Guyana Times International

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com week ending july 14, 2013

ISSUE NO. 150

“I'm devastated”

See story on page 11

- says father of Guyanese-born U.S. soldier killed in Afghanistan Commonwealth Network on Environment and Climate Change launched Page 25

As chair of the new Commonwealth Expert Group on Climate Finance, former president Bharrat Jagdeo was at Marlborough House, headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat, in London last week for discussions. In photo above, Jagdeo (right) is pictured with Prince Charles (left, front), Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma (centre, front) and some members of the expert group

Pvt. Errol 'Elijah' Duran Aster Milliard

Govt says U. S. TIP Page 3 report “riddled with inaccuracies” National Lotteries Control Board sponsors T&T's Red Steel for Limacol CPL Page 56

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NEWS

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Govt says U. S. TIP report “riddled with inaccuracies” T

he local ministerial task force on human trafficking said it is deeply concerned that the U. S. State Department report on the global scourge has not reviewed Guyana fairly and therefore attracts little merit on the part of the government of Guyana.

Government, in rejecting the report, said it is riddled with inaccuracies aimed at “sexing it” up. In a response to the U. S. report which was issued last month, the task force which is chaired by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said the report contains several inaccuracies and misrepresentations with regard to the scope of trafficking in persons in

Guyana. It said too that the report ignores the efforts of the government of Guyana in combating trafficking in persons.

Task force

The task force said according to the media in November 2012, a child was murdered while working in the mines, and reports linked his death to his attempt to collect wages due to him.

“While the government of Guyana has established that the child was indeed sadly murdered, it is of the view that the U. S. report has not provided a shred of evidence to link the child’s death to the offence of trafficking in persons. We repudiate most emphatically the inclusion of this ho-

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

micide case in the U. S. trafficking in persons report in order to ‘sex up’ the report,” the task force declared.

The U. S. report

further states that: “Indonesian workers were subjected to forced labour on several Guyanese-flagged fishing boats off the coast

of Trinidad and Tobago during the reporting period.”

The government of Guyana said it considers this claim as spurious since it falls completely outside the jurisdiction of Guyana. “The government of Guyana has no knowledge of this matter whatsoever and considers it a brazen attempt on the part of the U. S. State Department to resort to an extraterritorial issue in an effort to bring some degree of credence to a report that is riddled with fabrications.”

Further, by including this matter without providing information on it to the government of Guyana, the U. S. State Department has contra-

vened an agreement between U. S. embassy officials and ministers of the task force to share information on trafficking in persons, the government said.

The U. S. report had also noted that “The government of Guyana does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so.”

Adherence to UN protocol

In response, the Guyana government said it strictly adheres to and upholds the minimum standards of the United Nations Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially womcontinued on page 16

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INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

New York Office 106-15 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica NY 11435 Email: guyanatimesnyint@gmail.com Tel no: 718-658-6804 Preferred method of contact via EMAIL Guyana Office Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana.

Tel no: (592) 227-0704, 227-0709.

Fax (592) 225-8696, 227-0685 Email: guyanatimesint@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

The debt not paid

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t the “recommitment” commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the launch of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the heads of government decided to establish a “Reparations Commission”. It will pursue compensation for the now acknowledged “crime against humanity” that was committed against millions snatched from Africa and enslaved by the colonial powers from the 16th to the 19th century. We believe that this move is long overdue.

Back in March 2007, as British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed “deep regret and sorrow” for his country’s role in the African slave trade, then President Bharrat Jagdeo retorted to the resident British High Commissioner Fraser Wheeler: “Now that some members of the international community have recognised their active role in this despicable system, they need to go one step further and support reparations. Otherwise, their remarks about the horrors of the slave trade and slavery become meaningless and platitudinous, and such remarks may be expressed merely to absolve guilt.”

Blair’s statement during the lavish commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade was parsed very carefully to avoid any formal apology that could then be used by proponents of reparations to impute guilt in the crime. As they have done consistently about that event and the subsequent abolition of slavery in 1834, the British prefer to elide the horrors of what has been called the African Holocaust or “Maafa”, and stress their “humanitarian” motives.

But as one of the founding members of Caricom, former Trinidadian Prime Minister Eric Williams had shown in his Oxford PhD dissertation, later published as “Capitalism and Slavery”, they were economic decisions through and through. He and later scholars have demonstrated conclusively that the wealth that provided the wherewithal for many of the upper crust of British society to live in luxury, but more importantly enabled them to launch their “industrial revolution”, were accumulated from the blood, sweat, and tears of slavery.

Politics was also integrally connected as slave profits funded the campaigns for, or purchase of, seats to Parliament. The Hogg family who gave Britain and its empire two Lord Chancellors in the 20th century – and the name of the island in the Essequibo River – acquired much its wealth from the labour of slaves on plantations in British Guiana. John Gladstone, father of the long-serving British Prime Minister William Gladstone, not only owned slaves on his British Guiana sugar plantations, but also was the initiator of the system of indentureship from India that supplied cheap labour after the abolition of slavery. One of the ironies of slavery is that the planters who profited from slavery were offered “reparations” after abolition – worth US$25 billion in today’s money – for the “loss of their property”, while the Africans who were exploited were not even given a firm handshake.

Earlier this year, as Guyana observed the 250th anniversary of the 1763 Berbice Revolt, at the launch of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Slavery Exhibition at the National Museum, President Donald Ramotar said: “I take this opportunity to reaffirm Guyana’s commitment to zealously pursue the case for reparations.”

He referred to the recent lectures in Georgetown by two distinguished West Indian historians Professors Verene Shepherd and Hillary Beckles that made a cogent case for reparations.

Beckles recent book, “Britain’s Black Debt: Reparations for Caribbean Slavery and Native Genocide” should be required reading for all West Indian peoples.

As the great West Indian novelist George Lamming said prophetically, “There is a perennial debt to be paid to black people for continuing of enslavement and degradation. There are those who believe that the matter is over. They are completely wrong. Actually, there are those among us who believe that the demand and struggle for justice and restoration to full dignity would take a generation to win a crusade for reparations.”

In the words of the late great, Dudley Thompson, “The debt has not been paid; the accounts have not been settled!”

Dancers perform to the energetic vibrations provided by the African drummers as the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) launches the 175th Emancipation anniversary celebrations at its headquarters, Thomas Lands on Wednesday (Carl Croker photo)

Ramadan marks the beginning of the holiest time of the year PART 1

By Shan Razack

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s the crescent moon is sighted, and the holy month of Ramadan begins May you find peace, As you offer your prayers and fast.

In the holy month of Ramadan, May Allah’s rahmat Shine on you! The most beautiful things in life must be seen from the heart. For one-fifth of the world’s population, this month marks the beginning of the holiest time of the year – Islam’s Ramadan.

During this time, one billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe – from the southern Philippines to Nigeria – are united by their common Islamic faith.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

of events in the Islamic lunar year “move forward” about 11 days every year.

The five pillars of faith

The “five pillars” of Islam are the framework of Muslim life: faith, prayer, concern for the needy, self purification and the pilgrim age to Mecca, for those who are able.

Faith: There is no God worthy of worship except God, and Muhammad (SAWS), is his messenger.

This declaration of faith is

Muslims

Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy and forgiveness and the majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave events that have come to be associated with the faith. About 18 per cent live in the Arab world.

The world’s largest Muslim community is in Indonesia and substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslims, while significant numbers can be found in Eastern and Western Europe, North and South America and China.

The lunar calendar

The Islamic month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the 12 months in the Islamic lunar calendar.

Muslims use a lunar calendar for many of their religious observances. A new month in the lunar calendar is determined by the appearance of the moon. Since this occurs every 29 or 30 days, dates

called the Shahada, a simple formula, which all the faithful pronounce. The first part can refer to anything that is put in place of God – wealth, power and the like. The second part tells us that the message of God’s guidance comes through a man such as ourselves.

Prayer: Salat is the name for the obligatory prayers, which are a direct link between the worshipper and God. There are no priests in Islam, no one in charge, so the prayers, are led by a learned person who knows the Holy Quran and, is chosen by the congregation.

These five prayers contain verses from the Holy Quran and are said in Arabic, the language of the revelation. Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset

and nightfall.

Although it is preferable to pray in a mosque, a Muslim may pray anywhere, such as in the fields, offices, schools, trains and factories.

Zakat: One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is, therefore, held by human beings in trust. The word Zakat means both purification and growth.

Our possessions are purified, by setting aside a portion for those in need. And, like pruning a plant, this cutting back encourages and balances new growth. Each Muslim calculates his or her own Zakat individually.

For most purposes this involves the payment each year of two per cent of one’s capital.

Fasting: Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sundown. Those who are sick, elderly, pregnant or on a journey, are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed.

Pilgrimage (Hajj): The annual pilgrimage to Mecca – the Hajj – is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. Nevertheless, about two million people go to Mecca each year from every corner of the globe.

Although Mecca is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj begins in the 12th month of the Islamic year. Pilgrims wear special clothes such as simple garments that strip away distinctions of class and culture so that all stand equal before God. Ramadan Mubarak.

Ramadan Mubarak. Ramadan Mubarak.

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Cassava poised to make a substantial economic contribution – Minister Ramsammy

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uyanese-produced farine is gaining in popularity with its own niche market, outside of its traditional users, those in the hinterland community; and to increase its usage. Government is set to a build what has been described as a full phased factory operation for the processing of the item made from cassava, with the first facility to be installed in Region Nine later this year, Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy told the media.

Minister Ramsammy noted that many of the hinterland residents depend on the cassava for not only food security, but for a livelihood. “I am happy to report that the Guyana farine which is almost exclusively produced in the hinterland is becoming popular outside of our borders.

Whilst Brazil, for example produces it own farine, Guyana’s farine is becoming a niche market in Brazil”. He added that the locally produced product is now gaining attention in the Caribbean market. This

Cassava cultivation at Yarakita

provides an opportunity for the semi-industrialisation of the cassava industry, Minister Ramsammy said, and this can move the crop’s production from a subsistence level to an actual industry.

Farine production is traditionally done by indigenous women, who use their hands to harvest cassava, clean, peel and squeeze the tuber to produce the product. The Agriculture Ministry has assisted several communities by providing grinders to ease their task, said the minister, but this new move takes that assistance a step further.

The crop gives farmers an average of two tonnes per acre accord-

ing to the minister, but it is normally grown nine to ten months annually. There are varieties of cassava that can result in yields of up to 30 tonnes annually, but if farmers can double their production they can also double their income without additional investment or work.

The Agriculture Ministry is partnering with IICA, the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute, the National Drainage Authority and Guysuco’s Apprentice School situated in Port Mourant to ensure the pre-fabricated components of the processors are properly constructed with local materials.

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TIP victims ID policemen, trafficker - rape charges to be instituted

By Svetlana Marshall

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ape charges are likely to be instituted against two policemen and an alleged human trafficker after they were positively identified by the young ladies who were rescued from the sex trade last weekend. On Tuesday, the two victims who were allegedly raped by two ranks in the Sherima Police Station positively identified their assailants.

The ranks and the woman were also identified by two other persons who witnessed part of the trafficking incident.

Rescued

Over the weekend, the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO), led by the 2013 U. S. TIP Hero Simona Broomes, rescued the 14-, 16-, 18-, and 20-yearold victims from 14 Mile Issano, Region Seven.

The 26-year-old approached Broomes in Bartica to relate the tale and get her 16- year-old friend out.

According to

Broomes, the 26-yearold victim on Tuesday positively identified the policemen. The 16-yearold, who was described as “nervous” during the parade, was unable to identify the ranks.

However, the truck driver and another individual who were at the Sherima Police Station positively identified the policemen.

Both victims positively identified the alleged trafficker.

Speaking with Guyana Times International, Broomes said she was elated that GWMO is one step closer to putting another trafficker and delinquent ranks who have failed the system behind bars.

While, the GWMO president is happy that the perpetrators will face the court soon, she is disappointed that the victims were made to wait for some time before the ID parade was executed.

Compounding the situation, the young ladies were reportedly forced to sit in CID headquarters in wet clothes.

Broomes explained that the victims and their belongings were drenched during their journey from Bartica to Parika on Monday afternoon.

After reporting to Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown late Monday night, the victims then travelled to Mahaicony. “By the time, they got to the Help and Shelter Home in Mahaicony... there was no way in which the clothes could have dried because they had to wake up and reach here (CID) for nine o’ clock.”

According to Broomes, the entire ordeal was explained to the Human Services Ministry, but to no avail. The young ladies were initially promised a change of clothing, but were subsequently told that they would have to wait until another day.

A request was made to have the young ladies taken to purchase appropriate garments but this request by the GWMO was denied as well.

Human Services

Work on East Bank four-lane highway expected to speed-up

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GWMO President Simona Broomes

Ministry has promised to intervene after being contacted by the president of the women’s organisation.

Special home

Broomes called for the Human Services Ministry to provide a special home in the city for TIP victims, noting that while the organisation is grateful for the assistance given by Help and Shelter, there is need for a special home.

Broomes is also pressing for ranks of the Guyana Police Force, TIP Unit officers, and interested members of the public to be trained in the area of human trafficking, as it relates to the treatment of victims.

“We have to undertake a study to know a victim of trafficking: How they respond – their language; things that they need – how important it is to make them feel comfortable; and not for us to talk to them as though they were in the interior,” she said.

Main perpetrator

On April 21, four girls, aged 14, 15, 17 and 18 were rescued from prostitution in the Puruni Back Dam, Region Seven

by Broomes and her GWMO members.

Shortly after, a policeman was charged with human trafficking.

He was accused of trafficking one of the four girls.

A popular Bartica businesswoman who was identified by the girls as the main perpetrator was arrested and charged approximately two weeks ago. She is reportedly behind bars awaiting the completion of her case.

Meanwhile, the four girls are being reintegrated into society while being accommodated by Help and Shelter. The 14-year-old girl will soon be attending classes, compliments of Broomes.

he pace of the construction of the East Bank Demerara four-lane road is expected to be hastened as the Work Services Group (WSG) is moving ahead with support from the power and telephone companies in addressing the challenge of utilities hindering the project’s execution.

There has been sloth in the multi-million dollar project stemming from the need for the removal and relocation of public utilities, such as power poles, gas line, telephone lines and utility poles, from within the project area.

According to General Manager of the WSG, Geoffrey Vaughn, the unit is in the final stages of wrapping-up dis-

culties, in some instances that the commuters face on a daily basis,” he said.

The East Bank Demerara four-lane road expansion project spans about 5.2 kilometers starting from the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, going up to the Diamond intersection. It is being executed in three lots.

Lot One from Providence to the Covent Garden Water Treatment Plant is being done by Dipcon Engineering, Lot Two from the Water Treatment Plant to Little Diamond by Gaico Construction and from Little Diamond to Diamond Intersection by BK International.

According to Manager of the Roads and Bridges

The road-way being expanded in front of Citizen’s Bank, Diamond, East Bank Demerara

cussions with the utility companies with regards to resolving these issues.

“We had a meeting with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) company last Friday (July 5) and coming out of that meeting we are hoping to come to a consensus in terms of the removal of the utilities especially the GT&T cables,” he said And with regards to the issue of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) poles, Vaughn said this process of removal and relocation is moving smoothly. He said that the power company has already moved approximately 90 percent of its poles from the project area.

In terms of the actual project itself and the progress that is being made, Vaughn said that it is now seeing some progress in terms of execution. “There is still some slothfulness in terms of execution, but we are pushing along with the consultants to ensure this project moves a little faster, at a pace where we can see some resolution of the problems and the diffi-

Department, Ministry of Public Works, Ron Rahaman, Lot One is 30 percent completed.

Rahaman said that in certain sections, Dipcon has already started removing the soil charges following he required waiting period. “The six months have elapsed, the contractor is now removing the soil charge and he has commenced the placing of the subbase material. Once that is successfully completed, he would then go on to the base material which is a cement stabiliser material and then the road will be asphalted.”

Rahaman said that other than this, Dipcon has commenced and completed two reinforced concrete culverts and has also started the construction of one reinforced concrete bridge. The concrete drains predominantly on the eastern side of the Bougainville Housing Scheme are under construction and of recent, he has started some concrete-way in the Farm area.

In terms of scheduled completion of this Lot of the project, Rahaman continued on page 13

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Amidst suspicion... Family desperate to return dead nurse from India

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The deceased Abiola Solomon (right) and husband, Austine Molar

ELATIVES of the Guyanese nurse, recently reported to have died in a hospital in India, are alleging foul play led to the death.

That aside, the distraught mother, Mrs. Morlyn Scipio is appealing to the public to contribute as she, desperately, attempts to raise Gy$2M to fly the dead body back to Guyana for burial.

According to her, she has been informed that her daughter’s husband, Austine Molar has dumped the corpse at a hospital and the institu-

tion gave three days for its removal before disposing of it.

The woman related that her daughter, Abilola Solomon, 37, had left Guyana five years ago to further her studies in India, towards becoming a doctor. Before she departed, she was attached to The Palms as a nursing supervisor.

Her very saddened mother said that something always seemed to be amiss on the part of her supposed son-in-law, Austine Molar, who had telephoned her ex-husband, Leyland Solomon,

three weeks ago, demanding US$5,000.

Suspicious

Scipio said when her ex-husband enquired what Molar wanted with such a large sum, the latter rudely retorted: “You are a pastor that travel around the world. You have the money; just send it!”

She claimed when the demand was refused, her daughter’s husband, who is a Nigerian living in India, blurted out obscenities and hung up the phone.

She said the famcontinued on page 10

8 News Govt examining increased airfares from all ends - Benn P week ending july 14, 2013 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

ublic Works Minister Robeson Benn has stated that it would not be feasible for government to reduce the travel voucher taxes on airline tickets, as part of efforts to relieve Guyanese passengers of paying the high cost of air transport. Minister Benn’s comment follows a letter sent to him from shadow public infrastructure, communication, tourism, industry and commerce minister, Joseph Harmon of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

In the letter, Harmon issued a call for a 10 per cent reduction in government taxes on airline tickets to cushion the impact of the hike in fares on Guyanese.

He called on government, through Minister Benn, to consider reducing its travel voucher tax of 15 per cent to 10 per cent.

However, Benn said government is examining the matter of increased airfares from all

APNU MP Joseph Harmon

ends, noting that government is in discussion with the Trinidadian government to ascertain whether it is giving a subsidy to the Caribbean Airlines entity to ensure the fares from that end remain at a stable level.

Reducing taxes

He said reducing taxes would not be viable for the government of Guyana, as that would put a strain on maintaining airport facilities and staffing.

He reminded that

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali

Fly Jamaica will commence operations this monthend, which would help to ease the current situation, while Surinam Airways will be adding more flights.

The govt is also engaged in talks with COPA Airlines to increase airlift out of Guyana.

He assured that no stone would be left unturned, but could not give a direct response as

The end of an era

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn

to if a reduction would be implemented.

In the letter to the minister, Harmon said the cut in the tax is proposed in light of the recent steep increase in the cost of airline tickets for travel to and from Guyana, and the claim by airline services that the increases are unavoidable.

