Guyana Times Daily - March 16, 2016

The Race to LGE 2016

Ras Leon Saul promises better security in GT’s Constituency 4 P17 THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 2798

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

British Govt offers help with Guyana’s prison reform

PRICE

WHAT'S INSIDE: Gun amnesty backpedalling

P15

Amerindian farmers upbeat about firearms' return LGE 2016

Page 3

1 killed after Bandit opens fire on Mahdia mining NA businesswoman pit collapses during robbery Page 9

$80 vat included

Page 6

P7

“Vote Like A Boss” campaign working on behalf of APNU/ AFC – PPP

Rice harvesting commences in Region 2 P20 – farmers dissatisfied with prices

Conflict between TSC and GTU

GTU still P12 waiting on President Granger’s intervention

St Joseph Mercy Hospital officially launched its kidney Dialysis Unit at a simple ceremony held at the hospital’s Parade Street, Kingston location. In photo: Nursing Supervisor, Mashaun Tyrell, assists in prepapring the first patient for dialysis

LGE 2016

Deadly prison riot CoI

“Prison Stakeholders Page 14 officers disappointed with GECOM’s PR treat

inmates Page like 15 beasts” – prisoner

Region 10 television station controversy

PM hosts stakeholder consultation

Page 10

– media locked out of meeting

Heavy rains, strike hamper P6 sugar production

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, March 16 – 11:00h-12:30h and Thursday, March 17 – 12:30h-14:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, March 16 – 10:00h-11:30h and Thursday, March 17 – 11:35h-13:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected in the morning and early afternoon hours, while sunny weather is expected in the afternoon.

Clear to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.36 metres per second.

High Tide: 10:20h and 23:15h reaching maximum heights of 2.23 metres and 2.10 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 03:48h and 16:35h reaching minimum heights of 1.07 metres and 0.99 metre.

Saturday, March 12, 2016

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Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Daily Millions

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

British Govt offers help with Guyana's prison reform I

n light of the recent unrest earlier this month at the Georgetown Prison during which 17 inmates were killed and several others as well as prison officials injured, the British Government has indicated its willingness to aid Guyana in reforming its prison system.

This offer was indicated by British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, who told reporters on Tuesday that the United Kingdom is reviewing the Security Sector Reform (SSR) Programme to find ways it can assist the Guyanese Government in strengthening the prison system.

“I have had recent discussions on prisons subsequent to the deaths and the riot. I expect that the action plan on security sector reform and what we do going forward to be completed by the end of April and then we will look at putting in place the various recommendations which I know the Commission will come up with,” the High Commissioner related.

Last year, the British diplomat had announced that his Government would be conducting an assessment in Guyana with the aim of reviving the SSR Programme here. He explained that because the SSR Programme was designed some nine years ago, things have significantly changed over the years, so the first step of the process would be for the British Government to undertake

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn

an assessment mission. “(The assessment) will look at the whole security sector again and they will come up with a new plan and we will go from there.

We are hoping that that needs assessment mission will come out the first quarter of next year,” Quinn had stated.

The needs assessment report was scheduled to be completed during the first quarter of this year.

On the other hand, High Commissioner Quinn further told reporters that he was pleased with Government’s response to the prison riot.

He commended President David Granger and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan for both the immediate and long-term responses to the unrest.

“I think they are doing a very good job in a very

difficult circumstance,” he noted, while adding that the level of violence that broke out on that fateful day was unexpected for everyone. Quinn further remarked that setting up a Commission of Inquiry had been the sensible thing to do.

“I think if something similar had happened in the UK, you would have also had a Commission of Inquiry …

I think a Commission of Inquiry to try and find out the root causes and what can be done to ensure it doesn’t happen again is a perfectly legitimate and perfectly sensible thing to do,” he posited.

Meanwhile, Government last week announced that local prison officers would be travelling to the United States to participate in a mock prison riot exercise.

This was in response to an

invitation from the US to be part of the 18th mock prison riot to be held at West Virginia State Prison in the US between May 1 and 4 later this year.

On March 3, 17 prisoners died in a fire said to have been set by the very inmates at the Camp Street Prison. Thirteen persons, including officers, were also injured. According to reports, the bodies of 16 prisoners were found in the ‘Capital A’ section of the Prison.

Prison officials, acting on reports, had carried out a search on March 2 within the ‘Capital A’ building during which several contraband items were seized.

These included 19 cellular phones and a quantity of narcotics.

It was in retaliation for this that the prisoners set a series of fires later that night by putting their mattresses in front of the grille of their cells and setting them ablaze. Firefighters spent hours there, putting out at least three separate blazes. After the firemen had managed to put out the first fire, the angry inmates started another blaze at the same spot. This fire too was successfully doused after about 15 minutes, much to the dissatisfaction of the prisoners, who again started another fire.

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Views General Editor: Michael Younge News Hotliine: 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

“Voting Like A Boss” T

he Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) and its new partner, Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG), on February 26, 2016, launched a second “Vote Like A Boss” campaign with the aim of encouraging thousands of Guyanese youth to be part of the country’s democratic evolution by participating in the long-overdue Local Government Elections which are slated for this Friday.

The campaign, which appeared promising and legitimate on the surface, was introduced to the public a mere 19 days before Guyanese in general and youths in particular are scheduled to go to the polls to be part of what are been deemed as “historic” LGE. At the launch of the initiative, the GNYC said that this year’s campaign would be premised on the theme “excite, engage, educate and inspire” because of the overwhelming need for more to be done by youths themselves to get involved in the taxing voter education campaign.

The event was endorsed by the US Embassy and its Chargé d’Affairs, Bryan Hunt; Gerry Gouveia, who is said to have represented Guyana’s Private Sector and Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Dr Steve Surujbally.

Since the launch of this campaign in February, the GNYC and YCG have not engaged the media or public directly to report on their ongoing activities and the response to the thrust of their spate of LGE initiatives.

From a look at the some of the work done by the GNYC under the VLAB campaign, one gets the impression that it was never the aim of the project to disseminate voter education information about LGE in an independent, unbiased and credible way.

The social media tactics employed by the group have been unimpressive and unimaginative to say the least and have not led to any noticeable spike in the behavioural pattern of the Guyanese populace as far as LGE are concerned.

If this is the case, the group has failed miserably in publishing this data with a view of winning the support and confidence of those in certain civil society and political circles that have long been suspicious of the entire campaign and its real motives.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the main Opposition People’s Progressive Party took a clear swipe at the initiative with the aim of exposing what it said was the “anti-PPP agenda of its messages” while deeming the core of the recently pursued LGE undertakings as “pro-APNU/AFC”.

There is also much reasoning in the Party’s suspicions of the group behind the campaign and its financers because of the little that is known about the selection of its facilitators, the methodology used to disseminate information and embark on public encounters, the scope and depth of the voter education information shared at closed doors sessions and the intricacies of the funding of various pillars of its apparently comprehensive programme.

Both the work GNYC has done as an organisation and the Vote Like A Boss campaign as a project appear to be questionable in nature given the whole history of foreign interference in Guyana, especially at critical junctures that could see a simple vote cast redefining the political landscape of the country and tilting the balance of power in favour of one party against another.

The PPP’s assumptions and convictions about the VLAB project could hold merit if a closer analysis is done by independents of the work, financiers and interests behind the GNYC. Also, the organisation is doing itself a massive disservice by remaining silent and failing to publicise the outcomes and results it has achieved during and after its multimillion-dollar investments in educating Guyanese ahead of the historic LGE on Friday, as we feel that Guyanese (unfortunately) are not any better off than they were before the campaign was launched back in February this year.

Guyanese may very well need to ask themselves whether they have benefited directly or indirectly from the VLAB campaign and if indeed, they feel like a “boss” before, during and after the process on Friday.

Climbing the winding staircase of the Georgetown Lighthouse was all part of the tour experience for this group (Marceano Narine photo)

Widespread disappointment with Govt’s non-release of Rodney CoI Report Dear Editor, The ongoing opinion survey being conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association on contemporary issues has found overwhelming support (for the call by prominent Guyanese and other eminent personalities around the globe) for the APNUAFC coalition Government to release the report presented by the distinguished Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the assassination of the outstanding Guyanese academic and political figure, Dr Walter Rodney.

There is widespread support for the release of the CoI Report among all sections of Guyanese society regardless of ethnicity, political affiliation, region and class. The poll also found a majority of voters do not feel the AFC-APNU coalition agreement has been working well, saying aspects of the agreement are not being enforced. A majority is also disappointed with President David Granger and the

leadership of the AFC (particularly Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan) “for failing” to honour promises made during the general elections campaign not to close down any sugar estate as well as to pay (up to) $9000 a bag for paddy.

The findings of the poll, conducted by pollster Dr Vishnu Bisram, are based on interviews through Sunday with some 1230 individuals (43% Indians, 30% Africans, 17% Mixed, 9% Amerindians and 1% others) at random. The sample was analysed at a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of 3%.

Asked if the APNU/AFC Government should release the Rodney Commission of Inquiry Report, 88% said “yes” with only 3% saying no and 9% not sure.

Queried on whether they feel the AFC-APNU coalition agreement has been working well, a majority of voters (54% to 40%) said

“no”, with 6% saying “not sure”.

Some 55% of the voters say they are disappointed (as compared with 40% who are not) with the behaviour of the AFC leadership in not insisting on the enforcement of the terms of the agreement made with the APNU (PNC) a year ago to form the pre-election coalition especially with regard to governance.

Asked if they think Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan have betrayed sugar workers and rice farmers, 54% said yes, with 39% saying no and 7% not offering a response. Some 99% of rice farmers and sugar workers (and farmers in general) say Nagamootoo and Ramjattan betrayed them and were not protecting their interests.

The same percentage of farmers also says the AFCAPNU coalition agreement is not working well and that the AFC leadership has disappointed them in not in-

sisting on the enforcement of the coalition terms of agreement.

Asked if they think the Government is abusing the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), some 63% said yes, with 21% saying no and 16% not sure. Many respondents feel the Government is using SOCU to target (harass and intimidate) political opponents and business persons who are affiliated with the Opposition.

Queried whether they feel Guyana is heading for a return to dictatorial rule, 51% answered in the affirmative, with 42% saying no and 7% not sure. Many people feel recent actions of the Government and SOCU are reminiscent of the period of “Burnhamite governance”.

The poll also queried voters on a number of other issues. The findings will be released in a subsequent report.

Regards, NACTA

Apparent lack of transparency in IDB procurement for forensic auditors Dear Editor, I refer to the Guyana Times March 7 article on Page 3 on State Forensic Audits. I was pleased to see the full list of entities being audited, the auditor and the cost. What a waste of taxpayers’ money – $133 million.

