Guyana Times Daily

Guards beaten, raped as bandits target N/A Secondary Schools

Govt has finances to fulfil promises

$5M stolen ...but lacks competency to execute inherited programmes – Jagdeo

CJIA project

Barbados PM restates Caricom’s ‘total support’ for Guyana’s territorial integrity SWAT ranks for Berbice – Ramjattan

18 Cuban trained Guyanese doctors complete training at Suddie Public Hospital

Ministers urge CanadianGuyanese to invest “back home” Patterson wants to review GEA polygraph testing policy

300,000 marijuana plants, over 800 pounds ganja destroyed in Berbice River – as per diem and private-payment claims raised

CJIA project gets Govt green light –

objections "storn in teacup"

Following consultations with the contracting firm, the Government of Guyana has decided to continue with the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project.

This decision comes some two weeks after works on the expansion project was been suspended as a result of several irregularities in the contract between the Chinese state company, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Ltd, and the Guyana Government. It was also reported that the Government had complained about missed deadlines and failure to do proper engineering studies.

However, on Saturday, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson told media operatives there was a week-long consultation between the contractor and Government, after which Cabinet on Tuesday last gave provisional approval for the continuation of the controversial airport expansion project.

He explained that provisional approval was given because a new proposal has to be designed for the renovation of the terminal building and they were given two week’s time to do so. “That’s the only outstanding item in this negotiation, so therefore… we have based on these provisions, in excess of $35 million the building and the navigation and so. My team feels that it is more than adequate to have the building renovated and resized and everything to accommodate the short and medium term needs of the Government and the country,” he stated.

Patterson further disclosed that the contracting company had submitted a claim for US$46.8 million, however this amount was reduced and capped at US$23.6 million. “This cap includes all claims to date, all variations, all design phases – now and future. Cabinet has given provisional approval under this revised scope of works. We shall now construct the extended runway – all 35,000 feet, and we shall now extend, expand and renovate the existing terminal building,” he noted.

As it relates to the terminal building, expansion works will be done to both the arrival and departure departments with the possibility of going two stories higher, the Minister pointed out while adding there is adequate space to also consider air bridges.

In addition, some of the other works to be done as part of the airport expansion project include new driveways and extended parking facilities as well as a commercial mall.

Patterson outlined that the vendors along the airport’s access road will have to be removed and placed into the mall. He noted that they will be given first priority.

According to the Public Infrastructure Minister, the project is expected to recommence in a week’s time and has a final extended deadline to be completed by the second quarter of 2017. He adamantly maintained that the completion of the entire project will not exceed the budgeted US$150 million. The Exim Bank of China had granted US$138 million for the project while the Guyana Government put up US$12 million.

Meanwhile, another factor Government has catered for within US$150 million is the relocation of the Timehri North residents. On this note, the Public Infrastructure Minister assured that no more than 15 residents will be moved.

Patterson reiterated that the 2000 plus relocation that was done under the previous Administration will not reoccur. “We have moral and social responsibilities. The question of regularisation of the area is outside of my purview, they have to take that up with the Ministry of Communities.

All I’m guaranteeing, there will be no more than 12 or 15 persons may be required to and if you are, we will accommodating anybody we relocate no more than a mile away in the area,” he posited.

This way, the Minister noted, persons who are attending school in the area or working in the vicinity of the airport, we will not be adversely affected. He added too that the area where the residents will be relocated will be completely developed with water and electricity. The Public Infrastructure Minister noted that he has not met with the residents as yet to inform them of the situation, however, he indicated that he has been in contact with the individual community leaders and intends to hold a public meeting, but, will only do so after he has ascertained Government’s finite position on this aspect of the project.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

The

Winds:

Low

reaching minimum heights of 0.93 metre and 1.05 metres respectively.

Govt has finances to fulfil promises

...but lacks competency to execute inherited programmes – Jagdeo

By Alexis Rodney

Former President and soon to be People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Bharrat Jagdeo said the claims by the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition Government that it inherited a “bankrupt” economy is highly misleading and that the Administration has enough financial resources to fulfil all the promises it made while on the campaign trail.

The former President, in his first interview since the results of the 2015 General and Regional elections, told Guyana Times that the new Government could adequately provide for the country, which, however, has been experiencing a financial slump since the new Administration came to bear.

Jagdeo said Government has been making heavy “political weather” about the status of the country’s financial coffers, when it in fact has enough money to execute each of its plans.

“They are claiming that the economy is bankrupt. And therefore they cannot fulfil the electoral promises. They have been going around to villages, saying this to people. Let’s take for example the economy, whether it is bankrupt. Last year, the revenue that is the taxes we collected was $145 billion in 2014. This year, it is projected to be at $160 billion, not because of Government’s efforts because they have only been

there for two months. How can you say a country is bankrupt, when every year, you are left with collections in the deposit account $160 billion of revenue, a recurrent issue”, the former leader questioned.

Jagdeo spoke of the “private accounts” that Government has been quite vocal about. “They started saying that these entire private accounts, we were siphoning off the money and then they expressed surprise that there is so much money in these private accounts and made a big issue as though these accounts belong to private people”.

The former Head of State said thought is far from the truth, as the accounts are held by Ministries that have set up their own private accounts. He said the accounts; $30 Billion altogether, could easily be transferred to the treasury, to help Government fulfil its promises.

Jagdeo explained that his Party while in Government, had also laid an easy path for the new administration since it had negotiated loans and grants close $1 billion. He spoke of the awarding of contracts for works to be carried out in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) for the paving of roads; the four-lane road on the East Coast of Demerara, the widening of Sheriff Street; and acquiring money – some US$50 million from Norway for the water treatment plant.

According to Jagdeo, while work will be commencing soon, it is not the work of the current Administration, but that

which was initiated by the PPP/C Administration. He noted that should all these be put together, Government would be acquiring close to $1 billion from the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank and the EU.

Jadgeo spoke too of the “big projects that were left in the pipeline” by the previous Administration. He spoke of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Electric Project, which would have seen some US$700 million of private investment; the biggest single investment in Guyana’s history.

According to him, there are also three new gold mines coming on stream that will bring revenue to the country. He said the debt servicing; the biggest thing that could take up any country’s revenue, moved from 94 per cent when the PPP got into office to 95 per cent of revenue.

Meanwhile, speaking on the topic of the upcoming budget, The former President said the reason the Opposition has been

so fierce in its decisions to the cut the budget, was because of the talk that the then Government had been siphoning off some $30 billion each year over the three years they (APNU/AFC) had control of Parliament.

According to Jagdeo, if that were true, then the budget this year, should be lower by $30 Billion so that “stealing” could be eliminated.

“They are leaving $30 billion. They have to be man enough to say that they lied about it, that it wasn’t theft, just political rhetoric if they keep the budget at the same level like it was in the past. Either that or they cut it”, he said.

“They said they can’t increase 20 per cent wages to public servants. But if one holds the tax revenue constant from 2014, revenue from the GRA will grow by over eight billion.”

Jagdeo further explained that the employment bill is at some $42 billion and that Government could finance an increase in wages from the growth of the tax revenue over the last year.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

President David Granger

Sunday Editor: Michael Younge

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

When will we BE independent?

The attainment of independence by the Anglophone Caribbean is now a matter of history for the majority of its citizens who were either not born in the sixties or were too young to remember the event in their respect territories. T&T and Jamaica commemorated fifty years of independence three years ago and Barbados and Guyana have just one year to achieve that milestone.

But as one looks around the Caribbean, it appears that most of the leadership are still fixated in the past and agonising over events and personalities that by now should have been merely of historical interest. In Guyana, for instance, there has been great fanfare in commemorating the 30th anniversary of our first “independence” Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham. Dubbed the “father of the nation” in direct contra distinction to the founder of the People’s Progressive Party Cheddi Jagan, it would seem that there is a gauntlet thrown down on an issue that should have been resolved by now. Nations, unlike babies, can have many fathersand mothers.

There seems to a refusal to concede that the challenges the region are now confronting are situated in a in a world that is radically different from the one of that time. Take South Africa, which had two years ago rescinded an honour to Mr Burnham. At the time of the independence struggle in the Caribbean, South Africa was under a system that had taken the colonial logic to its ultimate, inhuman conclusion. The white rulers who had assumed the imperial mantle, operationalised the colonial theory that colonial subjects were not only unfit to govern themselves because they needed “tutelage”, but they were ontologically unfit by their very nature.

It was therefore not a coincidence that in every independence movement, from Asia to the Americas, the question of South Africa loomed very large. South Africa brought all the contradictions of colonialism to the fore in its most graphic form. But those contradictions have more or less morphed into very new forms that are being ignored as we remain fixated on the past. South Africa today is one of the members of BRICS, the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa that is actually poised to take over the lead from the old colonial “white” countries that we are still agonising over.

Much of the vocabulary that we are deploying in our struggle to develop our countries in the Caribbean lock us into strategies and mindsets that are guaranteed to leave us underdeveloped. For instance, Jamaica’s, Barbados’ and other Caribbean countries’ negotiations with the IMF should be of a qualitatively different nature from those that took place in the seventies not only because many of the nostrums handed down by that institution have been shown to be actually harmful (such as “no capital controls”) but some of the old colonial powers and their allies that control its purse strings are now being forced to deal with such conditionalities as “austerities”, which are making them question their efficacy.

Then there is our reflexive insistence to look towards the old “masters” to help us and refusing to accept the new world order. Around the time of the independence struggle there was the call for a New World Economic Order, which, under sustained attack by the colonial powers, quickly wilted. But today the possibility of the new order is being realised concretely with BRICS. Rather than flogging the dead horse of genuflecting to the whims from up north, we ought to be cementing ties with emerging powers that shared our colonial experience, such as China and India. It is a retrograde throwback to the “looking backwards” syndrome that there is so much hysteria over the Chinese-led development in the region and deep angst that the former colonials are not repeating their exploitation.

A half-century of independence is enough time to grow up.

The Forensic Audits: a fishing expedition in search of corruption

The APNU + AFC Coalition Government, through the Minister of Finance, have commissioned a number of forensic audits of the accounting systems and operations of a number of ministries, government departments and state agencies. A number of accountants/auditors in private practice, including some very critical of the PPP/C Administration, have been appointed by the Minister of Finance to conduct these forensic audits.

Whatever may have been the reason proffered for public consumption, it is obvious that these audits were designed to unmask and uncover the “massive corruption” which those political parties led the nation to believe existed under the PPP/C administration. Recall that every day they preached about corruption in public office; about lack of transparency and accountability in Government; about billions of dollars being siphoned off from contracts and about contracts being given to friends, family and cronies in a corrupt manner. Indeed, Khemraj Ramjattan concocted a bizarre theory that 25% of the National Budget was being stolen “as kickbacks”. According to Mr. Ramjattan, once the stealing stops, that money would be used to solve all of Guyana’s problems. Aided and abetted by a complicit media fraternity, headlines after headlines cascaded the television newscasts and across the front pages of the newspapers. This daily diet of political propaganda and untruths were rammed down the throat of the population. Many drank the cool aid both dutifully and blindly.

No mountain of corruption found; instead 60 billion “discovered” Shortly, after APNU + AFC assumed office and did not find the “mountain of corruption” that they bellowed so

garrulously about daily, and with the risk of being publicly embarrassed on this issue, they were forced to seek expert assistance as they embarked upon a journey, like Christopher Columbus, to discover this “massive corruption” about which they publicly prattled. This is the reason why they appointed over a dozen forensic auditors to search for this “mammoth corruption”. After nearly three months, and with help of over a dozen audit experts, all that they have been able unearth is some gallons of gasoline missing and a few used vehicles which they alleged were wrongly sold.

On the other hand, instead of finding funds missing, over 60 billion dollars were “discovered” deposited in local commercial banks in the names of the Ministries or department to which they relate. These accounts are part of the accounting records of those Ministries and departments and were audited by the Auditor General, yet the bizarre label of “private accounts” were attached to them, conveying the wrongful and scandalous impression that these monies were illegally placed in these accounts in the names of individuals.

My understanding is that these monies were deliberately deposited in the commercial banking system for fiscal flexibility and to add liquidity to the local banking system. In any event, statutes creating these agencies permit these monies to be held in these accounts. Therefore, there is absolutely nothing wrong with these monies being deposited in the commercial banks. The whimsical decision to withdraw 60 billion dollars from these accounts in the commercial banks were, therefore, understandably met with objections from the

Private Sector Commission because they understand the far reaching ramifications it is likely to have on the banking sector and indeed the economy.

At this juncture, I feel compelled to point out that I do not doubt that there is and was corruption in the public sector. Indeed, I know there is and there will always be. Therefore, the forensic audits will uncover incidents of corruption. But I dare say that they will be unable to find corruption of the magnitude and with the prevalence which the APNU + AFC led the nation to believe existed under the PPP/C administration.

Unconstitutionality and illegality of the auditors and the audits

More importantly, I submit that the recruitment of the forensic auditors and the audits themselves are unlawful and unconstitutional and can be classified as acts of corruption in themselves.

It is beyond dispute that those auditors were handpicked by the Minister of Finance without any public procurement process embarked upon. The costs of these audits will certainly run into millions of dollars. The Procurement Act mandates the Government and indeed every public officer and state agency to procure goods and services only in the manner outlined in the Act. The process outlined in the Act is the system of public tendering and competitive bidding to be administered not by a Government Minister, but by the National Tender Administration Board. This mandatory statutory process was wholly ignored by the Minister of Finance and millions of dollars of services have been contracted to audit, ultra vires and

in breach of the laws of Guyana and persons were simply handpicked by the Minister of Finance and given jobs. There was absolutely no public tendering. This is what is called “sole sourcing”, a concept that was vehemently criticized by the very persons who now practice it. The situation is compounded by the fact that some of these auditors are known cronies of the APNU + AFC. This is akin to one selecting one’s own judge to hear one’s case; an absolute vulgarity by any standard. The other fundamental issue which I wish to address is the constitutionality or lack thereof of these audits. Article 223 of the Constitution of Guyana provides “the public accounts of Guyana and of all officers and authorities … shall be audited and reported on by the Auditor General … or any person authorized by him … and shall have access to all books, records, returns and other documents relating to those accounts”. It is public knowledge that these forensic auditors were not appointed or authorized by the Auditor General. Indeed, the entire audit exercise is ministerially driven and the Auditor General had nothing to do with it. I therefore submit that both the appointment of these forensic auditors and the forensic themselves are unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional. I surmise that the audit fees are expected to be over 50 million dollars. These are monies which will be paid to auditors who were unlawfully hired o engage in an unconstitutional exercise. This may very well be the scandal of the decade.

Mohabir Anil Nandlall MP, JP. Attorney-at-Law

A late afternoon fishing expedition at the Kingston Seawall, in Georgetown, saw a fisherman coming up short on his catch of the day. In photo is the catch – a tiny Currass (Richard Jagdeo photo)

Police Officers need to be disciplined before we become a lawless nation

Dear Editor,

As I was travelling from Georgetown to Mon Repos, I noted with interest a police officer who joined the bus from Better Hope who sat in the front seat but didn’t wear the seat belt.

