Guyana Times - Sunday, February 24, 2019

LOOK INSIDE !

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 3845 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, February 24, 2019

PRICE

No-confidence resolution

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Ramjattan admits constitutional crisis looms ...as Christopher Ram calls on President to immediately honour Constitution

GPHC paediatric team trip

Public Health Minister unaware of overseas retreat P15 …says probe into deaths of 3 children complete

Guyana’s oil and gas sector

“No need to repeat mistakes P2 Trinidad made”– safety advisor

Region 2 flag-raising ceremony

Female bus driver charged for assaulting Cop, resisting P8 arrest Region 5 REO has no respect for Regional Chairman P9 – Councillor

2 killed as Maduro Dead silence as Minister sends troops to block calls on residents to applaud Venezuela aid convoys Govt’s performance

Page 18

Page 10

GuySuCo spending millions to maintain 4 closed estates …contracting workers to clean is admission GuySuCo erred– former Minister …says company could have retained maintenance staff

Page 7

1 dead, 1 P8 injured in Port Kaituma accident

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news

SUnDAY, february 24, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana's Oil and gas sector

“No need to repeat mistakes Trinidad made” – safety advisor …as Strategic Recruitment Solutions launched

By Davina Ramdass

A

s the Strategic R e c r u i t m e n t Solutions Inc officially launched its services at the Marriott Hotel on Friday evening, Safety Consulting Adviser of the company, Allister Taylor told the gathering that there is no need for Guyana to repeat the mistakes Trinidad made in the oil and gas sector.

Taylor, who has Trinidadian roots, noted that Guyana can safeguard itself and not repeat the mistakes the twin-island republic made while referring to local content.

“We have been in oil and gas for well over a century.

There is no need to repeat the mistakes that we would have made and it is time to quantum leap and to ensure that things get done and get done right…there is going to be a need for capacity building. No one should come

CEO of SRS Kerri Gravesande-Bart and Chief Operations Officer Lloyd Bart (centre in black) flanked by trainees of the agency and other officials

and attempt to stay,” Taylor said.

The safety consulting adviser explained that trainees in the sector should be given the opportunity to grow and even become superiors if they manage to grasp all concepts well.

Trinidad recently moved from producing over one million barrels of oil per year to

no longer having large-scale production. Last year, the country’s oil refinery company’s production came to a screeching halt leaving about 1700 persons jobless.

Reports are that Trinidad and Tobago is seeking to get the Guyana Government to take a stake in the Petrotrin refinery, and in this way, acquire a strategic asset.

The proposal, according to media reports, is to ensure that Guyana gets its share of oil from ExxonMobil closer to home, and in this way, employment would be provided to people of both countries. This was one of the areas that were discussed prior to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This

caused the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to publicly ask the Government to hold off on signing the MoU with Trinidad and Tobago.

The GCCI added that its members should be consulted first, as they fear that this could possibly open the floodgates for foreign companies to take over the oil industry at the disadvantage to locals.

President of the GCCI, Deodat Indar said Guyanese businesses are already being sidestepped and instead, contracts have been awarded to foreign-based companies to benefit from the local oil sector. But the GCCI wants the local Private Sector to get its “piece of the pie”.

In this regard, it was pointed out that Strategic Recruitment Solutions (SRS) will be training interested Guyanese in entering the oil and gas sector. The agency will be hunting for persons who have some sort of experience in the field, or even have a passion to contribute to local content development and helping other locals to become part of the sector.

Chief Executive Officer of SRS, Kerri GravesandeBart said so far 26 persons have been trained during more than 3000 hours of hard work. She noted that SRS is aiming to achieve the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certificate, among others.

Speaking on the importance of the company, Rig Manager of Stena Carron, Callum Balfour said when he first came to Guyana, they were quite cognisant of the importance of utilising local labour, however, no drilling recruits were in the country as oil and gas was still fresh to country.

Balfour said although they wanted to hire Guyanese, they were un-

Safety Consulting Advisor of SRS, Allister Taylor

able to because of safety concerns. “Safety is paramount and you can’t put people into a situation where they could potentially hurt themselves”.

Despite beginning its operations only last year, SRS has already expanded its brand to the United States.

