Guyana Times Daily - September 4, 2015

Rickey Singh resigns from Guyana Chronicle

– rejects Nagamootoo’s “raw, arrogant tactics” to censor criticism

5 more REOs join 4 others on breadline

Psychiatric patient on remand for hijacking

Husband fears the worst as search continues for missing tourist – awaiting psychologist’s report

3 arrested for Leopold Street murder

UG appoints 9th Chancellor

Police charge 5 more for drunk driving

SWAT targeting Berbice gang – Top Cop

Govt decision pending on $600M High Street building

Toucan Connection workers dismissed as call centre closes

Challenged Corentyne woman wants to make a difference

friday, september 4, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

friday, september 4, 2015 |

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, September 4 – 08:25h-09:55h and September 5 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, September 4 – 09:30h-11:00h and Saturday, September 5 – 10:30h. Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily.

FERRY SCHEDULE

WEATHER TODAY

5 more REOs join 4 others on breadline

By Devina Samaroo

new batch of Regional Executive Officers (REOs)

Government, which has been accused of embarking on a “witch hunting” exercise to get rid of professional public servants who are perceived to be affiliated to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

The five REOs: Nigel Fisher – Region One (Barima-Waini); Ashford Ambedkar – Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Paul Ramrattan – Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Yolanda Hiliman – Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were served with letters of termination with effect from September 7 – having only being given less than one week’s notice.

It must be noted too that their contracts were set to expire in January 2016.

Despite having already received several lawsuits amounting to millions of dollars from the victims of its arbitrary firings, the Government continues to engage in similar activities.

According to a copy

of the termination letter seen by Guyana Times, no reasons were given for the REOs’ removal. It just stated that “a decision was

taken by management to terminate your contract of engagement”.

Prior to the dismissal of this new batch, the Communities Ministry was already advertising for persons desirous of

filling the posts of REOs. Their applications were to be submitted no later than July 31.

Government had already dismissed the REOs for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Donald Gagraj; Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Deolall Rooplall; Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) Ronald Harsaywack and Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) Claire Singh.

Government had sought to defend this action by claiming that it needed more qualified persons to fill the posts, “given the complexity of managing five sectors within the region”.

Former Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Ministry, Collin Croal, during his maiden Budget presentation speech in Parliament on August 20, lambasted the Government for its “du-

plicity” to the Guyanese public and once again exposed the Administration for backpedalling on its word.

President David Granger had announced, shortly after assumption of office that senior positions in the Public Sector should be occupied by in-

dividuals without political intentions.

However, Government’s replacement for the REOs in Region Eight and Region Nine are known to be activists of the present Government and they also appeared on the Party’s

List of Candidates for the General and Regional Elections 2015.

The APNU/AFC Administration has come in for harsh criticisms over its unjustifiable firings of hundreds of professional persons in the Public Sector.

Time and time again, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has been exposing the David Granger-led Administration for its indiscriminate dismissal of Guyanese professionals on the basis of their “race and political affiliation”. More than any other thing, the PPP/C has objected to the manner in which the dismissals were effectuated, pointing out that the employees were not afforded due process. In most cases, the severing of accumulat-

ed benefits were deemed “vindictive”.

Thus far, the Government has fired former Permanent Secretary Croal; former Permanent Secretary of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, Nigel Dharamlall; Guyana

Power and Light Inc Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bharat Dindyal; Guyana Water Inc CEO Shaik Baksh; Guyana Sugar Corporation CEO Dr Raj Singh and all its Directors Geeta Singh-Knight, Shaik Baksh, Badrie Persaud, Keith Burrowes and Dindyal Permaul; former Local Government Minister Clinton Collymore; Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency Anne Green; acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba; Information Liaison Officers Kwame McCoy and Zulfikar Mustapha; among many others. In addition, Government has sacked a large number of employees under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative, employees under the Amerindian Land Titling Project; 1972 Community Support Officers; employees from the Office of the President, employees of the National Communication Network (NCN), along with many others who did not make the news.

Yolanda Hilliman

Ashford Ambedkar

Claire Singh

Deolall Rooplall

Donald Gajraj

Nigel Fisher

Paul Ramrattan

Ronald Harsawack

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Editor(ag): Michael Younge

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Presidential Libraries

In the United States of America, when a President goes out of office, a Presidential Library is established to house his personal and other papers which are archivally stored etc. and made available to students and researchers and members of the public who may wish to have access to them. These papers give a great deal about the social, political and economic history of time and present a personal ambience not available anywhere else.

Presidential Libraries are a very important aspect of a nation’s history as they promote understanding of the presidency and that country’s experiences during various periods. Such Libraries seek to preserve and provide access to historical materials, support research, and create interactive programs and exhibits that educate and inspire. And persons who are involved in the administration of such libraries work to ensure that these irreplaceable materials are preserved and made available for the widest possible use by researchers and even members of the public for generations to come.

The establishment of the Cheddi Jagan Research Institute in the Red House is no more than a Presidential Library, but since the concept was a new one in Guyana, the cultural people at the time may have thought of a non-profit company with a Board of Directors, being persons interested in Dr Jagan’s life.

A recent report carried in another section of the media titled: “PPP privatized state-owned building”, portrayed the impression that under the previous administration, the Red House which currently houses the Cheddi Jagan Research Institute, regarded as State property, was turned over to a private company. The report also mentioned that the members of the Company’s Board are still being paid by the State. It is not clear whether the statement refers to honorariums as Board members or the fact that the persons may have been receiving pensions or salaries in their other capacities.

The fact of the Red House premises and the Research Institute being leased to a non-profit Company at a nominal rental does not mean much, since the Board, whoever they might be in the future, will have the burden of maintaining the building and running the Institute, and will have to seek support from private donors or partly governmental subvention. Such will preclude it from suffering the same fate of the old infirmary (Alms House) in Brickdam which gradually fell into decay and destruction. In any case, the Cheddi Jagan Research Institute and Red House are de facto State property since it will continue to serve the public and be in ownership of the State, being only leased.

Those who are dealing with this matter must be cognizant of the fact that all political parties - PPP, PNC, AFC and others as well as numerous politicians and publicists will all pass away leaving the Red House as a Heritage building and the Institute serving researchers, students and others. In due course, other Presidential Libraries would be established adding to the creativity and richness of Guyanese academic life.

Instead of risking the loss or destruction of valuable archives and destroying the concept of Presidential Libraries, the Government may discuss with the Company’s Board possible changes or additions to the Board. While it is not our intention to defend the policy decisions of the previous Administration, as it is quite capable of doing so itself, we believe that there is justification for the previous Government to lease the property to a non-profit Company as against leaving the Government of the day to have direct control over its administration. The lease as we understand it, is merely a formula to have autonomy like a US Presidential Library, to avoid being a Government department and not to give any individual personal property.

We suggest that President Granger, who is a historian and has full knowledge of the concept of Presidential Libraries, immediately intervene in this matter and save the day, preventing those who are less knowledgeable from taking any gauche action which academics, students and the general public will regret. It is necessary that Guyana takes care of its archives and heritage as they will provide the present and future generations to come the chance to see and participate in the events that changed our lives and made us who we are as a nation.

Social Cohesion or flagrant hypocrisy?

Dear Editor,

The hypocrisy of the Government’s Social Cohesion Plan is absolutely repulsive, considering the discriminatory actions it undertook in the space of its three months mandate.

The massive witch hunting, which the Government to date still barefacedly denies, and founded on the perceived political persuasion of State employees and contracted workers who were predominantly Amerindians and East Indians, was the first step to further dividing the population. Then came the gender biased composition of the Cabinet, national institutions and State boards, which saw only three women assigned to senior ministerial positions, two of whom are Afro-Guyanese, and less than ten women appointed to State boards. Of the eight junior Ministers with questionable portfolios, six are women, four of whom are Afro-Guyanese.

The unscrupulous disregard for the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent, in all the decisions made to date regarding Amerindians, such as the abrupt discontinuation of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme, from which

1972 Community Support Officers (CSOs), were severed without prior notice or legally valid reasons.

The promulgation of such discriminatory governance, has contributed to a spike in crime, which is tainted with ethnic hues, principally targeting immigrants, expats and East Indians, many of whom are business owners. Crime will continue to explode if the Government persists in its denial and neglect of the nature of the situation, where criminals indulge in a time they consider as “awe time”.

Subsequently, the hypocrisy of this Government lies in the wedge it is driving further down in the historically ethnically divided society we live in, while it claims to want to promote social cohesion.

It is equally amusing for Guyanese to note that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funds this plan whereas the striking majority of its staff are of AfroGuyanese descent, with just a few East Indians who stand out in the Accounts/ Finance department on Brickdam. This is despite soi-disant internationally recognised recruitment procedures, supposedly conducted according to the UN standards which are

believed to promote transparency and accountability. The situation at the UNDP and other UN agencies in Guyana is reminiscent of the days when the public service was reserved for Afro-Guyanese.

The United Kingdom, other funding agent, is in itself a sort of paradox. Indeed, if divisive politics were ever to define one colonial Empire in particular, it would be the British. From Africa to India and the Middle East, the British unlike the Dutch, the Spanish or the Portuguese, dominated through the creation of ethnically divided societies, dwelling on factors such as social status, gender, castes and race. Perhaps, this is the reason why LGBT rights are the least respected in old British colonies as compared to former Dutch and Portuguese colonies.

However, the gradual transformation of the UK into a multiethnic society doesn’t erase the fact that colonialism today has taken on new contours, often translated by transnational corporate interests, dominated by only a few superpowers. In this sense, the old dogma of dividing to rule remains relevant, rendering many of these seemingly altruist initiatives

undertaken by the West, paradoxical to the global interests it pursues. The case of the UK investing in a social cohesion plan is one such paradox. For how can Guyanese forget the role of the UK in the strangulation of the first few decades of Guyana’s independent years, resulting in the severe psychological and physical trauma suffered by Guyanese today? The history might not be taught in schools but the country is still young and remembers.

Au finale, attempting to implement a social cohesion plan without any reparation for the wrongs committed against the people, as well as the underrepresentation of Guyana’s rich cultural and ethnic diversity by a Government which cunningly promised “unity”, is a barefaced insult to the Guyanese people and their memory, as well as an underestimation of their intelligence. Until the necessary amends are made, such a plan remains invalid, and a waste of this country’s resources which, considering the country’s slowed economy since the May 11 Election, cannot be afforded.

Sincerely, De

Sá

Bright-eyed and fabulous: The little ones showed how it is done with pizzazz at Naya Zamana 20 at the National Cultural Centre

Hindu traditions and religious practices in Japan

Dear Editor,

The Hindu Goddess Saraswati is worshipped not only in Guyana and other parts of the Caribbean by Hindus but in faraway Japan as well. Saraswati is the name of a river in India and is worshipped in pools of water in Japan. She is the Goddess displayed playing the “Veena” musical instrument and is known as the Goddess of Knowledge. Students pay obedience to Goddess Saraswati. It is a common name among Hindus in Guyana and the Caribbean.

Japan is a largely Buddhist nation. Buddhism was born in India and spread throughout Asia. Indian culture is deeply rooted in Japanese society and thousands of Japanese visit India every year. The Emperor and the prime Minister were recently in India in separate visits. A photographic exhibition is being held in Japan through Sep 12 titled “Indian Deities Worshipped

in Japan”.

Historian Benoy K. Behl, who has specialised in the study of ancient Indian cultures, noted in a media report that “Japan has preserved ancient Indian traditions, even when they may have changed here in India”. He pointed out that Saraswati is depicted and venerated not only with the Veena, but also remembered for her association with water.

According to Behl, the 6th century Siddham (Indian language) script is preserved in Japan, though it is no longer being used in India. “’Beejaksharas’ of Sanskrit in this script are regarded as holy and are given great importance. Each deity has a ‘Beejakshara’ and these are venerated by the people, even though most of them cannot read it,” says Behl. Only a limited number of Sadhus and Swamis and language experts use the Siddham script in India and in the West. But in

Japan, it is still used by Buddhists.

The media report noted that many words in the Japanese language, as also in the English and European languages, are from Sanskrit and “it was also the basis for the formation of the Japanese alphabet ‘Kana’.”

In the Japanese supermarkets, the media report stated, a major brand of milk products is called ‘Sujata’. There is also a Sujata flour company in America whose brand is used by Guyanese and other West Indians. Sujata is also the name of a spice and curry product in Guyana, Surinam and Trinidad.

The Japanese Sujata company personnel are taught the story of Sujata who gave sweet rice milk to the Buddha, with which he broke his period of austerity, before he gained Nirvana (perfect state of after life).

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Brief Janamashtmi Insight

Dear Editor, I must say I respect all religions that teaches the importance of Spirituality. Practicing religion enhances our spiritual strengths to overcome hardships of this world and helps us to lead a healthier and more peaceful life.