When he exited he didn’t pay the required $80.

The passengers queried if police officers don’t pay to travel. This police officer also broke the law by not wearing his seat belt. Yet, this same police officer will charge citizens for committing the same infraction.

Police officers who break the law should be fined or dismissed from the police force. It seems to me that they’re using their uniforms to intimidate and bully citizens. Even when CID officers in regular clothes are making arrests they will refuse to produce their ID’S and sometimes become abusive when prompted by citizens. I believe at all times Police officers, regardless of attire, should produce their ID’S because many criminal elements disguise as officers.

I observed the same unlawful behaviour at that time three police officers in that boat to Rosignol. The fare collector for the boat was abused by these police officers who refused to pay him his boat fees. They also travelled by taxi and didn’t pay. They didn’t pay for the items and beers they consumed at shops on their way. Not very long ago I saw a police vehicle parked outside a bar where four police officers in their uniform on duty, were drinking in company of

others. In my opinion, they shouldn’t be drinking on duty, nor should they have parked the Government vehicle to block the traffic and then drunkenly drive back to their station.

Our police officers are very undisciplined. They even “cuss” more than the regular citizens. The first principle of leadership is to set an example but here in Guyana we see those who make the laws break the laws on a daily basis. Or officers today need to literally earn respect from citizens.

Armed police have a tendency of stopping innocent citizens to search their bags and harass little boys, yet they failed to catch criminals. Is it because these criminals give them a ‘raise’? No wonder crime has risen by over a 1000%.

Our present administration who accused the past administration for failing to fight crime is now failing to handle the situation to such extent that even a land court judge was beaten and suffered a broken jaw and her husband a blind eye by bandits.

Soon if we aren’t careful bandits will take over Parliament and hold the leaders of this nation for ransom. On Independence Day our new President released 60 prisoners accused of petty crimes, but those who break the law must pay for their crimes whether big or small. We are yet to see the names of those released from prison as well as their pictures.

Former President Ramotar also released a child murderer from prison. This gives us much to think about the weak leadership of this nation. After the release of these prisoners the crime got worst because the big criminals now believe that the President will easily pardon them. What about the UG students who robbed millions of dollars and were sent to do community work? What’s the DPP doing about this? Are her hands tied or maybe she’s next to fired if she speak against this?

Implementing severe laws will stop crime so why not implement the Cat’o nine tail to give thieves a severe beating when they enter prison and a second beating when they leave? The death sentence should also be enforced. In Muslim countries they will cut off the hands of thieves which is a wonderful law that can bring order to this country. With crimes escalating the GDF still sleeps and gets fat on tax payers’ money. The Venezela threat is nothing compared to our own internal issues such as crimes, suicide, murder, rape, family breakups and massive migration. If we cannot deal with our own problems then how are we going to be able to deal with Venezuela? We need help from the UN before we become a lawless nation.

Faithfully,

Pastor Gideon Cecil

GRDB Rice Research Station sent over 7500 bags of high quality seed paddy to rice mill

Dear Editor,

It is alleged that due to poor management by the administration at the Rice Research Station which is Headed by Dr Mahendra Persaud and his team, in excess of over 7,500 bags of Basic, C1 and C2 seeds out of the over 12,500 that were produced, didn’t benefit the farmers who needed it the most to improve the quality of their rice cultivation, but remained in the system and now been sent to the mill to be sold as grains for milling to make rice.

If this is so, it’s expected that the company will lose over $25 million Guyana dollars because these high quality of seeds which would normally be sold to the farmers at a highly subsidized cost of $4500 to $4800 now has to be sold to the SAJ’s rice mill at Burma for a mere

price of $2500 to $2600 per bag. The lost is not only in the low price received for the sale but also the process has to be followed, for the production of seed paddy is one that is very costly since the crop has to be rogued for five to six times before reaching harvesting. As such, this is another cost of $6 - $8 million needed to carry out this process before the certification, harvesting and processing of the seeds.

It’s very disturbing to learn of this development since rice farmers normally go to the Rice Research Station and practically beg the administration to sell them one or two bags of seed and the administration there would refuse to sell the farmers.

The rice industry already has issues with marketing so why is the administration

Carl Parker disrespects the people of Region 9

Dear Editor,

We the concerned citizens of the Rupununi, Region Nine, would like to bring to your attention the general public dissatisfaction of the proposed appointment of Mr. Carl Parker as the Regional Executive officer and the way in which the transition took place. There was no formal documentation sent to the RDC which was still headed by the then Regional Chairman, Wilson Lorentino, stating the new change. No documentation requested Mrs Claire Singh to proceed on annual leave or that a hand over to Carl Parker be conducted. No documentation stating that Mr. Carl Parker would be taking over the administration or in what capacity was issued. This is considered gross disrespect to the region and particularly to Amerindians.

The fact that Mr. Carl Parker is the proposed Regional Executive Officer (REO) or now acting REO raises alarm and fear among persons in the communities, since the doubtful behaviour and attitude of this individual

is known by all. We know that he served as a public servant in several regions and was dismissed by the Public Service as a result of his unacceptable behaviour. He was in the Guyana Defense Force from which he was also dismissed.

Only recently at the annual Independence Flag raising ceremony, while I was delivering the feature address as is usually done by the Regional Vice-Chairman, Mr. Parker spearheaded a group of people who heckled me while I spoke at this significant event. This also is a gross disrespect to our country and young people who sat there listening.

He shows no respect to Amerindian people. Mr Parker has also shown contempt to the Office of the Regional Vice- Chairman by stating in one of the daily newspapers referring to the RVC as being the “ex- Regional ViceChairman”. This is a sign of gross ignorance or deliberate unprofessionalism.

Records would show that then I was still officially and legally the Regional ViceChairman of Region Nine, as

such Mr. Carl Parker must retract his statement for misleading the general public. Parker even issued a letter to the Regional ViceChairman requesting that I hand over my office and mode of transportation to the DDO, in Aishalton, although I was still legally the Regional ViceChairman . It is important to note that Regional Chairman and Regional Vice-Chairman are offices that are held until the new Regional Chairman and Regional Vice -Chairmen are elected.

Mr. Editor, Region 9 has many competent people who can serve in this capacity and persons of excellent qualities, especially young people. Some of these young and motivated people can create wonders in administration, through dedication, competence and professionalism, rather than Parker who knows the system and how to cheat it, which is a disgrace to this region and to the public service.

Sincerely,

Douglas Casimero

at the Rice Research Station unable to reduce the price of this high quality grain and sell it to the farmers at the same $2,500 or $2,600 so that they could benefit?

In my view, if this allegation is true, there is an need for a complete over hall of the management of the Rice Research Station as well as need to put better system in place for the sale of the seed paddy by the GRDB because the current system is very poor and has lots of restrictions which leads to the seeds not reaching the farmers.

I am requesting the new Government and Board of GRDB look into the matter and address any inconsistency since this is a serious issue. Please feel free to contact me or investigate to verify.

Sincerely,

T Ross

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Page Foundation

Anu Dev

With the change in administration, there’s inevitably been announcements to change both the content and method of teaching in our schools. “Inevitably”, because one has to justify “change”, if nothing else.

I’ve been in school for the past 15 years of my life and having been in school for that length of time (I’m beginning to see a faint light at the end of the tunnel!!), I’m also beginning to see teachers falling into two broad categories. Some go about their jobs like they truly love what they’re doing - teaching is a “vocation”, while others seem to just go through the day - teaching is an “obligation”.

But no matter what their teaching attitudes or stance, we do learn a lot from our teachers - and not just the curriculum. Teachers teach more than just Science and Math and all the other “subjects” - they teach ethics as well. While you may have the

A Solid Foundation

“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do”. - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

weekly one hour of “Pastoral Care” as I did at Queens, where ethics is taught explicitly, they also do so via a more powerful mediumtheir actions. Their behaviour impacts their students strongly. And of course, it’s always best to lead by example, so we’re most likely to do as our teachers do, rather than as they say. How will the new administration get teachers to change their habits?

On reflection, my current value system is a melange of what I’ve been taught at home and whatever modifications my experiences have forced me to make - with me spending a third of my time every day in school learning from teachers and peers. And I realised how damaging it could’ve been if I had no countervalues to teachers whose values and ethics standards that were not solid. What about teachers who throw things and scream at their stu dents, call ing them names, be littling them? If a student didn’t

have a strong personal value system or positive role models, they could easily accept that sort of behaviour as being okay, or acceptable. And they might carry over that type of behaviour into adulthood in their professions and personal lives. Nowadays, the whole field of ethics has been turned on its head by a school of thought that says the validity of our knowledge (epistemology) is contingent on the ethical framework in which it is imparted.

Our teachers as a consequence have great power; they have the most in-

and deciding how we want to fit into society.

The new Minister of Education should therefore place more emphasis on training teachers in their role in moulding the values of their students through their actions.

Values like the importance of confidentiality and the importance of privacy could be emphasized by the teachers so that when the students leave the school system, they’ll be able to function like adults that are capable of respecting the persons they interact with.

Other values like the importance of accountability, punctuality should all be established as being important from a young age. Teachers that violate these tenets in their classes do damage beyond the details of the “subject” not being covered.

Our teachers can hold great sway over how we might turn out at the end of our tenure at school; they could be the difference between whether we become successful professionals, or whether we go about our jobs in a very unprofessional manner. We need a solid foundation in professionalism, and our teachers can give us that, hopefully by their actions and not just their words.

CXC to release CAPE results today

The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) will be releasing their Caribbean Advanced proficiency Examination (CAPE) results today, August 9, and on Tuesday, August 11, persons who sat the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) will be able to access their grades on http:// ors.cxc.org/studentportal. All of the results will be released at 22:00h on the respective days.

Guyanese students have been performing exceptionally well at these examinations over the years, having produced the top student for the past few years. Only last year, were three Guyanese girls and one boy were awarded for their performance at CSEC. They were Elisa Hamilton, Aliyyah Abdul Kadir, and Ryhan Chand of Queens College, and Kishan Critchlow of New Amsterdam Multilateral School.

In 2013, Guyana won five of the eight awards offered. The winners were Yogeeta Persaud from Anna Regina Secondary School, Overall Outstanding Achievement; Rafena Mustapha of Saraswati Vidya Niketan, Most Outstanding in Humanities; Cecil Cox of Queen’s College, Most Outstanding in Sciences; Sasha Woodroffe of Queen’s College, Most Outstanding in Business Studies; and Zimeena Rasheed of Anna Regina Secondary School, Most Outstanding in Technical Vocational.

According to the official CXC website, “On Friday, August 14, the island will play host to an official ceremony to announce the results of its examinations – CPEA, CCSLC, CVQ, CSEC and CAPE. The Results Ceremony will be held at CXC’s new headquarters, Prince Road, Pine Plantation Road, St Michael, Barbados from 10:30h.”

Barbados PM restates Caricom’s “total support” for Guyana’s territorial integrity

Barbadian Prime Minister Freundel Stuart met today with Jorge Arreaza, the Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

The Vice President was in Barbados as part of a regional tour to discuss Venezuela’s territorial and maritime claims in the region.

During their discussions, Prime Minister Stuart emphasised the need to maintain peace and stability as the basis for enhancing regional cooperation and the development of both Guyana and Venezuela.

He welcomed Vice President Arreaza’s visit to Barbados and the Caribbean as a tangible demonstration of Venezuela’s commitment to those ideals.

Prime Minister Stuart reiterated the position adopted by Caricom at the 36th regular meeting of the Heads of Government, held in Barbados from July 2-4, 2015. In this regard, he restated Barbados and Caricom’s total support for the integrity of Guyana’s territory and maritime space, as well as that of all Caricom states. He said that Barbados stood by Guyana as it sought the best means to address this issue.

He continued: “We are committed to assisting Venezuela and Guyana in this dispute, preferring at all times a peaceful solution. But as of now, having regard to the fact that there was an arbitral award in 1899 and having regard

to the fact that the Geneva Agreement of 1966 has not yielded the kind of results that either Venezuela or Guyana expected, Caricom’s formal position has to be a commitment to the territorial integrity of Guyana.” Acknowledging that both countries had been trying to pursue a peaceful settlement for many years, Stuart expressed the view that the time had come for the issue to be concluded.

“We cannot contemplate such an end if we do not have a mechanism in place, for in the event the peaceful solution we prefer does not happen, an alternative mechanism can be sprung into action that can settle the matter by juridical means,” he remarked.

Prime Minister Stuart told Vice President Arreaza that Barbados acknowledged that Venezuela had issued a new decree, namely Presidential Decree no 1859 of July 6, 2015, which had replaced Decree 1787. He informed that the new Decree was being studied by Caricom experts.

Stuart emphasised the importance to Barbados of its relationship with Venezuela. He welcomed the efforts at communication on the part of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela aimed at maintaining the deep bonds of friendship, collaboration and partnership between the Governments and peoples of the Caribbean Community and Venezuela. (Barbados Nation)

House lot application process to see some changes

– qualifications for allocation under review

By Kristen MacKlingaM

The houselot application process is currently under review as the present Administration sees it essential to make some necessary changes to allow more Guyanese the opportunity to secure lands.

This is according to Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott, who told this publication on Friday that the main focus of the new procedure would be a total review about the qualifications necessary to obtain a houselot from his Ministry.

“We are conscious of the fact that some people may never be able to obtain houselots under the present requirement stages and thus have set out to review the necessary qualifications that they would need in order to obtain one. We are concerned about the welfare of our people and want to be able to cushion them. We have to do some changes in order to meet the needs of more people,” said the Minister.

able to afford their own lands and houses. In fact, we are working on plans that would benefit more people out there and see them being able to afford homes and lands easier than before,” he stated.

This publication was further told that the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), which

He explained that the major focus would be on reviewing the qualifications necessary for those who require low, middle and high income lands.

“Maybe those who earn $75,000 or less per month will be able to qualify for low income house lots after we are finished revamping the cutoff stages. For those earning, let’s say, $200,000 or more per month will most likely be in the high income level, and between those two would be categorised as middle income. We are aware that the cost for infrastructure is very high for many Guyanese, and hence we want to ensure that as many people as possible get the opportunity of owning their own lands and houses,” posited Minister Scott.

Guyana Times was told that the cost of land and owning homes presently is “too high” and that the present Administration is seeking ways and means to “lower” the costs.

“For the turn-key system where houses and land are being sold at $4.9 million, we are giving them basic infrastructure but they would have to build their own drains and such. If we do more, then the price would have to go up but we don’t want that because we want the citizens to be

falls under the Ministry of Communities, is looking to make adjustments to the house lot application forms, where persons will be able to identify their desires more accurately.

“Instead of saying which

region they desire or want their house lots to be in, we would have an extra column to state which housing scheme in the desired regions they would want. This would make it easier for us and for them. We have had a lot of cases where people are allocated lands at certain places but they keep coming into the Ministry because they don’t want the spots allocated for various reasons and by having this column there it would help them and us to determine exactly where to place them while taking in their preference of course,” Minister Scott explained.

