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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3178

guyanatimesgy.com

Sunday, April 9 , 2017

PRICE

VAT on private education

Page 9

“No retreat! No surrender!” – protesters to Govt

…as President says persons need to be more “reasonable” GECOM chairmanship

8 shortlisted as 2nd list likely in 2 weeks – Jagdeo

Page 3

More Police informants helping crime-fighting efforts – Hickens Page 10

‘A’ Division hosts another Career Fair

Page 6

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

P11 PM Nagamootoo misspoke ...no new funding for GuySuCo

Sleeping P18 with death: the future of criminalising deliberate HIV infection

P15 Guyana in support of further dialogue on Venezuela crisis … as Heads of Missions Conference concludes

Guyanese P16 warned of fake oil and gas overseas courses

In the words of Walt Disney: “If you can DREAM it, you can DO it.” Members of the various youth groups across ‘A’ Division assembled at the Police Sports Club Ground at Eve Leary, Georgetown for the third annual Divisional Career Fair on Saturday. This year, it was been held under the theme “Transforming the Mind, Developing the Nation’s Youths through Education, Motivation and Self-development”

GRA’s release of Legal action will come if tax info unethical decision not reversed – Ram – PPP Doctors’ gratuity to pension

Page 7

…as Education Minister given preview of records

Page 5 …party criticises Govt's “high-handedness”

Region 2 has potential to lead agricultural sector – President Granger P12 … as inaugural Essequibo Agro and Trade Fair expo opens

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SUnDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

NEWS

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, April 9 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Monday, April 10 – 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, April 9 – 15:20h-16:50h and Monday, April 10 – 16:00h-17:30h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny weather can be expected throughout the day, with clear skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North Easterly to East North-easterly between 4.02 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tides: 03:26h and 15:44h reaching maximum heights of 2.55 metres and 2.59 metres respectively.

Low Tides: 09:19h and 21:36h reaching minimum heights of 0.64 metres and 0.62 metre respectively.

GECOM chairmanship

8 shortlisted as 2nd list likely in 2 weeks – Jagdeo

E

ight persons have so far been shortlisted as Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo prepares to submit to President David Granger, in two weeks’ time, his second list of nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission.

The Opposition Leader told Guyana Times on Saturday, during a telephone interview, that he hopes to finalise the list within the next two weeks, so he can submit the fresh list for consideration.

He reminded that it is a challenging task to compile a list of candidates in accordance with the requirements stipulated by the Head of State.

Jagdeo has expressed hope that the President would accept this second list of nominees, because, he said, the pool of qualified persons keeps getting smaller with every rejection.

Businessman Marcel Gaskin has moved to the courts to challenge the constitutionality of President Granger’s rejection of the first

unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth, or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court, or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person…”

Legal luminaries have argued that the Constitution,

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

President David Granger

that list was not acceptable on the basis that it did not include anyone who was qualified to be a judge.

The issue has sparked a national debate on the interpretation of Article 161 of the Constitution of Guyana, with some contending that the President was right while others insist that he had erred.

Article 161 (2) states: “… the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having

which incorporated the Carter Formula, provided for the inclusion of any other qualified person outside the field

Christopher Ram

Norman McLean

of law by including the phrase “any other fit and proper person”, but Granger has initially maintained that everyone must fall in the legal sphere of being judge-like.

Following meetings with the Opposition Leader after weeks of impasse on the matter, Granger provided a list of criteria to be used for the selection of a new list of nominees. However, representatives of civil society with whom Jagdeo consulted have found it challenging to find persons who meet the President’s criteria. His conditions disqualify anyone engaged in any form of activism − gender, racial or religious; and persons affiliating with political parties. Some persons have questioned the legality of the President’s requirement, while others deem it an imposition on the Constitution.

The search for a new Chairman of GECOM began following the resignation of Dr Steve Surujbally, a veterinarian by profession, from the post in November 2016.

Professor James Rose

Lawrence Lachmansingh

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

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SunDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramesh Dookhoo list of candidates, but Jagdeo, himself a former President, has expressed hope that those legal proceedings would not setback any progress in appointing a new GECOM Chairman.

Jagdeo had previously nominated Attorney Christopher Ram, conflict resolution specialist Lawrence Lachmansingh, retired Major General Norman McLean, business executive Ramesh Dookhoo, Indian rights activist Rhyaan Shah, and History Professor James Rose, but the President had declared that

Rhyaan Shah

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guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, april 9, 2017

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

Integrated Science research project

Editorial

Education and its costs

I

n the aftermath of slavery, the rudiments of a formal education were introduced to Guyanese, after being denied to them during the centuries of their enslavement.

While the curriculum of what we would now call “primary schools” was purveyed by the Christian Church, as well as “Government schools”, the teachers of the former were paid by the State in a “dual control” arrangement. With all its disabilities, the colonial state recognised that education was necessary in the new dispensation – if only to teach “moral values”.

Secondary schools were introduced in 1844 with Queens College but served the children of the colonial elite. By the end of the 19th century, several private secondary schools had also been founded. When the “dual system” was abolished in the 1960’s, under the recently bequeathed “internal self-government”, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration extended the reach of educational opportunities when it built several secondary schools across the country and launched the University of Guyana, on a part-time basis at the Queens College facility. In the postWWII era, education was acknowledged a prerequisite for any country seeking to lift itself out of poverty and underdevelopment.

By this time, Guyana had earned an enviable reputation for producing students of exceptional ability in almost all fields of endeavour, including politics. In fact, such was the cachet of education that one social scientist insisted the Caribbean practiced “doctor politics”. In 1976, the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government, which had announced its “socialist” orientation two years earlier, took control of institutions of learning at all levels. In its 1980 Constitution, Article 27 declared: “Every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university as well as at non-formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training.”

The imposition of the neo-liberal prescriptions of the 1989 IMF loan “conditionalities”, which privatised a host of state functions; however, reversed these progressive educational policies. Fees were reintroduced at UG while private primary, secondary and other schools of training were permitted to be reintroduced. In 2000, there were wide-ranging constitutional change but the right to free education “from nursery to University” was left intact, suggesting that while the right was not justiciable it remained as an aspirational normative value for the Government.

And this brings us to the present contretemps that is roiling the educational system in two areas: the unilateral 35 per cent increase in tuition fees at UG and the imposition of VAT on tuition fees to private schools by the PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) coalition. Both initiatives appear totally tone deaf to the meaning and import of Article 27. While it may be argued that there needs to be fees imposed to secure tertiary education, the policies could have been more nuanced to take into consider the needs of the citizenry and of the country. For instance, in view of the Government’s own emphasis on the need for education for the country’s development goals, options such as “personal needs based” and “country need based” fee waivers could have been considered.

In the light of revelations that Ministers earning 10 times the minimum wage awarded scholarships totalling 14 times the annual minimum wage, it is difficult to justify denying students from minimum-wage families the opportunity to attend university. The country is allowing the talent of more than one half of its youths to be dissipated. The imposition of VAT on tuition to private schools is even more mystifying.

Private schools returned because of the failure of the “free” Government schools, which were not even “free” because of the extraordinary amount of private “lessons” students were forced to endure to succeed at externally set examinations. On VAT, the Administration somehow does not seem to comprehend that VAT will be borne by the students and not the schools and schools would be breaking the law if they were to pay the student’s VAT from their income.

The PNC-led APNU/AFC is not only betraying the developmental needs of the country but the PNC’s historic position on education.

Students from across the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) visited the Iwokrama rainforest as part of a Grade Nine Integrated Science research project. In photo the students examine and take notes of the various species of trees at the conservation reservation

Mendacious tirade against Swami, others Dear Editor, Freddie Kissoon has had a history of spreading hatred and falsities against intellectuals like Swami Aksharananda, Ravi Dev, Rhyaan Shah, and others on account of their Indianness.

Freddie uses lies, fabrication, intimidation and fear tactics as weapons against these intellectual colossuses. And as a Lilliputian, he defames giants (without a shred of evidence) to cower them into submission as he can’t argue rationally with intellect.

In addition, Freddie encourages hate comments against Indians, as he finds such attacks expedient in his anti-Indian mission.

That is the nature of his latest invective against Swami Aksharananda and others. So, instead of castigating Pastor Steve Anderson for his sickening attack on Hinduism and Indians, self-hater Freddie disingenuously pillories Swamiji for critiquing the pastor.

Freddie mendaciously places Swami in the same league with Anderson. This is plain wrong, and it is hardly a reasonable basis for justifying Anderson’s unacceptable behaviour. No one should be attacked on account of his/ her faith or racial identity, and the newspaper must be condemned for allowing this unjustifiable attack.

Freddie is unprepared to play the role of an honest, responsible letter editor or columnist; and, as he stated, my responses to him will never see the pages of KN. As journalist intellectual Walter Lippman wrote, there is only one side to a fact; but Freddie has several sides to a fact. What Freddie wrote against Swami and others is fiction.

And Freddie’s religious (cultural and political) ignorance is

appalling by any standard.

His hatred of Indians blinds him to reality. He lacks what in politics is known as reflective thinking – relate events or thoughts to reality around. He tells flat out lies and slants information to suit his purpose. He provides flawed and incomplete info on issues. He suffers from what in journalism is known as “pretension of facts”.

Freddie referred to Anderson as “Pastor”, but refused to accord the same respect to Aksharananda as “Swami”. Freddie refers to Aksharananda-ji as a “Hindu Priest,” which he is not. Aksharnanda is a Swami, which is an elevated title to a Pandit. And there is no such thing as a Hindu priest; it is Pandit. Clearly, this shows that Freddie has no cultural or religious training, and does not understand Hindu titles.

Swami and Anderson are not comparable. Swamiji is a scholar, intellectual, non-racist, and a virtuous person who does not go about attacking people’s faith or ethnicity.

Freddie contends that Swami, Dev, Shah, and other Indian intellectuals called for “race voting”, but no newspaper account supports Freddie’s claim. Freddie also charged that Dev campaigned in the 2015 election; Dev was not a 2015 candidate, and never appeared on any platform or in the media urging people how to vote.

Rhyaan and Swami were/ are not members of any party, and they did not instruct people on voting. Freddie, on the other hand, proudly campaigned for the PNC, engaging in propaganda for his favourite party.

Freddie has distorted Swami-ji’s political position, accusing the revered

Swami of engaging in political propaganda and hate.

He charges that Swami wrote a commentary reminding Indians of their ethnic identity and abuses suffered during the PNC dictatorship; and he equates the commentary with a political campaign. That is not propaganda. Aksharananda penned facts -- that Indians were brutalised during the PNC dictatorship and that since the return of the PNC in May 2015, thousands of Indians (and Amerindians) have been fired. Those are not hateful remarks. Can Freddie provide evidence to counter these facts?

In the academic realm, Swami is a scholar, writing analyses on the state of Indians and on politics in Guyana. What is wrong with a writer telling readers to be proud of their cultural identity? David Hinds, Eric Phillips, Ogunseye and Kwayana did the same for Africans. Why hasn’t Freddie excoriated them? All Swami did was to denounce violence against Indians.

Freddie has criticised Swami for complaining that Indians were fired from their jobs. Is Swami’s statement inaccurate? Didn’t Hinds and other Afro-nationalists made similar claims against PPP rule regarding Africans?

Why didn’t Freddie also label their behaviour as propagandistic?

Swami is right to rebuke the headmistress for allowing a priest to sermonise in a public school, attacking Hindus and Hinduism.

Everyone has criticised the headmistress. Why Freddie has not found that hate message obnoxious is beyond any rational thinker. Is it because the preacher attacks Indians that Freddie finds the attack okay? After all, Freddie did say he is not

Indian.

Freddie wrote that PNC president Desmond Hoyte moved away “from ethnically based policies”. Really? So how does Freddie describe “mo fire and gyam fire” and the violence against Indians in 1992, 1997, 1998, 2001, etc? How does Freddie explain Hoyte draping Blackie’s coffin with the Guyana flag for Blackie’s violent attacks on Indians?

How about Hoyte telling Indians he would render the country ungovernable, and his refusing to condemn robberies against Indians?

Freddie equates racist, misogynistic, anti-Hindu fulminations of a fringe character with a (factual) commentary of a swami in the newspaper. It is not surprising that Freddie equates the two. After all, Freddie’s mind is limited. Swami’s rational, sober comments don’t rise to the same level of the preacher’s racist ranting. Swami has not committed any sin; Freddie and the preacher did. Swami is not inciting ethnic anger, but rather calling on the Ministry of Education to investigate and end the attacks on Indians.

Will this correction of Freddie’s misapplication of facts and his spiteful invective against Swami and others help to reform his behaviour and make him a better person or accurate writer? I don’t think so, given that Freddie was corrected dozens of times before and he has refused to apologise. Freddie sees (alleged) wrongs done by Dev, Rhyaan, Swami, and others even when they are right; but he can’t see his own wrongs, like his Janus-faced attacks on others.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

guyanatimesgy.com

SunDAY, april 9, 2017

5

News

Doctors’ gratuity to pension

Legal action will come if decision not reversed – PPP …party criticises Govt’s “high-handedness”

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has declared that if Government remains determined to switch doctors from a gratuity arrangement to a pensionable arrangement, its Legal Affairs Committee would assist the doctors in bringing legal action against the Government for violation of their contracts.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, the PPP has said that to switch the doctors to a pension scheme when they all agreed to terms of service that included gratuity and tax-free allowances is to breach their contracts.

“Our information is that these doctors are all employed under valid and subsisting contracts of employment, which guarantee them benefits such as gratuity and tax free allowances.

Switching these doctors to the pensionable establishment in the face of these existing contracts would amount to a breach of the terms and conditions of those contracts, exposing the state to millions of dollars in liabilities for breach of contract.” The PPP press release has stated.

The party noted that the scholarship and employment contracts which the doctors signed before and after they studied under the Government scholarship programmes guaranteed the doctors employment for five years with the Government of

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Guyana under terms and conditions which include a gratuity and tax-free allowances. To now deny these doctors those facilities would amount to a breach of their contracts.

“It is to be noted that it is the PPP/C that highlighted this issue several months ago when it first publicly surfaced, and we promised our doctors then that our Legal Affairs Committee would offer them legal representation should the Government proceed with this egregious, unlawful and unconstitutional course of action,” the party said.

“We reiterate that position now. We call upon the Government not to proceed with this promised course of action. If they persist, the PPP/C will collaborate with our doctors to do that which is necessary to have this decision reversed.”

The party said it feels that these punitive measures levelled against a

vital component of the health sector send a clear message -- that the Government does not value the tireless and dedicated year-round efforts and sacrifices of hundreds of young and experienced doctors. The Government has clearly shown its disdain and disregard for these medical professionals by these measures, the PPP has said.

The PPP has said that many of the doctors have threatened to leave the Public Sector and the country unless this decision is reconsidered. Besides the brain drain that would ensue if the doctors carry out their threats, the party says, it laments the loss of millions of dollars of tax payers’ money which would have been invested in some of these doctors during their formative years.

Following much criticism for this decision, the Public Health Ministry had extended the proverbial olive branch to local doctors. A notice originating from Permanent Secretary Collette Adams of the Public Health Ministry was sent out, inviting contracted medical doctors in

the Government’s employ to a meeting with Ministry officials. According to the stated agenda in the notice, the doctors would be meeting to discuss their

sulted in the first place.

It is understood that the lawyer’s letter was sent to the MoPH on March 31, and had also included a seven-day dead-

removal from the gratuity arrangement. The meeting is set for April 10 at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) from 09:00hrs.

But while the Ministry’s conciliatory approach is a welcome sign to the disaffected doctors, Guyana Times understands that the notice was sent out only after some disaffected doctors had procured the services of an attorney-at-law who had dispatched a letter to the Public Health Ministry warning of legal action.

According to sources, the letter demanded that an explanation for the switch be made to the doctors, whom this publication understands were not con-

line for a response from the Ministry, failing which legal proceedings would be initiated.

Guyana Times first

broke the story, revealing

that as of March 24, temporary and contract workers within the GS3 and GS14 salary scales (including doctors) would be switched from gratuity benefits to being on the pensionable establishment.

The Ministry of Public Health and Government officials have since maintained a carefully guarded silence on the matter, despite outcries from the Guyana Medical Association (GMA) and other groups.

The GMA has also joined the voices calling on the Government to reverse the measures it had taken against benefits medical doctors formerly enjoyed.

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SunDAY, april 9, 2017

Page

Foundation SIG E. CAPS = Depression

L

Anu Dev

ast Friday, April 7th, was World Health Day 2017. The theme was “Depression: Let’s talk”. I quite liked this theme, it was direct, succinct and therapeutic: we really do need to talk about depression, and to depressed people.

I spent two months rotating through psychiatry at the tailend of my fourth year. Right off the bat, our first couple of classes revolved around depression. One of the issues that kept coming up was the stigma against depression and other mental illnesses.

Unfortunately, since depression isn’t something as visible as, say, a bleeding head wound, it’s trivialized by many. Saying “Just cheer up” to someone with depression is really quite pointless. If we were given a choice in how we felt, won’t we all choose to be mindnumbingly happy all of the time?

Life is full of ups and downs.

Everyone has those times when they feel completely and absolutely miserable. But for some people, those downs last much longer. For people

guyanatimesgy.com

suffering from depression, those downs, those feelings, interfere with their everyday lives; interfere with their relationships; interfere with the way they treat the people around them; prevent them from enjoying things they normally would have.

One thing one of the doctors teaching us kept emphasising to us was that in order to make a diagnosis of a mental disorder, there must be characteristic symptoms, those symptoms must last for at least a certain duration of time, and must cause impairment.

We learnt a little mnemonic for remembering the symptoms of major depression, SIG E. CAPS - changes in Sleep patterns, loss of Interest in pleasurable activities, excessive Guilt, loss of Energy, poor Concentration, change in Appetite, Psychomotor activity (restlessness or slowness), and Suicidal ideation.

Impairment refers to impaired functioning, like an impaired ability to function at work, an impaired ability to function socially. For most people, it causes them to isolate themselves, and their performance at work suffers.

Everyone can suffer from depression – even children.

But somehow, in Guyana, even though there have been several campaigns to alert people to its insidious and pernicious effects, we just dismiss its prevalence here.

And one of the more serious aspects of a person being depressed is that they think of committing suicide, some plan out their suicide, and

might even attempt to commit suicide.

Here, at home in Guyana, we’re no strangers to suicide.

In fact, we have the highest suicide rate in the world.

Most of the patients I saw in the hospital were there after they had attempted suicide, or they were brought to the hospital by a concerned family member or co-worker.

If someone you care about is suffering from depression, you should offer them emotional support: talk to them and listen to them; actually listen to what they’re saying. Try to remove your preconceived notions and judgement and actually listen to what the person in front of you is trying to say. And offer to help them get the profession help they need, because most people don’t go out on their own and seek the help they need.

And why don’t they?

Because we practise a culture that labels persons suffering from mental illnesses as ‘mad people’ and call a psychiatric hospital ‘Berbice Madhouse’.

Who’d admit to having a problem, lest they be labelled ‘mad’? So, if you’re someone who likes making light of someone else’s mental illness, you need to check that bad attitude at the door.

Be observant, be supportive. If you’ve noticed someone close to you having a change in their mood, talk to them. Sometimes it might be something, sometimes it might be nothing, but there at least needs to be a conversation.

Depression: let’s talk.

‘A’ Division hosts Career Fair

M

embers of the various youth groups across ‘A’ Division assembled on Saturday at the Police Sports Club Ground at Eve Leary, Georgetown for the third annual Divisional Career Fair, held this year under the theme “Transforming the Mind, Developing the Nation’s Youths through

to be holistically exposed to the development taking place in the country in all sectors of the economy.

The opening ceremony also featured performances by children from the various youth groups, including poem recital, song, and an entertaining display of martial arts.

Among the agencies par-

that, but they offer much more. It’s very interesting,” she said.

This is the type of message the organisers and participants of the fair wanted to get out to the youths. In fact, Captain Oral Thom of the Guyana Defence Force pointed out the different units of the army that were on display.

Organisers and participants at the ‘A’ Division third annual Divisional Career Fair on Saturday at the Police Sports Club Ground at Eve Leary

Education, Motivation and Self-development.”

It kicked off with welcoming remarks from Division Commander Clifton Hicken and Technical Advisor of the Education Ministry, Wazir Mohamed, who encouraged stakeholders to follow the path of the Division in providing a platform for youths

ticipating in the Career Fair and engaging young persons were: the Joint Services, government ministries, commercial entities and non-government organisations.

Scores of children and teenagers attended the fair throughout the day, and interacted with the participants. Most of the younger ones were dressed as professionals, such as law enforcement officers, doctors and nurses, lawyers, pilots and teachers displaying their aspiring career paths. The students seemed enthused as they moved from one booth to another, exploring.

The Guyana Times managed to get the reaction of a few persons at the career fair. A young lad, relating that this was his second time at the career fair, noted that he was excited to return to see all the “cool” equipment on display by the Joint Services, although he was unsure whether he would be pursuing a career in the security sector.

Another student told this newspaper her interest was captured by the various career paths available with the various disciplined forces. “I didn’t know they had so much opportunity, to be honest. A lot of people think that police and army is just

“The GDF is a place where we have many different career opportunities, not just soldiers with boots and guns in hand. We have lawyers, doctors, nurses, pilots and even teachers. So I urge the youths: if you are deciding on a career path to take, come to the GDF and we will accept you,” the captain stated.

