Guyana Times International July 5 2018

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Flood situation worsens in Region 9 ...dozens evacuated

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ISSUE NO. 405

WEEK ENDING JULY 8, 2018

See story on page 5

The flood situation in Region 9 has worsened over the past few days. Several persons have been evacuated to various shelters and some roads in the region are also closed off. (DPI photo)

NY-bound beautician gets 3 years, fined G$1.1M for trafficking cocaine Page 3

PNC chairmanship race heats up Page 14

‌political analyst believes upcoming congress highlights emerging factions

Queens book fair a huge success

Page 35

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NEWS 3

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NY-bound beautician gets 3 years, fined G$1.1M for trafficking cocaine

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37-year-old beautician was on Thursday sentenced to three years in prison and fined G$1,117,200 when she appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for trafficking cocaine.

Natasha Blair of Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) pleaded guilty to the charge after it was read to her by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charge stated that on July 2, 2018, while she was an outgoing passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri she attempted to smuggle 532 grams of cocaine.

Facts presented to the court stated that on the day in question, the woman was destined for

Cocaine mule Natasha Blair

the JFK International Airport when a CANU officer, acting on information received, approached Blair and told her of his suspicion to which she subsequently denied. The

mother of two was then cautioned and taken to a medical facility where an x-ray exam revealed foreign objects in her stomach.

She was admitted,

and subsequently excreted 32 pellets containing suspected cocaine which weighed 322 grams.

Moreover the woman had also inserted 210 grams of cocaine in her lower extremity, which was also removed.

According to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Blair used her body to accomplish ‘two risky concealment methods’, that is, ingestion and insertion.

Blair’s attorney, Keoma Griffith, asked that the court show compassion for his client since it was an unfortunate risk she took while citing that she has an 11-month-old baby.

Further, the woman was asked if she had anything she wanted to say and she replied “I’m sorry for causing my family any

Wanted: Sherwin Stoby, called “Kong”

hurt and pain but I did it for my kids”. The tearful woman said as she apologized for her crime.

Meanwhile, CANU said that they are now in search of the father of the suspect’s child for ques-

tioning into the discovery.

He has been identified as Sherwin Stoby called “Kong”. His last know addressed was given as Lot 87 Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 8 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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EDITORIAL

US restrictions on Muslims

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few days ago, the US Supreme Court upheld President Donald Trump’s administration’s travel restrictions on citizens from five Muslim countries; and for good measure, N. Korea and Venezuela. The 5-4 split decision handed a victory to Trump to enforce one of his most controversial policies. The Court ruled that the president has the constitutional authority under US immigration laws to limit travel from the identified foreign countries over national security concerns, as his administration has argued.

Trump is now vindicated in his strategy of articulating an archetypal view of what has been called the “silent majority” in the closing decades of 20th century USA, following the victory of the conservative Ronald Reagan.

One of the objections of that “silent majority” was that the “Liberal establishment” had developed superciliousness to their world view, viewing them as “unsophisticated yahoos”. This was illustrated in the aftermath of the US elections and the subsequent “Women’s Protest against Trump”, when the establishmentdominated media harped on the factoid that the vast majority of white women who voted for him were “not college graduates”.

In the American narrative, egalitarianism was supposed to be the most privileged virtue: one man (or woman), one vote.

But, from one perspective, the establishment’s scepticism of “the masses” — which was earliest expressed by Plato when he rejected democratic governance as “mob rule” — was also shared by the ‘Founding Fathers’ of the American Republic, who were obviously all male, but also conservative land and slave owners.

They introduced the “Electoral College” as a device to mediate the gullible “raw” votes of the people who would be enticed by “populist” demagogues. But ironically, the device served to elect Donald Trump, who seized the populist mantle even though he is a billionaire, a circumstance that sets him far above the masses economically. It is quite possible that, as an outsider to the political establishment, he resonates with the masses on issues.

And he certainly did on what he defined as the “Radical Islamist threat”. By and large, Americans are in general agreement that they face from “Islamist terrorists” an existential threat to their way of life. While some of the more liberal members of the establishment may make nuanced arguments that the terrorism may be “blowback” against US military actions in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East — all Islamic countries — these do not resonate with the ordinary Americans, who, at the most mundane level, have seen at least a trillion dollars spent on new security features at airports.

One of the complaints made by the “silent majority” was that the radicalisation of Muslims in the US was being facilitated by new immigrants, who would have been exposed to more militant approaches in the conflicts in their homelands. From this perspective, one can understand then White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s explanation of Trump’s initial Executive Order, halting all immigration from seven Islamic-majority countries, as a “necessary step” for dealing with people from countries that have “a propensity to do us harm”.

Arguments that there are countries, such as Saudi Arabia, which have produced far more radicals who have harmed the US than the blacklisted seven countries will not cut any ice with Trump or his base. He is shaking the tree to show he “means business” on the “Islamic Threat”.

In his Inauguration Speech, we heard him emphasis his promise in reference to Muslims: “We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones — and unite the civilised world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth.”

As we said in our editorial at the time, “The word ‘eradicate’ is very strong, and implies a total war that will take this battle even into the home – both within and without America.” This ban on Muslim immigrants, now reaffirmed by the Supreme Court, is just the beginning. We can expect that Muslims even from countries such as Guyana will be scrutinised. Not to mention all Muslims living in the US.

Group photo of CARICOM leaders ahead of the start of Thursday's business session at the 39th Regular Meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica. (DPI photo)

Taking a tough stance against lawlessness at Guyana’s prisons

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n Tuesday, the Director of the Guyana Prisons Service reported that lawmen were hunting an individual who attempted to smuggle a large quantity of narcotics, tobacco leaves, mobile phones and other contraband into the Lusignan Prison Holding Area.

He said that the incident occurred in the wee hours of the morning after prison officers observed the man acting in a suspicious manner at the

budget presentation for the purchasing of scanners. He intends to have these installed at the entrances of each prison.

The truth is, the situation within the Guyana Prison Service and security sector has deteriorated under the watchful eyes of the A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change coalition Government despite the fact that this Administration has access to, and comprises, far more individuals who are se-

reputation of the Government, he would also consider transferring top prison officials and perhaps even asking for the resignation of the current head of the establishment to allow for the appointment of newer and more independent leadership.

A robust civil society effort must be led which will see stakeholders from sides of the divide conducting more routine searches and raids of the prison facilities. Government

north-eastern section of the penitentiary’s holding area, by prison ranks.

The media was told that when the ranks realised that the man was in the process of throwing a black plastic-wrapped parcel over the fence, they discharged rounds at him, but he somehow managed to make good his escape leaving the parcel behind.

This incident is occurring just one week after Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had expressed absolute anger at the upsurge in cases regarding the smuggling and attempted smuggling of contraband into prisons countrywide.

Minister Ramjattan to his credit was even quoted as stating frankly: “You get angry at what’s happening, you feel a sense of despair, but really it just goes to show the quality of some of our prison officers that allow that to happen.”

He had also indicated that he has been having discussions with the Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, so as to have funds allocated in the next

curity experts when compared to its predecessor, the People’s Progressive Party.

Minister Ramjattan must understand that his Government has to toughen its stance on the smuggling of narcotics and contraband into the prison system by strengthening the penalties associated with those crimes. Higher fines and longer prison sentences cannot be discounted.

Also, the Government must pay thought to implementing a better system of vetting and promoting officers who serve within the Prison Service.

Maybe, there is need for those in authority to relook at the working conditions and salaries paid to those within that law enforcement body. More training and human resource development courses are also recommended as a means of changing the behavioural patterns of prison officers who are lured into colluding with prisoners to make a big buck or ‘fast cash’ while within the walls of the prison.

If Minister Ramjattan is interested in his tenure and the

must also look at the integrity of the officers serving within the prison systems and the relationships that exist between wardens and hardened criminals. Both parties must be read the riot act and special emphasis must be placed on shaking up the establishment in order to make way for Government, Police and intelligence Informants to enter the system and work as undercover agents or double agents in order to understand how the smuggling of contraband takes place.

If any other disaster breaks out, Minister Ramjattan may find it necessary to tender his resignation. Integrity would demand it, because it would appear that he is unable to grasp the importance of his portfolio and the fact that he will be judged by the number of policy initiatives that would have been successfully piloted and implemented within the Prison Service, which in turn led to measurable benefits and reforms.

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING JULY 8 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Flood situation worsens in Region 9 ...dozens evacuated

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escue operations were on Wednesday activated in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) following rising water levels in several already cut off communities. This was according to Regional Vice Chairman Carl Singh who told Guyana Times International that communities in the South Pakaraimas and Deep South, and the Rupununi are still inundated.

He noted that several persons from about 17 households were transported to three shelters in Lethem as the flooding intensified. The official explained that around 05:00h, the Moco-Moco and Takutu Rivers rose some six feet, adding that the Rupununi River also remains at a “very high” level. Up to late Wednesday, Singh disclosed that the water did not recede.

“St Ignatius Secondary school was cut off, you have to use boats to get over the bridge; the entire Deep South is cut off; at Nasha Bridge, the water very high there. Nothing can be done in there,” Singh observed.

This publication understands that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has volunteers stationed in Lethem while other officials not present on the ground were also in constant contact with the region.

Vice Chairman Singh deemed the flooding as ‘worrying’ as he noted that he will update

Government on what could be done to assist residents of the region.

“It’s a worrying situation because water rise drastically since the morning and it hasn’t gone down; we’re now assess-

ing the situation and we will let [Government] know what they can do,” he noted.

Coupled with the flooding is reportedly a shortage of fuel in Region Nine which is blamed on the bad condition of LindenLethem trail. Only last week a truck transporting fuel toppled while crossing a bridge.

A temporary by-pass was carved out but according the Vice Chairman, the truck remains stuck on the bridge as drums of fuel are being shuttled to Lethem.

In the last few days, movement of people and cargo was severely hindered as workers made feverish attempts to remove the truck.

It was reported that rotten parts of the decking of the bridge, collapsed under the truck’s weight.

It was stated further that the situation was coupled in the part of the road between Aishalton and Wariwau being washed away due to overtopping of the Ireng and Takutu Rivers along with continuing heavy rainfall which continued into Wednesday.

Before the temporary by-pass was made out, buses were taking people and goods up the blocked off sections and they had to board other vehicles to continue their journey.

Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock said earlier this week that emergency construction works were necessary before the bridge could be opened to the public.

He had also warned that fuel shortage was imminent as tankers had been prevented from traversing the trail.

During the blockage, some vehicle owners travelled to the nearby Brazilian community, Bonfim to search for fuel.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

Trini pleads guilty to million dollar bank fraud in US (Trinidad Express)

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Trinidadian man pleaded guilty to bank fraud involving numerous home equity line of credit loans in the United States of America, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Justice Department statement said: “Garth Anthony Gardner, 49, a citizen of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, has pled guilty to charges involving a scheme in which he made misrepresentations to apply for and obtain more than US$3 million in multiple home equity line of credit loans.”

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)

Washington D.C. Field Office.

Gardner pled guilty on July 2, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to two counts of bank fraud. Each charge carries a statutory maximum of 30 years in prison and potential financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, he faces an estimated range of 51 to 63 months in prison and a fine of up to US$100,000. The plea agreement calls for him to pay US$3,165,294 in restitution to 24 financial institutions. It also calls for him to pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of US$2,048,446.

U.S. Judge Christopher Cooper scheduled sentencing for September 24, 2018.

According to the government’s evidence, in October 2003, Gardner purchased a property in the 5100 block of 13th Street NW, using the Social Security number

of another person and falsely representing himself as a U.S. citizen.

The Justice Department said: “In May 2005, he used a corporation that he owned to purchase a second property in the 1300 block of Dexter Terrace SE. Gardner transferred ownership of the second property from the company to himself for US$10. Next, Gardner applied for a series of home equity line of credit loans using the two properties as collateral.”

By settling these loans in close proximity to each other, Gardner minimized the banks’ ability to learn about the other loans. From August to October 2004, Gardner obtained 12 home equity line of credit loans from 12 different banks secured by the 13th Street property, totaling approximately US$1.4 million. continued on page 7

New Civil Aviation Bill proposes stricter penalties for drunken crew members

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GCAA Director General Egbert Field

irector General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), retired Lieutenant Colonel Egbert Field disclosed that measures are being put in place to impose penalties on intoxicated crew members on air services.

He noted that the perpetrators would be fined and penalised if they are found operating under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating substances.

ing formed into an authority so many things were not included.

Over the years, we have seen changes in aviation thus, this Civil Aviation Bill will include all those items drawing on our experience,” Field told State media.

According to the report, stakeholders in the aviation industry and GCAA’s staff were instructed to present regulations to the Director General who will peruse them

Ogle Airport

These provisions fall under the revised Civil Aviation Bill which is before a parliamentary committee that should finalise changes by the end of this month. Field also related that people found trespassing on runways while an aircraft is in operation would be fined.

“These are new items included in the Bill which seek to address care of aerodromes in the interior. There are a number of items in the Bill that will make things clearer than the last Civil Aviation Act. The last Act was implemented when we were just be-

before presenting them to the subject minister by July 15.

“Regulations are difficult to put together when it comes to the aviation industry, especially one unique as Guyana. Because we derive or formulate our regulations from what the ICAO [International Civil Aviation Industry Organisation] puts out in its annexes.

But those are really international regulations. We have to retool the regulations and annexes into ours to accommodate the size and operation we are doing in our domestic industry,” he said.

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Need for more efficient work ethics, high moral standards in Guyana Dear Editor, I have decided to pen this letter on moral standard and ethics from personal experience with people in Guyana, as well as those out of Guyana. The word ‘ethic’ can be defined as follows: ”a set of moral principles, especially ones relating to or affirming a specified group, field, or form of conduct.

The basic concepts and fundamental principles of decent human conduct includes study of universal values, such as the essential equality of all men and women, human or natural rights, obedience to the law of land, concern for health and safety and, increasingly, also for the natural environment.”

Let me begin with work ethic with the question: How many people in Guyana go to work on time? How many managers, supervisors, CEOs and clerks can you meet at 08:30h in their offices? I have visited several offices in Guyana and observed most workers going to work late and the bosses are never in office on time. I also observed that many workers just idle their day away collecting the Government’s money by false pretence, including their bosses.

If you call many offices to talk to a person in position they are always in a meeting or not in office or too busy to take your call. They never return a call or reply to your email, Facebook or WhatsApp messages etc. I have seen these activities in most of our offices in Guyana more than 35 years now.

Over two months ago, I saw a vacancy at the University of Guyana. I sent an application online I got a reply four days later stating that my application was received. After a month, I sent them an email of inquiry about my application.

They replied in a few days saying that my application is still under consideration. It’s over two months now…

I sent them another inquiry in a week and got no reply.

Here is the highest academic institution of learning taking months to process a job application and don’t have the moral standard to write to me to say if my application was NOT accepted or to go for an interview. I may suffer a heart attack if they invite me for an interview.

My next experience is with the Legal Affairs Ministry. They wrote me a letter dated November 28, 2017, informing me that my ”Application of Appointment as Justice of Peace and Commissioner of Oaths to Affidavits is now at the Minister of State for final deliberation.”

That letter was only sent to me because I wrote about it several times in the newspapers questioning why my Police report took over two years to be sent to the Legal Affairs Ministry.

After several inquiries to the office of the Minister of State by calls, to date it’s about eight months now and I did not received an email, phone call nor letter pertaining to the status of my appointment. This procedure of my application started in 2003 since the People’s Progressive Party Administration about 15 years now and to date it would be better if I was told I am not appointed and reasons given. (I have done over six Police interviews in those years).

What I have discovered is that in Guyana is simple matters that can take a week or a month will take years because of incompetence and lack or morality and ethics.

Sometimes Managers and Ministers are in their offices but they refused to answer calls; they tell their secretaries to say they are not in office. What are they telling their secretaries in simple terms is ‘’to lie for them’. A gentleman told me in Brazil you can buy a property and get the paper work done the same day or less than a week. Here in Guyana, is months and years and the royal run around at the Guyana Revenue Authority for the compliance. In Trinidad you get your Birth Certificate same day; here is weeks and months.

I wrote a book and sent it to my publisher 01:35h I got a reply in five minutes. I sent Warwick University an email I got three replies in 10 minutes back and forth. How do we compare ourselves with these institutions abroad? Why can’t we be competent like them?

I haven’t seen the great change in Guyana since modern technology; all over you go is tons of old books and papers that should be replaced by CDs and flash drives. We don’t have much work ethics in Guyana.

We are always late and used terms like ”it’s better to be late than never” we go to work late, watch TV late, wake late, and laze around our jobs doing nothing and people have a real drinking problem; they are always drunk even on their jobs.

Most times, people are pushed into offices because of political affiliations and they get FAT salaries for doing absolutely nothing. We must ask ourselves many questions like how competent is this person holding this office?

What did he/she ever run efficiently before? Are they honest? Are they punctual? Can they run this office? Do they have a stable family life? Are we very principled when it comes to keep our WORD AND TIME with people? You are a manager you invited an applicant for a job interview at 09:00h but you showed up at 12 noon. What example are you setting for that new applicant? NONE. You need to be fired.

Simple evaluation of people should not take us long. But people ”drag their feet” on their jobs even our schools have teachers who need teachings themselves because they are never in class and they can never complete the CXC exam syllabus on time.

Our character, morality, integrity, punctuality and speaking the truth at all times are keys to the foundation of a person of exemplary character and attitude. Mahatma Gandhi had this to say about character: ”In times to come people will not judge us by the creed we profess or the label we wear or the slogans we shout, but, by our work, industry, sacrifice, honesty and purity of character.”

It’s about time we as a people wake up to these truths about morality and ethics and inculcate more efficient work ethics.

Regards, Reverend Gideon Cecil

Time not right for Ramson Jr to be PPP’s presidential candidate

Dear Editor, When I first saw the video of my friend and colleague, Charles Ramson Jr declaring his intention to contest for the PPP Presidential Candidate, I was very disappointed in the choice of words used to justify his candidacy.

But it was his response to the Leader of the Opposition, that certainly gave credence to the idiom that too much education is just as dangerous as too little.

Undoubtedly, Charles is young, ambitious, well-educated and has great potential. It is these very qualities that Bharrat Jagdeo recognized in him, that made him one of the youngest Members of the National Assembly. Without the support of Bharrat Jagdeo, he could not have made it on his own.

So what has changed? Ramson has a bone to pick with Jagdeo, Anil Nandall and Irfaan Ali. He wanted time-off from Parliament for one year to pursue studies in the United Kingdom in Oil and Gas while retaining his MP status.

