Guyana Times International

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 371

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017

GECOM Chair’s role in ‘Grenada 17’ trial condemned

by Human Rights Authority See stories on pages 3&9

As High Court challenge now set for January

Former President of Guyana Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, Head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, PM of Jamaica Andrew Holness, PM of Grenada Keith Mitchell, Premier of Nevis Vance Amory, among others are currently attending the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) high-level Caribbean Forum which is being held in Jamaica.

The forum is expected to focus on unique issues that the Caribbean region is facing and the opportunities that can be found to cope with the changing global landscape.

New York State employees to benefit from Public Service Award says Governor … Honorees will receive a $5,000 professional development scholarship Page 5

Sexual Offences Court launched to deal with increasing cases Page 18

- court will be equipped with trained personnel

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NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

High Court challenge to GECOM Chair’s appointment now set for January

- as Acting Chief Justice reprimands airing of case in public domain

W

eeks after parliamentary opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) filed an injunction in the High Court to rescind the unilateral appointment of GECOM Chairman retired Justice James Patterson, acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire on Thursday urged lawyers for both sides to cease “trying the case in the court of public opinion”.

Her call was issued before she set a timetable for Attorney General, Basil Williams and Attorney-at-Law for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Anil Nandlall and their respective legal teams to file court papers for clarification and oral arguments before January 5, 2018.

Justice George-Wiltshire said “Persons are free to comment but they must not be contemptuous,” as supporters of both the governing A Partnership for National

Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition and Opposition who were present listened keenly. She also asked the legal representatives “not to engage the public gathering in this case”.

The acting Chief Justice said she was disturbed by some of the headlines in many of news reports, some of which carried opinions on the case that is now before the Constitutional Court of the

High Court, inserting “I don’t want to put a gag order”.

She asked the lawyers from both sides to respect her comments and added that she has no issue with comments made on decisions.

When the legal teams reappear before the Chief Justice early next year, it would be for clarifications and elaboration of any points.

The PPP, through its Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha, wants the High Court to quash the President’s unilateral appointment of Retired Justice James Patterson as GECOM Chairman on several grounds.

According to the party, their main reason for filing the injunction is because the President did not select any of the 18 names that had been submitted by Opposition Leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo throughout almost one year before.

The PPP also contends that Patterson is biased because he is a member of a pro-People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Facebook Page and he was part of an inner circle of top PNCR executives as pallbearers of the body of late party leader, Desmond Hoyte.

Solicitor General, Kim Kyte has since, on behalf of the Attorney General, filed court papers rejecting all of the PPP’s grounds.

On Thursday during the proceedings, a small group of pro-government supporters gathered outside the court building on Charlotte Street making their views known quite loudly.

After the case was adjourned, Attorney General Williams, who is the Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) went downstairs and told the gathering to leave.

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

New York Office 106-15 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica NY 11435 Email: guyanatimesnyint@gmail.com Tel no: 718-658-6804 Fax no: 718-849-2286 Preferred method of contact via EMAIL Guyana Office Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana.

Tel no: (592) 223-7230/1, 225-7761.

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EDITORIAL

Challenges of Budget 2018

B

udget time has come again and the honourable Finance Minister will soon present his budget to Parliament. The Minister has declared there would be no new taxes and this is of course a welcomed statement, since the population is already overtaxed and further taxes would have helped to destroy the country’s economy with even greater speed and cause great sufferings to the poorer sections of the population.

If the main point of the budget is to impose no new taxes for 2018, it would be sterile as the omissions and commissions of the last budget would still remain.

To be constructive, the budget must restore at least some of the social benefits which had been removed. These benefits must include the subsidy of Gy$30,000 per year to old age pensioners to help pay their electricity bills and the subsidy of Gy$11,000 to help them pay their Guyana Water Inc bills. When these two subsidies were removed, it caused great resentment against the Government. To restore these subsidies would therefore be a very popular measure. There are other areas of social assistance the budget could present. Such would include assistance in telephone bills and even food subsidy to those who are differently abled.

Equally popular would be the restoration of full allowance to children and also the Gy$10,000 per annum subvention per school child. The Education Tax which led to universal denunciation when it was imposed should also be removed.

The Value Added Taxes (VAT) should also be reduced across the board. To do a piecemeal reduction would cause more confusion and resentment.

Most importantly, the Ministry, even at this late hour, should seriously consider how the budget could be an instrument of generating wealth. The easiest way for the budget to be such an instrument is for the Ministry to immediately meet the Private Sector in good faith and listen to their requirements and advice.

At other times in the past, governments have spoken with Private Sector representatives but had given very little heed to either their requirement or advice. The Private Sector is the engine of growth and the generator of real wealth. There are certain taxes the sector has been calling upon Government to reduce or abolish, such as the Corporation Tax and it will be well for the budget to address these concerns.

The Private Sector could help Government by pointing out how to make more efficient and effective Government departments responsible for financing businesses, such as the Customs and Excise Department and Go-Invest.

The entire financial structure needs to be quickly reviewed and the Ministry – and by extension the Government – must address certain questions like the balance of payments and value of the Guyana currency.

The Government may feel if it reduces taxes, then the Treasury will not have funds. We are of the opinion that if the financial tax reforms adumbrated by the Private Sector were carried out, the improvement and growth of the economy would result in Government having enough funds to cover any shortfall the Finance Ministry may suffer in the short-term.

One of the major concerns of Guyanese society is the unemployment of young people. Many graduates from the University of Guyana are bright and able but cannot find employment, even jobs below their capabilities and training.

Those who are able to try to immigrate add a great damage to society. Other young people with primary and secondary school qualifications and even some technical skills cannot find work though they try to day to day. If the budget could make an attempt to successfully remedy this issue, it would be one of the greatest budgets ever presented in Parliament.

If the Ministry had the perspicacity and courage to realise that if it restored the social services grants and took the advice of the Private Sector, the 2018 Budget would be the best so far put forward by this Government.

Afternoons on the Georgetown seawall can be quite relaxing for all members of the family, especially on weekends. Pictured here is a section of the seawall at Kingston, Georgetown. In the background are Guyana’s most popular international hotels: The Guyana Pegasus and the Georgetown Marriott. (Photo credit: Girendra Persaud)

UN report flags Guyana for child marriages, low life expectancy

By Jarryl Bryan

A

recent report from the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) has stressed the need for more attention to be placed on social welfare and protection for the average citizen in middle-income countries – among which Guyana numbers. The report places a focus on social protection services being offered

by Governments throughout the world. It details that there is more work to be done when it comes to eradicating child marriage. According to the report, up to last year, 30 per cent of children in Guyana got married by the age of 18.

Haiti’s rate was listed as 18 per cent, while in St Lucia the prevalence of child marriage was recorded at 24 per cent.

Data on this subject was missing from several other regional countries.

As of 2017, the report also pegged Guyana as having a life expectancy rate of 69 years for females and 65 for males. It is a rate which does not compare well with the regional average. Trinidad and Tobago has a life expectancy of 74 for females and 67 for males, while Barbados’ rate stands at 78 years for females and 74 for males.

According to the report, French Guiana’s life expectancy rate stands at 83 for females and 77 for males. Suriname’s rate is 75 years for females and 68 years for males. Even Venezuela’s rate of 79 years for females and 71 years for males exceeds Guyana’s, despite the economic challenges the Spanish-speaking country is beset with.

One section of the report also ranks countries based on the rate of maternal deaths.

It uses a Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of deaths per 100,000 live births. According to the report, Guyana had an MMR of 229 deaths as of 2015.

This is a regional high, when compared to the rates in other countries. According to the report, Jamaica had 89 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines

clocked in at 48 and 45 respectively. Trinidad has an MMR of 63, while Barbados stood at 27.

When it comes to women having access to antenatal care, the report paints a more favourable picture of Guyana. It notes that women in Guyana are afforded the same level of access to antenatal care irrespective of rural or urban residency.

In terms of the prevalence of contraceptive use in females aged 15 to 49, 41 per cent of Guyanese women were found to use modern methods while 42 per cent didn’t use any method at all. The report also noted that 86 per cent of all births in Guyana had been attended by skilled medical personnel.

Recommendations

The report advises that bold initiatives be undertaken in order to increase access to health care, and contraceptives, and as many households as possible be included in the social protection net. While it noted that central governments must lead the way, it also pointed out that there was scope for civil society to get involved.

“Beyond actions aimed specifically at reaching and empowering poorer people – the poorest 40 per cent – specific measures driven by central governments may be needed to shift highly unequal patterns in the distribution of wealth and other resources, and to counteract systemic barriers and risks that trap individuals in inequalities.”

According to the report,

“a national inequalities commission could bring together people from different parts of the government, civil society and business to consider options and assess whether policy choices are minimising or exacerbating inequalities”.

The report states that poor access to contraceptives, lack of health care and high mortality rates are exacerbated in countries where little emphasis is placed on social protection.

The report also notes that given the amount of evidence on how inequalities can worsen if deliberate attention is not given by the State towards closing the gaps, the report advises that extending modern contraceptive methods to poor households should be a priority.

“Universal social protection may be one way to control inequalities. It requires everyone, whether they are working in informal jobs, retired or providing unpaid care work, to have access to basic income security, such as through pensions or income support for the working poor.”

“It should also cover maternity, disability, child and similar benefits that are essential to well-being. A study of several poor and middle-income countries found that universal social protection would cost only one to two per cent of GDP [Gross Domestic Product]. This is much less than tax revenues that are lost by not taxing the wealthy effectively or tackling inefficiencies in existing public programmes,” the report states.

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

New York State employees to benefit from Public Service Award says Governor

‌ Honorees will receive a $5,000 professional development scholarship

G

overnor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Wednesday that nominations are now being accepted for the Empire Star Public Service Award, a $5,000 professional development scholarship program for New York State employees. Nominations are being accepted for those who have distinguished themselves through their dedication to serve the public with a high level of performance, integrity, and pride.

"Every day, hardworking men and women who make up the state's public workforce strive to help improve the lives of their fellow New Yorkers," Governor Cuomo said. "With the launch of the Empire Star Public Service Award, employees who demonstrate an extraordinary level of dedication to their work will be honored, and we will acknowledge their contributions to the Empire State as we continue to support a stronger, better New York for all."

According to a statement from the Governor’s office, the Empire Star Public Service Award will recognize exemplary state government employees from all ten regions of New York, based upon their principle office location. To be eligible for consideration,

nominees must be a New York State employee serving in the Executive Branch.

Nominations must be submitted no later than December 15, 2017 and can be completed online at: www.ny.gov/ EmpireStarPublicService.

Individuals who are nominated will be notified via email and asked to submit an application for final consideration that will be reviewed by a panel of state government leaders.

Final applications are due by January 15, 2018.

All applications will be reviewed for program eligibility and evaluated for performance and excellence. The review process may also include interviews with agency personnel to obtain additional information in support of the nomination.

Cuomo said that final selection will be made collectively by the Awards Selection Committee, which includes: Rossana Rosado, Secretary of State Lola W. Brabham, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Civil Service Michael N. Volforte, Director of the Governor's Office of Employee Relations Robert H. Samson, Chief Information Officer of the Office of Information

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, seen here on Nov. 1, 2017 Photo Credit: Yeong-Ung Yang

Technology Services Eric J. Hesse, Director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs Kerry Delaney, Acting Commissioner of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities Rose Harvey, Commissioner of the Office for Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation The Governor posited that the $5,000 professional development scholarship will go towards supporting participation in advanced training via classroom or online courses, admission in college or com-

munity college classes that will benefit them in their current public employment, as well as for materials and equipment to support additional training.

Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, "New York State has thousands of employees who work tirelessly to improve the lives of every New Yorker.

With the launch of the Empire Star Public Service Award we commend our workforce for their high standards in public service, including dedication, and commitment to excellence to make this state a better place to live, work and raise a family."

"From our first responders to our engineers, nurses, research scientists, plow drivers, and more, New York State government is privileged to be composed of a diverse and dedicated workforce that is committed to serving the people of the great Empire State," said Acting Civil Service Commissioner Lola W. Brabham. "This new program will publicly recognize the accomplishments of our most outstanding public servants, while supporting their professional growth, so that we can continue to draw upon their full talent and potential and provide the public with the best possible services."

"While every employee's contribution is important and appreciated, many individual contributors often stand out by exemplifying the highest standards of public service and exceeding what is simply expected of them in their day-to-day role, as well as in unforeseen circumstances and emergencies," said Director of the Governor's Office of Employee Relations Michael N. Volforte said. "I commend all of our employees for their dedication to making New York State a great place to live, work, and play."

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Guyana plagued by GAWU will not shirk from responsibility external interference, of protecting sugar workers quite to its detriment Dear Editor, Guyana has always been a stomping ground for the big and powerful colonial and neo-colonial superpowers: Plagued by international interference for decades, with most of it to the detriment of this country. As far back as our entrance into adult suffrage and self-rule, the superpowers dogged our path.

Our history lessons are inundated with these facts. At one time in history, our fledgling democracy was cut short by the physical removal of the elected head of government. The situation got so bad that the premier and his wife were imprisoned so as to get them out of the way, and there was established a puppet regime that would carry out commands.

Theirs is the backward view that Guyana cannot effectively govern itself, except by their dictates, their tutelage. In fact, when you trace their actions under the microscope, their real objective is that a certain race and/or party should not — I repeat: should not — govern Guyana. It is as crystal clear as that! No matter how successful that party is in government, it is not good enough for those superpowers.

Their preference lies in the field of puppets and people with no brains or intelligence.

Pathetic! Therefore there is this constant meddling in our domestic affairs ad infinitum.

It is a sick and sad story, but it is all happening right here in Guyana. Our country never really got a head start at good and lasting governance on its own.

For the above reasons, this has been our problem for a long while now: foreign interference coupled with a total breakdown of law and order.

Good governance is something Guyana has been yearning for; got it for a brief period in the 1960s, then lost it to the corrupt PNC. That respite was regained in 1992, wherein we enjoyed 23 years of peace, progress and economic bliss. Then the ‘external powers’ thought it best that a change should be effected in this country. They were of the erroneous view that the PPP/C was too powerful and corrupt — no real evidence to prove their case – but, based on the most spurious of claims, the PPP/C became a corrupt party.

So the next logical thing to do was to get them out of power.

Change did come with the set-up of a new regime, the Coalition. Well, it was not totally new, but new in terms of a few new faces who crossed the floor. Nevertheless, we are snugly back into the arms of the PNC. This is our story.

It was a long drawn-out process, starting with The Opposition’s rumblings, then on to the poison-laced propaganda by most of the local media. They fed the nation daily doses of propaganda that the sensibilities of the people became benumbed. Every day you could hear in — print and electronic media — how corrupt the PPP/C Government

had become. In the meantime, their ‘big wig overseas friends’ stepped up a campaign of their own with programmings, schemes, intrigues and downright lies which rendered the PPP/C helpless to govern this country. Ultimately, they were at the mercy of the local and foreign hounds.

Well, as sure as night follows day, the PPP/C did lose the fight to the foreign forces, and in came the PNC. We are cognisant of that superpower’s position; they are caught in a serious bind, where their “most preferred party in government” is a colossal failure, and as such they are totally embarrassed and fed up with the Granger cabal.

Economically, we are at our worst, a stagnant economy with no new investment. The poverty index is rising exponentially with its consequent ills. We are doomed!

Where do we go from here is a foregone dubious conclusion.

We are destined for serious economic and social disaster of epidemic proportions more fearsome than the Burnham years.

So they have a mega-problem on their hands, and that is: what can those superpowers do to stem the tide of destruction in this country? What can they do for damage control? What I see happening is a subtle way to embarrass the regime, and it has come by way of exposing a few drugs persons at their ports of entry. They are holding up a few “mini drug barons” here and there in order to put them down. This may look good in the short term, but the people of this country want long-term solutions.

We are looking at the bigger picture of returning to free and fair elections, so that we can breathe again. Holding a few drug mules here and there will not change anything. This PNC-led coalition would only be jolted to reality in a system that is free and fair, and I am talking about plans, policies and a system for a proper election.

We are also well aware that the stage is set for rigging. There is no question in our minds about that. So let us begin at the heart of the problem; let us get right back there.

Elections! O yes, elections free and fair and free from fear — the reintroduction of it. That begins with the rescinding of the appointment of James Patterson from the post of GECOM Chairman. Not a hard task, but let us get back on to the beaten path of the Carter Formula.

Mr Granger has eighteen (18) names from which to choose, and we encourage him to hurriedly get on with the nation’s business and do so.

In my next discussion, I shall, in a detailed way, speak about the contentious Leadership and Development (LEAD) programme.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Dear Editor, The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) was not surprised to read the comments of Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) Senior Communications Officer, Audreyanna Thomas, which were contained in an article titled “Despite low attendance, GuySuCo says on target for second crop” that appeared in the November 13, 2017 edition of one of the newspapers. The GuySuCo officer is quoted to have said that our Union is seeking to “frustrate the company”.

For some weeks now, our Union has been pointing out that the Corporation had begun to set the stage to lay blame at the workers and the GAWU for their inability to achieve their target. This strategy we opined was a sordid attempt to give the Corporation’s hierarchy cover for what will be the poorest production since 1990.

On this matter of workers protest, Thomas should edify us how many of the workers actions were as a result of price disputes or resulted from unilateral changes to long-standing work practices.

Most, if not all, of the work stoppages, could be grouped into the two aforementioned cate-

gories. The fact remains, as clearly evidenced

by Thomas’ comments, that the Corporation is seeking to ride roughshod over the workers disregarding their interests, concerns and apprehensions.

From GuySuCo’s recently admitted perspective, it seems, the workers must meekly stand in silence as their rights, benefits and conditions are unconscionably taken away.

We wish to advise Thomas, once again, and the GuySuCo top brass, that our Union has no intention of frustrating the Corporation’s objectives but, at the same time, we have a responsibility to protect and advance the cause of the workers. We wish to advise that we will not shirk from that responsibility and no amount of ‘propaganda’ concoctions will force or cause us to change our position.

In closing, we were indeed heartened to learn from Thomas that the company would achieve its set target. Is it the 198,000 tonne target or the 174,000 tonne target or the more recent 162,000 tonne target?

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

What gains come from M&CC’s overseas trips?

Dear Editor, It seems as though the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown have decided to discontinue a rather insipid weekly television programme that was titled ‘Georgetown on the move.’

Such a decision would make a lot of sense, as not only was the programme dull and senseless, but it was a waste of money and time. It was clearly a feeble attempt at political propaganda, and an attempt to divert attention from the mismanagement, corruption and unlawful activities ongoing at the Council.

However, one would have hoped that the programme would have morphed from ‘Georgetown on the move’ to ‘Georgetown City Councillors on the move overseas’.

Surely, the municipal employees who have to wait for weeks after the official pay date to receive their salaries, and the citizens whose garbage is overflowing without being picked up; those who have to pay increased property rates, and those without proper roads, street lights and good drainage, would be thrilled to

be updated weekly about the travels of the senior officials of the city and their large entourages.

Citizens would like to know if the Mayor, Councillors and Town Clerk are negotiating international security deals to make Georgetown a safer city, trade partnerships to improve opportunities for the business sector of our capital, and climate agreements. Does Georgetown have its own foreign policy separate and apart from the national one?

Cities worldwide have been forming their own associations and networks to enable collaboration on issues such as the environment, transport, energy efficiency, and economic development; but for all the travel being undertaken by the M&CC officials here and others, we do not see Georgetown being a part of those, or anything for that matter; or are they just joyriding around the world on the backs of the poor citizens?

Sincerely, Magagula Jackson

PNC faction in the AFC

Dear Editor, I have read with interest the comments made by President David Granger’s son-inlaw, Minister Dominic Gaskin, in attempting to justify, and poorly so, the Alliance For Change’s (AFC) denial of being consulted on President Granger’s unilateral appointment of Reverend James Patterson as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman.

And also the denial of playing any part in the selection process, in face of the present AFC leader, Raphael Trotman, at the October 19, 2017 meeting between the President and the Opposition Leader.

The report in sections of the media on November 13, 2017 states, and rightly so, that as Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman would have had no reason to be present at the meeting, in any capacity, other than that of AFC leader.

Gaskin confirms that Trotman was present at the meeting between the President and the Opposition Leader because he is “the leader of the AFC” and “it is a recognition that we are a coalition Government.”

However, he then contradicts himself in defending the unilateral appointment of a GECOM Chairman by his father-in-law, by

saying that the Constitution does not provide for consultations with any party, as the decision to choose a Chairman is placed on the President.

Gaskin cannot defend the AFC when it says it was not consulted and not part of the selection process used to arrive at a GECOM Chairman and at the same time defend his father-in-law as President. He cannot, using the proverbial term, “chew cane and blow whistle at the same time”. The AFC cannot be physically present when this egregious breach of the Constitution takes place and then pretend like “Pontius Pilate” that it washes its hands of its sin.

This latest pronouncement by yet another AFC leader points clearly to another manifestation of the ‘PNC faction’ in the AFC. Dr Henry Jeffrey and members of the AFC Canada Chapter recently publicly warned about this PNC faction.

Gaskin has exposed himself as an apologist for his father-in-law, President Granger, and the PNC, and, has gone so far as to hang his own party, the AFC, out on a limb.

Regards, Gail Teixeira, MP

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

City Hall sexual assault claims: Constabulary officers reinstated

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

he two Constabulary officers dismissed by City Hall, are expected to be reinstated and then sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation of the alleged sexual assault on a minor and dereliction of duty, by the Legal Affairs and Security Committee of the municipality. This action comes following a letter to the Town Clerk by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan last week.

Corporal Quacy Baveghems claimed that he witnessed a Lance Corporal of the City Constabulary engaged in a sexual act with a minor in August.

The incident allegedly occurred when a 15-year-old boy was taken into custody on August 17, 2017, and placed before the court on a charge of wandering.

At some point during his detention, for reasons unknown, the minor was transferred to the Regent Street Outpost where the alleged incident occurred between August 22 and 23.

The alleged perpetrator was dismissed for gross misconduct while Baveghems, who claims that he witnessed the assault, was also given the boot after he failed to report the matter to the relevant authorities.