Of interest was the audit listed number 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 funded by the Inter-

American Development Bank (IDB). I would like to ask the IDB Country Manager Ms Sophia Mckennon and her relevant procurement Staff on what basis or what method of procurement was used to contract these firms, what is the value of these contracts, why was there no public advertisement or public tender process for these audits. If

they were hand-picked, I can list over 500 chartered accountants and qualified accountants and auditors who would have been eligible for selection and I am sure were not contacted. This matter of lack of transparency was brought up in the National Assembly previously by the PPP members.

It appears IDB has forgone transparency and in-

stead teamed up with the Government in breaching standard procurement laws of the country. This matter must be investigated urgently by high officials of the Bank and the IDB Board.

I await the IDB’s urgent response.

With regards, Carl Lucas

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The need for a forensic audit at City Hall Dear Editor, The Georgetown City Council’s sloth in carrying out a forensic audit of the municipality, which it keeps promising to do, is quite worrying and should be to the citizenry of Georgetown and the nation as a whole, particularly those who will be exercising their rights shortly at the upcoming Local Government Elections.

The need for a forensic audit there has never been greater and must be the first order of business of the new Council with the findings being made public, which will undoubtedly identify many instances in which that entity has violated the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act of Guyana.

If one were to examine just for a start, the tax collecting system, it will be clearly shown that there have been many instances of dishonesty, deficiency, and discrepancies, many of which were never reported to the Police and consequently the people of

Georgetown do not know the truth about the financial operations, mismanagement and excesses that are taking place at City Hall.

For the period of September 1-30 last year, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) offered property owners in the city an amnesty on the interest accumulated on property rates owed to the Council.

This offer was to allow residential property owners a 100 per cent amnesty on the interest of the rates they owed to the Council, whilst commercial and corporate property owners were offered a 50 per cent to 75 per cent amnesty, dependent on special circumstances.

This never happened, instead commercial and corporate property owners when they visited City Hall to pursue this offer were directed upstairs to the Council Chamber where they were interviewed not by a committee but by one Councillor who capriciously awarded them discounts

many times up to a full 100 per cent in contravention of the arrangement for which the maximum was to be 75 per cent, costing the Council tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue But far worse than that, these corrupt Councillors have continued to bestow waivers of interest to their friends long after the amnesty period concluded on November 30, 2015, which was an extension by two months of the original September 30 deadline.

Indeed up to this month persons have been arbitrarily granted tax waivers something persons in the Tax Collecting Section and the City Treasury know to be completely wrong and which results in the city losing hundreds of millions of dollars. The new Council needs to see to it that charges are laid in relation to deception, acts of fraud, misfeasance of public office, and political corruption.

Sincerely, Riley Matthews

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Bandit opens fire on NA Heavy rains, strike hamper businesswoman during robbery sugar production

Sankar’s Variety which was robbed on Tuesday evening

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lone gunman on Tuesday evening escaped with an undisclosed sum of cash from a New Amsterdam, Berbice variety store but not before opening fire on the businesswoman and her employee.

The incident occurred sometime around 19:00h.

Guyana Times understands that the unmasked man fled on foot with a bag containing the day’s sales of Sankar’s Variety, located in downtown New Amsterdam, after discharging two shots in the direction of the two persons. Luckily, no one was hurt during the incident.

However, one of the store’s owners pursued the gunman, hitting him with a car but he still managed to escape into an ally and eventually disappearing. During the chase, some of the stolen money was left behind and was recovered by the owners.

According to reports, the gunman struck as the proprietors were closing the business. This newspaper was told that Babita Sankar was in the store along with a female employee closing up while her husband, Danny Sankar, had gone to the parking lot to get his car.

The tramatised wife related to Guyana Times that

she had observed a stranger standing behind a utility pole situated next to the business and enquired from her employee whether she knew

shot fired at her had missed.

Realising the danger, the female employee sprung into action and tried to hold the gunman. He then fired a second shot, this time at the employee.

“When the gun fire, I loose he and run,” the young employee told this publication.

After grabbing the money bag which the Sankars were preparing to take into the car, the gunman escaped by running along Strand Street and then into Chappell Street.

At this time, Danny Sankar became aware of what had transpired and pursued the fleeing man with his car. He was able to hit the gunman, causing him to lose his balance. However,

A bag containing a hat and a pack of cigarettes left behind by the bandit

him.

“She (employee) told me that he was standing there for a while and said she doesn’t know him. And as soon as she said so, he come and stand up next to me and say give me all the money. And I say what kind of money you want? And I jump on the table. And he pull out the gun and fire one bullet,” the woman recalled.

She noted that at the time she was not aware that the

the man was able to make it into a nearby alley and disappeared.

Babita further related to this newspaper that her husband returned with some of the money the thief fled with and another portion was collected by persons who work at the neighbouring store.

Up to press time, Danny Sankar and the Police were still searching the area for the suspect.

GAWU President Komal Chand

By Shemuel Fanfair

M

onday’s heavy downpour coupled with the planned once-per-week industrial action on Tuesday affected sugar production across all estates.

This was opined by Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) President Komal Chand in an interview with this publication.

Chand said while the strikes have not had the full support of workers, other factors hindered the level of productivity.

“Two factors affected production: the rain and strikes. The strike today (Tuesday) by sugar workers across the sugar industry did affect GuySuCo very much in that you don’t have enough canes harvested,” posited the GAWU President.

It was explained that owing to the rains, there were no operations at

Enmore Estate as there was no burning of canes for harvesting there on Tuesday.

Guyana Times understands that at Berbice estates – Skeldon, Albion, Rose Hall, and Blairmont - only 675 punts were loaded for harvesting out of 1350 punts, whereas the average loading of canes was around 1360.

At Wales Estate, only 56 out of 150 punts were said to be harvested while at Uitvlugt, there were only 37 out of 245 punts.

This publication has also learnt that about 50 per cent of cane cutters did not report for duty at Wales Estate.

Chand explained that industrial action would continue, even with the recent revelation that workers would be paid the

2015 Annual Production Incentive (API) on April 1 of this year. This followed negotiations that were declared deadlocked

by Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle in February after both parties held steadfast to their respective positions. Workers will be given 2.72 days pay for 85,000 tonnes of canes produced.

Chand defended the Union for not pursuing arbitration and explained it did not “seem necessary” for GAWU to go that route.

“There’s no reason; the Union feels that to exhaust the procedure up to conciliation and to leave the matter like that.”

Responding to the supposition that the Union is giving in to GuySuCo, Chand rubbished this no-

Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle

tion and posited that the Union would continue to actively represent the rights and demands of workers. “[The Union is considering] other actions that we are engaging; like the

issues of last year’s wages and the campaign to save Wales Estate so we are very much engaged in activism.”

The GAWU President further noted that the Union would soon put in its 2016 API claim.

GuySuCo and GAWU were at loggerheads since November last year over sugar workers’ API for 2015. Strike action intensified after the January announcement that Wales Estate would cease operations in 2017.

GuySuCo had said in a statement that if the strikes continued, the Corporation would have no other choice than to halt the current crop. It was, however, reported that workers viewed this disclosure as a “mere threat”.

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LGE 2016

“Vote Like A Boss” campaign working on behalf of APNU/AFC – PPP

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ith just two days to go to the historic Local Government Elections (LGE), the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Tuesday said the

on the electoral scene once again on the eve of the LGE billed for Friday.

It reminded that the “political non-entity” comes to life only at election time, like it did on the eve of the May

USAID-funded “Vote Like a Boss (VLAB)” campaign was a political non-entity aimed at “wooing” young voters to cast their ballots in favour of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition.

The PPP, in a statement, said that it noted the reappearance of the campaign

2015 Regional and General Elections.

The PPP said that the VLAB campaign was clearly foreign-funded and representing foreign interests, “who have an anti-PPP agenda for ideological and political reasons”.

“It is instructive to note that “Vote Like a Boss” exists for no other but electoral

purposes and its main mission, notwithstanding its efforts to appear non-political publically, neutral and educational, nevertheless, its principal aim is to influence politically the youth voter in a particular political direction and to sway young voters away from the PPP/C into the camps of the APNU+AFC,” the statement said.

The Opposition, without naming any particular individual, organisation or country, said that it suspected the VLAB campaign to be funded by non-Guyanese to influence the local body politic and to work for change against progressive parties and movements in many countries around the world.

“VLAB is so well-endowed with funds that it can afford to post more than a dozen advertisements costing millions in the Guyana Chronicle, the Kaieteur News, Stabroek News and the Guyana Times,” the PPP highlighted.

Rodney CoI findings

Report still to reach Parliament

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lmost a month after it was handed over to Government, the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report has still not left the chambers of Cabinet to be laid in the National Assembly.

Guyana Times understands that Cabinet members have not even begun an in-depth review or discussion on the matter.

The final report of the CoI into the death of Dr Rodney was taken to Cabinet for discussion by President David Granger. The Head of State had said that the Report needed to go there first before it could be sent to the National Assembly for discussion. However, Guyana Times was able to confirm that it was not yet ready for Parliament.

Just recently, the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) revealed that there

Dr Walter Rodney

was overwhelming support for the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to release the CoI Report on the death of the renowned Guyanese academic and political figure.

The findings of the poll, conducted by Dr Vishnu Bisram, are based on random interviews with some 1230 individuals comprising 43 per cent Indians,

30 per cent Africans, 17 per cent mixed, 9 per cent Amerindians and 1 per cent others.

The data was analysed at a 95 per cent confidence level with a marginal error of three per cent.

Asked if the Government should immediately release the Rodney Report, 88 per cent said “yes” and only three per cent responded “no”, while nine per cent was unsure.

There have been mounting calls from local personalities for the release of the report.

After discrediting the contents of the document, President David Granger promised to release the Report after Cabinet completed its perusal.

Meanwhile, the NACTA survey also found that a majority of voters do not believe the APNU/AFC agreement has been working well.

Since the VLAB does not contest elections, the PPP is questioning the purpose of its existence and whose political and ideological interests it serves.

The Opposition said while the campaign was trying to convince Guyanese about its political neutrality and unbiased ideological and non-racial orientation, “it is abundantly clear that

the VLAB by the nature of its social media content and its Facebook page, it is clearly hostile to the PPP and pro-APNU+AFC”.

The Opposition Party said that it would not be fooled and misled by “the subterfuge of VLAB and its external sponsors”.

“The PPP has had years of experience in dealing with front and foreign-fund-

ed NGOs such as VLAB; the mask will surely fall from VLAB,” it added.

The VLAB campaign is supported by the US Embassy in Georgetown as part of its initiative to encourage voter participation at the upcoming elections.

The campaign has brought together a number of Guyanese youth groups and youth activists.

