Guyana Times International 19th April 2019

INTERNATIONAL

Calls mount for probe into controversial housing contract

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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PR firm hired to counter APNU/AFC “lies” in Washington ISSUE NO. 445

WEEK ENDING APRIL 21, 2019

See story on Page 9

- Jagdeo

Guyana's Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo visited New York last weekend where he met with and engaged members of the Guyanese Disapora in a Town Hall meeting. Matters regarding the current political situation in the country, more particularly the December 21 2018 No-Confidence Motion against the Coalition Government and the court matters arising therefrom were discussed.

Significant decline in US visitor visas for Guyanese in 2018

…over 70% of applicants denied …7506 permanent visas issued last year

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Significant decline in US visitor visas for Guyanese in 2018

…over 70% of applicants denied …7506 permanent visas issued last year

E

ven as authorities maintain that there is nothing to worry about regarding United States visa policies, a significant decline in the number of visitor visas issued by the US Embassy in Guyana was recorded last year.

According to a visa summary provided by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, a total of 4923 visitor visas were approved by the US Embassy in Georgetown during the 2018 Fiscal Year, which runs from October 2017 to September 2018.

This is a whopping 20,000 plus decline compared to the 25,338 visas

granted in 2017. It was also significantly less than the 51,202 visas in 2016; 30,121 in 2015;

and 17,284 visas in 2014.

The last time these figures were below 5000 was in 2010 when only

4242 non-immigrant visas were granted.

While these visas were granted from the

Embassy’s head office in Georgetown, another 306 Guyanese got their visitor visas outside of

Guyana. The category ‘Non-immigrant Visa issued by Nationality’ shows that 5229 Guyanese were granted visas, while the refusal rate for ‘Visa’ (non-immigrant) by Nationality for Guyana stood at 70.62 per cent.

Meanwhile, with regards to permanent residency, a total of 7506 immigrant visas were granted by the US to Guyanese in 2018.

These figures over the years, however, have been declining. A total of 6403 immigrant visas were processed in 2014; 6154 in 2015; and 5600 in 2016.

According the US continued on page 7

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EDITORIAL

T

Power to the people!

he issue of the legitimacy of rulership has been an ancient preoccupation of mankind ever since we crept out of caves and formed settlements wherein we were forced to devise rules for choosing leaders. Initially, it was probably a matter of self-selection, with the man who could wield the largest club enforcing his selection of himself as the most suitable candidate.

From that, it was not long before those rulers were legitimised by the newly developed religions, which sanctified the notion of the “divine right of kings” to rule.

In the West, it was not until Henry VIII decided to rebel against the legitimising role of the dominant European Catholic Church in the late 16th century, by insisting that his English Anglican Church could perform the role just as well, that the legitimacy question came under wider scrutiny.

By 1660, the political philosopher Thomas Hobbes proposed that legitimacy is conferred by the citizens of a country, who execute a “social contract” with their leaders. He proposed that outside of civilised society, man lived in a “state of nature” wherein life was “nasty, brutish and short”, so that it was in his interest to transfer his sovereignty to a ruler – the “Leviathan” – who would guarantee peace.

Over the centuries, the notion of the social contract remained at the centre of political philosophy as developed by John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and all the way into the 20th century by John Rawls. The idea that all power and sovereignty reside in the people, which they confer to their government of choice, has now become the cornerstone of democratic legitimacy; surviving, as it has, the divine rule of kings, fascism, totalitarianism, authoritarianism, and the “dictatorship of the proletariat”.

At the highest level, the social contract is literally encompassed by the people forming themselves into a constituent assembly and crafting a constitution that adumbrates the terms of the contract. The government and the people, therefore, must give the greatest respect to the constitution, and breaches by either party must be dealt with condignly. History in general, and our own history in particular, has shown that the Leviathan is always prone to violating its delegated powers, and the people must have an almost reflexive reaction against this tendency. This tendency is even greater when the government in question has utilised the law of the jungle to create a constitution without the participation of the people to create the “general will” that confers on that constitution the highest legitimacy.

And this is exactly what the PNC did in the 1970s, when they rigged themselves a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, transformed that Assembly into a Constituent Assembly, and created a constitution that was never ratified by the people through a transparent sleight of hand.

The Guyana Constitution promulgated by the PNC in 1980 therefore never reflected the necessary social contract between the Guyanese people and the rulers; it merely codified the existential iron rule of the self-described “paramount party”.

While there were extensive changes to the constitution in 2000, those, ironically, were occasioned by the PNC using force in the streets to “democratise” the structure of Parliament to include them in governance.

Because of this history, the PNC have very little respect for the Constitution, as far as following its rules to secure legitimacy from the people is concerned. Their antediluvian attitude is more reminiscent of the “beat them over the head” cave man theory of rulership, as illustrated most recently by their refusal to obey the Constitution’s sanctified no-confidence motion to test the legitimacy of governments. When the shoe was on the other foot, they were willing to use the NCM in 2014 to oust the PPP Government. But suddenly, when deployed by the PPP, the PNC resorted to the most blatant sophistry to remain in office.

The Guyanese people will have to look beyond partisan politics and realise that we risk toppling our entire political edifice if we allow the PNC to flaunt the rules of democratic legitimacy.

Power to the people!

Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch visited East Berbice-Corentyne, Region 6 last week as she continues to familiarize herself with Guyana’s landscape. (In this US Embassy photo Ambassador Lynch takes a look at vegetables on sale at Skeldon Market).

Providing decent jobs for young people

U

nemployment and poverty are two of the main challenges that countries, including Guyana, are faced with at present.

Unemployment leads to financial crisis and reduces the overall purchasing capacity of a nation. This in turn results in persons getting in the bracket of poverty followed by increasing burden of debt.

It is true that unemployment and poverty are mostly common in the less developed and developing economies.

For example, just a few days ago it was reported in the media in Guyana that there is a whopping 40 per cent unemployment rate among youths in Guyana. This is quite a high percentage of our young people not being able to find the right kind of jobs to meet their expenses and to develop professionally.

In 2012, the Bureau of Statistics conducted a survey which found that 10,326 or 37 per cent of the 17,571 Guyanese between the ages of 15 and 19 were unemployed. The high rate of youth unemployment has triggered a number of negative effects such as crime etc. In fact, only in January, Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said that 80 per cent of prosecuted crimes are committed by youths in the region are between the ages of 19 and 29.

Statistics show that young people constitute one-quarter of the world’s population in the developing nations. This signals a vibrant and hopeful resource for the world. However, far too many young people are being pushed to the margins of society – unable to obtain a quality education or secure a

good job so that they can help to break the cycle of poverty which continues to plague their families and communities.

Young people are crying out for decent jobs and opportunities to develop themselves. Some persons who would have obtained the necessary skills and qualifications at the University of Guyana and other tertiary learning institutions have written letters to media complaining about the difficulties they are facing in securing employment.

On the 2015 elections campaign trail, the APNU/ AFC Coalition had promised that once elected, steps would be taken to provide jobs for young people so that they would chose to remain and work in Guyana, but four years into government and many are still waiting to see these promises fulfilled.

This is not to say that governments alone are responsible for creating jobs, but they have an obligation to the citizenry to create an enabling environment through effective and efficient policy implementation to make this possible.

Governmental bodies must display vision to initiate long term measures for poverty alleviation since generation of employment opportunities and equality in income distribution are the two key factors that are of utmost importance to deal with the dual problem of unemployment and poverty.

There is need to scale up the most effective and innovative strategies so that more of our youth will find success and realise their full potential in the years ahead.

In doing so it is necessary to have more collaboration be-

tween governments and the public and private sectors to increase the scale of youth programmes and to seriously engage stakeholders in promoting job and skills opportunities.

Further, it is not only the quantity, but also the quality of jobs that matters. Decent work is the best way young people can realize their aspirations, improve their living conditions and actively participate in society. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the youth employment challenge. The UN has pointed out that policy responses depend on national circumstances, hence it is necessary that policy options should be part of an integrated framework that promotes economic development and employment growth.

Young people have different experiences and their needs depend on individual characteristics such as age, gender, national origin, socio-economic background and educational and training levels. This calls for combining policies for employment expansion with targeted programmes that overcome the specific labour market disadvantages faced by many young people.

Therefore, policies and national programmes that provide incentives to enterprises to hire young people, promote youth entrepreneurship, and facilitate access to finance and to other targeted active labour market measures can also help countries to improve decent work prospects of its young population.

The development of national action plans on youth employment that are focused on these elements can guide countries to translate national commitment into action.

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Cops question Opposition Leader over “chase them out” statement March 21, 2019, “by chasing them out” since that was the time according to the Constitution that they would have been illegally occupying office if an election was not held.

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Opposition Leader and as such, the two CID ranks turned up at his Church Street, Georgetown office to question him about his utterances.

Jagdeo has since promised to provide a

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo being questioned by two CID ranks in the presence of his lawyers at his Church Street, Georgetown office on Wednesday

olice ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters on Wednesday turned up at the Office of the Opposition Leader, after Bharrat Jagdeo returned from his overseas trip.

While he was not

arrested, he was questioned about statements allegedly delivered at Babu Jaan and directed to President Granger and PM Nagamootoo.

This would presumably mean that the two high officials had to have filed a complaint against Jagdeo, thus

giving credibility to claims that Police action against the opposition leader was politically directed.

During an annual memorial service March 10, 2019 at Babu Jaan for former President and founding member of the People’s Progressive

Party (PPP) Dr Cheddi Jagan in Port Mourant, Corentyne, Jagdeo called upon all Guyanese to reject the coalition Government, including President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo after

A snapshot of the story published in 2015

A complaint was subsequently filed against the

written statement on the matter.

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Desperate attempts by APNU/AFC to regain public’s trust Dear Editor, Of recent, there has been a series of ministerial meetings with Ministers from the joint APNU/AFC where they urge the public to reach with them so they can work to a solution together.

Over the years, since gaining power, this ruling party has only succeeded in disappointing a majority of the population in Guyana amidst the accusations of corruption, bullyism and lack of vision for development. Now that General Election is somewhere close, we are seeing various attempts to regain the public’s confidence and regardless of what is being said about the main opposition, they seem more favourable in comparison.

Under the previous Administration, many were benefiting from the little gestures that were extended by

the PPP/C, especially school children (vouchers) and the pensioners.

Immediately after taking power, these gestures were cruelly ripped away with promises for betterment. Instead, we saw an increase in almost everything in Guyana including tolls. Added to that, there was a massive downsize across Guyana from various companies after they were being targeted for victimisation and closure of estates with unfulfilled promises to the workers. Without a doubt, we are experiencing tremendous hardship and are only hearing about the promises of oil while they continue to go about talking about working to a solution when they themselves destroy the little hope that Guyanese were living on.

Editor, I am still looking for the job creation that was promised, I am not

looking at those that were given to close comrades or families from within the parties, but what was promised to benefit Guyanese across the country. Go around the country, you will see various changes of staff at most Government places and should you interact with them, you will observe a serious attitude problem. Many people are complaining and no action is being taken to remedy this.

Under the previous Administration, you could have visited any hospital and be able to get some if not all the prescribed drugs. Regardless of what is being said, that was there, you could have gone to the hospital pharmacy night or day, even weekends and get your prescription. That tells me that things were looking good.

Editor, we all wanted to be able to

live comfortably in Guyana, thus some were entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that mechanisms are in place but when it’s not, they should be criticised and they must be able to remedy the situation. This was not happening under the previous Administration, thus the public’s trust diminished.

Instead, now, you are being labelled because you talk against. Within the ruling Administration, there are many who are seeing wrongs being committed and are afraid to talk because of the fear of victimisation. Regardless of who, people must be free to express their minds and share their opinions freely. I thought we all wanted change for betterment, but incidentally, it’s worse.

Sincerely, Sahadeo Bates

There is need for The plight of transparency at GECOM workers in Guyana Dear Editor, Immediately after the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) and the country being under the impression that elections would be held soon, social media started buzzing about the increase of minimum wages by supporters of the ruling coalition. I commented on one politician’s post that the statement is not entirely correct and amongst his reply, he pointed out that I am bitter.

As I indicated before, if I am, I have all right to be. I am not one of those hypocrites that would see something wrong and not point it out. In and out of politics, that attitude has caused me a lot and I still persist in speaking out, not for me alone but for those who are afraid. Now this Administration and its supporters are boasting about the increase of minimum wages to sixty-five thousand dollars, which I agree with, but are workers getting that? No. A majority of them are not getting it and it’s this Government’s fault that people are not getting it because they should have ensured that the rules are enforced. Sales girls/boys are seemingly the largest set of workers throughout Guyana and approximately ninety per cent of them are not getting two thousand dollars a day to take home.

Walk along any of these two streets, Regent or Robb; they have the most stores and workers and whilst browsing, chat with one of them and hear their story. Their working conditions, hours, facilities, duties and mainly their salaries are something to shake

your head about. Most of their salaries are between two thousand dollars and two thousand five hundred dollars a day whereby for most of them, it is two thousand.

I was able to verify this after I spoke to one manager of a popular store at Regent Street after I was inquiring about jobs for two Venezuelans I was accompanying. The manager was not interested in employing them and suggested that we visit the Chinese stores or stores that have items that attract the Cubans because his products are huge items and Cubans are purchasing mostly clothes and small items for shipping to their country. After a little bit of persistence, I was told that the salary is two thousand dollars per day and out of that, NIS and PAYE have to be deducted which roughly leaves you with around sixteen hundred dollars. Even with the ability to translate between English and Spanish, the salary is still the same and a requirement at some stores now. I find the salary to be insulting to the workers and with the additional knowledge to translate, they should have been given an extra stipend. For years now, this atrocious behaviour has been going on. Anyone care to rectify it?

Editor, quite recently, one Minister indicated that the Venezuelans entering Guyana should ensure that they register and get their documents sorted out so that they can pay their NIS and PAYE. Bravo for that but I wonder if the Minister is aware that many places of employment take out NIS, PAYE/Tax from people’s salary and don’t

submit it. Only recently, the NIS issued notices that some companies/firms should check with them. No doubt it’s about them not paying the contributions of their staff. One security guard living near me said she has been working with a security company for three years and when she went to look after her glasses, she was informed that no contributions have been paid for the time that she has been working with the firm. Like her, there are many other places deducting money out of the workers’ salaries and not paying it to the agency. Now, what could be done to remedy this situation that has been going on for as long as I can remember? No one knows how long the Venezuelans will be in Guyana for and some already chose to go back even though things are bad there and should the situation change, I am assuming most will return to their country. Now, given the actions by those who don’t like to pay people’s contributions, who will stop them from deducting money from the Venezuelans’ salaries and not pay when they know or assume that the Venezuelans will not be here to claim their contributions? Anyhow, it’s all fun and exciting to see that much interest being shown to foreigners/aliens and our own cannot be looked after.

In a nutshell, the wages are low, contributions are being deducted and not being paid, rates and taxes are not being paid but we show the newcomers that everything is in order.

Sincerely, Sahadeo Bates

Dear Editor, Recent public statements from President David Granger as well as representatives of the PNCR, connotes the intention of removing the names of registered citizens from the register of voters in instances where they are not proven dead at the time of the proposed house-to-house registration. It is pellucid and outright unconstitutional that such moves will

It was widely recognised that the crime rate along with the serious and unbearable massive corruption by the APNU/AFC members was causing irreparable damage that our citizens will not allow to continue in Guyana.

It was a decision taken after thorough discussions in our party and with numerous local organisations to alleviate our people of the unnecessary burdens. There are enough rea-

realise the real disenfranchisement of voters.

Is there any merit that because one works or studies abroad that this wicked clan disavow their rights? The belated and unconvincing reactions

by GECOM to clarify this obviously exposed plot speaks volumes and further highlights the unexplained reasons why Patterson refused to further the strengthening of voting verification mechanisms by his refusal of the further necessary action following the United Nations evaluation process.

Clandestine efforts of Vincent Alexander and his clique a la Patterson have no place in the required institutional transparency, as it goes against the grain of GECOM’s mandate to be ready at all times for the conduct of elections. It is timely to remind the ‘loop sided spinner’ Alexander that the NCM was put in Parliament before the 2019 budget debate. That the leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo, in the interest of our people, called on the Government to produce a budget with less pressure on our people.

sons, as the pressure on our youths, pensioners, farmers, and people of all lifestyles intensify. We just cannot survive with this skyrocketing cost of living neither would the people tolerate an unconstitutional Government.

The APNU/AFC Government insisted that the List was ready for Local Government Elections in 2016 and 2018. They were ready to test their strength in both elections and was ultimately humiliated in both instances. They are now running away from facing our citizens at the polls.

The people of Guyana demand transparency at GECOM towards free and fair elections.

Only the dead can be legitimately removed from the list of registered voters by GECOM and we demand appropriate steps towards immediate preparedness for the holding of elections, in anticipation of the Caribbean Court of Justice upholding the constitutional directives as advanced by the Opposition.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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PPP’s Teixeira, Anamaya resign as MPs …but Jagdeo says Teixeira’s career as MP is not over

I

n keeping with the Constitution, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira and fellow People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament (MP) Adrian Anamayah have resigned as members of the National Assembly.

This was announced

by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who also noted that MP Odinga Lumumba is expected to follow suit shortly. The parliamentarians resigned in keeping with the Constitution which dictates that persons with dual citizenship are ineligible to serve as MPs. Jagdeo expressed regret that Teixeira would have to take this step after so long in public office. However, he noted that she will be relinquishing her citizenship and so will be on the next candidate list.

“It’s a sad thing.

Teixeira, I know how agonising this must be for her, having served the country for over 25 years in Parliament. And you know the passion with which she has done so.

She was our chief whip,” Jagdeo said. “Her con-

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

tributions to Parliament [and she was] one of the most knowledgeable persons in Parliament.”

“And then to have to resign, but from a principled position. It must be heart-wrenching, but she is a principled person. But she will be on our list in the future. She will renounce her [dual] citizenship. This is not the end of her career in the National Assembly.”

In the meantime, Jagdeo criticised the Government for the uncertainty regarding their dual citizen MPs. From press reports, only Dr Rupert Roopnarine has claimed that he resigned.