Although the incident occurred in August, it was never reported to the Police until October 17. The matter was

Mayor Patricia Chase Green addressing the Council

also brought to the attention of the M&CC’s Legal Affairs and Security Committee after one month and City Hall has been since accused of covering up the incident. There have also been calls for Town Clerk Royston King to be disciplined as well, since he knew of the incident and ‘interviewed’ the victim but failed to report it.

However, there have been protests by civil society and some Councillors who claimed that Baveghems was wrongfully terminated, and as such, called for his reinstatement.

The disgruntled Corporal wrote to President David Granger and Minister Bulkan voicing his dissatisfaction with the treatment meted out to him.

Bulkan has since written to Town Clerk, Royston King, indicating that due process was not taken and that Baveghems should be allowed a fair hearing to answer to the allega-

tions.

“It is important that you note that the Ministry of Communities will not condone unfair and/or wrongful treatment meted out to employees of any Local Democratic Organ, and will endeavor to safeguard their employment and natural justices,” Bulkan wrote.

The Mayor’s response

In response to the letter, Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green called an Extraordinary Statutory Meeting on Tuesday to discuss the way forward. During the meeting, she related that her office got wind of the matter on the morning of August 23 when Chief Constable Andrew Foo related the incident. Foo informed that he received a report that Lance Corporal (name given) was involved in a matter in the Inquiries Office of the City Constabulary.

“The Inquiries Office is a big open space, I said what did

you (Foo) do, he said nothing. I put down the phone and then I called him back and asked him to repeat what he said and he said Madam Mayor, Corporal Baveghems reported to me that he saw Corporal (name given) having sex with this boy…I said that he was supposed to be locked up because if someone is having sex in the open then they should be locked up. I said to investigate the matter and to send a report to me,” Chase Green said.

She noted that the report was never presented to her until after the matter appeared in the press. The Mayor said that when she got the report it was in parts with several key links missing. The report stated that the accusations, levelled against the Lance Corporal, should be accepted since he was involved in a matter of similar nature. It also recommended that the Corporal be charged with neglect of duty and that the incident be referred to the Legal Affairs Committee.

She stated that she was informed that it was Baveghems who arrested the minor and was never taken to court until August 22, where he was charged for loitering. However, the Magistrate indicated that the minor was supposed to be charged with wandering and the case was dismissed.

The Mayor indicated that the report clearly stated that the Corporal was the one on

the receiving end of the alleged sexual act.

“I was told…this is not the Corporal having sex with the juvenile, it is the juvenile having sex with the Corporal. A boy of 15, and you (Baveghems) did nothing. My concern is why did the Chief Constable release the boy because in the boy’s statement he said that ‘if I see the man I could identify he’; you got a right as Chief Constable to call that man and arrest him,” she said.

She added that justice was not done to the minor who is yet to be examined and determine whether he is suffering from any trauma.

After the Mayor finished making her statement, Legal Affairs and Securities Committee member, Councillor Akeem Peter told the meeting that judging from the evidence, the Committee says the story does not add up, as they are yet to determine who is really the victim. He then made the suggestion that the officers be sent on administrative leave just to appease the Minister.

At this point, Councillor Oscar Clarke stated that the incident was handled badly from the start and supported Peter’s suggestion and in the end, Town Clerk Royston King, who indicated he would act accordingly, agreed to it.

The Police investigation is still ongoing and the accused has been released on bail.

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Chairman of Local Govt Commission says the body is ready to receive complaints

E

ven as it tries to secure headquarters from where it can function properly, the newly-constituted Local Government Commission (LGC) is leaving the proverbial door open for those with complaints to bring their issue to the body’s attention.

This is according to the Commission’s Chairman, Mortimer Mingo. In an interview with this publication, Mingo bluntly stated that the entity was not required by law to seek out problems affecting Local Authority Areas, but to act on complaints received.

“The Local Government Commission Act spells out the functions and responsibilities of the Commission.

We’re not going out there and look for anything.

In the various municipalities, [Neighbourhood Development Councils] NDCs and the [Regional Development Councils] RDCs. Whatever issues are brought to us, the Commission meets as a collective, looks at those issues, and investigates where an investigation is needed.”

“As you know it is a newly-appointed commission. We have only had one meeting in which we elected the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman. Our first order of business will be to look at a budget. The next thing we have to look at is suitable accommodation. So, basically, those are the things that will be preoccupying (the) time, if you will, of the Commission.”

According to Mingo, they are still looking to secure an office in which to house the Commission. He noted that as a constitutional body, they had prepared a budget which they had

LGC Chairman Mortimer Mingo

submitted to Parliament for consideration. But Mingo also explained that while they did not have an office, persons at the municipalities would still have information on where they could be contacted.

“Once those issues come to us, we will determine how we will handle it. We have to give the staff it. We are now working out the organisation chart. Based on the organisation chart and the activities of the Commission, we will make a determination of the staffing.”

Speaking on his experience in local government and what he would bring to the position of Chairman, Mingo pointed to the years he spent in the system.

“In terms of my experience that I am able to bring to bear, I was Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council of Region 10 for 10 years. In addition to that, I had experience in Local Government at the level of the municipality of Linden.

And so, I think, basically, my knowledge working in that arena would have put me in good stead to make a meaningful contribution towards the Commission,” he related.

Problems

Mingo sought to stress that all issues in the different areas would have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The Chairman said

that this was because each NDC or RDC had its own peculiarities.

“In local government, each NDC (or RDA) has its own peculiarity. In terms of the operation of the NDC, there’s no one size fixes all.

So, you have to look at individual NDCs, what are the issues affecting the functioning of those NDCs, and if there is a need for intervention coming out of a process – bring it to our attention, then certainly we will look at that particular NDC.” There are a number of controversies in the local government system which have been in the public domain for some time. One such issue is reports that in some local authority areas, officials are being appointed without any vacancy being advertised. In addition, there have been reports that young, qualified applicants are being overlooked in favour of others.

The Commission is charged with, among other things, control over whom gets appointed as officials in the NDCs and other local authorities. In addition, it would have to approve budgets for the NDCs. By law, the Commission is to be made up of eight members. The members of the Commission include four nominated by the Government, one by the unions and three nominees by the Leader of the Opposition.

The Commission’s members are Mingo, Clement Corlette, Marlon Williams, Jo Ann Romascindo, Andrew Garnett, former Local Government Ministers Norman Whittaker and Clinton Collymore, and former Georgetown Town Clerk Carol Sooba.

Mahdia’s men and teenagers to benefit from new health programmes

From left: Medical Officer of the Mahdia District Hospital, Dr Badel Baksh; Mahdia District Hospital’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr Karen Boyle; UNICEF Representative Sylvie Fouet and Regional Executive Officer, Region Eight, Gavin Gunga

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here is no doubt that teenage pregnancy in Guyana, which ranks second highest in Latin America and the Caribbean, is at its highest in remote hinterland communities.

Acknowledgments are due to the Ministry of Public Health (MPH) as the community of Mahdia, the administrative centre of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), will now have access to Community Parenting Support Groups, Adolescent Antenatal Clinic Days, Adolescent Health and Wellness Days, and a Men’s Health Clinic.

Last week, at the launch of ‘Adolescent and Men-Friendly Health Programme’ at the Mahdia Health Centre, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle reported during her presentation that the probability of teenage pregnancy in Guyana is 97 per every 1000 teenage female — the second highest in Latin America and the Caribbean.

According to Dr. Boyle, statistics have shown that poverty and other pressing issues in education and health which plague hinterland regions — compounded by the very remote geographical locations of some hinterland communities — are the principal factors which propel the cycle of this phenomenon.

If one is to get into detail, local studies have revealed that one in every five Amerindian teen falls victim to teenage pregnancy, as does one in every four poor teen compared to one in every ten born to middle class households. Taking these findings into consideration, Boyle said it is now to decide how the health of teenagers born to contrasting conditions can be balanced.

Logically, this issue can be targeted at the root by improving the quality and availability of health services in the hinterland communities with the implementation of targeted training that has an accent on adolescence.

Having a readily available and accessible health care programme at the Mahdia Hospital, the Ministry hopes that teenagers would utilise the services of same through education and the proper use of resources made available to protect themselves.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Representative Sylvie Fouet explained that adolescence can be a period of challenges and vulnerability, therefore access to youth-friendly services are critical in this regard. In partnering with the Ministry of Public Health, the main aim is to give young mothers and fathers the access to knowledge and information skills.

Men’s Health Coordinator Dr. Dennis Bassier explained that menfolk will benefit from counselling and thera-

py sessions. He highlighted that there are cases of men not fully comprehending the dangers of teenage pregnancy, and how to care for their newborn babies.

“We will provide counselling with them along with their partners, to let them understand what happens,” Dr. Bassier said.

Further, Medical Officer of the Mahdia District Hospital, Dr. Badel Baksh, highlighted that the area faces challenges as it relates to teenage pregnancy, since many teenagers practise experimentation, whether it be with drugs or sex.

“There is the need for much sensitisation. Hopefully, at this forum we will be able to break the cultural barrier with this population, and they can know that this is the place to come for all their problems. Health is everybody’s business, and we must look out for each other,” Dr. Baksh said.

Other issues which arose at the launch were concerns of incest and inter-generational sex, which are prevalent in these regions. Dr. Boyle believes that while men have a crucial role to play in disapproving inappropriate relationship practices, they are often the offenders.

Such behaviour exposes both parties to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS, the levels of which are quite high in hinterland regions.

Dr. Boyle proposed that men must start to value their health, so they can be advocates in the fight against these dangerous occurrences.

Touching on the role of parents, Dr. Boyle said that parents should become comfortable addressing the topic of sex themselves, therefore making it easier to talk about same with their children; who, often in absence of such, resort to experimenting on their own upon the ill-advice of peers.

Mahdia Health Centre is now male friendly with a staff of 12 nurses, doctors and community members who have undergone training under the Ministry of Public Health. This programme was made possible by collaborations between the Ministry of Public Health and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which assisted in the area of capacity building of the community through education and donations.

The Ministry of Public Health is seeking the support of the Ministry of Social Protection and other stakeholders to ensure that Guyana’s hinterland teenagers can be protected through education, and be able to access protection materials while having the opportunity to be reintegrated into society.

The media is also being relied upon to deliver the critical message.

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

City Hall grants one- GECOM Chair’s role in ‘Grenada 17’ trial month amnesty period condemned by Human Rights Authority for tax defaulters …as pressure continues to bear down …Finances Committee proposes on Patterson to resign cutting staff to save money

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By Lakhram Bhagirat

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decision has been taken by the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC) to offer a onemonth amnesty period to defaulting ratepayers on the accumulated interest on unpaid property rates. In addition, Chairman of the Finance Committee Oscar Clarke suggested that the municipality consider downsizing its number of staff since salaries account for 68 per cent of the Council’s revenue.

The option of amnesty was flouted so that the Council could accumulate monies to pay staff members for the months of October, November and December. The amnesty period runs from November 15 until December 15.

Clarke disclosed that at the start of 2017, it was agreed that workers will be paid between the 25th and 27th of every month and that workers will be given a multiyear salary increase from 2016-2018.

However, the Council was unable to meet its obligation last month due to lack of funds.

The Chairman suggested that as it moves into the New Year, the Council should begin looking to reduce its 800 staff. He noted that the current financial state will remain if the Council continues to pay 68 per cent of its revenue for staffing. He noted that the Mayor and City Council will have to undertake a review of the entire staff structure in 2018 and this was communicated to the union, adding that the workers of the Council are paid higher than those in the public service.

“We will have to discuss with them (union) the way forward in terms of reducing the number of people we have on staff…it’s not that we don’t think the Council needs the workers, the Council need the workers but the Council got to get money to pay the workers…

I can make reference to a couple of positions, for example an Office Assistant here gets Gy$74,000 per month, the Government pays about Gy$60,000 now…

Clerk 2 General is Gy$90,266 per month, the accountant gets Gy$184,966 as opposed what the Accountant

Councillor Oscar Clarke making his presentation

in the public service gets, maybe Gy$109$110,000,” he informed.

In addition to high salaries, Clarke told the Councillors that City Hall has about 260 pensioners and that number is rapidly increasing since every year workers are going into retirement. However, Mayor Patricia Chase Green said that the City is not in the habit of putting families on the breadline and a number of Councillors agreed to it.

“If you cut staff then a number of families are going to be put on the breadline… we are in a crisis and we have to deal with it,” she said.

‘Think-tank Committee’

In order to look at ways to broaden and increase the Council’s revenue base, the M&CC decided to formulate a new committee to brainstorm ways of increasing revenue stream. After some debate, the majority of the Councillors agreed to the proposals.

Meanwhile, the ‘Think-Tank Committee’ will consist of members of the Finance Committee and other Councillors who volunteer to deliberate on various ways in which the Council can either collect monies owed or embark on new revenue earning initiatives.

Sitting on the committee are Councillors Monica Thomas, Akeem Peter, Jameel Rasul, Phillip Smith and James Samuels.

Councillor Clarke revealed that the Council’s income was Gy$395,720,364 in January of which Gy$157,728,245 came from taxes. In February, the Council’s revenue was Gy$222,066,000 of which over Gy$168 million was from taxes.

In March, the Council raked Gy$239 million of which Gy$186 million was from taxes.

mid heavy criticisms over the unilateral appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the Guyana Human Rights Authority (GHRA) has now brought new information to the public’s attention about the alleged involvement of retired Justice James Patterson with the infamous “Grenada 17” trial of which he had a heavy hand in, while serving in the judicial system on that island.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the GHRA made reference to the United States’ (US) invasion of Grenada in 1983, which led to a trial of the surviving 17 alleged ringleaders – known as the “Grenada 17”. The trial was held by a group of Attorneys and Judges appointed and paid for by the US, according to a sworn affidavit of Ramsey Clark, the former US Attorney General.

The GHRA reminded that aspects of the trials were dominated by the US Administration which generated widespread international condemnation.

It was noted by Clark that the trial was not presided over by any constitutional court or other tribunal of the island of Grenada.

Following the trials, all records were removed to the US and access to them has been extremely difficult ever since.

The human rights watchdog recalled that there were many disturbing facts about the prosecution, conviction and sentencing of the defendants in this matter. A number of witnesses were inter-

rogated and documents seized. Most of this material was never made available to counsel for the defence. And the selection of Judges was a very serious violation of commonly accepted notions of due process of law.

During that period, there were also reports that the jury was picked with no effort to probe for prejudice and no defendant or defence counsel present and without cross-examination. Further, the GHRA noted that motions to ensure a proper and fair jury were not heard until the trial court was ordered to do so for the third time nearly three years after the convictions, among a long list of other human rights violations.

But significantly also, the GHRA claimed that among the Judges associated with this infamous period of Caribbean history was Justice Patterson. He along with other Judges who participated in this matter at that time, found no fault with the serious violation of accepted notions of due process of law.

But the GHRA did not stop there, the organisation pointed to the request for access to a wide range of documents related to the trials by US-based academic, Dr Richard Gibson, who filed a Freedom of Information (FoI) request following a visit to Grenada in 1996. He managed to gain access to some of the documents and later released some information on the case trial.

In Dr Gibson’s writings as stated by the GHRA press statement, it revealed that a US political officer reported meet-

ing with the Chief Justice of Grenada and that individual had related that the hangings of the ‘Grenada 17’ defendants was expected to take place in 1988.

Importantly, this discussion took place when the Chief Justice had a motion pending before him that was capable of nullifying all of the convictions.

The GHRA also noted that the report revealed the extent to which the US Government was supervising the legal process, down to supervising and exerting clear influence to have the trial record produced.

Meetings were held with the Chief Justice and there was regular contact with the secretary of the Chief Justice to get the matter moving. This level of interest is truly amazing, according to the local body.

The GHRA highlighted in its press statement that the human rights dimension of this case was not only disgraceful on the part of the ‘judicial actors’, but it also allegedly involved Patterson who has now been elevated to one of the most sensitive posts and constitutional offices in Guyana.

“Moreover, national elections in Guyana are the subject of intense interest and require frequent inter-action between the Commissioner, contending parties and the diplomatic community. The extracts from the official documents quoted above encourage the conclusion that when confronted with the interests of a foreign power Justice Patterson could not be relied on to keep his own counsel or maintain the impartiality or discretion required in

GECOM Chairman, Justice (retired) James Patterson

a Chairman of GECOM,” the body opined.

GHRA said within the general context of Justice Patterson’s suitability for the GECOM post and in light of the foregoing an additional question must inevitably arise. “Is a person who has never disassociated himself from being at the centre of an episode which tarnished the reputation of the Caribbean judicial community for a generation a ‘fit and proper’ person to be Chairman of GECOM?” Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had filed an injunction in the High Court to rescind the appointment on the grounds of unconstitutionality. The injunction is seeking a declaration that Justice Patterson is not qualified to be appointed in provision with Article 161-2 of the Constitution of Guyana.

The PPP had raised concerns about Patterson’s alleged alignment with the major party in the coalition Government, the People’s National Congress (PNC).

The party claimed that he is an active member of a PNC-related website and was also a pallbearer at the funeral of former President Desmond Hoyte.

10 news

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

CFATF 46th Plenary: President says Guyana ‘fit to fight financial privateers’

Kato Secondary School all set for January opening

Region Eight REO Gavin Gunga

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President David Granger, during his address at the Opening Ceremony of the 46th Plenary of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) at the Marriott Hotel Guyana

resident David Granger, who attended the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) 46th Plenary Meeting at the Marriott Hotel Guyana on Wednesday, spoke of the country’s readiness to fight money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

In his address to the dignitaries gathered the President said, among other things, that the Caribbean is currently fighting a war against “financial privateers to preserve the integrity of its institutions and to counter money-laundering and the financing of terrorism.”

The Caribbean, according to President Granger, has become a paradise for ” for money-launderers, tax-evaders and assorted transnational criminal cartels” whose crimes he noted have the potential of ” disrupting our economies, corrupting officials, subverting our institutions, perverting our youth and spawning frightening levels of crime and violence in society.”

Turning his attention to Guyana, the Head of State quipped that the country is “fit to fight”, highlighting that Guyana, some seventeen years ago, has embarked on the path of passing robust regulations and legislation to protect its financial system from financing unlawful activities.

Providing examples, the President posited that Guyana passed: • The Money-Laundering (Prevention) Act 2000; • The Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering of the Financing of Terrorism Act 2009; • The Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Act 2010; • The Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Act 2015; and • The Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2015.

This legislation, progressively, has corrected deficiencies in the AML-CFT regime and allowed for the improvement of compliance with the Task Force’s standards he said.

According to President Granger, the appropriate agencies – the Bank of Guyana, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) – have been “empowered with the authority and autonomy and equipped with the technical and institutional means to discharge their functions un-

der our anti-money laundering and the countering of the financing of terrorism legislation.”

The President in his address remarked that the Task Force’s recommendations are necessary and can help to insulate the Region’s economies from contamination from “dirty money and by protecting the integrity of our financial sector from the risks associated with ill-gotten gains.”

Moreover, he said that The Task Force’s recommendations will help, also, to cultivate a “stable financial sector that will allow for the facilitation of international trade and investment and enhance the interconnectedness between the Region’s financial sector and the global banking system in order to prevent our banks from being blacklisted.”

Chairperson of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles had said that Guyana has done a “miraculous job” at strengthening its AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime.

Executive Director of the regional body, Calvin Wilson who also applauded Guyana’s efforts, said that the important starting point is that the country, in a short time was able to pass a suite of legislation, which resulted in Guyana’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) blacklist.

In terms of Guyana’s 2022 Mutual Evaluation process, the CFATF Executive advised that Guyana takes preparatory steps, one of which would be the conduct of a national risk assessment, which is completed, followed by the development of a national action plan. “If there is more work to be done in terms of coming into compliance legislatively with the 40 recommendations, you make those changes now,” he emphasised.

Further, Wilson noted that the data should be collated, since the Fourth Round of Mutual Evaluation is based on effectiveness, requiring the availability of data that validates the efficiency of the country’s AML/CFT regime. This, he said is a challenge in not only the region but around the world.

“Guyana needs to pay particular attention to their data capturing mechanisms and also educating all stakeholders …both public and private… coordinating closely, nationally to ensure that the internal mechanism in terms of strengthening the AML/CFT architecture, is strong,” he noted.

reparations are ongoing to have Kato Secondary School opened for the new school term in January.

Region Eight’s Regional Executive Officer (REO), Gavin Gunga explained to the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the school was currently still being outfitted with furniture, equipment, and other requisite supplies.

“The plan right now is to commission the Kato School in the last week of this school term. So right now, the trucks and contractors are delivering those furniture and necessary supplies to commence school in January,” Gunga said.

The REO added that teachers have also been secured for the new school term. He disclosed that he was informed by the Teachers Service Commission that the necessary personnel to execute the functions of the school were there, and “once school starts in January, students and teachers will be there”.

According to REO Gunga, all the technical checks were conducted and the school was given the green light to open in January. Students from nearby institutions includ-

ing Mahdia Secondary, Sand Creek Secondary, and Paramakatoi Secondary School, who presently are housed at that institution’s overcrowded dormitory, will be transferred to the Kato Secondary School.

The DPI noted that in July last, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at a post-Cabinet briefing announced that the Kato Secondary School, which was constructed at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, was unsafe for occupancy.

After several interventions by Government, remedial works were completed by the contractor who was issued the Certificate of Practical Completion by Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson.

Essequibo residents call for more counsellors, mental health workers ...as 2 more youths commit suicide

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esidents of the Suddie Housing Scheme on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) have reported that two youths recently committed suicide in the area, and both incidents were as a result of frustration and alcohol abuse.

Alluding to the social ills plaguing the community, the residents are appealing for more counsellors and mental health workers to be stationed along the Essequibo Coast, so that persons can have access to these services.

They pointed out that as recent as November 11, a 20-year-old labourer who had resided in the Suddie Housing Scheme committed suicide by hanging himself. The deceased, Khemraj Philgrim, committed the tragic act in his bedroom, where his body was later discovered by his brother, Mahadeo.