The Hindus in Guyana will be celebrating Shri Krishna Janamashtmi coming Saturday, September 5th. Janamashtmi commemorates the earthy appearance (birth) of Shri Krishna, who is described in the sacred Bhagwat Geeta as one of the most powerful human incarnations of Vishnu; conceived by the Hindus as the supreme protector. Shri Krishna Janamashtmi is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiam through kirtans (glorifications & praises), pujas, arti, devotion-

al songs/bhajans, and japa (chanting of Hare Krishna mantra softly to oneself).

Other events include the decorating of temples, homes, altar and depictions of Shri Krishna, rocking the cradle of baby Shri Krishna, blowing of the Conch, dances, preparing a feast of dishes, burning of incense, reading scriptures and fasting for the day of Janamashtmi.

The many devotional activities are been performed to please Shri Krishna as he is considered to be special by the Hindus because he reciprocates righteously. As narrated in the Bhagwat Geeta, Shri Krishna reciprocates in unique, personal ways with every devotee who offers him love. He responds to the distinct feelings and desires held most deeply in the heart of every single devotee. Therefore, if sincere

glorifications and praises are sent to Shri Krishna on Janamashtmi, he will reciprocate accordingly. Hence, celebrating Janamashtmi brings extremely rewarding benefits to all devotees. Not only devotees benefit from this reward, however, but as people connect with their Lord spiritually and do good deeds our world becomes a safer, better and more peaceful place to live in.

Happy Shri Krishna Janamashtmi to all and let us not forget that while Hindus celebrate Janamashtmi to commemorate the birth of Shri Krishna, Christians celebrate Christmas Day to commemorate the birth of Jesus and Muslims celebrate Youman Nabi to commemorate the birth of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

Ayeisha Khan

Where is the $9000 per bag of paddy promised by the APNU/AFC?

Dear Editor,

With regards Mr Ganesh Mahipaul's Letter published in Kaieteur News on Monday 31st August, 2015 I would like to enlighten Mr. Mahipaul, as well as the rice farmers and the Guyanese public, that the APNU/ AFC did ,whole heartedly promise rice farmers $9000 per bag for paddy at several of their political meetings.

This declaration was made by our Prime Minister, Mr Moses Nagamootoo in Region Six, while our Public Security Minister , Mr Khemraj Ramjattan ensured made the same promise to the rice farmers at political meetings in Regions Four and Six. This promise was eventually repeated by Dr Turhane Doerga, at a political meeting that was held in the rice growing community of Cane Grove in Region 4.

Mr Mahipaul should not be totally blamed for

his lack of recollection for such a promise being made by men in high offices of the present Government. It is understood that by nature some people conveniently suffer from amnesia to achieve their own purpose. The truth is that rice farmers were promised $9000 per bag of paddy by the current APNU/AFC Administration, a truth that is recorded.

In a world made up of a deceit, the APNU/AFC has used deception to its fullest and should by all means be given full credit for this deceptive scheme which will result in over 7000 rice farmers suffering the consequences of a failed promise.

As a rice farmer I am, in full support of Mr. Jagdeo’s demand for the APNU/AFC Government to fulfill its promise to rice farmers. The leader of the Opposition is simply doing his duty and what is right. This is not to

gain political points as was mentioned in Mr Mahipaul’s letter. The PPP/C is simply demanding that the Government deliver on its promise. What is wrong with holding the Government accountable? The Government should see the wisdom of delivering on this promise knowing fully well the importance of this vital industry to Guyana’s economy. Rice farmers and the thousands of people who depend on the rice industry directly and indirectly are sincerely hoping that the Government will make good on its promise and pay rice farmers $9000 per bag for their paddy. The Government should do the “wise thing” and live up to its promise. If not, this industry in no doubt will suffer severely under their governance.

Benjee Singh

What happened to my VOTE?

Dear Editor, Where is my vote? Was it stolen or not counted? My vote at the General Elections is sacred because it represents my will, mind and choice. It is not material like money or properties. When it is misused by people who are placed in trusted positions, then it becomes a source of great concern. Great nations propose

free voting but those same nations are involved in the rigging of elections in many countries including Guyana. I voted in the 1968, 1973, 1980 and 1985 general elections of Guyana which were all shown to be rigged by the PNC. I did not vote in the 1978 referendum because of the boycott but somehow my vote was counted. I voted in the 2015 elections and again

rigging took place. But it was all over when the “fat boy” sang. So why vote in Guyana when my vote will be manipulated? The people of Guyana had better start to formulate an alternative. A system for all and of which I will be a part.

Sincerely, Dyal

Singh

Ramayya appointed as REO of Region 6

...presumably earning more than $180,000 monthly with driver

Following his public condemnation of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government and threatened resignation as an Executive Member of the AFC, Veersammy Ramayya has been appointed Regional Executive Officer (REO) for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Ramayya had taken to the media to express his discontentment over not being offered a lucrative job like the other AFC members who campaigned on behalf of the coalition and in response AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan expressed “dissatisfaction” in Ramayya’s behaviour, saying “it is not jobs for the boys and an exchange…it is about serving the people”.

However, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), in a press statement, pointed out that by appointing someone who lacks professional experience or the requisite skill to fill the post as REO is a clear demonstration that the APNU/AFC is all about finding “jobs for the boys”.

“This move by the APNU/AFC Government is to politicise the regional administration and to ensure that the party hacks have a stronghold on the region’s budget and finances and this political contamination must be con -

demned in the strongest possible terms,” the PPP/C contended.

Government recently fired nine of the ten REOs, justifying their actions by claiming that persons of such senior positions must not have any political connections. This comes as a surprise given the fact that all the replacements for the REOs thus far have been individuals who appeared on the coalition’s List of Candidates for the General and Regional Elections 2015.

“This latest duplicitous and hypocritical act of political patronage and cronyism is another example of the APNU/AFC Government abandoning its campaign promise of professionalising the public sector,” the PPP/C stat -

ed.

Ramayya had been highly offended when the Government offered him “$180,000 to sit in an office in Georgetown and take complaints from people and report to Khemraj”, demanding that he be made a better offer.

Ramayya, during his public rage against the coalition, expressed that he felt betrayed by the Government; claiming that it simply used him and then dumped him after it won the elections.

Meanwhile, the PPP/C said it was in receipt of information that the Ministry of the Presidency has employed approximately 16 persons in Region Six, each of whom will be paid in excess of $150,000 monthly and would enjoy duty-free concessions, free telephone, driver and state vehicle as well as a security guard, to do exclusively party political work.

The Party added that it strongly believed that similar activities are being done in all 10 administrative regions.

“This is not only creating jobs for the boys, but is using scarce taxpayers dollars to do party political work at the nation’s expense,” the PPP/C said, committing itself to continuing to expose any acts of corruption being executed by the APNU/AFC Government.

UG appoints 9th Chancellor

The University of Guyana has announced that the former Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Professor Nigel Harris has been appointed to serve as the ninth Chancellor of the University.

“I welcome this opportunity to work with the leaders, staff and students of the University of Guyana community, as well as with Government and other stakeholders to forge the growth and success of this institution so critical to the economic, social and cultural development of Guyana and the Caribbean,” Professor

Harris said in commenting on his new appointment.

He succeeds Dr Compton Bourne who had served from 2009 to 2012.

Professor Harris has a

wealth of knowledge, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Howard University in 1968 and then proceeded to Yale University, where he received a Master of Philosophy Degree in Biochemistry in 1973. He also has a Medical Degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Professor Harris had returned to the Caribbean to complete his residency in internal medicine at the University of the West Indies at Mona. He was subsequently awarded the post-graduate degree, Doctor of Medicine (DM) in 1981.

turn to page 14

Uitvlugt Estate cane harvesters strike

...reject rollback in benefits

BY VAHNU MANICKHAND

Over 500 cane harvesters attached to the Uitvlugt Estate, on the West Coast of Demerara, have downed their tools over what they called inadequate payments for working in abnormal conditions.

The workers have been on strike since Monday after management of the factory refused to offer an increase in the payments.

Guyana Times was informed that when the cane harvesters turned up for work on Monday, the fields had vines and grass growing between the crops; as such, they met with management to discuss the additional payment, referred to as “extra” or “abnormal pay”, that is usually given to cane harvesters when they have to work in less than normal conditions.

Even before the formation of trade unions in the

sugar industry in 1939, sugar workers have been forced to take strike action to bring these burdens against efficient production to the attention of management. Over the years, it was accepted that extra wages would be paid for such “obstacles” as “customs and practices”.

The extra money is not included in their wages but is paid separately; however, it is paid out to the harvesters at the same time they receive their wages. Various factors, including the length of time it takes to get the work done inclusive of waiting time and the quantity of work, determine the amount payable.

However, the offer put forward by management was found to be inadequate by the workers who were demanding double the amount, this newspaper was told. After management’s

refusal to increase the payments, the workers took the decision not to return to work until a reasonable offer is made and an agreement is met.

The following day, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) got involved. General Secretary of the Union Seepaul Narine, met with the officials of the Estate, however no compromise was arrived at. Guyana Times understands that management is stuck on one position while the workers are holding to another, and neither was willing to move. As such, the cane harvesters continued their strike actions on Wednesday and Thursday, and are expected to do the same today.

Meanwhile, President of GAWU Komal Chand, told this publication that another meeting is scheduled for today to have an amicable resolution of the matter. Officials from the Estate and the Union will be present along with representatives of the workers.

The initial production target set for the Uitvlugt Estate was 900 tonnes, however, the production currently stands at a mere 300 tonnes. The industrial action by the workers will set production back further than it already is.

Economist, Professor Clive Thomas had pointed out that in 2012, the unit cost per pound of sugar produced at Uitvlugt was US$0.43. This was estimated to have increased to US$0.57 the following year but at that time, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was being paid an average of some US$0.31 per pound for its sugar.

Moreover, the cost of production did not improve in 2014 and GuySuCo only earned US$0.21 per pound for sugar exports. This means, sugar production at the Estate was being subsidised by some US$0.22 per pound, more than what was earned from sales.

Veersammy Ramayya

Professor Nigel Harris

Rickey Singh resigns from Guyana Chronicle

– rejects Nagamootoo’s “raw, arrogant tactics”

By Michael younge

eteran

VCaribbean Journalist

Guyaneseborn Rickey Singh on Wednesday resigned as a contributor and longstanding columnist to the Guyana Chronicle as he took a firm stance against the continued interference of the Prime Minister’s Office in the affairs of the company and the work of the editorial department.

Singh, in his resignation letter dated September 2, explained that he took the decision following the nonpublication of a column he submitted for the Sunday, August 31, 2015 edition of the newspaper.

He said that he had written to the then Editor-InChief Mark Ramotar and General Manager Michael Gordon soliciting a reason for the non-publication of the column which was critical of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and his Government’s parliamentary posture as well as their failure to adhere to several post-electoral promises.

In the letter seen by Guyana Times, Singh reminded both men of their failure to respond to his enquires opining that his professional working relationship “seems to have fallen victim to a most negative policy of interfer-

ences by the new APNU/ AFC coalition administration that’s increasingly being pursued by the Prime Minister”.

“As a Journalist of the Caribbean region for a pretty long period of years, I am aware of charges of partisan political interferences by Governments in various states of our Caribbean Community, Guyana being among them—previously and currently. But the haste to do so by the current Prime Minister of Guyana and the raw, arrogant tactics being pursued by him to ensure crippling the Chronicle’s independence, is most disgusting and shocking,” Singh explained in the letter.

He said: “The surprising non-publication of my regular column in last Sunday’s Chronicle had a special focus on the misuse of powers by the “downsized” Prime Minister Nagamootoo who seems anxious to ensure compliance with ministerial edicts -- known to staffers and both of you,(Editor and General Manager), and in the absence of a functioning of a Board of Management.”

In the letter, the Caribbean Journalist said too “there is much more to be said for general public information. But for now, I wish to make it abun-

dantly clear that I can no longer function as an independent professional Journalist of the Guyana Chronicle with a current Administration seemingly genuflecting to crude interferences by an Information Minister who is still smarting from being ‘downsized’ as the Prime Minister he WANTED to be, according to what’s referenced as the Cummingsburg Accord”.

Speaking with Guyana Times from Barbados on Thursday during a brief interview, Singh accused both Ramotar and Gordon of failing to stand up against “ministerial interference in the absence of a functioning board” and “failing to stand up for journalistic professionalism”.

Singh maintained that PM Nagamootoo was out

of order and went past his limits when he directly interfered in the publication of his column.

“The Prime Minister is ordinary as both a politician and lawyer. He has not accomplished or achieved anything that is creditworthy or of acclaim in any of those areas. It shameful that having being a former journalist that he would now seek to muzzle the views of independent thinkers,” Singh advised.

He commended the Guyana Press Association (GPA) and other local media entities for taking a

to censor criticism

the integrity of the State media saying that by issuing the statement on Nagamootoo’s interference, the GPA has done the right and ethical thing.

Singh has been a professional journalist for decades and has worked with the Guyana Chronicle for over two decades.

Additionally, the GPA on Tuesday said that it has noted with concern recent reports of Prime Minister Nagamootoo’s interaction with a Chronicle reporter following the publication of a news report in the Guyana Chronicle, over which the Prime Minister

stand against the attack on press freedom that was now eating away at

expressed disappointment.