He told Guyana Times that his Ministry is seeking to ensure that housing schemes reflect “cohesiveness” and that the CHPA is also pushing for “self help” activities by citizens.

It was noted that the Ministry of Communities has active considerations to someday allow persons to obtain land for a very cheap cost or perhaps even for free and they would establish their own infrastructure and homes on the plots.

Another major concern is the situation of squatters in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). Minister Scott emphasised the need for ensuring that these squatters be given the opportunities of owning their own lands.

“I have been approached by many, many persons who are squatting in the Georgetown, Region Four area who wish to own their own lands. In fact, most of them are from the Sophia and East Ruimveldt areas and are very interested in having their own house lots. They have already come into the Ministry and filled forms, so we at the Ministry are definitely working towards affording squatters the opportunity of owning their own land, and of course their own homes,” he added.

SWAT ranks for Berbice – Ramjattan

By andrew carMichael

In the wake of several armed robberies in Berbice over the past three weeks, a unit of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) has been sent to the to the area.

The Police Public Relations Office, in a release issued on Saturday afternoon, said that a team of ranks from the SWAT Unit has been dispatched to B Division (Berbice) to support the Division in its policing strategy.

SWAT is a unit within the Police Force that is trained to deal with situations of unusual danger, especially when requiring aggressive tactics or enhanced firepower, as in rescuing hostages, thwarting terrorist attacks or assassinations, and subduing heavily armed suspects.

According to a source close to the Police, the unit will be in Berbice to assist with the high number of armed robberies in the county which have been making headlines over the past six weeks. The source noted that the Corentyne and New Amsterdam are two areas that criminals have been targeting, however could not say the area where the SWAT unit will primarily be focusing on. The source also could not say how many members of the unit will be in Berbice and for how long.

Recently armed bandits have been able to elude local Police efforts to counter crime along the Corentyne and in Berbice. Most recently eight heavily armed men chained sawed a hole in a wall to gain access to a home where National Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan was born and raised in Number 48 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

On June 19, two armed bandits relieved a Port Mourant businessman of several million of dollars worth

in jewellery, foreign and local currency, and other articled in a high day-time robbery. The following Friday, two armed bandits held up a salesman attached to Snaichar Auto Workshop at D’Edward Village, and carted off in excess of $1 million in cash before escaping from Police at a road block at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice).

On July 1, Albion businessman Subramanie Mangalie was robbed at gun point of more than $12 million by two armed men. On July 5, two Corentyne families were robbed at gunpoint by a group of armed bandits who shot a teenager before escaping with about $2 million in local and foreign currency, and jewellery at Bush Lot Village, Corentyne.

On July 7, businesswoman Angela Hussain was shot in the head when five armed thieves entered her place of business and took away cash and jewellery.

These are only a few of the headlines which recently made the news coming out of Berbice. Several other robberies were perpetrated on schools; persons were raped during robberies while scores have appeared in the court to answer robbery related charges.

Meanwhile speaking on SWAT’s involvement in Berbice, a source close to the Police said that one unit is expected to arrive in Berbice today. That unit is expected to boost the division’s capability in crime fighting.

The 25-member elite unit of the local SWAT was chosen based on their age, health, mindset, years of service, experience and their overall conduct. The objective behind the establishment of the unit was to create additional crime-fighting strategies to deal with serious crimes in the country, which the Police would not be able to handle competently.

On July 13, armed bandits escaped with a bag containing $4 million in cash from a clerk attached to A Ally and Sons General Store, who was about to make a deposit at a commercial bank in the town. Two shots were fired before a gun was placed to the head of the clerk before she was advised to let go of the bag. On July 16, M Ali and Son Supermarket at Main and Pope Streets was the focus of four armed men, two of whom went into the supermarket, carried out a robbery, and in the process also stole a fire arm. On July 29, a man was shot and killed by Police after he and another robbed a couple at the Number 63 beach.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott

One of the many housing developments on the East Bank of Demerara

Region 2 Administration holds conversation on suicide – 69 registered cases in region from January

By IndrawattIe natram

In an effort to curb the issue of suicide and to implement programmes and strategies to deal with the social issue, the Region Two (Pomeroon Supenaam) Administration, under the stewardship of Region Two Chairman Daveanand Ramdatt, hosted a Regional Conversation. The Conservation was held on Friday in the boardroom

of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

The interactive session drew persons from various religious organisations, Amerindians village Councils, representatives from the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, religious leaders and Regional Democratic Councillors.

PowerPoint presentations were made by Psychologist and Social Worker Haimraj Hamandeo after which per-

sons were assigned to groups to brainstorm new ideas.

Thus far, regional statistics presented by the Suddie Public Hospital’s Statistical Department revealed that from January to June 2015, they were 69 reported cases of suicide attempts; 52 persons were treated, while 17 lost their lives (13 males, 4 females). Of those attempts made, 37 persons ingested a poisonous substance, 16 overdosed on pills, five used ker-

to June

osene, five hung themselves, while the remaining six victims used other substances.

Choose life over death

At the opening of the Conversation, the Regional Chairman called upon persons to help in the spread of the message, “Choose life over death”. He called on the various stakeholders present to come on board to make a change and to impart valid knowledge on the prevention of suicide.

Ramdatt told the gathering that suicide is not an individual problem and should be addressed at all levels, with every person contributing in a meaningful way. The Chairman said he strongly believes that the implementation of strong suicide prevention programmes must be established in every village to tackle the issue.

Ramdatt said he saw a need for the Regional Conversation, as statistics have shown that suicide is on the increase in Region Two. He said according to statistics provided by the American Research Centre of Peace University, in Region Two, 92 persons within the ages of 15 and 29 years died as a result of suicide and 498 attempted to take their own lives from 2009-2013.

Self-contempt...

...or eye-pass

Eight young, male Indian nationals came into the country “without papers”. They were denied entry. Now If you Google the requirements for Indians desirous of entering Guyana, you’ll see it says “visa on entry for 30 days”...provided you have an invitation from a host. People turned up at the airport and said they’ll “host” the fellas. No go. They were herded like cattle on the Tarmac, then kept in holding cells and served food that violated their religious principles. How do you serve Hindus beef?

They were held like this for over two weeks, and finally after a stand off with Insel Air - one of the few airlines with international connections to serviceincluding grounding one of their flights, the men were finally expelled. Even the working girls “I is” Broomes had dragged from Bartica for not having papers weren’t expelled. The young Indian men had travelled through several countries and had return tickets, which the Immigration Dept. - now under the control of Winston “Yes Bannuh” Felix - at first denied.

Now what’s going on here? India is an emerging world power that’s been helpful to our development since independence. Scholarships, the stadium, help with rice research, etc. Even before Independence it was a beacon to our independence movement. Burnham and Jagan had flown to India to meet their Prime Minister when the British suspended our constitution in 1953 and threw out the PPP Government. Just last November India gave all Guyanese a “visa on arrival” option into 9 of their major airports. And this is how we treat their nationals?

Felix personally intervened into the matter...and gave the young men the bums’ rush. Why’d he do this? Was it the self-contempt that Franz Fanon wrote about so eloquently - and which is projected to folks that look like us? This Eyewitness can’t see Felix doing the same for some young people from, say, Poland. Their blond hair and blue eyes would’ve been their visa. Or was it eye-pass for people from India. India hasn’t quite overcome the “starving guts” image that the west has imprinted on our minds, has it?

But this Eyewitness wants to know where the Indian High Commissioner was when all these outrages were committed on their nationals. Even now, we haven’t heard a squeak out of him. Felix would’ve contacted them, wouldn’t he? Surely the “Bannuh” wouldn’t eye-pass that worthy?

Or did he “head him off”? Enquiring minds want to know.

...and crime escalation

As far as this Eyewitness is concerned, the honeymoon period with the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition Government is now over. At the country level, how can we be cooing sweet nothings while the economy implodes - and the Government embarks on a $60B withdrawal from commercial banks that’s sure to turn the economy into a black hole?

At the personal level, cuss words are all that comes to mind when we’re confronted with the savagery and ubiquity of the crime upsurge. And cuss words aren’t honeymooning words. Now to rub salt into the wound, up comes the commander in chief who says that things are getting better. “Say what??!!” you blurt out. Well he’s correct if you use his measuring stick - the 20022008 crime spree following the jailbreak. Well, things ARE getting better in the Middle East - if you compare it with the U.S. carpet bombing during the Gulf War!

So let’s get real, fellas. Your Eyewitness hasn’t called any names on this first day after the honeymoon period.

But like Baldwin promised, it will be the fire next time!

....or nation time

Back in the sixties, blacks in the U.S. used to greet each other with the phrase, “nation time”. Selfdetermination was the thing. Bulkan just mandated each Region to have its own flag. Is this a signal for “federalism time”?

Persons listening attentively to Pyscologist Haimraj Hamandeo presentation

Guards beaten, raped as bandits target N/A Secondary Schools

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Several guards were tied up, beaten and raped as bandits, over the past week, targeted all of the Secondary Schools in New Amsterdam, while stealing over $5 million in the process.

The school robbery spree started on July 29 when six armed went to the New Amsterdam Multilateral School, where two guards were on duty, and ducked taped the male guard before blindfolding the female and raping her. According to the guard, at least two persons raped her.

The men then broke into the school and carried away $1 million in cash and $4 million worth in cheques.

On August 1, bandits went to the Berbice High School, where three guards were presently on duty. They tied them up before taking away their cell phones.

The men made their way to the school and stole projectors and other valuables. It is still not known exactly how much cash was removed in that operation.

However guards at the school said that more security personnel are needed at that location which has seven buildings and only an allotment of three guards.

The following night bandits focused their attention on Tutorial Academy Secondary. The two guards were beaten and bound. There are reports that the female guard was also sexually assaulted, the school broken into and $10,000 removed.

The two other secondary schools in the country’s oldest town, New Amsterdam, which were so far not accounted for on the list of schools broken into during the August holiday are Berbice Educational

Institute (BEI) and Vrymens Erven Secondary (VESS). However that quickly changed when both schools were attacked on the same night.

On August 6, at about 2:00h, three men armed with cutlasses went to the three females guards on duty at BEI.

“We were scared, knowing that they going to all the schools and so I tell the two other guards that all three of us will stay in the guard hut and we can’t sleep,” one of the guards recounted.

She said at about 1:30h, the dogs in the area began to bark and they were on the lookout. The school is in a remote area and the fence is currently down as construction work is taking place to reconstruct a concrete fence.

“I hear a noise and when I look, I see three men coming in, so I tell them look them coming. They run to the guard hut and one of them hold to one of the guards that went by the door and the other girl; she brake the louvers and jump out and I jump behind she and one of dem try fo catch she but she jump in the trench.”

The guard said she was able to escape and get to the nearby bushes where she hid.

The guard that was by the guard hut door was able to free herself and made

Anna Regina, Good Hope Health Centre to get new resident doctor – Region Two Chairman

In light of the growing population and the pressing demand for improve of health care delivery within the Township of Anna Regina in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt has announced that a new resident doctor will be stationed fulltime at Anna Regina and Good Hope Health Centre. He made this disclosure during discussion held on projects for the 2015 Regional Budget with officers of the Regional Administration, Town Council and Neighbour Democratic Councils (NDCs). The Chairman said a project will be included in the budget to cater to the accommodation for a resident doctor at the Anna Regina Health Centre.

Several residents from

Anna Regina have raised their concerns about the lack of a permanent resident doctor in their area. They complained that it is sometimes costly to travel to Suddie Public Hospital and are of the view that the Administration should make maximum use of the available facility.

Ramdatt also visited the Good Hope Health Centre and promise a full time resident doctor at Good Hope as well.

He stated that health care in the Region is important, and under his stewardship he will ensure that it is made available to individuals at a further reach.

Ramdatt said he believes that, in any country, investing in its human resource and ensuring all necessary services are of paramount importance.

it to the road where she screamed for help. She received a cut to the hand from a cutlass one of the men was carrying.

“All three of them had one one cutlass and barefoot. They had on short pants and one didn’t have on shirt. The other two had on camouflage long sleeve shorts,” the woman said.

Following the alarm that was raised, the three men who were all fully masked make their escape on foot. They did not get to go into the school.

Meanwhile about 30 minutes, later the guards at VESS heard the dogs barking and went to investigate. “We have three dogs in the compound and all of them go to the back and start to bark. So we know something wrong.”

At the time there were seven guards on duty at that school, including two males. “They didn’t expect that we had so many guards on duty and that we had men working,” one guard related to the Guyana Times

It is not known how many persons had entered the school premises at the time, but they all left after being confronted by dogs and several guards.

Meanwhile the Police arrested several persons as they investigate the robberies and breakages. However none of their prints matched those which were gathered from the crime scenes. Police are continuing their investigations.

Region Two Administration...

from page 8

The Regional Chairman said he is committed to working with Non Governmental Organisations and genuine agencies to stop the increase of suicide. It is his wish to establish more initiatives that will spark growing public awareness in groups from all of society within Region Two.

Meanwhile, Haimraj Hamandeom who has a Masters in Psychology said suicide is very prevalent in Region Two and education is a critical element in its prevention. He described suicide as a deliberate attempt to end one’s life, and noted not everyone who thinks about suicide follows through with the act.

Hamandeo also questioned what happened to the 52 persons who were treated and sent home and what mechanism is being used to help in their healing process.

He further explained stress factors such as social pressures, environment, and family are considered as possible event triggers that influence persons decisions to end their lives. As these stress factors outweigh the person’s resources to deal with them, they can begin to feel over-

whelmed and some of these overwhelmed persons may begin to think about suicide as opposed to solutions, the Psychologist said. Some individual stressors – depression, anxiety, physical illnesses, traumatic experience and childhood aggression – he explained, may lead to suicide.

Many persons are of the view that men are more vulnerable to suicide because they find it more difficult to cope with stress, since it is not a cultural norm for men to talk about problems. Another belief it that men lack guidance since less men attend religious congregation. During group discussions, persons suggested the need for more organisations, similar to those that represent women, to cater for the psychological and emotional needs of men in society.

Participants who attended the Conversation said that it was very interesting and lauded the new-elected Chairman Daveanand Ramdatt for taking the initiative to get the ball rolling on bringing healing to those affected by the social ill.

Berbice High School where the guards were tied up

1 perish, two buildings destroyed after Bella dam Fire

Afire suspected to have been caused by a kerosene stove that was left alight in the upper flat of a two-storey wooden structure has left one person dead and millions of dollars in damages. The fire occurred on Saturday at Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The fire claimed the life of 91-year-old Princess Timaman and left her 76-year-old daughter, Vivien Thomas nursing burns to her body. Thomas was admitted at the West Demerara Regional Hospital and is said to be a stable condition.

The fire started at Lot 6 Bella Dam, Pouderoyen and quickly spread to the main office of Puran Brothers

Disposal Service on the other lot which is separated by a chain-link fence.