This request was denied because the PPP could not afford to reduce its voting powers in the National Assembly at a time when the National Budget and vital pieces of legislation were upcoming. He was subsequently replaced by the young, dynamic Vickram Bharrat.

In an email sent to me on May 21, 2018, Ramson wrote: “I know the feeling of giving your all in a team and others not pulling their weight and it’s being allowed to happen. Imagine how I felt when as an MP I gave my all to this and when I got a prestigious scholarship to study an area which we need for the country and will be beneficial to the team and asked for leave and so many “leaders” did not support the application. I had support from Luncheon and a couple others but Anil and BJ and Irfaan did not support. It’s disheartening and discouraging.”

Every politically astute person in Guyana knows that former PPP Ministers Anil Nandlall and Irfaan Ali are among others likely to contest the Party’s Presidential candidacy for the 2020 elections, and so this presents Ramson an opportunity to deny them this nomination in much the same way they denied him. Isn’t this vindictiveness, tit for tat?

In his recent response to Jagdeo, he mentioned having knowledge of persons making public announcements before going through a nomination

process for the 2015 election, and disclosed, “But I would like to point out that far worse has happened like persons being involved in corruption and no press conference has ever been held about it or disrespectful and childish comparisons being made.”

As a lawyer and upstanding citizen who wants to be President, did Ramson not feel it was his patriotic duty to report this “corruption” that he saw to the police or better yet, to SOCU? Now that Charles Ramson is writing for the Kaieteur News, it seems he has discovered the Freddie Kissoon syndrome: Criticize Jagdeo and get your face on the front page.

In his declaration speech, Ramson said Guyana needs young, fresh leadership. “We need credible leadership— leadership with integrity, passion and vision; leadership that puts the people first.” While both Anil Nandall and Irfaan Ali and others in the party fit the aforementioned description, they both have tremendous success and a well-documented track record in the sectors they were responsible for as Ministers in the previous government. Where is Ramson’s? In the past three years, it was Anil Nandlall, aided sometimes by Priya Manickchand and Adrian Anamaya who defended cash-crop farmers and sugar workers and everyone whose constitutional rights were being violated by this APNU+AFC Administration.

With his 10 years’ experience as a lawyer and party member, Ramson has never volunteered his expertise to assist Nandlall with one of these cases.

Is this the kind of leadership that puts people first?

Editor, behind that baby-face smile is a man who’s ego dangerously rivals that of our Prime Minister. In his letter in the Kaieteur News on June 29 captioned “Charles Ramson through the eyes of someone else”, Dr. Mark Devonish sums it up beautifully when he describes Ramson as “too arrogant, obnoxious and petty” to be President.

He forgot to mention his bad attitude.

Charles, I’m sure, was spoilt rotten as a child. And although he has grown now, he still wants to get his own way.

I’m sure with time, Charles Ramson Jr will make a great President of Guyana, but not now, he has some maturing to do.

Sincerely, Harry Gill, PPP Member of Parliament

Question for the American authorities Dear Editor, The recent intimation by Justice Kennedy that he intends to vacate his position in the US Supreme Court has been met with a barrage of questions focusing on the ‘political leanings’ of his likely successor.

These questions imply that the resignation of Justice Kennedy provides Donald Trump, the current US President, the opportunity to select a replacement who obviously subscribes to the ‘political’ beliefs and ‘ideological’ leanings of the Republican party as op-

posed to the Democrat party.

To virtually ‘institutionalise’ such ‘political’ considerations in the selection processes for such a critical position is worrisome from several standpoints; not least of which is the fact that it goes against the universally acceptable core principles of effective staff selection such as objective and relative knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience and competencies of the competing candidates.

If these are relevant and essential in all other staff selec-

tion processes, why are they ignored in the case of Judges, especially Judges of the highest court of the land?

I wonder what will be the reaction from all and sundry if the selection of Judges in Guyana was to follow suit!

It would be interesting to have the comments of the American authorities on this apparent departure from universally acceptable staff selection processes.

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

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WEEK ENDING JULY 8 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese nabbed by US Guyana Govt approves Customs officials trying to construction of dual hydro- smuggle live birds through JFK system at Moco Moco, Kumu A

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pproval has been granted for the construction of a 0.95-megawatt dual hydro-system at Moco Moco and a 2.2 megawatt at Kumu in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo.

This was announced

by Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock, at the recently concluded Regional Toshaos’ Conference in Lethem, the Department of Public Information reported on Wednesday.

The projects will be financed from funds received through the

Brian Allicock

United Arab Emirates and the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The project is estimated to be concluded in two and a half years.

On June 8, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson announced that several renewable energy projects involving solar, wind and hydro and amounting to some 30 megawatts will be completed by 2020.

These are to be constructed in the three new townships of Bartica,

Lethem and Mabaruma, as well as Mahdia and several interior locations.

In addition to the Moco Moco and Kumu hydro projects, funding has been secured to commence the hydro project in Kato, Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight).

According to DPI, the government has given private developers until the end of July to secure financing for the US$4.4Million 2.2-megawatt Tumatumari Hydro Project. Once a company is successful in securing the funds the government will enter into a power purchase agreement with that company. However, failing this, the government will assume control of the project.

In addition, a micro-hydro of 0.02-megawatt also catered for in the National Budget at a cost of US$200,000 will commence in Mabaruma during the third quarter of this year. Completion is anticipated for mid2019, DPI said.

Trini pleads guilty to million dollar...

from page 5

Between March and April 2006, Gardner applied for 13, and obtained 12, such loans from 12 banks, secured by the Dexter Terrace property, totaling approximately US$1.9 million, the Justice Department said.

Around February 2008, Gardner stopped making payments and defaulted on all of the loans. “The banks discovered Gardner’s

lion.

Gardner was arrested in Frankfurt, Germany in May 2017, and was extradited to the District in February 2018, to face the charges that had been pending since 2014.

He remains in custody pending his sentencing.

In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jackson commended the work performed by those who in-

fraudulent conduct after initiating foreclosure proceedings on the properties,” the Justice Department said.

Gardner admitted that he used a portion of the proceeds from the fraudulent scheme to purchase 15 silver bars, which the government recovered and liquidated for about US$1.1 mil-

vestigated the case from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service and the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration.

They acknowledged

the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Bradford, David A. Last, Diane Lucas and Denise A. Simmonds, and Paralegal Specialist Aisha Keys.

Guyanese citizen, who was reportedly smuggling eight live birds past the U. S. Customs and Border Protection Officers (CBP) at the John F. Kennedy International Airport on June 5, was fined and had the birds seized.

According to the US CBP in a release on July 3, the Guyanese citizen, arrived on a flight from Georgetown and was inspected by CBP Officers.

“The CBP Officers conducted an examination of the traveler’s comput-

Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease and Psittacosis. They may also be subject to U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service regulations.

According the CBP, the seized birds were placed in a quarantine isolation crate and turned over to personnel from U. S. Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Services.

In 2018, CBP at JFK has stopped six bird smuggling attempts, seizing a total of 114 birds.

The smuggling of finches is a criminal offence and in cases prior to this

er bag and discovered eight live finches concealed inside a hidden compartment. The passenger was escorted by CBP Officers to a private room to continue the inspection” said the CBP. The passenger was further interviewed by CBP Agriculture Specialists who quarantined the eight seized finches and issued a US$300 fine to the traveler.

It was outlined that the traveler was admitted to the United States.

“CBP’s Agriculture Specialists protect our country every day from pests and diseases, the introduction of an animal or plant borne pest or disease could have a devastating impact on America’s Agricultural industry” said Frank Russo, CBP Port Director, JFK International Airport.

Birds, including pet birds, are regulated since they can carry viral and bacterial diseases of concern including

one, persons who were caught smuggling this specific species were charged and fined.

Gabriel Harper of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, after investigating a complaint earlier this year, revealed that individuals keep finches to enter them in singing contests.

She posited further that “In such contests, often conducted in public areas like parks, two finches sing and a judge selects the bird determined to have the best voice.”

“Although certain species of finch are available in the United States, species from Guyana are believed to sing better and are therefore more highly sought after,” Harper said while outlining that those who attend the singing contests wager on the birds and a finch who wins can sell for US$5000 or more.

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Guyana making moves to strengthen AML mechanisms …financial agencies urged to be more proactive

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Attorney General Basil Williams

n reemphasising that countries will be downgraded for failing to have a risk-based approach, Attorney General Basil Williams said that financial and other agencies should be proactive as the country works towards strengthening existing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) mechanisms.

Williams made this call while addressing Guyana’s Money Laundering/Terrorist Financing National Risk Assessment seminar, which was officially opened on Wednesday at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, Georgetown.

Williams, also the current Chairman

of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), urged institutions to work assiduously. The AG said Guyana has to demonstrate that it has an effective anti-money laundering regime and can deliver on the 11 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) outcomes, which are based on 40 recommendations outlined by the international body.

“We need to execute action plan items and formulate strategies to strengthen our sectors.

There must be effective information sharing at both the national and international levels, as this facilitates the detection and prevention of terrorist financing and money laundering

and must be central to our regime,” he said.

Based on the local National Risk Assessment, the overall money laundering risk was ranked as medium to high, while terrorist financing was ranked as medium.

The AG said individual agencies, such as the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), have assessed their risks and are working to strengthen them.

He said, “All reporting entities and other designated financial businesses and professions must be effectively supervised to ensure their compliance with the [AntiMoney Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism] AML/ CFT laws. Supervisors need to become more active in their supervision functions by providing training, onsite visits and ensuring that their respective agencies comply with the AML/CFT laws.”

Williams reminded participants of the seminar that money laundering was a global problem that affected the stability and prosperity of any country. He said this meeting was a follow-up to the National Risk Assessment conducted in 2016/2017.

A section of the audience at Wednesday’s seminar

50-yr-old man accused of molesting 11-year-old girl

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middle-aged man was on Wednesday arraigned on sexual assault charges when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Robin Marks, 50, of Norton Street, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the charges which stated that in February, he sexually assaulted an 11-year-old child on two occasions by touching her breasts and kissing her

on the lips.

After committing the acts, he attempted to bribe her to secrecy by providing cash. The matter was reported to the Police after the young girl confided in her grandmother that the accused had been interfering with her.

The suspect was released on G$100,000 bail for each charge, and the matter was adjourned until July 6, 2018.

It will provide a roadmap for the next steps to be taken as Guyana prepares for an assessment by the FATF in 2022.

M e a n w h i l e , Director of the Bank of Guyana (BoG) Bank Supervision D e p a r t m e n t , Ramnarine Lall told the seminar that cambios and money transfer entities would come under the microscope shortly, stating that risk-based supervisory approach for money transfer services and cambios as they relate to money laundering and terrorist financing would be completed by year end.

He said, “The Bank Supervision Department was given the responsibility because we recognise that money transfers and cambios are high risk, based on the National Risk Assessment; we wanted to put them under proper supervision and intensive supervision.”

Lall also disclosed that the Central Bank was finalising a guideline to supervise money transfer services and cambios, following on from revised guide-

Bank of Guyana Supervision Department Director Ramnarine Lall

lines for banks and non-banks that were completed in June.

According to him, the supervisory authority could go as far as customer due diligence if someone frequently transfers monies from Guyana to countries that are listed on terrorism watch lists.

Williams said the risk-based approach to money laundering and terrorist financing would allow Guyana to place greater attention to high risk areas.

“It’s very important and that’s why everyone has to be engaged, including the Ministers

and Ministers in Cabinet because we don’t have all the resources in the world and we don’t need to spend money in an area that you don’t need to spend when you have high-risk areas.”

An assessment has showed that in Guyana money laundering is “high” and financing of terrorism is “medium”. If Guyana’s rating remains high at the 2022 assessment, the country would have to outline the steps being taken to address them in keeping with a recommendation by the FATF.

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WEEK ENDING JULY 8 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Aspiring doctor credits hard work, dedication for topping Region 2 at NGSA

CIOG honours top Grade Six performers

Director of the CIOG Sheikh Moen-ul-Hack posed with the top performers

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Alex Muntaz with his sister and parents

leven-year-old Alex Muntaz of CV Nunes Primary School, Anna Regina, secured 516 marks at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and ultimately the top spot in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The elated lad credited his hard work and dedication together with support from his parents for his success.

Muntaz is a quiet, easy-going person who has shown great potential at an early age. At his nursery school – Rainbow Nursery, he captured the top student position for all the years he spent there.

While at CV Nunes Primary he continued with his success story to top every class from Grade One to Grade Five. Now as top student for the Region, he was rewarded a place at Queen’s College, but owing to circumstances beyond his control he will attend the Anna Regina Multilateral

School.

The young man expressed his thanks to his parents, Reyaz and Rebeccah Muntaz, owners of Baby Doll Fashion. Although busy with their business, they found the time to assist him with his studies.

In addition, he thanked his teachers, especially Miss Nadie of CV Nunes Primary, and his lesson teacher, Sir Parmanan Jado, for being there for him.

When asked about his vacation plans he said that his parents are planning a trip to Barbados, because he has already visited the USA, Aruba, Trinidad, and Suriname.

His advice to his fellow students is to work hard; keep away from bad company; be good to your parents, teachers and society; go to your place of worship and be an example to others. He hopes to one day become a medical doctor.

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uyana’s top performers of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) 2018 were on Wednesday honoured by the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) at a simple ceremony at its headquarters.

Some of the students who were awarded with monetary prizes included top student, Nalia Rahaman; Arthur Roberts; Kaydee Ali; Cianna Barkoye; and Zyia Braithwaite.

At the event, Education Minister Nicolette Henry reiterated that teamwork is necessary for success.

“There’s an old saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes all of us to raise the children here in Guyana. Though this ceremony, while being simple, is an example of public and private partnership and so we are going to recognise our students so that we recognise the value of teamwork.”

Minister Henry also noted that this year broke barriers with the inclusion of children from all regions scoring high marks, as opposed to just Georgetown, which was recorded in the previous years.

Meanwhile, the head of CIOG, Sheik Moen-ul-Hack stated that education is the key to development.

“We cannot move forward without

education. The best investment that we can make is the investment in the people of our country and in their education.”

CIOG also announced that their Islamic schools across the country such as Al Ghazali Islamic Academy and the Meten-Meer-Zorg Islamic Academy recorded passes in the top 200 of the recent examination.

Among the awardees was also the best graduating student of the organisation, Farzana Bacchus who secured a spot at St Roses High School.

She was one of the students who was granted a scholarship by the organisation to study at the Ali Ghazali Islamic Academy after the death of her father. Bacchus is eleven years old and an aspiring doctor.

Speaking to Guyana Times International on her achievements, Bacchus said, “I’m very proud of myself because I did work very hard and I’m proud that I achieved something very good. I had a lot of studying and I gave up a lot of my privileges too.”

Throughout the years, the organisation has also been responsible for assisting the vulnerable and orphans with the opportunity acquiring a good education.

Guyana looking to increase breadfruit cultivation

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t least 30 acres of land in Regions Four, Five, Seven and 10 has been secured over the past two years for the cultivation of breadfruit in an effort to promote food security and value adding. This was according to Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Dr Oudho Homenauth.

Breadfruit expert, Dr Laura Roberts-Nkrumah of the University of the West Indies’ Agriculture and Food Production Department was invited to Guyana by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on the request of NAREI. Dr Homenauth recalled that the Institute then acquired over 1000 breadfruit seedlings from Global Breadfruit.

While hundreds have been distributed to farmers in various Regions, NAREI will be cultivating a significant number. This is to ensure the availability of affordable

NAREI CEO, Dr Oudho Homenauth and breadfruit expert, Dr Laura Roberts-Nkrumah of the University of the West Indies

quality planting material since the current market price for a breadfruit plant is G$3000.

“President David Granger at the National Tree Day activity in 2015 indicated the importance of breadfruit … We did not wait on a directive …

We started looking at increasing breadfruit production… But, to do that we needed quality planting materials….Also, we needed to know what we have and so we approached the FAO for assistance in this regard,” he noted.

For the next two days, Dr Roberts-Nkrumah, accompanied by a team from NAREI, would be visiting various breadfruit-producing communities in Regions Four and Five. This activity would allow a firsthand look at the various varieties of breadfruit that are available locally.

On Friday, there will be a practical session for the propagating of breadfruit from root cuttings at NAREI’s Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) location.

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Pensioner to face murder charge for allegedly beating wife to death …for not cooking “proper” meals

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40-year-old woman was beaten to death by her 62-year-old reputed husband at their Rosignol, West Bank Berbice (WBB) home after he accused her of not cooking proper meals for him. He is expected to be charged soon for the woman’s murder.

The dead woman was identified as Shabana Babita Ishack of Lot 69 Rosignol, WBB. Based on reports received, the couple was seen imbibing at their home on Tuesday evening in their yard.

At about 17:30h, the man reportedly started to assault the woman for several reasons, one being she is unable to prepare meals to his standard. The argument and beating continued into the wee hours of Wednesday.

After the fight ended and persons could not hear any arguments, neighbours walked over to the couple’s house with the intention of talking to them about their constant fights. Upon arrival at the home, the pensioner invited the neighbours into the house requesting that they check on the woman since he claimed she was not moving.

As the neighbour checked, it was discovered that the

The house in which Shabana Babita Ishack was murdered

woman was dead and from all indication, it seemed as though her neck was broken.

The Police were immediately contacted and upon arriving at the scene, the man confessed to beating the woman the previous evening.

He was arrested and is being interrogated at the

Rosignol Police Station.

Police have since stated that the pensioner admitted to beating his dead reputed wife with pieces of wood and an iron bar because his meals were not properly cooked.

It was further related that the victim, who is a heavy consumer of alcohol, started a com-

mon-law relationship with the suspect about three months ago. Her body was taken to the Bailey’s Funeral Home where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

On June 21, 2018, 28-yearold Tovanie Simmons, of Second Street, Limlair Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Region

Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) was stabbed to death by her ex-husband.

Reports are the alleged perpetrator committed suicide after the incident.

The suspect, Imran Lyte, 28, reportedly stabbed Simmons about 10 times before fleeing the scene but was later taken to the Port Mourant Hospital by relatives after he reportedly ingested a poisonous substance.

It was reported that the couple had separated and Simmons was staying at her mother’s residence when the suspected visited that home to discuss a misunderstanding between him and the woman’s brother.

However, a heated argument ensued between the mother of four and Lyte during which he whipped out a knife from his pants waist and stabbed Simmons several times.

The woman barely managed to escape from the house, by jumping from the veranda but the man ran after her and slit her throat. She reportedly sustained 12 stab wounds to her neck, left breast, back, left hip, left forearm, right chest and chin, collectively.