But Jagdeo contended

Significant decline in US visitor visas..

from page 3

Bureau of Consular Affairs, Guyana is among the top 10 countries with the highest F1 waiting list under the ‘Family First’ preference category, with a total of 4078.

This represents 1.6 per cent of the waiting list, which totals 261,704.

Prior to last year, Guyana consistently recorded high numbers of non-immigrant visas issued by the US Embassy in Guyana.

Former US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, had attributed this to the improving economic situation in the country.

“The improving economic situation over the last few years has led to our refusal rate coming down significantly, from a high of well over 50 per cent five years ago, to one much lower today and luckily for us only a small per cent of Guyanese, who go to the US actually abuse their visas and stay illegally,” the former US diplomat had stated.

Holloway had also sought to allay fears of a change of his country’s

policy to Guyana under a trump Administration.

“The fears that we were disengaging or even forgetting about Guyana were quite simply misplaced fears. Bilateral relations could not be better…a lot is going on and there is more to come,” the former US envoy had indicated.

Nevertheless, there has been a crackdown on illegal immigrants in the US in recent months and Guyana was listed as one of the countries which could lose visa access if the Government refuses to accept deportees.

Meanwhile, it has been reportedly that Guyana is working to strengthen its immigration policy with regards to deported citizens.

On the other hand, the US Embassy’s Consular Section and the Regional Security Office have been working with local law enforcement to obtain the first successful prosecution for visa fraud in Guyana, which resulted in an Internet Café vendor being imprisoned.

that Dr Roopnarine is still going on outreaches as a Minister of the Government despite the constitutional provisions.

Asked if his party has had a change of heart over not attending Parliament while the no-confidence cases are ongoing, Jagdeo made it clear that they had not.

This is in light of April 26 being named as the next sitting.

Article 183 of the Constitution says “the office of any Minister shall become vacant if that person ceases to be a member of the National Assembly for any cause other than the dissolution of Parliament.”

In February, acting Chief Justice Roxanne George had ruled on the case filed by Compton Reid over the dual citizenship of former AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Charrandas Persaud.

In the case it brought to the Chief Justice, Government had argued that Persaud’s dual citizenship status invalidated his vote in support of the No-Confidence

Motion that brought the Government down last year.

This argument also formed part of the opinions presented to Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland in the hopes that he would reverse the ruling, something the Speaker ultimately refused to do.

The Court of Appeal later upheld the January High Court ruling that it is illegal for persons holding dual citizenship status to be sitting in the National Assembly.

Government has been under increasing criticism, even from its own supporters, for stating that dual citizens will return to the National Assembly despite these two rulings.

On April 2, the Ministry of the Presidency had announced that effective from April 1, Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Government side that have dual citizenship had resigned.

These MP’s were Minister of State Joseph Harmon (United States citizenship), Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin and Public Service Minister Dr Rupert Roopnarine (all British citizenships).

In a statement afterwards, Government had said that the vacated ministerial posts will be occupied by the former Ministers’ Cabinet colleagues. According to a statement, Ministers

who acted in the past for them will once more fill in.

But in another statement the next day, the Ministry of the Presidency had announced that the resignation of four Ministers would not take immediate effect. Further, the statement had said that three of the four parliamentarians who had indicated their intention to resign, planned on renouncing their foreign citizenship.

But in another twist, it emerged that Dr Roopnarine had resigned with immediate effect.

It would not be the first time, having tendered his resignation back in 2017 citing health reasons.

8 news

WEEK ENDING APRIL 21, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Overseas-based Guyanese pensioner takes GECOM to court over house-to-house registration

A

fter warning the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to desist from house-to-house registration or face the law, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall has filed legal proceedings against the Commission.

In the legal documents seen by this publication and filed by Nandlall on behalf of his client, Bibi Zeenatoun, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and GECOM are named as respondents.

In the fixed date application, the former AG sets out that the house-to-house registration is unconstitutional. It is noted that they are seeking a declaration of this and the fact that the exercise will exclude qualified registrants currently on the National Register and the official list of electors.

In particular, the application is seeking a declaration that Zeenatoun herself will be excluded and thus, have her constitutional right to vote breached. According to the application, Zeenatoun is a retired teacher and citizen of Guyana who is registered to vote.

The application explains that she worked in the United Kingdom from 1980 until her retirement in 2014. She then acquired property and maintained a residence in that country. Besides her citizenship, however, she has family ties to Guyana that include an adult son and his two children.

“For seven months during

GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson

the year, she returns to Guyana to help care for her grandchildren and guide them in their academic studies. The Applicant has voted in elections in Guyana as recent as the 2018 Local Government Elections.”

“The Applicant, during her current stay in Guyana, became aware of conflicting statements by the Respondents, through public statements transmitted in the local news, regarding the existing National Register of Registrants and plans by the Respondent to conduct houseto-house registration.”

As an example, the claimants cited Lowenfield’s comments carried in the February 5 edition of sections of the media that “the voters’ list is clean and valid, with a life until the 30th of April”.

They went on to cite comments from GECOM

Commissioner Vincent Alexander about the need to cleanse the list anyway, then Minister of State Joseph Harmon’s comments that persons who are overseas when the enumerators pay their houses a visit cannot be a part of the voters’ list.

“The Applicant will be absent from Guyana for a period of five months commencing from the end of May 2019 and will, therefore, not be at her local place of residence [in person] during the period being proposed by GECOM to conduct the said house-to-house registration.”

According to the application, Zeenatoun “fears that she will be excluded from the proposed exercise of house-tohouse registration and thereby, in effect, be de-registered and in consequence thereof, and she will be unlawfully denied her statutory and constitutional right to be registered and to vote”.

“The Applicant’s right to vote will and can be protected if the Respondents were to engage in Continuous Registration as provided for in Section 6 (1) of the National Registration Act Cap. 19:08,” the application advises.

Besides the aforementioned declarations, Nandlall is seeking from the High Court a Writ of Prohibition, injunction and conservatory order against GECOM, restraining the respondents, either themselves or their agents, from carrying out house-to-house

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

registration. He is also seeking costs and any other orders the court awards.

First move

Previously, it had been People’s Progressive Party nominated Commissioner Robeson Benn who had made the first move towards the law to stop house-to-house registration from happening.

In a correspondence seen by this publication, Benn threatened to move to the courts if the Guyana Elections Commission had persisted.

Nandlall, who was representing Benn, had explained in an interview with this publication that this exercise could potentially disenfranchise overseas-based voters who normally return home to exercise their franchise.

“In relation to dead people, I concede readily that that process of removing dead persons

from the list should be one that should be pursued, but that shouldn’t require houseto-house registration. That can easily be accomplished by an exchange of data between the registrar of deaths and the GECOM.” “Because the registrar of deaths will be able to say how many persons have been recorded as dead over the past few years. And that data can be juxtaposed against the list and those persons removed by a very simple engagement, with relative speed and ease in this technological age.”

Nandlall had explained that when GECOM staff go house to house and cannot find persons on the list living in Guyana, such persons will be de-registered. The former AG noted that Articles 59 and 159 provides for everyone to vote at elections once they are qualified and registered.

“What I have a problem with is the process that will remove persons on the list who are resident overseas. Our Constitution does not require residency in Guyana as a qualification to be registered to vote. Our Constitution is very clear. Once you are 18 years or over, Guyanese and registered, you can vote.”

“So you have Guyanese citizens, thousands of them, who are registered but when this exercise is completed, they will not find themselves in the new list and they will become disqualified through no fault of their own,” he had said.

Minister Harmon promises to look into concerns of Berbicians

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inister of State, Joseph Harmon and Public Affairs Minister Dawn Hastings-Williams, who were in Tain, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) for the “Bringing Government to the People” initiative on Tuesday, met with residents of Albion, Liverpool/Manchester and Fyrish/Gibraltar to discuss and attend to several of their concerns.

Stopping first at Liverpool/Manchester, Ministers Harmon and Hastings-Williams met with the young people as well as the elderly residents to listen to some of the challenges in their community, which included complaints about drainage and irrigation, security and public infrastructure.

The Minister of State, according to the Ministry of Presidency’s Public Affairs Unit, on the spot, took a decision to hire two excavators owned by a villager to clear the waterways in the area.

He also made it pellucid that all persons needed for the operation must be hired from within the community. He also committed to raising the oth-

Minister of State Joseph Harmon listens to a resident as he makes a point during the community meeting at the Fyrish Basketball Court

er matters with the relevant subject Ministers.

In an invited comment, a resident, Wilson Monroe, said that he was pleasantly surprised to see the Minister addressing concerns of residents on the spot.

From Manchester, the ministerial team travelled to Albion to fulfil a promise that Minister Harmon made to residents at the “Bringing the Government to the

People” event held at the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus that he would visit to take a look at the condition of their road, which was their main complaint.

Over at the Fyrish Basketball Court, Minister Harmon told the crowd gathered there that the Government considers the community meetings and public day activities to be an important exercise in the

conduct of Government business.

Minister Harmon noted that the Administration is cognisant that most persons simply require better access to Government services and amenities such as water, roads, lights and recreational facilities and it is the duty of the Government to provide same.

Additionally, Minister Harmon an-

nounced that soon, the Government will be establishing a medical institution on the Corentyne Coast to ensure easier and faster access to health services.

Minister HastingsWilliams echoed these sentiments even as she noted that the Government is one that listens to the people and residents can rest assured that their issues would receive the utmost

consideration.

At the close of the meeting, Minister Harmon committed to engaging the Public Infrastructure Ministry with the view of having a team from that entity visit to examine the state of the roads, while the Social Cohesion Ministry has already committed to providing a recreational facility for the community.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 21, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

‘Presence needed in Washington to counter “lies” by APNU/AFC’

… Jagdeo says in justifying hiring of major US lobbyist firm

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p p o s i t i o n Leader and G e n e r a l Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo, said he is satisfied with the effectiveness of Mercury Public Affairs and believes his party got value for the G$34 million contract it signed with the US consulting firm.

Fielding questions about the company at this weekly press conference on Wednesday, Jagdeo pointed out that he is happy with the decision to hire the lobbyist firm and did so after reviewing their work and found it to be “effective” – something which the PPP needs.

“We’re very happy with the firm, we’re happy with its credentials, we’re happy that the firm is a bipartisan firm – both Democrats and Republicans… We need an effective firm to counter the lies being told by the APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) in Washington… Every

cent is worth it,” he contended.

Jagdeo said that the US lobbyist firm was contracted early in March and was paid for by funds donated to the party. The main role of Mercury is to advise the PPP on its presence in Washington and to ensure that its views are being heard by policymakers at every level in the US and internationally.

According to the Opposition Leader, the PPP needs to establish its presence in Washington since many international organisations and even the US Government can be tainted by the coalition Government’s misrepresentation of the issues in Guyana.

“So we have to have a presence there [in Washington] so that we can have access to those bodies [and] we can bring a balance to what is being peddled in those circles.

So, therefore, we took that step as a party to have that presence and we’re going to continue with that presence,” he insisted.

The PPP General Secretary went on to outline that he has already seen evidence of the benefit of recruiting Mercury Public Affairs to work on the party’s behalf. In fact, during a recent visit to the North American state, he was able to meet with senior functionaries of both the executive and legis-

Cops call on Nations Director to provide info on shooter

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rime Chief Lyndon Alves on Wednesday called on the Principal of School of the Nations, Dr Brian O’Toole, to provide the police with the identity of the shooter.

The call by the Crime Chief comes mere days after O’Toole said that his shooter was flown out of Guyana.

On Wednesday, the Crime Chief told Guyana Times International “If O’Toole is so sure of the claims he is making let him come to the police with the identity of this individual. We are not aware of anything like this”.

Questioned further, Alves said that there are no new leads into the investigations and no new person or persons of interest as to who may have perpetrated this act.

Over the weekend, almost three months after O’Toole was shot, he disclosed that the shooter was flown out of Guyana.

According to O’Toole, the lack of prosecution and delay in justice is due to the fact that the parents of the teen flew their son out of the country less than 24 hours after he had committed the crime.

On Thursday last at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Georgetown, O’Toole stated that regardless of the professions of parents, they should not allow their children to pursue the wrong path and engage in such illegalities.

“It does not matter what position you have in society. If you are the one that got your child out of the country the day after the shooting, then you have created a monster that is going to destroy his life, the life of your family; and if he is not brought to justice, God knows the mayhem that it’s going to cause,” O’Toole said.

He explained that as a result of the

Crime Chief Lyndon Alves

shooting, which was highly publicised in local and international media outlets, overseas-based Guyanese, as well as foreigners, are now questioning the state of Guyana with respect to crime.

He added that steps need to be taken and initiatives should be put in place to curb violence involving students and other youths in the country, and this means that a multi-stakeholder approach is necessary.

On January 27, O’Toole was shot three times as he was returning to his Bel Air, Georgetown residence, hours after an emergency meeting with parents and guardians about violent threats on social media to injure students and teachers of that school.

Earlier this year, Crime Chief Lyndon Alves told Guyana Times International that Police had questioned four persons – both current and former students – in relation to the shooting of the school’s principal.

However, subsequent to the incident, there were several threats against the school on Facebook made by “Kira” (meaning killer), which is the alias of the main character in “Death Note” – a Japanese manga series that was later adapted into films.

lative level of the US Government.

“I believe we’re getting all our views into all the circles that matters so when the lies come from Guyana through the various sources and Government, people can ask the right questions from them. One thing I’ve gotten out of Washington from the executive – the senior functionaries I met there – as well as the Congress, is that they will pay careful attention to Guyana and support free and fair elections,” he asserted.

Jagdeo, also a former President of Guyana, posited that it is unfortunate that party members have to travel all the way to

the US to ensure that free and fair elections prevail in Guyana.

“All the PPP wants is free and fair elections in Guyana, that’s what we’re lobbying for. It’s a shame that we have to, in the 21st century – go to Washington to lobby for free and fair elections just because of this Government’s transgressions: refusal to accept a no-confidence vote; install one of their persons in GECOM [Guyana Elections Commission]; violating the Constitution and 25 years of history; and threatening democracy once again. It’s a shame we have to do this,” he pointed out.

Responding to questions about the company’s implication in several contentious matters in the US, Jagdeo explained that he has examined all of this and is now looking at the company versus a partner in the company who had issues. He added too that the bipartisan nature of the

company, as well as its effectiveness, were critical factors for the party’s decision to hire the company.

“In the US system, if [the firm] is lobbying on behalf of anyone, they have to register who they’re doing so on behalf of. If they violate anything in that registration, that ethics, the US system picks it up and deals with it. So the mere fact that this firm is still operating in Washington and is very effective, means it is in good standing and in good standing for me,” the Opposition Leader maintained.

Mercury Public Affairs is a highstakes public strategy and communications firm that provides services to the world’s most successful companies, leading advocacy groups, Governments, political parties, NGOs, and prominent public and political figures, including US President Donald Trump.

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Businessman gunned Teen arrested over brutal cutlass attack on pregnant woman down during robbery A attack in Georgetown

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Dead: Prince Alleyne

unmen on Tuesday morning carried out a daring daylight robbery in front of the Ashmins building on High Street, Georgetown, which left a 57-year-old money changer dead.

Dead is Prince Philip Alleyne of Lot 88 Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara, who succumbed to his injuries at about 11:00h at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Reports are Alleyne, who operates as a money changer on America Street, Georgetown, was parking his car, PMM 9512, at the Ashmins building on High Street, Georgetown, when the gunmen struck.

The two gunmen rode up to the now dead man on a motorcycle just as he was about to exit his motorcar.

The men, according to an eyewitness, grabbed Alleyne and demanded that he hand over his valuables.

However, when the victim refused and attempted to fight them off, one of the gunmen shot him to his head. They

then grabbed the man’s bag which contained cash and his licensed firearm.

The men made good their escape as the money changer was left lying on the road. Realising what occurred, a large crowd gathered at the scene and Alleyne was picked up and rushed to the GPHC. According to one eyewitness, she was plying her trade a short distance from where the shooting occurred when she heard a single gunshot.

The woman noted that she and others began running in the direction of the shot when she saw several persons surrounding someone who was lying on the road.

“When I reach, I was shocked to see is Prince because I does usually see he parking here every day before he walk to America Street where he does do he business,” the woman explained in disbelief.

When this publication visited the scene, Alleyne’s car was parked while his shoes were seen in a large pool of blood on the roadway. By that time, his relatives had gathered but were in too much of a traumatised state to speak to the media.

The police have since launched an investigation into the matter.

Last year, another money changer was gunned down on America Street, Georgetown, when he refused to hand over his valuables to a lone gunman.

The man, who had been robbed just two months before the incident, was also shot to his head.

In that incident, 47-year-old Shawn Nurse was said to be sitting on a chair at the corner of Avenue of the Republic and America Street when he was approached by the gunman and shot.

The perpetrator has since been arrested and is presently on remand.

Hague backdam, West Coast Demerara woman is nursing two chop wounds to her head and a fractured skull after she was attacked by a neighbour on Saturday night when she confronted him about a bicycle, which he allegedly stole from her.

Injured is Vanessa Persaud, who is 38 weeks pregnant and a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Speaking with Guyana Times International on Monday, Persaud said that on Saturday night at about 19:30h she saw the young man and confronted him about a bicycle, which he stole from her. She said that during the confrontation she informed the young man that she would be calling the police. According to the injured woman, the suspect’s younger brother threw a cutlass to him and he attacked her.

“He started to run behind me and just start chopping me like he mad. I tried to escape but I couldn’t. I’m 38 weeks pregnant. I fall down, all the blood started gushing down [my] face. I got two big chops in my head and my skull fracture,” the distraught woman said.

She added that she was immediately rushed to the Leonora

Injured: Vanessa Persaud in her hospital bed

Cottage Hospital then transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital but due to the severity of her injuries, she was transferred to the GPHC. Persaud further said that she has lost a lot of blood and is in severe pain but is praying for a full recovery.

She added that she was experiencing severe abdominal pains and requested that the doctor check on her baby, however, the nurses told her that she was not admitted for any issues relating to her pregnancy and they can only deal with the chop wounds.