According to reports received, the fire started at

scene hours after the fire, Sharon Thomas, a granddaughter of the now dead woman told Guyana Times that they were in the lower

about 10:30h in the upper flat of Timaman’s house and quickly spread to the nearby building.

At the time of the fire, the now dead woman was in the upper flat with her daughter while her grandchildren were in the lower flat but despite desperate attempts to save the woman’s life, it became impossible due to the flames that engulfed the building.

The woman was heard screaming for help but her relatives and workers attacked to Puran Brothers stood helplessly. At the

the upper flat was already engulfed in thick smoke.

The granddaughter claimed that they screamed for help but no one came to render assistance and there was nothing they could have done to even save any household items. She added that the fire spread rapidly and within minutes, the entire house was complete engulfed by the raging inferno.

Her mother, she stated, who was in the upper flat of the building attempted to save her mother but had to retreat. Another relative who seemed upset claimed that after the fire started, the workers at Puran

flat of the house when they smelt smoke and quickly enquired but upon doing so,

Brothers did nothing to assist the woman. “They could have broken somewhere and get the woman out but no one came to her rescue…,” the man stated.

Several others relatives were a short distance away contemplating their next move. However, the granddaughter stated that her mother who received burns about her body is out of danger but was kept in the hospital for observation.

On the other hand, Kalesh Puran, the General Manager of Puran Brothers Disposal Service told Guyana Times that he was in his office when he heard screams of fire. As he came out and saw the fire, he immediately instructed his staff to remove the computer server and proceeded to evacuat his 15 employees who were in the office.

He reported that the fire spread rapidly and within minutes, it spread to the building they were occupying. Puran related that the upper flat of the building the company occupied was used as a storeroom which contained millions of dollars worth of equipment and vehicle parts.

Unavailable fire tender

The lower flat of the building housed the office and on the back platform was the work area, which also had several pieces of equipment. He explained that two vehicles that were parked close to the house occupied by Timaman also went up in flames. Fortunately, the fleet of company vehicles, he added is parked at another location.

Puran further stated that

Media flip-flops

Satiricus is convinced that the Kranacle is a perfect paper - even though he works at the paper you’re reading now. Satiricus was a back-bencher all through his school years - and didn’t pick up many (if any) pearls of wisdom from that vantage point. But he still remembered the quote from Churchill, pasted on the wall behind him. “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”

“Look how the Kranacle change,” he exclaimed to his friend, Cappo the canecutter. “You remember when we were lil boys, how they used to praise everything the Peean-See do?”

“An’ cuss down de PeePeeCee!!” Cappo exclaimed. “Deh use to cuss down de PeePeeCee real stink, Budday!”

“And that went on for 28 years, chap!” exclaimed Satiricus. “That is a whole lotta cussin!”

“A rememba de referendum when de Pee-an-See put a “house” fuh yes...an a “mouse” fuh no!” reminisced Cappo.

“And the Kranicle had a big headline, “Vote for the House and Kill the Mouse!” said Satiricus.

“But as soon as government change in 1992 de Kranacle change!” chuckled Cappo. “Man, me had fuh rub me eye fuh see if me a see prapa!!”

“And look what happened now,” said Satiricus, “PeePeeCee get throw out, and the Kranacle change immediately. Pee-an-See good...PeePeeCee bad!”

“But tell me, Sato, old friend,” said Cappo leaning forward, “is de same set a fellas at the Chranacle. How deh could change like dat? Wat was right yesterday...now wraang today?”

“Bai, Cappo, those journalists at Kranicle are a special breed,” confided Satiricus. “They are the real professionals.”

“Ah wha yuh mean, Sato?” asked a quizzical Cappo.

“Well some people think that professional journalists have principles,” explained Satiricus, “but that is wrong. A real professional journalist like the ones at Kranacle, will write what their new bosses tell them to write.”

“But dat is just like dem fellas who sell dem services by de Cathedral!” pointed out Cappo.

“Well, they are professionals too, you know,” concluded Satiricus with a smirk. “Kranicle reporters will change with the tide! They are perfect journalists.”

after the fire was seen, he contacted the Leonora Fire Station but was told that the firefighters were attending to another fire in Parika, East Bank Essequibo. This, however, could have been confirmed by this publication.

The General Manager is of the opinion that had the fire service responded in a timely manner, the building would have been saved. Puran further extended his condolences to the bereaved family, claiming that he grew up in front of the woman.

He said although Puran Brothers owned the property occupied by the now dead woman; they never asked her nor her family to relocate. He pledged that the company will offset the funeral expenses for the late Princess Timaman.

Lakenauth Puran, the Proprietor of Puran Brothers

Disposal Service explained that he was in Georgetown when he received the telephone call informing him that the business was on fire while at the same time being told that Timaman had perished in the fire. As he arrived at the scene, both buildings were already gutted and fire fighters were busy containing the fire in an effort to avoid it from spreading to other buildings. The Puran Brothers Disposal Service was established in the 1980’s making it more 30 years in the trade.

The owner stated that while he understands the situation, and while a lot of money went up in flames, he will be rebuilding as soon as possible, claiming that “life has to go on”. He could not estimate his losses at this time. Fire officials have commenced a probe into the cause of the fatal fire.

Dead: Princess Timaman

The remains of the house once occupied by Princess Tillman

Lakenauth Puran, the Proprietor of Puran Brothers Disposal Service

The two buildings destroyed by the Fire at Bella Dam Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara which occurred on Saturday morning

18 Cuban trained Guyanese doctors complete training at Suddie Public Hospital

The graduating batch of doctors posing with their Professors and Region Two

Ramdatt

By IndrawattIe natram

Eighteen qualified Cuban- trained doctors have successfully completed their one-year internship programme at the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

The eighteen persons are now qualified medical practitioners, who will add to the health care in Region Two. They are expected to serve the Guyanese Government for the next five years, after which they can move on to specialise in a field of their choice.

A simple graduation ceremony on Thursday, courtesy of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Guyana and the Region Two Administration, at the hospital marked the culmination of the medical apprenticeship of the doctors who had trained in Cuba for six years before embarking on the internship in Guyana.

Giving the feature address was Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, who commended the Cuban Government and its people, with whom Guyana enjoys a good bilateral relationship, for training the Guyanese doctors.

The Chairman congratulated the eighteen new doctors, stating that they will provide a significant boost to the health sector in offering their full-time services at health centres and hospitals on the Essequibo Coast.

Be the change you want to see

Pledging the Region Two Administration support, the Chairman said he must recognise the sacrifices made by the young medical professionals, and their determination to make Guyana, and the health sector, a better place.

He urged the graduates to “be the change they want to see” and urged them that they have a civic responsibility to play towards human development.

“Our people’s wealth is our country’s wealth; I called on you young professional to ensure you serve with humility. The public is increasing and, as such, have expectations. The Regional Democratic Council expects a lot from you to enhance the lives of people,” Ramdatt said.

Ramdatt addressed the new doctors to make every

effort in contributing to the positive development of society. He encouraged them to continue to their studies and make every effort to reach out to their respective communities.

Cuban Director, Dr Midalis Otero Fernandez, during her address said that the efforts were made possible through the partnership of Cuban Government and Guyana since 1970, eluding that, to date, over 500 medical practitioners were trained in Cuba. Fernandez urged the doctors to display their studies in their practice. She urged them to be specialised in whatever field they would like to operate in.

Delivering the charge was Dr Regla Segundo, who said that, out of 20 students, only eighteen were successful at the medical examinations. Dr Segundo, who is a Pediatric Specialist and one of the professor for the students, said that the two students failed due to family issues, however they will be given another chance to resit the exam for the second time. The specialist said she was very impressed with the performances of the 18 students, outlining that six attained over 50 per cent and 11 were in the 80-89 per cent range. She told the students that they are now trained doctors and urged them to prepare to work and study daily.

Proud parent

Parent of Haimant Haimraj, Nandranie Chadrawattie, said she is very proud of her son’s performance in becoming a doctor. The mother, who is a teacher, said she sacrificed many things for her son to become a doctor.

She would like to thank the Government for the support given to her child during his time studying. According to the now qualified doctor, his time in Cuba was a very wonderful and challenging one. He said he would like to thank both the Cuban and Guyanese Governments for giving him a scholarship. He said it is his aim to specialise in Orthopaedic in the near future.

Graduating as doctors were Haimant Haimraj, Delana Alissa Hicks, Joeanna Romena Harris, Kennel Allison Fingal,

National Task Force to host first meeting August 13

ublic Infrastructure

PMinister David Patterson, today at a press briefing, indicated that the National Task Force, headed by Major General Joe Singh, will host its first meeting on August 13, in the boardroom of the Guyana Forestry Commission.

Kirtis Steve Noble, Kojo Omotayo, Natasha Andrea Barton, Renita Albert, Susannah Natrasha Issacs, Gerald Anthony Thompson, Chanddrawattie Bisson, Ivor Carlton Semple, Junita Holmes, Marles Wilsosn, Razia Fazana Kasim, Sarrajanie Doodnauth, Rose Mc Garrel and Thameshhwar Kharan.

He explained that this first meeting will see just over 50 invitees in attendance and they will include technical personnel and the Diplomatic Corps.

“Phase one of their reports will be delivered in May 2016 and will comprise short-term measures to the drainage problems. Phase two which is the final report, will be presented in May 2017, and will contain a completed, comprehensive, nation-wide drainage works.”

The National Task Force

was established by the current Administration to oversee the effective functioning of Guyana’s drainage and irrigation system, and to make recommendations for its upgrade. Recently the Force was awarded $36 million by the Cabinet to exe-

cute its mandate.

The Task Force is slated to have representatives from various Ministries and committees, including the commemoration committee which is handling Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations. The overall objective is to restore Guyana to a land of great attractiveness and prosperity, and one which offers a good life for all its citizens and its visitors.

The force, headed by Major General Ret’d Joe Singh, will include Charles Sohan, Malcom Ally, Egbert Carter, Andrew Bishop, Stanley Ming, Joseph Holder, Charles Ceres and Dr David Singh. Members of the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers, the Private Sector, the Civil Defence Commission as well as representatives of various Ministries. (Excerpt from GINA)

Public Infrastructure

Minister David Patterson

Ministers urge Canadian-Guyanese to invest “back home”

– as per diem and private-payment claims raised

Major concerns were recently raised by an overseasbased Guyanese residing in Canada as to the state of affairs in Guyana which has been preventing them from investing in businesses “back home”.

These concerns and related questions were aired to Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Tourism Minister Catherine Hughes upon their visit to Canada last week, where they sought to update the Canadian Diaspora on the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change Government’s plans and objectives for the country.

Both Ministers were present at the meeting with business persons held at the Crown Plaza in Toronto, where they were faced with the business community’s interest in the new Government’s approach to stem various issues which concern the Canadian Guyanese with regards to them investing in Guyana.

The attendees at the meeting expressed grave concern over the crime rate

in Guyana and were told by the Tourism Minister of the Government’s commitment to reduce such as she outlined steps that are currently being taken in her sector.

Minister Hughes placed emphasis on the Administration’s confidence in Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, as she told the group that “every effort” was being made to curb the current crime situation in Guyana. National Security Minister has already made two innova-

tions- a 2am curfew on bars and a proposal to decriminalise suicides.

Meanwhile, Minister Harmon, told the gathering of his Government’s focus on creating a level playing field for all prospective and current investors as he extended an invitation for interested parties to visit Guyana and meet with the appropriate authorities within the specific areas of their interests.

It was reported that he stated that while this new

were already being put in place to ensure transparency and accountability in every sector.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, Minister Harmon emphasised that while the “Opposition may be uttering instances of victimisation and character assignation of former Government officials and operatives, there is clear evidence of mismanagement and abuse of the treasury” by a number of former officials.

Administration

It was stated that in response to the question of “witch hunting” by attendees, Minister Harmon assured that his Government was “not out to put anyone

in any particular embarrassing situation”.

He, however, stressed that once the State Assets Recovery Unit found that there was abuse in the disbursement of public equipment and assets, the perpetrators will be challenged and if found guilty, will face the full brunt of the law.

While the Ministers were in Canada a firestorm erupted in Guyana over revelations that their per diem allowances were being increased exponentially. In previous trips by these Ministers it was claimed that expenses were paid by private sources. Observers, however pointed out that in politics, “there are no free lunches”

Night spot owner shot during shootout with suspected bandits

The owner of the popular night spot Turning Point Sport Bar was on Friday evening shot and injured after gunmen invaded his property in Charlestown, Georgetown. The incident took place at about 22:35h.

Collin McEwan, age 57, of Charlestown, Georgetown was shot several times and was admitted a patient at a city hospital.

According to reports received, McEwan was in his yard when he was confronted by three men armed with firearms who opened fire.

At the time of the incident, several persons were reportedly in the yard and

after the gunshots rang out, they scampered to safety. Although being shot, the businessman reportedly ran towards the road and as the men were fleeing, whipped out his licensed firearm and returned fire but the men made good their escape. McEwan collapsed and was picked up and rushed to the hospital. Investigators believed that the businessman was the target since the gunmen reportedly discharged rounds in his direction when they invaded the premises. No arrest has been made.

A section of the business community present at a meeting with Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Tourism Minister Catherine Hughes in Canada last week

is only a few months old in office, systems

Injured businessman Collin McEwan

Burnham is back

By Ryhaan Shah

Three months into the Granger administration, the country skitters and dithers and awaits the announcement of the policies and projects that are to shape our future development. Thus far, the administration’s sole focus has been to uncover alleged corruption within the previous Government.

Ryhaan Shah

It was their rallying cry while in opposition and throughout their election campaign, and while other campaign promises are a no-show, this one is being obsessively pursued. I have lost count of the many audits and inquiries that are underway. Will we ever know how much this exercise in vengeance is costing us?

But uprooting corruption is hardly the whole or even the most important issue for a Government. Clean Government is good, but a capable Government is better. It is a capable Government that drives progress and development.

Ricardo Hausmann, chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Meta-Council on Inclusive Growth, recently wrote a column published online by “Project Syndicate” that debunks the popular narrative that fighting corruption leads the way to development.

“The good,” writes Hausmann, “is a capable state: a bureaucracy that can protect the country and its people, keep the peace, enforce rules and contracts, provide infrastructure and social services, regulate economic activity, credibly enter into inter-temporal obligations, and tax society to pay for it all. It is the absence of a capable state that causes corruption… as well as poverty and backwardness.”

In other words, it is exactly the vacuum created by the new Government that fosters corruption. Tied to its vengeful agenda of uncovering corruption the only other string to the administration’s bow is its dismantling of everything the previous Government did which leads to an even greater vacuum since there are no new or replacement projects in the offing.

The result is uncertainty within the business and investment sectors and with such uncertainty comes an economic downturn. It is naive for the Government to state that the budget will kick-start the economy. No good Government allows a country’s economy to slide into a recession to await a kickstart and recovery. The handover should have been smooth and seamless, and a capable Government would have cared enough to place the nation’s well being above its own narrow agenda of revenge politics. This past week, the PSC expressed grave concern about the slowdown in the economy and the rise in crime, neither being good for the business environment.

