locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.
Winds: Easterly between 4.02 metres and 5.36 metres per second.
High Tide: 00:51h and 13:15h reaching maximum heights of 2.16 metres and 2.27 metres respectively.
Low Tide: 06:43h and 19:34h reaching minimum heights of 1.06 metres and 0.93 metre respectively.
Billed as a very strong contender for the post of Prime Ministerial candidate for the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Samuel Hinds has not ruled out returning for a sixth term at the upcoming May 11 polls, saying that he will await “whatever decision” the party makes.
Hinds, whose name has been touted for the post of Prime Ministerial Candidate for the PPP/C, told Guyana Times on Thursday from New York via telephone, that while he “isn’t sure of anything at this point,” it may be a possibility. “I don’t know. The party would have to decide that but let’s see”, he said. Hinds, a Chemical Engineer by profession has held the position since the PPP/C came to power in 1992. It was felt that Hinds might have “called it a day”, after the upcoming elections, but observers say he is a strong contender.
General Secretary of the party, Clement Rohee has said that they were still discussing who would fill the Prime Ministerial Candidate slot, while acknowledging a number of persons were lined up. Asked about the procedure used to select the Prime Ministerial Candidate, Rohee maintained that the Central and Executive Committees have always been involved in that process and that the tradition of the Prime Ministerial post being filled by a member of the Civic was likely to be maintained.
“We believe in a PPP/Civic alliance. If the PPP/C has the Presidential Candidate,
traditionally the Civic component has had the Prime Ministerial Candidate and I don’t believe that would change,” he said.
There have been strong sentiments that Hinds should make one last run for the party given his unblemished record while he has held the office. Hinds is widely respected as a very decent, credible and incorruptible individual. He is still the strongest candidate and since it is widely expected that the PPP/C is facing a very strong challenge in the upcoming elections, it has been suggested that he be the candidate. He has been the longest serving Prime Minister within the Caribbean.
Former Minister of Education and Foreign Trade, Dr Henry Jeffrey, who was part of the initial Civic component with Hinds, in an invited comment, related that Hinds has always been seen as good contender for the position. As such, he noted that
he does not believe another term for him will cause any major uproar, should he decide to run for another term as Prime Minister. However, Jeffery told Guyana Times that he believes that there must be some form of constitutional reform for the position of Prime Minister since it will be six consecutive terms for Hinds, if he does decides to run again at the May 11 polls.
The former Government Minister said that while the constitution mandates that every Presidential Candidate can only be allowed to run for office for two terms, there is no such provision for the Prime Ministerial candidate. It has been surmised that the PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate could come possibly from a wider cross-section of the Guyanese public.
Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds (born December, 27 1943) has been Prime Minister of Guyana almost continuous-
ly since 1992. He also briefly served as President of Guyana in 1997. He was awarded Guyana’s highest National Award, the Order of Excellence (O.E.) in 2011. He first became Prime Minister under Cheddi Jagan in 1992, following the October 1992 election, which was won by an alliance of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) and Hinds’ group, Civic. When Jagan died in March 1997, Hinds became President himself, and appointed Jagan’s widow Janet as Prime Minister. For the December 1997 General Elections, the PPP/C nominated Hinds as candidate for Prime Minister while Janet Jagan was the candidate for the Presidency. Following the election, Jagan was elected President and re-appointed Hinds as Prime Minister. After the reelection of the government in the August 28, 2006 election, Hinds was sworn in as prime minister again in early September. He was re-nominated as the 2011 Prime Ministerial Candidate for the PPP/C in October 2011, although there were suggestions that he might step aside. After PPP/C candidate Donald Ramotar was elected President, Hinds was sworn in as Prime Minister again on December 5, 2011. Prior to this Hinds worked for Alcan, as the head of Chemical Engineering. By education, Hinds is a licensed and qualified Chemical Engineer, having graduated from the University of New Brunswick.
Ateenager who was found guilty of grabbing the breast of a nurse attached to the New Amsterdam Hospital was on Wednesday jailed for six months by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Reliance Magistrate’s Court.
Kumar Balkarran was found guilty of the offence which he committed on August 7, 2013 at Canefield Settlement, East Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East
Berbice-Corentyne).
Balkarran was found guilty of sexual assault. The 34-year-old nurse was at the time walking along Welfare Street, in East Canje at about 21:00h on her way to work when the incident occurred.
According to Police Prosecutor, Inspector Godfrey Platter the accused rode pass on a bicycle in the opposite direction and made the grab as he passed. In her evidence, the victim said
that she did not know the accused by name, but knew his mother and first reported the incident to her before reporting it to the Reliance Police Station.
Editor: Nigel Williams
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
Sections of the media reported earlier this week that Government is seriously looking at reintroducing on the roadways a few big buses to ease the transportation woes of citizens. The rationale is that these buses can impact positively and favourably on the mobility of commuters.
In the words of Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, “They might also initiate a cultural change in the current system.” When one thinks of the level of lawlessness that pervades, there is a definite need for a “cultural change”.
Users of the privately-owned minibuses have been complaining bitterly of being exploited, especially during rush hours and late at nights. On an average day, hundreds of school children and workers are left stranded on the roads awaiting public transport to get to their various destinations.
Despite the fact that these passengers are already required to pay increased fares during rush hour or late nights, the buses are still packed with sometimes four and five persons in three-passenger seats. This is in addition to loud music and speeding which passengers are forced to endure.
What is even more unfortunate is that the disabled and the elderly are mostly the ones who feel the brunt of the discomfort, as there is currently no special facility in place to cater for these persons.
While the minibus operators are providing a much needed service to the travelling public in the absence of any well organised and properly-run public transport system, they enjoy a monopoly and are doing everything they can to get maximum profits from their operations. Operators invest very little in return to ensure that they provide a service that is above par.
The most recent drop in fuel prices is a typical example of this. Inspite of the authorities reducing fuel prices by 30 per cent, mini bus operators and hire car drivers are not even budging or even entertaining the thought of reviewing fares, citing the cost for spare parts.
But whenever there is a slight increase in the gas prices, these very operators try to find all kinds of justification to jack up their fares. They want to take full advantage of the monopoly they have in the sector. The fact that these operators do not pay any income taxes is another concern which should be addressed by the autorities.
Government had initiated a pilot project where several of the large buses were placed on the roads. During this exercise, commuters were required to pay the standard fare they would usually pay the privately-owned operators, regardless of the hour of the day or the night.
This arrangement had worked well throughout the pilot with public transportation users calling for the complete reintroduction of the system. Not only were commuters required to pay a fair price, but they were able to travel in peace and comfort without the level of harassment one would experience when using mini buses.
This newspaper has suggested that a possible option could be to introduce the medium size buses which can accommodate between 20 and 25 persons and put them to operate in a more structured and organised manner.
With these, parking, turning and stopping would not pose a problem. Our roads in their present form would be able to accommodate them easily, and they would not be expensive to run even when they do not get the full complement of passengers. We still believe that this is a valid suggestion which the authorities may want to give some serious consideration to.
We were also told that the long-awaited study on urban transport systems in Guyana, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will finally be undertaken this year.
This is a step in the right direction as the Urban Transport Study (UTS) would help planners to develop specific diagnostics for the urban transport situation, and provide recommendations relative to public transport infrastructure, its operations, its financing, and the institutional organisation necessary for improvements.
Guyana has graduated from highly indebted low-income to middle-income country: An extraordinary achievement
Dear Editor,
The Greeks recently went to the polls. They voted overwhelmingly for Alexis Tsipras and his leftist Syriza Party after several years of austerity programmes by previous administrations which saw their living standards plummet to an all time low.
The main platform of the victorious Syriza Party was one of re-negotiating the crippling debt burden which was imposed by the western financial institutions, more particularly the European Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The challenges before him are enormous. The austerity programmes have failed miserably to reinvigorate the economy, and even though the economy was of late showing some signs of life under the former conservative New Democracy party led by outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, it proved in the end to be a case of ‘too little too late’.
The truth of the matter is that Greeks have been hard hit by high levels of unemployment, cuts in social services and pensions. One in four Greek work-
ers is currently unemployed. The situation is even worse among the younger population where one in every two just cannot find work.
Under the slogan, “Hope is on the way”, the new Administration now has the herculean task of restoring hope and turning the tide of despair.
The situation in Greece can hardly get worse. Within the past four years, the country borrowed some 278 billion dollars under a debt restructuring bailout plan. Understandably, one of the first policy measures of the new Administration is to renegotiate the debt burden which currently stands at 175 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product!
According to a BBC story, the crisis situation has affected all facets of national life. The crisis has relegated social life into secondary importance as could be seen from comments made by ordinary Greeks:
“The crisis has forced love to become a secondary priority. There are other things to worry about. I see many women looking for someone who have money to take them out, who can take them on holidays. I see this
quite a lot and it saddens me.
“We save to come once every few months for a drink, and we look forward to it.”
Many young adults are forced to delay marriages and having families as could be seen from a significant decline in the population since the crisis started over a decade ago.
The situation in Greece is not dissimilar to what obtained in Guyana during the days of the PNC Administration when the country was right up to the neck in debt and the country had to spend over 90 per cent of revenues on debt servicing and repayment.
It took the return of the PPP/C Administration on October 5, 1992 before the viability of the economy was finally restored along sustainable lines.
Thanks to prudent management of the economy, sound monetary policies and strong fiscal discipline the economy rebounced within a relatively short period and with it an enhanced quality of life of the Guyanese people.
As Guyanese prepare for yet another General and Regional elections, the lesson from Greece
is as relevant as it is instructive. It took a working class party like that of the PPP/C to understand the pains and tribulations of the ordinary people and to put in place the right kinds of policy prescriptions to correct the onslaught on the poor.
As the PPP/C Administration has shown, the task of national reconstruction can be challenging, though not insurmountable. Today, Guyana has graduated from a highly indebted low income country to a middle income country, an extraordinary achievement considering the wrecked economy which the new PPP/C Administration inherited in 1992.
Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar was quite correct when he observed that the country’s economic performance was quite good, considering the harsh international environment and a hostile and obstructionist political Opposition.
This is why the re-election of President Donald Ramotar and his PPP/C Administration is so critical for the continued progress and prosperity of Guyana and the Guyanese people.
Hydar Ally
Dear Editor,
When the President of Guyana prorogued Parliament, it was the Opposition’s mistaken belief that the Government was not in any way serious about the announcement of an election soon thereafter.
They were so full of it thinking that after a few months the President would have had a change of heart and reconvene this noble House. Their strategy was to lobby foreign sympathisers, as well as local claptraps, to pressure the Government to recall Parliament so that they can continue the masquerade show.
The foolishness that pervaded the 10th Parliament was tremendous, with the combined Opposition voting down every conceivable bill. Everything that represented progress and prosperity for the people of this country was voted down.
With an out of control Opposition this
country was going nowhere. Hence, in that confusion the President made the best move so far, that is, set a date for election. Now, the Opposition was caught flatfooted at this and have been backpedaling ever since.
The lyrics for their newest tune is, “The election date must be changed ... it would affect students writing the CXC.”
What a joke! Since when PNC/APNU and its cohorts are so concerned about the youths and students of this country?
That party has a dismal record when dealing with youth affairs and student matters. APNU has an unenviable history of being in association with criminal youth activity, making excuses for their heinous crimes.
They use and abuse those who are criminally bent. So to come out making that statement exposes them in a bold
faced lie; they are the least interested in the development of the youth.
And speaking of student affairs, who were the people who voted down student loans at the University of Guyana?
Everyone knows that this action was spearheaded by PNC/APNU. Thousands of students were affected by that horrible decision. It took a herculean task by a caring and considerate Government to restore those loans and as a result bring back decency and order at our tertiary institution.
Don’t they think that the youth of this nation see these things? Most certainly they do, and come election day, they would make that educated decision as to who they want to govern their country.
In closing let me issue a kind advice to the Opposition: Stop being so comical!
Neil Adams
Dear Editor,
All those movies have various sequels and as I observed the local media headline about the “Third coming of Shabazz” ahead of the team’s upcoming friendly with Barbados –like the aforementioned films, one can only hope this time that the Guyana football fraternity doesn’t mess this up.
Trinidad media folks at times find amusement that he has returned, but Guyana is fortunate that his “obsession” with the nation (as he said) is still strong.
I was lucky to be the Media Officer for the Golden Jaguars during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and after building a relationship with many of the players, I was disappointed like many from that campaign to see the team not kick a ball in two years.
However, some of the criticism that former President Christopher
Matthias tended to receive was very hard to understand.
If people felt the Guyana cricket issues that the WICB has done an excellent job of making worse every year is bad, then noise coming out of the Guyana football echo chamber made deciphering the truth a needle in a haystack job.
One has to wonder how one of the worst run football administrations among the 209 FIFA affiliates, that have never had a serious professional league or clubs, a national stadium comparable to Ato Bolton Stadium in Trinidad or the Andre Kamperveen Stadium in Suriname, or produced a player to play in the major European leagues – can cause have so much fighting.
FIFA installing a Normalisation Committee with individuals who have no background in football to halt this drama is a clear indictment
on all those who claim to be football administrators in Guyana.
FIFA must take blame though, since such a committee is probably 10 years too late. When Jack Warner was around, he intercepted all complaints about Colin Klass and allowed the seeds of administrative folly to grow.
In my own research and conversations with Mr Mattias I saw a lot of disconcerting documents regarding the financial state of the GFF. It was bad enough that if Guyana stopped playing football at all levels to just pay off all debts, I could understand.
Of course things were not perfect under him, but nothing was crazier that the criticism that Mattias did not want “foreign players” in the team. It has to go down as one of the most misconstrued sporting interviews I’ve ever seen.
What he said doesn’t need repeating, but established CFU giant Jamaica had the same issue with foreign players during the hexagonal stage of the 2014 world cup qualifiers.
JFF President Horace Burrell went on a European hunt (even trying to get Raheem Sterling to play for Jamaica) seeking every player with Jamaican heritage to play for the national team.
As the Reggae Boyz struggled versus the CONCACAF giants, Mr Burrell was criticised for not putting things in place to develop local players properly since their only World Cup appearance in 1998. Sounds familiar?
If Guyana had managed to miraculously get past their group with Mexico and Costa Rica, they were set to do the same because I know many foreign players were contacted with some rejecting or putting
the Jaguars on hold – most notably Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph and Denmark’s Martin Braithwaite.