“I am in here since Saturday night and I keep asking them all the time to check to make sure my baby is okay

but they ain’t checking.

The nurses just keep saying they ain’t admit me for that, they admit me for chop wound and that’s all they looking at and I could go to maternity with my clinic to deal with that after,” the woman said.

Persaud said that her assailant was taken into custody and will be placed before the court of law on Thursday. She added that the suspect is 18 while his younger brother is 14.

She said the teens are known in the area as petty thieves and are very abusive to their mother.

“They never went to school. They just smoking and stealing and creating trouble in the neighbourhood,” Persaud said.

Guyana Goldfields announces 36,600 ounces of gold for 2019 first quarter …represents 4% production drop

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uyana Goldfields has produced 36,600 ounces for the first quarter of 2019, an amount the company is confident will lead to the production of as much as 160,000 ounces for the year.

The company made this announcement in its recently released 2019 first quarter summary report. According to Goldfields, this keeps it on track to produce between 145,000 ounces and 160,000 ounces of gold for the year.

The company also sold 38, 200 ounces of gold in the first quarter, earning a gross revenue of US$49.7 million.

The amount produced is, however, a drop compared to last year’s first quarter production.

It is understood that the company produced 38, 500 ounces of gold in the same period last year, making this year’s first quarter haul a 4.9 per cent decrease.

“Gold recovery averaged 90.5 per cent for the quarter, compared

with 91.7 per cent a year earlier. The company completed the mill expansion which is anticipated to enhance capacity and redundancy of the primary crushing circuit and expected to further lower per unit costs,” the company also informed.

Meanwhile, Goldfield said that work will soon be resuming on its underground mining decline. The decline, the company said, will be extended some 200 metres.

According to the company, this work will be done at its Mad Kiss pit, as part of the early works phase before it begins exploration.

Works are expected to last approximately three months, once the contractor is fully mobilised. These preparatory works, according to the company, are expected to cost US$2 million.

But in this summary, it also speaks of debt.

According to the company, its total debt as of

last month was US$35 million.

It explained that this debt will be reduced through quarterly payments of US$5 million.

In addition, the company is pursuing ways of restructuring its debt.

In January, the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) had projected that for 2019, declarations and exportations are to be pegged at 651,000 ounces. This estimation was established in retrospect to the outcome from 2018, which turned out to be an “encouraging year” for the organisation.

According to the Gold Board, plans are on stream to manage and enhance existing emission control mechanisms, obtain a permanent operation base and fulfilling the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and National Risk Assessment AntiMoney Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism standards and reduce legacy deficit on the Bank of Guyana

An arial view of Guyana Goldfield’s operations

and the Finance Ministry.

Pending capital projects are also expected to be completed during the next 12 months as well as continued training for staffers of the facility, the entity said.

As of December 31, 2018, total declarations from all sources amount to 613,073 oz, which was 6.22 per cent lower than the figures from 2017. Additionally, the foreign exchange val-

ue of exports processed on behalf of dealers and the GGB came to US$443,961,666.

According to the Board, factors which led to the marginal differences between the two years were as a result of inclement weather, impassable roads, and depressed metal prices in the first three quarters of 2018. In the last quarter, there was some “strength” generated by dealers which increased

the projection score.

While the Gold Board had blamed inclement weather, impassable roads, and depressed metal prices for the decline, Finance Minister Winston Jordan in August 2018 revealed in the Finance Ministry’s Mid-Year Report 2018, which was laid in Parliament, that the gold sector also suffered a decline of 9.1 per cent for the first half of the year.

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CJIA hikes passenger fees to ‘support’ expansion costs – security fees, passenger service charges increased

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ith effect from April 1, arriving and departing passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) are being asked to pay an additional US$35… all to support the ongoing CJIA expansion project.

This was confirmed by Caribbean Airlines, one of the major airline carriers at the airport. According to the airline, both the airport security fee and the airport passenger service charge will be increased.

“The total cost of the new fees to all travellers for a return trip is US$35 or G$7315.

For departing passengers, US$17 and US$15 for arriving passengers payable in Guyana dollars at the prevailing foreign exchange rate.”

According to Caribbean Airlines, CJIA had advised all airlines that these increases were to support improvements at the airport. According to the airline, it will be facilitating the collection of the new fees at the check-in counters and arrival hall for departing and arriving customers respectively, from April 15.

“For tickets purchased after July 1, 2019, the fees will automatically be included in the cost of the ticket at the time of purchase,” Caribbean Airlines added in its statement.

CJIA expansion

For some time, the Public Infrastructure Ministry has faced questions over the CJIA expansion project costs and delayed construction. The project was initially supposed

to have been completed within 32 months.

But by January, with the project still not completed, Government said that China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) will have to complete the expansion project, which was set for March 31.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had warned that CHEC would be fined more than U$200,000 or US$7000 per day if it missed the latest deadline to complete the project.

At the time, outstanding works to be completed had included the southwest runway, extension pavement works and sections of the departure terminal – namely immigration, security screening, and duty-free concession areas.

The project got underway in 2012, under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration when Guyana secured a US$138 million loan from the China Exim (Export-Import) Bank to fund the expansion and modernisation project, for which the Guyana Government was to contribute some US$12 million.

The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), when in Opposition, had cut the funds the then Government – People’s Progressive Party (PPP) – had allocated for the CJIA expansion.

When the coalition Government came in to power in 2015, the project was put on hold, but after some discussions, it was later announced

that the project would be continued but several aspects were cut from the original design.

After the 32-month projection had passed, officials had been optimistic of the project being completed by 2017.

However, the extension of works into 2019 comes in disparity to an earlier commitment by Government where it committed that the works associated with the expansion would have been completed by the last quarter of 2018.

Upon completion, the airport is expected to have four air passenger boarding bridges for arrivals and departures; a 450-seat departure area, escalators and elevators in addition to an extended runway catering for larger categories of aircraft.

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Calls mount for probe into controversial housing contract …Integrity Commission Chairman points to “clear conflict of interest”

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unior Minister of Communities with responsibility for the housing sector, Valerie PattersonYearwood is coming in for harsh criticisms over revelations that her husband, Godfrey Yearwood was given three contracts in 2017 to construct houses for the CH&PA. Minister PattersonYearwood has since insisted that she was unaware her husband was bidding for the projects and that she had no input in the process.

But the Integrity Commission Chairman says the public cannot take her word for it.

“The only way you can know the truth, you have to do an investigation within CHPA: those that looked at the contract, those who get to have a final say. I don’t know if the minister has any say…if it is that she has some say, then one could take it to mean that she would have known that her husband has a contract with them,” Doraisami told Guyana Times International during an exclusive telephone interview.

“Terrible thing”

From newspaper reports, Doraisami believes that the issue is a clear conflict of interest and that there is enough reason to suspect that the minister knew her husband was bidding for the projects which fall under her watch.

“There must be reasonable suspicion that she would have somehow known that he was getting this contract, she being married to him. It would appear that some form of bias would have influenced the giving of the contract, if that is the case, then it’s a terrible thing to happen,” Doraisami, a former land court judge, stated.

Minister within the Housing Ministry, Valerie Adams-Yearwood

Godfrey Yearwood, husband of Minister Valerie Adams-Yearwood

CH&PA Director, Lelon Saul admitted that the issue is a conflict of interest. In brief comments to media operatives when the news first broke, Saul said “if the contractor in question is the spouse of the Minister, certainly it would be a conflict of interest.”

While not providing much details, the CH&PA Head called for a review of the awarding process so that there is no reoccurrence of such a situation.

“The award of contract is above my level. But I think the (CH&PA) Board should review that (awarding process) based on recommendations coming from the agency,” Saul asserted.

Doraisami said “yes, conflict of interest is one of the Articles of the Code of Conduct.”

Under that Article, it states that “a person in public life shall declare any conflict of interest in writing to the relevant authority as soon as possible after becoming aware of the conflict of interest.”

It is unclear whether Minister Patterson-Yearwood did as mandated under the Integrity Commission Act. In fact, the issue was only brought to light by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo during one of his weekly press conferences.

The Act further states that “a person in public life shall, in order to protect and uphold the public interest, take reasonable steps to avoid, resolve and disclose any material conflict of interest, financial or nonfinancial, that arises or is likely to arise between his or her personal interests and his or her official duties.”

Furthermore, the Code of Conduct has ten guiding principles, three of which relate to integrity, responsibility and transparency.

The codes state that “a person in public life and members

Breach of Integrity Commission Act

In fact, he contended that if the mere fact that the husband of a minister received so many contracts from the agency which the same minister oversees, represents a case of conflict of interest, which is a breach of the Code of Conduct enshrined in Integrity Commission Act. Asked pointedly if the situation constitutes a breach of the Integrity Commission Act,

Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Kumar Doraisami

of his family shall upon assumption of office declare their private interests relating to the duties of the public official, and assets…”

It further states that “a person in public life shall have a basic responsibility to take decisions solely in the national interest without any benefit of personal gain, or material benefit for themselves, their family, friends and associates.”

The code also states that “a person in public life shall exercise his or her public decisions and actions with full and frank disclosure and shall provide when demanded by the public an explanation for his or her actions and decisions.”

From all indications, Minister Patterson-Yearwood is in breach.

However, the Act is silent on penalties, and this was one of the main flaws raised by the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. (TIGI) before the government passed it in the National Assembly in 2017.

Three contracts

Days after it was revealed that her husband was awarded a contract by the CH&PA, the Minister remained silent on the matter.

It was only on Monday,

through a statement published on the website of the Department of Public Information, Minister Patterson-Yearwood admitted that her husband was given three contracts by the CH&PA in 2017.

She admitted that one of these contracts is still outstanding, but is expected to be concluded in two weeks’ time.

The Minister insists that her husband, Godfrey Yearwood, was subjected to the same rules and regulations as other bidders; there was no exemption.

She also took care to note that the contracts had been awarded by the CH&PA Board of Directors, of which she is not a member.

She, moreover, denied presiding over any contracts, though she did admit to being present during contract signings.

Investigators The Integrity Commission could have investigated this matter but it is currently without the necessary staff to do so, even more than one year after it was established.

The Chairman said the body is in the process of putting together a job description and it will soon be advertising the vacancies.

The GTUC, in a statement Monday, had called for the Integrity Commission to investigate this matter. However, the Union recognised that the Commission lacks the capacity to do so, and has therefore called on the government to address this matter urgently. Noting that institutions cannot be put in place with no teeth to function, GTUC has called for a drive to fully staff not only the Integrity Commission, but other investigative arms of the State.

Magistrate orders psychiatric evaluation for daughter who murdered mother …after she fainted in court

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he 47-year-old daughter who is accused of killing her mother appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday where she fainted two times, causing Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh to order that she seek medical attention and a psychiatric evaluation.

Cameela Jameer was taken into the courtroom in handcuffs and started to cry loudly when she saw her siblings and other family members.

As the magistrate took the bench, Jameer fainted causing the court to be adjourned. The proceedings resumed five minutes later and again,

Dead: Rookmin Jameer

she fainted.

As a result, Magistrate Singh was unable to read the charge to her but ordered that she be taken to the hospital and also sent for a psychiatric evaluation.

She is expected to return to court today (Thursday).

The woman reportedly confessed to killing her mother, Rookmin Jameer, 67, on Friday last.

Meanwhile, sister of the now dead woman, Juliet Carr, 67, one of four sisters alive and the youngest, said she is unhappy with the entire situation over her sister’s death but is willing to forgive her niece.

While the aunt speaks of forgiveness, only two days ago, in a fit of rage, two of the dead woman’s sons said that they wanted the woman who killed their mother to face the full brunt of the law.

Murder accused Cameela Jameer being lifted out of the courtroom after she fainted

The woman’s body was found at her Tempe Village home lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood Reports are that the suspect confessed to the act, saying that her mother had been accus-

ing her of stealing money.

Following the confession, Cameela Jameer took investigators to the scene of the crime, where she led them to a chopper in the house, stating that it was the weapon

she used to murder her mother.

When the woman was arrested, she handed over US$600 along with G$365,000 local currency to the police.

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Guyana Govt reconvenes Parliament on April 26

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s the coalition Government prepares to return to the National Assembly next week following a hiatus pending the outcome of the cases filed against the Opposition’s NoConfidence Motion in the local courts, there is nothing listed on the parliamentary agenda regarding funding for the continuation of preparations for elections.

Following the Appeal Court’s ruling that the motion was invalidly passed, President David Granger had said that Government will still continue with preparations for General and Regional Elections and ensure that the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) is in a state of readiness to hold polls, even as they await a final decision from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) before which the matter is currently being deliberated. “We are going to go back to Parliament and make requests to ensure that GECOM has everything it needs. We are committed to having clean elections, credible elections in this country and as I said, I will engage GECOM to ensure that the request made to me by the Chairman is satisfied,” President Granger had told reporters last month.

However, this commitment is not reflected in the parliamentary agenda, which was sent out on Wednesday.

Following the Head of State’s commitment, Government spokesperson, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had subsequently explained that the upcoming sitting, which was initially announced as

…but election matters not on agenda

The Parliament Building

April 11, was not to exclusively deal with funding for the elections body. In fact, he had outlined that there was a process to follow before the matter can be brought in the National Assembly for approval.

Since the Court of Appeal’s ruling on March 22 that the Noconfidence Motion was invalidly passed on December 21, 2018, because it required an “absolute” majority of 34 votes, calls have been mounting from various stakeholder bodies for the elections body not to abandon plans to prepare for polls so that it is ready whenever elections are due.

Prior to last month’s ruling, GECOM had indicated that it cannot hold elections before the March deadline and has voted to do houseto-house registration, which will conclude in November. In fact, GECOM Chairman, Justice James Patterson, in a letter to the Head of State informed him that polls cannot be held before late November 2019.

Justice Patterson explained in the correspondence that since the elections body is continuing with its normal work programme, that is, the holding of house-tohouse registration, it will need some G$3.5 billion to host elections and as such, “no election date should be contemplated less than five months after these funds are placed at the disposal of and under the control of GECOM”.

M e a n w h i l e , GECOM has already rolled out its 2019 work programme, commencing with training for the house-to-house registration expected in June. However, legal proceedings have been filed against GECOM and Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, to restrain them from going ahead with the registration which could see overseas-based Guyanese being disenfranchised from voting.

Nevertheless, with regards to the agenda for the April 26 sitting of the National Assembly, the Interception of Communication

(Amendment) Bill 2019 – Bill No 1/2019 is among several bills for Introduction and First Reading.

The Act, which deals with wiretapping and the interception, acquisition and disclosure of data from protected communications, is seeking to include additional grounds for such interceptions.

However, even as Government prepares for the recommencement of parliamentary sitting, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Opposition has since

indicated that they will not participate in any of the National Assembly sittings until the Caribbean Court of Justice rules on its challenge of the Appeal Court’s decisions.

Lawyers representing Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo are asking the regional court to restore the ruling of the chief justice, who upheld the passage of the Noconfidence Motion with a 33 majority. Those hearings are scheduled to be heard in the coming weeks.

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End of Year report shows decline in tax revenue for 2018

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GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

he Guyana Government collected G$198.5 billion in tax revenue for the year 2018, but while it amounts to a large chunk of Government revenue, the reality is that it is below the 2019 budget projections.

This is according to the 2018 End of Year outcome report, which was recently released by the Finance Ministry. In the report, it is recorded that this tax revenue accounted for 91.6 per cent of Central Government’s revenue.

According to the report, the G$198.5 billion is a decline of G$1.0 billion or 0.5 per cent below the revised projection in Budget 2019. It noted that in 2018, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) remitted G$117.5 billion or 59.2 per cent of tax revenue collections.

This, the report says, reflects higher remissions for companies and businesses. Meanwhile, non-tax revenue increased by G$0.8 billion, 4.8 per cent above the G$17.4 billion projected in Budget 2019.

Government deficit was marginally smaller than expected, the report shows.

“The Central Government recorded a fiscal deficit of G$27.3 billion in 2018, or 3.4 per cent of GDP, smaller than the projected deficit of G$31.2 billion, or 3.9 per cent of GDP, projected in the 2019 Budget,”

the report states.

“The smaller than anticipated deficit was due to lower capital and current expenditures. Tax and non-tax revenue collections in 2018 were G$216.7 billion, 0.1 per cent below the projection in Budget 2019.”

In September of last year, GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia had disclosed that billions of dollars were collected as of the end of August through the imposition of a tax amnesty.

According to Statia at the time, the GRA had managed to collect over G$5 billion so far and this figure may increase. Statia also reminded that this was the last extension that will be granted to the amnesty, while encouraging defaulters to pay.

The tax amnesty worked by allowing taxpayers who file and pay all principal taxes on or before June 30, 2018 to have all their interest and penalties waived, while those who filed and paid all principal taxes between July 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018 would have 50 per cent of interest and penalties waived.

At the end of the previous amnesty which ended in June 2018, it was announced that G$3 billion was raked in, but this number had subsequently climbed. The final amnesty ended on September 30 last year.

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subsea tree for ‘Please help First Liza Phase 1 installed save our baby’ T

…Essequibo family pleads for public’s assistance to help 1-yrold diagnosed with brain injury

he parents of one-year-old Ankita Ramotar of Affiance, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are pleading with public-spirited persons to help save the infant, who has been diagnosed with a brain injury.

The child’s mother, Kameela Persaud, said time is running out for her daughter. Local doctors detected the brain injury and recommended overseas treatment.

According to Persaud, little Ankita, after birth, started to suffer from frequent seizures, and they sought treatment at the Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital in Georgetown.

There it was discovered that their baby girl had a brain injury that is causing her to have frequent seizures. The doctors also recommended that the infant have immediate treatment overseas.

The mother told Guyana Times International that she was able to get an appointment date with John’s Hopkins Hospital in the United States (U.S.), where the child will get the necessary medical treatment needed.

However, the family would first have to raise 12 million Guyana

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The installation of the first subsea tree

xxonMobil on Monday announced that Liza Phase 1 development has reached another milestone with the installation of the

“The tree arrived in Guyanese waters on the Chouest C-Installer in February. Installation and testing began on April 11 and lasted for four days,” the compa-

Little Ankita with her mother

Dollars to cover the expenses. As such, they are appealing with the public to be sympathetic to little Ankita and help to save her precious life.