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Man charged for threatening to kill mother

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La Penitence, Georgetown man who threatened to kill his mother ended up before Magistrate Dylan Best on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for using threatening language and threatening behaviour.

Kumar Viswanauth, 36, of Lot 36 Fourth Street, La Penitence, pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge which stated that on March 12, 2016, at La Penitence, he used threatening language and behaviour against his mother. He allegedly threatened to kill his mother and

Kumar Viswanauth

burn her house down.

The prosecution’s facts stated that on the day in question the defendant was under

the influence of alcohol when he started to verbally abuse his mother, Chandawattie Viswanauth, the Virtual Complainant (VC). When she asked him to leave her home, he proceeded to assault her.

In Court on Tuesday, the VC told the Magistrate that she was afraid of her son since on a number of occasions he has threatened her life. She requested that the defendant be ordered to stay away from her residence if he was granted bail.

She further disclosed to the Court that the defendant was incarcerated for six months after he was charged with as-

saulting his step-father.

Meanwhile, the defendant told the Court: “I am very sorry for what I have done.”

He explained to Magistrate Best that he would never hurt his mother, adding that he would lose control whenever he drank alcohol.

Magistrate Best ordered the defendant to stay 300 feet away from the VC’s home. He was also restrained from verbally abusing the VC. The order is to last for the next six months.

The matter was then dismissed as the VC stated that she did not wish to pursue the matter further.

Charges dismissed against ‘Peeping Tom’

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S o u t h Cummingsburg man branded the “Peeping Tom” had all the charges dismissed against him when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Jason Sobers was charged with breaching the peace. It was alleged that on November 10, 2015, at Rosemary Lane,

Jason Sobers

South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, he was caught spying on Yolanda Samuels.

According to the prosecution’s case, on the day in question, while Samuels was taking a shower, she heard a sound coming from outside her bathroom. When Samuels looked in the direction of the sound, she discovered Sobers peeping at her.

Samuels then threw a bucket filled with water on the

man, the prosecution added.

Both Sobers and Samuels were charged, Samuels being charged with assault for throwing water on Sobers.

Sobers was granted $30,000 bail. When the matter was recalled to court on four occasions, Samuels failed to make an appearance and as such, Magistrate Latchman was forced to dismiss the matter.

Soesdyke/Linden Highway murder

Pensioner’s SUV, ATM card recovered – 1 in custody

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ne day after a pensioner was found dead in his Soesdyke/Linden Highway home, investigators have arrested one person and recovered the man’s missing SUV and banking card.

The partially decomposed body of 60-year-old Anthony Breedy of Lot 76-78 First Hill, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, was discovered in the bottom flat of his home on Monday afternoon. His hands and feet were bound.

According to information received, the dead man’s body bore several marks of violence, including lacerations to the head, and his

SUV was reported missing.

Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times on Tuesday that the vehicle was recovered in Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, but could not give the time it was found.

The Crime Chief further revealed that Police have arrested a suspect who was found in possession of Breedy’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card.

Blanhum noted that while further investigations were ongoing, they were able to make a connection between the suspect in custody and

the SUV. Meanwhile, this newspaper was made to understand that the suspect was arrested in Speightland, Mackenzie, Linden, late Monday night and taken to Georgetown. Police sources have also confirmed that they are looking for a second suspect from that area as well.

According to reports, Breedy lived alone and was not seen for several days. It was after a foul stench was detected by neighbours, the gruesome discovery was made.

They alerted members of the Community Policing

Group who in turn contacted the Timehri Police Station.

Crime scene experts have recovered several pieces of evidence as they continue their investigations. The house was reportedly ransacked thus leading investigators to believe that Breedy’s death might have stemmed from a robbery.

One resident told Guyana Times that after the man’s SUV was not seen, they thought that he had left for the interior where he operated a business.

The body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Home to await a post-mortem examination.

Eyew tness

Money talks... ...so leaders can strut all they want

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lot of ink's being spilled and hot air expended on the "Trump Phenomenon". Folks seem to forget it wasn't much different when Barack Obama burst on the scene back in 2008. The analysis then as to what his success meant at gaining the Democratic nomination, and then the Presidency could fill – and have filled – entire libraries. Thank God very few hard copies of books are printed nowadays!

Really, Dear Readers, what change has Obama wrought? Race relations were the biggest expected change – especially between white and black America. Fact of the matter, the US's now more polarised between the two groups than even back when lynching was the national sport. At the most, that amounted to a couple of hundreds dead annually at the peak. Today, there are more than 1.5 million black men in Jail – with a similar number on parole.

For a black US male citizen born after 1992, there's a 30% chance of him doing jail-time. Not a thing's changed since 2008.

Economically, the median income of Blacks in the US is THIRTEEN times less than that of whites who have SIXTEEN times more wealth on the average. After 8 years of an AFRICAN AMERICAN President. We could go on and on ...but your Eyewitness hopes you get the idea. Which is not that Barack Obama didn't have all kinds of good intentions when he entered the White House. He did. But as he conceded in one interview, there's very little any one man can do OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM – even when he's President of the US of A. And that system, said one President who ought to know, is run by "the military-industrial complex". That President, in case you wondered, wasn't some pot-smoking crank who inhaled the smoke – it was Dwight Eisenhower – a Republican who'd been the General at the helm of the Allied troops in WWII. He was the darling of the business class and it was said he enjoyed his golf more than anything else. But from the inside – both politically and militarily - he knew the saying "what is good for GM is good for America" wasn't a slur: it described the essential power relations in America.

"Apple’s" may come and "GM’s" may go – but the SYSTEM controls. So it matters not what Trump might scream. If he gets into the Oval Office, he'll have to play the game.

Which is what? When in trouble, start a war to get the economy moving! And that's why Obama, who came in with doves hovering over both shoulders, is still in the Middle East.

...especially at City Hall

As your Eyewitness reads of the goings on at City Hall, even his jaded mind is taking a licking. He'd read about "the Last Days of Pompeii" – in which decadence had taken on a whole new depraved meaning. It would appear that Hamilton Green and his crew are going to give Pompeii a run for its money. Money's being spent like it’s flowing out of the Kaieteur Falls – with no one accounting for how and why?

Cleaning the city? Good! But who's keeping tabs?

Cleaning up Merriman Mall. Good. But who's keeping tabs on who's being thrown out from vending and who's benefiting from their removal? Granting rates and taxes exemptions? Into whose pockets is half being funnelled?

But Green should remember Pompeii was destroyed by the explosion of Mt Vesuvius and all the high and mighty perished. And on Friday we'll have our own Vesuvius of independents – hopefully exploding.

But in the meantime where's the "chattering class" who used to beat up on PPP's Town Clerk Sooba?

...and mouthpiece bleats

After PM Nagamootoo – as Minister of Information – followed the advice of Justice Pollard and offered his take on the regulation of broadcast licensing, did you notice who took the contra stance?

His party leader!! Ouch!!

Boondoggle at City Hall Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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1 killed after Mahdia mining pit collapses

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19-year-old miner was on Monday afternoon killed at Konawaruk, Mahdia, Backdam, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed, pinning him under slush, law enforcement authorities have confirmed.

Dead is Trenton Sebastian of Kurukubaru, also in Region Eight.

Reports are that about 15:30h on Monday, Sebastian and four other miners were washing the walls of the mine while simultaneously, other miners were also clearing the area of trees, when one of the walls of the pit caved in and pinned the teenager under the soil.

The mine in which the incident took place is said to be owned by Sherwin Grenada. Investigators from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) have been dispatched to the area.

Illegal operation

Meanwhile, the GGMC in a statement Monday, said that the mining operation where the incident occurred was operating without the requisite approval.

“It was also reported that the dredge was operating on property without permission and for which an order to cease work (CWO) was is-

Ruimveldt man sentenced to 150 hours of community service for hitting wife – “please give me another chance, me nah go do it again”

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Rescuers at Mowasi/Pepper Creek where 10 miners were buried alive in May 2015

sued,” the GGMC stated.

The GGMC says the accident comes at a time when as recent as the mid-February 2016, it conducted Mines Safety Compliance Tour in the Potaro and Konawaruk areas, where several CWOs were issued due to unsafe operations in the Mahdia Redhole, Whitehole and St Elizabeth areas.

The GGMC added that despite regulatory compliance tours by its officers in the Cuyuni District, “miners continued to have a casual attitude to safe mines practices.”

Region Eight has seen its fair share of deadly mining pit collapses over the years.

Mining deaths CoI

A mining pit collapse at Mowasi Backdam, Region

Eight, which claimed the lives of 10 miners back in May 2015, led President David Granger to establish a Commission of Inquiry to probe mining accidents.

The report highlighted that there have been, over a 15-month period, 28 deaths, most of them coming from pitfall cave-ins.

It revealed that from 2012 to 2015, 62 miners, particularly young men, lost their lives on the job.

These accidents were said to be caused by negligence; especially with regards to safe mining practices, including shortcuts taken by workers, who sometimes treasured their finds over their own lives.

The CoI determined there was a pervading culture of laxness towards safe-

ty and that clear rules must be applied and enforced.

Recommendations

The report recommended that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) institute the proper framework in order to decrease the number of future accidents.

It was revealed that whenever an accident occurred, the available emergency mechanism – the search and rescue and recovery – was inadequate and would need proper definition and manning.

The report also stated that there was poor reporting of these accidents and most times, the GGMC would act on a report heard or seen in parts of the media.

West Ruimveldt man appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with assault on Tuesday.

Andy Micou, 45, of Lot 160 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded guilty with an explanation to the charge, which stated that on March 11,he unlawfully assaulted Shamwattie Arjun with intent to cause bodily harm.

The prosecution’s case stated that the Virtual Complainant (VC) is the reputed wife of the defendant and has been living with him for the past 20 years. They have five children together the court was told.

On the day in question at their home, the defendant, who was under the influence of alcohol, dealt the VC several blows to her head with a bottle.

As a result of the blows, the VC suffered multiple lacerations about her face. The matter was reported to the Ruimveldt Police Station and the defendant was arrested.

When given the oppor-

Andy Micou

tunity to speak in court, the defendant admitted to the offence, pleading with the Magistrate to “please give me another chance, me nah go do it again”.

The Magistrate ordered the defendant to apologise to the VC and instructed that he seek counselling in substance abuse and anger management from the Social Protection Ministry.

He was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service to be completed on or before May 20, 2016, or face a default of 18 months in prison.

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News

Region 10 television station controversy

PM hosts stakeholder consultation – media locked out of meeting

By Utamu Belle

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n the heels of controversy surrounding ownership of a television station for Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who holds responsibility for public information, hosted a stakeholder consultation in Linden on Monday.