Directing Shareholder of SRS-US, Deon Vigilance explained, “In an effort to expand the SRS pool of talent, we’ve established a subsidiary in Texas, SRS-US. This extension of SRS-GY will concentrate on attracting individuals with skillsets and knowledge base that are currently unavailable in Guyana”.

According to him, unlike other companies which were birthed overseas and subsequently partnered with local Guyanese companies, SRS represents a Guyanese company which has extended its operations overseas for the sole purpose of talent acquisition, training and for the advancement of the local economy.

He added that this initiative will afford Guyanese with rapid knowledge transfer.

The President of the GCCI lauded the local company for being one of a kind and making bold steps as he reflected on the first time he met with the CEO of SRS as she threw her business idea at him.

news

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SUnDAY, february 24, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

No-confidence resolution

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

Sunday, February 24 – 08:30h-10:00h and Monday, February 25 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, February 24 – 07:50h-09:20h and Monday, February 25 – 08:35h-10:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Early morning sunny weather is expected to give way to sunny intervals which will last throughout the remainder of the day. Cloudy skies are expected in the evening, with overalls temperatures ranging between 20 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to North North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 07:53h and 20:19h reaching maximum heights of 2.63 metres and 2.52 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:28h and 13:51h reaching a minimum height of 0.60 metre at each scheduled low tide.

WEDNESday, FEBRUARY 20, 2019

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Ramjattan admits constitutional crisis looms ...as Ram calls on President to immediately honour Constitution

C

hartered accountant and Attorney Christopher Ram, on Saturday called on President David Granger to immediately honour his words and start acting on the December 21, 2018, no-confidence resolution asking, “which la la land is Granger living in?”

Ram made the statement when he appeared on a panel discussion on Globespan 24x7 live show in New York.

The discussion, titled ‘Is there a constitutional crisis looming’ in Guyana, was streamed live on social media site Facebook with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan being part of the panel. The programme was moderated by Financial Analysis Sase Singh.

The passage of the December 21, 2018, Noconfidence Motion, saw the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government being toppled. The motion was moved by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and carried in a 33-32 vote, with AFC MP Charrandas Persaud defecting in support of a vote of conscience in favour of the motion.

The passage of the motion activated Article 106 (6) and (7) of the Constitution which states, respectively: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.” And “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

However, the Government is challenging the validity of the resolution owing to the fact that Persaud holds dual citizenship and a total of 34 votes were needed to have it validly passed. Acting Chief Justice Roxane George has since ruled that while Persaud is a dual citizen his vote remains valid as a result of the doctrine of necessity as well as the resolution was validly carried having garnered the majority of the votes of the elected Members of the House.

It has been 64 days since the resolution was carried and no move has been made by the Government to have elections held within the constitutionally mandated 90 days.

Additionally, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has since indicated that it will require at least five months to prepare. This move has been condemned by many with observes accusing GECOM of ignoring its constitutional mandate to buy

Attorney Christopher Ram, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and moderator Sase Singh

time for the Government.

Constitutional crisis

During the discussion on Saturday, the question of whether members of the National Assembly can return to the House to have the extension of the 90 days to which he responded that the 11th Parliament has not yet been dissolved, which means that they can.

“What is important is for Mr Granger as President to start acting on the Noconfidence Motion which he promised to do. Mr Jagdeo called on Mr (Joseph) Harmon on the very night and said we need to get together and decide on the way forward. It took Mr Granger 18 days and he wanted to know what Mr Jagdeo wants to talk about,” he noted.

“Which la la land is Granger living in? Doesn’t he know there is a constitutional crisis…doesn’t the President of the country know that and

since Mr Ramjattan he is a Vice President shouldn’t he tell Mr Granger that look you are brewing here one of the worst constitutional crises to confront Guyana in its post-independence history,” Ram added.

Meanwhile, Minister Ramjattan said while prorogation of Parliament is an op-

tion for President Granger, he is “certain that the President will not prorogue Parliament and seek the support of the Leader of the Opposition” as well as consult with GECOM in regard to their readiness then he can dissolve the Parliament and set a date for elections.