Bhowanie Ramotar, father of the year-old girl, said Ankita is his little baby daughter, and as a taxi driver, he is very hurt to see her dying right in front of his eyes and he does not have money readily available to save her.

On this note, he

too is pleading with all kind-hearted citizens to help save his baby girl.

This newspaper understands that the family has already secured a six-month visa to the U.S., and is now trying to raise the money needed to travel there and pay for little Ankita to be treated.

Anyone wishing to contribute to saving little Ankita’s life can contact the family on 626-8805 or 644-7171.

An underwater image of the subsea tree

first subsea tree.

According to the company, a subsea tree monitors and controls the production of a subsea well. Affixed to the wellhead of a completed well, it can also manage fluids or gas injected into a well.

ny said in a release to the media.

According to ExxonMobil, it was lowered into the water from the back deck of the multipurpose installation vessel via a crane, set in 1700 meters of water onto the first completed

well then latched and locked into place using a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). The valves were then pressure tested.

The next tree is expected to be installed in May. The Liza Phase 1 development includes a subsea production system and a Floating P r o d u c t i o n Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel designed to have the capacity to process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day from four subsea drill centres consisting of 17 wells which include eight producers, six water injectors and three gas injectors.

US oil giant ExxonMobil has revised the estimated gross recoverable resource from the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana to approximately 5.5 billion oil-equivalent barrels.

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Debate rages in Guyana over “strip and search” at airports

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…Attorney says CANU, Police can search persons only if there is “reasonable suspicion”

n light of recent incidents where outgoing passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) were strip-searched and had to endure embarrassing situations at the hands of Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks, there is much controversy as to the boundaries of the rights that agency has as well as members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to conduct such exercises.

Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International stated that CANU and the GPF have the right to search someone if they had, what the laws of Guyana recognises as “reasonable suspicion” that the person was committing, about to commit or had just committed an offence.

He, however, explained that these rules are intended to rely on the integrity of law enforcement officials which means that they must exercise proper judgement as to what is reasonable suspicion.

“So, reasonable suspicion can’t be that you’re acting on you know, very nebulous facts, it has to be that you are acting on specific facts. Now as it relates to the search, as it relates to the very intrusive cavity search that was apparently required [recently], that is in itself an area of law for which there is much controversy because the suspicion would then have to relate that the person is concealing the narcotics in their body…Could she have refused the search? Not really, in most cases that arise, if the police have reasonable suspicion and they ask you to search you could say no but you really don’t have a right to stop it.”

Invasion of personal space

According to Datadin, the system that governs Guyana is based on the “English” system where rules are a little more liberal than those in the American system.

Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin

“She was entitled to say no and if they said well then you have to [do] an x-ray so that we could be satisfied then she would have to. She could choose to undergo the x-ray or if that is refused as well, then they can go get a judge and get the order now that would be what would happen in a perfect world.

The actual situation of what happens in Guyana is…they go ahead and, the Police Force and CANU seem to take it upon themselves that they have the right to do this, it is an invasion of your personal space and your person for them to do these sorts of things,” the attorney elaborated.

He reiterated that if ranks have information and enough suspicion then they are entitled to search a person but that the integrity of the law enforcement officials should not have to be questioned in such cases.

Violation of constitutional rights

The attorney further stated that it

is a clear threat to someone’s constitutional right if CANU and police ranks want to exercise their powers to arbitrarily stop and search individuals who are travelling.

“But is that going to stop them? I am not so sure because we have a very lax approach as to what rights are and it is time that some of the people that suffer these things, it is time for them to go to court and enforce their rights.

Maybe the law enforcement officials need to engender better confidence, maybe they need to act more responsibly, maybe they need to conduct themselves in a more professional manner and then citizens would believe them when they say well they had a reasonable suspicion. As it stands right now, no one believes the Police Force or law enforcement in this country,” Datadin posited.

He added that due to the lack of confidence that society has in the local law enforcement agencies, it is hard to believe some explanations as to why someone’s constitutional right may have been violated and this means that the local authorities need to change such viewpoints.

“They do what they want, they feel that they would get away with it because most people wouldn’t bother to go to the courts because they are met with a system that is slow. And so it is a waste of time for them so most people let it go. That shouldn’t keep happening though and that shouldn’t be allowed to happen,” the lawyer added.

The issue of cavity searches at CJIA came to the fore last week when two women in separate instances said that they had been subjected to searches

by CANU ranks that entailed the two women having to “strip and squat”.

On Sunday last, a United Statesbased woman, Ayana Adams, who is a Guyanese by birth was in the process of returning to New York on a Caribbean

Airlines flight after vacationing in her homeland when she was taken into a room by two female ranks of CANU to be searched.

According to the young lady’s lawyer, Siand Dhurjon, she was told that she needed to remove her clothing for a thorough scan to be conducted.

According to the lawyer, his client reluctantly took off her jumpsuit, leaving just her bra and underwear but the agents were not satisfied, demanding that she take off all her clothes, squat and cough as they needed to check “her abdomen and her guts”.

Dhurjon explained that his client’s reason for not wanting to squat was because she was experiencing her menstrual cycle, a fact that was explained to the CANU officers to no avail.

The second female to come forward shortly after this incident was 40-yearold Malika Cole. She told the media that she is a Guyanese, who currently resides in Trinidad and Tobago.

According to Cole, on April 2, she was subjected to an intrusive search by a female rank of CANU at the CJIA. “She told me I have to strip and squat and do everything that she told me to do and that was it…”

Cole said she was then told to cough multiple times and the officer also ordered her to open her mouth for her to examine it. The search by the ranks revealed nothing, she noted.

Both women have signalled their intent to sue CANU for the intrusion and embarrassment they were forced to endure.

CANU later contended that it will continue to conduct searches of passengers, luggage, vehicles etc, at all ports of entry and exits in Guyana. It said that those searches will be done in accordance with local and international standards with due cordiality and professionalism.

Guyana and Cuba discuss migration matters

…Govt asked to relook at nonvisa requirement for Cubans

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o mitigate cases of illegal migration from persons travelling to Cuba and Guyana, the second round of bilateral talks between the two Governments were recently concluded, where discussions surfaced for the implementation of several workable measures.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, the Guyana delegation was led by acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Felix, and other officials of the Ministry, where the two countries pledged to strengthen their collaboration and implement a framework to review migratory patterns.

Guyana Times International understands that the meeting examined the possibility of implementing a visa protocol for persons entering Guyana from Cuba. Felix stated that the policy has been to suppress visas as a requirement to enter the country but there are persons who sometimes become invisible.

For this, he stated, “What we have to do is to manage it and to ensure that over time, those who are invisible can

be brought to light and we can understand what is happening.”

The Minister reiterated, “Once they leave Cuba legally and they arrive in Guyana legally; we are going to accept them and treat them as all other members of the Caribbean family are treated.”

Some of the matters focused primarily on the illegal migration but Trafficking in Persons was addressed as one of the burning issues, and how both territories can reduce the opportunities for persons to be held in such captivity.

Director of the Division of Consular Affairs and Cuban Residents Abroad, Ernesto Soberon Guzman, related Cuba shares a common goal with Guyana.

“Our main concern is to try to avoid Cuban people that visit Guyana, that use its territory as a transit in irregular migration… these people become victims of the trafficking of human beings, so in this regard we are very pleased with the conversation, with the results. I think that we share common

A firm handshake between Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix and Ernesto Soberon Guzman, Director of the Division of Consular Affairs and Cuban Resident Abroad, following two days of meeting to discuss migration matters

goals in order to promote this regular, safe, orderly travel and, at the same time, to fight against irregular migration and against human trafficking,” he said.

The first discussions with between the two countries took place in 2016 and they will meet again in another two years.

In 2016, it was reported that Guyana along with other South American countries are major transit ports for Cuban

refuges seeking access to the United States via the use of land as opposed to the more excruciating water route they traditionally use.

This was according to NBC Nightly News in its April 30, 2016, broadcast where an investigative piece highlighted that there is a new migrant crisis unfolding in America where thousands of undocumented Cubans were stranded on a gruelling journey they hope would end in the US.

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Guyana Govt promises to make 4,000 house lots available …within next 18 months T

he Guyana Government has promised to make some 4,000 house lots available for purchase within the next 18 months.

According to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan , the lots will be given out on a “first come, first served basis”.

“So, we are trying to ensure that the system is more robust to ensure greater equity,” Minister Bulkan is quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information.

The Minister did not expand on where these house lots will be available and at what cost.

However, he noted that the government is going to make it “affordable” for its citizens.

Government, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), had put a pause on the distribution of house lots.

Instead, it teamed up with private developers to build houses which are being sold about a price range from G$4M to G$9M.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan interacts with residents during a government outreach in Berbice earlier this week.

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Opposition mounts pressure on Govt to shut down SOCU …following audit report on alleged financial irregularities

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ith revelations of alleged widespread fraud and financial irregularities within the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) coming out of an audit, the People’s Progressive Party is calling for the unit to be closed down.

According to the party on Friday, the revelations vindicate its many warnings about SOCU deviating from its mandate. In fact, the party noted that the revelations are just the tip of the iceberg, and that a forensic audit from an outside impartial auditor is needed.

“The materials”, the party said, “disclosed by the audit have confirmed our worst fears. But we are convinced that it is only the tip of the iceberg.

“This Unit has rendered itself absolutely unfit to function as a law enforcement agency and as part of the prosecutorial arm of the State.

There is no doubt that both investigations and prosecutions are being compromised by this diabolical outfit, who takes political instructions directly from Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, the Attorney General, and Ministry of the Presidency”, the party said.

The party also called for Ramjattan, who is the subject minister responsible for SOCU, to immediately resign. It noted that the unit has for some time been giving

of criminal charges instituted by this Unit.”

Iceberg

Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

appearances of unethical behaviour.

“The public was made aware of the unholy relationship between Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Attorney General Basil Williams, British consultant Dr. Sam Sittlington, and senior functionaries at SOCU, who were sighted jovially sipping wine and champagne at public places after arresting a number of PPP leaders.”

“The public”, the PPP added, “would well remember a former Commissioner of Police publicly distancing himself from the operations of this Unit. Recently, the Director of Public Prosecutions, in a sworn affidavit in a High Court proceeding, made it clear that the Office of the DPP did not advise on a series

According to the PPP, complaints have been made against the unit by various business persons. The party related that businessmen have been shaken down by the unit and have had their valuables seized.

“Over the years, we have received multiple reports from businessmen that SOCU officers have extracted from them huge sums of monies as bribes, and seized large caches of jewellery, monies and other personal valuables, including quantities of foreign currencies, from their premises without due process, and have converted these assets to their own use.

“We have also received reports of falsification of evidence in prosecutions, and the refusal to disclose materials which the law requires them to do, in order to ensure a fair trial of persons charged,” the party said. “This contamination of the criminal justice system strikes at the very foundation of the rule of law.”

SOCU

According to information leaked to the media, a probe being conducted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has unearthed irregularities that included falsified records and missing documents.

According to reports, there was even a case of an official

British consultant Dr. Sam Sittlington

who alleged his signature was forged. In addition, there are reports of listed expenditure being concocted and receipts being backdated.

SOCU was established in 2014 on the recommendation of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), and was intended to be a Police unit operating under the authority of the Police Commissioner, but with a close relationship to the FIU. Head of the Presidential Secretariat at the time, Dr Roger Luncheon, had disclosed that SOCU was tasked with investigating suspected financial transactions suggestive of money laundering and financing of terrorism.

Amid widespread concerns

of SOCU exceeding its mandate following a high-speed chase in which two persons perished, Ramjattan had introduced an amendment to the GPF’s Standing Order No 62, which concretised the expansion of SOCU’s mandate.

The criminal activities outside of terrorism and money laundering which were outlined in the amendment were: participation in an organised criminal group and racketeering; trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling; sexual exploitation, including the sexual exploitation of children; illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; illicit arms and ammunition trafficking; corruption and bribery; fraud; counterfeiting and piracy of products; environmental crimes; murder; grievous bodily harm; kidnapping, illegal restraint and hostage taking; robbery or theft; smuggling; extortion; forgery; piracy; insider trading and market manipulation; tax evasion and gold smuggling.

But there was no indication that it was authorised to investigate the “misfeasance” which the forensic audit claimed had been committed by the allottees of Pradoville 2. In fact, legal luminaries have contended that the grounds upon which SOCU is conducting its investigations are not even criminal.

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Guyana’s external debt skyrockets to US$1.3B

– now amounts to 33% of GDP

E

xternal debts have shown increases for 2018, as Guyana’s indebtedness to various international institutions continues to grow. This is contained in the Bank of Guyana’s annual report, which was recently released.

The report states that Government’s total public debt increased by 1.5 per cent in 2018. The report notes that this is an increase that represents 43.9 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In the case of external debt, there was an increase to US$1.3 billion.

The increase to external debt was 5.5 per cent and accounted for 33.9 per cent of GDP. According to the report, higher disbursements primarily from the International Development Association (IDA) and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB) for project financing were chiefly responsible for this increase.

The report further explains that IDA and IADB’s disbursements were mostly targeting citizen security strengthening, sanitation im-

Minister of Finance Winston Jordon

provement, economic diversification, education sector improvement and fiscal stability.

“Obligations to multilateral creditors, which accounted for 58.5 per cent of total external debt, increased by 8.6 per cent or US$62 million to US$788 million,” the report states.

“Liabilities to the IADB increased by 4.3 per cent to US$525 million, reflecting a change in the debt stock of US$22 million during 2018.”

“Indebtedness to the IDA expanded by 112.2 per cent or US$40 million to US$75 million.

Commitments to the ‘Other’ category of multilateral creditors rose by 4.5 per cent to US$38 million. In contrast, obligations to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) decreased slightly by 0.5 per cent or US$1 million to US$150 million.”

According to the report, total bilateral debt obligations which represented 37.2 per cent of total external debt increased by 1.5 per cent to US$487 million.

Specifically, Guyana’s debt to the Export Import Bank of China (Exim) increased by 10.7

per cent or US$19 million to US$201 million.

“Liabilities to Kuwait and Libya rose by 2.9 per cent and 0.7 per cent to US$80 million and US$44 million respectively. Conversely, obligations to Venezuela, the Exim Bank of India and Trinidad and Tobago declined by 4.7 per cent, 6.9 per cent and 64.4 per cent to US$115 million, US$16 million and US$4 million respectively.”

Meanwhile, external debt service payments increased by 27.7 per cent to US$78 million from US$61 million in 2017. This, the report

says, represented 5.1 per cent of export earnings and 7.5 per cent of Central Government’s current revenue.

“Principal and interest payments amounted to US$55 million and US$23 million respectively. Payments to multilateral creditors rose by 14.2 per cent to US$40 million, and represented 51.3 per cent of total external debt service,” the report says.

The US$50.2 million East Coast Road Expansion project is one project for which monies had to be disbursed from the Exim Bank of China.

This project has two components. One features a four-lane expansion of the road from Better Hope to Annandale. On the other hand, the other caters for an upgrade to the existing two-lane road from Annandale to Belfield.

Guyana had received a US$45.3 million concessional loan from the China EXIM (ExportImport) Bank to finance the road project, and that agreement was signed in January last year.

Initially, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government had tried to

secure financing for the road expansion project, but the money was not readily available.

Hence, the then Administration decided to use local funds for preliminary works, while it awaited the release of funds from the Chinese to complete the works.

The preliminary works for the four-lane upgrade were completed at the end of 2014.

With the China EXIM Bank putting up most of the finances for the road expansion, Guyana had awarded the contract to China Railway First Group for some US$42.7 million.

The Chinese construction company reportedly put in the lowest bid of US$46.994 million.

In light of the increase in Guyana’s current account balance cause by a drop in exports which brings in foreign exchange, the servicing of this increased debt load will become problematical since it must be done with foreign exchange. It was for this reason the PPP had kept sugar going since it generates foreign exchange.

CANU asking for more modern equipment to tackle drug smuggling at airports

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lthough ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) are legally mandated to stop and search outgoing passengers at Guyana’s main airports, the agency is hoping to use more modern equipment to do so instead of making physical contact. In the last budget, the Unit was awarded G$349 million.

However, according to a source close to the drug enforcement unit, there are some genuine cases where persons have been stopped and searched due to

suspicious behaviour, but taking into consideration the humanitarian aspect of executing such duties, it is believed that additional equipment at the ports of entry will minimise this.

“We are humans and we are dealing with humans so to avoid the negativities of executing our duties then the use of more technology, more equipment to do scans at the airports would be ideal. In fact, CANU is supposed to be pursuing this recommendation to the Government quite soon.

Also, we are hoping that we are given the go-ahead to have a physician join the team,” the source stated.

In other countries, physical searches are still conducted and to various extremities based on reasonable suspicion, but the use of modernised technology to conduct such searches has been proven to be more ideal in ensuring that the rights of persons are not violated.

As it is, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), located at Timehri, East

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport located at Timehri, East Bank Demerara

Bank Demerara, and the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, are al-

The Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara

legedly not properly equipped with such technology.

This is according to a senior police source attached to the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF’s) Narcotics Branch.

He told this publication that it does not reflect a good image internationally for the country and law enforcement officials when outgoing passengers are nabbed in other countries after passing through the tight security at the two main airports.

“Through the physical searches we conduct, we have been able to thwart a number of persons over the years who attempted to smuggle things and illegal drugs, outside

of Guyana. However, the airports need more equipment so that they can help us to minimise the hassle and delays that some outgoing passengers may be exposed to due to them having to be searched.

Yes, there may have been some cases where physical searches led to no arrests but had to be carried out due to reasonable suspicion but more equipment would do no harm,” he noted.

Quite recently, there has been an uproar on social media, and even in the news about what they deem “a violation of rights” for the extreme searches being conducted on passengers by agents of the CANU and the Police Narcotics Branch.

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US report points to growing domestic drug use problem in Guyana

…marijuana, cocaine most prevalent; ecstasy also present All of the aforementioned prisoners were male, while New Amsterdam had a male prison population of 352 and a female population of 85. One hundred and fifty of those men and 31 women were on remand.