While busily trying to uncover fraud and corruption within the previous administration, the Granger Government appears wholly hypocritical as its own corrupt practices pile up: nepotism, racism and ethnic cleansing, gender bias, conflict of interest, the cronyism of jobs for the comrades resulting in a bloated and costly Government, and the corruption of influence-peddling whereby payments are made to curry favours with Government officials for preferential treatment.

It is not good enough for Government to dismiss questions about the bills for its inauguration extravaganza at Providence Stadium and the airline tickets for its officials to attend its victory parade in Brooklyn with answers that these were paid for by private individuals. There are no free lunches within politics or business. The payments have been made and the favours will be called in. This is corruption.

When you add to these corruptions the return of overt foreign influence on Government, it does appear that in electing the APNU/AFC Coalition, the country has pushed the reset button. Many of us are old enough to remember the 1960s and how Burnham wrested absolute power from a legitimate electoral and coalition process, and the open sidelining of the AFC’s Moses Nagamootoo and Kemraj Ramjattan substantiates the déjà vu.

President Granger’s recent eulogizing of Burnham’s “astute statesmanship and vigilant guardianship of Guyana” at the late president’s death anniversary is distasteful for failing to acknowledge the facts of that dark time and to recognise the many who stood so courageously against his brutal dictatorship. Among those who lost their lives in that struggle was WPA leader Walter Rodney.

Whatever the outcome of the Rodney COI, we all believe that Burnham’s finger was on the trigger of the bomb that killed Rodney and Granger’s rush to have the commission wrap up its work only confirms the public perception of Burnham’s guilt.

The greatest fear is that we are witnessing the return of a PNC regime and Granger’s indifference to history and our collective memory does not bode well for our future. His laudatory remarks disclose, and unapologetically, that the PNC’s past is alive and well, and that Burnham and Burnhamism are back in play.

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

Patterson wants to review GEA polygraph testing policy

ublic Infrastructure

PMinister David Patterson has indicated that he would like to review the use of polygraph testing being conducted on field staff of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) to determine their trustworthiness.

To this effect, the Minister said he will be approaching Cabinet at the soonest possible time on the policy of polygraph testing.

Patterson told media operatives at a press briefing on Saturday that he has had discussions with the staff of the Agency and has decided to approach Cabinet to ascertain its position of polygraph tests.

Patterson noted that that Agency has indicated that the polygraph testing is necessary and helpful. He added that while the GEA could not provide any empirical data, they have found since the implementation of the tests that there

has been a reduced number of complaints and evidence of fraud within the Agency.

On the other hand, the Minister said staff has complained that failing the test has left a permanent scar on their records. “When they go for jobs and the previous employer is the GEA and they are asked why they are no longer working there, the question of their integrity comes into play. They also complain that they never see results of the test. The test results went directly to the former HPS and then forwarded on to CEO of GEA with recommendations.

They also advised me that during this polygraph test, they were only asked six questions and none of these questions appeared related to their work as inspectors in the field. The questions were general such as are you a trustworthy person,” the Minister stated.

Furthermore, Minister Patterson opined that while the Energy Agency may have come up with the idea of polygraph testing because of the lack of options, he does not believe it is an assertive way to determine a person’s credibility.

“The inducements for persons are great. What you have to do probably is staff rotation, the persons are there all the time so you need to move them around… and you also need greater monitoring,” he outlined. Additionally, the Public Infrastructure Minister suggested that annual incentives should be given to employees if they make apprehensions.

This, he noted, will be more conducive for staff and may act as a deterrent from wanting to engage in illegal practices.

Meanwhile, Patterson was asked whether he has considered the need for top officials of the GEA to also

undergo the polygraph test. The Minister explained that this matter never came up; however, he noted that he has requested background of the policy.

Moreover, he reiterated that he will await Cabinet’s decision on the way forward with the polygraph testing before he can further explore the matter. “If we will continue the policy then Cabinet will obviously give me the perimeters under which we will continue the policy,” the Minister pointed out.

Polygraph testing at the GEA was introduced in 2009 under the previous Administration. During the period between 2009 and 2014, the Agency has conducted 72 polygraph tests, of which 36 persons failed, representing half of those who underwent the test. Additionally, the services of two other employees were terminated because they refused to take the test.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2015

– spotlight placed on indigenous peoples’ health and well-being

By Kristen MacKlingaM

nder the theme

U“Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ Health and Well-being”, Guyana joins the rest of the world today in commemorating the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2015.

This year’s theme puts a spotlight on the issue of indigenous peoples’ access to health care services, as improving their health remains a critical challenge for them as well as the United Nations (UN).

Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, in his message to mark this day is calling on the international community to ensure that they are not “left behind”. He urges the creation of a better, more equitable future, and for persons to commit to doing more in the improvement of health and well-being of indigenous peoples.

Every year, August 9 is celebrated as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and a special event will be held at the UN Headquarters on August 10 from 15:00h to 18:00h under this year’s theme.

The “State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Volume II”, which will be launched in New York at the UN Headquarters event in ob-

servance of the International Day, provides important background information on the topic. It includes remarks from the authors and editors of the publication: Priscilla Migiro, a paediatrician from Kenya, Mukta Lama from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Tribhuvan University in Nepal, and Jeffrey Reading from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Volume II, was authored by six independent experts and produced by the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. It examines the major challenges indigenous peoples face in terms of adequate access to and utilisation of quality health care services.

According to the authors, indigenous peoples face a myriad of obstacles when accessing public health systems, such as the lack of facilities in their communities, language barriers, illiteracy and a lack of understanding of their culture and traditional practices. Also absent are adequate health insurance and the lack of economic capacity to pay for services. As a result, they often cannot afford health services even if available.

This publication cites nu-

merous examples of health gaps between indigenous peoples and non-indigenous populations living in the same countries, including significantly shorter life expectancy, elevated prevalence of infectious diseases and higher rates of malnutrition and child mortality.

According to findings, Indigenous peoples are also more likely to suffer from substance abuse and depression and other mental disorders than their non-indigenous counterparts.

The challenges related to improving indigenous peoples’ health are linked to social, cultural, economic and political factors. These include inadequate education, disproportionate poverty and discrimination in the health service delivery. As such, the report calls for the development of specific health care concepts and targeted interventions tailored to their needs.

The first United Nations publication on the state of the world’s indigenous peoples was published in 2009 and revealed alarming statistics on poverty, health, education, employment, human rights, the environment and more.

There are an estimated 370 million indigenous people in 90 countries around the world. Practicing unique traditions, they re-

tain social, cultural, economic and political characteristics distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, recognises indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination and their right to freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is commemorated annually on 9 August, in recognition of the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations, held in Geneva in 1982. The International Day was first proclaimed by the General Assembly in December 1994.

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples, which was created in 1985 to support indigenous participation at the organisation.

Over the past 30 years, around 2000 indigenous people have received a grant from the fund. A brief video about the UN Voluntary Fund, produced by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, will be screened at the observance at Headquarters on 10 August.

Dartmouth Duo granted bail for felonious wounding

Keton Dawson, 26, and 27-year old Alfri Sinclair, both of 21 Dartmouth village in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was on Wednesday granted bail for felonious wounding.

When the duo made their first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court, they were not required to plead to the indictable charge of felonious wounding.

The charge stated that, on August 2, the duo unlawfully and maliciously wounded Virtual Complainant (VC) Melroy Stephens with intent to main, disfigure, disable or causing grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutor Haimraj Ramsewack did not object to bail on the grounds that the VC has been discharged from the Hospital. They were therefore granted bail in the sum of $100,000 each by Magistrate Scarce.

Representing the duo was Latchmin Dindyal, who stated that his clients are before the court for the first time, they have permanent place of abode and they would report to court every Saturday.

The duo is expected to return to court on August 19.

Younge’s Take A Peoples Budget

Tomorrow, the new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government will present its first National Budget to the National Assembly and by extension, the people of Guyana.

While campaigning for the May 11 General and Regional Elections, the two political parties heavily criticised the then People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government for presenting budgets which had nothing else but “fluff”.

They argued that the PPP was wasting taxpayers monies and spending too much in areas which weren’t deserving. The parties maintained that the measures included in the budget were not well thought out and were intended to ensure that citizens remained poor as the friends and cronies close to the PPP Government became richer.

In short, over $90 billion were axed from three consecutive budgets presented by the Donald Ramotar Administration. The APNU and AFC parliamentary parties had argued that the PPP was siphoning off funds and redirected it to largely political projects to secure its constituencies. For the APNU/AFC Opposition, the budget was too big.

As a result of these actions, hundreds of Guyanese were affected negatively and the PPP was hindered from honouring several of its manifesto promises. In the end, those like Moses Nagamootoo who used their proverbial “scissors” to cut the budget prevailed and the legacy of the one seat-Opposition majority was concretised.

Given all the drama that took place, it is expected that Finance Minister Winston Jordan would present a budget to the Parliament that is a people's budget.

A people's budget by definition is one which includes socioeconomic measures and reforms that would bring immediate, short-term and long-term benefits to the poorest of the poor. It is a measure that is pro-poor in the sense that it is crafted against a policy framework that is aimed at reducing the levels of poverty in the country by doling out micro and macroeconomic projects that aim at wealth creation, while favouring ordinary citizens first.

Such a budget must include plans to push Private Sector development and wealth creation, strengthen vulnerable groups, including single mothers, make minorities like Amerindians more visible and lift the overall standard of living of people.

Given the APNU/AFC’s arguments while in Opposition and on the campaign trail, citizens should expect announcements that the new Government will finance at least a 30 per cent across the board increases for public servants and a 35 per cent increase for teachers and nurses. Policemen should be able to get the promised 20 per cent pay hike, while other categories of Public Sector workers benefit in line with the dynamic promises made on the campaign trail. If they do this, no one in the country will continue to live on “starvation wages” as the APNU/AFC said was the case under the PPP/C. Ask Basil Williams.

A people's budget in the context of Guyana’s reality should also include massive reforms for the sugar and rice industries along with increases for the varying categories of workers there. After all, some regard sugar workers as one of the poorer classes of workers in this country. Immense effort and attention should be paid to ensuring that rice farmers get the over $6000 per bag of paddy promised by the new Government, along with other economic measures aimed at keeping the industry viable and strengthening the economies of scale that can emerge there.

It is expected that the Finance Minister will announce several social policies that are in keeping with his Government’s posture while in Opposition. This means that increases in Old Age Pension and the electricity tariffs for Linden can be expected at a rate of 50 per cent.

There should be no bail-outs in the budget. Not for National Communications Network or Guyana Sugar Corporation as the Government while in Opposition appeared to have had the solution for the problems that plagued these institutions. It was mismanagement. So it would be shameful to hear the Minister talking about the need to send monies (exactly what the PPP was doing) to ailing industries until a solution could be arrived at to turn them around. The point must be made that no one is against helping these industries, but it was the deceit in the arguments made in the past with the aim of achieving political mileage that must be pointed out.

Minister Jordan must announce at least three major APNU/ AFC developmental projects which can easily be cherry picked from their manifesto. It would be a strange but welcomed development if the Government decided to move ahead with a significant portion of the PPP budget left by former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, especially since this Government will not be associated with corruption and by its own jargon, the PPP was corrupt.

Amerindian Heritage Month 2015 Ministry promises a memorable celebration

Amerindian Heritage Month 2015 festivities will be celebrated under the theme “Preserving Indigenous Customs and Traditions”, and though this year there will be no grand activities by the historic Umana Yana, the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry is promising a memorable and momentous month-long celebration.

Traditionally, the month’s activities were launched at the Umana Yana which was destroyed by fire in the midst of the celebrations in 2014.

The launch this year is slated to take place at the Heritage Village, located at the Sophia Exhibition where President David Granger will deliver his feature address to mark to commencement of the celebrations.

Apart from the various activities planned within the hinterland villages, national celebrations include the Heritage Launch, food and craft exhibition, cultural presentation, sports and family fun day, an inter-faith service, a fund raising event and the Reflections on the Life of Stephen Campbell, the first Amerindian Member of

Parliament in Guyanese history.

The Heritage Village is currently undergoing major rehabilitation works as the Ministry prepares for this important event. The rehabilitation works include the renovation of the roof and walls of the main benab, and the construction of two additional benabs in the compound.

The activities will commence on August 31 with the customary inter-religious service at the heritage village, followed by the Heritage Launch.

From September 02-06, there will be the food and craft exhibition, along with a cultural extravaganza at the Heritage Village which will see a number of cultural groups from Santa Rosa, Kabakaburi, Sand Creek, Surama, Karadaranau, Karasabai, Orealla, Masakenari , among others participating.

There will also be archery and swimming competitions along with the usual cricket, football and volleyball competitions. There will be the fund-raising dinner on September 18; this will be in the form of a cocktail and the heritage pageant on September

26.

And as usual, a National Heritage Village will be selected and this year Santa Aratack, a riverain community in Region Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara), was chosen.

Consequently, residents will plan two days of activities to share their way of life, traditions, cultures and achievements with the rest of Guyana.

Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry Valarie GarridoLowe assured that the Ministry is in full preparation for the launch of Amerindian Month, noting that Guyanese can expect a “bigger and better Heritage celebration, as the wonderful diversity of the rich Indigenous culture will be showcased in the form of dance, music, poetry, art, food, fashion and sports.”

Amerindian Heritage Month has its origin in September 10, 1957, when Stephen Campbell became Guyana’s first Amerindian selected to be Member of Parliament. It is for this reason that Amerindian Heritage Day is celebrated on September 10 every year.

Fast forwarding to 1995, it is recorded that Guyana’s then Prime Minister, Dr Cheddi Jagan, officially designated September as Amerindian Heritage Month, giving the indigenous population a chance to showcase their way of life.

Apart from the distinctive languages of the Warraus, Arawaks, Wapisianas, and the Caribs, Amerindians are known for their craft making skills and unique array of foods that are usually made from cassava and other ground provisions.

As such, the heritage celebration allows for the wider Guyanese populace to experience the Indigenous culture in a profound way.

New beach opened in West Berbice

The Paradise Beach is officially Guyana’s newest beach. The facility was declared open by Director of Guyana Tourism Authority (TAG) Indranauth Haraldsingh on Saturday and saw hundred of persons in attendance.

The five mile long beach is situated at Belladrum, West Coast Berbice, Region

were able to partner with the Regional Administration; we can partner with the citizens of this community; we can partner with the NDC (Neighbourhood Democratic Council) and the Ministry of Tourism and Government of Guyana to have an official beach destination on the West Coast of Berbice.”

He said it is expected that

the access to the beach is at Paradise, the facility is actually situated in Belladrum, resulting in residents of the latter objecting to the name of the beach. He said as stakeholders, the chamber will meet with residents to arrive at a name which will give acknowledgement to both communities.

