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

Issue No. 2861

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, May 20, 2016

PRICE

Broomes to be removed if conflict of interest arises – President

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Large quantity of cannabis P9 found at businessman’s premises

Page 3

…information confirms Broomes applied for and was granted mining permit while at Natural Resources Ministry

Be more specific on strategy for green economy – Jagdeo tells Granger Page 7

“Linden will be a key gateway to Brazil” – Mayor P13 Holland

UG staff threatens P16 industrial action over salary increase Jubilee Fashion Extravaganza launched P14

Passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) were warmly greeted by Caribbean Airlines models in celebration of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary (Photo compliments of iNEWS)

City Hall flouts injunction, bulldozes 48-year-old business

Amid calls for GuySuCo bailout

– Council says "Dread Shop" known for unsavoury activities

‘Drunken’ Policeman granted bail for causing death of 10-year-old

Page 7

Guyana risks losing business from international correspondent banks Page 10

… remittances would be slowed – AG

President assures wellP9 being of workers will be preserved

2 news

friDAY, may 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Stabroek Square restoration

City Hall flouts injunction, bulldozes 48-year-old business

– says “Dread Shop” is known for unsavoury activities

D

espite an Injunction, the Mayor and City Council in the wee hours of Thursday moved in and dismantled the famous ‘Dread Shop’, located at Russell Square, Stabroek, Georgetown, a business which has been in existence for some 48 years.

The council workers sometime around 03:00h began the demolition.

The proprietor Anthony Forde, 74, who could not hold back his tears said he was not informed that his building would have been demolished and had only learnt at 09:30h that his business was destroyed.

He explained that the “Dread Shop” night spot has existed since 1968 and noted that he has been paying rates and taxes for years.

Forde and his nephew related that they did not get an opportunity to retrieve their valuables and that “junkies” made off with many of the

Attorney Nigel Hughes

items.

Among their lost property were a pools table and television sets. The nephew who preferred not be named, was of the view that the government has “no concern” for ordinary businesspeople.

Attorney Nigel Hughes, who is representing Forde, stressed that City Hall has shown “disregard” to the courts as the matter is still being addressed.

“This has got to be the most outrageous act I’ve seen in a long time because [the matter is] actively going to mediation on the recommendation of the Court of Appeal and then they failed to turn up at the mediation and the Court of Appeal still has conduct of this matter and they believe they can disregard this act,” Hughes posited.

The attorney explained that after he called the City Engineer on Thursday afternoon, Town Clerk Royston King then confirmed that demolition actions were indeed taken.

“I believe that where people decide that they are not going to obey the law of the land and where they are not going to obey the outcomes of the court proceedings to deal with this particular piece of property then we are in a very dangerous state,” the attorney warned.

“There is a dispute right now between Mr Patterson’s

Ministry and the City Council about who actually owns this square because it was donated by the Russell family [while] the Ministry [of Public Infrastructure] claims it is their territory and the city council claims it is their territory,” the attorney further explained.

Meanwhile, also slated for demolition is the nearby “Island Snackette” which has been in operation for almost 50 years. Daughter of the original proprietors Abeola Fung told this newspaper that her family has invested “millions of dollars” to improve the standard of the business. They claim that City Hall said their structure will also be torn down. Fung further related that some years ago City Hall had approved a plan for rehabilitation works to their structure.

City Hall has been relocating vendors and stall owners in a move that it said will see a transformation of the

Stabroek Market Square.

While some vendors have welcomed the change, others have protested the initiatives of City Council viewing them as “unfair” and “uncaring”.

‘Unsavoury’ activities

Meanwhile, City Council in a statement Thursday afternoon, explained that a technical team attached to the Municipality’s Engineer’s Department carried out a removal exercise that saw “the

flattening of the so called ‘dread shop’ located west of Parliament Building”.

“The Town Clerk’s office had given earlier notice to the structure’s operators, while making specific reference to what was described as ‘unsavoury’ activities taking place there, particularly on Friday nights. Operations at this facility was also said to be in direct breach of city public health laws,” the statement added.

M&CC to remove illegal structures in East Ruimveldt Market, along Mandela Ave – vendors given 24h notice to relinquish city’s property

T

he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to another group of persons who have been breaching city rules and regulations.

According to a statement from City Hall on Thursday, persons who are illegally occupying public spaces on the western side of Mandela Avenue with makeshift structures, as well as the East Ruimveldt market vendors who have also constructed illegal structures are being ordered to remove their belongings from the city’s property.

“These persons have constructed shacks and stored items on these properties. The Council has noted that there are plans to utilise the facility and thus offered 24 hours for persons to remove their items and relinquish the city’s property. A 24-hour timeframe was also given to vendors to remove their illegal structures ahead of the Council’s visit to the location,” the release stated.

Town Clerk Royston King said, “The Council is concerned about vendors illegally increasing selling points, virtually repeating what is being restricted in the city centre.”

King said that several notices have been served on the vendors but they continue to illegally expand.

Notice was also given to persons squatting along Mandela Avenue.

City Hall is making it clear that all other illegal structures around the city are being eyed for removal, as its sanitation and management programmes continue.

The City Council reminded that the city was in a transitional phase and reiterated calls for the cooperation of all stakeholders.

“While the law is clear on what is and what is not permitted in and on public spaces, the Council is adamant about mechanisms to ease the transition process for vendors. Though this is not an obligation of the Council and requires separate financing, they have noted that the wellbeing of the city depends on the well-being of citizens.

“All Guyanese deserve to have a city equal to the best in world,” the Town Clerk stated.

King said the Council has an agenda to make Georgetown the “cleanest and greenest” city in the Caribbean, and this will be achieved, “regardless of the difficulties”.

news

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friDAY, may 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, May 20 – 14:30h-16:00h and Saturday, May 21 – 14:30h-16:00h.

Broomes to be removed if conflict of interest arises – President

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, May 20 – 15:35h-17:05h and Saturday, May 21 – 16:10h-17:40h.

…information confirms Broomes applied for and was granted mining permit while at Natural Resources Ministry

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Heavy rainfall can be expected throughout the morning and early afternoon hours while light cloud cover is expected in the late afternoon and early evening hours. Thundery showers are expected later in the night. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 2.68 metres per second and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 03:27h and 15:50h reaching maximum heights of 2.58 metres and 2.53 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:25h and 21:37h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 metre and 0.69 metre respectively.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

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resident David Granger on Thursday rejected calls for Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes to be transferred out of that Ministry, as conflict of interest concerns continue to rage over her current oversight of the mining sector, even as her children take over ownership of her mining operations.

There have been calls from several anticorruption and transparency advocates for the minister to be reassigned to another ministry after information surfaced that a Simona Broomes was recently granted a new mining permit.

But the minister quickly rejected those claims, noting that it was her daughter, also named Simona Broomes, who was named in those documents.

Commenting on the issue on Thursday, during the taping of his weekly telecast, The Public Interest, President Granger said Broomes will remain in her post until such time as there is a confirmed case of conflict of interest.

“We have a draft code of conduct and if any situation were to arise, I’m very confident that she’d either be put in another place or she would demit office but that situation hasn’t arisen at the present time,” the Head of State remarked in response to the calls for Broomes’s removal.

In fact, the President pointed out that the functions that the Junior Natural Resources Minister performs within the Ministry do not necessarily come into conflict with the fact that her children owning mining properties.

Granger went on to explain that when the matter was brought up, actions were taken by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman to investigate the issue.

“Minister of Natural Resources is an experienced attorney and I’ve asked him for his views and I would be guided by his advice, but presently I do not see that there is

President David Granger

any need to remove her,” the Head of State posited.

Minister Broomes applied and Granted Permit But, while the president has said he awaits a clear case of conflict of Interest involving the Minister, Guyana Times was able to obtain a copy of an ‘application for permission to operate dredge or specified machinery’ dated March 4, 2016, in the name of Simona Broomes. The document contained National Identification (ID) Number 11383803.

Upon investigations this publication was able to confirm that the ID number is that of Simona Judie Broomes, the full name of the Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, contradicting what Broomes had earlier said, that it was her daughter who was named in those documents.

Independent analysts are now challenging the president to match his words with action in face of this evidence which has emerged.

“If the President says he wants evidence and if the evidence is now available, it will be interesting to see what action he will take, because if indeed the minister applied for a permit and was granted that permit while holding political office, then it is clearly a conflict of interest. So let’s wait and see if the President

Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes

will match words with action,” one analyst told this publication.

Only recently, newly-appointed president of the local corruption watchdog, Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI), Troy Thomas said the entire situation was embarrassing, and supported calls for the minister to be transferred to another ministry. “(Government) might argue that she has expertise in that area, but I am not sure I will buy that, because ultimately she is working in that area and Guyana is a small country and the contacts with officials will be very close, so I think it does create a conflict of interest from a personal standpoint,” Thomas stated during a recent interview with this newspaper.

The TIGI President added that he supported the position that the minister should be reassigned to another ministry, which could significantly reduce the accusations of conflict of interest.

“It might indeed be better if she has to be a minister, to go somewhere else, because no matter how you turn, it doesn’t look good,” he opined.

Similar calls were also made by political commentators Dr Henry Jeffery and Raymond Gaskin.

But, Minister Broomes dismissed the allegations lev-

elled against her as part of a “deliberate attempt to besmirch” her character and that of her children.

The minister, who spent some 28 years as a miner, further stated that while her children continue to operate in the mining sector, there is no preferential treatment as her children are “towing the line.”

Minister Broomes boasted that prior to becoming a minister, she maintained a spotless character and it is her intention to continue to maintain that character and leave a legacy of transparency and accountability.

“It is not an easy task but I have committed. I am one of the female ministers that will stand tall and I will not buckle,” she said.

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guyana-times.com

fridAY, may 20, 2016

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Bittersweet sugar industry

T

he Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has once again hinted its intention to approach the Government for another bailout from the public treasury. There is no doubt that a decision by the Administration to accede or not will have a major impact on the lives of thousands. Compounding to the difficulties of the sugar industry is the fact that over the past months, the nation has unfortunately been witnessing the deterioration of industrial relations between the major players in Guyana’s sugar industry – namely GuySuCo and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU). Such a situation is distressing for workers, considering that it is their future that is in the hands of these major players. The difficulties being experienced by GuySuCo are not new to the industry but it will take a strong economic plan and meaningful consultation to bring this industry out of its constant financial woes. The sugar industry will have to undergo thoughtful transformation to make it a viable industry.

It is quite refreshing that President David Granger during his most recent programme “Public Interest” indicated that Cabinet has received the report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the sugar industry and has assured that there will be full consultations with the Opposition and with the workers before any action is taken about the future of the sugar industry. To quote him directly, “We are committed to a consultative process, we are also committed to a humane process and there is not going to be any action which is going to be injurious or harmful to the interest of the working people of this country.” The Head of State has also assured that while the bailout for the sugar industry will be costly on the treasury, a conclusion on the fate of the sugar industry is not going to be arbitrary or unilateral.

However, moving towards consultation with the Opposition, workers and civil society is something Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had called for since January of this year, while addressing hundreds of sugar workers who are on the breadline when the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate, on the West Bank of Demerara takes effect later this year. As a matter of fact, Jagdeo during a meeting with the affected sugar workers had called for a public debate on the sugar industry which remains one of the largest employers of the Guyanese population and was still one of the largest foreign currency earners.

However, while the President has made this announcement, the issue of trust arises. At present, the issue of trust is very thin, considering that the CoI did not recommend the closure of the Wales or La Bonne Intention estates but yet Government went ahead and confirmed those closures.

If we are to move forward with the workers’ interests at heart, then all parties should put politics aside and seek to have an industry which is viable, resilient and profitable. This consultation should not be just a showpiece or public display of lip service but rather meaningful contribution to the sustainability of the deteriorating sugar industry.

Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has made it clear that it is in a dire financial situation and GAWU has made it clear also of its demands for workers.

Neither of the two has shifted its position, and as such, a compromise for an acceptable deal for workers was never reached with respect to the fight for Annual Production Incentive (API). These major players have always been at loggerheads and not much progress was made in any of their previous negotiations.

In moving forward, all parties should return to the drawing board on the future of the sugar industry, and consultation and a public debate is a good place to start.

We are therefore holding the Head of State on his word for consultations.

Iran’s mesmerising travel hotspots. In this Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji photo, we get a glimpse into The Pink Mosque, or Nasir almulk Mosque, a historic site in Shiraz (The Guardian)

No government will ever succeed if its agenda is to neutralise its opposition Dear Editor, I was in a conversation with my PNC friend the other day when I asked the pointed question, look at how yuh Boy Granger treat the Stabroek Vendors? The reply was “don’t get tie up, Granger gat to do that for the 50th anniversary, but dem people going back right deh.”

In fact he gave me a specific date, he said, “everything was going back to normal by May 28 after the celebrations.” Now I could not fathom the logic of his statement, reasons being, why should the City Council go through all the pain, shame and publicity to remove those vendors only to have them go right back there?

I could not figure this out. So, the investigative spirit in me caused me to spike the conversation on a little further by asking another question. I said, then, what do you think is going to happen with the squatters at Timehri when the airport is to be expanded, there are a number of

squatters there in the direct line of the airport’s improvement and modernization? My friend answered “With that, he is going to find place for them before he move in on them... so there wouldn’t be anything like Stabroek.” He continued, “Granger like he people, yeh and he aint going to do anything to hurt them.”

Now, when you carefully analyse my friend’s statement, the following scenario readily comes to mind: The Wales Estate closure that is set for this yearend, and if my recollection goes further, the LBI Estate is on that list also.

At the announced closure of Wales I vividly remember when those workers protested in Georgetown some of those same displaced vendors were sent there to break up the protest. Those vendors hurled expletives at the protesters, in one instance even assaulting a worker. She did this to show her ardent support for Granger and the PNC-led Coalition.

So where am I going

with this? The point is Wales would be shut down - no doubt about that - and Granger is hoping that the public does not use this as an act of racism or partiality.

You see, most of the workers at Wales are mainly of a particular race and presumed to be PPP/C supporters. So, brutally throw them out of a livelihood then turn around and say that you are an even-handed administration, you have done a fair job at governance, when we all know that this is not the case.

There is a hidden agenda in all of this government’s actions, be it the rice industry, sugar, forestry, gold mining, in education, you name it and there is that hidden agenda of crass partiality written all over it. The real aim is to decimate, and when I use the term I am using it in its truest sense, they are out to decimate the PPP/C. Break up the party’s support base and rule unhindered.