No stone unturned

He believes the tax reduction is the only rational and practical move to relieve passengers of the burden of paying the hefty fares.

Harmon stated that it was his hope that government would seriously consider his recommendation and act swiftly upon it.

Later in a release, APNU said it is appealing on the government to take all proactive measures within its control to lower the cost of air travel to and from Guyana.

The party said since a roundtrip economy class ticket from Guyana to the United States of America now costs over US$ 1100 and the government of Guyana gets 15 per cent of the base fare plus a departure tax of Gy$ 4000, APNU is of the opinion that such a steep rise in the cost of international air travel must be addressed immediately.

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali had recently opposed the increases in airfare ticket prices by Caribbean Airlines, accusing the regional carrier of attempting to rake in profits owing to the high demand in the Guyana market.

He does not believe the taxes pose the problem, but rather the amount of seats available to level out the demand and supply from Guyana’s end.

W

By Anu Dev

e’re done. High school days are officially over. There’s no turning back the clock.

Trust me – I tried.

Even though I still fit perfectly into my third form tunic, I was still stuck in 2013 instead of being teleported back to 2009.

I’ve had the best seven years of my life at Queens College. It’s just been two days since my last day ever at Queens and already the past seven years are being bathed in that warm, nostalgic glow. I always assumed that I’d have to be at least 70 before I started to fondly reminisce about math classes.

So far, the thing that’s hitting me the hardest about this whole ‘being done with school’ thing is that ever so often I would see something interesting or hear a funny joke and I would think, “ I have GOT to tell _______ or ____________ about ________ when I see them next week.”

And then I realise that there’s no next week, no more seeing those exact same people every weekday. At the end of the summer we’ll be off to university, some of us will be flung to various corners of the world, separated.

When I was in first form it seemed like I had forever at QC. Seven years seemed like ages.

Time seemed infinite.

But we graduated the Friday before last, and it’s traditional for the graduating class to do a musical item as a group. So in the week or so before graduation, we had another chance to pull together as a group to select a song, to plan rehearsals, and basically to do the things we’ve always been doing at QC. With so many of our clubs, with our student-run activities, programmes and shows, we’re pretty familiar with the whole concept of organising ourselves to do a cultural item.

So with the leadership and organisational skills we’ve learnt from our years at Queens along with all of the textbook knowledge, I’m sure we’re ready to take on the next stage of our lives.

We formed special bonds – beyond the ‘old school tie’ – bonds that I am sure will last our lifetimes. And now we’ll soon be the adults that you see in the bank or at a bookstore. We’ll look at the tie of any QC student that we see and try to identify their House and attempt to strike up a conversation about what Queens used to be like in our days.

We’ll most likely still keep up with what’s going on at QC on some level, even if it’s just to celebrate Queens doing well at CSEC or CAPE. We have collected our certificates, we have signed our uniforms, and we have sung our school song for the final time. It is now time for the next chapter of the rest of our lives.

Fideles Ubique Utiles.

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times International, Industrial Site Ruimveldt Georgetown, Guyana or guyanatimesint@gmail.com

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Very proud of the way Guyanese immigrants celebrated America’s independence

Dear Editor, Guyanese Americans joined in celebrating America’s independence from Britain on July 4 -an event that occurred on this day in 1776. With the holiday falling on a Thursday, many people, including Guyanese Americans, took the Friday off for an extended weekend, spending it as a mini-vacation.

Many travelled with families with the holiday period considered one of the busiest in the year.

Although people had fun for the period, the meaning of the day should not be lost during the celebrations at beaches, resorts and places of entertainment.

July 4 is not just a holiday to have a great time, but to also reflect on its significance.

On July 4, some 237

years ago, the 13 British colonies in America united with one another and declared that they had broken away from Mother England and formed their own nation – the colonies would no longer be under foreign subjugation – calling their nation the United States of America.

The celebration is not only about the declaration of independence, but also the limits on powers placed on the government whose purpose is to “secure” peoples’ rights.

The role of government is to protect people so that they can enjoy their rights.

As others have pointed out, the declaration outlines the principles of the government – the rights of the individual come first. The very legitimacy of government

has depended on how well it truly has safeguarded the rights of the individual. Government has limited power and people have a right to remove their government.

The peoples’ rights cannot be taken away or curtailed.

The declaration of independence paved the way for millions, including some half a million Guyanese people, who came much later than other immigrant groups, to come and settle in the U.S. to experience the American dream. Many other territories also used the American independence to struggle for their own independence.

On Independence Day, Americans of all backgrounds, especially Guyanese nationals, demonstrate patriotism by hoisting the flag

and partaking in traditional festivities, joining the annual parade and watching fireworks or having their own fireworks.

The Declaration of Independence has proclaimed the rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” – all of which pertain to the individual, specifically to an individual’s freedom of action and movement and the right to choose a government. It means that every individual has a right to his own independent life and that one’s life belongs to oneself, not to others, such as dictatorial politicians, to use as they see fit as happened under the dictatorship in Guyana.

Coming as immigrants, Guyanese Americans show their pride in the new nation

they call home by participating in activities relating to nationalism, cheering the nation in battle and being part of the American state.

For Guyanese Americans, July 4 has meant opportunities to lead a more prosperous life, to acquire freedom and to get an opportunity to pursue one’s goals, with limited inhibitions, and to realize dreams – a car, home and higher education, among others – that were virtually impossible in one’s homeland.

It is not surprising, therefore, that every Guyanese and Caribbean immigrant is glad and grateful to come to America. But it is essential that people think of what it means to live in America and to live responsibly.

For many, especially those who immigrate from former dictatorships, like Forbes Burnham’s Guyana, July 4 has given people a taste of freedom and to own material possessions unimaginable in their native lands at one time.

Everything, therefore, should be done to cherish and to protect this freedom.

July 4 is a patriotic day and it is heartening to see so many Guyanese and Caribbean people being absorbed into the celebration. It is a day people fly the American flag and think about their country, not forgetting what happened to them during the 28 years of dictatorship under the People’s National Congress (PNC).

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Guyana’s success in mining must be highlighted Dear Editor, Guyana has scored well in sustainable mining and it is very noteworthy to grasp the reality here. It is that Guyana fared well even though the country has the largest extractive sector in relation to production and people when compared with Suriname and French Guiana. It really feels good to me that Guyana is on record as having the least impact, among the three countries, on forest degradation and potential for pollution.

Guyana has come a far way indeed. What is important is that the evaluation came from a team of technical experts from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). This is a very august body and is

the world’s largest independent conservation organisation, with over five million supporters worldwide working in more than 100 countries and supporting around 1300 conservation and environmental projects.

So this commendation must not be taken lightly, but at the same time, it also must not make stakeholders too comfortable and complacent.

Currently, government has started to work in the areas of regulation and innovation, in terms of introducing new technology to ensure that all activities related to the traditional extractive industries are accomplished in a sustainable manner. Such thinking is not exclusive to the mining sector, but

spills over to agriculture as well, where there is an ongoing re-examining of the types of techniques used in cultivation, in keeping with its green growth trajectory.

Now, as far as I am seeing it, Guyana is going through a foundational and stabilisation phase. There is a lot in the offing when this platform is solid, but it is important to be patient and consistent.

In the words of the subject minister, once Guyana can deal with the issue of clean, reliable and cheap power, it would then be able to become a contributor to the manufacturing and production of green goods and services. This will no doubt result in significant economic benefits.

HIV testing should be mandated

Dear Editor, The Annual Scotiabank Regional HIV Testing Week was held recently through its Bright Future Programme, and I am glad that this HIV campaign and awareness emphasis is not diminishing. I think that HIV tests must be mandated at regular intervals and for about as many people as possible.

HIV/ AIDS is still a very serious health issue. Urgent measures should always be undertaken to arrest any bad situation long before it gets out of hand.

I refer readers to a study in Dominica conducted by the U. S.

National Institute of Health that tried to untangle the complex relationship among tourism environments, alcohol consumption, and HIV risk.

The research highlighted that the tourism industry in general promotes alcohol consumption, including binge drinking, among both tourists and locals who live and work in tourist environments.

Businesses realise that sex draws clients to consumption locations, even if those locations aren’t officially prostitution sites. Tourists want to meet locals who are potentially available for sexual interactions. This

synergy between the sex economy and the alcohol economy is a factor in the spread of HIV. I advocate therefore that Guyana be committed to allowing HIV-prevention measures to be implemented in tourist environments.

In Dominica, some policymakers mentioned the fragility of the tourism industry and the need to safeguard it by downplaying the threat of HIV. So far our tourism sector is doing well, gathering momentum all the time. All we need to do is to make sure that all the good work we have done thus far does not come to nothing.

Yours respectfully, Janice Hinds

Much work is also going on through the Office of the Climate Change and other entities responsible for the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

Guyana has to find ways

to re-invent this strategy and ensure that it is consistent with global realities and responsive to national needs.

It is a tricky balance – the old adage is that one cannot have his cake

and eat it. However, that is really what sustainable mining is and what is also the challenge facing the country.

Yours respectfully, Kenneth Joseph

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U. S. discusses support for Countdown to PPP’s Guyana’s environmental sector 30th congress

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Natural Resources and Environment Ministry Technical Officer (Environment) Ndibi Schwiers; U.S. Embassy Economic and Commercial Officer Jeffrey S Barrus; Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud; U.S. Environmental Representative Alain Norman; and Natural Resources and Environment Ministry Policy Planning and Coordination Unit head Veetal Rajkumar

atural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud on Monday met with U. S. Environmental Representative Alain Norman and U. S. Embassy Economic and Commercial Officer Jeffrey S Barrus to explore the possibilities of American support for Guyana’s environmental sector.

The meeting explored the possibilities of support in the areas of technical assistance and environmental science.

More specifically, there were several thematic areas that the minister and the U. S. representative discussed such

as clean energy, and the management of waste, water, and protected areas.

Norman was very enthusiastic to learn about the progress Guyana has made in these areas. As such, the natural resources and environment minister highlighted initiatives, policies, and plans that the ministry has been recently involved in for the management of the environmental sector.

However, the minister indicated that there is a strong need to enhance capacity building in environmental management and the natural resources sector.

He also spoke of the importance of technology transfer for maximising recovery in the mining sector, mercury-free technology, and resource conversion.

Alain made reference to clean energy projects that Costa Rica has embarked upon while the minister alluded to the benefits that Guyana intends to receive from the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

Minister Persaud also pointed out that the Low Carbon Development Strategy is Guyana’s overarching national plan to promote economic growth and combat climate change, given the

fact that more than 85 per cent of the country is covered in state forest. He identified that an area of interest is converting waste to energy technology using municipal solid waste, a challenged faced by the Georgetown municipality.

Minister Persaud took the opportunity to report on the progress that has been made to reduce the use of plastic and Styrofoam at the parliamentary level.

Alain indicated that there are companies in Costa Rica that are interested in bio thermal energy and he was willing to make recommendations for the companies to consider Guyana.

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) National Congress Committee Chairman Clement Rohee said final arrangements are being made to host the party’s 30th congress. The congress, he said, will help shape the future of the party and allow members to critique the work of its leaders, in efforts to improve the party’s overall standing. Rohee noted that groups are meeting and fulfilling the constitutional criteria for the selection of delegates and observers.

According to him, members from various constituencies across the country will be allowed to send resolutions on localised or national issues.

The groups, he noted, are also authorised to suggest amendments to the party’s constitution and programme. Rohee further stated that the National Congress Committee, as well as all subcommittees that were established, including the Local Congress Committee, has been meeting regularly.

Groups have also sent in several nominations for the leadership position, but thus far no names have been revealed. PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha said while he will be receiving the nominations, the credentials committee will process them to ensure that those nominated meet the requirements.

He added that the process by which the PPP holds its congress is one no other party has ever practised and emphasised that it is purely democratic.

The congress will be honouring all comrades who have died including Presidents Dr Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan.

Awards will also be presented to those who have served the party for more than 25 years. The party said it will also invite one of its founding members, Ashton Chase, to the congress.

The PPP congress will be held from August 2 to 4, at JC Chandisingh Secondary School, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice. The theme for the congress is: “Strengthen the Party, Build Unity; Advance Democracy”.

Amidst suspicion... Family desperate to return dead... ily did not hear from Molar, again, until last Monday, when he contacted one of her daughters, Angelina Holligan, who resides in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown and informed that the nurse had passed away some three days prior to his call.

Call abruptly ended

Scipio said, upon Holligan enquiring why the call was only being made three days after the death, Molar abruptly ended the conversation, after he had taken the number for his mother-in-law.

Molar contacted Scipio, once more, on Monday, requesting the same amount of money as he did from her exhusband. She said the Nigerian did not seem concerned with relating the cause of her daughter’s demise or any other information she tried to get from him. He only hinted that her body was at the mortuary of a hospital in India and she slammed down the telephone receiver as the man disconnected the

call.

Scipio said, before her daughter’s death, she was only allowed to speak to her once per month and, every time she had to talk to the husband, then she was allowed to do so.

She said Molar, who married her daughter in India in 2011, had ensured that he hooked up his wife’s phone to his, making sure he, too, received all her calls and messages.

She said that, throughout the marriage, there always seemed to be some secrecy about the whole affair and this was created by the Nigerian husband.

Facebook message

In desperation the Guyanese family approached the Indian High Commission in Georgetown and, following a Facebook message sent to the nurse’s sister by Molar, the First Secretary was able to contact the hospital in India, where the sibling passed away.

Scipio said it was through this medium

from page 7

that they learnt the body was at the hospital mortuary and the ultimatum given for its removal.

Scipio disclosed that the Indian High Commission is willing to give her a visa but she is unable to come up with the cash for airfare and the cost of transporting the body back to Guyana.

The family has also learnt that the deceased was hospitalised at both the SAFI and NAIR hospitals in India two months ahead of her death.

Reports from the NAIR Hospital, where the woman, allegedly, succumbed, indicates that she was taken there by four Nigerians and admitted under the name Lucinda Aiating Nichols, not the one on her passport or identification card.

She died at the institution on July 5 at around midday. Persons interested in making donations can contact the family on telephone numbers: 592-225-4566/ 694-3729.

(Guyana Chronicle)

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“I'm devastated”

- says father of Guyanese-born U.S. soldier killed in Afghanistan dedication and selfless service, each and every day, they risked their lives in the fulfillment of their missions.”

On a positive note of reassurance, she concluded: “I want Pfc. Milliard's family to know that our comrade, Errol, made a positive difference daily; that we value his service and ultimate sacrifice and that we will never forget him or his family."

A memorial ceremony honouring Milliard is being coordinated in the U.S., the Kelsey Stein news report said, adding that arrangements are in

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Evan Gibson, father of Pvt. Errol Milliard

ELATIVES of Private Errol ‘Elijah’ Duran Aster Milliard, 18, a United States (U.S.) Army combat engineer, have reported that the Guyanese-born man was killed in Afghanistan on July 4th.

Milliard, of Guyanese and Jamaican parentage, died when his unit was attacked with a rocket-propelled grenade, in the city of Shewan, Farah Province, according to the U.S. Department of Defence.

It had been his first deployment, said a Kelsey Stein news story that appeared in the Alabama Times of July 6.

Milliard is survived by his parents, Zuwena Milliard of the U.S. and Evan Gibson of Guyana, grandparents Claudette and Walter Payne, both also of Guyanese birth and residing in the U.S. and other relations.

A 2012 graduate of the Carver High School, Alabama, Milliard, ever since he was a child, had a yearning to join the U.S. Army, where he looked forward to serving that country with pride, his father Evan said.

Active duty

Soon after graduating, he was drafted into active duty in 2012 and that, for him, marked the beginning of a fulfilling, though short-lived career in the military.

Milliard was, initially, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, where he graduated with 18 others.

In February, he was deployed from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico as part

of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was assigned to the 595th Sapper Company, 2nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade.

A decorated young soldier, who applied himself with diligence, he derived the satisfaction of serving with distinction and making his family proud.

In recognition of his selfless and exemplary service, Milliard was, posthumously, promoted from PV2 to Private First Class and awarded the Bronze Star medal, the Purple Heart and the Good Conduct Medal.

His other awards and decorations include Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary, NATO Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

His relatives, speaking by telephone said that they gratefully acknowledged the words of sympathy and other kind sentiments expressed

by White Sands Missile Range Commander, Brigadier General Gwen Bingham following Milliard’s death.

The Alabama News quoted the Military Commander as having requested prayers for Milliard's family and the 2nd Engineer leaders, soldiers and families as they cope with his death.

Deeply saddened

Said Bingham: “We are deeply saddened and hurt by the loss of Pfc. Milliard. Without a doubt, we owe him and all of our brave men and women a deep debt of gratitude for their outstanding commitment,

train for the interment of his body there, as well.

Meanwhile, Milliard’s father, Gibson, who is, currently, working in Guyana’s gold mining interior, is devastated but hopes to be able to make it back to the U.S. for his son’s funeral. Trying to be strong, he painfully recalled how he learnt about the death.

“It was the 4th of July and, as is customary for us, we greet each other on that day. So, I called up my mom’s home in New York and extended greetings for the family and my son.

“She wasn’t there and from the tone of my stepfather’s voice, I realised something horrible had to have happened. My stepfather then explained that they were trying to get me earlier but could not reach into the gold mining interior. He broke the news to me and I really can’t recall what happened after that…” Gibson said.

He and his son had spent their last moments together in 2010, when the former was seriously ill and hospitalised in Guyana. Errol had travelled to Guyana to visit him, fell in love with the

place and planned on returning this Christmas to spend some quality time.

But, pathetically, that plan cannot now materialise.

“Once in the army, my son and I kept contact and I prayed for him, asking that he would come home safely and longing for us to be together this Christmas. I longed for the day when he would get married and have at least one child and I would cherish him/her forever. But right now, it seems my world is caving in…,” the man said forlornly.

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Ramotar urges political will to achieve regional food security

Visionary thinking... ... in housing he building boom on the coast is fulfilling a lot of dreams. For a society that began with most of its people forced to live in hovels – “the yards” and “bound quarters” – owning your own home is more than having a “shelter”. It’s the opportunity to live with a modicum of dignity in your own “castle”. But for too long that had been just a hope and a wish.

Back in 1972 the then government – with the best of intentions we’re sure – launched a five year “feed, house and clothe” the nation project. But for a host of reasons, which will not detain us today, housing for the “small man” became an even more distant dream. The poor fella had to worry about starvation and nakedness.

But no matter what its detractors may say, they cannot deny that the present People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) government has made a remarkable turnaround in the housing sector. Starting from the regularisation of squatting area ghettoes, the allocation of cheap lots with drainage, water and electricity followed – in that order.

After all, even God took seven days to create a home for mankind! But in the last couple of years, the government has ratcheted up its aspirations and performance in housing to unbelievable levels, considering from whence it began. It plunged into partnerships with developers to offer cheap but comfortable houses – first for the lower income earners, then middle incomers, and finally, earlier this year – “young professionals”. To facilitate all this activity, banks were offered incentives by the government – in tandem with international financial institutions – to give mortgages at historic low rates.

