific Municipality.

This date shall not be later than December 28 of the same year.

“That has to be a very worrying development. If that is indeed the case, then it is an attempt to usurp the functions of the Guyana Elections Commission,” Gunraj stated.

In areas where there were ties after the recently-concluded Local Government Elections (LGE), Minister Bulkan has stepped in and named the persons that would be Mayor and Chairpersons.

PPP Commissioners Sase Gunraj, Robeson Benn and Bibi Shaddick

Reports have confirmed that instead of duly applying the law, Minister Bulkan went ahead and named the Chairpersons for some five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Mabaruma Municipality where there were ties.

The PPP Commissioners insisted that GECOM should take the reins and hold another election in the areas. Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap 28:01, of the Laws of Guyana sets out the rules governing Local Authority Areas within the Republic of Guyana.

The Commissioners said it was only in the event of a tie in favour of more than one

candidate at that by-election that the Minister can appoint a Mayor from among the candidates securing an equal number of votes.

This position, they say, applies to other Local Authority Areas, and particularly the election of NDC Chairmen and Vice Chairmen, by virtue of Section 39 of the said Act. “Upon publication of the results of the Local Government Elections in the Official Gazette, it was discovered that there were several Local Authority Areas where there was equality in the number of seats allocated to contestants.”

Thereupon, Commissioner Shaddick met with Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith

Lowenfield, Deputy CEO Vishnu Persaud, and Legal Officer Juanita Barker to discuss the said issue. The discussions ended with the understanding that the procedure to be adopted was that outlined above in accordance with the provisions of the cited law.

This position was confirmed by CEO Lowenfield in several meetings and conversations with Commissioners and he indicated that a document to this effect was being prepared for circulation.

“It has come to our attention that in several of the Local Authority Areas where there were equality in the number of seats allocated to contestants and where there is now an equality of votes in favour of more than one candidate for Chairman; the Overseers are suggesting that an appointment will be made by the Minister ….”

The Commissioners took the opportunity to restate the position as defined in the relevant legislation and to remind that the law mandated an election to be held by the persons registered to vote in the specific municipality or Local Authority Areas, and only in the event of another tie that the Minister can appoint a Mayor from among the relevant candidates.

GCCI gets new President, Executive

T

he Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on March 24, 2016 elected a new Council of the Chamber to serve for the next year.

According to a statement from the GCCI, the 21-member council met on Monday and elected its new Executive Management Committee.

Businessman Vishnu Doerga of Doerga Business Enterprise was elected President, while Padma Kunjbeharry of ANSA McAL Trading Limited (Guyana) was elected Senior Vice President.

National Hardware’s Nicholas Boyer is the new Junior Vice President, Allison Butters-Grant of Global Seafoods is the Secretary, while Silvie’s Variety Store’s Shanti Persaud was elected Treasurer.

The Immediate Past President is Lance Hinds of The Brainstreet Group.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Doerga outlined his plans for the Chamber over the next 12 months, chief among them is improving the organisation’s membership, as well as creating the right framework to catalyse growth among the Chamber’s members by examining issues that are affecting businesses and coming up with workable solutions.

“We also want to create a platform on which they are better able to do a better level of networking, become better informed of the opportunities that exist locally and internationally,” Doerga said.

The businessman and School of the Nations’ Lecturer is also looking to

New GCCI President Vishnu Doerga

strengthen relations between the GCCI and other chambers around the country to see how they can collaborate and tap into the vast knowledge, expertise and resources of the GCCI. “As a chamber that has been in existence for

127 years with significant amount of history, resources and intelligence, the amount of information that we receive, the amount of data that we receive that we are able to turn into credible intelligence can be of significant benefit to them. So we really want to strengthen those relationships and provide the support that they may require,” he stated.

Doerga is also aiming to make the GCCI a local hub for Private Sector development in Guyana, working through international agencies including agencies like the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

“The major focus of our plan … [is] better serving our membership and Private Sector development in Guyana in general,” he stated.

Coldingen Railway murder

4th suspect arrested

I

nvestigators have arrested the fourth suspect in the murder of 64-year-old Roger Manikam, whose body was dumped on the Coldingen, East Coast Demerara (ECD) Railway Embankment.

Manikam, of Section B, Nonpareil, ECD, was found around 06:30h in Coldingen on Sunday with wounds to the head and upper neck by residents in the area. He was bound and his head covered by a plastic bag.

The man’s 16-year-old biological daughter and 10-year-old stepdaughter have since admitted to kill-

ing him, claiming that he was a “nuisance” to them.