Head of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Leonard Craig, Regional Chairman Renis Morian, Linden Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman Orrin Gordon and former Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon were among those who attended the meeting.

While members of the media were not allowed to be part of the meeting, Director of Public Information and Press Secretary Imran Khan, in providing an update afterwards, explained that it was held in relation to the issue of the return of the television station to the Linden community and its environs.

The issue dates back to an agreement signed in 2012 between the then Administration and the Region for the setting up of a regional television station.

However, recently, an issue arose between the previous and present Regional Chairman regarding the station’s ownership. Both claimed to have received letters from the GNBA to move ahead with the process. Khan said a letter was sent to the present RDC as a result of an error made by a staff. He said all correspondence was intended for former Chairman Solomon, who has since moved to form a trust company” to move the station forward.

A few weeks ago, Morian called for a cease order following progress by the Trust Company to have the station set up.

Khan related that the meeting was very fruitful and it was made very clear

by Nagamootoo that the issue of a return of the television station to the Region was not up for discussion and the process would move forward. This, he said, was also agreed to by stakeholders at the meeting.

“The Chairman of the GNBA explained in the meeting that based on what the law provides, they could not engage with the RDC, they had to engage with a trust company … being representative of the people of

Linden and Region 10 … the letter that was sent to the RDC was done in error by a staff of the GNBA … the communication was being done by the Trust Company which the RDC had written to the GNBA indicating is the entity applying on behalf of the people of Linden,” he stated.

In reflecting, Khan said the process had started immediately after the general elections period when Solomon would have been the RDC Chairman, noting that it had continued, since, as the law outlines, the RDC was not permitted to own a television station.

“So the application which was made to the GNBA was adjusted and that was explained at the consultation by the Chairman of the GNBA by Mr Leonard Craig…The application was first made in the name of a company, which was then changed to a trust, representing what the Prime Minister at the time understood to be representative of the entire Region 10 community and on that basis, the process moved forward,” Khan said.

He further explained that prior to that, a letter was received by the GNBA from the

RDC, empowering the GNBA to proceed in discussions with regard to the licence for the Region 10 Broadcasting Trust Company previously called the Region 10 Broadcasting Inc (RBI).

“It was on that basis that the GNBA moved forward with the process and it was on that basis from the political side with regard to that agreement…the 2012 agreement, that Prime Minister would have moved forward… there was a level of misinformation, there was a level of confusion, it would have appeared, and there was a level of dissatisfaction and given that he did not want to move forward in that sort of environment, he thought it best to engage in this consultation,” Khan disclosed.

He further stated that there has been a commitment for further meetings involving stakeholders in Linden to discuss and clarify legal issues regarding the Trust Company. He said upon completion of the meetings, a report would be provided to the Prime Minister, adding that Government was committed to putting everything in place, including the issuing of a licence, as soon as the issues were resolved.

Force ripe

S

atiricus disliked force-ripe mangoes. It wasn’t just the taste wasn’t right...nether was the texture nor the smell. “Heck!” he thought, “force ripe mango isn’t even mango!” So when he heard Man Shall, the Peean-See fella over in Barkika, accuse the BIGA fella going up against him in the LGE for his job as “force ripe”, he know EXACTLY what was meant.

Even the name the upstarts picked was an affront – BIGGA. Didn’t that announce to the world – or at least all the gold miners and Brazilians in Barkika – that they were “Bigger” than Man Shall? “Now wasn’t that a crock...! exclaimed Satiricus loudly. His wife didn’t even look up.

She was used to Satiricus’ exclamations when he read the newspaper. She rated the daily papers by the numbers of exclamations they elicited from her husband.

Who could be bigger than the hand-picked candidate for the Pee-an-See? Wasn’t this their town? Hadn’t they picked that fella Broad Ford for their chairman last year even though everybody and their uncle in Barkika said he was a bounder and a turncoat? But then the rule of the Pee-an-See was when Prezzie spoke, not a dog barked. “And Broad Ford it was...as it will be Man Shall on Friday!” muttered Satiricus, as his wife busied herself in the background.

Who were these BIGGA people? Weren’t they from the Pee-an-See? Not only were they “force ripe” – they were ingrates. Dangerous ingrates. As Prezzie had pointed out when he flew down on state funds with his entourage on state business to hold a rally for Man Shall, “BIGGA was dividing the votes to let the PPCEE slip in through the back door!” “ And by golly, we can’t have that!” said Satiricus through gritted teeth.

Mosses could split the PPCEE vote in Berb-Ice, but then he’d already split the Red Sea with Divine Sanction.

That’s different. Did BIGGA have Divine Sanction? “Hell no!” said Satiricus, as his wife brushed the lamp next to his head.

And that’s why Man Shall concluded BIGGA was “force ripe”. The Founder Leader had explained it all way back when Rod Knee was threatening his base. “Some comrades don’t understand this thing called democracy...

They don’t know how to read between the lines. They only read what’s on the lines.”

Did BIGGA really believe Local Government meant the Pee-an-See would allow LOCALS to rule without being told what to do?

BIGGA was not just force ripe. They were today’s Worst Possible Alternative. “And must be dealt with condignly!” said Satiricus with resolve.

His wife swept his feet with her broom.

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Conflict between TSC and GTU

GTU still waiting on President Granger’s intervention

I

n light of the ongoing conflict between the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), the President is still to have discussions to ascertain the way forward in resolving the impasse.

This is according to the General Secretary of the Union, Coretta McDonald, who told Guyana Times during an interview on Tuesday that the Union is still awaiting word from the President but so far, they have not been notified.

The Union had reported that it had sent several letters to President Granger appealing for the Government’s urgent intervention in the matter.

McDonald said the President had replied to the Union stating that in order for a solution to be formulated, there needs to be an assessment of the issue.

McDonald said the President, in his response, stated that such an assessment would be done through discussions with the Education Ministry and him-

the Union is still fighting the battle against the TSC for teachers countrywide.

Court moving at a snail’s pace

GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald

self.

According to the Union’s General Secretary, the President had indicated that the Union would be notified on the way forward.

McDonald told this publication on Tuesday that the Union is yet to hear from the President as it has been some time now since he had given this undertaken.

Additionally, she said the Union is also uncertain about when there will be the determination of an effective solution, since a precise date was not indicated to them.

However, McDonald said

It believes that the court of law continues to move at a snail’s pace in addressing the issue. The Union had moved to the court and filed proceedings against the TSC after they had violated laws by GTU and continued to disregard the restriction.

McDonald informed that the case was scheduled to be heard on Monday, but the Judge was a no show.

“This goes to show that the court is taking the matter without due consideration for the ones who are being affected,” McDonald said.

Meanwhile, the GTU in an attempt to voice their concerns and stimulate solutions at a faster pace, had been holding picketing exercises outside of the TSC building.

The Union said it holds the wellbeing and state of its represented teachers at heart, and so they will ensure that they are adequately catered for and their rights

are not violated.

Since the action by the TSC against the GTU, teachers from across the country have been facing adversities in terms of being promoted.

The Union had reported that this is the period where teachers anticipate the opportunity to apply for better posts within the teaching system.

The root of the conflict surrounded the decision by the TSC to ignore the calls made by the GTU in relation to the promotion of teachers within the public education sector.

The GTU reported that it had filed an injunction calling for the TSC and the Education Ministry School Board Secretariat to bring to a standstill the processing of promotions.

The Ministry had complied with this restriction, but the TSC had disregarded it and went ahead in promoting teachers.

A Grade C teacher was reportedly promoted to a Grade B school, while a Deputy Head Teacher was promoted to another school.

Norton Street man slapped with wounding charge

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Norton Street man was on Tuesday slapped with a wounding charge when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Dwayne Abraham, 34, of Lot 43 Norton Street, Werken-Rust, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that on February 28, 2016 at Norton Street, he unlawfully and

maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm upon Colin McNickle.

According to the prosecution, the Virtual Complainant (VC), who is a football coach, and the defendant are known to each other and are in a dispute over a plot of land.

On the day in question, the prosecution stated, the defendant approached the VC and dealt him several chops to his head and body, causing severe injuries.

Dwayne Abraham

A medical report on the injuries was presented to the Magistrate.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones had no objections to substantial bail and it was granted in the sum of $75,000.

The defendant was also placed on a bond to keep the peace for the duration of the trial. He was also ordered to stay 50 feet away from the VC. The case will continue on April 13.

Keeping it real

The enemy is within us

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n my last column, I made the point that the PPP has to do some serious soul-searching following the loss of its parliamentary majority in the last two general elections, in order to sanctify and reform the Party and become a government in waiting. Shanie Jagessar raised a question about the moral advantage I referred to regarding the fact that Walter Rodney fought to secure a better life for all Guyanese during the Burnham PNC dictatorship. For the record, the GECOM list of voters does not list such a person, so it makes me wonder whether this person is operating under a pseudonym.

In Ms Jagessar’s words “Dr Baytoram Ramharack writes about what he sees as the ‘moral advantages’ in Africans standing up to Burnham’s excesses. But he surely cannot dismiss the stand that ROAR and GIHA took against the PPP/C Government’s Dr Baytoram Ramharack excesses for which both groups were condemned by the PPP/C, and the PNC and African leadership as racists”. Her point being that Rodney’s actions were directed against an illegal regime, but the PPP/C was a democratically elected government, despite its excesses. Therefore, in her mind, there is no moral equivalent.

Indeed, Rodney was fighting an illegal regime, one which the PPP could not remove from office, until the US decided to correct its mea culpa after the demise of the Cold War. Anyone old enough to remember the PNC’s “28 years” would not wish to relive those days. But let’s examine some of the excesses Ms Jagessar is probably referring to. One, there is the issue of D. Bheri Ramsarran, whose transgressions for conduct unbecoming of a Minister, were ignored by President Donald Ramotar. Two, there is the case with Anil Nandlall, (the Minister responsible for ensuring that our laws are upheld) whose recorded conversation with a reporter leaves much to be desired. Three, there is the serious allegations against Dr Leslie Ramsammy, whose alleged involvement in securing electronic spying equipment for Roger Khan is bound to be exposed as the US is now willing to provide court transcripts to the Granger Administration to investigate the crime spree following the prison break. These types of excesses would have resulted in resignations and criminal prosecutions in other countries.

Cheddi Jagan would never have allowed these excesses to go unpunished. He took action to fire one of his close associates, Edward Beharry, in his 1957 Government for transgressions involving his company and the Demerara Tobacco Company.