According to information reaching this newspaper, the deceased, who had been living with his mother Patricia Pilgrim and his five siblings, left home on November 11 to celebrate his birthday with some friends. Upon his return, he was intoxicated and had an argument with his mother, after which he went to his room.

This newspaper understands that the mother is a habitual drinker, and

would often leave her children to fend for themselves.

At around 20:30 hrs that night, Khemraj was seen ‘hanging’ by his brother Mahadeo who alerted the other younger siblings. The police were summoned and Philgrim’s body was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In another instance, 20-year-old hire car driver Aliexi Anthony, consumed poison just about two weeks ago.

According to information reaching this newspaper, he too had been highly intoxicated and had a confrontation with his father. When his father went to bed, Anthony reportedly consumed the poisonous substance. He was later discovered by family members.

Suicide has to date been a worrying issue for Region Two. According to data from Suddie Public Hospital, for the period January to November 2017, there have been 38 attempted suicide cases there, with 8 recorded deaths.

The Guyana Foundation under the Sunrise Centre, along with the Caribbean Voice, conducted several programmes along the Essequibo Coast to assist persons suffering from mental health issues. The Sunrise Centre is also open to those seeking counselling.

Guyanese busted in Barbados with cocaine

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gang inclusive of a Guyanese man and two Barbadian women who were busted with some $625,000 worth of cocaine were jointly charged Tuesday in Barbados.

The Guyanese, 34-year-old Kwanza Canterbury, was charged, along with Barbadian entertainer Betty Griffith-Payne, 38, of Lot 8 West Terrace Heights, St James and her 35-year-old sister Marie Alexa Griffith, of Phillips Road, Cleavers

Hill, St Joseph.

The charge against the three stated that between November 7 and 10 at West Terrace Heights, St James, and Mason Hall Street, St Michael, Barbados, they had in their possession 12 kilograms of cocaine with intent to supply, traffic and conspire to traffic.

The Bajan women, however, had another charge of ‘handling the cocaine’ brought against them.

Canterbury, who was also found with cannabis

Barbadian entertainer Betty Payne

weighing one kilogram valued at Bds$8000, had that additional charge instituted.

news 11

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

No second chance for ranks who breach the law says Top Cop …as statistics reveal 28 cops involved in accidents this year

By Shemuel Fanfair

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s the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues to remove its “rogue” elements, acting Commissioner David Ramnarine has affirmed that the Force has no place for unprofessional conduct, informing the public that some nine junior ranks were dismissed for their involvement in various types of motor vehicular offences.

Police statistics have revealed that for the period January-October 2017, some 28 junior Police ranks were involved in motor accidents, some of which saw persons losing their lives.

At Monday’s press conference, the acting Police Commissioner said that nine of those ranks were dismissed.

He added that the Police Force’s senior administration would not accept such unprofessional conduct, whether or not the ranks operated their private cars or one of the Force’s fleet of vehicles, some of which were involved in accidents in

Dead: Anastacia Kerr

recent weeks.

“You cannot be driving without fitness, insurance [or] drunk driving, and expect to be a member of the Force; you have to go,” Ramnarine strongly stated.

In March 2017 in Berbice, Constable Joshua Ali, then unlicensed, was fined Gy$37,500 after pleading guilty to Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol and breach of condition of provisional licence. Similarly, Police Constable Satrohan Gowkarran, who struck a pedestrian at

Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, in a drunken state in September, pleaded guilty and was fined Gy$7500 and had his licence endorsed for a DUI. Condemning such occurrences, Ramnarine suggested that new recruits were actively waiting to fill the vacuum that would be left by dismissed ranks.

“The Guyana Police Force did not have a long line waiting to enlist five years ago, but today through the grace of God and through public trust, and other initiatives, we have a long line waiting out there, so when you slip up; I’m not going to wait on three strikes, that is the way forward for the Force,” he related, at the same time condemning the heavily tinted motor cars of junior ranks.

In August, 58-yearold Pulmattie Ramotar, of Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD), succumbed two days after she was struck down on the Success Public Road by a police rank.

Additionally, Eno David, 22, of Matthew’s Ridge, North West District,

Dead: Pulmattie Ramotar

was struck down at the Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara, by a police rank, who was transporting an injured colleague, who himself was involved in a separate car accident in the early morning hours. Police had, however, claimed that no alcohol was found when breathalyser tests were conducted on these two ranks.

In September, 20-year-old former Lot 5 Hope Estate, ECD

resident and sales girl Anastacia Kerr lost her life after she was struck down and killed by a drunken Police Lance Corporal at the Ogle Public Road, ECD. It was reported that the Policeman was proceeding along the roadway in motor car PSS 3984, when the now deceased woman allegedly ran across the road and into the path of the vehicle.

As a result, the left side of the car hit her.

The Toyota Allion motor car which struck and killed Eno David at Soesdyke, EBD in August (Shemuel Fanfair file photo)

12 news

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

PPP/C parliamentarians to decide on use of salary increase funds

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Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

special bank account now holds cash that was deducted from several Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) salaries since all parliamentarians were given an increase in 2015.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has confirmed that MPs of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) have held on to their promise of contributing their increases to a fund.

However, Jagdeo said that a decision was still to be taken on how the money that was accumulated over the last two years would be utilised and for what purpose.

“It’s a requirement that I know our MPs are deducting the money and sending it to that bank account…we have not decided as yet (what we’re going to do), but

not a cent has been spent,” he stated.

It is unclear how much money has been saved thus far and to which bank the monies are being saved.

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira also told the media that MPs were complying and have been donating their increases to the fund that had been set up by the Party for that special purpose.

“Each MP has a standing order and so the money is automatically deducted from our salaries and deposited into the bank account,” she explained.

Four months after taking up office, the Government had moved to increase the salaries of MPs by as much as 50 per cent in some instances. Jagdeo had, however, stated publicly that the PPP/C parliamentarians would not be accepting the increase in their salaries.

Once it was made clear that the Parliament Office could not withhold the payments and would make the monies payable, the PPP/C later indicated that the funds would then be donated to charity.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had defended the increase, stating that it catered for the increased ministerial workload and to the posts of Vice Presidents.

The Finance Minister insisted that the salary increases were necessary and justifiable.

Dominican women charged for overstaying in Guyana

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osanna Romero, 22, and Arelis Adames, 37, of the Dominican Republic were on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts arraigned for overstaying in Guyana.

It is alleged that between April 8, 2017 and November 12, 2017, at Georgetown, Romero failed to comply with conditions subject to which any permit had been granted, that is to say having been permitted to stay in Guyana from March 8, 2017 to April 7, 2017, she overstayed the said period.

Meanwhile, Adames was slapped with a similar charge detailing that between April 22, 2017 and November 12, 2017, she failed to comply with the conditions of a permit, which allowed her to stay in the country from March 22, 2017 to April 21, 2017.

Both women pleaded guilty to the aforementioned charges.

The Spanish-speaking duo, appear-

ing in the company of an interpreter, told Magistrate Fabayo Azore that they came to Guyana seeking employment in order to maintain their financially-stricken families.

Upon arriving in Guyana, they had both stayed at the Rio nightclub before seeking employment in the interior gold mines.

The women indicated that they did not attempt to have their stay extended and omitted to give a plausible explanation for such.

They were both ordered to pay a fine of Gy$30,000 with a default sentence of three months in prison.

While Romero indicated her ability to pay the fine, Adames was not as fortunate.

She told the Magistrate that she would serve the default sentence of three months.

Romero will be deported, and Adames will follow after serving her sentence.

Deplorable access roads, poor water system in Region 7 to be addressed In responding to these concerns, Minister Patterson indicated that while he could not definitively say what works his Ministry would be executing in the sub-region following the visit, he Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson meeting promised that with residents of the Region Seven communities works would be done when uring a minis- the other, all the while terial visit to a inspecting the trail be- a full assessment was number of com- tween the two target completed.

Continuing on that munities tucked away in communities, Kamarang note, Patterson apoloRegion Seven (Cuyuni- and Waramadong.

Mazaruni), residents Following the field gised to the residents came out in their num- visit, the Ministers also for not visiting the combers and expressed convened a ‘town hall munities sooner, having longstanding concerns, meeting,’ which opened recognised that the urmainly with regard to the floor for residents gency of infrastructurthe deplorable access to hailing from Kamarang, al works needed for the these remote villages.

Waramadong, Jawalla, sub-region had not been Villagers were at and Kako to highlight is- adequately emphasised their wits’ end over the sues affecting their com- by the relevant regional authorities. dilapidated infrastruc- munity.

Nevertheless, the It was during this foture and non-existing with the alternative routes for rum that a number of is- meeting culminated those travelling in and sues were raised, with Ministers on a high note after the out of the rural com- the poor access to comvillagers’ requests were munities, particularly munities topping the immediately grantduring the rainy season. list.

The residents called ed. As a result, Chief Leading the visit was Inspector Public Infrastructure for an upgrade of river- Aerodromes Alphonso Mangah was Minister David ine networks to transgiven the go-ahead to Patterson, who was port heavy materials accompanied by the as well as the construc- provide the necessary Minister of Public tion of two airstrips, one assistance from the Affairs, Dawn Hastings- in Jawalla and the oth- Ministry through his Williams, who had first- er in Waramadong, to agency.

Earlier this year, hand experience of the bridge the existing gap some of the very comdifficulties faced by in transportation. those residing in these Overcrowding of munities visited by the schools in the sub-re- Ministers were faced areas, on a daily basis.

The Ministers and gion; insufficient ener- with considerable detheir respective teams gy supply to the com- struction after massive also got an idea of the munities; and a need to flooding wiped out sevdifficulties usually en- improve the water sys- eral homes and significountered as they were tem were also among cantly hindered the liveforced to weather the the complaints aired by lihoods of many across rains by travelling on those in attendance at Region Seven.

ATVs from one village to the meeting.

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Region Two residents protest for REO’s removal R esidents from various villages along the Essequibo Coast as well as CCIP workers, who were owed two months by the Region Two Administration on Monday staged a peaceful protect in front of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office at Anna Regina.

Protesters were armed with placards featuring various messages such as “CCIP workers not Paid”; “Move REO now”; “REO must show respect to the Municipality”; “Rice farmers are suffering” and “REO pay CCIP workers now”. The pro-

testers stood in front of the RDC for nearly two hours with their placards.

Speaking with this newspaper, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, who led the protest, said the decision for such a move came

said that he was verbally abused last week when he enquired about a decision made by the REO’s office to fill a trench at Cotton Field village.

Persaud said such leadership could not be tolerated within the Region and as such, he was protesting for the REO to leave.

Other residents who Protest action outside the Region Two Regional Democratic Council joined the protest said Ramdatt said scores Regional Chairman, dethat their roads were in from the requests of hundreds of Essequibians. of CCIP workers have cisions for the town of deplorable condition and According to Ramdatt, not been paid as a result Anna Regina are being despite several reports, residents in communi- of unsigned vouchers at made outside of the mu- nothing has been done.

Contacted for a comties across the Region the REO’s office. He add- nicipality as well as the feel disenfranchised by ed that the protest was RDC, which is deemed ment on the issues certain decisions that held at a time when the by these two bodies as raised at the protest, REO Hopkinson told this are made by Regional Region was struggling “disrespectful”.

A Councillor from the publication that he was Executive Officer (REO) and the REO was disRupert Hopkinson with- playing “dictatorial lead- Anna Regina municipal- unaware of the protest. ership”. According to the ity, Herman Persaud,

out consultation.

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Delay to confirm Chancellor, Chief Justice breaches intent of Constitution – CCJ President

Acting Chief Justice, Justice Roxane George (left) and acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards (right) pose with President David Granger after their appointments

By Jarryl Bryan

T

he trend of persons being appointed to act in top positions in Guyana’s judiciary for years while their confirmation remains in limbo has attracted the attention of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The situation is being described as unfortunate, since such office holders have to issue rulings while their confirmation hangs

like a ‘Sword of Damocles’ over their heads.

In particular, CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron zeroed in on this situation in a recent address to the Guyana Bar Association. He condemned the fact that since former Chancellor Desiree Bernard demitted office, an agreement has not been reached for the substantive appointment of a Chancellor.

“This has brought us to

the situation today where the number one and number two officials of the Guyana judiciary have not been substantively appointed. This is a most unfortunate state of affairs,” the legal luminary stated.

“This situation has moved well beyond what ought to be acceptable in a modern democracy where respect for the rule of law is maintained. The Constitution envisages the judiciary of Guyana to

be headed by officials who are substantively appointed and enjoy all the legal and institutional mechanisms to secure their tenure,” he continued, bluntly adding that the delay was a breach of the spirit and intent of the Constitution.

Article 127 (2) of the Constitution states: “If the office of Chancellor is vacant … then until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of such office…the functions shall be performed by such other of the judges as shall be appointed by the President after meaningful consultation with the leader of the opposition.”

Commenting on this, Justice Byron noted that the language of the Act suggests that the appointment was to be a shortterm one, before a substantive appointment.

He noted that even from a subjective analysis, the Constitution never intended for the years it has taken to fill the substantive positions to elapse.

“Of course,” he admitted, “I do acknowledge that there are practical problems in identifying precisely where the liability lies in the failure to come to an agreement. It seems entirely plausible for such

liability to lie with either the President or Leader of the Opposition, or both, in accordance with the mandate of section 127(1) and depending on the process that has been followed.

“This naturally raises the question of whether an appropriate statutory or regulatory framework to establish agreement is in existence. If the answer to this is in the affirmative, that may be a basis for judicial intervention.”

The CCJ President said that if the right framework to appoint the Chancellor and Chief Justice was not being used, now would be the opportune time to make regulatory or statutory changes. He noted that that too may be a basis for judicial intervention.

“The delay in complying with section 127(1) of the Constitution has long (breached) a level of justifiability and the most appropriate authority for resolving this situation is the court system.”

“Section 127(1) ascribes an obligation to the President and the Leader of the Opposition that is mandatory in nature and not discretionary (to appoint the Chancellor and Chief Justice). Any failure in fulfilling this obliga-

CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron

tion must, therefore, be regarded as a breach of the Constitution,” Sir Dennis also said.

Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards was appointed by President David Granger in May of this year. Prior to that, she acted as the Chief Justice from December 2015. She was never confirmed to the substantive position.

Cummings-Edwards replaced Justice Carl Singh, who retired after acting as Chancellor since 2005. On the other hand, the current acting Chief Justice, Justice Roxane George, was also appointed to her position on the same day as Edwards.

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Acting Police Commissioner says 2am curfew applicable to all bars countrywide

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

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embers of the Private Sector have accused ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) of un-

Acting Top Cop David Ramnarine

fairly administering the 2am curfew which enforces a legal stipulation that bars, night clubs and other places of entertainment must close off by 02:00h.

This concern was highlighted during a Police press conference at the Force’s headquarters in Eve Leary, where Junior Vice President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Timothy Tucker questioned the Police’s rationale when undertaking measures to ensure that the curfew is enforced. He added that many GCCI members feel that there is a double standard where enforcement is concerned.

“The observation of some of the members is that it’s not being done across the board; they feel there’s a double standard – that their bars are being shut down while others are not being shut down just outside of Georgetown,” Tucker revealed.

‘A’ Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) Commander Marlon Chapman who has responsibility for the Georgetown area, related that the curfew is an ‘across the board’ stipulation. Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine also responded to the complaints, cautioning that the 2AM curfew, for the moment, remains intact.

Ramnarine, however, acknowledged receipt of the “concerns” raised over the conduct of Police in terms of “consistency” when administering the curfew.

The acting Top Cop further informed Private Sector operatives that the curfew does not give business operators the right to continue to 2AM if there is a report of noise nuisance, even if that report is made at 23:00h.

The acting Commissioner stressed that once there is no complaint of noise nuisance, traffic congestion or crime commit-

ted at the establishment, nights spots can operate until the cut off time.

“We have asked the Divisional Commanders to ensure that this is enforced and it’s not a case where we are flexible with people and we are arbitrarily or unilaterally flouting an order of the Minister,” Ramnarine expressed.

The Police were also told that some night spot operators are under the impression that the curfew is for Georgetown only but the Minister’s order was that all such operations must close by 02:00h. Public relations veteran Christopher “Kit” Nascimento identified a few night spots which are open beyond hours and he called on senior Police ranks to ensure that the law is evenly distributed.

There has been much criticism as well as some praise for Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan’s decision in July 2015 to enforce the curfew that was already on the law books. In March, he even suggested that the curfew could be brought forward to as early as midnight, based on his interactions with some stakeholder groups.

In the past, the Minister threatened to revoke or suspend the licences of businesses which did not comply with the enforcement.

However, concessions were given at certain intervals for night establishments to operate at later hours, but this was only for holiday periods, especially during December.

Minister Ramjattan has argued that the curfew was part of his crime-fighting strategy.

Of recent, Police conduct has come in for scrutiny and in late October reports surfaced that a Police Corporal was being investigated for allegedly taking a Gy$1 million bribe from a businessman to raid a fellow strip club. (Shemuel Fanfair)

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Eco Atlantic and Africa Oil Corp partner for Guyana exploration

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frica Oil Corp (AOC) has entered into a partnership with Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas for exploration in Guyana and Namibia.

Under the terms of an investment agreement, AOC has agreed to acquire a 19.77 per cent shareholding in Eco through the purchase, by way of private placement, of 29.2 million common shares at CAD$0.48 per share for a total consideration of CAD$14 million.

The investment agreement also provides the company with the right to participate in any future Eco equity issuances, on a pro rata basis, and to appoint one nominee to Eco’s Board of Directors. AOC President and Chief

2.5 billion to 2.8 billion oil-equivalent barrels, including the supergiant Liza field.

The ECO block exhibits good evidence of slope fan prospects and is expected to be fully defined after processing and interpretation of the 2550 square-kilometre 3D seismic survey recently completed in September.

Eco also recently announced it has entered into an option agreement for a farm-in by Total on this Guyana acreage.

This new investment has been described as a complement to the company’s existing investment in Africa Energy Corp (AFE) in which the company holds a 28.5 per cent shareholding interest. AFE holds blocks in Namibia adjacent to the

Executive Officer (CEO) Keith Hill will join the Eco Board of Directors as soon as practicable.

As part of the investment agreement, the parties have also entered into a Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA), whereby they will jointly pursue new exploration projects. Pursuant to the terms of the SAA, AOC will be entitled to bid jointly on any new assets or ventures proposed to be acquired by Eco. A statement issued on Monday said this would be done on the same terms as Eco and for an interest at least equal to the company’s percentage holding of the common shares in Eco from time to time.

Additionally, under the terms of the SAA, AOC will also have a right of first offer on the farmout of exploration properties currently held by Eco. Eco has been able to assemble an extensive exploration portfolio in two countries that are at the forefront of exploration, including one block in Guyana and four blocks in Namibia.

In Guyana, Eco holds a block directly up dip from the Stabroek Block which holds Exxon estimates resources of

Eco acreage and a block offshore South Africa.

Together, the two companies represent significant holdings in several of the most attractive exploration areas in the world.

Eco CEO Gil Holzman described AOC as “a like-minded company with a similar philosophy” highlighting that the new shareholder and potential partner is focused on frontier regions and has “significant financial muscle” to deliver on its strategy.

“We are funded for our forthcoming work programmes in both Guyana and Namibia through a series of agreements with Tullow Oil, AziNam, and Total and through these new agreements with AO, we now also have the capability, as well as an industry leading partner, to identify further assets and to accelerate the work programmes on them”.

He added, “This is a very exciting and busy time for Eco and we look forward to working with the AOC team to identify new projects to add to our portfolio whilst progressing our current assets in Guyana and Namibia together with our existing industry leading partners.”

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

DPP recommends release Lack of feasibility study of pastor accused of rape in GPL’s switch to natural …requests additional information on case

Rape accused: Pastor Joseph Persaud

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he Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack has recommended the release of the pastor who was accused of sexually assaulting a member of his congregation last week in his Diamond, East Bank Demerara home.

The pastor, Joseph Persaud, who officiates at a church in Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, turned famous overnight after he was arrested and taken to the Grove Police Station where he was told of the rape allegation.

He was accused of inviting a member of the church with whom he shared

a relationship outside of his marriage to his home and performing the act.

The victim on national television admitted that she and Bishop Persaud, 35, shared a relationship, but after his wife found out, it turned sour.

Nevertheless, the victim reportedly told the Police that although the relationship was over, the pastor would constantly contact her for sex. On the night of the incident, the victim who claimed she aborted three babies for the pastor said that after she arrived at his house, he stripped her and had sexual intercourse with her against her will.

A report was made to the Police and the pastor was arrested. In addition, several recordings of phone conversations between the two were leaked to the media.

One seemed to clearly prove that the act was committed and the pastor was heard begging for the victim to drop the case and that he was willing to let her go without making attempts to contact her.

However, as the story came to light, several other victims have come forward accusing the pastor of sexual molestation.

Meanwhile, the DPP requested additional information from the Police pertaining to several aspects of the case. Once that is provided, the file will be sent to the DPP once again for advice.

Police implementing new systems to nab carjackers, recover stolen cars

I

n light of the increased incidence of carjackings, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has announced that it is embarking on an inter-agency approach to crack down on the crime, which has seen a spike in the past several months.

This was announced at GPF Headquarters at Eve Leary,

Georgetown, where the public was updated on plans for increased security during the holiday season.

Over the past several months, bandits have been pouncing on motorists, especially those operating Toyota Allion and Toyota Premio motor cars, and often times, the motor vehicles are swiftly transported to various locations to be either stripped or overhauled. It was suggested that with the recent Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) restrictions on older models of vehicles, it is likely the bandits are stealing the cars for parts, the reason that many of the cars

could never be recovered.

It was further related that certain auto-body repair shops are under the watchful eyes of investigators as some of these businesses are believed to be facilitating the criminal enterprise, with some even “cutting

all divisional detective officers and other senior Police Officers to iron out plans to nab the perpetrators.

This newspaper understands that Police have approached certain mechanic shops with the hope of finding the hi-

the cars”.