One interesting innovation that earned accolades is the annual housing expo that became internationalised this year. In addition, to allowing developers and hardware suppliers to showcase their wares, it helped to educate house buyers as to what was available and possible. But this year, was special for another reason: the proposal for a housing area in our “hilly sand and clay belt” – Silica City.

For years, we’ve been warned that our “below the sea level” coast is threatened by rising seas due to global warming. The solution didn’t need rocket science thinking: move to higher ground. The problem was: who would bell the cat, so to speak. Well, following the lead of a private developer at Madewini, the government-sponsored Silica City on the Linden highway will lead the way to the higher ground. Hats off to the government! ... …in climate mitigation But while the government is performing yeoman service to begin the process of moving our population out of the oncoming “harm’s way”, it must be recognised that it will it be a Herculean task for a struggling country to accomplish. Huge funding needs will have to be satisfied to make such a venture viable.

And we’re not just talking about the infrastructural needs for the settlement. We’re talking about the need to generate employment opportunities for those pioneers who will make the trek to Silica City. The settlements at Linden showed us that unless people have jobs, inland settlements will remain a chimera.

Fortunately for us there’s hope. The United Nations (UN) already has established a climate mitigation scheme that we should be able to tap into. There should be a comprehensive plan drafted for Silica City to make it into a self-sustaining community and this should be the basis of Guyana applying for funds from the UN facility.

Our own former President Bharrat Jagdeo offers another route to funding. ... by Commonwealth He’s now head of a Commonwealth Expert Group on Climate Finance, which met last week to identify solutions for unlocking resources to enable small, poor and climate- vulnerable Commonwealth countries to combat climate change. He specifically mentioned the need “to identify financing at a scale that matches the problem” and to deploy such funds.

All Guyana should root for him to succeed in his enlightened advocacy.

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President Donald Ramotar in discussion with Professor Clement Sankat of the University of the West Indies at a forum held at the Crowne Plaza hotel, Port of Spain. Also in photo are Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and Public Works Minister Robeson Benn

u y a n a ’ s President, Donald Ramotar has issued a call for political, entrepreneurial, and popular will to achieve food security in the Caribbean region, noting that food security, as a primary policy objective for the region, must be embraced by all stakeholders.

The president emphasised the need for “a binding political undertaking by decision-makers at the highest level, both regionally and within individual national jurisdictions that regional food security is an objective to be pursued with single minded zeal.

In addition, the region’s private sector must also be recruited to the view that food security is good for regional business as an end in its own right, and for the other indirect economic advantages that it will bring to the regional economy more widely.”

Agricultural production

The head of state, speaking at a forum hosted by the University of the West Indies, and held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Trinidad urged that agricultural production and food security should not be allowed to remain the exclusive preserve of agricultural scientists and economists.

While in the country to participate in the 34th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean, President Ramotar was invited to address the event on food security, a topic that is very important to Guyana.

“Ours has long been an economy with a significant agricultural component, indeed for many years our productive output was dominated by the agriculture sector. In addition, with the quasi-cabinet structure of Caricom, Guyana holds responsi-

bility for agriculture and my predecessor was the architect of the initiative now known as the Jagdeo Initiative for accelerating development in the agriculture sector of the region,” President Ramotar stated.

He noted also that there are few areas that are ripe with opportunities for regional integration to be accelerated, and for the benefits of regional integration to be demonstrated in agriculture and food production.

Referring to the estimated regional food import bill of between US$ 3 billion and US$ 5 billion, the president explained that this represents $ 3 billion worth of business opportunity for Caribbean producers.

“Were the region able to meet this requirement through domestic production, this would represent billions of dollars of investment in our region, tens of thousands of jobs for Caribbean

people, hundreds of growing and increasingly profitable Caribbean business enterprises, billions of dollars of avoided imports every year, therefore improving our external balances,” he explained.

Labour resources

Pointing out that Guyana has hundreds of thousands of acres of arable land waiting to be put under cultivation; President Ramotar observed that Guyana and many other Caricom countries have unutilised and under-utilised labour resources, especially if the story of youth unemployment in the region is to be believed.

President Ramotar also urged the promotion and facilitation of large scale private investment in agricultural enterprises as he cited the Rupununi Rice Project being invested in by the Kyffin Simpson group and agricultural investments by ANSA McAL group in Guyana.

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Guyana optimistic about HIV fight

Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud

By Svetlana Marshall

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s some international donors prepare to withdraw or reduce their financial support for AIDS programmes in the Caribbean, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Shamdeo Persaud said the Health Ministry will depend heavily on the National Assembly to approve funds to keep afloat critical HIV/ AIDS programmes in Guyana.

The United States President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) is currently in its transitional stage, Dr Persaud said in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International. PEPFAR is designed to preserve the lives of persons suffering from HIV/ AIDS across the globe, with special emphasis on improving the health of women and children.

In Guyana, the programme has made an important shift from direct service delivery to capacity building in its strategic approach.

Reduced budget

While PEPFAR is still operational in the country, it is running on a reduced budget as it transitions from a U.

S.-run programme to a Guyana-led initiative.

Guyana is grateful for the gigantic steps made in the fight against HIV/ AIDS through the U. S. based programme.

With funding from PEPFAR, Guyana and the U. S. embarked on the Guyana HIV/ AIDS Reduction and Prevention (GHARP) project in 2003 through USAID. GHARP was strategically designed to reduce the spread of the HIV/ AIDS through comprehensive prevention and care programmes, and simultaneously equip health professionals with the requisite skills and tools needed to combat the disease.

Additionally, with GHARP came the implementation of voluntary rganizati and testing (VCT); thereby reaching the needs of persons living in hard-to-reach communities.

More than 70,000 people in Guyana received HIV rganizati and testing through the GHARP initiative.

“Under PEPFAR, we were really able to move our programme for treatment especially, from just a few persons to almost everyone. Now anyone who needs antiretroviral can access it free in Guyana, even if they decide to go to the private hospital,” said the CMO. He explained that under the donor-funded programme, teams from the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) were dispatched to outlying regions to offer their services. “But over the years what we have done, through a mentorship programme we have gone in to training local staff, doctors, nurses, community health workers

Work on East Bank ... said that this aspect is expected to be completed in the first half of 2014.

In terms of Lot 2, the progress is about 38 percent completed. This aspect of the road-expansion is where Gaico is constructing a new carriageway in the cane fields on the eastern side of the East Bank road.

Rahaman said that carriage is about 70 percent completed. “The contractor has finished placing the sub-base material.

He is currently putting preparation in place to come up with base material-which is the cement stabilise base. He has also started the construction of two rein-

from page 8

forced concrete bridges, and once those bridges are completed we expect to see the eastern carriage-way asphalted before the end of this year.”

Meanwhile, he admitted that BK International’s work in Lot 3 has been significantly delayed by utilities issue and that the progress of work is just about 15 percent completed. Rahaman said however that, “the contractor has completed all of the excavation, completed putting white sand filling in about 80 percent of the excavation area, and has now started the placement of the sub-base material.”

within many of the regions, right now they are the ones who are taking over the management of many of the cases.”

He added, “The laboratory capacity was enormously enhanced.

PEPFAR helped Guyana in building the National Public Health Reference Laboratory at GPHC [Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation].”

Due to the current transition, the day-today operations of the National Public Health Reference Laboratory now fall under the ambit of the Health Ministry.

With the launch of GHARP II in 2009, the focus shifted to risk reduction. In the area of risk prevention, Dr Persaud said the Health Ministry continues to improve its efficiency in the area of prevention.

He explained that the ministry will continue the push to prevent mother-to-child transition and simultaneously promote its Safe Injection Programme and responsible sexual activity. He noted that the prevention of mother-to-child transition remains high on the ministry’s agenda to ensure that unborn babies are not infected by their mothers.

Right procedures

“So you have to test, retest, ensure that the right procedures are in place, correct treatments are given at the right time, ensure that the delivery process is done in such a way that the child is not exposed,” the CMO explained.

He added that the ministry continues to

work with health professionals in particular to prevent the transmission of HIV through blood, blood products, and injections.

However, Dr Persaud said there are indications that the Health Ministry will receive

funding from the Global Fund. The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO); the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF); Clinton Foundation; and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) continue to offer techni-

cal and financial support.

The Canadian I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development Agency (CIDA) is also among international rganizations that have offered financial support for Guyana’s fight against HIV/ AIDS.

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Guyana to ratify ILO domestic work convention by monthend – Dr Gopaul

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embers of the Caribbean W o r k e r s Network Steering Committee have left Guyana optimistic that the country will be the first in the Caribbean to ratify the International

Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Convention, Number 189, to protect domestic workers.

According to a ministry release, representatives of the six-country network were in Guyana for their annual planning

meeting, and on Monday paid a courtesy call on Labour Minister Dr Nanda Kishore Gopaul before departing.

Important convention

The minister told the group, which included an ILO representative-

Jamaican representative on the network, Shirley Pryce meets Labour Minister Dr Nanda K Gopaul

Paula Robinson and representatives of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda, that the instruments of ratification should be at the ILO by this monthend.

The group congratulated the minister, in anticipation that Guyana will be the first Caribbean country to ratify this important convention.

Ratification of this convention will create the basis for decent work

for persons who are employed as household service workers, and ensure that the rights of these workers are not violated.

The network also commended government for enacting a National Minimum Wage and a 40-hour work week for both private and public sector employees, which came into effect on July 1. Minister Gopaul reiterated government’s commitment to implementing the Decent Work Country

Programme and ensuring that conditions of work are safe and healthy for all categories of workers.

The network, comprising members of Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda, has launched a campaign to encourage signatories to the convention.

Guyana is represented on the Steering Committee by Joycelyn Bacchus, secretary of Red Thread. On May 31, they presented a petition with more than 3069 signatures to the minister of labour in support of a call for Caricom governments to support domestic workers in their search for a better life, through the ratification of the ILO Convention Number 189.

Minister Gopaul assured the group that the government is committed to ratifying Convention Number 189, as was indicated by President Donald Ramotar in his address to the nation on the occasion of Guyana’s Independence Anniversary on May 26.

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Scenes from 2013 International Building Expo in Guyana Visitors observe some of the model houses on display at the building expo

A model of one of the houses being offered by the Housing Ministry as part of the Young Professionals housing scheme

The BK International Group of Companies booth

The Home Decor booth at the building expo

Staff of Demerara Bank Limited attend to potential customers

Products on display by National Hardware Limited

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Govt says U. S. TIP Manickchand calls for partnership to improve report riddled with... performance of students

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d u c a t i o n Minister Priya Manickchand said for Guyana’s children to be able to live enhanced lives, a sturdy partnership among the government, the ministry, teachers, parents, students and the community is required. The minister made the remarks during an address to hundreds of Region Two teachers last Saturday.

Manickchand was accompanied by Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, Permanent Secretary Delma Nedd, Assistant Chief Education Officer (Primary) Marcel Hudson and School Board Secretariat Coordinator Melcita Bovell. Regional Chairman Parmanand Persaud, outgoing Regional Education Officer Leslyn Charles and other regional officers were also present.

Region Two in 2012 produced Sarah Hack, the country’s top student at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. Not only did the 16-year-old top

A teacher raising her concerns at the meeting with Education Minister Priya Manickchand

her country, she also secured the top spot in the Caribbean. Hack attended the Abram Zuil Secondary School on the Essequibo Coast.

Improving consistently

Over the last three years, the region’s CSEC performance has been improving consistently and this can be attributed to the fact that on the Essequibo Coast, 78 per cent of teachers are trained.

Also, there are 40

teachers attending the University of Guyana (UG). With regard to the riverine teachers, they are second to the Essequibo Coast for upgrades prior to moving on to the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).

“Guyana has been taking the lead in many areas… we help to contribute to saving the world by not cutting down our trees while at the same time we are

putting food on our tables… we have a big contribution to make and the only place we could really make it is through the education system,” Minister Manickchand told the large gathering.

The education minister also spoke to the teachers about the distribution of the uniform vouchers, exercise and text books and the school feeding programme (juice and biscuit).

She acknowledged that while the government is making these investments, it is important that a good relationship be had between the Education Ministry and parents.

Good parents

“A good parent does not have to have millions in the bank account… a good parent has to understand that they have to be supportive,” the minister emphasised.

She also spoke about the policy regarding automatic promotion which will be revised with effect from September. Other issues included the new age for entrance into nursery school, graduation fees and payments for test papers, hotline numbers introduced to provide rapid response to concerns and, by extension, provide a direct line of communication between the ministry and the public.

en and children through its own “Combating Trafficking in Persons Act, Number Two of 2005”.

Guyana, as a sovereign nation, is not a signatory of the United States’ Trafficking Victims Protection Act; consequently, is not required to follow that act.

Additionally, on the issue of governments failure to demonstrate evidence of increasing efforts to hold trafficking offenders accountable with jail time over the previous reporting period, the task force reiterated that it has told the U. S. government on numerous occasions that it has no control over the judiciary and the magistracy.

Further, the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) Chambers is a public office whose independence is preserved in the Constitution.

“The long established practice has been that the Guyana Police Force investigates and submits the case files to the DPP and the DPP in turn would advise on whether charges are to be laid or not or if the matter should be tried summarily.

“The decision to convict or not is one exclusively for the courts. The government of Guyana does not hold persons accountable with jail time, the court does. The tangible role for government

is to ensure that the relevant legislation is in place and in this regard, it has passed a very comprehensive Trafficking in Persons Act.” In response to another point in the U. S. report that “The government… reported the initiation of seven sex trafficking prosecutions.

It was unclear if the one prosecution documented in the previous reporting period was included in this figure.”

The task force said as far as the government of Guyana is concerned each of the seven sex trafficking prosecutions that took place during the reporting period are reflected in the report.

The one prosecution documented in the previous reporting period was not included.

Again, the U. S. report states: “The great majority of prosecutions initiated in other reporting periods were dismissed when the prosecutors were unable to proceed, usually because witnesses declined to testify.” “The government of Guyana is aware that it is not uncommon throughout the world for witnesses to decline to testify. Prospective witnesses cannot be forced to testify. Guyana is not unique in this respect. It is an individual’s right to be able to decide whether or not he/ she wants to testify in a court case,” the task force added.

feature

Annalisa Bahadur

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ormer television journalist and founder of Janagems, Annalisa Bahadur, has launched her own line of jewellery for women and children.

Last weekend, Annalisa participated in GuyExpo New York, where she displayed her handy creations and interacted with the Guyanese community.

The jeweller’s work is strongly influenced by nature.

Having been born and raised in a country rich with raw, beautiful nature, Annalisa is woven into a life bursting with nature’s beauty, evident in her one-of-a-kind designs. Infused in each hand-crafted piece is the colours of the Caribbean, its tropical paradise, and its unique fusion of colourful culture.

“These are one of a kind pieces that are unique since no piece

is duplicated,” explains Annalisa, adding: “When you own a Janagems piece, you are guaranteed that it is as unique as you are.”

Annalisa’s creativity is a staple of her entire career, from co-hosting the Good Morning Guyana and parenting programmes, to writing media reports and anchoring at the National Communication Network.

Miss Guyana World 2012, Arti Cameron is a frequent user of Janagems and has worn Annalisa’s creations on multiple occasions in Guyana and on her many international travels. “I am always honoured to have Arti wear my pieces,” said Annalisa.“They complement each other with their unique vibrancy and character.”

Using precious stones, clay or other or-

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Guyanese launches jewellery line for women, children at GuyExpo in NY ganic material, each of Annalisa’s pieces is carefully and intricately designed and created in her humble uptown Manhattan workshop overlooking parts of the city.

“Every person deserves a piece of jewellery that is unique to them. Everyone has a creative side that is often not explored, and so through my creations, I allow my clients to work with me to create jewellery specific to their personality and taste,” she explains.

Annalisa’s decision to participate in GuyExpo New York was her effort to share her love for jewellery design with her homeland in mind. She has been working with local businesses and is excited by the response so far. She is currently working on her male collection which she aims to unveil by Fall. Besides her knack for creativity, Annalisa has a spirit of charity.

She has been a participant of many cancer and HIV/ AIDS walks and cancer telethons, both locally and abroad. Annalisa,

through Janagems, recently teamed up with West Indians Serving Humanity (WISH) and is now a supporting partner.

WISH aims to help underprivileged children and families around the

world through charitable donations. A Facebook group, Guyanese Young Entrepreneurs, created to bring young entrepreneurs together to support each other, is the latest brainchild of Annalisa.

The group has already

attracted over seven hundred active members, in the space of two months! Annalisa’s artwork can be seen at her website at www.janagems.com as well as her Facebook page, search Janagems.

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Guyana is the place of many investment opportunities – Private Sector head

P

rivate Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ronald Webster said Guyana is blooming with investment opportunities and must immediately begin finding creative ways to market itself. Webster, who was addressing the gathering at the recently-held investment seminar, listed some of the strategies to strengthen Guyana’s investment potential, including the development of the Guyana-Brazil road and trade links with South America.

He noted that Guyana must build a strong trading relationship with adjacent markets, tap its hydropower potential and export energy, as well as develop a strong nature tourism industry, with supporting infrastructure.

Tax reform

Guyanese must embrace the development of the country as an air services hub and a base

for oil and gas and shipping support services, Webster said. He pointed to the crucial need for tax reform and simplification and the promotion of a quality tertiary education system as part of a tourism drive.

The PCS chairman hinted that encouraging local and foreign companies to become listed on the local stock exchange, and encouraging familyowned businesses to go public through the employment of professional management are positive steps.

Economic strength

Webster said in order to attract investment, Guyana must promote and encourage value-added industries and broaden the economic base. Pointing out Guyana’s strengths, Webster said the country has recorded seven years of consecutive growth and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted similar

growth rates for 2013 and 2014.

Guyana has also managed to sustain its exchange, inflation, and interest rates which have resulted in an exponential increase in commercial lending, a manageable debt-to- Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio, and healthy international reserves.

Webster said continued focus must be placed on prudent fiscal management in order to promote a rich nature tourism product, agricultural opportunities, and exploration of untapped mineral resources and renewable energy sources, such as hydro, solar and biomass.

According to Webster, the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and joint government and private sector focus on improving national competitiveness have seen success on several fronts as Guyana utilises its forest potential.

PSC Chairman Ronald Webster

Preferential access

He underscored that Guyana stands to benefit from its favourable access to export markets owing to the number of preferential agreements with neighbouring countries. “Two key considerations of any serious investor, or any CEO for that matter, are having the right number of people in the right place at the right time and ensuring that the quality of those people is suited to their roles and responsibilities,” Webster said.

He stated that Guyana’s demographics are crucial considerations for both domestic and foreign investors.

Webster stressed on the youthfulness of the population with a median age of 24.2, which is 26 per cent lower than its neighbours’, and a literacy rate of 92 per cent, which is still better than adjacent countries.

“Regrettably, the population growth rate until recently has been negative, not due to low birth rates which are slightly above the regional average, or abnormal mortality rates, but due to migration, which is much higher than the rest of the region,” the PSC executive remarked.