Section Leader of the Guyana Fire Service, Nigel Gravesande, is also encouraging youths to take advantage of career opportunities available in the Joint Services.

Speaking with reporters during the fair, Divisional Commander Clifton Hicken noted that the fair is a calendar event which seeks to guide and mould youths to become leaders of the future.

“The main idea of the youths dressing along a specific career path shows that they understand clearly what they want to be in the future, and it is for us now to nurture them through mentorship and ensure that they achieve these objectives, and that is what we are trying to do… We need to work towards one objective, and that is to mould the youths so we can have the right leaders of tomorrow,” the Commander outlined.

news

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sunDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GRA’s release of tax info unethical – Ram

… as Education Minister given preview of records

C

hartered accountant and prominent lawyer, Christopher Ram has noted with concern the announcement

by Government that its Finance Ministry has records of private schools’ tax information and has since called for clarity.

Ram raised the issue

Christopher Ram

when he made a contribution to the consultation between Government and stakeholders on the removal of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education.

The accountant highlighted that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is the only body in Guyana that should have tax records of taxpayers and that any such information must be confidential.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, in defending the need to charge an education tax on private schools, said records in the Finance Ministry show that many of the institutions have been slipping on their tax requirements.

“The records from the Ministry of Finance demonstrate that the schools are able to absorb the VAT. Of the private schools that are operating in Guyana, 57 per cent of them are currently registered with the GRA,” the Minister said as he began disclosing some statistics regarding the status private institutions in the country with respects to paying taxes.

But, Ram challenged the Minister’s presentation and contended that neither he nor any Government official should be privy to tax records of taxpayers.

“I’m not aware that the Ministry of Finance is in anyway a regulator of schools in Guyana and the situation was compounded when he said the Government has information on the schools that are not paying taxes. That’s a very serious statement to make, only the GRA has that information and the GRA and its officers are under a statutory duty of secrecy and confidentiality when it comes to information on any taxpayer,” he stated.

Ram further told Guyana Times on Saturday during a telephone interview that he finds the statement “disturbing” and that it would be best for the Minister to clarify what he meant.

“I think it’s in the interest of the integrity of the GRA that that statement be clarified because the GRA has a rule that it ought not to be giving out information on taxpayers,” he posited.

The Education Minister had also disclosed that 10

cidents of under declaration and inflated expenditure so as to avoid paying taxes.

“Payments are made to individuals other than insti-

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

per cent of private institutions are registered at non-profit organisations, and 14 per cent as profit-making entities.

He also revealed that most private schools make approximately over $300,000 in tuition fees per year per person, depending on the level of studies.

Dr Roopnaraine said the revenues generated by the top private schools exceed $2 billion annually.

He noted that the estimate does not include extra charges by the institutions for additional services.

He further announced that there is a high level of noncompliance of the timely submission of the required income, property and corporation returns and the payment of taxes.

He said in some cases, teachers are treated as contract employees and employers are not deducting the appropriate NIS and PAYE from their salaries.

The Minister also announced that there are in-

tutions to facilitate these under declarations,” he noted.

In this regard, the Minister had argued that “it is clear” that private institutions can absorb VAT without passing it on to the

students.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had previously disclosed to the media some information regarding the tax status of private schools in the country.

8 news

SunDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

3 arrested for Eccles shooting, robbery A

s investigations continue into the armed robbery committed on a newspaper distributor and his wife at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) two weeks ago, the Police have arrested three men who are being interrogated at the Providence Police Station.

A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara) Commander, Clifton Hicken on Saturday stated that the men were arrested late last week and are expected to be placed on an identification parade on Monday. He noted that once they are positively identified, they will be processed for court.

Sasenarine Ramsuchit of Lot 21 “CC” Eccles Housing Scheme, EBD was leaving his home on March 25 to commence his daily newspaper 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, 58-year-old Joyce Lauren Ramsuchit 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 while 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.

After the men left, the newspaper distributor explained that 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 her leg was removed. However, she was subsequently discharged and is recuperating at home.

Due to diligent work by the Police, they were able to arrest the men.

Battle fatigue…

Y

…over the Middle East

our Eyewitness is suffering from battle fatigue over the Middle East in general, and – right now – Syria in particular. Gosh!! How long has this “war” been going on? Since the Jews were shipped off to the rivers of Babylon? Now, it’s not that your Eyewitness saw action in any of the wars – starting from the one in 1956 over the Suez Canal – but being a news junkie, he’s got to say, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!”

There are fellas in their sixties who’ve never known a year of peace in that place.

Your Eyewitness was about to say, “that Godforsaken place” but then realised if billions there and across the globe are correct it’s actually a “God beloved place”. Stealing a line from Casablanca, he wonders - “Out of all dusty places on earth, why exactly did God choose to reveal Himself to not one – but two sets of people in the Middle East”?? But hey!! Could this the reason for the interminable wars? After all, it would seem there’s some dispute if the two Gods are the same, even though they all share some common stories of their origin and all that.

Maybe it’s something like we in Guyana have been hearing about – the “oil curse”. This story goes that even though you may think with oil always in demand and pulling in US greenbacks, it can actually become a curse since everyone “throws back”, neglect other ways of making money. The next thing you know you become like Venezuela with the largest reserves of oil in the world but don’t have money to buy a loaf of bread. And you’ve got to come to GUYANA to get bread!!! Now that’s a curse, if there ever was one!! So maybe when you have too many Gods, it’s a curse also??

Well anyhow, your Eyewitness got distracted – but that’s par for the course when you’re battle fatigued.

Kinda like PTSD. What got your Eyewitness worked up was Trump’s decision to bomb Syria. Now here it was this was the same Trump who opposed Obama flirting with that idea – and in the campaign, was one of his major differences with Hillary Clinton.

Not that your Eyewitness thought Trump was actually going to be a PEACENIK, but with him being so chummy with Putin and Putin backing Assad and all, he was hoping at least for a RESPITE. But no such luck.

We’ll never know who actually used the nerve gas on those poor civilians – cause now it doesn’t matter.

Or was Trump actually just pulling one over us during the campaign? And he’s actually a WARNIK?

…on constitutional change

Another subject that makes your Eyewitness all skittish and fidigety and stuff, is this (interminable) talk about “constitutional change”. This has been going on as long as the Middle East wars. Well maybe not to the days of Babylon – but certainly to the fifties when Jagan and Burnham got their buktas in a knot when the British changed the Constitution and threw them out!

Anyhow when it was time to get their own Constitution from Britain, the PPP didn’t go up to London because they thought it wasn’t cricket way the British had eased them out of power in 1964. Stephen Campbell of the Amerindians went up with Burnham and came back with a promise for title to all the lands on which they lived.

But this reminds your Eyewitness as to why Burnham’s followers, who’re all het up about the Amerindians getting land, never blames him for not getting title to all that land they’d cleared and drained as slaves?

But back to the subject? Does constitutional change matter? Oh tedium!

…on Parking Meters?

It’s clear the Administration’s hoping to induce battle fatigue in the MAPM protesters. Will they be able to keep up their energy level after three months of ennui?

Or become antsy like your Eyewitness?

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

NEWS

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SunDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

VAT on private education

“No retreat! No surrender!” – protesters to Govt … as President says persons need to be more “reasonable”

D

istraught stakeholders have threatened to continue their resistance against Government, in various forms, until the 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education is revoked.

Determined and united, stakeholders have rejected Government’s pronounced refusal to repeal the tax it imposed on private education.

After sitting for nearly three hours with high hopes of Government removing this massive impediment to education, their optimism was crushed when Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo declared that the onerous tax will remain for 2017.

Parents, students and educators rose in disgust and disappointment, some hurling adverse remarks towards Government representatives for pretending to care about their concerns and the future of the country.

Many stakeholders also criticised the Government for wasting their time by holding a window-dressing exercise.

Educator and Director of the Nations University, Dr Brian O’Toole, indicated to Guyana Times on Saturday that the Government only made the situation worse with a smokescreen event.

“He (Prime Minister) could have announced that (no removal of VAT before 2017) before, then people could have decided if it was worth their while to spend half their day on an exercise that had very little value,” Dr O’Toole reasoned.

Govt failed

Moreover, the educator lamented that Government failed in its rebuttal to ad-

One of the protests against VAT on private education

dress the concerns of the stakeholders.

“The Prime Minister appeared to deliver a prepared speech. If it wasn’t a prepared speech, it certainly failed to respond to not one of the points mentioned,” he stated.

Dr O’Toole said it was also tragic that the Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine failed to share his views on the concerns raised by students, parents and other concerned citizens during the forum.

Despite Government’s pronouncement, the educator made it clear that the fight will not end until the results are favourable.

“I guess the hope for everyone in Government is if you prolong something long enough, people will get tired of it and they will give up but I know the key players in this won’t give up,” he pledged.

2018 budget

Nagamootoo announced that Cabinet will review the matter however he posited that changes cannot be made this year.

Nagamootoo specified

that while he can give clear assurance that the issue will be reconsidered for the 2018 budget, he could not make a unilateral decision outside of Cabinet for the VAT to be rescinded.

President David Granger, during this week’s ‘The Public Interest’, made pellucid his intention to keep VAT on private education for this year.

He said the tax can be reviewed for the next budget but in the meantime, the President said persons need to be more patient, tolerant and reasonable.

Granger explained that in fulfilling a campaign promise, his Administration reduced VAT by two per cent and therefore, it had to find ways to generate revenues which would be lost from the reduction.

Resistance

Meanwhile, according to a student pursuing his MBA at a private university, it appears as if the Government has no intention of actually listening to the concerns of the people and making decisions to their benefit.

“As a student who is try-

ing to further my education and make a meaningful contribution to my country so that we can develop, this has now become practically impossible for me with this Administration placing VAT on education,” the students vented.

He expressed that the “consultations” on VAT on private education was “nothing more than a farce.”

Another student, who gave his only name as Satesh, said the forum had very little value as the Ministers did not address the concerns of the stakeholders nor did they give a commitment to ensure pursuing an education becomes less burdensome.

“My question to Government is, UG lost its accreditation for medical studies yet they are taxing private institutions that

provide this service. Why? The Government cannot establish an aeronautical engineering school but taxing the only private school which does in Guyana.

Why? The Government is not in any way assisting the poor citizens of this country because they are giving Ministers scholarships but not poor students,” Satesh explained.

Another student who is studying privately said she does not understand why the Government would host such an event if it had all intentions of ignoring the concerns of those being affected by the VAT. “Those presentations were factual. You heard the plight of so many students, how they feel starved, how their disposable incomes have diminished and how some are forced to drop out.

How can you listen to that

President David Granger

and still declare that you are unable to make changes this year? The Government can easily repeal this tax, if they care about the future of this country. But sadly, judging from their actions, it appears as if they do not,” the student related.

10 news

sunDAY, april 9, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

More Police informants helping crime-fighting efforts – Hickens

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o m m a n d er of A Division (Georgetown, East Bank Demerara), Clifton Hicken, has lauded the strengthened relations between the Police Force and the public, noting that the benefit of this is seen in successful crime-fighting efforts.

At the annual A Division Career Fair held on Saturday, Commander Hicken pointed out to reporters that his Division now has some 18 youth groups under the Social Crime Prevention Programme and in those communities there has been a reduction in crime.

Another pattern that the Commander said is evident is the passage of intelligence from the public to the Police, which he noted is critical to solving crimes.

Other than the youth initiatives, Hicken added that a new policing phenomenon has been realised, namely ‘team policing’. This concept, he said, seeks to identify vulnerable areas within the community such as lack of illumination where there is large vegetation; abandoned

‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken

houses; elders living alone; and mentally ill persons on the road who pose threats, following which preventative actions can be taken.

“Coming out of the review from the team policing, intel-led policing would be realised so we know exactly where we are going to execute search warrants as against inconveniencing the masses. So it’s a collecting of new initiatives into a structure way and I think that

is developing for us,” the Commander noted.

In fact, he disclosed that based on information received through the strengthened relations, an exercise was recent conducted at the Golden Grove, EBD, sea dam area during which four suspects were arrested.

“We broke that ring and we now have four persons in custody, and they will have four to five charges of break and enter and larceny. Similar exercises were done in Georgetown in the Tiger Bay area, where we recovered a set of stolen articles and so they too will be placed before the courts.

We’ve also partnered with Leopold Street and Central Georgetown and again manage to make some arrests; in fact, one of the persons that were arrested was identified as a suspect in three robberies,” Hicken noted.

This type of community involvement, the Commander added, could only develop trust. He further pointed out that the Force is also look at balancing its prevention and detection capacity.

Hicken went on to outline that last year’s 19.2 per cent reduction in serious crime in A Division was as a result of strengthened relations with communities, stemming from the youth development initiatives.

“Parents are now more receptive. I think they’re seeing what we’re doing as a good [thing] and there are now coming on board with us, which is overwhelmingly good for us,” he posited.

The Divisional Commander further stated that with last year’s crime reduction being high, with continued collaborations with the communities A Division is projected to record yet another significant decrease in criminal activities.

Over the past three years, the Guyana Police Force has embarked on a Social Crime Prevent Programme, the brain-child of Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud. The highly successful initiative aims at regaining public trust by engaging persons in skills training, sports and cultural activities.

Region 10 tourism hot spots identified

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egional tourism stakeholders were given the opportunity of identifying key tourism hotspots across Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice), as the Regional Tourism Planning Workshop moved to the community on Friday.

Director General of the Department of Tourism within the Business Ministry, Donald Sinclair, facilitated the interactive session where topics such as understanding the tourism sector and lively group

sessions were conducted.

Sinclair indicated that the future plan of the initiative is to successfully develop the region's tourism product for retail, as he posited that it possesses countless interesting attractions.

"Region 10 has an industrial heritage, which I think is, in some ways, unique...

Linden was the home of the bauxite industry... In fact, there is a proposal for the development of an industrial park which will showcase this industrial heritage of

Linden," he stated.

Apart from that, Sinclair noted that the Demerara River, which runs through the town, is also an important attraction.

“River fronts offer enormous opportunities for tourism, once they’re properly conceptualised and properly planned,” Sinclair posited. He continued that Linden also boasts a proud sport heritage, which can also be developed, while he stressed the potential of numerous sites, including the

water wheel, in driving cultural tourism. He noted further that for the first time in Guyana, there will be a sports tourism workshop at the end of May, aimed at raising awareness on the benefits of this form of tourism.

According to Sinclair, the region already possesses the potential and enthusiasm, but he noted that it is only a matter of coming up with concrete proposals for tourism hotspots. turn to page 16

Saving Guyana S

atiricus was grinning like the cat that just lapped up milk it had spilled after toppling over the bottle.

He was already ensconced in his seat at the back of the Back Street Bar, as his buddies slowly wound their way towards him.

Spying him as he neared, Bungi blurted out, “Like Easta come early fuh yoh, or wha’ Sato? Yuh teet’ light up de place, man!”

“Settle down and bend your elbows, fellas,” said Satiricus to both Bungi and Hari. “I have some great news!”

“Uh! Uh!” cried Hari in mock alarm. “The last time you said that, you predicted we would have some rain.

And we ended up with the Great Flood of 2005!!”

“Nah! It’s better than that!” Satiricus said as he watched his friends down the beers the waitress has just plunked down. “This is about saving this country from being looted!”

“Yuh a talk ‘bout dem computah SARO tek way fram de Endore NBC?” asked Bungi immediately.

“Damn right, I am!” said Satiricus firmly. “See how our boys swoop down after gathering hard “intel” and extracted our assets! Nobody can loot Guyana anymore!”

“Intel? Assets?” asked Hari with eyebrows arched to his hairline. “I read the minutes of an official meeting stated a decision was made to sell computers that were gathering dust in a back room!”

“Da look like somebody carry news, pan de councillah who wan’ fuh buy de old computah!” blurted out Bungi.

“Dem jeal’us!”

“That was an inside deal,” insisted Satiricus. “Guyana’s money was saved.”

“Suh yuh leadah Rum Jhaat know SARO people do Police wuk?” asked Bungi. “An judge na tell dem fuh do da?”

“Sato…your leaders Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat used to say billions and billions were stolen,” pointed out Hari. “15 old computers?? City Hall don’t sell off used equipment?”

“Doesn’t matter,” insisted Satiricus. “It’s revenge time against the PPCEE baby!!”

11 PM Nagamootoo misspoke news

SunDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

... no new funding for GuySuCo

T

he billion-dollar bailout for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) announced by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Friday has already been allotted in the 2017 National Budget, and Government did not approve an additional billion dollars for the cash-strapped entity.

This clarification came from Agriculture Minister Noel Holder even as Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo declared on Friday that Cabinet, during its most recent sitting, approved a billion-dollar advance to pay workers of GuySuCo. Holder explained that the money approved is part of the $9 billion which have been allocated to the sugar company in the 2017 National Budget, and approval to disburse the $1 billion came in light of a request made by GuySuCo because of its inability to pay workers for

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

the month.

Guyana Times understands that approximately $3 billion of this money have already been released to GuySuCo. The APNU/AFC coalition Government had criticised past administrations for continuously bailing out the sug-

ar industry, and had vowed to put an end to such practices.

However, since its assumption to office about 22 months ago, it has injected some $32B into the sugar industry, much to the satisfaction of the workers’ union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).

GuySuCo is reportedly currently facing difficulty to achieve its first crop target of 74,172 tonnes of sugar, as there has reportedly been only a 59 per cent turnout of cane harvesters. Workers across the industry have downed tools and have gone up in arms over the direction the sugar sector is headed, as concerns grow over the future of their livelihood.

GuySuCo is currently preparing to submit to the Government a proposal aimed at obtaining its no-objection to sell off some of its land to private bidders.

Government had allotted $9 billion for GuySuCo in the 2017 Budget

GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Errol Hanoman, has disclosed that quite a few persons have responded to the tenders, though he did not state the exact number of applicants who have vied for the chance to buy the tracts of land. He was hopeful the situation would quickly be resolved, considering that the corporation is in a cashstrapped state.

Notably, GuySuCo had asked for $12 billion in subvention for 2017,, but Government has allotted only $9 billion.

12 news

SunDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 2 has potential to lead agricultural sector – President Granger …as inaugural Essequibo Agro and Trade Fair expo opens

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t the inaugural Essequibo Agro and Trade Fair exposition, which opened in a moonlight atmosphere on Friday at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, President David Granger dubbed Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), as the most productive area in the country, and hailed its vast agricultural potential. This is even as Region Two grapples with the deteriorating rice industry.

The theme for this exposition is “Essequibo means Business", and the President noted that the region contributes significantly to Guyana’s food security. He said that while the region is still beset with many challenges, there is great potential for economic development to take place there.

President Granger called on the Regional Administration, the Anna Regina Town Council, and other stakeholders to partner with Central Government in working towards economic development. Speaking to the exhibitors, residents and regional officials gathered for the occasion, he said that with its vast agricultural output, Region Two continues to be a “model” region.

The President said the region’s economic activities not

only generate wealth, but create jobs for Guyanese. Noting that the region has historically done well with the production of primary agricultural products, President Granger

Challenges

The President said that Government is aware of the challenges faced by the region, but he called on stakeholders (Regional Democratic

“We are aware that the region faces challenges, but we have to work together to overcome those challenges. One of the challenges is political collaboration, another challenge

mote local sectors and services.

Minister Gaskin suggested that the region could indulge in diversification, value added production and tourism as avenues to drive economic development.

And Deleep Singh, President of the Essequibo Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ECCI), said the Agro and Trade Fair expo was held to propel the local economy to a high level, and to give businesses the opportunity to meet, socialise and network among themselves, thereby fostering partnerships and generating business ideas.

Region's struggles

President of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce, Deleep Singh, discussing with President David Granger about craft work on display at the Essequibo Agro and Trade Expo

said the regional economy can be made more resilient through diversification into areas such as agro-processing and manufacturing.

“Unless you start adding value; unless you start refining; unless you start manufacturing, we will not be able to overcome the problems of poverty, or make that breakthrough into prosperity,” he said.

Council, Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Anna Regina Town Council, Amerindian communities and the business community) to work in close collaboration with each other towards achieving a common goal.

Some of the challenges that exist within the region, he said, are political collaboration, social cohesion and geographical differences (coast and land).

is social cohesion. These are not challenges which we cannot overcome if we work together… We have to find a way to work together to unleash the potential that the region has…We have to find a way to collaborate and to cooperate with each other,” President Granger said.

Business opportunities

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, who also addressed the gathering, said the various business expos taking place across Guyana are providing the platform for towns and regions to showcase their capabilities.

Gaskin said these events create opportunities for the private and public sectors to reach up and socialise. He said the expo complements the efforts of the Business Ministry to develop and pro-

Region Two Chairman Daveanand Ramdatt, giving brief remarks at the inaugural event, said the two nights of activity represent a bold and innovative approach, and the efforts of the ECCI should therefore be applauded.

Ramdatt said Region Two has contributed positively towards the development of Guyana's economy, especially through agriculture, but the Region's struggles are as a result of the lack of market for farmers' paddy; a high rate of unemployment prevalent among youths of the region; lack of markets for coconuts; lack of a reliable supply of power; heavy taxation; lack of access to duty-free concessions for farmers; and poor telecommunications.