Police are, however, intensifying their campaign to stop the criminal activity. Acting Crime Chief Paul Williams, during the press conference, said that from the evidence obtained, carjacking gangs roam around looking for opportunities to pounce on unsuspecting drivers.

“These guys are just moving around scouting and as they see the opportunity where the person is being vulnerable, they decide to take the chance,” the acting Crime Chief observed.

As part of efforts to foil carjackings, Williams on Friday last met with

jacked vehicles, but have come across stumbling blocks. It is on this note, the multi-agency approach was conceptualised and more so, investigators will be armed with the tools and information on specifications to recover stolen cars.

It was in June that Police issued an advisory to taxi operators plying routes into and out of Georgetown to beware of carjackers hiring cars under the pretext of wanting taxis. However, the perpetrators have since upped the ante, and are now going directly to owners, attacking them and stealing their vehicles.

gas worrying – Jagdeo …as blackouts continue

By Samuel Sukhnandan

A

recent decision taken by the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) to alter one of its advertisements to procure a 50 megawatt dual fuel plant that uses Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and natural gas, to natural gas only, has raised some concerns since it is believed that natural gas may not become available until 2020.

While it has been noted that several existing GPL generators can be converted to use natural gas that ExxonMobil will be extracting during commercial oil production in another two years, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said even with a switch, it requires appropriate studies.

“We do not have a feasibility study on natural gas, the efficacy of it being used to generate power in Guyana.

So this Government is going to go, put out an Expression of Interest (EoI) for a type of power plant that we have done no feasibility study on as to whether it is suitable for Guyana or not,” Jagdeo contended.

Contrary to ExxonMobil’s position that it will not be commercially feasible to extract and sell natural gas, the Government has made it clear that it wants the fuel to power GPL’s generators.

A local company had also said several of the sets at Kingston Power Station and all of those at the Vreed-en-Hoop Power Station can be converted to use natural gas.

But Jagdeo said even if this is possible, the Government has pledged to the international community to have 100 per cent of its energy come from renewable resources by 2025.

“This is contrary to that pledge. This is another broken promise. Even by a long stretch of the imagination, even if this project starts in 2020, how does that solve the blackouts now?” he questioned.

And even while Government has stated that 25,000 more people will have access to electricity, Jagdeo said there is no clear plan to improve the efficiency of the service.

“So, you’re bringing

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

more demand on the system but you don’t have any generating capacity and the generating capacity is already stressed. And so this is what we get for planning,” he opined.

Jagdeo did not stop there; adding that the current Government is placed in an even better position than that of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), because under his presidency, the prices for oil were high.

“They have collected over Gy$20 billion in the two and half years they been in office. I hope the media ask them about the money… they never confirmed how much they collected because they did not adjust the prices of electricity downwards when the oil prices fell,” he claimed.

The former Head of State said Government has no fixed plan to address the electricity situation in the country and has only given shallow explanations, noting that the problem will get worse.

According to Jagdeo, the Administration has continuously uttered that they are “doing something” to rectify the constant power outages, but there’s never anything substantial or specific to support their claims.

Moreover, he lambasted the Government further on their poor planning skills, highlighting that they have proclaimed that 25,000 more people will be benefiting from electricity in the near future, when there is no generating capacity and the current system is already stressed.

Recently, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) minced no words in taking to task the

Government-owned and operated GPL for the spate of power outages that have been registered throughout Guyana.

According to the PSC, GPL, which is the only company providing the country with electricity, has provided no credible explanation to address the “series of unannounced and frequently prolonged power outages.”

“To add insult to injury, the GPL recently from 2nd September to 5th November, 2017, announced a series of scheduled maintenance power cuts which, in Georgetown alone, amount to a total of 149 hours spread between 17 sections of the city.

In addition, power cuts averaging about four hours each were scheduled for the Essequibo Coast, Berbice, East and West Bank Demerara, West Coast Demerara, Soesdyke and East Canjie,” said the PSC. Moreover, the PSC posited that “judging from this performance or, to be more accurate, absence of performance, GPL simply have neither the management nor the capacity to deliver a reliable power supply to the country and the Government has consistently failed to address this reality.

“Guyana’s manufacturing and commercial sectors cannot function in these circumstances and, in this day and age at the exorbitant price that we are expected to pay for electricity, Guyana’s population should not be subjected to this punishment. As the Christmas season approaches, this has now become an even more pressing source of concern for the populace.”

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Sexual Offences Court launched to deal with increasing cases - court will be equipped with trained personnel

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fter years of extensive discussion and planning among stakeholders, the Supreme Court of Judicature (High Court) on Monday launched the Sexual Offences Court with hopes to take this same model to the other two counties – Berbice and Essequibo – in an effort to reduce the increased incidence of such cases.

In declaring the court open, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards said that the specialist court was properly staffed and would see the rotation of criminal judges. The Chancellor also noted that the courtroom was properly equipped and would include a victim support unit.

“We have a panel of eminent judges and witnesses, a special room to testify and a panel of support staff and an energetic chief justice… there will be no shortage of personnel to do the work.

We wish to take this model to Berbice and Essequibo, where we have Supreme Courts,” she announced.

Justice CummingsEdwards told a gathering of members of the local Bar Association, several prominent lawyers and other guests that training for personnel working for this specific court would also be provided. She said that two categories of persons from Trinidad were willing to provide the necessary training.

“They are willing to come on board to train – one is a sexual abuse specialist (children), a psychologist and as well as criminal law judge involved with sexual offence matters that helped to shape our guidelines and legislation,” the acting Chancellor explained, noting that this would be extended to the other courts.

While reminding people that the Sexual Offences Court will be victim-centred, she said this did not mean

Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards addressing the launch of the Sexual Offences Court on Monday

that the constitutional rights of the accused person would be disregarded. She stated that the presumption of innocence and equal protection would be remembered in these matters.

Justice CummingsEdwards drew reference to statistics which have shown that sexual offences have been on the rise, both re-

gionally and locally. “And we know that sexual offences do have a far-reaching impact on the victims whether they be adults or children, vulnerable groups…”

She continued, “When we look at statistics, more than 50 per cent of the cases for the Demerara Assizes over the last two sessions showed

us that sexual offences comprised half of the list. So if half of the list comprised sexual offences, it meant that the other indictable offences like robbery and rape took second place…that is something we have to address.”

The acting Chancellor reminded that sexual offences affect victims emotionally, psychologically, and physically and those effects could be long term, short term, and it could also affect the development of the victims. And these victims require specialist treatment on the part of everyone concerned, be it the Police, investigators, medical practitioners, NGOs, prosecution, the court.

She emphasised that the entire process from investigation to the final adjudication and the entire criminal justice system as a whole must be careful how they approach this work. She believes if caution is not taken, secondary trauma

or secondary victimisation could be inflicted on victims and witnesses of sexual offences and this is something that should be avoided.

Meanwhile, acting Chief Justice Roxanne George noted that the judiciary was cognisant of the concerns that have been expressed as regards the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act, but said that the judicial system has responded and has been working assiduously to make the opening a reality.

The Sexual Offences Court was birthed out of the Sexual Offences Act 2010, which was spearheaded by former Human Services and Education Minister Priya Manickchand.

The former Minister had led what was then called the ‘Stamp it Out’ Campaign in 2010 which saw widespread consultations around the country, as regards sexual offences and other major human rights issues facing Guyana.

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

GPF promises increased security for Christmas season - as robberies increase by 15%, serious crimes decrease by 9%

‘A’ Division Commander Marlon Chapman

By Shemuel Fanfair

A

gainst the backdrop of a 15 per cent overall increase in robberies with a 54 per cent uptick in robberies with violence, coupled with other criminal activities, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has announced several measures to beef up security during this year’s Christmas season.

Some of the measures include vehicle, foot and bicycle patrols; road blocks; “riverine postures” and parking arrangements to reduce traffic congestion.

These security initiatives were announced at a press conference at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, on Monday.

The plans have already taken effect as Guyanese prepare for the annual traditions associated with the Christmas season where shopping late hours is expected.

Special focus on implementing the measures will be placed in the capital city, Georgetown, where the majority of the country’s serious crimes is recorded. ‘A’ Division (Georgetown and East Bank Demerara) Commander Marlon

Chapman said that Police presence would be beefed up around several strategic areas, which include the seawall, Stabroek Market, banks, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Chapman added that the security presence would be increased at the Georgetown Prison; Dennis Street, Sophia, Robb and Regent Streets, Vlissengen Road, Homestretch Avenue and the East Bank Demerara Highway, with special focus on the Demerara Harbour Bridge. He added that the GPF would collaborate with the business community, entertainers, the City Constabulary and community policing groups, all with the aim of tackling increased criminal activity.

Traffic Chief Dion Moore noted that the security measures commenced Monday morning and would continue up to January 15, 2018.

It was related that in ‘A’ Division, there will be security and traffic arrangements to facilitate commuters for late-night shopping on Christmas Eve Day and for the Old Year’s Night celebrations.

Table showing comparative crime statistics for the January- October period in 2016 and 2017

Increase in robberies

Police preliminary statistics presented by acting Crime Chief Paul Williams, during the press conference, revealed that in all Divisions (A-G), there was a 15 per cent increase in overall robberies, but a 17 per cent decrease in robbery under arms. These numbers were for the period January-October 2017 over the comparative period for 2016. The

year-by-year comparison showed that robbery with violence surged 54 per cent (79 cases in 2016; 122 in 2017) and a similar uptick in robbery with aggravation at 38 per cent (52 cases vs 72 cases).

Notably, the number of murders recorded decreased 21 per cent, and recorded rape cases also decreased by nine per cent (218 vs 198).

Although break and enter cases decreased by

15 per cent to 906 cases; larceny from the person surged 14 per cent.

There were no authentic reports of kidnapping as both 2016 and 2017 showed zero cases. According to the acting Crime Chief’s overall numbers, serious crime decreased by nine per cent with 2768 cases in 2016 vs 2525 cases in 2017 for the period January-October.

Decision on Guyana –Venezuela border School teacher’s controversy to be made soon – Greenidge ex-boyfriend, cops

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he next meeting between representatives of Guyana and Venezuela relative to the ongoing border controversy would determine the outcome of the Good Offices Process initiated by the United Nations, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge.

He said while he cannot comment on the Good Offices Process, he did confirm that the team is expected to meet by next week, and that meeting would pave the way for determining the outcome of the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

“We are going to be meeting soon, probably next week; and (after) the next meeting, there may or may not be another meeting. At the end of that process, the SG (Secretary General of the United Nations) receives a report from his personal rep at that time…when he receives his report and makes a decision. (At that time) we will be at liberty to say what we want and comment on what has taken place and what is going on,” the Minister said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

“I can’t speak for Venezuela, but we don’t see that (reaching an amicable solution); we see suddenly escalating claims when Guyana finds resources; we see a reinterpretation of the Geneva agreement; we see a state that has signed an agreement and seeks not to honour that agreement…,” he posited.

Norway’s Dag Halvor Nylander had, in February this year, been selected to represent UN Secretary General António Guterres in the Good Offices Process.

Nylander had visited Guyana a number of times to hold talks

with President David Granger and Foreign Minister Greenidge, among others.

Relations between Guyana and Venezuela have worsened ever since oil giant ExxonMobil announced in 2015 that it has found oil in Guyana.

Venezuela has staunchly been against oil exploration in Guyana’s Stabroek Block, where ExxonMobil found multiple oil deposits.

In fact, Venezuela’s National Assembly had approved an agreement to reject the oil exploration activities in March 2017.

Venezuela, with almost 40 times the population of Guyana and a territory that is several times bigger, claimed in 1968 the entire territorial sea of Guyana by means of the Leoni Decree, which has never been withdrawn.

In 2015, the Government of Guyana requested then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to take steps towards resolving the controversy. In 2016, because of a stalemate on the matter, the outgoing Ban Ki-moon agreed with his successor,

Guterres, to continue to use the Good Offices Process until the end of 2017 as a means of arriving at a settlement.

It is with this intention that Guterres appointed Nylander as an envoy to resolve the border spat.

According to the mandate of the Personal Representative, “If, by the end of 2017, the Secretary-General concludes that no significant progress has been made towards arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he will choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement, unless the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly request that he refrain from doing so.”

Guyana has maintained that the only way to settle the controversy is by way of a juridical settlement at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Venezuela’s claim to two-thirds of Guyana has escalated over the years, with various shows of aggression and harassment. (Lakhram Bhagirat)

released from custody

Dead: Kescia Branche

T

he ex-boyfriend of 22-year-old Kescia Branche, who succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital while being treated after she was brutally beaten, along with the four Police Constables who were detained by investigators for questioning, have been released.

This is according to acting Crime Chief Paul Williams, who told Guyana Times International that the ex-boyfriend of the dead woman was released on bail, while the Police Constables have also been released but remain under close arrest.

Investigators are now said to be pursuing the driver whose taxi Branche used on the

night of the incident.

The teacher’s battered body was discovered in an unconscious state on the morning of November 5 and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she later succumbed without ever regaining consciousness.

A post-mortem conducted showed that she died of haemorrhaging due to blunt trauma to the head.

The teacher of Richard Ishmael Secondary School was found at Princes Street and Louisa Row, Georgetown.

Branche, of Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, had left home for a night of partying. (Kizzy Coleman)

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

President promises to implement Veteran’s COI recommendations at Remembrance Day ceremony

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resident David Granger has pledged to work through the Guyana Defence Board, which he chairs — and with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Veterans’ Legion (GVL) and civil society — to ensure that recommendations emanating from the Commission of Inquiry that was launched to investigate the living conditions of veterans are effectively reviewed and implemented.

The Head of State made these remarks on Sunday at a Remembrance Day ceremony hosted by the GVL at Coghlan House on Carifesta Avenue, where as patron of the Legion he handed over a cheque worth Gy$1million.

“Today we look to the future, and we are all concerned about the fate of young persons who joined the defence and security forces to serve their country. The plight of veterans has not eluded the Government of Guyana.

When I was in Opposition I promised, and when I took office fulfilled, what I called an obligation to investigate the conditions under which our veterans live and work; and this has been done,” the Head

of State said.

Speaking of the contributions and bravery of Caribbean nationals who served in the Second World War, President Granger said that not only did some make the ultimate sacrifice, but many of those who returned were highly qualified and had inculcated a strong spirit of nationalism and pride.

So much so that many of them took on leadership roles in their respective countries.

Among the Caribbean volunteers and recruits that returned, one became Prime Minister of Jamaica and another became the Prime Minister of Barbados. Guyanese Royal Air Force recruit Cecil Henry Ethelwood Miller became Chief

Justice of Kenya; while Victor Crane, another recruit, became Chancellor of the Judiciary in Guyana.

President of the Guyana Veterans Legion (GVL), Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) George Gomes, said it is the responsibility of all to ensure that future generations are taught of the significance of observances like Remembrance Day, and of the sacrifices made by those who had fought in World Wars I and II. According to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, Gomes informed that there is a total of 16 surviving members who served in the British Guiana Battalion of the South Caribbean Forces, all of whom are over 90 years old.

He also noted that

the GVL is a united front for all veterans, including those from the British Guiana Volunteer Force and the GDF. The GVL has compiled a list with a total of 85 veterans, some of whom he described as “total shut-ins”, while others have serious ailments and disabilities.

“We continue to be thankful to the Royal Commonwealth ExServices League and the Royal Canadian Legion for the annual grants for our World War II veterans and the surviving widows (of veterans). We, however, need much more assistance…,” he said.

The GVL also receives an annual donation from the President.

British High Commissioner Mr. Greg Quinn has said

Remembrance Day observances do not honour war or death, but rather commemorate those who have given their lives in service of their respective countries. “Many of us here have lost friends, colleagues and family members in service, and it is important that we honour their memories. They have not died in vain,” Quinn said.

High Commissioner Quinn also informed the gathering that a long-overdue war memorial has been erected in Brixton, London to honour the sacrifices of servicemen from Africa and the Caribbean, who served alongside British and Commonwealth forces in the First and Second World Wars.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Canadian High Commissioner Ms Lilian Chatterjee, who said the fact that ordinary men agreed to fight in foreign lands for foreign lands speaks to their bravery.

Prior to the GVL’s Remembrance Day ceremony, President Granger attended the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph War Memorial on Main and Church Streets,

Georgetown.

Several Government officials and members of the diplomatic corps also took part in that activity.

In his Remembrance Day message, the President said the world is forever indebted to those who sacrificed their lives in the cause of peace and freedom.

“We remember the Guyanese men and women who struggled for national Independence and who have given their lives in the service of our nation. We thank those Guyanese who continue to defend our territory and our patrimony. We are encouraged by their example to strengthen our resolve to preserve the Caribbean as a zone of peace and safety, now and for generations to come. We rededicate ourselves to the quest for peace for the Nation and for the happiness of our people,” he said.

Remembrance Day is an international memorial day observed within the British Commonwealth since the end of World War I to remember members of the armed forces who died in the two World Wars.

More recently, it has been expanded to include those who have died in conflicts after the two World Wars.

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PPP/C Parliamentarian meets with CID capable of garnering Guyanese in New York, London information without assaulting

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PP/C Member of Paliament, Bishop Juan Edghill on Friday last, held a ‘town hall meeting’ in New York to sensitise New York-based Guyanese on the current political affairs in Guyana.

One of the main topics on the agenda was the President’s unilateral appointment of the new GECOM Chairman.

The meeting was held at the Fair Field Pavillion, South Richmond Hill, New York and saw a fair turnout of concerned Guyanese.

A similar meeting was held in London last Sunday with the Guyanese diaspora there.

Below are some photos from the meetings.

suspects – Crime Chief

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ften times when prisoners appear at the Georgetown, Wales and Leonora Magistrate’s Courts and other courts across the country, on varying offences, they claim that they were beaten by Police ranks who allegedly forced them to sign confession statements, admitting to carrying out crimes for which they were accused. These are, however, not fresh claims as investigative ranks have been long accused of inflicting such acts to garner information.

Acting Crime Chief Paul Williams who spoke to media operatives at a recent Police event earlier this week was asked if he was aware of any investigation into the claims that ranks attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) have been beating detainees to obtain information. In response, Williams denied knowledge of such incidents since acting in his position for the last few months. He also maintained that his CID subordinates are capable enough of garnering what they require without reverting to acts of assault.

“I know under my watch, nobody will be beaten, because we have what it takes. I have capable and competent people who can do good interviewing and investigation, so there’s no need for us to move to the extreme where we would have to get physical to extort any information from any person,” he said on Monday.

He further stated that he will take it upon himself to ensure that beatings do not occur. “No Magistrate has ever asked or ordered for me to conduct any investigation where persons alleged that they were beaten,” the acting Crime Chief disclosed.

Williams further informed the

Acting Crime Chief Paul Williams

public that much of the training received from the Canadian-based Justice Education Society (JES) with Magistrates and Judges; it was recommended that interviews with detained persons be recorded while being conducted. It was revealed that caution statements are being taken with cameras present.

“At the end of it, if people want to deny the credibility and also the weight and authenticity of those confessions, the camera is there to show because everything is being done consistently,” stressed the acting Crime Chief.

In February, the men accused of murdering a cellphone card dealer on the Corentyne had accused Police of brutalising them at the Albion and Whim Police Stations. The Canadian Justice Education Society has collaborated with key international partners, and have facilitated detective training programmes geared at building and strengthening the justice system in Guyana.

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Financial analyst foresees less spending this Christmas

By Samuel Sukhnandan

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usinesses would be taking a huge risk to lay out any substantial investment on massive imports for Christmas 2017; and worse yet, investing on the importation of premium products.

This is according to Financial Analyst and former Alliance For Change (AFC) member Sasenarine Singh.

Companies importing low-end Chinese-made products are more likely to do better than the high-end product sellers, Singh has claimed.

One can therefore expect a growing reliance on the Chinese “discount price” stores, rather than the boutique type (higher priced) stores.

“This is a direct explanation of the fact that the masses are getting poorer and the popula-

Financial analyst Sasenarine Singh

tions of the masses are expanding in Guyana, thanks to the policy paralysis that is in full force today,” he said.

Recent statistics show that food prices have increased by 4.2 per cent over the 12 months to August 2017, according to the latest dataset from the Guyana Bureau of Statistics.

Singh has said that, based on his research, non-food retailers will continue to struggle this Christmas, with

sales expected to show flat growth in the fourth quarter. He recalled that back in 2012, data produced showed that nonfood retailers were expecting 8 per cent growth in the last quarter.

“At that time, one big Regent Street businessman told me he is expecting, in NovemberDecember 2012, to generate half of his annual sales. Today he is telling me (that), compared to those days, he is importing half as much and his volumes are falling, and thus he has to push prices up to cover his fixed cost.”

In addition to this, he said, the businessman in question has since not replaced a staff member who left the business in August 2017, because he cannot pay that additional body.

But what is most affecting this businessman

File photo: Guyanese during their last-minute Christmas shopping in 2016

is the weakened Guyana dollar, which continues to slide despite the Bank of Guyana injecting foreign currency into the system — which is having an adverse impact on the international reserves.

“These are all paradigm discoveries that even the Minister (Winston Jordan) seems unaware of. The cashstrapped consumers are caught in a financial

cul-de-sac where they are discouraged from shopping over the seasonal period because of three factors: flat remittance inflows from overseas; ‘skimpish’ salary increase from the employers, including the Government; and abnormal increase in prices,” Singh explained.

The overseas-based financial analyst noted that the greatest consumer of people’s money today remains utility bills, housing cost (mortgage/rent), transportation, and food. And with the oil prices creeping up, Guyanese could expect another increase in the fuel prices at the pump before the end of the year, thus leaving less for seasonal spending at Christmas.

“I wonder why the policymakers are virulent to the idea that Guyana needs its own oil refinery, which would bring stability to the country’s largest import cost and consumer of foreign currency. But, then again, the powerful groups that control the narrative in Guyana are not listening, and one just has to reflect on the utterance

of President Granger in Atlanta in November 2017 and you would realise (that) he just does not get it,” Singh opined.

