Guyana Times - Sunday, February 10, 2019

LOOK INSIDE !

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 3831 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Large-scale joblessness undermines NIS/tax collection – Finance Secretary Page 3

…Guyana’s high unemployment rate has economic, social implications – Ram

PPP presidential candidate continues countrywide outreach

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WHAT'S INSIDE: Linden-Soesdyke road demarcation

Region 10 P15 RDC bemoans Public Infrastructure Ministry’s sloth

Page 9

American charged for forging land P8 title LGC employees still to receive P17 January salaries …utility companies also unpaid …Govt silent on payments

Irfaan Ali interacts with vendors at the Port Mourant Market, Berbice, during his outreach on Saturday where he listened to the concerns of the business community and residents about the state of the Region Six economy

No need to change list if elections held before April 30 – PPP Commissioner

Page 7

…voters’ list certified for 90-day constitutionally mandated period

Local dealer slams GRDB for “slackness” when assessing rice before export

Page 13

…as 70 tonnes of Guyana rice rejected by Jamaica

BoG to release upgraded $1000 notes Page 11

Venezuela crisis: Guaidó vows to P4 open aid routes with volunteers

Kuru Kururu hosts domestic violence P16 awareness walk

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, February 10 – 08:00h-10:30h and Monday, February 11 – 09:00h-10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, February 10 – 07:05h-08:35h and Monday, February 11 – 07:40h-09:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers with light cloudy skies can be expected throughout the morning, followed by light cloudy conditions throughout the remainder of the day. Partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to East North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 07:49h and 20:12h reaching maximum heights of 2.51 metres and 2.50 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:25h and 13:44h reaching minimum heights of 0.69 metre and 0.70 metre respectively.

saturday, FEBRUARY 09, 2019

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Large-scale joblessness undermines NIS/tax collection – Finance Secretary …Guyana’s high unemployment rate has economic, social implications – Ram

T

hree years after the coalition Government took office, it has been unable to effectively address the current high unemployment rate and according to the Finance Ministry’s Finance Secretary Michael Joseph the firing of 7000 sugar workers along with others has put a burden on the National Insurance Scheme.

Speaking at the opening night of the University of Guyana Turkeyen and Tain talks on Thursday at the Pegasus hotel, Joseph said, “what has happened since is that this Government has fired 7000 sugar workers, many others. Let’s say maybe 20,000 more have lost their jobs. Take of the 20,000, just take another 8000 who were paying NIS, so those are people who are not contributing to NIS,” he explained.

This, he said, translates to decreased inflow for NIS and a pay-out that would remain constant or increase. In the last financial statement issued by the Scheme, it had shown a deficit of over $800 million.

Then there are the almost 2000 Amerindian Community Support Officers (CSO) who were dismissed soon after the coalition Government came to power in 2015. These officers were previously employed under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP).

This led to the Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana taking the Government to court, arguing that the dismissals were unlawful and discriminatory. The group in its affidavit had noted that the CSO’s were drawn from approximately 187 Amerindian villages and communities.

It was also noted that these CSO’s were afforded steady employment until the coalition Government’s action. For its part, the Government has argued that the programme was not performing on par in a bid to justify the dismissals.

In addition to the over 7000 sugar workers who were fired from Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the CSO’s who were dismissed by Government, Barama Company Limited was also forced to close its operations after several of its concessions were taken back

by Government. This created further unemployment.

At the same time, the Finance Secretary backed his subject Minister, Winston Jordan, who had noted previously that Government cannot provide employment for all. According to Joseph, youths should also look to entrepreneurship as a means of income.

Tax collection is not the only thing taking a hit when there is large-scale unemployment, as National

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram

Finance Secretary Michael Joseph

A section of the gathering at the Turkeyen and Tain talks

Insurance Scheme contributions are also affected. For instance, concern has been expressed that layoffs in the sugar belt could undermine the Scheme’s position.

This is particularly so if the Scheme were to pay unemployment benefits. At a previous press conference, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had said that the idea of paying out these benefits did not take into account the current financial status of the Scheme and its ability to meet its current obligations.

He noted that the last actuarial report recommended that focus is placed on building the reserve to avoid a deficit. In fact, it was disclosed in that report that the life of the Scheme should come to an end by 2022 unless strategic plans for revenue earnings and expansion of the investment portfolio are effectively implemented.

Jagdeo also referenced the thousands of dismissed sugar workers. turn to page 7

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Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Resist the degutting of democracy

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he return of democracy to Guyana in 1992 was part of a global movement dubbed by Harvard political scientist Samuel Huntington, as the “third wave” of democracy following the first wave in 19th century Europe and the US and the second, following WWII. At the time, one local commentator cautioned: “the history of the previous waves should temper our euphoria somewhat. The transition process is not automatic – there are no irresistible democratic forces marching through history. At best, there may be a demonstrator effect. The process may also be reversible: democracy has proven to be a most delicate plant to nurture, especially in the inhospitable soil of authoritarian structures.

The struggle of the people and the vision of their leaders have always defined the trajectory and range of the democratic transition. Guyana will be no exception.”

The caution was prophetic but maybe not too surprising in light of the fact that the People’s National Congress (PNC), which had maintained its authoritarian rule through the rigging of elections from 1968 to 1985 backed by its iron control of the armed forces, was eased out of its illegal power through some condign pressure by the US. But it retained the support of its traditional ethnic base even though they had faced horrific deprivations along with other Guyanese, as the economy imploded under its incoherent and discriminatory policies.

The present travails of Venezuela are a recapitulatory object lesson of what happened to Guyana during those dark years: mass migration of the best and brightest; runaway inflation; collapse of the nationalised “commanding heights of the economy”; rampaging criminal attacks of citizens; deepening mass hunger and increasing intrusion of the Disciplined Forces into civilian lives. In the next 23 years, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) struggled valiantly to “fix” the ruptured institutions, especially in the economy – starting with removing the debt albatross of US$2.1 billion bequeathed by the PNC. At every step the PNC fought the reforms tooth and nail by accusations of “racism” in the PPP efforts. This only widened the ethnic schisms in the country.

The PPP yet steered the economy into a consistent growth trajectory – one of the highest in the region – notwithstanding the attacks which morphed into open violence after the 1997 elections, which the PPP won. This politically directed violence did not end until 2008 when the final incarnations of some Buxton-based bandits, dubbing themselves “Freedom Fighters”, were finally killed. These attacks placed tremendous pressures on State and civil society institutions and many distorted and corrupt practices from the PNC era, reasserted themselves.

But to its credit, through all the attacks, the PPP maintained its commitment to democratic elections. In 2011, because the Constitution awards the Presidency to the party commanding the largest bloc of votes, the PPP was able to retain that office but lost its majority in the National Assembly when it could only muster 32 seats to the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/PNC’s 26 seats and Alliance For Change (AFC) seven seats. Democracy’s strength was emphasised when the APNU and AFC coalesced before the 2015 Elections and was able to capture both the Executive and Legislative branches of Government with the same seat configuration, but this time with a combined majority of the popular votes.

And this is when the threat to democracy and democratic values appeared as the PNC asserted itself in the coalition Government and its leader proclaimed his commitment to fulfilling the “legacy” – see above – of Forbes Burnham. President Granger, who had been a Brigadier in the Disciplined Forces, telescoped his intentions when he appointed an overwhelmingly uni-ethnic Cabinet; Permanent Secretaries; and Heads of Departments, undergirded by a heavy recruitment of ex-Army officers into the State and Government upper echelons.

His most dangerous threat, however, came out his willingness to flagrantly violate the letter and spirit of the Constitution as exemplified by his unilateral appointment of James Patterson as GECOM chair and now his refusal to accept the verdict of the PPP’s successful no-confidence vote.

All Guyana must rally to prevent a return to the dark days of the dictatorship.

A robot wearing a nurse costume carries medical documents at Mongkutwattana General Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand Perawongmetha)

(Reuters/Athit

Venezuela crisis: Guaidó vows to open aid routes with volunteers V

e n e z u e l a n Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó has vowed to open humanitarian aid routes into the country in defiance of the Government. Guaidó, who has declared himself interim President, called on volunteers to help with distribution and said his plans would be ready next week.

Footage shows soldiers blocking a key bridge at the border with Colombia. A Government official called aid "a Trojan horse" and said the country had a duty to defend its borders.

"According to our Constitution, we have the right and the duty to defend our borders peacefully," said Freddy Bernal.

He accused US President Donald Trump, who has endorsed the Opposition Leader, of just wanting to exploit Venezuelan oil.

Why is aid needed?

Millions of people have fled Venezuela as hyperinflation and other economic troubles render food and medicines scarce. Since the outbreak of the current political crisis, Washington has announced sanctions on the Venezuelan oil industry.

President Nicolás Maduro, who has the support of the Army, has rejected letting foreign aid into the country. Last week a tanker and cargo containers blocked the Simon Bolivar International Bridge, which links

Guaido has declared himself interim President and has been recognised as such by the EU, the US and other world powers

Venezuela to its more stable neighbour to the West.

The blockages were still there on Friday, and many soldiers were seen standing guard. Guaidó does not control any territory in Venezuela so, instead, he is planning to set up collection centres in neighbouring countries to which Venezuelans have fled.

He said he wanted to set up an international coalition to gather aid at three points, and press Venezuela's Army to let it into the country. Food and medicine organised by the US federal Government's USAID agency arrived on Thursday and have been stored at a warehouse on the Colombian side of the

border.

The agency has been bound up in international politics before – Russia expelled it in 2012, citing "attempts to influence political processes through grants); and Bolivia expelled it the year after, accusing it of seeking to "conspire against" the Bolivian people and government.

Both Russia and Bolivia are allies of President Maduro in the current crisis.

How far will Guaidó go?

Guaidó has warned many Venezuelans are in danger of dying without international aid. Speaking to AFP news agency, he

said the groups he was putting together would "make a first entry attempt" at the blocked bridge when they had gathered enough supplies. He said he expected this to happen next week.

It would be "almost wretched at this point of huge necessity" for the military to block any convoy entering, he said. A number of Venezuelan leaders have also appealed to the military to allow aid lorries to cross into the country.

Asked whether he would authorise the intervention of foreign military forces, Guaidó said: "We will do everything possible.

"This is obviously a very, very controversial subject, but making use of our sovereignty and, within our jurisdictions, we will do what is necessary."

What's the background to the crisis?

In January, Maduro was sworn in for a second term following disputed elections which many opposition leaders did not contest because they were in jail or boycotting them.

Guaidó, who is head of Venezuela's National Assembly, declared himself President on January 23, 2019.

He says the Constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the President is deemed illegitimate. On Saturday he said protests would continue until his supporters had achieved "freedom". (BBC News)

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Granger’s deliberate delaying tactics

Dear Editor, In the 3.5 years following the 2015 General Election, the callous Granger-led cabal has absolutely reversed the upward positive trajectory Guyana achieved under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic. The APNU/AFC coalition essentially torpedoed one of the most dynamic and progressive regional economies, through unbelievable levels of incompetence, selfish and fraudulent maladministration.

Unashamed by their consistent endemic failures, their pursuit of individual aggrandisement and enrichment of the selected few in Government continues to overwhelm unchartered. They have inflicted massive burdens on the majority of citizens, while syphoning off for individual gains at the expenses of our current and future generations.

The Guyanese people at home and abroad have objected and rejected the pretence of this diabolical Granger Clan, whose falsehood has been ruthlessly exposed. Now, even as the world watches, there is no longer any attempt to camouflage their true colours and unenviable tainted character. Their openly undemocratic power-grabbing behaviours now drive a constitutional crisis which threatens the earned free-

doms of citizens and international de-recognition.

Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C team, have rolled out a necessary, timely and master-strategic intervention in the interest of all Guyanese. The justified debated and carried No-Confidence motion certainly caught the haughty leaders of the fallen coalition Government with their pants down engaging in shameless, fraudulent and dirty games. They are now playing for time while showing flagrant disregard for the Constitution, as they attempt to buy citizens’ loyalty.

The daily portions of reversals on pronouncements by key members in the highest echelons of this Granger-led regime emphasises their characteristic untrustworthiness. As the promised “Good Life” remains evasive for the majority of citizens, there has been a 99 per cent constitutionally opposite position on every major public commitment of the clan.

Evidence of these gully positions include: 1. The public acceptance of the ruling of Speaker Dr Barton Scotland on the NoConfidence Motion (NCM) by both Mr Granger and Prime Minister Moses

Nagamootoo, and the subsequent actions to reverse the position.

2. The indication that the Government will be accepting the rule of the Court; a hearing of the challenge brought by them on the NCM, and the subsequent appeal after the ruling.

3.

The failure of Mr Granger to give due diligence to the necessary constitutional actions following the legitimate process being followed.

The APNU/AFC has been clutching at straws after 3 years of exercising vendetta, wrath and political persecution of citizens and persons opposed to their whimsical charade and fantasy world.

The Opposition has justifiably taken decisive actions in an effort to salvage the sinking ship and secure the future of our nation which has been effectively deflowered by the team of schemers in the fallen Government.

It is imperative that David Granger announce the date for National and Regional Elections now, targeting the intent of the Constitution.

Contemplation of leaving a legacy of a true leader must inform a sober thinking rationalisation of the negative impacts that the current approach of his cabal will have on the future

of the nation. These actions must be taken, given that the Speaker of the National Assembly announced that the NCM was passed, as well as the fact that Chief Justice Roxanne George ruled that the Cabinet automatically resign on the passing of the No-confidence Motion.

Mr Granger is acutely aware that it is not business as usual since the eminent Chief Justice neither granted a stay of execution nor a conservatory order which would have preserved the status quo ante.

Most worrying is the fact that agents of this APNU/ AFC coalition, are behaving like ‘bullies’ as they attempt to stymie the democratic process. True to an invoked cultured behaviour, they are using all the delaying tactics to stay in power illegally.

Mr Granger’s silence so far on an election date, fuels a passive and worrisome Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) susceptibility of manipulation on this critical issue. The announcement of an earliest practical date for elections in the context of the Constitution will surely force GECOM to begin urgent preparations for the elections. The Chief Election Officer needs to stop playing games and prepare a thorough work program which would en-

Govt employing smoke and mirrors tactics Dear Editor, As Guyanese say “When yuh hand in tiger mouth, yuh got to pat he head” and so it is in Guyana presently, with a Government facing an unhappy electorate, the patting of heads has begun in earnest.

The Ministers who have recently fallen from ivory towers have dusted off unused hearts, affixed same to sleeves and are among the populace in small packs, in a hurry to give you goodies from the bags of promises previously made but heretofore forgotten.

The election injection is indeed the cure for all inflictions. The coalition Government is employing smoke and mirror tactics to avoid that cure, but given the record of the incumbent Attorney General, they are nonetheless pragmatically engaged in ‘Government outreach’ to persuade the population that the fruits of all the magic bean trees are now ripe for the picking.

House lots; Cash grants; Jobs that do not involve breadfruits; ICT hubs; call centres; Small business loans are among the contents of the ‘I Heart you’ package. When Damien Marley sang “Some boy nuh know dis, dem only come around like tourist, On the

beach with a few club sodas, Bedtime stories,… And don't know the real hardcore” he could well have been talking about Granger’s band of kavakamites.

Editor, it is only fair for a deprived population to take what is on offer. I urge my fellow Guyanese to go get whatever is being shared; it is, after all, our patrimony.

We have been taxed an additional $88 billion a year by this Administration.

We, the people, have paid for their extravagances, their jet-setting, ‘doing anything but work for the people’ lifestyles. So take what’s on offer, but do not be fooled, all skin teeth nah laugh, these are the forced baring of fangs, false love and patience on display and after this ‘nice time’ cometh our penance should they ever be voted into office again.

The ominous signs are

plain for all to see, if this hand evades the bite of the Constitution, the bite that demands lawful elections, the bite that expresses the true will of the people, then the Granger Administration will destroy all the tigers that keep them in check, the Constitution; GECOM: Integrity Commission; Procurement Commission and of course the parliamentary Opposition. Jessie Burnham famously penned “Beware, I say my brother Forbes, His motto is the

personal ends of power justify any mean means used to achieve them. His Bible is the Prince by Machiavelli.

And we the people should he come to power will be only pawns in his endless game of self-advancement.” A similar warning is now issued about Forbes’ acolyte David Granger, complete with evidence of his rule to date.

Stay Woke.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

sure elections in the shortest possible time.

These delaying tactics seem to be deliberate in creating a platform for ensuring that the necessary procurement procedures can be manipulated so as to enhance opportunities for seriously questionable financial transactions.

Expediency must not be allowed to replace principles when there is sufficient time.

There are serious allegations about corruption at GECOM and the Auditor General must take note since free and fair elections are our priority.

David Granger must respect the Constitution and stop talking about business as usual. Presently, there is no Cabinet and spending by the Government is limited by law. All the public servants who are authoris-

ing and spending must not allow this callous and ‘power-hungry’ Government to mislead them.

Already, it was brought to the attention of this column that the scores of buses that were used to fetch people to the PNC/R public meeting at Vreed-en-Hoop, were allowed to cross the Demerara Harbor Bridge without paying the necessary fees.

This is a serious indictment and questions regarding the approval for the tolls to be exempted for all those vehicles will have to be answered. It is clear that Ministries also paid the private buses and again this is a matter of serious concern in regard to the abusive and fraudulent use of taxpayers’ monies.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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By Monica Foley, MEd

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ecently, the US surgeon general issued an advisory on teen use of e-cigarettes, with experts also stating that it’s reaching epidemic proportions.

Alcohol and cigarette consumption have fallen among high school students, but the use of electronic cigarettes, also known as vaping, is steadily increasing. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20.8 per cent of high school students reported in 2018 that they used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days compared to 1.5 per cent in 2011.

While there is some evidence that e-cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes and may be useful for adults who are trying to quit smoking, vaping is not without health risks.

E-cigarettes pose greater risks to teens without any of the potential benefits. The CDC reported that if smoking continues at the current rate among youth in this country, about 1 of every 13 Americans aged 17 years or younger today will die early from a smoking-related illness.

Tobacco industry experts are becoming savvier in their pursuit to sell more products, creating vape pens in different shapes and flavours, such as an easily concealed USB flash drive designed by the company, Juul. A study conducted in 2018 revealed that teens are 16 times more likely to use JUUL than older age groups. Teens are often found “JUULing” in classrooms and bathrooms at school. One standard JUUL cartridge delivers the equivalent nicotine of a pack of cigarettes, making it even more addictive, as well as increasing the risk of harm to brain development.