This is their real objective. This is not really a new

phenomenon when discussing the various moves made by this government.

The pattern of their fabric that they are cut out from is old PNC tactics, Burnhamite in creation and perpetuated by his acolytes in the PNC-dominated Coalition. But before I get carried away by this narrow, myopic and backward move by this administration let me get back to the main idea.

I hasten to a close by saying this: no government will ever succeed if its agenda is to neutralise its opposition. We have seen this foolishness manifesting itself right here in Guyana in the 28 years reign of the PNC and in other backward states of the world.

We have seen the catastrophically dire consequences derived from such moves, some of which are already here in Guyana.

Simply put, it will not work. It will only result in the retrogression of the entire nation we call Guyana.

Neil Adams

See the changes in GuySuCo as an opportunity to build a resilient business rather than as a challenge Dear Editor, The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) wishes to respond to a letter

by Donald Ramotar that was published in the Stabroek News on Saturday 14 May, 2016 titled ‘The Government is Discriminating Against Africans who support the PPP/C’.

In the letter Ramotar stated that, ‘also, there are reports of the many highly trained technical people/

Indo-Guyanese who are being fired at GuySuCo without reason’. The Corporation finds this statement by Ramotar to be bordering on recklessness since it is baseless and basically an untruth.

In addition, based on the nature of the statement we are taken aback that a person of Ramotar’s calibre and whose duty is above that of the ordinary person would write so loosely and care-

lessly and have these expressions published.

Ramotar further stated that, ‘at the same time, old retirees, some almost in their nineties are being employed with super salaries.

It is reported that these persons are guaranteed a takehome pay of $1.2 million per month! These are two consultants in factory operations, one in Agriculture and one in Human Resources Department.

The gross pay for these consultants plus vacation allowance and gratuity will cost the corporation $140 million per year.

This does not include expenses for vehicle, fuel, security and domestic staff.

This is a clear case of jobs for the boys’.

Once again, the Corporation is surprised that Ramotar would make the above statement. continued on page 5

guyana-times.com

friDAY, may 20, 2016

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

It’s about time we implement laws related See the changes in... to indecent language and behaviour Dear Editor, Our society has suddenly become a place where ‘curse words’ or “cuss words’’ are the order of the day, and it seems as if we have no law to incriminate those using them from day to day.

From the educated highly respected lawyers, doctors, police, parliamentarians, teachers, to the illiterates, all have become victims of using profane language. In more than 80 per cent of our homes today ‘curse words’ are used by parents to their children, husbands to wives; wives to husbands, brothers to sisters, students to teachers, employers to employees, police to citizens, citizens to police; workers to other workers and publicly ‘curse words’ can be heard at the car and bus parks, while travelling in the buses or taxis, and the unending list has eaten away the moral fabric of our society like a perpetual cancer.

We have fallen morally, spiritually and intellectually as a nation. Our sense of decency and morality has become something of the past. We have deteriorated seriously over the past generation since our laws are violated by citizens and those who make the laws. If you are driving and police should stop your car they will ‘curse’ you to get out the vehicle if they wish to search it. They themselves set a very bad example to our society. Many years ago, people used to be charged for using indecent language and even be jailed, but to-

day it seems as if our laws are flouted and we are just living in a “cowboy’’ country like in the wild West; killing each other with our tongues.

It is something global, since most movies are loaded with cuss words, vulgarity and immorality. The songs we listen to, from dancehall to reggae, to soca, to pop, are loaded with ‘curse words’ the songs of Alkaline, Kartel, Movoda and others are loaded with cuss words and sexually explicit lyrics.

Not very long ago I was listening to British singer Adele singing at a concert.

Before she started to sing she was talking to the audience. After listening to her accented speech very carefully by using my computer headphone, this great singer used more than ten curse words while addressing her audience. I deleted her video and stopped listening to her.

Even in the buses they will play dance-hall songs that are full of cuss words.

Lady Gaga will sing practically naked even cuss her audience and cuss at interviews, yet our educated TV personalities are promoting her filth in our country. I can safely say musical pornography has invaded almost every area of our society, compounded with cuss words.

Cuss words have permeated the printed pages of books; and I mean books that have won The Guyana Prize for Literature. Our government and university give away US$5000 to writers of fiction, poetry & drama – for books written in profane and

immoral language.

Yet many of these writers are clamouring for their books of Literature to be used in our schools. It’s no wonder literature has become a dead subject in our schools today. We haven’t produced much quality literature as a nation. Literature and books should build up our children’s psyche and morality; literature should inspire our students to write greater works.

How are we going to educate our children with books written in cuss words? If our President and Minister of Education should really read the books that have won the Guyana Prize for Literature, I believe they would obliterate the Prize.

Our writers should read the classics and write clean literature like Homer, Virgil, Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, Shelly, Byron, Keats to name just a few classical writers.

But how many of our writers would like to read the classics? Our greatest writers are Wilson Harris, Martin Carter, AJ Seymour and Edgar Mittelholzer.

What we write today and publish will define the intellect and morals of the writer since literature is about the historical foundation of a nation. The greatest Greek poet Homer, and Roman poet Virgil, wrote epic poetry of great historical significance. Their poetry in the original Greek and Latin languages contained no sentence or paragraph of profanity. Why can’t our writers do the same? Almost

every day, I read of domestic violence in our country – men killing and hurting their wives or girlfriends and women killing their husbands and boyfriends.

The news in our media make one sick. As I travel to different parts of Guyana, cuss words ring out like showers of rains in our communities.

There is no respect for one another, even in the churches people can curse.

It’s about time we implement laws related to indecent language and indecent behaviour. The future of this nation lies in the hands of our next generation, but we are just a few years from becoming a nation of illiterates and profoundly ignorant people with no future if we don’t change our way of speaking, attitude and character.

Guyana is a nation too young to die, we need to raise our standards higher; our leaders need to set the moral example to our citizens. They need to stop fighting and cussing each other and work with love and unity to build Guyana.

As our National Poet Martin Carter wrote: “All are involved All are consumed. I do not sleep to dream/but dream to change the world.”

We must have a dream to change: if we change our character and attitude we will change our nation and be a better people in the generations to come.

Yours faithfully, Rev Gideon Cecil

UK could have done more to combat corruption Dear Editor,

The UK Prime Minister David Cameron hosted an international summit in England, where I am currently visiting, last week on the effects of (official government) corruption and how to tackle it. Mr Cameron described corruption as “a greater threat to society than Islamic terrorism”.

Leaders of some fifty states, including Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad, attended the London summit.

Corruption is eating away at the fabric of nations and must be addressed. Guyana is facing serious corruption.

Towards this point, the UK PM must be applauded for focusing on corruption. But there is an element of hypocrisy in the PM's sincerity in addressing corruption; Cameron slams some unfriendly countries, but excuses others. It has not slammed corruption in Guyana where the UK installed a racist regime in 1964.

Also, Cameron failed to point out Britain’s role in promoting and/or condoning corruption in so many countries. The leaders of the countries Cameron mentioned

as being among the most corrupt admit their countries have corruption. But they are urging Cameron to help them prosecute those linked to corruption and for Cameron to return stolen money that is deposited in British banks for safe-keeping. Cameron has not addressed that request or the issue of Britain’s role in facilitating theft of national funds which have been deposited in UK banks.

It is no secret that Britain and the US installed the corrupt regimes in Iraq and Afghanistan against the wishes of the international community and the same in Guyana. Those two countries are, therefore, responsible for corruption in Iraq and Afghanistan. The corrupt leaders of Nigeria have deposited much of their stolen loot in UK banks. When requested to seize the stolen loot, Britain is silent because returning stolen money to their rightful owners could lead to a collapse of British banks.

Corruption is not only when leaders or officials or businesses steal money or pay bribes for contracts.

There is also electoral cor-

ruption. The US toppled Jagan. So Britain turns a blind eye to electoral fraud as happened in Guyana. It also turned a blind eye to financial corruption as long as socialist leaders are or were prevented from assuming office. It is public information that the US and Britain encouraged electoral abuse and even racial violence in Guyana to remove a democratically elected Jagan Government. It is also on record that the US and Britain facilitated and condoned electoral fraud in Guyana between 1964 and 1992. Both major world powers also turned a blind eye to corruption to keep the socialist PPP from office.

Cameron cannot be held responsible for the corruption that took place in so many countries. But at a minimum, he should have expressed regrets for what happened under his predecessors and promise that under his Administration corruption would be exposed.

To reduce or prevent corruption in other countries during the reign of his predecessors, funds could have been filtered directly to NGOs and community groups or honest

local governments for projects. The UK could have supported democratic organisations in Guyana instead of the corrupt PNC. It is not too late for the UK Government to give funds directly to local bodies and NGOs rather than to corrupt leaders at the centre. This is one way to reduce and ultimately eliminate corruption. Britain can also extradite corrupt officials (and charge them) who stole British grants or funds given to the regimes.

I applaud Mr Cameron for focusing on corruption with the intention of eliminating it. But the UK Government needs to do a lot more than merely speak about corruption. It must identify the corrupt and bring charges against those who hide their money in the UK and/or confiscate their stolen loot and return it to the home countries. And it is not too late to go after those who looted the treasury since 1965 or who enriched themselves acquiring State lands during the dictatorship.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

One would have thought that Ramotar because of his special experiences in national development, strategic business planning and the requirements for re-engineering an industry, such as the sugar industry, would have a greater appreciation for the critical need to engage the appropriate expertise and the best available resources if one is serious about re-organising and developing a resilient business or industry.

We hereby take this opportunity to provide Ramotar with some useful insights on the vision and direction for the GuySuCo we are recreating.

The reality is that GuySuCo is currently challenged by both external and internal forces; this challenge nevertheless, has presented a rare opportunity for the Corporation to be re-birthed, be re-configured, and re-engineered, so that it

from page 4

can become a resilient business. New skills and expertise are being recruited and developed from within. The organisational psychology and sociology would have to change. Basically, we would have to change the way we think and do business.

The management of the Corporation is in the process of reviewing and revising the psychology, behaviour and strategic focus of the Corporation, since we have recognised that we cannot continue to do the same things and expect different results. In some cases, we have recognised that mere change will not be sufficient; we would need to have profound change.

Yours faithfully, Audreyanna Thomas, Senior Communications Officer, Guyana Sugar Corporation

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Foundation

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The most impactful words I say to my children – I’ve embraced the power in empathy. It’s become my new secret parenting weapon

By Meredith Mortensen

I

t’s a rare day in our house if I don’t hear some type of whining from our children. It usually starts early in the morning, especially if it’s a school day.

“I don’t want to go to school.

I want to stay home today,” my five-year-old daughter will lead with. Taking the bait, I’ll usually counter with encouraging words.

“School will be fun. You’ll get to see your friends and go to music class. You love music,” I say, in my most upbeat tone.

I attempt to temper my children’s whining every day. Probably 10 times a day, I find myself trying to talk them into something they don’t want to do, especially with my daughter. I’ll present a multitude of fun things to look forward to throughout the school day.

Some days it’s a futile effort or I’m simply too tired to come up with a fitting response.

One particular Friday morning after a long week, I was too exhausted to engage in our usual dialogue.

The complaints started flowing. “I don’t want to go to before/after school care today.

I want to be at home in my pyjamas,” she moaned.

Instead of turning into a cheerleader, I looked at my daughter through tired eyes and I said, “I understand.”

Bewildered, she didn’t say anything at all. After a few moments of silence, she asked, puzzled, “You do?”

“Yes,” I continued. “I un-

guyana-times.com

derstand. I know exactly what it’s like to have to do something I don’t want to do.”

“Thanks,” she said as I watched her mind start to wander. “Can you pack me a treat in my lunch today?”

Huh? That was it? No more the-world-is-goingto-end-if-I-have-to-go-to-

Every time I said those magic words, they seemed to grow more and more power. My daughter needs to be heard and validated. She needs to get it out and have her voice be recognised.

Once she’s done that, she can move on with her day.

Empathy with children is so often overlooked as we try to

made sense to me.

“We couldn’t go to Vivenne’s party this year because we were out of town.

I bet you’ll be invited next year, and we can definitely try to make it next year,” I’d say, trying to reason with her while she’s wailing uncontrollably. My rational logic cannot rival her

4

keys to resolving conflict with your child Part 2

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ost parents know the nightly ritual: You read your child a bedtime story, say “lights out,” and then brace for the storm of “I do not want to go to bed!!!” Night after night, parents suffer from this same malady, until we finally lose that last sliver of patience and snap back at our child with some not-so-nice words.

Our child eventually falls asleep, but we lay awake worrying about what we said and wondering whether we may just be the single worst parent in the world.

By Daniel L Shapiro

Resist the repetition compulsion

school-today sob story? I said something that worked? I started repeating those two words after every negative, whining sentence that came out of her mouth.

“I don’t want chicken for dinner.”

“I understand.”

“I don’t want to go to bed.”

“I understand.”

“I don’t Iike going to church.”

“I understand.”

pound into them our responsible, adult mentalities.

My daughter is deeply emotional. After coming home from school, it’s natural for her to have some form of meltdown. She capably holds herself together all day in front of her peers and teachers, despite all the strong emotions she’s experiencing. But the moment she comes home, it’s tears and heartache. In the past, I would try to apply my logic to her emotions in ways that

intense feelings. I’ve learnt to hold her, tell her I understand, and allow this wave to crash. I’ve embraced the power in empathy. It’s become my new secret parenting weapon.

The other morning our two-year-old was shaking his head with force repeating “No, NO, NOO. No school today!” My daughter gave him a hug and said, “It’s okay, buddy. I understand how you feel.” Apparently, empathy is catching on. (parenting.com)

Notice the patterns of conflict that you tend to repeat when in a fight with a child. In my own family, I noticed a common pattern develop with my 10-yearold son, Noah. The moment he started to tease his younger brothers, I would immediately step in with tough words: “Noah … stop!”

He tended to ignore t h o s e words a n d persist with h i s b e h a v i o u r , w h i c h u n d e r mined my authority but elevated his status in his brothers’ eyes.

Of course, I would then fur-

ther assert my authority, again demanding he stop.

Inevitably, our conversation would end in a verbal clash.

But our relationship was not doomed. The key is to notice a dysfunctional pattern of conflict and commit to changing one or two actions in that process. In my relationship with Noah, I came to understand our typical pattern of mutual confrontation, and I sought to change my behaviour.

When Noah next teased his brothers, I stepped in and asked him to stop.

He refused.

B u t i n stead of escalating my demand, I asked his advice on how we might deal with the situation. He appeared caught off guard, and told me that his younger brothers had been invading his space on the couch.