The teenager’s boyfriend, a court clerk attached to a West Demerara Magistrate’s Court, was also arrested and confessed to being an accessory to murder. He had been previously arrested for questioning in relation to the murder of Regent Multiplex Mall owner Ganesh Ramlall, but was released shortly after.

The Police had been hunting a fourth suspect whom, Guyana Times was told, was arrested on Tuesday. This suspect is believed to have helped the others transport

the man’s body.

This was confirmed

by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who also related to this newspaper that the Police have impounded the vehicle in question. He noted that the two males confessed to disposing of the body.

Additionally, the head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) said that suspects were taken to the scene, where they pointed out the spot they dumped Manikam’s body. They also took investigators a short distance away where they dumped incriminating materials such as bloody sheets

and clothing.

Detectives became suspicious of the daughters after they realised that the rope serving as the clothes line in the yard of the home was identical to the one used to secure the plastic found around the man’s head.

The Police took the two young ladies into custody and during interrogation, they broke down and gave a detailed account of the murder.

The detectives came in for high praise for solving the murder. They are expected to seek legal advice today on instituting charges against the quartet.

new buzz word for APNU/AFC corruption

T

here ought to be hefty kerfuffle among defenders of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC), particularly the ABC diplomats, as senior Cabinet Members confirmed that APNU/AFC has abandoned global standards and norms Dr Leslie Ramsammy for appointments and procurement of goods and services. The APNU/AFC has proclaimed a new standard for good governance – merit is being replaced by patronage with political donors and sycophants rewarded with jobs and preferred for sole-sourcing of goods and services.

APNU/AFC has a name for this new governance model – honorific, just like the royalty of old, baptising corruption and patronage under a new name. Corruption under any name is still corruption, repugnant and criminal. But APNU/ AFC has made an art of deeming those things they railed against when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was in Government as unequivocally normal today. Truth is, most of what they condemned the PPP for was half-truths and total fabrications. Yet today, in less than a year, they have taken corruption to unimaginable heights.

Government anoints the new model as honorific and Trotman deems it as returns on investment, the investment being donations to APNU/AFC. In the meanwhile, legitimate businesses that play by the rules are left on the wayside and people appointed in accordance with laws are being fired. But under a honorific model of governance, this is the new gold standard for a democracy, APNU/AFC style.

The sad reality is that the same ABC countries that gave us rigged elections, the Burnham dictatorship and the Rodney assassination are “gaga” over the honorific model for democracy.

The Guyanese taxpayers are ignorant of these appointments. We know of some people who were appointed as Government representatives in the Diaspora and those appointed to represent Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in all the geographic regions of Guyana. There are various advisors at the Office of the President (OP) and new diplomats, many with salaries and benefits that PPP Ministers did not get.

One donor got a contract to supply fertilisers at a price higher than the market price. He has no experience in procuring and supplying fertilisers, but this sole-sourcing of an important agricultural product amounting to US $4 million is part of an honorific reward for donations made during the 2015 elections. Another is set to build a wind farm worth $10 billion and given a contract to supply medicines by the next election.

There is now the sole-sourcing contract to supply rice to Jamaica. The Jamaican purchaser has been buying rice from Guyana for years. The present exporters have been replaced by a sole-sourcing arrangement, with players that were involved in rice export in the late 1980s. The price that Guyana gets will be US$400 per ton and the sole-sourcing agents will get US$75 per ton. APNU/AFC has tried to propagate the lie that this is a better price than Jamaica has paid before, although it is below the 2014 and 2015 prices.

Dozens of forensic audits were ordered by APNU/ AFC, costing more than $130 million. Remarkably, the auditors main findings is that there were several solesourcing contracts, while completely oblivious that they were themselves hired through sole-sourcing without any reasonable justification. The hypocrisy stinks when solesourcing agents condemn the practice of sole-sourcing when they are not the beneficiary. It is shameful and insulting to the Guyanese people.

Sadly, as Guyana catapults towards dictatorship, arrogance rules. It is the reason sugar workers are told to take it or leave it when offered zero wage increase, rice farmers are told they are on their own as they battle various crises, farmers land leases are revoked to be given to others, and we are warned that if Granger pays taxes, the treasury will pay him back. Calling corruption honorific will not change the sad truth that a few in APNU/AFC will be jet-setting on the backs of ordinary Guyanese people, while Guyana sinks into another hellhole. (Send comments to doc_ram@hotmail.com)

17

news

wednesDAY, april 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Murder accused remanded

T

he man charged with the murder of a Cuban national was on Tuesday remanded by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that Lawrence Rowe, 32, of Lot 69

Parker Street, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) during the course of a robbery on March 8, 2016 at Providence, murdered Joel Perez Laffita.

The lifeless body of Laffita was discovered around 01:30h on the roadside with a wound to his neck.