Meanwhile Director of TAG, Indranauth Haraldsingh noted that the beach belongs to the community and should be developed for the betterment of all. Haraldsingh, in delivering greetings on behalf of the Tourism Minister, Cathy Hughes, congratulated the WBCC. He noted that the facility has great potential for business. He said the Chairpersons of the ten administrative regions have all been asked to identify tourism attractions in their regions.

Five (Mahaica/Berbice), but is accessed from a road in the neighboring village, Paradise.

The idea of developing and promoting the area as a tourist destination came from the newly formed West Berbice Chamber of Commerce (WBCC). President of the WBCC Imran Sakoor, speaking at the opening of the beach, noted that the chamber, in its bid to find a beach destination on the West Coast of Berbice to bring persons out on weekends, stumbled on the Paradise/Belladrum area.

“We are proud that we

the facility will be able to provide entertainment for West Berbicians and, by extension, the entire Region Five. Sakoor noted that access to the facility needs to be improved to become an all weather road.

“I am making this call to the Ministry of Tourism that it is serious about tourism that that it should partner with us and come on board… in the future we are also looking to see if we can put lighting facilities, but I see big things that will happen in the future right here at Paradise.”

Sakoor noted that while

In an invited comment, Sakoor said the chamber had to do some amount of cleaning to the facility to and install toilet facilities. Speaking of future plans, the Chamber President added that one of the first projects in further developing the beach, a cat walk will be build over the Atlantic Ocean.

However TAG’s Director, in his address, said that persons who want to vend on the beach may be asked to pay a fee if the chamber is going to further develop the beach.

Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations at the Umana Yana

Children playing at Paradise Beach

Families come out to enjoy a day of fun at the new beach

Amerindian CSO’s not paid for 4 months

– Minister Garrido-Lowe says “payments begun”

By Devina Samaroo

Some of the 1972 Amerindian Community Support Officers (CSOs) who were recently dismissed by the David Granger-led Administration are claiming that they have not been paid their $30,000 monthly stipend since April however, the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry is saying that payment distributions begun some two weeks ago, dubbing the situation as a non-issue.

Newly-elected Toshao of Aishalton Douglas Casimero told the Guyana Times that all the formerCSOs across Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) are complaining that they have not been paid since April, neither have they received any word from the Ministry regarding any possible payment.

Guyana Times received credible information that other CSOs have not received payments since April.

This newspaper also spoke to the Junior Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister, Valerie GarridoLowe, who claimed that payments had begun some two weeks back. However, she was not prepared to say how long it will take until all of the CSOs will receive their monies.

She was also unable to say which groups of CSOs have received their payments already.

A majority of the CSOs are already vexed that the new Administration quashed the programme and the fact that they have not received payments since May appears to be an “insult added to injury”.

For many of the CSOs, the monthly stipend of a mere $30,000 was their only source of income and now that the programme is no longer, they are left on the breadline and without direction.

The CSO initiative provided job opportunities and capacity building programmes for Amerindian youths.

Basically, CSOs assisted Amerindian Village Councils in executing their work in various areas such as health, education, governance, leadership, infrastructure, sports and community development.

Several Amerindian Leaders have already pleaded with the Administration to reinstate the programme or at least replace it so that the Amerindian youths will not be idle and jobless.

“If there are deficiencies, then let’s improve it. These young people are now disadvantaged and they will be idle and have nothing to do,” Casimero had told this publication.

The A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change Administration fired 1972 CSOs in the hinterland regions across the country because it was believed that their operations were political.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon said it was always found that the programme, which has been in existence for over five years, was being used by the previous Administration for political purposes. This being the case, he said, their sacking was justified.

Business owner refutes claims made by rowdy neighbour

Cecil Johnson, owner of Ruimzigt Seaview Liquor Restaurant and Stock Bar, is refuting claims made by his neighbour, Mark Chung, that his establishment is a nuisance to the community and has caused damage to property.

Chung recently told this publication that his neighbour runs the Ruimzigt Seaview Liquor Restaurant and Stock Bar in his home. He said he has no problems with this venture; however, the owner has a huge set which he packs into his yard every weekend and plays music loudly, and all night.

The joiner stated that the noise vibrates his entire house, which in turn upturns its contents. Chung said several of his dishes have been damaged due to the noise. He has resorted to packing everything to ensure it remains whole. The complainant had also stated that the noise would reach such extremes that he and his family had to leave their home for sever-

al hours, from 18:00h until the morning to escape it. He said their bedrooms, unfortunately, is closer to his neighbour’s premises. Chung said he is “fed up with the music” as he has spoken with Johnson to no avail.

Guyana Times spoke to Johnson and visited his establishment on Saturday to investigate the matter.

Johnson stated that Chung has been complaining about his business for some time now and nothing that he does seems to appease his “naturally wick-

ed” neighbour. He shared that Chung had taken him to court twice, but the cases were both dismissed after Chung was a no show.

Johnson and his wife explained that the music could never be as loud to upturn contents in their neighbour’s home as the speakers usually back his residence, and the bar attendees and other neighbours have never complained against their business.

Johnson produced documents signed by neighbours stating whether or not the business was a bother to them, in which they all responded in the negative. He stated that he cannot understand what Chung has against him, but hopes that it would come to an end. It was even noted that Chung signed a letter of recommendation for the opening of the bar, so he was not sure where animosity was stemming from.

Johnson’s wife suggested that Chung’s issue probably began after they had hired him to build some cupboards, for which they were not impressed with and chastised him.

Guyana Times even asked other close neighbours about the truth about Chung’s statement and they all stated that the bar was no bother and never goes past 24:00h.

Chung and his family refused to further comment.

Unlicensed gun possession suspects release due to special reasons

Shariff Ameer and Peter Hodge of Kurkurru Mission was released on $250,000 bail each after a sterling presentation by their attorney on why they may not have committed the offence they are so charged with.

Ameer, 50, from Number 35 Village, Corentyne and Hodge, 65, of Upper Berbice River was saved from seeing the inside of a jail cell on Friday when their attorney, James Bond, provided the court with reasons why they may not be guilty of the offence.

The duo was charged for illegal gun possession after being busted in Five Mile, Kurukururu Mission with a 12 gage single barrel shotgun without a firearm license on August 6.

Ameer was given an ad-

ditional charge of threatening behaviour after he allegedly threatened Korass Ramroop on August 5.

The men pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their attorney elaborated on their pleas by explaining that the gun was found in an open place of the camp. He stated that approximately 800 persons dwell in the camp and thus anyone could have placed the gun there.

With these reasons put forward Bond asked the court to grant his clients reasonable bail. He told the court that Hodge was a father of 18 children and Famer, while Ameer is the sole breadwinner of his home and he has 7 children.

The attorney continued that the men are much grounded in the community as they have been logging

there for over 20 years. He explained too that Hodge is not well and would require special medication.

Even so, Police Prosecutor, Corporal Simone Payne stated that there is no justifiable special reason given for the offense as Hodge had admitted to one of his arresting officers to putting the gun in the camp at the behest of one of his men. The prosecutor objected to bail due to the seriousness of the offence and its prevalence of it.

Magistrate Fabayo Azore granted bail. She said the explanation given by the defence was enough to be deemed a special reason and thus granted the men bail. They are expected back in court on August 10.

Junior Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister, Valerie Garrido-Lowe

Ruimzigt Seaview Liquor Restaurant and Stock Bar

Papers Johnson produced signed and written by neighbours

Around the world

Deadly Typhoon Soudelor batters Taiwan

Powerful Typhoon

Soudelor has swept across Taiwan with strong winds and heavy rain, leaving at least four people dead and four missing.

The storm weakened over the island but remains powerful as it heads for China, prompting the evacuation of more than 150,000 people on the mainland’s coast.

Rail services and flights have been cancelled in the path of the storm, and schools and offices closed. Millions of homes have been left without electricity.

Soudelor made landfall on the eastern coast of Taiwan early on Saturday. It ripped up trees and tore down billboards, and triggered a landslide in at least one village. Among the victims were an eight-yearold girl and her mother who were swept out to sea.

Another 101 people were also injured.

“I’ve never seen such a powerful typhoon in my 60 years,” one resident in the eastern Taitung county told Taiwan’s Formosa TV.

The typhoon gradual-

Dead Palestinian child’s father dies of wounds

APalestinian man, whose child was killed in an arson attack blamed on Jewish settlers, has died of his injuries. Saad Dawabsha, 32, died in an Israeli hospital where he was being treated for second-degree burns to most of his body.

His 18-month son, Ali, died in the attack in the village of Duma in the occupied West Bank on 31 July. Ali’s mother and his four-yearold brother remain in critical condition. Hundreds of people turned out as Saad Dawabsha was buried in Duma on Saturday.

In last week’s attack, the family’s small home was firebombed in the night, and daubed with slogans in Hebrew, including the word “revenge”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack an act of terrorism. Israel has vowed to catch the arsonists.

The incident may have been a so-called “price tag” attack. Such attacks usually involve acts of vandalism or arson by Jewish ex-

tremists as retribution for actions taken by the Israeli Government against Jewish settlements or unauthorised outposts in the West Bank, or for violence by Palestinians.

The United Nation’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, called for the perpetrators to be brought swiftly to justice.

“Political, community and religious leaders on all sides should work together and not allow extremists to escalate the situation and take control of the political agenda,” he said in a statement.

Palestinians regard settlements as a major obstacle to building a sought-after state in contiguous territory in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel’s 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ly lost its strength as it crossed the island, but was still packing winds of up to 144 kilometres per hour over the strait between Taiwan and China. Fujian province in south-east China raised its typhoon

alert to the highest level, calling it a “serious threat”, with at least 163,000 people evacuated to higher ground.

There are reports of more evacuations in neighbouring Zhejiang province.

(BBC News)

12 killed in Mali, 4 UN workers saved

At least 12 people are thought to have been killed, including gunmen and Malian soldiers, after insurgents battled the army in the central Malian town of Sevare.

Four United Nations workers survived the siege, but at least four other foreign nationals are feared to have died at and around Hotel Byblos.

The gunmen had retreated to the hotel after attacking a nearby army base. No-one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

At least three gunmen are dead and seven have been arrested, while five Malian soldiers were said to have been killed in the attack.

A South African who was killed in the attack worked for an aviation company used by the United Nations (UN) in Mali, a South African Foreign Ministry spokesman tweeted. Another two

US cinema gunman spared the

Ajury in the state of Colorado has spared gunman James Holmes the death penalty for killing 12 people at a screening of a Batman film in 2012. He will serve life in jail without the possibility of parole.

The defence team had argued that the former neuroscience graduate student, now 27, was insane at the time.

The jury agreed with prosecutors that Holmes, though mentally ill, was responsible for his actions. But it was not unanimous on the death penalty. That lack of agreement meant that the jury accepted he would receive an automatic life sentence without parole.

One juror later told NBC News that two members of the jury were “on the fence” about the death penalty, but that another was adamantly opposed on the grounds of mental illness. “We ended our deliberations when one absolutely would not move,” the juror said.

The decision of the jurya panel of nine women and three men - was revealed

South Africans, one Russian and one Ukrainian walked out alive from the hotel, after a pre-dawn raid by Malian Paramilitaries. The men are pilots and engineers contracted by Minusma, the United Nations mission in Mali.

A UN spokeswoman said the survivors had not been held hostage. They had managed to hide in the hotel during the siege. “The Minusma contractors were never held hostage. The whole time they were inside the hotel, the gunmen did not know of their presence. They were hiding and we managed to keep in contact with them,” she told the BBC.

A total of at least 13 people are thought to have died since gunmen swept through Sevare on Friday morning on motorbikes, attacking an air force base before taking over the hotel. It is unclear which group was behind the attack. (Excerpt from BBC News)

death penalty

by Judge Carlos Samour in a courtroom in the city of Centennial on Friday evening.

As the verdict was read out, Holmes’ mother, Arlene, leaned her head against her husband’s shoulder and began sobbing.

Ashley Moser, whose sixyear-old daughter Veronica died in the attack and who was herself paralysed,

shook her head and then slowly leaned it against the wheelchair of another paralysed victim. “We just have to deal with it and accept it,” said Robert Sullivan, Veronica’s grandfather.

“He’s living. He’s breathing and our loved ones are gone.

The gaping void we have for our grand-daughter has been replaced with a new abscess of him living.”

District Attorney George

Brauchler said: “I still think death is justice for what that guy did, but the system said otherwise. I honour that, and I’ll respect that outcome.”

During his three-month trial, Holmes declined to testify in his own defence or to make a statement expressing his remorse. The sentence is expected to be imposed formally at a later hearing. (Excerpt from BBC News)

5 women accused of witchcraft lynched by Indian mob

Villagers in a rural part of eastern India have killed five women whom they accused of practising witchcraft, Police have said.

Police in eastern Jharkhand state said on Saturday that a group of assailants dragged the women out of their huts and beat them to death at around midnight on Friday in their village, some 30 kilometres from state capital, Ranchi.

“A group (of villagers)

dragged the women out and beat them to death with sticks, accusing them of practising witchcraft,” Ranchi Deputy Police Chief Arun Kumar Singh said over the phone.

At least 21 villagers have been arrested over the killings of the women, who were mostly aged between 45 and 50.

In yet another barbaric incident related to superstition in the tribal state, the villages alleged that those five women had

killed a boy through their black magic. “A boy died in the village a week ago.

Allegation was levelled against a woman that she killed the boy through witchcraft,” Singh said.

Belief in witchcraft and the occult remains widespread in some parts of India. In some cases, women are stripped naked as punishment, burnt alive or driven from their homes and killed.

Some states, including, Jharkhand have intro -

duced special laws to try to curb crimes against people accused of witchcraft.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das condemned the latest killings in a statement on Saturday, urging society to “ponder over it”. “In the age of knowledge, this incident is sorrowful.”

The National Crime Records Bureau has recorded 2097 such killings between 2000 and 2012 in India. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The typhoon brought down roofs in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei

The 12 victims from the 2012 shooting

Thousands gathered for Saad Dawabsha’s funeral

Gouveia calls for review of visa on arrival system

– refusal of Indians’ entry arbitrary

In light of the recent misunderstanding involving the eight Indian nationals, an Insel Air airline and the Central Immigration Office, local representative for Insel Air and Chairman of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia, is calling on Government to review the visa on arrival system that is in place.

Gouveia explained to the Guyana Times that Government cannot tell persons from countries around the world that they will obtain a visa upon their arrival in Guyana but when they touch down here, they are rejected.

“They can’t let people come here and when they show up at the airport, they are refused entry. These persons are not from Caribbean countries, we have people coming from India, Dubai, China and so on” he said while adding “they need to ensure that systems are in place for people to get their visa before they come here”.

However, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge has posited that it is the responsibility of all passengers, even Guyanese travelling abroad, to ensure that they meet the visa and immigration requirements of the country they are travelling to. Furthermore, he noted that the airlines too are obligated to ensure that all passengers are in possession of visas and/or return tickets. In this instance, however, Capt Gouveia confirmed that the Indian Nationals had return tickets.