The analyst concluded that the year 2017 is shaping up to be one of the most significant years of inflation in the last decade, and this is what will drive sales at Christmas, not volumes, he said.

“Based on my analysis of the first 9 months of data out of the Bank of Guyana, I am convinced in my conviction that volumes at Christmas will be flat, and sales will be mostly driven by the higher price of commodities,” he noted.

Singh also highlighted the increased cost of education in Guyana, which has risen by 2.6 per cent over the same period. Education cost previously declined by 5 per cent from 2009 to August 2016. But more than half of that gain was erased when education Value Added Tax (VAT) was imposed by the David Granger-led administration. “Is this the good life for the students of Guyana?” Singh questioned.

National Library resources receive boost from US Embassy

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Some of the legal materials donated to the National Library

he US Embassy in Georgetown has generously donated a collection of legal materials to the National Library to add to the existing law collection in an effort to facilitate and provide a means to research Guyana’s laws, and criminal and civil judicial procedures.

The materials include new copies of the Laws of Guyana, and various titles from noted authors such as Harvey McGregor and

DJ Galligan.

The Embassy also donated a computer, printer, and other materials in hopes that the donation will be of good use to researchers, students, and others interested in conducting legal research.

They can be accessed at the library on Main and Church Streets from Mondays to Fridays between the hours 09:00 and 17:15, and on Saturdays from 09:00h to 14:45h.

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Saving Hands Emergency Aid, Inc

Shazim Samad

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n 2015, a six-yearold Shazim Samad was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) with second and third degree burns to forty per cent of his body (lower anterior extremities and his lower posterior extremities). The incident occurred when an object exploded in a heap of burning garbage next to where he was playing, consequently his clothes caught on fire.

The Saving Hands Emergency Aid, Inc. (SHEA) charity was contacted in 2015. The organisation immediately started to work on securing treatment service for Shazim in the United States, since the treatment he requires

Shazim expressing his thanks at a SHEA event with assistance from the organisation's founder, Lori Narine

is not currently available in Guyana. Shazim was kept in stable condition at GPHC, while

SHEA worked on finding treatment service, secure funding, legal compliance and immigration

matters.

Shazim arrived in Texas, US, on January 19 and immediately began his treatment course, which consisted of several skin graft surgeries, physical and psychological therapy and on-hospital-campus schooling.

He progressed weekby-week and his doctors were optimistic he would soon head home to Guyana, which he did on April 11, 2016.

After completing his first round of treatment, Shazim returned home to Guyana. Since his return home, Shazim has readjusted to a life of complete normalcy. He has re-enrolled in school and spends his free time with his family.

He then returned to

the US for follow-up sessions in August 2016 and January 2017.

On September 13, 2017, the now eightyear-old travelled to the United States where he received reconstructive surgery as well as laser treatment to combat scarring caused by his burn injuries. While in the US, he also attended the SHEA charity annual fundraising dinner and dance in New York, where he was presented with an Apple iPad, courtesy of Mr Mohamed Hussain. He was also privileged to meet some of the amazing donors who helped to save his life and thanked them in person.

Shazim is now safely back in Guyana with his family, however, he must return to the United States for further treatment in April 2018.

able, SHEA supports and empowers patients who cannot afford crucial medical treatment due to poverty or lack of appropriate services in their home nation.

The organisation’s vision and methodology are to: identify individuals in impoverished communities with the most need; locate and leverage funding for medical aid and/or humanitarian services on a case-bycase basis; and through partnerships of compassion and expertise, positively impact and improve health conditions one person at a time.

Saving Hands Emergency Aid, Inc. will develop into a sustainable and replicable model for improving emergency health outcomes and, within a holistic

With his mom, Bibi

He continues to lead a healthy and happy life.

Saving Hands Emergency Aid, Inc.

Saving Hands Emergency Aid, Inc. is a humanitarian organisation that provides financial assistance and coordinates free or low cost treatment to address the emergency medical needs of individuals in impoverished countries.

Beginning in Guyana and the Caribbean and seeking to expand to other geographic areas in need as funds come avail-

framework of strategic partnerships and will create, fund and implement healthcare plans that provide diverse individuals in need with life-saving medical treatment and services.

For more information on Shazim’s journey, visit http://savinghandsemergencyaid.org If you know of a child like Shazim who needs SHEA’s help, please email at shea@sheacharity.org or visit SHEA on Facebook. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Shazim's burns have significantly improve with SHEA's assistance of medical treatment overseas

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Award-winning sculptor of Guyanese heritage stuns the world with his breath-taking underwater art

ason deCaires Taylor is a British sculptor, environmentalist and professional underwater photographer. Born in 1974 to an English father and Guyanese mother, Taylor graduated from the London Institute of Arts in 1998 with a BA Honours in Sculpture.

His permanent sitespecific works span several continents and predominately explore submerged and tidal marine environments.

His multi-disciplinarily sculptural works explore modern themes of conservation and environmental activism.

Over the past 10 years, Taylor has created several large-scale underwater ‘museums’ and ‘sculpture parks’, with collections of over 850 life-size public works.

When asked how he developed a love for the sea, Taylor said: “As a child, I used to live near coral reefs. My parents would often rent a boat at the weekend and we explore pristine islands in Thailand and Malaysia. I was very fortunate to be exposed to such amazing experiences at the early age of seven, or eight. It left a lasting impression in my mind, and made me want to explore both artistic boundaries and the vast sea.”

A prolific sculptor, Taylor became the first of a new generation of artists to shift the concepts of the land art movement into the realm of the marine environment. He gained international notoriety in 2006 with the creation of the world’s first underwater sculpture park, situated off the west coast of Grenada in the West Indies. Now listed as one of the Top 25 Wonders of the World by National

Geographic, the park was instrumental in the government declaring the site a National Marine Protected Area. This was followed in 2009 when he co-founded MUSA (Museo Subacuático de Arte), a vast collection of over 500 of his sculptural works, installed between Cancun and Isla Mujeres in Mexico.

Other major projects include Museo Atlantico (2016), a collection over 300 submerged sculptures and architectural forms in Lanzarote, Spain, the first of its kind in European waters. The Rising Tide (2016 Thames London) and Ocean Atlas, a monumental 60-ton single sculpture located in the Bahamas.

Taylor’s artworks are essentially artificial reefs, formed of carefully manufactured sculptures installed at various locations around the world.

Each sculpture is created using non-toxic, pH neutral marine grade cement, free from harmful pollutants, becoming an integral part of the local ecosystem. The cement is highly durable with a rough texture that encourages coral larvae to attach and thrive, while nooks and dark cubbyholes formed of folds of clothing provide homes for fish and crustaceans.

The timing of installation is significant to ensure they are in place downstream before the larval coral spawning occurs, yet not so early that other sea life colonises it before the coral can take hold.

His pioneering public art projects are not only examples of successful marine conservation, but works of art that seek to encourage environmental awareness, instigate social change and lead us

to appreciate the breathtaking natural beauty of the underwater world.

He has received numerous sculpture and photography awards and was awarded 2014 Global Thinker by Foreign Policy, described as the Jacque Cousteau of the Art world.

An Underwater Art Museum

Visiting Taylor’s underwater museums allows visitors the opportunity to broaden their minds and educate themselves on fields that are outside their daily lives, and experience samples of worlds beyond their own in a safe and nondestructive manner.

“We call it a museum for a very important reason. Museums are places of preservation, conservation and education.

They’re places where we keep objects of great value to us, where we value them simply for being themselves,” Taylor explained.

As Taylor describes, in both the conservation and preservation of marine ecologies and in the ability to educate the world about the health of the oceans, his underwater museums have an essential role to play in fostering care and understanding of marine ecologies.

Each artwork is brought alive through its union with the biological marine life that attaches to it and thrives.

There is a distinct interactivity between the living organisms and the sculptures. The various forms of ocean life complete the sculptures, transforming them from concrete to textured, living organisms like the figures in Viccisitudes in Grenada; a name that reflects the changing conditions of the planet. In this installation a ring of

Viccisitudes

people stand holding hands as the ocean takes them, coving their bodies with motley of coloured pinks, vibrant oranges, greens and greys.

These colours shift with the changing filtered light that shines down upon them creating a patterned circlet on the ocean floor.

These changing colours and tones and the gentle play of light are qualities that all of Taylor shares and it gives them a sense of calm and peace, and an ambience of mystery.

On a global level, Taylor’s works reached an audience of over 1 billion over the past 10 years, opening a virtual portal or window to the underwater realm, bringing the ocean into

Jason deCaires Taylor

the living room and underlining the importance to urgently conserve it.

As most of the projects are centralised in small areas, entrance fees are charged to visitors. This crucial revenue is then put towards conservation projects and help fund marine park rangers who are able to monitor and protect the coastlines.

Admissions and donations for entering the museums also provide a crucial role in providing revenue for marine conservation initiatives and alternative employment for local fishermen.

To learn more about Taylor’s underwater art, visit www.underwatersculpture.com (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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“Guyana Carnival” slated for May 18-27 T

he Guyana Carnival, an event that has been in the making for quite some time, will become reality between May 18 and 27, 2018, with the official launch set for December 2, in the Parking Lot of the Guyana Marriott Hotel.

The event was birthed as Guyana celebrated its 50th Independence Anniversary last year.

The aim of the Guyana Carnival is to boost tourism in the country, since it is believed the Carnival has major economic benefits.

It is expected that from taxi drivers to hairdressers, clothing stores to hotels and airlines to restaurants will see

an increase in business.

It will also bring about much needed exposure to our local musicians and deejays.

Even before its launch, the event is already being market-

ed and promoted in the Caribbean and further afield.

As seen in other Caribbean islands, carnival is known for its energetic and dynamic showcase of culture and

entertainment. It features revellers in elaborate costumes gyrating through the streets to the sound of sweet soca music, booming through the speakers of the various music systems.

– All-inclusive tourist packages to be available However, the theme for Carnival Guyana 2018 is ‘Genesis’ and will target partyholics in the Diaspora and around the world, providing them with world-class events such as all-inclusive parties, concerts, boat rides, day tours and a grand costume day parade through the streets of Georgetown.

The all-inclusive packages will include hotel accommodation, admission tickets, costume, food, drinks and day tours to the country’s most fascinating tourist sites.

A list of fashion icons are already getting their bands ready and will un-

doubtedly give a glimpse of what Guyana Carnival is all about on December 2. After examining the various bands, revellers will have a choice to get registered and benefit from an all-inclusive, international standard road experience.

Patrons will receive a costume, goodies bag, lunch, snacks, free premium drinks and security all day while masquerading through the streets to some of the most versatile and renowned disk jockeys.

For more information about the event, persons can contact the organisers at guyanacarnival@ gmail.com.

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Lethem observes National Day of Villages

A challenging game of volleyball

Persons participating in the cricket competition

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esidents of Lethem and surrounding communities, including Aranaputa, Annai, Kumu and St Ignatius, participated in a Village Day activity last Friday in observance of National Day of Villages.

The event, organised by the Region Nine administration, was aimed at fostering unity among the people in the region.

The residents participated in football, cricket, volleyball, table tennis and domino matches, as well as novelty competitions like bun-eating and lime-and-spoon

races. There was also an exchange of culture, and a variety of food, drinks, and art and craft items on display and for sale.

At a simple opening ceremony at the Community Ground, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock noted the significance of such an event in the development of the communities, the region, and the country. “The Village movement is a very important ingredient for the development of Guyana,” Minister Allicock is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

He urged the residents to recapture that spirit of cooperation which existed among their forefathers. He also advised that they use the event to reflect on their role in the unification of their communities and country.

“Lethem is a new town, and you must play your role in its development. Stop complaining and start contributing.

We, as a Government, can’t do it alone, we need your support; let us work together for the development of this region,” Minister Allicock urged.

Meanwhile, Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO) Sherwyn Wellington explained that the event also presents a platform for the people to share ideas, identify issues, and develop possible solutions for their respective communities. He said it was in keeping with the Government’s approach to building cohesive communities.

Sexual harassment

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atiricus and the fellas had been parked in the Back Street Bar for a while. Meaning their tongues had been well-lubricated. They’d exhausted their usual political stuff and since religion was off limits by common consent (and bitter experience!) the gyaff turned to the explosion in sexual harassment in the US. “So Cappo, what’s really going on with all this sexual harassment in the US, man?” asked Satiricus, as he signalled for another beer.

“How me guh know?” demanded Cappo.

“Well…yuh jus’ come back fram deh!” pointed out his pal Bungi. “Yuh na l’arn nothin’ de whole year?”

“Budday!! Me bin a wuk fuh fixup people house in New Yark,” Cappo explained a bit aggrievedly. “Wha’ me guh know ‘bout dem people in Hallywood?”

“But it’s not only people in Hollywood, Cappo,” said Hari as he signalled he would pass this round, “Trump boasted he did the same thing!”

“Yeah, Cappo!” insisted Bungi, “He fram New Yark and he seh how he bin a

grabble all dem lady crotch!!”

“Ok…OK…de only t’ing me know, dem ‘merican man always gat fuh try wan t’ing when dem meet ‘homan!”

Cappo related.

“Every woman they meet?” asked Satiricus curiously.

“Yeah!” nodded Cappo. “An’ if yuh na do da, dem t’ink somet’ing wraang wid yuh! Yuh a anti-man!”

“So tell us something, Cappo,” asked Hari. “Did you try a t’ing?”

“Well, waan time me bin a wuk front a wan house,” Cappo started. “An’ me w’istle pan wan ‘merican homan who bin a pass.”

“And?” prompted Satiricus. “What happened?”

“She knack me head wid she han’bag!!” reported Cappo. “An’ she tell me she guh report me to immigra-shan!”

“And that was it?” said Hari incredulously. “You never try a t’ing with the Guyanese girls?”

“Budday, all dem Guyanese people know waan-anadda,” confessed Cappo.”

Yuh bin wan’ me wife kill me?”

The fellas decided it was time to go home before their wives killed them all!

European and Caribbean banks commit millions to reconstruction in hurricane-ravaged islands

EIB Vice President responsible for Climate Action, Jonathan Taylor (left) and CDB President, Dr. Warren Smith (right) sign the agreement in Bonn. (Photo credit: CDB)

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ONN, Germany – The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) have set up an emergency post-disaster reconstruction financing initiative to help the region recover from recent hurricanes.

The new US$24 million financing package is an addition to the US$120 million Climate Action Framework Loan II signed in May this year, and which remains the EIB’s biggest loan to the Caribbean.

Eligible investments under the new loan will include infrastructure reconstruction, with a focus on “building back better” and integrating climate risk and vulnerability assessments into the projects. That will help reduce the Bank’s Borrowing Member Countries’ vulnerability to future natural disasters and worsening climate change impacts. As

well as infrastructure, financing to communities for low-carbon and climate-resilience measures such as improved water resource management are also foreseen.

CDB President Warren Smith and EIB Vice President responsible for Climate Action, Jonathan Taylor, signed the new agreement during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 23) underway in Bonn, Germany.

Smith noted that the 2017 hurricane season has been one of the most devastating the Caribbean has ever experienced and said it underscored the urgent need for investment in climate-resilient infrastructure in the region.

“The signing of this agreement is another milestone in our longstanding partnership with EIB, and will facilitate CDB’s increased support for resilient reconstruction in the

Caribbean. We remain committed to work with our partners to mobilise resources needed to ‘build back better’ and, despite the recent setbacks, help the most vulnerable countries of our region to remain focused on meeting their goals for sustainable development,” he said.

To date, CDB has committed all of the resources under the first Climate Action Line of Credit – US$65.6 million – for seven projects.

That co-financing is associated with total project financing of US$191 million.

Taylor said the EIB stands committed to developing its fruitful 40year partnership with the CDB, to support climate-resilient projects in the Caribbean and to help to adequately tackle the challenges related to climate change.

(Caribbean360)

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Some places in Cuba now off limits to Americans

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The Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski which opened earlier this year as Cuba’s first real luxury hotel is among the 180 entities on the list.

AVANA, Cuba – Americans travelling to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean island of Cuba will have to stay away from certain hotels and other businesses. And they’ll also no longer be able to travel to Cuba on individual people-topeople exchange programmes unless they are sponsored by an organisation.

Those are among some of the travel restrictions that took effect from last Thursday, as President Donald Trump began a roll-back of some of the measures in what he has described as his predecessor’s bad deal with Cuba.

The US State Department has released a list of 180 entities that Americans must now stay away from, because of alleged ties to the Cuban

military, intelligence or security services.

They include famous hotels in Havana like Hotel Ambos Mundos and Hotel Armadores de Santander, as well as the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski which opened earlier this year as Cuba’s first real luxury hotel; stores in Old Havana; marinas; tour companies; and even rum producers.

“We have strengthened our Cuba policies to channel economic activity away from the Cuban military and to encourage the government to move toward greater political and economic freedom for the Cuban people,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

Travel plans made prior to June 16 are exempt from the rules.

Penalties for breaking the sanctions in-

clude heavy fines and, after multiple violations, prosecution.

Of course, the restrictions aren’t sitting well with the Cuban government.

Josefina Vidal, chief of US affairs for the island’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, questioned the validity of the “arbitrary” list of restricted businesses.

She said the new regulations represented a “regress of bilateral relations” that will hurt the Cuban people, US citizens who cannot freely travel, and US businesses interested in dealing with Cuba.

The stricter rules mark a return to the tougher US stance toward Cuba that existed before former President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro restored diplomatic relations in 2015.

(Caribbean 360)

Rehabilitation of prisoners a priority for Jamaica’s National Security Minister

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INGSTON, Jamaica – J a m a i c a ’ s Minister of National Security Robert Montague says Government is committed to the rehabilitation and redemption of incarcerated persons in adult penal institutions.

He said the Jamaican Government is gravely concerned that many inmates, upon release, find themselves back behind bars not very long after.

The minister pointed out that in order to address the challenges; the Government has beefed up rehabilitation initiatives in the seven adult prisons, introducing skills training such as furniture-making; food processing programmes; as well as literacy classes for those who are unable to read.

He said the literacy levels of all new inmates are now assessed and even the game of chess has also been introduced in the prisons with the hope of enabling inmates to be better thinkers.

“The rate of return in our prisons is over 40 per cent. In other words, 40 per cent of the persons in our prisons were there before,” Montague noted.

“We have to equip the prisoner with the skills to survive so he does not come back.”

Jamaica’s Minister of National Security Robert Montague (PHOTO CREDIT: JIS)

The Minister said a hydroponics system at the Spanish Town District Prison, which was donated by the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), is being manned by prisoners who have now used the technology to grow vegetables to feed themselves and their fellow inmates.

He added that under his regime, the approximately 3,500 prisoners on the island will have to undertake some of the responsibility to feed and care for themselves, instead of tax-payers being made to shoulder all the associated costs attached to their welfare.

“I have insisted as minister, that the prisoners must produce at

least one meal per week for themselves. And today, they are now at two meals per week. The taxpayers of Jamaica must get a break,” Montague declared.

With respect to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Minister said the Government is “investing heavily into the training of police officers”, as the organisation is operating way below strength, due to retirement and resignations outpacing the recruitment of new trainees to fill vacancies.

“The Jamaica Constabulary Force is operating at 70 per cent of its strength. The police lose an average of 500 police officers per year for the last four years,” he said.

“When you count all the training, we are only training 550 per year.

And the Government has taken a very aggressive line, because this Minister believes that we must bring the Police Force up to 14,435, which is the establishment strength.”

The Minister said the current strategy to increase the number of officers is in its early stages of execution, and will see 2,000 recruits being trained per year over the next three years.

(Caribbean 360)

New measures to combat violent extremism in T&T —Rowley

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he Trinidad and Tobago Government has approved a counter-terrorism policy and strategy including plans for countering violent extremism, Prime Minister Keith Rowley says.

Rowley, head of T&T’s National Security Council, revealed this at Sunday’s PNM convention at the Queen’s Park Savannah, in Port-ofSpain.

T&T was recently the focus of certain recent UK media reports on potential terrorist threats to the region following the possible return of nationals from the Middle East who joined the foreign terrorist fighters at the Islamic State.

Rowley, putting the matter in the context of T&T’s overall crime situation, said: “For the last two decades this country has been challenged by the criminal elements, both local and international. We don’t make guns and ammunition here nor do we produce cocaine or heroin yet the illegal business of these items have chronically infected our society to the point where whole communities are under siege and the entire nation is on the lookout for the next event or outrage.”

“Many youths have fallen prey to gang culture and the use of violence in the quest for easy money or settling scores threatens the peace,” he said.

“Additionally, a very small minority of our citizens has answered the call to international religious terrorism and a few remain students of this dangerous doctrine, posing a greater strain on our security services and our national bud-

get. We’ve only just completed a comprehensive National Security Policy and Strategy Implementation Plan,” he added.

“Only recently The National Security Council approved the CounterTerrorism Policy and Strategy. In developing our plan of action for Countering Violent Extremism we’ve established partnerships with US, UK and international agencies,” he said.

He said the US-assisted Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES) will be implemented at Piarco Airport before year’s end, at Tobago’s airport and the Cedros port.

“This system gives us the ability to more effectively track the movement of persons across our borders,” Rowley said. Police also established Cold Case Team and recently, a Computer Security Incident Response Team.

He added: “The Deosaran Committee has completed its Manpower Audit of the TTPS and has submitted a comprehensive report which was received by the Cabinet and is on its way to Parliament for public examination by the Joint Select Committee of the Parliament.”

After last Sunday’s convention Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said amendments to the anti-terrorism law will be dealt with in Parliament right after debate concludes on anti-crime and judicial legislation which are needed for to meet Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) terms. (TT Guardian)

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

F

arah Delicia Hussain was born in Guyana, but moved to New York when she was four years old. She is a certified Kripalu yoga teacher and Thai massage therapist. Her family’s cultural and religious history, coupled with the trials of being an immigrant and a first-generation American, instilled a desire for self-exploration and healing. Her philosophy of yoga honours self-study balanced with a deep responsibility to enhance community and environmental health.

While Farah was introduced to yoga poses as a child, she started practicing meditation 14 years ago. The wisdom of the practice and its power to transform led Farah on a pilgrimage to India to study mantra and pranayama and its effects on the mind. Eventually, she found her way to the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health for formal yoga studies, where she received her certification.