Reports are Laffita arrived in Guyana on board the MV Tracy Coaic which docked at the Rubis Wharf on the East Bank Demerara and was found dead on the Providence roadway hours after he disembarked the vessel, which he was working on.

The man had disembarked the vessel and left for an unknown location.

Investigators could not say whether the wound on the victim’s neck was inflicted by a gun or a sharp object.

According to reports given to the Police, a hooded man was seen riding a bicy-

cle shortly after the victim’s body was discovered.

Investigators after checking surveillance videos in the area were able to arrest and charge Rowe.

Investigations into the matter are currently ongoing. The case will continue on April 25.

Lawrence Rowe

18

guyana-timesgy.com

wednesday, April 6, 2016

ARCHIE

It's a good day to organise and prioritise. Making a last(March 21- minute change is your prerogApril 19) ative. Don't change your mind due to a complaint. Look out for your best interests. Strive for personal perfection.

ARIES

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(June 21July 22)

Be ready, willing and able to adapt to unavoidable changes that come your way. Use your imagination and look for creative ways to improve your personal life. Participate in something interesting or unusual.

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TODAY'S WORD – LACERATE (LACERATE: LAS-uh-rate: To rip, cut or tear.)

Average mark 35 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 52 or more words in LACERATE? The list will be published tomorrow.

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Make positive changes to SCORPIO your living quarters. A differ(Oct. 24ence of opinion will give you Nov. 22) a chance to see a situation from a unique perspective.

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Take the time to explore PISCES (Feb. 20- your options in order to get a March 20) better sense of what you want to achieve. Rely on resources that have been dependable in the past.

WEDNesDAY, aPRIL 6, 2016

19

Lara praises Windies Where now for West Indies cricket after World T20 triumph? belief/passion C

ricketing icon Brian Lara yesterday heaped praise on the West Indies men and women’s teams which created history on Sunday by winning the ICC T20 World Cup titles in India.

The women cruised to victory against Australia by eight wickets after reaching the final for the first time, while the men enjoyed a sensational four-wicket success over England to become the only team to win the title on two occasions.

Lara described the outcomes as historic, noting that belief and passion were two important characteristics of the teams. “When you believe in yourself and play with the passion and heart that these two groups of players did, there can only be one result.”

The former West Indies captain who holds the record for the highest scores in Test and first class cricket, said the results showed up the depth of West Indies talent as almost every player in India was able at some point in time to dig deep and

Brian Lara

make a contribution that was vital. “Whether it was the women or men’s team, we found a new person playing that crucial innings or bowling that vital over when it mattered mostly.”

He also applauded the two captains Darren Sammy and Stafanie Taylor for their leadership role. “Darren did not do much with either bat or ball, but his importance to the team cannot be underestimated. He was shrewd throughout, making those critical changes that allowed us to keep the pressure on the opposition at all time.”

Lara noted that Taylor was named ‘Player of the tournament.’ “When you talk about leading from the

front, that’s exactly what she did. She was outstanding with both bat and ball and you could sense that the team was highly motivated and played for each other throughout the tournament.”

Lara called on the WICB to fix its problems with the players so that the best teams could represent the West Indies in all formats of the game. “To think we went to this tournament minus some of the top players and still won, is testimony to the remarkable amount of talent we have in the Caribbean.

We now have to start working on ensuring that the success does not end there but is translated to the other teams.”

Lara said the achievements of Sammy and Taylor’s teams against the background of a WICB administration that appears to be disorganised was something which every citizen should emulate. “They used adversity and turned it into success, it’s a lesson for us here in the Caribbean, and one that we should all think about when things get tough.” (Windies Cricket)

Taylor calls for new recruitment drive

S

tafanie Taylor, the captain of West Indies Women who have just won the T20 World Cup for the first time, says a recruitment programme is needed as part of an elaborate plan to keep the sport alive in the region.

Taylor, who was voted player of the tournament, is worried that women’s cricket in the region could suffer a significant decline if a proper system is not put in place for when the current crop of players retire.

The Jamaican all-rounder says a recruitment drive needs to target schools across the Caribbean, in particular.

“We need to go into the schools and try to get girls to come out,” said Taylor.

“I think we do have girls that are interested. It’s just that you don’t have anyone to push it, and I think that’s where we need to start, by going into the schools and getting these girls out”.

Taylor, who replaced Merissa Aguilleira, as the Windies women captain last year, has been one of the leading scorers on the team

Stafanie Taylor

along with Barbadian allrounder Deandra Dottin.

In their impressive eight-wicket victory over Australia to win the ICC T20 World Cup on Sunday, the Caribbean side surpassed a challenging target of 149 with three deliveries remaining, following a rollicking opening stand of 120 between Taylor and teenager Hayley Matthews.