As a parent, it’s essential to understand the consequences of vaping and be able to talk about them with your family. In this article, you will learn strategies that can help prevent your teen from vaping.

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

How to talk to your teen about vaping

Another recent study found that more than half of high school seniors believed that vaping delivered just flavouring, even though most products contain nicotine. Accurate information and open dialogue can safeguard your teen’s wellbeing.

Tips on preventing vaping

The following strategies can help 1. Know the risks While e-cigarettes may have fewer toxins, they still contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals, metals, and carcinogens.

They increase the risk of heart and respiratory conditions, and teens who vape are more likely to smoke regular cigarettes as well, especially later on in life.

2. Stay updated Keep track of trends in teenage vaping. As stated earlier, some of the most popular current devices are pods that look like a computer flash drive. Some low vapor products are so discreet they can even be used during class.

3. Discuss vaping Have a twoway conversation about facts with your teen rather than lecturing them or using scare tactics. Be direct about your concerns and prepared to revisit the subject as often as needed. ****4. Be a role model****. Set a positive example. You’ll have more credibility if you’re tobacco-free yourself.

Tips on quitting vaping

Quitting vaping or smoking tends to be a little easier for anyone who has had a relatively brief exposure to nicotine. If your teen is already vaping, they can stop successfully with your support.

Try these techniques to help them stop 1.

Provide encouragement Praise and reassurance from you and their peers will reinforce your child’s

efforts. See if there’s a teen support group in your area or consider starting one.

2. Avoid nicotine replacement Nicotine has been shown to have a negative impact on adolescent brain development, and most teens will not require such products. However, if you suspect that your child may be nicotine dependent, your doctor can recommend effective treatment options.

3. Manage stress Using nicotine at any age may be an attempt to cope with stress. Help your child find safer alternatives, such as physical exercise and talking about their concerns.

4. Ask for help There are many sources of additional information and guidance about quitting vaping or smoking. Ask your doctor for suggestions.

Tips on dealing with peer pressure

It’s natural for teens to have a strong desire to fit in. Being able to handle peer pressure will help protect them from vaping and other harmful behaviour.

Consider these ideas 1. Boost self-esteem Confidence and a healthy self-image make your child less vulnerable to negative social influences. Help them to set goals and value their strengths.

2. Encourage positive friendships Teen friendships can have beneficial effects too. Make it a point to get to know your children’s friends and monitor their social media activity.

3. Plan ahead Spend time with your child rehearsing how to respond if someone asks them to vape. Develop multiple options they can use in different situations.

Remember that while vaping may be safer than smoking, it’s still associated with serious health risks, especially for adolescents. Talk with your children about vaping to help them make sound decisions about their future. (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

By Gail Fero

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hildren of all ages need boundaries, but teens need them most of all. Though it’s tempting, and may seem logical, to give your teen fewer restrictions, this will create more problems further down the line for them and for you. Teenagers are still not adults yet, and though it is important to give them more freedoms than you would a younger child, you need to create, discuss, and enforce boundaries with your teenagers.

The teenage years can be the most difficult for both the teen and their family. But the tantrums, cold shoulders, and shouting matches should remind you that you’re still dealing with a child. Your teenager needs parameters and it’s your job to create them. Keep your teenager’s safety and health the focus of your boundaries. The limits you choose will differ for each teen, even if only slightly. This may create the appearance of unfairness, but it’s necessary. Every teenager is different and will face different dangers due to their personality. For some it might be susceptibility to peer pressure, for others it might disregard for their own health.

An important part of creating effective boundaries for your teen is to discuss them with your partner before deciding. You both need to understand what behaviours will and won’t be acceptable, and present a united front, backing each other in enforcing these boundaries. There should be no misunderstandings between the two of you, because this can cause confusion or make room for manipulation. When you both have a good handle on the limits you want to put in place, discuss them with your teen. Be clear about what will be expected of them, the reasoning behind the demarcation, and the consequences of their actions should they defy you. Though they might not agree or be happy with you, creating the dialogue should help you enforce your boundaries.

Because teens are in that awkward stage between child and adult, involving them in discussions about the rules of the house will make them feel more in control, or at least aware of what’s going on.

Once you have your rules in place, it’s necessary to enforce them. Consistency and reliability are as important to teenagers as the boundaries themselves. With so much changing around them, you need to remain steadfast and dependable so your teen knows you are serious about the rules.

Teens require just as close parenting as any younger child. They are at risk because they are between childhood and adulthood. Though they might not want to admit it, they are still children and need you to parent. Creating boundaries should be about their safety and their health.

Discuss your rules with your teen, telling them why you’re insisting on this behaviour and these boundaries. Let them know it’s for their well-being and because you care. Don’t allow tantrums or arguments to deter you in enforcing these rules. Stay consistent and you’ll see the results that you’re looking for. (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

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SUnDAY, february 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Court-ordered Article 106 elections

No need to change list if elections held before April 30 – PPP Commissioner …voters’ list certified for 90-day constitutionally mandated period

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ith the current voters’ list having been certified in October of 2018, a People’s Progressive Party nominated Commissioner at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is debunking claims that persons will be disenfranchised if elections are held in March or April.

This pronouncement was made by GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj during a recent press conference. Gunraj explained that the voters’ list was refreshed by the Claims and Objections period.

“The laws of this country provide for how and when a list must be refreshed. A list must be refreshed by a Claims and Objections period. After a list is refreshed in this manner, that list used to be valid for three months.

Pursuant to a legislative change made by the National Assembly in 2018, the period of validity of list extended from three months to six months.”

“As a consequence, that list would have been valid for

a period of six months, which expires at the end of April 2019. There is no need, up to April 30, 2019, once elections are going to be held prior to that date, for any amendments whatsoever to be made to a list. That list is valid according to law.”

According to Gunraj, the last date the voters’ list was certified was October 31, 2018. He noted that in the case where there is a valid list being used within the constitutional timeframe, it is disingenuous to say persons will be disenfranchised.

Gunraj also made it clear that persons desirous of voting should make an effort to ensure they are on the voters’ list, in keeping with their constitutional rights.

“Some persons have even gone so far as to say that their constitutionally guaranteed right to vote is being affected by not having registration.

The Constitution guarantees you a right to vote if you are 18 years old, subject to conditions.”

“One, you must be at the age of 18 at the qualifying

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

date. Two, you must be registered to vote at the qualifying date. It is not the responsibility of GECOM to go and drag you to register. You have an obligation to yourself and a civic duty, one grounded in law, to present yourself for registration.”

A recent protest held in GECOM’s vicinity, had featured persons supporting the call for new house-to-house registration. The Opposition

GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

party and its supporters have labelled this call ‘a ruse’ for delaying elections and have been calling for elections by March 19.

At a press conference on Friday, GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield had told the media that the secretariat is yet to receive instructions from the Commission to commence its elections preparations. In addition, it was claimed that

GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson

the secretariat needs another 148 days before it is fully ready to host the constitutionally mandated General and Regional Elections.

Gunraj and his fellow Commissioner Robeson Benn had both dismissed this timeline and made it clear that Lowenfield’s job was to get the election machinery rolling in keeping with the constitutional timeline.

The parliamenta-

ry Opposition and other observers have accused Government of attempting to delay the holding of the constitutionally mandated elections following the passage of the No-confidence Motion of December 21, 2018.

The three-month time frame in which the polls should be held was validated in a judicial interpretation by acting Chief Justice Roxane George, who declared that the December 21, 2018 Noconfidence Motion was validly passed 33-32.

The complaint has been that GECOM was unforthcoming about its preparedness for the mandatory elections despite being mandated by the Constitution of Guyana to hold elections within three months of the passage of a no-confidence motion. The Constitution provides for the President to announce a date for elections and not GECOM as is being touted. Since the passage of the No-confidence Motion, the Opposition has called out both Government and GECOM on what it described as delaying tactics.

Large-scale joblessness undermines tax collection...

Taxes

Talking about tax collection, Joseph expressed concern about youth unemployment and the impact it has on taxable income and noted the serious effect unemployment has on this process.

“Taxes are the lifeline of the Government’s income stream to pay for the provision of public goods. The income base of households and the Private Sector largely constitute the pool by which Government can tax and raise money.”

“That pool is taxable income [and] is dwarfed by the large-scale incidence of unemployment and insufficient start-ups to replace business failures. Indeed, joblessness narrows the potential base

from which Government can collect income tax and undermines the capacity of the Government.”

Joseph also cited the 2017 Labour Force Survey commissioned by Guyana’s Bureau of Statistics. This survey had found that Guyana’s employment rate was a worrying 49.2 per cent.

“It was empirically determined that youth unemployment among the 15 to 24-year-old cohort was at 21.6 per cent, representing almost twice the unemployment rate of other adults. This survey confirmed that 35.2 per cent of the youth were not in education, employment or training.”

High unemployment rate In an interview with this

publication, on the high unemployment rate in Guyana, Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram spoke of some of the reasons for Guyana’s low employment rate and also expressed the belief that not enough attention is being paid to its economic and social side.

“Part of the problem we have is that we have a very low wage economy,” Ram said, adding “and it discourages people entering into the employment sector. If you get the minimum wage and you have to spend 20 per cent of it on transportation alone, it’s not a great motivator for you to work”. “(This) is why we have the paradox of employment and yet it is difficult to get peo-

ple with even the basic skills.

The rate these people earn, they say they might as well hustle here and there, rather than getting involved in the formal economy, having to pay NIS and income tax.”

According to the accountant, many do not see their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) in the positive light of being a contribution to their future pension, but rather they see it as a deduction from an already small salary.

He noted that another factor that must be considered is how effectively the school system prepares students to enter the workforce. Ram expressed worry about the impact of joblessness and the oil and gas sector.

“I think we will have a ma-

jor challenge in the next couple years. We already have a challenge, in terms of providing the labour necessary not only for the oil industry but for all the spin-off industries.

We mustn’t forget we don’t have a Ministry of Labour.

Employment is partly economic and partly social.”

Worry

Observers have also expressed worry about the link between unemployment as a signifier of the gradual erosion of the traditional sectors of the economy due to neglect by the Government as they wait for oil revenues to start flowing. This will inevitably lead to the dreaded Dutch disease, where the economy cannot stand on one leg. This

from page 3

is most graphically illustrated over the past few years, in the sugar industry where production has dwindled with the dismissal of the sugar workers and the Government has not diversified the prime agricultural lands into other crops to create employment and generate foreign exchange by exporting those crops.

In general, Dutch Disease is an economic term for rapid changes to a country’s revenue earnings in a resource-extracting sector like oil that results in a reduction in the value of other exported commodities. The situation is often blamed on the sudden development of one sector at the expense of others.

8 news

SUnDAY, february 10, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

American charged for forging land title

A

n American man was charged on Friday when he stood before a senior Magistrate in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a charge of attempting to forge a land title document. Michael Ross denied that on March 17, 2018, in the vicinity of Georgetown with intent to defraud, he forged a declaration, purport-

ing to show that it was issued by the public trustee while knowing same to be forged.

It was reported on June 22, 2018, by the Virtual Complainant, Jennifer McCalmont, that a declaration in the matter of state of Robert Ross (deceased) had a discrepancy (a scratch) on the name Brenda Hunt Tudor initialled “MR” omitting her

name from the said declaration. She was further told that she may not be a part and was taken off of the said document. Hence, the woman made a report to the police who launched an investigation into the matter. Ross was arrested and charged with the offence.

In court on Friday, Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh op-

posed bail as he informed the court that Ross is a flight risk. Ross was nonetheless released on $50,000 by Magistrate Leron Daly on the condition that he lodges his passport at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and report once weekly to the police until the completion of the case. The case will continue on March 1.

Vehicle sale lands Lodge man in court

A

Chapel Street, Lodge, Georgetown resident was placed on $50,000 bail on Friday when he appeared before the court of law to answer to a charge of fraud.

It is alleged that Colin Hodge stated that he obtained money with intent to defraud the creditor but he denied the charge.

The prosecution is contending that on October 5, 2018, in Georgetown, he obtained an advance in the sum of $300,000 from Okeisha Douglas by falsely pretending that he was selling his Toyota Hilux Surf bearing registration number PJJ 2905.

The court heard that the defendant and the Virtual

Complainant are associates and had an oral agreement for the woman to purchase the vehicle.

Douglas kept her part of the agreement and paid the advance payment of $300,000 to Hodge. However, a few weeks elapsed and the woman indicated that she could no longer afford to pay for the

van.

As such, the defendant was asked to return the advance money, which he promised to do. However, according to the prosecution, he failed to return the money and the VC made a report to the police.

Hodge was placed on $50,000 bail and the case will continue on February 15, 2019.

Cuban charged for overstaying in Guyana

A

fter a video surfaced on social media and vent viral which showed a Cuban climbing over a fence at a popular George Street, Werk-enRust, Georgetown, strip club and bar, she was charged for overstaying in Guyana.

Dailyn De La Guerra admitted to the offence after appearing in court on Friday. The charge which was read by Magistrate Leron Daly stated that the woman on February 5, 2019, at Georgetown, failed to comply with conditions having received permission to stay in Guyana from December 28, 2018, to January 1, 2018.

Guerra was fined $30,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in her serving six months’ imprisonment. She will be deported after paying her fine or serving the jail sentence.

Police ranks, during a sting operation earlier this month, visited the Diamond Strip Club and Bar and carried out a raid. Guerra along with several others were arrested. During an investigation, the woman was asked to provide her passport which showed that she overstayed her time here in Guyana.

Two employees from the said club were also arrested and charged for trafficking ten women for sexual exploitation.

Tag team… …in GECOM

Tag teams are a standard feature in professional wrestling. The trick is to have a “fresh” partner ready to enter the ring to wallop the other wrestler when he’s down. It’s not incidental that professional wrestling is pure theatre with the moves and even the results, totally fixed. Tag teams simply double the variations of the fix.

Not endowed with professional wrestlers in Guyana, the PNC-led coalition has introduced the tag-team tactic in the operations of GECOM to pummel the PPP into oblivion, as they struggle for the Constitution and the courts to be obeyed to hold elections by March 19 – three months after their historically successful noconfidence vote. The two members of the PNC tagteam are Chairman James Patterson and CEO Keith Lowenfield.

Ex-GDF officer Lowenfield has been a fixture at GECOM for years – holding the Dep CEO position under Gocool Boodhoo. He surreptitiously played a key role in ensuring the hiring practices to staff the Secretariat tilted the scales in favour of the PNC. In electoral matters, the devil invariably lies in the details, controlled by the bureaucracy! But Boodhoo was there to head Lowenfield and the staff off at the pass! The Chairman, Justice James Patterson, of course, was unilaterally appointed as PNC leader David Granger’s ‘fit and proper’ candidate to form the tag team with Lowenfield, now elevated to the CEO’s position. With Patterson, Lowenfield and the GECOM staff all in the PNC camp, they’d hit the elections Trifecta!!

If there were any Pollyannas out there who questioned the denunciations of Granger’s arrogant action on Patterson, your Eyewitness is sure their rose- coloured glasses have misted up after December 21. After all, if since 1980 the Constitution had pronounced that the effect of a no-confidence motion was to precipitate General Elections in THREE MONTHS, you’d think the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of GECOM would’ve had a contingency plan to deal with that eventuality, wouldn’t you?? Isn’t that why the Chair, CEO and Secretariat’s staff draw their (fat) salaries all year round – and not just when elections are scheduled?? And let’s not forget there was already a noconfidence trial balloon floated in 2014!!

For the Guyanese people to be told GECOM won’t be ready for elections in less than five months, is like the GDF saying they should’ve received a five-month warning to deal with a Venezuelan incursion!! And to add salt to the wound is the tag team of Lowenfield and Patterson also saying that date depends on when the latter tells the former to begin elections preparations!!

Patterson, of course, blames the “Commission”, when he has the CASTING VOTE between the PPP and PNC Commissioners!!

Like professional wrestling, it’s a fix!!

…with PNC and AFC?

The AFC’s doing its darnedest to reprise the tag team role it played after 2011 with the PNC to beat up on the PPP! Sadly, even if PNCites wanted to, the “dead meat” AFC wouldn’t even have the energy to stretch out its hand to be tagged!! It’s a “shad, shad situation” as one local comedian said!! Take the Region Three event the PNC labelled as “opening up its Region Three Congress Place” – but had to bus in hundreds of faithful all the way from Linden.

Khemraj Ramjattan showed up to fan-boy Granger and was so cloying, even PNCites cringed! After all, they all knew Ramjattan was trying to pip Nagamootoo for the PM’s slot – devalued as it was! But they also know that neither he nor his erstwhile buddy Nagamootoo are in the running. The PNC’s looking for fresher, younger meat!!

And Ramjattan’s bid to project a “big and bad” image by holding that meeting under the “weaponised bottom house” didn’t help his cause.

The PNC farms that stuff out to pros!

…with City Hall

Now that the Local Government Commission’s begun implementing the Kennard CoI recommendations on the cesspool of City Hall, Local Government Minister Ronald Bulkan promptly reprimanded them for their use of funds!!

Tag teaming with the old Mayor??

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

9 PPP presidential candidate continues countrywide outreach news

SUnDAY, february 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Irfaan Ali listened to the concerns of this Berbician at the Port Mourant Market on Saturday

P

eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) presidential candidate Irfaan Ali continued his countrywide outreach on Saturday in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) where he met with residents of several villages, outlining plans which will allow the Berbice economy to be revitalised.

Ali met with persons at the Port Mourant Market and then had a walkabout in New Amsterdam before going to East Canje where he held two meetings.

According to Ali, he is trying to meet residents in as many communities as possible to hear the issues and concerns at the grassroots level. He told the media that it is very important to get an understanding of regional issues in addition to national issues.

“We are also listening to some of the ideas and suggestions to address regional issues… the closure of the sugar industry, the increase of land rentals, the new taxes and licences fees that is affecting small business in this region are some of the issues that the people would have raised but they would have also given us some ideas on some of the things they see. Some of the things are very basic which can improve their lives,” Ali said.

The presidential candidate said the intention is to charter a way forward that would bring Guyanese together with a goal of adapting an integrated approach towards development, where all can benefit.

“All regions can see a hopeful future, all regions can see a future in which the lives of the residents in that region would be uplifted,” Ali added.

According to the pres-

idential candidate, one of the common complaints in Berbice is the drastic increase in water bills in 2019.

He noted the closure of the sugar estates is not only having a negative impact on business, but it also has a psychological effect on persons as they struggle to earn a livelihood.

