Guyana Times Daily

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

Issue No. 3150

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Sunday, March 12, 2017

PRICE

After $1 billion

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt abandons plans for “world-class” arena at D’Urban Park

CPL pumped US$17M into Guyana’s economy in 2016 P9

Page 7

Pensioner dies following accident with GDF vehicle

Page 16

…one-year-old hospitalised

$120 vat included

...Caribbean enjoyed US$90M boost

Rice-laden ship sinks off P20 Essequibo Coast

Mayor Chase Green’s son Page 15 shot during alleged robbery

New GTT “Do More” store P10 opens

Amerindian leaders object to land CoI ... says Govt sidelined Indigenous leaders on proposed commission

P5

Unemployment, lack of markets highlighted

by Pomeroon residents P5 …as new farmers group formed

Hindus usher in Phagwah, the Festival of Colours, with the burning of holika at Parade Ground on Saturday night. The activity was organised by the Radha Krishna Mandir (Shashri Naraine photo)

Govt has failed to present Page 3 substantial economic policy – Jagdeo

GPHC’s sole sourcing

ANSA McAL handed $606M contract to “fast-track” medical supplies – Health Minister

Page 11

Guyana preparing to deal with influx of deportees from US – President P20

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NEWS

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, March 12 – a night retraction at 05:00h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h and Monday, March 13 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, March 12 – 16:15h-17:45h and Monday, March 13 – 16:45h-18:15h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Early morning sunshine is expected to give way to heavy and light rain showers, while clear skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 4.47 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tides: 04:27h and 16:45h reaching maximum heights of 2.65 metres and 2.72 metres respectively.

Low Tides: 10:19h and 22:38h reaching minimum heights of 0.53 metre and 0.51 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS G

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DAILY MILLIONS 01 03 05 11

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LUCKY 3 3 8 9

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

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Govt has failed to present substantial economic policy – Jagdeo

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pposition Leader and former President Bharrat Jagdeo has stated that Guyanese are at a lost as to where the country is heading in terms economic growth, adding that the coalition Government has failed to present a substantial economic policy.

“I’m a politician and I tend to be partisan; I want the PPP (People’s Progressive Party) to get back in office and that’s my job, working towards that so maybe I don’t give them a fair chance of presenting what their economic policy is. But I’ve asked many people, who are supposed to be not partisan, not politicians and they are just as lost as I am about where the country is heading and a clear vision for taking it there cause it just doesn’t exists,” Jagdeo asserted.

He was at the time delivering the feature address at the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Annual Dinner held at the Guyana Pegasus on Friday evening. According to the former President, the country’s growth rates for last year and this year are very anaemic.

Jagdeo went on to say that even the projection growth some of the sectors like sugar, manufacturing and construction are unlikely to happen. However, he noted that while the forecasted 3.8 per cent growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can very well happen, it will be only because of the mining sector, more specifically gold.

He added that every other sector in the country is declining.

The Opposition Leader premised this argument on the country’s balance of payment data, which shows that earnings from gold exports have moved from US$469.8 million in 2014 to US$778 million in 2016 with a projection of nearly $800 million this year.

At the same time, however, the other major sectors pushing the country’s economic are on the decline.

Jagdeo noted that rice ex-

Opposition Leader and former President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the gathering at the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association annual dinner

ports reduced from US$249 million to US$182 million from 2014 to 2016; sugar from US$88 million to US$67 million from 2014 to 2016; bauxite from US$124 million to US$100 million from 2014 to 2016 and timber declined from US$53 million to US$40 million from 2014 to 2016.

“So these are the five major areas that are disaggregated… and four of the five have seen significant decline in exports in US dollars,” he posited. Turning his attention to imports, Jagdeo noted that only fuel imports in 2014 was recorded at US$573 million and fell to US$367 million in 2015 and then to US$327 million last year. However, this is projected to go back up to US$433 million in 2017.

“The improvement in our balance of payment has relied on two things alone: the drop of fuel prices, we saved a couple of hundred million dollars, and gold price skyrocketed between 2014 and 2016 by a few hundred millions – everything else has deteriorated… On the export side, gold has gone up and on the import side, there is savings in fuel but

both are volatile,” Jagdeo surmised.

The former President pointed out that because a significant part of the earnings from gold are earned by large companies, it’s recorded in the exports but the bulk of the money does not flow back into the country.

Moreover, the Opposition Leader noted that while there has been a growth in imports, persons have been reporting a reduction in the numbers of containers that being brought in. This growth, he added, is as a result of the increase valuations by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

“So you have a reduction in the number of containers coming but it’s seen

as a growth of imports because GRA bumps up the valuation. People bring in containers now are complaining that their containers are re-valued 30-40 per cent capriciously and so it creates the impression that more imports are taking place but in real sense, it’s a financial transaction. S people are concern,” he stated.

Jagdeo noted that he painted a benign picture of the country’s balance of payment and even with that, there is so much pressure already on the exchange rate. “If you paint a picture of the balance of payment evolving on the basis of what we know anecdotally then it gets worst because the real sector can’t support what’s happening there,” he said.

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Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Holi and us

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oday is Holi or Phagwah, one of the festivals brought by the Indentured servants from India between 1938 to 1917 and bequeathed to our nation. Holi should not only remind us of the good triumphing over evil theme that is regularly trotted out by speakers on public platforms. More germanely, we must ask how exactly was it that the good triumphed in the specific incidents commemorated: this might offer us a clue as to how we may act in the present. And inevitably we will see it took men and women - and in the case of Holi, a child - to act against great odds to overcome the “evil”.

In the tradition of the people who brought us the festival of Holi, evil and good are not external to the world but immanent in the actions of people who would oppress those around them - and this must always be resisted. Some of those people are among us and can be very close. In these case of “Holi” the evildoer was the King of a group of people who were very powerful and had once opposed the gods. Their designation is unfortunately given as “demons” in English translations of Hindu texts, but unfortunately the Western tradition cannot deal with realities that are not simple dichotomies of black and white.

Now one may say if some people had opposed the gods then how can “good” come from them? But in Hinduism, each person is considered “good” once he fulfils his own duty. And it was his own son, who opposed him and eventually brought back the rule of the good - their good - for their people. In Guyana, because of our history where people with several cultures were brought here and still practice aspects of those cultures to greater or lesser extent, there may be instances where there may be differences in opinion as to what constitute the good in certain values some practice of another group. But in the end, we have to place ourselves in the shoe of the “other” and try to comprehend from within the message that is sought to be conveyed.

The message of Holi is that power always corrupts individuals unless they accept there are countervailing powers, and always act within their remit. In the case of the King who strayed, he had been given a boon by the gods, which, he thought, made him immortal. Many persons hearing the story of this King only speak of his arrogance and high handed actions but forget that for him to be blessed by the gods, he had to have done good even by their criteria. And it is so with many in our own time and place in Guyana who started out on the right path but very soon were seduced to excesses in so many ways.

The son who eventually opposed his father and brought him down was very much loved by the King in the beginning, but in “knowing better”, the son accepted he had to “do better” even though it meant opposing his own father. In like manner, today there are people who are oppressing others in so many ways, and not only at the national level - but even in the family and the villages. We may be close to them in one way or another.

But the message of Holi is that we have to stand up and oppose the oppressor even though to some of our “own” it may look like a betrayal of trust.

In the case of the boy Prahalad, his own aunt Holika the brother of the King - tried to convince her nephew of the error of his ways, but the boy stuck to his guns. And good triumphed over evil. As we celebrate Holi today, or tomorrow, let us remember this homily and apply it in our own lives to make our Guyana in some way better.

Happy Holi, Guyana.

Students of Rabindra Bharati University blow coloured powder during Holi, the Festival of Colours, celebrations inside the university, Kolkata, India (Reuters)

Disappointed with coalition Government Dear Editor, I am writing in protest of action to be taken by the APNU/AFC Coalition Government that would, I believe, threaten my rights and freedoms as a Guyanese citizen, especially since this action is to be taken without any form of consultation.

When I voted in May 2015, it was clear in my mind that I wanted change: I wanted to see different people in charge of the Government, different people leading policies, and different people engaged in solving our problems. Now, nearly two years later, I must say that I am somewhat disappointed, because the coalition Government has taken a piece of legislation that was essentially drafted by the previous PPP government and has decided to bring it into law without public debate or sensi-

tization. What arrogance!!

The piece of legislation has far-reaching implications for everyone, smokers and non-smokers alike.

The Coalition Government is considering the passage of the AntiTobacco Legislation which, as it stands now, proposes a ban on smoking in public places, including one’s home. Nothing is wrong with a ban on smoking in public spaces, but as I understand it, the legislation defines my private home as public space if persons are employed by me as general help, gardener, babysitter, or household help. If any one of these persons is employed in your private home, it is subject to the full force of the new legislation.

Therefore, if you are a smoker like me, and you happen to employ one of those persons listed above, under

the new legislation you are not allowed to smoke in the your own home because of the presence of your employee(s). This renders/renders your home a “public space” subject to the vagaries of the legislation.

The ban on smoking in public places also prevents you from smoking in your private vehicle, if the said vehicle is being used to transport others.

Declaring what is public places and private spaces is already a controversial topic. However, when one’s home and private vehicle are added into the mix, it becomes an issue about which every Guyanese should be concerned.

This legislation proposes to trespass upon our constitutional rights and freedoms, and the Government doesn’t see it appropriate to have an open debate on its

implication for the entire society. One of the many disappointments taken from this situation thus far, as it unfolds in the days or weeks ahead, is that I really don’t see the change I voted for in the way the Coalition Government has so far approached the pending Antitobacco legislation.

It is clear to me that the Government has stopped listening to the people and is only interested in executing the agendas of special interest. Elections are every five years. I will see how much influence PAHO will have then to keep their friends in power.

In the meantime, the Government should open up the debate on the legislation.

I would like to add my voice, as would many others.

Dear Editor, There is a very disturbing tendency that has been developed by some drivers (particularly minibus drivers) who use Homestretch Avenue, and it is that of undertaking while passing other vehicles. Not only is this practice of undertaking illegal, it is also very dangerous. This illegal practice has been happening for quite some time, and it seems as if nothing is being done by law enforcement to stop this illegal and most dangerous activity.

The number of near-misses one can see while driving along Homestretch Avenue is quite alarming and appalling. That there have not been more accidents on that road must be the manifestation of divine intervention. I have seen and experienced minibuses racing up the inside of lanes, abusing the road shoulders, blaring their horns for drivers to give way for them to pass.

Unsuspecting law-abiding drivers are often so startled by the sudden cacophony of horns that they instinctive-

ly pull away, into the path of oncoming traffic. Luckily, and again perhaps by divine intervention, accidents do not occur.

Any driver taking a vehicle up the road shoulder with horns blaring while forcing a way through an undertaking manoeuvre is really asking the law-abiding citizen who is driving in his or her lane to move over to provide him/her clear passage.

But where is the law-abiding driver expected to go?

Homestretch Avenue has one lane heading east and

the other west. Our drivers must learn lane discipline.

It is long past the time for the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force to put effective measures in place to stop this illegal and dangerous practice of undertaking on Homestretch Avenue. Errant drivers must be charged and made to endure harsh penalties. This illegal practice of undertaking along Homestretch Avenue must stop immediately!

Sincerely, Concerned citizen

Dangerous trend by drivers

Yours faithfully, Richard Francois

NEWS

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SunDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Amerindian leaders Unemployment, lack of markets highlighted by Pomeroon residents object to land CoI ...says Govt sidelined Indigenous leaders on proposed commission

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everal heads of Amerindian organisations have come out in protest at the objectives that would be driving the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into all issues of land titling in Guyana.

In a strongly worded letter to the editor, the heads of the following organisations: Amerindian Peoples Association, Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples, The Amerindian Action Movement, South Central Peoples Development Association, and the National Amerindian Development Foundation, stated that they are objecting to any suggestion that the commission should address both “land extension” for Indigenous communities and “ancestral lands in coastal communities.” They contend that these issues are not connected, nor should they be; and point out that they will not accept the linkage of these issues in any commission or otherwise.

“We see no basis for any link between these disparate issues, and consider that the announced course would only result in further delay on desperately needed action on Indigenous land rights,” the letter to the editor has stated.

These objections have been ventilated even as President David Granger installed a six member CoI on Friday. The Commissioners are: Chairman Rev George Peter Chuck-A-Sang, and the

President David Granger addressing the following the swearing-in ceremony on Friday

members are David James, Carol Khan-James, Professor Rudolph James, Lennox Caleb and Paulette Henry.

According to the Government, the commission would seek to resolve all the issues and uncertainties surrounding the individual, joint or communal ownership of lands acquired by free Africans, and also Amerindian land-titling claims.

In remarks made at the simple ceremony held at State House, President Granger said Guyana boasts the size of Scotland and England combined, and if put together with Suriname, has a land mass much larger than Germany. Guyanese should therefore be able to rely on this land space, since, according to him, “land is life”.

During an address on emancipation of the African slaves in 1838, President Granger had said the acquisition of land was foremost on the minds of the freed Africans. The Head of State had said Government recog-

Commissioners

nises that land issues have not been settled, thus the Administration had taken a decision to ensure that people can live in Guyana without worrying about their future. The Indigenous people, who have been in Guyana from time immemorial, have strong cultural, material and spiritual connections to the land, he had said, and this was recognised at the time that Guyana became independent.

Amerindian leaders currently feel that if the Government is of the view that the concept of “ancestral lands in coastal communities” warrants attention, this can and must be done separately from the actions it has promised and is obligated to undertake with respect to Indigenous lands. More importantly, the leaders contend that there has been no attempt to secure the participation of Indigenous peoples and organisations in this proposed commission, or in determining its terms of reference. turn to page 9

… as new farmers group formed

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new farmer's group was formed in the Lower Pomeroon River in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) to assist as well as represent cash crop farmers in that area. The group was formed during a Regional Democratic Council (RDC) outreach with the aim of having key agricultural issues address.

During the outreach, Chairman of the RDC of Region Two Devanand Ramdatt along with a RDC Councillor, Vilma Desilva, met with farmers and resi-

further encouraged them to give emphasis on transparency and accountability.

He also encouraged members of the group to have a group Constitution, ensuring that the group be register and adequate record keeping as well as regular meetings should be maintained.

Apart from the general views shared about the struggling economy, residents raised the following concerns: the need for improved drainage and irrigation, request for empoldering of farm lands to prevent

short supplies of items given to schools putting a burden on parents and request was made for a secondary school be constructed at Lower Pomeroon.

There are also needs for medical outreaches in the area, since it is very costly to access healthcare out on the Coast.

Other key matters that engaged discussions were high unemployment, particularly among young people.

Requests were also made for Guyana Lands and Surveys to address ownership of lands

Members of new Lower Pomeroon farmers group with Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt (left)

dents of the Lower Pomeroon and discussions were held on a number of issues. Among some of the issues raised were the high unemployment rate, as well as poor drainage and irrigation in the area. At the moment many youths living in the riverain area are unemployed and parents vented their concerns on the issues.

During the meeting, farmers requested for a group and as such an election was done and the new group was formed. After the formation, Ramdatt commended the efforts of the farmers for taking the bold initiative and

floods, Extension Officer from the Agriculture Department and NAREI to meaningfully engage farmers and timely supply of information needed on market for agricultural produce.

In the education sector, residents raised concerns for drainage works to be conducted on the Hackney Primary School, the unreliable supply of school juices for students within the Hackney neighbourhood and the high rate of school dropouts. They called for the truancy campaigns to be taken to that part of the region.

There were also reports of

in the Pomeroon. Residents also reported that the dumping of garbage and coconut husks in the Pomeroon River by popular businessmen are creating challenges for river transportation and siltation of the river mouth. Farmers also made requests for access to duty-free machinery for farmers and farmers groups.

Cash crop farmers also requested support from the Government for coconut water producers in order to have the coconut husks recycled.Field inspections to various farmlands were also conducted after the meeting.

(Indrawattie Natram)

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Foundation

We are different, we are the same: Teaching young children about diversity – Diversity activities teach young children to respect and celebrate the differences in all people. Learning about different cultural aspects offers new experiences for children

Anu Dev

W

ednesday, March 8, was International Women’s Day, commemorated under the theme, “Be bold for change”.

And though respect for women has come a long way from the days when women were confined to only domestic duties, it’s still proof that we still have a long way to go if there still needs to be a massive global event to remind the world of the achievements of the women in society. Not to mention the need to treat them equally.

This year’s observation also falls four days before the 100th anniversary of the end of indentureship. While between 1838 and 1917 some 239,000 Indians were shipped into Guyana as “bound labour” only a third of them were women.

While to some nowadays it might be an attractive proposition for some females to consider, back then, it did lead to much turmoil as the Indians who chose to remain in Guyana slowly tried to form a community. But an intriguing

No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.”

– Michelle Obama question presents itself when you look back at the historical record. While they were out there working just as the men and having the upper hand in selecting their spouses – you would think? - Within the next generation after 1917, the women had generally settled back into the patriarchal system of India and the colony.

And today, twenty-two years after its adoption by the UN at the end of the Fourth World Conference on Women on September 15, 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action remains the most comprehensive international blueprint for advancing women’s human rights. The Platform for Action is an agenda for women's empowerment.

As part of the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, UN Women undertook a global review and appraisal of implementation. Twenty years on from the commitments made in Beijing, no country has achieved gender equality.

Queen’s College, the premier secondary school in

Guyana, has a population of mostly girls. We out-performed the boys at Common Entrance or NGSA, to earn places at QC. And then went on to excel there. But even after all of that, when we’re done with school and ready to have jobs, we’ll be working in a ‘man’s world’ – a world where women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts.

A world where women have to work doubly hard: first do their job, and simultaneously work to prove to the doubters that they’re good enough to deserve to be where they are.

We’ve come a long way, yes. Women can vote now.

Women attend college.

There are female doctors, astrophysicists, astronauts.

But we still have a ways to go.

The feminists of the 1960's and 1970’s era made great strides towards shifting society’s attitude in the direction of women’s equality.

But unfortunately, now, years later, when many of the big battles have already been won by the feminists of old,

younger women take some of the rights that they have now for granted. They truly believe that they owe nothing to feminism and they don't have to continue the struggle.

Women have the right to vote and they might be elected President. But how many are? Why? They might make brilliant discoveries, like Marie Curie, the only double winner in the Nobel Prize. But what women really need, and what all the battles have essentially been all about, is respect.

Women need to be respected.

They deserve to be respected.