The GPA, in a statement to the media, said it

felt compelled to comment on the issue, because while the Prime Minister was free to express his views, he should not express such views directly to media workers as this was known to be a tactic of intimidation and may have a dampening effect on press freedom that can result in self-censorship.

“Further, the GPA regards the Prime Minister’s stated pro-Government expectations of the publiclyfunded Guyana Chronicle newspaper (and presumably all State-owned media) as a retrograde and intolerable step that betrays the governing coalition’s campaign and postelection promises not to engage in the same press freedom violations previous Administrations were accused of.”

The statement continued, “On the matter of the Prime Minister’s comment on “Government-owned media”, there needs to be a clear distinction between the State and the Government. The GPA wishes to suggest that there should be, following extensive consultations, a policy which adumbrates the way the executive should interact with State-owned media that would allow for freedom of the press to be exercised in a meaningful way within these entities.”

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Veteran Caribbean Journalist Rickey Singh

friday, september 4, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Destitute in court for 9-year-old’s murder

– commencement of trial dependent on Psychologist’s report

The destitute accused of murdering nineyear-old Shaquan Gittens of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown in April, made another appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday.

Ryan Bobb-Semple, 23, a destitute, was early in the year remanded to prison after he was arraigned with the murder of the child. Bobb-Semple was slapped with the indictable charge which stated that between April 1 and 4, he murdered Gittens at Houston Backlands.

On Thursday, it was reported in court that the man was seen by State Psychologist, Dr Bhiro Hari on three occasions. Dr Hari requested more time as he wishes to speak to the suspect’s mother and sister to get background information on the man. The

as she raised Bobb-Semple and was prevented from doing so. The report submitted by Dr Hari will decide whether or not the suspect is mentally fit to stand trial.

Gittens went missing on April 1, after he was last seen flying his kite in the area. His body was discovered several days later in a semi nude state floating in a canal.

morning.

He then had sex with the corpse after which he severed the male reproductive organ from the child’s body and dumped the body in the canal.

Crime Plan...

...for “non-spiralling” crime

TPsychologist was granted two weeks to do so and is expected to submit his report on September 22 when the matter returns to court. However, the man’s grandmother stated that she went to visit Dr Hari

The suspect was arrested after he was reportedly heard calling the child’s name in his sleep. Upon his arrest, he told investigators that he ‘stick up’ the lad on April 1, took him behind Cane View where he sexually molested him. While doing so, he reportedly strangled Gittens. After committing the act, he reportedly went to sleep, but only realised the child was dead the following

He was taken to the scene where he committed the act. There, he reportedly showed Police ranks the exact spot and told them how he committed the heinous crime. He was then escorted to the North Ruimveldt Police Outpost.

On the day Gittens disappeared, he was reportedly left in the care of his 15-year-old brother while his mother was at work. He was reportedly in the area in the morning hours flying his kite. About 12:00h, he returned home to have lunch and later left again to join his friends. That was the last time his brother saw him alive.

Mason not trusted with pre-trial liberty

Apregnant woman exited Court 8 and 9 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts alone on Thursday after her boyfriend was refused bail by Magistrate Faith McGusty for a charge of receiving stolen articles.

Steve Singh, 25, a Mason of Yarrow Dam, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was remanded to jail after pleading not guilty to the charge Magistrate McGusty read to him.

The court heard that between August 19 and September 1, Singh received a Kayak boat worth $200,000 belonging to R&S Fishing Enterprise, knowing it to be stolen or unlawfully obtained.

The Prosecutor told the court that this is not the only charge to be laid against the accused as the Police are still wrapping up their investigation into other matters. He also argued against any consideration of bail for Singh, stat-

ing that he will not make an appearance in court for the charge against him due to the pending charges.

The Prosecutor also indicated that the accused may not be a Mason as he claims.

Singh, however, denied all these allegations against him. He told the court that he was by the river when a man asked him to assist in pulling out the boat. The defendant said the man was quite clear that he owned the

boat.

Even so, Singh said that though the man was arrested like himself for removing the boat, he escaped and has not been arrested again.

Magistrate McGusty assured him that his alleged accomplice will be captured by the Police soon. But she stated that she will have to place him on remand as per the recommendation of the Prosecutor as he could not be trusted to appear for his trial.

he Commissioner of Police (COP) took umbrage at suggestions that crime in Guyana might be “spiralling” upwards. All the out-of-work of politicians with too much time on their hands - they were the ones pushing that line! Idle minds being the workshop of the Devil and all that. This Eyewitness isn’t going to revisit the COP’s theory - that much of the alleged “crime spiral” is due to those same idle politicians staging the said crimes. Which, however, isn’t spiralling out of control, OK? Let’s get that straight.

Notwithstanding that caveat however, the COP announced he’d returned the “crime plan” to fight the nonspiralling crime - back to the Government. Not having the high level training of the COP to understand that “statistics can lie”, the Government was suckered into believing the figures on the spike in “serious crimes” (released by the Police) reflected ground reality. So the President had called that (in) famous 4am meeting where, in his hysteria, the COP was ordered to “do something” about “spiralling crime”.

Trouble was - the President thought he was also “highly trained” in security matters and so were the dozen advisers he’d hired. They gave the COP, not so much a “plan” but a broad “strategy”. And we arrive at the “crime plan” the COP MIGHT’VE come up with - he didn’t want to reveal the details to our reporter. But knowing the COP had already figured out WHO was behind the “not spiralling crime wave”, it wasn’t hard to figure out his probable game plan.

First he would have to “recky” the criminal habitat (as PRIME Minister Nagamootoo taught him in another context). The COP would most likely deploy a couple of undercover detectives to check out Congress Place and Freedom House. That’s where the politicians hang out, don’t they? His challenge will be to have his men blend in so that they’re not noticed. That shouldn’t be too difficult, however, for Congress Place, since most of those fellas have taken to wearing, ill-fitting suits and loud shirts. Think PRIME Minister Nagamootoo!!

Then they’d have to speak like politicians. From the evidence of the Budget debate, the undercover cops will have to make sure they use words, like “whore”, “thief” and “son-of-a-bitch”. Knowing how pure and upstanding our lawmen are, a few of them might balk. Now if they can’t get into Congress Place and Freedom House, the COP can always send his men to any one of the bars in and around of Georgetown.

All he’ll have to do is tell them to get there before 2 am and he’s sure to pick up some choice titbits!

...and the “working girl”

What’s definitely not part of the crime plan is the criminal menace posed by all those working girls who’re arriving in droves and corrupting our hard working miners in the interior. Evidently thinking that Caribbean Men are still at the stage that Mighty Sparrow described - “ah never eat a white meat yet”, these women are recolonising our miners’ minds on what is desirable and what is not as far as female pulchritude go.

And we can’t have that now, can we? So the eradication of that specific crime was assigned to that former woman miner, Simona “I is” Broomes. Whether “I is” Broomes was personally rebuffed because of one of these working girls, is not the issue. The important point is that she’s been the only one who had taken this crime seriously.

The regular cops were so out of it that they actually saw these working girls as providing a necessary service.

Expect a lot of working girls to be hauled out of the interior!

...and phones

We repeat our caution to the judicial branch of government. Stealing a cell phone or two isn’t cause for incarceration.

Not part of the plan, OK? Boys will be boys, no?

Ryan Bobb-Semple, was arraigned with the murder of the nine-year-old Shaquan Gittens

Husband fears the worst as search continues for missing tourist

abindranauth

RSivanand, the husband of the woman who went missing during a tour at the Kaieteur Falls National Park on Tuesday, is in a state of despair as the search continues for his wife.

Guyana Times visited the Durban Backlands, Georgetown home of the missing woman, Laleta Sivanand to speak with her husband who appeared very worried over the sudden disappearance of his wife.

The husband declined to comment much on the matter, asking that the media respects his privacy.

According to the other tourists, the woman appeared extremely depressed and was crying during the entire flight to the National Park. Reports indicate that Sivanand confided in other tourists that she was recovering from a recent breakup and would be travelling to Miami before the end of the week.

When asked if he has

Laleta Sivanand

the slightest idea why his wife was in that state, Mr Sivanand said: “I am not answering any more questions…we are asking that – the family at this time is grieving – so we are asking that our privacy be respected in our time of sorrow.”

He also expressed hope that his wife was still alive. The couple did not have any children together.

Sivanand was discovered missing after the tour guide realised that he had an ex-

tra chit after distributing same as they prepared to return to Ogle International Airport.

A search mission was launched early Wednesday morning and was expected to continue today.

According to an official at the Ministry of the Presidency, the search will continue until the woman is found.

Given her state of depression during the time of the tour, it is feared that Sivanand had jumped off the Kaieteur Falls.

In 2009, 23-year-old Aliya Bulkan jumped off the Kaieteur Falls after she reportedly encountered difficulties in her life. The United States-based university graduate had gone to the Falls with a group of friends who confirmed seeing her jump.

Meanwhile, as the search continues for the married woman, all flights to the Kaieteur Falls National Park have been put on hold.

Police charge 5 more for drunk driving

Another five men were charged and placed before the courts for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol after they were found to be above the legal limit in terms of alcohol consumption.

Rameshwar Chan of Lot 16 Rotter Dam, East Bank, Berbice, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on July

16, while driving motor vehicle HB 7108 on Main Street, New Amsterdam.

Chand was subsequently charged and appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on July 20, when he pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.

On July 24, Devon Reece, of Lot 126 Akawani Street,

Campbellville, Georgetown, was also stopped and tested while driving motor vehicle PKK 7197 on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown. He too was charged and placed before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts six days later. He pleaded guilty to the DUI offence and as such, a $7500 fine was imposed on him.

Shalimar Smith of Lot 23 Scottsburg, Corriverton was also sentenced to pay a fine of $7500, after he was found to be above the legal limit of alcohol consumption. According to reports, he was riding motorcycle CF 4404 on the Number 79 Public Road, Berbice on July 23 when the Police conducted a breathalyser test on him. Consequently, he was charged and appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on the same day when he pleaded guilty to the DUI offence.

Additionally, Mohamed Ally of 133 Line Path, Corriverton, Berbice, was found to be above the legal limit of alcohol consumption after he was tested with a breathalyser on July 19. The man was driving motor vehicle PKK 5333 on the Number 79 Public Road, Corriverton when he stopped by the Police.

Ally was later charged and placed before the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on July 20, when he pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.

Finally, Clovis Hunte, of Lot 10 Grant 1806, Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice, was sentenced to pay a fine of $7500 after he pleaded guilty to a DUI offence. The charge stated that the man was rid-

ing motorcycle CF 2434 on the Crabwood Creek Public Road, when he was stopped and tested by the Police. Hunte was subsequently found to be above the legal limit; hence, he was charged and two days later, appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

Clovis Hunte

Mohamed Ally Shalimar Smith

Rameshwar Chan

Devon Reece

Govt launches Social Cohesion discussion – President Granger announces another five-point plan

The Government on Thursday launched the National Social Cohesion Round Table discussion, where stakeholders representing various interests in Guyana will lend their voices to seeking out practical ways of pulling Guyanese, despite their various cultures, together.

Stakeholders including members of the diplomatic corps and representatives from several Non-Governmental Orgnisations across the country, gathered in the main auditorium of the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, as they participated in the opening session of the Social Cohesion Round Table dis-

we have to forge a national consensus on the broad objective of the country’s development”, Ally said.

She said the process to be embarked on does not subtract from the fact that there are different constituencies with diverse interests.

“We should not be fearful of the obvious consequence as there are differences in every area”, she said

According to Ally, the success of the May 11 General and Regional Elections, which was entered into by a six party coalition, signifies the desire for national unity.

She said the conversations will offer Guyanese the opportunity to engage in dialogue on the kind of society we seek to build.

“What does it mean to

occupied with finding something to eat and somewhere to sleep, Granger said.

The Head of State laid out a five-point action plan that participants could look at as they work towards this

cussion, an initiative of the recently established Social Cohesion Ministry.

Seeking to realise the motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”, Social Protection Minister Amna Ally said the event will be a crucial conversation among participants with the aim of bringing about a good life for all.

“The meeting today is to begin this process to promote positive values, creating a fresh approach to create a good life for all. As a country

be a Guyanese? What is the standard of “Guyanese-ness” that we are speaking?”

Speaking also at the event, President David Granger said that Guyana, with its bountiful natural resources and people, need not be poor or divided.

“Far too many Guyanese are classified as extremely poor. There can be no social cohesion in an economy characterised by huge gaps. We cannot give our people the good lives they deserve if they are constantly pre-

achievement. These include doing more to eliminate extreme poverty, eradicating the worst case of inequality, and ensuring that there is greater political inclusion.

Granger noted too that while the event is aimed at bringing all Guyanese together, the idea in no way should be construed that persons should abandon their respective cultural practices.