The Camp Street Prison reached the end of the line on July 9, 2017, when prisoners set that

According to the report, marijuana and cocaine consumption is a growing problem

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United States (US) State Department report has declared that while Guyana has a comprehensive drug demand reduction strategy, the use of drugs like marijuana and even cocaine is a growing problem.

This information is contained in the recently released 2019 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which has a section dedicated to Guyana’s profile.

Notwithstanding the trafficking, the report notes, actual consumption of these drugs is a growing problem.

According to the report, marijuana is the most commonly used drug.

The document also noted reported seizures of synthetic drugs like Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA), most commonly known as “ecstasy”, and detailed Government’s response to the scourge.

“The Government of Guyana’s National Drug Abuse Control Unit trains public health officers, teachers, social workers, and civil society groups as part of the Government’s supply reduction strategy,” the report states.

“The Guyanese Government has a drug enforcement presence at its international airports, post offices, and to a lesser extent at seaport and land-border entry points. Control agencies reported several interdiction efforts and drug-related seizures and convictions during the first nine months of 2018”, the report detailed.

The report notes that during the first nine months of 2018, authorities seized 164.9 kilograms (kg) of cocaine and 889kg of cannabis. It also states that local authorities initiated 358 prosecutions and convicted 24 individuals for drug trafficking.

The report has expressed faith in Guyana’s demand reduction strategy, noting that it adequately addresses drug rehabilitation. It named the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Social Protection as the relevant Ministries responsible for addressing demand reduction. ”Non-governmental organisations also offer rehabilitation services, with the Government providing financial assistance.

“The Georgetown Public Hospital provides free rehabilitation services for drug users. The University of Guyana has a demand reduction curriculum in place through OAS/CICAD funding”, the report detailed.

“The Government of Guyana conducts anti-drug awareness sessions in secondary schools, and has plans to create drug treatment courts. As part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), the United States supports Guyana through targeted training for law enforcement and maritime officers”, the report declared.

Guyana’s laws currently provide for a mandatory three-year jail sentence for anyone found in possession of small amounts of marijuana and other illicit drugs. This has led to the incarceration of petty offenders and, persons have opined, has contributed to an overcrowding of the country’s prisons. There has, however, been a push to remove custodial sentencing for possession of small amounts of marijuana through legislation.

As at January 2017, there was a total of 2,043 inmates in Guyana’s five jails, although the largest one – the Camp Street prison – was subsequently gutted in a fire. At the time, the Georgetown prisons had 963 inmates,

521 of whom were on remand; Lusignan had 153, of whom 32 were on remand; Mazaruni had 360 and Timehri had 130 inmates including 28 remanded inmates.

facility on fire, occasioning its complete destruction, except for a newly built brick building which is still standing intact.

Following that jailbreak, over 1000 prisoners were displaced.

While some were moved to Mazaruni or granted early release or bail, others had re-

mained at Lusignan under straightened circumstances.

It was then that another contingent escaped.

Since these two jailbreaks, all but one prison escapee – Paul Goriah – have either been recaptured or killed.

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Suspect still to be arrested Man to spend 12 years in EBD hit and run accident behind bars for killing friend during drinking spree

Kaituma, Region One, he killed Mark Ashby.

France was represented by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay, who in a plea of mitigation informed the court that his client acted in selfdefence since he was attacked by the deceased during an argument.

The court heard that on May 11, 2012, France and Ashby were involved in an argument which escalated into a scuffle, during which the accused, who was intoxicated at the time, armed himself with a chopper and dealt the deceased a chop to the neck.

Ashby was rushed to the Port Kaituma Hospital where he died while receiving medical attention.

Before handing down the sentence, Justice Singh told France to “try and live a better life” Ignatius France leaving court on Tuesday when he gets out of prisfight between two intoxicaton since the entire matter ed men, which left one of them was the result of imbibing alcohol. dead, has now ended with the When the 12-year sentence was other serving 12 years in jail. handed down, Justice Singh ordered Ignatius France of Port Kaituma, that the seven years the accused spent Region One (Barima-Waini), was on on remand be deducted from the senTuesday sentenced to 12 years in prison tence.

by High Court Judge Justice Navindra The State’s case was presented by Singh after he pled guilty to man- Prosecutors Teriq Mohammed, Tuanna slaughter. The 35-year-old man was Hardy and Abigail Gibbs. initially charged for murder. The court heard that on May 11, 2012, at Port

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T

he latest fatality, a hit-andrun accident on the East Bank of Demerara, claimed the life of a facility maintenance worker who was employed by Texila American University.

According to reports, Arnold Kissoonlall was traversing along the bridge between Peters Hall and Providence, in the vicinity of the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel, on a bicycle when he was struck by a vehicle heading north. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene upon impact.

When Guyana Times International arrived at the scene, the man’s body was removed along with a blue bicycle belonging to Kissoonlall. Persons at the scene could not give a description of the vehicle involved in the accident. It was indicated that the man’s head was crushed.

At the scene, over a dozen employees were present but remained tightlipped about details surrounding the dead man or the accident. This publication understands that the man resided at Mocha Arcadia, East Bank

The roadway where Arnold Kissoonlall was struck and killed

Demerara.

His body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Home where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted. Meanwhile, the police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident and are also on the lookout for the vehicle which caused the tragic incident. This newspaper was also told that Police are examining surveillance footage from nearby businesses.

This is the second hit-and-run accident over the past three days. On Saturday, 27-year-old Joel Wills was riding his motorcycle when he was hit by a lorry on the Number One Public Road, East Berbice Corentyne.

Wills was on his way home from the Albion Community Centre where he was a part of a group that cleaned the arena for a Jehovah’s Witnesses convention.

According to information received, following the collision the driver of the motor lorry fled the scene without rendering any assistance.

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Where…

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…are the Haitians?

“Ministry of Citizenship” was carved out of the Home Affairs Ministry (the rump was renamed “Public Security Ministry and given to the chump Khemraj Ramjattan) after the PNC-led coalition won the 2015 elections, and it was handed to Winston Felix, former Commissioner of Police (CoP). Apart from Roger Khan claiming a “relationship” with him, Felix was also caught on an infamous taped conversation with the Chairman of the PNC. At the time, there were furious denials about the revealed insider links between the CoP and the PNC politician – especially since they were discussing the Agricola Massacre and how to head off the PPP Minister of Home Affairs.

Well, after Felix was made minister, there could be no denial of his political allegiance; although, unlike Granger, he didn’t come out and openly admit he was a member of the PNC all the years he was in uniform. But the question arose as to why Felix was given the specially created portfolio. And the answer, not surprisingly, had to do with “fixing” the list of electors by fiddling with the data that go into making that list. And all of this data – records of births, deaths, registration, etc – passes through the Felix new bailiwick!

After all, it was by fiddling with these records that Burnham “fixed” the first post-independence elections in 1968. So the PNC would’ve known all the ‘ins and outs’ about rigging elections. The US declassified records reveal that Burnham had taken a page from Eric Williams’s playbook over in T&T and also brought in some West Indians from the smaller islands in an effort to bolster his minority numbers against the PPP at that time. The islanders, however, couldn’t take the “rough and tough” hinterland experience, and that experiment suffered a premature death.

So when the PPP heard about 5485 Haitians allowed into Guyana by Felix, with no records of them leaving, could you blame the PPP for their antennae sticking up to attention?? Well, after some hankypanky over some naturalisation pics in the press, questions were raised about whether the Haitians had been given citizenship.

But guess what?? Felix released some numbers that just don’t make sense. He claimed that, since 2015, only 888 persons IN TOTAL have been granted citizenship!! And of these, THERE HASN’T BEEN A SINGLE HAITIAN!!

The question, of course, is: Where have all the Haitians gone?? Felix now says they are just “passing through” on their way to French Guiana!! But how come none of them was detected by the Felix Immigration officers on the Corentyne?? If nearly six thousand persons can slip over the Corentyne River undetected, surely something’s rotten in the state of Guyana. Rigging?

Right Bannuh?? …fools rush in PM Nagamootoo certainly has a lot of time on his hands; but then, he just has a weekly Chronic column to eke out!! This week, he claimed “the regime’s surrogate media have unleashed a brutal, X-rated campaign of rage and hate against the APNU+AFC Coalition and its officials.” Whew!! To which the acting President said unctuously, “As always, the Coalition Government would issue righteous responses, buttressed by the biblical exhortation, a gentle or soft word turns away wrath”!

Your Eyewitness, however, was sorely disappointed that Nagamootoo didn’t utter any “biblical exhortation”, since he referred to some comments of yours truly.

This being Sunday and all that! Against the background of his Housing Minister’s husband executing contracts from the CH&PA, which falls under her remit; and the Minister of Communications’ company being awarded a contract from the Department of Energy, this is what Nagamootoo had to say: “I know that ALL of (our Ministers) have fully supported the Code of Conduct that prescribes standards of integrity, accountability and transparency”!!

He even forgot the Code’s been deep-sixed? …a quote is more apt To authorise his effusions, Nagamootoo quoted Maxim Gorky, but not the one that best applies to him: “A good man can be stupid and still be good. But a bad man must have brains.”

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-With current 95 % treatment rate, 98% in 2017

By Utamu Belle

W

ith a present 95 percent curability rate in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), the Linden Chest Clinic, situated within the Upper Demerara Hospital (UDH) in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has earned its place as the leading public treatment Centre for the infection/ disease amongst the 10 administrative Regions of Guyana.

This is according to statistics from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/ World Health Organization (WHO) and Global Fund Guyana.

TB, an airborne infection/disease is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis which usually attacks the lungs but can cause damage to other parts of the body as well. It can be spread for example, through the cough or sneeze of an infected person.

Some symptoms of the disease include coughing blood, prolonged coughing which may last for three weeks or more, painful breathing or chest pain, fever and night sweats, weight loss, fatigue and chills.

In Region 10, the Linden Chest Clinic has the sole responsibility of providing treatment and care to TB patients

across the Region and has over the years been a leader in this regard. In 2017, the Clinic recorded an exemplary 98 per cent TB treatment rate.

In a public message on World TB Day 2019, which was observed on March 24, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings alluded that according to the 2018 cohort analysis conducted, the Region has the best treatment success, with over 90 per cent of patients successfully completing their treatment.

The Minister added that the Region has been outstanding in caring for TB patients over the years, with a stable and very dedicated team of public health professionals. The TB outreach workers and the main Doctor, she noted, were able to build partnerships with other health care providers in the Region and have them involved in Direct Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS), which is the internationally recognized efficient strategy for the control of the disease.

This year, World TB Day was observed under the theme, “It’s time for Action- End TB”.

Speaking with this Sunday Times Magazine, Registered Nursing Assistant attached to the Linden Chest Clinic, Thesia King Thompson, who has worked at the treatment Centre

for the past 10 years noted that its team of professionals are very committed to working to put an end to TB in Region 10.

Apart from Thompson, other members of the team attached to the Clinic include Dr Roscoe McDonald, Doctors Ashonda Washington and Natasha Barton, Nurse Gracelyn Gittens along with DOTS workers Shamaine Moore, Uloma Haynes, Vanessa Webster and Avay Fraser.

Presently the clinic has 12 active TB cases, of which only one is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive and 40 Isoniazid Preventative Therapy (IPT) patients (for the prevention of tuberculosis in persons living with HIV).

Of the 40 IPT patients, 25 are HIV positive. The statistics are as of February 28, 2019.

Addressing the myths

One of the first steps in the fight against TB, Thompson noted is educating the masses on the prevention and treatment of the disease. This, she explained entails having a thorough understanding of it and separating the myths from the facts.

“There are many different myths that people would have about tuberculosis, but I think the main thing a person should know or understand is that TB is airborne and airborne only. It is not a sexually

transmitted disease, you cannot get it by using someone’s utensils”, she explained.

Thompson also pointed to what she considers another major misconception that many people have about tuberculosis, which is, once someone is infected with it, this means they also have HIV. She explained that this may be likely, but not necessarily. In some cases, she explained, a person with HIV may never develop tuberculosis.

Testing and diagnosing In order to determine if a suspected patient is infected with TB, a TB skin test may be done, to determine their level of exposure to the infection/ disease, Thompson explained.

“Because TB is airborne, most persons might have been around someone who has TB and they don’t develop any signs. Therefore they’re determined as ‘Asymptomatic’. But, if they do a TB skin test they might have a reaction to the tuberculin that we may insert, and that when it is measured with the diagnostic ruler it goes above 10 millimetres. Now anything above 10 millimetres is considered abnormal”, she continued.

From this step, the patient is subjected to chest x-rays and other laboratory tests to determine if they have the TB infection, also known as latent TB (no signs or symptoms) or the TB disease.

Once there is TB present, Thompson

explained, it is no longer latent TB but considered active TB. She also alluded to a more recent test made available to Guyana in 2017- the Gene expert test which she noted is far more in-depth than the Sputum test.

“The HIV test is done because you do not want to start treating a patient that is HIV positive too late because what you would find is that the TB bacteria would kill that person far faster than HIV,” she explained.

Thompson related that healthy lifestyle choices and maintaining a strong immune system is necessary for the prevention of TB. She also pointed to the availability of free treatment in Guyana, with medication provided through Global Fund.

She also alluded to the seriousness of ensuring treatment is administered effectively, given the contagious nature of the infection/disease.

An entire course of treatment takes up to 6 months, she outlined. Thompson stressed that TB is curable, even in cases where patients have Sputum positive results. These persons, she explained can be cured at the end of the 6 month period of treatment.

According to statistics, there were approximately 20 new patients from Region 10 diagnosed with TB last year and approximately 3 patients that were re-infected. Thompson noted however that about 99 per cent of the patients treated for TB may never return to the Clinic to be re-treated.

Thompson said the Clinic also provides assistance for patients who may not have the necessary finances to purchase cleaning agents. She noted that affected patients also have a responsibility to ensure that TB is not spread and to ensure that they are not re-infected.

As such, she said patients are advised to open windows in their homes to allow fresh air to pass through so that wherever TB bacteria may be hiding in the home, there’s a chance that it gets removed.

The DOTS workers also play a key role by providing door to door delivery to patients with active TB daily.

“The DOTS workers take the treatment to your house, see that you drink it if you have any complaints you tell them- they are the medium between you and the Doctor. So if anything happens to you before your next appointment they will get all the necessary information they need and write to the Doctor”, Thompson explained.

Negative effects

Thompson also pointed to the negative effects TB has had on the lives of infected persons in the Region. In

many cases, she said patients may have to stay away from work which in turn leads to lost wages.

“When a person becomes infected and they find out, they have to stay home from work. The least amount of time that they have to stay home from work is a month. So, that’s income lost.

It also depends on where they’re working. Most of the patients that come into our Clinic are self-employed. So what you find is that they have loss of income”, she explained.

This, Thompson noted also affects patients’ ability to purchase cleaning supplies when necessary. In many instances, she said staff would join in assisting by pooling together their own resources. Thompson said the success of the Clinic has been rewarding as she has seen the quality level of work put out and the reception from patients.

Challenges

Over the years, Thompson said there has been a call for the Chest Clinic to be given its own Unit, as it is situated within the hospital itself. She pointed to the need for development and expansion, in outlining a few challenges.

“What we’ve been fighting for, since I’ve been here, we’ve been asking, ‘What about the Linden Chest Clinic getting its own Unit? What about it getting its own building?’ Because Georgetown Chest Clinic has theirs, they have their programme Unit and they have their Clinic Unit. They can look after their patients and manage their statistics at a faster rate because they have everything set out to facilitate that”, she outlined.

Thompson said there are instances where it gets congested, more so with the addition of two more doctors, due to the fact that space can only accommodate one doctor. Additionally, she pointed out that treatment, in terms of receiving medication from the Materials Management Unit (MMU) has been an issue lately.

This year’s PAHO/WHO campaign “focuses on accelerating the commitment to end TB following the Declaration of the UN (United Nations) General Assembly high-level meeting on ending TB, not only at the political level with Heads of State and Government, but also with governors, mayors, parliamentarians, community leaders, people affected with TB, as well as doctors, nurses and other health workers, NGOs (Non- Governmental Organizations), civil society members and other partners”.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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“T

he Bartica Regatta is u n i q u e l y Bartica’s own. It is something that we have developed and take pride in and to know that it has moved from such small beginnings to what it is now, makes me immensely proud as someone who has played a role in its development,” Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford says.

Bartica located in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region is known as the gateway to Guyana’s hinterland and for very valid reasons so. However, we will not focus on the access it provides rather we would be focusing on the spectacle that goes down during the Easter season in the township.

The annual Bartica Regatta offers an escape to a number of people as well as provides an experience like none other.

However, not many people know of the origins of the Regatta since there are many versions of the same story that surrounds its establishment.

Considered as a lo-

were a group of businessmen like Godfrey DeFreitas, George Carioca, Oscar Smart and John Williams who formed a committ e e

cal historian and one of the residents who were instrumental in the development of the regatta, Regional Chairman Bradford said that the event got started all because of a friendly rivalry among two brothers.

“There were two brothers that owned timber concessions in Essequibo River and they used to paddle to go to the concession to work during the day and in the afternoon they used to

return home. It was then that the whole idea came about when they used to compete against each other to see who would reach to the concession first in the mornings and who would reach home faster in the afternoons.”

As time progressed and finances became more readily available, the brothers graduated from paddle boats to those with engines and the friendly rivalry went on. It was from there that

the idea of turning this rivalry into a competition was birthed.

In the early 1960s, a group of boatmen namely John Williams, W Angoy, Oscar Smart was among the first group who began the regatta racing.

It was very small during that time with the fastest boats being equipped with 25 horsepower engines. As it grew, the first ‘big’ regatta was held at the Charlestown Sawmill Wharf, now the Rahaman Sawmill, at the end of Bartica. It was quite a spectacle at that time and began drawing crowds from all over Guyana.

“The first big regatta was also my first regatta and I was amazed. There

and they started to make the sport more competitive. At first, it has paddle boat races, canoe, swimming and eventually it evolved to include a variety of sports like cricket, football and cycling. This would go on for a week and would culminate with the two days of watersports and the Miss Bartica Regatta pageant.”