Continued on page 9

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SUnDAY, february 24, 2019

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

Republic Day not “Mash Day”

Y

esterday, as it has done annually for 49 years, the Government spearheaded the commemoration of the attainment of Republican status through activities lumped under the rubric of “Mashramani”. As one writer reminded us in the state paper, the activity originated in Linden, where evidently they could only conceive of a “sport” to imitate the Trinidadian “Carnival”, but wanted a new name to disguise the appropriation. Even though it was claimed that the name “Mashramani” was of Amerinidan origin – meaning “celebration after a hard day’s work” - and was chosen to make the event uniquely autochthonous, no one has been able to prove that claim. Even after being exported to Georgetown the following year, and into the other regions afterwards, the blatant imitation of the Trinidad Carnival continued unabashed.

The organisers of “Mash” ignored the history of the Trinidad Carnival, which evolved out of the French European carnival tradition that was brought over to Trinidad when a number of French Planters fled Haiti after the revolution of 1891, which created the second Republic in the hemisphere.

They not only brought their slaves and sugar, but Carnival - as they did to New Orleans, where it is called “Mardi Gras”. So the Republican PNC Government, while insisting that Guyana must “decolonise” its practices, did not even appreciate that Carnival was a colonial relic arising out of a rejection of Republicanism. But then, the PNC’s imitations – such as also with the “Mass Games” from Korea - were always mimicry without reflection, and inevitably tended to kitsch.

Because of its economic straits and also because of not being grounded into the centuries old Trinidadian Carnival traditions, the Guyanese Mash was always a very pale imitation, wherein vulgarity replaced wit and panache.

But in the last few years, after a number of citizens had objected to the lewdness of the performers on the streets, the Government joined in calling for a clean-up of the “performances”. But, sadly, the organisers seem not to appreciate that we need a root-and-branch change to connect Mashramani with Republicanism, and not to the pro-monarchical antecedents of the Trinidad Carnival.

As one encyclopedia notes, “Broadly defined, republicanism means a preference for non-monarchical government and a strong dislike of hereditary monarchy.

Narrowly defined, and in its early modern context, it means self-government by a community of citizens in a city-state.

Republicanism is a prominent concept in the history of political thought. Republican ideology claimed that citizens of republics enjoyed a liberty unknown to the subjects of monarchies because they were bound by laws that they themselves had made, not the personal whim of an individual monarch.”

In 1966, therefore, while we had been granted “independence” by Britain, the colonial power, we still retained a “Governor General” who represented the British Monarch as our “Head of State”. With the declaration of “republican” status in 1970, however, the Governor General was replaced by a “President” – Arthur Chung – who now became our “Head of State”. We, the Guyanese people, could now promulgate our own Constitution and decide on our own how we would run the affairs of our country.

Then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, however, had his own ideas; and, unfortunately, it was anything but to further the values of republicanism, but rather to bring back the trappings of the monarchy in the form of an “Executive Presidency”. In 1980, he introduced a constitution which, as adumbrated by the late Professor Rudy James, accumulated so much power in that office that the incumbent was above the reach of both the law and the institutions of the state.

That constitution was never ratified by the people, since Burnham used a cynical sleight of hand to have a referendum before its promulgation to disavow its need.

Our commemoration of Republic Day should creatively present these issues to the nation, to remind them that power resides in the people, and that monarchical unilateralism must be resisted and rolled back.

Reject the crass monarchical carnival imitations in Mashramani; big up Republicanism

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is flanked by presidential candidate Irfaan Ali, Members of Parliament Priya Manickchand and Harry Gill, former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and a reveller during the Mashramani costume and float parade on Saturday

Fast-track appeal instead of seeking a stay of CJ’s ruling Dear Editor, This is in response to your news item on the appeal of Acting Chief Justice Roxanne George’s decision on the successful NoConfidence Motion (NCM) and simultaneously an application before said court for a stay (Conservatory Order) of the execution of George’s ruling while the appeal goes through the judicial process.

Having taught American constitutional law, I can say with full confidence that while a court’s ruling can be challenged (appealed) all the way to the final court of appeal, by convention, some rulings are not subject to appeal. The court avoids getting into matters pertaining to the affairs of the Legislature (Parliament) since it is a separate branch of Government; political issues are not “justiciable” unless both sides agree for a judicial resolution/interpretation, the late Sir Fenton Ramsahoye used to say. Most legal scholars feel the court cannot instruct the Legislature (Congress or Parliament) on how to run its business. The court can only interpret the Constitution as it pertains to legislative affairs to determine constitutionality.