Now we were talking, listening, and effectively communicating. By asking Noah for advice, I jolted us out of our typical pattern of discord, which created space for us to have a more productive conversation.

So take action today, tomorrow, and the next As I write this article, I realize that the advice I am sharing is as much for me as for you. My three boys are loving and adorable, but they certainly test their daddy’s patience on a daily basis. Patterns of conflict are hard to change. But with conscientious effort, you can avoid falling prey to vertigo, to the repetition compulsion, and to the usual fight. As you keep trying, your fights will start to feel more manageable, and your relationships will feel more constructive. And with enough effort, you may just be able to master the fine art of conflict resolution by the time your child grows up.

(Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

news

7

friday, may 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Be more specific on ‘Drunken’ Policeman granted bail for causing death of 10-year-old strategy for green economy – Jagdeo A tells Granger

E

xpressing his utmost disappointment with the “haphazard approach” being undertaken to transform the country into a green economy, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday demanded that the Government give specific details about its plan to promote sustainable energies and ultimately create an economy that is less dependent on fossil fuels.

According to Jagdeo, at every available opportunity, President David Granger talks up his Government’s intention to develop huge wind farms, solar farms and hydropower plants; however, he hardly ventured into pointedly speaking about how he intends to attain those targets.

Only recently at the official opening ceremony of GuyExpo 2016, Granger unveiled Government’s intention to adopt a Green Development Strategy (GDS), noting that every Government institution (hospitals Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and schools) must soon convert to using it is an economic concept,” the Opposition green energy.

Granger also committed to placing an- Leader argued.

He asserted that no one is even sure other two million hectares of Guyana’s land about “anything anymore about the green under conservation in an effort to protect economy”, given Government’s apparent the country’s rich flora and fauna so that lack of strategy on the matter. “our grandchildren can see the good things “No conceptual framework, no vision exwe inherited from our grandparents”. cepting they are implementing in a haphazPreviously, the President had announced ard way some of the things we’ve left,” he intentions to reduce the tariffs on the imporposited. tation of key materials and all equipment Jagdeo also expressed concerns over the used to generate renewable energy. status of several of the green projects that The President had also pronounced that were introduced by the People’s Progressive the Norway Funds will now be utilised for Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration under more strategic projects such as reforestathe Norway/Guyana partnership. tion in mined-out areas, generation of enerIt was previously pointed out by gy apart from hydropower, coastal zone manOpposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira that agement and tackling the impacts of El Niño. since the change of Government, a numBut in light of certain actions taken by ber of initiatives regarding the partnership the current Administration, the former have been falling by the wayside, includPresident believes that their promises are ing the LCDS Multi-Stakeholder Steering merely rhetoric for support of a green econCommittee meetings, the absence of inforomy.

“The President said it is absolutely im- mation about GRIF-funded projects on the perative to develop a green economy… he LCDS website and Amerindian and othsaid it is important for our future and indus- er stakeholders not being consulted on the tries. On the other hand, his Government LCDS or the Guyana-Norway partnership.

Jagdeo also noted that the public does not has killed a project, for political reasons know whether the funds from Norway were not economic reasons… they killed a projreleased and whether or not Government ect that would have saved us at least US$2 has embarked on discussing a successor billion in 20 years at 2012 prices…,” Jagdeo agreement. pointed out, referring to the Amaila Falls In general, the Opposition Leader exHydropower Project. plained that if promoting a green econo“The Amaila was the biggest green projmy is indeed of the biggest thrust of the ect that would have had the biggest impact.

Government, then its leaders need to be It cannot be replaced by planting trees. The more specific about the respective strategy green economy is not about planting trees, for the future.

26-year-old Police Constable Ravinand Bissessar, of Good Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD), on Thursday appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Wales Magistrate’s Court to answer to two charges – causing death by dangerous driving and Driving Under the Influence (DUI).

The Policeman was not required to plead to the causing death by dangerous driving charge which stated that on May 15 at Sisters Village, WBD, while driving motor car PLL 222, he struck down 10-yearold Davin Sealey, who was riding a bicycle along the roadway, resulting in the child’s death.

A breathalyser test conducted on Bissessar after the accident revealed that he had .66 micrograms of alcohol in his system, which is above the legal limit.

On the DUI charge, the accused initially pleaded guilty when it was read to him.

However, his Attorney, Mark Conway interjected and disputed the breathalyser test result presented and said that another test conducted at the hospital proved there was no alcohol in his client’s system.

Magistrate Nurse subsequently entered a not guilty plea on Bissessar’s behalf.

In his bail application, Attorney Conway said that his client was not a flight risk, was remorseful and had lived at the same location for the past 22 years.

The prosecution had no objection to bail being granted on the condition that the defendant’s driver’s licence is suspended for the duration of the trial.

The Policeman was placed on $600,000 bail for the causing death charge and selfbail for the DUI. Bissessar was also ordered to report to the Wales Police Station on a weekly basis while his licence was suspended.

Police Constable Ravinand Bissessar

He will return to court on June 22, 2016.

According to initial Police reports, on the day in question, Bissessar, who was stationed at the Wales Police Station, was attempting to negotiate a turn at Sisters Village when he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a parked car, before hitting the lad who was riding along the roadway.

The Policeman’s car came to a stop after it crashed into a utility pole.

The young man was said to be on his way to meet his father at the time of the accident.

Guyana Times understands that a postmortem examination revealed that the young Sealey died as a result of multiple injuries to his body.

8 news

friDAY, may 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

IN THE COURTS Miner charged with damage to property

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miner on Thursday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, charged with damage to property.

Anthony Ward, 27, of Lot 40 Goed Fortune, West Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on May 16, 2016 at Kaneville, East Bank Demerara he unlawfully and maliciously damaged one 40 inch TCL television, one refrigerator and other household items to a total value of

$773,000, property of Marcia Kewuley.

According to Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, the virtual complainant (VC) Kewuley, and defendant Ward, have been in a common-law relationship for two years.

On the day in question, the defendant accused the VC of infidelity and threatened to kill her. He also damaged the listed items.

The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offence,

the value of the items, and the fact that he has a pending matter at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

However, the defendant told the Magistrate he was willing to pay for the items.

Bail was granted in the sum of $100,000 and the matter transferred to the Providence Court for June 9, 2016.

Additionally the defendant was ordered to report to the Providence Police Station every fortnight until the conclusion of trial.

FDI honeymoon...

I Anthony Ward

Magistrate McLennan also advised the VC to apply for a protective order.

Man in court for assault 17-year-old charged

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man was on Thursday granted bail after appearing before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Mark Frank, 32, of Company Path, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on May 15, 2016 at Yarrow Dam, Ruimveldt, Georgetown he unlawfully and maliciously assaulted Jermaine Adolph so as to cause actual bodily harm.

The prosecution’s facts stated that on the day in question, Adolph invited Frank to a party, but after the celebrations ended,

Frank, who was intoxicated, refused to leave, as such Adolph pushed him out of his house.

In the process a DVD player Frank was carrying, fell and broke. The next morning Frank returned to the home of Adolph and dealt him a stab to his left side neck.

A scuffle ensued resulting in Frank stabbing Adolph again, this time to his left arm. Adolph’s brother who was at home intervened and rushed his brother to hospital.

The matter was reported and Frank was arrested.

He was granted $75,000 bail and will return to court on June 7, 2016.

with larceny

A

girl was on Thursday placed on $80,000 bail after she appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer a charge of simple larceny.

The 17-year-old, of Sophia, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on May 17, 2016, at Bel Air Village, Georgetown, she stole one Samsung Galaxy s5 cellular phone, property of Joan Richmond.

According to the pre-

Eyew tness

sented facts, the defendant and Richmond are known to each other and on the day in question, while in her friend’s bedroom, the defendant asked to borrow her phone to browse the internet, to which Richmond complied.

Richmond left the defendant in the room but upon her return both the young woman and the phone had vanished.

The matter was reported and the defendant arrested. The defendant will return to court on June 17, 2016.

...over?

f we’re to go by statements coming out of this Administration, you wouldn’t be blamed for concluding they’ve given up on the developmental model launched after WWII. Which declared that while poor countries like ours had natural resources, we needed CAPITAL – Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) – to develop them into exportable products. These could then be exported to provide foreign currencies that would enable us to buy all the things from abroad to deliver the good life. Sounds good, nuh?

Trouble was...there were two dozen poor countries to every “developed country” with capital...so the challenge was how to break out of the pack to get their hands on the capital. They came up with inducements like “tax holidays” – where there would be no taxes for a stated number of years; reduction/elimination of duties for importing machinery; land at concessional rates – etc etc...

But with our early leaders Burnham and Jagan vying to prove who was a “better socialist” than the other, they both nixed the idea of “dropping their pants to the capitalists” – as they dubbed it. Burnham preached “self sufficiency” through cooperative socialism which had collapsed and abandoned by the time the PPP slipped into office in 1992. By which time the whole socialism bit was abandoned even by the USSR. The old “development by attracting FDI” became all the rage again.

GTT had already been invited in by the PNC along with Barama and both were given State assets at fire-sale terms just to get them to look at us. The PPP continued the policy since it’d been insisted on by the IMF which has bailed us out of the socialist fiasco. But the PPP was heartily criticised by the Opposition and its allies in the press for some of the “inducements”. It all came to a head with the Chinese company BaiShanLin. For reasons that still aren’t clear, the Muckraking KN became the Chinese Company’s bete noir over the last two years and made it into GUYANA’s foreign “Public Enemy Number 1”. They even dragged Minister of State Joseph Harmon into their vicious vendetta of vengeance.

In that climate, earlier this month, Prezzie announced he’d be “reducing concessions to foreign companies to create a “more level playing field for local investors”.

This Eyewitness believes Prezzie would be throwing out the baby with the bathwater...because foreign companies don’t just bring in “capital” – they also bring in technology, foreign markets and managerial talent.

Perhaps because of their weakness in these areas, domestic companies just haven’t been stepping up to the crease to invest.

Specifically in forestry, which of the locals will take up Prezzie’s challenge?

...on counterattack over?

Our Foreign Affairs Minister is taken aback at BaiShanLin taking their case to the UN, claiming Guyana’s breaking an agreement between China and Guyana on conducting business here. BaiSanLin claims it’s been “crippled” by the actions of the Government. And the agreement guarantees an Arbitral panel to handle disputes.

But there’s also another forum that’s been around since the sixties – on the insistence of the IMF – when the first drive to attract FDI became a hot topic. This is the “International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes” (ICSID): the primary institution for handling the cases that companies file against sovereign states.

This investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) option has been used with increasing frequency in the new millennium and in fact, the US is insisting it be inserted with Free Trade Agreements it’s crafting with both Europe (TTIP) and the Pacific Rim countries (TPP).

It’s a new world, out there. Guyana better get with the programme!

...and a reality check

We Guyanese are fond of boasting about our “resources”, But whatever we have, other countries have that...and then some. And the “then some” are the inducements.

It’s not as if we’re beating away foreign investors with a stick.

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

news

9

friday, may 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Wife beater fined, President assures well-being placed on bond of workers will be preserved GuySuCo bailout

President David Granger

I

n light of remarks by Chairman of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Dr Clive Thomas that the industry is in need of another bailout, President David Granger has hinted at the possibility of such.

During an interview with a local newspaper, Dr Thomas opined that the Corporation has no other choice than to appeal for a new bailout since over 60 per cent of its allocations have been utilised. In January of this year, central government transferred some $9 billion to GuySuCo to assist with its operations.

When the President was asked whether he would be inclined to facilitate another bailout of the cash-strapped sugar industry, the Head of State said Government will take necessary actions to ensure the welfare of workers.

“We will do everything necessary to preserve the well-being of the working people until a decision is taken with the Opposition, with the civil society, with the stakeholders about the future of the sugar indus-

try,” the President noted in response to questions from Guyana Times on Thursday, following the taping of this week’s ‘Public Interest’ programme at the Ministry of the Presidency.

According to Granger, Government is cognisant of how costly the maintenance of GuySuCo is to the nation, stating that it can rack-up a cost of some $10 billion for the year.

On this note, the Head of State posited that he wants to have a conclusion on the fate of the sugar industry as soon as possible. He noted that Cabinet is in possession of the report from the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the industry but before any decision is made, there has to be full consultations with the Opposition, the National Assembly and workers in the industry.

“We are committed to a consultative process, we are also committed to a humane process and there is not going to be any action which is going to be injurious or harmful to the interest of the working people of this country… This is a decision that the Guyanese people will make. It’s not going to be arbitrary or unilateral,” President Granger told Guyana Times.

Meanwhile, the GuySuCo Chairman did not specify exactly how much funds are needed and the Corporation’s financial woes continue to frustrate sugar workers. In fact, last Friday workers attached to the Wales Estate were set to engage in protest action after GuySuCo was

Large quantity of cannabis found at businessman’s premises

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etectives of the Major Crime Unit in G Division of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), early Thursday morning discovered a large quantity of cannabis at a businessman’s home at Buckhall, Essequibo.

At around 06:30h detectives acting on information journeyed to the businessman’s premises and conducted a search of his upper flat.

There a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected

to be cannabis sativa were found.

Information reaching Guyana Times highlighted that the businessman Shawn Jerrick, 32, was told of the offense, which he allegedly admitted to, and he arrested.

The man is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday before magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

He is likely to be charged for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

GAWU President Komal Chand

late in issuing salaries. This publication learnt that after workers made these threats, the Corporation hurriedly procured the funds to issue payments.

President of GAWU Komal Chand, in light of the pronouncements made by Dr Thomas, expressed support for another bailout of the Sugar Corporation, pointing out that it is a Staterun enterprise, and as such,

Government should appropriate additional funds to provide assistance to the struggling company.

Chand suggested that bearing in mind the size and importance of the industry, it should not be allowed to fail. “[The union is] very much supportive of the Government assisting the ailing sugar industry which we all agree is too big to fail.

The industry is owned by the State – the Government having all the shares of the industry,” Chand said.

“We are calling on the Government to assist the industry as is required from time to time [and] we also wish to remind the public that the industry in the better days [did] make a contribution to the treasury [especially from 1976 to 1996] when $ 60 billion was made available through the sugar levy,” Chand further added.

A

South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, man was on Thursday ordered to pay compensation of $20,000 and keep the peace for two years after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his reputed wife, and damage to her property.

Jeffrey Vancouten appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Faith McGusty and pleaded guilty to the charges which read that on May 17, 2016, at Lot 1707 Dedication Place, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously damaged one cell phone valued $20,000, property of Alicia Gonzales.