He added that due to a strong, cultivated work ethic, Guyanese have little difficulty finding employment anywhere in the world. However, the rate of migration, although still high, has begun to slow due to increased domestic eco-

nomic activity.

“But probably the greatest impact has come from the new housing programmes supported by home purchase mortgages from the commercial banks that have enabled young married couples to acquire their own assets and establish an independent base – an important facet of the new Guyana psyche,” Webster said.

Investment opportunities

“Guyana is the place of investment opportunities. The risks are manageable and the weaknesses are being corrected. In many instances, Foreign Direct Investment is needed to turn the opportunities into reality. The Private Sector Commission strongly supports and encourages Domestic and Foreign Investment that will result in job creation and positive longterm economic growth and development,” he said.

GT& T song champs talk about next steps A

fter months of intense competition in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph company (GT& T) eight edition of the Jingle and Song Competition, Ryan Hoppie and Bibi Khan were on last Friday announced the winners of the English and Bollywood segments respectively at the company’s BlackBerry headquarters, Brickdam, Georgetown.

This is the first year there was an absence of a grand finale which would normally pull the curtains on highly anticipated competition.

Just before the results were revealed, anxious contestants streamed into the venue with high expectations, and more so, they were optimistic of winning the title.

Patch of surprise

However, at the end, it was Hoppie and Khan who both won Gy$ 1million in cash and brand new Toyota Raum motor cars to the tune of over Gy$ 2 million each. They were in all smiles with a little patch of surprise on their faces when they were announced the winners.

Also in the winner’s row for the English segment were Michael Small, Diana Chapman, Dorian Obbermuller and Natasha Yap, who were awarded with Gy$ 750,000, Gy$ 500,000, Gy$ 250,000 and Gy$

Ryan Hoppie and Bibi Khan alongside their brand new cars

150,000 respectively.

In the Bollywood segment, Andy Rambarack, Reshma Persaud, Bounty Singh and Devchandra Ramrattan also received Gy$ 750,000, Gy$ 500,000, Gy$ 250,000 and Gy$ 150,000 respectively.

The other contestants received Gy$ 50,000 each. Apart from the monetary prizes, each contestant received a BlackBerry Z10 handset.

Speaking at the historic occasion, Chief Financial Officer Justin Ned told the gathering that from the birth of the competition in 2005, the event has amassed quite a following with a recordbreaking voting and attendance at the finale.

He reiterated that GT& T is proud to give back to Guyanese through talent development. “We all have fond recollection of memora-

ble performances by talented Guyanese including Tameka Marshall, Shawn English, Cleon Cadogan, Malika Boyd, Brandon Harding, Celeste David, Rene Chester, Rene Winter, Dallas Forte, Poonam Singh, Esther Osborne, Calais Peterkin, Carlvin Burnette, Nia Allen and Gail Ann Singh,” he added. These were all competitors during the eight years of the competition’s existence.

He added that this year’s competition had more than 1400 auditions across all three counties in Guyana and had segments for Bollywood and English.

“The June 14 finale was quite simply a hit and the success was culminated by a voting frenzy right up to the closing at 23: 59h on June 29. The voters had certainly their say, amass-

ing more than 200,000 SMS votes over less than seven days – more than 1300 votes per hour,” he explained.

Cannot believe

On that note, he thanked the customers, contestants, colleagues and judges for their sup-

port during the competition.

Immediately after the announcement, an elated Hoppie told Guyana Times International that he cannot believe that he won, recalling that there were some excellent singers and performers in the competition. He explained that the best moment in the competition for him was being able to make new friends with various personalities. He recalled that when the group round started, it was really a lot of pushing and dedication but more so, hard work.

Hoppie further stated that every round had its highs and lows, but things got more heated as the competition intensified.

Now that the competition is over, he looks

forward to working with GT& T to continuously promote the company and music in general. “It will now be a team effort, as we develop young talent,” Hoppie stated.

On the other hand, Khan who was in all smile, said Friday was the happiest day of her life. “I have never been so happy…” She explained she knew she would have won the competition, noting that after her final performance, she was extremely confident.

She described her performance at the finals as solid, one that was the highlight of her musical career.

For the next year, she will be carrying the title as Guyana Star and intends to represent and showcase Guyana 100 per cent.

Contestants in the English segment pose with Ryan Hoppie

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U.S. citizen jailed for cocaine trafficking A

U.S. citizen was jailed for four years for trafficking cocaine by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Brianna Rodney, 25, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on June 3 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, she had in her possession for the purpose of trafficking 4.130 kilograms of cocaine.

The defendant, who was unrepresented in court, is a social worker who arrived on March 12 this year for her second visit to Guyana.

According to reports, she stayed at a hotel

on Sheriff Street and made a number of new acquaintances. It was through one of her newfound acquaintances, Andre Gustov, 24, that the arrangement materialised for her to take the illegal substance to the U. S. for a fee that she would receive upon arrival.

While Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) officers at the airport were scanning the luggage during the process of Rodney checking in for departure, she was observed acting strangely.

As a result, she was summoned and made to claim her suitcase for which she was asked to supply the key.

The alleged mastermind, Andre Gustov

The convicted cocaine trafficker, Brianna Rodney

The luggage was searched and the illegal substance was discovered concealed in six packets in the false bottom. Rodney was then told of the offence and arrested.

CANU Prosecutor Oswald Massiah told the court that the de-

fendant voluntarily gave details of what transpired along with a signed witness statement.

Rodney stood before the magistrate and told a rapt courtroom that she was fully aware of the situation. She explained that an oppor-

tunity was presented to her and she decided to ‘go with it’. She then apologised to the court for her actions.

Rodney explained that she lives with her mom, grandmother, great grandmother, two brothers, and her sisters who are in college, and she and her mother are the only breadwinners for the family. She then reiterated her remorse.

The chief magistrate – taking into consideration the aggravated circumstances, the seriousness of the offence, the defendant’s remorse and the fact that she took responsibility for her actions– sentenced her to four years imprisonment and a fine of

Gy$ 30,000.

The second defendant, Gustov, who is reportedly a Guyana Defence Force soldier who is Absent without Leave (AWOL), was charged separately for possession of the 4.130 kilos of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking when he appeared before the chief magistrate.

Gustov, of Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read.

Prosecutor Massiah stated that the defendant admitted to the offence in a statement. He was remanded to prison and his next court date is scheduled for July 15.

Females continue to outperform males at NGSA – chief education officer C hief Education Officer Olato Sam said that an analysis of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) has clearly suggested that females continue to outperform males in all the subject areas and in all the regions. Sam highlighted that the performance in math has improved over previous years while performance in English and science continues to fluctuate with declines in those two areas being

evident.

Meanwhile, there is consistent performance across the board and over a number of years in social studies.

“Although improvements have been noted in many regions, coastal regions continue to outperform the hinterland regions, and generally speaking when we look at this more detailed analysis, it is clear that we all (education stakeholders) need to redouble our efforts to ensure that

there is improved performance in all subject areas, but more specifically, in those key areas of English and Science that continue to fluctuate over the years,” he said.

Sam recognised that the ministry has done quite a lot with regards to the broader literacy instruction programme and the results seen in math are directly related to the introduction of the Interaction Radio Instruction (IRI) programme. “We are still

Olato Sam

looking to see a similar trend in relation to

English Language,” he added.

The chief education officer also noted that Science is an important subject and with the introduction of some new strategies such as the use of micro-science kits and better training for teachers at the primary level, performance in this subject will improve.

“Our concern with regards to regional performance has always been that we see the

hinterland regions being able to close the gap between themselves and the coastal regions… we are encouraged by what we have seen in Region Nine, where we have had the largest number of trained teachers for all the hinterland regions… it speaks to what we know to be sound educational policy and there is a correlation between the number of trained teachers and student performance,” Sam acknowledged.

16 graduate from forestry training programme T he Board of I n d u s t r i a l Training in collaboration with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has completed yet another programme for young men and women from across the country.

The ceremony held at the GFC Multiplex Building in Kingston, was not only for the graduation of this batch but also for the launch of another programme with a new batch of young Guyanese men and women.

BIT/ GFC Board of Directors Chairman Clinton Williams said it is vital for young persons who drop out of school to be given the opportunities to contribute to the national development.

“Guyana’s economic development and growth is linked to its productivity, which in turn is dependent on the country’s capacity to build and sustain a competent and efficient workforce,” he stat-

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud speaking at the Guyana Forestry Commission at the launch of the BIT training programme

ed.

Needs

Williams noted that there is a gap between labour needs and present capabilities and this “mismatch” needs to be addressed. He acknowledged that the forestry sector is in dire need of skilled labour because of competition from other sectors, while disclos-

ing that 300 persons are being trained annually through this programme in various skilled areas.

The BIT/ GFC director pointed out that the programme provides competency-based training to address the needs of the manufacturing and industrial sectors.

“There is a dire need to increase the range of rep-

utable and competent companies and agencies,” he stated, adding that young people should utilise the training opportunities available and equip themselves with the necessary skills to thrive in this sector.

Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul said he was pleased with the collaboration of the two en-

tities to provide training in various sectors, particularly in areas which are suffering because of the lack of skilled labour.

Training programme

The minister pointed out that this training programme was the initiative of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, and the government has since pledged its commitment

to the programme by making budgetary allocations every year. “The whole idea behind this is that we do not want school drop-outs to be left without a skill and to be left in an area where they cannot gain employment,” the minister said.

Gopaul challenged the graduands to take full advantage of the programme, noting that Guyana has the capacity to provide employment for all the youths in the country. He noted that construction is another booming sector, which needs skilled labour.

Delivering the feature address, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud pointed out that if the forestry sector does not have the requisite skills and adequately trained individuals, then the mismatch will always be there, as such the government has implemented the training programme.

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Chief justice issues new ruling on Boodoo’s appointment

Exceptions... C …in the air uan Evo Morales is the president of Bolivia. So he went on a trip to Russia in his official plane – sort of the Bolivian version of the U. S.’s “Air Force One” that Barack Obama uses. As one of the largest producers of natural gas in the world, he was there for a conference on the fuel.

He’s all done with his conference and is flying home when France, Portugal and Spain refused permission to pass through their airspace. The plane had to turn back and being low on fuel was allowed to land in Austria where the plane was searched. Now you have to understand the background to this outrage to appreciate its importance.

When a plane takes off, it has a flight plan that’s filed and approved by the countries in its path.

This means that the countries that refused the “fly over” made their decision after the plane took off. The question is why did they rescind their previous approval – and in unison. The answer is Edward Snowden – the fellow who blew the cover on the National Security Agency (NSA) snooping outrage. He’s holed up at an airport in Moscow seeking asylum from any country that’ll have him. Somebody must’ve figured that Morales, a fierce critic of U. S. foreign policy, was spiriting him away.

But by international law, the Bolivian president’s plane is diplomatically protected: its sovereign territory, so to speak. You just can’t, in effect, force it out of the sky and search it. Since the Europeans don’t have any reason to worry about Snowden, it’s pretty obvious that the U. S. must’ve twisted some arms or called in some chips.

But not surprisingly no one’s taking the credit. Morales did allow the Austrians to search his plane – but, along with several fellow members of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), protested vigorously.

Could anyone imagine what would’ve happened if, say, China had “persuaded” some African countries that owed it some favours to refuse overflight permission to Obama’s Air Force One, as it jetted from South Africa to Tanzania? And because of the refusal it would run out of fuel and had to land in the Congo? And wait for 14 hours? We’re talking setting off World War III!! We’re setting a very dangerous precedent here. Not because it’s a small country, its president should be humiliated with impunity.

The governments of UNASUR must raise the matter in the United Nations (UN). And whichever countries requested and facilitated this breach of diplomatic protocols must be censured. .... rescinded Education Minister Priya Manickchand has reversed the policy on “automatic” promotion in secondary schools.

Exception had been made for students who didn’t obtain the cut-off marks because of fear if they were held back they would “drop out”. It really was a non-starter from the word go. It was just another one of those bright ideas that sounded good because it worked elsewhere.

As Manickchand conceded, those conditions just didn’t exist in Guyana and she couldn’t replicate their introduction. Teachers refused to put in more time, for one. We should note that when they get paid – as with lessons – they have no problem with the extra hours.

Maybe the teachers could’ve been given a stipend to sweeten the offer? Also, lagging students didn’t show any enthusiasm for the extra swotting.

Then again, we have to accept that not every student will be as academically oriented as the present curriculum demands. Those students that fail might have to be placed in different streams – which recognise and reward different skills. Another report showing that primary schools students at National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) were still poor at English, suggest earlier interventions are even more vital. .... on land lease We’re not surprised that Khemraj Ramjattan has decided that “ocean front” property is more valuable than others. He thinks we’re in Montego Bay? Our ocean front is threatened mangrove territory. Maybe he should lease all the “ocean front” land lying vacant along the East Coast Demerara.

J

hief Justice (ag) Ian Chang Wednesday dismissed an earlier order he gave to block the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from deciding not to renew Gocool Boodoo’s contract as chief elections officer.

Chang told the High Court sitting that Boodoo’s court action against each of the six commissioners and the chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally could not be entertained because the commission is a collective body.

He arrived at the final decision after taking a second look at the court documents after the order he granted on July 2.

Chang explained that the motion was struck out, since it failed to take the commission in its entire quorum to task.

He noted that the lawsuit should have been mounted against the commission as a collective body, instead of against the chairman and the individual com-

Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang

missioners.

Chang made the ruling after detecting the flaw following careful perusal of the court documents.

The ruling means that Boodoo, through his lawyers Mursalene Bacchus and Sase Gunraj, can correct the flaw and mount another legal challenge.

Boodoo’s lawyers indicated that the possibility exists that further action may be taken.

Dr Surujbally had earlier sought advice from a team of lawyers on how to treat with the

Gocool Boodoo

Dr Steve Surujbally

request by Boodoo for a renewal of his contract.

The lawyers also suggested that Boodoo’s post be advertised. However, it is not clear whether the matter will come up for discussion when the commission holds its statutory meeting next Tuesday.

Dr Surujbally had postponed two previous meeting with the commissioners: once, to seek legal advice, and a second time, when two commissioners were absent.

A decision on whether Boodoo’s contract is renewed is subject to a majority vote, but op-

position commissioners are not in favour of the proposed extension to Boodoo’s contract, which expired at the end of April.

Boodoo’s fate is expected to be decided by the majority vote of the complete quorum of commissioners.

The commissioners are legally mandated, based on a unanimous decision, to deal with all issues relating to employment of senior functionaries of the commission.

Boodoo has been with the commission for more than 10 years.

Business community begins meeting with political leaders

T

Leaders of the Alliance For Change meeting with members of the business community

he Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said the time has come for Guyana to move from a place where government has to be the sole investor in every infrastructural project.

The GCCI stated that the country must begin to put systems in place to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) at a faster rate.

GCCI executives began the first in a series of meetings with the leaders of the major politi-

cal parties. The chamber met with leaders of the Alliance for Change and discussed several burning issues.

Among the matters raised were the chamber’s advocacy positions as contained in the “Top 20 Barriers to Competitiveness” document.

The chamber was also appraised of the views of the party on intellectual property protection, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated, security legislation, the Public Procurement

Commission, and the anti-money laundering legislation.

The GCCI also detailed that FDI is important for where the capital market is small and the private sector is still young when considered in the global context.

The chamber suggested greater aggressiveness on the part of the foreign service as one of the easier and effective strategies to market the country.

The GCCI explained that Guyana can utilise the foreign ministry and

begin an aggressive promotional campaign by utilising its foreign service officials to sell the country.

The chamber said such a strategy would require much missions in various countries, and ensuring Guyana’s economic diplomacy is better administered. The chamber also reiterated a call for the construction of a globally competitive manufacturing sector, which is a critical pillar in redirecting the economy away from traditional exports.

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Hinds hails Guyana, Three arrested for Venezuela ties Mahaica P

rime Minister Samuel Hinds, who was acting in the capacity of president, was among those gathered last Friday evening at a reception in observance of Venezuela’s 202nd independence anniversary which was held at the Impeccable Banquet Hall, Brickdam, Georgetown.

Throughout South America’s struggle for independence, Venezuela was the first nation to declare independence and maintained it. This move was led by the late Simón Bolívar.

Speaking at the event, Hinds said that the anniversary is a milestone for which Venezuela should be justly proud as it continues to exert great effort and determination to realise the dream of Simón Bolívar of a well-developed, united and independent country.

Venezuela continues to play a vanguard role in the promotion of programmes which are aimed at bringing di-

killing T

Acting President Samuel Hinds, Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana Reina Arratia Diaz, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy and members of the diplomatic corps during a toast to commemorate Venezuela’s Independence Day

rect benefits to the people, especially vulnerable groups.

The acting president said that the creation of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) and Petrocaribe can be seen within this framework and commended the late President Hugo Chávez for his vision in this re-

gard.

Hinds also highlighted the relationship between Guyana and Venezuela which has allowed Guyana to comfortably engage in regular political dialogue at the highest levels and to embark on programmes of cooperation that have seen tangible benefits for both of the countries’

peoples.

The Hugo Chávez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration which will be opened in a few months, the vibrant trade in rice and the supply of petroleum to Guyana under the Petrocaribe initiative are examples of the ties between the two countries.

“We remain committed to working with the government of Venezuela to preserve this healthy relationship,” Hinds added. He said Guyana will be looking forward to welcoming President Nicholas Maduro on his official visit next month.

The acting president also extended congratulations to Venezuela for the award they received for achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on poverty reduction. He reiterated government’s satisfaction with the excellent relation the two countries enjoy, and committed to continue working together at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

V e n e z u e l a ’ s Ambassador to Guyana, Reina Arratia Diaz explained the history behind the country’s independence and said that even as that struggle continues, the country has been aggressively fighting poverty, with special emphasis on health and education.

Ambassador Diaz said that today Guyana and Venezuela have improved their bilateral relations through the late President Chávez and will continue through current President Maduro.

hree persons have been arrested for the murder of 27-year-old Omadatt Persaud called “Vicky” of Lot 70 Fourth Street, Supply, Mahaica, who was killed during a robbery at his home on Monday morning, according to a top police official.

The official stated that the men are being grilled about the incident as they continue to follow the leads at their disposal. He said that once enough evidence is gathered, the suspects will be placed before the court. As of present, he noted investigations are continuing.

Guyana Times International understands that the men’s hands were examined for gun powder residue and the tests are expected to be back shortly.

On the other hand, Gopaul Sukhnandan told this publication that his family is still baffled at the entire episode, noting that his nephew had no enemies.

He also disclosed that his nephew was due to join his family overseas, shortly.

The aggrieved man stated that Persaud was a quiet individual, well supported by his overseas family.

“He doesn’t work but he is at home all the time… The persons who committed the act had to be keeping an eye on the house and more particularly, my nephew,” he added.

Sukhnandan related that this is the first time that something “like this” has happened in their neigbourhood, noting that in the past, there were petty robberies.

He praised the police for their swift work which led to the arrest of a few people.

He added that the post-mortem was done on Wednesday morning which gave the cause of death as shock and hemorrhaging due to a single gunshot wound.