The court cannot intervene on political matters.

In conversation with legal scholars in the US, Trinidad and Guyana, they concurred that a ruling can

be appealed. In the case of Guyana, the CCJ is our final court just as the Supreme Court is the final US court.

What scholars are saying is that instead of seeking a conservatory order (or stay), why not fast-track the case before the appeal court or better yet, why don’t the parties to the matter come to a consensus and seek the view of the CCJ. In the US, when there were/are “political issues” before the court, the contending parties sought/seek an expeditious hearing and go directly to the Supreme Court. The same should be considered in Guyana in light of the fact that the deadline for the life of the (Acting) Government is March 19, less than a month away.

Can a court grant a stay of a ruling or grant a conservatory order on the Chief Justice’s decision? It is highly improbable because the acts were already carried out. “Impossible”, said legal scholars (Senior Counsels and Queens Counsels) in Trinidad because of the nature of the case. A court can stay something that is to happen. But the acts for which a stay is requested have already happened.

The scholars said a court can’t stay the Constitution (Article 106 or other parts unless they are unconstitutional or if a case is made that they were effected illegally, say in a rigged fraud-

ulent referendum). But the appeal must be made on that basis – fraud.

Also, an act of Parliament (successful passage of the NCM) can’t be stayed as it was also already carried out; if the NCM had failed, the court could not stay it either. The court can’t stay a ruling that 33 is not a majority of 65. It is indisputable among scholars of what constitutes a majority – greater than 50 per cent or one more than the other side. If there is a judicial ruling 2-1 (say in Guyana or Trinidad) or 5-4 (as in the US). If one applies the mathematical formula being bandied about to challenge what is a majority in the NCM, then a majority of 3 is 3 and a majority of 9 is 6. That is absurd. Americans and Trinis feel Guyana must have a lot of “mad people in law” who don’t know simple maths – the Americans and Trinis and maybe others are laughing at us.

Justice George stated that the President and Cabinet stand resigned right after the passage of the NCM. The court can’t stay the resignation as the Constitution is very clear on the issue. Once the Government loses a NCM, it resigns from office. Any judge or court that seeks to issue a conservatory order on a resignation would be a target of ridicule. And if the judge grants it, that ruling will inevitably be appealed

as it would be “improper” and of no legal basis – unprecedented and unheard of. If it is not granted, it may also be appealed even though the matter has no legal merit.

A claim was made that Mr Charrandas Peraud, whose vote toppled the Government, was sitting in Parliament illegally (due to dual citizenship) and, therefore, his vote should not be counted in the NCM. But there were a dozen other members sitting in Parliament illegally during the NCM. And the Constitution is very clear, notwithstanding the participation and vote of someone not legally qualified to be a member of the legislature, his or her vote is legal.

The learned Justice George correctly interpreted the Constitution.

The Constitution is not a toy or game. Instead of playing around with it and other democratic and legal principles, the contending parties should fast-track the appeal to have a decision within a week from now. Or since the ruling will inevitably be appealed to the CCJ, why don’t the parties agree to bypass the local appeal and head straight to the CCJ for an expeditious ruling.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu (PhD)

Bisram

guyanatimesgy.com

SunDAY, february 24, 2019

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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

What about the Attack on PSC children?

Dear Editor, Over the past weeks, we have seen an increasingly alarming trend in Guyana.

What started out as a violent threat on social media directed at The School of The Nations, quickly escalated into the shooting and wounding of Principal of the said school Dr O’Toole, forcing the school to close for one week.

Subsequently, came shooting threats at Queen’s College, Bishops’ High and Mae’s.

There were also two bomb threats to The University of Guyana in two days, leading to suspended classes for both days, and another bomb threat at the Office of the Ombudsman.

Against this background, The Caribbean Voice (TCV) is somewhat concerned that the Guyana Police Force sees “no significant threat from warnings to various educational institutions”. What about the children? Surely the police are not simply dismissing the mental health fallout?

For one, a sense of security is lost. School is the second home for our children and they no longer feel safe.

The trauma is real and widespread because students are not psychologically prepared.

They are fearful. They are confused. Some are discouraged and have become demotivated. Many have had sleepless nights and those that sleep have nightmares.