CFU teams clearly need foreign talent if they want to challenge CONCACAF’s elite, but other than Trinidad and Tobago to some extent most nations have not got the balance between that and local player development correct.
Mr Shabazz will do well – we have seen this movie before. The presence of a qualified Technical Director will certainly make his job easier than the first two times.
But we have also seen the ending when he leaves and despite the current optimism in the air, an equal sense of trepidation is also merited until the day Guyanese prove they know how to manage football unless Mr Shabazz is around.
Colin Benjamin
Dear Editor,
The success story of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) is well known across Guyana and the Caribbean, and we have received the support of almost every individual, Government agencies, the Government of Guyana and countless sponsors.
Sadly, over the years we have never received the support of our Town Council, despite being the one shining light that has made Rose Hall Town proud over the last 25 years.
Last week, we were forced to pen a letter to the media, out of sheer frustration concerning the attitude of the Groundsman/Caretaker and the failure of the Town Council to take the necessary disciplinary actions to correct the situation.
Since the publication of the letter in the media, the Council’s response has been to remove the individual from the ground and leave us to our own mercies.
Our members on January 24 were forced to clean up piles of garbage after the Town Council granted permission to two schools to play a cricket match on January 23. On January 25, we had to prepare the pitch ourselves for a First Division match and then again on Monday for practice.
What is of concern to residents of this township, is that the Town Council treats the Area 'H' Ground as an unwanted step-child, despite it has been its second most important asset after the major market. Each year the Council makes money from rental of the venue and yet its only recent investment has been the payment of the non-productive caretaker.
The last IMC Chairman had the wisdom to invest part of the Council subvention to repair the fence and the RHTYSC salutes him for his support of youths. The current Council under the present leadership, however, seems not to care and the following are just some of the examples.
The RHTYSC has been forced to provide security lights to the Area 'H' Ground for the last seven years at our expense. The RHTYSC a few years ago had to pay Guyana Water Inc over $100,000 to prevent disconnection at the Town Council’s ground.
The Town Council has over the last eight years failed to provide security at one of its most expensive asset. The end result has been endless damage to the venue and the usage of the ground for illegal activities during the night.
The RHTYSC over the last two years has had to replace the ground’s water connection, over four times due to theft. Of course as everyone knows we have lost millions of dollars worth of items due to numerous breakages into our office and store room. The Council since 2008 has promised to budget for a security guard, but has failed to fulfil yet another promise.
The Town council without even the courtesy of informing us took away our Charity Kitchen which was constructed by us at the cost of about $1Million and handed it over to a group that has no proper structure and hardly ever uses it.
The end result is that we have been forced to cut back on our feeding programme for less fortunate families. This group never invested a cent into the project but now has full control
over the building which was built by the RHTYSC.
All three pavilions at the Area 'H' Ground has been repaired and are now in excellent condition due to the fact that the RHTYSC was able to raise millions from the Government of Guyana via the Sports Ministry.
In 2012, a new $1 million pavilion was constructed and in 2013, a $2.3 million grant allowed us to repair the old southern pavilion. $1 million grant in 2014 was used to restore the main pavilion to its former glory.
To date, we have not seen a delegate from the Town Council to inspect any of these projects. In fact, a crude huge message with indecent language was painted on the Southern pavilion four months ago and it is there for all to see, including the hundreds of youths who attended the JC Chandisingh Secondary School. This is the same pavilion where the office of the Caretaker is based.
The Town Council in its ‘wisdom’ decided to allow our cricketers to practice on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week, while Monday and Friday were given to a group of footballers which has no structure, no leader and does not part take in any competition, and in fact has played no competitive match.
Sadly, the footballers have taken over the ground for all five days and our cricketers find it very difficult to practice properly. The footballers practice sessions involving over 30 players and two goal posts take place less than 30 yards from the pitch and it is a common sight to see footballers kicking the ball on the pitch or
Approval must be sought to interview GPHC patients
on the bowler’s run up, while the bowler has to wait.
Our batsmen cannot hit the cricket ball too hard for the fear that another Phil Hughes accident would occur. It is our hope that the Mayor and Town Council would look into this major problem and enforce its own decision.
On January 27, heavy rain was falling over the Area 'H' Ground. Our cricketers immediately stopped their practice to avoid causing damage to the outfield, but the footballers led
by a relative of a senior Town Council employee continued to play, causing severe damage to the ground. It took my intervention for them to leave the field as no one from the Town Council was present in the venue.
We sometimes wonder how we have been able to achieve so much and be so successful when we face so much noncooperation from this Town Council which collects our hard earn money for taxes to serve us.
Our Club’s record of achievement in this township is unmatched and we have transformed its image singlehandedly. President Donald Ramotar should look into the performance of this Town Council, its Councillors and Senior Officials and make sure that they operate in a more professional basis.
Hilbert Foster Chief Executive Officer/Secretary RHTYSC
The hospital has recognised that members of the media have constantly been visiting the hospital taking photos and interviewing patients without approval.
Request for Approval
Dear Editor, The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is reminding members of the media that the hospital policy still exists which requires media operatives to seek approval from the Management before interviewing or taking photos of patients.
Forms can be uplifted from the Public Relations Department. GPHC is asking members of the media to respect the hospital’s policy and patients’ privacy.
Public Relations Department, GPHC
Affianced Guyanese couples will soon have the opportunity to win an all-expense paid wedding from the Roraima Group of Companies, as it gears up to launch its annual Wedding Expo.
On Thursday, to kick off the upcoming event, the first exhibitors’ meeting was held at Duke Lodge, Kingston. Exhibitors were given copies of the exhibitors’ contract and were allowed to share their views on issues that may have affected them last year.
The annual Wedding Expo is expected to be launched on February 14; however, the event will last for three days, starting on March 27.
The all-expense paid wedding, which will be awarded to a lucky couple, will be held on March 28,
according to the Assistant General Manager of the Roraima Group, Sonia Khan.
The ‘Race to the Altar’ event was first held in 2013. Like the previous years, couples will compete in a series of fun activities, many of which take place at the Arrow Point Resort, aimed at testing their compatibility.
Last year, the lucky couple, Maria Prince and Ryan Fletchman, won the ‘Race to the Altar’ competition. The couple was chosen from a selection of ten couples. The cost for the couple’s honeymoon was covered by Fly Jamaica.
At the Wedding Expo, small and large-scale businesses market their products and services to attendees.
a study of 17,000 people from birth indicates that reading for pleasure improves not just literacy, but Maths ability too. And we will soon know whether the effects continue into adult life
Dr Alice SullivAn
It won’t surprise anyone that bright children tend to read for pleasure more than their less skilled peers. But does reading for pleasure increase the rate of children’s learning? This is the question Matt Brown and I set out to answer using the British Cohort Study, which follows the lives of more than 17,000 people born in a single week in 1970 in England, Scotland and Wales.
Every few years we interview the study participants to track different aspects of their lives, from education and employment to physical and mental health – an approach that lets us look at
what influences an individual’s development over a long period of time.
Of the 17,000 members, 6000 took a range of cognitive tests at age 16. We compared children from the same social backgrounds who achieved similar tested abilities at ages five and 10, and discovered that those who frequently read books at age 10 and more than once a week when they were 16 had higher test results than those who read less. In other words, reading for pleasure was linked to greater intellectual progress, both in vocabulary, spelling and Mathematics. In fact, the impact was around four times greater than that of having a parent with a post-secondary degree.
Reading clearly introduces young people to new words, so the link between reading for pleasure and vocabulary development is expected. But the link between reading for fun and progress in Maths may be more surprising. I would suggest that reading also introduces young people to new ideas. Along with teaching them new vocabulary, it helps them understand and absorb new information and concepts at school. Independent reading may also promote a more selfsufficient approach to learning in general.
Some people are concerned that young people today read less in their spare time than previous generations. This is particularly worrying because our research suggests that it is likely to negatively affect their intellectual development. We also know that reading for pleasure tends to decline in secondary school. Our findings emphasise how important it is for schools and libraries to provide access to a wide range of books and help young people discover authors they will enjoy. (The Guardian)
The Berbice Bridge (BBCI) clared a loss for last year and has since informed its majority shareholder, National Insurance Scheme (NIS) that it would not be in any legal or financial position to declare and or pay dividends for the year 2014.
The announcement comes at a time when the scheme’s expenditure is equivalent to its revenue and it is also owed billions by several large firms that have failed to remit their employees contributions.
Sources at NIS told Guyana Times that it received correspondence from the bridge company late last year declaring that its unaudited accounts demonstrate that the company did not record a profit.
The NIS source disclosed that the company also indicated that its income was severely affected by the application of IFRIC 12 Service Concession Agreement, an interpretation to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
Guyana Times was told that directors and management are currently examining and employing new strategies, directed at improving the Company’s financial performance in the near future in order to ensure healthy returns to all stakeholders.
This newspaper understands that the announcement by the company did not sit well with the NIS Board and there were a lot of discussions at the highest level on the issue. It is unclear whether NIS which had invested over $1.5B in the bridge venture has ever received any return on its investments. Back in 2012 it
was reported that quite remarkably, the scheme had passed up some $200M in dividends from the BBCI, at a time when actuarial reports showed it was running out of money.
The ownership structure of BBCI is made up of ordinary share capital of $400
2008.
“The scheme has benefited, the benefits have been to our expectation and I would utter without any reservation and say that this investment in the BBCI has indeed been one of the better investments the scheme has made,” Dr Luncheon had de-
million owned by private investors and preference shares of $950 million owned by NIS. The holders of the ordinary shares, are NIS, NEW GPC, Queens Atlantic and Secure International Finance Company, each having $80 million, and Handin-Hand and Demerara Contractors (owned by Demerara Distillers Limited [DDL]), each holding $40 million.
In December 2013 just days after A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had accused NIS of making risky investments, board Chairman, Dr Roger Luncheon said the move had proven to be “profitable”.
However, he did not disclose at the time the financial returns the scheme has raked in since the operationalisation of the BBCI in
clared.
He had also denied that NIS was in a state of crisis, insisting that “the average stakeholder knows that NIS being in crisis is just fallacious. We do have problems… but to elevate it to the level of crisis, I think it is downright, uncharitable.”
But records had indicated that the scheme had a deficit of $371 million in 2011 while in 2012, a deficit of approximately $474 million was recorded. The figure is likely to climb by the end of 2013.
According to reports, contributions collected over the period January to August 2013 were approximately $7.754 billion, while total expenditure over the same period was approximately $9.120 billion. NIS operates out of 14 offices countrywide, providing social security to
over 45,000 pensioners and medical insurance for thousands of Guyanese in the formal and informal workforce.
Only earlier this week the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was forced to acknowledge that it was indebted to NIS around $1.5B for workers’ contributions which it did now remit. The corporation later said however that the scheme will be honouring all outstanding claims made by sugar workers.
According to a release from GuySuCo, on Monday NIS “instructed all its local offices to honour all legitimate claims for benefits submitted by sugar workers”. GuySuCo stated that its officials met with the Deputy General Manager – Operations of NIS last Friday during which a payment schedule for all outstanding contributions was submitted.
It added that as a result of the commitment to honour the schedule for outstanding payments and remittance, NIS made the decision to honour all workers claims.
GuySuCo pointed out that that it is not only the largest contributor to NIS but over the years, it has sustained a close working relationship with the Scheme.
GuySuCo further stated that “at no time has any employee’s legitimate claim for benefits endangered or jeopardised as a result of any late remittance of either employee or employer’s contribution”.
The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has loaned the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA)some $3B to develop the housing sector, a joint statement by the two agencies said Thursday night.
The Loan Agreement was signed following the submission of an investment proposal by the CH&PA in January 2015, the statement read, adding that the proposal is for the investment of the sum of three billion dollars to be loaned for a period of one year and to be used for the development of the housing sector.
“The Board of Directors
of the Commission met and deliberated on the proposal submitted and it was noted that the interest rate being offered by CH&PA was five per cent which was 3.2 per cent more than what was currently being earned via the commercial banks and other investment options open to the Commission,” the statement added.
Moreso, the loan is for a period of one year with interest calculated using the reducing balance and in the event of CH&PA fails to repay the entire amount by the deadline, the Commission has the right to increase the interest rate to seven per cent, the statement said.
According to GGMC at the level of the Board of Directors, it was agreed that the investment proposal was financially prudent and sound. “In this regard, the Board agreed to the granting of the loan subject to the terms and conditions enshrined in the Loan Agreement and any additional guarantees required by the Commission.”
The statement said that the CHPA project is pivotal to the realisation of the Government of Guyana’s strategic target of allocating 30,000 lots under the Adequate and Affordable Housing Programme in order to maintain momentum in the provision of service land in several areas on the East and West Demerara.
Aprominent Essequibo businessman was among four persons arrested on Thursday following the discovery of more than 10kg of cocaine in two cars on Sheriff Street, Georgetown. The operation was executed by the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU).
Head of the drug enforcement unit, James Singh confirmed that four persons were nabbed. He
said that CANU was carrying out an operation when two cars were intercepted. A search was carried out on the vehicles when the illicit drug was unearthed. The occupants of the cars were cautioned and taken into custody when the illegal substance was weighed and tested. The men are expected to make a court appearance today at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where they will be
slapped with a possession of narcotics charge.
CANU’s head stated that he is quite satisfied with the amount of work that the drug enforcement agency is doing in its fight against drug trafficking. He noted that they will continue to put a dent in the drug trade even as traffickers find more innovative ways to ship the drugs.
On Saturday last, Njere Feblar, 23, of Lot 64 Robert
Avenue, HM 15, Bermuda was intercepted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport after admitting that she ingested several cocaine pellets. After excreting, the pellets, cocaine weighed 551 grams. Feblar was an outgoing passenger of Caribbean Airline flight BW524 destined for the JFK International Airport. She has since been jailed for four years and fined $1,480,700.
Joseph Barker, 34, of Lot 54 Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, was remanded to prison after being charged for aggravated robbery.
The unrepresented man appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on January 17 at Fifth Street Alberttown, he robbed Ravi
Rajkumar of $2000 and a bicycle valued $10,000. It was also heard that during or before the incident, he made use of personal violence to Rajkumar.
The court heard that on the day in question at around 11:00h, Rajkumar was riding a bicycle when he was confronted by Barker. Barker dealt him several cuffs and kicks after relieving him of the articles men-
tioned in the charge.