It is believed that the Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant is one of the oldest local pageants in Guyana.

“In the late 70s, there was a lull in regatta because most of the businessmen died or migrated. There was no regatta for six to seven years and when the Region got its first Regional Chairman, he decided to resuscitate the regatta. He felt that it was something

that we should be proud of and so he called a group that consisted of myself, John Palmer, Richard Williams, Monty Reid and others and then he

asked us to form a committee and resuscitate the regatta. We took up the challenge and since then the event has been growing rapidly.”

However, executing the regatta is always a challenge for many reasons and the main one being fund. Over the years, corporate sponsors along with government have been able to sustain the regatta but there are now plans to make the event a regional one following the call from President David Granger at last year’s regatta.

Bradford said that once the committee works holistically and more sponsors come on board then the dream of including those from the Middle and Upper Mazaruni area could be realised. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Bodybuilder on bail for ecstasy pills possession

A

bodybuilder was on Wednesday taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge of possession of narcotics.

Keshan Simon denied that on April 15, 2019, at Lot 247 Oronoque and Forshaw Streets, Georgetown, he had

in his possession eight ecstasy pills.

The prosecution is contending that on Monday, Police ranks acting on information received went to Simon’s house and conducted a search.

During the search, the ecstasy pills were discovered in the toilet area of the home.

The prosecution is contending that the

man also flushed some of the pills down the toilet. According to the prosecution, the 29-year-old admitted to the ranks that the pills belonged to him.

The police prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds of the nature of the offence.

He was, however, released on G$50,000 bail. The case will continue on May 8, 2019.

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inding your passion is figuring out whom you want to be, what you want to do and what inspires you to get out of your comfortable bed every morning. It is about figuring that works for you and what allows you to push the boundaries.

No one knows to push boundaries quite like Davenarine ‘Dave Scott’ Persaud. Dave is a successful businessman from the town of Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) but what makes him a boundary pusher is the fact that he lives the fast life. The fast life in the sense that he is a speed racer, perhaps the fastest boat racer in Guyana.

Every year, for the Easter regatta in Bartica Dave, puts on a show for persons viewing the spectacle. For the past seven years, he has been the Regatta Champion winning the Formula 1 (F1) race.

Dave has been always interested in boating life and recalls his childhood as one that was never without a race. During his trips to school (from Lalaballi) on a daily ba-

sis, he remembers racing with his friends in their paddle boats.

“Growing up we start driving boats and coming to Bartica and deh around and coming to the regatta. My father used to race in the years before and coming to regatta sparked that interest in me to start racing. I started racing when I was 18 and ever since I have been racing.”

Racing for Dave has not been an easy ride and he made numerous sacrifices to

get to where he is today. He initially started racing in the 75 horsepower(hp) category winning his first championship in 2001 and continues to grow in terms of experience skills and techniques.

He would later graduate to the 200hp category where he once again dominated and in efforts to push the limits of the game, Dave brought the first F1 boat to Guyana in 2011.

He practised and has been winning the F1 races since 2012. He

i s revered as the champion of the regatta and many are afraid to even clash against him. The accomplished racing champion directs all credits to his father as someone who introduced him to the sport.

When asked why he invested in the F1 boat, Dave said that it is his hunger for success that

drove him to push the limits of the game. He said that the investment is one that he does not regret because the boat allows him more safety and protection from accidents.

“Over the years the Bartica Regatta developed slightly from then to now. But we need more input from the various agencies. For instance, I was trying

to bring F1 racers from overseas to increase attraction and the reach of the Bartica Regatta because it is a national event. We can’t do that off we own and that is why we need the sponsorship.”

“If we bring the F1 races to Guyana just imagine the tourism boost and so on. It will put Guyana on the map as a destination because these racers will bring attention because the racers are from all over the world.”

Dave said that his success based on the fact that he works hard and advises the same to everyone.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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ou know that Regatta is around the corner when you call a Bartica Hotel to book a room only to be told that there are none available. You know it is regatta season when business is bustling and the number of visitors increases dramatically.

Bartica is a small Town situated on the Essequibo River, 80 km inland from

Magazine, Bartica’s Mayor Gifford Marshall said that the regatta is a time where Barticians can benefit tremendously. The Bartica Regatta not only enhances the tourism package offered to the town but it also provides a means of earnings for the residents.

The heightened presence of visitors means more spending.

the Atlantic Ocean. It is perfectly nestled at the confluence of the Essequibo, Cuyuni and Mazaruni rivers bounded north-east by the Essequibo River, south by a forest that begins at Dog Point Road and west by the Mazaruni River.

Before becoming a town Bartica was approximately 12.95 km2 in land mass. Today, Bartica’s Township extends geographically to approximately 168,350 km2 with most of the new area largely underdeveloped and with low population densities. This community of approximately 15,000 residents, popularly known as the “gateway” to Guyana’s interior is economically driven by gold, diamond mining and to a lesser extent the hospitality industries.

Every year, for the Easter holidays, the annual Regatta is held in Bartica with sees people flocking the Town to get a glimpse and be a part of all of the activities. This year, the Bartica Regatta kicks off today and concludes on Easter Monday.

Speaking with the Times Sunday

“The Bartica Regatta will bring a lot of revenue to the Municipality.

Whether be whatever industry everyone benefits tremendously. The regatta itself can be seen as an economic project and all the service providers benefits. All the activities are held and it provides for small businesses, pushcart vendors to vend and make money. Everyone benefits. It is an economic venture and one we will continue to work on to improve the standard of the regatta so that people can see everything that the town has to offer.”

Since the Township took over the planning of the regatta they have been continuously working to improve the overall experience and build capacity to provide real-time data on how much people benefit from the activities. With over 3,000 visitors flocking the remotely small town, the Mayor said that they will be taking stock of the businesses who have been able to benefit and how they benefitted so as to ensure increased benefits to all Barticians.

On the calendar of activities for the

regatta are a number of attractions to cater to every age range. There will be comedy shows, gymkhana, jouvert party, football competitions, street par-

ties, races, and the highlights the Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant and Regatta Water Races. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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Scenes from Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo's visit to US

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oraikobai is an Amerindian village located in Region 5 of Guyana. The village is about 96 miles away from the confluence of the Mahaicony River. The population in Moraikobai is just over 500 strong, who are predominantly indigenous peoples from the Arawak tribe.

The community was initially called “Moracoba”; a name that was formed from a combination of two Arawak words; ‘Mora’ meaning tree and ‘Coba’ meaning stump. However, several decades ago the name was officially changed to ‘Moraikobai’.

The village is accessible by land, water and air! You can travel by boat on the Mahaicony River. Speed-boat usually takes about two hours to cover the 96 miles distance. The scenes, the flora and fauna on the Mahaicony River to Moraikobai are beautiful so the entire trip can be entertaining.

There is a 45 mile trail from Linden in Region 10 if you prefer to travel by land. The trail can be treacherous given that it is of sand. During the wet seasons some parts of the trails can be mistaken for creeks. A capable off-road vehicle is necessary to tackle the trail. Alternatively, if you would like to get there fast then you can fly to the village with a helicopter.

Here are some beautiful images taken by Lauristan Choy on a trip to the beautiful village. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

FEATURE 39

WEEK ENDING APRIL 21, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com by

Petamber Persaud

Preserving our literary heritage

poets presenting exacting character portraitures.

And what have they created? A book consisting of forty- six poems of forty-six different people, twenty-one written by Jailall and twenty-five by McDonald, the juxtaposition of which also makes for interesting reading, if read from front to back notwithstanding the book can read any which way in order to get a sample of life in Guyana.

The book opens with the poem Amerindian – the

M

any of the poems in this collection were previously published but reading these particular poems/stories together under the title, ‘People of Guyana’, add to the conversation of human nature in its various forms and expressions, and though set in a Guyanese society their manifestations are universal as themes of love, sacrifice, hope, aging, death, etc are explored by the two writers.

The two writers are contemporaries but came from ‘very different backgrounds and living experiences’ writing ‘out of difference poetic traditions and inspirations’.

Ian McDonald

Trinidadian by birth, Guyanese by adoption, with ancestral links to Antigua and St. Kitts, he describes himself as West Indian by conviction ...he was educated in Trinidad and at Cambridge. Came to Guyana in 1955 to work in sugar industry and stayed. Poet, playwright, novelist, editor, book publisher, sportsman, business executive, columnist, he has been writing poetry for seven decades and he is the author of Mercy Ward, Essequibo, Jaffo The Calypsonian, Between Silence and silence, The comfort of all things, River Dancer

and New and collected Poems. His novel The Hummingbird Tree was made into a film by the BBC.

Peter Jailall

A poet, educator, storyteller, Peter Jailall, born East Coast Demerara, Guyana, started his career as an educator teaching at a school in the village of Enmore, further up the coastland, later becoming a trained teacher (Government Training College), trained especially for the foreign recruitment officers.

He is still an educator using poetry and storytelling as teaching aids.

He migrated to Canada in the 1970s where he became a member of the Racial Minority Writers’ Collective and the League of Canadian Poets, a fervent supporter of human rights and social justice, expression of this passion is embroiled in his poetry, which he has performed in schools, libraries and universities across North America, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean and in Guyana.

He is a frequent visitor to his birthplace.

Publications include The Healing Place, 1993, Yet Another Home, 1997, and When September Comes, 2003. Sacrifice 2010, Mother Earth 2009…

McDonald and Jailall are two people of Guyana staking a claim as our foremost

first people of Guyana who it is said to have travelled from afar crossing the Bering Strait to get to South America – and closes with Guyanese Rollcall naming the people who migrated from Guyana to North America dying during the 9/11 conflagration of the Twin Towers.

Significantly, more than half of the book is focused on women, perhaps a tribute to women or once again men speaking women’s stories.

Stories, some of which are heart wrenching while others speak to the sacrifice of people of low estate and their steadfastness in their wretched ex-

istence without which the well-to-do people and those in better positions and in authority would still be in deep…. Despite it all, each poem is a gem - a gem in content, a gem in use of language, style, form, rhythm eliciting emotional seesaw rides.

Such gems as found in ‘Amerindian’- (all his life he knew forest/ Forest and great rivers/Why bring him in town to die), ‘Aspects of Indrani’ – (Goddess of fire), ‘Betty Kumar’, ‘Betty’, ‘Death of an old woman’ – (she was eighty-five.

Death came for her/without fuss, walked in quietly/nodded to us all and took her hand) ‘When

Nazmoon Died’, ‘An Unsung Guyanese’, ‘Parvatti’s Hair’, ‘My Agie’s Hand’, ‘God’s Work’….

The two poets complement each other – one giving up meanings readily while the other is more subtle.

Both, however, dedicating the collection ‘to the people of Guyana in their variety and vitality…’

W h a t ’ s Happening: New releases: New and Collected Poems by Ian McDonald; Silver Linen by Maryam Jameela; Going Home

by Milton Bruce.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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he Ramayana is perhaps one of the most popular epics in Hinduism and tells the beautiful story of the life of Shri Ram during his time on earth.

Witten by Valmiki, a Sanskrit poet, the Ramayana narrates the life of Shri Ramthe incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

The main story in the Ramayana is the 14-year exile of Shri Ram from the Kosala Kingdom of ruled by his father Raja Dasharatha. Ram’s exile to the forest was upon the request of Dasharatha’s second wife Kaikeyi. The text documents the trials and victories of Shri Ram, his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana during their 14-year exile to the forest.

Believed to be written during the first century BCE by Valmiki, the Ramayana is considered one of the largest ancient epics in the literary world. Like many other Hindu epics, the Ramayana is riddled with teachings of ancient Hindu sages.

The Ramcharitmanas was written

by Goswami Tulsidas in the 16 century

brought their way of life, culture, traditions and beliefs to this land and made it their home. They, along with the other groups of people brought to work under the British rule, contributed to the very fabric that is now the backbone of the Guyanese society.

During the indenture period, there were no forms of entertainment available to the immigrants resulting in the drawing from their motherland. They brought with them their forms of theatre and storytelling in the most elaborate way possible during that time.

Ramlila, which basically translates to the story of Ram was one of the many ways our ancestors kept their traditions and religion alive. The dramatic folk re-enactment of the life of Shri Ram is based on either the Ramayana or the Ramcharitmanas and would be curtailed to suit the audience it is intended for.

with derivations from the Ramayana.

From the Ramcharitmanas, one of the most popular chaupai (poetry) “Ram Siya Ram” was developed. The chaupai tells a beautiful story of how revered Shri Ram is.

Mangal Bhavan amangal hari Drabahu sudasarath achar Bihari Ram Siya ram Siya ram jay jay ram May that home of bliss and bane of woe take compassion on me; that Rama who plays in the courtyard of King Dashratha's house, be pleased. After all, whatever Sri Rama has willed must come to pass.

In Guyana, Hindus perhaps make up the second largest group of the religious population. From a very early age, Hindus are taught that Hinduism is a way of life as opposed to a religion. The pillars of Hinduism urges service to humanity without expectations of rewards.

Hinduism was brought to Guyana in the 1800s when indentured immigrants arrived from India to work on the sugar plantations. Not being allowed to bring hordes of material things, the Indians

It was and still is a tradition that is practised in most of India and other parts of the world where Indians have settled. However, in Guyana, it is something that has been dying for years now and very little is being done to revive it.

In 2008, UNESCO declared Ramlila festivities as one of the “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”.

Ramlila follows the story of the life of Shri Ram from birth. Because of the limited resources, available to during the time of indentureship and their love for community theatre, Ramlila usually in wide open spaces with uniquely crafted costumes. It is particularly popular during the September-October Navratri season and would run for the nine nights, every night portraying a different chapter or few in the life of Shri Ram. The culmination would be on Dusshera or Vijayadashami –often dubbed as the victory festival at the culmination of Navratri. Children from the community would get together with the elders who would train them to act and recite the lyrics that tell the story of the journey of Shri Ram from birth to his

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

marriage to Sita Maa and culminate with his exile from and subsequent return to Ayodhya.

The climax of Ramlila is the slaying of Ravana-the evil King who kidnapped Sita during exile. During the exuberant production a large statue of Ravana is erected and at the end of the production flaming arrows are shot into his navel setting him alight signalling the triumph of good over evil as well as the illumination of the darkness in our hearts.

The first time I heard of Ramlila was in 2009 when the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha put on the elaborate production at the National Cultural Centre with much pomp and grandeur. Ever since there have been small scaled productions which are one and few.

A few years after, I would be met with an onslaught different productions of Ramlila while I was living in Trinidad.

During my years there, it was something that I looked forward to as various Temples, groups and schools hosted their productions of the epic so richly etched in the fabric of their society. The first time I saw the production of Ramlila in an open-air setting without elaborate costumes and lighting was in 2014 when a Trinidadian friend and I were casually driving past one of the local Hindu Schools and saw the burning of Ravana.

Curiosity got the best of me and we went to inspect. I remember feeling this sense of excitement as we neared the open field colourfully decorated with various flags. I saw several little Hanumans running around in their traditional dhotis and brightly painted face. I was transported to a different place as I had never seen such a spectacle in my homeland.

A conversation later ensued between an elder and me where I was schooled on the production. The wrinkled old lady with a bright smile whom I referred to as Tanty willingly told me that her grandson was a part of the production. She was beaming as she identified a boy no

older than 10 running around with his mace. She told me about how Ramlila has always been a part of her life as her parents, devout Hindus, always encouraged the family to view and take part in the production.

She expressed immense happiness that they are able to create a space where the traditions of her ancestors are honoured in a way where despite religion and ethnicity all are welcomed. Like Trinidad, Guyana is a melting pot of cultures where celebrations are not just limited to the particular demographic it is intended for.

This celebration of Ramlila was expertly put over by the late Derek Walcott during his 1992 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech where he said “Here in Trinidad I discovered that one of the greatest epics of the world was seasonally performed, not with that desperate resignation of preserving a culture, but with an openness of belief that was as steady as the wind bending the cane lances of the Caroni plain. . . . I am only one-eighth the writer I might have been had I contained all the fragmented languages of Trinidad.”

“I had often thought of but never seen Ramleela, and had never seen this theatre, an open field, with village children as warriors, princes, and gods. I had no idea what the epic story was, who its hero was, what enemies he fought, yet I had recently adapted the Odyssey for a theatre in England, presuming that the audience knew the trials of Odysseus, hero of another Asia Minor epic, while nobody in Trinidad knew any more than I did about Rama, Kali, Shiva, Vishnu, apart from the Indians, a phrase I use pervertedly because that is the kind of remark you can still hear in Trinidad: "apart from the Indians".

In an effort to reintroduce Ramlila in Guyana, the Shri Surya Narayan Mandir will put on a show in collaboration with the Shiva Gana Organisation from Trinidad. The show will start at 19:00h on April 19 at the Leonora National Stadium. (Photos by Anuja Reyada Singh for Guyana Ramleela Sangh) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

42 NEWS

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ECD man jumps to death ...controversy swirls as wife, children allegedly being prevented from attending funeral

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Fifth Street, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara resident died after he jumped over the seawall in the village.

Dead is Alberto De Jesus, 30.

Relatives told Guyana Times International that the father of two children begun acting in a strange manner last Thursday before running to the seawall and jumping over.

Alberto De Jesus

His wife, Felisha Ramzan, told this publication that on the morning of the incident, her husband started acting in a “weird” manner and she told him she would take him to the hospital because something seemed amiss.

“He started talking to himself and so I’ve never seen him behave like this so I told him to get dressed, I’m taking him to the hospital,” she said.

Ramzan added that as they were ready to go to the hospital, she left her husband standing at the gate and returned inside to close a door, and when she returned she noticed him running toward the seawall.

“I see him running and I started to scream and all the neighbours came out and started running behind him but he jumped over. I see he went down like three times,” the distraught woman said.

She related that police were immediately called to the scene and boatmen working nearby took him out of the water and made unsuccessful efforts to revive him.

“Police patrol from BV Station

come…They carry he Georgetown Hospital where he pronounce dead,” the woman added.