Also on the same day at the same location, he assaulted Alicia Gonzales so as to cause bodily harm.

The prosecution’s case stated that on the day in question, an argument ensued between Vancouten and Gonzales during which Vancouten broke Gonzales’s

Jeffrey Vancouten

cellular phone.

The Gonzales retreated to her bedroom where the defendant followed her and choked her.

At the time of the incident, the couple’s children were at home.

The matter was reported to the police and the defendant was arrested.

10 news

friDAY, may 20, 2016| guyana-times.com

President says Guyana concerned over Venezuela’s crisis – obligated to Guyanese returning home but has not considered accepting Venezuelan refugees

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s Venezuela continues to plunge deeper into economic and political crisis, Guyana’s Head of State David Granger said the situation in the neighbouring country is a cause for concern, given the territorial controversy between the two countries.

Speaking with Guyana Times shortly after the taping of this week’s ‘Public Interest’ on Thursday, President Granger pointed out that the crisis in the Spanish-speaking South American state is a cause for concern not only for Guyana but the region as well.

“I am deeply concerned about what is taking place in Venezuela; plus Guyana have a special interest because of the territorial question but I think the whole region is concerned about what is taking place in Venezuela and we hope that there is not going to be a resort to lawlessness,” he posited.

The Head of State went on to

say too that the situation is cause for concern particularly in light of the involvement of the Venezuelan National Armed Forces: “I hope that a legal and orderly approach is taken for the security of the whole sub-region because it will have an impact on the Caribbean as well.”

With the state of Venezuela’s economy deteriorating, it is expected that there will be a refugee crisis in the region as persons from the Spanish-speaking country are likely to flee to neighbouring nations.

Asked Thursday whether Government will be willing to accept refugees from Venezuela, the Guyanese Head of State pointed out that this something his administration is yet to consider.

“We do not have any agreement with Venezuela about other refugees (coming here) and that is not something that we have considered,” he stated. Nevertheless,

Reports out of the Spanish-speaking nation reveal that there is a massive food shortage and limited access to basic healthcare

Granger outlined that Guyana will be accepting returning Guyanese from the neighbouring country.

“We have an obligation to accept returning Guyanese if they want to re-enter the land of their birth,” he told this newspaper.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is reported to have said he is monitoring the situation in there and is prepared to protect Guyana’s borders, if the need arises.

Guyana and Venezuela are cur-

rently engaged in a border controversy after the neighbouring country’s renewed outlandish claims to most of Guyana’s territory and our waters off of the Essequibo Coast.

Even as the matter is before the United Nations, Guyana has indicated its willingness to go before the international court to have the issued settled and has even garnered support from many countries and international organisations.

Venezuelan President Nicolas

Maduro recently declared a state of emergency as the country experiences economic turmoil following the decline of oil prices on the world market over the past months.

Reports out of the Spanishspeaking nation reveal that there is a massive food shortage and limited access to basic healthcare.

Reports of rampant outbursts of looting and violence are also emerging from the South American nation. There are even reports of the lack of electricity in some parts of the country, which the neighbouring Government said is as a result of extreme drought condition which has hampered the hydroelectric capabilities.

This situation has caused widespread anger from the population resulting in protest action over the weekend. The Venezuelan President has since deployed the military to control the situation.

Guyana risks losing business from international correspondent banks ...remittances would be slowed – AG

B

usiness transactions between international correspondent banks and local commercial banks could very well grind to a halt in light of Guyana’s level of compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations. However all steps are being taken to ensure this does not occur, says Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams.

During a press conference at his Chambers on Thursday, Williams cautioned that Guyana is at

high risk for “derisking”.

“We are at risk for derisking where international correspondent banks would refuse to do business with us… Corresponding banks would refuse to do business with Guyanese banks so that your inflows and remittances would not be able to come in that quick vehicle,” he explained.

In fact, he pointed out that the whole issue of derisking is of much significance that an international conference on its implications will soon be hosted for the entire hemisphere in

Miami, Florida, USA. The Attorney General also disclosed that authorities have been meeting with the local commercial banks to have discussions on the matter.

Nonetheless, Williams assured that his Government is doing everything possible to ensure Guyana does not become a victim or derisking. He explained that currently, Guyana is exploring options to exit the third round of FATF process. “(We) started thinking of proposals to exit the FATF process… to exit the process,

Attorney General Basil Williams

we hope that we will be able to give a decision that there should be an onsite visit to Guyana,” he stated.

There is an upcoming Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) meeting whereby Guyana will report on its status to the international organisation on its progress in meeting its recommendations.

Once Guyana exits the third round, it will have to

deal with the fourth round where there will be an assessment of various implementations. Williams said the CFATF body has lauded Guyana’s compliance thus far.

According to a CFATF follow-up report, “the major new developments in Guyana were the enactment in January 2016 of the AML/ CFT (Amendment) No 2 Act 2015 and the ATTRAA, 2015 and in May 2016, the AML/ CFT (Amendment) Act No 15 of 2016. These statutes sought to address the legislative amendments required by the examiners’ recommended actions in the core and key recommendations and a majority of the remaining outstanding Recommendations.”

It went on to say that, “the overall level of compliance has improved with Recs 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 16, 33, 35, 37, SR I, SR II, SR III and SR IX having met all recommended actions.

There has also been substantial improvement in the

compliance of Recs 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, SR V, SR VI and SR VII. Guyana should be commended for the improvement in compliance.”

The report urged that “to demonstrate continued implementation the authorities should continue to submit information for each report regarding the provision of training both to the competent authorities and the financial institutions, the on-site AML/CFT inspection activity of the Bank of Guyana, Guard Security Council (GSC) and (Chief Cooperative Development Officer) CCDO and the various statistical information required under Rec 32.”

Thought the report acknowledged that Guyana has significantly improved its overall level of compliance, it pointed out that due to the remaining outstanding recommended actions, it is recommended that Guyana stay in enhanced follow-up and be required to report to the next Plenary in November 2016.

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friDAY, may 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

PSC's annual AGM

Business Minister touts recreation of public-private body

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usiness Minister Dominic Gaskin believes the recreation of a public/private body could help bring solutions that would foster growth and stability to Guyana’s ailing economy.

The Minister made this comment while delivering remarks at the opening ceremony of the 24th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) at the Marriot International Hotel on Thursday.

Gaskin said Guyana has for far too long been “languishing” at the bottom of the Global Competitiveness Index and the World Economic Forum; positions which have affected it in many ways.

“It enjoyed an average of approximately four per cent economic growth for a number of consecutive years. A number of reports have indicated that it was one of the worst places in the world to be,” the Minister told the room of PSC executives and other stakeholders.

He said the question was always “how come?” since there have always been high gold prices, lucrative rice deals and a strong demand for bauxite, along with a large amount of “stained” money circulating in the economy.

According to him, that was how Guyana was able to get by, in spite of an environment that was not conducive to “doing good business”.

Gaskin said he could not give a definite date but was sure that the decline in the economy began even before there was a change in

PSC Chairman Ramesh Persaud during his presentation

Government.

“I have heard from a number of retailers that businesses are not doing well. We are now in Government. For better or for worse, we have responsibility to provide the best possible condition for the growth of our economy and by extension the businesses that operate in the economy,” he said.

He said he wished not to talk about what was inherited from the previous Administration since a year has already elapsed, and it was time for the new Government to get its act together.

“We are responsible for the current state of our economy,” continuing that Government,

working with the Private Sector, will be able to bring about some amount of change in this regard.

There is a lot that can be done to improve business in Guyana and the competitiveness of the economy. That calls for a joint effort and our Government is looking into partnering with the Private Sector to bring about these improvements… I have no reason to believe that there will be any reluctance on the part of the Private Sector to working to achieve this common goal and objective,” Minister Gaskin told the gathering.

He said from all of the conversations he has had, it was found that there is so much that Guyanese wish to have, but are unable to obtain because of the failing economy.

“Guyanese generally want better safety and security, better jobs and opportunities, better education and health care, homes, infrastructure and governance and more fairness in the distribution of natural wealth.

He said these are all laudable aspirations that can be achieved if everyone works together.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the PSC subcommittee on Finance and Economics Ramesh Persaud also delivering on the state of the economy, said while there has been some growth up to the end of 2015, the rate of growth has slowed somewhat.

Through a PowerPoint presentation, he showed that the economy grew by three per cent in 2015, and has been averaged to be about

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

the same this year.

Persaud also demonstrated that the aggregate expenditure which is also a term used to measure the GDP, declined last year.

It showed that overall, Guyanese consumers and businesses spent approximately US$200 million less last year than the year before. It also showed that there has been a decline in the sugar and rice industries, along with slow growth in other crops.

“However, the growth of the economy over the last several years would have been dependent on the growth of gold and rice. In 2001, gold had represented 26 per cent in terms of exports, sugar 22 per cent, bauxite 12 per cent, rice

10 per cent and fish and shrimp represented 10 per cent, timber seven per cent and others around six per cent.

You would have seen a significant shift on what our economy was depending on in the 15 years,” he explained on screen.

According to Persaud, Guyana’s economy moved from depending on gold from 26 per cent export to 43 per cent, and sugar, which contributed a 22 per cent export earnings 15 years ago, is now contributing seven per cent of export earnings. Bauxite which contributed 12 per cent is now only contributing nine per cent.

Persaud recommended that actions should be taken by the Private Sector to focus in creating jobs. “How we could do it, I am not sure. We need to focus a little more on export-led growth, we need to improve our competitiveness as companies, and focus on standards, on productivity, on the niche markets, we need to innovate more, spend more on research and development”.

As for Government, he said the Administration needs to share its economic vision and plan as “very little is known at this stage”.

“We need to have more engagements with the business community. Government and the business community need much more engagements so that they could share ideas, etc to enhance investment, improve public sector investment programme, management, and implementation.

The AGM is held to elect new office holders for the Commission.

12 news

friDay, may 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

15-year-old girl charged for Patentia Phagwah Day murder

H

igh drama unfolded at the Wales Magistrate’s Court on Thursday when a 15-yearold girl was arraigned for the Phagwah Day murder of 25-year-old Dellon “Chicken” Bradford, formerly of Patentia Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

It was alleged that the teenager participated in the murder of the father of three, who was found along the Patentia Public Road with stab wounds on March 23, 2016 (Phagwah Day). The entire courtroom was emptied as the matter, presided over

by Magistrate Clive Nurse, was held in-camera.

The teenager’s Attorney, Lyndon Amsterdam, was unsuccessful in his application for bail and she was remanded until June 10, 2016.

The defence Attorney said he was surprised his client was now being charged, when other persons were already charged for the murder.

As the matter was being heard in the court, the Police were summoned to keep

Wales Magistrate’s Court

the peace as relatives of the teenager and the dead man clashed outside the courthouse.

“Money can’t bring back me buddy, me buddy done dead already,” was the cry of one of the dead man’s sisters.

His eldest sister, Samantha Williams, also maintained the innocence of her brother, in reference to the allegations that her brother was stealing from the family members of his reputed wife at the time of his demise.

Meanwhile, the mother of the young lady told Guyana Times that her daughter was innocent and did not harm

anyone. “Me daughter nah do nothing, me daughter innocent, de man who commit de crime leh them ketch he, me want justice for me daughter,” the emotional mother stated.

Last month, Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Hemraj Bramdeo, called “Rickey Scrawley”, who they said was wanted for questioning in relation to the fatal stabbing at Skull City, Patentia.

After the stabbing incident, two persons, including the mother of the 15-year-old, were questioned about the murder. It was alleged that on March 23, 2016, Bradford

broke into a woman’s Lot 1 Skull City home and stole $200,000 cash and other items, while she was at her mother’s residence.

The woman reportedly came home and caught the now dead man in the act and a scuffle ensued, during which he was stabbed multiple times.

He was then rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, but was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Bradford was stabbed six times and died of kidney failure, spinal damage and brain injuries.

However, Bradford’s relatives are disputing that account and are arguing that he was murdered by the relatives of his reputed wife.

The deceased man’s sister claimed that her brother and the mother of his child were involved in an argument after she refused to go home with him. It was during this argument he was stabbed to death, she alleged.

Post-colonial rhizomatic identities

T

aking my son to write his CAPE Literature exams last, he waxed enthusiastically about the poet Olive Senior whose Gardening in the Tropics was an assigned text. The Jamaican, of mixed heritage, used the activity of “gardening” as an extended trope to analyse the brutal colonisation of the Caribbean by the Europeans and their influence in the formation of our identity.

Gardening does involve “rooting out”, discarding” “cultivating”, “nurturing”, “grafting”, “hybridity” and so many activities that are also at work in cultures and relationships in the construction of identities. All of us have been and continue to be “cultivated” whether we like it or not.

Even when we were uprooted from homelands in Asia, Africa and Europe, we were all already “hybrids” that had been variously constituted. The North Indians of the Bhojpuri belt, for instance, were the consequences of continuous invasions for thousands of years, of which the Moghul invasion and its Islamic world view was only the most extensive. The music and the religions of the people were dramatically “cross fertilised”. The British presence in the century before the end of Indentureship had already begun to have its impact, if for nothing else that the famines that made millions hungry and homeless and willing to seek their fortunes across the “Kala Pani”.

In the Caribbean, the Indians and Portuguese and Chinese indentureds would encounter the Africans who had been subjected to hundreds of years of European imposition of culture and religion – forcibly and not so forcibly. While against all odds, the Africans retained elements of their cultures in Africa – they were drawn from all across West Africa – it was into their “creolised” culture that the new arrivals would be exposed to in the Caribbean.

The Africans were expected to inculcate “English culture”, even though their humanity was denied and by definition could never be “English”. This was interesting since most of the overseers they interacted with were Irish and Scottish. The indentured servants inevitably imbibed much of their new culture from the African creoles who preceded them in the plantation, and who were expected to “season” them into the new dispensation.

Out of this experience with independence we were told that we were “One people; One Nation; One Destiny”. However, in Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean, people of African origin sought to counter the European hegemonic cultural imposition with the ideologies of “Black Power”, “Negritude” and “Pan Africanism” all of which privileged the African culture as the “root” of the tree of “national culture”.

But reviewing the broad sweep of Caribbean history, Senior sought to make the point that there is no “pure” origins and no “one root” that we can discover on which to construct our Caribbean identity. She borrowed the metaphor of the “rhizome” – with its multiplicity of roots that privilege no one root for Caribbean identity from the Martiniquean Edouard Glissant. He was consciously reacting against the construct of “negritute” and of “hybridity” that been proposed to describe French Antillean identity. The first excluded all others such as people of Indian origin and the French and the latter that still privileged the “African root”.