Rajkumar took out a knife and stabbed the defendant. He was taken to the hospital for medical treatment while the matter was reported to the Police. Acting on information received, the Police told the defendant of the offence and arrested him.
Police Prosecutor Michael Grant objected to bail citing the nature, grav-
ity and prevalence of the offence. He noted that other charges are expected to be filed against the defendant shortly.
Barker begged for leniency and said that he has a family to look after and still needs to seek medical attention for his wounds.
The Magistrate remanded Barker until February 2 when he will appear before the Chief Magistrate.
Thirty-eight-year-old
Milton Eastman of Lot
12 Kersaint Park, La Bonne Intenion, East Coast
Demerara, was remanded after being arraigned on a break and enter charge.
The man appeared at the
Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Fabayo Azore, on Wednesday morning.
The charge read that between January 27 and January 28 at Georgetown, being together with others, he broke and entered Survival Supermarket and stole 37 .32 live rounds of ammunition along with 2 .32 magazines which totalled a valued of $25,000 and $6 million cash which belonged to Parsram Arjune.
The defendant was told that he was not required to plea since the charge was indictable.
According to the Police facts, on January 27 at around 23:30h, Arjune secured his business place and went home. The property is protected by a 24h security firm. On January 28, at around 03:15h, one security heard a strange noise. Upon checking, he saw three persons in the building. The security contacted the Police as well as the owner of the business.
The three men after being confronted by the Police discharged an alleged firearm with the intension of escaping. However, one of the three men was caught by the security. The court heard that $2 million was recovered by the Police and it was lodged at the station. The names of the other two accomplices were given to the Police who are currently searching for the men.
Police Prosecutor, Michael Grant objected to bail citing the nature, gravity and penalty of the charge, the amount of money and the articles involved.
Eastman was remanded to prison and will return to court on February 2 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
It’s been said - with more than a smidgin of truththat at Independence, we inherited a state but not a nation. The “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” motto – like most mottos – was more of an aspiration than a description of ground reality.
After more than a century of deliberate divide and rule tactics by the British overlords, it would’ve been rather surprising if we weren’t still fractured along any number of fault lines.
But you’d think after almost half a century, we shouldn’t be allowing folks to pour gasoline onto our simmering divisions, wouldn’t you? Especially when our divisions broke out into armed confrontation after the Americans and their CIA opened up the Pandora’s box of violence in the 60s.
And we’ve never been able to get it back in. But we’re not a totalitarian state that can just up and impose censorship - so this Eyewitness thinks it’s up to us ordinary folks to keep the extremists at bay. What was it that Edmund Burke said? “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Let’s take this nonsense spouted by David Hinds that Indian Guyanese historically haven’t been willing to vote across the ethnic divide - as African Guyanese have done. And this is a fella who insists he’s a Rodneyite??!! What is this?? Some folks are genetically predisposition to vote race??
We’ve already showed how off-base he is on AfricanGuyanese voting patterns by showing that the PNC got its 40 per cent votes from its traditional constituency “in good weather and bad” - in the words of old Ptolemy Reid. Even after destroying African Guyanese gains between 1838 and1964!!
So what about Hinds’ claim about Indian Guyanese not supporting African leaders? If Burnham’s counting of the votes are to be believed, Indians voted en-masse for him!! And he was African, no?? But seriously, how many chances did Indians have after 1964 to vote for ANYONE??
As a fella who was around when Rodney was around doing his thing, wouldn’t Hinds admit that nearly as many Indian Guyanese as African Guyanese rallied under Rodney’s banner? And might’ve voted for him if he were around at 1992??
No one who’s lived in Guyana can say our divisions aren’t there. But c’mon now...can’t Hinds see that young folks are moving away from settling old scores?? Matters, however, aren’t helped when people like Hinds makes such invidious comparisons.
And why, for goodness sake, insist on labelling Ramotar as “Indian” when the fella has genes from every one of the famous “six peoples” of Guyana?
Now don’t get your humble Eyewitness wrong on what Hinds said about folks “voting race”. It’s just that up to now, EVERYBODY’s been doing it. Guyana’s not gonna get anywhere by denying that. But just as important, we shouldn’t even imply that it always HAS to be so. The trick is to understand why folks vote that way and to address their concerns.
But one thing we know from the experience of those (few) places that’ve been able to bridge divisions is that it ain’t gonna be done by just putting up persons from “excluded” communities as “leaders”. Look at Obama and the Black community in the US. Apart from the “symbolism”, how have the fortunes of Blacks been improved?
Nothing wrong with symbolism...but at some point we have to get real about the reality behind the symbolism
And fellas like Hinds continue to send irrelevant messages about what’s to be done in their communities. Down with activism and up with actions!
Seems that no matter what Prezzie does, it’s not good enough with the Opposition. Politics you say? But a line gotta be drawn somewhere, no?? What’s so bad about the kids taking a couple of exams a month later?? Which kid doesn’t want another month to study??
Despite the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) operating at a loss, the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) does not believe that GuySuCo should be closed.
Currently, GuySuCo operates with an average production cost of US$0.35 per pound while world market prices are averaged at US$0.16.
Additionally, with the exception of the years 2006 and 2007, GuySuCo has operated at a loss for the past 11 years. Even after approximately 15 years of investing billions of dollars into the sector, operations remain unfavourable.
Despite this, General Secretary of NAACIE Kenneth Joseph believes closing the industry would be too rash a solution, noting that an extensive investigation into the sector would be the best option.
“I see closing the industry as a disaster. I recommend a proper investigation,” Joseph said. Joseph explained that a probable reason for the industry’s poor performance could be in relation to the “available days” for harvesting the cane.
He said due to seasonal rainfall, there are less available days to produce the sugarcane and as such,
production is low, resulting in minor profits. He further explained that the sugar produced in Guyana is unhealthy and that when it arrives in London, it goes directly to the mills to be processed again.
“They boil back the sugar because with our sugar, we don’t extract all the molasses so the sugar goes back through the mills when it’s exported… we aren’t getting proper cane.”
In a recent statement, NAACIE claimed there is woefully inadequate expert management monitoring of the husbandry in the fields, as a result of poor plant nurturing, poor roads and poor punt maintenance –all resulting to poor quality product.
“A national expert, impartial inquiry must be
mounted now. Not so much to cast blame now so obvious, but to rescue this vital industry which offers succour to thousands and to the Nation’s life source,” the statement read.
Correspondingly, Joseph said it would be unwise to shutdown the industry as it would put the local market and people’s jobs at stake.
Ethanol industry
When asked if transforming the sugar industry to an ethanol industry could be a possible option on the table, Joseph said it would not be feasible at this point in time. He explained that in order to produce ethanol, Guyana would first have to produce good sugarcane; something which is not currently being done. As such, Joseph maintained that the wisest decision at this point would be to conduct a serious probe in the industry.
Some two weeks ago, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) had also called for a comprehensive inquiry into the sugar industry.
That union, headed by Komal Chand, has insisted that the sugar industry can turn around its present crisis with good management and a satisfied labour force. The Union has always said that the sugar industry plays a vital role in the
development of Guyana’s economy and employs thousands of Guyanese.
“The wide interest shown in the industry in recent months testifies to the value of this industry to our country. GAWU welcomes the interest shown but cannot see eye-to-eye with those who offer ill thought out solutions like selling out estates or diversifying to ethanol or put lands to aquaculture, at the same time as a stakeholder we would like to see the industry becoming viable as this would surely impact on the quality of life of our membership”, General Secretary of GAWU Seepaul Narine had said previously.
He went on to say, that with the knowledge to grow with good management, a satisfied labour force and various innovations, GAWU is confident that the industry can regain its profitability status in a short time.
“In 2013, the industry produced 186,807 tonnes, it’s the worst performance in 22 years. Poor production and accumulated debts over the years resulted in the industry’s debt being approximately 10.8 billion Guyana dollars against those significant challenges our Union pursued and was able to secure a four per cent wage/salary increase and five days’ pay,” Narine said.
Aduo was remanded to prison after being arraigned on conspiracy to commit a felony charge by Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday.
Twenty-four-yearold Junior Solomon and Kelvin Niles, of Second Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown, denied the allegation that was read against them.
The charge read that between January 24 and January 25 at Georgetown, they conspired with each other and another either unknown or known to them, to commit a felony, that is to say robbery under arms.
Police Prosecutor Michael Grant narrated the facts which read that on the day in question at around 21:00h, the Police received information stating that a robbery was about to happen. Police ranks went to Sheriff Street where they spotted the two defendants sitting on a culvert.
When they were questioned by the Police, the men claimed that they were waiting on someone. According to Grant, they were arrested and Solomon’s phone was confiscated.
The court heard that when the ranks checked through the messages in the phone, they saw messages from an individual who was identified as “Tall Boy” in the phone, revealing plans
to rob an Indian national who resides in the vicinity, sometime around 02:00h the following morning.
Grant said the duo had confessed orally to the conspiracy and took the Police to the intended victim’s house, saying that was where they intended to rob. They were told of the offence, arrested and charged.
Attorney Patrice Henry represented Soloman while Attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat represented Niles. They said that their clients have no priors and requested reasonable bail.
Attorney Henry claimed that the Police threatened to burn his client’s genitals and hands if he didn’t confess. Meanwhile, Fung-aFat said that while in custody, his client was denied the right to a lawyer, even though he asked.
The defence lawyer further said that the men have been in custody since Sunday, January 25, alluding to the fact that the 72hour detention period had expired.
Prosecutor Grant objected to bail citing the penalty the offence attracts. He told the court that the men provided the Police with several different addresses. Bail was refused and the case will be called again on February 2 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Local Government and Regional Development Minister Norman Whittaker said that Central Government is working earnestly to address the concerns of residents in Region One (Barima-Waini).
Residents, particularly those in Port Kaituma, have been complaining bitterly about the poor infrastructure in the district. On Wednesday, some residents pointed out that many of the roads in the region are deplorable.
In response, the Local Government Minister told Guyana Times that Central Government is “well aware of the situation,” noting that several contracts have been awarded for “substantial works” to commence. He explained too that some of the projects began in the last quarter of 2014, but due to the inclement weather, they were placed on hold. It was also pointed out that contracts were awarded to develop roads in the three subregions: Mabaruma, Moruca and Matthew’s Ridge/Port Kaituma.
However, Stanley Wilson, a resident from the little village of Sitzburg Central, Port Kaituma, told this publication that while Government
is known for executing road repairs in the region, the works are often substandard.
“To be honest, I saw a man with a bulldozer this morning doing some grading but he is making it worse because we had some showers earlier and the place got worse, everything wash away”.
Wilson said, he does not understand why durable roads cannot be built, pointing out that most of the roads in the district are loam tracks.
“When they come and patch the road, it is not properly done and we are face
with this same situation year, over year, over year,” he complained.
He explained that during the inclement weather, the roads change from being in a state of awfulness to becoming utterly unusable.
“I am not being politically aligned, in fact I can tell you the honest truth, I voted for this Government, but as a resident, I don’t understand why we have to face with this year after year, after year.”
Wilson said that, aside from the “little patching work” that was done recently, the roads were repaired last year before the May/ June rainy season but they subsequently returned to their deplorable state.
“It is really terrible…even up to the other day, I hear a truck turn over about 15-17 miles from Port Kaituma,” Wilson said as he alluded to
the negative impacts of having deplorable roads.
He explained that the road leading to Port Kaituma Airstrip from the Port Kaituma School is appalling. He further described the road from Port Kaituma through Matthew’s Ridge as shameful, considering that it is the main access road to the village.
Another resident, who requested anonymity, said he endures many expenses
due to the state of the roads.
The man explained that he is forced to repair his vehicle more often than he would like.
“It’s not fair that I have to change and pay so much money for this because we already have to use generators and fuel is expensive… we basically live a high standard of life here and the additional expense these roads bring is too much,” the man complained.
Dr Faith Harding, child psychologist and longstanding member of the people’s National congress Reform (pNcR), who passed away last Friday at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital will be laid to rest today.
Her body can be viewed from 11:00h to 12:15h at the Merriman’s Funeral Home. It will then be taken to christ church, Waterloo Street, Georgetown for the funeral service at 15:00h. A second viewing will be conducted between 14:00h and 15:00h before interment at the Le Repentir cemetery at 16:00h.
Meanwhile, a memorial has been set up outside of her Anira Street, Queenstown home, where members of the public have been paying their respects to the veteran politician and mental health practitioner.
Dr Harding was taken to
the hospital on January 2 after falling ill. She was hospitalised until the time of her passing. A post-mortem revealed that she died from a severe case of pneumonia.
Appointed as public Service Minister of in 1989, Dr Harding led the restructuring of the Guyana public Service and achieved significant success in decreasing inefficiencies, lowering redundancies and elevating overall effectiveness of all Government programmes. Additionally, she also spearheaded the nationalisation of kindergarten education that institutionalised cost-free education for all children over the age of three.
With a keen focus on the key issues that continue to challenge Guyana today, Harding emerged as a strong, viable and competent candidate for the pNcR presidential candidacy in the 2011 elections.
Her platform for change included initiatives that would have brought affordable electricity and energy to every household; significantly reduce crimes against women and the incidence of domestic violence, sexual abuse and gender-based abuse; introduce much-needed drug intervention and drug rehabilitation programmes; develop training centres to enhance skills and competencies for teenagers and young adults; among others.
She eventually lost out to ApNU and pNcR Leader David Granger. However, not long after, she resigned from the party. She never publicly endorsed any other political party.
Dr Harding, a mother of one, was born on October 5, 1947 in Georgetown, British Guiana to Egbert and Beryl Blackmore. She was the sixth child in a close knit family of three brothers and three sisters.
She attended the St Ambrose and St Stephen’s primary Schools before moving on to the British Guiana Education Trust High School. She was described as an enthusiastic learner who enjoyed English Language, English Literature, Religious Knowledge, History and reading Nancy Drew books.
The young Harding completed her Bachelor of Science degree in education at Mills college of Education in New York city. Harding began her professional career in the field of education at the Lexington Houses Day care centre in Harlem, New York where she developed a nonsexist curriculum for early childhood education and supervised classroom experiences for student teachers of Hunter college.
The hardworking psychiatrist, who holds a Master of Arts degree in curriculum and teaching, a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in education, completed her advanced education at the prestigious Teachers college at columbia University.
Old people seh yuh can please some people some of the time, but yuh can never please all people all of de time. And that is because, just as old people seh again, when yuh give a man a inch, he does want a yard.