But first, they need to start respecting themselves.

So until women are accepted for the great things that they do every day, until they are respected every day, until they can participate equally in the economy, we need to march in the streets for International Women’s Day. And in Guyana, under the notion of intersectionality, as an Indian woman, ask whether in my own country there are specific and separate disabilities I face that I must struggle to overcome.

I

t also helps them realise that we’re all humans, despite differences in how we look or dress, or what we eat or celebrate. Games and activities offer a fun way for young children to learn about differences and similarities among people and to introduce the concept of diversity. All types of differences such as race, religion, language, traditions, and gender can be introduced this way.

When do children notice differences between people?

At about age two years, children begin to notice gender and racial differences. At twoand-a-half or so, children learn gender labels (boy/ girl) and the name of colours – which they begin to apply to skin colour. Around three years of age, children notice physical disabilities. At about four to five years, they start to display gender appropriate behaviour and become fearful of differences.

Activities that can help children learn about and appreciate differences: Skin colour match-ups help children learn about different skin tones and ethnic backgrounds.

What you need: nylon knee high stockings in various shades such as tan, black, white, pink, yellow, and red What you do: Encourage children to try the nylons on their hands, arms, or feet. Ask questions to help children increase their awareness of skin colour: “Can you find a stocking that is the same colour as your skin?”

Have children try another colour and ask them, “Is this lighter or darker than your own skin colour?”

Hair, hair everywhere helps children learn about different hair types related to ethnic groups.

What you need: photographs of different hairstyles, types, and hair care products What you do: Ask children to identify the different types of hair by talking about hair texture and curl. For example, some people have fine, thin hair while others have thick, coarse hair.

Some people have straight hair and some people have curly hair. Talk about how people have different hair colors, lengths, and styles. Discuss how to care for different types

of hair and which types of hair care products children use.

Take photos of each child’s hair and make a collage of different hairstyles.

Diversity bingo helps children learn about other cultures from around the world.

What you need: Bingo cards with images that relate to a specific culture and a large set of picture cards with the same images as those on the bingo cards; some ideas might be an Indian sari, chopsticks, or a sombrero.

What you do: In each square of the bingo card, place an image of something from a specific culture. To play, hold up one of the large set of pictures; tell the children (or ask them) what the picture is and what culture it comes from.

Students who get five across, down, or diagonally win.

Diversity dress up incorporates diversity into dramatic play to help children learn about different cultures.

What you need: Clothing for various cultures (examples: yarmulke, a Jewish head cover; Burka, a garment worn by Muslim women); start with clothing that is reflective of the various cultures in your program, then expand to other cultures that the children may What you do: Have children try on the various items of clothing and discuss the culture that wears each one and why/how that style of clothing was created.

Place the items in the dramatic play area so that children can wear the clothing as part of their play scenarios.

Music for everyone demonstrates the importance of music to many different cultures.

What you need: Audio recordings of music including those from a variety of cultures and featuring different types of instruments, and pictures of various musical instruments What you do: Ask each student to bring in a CD of music from their family of origin. Explain about each culture and how music plays a role in their cultures and celebrating traditions.

Talk about what instruments are used. Add similar CDs to your music library and use them in daily music activities. (extension.psu.edu)

news

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sunDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

After $1 billion

Govt abandons plans for “worldclass” arena at D’Urban Park

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overnment has abandoned its original plans to develop D’Urban Park into a “worldclass” arena consisting of tennis courts, tracks and play facilities for children.

Several articles in the State media outlined that the facility, which has been in much controversy since its inception, was to be developed into a “state-of-the-art, worldclass arena to seat 30,000 persons, twice the capacity of the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.”

Public Relations

An artist’s impression of what D’Urban Park was intended to be

that there are no immediate plans to enhance the current structure or appearance of D’Urban Park.

In fact, he denied claims

D’Urban Park presently that cost the Treasury close to $1 billion

Consultant, Alex Graham, in a PowerPoint presentation on the project, disclosed plans to designate part of the arena for sporting activities, including lawn tennis, go-cart racing, basketball, jogging and walking tracks, along with other family oriented facilities.

According to an article published in a State-friendly newspaper, the stadium is intended to be “iconic, transformative and architecturally relevant, combining historic elements with vistas of the future”.

The article states that the complex was to be designed in three sections: – the promenade, stadium and Health and Recreational Park.

The promenade would have consisted of nine ponds, each for a former President of Guyana while the health and recreational park would have had play facilities for children.

But Guyanese will have to say goodbye to those plans as D’Urban Park will remain as is, with its unpainted wooden bleachers and dull facilities.

President David Granger on his televised programme – ‘The Public Interest’ –

that D’Urban Park was ever meant to be transformed into a topnotch stadium.

“It is not meant to surpass the National Stadium or Leonora Stadium in terms of its beauties and facilities but it is functional… There are no immediate plans under the Ministry of Education, particularly the Department re-

sponsible for Culture, Youth and Sport. And there are no short-term plans to make it into a state-of-the-art facility,” President Granger explained.

Nonetheless, he said the intention is for D’Urban Park to be used for national events which attract masses.

Controversies surrounding the D’Urban Park Project exploded when it was finally revealed to the public that Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine sits as a Director of a secret company which was established to collect funds from private companies to develop the Jubilee Park.

This information was initially omitted by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson when he was being drilled by Opposition Members of Parliament (MP) in the National Assembly last year. (Devina Samroo)

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SunDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Prerogative…

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…is all Executive’s

f your Eyewitness is to take this APNU/AFC Government’s pronouncements seriously, then Guyanese don’t really need the three divisions of Government. The Legislature’s already controlled by them – with the Opposition there just like the apocryphal “Christmas blow-blow”. Witness their inability to prevent the Government from railroading the Hamilton Green Payoff Bill!

And the way the Govt’s making pronouncements on what is and what is not “the law”, we might as well, roll up the Judiciary. Just because they’ve just retired the top judicial official – the Chancellor of the Judiciary and replaced the Chief Justice, they think they have the courts in the bag?? We hope not since they’re the last bastion against the encroaching autocracy.

We’ve seen Prezzie insisting that all the previous Presidents and Opposition Leaders were wrong in interpreting the clause of the Constitution as who’s qualified to be the GECOM Chairman. Including the fellas who actually negotiated, drafted and passed the specific act! Why take it to the courts, the Executive says, what do THEY know! Then, of course, there was the matter as to whether the people had ceded all their sovereignty to their representatives and it was now “do wha’ yuh want wid me!!” “Yuh” being the Executive, of course!

Now comes the latest Executive arrogation of judicial powers to show us “who’s maaan”!! The Minister of State in the Presidency says conclusively that the Police can decide whether immunities conferred on a President by the Constitution are applicable after he is out of office!! That’s right…the Police can now interpret the Constitution!

Never minds Article 182 (1) unambiguously declares “the holder of the office of the President shall not be personally answerable to any court for the performance of the functions of his or her office or for any act done in the performance of those functions and no proceedings, whether criminal or civil, shall be instituted against him or her in his or her personal capacity in respect thereof either during his or her term of office or thereafter.” Article 182 (2) goes even further – but what the heck? The Executive knows best!

According to the Minister, the constitutional framers expected ex-Presidents to retire gracefully to their rocking chairs on their front porch. He referred specifically to Bharrat Jagdeo, who’s come back to haunt them after 12 years in the cat-bird seat. But the fella’s only 53. Did the Minister forget Desmond Hoyte who ran again in 2001 when he was over 70?? And energetically launched the “slow-fyaah, mo-fyaah” campaign?

But that’s just an inconvenient fact, isn’t it? They should now fly the PNC flag over the Appellate Court once again!

….is all the President’s

There’s a particularly ironic tête-à-tête going on in the Opposition coalition camp. Those of us on this side of the fence always knew Nagamootoo and Ramjattan got Larwah after the elections. Even though it was their Berbice 11 per cent that got the coalition over the tape. Of course, this was denied stoutly by no other than the same two fellas – who we thought either like being screwed over or were bought out by the 50 per cent raise.

But from within, comes the news that three of the top Ministries that were counted as AFC’s to fill the conditions of the Cummingsburg Accord, were never nominated by the AFC to begin with - Raphael Trotman, Dominic Gaskin and Holder!! That’s right…even as Berbicians like Ramayya who brought out the votes, were relegated back to hauling water and hewing wood, the “town-men” got to live the high-end of the hog!!

So did Prezzie have a special prerogative out of the Accord? Or do Nagamootoo and Ramjattan just love more larwah?

…of flight path

Now that independent officials of NCN and operators of Ogle Airport admit the Tower at Sparendaam was moved to clear the flight path for the Airport’s expansion, will the Pradoville case be dropped?

Naaah. It was never about the legality was it?

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

NEWS

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SunDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

CPL pumped US$17M into Guyana’s economy in 2016 ... Caribbean enjoyed US$90M boost

G

uyana benefited significantly from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket tournaments last year, with some US$17 million being pumped into the economy.

CPL’s Chief Operations Officer (COO), Pete Russell, during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times explained that the games’ economic impact locally has been both direct and indirect.

He said assessment reports compiled by CPL showed that our economy received close to US$17 million last season.

Russell explained that the net sum is calculated by looking at the influx of tourists to the country, hotel bookings, vending during the games, and the overall spending of persons during this period.

In fact, some US$90 million was poured into the en-

CPL COO, Pete Russell

tire Caribbean region in 2016 as a result of the CPL tournaments.

With plans to make the CPL T20 games bigger and better this year, it is anticipated that the economies of host countries will experience greater benefits.

In a study carried out by United Kingdom-based research firm, SMG Insight/

YouGov, the tournament which was staged from June 29 to August 7, generated US$102 million across all seven host venues.

Florida’s Central Broward Stadium was the only non-Caribbean venue used during the tournament, as matches were held in the United States for the first time.

The new figures represent a considerable rise over the previous year when the tournament had an estimated economic impact of US$76.2 million overall.

St Kitts, which hosted four preliminary games from June 30 to July 5 and the playoffs and final from August 3-7, were the biggest recipients with US$22.7 million (EC61.2 million) injected into its economy.

Organisers said the hosting of the games at Warner Park had a significant impact on job creation, hotel

Amerindian leaders object...

“Indigenous peoples have been calling for an Indigenous Lands Commission for some time now, and have said that such a commission must be established with the participation of its peoples from the very inception. Any such participation must be done at the earliest stages of the development of any plan

or proposal that may affect Indigenous peoples’ rights.

This has not occurred,” they contend.

A recent report conducted by the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) has stated that almost one-third of the Indigenous villages in Regions One (BarimaWaini) and Two (Pomeroon-

from page 7

Supenaam) have no legal land rights, while only one community out of 29 titled Amerindian villages considered its title to be adequate for its people. This report has also provided detailed evidence of land rights’ violations and land conflicts affecting Indigenous peoples in Regions One and Two.

room stock along with general marketing of the destination.

“The investment by the CPL amounted to a 22 per cent increase to $1,664,540,

franchise, saw a total visitor spend of US$1.6 million.

The Barbados Tourist Board’s shirt sponsorship deal with the Tridents franchise managed to generate

ing the playoffs for the first time, saw US$10.8 million flowing into its economy with visitor spending and media value also rising significantly over last year.

Some US$17 million was pumped into the economy last year from CPL

while the total visitors spend saw a 12 per cent increase from the 2015 season to $3,690,911,” the study said.

Barbados, meanwhile, also enjoyed a bounce in its economy with nearly US$16 million (BDS$32 million) pumped into it.

The four games between July 11-17 at historic Kensington Oval, featuring the Barbados Tridents

US$7.7 million in media value – representing a 128 per cent increase over the 2015 numbers.

Trinidad and Tobago benefited to the tune of US$14 million (TT$93.6 million) from the CPL though total visitor spending dropped 25 per cent over last year to US$2.9 million.

St Lucia, which witnessed St Lucia Zouks reach-

The CPL is the Region’s premier T20 championship and is contested by six franchises – the Tridents, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, St Lucia Zouks, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Trinbago Knight Riders and Jamaica Tallawahs.

Last year’s tournament was won by the Tallawahs who defeated the Amazon Warriors in the final.

10 news

sunDAY, MARCH 12, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

New GTT “Do More” store opens L

ocal telecommunication giant, GTT, has rolled out another one of its modern rebranded Retail Customer Experience Store, this time at the corners of Camp and Robb Streets, Georgetown.

Guyanese flocked the new branch on Saturday morning to cash in on deals such as one month free data and a gift with the purchase of any smartphone, starting as low as $10,000. In addition to this, from 10:30h to 11:30h, GTT matched the amount of smartphones each customer bought within the hour at the new store.

According to CEO Justin Nedd, who commissioned the new store, this new store is part of the changes the company is currently undergoing to improve customers’ experience. “This new GTT store is the latest addition to the change that we are doing,” he stated.

The GTT boss noted that the opening of this

Phagwah, Diwali…same difference

S GTT CEO Justin Nedd and Store Manager Kriz Glasgow cutting the ribbon at the company’s newest “Do More” store at Camp and Robb Streets

new store has been in the making for several months now and “offers prices that are better than the competition and GTT customers can expect even more ben-

eficial surprises in the coming months”.

Nedd added too that the new location, which is located in the heart of Georgetown, is furnished

with locally manufactured fixtures, which is demonstrative of GTT’s support for the local manufacturing industry in order to push the economy.

“We really want the customers to come here and experience it. Now, we will continue to add new experiences as the months go by so we’ve got a few surprises for you in later months, it doesn’t end here today,” he teased.

Additionally, Nedd spoke about GTT ongoing “mobile bundle” plan, calling it “easier and more economical.” The bundle plan cost $3500 and offers three gigabytes of data, 100 free call minutes and 200 free text messages. Customers can dial *100# to buy this new plan or call 0488.

This is the fourth such store which the company has opened since late 2015, when it rolled out its “Do More” campaign, providing more services so that customers can find it easier to do business with GTT at the rebranded stores.

Customers can buy any GTT service at the new location and also pay their landline and DSL bills.

atiricus was in his element. And it was not just it was the season of Holi and the fellas in the bar were carrying even more uninhibited than usual.

He was proud that one of his Ministers of the coalition Government had finally seen the real meaning not only of Holi – but of all the Hindu Holidays. As the fellas downed their first bottle of the brew of the gods, he steered the conversation in the requisite direction to make his point.

“So which day you guys celebrating Holi this year?” he asked as his opening gambit. “We’re doing Sunday.”

“Budday, yuh know a de wife does look aftah dem t’ings!” Bungi said effusively. “She pick Monday!”

“Well, my wife decided she’ll play it safe and will celebrate both days!!” confessed Hari glumly. “So I will have to eat veggie for two days!”

“Well fellas,” said Satiricus sanctimoniously. “Holi isn’t all fun and games, you know.”

“It’s not?” asked Hari doubtfully.

“W’en me bin lil, dem bai bin push me in wan trench,” confessed Bungi. “Da na bin fun.”

“I don’t mean like that, fellas,” said Satiricus somewhat impatiently. “Didn’t you hear what our Minister of Culture said about Holi?”

“That she didn’t know the difference between Phagwah and Diwali?” asked Hari with a smirk.

“That’s the problem with you Hari,” complained Satiricus. “Just because you didn’t vote for the government means you can’t see what she was doing.”

“Suh tell abee wha’ she she, na,” said Bungi. “All me know abee a t’row wata a Holi and abee a light up a Diwali.”

“She looked at the essence of the two festivals,” said Satiricus with a flourish. “And decided that they were interchangeable because both tell the story of the triumph of good over evil!”

“Suh Divali and Phagwah a waan?” said Bungi, somewhat confused.

“Well, for this government, it is,” said Hari. “Next year they’ll announce we only need one Holiday for both!”

Satiricus suddenly went quiet.

news

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SunDAY, march 12, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

GPHC’s sole sourcing

ANSA McAL handed $606M contract to “fasttrack” medical supplies – Health Minister

P

ublic Health Minister Volda Lawrence has finally broken her silence on the sole sourcing contract with ANSA McAL, saying that the Trinidadian company was granted the $606 million contract to “fast track” the supplies of drugs to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

In her delayed statement to the media, Lawrence also said that the company donated four refrigerators to the hospital, something which no other company, which has been supplying the hospital with drugs over the years has done.

“ANSA McAL not only airfreighted the drugs (this helped spike the cost to import the items) for the public health sector, but also donated four refrigerators to GPHC to store the emergency supplies at the internationally accept-

ANSA McAL Country Rep Beverly Harper

of a drug shortage crisis at the Georgetown Public Hospital, she met with public health officials to ensure an adequate supply of drugs was immediately made available to address the emergency.

Minister Lawrence explained that after meet-

The Minister also pointed out that the companies, which had been given an opportunity to supply drugs to the nation following the 2015 elections had failed in their bid to so do. able temperature of 20 to 80 (degrees) Celsius,” the Minister’s statement outlined.

Crisis

The Minister explained that as a result

ing with the officials, she sought to “fast-track” the procurement of the drugs to minimize the negative effects on patients as a result of the shortages.

“This influenced the decision to seek the green light from the National

Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for ANSA McAL to supply drugs and pharmaceuticals to the tune of some $606 million,” she stated.

She also disclosed that NEW GPC, Health 2000 and Chirosyn Discovery had each received contracts to supply some of the emergency drugs. Lawrence explained that other companies were not part of the process because investigations are ongoing into the late/or non-delivery of critical drugs which they were contracted to procure for GPHC during 2016.

The Minister also pointed out that the companies, which had been given an opportunity to supply drugs to the nation following the 2015 elections had failed in their bid to so do.

“Some of these pharmaceuticals were overdue by as much as six months, which exacerbated the drug shortage at the hospital,” she admitted.

argued that “no other company in the history of the institution has provided cold storage facilities at the hospital, even though at least one of them was the sole supplier of pharmaceuticals to the institution for over 20 years.” The Minister admitted that the other companies which her administration had decided to “give a chance” had failed to supply the pharmaceuticals.

Disciplinary actions

Commenting on the development, President David Granger has said that the matter can be resolved at the level of the Finance and Public Health Ministries, as well as the GHPC, so that disciplinary actions can be taken against persons at

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

that changed the way drugs were procured and supplied in the country, in essence decentralising the acquisition and dissemination of medi-

the international prescribed standard and consequent supply chain of prequalification an opportunity to supply drugs.

The former Administration was criticised for its position of maintaining the prequalification criteria because critics felt favouritism was at play, when some local prequalified companies, received contracts in Guyana.