“One of the things that people don’t value and that you hear on these community outreaches is the psychological effect that people are having as a result of losing their jobs. It is very difficult for parents to say to their children that they can’t have this or that or they can’t go to school because they don’t have the financing to do it at the moment.”

Ali also spoke of some of the issues which have been making headlines in the local press; chief among them being the New Amsterdam Hospital, the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) charging persons $500 to pass through the cultivation area on their way to the savannah to fish and the Guyana Water Incorporated.

“The water issue in Region Six seems to be multi-faceted. One is that persons are not getting water; there is a shortage of water with some communities being locked out of the supply of water. Then you have the increase in water rates although they are not getting water…Then some of the fisher folk met us and said that they have to pay $500 to go to catch fish and to get the bon carilla to sell. These are people who lost their jobs and don’t have anything to sustain their families and help their children and now they are forced this way. It is like penalising some who are al-

ready suffering and it is really affecting people psychologically,” he said.

Noting the harsh reality of what he has been observing on the ground, Ali said polices must be put in place for relief to Berbicians.

“We have already spoken about the reopening of the sugar estates,” he said, while also expressing that the steep increase in land rental for farmers will be addressed by his administration.

“In some cases, the increase is between twelve hundred and four thousand per cent. This has to be reversed because the farmers are not making that. The New Amsterdam Hospital – health care nationally has been on a decline… These are all issues that people have been raising that we will have to address,” Ali said The PPP presidential candidate has been conducting several outreaches to hear the needs, concerns and issues affecting Guyanese.

A meeting at Canefield Village where residents raised a number of concerns

PPP presidential candidate Irfaan Ali enjoying a game of cricket with some youngsters during his outreach in Berbice

10 news

SUnDAY, february 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Some villages complicit with mercury use – Trotman ...says GGMC has encountered Toshaos, villagers enabling practice

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atural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has revealed that even as Government tries to mitigate the harmful effects of mercury on the environment, some villages are, in fact, complicit in the use of mercury and the destruction it causes.

Trotman made this revelation during the Minamata Convention – a stakeholder session set up to develop strategies for eradicating mercury use. According to the Minister, villagers and Toshaos in some mercury-scarred villages are facilitating the miners responsible.

“In (some) villages, it is the villagers themselves that are using the mercury. So if you run away with the belief that it is (always) some outside miner who goes in and the villagers look on helplessly, invariably I’m finding that they’re very much involved.”

“I have asked GGMC to mount some operations that cost over $1 million to go to some far-flung communities and when we get there it is the Toshaos who is giving permission to a Brazilian or some relative of his is doing the mining.”

According to Trotman, such a situation would be very embarrassing since the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission would have acted based on reports of illegal mining. That being said, Trotman acknowledged that his Ministry and GGMC has

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

to redouble its efforts towards mercury-free mining.

Trotman also spoke of a model mercury-free operation; a project that could be taken on through the provision of mining blocks.

He noted that a number of blocks could be distributed to the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) for this purpose.

“I had set aside 15 blocks for the GGDMA to do just that,” Trotman said. “The idea was that we would set up a model mining operation, mercury-free. So at the level of the Government, I am committing to working closer with the GGDMA.”

Minamata

The convention was organised in keeping with the

Minamata Convention on Mercury – a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury.

It was agreed to at the Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Mercury in Geneva, Switzerland on January 19, 2013, and was later adopted on October 10, 2013.

The convention draws attention to a global and ubiquitous metal that, while naturally occurring, has broad uses in everyday objects and is released to the atmosphere, soil and water from a variety of sources.

Controlling the anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle has been a key factor in shaping the obligations under the convention.

Major highlights of the convention include a ban on new mercury mines, the phasing out of existing ones, the phasing out and phasing down of mercury use in a number of products and processes, control measures on emissions to air and on releases to land and water, and regulation of the informal sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining.

The convention also addresses interim storage of mercury, and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues. turn to page 14

news

11

SUnDAY, february 10, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

BoG to release upgraded $1000 notes

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Race and racism

W

ith elections on the horizon, “race”, of course, has taken centre stage once again. In Guyana, we have been very generous with the use of the word “race”. This is another legacy of the British who defined us as “the land of six races”. Many Guyanese in the preindependence era actually boasted about this classification.

"Race" has been a very fluid, changing concept and it is not coincidental that the modern usage of the term is bound up with the history of the West Indies since “race” and “African slavery” are modern twins, as are “White” and “Black” as racial categories.

The early civilisations such as Greeks and Indians, etc, did not distinguish so much on "race" as we know it today, as on cultural characteristics of peoples: “Barbarians” – Greeks, “Anarya/ Ignoble” – Indians. All classifications are based on some schema that presuppose some value or other. During the 19th century, the European classificatory schemes of science were imbued with the evolutionary paradigm proposed by Ravi Dev Darwin in "the origin of species". This presumed a hierarchical ordering of phenomena and objects from the atoms of Mendelev to the races of man in a great “chain of being”.

A classification, we must always remember, is an analytic tool. In itself, distinguishing between individuals on physical or other criteria is not a problem – but becomes one when we make a social evaluation on the physical characteristics. Race was a key concept formulated during the ‘Enlightenment’ and was used as one of many hegemonic elements to convince the subjugated groups, starting with Africans, to accept their subordinate condition: after all, the “inferior” races were being done a favour as the White man laboured mightily to lift up his "burden".

The paradigmatic use of racism, of course, was used to justify the enslavement of Africans, after the Spanish clerics purported to discover vestiges of a soul in the Amerindians (after they died off like flies and proved unwilling to labour for the Europeans) as so possibly capable of receiving salvation.

The Africans were adjudged to be beyond this pale.

At its logical conclusion, it was used to justify the extermination of whole groups since if evolutionary theory showed that only the "fittest" survived, maybe it was the duty of the self-selected fittest to move the process along. While conquerors have always concluded that the conquered were in some way inferior, it was the first time that the reasons for the inferiority were given as physical characteristics. This invidious notion of race still survives in Guyana, deeply embedded in all of our European Enlightenment-centric education and it is this usage that must be eradicated.

This discourse encompassed all other non-white groups as the colonial expansion spread exponentially and is the beginning of “racism” in the modern sense of the word. Indians, for instance, were “wogs” to the British – indistinguishable in its import from the “N” word. Race and racism were born as inseparable twins: racism could never be disjunctured from race (in the sense that the latter could merely be a neutral descriptive term). It is for this reason I have preferred to distinguish humans on the basis of their ethnicity or their cultural characteristics.

To maintain consistency with the overriding need to define themselves as a superior group, the Europeans in Guyana performed all sorts of semantic gymnastics. The categories of race, supposedly immutable, were adjusted in the colonial milieu as needed and terms such as “Caucasian” – used by the British in other contexts were jettisoned since, it could have lumped them with the Portuguese and, horror of horrors, the Indians! The Portuguese, were not even classified by the geographical term “European” by the British colonials, since this would have hinted at the commonality of race.

The dominant Europeans have oppressed all non-White groups, to one degree or another in Guyana. Not in the sense that they were merely disliked by the White majority (exhibiting prejudice or racial discrimination), but that they were forced into certain roles by it – roles of subservience.

Even the “coloureds/mixed group who lorded over the rest were accepting their “place” beneath the Whites.

Where the principle of domination (stated or unstated) of the use of power is based on race, it is “racism” and is one of the major legacies that has to be eradicated in the construction of a just and democratic Guyanese state.

he Bank of Guyana (BoG) has announced that an upgraded $1000 currency note will be issued next month with two significant changes.

These changes are part of the Bank’s commitment to the continuous upgrade of Guyana’s currency notes.

The upgraded $1000 note will be released on March 4, 2019, and will circulate alongside the existing notes of the same denomination.

The announcement was made by the BoG in an advertisement published in today’s edition of Guyana Times.

According to the Bank, this upgraded currency note kept most of the elements of the previous note with only two significant changes to the front and back of the bill.

The first change is the replacement of the holographic stripe at the front of the note with a RAPID® micro-optic security feature. The six millimetre-wide, blue micro-optic feature displays fluid and highly visible movement behind the national flower – the Victoria Regia Lily, which is also represented in the print on the edges of the note.

With only a slight tilt of the banknote, the BoG added, the bands in the RAPID feature move up and down behind the static numerals “1000” as the flower petals shimmer in blue and white.

Meanwhile, the second change is the replacement of the windowed security thread at the back of the currency note with an embedded plastic thread, which is visible when held against the light.

Guyana’s $1000 note was upgraded in 2011 when improved security features were introduced. At the time, the $500 bill was

also upgraded. Among the changes made then to both

notes were a “holographic stripe” and an upgrad-

ed watermark among other features.

12 news LGC employees still to receive January salaries SUnDAY, february 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…utility companies also unpaid …Govt silent on payments

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eeks after it was reported that employees of the Local Government Commission

are owed their January salaries, it has been confirmed that payments are yet to be made and the agency has

been strapped in carrying out its work.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Saturday, an em-

ployee of the Commission related that there have been no engagements with staff about their salaries and no word is forthcoming on how these payments would be made. Adding to that, fees for other services provided such as utilities are still outstanding.

“Nobody was paid. No utilities were paid. Nothing.

The commissioners are actually grounded. The people are going to work but we can’t do anything about it,” said the source.

This publication understands that these monies are supposed to be signed off by the Permanent Secretary, Emil Mc Garrell, of the Communities Ministry before it can be disbursed.

However, it also needs to be approved by the Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan.

Since payments during early December, staffers have not received any payments to which it was insisted that these monies should have already been disseminated.

“They went through the details of the budget, both the Finance Ministry and the Local Government Commission. It was approved but the voucher

The Local Government Commission

wasn’t signed off so nobody received any money since the first part of December when payments were last made.

Given from the fact that they paid very early in December, this money should’ve already been in. Apparently, this money is still administered under the Permanent Secretary and he still has to take instructions from Bulkan before singing them,” the employee had revealed.

It was claimed in previous reports that the Commission is a constitutional agency but there is some control from the Ministry, which hinders some operations.

“This is preventing the Commission from operating as a constitutional body.

The Commission has to deal with appointments and dismissal and a host of things that the Minister would usu-

ally do. They have not recognised the Commission as a constitutional body.

The Communities Minister still wants to be in control of the Local Government Commission.”

Letters were penned to the Attorney General, Basil Williams; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and even President David Granger.

However, a response is yet to be given.

“No one is dealing with this. The Commission has written the Attorney General several times as well as the Minister of State. They even wrote the President to bring it to his attention and no one is responding to these concerns. With the way the Commission is functioning, it is not an independent body but one that is being manipulated,” the source added.

news

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SUnDAY, february 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Local dealer slams GRDB for “slackness” when assessing rice before export …as 70 tonnes of Guyana rice rejected by Jamaica …GRDB claims no White Cinderella rice shipped in 2019

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uyana’s rice has been placed in the glare of scrutiny again, less than three months after several containers of rice were rejected by Panama for failing to meet stipulated requirements.

This time Jamaica’s Industries, Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry has confiscated 70 metric tonnes of White Cinderella rice because of high microbial content after reaching the country’s shores.

According to reports by Jamaica Observer, the Food Storage and Prevention of Infestation Division of the Ministry impounded some 1575 bags of rice. Jamaica Observer reported that the grains, which were exported by a local distributor, were inspected and was found to have signs of mould, clumping discolouration and wetting and as such, detained by a food storage inspector.

These alarming discoveries ensured that a statutory detention notice was fixed, and samples were submitted to the division’s microbiology lab for testing. Jamaica Observer noted that the results from the tests demonstrated that the rice contained microbial levels which are beyond the accepted limits, thus making it inapt for human consumption.

Turhane Doerga

In keeping with the Food Storage and Prevention of Infestation (FSPI) Act (1958) and Regulations (1973), provisions were made for the rice to be disposed of after discussions with the importer, who is said to be a large-scale distributor from the island.

This seizure is first for the year but an epidemic of poor quality rice exiting Guyana was seen in the recent months when Panama rejected some 20 containers of rice from Guyana back in September.

This comes after the collapse of the lucrative PetroCaribe agreement between Guyana and Venezuela.

The PetroCaribe deal was set to expire in November 2015, but Venezuela axed the rice deal months before the official due date. The agree-

General Manager of the GRDB, Nizam Hassan

ment was sealed by the previous administration and was considered a profitable arrangement where oil could have been obtained through rice.

The Spanish-speaking country has been reportedly importing rice from neighbouring Suriname.

Downward spiral

Former Chief Executive Officer of Alesie Group, Turhane Doerga spoke to Guyana Times on Saturday about this new ordeal in the rice sector, where he expounded on loopholes within the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the medium between farmers and exporters, resulting in these unfortunate events.

According to him, the Board is mandated to keep tabs and conduct quality

checks on all rice leaving the country. However, this is not abided by and the consequences are now being faced, as Guyana is given a “bad name” in a sector in which it once excelled.

“It is very simple. The GRDB is an insult to all law-abiding rice people in this country. The rice was shipped from Guyana.

Where was GRDB? The rice millers are everybody pay them so it is corruption.

Bad rice is passing and it gives Guyana a bad name.

This is my concern that again, Guyana is getting a bad name because the people who are paid to make sure that quality is shipped

are not doing their jobs,” Doerga said.

The miller made it clear that the international rice market is aware of these infringements in quality and chastised the rice Body for improper management, which has affected farmers significantly, especially since they now receive less for rice. The Rice Producer Association was also called out for not addressing these issues from the inception.

“It’s in the international rice news and it’s sad because the country is getting a bad name. With the management that we have in the rice industry at this moment, farmers are getting far less for their paddy. The RPA which is supposed to be taking care of farmers interests is dead and the GRDB is an ongoing saga of corruption and the Minister is fast asleep.”

He recalled the previous infringements in rice exportation and reminded that quality is not being taken as a priority. According to Doerga, Guyanese rice is superior in quality but this is not what is depicted in the exported goods due to slackness at all levels.

The rice expert also

highlighted the poor marketing strategy which the country has adapted, thus resulting in the evident “downward spiral”.

“We had the Panama thing and then the Venezuela thing and it was all about quality. We have absolute top quality rice in this country so why are these things happening?

To me, Guyana rice is being sold for whatever they can get so there is no proper marketing being done and it’s simply because the RPA which had to protect the farmers and fight for their rights is doing nothing. We’re in a downward spiral and this is really and truly bad. The farmers are the ones on the back end,” he explained.

No shipment

When contacted, General Manager of the GRDB, Nizam Hassan stated that he learnt of the confiscation through media reports. According to him, efforts were made to contact the agency responsible for the shipment and the Board is yet to receive an answer.

However, he maintained that no shipment was made from the said miller for this year. “There has been no shipment from that miller that uses that brand for 2019,” Hassan said.

14 news

SUnDAY, february 10, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Some villages complicit with...

There have previously been reports on increased levels of mercury in several waterways in interior regions. Additionally, the Guyana Water Inc was forced to temporarily close its Port Kaituma well after it discovered high mercury content in the Kaituma

River.

Last year, the discovery of high levels of mercury in the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) laboratory in Georgetown had led to Trinidad-based Kaizen Environmental Services being contracted to conduct an independent investigation

on the effect of the emission.

Research shows that mercury can enter the body through inhalation of mercury vapour, ingestion, injection or even absorption through the skin.

In the case of mining personnel, a reading show-

from page 10

ing levels of 0-6 micrograms per litre is considered safe while 7-10 is high and above 11 is dangerous.

Once in the human system, mercury poisoning has horrendous effects on neurological, reproductive, gastrointestinal and renal organs.

Do you have a valid environmental authorisation?

O

ne doesn’t have to look very far to notice an increase the number of economic, construction and other developmental activities taking place in Guyana. Developmental activities are necessary to improve the quality of our lives; however, they need to be conducted in a manner which will not compromise the quality of the environment and human health. Further, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established to manage, conserve, protect and improve our envi-ronment. Therefore, certain types of activities need to be authorised by the EPA. These include: • Construction of roads • Hotels, inns, resorts, guest houses • Ports and habour development • Development of industrial complexes/estates • Development of water distribution facilities • Power generation plants • Water treatment facilities • Vulcanising shops • Auto electrical/mechanical workshops • Facilities which store, treat or dispose of waste • Body work/spray painting Main documents needoperation ed for new application: • Rice processing plant • Mining activities (sand, • Completed applica bauxite, gold, diamond, tion form; rock, etc) • Proof of identification • Pulp and paper processing

(ID or passport); • Cement production and • Proof of land owner bagging plants

ship; • Asphalt/bitumen plants • Business licence; • Paint and ink manufacturing • Any permit or • Extraction of forest

licence received from resources

other Government • Petroleum exploration

authorities; • P h a r m a c e u t i c a l s • Project summary/ manufacturing, etc

description includ

ing a map of the NB – This list is not exhaustive!

sur rounding area; • Site layout; and What is an environmen• Application fee. tal authorisation?

Environmental authorisation (EA) is an Environmental Permit, a prescribed process licence, a construction permit or an operation permit granted by the EPA.

Why is the environmental authorisation necessary?

Having a valid environmental authorisation for certain types of activities is required by law; the Environmental Protection Act Chapter 20:05, Laws of Guyana. It also provides major benefits to the environment, human health and to secure your investment. The process ensures that development is conducted in the most sustainable way possible by mandating investors to identify the major impacts of an investment project and determine the best measures or alternatives that can be put in place to prevent or mitigate negative impacts.

Additionally, through environmental authorisation process, it is determined whether or not and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is needed be-fore granting the Environmental Permit. This is another important process which is required to be completed by investors who are planning projects that will have significant adverse effects on environmental, social and eco-nomic well-being.

Reduce conflicts

An environmental authorisation has many long-term advantages, even for the investor; you will be guided on addressing impacts before they even occur. This helps to save time and money, as it prevents conflicts that may arise not only between investors and authorities but also between the inves-tors and residents. An EA also legally protects your investment.

It’s illegal to be operating without a valid environmental authorisation In order to continue to enjoy benefits of sound environmental management and economic growth, investors need to have their permits renewed. This allows the Environmental Protection Agency to carry on monitoring project activities to ensure that they are conducted sustainably. You should apply for renewal of your permit at least six months prior to its expiration date. The Agency is currently requesting all persons who have expired environmental authorisation to have their permits renewed. You have until February 28, 2019, to come into compliance after which the Agency will be enforcing against defaulters.

If you are renewing your application and have made any adjustments to your operations, the Agency needs to be notified of same.

Environmental Authorisation protects the Environ-ment…and your business!