And of course, although old people never mention it, don’t ever try givin a woman a inch. That gon be more spiteful than when Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man can’t get dem hands on a large. Or when paper man can’t get two Lexus duty free. Or when Hen-rico can’t find a fowl cock. Or when Lalloo can’t find he suspenders.
That is exactly how it is when Lalloo pants (and whah ever else) droppin down and can’t stay up or can’t get up in de first place. And tings been fallin down fuh Lalloo a long time now, ever since some body file a affidavit in de court and down load it pun de internet. So it musbe a horror down in de mirror fuh Lalloo.
Well, fuh now, de mini-bus and taxi fares stayin up. Dem fellas not only quick to speed up, but any time dem getta chance, dem does also be quick to jack up every ting. So every time gas go up, de fares does also go up.
Yet when de gas do down, de fares does never go down wid it. It got to be that dem mini-bus and taxi fellas ain’t like de idea of goin down. But wid tings lookin up, Lalloo might soon try out some taxi wuk wid he fix-up Mercedes Benz.
Now G-Pee-Hell promise that light bills gon go down. But right every ting else at G-Pee Hell goin down, except de light bills. Some body seh even Din Dhaal poles also fallin down. So he and Lalloo gon have to see de same doctor.
Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! But no matter whah Lalloo do, he just can’t seem to get up no time, no where. Not even in a party at elections time!
An East Bank
Demerara man was taken into police custody on Thursday after he impersonated a Government Minister to falsely obtain a cellular phone.
Thirty nine-yearold Damion Bailey of Friendship, East Bank Demerara, reportedly called the owner of AN Electronics Store on Robb Street, Georgetown, pretending to be Housing and Water Minister, Irfaan Ali. This was sometime around 02:00h.
According to a release from the police, the man impersonated the Minister and told the owner that he had lost his cellphone. He then told the businessman that he will be sending his driver to pick up a Samsung Smartphone.
The police were subsequently informed and later that morning at about 10:30h, he turned up at the
business place claiming to be Minister’s driver. He was immediately arrested and taken into police custody to assist with the investigations.
Bailey had previously tried the same scam twice about two months ago with DIGIcEL on Barack Street, Kingston, and another business on Regent Street, Georgetown. The police disclosed that the man had called the two businesses, and pretended to be Home Affairs Minister clement Rohee. He was arrested on both occasions but only one company filed a complaint. Bailey was charged in relation to the Digicel matter however the matter was subsequently dismissed by the court for want of prosecution on January 7. As it relates to the other charge, the business never pursued the matter as such he was not charged.
“We want change” was the chant of a number of students from the University of Guyana (UG) who continue to agitate for better conditions at the learning institution.
Dressed in black for the occasion, the students sang the Redemption song and called for relevant authorities to “Respect Our Education”, shouting “We Want Change”, all the while showing Guyana that their education, their future is under threat.
The throng of students came to halt under the signboard that read ‘UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA’; it had been a gift from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T). It was covered with a black shroud that read ‘RESPECT OUR EDUCATION #UG REVOLUTION’.
Leader of the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS), Joshua Griffith said
An Air Services
that it signified the “death of a university that was oppressed, downtrodden and needed a renewal- that’s what we’re fighting for.”
Griffith reminded the students why they were there. He reminded them of the UG unions’ current sit-in to receive better wages and allowances that can allow them to edify themselves and thus the students. He reminded
them of the years of neglect that the university has experienced from all authorities.
Griffith told the students that he is one man and the UGSS is made up of simply 21 persons, “not enough for a revolution.” He said the onus is on each student to take a stand against the neglect and limited resources available to both students and teachers.
Limited aircraft ran off the runway at Kurupung, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on Thursday. The incident occurred at around 10:00h. Eyewitnesses said that the plane was touching down when it skidded off the runway, resulting in damages to the nose of the aircraft.
The pilot of the aircraft reportedly claimed that the accident was a result of brake failure. There were no reported injuries.
Guyana Times spoke with
“The buck stops here” the UGSS leader stated, but pointed out to the students that the UGSS cannot do anything without them. He related that the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) and the University of Guyana Staff Society Association (UGSSA) have asked the students to join them in the stand against the administration.
the Director of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Zulficar Mohamed who said additional information will be made available in days to come.
Aminer was shot and killed while in his camp at Five Star Backdam, North West District (NWD) on Wednesday afternoon. The dead man has been identified as Devon Moore, 41, of Back Street, Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.
According to reports received, the now dead man was in his mining camp relaxing when the suspect reportedly entered and shot him with a shotgun before making good his escape.
The injured man was rushed to the Port Kaituma Hospital but died on his way to the medical facility. He was pronounced dead on arrival.
Coleen Bascombe, sister of the dead man, who travelled to Port Kaituma to transport her brother body to Georgetown told Guyana Times that she does not know much about the incident except what was told to her by the Police. His body is at the Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-
mortem examination. She explained that her brother was in the mining camp with four other men when the suspect walked in and discharge a round in his direction. He was reportedly shot in the vicinity of his abdomen. She was not certain about the whereabouts of the other four men.
A distraught Bascombe went on to say that her brother has been working in the interior for a while. First, she explained he was in the Orinduik Falls area, then he went to Port Kaituma Falls Top but only recently, he went further down into the backdam.
Guyana Times understands that Moore started to work with his brother-in-law and eventually ventured out on his own. He was described as a loving individual. He leaves to mourn his five sisters and seven brothers. Police stated that a team of investigators travelled into the area to probe the death of Moore. No arrest has been made up to press time.
Seventy-five persons are now proud new homeowners, thanks to the Housing and Water Ministry’s Turn-key Houses 1000 Homes Project at Perseverance, Providence, East Bank Demerara. This is according to a statement
from the Ministry. According to the Ministry, the houses were awarded within recent months as it aggressively constructs 150 houses during the first phase of the project. “This affordable housing initiative was designed to provide homeowners with comfort, security and a healthy family life. The 1000 Homes Project was launched by the Central Housing and Planning Authority to expand the Ministry’s TurnKey Houses programme that recommenced in 2011. Construction began in May 2014 and by December 2014, 100 Buttercup Cottages were completed. Currently, another batch of 50 houses is being constructed,” the statement said.
The Ministry said it also facilitates visits to the houses by homeowners dur-
ing the construction phase. Infrastructure for electricity and water are already in place and roads in the new community would boast asphaltic concrete surface once construction is completed. Shortly, a model of the Buttercup Cottage, which costs $4.9 million, will be on display and available for tours. The Buttercup Cottage has a total floor area of 600 square feet and includes two bedrooms, patio, washroom, kitchen, dining and living areas. A furniture company has partnered with the Ministry to furnish the model home, which is expected to attract interested persons and prospective homeowners. Over 5000 people have already indicated interest in the turnkey solution and applied to the Ministry to purchase the houses.
Persons desirous of a larger living space could purchase the Bungalow Orchid. The Ministry will commence construction of the Bungalow Orchid shortly. This house is priced between $8 million and $9 mil-
ing, modern lighting fixtures, and sash windows. Every day, the worksite at Perseverance is bustling with construction activity to provide quality houses that would be called home to thousands of Guyanese. This
ing the slow season finding steady job to match your skills is difficult… though I am a contractor, sometimes I had to go work with other people so I can pay my bills. Working with Government on this project is good…
lion. It is a three-bedroom house with a total floor area of 1050 to 1100 square feet. The house includes tiled floor and bathroom, ceil-
project has provided employment opportunities for over 300 skilled and semi-skilled workers in the construction industry. The workers are divided into batches of 10 and are led by foremen.
Chaitram Geewan, who has been operating as a private building contractor for about 15 years, is appointed by the project as a Construction Foreman. He is pleased with the job security provided by the project for workers in the construction sector. According to Geewan, “being self employed as a skills man dur-
there are always materials available… whenever you do some private jobs you turn up with all your workers and you have to go back home because they do not have materials or money for you to work,” Geewan said.
Construction of the 1000 Homes Project is expected to open-up many possibilities to homeowners and more so improve the living conditions of citizens. The Ministry is pleased to see Guyanese responding positively to this project that would benefit generations to come.
Afisherman was shot dead at around 11:00h on Thursday by a security guard during an argument at Pritipaul Singh Investment’s wharf located at McDoom, East Bank Demerara.
The fisherman has been identified as 45 year old Elvin Pollard, a father of seven of Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara.
Guyana Times was told that Pollard was in a fishing boat under the wharf when he was confronted by an armed security guard attached to Pritipaul Singh Investment Inc.
During the confrontation, an argument ensued between the two during which the guard whipped out his weapon and shot the fisherman multiple times to his chest.
According to reports, Pollard died on the spot.
His body was later removed and taken to the Lyken’s Funeral Home.
Sources close to the investigation told this newspaper that the two had a long history and the guard had reportedly threatened to shoot Pollard on several occasions.
His visibly distraught wife, Ashmoon Khan, told reporters that she had spoken to her husband about two hours prior to the incident.
She related that the family received a call from the man’s workplace indicating that he was involved in an argument and was subsequently shot. Upon receiving the devastating news, they rushed to the scene, where they were told that Pollard succumbed to his injuries. The security guard has been taken into Police custody and is assisting with the investigations.
Low-income families are failing to capitalise on alternative home acquisition methods, a housing study conducted by Habitat for Humanity Guyana Inc has revealed.
Project Consultant Marlon Bristol presented the findings to a small gathering at the National Library on Tuesday. The study is merely a quota of the Guyanese population and is intended to reflect on the practices of low-income families.
According to the study, many low-income families in Guyana utilise the traditional method, which involves, the construction of a house with finances secured by a single family. Alternative methods are therefore underutilised, but, this trend Bristol said should be broken.
He explained that families have the option of establishing a cooperation where resources are pooled together for the construction a home. According to him, if such a concept is presented to the bank, it increases the chances of obtaining a loan. The project consultant further explained that the parties can build one house with the required number of apartments.
Another alternative, Bristol said is the leasing of property. It was pointed out that lease lands on the highway cost approx-
imately $10,000. It was also suggested that employers can purchase homes for their employees through appropriate payment plans. Bristol explained that in some countries employers would buy a home for their employees who will have equity in that arrangement.
bid him or her from selling that property at a certain price.
He said most people buy lands and houses at affordable prices then resell them at extremely high prices. Such an intervention by Government prevents persons from taking advantage
should have taken a step further by limiting the selling price of such affordable Government lands.
The study also found that access to affordable housing, remains a major challenge for many low-income families. The study also revealed that 63.03 per cent used their personal cash, 26.6 per cent used a formal loan and 3.636 per cent used an informal loan.
The study also revealed that many low-income earners do not solicit loans from financial institutions; rather their homes are built via a gradual process based on the availability of finance.
The field survey targeted 13 low-income communities throughout Regions Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara), Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Region 10 (Upper DemeraraUpper Berbice).
Over the past six years, there has been a massive transformation in the housing sector even as it relates to squatter settlements. The transformation saw approxi-
Then, based on an employee’s financial track record, the bank buys the loan from the employer and the employee repays the loan.
The project consultant said too that even the Government can intervene in this regard by “creating stock” for the low-income families. Bristol hypothetically explained that if a person buys a plot of land for $1 million, then the contract between the Government and that person would for-
7 brush cutters stolen from City Hall
Acting Town Clerk
Carol Sooba has disclosed that the Council’s Princes Street storeroom was broken into on Wednesday.
She said when an investigation was conducted, it was discovered that seven brush cutters were missing.
Sooba explained that the storeroom houses materials, equipment and machinery
for the Council. According to the Acting Town Clerk, the break-in comes as a major surprise given the fact that ranks of the City Constabulary are stationed a short distance away from the storing facility.
Nevertheless, she said investigations are in progress and further information will be revealed subsequently.
of the free market system, thus creating stock for lowincome earners.
In Guyana, the Government implemented a similar strategy in several housing schemes where plots of land cannot be resold until approximately 10 years. However, Bristol believes the Government
mately 6991 squatter settlements regularised throughout the country.
Figures for squatter settlement regularisation show that in 2009, 906 settlements were regularised, while in 2010, 1675 received the Ministry’s approval. For 2011, 2073 were regularised, while in 2012, 1737 were made legal.
Grove Market Tarmac… Vendors have no choice but to move when road project is completed –NDC Overseer
Overseer of the Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Parmanand Babulall, said market vendors will have no choice but to relocate from their present vending locations when the East Bank Demerara (EBD) Four-lane Highway is commissioned.
“There won’t be an if’, they will have to move. They won’t have a choice and they are well aware of this,” he said.
Presently, vendors carry out their trade on the sidelines of the EBD Public Road.
The $24.4 million Grove Market Tarmac, that was constructed almost five years ago, was designed to serve the residents of Diamond and Grove, but it is underutilised. Street vendors have refused to use the market tarmac based upon the ideology that they will not get sufficient sales in that location.
Vendors believe that the tarmac is hidden away in the scheme and customers will not journey that far to purchase their goods. The vendors asserted that customers prefer to shop when they disembark the buses at the car park.
Asked how the NDC will get the vendors to move, considering their refusal to do so in the past, Babulall said the market committee will facilitate the movement.
He explained that the committee governs all the vendors in the area and is fully aware that vendors would not be allowed to vend on the corner of the public road when the works are completed.
On that note, he disclosed that the market committee will soon be meeting with representatives from the Home Affairs Ministry, Public Works Ministry and the Local Government Ministry to discuss prevailing issues in this regard.
The 31,340 square foot tarmac, which was built to accommodate just over 200 stalls, is being used as an entertainment venue and a sporting complex for residents of the area.
Only recently, the tarmac was fenced, signalling prospects of the market initiative taking effect. Since the square has been fenced, residents can no longer use the facility to play sports, practice driving, or exercise as they normally would.
By Alexis Rodney
The People’s National Congress (PNC) Government of the late 1970’s and early 80’s, has been blamed for the high number of arms and ammunition that were illegally in the possession of civilians. And the fact that the drugs and firearm smuggling were at their lowest during that period, had made it highly impossible for citizens to have secured them otherwise.
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who is also the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) relayed the information at the ongoing session of the Inquiry into the death of Working People’s Alliance (WPA) co founder Dr Walter Rodney, who was assassinated some 35 years ago.