Glissant himself had adapted the image from the French philosophers Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari who introduced the rhizome as a metaphor for “multiplicity,” rather than a “multiple”. In a more abstract plane than Glissant and Senior, the Deleuze and Guattari emphasised “there are no points or positions in a rhizome, such as those found in a structure, tree, or root. There are only lines.” They also emphasised that we need to stop focusing on sameness since what holds all existence together is difference, not resemblance.

I am happy that CXC had chosen a text like Gardening in the Tropics which will help make our young people move away from the binary of “African” and “Indian”, which enviably creates divisions and towards a more fluid, permeable conception of self in which “Guyanese” can be a mosaic rather than hierarchical strata of dominator and dominated.

NEWS

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friDay, may 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

“Linden will be a key gateway to Brazil”– Mayor Holland

By Utamu Belle

R

ecently-elected Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland believes that the town will be a key gateway to Brazil, as well as a hub for commerce, transport, hospitality and mining services.

During an address to Lindeners at the launch of the annual Linden Town Week on Sunday, Holland disclosed his belief that the bauxite-rich town would be great again and reiterated his promise of developing it into a city.

Referencing plans of the recently-elected Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC), the Mayor outlined several initiatives which are set to come on stream in the community.

“We are working to re-

alise a completed road from Brazil to Linden, and the bridge linking Region Seven, with our Region, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to increase business traffic.

We need to develop boardwalks on both banks of the river. We need to change the infrastructural face of our town. We need a municipal mall; a better garbage disposal system; upgrading of our educational system; advancement of art, culture, sports, entertainment and eco-tourism; jobs for our youths...Contracts for jobs in Linden should be of primary benefit to Lindeners,” the Mayor indicated.

He said the soon-to-beopened toll station at Kara Kara, Mackenzie, will bring enough revenue, as compensation for the wear and tear of heavy-duty trucks which

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland

traverse the Linden roadways. Holland added that the community was poised for increased job creation through public infrastruc-

Repossession of house lots…

Allottees call on CH&PA to “show mercy” and reconsider decision

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itizens, mostly the poor, who are still unable to complete construction on their homes on house lots allocated by the government, are calling on the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to “show mercy” and reconsider its decision to repossess unoccupied house lots.

Some land owners told Guyana Times the decision is inconsiderate and may have been taken without proper consultations, since those who are unable to occupy are the poorer class in society.

According to the allottees, the CH&PA should take into consideration the financial situations of many families, as well as the current cost of building a house.

One land owner, Sarah Williams, currently squatting on a government reserve, explained that while she was allocated a low income house lot in 2013, she spent all of her savings to pay for it. As such, she had no money to commence the construction of her house.

“Right now, me got three children’ fuh send to school and it nah easy. Me husband does do labour work and me does do cleaning fuh people. Between the two ah we, we barely managing fuh survive, much less fuh start build,” the woman explained.

She related that she plans to commence construction when her eldest child completes secondary school, as the family by then may be in a better financial position.

“We plan fuh start the building as soon as meh big daughter done school next year. She could pick up a lil’ wuk and help run the house and the father and me gon see fuh put money fuh the house. Ah just begging fuh them nah tek’ back the land yet. We can’t live in this squatting dam all the days

ah we life,” she lamented.

Meanwhile, Sally Deonarine, a landowner who currently resides with her mother, explained that she shares a similar plight.

The woman explained that while she has had her housing plan drawn and began constructing the foundation of her house; works were put on hold as she is currently experiencing financial difficulties. “My only child and I live with my mother. I started the basic construction works like laying out the foundation and digging it.

But I am a vendor and business slow down for the longest while so I had to halt construction cause the money wasn’t coming,” she stat-

to the people at Housing fuh show lil mercy and leff we alone,” he stated.

Earlier this week, Chairman of CH&PA Hamilton Green revealed that repossession of lands will commence immediately after completion of an analysis of the situation. It was explained that CH&PA has finalised the list of defaulters and has commenced dispatching letters to landowners, informing them of government’s intention to repossess the house lots while encouraging them to occupy their land.

It was disclosed that thousands of persons are affected by this move, given that only 60 per cent of

ed.

all the lands allocated have been occupied.

Green stated that the Housing Authority would “not tolerate defaulters” within the housing sector, especially those who have been in possession of the government issued lands for a number of years, but are yet to begin construction.

“If you gave a house lot to an individual and it’s been there and he is not using it for a number of years without good reason… let somebody else get it,” he stated.

He further related that those persons who no longer wish to have these plots of land or build on them can return the land to the CH&PA and they would be reimbursed for it.

Jai Singh, a cane harvester at Wales Estate explained that he too is in receipt of a house lot which is located in the Belle West Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara, but due to issues with employment, he was forced to use the savings that were set aside for the construction of his house to maintain his family.

“Bai, it nat easy having to maintain three schoolage children, run a house an build a house. Cane cutters don’t make no kind ah money. Right now meh living with meh wife family but ah want mek somewhere fuh meh children call they own.

I cyah do duh right now, but ah still got time. Is just up

tural projects. He stressed, however, that development of the town requires a cooperative effort, as he indicated that it was time for a shift in thinking by Lindeners. As such, he encouraged residents to broaden their way of thinking.

Holland also called on Lindeners to collaborate in every sector, while stressing the need for a secure environment where businesses and investors can thrive. All this, he said, can be achieved with the help of Government, and investors buying in to the community’s development plans. The Diaspora, he stated, is needed now more than ever, for its international expertise.

Additionally, the Linden Mayor made a call for entrepreneurs to arise and realise a business vision.

“Be enterprising, it is the resolve of every Lindener.

Your new Town Council is strong in advocating for small businesses and entrepreneurship. Whatever is your business dream, come and talk with us, we want to see small businesses thrive.

Together we can foster a development agenda that will improve the way of life for all Lindeners and promote prosperity and prestige for our town,” he said.

Holland said the realisation of that vision required best business practices and principles as well as the adaptation of green, environmentally friendly endeavours, adding that it was time for the community to embrace order and discipline.

“It is time to experience true freedom. It is time to experience true democra-

cy and it is time to experience true development. I am proud of Linden and all that we’ve endured, we are still standing.

As a town, our development requires that we all play our part in bringing about our success...We need to be united, we need to have a progressive mindset...We must treat our town as the jewel of this nation that it is...”

The Mayor further stated that Linden could and would return to being a better place where people from overseas would once again flock for products and services. He said he was committed to a new, enterprising, all-inclusive and corruptionfree culture.”Linden will be the place to be. Linden will be the model of true development,” he stated.

2 am curfew temporarily adjusted for Jubilee

G

iven the many events planned for Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations, over the coming celebratory days, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan has announced that, in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the 2:00 am curfew will be temporarily adjusted until May 30, 2016.

According to a release from the Ministry, the curfew is now 4:00 am effective Friday, May 20, 2016.

“(The Ministry) will temporarily relax the enforcement of the 2 am business deadline to 4 am for bars, night clubs and other places of entertainment. It is a time for celebration and knowing the Guyanese spirit, the Ministry has seen the need for this relaxation,” the release stated.

Nevertheless, the ministry has cautioned businesses and individuals that the Police Force will continue to investigate and prosecute noise nuisance reports,

drinking and driving, and other offences during this period.

A similar adjusted was done during the Christmas season.

Ever since the coalition APNU/AFC took office in May 2015, it enforced the curfew, which has faced a barrage of criticisms, with many persons describing it as antibusiness.

However, Minister Ramjattan argued that the curfew was part of his crime fighting strategy.

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guyana-times.com

friday, may 20, 2016

News

PSC commends Jubilee Fashion Police for Extravaganza launched crime solving

One of the outfits displayed during the Fashion Extravaganza

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ashion Extravaganza, one of the events of the Jubilee Festival, featured its first set of fashions from Guyanese designers at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown on Thursday.

Among the audience was Minister of Telecommunications with responsibility for Tourism, Cathy Hughes. Courtney Noel kicked off the show with

his melodious voice belting his song “Arrowhead”. The first designer to display his gorgeous pieces, accessorised with handmade jewellery, on 13 female and 2 male models, was Sydney Francois.

Also walking the catwalk were the delegates of the Miss World Guyana Pageant: Divya Yabindranauth (Region One Ambassador); Najuma Nelson (Region Two Ambassador); Marva Langevine (Region Three Ambassador); Ariella Basdeo (Region Four Ambassador); Ashmini Ramnauth (Region Five Ambassador); Treasure James (Region Seven Ambassador), and Nurriyah Gerrard (Region Eight Ambassador).

Sharon Gittens, who has established herself as a creative designer in her seven years in the field, displayed nine unique and stunning pieces which showcased her love of colour.

The next designer described as a woman who marvelled at her country and was recognised locally as well as internationally, Natasha Calderia exhibited 16 beautiful fabric creations, which held the admiration of the spectators.

With a magnificent blend of cultural and modern designs, under the theme “Bring back our culture”, 13 models “wowed” the crowd as they strutted along the runway wearing patterns by

– prison officers, firemen also get “thumbs up”

W

Sydney Francois’s designs

Jason Shurland.

Amrita Daniels’ Africainspired designs also captured the attention of the audience with 13 pieces for females and 3 for males.

During the intermission, Roy “Sweet Sax” Stuart set a relaxing tone for members of the audience with his saxophone melodies. However, excitement wiggled through the crowd when Walter Gary, the show producer for the Miss World Guyana 2016, revealed that a free ticket to the pageant was up for grabs as it was hidden under the seat of someone in the audience.

When the fashion show resumed, Rishma Persaud exhibited a range of 10 elegant evening dresses under the theme “Traditional meets modern”, which captivated viewers.

Marcia DaSantos’ 13 stylish and “one of a kind” designs brought the runway segment to a close. But, not before requests from the audience to meet the talented designers.

The Fashion Extravaganza, which is a three-day event, will continue on Saturday and Sunday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, starting at 17:00h.

hile statistics have shown that there has been a decline in the incidence of crime, Chairman of the Governance and Security Sub Committee of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Gerry Gouveia, said the Guyana Police Force (GPF) must be commended for the exceptional job it has been doing in solving crime.

He said however that there is yet more to be done, since the business community needs to stay clear of “perceptions” that have been driving fear.

Gouveia was speaking to members of the PSC on Thursday, at the opening of the Annual General Meeting (AGM). He outlined that “The Private Sector has been very engaging in terms of our security involvement.

We have been meeting members of the law and order commission to deal with the issues that affect all in crime and security.

We have been meeting with the Police Commissioner and would want to say that we are pleased with the unprecedented work the Police have been doing in solving crimes,” he said.

Gouveia said statistics

show that crime rates have been descending.

“The perception however, is that Police need to do more in terms of fighting crime. While the reality is that crime has reduced, the perception frightens the Private Sector because of all the high profile criminal activities,” Gouveia noted.

The Sub Committee Chairman spoke too of the non functional 911 emergency system. “It is one of the greatest challenges the Police is facing and remains “out of their hands” since the problem is something that is partially technical and partially financial. He said over the last decade, the system has been non functional and needs to be looked at immediately.

The PSC, Gouveia said, is also grateful for the contribution of firemen, especially their resilience to work on the massive fire which recently destroyed part of the Gafoors Houston Complex.

He also commended the selfless contribution of prison officers who live and work in the prisons. He said they “put their lives on the line everyday” adding that this should not go unnoticed.

friday , may 20, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

News

Ramotar gave “missing law Freed Chibok girl meets books” to Nandlall – Williams Nigerian leader …former AG says “nothing abnormal, part of contract”

M

onths after it was discovered that several Commonwealth Law Books had gone missing from the Attorney General’s Chambers, Legal Affairs Minister and AG Basil Williams on Thursday disclosed that former President Donald Ramotar has admitted to giving the books to former AG Anil Nandlall for his personal use.

Back in November, the Permanent Secretary of the Legal Affairs Ministry Indira Ananjit was sent on 52 days’ leave after the law books, valued some $2.5 million, were found missing. This caused an audit to be launched by the Auditor General’s office to locate the books.

On Thursday, the Attorney General said that after several months, Auditor General Deodat Sharma indicated that Ramotar wrote him saying that the Permanent Secretary was not culpable or blameworthy for the books reportedly gone “missing”, since there was an agreement with Nandlall for the Ministry to buy the books for his (Nandlall’s) personal use. “(But) we don’t accept the excuse given by the Auditor General that former President Ramotar could have a private agreement

Former AG Anil Nandlall

with the former Attorney General to spend the State’s money for their own personal benefit,” the Attorney General stated.

However, when contacted on the matter, Nandlall explained that when he was appointed Attorney General, he requested as part of his contract of service for the Government of Guyana to stand the expense for his subscriptions for the Commonwealth Law Books.

“I was subscribing to this particular law report over a decade before my appointment as Attorney General.

When I was offered the position, one of the conditions I asked for is for the Government of Guyana to continue to pay the subscription of these books, because I did not want to break the subscription,” Nandlall

pointed out.

Insisting that nothing was abnormal about the practice, the former AG argued that it was done by other Government Ministries such as Finance and Health.

Asked why he did not continue to pay for his own subscriptions instead of depending on State resources, Nandlall asserted that it was somewhat an entitlement just as other benefits he received from the State.

“Why didn’t I pay for my light bill? Why didn’t I pay for my own phone bill?

Because they are all a part of my conditions of service,” he responded.

Meanwhile, as it relates to the fate of Ananjit, Minister Williams explained that since Government did not accept the explanations proffered for the “missing” law books, then the PS will have to remain on leave since she authorised the purchase of the books.

Ananjit has been serving at the Legal Affairs Ministry since July 2012.

In December, the Legal Affairs Minister had noted that in addition to the missing law books, there are some missing computer parts. To quantify the missing pieces, Williams stated that the Commonwealth Law Books were valued at some $2.5 million and the computer parts valued over $2 million.

EgyptAir jet missing after midair plunge, Greeks find life vests

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reek rescue workers found life vests and bits of plastic floating in the Mediterranean after an EgyptAir jet carrying 66 passengers and crew from Paris to Cairo disap-

of the island of Crete.

“All I will say is that our Embassy in Athens told us that it was contacted by Greek authorities, who signalled that they found white and blue debris correspond-

Ismail said it was too early to rule out any explanation for the crash, including an attack like the one blamed for bringing down a Russian airliner over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula last year.