The Chairman said the region has great tourism potential, which can be unleashed if there are improved roads leading to the beautiful resorts. He also called for there to be less bureaucracy facing entrepreneurs who desire to access small loans and grants, and for the establishment of the Crispy

Rice Cereal Factory and the Aurora Land Development Project. He said that once these projects are developed, more persons would become involved in agriculture.

The opening of the Expo featured a rich cultural programme that showcased the talents abounding in the Essequibo. The two-day event featured value-added products, including rice and other agro-processed items produced in the region. The New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) and the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) were among the supporting Government agencies that set up stalls at the event.

Attending the expo for the first time was Natura agency. The exhibitors explained that they participated in this exposition to showcase their products to the Essequibo population. A farmer who was excited to showcase his shade house project said he was pleased to present his project to the population.

Newly-established business Barakat Timbers Ltd, located at Charity, Pomeroon River, was also on board.

Displaying beautiful and intriguing craft items was Anita Sankar, who has been in the craft business for over 10 years. She said she was using this opportunity to showcase and sell products made by local producers and herself.

Other participating agencies included Sol, Comfort Sleep, University of Guyana, Big Birds, Natram Ramanand Juice Centre, Red Square Vodka, Travel Span, Amazon Coconut Water, Roosters Coconut Water, Forestry, Massey Limited, Tom Misir, and Samaroo Investment, among others. (Indrawattie Natram)

news

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SunDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Rupununi students visit Iwokrama for research project

Protesting bad governance S T

he current anxieties about the Granger Administration have much to do with the real fear that Guyana is undergoing a return to People’s National Congress (PNC) excesses. For those of us who lived through the Burnham era, the signs are clear as the country’s economy grinds to a halt, and as we watch the return of institutionalised racism, State corruption, cronyism and nepotism, and worry over the scarcity of the US dollar.

Unfortunately, we have Ryhaan Shah been here before and when the PNC/Alliance For Change (AFC) coalition was drumming its elections campaign message about forgetting the past, I and others pointed out the inherent dangers in that message: that it was ominous and signalled an intent to return the country to that inglorious period of Guyanese history when the PNC was last in power.

Commercial business in the city has fallen off about 30 to 50 per cent. Business is down even from January which is usually the slowest month for sales after the year-end holiday spending.

With sugar and rice, the traditional export earners, attracting no Government support to keep them viable until there is restructuring to replace any revenue loss, there is real concern about the growing number of taxes that are being designed to make taxation the country’s main revenue earner.

Winston Churchill said, “We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.” Just so.

Every good government tries to lower the burden of taxation on its citizens. They accomplish this by crafting policies to spur manufacturing and industry through tax incentives and tax holidays, and by attracting new investments that would create employment and expand the country’s home-based and export portfolios.

What currently obtains is the direct opposite. A shrinking business and manufacturing sector will result in retrenchment of workers, less spending power, higher crime, less imports, less duties collected, and the beginning of a vicious cycle that will result in progressive economic retardation.

Oil revenue earnings are years away. And why, when the country can be a food producer and a value-added manufacturer if provided with cheap energy or subsidised power and tax incentives, would any Government forgo present certainties for a future probability?

What happens to Guyana and all its potential while we wait on the oil to gush? Or is the squeeze on rice, sugar and the business sector informed by more sinister motives?

Because of the Granger Government’s serial corruptions and financial mismanagement, it is not surprising that opinion polls project a win for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the 2020 general elections.

Understandably, many balk at this idea given the PPP/C’s own alleged corruptions and highhanded manner of doing the people’s business while in office. However, another round of PPP Administration might well be faced with an electorate that is now willing to coalesce across ethnic and party lines on issues that affect them.

The protests against the city parking meters, the Wales Estate closure and Value Added Tax (VAT) on private school fees have attracted supporters from every race, class and political group who have united in peaceful demonstrations for a common cause.

This is a marked change from the Burnham era when any dissent was met with State-sponsored thuggery, terror and violence. But the young people who went out to “vote like a boss” and to forget a past they never experienced are still managing to get a first-hand taste of that period.

President David Granger is doing enough – the militarisation of the State; the ethnic cleansing of the public service; the economic mismanagement – to place the PNC stamp of identity on the country’s governance and peaceful protests that do not threaten the power base actually puts a kindly, indulgent face on his Administration even as responsible, lawful and accountable Government is steadily eroded away.

Still, in a country where criticism and dissent have almost always translated into violence and feral blasts, the indulgence is a welcome departure as new methods of keeping Government honest are tested. The issues being currently protested are legitimate and not based on spurious political claims as happened during the PPP/C Administration when public protests were mostly PNC-led and scarred by ethnic violence and arson.

Whether this new brand of protest action will be sustained and can develop into an effective tool to deter unjust public policies and actions in a truly non-partisan and democratic manner will be the true test of the support for issue-based politics.

The PPP, if it expects to be the next elected Government, should take note and be prepared to be held just as accountable.

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

tudents from across the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) visited the Iwokrama rainforest as part of a Grade Nine Integrated Science research project. This follows on the heels of another Lethem area school visit, Arapaima school.

The 91 students attend the St Ignatius Secondary School. It is the only secondary school in Central Rupununi and attracts students as far away as Karasabai.

Forest Ecologist and Director of Resource Management and Training at Iwokrama, Dr Raquel Thomas, during the visit said the entity has had ongoing outreach activities to schools, universities and the general public.

“We have also had more schools coming from Georgetown as well. It is very important for children to learn about conservation

Students of the St Ignatius Secondary School learning plant pressing techniques at Iwokrama

and sustainable use of forests and for them to really see the natural beauty of Guyana,” she added.

The students’ science project focuses on the symbiotic relationships among plants, namely commensalism, parasitism, and mutualism. The task of the students included identifying, by name, the plants that share these relationships

and to explain how plants affect and are affected by each other and other organisms in their environments. Another objective of the students’ assignment was to observe, describe and classify plants by their colour, size, shape of leaves and their habitat. The visit to Iwokrama afforded the students to actually see those relationships at work

in the Iwokrama forest and also to collect samples for preservation.

Botanical surveys of the Iwokrama forest have found over 1250 species of plants but could well exceed 2000 species if those in the highland areas are taken into consideration.

The students and teachers observed the rainforest from the canopy walkway and also visited the Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Station at Kurupukari.

The Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the Iwokrama forest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest “in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general”.

14 news

SunDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Local author launches historical alphabet chart

I

n a patriotic effort to educate persons, local author Jamal Adams on Saturday launched a revised Guyanese historical alphabet which features common landmarks in Guyana.

Adams said his decision to launch the revised alphabet follows a recent controversy caused by the original chart, which depicts political figures. This latest version of the alphabet illustrates historical landmarks and places of interest across the country.

Speaking with this newspaper, the young writer highlighted the educational importance of the chart, which seeks

to be an ever present reminder not only to school-aged children, but adults as well. Adams related that the traditional alphabetical chart that most people grew up with depicts foreign representations of which children sometimes have no knowledge, thus his version seeks to correct this issue by using illustrations that Guyanese persons are familiar with and can actually relate to.

The local author has thus far also published eight books, and intends to write a few more.

Emphasising the importance of reading, Adams is encouraging youths to do so, while noting that it is a tool to overcome ignorance.

Younge’s Take Reining in rogue youths

T

he years 2014 and 2015 marked a period in Guyana’s post-independence history where political activism and consciousness among the country’s youth population was at its peak. Youths utilised every opportunity and media platform to sound their voices for socio-political change while bluntly demanding that the installation via purely democratic means of a new government that put the needs of its people first.

A major of that youth population strongly felt that “it was time” for them to speak out against the perceived diabolic failures of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) as far as advancing youth development and social quality were concerned. This led to widespread protests about the need for youths to be included Michael Younge in key decisions which ultimately affect their overall growth and future.

It saw the establishment of key pressure and interest groups at various levels of society which lobbied the Donald Ramotar Administration for immediate changes as far as equal access to education and scholarships were concerned. They demanded the further curricula modernisation and infrastructural development of the University of Guyana as many expressed worry about the poor state of affairs of the entity. Widespread concern was also raised about the state of corruption, joblessness, mismanagement, poverty and crime during the rule of successive PPP Governments.

The Blue Caps sprung up and shot to fame with the support of some of the county’s most influence young adults and leaders.

There were also town hall meetings and local programmes, tailored as well as funded – if not completely conceptualised by USAID and other American interests – to galvanise support against the PPP amongst youths.

And as expected, the then Opposition capitalised on those opportunities and launched an offensive which saw docile and naive youths being used as political foot soldiers to preach the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC) policy messages. They were catapulted to the limelight with the coalition’s leaders like Christopher Jones, James Bond, Malika Ramsey, Thandi McAllister, Trevor Thomas and others promising them betterment under the ruler ship of a coalition Government.

Indeed, Berbice’s Mark Ross and Essequibo’s Ganesh Manhipaul were also instrumental in misleading thousands of young people in their respective counties about what would be taking place under a Granger-Nagamootoo Government.

The PPP was warned long before the elections by its own youths who diligently lobbied the party internally to do more to secure the youth vote. Ideas were put forward by youths with modern ideologies and viewpoints about what the Party needed to do on the campaign trail to increase its appeal to a seemingly resentful youth population. The truth is, the relics in the Party blocked every attempt to revolutionise and positively reform the party gameplan for attracting more youth voters. The rest is history.

It is now years into the ruler ship of the coalition Government and the state of the Guyanese youth has not improved even though they handed David Granger and Joseph Harmon the elections on a platter. Things have gone from mildly bad under the PPP as far as youth development is concerned to worse under the stewardship of the fatal Rupert Roopnaraine and Nicolette Henry stewardship of the education sector. UG is still in a state of disrepair and is starved of funds. It still lacks creativity and modern vision with respect to its core curriculum content. UG is now forced to raise its tuition fees and demonising poor youths who took loans to be able to attain a tertiary education. And there is now VAT on private education.

Joblessness, poverty and corruption are reaching alarming levels under this regime and the National Youth Policy which the APNU/AFC Government produced is poor by any standard.

Value for money was certainly not attained when one peruses this piecemeal document. Youth crime and violence have also skyrocketed under this militaristic regime which is slowly mirroring a neo-dictatorship. What is even more disappointing is the fact that those very young people who put whatever credibility they had on the line for the APNU/AFC while campaigning during the elections are now sidelined. They are occupying back offices and doing unimpressive work in all sorts of fabricated portfolios as they struggle to save face.

They are unimportant and irrelevant in the scheme of things as older and more experienced former military comrades enjoy the largess of their labour. In short, they are now condemned to silence having been disgraced and outmanoeuvred by the dinosaurs in their parties. The wider youth population who voted for the coalition have now lost their voices and appears to be in retreat after what was supposed to be a big triumph and period of change.

Now is the time for the PPP to strike now by exposing those who further enslave the wider youth population to their current socioeconomic hardship under the ruler ship of Mr Granger-Harmon.

The PPP must not fail to reorganise its youth arm to confront these challenges via social media and the main stream media. The older politicians in the party needs new faces by their side to achieve buy-in from now even more indecisive and resentful population.

The PPP must deliver the change youths begged for – it must be their knight in shining amour.

NEWS

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SunDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana in support of further dialogue on Venezuela crisis …as Heads of Missions conference concludes

G

uyana’s 17th Heads of Missions Conference (HOMC) has drawn to a close. A number of topical issues pertaining to Guyana’s representation abroad were discussed during this conference, and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge has said the exercise may very well become an annual one.

The issue of Venezuela was also a topic of discussion.

Venezuela has staunchly been against Guyana exploring for oil in the Stabroek Block, where multiple oil deposits have been found by ExxonMobil. Last month, Venezuela’s National Assembly approved an agreement to reject those oil exploration activities.

Following attempts by a March 28 Permanent Council meeting of the Organisation of American States (OAS) to advance discussions on the mounting internal problems afflicting Venezuela, Minister Greenidge also affirmed Guyana’s support for the OAS attempts to engage in discussion about Venezuela.

“We are aware, and (Guyana’s) Mission in Washington has been closely engaged in that exercise. Indeed, within the OAS, Ambassador Riyad Insanally chairs the Caribbean Group.

So we are very close to that,” Greenidge stated during a press conference on Friday to mark the conclusion of the HOMC. “Our views are that, as a member of the OAS, one has to accept that (when) you’re in a position where a matter affect-

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge during the press conference on Friday evening. In the background is a section of Guyana’s Heads of Missions

ing the fundamental principles the OAS Charter contains, (it) is a legitimate matter for discussion at the OAS,” Minister Greenidge said. “So we are in support of the appropriateness for important and sensitive matters to be discussed by the OAS Grouping itself, and for countries to be in a position to give their views on this matter.

That is the position of Guyana,” Greenidge explained.

For his part, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Dr Riyad Insanally, reported a division within the OAS States. He noted that countries such as Guyana approached the matter based on principles of respect for sovereignty, human rights and the democratic process.

“The essential problem is how to try and get the Venezuelan Government to accept that the desired solution is one based on dialogue. We’re trying to take a measured approach to the situation, which will take some time,” he ex-

plained. “Unfortunately, the reports coming out of Caracas are that the situation is getting tenser politically, and this is something we will continue to watch closely,” he added.

While Dr Insanally noted that the premise of the OAS was to resolve disputes like this one through dialogue, he added that the OAS was also supposed to be all-inclusive in its approach. “And if (Venezuela is) not at the table, it’s very difficult to arrive at a solution. So the situation is a very delicate one.”

Insanally said Venezuela was staunchly against efforts to have the country’s internal conflict discussed at a subsequent meeting.

HOMC

Commenting on the premise of the HOMC, Greenidge noted that while all the heads of missions were well equipped academically and had experience in their respective fields,

only three were experienced in Guyana’s Foreign Service; hence it was important for meetings to ensure the team was on the same page.

“The programme has been

an extensive one. Part of our challenge and the reason for this exercise is to engineer team-building in foreign policy.

We’ve covered a range of issues; they started off with foreign

economic policy, the national interest, bilateral US, UK, China; as well as the multilateral forum. We also did some work on institutional arrangements,” he declared.

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SunDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyanese warned of fake oil and gas overseas courses

G

uyana’s burgeoning oil and gas sector has brought with it new economic opportunities for the country. It has also brought with it potential confidence tricksters, as the Natural Resources Ministry has issued an advisory for individuals to be on guard for

fake oil and gas courses.

According to the Ministry in a statement on Saturday, there has been a noticeable increase in institutions of learning offering courses in oil and gas education. It stated that this was understandable and even expected as the country prepares itself for

the emerging oil and gas industry. However, the Natural Resources Ministry is urging that interested persons be careful.

“The Ministry of Natural Resources is urging the public to be careful when signing up for online courses in oil and gas and to ensure that any

programme being embarked upon is accredited. The Ministry hereby states that if the occasion arises, it will indicate publicly which institution, training programme or course for oil and gas related education it recommends or endorses,” it said.

The Ministry also urged

potential students and interested parties to engage in their own due diligence checks before investing in any oil and gas related educational pursuit.

There has been much buzz within the country and afar in light of continuous reports of oil find i n Guyana’s territorial waters, and as prepar a tions a r e on-going to get the country ready for production, Guyanese are looking to equip themselves to benefit from the many opportunities that such an industry provides.

In fact, the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA) has been staging a series of Oil and Gas seminars with presentations featuring international experts, educating Guyanese on the emerging industry.

In fact, two weeks ago, the Association held an Oil and Gas Conference and Exposition to promote long lasting business relationships and unlock possibilities that will deliver the ultimate business setting to succeed in today’s competitive hydrocarbons marketplace for the local and international partners.

“This forum will provide the mechanism for information sharing to those who are interested in the development of the local oil and gas sector.

The event will allow for the building of business collaborations to drive the growth of our new oil and gas sector and for all participants to be better able to understand the business of oil and gas for our world class reservoir. The event will give both individuals and businesses the opportunity to explore the areas of potential along the supply and value-chain of the oil and gas sector,” Chief Executive Officer of GOGA, Bobby Gossai Jr, had stated in a re-

lease prior to the conference.

United States-based oil giant ExxonMobil made its first oil discovery back in May 2015 followed by several other successful drilling exercises. Its latest find was back in February.

The company announced two weeks ago that it has seen “positive results” in its oil exploratory efforts in Guyana, this time confirming a new discovery in the Snoek well

o f f s h o r e Guyana in the Stabroek Block.

Drilling targeted similar-aged reservoirs as encountered in previous discoveries at Liza and Payara, Exxon had said.

“The latest discovery at Snoek demonstrates the continued success we have achieved in this technically complex play, which is just part of the significant exploration province offshore Guyana,” explained President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Steve Greenlee.

ExxonMobil began drilling of the Snoek well on February 22, 2017, and encountered some 82 feet (25 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was drilled to a depth of 16,978 feet (5175 metres) in 5128 feet (1563 metres) of water on March 18.

The Snoek well is located in the southern portion of the Stabroek Block, approximately five miles (9 km) to the South-east of the 2015 Liza-1 discovery.

Following completion of the Snoek well, the Stena Carron drillship has moved back to the Liza area to drill the Liza-4 well.

Region 10 tourism...

These, he explained, can be identified as those which pose tourism appeal and can provide wonderful experiences and enjoyment for tourists. Other criterion for identification of such spots includes accessibility, safety and the services offered.

Coconut Festival, which was hosted a while ago, was a fantastic and highly impressive initiative. He said the Linden Town Week and River Front Festival also provides opportunities for the boosting of cultural tourism, while he urged to strengthening of ties with the Diaspora when events such as these are hosted, noting that there is a lot of focus internationally on the Diaspora. Further, Sinclair pointed to the fact that there is an estimated one million Guyanese living abroad. He also spoke about the development of sustainable green

from page 10

tourism and its positive effects in ensuring long-term benefits for the eco-system as well as local economic vitality and supporting the local economy in addition to the development of domestic tourism.

Generally, Sinclair explained that Guyana has a vast array of natural and cultural resources, as he stressed the importance of local awareness and tapping into new markets.

He pointed out that last year was the best year for Guyana, having received 235,279 visitors but noted that February is generally not a good month, despite the hosting of the Mashramani celebrations.

Interestingly, Sinclair noted that there are about 1000 Cubans coming to Guyana each week, referred to as ‘shopping tourists.’

NEWS

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SunDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Anna's

The regression of Indigenous land rights

T

he issue of Indigenous land rights must be contextualised and dealt with separately from any other land claims, and not just because Amerindians are Guyana’s first peoples from whom the entire country was initially “stolen” by the European settlers.

The demarche for returning “stolen” lands was first initiated by the natives of the Americas themselves, and in Guyana the process of addressing Amerindian land rights commenced under the British Anna Correia Empire with the establishment of the first “reserves” as they were dubbed. These were provisioned for by the Amerindian Ordinances of 1902 and 1904.

Later, it was Stephen Campbell who continued the fight for land ownership in the years preceding independence, by securing the promise that the young Guyanese State would establish an Amerindian Land Commission geared towards investigating land claims and formulating subsequent proposals. This resulted in the publication of the 1969 Land Commission Report which paved the way for the titling of the first 10 Amerindian villages in Guyana. So the legal battle for land rights does not only predate the reclamations for land by other peoples brought to Guyana by colonisers, but is also embodied in the self-determination and self- representation of Amerindian peoples who took it upon themselves to engage successive Governments on the matter. In fact, upon closer observation, the earliest stages of this expression of self-representation stemmed from the negotiations and trade between the free Indigenous peoples of Guyana and the first Dutch settlers – Amerindians were and continue to be free peoples. It is what distinguishes Amerindian land titling from the context of African land reparation, which is a consequence of slavery in which the stakeholders are not the same, and in which the British Crown still has a responsibility to play.

Further, Amerindian land ownership is guaranteed by an international framework which revolves around the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), before which it was already the object of a pledge by the Government of Guyana and enshrined in the Amerindian Act no 6 – 2006. This is the context enveloping Amerindian land rights – a context which because of its historical specificities, must continue to be treated on separate grounds from the issue of African and other land claims. It is this foundation that later facilitated the LCDS funded Amerindian Land Titling Project which was set up specifically to respond to Indigenous land rights, and which by its mandate alone, annuls the relevance of any Commission of Inquiry purporting to investigate land claims. In refusing to comply with the framework encompassing Amerindian land rights, the coalition Government is actually trespassing on international guidelines and national legislations, which might eventually become cause for legal disputes and the decimation of trust between the State and Amerindian peoples.

President Granger’s recent clash with the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) depicts the coalition’s refusal to acknowledge the specificities of Amerindian land titling, moving Amerindians one step closer to marginalisation. Former People’s National Congress (PNC 0) Executive Vincent Alexander’s recent pronouncement in the media, reinforces the President’s position. Alexander insisted at a public forum that all Guyanese claims to lands must be dealt with in one same manner and through a single outlet. Incidentally, his approach also echoes Eric Phillips’ racist banter in the media which commenced about a year ago and sought to discredit the legitimacy of Amerindians to land ownership.

Upon closer examination, this narrative leaves no space for cultural diversities to coexist in Guyana, and the recent upheaval

by PNC friendlies against Amerindian land rights is allowed to penetrate the public sphere unsanctioned, because it favours the coalition’s agenda which is one set on reformulating the history of this country.