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Robbery at L. Seepersaud and Sons Maraj Jewellery Revenue body Family blasts Georgetown City Constab launches probe into forged drivers for “lack of care and diligence” licence scam B

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he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) says it is currently investigating corruption within its agency.

The Revenue Authority said that in its "day to day operations" it has "unearthed an illegal operation involving some unscrupulous members of its staff working in collusion with willing outside participants and members of the public in the issuance and use of forged drivers’ licences, certificates of compliance and registrations."

While outlining that it will not presently divulge full details since an investigation is ongoing, GRA however, said that "those staff identified as part of this illegal operation have since been sent

on leave to facilitate the investigation."

Moreover, the tax body implored that all financial transactions should be conducted by the cashiers and an official GRA receipt should be issued for all monies paid.

The GRA in a statement posited that it "will continue to work to improve its systems to minimize illegal activity and ensure that integrity and transparency are the hallmark of the agency. However, it needs the help of the general public in ridding the agency of staff who are determined to discredit the Authority by engaging in unscrupulous activities with willing participants and confidence tricksters."

T&T schoolboy murdered, ten years after brother

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(Trinidad Express)

ust over a decade after his older brother was fatally shot, 16-year-old Mikeel Caesar suffered a similar fate.

Caesar was one of two persons who were shot on Monday afternoon at Plaisance Road, Laventille and he succumbed that night.

According to police reports, at about 1.30 p.m. on Monday, Caesar, a pupil of the Servol Regional Training and Resource Centre, was liming with a group, which included 48-year-old Stephen La Rosa, when a white Hyundai Elantra vehicle pulled up alongside them.

Several shots were fired by a man in the passenger seat of the vehicle, which then sped off. It was found about 30 minutes later along Pashley Street, Laventille with several spent shells inside.

Caesar and La Rosa were rushed to Port of Spain General Hospital, where they were treated, but Caesar died at about 10 p.m. on Monday.

La Rosa was shot in his left leg and was in a serious but stable condition.

Speaking to the Express on Tuesday, Caesar’s mother, Ann

Mikeel Caesar

Williams, said that her son was a hard-working and loving individual, and the family was struggling to come to terms with the incident.

She said the teenager was originally from Morvant, but was recently living with his family in John John. She said, he was studying to be a mechanic. Caesar, Williams said, had two other siblings. She recalled that ten years ago, Caesar lost his older sibling under similar circumstances. Kevin Miguel Williams was shot dead on April 17, 2008.

Williams, of Plaisance Road, Laventille, was shot dead while working at the “Plannings”, just off Old St Joseph Road, Laventille.

In 2016, Hakim Brathwaite, of Foster Cuevado, Picton in Laventille, was sentenced to death for Williams’ murder.

andits have carted off millions in gold, diamond and silver jewellery after they broke into the popular L Seepersaud Maraj and Sons Jewellery Store located at Stabroek Market. It is believed the robbery was executed between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. Several persons have since been arrested for the crime.

Guyana Times International understands that upon arrival at the jewellery store on Tuesday morning, the owner and staff realised the stall was broken into. Upon checking, the entire store was ransacked and the vault was torched open.

In a press release late Tuesday night, the family said the robbery was the work of “highly-skilled thieves”.

“We have consulted with several security specialists and others trained in ironwork and welding, and we have been informed that it would have taken no less than five (5) hours for the vaults to be cut open. We have spoken directly to two City Constables who claimed that checks were done earlier in the market, but nothing was discovered. As stall owners operating under market rules, we have no choice but to depend on the City Constabulary for security whenever the market is closed. At the time of writing this, we have not

been contacted by anyone from the Mayor and City Council’s Office or the Town Clerk’s Office.

We are surprised at the lack of care and diligence by the City Constabulary in not observing that such an elaborate crime was being perpetuated over so many hours.

Additionally, the stall was secured with an alarm system that was being monitored by the MMC Security Force.

We contacted the MMC Security Force late this afternoon and we were informed that the alarm was indeed set off three times last night.

However, MMC never informed us or the Police that the alarms went off.

On every other occasion, whenever the alarm is set off, MMC would call us immediately and the fact that we never received any calls or reports from them is puzzling.”

While assuring customers that no one was hurt or harmed, the family said “our losses can-

not be estimated at this time as we have not done a full check of inventory” and asked customers who may have information regarding the robbery to contact them or the Police.

Meanwhile, Crime Chief Paul Williams headed a team to the scene, who were able to collect fingerprints from one of the heavy-duty safes in which the jewellery was secured. Upon closer inspection, the investigators discovered that the padlock to the stall was cut and the locks to the safe were torched.

The robbery has yet again raised concerns about security at the market. Police thought it was quite strange that no one heard any abnormal noises or saw any abnormal movement since a robbery of that magnitude could take a few hours. It was later disclosed that the City Constabulary officers have access to the Market at all times

through the southern gate.

No one has been apprehended in connection with the robbery.

Only recently, the City Constabulary named Stabroek and Bourda markets as popular criminal hotspots where consumers are attacked and robbed on a daily basis. These offences are suspected to be gang-related.

Chief Constable Andrew Foo has stated that the markets have been on the radar for quite a while now in light of the increase in criminal activities in those areas.

Foo explained that at the Stabroek Market, since it is a transportation hub, persons entering and leaving public transportation are the main targets. With respect to Bourda Market, most of the incidents occur among vendors and shoppers in the rush hours, when sales are at a peak.

Minister Harmon to partner with Queen’s Young Leaders Awardee

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inister of State Joseph Harmon on Wednesday received a courtesy call from the Queen’s Young Leaders Award recipient, Marva Langevine.

The brief meeting was held at the Minister’s Office at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Minister Harmon expressed his pride in seeing a young Guyanese receive such a prestigious award and expressed an interest in having his office in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) work closely with Langevine.

Having returned to Guyana hoping to build her network in Guyana, Langevine said the Minister of State’s office was an excellent place to start.

“He’s reaching out to the people and I love that. With him on my side, I know I will be able to reach an even greater

Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Marva Langevine share a light moment on Wednesday

audience… I’m thankful for the Minister’s support. It’s going to really take the project on a platform where more persons will be able to be more open to the work… [and] the support that

we’re providing,” she said.

Langevine was selected for the Queen’s Young Leaders Award for her work with bereaved and underprivileged children and fam-

ilies in Guyana through the Guyana Golden Lives Organisation, of which she is the founder.

She received her award at Buckingham Palace in London last week.

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PNC chairmanship race heats up …political analyst believes upcoming congress highlights emerging factions

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s the race to the People’s National Congress (PNC) chairmanship heats up and two clear contenders for the post have emerged, political analysts believe it will be a contest old versus new, highlighting factions within the party.

With the PNC congress slated for August 17, at least two contenders have emerged for the chairmanship post.

Attorney General Basil Williams is the incumbent Chairman of the party. Previously he was unopposed for the position.

But fellow Cabinet colleagues Joseph Harmon and Volda Lawrence have thrown their hats into the ring this time around. In an interview with this publication, political analyst, Dr David Hinds offered his thoughts on the race, which could be the forerunner to 2020’s General and Regional Elections.

Hinds posited that the developments indicate a faction within the traditional party faithful that want Williams ousted from the chairmanship, possibly based on his performance.

Harmon’s entrance, he

Political analyst, Dr David Hinds

noted, indicates the presence of a newer, more coalition minded faction in the party.

“Two challengers to Basil Williams for Chairman, one can assume the general membership of the PNC may be dissatisfied with Williams’s tenure and they may be looking for someone new,” Hinds related.

“In the last week, we’ve had Volda Lawrence throwing her hat into the race.

I think that Lawrence and Williams are vying for the same kind of vote amongst PNC members.

So it means (her) very entry into the race is an in-

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

dication that that faction seems to think Williams is unable to win and so they turn to Lawrence.”

The political analyst posited that what Lawrence and Williams risked was splitting this traditional factor. Hinds thus expressed the belief that if all three ran, one of them might drop out the race ahead of time to avoid splitting the vote and give the traditional faction a chance of overcoming Harmon’s challenge.

“We’re seeing two factions emerging within the PNC. One faction is what I would call; the old PNC. And then I think there is a new faction

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

within the PNC; some people refer to it as the ex-soldiers. But I think it’s more than the ex-soldiers.”

“I think it’s a faction looking beyond the traditional PNC way of doing things and it’s more the APNU type. And I think Harmon represents that type. I think the APNU faction is less tribalist than the other faction.”

Harmon is currently the General Secretary for A Partnership for National Unity, the coalition party the PNC joined. The Minister of State is also an Executive Member of the party.

And since he announced his candidature in May,

Incumbent PNC Chairman Basil Williams

Harmon has taken to social media to forward his cause.

“That is the democracy which we practise: so every member of the party can aspire to the highest office in our party.

And like many others, I am a member of the party of long standing, and therefore have indicated that it is my desire and my interest in putting myself up as a candidate for the chairmanship of the party,” said Harmon, who seems to be the most popular candidate, and most competent and active Government Minister.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Volda

Lawrence, through Director of Sport Christopher Jones, also recently announced her candidacy for the post.

Lawrence, a long-time member of the party, had contested for the leadership back in 2012 against now President David Granger.

Back in April, Williams had hinted that he may run again for the chairmanship post. “I am servant of the PNC and a servant of my party. They know me. I have been working steadily throughout the years, and me and my comrades… So we don’t think that’s an issue,” he had stated.

NGSA shows major gender Bus driver lands in Court for verbally abusing passenger gap in top 1%

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Education Minister Nicolette Henry

n light of the release of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results, it was evident that there was a gender gap with a greater number of females placing in the top one per cent of the country compared to the number of males.

Out of the 174 students who placed in the top one per cent, 104 were female, while 70 were male.

The gender gap is an issue which Guyana has seen for a number of

years as it relates to academic performances. At the announcement of the results last week, these numbers were addressed

by Education Minister Nicolette Henry, who explained that there was approximately the same number of males and females at the primary level.

However, the ratio is disrupted at the secondary level, where the number of males is reduced by half.

She stated, “At the primary level and nursery level, we have ratio of 1:1 of boys and girls. By the time they write CXC, we have two girls to every one boy. So, somewhere along the continuum, we’re losing them.

That is data and enough reason for us to act.”

She noted that male underachievement at these examinations required “strategic” intervention and hence, a symposium was organised last week by the Ministry in collaboration with the University of Guyana (UG); the United Nations Children’s Fund

over request to stop speeding

Top student Naila Rahaman

(UNICEF) and Caricom to begin work on bridging the gender divide.

“These issues require evidence-based, scientific and proven strategies to address and, therefore, we’re bringing the experts. We have people who are from the international community, the regional community, our academic community, and other communities.”

The NGSA results were announced on Thursday last with the top performer being Nalia Rahaman of Westfield Prep, who secured a perfect score of 529 marks.

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David Lewis

avid Lewis, a 48-year-old bus driver of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was on Tuesday slapped with a verbal abuse charge when he appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

He was accused of verbally abusing a passenger who was travelling in his minibus, bearing registration number BSS 5193, and who requested that he stop speeding.

According to reports, the young woman is claiming that Lewis was driving at a pace of 140mph which frightened her and as such, she requested that he slow down.

However, this angered the man who boasted of driving for some 23 years without being involved in an accident.

He further told the young nurse that she can report the matter as he is not afraid of the Police. She was then let out of the minibus and further told by the driver that “you are a very stupid girl, same thing you frighten will kill you”.

The young woman, Jeneal Lewis, made a Facebook post of her experience which the said driver saw and continued to publically verbally abuse her.

The matter was reported and Lewis was charged for overloading the minibus, speeding and conduct of driver.

He was granted G$10,000 bail on all the charges and will return to the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on September 17 for trial.

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Authorities in Guyana wary of attempts to smuggle contraband into prisons …another attempt thwarted at Lusignan Prison

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anks of the Joint Services stationed at the Lusignan Prison have once again foiled another attempt to throw illicit items over the penitentiary’s fence. This most recent incident occurred sometime around 02:15h on Tuesday.

According to Director of Prisons (ag), Gladwin Samuels, an unknown individual was seen by Police and prison ranks on duty at the Northeastern section of the holding area at the East Coast Demerara penitentiary. At the time, the suspect was attempting to throw a black plastic wrapped parcel over the fence.

Samuels further reported that the ranks opened fire at the individual, who made good his escape. However, in the process, he dropped the parcel.

“Checks were conducted by both Police and prison ranks of the ad-

The items that were found outside the Lusignan Prison after ranks foiled plans to throw them over the fence

joining village and access roads.

Unfortunately, the individual escaped,” the Prison Director noted.

Nevertheless, he noted that upon examination of the area, 10 taped parcels were discovered along with a camouflage hat and short camouflage pants.

Samuels said the parcels, when opened, con-

tained a total of 1002 grams of narcotics, a large quantity of tobacco leaves, four cellphones without SIM cards, one charger, one earpiece and 33 packets of Bristol cigarettes.

This incident comes less than a week after Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan expressed his disgust at the recent series of at-

tempts to smuggle contraband and the discoveries of various illicit items at several prison facilities across the country, saying that steps are being taken to curb this practice.

“It’s like the abnormal seems to be the rule there, you know and we are trying as much [as we can]. I now have to get technological about

it. You’d have to get scanners at the door that can pick up these things because I don’t think you can collude with scanners but… these scanners are very expensive and I hope people are not going to bypass the scanners too, that’s another problem but we’re gonna have cameras to ensure that the people will be seen who try to bypass,” the Minister told reporters last week.

Furthermore, he went on to recognise that the lack of proper management at these facilities is probably contributing to the increasing instances of smuggling attempts and the discoveries of dozens of contraband within the system.

Two Saturdays ago, an inmate at the Lusignan Prison was caught with a cutlass and a knife. This was followed by an attempt to throw several parcels of marijuana over the fence at the New Amsterdam

Prison the same day.

These incidents come on the heels of ranks of the Joint Services unearthing over 60 illicit items during a threehour routine search at the East Coast Demerara penitentiary days before.

Following these incidents, the Prisons Director had reiterated pleas to the public to cease such acts.

“I wish to encourage members of the public to desist from introducing contraband into the prison as it is a criminal offence that can lead to imprisonment and it also affects the security of the prison,” he appealed.

The smuggling of contraband items remains a perennial problem within the prisons system and while authorities have been working to curb the practice, several prison officers have been caught facilitating the illegal trade, which is said to be a “big business”.

Children injured in 4-vehicle smash- Man who admitted to raping, killing boy, 9, jailed for 23 years up at WCD in stable condition

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hree children are now patients at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) nursing severe head injuries after the Route 32 minibus in which they were travelling slammed into a Toyota Runx at Kastev, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Tuesday morning. They are presently in a stable condition.

The accident occurred around 09:00h. The three children, aged six to eight, were being accompanied by their

Cottage Hospital where they were treated and subsequently transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Public-spirited citizens were seen attempting to remove the driver of the minibus from the wreckage. His feet were reportedly crushed.

After being pulled out, the driver related that the driver of the Runx turned into his path and as such, he was unable to avoid hitting him.

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wenty-five-year-old Ryan Bobb-Semple was on Tuesday sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment after he admitted to the gruesome killing of nine-year-old Shaquan Gittens whom he sodomised, strangled, dismembered and threw into a canal.

He pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Georgetown on Tuesday morning.

According to the facts of the case, the lad went missing on April 1, 2015 after venturing out into the streets to fly a kite in North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, but his body was discovered several days later in a semi-nude state floating in a canal aback Houston, East Bank Demerara.

Bobb-Semple later confessed to taking the boy to an abandoned canefield where he committed the heinous acts before throwing the boy’s body into the canal. Gittens’ cause of death was given as asphyxiation and

The mangled minibus after the accident

mother to school when the driver of the minibus lost control and collided with the Toyota motor car, HC 4537, which was attempting to make a U-Turn on the roadway.

As a result of the collision, the car ended up in a nearby trench, but not before crashing into a canter truck bearing registration number GMM 5017 and a parked Toyota Spacio with plates, HC 1607.

When Guyana Times International arrived at the scene, the mother of the children was screaming as she held them in her arms. They were bleeding profusely from their heads.

The woman and her children were picked up and taken to the Leonora

“Is he fault, he unlicensed plus he saw me coming and he still turn, I couldn’t have done anything, bai,” the man, whose name was given only as Tiwari, alleged to this publication.

On the other hand, the driver of the Runx told the Police that he did indeed see the bus approaching him, but made a terrible misjudgement. The minibus, according to him, was speeding.

“I thought that I could’ve made the turn before the man reach, but he end up hitting me…de man de speeding,” he stated. In addition, it was later learnt that the driver of the Silver Runx was unlicensed.

Investigations are ongoing.

Deceased lad: Shaquan Gittens

Convicted killer: Ryan Bobb-Semple

drowning.

When the killer appeared before Justice Kissoon, he wore a worried expression, but did not have much reaction when the sentence was imposed.

His attorney, Maxwell McKay, in a mitigation plea, said that no one in their right mind could carry out such an act and noted his client’s need for psychiatric help.

Justice Kissoon’s sentence computation included nine years six months for the cruelty meted out to the victim.

The Judge ordered that Semple benefit from remedial training that is offered at the prison.

State Counsel Abigail Gibbs presented the indictment. No relative of either the killer or the young boy was present in court.

Guyana Times International understands that Gittens’ mother chose not to attend the sentencing of her child’s killer.

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Paralysed lad shows improvement – mother thanks public for assistance

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Injured: Matthew Zaman

ibi Khan, mother of eight-yearold Matthew Zaman who became paralysed following an accident on the Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara in December 2017, is counting her lucky stars that the young boy is showing signs of improvement.

Khan related that she had been praying for her son over the months, and this is a stage of comfort with the development in his condition.

The mother of eight explained that Zaman could not speak, or move his hands and legs, but

is now able to sit up with little assistance.

“We try to see if we could get him to sit up, but he can’t sit up for long; he does sit up for 10 minutes at a time”, the elated woman told Guyana Times International during a telephone interview.

Although he showed some improvement, he cannot breathe without the help of a tube in his throat.

Khan added that she has been contacted by several organisations throughout the country, and they willingly concontinued on page 24

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CSME must get ‘buy in’ from Justice Adrian Saunders the people – Barbados PM is new President of CCJ

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Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley addressing the opening ceremony

he Caribbean C o m m u n i t y (CARICOM) must do all it can to let the integration movement be owned by the people, Barbados’s new Prime Minister, Mia Mottley told Heads of Government.

This is according to a DPI release which said that in her inaugural address at the opening of the 39th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, the Prime

Mottley became the Prime Minister of Barbados in March this year, in a clean sweep election. She is the first female Prime Minister for Barbados.

