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

Issue No. 3164

Sunday, March 26, 2017

PRICE

Plummeting economy

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Leonora residents complain of financial hardships Page 7

…unburden sufferings to Opposition Leader

Wife shot, husband DDL records $296M beaten during after-tax profit home invasion Page 11

Page 8

$120 vat included

Page 3

PSC meets P14 British High Commissioner

Doctors’ benefits yanked

Gratuity to P16 pension switch a backward step – former Health Minister …will send doctors into welcoming arms of Caribbean, US

File on death of 4-year-old for DPP on Monday

P18

– company preparing for oil production benefits

Essequibians remember Janet Jagan at wreathlaying ceremony P11

In this composite photo, models showcase their saris as wife of the High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Anu Mahalingam, showcased her sari-draping skills. The High Commissioner’s wife effortlessly draping the sari on a model, much to the amazement of the crowd at the Sari Draping Demonstrations and Exhibition hosted by the High Commission of India.The Exhibition was held at Kalyan’s Mall on Lamaha Street, Georgetown (Dexter Ceres photo) See story on Page 10

President urges Lindeners to lead by example … as trade fair and expo opens

Telephone giants at loggerheads Page 9

… as GTT calls for audit into Digicel’s ‘illegal’ bypass with Suriname

Judiciary P18 being pressured to favour Govt – Nandlall

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SUnDAY, march 26, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

NEWS

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, March 26 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Monday, March 27 – a night retraction at 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, March 26 – 15:30h-17:00h and Monday, March 27 – 16:00h-17:30h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Light to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, with sunny weather in the later afternoon. Clear to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to Easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tides: 03:27h and 15:45h reaching maximum heights of 2.60 metres and 2.70 metres respectively.

Low Tides: 09:20h and 21:40h reaching minimum heights of 0.59 metre and 0.48 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

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FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 04 13 14 18

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LUCKY 3 7 5 5

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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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SunDAY, march 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

DDL records $296M after-tax profit – company preparing for oil production benefits

T

he Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Group has raked in some $296 million taxed profits for the 2016 financial year.

According to Chairman Komal Samaroo in the company’s 2016 Annual Report, the Group’s profit for the year before taxation was $2.920 billion, compared to $2.797 billion in 2015, thus reflecting an increase of $123 million, or almost 4.4 per cent. The after-tax profit was recorded at $2.191 billion, compared to $1.895 billion earned in 2015, representing a 16 per cent increase in profit.

The Chairman noted that an Interim Dividend of $0.16 per share was paid in December 2016. The Directors, he continued, have recommended a Final Dividend of $0.47 per share, which, if approved by members at the upcoming General Meeting set for April 7, would result in a total of $0.63 per share being paid for the year 2016.

As it relates to the group’s subsidiaries, Distribution Services Limited (DSL) recorded a profit before tax of $358 million in 2016, as against $313 million in 2015. However, this increased profitability escaped the Demerara Shipping Company Limited (DSCL), which raked in a profit of $102 million in 2016, compared with $146 million in 2015. This decline, Samaroo explained, was as a result of the reduced volume of cargo handled by the lines represented by the shipping company.

The profitability trend completely evaded Tropical Orchard Products Co Ltd (TOPCO), which experienced a loss of $16 million last year, whereas it had recorded a $20 million profit the previous year.

“This was due primarily to the loss of the school feeding programme contract (which had already been awarded to an overseas company), a matter which TOPCO successfully contested at the Bids Protest Committee…TOPCO had to write off inventory totalling $21.2 million in packaging material and finished product,” the Chairman explained.

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo

He explained that the performance of the Group’s overseas subsidiaries had nevertheless made up for these losses by contributing $185 million in profit before taxation for 2016, compared with $172 million recorded in the previous year. The Demerara Distillers St Kitts Ltd recorded a profit of $25 million, Demerara Distillers USA Inc. recorded $41 million profit, Demerara Rum Company Ltd recorded $31 million profit, and the subsidiary in Europe recorded a profit of $88 million.

According to the Chairman, notwithstanding the Group’s complete withdrawal from the commodity bulk rum market in 2016 and the consequent absence of any sales in that segment for the year, the Group’s overall revenue for 2016 increased, though marginally, over 2015 by $89 million, or 0.5 per cent.

He added that increased sales from branded products and high-value bulk rum fully compensated for the sales foregone from the unprofitable commodity bulk rum segment, and noted that if the previous year’s revenue from the latter segment is omitted from the comparative results, the Group’s revenue would have increased by almost five per cent.

Samaroo said the revenue garnered from international sales of branded and high-value bulk rum increased in 2016 by 9.5 per cent over what had been garnered the previous year, while domestic revenue also increased in 2016 by 2.5 per

cent over what had been garnered in 2015.

The DDL Chairman boasted about his company’s El Dorado brand, which continues to win accolades on the international market, once again being named in the ‘Top 10 Best Selling Rum Brands’ and the ‘Top 10 Trending Rum Brands’.

He noted that the introduction of the Diamond Reserve brand in the regional and international markets in April last year was well received, adding that the company would continue to carefully promote and reinforce its market position in the value segment until it carves its niche in the rum market.

Samaroo asserted that the launch of the ultra-premium limited edition – the 50-Year-Old Rum – strengthened the positioning of the El Dorado Rum in the high end of the market. Additionally, in the latter part of 2016, the company launched the limited El Dorado Rum Creme Liqueur in Butter Pecan, and successfully launched the Diamond Splash Cranberry Water and Soca Ginger Ale. Going forward, the Chairman outlined, uncertainty in the global business environment presents a major challenge, which is compounded by intensified regulatory pressures locally. He nevertheless noted that the Group stands both well pre-

pared and positioned to expand the global footprint of its rum brands, and continue its growth in this vital segment of its business.

Samaroo said Guyana’s economic outlook has been improved with the announcement of significant petro-carbon deposits offshore. To this end, the DDL Group would be expanding its several businesses to take full advantage of the opportunities that may arise from improvement in the domestic economy.

“Notwithstanding the predicted uncertainties ahead, the Group remains well poised for continued growth as well as revenue and profitability expansion in the foreseeable future,” the Chairman noted. He noted, too, that presentation of the 2017 National Budget last year was welcomed, adding that such a move allows for more effective and improved business planning for the year.

In this regard, he expressed hope that such a move to make the national economic environment more predictable, which is important to attract more investments, will be followed by an equally timely National Development Strategy and/ or a National Development Plan, so that companies can align their business strategies with national policies.

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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

Growth, but no development

A

fter its latest annual visit to check our economic pulse, an IMF team declared that our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 3.3 per cent last year, and will get to 3.5 per cent this year. The Government, not surprisingly, seized upon this announcement to claim their economic policies have been vindicated; but those ordinary citizens who bother to read the fine print below the headlines trumpeting of “growth” must be scratching their heads about what the fuss is all about.

The full announcement, after all, was that while total real GDP increased as above, there was “a contraction in nonmining GDP”. In effect, what the IMF confirmed was that gold production was the sole generator of its “growth” metric, while the rest of the economy actually contracted. And herein lies the cause of the disjunction between APNU/AFC’s euphoria and the people’s gloom.

By disingenuously refusing to disaggregate the IMF’s “good news”, the Government is refusing to face the reality that the economy – led by manufacturing, rice, sugar and retain – is actually imploding. But even the increase in the production of gold, the Government should admit, was almost totally driven by the two large-scale producers, Guyana Goldfields and Troy Resources, which finally came on stream to their optimum production. While the Government will collect its royalties, since these companies are foreign-owned, how much of the revenue will actually remain in Guyana?

Government’s reliance on gold production statistics to be complacent on our economic condition illustrates the dangers of the much-talked-about “resource curse”, which they and most commentators only connect with the coming “oil boom”.

Guyana already has experience with a large-scale gold producer “boosting” our GDP - the Canadian owned Omai. But what did that operation leave us with, but several gargantuan holes in the ground and one infamous cyanide spill from one of its tailings reservoirs? In a word, there was “growth”, but no “development”. And that is the clear and omnipresent danger posed by depending on mining operations -- whether liquid or solid -- to measure economic performance.

The major problem is that these mining operations do not automatically develop backwards and forward linkages with the rest of the economy: they literally parachute into the remote mining sites, employ some locals, extract the resource, and depart when that is depleted. For instance, Guyana Goldfields extracted 151,000 ounces of gold last year, which would have generated revenues of US$194 million – exceeding those of rice exports – but employed only 500 workers. Rice, on the other hand, supports over 20,000 farmers and 10,000 milling and support workers while retaining all of its foreign currency earnings within Guyana. Gold from the large foreign operators merely exports our wealth abroad to develop other countries.

For there to be development which is focused on improving the welfare of the people, rather than just the empty rhetoric of “growth”, the Government must recalibrate and reorient its economic thinking. It should desist from spending the royalties from gold to support its wasteful and profligate splurge on boondoggles such as the Jubilee Park and bread-and-circus activities, and place it in the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) it only talks about with reference to oil revenues. Is it not a national shame and disgrace that the people of our hinterland regions, from which the gold is extracted, continue to be the most poverty stricken in Guyana, just as they have been since the Europeans seized their country?

We should have a joint committee comprising Government and the Opposition to administer the SWF after it would have identified projects that would create employment and add value to goods that can be exported to bring in foreign currency. For instance, we have a small jewellery industry that can be boosted with strategic injections in the production and international marketing of items that incorporate our gold and precious and semi-precious stones that we presently generally sell as primary products. And this approach can be incorporated in other areas of the economy.

Models showcasing modern sari wear in support of the Sari Draping Demonstration and Exhibition, hosted by the High Commission of India on Saturday at Kalyan’s Mall on Lamaha Street, Georgetown

The PNC/APNU fear of Jagdeo

Dear Editor, Without a doubt, the greatest obstacle to an APNU/AFC re-election bid in 2020 is the man who now holds the strategic positions of Leader of the Opposition and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Mr Bharrat Jagdeo!

Now that the Guyana Court of Appeal has cleared the way for his re-election, the PNC/APNU fear of Jagdeo is justified; and for good reasons. That is why this ruling will soon be challenged in the nation’s highest court, the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Although the PPP/C has not made a decision as to who the presidential candidate will be, the thought of running against this political maestro must be nerve-racking for the coalition leadership.

For many years while in opposition, the APNU/AFC cleverly executed a long, sustained campaign of destroying the character and credibility of the People’s

Progressive Party by painting the Party and its leadership as corrupt and racist.

The questions remain: Was the PPP/C Administration corrupt?

And is the former President and now Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, a racist? Who else is more qualified to answer these questions than someone who had, for a long time, been a major critic of both the PPP/C and Bharrat Jagdeo?

You see, years ago, while living in New York, I was a known critic of the Jagdeo Administration, writing regular letters to the press demanding transparency and accountability. But back then I had allowed myself to be influenced by all the negative news coming out of Guyana from the independent press, and the daily criticism of the Jagdeo-led PPP government by Mark Benschop on his Internet radio, a medium popular among Guyanese in the diaspora.

Over the years since, I’ve tried to right a wrong and to recognise and support the PPP/C for good governance; for rescuing Guyana from economic disaster caused by the policies of the then Minister of Finance in the PNC Government, Carl Greenidge; and for improving the quality of life of every Guyanese, more so those living in opposition strongholds like Linden and Buxton, and our Amerindian brothers and sisters who have long been neglected by the PNC regime.

I had good reasons to justify my apologies to former President Bharrat Jagdeo for the harm I’ve caused to his credibility and character. For without knowing the facts, I had committed an injustice by judging him too harshly.

As a PPP/C Member of Parliament, I am living proof that the man holds no grudge, and is committed to work with anyone who genuinely holds the national interest at heart. Knowing Mr

Bharrat Jagdeo as I do now, the conditions under which he was able to transform a bankrupt Guyana into a thriving economy while dealing with an obstructionist, non-cooperative PNC parliamentary Opposition has strengthened my resolve and confidence in his leadership, his love of country, and his desire to improve the quality of life of all Guyanese, regardless of race or ethnicity.

And despite the many accusations made against him by his enemies, I can honestly and unequivocally say that Bharrat Jagdeo is not racist. The APNU/AFC will be convinced of this after the 2020 elections results are announced.

The attack on Jagdeo’s character is a deliberate, sustained effort to undermine the PPP by discrediting the Leader of the Party.

Sincerely, Harry Gill, MP (PPP/C)

Open, transparent and fair process Dear Editor, The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has noted recent articles in the media about the conduct of the recent elections for Councillors at its Annual General Meeting, held at Duke Lodge on March 16, 2017.

On behalf of its members, the past Presidents of the GCCI and its Council wish to make it categorically clear that the procedures

followed at its recent elections were open, transparent and fair, and were no different from the procedures followed at previous elections.

A new Council, representative of the wishes of the majority of those members who attended and participated in the elections of March 16, is now in place, and the new Council of the Chamber has pledged to ensure that the rules of the GCCI and procedures to be

followed in the conduct of all future elections of the Chamber are aligned.

The new GCCI Council is keen to continue robustly representing the interests of all members of the GCCI, and to strongly advocate for the social and economic development of Guyana. The GCCI will collaborate with other chambers of commerce, Private Sector organisations and stakeholders where common interests exist, but

will remain an independent body.

The GCCI has always been an advocate for the media, and the new Council of the Chamber hopes to continue its strong relationship with all media outlets in Guyana.

Regards, Sandi Bowen Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana is a Alarming new trend in Holi secular state

Dear Editor, I commend Sherlina Nageer and Chris Persaud on their letters to the editor under captions “Who gave an American missionary permission to preach in Georgetown schools” and “Roopnaraine should investigate matter of missionaries preaching in Georgetown schools” ; and "Missionary at Central High School" (Guyana Times, March 23).

I first learnt about this missionary when I encountered on YouTube a documentary against Hinduism titled “The truth about Hinduism”

by Pastor Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church. I viewed the said documentary and other videos of the Church’s works, and realised some of the preaching was actually held in several public schools in Georgetown.

I then made some comments, and issued a call on the authorities, particularly the Ministry of Education, on social network to look into the matter.

Editor, having viewed the documentary and other talks held at these public schools, I am of the conviction that this missionary’s objective

is to discredit and demonise Hinduism. The documentary presented a crude, vicious and disrespectful image of Hinduism. The producer of the documentary basically recorded the practices of a remote forest tribe in India and declared such practices to be Hindu Religion. The pastor then quoted biblical ideologies to demonstrate the so-called superiority of his faith. There was also a relentless attack on the Bhagavad Geeta.

I later learnt that after the uploading of the documentary on YouTube, it was removed within six days as a result of it reaching 65,000 viewers. The church has ordered thousands of DVDs of the said documentary to be distributed, particularly among Indians, who are their targets.

I call on every right thinking person to condemn this hate mission, and ask that the Ministries of Education and Social Cohesion look into this matter. Discipline all authorities who allow these people to enter public schools to discredit Hinduism. Guyana is a secular state.

Yours sincerely, Pt. C. Nandalall

Dear Editor, Holi 2017 had its dispute over dates in Guyana, which was really insignificant; whether it was the 12th or the 13th was irrelevant. New York celebrated Holi on the 12th, which fell on Sunday, and was convenient. Prior to the last two years, there were no issues in regard to the dates for Holi in Guyana. Other more important issues now take precedence over dates.

Holi, as we know it, is a pious and sacred festival created by the founding fathers of the Indian civilisation. These founders nurtured and preserved this tradition with high hopes and aspirations that one day their investments would pay rich dividends in the form of healthy, intelligent and cultured offsprings, creating an even more superior generation -- one whose people would augment and foster rich Indian values and beliefs, and in so doing would reach the highest human goal.

Their hopes and sacrifices have not materialised; instead, a new and lawless culture has emerged among sections of the Hindu population. This year, Holi celebrations were the most lawless, especially in Guyana.

Soca and chutney music, indecent dancing, vulgarity and alcohol etc. These took centre

Oh! What a tangled web we weave…

Dear Editor, The quote "Oh! What a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive" refers to how complicated life becomes when people start lying. It originally referred to a love triangle in the play “Marmion”, written by Sir Walter Scott.

The quote is often used to talk about the complex destructive effect that lying tends to have on life. When people start lying, they have to remember all the details of the lie rather than their true memory, in order to keep the lie going when others ask about it. The quote also refers to the fact that lying often has unforeseen consequences.

The quote is so characteristic of the notorious Georgetown Parking Meter Contract, which is just rid-

dled with inconsistencies, deception and concealment. First of all, the Town Clerk is yet to verify his claim that the previous Council had approved the project, and thus the reason why there is no reason for the present Council to do so.

Where is the report of the committee that examined the proposal and recommended it? Where is the agenda of the statutory meeting that it was tabled at? And where are the signed minutes of the approving statutory meeting?

The second question to be asked – if indeed there was such an approval – is: Why was it not acted upon during the life of the last Council?

Can the purported decision of the last Council be brought forward and implemented during the life of the new Council without the review and ratifi-

cation of the new Council?

Third: How could a contract signed by the Town Clerk on behalf of the City Council and the City of Georgetown be made into a classified document? This is not a private arrangement, but must be a public document for the citizens to examine.

And fourth: How could the Town Clerk and City Council even think it is possible to defy an order given by the Minister of Communities to suspend the contract, given that it is the very Minister of Communities who had allowed for the commencement of the parking meter arrangement when he signed and gazetted the requisite by-laws into effect?

Sincerely, Shanta Singh

stage. What has happened to our chowtal singing? Where has our melodious Holi songs, which arouse the feeling and spirit of Holi, gone? How about the beauty and art associated with Indian classical dancing?

During this year’s Holi, some people sang, danced and were merry; some looked on, while the hearts of cultured and noble people bled as they helplessly watched.

Many Hindus who fostered values that were passed down by their ancestors and took pride in their way of life had to leave the celebrations half way, not wanting their children to see such combined madness associated with Holi.

This was disrespectful to the founding fathers of our greet civilisation and to many cultured people.

This year, Minister within the Education Ministry, with responsibility for culture, Nicolette Henry, in her Holi presentation, called Holi “the festival of lights”. This is inexcusable and creates a bad impression in the minds of the Hindu masses. Afro-Guyanese are joining Holi celebration’s now more than ever, and are certainly welcome to join. We all belong to one human family.

Finally, corrective action needs to be taken, and this can only start with the Pandits

and Hindu leaders. What has happened to the Arya Samaj leaders? You take pride in being the learned/educators among the Hindus. What has happened to Sanaatan leaders? You no longer show your allegiance to Prahalad. You said Hoil signifies the triumph of good over evil. The evil behaviour has taken precedence over your sacred festival while you remain quiet. Wake up unconscious Hindus, the world is watching and preying on you. Do not let history repeat itself.

Sincerely, Anand Persaud

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Foundation

Maha Navaratri S

Anu Dev

alutations to Devi Saraswati, Who is pure white like Jasmine, with the coolness of Moon, brightness of Snow, and shines like the garland of Pearls; and Who is covered with pure white garments.

Whose hands are adorned with Veena (a stringed musical instrument) and the boon-giving staff; and Who is seated on pure white Lotus, Who is always adored

by Lord Brahma, Lord Acyuta (Lord Vishnu), Lord Shankara and other Devas.

O Goddess Saraswati, please protect me and remove my ignorance completely” -Saraswati Vandana Mantra On Tuesday, Hindus all over the world will begin fasting and offering prayers for Navaratri. And we observe Navaratri twice a year – once in the spring and again in the fall. Navaratri means ‘Nine Nights’. Nine nights when we worship God as female. As a Saraswati devotee, Navaratri is especially important to me. The nine nights are divided into

one of her four hands she holds prayer beads to represent spiritual knowledge, in another hand she holds a book to represent other knowledge, and in her other two hands she holds a Vina (a type of Sitar) to represent music and art. It is also unfortunate that in Guyana we do not stress the arts enough in the transmission and reception of knowledge.

Then there is Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and consort of Vishnu, the preserver. We need wealth for sustenance: Hindus make no bones about this. Poverty is the greatest challenge. But wealth doesn’t just mean money and a new Ferrari, not that these are scorned once one is not controlled by them; wealth also means good health and a wonderful family life, and that’s what Lakshmi represents.

Two of her hands hold lotuses to represent the pure immaterial gifts she bestows; and coins pour down from her other two hands to represent material wealth. She

Your children will give you what you seem to expect – micromanaging children has unintended (Continued from Saturday) consequences

BY DAVID M. ALLEN, MD

“Ya Kundendu Tusharahara Dhavala Ya Shubhra Vastravrita Ya Veena Varadanda Manditakara Ya Shveta Padmasana Ya Brahmachyuta Shankara Prabhritibihi Devaih Sada Pujita Sa Mam Pattu Saravatee Bhagavatee Nihshesha Jadyapaha groups of three – in which the Devi is worshipped in each of the three major (Maha) manifestations: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

It is trite – but unfortunately necessary in our multi-religious Guyana – to reiterate that in the Hindu tradition "God" is beyond human conceptions, and the best we can do is to use metaphors drawn from our own mundane experience. Thus, it is a tribute to our ancestors in faraway India, thousands of years ago, to recognise that the essential "energy" of all creation is "female". Hence the imperative Godesses.

Saraswati, the goddess who is worshipped for knowledge – both spiritual and for inspiration for music, art, and poetry – is the consort of Brahma (the creator).

In Hinduism, symbolism is often used to project the truth sought to be conveyed.

For example, Saraswati is dressed in white to represent the purity of the illumination that knowledge gives you. In

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accompanied Vishnu in each of his incarnations. She was the Sita to his Ram and the Rukmini to his Krishna.

Durga is probably the fiercest goddess; she represents the power of a woman to the fullest. Every aspect of her represents Shakti (power) – she rides a tiger (or a lion), and in her many hands she holds every conceivable weapon. Persons worship Durga for strength, determination and power. She is the counterpart of Shiva in the dissolution phase. Kali was born from the furrowed brow of Durga to defeat the demon Raktabjija who had threatened the gods. There are many people who worship Kali for power and strength. Kali represents untamed power. Hindus need to understand that knowledge and wealth can only be sustained on a foundation of power.

The Hindu goddesses are diverse, and represent qualities that we should all aspire to have.

Happy Navaratri!

o, without further ado, here’s a list of the common parenting errors created by this scenario.