In the PNC’s reformulated history of Guyana, multiculturalism is crushed by policies which induce the forceful assimilation of citizens to a national identity forged from the imaginary – what Benedict Anderson calls an “imagined community” – in the belief that this is the means to achieving “national unity”. But the causal effect of bulldozing one’s way through the process of nation building produces the opposite result: a society which appeals little to the sentiment of belonging of cultural groups and minorities, and citizens in general.

The establishment of a CoI into Amerindian land titling without obtaining the majority consensus of Amerindian leaders is an affront to Indigenous land rights and sets a dangerous precedence for all those who in the future would attempt to diminish the legitimacy of these special rights. It officially marks the deliberate regression of Indigenous rights in Guyana.

Contact sundayarrow@gmail.com

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SunDAY, april 9, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Sleeping with death: the future of criminalising deliberate HIV infection

BY JARRYL BRYAN

R

ita, who preferred not to use her real name, met her ex-boyfriend at a party in 2015.

Having just came out of another relationship, she was on the rebound. She related that something about him prompted her to let her guard down and approached him. By the end of the night, they had exchanged numbers and a romance started.

In hindsight, Rita recalled that her new found paramour would always find excuses to avoid having her visit his home. They eventually started a sexual relationship, but this would almost always happen at her place of abode.

She related that one day he had stopped at his house on the way to take her to the popular seawall lime, as he had to collect something.

Feeling the urge use the rest room, Rita subsequently followed him in and found the rest room.

A search for napkins led her to the medicine cabinet,

where a pill bottle labelled Anti-Retro Viral (ARV) stared back at her.

Deliberate transmission

As of last year, Guyana’s National Acquired Immune

corded statistics showing that there are 7000 Guyanese living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Of that group, some 5300 are attached to a care and

Criminalising those seeking to deliberately transmit HIV has become a divisive topic and battle lines are frequently drawn between legislators and NGO’s

Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Programme Secretariat re-

treatment facility and a further 85 per cent receiving

ARV treatment.

Rita’s is not an isolated case. The issue of HIV positive individuals deliberately withholding information about their status from their sexual partners is a touchy one which has sparked international debate. Varying reasons for this dangerous practice have been provided, such as fear of stigma.

But consideration has also been given for criminal liability. In one of the most famous cases, Ugandan born Canadian Johnson Aziga became the first person to be found guilty of murder in 2009 for deliberately transmitting HIV, leading to someone’s death.

Diagnosed with HIV in 1996, Aziga subsequently had unprotected sex with 11 women without disclosing his status, infecting seven.

Ultimately, two died from AIDS related complications.

Aziga was found guilty of two counts of first degree murder, 10 counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of attempted sexual assault.

Important to note is that the Canadian courts ruled that since he never disclosed his status to the women, they could not have truly given their consent. It is the same principle which applies when a Police Officer is mandated to read a suspect their Miranda rights or else anything said by the suspect is inadmissible to court.

The United States is notable for having over 30 states with laws which criminalise the wilful transmission of HIV. The laws have been criticised and condemned by human rights groups, who argue that they reinforce the stigma against HIV positive persons.

Guyana’s efforts

Efforts to make similar laws a reality in Guyana were also met with staunch opposition. In 2009, Guyana Action Party/Rise, Organise and Rebuild (GAP/ROAR) Guyana representative Everall Franklin brought a motion to the National Assembly seeking to make intentionally infecting a person with HIV an indictable offence.

The National Aids Committee (NAC) had immediately called for it to be rejected, stating that the motion sets out to have “the transmission of HIV to any other person be an indictable offense once a person knows that he is infected.

The motion does not require intent. If a condom breaks, for example, and transmission occurs, the transmitter would be liable.”

“While recognising that infection rates are still disappointingly high as the motion states, the NAC is completely opposed to the premise of this motion that HIV positive persons are responsible for this state

of affairs and must be penalised. In this respect the motion is inhumane, ill-informed and dangerous,” the Committee said in a release.

The motion was ultimately defeated. In 2011, then Health Minsiter, Dr Leslie Ramsammy addressed the issue in the National Assembly. He also produced the findings of a Special Select Committee, which was tasked with facilitating public discussion on criminalising reckless and deliberate transmission of HIV. In his remarks, Ramsammy said “we all agreed that the wilful transmission of HIV is unacceptable and is criminal. But we believe that there are general criminal laws that are adequate to address the wilful transmission of HIV. While

2017

Guyana does not have any laws in its statutes specific to wilful HIV transmission. According to the Public Relations Officer for the Director of Public Prosecutions Chambers, Liz Rahman, such a law does not exist now, though she directed further queries to the Legal Affairs Ministry.

In an interview with parliamentarian and medical doctor, Dr Frank Anthony, he stated that such legislation may actually not be in the country’s best interest. Anthony, who is a vocal orator in the National Assembly on matters of public health, posited that such legislation may just deter HIV positive persons from disclosing their status.

In June 2016, then Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton (right), Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador George Talbot (centre) and First Secretary in the Guyana Mission at the UN Headquarters, Shiraz Mohamed (left) attended a high level UN meeting discussing the eradication of AIDS

we accepted that the wilful transmission of HIV is a problem, we do not believe that the problem can be resolved by the criminalising of HIV transmission.”

He added that, “the Special Select Committee after deliberations and after hearing the views of individuals and organisations concluded that criminalising of HIV transmission has not been proven to prevent the spread of HIV; it merely encourages individuals not to get tested and increases the stigma and discrimination against those who are positive.”

“This in turn can lead to increased spread of HIV from those who do not know their status. The Committee and those citizens and organisations that came forward to make presentations to the Special Select Committee agreed that stigma and discrimination have proven to be the most powerful drivers of the HIV epidemic,” the Minister had concluded.

The stance Guyana took was one applauded by local and international groups including the United Nations AIDS humanitarian group.

“There are a few cases where persons are practising revenge behaviour.

And there are legal (statutes) in other jurisdictions. But by and large we have not seen much of that here in Guyana. And therefore putting in legislation like that would do more harm,” Dr Anthony concluded.

Despite denials from her lover that the medication belonged to him, Rita ended the relationship and subsequently tested herself. It turned out that her experience was just a narrow brush with the dreaded disease, as her results came back as negative.

She has kept to herself since then. According to Rita, her narrow brush with the wilful transmission of HIV is something she will never forget. She said it is an experience she will carry around with her for the rest of her life and has affected her interactions with all subsequent suitors.

And according to her, in her quiet moments she often wonders what justice she would have gotten had the test she took two years ago come back positive.

sunDAY, april 9, 2017

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King’s XI take down Supergiants G

lenn Maxwell nailed 44 unbeaten runs off 20 balls and made sure his senior-team captaincy debut would forever be a happy memory. Kings XI Punjab owed their six-wicket win to their bowlers though.

They were so good that an outstanding fifth-wicket partnership between Ben Stokes and Manoj Tiwary - 61 runs off 37 balls with only two dots - ended up in vain. It was the eighth consecutive defeat after batting first for Rising Pune Supergiant in the IPL.

The Kings XI strangle

Eight out of the 20 overs Kings XI bowled yielded five r u n s

or less. It began with Sandeep Sharma bowling Mayank Agarwal for a duck in the first over Agarwal's 28th dismissal in the Powerplay in 39 IPL innings.

T h a t f o r c e d Ajinkya Rahane and Steven Smith into rebuild mode - Rising Pune had been 7 for 1 after three overs - on a two-paced pitch where the new ball seemed to skid and bounce and the old one stopped on the batsman. Smith, the current captain, was dismissed with a strike-rate below 100 to one that jumped up at him.

MS Dhoni, the former captain, was dismissed with a strikerate below 50, to one that came off the pitch slower than he expected.

The Rising Pune saviours, almost

In an innings 32 deliveries long, Stokes let only four become dots. Power-hitters can sometimes get caught up in just hitting the ball hard, but Stokes understood

Rising Pune's biggest threat with the ball and he showed it for three overs, picking up two wickets and conceding only 14 runs. Saha's stumps were broken and pinch-hitter Axar Patel was caught and bowled.

Tahir's final over, saved for the end, was smashed for 14 runs as Maxwell sent a couple of short balls soaring over the rope. Maxwell had begun the

charge to victory in the previous over off Stokes. The equation had been 48 off 36 balls when the England allrounder came on. A short delivery was belted wide of the sweeper cover with great power and a full delivery was launched over mid-off for six, establishing Maxwell's game awareness. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Glenn Maxwell had a flawless debut as captain of King’s XI Punjab

the risk of Rising Pune losing him too with a majority of the overs still left. He played the percentages well, feeding his knock with 22 singles and picked the left-arm spinners to hit. Stokes bashed 25 runs off 14 balls off Axar Patel and Swapnil Singh.

In an innings 23 deliveries long, Tiwary let only two become dots. His strike-rate of 173.91 was his best (in innings where he faced more than 15 balls). There were gorgeous

inside-out shots over cover and point, highlighting a still base, and a straight six in the 19th over, when Stokes had fallen, highlighting his ability for the crunch moments.

Tahir against the world

The fact that Imran Tahir has great accuracy, and a googly not too many people pick, is apparent from the fact he has bowled batsmen, or pinned them lbw, to get 63 of his 178 T20 wickets. He was

Rising Pune Supergiant innings (20 overs maximum) AM Rahane c Stoinis b Natarajan 19 MA Agarwal b Sandeep Sharma 0 SPD Smith* c Vohra b Stoinis 26 BA Stokes c & b Patel 50 MS Dhoni† c & b Swapnil Singh 5 MK Tiwary not out 40 DT Christian c Maxwell b Sandeep Sharma 17 R Bhatia not out 0 Extras (lb-1, w-5) 6 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 163 Did not bat: RD Chahar, Imran Tahir, AB Dinda Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Agarwal, 0.5 ov), 2-36 (Rahane, 6.2 ov), 3-49 (Smith, 8.1 ov), 4-71 (Dhoni, 11.2 ov), 5-132 (Stokes, 17.3 ov), 6-162 (Christian, 19.5 ov) Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 4-033-2, MM Sharma 4-0-34-0, AR

Patel 4-0-27-1 (w-2), T Natarajan 3-0-26- 1, MP Stoinis 3-0-281 (w-3), Swapnil Singh 2-0-14-1 Kings XI Punjab innings (target: 164 runs from 20 overs) HM Amla c Stokes b Chahar 28 M Vohra c Tiwary b Dinda 14 14 WP Saha† b Imran Tahir AR Patel c & b Imran Tahir 24 GJ Maxwell* not out 44 DA Miller not out 30 Extras (lb-1, w-9) 10 Total: (4 wickets; 19 overs) 164 Did not bat: MP Stoinis, Swapnil Singh, MM Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Vohra, 2.5 ov), 2-49 (Saha, 5.2 ov), 3-83 (Amla, 10.4 ov), 4-85 (Patel, 11.1 ov) Bowling: AB Dinda 3-0-26-1, DT Christian 2-0-24-0 (w-2), BA Stokes 4-0-32-0 (w-1), Imran Tahir 4-0-29-2, RD Chahar 4-0-321 (w-4), R Bhatia 2-0-20-0 (w-1)

Jadhav’s knock gets RCB off the mark Kedar Jadhav sees his shot soar into the stands

T

h e Royal

Challengers Bangalore insist on p l a y ing bold and on Saturday they took some bold decisions, which ultimately resulted in a 15run victory in their first home match of the VIVO IPL 2017. The home team made four changes to their playing XI, bucked the trend at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium by opting to bat first and handed the crucial final over of the innings to a bowler who had not been used for the previous 19 overs. After being helped to 157/8 courtesy

Kedar Jadhav’s fantastic 69 off 37 balls, the RCB bowlers struck at regular intervals to defend a low total.

The Delhi Daredevils will surely feel they missed out on registering an away victo ry after a scrappy batting performance.

Y o u n g Rishabh Pant was single-handedly anchoring DD’s chase despite the regular fall of wickets and looked to take the side home when they needed 32 from 18 balls. Pant, who brought up his fifty off 33 balls, faced only three balls in the next two overs of which he still scored eight runs. With 19 needed to get off the last over, RCB captain Shane Watson went with his gut feeling and asked Pawan Negi to bowl. The decision

proved right as Negi dismissed Pant off the first ball and then picked his second wicket in the over. Negi was chosen over fellow left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla, who had claimed two wickets in his previous three overs.

The result may not have gone DD’s way but Pant showed terrific composure and class after overcoming a personal tragedy. While most batsmen struggled, Pant hit a six off the first ball he faced and even had answers for Tymal Mills’ deceptive slower balls.

Earlier, Watson opened the innings with Chris Gayle and hit three boundaries in the first seven balls to set the tempo. However, the early push did not result in big swing of momentum as Chris Gayle departed for just six runs. The big Jamaican got out to a full-toss from Chris Morris. The wicket was also made possible thanks to an outstanding effort in the field from Samson.

The Daredevils then upped the ante and struck at regular intervals remov-

ing one-drop Mandeep Singh (12) and Watson for 24. Pat Cummins was fast and accurate while left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem stood out. In an excellent form this home season, Nadeem was again impressive. He bowled 12 dot balls and gave away just 13 runs from his four overs.

The home team needed somebody to break the shackles and they found their man in Jadhav. The explosive batsman turned the tide after a slow start. It was the 13th over that changed the course.

Bowling his second over of the innings, Amit Mishra was smashed for two sixes and two fours and conceded 24 runs, his third most expensive over in the IPL. The big shots started flowing from Jadhav’s bat as he reached his fifty in 26 balls.

Jadhav continued to attack as RCB regained some lost ground.

Just when the balance seemed to have shifted, Zaheer Khan struck on the final ball of his fourth over with a slower ball and Jadhav was

holed out at mid-off in the 17th over. With Jadav back in the dugout, the Daredevils

bowled well in the death, giving away just 15 in the last three overs. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Royal Challengers Bangalore innings (20 overs maximum) CH Gayle c Samson b Morris 6 SR Watson* st †Pant b Nadeem 24 Mandeep Singh b Cummins 12 KM Jadhav c Morris b Khan 69 STR Binny c Billings b Khan 16 Vishnu Vinod† run out (Nadeem/Khan) 9 10 P Negi b Morris 5 Iqbal Abdulla not out 0 TS Mills b Morris Extras (lb-2, w-4) 6 Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) 157 (7.85 runs per over) Did not bat: YS Chahal, B Stanlake Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Gayle, 3.2 ov), 2-41 (Mandeep Singh, 5.5 ov), 3-55 (Watson, 8.4 ov), 4-121 (Binny, 14.6 ov), 5-142 (Vishnu Vinod, 16.4 ov), 6-142 (Jadhav, 16.6 ov), 7-157 (Negi, 19.3 ov), 8-157 (Mills, 19.6 ov) Bowling: Z Khan 4-0-31-2 (w-1), CH Morris 4-0-21-3, PJ Cummins 4-0-29-1 (w-1), S Nadeem 4-013-1 (w-1), A Mishra 2-0-32-0, CR Brathwaite 2-0-29-0 (w-1)

Delhi Daredevils innings (target: 158 runs from 20 overs) AP Tare b Mills 18 SW Billings c Stanlake b Iqbal Abdulla 25 4 KK Nair b Stanlake SV Samson c Binny b Stanlake 13 57 RR Pant† b Negi CH Morris lbw b Iqbal Abdulla 4 CR Brathwaite b Chahal 1 6 PJ Cummins b Watson 8 A Mishra not out 0 S Nadeem c & b Negi Z Khan* not out 1 5 Extras: (lb-1, w-4) Total: (9 wickets; 20 overs) 142 Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Tare, 4.4 ov), 2-38 (Nair, 5.3 ov), 3-55 (Billings, 7.3 ov), 4-84 (Samson, 10.5 ov), 5-107 (Morris, 12.6 ov), 6-113 (Brathwaite, 14.5 ov), 7-125 (Cummins, 16.2 ov), 8-139 (Pant, 19.1 ov), 9-139 (Nadeem, 19.3 ov) Bowling: B Stanlake 4-0-29-2 (w-1), YS Chahal 4-0-19-1, Iqbal Abdulla 3-0-36-2 (w-3), TS Mills 4-0-33-1, SR Watson 4-0-21-1, P Negi 1-0-3-2

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sundAY, april 9, 2017

GCA/ Carib Beer T20

– Everest through to semis

A

nother upset occurred in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/ Carib Beer T20 Competition when minnows Transport Sports Club (TSC) defeated Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) by six wickets yesterday at Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) Ground.

In the high scoring clash, TSC scored 174-4 in 19.3 overs, replying to 172-7 from 20 overs made by GNIC. Suresh Budho and Ryan Hemraj, who scored 59 not out and 42 along with off spinner Rafael Singh, who bagged three wickets to continue a good run of form in recent times, were instrumental in TSC’s victory.

Budho, who batted at number five blasted five sixes and four fours in a commanding knock while Hemraj who opened the batting played a more responsible role adding partnerships with the rest of the top five batsmen, before he was

Suresh Budho

the last person to get out in TSC’s innings looking for quick runs.

Gajanan Suknanan enjoyed yet another day out in the middle, picking up 2-21 from his quotas of four overs while Dwayne Dick and Ryan Shun snared a wicket apiece.

In GNIC’s innings, Shun struck his third successive half century of the tournament to increase his lead as the leading run scorer. It is

also his third time he has ended on the losing side.

However, his innings set his team up for a big score and included four sixes and six fours. He knock was supported by Ovid Richardson and Dwayne Dick, who scored 34 and 19 respectively.

Singh, who captured 13 wickets in the Noble House Seafoods final last week against GNIC second division team, was once again the major tormentor for the Woolford Avenue batsmen as he snared 3-19 from four overs.

It was a big win for TSC, who now stands an opportunity of qualifying for the semis if they win their remaining matches against University of Guyana and Demerara Cricket Club (DCC).

DCC leads group A with three wins from three matches followed by Police on two wins from four matches, then TSC, UG and GNIC in that order.

Meanwhile, in the other match today, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) made life easy for Everest Cricket Club, who won by a mammoth margin to reach the semifinal.

They are now assured a place in the next stage of the tournament after winning by eight wickets yesterday at their home venue at Carifesta Avenue.

Batting first GDF fold-

Ryan Shun

GHB/ Smalta U-14 Indoor Hockey League

By Romario Samaroo

A

fairytale ending for the first ever Guyana Hockey Board/ Smalta Under-14 boys and girls indoor hockey tournament saw Hikers Hockey Club (HHC) Garnett Street and Marian Academy being crowned the inaugural champions on Friday night.

Playing at the Marian Academy auditorium, Garnett Street worked their way in the nail biting climax to snatch the title from Saints Hockey Club (SHC) Scalpels in the final of the boys’ category.

After a 1-1 draw at full time, the winners had to be decided by an intense penalty shootout with three taking to the line; however it was a blunder by one Scalpel star that allowed Garnett Street. It was no looking back from there as they sunk all three of their goals and seal the deal.

Earlier in the evening, Scalpels had

advanced from the semi-finals where they denied their club team, Samurai in a 3-0 contest to qualify for the finals while Garnett Street made it another penalty shootout where they were forced to sudden death, this time against St. Joseph High. Garnett Street and St. Joseph High played to a 2-2 draw in full time but Garnett Street edged them 4-3 in the sudden death to advance.

Meanwhile, St. Joseph High, the most inexperienced side in the league who got together just about a month before the start of the tournament managed to beat Samurai and take the third place honours.

Over in the girls’ category, Marian Academy made good use of their home turf to walk away as the best team in the competition after whipping GCC Challengers 6-4. It was talented GCC striker in the girls’ class, Abosaide Cadogan who was once again the star of the day with a hat trick of goals to

The impressive Garnett Street remained undefeated throughout the competition

see her side putting up a good fight but that was not enough as her club mate, but Marian Academy star, Sarah Klautky came to the party with a hat trick of her own as well as a double from Paige Fernandes and a lone goal from Madison Fernandes that sunk the Challenger’s chances.

On their way to the final, GCC Challengers had an uphill task of defeating SHC Silencers in the first semi-final. This match too went down to the wire as the two teams were deadlocked on four goals each at the end of regulation timing but Cadogan and Riley Nurse aced their penalty shootout to qualify.

Also, Marian Academy disposed of GCC Warriors in a 5-0 thrashing again at the hands of the Fernandes pair and Klautky.

At the end of the tournament, President of the Guyana Hockey Board Philip Fernandes when speaking to Guyana Times Sport praised the youngsters for coming out in their numbers and playing a high level competition which was a good reception for the inaugural run.

“I think these are all new players and we have seen a lot of potential and I think what this does is visit schools and see each other competing, it encourages others to play the game.” The GHB President stated.

Also, Organiser of the competition, Dominique DeGroot commended the teams for an outstanding showing, rating the tournament as a “fantastic one” while relating that there will definitely be a next one as they look to expand in the following years.

ed for 69 in 16.5 overs, compliments of quality bowling by Shaheed Mohamed and Kevin Paul, who collected three wickets apiece.

Ashkaya Persaud assisted with two scalps.

In reply Everest lost two early wickets, that of, Persaud for naught and Chandrapaul Hemraj for seven, both dismissed by off spinner Leon Andrews.