PM Mottley’s call was echoed by returning Prime Ministers of Grenada, Dr. Keith Mitchell, and Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Brown.

Dr. Mitchell noted that CARICOM must adapt to the “new normal” to flesh out its own

on experiences of regional integration over the years.

The hosting of the COCHOG in Jamaica is especially significant given CARICOM turns 45. On 4 July, 1973, four CARICOM Heads of Government affixed their signatures to the Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Back then, Errol Barrow, Prime Minister of Barbados, Forbes Burnham, Prime Minister of Guyana,

Guyana’s President David Granger and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge arriving at the Opening of the 39 CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting.

Minister noted that the Community is running out of time to get the “buy in” of people to the integration movement.

The conference is being held in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Buy in to the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) requires the single domestic space and ability for people to move without cumbersome red tape, PM Mottley said.

The Barbados Prime Minister cautioned that people will not forgive CARICOM if it continues to procrastinate or lack courage to implement the CSME. She also called for greater transparency in decision making by Heads of Government. Barbados holds lead responsibility for CSME.

space in a changing global economic, social and political landscape as well as improving efforts to mitigate climate change.

PM Brown noted CARICOM must restore the people’s trust in the Community by the making decisions that go beyond agreements in principles. Outgoing CARICOM Chairman and President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise supported PM Mottley’s call for obstacle free movement particularly in relation to Haitian nationals who face travel restrictions to some member countries.

M e a n w h i l e , Chairman and Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, in declaring the Conference open noted the Community must reflect

Eric Williams, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and Michael Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica signed the Treaty, thus laying the groundwork for a ‘Community for all’.

PM Holness noted 45-year milestone is an opportune time to evaluate the Community’s institutions. “We owe it to the people to deliver on commitments made…,” he said.

“The single market is a victim of our own reluctance to fully and functionally establish it”, PM Holness opined.

The critical role of the implementing the single market must also be addressed including the free movement of people across the region, he added.

Newly appointed President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders and Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen following the swearing in.

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he Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) newest president is the first legally trained in the Caribbean.

Justice Adrian Saunders was sworn in on Wednesday by Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Outgoing President of the CCJ, Sir Dennis Byron, said the ascension of Justice Saunders “is a powerful symbol of what can be achieved right here in the Caribbean”.

Justice Saunders is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus, with a Bachelor of Law Degree (1975) and the Hugh Wooding Law School with his Legal Education Certificate (1977).

Sir Dennis noted Justice Saunders has embraced the broad mandate of the CCJ and supported all efforts to improve the dispensation of justice by the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) highest appellate court.

Secretary-General of CARICOM, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, said Justice Saunders appointment is a milestone in the evolution of the region’s judicial history and sends a positive message about the standard of the region’s legal education system.

Justice Saunders has a distinguished career spanning more than 20 years. He is a citizen of St Vincent and the Grenadines. In 2003, he was confirmed as a Justice of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and one year later he was appointed to act as Chief Justice of that Court.

Justice Saunders was appointed a Judge of the CCJ in 2005.

Prime Minister of St Vincent, Dr Ralph Gonsalves said he is not worried about the CCJ in the hands of Justice Saunders. St Vincent has not adopted the CCJ as

Outgoing CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron

its final appellate court but PM Gonsalves said: “maybe I will try again”.

St Vincent requires a referendum to establish the CCJ as its final court.

Justice Saunders was appointed by CARICOM heads of government at the inter-sessional meeting in February, following his nomination by the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC).

In brief remarks of gratitude following his swearing-in, Justice Saunders said he is well aware of his historic achievement as CCJ’s president with training entirely in the Caribbean.

Justice Saunders noted this signals the growing maturity of the Court. More importantly, he noted that the region “have no good reason to doubt our ability to grasp full responsibility for interpreting and applying our own laws”.

“Everything is all set for the Court to become as accepted as for example the University of the West Indies or the Caribbean Development Bank, or the Caribbean Examinations Council; all Caribbean institutions run by Caribbean nationals working to promote the ethos and goals of a proud Caribbean,” Justice Saunders noted.

C A R I C O M ’ s Secretary General,

Ambassador LaRocque, commended Sir Dennis for his sterling service rendered to the Court and the Community.

“During his tenure he has presided over judgements with far-reaching effects, entrenching the rules-based nature of our Community,” Ambassador LaRocque said.

Sir Dennis is also credited for his significant contribution to the advancement of the Community’s integration process and regional jurisprudence. Justice Saunders expressed his profound gratitude to Sir Dennis, a long-time mentor.

The CCJ was inaugurated April 16, 2005, in Trinidad and Tobago where it is headquartered. Its central role is providing legal certainty to the operations of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

It is structured to have two jurisdictions – an original and an appellate. In its original jurisdiction, it ensures uniform interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. As the final court of appeal for member states of the CARICOM, it fosters the development of an indigenous Caribbean jurisprudence.

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Exxon’s philanthropic arm to invest US$10 million into Guyana’s conservation efforts – feasibility study to determine specific areas for funding

BY JARRYL BRYAN

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xxonMobil on Monday made a commitment that its philanthropic arm will be investing US$10 million into Guyana’s conservation efforts and in collaboration with the University of Guyana.

The ExxonMobil Foundation in the United States engages in a number of philanthropic activities with a focus on advancing education and training. With the company’s local subsidiary having discovered in excess of three billion barrels of recoverable oil off Guyana’s coast since 2015, the Foundation has turned its attention to Guyana.

According to a statement from the company, the US$10 million will be provided in tranches over a period of five years, with part of the money intended for Conservation International Guyana. The initial grant money will fund a feasibility study that would work out the scope of the programme.

“Once defined, Conservation International Guyana and the University of Guyana will deliver the education, training, research and retention programmes that would help ensure that economic growth reinforces Guyana’s environmental development goals. The investment is also intended to expand conservation areas in the Rupununi Wetlands”, a statement from the company has said.

According to that statement, money will go towards “mangrove restoration, and management and support improvements to community-based

Conservation International Guyana and the University of Guyana will be recipients of the US$10 million grant coming from the ExxonMobil Foundation

fishing on Guyana’s coast, a sector the Government of Guyana has identified as critically important to the wellbeing of the Guyanese people, and support the work of the University of Guyana’s Greening Research and Innovation Centres.”

President of the ExxonMobil Foundation, Kevin Murphy, was quoted as affirming that money will go towards supporting the Government’s objectives in the Green State Development Strategy.

“This partnership will support the highest conservation priorities for the country, as well as education and training for sustainable employment,” he said. “It (also) demonstrates the value we place on our long-term relationship with the citizens of Guyana.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the

University of Guyana Council, Professor Nigel E. Harris, related in the statement that the funding presented an opportunity to build relevant capacity to train students, and revamp the university’s research and outreach capabilities.

“A central feature of Guyana’s development plans is its Green State Development Strategy which envisions a commitment to a green economy, sustainable development, and protection of its forests and fresh water resources aligned with the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” Professor Harris has said.

“Funding support for a collaborative effort between Guyana’s leading university, Conservation International and ExxonMobil Foundation promises a critical opportunity to build relevant

teaching, research, and outreach capacity at our university that is necessary to underpin Guyana’s 2030 vision for an inclusive, green and prosperous state”, the statement has also noted.

With initiatives in place like the 371,000 hectares of forest preserved at Iwokrama, Guyana is an important part of conservation and as a carbon market. Iwokrama is dedicated as a place of research, and its forests account for 1.6 per cent of Guyana’s land mass. Its 371,000 hectares is also equivalent to two per cent of Guyana’s forests.

The Iwokrama Centre itself was established in 1996 in order to manage the forest area. This was arrived at following an agreement between the then Government and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The United Nations (UN) has classified combating climate change as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number 13. According to the organisers of World Earth Day, at least two million people die globally from indoor and outdoor pollution. It is also estimated that by the year 2030, food prices will go up by 50 per cent due to climate change.

The rising temperature, global warming, and other ecological imbalances are due to the fact that half of the world’s rainforests are gone. The deaths of 70,000 persons in Europe were due to rising temperatures in 2003. These imbalances are also leading to frequent flooding and other disasters across the globe, which include forest fires, again impacting the trees.

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Govt did not put enough thought into impact of estate closures on citizens – David Hinds

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Political commentator David Hinds

s many dismissed sugar workers continue to deal with financial challenges and reduced employment, Government is being encouraged to visit the affected communities to see how its policies have impacted on former employees of GuySuCo and their families.

This was the admonition of outspoken political commentator and Working People’s Alliance executive David Hinds, who told Guyana Times International in a recent interview that Government must conduct social and ethnic impact assessments in moving forward with future decisions.

He made these comments at a recent event

at Patentia, West Bank Demerara, a village that is contiguous to the now closed Wales Sugar Estate. Patentia residents have, in recent days, complained of increased criminal activities, including petty theft and robberies.

“I think that when you are making decisions to lay off so many people, you have to think about the impact of families and on communities; and I think the decision makers did not put enough thought into that impact, and we are clearly seeing that here,” Hinds expressed at Patentia.

The political commentator surmised that when the breadwinner is out of work and cannot provide in timely man-

ner for children, it affects the education and physiological state of their offspring. He reasoned that uncertainty impacts upon children, and acknowledged that crime would increase.

“People would look for alternative ways of survival, and that’s where the deviant things like crime come into play,” he noted.

Observing claims that Government “meant well” by taking its decisions on the sugar industry, Hinds conceded that he is not surprised by perceptions that certain groups could feel disenfranchised and discriminated against.

He, however, explained that all Administrations of Guyana should take extra care in analysing how groups respond to State policies of the Government of the day.

“I take the point that because a Government is of one ethnic group, and you’re implementing a policy that will in the main affect the other ethnic group, you have to be extra careful. My point is that they did not intend to discriminate, but they were not careful. When you are implementing a major policy,

you should have an ethnic impact assessment to see how policies would affect groups in certain ways, because we live in a country of ethnic sensitivities,” Hinds reasoned.

He added, too, that severance packages are not enough for the severed workers, who would have been able to structure their lives from a steady income. He also called on Government to visit the communities to see how residents are suffering from policies.

“I am in favour of the restructuring of the sugar industry largely because I think that it is causing too much to subsidise; but my point is that the ordinary people must not be the sufferers.

Therefore, Government now has to come back into these communi-

ties and hear from people. Government must be mature enough to say we may have erred,” Hinds told this publication.

“You don’t stop from being a cane cutter on Monday and walk into another job on Tuesday,” he added. At the same time, he called on corporate citizens to throw in their lot to assist the communities affected by Estate closures.

Government ordered the closure of Wales Estate based on cost-saving measure due to billions of dollars that were allocated to the declining sugar industry.

However as a result, nearly 4000 workers from Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon were dismissed in late 2017, and over 1000 were dismissed from Wales in the pre-

Patentia, West Bank Demerara

vious year. This means that over 5000 persons and thousands more family members are likely to have suffered from the Government’s policy.

Just recently, an overseas-based businessman, through prominent Attorney-atLaw Christopher Ram, made to the Patentia Secondary School a US$2 million donation, which included stationery supplies and haversacks; and one student from the distant community of Free and Easy, WBD was given a bicycle to travel to school.

Attorney Ram noted that four other schools on the West Bank of Demerara are slated to receive similar donations, while there are also plans to give a few scholarships to students.

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Man accused of raping 12-yr-old found hanging in Leonora lock-ups B

hagat Ram Jailal, also called “Baggot” or “Davo”, of Lot 49 Ocean Garden, MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, was found hanging in a cell at the Leonora Police Station on Monday at about 5:30h.

Based on reports received, the 61-year-old farmer had been arrested on Sunday at about 13:00h following an allegation that he had molested a 12-year-old female.

After vehemently denying the allegation, he had been placed in the lock-ups as the Police continued their investigations, but on Monday morning he was found hanging by his shirt from the window grill.

The Police have confirmed that there were four other prisoners in the cell when Jailal met

Leonora Police Station

his demise. An investigation has been launched into the man’s demise.

When Guyana Times International contacted Bibi Jailal, a daughter of the dead man, she explained that she also had received the news of her father’s demise on Monday morning.

“All the Police tell me is that my father

passed away… When I asked how, they tell meh that he hang heself…

Something nah right; he and four other people went in de cell, and he dead… Something happen in deh,” the woman surmised.

The grieving daughter recalled that she was at home on Sunday when her brother called to re-

late that their father was arrested and was being held at the Leonora Police Station.

“I went to the station, but when I reach, the Police already put he in the cell, and they say I couldn’t reach he,” she told this newspaper.

Prompted to comment on the allegation her father had faced, the

daughter posited that she could not swear for her father, but she noted that the child whom he has been accused of molesting is a relative.

The alleged victim reportedly resides with her mother and other siblings at Parika, EBE, but they would frequent the Jailal home at MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast

Demerara. The dead man’s daughter has refused to believe that her father had been a child molester.

“I don’t know why he do it, if he do it”, she said in a solemn voice.

A sister-in-law of the dead man told the Guyana Times International that she is in a state of shock at the passing of Jailal. “When meh husband -- which he is he eldest brother -- dead, he (Jailal) was here all de time helping out… I never know he to be a bad person; he de always helpful,” the woman stated.

Jailal’s daughter, 29-year-old Dhanwantie Ram of Parika Façade, East Bank Essequibo, had been strangled to death by her husband following a rocky relationship.

Suspect in WBD Region 3 REO encourages residents to taxi driver’s murder speak out against domestic violence still at large R

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olice on West Bank Demerara (WBD) are still on the hunt for the suspect in the murder of 38-yearold John Choong, who formerly resided at Sisters Village, WBD. This was revealed to Guyana Times International by Police on Monday.

Choong, a father of three, sustained head injuries during an altercation with the suspect at a dominoes competition on Father’s Day and died two days later while receiving treatment at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH).

After the man’s demise, the suspect, who was said to be in his early 20s, went into hiding, fearing that he would be incarcerated for the man’s demise.

Choong was a worker at the Wales Sugar Estate up to 2017.

However, he later took up employment as a hire car operator to provide for his family.

This publication was told that Choong would often play dominoes at Sideline Dam, Sisters Village on weekends with other men in the area.

Reports were that some time after midnight on June 16, 2018, Choong and the suspect got into an argument and then a scuffle.

The now dead man was reportedly pushed

Deceased: John Choong

into a nearby drain where he hit his head.

It was further reported that Choong received 10 stitches to his head before being released from the WDRH on June 17.

He, however, went back to the Hospital on June 18 to clean the wound. On June 19, when he revisited the medical facility, he was admitted and succumbed one day later. A post-mortem proved that he died as a result of cerebral haemorrhage.

This newspaper also reported that the late Choong and the suspect had settled the matter before Choong’s wound turned septic. Choong’s spouse is a housewife and it is said that she is very distressed over her family’s future. The taxi driver was buried last week.

esidents of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) are being called on to speak out against domestic violence.

The charge was made by Region Three Regional Executive Officer (REO) Denis Jaikaran at a march and rally against domestic violence and suicide last Saturday.

“Silence is also a form of violence; therefore, one should not stay silent whenever they are in a relationship that has violence … those who face violence need to speak up and let your voices be heard; do not be ashamed,” the REO stated.

Jaikaran told the participants that the public has to adopt the mindset that domestic violence was a disease in society.

He pledged the Administration’s backing to end all forms of violence.

“I pledge the Administration’s support to participate and play a meaningful role to ensure that

Region Three REO Denis Jaikaran (in white cap); members of the United Bridge Builders Mission and other participants during the march and rally against domestic violence and suicide

sensitisation occurs within the Region and the country as a whole, so that all can understand that violence cannot be condoned.”

The walk commenced at the JC Supermarket at Meadow Bank and concluded at the West Demerara Secondary School.

The exercise was a collaborative effort between the regional

Paralysed lad shows... tributed to the cause with the aim of getting Khan better.

Other persons have shown interest in Zaman’s case, and are also willing to assist the family.

“People (are) donating things for him, but he needs financial help,” Khan’s mother noted.

Nevertheless, she is thankful for all the love and appreciation shown to her and little Matthew Khan over the last few months.

Little Matthew was struck by a minibus outside their home at Lot 20 Felicity Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara on December 18, 2017 while he was playing.

The mother, who was almost brought to tears as she recalled the incident, said she was at work when she heard about her son’s

tragedy, and she immediately rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where, to her horror, when she arrived there, her son was motionless.

Little Matthew sustained a fractured skull, which resulted in swelling in the brain; damage to his lungs, and injury to his spine, which hinders his mobility. At just eight years old, the child’s life has come to a drastic point, where he is unable to function like a normal child his age.

Breathing only with the help of tubes, due to the damage to his lungs; and feeding only through tubes as well, little Matthew has met a cruel fate. Recognising this, his mother said, she quit her job as a domestic worker to care for

administration and the US-based non-profit organisation United Bridge Builders Mission.

The organisation was established in 2006 by Bonita Montaque and Lisa Cabanara in the US to serve international communities; it then expanded to Guyana to help address the social ills affecting Guyanese.

from page 20

her baby. Khan, a mother of eight, said she had no other option but to leave her job.

She said this phase of their lives has become very challenging.

Matthew’s dad does not play a role in his life, after his parents separated when he was just two years old; so his mother is left to grapple with all the expenses of raising her children and caring for Matthew.

Khan says she has a 26-year-old daughter who assists her.

The driver involved in the accident had allegedly been charged for dangerous driving last December, and was released on G$100,000 bail.

The matter was adjourned until July 23.

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Cousins 10 and 14 drown after swimming in Mahaica ...Cops investigating

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wo cousins drowned after taking a plunge at the Mahaica Unity seawall on Monday. Both of their bodies have since been recovered.

The boys – 14-yearold Timothy Robinson, called “Dadoo”; and 10-year-old Timothy Yearwood – reportedly drowned after swimming at the seawall’s jetty around noon.

According to reports, the families of the boys became alarmed when the clothing of Robinson was found on some rocks at the said jetty.

Upon enquiring,

the families of the boys were told that the two were seen swimming when Yearwood began to experience difficulties in the water which prompted Robinson to jump in to save him but both failed to resurface.

However, that was one theory told to the boys’ families. Another theory indicated that the two were gambling in a boat when they fell overboard.

Another theory indicated that two older boys were seen with the missing boys. They were reportedly seen running from the said jetty just

before the clothing of Robinson was found.

Donna Scotland, the mother of Robinson, said she last spoke to her son at around 11:00h on Monday. She was getting dressed for a funeral when she instructed Robinson to clean her shoes and to later clean the yard.

Scotland noted that Robinson was supposed to pick her up from the funeral later that day with a bicycle but by the time she was ready, she could not find him and as such, she took a car instead.