By no means is it a complete one:

* If you constantly try to fix a child, the child will find different ways to keep being broken so you can continue in your efforts. * If you continually bail children out of their own messes, they will continue to make messes for you to bail them out of. * If you give your children money whenever they ask and almost never say no, they will continue to ask you for money, and may seem to develop problems supporting themselves when they grow up. * If you constantly try to mediate disputes between your children, they will continue to fight one another so you can continue to mediate. * If you blame yourself for your children’s failings, your children will blame you for their own woes. (In a perverse and ironic way, their problems are partly your doing. But it’s your guilt about your own behaviour that creates the problem, not your basic character or intrinsic worth). * If you repeatedly tear apart your child’s room looking for drugs when there is no evidence that he or she is using, just to make sure he or she is not using, the child is more likely to use drugs so you can find what you are looking for. * If you continuously help children with their homework instead of telling then to figure it out for themselves, they will continuously need your help. * If you keep making a huge deal about something your children do or say, they will keep repeating whatever it was so you can continue to obsess about it. * If you instantly replace any items lost by your child, your child will continue to lose things. * If you do nothing when your children disrespect you, or if you just whine and scream at them about it, they think you need them to be disrespectful, so they will continue to be. * If you look uncomfortable getting presents on holidays and birthdays, your children won’t give you any, or will give you thoughtless gifts. (If you then question them about it, they will get angry or passive aggressive, and may start giving you things, but looking as if they are only doing so because you asked, not because they care about you). * If you seem to get a kick out of a child’s misbehaviour, they will continue to misbehave, no matter what else you say about it. * If you set a low bar in your expectations for your child (academically, for example), they may meet the bar, but they will not exceed it. * If you compulsively pay more attention to your children's needs than you do to those of your spouse, they will make gallant efforts to regulate the amount of intimacy you have in your marriage by inserting themselves between the two of you.

Last – and this is perhaps the most pernicious of all – if you constantly give in to your children's demands out of guilt, but then get angry at them because they are too demanding, then they will fear for your mental stability.

In response, they will try to regulate your emotions like a thermostat: If you start to get too angry they will try to make you feel guilty, but if you start to feel too guilty, they will try to make you feel royally angry.

Key point: Whenever you try to stop doing any of these things after having done them for a long time, expect a negative reaction. Things will get worse before they get better. This is because you will be confusing your children.

They thought they had you all figured out, and suddenly you are not performing to their expectations. Therefore, their behaviour will get even worse in order to see if you really mean what you say and will continue to act in the new way. Their behaviour will, however, almost always eventually get better if you stay the course. (www.psychologytoday.com)

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sunDAY, MARCH 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Plummeting economy

Leonora residents complain of financial hardships …unburden sufferings to Opposition Leader

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eclining sales, piracy woes and a slowdown in the construction industry were among the issues raised by stall holders and residents at the Leonora Market, on the West Coast of Demerara, when Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, met with them on Saturday.

Jagdeo, in his capacity as People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, met with party activists in the area, and eventually departed on an impromptu walkabout through the nearby Leonora market.

This was most welcome by residents and vendors, who unburdened their problems to the former President and team, which included Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Irfaan Ali and Regional Chairman Julius Faeber.

According to Virendra Singh, the owner of two sand

Stalls

A vendor shares her concerns with the former President at the Leonora Market

A stallholder and the former President interact

trucks, his business was once a thriving and integral part of the construction industry.

But times have changed and Singh told Jagdeo that he has been forced to park them and turn to cash crops to in a bid to make ends meet.

Singh related that his daughter attends a nearby private school but the advent of 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on school fees, coupled with his crippled sand truck business, has caused him to contemplate removing her from the school.

“I selling lettuce now, planting a garden. I got children going to school. Look this girl going to Swami School,” Singh said, pointing to his daughter. “They charging VAT now (on private school education), I don’t know how I will able pay the VAT. I (am) selling to maintain the family. And I own the sand trucks and I have loan in the bank.”

“When you go for the sand, they say when the four lane done (they will) loose you early in the morning, they will loose you from six o’clock till nine o’clock, which (slows down) progress. A morning I had to get money to send this girl to school and she couldn’t go school because they hold me up.”

Only a few days ago, sand truck operators who traverse the East Bank Demerara highway, were hit with an abrupt decision to prohibit

But while vendors situated on the roadway complained of the slowdown in business, a sojourn deep into the market revealed that things were equally rough.

In fact, vendors within the market consistently complained of customers preferring to buy from vendors selling outside and close to the road.

The problem, according to the market vendors, is that some of them do not pay the market rental fees.

According to Samsundar (only name given), a vendor and father of three who sells fresh vegetables deep within the market to make ends meet, these vendors on the road absorb the little customers the visit the area.

According to Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) Chairman

A vendor at the back of the market who fears customers will have no reason to go probing for the best deal raised his concerns with the Opposition Leader

Jagdeo receiving a hug from a shopper

them from plying their trade along that corridor.

The sand truck operators are especially upset over the inadequate notice given to them in regard to this decision. When some truckers arrived at their usual area, in the vicinity of DSL Supermarket, they were greeted with “No parking for lorry” signs freshly painted on the sides of the road.

The sand truck operators formerly plied their trade on Lombard Street, but were removed by authorities to ease traffic. They were placed in front of a paint supplier on the East Bank Highway, but were subsequently removed to the opposite side of the road after the owner complained about dust particles getting into the paint. Now the operators have been re-

A stallholder at the Leonora Market

Several fish vendors at the Leonora Market

moved once again, much to their annoyance and frustration.

Piracy

Meanwhile, vendors who were selling fish spoke of other challenges such as reduced customers and even piracy.

One fish vendor who spoke to Guyana Times stated that business has, of recent, been very slow.

“Right now, for the short while business (is) real slow, because the people (that) buy from you (aren’t) getting enough money. See how the market deh right now?” She queried, pointing around the market. “The price (is) real low. When it cheaper, it more hard to sell. When it rise, (it’s easier). When it plenty, everybody got. I have five children and six grandchildren.”

Nadira (only name given), a 47-year-old vendor, has been selling fish for 15 years.

Her husband is the one who braves the rain, sun and turbulent tides off the coast in order to bring home the fish she then sells. She related that her business largely fluctuates. She also spoke about pirates attacking fishermen, including her cousin.

“Sometimes it goes good, sometimes it don’t go good. I hear the fuel gone up. Right now the fish is very cheap,” she said. “Pirates does take away them engine and so.

It never happened to him (husband), but other people.

Lately they (robbed) one of my cousin.”

Cash crops

Though products such as fertilisers seemed attain-

able, the prevailing problem for cash crop farmers was reduced sales. Chavita, a cash crop farmer, is directly affected by this. While greens are an essential part of any family budget, she stated that business has not been what it was before.

“We get we own farm, but we na plant really now, we buy. It is real hard times now. We aren’t getting sales right now. (I’ve been selling) a good while. But for now, it is really hard times to sell.”

Another cash crop farmer, when asked about sales, related that “sometimes it slow and sometimes, you know. Not every time you come out you get (customers) but for me, now, since the estate is not grinding it going good. But I’ve been a single parent for 16 years.”

Julius Faeber, the matter of persons selling at advantageous spots outside the market is subject of a court case, adding that he is optimistic that it would soon be resolved.

The Opposition Leader who took note of all the concerns raised by stallholders, at one point expressed concern that the economic woes may get even worse. He noted that the Government has its priorities in disarray and also chided the Government for its expenditure.

“And there is no attention being paid to those sorts of things. All day long (they’re) running after people and their taxes,” Jagdeo decried.

Region Three is well known for its rice and sugar cultivation. But since Government has taken the decision of closing down Wales Estate and moving some workers to Utivlugt, the PPP has warned about the potential social impact on the region. This impact had included a reduction in cash circulating.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released the preliminary findings of their report after a visit to Guyana from March 6 to 17 to hold discussions for the 2017 Article IV Consultation. In its report, IMF also warned about these effects.

8 news Wife shot, husband beaten during home invasion I SunDAY, MARCH 26, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

n the wee hours of Saturday morning, two gun-toting bandits invaded the home of newspaper distributor Sasenarine Ramsuchit at Lot 21 “CC” Eccles New Housing Scheme,

bag containing money and jewellery, and his son’s laptop and other electronic devices had been taken away.

The injured businessman related that he was heading out of his yard

East Bank Demerara.

They beat the 64-year-old businessman to his head, inflicting wounds that had to receive 10 stitches; and shot his wife, 58-year-old Joyce Lauren Ramsuchit, who had to be admitted a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

When the ordeal was finally over, the Ramsuchits had been robbed of a

to commence his daily distribution at about 03:30h when he was attacked by two armed men, who held him at gunpoint and ordered him back into the house. While in the house, the bandits ordered his wife and son into his bedroom, and instructed them to lie on the floor.

The men then demanded money and jewellery, but when he hesitated

to comply with their request, he was beaten to the head and other parts of his body whilst his son and wife looked on. During the ordeal, one of the men then placed a gun to his wife’s body and threatened that, if she did not hand over the money, he would shoot her. After some hesitation from the woman, the bandit discharged a round, hitting the woman to one of her legs.

The men then ransacked a wardrobe, where they came across a bag containing money and jewellery. This they took, along with his son’s laptop and other electronic devices, before escaping.

Ramsuchit believes that the men had been monitoring his movements over time, since they came at 03:30h, the exact time he would leave home on a daily basis. He also noted that the men emerged from behind his home, leaving him to believe that they had hidden themselves while they waited on him to exit the house.

Ramsuchit detailed that after the men had left, he alerted his neighbours to what had happened, then attended to his injured wife, picking her up and taking her to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was admitted. The bullet that was lodged in the leg has been removed.

The Police were subsequently summoned, and an investigation has been launched. No arrests have as yet been made.

Interchangeable…

B

…growth?

ack when your Eyewitness was in short pants, he used to lap up the comics, even the DC ones that didn’t have the snappy banter of Marvel’s heroes like Spidey, which verily were balm to his soul. Anyhow, there was this Cube-shaped planet with the anti-hero Bizzaro, where everything was the reverse of what it was on earth. Reading the IMF report on Guyana’s economy precipitated a panic attack in your Eyewitness when he thought he’d been transported to Bizzaro World. (Actually “htraE” - “Earth” spelled backwards!!)

The Guyanese economy GREW?? What the ****!

The IMF accountant types whom they send down to arm-pit type economies like ours are obviously coming from an alternate universe. So what the heck is going on? Well, first and foremost, it is now accepted, after the world’s most developed economies crashed in 2008, that economists don’t really know their asses from their elbows. Really.

Why? Well after EVERY prediction they’d made turned out to be false - not to mention none of them had predicted the crash - folks started examining their tortuously-phrased theories, and found out that, in every theory, their premises were so unrealistic they might as well be living on htraE! Like assuming that people make “rational” decisions!! And if you start with false premises, of course your conclusions will be ridiculously off base.

Like the Utopia they posit will be created under the “Pareto optimum”!!

So, back to the growth report of the IMF mandarins.

Basically, they take as their premise that the whole economy is interconnected; so if - as in Guyana - gold alone is doing well, the entire economy is doing well, since it is “GROWING!! In primary school we learnt about the “Fallacy of Composition” - which arises when one infers that something is true of the whole from the fact that it is true of some part of the whole. But it’s clear in the IMF Bizzaro World that they don’t send their economists to primary school; they start in graduate school, where they are handed their PhD’s for finger painting!

But even they were forced to note that every other sector or subsector was tanking. Bauxite shrunk, rice shrunk, in production and price sugar shrunk, forestry shrunk, commerce shrunk etc. But YET THE ECONOMY GREW!! The only thing that grew, apart from gold -which grew by foreign companies squirreling their money abroad -- were the salaries of the Cabinet!! Did any of those gold producers share their wealth with all the others that employ 90% of our working stiffs?

Maybe on htraE, but not on planet Earth!! Here it’s pure sufferation, not growth.

…of sugar workers

Nothing signalled this administration’s view of sugar workers more than its insistence that the newly-created redundant cane-planters at Enmore should start cutting cane!! We all knew the Minister of Agriculture has never set his foot in a cane field to witness any one of the myriad tasks its takes to get the crop to the factory. But even from a purely theoretical basis, he should know that sticking 16’ pieces of cane stalks in the ground needs a totally different skill-set than harvesting cane.

He’s certainly old enough to remember that Burnham made the same mistake when he assumed sugar workers were simply picnicking at the back-dam and anyone could do their work. Determined to break the 1976 sugar workers strike for union recognition, he sent the army and GNS to cut cane.

Holder should remember how many of them ran from the cane fields like Africanised bees were attacking them!!

Sorry Holder, while sugar workers may all look alike to you, they do need different skill sets to plant, manure, cut and transport cane!

…walls?

Seems like all-expenses-paid foreign trips guarantee Govt business. After Minister of Housing was flown to Poland, seems we’ll be buying wall materials from the builder.

So what if Guyana’s short of foreign currency and we have our local wood coming out of our kazoos??!!

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

NEWS

9

SunDAY, MARCH 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Telephone giants at loggerheads … as GTT calls for audit into Digicel’s ‘illegal’ bypass with Suriname

G

uyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) has called for an independent audit into Digicel Guyana Inc unlicensed trans-border link between Guyana and Suriname that has been active for more than five years.

This call was made as the telephone giant and other agencies support to a fair and competitive telecoms landscape. GTT believes that the time has come for this matter to be investigated and brought to light – one that can finally provide transparency to the Guyanese public.

The telephone company in a release stated that there is no ambiguity about this bypass activity – in fact, it claimed that it is a demonstration of remarkable arrogance and dis-

regard for rule of law in Guyana.

Only recently, Digicel reportedly indicated to the PUC that its bypass operation was not appropriate for the discussion at hand but did not deny any aspect of the operation.

GTT is also of the view that the ‘illegal’ bypass is causing significant harm to Guyana, financially.

“With liberalisation on the horizon, the practice of equity and transparent conduct of all players is of paramount importance. It is essential that both the public and our leaders have

the complete details about Digicel’s bypass operations, and that they understand the full consequences of the company’s actions, which are illegal and in direct violation of their licence,” the

tax payments on the revenue generated by the ‘illegal’ bypass operations.

This, it stated will determine whether or not the company has failed to pay some US$30 million to the Guyana Treasury for the past five years.

Apart from the loss of taxes, valuable spectrum is being used by Digicel Guyana. “We all have a right to know whether this spectrum has, in fact, been

termine whether GTT promotions are anti-competitive, as claimed by Digicel Guyana.

As a result of that hearing, it has since been determined that an assessment of the services will be conducted.

This is according to Chairman of the PUC, Justice Prem Persaud. The promotion in question is the “GET MORE PAY LESS” promotion. According to

stolen by Digicel,” the release stated.

Only last Tuesday, the PUC held a hearing to de-

Persaud, it was Digicel’s contention that it could not compete with GTT because of the rates.

GTT CEO Justin Nedd

company said in a release to the media.

It is based on the aforementioned occurrences; GTT has called for the audit but more importantly, over a period of time and more recently, it was assured that the matter was drawing the attention of the local regulatory authorities.

In addition, by conducting this audit, GTT is of the belief that Guyanese will know the complete details of the alleged unauthorised cross-border link.

It is also contending that since assuming office, the Government has pursued a number of audits to bring clarity to various aspects of our economy.

Given the financial sig-

nificance of an illegal bypass operation, it would certainly seem appropriate for a similar audit to take place with regards to the illegal bypass, the statement added.

Meanwhile, GTT is also calling for Digicel Guyana to release documentation to show where it has made

10 news

sunDAY, MARCH 26, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Models take over Kalyan’s Mall sari draping exhibition S

cores of persons graced the top floor of Kalyan’s Mall on Lamaha Street, Georgetown, attired in extravagant Indian wear on Saturday afternoon in support of Sari draping demonstrations and exhibition hosted by the High Commission of India.

The programme commenced with welcoming remarks by Master of Ceremonies, Narda Mohammed, followed by the lighting of a ceremonial lamp.

A well-choreographed dance piece was performed by students of the Indian

The test

S Model Ramona Luthi walks across the floor exhibiting the traditional wear of the sari to the audiance

Some of the dancers at the exhibition

Cultural Centre while Dancing Delights did not fail to appease the audience, gracing the stage with a traditional segment.

High Commissioner of India to Guyana, V e n k a t a c h a l a m Mahalingam in his address to the gathering expressed his satisfaction in witnessing the demonstration ceremony finally come to life, since it has been in

the programme of the High Commission for over two years.

He gave a short history of the ancient Sari wear, noting that it is “one of the world’s oldest and perhaps the only surviving unstitched garment from the past”, which overtime became a sensuous and glamorous attire for women. turn to page 18

atiricus was very relieved. The truth be told, Satiricus was a fella who didn’t like conflict. In his own words, he preferred to see the cup “half full”.

He’d gotten more than a tad tense over the standoff on picking the next Elections Chief. He’d become quite animated as the gyaaf at the Back Street Bar veered to matters political.

“Fellas!! Isn’t it great Pressie made it easy for Jagdesh to suggest a new Elections Chief?” Satiricus enthused.

“Easy?” Hari looked carefully at his friend. “You think so?”

“Sure!” Satiricus smiled. “Now Jagdesh don’t have to guess about who is NOT ‘acceptable’ to him.”

“Le’ abee hear again who Pressie t’ink guh mek wan good Election Chief?” Bungi asked as he sipped his beer.

Satiricus read from the newspaper in front of him, “The person must not be an activist of any form (gender, racial, religious, etc); the person must have no political affiliation; and the person should have the general characteristics of honesty, integrity, faithfulness, and diligence.”

“Suh Mudda T’eresa na guh wuk, right?” Bungi asked, and then answered himself. “She bin a wan religious activist!”

“How about somebody like Martin Luther King?” suggested Hari as Satiricus nodded in agreement. “He was a fair guy.”

“Naah!” disagreed Bungi. “Pressie guh seh he bin ‘racial’ “ “What about Gandhi?” continued Hari, as he looked at Satiricus. “He was a man of honesty, integrity, faithfulness, and diligence.”

“Budday!! He bin deh wid Congress agains’ de British!” countered Bungi. “Political affiliation!!”

“I think Mandela might be acceptable,” Hari said, as Satiricus started squirming in his seat. “When he was in jail.”

“Naah, Pressie guh reject he,” Bungi countered. “E bin use to smuggle out message from jail. ‘E na bin hanest!”

“I have the man Jagdesh should nominate, and he’s right from Guyana,” said Hari triumphantly. “Roy Stone King!”

“Yuh right!” said Bungi as he slapped the table. ”‘E gat all dem quality! Da mek dem na fyah am!!”

“OK fellas,” said Satiricus resignedly. “I get the message.”

news

11

SunDAY, march 26, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Essequibians remember Janet Jagan at wreathlaying ceremony

F

ormer President of Guyana and founder/ leader of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), Janet Jagan, was remembered at a moving wreath-laying ceremony organised by the Women's Progressive Organisation (WPO) in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), and held on Friday evening at the Cheddi Jagan Children's Park at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast.

Planned to coincide with the 8th death anniversary of Guyana’s first female President, the wreath-laying ceremony attracted the attendance of many. Speaking to supporters of the PPP, Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt reflected on the late leader’s legacy, declaring that Mrs Janet Jagan had left a legacy as a dedicated wife which all Guyanese women should follow.

"Janet Jagan endured a lot of struggle alongside Cheddi Jagan. She was a great woman, a great example of how women should be. She stood beside him throughout the trials and tribulations," Ramdatt said.

The Regional Chairman said the freedom that women presently enjoy is as a

Members of the WPO and the PPP pose next to the monument in honour of the late Janet Jagan at the Cheddi Jagan Children’s Park at Anna Regina

result of the work of the late Janet Jagan. He called on Essequibians not to forget the past and what had happened decades ago. At this time, when the economy is struggling, Ramdatt said, the struggles of the Jagans should be emulated and adopted for a better Guyana.

In the book The West on Trial, it was stated that Cheddi Jagan fell in love with Janet at first sight.

After the late Cheddi and Janet Jagan had been married, the two worked together to form many organisations and unions that were dedicated to the betterment of all Guyanese. The late Janet Jagan dedicated her efforts to improving the

lives of everyone, including rice farmers.

Janet Jagan was said to be one of the world's 16 most rebellious women because of her struggle for democracy.

Poems, reflections of the great leader, and songs all complemented the wreath-laying ceremony. Wreaths were laid at the monument by representatives of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) and well-wishers. (Indrawattie Natram)

12 news

SunDAY, MARCH 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Nandlall to sue AG over “stolen” law books allegation

F

ormer Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has indicated that he would be taking the incumbent office holder, Basil Williams, to court over allegations he has made that Nandlall had stolen a series of Commonwealth Law Books from the State.

And Attorney General Basil Williams told reporters on Friday that charges are looming against Nandlall, who had previously accused the AG of victimisation for criticizing his performance. However, Williams has posited that whether or not his predecessor is critiquing his work as AG, Nandlall will have to face criminal charges nonetheless.

Opposition MP Anil Nandlall

“He (would) say that because he is attacking me, that I’m retaliating,” the Attorney General noted, while adding: “Mr Nandlall has stolen Government property and he will be

charged, whether he attacks me now or never!”

Responding to this statement, Nandlall declared at a press conference on Saturday that he has gone too long ignoring the utterances of the Attorney General, and will take legal action against him. “In the very near future, I’m going to sue him for libel for that very statement he has made, and I’ll put a rest to that matter once and for all. I was ignoring him because I knew, as a lawyer, that (his) contention (has) no substance at all, and that’s why I never really bothered with his repeated statements on this issue,” the former AG announced.

Last year, Minister Williams announced that

the books, worth $2.5 million, were missing, and he subsequently launched an audit after sending home the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Indira Anandjit.

During the probe, former President Donald Ramotar had written Auditor General Deodat Sharma, informing him that as part of his employment contract, an arrangement had been made with Nandlall for the state to pay for the continuous subscription of the books while he was in office.

Nandlall was subscribing to the programme years prior, and even to date.

In fact, the former Legal Affairs Minister disclosed at Saturday’s press conference that during the transition process following the 2015 Elections, he had informed Williams of the arrangement with the State, to which the AG had reportedly responded by saying he wished that he, too, had had a subscription, so that the State could pay for it as well.

Nandlall said the issue of the “missing books” was raised months later, after he had begun criticising Williams’s work. “He said to me in the National Assembly one day that unless I stopped my public criticism of him, he would make this allegation about missing law books, and I said to him, ‘Go ahead’. The law books are now missing, I have them…

“He keeps making this

Attorney General Basil Williams

scandalous allegation because that is all he can say as a response to me doing my job, which is to scrutinise his functions. That is my parliamentary job and my political mandate,” the Opposition MP stated.