“Diversity is an asset; it does not necessarily translate into inclusivity… we want better relations among our religions, among our rac-

es and ethnic communities. We want great trust and cooperation, we want happy families and happy households… we want in other words social cohesion in all levels of our society,” said President Granger. He said his Government

is bent on keeping its promise of being the Government for all Guyanese and not just for those who voted in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Chance’s favour.

“We will work on fair employment laws and also safety for miners in the interior.

Providing jobs for the people is a matter of priority, he said noting that there remains a crisis of youth unemployment.

“It is not our intention of depriving the rich from being rich to help the poor... We must provide education for all. There must be equal access to education for all”, he said.

Meanwhile, former Commonwealth Secretary General and Guyana’s Foreign Minister, Sir Shridath Ramphal said the

greatest act of social cohesion would be the establishment of a Government of national unity.

The former diplomat said he was pleased with the recent meeting between President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. He said this is a step in the right direction.

The two leaders met on Tuesday, where several issues came up for discussion. A number of proposals were put forward and have been laid out for further consideration.

Ramphal said Guyana will next year celebrate its 50th Anniversary as an independent nation. As such, he urged citizens to unite, noting that it would be a significant milestone.

President David Granger speaking at the event

Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally addressing the gathering

friday, september 4, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

4 of 5 Neonatal Intensive Care Units not working

As Guyana continues to face an uphill task in curbing infant mortality, only one of the five Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in the public health sector is working.

This shocking but most of all worrying revelation was made by Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times

NICUs provide specialised care for prematurely born babies (neonates) who are not fully developed and are unable to survive on their own without the assistance of monitoring equipment, incubators and breathing apparatus. The neonatal period is considered to be the first 28 days of life.

Statistical data indicates that over a period of five months in 2014, more than 160 infants died at the Georgetown Public Hospital. In June that year, 25 babies succumbed while 30 died in the month of July, 44 in August, 33 in September and 35 in October – all at the

Georgetown Public Hospital. In many of the cases, the infants died from sepsis (infection). In Guyana, neonatal deaths account for approximately 50 per cent of underfive mortality.

“It grieved my heart to announce the number of deaths we had in 2014, 44 alone in one month,” the Health Minister said as he reflected on his 2015 Budget presentation in the National

Assembly.

However, the numbers will continue to rise if the NICUs in the public system are not effectively operationalised. With the exception of Georgetown Public Hospital’s, the NICUs at Linden, Suddie, New Amsterdam and West Demerara Regional Hospitals are all dysfunctional.

“We have a neonatology unit in the West Demerara Hospital, but that is not functioning because we do not have the personnel. We have one in New Amsterdam, but we had to close that down recently because it was infected,” Dr Norton said as he explained the current situation.

It was further explained that these critical facilities, while they were all equipped were not functioning effectively given the lack of neonatologists in the country. “Having a paediatrician, is not good enough, we need neonatologists,” the Public Health Minister emphasised.

“When we have neonatologists that is when we will start reducing the amount of infant mortalities,” he added. In an attempt to rectify this “worrying situation”, the Public Health Ministry will be turning to countries like Cuba and China for assistance.

Recognising that neonatal deaths account for a large percentage of underfive mortality in Guyana, the Guyana Help The Kids (GHTK) organisation had worked closely with the Health Ministry under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

It was during that partnership, the GHTK and Georgetown Public Hospital in March 2012 reconstructed a 24-bed NICU. The facility was brought up to standard with the installation of procure monitors, IV pumps, pump monitors and incubators procured from funds (Cdn$100, 000) raised by the GHTK.

Based on the successes of that NICU, a decision was

3 arrested for Leopold Street murder

Three persons are now in Police custody assisting with the investigation into the murder of Deon Macey, whose battered body was found in his makeshift apartment at Leopold Street, Georgetown on Wednesday.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told <<<Guyana Times>>> that three persons were picked up on

Wednesday evening as Police continued their investigation into the murder. The Police, he added, are working on several leads and are hoping for a breakthrough in the case as soon as possible.

The 51-year-old man, of Lot 67 Leopold Street, Werken-Rust, Georgetown, was found dead about 06:30h in his apartment with at least

three stab wounds to his chest and abdomen. It was reported that other tenants in the yard made the discovery when they went to the man’s apartment after calls to him went unanswered.

As they pushed open the door, the man’s bloodied body was found. Blood was found in the apartment along with several pieces of cloth. Persons in the area

claimed that the man was seen on Wednesday morning about 02:00h and then again at 02:30h.

Also, persons in the area claimed that they did not hear any unusual sounds. The man’s body is at the Lyken Funeral Home and a post-mortem is expected to be performed today. The Police are continuing their investigation.

taken by the Health Ministry to establish units at the Linden Hospital Complex, the West Demerara Regional Hospital, New Amsterdam Hospital and the Suddie Regional Hospital with the GHTK playing an integral role. The units at West Demerara and Suddie were only installed in 2014.

In addition to the operationalisation of the NICUs, a Paediatric Residency Programme and a Neonatal

Nurses Programme were launched by the GHTK in conjunction with the Georgetown Public Hospital. By 2017, the GHTK is hoping to have a well-developed neonatal network that would be handed over to the Health Ministry. However, both the GHTK and the Health Ministry may have to return to the drawing table to address the current problems that have resulted in the closure of the units.

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

NICU Nursing Programme Director, Dr Leif Nelin explaining the uses of the incubator and supporting elements at the Suddie Regional Hospital NICU in 2014

PPP protests Social Cohesion “sham” at Convention Centre

It was high drama outside the gates of the Arthur Chung Convention Centre on Thursday when supporters of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) staged a protest, flagging the David Grangerled A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition Administration as hypocritical.

It was the first ever Social Cohesion Conference being held by the Social Cohesion Ministry.

But while the Conference, which has an objective of bringing all Guyanese together was ongoing, a small yet raucous crowd gathered outside protesting

ing that there cannot be social cohesion when there is witchhunting happening in the Public Service. There can

such things are taking place within the upper echelons of Government. “This is not just a talk it. Many of the participants will come and go and take nothing with them, she said.

Burton continued that such events must see positive results coming out, “but how could you see positive results coming out when one side of the country remains segregated,” she asked.

“Social cohesion is about togetherness, bringing people together as one”.

The Parliamentarian said “We are calling on Government to bring their A game to the table, because if we are going to have social cohesion, you must be able to

the Conference Centre, balking at Government’s hypocrisy as it continues to wantonly fire Guyanese citizens from public office.

Their chants said that for Government, “cohesion” means “victimisation”. PPP Executive and Member of Parliament Gillian Burton Persaud has accused the Government of been unfair to the Guyanese populace, particularly those who were non supportive of them during the recent elections.

“We in the PPP are say-

be no social cohesion when there is political cleansing and there can be no social cohesion when there are senior members of Government standing in the hallways of Parliament and calling racial and ethnic slurs to other Members in the Opposition.

She recalled the comments made by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo calling Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, “coolie bully”. She said there is no way the attempt at social cohesion could be realised when

bring people together.

PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha said Government now practices the opposite to what it had preached during the campaign trail. He spoke of the dismissal of the 2000 Amerindian youth and said they are now fooling the International Community that they are building social cohesion “when they are victimising people based on their race and political affiliation”.

Psychiatric patient on remand for hijacking – awaiting psychologist’s report

Raymond Samaroo, a 24-year-old patient of the National Psychiatric Hospital on Thursday made another appearance in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Samaroo previously appeared before the court charged with stealing a car while the owner was seated in the driver’s seat. He once again on Thursday alleged that he was being abused and illtreated in prison, which he attributed to him having a mental illness.

Samaroo, a minibus driver, of 20 Owen Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was in court to face the indictable charge which read that on Monday, August 3 at 35 Garnett Street, Campbellville, he stole one Honda CRV motorcar valued $5 million, one Samsung cellphone valued $25,000 and $30,000 cash; all to a total value of $5,055,000; property of the Virtual Complainant (VC), Rhonda Joaquin.

The court had previ -

ously heard that on the day in question, the VC was parked in front of her yard and was about to exit the vehicle when the accused rushed into the vehicle, forcing her to exit, and drove off with it. He subsequently drove through two Police road blocks, nearly injuring two officers in the process.

It was also revealed that the accused has a pending matter of a similar nature before Court Five. Samaroo was previously charged for stealing a 4-Runner in a similar manner while the driver was purchasing a meal at a Chinese restaurant. It was while he was on bail for that charge that he committed the present offence.

On his previous appearance, Attorney Clyde Forde made an application for bail stating that his client suffers from a mental disease and could not be held accountable for his actions, as he suffers from delusions and amnesia.

The Attorney had presented a certificate which declared that his client is indeed a patient of the National Psychiatric Hospital and requested that he be placed on bail so that he could receive his monthly treatment.

On Thursday, it was reported during the session that he has been receiving treatment at the National Psychiatric Hospital; however, a report was not compiled and sent to the court. The Magistrate stated that the report is necessary to decide whether or not the defendant is mentally fit for trial.

She also ordered that he be evaluated by State Psychologist, Dr Bhiro Hari and that she be in receipt of a report. She remanded him to prison until September 29.

Samaroo, once again lamented that he was in pain due to receiving beating, however, this time he blamed employees at the Psychiatric Hospital.

PPP supporters picket the Arthur Chung Convention Centre

PPP MP Gillian Burton Persaud

SWAT targeting Berbice gang – Top Cop

Head of the Guyana Police Force Seelall Persaud has stated that the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Unit which has been deployed to B Division (Berbice) is targeting a specific gang and will remain in the district until it is dismantled.

He made this disclosure during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday. Persaud noted that the Unit was currently studying the group, which is responsible for many of the criminal activities, to devise a plan on how to dismantle it.

“There is a group that we are targeting there and we

believe that they’ll stay there until they have dismantled it,” the Commissioner stated. Furthermore, Persaud stated that since its deployment to the county, the SWAT Unit has aided the Berbice Police in several high-profile cases that have resulted in arrests of perpetrators and them subsequently being taken to court.

“You see arrests made in Berbice, you see people get charge for all kinds of offences. (SWAT) was not involved in all of them, but they did respond to intelligence,” he stated.

Decline Meanwhile, Crime Chief

National days of mourning and prayer for Dominica on heels of Tropical Storm Erika

Dominicans on Thursday began national days of mourning and prayer, in the wake of the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Erika a week ago.

Government declared Thursday and today National Days of Mourning, while Saturday and Sunday will be National Days of Prayer.

All flags will be flown at half-staff on all public buildings on the first two days. The country’s President, Charles Angelo Savarin, is expected to deliver an address to the nation later today.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the aim of the four days is to “honour lives lost as well as to offer thanksgiving to the Almighty”. Dominica was devastated by the floods caused by Tropical Storm Erika’s heavy rains.

In addition to the dozens killed, bridges and roads collapsed; the country’s main airport was significantly impacted and “every piece of equipment at the airport was destroyed beyond use”, according to Skerrit; several buildings, including hotels, were either destroyed or significantly damaged during the storm’s passage.

Skerrit said it would be an “expansive” undertaking to restore the country’s infrastructure and the cost of doing so would run into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has ramped up the mobilisation of response teams following the declaration of the special disaster areas by the government of Dominica.

As of Monday morning, over 100

members of the Caribbean community (Caricom) Operational Support Team (COST), the Caricom Disaster and Assessment Coordination Team (CDAC) and the Regional Search and Rescue Team were on the ground working closely alongside their counterparts including CDEMA’s emergency operations specialist, Brigadier General Earl Arthurs who is leading the Caricom teams on the Ground.

Programme manager – response and recovery, Joanne Persad, stated, “Our regional response mechanism was on standby before the storm struck and we were able to have a team on the ground within 24 hours of the impact to offer technical support, guidance and advice to the Government of Dominica. With the

declaration of the disaster areas and identification of response priorities from Dominica, the CDEMA system immediately moved to deploy critical communications equipment, technical and coordination support through our response teams.”

COST is assisting in providing overall coordination support in the emergency operations centre in Dominica as well as the regional effort. Members of this team at this time are from the CDEMA Coordinating Unit, and National Disaster Offices of Trinidad, Saint Lucia and Montserrat. This team is expected to be further strengthened with personnel from the British Virgin Islands Department of Disaster Management later this week. (Excerpt from Caribbean360 and Caribbean News Now)

UG appoints ninth...

Professor Harris has held many leadership positions, including Vice-Chancellor of the University of West Indies (October 1, 2004 to April 30, 2015); President of the Association of Caribbean Universities and Research Institutes (UNICA)from 2012 to 2015, and Chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities for a two-year term (20112013). He is internationally known for his work as a Rheumatologist. Throughout his years, Professor Harris acquired many notable awards including the Cacique Crown

of Honour from Guyana in 2011 and the Martin Luther King International Award in 2010. Also, the 11th Congressional District of the USA declared February 11, 2015, the “Eon Nigel Harris Day” in recognition of his contributions to medical research.

Chancellor Harris is married to Dr C Yvette WilliamsHarris, a general internist and they have three children and five grandchildren. Meanwhile, given his notable work worldwide, it is expected that Professor Harris will succeed in trans-

forming the University of Guyana into one of international standard.

As Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Professor Harris focused on programmes that enhanced contributions of the University to Caribbean Governments; strengthened services of the University to its stakeholders; broadened funding; and enhanced alumni relations and marketing.

A particular area of interest has been re-structuring the University of the West Indies presence in the 12 Caribbean countries that

Wendell Blanhum recently told this newspaper that since the deployment of the SWAT Unit, there has been a decline in crime in Berbice. He explained that there have been incidents where groups of criminal elements are armed with high powered rifles and so the SWAT Unit was dispatched with the necessary resources to aid the Berbice complement in many cases.

In addition to the SWAT Unit, several other specialised teams were also deployed to the Region to boost the security forces’ complement there. Persaud further detailed that an intelligence component and another Unit out of A Division (Georgetown- East Bank Demerara) were also sent to Berbice. The latter Unit is inclusive of senior detectives within the A Division who are lending their expertise to the local officers.

According to the Top Cop, the divisional system will continue with their operations, while the special-

ised Units will be working on specific missions as in the case of the SWAT team.

“The divisional patrol system continues, they do their usual analysis and they deploy according to the analysis… (The units deployed) would be doing more targeted operations based on intelligence,” he revealed.

The Police Commissioner added that the Police Force has recently teamed up with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to conduct patrol exercises in the backlands and savannah areas along the Corentyne.

Recently, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan informed media operatives that Government was looking to have more patrols dispatched to those areas that were mapped as “high crime” zones. He pointed out that currently Berbice, more specifically the Corentyne area, has been identified as one such area; hence, the deployment of Special Forces to the Division.

continued on page 15

Trinidad: “Superboy” meets PM Kamla

Four-year-old Kal-el

Alleyne, the country’s youngest ever recipient of a national award, received a “pound” from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and was lifted into the air by Denise Archie, wife of Chief Justice Ivor Archie, after he collected his award for gallantry at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, on Monday evening.

contribute to the University, but have no campuses.

This led to the creation of a fourth campus, designated the “Open Campus” which is designed primarily to deliver education by distance to students in all 16 contributing countries.

During his tenure the regional University’s enrolment grew from about 24,000 to in excess of 47,000 students, the facilities in the 4 campuses expanded by more than 500,000 square feet and two new countries –Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos – joined the UWI consortium.

Alleyne was dubbed Superboy for bravery after his family’s car plunged over a precipice on the North Coast Road last month. He was accompanied to the stage by his mother Amanda. The youngster appeared cool, calm and collected as his name was called to accept the Humming Bird Medal (Bronze) from President Anthony Carmona who chatted with him. He then walked along the podium, being greeted by Carmona’s wife Reema, and then responded to PersadBissessar’s offer of a tightened fist, with gusto.

Four-year-old Kal-el re-

ceived his award for climbing a steep precipice to get help to rescue his mother Amanda Graham and aunt Antonia Graham who crashed-landed at the base of a 300-feet steep precipice on the North Coast Road.

Meanwhile on Tuesday night, the process used to select recipients of the National Awards was defended by Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar.

Some persons have criticised the decision to bestow the country’s highest award the Order of Trinidad and Tobago on Labour Minister Errol Mc Cleod and Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Dookeran. Persad-Bissessar outlined the steps taken before persons are chosen for the national awards.

With Trinidad elections just days away (September 7), the PM has been hitting the campaign trail amid attacks. She expressed confidence in her Government being victorious at the polls 7 as her party has a plan for Trinidad and Tobago. (Excerpts from Newsday and news.power102fm.com)

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit visiting evacuees at the Grammar School

Tiny hero Kal-el Alleyne (left) receiving a “pound” from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

Govt decision pending on $600M High Street building

The future of the $600 million unfinished multi-storey property at 44 High Street, Werk-enRust, Georgetown is yet to be determined, as a review and discussions are underway between Government and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

This is according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who during a telephone interview with the Guyana Times on Wednesday evening, stated that a decision was yet to be made with regard to the structure.

The massive building, which is property of the State, had been previously earmarked to house the operations of the GGMC under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration but now it is likely that it will be torn down owing to safety hazards.

Guyana Times understands that a report is to be compiled by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson on other infrastructural works and this report will determine what

decision Government takes.

According to Minister Harmon, the GGMC itself is

menced, the edifice was designated for the Ministry of Human Services and Social

and the GGMC reportedly paid $100 million for it.

The GGMC was set to spend

still to make a decision and this deliberation period is still ongoing.

Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent constructing the building which was established in the compound that once housed the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).

When construction com-

Security. However, there were changes to that plan to allow the accommodation of the Ministry of Health after a tragic fire destroyed the main building of that ministry.

Later, it was announced that the Ministry of Natural Resources would have been in charge of the building

hundreds of millions of dollars to conduct repairs to the edifice.

Guyana Times understands that the unfinished building currently requires substantial repairs to its interior and exterior. Meanwhile, there are still windows and doors to be installed. Ceiling and other in-

terior repairs such as cubicles, and other work spaces were not completed.

Recently, the Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency in charge of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, was questioned during the deliberations of the 2015 estimates for the Ministry, where he had disclosed that GGMC was waiting on a final assessment of the building which appeared to be ‘beyond repair’.

Reports are that workers who were employed to tile the floors could not complete that project because of the precarious state of the structure. Given these issues, the property had sparked dispute in GGMC, with staffers preferring to stay at the Brickdam offices, where they have been housed for many years to date. Sometime in 2013, it was reported that the mining agency would be moving from its Upper Brickdam location to the former GBC building.

GGMC is reportedly plagued by overcrowding and this edifice would have greatly eased the pressure

to accommodate staff at the main building.

Last year, it was reported that load testing had to be performed at the High Street location, since concerns were raised over capacity in relation to accommodating staff, machinery and visitors.

While capacity should be at 50 pounds per square inch, it was determined that the location may have only been able to accommodate 35 pounds.

It was also reported that the building’s foundation contained substandard material and that the contractor, Kishan Bacchus Construction Company, had carried out works on the foundation and on the interior of the building that were in excess of contractual specifications.

Additionally, it was disclosed that the ceiling of the building was improperly designed. This would have resulted in the placement of air vents and roofing works in limited vertical space. Such a situation would have to be rectified.

Toucan Connection workers dismissed as call centre closes

Close to 100 persons are now jobless as the only call centre company in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) abruptly closed its operations.

The Labour Department under the Ministry of Social Protection was already called in to investigate the matter as the company, Toucan Connection Incorporated, is being accused of violating the labour laws by shutting down its operations without prior notice to its employees.

The employees were also denied their respective benefits from the Company, as its officials informed them that the Government of Guyana would be required to administer those. Completely taken aback by the situation, Junior

SWAT targeting ...

“We have three bodies of about 12 or 15 men so that’s about 45 more men that have strengthened Berbice,” he noted. The Minister also disclosed that a unit from the Joint Special Operations Group (JSOG) comprising Army and Police personnel was deployed.

The Police Commissioner also spoke on the issue whereby several members of the SWAT Unit had complained to this newspaper last month about receiving threats following their highly successful operation in mid-July in Craig during which several high-profile suspects were apprehended.

Persaud said that Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), David Ramnarine, had engaged

the members, but they denied having talking to the media. The Commissioner pointed out that Police ranks join the Force knowing the risks and are all trained to deal with matters such as threats.

“There are threats. This job has a lot of risks, but we are trained to deal with that and we do deal with that all the time,” he declared. Furthermore, the Commissioner even went on to highlight that most of the members of the Unit were working in the Force around the crime spree a few years ago and so they are well trained and experienced to deal with current events occurring in the country.

The Top Cop further outlined that the Unit has been

adequately resourced, but these resources were only available to them to carry out missions. He explained that the Unit members has firearms that they pick up whenever they have to go on operations; however, he noted that they were not personally armed after leaving the Force at the end of the day.

Persaud said that almost every other rank within the Force is the same with the exception of a few Units such as the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) who have been allotted personal firearms because of the fact that they are often on call and are required to leave their homes to respond to crimes.

Social Protection Minister Simona Broomes organised a meeting with the company’s officials to discuss the matter.

During the encounter, Broomes exclaimed that the call centre breached the labour laws of Guyana, which state that businesses upon closure or stated intentions to do so, must ensure all employees are well-informed with due notice. She also underscored the injustice of the company denying the employees their right to receive their benefits.

Employees also complained of being constantly abused. Adele Bakker, one of the now unemployed persons, explained that whenever an employee logged out of the system, whether it be to visit the washroom or to visit the supervisor upon request, money was deducted from their salaries.

Following Government’s intervention, Minister Broomes pledged her commitment to ensuring the matter was resolved and the 86 employees were given

Labour Officer, on the possible measures that could be taken to avert or mitigate the adverse effects of such circumstances, in relation to employment generally and employees concerned.”

Any employer who contravenes any of the provisions of this section shall be liable on summary conviction for a fine of $20,000 and imprisonment of three months.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Renis Morian, expressed his intention to

In response, Toucan Connections Supervisor Shontel Brooks told the Minister that the company thought the severance package was the responsibility of the Government.

Compounding the situation, the Minister discovered that the employees’ National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions were not remitted to the Scheme, though these monies, along with the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax, were promptly deducted from their salaries.

their entitled benefits.

The Minister informed the company that the government would be taking it to court for violation of the Labour Laws, under the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act.

According to the Act, employees should be consulted, “as early as possible but no later than one month from the date of existence…with recognised trade unions, or if none exists, the employees or the employee’s representatives and the Chief

have the building secured, since it belonged to the State, and has appealed to the Minister, to launch an overall investigation into the operations of the Centre, as he was advised that valuable assets have already been removed from the building.

He is also asking that the travel documents of the foreign managers of the Company be placed on hold, until the workers are paid all their benefits and all arrangements are completed.

The massive building, which is property of the State, had been previously earmarked to house the operations of the GGMC

Toucan Connection Call Centre

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Simona Broomes addressing the staff members

friday, september 4, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

The birth of Krishna is in itself a transcendental phenomenon that generates awe among the Hindus and overwhelms one and all with its supra mundane happenings.

Krishna Janamashtami will be celebrated on today and Saturday in Guyana

Mother Earth, unable to bear the burden of sins committed by evil kings and rulers, appealed to Brahma, the Creator for help. Brahma prayed to the Supreme Lord Vishnu, who assured him that he would soon be born on earth to annihilate tyrannical forces.

One such evil force was Kamsa, the ruler of Mathura (in northern India) and his people were utterly terrified of him.

On the day Kamsa's sister Devaki was married off to Vasudeva, an akashvani or voice from the sky was heard prophesying that Devaki's 8th son would be the destroyer of Kamsa. The frightened Kamsa immediately unsheathed his sword to kill his sister but Vasudeva intervened and implored Kamsa to spare his bride, and promised to hand over every new born child to him. Kamsa relented but imprisoned both Devaki and her husband Vasudeva.

When Devaki gave birth to her first child, Kamsa came to the prison cell and slaughtered the newborn. In this way,

he killed the first six sons of Devaki. Even before her 8th child was born, Devaki and Vasudeva started lamenting its fate and theirs. Then suddenly Lord Vishnu appeared before them and said he himself was coming to rescue them and the people of Mathura. He asked Vasudeva to carry him to

the house of his friend, the cowherd chief Nanda in Gokula right after his birth, where Nanda's wife Yashoda had given birth to a daughter. He was to exchange his boy and bring Yashoda's baby daughter back to the prison. Vishnu assured them that "nothing shall bar your path".

At midnight on ashtami, the divine baby was born in Kamsa's prison. Remembering the divine instructions, Vasudeva clasped the child to his bosom and started for Gokula, but found that his legs were in chains. He jerked his legs and was unfettered! The massive iron-barred doors unlocked and opened up.

While crossing river Yamuna, Vasudeva held his baby high over his head. The rain fell in torrents and the river was in spate. But the water made way for Vasudeva

Pregnant

and miraculously a fivemouthed snake followed him from behind and provided shelter over the baby.

When Vasudeva reached Gokula, he found the door of Nanda's house open. He exchanged the babies and hurried back to the prison of Kamsa with the baby girl. Early in the morning, all the people at Gokula rejoiced the birth of Nanda's beautiful male child. Vasudeva came back to Mathura and as he entered, the doors of the prison closed themselves.

When Kamsa came to know about the birth, he rushed inside the prison and tried to kill the baby. But this time it skipped from his hand and reaching the sky. She was transformed into the goddess Yogamaya, who told Kamsa: "O foolish! What will you get by killing me? Your nemesis is already born somewhere else."

In his youth Krishna killed Kamsa along with all his cruel associates, liberated his parents from prison, and reinstated Ugrasen as the King of Mathura.