One can argue that this is politics as usual. But the consequences are dire, particularly for Indians, who Ms Jagessar is no doubt genuinely concerned about. These excesses are the reasons the majority of Indians today are at a great disadvantage when it comes to their security. It should come as no surprise to Ms Jagessar that despite the Rodney/PNC affair, Africans have reconciled their differences when it comes to keeping the PPP out of office. In the case of the PPP, the leadership has gone all out to destroy anyone who opposed the PPP, particularly Indians. The damage has been done. The PPP will never be able to win over a majority again, particularly since Amerindian and Mixed people will not likely vote for the PPP, at least not in the near future. The consequence is that the PPP has compounded the problem for Indians.

The fact remains that after 23 years in office, the Army, Police and the Civil Service, the real seat of power, remain disproportionately dominated by Africans, even in our multiethnic society. The PPP made all the excuses in the world against balancing these institutions, despite the fact that every Commission of Inquiry, including one in which Granger participated, and the recent Rodney Commission of Inquiry, called for a logical and acceptable balance in the military. Its unwillingness to address this issue resulted in the inability of the PPP to eclipse the crime wave led by the so-called “Buxton liberators” or the anti-Indian violence that GIHA and ROAR rallied against. With the PPP in Opposition, it is now monumentally more difficult to create a balanced military that is reflective of our population.

Blaming the loss of political power on “arrogance” is only the tip of the iceberg. Leaders must take responsibility for their failure to lead and their failure to address the needs of their constituency. While the PPP leaders were consumed with their excesses, they dropped the ball on Indian security.

Send comments to BRamharack60@gmail.com

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Prison CoI

Canadian Attorney to represent Prison Service, Police Force

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s the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the disturbances at the Georgetown Prisons earlier this month continues, a Canadian-based Attorney has now joined the team probing the incident which claimed the lives of 17 inmates and injured several others, including prison officials.

Attorney Selwyn Pieters flew into Guyana on Tuesday morning after being appointed by Government to represent the interests of the Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Police Force in the ongoing inquiry.

Pieters was granted full participatory rights to the proceedings by Chairman of the three-member panel, Justice James Patterson, after an application was made on Tuesday.

“I’m going to be representing the Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Police Force in this Commission of Inquiry, I was asked by the Attorney General to appear on behalf of these entities… (that) have

Attorney Selwyn Pieters

substantive interest and direct interests in these proceedings,” the overseas-based Attorney told the Commission in his submissions.

He also indicated that he will be calling witnesses to testify on behalf of the two State entities. Pieters further informed the Commission that he expected to be accompanied by a senior prison official and a senior Police rank during the proceedings.

After listening to the

Attorney’s brief submission, Justice Patterson, who along with former Prison Director Dale Erskine and Human Rights Activists Merle Mendonca are heading the inquiry, granted the application giving the Attorney full participatory rights in the CoI proceedings.

In addition, the Chairman informed the Attorney that the Commission can facilitate the recall of previous witnesses for cross-examination by him.

Pieters is not new to Guyana’s judiciary. He was admitted to the local Bar back in 2012, to participate in the Linden Commission of Inquiry. He was among a team of attorneys who represented the interests of the three Lindeners killed during the July 18, 2012 protests in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) over plans by the then Government to raise electricity rates. Lindeners Shemroy Bouyea, Ron Somerset and Allan Lewis were killed during a standoff with the Police

Force.

Attorney Pieters then returned to Guyana in 2014 for the Commission of Inquiry into the death of Guyanese Historian and Political Activists, Dr Walter Rodney,

which ended in July last year. He was representing the Guyana Trades Union Congress for most of the inquiry. He then briefly assumed responsibility for the People’s National Congress (PNC)

after the party’s Attorney, Basil Williams was appointed Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister in May 2015.

Pieters is also a legal practitioner in Trinidad and Tobago.

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LGE 2016

Stakeholders disappointed with GECOM’s PR

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ajor contestants at the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) have said while they are fully prepared for the polls, more work from the governing body – the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) – would have facilitated their campaigning, but nonetheless, they remain resolute that their hard work will bear fruit.

On Friday, Guyanese will head to the polls, this time to make a historical mark, as they participate in the first Local Government Elections in 22 years. Since the date for the elections was announced, major political parties, groups and individuals have been on the ground, mobilising their supporters to cast ballots in their favour.

One such contestant is Mark Benschop of Team Benschop who told Guyana Times on Tuesday that his team is very confident of the positive change it can bring to the citizenry of Georgetown.

“They want to vote for a group rather than the Government being in charge of a municipality. Our group, Team Benschop, is about competence, the most energised and diverse group contesting these elections in Georgetown.

By virtue of that, people are willing to give us that chance with the vision and plans that we have,” Benschop said in a telephone interview.

Benschop hopes howev-

er that by the next LGE, expected in three year’s time, GECOM would get its “act together” so that the electorate could be properly edified. He said the Election body is now doing what should have been done months ago.

“We cannot expect them to do what they are doing now with one week or two week’s time and then expect voters to be satisfied. Voters are not going to be satisfied because team Benschop believes that more could have been done

by GECOM in sensitising the public. More should have been done by the two major parties that have Commissioners at GECOM.” According to him, “the majority of time” his party has been on the ground campaigning, it had to be doing “GECOM’s work”.

“We have to talk to people about the process and teach them to vote”, he said. He noted however that his group, which will be contesting the 12 constituencies, wants to offer a better life for all.

He said Team Benschop has been receiving “great” reception within the constituencies.

“We have been in every constituency. We have candidates who are walking and talking to people and we are selling our plans. We might not be able to meet everyone but are doing it through the local and social media, selling our plans to the people,” he said.

Meanwhile, over at Team Legacy, Leader Malcolm Ferreira said his group has also been doing what GECOM was supposed to have been doing for the electorate.

“We have taken it upon ourselves to educate the public and… have been using social media etc... I think GECOM could have gotten a little bit more time to do a more comprehensive voter education campaign. They have done and I will not outright criticise what they have done,

cused on voter education, because there was a lot lacking in that regard and to get over the message of what we want to accomplish in collaboration with the community. We have been doing house to house, door to door checks with the community. So in terms of preparations, we are right where we’re supposed to be,” he assured.

Ras Leon Saul of Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HTNTP) was at the time in campaign mode in

but I believe that this, being the first in so many years, with a new system being implemented, the more voter education, the better,” he told Guyana Times.

Ferreira, whose group will be contesting both the Proportional Representation and First Past the Post in six constituencies, said maybe another two weeks would have been good to do a little more work with the people.

“For us we already knew we had a deadline and as a new group we did as much as... we can. Our campaign fo-

Constituency Four, when contacted by Guyana Times on Tuesday. He said that everything was going according to schedule and he was hoping for success at the polls. The party is contesting Constituency Four and Six. He remains the candidate for Constituency Four while the party’s leader Alfred Park will represent Constituency Two. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has already indicated its preparedness for the polls, saying on Monday that its supporters will be casting their ballots in an effort

to send a strong message to Government, that they want to reclaim their country.

Meanwhile, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Tamara Rodney said that all measures are in place to ensure the transparency of the process come Friday.

“Everything is pretty much on schedule. With regards to security all of our operations are being done in the presence of the officers of the Guyana Police Force along with party agents. Every single thing is done with scrutiny and transparency with regards to the elections for March 18,” the PRO assured.

She told Guyana Times that GECOM has undertaken to carry out the process in accordance with the policy that was approved

by Commissioners, that is, “where the ballots are transported in the presence of agents – they are all in one vehicle as well as the Police.”

The PRO said that the body has been using every opportunity and medium to familiarise the public with elections process. “We have ads in the newspapers… the street campaigns where we have been going around to several communities in Guyana; we are wrapping that up and tomorrow we are going to Georgetown; we have different publications prepared for the public, which entails an animated sketch of the voting process with the ballot specimen,” she said.

On Monday, this publication spoke with a number of Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) offices where it was confirmed that polling stations have been earmarked and selected for constituents to cast their ballots.

Best-Klien/Pouderoyen NDC incumbent Chairman, Omesh Balram told Guyana Times that everything is “coming up fine” in his district. He noted that there will be 30 polling stations within the area’s 10 constituencies on election day.

Works Chairman for Herstelling-Little Diamond NDC, Wilfred Hassan related that the area has 15 polling stations and opined that the majority of residents are aware of the voting process.

Similarly, incumbent NDC Chairman of ToevlugtPatentia Roy Bennett said all is set in his district.

“We are ready, everything is in place. We have 21 polling places in the community; some are private residences some are public places.”

Jaideo Sookhoo, the incumbent NDC Chairman of Mora/Parika, stated that his party, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as well as the APNU/AFC have engaged members in his area’s eight constituencies. He however opined that GECOM should have done more voter education programmes as many constituents are still unsure of the voting process.

NEWS

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Deadly prison riot CoI

“Prison officers treat inmates like beasts” – prisoner

Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry, Justice James Patterson making his way out of the Camp Street facility after the 45-minute visit on Tuesday

P

risoner Michael Lewis on Tuesday took the stand and testified that despite undergoing an entire week of drill exercises, prison officers at the Georgetown penitentiary did not apply any of those practices during the March 3, fire which claimed the lives of 17 inmates.

He was at the time being cross-examined by the President of the Guyana Bar Association, Attorney Christopher Ram. Lewis told the Commission that on the morning of March 3, when the

fire started in the dormitory (Capital A Division) about 34 inmates were locked in.

The prisoner, who is awaiting High Court trial on a murder charge, recalled that after the fire started, while they were locked in the Division, it was put out by prison officers who used a fire extinguisher through a hole that was dug in a concrete wall that separated the Capital A and B Divisions.

He added that two cans of tear gas were then thrown into the section causing the prisoners to panic, shouting for help

and pleading with the officers to open the door.

However, he noted that there were no attempts by the prison officials to open the door or take any other actions as was performed during the drill exercises earlier that week.

“Sir, I must say, even before this fire, the prison warden them was practicing fire drill that whole week… and when these fire do start that claim the prisoners’ life Sir, the prison wardens them try to give no assistance as what they were practicing for whole week on this fire drill. When we watched (the drill) from our location through the window, we could see the officer running into the wood building, fetching inmates pon dem back and running straight out to the office and resting them on the ground, practicing the fire drill Sir (but) this time pon de fire, no officer do such,” he declared.

While standing in the dock with tears running down his face, Lewis said he prayed as saw one of the inmates’ burnt body.

“I stop for Allah… praying so that I can get out… I was lying down in there over an hour and no officer come, I just keep praying and calling for Allah, God Almighty to open the door… I could have saw an inmate by the name of

Gun amnesty backpedalling

Amerindian farmers upbeat about firearms' return

A

merindian farmers have expressed relief at the news that Government has decided to reissue firearms surrendered last year under the Gun Amnesty Programme, saying that it will restore normalcy to their lives.