She has also done additional training in various aspects of yoga, including Ayurveda (Dr. Vasant Lad and

Farah values her meditation sessions

Swami Mayatitananda), Iyengar Yoga (Rodney Yee), Tantra (Yoganand Michael Carroll), yoga therapy (Gary Kraftsow and Dr. Loren Fishman), and Thai Yoga Bodywork (Lotus Palm) — resulting in over 500 hours of teacher training and 1,000

Pursuing…

P

…unbridled power

rezzie’s legal advisor, Solicitor General (SG) of the AG’s Chambers, itself advised by four “old heads”, argued to the High Court that the said court cannot inquire into Prezzie’s act of unilateralism in appointing (Chief?) Justice James Patterson to the GECOM Chair.

There used to be FIVE old heads, one being the said James Patterson, who’s presumably resigned and won’t be offering advice henceforth. Scout’s and Judge’s honour!!

There is, of course, the conflict of interest, if (Chief?) Justice Patterson was one of those who’d initially advised Prezzie that he could cut the GECOM Knot via the Doctrine of Presidential Unilateralism.

But your Eyewitness won’t pursue that is-

hours of teaching experience. Farah is currently continuing her education in Integrative Yoga Therapy, Ayurvedic Medicine, and Thai Yoga Massage.

With a degree in International Development & Public Affairs from Cornell,

sue right now, seeing as to how Justices in general, and (Chief?)

Justices in particular, are men of integrity and honour – even if their pens do slip every now and then!

According to the SG for the AG, on the matter of Prezzie’s unilateralism, he “is not required to consult, consider and account to the Leader of the Opposition in the exercise of his own independent and deliberate judgment.”

So what about the small matter of Constitutional Art 161 compelling Prezzie to select from a list of six “fit and proper” names to be submitted by the Opposition Leader? And that Prezzie had already considered THREE lists?

“Bah! Humbug!” retorted the SG for the AG. The Court would violate the principles of the separation of powers, spirit and intention of the Constitution, and affront to the rule of law if it rules

Farah has worked for over a decade in NGO development and community organising with a strong focus toward improving the health, education and economic welfare of marginalised groups. Her professional background includes providing technical support for small business owners through Alternatives Federal Credit Union, facilitating countywide youth leadership training and managing youth programs through Cooperative Extension, building capacity for a global technology cooperative, developing home permaculture gardens, and training health caregivers in rural South African clinics.

With a deep love for process-work, she spent three years in SubSaharan Africa working under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. She consulted with HIV/AIDS NGOs, communitybased organisations, and micro-enterprises on capacity building initiatives related to strategic planning, programme design and implementation, financial systems and organizational development.

She has

Thai yoga massage

also taught yoga in rural African villages, retreat centres, ashrams, yoga studios, and at Cornell University. Currently, she sees clients one-onone for yoga therapy and Thai bodywork, as she prepares for graduate studies in clinical social work.

Farah is forever grateful to her family for the rich culture they have bestowed upon her and for all their sacrific-

that Prezzie must choose one of the submitted names!!

Now, for the SG (for the AG) to be making these assertions, she’s obviously interpreting the Constitution — which she invokes.

But authoritative interpretation of the Constitution — Judicial Review — is the sole bailiwick of the Court! And the SG for the AG — even if advised by four old heads — cannot possibly tell the court how to conduct that interpretation! THAT would constitute a violation of the separation of powers doctrine. The only time the Court may defer to the Executive or Legislature is if the issue can be considered a “political question”. This kicks in only when there aren’t judicially manageable norms for scrutinising such political decisions. The intent of the framers to ensure political consensus via ART 161 provides such norms.

The SG for the AG also seems to be arguing that the Court can’t be involved in the subjective matter of Prezzie’s decision making.

But in S.R. Bommai’s case, the Indian Court held: “though subjective satisfaction of the President cannot be reviewed but the material on which satisfaction is based open to review…”

Like the reasons for rejecting those 18 names! …the Socialist Co-op utopia So now that Prezzie has come

es. She thanks her husband for his devotion and commitment to being on this journey with her. She bows to the wisdom that came before her and has gratitude for all her teachers both past and present, of all spiritual and religious paths.

Learn more about Farah’s work at www. farahdelicia.com (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

out of the closet — that he was a card-carrying member of the PNC since he was a Cadet in 1965, and that he will fulfil the vision of Founder Leader Burnham — is he now going to finally justify his policies ideologically? Folks had been wondering about all the pomp and ceremony Prezzie was insisting on — at the cost of billions and billions — even as the economy is imploding.

Now we know. Just as Burnham introduced the Mass Games back in the seventies when his economy was imploding, at least he was determined to go down in style; if not Gingham style, at least socialist North Korean style!! The policy on sugar? Burnham closed 2 estates – Versailles and Leonora.

Closing three, Prezzie’s done him one better! The ideology? Starve out your enemies!!

And the oil money coming down the pike? Just look at what Burnham did with the 1975 sugar windfall.

Pi55ed it away and gave all Guyana “hydro”!! …an obedient society Wondering why Prezzie’s focusing on beefing up the Disciplined Forces. Silly you!! The founder leader had increased the said forces where we had the highest civilian/military ratio in the world – 1: 35 That’ll pacify the Opposition!

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Greenidge asserts that Honorary Consuls are not paid personnel amidts complaints F oreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge has sought to set the record straight regarding Guyana’s handling of its Honorary Consuls in various countries, making it clear that the volunteers are not employed by the Government of Guyana.

Minister Greenidge was making reference to a misleading article in the Kaieteur News which reported that the Honorary Consul in Miami, Ramzan Roshanali, was allegedly being criticised by Guyanese in North America. However, Minister Greenidge explained that the post of Honorary Consul is voluntary, which means the officer is providing service based on the availability of their time.

“The honorary consul is characterised by the following, they are unpaid as regards their labour…they are unpaid,” the minister disclosed at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

Minister Greenidge said the situation in not peculiar to Guyana or any other developing country. In instances where a government is unable to establish offices of consul generals in

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

countries where their nationals reside or for which it wishes to have relations, it retains the services of prominent individuals to function as Honorary Consuls.

Guyana, he said, has some 29 Honorary Consuls who are paid an honorarium or stipend of US$500 per month.

“Because we try to ensure that

the expenses they incur are minimised, they are chosen because they have the capacity to save us money.

You choose either a businessman or you choose a professional. We don’t pay those people, what we do is give them an honorarium that covers the expenses they incur, it is not a cost for their labour they provide,” the Minister explained.

He reiterated that the stipend is a nominal amount which does not even reach a tenth of what Ambassadors’ “employees of the government,” are receiving.

According to one observer, who resides in Florida, the Kaieteur News article which attacked the Honorary Consul of Florida, Mr Ramzan Roshanali, “totally misrepresents the office with a photograph of the wrong building”. The observer said the “article appears biased, is without any comment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who overviews the work of the Honorary Consul, and written in a highly disparaging manner.”

“It is unfortunate that KN has again selectively resorted to attacking the hard work and commitments of Guyanese Americans who continue

Guyana’s Honorary Consul in Florida, Ramzan Roshanali

to serve Guyana, with no compensation, at their own expense and time.

Mr. Ramzan Roshanali is known as a gentleman who goes out of his way to help the Florida Guyanese community. He also sponsors many Guyanese activities in the region at no expense to the Government of Guyana,” the observer stated.

A focus on community development

F

Leonora Community Centre under renovation thanks to Green Dupatta

ounded in 2014 by Nirmala Ramprasad, Green Dupatta is a Canadabased registered charitable organisation devoted to advancing sustainable development and agriculture. The core of sustainable development is found in an organisation’s ability to sustain itself and eventually become selfsufficient. Hence, Green Dupatta provides communities with the base necessities to create programmes that are not solely reliant on funds from abroad.

In 2013, Nirmala travelled to Guyana for the first time, in her visits to family and friends, and came upon an abandoned building, which she was told her grandfather, Harry (Judge) Ramprasad

helped build. Nirmala could not bear to see the building go to waste. When she returned to Canada, Nirmala told her friends about the building she had seen, and what great potential it held. They decided to take on the restoration of this building as their first project, and hence, Green Dupatta was born.

Green Dupatta’s core committee consists of four girls with a passion for change. Nirmala Ramprasad is the acting president and holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Arts in Anthropology.

Keisha Singh is the organisation’s secretary and media director. Keisha is currently working as a Behavioural Therapist and received a

Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Toronto in 2015. As well, the role of creative director and volunteer coordinator is done by Rhea Bhim. Rhea holds a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Society and is currently working to help rehabilitate patients with severe brain injuries. Jasmine Sukhu is the team's most avid traveller. When she is not off on an adventure, she works feverishly as the organisation’s treasurer and finance manager. Jasmine recently completed a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting.

Together these four women use their education and talents to further develop Green Dupatta’s core values and goals.

The charity’s current project is the restoration

of the abandoned community centre in Leonora, Guyana. The centre had numerous safety issues and was no longer in use, but after two years of fundraising, Green Dupatta was able to begin renovations in August of 2015. It has successfully replaced the building’s roof, fence, bathrooms, first-floor interior and created a community garden. The building is currently being used as an after-school daycare with classes for children.

“Funds are raised thanks to our generous sponsors and donors as well as a wide variety of activities throughout the year. Our team attends fairs throughout the summer, such as the Unionville Street Festival, the Durham Caribbean Festival and the LiveGreen Festival hosted at Yonge and Dundas Square, Canada. At these fairs, committee members and volunteers offer henna and face painting to attendees. Also every year, Green Dupatta hosts a Charity Banquet, a gala filled with food, performers, and dancing! This is the organisation’s biggest fundraiser of the year,” Nirmala said in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

With the completion of Green Dupatta’s first project just around the corner, works for a new project are underway. Their commitment to sustain-

Member of Green Dupatta helps with the renovations of the centre

able development, youth leadership and education has led them to their next project - the development and restoration of an elementary school. With the help and encouragement of community members, sponsors and volunteers after the completion of its first project, the organisation will begin the restoration of an abandoned school. This will not only provide young minds with space to learn and explore, but will house a basketball court and running track that will be opened to the public.

“There are so many

ways for one to get involved in or help our organisation. Funds can be donated online at www. greendupatta.com, or directly to any one of our committee members.

However, monetary donations are not the only ones that help. Volunteering time or services is always a great help. If you or anyone you know is interesting in donating funds, time or services please feel free to contact us at greendupatta@ gmail.com,” Nirmala encouraged. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Prostituting…

K

…the PhD

en Danns has thrown his hat into the ring once again. A fella with a decent PhD in Sociology from Stonybrook, NY, back when Burnham was busy constructing his dictatorship and Rodney was undermining him from within, Danns studiously sat on the fence while teaching at UG. He finally jumped off into the PNC camp as a candidate from the “Reform” wing in 2001.

He was one of five Guyanese who were brought together by the US military – SOUTHCOM – in 2011, just after the elections of that year, to analyse the “strategic culture” of Guyana. And not so incidentally, explain why the PPP needed to be ousted from a standpoint of securing US strategic interests. Why isn’t it surprising that Ivelaw Griffith, the 10th – and only anointed Vice Chancellor – was the organiser, chief cook and bottlewasher?

Anyhow Danns got a gig as a columnist for the Chronic (along with Barrington Braithwaite, David Hinds, Lincoln Lewis, etc. Get the drift?) In his most recent column, he strained mightily at a gnat to dub the PPP’s declaration of non-cooperation as “sabotage”!!

The PPP, of course, was reacting to Prezzie’s latest act of political unilateralism — appointing (Chief?) Justice James Patterson as the GECOM Chair.

Danns tried polish up his blatant piece of political propaganda to justify the pressures the PNC will unleash against the PPP between now and 2020 — as announced internationally in Georgia and domestically at Mocha. He cited the theorist Thorstein Veblen’s definition of sabotage – “the conscientious withdrawal of efficiency” – but dubbed it “euphemistic”!!

Fact of the matter is Veblin took pains to demonstrate that the modern negative connotations of the word was introduced by the US capitalists who opposed workers’ efforts to better their working conditions!! “Sabotage” as “the conscientious withdrawal of efficiency”, Veblen showed, lies at the heart of the modern economic system, in that production is curtailed and controlled to prevent “overproduction” and falling prices!!

Danns came up with a list of five kinds of sabotage – “industrial sabotage, the sabotage of estrangement, the sabotage of ritual, the sabotage of incompetence and indolence, and political sabotage” – to hone in on the last, which he dumped on the PPP and which was “the most egregious form of sabotage”!! If Danns hadn’t sold out his credentials to the PNC, he would’ve noted Veblen had advised that sabotage was never to be automatically condemned.

Rather, the anarchist sociologist pointed out that many forms of sabotage are recognized as “indispensable to the common good” and sanctioned by statute and common law, as well as the “public conscience”!

Like the PPP’s programme of civil disobedience against Prezzie’s unilateralism. …strategic culture Knowing your interest is piqued by your Eyewitness’s reference to the SOUTHCOM Conclave, he’ll quote the bare essentials”. It defined “the Origins of Guyana’s strategic culture, (b) probes the values and beliefs of its Keepers, (c) examines territorial disputes, drugs, and crime as core enduring rivalries and emerging Challenges, and (d) discusses the vicissitudes of the November 2011 elections and deficits in capabilities for credible national defense and public security as key aspects of Continuity and Change.”

“As regards the Keepers, the top leaders of the major political parties are important. The PNC and the PPP have dominated the political scene, thereby significantly influencing elite beliefs. The PNC began as a nationalist and anti-colonialist party, but later touted Cooperative Socialism. The PPP preached Marxism, anti-imperialism, and anti-colonialism, until winning power in 1992, when it faced the practical realities of governing in a post-Cold War world.”

“Race-based politics has led to a new discourse about an “ethnic security dilemma,” which presumes that each of the major ethnic groups is obliged to develop its own security strategy vis-à-vis the other. The nation has been witnessing East Indian triumphalism beyond the political domain. The promotion of “Indian-ness” by the PPP Keepers has been a key aim and value for them.”

Not a word about the PNC and “African-ness”!!

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Over 2100 graduate from UG at 51st Convocation Exercise - graduates urged to capitalise on country’s oil find

A

total of 2,165 students from across seven faculties graduated at the University of Guyana’s 51st convocation exercise last Saturday, and two separate ceremonies were held – the first at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) and the other at the Sophia Exhibition Centre.

At the morning ceremony at the NCC, the graduates were urged to unite in their diversities with the aim to develop and advance Guyana. This was expressed by keynote speaker Dr. Dhanpaul Narine, a US-based UG Education Resource Ambassador and native of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo.

Dr. Narine told the graduates of the early struggles he faced before his current success, and disclosed that his mentors included persons from various ethnic groups. To this end, he underscored the need for Guyanese to work in unity to achieve the nation’s objectives – an expressed world view which was expanded through his interactions with Indigenous people during a two-year stint in the Upper Mazaruni.

“We have a system of governance that is broken. We can’t continue with this thing, after 50 years in this country, of ‘us and them’; we can’t have that anymore. As graduates, we have to work and facilitate dialogue where everybody in this country is a winner,” Dr. Narine observed.

Keynote speaker, Dr Dhanpaul Narine

He said citizens should see Guyana as their mother country, and he encouraged the university administration and leaders of the country to work out differences to advance Guyana.

Dr. Narine then led the gathering in singing a moving rendition of Bob Marley’s “One Love”.

The University Chancellor, Professfor Nigel Harris, formally opened the day’s proceedings, and congratulated this year’s graduates for their respective feats.

“I wish you well in whatever paths you will undertake. I hope that you will remember and support the University of Guyana in years to come,” he highlighted.

He further related that the 2017 class is poised to capitalise on the “potential resources” that would be garnered from Guyana’s oil find, and he urged the graduands to strive to not only improve their own and their families’ fortunes, but those of the country as a whole.

UG Vice-Chancellor,

Professor Ivelaw Griffith, stressed that the graduates must be courageous in their endeavours. He also said that this year’s convocation saw the highest ever number of graduates being bestowed with degrees, diplomas and certificates.

The Vice-Chancellor added that 915 students were conferred with such honours at the National Cultural Centre, while the remaining students received theirs at the evening ceremony at the Sophia Exhibition Centre.

International Relations major Elsie Harry was awarded the President’s Medal for Best Graduating Student, and was this year’s valedictorian.

Delivering the feature address at the afternoon ceremony hosted at the Sophia Exhibition Centre was Guyana’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Rudolph Michael TenPow. He shared with the graduands the life lessons he had learnt since leaving the University of

Guyana in 1975.

The ambassador declared that life is full of challenges and opportunities, but noted that one must be discerning enough to recognise the challenges as opportunities. He also acknowledged that Guyana is still experiencing the pains of a growing country.

“By choosing the path of higher education, you’re giving yourself the tools you need to rise to those challenges. You have more computing power in the cell phone you have in your pocket than the American astronauts had on the spaceship that took them to the moon and back… knowledge is freely available at the click of the mouse…,” he said, while positing that no previous generation has had the tools or opportunities, technology or artificial intelligence available today.

Moreover, Ten-Pow emphasised that what sets today’s generation apart from any other is the speed of change in the world — the ability of a man to adapt to the fast changes being an indicator of how successful he will be.

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent; it is the one that is most adaptable to change,” he said, quoting Charles Darwin.

Nonetheless, he added that adaptation is not enough, as he charged the graduands to be the agents of change by shaping change to suit their

evolving needs, rather than having change being imposed upon them.

In closing, he expounded on the power of imagination to bring about change in society, and advised the graduands to have in possession a set of personal values to guide them throughout life.

Downhill

Meanwhile, the much-anticipated momentous occasion for hundreds of students quickly went downhill after the administration of the University of Guyana opted for a venue change for the larger of two segments of their 51st Convocation Ceremony on Saturday last.

This decision resulted in over 1200 graduands being cramped into the auditorium of the Sophia Exhibition Centre, while a great number of their family members and loved ones were left exposed to the elements, which was the reason behind shifting the ceremony from the university’s Turkeyen Campus in the first place.

Amidst the unbecoming conditions, students took to social media even as the ceremony was underway to express their displeasures over the unpleasant situation which plagued their graduation day.

Topping the list of grievances aired on the various online platforms was the poor accommodations put in place for the relatives of the graduating students. Adding

to that, many relayed concerns in regard to the disorganisation in seating arrangements of the graduands which hindered the smooth flow in the ceremony. Some of the other issues raised were poor ventilation and disruption in audio during the proceeding.

In fact, some even expressed that the mere decision to stage the ceremony at the Sophia Centre was by virtue a disgraceful send off for students who have underwent significant expenses to pursue a tertiary education at the institution.

As such, in light of all that had occurred, the University of Guyana’s Student Society (UGSS) on Monday announced that they have approached the institution’s administration, presenting a list of recommendations to correct the deplorable outcomes of their graduation which was hosted over the weekend.

The UGSS is calling for a refund of portion of the monies invested by the students for their graduation packages.

With criticisms still pouring in following what was dubbed the “disgraceful” Sophia graduation, the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus in Berbice is set to host its Convocation, where more than 200 students will graduate on November 18. As such, the public will be closely looking on with high expectations of the institute correcting its recent mistakes.

40 feature

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com Houses across the river from the Paruima airstrip

P

aruima Village, with a population of about 800, is located in Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven. It is said to be the only Arecuna speaking community in Guyana.

The Paruima and Panasima Falls are scenic waterfalls in that territory. Located in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region between Guyana and Venezuela, the area also hosts stunning views of the Kamarang River

leading to Venezuela.

There are also huge rock formations between which children enjoy playing hide and seek.

Paruima Village also contains a place of worship, sports ground and a college named the Davis Indian Industrial College. (Photos from Annette Arjoon-Martins’ Facebook page, Is WE Own) (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Paruima Seventh-Day Adventist Church

View of Kamarang River from the side of the church

Indenture Conference slated for Dec 2 at Columbia University, NY

O

n the occasion of 100th anniversary (1917-2017) of abolition of Indentureship from India, the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) is hosting an international conference to reflect on this historic event. Academics, community leaders and students are invited to make presentations and or to participate in the conference. The public is also invited to be a part this important conference which theme is "IndoCaribbean Diaspora's Achievements, Challenges and Prospects". Attendance and participation is free.

The organizers (FIIDS) note that "the inspiring journey of the indentureds and their descendants that experienced much hardship and adversity during this period of indentureship (1838 to 1917) is worthy of reflection and commemoration".

The descendants of the indentureds have established influential communities in the global Indian diaspora (in the Caribbean, North America, UK, Holland, etc.) retaining their Indian heritage (culture) and strong links with Mother India. The organizers (FIIDS) invite the public to be a part of this conference. Experts on the subject and leaders from the Caribbean, the diaspora and India will reflect on the theme of the conference. The conference provides an opportunity for the public from both the Indo-Caribbean and Indian (NRI) American communities to connect and discuss about the current state and future of the Indian Diaspora.

You can pre-register at the Event Page: http://fiids-usa.org/ny-indentured-indian-diaspora Day: Saturday 2nd Dec 2017 Time: 1:30pm-5:30pm (checkin 12:30pm - Light Lunch - Snacks) Venue: Davis Auditorium CEPSR, Columbia University, NY 530 W 120th St, New York, NY 10027, USA Session 1: Historical Perspectives: Migration, Resistance, Settlement, and Adaptation Session 2: Indians’ contribution to Community’s and Country’s

Development.

Session 3: Contemporary Socio, Cultural, Political and Economic Issues/Challenges Facing Diaspora Indians Session 4: Where and how do Indian Diasporas onward journey proceed from here? and its relations with India and Indian Diaspora FIIDS WebSite: http://fiids-usa. org FIIDS Facebook Page: https:// www.facebook.com/FIIDSUSA/ Speakers: Hon. Mr. Ravi Dev, Founder of Rise Organise and Rebuild Guyana (ROAR), an Indo-Guyanese political party, and ex-Member of Parliament of Guyana Dr. Vishnu Bisram, pollster and political analyst.