Nandlall opined that if he were to stop criticising Williams, talks of the charges in relation to the law books would disappear.

However, he noted that this is something he refuses to do.

Moreover, Nandlall outlined that the special audit that was launched by Williams did not find any wrongdoing, and so he was vindicated of any crime. He said his disclosure of the AG’s actions in court on Thursday -- when Williams had reportedly threatened a sitting judge, causing the judge to walk off the bench -- was the impetus to drive talks of charges being filed against him.

“We have informed the international community that democracy (in Guyana) is under threat; that if a person is critical of the Government or critical of a Minister, then he exposes himself to trumped up criminal charges and persecution,” Nandlall disclosed.

According to Nandlall, this most recent utterance by the AG -- of charges to be filed against Nandlall -coupled with similar pronouncements made by Public Security Ministry Khemraj Ramjattan ahead of the arrests of several former prominent Government officials by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) earlier this month, reflects a larger picture of Government’s policy in relation to the Opposition.

To this end, the former Attorney General has outlined that any charges brought against him would be politically influenced, and would also be challenged on the grounds that the AG is using the State apparatus to persecute political opponents.

According to Nandlall, this move by the AG is improper and unlawful, and is another expression of political contamination of the legal system and criminal process to stifle democracy and to paralyze the Opposition from discharging its mandate as an effective Opposition, scrutinising and criticising Government’s conduct.

news

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SunDAY, MARCH 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

The Indian Guyanese aesthetic

By Ryhaan Shah

G

“

anga Ship 1917: The Long Journey” is a visual arts exhibition that celebrates the Indian Guyanese aesthetic on this historic centenary of the abolition of the indentureship programme, and is named for the last ship, the SS Ganges, which brought indentured labourers to Guyana and Trinidad.

The exhibition will be held at the National Library, Georgetown starting Tuesday, March 28th, and is sponsored Ryhaan Shah by the Arts Forum and GIIAA (Guyana Indian Indentureship Abolition Association).

It celebrates the aesthetic and creative sensibility which survived the long journey to Guyana and has become part of the cultural weave of our plural society.

The domes and minarets of mosques and mandirs; the Indian drums and the Muslim call to prayer; the jandi flags and the smells and taste of Indian cuisine; the intricacy of filigree jewellery, and the bright rose pinks, saffrons and golds of Indian dresses are all part of the local scene, and are all Guyanese to the core.

There has been some evolution due to Western influences, but the traditional sensibility towards colour, form and pattern has been retained by the descendants of the first arrivals, and continues to provide a good measure of authenticity to Indian Guyanese artistry and design.

In India, art is not restricted to gallery exhibits, but stretches to other forms, like pottery, home decorations, ornaments, fabrics and jewellery. This living art is ever present in saris and tunic designs, in henna paintings and home decor through rangoli creations and sequinned wall hangings, and in the festivities of weddings and other celebrations.

Art is intrinsic to India’s cultural identity, and this heritage is readily embraced by Indian Guyanese through an aesthetic that is shaped from diverse communities since our fore-parents arrived here from various Indian regions with their respective customs and traditions.

They came from southern India through the port of Madras; and from the north east, from the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, through the port of Calcutta; and even from their first step into the immigration depot, they had to put aside caste and other differences and bond together in jahaji groups, a shipboard bond that was unifying and which helped them survive life in a new world.

Retaining their beliefs and culture was a major part of that survival, and this initial fusing of various Indian strands has created a distinct artistry that is recognised as Indian Guyanese expression.

Because it embodies the majestic classicism of the Taj Mahal and the vibrancy of folk art, the body of work created by artists from this community brings a unique perspective to the nation’s collection of creative design.

One of the exhibition’s participating artists, Betsy Karim, has constructed installation costumes that pay homage to the Hindu gods Ganesha, Shiva and Durga, working with her signature beaded and sequinned designs on fabric. These pieces will be displayed by live models at the exhibition’s formal opening on March 28th at 5pm.

Darshani Kistama, an emerging artist, also works with fabrics, and will be showing one of her Rajput sari designs along with more traditional works on canvas done in acrylic and water colour.

Two other newcomers whose pieces will be showcased for the first time in an art exhibition are Brian Tamkund and Ramroop Mahase; and other more recognised artists participating will be Michael Khan, Philbert Gajadhar, and Bernadette Persaud, whose works have won national and regional acclaim.

In Guyana, artistic expression by way of fine art – as opposed to street art – is not well valued or understood for its importance to national life. Such works go beyond photographic representations and can inspire discussion and pose thought-provoking ideas about the nation’s politics, society, and cultural life.

However, many businesses do not view support for the visual arts as a corporate responsibility, and many local artists are therefore dependent on governmental support, even when such funding can undermine the independence needed for the creation of good work that is untainted by propagandist and political bias.

Art is important to a nation’s collective consciousness. It begins where words leave off or even fail because of their structural and expressive limitations.

Art is limited only by the individual artist’s imagination, and for the Indian Guyanese artist who has both traditional forms, techniques and colours, and ideas from postmodern constructs to draw on, the possibilities are endless.

“Ganga Ship 1917: The Long Journey” offers a glimpse into this narrative of creative expression. The exhibition starts on March 28th and runs until Saturday, April 1st at the National Library.

There is no entrance fee, and everyone is invited to the formal opening at 5pm on Tuesday, March 28th.

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

High foreign exchange rate

Roraima Airways now accepting payments in G$ I n light of the recent unpredictability of the exchange rate for the US dollar, Roraima Airways has announced that it is accepting payment in Guyana dollars for airline tickets and related services at the exchange rate applicable and mutually agreed upon on the day of the transaction. This includes tickets bought for travel on Dynamic International Airways.

The company has also said that those travel agents who are remitting payments for tickets sold on Dynamic International Airways are encouraged to remit these payments in United States dollars, based on the fact that these agents might have access to United States dollars at competitive exchange rates. However, Roraima will accept remittances from travel agents in Guyana dollars at a mutually agreed exchange rate to the US dollar.

Further, Roraima Airways has said it notes the efforts of the Government of Guyana to stabilise the exchange rate, and will monitor the rate over the coming weeks with a view to determining whether the rate

needs to be adjusted.

“We have been in discussions with Dynamic, and the airline is committed to maintaining its competitive airfares of US$579, which

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) last week estimated that the real exchange rate, when available and used for the

are currently the lowest offered on the Guyana/New York route. The airline is also committed to working with the rates locally available,” Roraima’s Chief Executive Officer, Captain Gerry Gouveia, has disclosed.

Gouveia also pointed out that Dynamic remains fully committed to its investment in, and service to, Guyana; and will continue to contribute to various social development efforts, in keeping with its good corporate citizenship.

purchase of foreign exchange, is G$230 to US$1 for the replacement of imported inputs into the sectors.

The body said it has considered the issues affecting the manufacturing sector, including the reported deteriorating rate of the Guyana dollar and dire impacts it

will have on business and employment, and is accordingly encouraging all of its sectors to implement cost-cutting measures. The GMSA has noted that some entities have started to rationalise employment.

But Government quickly dismissed this claim, saying that the GMSA rates are far from reality. The Bank of Guyana (BoG) has said that the rate quoted by GMSA is not a uniform transaction rate, but is rather the online rate charged by one of the largest commercial banks in Guyana for its credit and debit card transactions, and it represents a very small share of the cambio market transactions.

Meanwhile, on Friday, following a meeting with bankers, Finance Minister Winston Jordon declared that the Administration has noted with concern that US dollar account holders are hoarding, and causing confusion by applying for transfers.

14 news

SunDAY, MARCH 26 | guyanatimesgy.com

PSC meets British High Commissioner Younge’s Take

Reshuffling the Cabinet

T

Members of the Private Sector, including Chairman Edward Boyer and British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn share a light photo moment

T

he Private Sector Commission met with British High Commissioner Greg Quinn, to discuss a number of matters which are of concern to the Private Sector.

During the meeting late last week, the PSC discussed among other things the chairmanship of the Guyana Elections Commission, governance issues, the possible impact of Brexit on

Guyana’s trade relationship with the United Kingdom and the sugar crisis.

The State Assets Recovery Bill and the operations of Special Organised Crime Unit were also discussed.

he performance of President David Granger’s A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change Government has thus far been disappointing, to say the least. From every standpoint, it appears as though he does not have full control of his Government, and is satisfied with the abysmal failure of his ministers in several areas, as is demonstrated by his silence whenever gross violations and corrupt practices are exposed in the media.

This is most unfortunate, given the fact that Mr Granger, since 2010, appeared positioned to be the kind of political leader who would cause a revolution in politics and deliver the Guyanese people from the Michael Younge bondage of ethnic divisions, corruption and vengeful politics.

He branded himself as a politician who believed in the principles of discipline, good governance, national unity and equality.

Mr Granger also committed himself to upholding the rule of law on countless occasions during his 2011 and 2015 elections’ campaigns. He said he wanted positive economic and social change for the Republic, explaining that only his coalition of parties knew what was lacking and what was necessary to remedy the problems that had paralyzed Guyana’s growth and development in many respects.

But after two years in office, President Granger is yet to confirm to any of the principles he boasted about on the campaign trail. For the most part, he appears to be a weak leader who is hiding behinds the gates of the Ministry of the Presidency, and his carefully orchestrated TV programmes and public appearances. He is also been viewed by the populace as a President who is performing the role of a traditional Head of State, and not an Executive actively managing the day-to-day affairs of the country so that the promises in the APNU/AFC’s elections manifesto could be realized.

In short, it is State Minister Joseph Harmon who appears to be doing the work and exerting more than enough influence over the Cabinet. He appears to be the person who is running the Government, calling the shots and advising the President what to do in many respects. Mr Harmon even appears to be more powerful than the coalition’s ‘paper’ Prime Minister.

The State Minister is also doing most of the damage control whenever he meets the media weekly to address the concerns which would have been dominating the public’s agenda as a result of ministerial incompetence, a lack of policy coordination, ineffective policy implementation, and poor performance.

The President, from his very few public utterances, is not concerned about the billions of dollars wasted and squandered on the D’Urban Park Project, or the millions of dollars being lost by the business community because his Minister of Finance is waiting for the economy to “right itself”. Mr Granger is not sympathetic to increased taxation of Guyana’s poor and vulnerable and the imposition of a tax on private education.

He is also demonstrating indifference to the plight of this country’s sugar workers and rice farmers because he continues to keep the incompetent Agriculture Minister Noel Holder in his cabinet.

Mr Granger is also unmoved by the public protestation against his Junior Education Minister, Nicolette Henry, and his boastful Attorney General Basil Williams. After years on the job, neither of the two can get it right. There are too many scandals surrounding them, and it has recently been alleged that Williams continues his distasteful behaviour by threatening a High Court Judge. Before that, Henry could not distinguish between Phagwah and Diwali.

The President is also deaf to the cries of the public about the inability of his Public Security Minister to understand the ineffectiveness of his 2:00am curfew and failed crime-fighting policies. It is beyond rational thinking, too, that the President, who has a fetish for commissions of inquiry headed by former military officials, could not see the need for one into the corruption taking place at the Ministry of Public Health in regard to its procurement of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.

While the coalition Government’s PR machinery is in overdrive as they seek to keep Mr Granger out of the limelight whenever these scandals erupt, the public will only lose more confidence in his leadership of the country. The truth is that they elected him directly and he is solely responsible for the failings of his Ministers. If they fail, he fails. If they perform well, he is performing well. He cannot disassociate himself from the actions of his cabinet. His hands are not clean. He is not ignorant of their shortcomings or incompetence. He simply refuses to act and refuses to make meaningful change within his cabinet and Government because he lacks the political masculinity and internal support from the die-hard PNC cabal to do so.

Mr Granger must create a new legacy for himself. He must cease allowing himself to be governed, and begin to govern. He must reshuffle his cabinet. Jordan, Williams, Lawrence, Bulkan, Ramjattan, Henry and Holder must go.

NEWS

15

SunDAY, MARCH 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

President urges Lindeners to lead by example ‌ as trade fair and expo opens

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resident David Granger has made a call for the Linden community to lead the way in the overall development of Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), as well as to leverage its status as a capital town. The President was at the time addressing officials and residents at the official opening of the Linden Trade and Investment Fair

Mackenzie, is slated to wrap up this evening. A wide range of sectors and businesses are on showcase, including areas such as local manufacturing, tourism, mining, construction, furniture and agro-processing, among others. According to coordinator Staydon Payne, the Linden Trade and Investment Fair has been formulated to be more investment oriented,

Students examining some locally made products at the Linden Trade and Investment Fair

on Friday. The collaborative effort between the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) and the Linden Chamber of Commerce was officially launched back in January, under the theme, "Linden – the gateway for investment and opportunities, a window to future development".

The three days of activities, hosted at the Egbert Benjamin Centre at

while exhibiting the potentials of local manufacturers and business people. In delivering the feature address, President Granger applauded the collaboration between the two organisations, while establishing his belief that the community's confidence will translate into production and economic growth.

The Head of State indicated that Linden is now a leader

in capital town investment and as such, must leverage its status as a capital town.

In like fashion, the President said the Upper Demerara Region must also leverage its strategic location.

"Linden can draw its strength from the resources of the whole region. The prospects for the development of business and commerce and industry in Linden are linked to the development of the rest of the region. Linden will develop faster. Its progress will take you further and you'll become richer, if it looks beyond the narrow boundaries of the town itself. Linden must lead, it must show the entire region the way forward; the way towards becoming a significant commercial and industrial centre. It must leverage its status as a capital town and as a strategic location with its stops not only of natural resources, but also of human, entrepreneurial resources," the President established. Emphasising that the region has several advantages and has the potential to be one of the most progressive regions, the Head of State pointed to the fact that Region 10 is also rich in agricultural lands which can contribute to food security. The rich, agricultural lands, he noted has attracted much interest and the time has come for the region to look towards

the creation of new products, as well as to add value to those products, using technology as a driving force.

"The time has come to add value and to create new products. This region needs to unlock its potential, unleash its energy. It needs to combine its abundant natural resources with its human talent and financial capital... I want to applaud the collaboration that exist between these two organisations, the Linden Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Linden Enterprise Network... This is important for us. It emphasises the importance of partnership aimed at invigorating investment in activating business and stimulating economic development.

It encourages capital towns...

We must adopt the model of positive economic development." The President also emphasised the important roles which the public and Private Sectors can play in such development and the

President Granger inspects a solar panel on display in one of the booths

importance of the collaboration between the two, in helping to overcome the challenges within the region, while pointing to its strategic location. He also highlighted the region's potential for eco-tourism while noting that Linden cannot develop in isolation from the rest of the region. Also pointing to a range of skilled persons which the region possess President Granger expressed the need to master information technology, not only to sell prod-

ucts but be informed about market demands. He encouraged Lindeners to learn the art of saving and to invest prudently, while tapping into advertising opportunities offered through local celebrities and the Diaspora, as a tool for marketing many of its local products. Also present at the event was Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, Regional Chairman Renis Morian and Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, among others.

16 news

SunDAY, MARCH 26, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Doctors’ benefits yanked

Gratuity to pension switch a backward step – former Health Minister … will send doctors into welcoming arms of Caribbean, US

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former Health Minister is describing the step taken by Government to move doctors from gratuity to pensionable establishments as a “retrograde” step that will only drive highly trained professionals to other, greener pastures.

According to Dr Bheri Ramsarran, former Health Minister under the People’s

Progressive Party (PPP) Government, the gratuity was intended to be an incentive to doctors after their years of study, sometimes half a decade.

He expressed worry that doctors will be de-incentivised and will move away to other jurisdictions such as Caribbean countries and even the United States, where their skill and talent

will be welcomed.

“It’s a retrograde step and most likely we will see an exodus of those professionals, a very costly slice of human resource of the country. They will simply leave when their contract is finished,” he said.

“What’s more, it’s not being implemented for people who just graduated. It’s even going back to persons who

Former Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsarran

graduated a few years (ago), but are still on Government contracts, predominantly from the Cuban/Guyana programme for training doctors.”

“So we have a significant portion of the health sector workforce which is now affected negatively, which is dissatisfied and which we might very well see leaving us as soon as they can.

They’re very welcome in the small islands and of course, North America. Some might even be preparing for that.”

He urged the Government to revert to the gratuity ar-

rangements, which allowed the doctors to get the money when they needed it.

Ramsarran stressed that the arrangement was aimed at attracting and retaining human resource.

“Who knows, you might find people not wanting to take up scholarships now, if they know they’re coming back to this type of (arrangement). You might very well have a dearth of applicants.

The retrograde step of forcing them back to the old establishment where they will get a pension at the end of their work lives is obviously, to anyone, dumb.”

According to the documents seen by Guyana Times, the changes apply to temporary workers and contract workers with a GS: 3 to GS: 14 salary scale. It is being done under the authority of the Public Service Commission.

Workers in these categories had until Friday last before it went into effect.

According to reports, there have been no public consultations with the affected doctors before the implementation of this policy.

During a press conference at freedom house

on Thursday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had flayed the Government for its clandestine move. He stated that by forcing doctors to accept the unpopular pension scheme, doctors who joined with expectations of gratuity will exit the public service as soon as their contract comes up renewal.

The former President noted that if this happens, a health sector already suffering from drug shortages will be hit even further by a shortage of personnel, including doctors and nurses.

While a pension is a contributory arrangement, gratuity is a sum of money paid at the end of a stipulated tenure of service or upon retirement. In most cases there is a prescribed formula for calculating gratuity, thus removing the onus of determining payments from the employer.

It is understood that doctors were eligible, upon satisfactory service being provided, for gratuity at a rate of 22.5 per cent of their basic salary, calculated on the basis of three months. However the doctor could have chosen to receive their gratuity at six months intervals.

17 File on death of 4-yearold for DPP on Monday A NEWS

SunDAY, MARCH 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Anna's

“Jordanomics”, or how to punish Amerindians Anna Correia

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veryone is good at something and the Coalition’s forte is the art of punishing the Guyanese people. Contractionary fiscal policies and austerity measures, unabashed corruption, ethnic and political discrimination, witch-hunting, disproportional tax increases, suppression of social welfare programmes and the accumulation of multibillion dollar loans all form part Anna Correia of the arsenal unleashed on Guyanese by the Coalition. The result includes the contraction of the economy by half, a growing trade deficit, the crumbling of traditional income earning sectors, thousands of job losses, the loss of local and foreign investors, a foreign currency crisis, the decay of the manufacturing sector, the increase in crime, the depreciation of local currency and a growing societal malaise.

The people who feel it the most are those in the countryside, in the Hinterland, where life was already rudimentary for modest and low-income families, especially in Amerindian villages. Now, as economic stagnation stifles the country, the situation has worsened for Hinterland inhabitants who depend as much on financial influx from transactions with coast-landers, as on local village economy. And as if this wasn’t enough to burden us, the increase in bureaucracy has also added to our lot of daily frustration.

Amerindians, especially in the Rupununi, are fed-up of the absurd exigencies imposed by the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry and other government agencies to handle basic administrative tasks. These include procedures for birth certificates, pensioners and other welfare entitlements. Even the authority Toshaos once held and which enabled them to uplift and deliver pension books to villagers, has been removed. The process now involves a government official travelling to Amerindian villages to deliver pension books. However, if pensioners are absent from the village centre to tend to other business such as farming (as is often the case), the pension books are returned to Georgetown.

Pensioners would then have to travel to the city to uplift same, regardless of the exorbitant travel expenses incurred. In the past pensioners could also, for logistical and financial reasons, collect their entitlements every quarter, as compared to the monthly procedure now imposed by the Government.

Perhaps if this bureaucracy was justified by efficient and enhanced State services, the people would complain less. However, even well-established programmes, such as the School Uniform Programme, are dysfunctional. Reports have confirmed that there are shortages in the amount of textile delivered to Hinterland Schools and that often, stocks do not match the requisite colours for school uniforms.

And this bureaucracy adds to the weight of business slowdown in Amerindian villages and Lethem. Popular businesses known to supply Amerindian villages and even the neighbouring Marudi mining district, are now reluctant to conduct hire-purchase transactions. A known chicken feed supplier from Lethem has seen the demand coming from Amerindian villages slashed by half, subsequently decreasing the frequency of transporting supplies to neighbouring Amerindian villages (a service which is generally gratuitous and serves as transportation for complimentary goods).

Even a Chinese businessman from Lethem has had to sell out his business and move.

But to top it all, the already depressing state of public health services in the Hinterland is about seen to take a turn for the worse, with the latest directives issued by the Finance Ministry’s “jordanomics”. Now, government contracted doctors are being stripped of their gratuity, vacation and duty-free benefits and have seen their “On-Call” allowances taxed by up to 40%. Doctors work long shifts and are under strain due to the shortage of drugs but also because hospitals suffer chronic understaffing and lack basic life-saving equipment, especially in Lethem. The salaries of doctors in Guyana are already lower than that of the regional average, including for specialists such as gynaecologists and surgeons.

Subsequently, the risk of suffering a haemorrhaging of trained doctors to other countries is real.

As a result, there is much talk about leaving the country at the end of their contracts and some doctors have already began to migrate to neighbouring countries such as Jamaica and Canada, while others prefer to invest in private practices. Aspiring young people might be dissuaded from engaging in medical studies to later serve their country, the quality of health care will degrade and our dependence on foreign professionals will increase.

Amerindians, already confronted with financial hardships and the shortage of drugs and trained medical professionals in the Hinterland, will be the first to suffer the consequences of the Coalition’s inhumane policies.

Contact sundayarrow@gmail.com

s investigations into the death of four-year-old Ramkarran Mohan – who was killed in a vehicular accident on March 14 last – continue, the Police declared on Saturday that the file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions on Monday for legal advice.

This child was killed while in the company of his elder brother and an uncle at Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, after being run over by a vehicle driven by a female driver who is reportedly the daughter of a top official of the Guyana Police Force.

This incident has sparked a public outcry, and a protest was held, calling for charges to be instituted against the errant driver. However, the Police, in a release, have said that while they have noted and respect the views expressed by those concerned in the media, the public is cautioned not to rush to conclusions, because investigations into a matter is not a ‘fly by night’ process.

Moreover, the Police say, consideration has to be taken into the circumstances of how the accident occurred prior to them submitting the file for advice.