His nephew’s body, he noted has been handed over to the family who are making funeral arrangements. He is likely to be cremated on Friday.

Dead: Omadatt “Vicky” Persaud

Persaud died instantly after being shot to his head.

At the time of the shooting/ robbery, six persons were at home, including Persaud’s overseas relatives. It was reported that three masked men entered the yard from the back entrance. Two of the men were reportedly armed with hand guns.

They ordered the over sea-based Guyanese into the house to join Persaud. They demanded money and jewellery but Persaud reportedly put up a fight which resulted in one of the men discharging a firearm, hitting Persaud to his forehead.

The men reportedly panicked and ordered the occupants to hand over their jewellery and out of fear, they complied. The men then made good their escape on foot.

Moments after the incident, the dead man’s relatives attempted to summon the police via telephone which proved futile. This left a relative with no alternative but to visit the station only to be told that there were no officers around.

The relatives reportedly left the police station and decided to take Persaud’s motionless body to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Persaud, who is separated from his wife, leaves to mourn his son, mother, three sisters and other relatives and friends.

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Commonwealth Network on Environment and Climate Change launched Playin like de Waste Indies

A

fter playin like real losers in de ICC Champions Trophy in England, de West Indies come back and win two games in a row in de Caribbean against two different teams. Although that don’t happen very often, all de West Indies fans was happy and jumpin up fuh joy. One fan even start tellin he friends that West Indies done reach de final.

What he didn’t realise is that India was just tekkin a rest after winnin de trophy in England.

So India come right back and cut dem down to size. And it didn’t help that de West Indies start playin like Waste Indies. Now de fans bawlin and worryin to know if de Waste Indies gon reach de final in a tournament that playin in dem own backyard.

And talkin bout backyard, even de new One Day skipper look like he playin ball and bat in he backyard.

Two times now in de past 12 months he can’t bowl out all he overs in time and had to pay a match fine.

Now he get suspended fuh one game and even de players had to tek a pay cut.

But de captain shoulda pay fuh all de players, since in de first place, is he who mek de team ain’t bowl all de overs in time. But comin to tink of it, de skipper didn’t want to bowl all de overs wid de way Kohli was battin. And de skipper know fully well that de Waste Indies can’t bat out 50 overs, so he didn’t want to bowl 50. At least de previous captain used to bowl out all de overs and he even win de Twenty20 World Cup. Ting-a-ling-a-ling… friend tell friend… mattie tell mattie! Yet dem still don’t want to call up de Tiger – who battin like a tiger in England.

So more and more it lookin more like it was de Waste Indies coach that had need to change and not de captain!

Some of the members of the Commonwealth Expert Group on Climate Finance with former President Bharrat Jagdeo who heads the group. Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma is third from left

T

he Commonwealth Network on Environment and Climate Change was launched at Marlborough House, headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat, in London last week to provide further opportunity for dialogue with the Commonwealth Expert Group on Climate Finance.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was appointed by Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma to chair the new Commonwealth Expert

Group on Climate Finance, was in attendance with members of his team.

The high-level team of nine experts, which also includes Dr Kenrick Leslie, executive director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, will identify solutions for unlocking resources to enable small, poor and climate-vulnerable Commonwealth countries to combat climate change.

Jagdeo, who has been recognised as a leading global advocate for climate change, will lead

the charge to press the international community to help identify practical solutions for those countries most vulnerable to climate change.

In accepting the appointment, the former president had said: “Some of the most climate-vulnerable people in the world are in our Commonwealth. Millions of people are in danger – the magnitude of the challenges they face is overwhelming and they cannot face those challenges solely from their own resources. Over the years, many pledges of assistance have been

made – but we have not seen enough action.

I hope that the expert group can identify ways, both to identify financing at a scale that matches the problem, and also to enable Commonwealth heads of government to take specific actions to enable financing to be deployed in a way that rapidly gets to the people who need it.”

Commonwealth Secretary General Sharma says the group will present its report to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka in November.

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Teenage pregnancies down in Guyana, says Dr Anthony

From left Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran, and Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony briefing the media on Wednesday

G

uyana has recorded a reduction in teenage pregnancy despite a barrier to access information on sexual reproductive health for teenagers in Guyana, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony said.

Dr Anthony was one of Guyana’s representatives at a two-day international conference on population and development which seeks to review progress countries in the region have made since the signing of the Cairo Declaration some 20 years ago.

The conference was held at the International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

Briefing the media on the outcome of the conference, Dr Anthony said from all reports, Guyana has made significant progress on issues relating to migration, sexual reproductive health, the vulnerable population and the elderly.

Decrease

The minister who took matters regarding education, youth and employment to the fore, pointed out that Guyana has seen a decrease in the amount of teenage pregnancies being recorded. He believes this is as a result of educational programmes implemented in the country.

“We’ve been able to put a number of programmes in place, in terms of education, which I think contributed to the decrease. We’re also advocating at the international level that we need to put more programmes in place, especially at health centres, to offer sexual reproductive health as an essen-

tial part of the package of service that we offer,” he noted.

Across the region, the average age for girls to begin engaging in sexual activity is 14 years old, which leads to some 14 million births for adolescents each year.

However, over 70,000 of that amount die during child birth.

According to Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud, “In the under-15 age group, we have had close to four per cent of all pregnancies in 2003.

In 2011, we’ve reduced this to just about one per cent and that means less than 100.”

Teenage pregnancy

While Guyana has managed to reduce the prevalence of teenage pregnancy, its main challenge remains the lack of access to information on adolescents, without parental consent.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran said stemming from the conference is the adoption of best practices from countries in the region.

He noted that Guyana will be seeking to implement an initiative from Barbados that has proved effective in reintegrating teenage mothers into the school system. “In Barbados, they have a very robust programme to return young ladies to school after they would have had the baby. And these are some of the best practices that Guyana needs to look at.”

The health minister added that Guyana has also set the pace for other countries to follow with regards to some of its programmes.

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Edmond Declou

Raising his game Back in training, boxer Edmond ‘Wonder Boy’ Declou's focus is on winning

Y

oung, talented and determined, Edmond ‘Wonder Boy’ Declou, one of Guyana’s top boxers, has been back in the ring,

sweating it out with one goal in mind: to be an international boxing champion.

At the age of 10, Declou started boxing in

Linden, where he was born, and bred. As an amateur boxer, Declou felt he was not on par with what was expected in that field, and decided to take a

break. But the young athlete’s passion for the sport motivated him to get back into the ring.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Declou stated that he developed his talent in Linden and was noticed by his now three managers. He left his hometown and journeyed to Georgetown to pursue his dream of becoming one of boxing’s greatest.

“I was a slow learner at the amateur level of boxing. I decided I was not good enough for the sport, but after some self-examination and motivation, I decided to pick it up back in 2011. I have three managers from Georgetown who spotted my talent and I had to make a decision to move down here to follow my dream,” he recalled.

At age 22, Declou had his first professional fight in Georgetown.

When he lost, Declou became even more determined not to lose any more. As of recent, Declou has 18 wins, one loss and three knockouts under his belt. He is ranked 31

in the Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) best in the world, and is also a middleweight and CABOFE champion for Guyana.

The now 26-yearold champion currently trains at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis gym in Albouystown under the tutelage of notable Guyanese coach Lennox Daniels. He is presently going through a rigorous training regimen to compete in an overseas match. He had sustained an injury to his hand, he revealed, which took him out of the ring for a while.

Now that it has healed, Declou relentlessly trains to perfect his game.

“My passion for boxing is really strong. Boxing is my life. Even if I have only one hand, and it’s possible, I’ll continue to box.

To be the best you have to be the best. You must be committed to the sport

and train hard. Sacrifices have to be made. I always love to work hard and so this, although not easy, comes easily to me,” expressed the boxing pro.

Outside boxing, Declou, described in the Barbadian press as “the dangerous Edmond Wonder Boy DeClou”, works with a local cable company to make ends meet, but trains five days a week after work, hoping to secure a boxing match internationally.

“To be a boxer you can’t just like the sport, you must love it. My idol is U.S. boxing champion Floyd Mayweather. I’m working really hard to get to the international level. But in life there must always be a Plan B. But right now I’m just focused on getting better and taking my game to the overseas ring,” he declared.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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Young Professionals

Alisia Katideen Guyanese converging for a worthy cause

T

he Last Lap Lime is an annual event held jointly by five non-profit Guyanese alumni associations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is arguably the largest congregation of Guyanese outside Guyana, with the purpose of giving back to their community.

This social event ensures that Guyanese culture remain vibrant in the Diaspora by celebrating what it means to be Guyanese through entertainment, food, drink and ‘liming’. The event provides a taste of Guyanese culture to the children, grandchildren and friends of Guyanese living in the diaspora.

Lime history

The event was the brainchild of Guyanese, Noel Denny. He was on a football pitch at the Eve Leary ground in Guyana thirteen years ago, when the idea of the Last Lap

effort between the two schools would work, and went as far as to tell Laurie that he was thinking of including St. Rose’s, St. Joseph’s and Bishops’ High as well.

In 1995, Noel returned to Toronto and pitched his idea to the local Saints chapter. Noel’s idea was met with fierce opposition from that association, which had numerous valid concerns.

However, with much fervor, Noel was able to convince them to join in this humanitarian effort.

The presidents of the four other schools alumni were then invited to a Saints meeting in 1995.

There was an ongoing debate but in the late 1995 the five Toronto alumni associations finally agreed to promote a function together. In 1996, the Last Lap Lime (LLL) was born.

Noel Denny proved to be a visionary. In 2004, in excess of 4,500 people

Musical performances of Guyanese heritage

Speaking with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, the event’s project manager Paul Abdool, stated that 2013 is the 18th year of the annual event started by the five individual alumni associations: St. Stanislaus College, Queen’s College,

Having fun at the event

Lime first began to take shape. Noel is a former Saint Stanislaus College student, and at the time was a member of the Saint Stanislaus Alumni Association (Toronto).

As in the good old days, the football game was between "Saints" and Queen’s College, so Noel had the opportunity to chat with Laurie Lewis, his "Queen’s" counterpart at the game.

The two alumni associations in Toronto, although successful on their own, had never attempted to promote a function together. Yet, in Toronto, there was quite a successful football game between the two schools with essentially the same goal: to raise funds in support of their respective alma maters.

Noel was convinced that a collaborative Toronto

attended the event. Now it has become a must-goto event for Guyanese living abroad.

Charitable efforts

The event’s mission, as it always has been, is to encourage and support students of Bishops’, Queen’s, St. Joseph’s, St. Rose’s and St. Stanislaus schools here in Guyana in their pursuit of academic excellence. A portion of the proceeds from the Last Lap Lime is used to ensure that these students have the facilities and resources that are essential to a learning environment.

Additionally, recognizing that its fundraising events are largely supported by the community in which it operates, another portion of the proceeds is donated to Canadian charities.

Sales/Marketing Manager

Bishops’ High School, St. Joseph's High School and St. Rose’s High School.

“The aim of the event is to raise funds in support of higher education in Guyana. The profits from the LLL are divided into five and returned to the five alumni associations. Each association determines what they will spend their funds in support of. To date, we have awarded scholarships, built and stocked libraries, rebuilt school grounds, equipped computer labs, painted and refurbished parts of the five schools, replaced roofs and windows and countless other worthwhile and necessary projects,” he outlined.

Abdool added that the event has been very successful so far.

Although there is no accurate measurement,

Abdool believes it is the largest one-day gathering of Guyanese people anywhere in the world.

From humble beginnings of a few hundred attending, in recent years the event has been attracting crowds of approximately 4,000 guests.

The event is an allday entertainment spot with cultural dancers and performers, live bands, comedians, a variety of Guyanese cuisine, and much more, all showcasing Guyanese culture.

With the increased economic hardships resulting in escalating expenses, the Last Lap Lime’s committee is headstrong to keep the fundraising event going.

This year, once again, the five Canadian charities and five high schools in Guyana will receive every dime raised. The next LLL is scheduled to take place at the Woodbridge Fairgrounds, Canada, on August 5.

“After 18 years, this has become more than the humble fund raising event we originally intended it to be. It is now a cultural franchise that Guyanese expect and look forward to.

Plans are made around the LLL, holidays are booked and travel plans timed to coincide with the LLL; reunions (family, schools and independent social clubs) are organized around the LLL, just to name a few. As such, we intend to continue with the event in its current format, at least in the immediate future,” Abdool declared.

Visit www.lastlaplime.com for more information on this event.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

G

rowing up in the ancient county of Berbice, Alisia Katideen always knew that she was destined for success, and she has worked her way up to achieve her goals today.

Katideen was born in Canada and brought to Guyana a few months later, before her first birthday. She spent most of her childhood in Corriverton, Berbice, and, being the only child of her parents, she was more of an indoor person who did not have many friends, and read books to pass the time.

At 11-years-old, Katideen moved to Albion Estate with her parents who both had jobs at the estate, and spent her entire teenage life there. “I was very tomboyish as a teenager. I used to do stuff like swimming, fishing, birding, shooting, and I even dressed very boyish,” she recalled.

She completed her secondary education at the New Amsterdam Multilateral School, after which she went to the New Amsterdam Technical Institute where she obtained a Diploma in Secretarial Science.

With the aspiration of becoming a veterinarian, at the age of 18 Katideen moved to Georgetown to attend the University of Guyana. This, she said, was a very rocky journey. “Being the only child, I was spoilt by my parents, and so when I moved to Georgetown it was hard because I was so accustomed to my mother doing everything for me.”

Nevertheless, she noted that the experience has taught her much because it was a big step for her. She learnt many valuable lessons that have helped her today.

She began her studies at the University of Guyana in 1998 going for a Diploma in Public Communication. Then, in 2001, as she was getting ready to further her studies with a Degree in Mass Communication, Katideen began her first job as a reporter at the National Communications Network where she worked for the next three years.

She explained that she had no intentions of joining the media.

“As I was doing Communications at UG, I thought that I should get some practical experience by being in the media”.

While working as a reporter Katideen was also exposed to anchoring. She disclosed that her experience in the media was bitter-sweet one but whatever challenges she faced had made her stronger as a person.

Katideen disclosed that in 2004 she got the “long awaited break from the media” and left to go work at Demerara Distillers Limited in the marketing field. This then became a career path for her. After working at DDL for three years, she joined the Caribbean International Distributors Incorporated as the sales/marketing manager, a position she currently holds.

Katideen said that her father had played an important role in her success and has been the one to push her to her limits, while noting that the path to success was anything but a smooth ride. “There were times in my adult life that I did not know where I was going to end up, but my determined personality was the main pillar of getting me here.”

She advises persons who have dreams and aspirations of their own s to stick to what they want and go after it with everything they have. She also believes that prayer can move mountains, and as such, persons should pray a lot and will get where they want to be. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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Living a life An experiment focused on family with language A The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

Author David Dabydeen

By Petamber Persaud

‘Johnson’s Dictionary’

by David Dabydeen

“J

o h n s o n ’ s Dictionary” ( P e e p a l Tree Press, 2013) is Dabydeen’s seventh novel, and it is not easy to categorise mainly because Dabydeen is never overwhelmingly satisfied with his previous effort(s): always looking forward to his next book...his next seven books; hoping to break new ground with the next – and the next and the next...

Dabydeen’s seventh novel is not easy to categorise also because it covers a lot of ground in its experimentation of how history can be reclaimed, repackaged and disseminated to larger and diverse consumer groups.

In “Johnson’s Dictionary”, Dabydeen has not portrayed history in a linear way, but in a disjunctive fashion: the four parts of the novel appear disjointed but are thematically connected.

The novel is again not easy to categorise with its experimentation of resurrection/reincarnation.

And it is by design that the book opens with the reincarnation of Manu, “originator of life” (p 11), who, in Hindu tradition, is called the “progenitor of mankind”. It is also by design that this seventh novel surfaces in the period ruled by the seventh Manu.

Regarding his experimentation, Dabydeen declares he tries to be “extravagant” instead of plain in his writings. In “Johnson’s Dictionary”, he has done just that:

be extravagant; daring the reader to stay with him as he offers ample rewards along the way.

Most of the rewards come by way of a writer who is an intriguing storyteller, fascinated by language and its delivery.

Further, the difficulty in categorising this novel stems from the act, or fact that its author has revisited many familiar subjects, attending to them this time from daring viewpoints, but more so because its author tackles taboo subjects with refreshing and consummate ease.

This difficulty is intentional on the writer’s part; a writer whose first novel is semiautobiographical and falls in the “easy” category of social realism, and now trespassing in the realms of magic realism not unlike his literary ancestors.

Dabydeen is always experimenting with his writing and his readership, particularly his readership, because it is this group that could make or break a book and a writer. Dabydeen is on record declaring that a writer must always take the reader to the brink of the precipice...Also on record is Dabydeen declaring that a writer ought to incorporate beauty and redemption is his or her work. So we find Dabydeen weaving beauty and redemption among the gloomy, gruesome subjects he examines.

Despite the difficulty in defining this novel, it can be said that “Johnson’s Dictionary” is a literary novel; one that goes to the heart of the English language.

“Johnson’s Dictionary” the novel, harps back to

and on matters relating to the seminal “Johnson’s Dictionary” composed

by Samuel Johnson and published in 1755 ―considered the most influential of dictionaries. The full title of that book is “A Dictionary of the English Language” which became immortalised as “Johnson’s Dictionary”.

At this point, it is useful to know about, or have a refresher on, Samuel Johnson and his servant, for that 18th century story is woven into Dabydeen contemporary novel of 21st century: Francis Barber (ca.

1735–1801) was the Jamaican manservant of Samuel Johnson in London from 1752 until Johnson's death in 1784.

Johnson made him his residual heir...Barber was also left Johnson's books and papers, and a gold watch. In later years he had acted as Johnson's assistant in revising his famous Dictionary and other works. (Wikipedia) The novel, “Johnson’s Dictionary”, is set in 18th century London, England and in Demerara, British Guiana where characters from art and other sources come alive as the author rewrites their story.

Hogarth himself turns up as a drunkard official artist in Demerara, from whom the slave Cato steals his skills and discovers a way of remaking his world. The transforming power of words is what enlightens Francis when his... master gifts him a copy of “Johnson’s Dictionary”...Dabydeen’s novel revels in the connections of Empire, Art, Literature and human desire in ways that are comic, salutary and redemptive. (Book’s blurb) As mentioned before, the novel “Johnson’s Dictionary” is a literary novel and a point of departure for me is the following: “words are more delicious than food.”

In this novel, Dabydeen’s experiment in the use of the language has accomplished what many scholars find improbable to do – review dictionaries.

Dabydeen’s other novels include “The Intended”, “Disappearance”, “The Counting House”, “A Harlot's Progress” and “Our Lady of Demerara”.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

nand Sawh, a coconut vendor, knows what it means to make sacrifices for the welfare of his family. He has been doing so since the age of 16 when he took up the role of fatherhood.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Sawh said he has been selling coconuts for more than 21 years – since he was 19. Operating from Bourda Market at the head of Orange Walk and North Road, Sawh has been at the family coconut business since 1992.