The woman further said that a postmortem examination was performed and revealed that he died from drowning.

However, the woman told this publication that in her grief, more worries have been piled on as her husband’s body was removed without her consent and knowledge. She said that after probing as to who collected her husband’s body she was told that his mother went and claimed the body.

She claimed that as a result of this, she and her children were banned by her husband’s family from going to his funeral.

The grieving widow said that her children will not be able to see their father one last time, adding that it is causing her much distress.

“Our children and I should be allowed at the funeral. I am begging the social service or police to come and intervene in this matter. These people are taking advantage on me,” she cried.

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44 FEATURE

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utism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because symptoms vary in type and severity.

World autism awareness day is April 2 each year. However, the entire month is dedicated to spreading awareness about autism. Autism is growing in prevalence and since early intervention plays a crucial role in helping children with autism overcome some of their challenges, it is important that everyone knows what signs to look for and seek to have their children screened at the earliest possible time. Having your child screened will determine whether there is need for a comprehensive diagnostic

WEEK ENDING APRIL 21, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

evaluation. Once a child is diagnosed with autism, no matter where on the spectrum, they will need support/ intervention to help them in their areas of difficulty.

No two children on the autism spectrum present all the same symptoms. A child who has mild autism may go to a mainstream school and manage to maintain good grades yet may find it difficult to interact with peers or may present repetitive behaviours. These children are often labelled as stubborn, disobedient or "own way."

Other children, with a more severe form autism, will need to attend a special school. Why? Children with moder-

ate to severe autism need one on one attention and Individualized E d u c a t i o n a l Programmes (IEPs).

They may also need speech, occupational and/ or physical therapy. Once intervention is provided early it will help the child's overall development.

Many parents are in denial because there seems to be a belief in our society that autism is synonymous with mental retardation.

This leads to several children not getting the help they need. Let's be clear, autism is not mental retardation. There is need for greater awareness throughout the country and throughout the year on this condi-

tion. Pregnant mothers should be informed during their pregnancy so they know what signs to look for and be able to raise their concerns with their child's pediatrician.

"The first step towards change is awareness. The second step is acceptance." Nathaniel Branden If you are concerned about your child's development, or if your child has any of the symptoms mentioned in last week's article, you should seek help. You can schedule an appointment to have your child screened at the Step by Step School (223-7837) or alternatively, by Rosanne Farley, (622-4201).

Governments…

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…and jobs

he Department of Youth – part of the Ministry of the Presidency – organised a “job fair” for youths at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in Georgetown. It looks like after four years in office, the PNC-led Government has awoken to the fact that 40 per cent of all youths in Guyana are unemployed — even though the CDB announced this fact in early 2015, the same time the PNC slipped into office, in their report, “Youth are our Future: The Imperative of Youth Employment for Sustainable Development.”

Ours was the highest level of youth unemployment in the entire Caribbean, and it wasn’t as if the Government didn’t take notice then; but their response shows how clueless they are in running a free enterprise economy, and what steps must be taken to create jobs in one. Six months later, then Minister within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, Nicollette Henry, announced: “Our young people need to understand that in order to take up meaningful positions, they must first be willing to be mentored to acquire leadership skills so that they can contribute meaningfully while earning.

We are taking steps building on what was already there from the previous administration, and we do have skills development opportunities through our training centres at Kuru Kururu, Sophia, and at Vryman’s Erven in New Amsterdam that provide training opportunities, but some of them don’t want to be part of the process.”

Imagine that!! This is what they’ve continued to do: continue to provide “training” in areas where their constituency reside, as adumbrated by Henry.

The fly in the ointment, of course, is: what’s the point of training youths for jobs if the economy isn’t expanding to create those “jobs” in the first place??

Now, this isn’t some kind of esoteric “chicken and egg” question; it’s basic common sense. Even the training is questionable: how do they KNOW what kinds of jobs will be needed, so as to offer training? Have they stimulated any particular sector to expand??

But to confirm that the Department of Youth is pulling the youths’ chain four years later, just look at the handful of companies that showed up.

And these have been feeding at the Government’s trough recently. It’d be interesting to see how many jobs would actually result from the exercise.

After Wales was shuttered, the PSC conducted a job fair on their own, and had to concede that even though 800 persons showed up, only 86 were actually offered jobs.

There are the folks saying the Government should heed: “dew cyan full wha’ rain na full”.

Maybe they should take a leaf out of PPP presidential candidate Irfaan Ali’s book as to how to go about creating jobs!! …and national awards The Government just announced they’ll be conferring their latest batch of “national awardees” on May 24. This, of course, will be smack in the middle of the National Carnival that will be held from May 17-27. Now, you gotta hand it to the PNC, they might be totally clueless about creating jobs or running an economy, but when it comes to awards and “spo’t”, they’re right up there with Barnum and Bailey!!

Anyway, your Eyewitness would like to nominate some individuals for awards for their performance in the last year. Right up there has to be an Order of Roraima for Nigel Hughes, for his contribution to the field of mathematics. He overturned 4000 years of “received wisdom” that 33 was larger than 32.

Guyana hasn’t received this kind of attention since Jim Jones and his Cool Aid brew!!

A Golden Arrow of Courage must be given to PM Nagamootoo for his back-flipping on the NCM vote.

For a man who just had his valves fixed, this was better than Aly Raisman!! …SOCU Seriously, dear readers, do the Government really need the PPP to tell them to shut down SOCU? What’d they expect after their British-imported trainer Sittlington couldn’t see a conflict of interest to open up his private investigating office??

WEEK ENDING APRIL 21, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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46 NEWS

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Jamaican man charged T&T mom was pregnant when her throat was slit with sexual abuse of his little girls

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Kingston man who is accused of sexually assaulting his two six-year-old daughters was remanded for trial in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on May 24.

According to a report in the Jamaica Observer today, the 36-yearold resident of a Kingston community is charged with 12 counts each of indecent assault and grievous sexual assault.

The date for the trial was scheduled yesterday when the accused appeared in court before Parish Judge Broderick Smith with his attorney Leon Palmer.

According to allegations, the accused performed oral sex on his daughters on a number of different occasions when they went to visit him last year, the Jamaica Observer reported.

In January, the Centre For Investigation Of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse was called in by the children’s school and following an investigation the accused was arrested and charged.

According to the Jamaica Observer, the accused has maintained that he is innocent.

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Found dead on Friday: Cunupia family Barry Choon, Shalini Sookdeo-Choon and their children, Sarah and Jacob.

halini Sookdeo-Choon was pregnant with her third child at the time her throat was cut, an autopsy found on Monday, according to a report in the Trinidad Express.

According to the Trinidad Express, Sookdeo-Choon was five months pregnant, and would have given birth in August. Instead she was killed along with her two children.

Their bodies were found in the family car parked roadside at Hambug Trace, Toco last Friday.

Her husband, Barry Choon, who sat in the driver’s seat of the car is suspected of killing his wife and two children, then himself.

Pathologist Dr Somo Gajala performed the autopsies on the family of four at the Forensic Sciences Centre.

Choon, his wife and seven year old daughter Sarah died by cut throat injuries.

The couple’s seven month old son, Jacob, had been smothered to death.

The autopsy on Choon was unable to conclusively determine if Choon slit his own throat, or if the wound was caused by someone else, the Trinidad Express reported.

To his family, Choon was a kind and gentle man who loved his children more than life.

Today, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan hosted a ministerial meeting with ministers and disaster management officials from 18 Caribbean countries to launch a new disaster resilience initiative, the U.S.-Caribbean Resilience Partnership, at the U.S. Southern Command headquarters in Miami, Florida. The event reinforces the close ties between the United States and the Caribbean, and their common commitment to build security, prosperity, and regional resilience to disasters. This initiative is a part of the strategy for enhanced U.S. engagement in the Caribbean - U.S. Caribbean 2020. (US Embassy photo)

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Trinidad Our continuing Guyanese tragedy mom, son, 12, A feared killed in Syria

By Ravi Dev

(Trinidad Newsday)

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here may be about 15 Trinidad & Tobago children in refugee camps in Syria, but a news story in the Daily Telegraph of London on Friday said a mother, who is a TT citizen, could not be accounted for. Neither can her British-born son.

Nicole Jack, 32, left

born in England. They are, Isaac, 12, Naima, nine, Somaiya, seven, and Khadijah, five.

Isaac, is also feared missing, raising fears that he may have been “taken into battle.”

Jack-Henry in appealing for British authorities to repatriate her grandchildren, told the Telegraph while three of the children were on lists of refugees living in

Nicole Jack, 32, with her son, Isaac, 12

Trinidad & Tobago in 2005 for England where she met her husband and, in 2015, they went to Syria to join ISIS, the Telegraph story said.

Since then she has not contacted her mother, who lives in London and who fears she has been killed.

Charleen JackHenry, 51, of West London, is reported in the Daily Telegraph as appealing to the authorities in Syria to repatriate her daughter’s four children to London.

The story said her daughter Nicole and her 12-year-old son were said to be in refugee camps.

Interviewed in the Telegraph, JackHenry said Nicole was from TT and was born into a Christian family, but converted to Islam after she married in 2005 in London, then “vanished in 2015 with her jihadist husband.”

Jack-Henry said since then she had never heard from Nicole whose children were

camps, she did not know what had become of her daughter and Isaac.

“I’m so worried about them, especially the children. I don’t understand why only three of them are listed in the camp. I’m worried Isaac was taken off to fight. I really pray all of them are all right.”

She said her daughter was coerced into going to Syria and would not have left otherwise.

Newsday contacted two members of the Muslim community in Chaguanas and Diego Martin who, speaking anonymously, said they were reliably informed that several men, their wives and even children from Trinidad & Tobago who left for Syria in 2014 had been killed.

Newsday was asked not to mention the district, but janaaza prayers, the final rites in the Muslim burial service, were said last month for those believed to have been killed in Syria.

s I observe the hardening of positions between the “two sides” in our sixty-year-old internecine political struggle, I am once again struck by parallels in that ancient conflict as described in the Mahabharata and ours in Guyana.

The Mahabharata is rather unique among Hindu texts in dealing extensively with the world of politics. It is about the way we deceive ourselves, how we are false to others, how we oppress fellow human beings, and how deeply unjust we are in our day-to-day lives. And, all the while, we hold fast to the belief that our position is “just”, and those of others “unjust”.

But the Mahabharata also teaches that there are no “pure” heroes. Unlike what is conventionally depicted, the conflict between the two sides is not a battle between “right and wrong”; the Pandavas, the nominal “good guys”, are not perfect, and several who fight for the Kauravas, the “bad guys”, are truly noble. The potential for “good” or “bad” lies in every human being, and is frequently dictated by our circumstances.

In Guyana, I have always maintained that our history has conspired to create a tragic situation. Not tragic in the sense of terrible things happening – even though we’ve had more than our fair share of those – but in the way that Hegel interpreted Greek tragedy. His famous interpretation of Antigone as the paradigmatic Greek tragedy might be particularly apt to our situation. In this narrative, both “sides” have claims that are morally right. The conflict is not between good and evil, but between “goods” on which each is making exclusive claim.

The “sides” I refer to in our country are, of course, the descendants of the Africans, who were

brought as slaves, and those of Indians, brought as indentured servants – both to labour on the sugar plantations. Those African slaves were, against their will, dragged across the Atlantic to work under conditions of mindnumbing cruelty. “Emancipation” had to be a bitter pill to swallow when Indentured labourers (Portuguese, WI Africans, Indians and Chinese) were brought in as “scabs” to undercut their demand for higher living wages. It was to be only the beginning of many manoeuvres to deny justice to Africans, and it set the tone of what was to follow.

The Indentureds, dominated by Indians, countered that they were unwitting pawns in the British game of “divide and rule”.

They could, and did, point to the increasingly meagre wages they were forced to work for on the plantations in the subsequent century.

Their “saving” of the sugar industry, which was the raison d’etre for the colony, and their demonstrated capacity to produce “two blades of grass where there was but one” — under the severest pressures, as pointed out by George Lamming — formed the basis of their moral

claim to justice and equality. As in the Mahabharata, both sides were promised that if they played by the rules, the “kingdom” would eventually be theirs.

While we may rail against Durjodhan (and Burnham) for their overweening ambition, no one can deny that they were leaders of groups that had legitimate moral claims to power. Similarly, the gambling away of their inheritance by Yuddhistir (at dice) and Jagan (with Kennedy and Duncan Sandys) cannot be glossed over, but does not vitiate the similar moral claims of their supporters.

That the two groups coexisted without major conflicts until the sixties was not coincidental; it was the majoritarian system of choosing who would inherit the kingdom in 1953 – as was the Emperor-making ceremony in the Mahabharata – that precipitated the internecine warfare that continues to the present. It was not surprising that the manipulator (the US/British here, Duryodhan’s uncle in the Mahabharata) would inveigle one side to try to grab the entire pie. The “rules”, after all, made “right” an exclusive claim to rule by each group.

But we must concede that it does not make it moral. If we accept that as citizens of this land we are all equal, we must arrange the rules of selecting the rulers in such a manner as to make both sides (and indeed all “sides”) feel involved in governance. Our history, if nothing else, demands this outcome for the sake of morality.

In the next elections, we hope that all parties should commit themselves to such an arrangement. The opposite, I fear, is the war of the Mahabharata, which, let us not forget, destroyed almost all – including the group backed

by God Himself.

War, we are taught, has no winners.

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A

fire broke out at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Monday evening causing a spire to collapse. The visual of the fire engulfing the Parisian landmark shocked the world and has led many to express their sadness on social media.

Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor took to Twitter and wrote, “Devastated on seeing the fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral.. a piece of history turn to ashes.. Our hearts are with the people of France” Swara Bhasker shared her old photos from Paris and called the event “heartbreaking.”

Vicky Kaushal shared a photo on his Instagram story and wrote, “Over 700 years old, The spire of Notre-Dame Cathedral.”

Bhumi Pednekar also shared an old photo on her Instagram story and wrote, “Woke up to the news of #NotreDameFire and my heart broke.

Shattered. Having visited the cathedral a few times, there is a sense of loss.. So much history.. more power to the firefighters that have done everything to save it.”

Tamannaah Bhatia took to Instagram and wrote, “She’s been around for over 800 years not just as a testament of our history but also place for many that found their peace, hope and faith in. This iconic monument

is an inspiration to artists across the globe and it’s really sad to know that humanity has lost #NotreDame today.”

Actor Boman Irani tweeted, “The Notre Dame tragedy is hard to watch.

The people of France must be devastated. We hope and pray that its restoration will serve to heal.”

Hollywood actor Idris Elba shared, “I cannot believe what’s happening to Notre Dame.”

Game of Thrones actor Maisie Williams posted on Twitter, “Interrupting my birthday to express how much pain I’m in watching the Notre Dame fire unfold. Such an incredible building. I’m so sad.”

Actor Mira Sorvino tweeted, “Oh non!!!! My favorite Cathedral in the world!!! A most holy place. The famed Notre Dame cathedral in Paris is on fire.”

Musician Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote on Twitter, “Standing here next to you, heartsick for Notre Dame…”

The construction of Notre Dame began in 1163 and was completed in 1345. The cathedral has been shown in all its glory in Hollywood films like Before Sunset, Midnight in Paris and even Hindi films like Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani and Befikre have romanticised this historical structure. (Indian Express)

Shah Rukh Khan gets a warm welcome in China

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ollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who landed in China on Wednesday to attend the 9th Beijing International Film Festival, is overwhelmed by the love he received from fans at the airport. The actor took to Twitter and wrote, “What a warm and happy welcome here in China

by SRK UNIVERSE China.

Thx for the gifts, the flowers and the kisses. I am Red all over!!!”

In a couple of videos posted by the actor’s fan page, we can fans cheering for the 53-yearold and shouting out loud how much they love him.

The actor is in the country to attend the film festival, which comes to an end with his 2018 release Zero. .

Shah Rukh Khan will participate in a dialogue segment as an effort to forge ways for the development of Chinese and Indian films as well as the creation of opportunities to strengthen film cooperation between the two countries, a statement read.

With Zero joins legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s classic Pather

Panchali as one of the five Indian films that have been listed for screening at China’s premier international film festival.

“I’m so happy that Zero has been se-

lected as the closing film at the Beijing International Film Festival. The film is very special to us and this news is very encouraging. I hope the audience there enjoys the film,” Zero director Aanand L Rai had earlier said in a statement.

Apart from Shah Rukh Khan, Zero also starred Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma in the lead roles. The film tanked at the Indian box office. (Indian Express)

idharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra’s ‘crazy journey’ of Jabariya Jodi has come to an end. The two actors have wrapped up the shoot of their upcoming film. The Prashant Singh directorial, which presents a take on Bihar’s ‘pakadwa vivaah (groom kidnapping), is scheduled to hit theaters on July 12.

The announcement of the wrap was shared by Sidharth on Instagram. He posted a video of the team of Jabariya Jodi having a blast on the sets as they completed the shoot. Along with the video, he also announced the release date of the film as he wrote, “The crazy journey of #JabariyaJodi comes to an end! Thanks to the entire cast & crew for their endless support. Can’t wait for you guys to watch the film in cinemas on 12th July 2019.”

On Wednesday, Parineeti Chopra shared a few photos from the wrap up party. Those who were present at the wrap party included film’s producers Ekta Kapoor and Shaailesh R Singh, choreographer Bosco Martis and director Prashant Singh among others.

Jabariya Jodi is Parineeti Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra’s second collaboration. The duo had earlier shared screen space in 2014 release Hasee Toh

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arun Dhawan has deftly balanced his career between commercial and small scale projects, but the actor says a mega-budget multi-starrer like Kalank comes with a lot of pressure.

His last two releases — October and Sui Dhaaga — had small budgets but a lot is on stake with Kalank, which he says is his most expensive film till date.

“My last two films had really small budgets and the reach was bigger…

There was no pressure of them doing well that much in monetary terms. In this film there is commercial pressure.

This is a film for which I had prepared a lot … So I am more on the edge,” Varun told PTI in an interview.

“A lot of eyeballs are there on this film because it is an ensemble and all this attention is making me anxious.