14-year-old Wakapao resident hospitalised

A14-year-old teenager from the Amerindian village of Wakapoa in Lower Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is presently a patient at the Suddie Public Hospital. She was admitted on Thursday morning after doctors discovered she was five months pregnant. The teenager, who was supposed to be attending the secondary school, was brought out to the Suddie Public Hospital after she complained to her parents of feeling unwell. She went to the hospital for a routine check-up and it

was then discovered that she was pregnant. It is not yet clear who impregnated the teen but the Social Welfare Department has launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the teen’s pregnancy. To date, there have been three Amerindian teenage pregnancy cases reported for 2015. In June, a father who had impregnated his 14-year-old daughter, was remanded to prison after the story was made public. In April also, another student of the Wakapoa

Secondary School became pregnant, delivering twins at the Suddie Public Hospital. However, one of the infants died, but the mother is said to be doing fine.

Former Toshao of Wakapoa Village Lloyd Pereira in a recent interview with Guyana Times had said that the community is experiencing a high rate of teenage pregnancy. He said that incestuous relations within households are very prevalent. However, Pereira had noted that through the church, they are preaching that incest is wrong.

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s 20th edition of Naya Zamana delivered all that it promised and more when it was staged at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday last. Flawlessly executed intricate choreographies, glitz, glamour, spectacle, grandeur and fabulousness were the hallmarks of the production.

Naya Zamana 20, which took the form of a theatrical extravaganza, combined music dance and drama, chronicled the happenings on a cruise which stopped at various exotic destinations in the world.

Whether it was a father and son team, played adroitly by Nazim Hussain and Aryan Masi, the undercover reporter portrayed by Farzaana Khan, the honeymooning couple of Indhira Harry and Travez Piaralall, the mysterious lady in white

Arjun & sons presents renowned Bollywood Playback singer Kumar Sanu in two big shows slated for September, as he continues his world tour. On Friday, September 25, he will be performing at the Guyana National Stadium, East Bank Demerara, and on Saturday, September 26, he will be performing at the Albion Community Centre ground, Corentyne, Berbice.

He will be accompanied by young Bollywood sensation Rachna Chopra who is known for her melodious voice. The two international artistes will be backed by the Shakti Strings Orchestra and it is the first time that the band will accompany two world class singers.

The singers will arrive in Guyana a few days before the concert to cater for rehearsals. Apart from the two international artistes, Guyana’s own Cecelia Samaroo will be performing several Bollywood hits, as well as

portrayed by Nadira Deonarine or the delightful villain Ananda Latchman, the stories of how their fates collided, expressed through dance and drama, were at different times enthralling, entertaining, melodramatic, romantic and downright hilarious.

This was marvelously augmented by the spectacular costumes and set designs by Trishala Simantini Persaud.

From the awe inspiring opening dance ‘manwalaage’ performed on a 2-storey cruise ship, the ode to Guyana pictured under the silhouette tree, the vibrant Flamenco of Spain, the magnificent Indonesian dance of lights, the flash mob performing against a magnificent colourful backdrop of India or the dramatic Rudram which saw an enraged Shiva refusing to be pacified by Parvati against a dazzling backdrop of red and gold were all evident during the

theatrical spectacular.

There were literally hundreds of colourful costumes, each more exquisite than the other and several massive backdrops. This was enhanced further by the lighting provided by Cloud Nine Inc.

There was the romantic “Khuda Jaane” which saw the couple moving from level to level on the ship, the soul stirring “JhooteIlzaam” in which lead actress Farzaana Khan expressed her pain at being wrongfully accused in a mix of Kathak/mujra style.

The up tempo Birthday performance put on by Aryan for his father, the saucy Spanish dance, the magical gondola encounter of the lead pair to the popular “Jab se tere Naina”, the passionate Rudram dance or the spicy chiitiyan kalaiyan performed at a market place also added some flavour to the production.

Lead actor Aryan Masi displayed a range of emotions in his two solo pieces and definitely caught the eyes of the ladies with his toned physique and starry looks.

Farzaana Khan, in her first major role, was absolutely delightful to watch and her classical pieces were just amazing.

Indhira Harry, a favourite of Naya Zamana, was excellent as “Saanyaand” showed her versatility in a wide variety of dances. The ongoing bantering between Monica played by Ananda Latchman and Mr Singh, Nazin Hussain, drew much laughter as did her spontaneous Swing dance and dramatic arrest in the end.

It was clear that hours of rehearsals were put in the performance as the cast which comprised some 65 dancers executed all the pieces with dexterity. Even the youngest in the

cast knew exactly what they had to do and were extremely cute in their Bumbro dance.

Naya Zamana 20 definitely took dance and theatre to new heights and was not only a milestone for the production but also for dance theatre in Guyana.

Writer, Director and Choreographer of Naya Zamana, Dr Vindhya Persaud, in introductory remarks reminisced on dancing the opening piece at the first Naya Zamana two decades before and expressed her pride in the strides the production had taken since then. She described it as the closest thing Guyana has to a Broadway production. She also expressed her appreciation to those who had participated in and supported the production during its 20-year journey.

Pooran Seeraj and Prince JP. The two-night event will feature popular Hollywood hits.

offered Sanu the chance to sing in the Hindi film “Aandhiyan” released in 1990. In 1989, Jagjit Singh introduced

relocated to Mumbai, where KalyanjiAnandji gave him the opportunity to sing in the film “Jaadugar”.

composers including Naushad, Ravindra Jain, Hridayanath Mangeshkar, Pt R K Razdan, Kalyanji Anandji and Usha Khanna. For the 1990 film “Aashiqui”, Music Directors Nadeem-Shravan got Sanu to sing all but one of the songs. He won the first of his record five consecutive Filmfare Awards as Best Male Playback Singer. His next Filmfare Award came for songs in the movies “Saajan” (1991), “Deewana” (1992), “Baazigar” (1993), and “1942: A Love Story” (1994). He then went on to create a world record by recording 28 playback songs in one day.

Tickets for the event cost $3500 for VIP, $20,000 for VVIP and $2000 general admission. Children under 13 will be admitted at a cost of $1000. Ticket locations will be released shortly.

ExxonMobil eyes additional rigs in Guyana

Despite the ongoing border controversy between Venezuela and Guyana, US oil giant ExxonMobil has reaffirmed its commitment to continue exploration works in the Stabroek Block offshore the Essequibo, hinting at a possible expansion should it reap significant success.

“The idea is, if we have a lot of success, we will bring additional rigs,” ExxonMobil Exploration Vice President Erik Oswald said.

During a recent meeting between ExxonMobil’s officials and the Government of Guyana through Governance Minister Raphael Trotman, the parties discussed a number of issues surrounding the oil exploration, including the boundary issue; the departure of the company’s rig – the “Deepwater Champion”, and the recommencement of work in the Stabroek Block.

Oswald noted that ExxonMobil was especially happy with its find of more than 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone res-

ervoirs in Guyana and was already looking forward to its next investment, which should take shape as early as January 2016.

“As you know, we have had a discovery of what we thought was a very successful well. This was a very low probability well, so it is one of these things we love to see. It’s a very risky investment, so we are very pleased about that...When the technical work is done, the others will be done,” he said.

The company’s drilling ship had left Guyana’s waters in June upon completion of its first phase of work. ExxonMobil officials have since insisted that the relentless aggression from Venezuela did not influence this decision.

The Guyana Government, however, had failed to inform the general public of this crucial development. Speculation had risen that the threats from Venezuela influenced the

company to remove its rig; however, officials have since denied this.

During the recent meeting, the issue of the Guyana/ Venezuela controversy was one of great concern.

Trotman assured the company that the Guyana Government will ensure the block remains protected.

“I give you my assurance. The commitment to the project is 110 per cent. We have no intentions of giving up on that partnership,” Minister

Region 2 rice farmers stage protest at Anna Regina

By IndrawattIe natram

Rice farmers who are still owed millions of dollars by millers in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) staged a peaceful protest on Thursday in front of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Region Two Administration demanding proper representation and prompt payments.

The protest, which was organised by the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA), commenced at 09:00h and concluded around 11:00h. It attracted more than 40 farmers who voiced their concerns about the current state of the rice industry.

They were armed with placards which read, “RPA wants Govt to explain the loss of the Venezuela Market”, “RPA demands the removal of all dishonest people from GRDB”, “RPA say do not cripple the hands that feed the nation”, “Rice too big to go”, “RPA demands the 23B allocated in budget speech be made available to pay farmers”, “RPA demands Government interventions into the payments for farmers”, “RPA demands full payment to farmers within 42 days”, and “We Demand Government to live up to its campaign promise of 6000 per bag”.

Representing the RPA was Rabindranauth Mohan who said that rice farmers over the months raised sev-

eral concerns about issues affecting the rice industry. He said the issues were communicated to relevant authorities in Government, but to date no one has visited or informed rice farmers about the current situation of the industry. Mohan said that it was then decided that rice farmers take to the street to air their concerns and inform the public about their plight.

The rice farmer during the protest said he was calling for the Government to use the $23 billion that was mentioned in the budget speech to pay off rice farmers. Mohan explained that some rice farmers were still owed millions of dollars for harvest sold last crop.

During the protest, a female rice farmer, Budram (only name given) from Reliance Village said she had 15 contracted acres and she was very frustrated over the current situation.

Budram speaking to media operatives said that she could not accept anything less than $6000 for a bag of paddy, noting that the cost for producing a bag of paddy was very high. She said that the price that millers were putting out currently for paddy ranged from $1800 to $1500 and that was not profitable.

Another rice farmer, Sunil Narine, who is living in Walton Hall, said that he could not provide the necessary school items for his children since the money he had was used to invest in this crop. Narine said he would begin harvesting in a few weeks and he was still owed. This farmer asked what happened to the representative from the new Government and their interest in rice farmers, “this process is not about politics, this is a rice farmer protest; we all need money to survive, we have family, we

Trotman told the team.

He also updated the company ON the discussions taking place between the visiting United Nations team and the Guyana Government on the border issue.

“The UN had a team here in Guyana… We are doing our best to get it resolved. We are pushing for a comprehensive and resolute result... [it] has not been helpful to this country. We are entitled… to develop our country’s natural resources,” he expressed.

Trotman also communicated the Government’s willingness to support and assist in any infrastructural needs which may arise when the company expands.

ExxonMobil’s team was led by ExxonMobil Exploration Vice President Oswald, and included Craig Kelly, Senior Director for the Americas, International Government; Chuck Calavan, Vice President, South and Latin America; Jeff Johnson, Exploration Commercial Manager;

Alison Rana, Public and Government Affairs Adviser; Jeff Simons, Country Manager Esso, Guyana, and Carlton James, Public and Government Affairs Manager, Esso, Guyana,. The oil and gas exploration began in Guyana on March 5, with drilling in the Stabroek Block. It was the arrival of ExxonMobil’s “Deepwater Champion” drilling rig/ship that precipitated Venezuela’s latest revival of its controversy over Guyana’s western border.

Venezuela has repeatedly laid claim to the area being explored, ignoring an 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which was declared as the full and final settlement of the boundary between the two South American nations. Following the discovery of oil-bearing rocks in the area, Venezuela’s aggression grew stronger. However, ExxonMobil assured that it would not be intimidated by that country’s claims and would continue its work in Guyana’s waters.

Challenged Corentyne woman wants to make a difference

them

feed the nation we can’t be the poorest”.

Another farmer also noted that whenever he called millers inquiring about his payments, he was being told that he should call the Minister of Agriculture or President Granger. “Is this the way things are going? Rice farmers have to survive, where are the persons that suppose to represent us; Turhane Doerga was coming every day during campaigning, where is he now?, Jinnah Rahaman came and told us the other day to get into cattle farming, where are the cattle? Rice farmers need proper representation.”

Rice farmers said the protest will continue until their interest are met. They are calling for an explanation why the Venezuelan market which was a lucrative one was lost and what system was being put into place to assist in the marketing process. To date no one from the New Government has visited Region Two informing rice farmers about the current situation.

Rice harvesting will soon commence in Region Two and millers have put out the prices ranging from $1800 for a bag of Grade A paddy. Over 37,000 plots of land in Region Two are under rice cultivation. Leading up to the crop, rice farmers were faced with paddy bug infestation among other challenges which forced them to incur additional expenses.

There is so much that 23-year-old Malinda Ally wished she could have done. Like having a normal job or attending University right here in Guyana. But the facilities here do not provide for that and she is calling on Government to restructure the system so that persons with disabilities like her could have an at-least-comfortable life.

The well-spoken Corentyne, Berbice woman told Guyana Times during the break on Thursday at the launching of the round table discussion on social cohesion, where she had gone specifically to seek out an audience with President David Granger.

She was hoping to communicate the urgent need for systems to be put in place so that persons under debilitating circumstances can also have a good life

“I just wanted to meet the President and share that point of view with him. There are other people who are like me in the country, but not all will be brave like me and willing to share their talents,” she told Guyana Times

The aspiring psychologist said although she has education, because of her disability, it is extremely difficult for her to be employed.

“I want to do Psychology, but how much will it do for me here? Because most of what they are asking for. ..I will never have the opportunity to go on UG or college here.”

She said she completed her secondary educa-

tion in Canada only because Guyana lacked the facilities.