You can make contact to the Agency on 225-54712; www.epaguyana.org or epaguyana on Facebook, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN should you have questions regarding Environmental Authorisation

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SUnDAY, february 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden-Soesdyke road demarcation

Region 10 RDC bemoans Public Infrastructure Ministry’s sloth

Failure to respect the judicial rulings on the Noconfidence Motion will be politically and economically detrimental for Guyana

O

n January 31, 2019, the Chief Justice delivered her judgement on the No-confidence Motion issue which was much to the disfavour of the Government – and which is technically now characterised as a fallen Government in light of the learned Chief Justice’ ruling. To give a brief synopsis of the events thereto, after the ruling of the High Court was delivered and as was expected, the Government announced even before the court ruled that they will appeal that ruling all the way up to the Caribbean Court of Justice which is the final court of appeal for Guyana. In the meanwhile, members of Government, including his Excellency David Granger, declared they are not resigning at one of their elections campaign forum.

Though appealing this matter is perfectly well in order, it must be done in an extremely expeditious manner to avert a political and constitutional crisis on or before March 21, 2019. If this is not done and the Government continues to hold onto power and impose its dictates that they have no intentions of resigning or even calling General Elections speedily, it is unfortunate to say that after March 21, 2019, the Opposition will effectively not recognise the Government as a legitimate government, the international community based on some public pronouncements already, may also recognise the Government as an illegitimate government in office and these are certainly not good signs for Guyana. These events are almost a replica of the situation in Venezuela recently and Guyana is not even producing oil as yet.

Hence, this is a worrying time for Guyana against the aforementioned because there will be a political and economic crisis and even a constitutional crisis if the appeals are not dealt with in a timely manner. What will happen in these circumstances is Guyana will become politically weak and vulnerable; the country’s sovereignty will also become highly vulnerable in light of threats from Venezuela on the controversial border matter surrounding the two countries – in other words, such risks which Guyana is currently faced with in protecting the country’s sovereignty will also be escalated to a high risk of the undesirable at this time.

Moreover, on the economic development side, both private and foreign investors are already worried and holding back from getting involved in terms of investing in Guyana – much less signing any contracts with the Government. The manifestation of these events will only hurt the Guyanese people; especially the working class at the expense of politicians fighting for power and clinging to power without any regard for a strong and prudently governed economy in the interest of all its peoples. The economy is at risk of becoming standstill overall, very little or no investment will occur during this period, unemployment will be on the rise, crime will be on the rise and social and economic hardships will be imposed upon the working class especially.

It is therefore strongly suggested by this author that if indeed the coalition political party, now a fallen government (until and unless the Appeal Court rules otherwise), are confident as they boldly continue to contend, then do the mature thing like the Opposition did when same was brought against them in the Parliament in 2015, the President at that time did a politically mature thing to dissolve the Parliament and immediately call a snap election, despite losing that election. Now, the tables have turned and the actions of the sitting Government speaks anything but democratic practices and political maturity on their part. In the eyes of the intellectual community, they are only discrediting themselves much to their insolent embarrassment.

It is hoped that the international community continue to impose strong pressures upon the political leaders on both sides for there to be national elections as early as possible. It is the only amicable solution to settle this matter on confidence or no confidence. The electorate should determine this outcome and not a court of law within these circumstances – especially since one High Court has already spoken and the Legislature has spoken as well – quite consistently.

(For comments, questions and responses on articles featured in this column, readers can reach the author at jbinsights@outlook.com).

T

he Regional Democratic Council of Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has called on the Public Infrastructure Ministry for the immediate marking of the Linden-Soesdyke highway, which has been of grave concern.

During the last statutory meeting, Councillor Charles Sampson noted that demarcated lines would reduce the number of fatalities on the roadway but posited that it appears as though their previous calls were overlooked.

Sampson posited that he has raised the issue on numerous occasions to no avail.

“The highway need to be marked and have lights. It seems that some senior official has to die before action is taken. It seems like some big one got to dead before they mark the line because we don’t have markings,”

The Linden-Soesdyke Highway

an evidently frustrated Councillor Sampson said.

Adding to these woes, there are large trees along the stretch of road which should be removed since it can easily fall on the roadway.

“Another thing to do and do it urgently when you pass by the high bridge there are a number of large trees along the highway and I keep saying that those trees can fall and cause serious accidents and the Ministry of Public

Infrastructure should heed our calls and do something about this immediately,” he explained.

A comparison was made to other roads in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) which were fully lighted and marked upon completion as questions piled as to why the roadway was side-lined.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian, responded that since December, several letters were sent to the Ministry requesting that

the road issue be addressed which was accompanied by a list of work that needs to be done.

“As of December 2018, I have sent no less than five letters to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure…I sent the list reminding that we are requesting marking and lightings on the road.

It is my personal view that there are people in the establishment who is pushing back at development.”

He too was of the opinion that accidents would be reduced significantly as he stated, “I believe that with markings it will certainly reduce the accidents, which in most cases results in the loss of lives.

Again I hope that I don’t have to write several letters, so I will write number six letter and I hope that action is taken as there is need for proper road markings and lights,” Morian stressed.

16 news

SUnDAY, february 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Kuru Kururu hosts domestic violence awareness walk

C

itizenship Minister, Winston Felix, on Saturday told residents of Kuru-Kururu on the Linden Highway that, among the things, a part of the upcoming oil revenues should be used on a programme which will help victims of domestic violence, as many victims especially women are often forced to live under abusive circumstances because they are unable to fend for themselves.

Felix was at the time speaking at a seminar which was hosted after a domestic violence awareness walk that was organised by the community’s Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

“If it’s (circumstances) really bad it means that these women are not working and they have three or four children to support.

The question of how the removal of the breadwinner can be replaced so that the question of support does not get lost (and) that is one of the issues which I think over time we will have to overcome probably with oil and the revenue from oil we might be able to develop or put some money into social programs that will support women whose husbands have been either in prison or have been separated from the home and they have very little means of support,” he said. The Minister further told the gathering that such issues cannot be addressed by hiding them but rather a firm position must be taken on such matters in order for domestic violence to be defeated.

He reminded that the Government, back in 2016, had established a national

task force to tackle such issues which has begun work in the hinterland areas.

While nothing tangible has materialised from that task force, the Help and Shelter and the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has established a shelter for children and women who are victims of abuse.

Only last year, Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus said there was a grave need for the availability of more safe houses to protect domestic violence victims and survivors.

Meanwhile, the awareness walk was triggered by the recent spike in fatalities caused by domestic violence in the small village.

As scores of persons walked through the streets chanting “when you heat up don’t beat up” among other chants, a number of persons

A section of residents who participated in the domestic violence awareness walk

joined the lines of people to effect a change in their community, some joining from their homes and even businesses.

Councillor in the community, Raphael Bagot explained, “The incidents of horrific activities in our community beginning with the murder of a legal clerk and the most recent is the discovery of a dead body in [a] bus shed at the front of this community have contributed to us putting this

event together. Included in those acts was what was believed to be a murder/suicide and we later found out that it was a double homicide.

We also had the incidence of a person attempting to murder his lover who survived and then that person committed suicide”.

One of the organisers, William Ramlall, who was tearful during his presentation shared his story, explaining that he was once a

victim of domestic violence and was always passionate about a change in his community.

Residents of the village benefitted from educational talks from various organisations.

According to statistics from a study conducted by Red Thread which was released last year, 81 per cent of domestic violence cases were reported by women as against 17 per cent being reported by men.

Dozens killed in India after consuming poisonous liquor

A

t least 72 people have died and several others have fallen sick from drinking illegally brewed liquor containing toxic methanol in several villages in northern India, officials said.

At least 64 deaths were reported on Saturday from Saharanpur and Haridwar, adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand states respectively, after drinking the poisonous liquor.

Eight more deaths were

reported in another tragedy blamed on tainted liquor in Kushinagar district, also in Uttar Pradesh, regional official BD Gupta told the dpa news agency.

The majority of the deaths were reported from the village of Balpur in Uttarakhand.

Authorities launched a crackdown and suspended police and officials. In Saharanpur district, the death toll climbed from 16 to 36, top administrative official Alok Pandey told

dpa by phone on Saturday.

The villagers had consumed the tainted liquor suspected of being laced with methanol on Thursday.

In the adjoining Haridwar district, the death toll had risen to 28 from 12 on Friday, Indian broadcaster NDTV reported.

Twenty-two people were admitted to hospitals in Saharanpur but were in stable condition, Pandey said. turn to page 17

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SUnDAY, february 10, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Venezuela shifts oil ventures' accounts to Russian bank – document, sources

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enezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA is telling customers of its joint ventures to deposit oil sales proceeds in an account recently opened at Russia’s Gazprombank AO, according to sources and an internal document seen by Reuters on Saturday.

PDVSA’s move comes after the United States imposed tough, new financial sanctions on January 28, 2019 aimed at blocking Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro’s access to the country’s oil revenue.

Supporters of Venezuelan Opposition Leader and self-proclaimed interim President Juan

Guaido said recently that a fund would be established to accept proceeds from sales of Venezuelan oil.

The United States and dozens of other countries have recognised Guaido as the nation’s legitimate head of state. Maduro has denounced Guaido as a US puppet seeking to foment a coup.

PDVSA also has begun pressing its foreign partners holding stakes in joint ventures in its key Orinoco Belt producing area to formally decide whether they will continue with the projects, according to two sources with knowledge of the talks.

The joint venture part-

ners include Norway’s Equinor ASA, US-based Chevron Corp and France’s Total SA. “We would like to make formal your knowledge of new banking instructions to make payments in US dollars or euros,” wrote PDVSA’s finance vice president, Fernando De Quintal, in a letter dated February 8, to the PDVSA unit that supervises its joint ventures.

Even after a first round of financial sanctions in 2017, PDVSA’s joint ventures managed to maintain bank accounts in the United States and Europe to receive proceeds from oil sales. They also used correspondent

Dozens killed in India after...

The Saharanpur Police, suspecting that the alcohol may have come from the same source, arrested 30 people, many of them bootleggers. They seized hundreds of litres of tainted liquor in raids.

Authorities in the region also suspended over 30 officials, including 10 Policemen, on charges of

negligence or collusion in the illicit trade.

They vowed to take strict action against the accused, saying they would demand the death penalty for those involved in the illicit trade once the case reaches the court.

Later on Saturday, authorities in both states announced a compensation of

from page 16

200,000 rupees (US$2800) each to the relatives of those killed.

Deaths from illegally brewed alcohol are common in India because the poor cannot afford licensed brands. Illicit liquor is cheap and often spiked with chemicals such as pesticides to increase potency. (Al Jazeera)

banks in the United States and Europe to shift money to PDVSA’s accounts in China.

State-run PDVSA several weeks ago informed cus-

tomers of the new banking instructions and has begun moving the accounts of its joint ventures, which can export crude separately. The decision was

made amid tension with some of its partners, which have withdrawn staff from Caracas since US sanctions were imposed in January.

(Reuters)

18 news Banks DIH now UniCarriers distributor SUnDAY, february 10, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Annandale/Riverstown NDC undertakes clean-up activity

NDC officials and villagers in the clean-up activity

T One of the UniCarriers forklifts that will soon be available on the local market

B

everage giant, Bank DIH Limited is the newest distributors of UniCarriers forklift now that the local company collaborated with the manufacturer.

Americas dealer network through the company’s automotive dealership was launched on Friday at Caribanks Complex, Meadow Bank, Georgetown.

During his brief remarks, Director of Latin America Sales of UniCarriers Americas Corporation, Eduardo Torres said he is very happy to be on board with Banks DIH. “We look forward to our partnership and working together to provide reliable equipment to customers in Guyana. You’ll see the difference in UniCarriers forklifts

from the very start — in the fit and finish of every forklift we manufacture”.

Torres added that consumers will be able to profit from the bottom-line advantages that come from running UniCarriers forklifts.

Chairman of Banks, Clifford Reis welcomed the initiative and thanked the company for the partnership.

he Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for the Annandale/Riverstown area, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), has commenced a clean-up activity in the community of Red Village, as it focuses on creating a safer surrounding and addressing concerns raised by residents relating to placing effective security measures in the area.

Red Village a small community located in the deep Onderneeming, Sand Pit area, about three miles from the public road and was visited by Regional Vice

Chairman, Ms Nandranie Coonjah and the NDC’s Councillor, Marva Chappel, who in a successful attempt brought attention to the many problems and circumstances faced by the community such as being robbed when using the roadway.

Residents also complained of an unfinished health post, which was left incomplete since 2016 due to issues encountered with the contractor. According to residents, the incomplete building can be a hub or safe haven for criminal elements.

The Regional Vice

Chairman, following a community visit, arranged a team which consisted of herself along with Chairman of the NDC, Charran Sarabjeet, councillors, villagers and sanitation workers attached to the region in a clean-up effort to clear the road shoulders of garbage and other unwanted materials leading up to the village.

The villagers, motor vehicles owners and other persons commended the work undertaken by the NDC, as the NDC team is advising persons to desist from polluting the roadways since it poses hazards to road users.

sunDAY, february 10, 2019

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Mars aims to qualify for 2020 Chess Olympiads McLean halfin Russia century insufficient Windies Women’s ODI series in Pakistan...

as Windies fall in 2nd ODI P

akistan Women drew level in their ICC Women’s Championship series against the visiting Windies with a dominant performance at the ICC Academy in Dubai.

The Pakistan Women ended up as 34-run winners after choosing to bat and scoring 240 on the back of 96 from Sidra Ameen and 81 from Nida Dar. They would then bowl the Windies out for 206 in 49.4 overs.

Windies skipper Stafanie Taylor did not have a good day with the ball, bowling just four overs which cost her 32, while Deandra Dottin, despite her two wickets, was a little on the expensive side, going for 55 from her 10 overs. The best of the Windies bowlers was Shakera Selman, who bagged 2-33 from 10 overs. Shamilia Connell took 1-20 from six overs, while Afi Fletcher had 1-51 from her 10 overs.

Anisa Mohammed was also in a little unfamiliar territory, bowling a wicketless seven overs that cost her 35 runs.

Those figures came on account of the innings from Ameen, who faced just 121 deliveries for her tally, striking 14 boundaries.

Dar was even more severe on the Windies bowling, racing to her eventual score of 81 from just 86 balls, finding the boundary seven times and going over it twice.

When the Windies batted, they failed to negotiate the bowling of Diana Baig, who ended with figures of 4-34 from 10 Sidra Ameen run out (Taylor) 96 Kycia A Knight † c †Sidra Nawaz overs. Baig was Nahida Khan c Mohammed b Diana Baig 13 3 DJS Dottin b Diana Baig 5 well support- b Selman 5 SR Taylor (c) lbw b Sana Mir 48 ed Sana Mir, Javeria Khan b Connell SA Campbelle lbw b Diana Baig 1 3-21, and Nashra Bismah Maroof (c) c †Kycia 8 CN Nation c †Sidra Nawaz Sandhu, 2-38. A Knight b Dottin Nida Dar lbw b Dottin 81 b Nashra Sandhu 23 Dar was also Aliya Riaz b Fletcher 6 NY McLean c & b Nida Dar 82 among the wick- Sana Mir run out (Taylor) 21 CA Henry c Nahida Khan ets, taking 1-23 Kainat Imtiaz c McLean b Selman 1 b Nashra Sandhu 7 from 7.4 overs.

Sidra Nawaz † run out (Taylor) 3 ASS Fletcher lbw b Diana Baig 4 Taylor tried to Diana Baig run out A Mohammed b Sana Mir 1 4 SC Selman b Sana Mir 1 counter the good (†Kycia A Knight) 0 SS Connell not out 15 bowling of the Nashra Sandhu not out Extras 6 (b 1, w 5) Pakistani wom- Extras 12 (lb 4, w 8) en and scored 48 TOTAL 240 all out (49.4 Overs, RR: TOTAL 206 all out (49.4 Overs, RR: 4.83) 4.14) before she was Fall of wickets: Fall of wickets: out leg before for 1-15 (Nahida Khan, 4.5 ov), 1-9 (DJS Dottin, 4.3 ov), 48 from 68 de- 2-29 (Javeria Khan, 9.3 ov), 2-19 (Kycia A Knight, 8.3 ov), liveries, while 3-52 (Bismah Maroof, 13.2 ov), 3-27 (SA Campbelle, 10.5 ov), 4-92 (CN Nation, 25.4 ov), Natasha McLean 4-154 (Sidra Ameen, 32.6 ov), 5-94 (SR Taylor, 26.6 ov), was in an at- 5-164 (Aliya Riaz, 35.3 ov), 6-105 (CA Henry, 29.6 ov), tacking mood, 6-208 (Sana Mir, 44.1 ov), 7-219 (Kainat Imtiaz, 46.3 ov), 7-131 (ASS Fletcher, 34.4 ov), striking her 82 8-234 (Nida Dar, 47.4 ov), -140 (A Mohammed, 37.6 ov), from 76 deliv- 9-239 (Sidra Nawaz, 49.1 ov), 9-144 (SC Selman, 39.6 ov), eries.

McLean 10-240 (Diana Baig, 49.4 ov) 10-206 (NY McLean, 49.4 ov) slammed eight O M R W BOWLING O M R W fours and two six- BOWLING SC Selman 10 0 33 2 Diana Baig 10 2 34 4 es in her knock SS Connell 6 0 20 1 Sana Mir 10 3 21 3 but unfortu- DJS Dottin 9.4 0 55 2 Nashra Sandhu 10 0 38 2 nately, Chadine CA Henry 3 0 10 0 Aliya Riaz 7 0 41 0 Nation, with 23, SR Taylor 4 0 32 0 Nida Dar 7.4 1 23 1 was the next best ASS Fletcher 10 1 51 1 Kainat Imtiaz 3 0 36 0 7 1 35 0 Bismah Maroof 2 0 12 0 batter for the A Mohammed Windies women.

SCOREBOARD

(Sportsmax)

A

s the Chess action continues in Guyana, many topof-the-line players are aiming to make their mark locally as they try to qualify to be a part of the 2020 regime of the Guyana Chess Federation going the 2020 Olympiad in Russia.

One such player is Davion Mars who has been causing a ruckus in the chess world thus far. He won one tournament in January and placed second in the recently concluded James Bond Birthday Blitz tournament.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, when asked how has the two tournaments he has competed in prepared him, Mars said, “The first event of the year just happened to be my least favoured time control, Rapid, it’s mildly ironic that this is something I share with the current World Rapid Champion Daniil Dubov, and yet we both still managed to win our respective Rapid events unbeaten, of course the contrast between our strengths and the field we’ve competed in are obviously light years apart.