Dr. Somdat Mahabir, Research Scientist and Scholar.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dr. Satnarine Balkaransingh, Author of book “The Shaping of The Culture: Rituals and Festivals in Trinidad” and PhD from he University of Trinidad and Tobago Prof. Dr. Lomarsh Roopnarine, Jackson State University, MS, Latin American and Caribbean History and Guyana Times Newspaper Columnist.

Dr Kumar Mahabir,Anthropologist (Ph.D. University of Florida) & Assistant Professor (University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)) Prof. Yash Pathak, Professor and Associate Dean at University of South Florida, Founding Director of International Center for Cultural Studies and Ms. Karen Dipnarine, Mass Communications Professional and Cofounder The Green Brain Initiative For Information: please email khanderao@fiids-usa.org The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (501 c 3 FIIDS-USA) is an Indo American think tank for policies studies, awareness and advocacy on issues and policies related to IndoAmericans, Indo-US Relations and Indian Diaspora.

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Opposition says independence of constitutional agencies must be respected …as Audit Office, GECOM 2018 budgets slashed

T

he recent multimillion-dollar cuts by the Finance Ministry to the budget proposals put forward by several constitutional agencies is not going down well with the Parliamentary Opposition. The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) party wants the autonomy of these agencies to be respected by the government.

According to PPP/C Parliamentarian Juan Edghill, the agencies submitted their plans based on the programs they have to conduct.

He was adamant that these agencies, especially the Audit Office of Guyana, be allowed to carry out their Constitutional mandate without interference by the Executive.

“These agencies are protected. These are independent agencies from the Executive and they come up with their own programs and they request their monies to fund these programs. If the Minister of Finance is going to cut budgets, it is going to interfere with the agencies, the audit office in particular which has to scrutinise Government.”

According to the 2018 annual budget proposals of Constitutional agencies which were tabled in Parliament last week, the Audit Office’s request of Gy$844.4M was slashed to a proposal of Gy$783.8M. In slashing the amount, it was noted that budget 2018’s submission did not fulfil certain requirements set out in a Budget Circular.

The need has been expressed for the audit office to be as strong as possible when it comes to its audit capacity.

This is especially so as Guyana gets ready to enter oil production. In addition, Auditor General Deodat Sharma has already expressed intentions to audit Guyana’s environmental protection systems.

During the closing ceremony for a multi-year capacity building programme held recently, resident Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Sophie Makonnen had highlighted this issue.

According to

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma

Makonnen, the independence and capacity of the Auditor General’s Office is one of the priority areas to be addressed by Guyana. She had noted that this was to ensure there is transparency and accountability with regards the oversight of the nation’s revenue and expenditure of public resources.

She had explained that the US$2M the IDB plugged in the capacity building programme for the Audit Office is a component of the wider assistance provided to Guyana with regards capacity building for the Public Sector.

The Audit Office of Guyana was reportedly plagued with a poor work environment, limited IT capacity and a huge backlog of statutory auditing among other issues prior to technical assistance from InterAmerican Development Bank and the government.

But while the international donor agency has been fully supportive, the proposed budget for the Audit Office was slashed by the Government in the National Assembly during consideration of the 2017 Estimates of Expenditure, and the resultant consequences had included the AG grappling with not having adequate staff, or adequate funds to pay them.

The proposed estimate for the AG’s office in the last budget was Gy$771.2 million for that Constitutional agency that is tasked with auditing ‘the state apparatus’, but Finance

Minister Winston Jordan had decreased this sum to Gy$754.9M. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had been vocal in its opposition to the budgetary cut. The party pointed out that the total budgetary allocation for constitutional agencies in 2016 was Gy$8 billion, whereas it is only Gy$6 billion in 2017.

The AG’s office has a wide remit, being responsible for auditing the public accounts of Guyana and presenting reports of those audits to the Minister of Finance, thence to the National Assembly. As laid out in Article 223

of the Constitution of Guyana, the Auditor General is authorised to audit all officers and authorities of the Government, including Commissions.

Other agencies on the chopping block for 2018 were the Parliament Office, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the Supreme Court of Judicature (request of Gy$2.7B was reduced to Gy$1.8B), the Director of Public Prosecutions chambers (request of Gy$223.8M was reduced to Gy$174.2M) and the Office of the Ombudsman.

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44 Feature

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Preserving our literary heritage

By Petamber Persaud

“

D

erailed” could be an appropriate subtitle to the novel, “Karma Curry”, because evil plots, machinations and schemes are derailed, in the world of humankind, and in the sphere of the gods, even many good intentions are derailed and, also, the world of the author does not escape slices of derailment.

In this novel, the world of the immortal and the world of mortal feed off each other for survival, a novel approach to storytelling.

“Karma Curry” is about love, lust, betrayal, unrequited love, filial responsibility, revenge, remorse and atonement.

“Karma Curry” is about reaping what you sow through how your actions in previous lives affect your current life. “Karma Curry” is, on one hand,

about the continuation of tradition and, on the other hand, the challenging and breaking of tradition.

This conflict is sustained throughout the lives of each main player and throughout the novel and it is this conflict that accounts for the novel been a cut above novels exploring similar themes.

The main story of “Karma Curry” is centred on the life of Karam Mohandas – his formative days in Guyana, growing pains, youthful tryst with love and lusting, his weaknesses, cowardice and failures and his life in America, a failed attempt to outrun his fate, ending in suicide on his way home, by way of deportation. In the novel, suicide seems to be the only way out of predicaments as many players either prefer or contemplate that method of ‘solution’.

The other main character of the novel, in the humankind world, is Priya Etwaroo who is abandoned in Guyana

by Karam and who eventually finds herself in America where the de-

nouement of the story occurs, about four years after the man had escaped to that country. The other woman who suffers similar fate at the caprice of Karam is Gaitri Kumar who, in a series of coincidences, also finds herself in America. The Guyana chapter on those two is documented, but nothing else is known about either women until they arrival in America, seeking revenge and plotting the downfall of Karam.

(There are, at least, two other women who could have reported Karam’s illegal status, namely Asha and Elizabeth.)

All of the above machinations are directed and misdirected by gods and goddesses whose sphere is replete with similar characteristics displayed in mortals, even names and events share characteristics. For instance, in ‘Brahmjoog’, where there is an appearance of democracy, the reader encounters places like ‘Bacradom’ where the ‘tribes’ have the freedom of choice, ‘Jhaiberia’ – a place for re-indoctrination and the ‘dreaded

Bhundstapo’. This subplot is intriguing where there is jockeying among the gods and goddesses for position in the hierarchy and where there is at least one subcommittee which is male dominated. The author does an admirable job at parodying the sphere of gods and goddesses, leaving the reader with questions.

The novel unfolds in a series of stories within stories showing an influence from the great Indian texts like the Puranas and Mahabharata but in the novel each character is introduced with a sometimes too detailed backstory. This has two effects in that it slows the action and decrees the suspense with foreshadowing of the end – a bad end to it all. However, these stories would make a great collection of linked short fiction.

Foreshadowing seems to be a favourite technique of the author.

For instance, the pandit is always withholding, from the parties involved, information from

his ‘readings’ when he ‘open book’; the said information to which the reader is privy. This brings into focus pitfalls of first novels where eager writers want to pack everything between two covers with over-description and over-explanation, leaving nothing to the imagination. Another distraction is head-hopping which works sometimes but this happens throughout the novel where the reader is given differing viewpoints by the parties involved to the same action/scene.

Despite these niggling distractions, the author redeems himself through some excellent writing in which he captures the nuances of life in the countryside of Guyana and its

capital city, Georgetown, and the metropolis of New York. The author seems to be poking fun or having fun with societal norms with humour sneaking up on the reader. His eye for details and fluid use of language are endearing to the reader.

Readers and publishers would love this new (cosmic) approach to ageold and age-worn story patterns.

“Karma Curry” is a first novel by Jerry K. Durbeej, published 2017 by CreateSpace I n d e p e n d e n c e Publishing Platform, North America.

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

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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escia Branche, a teacher attached to the Richard Ishmael Secondary School, succumbed to injuries days after her battered and unconscious body was found in the vicinity of Princes Street and Louisa Row, Georgetown on Sunday last. Reports are that the 22-year-old woman had been brutally beaten after a night out with friends on Saturday.

While Police are still uncertain as to what exactly had transpired, several persons have been questioned. In light of the brutal incident, the Guyana Times International have asked persons their thoughts regarding the ordeal, and whether or not they believe enough is being done to ensure that justice will be served? Here are the views of the public:

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Health Behaviour “Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit.

Then get back to work.” – Ralph Marston

Nostalgia ‘64 B

S

atiricus was brooding. The last time he had barely dodged the bullet at the Back Street Bar about Prezzie’s speech in America, where the man swore on his heart (and hope to die!) that he was always a real die-hard Burnt Hamite.

Satiricus didn’t care much for Prezzie’s beliefs…but feared he’d have to explain why his leaders, Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat, still hadn’t spoken out.

“Sato, leh me aks yuh somet’ing,” began Bungi, before Satiricus could even start on his beer. “Burnt Ham people na bin gi’e Nagga Man wan good trashin’ wan time?”

“That’s right!” said Satiricus brightly. “Nagga Man’s been fighting the Pee an’ See over fifty years, you know!”

“An’ ‘e nevah get wuk unda Burnt Ham, right?” asked Cappo, as he polished off his beer.

“That’s right!” repeated Satiricus. “He had to carry Jamet’s purse for a long time, to feed his family!”

“But if Burnt Ham victimised him so much?” added Hari. “Now that Prezzie admitted he’s always been a Burnt Hamite, isn’t he worried?”

“Especially when ‘e seh ‘e guh do wha’ Burnt Ham do in 1964!” grinned Bungi.

“Why should Nagga Man be worried?” asked Satiricus.

“Fish ah play ah sea, but ‘e nah know watah ah boil fuh am!” exclaimed Cappo. “Yuh fuget afta Burnt Ham get pawah ‘e dump ‘e pardna like when yuh done suck aringe dry?”

“But Pressie and the Pee an’ See need our KFC votes!” protested Satiricus, while he put down his beer.

“Sato, me fr’en, nah tek yuh mattie eye fuh see,” said Bungi shaking his head sadly. “Ah wha’ yuh t’ink Prezzie put Patto fuh count de vote?”

“I know I’m not the brightest bulb in the room fellas,” said Satiricus. “But you think Nagga Man stupid?”

“Nah! ‘e na schupit, ‘e greedy!” said Cappo sadly.

“But ‘e sh’uld rememba: wa sweet ah goat mouth ah sour ah eh backside!”

“Let’s drink to that!” said Hari.

ack when I was rotating through Family Medicine, we had a lecture on the concepts of “Heath behaviour” and “illness behaviour”, which I believe may be useful to the general reader.

Heath behaviour refers to any action a person undertakes to promote, maintain, or protect health. And illness behaviour refers to the actions taken when sick to get better.

It made me remember that, at the beginning of med school, I was struck by how finely balanced all our regulatory systems are, ensuring that all of the processes in our body are in sync. Makes you sympathetic with those who believe there had to be a “master watchmaker”!! And think how elaborate our immune system is, to prevent us from getting sick all of the time. There are an awful lot of bacteria and viruses out there launching attacks on us, but we don’t spend every waking moment sick, warding them off, do we? That’s because our immune system is

fighting off the invaders all the time.

And I realised how much we take these things for granted.

We eat what we want when we want, not caring about what the nutritional content of the food or our irregular eating times might be doing to our bodies. Or we adopt a sedentary, couch potato lifestyle with nary a thought as to what is happening to our body that evolved over hundreds of thousands of years being quite active. And while we take in the car every 3000 miles for the oil and filter change, we don’t make regular check-ups with our doctor just to check if the systems are OK. Until we get sick, that is. We place more importance on our illness behaviour than our health behaviour.

But being healthy isn’t just about being physically healthy.

The WHO thus defines health: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

And you’d be surprised as to how many “physical” illnesses are cause by “mental” disequilibrium. One medical expert, in the book, “Lives of a cell”, hazarded a guess that it might be as high as 50%!

There might be interminable arguments by philosophers about where the mind might be located, but there’s no question mental health is as important for normal-functioning as any of the other aspects of health. Mental health is defined as “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” (OK… that one’s from the text!

But it’s pretty complete.)

What about social health…we are social beings, aren’t we? Well that deals with your lifestyle choices. Do you want to die early from lung cancer? Then by all means keep chainsmoking those ciga-

Anu Dev rettes. But secondary smoking is even deadlier to those around.

So just quit! Smoking and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol are all lifestyle choices that you should say no to if you (or those around you) want to stay healthy. Remember: alcohol and domestic violence are highly correlated in our culture.

Other decisions you can make about your lifestyle are about the food you eat. Eat smarter, eat healthier. In Guyana, we’re at high risk for diseases like hypertension and diabetes. These diseases don’t have absolute cures, just ways to manage the illness. So let’s take preventative measures to prevent ourselves from getting these diseases.

Let’s try adjusting our health behaviour, because prevention is always better than cure!

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Shah Rukh Khan to inaugurate 48th International Film Festival of India

B

ollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be inaugurating the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), India’s biggest and Asia’s oldest film festival.

SRK will make the official welcome address to all the delegates from across the globe as IFFI 2017 kicks off in the beach state of Goa. This year’s festival is scheduled to take place between the 20th to 28th of November.

Talking about the festival, Shah Rukh Khan expressed his joy as the theme of the festival is ‘The Future of Indian Cinema’.

He said, “It’s an exciting time for world cinema and especially Indian cinema. It’s wonderful that our country has opened its doors, with the International Film Festival of India, providing a platform to showcase some of the finest films from across the globe. As IFFI gets into its 48th year, I look forward to inaugurating the festival and celebrating what I regard in many ways as the future of cinema. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to all the delegates to India, with open arms, as only we Indians can.”

We have also come to know that Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is going to be honoured with ‘Personality of the Year’ award. Producer Girish Johar confirmed the same in a tweet.

IFFI has been surrounded by controversies after the Information and Broadcasting Ministry dropped films like ‘S Durga’ and ‘Nude’ from the final list of feature films to be screened at the festival. Following this announcement jury chairman Sujoy Ghosh and members like Apurva Asrani and Gyan Correa resigned from the jury. (Indian Express)

Karan Johar announces ‘Dhadak’ starring Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter

A

fter the announcement of Sara Ali Khan’s debut film ‘Kedarnath’, people were patiently waiting to know details about Jhanvi Kapoor’s debut.

We have spotted her going to the gym, getting herself Bollywood ready with dance classes and hanging out with Ishaan Khatter too. In fact, until recently, rumours were rife that the two would be romancing each other in Marathi film Sairat’s remake. But it is no more a rumour. Karan Johar on Wednesday made the official announcement about his next production venture starring Janhvi and Ishaan. And it is going to be the Hindi remake of Marathi hit ‘Saira’t. The film is titled ‘Dhadak’.

The director earlier posted a video increasing people’s curiosity about the project. In the video, he said, “Five years ago, Sidharth, Varun and Alia joined the Dharma family. And as we speak, they are scintillating

A

fter watching Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as an epitome of poise, elegance and beauty in Karan Johar directorial ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, fans of the beauty have been waiting with bated breath to watch her back on the silver screen.

And on June 15, 2018, the wait will be finally over as her next big screen outing, ‘Fanney Khan’ also starring Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao will hit

Priyanka Chopra is still known as the ‘Desi Girl’, all thanks to ‘Dostana’

A

ctor Priyanka Chopra has fondly recounted that it was her film ‘Dostana’ which gave her the ‘desi’ epithet. ‘Dostana’ on Tuesday clocked nine years of its release in Hindi cinema and Priyanka took to Twitter to express her happiness.

“It’s nine years of ‘Dostana’, the movie that’s forever made me the ‘Desi girl’. Adore you Tarun Mansukhani, Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham,” she tweeted.

Directed by Mansukhani, ‘Dostana’ was a story about two men pretending to be a gay couple in order to secure an apartment. Both fall in love with the same girl and strive to win her heart, only to realise that she loves someone else.

The film also featured Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham in the lead roles. While Bobby Deol, Kirron Kher, Sushmita Mukherjee and Boman

Irani were in supporting roles.

Currently, Priyanka, who rose to international fame playing an FBI agent in the American drama series ‘Quantico’, is busy with two Hollywood films.

The ‘Mary Kom’ actor has already completed her next film ‘Isn’t It Romantic’, featuring Adam Devine, Liam Hemsworth and Rebel Wilson.

It is slated to release on February 14, 2019.

She will also star in the Hollywood project ‘A Kid Like Jake’ alongside Jim Parsons, Claire Danes and Octavia Spencer. Helmed by Silas Howard the film is about a 4-year-old boy Jake who happens to prefer Cinderella to GI Joe. His parents Alex and Greg Wheeler want to enroll their bright and precocious child to city’s best Kindergarten.

On the Bollywood front, Priyanka is yet to announce her next project. (Indian Express)

Fawad Khan turns model for a clothing brand and his latest photos are too hot to be missed

stars of the movie industry. We are about to extend our family. We are about to present two actors, the details would be out at 5 pm. It is by the director of ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’ and ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhania’. What’s the name of the film? Well, let me just give you a hint – My heart is beating faster.”

Later at sharp 5 pm, he posted the first look and wrote, “PRESENTING… JANHVI and ISHAAN @ZeeStudios_ and @ DharmaMovies proudly present directed by @ShashankKhaitan @apoorvamehta18 ..#DHADAK”

the screens. But you do not need to wait for so long to catch a glimpse of your favourite star. A couple of photos from the sets of Atul Manjrekar directorial have surfaced on social media.

Seen in the photos are Anil Kapoor and Aishwarya who have earlier shared the screen in ‘Humara Dil Aaapke Paas Hai’ (2000) and ‘Taal’ (1999). Anil is seen donning the look of a man

The poster also had the release date information. ‘Dhadak’, which is directed by Shashank Khaitaan, will hit screens on July 6 next year.

Trade analyst Komal Nahta tweeted, “Just saw four teaser posters of Karan Johar’s adaptation of Marathi ‘Sairaat’, starring Jahnavi & Ishaan, and to be directed by Shashank Khaitan.

Just too exciting and enigmatic. What’s the title? I’m not revealing just as yet!”

Well, we are sure the industry is going to welcome the two stars with a lot of love. (Indian Express)

in his 50s or early 60s with his grey hair and Aishwarya looks as gorgeous and charming as ever. ‘Fanney Khan’ is the

F

awad Khan is a stunner and there is no doubt about it. But other than enjoying his acting career back in Pakistan, this actor also owns a clothing brand. This Pakistani actor is working along with his wife Sadaf Khan, and the collection is known as ‘Silk’ by Fawad Khan.

And as the actor is so handsome himself, why would he need any other model to present his collection?

Yes, going by a few photos shared by the fan clubs of Pakistani actor Fawad, he recently shot for his collection and the photo shoot is simply too hot to be missed. Fawad Khan is seen dressed in traditional wear and he looks absolutely dapper.

Not only this, the actor also did a ramp walk

for his wife Sadaf Khan’s bridal collection recently.

Isn’t this cute?

Fawad Khan made his Bollywood debut with Shashanka Ghosh’s ‘Khoobsurat’ opposite Sonam Kapoor and was also seen in films like ‘Kapoor And Sons’ and ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’.

However, the clamour against Pakistani artists just before the release of ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, which featured Fawad in a cameo, resulted in him

leaving the country.

At present, the actor is busy with films and TVCs in Pakistan and setting aside time for kids Ayaan and Elayna Khan. We saw the happy family at a private preview earlier when Sadaf launched her clothing line in Karachi, Pakistan.

She then named the collection after Khans’ little daughter ‘Elayna’. (Indian Express)

official Indian remake of the Oscar-nominated 2000 Dutch film ‘Everybody’s Famous’. The film is a hilarious take on how far

some people are willing to go for fame. It will be the first time that we would see Rajkummar Rao romancing Aishwarya in the movie. Talking about romancing one of world’s most beautiful women, Rajkummar earlier said, “I am a little nervous, and excited. Because you have to romance the world’s most beautiful woman.

But it’ll come very naturally, I am sure.”

Producer Prernaa

Arora of KriArj Entertainment announced the release date of the movie a few days back and said in a statement, “We are happy to announce that ‘Fanney Khan’ is coming to wish audiences Eid Mubarak on the 15th June next year. The film is a beautiful slice of life story that comes straight from the heart and will have audiences thoroughly entertained.” (Indian Express)

Hollywood 49

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Justice League: Know more about the characters

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xcitement for DC universe’s first superhero ensemble film ‘Justice League’ is at an all-time high. The movie stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg and Ezra Miller as Flash. These superheroes and some others like Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter, which might appear in the later films or make a cameo in this film, together make up the Justice League of America’ who is older than even Marvel’s ‘Avengers’ when it comes to comics. ‘Avengers’ was in fact, the answer to ‘Justice League’.

And then there is Steppenwolf, the villain of the film. Ciarán Hinds, known for starring primarily as Julius Caesar in HBO’s ‘Rome’ and Mance Rayder in ‘Game of Thrones’, plays the character although only his voice is clear-

ly recognisable and the entire body is enhanced using CGI to make it a challenge to the ‘Justice League’.

We already know Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman, but some of you might be unaware about the new additions. Also, not everybody knows just who the hell this ‘Steppenwolf’ is as he is far from DC’s most famous villain.

Well, we are here to help.

Aquaman: This character is played by Jason Momoa, who is by now bored of playing all-powerful characters like Conan the Barbarian and Khal Drogo. Aquaman, as the name suggests, is a hero of the seas. He carries a trident which is basically the same trident of Greek god Poseidon.

He is also the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis (yes, the mythical lost city of Atlantic, from where many legends originate and after which the Atlantic Ocean is named). He is

said to be possessing superhuman strength.

He also has the ability to manipulate water and he can communicate with marine life.