Everyone is going to watch and all I wanted to do is be good in it. Fear of failure makes me anxious.”

Besides Varun, the Abhishek Varmandirected movie features Alia

Phasee.

The romantic drama went on floors last year and since then Sidharth and Parineeti have shared several posters from the movie.

Earlier, the makers had announced May 17 as the release date of the movie. However, it got postponed and now the film will release on July 12. The romantic comedy also stars Aparshakti Khurrana, Sanjay Mishra, Neeraj Sood, Gopal Dutt, Javed Jaffrey and Chandan Roy Sanyal in pivotal roles.

(Indian Express)

Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit Nene and Kunal Kemmu.

The actor said he believes in preparing a lot before taking on a role but this time Varman guided his performance.

“For me, preparation is very important. But with this, Abhishek didn’t let me prepare too much. He doesn’t like that. I am playing a blacksmith in the film… So I knew I had to work on my body… But when I came on the set, he asked me to get the look in my eyes which shows I am in 1940s. He is a very fine director,” Varun said.

Every film, Varun said, is like a baby and as an actor one feels responsible for its well-being but there is life beyond the box office.

The actor said he feels secure because he has people to fall back upon.

“Me being secure comes from my personal life. They give me the security and the confidence. I know if someday things do not work the way I want them to, they are going to have my back.

“Initially, in my career, my priorities were my films but as you grow old, things change. But then, sometimes when my film is coming it becomes my priority. I take it as my responsibility to take my film to the finishing line. It is like a child, whom you are teaching to walk.

You can’t leave it midway. It will fall.

(Indian Express)

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efore the release of Avengers: Endgame, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo have penned a letter to “the greatest fans in the world”. The director duo, in the letter, has thanked everyone for investing their ‘time, money, heart and soul’ in the Infinity saga. Also, they have urged fans not to give spoilers of the movie and ruin the experience for others as they have worked tirelessly to provide the movie with a powerful conclusion. “‘When you see Endgame in the coming weeks, please don’t spoil it for others, the same way you wouldn’t want it spoiled for you. Remember, Thanos still demands your silence. As always, good luck and happy viewing…” they wrote in the letter which ended with the hashtag #DontSpoilTheEndgame.

Here’s what the director duo wrote: “This is it. This is the end. The end of an unprecedented narrative mosaic spanning eleven years and eleven franchises.

For all of you who have been on this

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alaysian actor Michelle Yeoh, known for James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, Star Trek: Discovery TV series and last year’s hit Crazy Rich Asians, has joined the cast of James Cameron’s Avatar sequels, Variety reports. Yeoh will play the role of scientist Dr Karina Mogue.

“Throughout her career, Michelle has always created unique and memorable characters. I look forward to working with Michelle to do the same thing on the Avatar sequels,” Cameron said.

There will be a total of four sequels to Avatar. The first of the sequels, Avatar 2, will hit theaters on December 18, 2020.

Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao, and CCH Pounder, Stephen Lang and Matt Gerald are reprising their roles despite the deaths of Lang and Gerald’s characters.

Sigourney Weaver is also making a comeback, but the actor has said she will play a different character.

Cliff Curtis, Kate Winslet, Oona Chaplin and others are also joining the franchise.

Ca m e r o n spoke about his ambitious plans for the seq u e l s .

He told

journey with us since the very beginning, sharing every high and low with your family, your friends, your classmates, your co-workers. Investing so deeply in every character and storyline. Laughing. Cheering. Shedding tears. Giving so freely of your thoughts and emotions in spirited dialogue, theories, fan art and fan fiction.

Please know that the two of us, along with everyone involved in Endgame, have worked tirelessly for the last three years with the sole intention of delivering a surprising and emotionally powerful conclusion to the Infinity Saga.”

The letter comes after a five-minute clip from the movie was leaked online on Tuesday. Marvel is protecting every detail of Avengers: Endgame much like they protected Avengers: Infinity War. They have said that this will be the biggest MCU film so far and will mark the end of an era.

Avengers: Endgame will hit Indian theaters on April 26. (Indian Express)

Variety, “It’s a generational family saga. It’s very different from the first film. In terms of the storytelling, I found myself — not for any reasons of the zeitgeist or what was popular — but I found myself, as a father of five, starting to think about, ‘What would an Avatar story be like if it was a family drama? If it was The Godfather?’

Obviously, a very different genre, very different story, but I got intrigued by that idea.”

The original Avatar, released in 2009, was hailed as a milestone in computer-generated graphics and cinematography, but its story was criticised for being weak. To date, it is the highest grossing film ever at the worldwide box office with earnings of 2.78 billion dollars. (Indian Express)

ne of the most-awaited DC movies, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) just wrapped filming.

Ella Jay Basco plays Cassandra Cain and Ewan McGregor is Black Mask, the villain. According to plot details, Harley Quinn teams up with Black Canary and Huntress to protect

The news comes from the Instagram account of Margot Robbie’s production banner LuckyChap Entertainment.

The film is being directed by Cathy Yan and features an ensemble cast with actors like Margot Robbie, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rosie Perez, Chris Messina, Ella Jay Basco and Ewan McGregor.

Robbie reprises her role of Harley Quinn from 2016’s Suicide Squad.

Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, play the roles of Black Canary and Huntress, respectively. Birds of Prey usually consists of Batgirl too, but this does not seem like the case here.

Cassandra Cain from Black Mask, a crime lord of Gotham City.

A teaser was released in January earlier this year, showcasing the major characters in quick flashes. This film looks totally weird, but in a good way.

Since Harley Quinn was one thing almost everybody loved, this film also has a ready-made audience.

Also, it will have little, if any, connection with the larger DC Extended Universe. Future DC movies are confirmed to be part of independent franchises.

Birds of Prey is scheduled for release on February 7, 2020. (Indian Express)

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teve Martin could not be happier about his latest book and about the chance to work with New

Yorker artist Harry Bliss.

Celadon Books announced Monday that Martin and Bliss were collaborating on the “ultimate cartoon book,” currently untitled. It’s scheduled for next year.

Martin, whose previous books include the novel Shopgirl and the memoir Born Standing Up, praised Bliss as a cartoonist he “deeply” admires and “have never met.”

Besides his magazine work, Bliss has illustrated books by Kate DiCamillo and William Steig among others. He and Martin plan to create “original, never-before-seen cartoons,” according to Celadon. (Indian Express)

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he Elton John biopic Rocketman will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month.

Rocketman will screen May 16 at the French Riviera festival, two weeks before it’s to be released in the United States. Paramount Pictures on Tuesday confirmed the premiere, which Variety first reported.

The film stars Taron Egerton as the British singer and pianist. It’s directed by Dexter Fletcher, who stepped in to helm the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody after Bryan Singer was fired. Rocketman is more of a musical-biopic hybrid. John is himself a producer on the movie.

The 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival runs May 14-25. Its full slate is to be announced Thursday. As previously announced, Jim Jarmusch’s zombie comedy The Dead Don’t Die will

open the festival. (Indian Express)

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Sarwan “excited” to work with Windies Men ahead of World Cup

F

ormer West Indies batting star Ramnaresh Sarwan said he has welcomed vthe invitation to work with the West Indies team ahead of next month’s Tri-Nations One-day International Series in Ireland and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England & Wales.

According to Cricket West Indies, the 38-year-old Sarwan, who played 87 Tests, 181 ODIs and 18 Twenty20 Internationals between 2000 and 2013, will spend the remainder of the week working with the players, especially the batsmen, helping them to fortify their game.

“I have come here to act as kind of a mentor to the players and try my best to assist them in any technical ways and with any shortcomings where I think they can improve, and to offer as much help to the head coach, Floyd Reifer, and his coaching staff,” said Sarwan.

“I am very excited to be here. When I

we can get them to improve in this area,” he said. “It’s not an overnight fix, but it’s important to share ideas with them, so that they have something to build on.”

Reifer described as “beautiful” having Sarwan available to work with the batsman, as all roads lead to the World Cup. “It was very important to have him here,” he said.

“Sarwan was a player that was outstanding for West Indies. A very good batsman. A very good ‘finisher’ in limited-overs matches. We thought that a

Ramnaresh Sarwan received the call from Jimmy, I was very overwhelmed at being asked to assist West Indies cricket again. I am really grateful for the opportunity and I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge with the players, even though it will just be a few days, and hoping it will help them in some way or other.”

Key batsmen Darren Bravo and

Shai Hope led the group that spent long periods working with Sarwan in the nets on Tuesday, the second day of the team’s training camp currently underway at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies.

“I know our batsmen have struggled in the past with rotating the strike, so I am trying to see how best

guy like Sarwan, coming into the camp with us whilst planning for the World Cup, would bring a wealth of knowledge.

“We are hoping he can help the batsmen get a better understanding of how to finish games, the mindset, how to approach batting first, how to approach batting last, so we thought that kind of knowledge was very important to share. He fitted in very well. He did a lot of talking and a lot of work with the batsmen.”

Guyana drawn in Group A of CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier

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uyana is now aware of who their opponents will be when they enter the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifier in July. The Caribbean tournament will pave the way for Guyana’s Olympic 2020 dreams to be realised.

After the draw in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday morning, Guyana has found themselves in Group A with St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and Caribbean football powerhouse, Jamaica.

The four group tournament will run from April 17-21, with two Caribbean

Nicaragua and Guatemala – competing in three individual home-and-away series. The three series winners will then earn their spot in the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic qualifying championship. The match-ups will be set, 1 v 6, 2 v 5 and 3 v 4, and positions will be determined via the FIFA World Ranking as of March 31, 2019.

The tournament is said to be catered for Under-23 players and as such will give the spotlight to Guyana’s younger crop of local and internationally based players. Without a doubt the likes of Kelsey Benjamin and Jeremy Garrett

teams advancing to the CONCACAF qualifying championship.

The format of the Caribbean version of qualifying will see the top teams from every group at the end of the round robin stage advancing to compete in a final play-in match (1A v 1D and 1B v 1C). The winners of those two play-in matches will then go on to compete in the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic qualifying championship.

If Guyana is to reach this stage, they will meet three teams from the Central American version of the competition and the North American representatives, Mexico, Canada and the USA. Central America’s qualifying (which will take place during the first three weeks of July) format will see six participating teams – Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama,

are expected to grace the squad.

In addition, the Guyana Football Federation is set to launch their GFFKFC National U20 Intra-Association Independence Cup. The impending tournament is currently scheduled for April 27 – May 20 with an Interregional play-off to follow. Given that the tournament is set for Under-20 players, one can expect that the shining stars at the end of the local tournament, will have a chance to make the national team cut.

Group B of the Caribbean qualifying stage consists of Barbados, Cuba and the US Virgin Islands. Group C features Haiti, Suriname, Grenada and Cayman Islands whilst Antigua and Barbuda, The Dominican Republic, St Lucia and Puerto Rico were drawn in Group D.

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Jofra Archer misses initial World Cup cut but set for England debut E

ngland have deferred the question of whether Jofra Archer will make their World Cup squad after naming an unchanged 15 for the ICC's preliminary deadline. Archer is set to make his England debut, however, after being included for next month's ODI in Ireland and a T20I and five ODIs against Pakistan, potentially giving him seven outings to make his case.

Chris Jordan, Archer's Sussex team-mate, is the other extra member in the expanded 17-man squad ODI to play Pakistan, having maintained a late push for World Cup consideration with his T20I performances in the Caribbean last month, despite last playing a 50-over international in 2016.

Joe Denly, whose last ODI appearance came in 2009, keeps his place as back-up spinning allrounder ahead of Liam Dawson, although he could be among a small number of players, including Liam Plunkett and Tom Curran, who will feel the pressure if Archer performs well over the next few weeks.

A smaller party of 14 will take on Ireland in Dublin on May 3, followed by a T20I against Pakistan two days later. Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow,

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes - all regulars at their IPL franchises - have been rested, as has Chris Woakes, as part of managing a longterm knee problem.

Sam Billings and James Vince are included, to contest the sec on d-r eser v e batting spot, w i t h Alex

"The selection panel would like to give Jofra Archer the opportunity to stake a claim for the final World Cup squad, which will be announced in a little over a month," Smith told Sky Sports News. "He's someone who has very quickly shown what he can do on a big

Jofra Archer

Hales inked in as the designated spare batsman within the 15.

The potential inclusion of Archer, the Barbados-born allrounder who qualified to represent England last month, has been the subject of much debate among the squad's incumbent fast bowlers, but the decision by national selector Ed Smith will ensure peace for now, as well as setting up what is effectively a World Cup play-off for the last bowling spot.

Smith described Archer as a "very exciting talent".

stage.

"I like to keep things very simple on the selection panel: who's available? Of those who are available, what's the strongest squad that gives us the best chance to compete and play well? So, as soon as Jofra became available, we discussed whether we would select him in squads ... as soon as he became available, we have given him the opportunity."

Soon after learning the news of his selection on Tuesday, Archer took 3 for 15 for Rajasthan Royals in their

IPL defeat to Kings XI Punjab.

"He's a very relaxed person, he has a very understated manner," Smith said.

"He was very excited about the opportunity. He obviously had a game to go and play for Rajasthan, which obviously went pretty well for him.

So I think the most important fact is not necessarily what he said, even though he was very pleased and excited, but also what he did. Ultimately that's the business we're in."

Those players selected by England who are currently at the IPL will be required to return by April 26. The final date for the World Cup squad to be confirmed is May 23.

"In line with ICC regulations, we have to name a preliminary squad of 15 for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup before April 23," Smith said. "However, all 17 players named in the Royal London ODIs against Pakistan can stake a claim to be in the final 15-man squad, finalised at the end of that series.

"The selection panel has been impressed with Jofra Archer's performances in domestic and franchise cricket.

He is a very talented and exciting cricketer. Chris Jordan, a regular in T20 squads over the past few years, has continued to develop as a cricketer -

as we saw in the T20s in the West Indies. He fully deserves his return to the ODI squad.

"With regard to resting players, we are conscious of managing player workloads leading into such an important summer so that players are in the best possible condition for the World Cup. That was also a factor in the way we have selected these three squads."

England preliminary World Cup squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood England squad for Pakistan ODI series: Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Chris Jordan, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood England squad for Ireland ODI/Pakistan T20I: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jofra Archer, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Chris Jordan, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood (ESPNCricinfo)

ALL THE BEST l Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin caught up with Guyana’s CARIFTA Games contingent at the Miami Airport on Wednesday. Minister Gaskin wished the team well and encouraged them to represent Guyana with excellence. CARIFTA Games will be held in the Cayman Islands from April 20-22. (Ministry of Business photo)

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Shocking changes in Windies cricket ahead of World Cup 2019

By Brandon Corlette

O

n March 24, 2019, it was the beginning of a new era for West Indies cricket, when Dave Cameron, made his exit and Ricky Skerritt entered office. From the West Indies team’s manager to President of Cricket West Indies (CWI), the 62-year-old Skerritt and his administration have made wholesale changes to the management thus far.

Skerritt began his “Cricket First” 10-point plan by making amends with ex-Head Coach Phil Simmons. Three days into the Skerritt-era, on March 27, it was officially announced that CWI and Phil Simmons came to an amicable resolution in the claim of Simmons’ dismissal as Head Coach in 2016.

On April 10, 2019, it was a monumental moment for cricket in the Caribbean; in the press conference that was held in Antigua, CWI saw more notable changes made. Richard Pybus was sacked as Head Coach of the West Indies team, and Courtney Browne time as Chief Selector, came to an end.

In came the newboys, Floyd Reifer, new

CWI President Ricky Skerritt (in black suit) and former Head Coach Richard Pybus

Head Coach; and Robert Haynes, Chairman of Selectors. As Skerritt promised, the coaching staff will see Caribbean personnel, and the Barbadian Reifer signified that promise.

Following the numerous announcements made on April 11, on April 12 CWI officially announced a squad to tour Ireland for an ODI Tri-series From a Guyanese perspective, the squad selected for Ireland, led

by the Robert Haynes panel was no different from a Courtney Browne squad.

The 14-man squad, includes eight Barbadians, and none of the players in the squad was of Guyanese decent. With all the Indian Premiere League (IPL) stars missing, at least two Guyanese should have made the cut, since the Guyanese franchise have dominated regional cricket.

The explanation be-

hind this squad selected was to expose a wider pool of players in the United Kingdom (UK) conditions with the IPL players unavailable for selection. That explanation would have done little justice. Earlier this week, India announced their World Cup squad, and clear explanations were made on the selection of the players.

Why has CWI lacked explanation in its selection process, leaving the

Guyanese players out?

However, it was stated that the squad to Ireland will not be the ICC World Cup squad, as IPL players such as Chris Gayle and Andre Russell will feature in the World Cup squad that may be announced this week.

Ricky Skerritt commented on the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) illegality issue in the press conference in Antigua; he explained that the issue needs to sort itself out but CWI would assist. Further changes were made with less explanation; the coaching staff and team management saw Assistant Coaches Esuan Crandon and Vasbert Drakes, who is suing CWI, were excluded from the West Indies team coaching staff.

It was shocking, especially for Crandon who is arguably the best coach in the Region at the moment, having won five consecutive regional titles coaching the Guyana Jaguars. Surprises continued as the 40-yearold Rayon Griffith, who played the roles of assistant coach and Head Coach for Guyana Jaguars; was appointed Assistant Coach (fielding coach). Griffith played 22

First-Class matches and 22 List A matches and he has 10 catches in those matches he played.

Not saying Griffith does not deserve the job, but Assistant (fielding) coach? An explanation is needed for these selections. Crandon’s replacement was Roddy Estwick, a Barbadian while Corey Collymore, another individual of Barbadian decent made the cut as Assistant (Fast Bowling Coach).

Reflecting on the series against England, many would have thought wholesale changes would not have been made since that series was hailed a success for West Indies cricket. It was a series of significance; players saw it as the series for a perfect preparation for the World Cup, but this new CWI administration has different views.

Recently, it was announced that Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan welcomed an invitation from CWI to work with the West Indies batsmen, who are currently encamped in Barbados.

What is the next move for Cricket West Indies?

What changes will Ricky Skerritt bring to the table?

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