Previously, I’ve thought of Rapid Chess as a sort of limbo between Blitz and Classical, you never truly know how much time to invest in preparation, In Blitz, you can get away with crazy opening ideas due to the time constraints, but with Rapid it’s like diving too deeply into concrete theory as you would in classical chess, can force you into serious time trouble, then on the other hand there seems to be way too much time to try something outrageous and overly aggressive, because if at the end of the exchange you end up in an inferior position, your opponent has the opportunity to recover their time deficit while yours burn away.

I knew that I had to improve my chess in all aspects and by extension I had to change my attitude all together, so I looked at this an opportunity to reach beyond my limits, I kept training as I would for any major event despite the time controls and the results turned out as I’d expected, it was mostly the confidence in my own capabilities despite what others think I can and cannot do, that has and continues to, propel me onward”.

Mars also went on to state that while the first event was exciting, the second event was even more thrilling, as he had to play 12 rounds of chess which is among the highest number of games played in a single tournament on a single day, thus giving him quite the challenge. Mars did however enjoy the pace and dynamics of the games; he was especially proud of his performance in the Blitz Tournament even though it was not as stellar as he had hoped, owing to the fact that it was because he had been extremely ill just a few short hours before the event. Because of his ailment he had no intention of participating in the said tournament, but his peers encouraged him to make an appearance, as they knew his reputation to defy all odds to compete.

In the end, Mars won 10 out of the 12 possible games, finishing second overall – just a single point behind first place finisher, Anthony Drayton. Though he only lost two games against two very well respected players – FIDE Master Anthony Drayton and Roberto Neto – it was how he lost to them that really irritated him, as he stated that he played extremely quick, hardly invested any time into assessing his position and

Davion Mars

quite frankly, gave away all his pieces one move at a time. Mars knew that he was in poor physical health and wanted to seek refuge in the thought that he was not at 100%, but he also knew he could’ve done so much better. He was not going to let that excuse sneak into his mind, comfort him and eventually halt his momentum, so he relaxed, regained his confidence, and managed to win all the remaining games.

When asked how he feels about the upcoming Olympiad, which is just one year from now, he said, “I have and will continue to look at events, both past and present, as more of a preparatory tool towards to the 2020 Olympiad in Russia, I had missed all four previous Olympiads due to some constraint or another. At one point I was torn between work and practice, then exams among other trying factors. This time around I intend to work hard to qualify and though the road is still littered with insurmountable challenges, they no longer influence me psychologically as they once did. I suppose I just have to take a slow and steady pace towards that goal, one game at a time, and on an even more minute scale, one move at a time. It would be great if I could be National Champion at some point; that’s of course a mammoth of a task in and of itself but I’ve set the bar a little higher, so it’s on my priority list, but not paramount”.

The young but vibrant chess player told this publication that he has followed a lot of Grandmaster tournaments and post-game analysis to get a grasp of what consciously separates them from average chess players, to learn their insights, the fuel of their thought mechanisms and how they manage to maintain such iron-clad composure in high-intensity and high-stress situations.

He also said that he will try his best to emulate the best. He also encouraged many players that it should be every chess player’s dream to be on that level someday, to compete on equal footing with such legendary giants, therefore it only makes sense to take whatever blueprints they can from their incredible minds and reinvent them in a way that can help players progress.

In closing, Mars sad, “I will continue to be a mentor and pass on the knowledge I’ve garnered in order to inspire the next generation of local talents. Whether or not I manage to leave a big impression on the local or international spectrum, I am positive that there are younger Guyanese talents who will, all they need is the guidance, inspiration and support to do so, and as a mentor I intend to provide no less”.

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guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, february 10, 2019

2018-2019 Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Gudakesh Motie was in top gear with ball in hand (Brandon Corlette photo)

Jaguars close in on victory, requiring 145 runs on final day

By Brandon Corlette

T

he penultimate day at Providence Stadium, East Bank Demerara, was an eventful one; Guyana Jaguars ended the day in command on 25-0, chasing 170 runs for victory. Earlier, Jaguars were bowled out for 321, giving Scorpions a lead of 37. In reply the jaded Jamaica Scorpions were bundled out for 132, thanks to three-wicket hauls from Raymon Reifer and Gudakesh Motie.

Jaguars resumed the day on 203-5 with Christopher Barnwell on 22 and Raymon Reifer on five. Right-arm fast bowler Derval Green began proceedings from the players pavilion end as Barnwell started the morning in fine fashion, stroking a boundary.

The first hour belonged to the Jaguars but left-arm chinaman bowler, Dennis Bulli removed Reifer for 27 from 52 balls. Reifer hit four boundaries; when Bulli got a delivery to turn and bounce, squaring up Reifer as the ball took the outside edge. Jermaine Blackwood completed the sharp catch to end the 65-run partnership between Reifer and Barnwell, with the score on 252-6. The Providence pitch showed signs of uneven bounce due to moisture from previous rainfall.

In came Anthony Bramble at number eight after the drinks break; Bramble got off the mark immediately with a single; Barnwell then took strike. Bulli made a mess of Barnwell’s stumps as Barnwell was attempting to cut a ball that kept low and turned sharp, hitting low on leg stumps.

That ended Barnwell’s fighting 118-minute innings of 42 from 99 balls that included four boundaries, with the Jaguars sliding to 253-7 after 94.5 overs. The two Berbicians – Bramble and Romario Shepherd – were at the crease with Jaguars still trailing by 105 runs when the two joined forces.

An introduction of Rovman Powell from the Northern end saw the demise of Shepherd who attempted to play forward to a ball that zipped back late and trapped the big Berbician out leg before. Shepherd scored 18 from 32 balls hitting three fours; Jaguars were reduced to 305-8 when the Bramble-Shepherd 52 run partnership concluded.

Jaguars reached lunch on 316-8 in 111 overs. Bramble was unbeaten on 43* from 51 balls while Permaul was on three, in the morning session that produced 113 runs and three wickets.

Jerome Taylor began proceedings post lunch and the first delivery he trapped Veerasammy Permaul for three, at 316-9.

It was Gudakesh Motie, the final Jaguars batsman who scored two runs, edging Taylor behind as the innings concluded.

Jaguars scored 321 all out in 113.3, giving Scorpions a lead of 37.

Anthony Bramble was left stranded on 45 from 54 balls, hitting five boundaries in his unbeaten innings. Former test quick, Taylor ended with 3-27 from 14.2 overs while Dennis Bulli had 3-91 in 27 overs. Rovman Powell had two wickets while Derval Green

and Jermaine Blackwood had one wicket each.

Scorpion’s o p e n e r s C h a d w i c k Walton and Oraine Williams went out to bat enjoying a lead of 37. Romario Shepherd and Raymon Reifer shared the new ball as Reifer made an impact in his first over of the second innings. Reifer removed Williams out bowled, breaking the stumps from a full in-swinging ball, forcing Guyanese umpire Javed Persaud to replace the broken stumps.

It was a horrific start for the Jamaicans, losing a wicket without a run on the board; with Brandon King the next batsman in, he was called off the field as Jermaine Blackwood went out to bat at number three. The ever-aggressive Blackwood was stuck at the crease and was out bowled by Christopher Barnwell with the Scorpions on 572. Blackwood was out for 23 from 34 balls, hitting three boundaries.

After the 57-run partnership between Blackwood and Walton, the latter was out bowled by Permaul for 23 from 59 balls, hitting three fours. Scorpions were reduced to 61-3 in 16.4 overs while Barnwell continued to have an impact on the match. King was out leg before to Barnwell to a ball that look as if it was missing leg-stump with the naked eye.

King made four from six balls, as two wickets fell with the score on 61.

Assad Fudadin and Rovman Powell were at the crease entering tea with the Scorpions on 69-4 in 19 overs, with a lead of 106. It was an eventful session that saw 71 runs scored and six wickets falling. Jaguars gave nothing away in the final session, as the Scorpions batsman had to work for their runs. Shepherd was introduced for a new spell and he removed Powell for a struggling eight from 27 balls. Powell was out caught by Permaul who took a running catch covering huge grounds on the leg-side, with the score on 87-5.

Scorpion’s captain, Paul Palmer partnered Fudadin as they combat some testing bowling from the Jaguars.

Wickets fell at regular intervals; Palmer was leg before to Motie for five at 113-6, Kenroy Williams was caught at short-leg by Tagenarine Chanderpaul for one off the bowling of Motie, with the score on 115-7. Assad Fudadin looked to some release pressure, blasting a four down the ground off Reifer.

Jamaica Scorpions 1st Innings 358 all out Guyana Jaguars 1st Innings 321 all out T Chanderpaul c O Williams b Taylor 10 4 C Hemraj b Green S Rutherford c Blackwood b Powell 31 58 L Johnson lbw Blackwood 61 V Singh c Blackwood b Bulli C Barnwell b Bulli 42 R Reifer c Blackwood b Bulli 27 A Bramble not out 45 18 R Shepherd lbw Powell V Permaul lbw Taylor 3 2 G Motie c Williams b Taylor Extras 20 (Penalty 5) Total 321 all out 113.3 overs FOW 1 - 20(Chandrapaul Hemraj, 3.4 Ov), 2 - 20(Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 4.3 Ov), 3 - 62(Sherfane Rutherford, 18.3 Ov), 4 - 163(Leon Johnson, 65.1 Ov), 5 - 187(Vishaul Singh, 76.2 Ov), 6 - 252(Raymon Reifer, 94.3 Ov) , 7 - 253(Christopher Barnwell, 94.5 Ov), 8 - 305(Romario Shepherd, 106.2 Ov), 9 - 316(Veerasammy Permaul, 111.1 Ov), 10 - 321(Gudakesh Motie, 113.2 Ov) Bowling J Taylor 14.2-3-27-3 13-2-41-1 D Green K Williams 28-9-70-0 R Powell 18-6-43-2 D Bulli 27-2-91-3 4-1-9-1 J Blackwood C Walton 9-0-25-0 Jamaica Scorpions 2nd Innings 132 all out 23 C Walton B Permaul 0 O Williams b Reifer J Blackwood b Barnwell 23

B King lbw Barnwell 4 24 A Fudadin c Shepherd b Reifer R Powell c Permaul b Shepherd 8 5 P Palmer lbw Motie K Williams c Chanderpaul b Motie 1 5 D Green c Barnwell b Reifer D Bulli c Bramble 4 J Taylor not out Extras 32 Total 132 all out (48.1 ov) FOW 1 - 0(Oraine Williams, 1.6 Ov), 2 - 57(Jermaine Blackwood, 15.4 Ov), 3 - 61(Chadwick Walton, 16.4 Ov), 4 - 61(Brandon King, 17.4 Ov), 5 - 87(Rovman Powell, 29.4 Ov), 6 - 113(Paul Palmer, 40.1 Ov), 7 - 115(Kenroy Williams, 42.4 Ov), 8 - 121(Assad Fudadin, 43.5 Ov), 9 - 128(Derval Green, 47.5 Ov), 10 - 132(Dennis Bulli, 48.1 Ov) Bowling 10-5-11-1 R Shepherd 11-2-36-3 R Reifer S. Rutherford 3-0-13-0 8-1-18-2 C Barnwell V Permaul 11-3-12-1 G Motie 5.1-1-11-3 Guyana Jaguars 2nd Innings 25-0 (170 target) 9 T Chanderpaul not out 16 C Hemraj not out Extras 0 Total 25-0 Bowling J Taylor 2-1-9-0 D Green K Williams

1-0-13-0 1-0-3-0

turn to page 22

Annandale trounces St Joseph in Milo opener ...Bishops’, St Stanislaus record wins

A

nnandale Secondary bounced back to their usual form after a scintillating first game in the 2019 Milo Under-18 Competition. The action got started after an official march-past and encouraging words from top notch football officials such as Petra’s Co-Director, Troy Mendonca; Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde; and sponsor – Beepats’ Manager Christopher Beepat.

The Milo Under-18 tournament returned to the Ministry of Education Ground on Saturday afternoon for its seventh instalment featuring 24 teams. The first day of play, however, featured six teams in high-paced, exhilarating encounters.

Before the spectators were treated to the beautiful sport, they listened to opening remarks from the Co-Director of Petra, Troy Mendonca who spoke to the inclusiveness of this year’s tournament, which saw schools journeying from Berbice, Linden and the West Coast of Demerara.

“I just want to say to you that this event is not just a simple competition, this event plays a part in us having a lot more kids involved, a wider cross-section of kids involved in the sport which aids in the development,” Mendonca explained.

Representing the primary sponsor, Beepats, Christopher Beepat encouraged other corporate entities to get behind sponsoring youth oriented programmes.

“It is our belief that sport and other activities that promote positive development among youth are of paramount importance in Guyana. We’d like to encourage more local organisations to contribute through their corporate social responsibility programmes. So our youth are never waiting or wanting for opportunities to develop their interests and their talents,” Beepat urged.

Meanwhile, GFF President Wayne Forde had a bit of advice for the young players, reminding them that such tournaments are the stepping stone to joining the national team.

“Many of the players that have been playing in this tournament over the past six years, have now graduated to the national programme. So it simply means that this programme is critical in the development of football,” Forde explained.

When the action finally began, Annandale Secondary made a resounding statement regarding their intentions for the rest of the two months tournament with a 7-1 win over St Joseph High School. St Joseph was first to record their lone goal, coming off the boots of Warren Williams but was ensued strictly by Annandale. Captain Jemar Harrigon was the first to net a goal in the 20th minute – one minute after Williams to equalise the scores. Jerome Harrigon

then followed up with his first in the 30th to put the score at 2-1 by the half.

Annandale returned with fresh determination and hammered five more goals in their opponents. Omar Glasgow had his time to shine in the 39th minute, while Collin Hendricks had his in the 55th minute. Two more goals from Jerome Harrigon completed the youngster’s hat trick and one from Anika Headley sealed the 7-1 victory.

The following game saw Bishops’ High taking on North Ruimveldt Multilateral. The Multi boys were clearly having an off day, not being able to connect with the goal every chance they got. Bishops’, however, were the polar opposites, netting five for a scintillating win. Antoine Herod, Acquino Luke and Linford Isles all contributed one goal each, while Malachi Richards netted two for the 5-0 win.

The final game of the day was a tight encounter between Queen’s College (QC) and St Stanislaus College which eventually resulted in Saints needling their opponents. Jodel Fernandes netted one in the 28th minute for a Saints lead but Diarra Thomas of QC replied just before the half to equalise. Both defences tightened in the second half but it was Kareem Richmond who managed to sneak one in in the 66th minute for the Saints win. The Milo Under-18 tournament continues today at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

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sports

21

Showstoppers to defend

“Greatest of the Streets” C

title in final

ome next Friday, the Showstoppers team will have a chance to cop a fourth consecutive “Guinness Greatest of the Streets” title when they meet Brothers United in the final. The two teams were victorious in the semi-final which was held on Friday evening.

The Pouderoyen Tarmac on the West Coast of Demerara was a hive of activity on Friday as patrons gathered to watch the semi-final games in the West Coast/ East Bank subdivision unfold.

The first semi-final encounter of the night featured Brothers United and Ballers Empire in a nail-biting showdown. Both teams worked hard on their defence which led to a nil all score card at the half. It seemed as though the encounter would go without a goal when Andrew Murray of Brothers United ended the goalless spell with one in the 37th minute. Almost immediately af-

ter, Quincy Dos Santos of Ballers Empire replied with another Guinness goal to tie up the score.

At the penalty mark, Brothers edged out their opponents with two penalties to one scored.

The second semi was a battle between defending champions Showstoppers and Up Top Bosses. Expectantly, the threetime champs commanded the encounter, restricting Up Top Bosses to a blank score card.

Meanwhile, Showstopper’s Trayon Bobb netted a Guinness goal in the 39th minute for the win.

Meanwhile, in the plate, West Side Ballers needled Jetty to advance. The West Side Ballers

made the most of a 7th minute own goal from Jetty, keeping their defence strong until regulation time to take the win.

The other plate semi saw ESPN and Bagotstown playing to a deadlocked game at regulation time. However, when the teams met at the penalty mark, ESPN got the better of Bagotstown with a 2-0 score.

ESPN and West Side Ballers will therefore meet in a consolation final prior to the headline matches come next Friday.

Brothers United will face off with Showstoppers in the final on Friday, February 15. On the other hand, Up Top Bosses and Ballers Empire will fight for the opportunity to become the third place finishers.

First place will pocket $500,000, while second place will have to settle for $250,000. Third and fourth place will receive $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Region 10 RDC donates cricket gear to Ituni CDC T

he Community Development Council (CDC) of Ituni, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was the recipient of a significant donation made by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 10. The donation, made during the holding of the February statutory meeting, saw Ituni CDC’s Chairman Kurt Murphy receiving the cricket gear from Chairman of the Education Committee, Denise Belgrave.

In his remarks to the Council, Regional Chairman Renis Morian said he will continue the path taken by his RDC since 2015, which is contributing significantly to youth and sport development. He pointed out that as Regional Chairman, his responsibility is to the entire 6555 square miles of residents in Region 10, and not just those within Linden. “Those who know me would know that I continue to mention that Linden is not Region 10 and as the Regional Chairman, it is my responsibility to support and Education Committee Chairman, Denise Belgrave handing assist everyone, irrespective of race, colour, creed over the gear to Ituni CDC Chairman Kurt Murphy, as and political affiliation. We are not interested in Regional Chairman Renis Morian and Deputy Regional who they support or what are their views about Chairman Elroy Adolph look on the Council. Once we receive a request and the date is to develop this region and together we will Council can fund it, we would because they are do it with our residents,” he declared. part of this region, therefore we will continue to Among the gear donated included bats, batting support them,” Regional Chairman Morian said. pads, wicketkeeping pads, wicketkeeping gloves, He revealed to the regional Councillors that batting gloves and cricket balls. He urged the CDC over the past few week he has already supported Chairman to ensure that the gear are used propgroups in Linden and Kwakwani and is happy to erly, thus ensuring it lasts for a long time. He exbe assisting Ituni at this time. “There is a saying pressed excitement at being able to support the that says those who wait last shall receive the best youths of Ituni, stressing that he wants the youths and I am saying that Ituni is certainly receiving in the various communities to developing their talthe best. As your Regional Chairman I will contin- ent. ue to reach out to communities because my man-

Chairman of the Education Committee, Councillor Denise Belgrave said the donation was important in boosting the cricketing skills of the youths of Ituni and urged the Chairman to ensure that those cricketing skills are honed through the usage of the sport gear. She encouraged him to use the opportunity to get more youths involved, stressing that the talent that exists within the community can be further developed and boosted, bringing out national players at various levels.