However, it was the only bright period for the military unit in the entire day, before Troy Gonsalves and Khemraj Ramdeen joined forces to steer their team to victory.

Gonsalves made 40 not out from 25 deliveries while Ramdeen was unbeaten on 22 when Everest reached the target.

Everest now leads group B with 63 points with three

Troy Gonsalves

wins from four matches, followed by MSC with 60 from three wins out of four matches then GCC on 47 with one match to go, then GDF and GYO. GCC will know their fate when they play GYO in their final group match next weekend.

Digicel gives budding cricketers a moment to remember

West Indies Cricket team trainer Ronald Rogers leading the young cricketers in a warm-up drill

S

aturday April 8, 2017, is a day young cricketers of the Digicel Player Empowerment programme will never forget. On that sunny morning at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, Digicel gave 27 youth cricketers a chance to not only interact with current members of the West Indies 50-over team but also the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the routine preparation a professional cricketer endures during his playing days.

West Indies Strength and Conditioning Trainer, Ronald Rogers gave the players a tutorial sessions concentrating on their fitness while spin bowling consultant Rajindra Dhanraj conducted batting drills.

The enthusiastic bunch of young boys were also exposed to net sessions with the International players under the watchful eyes of batting West Indies batting coach Toby Radford and head Coach Stuart Law, who gave instructions on how to improve specific aspects of their game.

Digicel Communications Manager, Vidya Sanichara told this publication that “this activity is something we have been planning for a while and it is part of the West Indies in association with Digicel, giving back to the community and interacting with young players and it is something we will be doing region wide throughout all the territories cricket is played.”

She added that the company is committed to exposing cricketers from the grass root level.

West Indies top order batsman Keiran Powell was also on hand to give the players a confidence booster, stating that these are some of the first steps into becoming a professional cricketer.

Powell also presented tickets to the aspiring players for the remaining two One-Day Internationals between West Indies and Pakistan today and Tuesday at Providence.

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– Snap a picture for WIRPF

W

est Indies teams swept all International Cricket Council’s (ICC) events in 2016 when the Under-19 team won the Youth World Cup in Bangladesh followed by the women and men who took the respective World T20 titles in India which brought back pride to many die hard fans. One year later, the region is still basking in the success of their teams‘heroics in the Indian Sub-continent and the West Indies Cricket Board is giv-

pound of the Guyana National Stadium through the northern turnstile, the three beautiful glittering treasured pieces will immediately catch your eyes at the photo booth outside of the North-West (Red) stand.

Individuals or groups may take photographs with one, two or all three trophies which are printed instantly and uploaded to windies cricket facebook page.

The cost is G$1,000 which goes towards the West Indies Retired Player Foundation.

WANTED Applications are invited for One Evening Tutor for Grade 9 Student.

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World Cup trophies make historic stop at Providence

21

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The World Cup winning trophies on display in front of the photo booth at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on Friday

ing fans the opportunity to relive the crowning moments.

During the three-match One Day International Series at Providence between West Indies and Pakistan, fans will be able to take pictures with the unique pieces of silverware.

Upon entry to the com-

During the opening ODI at Providence on Friday, many spectators had their photos taken and it is expected that today’s game, which may attract a close to sold out crowd, will attract a higher number of fans who will relive the historic moments by posing with the trophies for a worthy cause.

Primus shines for Red Force on return – Volcanoes holding firm against Scorpions

R

oshon Primus was outstanding during his first outing after returning from injury, scoring an aggressive half century before taking three wickets to give Trinidad and Tobago Red Force the edge at the end of day one in their ninth round clash against Barbados Pride yesterday at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Primus struck 60 from 80 deliveries to help Red Force record a first innings score of 196 all out before returning to take 3-3 and Pride reeling at 25-5 at the close.

The all-rounder who batted at seven accounted for eight fours and two sixes and scored majority of the runs for his team since he entered at 122-5.Isaiah Rajah was the next best batsman with 38 while Amir Jangoo made 32.

Fast bowler Justin Greaves was impressive with figures of 3-29 from 15.1 overs but it was medium fast bowler Kevin Stoute, who led with 4-51 for the hosts.

Meanwhile, in the other match at the end of day two, Jamaica Scorpions have a slim lead of 82 over Windward Volcanoes, with two wickets remaining in their second innings with Fabian Allen unbeaten on 72 and skipper Nikita Miller and Jerome Taylor the remaining batsmen at Arnos Vale in St. Vincent.

Scorpions are 249-8 a much better performance from their paltry first innings score of 56 all out, where it took just two bowlers, Kyle Mayers 6-29 and Delorn Johnson 4-26 in just 19.4 overs, to destroy them. Off spinner Shane Shillingford has so far claimed five of their second innings wickets.

Volcanoes declared at 223-9 in their first innings after Devon Smith made an even unbeaten century and Andre Fletcher supported with 57. Miller took 5-57.

22

guyanatimesgy.com

sundAY, april 9, 2017

MoPH/Petra Milo School’s u-18 Football Final

Chase Academy chance to create history

– Morgan’s opportunity to inflict upset Morgan’s Learning Centre Captain Lionel Carter

C

hase Academic Foundation will be striving in their third consecutive Petra Organised Milo School’s under-18 Football Championship which is in its fifth year, when they oppose a determined Morgan’s Learning Centre today at the Ministry of Education, Ground, Carifesta.

Both finalists have played unbeaten this year, defeating teams by some handsome margins which make the rematch of last year’s final even more intriguing.

Guyana Times Sport reached out to both camps on Saturday during their final training sessions ahead of the all-important clash.

Jeremy Garrett, captain of the defending champions expressed

confidence of a victory once they continue with the same flare and passion.

“We need to do what have been doing for the past two years, playing together as a team scoring our opportunities and that is the only aspect our team needs to work on, put aside anything else, we are normally a team that plays together,” Garrett stated.

The captain, is hoping that his start front line trio of Ryan Hackett, Job Cesar and Kelsey Benjamin cement any possible chances that come their way.

On the other hand, Morgan’s Captain Lionel Carter felt that his team can spring a surprise against the odds and cop the coveted title.

Carter stated, “We are here at our last day of training we have been working hard and we think we can win the tournament.”

He added, “It has been a while since Chase has been beaten and

hopefully we can come out victorious.”

The opposition’s star studded strike force continues to be a real threat but Carter is not looking at names.

“My coach [Gregory Richardson] told me Football is 11 players on the field, one round ball and two goals and names don’t matter, we have some players that are worthy of playing in the national team just as Chase,” he commented.

Carter felt that his side needs to improve in areas of defence and their centre forwards needs to be more consistent. The captain is also urging all to come out in support of the match, adding that they have surprise.

The third place play-off between Masters Academy and Sir Leon will commence at 17:00h followed by the final at 19:00h.

Teams are battling for the $500,000 first prize on offer, while the second, third and fourth place finishers will pocket $300,000; $200,000 and $100,000 respec-

tively – money that will go towards a school project.

The tournament is also sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health under the Theme “Stop the Violence.”

D

Chase Academy Captain Jeremy Garrett

SEL games shifted for FIFA President’s visit

ue to the scheduled visit by the President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, Gianni Infantino, on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, Stag Elite League games for Sunday, April 9 have been rescheduled to April 15.

The matchup is as follows: Game #1: Buxton United FC vs GDF FC at 18:30h Game #2: Monedderlust FC vs Top XX FC at 21:00h Please also note the Monedderlust FC / Buxton United FC game, originally scheduled for Sunday, April 2, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, May 10.

guyanatimesgy.com

sundAY, april 9, 2017

23

West Indies vs Pakistan Brighto Paints presents Q Mobile ODI Series…

Confident West Indies gunning series win – sold out crowd expected today at Providence

W

est Indies will barely have recovered from the high of a record-breaking win in the first ODI against Pakistan when they go at it again in the second match today in front of what is expected to be a sold out crowd at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Friday’s match looked every inch the average game you would expect against a depleted West Indies side before lesser-known Jason Mohammed dismantled Pakistan's fabled fast-bowling attack, sealing a chase of 309 with an over to spare.

As a result, they prepare for the second game in the knowledge that they have the opportunity to wrap up a long-awaited series win against a top side.

Pakistan's shock at losing the first ODI was written large across each of their faces, none more so than captain Sarfraz Ahmed, who seemed to run out of ideas and composure in equal measure as Mohammed began his brutal onslaught in the last ten

overs. His leadership will be tested right away, as he faces the responsibility of lifting his team after a morale-sapping defeat.

There was much scrutiny on the pace of Pakistan's innings during the middle overs, especially the sluggish way Mohammad Hafeez went about his innings, even though he did make up for it in the closing overs. However, Mickey Arthur also made plain his disappointment at the bowlers not being able to execute their plans at the back end. While there may be plenty of soul-searching for the visitors to do, they don't have much time to do it.

Chadwick Walton was chosen ahead of Kraigg Brathwaite because West Indies coach Stuart Law felt he could take better advantage of the first Powerplay.

But Walton's ODI strike rate of 52.17 and average of 4.80 suggest Law's faith stems from what he may have seen in practice or domestic cricket.

Pakistan have more pressing selection quanda-

GHB/Farfan & Mendes, Wood Pecker Products 1st Division Outdoor League…

Pizza Hut GCC, Pepsi Hikers secure early wins

By Romario Samaroo

T

he Guyana Hockey Board 1st division outdoor league got off to a flying start at the St. Stanislaus College Ground, Carifesta Avenue on Saturday with Pizza Hut GCC and Pepsi Hikers registering valuable victories.

In the Wood Pecker Products’ sponsored women’s division, Pizza Hut GCC demolished the Old Fort Shooting Stars in a 10-0 clobbering. Shebiki Baptiste was the first lady to mark her name on the scoresheet, blasting a tricky shot from the left into the back of the net in the 8th minute.

Sonia Jardine would follow her team mate to score a penalty goal three minutes later while following it up with a field goal in the 19th minute. Aliyah Gordon netted Pizza Hut’s fourth goal of the night in the 21st minute to send panic through Old Fort camp. Jardine then closed off the first half with another goal that completed her hat trick in the 25th minute to. Baptise then found Old Fort lapsing and capitalize to score her second goal in the 45th minute. In the final quarter of the hour long contest, Gordon then scored once more while Jardine scored two more for a total of five goals for the day.

Meanwhile, when the men took to the field, Hikers edged Old Fort 3-1 by regulation time. The contest, via international rules was played in four 15-minute quarters with neither side able to score by the end of the first quarter. In fact, it was until the 19th minute that Warren Williams had scored to give Old Fort the early advantage. However, it was short lived as Andrew Stewart equalized in the 23rd minute while Robert France sent Hikers in the lead with one minute remaining in the first half.

Tevisarid Garnett blasted the final blow in the 48th minute to see Old Fort unable to bounce back.

The action continues today at the GCC Ground located at Bourda where two more breath taking matches are booked to unfold. At 15:00h, GCC Spartans will come up against a strong Woodpecker Hikers team in the women’s division while at 16:30h the men will take to the field as Bounty GCC battle Saints.

West Indies celebrates after their first ODI win Against Pakistan at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

ries than the hosts. Hafeez top-scored, but didn't seem to convince many, even if his contribution with the ball should see him retain his place. Mohammad Amir and Wahab were both poor at the death, and Junaid Khan

could get his chance at the expense of one of them.

The newly-laid surface at the Providence Stadium played much better than its predecessor had established a reputation for. A mockery was made of the wisdom

that a low-scoring series was expected, as the ground record for an ODI innings was broken twice in four hours.

Going purely off the first game, fans can expect another run-fest.

The result on Friday pa-

pered over what was a largely insipid performance from West Indies with both bat and ball for much of the contest, but the feel-good factor the win generated might tempt them. Some cloud cover is expected, but rain is unlikely.

West Indies squad reads; Jason Holder (Captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jonathan Carter, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Kieran Powell, Rovman Powell and Chadwick Walton.

Pakistan squad reads; Sarfraz Ahmed (c/wk) Ahmed Shehzad Asif Zakir Babar Azam Fahim AshrafFakhar Zaman Hasan AliImad Wasim Junaid Khan Kamran Akmal (wk) Mohammad Amir Mohammad Asghar Mohammad Hafeez Shadab Khan Shoaib Malik Wahab

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

SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2017

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West Indies vs Pakistan Brighto Paints presents Q Mobile ODI Series…

Confident West Indies gunning series win Pg 23

– sold out crowd expected today at Providence West Indies Coach Stuart Law

Pakistan Coach Mikey Arthur

GHB/Farfan & Mendes, Wood Pecker Products 1st Division Outdoor League…

Pizza Hut GCC, Pepsi Hikers secure early wins

Pg 23

Pepsi Hikers (green and yellow uniform) were too hot for Old Fort to handle

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Sunday April 9, 2017

Times

Star Times Hollywood:

Drake lands major role on British TV show See story on page 12

Magazine

Toe rings:

Page 3

An ancient adornment with healing properties Page 5

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2 Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 9, 2017

Times Feature

By Ashraf Dabie

O

ver the years, sports have been limited to activities involving physical exertion and skill, but the field is now being revolutionised thanks to a dynamic group of sports enthusiasts called The Xercise.

Business, academics and social cohesion are just a few aspects of life that can now be encompassed under the umbrella of what once was exclusively the battle of the fittest.

To celebrate these developments, the United Nation designated April 6 as the day to highlight the achievements of sport, particularly acknowledging the contributions made by the games, as well as the players, towards the accomplishment of the much talked about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The United Nation recognises sport as a vehicle for change, given that it has proven to be a cost effective and flexible tool in promoting peace and development objectives. Since the inception of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, sport has played a vital role in enhancing each of the eight goals, a fact which has been recognised in numerous resolutions of the UN General Assembly.

In the Declaration of the

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, sport's role in social progress is further acknowledged: “Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognize the growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.”

This year, Guyana joined in the celebration of International Day of Sport for Development and Peace with organisations partnering to improve the efforts undertaken in previous years.

The Xercise, a local sport organisation, celebrated International Day of Sport by hosting an entire day of activities on April 6. The nongovernmental organisation started the day off by celebrating sport and its role in social cohesion by visiting three schools across Georgetown.

Students of Queen’s College, St. Stanislaus College and Stella Maris Primary benefited from interactive sessions where the various aspects of sport were highlighted, as well as the ways in which the variety of games contribute to peace across the world.

Students of Queen's College support the activities of The Xercise

Founder of The Xercise and former national youth cricketer, Royston Alkins, was at the forefront of the day’s activities as he led the school sessions as well as the other events throughout the day.

During the sessions, Alkins highlighted the connection between sport and social development, pointing out its various contributions to society, which are often overlooked. The roles of sport in accomplishing the SDGs, as well as ways in which peace can be achieved, were all underlined. Sport and health as

a mode of expression, an avenue for employment, a means of exercising collaboration, leadership and team work, as well as method of developing young minds, both on and off the fields, were all emphasised in the former cricketer’s address.

Representing the National Sport Commission was the Assistant Director of Sport, Brian Smith, who pointed out the importance of sports in Guyana and addressed avenues that are available within the field.

“We recognise that it is important for young athletes/ students to be in tuned with understanding that sport is integral to their development and not just going down the academic line, but there are

avenues that exists in sport as well,” Smith noted.

Sport psychology, medicine and biomechanics are just some of the opportunities existing in sports, but, according to the Assistant Director, they are “underexposed and persons should definitely take advantage of these new prospects”.

Also participating in the activities was reigning Miss World Guyana, Nuriyyih Gerrard, along with renowned local squash player, Nicolette Fernandes.

The beauty queen used the opportunity to explain the wide horizons available through sport, alluding to her platform mental health, to which she remains dedicated.

On the other hand, Fernandes

goals by applying the necessary strategies and methods needed to be successful in whatever field they choose to pursue.

The Xercise continued the commemoration of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace by hosting a T20 cricket match later in the day. The match featured The Xercise XI and Demerara Cricket Club XI at the Demerara Cricket Club, during which the host team emerged victorious. The sports organisation also honoured local sportsmen in a brief presentation ceremony for their significant contributions to sport and social development. The list of honourees includes Hilbert Foster (cricket), Stanely Ming (motor

Members of The Xercise with honourees With students of Stella Maris school

shared her journey and experience as a sports ambassador of Guyana, pointing out that academics and sports can be adequately paired.

Fernandes, in an emotional revelation, revisited the obstacles which stood in the way of realising her dream of being a professional squash player.

Restrictions from parents and reservations from teachers were some of the hurdles she overcame by what Fernandes deemed the effective cliché, “hard work and dedication”.

Moreover, the squash champion pointed out that expertise is gradually developed and not achieved overnight.

With that, she urged the students to chase after their

racing), Gordon Brathwaithe (football), Lavern Frazer (netball) and Fizal Khan (football).

The day of activities, themed “Giving athletes a say, peace in play”, along with the other initiatives undertaken by The Xercise, are all in keeping with the UN mission towards the accomplishment of Sustainable Development by 2030.

The Xercise is a non-profitable initiative that seeks to enhance the involvement of Guyanese athletes in multitiered activism within society. The organisation, which has been in existence for two years, is aimed at developing the capacity of athletes both on and off the field.

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

S

unday Times Magazine features this week a series of stamps celebrating “cricket, lovely cricket”.

As the country currently hosts a series of cricket matches at the National Stadium, Providence, it

history.

These stamps were submitted by Ann Wood, USbased Guyanese founder of the Guyana Philatelic Society (GPS).

GPS aims to create greater interest and activity in the study of British

t o

w h e r e t h e y c a n connect via exh i b i -

i c

books, n a m e just a f e w .

T h e Society

also off e r s philateladvice from its

2007 Cricket World Cup, West Indies • Scott 3981-83 1968 Visit of the Marylebone Cricket Club to the West Indies • Scott 36-38

1995 Sobers congratulates Brian Lara on setting world record • Scott 2908-11

is an appropriate time to feature these stamps highlighting memorable timelines and personalities of Guyana’s cricket

Guiana and Guyana stamps and postal history.

It is a source of information for British Guiana and Guyana collectors,

1988 Orchids from Reichenbachia by Sanders stamps overprinted “Cricket / Jubilee” in a booklet • Scott 1939

tions and group meetings, and by using the Society’s social media internet sites being developed.

With these tools, GPS facilitates a collectors exchange or the buying and selling of stamps by its members. This includes all philatelic materials, envelopes, collections,

experts and conduct appraisals of single stamps or collections of stamps from Guyana.

The purpose of GPS is to provide up-to-date information on Guyana stamps; assist collectors to build bigger and better collections by providing greater opportunities to obtain philatelic material;

and educate the youths of Guyana on stamp collecting.

Ann related that the Society was started in 2012 as a non-profit organization based in California, U.S.A. “I started out by holding a small stamp show with displays of British Guiana stamps at the Sleepin’ Hotel in Brickdam. I was pleasantly surprised at

2000 100th Test Match at Lord’s Ground • Scott 3487-89

the attendance and interest in stamp collecting. It seemed like everyone that came was a collector during a period of their life or knew someone that was a stamp collector. Needless to say during that show, I felt compelled to start a stamp club to renew the interest and provide support for collectors in Guyana, thus GPS started. In 2013, I contacted the former Postmaster General, Mr. Henry Dundas, about exhibiting at GPO in Georgetown, since the Philatelic Bureau is located there. He gladly welcomed us and we have been exhibiting at GPO regularly since then,” Ann recalled.

For more information on the Society, visit https://guyanastamps.com

2011 Tenth World Cricket Cup Championships, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh • Scott 4070

4

Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 9, 2017

Times Feature

F

ormer Secretary-General of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and veteran educator, Carmen Jarvis, C.C.H, A.A, who died last week, was a distinguished Guyanese who lived a life of excellence and service to her country.

In her years of teaching, Jarvis was employed at Queen’s College before being appointed as Headmistress of Bishop’s High School, where she served for 27 years.

In 1979, she was offered the post of Secretary-General of the Guyana National Commission of UNESCO, which she accepted. During her tenure there, she attended and participated in every General Conference between 1980 and 2003 and has made meaningful interventions in ev-

T

he eight delegates who are vying for the crown in the 2017 Bartica Regatta Pageant visited First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger, at her office at State House where they discussed, among other things, their plans to use the pageant to bring awareness on environmental issues.

This year, in keeping with President David Granger’s push to make Bartica a ‘green’ model town, the delegates have been tasked by the Bartica Regatta Committee with promoting projects aimed at helping to transform the town into an environmentally friendly place.

The delegates, during the meeting, told the First Lady

ery Commission, even in cases where she was the sole delegate from Guyana. She was one of the longest serving and most respected individuals to hold the post of Secretary-General and was awarded the Aristotle Medal by UNESCO. Jarvis was also responsible for Guyana being elected on the Executive Board of UNESCO twice, from 1983 to 1987 and from 1993 to 1997.

She played an integral role in Guyana once being elected to the Man and the Biosphere International Council and several times to the Council of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).

In 1983, she was appointed the first woman Chairman of the National Library Committee. She also served the Council of

about their projects and also discussed their platforms, which range from suicide to driving under the influence of alcohol.

Mrs Granger used the opportunity to speak to the young girls on the importance of self-confidence, education and using their platform to be role models to young girls in their community.