“I think we definitely need some infrastructure where as Australia and England they do have it. We need young girls coming up,” said Taylor who scored 59 off 57 balls in the finals while Matthews earned the award for Player-of-the-Match, by smashing 66 off 45 balls.

“When you look at our team. Most of us are fairly young and when these core players are gone. It’s going to deteriorate and we need to start building young players coming up”.

Taylor has also been effective as a bowler taking a total of eight wickets in the tournament, three of which came in the semi-final against New Zealand.

She has moved up five places in the bowlers’ rankings to 35th, according to the new ICC player rankings released on Monday.

Taylor says her dream is to play Test cricket which she feels will also help her colleagues improve.

“That’s one of my dreams, to play test cricket. The type of player I am I think it will definitely suit and build my game as time goes on but I will definitely love to play test cricket,” said Taylor.

“I think it will definitely help some of the girls.

Longer format of the game where they could build their game and I think it will definitely help us in playing in one day games”. (Widnies Cricket)

B

West Indies celebrate their win in style

en Stokes may not agree, but the West Indies stunning victory against England in the World T20 tournament in India has been hailed as the best thing that could have happened for cricket in general and Caribbean cricket in particular.

The Windies won the final in the most thrilling manner, with Carlos Brathwaite smashing four successive sixes in the last over to rescue what had appeared to be a lost cause and destroy England’s hopes of glory.

Set 156 to win, the team struggled with the bat and were left needing an improbable 19 runs off the final over.

Stokes, usually a nerveless bowler, was given the responsibility of delivering final six balls of the tournament but in the end threw only four, all of which sailed high into the air and over the boundary rope.

“It was a stunning end to a stunning tournament that showcased the best of the modern game - a game in which England played a full part for once,” says Michael Atherton in The Times.

“It was a good day for the Caribbean,” he adds, with the men’s triumph coming hours after the women’s team won their competition, beating Australian in the final. “Whether all these achievements mean a revival more generally in the Caribbean is a moot point: Test cricket has declined so far and there does not seem to be a will for a revival in that format across the board.

“At least in this for-

mat, West Indies will provide vibrant and competitive teams (just as they have their own vibrant domestic competition) and as the format showed more generally, this is certainly the way forward for the global game.”

But victory also highlighted the divisions within the West Indian game.

Victorious captain Darren Sammy criticised the West Indies Cricket Board [WICB], who have been locked in a pay dispute with the players, saying it was “very disappointing” that they had not contacted the team to congratulate them.

The West Indies may rule the World of T20 cricket, but they are essentially a breakaway team. Only two of yesterday’s players have central contracts from the WICB, meaning they are unlikely to play for the country in any other form of cricket. According to Sammy, 14 of the 15-man squad are not even members of the West Indies Players Association.

The side consists mostly of T20 specialists who travel the world playing different competitions – and, in the eyes of the WICB, neglect their country. The players claim it is the only way they can make a decent living.

However, there were signs of a rapprochement when the WICB chairman, Whycliffe Cameron, offered to sit down with the team after the Indian Premier League competition in which many will be appearing. It was “his most conciliatory message to the players for some time”, says Cricinfo.

There was other bridge building going on after the final as commentator Mark

Nicholas, who had described the Windies team as “short on brains”, issued a full apology after Sammy revealed the comment had enraged his side.

Writing in Cricinfo, the former Hampshire star praised the team and Sammy while offering an “unreserved apology” for a “throwaway line”.

“But for all of that, what really matters is that West Indies won,” he added. “Of late, the game has been bereft of West Indian style and celebration. It is the most missed story in sport.”

He also called for engagement between players and officials. “It would be terrific if the WICB responded in a way that helped mobilise the momentum, enthusiasm and brilliance we saw yesterday in other formats of the game.”

Man of the match Marlon Samuels, however, was less charitable. The batsman scored 85 off 66 balls to keep his side in the game, but was fined 30 per cent of his match fee for abusing Stokes during play.

He renewed the attack his post-match press conference, in which he also criticised Australian cricket legend Shane Warne.

“Sitting with his feet on the table, pads still on, [Samuels] had little to no sympathy for Stokes,” reports The Guardian. “He then dedicated his man of the match award to Shane Warne. The Australian, working as a commentator at the World T20, has been less than complimentary about the Jamaican.” (The Week)

20

guyana-times.com

wednesDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

West Indies take CPL step to World Cup Stardom

“Carlos Brathwaite, remember the name!”