The woman relat-

The location where Robinson’s clothing was found by his cousin

Timothy Robinson, called “Dadoo”

ed that upon reaching home, Robinson still could not be found thus prompting her to send a nephew in search of him.

“After a while, I saw my nephew coming back with he (Robinson’s) clothes in he hand; he pants, he jersey and he hat. After he give me he clothes I started to cry and I call my neighbour them out and show them and I told them that something wrong,” the woman relayed in tears.

Scotland related that she and others went to the seawall where they were told that Robinson and Yearwood were seen earlier.

Timothy Yearwood

“When we reach, they said that Timothy and Daboo all of them went out at the beach (seawall) together and then we realised that is both of them we couldn’t find,” she explained.

However the mother of Yearwood, Norma Singh, said she last saw her son on Monday morning when she left for work.

According to the distraught woman, while at work, she received a call from someone informing her that Yearwood and Robinson went out to the jetty and only the clothing of the older boy was found.

As such, she quick-

ly went home where she was further informed that the young men were feared dead. Singh told Guyana Times International that the news was surprising as the boys were not in the custom of going to the jetty.

“I was shocked because them boys don’t go there, it got a culvert in front here and them does usually go there,” Singh explained.

The woman added that her son is a very mannerly child and she is in disbelief while noting that the different story they were told left some loopholes. (Kizzy Coleman)

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shmini Navina Ramnauth is a 22-year-model, Miss India Guyana First Princess (2017) and former Miss World Guyana Top Model. She is currently on a break from the University of Guyana, however, she will return to complete her final semester next year to be awarded a Bachelor's

Degree in chemistry. She has already acquired an Associate Degree in chemistry and is hoping to pursue medicine some day. Her hobbies include traditional Indian dancing, modeling and interacting with children as a source of happiness and comfort.

Ashmini is involved in tackling many social issues affecting Guyanese such as child neglect. She was presented with the Beautiful Heart Award from the GIVE foundation in 2017 due to her work in these areas. She uses pageantry as a platform to bring awareness on social issues affecting our children in society with the hope of reducing them.

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Moral hazard…

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…and Jordan

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo pointed out that by offering tax amnesties to those folks who haven’t paid their taxes, Finance Minister Winston Jordan was opening up serious “moral hazard” questions. The PPP’s General Secretary also noted this danger was identified by the IMF. Well!! Who told Jagdeo to raise this moral hazard danger!??!! Jordan came out swinging: “I don’t know what’s all this nonsense about moral hazard Jagdeo’s talking about!!”

This reaction was so heated and personal your Eyewitness assumed Jordan thought Jagdeo was accusing HIM of some moral lapse…like being caught in flagrante delicto?? But it soon became clear Jordan’s ire was raised because he didn’t fully comprehend the meaning of the term “moral hazard” as used by Jagdeo, who’s an economist. As such, the term refers to a situation when somebody has an incentive to take risks that OTHERS will pay for.

It’s like the fella who’s carelessly installing expensive but required electrical wiring because he has big home insurance: he figures he’ll just buy a new home if the place burns down!! In the case of the taxes, all Jagdeo said was, “People know that when you have tax amnesties, anyone can go in there and work out special deals because it is not transparently done.”

Now he was talking as an economist who’d been Finance Minister for years and President for another 12!! He KNOWS what goes on with these “amnesties”!!

Jordan, however, insisted, “There would be no reduction of tax; none at all…it is just the penalties that would be waived.” From his reaction, it’s even clearer Jordan really doesn’t understand the ramifications of “moral hazard” – which is fatal for a man in charge of our national finances.

He should’ve considered Jagdeo’s caution from at least two different perspectives rather than his rosecoloured glasses. Governments in general – and this government in particular – may have policies that are straight up. But the policies have to be executed by INDIVIDUALS – and this is where moral hazard enters the picture. Take the duty-free policy on vehicles for returning Guyanese…the policy’s very clear…but we know about the runnings – like with the Mook’s Lexus SUVs!!

So, with the tax amnesties, shouldn’t Jordan conduct a check (an audit!?!) on how the amnesties were applied. The second area’s even more fundamental – and Jordan should be spanked for missing it. In Guyana, taxes have to be paid ahead of time – quarterly. A businessman who’s allowed to NOT PAY ON TIME – with no penalties imposed – will be encouraged to go this route. THAT’s moral hazard!!

The Government loses because it has lost the opportunity costs of the taxes not paid up front!

And we wonder why the economy’s tanking?! …and Amerindian (under) development PM Nagamootoo, in his role as apologist for the PNC-led Government with a column in the Chronic, confronts moral hazard issues every time he writes!!

He recently expatiated at length about how much the Government’s done for Indigenous Peoples. One wonders which world he’s living in!! He mentioned the radio station – broadcasting Government propaganda day and night!! He spoke of his visit to the Rupununi last year when he observed the rainy weather flooding – apparently completely oblivious to the same flooding this year. Meaning nothing was done about it!! He went on and on about all kinds of innocuous Government programmes – all part of the Government’s pappy show about “doing something”.

But reality kicked in when Allicock, the individual who he boasted invited him to the Rupununi, was quoted in the same Chronic bemoaning that 40,000 out of 48,000 Amerindian youths were unemployed!!

So much for the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme Nagamootoo boasted about!!

The sad fact is Nagamootoo is just a shrill PNC shill!! …in constitutional interpretation The moral hazard question was raised when former PPP Exec Ramkarran – noting all Richardson had to show was the Parliament’s amendment of Art 90 “adversely affected” Art 1 and 9 to be unconstitutional – yet praised the CCJ’s decision.

Denying thousands of citizens from contesting the presidency doesn’t “adversely affect” democracy?

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By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

he loss of a parent, particularly the sole breadwinner for the family, is a big blow and it often means the other has to step up, take the mantle and carry the family forward which is exactly what Indera Thakurdin did when her husband, Calvin, died over two years ago.

Indera is the mother of two children and lives in Jacklow, Pomeroon.

Her husband died suddenly in January of 2016 leaving her to care for their two children. Both of Indera’s children would have performed outstandingly at their examinations. Her eldest child was 2013’s top Hinterland student at CSEC. She initially gained a place at Queens College when she wrote the NSGA but because of distance attended the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary where she secured 13 grade ones and two grade twos.

Just last year, Indera’s son secured a place at the St Joseph’s High School but like his sister, he is currently attending the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary. Indera explained that while every parent wishes to have their children attend the best schools sometimes it is not possible because of circumstances.

Touching on her own childhood,

Indera explains that the Pomeroon is the only home she knew and wants it to remain that way because of the serenity and overall quietness of the place. Everyone in the Pomeroon is involved in some part of the agriculture sector whether it is fishing, cash crop or permanent crop so it is like the right of passage that she married a farmer.

The couple cultivated “permanent crops” like avocados, plantain

and citrus but would ever so often venture into cash crop planting pumpkin and various ground provisions. After her husband’s death, Indera had to step up, pick up from where he left off and that is exactly what she did. She immediately took charge of their farm and began cultivating a manageable plot.

“My farm is five acres cultivated. As a woman, I

try t o maintain a small farm.

My husband died in January 2016 and from since then I took over from where he left off.

This farm here is the only income I have to support my son who is

in school. My daughter just completed her first degree in Economics at UG and she is now working too, but she is in Georgetown,” Indera said.

Being around farming all her life and even assisting her parents earlier, Indera said taking over the farm after Calvin’s demise was not too strenuous since she used her knowledge to maximize yields and ensure the farm was well taken care of. Now she

has some labourers working with her, but that does not mean she sits by and orders them around, rather she works with them “foot by foot”. This, she says, allows her to know the ins and outs of her crop so that she can share that knowledge with other women if they choose to get into the sector.

disease on the oranges and NAREI people come in and they check it and they took samples and they haven’t gotten anything as yet. This going on for years and it wipe out more of the oranges. There isn’t no treatment and what you have to do is get the workers to chop the dry part out and hope the tree don’t die,” she said.

But like every sector, there are challenges faced by the farmers in the Pomeroon and it often results in them losing millions of dollars in produce and crops. One of the pressing issue is that of the “dry limb disease” that affects citrus plants. Indera explains that the officers at the National Agricultural Research Extension Institute (NAREI) are aware of the disease and samples were taken to be tested but no response as yet.

“We have dry limb

Additionally, market for the produce is something that troubles her.

But for Indera it is not such a big issue since she is a wholesaler.

Her advice to any woman desirous of entering the sector is for them to be prepared to work hard and get dirty.

She notes that drive is the key to succeeding and the drive to provide for her family has been her driving force all the while. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

34 news

WEEK ENDING JULY 8 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Defying Accused dies after prolonged illness the odds Enmore businessman kidnapping/murder

…visually-impaired Linden student excels at Grade Six

Visually-impaired 12-year-old Dimitry Waldron

T

Murder accused: Sheldon Chase

V

isually-impaired 12-year-old Lindener Dimitry Waldron has managed to secure 495 of a maximum 529 marks at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations.

Waldron, of Wismar Hill Primary School at Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), has secured a spot at a top high school in the community, the Mackenzie High School and has even been officially offered a place at one of the country’s top schools, President’s College.

Waldron, who has congenital toxoplasmosis, is yet to decide upon which career he would pursue in the Disciplined Service, but he has narrowed the possibilities to a soldier or policeman. He is among the top 10 students at Wismar Hill Primary School.

The genetic disease, which has partially affected his vision, is caused by a protozoan parasite, toxoplasma gondii, which is transmitted from mother to foetus causing visual, hearing, motor, cognitive and other difficulties with the child.

Waldron has siblings who are also affected by the said condition. His mother, Ronella Jervis, told this publication that her son, who wears glasses, was able to write his examinations without the help of a reader or writer, which is usually assigned to visually-impaired students.

For Waldron, being offered a place at President’s College is nothing but a dream come true, since he has always wanted to attend one of the top Grade A schools in Guyana.

However, Jervis said the family was still deciding whether or not to send him so many miles away

to attend school given his condition.

The elated student told Guyana Times International that he was proud of himself and his achievement, although he noted that Social Studies Paper 2 was a bit difficult and presented a bit of a challenge.

Success is no stranger to Waldron, since he was also among the top 10 students of his school at the National Grade Four Assessment two years ago.

“I feel really happy. I feel he could have done a bit more, but I am still proud of him. We are really happy,” his ecstatic mother told this publication.

She said it was a challenge preparing for the exams, but with the assistance of his cousin, father, teachers, brothers and herself, he was able to do revision exercises.

The mother explained that her son was also assisted in preparing for the examinations by teachers of the Blind Unit within the Wismar Hill Primary School.

Her sons, despite being affected with the conditions are excellent achievers, as Jervis, a mother of seven, is a firm believer that education is a must.

Both her 16- and 14-year-old sons were also awarded places at the Mackenzie High school, after writing the NGSA. She said while her second son, who attended the Blind Society Unit at the Wismar Hill Primary in Linden, received the necessary assistance with writing his entry exams, life at high school has been difficult for both boys.

“You show people you got the ability and you could do much better” is something Jervis said she always tells her children.

(Utamu Belle)

hirty-two-year-old Sheldon Chase, who had been on remand for the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Enmore auto spares dealer Rajendra Singh, also called “Sunil”, whose body was later recovered in the Le Repentir Cemetery, died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

Guyana Times International understands that Chase had, for the past few months, been undergoing dialysis at the GPHC, but took his final breath at the medical facility on Saturday last. Chase

Murdered businessman Rajendra Singh

had reportedly been in an out of hospital, and thus could not have attended court when the matter was called. He, along with five others, had been on remand since 2014.

The forty-year-old auto spares dealer of Lot 15 Foulis, Enmore, ECD had been kidnapped five days prior to his death. When his body was discovered in the Le Repentir Cemetery, his hands had been tied behind his back with a piece of rope. A white cloth has also been tied around his neck. Investigators confirmed that he had been strangled before his throat was slit, and

he was believed to have been tortured.

Singh’s body had borne several marks of violence, which indicated that he had been severely beaten. A bullet wound was also visible to his head. The businessman had been clad in a pair of black socks, a pair of short blue pants, and a blue t-shirt. There had been fresh bloodstains around his body, which was tied to an abbey tree.

By a tattoo on one of his arms, the businessman had been positively identified by a close relative who is also a police rank. A cousin of the dead man had subsequently turned up at

the scene, but there were no signs of the businessman’s immediate family members.

The kidnappers had reportedly contacted the family on one day prior to the discovery, requesting that the Gy$25 million ransom be dropped off at a certain location.

The kidnappers had reportedly contacted Singh’s family after kidnapping him, and they had given the family an ultimatum of 12:00 noon on Tuesday to deliver the money – a deadline the family did not meet.

Police ranks at the scene said the kidnappers initially wanted to kidnap the businessman’s 13-year-old son, but instead captured him. Since the kidnapping, the man’s wife and son have not been seen in public.

Minutes after the kidnapping, Singh’s family had been contacted.

A ransom of Gy$50 million had been demanded for the businessman’s safe return. After the initial amount could not be raised, the kidnappers had phoned the businessman’s wife requesting Gy$25 million instead.

Guyana’s High Court ruling in Red House case likely for August

A

s the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) challenge to the President’s revocation of its lease continued at the High Court, the Attorney representing both the

to be honoured, saying that predetermined timelines were totally derailed when Attorney Anil Nandlall’s submissions were late.

In late December 2016, President David

the occupant.

The Research Centre was established in 1999 to promote research into and publish materials on the life, work and ideas of late President Dr Cheddi Jagan. The

The Red House

CJRC and Attorney General Basil Williams made their submissions to acting Chief Justice Roxane George.

As such, the parties are set to return on August 27, 2018 either for clarification or ruling. At the last court appearance, the acting Chief Justice had appealed for the timelines

Granger gave the occupant of Red House 48 hours to vacate the premises, a move which Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo described as “unconscionable and vindictive”.

At that point, the move was not in isolation as a back-and-forth exchange erupted between the coalition Government and

prime land on which Red House sits was leased to the CJRC Inc for 99 years for G$12,000 per year. Former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Donald Ramotar had disclosed that he approved the lease in his capacity as President of Guyana. He was President from 2011

to 2015.

The A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Administration was initially averse to the small fee being charged and had started engaging the directors of the Research Centre on the possibility of transforming the Red House into a hub for all former Presidents.

The Management Committee, which included former President Ramotar, had strongly objected to this move, and told the Government to find independent sites for the establishment of similar research centres for the other Guyanese leaders.

Ramotar had posited that former Presidents Desmond Hoyte and Forbes Burnham never shared the same ideology and philosophy of Dr Jagan and contended, therefore, it would be a “total dishonour” for Red House to be converted into a depository for all past Presidents.

It was subsequent to these comments that AG Williams opined that the lease was invalid, after which President Granger moved to revoke the said lease.

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Queens book fair a huge success

By: James Narine

T

he recent Queens Book Fair and Literary Festival was lauded as a very successful event which brought together a talented group of authors from all over the world.

The event which was held in Richmond Hill

copies of their works.

One of the highlights of the program was the involvement of our youths in reading and writing. They recited poetry, read from the classics, and paid tribute to the late stalwarts. There were also musical performances from the young people that thrilled the

Pastor James Richmond captivates the audience with one of his poems

was aimed at celebrating literature and the spoken word. The Queens community was privileged to have listened to over 35 writers worldwide and to have signed

audience.

Many have expressed the view that the event was a success.

It was of a high standard and inclusive. It was also refreshing to know that

the community appreciated something that was different from the usual weekend fare in Richmond Hill. The organizers are already in the process of planning next year’s event.

The Book Fair was the brainchild of wellknown educator Dr. Dhanpaul Narine who earned his PhD from the prestigious London School of Economics. It was through Dr. Narine’s influence and hard work that he was able to put together a program that was multi-cultural and inclusive. Poems were read by nationals of fifteen countries, from Haiti to Trinidad and Tobago.

Tributes were paid to writers that have left us; the children from the local schools read from their works. There was also a cultural infusion as children danced and played musical instruments. There were motivational speeches that uplifted the spirit and the documentary, ‘Echos from the Plantation’ was a fitting end to an evening of high culture.

Dr. Narine, in speaking to NY1 News, said that the Queens community has untold riches that need to be

A section of the audience that turned up at the Book Fair and Literary Festival

Krishna Mahabir, science teacher at Grover Cleveland High School NYC, receives an award for his sterling contribution to education.

Dr. Dhanpaul Narine speaks to NY1News about the importance of literacy

Ms. Sabrina Fleming, Principal of Adult and Continuing Education, addresses the audience. Her deputy Mrs. Mancini and educator Dr. Dhanpaul Narine look on approvingly.

Amelia Persaud age 9, recited Maya Angelou’s poem ’Still I Rise’ from memory, and received a standing ovation.

showcased.

According to Dr. Narine, ‘We need to celebrate the talents of our children and the

Carlyle Bigby reads his poem, representing Jamaica.

works of our authors.

Queens has great cultural wealth and we will wbring this to the wider community. Literacy is the way forward.’ The

response by the New York community to the Festival has been fantastic; the next edition is scheduled for 2019.

Neval Ramdass reads his poem, representing Trinidad and Tobago.

36 FEature

F

or many countrywomen, rearing a few fowls or sheep in the yard comes as second nature since they know the value of subsistence farming but not much of them ventures into the business on a large or even medium scale basis as Anita Sammy did. Anita made it her business in order to

WEEK ENDING JULY 8 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

supplement the income of her husband and ensure that her family gets the best life possible.

Anita, a Bath Settlement West Coast Berbice native, met her husband Louis Isaacs at the age of 20 and since the duo got together, she has been rearing livestock and poultry. The mother of four now lives with her family at Tempe where her husband farms and she looks after the animals.

While growing up, Anita was always the shiest among her six siblings.

She explains that it was this level of coyness that attracted her husband to her, which let to them ultimately eloping and starting a family together. At first, Louis was a labourer and would “shy paddy” or do other forms of work to take care of the family but as time progressed he was able to rent a plot of land where he farms rice now.

Anita never imagined she would love having animals around the house as much as she does now but this love was not always there since she got into the business of livestock and poultry as a means of supplementing her husband’s income.

“Since me take he (Louis) was working labourer and so and all the time I used to mine like cow, duck, fowl, goat and so. Because of how work does be that is how me start the business. This village (Tempe) the only thing you can do is plant rice or rear stock so he does plant and me does rear,” a smiling Anita told the Sunday Magazine.

Looking back to her formative years, the 48 year old said while growing up her own father did not have a stable job and after he died her mother took up the role of taking care of the family. Taking inspiration for her mother, Anita says she wants to be there to as-

sist her husband and ensure that their family have the best life possible.