Gabriela Chapman, one of the delegates, in an invited comment, said that all of the delegates are thankful for the advice provided by the First Lady and noted that they are leaving the meeting feeling even more empowered in their journey.

Carmen Jarvis

the University of Guyana for some 14 years.

In 1981, she was awarded the Golden Arrow of Achievement for long and outstanding service in Education and Social Work. In 1998, Jarvis was awarded a second national award, this time, the Cacique’s Crown of Honour for her outstanding service in education and social work.

In October 2016, an autobiography entitled “From Seedtime to Harvest” was launched at the Georgetown Club for the 91-year-old.

The book’s title was adopted from the lyrics of Bishop’s High School’s song.

Today, her home-going service was held at First Congregational Church, Atlanta, US. Her remains will be cremated and returned to Guyana.

Beauties with a ‘green’ agenda

Delegates of the 2017 Bartica Regatta Pageant with First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger (centre)

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

F

or centuries, toe rings have been worn by women and girls in India. In many Indian cultures, toe rings are part of the wedding ceremony and are a symbol of marriage.

Toe rings are called 'Bichiya' in Hindi, 'Mettelu' in Telugu, 'Metti' in Tamil, 'Kalungura' in Kannada, 'Jodavi' in Marathi.

The tradition of wearing toe rings carries tremendous social significance for married women in India.

Toe rings have been a part of the Indian culture since the Ramayana times. There has been a mention of Sita (spouse of the god Rama), when abducted by Ravana (a demon king), threw her toe ring in the way so that lord Rama could find her.

From the Ramayana times until now, toe rings have not only been a part of married women’s jewellery boxes, but are worn by men for healing purposes or to “augment masculine vigour”.

According to scientific studies, wearing toe rings have some health benefits. Reflexologists treatgynaecological problems by massaging the second toe.

(Reflexology is the application of appropriate pressure to specific points and areas on the feet,

hands, or ears. Reflexologists believe that these reflex points correspond to different body

the husband puts the toe ring on his wife’s second toe of both feet during the wedding ceremo-

folklore of varying date and origin), it is said that “all our life force runs to our toes”. There

The groom places the toe ring on the bride's feet to solemnise the marriage

organs and systems, and that pressing them has a beneficial effect on the person's health.)

In different Indian cultures,

ny.

In Ayurveda or in Puranas(Sanskrit sacred writings on Hindu mythology and

is a belief that the wearing of toe rings pressed on certain nerves, which are connected to the reproductive system, helps

in keeping the system balanced and healthy. Additionally, it is believed that the menstrual cycle course is regularised by wearing the rings on both feet. It is said that a particular nerve from the second toe connects to the uterus and passes to the heart; hence wearing a toe ring on this toe strengthens the uterus. Consequently, this is believed to increase chances of getting pregnant.

A few years ago, archaeologists found two ancient Egyptian skeletons, dating back more than 3,300 years, were each buried with a toe ring made of copper alloy. A gold toe ring was also found on a mummy named Hornedjitef, a priest at Karnak, more than 2,200 years ago. The mummy, which resides at the British Museum, has a “thick gold ring on the big toe of his left foot”, writes anthropologist Joyce Filer in her book “The Mystery of the Egyptian Mummy” (British Museum Press, 2003).Whether the Egyptians wore it for adornment or for some other purpose is still unknown.

In Guyana, women wear toe rings for decorative purposes; but as outlined above, wearing these go way beyond decoration.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Times Book World The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

E

xtract of interview with Ian Randle of Ian Randle Publishers who has been awarded the Order of Distinction [Jamaica] and has received the Prince Claus Award [the Netherlands] and an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree from the University of the West Indies for his contribution to Caribbean publishing.

IR: …As publishers we have to adapt – not to see technology as a threat, and even in our own business we have used technology to our advantage.

PP: Share with us how you have used technology to your advantage.

IR: Technology has helped us to make books faster, cheaper and more accessible.

PP: …better publicity and marketing.

IR: Yes. But what it hasn’t done is to encourage people to read more and that is the challenge we face these days.

Recent reports coming out of the UK and especially the one coming out just before the London Book Fair, which is happening right now, is a very encour-

Ian Randle

aging one; it says, for the second year running the sale of printed text books is starting to rise again.

PP: …that would give you a good feeling.

IR: Oh yes, while the sale of e-readers is declining. One explanation is that, and this is the really encouraging part, parents of children who think their children are spending too much time on the screen are now buying them books and children are once again being introduced to print at an early stage. That is one of the most encouraging things I’ve heard in a very long time.

PP: This is giving me goosebumps! This March 2017 marks 15 years since

I’ve launched out with various efforts/projects (including the first and only show ‘Literature On Television’ on local airwaves) to encourage reading, put the joy back into reading, and more importantly to read our own literature.

And you said earlier that the best persons to write about the Caribbean are the people of the Caribbean, which brings to mind something that Eric Williams said eons ago; he said that we are the best persons to write our history.

IR: If we don’t write about ourselves, then we would have other people interpreting, defining…

PP: …defining, limiting.

IR: …defining and limiting who we are. And one of the themes I am going to strike in my talk later is that I think that there had been, since colonial times, a deliberate conspiracy to consign us as colonials or ex-colonials to the permanent position of hewers of wood and drawers of water; that we are not seen as capable of having an intellect, an intellectual tradition, capable of having

Randle (left) and Ivelaw Griffith, Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Guyana, sign the agreement to establish the University of Guyana Press

creative and intellectual thought.

PP: How far have we come!

IR: And I am talking here now of how the developed world sees us and their attempts in very practical terms to control who has knowledge, who creates knowledge, who publishes knowledge and shares knowledge. That is one area no matter what advances we have made in other fields – we could have been more successful as scientists, researchers, even sending people up into space – the one area the ex-colonial powers have kept to themselves is to ensure they control the production of knowledge.

And we know in the 21st century that knowledge is power and that is why I hold the publishing of our people’s writings and the creation of books as absolutely vital. And that’s the message I’m bringing late in life.

PP: Not too late; it’s never too late.Book publishing is not smooth sailing on the Caribbean seas; there have been highs and lows. Where do you want to start?

IR: The lows, I’d say.

And the lows include the disappointment of not having or unable to increase the readership in this region. In Jamaica, where I came from, I use to say that the average readership for a new book is whether it is a novel or whatever is 750 (copies), and I’m sure that hasn’t changed much, certainly not upwards.

We have built our business on selling outside the region of the Caribbean.

The kinds of books we are producing – scholarly books, mainly – had we relied on the Caribbean market, we would have gone busted years ago.

Basically this is our mantra: when we say Ian

Randle Publishers, we say from the Caribbean to the world.

So that would be the lows that we don’t have many more people reading.

PP: In Guyana, it is difficult to distribute 300 copies of one title, even though I have had better successes with my books.

IR: This is typical right across the region, except in Cuba – that is a different story, a different environment altogether.

PP: In Cuba, it is books and more books in every nook and cranny, literally every nook and cranny.

Now for the highs?

IR: The highs have to do with the recognition, the recognition that one has made a breakthrough and I think I can say without fear of contradiction that we are now probably the leading publisher of books about the Caribbean, anywhere in the world.

We might not be doing it at the pace that we would like to do it, but when you think about books for and about the Caribbean, your first thought would be Ian Randle Publishers.

PP: Talking about pace – the scholarly works you handle are not things you could rush.

IR: That’s one way in which the technology has helped, certainly in the front end processes.

Editing obviously that cannot be speeded up all that much because all the techniques and skills needed to edit books are the same as there were 500 years ago.

What has changed is the business of formatting, typesetting, design and layout - which can be done very quickly now. Also with print on demand, which is one of the most advantageous things happening in the last 10 to 15 years, is now you can produce large books in small numbers and small quantities and

literally print on demand, and that has changed the whole face of publishing.

Further, what electronic publishing has also done is to get rid of the burden and problem of cross-border trading. So the whole business of shipping - say shipping a book to Australia or to England,which takes time and then problems at customs - we can now eliminate all of those things by simply uploading a file to a printer in England, which will print in real time. In other words, you could upload/download the file overnight and it can be delivered the next day.

In fact, there is something call an espresso book machine.

PP: Whoa, slow down.

IR: I know! There is so much happening.

PP: ...lots of innovations. So the book is alive and kicking.

IR: The book is alive and kicking. The latest statistics show that more books are being produced in smaller numbers for each title, and each title may be selling less but hasn’t slowed down the pace of new titles being produced!

PP: What’s next for Ian Randle Publishers?

IR: The most exciting thing happening is that we are entering a partnership with University of Guyana where we would create an imprint within the structure of Ian Randle Publishers to create a University of Guyana Press.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s Happening: It’s here, “Guyanese Writers of Indian Ancestry”. Look out for the launch date. Please make contact at the above number or email for additional information.

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

By Peter Halder

T

he year 1913 was propitious for British Guiana. Sir Walter Egerton was the British governor. For the first time, the head of the British sovereign appeared on British Guiana

(Suriname) was published.

The population of the colony reached some 300,000 and the population of Georgetown was 58,000. The Amerindian population was 13,000. Sugar, known as ‘Demerara Crystal’, continued to be the major export.

there were two major, mysterious fires in Georgetown.

On March 7, the Brickdam Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the premier Catholic Church in the colony, was burnt to the ground. At the time, the Cathedral was highly regarded for its struc-

Lombard Street, British Guiana

postage stamps.

The first map showing the Corentyne River as the boundary between British Guiana and Dutch Guiana

In 1913, the first airplane flight was launched by George Schmidt.

But the year was also one of mystery. In that year alone,

tural beauty and fine edifice.

There were two versions about the cause of the fire.

One was that a plumber was using a blowtorch near the top

of the great tower of the church when something went wrong and the building went up in flames.

Another version was that a workman, a Frenchman named Bencher Cornelle, innocently left a coal pot burning in the tower while repairing it and the result was an inferno.

The fire was a great shock to the people of Georgetown since the Cathedral was regarded as a national landmark. It was also the main place of worship for Catholics. The Church was packed to capacity on Sundays.

The other fire occurred in December at a time when the people were deeply engaged in preparations for the Christmas season.

On Monday, December 22, just three days before Christmas, at around 8:25 hours, there was a loud and violent explosion in the western section of Georgetown. The “thunderous and deafening noise,” so it was related, was heard not only in the capital but on the East Coast,

Postcard showing R. C. Cathedral Tower on fire on March 7, 1913

ter pressure. By the time

the fire had vented its rage, Bugle Sawmill was no more.

Psaila’s Store, Hope Sawmill, Bugle Building, Bettencourt’s Sawmill and the Demarara Company warehouse with 67,000 bags of sugar were all burnt.

Several days after, when the police and fire brigade inspected what was left of ChinA-Yong’s place of business, they found a secret underground cellar. The authorities believed it was an opium den.

Opium smoking was a serious problem in British Guiana at that time.The year 1913 turned out to be propitious, mysterious and maybe just another instance of misfortune for the unlucky number 13. (https://guyanathenandnow.wordpress.com)

Five cent stamp, British Guiana 1913

The Assembly Buildings on fire in 1945

The Georgetown Public Buildings circa 1924 (Courtesy of British Empire Wimberley 1924)

East Bank and West Bank Demarara.

The explosion took place at Chin-A-Yong’s shop on Lombard Street. There, according to reports, fireworks were being manufactured in a vault. The “little bombs” were a delight for little boys to throw around on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The explosion blew Chin-A-Yong’s business place sky high and was followed by a massive conflagration. It also killed 20 persons and injured many others. The raging fire also almost destroyed all of Lombard Street. A swift breeze from the northeast turned the raging fire into a firestorm. News reports stated that valiant work was done by the fire brigade, the police, the artillery, the militia and volunteers, but their efforts were retarded by low wa-

Lighthouse and Signaling Station (1913)

8 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 9, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Travel & Tourism

Boat landing on the Potaro River near Waratuk Falls in Guyana

B

elow Kaieteur Falls lies the lustrous Waratuk Falls, along the Potaro River, where the Kaieteur National Park begins.

Journeying to Waratuk Falls includes travelling upstream to Amatuk Falls, where tourists can take a quick dip in refreshing river water

and enjoy the sound of water gushing down the falls.

The adventure continues as a scenic boat ride takes you further on the river journey to the campsite at Waratuk Falls.

At Waratuk, tourists get to relax in the fresh, flowing waters while enjoying nature at its best.

Scenic landscape in the vicinity of Waratuk

Inside the Potaro gorge below Waratuk Falls Ranger's station at Waratuk (Photo by Nicholas Laughlin)

Waratuk Falls rapids (Photo by Nicholas Laughlin)

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

Y

ou already know how important it is to wash your hands, but did you know your drying style matters, too? "Wet or damp hands that have just been washed can still carry bacteria and viruses that won't be removed until hands are thoroughly dried," says Mark Wilcox, MD, coauthor of a recent

dry your hands—and fast— but Wilcox's study found that jet-air dryers spread more than four times as many microbes through the air as regular warm-air dryers. "Due to the design, high-velocity air blows bacteria upward—which may hit your face," says Wilcox.

C

Dry With Caution Paper Towels

dry and end up wiping them on their pants—which only moves bacteria to their clothes."

Best Bet Paper Towels While paper towels are

not the most environmentally friendly solution, they spread 27 times fewer microbes than a jet-air dryer. Until the design flaws in electric dryers are remedied, paper towels are the cleanest option.

hicken nuggets may be a hit with kids and some adults, but for the most part, their nutritional value is minimal, says an investigation by Consumer Reports Health in the US. What’s more, many brands make claims that are misleading, using terms like “whole grain,” “all natural,” or “organic” - which makes some people think of the little chicke n bites as

cause to avoid nuggets, but there probably are better food choices. If you are going to eat them, we are trying to tell you which ones have the best taste in terms of nutrition.”

Kids who gobbled nuggets from fast-food restaurants said their food tasted very good, but the items, tested at Consumer Reports’ headquarters, rated fair for nutrition.

The publication urges consumers to read

healthy dinner choices, Consumer Reports Health says.

But whether storebought or purchased from fast-food establishments, chicken nuggets pack a wallop of fat and sodium.

Williams tells WebMD that Consumer Reports Health isn’t recommending that parents stop eating nuggets or feeding them to their kids because that wouldn’t be realistic.

“The reality is, many parents and kids eat nuggets,” she says. “I wouldn’t say what we found is a

health claims on packaging, saying nuggets aren’t the best option for most people.

“Busy parents who are trying to get dinner on the table really do have their work cut out for them,” Williams says. “You want to feed the kids something they’ll like — and kids do like chicken nuggets — but you don’t want to overwhelm them with fat and sodium. The best you can do is keep an eye on those labels and try to round out the meal with some fruits and vegetables.”

Warm-Air Dryers

study in the Journal of Hospital Infection that tested three popular drying methods. Which was the germiest?

Germ Central Jet-Air Dryers They're guaranteed to

Warm-Air Dryers Because these machines blow air with less intensity than jet dryers, fewer airborne germs will circulate.

But there's often a bigger problem, says Wilcox: "A lot of people get impatient waiting for their hands to

Jet-Air Dryers

Healthy Relationships

M

aking time ― even just a few minutes ― to connect with your partner before the chaos of the day sets in can make a big difference in your relationship. Here’s what the happiest couples do daily, according to Huffpost readers and marriage experts.

1. They make eye contact.

“We brush our teeth together.

For those few minutes we look into each other’s eyes. We touch each other, a hand on the waist, hand on the cheek, head on the chest.” ― reader Brandi W. 2. They cuddle.

“My husband leaves for work before I can even imagine getting up and being a fully functional human being. So every morning after he’s gotten ready, he climbs back in bed and pulls me in close.

And that five minutes, being close to one another, breath by breath, it’s the best way to start our day.” ― Meg Conley, marriage blogger 3. They try to get up around the same time when they can.

“Too many couples have two completely different morning routines and often barely see or speak to each other in the morning. I know of many partners who don’t even get up before their significant other is out of the house for the day ― and it’s not because he leaves at 4 a.m. or because she

worked a swing shift. They just sleep late. As a couple, they don’t make it important to connect at the beginning of the day.” ― Dr. Kurt Smith, therapist who spe-

on the love seat. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes, we have our coffee and talk about plans for the day and watch the birds.” ― reader Steve T.

wake up so he always says goodbye with a kiss on my head. It’s not about me needing the affection but more so knowing he is thinking of me before he heads to

cializes in counseling for men 4. They enjoy a cup of coffee or tea together. “My wife and I have breakfast together sitting on the front porch, side by side

5. They kiss goodbye.

“It so important to us that we always show affection before one of us leaves. Usually he leaves for work an hour before I

work.” ― reader Rebecca C. 6. They put down their devices.

“Even if we only have five to 10 minutes before one or the oth-

er of us has to rush out the door or get on the phone, we sit down to have tea. No phones or iPads allowed. No claiming we don’t have time. Maybe we talk about something coming up in our day or something in the news. Maybe we just sit quietly. With life being as crazy busy as it is, it’s a way to slow down and connect before we launch into the day.” ― Winifred M. Reilly, marriage and family therapist 7. They divvy up the morning chores.

“Getting the kids up, ready and off to school every morning can be a real chore. Nothing says that this has to be the mom’s job, but frequently it is ― or at least the majority of it. Couples who are happier share these kinds of family and parental responsibilities. Working as a team in the morning builds connection and relationship happiness that carries through the day.” ― Dr. Kurt Smith 8. They smile, no matter how tired they are.

“Mornings can be hectic for most people but it’s important to be able to at least smile at your partner. Even when trying to get ready and out the door, many happy couples find it natural to give a quick smile when interacting with their partner.” ― Dr. Marie Land, psychologist

10 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 9, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Fashion

Ghodess Wear

Designer Godlyn Lyte

G

odlyn Lyte, also known as Ghodess, is a 20-yearold Guyanese-born clothing designer, visual artist and jewellery designer.

Growing up in a creative home with an artistic mother sparked her passion for all things artsy.

However, Godlyn never thought about pursuing a career with her talents, until she migrated to the US. It was when Godlyn moved from Florida to New Yorkand received a surprising amount of support from her high school peers and teachers that she realised she had a chance of making it in the fashion world.

After becoming overwhelmed with the city life, Godlyn returned to Guyana to rebuild her foundation and pursue her fashion career. Seeing “Guyana's beauty” again allowed her to create at her current best.

The image of the black dress featured today was hand-painted by Godlyn; the beading on the red dress was hand-sewn; and the belt, as well as the darker red thread, was crocheted – showcasing the designer’s creative aptitude.

With an abundance of inspiration and determination, Godlyn pushes to make her mark among Guyana's best.

Follow the designer on Instagram @ghodesswear or visit Ghodess Wear on Facebook for more information.

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APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Star Times Hollywood

N

icole Scherzinger is an American singer, dancer, actress and television personality.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, she performed in various singing competitions and musicals before joining American rock band Days of the New as a backing vocalist. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the burlesque troupe turned-recording act, the Pussycat Dolls, becoming one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. During their hiatus, Scherzinger planned to embark on her solo career with Her Name is Nicole, but it was later shelved after four singles failed to impact the charts significantly. Following the disbandment of the Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger became a judge for two seasons of “The Sing-Off” and in 2010 won the tenth season of “Dancing with the Stars”.

Throughout a career spanning over 13 years, she has had three UK number one singles, sold over 16 million albums and over 37 million singles worldwide.Having sold 16 million records as a solo artist, and a further 54 million with Pussycat Dolls,Scherzinger is one of the highest-selling female singers of all time. She is also an Ambassador for UNICEF and a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics and is involved in charitable activities.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 9, 2017

Times Hollywood

D

rake is arguably the biggest name in music right now, but that hasn't stopped him finding time to land a major TV role.

The rapper will reportedly star in British drama “Topboy” after buying the rights to the show.

Based around the lives of East London street gangs, it debuted in 2011 but was dropped by Channel 4 after two series. Now Topboy's number one fan has saved the day and series three will air on Netflix next year.

Ashley Walters who plays Dushane says: “We met up

to start talking about the show and we are working out a role for him. He loves acting, of course he wanted a part. He’s going to be really hands on and is getting stuck into it.”

Drake has previously starred as Jimmy Brooks on “Degrassi: The Next Generation”, made several small film appearances and put on an unforgettable performance in the music video for "Hotline Bling".

(Glamour)

T

he 23-year-old, who's kept a low profile since One Direction announced their hiatus, spoke about his love life on Nick Grimshaw's Radio 1 show and revealed he hasn't "dated in a long time".

The singer said he hasn't been concentrating on finding love because he's been too busy with projects, namely filming his first movie, “Dunkirk”. He said: "I haven’t dated in a long

time really because I went away to do the movie then did the album so I haven’t in a while. I have a couple of candles left still though."

He's previously been linked to Kendall Jenner, Taylor Swift and Caroline Flack but time out from the dating scene obviously made him reflect on his Lothario days. He confessed his previous approach to dating was "wrong" and "weird".

(Glamour)

Taylor Swift’s Beverly Hills mansion is officially a historic city landmark

T

aylor Swift is officially historic. Well, at least her Beverly Hills mansion is.

Last week, the five-member Beverly Hills City Council approved Swift’s request to designate her home in Los Angeles as a historic city landmark. It was a swift and unanimous vote.