According to the Minister, while the visa on arrival system has proven to be a major issue in many countries, the policy remains the same – either met the requirements or return. Greenidge noted that while Guyana may want to “flex” at times taking into consideration the distance and circumstances under which they travelled, they cannot do so as Guyana’s security system would appear ineffective.

“Visa requirements around the world are tight, largely because of terrorism so as a responsible and small country, we are obliged to take the necessary precautions,” the Foreign Affairs Minister outlined.

Meanwhile, Gouveia has accused the Immigration Office of acting “irresponsible” in handling the matter involving the Indian nationals and

Insel Air. On July 19, eight Indian Nationals arrived in Guyana but were refused entry for various immigration reasons which have never been made clear.

Guyana is listed officially as offering Visa on Entry to Indian nationals once they have a “sponsor” to receive them. It was reported that there were persons who would perform this task.

Last November India offered the Visa on Entry facility to Guyanese.

On Thursday, the Immigration Office then tried to get the nationals returned to the destination they came from via an Insel Air flight however, the pilot refused to take the passengers as such the flight was grounded by local authorities until the following day.

Captain Gouveia pointed out that the Immigration Office made a very serious mistake by forcing the flight to take nationals. He explained that the nationals arrived in Guyana on a Curacao Insel Air flight but the one they were attempting to have the na-

tionals fly out on was an Aruba Insel Air flight.

“These are two completely different airlines operating in two different countries and so you cannot use one to take out passengers that were brought in on the other flight,” he declared. Gouveia stated that the eight Indian nationals travelled from Dubai to Sao Paulo, Brazil. They then flew to Columbia and then Curacao, from where they travelled to Guyana.

He further outlined the men had an itinerary, detailing that they will depart Guyana on August 4 via Copa Airline to Panama then they will travel to Sao Paulo from where they would have gone to Dubai. Gouveia noted that after they men were rejected entry, Immigration tried to get them back on a Copa flight but for some reason, they were unable to do so hence they turned to the airline the men arrived on.

According to the local Insel Air representative, the men arrived on the Aruba flight around 22:30h and the flight did not leave until the following morning at 07:00h. He noted that by that time, immigration would have already questioned the men and refused their entry. “They had enough time to send them back on the same flight but they did not,” he pointed out.

Furthermore, Gouveia outlined that the Immigration Office erred when they refused to listen to the pilot of the Aruba flight who was trying to explain that he cannot take the men because they came on a Curacao flight.

Moreover, he noted that the decision taken by Immigration to ground the Insel Air Aruba flight has not only disrupted the Guyana schedule but the entire network in some 29 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.

“It was a tremendous disruption of the network… Insel Air has many connected flight through the regions so it was just Guyana alone that was affected,” he declared.

Gouveia underscored that aviation is very technical hence Government should ensure that there are adequately qualified personnel with extensive knowledge of sector and its operations.

300,000 marijuana plants, over 800lbs ganja destroyed in Berbice River

Member of the Police Narcotics Branch and ranks of B Division (Berbice) on Saturday destroyed about 300,000 marijuana plants at Hendrax, Berbice River.

The ranks were conducting a drug eradication exercise in the area, during which four fields of marijuana measuring about 20 acres of the plants, between one and eight feet in height, were discovered.

Along with the 20 acres, another 880 pounds (lbs) of dried marijuana and 13 nurseries were destroyed. In addition, six camps were also burnt. The Police have not managed to make an arrest.

This operation came one day after Police Ranks at D Division found 21 kilograms of compressed marijuana at the Vriesland Foreshore, West Bank Demerara.

It was reported that the Police were conducting a routine operation along the Demerara River, when they recogised three men running away. Upon closer inspection, the marijuana was found, along with a mobile phone and several cutlasses.

The Police in B Division have declared “war” on the illegal drug trade, which has been dominant in the Berbice and Canje Rivers.

To date, several marijuana fields have been destroyed in the Canje River and along the Berbice River, but the real drug dealers have managed to evade law enforcement.

The main reason for this, Guyana Times was told, is due to the fact that the drug dealers employ informants who alert them when the Police are involved in their regular drug eradication exercises.

Linden man killed as lumber truck topples

Aresident of the mining town of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) met his demise on Friday evening after a lumber truck, on which he was travelling, toppled while descending a hill along the Upper Demerara Trail.

The dead man, Sydney Higgins, 64 of Lot 714 Amelias Ward, Linden, was reportedly pinned and died almost immediately. Based on reports, Higgins, along with three other men, was sitting on the lumber as the

truck was descending a hill when the driver lost control, causing the truck to topple several times.

As it came to a halt, Higgins was found pinned under the lumber. After several hours, his body was pulled and taken to the

Granger wants “bilateral” not “border” talks with Venezuela

Guyana’s President, David Granger, will not have discourse with Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro on the ongoing border controversy unless he completely withdraws the controversial decree he issued completely.

This is according to Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, who issued a statement clarifying Guyana’s position after several misleading and inaccurate articles were published in regional media claiming that Granger has had a change of heart and is now willing to have dialogue with Maduro.

“This is not the case,” Greenidge said on Saturday, explaining that President Granger makes no mention of any “change of mind”, but merely said that he is willing to speak to President Maduro on a variety of issues of common interest, separate and apart from the border issue.

“President Granger rightly observed that there is much else of importance to be discussed, including trade and stability in the region. That position is a longstanding one and is captured in diplomatic and other correspondence between the two countries.

The recent headlines, for the most part, do not accurately reflect this. In fact, the contents of many articles do not seem to be consistent with the head -

lines,” Greenidge said. He explained that President Granger and, subsequently, President Maduro approached the United Nations in June and July of this year, respectively, to call for the Secretary General to carry out the role set out in the Geneva Agreement.

“The Secretary General has indicated that he is looking into the matter and has asked whether both Presidents will be attending the United Nations General Assembly in September. That forum may offer the opportunity for a meeting. That has been reported in the press, locally and internationally, and still stands. Guyana has accepted that approach,” he explained in the Statement.

Minister Greenidge also noted that several other entities have also offered to mediate in the matter.

“Not surprisingly, from the comments made by some of these parties, it is clear that they acted in response to prompting from Venezuela and, like good friends, have not bothered to inform themselves of the background to the issue. We appreciate the interest and goodwill, however solutions do not merely rely on goodwill,” Greenidge said.

He maintained that it is only a negotiation problem if one assumes that no international law governs the issue.

GPL’s Deputy CEO transfers cash to US account

– requests time to repay funds

Aerswar Deonarine, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) Administration of the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL), is currently seeking time to repay the $27 million, which was transferred from the PetroCaribe Fund to his personal bank account.

This information was revealed during a press conference hosted by the Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, in the boardroom of his Ministry.

“I am aware that a letter was sent in by the DCEO. He wrote the letter saying he does not believe his actions were wrong.

Linden Hospital mortuary, where it awaits a post mortem examination.

The other men on the truck received injuries and were treated at the hospital. The driver of the truck is in Police custody assisting with investigations.

However, he will refund the money, but is requesting some time, because the cash was transferred to his United States (US) account,” Patterson informed the media.

Minister Patterson indicated that the forensic audit into the financial affairs of GPL had concluded, and the files were sent to the Public Security Ministry and the

GPL’s Deputy CEO

Attorney General, who, after a review of the findings, will advise on the way forward. In late July, a forensic audit revealed that $28.748 million was transferred from the PetroCaribe Fund into the personal accounts of FITUG President Carvil Duncan and Deonarine, with $27.8 million going to Deonarine’s account and $948,000 to Duncan’s. (Excerpt from GINA)

Chairman of Roraima Airways and local representative for Insel Air, Caption Gerry Gouveia

Aerswar Deonarine

Seven Seas annual 11-race cycling programme…

Ambrose storms to victory in feature race

BY AVENASH RAMZAN

Team Alanis’ Alonzo

Ambrose made a decisive move in the dying stages of the main race of the 12th annual Seven

John and a few other riders as the race gained momentum.

Ambrose, Hinds and John then started to separate themselves from the pack, lapping some riders

it was anyone’s race until Ambrose pulled away on the final 150 metre to snatch the victory, leaving Hinds and John to battle for second.

In the end, Ambrose won by a comfortable dis-

Seas 11-race programme on Saturday to cop top honours and deny Team Gillette Evolution’s Orville Hinds another win this season.

Ambrose made a strong statement from as early as the third lap when he initiated a solo breakaway in the gruelling 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race. He was the later joined by Hinds, Team Coco’s Jamal

along the way. It was clear that the winner would come from the trio, and when Hinds pulled away with six laps to go, he seemed a clear favourite, taking recent form into consideration.

However, Ambrose and John had enough left in their legs and they connected with Hinds with four laps remaining. They held together to the final lap, and

tance, stopping the clock at one hour, 18 minutes, 49.08 seconds (01h: 18m: 49.08s), while Hinds, who has been the most successful cyclist in 2015, edged out John for the runner-up spot.

Akeem Wilkinson of Team Gillette Evolution occupied fourth position, followed by the Team Alanis pair of Paul Choo Wee Nam and Christopher Griffith in

fifth and sixth respectively.

The day’s activities, which were coordinated by long-serving National Coach Hassan Mohamed, started with the Boys and Girls 12-14 race, which was won by Ronaldo Narine with Whitney Poyer coming in second.

Bochel Samaroo, Shameer Baksh and Ian Jackson were 1-2-3 in the Veterans Under-50, while Linden Blackman was the top Over-50 rider. John won the Juveniles race, with Raphael Leung second and Andrew Hicks third, while Ozia Mcaulay emerged the top Mountain Bike rider, winning ahead of Nicholas Alphonso and Seon Budhan.

Alexander Leung continued to dominate the BMX

Grenada football coach suspended

FIFA has suspended Grenada’s senior men’s national football coach Anthony Modeste for four games and fined more than US$10,000 for misconduct against match officials.

The Disciplinary Committee, comprising of Claudio Sulser of Switzerland as chairman, and members Jim Shaw of Northern Ireland, Ariel Alvarado of Panama and Cristian Varela of Chile, handed down its decision on July 23. The ruling was communicated to the Grenada Football

Association (GFA) this week.

The Spice Boyz coach is accused of breaching the FIFA Disciplinary Code by committing an unsporting conduct towards a match official during their World Cup preliminary round game against Puerto Rico in June.

According to FIFA, Modeste, who received a red card during the first-leg preliminary game against Puerto Rico in the 2018 FIFA World Cup on June 12, will miss Grenada’s third round qualifying games against Haiti next

month.

FIFA said that the automatic match suspension was already served when Grenada played Puerto Rico on June 16 in St George’s and in view of Grenada has qualified for the next round of the preliminary competition, Modeste will be served two match suspensions against Haiti on September 4 and 8.

The governing body said that the remaining match suspension will have to be served if Grenada qualifies for Round Four of the competition.

However, if Grenada does not qualify for the subsequent round of the preliminary competition of the FIFA World Cup 2018, the remaining match suspension will be carried over to Grenada’s next official match.

Modeste is also fined US$9,000 in application of the ruling and US$1,000 for the proceedings. He has 30 days from the date of notification of the decision to pay the fine.

FIFA said “only the motivated decision can be appealed against to the FIFA Appeal Committee”. (CMC)

6-9 race, crossing the line ahead of Simeon Chee and Anthony Vandenburg, while Jonathon Jagdeo took top honours in the BMX 9-12, leaving Yannick John and Zab James to settle for second and third positions respectively.

The BMX 12-14 race was won by Adelia Hodge with Thuran Garbarran second, and Jagdeo third.

At the post-race presentation, Mohamed thanked Seven Seas for once again supporting the annual race. He congratulated all the winners, and expressed pleasure at the day’s activities being accident-free.

The Seven Seas team of officials, who witnessed the race and later assisted in the presentation of trophies

and prime prizes, expressed pleasure at being associated with the sport of cycling.

Nirvana Thakur, Product Specialist at Massy Distribution, the distributor of Seven Seas products, said, “Everybody needs a healthy balance of vitamins, minerals and supplements, and as such, Seven Seas over the years has specifically formulated and designed products that assist with this balance.”

Thakur was accompanied by Stacey Henry and other members of staff of Massy Distribution. As part of the sponsorship, the company provided Seven Seas hampers for the top performers of the various categories.

Team Alanis’ Alonzo Ambrose is a comfortable winner in the main race, as Orville Hinds and Jamal John battle for second position in the distance (Avenash Ramzan photos)

Nirvana Thakur presents the winner’s trophy and prime prizes to Alonzo Ambrose in the presence of race official Joseph Britton (partly hidden) and organiser Hassan Mohamed

Anthony Modeste

Ruthless England complete Ashes demolition job

England ripped out the last three Australia wickets for 12 runs to win the fourth test by a crushing innings and 78 runs and regain the Ashes at a euphoric Trent Bridge on Saturday.

Ben Stokes had Mitchell Starc caught by Ian Bell at second slip for nought and Mark Wood bowled Josh Hazlewood for a duck.

Wood produced another ferocious full-pitched delivery to shatter Nathan Lyon’s stumps for four and complete the rout, sparking wild celebrations on

the pitch and around the ground.

The England players celebrated in a huddle before going on a lap of honour to strains of “Rule Britannia” and “Land of Hope and Glory” as the crowd basked in the sunshine.

“It’s unbelievable. I couldn’t be happier,” England captain Alastair Cook told reporters.

England were whitewashed 5-0 in the last Ashes series in Australia in 2013-14 and the touring side had been strong favourites to retain the famous

urn.

“For what we’ve been through over the last 18 months, to play like we did has been fantastic,” Cook said.

“I’m so proud of this young team and the way they’ve taken this opportunity.”

TEST-BEST FIGURES

Adam Voges was left unbeaten on 51 in Australia’s total of 253 and Stokes finished with test-best figures of 6-36.

“Our goal was to come here and try and have some

success,” Australia captain Michael Clarke said at the presentation ceremony after announcing he will retire from international cricket at the end of the final test in the series.

“Alastair Cook and the England team deserve a lot of credit -- they’ve shown us how to execute good swing and seam bowling.

“It’s not for want of trying but the boys have been beaten by a better side.

“England when they’ve had momentum have grabbed it with both hands and run with it. James Anderson and Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes in this game showed what you need to do in games like this.

“Once you find the edge you need to hang on to those chances and England have done that really well.”

England won the first test in Cardiff by 169 runs but Australia bounced back to level the series with a crushing victory by 405 runs at Lord’s.

The hosts dominated the third test at Edgbaston and won by eight wickets inside three days before dismissing Australia for 60 on the first day at Trent Bridge to set up another overwhelming victory.

“When you lose 5-0 there’s a big turnaround and a new side develops pretty quickly,” Cook said. “There’s a lot of talent and the guys have come in and done incredibly well.

“It all comes down to hard work. A lot of that work has been done over the last 18 months,” Cook said.

“I had to take a big step forward as captain. I am quite stubborn and it took a while. But ultimately you are only as good as the other 10 players.”