Dead: Ramkarran Mohan

“We urge all concerned to be patient, as we assure that a professional approach into the matter has always been at the forefront”, the police noted in a release.

The child, of Lot 1088 Tuschen New

Housing Scheme, EBE, was returning home two Tuesdays ago, after he and others had gone to purchase a ball, when the accident occurred.

The child’s uncle related that he was standing at the corner of the road with each of the boys holding his hands waiting to cross when the silver Toyota Primo bearing registration number PVV 5084 struck Mohan. After hitting the child, the woman stopped the vehicle only after the boy’s uncle had run in front of the vehicle. The child was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital and later referred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The driver was on the same day released on $20,000 station bail after her father allegedly intervened. However, after a week had passed and she was not charged, relatives of the dead child, members of the community in which he had resided, and other persons took to the streets on Thursday last, calling on the Police to charge the woman.

Protesters believe that the Police are covering up for the driver. They note that if it were someone else, charges would have already been instituted.

18 News Judiciary being pressured to favour Govt – Nandlall O SunDAY, MARCH 26, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

pposition Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall has stated that Attorney General Basil Williams’s alleged threats against a High Court Judge, coupled with his recent history of attacks on the Judiciary, paint a picture that he (Williams) is of the view that the Judiciary must deliver rulings in favour of the Government.

At a press conference held on Saturday to further clarify what had transpired in the High Court on Thursday, Nandlall said it appears as though Williams is yet to get accustomed to being the Attorney General of Guyana, given the position he has taken regarding the Judiciary.

“Judges and the Judiciary have been ruling against the Government from time immemorial; that is indispensable indicia, an ingredient of democracy. The fact that the Attorney General has a problem with that establishes the point I want to make: he believes that the Judiciary should not rule against the Government. That demonstrates a mentality that the Judiciary must be compliant with the Government,” Nandlall stated.

He said the fact that the Attorney General holds such a view is by itself an indictment on him. “So when there is a ruling that is adverse to the state, (Williams) begins to abuse the judges and threaten the judges; because…his mind cannot process that as a possibility, or as a norm, or as a function of a democratic society. And therein lies the fundamental problem.

We have been in government for the past (23) years and we have had hundreds of rulings against us… That is the

norm… You don’t go around busing the judges and telling them, ‘The last person who ruled against me was found dead’,” the former Attorney General posited.

was found dead’,” Nandlall said in a statement detailing the events. He added that the Judge then walked off the bench without adjourning the matter.

in his usual style, as he was doing for the entire morning; and thereupon the Judge left the bench. My own view is that the Judge had intended to leave, I probably detained

According to reports, the High Court’s Justice Franklin Holder walked off the bench on Thursday following an exchange with Williams, during which the AG allegedly threatened him. Nandlall said in a previous statement that after three hours of futile and ineffective cross-examination, Williams became agitated and accused the Judge of not accurately recording an answer from the witness.

“The Judge took umbrage at the accusation, and an angry Williams, in a loud tone of voice, repeated the accusations. The Judge again admonished him about the accusation and about his tone of voice. Williams then blurted out loudly, ‘I will speak how I want and say what I want anywhere I want…

Furthermore, the last Magistrate who did that to me was later found dead… and I am saying so… that the last Magistrate who did this to me

However, at a press conference on Friday, Williams denied the allegation, saying that it was Nandlall who had caused the Judge to abruptly leave the courtroom.

According to Williams, he “saw the judge was about to leave, and so I said ‘ex abundante cautela -- out of excessive caution -- could I enquire whether the answer ‘no’ was recorded?’ The judge, to my surprise, said, ‘Mr. Williams, you’re not in charge of my court,’ and I said, ‘Sir, not me, but that could safely be said of Mr Nandlall, who has been trying to control your court for the entire morning’.”

The AG went on to say that following further exchanges about an encounter with a Magistrate, he said, “Incidentally, that Magistrate is dead now,” and “I moved on and the Judge and I continued addressing issues.”

Williams contended that “Mr Nandlall then jumped in

him by asking a further question.”

However, at Saturday’s press conference, Nandlall rubbished the AG’s version of

events, saying several persons had witnessed what transpired in the courtroom. “These include: Carvil Duncan; Carvil Duncan’s Confidential Secretary, Diana Persaud; Attorney-at-Law Rajendra Jaigobin; Two State Counsel of the AG Chambers; members of the press; two Marshals of the High Court; my Personal Assistant, Shivun Hutson; and a few other persons”.

The AG has even threatened to sue Guyana Times and Kaieteur News for publishing the assertion that he had threatened the Judge.

He has also threatened legal action against Nandlall, who said he would successfully defend any such litigation.

Following publication of the threats, the Office of the Opposition Leader on Friday evening strongly condemned the alleged actions of the Attorney General, and called upon President David Granger to immediately launch an investigation into

the matter with a view to removing the Attorney General from office.

According to the release from the Opposition Leader’s Office, “A failure by the President to act decisively in this matter would certainly send an ominous signal.” The statement continued that the party stands firm in solidarity with the Judiciary, and will continue to struggle to ensure that the integrity, independence and dignity of judges are protected and maintained.

Nandlall said on Saturday that he would be guided by this call coming from the Leader of the Opposition, while opting not to comment on the course of action the Opposition would take if Government fails to take action against the AG. He further noted that he is hoping Justice Holder would lodge a report with his superior, following which some light would be shed on what had really transpired in court on Thursday.

Models take over Kalyan’s...

He added that it is inconceivably wrong to attribute Sari to be Hindu attire as it is commonly worn among other religions as Christians and Muslims in India, emphasising that Mother Teresa wore a sari and her disciples continue to do so.

The High Commissioner attested that the Sari Draping Demonstration and Exhibition is only a soft beginning and based on the response of supporters, the event will continue on a larger scale in the future, even in other parts of the country.

He concluded his address by quoting renowned singer

Whitney Houston saying “I like being a woman even in a so-called man’s world. After all, men can’t wear dresses but we women can wear pants.”

Chief Guest Sita Nagamotoo; wife of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who was elegantly draped in a sizzling hot red Sari, briefly paid homage to the event which was held in sync with the 100th anniversary of the abolition of Indian indentureship, relating to the audience that it was when she was robed in a Sari, she caught the eyes of her now husband of 43 years.

from page 10

The crowd was left in awe following the modelling segment which saw several stunning beauties of Indian decent take control of the stage, rocking traditional and modern Sari pieces.

Anu Mahalingam, wife of the High Commissioner of India to Guyana, showcased her sari-draping skills; effortlessly wrapping the garment on a model to the amazement of the crowd.

The ceremony engaged in a local Documentary Film on Sari, a drama and a final dance piece, concluding with modelling and closing remarks.

sunDAY, march 26, 2017

19

Hamilton beats Vettel to Australian pole L

ewis Hamilton won a tight battle for pole position between Mercedes and Ferrari at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Briton Hamilton took pole position by 0.268 seconds as Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel joined him on the front row.

The German pipped Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas by just 0.025secs as the new era of faster, more demanding cars got off to a promising start.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen took fourth ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

The tightness of the battle in qualifying between Mercedes and Ferrari is what was expected after

pre-season testing but an impressive performance by Mercedes on Friday led to fears the world champions may dominate again.

But Ferrari were in much better shape on Saturday and gave every sign they will be able to push Mercedes hard this season, as testing had promised.

Vettel was fastest in final practice and the red cars were in the mix from the start of qualifying.

A slightly scruffy final lap from Bottas might have stopped him joining his team-mate on the front row but even so the margins were slight and a fair bit of Hamilton’s advantage may well have been in the driver on a circuit on which the three-time champion has

Rookie Antonio Giovinazzi was given the chance to take part after Pascal Wehrlein pulled out

It was close at times between the two new Mercedes team-mates

always excelled.

Bottas, though, was impressive in his debut for Mercedes, qualifying closer to Hamilton than his former team-mate Nico Rosberg did at this race last year.

In truth, pole position always looked like it was Hamilton’s to lose from the moment he took to the track in Friday’s first practice.

Seemingly intent on laying down a marker for Bottas, Hamilton was flying from the start, the car dancing through the tricky chicanes around the demanding Albert Park track.

He ended the day half a second clear of the field, with Bottas and Vettel again separated by tiny fractions, and although Hamilton’s margin was reduced in qualifying, the fundamen-

tal pattern remained. The 32-year-old still has much to do, however. There are new rules governing starts this year which have put control much more back in the drivers’ hands and have therefore increased the possibility of errors.

And it will be a demanding race in pretty much the fastest cars ever raced in F1, following rule changes over the winter, and on tyres on which the drivers can push flat out for the entire race for pretty much the first time in six years.

Outside the big three teams, Romain Grosjean put in a highly impressive performance to be sixth in the Haas.

McLaren and engine partner Honda sal-

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close.

Smith had chosen to bat after winning the toss and, despite opener David Warner being dropped off the first ball and Matthew Renshaw going for one, Australia made a strong start.

India tightened up after lunch and wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav helped bring them back into the game.

However, Smith scored his third ton of the series and 20th of his career before edging a delivery from spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to Rahane at slip. (BBC Sport)

Force India’s new livery has been drawing attention across the weekend

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Australia Captain Steve Smith

ustralia captain Steve Smith scored 111 as his side made 300 on day one of the fourth and deciding Test in India.

The hosts were without captain Virat Kohli because of a shoulder injury and he was replaced by Ajinkya Rahane.

Australia reached 1441 with Smith again in good form and, after being reduced to 208-6, reached 300 thanks to 57 from Matthew Wade.

India, whose debutant spinner Kuldeep Yadav, 22, took 4-68, negotiated one over without loss before the

Giovinazzi, who is Ferrari’s third driver, said: “I am so happy. It is a dream come true for me.”

Briton Jolyon Palmer had a torrid time, qualifying last after a weekend disrupted by problems, 3.3 seconds behind team-mate Nico Hulkenberg in first qualifying.

The top qualifiers are; Lewis Hamilton (GBR/ Mercedes), Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari), Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes), Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/ Ferrari), Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull), Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas), Felipe Massa (BRA/ Williams), Carlos Sainz Jr (SPA/Toro Rosso), Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) and Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/ Red Bull) DNF. (BBC Sport)

“Rooney's England career not over”

Smith hits commanding ton but India fight back Debutant Kuldeep Yadav is mobbed by his team-mates after picking up his first Test wicket

vaged something in the context of a dire, reliability-hit testing programme to qualify a respectable 13th with Fernando Alonso.

There was a highly impressive performance by Sauber’s Antonio Giovinazzi, who was drafted in at the last minute in the morning after regular driver Pascal Wehrlein pulled out citing a lack of fitness.

Giovinazzi, who stood in for Wehrlein in the first pre-season test as the German recovered from a back injury sustained in the winter, was quicker than team-mate Marcus Ericsson after the first runs and was less than 0.2secs adrift in the end, despite aborting his final lap because of a mistake at the penultimate corner.

SCOREBOARD Australia 1st innings DA Warner c Rahane b Kuldeep Yadav 56 MT Renshaw b Yadav 1 SPD Smith* c Rahane b Ashwin 111 SE Marsh c †Saha b Yadav 4 PSP Handscomb b Kuldeep Yadav 8 GJ Maxwell b Kuldeep Yadav 8 MS Wade† b Jadeja 57 PJ Cummins c & b Kuldeep Yadav 21 SNJ O’Keefe run out (†Saha/sub [SS Iyer]) 8 NM Lyon c Pujara b Kumar 13 JR Hazlewoodnot out 2 Extras (b-1, lb-10)11 Total (all out; 88.3 overs)300 Fall of wickets 1-10 (Renshaw, 1.4 ov), 2-144 (Warner, 34.1

ov), 3-153 (Marsh, 37.4 ov), 4-168 (Handscomb, 44.5 ov), 5-178 (Maxwell, 48.6 ov), 6-208 (Smith, 59.5 ov), 7-245 (Cummins, 72.4 ov), 8-269 (O’Keefe, 79.3 ov), 9-298 (Wade, 87.4 ov), 10-300 (Lyon, 88.3 ov) Bowling B Kumar 12.3-2-41-1, UT Yadav 15-1-69-2, R Ashwin 23-5-54-1, RA Jadeja 15-1-571, Kuldeep Yadav 23-3-68-4

India 1st innings KL Rahul not out 0 M Vijay not out 0 Extras 0 Total (0 wickets; 1 overs)0 To bat CA Pujara, AM Rahane*, KK Nair, R Ashwin, WP Saha†, RA Jadeja, B Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, UT Yadav Bowling JR Hazlewood 1-1-0-0

ayne Rooney might be out of the England picture at present but Gareth Southgate has no desire to start planning a tribute match.

England boss Gareth Southgate has made it clear that Wayne Rooney's international career is far from over.

The Manchester United forward was left out of the squad for the friendly defeat to Germany and Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Lithuania due to a knee injury and a lack of first-team football. Rooney's future at Old Trafford remains the subject of intense speculation but the 31-year-old is reportedly eager to fight to regain his spot in Southgate's plans, as well as the captain's armband.

And Southgate has himself rejected the notion that England's record goalscorer should consider his time on the international stage to be at an end.

"He's absolutely in my thinking," said the former

Middlesbrough manager. "I didn't understand why we were talking about tributes when he still has every chance of being in this team. There's no reason why he's finished with us."

Rooney's prospects of returning to the England set-up were placed in further doubt on Monday when he did not attend a meeting to which players in the squad and those hoping to force their way back in were invited.

Southgate, however, saw nothing wrong with Rooney's absence given that injured Tottenham duo Harry Kane and Danny Rose also did not attend.

"We had nine players and Harry Kane and Danny Rose and others had to have treatment and Wayne the same," said Southgate. "It was no problem. The more important thing for me was those guys felt they'd been invited."

England face Lithuania at Wembley looking for a win that would keep them top of Group F. (Sportsmax)

20 Mark Montfort

Montfort ecstatic with Canada called-up

By Ravi Madholall in Toronto

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guyanatimesGY.com

sundAY, MARCH 26, 2017

ormer Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) first-division player Mark Montfort is ecstatic with his call up to the Canada team for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Division Three limited-over tournament slated for Uganda.

Montfort, who would have represented his adopted country several months ago in couple warm-up matches against ICC Associates team Bermuda in Canada, also expressed confidence of doing well once he finds himself in the final 15-man touring party.

Cricket Canada selectors recently announced a 21-member training squad under the watchful eyes of ex-Canada fast-bowler and now assistant coach Henry Osinde.

According to the 31-year-old Montfort, his ambition is to feature in the red and white colours and make an immediate impression while he simultaneously stated that he is optimistic of making the final 11.

“I [am] happy to be selected once again; I was delighted to be a part of the side last year against Bermuda and with some good performances I am also confident of making my debut in the ICC tournament and I am excited,” Montfort related.

Since he began his cricketing career in North America, the left-handed batsman plays professionally in the annual Toronto and District Cricket Association Elite 50-over tournament for Brampton Masters Cricket Club, who are the defending champions.

His determination and perseverance have continued to pay dividends after he was selected for the practice games against the touring Bermuda, who was here to prepare for an ICC assignment.

Montfort produced two fine batting displays scoring half-centuries while he churned out an impressive bowling performance to supplement his allround contributions.

“Since I began playing in Canada in 2010, I started to play hard and committed cricket because I have been aspiring to represent Canada on the international scene and having played in two matches really gives me great confidence to strive for more success,” the occasional right-arm medium-pacer mentioned.

With his high motivation to play for Canada, Montfort stated that he is enjoying his game and always tries vigorously to enhance his skills in all aspects as well.

“This is a great opportunity for me to make an impact; again, I am very

confident of helping Canada keep advancing at the ICC tournament; we have a good team and I am sure all the players are anxious to be in the final squad and to do well for Canada,” the former Demerara Senior Inter-County player declared.

In recognition of his talent after his first appearance, shortly after the national selectors named Montfort in their team to play at the Auty Cup limited-over tournament against USA but Montfort could not have travelled owing a documentation issue but that was soon resolved.

He commented that he had unfortunately missed out on a wonderful chance to showcase his tremendous ability but that did not daunt his dreams to make it on the huge occasion, especially when looking to prove his cricketing expertise.

Canada, who was relegated by the ICC after failing to qualify at the T20 and 50-over World Cup tournaments two years ago, will have a chance again to redeem themselves at this tournament which will commence in midMay. Meanwhile, prior to the ICC tournament, the Canadian side will be travelling to Barbados for some practice games against some club teams in effort to intensify their preparations.

‘Lily’ honoured to take Golden Jaguars new role

Digicel Triple Treat 2017

Mangal, Latif hit opening round centuries T

he second annual Digicel Triple Treat cricket competition bowled off last Sunday at the Perseverance Beach on the Essequibo Coast with 14 matches.

There were lots of interest shown for the Essequibo based tournament with 28 teams registering and on the opening day there were lots of action that set the pace for the rest of the competition. United Warriors 1 beat Jaguars by 154 runs to register the biggest victory of the day while Die Hard Brothers crushed Mashabo by 130 runs in another assault on the rubber ball.

Batting first, Die hard Brothers raced to 246 for 1 from their 10 overs with Richard Latif blasting an unbeaten 116.

Ganesh Mangal

I

Golden Jaguars Assistant Coach Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard (yellow shirt) working with some of the players on Saturday

t’s a privilege anytime you’re called up to represent your country, this time it is no different. It was an honour when I got the phone call to be assistant to Wayne Dover…it’s only fitting that I give him my support,” said Charles ‘Lilly’ Pollard, the newly appointed Assistant Coach said.

Pollard was called to the position following Dover being appointed interim national Head Coach for the International Friendly against Martinique on March 28 at the MSC Ground, Linden.

The soft-spoken Assistant Coach, who has been an outstanding former national defender and captain, has been coaching for approximately four years. While he currently coaches Club Sando, a Trinidadian professional club, he began his coaching career at Slingerz FC in Guyana.

“I’m still learning the game as a coach. I was excellent as a player but coaching is a different factor…I’m enhancing my education,” Pollard, who represented Guyana for approximately 17 years, stated.

Commenting about coaching players who were youth players and sometimes teammates during his years as a player, Pollard said: “I think it will be easier. I think we have the relationship from then to now. They’ve always respected me when I used to play, the transition was easy. I think some of the guys here have not experienced football at the highest level and need some support. That’s where I come in, to share my knowledge and nurture them.”

Looking ahead, the coach who played professionally in

Trinidad and USA, noted that while the current national team has a good blend of youth and experience with a good attitude, the mental game needs to be improved.

However, he is interested in sharing his talent and experience: “I’m positive; I would not want to be a part of something I’m not sure of or won’t be successful at. Guyanese are a very competitive type of people physically, but if we work on the mental part, we could do a great lot.”

Meanwhile, the Golden Jaguars continue intensive daily training sessions at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora, as they prepare for the International Friendly on Tuesday.

In an invited comment, Interim Head Coach Dover said it will be a competitive game and he is working assiduously to give the nation a good result: “Martinique is preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup and they’re coming with an extremely strong team. We’re looking forward to the challenge, we know it will be a challenge, but we will work diligently to ensure that we build the squad into a unit that will go out there and play so we can get as positive result. We will not approach timidly, we want to give a good showing especially to our fans so that they can go away feeling satisfied based on the result of the night.”

While most of the squad have arrived, Marcel Barrington, Samuel Cox and Warren Creavalle are expected on Sunday.

The team will be shortlisted on Monday. Patrons are encouraged to wear yellow; admission to Tuesday’s game is $1,500.

The experienced right hander was supported by V. Surujpaul with 69 and Patrick Rooplall 55 not out as the batsmen entertained the huge Sunday crowd at the popular beach. In reply, Mashabo played confidently but ended on 116 for 2 from their allotted overs with D. Williams making 37 and O. Abrams getting 27. Local boy, Patrick Rooplall picked up both wickets to finish with 2-15 from two overs.

Other results of the day; El-Dorado (129-5 from 9 overs) beat Top Shatters (125-6 from 10 overs) by five wickets.

Invaders Masters (133-5 from 10 overs) beat United Warriors (109-7 from 9 overs) by five wickets.

Richard Latif

United Warriors 1 (214-2 from 10 overs) beat Jaguars (60 all out from 6.5 overs) by 154 runs.

Ganesh Mangal made 128.

Richmond Warriors (137-5 from 10 overs) beat Lima Sands (94-7 from 10 overs) by 43 runs.

GT Warriors (1614 from 10 overs) beat Reliance Young Stars (97-8 from 10 overs) by 64 runs.

Affiance Storm (1912 from 10 overs) beat Gold Dust (156-6 from 10 overs) by 35 runs.

Devonshire Castle (113-4 from 8.2 overs) beat Queenstown (1096 from 10 overs) by six wickets.

Golden Fleece SC (144-5 from 10 overs) beat Rising Sun (126 all out from 9.2 overs) by 18 runs.

AK Dealers (91-1 from 5.4 overs) beat Sun Risers Over 40 (90-5 from 10 overs) by nine wickets.

Golden Fleece Rising Warriors (102-2 from 8.3 overs) beat RG 11 (98 all out from 10 overs) by eight wickets.

There were walkovers for United Brothers over Electronics SC, Adventure SC over Cotton Field Wild Oats and Fire Station over Sudden Stars.

The action will continue today at the Perseverance Beach with second round action. The final is slated for the Anna Regina ground on Saturday April 22 when the duck curry completion and the grand closing stage show will be held to bring the curtains down on the Digicel Triple Treat.

sports

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Fans are assured to be witness some trilling riding today at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground

he Anna Regina Community Centre ground is set to come alive today with exciting grass track action as some of the best in the sport are expected to showcase their daredevilry.

Organiser, Sheik Yassin in speaking to this publication on Saturday revealed that at least 16 professional racers are expected to take to the track.

An intense three-way battle is expected to ensue between current Champion Andy Wong, Avenash Ramcoomar and Stephen DeNobrega, as the trio are experienced and talented riders.

Despite some rain in the Cinderella county, Yassin assured that the event will get underway today as he has assurances from the Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) that rain or sun, the races will be held.

For the locals, there will two open races where anyone who has dirt bike between 100cc and 600cc can participate.

The various winners of the day are set to receive cash prizes and trophies from Trophy Stall which is the official provider of accolades; R. Khan AutoZone of Henrietta on the Essequibo Coast is also a sponsor.

Meanwhile, the packed grass track calendar has Hampton Court as the venue for the next Essequibo meet on August 27 followed by action in the Mining Town of Linden who will be treated on October 29.