Rohee’s evidence is the first official voice of the party, which is said to have endured similar treatment, though to a lesser extent than the WPA, by the Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham led administration. The General Secretary captured the events of the period under examination, and although he was not in the country at the time of Dr. Rodney’s death on June 13, 1980, he related that he had lived through enough of the hardships of the days leading up to the death of the historian.
One such struggle was the possession of arms and ammunition by persons outside military bodies. This included the House of Israel group, which was allegedly used by the PNC government as a weapon to break up opposition meetings. He said while he is unaware of any current documentation of arms being officially handed over to the House of Israel,
it was a known fact that the organisation had arms in its possession.
His calculation was that one in every 35 citizens was armed, pointing out that the statistics was widely publicised. “For example the military, police, the National Service… the state and Para military organisations were armed along with those who had arms that were not legally given”, Rohee told the commission. He said apart from the military bodies including the Police and Defence Forces, there were several other bodies including the People’s militia that
the possession of the State. “The commanding heights of the country were in the hands of the state. And it was because of the extent of the state control which led to the high level of corruption. “, Rohee said.
Oppression
He told the commission that the oppression surpassed the supremacy of race, noting that even the Afro Guyanese felt the brunt of the betrayal by the PNC Government. According to him, the situation was bounded by class and favored those sitting at the
were armed.
“The smuggling of firearm across the border in those days was almost nonexistent comparing to the way it is being done now. So it had to have been handed by someone whether legally provided by the state or illegally”, Rohee said. Rohee said the country was at that time “an era for thieves and thugs”. This he explained was brought on through the extent of State control during that period. He related that because of the ban on imported food items and other things, “you had to beg, borrow or steal”.
Like previous witnesses, Rohee said everything was in
upper echelon of the social strata. He said the economic condition of the country was on a downward spiral, with a major decline in productivity and a halt on foreign exchange. According to him, the Private sector was widely marginalised, with a sagging economy and expanding debt. He related that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was forced to work around a system to relieve the growing debt of the country. Rohee said all those atrocities, resulted in the alienation of the government from its people and members
of the global community.
Suffering of the poor
According to Rohee, Dr Rodney had come on the scene at a time, when the suffering of the poor was at its highest point. He explained that the historian, who had also connected to the PPP, had begun pressing for the rights of the people; a fight that was joined by his party. The General Secretary noted that then party leader Dr. Cheddi Jagan would hold numerous meetings with Dr Rodney. And while there were some minor “tactical” differences in their ideologies, both parties were working toward bringing about a change in the dictatorial regime.
Meanwhile the General Secretary said members of his party were also under surveillance by elements of the State. He said during that period, he was the international Secretary for his party. His work which also included him being part of the executive committee of the party, found him at Freedom House, where observed the surveillance activities. Rohee said himself; Dr Jagan and other members of the party were also under surveillance, with the party leader being even being followed to the office of his private practice. He explained that while he never confirmed at that time, who the persons were, based on their mode of dress, he could only conclude they were members of the Police Special Branch. He told the commission that he was however able to confirm their identity upon becoming Minister of Home Affairs some years ago. He said he is even working together with some of those people.
The prosecution in the trial against alleged rapist, Colin Mack, closed its case on Thursday.
Mack, a popular party promoter, is indicted with the rape and assault of a 19-yearold female in April 2009. The man pleaded not guilty to the indictment on Monday when the trial began, almost six years after he was charged.
The case was presented by State Counsel Mercedes Thompson in association with Stacy Gooding and Diana Kaulesar. The accused was being represented by Attorney Peter Hugh. On Tuesday, the virtual complaint took the stand and testified that Mack had taken her against her will to his home and raped her.
The virtual complaint told the court that she knew the accused for several years and two days prior to the incident, he asked her out but she refused. However, they exchanged phone numbers and on April 12, 2009, they went to a show at the National Park.
The young woman disclosed that after the show, they went clubbing. She noted that Mack had promised to drop her home afterwards but never did. Instead, he drove to his house and forced her out of the vehicle.
She related that the promoter then pushed her into the house and subsequently into his room, where he raped her. The alleged victim added that there was another woman in the house who then performed oral sex on her.
She noted that she was trying to find a way out of the house but the doors were locked, noting that she was about to jump through a window when a taxi arrived.
The taxi driver, Charles Mars, also testified the following day that he picked the young woman up from Mack’s home and took her to the East
La Penitence Police Station.
The man said that he received a call from the young woman, who sounded as though she was crying. She reportedly told him that she wanted to make a report to the police.
Mars recalled that when he arrived at the house, he noticed the woman at the window looking as though she was about to jump. He said that she had black marks under her eyes.
The prosecution also called several police witnesses to testify against the accused including Policewoman, Dawn Baker, who testified that she took the young woman for a medical examination. The officer noted that the doctor also handed her a paper bag which contained the pair of white pants the young woman was wearing when she was assaulted.
The medical report was read by presiding Judge, Justice Navindra Singh, in court and stated that the victim had sustained abrasions to her left elbow, lacerations to her genitals and mild swelling in the region of her eyes.
In addition, Assistant Commissioner of Police Brian Joseph also took the stand and testified that he arrested Mack. Joseph said that he put the allegation to the man and cautioned him.
After the prosecution closed its case on Thursday, the accused was called upon to lead his defence and opted to do so by giving an unsworn statement. He denied having raped the young woman and told the court that they had consented sexual intercourse that night.
When the matter returned to court today, both the prosecution and the defence will be making closing arguments in the matter.
Command of Base Camp Ayanganna on Thursday changed hands when Lieutenant Colonel Clement Baird formally handed over to Lieutenant Colonel Mark Thomas at a simple ceremony at the Drill Square at the base Thomasland Georgetown. According to Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant Colonel Baird, who proceeds on retirement this year, says that in handing over command to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas, he knows that the base’s administration is in competent hands. Acknowledging the challenging nature of the appointment, Baird says that his tenure as Base Commander was a good one. “There have been ups and downs, but by and large, it has been rewarding,” he said, “I ask that you all support Lieutenant Colonel Thomas as you have supported me during my command.”
Reflecting on his 32 years of service to the GDF and Guyana, Baird said that it is
a phase of his life for which he will always have fond memories. “If I had to ask God to live my life all over again, I will ask to be allowed to serve with the GDF. There is nothing better than military service!” he said. Almost overcome with emotion, he went on to thank all the troops with whom he had the opportunity to serve. As a parting shot, he challenged the serving soldiers to embrace education. “This is the best time to be serving in the GDF. There has never before been such an effort to educate our ranks like there is today. Seize the opportunities. The education products of the Force are to go online soon. Make use of your time to access the material and learn,” he entreated. Lt Colonel Baird also thanked the GDF for allowing him the opportunity to serve and said that he is confident that the leadership of the Force will ensure its progress and prosperity.
Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Stores Limited (GSL), Tony Yassin returned to the witness stand on Thursday to continue his cross examination by Attorney Rafiq Turhan Khan during which he was grilled on the acquisition of a property located on Access Road, Stabroek, Georgetown, referred to as the ‘Agency Building’.
Yassin took the stand several months ago in the legal battle involving his company and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments (NICIL) over an outstanding US$2 million owed to the State for the sale of the business entity. The matter is being heard before Justice Roxanne GeorgeWiltshire.
On Thursday, Yassin told the court he was sure that the $180 million Agency Building was part of the properties that were included in the sales agreement of GSL. However, Attorney Khan showed him a letter which he wrote in 2001 to Head of NICIL, Winston Brassington, stating that he is seeking financing to purchase the property.
After viewing the document, the GSL boss changed his answer saying that “I didn’t know the building was withdrawn from the Information of Memorandum… it was taken out from the Information Memorandum.”
In May last year, Yassin had testified that when he took possession of GSL, the Agency Building, which housed all the agencies of GSL, was among the assets and so he occupied it, but has not received the transport to this day. He noted that he had occupied the building from the time of his acquisition of the company until 2008/2009. Another letter was shown to Yassin on Thursday, which stated that the Agency Building was excluded from the assets of the company during the transaction. The letter was received from the acquisition
company, Royal Investment Inc (RII), but the witness pointed out that there were no signatures attached to the document.
Yassin went onto say that while occupying the Agency Building, he was forced to evacuate and said, in response to questions from Attorney Khan, that he did not opt to take any legal actions against the selling company. However he mentioned that his former partner in the deal, businessman Reaz Khan, had written to Brassington, objecting to the removal of the Agency Building from the list of properties under GSL. The GSL owner maintained that he had no knowledge about this since Reaz Khan was handling the transaction at the time and that when he wrote the NICIL head about financing for the property, those documents were not in his possession.
Attorney Khan went on to question the witness about RII, during which it was revealed that the company was incorporated until November 1999. He was further questioned about his business in the United States, Salmo Corporation, which deals with importation of food and household items.
Yassin was asked what percentage his company invested in the acquisition of GSL,
Dismissal of Skeldon worker
The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has been given time to respond to the legal proceedings filed by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) who secured a court order to stay the dismissal of embattled Skeldon Estate field worker, Daniel Stephen.
On January 15, GAWU filed an ex-parte application by way of affidavit for an interim injunction to stop GuySuCo from dismissing Stephen as was determined following arbitration by former Chief Labour Officer Mohamed Akeel. Both GuySuCo and Mohamed Akeel were named Plaintiffs in the court document.
When the matter was called again on Thursday in Chambers before acting Chief Justice Ian Chang, GuySuCo’s Attorney Nikhil Ramkaran, made a request for time to respond to the affidavit filed by
the GAWU. Justice Chang then granted 14 days to the Plaintiff to file their response and an additional two weeks were given to GAWU to answer GuySuCo. The matter was scheduled to be called again on March 2.
The interim injunction granted by Justice Chang prohibits “the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc, the first named defendant, their directors, officers, employees, assigns, servants and or agents or whomsoever from treating the Plaintiff as summarily dismissed rather than as an employee suspended without pay until the hearing and determination of a summons in this cause”.
The arbitration was held to probe an incident in September where Stephen had an altercation with a senior manager at the Skeldon Estate, Berbice, resulting in his dismissal. The dock miller operator was dismissed the following day when he turned up to work. This re-
to which he responded saying the then four partners – himself, Reaz Khan, Brian Tiwari of BK Enterprise and a company from Curacao – were going to equally split the cost, that is, quarter of the US$6 million, amounting to $1.5 million.
The witness told the court that after RII was awarded the proposal for GSL, he returned from the US to work on the acquisition but found that he could not have gotten along with the other investors and subsequently informed them that he was pulling out of the deal.
NICIL’s Attorney continued the cross examination, grilling Yassin about the payment of dividends. The GSL boss explained that he had complained about the payments because, “it was running down the assets (of GSL)” hence he had cause to be concerned. He noted that Reaz Khan had knowledge about the payments prior to the finalisation of the deal and had raised some concerns; however, he was not aware of this until much later.
Under the terms of the privatisation agreement, the balance owed by RII, which acquired 70 per cent of GSL’s shares in the sale, was due by September 2002. However, the company failed to make this payment. In a subsequent agreement between the Plaintiff and the defendant on October 5, 2000, the parties decided that the latter would pay interest on the said sum at the US prime rate prevailing at the time of payment, commencing one year after September 30, 2000. In June 2004, the Government holding company initiated legal action against RII for the recovery of the US$2 million plus interest. The ongoing court battle, which begun in late 2010 and has had almost a year’s break in court, will see Senior Counsel Edward Luckhoo in association with SC Rex Mc Kay representing RII.
The Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday heard of the mistreatment meted out to members of the Rastafarian community, forced many of them to embrace the teachings of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and Dr Walter Rodney.
This information was relayed by Rastafarian Mark Britton who appeared before the three member panel on Wednesday, with a short evidence in chief. Without any cross examination by attorneys or commissioners, Britton was led into evidence by assistant lead counsel Latchmi Rahamat, and revealed from the witness box that although Rastafarians were not involved in politics, they were at that time drawn to the Working People’s Alliance because of the teachings and Dr Rodney.
Because of this, he said the Police would constantly harass them, most time cutting off their locks. The 59-year-old Britton, who during the time under examination was just about 24 years old, said he served as a Government employee for some six years after completing his secondary education at Queens College (QC).
However, becoming a rastafarian posed severe challenges to him and his other “brethren”. He said he and his “brethren” considered the Police searching them disrespectful. “Our locks would be cut off; they would search us under the guise for marijuana. It was a modern world for the black. We could not do anything other than complain because “rasta” never promoted politics in any form.”
Britton told the Commission that there was widespread dissatisfaction among Guyanese within the Public sector Over the policies of Prime Minister Burnham. These included the ban on the importation of food items and currency exchange. All these he said contributed to the majority of society feeling that the cycle of poverty they were experiencing was as a result of Burnham.
He said although he saw nothing wrong with the policies, it was the population that was
suffering. Public servants particularly those working in the offices were also angered by Burnham’s demand that they leave their official places of work to “go cut cane”, when sugar workers were on strike. According to him, circulars were sent to various offices, where dates were given for employees to turn out to cut cane. He said Burnham’s socialist policies were favoured toward the poor. However, although, he had received free primary and secondary education and could have gotten free university education as well, he refused to go because he was not ready undergo the required one year stint in the Guyana National Service before graduating He said many Guyanese resisted the Burnham Government and his policies during that time. “Ordinary workers had at that time concerning his polices and restrictions, came to the conclusion that Burnham did not know what he was doing and causing problems with the US”, Britton said.
sulted in five days strike by the estate workers and those from other estates along the Corentyne.
Daniels’ dismissal was reduced to suspension without pay after a six items Terms of Resumption (ToR) was agreed upon by the union and the sugar corporation to end the protest. The ToRs outlined that conciliatory discussions be held between the parties and if no agreement is made then the matter should go to arbitration. The conciliatory discussions were held under the chairmanship of Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, on behalf of the Labour Ministry. Ogle had recommended that Stephen be reinstated but GuySuCo had rejected this recommendation, hence deadlock was declared on the issue and it went to arbitration. But on December 29, 2014, Akeel ruled that the worker would remain dismissed.
The National Cultural Centre is the place to be this Saturday as the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha presents yet another breathe taking production, NayaZamana – “A Royal Twist”.
The show has all of the elements which make it a truly spectacular extravaganza that will be enjoyed by all. Fans can expect superb dance pieces, music and drama combined with fabulous and elaborate sets, special lighting effects and glamorous and dazzling costumes.