I

t was little past noon on Sunday (April 3) when Ian Bishop’s deep baritone bellowed out of television sets across living rooms in Barbados as one of its sons cracked four consecutive sixes to carry West Indies to a fascinating win in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 2016 against a shell-shocked England, 9000 miles away at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Brathwaite, the chief protagonist of that electric finish, did, for sure, etch his name in the history books, but where was this burly youngster, who made his T20I debut back in 2011 against Bangladesh, all this while? Brathwaite, who played six of the eight T20Is in his career in this tournament alone, turned out for West Indies just once in three years since his first appearance, before returning to the side late last year.

Brathwaite’s comeback was largely fuelled by his success in the last two editions of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the domestic T20 league in the West Indies. The tournament highlighted his abilities with the ball and his middle-order power-hitting prowess, which automatically made him the ideal option to replace Kieron Pollard, who was ruled out of the World T20 with a last-minute injury.

It was not just Brathwaite who earned a recall to the national setup after impressive stints at the CPL. Andre Fletcher and Sulieman Benn too had faded off the international circuit for a couple of years before resurrecting their careers through the CPL springboard.

“For us, it is a great feeling to know that we played a small role in giving some of the guys a platform to return to this victorious national team,” Pete Russell, the chief operating officer of the CPL, told Wisden India in a chat following the side’s emphatic win. “Brathwaite, for example, has been a star in the CPL, and look what he’s done for West Indies in this tournament.

“Today, internationally, T20 cricket is the No. 1 format of the game in terms of popularity. We are proud of the way in which CPL has grown over the years, and the fantastic platform it has provided for the youngsters.

Remember, the tournament not only gives the boys a platform to showcase their talent, but also gives them an invaluable opportunity to earn the experience of playing alongside some of the best international players in the world.”

As Darren Sammy, and most of his teammates, repeatedly pointed out, the victory was dedicated to the passionate fans of cricket in the Caribbean, who have been disgruntled by the side’s disappointing run in Tests and One-Day Internationals over the past couple of decades, but now find hope in the team’s success in the shortest format of the game.

“We can see it already, from the fans to the sponsors, everybody is ecstatic about the success West Indies have achieved this year,” said Damien O’Donohoe, CPL’s chief executive officer. “I have no doubt that this summer, cricket fans will come out in huge numbers to cheer on

their heroes when the tournament gets under way. The CPL will stand alongside West indies in every step to help develop the game and build on this incredible success across the islands.”

It was not just the men who brought silverware to the West Indies cupboard this year. A couple of months ago, the Under-19 boys from the Caribbean shocked India in the final of the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, and hours before Sammy’s men lifted the cup, West Indies Women beat New Zealand Women to secure the title of world champions too.

While some of the U-19 boys from that side are expected to turn out in the CPL this year, it will take some time before a women’s version of the competition becomes a reality.

“There are six of the U-19 boys in each of our six franchises this season,” confirmed Russell. “They are all very talented, and their success in the world cup would have already earned them a lot of fans.”

About the women’s tournament, O’Donohoe said, “We are working with the WICB about that. We are not going to have the time to organise a tournament for the women this year, but yes, we are proud of the way they played in the Women’s World T20 competition, and hope to have a women’s CPL across the islands soon.”

The CPL recently confirmed that this edition would break new ground by staging some of the contests in the United States of America for the first time, with the matches to be played in Fort Lauderdale,

Florida. To top that off, six associate players from the North American region were also picked to play in the tournament during the draft earlier this year.

“The anticipation (of playing in the USA) is huge,” said Russell.

“Geographically, the Caribbean islands are an extension of the US, so we thought why not take cricket to the neighbours.

And finally, we are playing six matches in Florida this year. It has always been an integral part of our plan since there aren’t many platforms for those willing to play cricket in the US. If CPL can provide that, imagine what it would be like for the youngsters, to be playing alongside the world champions of T20 cricket.”

Meanwhile, India are set to tour the West Indies in July to play a four-Test series. This means it could clash with, and disrupt, the CPL, which is set to be played between June 21 and July 26.

“We have been working closely with the WICB about that,” said Russell. “But I feel the Indian team touring West Indies at that time is not necessarily a bad thing for the CPL. Firstly, the Tests and the CPL games are going to be played in different countries, though yes, around the same dates. It is an opportunity for the players and fans to enjoy the abundance of cricket that will be going on in the islands at that time. I believe there will be a strong media contingent from India in the Caribbean at that time too, so that will hopefully also help extend our global cover-

Braithwaite’s comeback into the West Indies T20 squad was fuelled by his success in the last two editions of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL photo)

age. We know how big cricket is in India, and how much the fans love their cricket.

Some of the guys from West Indies who will be playing in the CPL are extremely popular in India, so I’m sure this gives us a good opportunity to reach out further to the billions of cricket fans out there.”