Parents and students are of the view that not enough has been done since then to assist them to return to a sense of normalcy. TCV is aware of all of this because we have been talking to parents and students.

A holistic approach is required to ensure that students not only heal but also that schools are prepared to proactively deal with issues of this nature. The Caribbean Voice is happy that the Mobile

Mental Health Unit of the Education Ministry was deployed but was the services offered to all the schools affected? Will there be follow-ups to ensure that individual students who remain traumatic are offered counselling therapy? Going forward, will entire student bodies be provided with coping skills and mechanisms? Will schools nationwide be trained to respond to such threats through regular drills that focus on strategies like soft and hard lockdowns and evacuation procedures?

Will Police be armed with the capacity for rapid response nationwide?

For years TCV has been calling for counsellors in schools to assist students to better cope with whatever challenges they face on a daily basis in and out of school.

Such placement has become even more urgent now. Also, The Caribbean Voice again offers our youth and student workshop to the Education Ministry. At previous meetings with Ministry officials, promises were made to integrate our workshop into the Health and Family Life Curriculum. We are still awaiting fulfilment of this promise.

Finally, the Education Ministry should mandate all schools to set up threat response teams comprising parents, staff and other related personnel that should be trained to quickly act in such eventualities. At least one school affected by the recent threats has already done so. The global village has now encompassed Guyana in its unsavoury fold and our nation must not find itself wanting in its responsibility to protect our children every which way.

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

Dear Editor, The Private Sector Commission (PSC) notes the disclosure in the media of internal correspondence of the Commission with the obvious intention of causing public mischief.

The Council of the Private Sector Commission today met to consider this matter and unanimously agreed that it is the duty and responsibility of the Commission to represent, not only the interest of the business community, but the overall interest of the country and its people in addressing matters of public concern and importance without fear or favour to any political party, whether in or out of Government.

The Private Sector Commission recognises and will defend the democratic right of any of its individual members to express their views publicly, as they deem fit, on any matter of their choosing and will defend their right to do so.

The history of the Private Sector Commission will record that the Commission has always spoken out in defence of democracy as an advocate for the respect of the Constitution, for compliance with the rule of law and for the stability of our country. The Private Sector Commission will continue to do so.

The Private Sector Commission will continue to speak openly, frankly and truthfully on any and all matters which impact upon the economic development, good governance and political stability of our country.

The PSC will continue to call a spade a spade.

As a national institution, the PSC must stand by the Constitution, law and order and good governance. The PSC’s status and values are derived from its responsibility to take the lead and not be distracted by persons or organisations that set out to achieve the opposite to our values.

History must record that we stood for the correct principles of law and order and compliance with the Constitution.

The PSC stands strong and united in its determination to continue advocating for the creation of a conducive and enabling business environment.

The Private Sector Commission notes that one our members, Mr Kit Nascimento, has been singled out and targeted for the views he expressed in a letter published in the media on February 13, 2019, in defence of the Commission.

The Commission fully endorses the facts laid out in Mr Nascimento’s letter and that “the PSC’s mandate is

to insist on adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law by all of the political parties”.

Sincerely, Private Sector Commission

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Foundation

Mental health and teens:

5 danger signs

By Monica Foley, MEd

A

lthough anxiety disorders affect one in eight children, they often go unrecognised as mental health issues in teens. Social anxiety disorder, in particular, can take many forms and present differently depending on the individual, thus making it challenging to identify.

Most parents and adults dismiss anxiety symptoms as merely shyness or teen angst that their children will eventually outgrow. However, social phobia, as the disorder is sometimes referred to, can grow worse if left untreated and become debilitating over time. Poor academic performance, missing opportunities for significant social experiences, and substance abuse can all be indicators of social anxiety.

Recognising social phobia in teenagers is crucial for their transition to adulthood. Parents and other caregivers have the responsibility of ensuring that they get help.

Following are several ways to recognise symptoms of social anxiety in teens:

1. Be aware of extreme shyness or discomfort in your teen when he or she becomes the centre of attention

First-time performers typically experience stage fright but extreme discomfort, passivity, or inactivity, when put in the spotlight, merits further investigation. Although most people may feel this is due to teens’ fear of embarrassing themselves in front of their peers, do not be complacent. Take the time to talk to your child about why he or she was unable to perform.