Some months after surrendering dozens of firearms under the pretext that they were going to be given legal ones in return, farmers in Amerindian communities have voiced their dissatisfaction that they were duped. This led to Government buckling under the pressure and last week announcing to the indigenous communities that it was moving to reissue the firearms.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Toshoa of Aishalton, in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) Douglas Casimero said Government’s revised position “will do well” for the farmers in the communities.

He said the move is what the people were expecting in the first place.

“Now that it has come to realisation, it is a very good step to have been taken by Government at this time,” Casimero told Guyana Times.

He said the farmers have been depending on their firearms to maintain their families protecting their farm.

“These people don’t use it for anything else, just to maintain their families,” he said.

Former Toshao of Paruima Damion Chambers said the Toshoas were very vocal about the Gun Amnesty programme.

According to him, the idea behind the relinquishing of the firearms last year was the

hope that licences would be processed so that the gun possession would be legal. He said there are many people who use the firearms not for crime but for protection of their farm and providing food for their families. According to him, he hopes that the process this time could be legal.

Minister Trotman last Wednesday said Government was moving to reissue those firearms since Amerindians use them for their sustenance.

“When the amnesty was declared, it was seen that Toshoas, farmers and other villagers voluntarily came forward with their shotguns with the belief that they were only respecting the law and at the same time, having an expectation that the law would realise that they had a legitimate need to protect life and properly and that Government would accept that consideration would be given to them,” he told the media.

He said Government then gave a promise that they would look into that matter and “they are keeping that promise by regularising the system”.

According to Minister Trotman, the weapons will not be destroyed, but where necessary, will be restored through the village system. He went on to further explain that while there will not be waivers on the granting of licences, there will however be a waiver on application fees.

In 2015, following the launch of Government’s Gun Amnesty programme, several Amerindian farmers had expressed rage, saying that they were duped by the Public

Security Ministry into believing that when they handed in their firearms, they would have been issued with licences.

The Ministry had at the time undertaken an operation, seeking to get all illegal firearms off the streets. The aim was to help reduce the soaring number of criminal activities being perpetrated at the time.

The Gun Amnesty Programme was meant to get rid of illegal weapons with the hope of reducing criminal activities, particularly the increasing numbers of gun-related crimes across the country.

However, it should be noted that of the 186 weapons surrendered at the end of the programme, none were found to have been used during serious crimes.

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud explained that ballistic tests were conducted on a majority of the weapons which proved that none were linked to serious crime. He had previously expressed the belief that criminals with illegal firearms would not turn in their weapons.

The Police Chief also admitted that a majority of the weapons collected were shotguns used mostly by persons hunting, more specifically by Amerindians.

During the time the cries were being sounded by the Amerindians, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said no names should have been recorded during this programme, therefore it would be neigh impossible to return the weapons to the respective owners without a licence.

An emotional Michael Lewis during his testimony on Tuesday morning

(Rayon) Paddy who was about two feet away from me, he was in no fire, and all he skin was already peel… and I remember at one time I run from the hole and run to the bathroom and I could have feel two bodies already in the bathroom Sir,” a sobbing Lewis recounted to the Commission.

According to Lewis in his statement to the Commission, “prison officers treat inmates like beasts”. He explained that whenever prisoners are sick or in pain, they would have to wait over a day, or sometimes longer, before they are taken to the prison infirmary. In other cases, the inmates would have to create a ruckus to get the attention of the Prison Chief in order to receive treatment.

Moreover, Lewis related to the Commission about the poor quality of food they receive at the facility. He disclosed that for breakfast they are given porridge or tea – sometimes with tea bag and other times just sugar and water. However, he added that on Wednesdays, they also receive bread.

For lunch, the inmate said they are given cook up with chunks and sometimes there would be “strands of meat”.

But according to him, this has

improved since the commencement of the CoI. Meanwhile, Tuesday’s proceedings continued with the Commission visiting the Camp Street Prison. The three-member panel, which also includes former Prison Director Dale Erskine and Human Rights Activists Merle Mendonca, had previously visited the facility before the commencement of the inquiry.

Among those on the tour were Commissioners Patterson and Erskine; support staff of the Commission, including the Commission’s Counsel Execellence Dazzell; GBA representatives, Attorneys Christopher Ram and Glenn Hanoman; and Attorney Selwyn Pieters who is representing the Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Police Force. Media operatives were also allowed into the facility during the visit but for security purposes were not allowed to walk with any devices.

The visiting party of about 20 plus persons was given a tour of the Capital A and B Divisions. In the Capital A Division, burnt debris in the section were scattered around, including half burnt mattresses, clothing, bed frames, and

containers (bowls and bottles).

The stench of burnt flesh was high as the Division remained lockdown. Access was gained through the B Division where the hole was dug into the separating wall. Lewis was brought to the site where he pointed out to the Commission strategic points mentioned in his testimony earlier in the day. He was questioned by Commissioners, Commission Counsel and the attorneysat-law. Back over in the B Division, items were also scattered all around.

On the other hand, prison officials – Officer in Charge of the Camp Street facility Kevin Pilgrim and the Guyana Prison Services’ Works Officer Kirk Joseph – were asked about the infrastructure of the facility, specifically about the water plumbing infrastructure.

Earlier in the day, Lewis had testified that there were no water running from the pipes in the Division after tear gas was thrown into the building.

However, the prison officials explained to the visiting party that there is an overhead tank above the Capital Divisions and water is pumped up there for use by inmates. Joseph noted that the only way the water flow can be stopped is if a prison officer goes into the attic where the tanks are and shuts it off.

Moreover, Pilgrim pointed to surveillance cameras from the one of the administrative buildings that captures the front of the Capital Division.

He said that if any prison official did in fact intercept the water flow into the Division, it would be documented on the footage, which will be handed over to the Commission.

The visit was wrapped up in about 45 minutes.

16 NEWS

wednesDAY, march 16, 2016| guyanatimesGY.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Sugar workers at Wales are collateral damage in APNU’s vindictiveness

T

he President, in a good example of “mouth open, story jump out”, confesses that there is no plan yet for Wales workers and their families, the factory and the abandoned land. He asserted that the Minister of Agriculture and GuySuCo are supposed to have a plan and are yet to share it with him. We should all be shocked at this confession. How was a plan to close Wales approved without any plan to deal with the workers, their families and their communities? This is an example of how dysfunctional and reckless APNU/AFC is as a government.

The closure of Wales Sugar Estate is not just a betrayal of Guyanese sugar workers, it is an ugly example of the vindictiveness of APNU/AFC. Upset that sugar workers remain solidly in support of the PPP, APNU/AFC made a rash decision to close Wales, dismissing 2500 sugar workers and cane farmers and punishing thousands of people who depended on Wales for a living. Wales workers earned $2 billion per year and this means a fatal blow to the region’s economy. It Dr Leslie Ramsammy also deprives Guyana of about 20,000 tonnes of sugar per year.

The truth is GuySuCo had no plan to close Wales. In fact, much investment and preparations were ongoing to upgrade cane cultivation and sugar production at Wales, such as investments to plough 1500 acres and replant another 700 acres to provide cane for the factory at least through 2020, paal off the factory at considerable expense, install a new drainage pump, excavate most of the sidelines and desilt all kokers, rehabilitate the all-weather road and dams, and prepare a previously abandoned area at YR 38-41 for new cultivation.

Wales factory is crushing at 98 tonnes per hour, close to its maximum designed capacity of 102 tonnes because recent investment to replace vital components has contributed to maintaining efficiency. Cane knives, mills, boilers, evaporators, pans and the baskets are as good as those in other factories.

Clearly, APNU/AFC lied when they stated that GuySuCo had made the decision to close Wales because the factory can no longer be maintained.

Initially, APNU/AFC tried to blame the Commission of Inquiry. But the CoI made no such recommendation. If it was true that GuySuCo actually planned the closure, then those who were responsible for considerable investment in Wales, knowing it would be closed, should be fired. It is reckless to plan the closure of an estate and then invest such large sums of money for long-term development.

But GuySuCo is simply carrying out instructions. Wales is just the beginning and this Government intends to close sugar totally, a legacy Nagamootoo and Ramjattan promised in exchange for big Government positions when they absorbed AFC into APNU. The closure of Wales is only one of the instructions that GuySuCo is forced to carry out in the face of a government heaping insults and burdens on innocent workers in its obsession to punish Jagdeo and the PPP. GuySuCo, following instructions from APNU/AFC, denied sugar workers any wage increase in 2015, the first time that a wage increase has been denied for more than 30 years. To this day, GuySuCo is dodging the workers and their unions. Recall also that GuySuCo has been denying workers their Annual Production Incentive (API), for the first time since 1976 when GAWU became the workers’ recognised union. GuySuCo is legally obligated to pay the API under binding agreement with the workers and national and international laws. Word is now that GuySuCo will pay an arbitrary 2.72 days pay on April 1st for the 2015 API, a fraction of what the workers earned.

The sugar workers have a history of militancy; our independence is largely one tied with sugar workers’ militancy.

They have predictably rebelled by taking strike action one day per week, as a reasonable response to both permit the industry to maintain production while demonstrating that they will not be intimidated. GuySuCo response, as instructed by APNU/ AFC, is that if the workers persist with their strike action, they will prematurely end the crop.

I know that APNU/AFC and particularly Nagamootoo and Ramjattan would insist that they have given no such instructions to GuySuCo. If no such instruction emanated from APNU/AFC, then Nagamootoo and Ramjattan should join with the workers and reject GuySuCo’s position. Between 1976 and 1996, GuySuCo contributed $60 billion to Government and their reward is that Nagamootoo and Ramjattan today have joined APNU to kill the industry.

Send comments to doc_ram@hotmail.com

17

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wednesday, march 16, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

The Race to LGE 2016

Garbage woes continue to plague Meten-Meer-Zorg residents

Ras Leon Saul promises better R security in GT’s Constituency 4

By Kizzy Coleman

By Shemuel Fanfair

U

nder the banner of a “Quality Representation for Better Quality of Life”, Ras Leon Saul hopes to become the elected representative of Lamaha Gardens, Bel Air Park, Campbellville, Section K Campbellville and Newtown – Constituency 4 of the Georgetown Municipality.

The Healing The Nation Theocracy Party (HTNTP) Ras Leon Saul candidate told Guyana Times that he intended to forge “community renewal” through consultation.

“I live there so I know the problems that they face in the constituency; I think I could make a difference to the area by making better representation so that residents could live a better quality of life,” Saul declared.

Among his many objectives, the candidate wants to push for an overhaul of Georgetown’s property tax system.

“The property taxes now are archaic and they have got to be brought into compliance with present day property values,” Saul opined. He further opined that this overhaul would assist with “the expansion of the City Council’s revenue base”.