Swift bought the 11,000-square-foot, four-bedroom estate from the heirs of Hollywood producer Samuel Goldwyn — cofounder of Goldwyn Pictures, which later became MGM — in 2015 for $25 million, according to property records. The house, originally built in 1934, sits just behind the Beverly Hills Hotel.

“I think this is a true community gem and really so thrilled that this will be landmarked and preserved,” Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse said while thanking Swift and her team for restoring the home, according to Mansion Global.

Historic features of the home include a tennis court, pool, a curved patio sitting area and stepped terraces, which have all gone virtually untouched since the 1930s.

According to Curbed LA, the mansion allegedly hosted a plethora of Hollywood elite including Marlene Dietrich, Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and Frank Capra.

Beyond the outdoor amenities, the home also includes a library, card room, a home theater with 35mm projection, and staff lodging.

“Really when this project’s done, hopefully this year sometime soon, it’s going to be really spectacular,” Monique Schenk, an architect working on the project, said at the city council meeting. “We’ve preserved and maintained a lot of the elements and those that were deteriorating, we’ve replicated.”

But Swift’s property rehabs don’t stop in Beverly Hills. Swift, who also owns

K

aty Perry is gorgeous, obviously, but even she can get insecure at times. After posting a series of unflattering (but very funny) photos on her Instagram, she decided she needed a confidence boost, so Google "Katy Perry hot" to find a decent picture, and that she did.

The photo was from a 2011 shoot for Rolling Stone.

“Was feeling insecure about my last two posts so...” she wrote.

On April Fool’s Day she posted a picture of herself from the Nineties, announcing that it was to be her fourth album cover. (Glamour)

property in Westerly, Rhode Island, New York City, and Nashville, is also in the midst of renovating the Tribeca penthouse she purchased from director Peter Jackson in 2014. However, that renovation didn’t start out as smoothly as her Beverly Hills transition.

In 2015, beloved actor Sir Ian McKellen revealed he had been living in the Tribeca loft before Swift kicked him out. Joking with the Daily Star, McKellen said: “Taylor Swift, when I was living in Peter Jackson’s apartment in New York, bought it while I was there and I was thrown out of the apartment a month before I wanted to leave.” (People)

Mariah Carey films video for new music with Busta Rhymes

A

fter the global success of single "I Know What You Want" back in 2002, Mariah Carey and Busta Rhymes re-team up for a new song. Although the track hasn't been released, the pair are reportedly filming a music video for the track.

In some photos obtained by ThatGrapeJuice.net, Mariah is wearing a red form-fitting leather dress while Busta goes all black in black T-shirt, jeans and hoodie as they film a scene on the set. It looks like they

really want to recreate their previous success by taking "I Know What You Want" music video director, Chris Robinson, along the ride.

In early March, there was a snippet of the song shared by producer DJ Suss One. In the short Snapchat clip, the new music can be heard in the background as Busta lipsyncs some lines. The upbeat music does sound catchy and promising. "New Busta & Mariah Coming Soon!!" so read the caption.

Busta is currently busy

making onstage performances with A Tribe Called Quest to promote the group's latest album "We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service". The 44-year-old actor/musician was featured on some tracks, one of them is "Dis Generation". The captivating black-and white video for the track was released on March 30.

Meanwhile, in February, Mariah joined forces with YG and Remy Ma on a remix of her song, "I Don't".

(AceShowbiz)

Brad Pitt's mom is begging Jennifer Aniston to help her son

B

rad Pitt's mother Jane Pitt is reportedly begging Jennifer Aniston to help his son. Rumor has it, Jane recently called Jennifer and asked her to keep in touch with Brad amid his ongoing divorce and custody battle against Angelina Jolie.

"Jane knows Jen's remarried [to actor Justin Theroux], but she believes she and Brad were meant to be together," an insider tells Radar Online, "She would love them to get back together-she loves Jen like a daughter and always will."

Jane, however, is well aware that there's almost no chance Brad and Jennifer will ever reunite at this

point.

The insider explains, "Jane's devastated at the state her son's in, he is just not doing well right now, and she's begged Jen to please take him under her wing and help him get back on his feet. Despite the terrible way Brad treated her, Jane and Jen have never lost contact."

According to the insider, Jennifer "has been in touch with Brad." The insider adds, "While she'll never go back to him, there's definitely been a lift on the no-contact rule from her inner circle." (AceShowbiz)

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Sunday Times Magazine 13

Star Times Bollywood

A

yushmann Khurrana is an Indian film actor and singer, who started his career as a television anchor. In 2012, Khurrana made his film debut in the romantic comedy,“Vicky Donor”.

Khurrana went on to receive many accolades for his performance, including the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut and Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer. He won all the debut awards for “Vicky Donor” – his most successful film. The actor will soon be seen in Akshay Roy's romance drama “Meri Pyaari Bindu” opposite Parineeti Chopra.Khurrana holds a master's degree in Mass Communication from School of Communication Studies, Panjab University, in Chandigarh.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Bollywood

Akshay Kumar wins National Award for

T

his year belongs to actor Akshay Kumar.

While his movies are setting the cash register ringing at the box office, the actor himself has won the National award for Best actor for “Rustom”, a film loosely based on Nanavati case.

The 64th National Film Awards for the films released in 2016 were declared on Friday. “Of course, 2016 has been fantastic, I couldn’t have asked for more... I guess there was more (referring to the award)... I don’t think anything can top this National Award win,” he says.

While other winners are busy planning parties, the busiest actor is busy shooting his next. He said: “It is great news. National Film awards are the most presti-

gious awards in the country.

It is a moment of pride for sure. The first reaction, honestly, was if this was a late April Fool’s joke (laughs)!

Actually, I am still trying to process this win, it is a mix of many emotions - surprise, happiness and, most prominently, gratitude to the jury, makers of the film, my parents and of course the beloved fans.”

However, he likes to wear his success lightly. All he would say about his stardom is that likes to “be honest with his work and would give it his best to people who trust him” with their money and love. “Neither have I ever made a call to anyone to win an award nor have given money or done favours for it,” says the actor in his signature candour.

Emraan Hashmi: ‘Alia Bhatt has tremendously grown as an actor’

In the past, he has shared that he often gets offers from organisers of award shows telling him that “if you perform at the show, they can give half the money and an award as well”.

But the actor, says, “I tell them that they can give me complete payment and keep their awards with them. The love and support that I get from my fans is more important.”

The actor, who is married to author Twinkle Khanna, daughter of veteran actors Dimple Kapadia and (late) Rajesh Khanna, often jokes that his wife tells him that her parents are National award winners, but he doesn’t get awards. Well, looks like Twinkle will have to think of a new one liner.

(Hindustan Times)

I

n Bollywood, the Bhatts have always been a name to reckon with.

The family is filled with actors, directors and producers. The latest addition to the name of producers is Emraan Hashmi.

The actor, who made his debut in Vikram Bhatt’s directorial “Footpath” in 2003, is gearing up to turn pro-

ducer with his own banner named after him.

“As an actor, your contribution to a film is limited.

But as a producer, I will get to nurture a project from the seed of the idea to its final outcome. I am taking baby steps now but I am sure that eventually, I will discover a lot. So far, it’s all been good so no complaints. Also, as a producer, I know that no matter what the outcome, I have been in absolute control and responsible for the product,” the “Azhar” actor says.

There has also been talk of his debut production film, “Captain Nawab” getting delayed but Emraan refutes all such talk. “I never announced the date of the film going on floors so where does talk of it getting delayed arise at all? I want to be sure of the content I put out and don’t mind the film getting delayed by even a year, if the scripts demands that,” he says.

Speaking on Alia Bhatt,

he said: “Oh, she is amazing. She has tremendously grown as an actor and deserves all the praise coming her way. She is truly very talented. However, I haven’t been able to see her films except for Student of the year, which I gave her my feedback for. But I will soon catch up on her work.”

(Hindustan Times)

Aamir Khan refuses to release ‘Dangal’ in Pakistan without national anthem

L

ast year, theatre owners and exhibitors in Pakistan temporarily stopped screening Indian films after Pakistani artistes and technicians were banned by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association (IMPPA) from in India.

The controversial move was taken in the wake of political tension between India and Pakistan, post the Uri (Jammu and Kashmir) attacks in September.

However, earlier this year, Pakistan lifted the ban on Indian films and began

screening them in the country. And a few days ago, local distributors from the neighbouring nation apparently requested for “Dangal” (2016) to be released there.

Aamir Khan and the film’s team were “absolutely okay” with that, especially since

Pakistani audiences have always loved Hindi films and Indian actors.

However, Hindustan Times has learnt that the release of the film couldn’t go through when a “surprising” demand came in from the other side of the border. A source says, “When the film went to the Pakistan censor board, they were fine with it except for two particular scenes towards the end — one in which the Indian flag is shown and another in which the Indian national anthem is played after Geeta Phogat (played by Fatima Sana Shaikh) wins the gold medal. The

Pakistan censors wanted the scenes to be edited out before they gave Dangal the green signal,” says an insider.

But Aamir — who is also the producer of the film — felt that the “demand for the two cuts was surprising, because the film isn’t jingoistic in nature”. The source says, “It’s a sportsbased biopic with no direct or indirect

(Hindustan Times)

M

egastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was supposed to launch a book by film archivist P.K. Nair here on Thursday, couldn’t turn up as he is suffering from high fever.

However at the book launch by the Film Heritage Foundation, the country’s only non-government film archive, the other invited celebrities such as Naseeruddin Shah, Shyam Benegal and Vidhu Vinod Chopra were present and did the honours.

Big B, who had to cancel his appearance at the last moment, sent a letter of apology to the organisers which the foundation’s founder Shivendra Singh Dungarpur shared with the media.

reference to Pakistan. The film only highlights India’s nationalistic sentiment, so what is the reason to chop off those scenes?”

Aamir then decided that the film would not be released in Pakistan. “Dangal” is the Hindi movie industry’s biggest blockbuster at the Indian box office. “It will result in an economic loss, as Pakistan is an important international territory vis-à-vis money, but he isn’t willing to edit the scenes in question.

He is aware that not releasing the film could lead to piracy, but he is sure about what he won’t do,” adds the source.

Aamir’s spokesperson confirmed the news without divulging further details.

The letter read: “I have suddenly and quite unexpectedly developed a high fever. I regret profusely that I shall be unable to attend your event this evening. A shame really because I was looking forward to it. As a country we have shied away from the lux-

ury of documentation... leave alone its restoration and preservation - for films at least!

“What you and your foundation have initiated is indeed a most selfless, but very important and necessary element, so assiduously worked upon by Mr Nair. I send my best wishes on the launch of your book on him and do stand by my commitment to be of service to this noble cause.

Your idea of constructing an Institute, the design for which I have greatly appreciated, is most laudable and one that I hope shall receive patronage not just from the film fraternity but indeed from the City of Mumbai - the Film Capital of the Nation.” (IANS)

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Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Feature

Trending NOW

Star of the week

Pair jeans with a turtle neck for a vintage look

Keep it simple with a t-shirt and tailored jacket, however you can add some statement accessories

I

The fringed version is a more casual approach to this trend

f you’ve been wanting a new way to wear denim, look no further than a silhouette that has been trending everywhere: extreme flared jeans.

This new style is nothing like those ’70s bell-bottoms you’ve probably tried before.

Instead, the jeans are fitted to the knee but then they fountain out below. Much like the bell-sleeve top that swept the fashion scene

Stick to a monochrome look to keep the focus on cool, structural pieces

recently, this new denim style adds a little bit of drama to any outfit.

Stick to a simple T-shirt and tailored jacket to keep the focus on the über-flares.

Or, pair a structural top with the jeans to make a big statement.

What’s great with this new style is that they’re dramatic, fashion-forward, and most importantly, they’re just fun.

Iman Jaisingh is a 21-year-old advocate who is passionate about spreading awareness on mental health issues. Iman currently resides in Pennsylvania, U.S.A., where she is completing her third year at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania pursuing studies in psychology. Iman competed in the Miss Universe Guyana 2016 pageant, and although she did not win, Iman was able to use the platform given to her via the pageant to spread mental health awareness to secondary school children in Guyana. The advocate believes that informing our younger generations about mental health issues will help to decrease suicides in Guyana.

In the future, Iman plans on obtaining her doctorate to become a psychiatrist.

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Art

A

ward-winning, overseas-based Guyanese artist Walter Gobin is inspired by “people in everyday walk of life”.

Gobin hails from Grove on the East Bank of Demerara and lived in Mahaica, East Coast of Demerara, for a number of years.

He taught art in Guyana at Bartica, Buxton, Mahaicony, Mahaica, and then in the Bahamas. His career as an art teacher took him to Bahamas, where he lived and painted for two decades before finally settling in Canada. Although now retired from teaching, Gobin divides his time with photography, drawing, painting sceneries and portraits.

He also actively participates in exhibitions in Canada, Guyana and The Bahamas.

“The spark was lit for art at Central High School in Sixth Form by Mr. John

"Jaguar in Repose"

Criswick, who also nurtured some well-known Guyanese artists such as Angold Thompson. Art was my main area of study at Teachers’ Training College. I then continued with practicing art on my own and reading every art book I could find,” he recalled in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

After refining his artistic talent, Gobin took part in several national exhibitions, and self-produced a series of colouring books on Guyana, which are also printed and sold locally.

Some of the artist’s exhibitions include a one-man show in Freeport, Bahamas (2011); he has participated in annual group shows in Freeport for the past 15 years. Also, the Bahamas National Exhibition; in Canada at Guyana Day sponsored by Guyana Consulate, Brampton's Beaux Arts;

"The Fishermen (Bahamas)"

Newcomers Award in Guyana while in college, and at several national exhibitions in Guyana, even while in high school.

Notably, Gobin has won several awards, including gold medals for entries in the National Drawing Competition 2008 and 2015.

Now he hopes that his retirement will give him the chance to pursue several art projects. He would like to “reboot” his colouring books; paint and draw using a variety of media (oil paints, oil pastels, chalk pastels, pencils, pen and ink, charcoal, scratchboard); invest more in his photography; work on doing an exhibition at Castellani House (Guyana); cartooning; continue with volleyball, table tennis and tai chi; and continue to build/add on his resource materials.

“I love to paint people with fascinating range of colours

on their faces and people in everyday walk of life. Also, I like to capture the beauty of various sceneries (where I can add or delete), places and nature. I get my inspiration from everything: people in their daily goings-on, sceneries, nature, shapes, colours, light, reflections, shadows – they all give me a perspective on my art,” the artist expressed.

Gobin believes that talent plays a major role in being an artist, but that the artist still needs to work diligently and practice constantly in order to hone his/her talent.

His advice to young artists is to “work to improve your skills, attend art classes and practice regularly.

Experiment with various materials and ideas. Build your resource materials from early on. Enter competitions and not be afraid of ‘hard knocks’. Visit exhibitions.

Perseverance and hard work can payoff in this tough art market”.

For more info on the artist, visit http://waltergobin. weebly.com (Cover photo: "Washing in the Creek")

Artist Walter Gobin

"School Days". Pastels

"Parika by the River"

Books compiled and illustrated by the artist

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APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

Handy iPhone tips to use on a regular basis

Selecting multiple photos In the stock Photos app, it’s possible to select multiple photos at the same time by dragging your finger across each thumbnail. This feature, which appeared in some early versions of iOS, was recently brought back in later versions of the software.

3D Touch to quickly switch between apps

Tech BYTE

C

3D Touch-enabled iPhones can quickly switch between the two most recent apps by performing a 3D Touch gesture on the left side of the screen and swiping to the right.

Request Desktop Site A long press on the refresh button in Safari’s address bar will reveal a Request Desktop Site option. If the web page features separate mobile and

desktop versions, this will try to force the browser to request the desktop version.

App Store refresh By tapping on any of the tabs at the bottom of the App Store app 10 times, you can force the app to refresh.

You can use this trick to force a refresh when the App Store fails to display the latest app updates.

Print to PDF from non-3D Touch device

Heavyweight Freight Bots Could Replace the Forklift

alifornia-based Fetch Robotics has unveiled two burly new warehouse robots that can carry up to around 3,300 pounds of cargo while operating autonomously for up to nine hours on a single charge.

Warehouse robots are nothing new — Amazon is really into them, for instance — but the burly Freight 500 and Freight 1500 machines represent a significant step for this emerging technology. With the advent of these heavyweight machines, the job of forklift operator may be next one on the robotic chopping block.

But then there are the safety concerns.

When you've got autonomous bots rolling around the workplace with a ton-anda-half of payload stacked up, people tend to get nervous.

Fetch's new heavyweight contenders were announced this week at the ProMat 2017 trade show in Chicago, billed as the “premier showcase of material handling, supply chain, and logistics solutions in North America.”

The two new robots are essentially bigger cousins of Fetch's existing Freight bot, designed to replace handtrucks or trolleys in warehouse settings. The Freight bot is programmed to follow around human workers like a kind of mechanical porter, using real-time motion tracking and obstacle avoidance to avoid collisions.

While the original Freight bot could

only carry 220-pound loads, the new robots can support as much as 3,300 pounds.

This allows warehouse workers to handle a much wider range of containers, up to and including full-size pallets that otherwise require a forklift and driver.

The Freight 500 is designed for medium-sized loads. It can fit through standard-width doorways and hallways, for instance. The Freight 1500 is for serious warehouse settings where pallets get moved around regularly. All Freight bot are shorties, just 14 inches off the ground, assembled with the requisite hardware for heavy duty lifting. But with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), it's really the software that counts.

Freight bots use laser-based LIDAR sensors and 3D cameras to constantly assess their environment. This is where the safety element comes in. Integrated mapping software combines the long-range laser system with the short-range 3D cameras to provide imaging in all directions.

The Freight bots not only navigate around stationary objects, they can assess the trajectory of moving objects — people or other robots — and use machine learning algorithms to determine the safest course of action.

Depending on the task, the new toughguy Freight bots can be programmed to run preset routes, follow a human worker through a given facility, or navigate their own route to a destination. Additional front and back standard video cameras can be outfitted with supplementary safety or security applications. When they're not carrying loads, Fetch bots can patrol your facility as mechanized security sentries.

Fetch Robotics is just one of several AMR companies aiming to fundamentally change the way warehouse logistics will operate in the 21st century. While exact pricing isn't yet available, the new Freight models will likely be in the five-figures range. Considering that they don't need lunch breaks, or health care coverage, they're likely to be an increasingly popular option for management. (Discovery News)

By performing a simple two-finger pinch on the print preview, you can view the PDF-formatted version of the content you’re viewing, and share the PDF using the share sheet.

Wake to Apple Music If you’re subscribed to Apple Music, you can set an alarm in the stock Clock app to wake you to any song on the service. When editing an alarm in the Clock app, tap the Sound panel and choose Pick a song to choose music from your Apple Music library. Keep in mind that you must have the desired song saved to your library before you can set it as an

Tech news

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alarm.

Rearrange the share sheet A long press and drag on any of the icons in the share sheet will allow you to arrange the items to your liking. You can also long press eligible items and tap the Hide pop-up that appears to make them disappear.

Renaming folders There are several ways to rename folders on the iPhone’s Home screen. The quickest way is to use a 3D Touch gesture on the folder and select Rename.

Markup screenshots and photos In the Photos app, se-

lect a photo and tap the Edit button to enter editing mode. From there, tap the ellipses button to reveal the Photo Editor options and select Markup. Markup allows you to annotate photos and screenshots with text, shapes, and more.

Filter email in the Mail app Quickly filtering Mail via the filter button in the Mail app is one of the best new additions found in iOS 10. By wielding the filter button, you can quickly drill down to specific mail rules that allow you to take a more focused glance at your email inbox. (https://9to5mac.com)

Singapore scientists teleport lemonade over the internet

ancy a world where you can drink something cool and instantly share it with all your friends? That could happen sooner than you think.

Researchers just need to iron out the kinks.

Scientists at the Keio-NUS CUTE centre -- which stands for Japan's Keio University and the National University of Singapore Connective Ubiquitous Technology for Embodiments -- have figured out how to detect the taste and colour of lemonade and send it over to a specially made tumbler filled with plain water.

The tumbler uses an LED light to mimic the colour of the lemonade, while metal strips embedded at the top of the cup transmit the taste to your tongue while you drink the now sour-tasting water.

It's not at the water-into-wine level just yet, in case you're wondering.

"We chose lemonade because sourness is one of the sensations we can simulate using an electric current," said Nimensha Ranasinghe, one of the four members of the project and a research fellow at NUS. He added that the simulations are not just limited to that taste. It's also possi-

ble to simulate sweet, salty or bitter flavours.

The project, which the researchers began more heavily promoting in late March, isn't just about replicating the taste.

It's also an experiment to see if it's possible to "create new experiences like communicating with beverages or transferring of experiences remotely," said Ranasinghe.

Using electrical currents to stimulate flavours isn't really new. Scientists such as Ranasinghe have been working on digital tastes for a while now. And he's not alone. There are other teams in Japan and the U.S. also working on tricking your tongue into tasting flavours.

The technology works by using first dipping a sensor stick embedded with a pH level and colour sensor into the actual drink, and then transmitting the data to the aforesaid tumbler. Electrolytes then stimulate your taste buds. You don't really need to actually drink the water to do so. Simply sticking your tongue on the dual metal strips automatically transmit the taste to your tongue. The electrical current, measured in microamps, isn't be enough to shock you or cause you pain.