The theatrical presen-
tation follows renowned actress Riya Patel’s journey (played by Dr Indhira Harry) from stage to direction. Riya’s dream is to present the epic love story of Salim and Anarkali of the Mughal era.
This story is intertwined with her own personal experiences which include a surprise visit from the past in a grand NayaZamana production that covers two eras.
Director and Choreographer of the production, Dr Vindhya Persaud, has been working long hours with the 60-member cast to achieve the per-
fect visuals for her story, an original one which she has penned. Costumes and sets are designed by Trishala Persaud. Cloud Nine Inc has been roped in to add spectacular lighting for the production.
Playing the lead roles are Dr Indhira Harry, US-based Choreographer and Dancer Noman Ahmad as the debonair Sid Sharma, Zahrah Alli as the famous Mughal dancer Anarkali, Arun Subramaniam as Prince Saleem and Nazim Hussain as Emperor Akbar. Winner of the E-Networks Emerging Voices Competition Vishale
theatrical productions. This year, the production celebrates its 20th Anniversary.
is excited to present this special installment of Naya Zamana, one of Guyana’s most awaited dance and
Ten young calyposians will take to the stage of the National Cultural Centre this evening as the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry hosts the Junior Calypso Monarch competition. The 10 contestants have been rehearsing for the past few weeks and are all ready to compete for the title.
Unfortunately, the reigning Junior Calypso Monarch Shontell Gittens will not be defending her title this evening, since she is expected to compete in the senior category due to her age.
Nevertheless, those who are expected to compete in the competition are Salfena Benjamin who will be per-
forming “Gun play a Can’t Teak It”, Amika Persaud with “Mansions of Eldorado”, Michael Anthony Small with “Timeless Temptation’, Niossi Alsop will perform “Daddy” while Marissa Grant will do her rendition of “Suffocation”.
Alecia Benjamin will take the stage with “Trafficking in Humans”, Tshana Cort will perform “Ansa Me” while Daniel Plowell will do “Pick It Up” and Samantha Paul will perform “Cleanliness is God for the Soul”. Ryan Jagnarine will finish off the competitors with “School Days”.
The first, second and third place winners will walk away with cash prizes and trophies.
The New Amsterdam Stelling Road will be a buzz with activity
tus, Adrian Dutchin returns to
lot to expectation. This year, 32 entries were submitted but only 18 were short listed for the semis.
Those were Adrian Dutchin, George Abrams, Jumo Primo, Ashanti Hostad, Dean McRae, Devon Lewis, Ernesta Nelson, Jermaine Mc Been, Jonathan King, Jory Hector, Kemmyanna Garnett, Levar Gittens, Mark Amar, Melissa Roberts, Onassis Croker, Orlando Johashen, Quacy Coates and Timika Nicholson.
After a one year hia-
tle from Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson. Also returning after a year’s leave is George Anthony Abrams also called “Chiney” out of the mining town of Linden. He will be performing “Mirrors”.
Jonathan “Lil Red” King is also a favourite to take the title this year but Vanilla Roberts with “Massive” is coming strong. All time favourite, Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo who is smashing up the airwaves with
However, for the first time, Jory Hector who has been performing dancehall music has entered the soca competition. He is quite confident about the transition
Reigning Chutney King
Pooran Seeraj is set and ready to defend his chutney title on Saturday evening at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, Essequibo Coast.
The Berbician is confident that he will retain the mon arch despite com peting against 18 other contestants.
Speaking wit Guyana Times Entertainment, Seeraj said that his tune “I Love Guyana” is the first patriotic song in the competi tion and he is certain that he will get the nod from the judges. The song was written by Seeraj and recorded in the Shakti Strings Studio. Thus far, his dancers are hyped and ready to hit the stage while his props are being given the final touches.
While preparing for the competition has been tedious and expensive, he reiterated his confidence in copping the title.
He also added that he had the opportunity to listen to his competitors’ songs and
he thinks he stands a good change. He will be backed by the Shakti Stings Band.
The other local contestants in the competition are Bunty Singh, Halima Khan, Steven Ramphal, Haresh Singh, Roger Hinds, Savithri LI, Ravi D Mohan, Harvey Gobin, Dennis Tatpaul, Vanita Willie, Sonia Narine and Damar Singh. The overseas contestants are Anant Hansraj, Chris Ken, Jay Lall, Sexy Marissa and ‘Bow Tie’. The grand prize in the competition is $600,000 while the second place winner will receive $420,000 and third place $265,000. The best new comer will collect a whopping $115,000. All of the winners will also receive trophies.
and hopes to win the title with his tune “Whistle”. Other newcomers are Devon Lewis; Mark Amar; Dean McRae and Jermaine Mc Been.
Reigning Soca Monarch Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson will defend his title on February 14 in the National Park Arena. Out of the 18 semi-finalists, 13 will advance to the finals.
At the finals they will be battling for $1.5 million, bragging rights for a year, and a chance to represent Guyana at the International Sosa Monarch in Trinidad and Tobago.
In less than 24 days, Guyana will be celebrating its Republic anniversary and leading up to the grand affair, several promoters are making sure that the Mashramani vibes are in the air. Come Saturday evening, Pulse Entertainment will be steaming things up at the Gravity Lounge with Soca Brainwash.
It is the ultimate soca party and it is the first leg of the journey to Pulse Entertainment’s massive Mash band that is expected to hit the roads on February 23.
However patrons at Soca Brainwash can win passes to be a part of the Pulse Party Truck. Tickets for the party cost $1500 and more at the door.
Tickets are available at Gizmos and Gadgets, Glamour Designer Brands, Movietown DVD Club and Gravity Lounge. The event is sponsored by Pulse Entertainment, Truck Masters, Panasonic- Air Condition, Martenura-Moscato and Best Warehouse Deals.
The elevated stages and designs of the trucks are already underway for the tramp that will see more than 500 revellers taking the streets. The costumes are already being designed by Olympia Small Sonoram.
On Saturday evening, Skinner Park, San Fernando, Trinidad, the Pick 2 Chutney Soca Monarch will celebrate its 20th Anniversary with some massive perfor mances as the final of the International Chutney Soca Monarch Competition (CSM) is held.
The evening will also see the naming of a Traditional Winner in that category. The first prize of the CSM is TT$2 million and the first prize in the Traditional category is TT$500,000. All artistes will receive TT$100,000 as a minimum appearance fee in both categories.
However, KI is confident that he will regain his title, while noting that on the night of the competition, there will be a display of immense talent. Speaking to Guyana Times Entertainmen, the reigning International Chutney Soca Monarch stated that he is well prepared for the finals and his fans can expect a superb performance.
He encourged his fans to vote for him by texting CKI
to 2328. The voting contributes for a percentage of the actual outcome of the competi
However, in ad dition to the grand prizes, a presen tation will also be made to the BLINK/BMOBILE Emerging Artiste for 2015. This person has been selected by a special committee and has been identified as the artiste that has shown the greatest potential in 2015.
They will be presented with a cheque for TT$20,000 and will be asked to do a guest performance on the night of the grand
Nishard M
Those competing in the Traditional Monarch are Kavita Maharaj, Rasika Dindial, Rawytee Ramroop, Rakesh Yankeran, Drupatee Persad, Rooplal Girdharrie, Hemlatha Dindial, Heeralal Rampartap, Ravi B and Rikki Jai (collaboration) and Boodram Holass. Those competing in the Chutney Soca Monarch include Anil Bheem, Crazy, Saleem Beharry, Nadia Batson, Rooplal Girdharrie, Andy Singh, Ravi B and Rikki Jai, Nishard Mayrhoo, Artie Butkoon and defending champion, Kris Persad.
Laughter is the best medicine and when Kirk “Chow Pow” Jardine and Lyndon “Jumbie” Jones are on stage, one can say that the doctors are in… But when they are on stage together, all hell breaks loose!
These two most popular local comedians have not shared the same stage in over two years but come Saturday, February 21, the Garage Bar and Grill on Aubrey Barker Road, Georgetown, will come down with laughter.
Another edi tion of Chow Pow’s Comedy Jam is set to thrill the audi ence. The two co medians have been dominating the stages across the length and breadth of Guyana since 2003.
Chow
They were the spe cial feature of the Upscale Comedy Night and have acted in numerous dramatic productions together, but Guyanese have not had the
quite busy. Come February, they have made themselves available to deliver their com-
edy styles that Guyanese have grown to love over the years at the Garage Bar and Grill.
Lyndon “Jumbie” Jones recently performed in Montserrat and Antigua while Chow Pow created a stir in Trinidad, Saint Maarten, Barbados and Jamaica.
Chow Pow’s Comedy Jam is set for one night only and is being offered to all as the alternative to the regular events that usually take place during the Mashramani celebrations.
The other performers include Uncensored Queen Odessa, Gopaul, Mr Max, The Wickedee Boss and a special guest act form Barbados.
Tickets will go on sale on Monday at the Garage Bar and Grill and will cost $1000 but more will be charged at the gate on the night of the show.
Guyana Telephone and Telegraph
Company Limited Bollywood jingle and song competition winner Bibi Halima Khan will be participating in the National Chutney competition for the first time and is confident that she will bring the title home.
Performing “Dulha Dulhin”; a track which was written by Khan and record ed in the Shakti Stings Studio, Khan said she has put a lot into the competition and based on her ex perience, she feels that she has the potential to win the title.
Khan recalled starting her musical career with a touch of chutney mixed with Bollywood which has given her the advantage over the other contestants. All preparations are in place for a splendid performance at the Anna Regina Community
Coast. She is definitely excited and ready to hit the stage before her fans in Essequibo. She has no fears going into the competition and wished her colleagues good luck at the competition. The primarily Bollywood singer said that even if she does not win the competi-
the experience will be recorded and improvements can be made for the next time. The competition will see several new contenders, inclusive of three overseas and a few local artistes. Those to pay keen attention to are Steven Ramphal, Aamir Khan, Haresh Singh, Roger Hinds and US-based artiste Anant Hansraj.
The place to be this Sunday evening for all Super Bowl lovers is Palm Court where there will be a live viewing of the game.
the Super Bowl will see the Seattle Seahawks and The New England Patriots battling on the field for supremacy. Both teams are
known for their talent and fans can expect a high quality game and possibly some surprises. Palm Court and Corona Beer will bring you the excitement on big screens. Apart from the games, there will be the Corona Beer cheerleaders to provide the experience as if you are at the games. There will be bucket specials all evening. Also patrons can purchase six Corona Beer for only $4000 and win big in the Corona Super Bowl draws. The action gets underway at 19:30h.
By AvenAsh RAmzAn
Golden Jaguars captain Christopher Nurse is optimistic about his team’s chances against Barbados in the international friendly, set for Sunday at the Barbados National Stadium.
Nurse, who was appointed skipper on Thursday by the Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation, said he was enthused by the gains derived from the one week training camp, noting that all the players showed a great degree of optimism and dedication to the task at hand.
“It’s been a tough week, but a necessary week, given the lack of domestic football in Guyana over the past year,” Nurse, 30, said.
“All the players gave their all this week and they really tried hard. You know there are a few players on the borderline that could have possibly been in the squad to go to Barbados, but I think we’re going with a very strong squad and we have a good chance of success on Sunday.”
Nurse, who captained the Golden Jaguars at the historic 2014 World Cup Qualifiers, said while the team has not had the ideal preparation in terms of the limited time it was allowed to get in top condition, he is confident that a victory is highly possible.
“We know it’s going to be a difficult game- it’s the launch of the Barbados Premier League. You know they’ve been preparing for about six weeks whereas our national team has only been together for one week, but I still think we have a very disciplined team, fit and experienced, so it’s going to be
equal,” the England-born footballer of Guyanese parentage explained.
Nurse reflected that the Golden Jaguars would have defeated Barbados in the home and away fixtures during the World Cup Qualifiers in 2011, but admitted that this time around it will be a tougher test.
Meanwhile, Nurse, who has appeared in 47 games for Guyana, also shared his thoughts on the level of local talent he has seen during the encampment period, given the fact that he was working with a completely different bunch from the one at the last World Cup Qualifiers.
“Guyana has a lot of talent. It’s just about being able to nurture that talent and bringing it forward in
the right way. The World Cup is going to be four years from now, so being able to expose some of the younger talents to the professional and international environment right now is important,” Nurse, who plies his trade in the North American Soccer League, observed.
The Golden Jaguars are slated to depart Guyana this afternoon onboard a LIAT flight from the Ogle International Airport at 14:50 hours. The game is the Golden Jaguars’ first on a path to upward mobility on the FIFA rankings after they would have dropped from an all-time high of 86 in November 2010 to a current position of 167.
The Bajans are ranked 143. The game will kick off at 19:00 hours.
Seasoned left-arm spinner Nikita Miller has been named to replace Sunil Narine in the West Indies World Cup squad.
The 32-year-old Jamaican has not played for West Indies in nearly a year, but has the experience of 45 One-Day Internationals, where he has taken 40 wickets. In the recent Super50 tournament, Miller took just six wickets at an average of
15, as Jamaica went out in the semi-finals. Narine was named in the World Cup squad earlier this month, but pulled out on Tuesday, citing the need to continue work on his bowling.
The champion off-spinner has been doing remedial work on his bowling ever since being reported for having a suspected illegal action during the Champions League Twenty20 in
September last year.
West Indies are currently en route from South Africa to the World Cup, which is set to bowl off in Australia and New Zealand next month.
They have been installed in Group B, which includes Ireland, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, South Africa, India and United Arab Emirates.
The World Cup runs from February 14 to March 29.
The future stars of Georgetown football will be on show this weekend when the annual Milo Under-20 Secondary Schools football championship opens at the Education Ministry ground on Carifesta Avenue.
A total of eight games, equally spread over the two days, are carded for the weekend. Action will kick off at 11:00 hours on both days with Freeburg and Charlestown being given the honour of setting the tone for the rest of the competition in Saturday’s curtainraiser.
In game two, North Georgetown will square off with Mae’s, followed by Queen’s College against School of the Nation and Kingston versus Tucville in the final game of the day.
On Sunday, North Ruimveldt and Richard Ishmael will tussle in the opening match-up, with Christ Church trading skills with Houston in game two.
Dolphin and Morgan Learning Centre will look to outdo each other in the third game of the day, while Lodge and Queenstown will wrap up the first weekend of action.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, representatives of the participating schools were presented with balls by the organisers in a bid to ensure they have the necessary equipment to adequately compete.