Saul stressed that in Constituency 4, residents desired improved security given a recent surge in thefts.

“Residents claim that people, especially young men, are coming in from the neighbouring communities and are invading the premises and stealing, even in broad daylight so security and safety are major challenges. Many people are retired and they want to enjoy their lives,” stressed the HTNTP candidate.

To this end, Saul hopes to install several street lights around strategic points in the community. He also intends to “champion” a more efficient transport system and promises to look into “the holistic provision of public sanitation facilities” in the city.

He is of the view that City Hall’s current management should change. He also stated that the Councillors should have been doing more for residents in the capital despite the many challenges.

“The current management of City Hall is waking up after a long sleep. Yes, we can understand that they were deprived of subvention from Central Government, but you’ve got to take in mind that if you are leaders, you’ve got to use initiative. We see with the change of Government, they had a new lease of life, but for over 22 years they weren’t doing anything and you can’t blame Central Government,” Saul noted.

He said it was his intention to push for “equal rights and justice” for all.

“There should be no discrimination against Rastafarians, the gay and lesbian community – there should be no discrimination across the board and that should a policy,” the candidate pointed out.

As a former Young Socialist Movement (YSM) member, he stated the importance of youth involvement.

“We’ve got to nurture and grow our young people; we’ve got to lend our life skills and experience.”

He opined that a significant percentage of Guyana’s population was below the age of 45 and since we were “a young country”, we should prepare youth to accept leadership roles.

The candidate posited that his background has qualified him as the right person to represent citizens in his community.

“I am a man on the ground: I am a roots man, and I can empathise with people’s concerns and I come under the guidance of the Most High; so I’ve come to guide them with spiritual energies and creative initiatives to think outside of the box,” Saul explained.

Other initiatives Saul hopes to undertake include developing grounds in Lamaha Gardens and Lama Avenue, “green initiatives” for recycling and environmental protection and the promotion of social cohesion through culture.

Saul is a New Amsterdam native who has worked and studied in Toronto, Canada. According to the candidate, he was the first “Rasta Man” to run as a candidate for Councillor on the Toronto City Council. Guyana’s Local Government Elections will be held on Friday, March 18.

esidents of MetenMeer-Zorg East, West Coast Demerara (WCD) continue to complain of the intolerable conditions that they are forced to endure as persons continue to dump garbage at many different locations in the community.

The dumping of garbage is contributing to a pest infestation as rodents, cockroaches, and centipedes invade their homes.

The stench emanating from the build-up of refuse is another health hazard, causing many residents to fall sick as a result of breathing issues in most cases.

Guyana Times had visited the area in January of this year and it was evident that residents were indeed facing a huge problem.

Throughout the community, piles of garbage could be seen along the streets, in the sideline trench, and nearby

gutters.

According to reports reaching this newspaper, individuals are using the sideline trench as a dumpsite for animal carcasses and during our first visit, the carcass of a cow was visible.

When this newspaper revisited the area late last week at the urging of residents, it was surprising to find that the dumping had gotten worse.

Many other locations where garbage was not being dumped were found to be in deplorable condition.

The most noticeable dumpsite in the area was at a bus shed located on the sideline dam of Meten-MeerZorg East.

According to reports from residents, the bus shed has become home to a homeless man who persists on bringing in waste each day, filling the bus shed with garbage.

Numerous complaints were made about the situation, but thus far no action

has been taken to rectify the issue.

“We are constantly complaining to the relevant authority to do something about this issue, but it is like our complaints are not being heard,” related one woman.

“I was grateful for the last story about this matter that was published in the Guyana Times and I thought that at least now some intervention would occur, but it was like throwing water on duck back because those people did not even come to inspect,” disclosed a resident identified as Chris.

“We need assistance.

Please you all who have the authority to do something to help us, please help us because it has been too long now that we have to endure living in such a community. We hope now that we have this Local Government Elections again, whoever is elected will look into our interest because we need someone to,” one frustrated

resident stated.

This publication was able to contact Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Chairman Julius Faerber, who stated that there was nothing that could be done currently to rectify the issue, as there was no available dumpsite for the residents to dump their garbage.

“The only mode of getting rid of garbage currently is through the Puran Brothers Disposal Service that carries garbage across the Demerara River so as a result of this, people just keep dumping garbage indiscriminately all over the area,” he explained.

Faerber disclosed that his office has been sending warnings to those residents through the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) advising them not to dump garbage indiscriminately and persons who persist in doing once found would be prosecuted.

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wednesDAY, march 16, 2016| guyanatimesGY.com

Rice harvesting commences in Region 2 APNU takes LGE campaign to Linden – farmers dissatisfied with prices

W

ith days until Local Government Elections (LGE), the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) took its final campaign rally to the mining town of Linden on Monday.

The campaign saw the Linden party’s municipality List of Candidates being presented at the session held on the Linden-Georgetown minibus park at Mackenzie. The coalition Government brought the message of equality while urging its supporters to vote in its favour at the upcoming LGE. President Granger, Leader of the APNU, in delivering his speech urged the future Council of the municipality to think hard about equality and educating the masses. He also thanked and congratulated the candidates, noting that they have made a commitment to serve the people. “…what I see tonight, is that we are going to create a Town Council, in the capital of a powerful region… so we have to make Linden strong, and the way we are going to do it is to start the development of Linden as one of the major townships in this country… the most important talent that you possess is the talent of education and that’s why I came to bring a boat to ensure that every child goes to school and this is the first responsibility I want to give to you… Town Council, to make

President David Granger

sure that every single child in Linden gets an opportunity to go to school… It is a hard working Town Council that you have to install, a Town Council that cares for every single Lindener and that is why we have embarked on the democratic process…,” the President stated.

President Granger further emphasised that Government operates at three levels – central, regional and municipal government – urging supporters to complete the process by voting for the party at the LGE. “Central Government is going to help this municipality. We’re not going to back away, we’re not going to let you down. That is why it’s so important for these three levels of Government to work together… I want you to know

that we have to work together, the municipality with the region and the region with central government…”

He further urged constituency candidates to communicate and interact with constituents and to be organised in the process, noting that there will always be LGE under his leadership. The President also expressed disappointment with the Regional Chairmen at Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo); Anna Regina in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); Mabaruma in Region One (Barima-Waini) and Rose Hall in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) whom he noted did not show up to meetings held by the party over the past few days, opining that the reason for this was because they are supporters of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in his speech told the gathering that the upcoming election is about empowerment and expressing confidence in the decision they make, while it is intended to give meaning to the concept of inclusive governance from the grassroot level.

Also delivering remarks were Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams and Communities Minister Valerie SharpePatterson among others.

A

lthough millers are paying cash for paddy in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), rice farmers are dissatisfied with the current prices offered since they cannot compensate them for their expenses.

Rice harvesting has commenced in the north and south of the coast in villages such as Perseverance, Airy Hall, Golden Fleece and Lima.

The current prices offered by millers range from $1800 to $2300 for Grade A and B paddy. Millers that are currently purchasing paddy include Arnold Sankar, Imam Bacchus and Sons, Golden Fleece Rice Investment, Sea Rice and Caricom Rice Mill.

According to Sankar, he is purchasing paddy at a price of $2300 for A and B Grades. Sankar said that he cannot raise the price as there were insufficient markets.

At Imam Bacchus and Sons mill, the prices are $2000, $2100 and $2200 for Grades C, B and A paddy. It was unclear if they were paying cash. But even as these prices are being displayed at various milling establishments, dissatisfied rice farmers said millers could offer a much better price.

“Those prices cannot pay at all, we have invested a lot into our crop this year: the extra burden was on the pumping, the El Niño situation devastated our crop.

We were struggling; we can be satisfied with a $3500 to $4000 for a bag,” a rice farmer from Perseverance commented.

The harvesting of the rice crop has commenced in Region Two

At various mills that Guyana Times visited, it was observed that rice farmers were taking their paddy from fields straight to the mills owing to the lack of storage facilities. They have opined that it was the only option and that was where they were vulnerable. “We have to take it to the mill despite what they will pay us ‘cause where will we store it??” another rice farmer questioned.

Rice farmers are, therefore, calling for the Government of Guyana’s intervention in seeking profitable markets. They are of the view that the prices millers are offering cannot offset their expenses and they will not make a profit. There has been a drastic decline in production this crop as fewer farmers cultivated their lands. Their challenges this crop included insufficient supply of water and intrusion of salt water into their fields owing to the El Niño

crisis, late payments and indebtedness.

This crop, rice farmers were not even given lower prices for fertilisers or pesticides as were offered by the previous Government to assist them in offsetting their overhead expenses. Rice farmers also noted that the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) have not conducted many field day visits or paddy bug intervention either.

According to them, since the coalition Government took office, the rice industry within the Region has been left to suffer and those who were put in authority have suddenly become mute.

Rice farmers also explained that the previous Government had bought fertiliser at a reduced cost and lamented that this crop nothing came their way, not even a politician or anyone reaching out to seek markets for the viability of the industry.

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NZ spin trio routs India on raging turner

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Ross Taylor plays a cut (Associated Press photo)

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or a long time, this New Zealand team was under the charge of a man who loved a gamble or two. But would even Brendon McCullum have been funky enough to go up to his two best bowlers, Tim Southee and Trent Boult, on the team's opening match of a World T20 and say, 'Pick up the bibs, lads. You're out.'? Kane Williamson did.

He saw a dry Nagpur pitch, heard how the ball had turned during the qualifier games at the venue and asked Nathan McCullum, Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi to clock in for duty.

The first of those three spinners is in the twilight of his career, the other two had played only five T20Is each.

And India had no answers against them.

No one expected it to go down like this. MS Dhoni and his men came into the tournament on a sevenmatch winning streak. They were back home now, just as New Zealand were in alien territory. They had not played in the subcontinent for two years, and their batting had all the symptoms of it to put up only 126 for 7.

An early wicket was vital and New Zealand looked to a McCullum for the magic touch. Nathan, who will join his little brother in retirement after this tournament, trapped Shikhar Dhawan lbw fifth ball. Minutes later, Rohit Sharma was undone by a superb delivery, this time from Santner. The batsman had trotted down the pitch but made the mistake of closing the face.

Normally it wouldn't have been a fatal one, considering Santner specialises in non-turning darts. But on this pitch he was given all the help he could ask for.

The ball turned square, and bounced so much that the wicketkeeper couldn't collect it cleanly. But Rohit had lunged so far outside his crease that Luke Ronchi had enough time to recover.

India might not have been nervous at this point,

but New Zealand began believing.

Virat Kohli was the reason why the hosts held hope. For much of his 27 balls, he looked in control of the situation because he was in control of himself.