“They need to encourage other people like me and show them that they will have the facilities to keep them so that they will be brave and go out. People like me are usually scared.”

Ally said there needed to be more hospitality for people like her, since there was not many places where they were accepted

“Take for instance, I wanted to go to UG, but it is not possible because there is no facilities....”

Speaking about her experience at the forum, Ally explained that it was her first such experience “and it has been great”.

“I have a lot of things to share like schools and other teenagers and people like myself can be brave. I think that everybody that does counselling and even the teachers need that bit of psychology. Most teachers are as immature as the kids.”

US oil giant ExxonMobil has reaffirmed its commitment to continue exploration works in Guyana

Rice farmers protesting infront of GRDB office at Anna Regina airing their concerns

Aspiring Psychologist Malinda Ally

Hits and Jams Entertainment has once again set new standards for entertainment in Guyana, with the opening of HJ Water World, located just 10 minutes from Georgetown in Providence, East Bank Demerara.

HJ Water World offers a variety

of exciting water oriented activities for all members of the family; a man made beach, a floating obstacle course, giant water slides, paddle boats, water bikes, inflatable canoes, a huge pool and a game arcade. Not to mention cabanas, day beds

and beach chairs all available for your total relaxation. Certified life guards are always on duty. For those who forget their swim gear, don’t worry... we have you covered with a variety of swimsuits, water toys and much more.

HJ Water World will be open every

day from 10:00h – closing time will be 20:00h for weekdays and 22:00h on weekends. All water activities cease at 17:30h daily. Admission to the HJ Water World is $1000 while babies and children under three are absolutely free.

No food or drink will be allowed to enter as they provide a fully stocked kitchen and bar, with affordable prices. All firearms and/or sharp instruments are strictly prohibited. Come visit us today as the world of fun awaits you…

Twenty-three-year-old Damalle Jackman is the proud owner of Indulgence Clothes Store that speaks directly to women in all sizes.

The young businesswoman was born at the Georgetown Public Hospital to Nigel Jackman and Malika Stephen and is the youngest of four siblings. The others are Leon Jackman, Seon Jackman and Keon Clarke.

Carrying the nickname “Mallie”, she had an amazing childhood even though she was raised by a strict grandmother, Joan Toney. Her grandmother is a strong believer in discipline which contributed to her humble upbringing.

As a child she had possessed the self-confidence of a woman, which she believed developed even more after she won her first pageant in primary school— the FE Pollard Primary School – at age 11. She then attended St Stanislaus College.

However, she was not the happiest child owing to the absence of her mother; she described that time as a tough period in her life. A staunch Christian, she eventually overcame the negative emotions by making a decision to choose happiness over sorrow and more so, to live a life that pleased her.

In 2012, she became an Immigration Officer, a job she held until 2015. During that time, she had the privilege to be an ambassador for Guyana, but thought that one could not be successful and wealthy by working for others; hence, she invested in her education and real estate.

She eventually opened Indulgence Clothes Store for women which keeps her busy setting trends and keeping

updated with fashion and style. The store helps provide complete looks by stocking bags, sunglasses and other accessories.

As a young entrepreneur, she said, “Words cannot begin to comprehend the feeling but is one that I give God thanks for each day! For the strength, patience, tolerance, knowledge and his Anointing that was placed on me.”

Her greatest inspiration and role models will definitely have to be her grandmother and mother. “They are women I have always admired, women of strength and positivity… whom have always put the need of others above theirs, a giver, a true friend, hard worker, women who show others what love really is.”

In the next five years, Jackman sees herself expanding her business by introducing men’s and children’s departments. She also hopes to complete her degree in tourism at the University of Guyana.

At this point in time apart from her business, her biggest achievement, she graduated with 10 subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams which led to her becoming an Immigration Officer trained in detecting Fraudulent Documents.

She advised young people to remain humble; to be disciplined, determined and dedicated; and to have patience if they want to be successful in life.

Nevertheless, during her leisure time she spends a lot of time indoors looking at movies. She also loves to eat junk food, but most of all, she loves spending time with the special guy in her life.

Club Next (Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara) will come alive with astounding vocals and a blinding kaleidoscope of riveting choreography when the final of the Princess Karaoke competition is held on Saturday evening commencing at 21:00h.

Fans are promised a fantastic showcase as the singers are all bringing their ‘A game’ to the stage. The contestants have all promised to thrill spectators with mindboggling props, creativity and vocal packages like never before.

Based on the past performances, patrons are anticipating a showdown between Georgetown’s Lashaun Charles and Bartica’s Silyne Griffith. The performances by the two will definitely be electrifying, since both singers are raving that they are here to “demolish and destroy”.

But they will have to face the likes of the sultry Romichelle Brummell who has vowed to set the place on fire

with what she is bringing to the competition.

Daniel Dondrake has issued a stern warning to Bartica’s Damion Apple, claiming he is ready for business. Meanwhile, Azzaruddin Laljie will certainly have to put his best foot forward since he faces stiff competition from Wild Card save, Jonathan Basteano and crowd favourite, Louis Ebenezer who all have their claws unsheathed for battle.

The singers will perform one song as their warm-up entry that will determine who makes it to the top five. Thereafter, they will have to perform their competition song that will decide who makes it into the coveted top three spots.

The final, dubbed “I will survive”, will only push the contestants to their limits, so one can only imagine the vocal talent that will be unleashed on stage tomorrow evening. Make sure you are at Club Next when this spectacular showcase unfolds. Admission to the event costs $500.

Budhan horserace meet set for September 20

Over $3 million in cash and trophies will be at stake on September 20 when the Budhan Memorial Turf Club stages a grand one day horse race meeting at the club’s race track at Number 66 Village, Corentyne.

Seven exciting races are carded for the day with action set to gallop off at 13:00h. The day’s activities will be headlined by the J1 and Lower, which will feature some of the country’s top horses in that division, vying for the $250, 000 first prize.

According to race official Compton Sancho, the likes of Red Jet, Lady Secret, Party Time, Little, Blue Lightning, Plane Land, The Gum and Quincy.

Other races slated for the day are the J3 and Lower, K1 and Lower, K2 and Lower, L1 and Lower, Three-year-old Guyana bred and the Unclassified.

Sancho said the track in excellent condition and all systems are in place

for a grand day of horse racing. All rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority will be enforced and a well stocked bar will be erected to keep turfites hydrated.

The deadline for the submission of entries is September 13, and more information on the meet can be had from president of the turf club, Neville Budhan.

IAAF defends scale of drug testing at World Championships

More than 1,400 drug tests were carried out at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing, the sport’s governing body says.

Just two positive tests were recorded - although the IAAF says hundreds of samples still need to be analysed.

The run-up to the event saw allegations of widespread doping in the sport.

The IAAF was also criticised for the scale of its testing plans in Beijing after admitting it would test only a third of athletes600 to 700.

But the governing body has defended its programme, saying: “The doping control programme implemented by the IAAF in Beijing was the largest implemented in a single sporting event by any sport since the IAAF World Championships in Moscow two years ago.”

It also stressed it had focused on “targeted” testing of athletes. “Thousands of samples were collected out of competition in

Williams made to battle against Bertens

Serena Williams took another step towards her first calendar Grand Slam with victory over Kiki Bertens in the second round of the US Open.

The world number one trailed 4-0 in the opening tie-break but came back to win 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Top men’s seed Novak Djokovic had little trouble overcoming Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-4 6-1 6-2.

But eighth seed Rafael Nadal was tested during his 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 7-5 victory over Diego Sebastian Schwartzman

The Spaniard, who trailed 5-3 in the first-set tie-break and fell a break behind in both the second and third sets, admitted he had to fight for the victory.

Elsewhere, defending champion Marin Cilic returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time since winning the title last year with a 6-2 6-3 7-5 win over Evgeny Donskoy.

Grigor Dimitrov made another early Grand Slam

exit as the 17th seed, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2014, was beaten 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 2-6 4-6 6-4 by Mikhail Kukushkin, the world number 56.

Tenth seed Milos Raonic overcame a back problem to beat Fernando Verdasco 6-2 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-1), women’s 25th seed Eugenie Bouchard beat Polona Hercog 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-3, while Venus Williams saw off Irina Falconi 6-3 6-7 (27) 6-2.

Two down, five to go

The scream after the

first set and the grimace at the end of the match were evidence that Serena Williams was far from her best, but the 33-year-old is now five wins from her 22nd major title and the first calendar Slam in 27 years.

Bertens, ranked 110th, took an early lead and served for the first set but could not convert, and the Dutch qualifier then let a 4-0 lead slip in the tiebreak.

Williams has spent much of her Grand Slam year fighting back from slow starts, however, and said afterwards: “It definitely doesn’t worry me. I think being down a lot, I know I can try to make a comeback.”

The six-time US Open champion would end the match with 10 double faults, and 34 errors to 23 winners, and was just happy to get the job done in straight sets.

“I’ve been really relaxed, but today I was a little tight and and I think it showed,” she said. (BBC Sport)

the lead-up to the event, and the IAAF then implemented an intelligence-led programme in Beijing,” a spokesman said.

Kenyan duo Koki Manunga and Joyce Zakary, who were suspended during the championships, were the two athletes to fail tests.

“Should any of the remaining samples be re-

ported as positive, the IAAF will make a public announcement when the rules allow,” the spokesman added.

The IAAF said a total of 1,405 doping controls were carried out in Beijing, comprising:

• 662 blood tests relating to the athlete’s biological passport

• 161 blood tests to de -

tect human growth hormone and EPO

• 54 out-of-competition urine tests

• 528 urine tests at the stadium - 239 of which will be analysed for EPO and related substances

The samples will be frozen and stored for future reanalysis as science and technology progresses. (BBC Sport)

Compton Sancho

Serena Williams

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Teams finalised for RHTY&SC/ Assuria 5-over competition

The Area 'H' ground in Rose Hall Town would be a hive of activities on Sunday as the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) hosts another cricket tournament as part of its Silver Jubilee anniversary celebration.

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Twelve teams will battle for the championship title and the winning prize of $70,000 in the Assuria Insurance 5-over knockout tournament.

The teams are Rose Hall Town Bakewell A, Rose Hall Town Bakewell B, D'Edward, Kennard Memorial, Blairmont, Police, Belvedere United, Tamarind Root, Fyrish, Yakusari, All Star Youth and Courtland.

Heavy rainfall had forced a postponement on the last scheduled date of August 30.

The tournament, which will bowl off at 09:00h, is been organised by the Cricket Development Committee of the RHTY&SC as part of its massive ‘Say No to Drugs and Crime’ programme, a joint initiative with the Community Outreach Department of the Guyana Police Force 'B' Division.

Carrington, Jeetendra Sukhdeo, Hector Cortis, Elroy Fernades, Deoram Persaud, Sanjay Persaud, Randy Ramroop, Jadesh Persaud, Navin Persaud and Anand Bharrat.

Police CC- Philbert Wilburg (Captain), Brentol Woolford, Martin Singh, Wayne Richard, Carl Campbell, Elon Shultz, Kevin Sinclair, Lawerence Thomas, Collis Cort, Marlon Sheperd, Clinton Lindee, Haslyn George, Jamal Jerrick, Leon Andrews and Charles Leranon.

Rose Hall Town Bakewell 'A'- Vidal Crandon, Khemraj Mahadeo, Delbert Hicks,

Shemaine Champbelle, Mark Papannah, Micheal Hicks, Jason Anderson, Sylus Tyndell, Mark Fernandes, Erva Giddings, Roydel Lewis, Joshua Wilson, Justin Gobin.

Rose Hall Town Bakewell 'B'- Kevlon Anderson, Surendra Budhoo, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Brandon Corlettle, Kumar Jeet Joseph, Seeindra Marimutoo, Azam Khan, Joshua Gobin, Simon Lawson, Denzil Sinclair, T. Ross, Matthew Pattaya and Shakeem Johnny.

Karamchand Singh, Jason Watson, Karim Amin, David Bhola, Vijai Ayana, Kuldep Ayana and Khelmoon Phagu.

Courtland CC- John Percival (Captain), Eon Gibson, Wesley Crandon, Micheal Cummings, Oliver Giddings, Esaun Crandon, Troy Matheson, Keon Sinclair, L.Thomas, Jemal Cort, Trellon Cort, Timothy Mcdonald, Delon Crandon and Dwayne Crandon.

Tamarind Roots CCAdrian Singh (Captain), Kunal Mangal, Altaf Mohamed, Mahendra Ramdihal, Avinash Looknauth, Linden Austin, Andy Mohan, Dilip Ramasammy, Kevin Madramootoo, Alvin Ramdas, Deonarine Rangasammy, Prem Deonarine, Ravi Ramdas and Manzoor Budhu. Belvedere United CCJoshua Dhanai, Devin Juns, Hazrat Ishamail, Avon Cobis, Asif Kamaladin, Sudesh Veerapen, Dendeas Mohan, Azeez Khan, Farouk Khan, Shazam Khan, Mohan Permaul, H. Samid. Kennard Memorial CC - Andrew Persaud, Mankarran Singh, Chunilall Mankarran, Thomas George, Junior Blair, Farouk Drepaul, Kamaladeen Parmauloo, Martin Seelall, Azam Hussain, Tamesh Ramessar, Devindra Sydney, Ravi Bassoo, Tota

The losing finalist will receive $30,000 and a trophy, while the third place winner will take home 20,000 and a trophy. General Manager of Assuria Insurance in Guyana, Yogindra Arjune, and Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC, Hilbert Foster, will officiate at the presentation ceremony and share out the prizes at the end.