Sawh and his wife, Lalita

It is a family business started in 1950 at the exact spot his grandfather

and some other relatives, from Clonbrook village, continued on page 35

POEM

A Tribute to the University of Guyana (UG) By: Robert H. Mahesh, MA; BA; Dip.Ed.

Dear UG, today from afar we remember thee, ‘Tis the 16th day of September 1995, while not in Kentucky, But in Toronto, Canada, at the Travel Lodge Hotel we, Your grateful graduates, gather once again in somber glee.

We recall with thankfulness, our tertiary undergraduate years, When you cradled us in your scholastic womb and gave birth to us, as respected fore-bears, Of an enviable university education, which sent us forth to rear, Great yet humble heights, in a variety of professional careers.

Those were the yester-years, when we imbibed your educational excellence, With perseverance and great sacrifice, we entered your hallowed walls from whence, We emerged with whetted intellectual appetites and with reverence, We this day remember, your priceless gift to us, with heart-felt recompense.

You gave to us when you were young but strong, We took from you when we were raw and weak, with a resolve to belong, To a new Guyanese breed, who now strive to give back to you, as you falter along, In these difficult economic times, some financial kind in our new NOTE: (This year 2013 marks the 50th Anniversary of UG and the 175th year of the Arrival of East Indians to Guyana (1838-1917) and the 100th Anniversary of Indian Films. The writer is a Fourth Batch History Graduate from UG in 1970. He is also the only son of an illiterate Indentured Immigrant Father from Mother India to Guyana. His father arrived in Guyana in 1909 on the Sutlej at the age of 19. The writer also became an immigrant himself to the United States in 1979 and lived in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York ever since.

He received an MA History from the St. John’s University New York in 2006 at the age of 70. He never attended high school which his poor parents could not afford, but has moved on academically by private determined self-efforts, and is an Adjunct History Professor at the College of New Rochelle (JCOC) Campus in the Bronx, New York.

circumstance, so your life to prolong.

Because of you, we today with ease, do better understand, Why we have removed ourselves, from our beloved Homeland, And you have given us the intellectual tools, to delve deeper, so to carve at first hand, The most difficult to understand, why it is almost well-nigh impossible to remove our beloved Homeland from within us.

In your infancy, some sought to ridicule you, as someone’s night-school, Fortunately your protagonists stood stoutly tall, by your side resolute and cool, While your faculties and studentbody burnt the mid-night oil to pool, A brand new group of graduates, to proclaim through various professions in the field of work, your indomitable quality now to rule.

We graciously thank you Dear UG, from Canada this day, May you continue the clarion call, to all students, now and yet to come, to say, Like us from far and near, once again thank you, for helping us tolead the way, And to leave a crowning legacy of foot-prints, which all true Guyanese, will always be proud to display.

(First written September 11, 1995).

His life experiences as a teacher in Guyana 1954-1979, and as an immigrant in the United States from 1979 to the present, have prepared him rather well, in his ‘Dislocation and Survival’ understandings of an immigrant’s life, and their relation to the History and Literature education perspectives.

His recently published two books in 2012 in New York, “A Pilgrimage to the Place of his Birth in GuyanaSecond Edition,” and his First Book of Poetry, “Glimpses of Living GuyaneseAmerican Poetic Images Part One,” now tell his Living Story of Survival.

His deeper insights into History and Literature have been cultivated and enhanced by his Living Experiences both as a teacher and as an immigrant).

(Reproduced Sunday June 30, 2013).

Email: (robert.mahesh@yahoo. com).

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Elite US-based Guyanese runner on winning streak

uleen JosiahTanner is a talented distance runner residing in Atlanta, Georgia. The athlete has her eyes on the Olympics, and is determined to one day wear a gold medal around her neck.

Born in Guyana, the Berbice native began her athletic career several years ago as a teenager. She moved to the United States in 1996, after graduating from the Cyril Potter College of Education, with the goal of gaining a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

Though she did not make the team, she settled in the city as a student and banquet server at the Georgia World Congress Centre (GWCC).

At the GWCC, Euleen rose to the ranks to the position of assistant manager. She also met the man who would become her husband, Rommel Tanner, a steward supervisor at the St. Regis hotel in Buckhead.

The two live together in a modest brick home in the Westlake area of greater Cascade. Unlike some families concerned with acquiring material things, the Tanners are a frugal family with a focus on raising happy, well-rounded children.

US-based Guyanese champ Euleen Josiah-Tanner

The star athlete is determined to be an Olympic champion

The couple gets by with one car and Euleen stays at home with her children and is active in her children's PTAs. Tanner said her husband and extended family strongly support her athletic goals and her attention to her children's education and development.

“A vital part of my success is the support from my family,” Tanner said recently after a six-

mile run one rainy morning with members of her club, The South Fulton Running Partners, sponsors of the popular 7K Sickle Road Race every April. “My mother Yvette Josiah and sister, Elizabeth, especially remind me to keep doing what I love doing and to never give up.”

The 38-year-old petite runner has competed successfully throughout the Caribbean, in

Guyana, and the U.S. She won first place overall or first place woman overall in every race she finished in 2011 in Southwest Atlanta, U.S. She scored her first victory for this year in March when she successfully defended her title in the Georgia Publix 5k road race also held in Atlanta, Georgia. Three weeks later, Euleen finished third overall from a field of 232 athletes in the Dental Dash 5k road race in Atlanta, Georgia.

Euleen returned to Guyana in May 2013 for the Independence Day Half Marathon where she continued her dominance in the distance event to capture the women’s title.

Euleen day starts 6:30 a.m. running an 8:50-mile. This pace is a bit too fast for some; however, for Euleen it is just a slow warm-up and time to catch up with friends.

“Don’t forget,” Euleen said with her trademark timid smile. “Train hard, win easy.”

Doing what she is doing is not an easy task.

On average, Euleen runs about 115 miles a week. She also does 200 push-ups, 200 sit-ups and 200 pull-ups a day.

Every four or five weeks, she competes in a 5k, 10k, half-marathon or other distance. She wins first place female—and, at times, first place overall—at almost every race she runs.

After a run last week with her friends Charima Young and Monique Jones—themselves two fast distance

ners in their late 30s and 40s such as American Deena Kastor, 38, and Russian Yekaterina Podkopayeva, who ran competitively into her mid-40s, Euleen said she has not given up on Olympic gold.

“My plans are to continue to train at the highest level and get into a high-level training camp

Euleen awarded for winning the 2011 CARICOM 10K Race

runners by most people's standards— Euleen reflected on her 2012 training and running goals. Inspired by the success of female run-

this year and to gain a spot on the Olympics team and bring back a gold medal to Atlanta.”

(Excerpted from cascade. patch.com)

Living a life focused on...

from page 34

opened the stall. They started with about 100 coconuts and now Sawh sells thousands.

“I left secondary school because I got married at 16 and so I had to get a job. I decided to be part of my family’s coconut business and have been doing that ever since. One of my dreams when I was younger was to travel, but I had to give that up because I was starting a family. My wife was 15 and pregnant with our first child,” Sawh disclosed.

Although Sawh was not able to travel, he mentioned that he is fortunate to meet persons from around the world who share their stories with him.

Sawh’s day started at 3 in the morning until 1 the next morning-his schedule since he entered the business. However, with the crime situation, Sawh pointed out, his days, though they start the same time, close at nine at night.

The vendor knows that his long hours are for the benefit of his family.

Sawh and his wife Lalita also work diligently to educate their children.

He mentioned that his eldest son, 22, has a lucrative job with the U.S. Embassy, his other son is an accountant, and his daughter is currently at secondary school. Sawh is proud that his hard work has paid off and he was able to help his children to become academically qualified.

Before entering the family business, Sawh stated he worked as a labourer seven days and nights weekly to make ends meet. Along with his wife, they were able to manage their household and give their children the best education they could have afforded.

Now, Sawh manages the coconut business along with a couple of his relatives. They all take turns every week selling at the stall at Bourda Market. But when Sawh is home during his week off, he does not cease working. He and his wife make pepper sauce and achar to sell to businesses.

Through his hard work, Sawh said he is not a king but lives like a king. He is able to care for his children and guide them on the right path.

He speaks proudly of his children’s accomplishments and mentions that he will continue to support their every step to success.

As with every business person, challenges are expected. The coconut business has presented numerous challenges, but Sawh not-

ed that they have only made him stronger and he has learnt, along with his family, to endure.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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This week's Crossword

J k es Accident report

Because I was processing my first accident report at the transport company where I worked, I was being particularly attentive.

The driver had hit a deer on the highway, and the result was a severely damaged hood and fender. My serious mood was broken, however, when I reached the section of the report that asked, "Speed of other vehicle?"

The driver had put, "Full gallop."

Airline humour

Occasionally, airline attendants make an effort to make the "in-flight safety lecture" a bit more entertaining. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported: 1. "There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane..."

2. Smoking in the lavatories is prohibited. Any person caught smoking in the lavatories will be asked to leave the plane immediately.

3. Here is one heard from Northwest: "Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead area. Please place the bag over your own mouth and nose before assisting children or adults acting like children.

Announcement from the pulpit

The minister of a city church enjoyed a drink now and then, but his passion was for peach brandy. One of his congregants would make him a bottle each Christmas. One year, when the minister went to visit his friend, hoping for his usual Christmas present, he was not disappointed, but his friend told him that he had to thank him for the peach brandy from the pulpit the next Sunday.

In his haste to get the bottle, the minister hurriedly agreed and left. So the next Sunday the minister suddenly remembered that he had to make a public announcement that he was being supplied alcohol from a member of the church. That morning, his friend sat in the church with a grin on his face, waiting to see the minister's embarrassment.

The minister climbed into the pulpit and said, "Before we begin, I have an announcement. I would very much like to thank my friend, Joe, for his kind gift of peaches ... and for the spirit in which they were given!"

This week's Puzzle

Dads and babies

My two daughters were having a discussion about family resemblance. "I look like Mom," said my nine-yearold, "but I have Dad's eyes and Dad's lips."

The six-year-old said, "And I look just like Dad, but I have light hair." Then she turned to me. "Mom," she asked, "what does Dad have to do with us being born anyway?"

Her older sister jumped right in. "Don't be silly. Dad is the one who drove Mom to the hospital."

The defendant

The judge read the charges, and then asked, "Are you the defendant in this case?"

"No sir, your honour, sir," replied Bob, "I've got a lawyer to do the defendin'. I'm the guy who done it."

Dentist bill

A woman phoned her dentist when she received a huge bill. "I'm shocked!" she complained. "This is three times what you normally charge."

"Yes, I know," said the dentist. "But you yelled so loud, you scared away two other patients."

Diet tips

My sisters and I have weight problems and are always sharing diet tips. One day my oldest sister was showing us a low-fat cookbook and pointed out a chicken dish she had tried the night before.

Reading the ingredients, I commented, "It looks like it would taste really bland."

"It did," she replied, "until I added cheese and sour cream."

Directions

see solution on page 46

In my job with a delivery company, I was getting directions to a customer's home.

The woman very specifically said, "From the main road in the centre of town go two lights. Look for the post office.

Turn left onto the next street. Go 1.3 miles. Drive past a red hydrant and then take the next right. Go 50 yards. My driveway is the second on the right, and the number is on the mailbox.

As I entered the information into the computer, I asked, "What colour is your house?"

The woman paused a second, then said, "Hold on. I'll go check."

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travel & Tourism

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Kurupukari crossing

K

urupukari crossing is a picturesque and significant pontoon crossing on the Essequibo River, along the Mabura to Lethem route. On the left bank, or the western bank of the Essequibo River, at the crossing is Fair View village.

The crossing is located adjacent to the LindenLethem road and was completed in 1992.

Kurupukari Crossing leads to a world of adventure, starting with the Kurupukari Falls.

There, Amerindian petroglyphs, which have been in existence for centuries, display the rich ancient heritage of Guyana’s indigenous people.

Those travelling on the pontoon in the evening enjoy the warmth of a beautiful orange sunset.

Although most often a practical route, the crossing offers captivating views of its surroundings, and is a gateway to adventurous journeys into the Guyana rainforests.

Scenic view of a section of Kurupukari (Photo by Jay Seedy)

Kurupukari Crossing

Children swimming at the Kurupukari Falls (Photo by Jay Seedy)

Fashion

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Sonia Noel's exclusive designs at Building Expo 2013

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ver since establishing her label, Sonia Noel has worked tirelessly to become one of the more recognizable names in the directory of fashion designers – locally and regionally. Her label, Mariska’s Designs, is described as a unique hybrid of Guyanese craftsmanship, C a r i b b e a n ingenuity, and an all pervasive

universal style.

This week, we feature Noel’s most recent collection of creative pieces. They were specially designed for the Fix It Hardware booth, at the Building Expo being held last weekend at the National Stadium, Providence.

The bold combinations of her designs, inspired by colourful dishware, help create an informal kitchen that is perfect for a get-together. The beautiful colours of Sherwin Williams’ Dutch Boy Paint created the eclectic details on these creative pieces.

Modelling the outfits are Ronessa Mc Adams, Anasha Dutchin, Nilikita Thakur, Monisha Mohamed and Cynthia Rodrigues, cast of GFW, led by former Miss Guyana Universe Melessa Payne.

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feature

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‘Internal and external’ motivation L

U.S.-based Yoga teacher helping Guyana’s less fortunate

ending a helping hand to a neglected soul, feeding the hungry and a compassionate smile towards the sad and dejected is what the Kishna Foundation is focused on offering.

It first began in 2001

by U.S. - based Guyanese Sandy Sooknanan-Kriz.

Sandy holds a degree in nutrition and later decided she wanted to become a yoga teacher. She gave up her career in nutrition in order to dedicate her life to teaching yoga and participating in humanitarian projects.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Sandy said her motivation is based on an “internal and external motive”. The internal motives are “moral imperative, religious beliefs, grandparents’ influence and their teachings of always giving without expectations.”

The external drive is her “relationship to the country (Guyana), the villages, the people and what can she could do to make a difference in the lives of its people who are less fortunate.”

practices and education.

In addition to her humanitarian work, Sandy is also very passionate about the healing aspects of yoga. This includes a focus on stress reduction, weight loss, study of yogic techniques that reduce anxiety, increase a sense of total wellness and of self physically and spiritually. Sandy offers instruction not only in the physical practices of Asana (yoga poses), but also in Pranayama (breath work) in medita-

Sandy is passionate about providing for poor children

Sandy's grandparents, Kishna and Nanan Sooknanan, deeded to her and her siblings a house that she has been visiting yearly. One day she realized that the house could be used to help some of the children in the villages. Soon, she would put away some money from each pay check and contact a family member in the village who would give her the names of those children and families in need.

Sandy would shop for clothes and toys which she then would take with her when she visited the

village. She also provided monetary support for the parents.

With the help of her father, brother and sisters, Sandy rebuilt her grandparent's home to accommodate people from the U.S. and other countries who would visit Guyana to donate their time and money in helping those in need by cooking and serving foods, doing minor household repairs or any kind of specialized assistance they could provide such as nursing, medical, dental or nutritional help, as well as spiritual

tion and in yoga philosophy.

Sandy first began the physical practice of yoga in 1998, and has been a student of meditation and Hindu spiritualism most of her life.

She has a degree in food and nutrition and has worked in the medical field and in wellness centres and various gyms since 1991, counselling people with respect to weight loss, and educating parents about specialized, medically

Shopping bags filled with food staples are donated to the elderly

prescribed diets. Sandy incorporates healthy living into every aspect of her life, and this she shares with anyone who wants to do the same.

“My hopes and goals are to generate a foundation based on kindness and compassion without any rewards, to influence our new generations to continue to take care of our elders, sick and poor.

My dreams or future projects are to bring yoga to the Guyanese people continued on page 47

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history

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Part II (Continued from June 30)

W

hen HH Post returned to Demerara in 1784, he immersed himself in its activities: he became owner of Pln Le Triumph, “The beeter Hope” and “for several years he also became the owner of the plantation “L'utile sollitude.’’”

He also requested an extension of Pln Le Resouvenir. When a vacancy arose in 1785 “for the civilian members of the Board of Police Station,” Post was nominated and elected.

Entrenched in Demerara society as plantation owner, Post was also one of the planters who signed a request in Aug 1787 titled “Request of Planters and Residents of Essequibo and Demerara...” for more slaves on the colony. At the beginning of the 19th century, Post had almost 400 slaves on Le Resouvenir alone.

Ill health however, forced Post to leave the colony in 1788 and go to North America. He was back in Demerara in 1789 then left again for North America in 1791 where he stayed until 1797, during which time he began reflecting on teaching religion to the slaves.

Returning to Le Resouvenir in 1797,

Map of the plantations in Demerara. 'Le Resouvenir' is located on the east coast of the Rio Demerara. The Coerebane creek intersects Post’s plantation (see arrow). Near the Fort was built Stabroek. (Reinhart: Nederlandse literatuur en slavernij ten tijde van de Verlichting)

Post arrived to a neglected and almost impoverished plantation, with much of his slaves dead. Though he began attempts to repair the plantation, the colony’s political (British occupation and the Netherlands’ Batavian rule) economic and social conditions however, had changed greatly since he was last on the colony.

In addition, Post’s own sense of responsi-

bility towards the slaves seemed to have changed.

According to an extract by a John Forbes, “'that having acquired an ample fortune by the labors of the Negroes, he [Post] thought it his duty to contribute to their spiritual Welfare.”

Some historians however claim that Post believed that the slaves would be more obedient if they were taught religion. The planters though felt if the slaves

were taught to read the Bible, they would be more likely to rebel.

Nevertheless, Post began teaching slaves on his plantation, setting up a school for the children, and requesting missionaries to come to the colony as well.

These early requests were unsuccessful.

Then by 1804, almost drought conditions overtook the colony (March 1803 to July 1804) killing several people and

Preserving our heritage through pictures

animals.

Post, with 150 slaves, dug a canal to supply drinking water. According to John Wray’s diary: He & 150 negroes were four days and four nights cutting the canal farther into the interior than it was before. Mr. Post slept in the open air in a hammock hanging upon two stakes, & the negroes on the swamp sometimes with a part of Their bodies in the water.

Post received much praise for his innovation in helping both plantation owners and the slaves who kept animals, to draw the precious commodity during the dry weather.

Later, despite the other plantation own-

ers’ strident objections to teaching the slaves, Post agitated for a missionary to come to the colony to do so, and in 1807, the same year the British abolished the slave trade, John Wray arrived in the colony. According to AN Paasman, Wray arrived as the last legal slave ship had unloaded its final human cargo.

Post meanwhile, had already established a school with paid teachers teaching reading and religion; the school itself was open to both paying students and those who couldn’t afford the fees.

These latter funds came out of Post’s own pocket.