“Through these gear it is our hope that the youths would utilise it to the point where the talent is enhanced and further developed, thus bringing cricketing glory to Region 10 as that is out mission,” Councillor Belgrave said.

She urged outer communities within Region 10 to come forward and take advantage of the Regional Chairman’s offer of lending added support, declaring that the region is blessed to have a Regional Chairman in Renis Morian who is not only passionate and committed to youth development but who goes the extra mile to facilitate such.

Meanwhile, Kurt Murphy who revealed that he has been at the head of his community CDC for the past two years, expressed excitement and gratitude for the donation, noting that it would positively enhance the young men and women in sport development. He disclosed that owing to limited job offers within his community, many are forced to turn to logging, while others remain at home with nothing to do. “This donation will certainly go a very far way and we the people of Ituni are very happy because we can provide an option to the youths of Ituni,” he said.

Reliance Hustlers Cricket Club honours star players

T

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

he Reliance Hustlers Cricket Club out of Reliance, Essequibo Coast, honoured its players at an award dinner held on February 2, 2019, to mark the club’s first anniversary. According to club captain Trevis Simon, he was delighted with the performances of the players; from the junior and senior levels.

He saw the award dinner as a great gesture towards the talents as part of the one year anniversary celebration of the club. The captain said as a lover of cricket, he committed himself to promote the game and get young people involved to move them away from drugs, alcohol and illegal activities.

The Club was successful in its first year; some of the achievements were fixing the once neglected

play ground in Reliance, build a new spectator pavilion, a canteen and washroom facilities. During the past year, the club participated in two T20 competitions, reaching the final on both occasions.

Additionally, the team won numerous T10 compe-

titions during the year also.

All members were awarded with medals for their outstanding performances and special awards were given to Kevon Boodram – most improved cricketer; Rovendra Parasram – best fielder; Mark Austin – best batsman; Ravindra Persaud – best bowler; Narindra Madholall – most entertaining player; and Anthony Ifill received the captain’s award for commitment and dedication.

In the junior category, junior cricketer of the year went to Abdool Nadir and senior cricketer of the year went to the captain, Trevis Simon.

The captain was very much thankful to all, especially those who willingly sponsored trophies, medals, and cash, or in any other way aided the promotion the game.

22

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, february 10, 2019

GFF Elite League play-offs

Santos, Police, Buxton and Soesdyke live to play another day F

our Football Clubs will compete today for the chance to be part of the fourth season of the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Elite League, after a day of riveting football at the National Training Centre (NTC) on Saturday.

Eight teams who have shined in their respective Regional Member Associations (RMA) during 2018, were all brought to the NTC on Saturday, pitting them against each other with Elite League qualification being the prize. When the dust settled on the artificial turf on Saturday afternoon, Santos FC, Buxton Stars FC, Police FC and Soesdyke Falcons FC were the ones emerging victorious.

The first encounter of the day saw Santos FC thrashing FC Eagles for their chance at qualification. The scoring began with Jermaine Beckles in the 17th minute and two minutes later, he pushed the score to 2-0. Jermine Padmore had his time to shine, brining in the team’s third in the 31st and Orin Yard made it 4-0 just before the half. Trevor Lewis and Ryan October both picked up one each in the second half, while Yard had his second and Beckles completed his hat trick. FC Eagles could not muster a reply, finishing the game on 8-0.

Playing for a chance to battle Santos, Georgetown Football Club and Buxton Stars FC took to the turf minutes later. It was really a one-sided affair with Buxton’s Shemar Mc Pherson netting the lone goal of the game in the 29th for Buxton’s win.

River’s View put a strong fight but

Police FC still prevailed in the following encounter. Steffon Ramsey was the first player to connect with the goal in the 26th and a minute later, Rivers View’s Omario Lake equalised. The levelled scores only made Police fight harder as Lionel Holder (48), Daren Benjamin (60), and Deon Rodney (83) all contributed one a piece for Police’s 4-1 victory.

The final game of the day was a matchup between New Amsterdam United and Soesdyke Falcons FC, with the former fighting hard to stay in the Elite League. NA United had victory at the tip of their lips but the pleasure was taken away with some late goals from Soesdyke. Jamal Butts netted

back to back goals in the 6th and 32nd minutes for NA United, while Tyrone Khan netted for Soesdyke to bring the halftime score to 2-1. Leandro Adams was pushed the score to 3-1 in the 56th and NA United were cruising to a victory until the 78th minute.

Kelcey Benson scored for Soesdyke Falcons in the 78th and Colin Mc Lean did the same in the 80th to tie up the scores. The teams were then taken to the penalty line where Soesdyke outscored NA United 5-4.

Today at the NTC, Providence, Santos will take on Buxton Star at 10:00h and Police FC will battle Soesdyke Falcons at 13:00h for the last two Elite League spots.

National Junior Qualifiers to Golden Jags in need of home be hosted on February 24 support, says coach Johnson

T

he Guyana Chess Federation is set to host its National Junior Qualifiers on February 24. The tournament is set to run for two weekends, concluding on March 3, at the National Resource Centre.

The event will comprise seven rounds, with a classical time format of one hour, with a five-second incremental time added after every move from move one. Some of Guyana’s best and brightest young chess talents will all be competing to be in the final eight who will go on to the championship bout of the highly coveted title.

Defending National Junior Champion Joshua Gopaul is not expected to compete in the qualifiers, but will meet the qualifying seven in a round-robin event of the same time format set for later this year. Andre Jagnandan, who has been making a loud impression in the junior category by winning said category of the James Bond Birthday Blitz and placed third Andre Jagnandan receiving his 3rd place in the Junior Category of GCF One Day Rapid Junior Award at the GCF One-Day Rapid from back in January, expressed his enthusiasm to- Manager of Demerara Bank Limited, John Lee wards the upcoming event.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, Jagnandan stated that he expects to finish amongst the highest podium positions of the qualifying seven and comfortably move onto the championship finals.

2018-2019 Regional 4-Day Tournament…

He also mentioned that he from page 20 does not intend to underestimate any other participant and expects stiff competition from the other juniors.

It was a perfect revenge Motie had 3-11 in 5.1 overs “I am training and I have plot the very next ball Fudadin while Raymon Reifer had a game plan going forward. was out caught by Shepherd 3-36 in 11 overs. Christopher The qualifiers should be at mid-on looking to hit one Barnwell had two wickets challenging but I am quite boundary too many; Fudadin while Romario Shepherd and confident of qualifying”, scored 24 from 84 balls, hitting Veerasammy Permaul had Jagnandan concluded.

Other rising stars in two boundaries in a fighting one wicket each. knock. Scorpions were in deep Jaguars required 170 runs the junior category introuble when Fudadin was to win; batting four overs in clude Marian Academy’s out for 121-8 and Green was the final session and scor- Ethan Lee, Aravinda Singh, College Rajiv out for five with the score on ing 25 runs; Chandrapaul Queen’s 128-9. Green became Reifer’s Hemraj remained unbeat- Lee, Christ Church’s Akili third victim guiding a ball into en on 16 while Tagenarine Theophil and Ghansham Barnwell hands at second slip. Chanderpaul is on nine. The Alli John, Jaden Taylor The final wicket fell at Jaguars will require 145 runs and Chelsea Juma all of St 132 in 48.1 overs, when Bulli more to win 10 wickets in- Stanislaus College, among was out for three caught be- tact with the first ball being others, who are expected to hind by Bramble off the bowled from 10:00h on the fi- make an appearance. bowling of Motie. Gudakesh nal day.

Jaguars close in...

G

uyanese football fans will licensed coach said. “This brings a team play a vital role in helping spirit and an understanding of each oththe Golden Jaguars reach er’s game. We must pay attention to the the CONCACAF Gold Cup this year, team rather than individuals, because Head Coach Michael Johnson said in that’s what they are: a strong team who an interview, calling on the nation themselves can see the finish line.” to come out and support their He said he wanted to see pasteam in the crucial home sion and desire from his playclash against Belize on ers in the run-up to the clash, Saturday, March 23. and expected each member The final CONCACAF of the squad to understand Gold Cup and Nations and cope with the magniLeague qualifier is set tude of the occasion. to be the most signifi“It boils down to who cant game in the histowants it more,” he said. ry of football in Guyana, “We must play the game as the Golden Jaguars and not the occasion. The have never competed in team who controls their emothe region’s premier intertions best will be the one that Golden Jaguars head coach Michael Johnson wins this game. It’s simple for national tournament.

“The message is clear: ‘We me: we are a win away from creneed you – your country needs you!’” Johnson ating history.” said. “We all want and need you to play your After three rounds, Guyana currently part in this pivotal moment. Let’s make his- lies in eighth position in the CONCACAF tory together – we are one win away.”

Nations League and Gold Cup qualification Qualification for the CONCACAF Gold table with six points. After round four, the Cup would prove a huge boost for the play- top 10 teams will qualify for the 16-team ers’ careers, the development of football in Gold Cup, joining the United States, Mexico, Guyana, and the nation itself, Johnson said. Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Honduras The head coach is currently in Guyana to and Costa Rica. oversee preparations by Guyana-based playThe Golden Jaguars drew 2-2 with ers and to plan for the final squad encamp- Barbados, beat Turks and Caicos 8-0 and ment before the Belize match. then lost to French Guiana 2-1, leaving their “It’s all about the players – to be able to hopes of Gold Cup qualification in the balput the players on the world map and give ance, until CONCACAF ruled Barbados had them and the country the exposure that fielded ineligible players in rounds one and comes with qualification will be immense,” two, and awarded Guyana a 3-0 win. The Johnson said. “I am proud of this group of Gold Cup will also expose Guyana to a range staff and players to be in this position, but of opportunities to generate revenue and inwe need to make one more giant step.” terest for the development of the game at a “The exposure will give some of the play- domestic level. ers the opportunity to show what they can “The Guyana Football Federation will achieve with many clubs from around the have more finance and will have more interworld in attendance.” est from corporate sponsorship opportunities However, the Belize national team will that will allow more to be done,” Johnson prove a tough opponent, the former Jamaica said. international and Premier League defender “But more importantly, it will inspire and believes, pointing out that both teams can motivate young children who can now believe potentially still qualify for the Region’s top it’s possible to achieve their dreams. The ininternational tournament, which takes place terest from youngsters who see their heroes between June 15 and July 7. playing on the world scene will inspire young “Belize are an experienced team who have boys and girls to participate in some form of been together for a long time,” the UEFA Pro- football.”

Stokes, Buttler lead England’s fightback

O

n what was an absorbing day of Test cricket, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler ensured that the England batting order didn’t collapse in the Caribbean, yet again, as the duo stitched an unbeaten 124 for the fifth wicket before play was halted on the opening day in St Lucia.

England were in a familiar position once again after losing three key wickets in the afternoon session, but Stokes and Buttler mixed caution with aggression to bail their side out of trouble as the tourists posted 231/4 on the board at stumps. Keaton Jennings’ recall didn’t help matters for England as they failed to address their top order woes. Jennings was tentative and watchful right from the outset and received two reprieves before finally falling to a loose drive outside off.

Keemo Paul and Shannon Gabriel then bowled some ab- solute beauties towards the end of the session with the batsmen keen on getting through to the break without further dama g e .

England had the rub of the green o n c e again in the final over before lunch when Gabriel bowled one

at awkward length and line on leg to Joe Denly, which the batsman tried to fend without success. Upon collecting the ball, the wicketkeeper was convinced there was a glove and urged the skipper to review the decision.

Replays showed that the batsman had indeed gloved it, but quite remarkably, Denly’s glove was not in contact with the handle just in time when the ball kissed it, thus managing to survive.

But things changed completely post the lunch break as the Windies pacers continued to pose questions. After fetching a few extra runs on the way that helped them improve the run rate, the procession began. First, it was Burns who failed to make connection with a full delivery to get trapped lbw. They made it a double strike when Gabriel trapped Denly lbw and this time, the batsman took the review with him. And just when it appeared as if Joe Root would find his feet, he played a loose stroke outside off to a delivery that

Windies celebrate one of Keemo Paul’s wickets

23

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, february 10, 2019

was short and wide. Stokes then survived a lbw call very early in the final session before launchi n g himself to catch the Windies off guard. After playing an excellent drive past the bowler, the left-hander grew in confidence punishing Alzarri Joseph in particular.

The ones that were bowled too wide or short were duly punished by Stokes and with time, Buttler too joined the party. At one stage, it appeared as if England were fetching at least boundary every over. Windies had a moment of misfortune immediately after Stokes got to his 50 as the batsman miscued a pull to hit one back at Joseph that he pouched in excellent fashion, only for the replays to confirm that he had overstepped. By the time the umpires realised it, Stokes was already back in the England camp and had to be rushed back onto the field immediately as per the laws. The runs continued to flow even towards the end of the session as both batsmen registered England’s first century stand of the series. After 83 overs, the umpires had enough as a few overs were lost as a result of the rain break. (cricbuzz)

Jos Butler and Ben Stokes

SCOREBOARD RJ Burns lbw b Paul KK Jennings c Bravo b Paul JL Denly lbw b Gabriel JE Root (c) c †Dowrich b Joseph JC Buttler not out BA Stokes not out Extras 30 (b 4, lb 6, nb 5, w 15) TOTAL 231/4 (83 Overs, RR: 2.78) Fall of wickets: 1-30 (KK Jennings, 16.1 ov), 2-69 (RJ Burns, 32.2 ov), 3-69 (JL Denly, 33.2 ov), 4-107 (JE Root, 47.5 ov), 5-193 (BA Stokes, 69.6 ov) BOWLING O

M

29 8 20 15 67 62

R

W

KAJ Roach 19 9 34 0 ST Gabriel 19 5 44 1 AS Joseph 15 2 56 1 16 7 42 2 KMA Paul 10 0 40 0 RL Chase KC Brathwaite 4 0 5 0

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

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Annandale trounces St Joseph in Milo opener ...Bishops’, St Stanislaus record wins

Pg 20

Milo’s Shellona David makes the official kick-off of the 2019 tournament

2018-2019 Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Pg 20

Jaguars close in on victory, requiring 145 runs on final day

It was a day that belonged to the Guyana Jaguars (Brandon Corlette photo)

Stokes, Buttler lead England’s fightback Pg 23

Keemo Paul had a wicket on his first ball on return to the team

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FEBRUARY 10, 2019

The History of Soca Music

S

oca, the Trinidadian popular music, developed in the 1970s and is closely related to Calypso. Used for dancing at Carnival and at fetes, Soca emphasises rhythmic energy and studio production — including synthesised sounds and electronically mixed ensemble effects — over storytelling, a quality more typical of Calypso songs, which are performed for seated audiences.

The term Soca (initially spelled Sokah) was coined in the 1970s by Trinidadian musician Lord Shorty (Garfield Blackman), who sang Calypso, a type of Afro-Trinidadian music characterised by storytelling and verbal wit. According to Lord Shorty, Lord Kitchener the new music was meant to be a fusion of Calypso with East Indian music, a reflection of Trinidad’s two dominant ethnic groups. Others, however, have explained the term Soca as a contraction of "Soul Calypso", emphasising the music’s connection to African American and Timeka Trinidadian traditions.

Marshall Although Soca is sometimes considered to be a subgenre of Calypso — owing to the historical relation between the musical styles and their common Adrian association with Carnival — the two Dutchin traditions differ in a number of notable respects. In practical terms, Soca functions primarily as music for participatory singing and Carnival dancing, while Calypso is more closely linked with performances for seated audiences in “tents”.

Indeed, the genre names Calypso and Soca formalise a distinction between tent and road (where Carnival dancers parade) that dates back to the 1910s, when dholak drum. Lord Shorty’s "Endless singers first began to perform for paying Vibrations" album in 1974, by contrast, audiences during the weeks leading up to clearly drew on Soul (or Rhythm-andBlues) music from the United States.

Carnival.

Lord Shorty’s 1973 song “Indrani” was By 1978, when the veteran calypone of the first songs to generate com- sonian Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn ments about the new genre of Soca, com- Roberts) jumped into the new genre ments that focused not just on musical with "Sugar Bum Bum", it was clear style but also on the portrayal in song that Soca was neither a one-man style of an interracial love. “Indrani” used nor a passing fad.

Soca’s innovations, while on one levIndian-sounding melodies, Hindi words, and Indian instruments, including the el an expression of Trinidadian modernity, were on another level a response to the

Allisom Hinds

internationArrow al success of reggae in the 1970s. Given Soca’s international orientation, it is not surprising that non-Trinidadian singers also became involved with the music. In 1983, singer Arrow (Alphonsus Cassell), from Montserrat Island in the Lesser Antilles, had a big Soca hit with the song “Hot Hot Hot”, even though as a foreigner he was not eligible to compete in Trinidad’s Carnival competitions. In the 1990s, singer Alison Hinds, from Barbados, and her band Square One rose to international Soca stardom, and they remained perennial performers at Carnival in Trinidad until they broke up in 2004.

Also in the 1990s, Trinidadian artiste Super Blue (Austin Lyons) sang the most popular road march (song for Carnival dancing in the streets) three years in a row, beginning with “Get Something and Wave” in 1991. With this song, Super Blue established a new model for Carnival music that featured a faster tempo, energetic rhythmic vocalisations, and lyrics that gave instructions to the dancers, such as “get something and wave”, “jump up”, “break away”, and “hands in the air”. Such lyrics came to constitute one of the most obvious differences between Calypso and Soca. Calypso songs for the tent privilege wordplay and message over danceability, and they have narrative in which a story unfolds across several verses. By con-

Big Red

Machel Montano

Lord Shorty

trast, S o c a songs are as important for their rhythmic drive, excitement, and physical impulse as they are for their meaning; moreover, they are usually built in short phrases, often presented in call-and-response form.

Soca has since its inception displayed an exceptional openness to stylistic innovation. This openness has been reflected in such hybrids as Chutney Soca (Chutney being an Indo-Trinidadian popular music) and Ragga Soca (Soca fused with the Jamaican style of Dancehall), which developed in the 1990s. Mainstream Soca artistes such as Machel Montano have also innovated aggressively, especially in their studio production, which has boosted the studio recording industry in Trinidad.

Some Soca musicians and fans have hoped that Soca’s incorporation of new ideas and styles would help Trinidadian music reach international markets in the way that Jamaican Reggae had done.