A total of 32 schools are participating in the competition, which will last until March with a total of 48 games, all of which are slated for the Education Ministry ground. The tournament is a collaborative effort of the Education Ministry, the Petra Organisation and main sponsor, Beepat’s Trading, the distributors of Milo.
Unavailability of grounds, coupled with inclement weather, has forced the organisers of the Cheddi Jagan Memorial Over-40, 20-over round-robin competition for teams in the Demerara sub-associations to delay the start of the competition by a week.
The competition, which is being coordinated by the East Coast Cricket Committee (ECCC) and the Lusignan Cricket Club (LCC), was slated to bowl off this weekend, but will now start on the weekend of February 7-8.
In the opening doubleheader on February 7 at the Everest ground, Buffaloes will come up against Colts and Lions will tackle Bears, while the following day, Mavericks will play Tigers and Bulls will face Seals at Lusignan.
The competition will be held in observance of the 18th death anniversary of
Guyana’s former President, Dr Cheddi Jagan. It is expected to be completed in March.
Eight teams- two from each sub-association- will vie for top honours. The registered teams are East Coast Bulls, East Coast Tigers, Georgetown Buffaloes, Georgetown Bears, East Bank Colts, East Bank Lions, West Demerara Mavericks, and West Coast Seals.
Trophies will be awarded to the winner, the runner-up, and the Man-of-the-Match of each game.
According to information emanating from the organisers, there will be 14 rounds, comprising two matches each, with games spread across the Demerara corridor.
Interested persons can contact the following persons in the respective teams: Nazimul Drepaul on 615-8683 for Georgetown Bears and Garvin Nedd on 617-9381 for Georgetown Buffaloes; Johnny Azeez on 649-0243 for East Bank Lions and Rohan Sarjoo on 668-1565 for East Bank Colts; Sudesh Persaud on 658-7943 for West Demerara Mavericks and Dhanpaul on 668-8865 for West Coast Seals; and Anil Persaud on 624-6098 for East Coast Tigers and Seeraj Bhimsain on 647-2480 for the East Coast Bulls.
The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has agreed a deal with the St Kitts and Nevis government that will see Warner Park hosting all six neutral CPL games for the 2015 tournament.
Following on from the huge success of the CPL matches held in St Kitts and Nevis at the Warner Park Stadium last year, the government and CPL management have signed a deal that will see the historic venue once again playing host to six neutral games.
Warner Park Stadium is not only located on one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean, but also boasts top-class facilities.
Last year, Warner Park Stadium became the focus of cricket fans from around the world. CPL’s unique blend of entertainment saw the CPL finals played alongside a spectacular performance from Grammy award-win-
ning American artist, Rick Ross.
All the games saw the stadium filled to capacity as fans came out in their droves to watch the best cricket the region has to offer. St Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Sports, the Hon. Glenn Phillip, said: “CPL delivers huge benefits to the Federation with US$26 million injected into the economy during last year’s hosting of CPL, and 65 million fans from around the world tuning in to enjoy the exciting matches. There is no doubt that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis were treated to a fantastic week of entertainment both on and off the pitch.
“As such, we see the hosting of the neutral games, alongside having our new team, as a massive opportunity for St. Kitts and Nevis, and we are delighted to be welcoming all of the CPL teams to the Warner Park
Stadium once again.”
CPL CEO, Damien O’Donohoe, added: “We are hugely proud to be announcing this deal which will see CPL build on its great fanbase in St. Kitts and Nevis. The hospitality shown there has been nothing short of sensational and the St. Kitts and Nevis Government have again shown great commitment and faith in the tournament by agreeing to host the neutral games at Warner Park Stadium this year.
“Their commitment reinforces our drive to make CPL one of the most successful cricket tournaments in the world. The staff of Warner Park Stadium did an impeccable job in taking care of the grounds last year, ensuring that exceptional cricket was on display - further cementing its position as a premier location to host not only CPL games, but international matches as well,” continued O’Donohoe. (www.cplt20.com)
The draw involved selecting balls from a bowl
Guinea have reached the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals at the expense of Mali after the drawing of lots. Michel Dussuyer’s side will face Ghana on Sunday following the draw at a Malabo hotel.
Guinea and Mali had finished level in Group D after they drew all three
pool matches 1-1. It is the first time lots have decided a team’s qualification in the tournament since 1988, when Algeria profited at Ivory Coast’s expense.
This time, Ivory Coast finished top of Group D in Equatorial Guinea after beating Cameroon 1-0 - the only match in the group not
Kumar Sangakkara mounted a sleek 21st ODI hundred on Tillakaratne Dilshan’s foundation, to shepherd Sri Lanka toward a consolation victory in Wellington. The visitors were hampered by their own wheezing middle order, and managed only 287 for 5 when a total well over 300 had seemed a possibility for much of the innings. Nonetheless, that total proved 34 runs too many for New Zealand, whose lower middle order was characteristically spirited, after the innings had sustained early setbacks. Kane Williamson was their top-scorer with an 83-ball 54.
The defence of Sri Lanka’s target was headed up by Shaminda Eranga and Dushmantha Chameera, who claimed three wickets between them and provided
Sri Lanka innings (50 overs maximum)
HDRL Thirimanne* lbw
b Anderson 30
TM Dilshan c †Ronchi
b Southee 81
KC Sangakkara† not out 113
DPMD Jayawardene
c †Ronchi b Southee 14
S Prasanna lbw b Mills 1
LD Chandimal c †Ronchi
b Anderson 5 NLTC Perera c Mills
b Anderson 20
KMDN Kulasekara not out 12
Extras: (lb-2, w-9) 11
Total (6 wickets; 50 overs) 287
Fall of wickets: 1-71 (Thirimanne, 14.6 ov), 2-175 (Dilshan, 32.5 ov), 3-203 (Jayawardene, 36.6 ov), 4-209 (Prasanna, 38.3 ov), 5-231 (Chandimal, 43.2 ov), 6-253 (Perera, 45.4 ov)
Bowling: KD Mills 8-1-42-1 (2-w), TG Southee 10-0-502 (1-w), MJ McClenaghan 9-0-47-0, DL Vettori 8-0-52-0 (1-w), CJ Anderson 9-0-59-3 (2-w), GD Elliott 4-0-24-0 (2w), KS Williamson 2-0-11-0 New Zealand innings (target: 288 runs from 50 overs)
the control Sri Lanka had so sorely lacked in the previous six matches. Neither of those bowlers are in Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad, however, nor is tearaway debutant Dushmantha Chameera who took two wickets for himself. Nuwan Kulasekara also claimed two scalps. Sangakkara was flowing from the outset, sending
to finish in a 1-1 draw.
One representative from Guinea and Mali took part in Thursday’s draw, which involved selecting balls from a bowl.
Mali’s football association president Boubacar Diarra went first and pulled out the ball that placed them third in the group.
With Diarra in tears, Amara Dabo, financial director of the Guinea sports ministry, then drew the ball that confirmed his side in second place.
Dabo said: “The god of football fortune has smiled upon Guinea after this hard long journey.”
Former Mali international and ex-Tottenham and West Ham striker Frederic Kanoute, 37, ex-
MJ Guptill lbw b Kulasekara 0
TWM Latham b Eranga 6
KS Williamson* c Jayawardene
b Dilshan 54
LRPL Taylor b Chameera 11
GD Elliott c Chandimal b Chameera 24
CJ Anderson c †Sangakkara b Eranga 29
L Ronchi† b Kulasekara 47
DL Vettori b Prasanna 35
KD Mills run out (Kulasekara/†Sangakkara) 30
TG Southee c †Sangakkara
b Perera 1
MJ McClenaghan not out 5
Extras: (lb-5, w-6) 11
Total: (all out; 45.2 overs) 253
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Guptill, 0.1 ov), 2-11 (Latham, 3.3 ov), 3-42 (Taylor, 11.6 ov), 4-101 (Elliott, 24.1 ov), 5-121 (Williamson, 27.1 ov), 6-141 (Anderson, 30.3 ov), 7-215 (Ronchi, 39.6 ov), 8-218 (Vettori, 41.2 ov), 9-225 (Southee, 42.4 ov), 10-253 (Mills, 45.2 ov)
Bowling: KMDN Kulasekara 9-0-55-2 (3-w), RMS Eranga 9-1-34-2 (1-w), S Prasanna 9.20-30-1 (1-w), PVD Chameera 8-0-60-2, NLTC Perera 5-0-42-1 (1-w), TM Dilshan 5-0-27-1
Anderson through the covers on bended knee fifth ball, before settling into a rhythm of steady singles punctuated by legside boundaries off the wayward deliveries. He first set himself a foundation, then pursued a more aggressive tempo, advancing to hammer Kyle Mills over midwicket in the 27th over, before swinging him onto
pressed his disappointment at the drawing of lots to decide who went through.
He tweeted: “This is no longer sport. But courage to our Guinean brothers.”
Guinea coach Dussuyer and Mali boss Henri Kasperczak had also both said before Thursday’s draw that it was an unfair way of separating the teams.
“Mali do not deserve
the legside fence again a few balls later.
Dilshan, who had had a 71-run opening stand with Lahiru Thirimanne, was largely content to take runs into the field, instead of attempting the more ambitious strokes. Dilshan and Sangakkara mustered a healthy scoring rate, with Dilshan adding a half-century to the two hundreds he has already hit in the series. Sangakkara reached his own fifty with a tickle to the fine leg fence off Daniel Vettori. The hundred stand came up in the 34th over, but Dilshan was out edging behind for 81 a few balls later, leaving Sri Lanka at 185 for 2.
Mahela Jayawardene was out attempting a cute shot behind the wicket off Tim Southee, before Seekkuge Prasanna and Dinesh Chandimal’s cheap dismissals stole further momentum from the innings. Chandimal’s 15-ball 5 had been a particularly pained stay, and Sangakkara’s scoring also slowed, just as the death overs approached.
Thisara Perera’s 20 off 12, which featured a flat, fast six over midwicket, got the scoreboard moving quickly again, before Sangakkara once more took the baton. An emphatic pull off Mitchell McClenaghan took him to triple figures, though the celebrations were muted, and two clever leg-side boundaries in the final over gave the innings a late fillip. (Cricinfo)
to be eliminated in this way, just as we do not,” Dussuyer said. Kasperczak added: “We have to solve the problems of qualification without a drawing of lots.”
The Confederation of African Football (Caf), which organises the tournament, said that alternative systems to separate teams would be considered in future. (BBC Sport)
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Hours after a public face-to-face meeting and brief discussion during half-time of Tuesday night’s Miami HeatMilwaukee Bucks game in Miami, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. met privately for more than an hour to continue discussing terms for their proposed May 2 mega fight.
They met inside Pacquiao’s hotel suite and “it was very pleasant and very encouraging, and we give Floyd credit for coming over,” Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz, who was present at the meeting, told ESPN.com on Wednesday.
“That’s the first time they ever sat eye to eye. I’ve met Floyd many times, but he and Manny had never had a chance to meet. They talked at halftime, but this was a longer, more serious meeting. You could tell by their body language that this was very positive. It was for a good hour or more.
“It was a business meeting, but it wasn’t a tense business meeting. I think that’s because they both have mutual respect for each other. We’ll determine what will happen over the next couple of days.”
The half-time meeting, which Pacquiao said was the first time he and fellow welterweight champion Mayweather Jr. met, resulted in an exchange of phone numbers and lit up social media as sports fans contin-
ued to hope this latest twist would get them closer to fighting each other.
The sides have been negotiating what will certainly be the richest fight in boxing history, but no deal has been struck yet.
One of the issues is that Time Warner/HBO, which has a contract with Pacquiao, and CBS/Showtime, which has Mayweather under contract, need to hammer out terms for a joint pay-perview telecast, which they did once before for the 2002 fight between then-heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis and former champ Mike Tyson. They have been negotiating the terms.
Koncz said that Mayweather voiced two specific broadcasting issues to Pacquiao during the hotel meeting.
“I told Floyd I would call [Pacquiao promoter] Bob [Arum of Top Rank] in the morning, and I did that and discussed them with Bob, and he assured us they have been worked out. I took care of it,” Koncz said. “I said to Floyd, and Manny agreed, that if those are the only two broadcasting issues, we would take care of them.”
Koncz declined to go into detail about the specifics of the issues because “I don’t want to step on HBO’s or Showtime’s toes.”
Koncz said Pacquiao and Mayweather also discussed other issues but that the broadcasting items were
“the majority of the discussion. Floyd said, ‘I want the fight to happen,’ and Manny said he does, too. If the fighters both want the fight to happen, who can stop it? They both said they want it to happen, and we’re still looking to make it happen on May 2.
“I think people are just tired of all of this. Me and Manny, and maybe Floyd, we’re tired of the fans and everybody, everywhere we go continually asking us when the fight will happen. Boxing needs this fight to happen, and it needs to happen in May.”
Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), the 36-year-old Filipino legend, and Arum have repeatedly said they have agreed to all of the terms outlined by Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs), who turns 38 in February, during talks with CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, who has served as the go-between on behalf of Mayweather and his adviser, Al Haymon. Mayweather has said he intends to fight May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, be it against Pacquiao or somebody else.
According to sources involved in this round of talks, they have agreed to the drug testing protocol, among many others aspects of the fight. Should they meet, the fight, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, is expected to shatter every revenue record in boxing history. (ESPN)
Andy Murray came storming back after a poor start to beat Tomas Berdych and reach his fourth Australian Open final.
The British number one lost a tense first set but recovered to win 6-7 (6-8) 6-0 6-3 7-5.
It will be the sixth seed’s eighth Grand Slam final and first working with Amelie Mauresmo, with excoach Dani Vallverdu now in Berdych’s corner.
Murray, 27, will play the winner of today’s semi-final between Novak Djokovic
and Stan Wawrinka.
“There was a little bit of extra tension - it was a big match,” said Murray. “A lot was made about Dani
Vallverdu, my former coach, working with Tomas.
“But we’ve been friends since we were 15 years old and I felt that the focus was unfair and unnecessary.
“This is sport - and there’s more to life than sport. It created a bit of extra tension but everyone calmed down after start of the match.”
The Scot’s hopes were under threat after losing a tension-filled opening set, but he turned it around with a brilliant lob early in the second and took control with seven straight games.
(BBC Sport)
Cricket great Shahid Afridi will grace the 2015 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with his explosive talents.