The Indian cricketers, most of whom have fans across the world, only take part in the Indian Premier League when it comes to franchise-based cricket tournaments, but O’Donohoe feels their presence in other leagues like the CPL would further boost the popularity of the competitions.

“We – as I am sure every other league in the world – would love to have Indian players in the tour-

nament,” he said. “I do not fully understand BCCI’s position on this matter, but if not the senior players, they could maybe allow the newcomers to come play in the tournament. A stage like the CPL will give them an opportunity to play cricket outside India, which can help them innovate in conditions which are not available back home. Not just in the West Indies, the pace and the bounce of the tracks can also give them a taste of what to expect in say, Australia or South Africa.

It would be a great boost to the tournament and fans of cricket if Indian players enter the CPL, but well, as of now, we will have to still wait for that day.” (Wisden India)

Guyana Jaguars hold fitness session

W

eeks after lifting the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Fourday title for the second year in succession, the Guyana Jaguars re-assembled on Tuesday for a fitness session at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda.

Under the watchful eyes of Head Coach, Esaun Crandon, the players were put through their paces Esaun Crandon as the management staff sought to test their level of tion of the session was to ensure players maintain fitness.

Crandon said the inten- a high level of fitness dur-

ing the off-season. It will also serve to keep players fit and ready ahead of the Caribbean Premier League, as well as possible selection to the West Indies senior team later this year.

Crandon said he was relatively satisfied with what transpired at the session, noting that more players have shown better numbers from the last test.

Late last month, the Guyana Jaguars triumphantly retained the title they won when the PCL was launched the previous year.

21

sports

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Nicholas apologises to Windies for “short of brains” comment

C

ricket columnist Mark Nicholas has apologised to West Indies T20 captain Darren Sammy and his side for describing them as “short of brains” before the start of the T20 World Cup. Nicholas, a former Hampshire County Cricket captain and current TV commentator on Australia’s Channel Nine network, angered Sammy when he said the West Indies were, “short of brains but have IPL history in their ranks”.

His apology is contained in his latest article on ESPN Cricinfo and comes after public statements from Sammy objecting to the characterization.

“The third is to offer an unreserved apology to Darren Sammy, a man I hold in the highest regard, to his team and to the coaches around them for the throwaway phrase I used in a recent column on these pages,” said Nicholas.

“I would have made the same apology whatever the results of the day but I do so now in the knowledge that the people of the Caribbean will be celebrating long into the night and well into to-

Mark Nicholas

morrow”.

West Indies defeated England by four wickets to win their second T20 World Cup on Sunday.

On the eve of the final against England, Sammy objected to Nicholas’s comments contained in a column for ESPNcricinfo on March 3.

“How could you describe people with no brains? Even animals have brains. We’re not an object, and for me, that comment really set us off,” Sammy said.

“It’s really emotional, for somebody who I respect and have a good rapport with generally, to describe our team – who two years ago were world champions – as guys with no brains. That’s really out of order”.

Nicholas has played county cricket alongside great West Indian fast bowlers the likes of Andy Roberts and Malcolm Marshall.

His apology seemed to have been prompted by West Indies’ miraculous win over England who appeared to be on course for victory heading into the last over of the game.

However four consecutive sixes from Carlos Brathwaite of the first four balls from Ben Stokes reversed the likely outcome and gave West Indies a dramatic win.

“Clearly, the West Indies team is not “short of brains”.

I wrote this in a piece that was mainly about India and MS Dhoni and, partly tongue in cheek,” he wrote.

“In three short and illconceived sentences I paid lip service to the other teams, casually remarking that West Indies were “short of brains but have IPL history in their ranks”. I did not say West Indies were “brainless” or had “no brains”, as has been misquoted elsewhere, but I did say something unworthy of the game and disrespectful to a great cricketing legacy”.

(Windies Cricket)

Caricom congratulates Windies on triple crown

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West Indies’ successes on Sunday represented the first occasion that two teams from the same nation had copped both titles

T

he Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, has offered congratulations to the West Indies Men’s and Women’s team which completed a memorable day of cricket on Sunday by sweeping the ICC World T20 titles in India.

LaRocque also recognised the achievements of the West Indies Under-19 team, which captured the Youth World Cup title for the first time, winning the tournament in Bangladesh earlier this year. The triple crown means the Caribbean cricketers have made an unprecedented clean sweep of ICC titles on offer this year.

LaRocque said, “Once again the West Indies cricketers have brought glory to our Region. I congratulate the women and men’s teams on their victories in the International Cricket Council World T20 Competitions which demon-

Caricom SG Irwin LaRocque

strated their ability to overcome the challenges they faced.”