Ranasinghe said commercialization of the project will take some time because the team is also working on transmitting smells to make the experience even more realistic. There are plans to make a spoon for use in hospitals for patients who need to decrease the amount of salt in their food but still want the taste. (CNET)

18 Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 9, 2017

Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

By Jehan Powell

Ingredients

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omplete your room with stunning window treatments. Modern panels, over-the-top draperies or streamlined shades — find inspiration from these treatments that work best for your space.

¼ cup dark soy sauce ¼ tsp five-spice powder ¼ tsp red pepper flakes ½ tsp black pepper 3 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp minced ginger 1 ½ tbsp crushed garlic 2 ½ lbs chicken wings pieces

Method Make the marinade by mixing soy sauce, five-spice powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, brown sugar, ginger and garlic.

Place the wings in a bowl and pour the marinade over and mix to coat well. Marinate in the fridge for at least four hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Place wings on a large baking sheet pan making sure that the pieces aren’t touching. Discard excess marinade. Place into preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes.

Remove wings from pan as soon as it comes out of the oven, serve warm. (www.jehancancook.com) Layer a mixture of curtains to create an updated design. Pair vibrant striped sheers with deep pink panels for a bright and contemporary bedroom

E

Greatest Cooking Tips

asy tip for grating cheese: Simply spray the cheese grater with cooking spray before grating! The "grease" makes the cheese glide easily across the grates with less effort. This is key for mozzarella and other softer cheeses.

Ginger can be tricky to peel with all its bumps and irregularities.

Rather than using a paring knife or vegetable peeler, reach for the spoon. Scrape it against the skin and it'll come right off, following every contour and minimizing waste.

To slice avocados, split them in half, remove the pit by whacking it with the heel of your knife and twisting it out, then slice it directly in the skin using the tip of a paring knife or chef's knife. When you then scoop it out with a spoon, you'll have slices ready to go, with less mess than trying to fiddle with slippery peeled avocado a cutting board.

The empty half of an egg shell is the best tool to extract stubborn bits of cracked shells that have ended up in the bowl.

A grommet heading, rings inserted into the top of the curtain fabric, is a contemporary and clean solution for hanging drapes.

Make a bold statement with black and white stripes

Create a contemporary look for a living room with sleek panels hung close to the wall. Hidden hardware gives the window treatments a streamlined look

Y

Home Help

ou know what to do when the grease gets on your shirt, but unfortunately kitchens can have other types of fabrics that can't be tossed in the wash. For un-washable fabrics, like rugs, chair cushions and carpets, mix 1 part salt with 4 parts rubbing alcohol. Use a cloth to rub the solution hard into the stain until it lifts away. After the grease is gone and your solution dries, vacuum up the excess salt and use a damp cloth to wipe away any salt marks left behind.

For tough, caked-on grease stains like those you find hardened to the stove and the inside of the oven or stuck to baking dishes after an overnight in the sink, spray vinegar directly on the stain and let it soak in for about five minutes. The acidic vinegar will help dissolve and soften the tough, crunchy part (mostly a food-grease mixture), making it easier to scrub away with a soft sponge.

One way to disinfect a kitchen sponge is to heat it in the microwave -- but be sure to do it safely, and never microwave a sponge containing metal!

While most germs can only survive about 30 seconds in the microwave, you'll need to nuke your kitchen sponge for two minutes at full power to eliminate E. coli. Before you hit "start," be sure to saturate your sponge with water, since a dry sponge may catch fire. Look out for a burst of steam when you open the microwave door, and let the sponge cool before you remove it -- it will be very hot! You may want to use tongs to pick it up.

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Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

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JOKES

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here was an old man sitting on his porch watching the rain fall. Pretty soon the water was coming over the porch and into the house.

The old man was still sitting there when a rescue boat came and the people on board said, "You can't stay here you have to come with us."

The old man replied, "No, God will save me." So the boat left. A little while later the water was up to the second floor, and another rescue boat came, and again told the old man he had to come with them.

The old man again replied, "God will save me." So the boat left him again.

An hour later the water was up to the roof and a third rescue boat approached the old man, and tried to get him to come with them.

Again the old man refused to leave stating that, "God will save me." So the boat left him again.

Soon after, the man drowns and goes to heaven, and when he sees God he asks him, "Why didn't you save me?"

God replied, "You dummy! I tried. I sent three boats after you!"

L

ittle Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his grandmother’s house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served.

When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away.

“Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer.” Said his mother “I don’t have to,” The boy replied.

“Of course, you do,” his mother insisted. “We say a prayer before eating, at our house” “That’s our house,” Johnny explained. “But this is Grandma’s house and she knows how to cook!

“A

s team leader of the Police Tactics and Rescue Unit, I directed officers late one night to strategic positions around a building where a dangerous suspect was

hiding.

Believing the culprit to be on the roof, I decided to have an officer shine his flashlight in that direction on my command.

At just the right moment, I whispered to him, "Okay, throw a light on the roof."

The officer hurled his flashlight to the top of the building.”

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an't eat beef... mad cow Can't eat chicken... bird flu Can't eat eggs... again, bird flu Can't eat pork...fears that it won’t be properly cooked Can't eat fish...heavy metals in the water has poisoned their bodies Can't eat fruits and veggies... insecticides and herbicides Hmm… I believe that leaves chocolate!

A

ll of the farmers in a small town had gathered at the town hall to discuss some important farming issues.

About midway through the meeting, a wife of one of the farmers stood up and spoke her piece.

One of the farmers, attempting to show the woman to be ignorant on the subject of farming, stands up and says, "What does she know about anything? I would like to ask her if she knows how many toes a pig has. Well, lady?"

Quick as a flash, the woman replies, "Take off your boots sir, and count them yourself!"

“W

hen a customer left his cell phone in my store, I scrolled through his saved numbers, stopped at "Mom" and pushed send. His mother answered, and I told her what happened.

"Don't worry," she said, "I'll take care of it."

A few minutes later, the cell phone rang. It was "Mom." "Martin," she said, "you left your cell phone at the convenience store."

A

businessman who needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal went to church to pray for the money.

By chance he knelt next to a man who was praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt.

The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man's hand. Overjoyed, the man got up and left the church.The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed: "And now, Lord, that I have your undivided attention..."

very parent wants to raise smart kids and ensure that they meet their fullest potential. These steps will show you how to assist in your child's brain development and increase his intelligence.

Show your child love and attention. From the moment they come into the world, they should feel loved. This can consist of holding an infant, playing with a toddler or giving a hug to your preschooler.

All ages benefit from these kinds of interactions, and they are important for developing intelligence.

Communicate with your child from day one.

Children who have had someone consistently talking to them develop higher IQs and stronger language skills. This can be as simple as

talking to your child about what you are doing at that moment or even just what you see. It doesn't matter if they don't understand you. Their brains are

receiving messages.

Limit screen time. When a child watches too much television the

amount of time they spend on other activities, such as reading or creating art, decreases. Monitor how much television your child is watching and set age appropriate rules for watching.

Read to your child often and place books where your child can access them. Select a regular time each day to read to them and make it a priority.

Teach healthy habits. Get your children involved with ageappropriate physical activities and feed them a balanced diet.

Making their bodies strong and giving them nutritious food will give them the necessary energy they need to absorb information.

Set a good example.

Children learn by watching and will model their behaviour to the people they see most. Let your child see you reading, getting physical activity and eating right and your child will follow your lead.

STORY TIME

By Abigail Buckley

L

ong ago, when the Great Spirit lived among our ancestors, there lived an extended family. This family consisted of seven children, the mother, father and a selfish grandmother whose role was to look after the children during the day, while the parents were toiling in the farm to support the family.

Although the parents were comfortable and happy with the grandmother taking charge of the children, the latter were being ill-treated everyday by their grandmother; she would hide the ripe bananas in a basket, suspended to the roof.

When the parents returned in the evenings, the children complained about it. Day after day, the children reported to their parents that their granny did not want to share the bananas with them.

Every time they would ask for a banana from the basket, she would say that it was not ripe yet and too green to eat.

This went on for some time. The mother was sensible to what the children were saying and every night she would try to figure out what was happening.

But the father did not agree and for only answer, he would tell the children that they were telling lies. Seeing that the children were not successful, the granny would smile maliciously.

One day, as the parents were in the farm, the oldest child decided to check inside the basket to see if the bananas

A

witticism is a clever saying or observation that usually involves a clever turn of phrase or a play on words (pun).

Here are two examples of witticisms. The first is by Mark Twain, 19th century American novelist and humorist: “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”

What makes this statement witty? Twain takes a simple proverb – “don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today” - and puts a twist on it.

It's simple and pithy, pointing out our natural propensity to

were ripe and ready to eat. Finding they were, she quickly went to tell the others and they decided to talk to their granny to see if she would change her mind. To their surprise, however, the granny shouted very loudly: “No! You can’t have it!”, and the children felt really bad.

The children then started to call upon the Great Spirit by chanting and signing to lead it to their house. Their chants were heard by the Great Spirit and, having reached the house, he felt really sorry for the situation of these children. He decided to teach the mean granny what love is by turning them into stars of the sky. And so he did, as the children were chanting and singing in a circle, the oldest sister having the baby on her lap, they were being moved by the Great Spirit.

When the parents came back home, they heard the children’s chant and saw them rising above the tree. They could not believe it and started to question each other as to what was happening.

The mother shouted at the children: “Come back, come back, come back!

Where are you all heading and who has done this to you? Please tell me and please come back to us, we love you all

procrastinate.

Here's another that is reprinted in the text. It is by Mae West, American actress of the 1930s and 1940s, famous for her risqué remarks: “I was as pure as the driven snow—but I drifted.”

In this example, Mae West is making a clever and amusing play on words. Snow piles up in drifts, but the verb "to drift" also means to go astray, to go down the wrong path. The first part means that she was pure and innocent, and the second part means that she strayed from that path. The play on words makes this witticism memorable.

so much, oh please don’t leave us here.”

But it was too late; the Great Spirit was now in control. So the mother started questioning the granny what she had done to the children. The granny was so tired of crying and calling for the children that she could not really explain. She continued to weep what a greedy granny she had been. The mother then blamed the father for not taking what the children were telling them seriously, and to the granny she said that she would never again see any grandchildren.

Soon, the children were so high that the parents could not see them distinctly anymore. They went higher and higher and turned into shining stars in the sky. And to this day they can still be seen. Our ancestors made a song about this event and it is passed on from generation to generation. (The embroidery of the ‘Seven Stars’ was done by Walterine Barthlomew, Massara Village. Story published on www.pantaniblog.org)

How are witticisms different from aphorisms or adages? The latter are little moral sayings.

They express a truth or an observation, but they generally lack the clever linguistic twists.

For example, "A stitch in time saves nine" and "The early bird catches the worm" are aphorisms, but not witticisms.

Armed with these definitions and analysis, you can now read this list of witticisms and have a good understanding of why they are classified in this way.

"I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the

catalogue—"No good in a bed, but fine against a wall." (Eleanor Roosevelt) "Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister and now with to withdraw that remark."

(Mark Twain) "What would men be without women? Scarce, sir, mighty scarce." (Mark Twain) "Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP." (Joe Namath) "I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it." (W. C. Fields)

20 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 9, 2017

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Times Sunday Puzzle

W

hen you curtail a word, you remove the last letter and still have a valid word. You will be given clues for the two words, longer word first. Example: Begin - Heavenly body. Answer: Start - Star.

1. Bend out of shape - Armed conflict 2. Muscle contraction -Pack to capacity 3. Pass over; omit - Glide on snow 4. Wet - Large water barrier 5. Marsh; bog - Moved through water see ANSWERS on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

GEOZONE

Aquatic caecilian

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aecilians are long-bodied, limbless amphibians that look similar to earthworms because of segmental rings around their body.

Although they are not exactly amphibianlooking, their bones, teeth, fat bodies and other structures show that they are related to salamanders and frogs. Their skin is slimy and smooth in adults and their colour is dark gray. Adults' eyes are often small and useless.

To compensate for their eyes, a sensory organ in the form of a tentacle lies on the upper jaw behind the nostril that carries chemical messages.

Like all amphibians, caecilians breathe primarily through their skin but will occasionally come to the surface to breathe air through their lungs.

Aquatic caecilians grow to reach lengths of 18 to 22 inches (46 to 56 centimeters).

Most caecilians are burrowing, terrestrial animals; however, the rubber eels in the

Please see solution on page 23

Amazonia exhibit are aquatic and are found in Columbia and Venezuela, mainly in lowland rivers and streams. Rubber eels burrow in sand and leaf litter.

Most caecilians have two rows of teeth on the upper jaw and one or two on the lower jaw. They are carnivorous and feed on insect larvae, worms and small fish. After a slow approach, they quickly seize their prey. Their teeth are peg-like and used to grip and tear off chunks of their prey. At the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, caecilians are fed earthworms.

Occasionally, they will be given raw shrimp strips and squid tentacles.

In the wild, aquatic caecilians live between 4 and 5 years, but are known to live longer in human care. The caecilians in Amazonia at the Smithsonian's National Zoo are adults that are over 10 years old.

Caecilians are usually used as bait for fishing and are eaten by fish.

T

he beautiful Uyuni salt flats (or Salar de Uyuni) is the world’s largest salt flat. It is located in the Department of Potosi in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, at 3.650 meters above sea level.

Some 40,000 years ago, the area was part of Lake Minchin, a giant prehistoric lake. When the lake dried, it left behind two modern lakes, Poopó and Uru Uru, and two major salt deserts, Salar de Coipasa and the larger Salar de Uyuni. The Uyuni Salt Flats is estimated to contain 10 billion tons of salt of which less

than 25,000 tons is extracted annually.

Amazingly, the flat, white landscape causes optical illusions and reflects colours. There's even a hotel made almost entirely of salt!

Every November, the Uyuni salt flats is also the breeding grounds for three species of South American flamingos – Chilean, James’s and Andean. La Isla del Pescado (Fish Island) located on the salt flat and full of giant cactuses is named this way as the ‘island’ has the shape of a fish. It is the only sign of life for miles.

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.

1. Black 2. Red 3. Yellow 4. Green 5. Orange

22 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 9, 2017

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APRIL 9, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 23

Times World

Scientists launch campaign to Japanese castle seeks lord and lady for one night restore Pluto to the planet club

A

A

guesthouse company in Japan is offering one couple a chance to experience a night as lord and lady of Hirado Castle, in an attempt to attract tourists to the area, The Mainichi website reports.

Couples applying for the chance to do so have to comprise a man and woman and be at least 20 years old. The winners not only get to stay the night in the castle tower, they will be guarded by city officials dressed as

ninjas and met by 30 volunteers dressed in full armour. They will also be served a dinner made from local ingredients, the website says.

The current Hirado Castle in Nagasaki Prefecture was built in the 1960s. It currently houses a museum of artefacts from the local Matsura clan, who first built a fortress on the site in 1599 and ruled the area for two and a half centuries. (BBC)

Malaysians warned over eating dumped chicken wings

R

oast chicken wings are a popular street food in Malaysia, but residents of the town of Sibu

are likely to be steering c l e a r

4. Damp - Dam 5. Swamp - Swam

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

said the paper's lead author, Kirby Runyon, a doctoral candidate at Johns Hopkins University.

Runyon said he and other planetary scientists are more interested in a planet's physical characteristics, such as its shape and whether it has mountains, oceans and an atmosphere.

"If you're interested in the actual intrinsic properties of a world, then the IAU definition is worthless," he said by phone.

Runyon and colleagues argue that the IAU does not have the authority to set the definition of a planet.

"There’s a teachable moment here for the public in terms of scientific literacy and in terms of how scientists do science," Runyon added. "And that is not by saying, 'Let's agree on one

thing.' That's not science at all."

Runyon's group advocates for a sub-classification system, similar to biology's hierarchal method.

This approach would categorize Earth's moon as a type of planet.

That idea irks California Institute of Technology astronomer Mike Brown, who discovered the Kuiper Belt object that cast Pluto out of the planet club.

"It really takes blinders to not look at the solar system and see the profound differences between the eight planets in their stately circular orbits and then the millions and millions of tiny bodies flitting in and out between the planets and being tossed around by them,� he wrote in an email. (Reuters)

Study shows Brazil has the greatest number of tree species

Brain Teaser Answer 1. Warp - War 2. Cramp - Cram 3. Skip - Ski

team of scientists seeking to restore Pluto to planethood launched a campaign recently to broaden the astronomical classifications which led to its demotion to a "dwarf planet" a decade ago.

Six scientists from institutions across the United States argued that Pluto deserves to be a full planet, along with some 110 other bodies in the solar system, including Earth's moon.

In a paper presented at an international planetary science conference at The Woodlands, Texas, the scientists explained that geological properties, such as shape and surface features, should determine what constitutes a planet.

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union, struggling with how to classify a newly discovered icy body beyond Pluto, adopted a definition for a planet based on characteristics that include clearing other objects from its orbital path.

Pluto and its newfound kin in the solar system's distant Kuiper Belt region were reclassified as dwarf planets, along with Ceres, the biggest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The decision left the solar system with eight planets.

But this definition sidelines the research interests of most planetary scientists,

of them for a while, The Borneo Post reports.

Customs officers last week disposed of more than 80 tonnes of frozen chicken wings they had seized, by burying them in an area near the town.

Soon after, however, news of the disposal spread on social media and was quickly followed by videos and images of people digging up the dumped food, and reports that the chicken was being sold cheaply in local markets.

The New Straits Times said the wings were now being dug up again to be sent to a landfill. The trade ministry has warned it will take stern action against those who sold the discarded wings, and local authorities have urged people not to consume the chicken wings they dug up "as we do not know their source and quality", the Malay Mail Online reported.

On social media, many people have voiced their anger over the careless way the food was disposed of, as well as over the waste of food in one of the poorest states in the country. (BBC)

T

here are 60,065 species of trees in the world, according to a comprehensive study of the world's plants.

Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) compiled the tree list by using data gathered from its network of 500 member organisations.

It hopes the list will be used as a tool to identify rare and threatened species in need of immediate action to prevent them becoming extinct.

Details of the study appear in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry.

The data revealed that Brazil was the nation with the greatest number of tree species, home to 8,715 varieties.

Apart from the polar regions, which have no trees, the near-Arctic region of North America had the fewest number of species, with less than 1,400.

Another fact to emerge from the data was that more than half of the species (58%) were only found in one country, suggesting that they were vulnerable to potential

threats, such as deforestation from extreme weather events or human activity.

About 300 species have been identified as critically endangered as they had fewer than 50 individuals remaining in the wild.

BGCI identified a species that was on the edge of extinction as a result of overharvesting. Karomia gigas is found in a remote part of Tanzania. At the end of 2016, a team of scientists found a single population of just six trees.

They recruited local people to guard the trees and to notify them when the trees produced seeds.

The plan is for the seeds to be propagated in Tanzanian botanical gardens, allowing the species to be re-introduced back into the wild at a later date.

BGCI said that it did not expect the number of trees on its Global Tree Search list to remain static as about 2,000 plants were newly subscribed each year. It would be updating the list whenever a new species was named. (BBC)

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Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 9, 2017

Fun Times

Archie

Take better care of your health and well-being.

(March 21Refuse to let anyone mess April 19) with you or your plans. Use your knowledge and skills for your own gain, not to indulge someone else’s dream.

ARIES

Learn as you go if you TAURUS want to master new skills (April 20- and accomplish your goals.

May 20) Day trips and discussions will give you greater insight into personal and financial growth.

Don’t limit what you can GEMINI do just to spare someone ea(May 21ger to take advantage of you.

June 20) Be honest and do whatever you must to ensure that you get what you want.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Avoid emotional confrontations. Someone will want too much or show indulgent traits that will make you feel uncomfortable. Put distance between you and someone you feel is menacing.

Don’t hesitate if someone asks you to work overtime.

Anything you can do to get ahead will not go to waste.

You’ll make new allies if you pitch in and help.

Be careful when handling other people’s money, possessions or personal paperwork.

A sudden change in the way someone treats you should lead to questions, not anger.

Find out where you stand.

LIBRA Refuse to let peer pressure (Sept. 23- suck you into something. Make Oct. 23) choices that encourage success and advancement. Take a course or apply for an internship. Walk away from emotional manipulation.

Peanuts

Taking a day trip is enSCORPIO (Oct. 24- couraged, along with spendNov. 22) ing time with people who inspire you to forge ahead.

Make a promise to someone you love. Romance will enhance your life.

Problems while traveling SAGITTARIUS or dealing with people from (Nov. 23different backgrounds can be Dec. 21) expected. Make sure you have all your paperwork in order before you depart. Moderation is encouraged.

Calvin and Hobbes

A secret meeting with CAPRICORN someone from your past will (Dec. 22- lead to trouble. Rely on comJan. 19) mon sense and don’t jeopardize what you have worked so hard to build. Be forthright and avoid temptation.

Personal relationships AQUARIUS will need to be reassessed.

(Jan. 20- Consider what everyone is Feb. 19) bringing to the table and work toward greater equality. Partnerships depend on balance, honesty and communication.

Problems will surface if PISCES (Feb. 20- you let someone from your Mar. 20) past meddle in your personal affairs. Stay on top of any situation you face, and handle loved ones with care.