A n i t a now has over 30 sheep, a number of goats, several heads of cows along with ducks, fowls and broiler chickens. This she said is able to supplement the income of her husband when they suffer a “bad crop”.

“Sometime when you plant the lil rice sometimes it doesn’t work out.

Sometimes the weather nah good, the crop bad and the rent ah raise and that is just some of the problem and that is why me does mine the lil chicken and stock,” she says.

However, life has not been without challenges for Anita and her family as she recalls how a number of her cows, sheep and goats die whenever it rains.

Because of the lack of proper infrastructure within the area, the animals suffer.

“When the rain falling the flood does gone with them. Lots of them does dead out. Until now the place ah flood and the animal them a dead out. With this rain nuff of the sheep get die out because of mud and the road and so on,” she says.

Anita plans to continue rearing animals for as long as she is able to since it has now moved from a necessity to a hobby. She enjoys caring for her chickens while interacting with the cows and sheep.(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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hen we think about planting rice the scene of

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men large tractors hauling plows through large flooded fields prepar-

ing the land for men to “throw” paddy and ma-

nure to ensure a successful crop. The vision never entails seeing a woman in the field because of the misconception that it is a man’s world but for 62year old Kussilla Jugdeo it is the only world she knows.

Kussilla, the daughter of a rice farmer, said growing up she always enjoyed being in the field with her father and cherished those moments.

By being in the fields, Kussilla learned at an early age the ticks and trade of the rice sector, which only fueled her drive to be just like her father.

“I grew up in a rice farming family and I was well acquainted to the rice business and I know everything. I like being in the business but sometimes it gets to you,” she said.

Kussilla later got married and it was no surprise that her husband is also a rice farm-

ers. She now lives at Mora Point, Mahaicony Creek and farms approximately 150 acres while her husband has his separate plot. However, she explains that at first it was only her husband who farmed while she stayed at home and took on the role of the traditional housewife and mother.

During the years, she would give birth to three children and after that, she decided to enter into the farming world so as to supplement the household income. She first started very small with the assistance of her husband and knowledge gained from earlier she began her journey.

At first, it was challenging for her since she would have to take care of the home as well as be in the fields ensuring that everything was being done to her liking.

Over the years, as her children aged Kussilla began expanding her fields and even got her children involved.

With the help of the Small Business Development Finance Trust, Kussilla’s field has expanded to over the 150 acres and creates employment within her community.

However, like every rice farmer the challenges faced by her are many and rang-

es from infrastructure to weather.

“The dam does give we some trouble but that is not all. With the weather and so all of that we foes got to worry about. If the rain fall too much and the (rice) beg get too much flood then it will dead out and if we don’t get enough water then they will dead out too. But when the weather is good then it is good crop,” Kussilla explains.

For Kussilla “rice farming is in my blood” and she does not take that lightly and invests every ounce of herself to ensure she succeed every crop. When asked about being a woman in the industry, she laughs and states that at no point she felt strange or even targeted.

“It is not strange at all for me. I feel like it was what I was made for because I am comfortable here. I am not here just for the money but to show that once you put your mind to something, it doesn’t matter if you are a man or woman just know what you want and go for it,” she advises.

For Kussilla everyone should do what they love because it is only then they would be successful and comfortable.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

WEEK ENDING JULY 8 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

I

nterior designer Gary Hinds is always looking to top himself, to improve upon the last job, to be better. That is his definition of success – to do better in the next job.

Born and raised on the serene island of Wakenaam in the Essequibo River, Hinds was exposed to the creative world from a very young age as he helped to decorate the nearby church for special occasions.

Coming from a single-parent family, Hinds quickly learnt that hard work and dedication would aid tremendously in achieving his goals.

Leaving the island at the tender age of 19, he started training in the field of environmental health and subsequently returned to serve in his birthplace. Hinds’s job as an Environmental Health Assistant gave him the opportunity to travel the length and breadth of Guyana, positively impacting everyone he came into contact with.

In 2008, when given the chance to decorate the Clico Insurance buildings around Georgetown for Carifesta, Hinds happily accepted the task and soon realised that it was time for him to start pursuing his passion. Gary’s Creative Decor was then launched and has since offered services to different individuals and Government entities, including the Tourism Ministry, Agriculture Ministry, Guyana Water Inc, and National AIDS Program Secretariat.

“When people said ‘beautiful’ when I am done with a design, a building, that is everything. That inspires me.”

According to the founder, the objective of Gary’s Creative Decor is to ensure that the work presented is always original, efficient and suitable for the theme of the event, providing impeccable service at any budget.

Its services include: consultation, selection of venue, planning of programme, sourcing talent, stage and set design, booking of photographer/videographer, catering services, transportation services, and executing designs.

Backdrops, table cloths, table runners, spandex chair covers, chair sashes, centrepieces, lighting, candle holders and arches are also available for rental.

The young entrepreneur had this advice for would-be business owners: “Don’t just do it for the money, do it for the love of it. That keeps you going.”

Noting that he started without owning a pair of scissors, the designer urged novice businesspersons to keep reinvesting profits to grow their operations. “Don’t spend out the money when you get it, invest, invest.”

In the years to come, Hinds hopes to expand his business and acquire his own banquet hall. He continues to push his creativity to greater heights while ensuring that clients receive reliable and efficient work that surpass their expectations.

Feature 39

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“B

ees should not be killed.

They should be protected and cared for because without them we would have no fruits, flower and honey among other things.

That is what we need the people to know because of how important they are,” says beekeeper Janice Fraser.

The 62-year old has been a pioneer in the local apiculture sector, often imparting her knowledge and wealth of experience to younger generation beekeepers. Janice, a one-time Foreign Service Officer, explains that while on overseas assignment her interests in a lot of things developed and beekeeping was one of them.

Being a “town girl” all her life, prior to moving Brazil, had limited Janice’s knowledge of certain agricultural practices and she became immediately fazed with the art of beekeeping. This resulted in her dedicating her weekends towards learning the trade from some of the masters in the industry.

Janice Fraser

“When I met this apiculture I never knew before how bees were kept and all of that and when I went in with it I just went in for curiosity sake. I recognize that from this little box, you can get so many products and I started to pursue it from then,” she said.

She explains after she finished the training workshop in 1993, she got her hand on a few hives and began her journey into the world of bee keeping. Following the end of her assign-

ment, Janice returned home with a new passion and hunger to get into the apiculture sector but was sadden to know that it virtually did not exist.

“When I returned home, I immediately started to check the sector out and found that there was no organization or anyone that I could get into immediate contact with. In 2008, I met a man name Rajkumar and then my journey started. The first time was when I got a call to remove a hive from a school compound and from there I never looked back,” Janice recounts.

Janice says it irks her that a lot of people are now in the beekeeping industry just for the money adding that it harms the bees since those persons are not patient enough to wait for the right time to extract products from the hives.

Additionally, the term “honey is money” is another misconception she says.

The veteran beekeeper explains that honey is actually the cheapest product from the hive

since one can extract other products such as pollen, wax, royal jelly and propolis, which are much costly. But noted that the need for those products, within the local framework, is not there.

Propolis or bee glue is a viscous mixture that

honey bees produce by mixing saliva and beeswax with exudate gathered from tree buds, sap flows, or other tress and is probably the most expensive product from the hive. It fetches a price of approximately $15USD per ounce and depending

on the weather, number of bees and size of hive one can extract at least one pound propolis per week.

The beekeeper cautions that the rule of thumb is that one can only extract one product at a time from the hive and if this rule is not followed then there can be dire consequences.

Currently Janice tends to her approximate 15 hives along the East Coast of Demerara.

She boasts that her hives have approximately 80,000 bees each and that plans are in the pipeline to expand her investment with an additional 100 hives.

Janice recently acquired a plot of land in the Rock Stone/Anarika area where she plans to facilitate her expansion. For now she is well known within the sector and notes that her honey “Forever loving you honey” is sold out even before she is finished extracting. (Photos provided by Forever Sweet Apiary) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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44 Travel & Tourism

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L

ast Sunday several media operatives were treated to the ultimate experience by the EPIC Savannah Drive team. The EPIC Savannah Drive, whose aim is to push the frontiers of local adventure tourism by providing an atmosphere where adventure meets adrenaline, returns today and last Sunday’s event was to display what is in store for the participants.

Shane D’Andrade founded the event and according to him the drive will be passing through four communities this year, namely Yarrowkabra, Laluni, Swan and Pakuri ( St. Cuthbert’s Mission).

This year marks the fifth annual Epic Savannah Drive and second year of collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).

Mud drag racing, an obstacle course and archery are some of the organised side attractions but the communities themselves have an opportunity to showcase their craft products and cuisine.

The founder highlighted also that 40 per cent of the money garnered from registration will be divided among the four communities for sport development.

This is yet another initiative being fostered through the drive to promote community development.

Archery in Swan Village

Though the drive will be one for the adventurers at heart to let their adrenaline run free, D’Andrade assured that the organising team will be taking all necessary precautions. There will be tour guides, mechanics, security and medical personnel accompanying the group. In the coming months, the Savannah drive crew will also be organising more trips to outof-town and indigenous communities, particularly in September in observance of Indigenous People’s Heritage Month. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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No decision as yet on new GuySuCo Board – Minister Holder

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

M

onths after the life of the Board of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) expired, Cabinet is still deliberating on the matter and it seems as though they will not be ready anytime soon to announce a new body.

In fact, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder told Guyana Times International via a telephone interview on Tuesday that the matter is still before Cabinet and he cannot disclose at what stage these discussions are at.

Holder who was at Cabinet said they could make an announcement soon, but this is the same thing he said three months ago and has said repeatedly to everyone who have sought answers from him.

“We are discussing possible names… I put some names up, they look at it. They say vetting (by) this other person and so on and so forth. So, it’s in the course of being discussed,” the Minister said.

Of recent, there have been reports of an apparent tug-o-war within the coalition over the sugar industry, which is now under the control of a Special Purpose Unit (SPU) that was created under the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) for the divestment process.

In fact, reports had surfaced about disagreements allegedly between Ministers from the two coalition parties regarding the chairmanship and members of the

S

GuySuCo Board.

It was reported early in March that Finance Minister Winston Jordan had allegedly proposed for Head of SPU, Colvin HeathLondon, to be the Chairman of the new Board after the previous body had expired on February 14. The purported proposal was reportedly not accepted by the other Cabinet members.

However, Minister Jordan had subsequently issued a statement denying making such a suggestion.

Meanwhile, about two weeks later, NICIL published the names of the new Board, naming HeathLondon as Chairman while the other members included Fritz McLean, Komal Singh, Verna Adrian, Vishnu Panday, Annette Arjoon, Arianne Mc Lean, Roshan Khan Jr and George Jervis, with two other names to be added to the 11-member body. A full-page ad had detailed that the new Board was approved by Cabinet on February 26, 2018.

However, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had said the same day that there were some issues with regard to the timing of the ad and Cabinet was reviewing the matter.

Addressing the issue, Minister Holder brushed aside reports of an apparent power struggle within the Cabinet, saying his Ministry was constitutionally responsible for the sugar industry.

“The Corporation is totally and solely owned by the Government of Guyana. The Minister of Agriculture answers to Parliament for what happens in GuySuCo. I am accountable to this nation for its activities; therefore, the Minister of Agriculture should have responsibility for GuySuCo. Therefore, the Minister of Agriculture will appoint the Board of GuySuCo,” Holder posited.

Furthermore, the Agriculture Minister went on to outline that NICIL was a creature of the Government and thus carried out instructions from the executive.

“NICIL is a holding company.

It holds the shares for GuySuCo; it holds the shares for Guyoil; it holds the shares perhaps for

atiricus was pleased with Burnt Ham and his enthusiasm for CariCon if for nothing else than that he had the smarts and people sense to create CariCon Day, and then have it observed on the first Monday of every July!! If we couldn’t get the four-day weekend of the Americans, then a threeday weekend would do quite nicely, thank you!! He was still smiling as he ambled to the back of the Back Street Bar. “Eh, Eh!! Bai Sato!! Like you get some good news fuh abee, or wha”?” smiled Bungi, and Satiricus eased into his seat.

“Damn right I have!” enthused Satiricus as he picked up his beer. “Have you fellas forgotten that tomorrow is CariCon Day?” “All me know, ah wan halliday!” said Cappo. “Me na know ‘bout CariCon.” “But what exactly do you have against CariCon?” asked Satiricus.

“Well, for one, we’re helping to pay for all those uppity folks at their Secretariat!” said Hari quietly but firmly. “Do you have any idea about the salaries they make?”

Succession…

W Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

GPL; it’s a holding company. It is not a government and, therefore, it carries out instructions of the Government… Perhaps someone didn’t tell NICIL their role,” Holder noted.

And while acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GuySuCo, Paul Bhim has said that the Corporation is still operating without a Board and doing so effectively, there have been numerous calls for Government to move swiftly to appoint a new Board, especially in light of the recent downsizing of the industry.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has called for the swift naming of a Board even and has questioned how the G$30 billion sourced for the Corporation’s revitalisation is being spent. He also bemoaned Government’s recent G$50 billion loan hike ceiling saying that not only was it now tied to GuySuCo’s G$30 billion but that it signals future increased borrowings and those plans are troubling.

Signalling intense scrutiny of the G$30 billion bond taken for GuySuCo, Jagdeo said that the Corporation needs an accountability body more so now given the significant revenues borrowed.

“We heard they collected an advance, we don’t know how it is being spent, we don’t know what assets are being used to collateralise it, we don’t know what the backroom negotiations were so we have huge problems with this one,” he said.

“Me na know dem salary,” said Bungi. “But me know dem na even piss pan abee Guyanese!”

“Da beca’se dem ah get mo’ money dan even Grain Ja,” said Cappo. “An’ tax free!”

“But even Nagga Man don’t get tax free,” said Satiricus in surprise. “Maybe he should take a job at CariCon?” “But tell me something, Sato,” said Hari. “Now that you mention Nagga Man, what does KFC think about CariCon?” “Well, we are one Caribbean people, you know,” said Satiricus. “One love!! Just like us in Guyana!!”

“Waan love?” asked Cappo. “Yuh eva’ bin to Barbados?”

“But that was in the past, Cappo,” replied Satiricus. “You know they’re now broke, don’t you? And they’ll all be coming to Guyana!!”

“Den de Guvment should buil’ wan ‘Bajan Bench’ at de new Airport right away!!” smiled Bungi.

“But seriously, fellas,” said Hari. “If CariCon can straighten out the WI Cricket Board, they would have earned their super salaries!!”

…in the PPP

ith the (strained) decision of the CCJ – Guyana has to become a full-blown dictatorship for Art 90 to be considered to “affect” the people’s sovereignty in Art 1 &9!! – PPP General Secretary Jagdeo gracefully accepted he cannot become a candidate for the Presidency.

Apart from the exultation and joy in the PNC ranks that the PPP wouldn’t be able to field their strongest candidate, it was obvious the party had to select another standard- bearer in 2020.

But it was interesting when Jagdeo — as the General Secretary of the PPP — said he’d be involved in the process of selecting that standard-bearer; the PNC-AFC elements got their buktas all into knots as they protested Jagdeo making himself a “kingmaker”!! It’s not – as some thought – that they misunderstood the defined role of the GS in the PPP, but it was their overwhelming fear of Jagdeo being in any way involved in PPP politics.

And the question of “why?” is crucial to understand what’ll be playing out between now and 2020. Your Eyewitness has said this before, but he thinks it bears repetition: the PNC and its camp followers are scared shitless of Jagdeo because he faced down their most violent attack against a PPP Government!! When Hoyte launched his “slowfyaah-mo’ fyaah” campaign, he revealed the PNC’s mindset when he “explained” that “the only thing the PPP understands is force.”

This assessment had been adumbrated by Burnham in the 1960s when he mounted the first violent attacks against the then PPP Government – with the aid of the CIA and local forces – and Jagan backed down. Jagan claimed he did it not to split the country further, but the PNC then and now saw it as a sign of “weakness”. So when Jagdeo neutralised the PNC’s trump-card of their “kith and kin” in the coercive forces, the PNC wasn’t only flummoxed, they were scared shitless!!

Even with him not being the presidential candidate, they don’t want him around; especially come 2020, when it is becoming clear as daylight the PNC intends to rig the elections to control the coming oil money!! And in your Eyewitness’s estimation, that’s why when General Secretary Jagdeo outlined the necessary qualities of the next PPP presidential candidate, he said, “The person would have to be hard-working, possess management skills, and be COURAGEOUS.” Now, it was also obvious that individuals would put their hands up for the job; but one hoped they’d understand the policies and traditions of the PPP have to be followed.

And if someone doesn’t like the rules, then all they gotta do is get them changed by a majority vote at the next Congress!!

Candidates who’re lawyers should especially appreciate this internal “rule of law” approach!! …of Bridges Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, has just promised he’d be supporting moves to NOT dismantle the old Demerara Bridge when the new one is built. Your Eyewitness thinks this is a very solid and forward-looking position. Right off the bat, since it’s clear that the new Bridge ain’t getting built in the next five years, Minister Harmon is signalling that the PNC will be in office then!! Just as how Ramjattan knew what the CCJ would be ruling before the announcement, it seems that Harmon’s “in the know” about the 2020 elections!!

But additionally, there are the practical aspects to having the Bridge remain in place. For instance, the folks from the lower West Bank area – where, serendipitously, Harmon’s from – won’t have to get jammed up by going all the way to Versailles — where the hordes from West COAST Demerara will be “boring in”.

The question, however, is whether, with the reduced traffic on the old bridge, Harmon would be approving the G$500 million subsidy to maintain it!! …in Amaila Winston Jordan wants Jagdeo to explain how Fip Motilall won the “rights” to Amaila Falls HydroElectic Project.

Couldn’t he simply ask fellow Minister Cathy Hughes, who did Public Relations for FIP’s company Synergy, which owned those rights?

47

WEEK ENDING JULY 8 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Ravi Dev

I

n the last two weeks, I looked at the composition of our disciplined forces from the perspective of our Ethnic Security Dilemmas. It is a political perspective. One can, of course, look at those forces (or any other phenomena) from any other number of angles, but we have to ask, “What is the objective of the examination?”

The objective of my analysis and comments was to confront our most fundamental structural problem and bring stability with justice in Guyana.

The scholar Cynthia Enloe, who taught at UG for a while, focusing on the phenomenon of ethnic conflict in the seventies, advised: “The resolution of inter-ethnic conflict demands that armies and Police Forces be examined not as neutral instruments that cope with problems, but as potential causes of the problems as well.”