The Flash: Many of you must have seen the Grant Gustin-starrer TV series based on the character, but Ezra Miller’s interpretation of Flash looks infinitely fun. He is an under-confident young man who has not taken control of his powers. Not for nothing, The Flash is known as the fastest man on the plan-

Blake Shelton named People Magazine’s 2017 ‘Sexiest Man Alive’

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eople magazine named Blake Shelton its ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ for 2017 on Tuesday, but it took some convincing by his girlfriend Gwen Stefani to get her guy on board.

The country music superstar and coach on NBC’s “The Voice” hates being the center of attention, the magazine said. “She goes, ‘Listen to me,” recalled the 6-foot-5, Oklahoma-bred Shelton. “You’re going to regret this for the rest of your life if you don’t take this gift and just live in the moment.

I’ve been ugly my whole life. If I can be sexy for a year, I’m taking it!”‘ Bonus for the outspoken Shelton: He can hold the accolade over the head of Adam Levine, his fellow coach on the singing competition and 2013’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’. Only Shelton used some colorful language to describe that experience between his pal and banter partner on air.

Shelton said he was, in fact, proud and honored to have been picked, adding: “I’m not going to treat this like Hugh Jackman or one of those guys who’s humble about it. People are going to hate me over this. Because it’s going to be used in every conversation, whether it’s at ‘The Voice’ or at the feed store in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, or in a conversation with a doctor. Until I have to hand the title, which is what it is to me, over to someone else, this is mine. This is like a certification.”

Shelton’s latest album, “c,” hit No. 1

on the Billboard Top Country Albums recently.

The magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ special double issue hits newsstands Friday.

Growing up, Shelton told People, he had some awkward years.

“I think to describe myself as a child, one word comes to mind. And that’s fat,” he said. “People say I haven’t changed since before I made it.

And I’m still fat today. That’s proof!”

He’s not, of course. He hops on the treadmill to stay in shape, though he acknowledges the allure of chips and dip, a bag of Cheetos when he’s starving and a trip to Sonic when he’s back home in Tishomingo.

Shelton wasn’t the only sexiest man anointed. The magazine named the Pearson men of NBC’s ‘This is Us’ as sexiest cast: Sterling K. Brown, who plays Randall; Milo Ventimiglia, who plays Jack; and Justin Hartley, who plays Kevin. Their reveal went to NBC’s ‘Today’ show.

“I think being sexy is just being comfortable in your skin, and these two cats are very comfortable in their skin,” Brown said at a photoshoot of his co-stars. Ventimiglia said he believes humor, confidence and kindness are key. Oh, and “stubble.”

Hartley agreed: “Stubble and forgiveness, that’s my mantra.”

The trio will be featured inside the special issue. (Indian Express)

et. He is known to run as fast as light and uses his speed to take down baddies. The immense speed also gives him superhuman strength to take on beings physically more powerful than him.

Cyborg: Halfhuman, half-machine, but all superhero. That is how Ray Fisher’s character Cyborg is described in one of the promos of the movie. Cyborg, whose real name is Victor Stone, was fullhuman once. After an accident, his father fused

him with alien technology to save him. The result is Cyborg. Cyborg can interface with any form of technology, can mould his body into different weapons. He is described as the perfect combination of the power of technology and the strength of human heart.

Steppenwolf: Now we come to the villain. Steppenwolf is dismissed by many as the fodder until Darkseid comes into the picture.

Darkseid is one of the

most powerful beings in DC universe. He is DC’s Thanos, and the ruler of a planet called Apokolips, but Steppenwolf is still a formidable villain because he is the general of Darkseid’s armies of parademons. He is also related to Darkseid’s uncle and a harbinger of death and destruction of earth. The duo destroys planets for pleasure and earth is just another step in their quest of total domination of all reality. As seen in one of the promos, Steppenwolf is going to be more than handful for the ‘Justice League’.

Darkseid: The Mad Titan Thanos, who is the primary antagonist of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was Marvel’s answer to Darkseid and Thanos’ very physical presence was modeled on him. Now you can imagine the force of nature Darkseid is.

Justice League is slated to open on November 17. (Indian Express)

‘Wonder Woman 2’ to release earlier than scheduled

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al Gadot’s ‘Wonder Woman 2’ will hit the screens on November 1, 2019, a month and a half before its original release date.

Warner Bros had put up November 1 on the calendar with a yet-untitled DC movie. Patty Jenkins is on board to direct it and Gadot is locked in to reprise her role as the Daughter of Hippolyta, reports deadline.com.

Earlier, Warner Bros had announced that ‘Wonder Woman 2’ will release on December 13, 2019. Now, with the change in date, ‘Wonder Woman 2’ faces zero competition.

There were reports that Gadot wouldn’t sign for the sequel unless Brett Ratner’s name was removed from the franchise. According to deadline. com, this is not true.

“First, Gadot is locked in to star in ‘Wonder Woman 2’ and there haven’t been sour talks between the actress and Warner Bros’ officials in regard to Ratner,” read the report.

Ratner’s production company

RatPac-Dune Entertainment helped produce “Wonder Woman as part of its co-financing deal with Warner Bros.

The movie has grossed more than US$400 million internationally and Ratner’s company will take a healthy share of the profits.”

According to deadline.com, RatPac Dune isn’t committed to finance ‘Wonder Woman 2’.

“Its commitments with Warner Bros end with the April 20 release of ‘Rampage’. In addition, Ratner isn’t listed as a producer on the first ‘Wonder Woman’, as RatPac was merely a passive financier.” (Indian Express)

Sad what happened to him: Christopher Plummer on Kevin Spacey

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eteran actor Christopher Plummer, who replaced embattled actor Kevin Spacey in Ridley Scott’s ‘All The Money In The World’, said he feels sad for the “talented and terrifically gifted actor”. Scott had dropped Spacey from his upcoming film ‘All The Money In The World’ in wake of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment against him.

“I think it’s very sad what happened to him. Kevin is such a talented and a terrifically gifted actor, and it’s so sad. It’s such a shame,” Plummer told Vanity Fair. The ‘Remember’ actor said he is not really replacing Spacey in the film but instead “starting all over again”. “I’m very saddened

by what happened to Kevin, but what can I do? I’ve got a role. I admire Ridley Scott and I’m thrilled to be making a movie for him.

“And so I thought, that was it. Ages ago I was in contention for (the role), way back. So I was familiar with it, and then Ridley came to me and I agreed.

I wanted to work with him. He’s very good. I loved the script. The script is wonderful,” said Plummer.

‘All The Money In The World’ also stars Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Williams in key roles and the duo are believed to return for reshoots.

Plummer, will portray J Paul Getty in the story about the infamous 1973 kidnapping of his grandson, 16-year-old John Paul Getty III. (Indian Express)

50 sport

WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

International Friendly Football Match

Determined Jaguars held to fighting draw against T&T Warriors

By John Ramsingh

A

19th minute header from Sheldon Holder and tight defending ensured that Guyana came out with a spirited 1-1 draw against Caribbean Powerhouse Trinidad and Tobago in their International Friendly match at the Ato Boldon stadium in Balmain Couva, Trinidad on Tuesday night.

The hosts controlled much of the game including the early exchanges and had three shots on goal within the first 13 minutes which was played at a high intensity in front of about 1,500 screaming Soca Warriors supporters.

However, it was the visiting Golden Jaguars who made their first chance of a goal count. In the 19th minute, Kadel Daniel dribbled past two defenders and gave Sheldon Holder a perfect past right in front of the goal. Holder then headed past the opposing captain, Sheldon Bateau and the advancing goalkeeper Marvin Phillip to find the back of the net

Goal! Sheldon Holder puts Guyana ahead against Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Tuesday night

and silenced the crowd on a cool, windy night in Central Trinidad.

The rest of the first half continued to be very eventful with high intensity plays and possession being shared almost equally. However, the quicker Warriors who created more scoring opportunities could not breach the dogged Jaguars defence and the first half ended 1-0 in favour of the men in yellow.

At the start of the second stanza, the home team made a substitution with Shahon Winchester replacing Jamille Boatswain and

in the opening minute Neil Benjamin missed a golden opportunity to put the Warriors ahead, yet again. After Levi Garcia beat Jaguars Captain Samuel Cox and fellow defender Brandon Beresford on the left, he executed a clinical past that found Benjamin’s right foot. The talented Benjamin then waited a moment for the Jaguars goalie, Andrew Durant to advance then went for glory. However, his attempt was just wide of the up rights much to the relief of the opponents.

It was the start of things to come for the

Warriors who came out more attacking and determined. This aggressive style of play saw two yellow cards being issued, one on either side within the next 10 minutes. Nathaniel Garcia who employed a nasty play against Warren Creavalle received his caution in the 52nd minute. Five minutes later, it was Garcia who was on the receiving end as Brandon Beresford was cautioned in the 57th minute for unfair tackling.

The Trinidadians were determined to out run the Guyanese and in the 59th minute

Benjamin was set to make amends when he dribbled past three Jaguars defenders but his rightfooted effort from right in front of the goal, hit the post. The men in red, white and black were on a role and in the 60th minute, Winchester who came off the bench found the equaliser.

His left footed powerful strike from just inside the box left Durant and the rest of the Jaguars in amazement and got the crowd jumping.

The Jaguars had a rare opportunity to go ahead and could not have asked for anything better from Emery Welshman. The Puerto Rico Islanders player hustled through the Warriors defence and confronted goalie Phillip whom he beat as well but pushed the ball wide of the mark. It was the last real effort for the Jaguars who made a few substitutions in an effort to push for a victory over the highly rated Trinis.

Devonte Small, Anthony Benfield, Dwain Jacobs and Shaquille Adard all came off the

bench for Holder, Creavalle, Welshman and Beresford respectively.

It was the second time in four days that the Warriors had to come back to draw their game.

Last Saturday, at the same venue they were down 2-0 before drawing level in injury time against Grenada while the Guyanese were beaten 1-0 by the same opponents in St. Georges in October.

Since September 2010, Guyana and Trinidad have played five times and this is the second drawn encounter.

Trinidad has won twice while Guyana’s famous 2-1 victory on 11-11-11 is their only victory.

It’s the end of the season for the Trinidadians while the Golden Jaguars will travel to Indonesia for their final assignment of the year on November 25.

Windies superstar Gayle scorned in PSL auction, but Bravo brothers snapped up

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A H O R E , Pakistan — West Indies superstar Chris Gayle was stunningly overlooked in Sunday's Pakistan Super League (PSL) draft, while brothers Dwayne and Darren Bravo both landed contracts for the third edition of the tournament slated for the first quarter of next year.

The 38-year-old Jamaican, one of the most sought-after names on the international T20 circuit, was one of 308 overseas players up for grabs, but found no takers from among the six franchises, in perhaps the biggest surprise of the auction.

One franchise owner, who requested anonymity, told Wisden India that Gayle's partial availability for the PSL coupled with his poor form in the last Indian Premier League (IPL) had made him an unattractive option.

“We were told that Gayle is partially available, so that was one of the reasons, but even if he was available we would not have picked him because he is no more the Gayle force he once was,” the official said.

Gayle has had two unflattering seasons in

Chris Gayle

the PSL, managing only 103 runs from five outings in the 2016 edition and 160 runs from nine innings last year.

His poor run of form coincided with paltry returns for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, where he scored 227 runs in 10 matches, with just two half-centuries.

Gayle is the only batsman to have passed 10,000 runs in T20s and still boasts the records for the highest score — an unbeaten 175 — and for the most centuries with 18.

His partial availability for the PSL is believed to be owing to his commitment to represent West Indies in their World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe next March.

That event is expected to clash with the PSL,

which has issued tentative dates to franchise owners of February 23 to March 24, 2018.

All-rounder Dwayne Bravo had no such issues as he was quickly picked up by the Darren Sammy-led Peshawar Zalmi, while his brother Darren, a stylish lefthander, was nabbed by the Multan Sultans.

Darren's selection raised further speculation over his West Indies future following his protracted falling out with Cricket West Indies, which subsequently led to his non-selection for the international team.

Sultans also went for West Indies left-hander Nicholas Pooran, while Quetta Gladiators moved once again to pick up West Indies T20 Captain Carlos Brathwaite.

At Sultans, Darren Bravo and Pooran will join fellow Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies teammate Kieron Pollard who was retained by the franchise.

Attacking Windies limited-overs opener Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher were claimed by Peshawar Zalmi as their supplementary players — those who can be called on in case other players become unavailable. (CMC)

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WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Prince, King among Ming advocates champion racers for new generation - as Guyana finishes 2nd at CMRC of racers

Veteran race car driver Andrew King collects his award from CMRA Chairman Silbourne Clarke

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uyana will just have to wait until next year to once again savour the success of winning the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) title after finishing second to two-time defending champions Trinidad and Tobago who scored a whopping 1267 points after the 2017 season concluded last Sunday at South Dakota Circuit.

This announcement was made by Chairman of the Caribbean Motor Racing Association (CMRA) Silbourne Clarke on Monday evening at the annual presentation ceremony and dinner held at the Ramada Princess Hotel, East Bank Demerara.

With previous rounds held in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and then Barbados, Clarke highlighted that current Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club President Ramez Mohamed led the Guyanese charge up the point standings.

According to Clarke, Guyana amassed 648 points while Barbados (580), Jamaica (330) and Cayman Island (65)

rounded-off the table.

Regarding individual awards, CMRC Group 4 (AWD) champion was awarded to local and Andrew King while the

all three of his races was deemed the local champion for the group.

Over in Group Two, Barbadian Mark Thomson retained his CMRC title while Chet Singh lead the locals.

Sports Tuner went to Azaad Hasan while Street Tuner was awarded to Roopnarine Dasrat and the Starlet Cup champion being Motilal Deodass.

In the two-wheel thick of action, Team Mohammed’s Bryce Prince won the CMRC Super Sport title, displacing 2016 Champion Mathew Vieira. Prince would have been unbeaten throughout all the rounds until Guyana

Champion Boy! New CMRC Super Stock Champion Bryce Prince

2WD went Barbadian Mark Maloney.

King also won the local 2WD class while former CMRC champion Kristian Jeffrey won the 4WD. Group three CMRC champion driver went to Trinidad’s Paul Vieira while, Vishok Persaud who was simply unstoppable on Sunday wining

where he was beaten by teammate Matt Truelove.

On the local circuit, the improving Kevin Persaud who amassed the highest points while Raverio Tucker came second and Vieira third.

The first leg of the 2018 Championships will be held in March at the Wallerfield Raceway in Trinidad and Tobago.

GTM Health and Fitness Expo 2017

Mahadeo, Duke walk away with ‘Pairs’ Title – Dongo cops ‘Strongman’ accolade

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n the first ever “Pairs” competition at the GTM-sponsored Health and Fitness Expo last Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Semonica Duke and Dillon Mahadeo reigned supreme, amassing 300 points.

The duo, last year’s “scaled” male and female champions at the event, competed across a series of challenges which tested strength and endurance. Among those challenges were pull-ups, lunges, burpees and other physical activities.

Timothy McAndrew and Shawnell Warner

copped second place with 280 points, while Stephen Fraser and Delice Adonis came in third with 265 points.

Surinamese Donovan Dongo dazzled with his “super-human” strength to take the “Strongman” title just ahead of Guyanese Carlos Peterson-Griffith.

The strongmen were faced with challenges of hoisting a 250lb bag over a hurdle; the competitor with the most throws over was adjudged the winner. PetersonGriffith stepped up first and set the score to beat — a whopping 9 throws

that only Dongo came close to, with 8.

However, in the squats and the pulling off a Caterpillar Excavator, Dongo excelled and amassed 395 points, ahead of Peterson-Griffith’s 375.

Tonica Archer took away the women’s “scaled’ competition ahead of second and third placed Melissa Stewart and Jamila Gasper.

In the men’s “scaled” competition, Lindener Omisi Williams copped first prize while Kishan Baul and Colin Reddock were second and third respectively.

– views radicals as financially efficient for CMRC

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Stanley Ming

eteran Racer and businessman Stanley Ming is adamant that a new generation of racers should be developed in the Caribbean.

“Stop and reflect on what it is you are trying to do for motor sports in the Caribbean and whether it is you are going to concentrate on the older generation of racers or you will focus on building a generation of young people to participate at the sport at the highest possible level”.

Ming’s comments came as he addressed the gathering at the

awards ceremony and dinner for the 2017 Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) last Sunday at the Ramada Princess Hotel.

The former President of the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) and ace rider is of the opinion that the financial burden of running Group Four cars for an entire season has seen a decline in competitors.

“I see a rapid decline in motor cycle racing, I see a rapid decline in the higher class of motor car racing over the last couple of years and the reasons are simple, it has become far too expensive for most people to afford a Group Four car and to run it for an entire season”.

According to Ming, the shift should be me made to the radical series which gives financial stability.

“I have bought two of those cars and I can tell you that car can race throughout the Caribbean for an entire year and the only thing

you will have to change is brake pads, tyres and add fuel. That car is designed to run not for just one year in racing but for more than two years of racing”.

This season most territories were unable to send large touring contingents to the other rounds held in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Guyana themselves suffered due to the same reason as they came second to the twin island republic who retained their CMRC title after amassing 1267 points as compared to the second-place Guyanese on 648 points.

For Ming, the future will come from those that are being nurtured from the new GT Motor Sport facility located at GMR&SC. Outside of Guyana he was in high praise of the Suzuki Series in Barbados which competitors can use and then gravitate to radicals. His belief is that such series test the drivers and not “who has a bigger wallet”. (Akeem Greene)

The radicals made their first competitive appearance at the South Dakota Circuit last Sunday

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CAC Hockey Qualifiers in Jamaica 2018

Guyanese women bring home Gold! …men finish second

By Michelangelo Jacobus

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he Guyanese Women’s National Hockey team will head to Barranquilla, Colombia in July of 2018 as the top ranked Caribbean team after they beat hosts Jamaica in the Final of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games qualifiers last Sunday.

It was a close contest for the most part of the game with both the Guyanese and the Jamaicans’ defence holding firm as the attackers tried their utmost to put their respective teams in front; however the first half remained goalless.

The game was turned on its head in the fi-

nal period of play when Guyana’s Latacia Chung broke the deadlock from a Penalty Corner in the 48th minute to the delight of her teammates and the few Guyanese supporters present.

Speaking after her side’s victory, Chung revealed that she was “very, very happy, overjoyed at winning gold” while pointing out that the team will now focus their attention of preparing for Colombia.

Despite finishing second in the female competition, the Jamaicans have also qualified for the CAC Games in Colombia.

In the other female fixtures Bermuda also needled Puerto Rico to

take bronze. Marisa Miro was the hero for Bermuda scoring from a Penalty Corner in the 30th minute.

In the men’s final between Guyana and Jamaica, issues affecting the lights of the arena forced a halt to the highly anticipated game much to the dismay of the Guyanese who were seeking revenge. The officials using the points system awarded first place to the Jamaicans while Guyana was adjudged second.

Jamaica finished top of the table after four games with 12 points, four victories while Guyana finished second with three victories, one defeat and 9 points.

The Guyana Women’s National Team left with gold after defeating Jamaica 1-0 in the final of the CAC Qualifiers

In the third place playoff Puerto Rico triumphed over Guatemala 2-1 with Joseph Agosto and Gilberto Monserrate grabbing goals in the 19th and 42nd minutes

while Leonidas Leiva scored a consolation goal for the Guatemalans in the 56th minute.

The CAC Games are slated for Barranquilla, Colombia in 2018 from

July 19 and will end on August 3 with 37 countries from Central America, the Caribbean and South America participating.

Norton hails GKC for successful grading exercise

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inister of Social Cohesion with responsibility also for Culture, Youth & Sport Dr George Norton praised the Guyana Karate College (GKC) for hosting a successful grading exercise for 2017 while continuing to promote the ancient arts.

Students from its various Dojos assembled last Friday evening at its main impermanent Dojo

Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr George Norton and members of the Guyana Karate College and students

located in Thomas Lands for the third of the yearly triennial rank examinations.

Minister Norton was present for the entire examination which saw approximately 70 students participating.

The Minister told the Karatekas that the competition in the international arena is getting tougher and tougher day-by-day. He advised that if the students of the Guyana Karate College are to retain the top positions they achieved at previous international tournaments, they will have to work harder, faster and stronger.

The Minister further encouraged the students to “follow their dreams” and to recognise that “discipline leads to success”, adding that he was delighted to learn that this year the GKC which is celebrating their 11th anniversary, is hard at work as well, completing the construction of their own building (Headquarters and Main Dojo) at Liliendall on the East Coast of Demerara The next tournament will be hosted under the International Karate Daigaku set for Bridgetown, Barbados from August 16-19, 2018.

Minister Norton also as-

sured that he and his Government would leave no stone unturned to ensure improved facilities are made available to our sports persons.

He expressed confidence that all of the Karatekas who will be attending the next world championships will put in their best efforts and work harder to bring bigger glory to the nation.

The grading examinations included the other GKC Dojos counting in the Guyana Karate College Sophia Juvenile Holding Centre Dojo and the Guyana Karate College West Coast Demerara Dojo.

Everest Masters beat Guyana-UK CC by 6 wickets

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verest Masters defeated the Guyana-UK Cricket Club from London in a friendly T20 game played at Everest Cricket Ground on Friday November 10, 2017.

Batting first the visitors posted 109 for 8 off their 20 overs with Navin Persaud hitting an attractive 65 (2×6; 3×4) and Raj Nanan supporting with 16 (1×6; 1×4).

Former Guyana First Class player, Rohan Sarjoo was the best bowler for the Everest Masters with 3 for 18 while the experienced Johnny Azeez bagged 2 for 21.

In the run chase, Everest Masters got 37 from Shadeo Hardaiow who

hit one six and three fours while Troy Gonsalves hit a whirlwind 36 (2×6; 1×4) on their way to 111 for 4 and the six wicket victory.

Navin Persaud showed his allround capabilities by picking up 2 for 23 to win the Man of the Match award which was sponsored by Trophy Stall.

The victors added the Guyana UK Cricket Club-sponsored trophy to their collection and in turn presented the London based team with a plaque in recognition of their visit to Everest compliments of Trophy Stall.

The Guyana UK Cricket Club also presented the Everest Cricket Club with cricket gears, balls and a clock.

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