The grand finale is slated for November 26 at the Ogle Community Centre Ground. Race days will have 10 races are carded across three categories; Professional, Novices and Chappy.

The professional riders will have five races at 12 laps each while the Novices will have 10 laps and the Chappy will ride around five times.

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21

Louis brace puts Les Grenadiers a step closer to Gold Cup

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J

Haiti celebrate their success over Nicaragua on Friday

eff Louis scored two goals and Haiti moved closer to a berth in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 3-1 win over visiting Nicaragua in the opener of their qualifying playoff on Friday before 13,000 fans at the Stade Sylvio Cator.

The result means that the Haitians can progress to their third straight Gold Cup with a win, draw or even a 2-0 loss in the second leg on March 28 in Managua.

Louis (18’, 50’) struck in each half for the host, which went ahead 2-0 through Wilde-Donald Guerrier five minutes prior to halftime.

Carlos Chavarria (40’) netted a valuable away goal for Nicaraguans, whose only Gold Cup appearance came in 2009.

Haiti extended its unbeaten streak in all competitions to four consecutive games, notching 13 goals over that stretch. (Sportsmax)

22

‘Padlock’ sundAY, march 26, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

opens up in 3-way sprint

By Romario Samaroo

T

he fourth annual Star Party Rentals 11-Stage Cycling ended in emphatic style as Andre “Padlock” Green outsprinted a three-man pack to take the feature 35-lap School boys and Invitational race at the inner Circuit of the National Park, Thomas Lands.

“Padlock,” who rides for the Berbice based team, Trojan finished in a time of one hour 15 minutes and 38 seconds (01:15:38) which allowed him to edge Evolution’s Paul Denobrega by a hair line. The two riders were also in contention with Cocos’

Jamaul John who was not given the chance to break past the two wheelsmen.

The sprint for the top spot began almost half way of the entire race with the three-man leading pack almost having a lead of nearly a lap over the chasing pack.

In fourth position was Deeraj Garbarran while Hamza Eastman and Alonzo Ambrose completed the top six in that order.

In the other events, David Hicks, also out of Berbice won the Boys and Girls three lap 12-14 year old race ahead of Jonathon Ramsuchit and Brandon DeNobrega in second and third respectively. The two lap race of the

National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohammed

BMX boys six to nine years class was won by John Nile with Ajani Cutting and Antone Vandenburg finishing second and third respectively.

Junior Niles once more took the top spot in the Veterans under-50 five lap affair as he was followed by President of the Guyana Cycling Federation Horace Burrowes in second and Leer Nunes in third. Niles had completed the five laps in a time of 11 minutes and 30 seconds.

Meanwhile, Kennard Lovell won the Over-50 five-lap race with Linden Blackman trailing in second.

In a time of 23 minutes and

Lara, Waqar back Root as England captain

J

oe Root has been tipped to shine as England's five-day skipper by two iconic former Test captains, who spoke exclusively to Omnisport.

Brian Lara and Waqar Younis each expect Joe Root to prove a success when he leads England in Test cricket.

Root, widely recognised as one of the leading batsmen in the world, was appointed as his country's new captain in the five-day format last month, following the resignation of Alastair Cook.

England are involved solely in limited-overs matches ahead of June's Champions Trophy, meaning Root has a long wait before his first match as Test skipper, against South Africa at Lord's in July.

Both Lara and Waqar, who captained West Indies and Pakistan respectively during their own illustrious playing careers, believe the Yorkshireman has what it takes to

Joe Root

handle the additional responsibility coming his way.

Asked about the main challenges Root will face, Lara told Omnisport: "I think obviously the pressures of being captain. Sometimes that can propel someone even further and

[make them] even better. On other occasions, it can be something that can strangle an individual.

"I feel, though, that he is a positive player and has very good self-esteem. I don't think he'll be worried by having that responsibility. I think it's going to be an asset to his game.

"England as a team is playing very good cricket and a captain is only as good as his team. I think he's got a good group of guys to work with and they're going to be helpful along the way, so I expect him to do pretty well."

That view was echoed by former Pakistan seamer and coach Waqar, who added: "I think he will be fine.

He's performing really well as a batsman and if you're really doing well as a player, I think you always blossom as a captain.

"He's got all the ingredients to become a good captain. We all know he's batting well, so that's the key."

(Sportsmax)

GCA/Carib Beer T20 Tournament 2017

Scholars down lawmen on sticky wicket

T

he University of Guyana (UG) students bounced back from defeat a heavy against Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) last week to beat Police by three wickets in a 10-overs a-side contest at Eve Leary on Saturday in the only match possible in the Georgetown

The Police Sports Club pitch at Eve Leary at the schedule start time of 13:30h. Two hours later there was a game thanks mainly to the hardworking ground staff

Cricket Association’s (GCA) Carib Beer T20 tournament.

Overnight and early morning rain in the city washed out the contest between Everest Cricket Club and Malteenoes Sports Club at Everest and almost played a similar role in the match between the lawmen and the students. However, long and dedicated work by the Police Sports Club ground staff ensured a reduced affair that worked against the home team.

Police batted first and got tot 76 for 9 from their 10 overs after the reduced match began at 15:30h. Opener Alex Algo top scorer with 35 all of which he got off the first over bowled by Linden Austin. No other batter reached double figures and Austin didn’t bowl again.

The success story for the scholars are Ray Newton with 2 for 8 from 2 overs, Keron Seenarine 2 for 2 from 2, Royston Alkins 2 for 14 from 2 Suresh Dhanai 2 for 8 from 2 and Michael Shalin 2 for 6 from 1.

Asked to score at approximately eight runs per over, UG got to 79 for 7 with one ball to spare with Dhani coming back to top score with 21. Damion Vantul made 16 and Newton 12.

The tournament continues today with two more matches at two venues. Everest Cricket Club hosts Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Police entertain DCC. Both matches will begin at 13:30h weather permitting.

45 seconds, Briton John won the 10 lap race in the Juvenile category. Curtis Dey took the second spot while Nigel Dugid finished third. Ryan Canterbury won the Mountain Bike race, a five lap sprint, with Stephan Gobin taking second place.

Speaking at the end of the race, National Cycling Coach and organizer of the event, Hassan Mohammed took a short time to thank the sponsor for maintaining his promise and related that the Managing Director of Star Party Rentals, former National Cricketer Lennox Cush is a fan of cycling.

GMR&SC National Race of Champions…

Deokie aims to maintain Sports Tuner dominance R

ace car driver Daniel Deokie has one goal and that is to win come April 2 when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) hosts its National Race of Champions meet at the South Dakota Circuit.

At last year’s November meet, Deokie’s Honda Civic brought him two first place finishes in his two races and plans to produce a similar feat at the upcoming event.

“I'll be racing in the sports tuner as well as Group 2 category but my main focus is on the sports tuner class which I dominated in November and looking to continue with that momentum into the 2017 season,” the driver said in speaking to Guyana Times Sport.

He added that consistency will be necessary for him as he continues to evolve with this newly built machine.

The team ER Racing driver is looking forward to the stiff competition expected, stating that “always love some sort of competition which was never short through my career so far.”

Questioned on the possibility of touring in the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships considering the season commences on May 21 in Jamaica, Deokie responded stating, “Touring would be a dream come through for me but that all depends on sponsorship.”

In that regard, the driver expressed immense appreciation for the support of Toucan Industries, Guyoil (super 95 gas), Payless Variety Store, A girls, Robbie's Jewelry and D&G Foreign Auto.

With some tweaks to his to his suspension, Deokie and his Honda Civic can certainly thrill the crowd with excitement and seeks to remain in the top.

Waving the checkered flag will be the goal of Daniel Deokie come April 2 at the South Dakota Circuit (Mikey Spice Photo)

guyanatimesgy.com

sundAY, march 26, 2017

23

West Indies vs Pakistan 2017

T20 showdown begins today T

–Permaul omitted from 13-man squad

hese two sides have only played four completed T20 internationals since last year’s World T20, a number they are set to double in this T20 series. That might not seem like much to go on, but the scale of their contrasting fortunes in those games - Pakistan haven’t lost any while West Indies have one win in four - promises an intriguing narrative. Neither side has played a T20I since Pakistan whitewashed West Indies in their three-match T20 series in the UAE last year. Both sides, however, are going through wretched runs of form, combining to win just two of their following 17 games since then.

What might differentiate the teams is the mood heading into this tour. While reasons for cheer in West Indies cricket are scarce at the moment, Pakistan are in buoyant spirits after a successful Pakistan Super League, the final of which was held at a packed Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, foreign players and all. There are no less than five players in Pakistan’s squad who directly owe their inclusion to impressive performances in the PSL this season, including Kamran Akmal

Jason Mohammed works on his catching

and Ahmed Shehzad. The dampener is the absence of explosive opener Sharjeel Khan, provisionally suspended in the wake of the corruption scandal that engulfed the PSL. West Indies’ squad is an analyst’s nightmare, with teams varying wildly from one series to the next. The team that played their last T20, for example, included just two players from the side that won them the World T20 less than six months prior to that. However, the management have brought back some T20 stars for this series,

a full contest.

Pakistan squad; Sarfraz Ahmed (c/ wk), Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Rumman Raees, Shadab Khan, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir, Usman Khan and Wahab Riaz.

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

Jaguars steering down the barrel after following on

– Shiv, Bramble hit half centuries Sarfraz Ahmed during fielding drills

with Lendl Simmons and Samuel Badree notable returnees. With Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Carlos Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels all in, this appears to be as strong a squad as West Indies could have hoped to assemble.

Carlos Brathwaite has yet to fire since being named West Indies’ T20 captain in the aftermath of that manic World T20 final against England. The four times he’s batted since, he has made 14, 18, 0 and 8. It could be argued he’s too good a power hitter not to bat higher up the order, but the West Indies side is replete with explosive batsmen, and if he is to make his mark, it may end up being lower down. With the first T20 in his hometown of Barbados, Brathwaite might just get the extra motivation he needs. From the initial 16-man squad that was shortlisted for the T20 series was trimmed to 13 for the first two matches. Explosive top order wicketkeeper batsman Andre Fletcher, all-rounder Jonathan Carter and left arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul were omitted.

Babar Azam is something of a peculiarity among Pakistan batsmen, in that he has been remarkably consistent. He has scored four hundreds in his last eight ODI games.

What he could improve on is converting good T20 starts into big scores, and with him likely to open the batting in the absence of Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan, this is an ideal opportunity.

The Kensington Oval surface has regularly produced high-scoring T20 internationals. All completed CPL games last season produced at least one total above 170.

There is a slight chance of rain in the afternoon, although it is not expected to prevent

GCA/ Noble House Seafood 2nd Division 2-Day Final

Rain forces postponement - Transport SC hit the nets W

hen Transport Sports Club (TSC) and GNIC second division teams showed up at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground Bourda on Saturday morning for the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) Noble House Seafood second division final they were greeted with a wet pitch and damp outfield. Guyana Times Sport sought an official comment from the GCA’s executive member, Shawn Massiah who stated that a new date will be set for the important fixture. “We have to look at the weather before we make a decision on the new date for the final,” Massiah said.

Meanwhile, it was not all lost for the TSC team who are determined for more success on the second division circuit as

West Indies squad; Carlos Brathwaite (Captain), Samuel Badree, Jason Holder, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton and Kesrick Williams.

they took to their home turf for a tapeball session.

Playing tapeball to prepare for competitions is nothing new to TSC since their home ground is being upgraded making turf sessions impossible.

Members of the Transport Sports Club second division team used the free day for some tapeball action

Barbados Pride celebrate another Miguel Cummins wicket on day three at the Kensington Oval.

(Photo Courtesy of WICB Media/Kerrie Eversley of Brooks Latouche Photography)

V

eteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul passed 26 000 first class runs and was once against standing between Guyana Jaguars and defeat, as Barbados Pride took a stranglehold of their eighth round contest here Saturday.

At age 42, the West Indies legend’s powers showed no signs of wane as he carved out exactly 50 in Jaguars first innings as they collapsed to 250 all out, in reply to Pride’s mammoth 480 for three declared, on the penultimate day at Kensington Oval.

Forced to follow on by 230 runs, Jaguars were slumping at 78 for three after losing two quick wickets but Chanderpaul once again came to their rescue and was unbeaten on 30 at the close, with the visitors tentatively placed at 119 for three.

Sunday is a rest day to accommodate the Twenty20 International between West Indies and Pakistan at the venue but Jaguars — still 111 runs adrift of making Pride bat again — will require a Herculean effort on Monday’s final day to avoid defeat.

Attacking opener Shimron Hetmyer made 28 off 24 balls with six fours, in a 44-run opening stand with Rajindra Chandrika, before driving off-spinner Ashley Nurse to substitute Justin Greaves at cover, off the second ball after tea.

Chandrika, who spent nearly 1-1/4 hours over 23, put on 26 for the second wicket with captain Leon Johnson (16) but perished when he struck a return catch back to left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican.

With eight runs added, Johnson was taken at the

wicket off Nurse, who finished with two for 33.

Chanderpaul, however, combined with Vishaul Singh (14 not out) to stabilise the innings in an unbroken 41-run, fourth wicket stand.

Earlier, wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble top-scored with an attractive 77 and Raymon Reifer got 31, but Jaguars wasted a promising position of 239 for five as they lost their last five wickets for just 11 runs. Fast bowler Miguel Cummins as the chief destroyer with five for 41 while off-spinner Roston Chase picked up four for 46.

Resuming the day on 119 for four, Jaguars lost Reifer in the day’s seventh over af-

ter he had added just six to his overnight 25, leaving Chanderpaul and Bramble to rescue the innings in a 106run sixth wicket stand.

Chanderpaul, unbeaten on 15 overnight, achieved 26 000 runs in his 357th first class match when he reached 19. He went on to face 197 balls in just over 4-1/2 hours at the crease and struck four fours and a six. Bramble was positive from the outset, and his knock came from just 115 deliveries in 128 minutes and included 12 fours and a six.

Once he was lbw to Cummins in the 10th over after lunch, Jaguars collapsed as Cummins ran through the lower order. (Windiescricket)

SCOREBOARD Stumps on day 3 Barbados Pride 1st innings 480-3 decl Guyana Jaguars 1st innings (119-4 overnight) S Hetmyer c Alleyne b Cummins 1 R Chandrika c (sub) Greaves b Ch ase 24 L Johnson LBW b Chase 15 V Singh c wpkr Dowrich b Stou te 15 S Chanderpaul c Nurse b Cha se 50 R Reifer c wkpr Dowrich b Cummins 31 A Bramble LBW b Cummins 77 R Shepherd LBW b Chase 0 D Bishoo c Brathwaite b Cummins 0 C Pestano LBW b Cummins 0 G Motie not out 5 Extras (b-9, lb-13, w-1, nb-9) 32 Total (All out, 89.2 overs) 250 FOW: 1-4, 2-56, 3-64, 4-86, 5-133, 6-239, 7-244, 8-245, 9-245, 10-250 Bowling M Cummins 18.2-4-415 (nb-5), K Harding 12-1-45-0

(w-1, nb-4), K Stoute 16-6-361, R Chase 29-11-46-4, A Nurse 8-2-32-0, J Warrican 6-0-28-0

Guyana Jaguars 2nd innings (F/O) S Hetmyer c (sub) Greaves b Nur se 28 R Chandrika c & b Warrican 23 L Johnson c wkpr Dowrich b Nur se 16 V Singh not out 14 S Chanderpaul not out 30 Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-1, nb-4) 8 Total (For 3 wickets, 40 overs) 119 Did not bat R Reifer, A Bramble, R Shepherd, D Bishoo, G Motie, C Pestano FOW: 1-44, 2-70, 3-78 Bowling M Cummins 4-016-0 (nb-2), R Chase 7-2-190, K Harding 5-1-19-0 (nb2), A Nurse 12-1-33-2 (w-1), J Warrican 8-2-19-1, K Stoute 3-1-9-0, K Brathwaite 1-0-1-0 Position: Jaguars trail by 111 rusn with seven wickets in hand

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

SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017

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CWI/ Digicel PCL Regional 4-Day

Jaguars steering down the barrel after following on – Shiv, Bramble hit half centuries

Pg 23

Shivnarine Chanderpaul characteristically opens the face for runs through the offside while Anthony Bramble (right) smacks one through the covers at the Kensington Oval on Saturday.

(Photo Courtesy of WICB Media/Kerrie Eversley of Brooks Latouche Photography)

‘Padlock’ opens up in 3-way sprint

Pg 22

Winners and Organisers at the end of the Star Party Rental’s 11-stage cycling meet

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The Lotus: Sacred and Versatile

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The Beginning of the Gold Industry in Guyana Page 7

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2 Sunday Times Magazine

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Times Feature

Soft Wallaba of the Iwokrama Forest

O

ften when people explore the rainforest, there is much interest in the birds and other rainforest animals. But the world of plants is equally enchanting and Guyana’s forest, with an excess of 8,000 plant species, presents a haven for plant lovers.

The Soft Wallaba (Eperuafalcata) is a super important tree for Guyana.

Often we see our electrical wires strung from wooden

Soft Wallaba flowers

poles, which are made from this species and it takes a very special skill to create this important value added timber product.

Soft Wallaba is a tree with a straight trunk, and can be distinguished by long reddish hanging fruit pods (once fruiting) that adorn the tree like Christmas tree decorations.

According to Guyana Forestry Commission’s “Guyana Woods – 21

Species” publication, (revised 2004), the heartwood of the Soft Wallaba is reddishbrown in colour, with dark gum streaks which tend to spread over the surface. The sapwood is pale in colour and is sharply defined from the heartwood. The texture is coarse and the grain is typically straight. The bole, or trunk, is 15-20m in length and diameter is approximately 60cm and occasionally up to 100cm.

The publication added that Soft Wallaba heartwood is highly resistant to decay and subterranean termites, and is fairly resistant to dry wood termites. Due to its resistance being extremely high, Soft Wallaba has excellent properties for transmission poles, flag staffs, marine and bridge construction in non-teredo areas owing to its strength and durability. It is suitable for general heavy construction, utility and industrial floors and chemical vat staves. Additionally, the timber is used to make fence staves, fence posts and shingles for roofing.

A leguminous tree, the seeds may be eaten by rodents in events of the scarcity of other fruits. The flowers are a staple resource for monkeys (howlers, spider, and sakis) during the dry season.

It is a generalist species so it can be found in all forest types, but is co-dominant in Wallaba forest type on white, highly drained sands.

When you visit Iwokrama you can find it on all the tourist trails. It certainly will be one of the tree species the Iwokrama’s guides will be happy to show you.

Ecotourism is one of the important components of Iwokrama’s strategy for financial self-sufficiency.

Visits to Iwokrama directly contribute to the communities in and surrounding the Iwokrama forest. Tourism there supports the development of an eco-friendly sustainable model, which is being shared locally, nationally and internationally.

The Iwokrama forest and the Rupununi wetlands and savannahs offer visitors exceptional natural and cultural experience set in a learn-

Soft Wallaba pod and seed

ing context. Iwokrama is a place for all ages and all interests and you choose what you want to do.

At Iwokrama, you can retrace the footsteps of the Makushi people, wander the extensive trail system and discover the unforgettable flora, fauna and Amerindian history so special to this tropical paradise.

The Iwokrama forest is an extraordinary destination for naturalists, birders and

anyone seeking an authentic retreat to the jungle.

For more of the tours that Iwokrama offers, call the Iwokrama office on (592) 2251504 to speak with Chauncy or Diana or email tourism@iwokrama.org.

Visit http://iwokramariverlodge. com or check out Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development on Facebook.

(Photos by Dr. Raquel Thomas)

Soft Wallaba seedling

Soft Wallaba pods hanging from the tree branches

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

T

he lotus, because of its abundance in murky ponds and trenches, is often taken for granted and even considered a nuisance by some as it clogs up canals, but this plant’s selfcleaning mechanism and religious significance make it worthy of a second look.

The lotus (Nelumbonucifera) is an aquatic plant that produces individual leaves and flowers directly from a root system. Its leaves float on the water or are held up about six inches above water by their stems. Its flowers are held up by their stalks about six inches from the surface of the water. Each flower spreads about four to eight inches across and has pink petals. The receptacle holds the seeds (the seeds are known locally as “water nuts”) of the flower, and is located in the centre of the flower.

James Rodway writes in “The Story of Georgetown” (1920) that the Nelumbium, or Lotus was introduced to the Botanic Gardens “in the early eighties…” (1880s)

Religious symbolism and significance

The lotus, sometimes called the Indian lotus or the sacred lotus, is widely cultivated for its fragrant flowers.

Over time, throughout many cultures, the lotus has been a powerful image and a spiritual symbol. In Hindu, Buddhist and Egyptian religions, the lotus is considered a sacred flower. Among its many meanings and significance, the lotus represents divine birth, spiritual development and creation itself.

“The Story of World Religions” (2005) states: “The lotus is the cosmic plant of Hinduism. When the divine substance of life is in the process of bringing forth the universe, a thousand-leaf lotus grows out of the cosmic waters and is the opening, gateway and mouth for the development of the universe. The cosmic

A man, partially submerged in water, cuts the leaves of the lotus for use as receptacles

lotus is the organ of procreation of the Absolute that gives birth to the universe and symbolizes the neverending succession of existences. In pre-Vedic times, the lotus was the symbol of the Great Mother Goddess or “Earth Goddess”, Shri or Lakshmi. In the post-Vedic period the image of the one born of the lotus was transferred to Brahma, and shortly after a number of gods were depicted sitting on the lotus.”

Many of the gods and goddesses of Hinduism are linked to the flower.

The goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi, is usually depicted as being seated atop a fully opened lotus flower.

Likewise, Brahma, the god of creation, is depicted as emerging from a lotus that crawls from the naval of the sustainer Lord Vishnu.

The lotus is able to emerge from muddy waters un-spoilt and pure; it is considered to represent a wise and spiritually enlightened quality in a person, representative of somebody who

The lotus flower in full bloom

carries out their tasks with little concern for any reward and with a full liberation from attachment.

Inspiring manmade objects

Lotus plants stay dirtfree, an obvious advantage for an aquatic plant living in typically muddy habitats, and they do so without using detergent or expending energy. Leaves of the sacred lotus are self-cleaning thanks to hydrophobic nanoscale bumps.

In a research done overseas, the lotus was artificially contaminated with various particles and subsequently subjected to artificial rinsing by a water sprinkler. In the case of water-repellent leaves, the particles were removed completely by water droplets that rolled off the surfaces.