The companies, which were prequalified were modelled after World Health Orgainsation (WHO) requirements and included Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO); United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), NEWGPC and other local companies, in

Refrigerators

The Minister said Georgetown Public Hospital used icepacks to store these sensitive drugs at the facility, because the main refrigerator was in poor condition and unable to maintain the correct temperature for these drugs, endangering their efficacy, potency and integrity.

Regarding the donation of refrigerators from ANSA McAL, Minister Lawrence

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

fault.

Pre-qualification

The Government had introduced new mechanisms

cal equipment and drugs to the various Regions, while dissolving the prequalification procedure to give companies that do not qualify to

place to ensure that quality drugs were steadily available for public consumption at competitive world market prices.

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SunDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Be inspired by the significance of Phagwah – PPP

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to extend best wishes for the festival of Phagwah to all Guyanese especially the Hindu community. As our people celebrate this truly colourful festival, the PPP urges that its deep significance through its pertinent messages be reflected upon and be seen as a source of inspiration.

It is most unfortunate that this celebratory inclusive festival comes at a time when our country is being divided by discriminatory polices imposed by the Administration. It comes at a time when uncertainty prevails and fear is instilled; when humanity is being trampled upon; when freedoms are threatened; when people are being demoralized and despondency engulfs.

Our party is cognisant that the values of the occasion of Phagwah are emphasised to promote the well-being of all mankind and the celebration is also associated with welcoming of the spring season which brings joy and delight to all liv-

ing being. Phagwah also reminds us of the triumph of good over evil through the story of Prahalad, who defied his father, a despotic King.

This defiance continues to be a source of inspiration in the face of adversity reminding that there is always a road to fulfillment.

the 100th anniversary of the Abolition of Indian Indentureship in Guyana is being observed. The nation’s East Indian ancestors brought these rich religious and cultural traditions and preserved them through untold sacrifices while being oppressed. They remained resolute and never lost hope

On this occasion, our Party calls on all Guyanese to be inspired by the significance of Phagwah and not to lose hope. Our Party believes that such inspiration would fortify our resolve and belief; that good will once again triumph over evil and that the road to fulfillment will be reached.

This year, Phagwah comes at the same time

despite the adversities foisted upon them.

As we reflect and commemorate, let’s also draw inspiration from their relentlessness. Our party once again uses this opportunity to extend best wishes for Phagwah to all and calls on Guyanese not to be deterred by the prevailing climate of uncertainty.

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SunDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Social Cohesion Ministry’s message GAWU’s Phagwah message 2017

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uyanese throughout the length and breadth of the country today observe the Hindu religious Festival of ‘Holi’ – a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. This spring festival, which is also referred to as Phagwah, is a joyful celebration that provides the opportunity for persons to rid themselves of past errors and to mend broken relationships. The observance of this festival is not only important to the Hindu community, but has grown into an important celebration for all Guyanese.

Guyanese from all walks of life - Hindus and non-Hindus alike, friends and strangers – unite as one to indulge in the traditional colouring of each other with dry powder and coloured water. This forms

a part of the unique fabric of the Guyanese society.

Phagwah can be considered as an occasion which sees the manifestation of the unity of our people, and this is certainly worth celebrating.

It is important that we, as a people, preserve every aspect of our culture and use it to bring us closer together.

We must let this goodnatured celebration set the tone for the surrendering of old grievances as we continue to march steadily with a united front. Let it allow us to have a greater appreciation of our relationships with family, friends, workmates and other persons in our lives. It is important to note that Indian indentured immigrants brought Phagwah to Guyana, and today we

also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Abolition of Indian Indentureship in this country.

There is, no doubt, heightened appreciation among members of the Indian community for their culture and the contributions of their fore-parents. It is doubtless that this group has made significant contributions to our dear land, both in the form of culture and in the shaping of our economy.

So let us all join together as one people to celebrate Phagwah and the 100th anniversary of the Abolition of Indian indentureship in Guyana. Let us do this in the true spirit of one people, in one nation, working towards one destiny.

Happy Holi to all of Guyana!

W

e are drawn to Holi’s colourful expressions and the exuberance and joy that electrify the celebrations everywhere, but Holi’s significance lies in the embrace of life’s many positive values which provide sustenance to the human existence.

Its inspiring message, where ‘good’ is promoted and embraced, is as relevant today as it has ever been. Around us these days are many evil-doers of various stripes, and many injustices seem to be growing, rather than diminishing. As life’s burdens grow heavier for the masses, and new threats hang over their heads, the message of Holi gives us hope, strengthens our faith that wrongs can be overcome, and imbues us with the courage to go on and triumph in the face of adversities.

This year’s Phagwah activities find the

Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) facing various challenges in the sugar industry. However, we are optimistic – as the message of Phagwah reminds us – that success in the future will come from our principled struggles.

At this time, the GAWU takes pleasure in wishing all Hindus – indeed, all Guyanese – a Happy Holi 2017. The fact that this Holi festival appeals to a cross section of our diverse religious and cultural makeup is significant.

Any event that can promote togetherness and tolerance should be encouraged. In the circumstances of today, our unity to overcome injustices is essential as we continue along the challenging path to a joyful, bright and prosperous future.

Happy Holi to all Guyana, from GAWU.

Guyanese must learn from lessons of Holi – AFC PNCR’s Phagwah greetings 2017

T

he Alliance For Change (AFC) extends Phagwah greetings to our Hindu brothers and sisters, and to all Guyanese in Guyana and in the diaspora.

On the occasion of the ‘festival of colours’, we celebrate this vibrant and electric Hindu holiday with passion, brotherhood, love and fervour.

The enthusiastic celebration of Holi is a demonstration of our nation’s unyielding commitment to our strong cultural foundations and roots. That Phagwah is on our annual calendar as a national holiday cements the nation’s motto that indeed we are one people, one nation with one destiny.

In addition to the triumph of good over evil and darkness over light, Phagwah also has its origins in the celebration of a period of long desired rain-

fall and relief after a period of drought, which caused stress and hardship. As a result of the recent discovery of our natural resources, Guyana is preparing to embark on a period of prosperity in the coming years, a period when all Guyanese will benefit from improved and elevated living conditions.

The AFC therefore calls on the society to learn from the lesson of Holi, and utilize this time to prepare for the new and prosperous Guyana which beckons; when we will all be able to celebrate a better, developed and progressive Guyana, in which we can all thrive and advance unhindered and unfettered by political or other encumbrances caused by divisiveness and discord.

Phagwah also allows us as a people to shine as a cul-

turally diverse nation. Not only do our Hindu brothers and sisters celebrate Holi with water and powder of all colours, but so do Guyanese of all religions, ethnic backgrounds, political persuasions, geographic locations and gender orientations.

We join in friendly embrace and a spirit of togetherness as we apply colourful abeer to our friends, neighbours, colleagues and countrymen.

May this spirit remain with us all year round.

T

he People’s National Congress Reform extends sincere Holi greetings to the Hindu Community of Guyana in particular, and Guyanese in general, on the occasion of the celebration of the Festival of Phagwah in Guyana.

The significance of Phagwah is twofold. Its secular significance lies in the advent of the season of spring and its real and allegorical implications of fertility rebirth, renewal and regeneration. The religious significance of Holi lies in the conquest of

good over evil, manifested by the destruction

by Prahalada of his demonic father, King Hiranyakashipu.

As the celebrated Indian national Kulapati Vani wrote many years ago, “…festivals are gatherings for refreshing the spirit and enjoying life.”

We urge all Guyanese to use this occasion to refresh their spirit and enjoy life, and to participate fully in this colourful festival and enjoy the rich elements of our religious and cultural diversity.

Happy Holi to all Guyanese!

14 news

SunDAY, MARCH 12 | guyanatimesgy.com

Younge’s Take Woman: Rise up

T

his week, Guyana joined several countries in the world to mark International Women’s Day 2017 under the theme “Be bold for Change” with emphasis on women’s rights and gender equality. There was much introspection and reflection on the progress or lack thereof made by Guyanese women over the past few decades with non-governmental organisations and official Government agencies setting goals and objections for achieving more progress by next year and beyond.

For the most parts, women were celebrated, admired and praised. They were viewed as heroines because of the struggles they have endured and the challenges they face daily in ensuring that they play the role of the traditional woman as outlined in writings in the religious books, while aspiring to break barriers and Michael Younge crack glass ceiling as part of the process of metamorphosis in order to become the new ‘modern woman’.

There were those women who lived in the moment and blushed in the midst of being praised and celebrated. They made the most of it by attending all of the ceremonies and festivities associated with the day because they felt duty bound to ensure that the voices of women were amplified on this day and the challenges they faced also highlighted.

But there were those women who were no doubt more conscious. They understood that at the stroke of twelve on March 8, the atmosphere would change and things would return to a state of normalcy regardless of all of the excitement and officialdom accompanying Women’s Day. They held firm to the view that the state of the girl child could not be improved by mere reflection and introspection on one day.

It would take more than attending mundane workshops and conferences to ‘talk’ about women’s rights and issues to solve the problems facing women in the world today. UN speeches and public releases by organisations lobbying the world over for gender equality, though appreciated, could not create the level of awareness to create real and lasting change while forcing a paradigm shift in thinking patterns of the still-largely male dominated world.

What was needed was ‘immediate action’ by women themselves to rise up and challenge the stereotypes and prejudices that seek to keep them in their so called ‘place’.

Women needed to rise up in large numbers and make a determined effort to rebel against all of the draconian laws as well as unwritten policies that promoted inequality, maybe not intentionally, in the work place, education system, marriage agreement, class structure and other areas of their life.

In Guyana, women needed to express outrage against the rising levels of domestic abuse and violence against their kind. They needed to protest and take a firm stance against the attacks on women in the judiciary by leading members of the current Government. They needed to lobby the authorities in order to compel them to do more to safeguard women against rape, childhood marriages and suicide. The Guyanese women needed to send a stronger message that women deserve better health care while demanding that immediate changes are made at hospitals across the country where women have to deliver children so that the downward spiral of maternal deaths could commence.

Our women missed a golden opportunity to also seek out and motivate suitably qualified women folk to run again for the Presidency by going against the norms within the various political parties in order to challenge the concept of male supremacy and the theory that men are born better leaders. As it stands, women in Guyana appear satisfied being seen as conservative, compassionate and compliant beings. They seem comfortable with the current gender role that they are playing and whatever benefits they have accrued.

This is most unfortunate because Guyanese women posses a special finesse and strength that make them iconic and unconquerable. It sets them apart from persons of the same gender elsewhere geographically. They also possess a fighting spirit and the will to achieve success in areas where women traditionally would not dare step. If women here, therefore are to be “bold for change”, they must first start the process internally and mentally in order to have a lasting and real impact on the affairs of the world in a more meaningful way.

The future of the girl child is at stake in a world of some many emerging gender cultures and preferences. They must stand tall and stand firm in unity. Like Hillary Clinton and Janet Jagan, they must not miss opportunities to crack glass ceilings because they understand their worth and value. This is no longer a man’s world.

NEWS

Mayor Chase Green’s son shot during alleged robbery T

he son of the Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase Green, was in the wee hour,s of Saturday morning shot during an alleged robbery at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara.

Richard Mittelholzer, 46, of North East La Penitence, Georgetown, was reportedly shot to his right side abdomen with the bullet exiting the body.

He was picked up and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was treated and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Reports are the injured man was socialising with a friends when the suspect reportedly attempted to relieve him of a chain he was wearing. This however did not go as planned as Mittelholzer put up a fight during which the alleged robber whipped out a gun and discharged a round hitting him to the abdomen.

When contacted, Mayor Chase Green told Guyana Times that her son went with some friends to cel-

Richard Mittelholzer

ebrate his birthday at a popular bar on the West Bank of Demerara when he got involved in a scuffle with a man, who attempted to relieve him of a chain and was shot.

She noted that her son emergency underwent surgery and is listed in a stable condition. The father of three was celebrating his 46th birthday, the Mayor stated. However, her son is holding out that it was a robbery but eyewitnesses believed that the two men might have

Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase Green

known each other based on their reaction at first sight.

“When they see one another, they walked towards each other and a scramble start... next thing you hear was “bam” and the crowd scatter... when we look, red man fall to the ground and the other man run away,” one eyewitness told Guyana Times.

The Police are yet to arrest the shooter as investigations continue.

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SunDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

16 news Pensioner dies following “GARV AUR IZZAT” accident with GDF vehicle I SunDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

…one-year-old hospitalised

H

arry Persaud, also called “Saw doctor”, a pensioner of Lot 7 Public Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, was on Saturday morning giving his year-old granddaughter Divya Gurucharran a ride on his pedal cycle as he traversed the East Bank Demerara highway en route to the Rubis Service Station at Soesdyke to purchase an item, when a vehicle belonging to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) struck them off the machine.

They both were picked up by the same GDF vehicle and taken to the Diamond Regional Hospital, where the 65-year-old Persaud was pronounced dead on arrival while his grand-

The injured child, Divya Gurucharran, who is hospitalised

daughter was transferred to, and admitted a patient at, the Georgetown Public Hospital. The dead man leaves to mourn his wife and five children among other relatives. His body was taken to Lyken’s Funeral Home to await a

Dead: Harry Persaud

post-mortem.

Tasha Persaud, a daughter of the now dead man, told Guyana Times that she was not at home, but received a telephone call from a relative, informing her of the accident. Based on what she was told, she said, the army vehicle was responsible for the acci-

dent. She noted that her father sustained injuries to his head and other parts of the body, while her niece suffered a fractured shoulder and lacerations to her hand and head. The infant is, however, out of danger and has been listed as being in stable condition.

The Guyana Defence Force, in a statement, declared that a Board of Injury has been established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, which occurred at about 10:30h and involved a pick-up that was driven by a GDF rank.

The rank was taken into Police custody and is assisting with the investigations.

Police are continuing their investigations.

n my remarks at the event held at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) on March 3, to mark the centenary of the abolition of Indian indentureship, I said that we have the “politics of one ‘upmanship’ that serves egos rather than country and people.”

This statement was met by applause.

It resonated with the audience as did other statements made by other speakers. When Mr Ravi Dev reminded the audience that the NCC was built by President Forbes Burnham with monies from the Indian Repatriation Fund and that it was “our” Cultural Centre, this also drew applause as did his remarks on the plight Ryhaan Shah of the sugar workers with estates facing closure.

Acting President and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo also spoke as did Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton.

Their addresses stayed close to the script of the occasion’s historical significance as did the Indian High Commissioner’s remarks on the night’s theme, “Garv Aur Izzat” (Pride and Dignity).

But when People’s Progressive Party (PPP) MP Adrian Anamayah, representing Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, took the stage and waded in to the politics of sugar estate closures a few Indian Guyanese in the audience felt that his speech was too political and that it was neither the time nor the place.

When the Indian Guyanese community is facing down threats to their livelihood and wellbeing in every area, from the rice and sugar industries to the business sector to private school fees being taxed in what might be a move to end what has been referred to as “education apartheid” – it is always the time and place to speak; and if not at a ceremony to mark the hundredth year since indentureship was abolished, then when?

When we stand on platforms and speak of the Indian martyrs who gave their lives for the sake of our future, everyone applauds. To speak of our fore-parents’ resistance against colonialism is safe and commendable.

For us to embrace that legacy of resistance and act on it, however, is met with vexation. But if we do not yet feel that we are free to speak and act when our community is under threat, are we then still tied to a bound status?

Perhaps, the critics feel they have much to lose if they do not subsume their current fears and anxieties about our future. But it is such submissiveness which denies our community garv aur izzat, not resisting injustice.

It is always the right time to resist prejudice and injustice and had the situation arisen then of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo being arrested along with other PPP members by SOCU for misappropriating State assets, the remarks might have been even more political.

If crimes were committed, there should be consequences for sure but the hypocrisy of a wholly corrupt Government accusing the previous PPP/C Administration of wrongdoing is not lost on anyone and Indian Guyanese all along the coast are angry at what they view as political vindictiveness against their leaders.

That the arrests were timed to this particular moment when we are marking a historic centenary cannot be purely coincidental either.

The subject of my address at the NCC was: “Where we are; where we are heading” and I started with a quip that we came on ships and are leaving on jet planes then proceeded to give the reasons for our departure, the main one being that a safe and secure future is denied us in a country that we have worked for and died for.

I made an appeal to the Government and Opposition members present and said that they “can change the direction of our country if there is the political will” and spoke to the continued marginalisation of the Indian Guyanese community in the national narrative vis a vis cultural presentations, and in our history and literature texts.

We were also accused of wallowing in victimhood when neither I nor Mr Dev nor Mr Anamayah wrung our hands and bemoaned our fate, and that comment actually contradicts another that we were calling for an “uprising”.

Indian Guyanese have long transcended the past of indentureship and colonial horrors and anyone who heard wallowing in our fighting words is likely projecting their own feelings of victimhood onto us.

I said in conclusion: “We are a people of strong faith and enduring values – we have overcome before. Perhaps, we can hope to overcome again.”

Today, March 12, is the date that the Abolition Act was signed in India 100 hundred years ago. Now is the time to take a brave stand.

There is no garv aur izzat if we fail to do so.

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

news

17

SunDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Anna's

Phagwah and Parody

J

unior Education Minister Nicolette Henry needs to be schooled on the difference between Phagwah and Diwali. Her inability to differentiate between Phagwah and Diwali is not only an embarrassment for the Minister now equally responsible for spearheading the portfolios of the former Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, but it is also a gross disrespect to the Hindu community which represents some 25 per cent of the population (based on 2012 census). The speech that was delivered by the Minister was quite possibly an old one coined for Diwali and merely edited (albeit insufficiently) for this year’s Phagwah message.

Nevertheless, unless Minister Henry is competing with Minister Ramjattan for Anna Correia negative popularity ratings, she ought to act like she actually deserves the PhD scholarship funded by the tax payers, instead of parodying a culture minister!

The importance of Phagwah is not just limited to its religious signification for Hindus, but is also one of the national holidays which best unites Guyanese of all backgrounds who partake in the Holi festivities. Subsequently, one might expect some effort from the Minister to denote her understanding and appreciation for a holiday that is highly expressive of our cultural diversity.

Yet, some defend that the qualities of the Minister shouldn’t be judged on the basis of her ignorance regarding Phagwah since “we all make mistakes”. However, “mistakes” like these have become too redundant under the coalition in too short a lapse of time to escape criticism. And with two Ministers the Education Ministry, along with the support of two Cultural Policy Advisors, how could Phagwah and Diwali be confounded and more importantly, how could the error slip into the public domain unnoticed? Perhaps some are spending too much time on Government payroll, at the expense of taxpayers, engaging in political activism on social media?