If confirmed as material from the plane, the discovery could help provide clues to its fate

peared from radar in what Egypt said could have been a terrorist attack.

The Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry said Greek authorities had found “floating material” and life jackets likely to be from the plane. Greek defence sources told Reuters they had found pieces of plastic and two life vests in the sea 230 miles (370 kilometres) south

ing to EgyptAir’s colours,” Egyptian Ambassador to France Ehab Badawy told France’s BFM television.

However, Greek sources told Reuters the material they had found so far was not blue and white.

If confirmed as material from the plane, the discovery could help provide clues to its fate. Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif

The country’s Aviation Minister said a terrorist attack was more likely than a technical failure.

Greece had deployed aircraft and a frigate to search for the missing Airbus.

Egypt said it would lead the investigation and France would participate. Paris said three investigators would arrive in Egypt on Thursday evening. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T

he first of the missing Nigerian schoolgirls to be rescued from Boko Haram militants has met President Muhammadu Buhari at his villa in Abuja.

Amina Ali Nkeki, 19, was found with a baby by an army-backed vigilante group on Tuesday in the huge Sambisa Forest, close to the border with Cameroon.

She was one of 219 pupils missing since being abducted from a secondary school in the town of Chibok in April 2014.

Buhari said he was delighted she was back and could resume her education.

“But my feelings are tinged with deep sadness at the horrors the young girl has had to go through at such an early stage in her life,” he said in a statement

Amina Ali Nkeki (facing away from camera) showed her child to President Buhari

published on Facebook.

“Although we cannot do anything to reverse the horrors of her past, federal government can and will do everything possible to ensure that the rest of her life takes a completely different course.

“Amina will receive the

best care that the Nigerian Government can afford. We will ensure that she gets the best medical, psychological, emotional and whatever other care she requires to make a full recovery and be reintegrated fully into society.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Brazil’s ousted House Speaker flexes muscle, faces ethics panel

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razil’s suspended House Speaker, Eduardo Cunha, defended himself before an ethics committee on Thursday, a day after the appointment of his ally as leader of the government coalition in the chamber showed the veteran lawmaker’s enduring political sway.

The Supreme Court indefinitely suspended Eduardo Cunha this month on charges of obstructing a corruption

investigation, just weeks after he orchestrated the approval of impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff in the Lower House.

The Senate voted last week to suspend Rousseff and put her on trial for breaking budget rules.

Yet Cunha’s continued support from an array of minor parties and his command of obscure parliamentary rules still make him a power broker in Brazil’s fragmented

Congress, and forced interim President Michel Temer to accept his ally as coalition leader.

Temer preferred a consensus candidate, but accepted Cunha ally Andre Moura on Wednesday when it became clear that 13 second-tier parties with 225 lawmakers had closed ranks behind him, according to two presidential aides who asked not to be named. (Excerpt from Reuters)

16 news UG staff threatens industrial action over salary increase friDAY, may 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

– demands Administration abandons 10% increase for top officials

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mere few days following the installation of its ninth chancellor, the University of Guyana (UG) is again facing challenges, as its academic and non-academic staff have threatened a series of industrial action today, Friday 20, if the administration does not concede to their demands.

The University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) said if the fairly new administration does not adhere to their calls for increases in salaries, the situation could become harsh.

They are also demanding that the planned 10 per cent increase for senior officials of the institution be abandoned.

In a release Wednesday afternoon, the two unions said faculty and staff at the

university will be launching a protest calling for increased salaries and benefits as talks between the unions and the administration hit a roadblock.

They said UG’s administration and council have already been warned that if their demands are not met some form of industrial action could begin as early as today.

The two unions are demanding, among other things, that academic and non-academic staff receive 23 per cent and 25 per cent increase in their salaries respectively, retroactive to January 2016 along with all benefits submitted to the university’s administration on April 20, 2016. This they require to be paid in their May 2016 salaries.

The unions said the administration has not been keeping the promises it

made on April 18, 2016, to stop the across-the-board increase for the statutory officers. Among the key demands is for the council to rescind its decision to pay statutory officers—two deputy vice chancellors, the registrar and the bursar—a 10 per cent increase in salaries retroactive to January, 2015, until it can offer adequate justification for such actions.

They said it is the very administration which claimed it had no monies to pay benefits including 10 bursaries for their children who performed with distinction at national exams, yet the administration found over $8 million to increase the salaries of statutory officers who had just joined the university, a mere 8 months ago, and all others within the last two years. “Some of whose take-home pay

amounts to approximately $1 million per month.”

“If the University of Guyana’s administration and Council go ahead and pay the 10 per cent increase to the statutory officers, the unions say they will “reassert their previous demand of a 60 per cent increase in salaries retroactive to January 2016 and all submitted demands contained in our Memorandum of Demands dated February 16, 2015.”

The new development by the two unions has come one year after a similar exercise of this nature came up, where under the leadership of former Vice Chancellor Dr Jacob Opadeyi, the two unions protested for nearly five weeks, demanding better working conditions and salary increases.

The series of protests had caused massive disruption

of classes, much to the annoyance of the UGSS which also took to protesting for the resumption of classes.

The protests finally ended following the signing of a Terms of Resumption Agreement.

The Terms of Resumption Agreement stated that upon the recommencement of classes, there would be no victimisation or harassment by either side such as dismissals, demotions, transfers, among others.

The first issues that were to be addressed, as outlined in the agreement, were allowances and other conditions of work.

The UG Administration was also expected to broker agreements with the Guyana Revenue Authority; National Insurance Scheme;

credit unions; and all other loan agencies paid through the university to prevent penalties to staff for outstanding payments.

Some of the other demands made by the unions were for projectors to be installed in all large classrooms, well-refurbished blackboards and whiteboards to be available in all classrooms; sufficient markers, chalk, erasers, among other teaching materials, as well as an adequate internet supply, and for computers to be supplied for the desks of all Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, Heads of Sections and Coordinators.

The unions had said a few days later that the administration had violated those terms of resumption.

CG bandits nabbed shortly after robbing businesswoman

The nabbed bandits

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oments after relieving an Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara, businesswoman of a bag containing an undisclosed sum of cash, two gunmen were apprehended as they were about to escape.

According to information, at about 14:00h on Thursday, Marilyn Burning was about to enter her home after transacting business at a bank in Georgetown, when she was attacked and held at gunpoint by two men.

The men arrived at the woman’s home on a CG motorcycle which indicates they had trailed the woman from

the bank.

However, while the woman raised an alarm, the men took away the bag and were about to escape when they were cornered by residents in the area and two off-duty police ranks who managed to grab the bag from them.

As they attempted to escape, they reportedly collided with a vehicle driven by a resident. They were subsequently arrested and handed over to police.

A .32 Taurus pistol with 9 matching rounds were recovered by the police.

The motorcycle used in the robbery was also seized.

Albouystown man remanded on cocaine charge

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n Albouystown, Georgetown resident was on Thursday remanded to prison when he made a court appearance at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court to answer to a possession of narcotics charge.

Ranold Khan, 56, was arrested on Wednesday after Police received information and went to a house

at Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara (WCD) and conducted a search. During the search, the Police discovered 171 grams of cocaine in Khan’s possession. He was later charged for the offence.

The defendant was remanded by Magistrate Michelle Liverpool. He will make his next court appearance on June 16, 2016.

guyana-times.com

friday, may 20, 2016

Miss World Guyana

contest intensifies

– talent, sport and fitness competitions completed

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s the Miss World Guyana competition intensifies, the seven remaining delegates are in a fierce battle for the coveted crown. The pageant night is slated for May 27 at the Parc Rayne, Rahaman’s Park, Georgetown.

Those competing for the title are Miss Barima-Waini Divya Yabindranauth, Miss Pomeroon-Supenaam Najuma Nelson, Miss Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Marva Langevine, Miss Demerara-Mahaica Ariella Basdeo, Miss Mahaica-Berbice Ashmini Ramnauth, Miss CuyuniMazaruni Treasure James and Miss Potaro-Siparuni Nurriyah Gerrard.

The talent segment was held over the last weekend in

the studios of E-Networks which saw the seven finalists clashing head on, but in the end, only three were adjudged the best of the best – Nelson, James and Gerrard. The winner of the talent segment will be announced on the grand coronation night on May 27.

The judges for this segment included Lisa Punch; reigning Miss World Guyana Grace Lee; Shivanie Lachmansingh, Dr Indhira Harry; Phillip Williams of PS Media Group; Tiana Codrington and franchise holder Natasha Martindale. The judges were selected based on their knowledge of, and experience, in the performing arts.

The delegates also competed in the sports and fitness

segments. Again, the winner will be announced on the coronation night.

Now that those segments are over, the delegates will be heading to the Pegasus Hotel for the interview competition set for May 23. That contest starts at 08:00h. In addition, the delegates will be judged on their “Beauty with a Purpose” project on the same day commencing at 18:00h.

On the coronation night, the finalists will be competing in the swimsuit, evening gown and the intelligence segments. The top three in the talent segment will also be performing for the audience.

Miss Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three), Marva Langevine Miss Barima-Waini (Region One), Divya Yabindranauth

Miss Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two), Najuma Nelson

Miss Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four), Ariella Basdeo

VIP tickets for the grand coronation cost $7500, while general admission tickets will cost $5000 and will be available at Nigel’s Super Market, Robb Street; Parc Rayne, Rahaman’s Park; Cara Lodge, Quamina Street and Giftland Mall, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

Miss Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five), Ashmini Ramnauth

Miss Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven), Treasure James

Miss Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight), Nurriyah Gerrard

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guyana-times.com

friday, may 20, 2016

Guyana officially kick starts jubilee celebrations

A

s Guyana celebrates its 50th Independence Anniversary, the celebrations officially kicked off on Thursday evening at the Guyana National Stadium with a “Night of Spiritual Upliftment”.

The event would have featured performances by Kester Dean, Edward Neblett, Aditya Persaud, Dave Dynamics, Miriam Williams and others.

The celebrations will continue this evening with “Everything Guyanese”. This event will feature the Yoruba Singers, Otishka Drummers, Dubraj Tassa Drummers, Korokwa Singers and many others.

Then on Saturday evening, all roads will lead to the National Stadium for “Night of the Legends”. This will feature some of the persons who have contributed to the music industry over the years and will include

performances by Dave Martins and the Tradewinds, Terry Gajraj, Sammy Baksh, Keith Waithe and the Makushi Singers along with Cecila Samaroo and Ivor Lynch.

The weekend activities will culminate with the “Nexxt Generation Concert” on Sunday evening. At this event, the thriving artistes will take to the stage to showcase their talents and “power voices”. Patrons will be entertained by reigning Carib Soca Monarch Jumo Primo, Lisa Punch, Adrian Dutchin, Shelly G, Kwasi Ace, Heatwaves Band, Vanilla and others.

In addition, there will be a special event titled “Taste of Guyana” on Sunday which will see the various Guyanese cuisines on display and up for sale.

Tickets for all events at the Guyana National Stadium will cost $500 for adults and $300 for children above the age of 12.

Dave Martins

Cecila Samaroo

Yoruba Singers

All set for

GTT Independence Concert at Guyana National Stadium

I

n less than a week, Guyana will be celebrating its 50th Independence Anniversary in grand style with a number of events planned to mark the milestone.

Parties, mega concerts, a jouvert, and beach jams all will add to the excitement leading up to, during and after the May 26th celebrations.

On the night of Independence, all roads will lead to the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara for one of the first mega concerts to be held. The concert has been put together by the Blue Network, GTT, and is expected to be explosive.

Jamaican rapper Sean Kingston will headline the event. He is known for “Beautiful Girls”, “Fire Burning”, “Tomorrow” and “Face Drop”. He recently released two music videos – “One Away” and “All I Got” in January and March 2016, respectively.

The other artistes slated to perform at the event are Guyana’s own Natural Black, Jackie Jaxx and Lisa Punch along with Vershon, and a Trinidadian line-up featuring the 2015 Chutney Soca Monarch Ravi B,

Those under 12 will be admitted free.

In addition to the four-day event at the Guyana National Stadium, there will be a “Fashion Extravaganza” at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. This event commenced last evening and will continue tonight before ending on Sunday evening.

It will see a display of fabulous pieces

by Donna Ramsammy-James, Sonia Noel, Olympia Small-Sonoram, Michelle Cole, Randy Madray and other prominent designers in the land.

The fashion show begins at 17:00h each night.

Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons and the Asylum Vikings Band.

Tickets for the event cost $2000, but could be considered free as once a customer buys a ticket, he or she automatically gets back $2000 in credit or a one-month data plan.

Once a ticket is purchased, a code can be found at the back; to access the free credit or data plan simply dial *100#, select concert promo (7), choose free credit or data plan and enter the code at the back of the ticket.

These tickets can only be purchased at a GTT Store. Meanwhile, customers who purchase any Drone XT or PLUM Trigger Pro handsets will receive a free ticket. Those who purchase any of the Grand Neo, Samsung J5, Samsung S5 or the Samsung S6 handsets will receive two free Mega Concert tickets.

In addition, the public will get a chance to meet the artistes on May 26 along the parade route at the company’s Lot 55 Brickdam office. This event is a collaboration between GTT and Bank DIH, and will have live DJs, great music and a cocktail bar.

Lisa Punch

Jumo

Sonia Noel

Adrian Dutchin

Popcaan to perform at

“50 Way Up” slated for GFC T

Popcaan

his Independence Day Hits and Jams Entertainment, in collaboration with Marvelous Entertainment, will bring the unruly boss, Popcaan for the “50 Way Up” Concert at the GFC Ground in celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee.

Guyanese artistes Jory and Lil Million are set to hit the stage with their best

tracks in order to prepare the way for Popcaan.

The Unruly Boss is currently touring the Caribbean with his team and will stop in Guyana to join in our 50th Independence celebrations. He will perform tunes such as “Unruly Prayer”, “High All Day”, Everything Nice” and “Only Man She Want”.

Early-bird tickets cost $1500 and are available at Nigel’s Supermarket, Exclusive Styles, Gizmos & Gadgets, That Look Boutique and White Castle Fish Shop. Patrons will pay more at the gate.

Stay tuned to HJTV Channel 72 and HJ Boom FM for daily updates.

friDAY, may 20, 2016

guyana-times.com

Shal Marshall

Lil Rick

Jumo

Kes

R

Michael Ignatius

A

Marshall, Jumo, Jackie Jaxx and others.