This is because of the lotus’ surface roughness, reduced particle adhesion and water repellency – the keystone in its self-cleaning mechanism.

Surface finishes inspired

by the self-cleaning mechanism of lotus plants have now been applied to paints, glass, textiles, and more, reducing the need for chemical detergents and costly labour.

use as sun protection today in some parts of India.

Because of the lotus’ incredible history and biology, there is on-going research in many parts of the world

on the biological and technological importance of the lotus. (Cover: A bright pink flower stands out among lotus leaves)

An edible, useful utensil

The lotus flowers, seeds, young leaves, and "roots" (rhizomes) are all edible.

Lotus leaves are circular and indented in the middle, giving the leaves a funnellike shape, ideal for usage as a receptacle not only because of its sturdiness but also because of its known symbol of purity.

In Guyana, “seven-curry” is only enjoyed in lotus leaves at Hindu weddings and other Hindu functions.

In Chinese cuisine, mature lotus leaves are used to wrap steamed food. In many parts of the world, they function as water vessels for fetching and drinking water.

In bas-reliefs of the goddesses Ganga and Yamuna on the doorframes of Hindu temples, the lotus leaf served as a parasol for the deities. They were also used as hats when tied inverted under the chin in ancient Egypt. Hung upside above the head in the artwork, the leaves are said to be still in

Krishna and Radha sitting on a lotus blossom (Miniature of the Parkarischool, Basohli, 1715)

Lotus' seeds known locally as 'water nuts'

4

Sunday Times Magazine

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Times Feature

By Dmitri Allicock

T

he town of Linden is synonymous with bauxite where the discovery of bauxite in Demerara shaped every aspect of life.

The community grew from a small and sparsely populated one to become the second largest town in Guyana.

History of Bauxite

Bauxite was found at Christianburg and discussed as early as 1860 before its full potential was realized.

Interest in this ore peaked as aluminium became of age. In 1897, Sir Henry Harrison collected samples of the ore at Christianburg and Akyma, and had it analyzed in Georgetown.

Once the facts were established, mining companies began to show interest. 1n 1913, Geologist George Bain Current bauxite mine, Linden

Mackenzie was visiting the area and collected samples of the ore for testing. In 1914, he bought lands for Alcoa in the area now known as Mackenzie.

In 1916, The Demerara Bauxite Company was incorporated and registered in Georgetown, and started operations on the lands bought

by Mackenzie. 1n 1917, bauxite mining started at Maria Elizabeth and nearby Akyma. Both areas are south of Mackenzie, about 8 miles upriver from the city.

The area was briefly called Mackenzie City but the ‘City’ was dropped later. The bauxite plant on the east bank of the Demerara River was soon built. The mining community would soon follow.

the prospecting teams. This

team

was made

Bauxite mining

The first part of bauxite operations was the search by

Bauxite barge on Berbice River

up by people that were familiar with the terrain and life of the area.

When the signs were favourable for bauxite, the land would be cleared enough to get samples by drilling.

After analysis of the sample promised rich bauxite and full scale mining was justified, then the work begin.

The jungle would be cleared.

Salvageable wood would be taken then the area cleansed by fire.

The next objective is to get to the buried bauxite. Many times hundreds of feet of silica sand have to be removed.

Powerful water jet monitors were used to wash away the top layers of overburden in some cases. This process is called hydraulic stripping.

Other primary stripping was done by drag lines and bulldozers.

Today, bauxite is blasted. Holes are drilled and dynamite placed to blast the topsoil off to get the ore. The traditional daily booms of blasting still ring in my ears from early childhood.

The broken chunks of hard, reddish bauxite was dug by massive draglines and loaded onto trains. Each mine was connected by rail to the plant. This was Guyana’s second inland railroad. The train ran until the 1970s when they were retired for the very massive dump trucks.

When the ore reached the Mackenzie Plant, it was crushed and washed clean of sand and clay. The second process is that of heat. The heat application was dependent of whether the ore was being exported as a dry product or as a calcined product.

Demba produced several kinds of bauxite. The world-famous type called ‘RASC’ (Refractory A- Grade Supercalcined) bauxite was produced by the plant at Mackenzie. Guyana’s RASC is still the standard by which others are judged. The Berbice operation was the primary source of abrasive and chemical grade bauxite. Guyana, China and now Brazil hold the distinction as the world supplier of RASC bauxite.

Bauxite today

What has changed is that the bauxite industry has drastically declined from what it was.

I can hardly write about bauxite and Linden and skip over some significant events that occurred with the bauxite industry and Guyana.

Guyana gained independence from Britain in 1966, and the journey to political maturity was complex and difficult. We would, sadly, spiral down into that tragic abyss that is so typical of most. Guyana entered a stormy night of inner strug-

gles and serious mistakes that lead to a disastrous decline all over Guyana, including in the bauxite industry.

Nationalization without deep forethought on future sale and market of bauxite, strikes, corruption, mismanagements and a long series of events from the 1970s saw this downward turn and failure of this industry.

The ruins of the multimillion dollar Alumina Plant was a shocking site in 2010. I stood outside its broken gates and witnessed the jungle taking over. Large sections being cannibalized and salvaged for scrap iron.

The industry was already in the red as early as 1976 with a negative cash flow, according to Prime Minister and former Minister of Energy and Mines, Sam Hinds.

For the many thousands who left the area, bauxite will no longer play any significant part in their lives. For those at home the relationship will continue. The final chapter on bauxite is yet to be written and optimistically it will be a good one. Painful lessons were hopefully learnt and will improve understanding and actions.

The story of bauxite and its relationship with the people of Upper Demerara for one hundred years must be told and not forgotten, because it is a story of the people of Guyana.

Transporting bauxite ore

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljie

A cover of one of her music albums

J

Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljie

oyce FerdinandLalljie was a Guyanese child prodigy who began playing one of her mother’s piano pieces when she was just three years old. She and her younger sister, Mavis, both became concert pianists and were known as the “two Ferdinand girls”.

Joyce is credited as being the first black woman to play a full piano concerto.

In his article on radio in British Guiana for the 1951 Chronicle Christmas Annual, Albert E L Isaacs described Joyce FerdinandLalljie (later Joyce Ferdinand-Saunders) as one of the “Big Finds” of local radio (and stage) during 1951. Isaacs’ article stated that Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljie’s genius was shared with the people of British Guiana through the radio programmeBerbice Calling, produced by Olga Lopes-Seale on ZFY. Joyce was born in 1923 in New Amsterdam, Berbice. Her mother, Edith Ferdinand, was an important musical personality in New Amsterdam.

She was a music teacher and organist at both St Patrick’s Anglican Church and Mission Chapel Congregational Church.

Joyce’s other teacher in British Guiana was Mrs Ruby McGregor. It was under her tutelage that Joyce earned the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (Piano Performing) in 1948.

By 1951, Joyce was the toast of the nation. She dominated classical music and was celebrated for her performances on the British Council broadcasts. As mentioned earlier, Isaacs described her as one of the “big finds”, and the Guiana Times voted her ‘Musician of the Year’ in 1951.

Charles Knights remembers her as the first Guyanese to perform a piano concerto with the British Guiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

This was before the performance by Winifred Atwell, the celebrated Trinidadian pianist.

In 1946, Joyce married Rev William Lalljie. He was very supportive of her and encouraged her to continue her musical career.

Joyce’s musical career took her to the United Kingdom, the United States, and back to Guyana.

Before leaving for the UK on a British Council scholarship in the early 1960s, Joyce relocated to Georgetown, where she established herself as an innovative teacher, performer and composer.

The British Council scholarship enabled Joyce to study at the Trinity College of Music in London.

There she completed diploma programmes in piano education and the teaching of music in schools.

She was awarded the Fellowship of the Trinity College of Music in 1964.

Between 1964 and 1976, Joyce taught music in Birmingham. According to the Snijders and Loncke, editors of “One Hundred Years of Classical Music in the Guianas: Selected Pieces for Pianoforte”, Joyce returned to Guyana in 1976 to accept an appointment as a lecturer at the Cyril Potter Teachers’ Training College.

Although her stay in Guyana was relatively short, she did engage in a number of activities that influenced her music creativity. Among the activities were renewing her contact with Guyanese folk music and her engagement with ‘Broadcast to Schools’.

In the late 1980s, Joyce made another trip to Guyana. The period following those visits has been marked by compositions celebrating the Guyanese landscape.

In her correspondence with the editors of “One Hundred Years of Classical Music in the Guianas: Selected Pieces for Pianoforte”, she explained: “The effect on me was profound, and thoughts of Guyana and the difference in life-style produced acute nostalgia.

I was compelled to use the only means of expression at my disposal, and it was this feeling that impelled me into composing.”

Joyce has composed for viola, flute, voice, and pianoforte. Her “Carousel for Flute” was premiered by Guyanese flautist Keith Waithe. Among her

compositions for pianoforte are “Odyssey of the Demerara River”, “Three O’Clock in Bourda”, “The Legend of Kai”, “Stabroek Blues”, “Water Lily Canal

by Moonlight”, and “Janie Gal”.

In a Jan 2015 letter to a local newspaper, in which E B John wrote that he learnt about the passing of Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljie, he stated that Joyce’s “devotion to Guyanese music and song was steadfast,

and not long ago she recorded Seymour’s “Legend of Kaieteur” there in Birmingham”.

Joyce is, without doubt, a Guyanese music legend. (www.guyanesegirlsrock. com)

6 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

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Times Book World The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

T

he anthology has an invaluable role to play and an unenviable task in collating, packaging, preserving and distributing a country’s literary and cultural heritage.

Consequently, the anthology ought to be a flexible instrument to execute a number of exploits. The anthology ought to bring out the best; bring attention to bear on the lesser known, but significant; have a fair representation of the literary landscape; and to provide writers with a wider audience. Additionally, the anthology ought to be able to form a link between the writer and the reader, stimulating discussion and debate; it ought to be some sort of record of achievement of a people, serving to build a sense of national pride. The anthology ought to provide periodic assessments, acting as a barometer of a nation’s progress in certain areas of certain periods.

Significantly, anthologies mark certain momentous periods in the history of a country, like a golden jubilee, a centenary or any other significant milestone.

This is a tall order for an anthology of any country during any era. Such a mandate very often results in omissions due to lack of space excluding longer materials, and therefore a true representation of the landscape (littered

'Anthology of Local Indian Verse' by C. E. J. Ramcharitar-Lalla

by prolific writers, writers with a small oeuvre of lengthy pieces or writers straddling different periods) may be absent. An anthology may suffer from inadequate funding, lack of access to certain works, copyright constraints, and a subjection to an anthologist’s personal preferenc-

'Sky Dance, An Anthology of Poems by Guyanese of Indian Ancestry'

es and prejudice. This last challenge - to be precise, shortcoming - can be overlooked, except when the omission is blatant as with the case with Guyana’s first anthology of poetry.

This first anthology of poetry did not include any Guyanese writers of Indian ancestry, even though they were known of by Cameron who said in his “Introductory Essay” that Joseph Ruhomon and C. E. J. Ramcharitar-Lalla are “adding their contribution to our stock of religious poetry”. That anthology came out in 1941.

In response, Ramcharitar-Lalla produced the first “Anthology of Local Indian Verse” published in 1934, so the above omission can be taken as a blessing in disguise.

Why it took half of a century for the next such anthology to surface is open to speculation. What we know, however, is that it took a cultural icon with a passion and leaning towards Indian predicament and wellbeing to make that bold move. So we find in 1986, Laxhmi Kallicharan producing “SHRAADANJALI”, another slim volume but important in that it marked a sort of turning point in the Indian literary tradition.

Five years later, Kampta Karran produced “An Introduction to the Poetry of the East Indian Diaspora 1901-1991”. This was a substantial collec-

tion and aptly subtitled,“A Celebration of Guyanese East Indian Poets”. That anthology was divided into six sections, namely “Section One: Patriotism”, “Section Two: Estate”, “Section Three: Protest”, “Section Four: Nature”, “Section Five: Culture” and “Section Six: Children’s Perception”. The book included works by established writers, emerging writers and little-known writers.

“They Came In Ships - An Anthology of IndoGuyanese Prose and Poetry”, selected by Lloyd Searwar, Ian McDonald, Laxhmie Kallicharan and Joel Benjamin, was published in 1988 to mark the 150th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians from India to Guyana.

At the time of publication of the book, it was felt that the contribution of Indians to the development of Guyana was welldocumented,‘save and except’ their contribution to society in the arts. So 'Jahaji - An Anthology of Indo-Caribbean there was a need for such Fiction' by Frank Birbalsingh a document, and what a source document it turned Arts Council (1976), and ry (2038) of the arrival of out to be. The fact that it “A Treasury of Guyanese Indians. remains relevant to this Poetry” edited by A. J. Responses to this auday is a testimony of its Seymour (1980). thor telephone (592) 226scope and import.

With such mandate at- 0065 or email: oraltradiIn the wake of “They tached to the anthology, tion2002@yahoo.com Came in Ships”, antholo- we now look forward with What’s Happening: gies seem to be rolling off great expectations to an Coming soon - A new the press at a brisk pace. anthology marking the pocketbook, “Guyanese In 1997, “Sky Dance, centennial end to inden- Writers of Indian Ancestry” An Anthology of Poems tureship (2017) and one

by Guyanese of Indian to mark the bicentenaAncestry” was edited and published by Roopnandan Singh.

In 2000, “Jahaji: An Anthology of IndoCaribbean Fiction”

by Frank Birbalsingh was released, followed in 2001 by “Just a Number” (poems) by Roopnandan Singh.

In 2008, “An Anthology of Caribbean Poetry for Carifesta X”, edited

by Petamber Persaud with introduction by Al Creighton, was published. This was followed by “An Anthology of Contemporary Verse from Guyana”,which was edited by Petamber Persaud with an introduction

by Dr. Lynn Macedo and came out in 2013.

It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the ‘national’ and international anthologies which included the works of Indians.

Those include “Voices of Guyana” edited

by Donald Trotman (1968), “Independence Ten” produced by the National History and 'They Came in Ships - An Anthology of Indo-Guyanese Prose and Poetry'

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

The Beginning of the Gold Industry in Guyana

Gold digging, British Guiana

'Gold offices station, River Waini, British Guiana'

By Odeen Ishmael

B

etween 1849 and 1857 reports of gold discoveries in Essequibo were circulating in British Guiana, now Guyana. Then in 1860 the Superintendent of Rivers and Creeks declared that gold could be found on the beds of some rivers in Essequibo. Not too long after, the owner of a Georgetown jewellery estab-

lishment, B. V. Abraham, received permission from the Government to prospect for gold in the Cuyuni River.

Abraham set up machinery at Waririe on the right bank of Cuyuni and managed to gather small quantities of gold, but the gold company, which he established with a capital of $75,000, could not maintain itself since only small quantities being found. Mining operations

were halted and Abraham, on behalf of the company, asked the Court of Policy for financial relief claiming that over $65,000 was spent without obtaining any profit. This request was refused.

Abraham was convinced that gold existed in large quantities, but more capital investment was necessary. He travelled to England to convince business persons there to sub-

scribe capital to his company so that he could continue the mining operations. However, investors in England were discouraged by the report of the geologists Brown and Sawkins, who stated that Guyana was unlikely to produce large quantities of gold. Further, the British Government at that period declared that there should be no mining in the area where gold was found in that region because it had an agreement with Venezuela that due to existing territorial claims, neither country should occupy it.

Abraham returned to Guyana where he established a business association with D'Amil, a Portuguese woodcutter, and they secretly mined for gold; both men became very wealthy.

In 1863, a quartz crushing

the Government (or acting Governor) of British Guiana, Charles Bruce, issued a public notice that licenses issued for gold mining were subjected to a subsequent settlement of the border dispute with Venezuela.

This notice did not help at all to encourage investors interested in gold mining.

This state of affairs changed in 1889 when the new Governor Viscount Gormanston announced in the Combined Court that the British Government would no longer recognise any Venezuelan claim east of the Schomburgk Line. He declared also that the territory near the Orinoco, where gold was also found, would become a separate administrative area known as the North West District.

of African men in the villages found great difficulty in finding employment in the estates and in the towns. Gold mining became a lure for these men and they singly or on groups departed for the interior districts in search of gold. Most of these miners operated independently or in small partnerships as soon as they staked mining claims in the interior areas where they "panned" for gold in the rivers. Since much of their diet consisted of salted pork, they began to be referred to as "pork-knockers". The settlement of Bartica, the gateway to the interior, became a busy service centre, growing rapidly in size and officially becoming a township in 1887.

As gold production grew, the sugar estates continued to face a serious threat of los-

'Washing' for gold in the Mazaruni circa 1908

Rice harvesting, British Guiana (no date)

Roadside on a sugar plantation, British Guiana (no date)

operation was started in the Cuyuni, but the low quantity of gold obtained forced it to close down.

In 1879, after information circulated that gold was found in other parts of Essequibo, many individuals left the coastal region and became independent gold miners in various tributaries of the Essequibo River. In October of that same year, one African gold miner, Jules Caman, using a placewashing system, found relatively large quantities in the Akaiwanna Creek and the Konawaruk Creek, two of the smaller tributaries of the Essequibo River. Gold was also found in areas near the source of the Demerara River.

The Venezuelan claim to most of Essequibo at first hampered the development of the gold industry in that area. As late as March 1887, the Officer Administering

The dismissal of the Venezuelan claim encouraged gold miners to rush back to the Essequibo region, particularly to the Potaro where large gold discoveries were made. The Essequibo Gold Mining Company was established and it operated mainly in the Potaro River area where it made rich finds and earned large profits for its investors.

Gold mining had a serious effect on labour on the coastal areas, especially in the sugar industry. This was because many of the male African workers departed for the gold fields with the hope of earning quick riches. In an effort to stem the drain of labour, the Government in 1880 imposed a royalty on would-be gold miners of two percent. But this did not halt the flow especially since sugar was fetching a low price in Europe. Earnings were never sufficient and hundreds

ing many of its skilled workers.

The Government in 1896 published its ‘Mining Regulations’, which placed a number of demands on gold miners, possibly with an intention of discouraging them from moving to the gold fields. Prospectors, in addition to the royalty they had to pay, now had to fill out lengthy forms to obtain licenses for which fees were charged.

In addition, they had to submit themselves to a body search when they were departing from the gold fields. Nevertheless, these actions did not deter more and more persons from becoming gold miners, some of whom branched out into digging up the gravel banks of the river to search for diamonds after those gems were discovered in Mazaruni. (Text from “The Guyana Story: From Earliest Times to Independence” by Odeen Ishmael)

8 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Travel & Tourism

Foothills of the Kanuku Mountains

T

he Kanuku mountain range lies in the southern half of Guyana, Region Nine, and runs east to west,dividing the north and south Rupununi. These mountains are internationally recognised as being extremely rich in biodiversity.

The Kanukus contain habitats as diverse as gallery forests, lowland forests and montane evergreen forests and savannah. It is home to 70% of all mammals and 53% of all birds known to exist in Guyana.

At least five of the South American giants

live at the Kanuku Mountains - the Harpy Eagle, Black Caiman, Giant River Otter, Arapaima fish and the Giant Anteater.

The Macushi and Wapishana peoples make up the populationsliving in communities in or near to the Kanuku Mountains, caring and wisely using the resources in traditional ways.

Nappi, a Macushi Amerindian community, is found sitting in the hills of the Kanuku Mountains.

A house in Nappi with the Kanuku Mountains in the background

Rain descends on the mountains

Nappi Creek, Kanuku Mountains (Photo by Julie de Carvalho)

Scenic view of the Kanuku Mountains from Maparri River

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

Can You Be Overweight and Healthy?

W

e know that carrying some extra weight can increase the risks of conditions like heart disease, high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and even death. But is being slightly overweight really so unhealthy? The answer might surprise you.

Excess weight and a laundry list of healthy concerns are not always synonymous. But, don’t be so quick to ward off a healthy diet and exercise — this subgroup of overweight people, dubbed the metabolically healthy obese, fit some very specific criteria.

Defining the risks Body mass index: An individual’s risks for these conditions don’t depend solely on the numbers that appear on the scale, nor on any other single measure, like body mass index.

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure used to determine body fat based on a person’s height and weight, and is typically used to assess the risks your weight has on your health, but even that is an imperfect mea-

sure.

“I use risk to define everything,” Neil McDevitt, MD, a bariatric surgeon with Summerville Medical Center, U.S., says. “There's a lot of social issues that go into what people feel comfortable with, so we use a BMI chart to give us an overall gestalt of what your general risk is, based on your weight,” he adds.

By definition, overweight and obese people have a BMI greater than 25 or 30, respectively, but, “there's a weakness inherent in BMI charts,” McDevitt says. “It doesn't take into consideration muscle mass.”

That’s not all. The healthiest BMI for longevity might not fall within the normal range (18.5 to 25), although the jury is still out on the optimal BMI for lowest mortality. In fact, one study suggests the “sweet spot” for longevity is a BMI of 27, which you’ll find right in the middle of the overweight range. Other studies, still, suggest the lowest rates of mortality are among those with a BMI between 20 and 24.

Hip-to-waist ratio: Concerns over weight may not be directly related to how much fat a person is carrying, but where on the body they’re carrying it. One major risk factor of metabolic syndrome is a large midsection, often described as an “apple-shaped” figure.

“We look at something called the hipto-waist ratio,” McDevitt says.

“The World Health Organization says that abdominal obesity is significantly more of a risk

This Is What a Healthy Plate Looks Like

factor than obesity of the periphery of the body.”

The measure used to determine fat distribution is known as hip-to-waist ratio — a comparison between the smallest part of the waist and largest part of the hip.

A ratio of one or greater for men and .8 or greater for women, is considered an apple shape, and thus carries a greater potential for obesity-related health risks and death.

In combination with BMI, waist circumference gives a good picture a person’s risk of obesity-related mortality — even if you fall within a healthy BMI range.

Other factors: Exercise tolerance and genetics play a role in determining the risks of your weight on your health, as well. “There's a huge difference between somebody who has a higher BMI, who is only able to walk one thousand steps a day, versus somebody who is capable of walking nine or ten thousand steps a day,” McDevitt says.

Good genes can very well bless an overweight individual with normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels, thereby relieving some pressure to shed the pounds.