Whatever the reason, this is inadmissible when one considers the massive salaries both Roopnaraine and Henry take home each month; monthly salaries that most Guyanese earning minimum wage don’t earn in a year. It is equally unacceptable considering that Minister Henry like other members and close affiliates of the coalition, (including Roopnaraine’s daughter), is being paid a full PhD scholarship to the tune of G$3.3 million by Guyanese taxpayers and in spite of her salary, when so many young people cannot afford higher education in Guyana. One would think that with her first blunder committed during the 2016 Flag Raising ceremony at D’Urban Park which resulted in a diplomatic embarrassment for the Opposition, Henry would have taken her duties a tad bit more seriously. But just as she remained unapologetic for her mismanagement of the 2016 flag raising ceremony, she continues to display the same arrogance in her parliamentary presentations and carelessness in her work approach.

The coalition’s insouciance might as well be demonstrative of a general lack of competence ranging from elementary grammar mistakes on public signboards (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education…) to the inability to pen a few lines for a public message without causing Guyanese some form of embarrassment. Ironically, the coalition isn’t as skilled in basic administrative tasks as it is in let’s say, corruption and mismanagement of State resources! But when two Ministers, two Cultural Policy Advisors and their staff are incapable of discerning the difference between Diwali and Phagwah, one is forced to wonder just how committed the Ministry is to the sensitive, more urgent issues of national unity and social cohesion. As a matter of fact, one wonders just how culturally sensitive these senior officials are, to deserve the salaries and perks which come with their titles.

How can we expect a credible national cultural policy from a Ministry that cannot differentiate between Phagwah and Diwali, when the largest cultural group in Guyana is formed predominantly by Indians of the Hindu fate? How can the Government promote inclusiveness – social cohesion – when such a numerically important segment of the population is embarrassed by the Education Ministry (Culture)?

While it is true that there are bigger problems resulting from the current socioeconomic decay in which the coalition has plunged Guyana, the issues of social cohesion and national unity (both embedded in the coalition manifesto) are equally necessary for our country’s human development.

It is therefore troubling to observe once again, this time through the person of Minister Henry, the nonchalance and mediocrity which impede on the forging of a socially cohesive nation, built on the principles of respect and inclusiveness for human diversities.

Contact sundayarrow@gmail.com

Guyanese benefiting: PUC educates consumers on their rights

T

he Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has been conducting outreach programmes countrywide as it endeavours to inform consumers of their right to seek redress via the Commission when they believe that a utility has been unfair in resolving issues that involve members of the public.

This year’s awareness programmes commenced with outreaches at the Guyana Oil Company’s (Guyoil’s) operations on Regent Street, Georgetown and at Alness Village on the Corentyne Coast in East Berbice. These programmes, which each lasts for four days, will see members of the commission’s various divisions engaging in interactive sessions with consumers.

Among the areas tackled thus far are Georgetown, Berbice, West Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, East Bank Essequibo, the Essequibo Coast, and even passengers on the MV Kanawan who were traversing the Parika/Supenaam route. East Berbice communities from Number

PUC officials at their booth in the Giftland Mall

51 Village on the Corentyne Coast to Stanleytown in New Amsterdam have also been tackled.

The team currently based at the PUC’s Headquarters in New Garden Street, Queenstown, Georgetown will cover an area that stretches from the Giftland Mall on the East Coast of Demerara to Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and would also

perform duties at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

The Commission has, over the past year, secured from the utility companies credits for consumers in the sum of $13,285,302. The PUC is of the belief that educating the public on its activities would build stronger relationships and promote confidence in the work of the Commission.

18 News The essence of Phagwah – navigating the tide of time SunDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

By Ashraf Dabi

O

ver the years, Phagwah has evolved as one of the many holidays in Guyana that are not limited to the religious festivities from which they initially emerged. The diversity of the Caribbean (especially Guyanese society) has a way of erasing religious and cultural barriers, allowing persons of various religious backgrounds – a cross-section of ethnicities and different creeds – to integrate and participate in celebration of traditions such as the Hindu festival of Holi. However, it is evolutions like these that

often tamper with the rich, deep-rooted origin of cultural practices, often resulting in the deterioration or misinterpretation of the true significance and symbolism of these cultural practices.

Has Phagwah suffered the disintegration of time and societal advancement?

Do we really know the meaning and aspects of the celebration of Holi? It is safe to say that Guyanese have been, on many occasions, subjected to the famous story of the religious origin of Phagwah. Whether it was taught at home, enacted in school, or recited at the temple, the story of Prahlad’s faith and of that faith being

his weapon against his aunt, the evil Holika, is surely well known. The burning of Holika effigies to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, and the using of the ash to create a paste that is used for the playing of Holi is merely one (but perhaps the most significant) account of the origin of Phagwah.

However, there are other sagas associated with the ‘festival of colours’. In keeping with its religious origin, the legend of Lord Krishna playfully applying colour to Radha is another account that is said to have initiated the prank of smearing others with colourful powders and pastes.

The moment Krishna approached Radha and coloured her face was the start of their companionship, and it was celebrated as Holi by Hindus everywhere

And that aside, there is also a traditional take on the celebrations, with the beginning of spring being an instigating factor of the festival of Holi. The arrival of spring has been traditionally honoured in farming villages of India by using the brightly coloured blossoms to create powders used to celebrate the arrival of a new season.

Even with several explanations of the origin of Phagwah, how often do the persons participating in the throwing of water and powder recognise and honour the reasons which brought about such activities? Furthermore, are these mythological ties to the festivities still significant and relevant to the twenty-first century?

While some families maintain the symbolism of the original nature in their

cussion instruments) accompanying the singing. Special foods were prepared, which often included the traditional ‘seven curry’ and sweet meats as Hindus observed their religious prayers and fasting.

However, contemporary Phagwah takes on the atmosphere of carnival. A variety of coloured powders is added to water to prepare the mixture. On the eventful day, colours are applied to the others in such a way that they become unrecognisable. There are rare instances when Chowtal music is used, but the preparation of Indian delicacies has been maintained. Cultural shows, called Melas, were frequent in the past years, as the preparations for the holiday drew closer. However, in more recent years, these Melas have lessened, but

Students of Queens Collage playing Phagwah on Friday

observation of Phagwah, other communities participate in a national festivity.

The various aspects of the celebration have evidently withered away over the years, with some festivities no longer being as grand or as anticipated as before.

However, there are also new traditions that have emerged in the celebration of Holi in Guyana.

Tradition Phagwah celebrations in Guyana consisted of dance, music, songs and colours. Families and friends wore white outfits and participated in the throwing of water in the morning, while the smearing of powder followed later in the day. A special type of folk songs, called Chowtals, were sung during the course of the festival, with music from the dholak (a hand drum) and the majeera (cymbals or per-

events and locations known for large gatherings of wet and colourful Phagwah players have been established, replacing the groups parading through the villages to celebrate with their neighbours.

Like many other holidays in Guyana and across the world, Phagwah has evolved, leaving behind some of the core aspects traditionally attached to the celebrations. Nonetheless, it remains one of the more anticipated national festivities, and continues to unite various groups in the playing with powder and water.

However, with the tide of time, much of what the holiday once represented has been forgotten, despite efforts from cultural and religious organisations to revive and sustain the true spirit of Phagwah.

19 Guyana preparing to deal with influx of deportees from US – President news

sunDAY, march 12, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

T

he Foreign Affairs and Citizenship Ministries are working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in preparation to handle any possible influx of deportees from the United States, as President Donald Trump continues his crackdown on illegal immigrants.

President David Granger told Guyana Times, during an interview at the Ministry of the Presidency on Thursday, that moves are already afoot to put the necessary infrastructure and facilities in place to receive deportees, even though the United States is yet to inform the Government of any intentions to return illegal immigrants.

Should a batch of deportees arrive, the Head of State

explained, the individuals would have to be classified into various categories and then dealt with accordingly.

“All deportees are not the same. Some may have committed minor offences and some may have committed more serious offences.

Some may have gone to foreign countries as children, and they don’t know anybody, they don’t have relatives here, there is no home for them to go; and others may have difference circumstances,” the President explained.

He noted that Government would need to determine which deportees have relatives who are prepared to accommodate them, unlike those who would need State assistance; and Government would also

Thwarted execution

Jamaican arrested as probe continues

T

he alleged mastermind in a thwarted plot to execute a Corentyne, Berbice businessman was arrested on Saturday morning.

A Police constable on Friday intercepted a car carrying three men, and later discovered a gun and a stolen motorcycle. During interrogation, the men reportedly revealed that they were on their way to execute a Corentyne businessman after being hired by a Jamaican to kill the businessman.

On Saturday morning, Police nabbed the Jamaican the men alleged had hired them. At the time of his arrest, the Jamaican had just arrived from Suriname via the Moleson Creek route. But

The stolen motocycle

clist drove behind a car.

At Albion, the motorcyclist attempted to make a U-turn, but collided with the car and fell to the ground. After a brief

The gun that was recovered

as investigations continue, police were told that the alleged mastermind and the businessman who was supposed to be killed have a very good relationship.

Up to press time, police were unable to obtain any meaningful information from the Jamaican. However, Commander Ian Amsterdam told this publication that he is confident that his investigators would be able to get a breakthrough in the case.

Reports are that one of the men, who was on a motorcycle, was seen acting in a suspicious manner while the constable was returning to the Whim Police Station. This prompted the constable to follow the motorcyclist as the cy-

conversation between the motorcyclist and the car driver, the cyclist hopped into the car and they sped away.

Upon seeing this, the lawman called for backup but continued pursuing the vehicle, which turned into Anamayah Street at Williamsburg then stopped. As the policeman approached, the driver threw what appeared to be a gun into a nearby trench and attempted to flee, but by then police backup had arrived and gave pursuit. A .38 revolver was eventually retrieved from the trench. The three men were all arrested and it was then that they admitted that they had been hired to kill the businessman.

President David Granger

need to determine the various backgrounds of the deportees, in order for them to be monitored.

The US Government has not yet contacted local authorities regarding possible deportees, and the President said protocol would warrant prior warning being sent to the Foreign Affairs

Ministry. Granger made it clear that his administration has no intention of not accepting any deportees.

President Trump recently signed an executive order which addresses funding and threatens the immigrant and non-immigrant visas of officials of countries that do not take back deport-

ees promptly. The executive order states, “The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall cooperate to effectively implement the sanctions provided by section 243(d) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1253(d)), as appropriate.”

The only previous time when the law was triggered against Guyana was in 2001, and that had resulted in this country cooperating fully in less than two months.

Gambia has, so far, actually seen some visa cut-offs after refusing to accept some 2000 deportees.

President Granger had previously expressed some level of concern about Guyana’s ability and capacity to handle any possible influx of Guyanese being deported from the USA. Caribbean Governments have complained bitterly over the years about na-

tionals being deported to their countries of birth without much information provided as to their medical and criminal backgrounds and, even more importantly, some form of support to assist their smooth integration into their home countries.

In December 2016, almost two dozen Guyanese deportees arrived from the USA, having served lengthy jail sentences for various offences.

In the previous year, the US deported 104 Guyanese.

Meanwhile, Juncata Juvant, an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of deportees to Guyana, was recently resuscitated here. The organisation intends to establish a shelter facility, either independently or through collaboration with the Private Sector and/ or Government.

20 NEWS

SunDAY, march 12, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Police crack Rose Hall murder

‌trio accuses each other of pulling trigger

W

hat was originally a casual arrest of a known character who was wanted for questioning in relation to some unlawful acts committed in Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice turned out on Saturday to be the arrest of a suspect in a murder that was committed there since February 2016.

Office-in-Charge of the Rose Hall Police Outpost, Sergeant Philbert Wilbur, on Saturday arrested a Rose Hall Town man who was wanted for questioning in relation to the commission

of some unlawful acts in Rose Hall Town; but during interrogation, the man admitted that he was present when 21-year-old Saitanya Kishundyal was shot and killed in February 2016.

Reports are that on February 4, 2016, Kishundyal of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne was closing the gate to his residence when he was confronted by a gunman. In the ensuing scuffle, he was shot to the abdomen, and died a few days later in hospital. The murder was eventually listed as unsolved.

Kishundyal was returning

home after attending a religious function at Corriverton, some 30 miles away. Surveillance footage which was seen by this publication suggest that four persons had entered Kishundyal‘s yard to await his return home. At 21:57 hrs. on that fateful day, his car pulled into the driveway and he exited the vehicle to open the gate. In the footage, Kishundyal was seen driving under his house, and as he opened the door to exit the vehicle, a lone gunman approached him from behind. Within three seconds of the ensuing scuffle, a shot was fired.

Three other men were immediately seen running out of the yard, along with the gunman.

Although shot in the a b d o m e n ,

Dead: Saitanya Kishundyal

Kishundyal went after the fleeing men, but did not venture far past the open gate. He later returned holding his abdomen, and

threw himself on a bench. It is believed that the bandits had intended to use Kishundyal to get his parents to open the door.

Reports are that the suspect confessed on Saturday to being present when Kishundyal was shot. Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam, related that the suspect also provided investigators with the names and addresses of two other persons who were present at the time of that shooting. Amsterdam said the two have since been arrested, and all three of the men are accusing one another of being the one who had pulled the trigger to discharge the bullet that killed Kishundyal. The men are expected to be charged shortly, but Police are still looking for the fourth person who was at the scene when the shooting occurred. (Andrew Carmichael)

Rice-laden ship sinks off Essequibo Coast

A

rice-laden ship sank in the deep murky waters in the Atlantic Ocean just off Walton Hall, Essequibo Coast.

Reports are the ship was destined for Venezuela.

The vessel was reportedly packed at the Charity Wharf, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Friday and left just around midday. It is believed that the ship was overladen and might have capsized during

high tide.

A team consisting of fishermen and residents from the Walton Hall community rescued the captain and his crew. No one was hurt during the ordeal.

YELLOW PAGES sundAY, March 12, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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sports

21

Corporate entity extends hand to Guyana NRA

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s the Guyana National Rifle Association (Guyana NRA) intensifies preparation of the Timehri Rifle Ranges ahead of the 150th Anniversary celebrations, the business community is beginning to respond to calls for assistance to complete the massive infrastructural works according to a release from the association.

At the first Statutory Meeting of the newly elected Executive Council of the Guyana NRA, held at the Guyana Defence Force Conference Room, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Secure Innovations and Concepts Incorporated, Harold Hopkinson, made a sizable donation towards the works.

President of the Guyana NRA, Brigadier Patrick West, received the cheque on behalf of the Association. Hopkinson who is also a former Smallbore Captain in the Association and presently the Association’s IPSC Regional Director, stated that he sees his contribution going a long way towards the development of the shooting sport in Guyana.

The release further stated that a section of the range is being developed with multiple berms being built to facilitate the various stages of smallbore competition. With the completion of the new smallbore range it would enable the Association to hold smallbore Championships at an international level. In addition, Hopkinson, made a second donation towards the training of Lennox Braithwaite. This will enable the Commonwealth Games bound shooter, as part of his training, to participate in the annual Bisley Champions.

Brigadier West expressed gratitude on behalf of the Association for the donations from Hopkinson and expressed hope that

other businesses will be able to also come on board with the Association as it prepares to host the prestigious Anniversary Shoot in October.

The Executive Council also named its two man shooting Team to represent Guyana at the Commonwealth Games slated for March 2018 in Australia. Fullbore Captain Mahendra Persaud along with

Harold Hopkinson (left) hands over the much needed sponsorship to Brigadier Patrick West at GDF Conference Room recently

Lennox Braithwaite were selected. There were five shortlisted shooters, with the other three being Ransford Goodluck, Dylan Fields and Leo Romalho. The selectees will commence preparation with the completion of the fullbore ranges.

The release ended by stating that the Guyana Olympic Association has also made a contribution toward the selectees training.

Petra/ Milo Schools U-18 Football…

Chase Academy give North Ruimveldt 17-0 licking

– Benjamin scores 7 in record breaking feat

K

elsey Benjamin shot seven past a listless North Ruimveldt Secondary to lead Chase Academic Foundation to a record 17-nil victory in the 5th edition of the Petra Organised Milo under-18 Schools Football Championships on Saturday at the Ministry of Education Ground.

The two-time defending champions eclipsed the previous record of 13-0 this year set by both Morgan Learning Centre and Sir Leon’s Lessons.

Benjamin first netted in the 5th minute then added goals in the 29th, 30th, 50th, 53rd, 57th and 65th minutes to round off a memorable day.

Sprightful assistance came from Ryan Hackett in the 46th and 54th minute while Nicholas McArthur, Job Caesar, Reshawn Ritch, Rondell Peters, Wayne Baker and Jeremy Garrett scored in the eighth, 23rd, 25th, 31st, 58th and 61st minute respectively.

Own goals in the 28th and 55th minute added to the score line.

In another goal rush, Buxton Youth Developers crushed St. Joseph 7-0; Ablamy Robertson netted a brace in the 53rd and 77th minute whilst Shemar Beckles, Elton Sullivan, Justin Jarvius, Joel Anderson and Kifambo Goodman scored in the 26th, 30th, 31st, 50th and 61st minute respectively.

Also, Masters Academy continues their

impressive performances as they won 3-1 against Ann's Grove. Ryan Dowden, O'Neil Glasgow and Colwyn Peters in the 45th, 50th and 60th respectively. On target in the defeat was Kobe Durant in the fourth minute. In the final game, The Bishops’ High School and St. Roses High battled to a scoreless draw. The tourney will continue today at the same venue with four more matches. At 11:00h, East Ruimveldt engages St. Mary's High while St. John's College battle Pure Masters from 12:30h.

The third fixture at 14:00h will bring together former winner Lodge Secondary who will match skills with Kingston Secondary whilst Morgan Learning Centre opposes Tucville from 15:30h.

T h e championship which is slated to conclude on April 23rd, features 32 teams competing in an initial round robin format of eight group of four teams.

Upon the conclusion of the group stage, the top two finishers in each group will advance to the elimination round.

Winner of the tourney will receive $500,000 towards a school project and the championship trophy while the second, third and fourth placed sides will pocket $300,000,$200,000 and $100,000 respectively towards a school initiative and a trophy.

The event is also supported by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Health with an emphasis on Gender Based Violence.