The school not only taught both “white and coloured” orphans and poor children, but adults also, as part of Post’s desire that all slaves learn to read, in particular, the word of God. Wray was put up at Le Resouvenir to begin teaching, and on his first few days became acquainted with the plantation from which he began recording much of life at Le Resouvenir in his diary: Took a ride round the Plantation with Mr Post, and was much gratified in seeing the Cotton & Coffee, & Planting, & Oranges, and a variety of tropical productions which I had not seen before: & was led to adore the Creator for covering the earth in so beautiful a manner, for his creature Man, surely he is good to all! & His mercies are over all his works. The day was very fine. The thermometer 80 °. (TO BE CONTINUED)

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Estate Manager's House, British Guiana nd

Arts & Culture

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Artist Keith Agard with one of his pieces

‘Being an artist means being a student of life’ Artist Keith Agard sees the spiritual nature of art

F

rom an early age, Keith Agard was greatly influenced by his high school teacher, E.R. Burrowes, the Guyanese art pioneer.

Agard’s love for art motivated him to become a notable Guyanese artist.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Agard dis-

spaces to run and play freely, and lots of opportunities for learning.”

“It was all about modern family life in an ancient village setting.

All the families living there were like one big family. We all knew each other and related to each other; caring for each other just as the proverb

“Seal of the Noble Timehri”a sculpture

by Agard

closed that he lived most of his early years in Campbellville. For him, he recalled, living there was like a “haven of creativity, with open cow pastures, wide open

teaches, as a requirement for raising each child,” he added.

The artist attended St. Ambrose Anglican Primary School at the corner of Third

and Light Streets in Albertown.

Obliquely opposite the school, in Third Street, was the LCP Hall (League of Coloured People) where veteran artist Philip Moore had his art studio. Many days on his way from school, Agard would go there to watch Moore work.

Agard was intrigued by the things he saw Moore create out of wood and with paints.

However, it was not until Agard reached third or fourth form at Christ Church Secondary School, where Burrowes taught for a short period before his passing, that he developed a more serious interest in art.

Burrowes encouraged Agard and introduced him to “the real world of art, as far as both painting and sculpture are concerned.”

It was not until 1972, while Agard was working at the Ministry of Works in the architect’s drawing office, one of his sculptures was chosen for the Guyana exhibition at CARIFESTA ’72.

That was when the artist finally decided to enter the College of Art in Jamaica, and thereafter began his career in art.

In 1973, Agard enrolled in the Jamaica School of Art and was privileged to have had the experience of working under the guidance of Edna Manley in

‘Internal and external’...

from page 45

and teach temple member or churches to teach it. I want to also train the children in Guyana to be teachers. I have many volunteers here who are teachers that can go and teach others how to continue this gift of yoga, which will help so many not just spiritually but physically and mentally,” Sandy outlined.

A success story, Sandy disclosed, close to her heart was when she was able to help a poor family buy a scale to weigh vegetables. The family lives in a squatting area, she revealed, and with the scale they have added a variety of vegetables to what they were selling and this has increased their income. Although it was a “small” gift, Sandy was very much contented to see how happy the

family was when they received it. She also provided the five children with clothing, books and other school materials.

Moreover, she was able to pay the shopkeeper for one year’s worth of goods for the family.

“I would like to increase my services to everyone in Guyana, offer free food, yoga training, clothes, books and accessories for newly married couples who want to start a life on own; clothes for career oriented men and women who can’t afford to buy such clothes, uniforms for children who can’t attend schools because they don’t have, and a place where we can counsel and do health workshops for battered women and men. I teach yoga in New York, and the

money I collect is used to buy grocery bags for the poor families. We collect clothes, toys, books and shoes for all children in need, women and men.

We also have a fund for widows only, to help support them financially. I work hard and save every penny to donate to those who really need it. I encourage corporate Guyana to join me in my efforts,” she stated.

The humanitarian noted that she is hoping someone could donate a centre where she can operate from to expand her efforts. She is also welcoming more volunteers to join in her crusade to combat poverty.

For more information on Sandy’s charity, visit www.kishnafoundation.org (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

her private studio, before graduating in 1977.

Thereafter, Agard began a career in teaching, first at the School of Art in Guyana, aptly named after his friend and mentor, E.R. Burrowes. He later became principal of the school and lectured at the University of Guyana simultaneously.

Returning to Jamaica in 1983, he took up a position as lecturer at the

Shortwood Teachers’ College, and then at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts.

Agard is a graduate of the Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario. He is presently engaged as principal of the Institute of Arts and Culture, which he co-founded in 2007 with his wife, Dr Nolma Coley-Agard, in their resident community of Mandeville.

As a long standing member of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a value-creating organization for the promotion of peace through education and culture, the artist is devoted to the path of spiritual reawakening, in accordance with a philosophy which has its roots in the ancient teachings of the Lotus Sutra.

The historical, aes-

of art it was also necessary to become a competent and proficient artist. But that was not all, as my horizons widened and my intellectual enquiries became more indepth, I became more convinced about the educative potential of art.

All of life is about learning, and the best teacher is art. Being an artist means being a student of life. As a student of life one must learn “Celebration of our to channel cosmic Timehrian Kingdom ideas for the benof Love, Peace efit of society. It is & Happiness” the spiritual nature of art that concerns me most – the natural order and flow of the creative energyforces that govern the underlying currents within all life in the universe. This is the real currency, the true treasure that determines and sustains the extent of our value and worth as living beings. This is what I consider to be the meaning of the art that I produce, rethetic and cultural con- gardless of how it may text of our Caribbean, be described,” expressed out of which Keith Agard the artist. as an artist attempts to His artistic endeavcreate and express val- ours and work in genue, provide the inspira- eral, could therefore be tion for his passion to seen as a testimony of channel and seek har- his deep commitment to mony with cosmic intel- this pursuit, and also as ligence, as well as his a contribution to the dequest for total brother- velopment of the wellhood among all people. being, peace, prosper“My goal was always ity and happiness of to become a teacher of all people; to the whole art, but I discovered of Caribbean society. during the course of my (Guyana Times Sunday studies that as a teacher Magazine)

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Bollywood

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Aditya Roy Kapur wants to Shah Rukh Khan denies knowing get married and start a family son’s gender before birth

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ditya Roy Kapur recently revealed some of his deepest and darkest secrets as he talks about his life beyond the glitz and glam. When asked if he was one of those who want to remain a bachelor, Kapur responded “No. I believe in the institution of marriage. I want to get married and start a family.”

When asked what attracts him to a woman, he said “Her honesty and her eyes. If I were to talk about physical attributes, I really wouldn't know where to begin.” (TOI)

Don't want to be a size zero - Huma Qureshi

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hree-film-old Huma Qureshi, who has managed to garner equal adulation and flak for her curves in the size-zero-obsessed industry, prefers to be her pretty self rather than falling for the fad.

Huma was loved for her voluptuous figure and earthy style in her first movie 'Gangs of Wasseypur'. But she was criticised by some quarters for her weight issues.

"In 'Gangs of Wasseypur' I was the pretty girl, it was glamorous role. In 'Ek Thi Daayan' I was the heroine. I have always been the pretty girl. I think there are people who have a craze about size zero but today we do have heroines who are curvier," Huma said in an interview.

"Either you think of it (weight) as a problem or as an added advantage.

I would like to be known for my personality rather than size zero, I am an

S

uperstar Shah Rukh Khan has finally broken his silence on the birth of his newborn, denying that he knew the gender of his new baby before the boy’s premature delivery.

“Just to put the record straight there was no sex determination for our child. The baby was born much before the speculations of 'sex determination' and other 'issues' pertaining to the same were being raised in the media by

some organisations,” Khan said in a statement on the issue.

He added that, “our son is a surrogate baby and the entire process is bound by strict con-

fidentiality. We would appeal to all, to allow us to cherish this private moment as a family.”

The actor said it was unfortunate that he had to explain/clarify so many aspects for his new-born baby. “Wish it were just a simple message of happiness on behalf of the family,” Khan indicated.

He noted that “Gauri and our whole family have been dealing with his health issues for a long time now.”

Manisha Koirala looks forward to ‘newer challenges’

actress. I don't want to be a hanger," she said.

Huma feels there are so many actresses today who are not size zero but still have a huge fan following.

However, if in the near future a role demands for her to transform herself, she is game for it. (TOI)

M

anisha Koirala, who has returned to the life she treasures after defeating ovarian cancer, recently spoke about her sixmonth ordeal. The vivacious actress was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November last year and after a six-

month arduous battle, she has come out a winner. The actress returned to Mumbai on June 26 and today as she recuperates in her Versova home, she is discovering joy in the little pleasures of life. She is spending time enjoying the Mumbai monsoon, watching Woody Allen and Danny Boyle movies and hunting down the occasional organic food shops near her locality.

The actress plans to get back to work by October. "I am inspired and excited by the bolder, unusual crop of films and directors that we witness today. I have worked with some great directors and am looking forward to newer challenges." (TOI)

Ranbir Kapoor deeply in love with Katrina Kaif!

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he latest buzz about the cute pair, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, is that the Kapoor son is 'deeply committed' to Katrina.

Recently, there were rumors too of Ranbir getting back to his former ladylove Deepika Padukone. But according to latest reports, this is not true and Ranbir is deeply inclined towards Kat. A source revealed that, "The timing of these rumors is suspect; there's an agenda here.

Ranbir has no interest in Deepika, romantically. He is very upset with these rumours of their proximity. As for these rumours of RK smooch-

ing Deepika at a party, please ask those present what the real story is, and you will find out that Ranbir was a perfect gentleman." (TOI)

Madhuri Dixit urges women to be 'all in one'

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etween film shoots, TV shows, red carpet appearances, and her duty as a wife and mother, actress Madhuri Dixit believes

she is managing her personal and professional life quite well. She motivates others to be "all in one" too.

She says this balancing act is a key trait of "modern Indian women".

"Dancer, actor, mother, wife all these roles, I have lived in one life.

All in one is the mantra of the modern Indian women," the 46-year-old tweeted.

Madhuri, who is known as the dancing

queen of silver screen, is credited for her moves in songs like 'Humko aaj kal hai', 'Dhak dhak', 'Ek do teen', 'Que sera sera', 'Kaahe chhed mohe' and 'Aaja nachle'.

She took a break from showbiz when she married US-based surgeon Sriram Nene and shifted to Denver from Mumbai to start a family. Now she is back in tinsel town and judges celebrity participants on dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6’. (TOI)

Hollywood

Drake’s $4.2M Toronto condo on sale

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apper Drake is leaving his Canadian roots behind and has listed his sprawling Toronto condo for $4.2 million, RadarOnline. com has reported.

The 26-year-old Ontario native,

and apple of Amanda Bynes’ eye, currently lives in a $7.7 million Hidden Hills, Calif. mansion.

According to Trulia.com, the 3,000 square-foot pad offers 3-bedrooms and 3-bathrooms and sits on the 22nd floor of a sought-after Toronto highrise.

The condo building features pool, gym, sauna and valet parking.

But if you’re thinking of shelling out millions for Drake’s crib, be forewarned that the maintenance fees run at a whopping $3,361.51 per month! (RadarOnline)

Blake Lively shines at husband Ryan Reynolds' NYC premiere

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ince marrying Ryan Reynolds in a surprise wedding in September 2012, Blake Lively has been mostly staying out of the spotlight.

In fact, until Tuesday, the former ‘Gossip Girl’ star had only hit the red carpet four times this year!

Her fifth was Tuesday night at her husband's premiere in New York City, and she pulled out all the stops while supporting his

new flick, ‘Turbo’.

Clad in a sheer grey tank with crystallized pencil skirt, both Burberry Prorsum, the actress literally glowed.

She also opted for a perfectly summer minimal makeup look and left her famous blond hair down in loose, sexy waves.

As for accessories, Blake stayed loyal to her fashion friends, choosing Christian Louboutin nude pumps and a bit of bling from bud Lorraine Schwartz.

Of course, adding to her dazzling look was the massive engagement sparkler she sported on her left ring finger from her other half.

Selena Gomez's new song features voicemail from Bieber

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elena Gomez is opening up about her relationship with Justin Bieber through her music, according to an E!Online.com report.

The adorable pop star's new album ‘Stars Dance’ is set to debut in

just two weeks, but a new track from the highly anticipated record has leaked, and the Bieber breakup ballad, titled "Love Will Remember," features a voicemail from the former Disney darling's on-again, off-again beau, E!Online confirmed.

The song, which the singer has previously confessed is indeed about her ex, begins with a recording of a voicemail from Bieber confessing his love to his former gal.

"Hey babe, it's me," the recording begins. "I just want to call and tell you that I love you so, so, so, so much.

I just wanted to let you know that you are my princess. You are worthy of all the love in the world. You are the love of my life."

A

ctor-singer John Travolta says he felt comfortable playing a woman in big screen musical ‘Hairspray’, and that he didn't even have to practice walking like a girl for the role.

The 59-year-old has always been inspired by "erotic" screen sirens and this inspired him to take the role of a voluptuous comedy character Edna Turnblad in the 2007 film.

"Women have been so important in my life. I didn't need to ask my wife how to play a woman for my film 'Hairspray'. I'd grown up surrounded by women and had a lot of great memories," the sun.co.uk quoted Travolta as saying.

"The women I liked growing up were Sophia Loren, Anita Ekberg,

Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.

They were erotic to me. I have the ability to move in a curvaceous way. If you give me breasts and an ass - as I had in 'Hairspray', with the prosthetics - I can move," he added. (TOI)

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Leonardo DiCaprio helps mum find love

‘T

itanic’ star L e o n a r d o DiCaprio has played matchmaker to help his mother find love again.

Irmelin Indenbirken, who divorced the 38-year-old actor's father George when he was a baby, showed off her beau of one year, David, at an Independence Day party, reported New York Post online.

A guest who asked

David about his romance with Irmelin, said, "He said Leo and his (own) daughter, the wife of a Black Keys

band member, set them up on a blind date, and they've been together ever since."

"The two danced next to Leo... and partied away until the wee hours."

The holiday bash was a double date for the mother-son duo.

DiCaprio was joined by his new girlfriend, Victoria's Secret model Toni Garrn, who he has been dating since May. (TOI)

Matt Damon feels bad for Brad Pitt

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ctor friend Matt Damon is sympathetic towards his friend, Hollywood star Brad Pitt, who is always followed by paparazzi and, thus, cannot enjoy his personal life.

Damon and Pitt became friends after co-starring in the ‘Ocean's Eleven’ franchise.

The ‘Bourne Identity’ actor has managed to raise his children away from the spotlight unlike Pitt and his fiancee Angelina Jolie. Damon is happy he doesn't lead a similar life.

"If you can control the celebrity side of celebrity, then it (being super famous) is worth it. I look at Brad - and I have for years - and when I'm with him I see the intensity of that other side of it," Esquire quoted the 42-year-old as saying, reports femalefirst.

"And the paparazzi and the insane level of aggression they have and their willingness to break the law and in-

vade his space - well, I wonder about that trade," he added.

Damon feels bad for his celebrity friend as he is not able to even walk his children to school. (TOI)

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Sport

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Vettori turns down NZC contract

D

aniel Vettori’s playing future is unclear after he decided not to take up a New Zealand Cricket contract this year due to uncertainty over his recovery from injury.

Vettori said he intended to work hard to return to playing over the next six months, following surgery on his Achilles tendon, but the doubt about when he would regain full fitness led him to take himself out of the mix for either an NZC contract or a deal with Northern Districts.

Vettori, 34, had surgery following the recent Champions Trophy, at which he made his comeback to one-day internationals for the first time in nearly two and a half years. He has not played Test cricket for nearly a year, since the series in the West Indies last July, and although he hopes to add to his 112 Test appearances and 360 wickets, his playing future will only be determined after his recovery from surgery is complete.

“I am very focused on my recovery from my recent surgery and will be working hard to get back onto the playing field over the next six-month

Daniel Vettori

period,” Vettori said.

“Given the time I’ll need to spend out of the game with my recovery, and the level of uncertainty about when I may play again, it doesn’t feel right that I take up a retainer contract this year. I will now focus on my rehabilitation in the coming months, with the overall goal of making a return to the cricket field during the summer months.

Hopefully it goes well.

“I’m really hopeful the surgery is the final effort to get it right, and speaking to the surgeon, he’s pretty confident he could get it right,” Vettori said.

“He’s dealt with similar sorts of injury in the past and had guys come back to full sporting activity, so let’s just hope it

works.

“I suppose it’s been a real grind the last 18 months with the injury and in a lot of ways it has probably diminished some of the appetite to do a lot of things but I think that’s purely down to the injury so... if I can get this injury right, who knows. This has been unlike anything else I’ve had to deal with in the past. I just want to get it right then the future will crystallise after that,” he added.

David White, the NZC chief executive, said: “In the ICC Champions Trophy Dan showed the immense value that he still brings to the Black Caps side. Unfortunately Dan has indicated he’s in a position where he feels uncomfortable taking a contract this season, as he builds towards making a return to the cricket field.

“As always, Dan has made his decision in the best interests of New Zealand Cricket and we appreciate his honesty and up-front approach.

There’s no doubting Dan’s hunger to continue competing, and we hope to see him back playing for the Black Caps again when the time is right.”

(Cricinfo)

Sport Feature

Dalton Polius was born to play

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his passionate declaration came from the mouth of Dalton Polius, who was recently drafted into the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) for the Zouks, St Lucia’s franchise team. At the age of 22, he is focused, determined, knows what he wants and is going after it.

Polius could have opted to go the route that most take after leaving school; that is, apply for a ‘regular’ job, receive a fixed salary and be relatively content.

After all, this is the path that a lot of 20-somethings take.

However, this was not an option that this young man from Corinth could consider because he realised the challenge he would face when requesting time off to represent his country for cricket. He is grateful to the Sports Ministry in St Lucia that employed him, along with Johnson Charles, Garey Mathurin and Keddy Lesporis, as a cricket coach because this allowed him the flexibility to play cricket professionally.

Ambitious

Ambitious from the start, Dalton attended school in St Lucia, including the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School where he was the first student from the school to be chosen to attend Woodhouse Grove School in England.

This opportunity came about as the result of a scholarship established by the St Lucia Tourist Board, which gave young persons the chance to study and play cricket overseas.

Polius attended Woodhouse in 2007 to pursue his A Level studies, and returned home in 2009. Not one to let a chance to play more cricket pass him by, he told his coach at Woodhouse, Ian Frost, that he wanted to return the following year.

Frost didn’t hesitate.

He scouted around and it wasn’t long before the Collingham Linton Cricket Club scooped Polius up.

One of the club’s players, Sam Anderson, was a past student of Woodhouse and Dalton

Dalton Polius

was invited to play with the club in the AiraWharfe Cricket League, Division 1. He played for one season and returned to St Lucia in 2010 to focus on playing for the Windward Islands.

The all-rounder says cricket, just like family, is a major part of his life. He grew up watching his dad playing cricket on the community playing field.

“My dad was a huge cricket fan and played cricket with passion. At first, I didn’t really like the sport but it grew on me. Having been in the environment for so long I had to give in, and once I did it was like second nature. It was like a natural progression of my life and from then onwards I wanted to be a cricketer.”

Polius started taking cricket seriously at the age of 11 and was soon playing in local leagues organised by the Sports Ministry and representing St Lucia and the Windward Islands in both Under-15 and Under-19 tournaments.