Extra pounds may be OK “What I look at is sustainability — if somebody has a BMI of 27 or 28, but they’re healthy, making good food choices, exercising, and they’re able to maintain that BMI, then I don’t really foresee an issue,” McDevitt says. “Why should we push them any harder, unless they want to be a lighter weight?”

The bottom line? A BMI that is indicative of being overweight or obese doesn’t innately make in individual unhealthy. “So, it is very possible, and very acceptable, to be overweight and still be healthy,” McDevitt says.

Before you run to the pantry, keep in mind, metabolically healthy obesity isn’t common — about one in every seven people — and it

might not last forever. Age, lack of exercise, and other factors can turn that excess weight into a dangerous health concern.

Although extra baggage is OK for some, excess weight is a problem for many — two out of three Americans are considered overweight or obese, and many of them are unhealthy.

There are certainly some people whose bodies aren’t built to handle excess weight. In these cases, they may develop metabolic syndrome — a group of risk factors that up your chance of developing issues like heart disease and diabetes.

Excess weight can also take a toll on your knee and hip joints, your ability to sleep, and has been linked to respiratory issues and even some cancers. Don’t sweat (or do) — many of these conditions can be managed with weight loss. In the simplest terms, losing weight is a matter of burning more calories than you consume.

The only sure fire way to assess these risks is to visit your doctor. Work with your healthcare provider to create a diet and exercise regimen that works with your lifestyle. “Adjust your lifestyle, so that you don't have to work harder,” McDevitt says. “If you make better food choices consistently, you don't necessarily have to make up for it at the gym.” (www.doctoroz.com)

Benefits of Grapefruit Juice

O

ut of all the fresh produce in the supermarket, grapefruits are too often overlooked, thanks to their reputation for being somewhat bitter tasting. However, the health benefits in this citrus fruit far outweigh the cons, making grapefruit juice an excellent addition to a healthy diet. Just be sure to juice the fruit yourself to get all the vitamins and nutrients and none of the unhealthy sugars that come from the store-bought variety.

Low-Calorie If you are looking for a refreshing beverage that won’t cost you a ton of calories, you can skip past the smoothies and milkshakes and go straight for the juice of one medium grapefruit instead. For around 70 calories, you will get a generous serving of vitamin C and vitamin A. Immunity A medium-sized grapefruit has about 128% of your daily-recommended vitamin C intake (based

on a 2,000 calorie diet). By drinking grapefruit juice you can support your immune system and potentially even fight off the common cold and other illnesses that strike when your immune system is defenseless and depleted.

Cholesterol The pectin in grapefruit may help lower your cholesterol if you include this juice as part of a healthy diet. Some studies have shown that regular consumption of pectin helped lower LDL cholesterol, though as always it’s important to maintain a healthy diet as well. While pectin doesn’t come from the juice, it is in the seeds, membranes, and the thick white pith of the grapefruit, so you can eat the grapefruit whole in addition to juicing it for the full effect.

Calming Citrus scents are known for being invigorating and stress reducing. If you’re feeling anxious or tired, try taking in the scent of your grapefruit as you squeeze the grapefruit juice into your cup. You’ll be surprised how much more alert and happy you feel.

Hydrating Did you know that grapefruits are made up almost entirely of water? If you’re feeling dehydrated, a glass of grapefruit juice is a great choice. Like watermelon or cucumbers, this fruit is particularly delicious on a hot day when you lose a lot of water from sweating outside. www.doctoroz.com)

10 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

Times Fashion

Designer bow ties G

uyanese designer Andy Cummings recently launched a chic collection of bow ties, showcasing his designing talents in creating applauded pieces for a distinct look.

“I launched my brand of bowties at this year’s International Women's Day celebration in La Guyane.My new breed of ties is for the new-age, high fashion men who are tired of plain ties.

The Caribbean is known for alot of tie-dye and discharge, so I introduce my new tie-dye and discharge bowties. Because I cannot forget my African heritage, I use bold African prints with bright colours, which always stands out from ‘normal’ ties,” the designer explained in an

interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Cummings graduated from the Burrowes School of Art in 2012 with a major in Ceramics and minor in Textiles. He was awarded best graduating student and best ceramic student for his year. In that same year, he won the Guyana Model Search/Designers Portfolio, which gave him the opportunity to be fashion partner with veteran Guyanese designer Sonia Noel. Cummings was named Most Promising Young Designer of 2013.

Forever looking for newer and bigger challenges to conquer, in late 2014 the designer decided to enter “Mission Catwalk” - a regional design-

er competition that targets the Caribbean’s best young designers. He made inroads again when he became the first designer from Guyana to make it to the finals of the competition.

Cummings was able to secure the “Most Promising Designer of the Year” title.

Now, the designer’s dreams, which he is working feverishly to make a reality, are to pursue a fashion degree from an accredited university and to work for an international fashion company with the aim of one day operating his own establishment.

To contact the designer, email a.acummings68@yahoo. com. Ties featured today are available at Unique Boutique in Merriman's Mall.

guyanatimesgy.com

Sunday Times Magazine 11 MARCH 26 , 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Star Times Hollywood

Z

oe Saldana is an American actress and dancer.

Following her performances with the theater group Faces, Saldana made her screen debut in an episode of “Law & Order” (1999). Her film career began a year later with “Center Stage” (2000), where she played a struggling ballet dancer, followed by a role in “Crossroads” (2002).

Saldana's breakthrough came in 2009 with the roles of Nyota Uhura in “Star Trek” and Neytiri in James Cameron's “Avatar” (2009). The latter film received widespread acclaim, and is the highest-grossing film of all time. Saldana continued her career with films such as “Colombiana” (2011), “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) and both “Star Trek” sequels: “Star Trek Into Darkness” (2013) and “Star Trek Beyond” (2016). Saldana is set to reprise her roles in “Avatar 2” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”, which is set to be released in May 2017.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 26 , 2017

Times Hollywood

Zayn Malik beats anxiety, Wyclef Jean mistaken eating disorder for petrol station thief M

Z

ayn Malik says his eating disorder and anxiety are now behind him and are "demons of the past" thanks to more time spent relaxing at home.

The singer, 24, has spoken before about his mental health problems but has now confessed it was a "control thing".

He launched a solo career after leaving One Direction more than a year ago, but had to cancel live performances because of low selfconfidence.

He says time with his mum in Bradford has also

really helped him.

In an interview, he spoke about how food was one of the only areas of his life he had autonomy over.

"Every area of my life was so regimented and controlled it was the one area where I could say, 'No, I'm not eating that.'

"Once I got over the control, the eating just came back into place, super naturally.

"I came back to the UK and spent some time with my mum and got some TLC, and she cooked me food and I got back in touch, mental-

ly, with a lot of the things I'd lost."

Last June he pulled out of his first European solo show at Wembley Stadium, saying he was suffering the worst anxiety of his career.

He said it was during his 1D days that his issues were at their worst.

"I now have no problem with anxiety. It was something I was dealing with in the band."

And he said it has helped break down barriers and stigmas which often stop someone speaking to other people about their mental health.

"People saw strength in that, and they didn't seem to expect it from a guy, but they expect it from a female, which to me is crazy.

"People are often afraid to admit difficulties, but I don't believe that there should be a struggle with anything that's the truth."

Zayn says his girlfriend Gigi Hadid has been a source of stability to him for the last year and a half.

(BBC)

‘The Big Bang Theory’ has been renewed for two more years

T

here had been speculation about whether the show would end at series 10, but CBS said it's struck a deal with producers to keep it on the air.

The main cast, made up or Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar are all signed up to continue in the show.

Deals are still being negotiated with their co-stars Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch.

Earlier this month it was reported the five stars of the show had agreed to take pay cuts to make sure Rauch and Bialik would get raises.

Parsons and the other original stars are said to earn around a million dollars (£811,000) per episode, while Rauch and Bialik are thought to make about US200,000

dollars (£162,000).

They offered to take less to free up US500,000 dollars (£403,000) for Rauch and Bialik, who did not join the programme until the third series and are paid less.

As well as the confirmation of the new series, a prequel called Young Sheldon was recently confirmed to start later this year.

It's been created by Chuck Lorre and Steve Molaro, the executive producers behind the original show.

Young Sheldon will star Iain Armitage as a nine-year-old Sheldon Cooper, one of the main characters in the hit show.

Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon, will narrate the new show as the adult Sheldon.

(BBC)

usician Wyclef Jean has criticised police in Los Angeles for mistaking him for a man who robbed a nearby petrol station.

The Haitian rapper tweeted a video of himself standing next to a police car after being handcuffed.

He claimed the LAPD put him in the cuffs for "absolutely nothing" but the force has since tweeted to say it wasn't them.

In fact officers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department were the ones who detained him.

Wyclef Jean is best known as one of the founding members of rap group Fugees and has worked with Shakira, Timbaland and Lil' Kim.

He says he was in the studio with the artist T-Baby when the petrol station robbery took place and claims he was only stopped

by the police afterwards because he was a black man in a bandana, which matched the identity of the robber.

In the clip he says he is "coming from the studio with T-Baby, y'all see the police have handcuffs on me, they just took off my Haitian bandana".

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat a spokesperson from the LA County Sheriff's department said that Wyclef Jean "was in the passenger seat of a vehicle that matched the description of the car used in an earlier armed robbery."

The police say it was case of mistaken identity and the singer was released without charge. (BBC)

Adele pays heartfelt tribute to those involved in Westminster attack

A

s the UK comes to terms with the events at Westminster, which happened on Wednesday, that saw four people dead and 29 injured, Brits further afield were similarly struck by feelings of grief.

Over in New Zealand, Adele performed an emotional tribute to those involved during her concert in Auckland on Thursday.

The London-born singer told fans that it felt "strange" not being at home before dedicating her hit single Make You Feel My Love to the victims.

"Today there was a terror attack in my hometown of London," she said.

"I'm literally on the other side of the world and I want them to see our lights and to hear us," she said.

"It's very strange not being home, all I want to do today is be at home with my friends and family".

She added: "All of them are fine, but there are four people who aren't fine, so let's dedicate this to them tonight." (Glamour)

Beyonce FaceTimes fan with rare form of cancer

B

eyonce has FaceTimed a fan who's being treated for a rare form of can-

cer.

Ebony Banks, who is a high school student from Houston, Texas, has always said one of her dreams is to meet Beyonce.

Earlier this month, the school held an early graduation for Ebony in the hospital, whose nickname is Ebob.

Her friends then used the hashtag #EBOBMEETSBEYONCE in the hope of attracting Beyonce's attention.

A few days after the hashtag trended the singer surprised Ebony with a call.

A recording of the conversation appeared on Beyonce fan pages.

Ebony is seen lying in a

hospital bed saying "I love you Beyonce" to which she replies, "I love you".

The school tweeted: "Thank you to everyone who helped #ebobmeetsbeyonce @ Beyonce."

Cristal Depaz, another pupil at the school, said: "We try to make sure she has a smile on her face and to make her wishes come true." (BBC)

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Star Times Bollywood

Z

ain Imam is an Indian television actor.

He made his television debut with MTV India's youth based show, “Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan”. He is best known for his role in “Tashn-e-ishq” as Yuvraj Luthra. Zain is currently seen in “Naamkarann”, an Indian Hindi romantic drama television series. For his work in “Tashn-e-ishq”, he was awarded Favourite Dushman at Zee Rishtey Awards 2015 and Best Actor in a Negative Role at Zee Gold Awards 2016.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Bollywood

Deepika Padukone Akshay Kumar urges everyone to build toilets has the highest, most coveted brands W

ith one more brand added in Deepika Padukone’s pool, the dimpled beauty sustains her position of having the highest number of brands and the most coveted ones.

The Mastani of Bollywood has recently been announced as the face of a mobile manufacturing giant and is now the brand ambassador of as many as 18 quality brands across various segments.

The “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” star, who has left no stone unturned in making herself a global icon, is a hot name in the brands circuit because of her massive popularity.

On the professional front, the 31-yearold is currently gearing up for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum-opus “Padmavati” that also stars Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in lead roles. (New Delhi)

Shahid Kapoor: ‘Past with Kareena Kapoor is world secret’

H

appily married to Mira, and loving his new real life role as a father, actor Shahid Kapoor chose to “get back” when asked about his “secret past” with Kareena Kapoor Khan on Friday.

Shahid was at the India Today Woman Summit and Awards when an audience member was keen to know about his “secret past”.

“I have a secret past,” Shahid asked, almost puzzled.

“How do you know about it? Were you spying on me? I can’t confess to my secret past,” he added.

On being prodded with Kareena’s name, he said, “How is that secret, madam? It’s a world secret.”

Later, when Shahid was asked to teach one of his dance steps to the audience, he invited the same lady who wanted him to talk about Kareena. “The lady who said, Kareena Kapoor, I want her on the stage.

See, this is Karma, life gets back. What goes around comes around and it’s not just Justin Timberlake who said that... It’s true for life,” he quipped.

Shahid and Kareena had one of the most talked about relationships in tinsel town in recent years, and their split courted equal media attention.

Kareena went on to marry actor-producer Saif Ali Khan, and is now a mother to their first child -- a son named Taimur.

Shahid went for an arranged marriage

A

ctor Akshay Kumar talks from his heart and when he does, fans can’t help but listen. In his latest video, the actor has taken up the cause to spread awareness about open defecation and highlighted how it’s one of the major problems in our country. Making it clear that this video is in no way a promotional activity or publicity for his upcoming film, about the same subject, Akshay said that he was shaken to find shocking facts during the research for his film.

Addressing the issue of open defecation, Akshay said, “More than half of the population in our country, especially women, do not have access to toilets and they have to

Jacqueline Fernandez takes up marine conservation with Delhi girl Mira, and they have daughter Misha.

In the midst of the discussion here, when the host said she won’t go into his past relationships, he said, “So kind of you.

Shaadikebaadyeh sab mat kiyakaro (Don’t do all this after marriage).”

He spoke about love and arranged relationships.

Asked if love is a prerequisite for a marriage, Shahid said, “Of course, it is, but in an arranged marriage, it’s about companionship and friendship first, and love follows.”

(New Delhi)

Ayushmann Khurrana: 'I like learning new languages'

A

yushmann Khurrana has played various characters on screen such as a quintessential boy from Haridwar (“Dum Laga Ke Haisha”; 2015), a Maharashtrian boy (“Hawaizaada”; 2015) and now a Bengali in an upcoming movie.

Ask him if it’s his Indian appeal that has earned him such roles, and he says, “I think it is because of my theatre background. We’d travel across the nation doing street plays and interact with people belonging to different backgrounds.”

defecate in the open. Since they cannot go in broad daylight, they step out, out of their homes, as early as 4 in the morning and go out to the jungles or fields to defecate.”

The actor called it ironic that in a country where women are expected to cover their heads, they are also expected to defecate in the open, in dirty surroundings.

Calling it a practice that makes everyone prone to ailments, Akshay shared: “As many as one thousand kids are dying every day due to illness. It’s like two airplanes carrying 500 kids each crashing everyday in our country.”

It’s the thinking that needs to change, Akshay added. “People think when there are such vast jungles and fields in villages, why does one need to build toilets? It’s shocking that 54% people in our country do not have toilets in their homes. They don’t understand that if kitchen and bedroom is necessary, so are toilets.”

Sharing the statistics, the actor revealed that in the last one year, the government has built over 10 toilets.

“But unfortunately, most people have tied their cattle or are using them as storeroom and some have made them into shops.

I fail to understand why we need to wait for the government to take such initiatives. We can’t easily wash off our hands and let government take action.”

Making another strong point, Akshay said that whatever we donate in the name of religion, we can give at least 10% of it to the needy, and build toilets for them to improve their lives.

Urging people to change their thought process, the actor concluded by saying, “Clean India is a dream and it can be accomplished only when we pledge to keep our houses clean and take care of everyone’s health and hygiene. Please improve both your thoughts and hygiene.” (Hindustan Times)

Apparently, the actor has a penchant for languages. “I am a linguist. I like learning new languages and have a knack for it. I play a Bengali in my next film.

So now, I can understand Bengali completely,” says Ayushmann, who is well versed in Marathi too.

“It has been eight years in Mumbai; I can understand the language. It’s because my Sanskrit — the root language for every Indian language — is very strong. So, it really helps me. In fact, my Hindi is stronger than Punjabi,”

says the actor whose childhood days at home were full of “references of Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Munshi Premchand”.

Not many know that the actor has a Burma connect, and knows a bit of Burmese too. “My mum is half Burmese and she would recite Burmese poems when we were kids. I cannot speak Burmese well but I know Burmese nursery rhymes. Though it is not the most widely spoken language in the world, it is quaint for sure,” says the actor. (Hindustan Times)

J

acqueline Fernandez, with much talked about projects in her kitty, is surely will have a good 2017. However, it is not just movies on her mind now, she is all ready to take up social causes as well. The star will associate herself with the cause of marine conservation as she plans to lend support to the environmental cause, in or-

der to save marine life.

Jacqueline shares, “Around the world, marine ecosystems are being threatened, degraded, damaged or destroyed by human activities, one of which is pollution.

Taking a stroll along any beach or a ride on a ferry, one will get an idea of just how much litter is floating around in the form of the sand strewn with plastic bottles, fish boxes, light bulbs, flip-flops, scraps of fishing net or timber.”

Further adding, “The scene is the same the world over, for the seas are full of garbage. I’ve witnessed this many times on the ferry to Alibaug or to Madh Island and it’s an extremely disheartening sight. I really feel we need to educate people and spread awareness on Marine conservation.”

The thought of marine conservation has been always in her mind and the actress is looking forward to creating awareness on the cause.

“We can start with the smallest of steps to contribute towards Marine Conservation, like restricting or reducing our use of plastic products as plastic end up as ocean debris contributing to habitat destruction and entangling and killing tens of thousands of marine animals each year. We can also help by not littering beaches and waterways, disposing off waste in an environmentally safe way and reusing and recycling whenever possible,” she said. (New Delhi)

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Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Feature

Star of the week

S

tacy Persaud, a “freelance” model, ardently focuses on developing the entertainment industry and effecting change through it. She believes that modelingis a “unique part of the arts”, as it plays an integral role in boosting her confidence and empowering her. Stacy has exclusively worked with Nachle designs, owned by Guyanese designers Hashim and Melicia Alli. Apart from modeling, Stacy’s passion is being a dancer, which she has been since the age of three. She spent many years with the Ishara Dance Troupe, founded by Shivanie Latchman.

Stacy credits the dance group for the endearing qualitiesshe has developed over the years. Qualities such as “love and care” have motivated Stacy to give back.

Being a member of the Nirvana Humanitarian Society, Stacy offers her services through different forms of the arts and is also engaged in feeding programs, which she does annually. She expressed: “Humanity is the ultimate goal in one's mind hence the typical quote applies, ‘The more you give the more you received.’ In my years of offering to others, I will never forget to always remain humble.” Presently, Stacy is a University of Guyana student pursuing a diploma in Business Marketing.

The aspiring entrepreneur hopes to one day be “successful and to leave a legacy of solid contribution towards our entertainment industry”. Her advice to youths is to “always remember to remain humble, take chances, conquer trials and keep in mind that no matter how hard it gets better will soon come”. (Photo by Shamer Hescott)

Trending Now

Rainbow Roots T

he latest ‘big thing’ is called rainbow roots. This trend, which has been dominating Instagram, sees a myriad of colours applied to the roots of the hair, really close to the scalp, so that when the wind blows the rainbow is exposed.

Because the colours are only applied to the roots of the hair, this trend is a little different to your everyday rainbow hair; it’s a lot softer and less in your face.

A few things to keep in mind: Rainbow roots need to be applied to prelightened blonde hair.

Brunettes, who are interested in trying the look, have to lighten their roots first using a safe bleaching product. Consult a professional hairstylist on bleaching your hair.

16 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

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Times Art

‘Ganga Ship 1917: The Long Journey’

100th anniversary of the abolition of Indian indentureship. The costumes also bear similarity to those that were owned by the Indians when they were first brought to Guyana. “The reason for me choosing to highlight sugar is due to the fact that it brought everybody to Guyana, each race,” the artist noted.

Brian Tankoon pointed out: “For the occasion, I will be focusing solely on the Chinese, seeing that I was stripped Artist Betsy Karim

T

o commemorate the centenary of the abolition of the Indian indentureship, the Arts Forum and the Guyana Indian Indentureship Abolition Association are sponsoring an exhibition of works by several Indian Guyanese artistsat the National Library, Georgetown.

Guyanese artist Bernadette Persaud

The exhibition, “Ganga Ship 1917: The Long Journey”, will commence from March 28to April 1, 2017. Participants in the exhibition will include nationally and regionally acclaimed artist Bernadette Persaud, along with notable national artists PhilbertGajadhar and

Michael Khan.

Another recognised artist, Betsy Karim, will present, among other pieces, installation costumes that pay tribute to the Hindu gods Ganesha, Siva and Durga. These will be modelled live at the formal opening on March 28.

Emerging artist

DarshaniKistama will also be showcasing her fabric art in a Rajput sari piece, along with more traditional canvas pieces done in acrylic and watercolour.

Two other newcomers, Brian Tankoon and Ramroop Mahase, will be exhibiting some of their pieces for the first time in a national art exhibition. Sunday Times Magazine’s Page 6 contributor, Petamber Persaud, will also showcase a display of books written by and about Indian Guyanese.

Some of the participating artists shared their inspiration behind their work and the significance of thechosen pieces to be exhibited with this publication.

Betsy Karim said she will be displaying three pieces (consisting of skirt and top), celebrating the 'The List' by Brian Tankoon

of the Chinese heritage.

My piece will give a little insight into the Chinese culture, my inspiration for this.”

Michael Khan added: “I lecture textiles at the University and I love the whole concept of weaving, so my inspiration usually comes from weaving materials, then I put a concept to that.”

The exhibition is opened to the public from 9am to 5pm and on Saturday from 9am to 2pm. Admission is free.

All are invited to the exhibition’s formal opening on March 28 at 5pm.

Schools that wish to bring study groups to the exhibition may call 220-3337 to make arrangements.

The exhibition will continue at the National Art Gallery, Castellani House, from April 11 to May 6, 2017.

'An Installation Costume' by Betsy Karim

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

A

pple announced a load of new products recently.

From glamorous red iPhones to cheap new iPads, the California tech company unveiled updates, refreshes, and accessories for many of its product lines.

Apple didn't hold a big media event to coincide with the announcements either. Instead, it briefed a few media outlets and dumped the updates on its website.