22

Omar Khan

guyanatimesgy.com

sundAY, march 12, 2017

T

he Lone Star Hotel in Barbados hosted the first major event for Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2017, the very important Player Draft. This year saw 258 of the best players from around the world in a record CPL Player Draft pool and since not all were sold there were the expected elation and disappointment.

Nevertheless, all squads are now known and the anticipation is already alarming as the Caribbean prepares for the biggest party in sport from August 1 to September 9.

G u y a n a

Amazon Warriors will again hunt their first title and to get the task done, team manager Omar Khan said his unit opted for a more balanced team as compared to last year.

“Obviously we wanted to pick a team that would be balanced in the context of what we had last year.”

In a direct swap for opener Dwayne Smith, who returned to his original franchise Barbados Tridents, Khan said their first choice was hard hitting Jamaican wicket keeper/ batsman, Chadwick Walton, who they strategically acquired at US$110,000 since it was their first pick of the draft.

In recent times Walton has been in good form and he marked his record signing with a commanding century for Jamaica Scorpions against Guyana Jaguars on Friday

at Sabina Park. According to Khan, the Jamaican’s wicket keeping attributes is also considered as an asset.

Afghanistan leg spinner Rashid Khan, who has been making a name for himself and having being bought during the Indian Premier League (IPL) at a high price was also bought by Warriors to create a solid composition.

These two players along with the other four new comers Gajanand Singh, Roshon Primus, Keon Joseph and Steven Taylor and the retained players are needed to make the unit a balance one.

The Warriors who lost in the 2016 final to the Tallawahs retained nine p l a y ers with Sohail Tanvir, Martin Guptill, Chris Lynn, Jason Mohammed, Rayad Emrit, Assad Fudadin, Steven Jacobs, Veerasammy Permaul and Steven Katwaroo forming the core of the team this season.

However, this alone cannot bring Warriors success but a lot depends on getting these players

to work together. “You could have a strong team on paper but at the end of the day is getting those guys to perform together as a unit and that has always been our team philosophy in terms of getting the guys to understand that when they come to represent

t h e Guyana Amazon Warriors, they are representing one team with one common purpose,” reasoned Khan.

Team composition is very important this time around for Guyana Amazon Warriors, especially after reaching the final on three occasions but failed to win the title. Hopefully, with a balanced team composition there will be roaring for the title this season.

Golden Jags, Martinique to clash on March 28 in Linden T

he Guyana Senior Men’s National Team, Golden Jaguars will play Martinique in a friendly international match on March 28, as part of the French Overseas Department’s preparations for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The game, part of the official FIFA calendar window for international matches, will take place at the McKenzie Sports Ground in Linden at 20:00hrs.

Martinique, which is funded and supported by the French Football Federation, also plays Barbados on March 26.

“We are delighted that the Golden Jaguars will face Martinique this month as part of its warm up for the CONCACAF Gold Cup,” said GFF President Wayne Forde.

“This is going to be a great occasion and a challenging game against a very tough regional team that feeds a lot of players into the top leagues in Europe, as well as the French setup. It is vital for our own development that we use these international calendar opportunities to expose the Jaguars to strong opposition.

We urge all of our football fans to come out and support the team.”

The last time Guyana played an international match in Linden was May 19, 2011, when Guyana beat Barbados 1-0.

In July, Martinique plays in Group B of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup against the United States, Panama and either Haiti or Nicaragua.

guyanatimesgy.com

sundAY, march 12, 2017

Hero CPL 2017

CW/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

Jags hold edge in see-saw battle – Red Force subdues Volcanoes

E

Alzarri Joseph picked up three in a good spell at the Kensington Oval

D

ay three of the Regional four day clash between Jamaica Scorpions and Guyana Jaguars at Sabina Park promises to be an interesting day with tournament leaders Scorpions set to resume the day on 61-1 in their second innings and a slim lead of 54 runs.

At the crease is Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood on 25 and first innings’ centurion Chadwick Walton on nine. Debutant fast bowler Romario Shepherd captured the only wicket to fall in Scorpions’ second innings, removing John Campbell for 26 caught by wicket keeper Anthony Bramble for 26.

Earlier Guyana resumed day two on 69 without loss, with Shimron Hetmyer on 51 and Tagenarine Chanderpaul on 14 and still trailing by 186 runs.

They progressed to 104 before Jaguars’ lost their first wicket, that of Hetmyer for 74.

Subsequent to Hetmyer’s dismissal, Jaguars’ failed to build on a perfect foundation set by the two youngest members in the playing 11 and eventually folded for 262. Apart from the talented former West Indies U-19 skipper, the Chanderpauls also scored fifties.

Father Shivnarine made 57 while son Tagenarine recorded 58 to help take Jaguars past Scorpions’ first innings. Spinners Nikita Miller 4-69, Andre McCarthy 3-18 and Damion Jacobs 2-35 were the leading bowlers for the host.

Meanwhile, over at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada, hosts Windward Islands Volcanoes failed to really reply to 275 all out made by the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in their first innings. At the end of the second day, the visitors were 23/1 enjoying a lead of 194 runs with nine wickets in hand and firm control of the sixth round match.

Red Force began the day on 250/7 were eventually bowled out for 275 with Yannic Cariah completing a fine century ending on 102 not out while Steven Katwaroo (59) and Khary Pierre (50) also made half centuries with Kyle Mayers taking 4/24 and Sherman Lewis 3/59.

When the Volcanoes batted they got 34 from Shane Shillingford and 31 from Kyle Mayers.

Sheldon Cottrell picked up 3-30 while there were two wickets each for Marlon Richards, Bryan Charles and Imran Khan.

In the other match of the round, hosts Barbados Pride ended the opening day in a commanding position at 302/8. The match started a day late following the West Indies versus England One Day International Series which ended on Thursday in Barbados. The Pride were led by Shamarh Brooks with 62, Roston Chase 49 and Jonathan Carter 46 while Justin Greaves and Jomel Warrican were unbeaten on 30 runs each when stumps were drawn. The Hurricanes opening bowlers, Alzarri Joseph (3-39) and Gavin Tonge (3-29) were the key wicket takers with Nkrumah Bonner picking up the remaining two scalps.

23

Never a dull moment with new Warrior Primus

xciting Barbadian all-rounder Roshon Primus has developed rapidly over the past year, so rapid that he has become a regular fixture in Trinidad and Tobago Red Force teams in Cricket West Indies (CWI) Digicel Regional Four Day League and Super50. On Friday he was snapped up by the Guyana Amazon Warriors Franchise for US$10,000 to play in the fifth edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which is set to roll out in August and September.

Thus the 21 year old will be heading into a new territory where he will have a chance to showcase his talent in “the biggest party in sport.” To date, Primus have featured in 12 Regional outings including five first class and seven List A matches. Whenever he plays, there is never a dull moment and he is planning to keep it that way when he don the Warriors’ colours.

“I definitely will bring some energy to the team along with all round performance,” the talented all-rounder told Guyana Times Sport.

Like most of the young players who featured in the draft,

Primus was tuned in from the time of the sounding of the conch shell from the sunny beach of the lone Lone Star Hotel in Barbados at 10:00h.

He was keenly anticipating that moment when he would be selected by one of the six franchise and upon becoming the Warrior’s fourth new comer at that time Primus said he was very elated.

He described his selection as a dream come through; “Definitely been a dream come through.”

In addition he said he had a slight idea of the teams I would have been picked for still there was some anxious energy to see who I would be playing for. The new Warrior also like the composition of his side.

It is obvious that he is in the Warriors’ team at the expense of another all-rounder, Christopher Barnwell, and he is urging the fans not to worry because he is confident and up to the task.

For those who ponder what type of all-rounder is this emerging talent, he is a general all-rounder, who bowls medium pace and bats mostly in the lower order and have been progressing rapidly in terms of development in the last year.

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

SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

CW/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

Jaguars hold edge in see-saw battle Pg 23

Hurricanes wicketkeeper, Jahmar Hamilton flings himself down the leg side to complete a splendid catch to dismiss Shamarh Brooks at the Kensington Oval on Saturday (Photo courtesy WICB Media)

- Red Force subdues Volcanoes

Shimron Hetmyer top scored for the Jaguars at Sabina Park

Petra/ Milo Schools U-18 Football…

Pg 21

Chase Academy give North Ruimveldt 17-0 licking - Benjamin slots in 7 in record breaking feat

Kelsey Benjamin (with ball) was torn in the defence of North Ruimveldt with his canny dribbling skills on Saturday at the Ministry of Education Ground

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Sunday March 12, 2017

Times

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Collecting Guyana’s animal stamps Page 4

Page 10

Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Holi Ustav

A festival of devotion Page 3

2 Sunday Times Magazine

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MARCH 12, 2017

Times Feature

W h i t e is a mixture of seven different colours hence it symbolises a little bit of the quali t y of each. It represents purity, cleanli-

I

n Hinduism, colours play a very essential role in the religion as well as culture, and also have a deep and extensive significance, surpassing purely decorative values.

The majority of Hindu artists use different colours on the deities, as well as their dresses, to signify their qualities. The main colours used in Hindu religious ceremonies are red, yellow or turmeric, leaf green and wheat flour white, among others.

Red indicates both sensuality and purity. In Hindu religion, red is of utmost significance and is mostly used for auspicious occasions like marriages, the birth of a child, and festivals. A red mark is put on the forehead during ceremonies and important occasions. As a sign

Saffron is the battle colour of the Rajputs, the warrior caste

of marriage, women put red powder on the hair parting.

They also wear a red sari during marriage. Red powder is usually thrown on statues of deities and phallic symbols during prayers.

It is also the colour of Shakti (prowess). A red coloured dress is put on deities who are charitable, brave, protective, and who have the capacity to destroy evil.

Saffron is the most sacred colour in Hinduism. It represents fire and as impurities are burnt by fire, this colour symbolises purity. It also represents religious abstinence. This colour’s connotation has a sacred meaning for the Hindu. It is the colour of holy men and ascetics who have renounced the world.

Wearing the colour symbolises the quest for light. It is the battle colour of the

Rajputs, the warrior caste.

Green is a festive colour.

In Maharashtra, it represents life and happiness. For that reason, a widow does not wear green. Symbolising peace and happiness, green stabilizes the mind. The colour is cool to the eyes and represents nature.

Yellow is the colour of knowledge and learning.

It symbolizes happiness, peace, meditation, competence and mental development. It is the colour of spring and activates the mind. Lord Vishnu’s dress is yellow symbolising his representation of knowledge.

Lord Krishna and Ganesha also wear yellow dresses.

Yellow clothes are worn and yellow food is eaten at spring festivals. Single girls wear yellow to attract a mate and keep evil spirits away.

ness, peace and knowledge.

The goddess of knowledge, Sarasvati is always shown as wearing a white dress, sitting on a white lotus.

The Brahmin - the highest social caste - is associated with white. Hindu religious leaders cover themselves with white ashes to represent their spiritual rebirth.

White is also the colour of mourning. The other prominent deities would also have a touch of white on their dress. A Hindu widow would wear a white dress in mourning.

Lord Vishnu wears yellow symbolising his representation of knowledge

Blue signifies nature: the sky, the oceans, the rivers and the lakes. The deity who has the qualities of bravery, manliness, determination, the ability to deal with difficult situations, of stable mind and depth of

character is represented as blue coloured. Lord Rama and Krishna spent their life protecting humanity and destroying evil, hence they are coloured blue. (www.janih.com;

www.thoughtco.com)

A Hindu bride wears red at her wedding

Lord Krishna spent his life protecting humanity and destroying evil, hence he is coloured blue

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 12, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Holi Ustav

Clouds of powder surround the crowd at a past Holi Utsav (Amanda Richards' photo)

Dance by the Dharmic Nrityasangh at the Phagwah Mela and Bazaar (Photo by Carl Croker)

S

ince its inception, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has initiated, crafted and sustained diverse programmes and events, which have catered to the needs of Guyanese. One such event is its annual Holi Utsav.

According to Dr. Vindhya Persaudin a previous interview with Sunday Times Magazine, when the Kendra, the original venue of Holi Utsav, was opened in 1991, it had the distinction of being the first Hindu academy in the Caribbean.

Kendra continues to be the hub for training people from all walks of life.

Classes are offered free of charge, which has been the same since it opened in 1991. In addition to being a training centre, the Kendra hosts many of the Sabha’s activities such as the Holi Utsav, Phagwah Mela and Bazaar, and Kala Utsav, including a number of conferences and seminars.

Persaud, who is the daughter of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s late founder Reepu Daman Persaud, explained that the reason Holi Utsav was moved from Kendra to the Everest Cricket Club Ground is due to an increase in people coming out to celebrate. She noted

that although the venue has changed, the actual format of the event’s activities has not.

This year’s Holi Utsav at the Everest Cricket Ground will start at 4pm on March 13. Admission is free and no alcohol is allowed. Other than the entertaining cultural programme, there will be performances by the Dharmic Nritya Sangh, top Guyanese singers, Daks New Generation Band, and Trinidad Cultural Group.

Additionally, chowtaal singing, tassa drumming, powder giveaways, Holi games and colour throws will be enjoyed throughout the afternoon. There will also be delicious sweetmeats to enjoy.

“Phagwah is celebrated by all; no one is excluded or confined in any way. We see people from all ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs celebrating with us. As people celebrate Phagwah, there are certain things that the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha would have been reiterating over the years.

When you’re playing, do so the right way. Don’t throw people in trenches; don’t play with people who don’t want to play: respect people’s wishes. We should remember the struggles of our fore parents to keep this fes-

The crowd at a past Holi Utsav held at the Everest Cricket Ground (Amanda Richards' photo)

tival alive in a way that is prescribed. So don’t deviate from that,” Persaud cautioned.

She added that the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha views Phagwah as a sacred festival and so it should never be polluted with alcohol. Persaud cautioned persons who use the name ‘Phagwah’ to advertise any event, to ensure it is alcohol free.

“There are a lot of events using the names Holi and Phagwah that are not in keeping with the guidelines of the event. They have associated our festival with vulgar things and we’re asking people not to use those names when keeping such events. Just as you respect your own festivals, you should respect others too.

This is not a fete; it is joyous and celebratory time and so do it in the right way.

Don’t defile it or degrade it by associating it with vulgar things. Phagwah is a unifying event and we want to keep it that way. On behalf of the Dharmic family, I want to wish all Guyanese Subh Holi!” Persaud declared. (Cover photo: Young dancers at the organization's recent Phagwah Mela and Bazaar that precedes Holi Ustav (Photo by Carl Crocker))

Young performers at the recently held Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s annual Phagwah Mela and Bazaar (Photo by Carl Crocker)

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 12, 2017

Times Feature

Collecting Guyana’s animal stamps

The first Guyana stamps to feature prehistoric animals

S

tamp collecting is a worldwide hobby – for some a serious hobby – where enthusiasts can find much to choose from, whether he or she decides to collect stamps of a certain topic or theme, certain types of stamps or all kinds of stamps in general.

There are many stamp themes, called thematic stamps or topical stamps, one can choose. From certain time periods or specific countries to commemorative stamps (limited edition stamps to observe events or anniversaries) and topical stamps such as Disney, famous people or

Christmas stamps, for example.

One of the most fascinating themes in stamp collecting is that of animals. Either animal-themed stamps or topical ones such as birds, mammals, fish, butterflies etc.; the choice can be virtually unlimited – even prehistoric animal stamps.

In Guyana, there is a collector’s stamp sheet of prehistoric animals, issued in 1991 to become Guyana’s first stamp sheet of prehistoric animals. Featuring 20 prehistoric animals and with a stamp value of $12.80, this 1991 edition is a colourful collection issued

for its appealing artwork.

In 1993, the year of release of the Hollywood blockbuster movie, “Jurassic Park”, many countries issued prehistoric animal stamps, including Guyana. Various prehistoric dinosaur species along with flying reptiles plodded or soared across the face of Guyana stamps of varying values.

Several other prehistoric animal stamps were issued in the early 2000, some of which are on sale at local post offices and can be used for postage.

Guyana’s animal- themed stamps are a remarkable example of the bounty in nature to be honoured on stamps.

Many birds in particular are often featured on our stamps.

The macaw and Harpy Eagle are two of the most recognised stamps issued by the post office here. The 5-cent and 25-cent blue and yellow macaw stamps were issued as far back as 1967, after the preindependence (1954) issuance of the 1-dollar Channel-billed toucan stamp.

Parrots and other macaws have also been featured on Guyana stamps over the decades, including as recently as 2015.

From the 15-cent Harpy Eagle stamp of the late 60s, the 35-cent Harpy Eagle stamp of the late 70s, to later overprints of the same images during the 80s, the iconic raptor has been featured on many of Guyana’s stamps.

The eagle was also featured in the 1990 ‘Rare and endangered wildlife of South America’ themed stamp sheet and in 2002, described as the UN Year of eco-tourism, the Harpy was again featured on a stamp sheet, with a value of $100. Many more native and non-native bird-themed Guyana stamps have since been issued.

In addition to birds, local and non-native animals, fish and other marine life stamps have been issued by the Guyana post office.These include a 1978 issue of the 15cent Giant Sea Turtle stamp and its 1983 overprint at a $60 value. There is also a Disney cartoon collection of stamps entitled ‘Mickey’s Animal Workers - Disney Characters at Work’ issued in 1995, each at a $30 value.

A stamp sheet of varying values, also issued in 1995, features the Lemon shark, Green Turtle, Sawfish and Stingray.In 1997, the year Britain transferred Hong Kong back to China, Guyana issued four $80- value stamps in a stamp sheet inscribed “Passage to Destiny”, illustrating mythological animals and a tortoise.

The Chinese New Year is regularly commemorated on Guyana stamps, perhaps one of the earliest being in 1995 for the Year of the Pig.

From prehistoric behemoths to modern day elephants in a Guyana stamp collection (1992)

More well-known stamps include fish postage stamps such as the pre-independence period (green) 72-cent arapaima stamp of the early 1950s.

In 1968 multi-coloured stamps of fish such as the (green) 6-cent patua (patwa), (grey) 1-cent sunfish and (aquamarine) 3-cent lukanani stamps were issued.

Butterflies are also commonly seen on Guyana postage stamps, including overprints.

Cats and dogs of the world have also been featured on Guyana stamps.

From the 1967, “Millie” the macaw stamp to the 2016 Golden Jubilee “Jaguar”

stamp, many more Guyana stamps featuring many other animals are available for experienced collectors and beginners to gather.