He added, “I also want to congratulate the teams’ coaching staff for their efforts. The teamwork and team spirit in both teams were evident throughout the competition as the hard work of the coaching and support staff ensured that the players, very well led by the captains, kept their focus on the ultimate goal. These triumphs underscored the fact that our people have the ability, not only to compete, but to lead the world.”

LaRocque believes the resounding success of the teams should serve to inspire Caribbean people off all walks of life.

“Their victories [the senior sides] and that of the Under-19 team in the World Cup earlier this year should serve as an inspiration to our youth, in particular, and to our people in all fields of endeavour. Well done West Indies!” LaRocque concluded.

In the Men’s final, West Indies, needing 156 to win, required 19 off the final over bowled by Ben Stokes, and Carlos Brathwaite smashed the first four balls for six to seal the win with two balls to spare.

The Women’s team won by eight wickets with three balls remaining to topple defending champions Australia, while the Under19s had the better of India in the 50-over Youth World Cup in February.

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

wednesDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Amazon Warriors Board and players need to compromise - WICB President est Indies Cricket nal was a "staggering reduc- the WICB to pay you a nice, group match and he was symphatise with Board (WICB) tion", he had said. He also big, fat retainer." in Mumbai when they beat president Dave failed to understand why According to Sammy, India. In fact, he was staySunil Narine Cameron has said that both the WICB could not "figure West Indies are the best in ing in a hotel adjacent to

W

T

he franchise owner of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team, together with the management, staff and all players of the franchise would like to extend sincere condolences to Sunil Narine and his family on the untimely passing of his father Shadeed Narine.

Sunil Narine has been a member of the Guyana Amazon Warriors family for the past three years representing the Warriors with distinction as the Icon player in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The Guyana Amazon Warriors Franchise would like Sunil to know that we certainly empathise with

Sunil Narine

him and our prayers are with him and his family in this difficult period.

Bolt eyes World Records in Rio

U

Usain Bolt

sain Bolt hopes to sign off his Olympic career in style at Rio

2016.

Record-breaking sprinter Usain Bolt believes he is capable of running even faster at this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Bolt won three gold medals (100 metres, 200m, 4x100m relay) in both the 2008 and 2012 Games, and is confident of defending that trio of titles in Brazil.

The Jamaican is also a world-record holder in all three events, having set the current 100m and 200m markers at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin before combining with Yohan Blake, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter to clinch relay gold at London 2012.

And Bolt, who has con-

firmed Rio will be his final Games appearance, believes he is on course to sign off in style.

"Well the training has been going pretty well for the Olympic games. It's been wonderful so far," he said at a Nissan GT-R launch event in New York.

"I've been on track. I've been working out pushing myself because it's a big year, so I'm definitely looking forward to going out and doing my best.

"For me, I never try to predict anything but I definitely said I'm going to go out there and defend my titles, to win three gold medals again.

"Hopefully I can break a few more world records and stuff, so that’s my focus and we'll see what happens." (Digicel Sportsmax)

the board and players need to "compromise" and have discussions to resolve the longstanding feud that has existed between the two parties ever since he got elected in March 2013. Despite the deep distrust between the two parties, Cameron said that he shared a "good" relationship with players and has "gone out of his way" on several occasions to "reach out" to them.

The Indian tour boycott in October 2014, threat of pullouts over payment disputes ahead of numerous series and tournaments, differences among the board, selectors and the head coach are just some of the headlines that have persisted during Cameron's presidency which is into its second term after he was re-elected last March.

Cameron was at the Eden Gardens during the World Twenty20 final when West Indies captain Darren Sammy delivered a stirring speech after their stunning win against England on Sunday. Sammy had declared how "disappointed" he and his players were to not hear anything from the WICB till the minute they became the first team to win the World T20 crown twice.

Cameron had responded by saying that he would meet the West Indies players for negotiations after the IPL. The biggest point of contention is that the players have refused to sign the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) put together by the WICB under Cameron and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA). The players say they stand to lose a lot of money and want to revert to the previous arrangement.

Recently, Sammy had said the players were unhappy with the remuneration offered by the WICB to participate in the World T20. A sum of $27,600 for the entire tournament including the fi-

out" how much 25% of the participation fee for playing in the ICC tournaments would amount to.

Cameron said he was happy to explain to Sammy and the team how the remuneration had been worked out. "Even if I give them a million dollars they will still say it is not fair. One has to be reasonable," Cameron said. "We need to compro-

the T20 format, a fact underlined by their second World T20 title, and hence he failed to understand why he and others who play only T20Is now were not given a contract. Cameron disagreed.