Below is the composition of the 12 teams.

All Stars Youth- Ricky Persaud (Captain) Dwayne Scott, Anthony Carrington, Travis White, George

D'Edward CC - Jaipaul Heeralall (Captain), Heeralall Bridgelall, Eon Abel, Lakeraj Sookraj, Altaf Khan, Mahendra Persaud, Christian France, Hoolsaran Lalsa, Navin Rampersaud, Abdool Subhan, Deinauth France, Dishawn Phillip, Keith Fraser and Marcus France.

Yakusari Caribs CC- Naipaul Jayona (Captain), Keshore Ayana, Churamanie Ajona, Romesh Ayona, Rajendra Bownauth, Ryan Bownauth, Altaf Mohamed, Terrence Budhu,

Darren Ramessar and Kennard Gopie. Fyrish CC- M. Shivdyall (Captain), Y. Chinapen, A. Srikissoon, C. Roopnarine, J.Ally, J.Mohamed, W.Mohamed, S. Keven, T. Sinclair, A. Hassan, M. Mohamed, M. Amin, L. Notoos, D. Narine and J. Singh.

Fraser-Pryce claims Diamond League

Shelly-Ann FraserPryce, though failing in her attempt for a personal best in the 100 metres at the Weltklasse Diamond League in Zurich, claimed the competition’s title to add to her World Championships victory last week.

Fraser-Pryce, gettting out to her usual quick start, seemed to fade toward the

end with Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare, finishing fast to claim second after her World Championships disappointment.

The World Champion finished in 10.93, a good way off her personal best 10.76, while Okagbare hit the line in 10.98 seconds.

The United States’ Tori Bowie was third in 11.06, finishing ahead of team-

mate Candyce McGrone (11.09). Trinidad and Tobago’s Michell-Lee Ahye may have been disappointed to end in fifth with 11.19.

Ahye’s compatriot KellyAnn Baptiste was eighth in 11.30 behind the Jamaican pairing of Veronica Campbell-Brown (11.22 for sixth) and Natasha Morrison (11.30). (Digicel Sportsmax)

Da

Ramlall,

Shemaine Campbelle

Eon Abel

Erva Giddings

Urling confident about Nov 14 GFF Congress

The Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) while unable to make their September deadline to bring organisation to Guyana’s football as well as holding a Congress to elect a new GFF Executive body has settled on a November 14 deadline.

Chairman of the Normalisation Committee of the GFF, Clinton Urling made the disclosure on Thursday, “last evening (Wednesday) we held a meeting with all 22 member of the federation, we invited all but all didn’t show up but we basically laid out a plan for the next congress of the GFF, the congress will be held on November 14 so we won’t meet the September deadline.

“We have already communicated this to FIFA for their Executive Committee to approve but I’m confident that the date will be approved by FIFA,” Urling highlighted.

In addition, Urling also revealed that all Member Associations (MA) as well as clubs already have the template to reform their constitutions.

“The meeting we had yesterday was to check with our MA’s s to see if the date was sufficient to get all the requirements and prerequisites that they need to get in order for the congress and we all agreed to November 14.

“We have already distributed the templates to all the clubs all the regional associations we are working with the affiliates to give them the templates, a meeting will have to be convened to adopt that constitution and after

they adopt the constitution there is a requirement there that they will have to give about three weeks notice to their members to their members to elect a new executive committee,” Urling pointed out.

Toronto Cup softball bowls off today – Guyana to participate

By RavendRa Madholall in ToRonTo

TMeanwhile Urling who noted that the NC has about six week to formally notify their affiliates about the Congress made it clear that only eligible affiliates will be able to attend the congress.

“We have about six weeks to issue a formal notice of the congress to our member associations we haven’t done that as yet but we will make the announcement generally but we will do that in time but once it is done and they have their executive committee they will nominate their delegates for the congress.

“Only those who are eligible and meet the requirements will be at the congress and if we have a quorum we go forward and if there is not quorum we have to kick the football back to FIFA to tell us how to proceed but I’m pretty confident that we will make the November 14 deadline and we will have a congress,” Urling stressed.

he inaugural Toronto Cup, held under the auspices of the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Club (OMSCC), bowls off today with teams from Guyana, New York and Canada vying for supremacy.

President of the OMSCC, Jai Singh, told this publication that he and his fellow executives have worked tremendously hard to bring this mega softball occasion to a reality and is very optimistic the three-day tournament will be historical.

“We are absolutely confident of running off a great tournament; I know both the foreign and local teams should have a great time, both on and off the field,” an energetic Singh related.

The Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) will have two teams featuring in the Masters 20over category, while sides from New York and Canada are also competitors in the Masters and Open.

“We have to say thanks to the teams for their commitment to this tournament; I know you have got similar tournaments in New York, Florida and Guyana and it really demonstrates the growth of softball cricket, so we are in for a great time in Toronto,” the veteran batsman divulged.

Some of the star players from Canada and elsewhere include Sunil Dhaniram, a former Guyana and Canada all-rounder, Zaheer Haniff, Troy Gobin, Jaimini Singh, Rovendra Mandolall, Mahendranauth Parasnauth, Damodar Daesrath, Aftab Shamsudeen, Desmond

Shiv Seeram, Eyaaz Mohamed, Zaheer Allard, Kumar Doodnauth, Dharam Persaud, Ricky Deonarine and Asif Ally.

According to Singh, who will be playing the Masters segment, keen rivalry is expected among the teams, with some of the biggest names in softball set to appear during the three days.

“When you have all these wonderful softball players on show at one competition, it really signifies the love of the game and we at the OMSCC are very much appreciative of

their efforts to come to Toronto and participate in the tournament. Our preparations have been good and everyone involved has shown great dedication as well,” the Canadianbased Guyanese Singh declared.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times also caught up with Buddy Rahaman from the Guyana Floodlights Legend team and he too is very enthusiastic to be part of the tournament. He mentioned that both Floodlights teams are highly confident of doing well in Canada.

Rahaman stated that the two teams from Guyana are not only experienced, but they have been greatly exposed to these international tournaments and their participation over the past decade can attest to that.

Seasoned campaigner Ricky Deonarain will lead one of the sides and should play a pivotal role at this tournament. He has been one of the leading batsmen in the format. A reception for the teams was held on Thursday night at Tropical Nights Restaurant and Bar, which is located in Scarborough and teams were edified about the tournament’s rules and regulations, while the fixture was also handed out.

An opening ceremony is billed for this morning at Ellesmere ground also in Scarborough where the games will kick off with three preliminary round matches from 09:30h. The finals are scheduled for Sunday at University of Toronto ground, Scarborough Campus.

Clinton Urling

Chumney,

Damodar Daesrath Mahendranauth Parasnauth

GT Beer Futsal Tournament… Sophia dominate final night of group stage action

By TreisTon Joseph

The GT Beer Futsal Tournament continued on Wednesday evening with intense action, as Sophia was the most dominant side of the night.

Sophia were a scoring machine in game two of the final night of group stage action, topping Broad Street by 10 goals to 4 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Sheik Kamal scored a hat-trick in the 21st, 22nd and 25th minute, while Omallo Williams (2nd and 16th); Desmond Cottam (17th and 20th); and Shem

Porter (18th and 28th) all scored doubles in the win.

Joshua Kamal was the only scorer to register a single strike in the 15th minute.

West Front Road had a thrilling contest with Showstoppers, but eventually prevailed by a slim 7-6 scoreline.

Both Hubert Pedro (14th, 24th and 27th) and Randolph Wagner (27th, 28th and 30th) registered hat-tricks to help West Front Road pull off the action-filled win.

Anthony Sancho led the way for Showstoppers with a hat-trick in 2nd, 12th and

LFS Burnham memorial chess tournament…

Corlette stuns Drayton to take lead

Guyana’s FIDE

Candidate Master Anthony Drayton suffered a shock defeat at the hands of the emerging Glenford Corlette, who has now assumed the lead in the LFS Burnham memorial chess tournament, which continued last weekend at the National Resource Centre on Woolford Avenue.

Drayton is the tournament favourite, but the victory by Corlette has pushed him to the top of the leader-

a half points with Drayton, while Duncan and Mars have three apiece. Rodwell Poole and Roy Sharma are tied on two each, while Chino Chung, Michael Chapp Jumbo and Dr Maria Thomas have a point apiece.

In other results from the latest round, Mars defeated Poole, Duncan defeated Chung, Chung defeated Poole, and Sharma defeated Joseph.

The final two rounds are set for Sunday at the same

board with four and a half points. Drayton now sits on three and a half points.

Veteran player Errol Tiwari remains in contention for the top spot, beating off the challenge of Alexander Duncan and Frankie Farley to move to four points.

Prior to beating Drayton, Corlette defeated Davon Mars, while Drayton had prevailed over Roberto Neto with an easy win.

Former national senior champion Taffin Khan and Neto are tied on three and

15th minute in the close loss.

The final game of the evening was another thriller as Bent Street scraped by North Ruimveldt 7-6 in a

hot-paced game.

Stellon David (17th and 26th) and Daniel Wilson (9th and 30th) recorded doubles to lead the way in the critical win.

Gerald Gittens (5th and 29th) and Rickford Jones (22nd and 28th) were the two topscorers for North Ruimveldt in the loss.

Meanwhile, West Back

Road gained an easy victory with a walkover win against Beterverwagting (BV).

The tournament will continue on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

venue from 09:30h, with Corlette looking to maintain pole position, while Tiwari, Drayton, Khan and Neto will look to remain in the hunt for the top spot.

The Guyana Chess Federation is using the tournament as qualification for the national junior championship, and the top eight players will earn automatic entry to that event later this year.

Since it is a rated tournament, players also have the opportunity to improve their FIDE ratings.

Some of the action during the intense evening of futsal

Glenford Corlette (left) is all focus during his match against Candidate Master Anthony Drayton

Courts drops $1.5M on Stag Elite League

Courts Guyana Furniture Store continues to show its commitment to sport, this time with an investment of $1.5 million for the Stag Elite Football League, which is set to kick off later this month.

At the simple handing-over ceremony on Thursday at Courts’ Main Street branch, Chairman of the Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Clinton Urling noted the importance of the store’s investment.

“This will ensure that we have a sustainable football league, it is monies well spent from Courts perspective.

“Another important aspect that Courts wants is a corporate social aspect and we will ensure that our clubs and players engage in such activities along with Courts as well as coming up with projects,” Urling noted.

Marketing Manager of Courts, Pernell Cummings noted that Courts in its attempt to develop sport in Guyana saw the investment as necessary in order to hopefully take football to the next level.

“Courts is happy to be sponsoring the Elite League and we hope this pays more dividends in that the Golden Jaguars are able to reach the World Cup in the future.

“We also hope that the clubs and players are a part of the social responsibility aspect as we aim to make football big in Guyana,” Cummings stressed. The Stag Elite Football League is expected to be officially launched on Saturday. (Treiston Joseph)

Digicel extends sponsorship of Heritage Month Day of Sports

Digicel Guyana, which has been the sole sponsor of Indigenous Heritage Month’s Day of Sports for the past seven years, on Wednesday handed over a sponsorship cheque to Project Coordinator Bisham Ramsaywack, who accepted on behalf of the Minister within the subject Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe.

Ramsaywack expressed appreciation to the company for its sustained support of the activities and in his remarks mentioned that “this year we are expected to have about 500 athletes from Regions One to 10. Last year’s defending champion for football is Region Nine and they are expected to be there to defend their title”.

In her brief remarks to

the media, Communications Manager Vidya BijlallSanichara said, “It’s always a privilege for us to be on board with the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs. As you know, Digicel is the leading telecommunication provider in the hinterland regions and we pride ourselves on being the first to take telecommunications to some of the most remote hinterland villages of Guyana.”

Bijlall-Sanichara also noted that as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility, Digicel always strives to partner with agencies, in this case the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs to make a difference in the lives of Guyanese.

The dates for the sporting activities are September 18-20 at the Everest Ground, Georgetown, which will see thousands of hinterland residents converging on Georgetown to participate in the activities.

In addition to football, cricket, volleyball, archery, and swimming form part of this year’s calendar of events. Swimming is scheduled to take place at the National Aquatic Centre on September 20.

Vidya Bijlall-Sanichara hands over the sponsorship cheque to Project Coordinator Bisham Ramsaywack, while others look on

Courts Marketing Manager Pernell Cummings (right) hands over the cheque to Normalisation Committee Chairman Clinton Urling in the presence of Courts Public Relations Officer Roberta Ferguson