Try to get your hands on a recent “Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth Stamp Catalogue: Belize, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago” for more information. Or, do your research at a library, online at reputable stamp organisations, or contact the Guyana Post Office or the Guyana Philatelic Society. (Cover photos: ‘Parrot’ stamps ,‘Young ocelot on branch’ 1985 Wildlife Protection stamp and ‘Harpy Eagle’ 1990 stamps)

A butterfly Guyana stamp collection (1978)

A Guyana stamp collection of fish, birds and mammals of Guyana (1968)

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 12, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

Aminta Kilawan Narine

A social voice with deep cultural roots

A

Being an advocate for her religion and the rights of people is what Aminta is passionate about

minta Kilawan Narine is an attorney, community activist, and writer.

Born in the Bronx, New York to Guyanese parents, Aminta’s passion for social justice manifests in various aspects of her life.

She writes a weekly column for The West Indian newspaper titled, “Civics, Culture, and Community Engagement”, in efforts to increase involvement and stewardship in areas such as politics and volunteerism.

Aminta uses her voice for multifold purposes: she is a spirited bhajan (Hindu songs) singer, but is also a vocal advocate for her com-

According to Kirk Semple from the New York Times, “Sadhana is seeking to strengthen the liberal voice in the Hindu population and become a flag-bearer for social justice and social action.”

A staunch believer in volunteerism and social justice for all, Aminta coled in 2013 six students on a service project to examine human rights issues experienced by Dominicans of Haitian descent.

In late 2015, she organized and led the ‘WeAreOne’ rally with elected officials and community leaders to protest a hate crime that was

Aminta with her husband, Rohan, who is also a community activist

munity. In 2011, she cofounded Sadhana to merge her passion for activism with her love of Hinduism’s progressive values. Since 2011, Sadhana has been working towards building a progressive Hindu movement in the New York City area, nationally, and beyond.

Sadhana is a coalition of Hindus worldwide wanting to assert a progressive Hindu voice into the public discourse of our times.

Sadhana is a mechanism and a platform for progressive Hindus to speak up and act for progressive social values and social justice. Members practice ‘sadhana’, or faith in action, by advocating for those social justice principles they believe are at the heart of Hinduism.

committed against members of a Guyanese family living in Queens, New York.

Aminta has also worked with on Habitat for Humanity projects and with programs for students in local schools.

Aminta’s advocacy goes beyond her immediate community. In response to the problem of littering at local beaches following the performance of Hindus rituals, Sadhana launched an environmental initiative known as Project Prithvi to clean up abandoned puja items, which are usually left on the shores. Their efforts did not go unnoticed, and in 2015 Sadhana was awarded by the White House for their commitment to environmental justice and making sure that the earth

was protected.

Through her position as Legislative Counsel to the New York City Council’s Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations and the Committee on Women’s Issues, Aminta drafts legislation, liaises with advocates and shapes New York City policy on an everyday basis.

Aminta graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Fordham University and a Juris Doctor from Fordham Law School.

For more information on Aminta’s community efforts visit www.sadhana. org. (http://guyanesegirlsrock.org) Aminta (left) leads volunteers in prayer during a clean-up initiative (Photo by New York Times)

6 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 12, 2017

Times Book World The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

The Guyana Annual 2017

By Petamber Persaud

T

In February, local literary activist and writer Petamber Persaud handed over a copy of the centenary edition to a representative from the National Library

he centennial issue of The Guyana Annual magazine was launched on Friday February 24, 2017, months after it was due to surface.

Over the hundred-year period, the magazine suffered many other misses and overcame ‘near death experiences’, surviving to beat the odds like good traditions would wont to do, perhaps imbued with a fighting spirit – a boon given at its birth during the tumultuous days of WW1.

According to Nigel Westmaas, ‘[d]uring certain periods, like the war years and local crises, the Annual would suspend and then re-

sume publication. Between 1962 and 1965 no Annual was published, presumably on account of the disturbances in those years, but it returned in Independence Year, 1966.’ The next issue to appear was in 1992.

Then in 1998, the magazine was given a new lease on life when it was resuscitated by Berbice-born Texas-based philanthropist, Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh.

This new lease on life was characterized by several modifications in order to remain relevant.

Some of those changes included a tweaking of the name, expanding the literary competitions in or-

der to garner more reading material for children with the Rajkumari Singh Writing poetry for Children Competition, the Henry Josiah Writing Short Stories for Children, and the offering of trophies and prize monies to winners.

Some of those changes were effected by Vic Insanally – the magazine’s new publisher – and wide range of veteran and youthful editors including Allan Fenty, Charles De Florimonte, Ruel Johnson, Kojo McPherson and Petamber Persaud.

In many instances, the magazine was not published due to financial con-

straints and lack of corporate support. Never can it be said that the magazine did not surface due to shortage of contributions from writers, artists, photographers, specialist writers and academics.

Submissions were always in abundance, evidenced in the amount of material published, including more than 200 articles, in excess of 300 stories, over 500 poems, and scores of photographs, drawings, and scores of limericks. (Important to note that the unpublished material might be ten times the amount mentioned above).

Guyana can be proud of such vast store of archival material covering world affairs affecting Guyana especially during colonial times and every facet of life in Guyana. Importantly, the magazine held an international appeal, evidenced by reports that it was taken to other dominions of the Empire.

Other constraints included competition from rival magazines like ‘The Christmas Tide’ which was produced by the Argosy newspaper and ‘The Caribia’ produced by B. G. Lithographic, but they were not a perpetual concern for The Annual has outlived them.

Brigadier (retd) David Granger, now President of Guyana, writing in the 2004-2005 issue of The Annual declared that “[a] lmost all of the 130 magazines ever published in Guyana died” because “they were beset by problems of insufficient funds; rejection by the market; untrained staff; and inadequate material resources to maintain continuity” and also “the magazine has often been regarded as a vehicle for vested interests and, as a result, has been treated with hostility by those opposed to its ideas.”

Why continue in such an unfriendly climate? The following are some reasons for its continuance and longevity: Alan Fenty, declared that “writers, journalists, artists, cartoonists and photographers felt “arrived” when their work appeared in the year-end publication”.

P. H. Daly wrote that it was “the launching-pad for every Guyanese writer who eventually wrote his name into regional and international recognition”.

Ian McDonald said “every outlet for cultural creations like this one is a dream come true for some young person somewhere in this country yearning to express himself or herself and make a difference in our minds and imaginations.”

And Al Creighton re-

Cover of the centenary magazine

marked “the outlets and opportunities that it provides within the country remain immeasurable”.

The launch of the current centennial issue was delayed, perhaps a victim of many social factors including the recent general and regional elections and the perennial problem of financial constraints and shoe-string budgets.

But it’s here. And Dr. Singh,philosophizing in the preface of the current issue writes, said “it is more liberating to celebrate what you have rather than rue what you missed”.

The cover of the 2017 issue sets the tone for what’s to follow: Guyana’s Golden Jubilee of Independence Official Logo designed by Compton Babb; the 50th Independence Flag-raising Ceremony at midnight on May 26th 2016, with the hoisting of the colossal Golden Arrowhead measuring 50’ X 30’ on a 200foot flagpole; Berbice High School centenary; our profile of the year Sister Mary Noel Menezes, the ‘Jubilation Concert’, hosted by the Tina Insanally Foundation and attended by the President and First Lady, and Mashramani in New York.

So in this issue you would be treated to some jubilee moments like ‘Jubilation Concert’, ‘Hawley Harris’, ‘The Remarkable Lord Canary’, ‘Memories of that Month’, ‘Concerning

Hamilton Green and His Righteous, Circuitous Road to National Service’ and Profile of the Year – Sr Menezes.

Landmarks like the East Lothian building, Rose Hall Sugar Estate Library, the legendary Pomeroon River, and Mary’s Garden. There is also a timeline of Guyanese history, ‘Greetings a la Guyana’, Golden Years of Guyanese Literature, the Amazonia Poetry Competition, ‘what I expect of Independence’, Shakira Baksh; Imam Baksh winning the 2015 Burt Award for Caribbean Literature, and many other features celebrating Guyana and the pride of the people.

The magazine has not lost sight of its vital role falling betwixt news periodicals and the book.

For almost two decades, it was gifted to the public at (GUY)$1,000 per copy – despite value added materials and services to production cost.

One hundred years after it was launched, The Guyana Annual remains the only forum to offer an outlet and platform for emerging writers and creators of ideas.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com What’s Happening: Coming soon a new pocketbook, “Guyanese Writers of Indian Ancestry”

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MARCH 12, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

A

fter the abolition of slavery throughout the Empire in 1834, a number of Portuguese Catholics arrived from Madeira to work as labourers in the South American colony of Guyana. This was one of several publicly funded experiments to bring labour to the sugar plantations after the liberated black slaves proved reluctant to turn themselves into wage slaves.

While the labourers also included Indians and Chinese, a substantial number of the Portuguese soon established themselves in the urban retail trade, where they became the focus of resentment.

One evening in February 1856 a riot exploded in the centre of Georgetown, as many enraged and impoverished citizens broke into the small shops of the traders, to ransack and to plunder. Rioting spread to settlements along the coast

and up the Demerara river, with clashes occurring as far away as Essequibo and Berbice.

‘The town may be said to have been in open insurrection’, wrote the Governor, Sir Philip Wodehouse, ‘and the true character of the disturbances was at once revealed.’ Wodehouse was an energetic and vindictive colonial official, ordered home from Colombo by the House of Commons after the rebellion in Ceylon in 1848, but given a new posting to Guyana.

The riots were sparked off by the detention of James Sayers Orr (one source calls him John Sayers Orr), variously described as a ‘black’, ‘coloured’, ‘mulatto’ or ‘creole’ evangelical preacher who had recently returned to his native Georgetown after a long sojourn abroad.

He had been touring Britain, ‘the Protestant parts of Ireland’, Scotland Canada, and the United

James Sayers Orr was born in British Guiana in the early 1800s, his father, from Greenock in Scotland, was the wealthy co-owner of Plantation La Penitence, and his mother was of African descent

A native village on the road to Mahaicony, British Guiana

Georgetown Magistrate's Court, British Guiana

States where he was described as a fanatical antiCatholic preacher who also incited riots in these territories.

Nicknamed ‘the Angel Gabriel’ because of his habit of summoning his flock with the blast of a trumpet, ‘he purveyed an inflammable mixture of Protestant zeal, populist radicalism, racism, and appeals to patriotism’.

Orr’s powerful oratory, aimed against Catholics and the Portuguese, served to translate the black population’s sense of oppression into religious and racial terms.

Orr’s preaching, wrote the governor, had attracted huge crowds of town and country blacks, ‘blending together skilfully and amazingly. . . political and religious subjects in a manner calculated to arouse the passions of the black and coloured population against the Portuguese immigrants’.

Wodehouse had greeted Orr as a distinguished preacher, but he had second thoughts (as he wrote to London) when Orr began ‘walking about the Town and its vicinity, carrying a flag, wearing a badge, and blowing a horn occasionally at the corners of the Streets, followed by small groups of the rabble of the place’.

Wodehouse believed that a black mutual aid society was behind the rioting, and indeed a group existed that had tried, unsuccessfully, to establish creole shops that might have competed with the Portuguese. No proven link was ever found, although the subject was one of general discussion.

With tension rising in the town, the governor

banned all public gatherings. Orr sought to avert the ban by holding a meeting outside his mother’s house, but he was arrested and charged with unlawful assembly.

News of the arrest sparked off the riots, and the black population began attacking the Portuguese traders - the immediate cause of their resentment against the colonial system.

Wodehouse’s report noted that ‘men, women and children all joined in, and in some parts of the country every creole of the lower orders seems to have been one of the mob’.

A Wesleyan missionary introduced an unusual element, describing how a ‘large number of Vile and Abandoned Women’ had taken part in the riots, as well as ‘wild, rude and halfsavage children’.

Wodehouse also noted the participation of women: Nothing remained in the minds of the actors but the long subsisting hatred and jealousy of the Portuguese Immigrants from Madeira and the love of plunder, aggravated by the gross and brutal character of the female population, who have throughout the Colony taken a most active part in the Riots, and who are of course the most difficult to punish.

He did not understand that many women were simply searching for food.

Wodehouse crushed the rebellion with black troops from the Second West India Regiment. Reinforcements were summoned from Barbados, and offers of assistance from warships stationed in the Dutch and French colonies were gratefully accepted. Hundreds of whites and ‘respectable’ coloureds were sworn in as

special constables.

So many people were arrested that a special penal camp had to be set up. More than a hundred ‘ringleaders’ were fined and flogged, and then given three years’ hard labour in the cane fields.

This was the fate of Orr, who according to Guyana. org, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment with hard labour at the penal settlement in Mazaruni where he died in November 1856 (other sources say 1857) after suffering from dysentery.

A further 600 prisoners were discharged on condition that they worked on specific estates, signing a contract to provide six months’ work for each month of their notional sentence.

A more lasting punishment for the community was the imposition of a registration tax designed to reimburse the Portuguese traders for their losses.

Claims for damages of nearly $60,000, more than the colony’s annual budget, were accepted by the governor, and compensation was secured through a poll tax that bore heaviest on the poorer sections of society.

The population was resentful and expressed its anger towards Governor Wodehouse at every opportunity. When he left Georgetown on holiday in August 1857, he was pelted at the dockside with stones, cane stalks and offal.

Sailing away for the last time, in May 1861, for a fresh imperial posting in Cape Colony, he left at night without ceremony, ‘to avoid a salute of dead cats and dogs’. (Source: WorldHistory.biz)

Sir Philip Edmond Wodehouse. Governor of British Guiana 1854 -1861

8 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 12, 2017

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Times Travel & Tourism

Swimming under the Canje Bridge in Berbice

S

ettled by the Dutch West India Company in 1627, its capital was Fort Nassau which was abandoned by 1785 and a new Fort Andries built downstream to become today’s capital of Berbice, New Amsterdam. Berbice is also known as “The Ancient County, now a region of mixed eras, as old colonial buildings stand side by side with modern constructions and the traditional rustic way of life continues alongside the modern-day hustle and bustle. (Photos: LJH)

The historic ‘Fraser House’ with its 99 windows Fishing boats, Rosignol, Berbice

Tapir taxis waiting for passengers at Corriverton, Berbice

A common sight in Berbice: Moving house along the Berbice Highway

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 12, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

C

hronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive loss in kidney function over a period of months or years. Each of your kidneys has about a million tiny filters, called nephrons. If nephrons are damaged, they stop working. For a while, healthy nephrons can take on the extra work. But if the damage continues, more and more nephrons shut down.

After a certain point, the nephrons that are left cannot filter your blood well enough to keep you healthy.

When kidney function falls below a certain point, it is called kidney failure.

Kidney failure affects your whole body, and can m a k e you feel very ill.

Untreated kidney failure can be lifethreatening.

It’s important to understand that early chronic kidney disease has no signs or symptoms, and chronic kidney disease usually does not go away.

The first consequence of undetected CKD is the risk of developing progressive loss of kidney function that can lead to kidney failure (also called endstage renal disease, ESRD) which means regular dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant is needed to survive.

The second consequence of CKD is that it increases the risk of premature death from associated cardiovascular disease (i.e. heart attacks and strokes).

Individuals who appear to be healthy who are then found to have CKD have an increased risk of dying prematurely from cardiovascular disease regardless of whether they ever develop kidney failure.

Kidney disease can be treated. The earlier you know you have it, the better your chances of receiving effective treatment. Blood and urine tests are used to check for kidney disease.

If CKD is detected early and managed appropriately, the deterioration in kidney function can be slowed or even stopped, and the risk of associated cardiovascular complications can be reduced.

Causes of CKD

High blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes are the most common causes of kidney disease. The high blood pressure causes just over a quarter of all cases of kidney failure. Diabetes has been established as the cause of around one-third of all cases and is the commonest cause of ESRD in most developed countries.

Other less common conditions include inflammation (glomerulonephritis) or infections (pyelonephritis).

Sometimes CKD is inherited (such as polycystic disease) or the result of longstanding blockage to the urinary system (such as enlarged prostate or kidney stones).

Some drugs can cause CKD, especially some painkilling drugs (analgesics) if taken over a long time.

Often doctors cannot determine what caused the problem.

Treating CKD

There is no cure for chronic kidney disease, although treatment can slow or halt the progression of the disease and can prevent other serious conditions developing.

The main treatments are a proper diet and medications, and for those who reach ESRD, long term dialysis treatment or kidney transplantation. In the early stages of kidney disease, a proper diet and medications may help to maintain the critical balances in the body that your kidneys would normally control.

However, when you have kidney failure, wastes and fluids accumulate in your body and you need dialysis treatments to remove these wastes and excess fluid from your blood, dialysis can be done either by machine (hemodialysis) or by using fluid

in your abdomen (peritoneal dialysis). In suitable patients a kidney transplant combined with medications and a healthy diet can restore normal kidney function.

Dialysis and kidney transplantation are known as renal replacement therapies (RRT) because they attempt to “replace” the normal functioning of the kidneys.

What can you do for your kidneys?

Keep fit and active: Keeping fit helps to reduce your blood pressure and therefore reduces the risk of Chronic Kidney Disease.

Keep regular control of your blood sugar level: About half of

people who have diabetes develop kidney damage, so it is important for people with diabetes to have regular tests to check their kidney functions.

Kidney damage from diabetes can be reduced or prevented if detected early. It is important to keep control of blood sugar levels with the help of doctors or pharmacists, who are always happy to help.

Monitor your blood pressure: Although many people may be aware that high blood pressure can lead to a stroke or heart attack, few know that it is also the most common cause of kidney damage.

High blood pressure is especially likely to cause kidney damage when associated with other factors like diabetes, high cholesterol and Cardio- Vascular Diseases.

Eat healthy and keep your weight in check: This can help prevent diabetes, heart disease and other conditions associated with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Reduce your salt intake.

The recommended sodium intake is 5-6 grams of salt per day (around a teaspoon).

In order to reduce your salt intake, try and limit the amount of processed and restaurant food and do not add salt to food. It will be easier to control your intake if you prepare the food yourself with fresh ingredients.

Maintain a healthy fluid intake: Although clinical studies have not reached an

agree- m e n t on the ideal quantity of water and other fluids we should consume daily to maintain good health, traditional wisdom has long suggested drinking 1.5 to 2 litres (3 to 4 pints) of water per day.

Consuming plenty of fluid helps the kidneys clear sodium, urea and toxins from the body which, in turn, results in a “significantly lower risk” of developing chronic kidney disease, according to researchers in Australia and Canada.