Here are some key announcements by Apple:

Special-edition iPhone 7 (RED) The (RED) special edition of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus comes only in 128 GB and 256 GB options, not the 64 GB option.

Apart from the color change, it's still the same iPhone 7.

With each purchase of a red iPhone 7, Apple contributes to (RED), which supports HIV/AIDS prevention and research.

New iPads Apple updated and simplified its iPad line on March 21, 2017. Now you can get an iPad Mini, the new 9.7-inch iPad, or the iPad Pro in 9.7-inch or 12.9-inch varieties.

The new 9.7-inch iPad is a bit thicker than the iPad Air 2 — its case is about the size of the original iPad Air — but it has a much cheaper price tag, starting at $329 for 32 GB of storage (£339 in the UK).

That tablet is powered by Apple's fast A9 chip — the same one that's in the iPhone 6S — but it lacks the special screen on the iPad Pro, including its True Tone display and wide color range. It also doesn't come with the iPad Pro's stereo speakers.

New Apple Watch bands Apple introduced a handful of new Apple Watch bands so customers can further customize their watches. The new options include a new striped woven nylon, Nike Sport, and Apple Watch Hermès bands.

Tech BYTE

A

New iPhone cases Apple introduced six new colors of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus cases.

The new color options for the silicone models include Azure, Camellia, and Pebble (US$35, or £35 in the UK).

For the leather options, the new colors include Berry, Taupe, and Sapphire (US$49 or £49).

(Business Insider)

A new app called Clips Apple's newest app is called Clips, and it's a mix of Snapchat and iMovie. It lets you create photos or short videos — or import them from your Photos app — to add special filters and effects before sharing them to your favorite social network.

Fruit-shaped sensor 'can improve freshness'

new fruit-shaped sensor could help cargo companies to keep fruit fresher in transit, researchers say.

The device - which mimics the size, shape and composition of real fruit - is packed in with produce in transit and closely monitors its temperature.

It comes in orange, apple, banana and mango varieties, and alerts firms to problems with their cooling processes, allowing them to take action.

It could also lead to fresher fruit for consumers, researchers said.

The project, which is still at the trial stage, is being conducted by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa).

Communications spokeswoman Cornelia Zogg explained: "Mangos, bananas and oranges have usually travelled long distances by the time they reach our shops.

"However, not all the cargo makes it safely to its destination.

"Although fruit is inspected regularly, some of it is damaged or may even perish during the journey. This is because monitoring still has significant scope for improvement."

The researchers say this creates risks for both suppliers and consumers.

State food agencies can order container

Improvements to the iPhone SE Apple is ditching the 16 GB and 64 GB models of the iPhone SE and replacing them with 32 GB and 128 GB options. The cheapest iPhone SE model still costs US$399, while the higher-end version has gone from US$449 back to its original price of US$499. (In the UK it's £379 or £479.)

loads of fruit to be destroyed if it hasn't been stored at the right temperatures.

And fruit which is overripe or not fresh can end up being sold to consumers.

"Cargo could be left outside during a layover, or you could have a power outage during transit, all of which affects quality," project leader ThijsDefraeye told the BBC. "Exporters do have ways to measure freshness, but our sensor is more accurate because it simulates the characteristics of individual types of fruit."

To achieve this, the team X-rayed real fruits and modelled their shape and texture, he says.

They then determined the exact composition of each fruit's flesh and simulated it in a laboratory, using a mixture of water, carbohydrates and polystyrene.

The mixture was poured into a fruit-shaped sensor mould, created on a 3D printer.

MrDefraeye said: "If something goes wrong, suppliers will be able to access the temperature data from the whole journey and work out what happened.

"We hope this will help them control their sanitary protocols and cut the cost and time of logistics."

Field tests for the sensors are under way and the researchers are looking for potential commercial partners. (BBC)

Tech news

F

Google balloon mistaken for UFO

armers living in central Tolima province in Colombia say they were terrified when an object they took to be a UFO crashed in a field on Sunday.

"It was smoking and a strange liquid was leaking from it," a resident of the small town of San Luis said.

Police have since identified the object as an internet balloon developed by X, a company founded by Google, to boost the signal in rural areas.

It is not yet clear what caused the bal-

loon to crash.

Tolima police commander Jorge Esguerra denied previous reports on Twitter and local media which had described the object as a satellite.

"It's a technological device used by Google which moves around and is held aloft by a balloon," he explained, adding that it formed part of X's Project Loon.

X, which was formerly known as Google X, is using the devices to extend internet connectivity to people in rural and remote areas by having the balloons, which travel on the edge of space, relay the signal.

But many people in the rural area near San Luis where it crashed said they were convinced it was something more sinister.

"We all thought it was a UFO or the remains of a space craft," locals told El Tiempo newspaper.

It is not the first time a Project Loon balloon has crashed.

In February 2016, one came down at a tea plantation in Sri Lanka during a test flight. (BBC)

18 Sunday Times Magazine

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

A

By Cindy Yanasha Angulo

dding a throw to a living room can give it a completely different look and style.

Get inspired by these ideas to add some style to your living room.

Putting a throw against the back of a sofa gives the living room an inviting look

Ingredients 2 cups allpurpose flour (plus additional for rolling out the naan) 1/2 cup plain yogurt (I used Greek yogurt) 1/2 cup warm water 1 packet yeast 1 teaspoon sugar 1.5 tablespoons garlic powder 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons salted butter (melted) 1 teaspoon parsley flakes Method Put the warm water in a measuring cup with the packet of yeast and sugar. Stir to combine; then set aside for the yeast to activate.

Use a small bowl to melt the butter and combine with the minced garlic. Add parsley flakes also.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, granulated garlic and some parsley flakes and mix to combine.

Once the yeast is bubbly (about 10 minutes), add the olive oil and yogurt to it.

Stir until the yogurt dissolves.

Pour the yeast mixture into the bowl with the flour and start kneading. Take more dry flour if you need to.

Matching a throw with pillows gives the living room a touch of elegance

S

Greatest Cooking Tips

easoning a sauce comes at the end, if at all, and never during the process of making it. This will make a tasty, not bland, sauce.

Open the oven door too early and too often and an under-baked cake might crack or cave in the middle. The early stages in the process of baking can be crucial for the proper development of baked goods.

Tongs are an extension of your hand. Use it to flip meat, pull a pan out of the oven, stabilize a steak while slicing and much more.

O Adding a brightly-coloured throw adds an unexpected pop to the living room

Once the dough is formed, cover the bowl with a paper towel and set it aside to rise. I put mine in a microwave (leave it off though).

Leave it to rise for about an hour.

Take the dough out and break pieces off a little larger than golf balls.

Heat a large cast iron skillet on mediumhigh heat. Roll out the naan using a rolling pin.

Pour a little vegetable oil in the skillet, then place the naan in the middle. Let it bubble up for about 30 seconds then flip.

Once you flip the naan, brush on the garlic butter mixture. Use tongs to remove the naan once it's cooked on the other side.

Repeat with all the other naan.

Enjoy with paneer makhani or your favourite curry! (www.yanashaskitchen.com)

Home Help

pt for patterned upholstery, which conceals dirt better than solid fabric.

Arrange furniture six inches from walls instead of flush against them so there will be fewer smudges from bumping to tend to later.

You’ll also have easier access to dusty corners that need a visit from a dust mop.

Use ketchup to remove tarnish from copper and brass cookware.

Squeeze ketchup onto a cloth and rub it on pots and pans. They should go back to their coppery colour in minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry with a towel.

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

B

iting is a part of almost every little kid's life -- either he puts his fangs to someone else or someone sinks her teeth into him. How to handle both:

A

JOKES

frog telephones the Psychic Hotline and his Personal Psychic Advisor tells him: "You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you." The frog is thrilled, "This is great!

Will I meet her at a party?" "No," says his Advisor, "in her biology class."

A

little girl asked her mother, "How did the human race appear?"

The mother answered, "God made Adam and Eve and they had children, and so was all mankind made..."

Two days later the girl asked her father the same question.. The father answered, "Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved."

The confused girl returned to her mother and said, "Mom, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?"

The mother answered, "Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his."

W W

alking into a lawyer’s office, a man asked what his rates were. "Fifty dollars for three questions," the lawyer stated. "Isn't that awfully expensive?" the man asked?" "Yes," replied the lawyer.

"What's your third question?" hen a guy's printer type began to grow faint, he called a local repair shop where a friendly man informed him that the printer probably needed only to be cleaned.

Because the store charged $50 for such cleanings, he told him he might be better off reading the printer's manual and trying the job himself.

Pleasantly surprised by his candour, he asked, "Does your boss know that you discourage business?"

"Actually, it's my boss's idea," the employee replied sheepishly, "We usually make more money on repairs if we let people try to fix things themselves first."

F

armer Joe decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company (responsible for the accident) to court. In court, the trucking company's fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. "Didn't you say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine?" questioned the lawyer.

Farmer Joe responded, "Well I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favoUrite mule Bessie into the..."

"I didn't ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted, "just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, “’I'm fine!'"

Farmer Joe said, "Well I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road..."

The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question."

By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe's answer and said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favourite mule Bessie."

Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favourite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn't want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans.

Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me. He said, "Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?"

When your child's the biter Get eye to eye with the nipper. Then, using a stern voice, say, "No. We don't bite." Babies as young as 9 months can understand that, and given that they usually bite because they're teething, a gentle but firm no typically suffices. Older babies and toddlers tend to chomp out of frustration or anger and require further action.

Immediately remove the biter for a mini time-out, which will help defuse the intense feelings. For most toddlers, even a 30-second break will feel like an eternity.

Once he's calmer, have him tell the other child, "Sorry."

Not talking yet? A gentle pat will do. The goal is to introduce the idea of empathy, says David Schonfeld, M.D., director of developmental pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, U.S. If the tot continues to bite a lot going forward, praise him whenever you see him not doing it during a similar situation. You

can say something like, "Harry, I'm proud of you for asking Sally nicely to share the toy." Should the habit continue beyond age 2 or after several weeks of positive reinforcement for not biting, check in with your pediatrician.

When your kid's the bitee If your child is bitten by another, wash the bite with soap and water right away, even if the skin's not broken. If there's even a little bleeding, apply antibiotic ointment and cover with a bandage. Actual deep puncture wound? Call the doctor; she may prescribe an antibiotic.

Keep an eye out for signs of infection, such as redness or swelling at the bite site, or a fever.

STORY TIME

Flowers

By Lakeram Haynes

A

very long time ago, a family lived in a place that is known today as Wowetta, in the North Rupununi. During one of their outing into the nearby forest, the family heard a noise coming from the mountain, which is very high to our standards. It sounded as if a creature was blowing into a bamboo whistle from the top of the mountain: Tuuuuung, tuuuuuuuung…

They wanted to know what was making such a strange noise. But as soon as it stopped, a very strong wind engulfed the whole forest and the area was plunged into darkness, as sudden rains developed. The family got so scared that they decided to hastily head back to their camp, which fortunately was not too far away.

Another day, they managed to observe the creature. It took the form of a giant domesticated cat, which had lots of bright spots on its body, what is today known as the Jaguar. It was making the exact noise as the one they had heard before when the storm and rain had passed through the forest, Tuuuuung, tuuuuuuuung. This time, however, the creature had come down the mountain into the savannah. Despite having weapons to defend themselves, the family had to make good escape. The Jaguar was so huge and mighty that they did not stand a chance!

After this, no one was allowed to venture into the savannah or the nearby forest for a long time as the massive Jaguar was known to be lurking in the area, and it was by far the largest creature they had ever seen in their lifetime.

A long time passed and people eventually started to go back to the forbidden area. They were relieved to notice that the bamboo whistle

sound could not be heard anymore. Out of curiosity, they even decided to overnight in the area, and spent a very quiet night. To make sure that it had disappeared for good, they returned several nights but to their relief, the noise was gone and so was the creature.

It was suspected that the Jaguar may have died or moved away. They decided to call the savannah Kiwan Piti, or Jaguar Point Savannah.

But people wondered what had caused the Jaguar to be so big in size. It was thought later on that the abundance of yellow-footed tortoises in the savannah and the forest might have been the reason.

Uncle Campbell confirmed to me that during his young days, he used to run into an abundance of turtles congregating in the savannah. He said, “For the jaguar, feeding on these turtles would have been an easy life.” But an elder man had told him that in the centre of the savannah there is an island forest, and in the centre of this forest, there is a boulder in the shape of a canister that looks almost like a turtle. It was believed to be the master of the turtles, which is why they were always found in abundance there.As people realized that these turtles were a good source of food, they started to harvest them.

In recent times, their population has dwindled and the time has come to protect them, but the memory of their abundance has remained and is passed from generation to generation through storytelling and in the names given to the landscape. Today, we call this savannah Turtle Ranch. (This story was told to Lakeram by uncle Campbell Ewell, resident of Wowetta village, in the North Rupununi; www.pantaniblog.org)

I have never learnt the names of flowers From beginning, my world has been a place Of pot-holed streets, where thick, sluggish gutters race In slow time, away from garbage heaps and sewers Past balanced old houses around which cowers Stagnant earth.

There scarce green things grew to chase The dull-grey squalor of sick dust; no trace Of plant save few sparse weeds; just these, no flowers.

One day they cleared a space and made a park There in the city’s slums; and suddenly Came stark glory like lightning in the dark, While perfume and dark petals thundered slowly.

I learnt no names, but hue, shape and scent mark My mind, even now, with symbols holy.

-- Dennis Craig

T

he English language has a varied and ever changing vocabulary. Let’s take a

look at the interesting histories of some common English words.

X According to OED research, an ‘x’ was first used to represent a kiss in a 1763 letter from Naturalist Gilbert White.

Over the years, people have been using “xoxo” in letters and cards to signify “kisses and hugs”.

Awkward The adjective ‘awkward’ is based on the Old Norse afugr, meaning ‘turned the wrong way around’. In this sense, it could be applied, for instance, to an animal that was on its back and was unable to get up.

Clue ‘Clue’ originally meant

‘a ball of thread’. Its current meaning came via the idea of thread being used to guide somebody out of a maze.

Computer The word ‘computer’ has been used to refer to a person since 1613, to a machine since 1869, and to an electronic device since 1946.

Corridor Have you ever been told not to run in corridors? Well, corridor evolved from Latin currere ‘to run’ and actually means ‘running place’. The modern sense of ‘a long passage in a building’ dates from the early 19th century.

Girl In early use, ‘girl’ was used to refer to a child or young person of either sex. The origin of the term is not known for certain, but it is perhaps related to Low German gör, meaning ‘child’.

20 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

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Times Sunday Puzzle

T

here were 9 children, all of whom were in the same family. They were all born 18 months apart.

The oldest one (George) was 5 times older than the youngest one (Michael).

How old was Michael? see ANSWERS on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

GEOZONE

The Walking Catfish

T

he walking catfish is a major ‘invasive species’ (which means a type of plant or animal that is not indigenous to a particular area and causes economic or environmental harm) in the US state of Florida.

The walking catfish is native to Asia, common in ponds and freshwater fish farms from Pakistan to the Philippines. The fish's ability to survive in stagnant water makes it a valuable source of food, especially in Southeast Asia.

In the 1960s, aquaculture farmers in

Florida imported the fish. Within 10 years, the fish spread to 20 counties in the state.

The walking catfish was able to spread so quickly because of two unusual adaptations: It can breathe air, allowing it to survive out of water, and it can use its spiny front fins to waddle from wetland to wetland.

Walking catfish often feed in aquaculture ponds, "walking" from fish farm to fish farm, preying on the fish there and causing millions of dollars in damage. (National Geographic)

B

The Potaro River is known for its refreshing blackwater

lackwater rivers (or creeks) flow through forested swamps or wetlands. As vegetation decays, tannins (a compound found in plants that aids in plant growth and protection) leak into the water, making transparent water that is darkly stained, resembling tea or black coffee. Most major blackwater rivers are in the Amazon Basin and the Southern United States.

Not all dark rivers are blackwater in that technical sense. Some rivers in temperate regions, which drain or flow through areas of dark black loam, are simply black due to the colour of the soil; these rivers are black mud rivers. There are also black mud

estuaries.

Blackwater rivers are lower in nutrients than whitewater rivers. The unique conditions lead to flora and fauna that differ both from whitewater and clearwater rivers. The classification of Amazonian rivers into black, clear and whitewater was first proposed by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1853 based on water colour, but the types were more clearly defined by chemistry and physics by Harald Sioli in the 1950s and 1960s. Although many Amazonian rivers fall clearly into one of these categories, others show a mix of characteristics and may vary depending on season and flood levels.

Word Search

1. Red 2. Yellow 3.

Light Green 4. Dark Green

Please see solution on page 23

5. Blue 6. Purple

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.

22 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Snake found on a plane

I

t was left on a commuter flight after a passenger had left the animal, which was listed as a pet, in the cabin on a previous flight.

Passengers were first made aware of it when the pilot announced: "Guys, we have some loose snake on the plane, but we don't know where it is."

The pale yellow five foot snake wasn't venomous and was first spotted by a boy who was climbing his seat.

When he saw it, the snake was asleep and partially covered by a duffel bag near the back of the plane.

According to his mother, Anna McConnaughy, there wasn't much of a panic on board.

She explained a pilot came back to lead a short discussion with a flight attendant on how to capture it.

Staff then grabbed the snake by the belly and dropped it into a plastic

trash bag.

It spent the rest of the flight in an overhead storage bin, and the plane reached Anchorage on schedule.

The crew were first made aware of the snake when an unnamed passenger reported his pet was missing after he got off a flight to Aniak, which is also in Alaska, and suggested the reptile was likely to be on the return

I

Brain Teaser Answer

3 yrs. old.

If each child was born 18 months apart, then there has to be a 12 year gap between oldest and youngest.

Therefore George is 15 and Michael 3.

This is the only 12 year gap that has a difference in ages of 5 times.

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

Times World

An entire town is up for sale for US$3.8M

trip to Anchorage.

Ravn Alaska spokesman William Walsh said the airline was thankful for the heads up but added the passenger had violated airline policy by bringing the snake aboard without declaring it.

He didn't confirm the type of snake or whether the passenger could face charges. (BBC Newsbeat)

This new 'Lego tape' could change how you build with bricks f you believe Lego only belongs spread across the floor, you might want to broaden your horizons.

A new tape has been developed which will allow builders to place their creations on the walls, the ceil-

Sunday Times Magazine 23

ing, furniture and pretty much anywhere else.

This will no doubt be depressing news for parents whose homes are already a minefield of tiny plastic bricks.

Nimuno Loops is not an official product but is causing a stir among fans.

Lego aren't so keen on Nimuno's tape and tell Newsbeat that it is not "a project we are involved in, endorse or support".

It is a roll of tape which is sticky on one side but has buildable studs on the other.

The people who invented the tape promise it's compatible with Lego, Mega Bloks, Kre-O and most other building block systems.

Anine Kirsten and Max Basler, the makers of the tape, asked people online to donate $8,000 (ÂŁ6,556) to help them develop their product through a crowdsourcing platform.

So far they've raised almost US$400,000 (ÂŁ327,800) from people wanting to use it, after working on it at home in Cape Town for more than a year.

So far it's proved pretty popular.

"We have done almost all of the product development ourselves on laptops and in Max's garage," they wrote on their fundraising page.

"It's been a crazy-steep learning curve."

The tape is manufactured in the US and the developers say they hope to start selling it in July. (BBC Newsbeat)

T

he entire town of Tiller, in the US state of Oregon, has been put up for sale with a price tag of US$3.8m (ÂŁ3.1m).

It's a mostly uninhabited area 225 miles (362 km) south of Portland.

The deal includes six houses, a flat, petrol station and a shop. Roughly 250 people live in the surrounding area.

But residents began leaving the area after the decline in timber harvesting and the closure of the town's mill, according to the estate agent.

Tiller originally went on the market in 2015 but didn't include the old primary school building.

Only two residents remain in Tiller it-

self - a former teacher who lives next to the school, and the vicar of the local church.

Neither of their plots is for sale.

So why does nobody want to live here?

"When the federal money started dwindling away for timber, basically the mill shut down," said Garrett Zoller, the owner of Land and Wildlife.

"And when the mill shut down, a lot of the loggers started having to go away."

The family that owns Tiller now bought it lot by lot as other families left.

Interested buyers have so far included a number of Chinese investors, people interested in starting medical facilities and hemp-growing operations. (BBC)

24

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MARCH 26 , 2017

Fun Times

Archie

Change can be good, as long as you know what you (March 21are doing and what you want April 19) to accomplish. Impulsive decisions will be your downfall.

Look before you leap.

ARIES

Contain any disappointTAURUS ment you feel and refrain (April 20- from taking on too much, May 20) overspending or overreacting. Let your intuition guide you and your experience and knowledge help you overcome adversity.

Emotional disillusionment GEMINI will overwhelm you if you be(May 21lieve everything you are told.

June 20) You’ll get the wrong impression. Ask questions if you feel uncertain about the information someone gives you.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Partnerships can be developed and ideas shared. A chance to do something different will be exciting and will bring you in contact with people who share your concerns and dreams.

Making travel plans, getting together with friends or attending a reunion will give you something to think about and look forward to. An old acquaintance will spark your imagination.

Don’t limit what you can get done at home. Gather the facts and find out exactly what’s required to make your personal surroundings more convenient and comfortable.

LIBRA Catch up on jobs you left (Sept. 23- unfinished. Get your paperOct. 23) work in order and deal with taxes, investments and health issues. A physical attempt to make your life better looks promising.

Peanuts

Show how much you care.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24- Do something special for a Nov. 22) loved one. Explore new pastimes that you can share with him or her. The effort you put in will motivate you to make personal improvements.

Emotional deception is SAGITTARIUS present. If you feel uncertain, (Nov. 23ask questions. Someone will Dec. 21) challenge you if you overreact or fail to live up to your promises. Handle personal situations carefully.

Calvin and Hobbes

Stick close to home and CAPRICORN make innovative chang(Dec. 22- es to your lifestyle. Do the Jan. 19) work yourself to cut costs, gain satisfaction and receive compliments for your efforts.

Make sure your papers AQUARIUS are in order if you trav(Jan. 20- el or deal with a governFeb. 19) ment agency or institution.

Question anything that sounds too good to be true.

Focus on what you can PISCES (Feb. 20- do, not on what you can’t.

Mar. 20) Personal improvements will require precision, energy and the motivation to get up and get moving. Strive for good health.