The fundamental cause of our endemic conflict has been a political one based on the ethnic cleavages in our society. While each state institution has to confront and deal with the area of national concern for which it was organised, we should not

G

uyanese Dr. L o m a r s h Roopnarine is professor of Caribbean and Latin American history at Jackson State University and has he has written articles in many regional and international journals that focus on the Caribbean and Latin America. His recent book, Indian Caribbean: Migration and Identity in the diaspora has landed him the Gordon K. and Sybil Lewis award.

According to the Caribbean Studies Association, the Gordon K. and Sybil Lewis Award was established to honor the memory of distinguished Caribbeanists Gordon K. Lewis and Sybil Lewis. It is granted to the best book about the Caribbean published over the previous threeyear period in Spanish, English, French or Dutch. The nominated book should approach the chosen subject or aspect of Caribbean life conditions and situations from an interdisciplinary perspective, and should clearly show to have regional impact.

Dr. Roopnarine’s field of study is interdisciplinary, drawing

lose sight of the relation of the institution to the underlying political conflict.

State institutions are, by definition, institutions through which the power of the state is exercised, and are inevitably flashpoints for social struggle.

Enloe went on to state, “Any lasting resolution of ethnic conflict may require that the distribution of political authority and influence in the society be basically reordered; and that, as part of that reordering, the Police and military be ethnically reconstituted at the top and the bottom. Resolution of interethnic conflict will be tenuous if the security that is achieved is merely state security, and not security for each of the state’s resident communities.”

Few objective analysts would argue that our Police Force has served the interests of our people positively over its history, beginning in 1839. The problem lies not necessarily with the individuals who comprise the Force (even though any organisation will have its share of bad apples), but with the nature of the Force itself. The Police Force was constituted as a “force” to pacify first the

on methods and concepts in history, sociology, economics and environmental science to understand labor migration, resistance, human rights, identity as well as environment policy challenges in the Caribbean. For the past fifteen years, his research has focused on the movement of Asian contract/peasant workers to the Caribbean and their plantation experience with regard to their adaptation to structural dominance.

Additionally, his research examines social identity of and among East Indian, African and Hispanic Caribbean ethnic groups and is particularly interested in exploring alternative ways in analyzing social identity in the Caribbean. Dr. Roopnarine believes that identity is negotiated and shaped by geography, history, political leadership, migration and globalization which is not totally physical or permanent but also imaginative, incorporating issues of ethnicity, resistance, human rights, among other factors.

The former Guyana Times columnist's book, Indian Caribbean:

newly-freed African slaves, and then the Indentured Indians. Its organisation, modus operandi and ethos were all geared towards keeping the natives “in their place”. What has changed in those areas since independence?

The reality is that most Guyanese look at the Force through ethnic lenses, and only complain when their group is facing the fire – literally. From the beginning, ROAR called for the disciplined forces to be professionalised. Our early calls, made in the late eighties, were

Migration and Identity, tells a distinct story of Indians in the Caribbean--one concentrated not only on archival records and institutions, but also on the voices of the people and the ways in which they define themselves and the world around them. Through oral

interpreted as partisan and antiPNC, since the forces had by then been made appendages to that regime. Our specific calls for the forces to be professionalised by “streamlining them, decentralising them and balancing them” after the January 12th ethnic riots were again seen in that light, even though events had, unfortunately, unfolded in accordance with the predictions of our analysis. Most focused only on the “balancing” recommendation – disregarding the wider recommendations for professionalisation – many of which have been incorporated in later official (domestic and foreign) recommendations.

When Indian businessmen were being picked off with impunity during 1998 (some thirty in a one-year span of 1998-1999), Indians cried foul. After the Police Target Squad became judge, jury and hangmen soon after, and began targeting young Africans for execution, Africans cried foul, and an “African Guyanese Armed Resistance” was organised.

It is now clear there were two reactions to the last response – both of which betrayed a

history and ethnography, Dr. Roopnarine explores previously marginalized Indians in the Caribbean and their distinct social dynamics and histories, including the French Caribbean and other islands with smaller South Asian populations.

He pursues a com-

total lack of confidence in the Police Force. There was firstly the response organised by Indian businessmen, which very quickly moved from defensive protection to offensive protection. Secondly, it is also clear to me that the Government, unable to motivate the Force to carry out their duties professionally, also resorted to hired guns to deal with the “resistance”, which by then had taken on and taken out the Target Squad.

Our central contention, however, is that we cannot only focus on the tasks of the Police, and ignore its fundamental flaws that impact on our major ethnic security dilemmas. This goes to the very survival of our state. The Disciplined Forces Commission, in which David Granger — now President — was a Commissioner, recommended in 2004 that the Forces be made more representative.

A friend asked why the PPP didn’t fix matters. I think that, contrary to Ramkarran’s recent protestations, they were paralysed by the “anticipated reactions” of the entrenched status quo.

parative approach with inclusive themes that cut across the Caribbean.

In 1833, the abolition of slavery in the British Empire led to the import of exploited South Asian indentured workers in the Caribbean. Today India bears little relevance to most of these Caribbean Indians. Yet, Caribbean Indians have developed an in-between status, shaped by South Asian customs such as religion, music, folklore, migration, new identities, and Bollywood films.

They do not seem akin to Indians in India, nor are they like Caribbean Creoles, or mixed-race Caribbeans.

Instead, they have merged India and the Caribbean to produce a distinct, dynamic local entity.

The book does not neglect the arrival of non-indentured Indians in the Caribbean since the early 1900s. These people came to the Caribbean without an indentured contract or after indentured emancipation but have formed significant communities in Barbados, the US Virgin Islands, and Jamaica. Drawing

upon over twentyfive years of research in the Caribbean and North America, Dr. Roopnarine contributes a thorough analysis of the Indo-Caribbean, among the first to look at the entire Indian diaspora across the Caribbean.

The book also addresses the under-researched theme of Indian migration and identity formation in the Caribbean. The reason for this declaration is that Caribbean migration studies tend to focus on the larger and more visible ethnic groups, as well as on a few specific islands.

The result is that we know very little of Indian migration since settlement in the Caribbean, and how this migration has shaped Indian identity.

We also know very little of the challenges Indians face in order to migrate their respective communities, and their migratory experience in their new environment.

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING JULY 8 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Sonali Bendre Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Shamshera’ to release in 2020 diagnosed with high grade cancer

B

ollywood actor Sonali Bendre on Wednesday revealed that she has been diagnosed with cancer. The actor is currently in New York for treatment. Releasing a statement, Sonali, famous for her roles in films like Hum Saath Saath Hain, Sarfarosh, Kal Ho Na Ho, said, “Sometimes when you least expect it, life throws you a curveball. I have recently been diagnosed with high-grade cancer that has metastasized, which we frankly did not see coming. A niggling pain led to some tests, which led to this unexpected diagnosis. My family and close friends have rallied around me, providing the best support system that anyone can ask for. I am very blessed and thankful for each of them.”

Adding to it, she said, “There is no better way to tackle this than to take swift and immediate action. And so, as advised by my doctors, I am currently undergoing a course of treatment in New York. We remain optimistic and I am determined to fight every step of the way. What has helped has been the immense outpouring of love and support I’ve received over the past few days, for which I am very grateful. I’m

K

angana Ranaut’s journey in Bollywood is remarkable with roles that got her National Film Awards thrice.

She is now geared up for her next, Manikarnika, Mental Hai Kya and a sports drama directed by Ashwini Iyer Tiwari. The actor says she is someone who has always taken on diverse roles, has broken most stereotypes and believes in being off the beaten path.

Talking about “Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi”, Kangana said: “I met with a nerve-wracking accident while shooting the film. It left me with a scar on my forehead. But when I look back now, I carry this scar with pride.

I am nowhere close to Jhansi Ki Rani, but her story definitely gave me courage and strength to do this physically challenging part.”

“I am someone who has always taken on diverse roles and broken most stereotypes,” she added.

Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi is an epic biographical film based on the life of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi.

Kangana plays the lead role.

She is also a part of psychological thriller Mental Hai Kya, in which she shares screen space with her Queen costar Rajkummar Rao. Kangana hopes the audience will like this film too.

“We really don’t know about success and failure since it is not in our hands, but the script is nice and we are having a good time shooting the film.

taking this battle head-on, knowing I have the strength of my family and friends behind me.”

As the actor shared the news on her social media handles, love and best wishes for her speedy recovery started pouring in from friends, fans and colleagues. Manish Malhotra commented on her Instagram post and wrote, “Wishes and strength and love with you Sonali.” Her Hum Saath Saath Hain co-actor Neelam Soni commented, “You are the strongest girl I know.

My superwoman.” Karan Johar also called the 43-year-old actor a fighter as he wrote, “Godspeed, love and strength to a true fighter and a solid soul!!!

Vivek Oberoi who co-judged India’s Best Dramebaaz with Sonali took to his Twitter handle and wrote, “You are one of the strongest women I know! I admire &respect how u always stood ur ground in the face of adversity…and won! A WonderWoman who does it allactor, author, mom, wife! An inspiration 2so many! Cancer will surely lose this fight! Our Love & Prayers are with u always!”

Sophie Chaudhary tweeted, “Sending you all the love, strength and prayers to fight this Sonali!! I know you will!! We all love you! @iamsonalibendre.” (Indian Express)

I hope the audiences like the film,” said Kangana, who is currently busy filming this project.

After that, she will start working on Ashwini Iyer Tiwari’s sports drama in which she plays a kabaddi player.

“I am really looking forward to working with her,” Kangana said.

Kangana says fitness is a way of life.

“I strongly believe that it helps me become a better version of myself physically, while also contributing immensely to my mental strength. The power of the mind is such that once I set my heart and mind on something, I will strive to achieve it no matter what.

“I believe in taking the road less travelled, discovering new things about myself and pushing my own boundaries to reach a newer, better, fitter and stronger space,” said Kangana, who won the National Film awards multiple times for Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Queen and Fashion.

The 31- year-old is someone who also faced tough times in Bollywood.

But she says that has not changed her as a person.

“I am a straightforward person. I have always said exactly what is on my mind and voiced my opinion on what I believe is right — whether it is in my personal life, or professional. My experiences, whether good or bad, have definitely helped me evolve and made me who I am today,” she said.

Working hard and giving her best to everything that she does, have been

R

anbir Kapoor and Vaani Kapoor starrer Shamshera will hit the screens on July 31, 2020. The action entertainer will be directed by Karan Malhotra and produced by Yash Raj Films. Shamshera, also starring Sanjay Dutt as an antagonist, is set to go on the floors by the end of this year, according to the production house.

The project marks Ranbir’s return to YRF after a gap of nine years.

His last project with the banner was Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year.

Talking about the film, the Sanju actor earlier said, “Shamshera is not a story of a ‘daaku’, but a film based in the 1800s, it is about a dacoit tribe who are fighting for their right and independence from the British. There was a great story of heroism, a story rooted in our country which actually happened back then.”

He continued, “It is a departure from the kind of films I have done, it is not the coming-of-age lover boy roles which I have done often. Shamshera is in the aspirational space, the space of

S

ushant Singh Rajput has opted out of Chanda Mama Door Ke due to date conflicts but plans to develop his own space movie, according to a release. The 32-year-old actor, who was recently in news for buying land on the Moon, plans to make what he claims would be India’s first space film, to be developed via Innsaei Ventures Pvt Ltd, a company a cofounded by Rajput and entrepreneur Varun Mathur.

“Sushant’s passion for the Moon and space is second to none in this sphere. He has unparalleled interest to learn more about the universe, and to delve into anything that might help

key to her.

“The best feeling is being able to do something you think you wouldn’t be able to. It is this high that I enjoy and what pushes me to brave any obstacles laid out for me,” said Kangana.

This year, Kangana made heads turn at her debut appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. She was seen in her boldest avatar during her appearance at the film gala, receiving both ap-

true, badass commercial cinema.”

This will be Vaani’s third film with the production house, after her debut Shuddh Desi Romance (2013) and Befikre (2016). The shooting of the film will wrap by mid 2019.

“As an actor, it is great to be working with a powerhouse of talent like Ranbir, an individual who I truly admire for his talent and whose movies I have always loved watching as an audience,” Vaani said in a statement.

The action-adventure film, directed by Karan Malhotra, will see Vaani will play the character of the most desirable and sought-after travelling performer from the heartland of India.

Meanwhile, Ranbir is revelling in the success of Sanju, which has been breaking box office records in India.

The film became 2018’s highest opening weekend grosser with Rs 120.05 crore collection within three days.

The Rajkumar Hirani directorial also stars Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala and others in pivotal roles. (Indian Express)

him understand this phenomenon further. However, since there was a lot of up and down in this film, Sushant will not be able give his dates to this project (Chanda Mama…) since he has his hands full with many projects.

“Having said that, it does not mean we won’t be making a space film. Innsaei Ventures is quite keen on making a space film and Sushant will be working on this very soon. I extend my very best wishes to Mr Sanjay Puran Singh (the director of Chanda Mama…) and Mr Viki Rajani for this film. I hope it brings them great success,” Mathur said in a statement.

Recently, Sushant bought what he claims to be a piece of lunar land on the far side of the Moon, in a region called the Mare Muscoviense, or the “Sea of Muscovy”. The actor is already an owner of an advance telescope called the Meade 14 LX600, which can help him keep an eye on this prime piece of real estate from his home on Earth.

Rajput’s land is on the blind side from the Earth.

The actor is currently working on Abhishek Chaubey’s dacoit drama Son Chiriya, Kedarnath and Drive. (Indian Express) preciation and criticism.

She calls it a fulfilling trip.

“Being a part of the fashion industry always comes with its pros and cons. There is always positive and negative criticism around any actor and the only way to overcome that is by being yourself. Cannes has been memorable this year as I had the opportunity to showcase another side of myself,” said the actor. (Indian Express)

Hollywood 49

WEEK ENDING JULY 8 , 2018| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jessica Alba finds it important to talk to her daughters about sexual harassment

H

ollywood actress Jessica Alba says there have been “lots of different situations” in her career when she had to deal with sexual harassment.

Alba, also a New York Times best-selling author and entrepreneur, spoke to CNN for “Talk A s i a ” here about healthy living and becoming a socially conscious businesswoman. In light of the recent scandal reverberating throughout Hollywood and beyond, Alba also reflects on her own experiences dealing with sexual harassment.

She said: “A lot of different situations, I had to learn quickly how to get myself out of them, so it never got to a place, but sure, I’ve been in lots of different situations.”

A mother of three — two daughters and one son — Alba said she finds it important to talk to her girls about them.

She wants them to know how “you have control over your body and over situations you want to put yourself in, and there’s warning signs and there’s that feeling in your stomach and you have to listen to that feeling, because usually you get that feeling before any-

thing ever happens”.

But she feels “it’s probably going to be different talking to my son about that stuff”.

All in all, Alba says it’s vital for her to teach her children to be kind and to have respect for themselves, for the planet and for animals.

“I want them to be kind, have joy, be appreciative.

They have a good life. They have a really good life and I want them to be appreciative, and I also want them to be curious. I think that know-it-alls are the worst, and the second you’re not learning, then what’s the point?”

On female equality and seeing changes in the entertainment industry, Alba said: “Have I seen more women headlining movies, directing movies, writing movies, producing movies than before, and TV? “I don’t know if there’s been that big of a shift yet, but I think people are at least trying and there’s an awareness around it and how imbalanced it really is. I hope over the next 10 years we see more people, more diversity, certainly, behind the camera and in front of the camera.”

“Talk Asia” will air on Wednesday.

(Indian Express)

First Look of Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt will take you back in time

A

ctor Leonardo DiCaprio took to Instagram to share the first look of his upcoming movie Once upon a time in Hollywood.

The Titanic actor posted the picture with the caption, “First look. #OnceUponATimeInHollywood”. The picture showcases both stars leaning against a row of columns in colourful 1960s-inspired clothing.

Directed by Quentin Tarantino, the movie is a mystery crime, centred around an ageing out-of-work TV actor Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) who embark on an odyssey to make a name for themselves in the film industry during the Charles Manson murders in 1969 in Los Angeles. The two characters happen to be the neighbours of Sharon Tate, who will be portrayed by Margot Robbie. The movie is based on the murder of actor Sharon Tate and three others at the hands of the Manson family cult.

Once upon a time in Hollywood will feature Leonardo DiCaprio with Brad Pitt, Al Pacino and Margot Robbie

in the lead roles. The film’s cast also includes Burt Reynolds, Timothy Olyphant, Damian Lewis, Emile Hirsch, Dakota Fanning.

Director Quentin Tarantino, known for Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill movies, has reunited with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt for this venture after having worked with them in Django Unchained and Inglourious Basterds respectively.

The film was supposed to be produced by The Weinstein Company. But after the Harvey Weinstein scandal and subsequent backlash in the form of #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, Tarantino found a new home for the movie in Sony. The film is expected to be Tarantino’s last as the filmmaker had asserted earlier that he wishes to retire after producing 10 features which means that this collaboration could be his last project.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will release on August 19, 2019, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the murders. (Indian Express)

A

nt-Man and The Wasp is all set to release in India on July 13 but the film releases in the US on July 6. That means Indian fans of this Marvel superhero will have to wait for a week to watch him on the big screen.

But Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly have a special gift for their Indian fans. By entering a special contest, fans can watch the Hindi version of the film along with its releases in the US. This kind of special screening is happening in India for the first time. Marvel films have done exceedingly well

in India in the past and this move by Marvel is a special gift for all Indian fans.

However, the screening will be limited for their fans who live in Mumbai.

Ant-Man and The Wasp continues after

the events of Captain America Civil War. Fans will also get to know why Ant-Man wasn’t a part of Avengers: Infinity War. The film will release in India in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

(Indian Express)

Evangeline Lilly hints at working with Brie Larson in ‘Avengers 4’

E

vangeline Lilly has hinted that she and Brie Larson will share screen space in the much-awaited Avengers 4. Lilly, who will debut as The Wasp in the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp, said she developed a good equation with the Oscar winner while working together on the sets of the Infinity War follow-up.

Larson will portray the character of Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel, a US Air Force pilot whose DNA is fused with that of an alien during an accident, which imbues her with the powers of superhuman strength, energy projection, and flight.

“When I was working on Avengers, I got to know Brie Larson pretty well, or as much as you can on a film, and her and I talked about it,” Lilly told Entertainment Tonight.

Besides getting her standalone film, first for Captain Marvel, the character is hinted to have been paged

by S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) to save the world

M

ission Impossible: Rogue Nation actor Rebecca Ferguson will still star alongside Ewan McGregor in Warner Bros’ film adaptation of Stephen King novel Doctor Sleep. Published in 2013, Doctor Sleep is the sequel to King’s The Shining, which was adapted in 1977 by Stanley Kubrick for a film by the same name, starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall.