The findings, the researchers said, do not advocate “aggressive fluid loading”, which can cause side effects, but they do provide evidence that moderately increased water intake, around two litres daily, may reduce the risk of decline in kidney function.

mate, health conditions, pregnancy and breast feeding. In addition, people who have already had a kidney stone are advised to drink 2 to 3 litres of water daily to lessen the risk of forming a new stone.

Do not smoke: Smoking slows the flow of blood to the kidneys. When less blood reaches the kidneys, it impairs their ability to function properly. Smoking also increases the risk of kidney cancer by about 50 percent.

Do not take over-thecounter pills on a regular basis: Common drugs such non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen are known to cause kidney damage and disease if taken regularly.

Such medications proba-

It’s i m por-

tant to keep i n mind that the right level of fluid intake for any individual depends on m a n y factors includi n g gender, exercise, cli-

bly

do not pose signif-

icant d a n ger if your kidneys are relatively healthy and you use them for emergencies only, but if you are dealing with chronic pain, such as arthritis or back pain, work with your doctor to find a way to control your pain without putting your kidneys at risk.

Kidney health awareness

World Kidney Day is an annual international event, held March 9 this year. This year, World Kidney Day promotes education about the harmful consequences of obesity and its association with kidney disease, advocating healthy lifestyle and health policy measures that make preventive behaviours an affordable option. Source: World Kidney Day.org)

10 Sunday Times Magazine

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MARCH 12, 2017

Times Fashion

N

achle Designs fuses unique Western and Eastern fashion to create contemporary pieces. The husband-and-wife duo of this well conceptualized designers' line are no strangers to the entertainment industry.

With the diverse knowledge and experience in the performing arts arena, Hashim Alli and Melicia Partab-Alli pooled their creativity together to establish Nachle Designs.

Upholding the standards of simplicity and ele-

gance, Melicia decided that her twist of sophistication is that of comfort, the secret of her collections.

On the other hand, being sleek, trendy and confident, Hashim decided that a blend of colours and styles are his key elements.

Both designers work passionately to showcase their love for their heritage via the performing arts and fashion.

For more information, check out Nachle Designs on Facebook.

Sunday Times Magazine 11 MARCH 12, 2017

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Star Times Hollywood

M aren Morris is an American country singer, songwriter, and record producer. She has released four studio albums. Her 2015 extended play, Maren Morris, charted on two Billboard charts. Her major label debut album, Hero, reached #5 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on Top Country Albums. Her debut single, "My Church", hit #1 on the Country Digital Songs chart in 2016 and reached Top 5 on the US Hot Country chart. Morris is the reigning 2016 CMA New Artist of the Year and was nominated for four awards, including Best New Artist, at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, where "My Church" won the award for Best Country Solo Performance.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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MARCH 12, 2017

Times Hollywood

Naomi Campbell addresses her Rihanna feud

O

prah Winfrey is proud to show off her smaller waist in the April issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. The 63-year-old TV personality reveals that she has lost 45 pounds since she joined Weight Watchers in 2015. "Nearing the 45-pound weight loss mark is a great feeling!" says Oprah.

Oprah suggests that the loss of her weight is the result of a lifestyle change instead of years of dieting.

"After spending literally years on more diets than I care to count, I finally made the shift from dieting to a lifestyle change," explains Oprah.

"Everyone is different, but for me what's worked is Weight Watchers...

Today I'm more conscious about what I eat, balancing indulgent things with healthier options."

"The Oprah Winfrey Show" host later explains that Weight

Watchers encourages her to take a holistic approach to health and fitness. "The folks at Weight Watchers called me in July and asked if I'd join

their team - help spread the message about taking a holistic approach to health and fitness," says Oprah.

Oprah later adds, "Everyone is different, but for me what's worked is Weight Watchers… Today I'm more conscious about what I eat, balancing indulgent things with healthier options," she says. Oprah adds, "I leave the table feeling satisfied - and to me, that's far more important than any number on the scale."

Oprah says that while some people can live without bread and pasta, she thinks that "it just doesn't make sense" to her. She later adds, "I wanted a plan for life, and here it was in the form of Weight Watchers.

For me, this is not a diet. It's a whole shift in perspective. So yes, for sure, I'm a bona fide convert." (AceShowbiz)

F

ans of Naomi Campbell and Rihanna have been left a little bit confused lately with rumours swirling that the pair have had a bust up, now Naomi Campbell has spoken out.

The supermodel was a guest on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” and the host decided to address the spat, which all started over a couple of unfollows.

Cohen read out a viewer's

tweet which called out the fact the pair had unfollowed one another on Instagram, asking on behalf of the fan: "Is everything Ok between the two of them?"

"Everything's fine," replied Naomi.

She continued: "I don't have beef, especially with black women that I think are powerful. We're out there doing the same thing, and doing the same struggle." (Glamour)

Michael Bublé’s son battles cancer

M

ichael Bublé has withdrawn from another hosting gig as his 3-year-old son, Noah, continues to battle cancer.

The 41-year-old has pulled out of the 2017 Juno Awards — Canada’s biggest music awards show — to take care of his son, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Our thoughts continue to be with Michael — we respect his ongoing commitment to his family and look forward to working with him again in the future,” Mike Consentino of Bell Media, the company broadcasting the show, said in a statement.

Bell Media officials noted in the statement that the “Home” crooner stepped down from the hosting gig to “focus on his family.”

Singer B r y a n Adams and comedian Russell Peters will rep l a c e Bublé, according to the statement.

This is not the first gig Bublé has pulled out of following his son’s diagnosis.

Just days after revealing his son’s illness last November, Bublé canceled a December performance at the BBC Music Awards.

Bublé was also initially tapped to host the 2017 Brit Awards in February, but about a month before the ceremony news broke that he opted out of the event to focus on his family.

The singer and his wife, Luisana Lopilato, revealed Noah’s illness in an emotional message on Bublé’s Facebook page.

“We are devastated about the recent cancer diagnosis of our oldest son Noah who is currently undergoing treatment in the U.S.,” the couple wrote. “We have always been very vocal about the importance of family and the love we have for our children.” (PEOPLE)

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MARCH 12 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 13

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 12, 2017

Times Bollywood

Google India’s virtual exhibition celebrates Bollywood’s iconic actresses

T

W

orking in a Hollywood film has been “enriching” for Deepika Padukone.

“I use my film experience from here [Bollywood] in Hollywood. The reason I am able to do what I do in a film like ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’ and be applauded for it, is because of the experience I have had over here,” the actress said.

The “Bajirao Mastani” (2015) actor adds that she “might have had experiences or learnt things” in Hollywood that she might bring back to Bollywood. “But a film set is a film set, and nothing changes. The creative process is the same. I don’t look at them as separate careers. For me, it’s a part of the same journey,” she mentioned.

Deepika is “sure” that her stint “has been enriching in so many ways.”

“I may not realise that now, but maybe when I walk on to the sets of ‘Padmavati’, there will be a moment when I might surprise myself. It might happen in this film, or two years later. So, something that is taken out of this experience may translate into something much later on. Be it professionally or personally — travelling the world, meeting so many people, being ex-

posed to new cultures and just seeing their style of working — all of it has been enlightening,” she stated. (Hindustan Times)

he long-suffering mother embodied by actor Nirupa Roy, the wicked stepmother/mother-in-law played by Lalita Pawar, the tragic courtesan with a heart of gold played

by Meena Kumari, or the cosmopolitan Indian woman portrayed by Zeenat Aman.

These are some of the representations of women in Hindi cinema, in the years following India’s independence. The characters reflect the common perception of women in those times.

To mark International Women’s Day (March 8), The Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) in Bengaluru and Google Cultural Institute curated an archive of women in Indian cinema: from 1949 to 1984.

Titled Faces that Launched a Thousand Films, the exhibits include lobby cards (publicity material displayed in cinema lobbies) and stills of iconic actors, such as Meena Kumari, Sadhana and Madhubala. The accompanying text — written by Shilpa Vijayakrishnan, research and curatorial associate at MAP — explains the characterisation of women over four decades.

For instance, in the ’50s, women were represented as the cornerstones of the family in a patriarchal society.

It led to films being titled on the basis of the relationship.

Examples include “Mousi” (1958), “Majhli Didi” (1967), and “Suhag Sindoor” (1953).

On the other hand, there were vamps (often portrayed by actors such as Helen and Aruna Irani) in early Hindi cinema who performed song and dance sequences and were the precursor to the modern ‘item girl’.

While there was a demarcation between what constituted a ‘good’ and a ‘bad’ woman, the lines began blurring in the ’60s, when heroines started playing both roles. For instance, Sharmila Tagore in “An Evening in Paris” (1967) plays the heroine and the

vamp. In the ’70s, Zeenat Aman played ‘liberated’ modern women (“Satyam Shivam Sundaram”, 1978; “Qurbani”, 1980). As the text that accompanies the picture mentions, they showed that “good girls could be unashamedly sexual while fulfilling all the requirements to ultimately become wife to the hero (sic).”

The exhibition’s reason for using lobby cards is to highlight a historical form of publicity that no longer exists. “Their distribution and circulation were carefully monitored at the time.

Unlike posters, they were often produced by some of the best photographers and art designers, making them fairly exclusive artefacts,” says Vijayakrishnan.

(Hindustan Times)

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MARCH 12, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Feature

Trending NOW

Star of the week

G

et your footwear on and put your best foot forward with the shoe trends of the 2017 Spring/Summer runway shows. From kitten heels to sky-high footwear, these shoes are made for getting noticed.

Nice kitty. Kitten heels are trending for the warm weather (Chloé)

M

elicia Partab-Alli is making a name for herself with her keen fashion sense, passion for beautifying and energetic dance moves. At 13, Melicia’s future changed when she became part of the local dance scene. Today, this accounting professional is a certified kathak dancer by the Indian Cultural Centre of Guyana and has displayed her expertise on many local stages. Her motivation comes from everywhere, with her creativity always being challenged with new and fresh concepts. This effervescent individual has over the years always delivered top rated performances, but a hidden talent was unleashed in 2012. It became an integral part of her expression through a colourful fusion of makeup she calls Eye Candy by Mel. Melicia believes that makeup is an “art of expression” and can “boost your self-confidence”.

Self-motivated and eager to explore different avenues within the industry, another interest was added to Melicia’s list of passions: designing. She launched her fashion label, Nachle Designs, a collection of stunning pieces, in 2014. A resourceful individual, Melicia assures that this is not the end of the road for her as she is now involved in pageantry, taking on the role as co-director for the Miss Global International Guyana pageant. Melicia believes in the willpower of positive energy and advises youths to “always have a focus point and never let their mind-set become cluttered with negativity; to always remember we are all authors of our life and every day we have the opportunity to write a new page.”

Flatforms are back and all over the runways this season (Dolce & Gabana)

Ankle-wrap shoes, with accessories from buckles to ruffles, are stepping out now (Dries Van Nooten)

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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MARCH 12, 2017

Times Art

Encouraging art for the environment

Aaron Gangadeen

Haymesha Persaud

he Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), developed by the United Nations, are the world’s time-bound and quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions-income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter and exclusion, while promoting gender equality, education and environmental sustainability.

For 2017, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) has chosen to focus on the seventh MDG, Environmental Sustainability, by using art to encourage youths and others to preserve their environments.

GBTI believes that policies, institutions, and strategies for protecting, conserving and enhancing natural resources should be strengthened to deliver an enabling environment.

In light of this, GBTI provided an avenue, via its Calendar Art Competition, for Guyana’s children to illustrate how we all can ensure environmental sustainability. The winning art pieces are showcased on the Bank’s 2017 calendar. The aim of this initiative is to encourage people to reflect on ways they can preserve the environment.

Twenty-seven schools across the administrative regions of Guyana were randomly chosen to participate in this year’s Calendar Art Competition. These schools were chosen based on previous years’ schools participation in the competition.

The theme “Ensuring E n v i r o n m e n t a l Sustainability”was chosen.

Additionally, this is in keeping with the Bank’s push for a ‘green’ economy.

Association.

Six winners emerged: Mya Hall, 13, and Rennata Nickram, 13, both from Bishop’s High School; Haymesha Persaud, 14, from Marian’s Academy; Aaron Gangadeen, 12, from Skeldon Line Path Secondary School; Somita Paul, 16, from School of the Nations, and Poonraj Lall, 14, from Anna Regina Secondary School.

Describing her artwork, Mya Hall said: “My poster depicts ways in which we can sustain the environment. It shows the planting of trees, recycling, saving energy and

T

Mya Hall

Aaron Gangadeen's art

Out of the 27 schools that were contacted, 12 schools submitted entries, which amounted to 106 art pieces.

North West Secondary School, Anna Regina

School, and Bartica Secondary School were this year’s participants.

The targeted age groups for the competition were 11-17 years old taken from Grades

Poonraj Lall

Multilateral School, Annandale Secondary School, Bishop’s High School, Marian’s Academy, School of the Nations, West Demerara Secondary School, Cove and John Secondary School (renamed Hope Secondary School); Patentia Secondary School, Skeldon Linepath Secondary School, Waramadong Secondary

Poonraj Lall's art

7 to 11, inclusive of the Sixth Form level. The students were required to send in their artworks along with a writeup explaining their artistic representation of the theme, “Ensuring Environmental Sustainability”. Three judges were chosen from the Burrowes School of Art and the Guyana Women’s Artist

Mya Hall's art

the use of solar panels.”

Haymesha Persaud pointed out that her “drawing illustrates changing our ways of doing things. If anything can be done without the overuse of resources, we can try to get the task done without wasting these resources”.

She added that her art piece states that “it is your choice if you want to make the world a better place”.

“The background of the scene [in artwork] is most-

Rennata Nickram

Haymesha Persaud's art

ly mountainous containing a bright red barn with magnificent hilly fields enriched with agricultural crops, which are grown neatly in beds. At the right side of the field is a beautiful blue lake where fishing is done. On the right is a temporary park closed due to cleaning which is done by the environmental agencies. In the centre of both parks is a majestic blue rapidly flowing river forming three waterfalls. In conclusion, this scene is magnificent and is associated with mostly everything in the ecosystem; big, small, colourful and most splendid landscape God has created on the Earth”, youngAaron Gangadeen added.

From School of Nations, Somita Paul noted: “Our environment and the world we live in have amazing abilities when we consider all the different kinds of organisms. The earth itself is capable of replenishing used up resources to sustain these organisms. However, mankind has pushed the limits of the earth’s ability to replenish because of the ever increasing rate of how fast we use these resources and it is damaging the environment. We are depleting millions of years’ worth of fuel in mere decades. It is not going to last forever. What will we do then? Well, the earth has provided us with an alternative using renewable energy resources; solar, hydroelectric and wind power. This is what I decided to be the focus of my poster. By implementing these three things in our

daily life, we can ensure that the environment is sustained in a way beneficial to nature.”

Thirteen-year-old Rennata said her poster “depicts people saving the environment by planting trees and flowers. Not only planting them, but taking care of the trees and flowers.”

Poonraj Lall stated in his description that “our environment reflects us. It is our home; therefore, it is extremely important to take into consideration our activities and how theyaffectthe environment. It is our duty to ensure a healthy, green and safe environment for all.

This can be done by ensuring clear water in drains, practising proper waste disposal; avoid contaminating the water with pollutants such as garbage. Clear water also contributes towards the survival of our marine species/ lives. Planting of trees alongside roadways can help to bind/hold the soil together to prevent the land from eroding. We can dispose of waste products by burying instead of burning as burning emits harmful gases such as carbon dioxide which becomes trapped resulting in air pollution and global warming. Let us practise these actions and we will definitely experience less environmental issues”.

The winners were given GBTI’s Early Savers Gift Voucher for the sum of GYD$20,000.

For more information, visit www.gbtibank.com (Information and photos by GBTI)

Rennata Nickram's art

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Sunday Times Magazine 17

MARCH 12, 2017

Times Tech

E

arly Tuesday, a new series of WikiLeaks leaks revealed the United States Central Intelligence Agency's efforts to hack iPhones. The leaks

Tech BYTE

A

detailed a number of iOS exploits that can be used to bypass security on devices. By Tuesday night, Apple said in a statement provided to TechCrunch that most of the vulnerabilities de-

tailed in the leaks have been patched.

“Apple is deeply committed to safeguarding our customers’ privacy and security. The technology built into

Flippy robot takes over hamburger station in California restaurant

t a Caliburger restaurant in Pasadena, California, Miso Robotics and Cali Group have taken the wraps off Flippy, a "collaborative kitchen assistant" that uses computer vision and deep learning to take over the job of grilling burger patties and leaving the chef to do the less ‘grease-spattery’ jobs of assembling the sandwiches.

According to Miso Robotics, Flippy is a low cost, stand-alone robot designed to be used in restaurant kitchens without the need for special modifications. It is designed to handle the tedious job of watching and flipping burger patties.

Not only doesn't Flippy mind spending hours in front of a hot, grease-spattering grill, but it can identify what is on the grill (including an intruding human hand), judge its degree of doneness, and transfer the burgers to the bun for a human chef to complete assembly.

In addition, it can adapt to and avoid bumping into its human co-workers for greater safety.

Flippy is still in the demo stage, but is scheduled to start work early next year before expanding into 50 Caliburgers worldwide in 2019.

today’s iPhone represents the best data security available to consumers, and we’re constantly working to keep it that way. Our products and software are designed to quickly get security updates into the hands of our customers, with nearly 80 percent of users running the latest version of our operating system.

While our initial analysis indicates that many of the issues leaked today were already patched in the latest

Tech news

I

iOS, we will continue work to rapidly address any identified vulnerabilities. We always urge customers to download the latest iOS to make sure they have the most recent security updates,” the company said in a statement.

Apple said its initial analyses indicates that many of the exploits detailed were patched in the latest version of iOS, and that it will continue to patch identified vulnerabilities.

The Cupertino company closed by saying that it always urges users to download and install the latest version of iOS to ensure that they have the most recent security updates.

The Vault 7 revelations aren't the first time the CIA has targeted Apple's mobile devices. In 2015 it was reported that the CIA worked on ways to compromise both iPhones and iPads.

(MacRumors)

World’s first mobile 3D printer house built on-site

n a world first, a residential home in Russia has been 3D-printed on-site with a mobile printer.It took only 24 hours and cost US$10,134.

The 38 m² (approx. 409 sq. ft) house in Moscow was built by Apis Cotr, a 3D printing specialistcompany based in Russia and San Francisco, using a mobile printer to print the homes on-site, which differs from other methods that usually involve printing separate parts off-site and constructing later.