England lead the series 3-1 with one match to play at the Oval starting on August 20. (Reuters)

SCOREBOARD

Sports Director sponsors Berbice camps

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has sponsored two youth camps being held in Region Six.

The East Bank Berbice Sports Camp and the Heart of Oak “Teach them Young” football camp have both benefited from Government’s commitment to support sports.

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, presented the sponsorship cheques to Debra Ward of the East Bank Berbice Sports Club and to Neil Humphrey of the Heart of Oak “Teach them Young” football camp.

He noted that he is committed to the development

of self esteem. While at the Hearts of Oak camp, participants have been exposed to learning the fundamentals of football on the field and the laws of the game.

Attention is also being given to life skills, which include diet, etiquette, HIV, healthy home practices and basic skills needed in the classroom.

Meanwhile, several other similar camps were sponsored by the NSC in other parts of the country.

At the Timehri, two weeks sports camp the participants were exposed to games such as cricket, volley ball, football, athletics along with the rules of the

of sports. He explained that the two organisations would have submitted request to the National Sports Commission for funding and gears to assist with the success of the summer camps.

“One on the camps would have already started in July and the other one will commence in August and of course part of our commitment to aid with that development we will be presenting the cheques to the individuals who will be coordinating the events in Region Six.”

At the East Bank Berbice Sports Club camp, participants were exposed to cricket, football and athletics. They were also advised on moral values in sports, and others programs to boost

games, they were also part of the cricket coaching session with Barbados National Coach Richard Clark at the National Part tarmac.

The Saint Cuthbert’s Mission sports camp was held from Monday, August 3, to Friday, August 7, where football, volley ball, and table tennis were the focus along with other fund games while the Grove, East Bank Demerara camp was also conducted during the same period and catered for persons between the ages of 9 and 16-years old.

Similar camps will also be organised for Mocha, Den Amstel, Linden and Liverpool Village Corentyne. The camps are organised by the Department of Sport, Sports Officer Alistair Munroe.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones handing over sponsorship cheque to Debra Ward of East Bank Berbice Sports Camp, while Sports Officer Alistair Munroe looks on

Director of Sports Christopher Jones handing over sponsorship cheque to Neil Humphrey of Heart of Oak “Teach them Young” football camp

The England players celebrate after reclaiming the Ashes. (Cricinfo photo)

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Michael Phelps swims fastest 200m fly time of 2015

His time would have been good enough for gold at the 2012 London Olympics, where he finished second behind Chad le Clos’ time of 1:52.96. It would have been good enough to win at this year’s world championships in Kazan, Russia, where Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh took the title in 1:53.48.

“I think it just shows you anything is possible if you want something bad enough,” Phelps said. “I can do whatever I put my mind to.”

No doubt about that.

Not after a performance that no one saw coming -not even his longtime coach, Bob Bowman, who said, “That was one of his best swims.”

High praise, considering Phelps, 30, is the most decorated athlete in Olympic history, with 18 golds and 22 medals overall.

Phelps should have been in Kazan this week -he easily qualified for the U.S. team -- but he lost his spot as part of his punish-

ment for a second drunkendriving arrest last fall. So he came to San Antonio for what is essentially a juniorvarsity meet for swimmers who didn’t earn a spot at the biggest meet outside the Olympics.

It was the middle of the night in Russia when he finished, but the time was sure to send plenty of ripples halfway around the world by Saturday morning.

“I wish I was there,” Phelps said, “but I’m glad I’m here.”

With the stands nearly full -- despite another 100-degree day in south Texas -- and fans packed around the railings at one end of the pool, Phelps seized the moment. He went out in 25.14 seconds, significantly faster than his opening pace in the morning preliminaries, and was clearly racing more than just the seven other swimmers in the A final.

He kept up the blistering pace right to the end, breaking 30 seconds on his final lap and touching the wall

“The best I’ve seen”...

“I’ve never seen anybody with the skills and ability as Brian, and the know-how to hit a cricket ball to the boundary. I’ve never seen anybody with such quick hands, quick eyes as Brian. He would sometimes hit balls that I would not even play at,” Chanderpaul, the West Indies second highest test runscorer behind Lara, told the appreciative gathering.

Chanderpaul further told the gathering that the Trinidadian world-record holder for the highest individual test and First-Class scores consistently provided him with a lesson in batting whenever they were together at the crease.

“It’s unbelievable the power he gets from his strokes. He’s definitely a genius, and it used to work in my favour too because at times people bowl him outside the off-stump and he cash in on those, and they forget sometimes I’m batting with Brian and they bowl close to me. I’m happy when they bowl close to me, and I cash in. But definitely Brian is the best

a full body-length ahead of runner-up Jack Conger, who was timed in 1:54.54.

“I had no clue,” Phelps said. “Going into the 100 wall, I said, ‘Please just make it feel this easy for one more 25.’ Then I would just go to my legs as much as I can the last 75. When I hit 150 wall, I was like, ‘I better get at least seven or eight kicks off this wall and just hammer it.’”

That he did.

It was Phelps’ best performance in one of his signature events since he set the world record of 1:51.51 at the 2009 world championships in Rome -- a meet remembered for its assault on the record book with nearly everyone wearing rubberized suits that were soon banned by FINA for making a mockery of the sport.

This time, Phelps was wearing a black textile jammer with his “MP” logo on the right leg, one of the suits he helped design as part of a new sponsorship deal.

“I guess the suit is pretty good,” he said. (ESPN)

batsman I’ve ever seen,” the “Tiger” as he is affectionately known, outlined. He added, “Batting with him was definitely a pleasure, standing up at the other end and watching on. You couldn’t ask for better because you learn so much from a guy like him. The different shots he played, as a young cricketer in the team you look at those things and learn from it.

So Brian was definitely the best I’ve seen.”

The 46-year-old Lara, who retired from international cricket in 2007, is the West Indies highest runscorer in both tests and ODIs. The gifted left-hander made 11, 953 Test runs with 34 hundreds, while he accumulated 10,348 ODI runs with 19 centuries. He also holds the record for the highest Test score of 400, and also the highest First-Class of 501 for Warwickshire, made in 1994.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (left) shares a moment with compatriot Mahendra Nagamootoo at the banquet

Michael Phelps

Another Rahaman to join the family sport today at the motor races

Javid Rahaman will be the newest member of the Rahaman family to take up motoring when he tests his skills today at the South Dakota Circuit.

Rahaman will race in the Group 1 Class with his Toyota Vitz and hopes to have a successful outing on his debut.

In addition, Rahaman noted that his car was converted from a road car to a racing car, striping 300lbs from the vehicle.

However, accomplishing such a feat was made

easier with sponsorship from Two Brothers Gas Station, Gulf Motor Oil, JR Burgers, Silhouette Restaurant, Altitude and Sushi Bar & Cocktail Lounge.

Further, Rahaman pinpointed that the urge to join the sport was hard to resist since numerous family members are currently involved.

The young driver, who recently got married, stressed that being successful in his events will the perfect honeymoon gift.

Meanwhile, Rahaman revealed that there are no major concerns right now, informing that the machine is performing well and expects the machine to be reliable on race day.

Nevertheless, Rahaman will also have his father Jad, brother Ryan and uncle Ray to pull experience from on race day.

Rahaman also stressed that fans can expected and exciting time as well as another exciting prospect that will be making his debut come today.

West Indies could win 2016 World T20, says Croft

Former West Indies pacer Colin Croft believes West Indies could win the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 in India next year.

However, Croft said that the regional side’s victory would depend on many computations and selections.

“India-2016 is nine months away, but proper planning and selections are main keys for WI to win there, since WI’s OneDay International and Test rankings are nearly on the floor,” he said.

“Trinidad & Tobago’s Red Steel recent win in Caribbean Premier League 2015, beating similarly talented Barbados Trident, tells only one story; that a WI team consisting of several players from that final game, plus some from other

teams, could bring WI further World T-20 success.

So, as suggested by West Indies Cricket Board, let us accentuate the positive, if it exists.”

The former Guyanese cricketer said he was not surprised of the West Indies’ last international tournament win in Sri Lanka when they won the world T20 in Sri Lanka in 2012.

Noting West Indies’ ranking of number four with 17 points, behind Sri Lanka, Australia and India, Croft believes it’s possible for West Indies to be number one in T20 again.

“Victorious T&T Red Steel has no Champions League competition to look forward to anymore, so Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Suleiman Benn, Kieron Pollard, Jason

Holder, Kevon Cooper, Samuel Badree, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse and Imran Khan; from last CPL final; plus Sunil Narine and Chris Gayle, if he recovers from his medical issues, could be nuclei for India-2016.”

He said that some of the players have on-going issues with the WICB and might not even be available for selection.

“But realistically, ICC WT-20 India-2016 could be the last opportunity for some of this present generation of WI cricketers to win any further world championships for some time in the future,” he said.

The 2016 ICC World T20 is scheduled to be held in India from March 11 to April 3, 2016. Sri Lanka are the defending champions. (CMC)

Faiaz Ali (right) of Two Brothers Gas Station hands over the cheque to Javid Rahaman at the team’s garage on Friday

The 2012 winning Windies World T20 team

Banks DIH on board for Guyana Cup

– preparation in advance stage

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Local beverage gi-

ant Banks DIH is on board for Sunday’s 9th annual Guyana Cup Horse Race Meet at the Port Mourant Turf Club Course on the Corentyne.

The company confirmed their sponsorship package on Friday, where Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager Gavin Jodhan presented a cheque for an undisclosed amount to Nazrudeen Mohammed Junior, a member of the Guyana Cup organising committee at a simple ceremony at Thirst Park.

Jodhan expressed his company’s delight to be a part of the prestigious Guyana Cup for the 9th year. “Banks DIH has been on board with the Guyana Cup since its inception, and we at Banks DIH are pleased how the event has progressed over the years,” Jodhan said.

Mohammed, in his remarks, disclosed that Banks DIH is a major sponsor of the 11-race programme which is held in collaboration with Port Mourant Turf Club.

He said that the organisers was pleased to welcome

Ramdeo also sharing the moment

the company on board once again for the multi-million dollar meet which will attract most of the country’s top race horses and jockeys for prize money valued over $25 million.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Junior disclosed that organisers have already put most systems in place for the race meet. He also revealed that an impressive line up of animals have already entered

BFA to host U-15 female football on August 15

The Berbice Football Association (BFA) has organised an U-15 tournament for females.

The tournament will be on a round robin basis with six players per side. It is scheduled for August 15 at the Esplanade Ground, New Amsterdam, Berbice. Games will be played for fifteen minutes.

The four top teams will advance to the second round. Prizes will be awarded to the three best teams.

The BFA is inviting all members and affiliates with

a team of players born on or after January 2000 to participate.

In a release the BFA said that clubs will be responsible for providing meals/ snacks for their players, while water will be provided for players and officials by the BFA.

The draw will take place before the first game which is scheduled to commence at 09:30h. Meanwhile a proposed Women’s Tournament has been scheduled for the following day at the same venue, the BFA noted.

BCB mourns the passing of Ron Legall

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) joins in mourning the passing of former scorer/statistician Ron Legal.

In a release from the board, members reflected on the pleasant and friendly person Legall was.

The board stated that Legall was well respected and not many cricket administrators in these days can boast of the same traits and be compared to him. Cricket in Guyana needs persons with the decency and commitment that Legall possessed.

Ron Legall

The board reminds the family that he is in the hands of the almighty and pledged any support the family might need. In closing, the BCB sympathies with all his family, relatives and friends.

for the day’s event, including six newcomers, who were recently imported from the United States.

The feature race is for animals classified A1 and Lower. A total of $7.5 million will be up for grabs in that race.

The race will be contested over a distance of 1800 metres. Other races listed on the programme are: the Three-year-old race for West Indies bred horses; Twoyear-old race for West Indies horses, E1 and Lower, Fouryear-old for West Indies bred animals, F3 and Lower,

G3 and Lower, Two-year-old race for Guyana bred horses, I1 and Lower, J1 and Lower, as well as a race for unclassified horses.

Meanwhile, interested horse owners are required to deposit a 50 per cent nonrefundable fee by August 8. The remainder of the entry fees must be paid in full on or before race day.

Apart from the rivalry among the horses and jockeys, the organisers have put together an entertainment package catering for both adults and children.

Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager Gavin Jodhan (left) presents the cheque to organiser Nasrudeen Mohamed Junior with Mohan Gary

Seven Seas annual 11-race cycling programme…

Ambrose storms to

“The

best I’ve seen” – Shiv says of Lara

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Veteran

West Indies

batsman Shivnarine

Chanderpaul says batting genius Brian Lara is the best batsman he has ever seen and played with during his career.

The question was thrown at Chanderpaul, who was the guest of honour at a banquet in Queens, New York, on Friday last. In his estimation of who was the best batsman he has ever seen, the audience wanted to know.

It came as no surprise

when he uttered the name

“Brian Charles Lara”, for the two have shared many memorable partnerships, especially in test cricket for the West Indies.

In his illustrious 21-year career, Chanderpaul has amassed the most runs in partnership with Lara. The pair has scored 2621 runs

together in 57 innings at an average of 46.80 per partnership.

They have put together 909 fifties together. Chanderpaul told the audience that Lara had tremendously talent, and was majestic in his stroke play.

3 Guyanese in Windies U-15 squad for UK tour

Three Guyanese youth players have been included in a 14-member West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Under-15 Invitational squad for a tour of the United Kingdom later this month.

Guyana Times Sport was reliably informed that Joshua Persaud, Kevin St Clair and Collin Barlow are the three Guyanese to be named in the squad announced by the Selection Panel of the West Indies Cricket Board.

The tour will be played August 21-31, and is organised following an invitation from the England Barmy Army Colts.

“The tour has the potential to become an annual event depending on its success this year,” Manager of Cricket Operations of the WICB Roland Holder was quoted saying in another section of the media.

“This will provide our younger players with the

Joshua Persaud

opportunity to showcase their skills against their peers from another country. It will serve as a great tool for talent identification and development for our 15-year-old players.”

The tour includes a series of limited-overs matches comprising 50 overs-a-side, 45 overs-aside and Twenty20 including an opportunity to play at the spiritual home of the game, Lord’s, against the Chris Gayle Academy on Monday, August 24.

The captain of the WICB Under-15 Invitational squad will be named at a later date.

The squad reads: Collin Barlow, Joshua Bishop, Kilano Brathwaite, Dane Edwards, Johnnel Eugene, Kirstan Kallicharran, Joshua Persaud, Nico Reifer, Dominik Samuels, Raewin Senior, Kevin Sinclair, Crystian Thurton, Sanjay Williams, Nyeem Young.

Team Management Unit: Robert Samuels (Head Coach), Courtney Walsh (Manager), Floyd Reifer (Assistant Coach), Beverly Nelson (Physiotherapist).

The top performers of the various categories pose with representatives of Seven Seas

Brian Lara (left) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul shared many memorable partnerships during their time together