In 2011 he played his first game for the Windwards (senior team) against the England lions A Team in Dominica, and in 2012 he helped St Lucia win the Windward Islands Tournament for the first time in 43 years.

He entered the programme at the Sagicor High Performance Centre in Barbados in June this year, and the 18-month stint will take him up to December 2014.

When he first started playing, Polius says there was Brian Lara and other guys from the Caribbean who he could emulate but no one that he could look up to at home.

Inspiration

“Then Darren Sammy came along. He is my hero and has been a source of inspiration to me. He has achieved so much and my aim is to reach and even surpass his achievements,” declared Dalton.

“I bought him his first bat when he was 11,” his mother, Marilen recalls.

“He hasn’t put it down since. Sometimes he would just hold the bat in his hand even when he wasn’t playing, and that’s how I knew he was serious, and would reach somewhere. We come from a sporting family – netball, football and cricket. I was very good at netball but Dalton has broken through barriers that we couldn’t cross.” Polius is emotional when she thinks of what her son has accomplished.

“I am so proud that he has reached this far but I tell him ‘Don’t take the glory because the glory belongs to God. He alone can make this happen for you. Put God first, be focused, and you will continue to climb the ladder of success,’” she added.

Polius’ father, JeanBaptiste Emilien, is equally proud. “Dalton is very humble and he listens to what I have to say. He is not one to hang out and get in trouble. Sometimes I even have to beg him to go out!” said Emilien.

“It is so great. When he was selected for the LCPL, I was elated. This is exposure for him to move on and reach as far as he can.”

Polius intends to do just that. His goal: to reach the pinnacle of the sport of cricket, the game he says he was born to play. (CPL)

SPort

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TT win Regional Under-17 title “Teach Them Young” cycling

S

carborough, TOBAGO – Trinidad and Tobago captured the second edition of the West Indies Cricket Board Tobago House of Assembly Regional Under 17 title by topping the points table with 24.8 points.

Barbados (19.9 points) edged ahead of Windward Islands (19.5 points) into the second spot while Leeward

a tournament high 271 runs with one century and two half centuries at an average of 54.2. In addition to his 107 against Barbados, Powell also scored a composed 90 against Guyana.

Trinidadian wicketkeeper/ batsman Amir Jangoo came in number two with 259 runs (two fifties) with a top score of 96 and an average of 51.8.

9.85. He was followed

by Deswin Currency of Barbados who bagged 12 wickets at 11.33 apiece.

Leeward Islands fast bowler Alzarri Joseph snared 11 wickets at an average of 17.45 while Jamaica’s captain Abhijai Mansingh took 10 at 13.4.

Ian Boyce (Barbados), Kershaki Jno Lewis (Windward Islands), Carl Vialva (TT) and Varindra Jagrup (TT)

programme commences

National cycling coach Hassan Mohammed interacting with the participants before the commencement of the 37th annual “Teach Them Young” cycling programme on Monday at the inner circuit of the National Park (Rajiv Bisnauth photo)

T

The Trinidad and Tobago squad pose with their trophy

Islands (13.8 points) and defending champions Jamaica (12.8 points) finished 4th and 5th respectively. Guyana (6.7 points) took the cellar position.

The home side completed four wins, beating Leewards, Windwards, Barbados and Guyana.

Trinidad and Tobago lost only to Jamaica in the third round.

Barbados gained their points by prevailing in three matches against Jamaica, Guyana and Windwards.

Ross Powell of the Leeward Islands, scored

Next was Barbados’ Shemar Springer who tallied 223 runs at an astonishing average of 111.5.

He struck two half centuries, including his tournament best of 71 not out.

Rounding off the top five run scorers was Guyana’s Shimron Hetmyer (192 runs, 38.4 avg) who was the only other batsman to have scored a century in the tournament.

Windwards’ Daryl Cyrus was the leading wicket-taker with 13 scalps at an average of

each took nine wickets to share the number five spot.

The lanky Joseph registered the only five wicket haul of the tournament with 5 for 40 against Guyana.

The Regional Under 17 tournament was inaugurated in 2012 and Jamaica won the title on that occasion.

The WICB Regional Under 15 Tournament commences on July 12 in Jamaica while the Regional Under 19 Tournament will bowl off on July 19 in St Kitts.

(WICB Media)

Gonsalves lifts national junior lightweight title

D

exter Gonsalves, the Trinidad and Tobago-based Guyanese, is the new national junior lightweight title holder, following a seventh round knockout of Revlon Lake, the Barbados-based Guyanese. The duo was fighting the main attraction of the 28th edition of the Friday Night Fight ProAm boxing card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Friday evening.

Also in winner’s row were debutants Romeo Norville and Laured Stewart, who both chalked up impressive unanimous points decision victories over Eversley Browne and Anson Greene respectively.

Leon Moore floored Errol Trotman, while

Troy Lewis and Kelsie George fought to a draw

on the professional segment.

he annual “Teach Them Young” cycling programme commenced Monday at the inner circuit of the National Park for youths to learn the basics of cycling. National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, the brainchild of the “Teach Them Young” programme, told Guyana Times International Sport, that the goal of the programme is to encourage more participation in the sport, prevent delinquency and produce champions. He added that participants will be given an introductory course to cycling, which will involve theory and practical sessions.

Sessions will be held from 09: 00h to 11: 30h on Monday to Friday for the duration of the event, and, according Mohamed, while he was

pleased with the turnout on the opening day, he is expecting more youths to participate as the days progress.

While the youngsters will be taught the rudiments of the sport, they will also be afforded opportunities to test their skills in a competitive environment since there will be several 11-race programmes hosted during the eight weeks.

The first champion to emerge from the programme in 1977 was former president of the Guyana Cycling Federation and lecturer at the University of Guyana, Hector Edwards. He was followed by Leo Ramalho, who has since ventured into the sport of rifle shooting.

Some of the other notable names whose foundation came as a result of

the programme were the Fiedtkou brothers – Noel and Marcus, Byron and Bertram James, Dwayne “Road Hogg” Gibbs, Godfrey Pollydore, the late Troy Humphrey, Linden Dowridge, Eric Sankar, Warren McKay, Daniel Ramchurjee, Shane Boodram, Alanzo Greaves, Geron Williams, Robin Persaud and Enzo Matthews among others.

Considered the nursery for cycling in Guyana and now in its 37th year, the programme will be run for the next eight weeks, concluding on August 30.

The programme first started in 1977 by national cycling coach Hassan Mohammed with the help of the National Sports Commission and is the oldest nursery of any sport discipline in the country.

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Minister Anthony says he is proud of Baird’s achievements

By Treiston Joseph

G

uyana Olympic Association (GOA) president KA Juman Yassin declared that he will be nominating Kadecia Baird, 2013 400 metres gold medalist at the just-concluded Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championship in Mexico, for the Olympic Solidarity Fund when it becomes available.

“Well I’m very elated about it (gold medal win) I want to extend our congratulations to her and wish her many more successes.

“We will be nominating her

for the Olympic solidarity fund which should give her about Gy$ 1200 to Gy$ 1500 US per month.

They (International Olympic Association) haven’t started sharing out as yet but they will shortly and we will look to see whatever else we can do,” Yassin revealed to Guyana Times International Sport on Monday.

Meanwhile, Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony offered his congratulations to the CAC 400m gold medalist, noting that the victory was not a surprise because of Baird’s talent.

“Well I’m very pleased that

Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony

Kadecia Baird

Kadecia has done so well and we want to extend our congratulations to her, we have known for quite some time now that she is quite a talented young lady and once given the opportunity she would excel.

Baird, who also won a 2013 Carifta bronze and a 2012 World Junior silver medal, will also be eligible for the World Championships next month in Moscow, Russia, since she qualified with the A standard time.

Anthony also commented on the way forward for the athlete from the governmental level: “Well it’s something we will have to look at, generally going forward to 2016 its really the Olympic Association who would normally identify the team to represent the country at the Olympics… so I guess we have to get together and collectively talk to her coach and to the person managing her to see what it is that we can do to move her forward to the Olympics.”

Caribbean athletes secure qualifying marks for World Championships

J

amaica, Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas finished behind host Mexico following strong performances on the final day of competition at the XXIV Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior Athletics Championships on Sunday. Mexico topped the medal count with a total of 47, including 17 gold medals.

Jamaica was the top English-speaking Caribbean country with 21 medals, 11 of which are gold. They were followed by Trinidad and Tobago (13), The Bahamas (eight) and Barbados (four).

The highlight on the final day was a new championship record for Odayne Richards of Jamaica in the Men’s Shot Put event. He threw the iron ball at a distance of 20.97 metres, erasing his compatriot Dorian Scott’s mark of 20.21m set in 2007.

He was more than three metres ahead of his nearest rival, Josue Santana of Mexico (17.74m).

The winning throw also gives him an “A” standard qualifying mark in the event for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Moscow, Russia next month.

Also securing individual qualifying marks for the World Championships were Kineke Alexander of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antoine Adams of St Kitts and Nevis, Lalonde Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago and Jason Livermore of Jamaica.

Alexander won the Women’s 200m in 23.00, inside of the “A” standard time of 23.05s. She was followed

by Aleen Bailey of Jamaica (23.08s) and Marielys Sanchez of the Dominican Republic (23.15s).

Adams (20.13s), Gordon (20.28s) and Livermore (20.29s) took the top three positions in the Men’s 200m and confirmed qualifying times for selections on their respective national teams.

There were also victories for Cuba-born Yordanys Durañona, who now competes for Dominica, in the Men’s Triple Jump (16.45m); Darrell Garwood of Jamaica the Men’s High Jump (2.22m), same height as Jamal Wilson of The Bahamas who took the silver medal; Emmanuel Mayers of TT in the Men’s 400m Hurdles (49.72s) and Danielle Dowdie of Jamaica in the Women’s 400m Hurdles (56.39s).

Trinidad and Tobago secured gold medals in the final two events – the 4x400m relays. The Trinidadian quartet of Shawna Fermin, Sparkle McKnight, Ramona Modeste and Alena Brooks took the gold in 3: 30.64 followed by Mexico (3: 34.52) and The Bahamas (3: 36.41).

Pre-race favourite Jamaica was disqualified.

Trinidad and Tobago also ran away with the Men’s version in 3: 02.19, with the Bahamas (3: 02.66) and The Dominican Republic (3: 02.82) finishing second and third respectively. (CMC)

England hit back as 14...

from back page

wickets of his own to leave the match beautifully poised, with Steve Smith on 38 not out.

If England can dismantle the remainder of the Australian batting order they could yet escape with the first innings lead they were targeting when captain Alastair Cook won the toss and chose to bat on a dry pitch hardened by several days of sunshine.

It was a decision that appeared justified as the hosts found the boundary 19 times in the first session and advanced to a promising 178-4 in the afternoon.

But a combination of poor shot selection and fine swing bowling saw them lose their last six wickets for 37 runs to round off an innings that had lasted just 59 overs.

With Stuart Broad off the field receiving treatment to a shoulder injury he suffered while batting, Australia began their innings positively.

Shane Watson struck successive fours off Finn as they took the total to 19 off as many balls.

But the Middlesex fast bowler gained his revenge with a double strike as first Watson, then Cowan were drawn into chasing balls outside off stump, sending thick edges through to a gleeful England slip cordon.

If Finn’s intervention had altered the course of the match, Anderson was about to turn things full circle with the wicket of Michael Clarke for a sixball duck.

The Australia captain, averaging 66 in his 24 previous Tests as skipper, was beaten by a ball that moved away at the last moment and kissed the top of his off stump.

Anderson’s 308th Test wicket took him past Fred Trueman into third on England’s all- time list, and his 309th followed soon afterwards as Chris Rogers was trapped lbw to a ball which replays

revealed would have brushed the outside of leg stump.

It was a breathtaking finale to a day that began with fireworks and a fly by from the Red Arrows to mark the renewal of hostilities in one of sport’s oldest rivalries.

Australia sprung a huge surprise before the start of play by handing 19-year-old spinner Ashton Agar his Test debut at the expense of Nathan Lyon.

The tall left-armer, of Sri Lankan background, had only played 10 previous first-class matches and was lining up in the Home Counties Premier League for Henley earlier this season.

James Pattinson, one of five Australians playing in their first Ashes Test, was given the responsibility of delivering the first ball of the series. But as a hush descended over the 17,000 fans inside a sold-out Trent Bridge, the 23-year-old sent down a

high and wayward bouncer that was rightly called a wide.

Left-armer Mitchell Starc delivered a similarly inauspicious first over, but once their nerves settled Australia’s new ball pair found plenty of swing and beat the bat with regularity.

Pattinson claimed the wicket of the England captain in the ninth over as Cook aimed a forceful shot at a ball outside off stump and got a healthy nick through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Jonathan Trott quickly wrested the initiative back England’s way, striking consecutive boundaries in Siddle’s first over and cracking Agar’s first delivery - a full toss - to the cover fence.

Joe Root had appeared equally assured in a partnership of 51 before he was clean bowled by a superb away-swinging yorker from Siddle.

Kevin Pietersen and Trott followed soon after

lunch, the former edging an expansive shot to second slip for 14 and the latter deflecting an equally reckless drive on to his stumps.

Ian Bell and Jonny Bairstow revived England with a counter-attacking partnership of 54, but the wicket of Bell caught at first slip off another fine delivery from Siddle - proved pivotal as England’s lower order folded miserably.

Matt Prior lazily

slapped Siddle to point for one and Broad top-edged a pull shot to gift Pattinson the simplest of caught and bowled dismissals.

Bairstow was bowled after playing around a full ball from Starc, with Finn caught behind off the following delivery.

Anderson survived Starc’s hat-trick ball but in the following over Graeme Swann prodded tamely to cover to complete the rout. (BBC Sport)

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IAAF World Youth Champs…

Jamaica dominates track at opening session Michael O’Hara (Jamaica Gleaner file photo)

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amaica’s athletes were dominant on the track, but had little success in the field during the opening session of the IAAF World Youth Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine inside the RSC Olympiyskiy on Tuesday.

All eight of Jamaica’s competitors who featured on the track, won their respective heats, while shot put and discus competitors Demar

Gayle and Paula-Ann Gayle failed to progress in their respective events.

In the boys 100m heats, Michael O’Hara recovered from a poor start to win his heat in 10.66, the same time registered by Waseem Williams, who was also first cross the line in his heat.

Yanique Thompson and Rushelle Burton were the second and

fourth fastest in qualifying in the girls 100m hurdles heats, after comfortable wins.

Thompson, the fastest in the world this year with a time of 13.23, clocked 13.52 to win heat 5, while Burton fought a strong -2.5 headwind to take her heat in 13.78 to join Thompson in Thursday’s semi-final.

Both Jamaicans are also through to the next round of the boys

400m after gold medal contender Devaughn Baker, 47.58 and Martin Manley, 47.08, won their respective heats quite easily.

The females were also comfortable in

qualifying, with Tiffany James taking heat one of the girls 400m in 54.66, while world number two Yanique McNeil also booked her spot in the next round with a 54.69 win in her heat.

Demar Gayle registered a personal best 18.34m in boys shot put qualifying but missed the finals, as did PaulaAnn Gayle in the girls discus, after her 42.63m effort. (Jamaica Gleaner)

guyanatimeSinternational.com

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

week ending july 14, 2013

National Lotteries Control Board sponsors Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel for Limacol CPL P

ort of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – The National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) has signed on as the sponsor of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel team for the upcoming Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) T20 tournament. The official announcement was made by Brian Sawh, director of the NLCB, at a press conference in Port of Spain on Wednesday.

Also in attendance was the Honourable Anil Roberts, Trinidad and Tobago sport minister, Colin Borde, Manager of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel team, Red Steel Captain Dwayne Bravo and team members Darren Bravo and Justin Guillen.

“The National Lotteries Control Board is proud to be a part of this new and exciting journey in our country’s and region’s sporting his-

TT Red Steel Captain Dwayne Bravo and NLCB Director Brian Sawh show off the TT Red Steel uniform

tory,” said Sawh.

“July 30, 2013 marks the dawn of a new era.

The Limacol Caribbean Premier League brings a brand new platform for our young cricket-

ers to aspire to be great, and another platform for our household stars to bring pride to their adoring fans. For this reason, the NLCB takes great pride in doing our part

as the title sponsor of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.”

“We are delighted to have NLCB come on board as the founding sponsor of the Trinidad

and Tobago Red Steel,” said Jamie Stewart, Commercial Director and Consultant to the Limacol CPLT20.

“The theme of the Limacol CPL is ‘We’ve Come to Play’ and NLCB and its products fit in well with that. NLCB is a proud Trinidad organisation and we thank them for taking the step of giving full support to the Team in this inaugural season.”

Commenting on the announcement, Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel Captain Dwayne Bravo said, “The NLCB is well known here for its support of local cricket, and as a Trini, it makes me happy to know that a local company has seen the value of investing in Red Steel.”

Red Steel Team Manager Colin Borde agreed. “Having NLCB partner with Red Steel strengthens both brands as we are equally com-

mitted to the support and development of cricket,” said Borde.

“Red Steel’s goal is to not only play great, entertaining cricket but to work alongside corporate Trinidad and Tobago to enhance the game. NLCB’s support for cricket here is a natural result of this vision.”

The inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premiere League begins on July 30 with 24 matches to be played across six Caribbean countries: Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel’s first match takes place on July 31 in Guyana against the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

The first match at Queen’s Park Oval will take place on August 7 when the Red Steel take on the Jamaica Tallawahs.

Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie England hit back as 14 wickets crash to run for parliament

E

thiopian athletics star Haile Gebrselassie says he is entering politics with the aim of winning a parliamentary seat in the 2015 election. The 40-year-old’s announcement follows longstanding rumours that his athletics career is drawing to a close. He has not said under which party’s banner he will contest the election.

Ethiopia’s parliament is dominated by the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). It has only one opposition MP. Help my country “A lot of messages in the news about me going into politics,” Gebrselassie said on Twitter. “Yes,

James Anderson bowled superbly on the opening day

Haile Gebrselassie

I want to be in the parliament in 2015 to help my country to move forward.” Gebrselassie is a four time world 10,000m champion and won gold at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.

He officially announced his retirement in 2010 but then went on to compete in races after recovering from a knee injury.

In April, he won

his third consecutive Vienna half marathon and also took part in the Boston marathon, which was hit by a double bomb attack that killed three people.

The EPRDF is accused by rights groups of leading a highly repressive regime, using anti-terrorism law as a pretext to imprison opposition activists and journalists. (BBC Sport)

E

ngland fought back brilliantly with the ball after disappointing with the bat on an astonishing opening day of the Ashes series at Trent Bridge on Wednesday. In a riotous final session, the hosts lost their last four wickets for two runs in crumbling to 215 all out before tearing through Australia’s top order with the new ball to reduce them to 75-4.

Peter Siddle was Australia’s outstanding performer on an overcast day which offered plenty of assistance to swing bowlers, removing five of England’s top seven to finish with figures of 5-50.

But Steven Finn dismissed Shane Watson and Ed Cowan in successive balls and James Anderson took two continued on page 52

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