The company's mission is to help financially disadvantaged people around the world

improve their living conditions by offering quick and affordable constriction methods at a high-quality standard.

Once the house has been completed, the printer is removed with a crane-manipulator, before the roof, interior fixtures and fittings, and painting are donemanually.

Its inventor, and company founder, Nikita Chen-yun-tai has said on the Apis Cor website he hopes "building a house will be as easy as pressing a "like" button" in the future.He also said that his company is ready to be the first to start building on Mars.

Once the mobile printer had completed the walls, it was removed with a crane manipulator to allow manual workers to come in and finish the job.

Flippy can transfer the patties to the buns (Credit: Miso Robotics via New Atlas)

T

France now raising drone-killing eagles

he French military has been training baby eagles to mature into natural drone-hunters with the ability to snatch the aircraft out of the air midflight, local press reports.

The drone-defence strategy actually follows the lead of Dutch police, who have taught bald eagles to capture drones that pose a threat to the public.

The military has carried out demonstrations showing the buzz of the drone triggering the birds' hunting instincts,

prompting them to swoop in, snatch them up and take them to ground.

The military is designing mittens made from leather and Kevlar (to guard against explosives) to protect the eagles' claws, and is currently conducting a 24-month testing program.

Capable of spotting a target 2 km (1.2 mi) away and flying at 80 km/h (50 mph), eventually the eagles will be perched high up in the Pyrenees mountains and scan the area for incoming threats.

Salman Khan may soon have own smartphone brand

T

he Economic Times reports that Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s Being Human charity is planning to launch a range of smartphones in India.

Khan recently registered the BeingSmart trademark for smartphones and has hired executives from Samsung and local giant Micromax to head the phone operations, the report added.

According to the report, the first batch of smartphones will be priced under US$300 and will try to rival offerings of Chinese

companies Xiaomi, and Oppo.

Smartphones priced under US$300 dominate the market in the country, according to research firm Counterpoint, says Mashable.

Lenovo, Xiaomi and other Chinese players have been increasingly offering smartphones with high-end specifications, often times similar to those of flagship smartphones by Samsung and LG at half, if not a third the price point.

18 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

I

f you ever looked around a room in your home and thought to yourself that it can do with an update – but your budget is not that expansive, don’t worry because simple and inexpensive updates are available for any decor and any taste...

Ingredients 1 can chickpeas ½ red onion, chopped 1 clove garlic 1 small sweet potato ½ cup parsley

¼ cup chickpea flour 2 tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste) 1 tbsp honey ¼ tsp sea salt ½ tsp ground cumin ¼ lemon, squeezed

Decorate a plain wall with plates – it won’t take long and won’t break the bank either.

From old plates to souvenir dishes, there are many types to choose from. You can decorate according to a theme, colour or collection; the choice is yours.

Method Make your own art. You can frame and display your own art or your child’s art in a room.

Even photocopied art can look chic between two pieces of glass

Preheat oven to 350°F. Turn on a food processor; while it is running throw in the garlic clove so it is evenly chopped.

Add the sweet potato, parsley and onion to the food processor and pulse.

Open the can of chickpeas, rinse them and then add the chickpeas to the food processor.

L

Pulse the mixture so some of the chickpeas are being mashed and some are retaining their shape.

Take the mixture out of the food processor and place in big bowl. Add the chickpea flour and seasoning to the bowl. Mix well so the entire chickpea mixture is seasoned.

Form into patties and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

Greatest Cooking Tips

ow heat is important for finishing egg dishes and simmering sauces, but keeping heat too low for certain dishes can lead to soggy food.

When searing meat, try to get the pan as hot as possible for a few minutes without any fat. After the pan has reached the proper temperature, add butter or oil and swirl it around in the pan. One more test before starting to cook meat is to drag the protein gently across the pan. If it sticks, the pan isn’t hot enough. Only after the meat has browned should you lower the heat and finish cooking.

Your dinner wasn’t burnt on the outside and raw inside because your stove is broken. It’s because your food was too cold. Take meat out of the fridge for at least 15 minutes (but less than an hour) before throwing it into the skillet.

If using frozen meat, let it defrost in the fridge—not on the counter—then do the same.

S Repurpose old furniture.

Rickety seating can be given a second life as bedside tables or, if the bottom half is cut off, even a shelf

Home Help

tore your fruit by lining your fridge drawers with bubble wrap; this will stop your fresh produce from bruising and at the end of the week there will be no wasted food. For the vegetable drawer, crumbled newspapers will keep veggies crisp.

Putting crushed bay leaves under the kitchen sink or at the bottom of doors and windows is a great way to deter cockroaches – apparently they hate the leaves.

Alternatively mop the kitchen and bathroom floors with a homemade bay leaf and water solution.

To easily clean up egg spills, all you need is salt. Just sprinkle a good amount of salt on any egg spill, and the egg will come right up instead of running away from the towel every time.

Pour cornmeal on fabric or upholstery to absorb grease stains. Apply enough to cover the soiled area and let it sit for a half hour, and then vacuum to remove the cornmeal mess.

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Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

D

JOKES

The things kids say! mother was struggling to get the ketchup out of the bottle when the phone rang. She asked her four year old daughter to answer it.

She heard her daughter say, "Mommy can't come to the phone. She's hitting the bottle."

A

A little boy asked his grandmother how old she was.

"39 and holding," she replied.

"Well, then, how old would you be if you let go?"

The ingredients God uses to make mothers “They get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.”

“God makes mothers out of angel hair and clouds everything nice in the world, and one dab of mean.”

What my mother needed to know about my father before she married him “His last name.”

“She had to know his background. Like does he get drunk on beer? Is he a crook? Does he make at least $900 a year? Did he say "No" to drugs and "Yes" to chores?”

Implements of Math Destruction t New York's Kennedy airport today an individual, later discovered to be a public school teacher, was arrested trying to board a flight while in possession of a ruler, a protractor, a square, a slide rule, and a calculator.

The Attorney General believes the man is a member of the notorious Al-gebra movement. He is being charged with carrying weapons of math instruction.

"Al-gebra is a very fearsome cult, indeed", the Attorney General said. "They desire average solutions by means and extremes, and sometimes go off on a tangent in a search of absolute value. They consist of quite shadowy figures, with names like "x" and "y", and, although they are frequently referred to as "unknowns", we know they really belong to a common denominator and are part of the axis of medieval with coordinates in every country. As the great Greek philanderer Isosceles used to say, there are three sides to every triangle.”

“When asked to comment on the arrest, President Trump said, "If God had wanted us to have better weapons of math instruction, He would have given us more fingers and toes."

A

He Broke Into Where? ou really have to wonder about this one. Why would a thief break into a courthouse? I guess when you're drunk your judgment is a little off, to say the least.

This guy pried open the sliding door to the courthouse and broke into the safe in the lobby. The only problem was that it's an antique safe and there was nothing in it. It was there only for display. In fact, it wasn't locked because the lock was broken.

He was caught when he again tried to pry open to door to get out. He was back inside the same courthouse a few hours later where he was arraigned on a charge of second degree burglary.

Y

o you have trouble getting your child to follow a regular schedule? Consistent routines and rules help create order and structure your day.

Routines and daily schedules help you and your child. You both know what to expect each day. Routines can also improve your child’s behaviour and your relationship with your child.

A family rule is a clear statement about behaviours that are never okay, such as hitting and running in the house. You can change your child’s behaviour when there are clear consequences for breaking the rule.

Consistency, predictability, and follow-through are important for creating structure in the home. Respond to your child’s behaviour the same way every time. When you are consistent, the behaviours you like will happen more often and problem behaviours are less likely to happen.

A routine is a set of steps you follow

the same way each time. This means that the day’s activities a r e predictable.

Morning routines,

for example, can help you and your child get ready to leave

the house on time. A bedtime routine can help your child sleep better and allow you more time for yourself. A dinner time routine can help your child eat healthy (no dessert before dinner).

If your child knows the routine, you will have fewer tantrums and power struggles during the day.

Establishing routines can help prevent temper tantrums. Many tantrums occur because children do not know what to expect during the day or do not want to do something they are asked to do. Routines take the guesswork out of the day’s activities. It may be helpful to teach your child the routine when you first start using it. A chart or night-time song that spells out the routine may be helpful.

Keep things positive. Reward and praise your child for following routines and rules. This makes it more likely that your child will follow the routines and rules in the future.

STORY TIME

T

he animals of the forest made a bargain with a ferocious lion that killed for pleasure.

It was agreed that one animal each day would willingly come to the ferocious lion's den to be his supper and, in turn, the lion would never hunt again.

The first to go to the lion's den was a timid rabbit, who went slowly.

"Why are you late?" the lion roared when the rabbit arrived.

"I'm late because of the other lion," said the rabbit.

"In my jungle? Take me to this other lion."

The rabbit led the lion to a deep well and told him to look in.

The lion saw his own reflection in the water and roared! The sound of his roar bounced right back at him as an echo.

"I alone am king of this jungle," he roared again.

His echo answered him, "I alone am king of this jungle."

With that, the lion became so enraged, he charged into the deep w e l l with a great splash!

The lion attacked his own reflection and was never heard from again.

By Grammar G.

F

rom clever witticisms to a groan-worthy joke, many humorous tales rely on puns or a play on words in the English language (when English is the native language of course); all most often making use of homophones – words that sound the same, and are sometimes spelt the same, but have a different meaning.

Newspapers throw one or two out ever so often.

But tabloid newspapers in particular find them useful for catching the eye of readers. (“Otter destruction” says a headline on a report of the decline of otters in a region, which plays on the words “Otter” and the phrase “‘Utter’ de-

struction”).

Shops also exploit puns to attract attention. Seen on a sign of an antique shop that sold, among other things, antique knights’ garments and traditional quilts: “Quilts for cold knights”. Business names employ a similar tactic: Phil D. Churn Milk Company Ltd. The use of wordplay for comic effect is seen in the use of the word “outstanding” and “out standing”: Q: Why did the scarecrow win a Nobel Prize?

A: For being outstanding in his field!

Then there is the joke that goes like this: “I was

wondering why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.”

The punchline centres on the two meanings of “hit”: a sudden realisation and a physical sharp and often painful sensation when something is thrown at you and comes into contact.Making use of homophones gives us an old favourite: Q: Why did the fly fly?

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done, But, he with a chuckle replied That "maybe it couldn’t," but he would be one Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin On his face. If he worried he hid it.

He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you’ll never do that; At least no one has done it"; But he took off his coat and he took off his hat, And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin, Without any doubting or quiddit, He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure; There are thousands to point out to you one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin, Just take off your coat and go to it; Just start to sing as you tackle the thing That "couldn’t be done," and you’ll do it.

---Edgar Guest A: Because the spider spied her.

The question plays upon the two meanings of the word “fly”; one a noun and the other a verb – “to fly." The answer relies on the fact that “spied her” – meaning “saw her” – sounds like “spider”.

20 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 12, 2017

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Times Sunday Puzzle

Camp Pineveiw's cook, Margaret Johnson, was just about to begin preparing the picnic lunch for all the campers. She already knew she needed to fill 55 bowls of the same size and capacity with the same amount of food. When she was done, she decided to read the guidelines for the picnic, just out of curiosity. The guidelines said: 1. Every camper gets their own bowl of soup.

2. Every two campers will get one bowl of spaghetti to share.

3. Every three campers will get one bowl of salad to share.

4. All campers are required to have their own helping of salad, spaghetti, and soup.

After some rapid calculations, Margaret was able to figure out how many campers were going to the picnic.

Can you? see ANSWERS on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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MARCH 12, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

T

he Matamata Turtle (Chelus fimbriatus) lives in the river basins of northern South America, including the Essequibo, Orinoco and Amazon rivers where they prefer the shallow bottom of muddy, slow-moving bodies of water.

It is one of the world’s largest freshwater turtles, reaching up to 45 cm (about 18 in) in length, and 15 kg (33 lbs) in weight.

Matamata turtles eat mainly live fish but they will also eat amphibians, invertebrates

(such as insects and crustaceans), and small mammals and birds that may be in the water.

The matamata is noted for its unique way of catching fish: it opens its mouth with such a great speed that it sucks the fish in; then it shuts its jaws, expels the water then swallows the fish.

It is also noted for its snorkel-like snout and long neck which aid in breathing while walking at the bottom of its shallow water habitat.

GEOZONE

A

Savannah leading to wooded area in Rupununi

savannah (or savanna) is a flat area of land, called a plain, that is mostly treeless and covered with grasses. It is subject to seasonal rainfall.

It is said that the word “savannah” originated from an Amerindian word that was introduced to the West in a 1535 book

by Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés, a Spanish historian and writer.

Oviedo y Valdés wrote that the word was used to describe “land which is without trees

but with much grass either tall or short”. Later, “the term was used to describe the mixed trees and grass types of vegetation found in all tropical latitudes."

Savannahs can be found in areas such as Central Africa, America, and North and East South America.

Some types of savannah include oak savannah, equatorial savannah, tropical savannah and acacia savannah. A savannah is sometimes called “grasslands”.

Word Search

Please see solution on page 23

The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

ABEER

BONFIRE

FESTIVAL

GOOD OVER EVIL

TRIUMPH

WATER

COLOURS SPRING

22 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 12, 2017

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Sunday Times Magazine 23

Times World

The strangest France orders Saint Laurent to things banned remove ‘degrading’ posters around the world F

Actress Claire Danes

W

hat might be innocuous and acceptable in one country could well land you in deep trouble in another.

From playing Scrabble in Romania to jogging in Burundi, East Africa – some countries around the world have forbidden a variety of unusual activities and goods.

People across the globe have come together to share on Quora the unlikely things that have been banned in their own country or places they have visited over the years.

It's true that all manner of arguments can spring up during a heated game of word game Scrabble.

But Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu was so opposed to the game he banned it entirely in the 80s."He described it as "overly intellectual" and a "subversive evil".

Today the ban is no longer, and the country now has

a Scrabble Federation and hosts tournaments for players.

In the East African country of Burundi, you jog at your peril.

Saiteja G R V, from Vellore, India, shared: "Lying right across the infamous Rwanda, Burundi has a history of ethnic strife. During the prolonged period of turmoil that ended in the last decade, it was common practice for the citizens to go jogging together in groups, partly to have one another as protection from the militia.

"But in March 2014, Pierre Nkurunziza - the president of the country, banned jogging based on the argument that people use the activity as a cover to plan subversive activities."

In 1998, American actress Claire Danes made a grave error when she criticised the capital of the Philippines, Manila.

After referring to the city as 'a ghastly and weird city' which 'smelled of cockroaches', every film starring Ms Danes was eradicated and the star herself was denied any future entrance.

Danes went on to make an apology but councillor Kim Atienza, principal author of the resolution and a son of Manila's mayor, dismissed the statement as disingenuous. It's unclear if the ban was ever lifted.

Brain Teaser Answer 30 campers

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

rance’s advertising regulator has ordered fashion house Saint Laurent to remove posters of extremely thin models in “degrading” poses after an outcry over their appearance around Paris.

The campaign features a reclining woman in a fur coat and fishnet tights opening her legs and another of a model in a leotard and roller skate stilettos bending over a stool.

Stephane Martin, head of advertising regulator ARPP, told AFP Tuesday that his organization had received 120 complaints over the way the posters depicted women.

The authority bars all “degrading and humiliating” representations of people.

It has written to Saint Laurent asking them to “stop the use of these images, to withdraw them or to change them,” Martin said, explaining that a more detailed assessment of the campaign

People protest against the campaign in an Yves SaintLaurent shop in Paris on Tuesday.

(Photograph: Jacques Demarthon/AFP/Getty)

would be made Friday.

Britain’s advertising watchdog banned a Saint Laurent advert two years ago that featured an overly thin model whose ribcage was showing.

The latest campaign was created in-house by Saint Laurent, which is under

new young Belgian designer Anthony Vaccarello whose debut collection featured a dress that exposes one breast.

Saint Laurent has declined to comment. Ironically, the label made its name by putting women in men’s tuxedos, a gesture that chimed with the rising feminist wave

of the 1970s.

The poster campaign “ticks all the sexist boxes. The women are objectified, hypersexualized and put in submissive positions,” Raphaelle RemyLeleu from French women’s group Osez le feminisme (Dare to be Feminist), told AFP.

24

Sunday Times Magazine

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MARCH 12, 2017

Fun Times

Archie

Look over your personal papers. Take care of details (March 21that could affect your tax April 19) return or a medical matter that crops up. Visit someone who could use a pep talk.

ARIES

A surprise will make TAURUS someone happy. Sharing your (April 20- thoughts and plans will be May 20) met with positive feedback.

Commitment will result in greater personal and financial stability and security.

Social activities will leave GEMINI you feeling uncertain and (May 21questioning a friend, loved June 20) one or child. It’s best to clear the air rather than jump to conclusions and make a fuss.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Relationships are best dealt with openly and honestly. If you want something, ask for it, and if you are in doubt, say so.

Communication is the best way to reverse uncertainty.

Listen carefully when discussing concerns with a friend or relative. Before you proceed, understand the consequences that could develop if you get involved in a joint venture.

Do whatever it takes to counter someone trying to derail your plans. Trust in yourself and your skills to see matters through to completion. Don’t back down or give in to bullying.

LIBRA Keep your thoughts and (Sept. 23- emotions to yourself. Don’t let Oct. 23) anyone goad you into a debate that will leave you in an awkward position. When in doubt, stand still and say little.

Peanuts

Express your thoughts, feelSCORPIO (Oct. 24- ings and plans to someone you Nov. 22) want to team up with personally or professionally in order to make headway. Collaboration will lead to creative solutions.

Don’t let anyone pull you SAGITTARIUS into a discussion that will in(Nov. 23fringe on your privacy or poDec. 21) sition. Opt to mediate rather than comment and you will avoid being put in a compromising position.

Calvin and Hobbes

Personal paperwork, fiCAPRICORN nancial investments and (Dec. 22- health and legal matters Jan. 19) should be looked over and reviewed in light of pending changes. Staying on top of personal affairs will promote positive returns Emotional disillusionAQUARIUS ment will surface if someone (Jan. 20- isn’t forthright about the Feb. 19) way he or she feels. Ask direct questions and make decisions based on facts, not assumptions.

You can persuade others PISCES (Feb. 20- to see things your way. Don’t Mar. 20) worry about anyone with lofty ideas who opposes your plans. Stick to facts and action in order to come out on top.