"Why would I retain you to play three-four matches a year? What are you doing for the WICB outside of playing two-three T20Is

Dave Cameron

mise. We need to have a discussion. That is what I have been saying to them, 'Let us sit down and let me explain to you where we are at.' We have given up the two best months of our year for cricket - April and May. We are not playing any cricket because we have allowed them to come over to India and play in the IPL. Some of them are making $500,000, a million, a million and a half. Great. We have sacrificed that two months for you.

"We only have 52 weeks in a year. If you want to play Big Bash, Ram Slam and all those T20 tournaments, then we also need you to bring back the information and the experience to our players back home and also our sponsors who are sponsoring our tournaments who want to have our stars back home. You can't want to play everywhere, the WICB has to call on your services either domestic or international, but then you want

a year? We have to have some kind of consciousness about that," Cameron said.

"Unfortunately, the truth is I have reached out to the players, I have reached out to them individually. I have reached them through Jason [Holder, West Indies Test captain]."

Cameron pointed out that players, especially the seniors, were not "forthcoming" whenever he tried to talk to them about finding a way out. "They haven't been forthcoming. It is interesting that Darren Sammy has these views and rightly so since it affects him personally," Cameron said. "But we are running the sport.

We can't focus on any one player. And that is part of the mistakes we have been making for a very, very long time."

Interestingly, Cameron was in India when West Indies reached the knockouts. He was in Nagpur when West Indies lost to Afghanistan in their final

the team hotel. Yet, he did not visit the players. Asked if such a move could be perceived as a sign of being closed and arrogant, Cameron disagreed. "But I am available, I have told them that," he said. "I have told them directly. I have told them through the manager that I am available.

They are next door in the Trident."

He then pointed out that he had gone out of his way on more than one occasion, including having dinner with the players on the 2014-15 South Africa tour, to reach out to the team.

Incidentally, most of the senior players were not present at that dinner, a fact Cameron conceded.

In Mumbai, Cameron said he had "not met all of them", a move he called "deliberate" because he felt he would distract them. "They are staying next door. I haven't been around them too much. And that is very, very deliberate. That's very, very deliberate. I am staying next door, and not in the same hotel as well because sometimes players get a little nervous when the management is around them.

They probably feel a little defensive. I don't want to feel like I am spying on them. No, man, the relationship is good. It is where it needs to be, which is I'm the president of the organisation. They are the stars and they know that the WICB is supporting them in winning these tournaments."

Cameron also dismissed the perception that the team won the World T20 despite the WICB. "Despite! Well, I don't know how you get 'despite'," he said. "So who is the team representing here (laughs)? So it can't be despite of. Winning the WT20 or being here in WT20 is because of what the WICB has done. The players here, where did they come from?"

(Cricinfo)

GCB congratulates Windies men and women on World Cup titles

T

he Guyana Cricket Board became the latest organisation to congratulate the West Indies men and women squads on their World T20 title wins on Sunday in India.

The full statement is as follows: The Executives, members and staff of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) congratulate the Windies men and women teams for creating history by winning both the male and female World T20 titles last Sunday in India. We are the first cricket nation to achieve this accolade; being the current ICC World Cup U-19 champs, we are also the first to win three world titles in one year.

We are extremely proud and thrilled about our men and women accomplishments. They have ex- West Indies men and women indulge in their Caribbean style celebrations hibited immense cour-

age, self-belief and determination.

They were courageous, assertive and grabbed opportunities when presented. In the men’s contest, different players took the responsibility at various times to ensure their team achieved victory; in so doing defining a powerful and a winning team.

Similarly, in the female contest our ladies were consistent and dominant.

We acknowledge the captains, Darren Sammy and Stafanie Taylor for their sensible and warrior-like leadership. Taylor led from the front with the bat and ball

which saw her copping the Player-of-the-tournament award. Over the past few years, this young lady is undoubtedly emerged as one of the most reliable and consistent female cricketers in the world. We at the GCB admire her talent, salute her achievements and wish her continued success.

We also laud Marlon Samuels, Carlos Brathwaite and Hayley Matthews on their breathtaking matchwinning innings in the finals.

They became heroes that day, and brought immense joy to the Caribbean people and West Indies supporters across the world.

We also salute the management, support staff of the team and the WICB for their levels of commitment and proficiency. It is a truly a defining moment in our cricket in the history of our West Indian cricket.

wednesday, APRIL 6, 2016

guyana-times.com

23

WEDNesDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

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

Guyana Jaguars hold fitness session

Pg 20 Guyana Jaguars looking to stay fit during the off-season

Board and players need to compromise - WICB President Pg 22

Dave Cameron: “Winning the World T20 or being here in the World T20 is because of what the WICB has done”

(AFP photo)

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