In Guyana, Soca music is one of the most popular genres and has widereaching influence on the kind of music made by local artistes. Every year, for Mashramani, the local music scene is flooded with new Soca music by the artistes as they compete for various prizes. Consistent among them are the likes of Adrian Dutchin, Jomo Primo, Big Red, Vanilla, Brandon Harding, and Ernesta Nelson. (Britannica)

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FEBRUARY 10, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Soca Artist

hen we think about Soca music in Guyana, we are immediately transported to the festivities around Mashramani time with the hosting of the Soca Monarch competition and when we think about local female Soca artistes, one name immediately comes to mind.

If you say Melissa Roberts, very few may recognise who

run with the boys. She would escape into the back dam and pick coconuts. You would find her swimming in the trenches until her skin colour changed, eyes became bloodshot and like every little child she had the remedy to conceal her supposed rule breaking. Sh and her friends would find the right kind of ‘bush’ to try and hide their wrongdoings.

To this day, she cherishes those memories.

the music scene in 2005, Vanilla has been a constant in every aspect. She is quite often referred to as the Road March Queen since she has copped the title more than any other female artiste.

For Mashramani 2007, she recorded the song "Queen of the Band", which won the Road March competition beating the reigning Soca Monarch that year and 30 others. This was a significant achievement since that

we are talking about, but just whisper Vanilla and there is a frenzy.

Very few people can be immediately recognised by just one name so that in itself is an accomplishment for Vanilla. Quite often the word vanilla is associated with boring or just ordinary, but there is nothing ordinary or boring about Vanilla when she hits the stage.

The West Coast Berbice native was given the name Vanilla by her boyfriend a few years ago and like glue it stuck and followed her. It is a name she is now grateful for because it is associated with all her accomplishments as a multi-talented individual.

Being from the country, Vanilla was always active.

She was not the typical girl who would be at home playing with her dolls or playing dress up, rather she would

If someone asks for a single word to describe Vanilla, then without a doubt ‘multitalented’ comes to mind.

Before she ventured into singing, Vanilla had and still has a deep unexplainable connection with the drums and following her love for that she became a dancer.

An accomplished one to be exact. Additionally, she is a trained classical pianist.

“My musical style can be described as different.

Even though I sing Soca, it's always been unique.

I'm Guyanese to the marrow and because of that, my music will always be influenced by the Guyanese flavour. Of recent I have been working on a different cultural style influenced by an arranger from Belize and my Guyanese writers which seems to create a blend that people are connecting to,” she said.

Ever since she entered

was her first year in that competition. In 2009, she placed second at the annual Carib Soca Monarch competition with the song “Rude” and also regained her title as Queen of the Road.

In 2010, she once again placed second at the Soca Monarch competition and remained undefeated as the Queen of the Road, making her the only female artiste in Guyana to have won the title three times. After taking a break from the competition for a few years, she returned in 2014 and once again captured the Road March title. In 2017, her song “Mash Up De Place” ruled the road, making her queen once again.

This year, she is already burning up the local airwaves with the track "One Voice". According to her, "One Voice" was a reaction to the racial divide that our country experiences daily.

By Lakhram Bhagirat

W

Apart from singing and performing, Vanilla is also the Manager of the Kross Kolor Recording Studio.

She is also a fitness instructor and talented film maker. Over the years, she has produced more than 25 music videos. She graduated from the University of Guyana with a certificate in Television Production in 2009. In July 2011, she had written the best screenplay and graduated at the top of her class from the University of the West Indies Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination in the field of Motion Picture Arts. Apart from directing and editing music videos, she became the second assistant director on a feature film and a sizzle reel filmed in Barbados titled “Sweet Bottom” and “Bajan Blue” respectively. In 2014, she became the production manager on the international film “A Bitter Lime” directed by Max De Bowen.

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Sunday Times Magazine

FEBRUARY 10, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Soca Artist

By Lakhram Bhagirat

O

ne thing that is constant in our lives is that there is always going to be change and in order to be able to cope with those changes, we must learn to step out of our comfort zone. When we step out of our comfort zone, we are challenged by unfamiliar things and that is the only way we will be able to see what we can do and realise our true potential.

For Steven Ramphal, stepping out of his comfort zone is the only way he can effectively change what is going on around him and it is something he is more than willing to do. Pushing the boundaries of his abilities is what makes him exceptionally different from those around him. Whether it works in his favour or not, is a question that will be answered in time.

The 26-year-old is an exceptionally tal-

ented singer, but not only does he sing, he also has a passion for photography. He was so driven by that passion that he gave up music for some time and focused on developing his photography skills. He currently lives on the East Coast of Demerara and is considered one of the most energetic performers around.

This year, however, he is officially entering the Soca Monarch race to establish himself in that arena. At the age of seven, Steven started singing and he later began to take music classes from his uncle. He continued singing for a number of years, but only officially entered the professional singing world when he was 19. With a distinctive voice, he quickly became a favourite for those who saw him perform or listened to his music.

Eventually, he became the front man

for the most popular local band, The Shakti Strings International Band and was given a recording deal with the Shakti Strings Studio as well. Cementing his place in the local music industry was a journey Steven thoroughly enjoyed. His first hit single was “Gyul Please Go” and since then, he has been blazing the Chutney scene.

In 2017, Steven placed his music aside and picked up his long-awaited dream of being a photographer. He took that time to develop his skills and is now one of the recognised photographers on the local scene. For two years he has been out of the music industry, but it's 2019 and he is back, returning with two massive singles all recorded in

the Shakti Strings International Studio.

The two songs are his entries in the Chutney and Soca Monarch competitions as he hopes on being crowned the winner of both. The Soca track is called “Soca In Meh Vein” and the Chutney, “Rang Ke Bhare”.

“My inspiration behind the two songs is based on my strong vision for national unity, both Caribbean and country based. I want to let people know no matter what colour we are and wherever we’re from, it doesn’t matter, because, at the end of the day, we are all humans,” he said.

Steven said that this was just the beginning of great things to come and he could not wait to unleash his new music on the public.

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Sunday Times Magazine 5

Soca Artist

Ah tell dem is fete Is fete No I ain’t tired as yet I tell them is fete I bet you never wine pon a Guyanese yet Me represent me culture, any day!

Guyanese wine you can’t beat meh no day…

W

ith lyrics like that, it just goes to show that newcomer Shaima Muna is not to be taken lightly. The vibrant 21-year-old is now dipping her feet into the local music industry, but has been around music all her life. She comes from a musical family and has been singing for a number

of years.

Shaima hails from the East Bank Essequibo village of Tuschen and is proud to represent Region Three (Essequibo Islands– West Demerara) wherever she goes. Shaima explains that her love for music started taking shape as she entered into her teenage years and discovered that she had a gift that could possibly lead her to doing what she loves for the rest of her life. Not one to be categorised as shy, Shaima took up the man-

tle and started pursuing her dreams of becoming a singer.

“I grew up with my mother who is a single parent and the sole breadwinner for me and my sister Silvanny. I started loving music at the age of 13 and that is when I started to develop more interest in improving my craft. My mother was also in music and she would take me to karaoke with her and all of her band practices,” she said.

About two years ago,

Shaima first entered the studio as an artiste and ever since she has been blazing a trail. However, this is the first time she is going to be performing publicly for a Guyanese audience. Her new track for the Soca Monarch competition "Nah Tired Yet" has already been creating a buzz in the country.

She said that she is more of a Groovy Soca artiste, and the song has already earned her the title of “Goddess of Soca”. Like many in the local music in-

dustry, one of the major challenges for Shaima is the hassle of getting airtime for her music as well as sponsorship to produce more music.

For now, she is working her way on establishing her music and building her name. She hopes to be able to showcase her talent not only locally but around the world and build a following. The main intention is to show that Guyanese are multifaceted and not to be taken for granted.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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FEBRUARY 10, 2019

Soca Artist

By Lakhram Bhagirat

O

ne of the most popular sayings in Guyana is "better late than never", and it is used in almost every situation for different purposes. For Collis Mc Donald, or "Real Proof" as he is known, that saying is one he holds dear to his heart for the purpose of gaining strength to persevere in a challenging industry.

Collis is 40 years old and now stepping out on the music scene, the local Soca music scene to be exact, and for someone his age, it means keeping up with the current millennial trends but also staying true to himself as an artiste. The local mu-

sic industry is no joke, and for someone to make it, they have to be relevant and appeal to the masses, since most Guyanese prefer to listen to music created outside of Guyana. They do this not because they are foreignminded, but because there are very few mechanisms in place for local artistes to showcase what they are capable of.

Most radio DJs and DJs in general prefer to hype up a Jamaican or Trinidadian artiste, since their music is what draws the crowds and in the end, it hurts our local artistes because quite often, they get very little exposure. Those are just some of the challenges identified by Collis as he seeks to make

his mark on the local industry.

Collis also notes that the local music industry is plagued by low financing, poor marketing, and lack of sponsorship for artistes. Over the years, however, the situation has somewhat improved with more businesses hiring local artistes to be part of their public relations campaigns, but the road to conquering the issues remains one that is very long. Coupled with the near-literal starvation of the industry, Guyana has very little legislation in place to protect the creations of artistes.

Collis hails from Wismar, Linden and says music played a big part of his life while growing up. From his early childhood, music was there to take him through some tough situations, since life was quite often not too kind to his family. His mother was the sole breadwinner of their family and that meant that just the basic necessities were available and though content, Collis always dreamt of a life where things were much easier. He saw his mother struggling to care for the family and could not wait for the day when he would be able to alleviate

that struggle.

For him, music always served as the escape from the harshness of reality. His family was very much into music as well, so it meant that they were always singing. He first started to sing in church where he learnt all the basics of controlling his voice and belting out when necessary. It was there, in the church, that Collis discovered himself and his talent. He describes his voice as anything but ordinary.

He feels that it is the instrument that was gifted to him to leave a lasting impression on the people he comes into

contact with.

At the age of 37, Collis decided that he wanted to take this music thing to another level and started to pen his own songs and voice them. He first started to write Reggae music and perform it with fellow artistes such as First Born – a local Reggae group; Diane Stephenson; Ras Shiloh and many others. “My voice is a gift from the Almighty and that is what inspired me to get deeper into music. I just love singing, because it is one way of getting over important messages to people and

it is totally fun for me. My style is simple and laid back.

I am a very humble person, who works hard for whatever I want to have in this life.

I give respect to everyone and my music is about that,� he notes.

This year, Collis is entering the Mash Soca Monarch competition with his song "Pushback". He is hoping to conquer the top spot and make his mark. The inspiration behind his song stems from the party scene. His song can be considered instructive as he clearly outlines the moves in the lyrics.

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FEBRUARY 10, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Soca Artist

By Lakhram Bhagirat

H

ardship, poverty and want are the best incentives and the best foundation for the success of anyone, and for Mohan Singh no one knows as much as he does about poverty, hardship and the drive to be successful.

Mohan is not your average 22-year-old nor does he consider himself above anyone.

He is the epitome of humbleness and is forever smiling.

I personally think he even smiles when he cries.

M a n y of us may know Mohan from Facebook as the funny guy who makes videos and posts them on his page "Laugh Till Yuh Kaka Rup". His ability to create unique videos while capturing his viewers is what makes him the best at that, and he has even unintentionally influenced a number of other creators since his style of video dominate the local comedy pages now.

However, behind the funny man is a whole story that makes people question how after facing so much, he could spread so much joy without so much as a hint of anything that went on in his life. At first, based on the way he presented himself on social media I too thought that Mohan had it all together in his life, because there were no signs of the fact that he experienced extreme poverty, was forced to drop out of school, and started working from a young age.

Growing up for Mohan was like fighting a battle every day.

His father left when he was five months old, leaving him in the care of his mother.

Mohan attended the Saraswat P r i m a r y School at De Willem on the West Coast of Demerara and for him, it was an uphill battle. Many days he went to school on an empty stomach and came home half day, since there was nothing to sustain him while he attended classes. Additionally, he had to come home to take care of his baby sister while their mother went to work.

All this while dealing with earlier trauma: When he was two years old, needing his mother more than anything else, life dealt Mohan

a blow that he remembers to this day. Surviving became so hard for their family that his mother was forced to give him up and left him at an orphanage. It is an experience that he talks very little about, but vividly remembers. He says that his mother’s hands were tied, because she had no one to care for him and she needed to work because the family needed to be maintained.

However, after about seven months, his mother returned and took him out of the orphanage.

After he wrote the National Grade Six Assessment, Mohan was awarded a place at the Leonora Secondary School, but unfortunately, he was unable to attend after his mother sold everything and moved to Venezuela. He moved with her and there he spent one year before returning home. After he returned, he tried to get into Leonora Secondary to complete his education, but was refused the opportunity, after which he settled for the primary top of the Saraswat Primary School.

“I started working at that same age as a handyman/ gardener that would usually assist persons with tending to their gardens, paint as well as various other domestic work. I would usually go to school and work on the weekends. I also worked at a shop before going to school in the morning. Name any simple domestic job, and I did it, just to be able to earn myself and my family some extra money. I would usually have to wake up at 4:30 every morning to go to the store I worked at to ensure that it was cleaned and to parcel and weigh out items for sale during the day. I'd usually finish by 8 am.”

During that time he lived at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, and after sitting the National Grade Nine Examination, he was awarded a place at Zeeburg Secondary to complete his

secondary education. After completing classes at 3 pm daily, Mohan would go back to work until around 10 pm just to ensure that the family was provided for.

“It was especially hard knowing that it was six of us siblings and just our mother taking care of us. I'm the second of the six, so I took up the responsibility of looking after the others. Even though we had a step-father, he was not supportive. At points, I even worked hand in hand with her (my mother), cleaning the school (Saraswat Primary) and taking care of about 180 dogs belonging to a lady in the neighbourhood.

“I stopped after a while because I was beginning to get sick. I had developed a fungal infection on my feet.

I managed to go to school up to Grade Nine, but I had to

drop out because I couldn't afford it any longer. I managed to go to the Technical Institute in Leonora, on the other hand, where I was able to receive a certificate in metal work engineering as well as welding. My mom worked in the interior for a period, leaving me to take care of my siblings. I had to cook and clean before going to the Institute, getting home most evenings at 11pm,” he tells me.

He, nevertheless, persisted and overcame. Now, Mohan is operating his own business and though it is now in its startup phase, it is already attracting attention. When I asked him whether he was always business oriented, Mohan said that he never dreamt that he would be in business not because he felt it was out of his reach, but because

he had very little interest in it. He credits his struggles during his formative years which led him to become a go-getter and that resulted in the establishment of Mohan’s Corner.

Mohan's Corner is not unique in its operations but it is much needed in the location at Lot 24 Public Road, East Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara. It allows for affordable and easy access to Internet browsing and calls, all stationery, gift items, snacks and beverages, all under one roof.

Patrons don't have to look far to fulfil their needs and do not have to go to various locations because at Mohan's Corner, it's a onestop shop.

He said that starting up was very challenging for him, but he is grateful for the support of the amazing people around him. He is hopeful that his business venture will succeed.

Mohan is an exceptionally talented young man and despite his challenges and tough life, he continues to positively impact the lives of those around him. He is actively involved in charitable work where he uses his passion for acting and amazing voice. Additionally, he plays the jaal with the Dynamic Tassa Troupe.

“I believe that the reward for hard work is more hard work, so in five years, I do see my success but I also see myself working to ensure that my business is in a state of self-sustainability such that it can provide for both myself and my family.

I see myself enhancing my talents and doing more for my community and the people around me, and I see myself playing a role in the success of others.”

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Sunday Times Magazine

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10 Sunday Times Magazine

FEBRUARY 10, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Travel & Tourism

The Windmill House on Hogg Island in the Essequibo River

N

ot often are we afforded the opportunity to see what Guyana back in the day looked like. All we have to do is to rely on the stories of our parents and their grandparents or some of us may be luck to view a few photos from their collections. So here are a few photos from our archives that gives you a little taste of British Guiana.

Anna Regina Estate, Boiling House, BG

Looking southwards along Camp street from the intersection of Camp & Regent at St Mary's RC Church circa 1890

Mahaicony Railway bridge, BG

Interior of St Mary's RC Church looking towards the mainly timber altar at the east end

Victoria Hotel, 7 and 18 High Street, Georgetown, BG

Old Mahaicony Railway Bridge that was shifted to preserve its historic value (Bryan Maxx photo)

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FEBRUARY 10, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Feature

by

Petamber Persaud

Preserving our literary heritage

Ivan Van Sertima

Beryl Gilroy

Jan Carew of the world, published while yet in his 20s was one such significant feature of his contribution to society.

Jan Carew

T

here are as many ways to celebrate as there are appropriate ways to celebrate. The tenor of Black History Month should be celebrated with books. Here’s a short (but by no way a comprehensive) list of Guyanese works and their authors which could be used to commemorate the above.

Ivan Van Sertima

‘They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America’, written by Ivan Van Sertima, published 1977, was one of those controversial books that stabbed at misconceptions about Africans. Van Sertima knew what he was doing when he set out on that scholarship ‘many people feel a certain kind of happiness when they read my book. A certain kind of shadow lifts.

The psyche of blacks is raised.

No man who believes his history began with slavery can be a healthy man. If you lift that shadow, you help repair that damage’.

Educator, researcher, critic, writer, poet, Ivan Van Sertima was born in 1935, in Kitty Village, British Guiana.

He competed his early schooling in Guyana and entered the world of work as a Press and Broadcasting Officer, Government Information Office. For higher education, Van Sertima attended the London School of Oriental and African Studies, London, England, where he studied African languages and literature and during which time he also he learned to speak Swahili and Hungarian fluently.

activist and social reformer, Norman Eustace Cameron was born in New Amsterdam, Berbice, in 1903, not far from the birthplaces of Edgar Mittleholzer and Wilson Harris. Although Cameron was blessed with a ‘light but pleasant tenor voice’, he was a trailblazer, pioneer and pacesetter. All of this due in no small way to the fact that his father’s great thirst for knowledge rubbed off on him and his mother’s wonderful organising ability grounded in religious tenets was foisted on him.

As a trailblazer, pioneer and pacesetter, Cameron did what had to be done, filling the lacuna in many areas. His magnum opus The Evolution of the Negro a subject shunned by thinkers on the British colonial portion

‘The Gentle Revolutionary: Essays in Honour of Jan Carew’ edited by Joy Gleason Carew and Hazel Waters is the book paying tribute to a man who lived and worked in O. R. Dathorne

for her novel, ‘Black Teacher’.

In part two, we would take a look at the works of contemporary Guyanese writers of African ancestry who are still at work.