The 34-year-old Pakistani all-rounder, one of the game’s most beloved superstars, will be in the draft for CPL 2015 when it takes place in Jamaica on Thursday February 5.
“I’m looking forward to playing in the CPL, what’s not to like? Beautiful venues, knowledgeable crowds and top-class cricket... Bring it on!” said Afridi.
Here are five things about the CPL’s newest recruit you might not have known.
Sweet 16
In his first international innings in October 1996, the prodigious 16-year-old broke the record for the fastest ODI century, reaching a hundred against a stunned Sri Lanka from just 37 balls. It took until 2014 for the mark to be beaten- New Zealand’s Corey Anderson taking 36 balls to score a ton against West Indies in Queenstown (before AB de Villiers hit a century off only 31 balls in 2015!).
Ton-dulkar
And whose bat did the teenage Afridi use to score the then fastest ODI century? India legend Sachin Tendulkar’s, of course! Afridi later said: “I’d just got into the team and Waqar Younis gave me a bat to use in the nets. It was Sachin’s
bat. I tried it out and it felt good, so I used it in my first international. It was a great honour to play with it, and it will always be one of my treasured possessions.”
20/20 vision Afridi was man of the series in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 as he shone with the ball and Pakistan reached the final, but they went one better in 2009 and “Boom Boom” made hay with the bat in his hands, as he bludgeoned 51 (and took 2-16) in the semis against South Africa and then hammered an unbeaten 54 in the final against Sri Lanka, winning the Man-ofthe-Match award in both.
Record-breaker
Where to start? Just in ODIs, he is the youngest player to score a 100, has 3 of the 6 fastest 50s and 2 of the 5 fastest 100s, has hit
more sixes than anyone else (342), has the 2nd best bowling figures (7-12) of all time, is the only man to score 7,000 runs and take 350 wickets and has the highest strike rate (115 - min. 1,000 runs). In T20s, he’s the 3rd highest wickets-taker with 81 and has played more games (77) than anyone else. Oh, and he’s credited with hitting the biggest six of all time, a 158m brute in a 2013 ODI.
Awesome 4some
Afridi married his wife Nadia in 2000 and they have four daughtersAnsha, Asmara, Ajwa and Aqsa. After match-winning performances against India and Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in 2014, fans posted on Facebook for Afridi to be rewarded for his displays - with a son. The message was liked nearly 6,000 times and got 2,000 shares! (www.cplt20.com)
Play in the Parbattie Jaggai Memorial Inter-Secondary School Under-17 cricket competition will bowl off today with two matches. The competition is targeting five Secondary Schools from Corentyne.
In today’s first round, Black Bush Polder Secondary will play Central Corentyne Secondary at Mibikuri, while Tagore Memorial Secondary will host Skeldon Line Path Secondary. The other team in the competition, Skeldon
High, drew the bye.
The competition will be played on a round-robin basis with a one day, two innings format. The top two teams will advance to the knockout stages of the Berbice Cricket Board competition after playing in the grand final.
The competition was officially launched on Tuesday, when Steven Seeraj, the son of the late Parbattie Jaggai, handed over the sponsorship cheque for a second year to Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA)
Guyana’s leading Youth and Sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) continues to attract the support of corporate Guyana as the club celebrates its Silver Jubilee anniversary with a planned 200 programmes/activities for 2015.
The latest business entities to support the club are Modern Optical ServicesNew Amsterdam branch and Caribbean Container Inc. (CCI) of Farm, East Bank, Demerara.
Both companies made substantial financial donations to the club’s Secretary/
in school and obtain an educational background. Foster expressed gratitude to both companies for the confidence shown in the RHTY&SC, and reassured them that the club would continue to fulfill its mandate in the future.
Dr Jose Da Silva congratulated the club on its outstanding work over the last 25 years, and noted that he was proud to be a supporter over the past decade.
Treasurer, Vicky Bharosay. Seeraj mentioned that the UCCA did a great job last year in organising the competition; hence he had no hesitation in sponsoring the tournament for a second year.
Bharosay expressed gratitude to Seeraj, adding that competition of such nature will eventually assist in nurturing the next generation of cricketers in Berbice.
The competition is being held in memory of Parbattie Jaggai, who was a die-hard fan of the game.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster at a simple presentation ceremony recently.
Foster stated that the club intended to make its 25th anniversary celebration, one which is not only memorable, but which will make a posi-
tive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate.
The contribution of the two companies would be used to provide less fortunate youths in Berbice with educational and sports materials in an effort to get them to stay
Chief Executive Officer of CCI, Patricia Bacchus, stated that her company was proud to be associated with the RHTY&SC for the first time, and expressed the hope that the relationship would develop in the future. CCI, she noted, was committed to fulfilling its corporate responsibilities in youth and sports development.
“The players all worked hard, displaying tremendous enthusiasm and discipline. It was also very instructive that the Normalisation Committee ensured all the players were paid their per diem stipends before they left camp. This is a huge sign of their commitment to players’ welfare and professional approach,” Shabazz, who is on his third stint with the national team, highlighted.
The outspoken Coach argued that Sunday’s match will give a clear indication of the state of Guyana’s football on the field of play.
“Because of the heights we want to take Guyana football, we need to keep it real as to where we are right now. The Barbados game will not lie, it will tell the truth in the results and the scoreline. The Guyana public is tired of deception and spinners of the truth. Before we can go anywhere, we first got to know where we are. This game on Sunday will tell us that.”
Entrusted with bringing glory to the nation on Sunday is a squad of two Goalkeepers, six Defenders, seven Midfielders and three Forwards.
The 18-man squad reads: Goalkeepers Akel Clarke and Derrick Carter; Defenders Solomon Austin, Jamaal Smith, Colin Nelson, Kris Camacho, Joshua Brown and Dwain Jacobs; Midfielders
Christopher Nurse, Eusi Phillips, Clive Nobrega, Calvin Sheperd, Vurlon Mills, Daniel Wilson and Trayon Bobb; and Forwards Sheldon Holder, Pernell Schultz and Emery Welshman.
Kick off time is 19:00 hours at the Barbados National Stadium.
BFA assessing squad
Meanwhile, the Barbados Football Association (BFA) is using the game as a gauge ahead of crucial upcoming assignments for the national team.
BFA president Randy Harris said with the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and the 2016 Olympic Qualifiers scheduled to start soon, the international friendly would be an excellent way for new Brazilian Technical Director, Marcos Falopa, to assess the squad’s standard.
“We decided to have a friendly to give our team, which had started training late last year, a practice game,” Harris said.
“Also, it would afford the BFA to really start the year on a high by playing an international. We have not had the opportunity to play many internationals over the past four years or so, so we’re using this opportunity really to give our team a practice game. It has come in well with the draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.”
He added: “Obviously it will give the Technical Director an opportunity to see what level the Barbados team is at going forward for the World Cup and the Olympic Qualifiers. That is the main purpose.”
Barbados has not played an international since campaigning in the Caribbean Cup Qualifiers in Haiti last October, when they finished bottom of the group and missed out on last November’s final round in Jamaica. The game will also represent their first friendly international in nearly a year following their 2-0 defeat to Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz last March. And though the BFA hopes that Barbados will come away with a positive result from the Guyana encounter, they plan to remain focussed on the bigger objective of team development.
Day one of the Guyana Jaguars’ three-day practice match at Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda, was abandoned without a ball being bowled, due to heavy rainfall in the city on Thursday.
The match is part of the Jaguars’ preparations for the resumption of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional Four-Day tournament on February 6.
According to a release from the Guyana Cricket Board, the match is being used to assist the players in effectively making the transition from One Day cricket to the longer version of the game.
Roland Eudoxie, a Guyanese Sensei in Martial Arts, on Wednesday last paid a courtesy call on Public Works Minister Robeson Benn to convey his appreciation for the financial support afforded to him by the Ministry to participate in an international championship.
From January 23-25, Eudoxie, 31, participated in the Action Martial Arts Championship in New Jersey, U.S.A, where he secured first place in Stick Fighting and third position in Board Breaking.
The two teams for the match will be selected from the following players: Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Christopher Barnwell, Anthony Bramble, Ronsford Beaton, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Trevon Griffith, Keon Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Rajendra Chandrika, Paul Wintz, Vishaul Singh, Raun Johnson, Anthony Adams, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Amir Khan, Steven Sankar, Kevon Boodie, Gudakesh Motie, Ricardo Adams, Jason Sinclair, Kemol Savory, Krisendat Ramoo,
Shemroy Barrington, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Robin Bacchus, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shimron Hetmyer and Kemo Paul. Notably missing from the group of players selected for
the practice game are batsmen Narsingh Deonarine and Leon Johnson, who are on West Indies duty in South Africa, and the injured Assad Fudadin. Meanwhile, after four rounds in phase one, Guyana Jaguars have accumulated 57 points. Jamaica, who
“It is important to note that the West Indies Cricket Board was consulted while this Bill was in the National Assembly, at the Select Committee, and they agreed in writing that they will play a role in the appointment of the Ombudsman. In those circumstances, they were included in the Bill, in the manner outlined in Section 17,” he said.
“I do not subscribe to the notion that the willful refusal or inadvertent omission of the West Indies Cricket Board to participate
in the appointment of the Ombudsman can render an appointment made without their participation, unlawful or illegal,” said Nandlall, He added: “The truth of the matter is, the Minister requested their input in accordance with Section 17 of the Act and they ignored it. In my humble view, it cannot be the law that the will of Parliament can be frustrated and defeated by the whims and fancies of the West Indies Cricket Board. Those who believe that the law is so fickle are mistaken.”
face off with the Jaguars at Sabina Park when the format resumes, occupy the second spot on 50 points, followed by Barbados Pride on 44. The Windward Islands Volcanoes (26), Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (24), and Leeward Islands Hurricanes (10) follow in that order.
Windward Islands Volcanoes’ openers Devon Smith (334) and Johnson Charles (262) and Guyanese Narsingh Deonarine (306) are the only batsman to reach 250 runs.
Deonarine, with two centuries, along with Vishual Singh, is among the seven batsmen to score centuries with Smith, Kraigg Braithwaite, Royston Chase, Orlando Peters and Charles, who scored the highest (151), being the others.
Veerasammy Permaul (33), Imran Khan (21), Devendra Bishoo (21), Alston Bobb (20), Daimon Jacobs (18) and Nikita Miller (17) are the only bowlers to reach 15 wickets.
There have been 19 fivewicket hauls so far with Permaul and Bobb taking two each.
Meanwhile, Dr Anthony is still awaiting a response from the WICB with regard the setting of a date for the elections of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).
The Minister had given the WICB 21 days in which to reply and then set a date.
Dr Anthony confirmed that the letter was dispatched to the WICB early last week, and should the WICB body not respond within the stipulated timeframe, he said will go ahead and set a date for elections. The WICB has since confirmed receipt of the letter.
He was also inducted into the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Honour, receiving outstanding dedication to the Arts.
The Sensei in an invited comment said, “I am pleased that the Ministry assisted me in pursuing my passion. I want to wholeheartedly say thanks to the Minister and his staff.”
Eudoxie has been involved in the sport for 17 years, and will be launching
By Rajiv Bisnauth
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) was given 14 days to recommend five nominees for consideration by the Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, for appointment to the post of Guyana’s Cricket Ombudsman.
In a letter sent to the WICB President Dave Cameron on October 9, 2014, and seen by Guyana Times Sport, Dr Anthony informed the Board about his intentions to appoint the Ombudsman and invited the regional entity to participate, as stipulated by law in the process.
Dr Anthony even went as far as signalling his availability to meet with the WICB at a “mutually” convenient time to have more
dialogue on the matter.
Based on the regional body’s failure to respond within the stipulated timeframe, Dr Anthony went ahead and appointed Dr Winston McGowan as Guyana’s first Cricket Ombudsman in keeping with the Cricket Administration Act 2014.
Part VII, Section 17 of the Act states that “the Minister, after meaningful consultation with the WICB, shall be responsible for the appointment of a Cricket Ombudsman, who shall be responsible for the verification of the Register of Clubs and for performing the functions of Returning Officer for the first elections of the membership.”
Dr McGowan’s appointment comes at a most opportune time in Guyana’s cricket history, a period which has
been plagued with headlines of internal power struggles, fraudulent elections and numerous court battles among administrators of the game.
However, even Dr McGowan’s appointment
could not have prevented another court matter.
On Monday, Chief Justice Ian Chang issued an Order Nisi against the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, following an affidavit which was filed by the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB).
“It is ordered that an Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari be issued, directed to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport to show cause why a Writ of Certiorari should not be issued, quashing the decision of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport to appoint Dr Winston Mc Gowan as Cricket Ombudsman, pursuant to Section 17 of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act No 14 of 2014 on the ground and for the reason that the said decision to appoint Dr Winston McGowan as Cricket
“It’s a good blend of youth and experience,” says Shabazz
By avenash Ramzan
t’s a good blend of youth and experience with more than half the squad under [age]
25. At this point there are no more foreign or local players; the selected squad is in fact the Guyana National Team.” Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz was his usual
candid self moments after the travelling squad of 18 players was announced on Thursday for the Golden Jaguars international friendly encounter against hosts Barbados on Sunday evening.
“The unity and togetherness shown by the players during the camp made it impossible to tell who was foreign-born, foreign-based or
local-based,” he pointed out.
Commenting on the composition of the squad, which was trimmed from the preliminary squad that was in training over the past week, Shabazz said, “We’ve selected the players whom we thought are more match ready in terms of fitness and the ones who would adapt to the tactics given the short period.”
The squad went through a rigorous one week encampment under the watchful eyes of Shabazz and Assistant Coach Wayne “Wiggy” Dover at the National Stadium and the Guyana Defence Force ground, and according to the Head Coach, the players displayed admirable work ethics and a positive attitude.
Ombudsman pursuant to Section 17 of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act No 14 of 2014 is unlawful, ultra vires, irrational, unreasonable, wholly in excess of jurisdiction, unreasonable,
null, void and of no legal effect, in breach of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act No. 14 of 2014, in breach of and a denial of the principles of natural justice and legitimate expectations unless good and sufficient cause is shown to the Court why this Order Nisi should not be made absolute,” the Order stated.
However, Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, told this media outfit on Thursday that the Sport Minister’s appointment of Dr McGowan is not outside the laws stipulated in the Act.
The AG stated that the Minister proceeded with the appointment of Dr McGowan after no response was received from the WICB.