Then, on May 27, there is 50 Shades of Reggae which will see live performances by the “Love Doctor” himself, Beres Hammond, Christopher Martin and Timeka Marshall.

ll roads will lead to the Hits and Jams Water World on Sunday, May 22 for one of the hottest beach parties titled “Soca Gone Wild” featuring some of the best Soca artistes in the Caribbean.

Destra

This will be the ultimate Soca concert of the season, with an amazing line-up of Soca artistes among them Shelly G, Lil Rick, Jumo, Olatunji, Third Bass, Kwasi Ace, King Bubba, Shal Marshall, and 5Star Akil.

They are all hyped and ready to entertain their fans with the most energetic performances.

Tickets for the event are available at the usual locations and also at the venue on Sunday. These tickets

will cost $2000. However, look out for the other events promoted by Mc Neal Enterprise and Hits and Jams Entertainment.

After “Soca Gone Wild” on Sunday, the action moves to the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground at the stroke of midnight on May 26 with the first Independence Jouvert Party featuring Destra, Kes the Band, Olatunji, Shal

Timeka Marshall

G

uyanese and other seawall visitors can expect a steel pan treat on Saturday, May 21 from 17:00h at the seawall boardwalk in the vicinity of the 1823 Monument and the Seawall Bandstand where the National Commemoration Commission will stage a “Pan on de Wall” Concert.

This event is fully sponsored by Republic Bank Limited and will showcase the skills, talents and diverse repertoire of Guyanese steel bands, given that over the past 50 years steel pan has been an integral part of Guyana’s musical heritage.

The line-up for the “Pan on De Wall” Concert includes the Guyana Police Force Steel Band, Parkside Steel Orchestra, North Ruimveldt Secondary School Band, the Guyana Defence Force Band, Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra, the National Steel

19

Orchestra and other top steel pan performers.

Each band will perform and showcase the depth of their repertoire and high-level musicianship.

The genres of music presented at the concert will include Classical, Religious, national and patriotic songs, Reggae, Jazz, Calypso and Chutney. This show is one of the many Jubilee events being hosted by the National Commemoration Commission.

onald Hollingsworth’s “Till Ah Find A Place” has entertained thousands over the years since it was first staged in 1991 at the National Cultural Centre.

The original cast then performed to sold-out crowds that were always left totally satisfied. The play quickly became a household name with repeated sold-out performances much to the delight of Hollingsworth’s fans.

The lead roles were played by the immensely popular Henry Rodney, Nicola Smith and Desiree Edghill who thrilled the large audiences with their brilliant interpretation of the script. The original cast of 1991 toured Linden, Bartica, Anna Regina and New Amsterdam.

The word got out that “Till Ah Find A Place” was the play to see and Guyanese everywhere wanted it staged in their hometowns. In 1994, the play was staged at the Billy Holiday Theatre in Brooklyn, New York with a cast of Caribbean thespians, and Hollingsworth as the guest director/playwright.

It was a hit and was staged again in New York off Broadway at the Producers’ Club.

In 1998, the play was staged again in Guyana with new actors attempting to

Mark Luke Edwards

Mark Kazim

do justice to the previously staged version. On this occasion, it was rebranded “Till Ah Find A Place” - In Sophia”.

This time, the leads were played by Howard Lorimer, La Vonne George and Michelle Elphage with support from the late Rudy Pateetdeo who played Eddie the crazy boyfriend – a crowd favourite. The response was just as overwhelming as to the first staging.

In 2001, the play made its way to Texas, the new home of the playwright, where it was staged in Dallas. The actors were all US citizens except for the lead role of Linden which was played by the Guyanese playwright/director himself.

The play was then staged again in 2006 with yet another subtitle – “Till Ah Find a Place – After the Flood”.

Again, Henry

Ronald Hollingsworth

Rodney was cast as the male lead alongside Sonia Yarde, the female lead on this occasion. Linden “Jumbie” Jones became the audience favourite playing Eddie the crazy boyfriend.

Ten years later, at the request of the Jubilee Theatre Festival, the most popular Guyanese play of all time will again be featured this time as “Till Ah Find A Place After the 50th” for one night only – June 3, 2016, at the Theatre Guild Playhouse, Kingston, Georgetown under the directorship of Sheron Cadogan-Taylor.

Playing the lead roles will be Mark Kazim and Leslyn Bobb-Semple, with Michael Ignatius as the crazy boyfriend. Supporting roles will be played by Sean Thompson, Mark Luke-Edwards, Le Tisha Da Silva and Makini Harry.

20

friDAY, May 20, 2016

Dwayne Smith, Raina star in Lions win over KKR S

Golden State Warriors respond with Game 2 rout of Thunder

T

he Gujarat Lions began their Kanpurleg of VIVO IPL 2016 with a commanding victory over Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday. After inserting the visitors in on a greenlooking pitch, the Gujarat Lions restricted KKR to 1248 and then chased down the runs in the 14th over, with captain Suresh Raina leading from the front with a stroke-filled half-century.

KKR were steady at the start, with Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir adding 23 runs in the first three overs. But after Shadab Jakati’s brilliance on the field – a direct hit at the striker’s end to catch Gambhir short of his ground - provided the Lions with their first breakthrough, it was all downhill.

And the bulk of the damage was caused by Dwayne Smith, who returned with career-best bowling figures of 4-0-8-4, which included a startling 18 dot balls. He did the basics right, landing the

Dwayne Smith turned in a superb bowling performance that earned him the Man of the Match award

ball in the areas that mattered, let the pitch do its bit and reaped the rewards.

KKR needed a responsible innings from Yusuf Pathan, and contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (17) and Jason Holder (13) to take them to the three-figure mark. Yusuf was dismissed in the 18th over when he drove a low full toss from Dhawal Kulkarni straight

to the Lions skipper at extra cover; he made a run-a-ball 36 and hit three boundaries and a six while at the crease.

The 41-run partnership between Pathan and Yadav for the 6th wicket was the highest of the innings. Smith was the wrecker-in-chief for the Lions, while Kulkarni, Dwayne Bravo and Shadab Jakati picked up a wicket each.

The Gujarat Lions’ chase was rocked right at the start when Smith under-edged Ankit Rajpoot’s first delivery to the wicketkeeper. Brendon McCullum perished in the second over when he was trapped lbw by Sunil Narine, and Dinesh Karthik was cleaned up by a Morne Morkel inswinger in the fourth over. But a stroke-filled fluent innings from skipper Suresh Raina, and his 59-run stand with Aaron Finch put the runchase back on track.

Though Finch was run out for 26 after a mid-pitch collision with his captain in the tenth over, Raina ensured there were no further hiccups in the innings and drove the team past the finish line. The Gujarat Lions skipper, playing his first match since becoming a father, played brilliantly and brought up his half-century of 33 balls and two balls later hit the winning runs.

Raina remained unbeaten on 53, – his 27th half-century in the IPL – which took him back at the perch of the list of highest run-getters in the IPL. For the visitors, who were without the services of their highest wicket-taker Andre Russell for the match, Rajpoot, Narine and Morkel shared the spoils picking up a wicket each.

tephen Curry took over in the third quarter and the Golden State Warriors pulled away for a 118-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday night. The series is now tied, 1-1, after two contests at Oracle Arena.

Curry has largely been held in check during this series, but he went off for 15 points in a two-minute stretch in the second half that turned the game into a rout. The Warriors went up 20 thanks to Curry's outburst and didn't have much trouble closing the game out from there.

One of the keys for OKC in Game 1 was preventing the Warriors, and Curry in particular, from getting hot and racking up points in a hurry. That's precisely what happened in the middle of the third period, and once it was over, the Thunder were in need of a miracle to rally in one of the NBA's toughest arenas.

Curry finished the game with 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 5-of8 from deep. Golden State also got productive minutes from the bench trio of Andre Iguodala (14 points), Marreese Speights (13 points) and Festus Ezeli (12 points).

The Thunder were held to just 19 points in the third

quarter as Golden State pulled away. Kevin Durant led the team with 29 points, but had eight turnovers.

Russell Westbrook had 16 points and 12 assists, but shot just 5-of-14 from the field. Once the Curry show started up, the Thunder

Stephen Curry finished with 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting (5-of-8 from three)

quickly seemed to lose steam and decided to fight another day.

OKC should still be happy with a 1-1 series tie, though, and now the team gets to head home to host the Warriors for Games 3 and 4. This is still very much a series and it'll be interesting to see what adjustments each side makes from here. (sbnation)

21

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CONCACAF to host 2nd Women’s Football Day

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England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Headingley, 1st day

Hales and Bairstow steady England after Shanaka strikes on debut

A

n unbroken partnership of 88 between Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow rescued England from a characteristic batting collapse as rain ended play early at Headingley.

Three wickets in eight balls from Test debutant Dasun Shanaka helped reduce the hosts to 83-5 after lunch as Sri Lanka's attack profited from poor strokeplay and good conditions for swing bowlers.

But a Test best score of

71 not out from opener Hales and a much brisker unbeaten 54 from Yorkshireman Jonny Bairstow dragged their side back to 171-5 before the bad weather swept in at tea.

Not a ball was bowled in the evening session on a day when grey cloud cover had first tempted the tourists to put England in and then offered significant assistance as they sought to repeat their famous victory here two summers ago. (BBC Sport)

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girls gain respect and develop self-esteem. It allows them to form friendships.

It teaches girls self-sufficiency, personal autonomy and leadership. On sports grounds, there is no difference between children."

Scheduled to kick-off at 11:00 Hrs EDT, several activities will be organized within CONCACAF’s member nations with support provided by the Confederation.

Three specific programs are recommended to the Member Associations, but they will have the opportunity to administer an activity of their choosing.

Girls Grassroots Festival 3 v. 3 or 5 v. 5 Tournament Football Skills Challenge Since 2014, when the Confederation successfully hosted the “Let’s Develop Women’s Football” summit in Philadelphia, CONCACAF has created a strong women’s football movement by launching girls’ grassroots programs and hosting several competitions.

The Confederation has hosted both of FIFA’s 2014 tournaments for youth players – the U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups in Costa Rica and Canada, respectively. In August 2014, CONCACAF conducted the first-ever Under-15 tournament for girls, in the Cayman Islands. In addition, the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ drew a total attendance of more than 1.35 million, setting a new total attendance record for a FIFA competition other than the FIFA World Cup.

England 171-5: Hales 71*, Bairstow 54*, Shanaka 3-30

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he Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) will celebrate Women’s Football on Saturday, May 21, 2016.

Building on the success of the inaugural women’s day held in 2015, in which 38 of the 41 member associations within the Confederation united to create a significant opportunity for girls and women to play the game, this year’s one-day event will provide an even stronger platform to raise awareness for women’s growing participation in soccer.

“CONCACAF has created the Women’s Football Day as a unique initiative to encourage greater participation from women of all ages in the game, while showing how sport can have a positive impact on education, health, and development,” said CONCACAF Acting General Secretary Ted Howard. “We are convinced that there is an enormous growth potential within our region and we need to continue demonstrating that the sport offers significant opportunities to empower women beyond the pitch.”

UNICEF will join the celebration of the Women's Football Day, collaborating in promoting messages through their social networks, to further raise awareness of sport as a powerful tool to promote equality in society.

According to UNICEF, "Sport can help girls and young women claim their place in society. It can help

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would be hosting later in 2016 including the RHTY&SC/Ministry of Health Say No to Suicide Under 17 inter Club tournament which will begin shortly.

UCCA President Dennis De’ Andrade hailed the RHTY&SC, MS for its continued assistance to cricket in the Upper Corentyne Area, noting that the Club has assisted several times in the past. The donation of the

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scorebooks was important, he stated as several Clubs were observed soring in exercise books and reassured the RHTY&SC executives that the scorebooks would be used for their intended purpose.

The UCCA President also committed his executives to working harder to promote cricket in the sub-association in an effort to return Berbice to its rightful place in Guyana’s cricket.

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GUYANA-TIMES.COM

friDAY, may 20, 2016

Powerade Cycling “When we talk about set for Saturday Digicel football, at National Park we talk about Digicel 6th Annual School Football Championship...

possibilities” – James — tournament to kick-off on June 10

BY AKEEM GREENE

D

igicel’s Head of Marketing Jacqueline James posited that the Digicel Schools football Champion is all about making possibilities a reality as the telecommunication giants Digicel, launched their sixth annual National schools football championship at the Covent Garden Secondary School, East Bank Demerara on Thursday.

James in her address to the gathering that included student and top officials of Digicel, the Guyana Football Federation and the National Sports Commission, explained that the tournament which caters for students aged 18 and under, will kick-off on June 10 and culminate with a grand final at the National Stadium, Providence on July 31.

The Marketing head, also revealed that the tournament which is under theme ““Unite. Develop.

Excel” since its existence in 2011, will cater for 180 schools as compared to the 160 that registered in 2015.

Certainly for a tournament which spans throughout the ten administrative regions, it will transcend to an enormous investment and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the “Bigger Better Network” Kevin Kelly describes tournament as a “huge undertaking.”

“Everyone needs to pitch in because this is a huge undertaking, it’s the big-

Digicel’s Head of Marketing Jacqueline James

gest undertaking in a sports event in the country,” the CEO said.

President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde highlighted the fact that Digicel has still given support to the Football fraternity despite the “tumultuous days of football in the past” and more so, the tournament is great for scouting young talent.

“We have seen more than enough talented players coming to the fore over the past six years and its now the undertaking of the Guyana Football Federation to access those talents and develop them and ultimately produce a national team that is representative of the ten administrative regions of Guyana,” Forde lamented.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones asserted that it not the sole responsibility of the government to develop sport in Guyana as corporate support is vital.

“This is a demonstration

as to why Digicel Guyana is indeed the Bigger, Better Network because of their financial contribution to the development of sport and young people in general; I would want to encourage other corporate companies to come out and do what Digicel is currently doing,” Jones said.

He added, “It is opposite to believe that Government and Government alone has the responsibility for the development of sport; unless we get the support of corporate Guyana, we will not be able to see the development of our young people and the ultimate development of sports in Guyana.”

The Tournament will be played on a knock-out basis and will have four play-offs and every region is expected to produce a champion team.

However, region four will be dived into three sections, East Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara and North and South Georgetown.

This year, the champion school will collect $1 million to fund a project of its choice, while the second to fourth place finishers will receive $700,000., $400,000 and $350,000. respectively, also to fund a school project.

The regional champions are also expected to $100,000. each also for school projects.

Christianburg Wismar Secondary School are the defending champions are after winning the title for four consecutive years.