Responses to this author please telephone 226-0065 of email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

Poem A free bird leaps on the back of the wind and floats downstream till the current ends and dips his wing in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky.

many places, with the singular fixation to right wrongs of discrimination, marginalisa-

of Change’; setting history right, contrary to Eurocentric bias designs previously forced upon us.

O. R. Dathorne

Dathorne is better known for his novels ‘Dumplings in the Soup’, and ‘The ScholarMan’, describing the academic world in Africa but he also published academic works including the following: ‘The Black Mind: A History of African Literature’, University of Minnesota Press, 1974.

‘African Literature in the Twentieth Century’, University of Minnesota Press, 1976.

‘Dark Ancestor: The Literature of the Black Man in the Caribbean’, Louisiana State University Press, 1981.

Beryl Gilroy

Norman E. Cameron

Educationist, mathematician, historian, poet, dramatist, sportsman, cultural

tion and even gender inequity, fighting the ‘same cause’ by re-writing and righting history.

Carew is best known for his novel ‘Black Midas’, first published 1958. As a cultural historian, he wrote ‘Rape of Paradise’, ‘Moscow is not my Mecca’, ‘Ghosts in my Blood’, ‘Grenada, the Hour will Strike Again’ and ‘Fulcrums

teacher in Britain.

Beryl Gilroy who gained her doctorate in counselling and ethno-psychology wrote two historical fiction books ‘Steadman and Joanna’(1991) explored the history of the Caribbean and the African Diaspora in the period of slavery and ‘Inkle and Yarico’ 1996. Gilroy is better known

Norman E. Cameron

Writer and educator, Beryl Gilroy was born in 1924, in Springlands, Berbice, Guyana, later becoming the first black head

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn and he names the sky his own But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom.

By Maya Angelou

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 10, 2019

Puzzles

ACROSS

91 Cheer on 1 Sand bars

92 Dalai Lama's city 7 Lingerie purchase 94 Spring 12 Utter chaos

95 Sundance Kid's wife 17 High desert of Asia 96 Muscular 21 Forklift platform 97 Practically forever 22 Nest on a crag

98 Ugly old woman 23 Greek marketplace 99 Col. superior 24 Pharaoh's god 100 Pits 25 Win over

101 Emu cousin 26 Prehistoric plant-eaters (var.)102 Augured 28 Sit around

104 In sync 29 Telepathy

107 Vendetta 30 Finger-painting

108 Dues payer, briefly 32 Sonic-boom makers 109 Yellow parts 33 Seven-veil dancer 113 Erudite person 35 Wife of Mr. Dithers 114 Funny Imogene -37 As long as

115 Slicked up 38 Stack

117 Brubeck of jazz 39 Peak performer?

118 Clavell best-seller (hyph.)

40 Indo-Chinese people 119 Drive- -- window 42 "Yo!"

120 Relieved 43 Leaf source

122 Scottish river 44 Composted

123 Large lot 45 Black cattle

124 ISS experience (2 wds.)

47 Designer label

127 Safes 48 Massive

129 Peril 49 Murky

130 Garment cut (hyph.)

52 Pleased sigh

131 Multiplex offering 53 Appearance

132 Antenna user 54 Light sources

133 Brit's bye (hyph.)

55 Labels

134 Wades through 59 Empties a house 135 Suit material 61 Lower in esteem 136 Crow's-nest cry (2 wds.)

62 Ballpark figures DOWN 63 Uncertain

1 Talk 64 Hops stems

2 Central Park sight 65 Wingspread

3 Vet (2 wds.)

66 Planets, to poets 4 Pub order 67 Burrowing rodent 5 Conduct 68 Hippie happening (hyph.)

6 -- in the wind

69 Barks shrilly

7 Purr-fect pets?

70 Diameter halves 8 In a spooky way

72 Iran's language

9 Male honeybee

73 Fabric meas.

10 Minor dent

74 Inventory

11 To date

75 Added brandy 12 Headache

76 Demure 13 Rock tumbler stone

77 Time to celebrate 14 You, to Yves

80 Salts away

15 Puckster Bobby - 82 Cracks in volcanoes 16 Priests' attire

83 Kind of muffin

17 Bireme or trireme

84 Reebok rival

18 "Becket" star

85 Rackets

19 Smiled broadly

87 Present

20 Deduce

88 Art colony town

27 Basket willow

89 Barely discernible 31 Yeah (hyph.)

90 Round dwellings 34 Call it -- -

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME

TODAY'S WORD -- SKIRMISHES (SKIRMISHES: SKUR-mish-es: Small conflicts or disputes.)

Average mark 26 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 37 or more words in SKIRMISHES?

seism semi sheik shier shies shim shire shirk shriek shrike sire skier skies

skim skirmish smirk kiss kisser iris remiss rime rise risk mesh mess mire

mirk miser miss heir hers hike hiker hire hiss hisser emir

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

36 38 39 41 43 44 46 47 48 49 50 51 53 54 55 56 57 58 60 61 63 65 66

Literary collection

Opposite of supine Pound sounds

Tiny bugs Rail connectors Down in the --

Invisible substance

Ms. Fossey Thumper's friend Musical Boone Vine-covered 1960s fashion

Exec degrees Like the tabloids

Advice

Actually succeeding

Go right Leb. neighbor

Ten decades (abbr.)

Dr.'s visit Campus building

Get fresh Poet's tributes

67 Narrow the gap 69 Puppy plaints 70 Diatribe 71 Not delay 72 Monks' titles 74 Wine sediments 75 Portsider 76 South Seas canoe 78 Lombardi of coaching 79 Moth- -81 Is, in Avila 82 Strads 83 Kind of drum 84 Sports org.

85 PBS "Science Guy" 86 Softball event 87 Hurt at Pamplona 88 Blue Nile source 89 Stick-in-the-mud 91 Pencil-box item 92 Hawaii red flower 93 Whacked weeds 94 Shoulder enhancer

96 Gold strikes 98 Snug 100 Luau number 101 Happen again 102 Secured a rock climber 103 Pentagon grp.

104 Gum arabic source 105 Parched feeling 106 Midwest capital 107 Smithies 108 "Uncle --" Berle 110 Served soup 111 Complain 112 Deals with (2 wds.)

113 Involuntary jump 114 Cheech's partner 115 Uniform color 116 Fix eggs 119 Musical ensemble 120 Declare solemnly 121 Elcar or Carvey See Solution 125 Building extension on page 126 CPA's sum 14 128 Admiral's org.

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Sunday Times Magazine 13

Home & Cooking

C

Filling • 12 oz Corned Beef • 2 whole scallion, finely chopped • ½ onion, chopped • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 10 sprigs thyme, leaves removed and chopped • ¼ tsp black pepper • 1 tsp parsley, finely chopped • 1 tbsp canola oil + enough to fry bake • 1 tbsp butter Bake • 3 cups all purpose flour • 1 tbsp baking powder • 1/3 cup sugar • 4 tbsp butter • pinch of salt

Directions 1. Mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together in a bowl. With a fork, or using your hand (quick method) rub butter into flour mixture. Add water to make a firm dough, but not stiff. Dough should be easy to roll. Let dough sit, covered for at least half an hour.

2. Meanwhile place a large frying pan on the stove over medium heat. Add oil and butter. When butter has melted add onion and sautee until soft, for about 3 minutes.

Add garlic and thyme and cook for an additional 30 seconds, stirring frequently.

3. Add corned beef and using a large spoon, break into smaller pieces. Add scallion and pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool.

4. At this point the dough should be ready. Now on a floured surface, roll the dough to ½ inch thickness and cut with a 5 inch round cutter. A drinking glass will also do the trick.

5. Place the circle of dough in you palm then take a spoonful of the cooled corned beef and place it in the middle.

6. Pinch the edges of the dough to form a seal around the corned beef mixture, forming a ball. Place on a floured surface and flatten gently with you palm. Do this slowly to ensure that the stuffing doesn’t burst through the dough.

7. Place a deep saucepan over a medium fire.

8. When oil is hot, carefully place bake into the oil and fry until golden brown, flipping once to brown both sides.

offee table styling is a bit of an art. Since coffee tables usually have prominent places in living rooms, it's important that they look good, but it's equally important that they function in the way they're supposed to. Fortunately, coffee table styling is easy to master as long as you keep certain guidelines in mind. Here are some pro styling tips…

Keep it Balanced Balance is an important component of any coffee table display, and one of the easiest ways to achieve balance is with symmetry. A central object grounds the display while smaller displays of equal visual weight on either side round it out.

Size Matters When it comes to coffee table styling it's important to use items that are the right size. Items should have enough visual weight that they don't get lost, but they should never be so big that they overwhelm the space or disrupt the functionality of the table.

Ingredients 3 large eggs 2 tbsp milk Salt and pepper to taste ½ tbsp butter ¼ cup sharp cheddar cheese Directions Crack eggs into a small bowl. Add milk, salt and pepper and beat with a fork. In a small non stick pan, add butter over medium heat. When the butter has melted and is foaming, turn the heat down to low and add eggs. Let the eggs sit for about a minute then using a wooden spoon, gently stir the eggs; stir eggs every 20 seconds or so. When the eggs thicken and begin to set, sprinkle cheese and stir. Let eggs cook for an additional 30 seconds, then turn off heat. The eggs should be still a bit wet on the top.

Remove from the pan and place onto a plate. Let sit for about a minute or so, the heat from the eggs will continue to cook the eggs. If desired, sprinkle with fresh herbs then serve!

• • • • •

Ingredients • 2 cups milk • 2 tbsp banana flour • 4 tbsp water • 1/2 cup quick oats • 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract • dash of nutmeg Directions Over medium fire, heat milk. Place banana flour in a small bowl and add water gradually to the banana flour while stirring.

Add mixture to pot while stirring. Add oatmeal, stir. Cook for 5 min. Porridge will thicken. Remove from heat and stir in sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and nutmeg. Serve immediately.

Work With the Room Coffee table displays don't exist in isolation. They need to work with the other items in the room. In this transitional living room, the coffee table styling mimics some of the rustic undertones of the rest of the space.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

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Bollywood/Hollywood

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…film will recreate iconic moment at Lord’s

ith Gully Boy all set to release on February 14, looks like it is time for Ranveer Singh to plunge headlong into his next project, Kabir Khan’s directorial ’83. He will begin his intense preparation and training for the ’83, under the ace guidance of cricketing great Kapil Dev. Ranveer, who plays Kapil in the film, will head for Punjab and will train with the legend for three weeks. Ranveer will learn his unique bowling style and absorb as much as he can.

Speaking about it, Ranveer said, “I am looking forward to spending time with Kapil sir. I feel like that time spent would be integral to my process of transforming myself into him. I want to absorb as much as I can from him. His story, his experiences, his thoughts, his feelings, his expressions and his energy.”

It may be recalled that Kapil galvanised a bunch of cricketers, mostly written off even before the commencement of the World Cup in 1983, to become world beaters.

Elaborating further about training with Kapil, Ranveer said, “I’m keen on getting tips on my bowling and batting from the man himself. His achievements

A

ctor Madhuri Dixit is currently gearing up for her upcoming comedy, Total Dhamaal.

Post which, she would be seen in Karan Johar’s production Kalank, which features an ensemble cast of Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditya Roy Kapur.

Originally, Sridevi was meant to do the film, be-

are extraordinary. He is the quintessential underdog who became a champion through perseverance, selfbelief, hard-work and a positive mindset. I am extremely inspired by him. I want to pour myself fully into this exciting character.”

What’s more the makers of the film also intend to shoot at London’s Lord’s cricket stadium, much the way events unfolded years ago. This will include the iconic moment when Kapil lifted the World Cup trophy at the Lords balcony.

A source said, “All preparations are under way to shoot at the iconic Lords cricket ground. The World Cup win is an iconic and most cherished memory in the hearts and the minds of

fore she died in February last year. The role eventually went to Madhuri. The 51-year-old actor said she took time to “digest” that Sridevi was no more.

“What took time was to digest the whole thing that had happened. It was so shocking, I was like ‘you want me to do this role?’ because even they (filmmakers) were stuck. They had

all Indians and the moment will be recreated in ’83.

Ranveer as the legend Kapil Dev will be seen lifting the World Cup at Lord’s.”

“The team is looking at pulling off the impossible but the moment is too iconic to not shoot at Lords. It is a history making, emotional chapter in the lives of every Indian and started a journey of India’s domination in world cricket. The team is pumped to shoot this moment at Lords,” the source added. ’83 documents the journey of a bunch of Indian cricketers who attempted and succeeded in achieving the impossible — beat the undisputed champions West Indies in a World Cup final.

(Hindustan Times)

to go on. As a person it was hard to deal. As an actor, you know the role, the script. It’s a different matter altogether. But to accept the truth was very difficult,” she added.

She also talked about the #MeToo movement, saying that she was shocked to read names of Alok Nath and filmmaker Soumik Sen, people she has previously worked with, as she was not privy to this side of their personalities. In the #MeToo movement, which hit Bollywood in August last year, Nath was accused of rape by writer-director Vinta Nanda. Sen, who directed Madhuri in Gulaab Gang, has been accused of inappropriate behaviour by three women. (Hindustan Times)

…as first ever mid-range film to cross Rs 200 cr mark

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icky Kaushal’s war drama, Uri: The Surgical Strike, has crossed the Rs 200 crore mark at the domestic box office, becoming the first ever ‘mid-range’ film to achieve this feat. The film took less than a month to make Rs 200 crore at the box office, considered a new benchmark for success after the dilution of the Rs 100 crore mark.

The film has made over Rs 300 crore worldwide.

Bollywood’s Rs 200 crore-plus club is dominated by films starring Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, with the exceptions being Sanju, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Simmba, starring Ranveer Singh, and Krrish 3, starring Hrithik Roshan.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted the news on Thursday. Uri has made more than Rs 25 crore in its fourth week of release. According to Adarsh, the film crossed the Rs 75 crore mark on its eighth day of release, the Rs 100 crore mark on day 10, Rs 125 crore on day 13, Rs 150 crore on day 17, Rs 175 crore on day 23 and Rs 200 crore on day 28. The film registered the highest ever day 23 and 24 totals, beating the previous records, set by Baahubali: The Conclusion, one of the biggest hits the country has ever seen.

The film is based on the Indian Army’s

A

riana Grande has fired back at Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich’s claims that she’s not performing at the ceremony because they felt it was “too late for her to pull something together.”

“I’ve kept my mouth shut but now you’re lying about me,” Grande tweeted on Thursday. “I can pull together a performance over night and you know that, Ken. It was when my creativity & self-expression was stifled by you that I decided not to attend. I hope the show is exactly what you want it to be and more.”

“I offered 3 different songs,” she went on. “It’s about collaboration. It’s about feeling supported. It’s about art and honesty. Not politics. Not doing favors or playing games. It’s just a game y’all…and I’m sorry but that’s not what music is to me.”

Grande was responding specifically to an Associated Press article published on Thursday, which quotes Ehrlich as saying, “As it turned out when we finally got the point where we thought maybe it would work, she felt it was too late for her to pull something to-

2016 surgical strike in Pakistan. Its tagline, ‘How’s the josh’ has already entered the pop-culture lexicon, with everyone from Vicky’s Bollywood contemporaries to PM Narendra Modi invoking it.

Director Aditya Dhar in an interview to PTI spoke about the origins of the tagline. “I had some friends from Defence background, so with them I used to go to a lot of Army clubs.

There was one in Delhi where we used to go for Christmas or New Year parties.

There used to be a retired Brigadier who would line up all the kids in front of him and have a chocolate in his hand,” he said.

“He would say ‘How’s the josh?’ and we were to respond with ‘high sir!’ The kid who was the loudest got the chocolate. Being a foodie, I used to be the loudest and always got the chocolate.”

Uri fended off competition from Kangana Ranaut’s historical epic, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, which has made Rs 80 crore in India, and Sonam Kapoor’s samesex romance, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, which flopped with Rs 17 crore.

(Hindustan Times)

gether for sure. And it’s too bad. She’s a great artist.

And I’d love to get her in the show this year.”

Variety previously reported that Grande wouldn’t perform or even attend the ceremony due to a disagreement with producers over which songs would be featured. Insiders said Grande, who has an album debuting on Friday, felt “insulted” that producers didn’t want

her to perform her “7 Rings.”

While they reached a compromise in which “7 Rings” would be part of a medley, producers insisted that the second song would be their choice, which caused Grande to pull out altogether.

Grande is up for two Grammys on Sunday: pop solo performance for “God Is a Woman” and pop vocal album for “Sweetener.”

(Variety)

Crossword Solution

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FEBRUARY 10, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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FEBRUARY 10, 2019

Fun Times

Archie

Look for opportunities to discover something you (March 21enjoy doing. Sign up for a April 19) course, or practice a skill you would like to use to earn extra cash.

ARIES

Visit someone who always TAURUS offers good advice. Personal (April 20- changes can be made if you May 20) set the wheels in motion. A physical improvement will give you the incentive to try something new.

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

Don't be too vocal about your plans. Research the possibility of making a move that will allow you to earn more, lower your overhead or start the next chapter of your life.

Don't be a follower. It doesn't matter what other (June 21- people do; you have to follow July 22) your heart and do what's best for yourself. Charm will help when dealing with a loved one.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

If you make a promise, follow through. Your reputation will be at stake if you talk big and do little. If you set an example, you will position yourself to excel.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Someone you are close to won't be happy with the choices or plans you make.

Don't miss out on an opportunity because someone is being manipulative.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You may feel you need to make a change, but it won't be as easy as you think. Listen to good advice before you get involved in something risky.

Get together with peoSCORPIO ple who share your interests.

(Oct. 24- Someone you meet while travNov. 22) eling will offer a tempting suggestion. Gather facts and consider the possibilities.

An idea you have should be SAGITTARIUS considered carefully. A change (Nov. 23Dec. 21) that will affect the people you love will be met with opposition. Offer incentives that are too good to resist.

Calvin and Hobbes

Sit tight and see what unCAPRICORN folds. Time is on your side, (Dec. 22- and keeping your distance Jan. 19) from any sort of disruption is in your best interest.

Concentrate on personal improvements.

Learn from experience AQUARIUS to avoid getting involved in (Jan. 20- issues that can be costly fiFeb. 19) nancially or emotionally.

How you treat others will make a difference when you want something in return.

Don't let your desire PISCES (Feb. 20- to please others cost you Mar. 20) emotionally or financially.

Someone will take advantage of you if you are too accommodating. Only offer what's feasible.