The new film will feature McGregor as Danny Torrance, the grown-up son of Nicholson, who in the original movie had psychic powers and watched his dad descend into a murderous rage, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

However, the details of Ferguson’s character have not been revealed by the studio.

The story follows Danny, who is an angry alcoholic dealing with his reemerging psychic powers by working in

in the postcredits scene of Infinity War after Thanos snaps his fingers wearing the Infinity Gauntlet.

L i l l y said it is a good time in Hollywood as female superheroes are finally getting their own stand-alone films, starting with Captain Marvel and announced Black Widow with Scarlett Johansson.

“And of course she’s going to be the next titled female superhero, she’s going to be Captain Marvel, and I’m sure this will be the beginning of many, many more titled Marvel films. Black Widow. Scarlet Witch.”

“I mean I don’t know who’s next or who’s going to get a film, but it’s just the beginning,” she said.

While Captain Marvel releases on March 6, 2019, Avengers 4 bows out on May 3 next year. . (Indian Express)

a hospice, where he helps dying patients and earns the nickname Dr Sleep. Into his life enters Abra Stone, a little girl with psychic abilities of her own, and Torrance finds himself caught up in a battle with a group of murderous kidnappers that want her essence. Gerald’s Game director Mike Flanagan will helm the pic. Trevor Macy, Flanagan’s producing partner, is producing along with Jon Berg of Vertigo Entertainment.

Ferguson was last seen in Fox’s The Greatest Showman and is currently awaiting the release of Mission: Impossible Fallout, which marks the sixth outing of Tom Cruise as the famed IMF operative Ethan Hunt. Written, coproduced and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the film also stars Simon Pegg, Henry Cavill, Angela Bassett, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris, Michelle Monaghan, and Alec Baldwin. (Indian Express)

50 sport

F

ixtures for the Guyana leg of the 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have now been confirmed, with five group games set for the Providence National Stadium, Guyana.

The Government of Guyana signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) a few weeks back, thus confirming the Warriors would be treating their fans to some exhilarating cricket at Providence.

The home of the Guyana Amazon Warriors will then come alive from August 9 when they tackle the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots led by Chris Gayle.

WEEK ENDING JULY 8 , 2018 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Warriors will then play St Lucia Stars and Barbados Tridents on August 11 and 12 respectively, before winging out for their away matches.

Upon their return to home soil, the three-time finalists will have huge matches against last year’s fourthplace finishers, Jamaica Tallawahs on September 8 before playing current champions, Trinbago Knight Riders on September 9.

Speaking about the increase in matches from last season, Hero CPL’s CEO, Damien O’Donohoe said it was a delight to have confirmed the Warriors home games as they now look for-

ward to the massive support from the Warriors’ Guyanese fans.

“We are delighted to confirm that there will be five home games for the Amazon Warriors in 2018. The Hero CPL has always had fantastic support from the Guyanese people and the Government. We can’t wait to see sellout crowds once again.”

Young and upcoming Guyana and West Indies player Keemo Paul, of the Guyana Amazon Warriors said: “I can’t wait to get going for the 2018 Hero CPL and I know that the Guyanese cricketloving public will show us great support.”

He continued, “Having five home matches at Providence will be a huge boost for us this year as we know home conditions well. A sell-out crowd will only help us as we look to bring the Hero CPL title to Guyana.”

Meanwhile, the defending champs have also released fixtures for their five home matches which all bowl off at 20:00h at the Queen’s Park Oval. The champs will first tackle the St Lucia

Stars on August 8.

The Knight Riders fixtures will be split across two legs. Following their opening game against the Stars, they will play against the 2016 champions, Jamaica Tallawahs on Friday, August 10. They will then face the team they beat in last year’s final, the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, on Saturday, August 11.

The Knight Riders will then go on the road to play away matches before returning to Queen’s Park Oval for huge fixtures against Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Tridents on Wednesday, September 5 and Friday, September 7 respectively.

Speaking about the announcement of the venue for the 2018 home fixtures, TKR General Manager Paul Skinner said: “We are very pleased to have our home venue for 2018 confirmed and would like to express our gratitude to all those at the Queen’s Park Cricket Club that helped us to pull this together.”

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Ahmed set to replace Khan in TKR line-up

T

he

Trinbago

Knight Riders ( T K R ) have recently disclosed that they are turning to Australia’s F a w a d Ahmed in order to replace their prized leg spinner Shadab Khan. The Pakistani bowler, who brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the formidable team, will this year be out of the Caribbean Premier League owing to other engagements.

As such, the Trinbago franchise has turned to another leg spinner in order to replace Khan’s brilliance. With 196 First Class and 35 T20 wickets, a T20 average of 27 and an economy rate of seven runs per over, Fawad Ahmed is set Ahmed to bring added action to “the biggest party in sport” this August.

The bowler has gathered his T20 expe-

rience from a number of successful stints in the Australian Big Bash tournament.

Speaking on Ahmed’s selection, Director of TKR Venky Mysore stated, “We were h u g e ly disappointed to lose out on Shadab for this year’s tournament, but Fawad is a fantastic replacement.

As a bowler who can turn the ball both ways we are sure he will be a fantastic addition to the TKR squad for the 2018 season.”

T h e Trinbago Knight Riders will jump start the 2018 CPL season against the St Lucia Stars on August 8 at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Guyanese women finish 2nd in tri-nation hockey series

Team Guyana with Coach Damon Woodroffe and Manager Latoya Fordyce

G

uyana were comfortably positioned in the top spot after the first round of play; however, Trinidad had different plans going into the game at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex at Wildey.

After a 1-0 loss to Guyana in the first round of play, Trinidad returned with a vengeance and determination to beat the Guyanese women.

The twin-island team got off to a rocket start against an unsteady Guyanese team as an early unforced error resulted in a Trinidad field goal by striker Brianna Gouvia just four minutes into the match.

Trinidad later capitalised on Guyana’s inability to regain their composure by netting a second goal thanks to Felicia King’s penalty corner in the 25th minute. In a flash, another goal came two minutes later off of Britney Hingh’s stick.

The second half of the encounter saw an improved performance from the Guyanese team. With more organised plays and increased possession, Guyana executed a swift right side attack that found striker Princessa Wilkie, who was able to elude the final Trinidadian defender and secure a goal for the team in the 49th minute. However, Guyana were unable to find the back of the net again; the match ending with a 3-1 victory for Trinidad.

Guyana then entered their final match in the blis-

tering Sunday morning heat against hosts Barbados with whom they drew 1-1 in the opening round.

Team Guyana seemed more relaxed and confident as the game began with accurate passes, better ball control, and a solid defensive structure. The game was a very physical one and the teams were evenly matched with some amount of frustration showing in both sides.

In the 40th minute of play, a penalty stroke was awarded to Guyana owing to a careless desperation tackle by the Bajans’ full back in the scoring circle.

Former national captain Trisha Woodroffe stepped up to the challenge and sent a hard flat push to the left side of the goal, beating the Bajan keeper and putting Guyana at a 1-0 advantage.

In a twist of fate with just a few seconds remaining in the match-up, the Bajans secured a penalty corner against Guyana. Barbados would save themselves from defeat as the goalmouth scramble that ensued saw the ball squeeze past eventual goalkeeper of the tournament, Alysa Xavier, ending the game at a 1-1 draw.

Trinidad eventually finished in first place with Guyana securing second. The three Caribbean teams will be pooled together in the upcoming Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, which are scheduled for July 20-August 3.

Global T20 Canada tournament

Montreal Tigers roar to victory

M

ontreal Tigers finally secured a victory in the first edition of the 2018 Global T20 Canada tournament on Wednesday against Edmonton Royals at Maple Leaf King City, Toronto.

The Tigers featured in their fourth match, humbled Royals by 15 runs in a lowscoring affair as nine matches were completed since the commencement of the competition last Thursday.

Tigers were invited to bat first on a friendly pitch and tallied up a moderate 129-6 off the 20-overs while; Royals were dismissed for 114 in the 20th over.

Montreal Tigers will play their last game in this preliminary stage on Sunday against Toronto Nationals before they start off their second-round segment where first-place will meet sixth-place. Additionally, second-place side will clash with the fifth-place victor and third and fourth-place teams will compete as well.

The Tigers’ win was orchestrated by Australia fast-bowler Peter Siddle who snagged a four-wicket haul, yielding only 13 runs from 3.1 probing overs.

Siddle was also on a hattrick during his devastated spell extracting apprecia-

tive bounces on a responsive pitch. He bowled at both ends and was admirably supported by his skipper and another speedster Lasith Malinga who finished with 2-29 from f o u r overs.

Mediumpacer Kevin

Cooper a l s o took two wickets to assist Siddle.

Luke Ronchi opened the batting and scored a top-score of 30 for Royals. He was there when his other opening partner Andre Fletcher was comprehensively bowled by 17-year-old Nepal legspinner Sandeep Lamichane for 9. Agha Salman (10) and Farhaan Behardien (00) felt off successive balls to leave Royals lads reeling at 35-3.

Shaiman Anwar offered some resistance to make 24 while Kevin O’Brien made 15 to be the other principal scorers.

When proceedings began on a scorching hot-sunny day, Montreal Tigers lost badly out-of-form and West Indies

batsman Dwayne Smith for 8, while Sunil Narine, w h o s e reputation as an opener has g r o w n tremendously, followed Smith back t o the pavilion soon for 9. The innings never got momentum as three left-arm pacers captain Sohail Tanvir, his Pakistani compatriot Mohammed Irfan and South African Wayne Parnell bowled with consistency. However, Moses Henriques once again came to the fore by hitting a responsible 50 while Najibullah Zadran and Sikandar Raza weighed in with 22 not out and 20 respectively. Parnell captured three wickets for 23 runs in his four overs to be the best bowler for the losers.

Edmonton Royals will be in action on Friday at the same the venue against Vancouver Knights. Royals have so far appeared in three matches but only came out triumphant on a solitary occasion. Knights currently have two wins from three matches as well.

The other two participating teams, Winnipeg Hawks are leading on the points table because of a better netrun-rate. They have two victories from three matches while West Indies “B” team is sitting comfortably at second position

with two wins from as many matches. West Indies “B” will be colliding with Hawks on Thursday from 11:00h when the competition continues.

Meanwhile, at the presentation ceremony, Siddle was named player-of-the-match.

He also stated in a press con-

ference that he was delighted with his performance and also seeing his team capping off a good win. He indicated that he was confident they would have won and is very optimistic the guys will bounce back hard from here to lift the trophy and pocket a cash prize on July 15.

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Rock-solid Brazil living up to billing as World Cup favourites

S

OCHI, Russia (AFP) — While some of their biggest rivals have already fallen by the wayside in Russia, Brazil have been making serene progress towards the latter stages of the World Cup. After watching holders Germany, Spain and Argentina all exit the competition in the last week in various states of disarray, the Selecao eased into the quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory against Mexico on Monday.

As they aim to lift the World Cup for a record sixth time in Moscow on July 15, their next opponents are Belgium in Kazan tomorrow, in what will be something of a clash of styles — the best defence up against the best attack.

This Brazil team is not just about Neymar, even if his theatrics and intermittent magic, like his opener against

Mexico, are what immediately catch the eye and dominate the headlines.

Look a little more closely and it becomes clear what is really making them tick — coach Tite has instilled an admirable collective discipline and his team are built on solid foundations.

They have conceded just one goal so far at this World Cup, and Steven Zuber's effort for Switzerland in a 1-1 draw in Rostov-on-Don could have been disallowed for a foul on Joao Miranda.

Since then, goalkeeper Alisson Becker has kept three straight clean sheets, with Brazil winning 2-0 against Costa Rica, Serbia and Mexico.

They have conceded just four shots on target in four matches.

It is the kind of record that the Italians, the old defensive masters who are conspicuous by

their absence in Russia, would have been proud of. Brazil are looking to Italy for inspiration.

“Juventus have been champions for the last seven years, and only once without having the best defence,” said Tite's assistant Sylvinho, the former Arsenal and Barcelona left-back, after the Mexico game.

“In such a short tournament, we want balance to be what characterises us, and that does not make us a defensive team.”

History shows that the team with the best defence tends to win the trophy. And while Brazil have always possessed brilliant individuals, they have also long since been pragmatists above all else.

There will be moments of magic from Neymar, who is gradually coming to the boil following foot surgery in March — as long as they

go with defensive discipline.

On Monday in Samara, Tite switched to a 4-4-2 formation after Mexico caused Brazil early problems, and they had a foundation to go on and win the game in the second half.

Fagner might be a weak link at right-back, but there is strength in depth throughout the squad — Casemiro, Paulinho and Philippe Coutinho provide different qualities in midfield, while Willian came up with his best performance of the tournament against Mexico.

Gabriel Jesus has yet to find the net, but Roberto Firmino came off the bench to score on Monday and is pushing for a start.

Brazil defend from the front, with captain Thiago Silva admitting the aim is to concede no more goals.

“That is our objec-

Neymar

tive,” he said. “But always emphasising that the defensive part begins with the attackers.

When the ball does come into our area, it is much easier to cut it out. Our attackers play a big part in that.”

And so to tomorrow when Brazil, who have the joint-best defence at the tournament along with Uruguay, face a Belgium outfit who have been the most prolific with 12 goals scored.

For now they are living up to their billing, although it remains to

be seen how they will cope in the absence of Casemiro, the Real Madrid powerhouse who screens the defence from deep in midfield.

He is suspended, meaning Fernandinho is likely to come in.

The 33-year-old does not offer the same degree of protection, although his inside knowledge of Manchester City club colleague Kevin De Bruyne could be invaluable as Brazil look to keep their challenge for a sixth title going.

FICA opposes cap on number of leagues per player

A

ny restraint on player movement across lucrative domestic Twenty20 leagues globally will only hamper the growth of the international game, according to Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA). FICA was responding to discussions earlier this week at the ICC annual conference in Dublin, from where it emerged that Full Member boards raised the prospect of capping players to three domestic T20 leagues in a year.

The movement of top players across leagues - especially those run

by Full Members - as well as the burgeoning growth of T20 leagues in Associate Member markets were the two main areas of conversation of a working group at the annual conference.

One of the stated objectives of the working group is that domestic T20 leagues should "complement" and not "compromise" international cricket even as they should continue to be used as vehicles to popularise the game globally.

The primary objective is to preserve "the value of international cricket and its status as the pinnacle of cricket competition ensuring that the best players are available to play international cricket".

FICA said the objectives were "narrow" in scope currently, instead

David Willey saves a boundary (Photo: Getty Images and Cricket Australia)

arguing that a balance between international cricket and domestic T20 leagues was crucial.

"International cricket needs to be strong and attract the best players. Establishing an appropriate balance between the two is critical for the future," FICA said in media release on Wednesday.

The global players' body, which is not recognised in key countries like India and Pakistan, said it was the "fundamental" right of the player to play where he wanted and imposing a cap would amount to a restraint of trade.

"Cricket's focus should be less on restricting players from playing where they are

valued and more on positive measures to ensure an attractive system including in relation to scheduling, economic models and the creation of world-class environments. The movement of players is a fundamental aspect of growing and developing the game globally in both existing and new markets.

"FICA is further concerned at reports following the ICC meetings that blanket regulation is to be introduced to restrict players to playing in three T20 leagues and believes that any arbitrary restriction is likely to constitute a restraint of trade in most countries. Any regulations should be designed

to minimise the likelihood of successful legal challenge."

An official familiar with the working group and the Dublin meeting said restrictions would be a last course of action administrators take, pointing out that a number of other options are also under consideration. Any cap could only be restricted to centrally contracted players in the first place - a board could add a clause in its central contract that the player will only receive a specified number of NOCs (Noobjection certificates) in a year.

Other ideas that cropped up include the Full Member board organising the league

making a payment for employing an international player - not to that player's board necessarily, but to the grassroots club or institution that first identified and developed the player.

A significant portion of the discussions among the group, comprised of Full Member board chief executives as well as FICA representatives, focused on better overseeing the conduct of Twenty20 leagues in Associate Member markets.

"A lot of work is around ensuring that if leagues do keep coming up, they are of a certain quality," the official said. "That due diligence is done on private ownership, that anti-cor-

ruption measures are in place. If a player is getting an NOC to go, then that league must adhere to certain standards.

"There is no doubt that strong, viable T20 leagues in different territories is good for the game. But a lot are of variable quality - that is the concern. If we are going to promote the game, let's do it well and [ensure] that it's done in a way that adds to the game."

One suggestion here was for such leagues to restrict the number of international stars they recruit and prioritise the induction of local players, to show they are serious about the development of the game in their territory.

Earlier this year FICA released findings of its inaugural Employment Report of 300 male cricketers (outside of India and Pakistan where there are no player associations). The damning verdict was young players were more keen to adopt the free-agency route by playing in several domestic T20 leagues, thus bringing the traditional employment model under significant threat.

Any formal decision will be taken by the ICC Board once the working group submits a formal report at the October round of meetings.

(ESPNCricinfo)

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Decision to bring two CPL playoff matches to Guyana was an easy one – Russell

A

fter much deliberation with Minister of State Joe Harmon, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has confirmed that Guyana will

matches to Guyana was a fairly easy one.

“For us, this was really the only place we wanted to bring it because of the fan base and Guyana has been so

“We’re obviously delighted because of the fan base we already have in Guyana. We think its due reward for the support that the fans have shown us over the past

Hero CPL Chief Operating Officer Pete Russell speaking to the media on Wednesday

host two playoff matches in the 2018 edition.

The historic announcement was made on Wednesday by CPL’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Pete Russell.

Disclosing that destinations like Trinidad and Tobago and the USA had expressed interests in hosting the playoffs, Russell noted that the decision to bring the two

successful. Not actually winning the tournament yet but actually getting through to the playoff rounds in the past five years so for us it was a no brainer,” he said.

Russell also emphasised on the massive crowd support as one of the reasons for the playoffs coming to the Providence National Stadium.

five years. So we’re very excited about the games, we obviously think they’re going to be sellout matches.”

The two playoff matches which will be held on September 11 and 12, will see the top two teams and the third and fourth place battling it out at the Providence Stadium. In an effort to maintain the enormous

crowd support, Russell has hinted that ticket prices will remain affordable.

“In terms of ticket prices, we’re going to make it very attractive for fans to turn up. What you’re not going to see is Trinidad prices. Our intention is to peg the prices at the same level of the home games that will be played. “ The addition of the two playoff games means that Guyana will host seven matches in this year’s CPL season, the highest number of matches that has ever been hosted by Guyana since the tournament began in 2013.

Guyana will kick off their CPL 2018 campaign against the

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on August 9 at

the National Stadium, Providence.

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