Flashback! Race organiser Hassan Mohamed (extreme right) with the top performers of the 2015 programme

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ycling is set to return to the inner circuit of the national park tomorrow with the Banks DIH sponsored Powerade 11race cycling programme organized by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed.

The event now sponsored for seven consecutive years by the beverage giants through its Powerade sports drink brand is set to peddle off at 09:00 Hrs. The programme, initially scheduled for May 7 but rescheduled due to the inclement weather is set to showcase some of the best young talent and possibly the next generation of Guyanese cycling.

Young boys and girls will compete in the BMX 6-9, 9-12, 12-14, Open and BMX Boys and Girls.

The more experienced riders will then take centre stage in the Juniors/ Juveniles, Veterans Under and Over-50 and Mountain Bikes.

Fresh off the Independence 3-Stage meet, the feature 35-lap School

Slingerz secure top spot with 3-1 drubbing of Buxton United…

Alpha awarded controversial victory over Pele T

he Guyana Football Federation/ Stag Elite League Finale continued on Wednesday evening with two contrasting games at the National Track and Field Facility at Leonora West Coast Demerara.

Slingerz FC have once again secured top spot in the Stag Elite League Finale with a 3-1 mauling of Buxton United. Slingerz, winners of the Genesis half of the Stag Elite League entered the game with thirty four (34) points, leading second place Fruta Conquerors by three points, with this victory over Buxton United; Slingerz have clinched top spot with a game to spare.

Trayon Bobb’s first half brace guided the title holders to victory. Bobb netted in the 37th and 45th minutes respectively to carry his tally to nine (9) goals in the Stag Elite League Finale. Domini Garnett also got on the score sheet with a goal in the 75th minute to finish Buxton off. Buxton’s lone goal came from Rondell Assanah in the 38th minute.

Slingerz FC are top of the table with thirty seven points while Buxton remain in sixth with eleven points.

Slingerz FC Trayon Bobb

In the second game of the double header, Alpha United faced off against old rivals Pele FC and the game ended in unusual fashion. The match was awarded to Alpha United FC as a result of Pele’s refusal to continue the game in the 27th minute when a second member of the Pele team was Red Carded. Gregory Richardson was the

first to be sent off in the 25th and two minutes later Omario Williams in the 27th, both players were sent off for using abusive language towards the referee. Pele scored an own goal in the 19th minute while Daniel Wilson scored in the 26th just before the match was abandoned.

GFF has commenced an investigation into the on-field incident thus more details will be released following the conclusion of game.

Alpha United now moves on to twenty seven points leaving Pele in must win situation for their next match.

Pele are currently in fourth position with seventeen points and are level with Guyana Defense Force (GDF), both sides have one game remaining.

This sets up a thrilling season finale as the race for fourth heats up with both sides aiming to prolong their campaign in the final four showdown.

Action continues this evening at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora when Buxton United take on Alpha United FC at 18:00 Hrs. The second game of the double header will see Monedderlust FC battle Slingerz FC at 20:30 Hrs.

Boys and Invitational race should attract some of the big names in likes of defending champion Michael Anthony, last week Independence 3-stage winner Orville Hinds, Marlon “Fishy” Williams, Raul Lear, Paul DeNobrega and 2013 winner Paul ChooWee-Nam. Last year’s feature race was won by Team Evolution’s Michael Anthony in a time of one hour, 15 minutes, 03 seconds (01h: 15m: 03s) while Jamal John of Team Coco’s won the 10-lap Juveniles race in 23 minutes, 57.6 seconds (23m: 57.6s) Junior Niles (Coco) for the fourth year running won the five-lap Veterans Under-50 in 11 minutes, 56 seconds (11m: 56s).

With a time of seven minutes, 56 seconds (07m: 56s), Daniel Perreira won the 1214 Boys and Girls three-lap race, while Raynauth Jeffrey won the five-lap Mountain Bike race in 12 minutes, 57 seconds (12m: 57s).

Mohamed said he is looking forward for a large group of riders taking to the starting line, as most of the top cyclists are in the country following their participation in the 34th annual Independence Three-Stage road race last weekend.

Cyclists are sure to refresh with Powerade sports drink while representatives of the sponsor, Banks DIH Limited, are expected to assist in the presentation of prizes after a full day of competitive cycling action.

Junior Pan American Championships…

Guyana go down to Ontario U-23 in warm-up

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he Guyana National Junior Men’s Hockey Team had their first taste of competitive play when they took on an Ontario under 23 selection on Wednesday afternoon in a practice match ahead of their Junior Pan American Championships on Friday in Toronto, Canada. The Guyanese started shaky and conceded two early goals in the first half, before Rosario Ramsammy pounced on a rebound to put his side on the score board moments before the half time whistle. The GT Boys gradually asserted themselves in the second half, creating numerous goal scoring opportunities that were not converted. A moment of individual brilliance by an Ontario forward extended the lead to 3-1 for the Canadians midway through the second half against the run of play. Defending deep in their half, Guyana would answer with their second after a devastating counter attack sprung by an Andrew Stewart interception which was finished by Aroydy Branford after a series of one touch passes up the length of the field between Stewart,

Branford and Nyron Joseph.

Head Coach Robert Fernandes stated that he was pleased with the team’s performance despite the 3-2 loss. We were lacking in some areas because we had some players in some unfamiliar positions. Two of our starting back four, Kareem McKenzie and Daniel Hooper are arriving tonight (Thursday) so we had to pull back some of our midfielders into defense so our defensive structure wasn’t the best today. Midfield work horse, Hilton Chester, also joins the team this evening (Thursday) and that will allow us to maintain a better defensive structure and be more versatile higher up field. The practice games served its purpose, hopefully we execute well when it really counts against Chile on Friday.”

The team takes on Chile on Friday at 3:00pm, then Mexico on Saturday at the same time before playing second seed Canada on Monday at 5:30pm. Local fans will be able to stream the matches live on the www.panamhockey.org website.

friDAY, may 20, 2016

“Green Machine” ready for Jamaican threat T G

guyana-times.com

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GSCL Inc/NSC Independence T20 delayed by rain

By Akeem Greene

uyana’s National Rugby team, commonly called the “Green Machine” is ready to battle with their Jamaican counterparts when they clash on Saturday at the National Park Rugby Field as part Rugby Americas North (RAN) 15s’ Championship South Zone Division which is being played for qualification to the 2019 World Cup. After inflicting a 48-17 spanking on Barbados last month, the well oiled Green machine is focused ahead of the crucial encounter.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) office in Kingston, captain of the team, Richard Staglon explained that the inclement weather has affected preparations but in no way will it undermine from their performance on Saturday.

“Preparation for this game has been hampered a bit but I think it is not major setback, the guys are still coming out, we getting the work done, yesterday [Wednesday] we did some work at the Campton ground which was very good,” Staglon explained.

The Jamaicans are a expecting to bring a physical game to Guyana and also try as much as possible to reduce the swift play of the Guyanese by capitalizing on the perceived small size of the National Park Rugby field, but Staglon responded by saying, “in no way will this be a problem.”

“We know the national park and to me it is a big pitch as I have played on smaller pitches but we still go out and get the job done as our plan is supreme,” Staglon said.

When quizzed on whether there is any specific player on the Jamaican team, they are wary of, he said “collectively we trying to stop the whole team, our team strategy is never based on players, we have our players who have to do a job as with everything, so we really don’t have any specific plans, we play team wise.”

Captain of Jamaica Hubert Thomas believes that despite Guyana boasting some exceptional players they must find a way of containment.

“Once you have a trick player, you have to

Mega clash! Hubert Thomas (left) and Richard Staglon

find a way to keep him some way out of the game but really as a team we have the entire 15 men to look out for but yet still you have a one or two players that could be outstanding; so you have to keep those players in a boundary at all times,” Thomas revealed.

With some of the more experienced players returning to the squad, the prospects for a Guyana victory are bright but a loss for Jamaican would effectively mean the end of their campaign, after loosing 38-14 to Trinidad and Tobago in their last match.

Scrum off is at 16:00h.

Guyana Squad: Jason Tyrell, Rondel Mcarthur, Rickrord Cummings, Kevon David, Jose Felicien, Dwayne Schroder, Jamal Angus, Richard Staglon (Captain) , Kion Kitt, Delroy Gordon, Fabian Joseph, Toby David, Ryan Gonsalves, Pebo Hamilton, Dane Parks, Lancelot Adonis, Triton Brathwaite, Avery Corbin, Ronald Mayers, Patrick King, Leon Greaves, Godfrey Brooms and Claudius Butts. Coach Larry Adonis Jamaica Squad: Romaen Campbell, Omar Roachie, Jones Mab, Orien Smith, Dushane Alford, Crisdan Grayson, Nicholas Pusey, Tackeem Creary , Julius Reid, Errick Groves, Renhardo Richards , Antonio Baker Neville Lynch, Steve Miller, Andrew Hylton, Shamar Creary, Everton Richards, Andrew Simpson, Jermaine Daley, Owen Linton, Hubert Thomas (Capatin) , Kenneth Walker, Shaneal Brown and Stephen Scott. Coaches: Dr. Anthony Greenaway and Denzil Williams.

Upper Corentyne Cricket Association benefits from scorebooks donation

RHTY&SC MS Executive Member Mark Papannah hands over scorebooks to the UCCA President Dennis De’ Andrade and Vice President Sydney Jackman

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he Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS continued its unmatched reputation of assisting other Clubs and Cricket Associations to fulfil their mandate by making a donation of scorebooks worth $75,000 to the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA).

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster and Executive member Mark Papannah visited the upper Corentyne area to make the presentation to UCCA President Dennis De’ Andrade and Vice President Sydney Jackman.

Foster in brief remarks stated that the RHTY&SC, MS over the last twenty years has shared out over $15M worth of sport gears to schools, Non-Governmental Agencies, churches, youth and sports organisations across Berbice. He stated that the RHTY&SC was pleased to assist the UCCA as the body was without doubt one of the most active cricket association in Guyana with the hosting of cricket and cricket development programmes.

The RHTY&SC, MS Secretary/CEO blasted some

cricket administrators in Guyana who seems only to be interested on holding on to power or seeking to gain power without devoting any energy or effort to make a positive difference to the game of cricket. He lambasted some cricket administrators at the Club level who seems only interested in blasting others on Facebook and noted that progress like those at the RHTY&SC, MS is only achieved through hard work, vision and a strong desire to assist others to develop.

The long standing Secretary/CEO also disclosed that the RHTY&SC was currently working on several proposals to assist numerous young cricketers and Clubs with equipment. The Club would also be targeting cricketers along Berbice in a massive Say No to Drugs campaign which would be unveiled shortly and the UCCA is invited to submit the names of ten Clubs for the “Say No to Drugs Cricket tournament.”

Foster also pledged that teams in the Upper Corentyne area would be invited in the proposed cricket tournament that the Club

turn to page 21

he Georgetown Softball Cricket league Inc/National Sports Commission Independence Masters T20 tournament which was set to bowl off tomorrow has been postponed due to the ongoing inclement weather in Georgetown.

When the competition bowls off, eight teams will take the field. The teams are divided in two zones of four where each team in the zones will play each other once. The top two teams from each zone will then qualify for the semi-finals.

Zone A consists of Choke Success Masters, Parika Defenders, Fisherman XI and Tropical Springs while zone B includes Ariel, Albion, Regal and Mike’s Wellman.

Matches were slated for

the Malteenoes Sports Club, GNIC SC, Gandhi Youth Organisation and Ogle SC but the unfavourable weather has delayed the adequate preparation of the grounds.

After the draw, the opening fixtures were set with Choke Success Masters will face Tropical Springs, Parika Defenders will play Fisherman XI, Ariel will take on Mike’s Wellman and Albion will face Regal.

In the second round, Success will battle Parika, Fisherman XI will challenge Tropical Springs, Albion will entertain Ariel and Regal will take on Mike’s Wellman.

The third round will see Success facing Fisherman XI, Parika playing Tropical Springs, Ariel matching skills with Regal and Albion doing battle with Mike’s

Wellman.

The partners for this year’s event which is now an annual fixture include Mike’s Copy Centre, Ink Plus and WJ Enterprise, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre and Regal Sports.

Some of the big names that will be in action include the hard hitting Longsford Klass, the fluent Eon Abel, the neat wicket-keeper Eric Thomas, the dynamic Mahase Chunilall, the ever-green Dharam Persaud, the steady Richard Persaud, Mike “Shane Warne” Singh, Ricky Persaud, Mohamed Rafeek, Lynden Lyght and Shaheed Mohamed.

The winning team will get a beautiful trophy and $200,000 while the runner up team will receive a trophy and $50,000.

Abrahams is 4th Guyanese qualifier for Rio

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liyah Abrahams became just the fourth athlete to qualify to represent Guyana at this year’s Olympics in neighbouring Brazil. The Guyana Olympic Association confirmed that Aliyah Abrahams, an American from Brooklyn New York and first year student at South Carolina University is eligible to participate at the Rio games under the Golden Arrowhead through her Guyanese parentage.Competing at the SEC outdoor Championships held on May 12 – 14, the

South Carolina Freshman hit an impressive personal best to take fourth in the 400m.

Abrahams ran 52.04, almost eight-tenths of a second better than her personal best. In the process her time of 52.04 was good enough to be within the Olympic qualification time of 52.20 for the women 400 meters. The time also shot her all the way up to ninth in the school’s history for the outdoor quarter mile.

Overall, her time is the best for the school since 2008.

Abrahams joins fellow American bred athletes Troy

Aliyah Abrahams

Doris (Triple Jump) and Brenessa Thompson (100m & 200m) alongside Winston George (400m) who’s also based in the USA to qualify to represent Guyana at the Rio Games.

fridAY, May 20, 2016

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

Digicel 6th Annual School Football Championship...

“When we talk about Digicel football, we talk about possibilities” — James — tournament to kick-off on June 10

Pg 22 From left: Director of Sports, Christopher Jones; GFF President Wayne Forde: Digicel’s Marketing Head Jacqueline James (far right) and CEO Kevin Kelly (third from right) along with other coordinators and students pose with the winning trophies (Paul Vanvield Photo)

“Green Machine” ready for Jamaican threat

Abrahams is 4th Guyanese qualifier for Rio

Pg 23

Pg 23

Third from left: Jamaica’s Mananger Tezra Sangster, followed

by Jamaica’s Captain Hubert Thomas, Guyana’s Captain Richard Staglon, Coach Larry Adonis and GRFU President Peter Green. ( Paul Vanvield Photo)

Aliyah Abrahams ran a personal best of 52.04 to qualify for Rio

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