On a track that was turning square, batsmen needed to play close to the body and trust in proper cricketing shots. He managed it for 26 balls before Ish Sodhi broke down his discipline. A beautiful legspinner was pitched up for the drive, Kohli went after it and feathered an

board.

Corey Anderson was their top-scorer with 34 runs, but his 42-ball innings encapsulated New Zealand's struggle. Should we hit out? Should we hunker down? They did something in between and it wasn't pretty. Only hindsight proved it was effective.

And the fact that Santner, Sodhi and McCullum kept pitching the ball at the stumps and allowed a rank turner to do the rest. After all, only when a batsmen is

SCOREBOARD New Zealand MJ Guptill lbw b Ashwin 6 KS Williamson*st †Dhoni b Rai na 8 C Munro c Pandya b Nehra 7 CJ Anderson b Bumrah 34 LRPL Taylor run out (Raina) 10 MJ Santner c †Dhoni b Jadeja 18 GD Elliott run out (Dhawan/ Nehra) 9 L Ronchi† not out 21 0 NL McCullum not out 13 Extras (b 4, lb 3, w 6) Total (7 wickets; 20 overs)126 Did not bat: AF Milne, IS Sodhi Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-13, 3-35, 4-61, 5-89, 6-98, 7-114 Bowling: R Ashwin 4-032-1, A Nehra 3-1-20-1, JJ Bumrah 4-0-15-1, SK Raina 4-0-16-1, RA Jadeja 4-0-261, HH Pandya 1-0-10-0

edge to the wicketkeeper.

India were 39 for 5, and definitely nervous now. Not long after, they were left a bit red-faced. "We lacked a bit of adaptability," Dhoni admitted.

New Zealand couldn't cope with the ball not coming onto the bat either.

They tried to smash their way to supremacy - Martin Guptill hit the first ball of the Super 10s for a straight six and Colin Munro began with a jaw-dropping switch hit - but got through to the end of the Powerplay with 22 dots and 33 runs on the

India innings RG Sharma st †Ronchi b Santner 5 S Dhawan lbw b McCullum 1 V Kohli c †Ronchi b Sodhi 23 SK Raina c Guptill b Santner 1 Yuvraj Singh c & b McCullum 4 MS Dhoni*† c McCullum b Santner 30 HH Pandya lbw b Santner 1 RA Jadeja c & b Sodhi 0 R Ashwin st †Ronchi b Sodhi 10 A Nehra b Milne 0 JJ Bumrah not out 0 4 Extras (w 3, nb 1) Total (all out; 18.1 overs) 79 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-10, 3-12, 4-26, 5-39, 6-42, 7-43, 8-73, 9-79, 10-79 Bowling: NL McCullum 3-015-2, CJ Anderson 3-0-180, MJ Santner 4-0-11-4, GD Elliott 2-0-9-0, AF Milne 2.1-08-1, IS Sodhi 4-0-18-3.

pushed to play can he give his wicket away.

After the first innings, it looked like India should have had plenty of matchwinners. R Ashwin struck in the first over of the match. Jasprit Bumrah, who excels at the death, came away with 1 for 15.

Suresh Raina instigated a superb run-out to dismiss Ross Taylor for 10 and had Williamson stumped for 8.

That's New Zealand's backbone sent packing by the 12th over with the score only on 61. (Cricinfo)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, march 16, 2016

Dolphin Speed Swim Club: “A family-oriented club”

By Akeem Greene

A swimmer goes through the breast stroke routine

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A bright future is ahead for the club

ounded in 1974 the swimming club has been home to a dietary of Guyana’s top swimmers but the focus has not being on just inculcating the skill of swimming but creating well rounded individuals.

The philosophy of the club is to bring children together as a family and also compete and represent the Guyana National team.

The Swim Club uses the Colgrain Swimming Pool,

on Camp Street as a training ground for its amateur swimmers while the more seasoned athletes churn out their skills at the National Aquatic Center at Liliendaal.

Coach of the club Paul Mahaica believes that “it is not just about swimming; it’s also finding things for children to do instead of being at home and not doing anything; participating in sports and using sports as a tool for the development of

young kids”.

The club currently has five children from Joshua House that they adopt and start training them to swim, hoping that one day they become national swimmers.

Mahaica posits, “We have seen we have taken trouble kids and after they start swimming and getting discipline they find goals and everybody is working towards the Olympics or doing well at a competition” There are currently fif-

teen to twenty strong swimmers at the club vying for the top spot but the club house two of Guyana’s bright swimming prospect in Jamila Sanmoogan and Andrew Fowler, both of which Olympic prospects at the upcoming RIO Olympic

2016 in Brazil.

Eighteen-year old Jamila Sanmoogan is currently in Colombia on a three-year scholarship at the University of Sports in Cali, pursuing a degree in Physiotherapy and at the same time being placed under intensive training.

Fowler, who is currently training under Coach Isabel Maria Couso Fals, represented Guyana at the FINA World Championships, which were held in Russia

last year.

Even at local interclubs meets, and trips to Suriname or Trinidad and Tobago, the club still excels, as the young group is being nurtured, the club and Guyana’s looks threatening in the coming years.

The words of the coach were “we are building our club to be more family oriented where it not only about competitive swimming but socializing, meeting and greeting friends”.

guyanatimesGY.com

WEDNESDAY, march 16, 2016

23

Milo football semifinals set for today

By Treiston Joseph

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fter a brilliant quarterfinal round on Sunday, the final four teams will now take the pitch for the semifinal round today at the Ministry of Education ground.

Defending champs Chase Academy and former champs Lodge secondary will now have a chance to become the only team in Milo history to win two title

after their respective quarterfinal wins.

Chase comfortably topped North Georgetown 3-nil on Sunday behind a double from Ryan Hackett in the 16th and 48th minutes and will now have the opportunity to win back-toback titles.

Contrastingly, 2014 champs Lodge fought for their semifinal berth with a 3-0 penalty win after a one

all draw with last year’s finalist Dolphin Secondary.

Queen’s College and South Ruimveldt were the other two teams through to the semifinals.

Lodge will now butt heads with Queen’s College in a match that is expected to go the way of the former.

While Queen’s is a formidable squad and have the ability to score goals,

Lodge is known for their ability to shut down the offence of their opposition, coupled with the ability to play good counter offence.

This will make Lodge a very dangerous side against a Queen’s College side that is known for their defensive lapses.

Meanwhile Chase will face South Ruimveldt in the other semifinal and while the latter is a good

all-round side, the hurdle that is Chase just might be too high to jump.

Chase has not lost or drawn a match throughout the entirety of the 2016 tournament, making them the easy pick to repeat as champions.

However, a clash with the Lodge in the final might prove a stern test for the defending champs.

Nevertheless, all teams

are in with a shot of lifting the title at this stage of the tournament with pundits deeming Chase Academy as favourites.

However, with the semifinal action still to be played today starting from 16:00h, the teams will have to prove their mettle on the pitch before the game of games on March 19.

ICC T20 World Cup…

The battle of reputation versus potential as Windies face England today T

wo of the three most recent winners of the World T20 go head to head in a tantalising showdown at the Wankhede, and picking a winner is rather like guessing which side of bed either team plans on getting up. The fact that no side has yet won any of the five tournaments on more than one occasion points to the unknowable nature of the format itself, but in the case of these two teams, the turmoil they have endured in the intervening years has rather precluded any sort of coherent challenge.

England have been to the brink and back, their credentials stripped bare in a brace of ignominious campaigns in 2012 and 2014, over which the banishment of Kevin Pietersen loomed uncomfortably large.

West Indies, by contrast, would be delighted to have had their own troubles so concentrated on a single character.

Contractual disputes have been a constant companion in recent years - the squad came close to a full-blown strike on the eve of this competition - and yet, here they are, both sides on the starting line with their engines running and opportunity knocking.

Of the two, West Indies look the likeliest to go the distance, simply because of their greater experience, both of Asian conditions and of previous victory in the World T20.

Whereas Eoin Morgan is the last man standing from England's 2010 campaign, no fewer than eight survivors from West Indies' triumph over Sri Lanka four years ago are back for more.

With eight squad members over the age of 30, West Indies are longer in the tooth and in many cases facing the final curtain - a legend though Chris Gayle remains, it is hard to imagine him turning out for the 2020 event at the age of 40 - which merely reinforces that sense of now or never.

England, by contrast, are at the start of their own journey. They've had several aborted rebuilds in one-day cricket in re-

cent years, but there's a strategy and coherence to this particular regeneration that augurs very well for the future. Of their 15, only Liam Plunkett has so far reached the big 3-0.

Nine of the squad have yet to turn 26.

Morgan spent much of his pre-match press conference playing down his team's chances and keeping his cards tucked tightly to his chest. Darren Sammy, by contrast, wasn't afraid to big up his big men, and why would he hide their lights under a bushel given the fear factor they can bring to any contest? Gayle, he declared, is "one of the most destructive T20 batsman", but it wasn't anything other than a stone-cold fact.

On Wednesday night, under the lights, we shall witness a battle of reputation versus potential. And there can be only one winner.

Watch out for Chris Gayle. Who else?

Everything about this contest screams for a tour de force from the man who epitomises above all others the hopes, the talents and the frustrations of West Indies cricket in the 21st century. This contest will be Gayle's first full international appearance since the 50-over World Cup 12 months ago, and his first T20 outing since he spanked South Africa for 90 in 41 balls at Johannesburg in January 2015. But the prodigal son is back for more, and back in a country where his legend precedes him. Gayle has been the heart and soul of the IPL since its inception, and assuming the local population have found a means to secure any tickets, you can be sure who they will be rooting for when the first ball is sent his way.

Gayle may be an established local hero but Jos Buttler could yet be the coming man and, if that is the case, then the Wankhede will soon feel like his second home, following his signing for Mumbai Indians in the recent IPL auction. His casual ability to ally su-

preme power to outlandish shot selection has turned him into the flagbearer for England's new freespirited attitude to one-

day cricket, and though he was scuppered in the end

by Chris Jordan's yorkers during England's practice match at the Brabourne

on Monday, his 25 from 16 balls while guesting for Mumbai was a hint that he has found his range.

"Everyone's worried by

Jos when he gets going," said Joe Root after that innings. (Cricinfo)

WEDNESDAY, march 16, 2016

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

ICC T20 World Cup…

The battle of reputation versus potential as Windies face England today Pg 23

West Indies will be aiming to start on a positive note against England

ICC T20 World Cup…

NZ spin trio routs India on raging turner

Milo football semifinals set for today Pg 23

Pg 21 New Zealand celebrate the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan (AFP photo)

Action during the quarterfinal round

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