Avoid using an accusatory tone to prevent putting your child on the defensive.

2. Pay attention to your child’s academic performance.

When your straight-A teenager starts bringing home B or C-graded homework and exams, you immediately worry that something is wrong. Unfortunately, social anxiety is not as apparent as dropping grades. Social anxiety provides small clues such as hesitance to talk in front of the class, fear of being asked to report information, or even downright refusal to be a part of class activities. If possible, talk to your teen’s teacher about your concerns and ask him or her to inform you if your child exhibits any of these behaviours.

Learn how to create a healthier, happier family that understands the importance of spending less time glued to their electronics and more time communicating and connecting.

3. Be aware of your teen’s friends or lack thereof.

It is common for teenagers to spend hours texting, going to parties and events, or hanging out after school. Many teens will be part of a large group or at least have a couple of friends.

However, teens with social anxiety often isolate themselves from other people or minimize contact. They would rather attend class without homework than ask a classmate about the assignment. They may have trouble making eye contact, initiating or joining conversations, and being part of school organizations.

4. Observe your child’s confidence level.

Most teens who are suffering from social anxiety doubt if they are good enough for other people or worry excessively about how others see them. Their fear of being ridiculed or rejected is solidified in their minds, and they often look for signs of negative perception in others. This negative attitude towards meeting other people is so pervasive that it can lead to low self-esteem and an inferiority complex.

5. Take note of your teen’s reaction to social situations.

People suffering from social anxiety exhibit physical symptoms as well, especially if they are in a social situation such as family gatherings or school functions. Signs to look out for include diarrhoea, nausea, excessive sweating, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. If your teenager experiences any of these symptoms before or during a social event, he or she may be experiencing social anxiety.

According to the 2015 Child Mind Institute Children’s Mental Health Report, 80 per cent of kids with a diagnosable anxiety disorder are not getting treatment. If your teen exhibits any anxiety symptoms, take him or her to a psychologist for a consultation and thorough examination. The chances are high that your child knows that his or her reactions to social activities are irrational but does not know where or how to ask for help. Ensuring that children get the support and treatment they need starts with their parent or another adult caregiver.

to watch out for

By Robert Myers, PhD

The teenage years can be difficult ones. Teens are going through significant cognitive developments that can influence not only their behaviour but also their mood.

It’s a time when mental health issues can arise. Knowing what to look out for can help parents catch problems early on.

Extreme or dramatic changes in behaviour

Teens are known for moodiness and sudden shifts in behaviour. So a one-time occurrence isn’t something to be too concerned about. However, if you notice that your child’s behaviour has changed significantly, that’s a danger sign. It may be a symptom of mental illness or some other problematic situation like drug use. The following behavioural changes are red flags: 1. Sleeping changes – A child may begin to sleep too much or not at all.

2. Dietary changes – Pay special attention to children who seem to be eating significantly more than they used to or not eating at all. Bulimia and anorexia are dangerous conditions that both girls and boys can suffer from.

3. Social changes – Most frequently, signs of depression include a child withdrawing from social outings.

They may no longer hang out with friends or engage in social activities after school.

4. Emotional changes – While teens can be emotional, if you notice significant emotional outbursts or moodiness, it can be a sign that they’re dealing with a mental health condition.

5. Academic changes – Have you noticed that her grades have plummeted or that he’s no longer interested in school? This can be a warning sign that they’re hanging out with the wrong people, abusing substances, or a mental health issue.

(childdevelopmentinfo.com)

Physical dangers

A child who becomes aggressive and/or destructive is likely dealing with a mental health disorder. They may be silently hurting themselves, through behaviours like cutting or drugs, or they may be overt about it. Promiscuity, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts or actions are all serious signs that a child is in danger.

What do you do next?

If you notice any of these signs or changes in your teen, it’s important to talk to them and to be willing to get help. If a child is harming themselves or others, don’t try to handle it on your own. Professional help is essential.

A trained professional can diagnose your teen and begin treatment immediately. They can also help you and your family become educated about your teen’s illness and provide counselling for you. (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

7 GuySuCo spending millions to maintain 4 closed estates news

SUnDAY, february 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

…contracting workers to clean is admission GuySuCo erred – former Minister …says company could have retained maintenance staff

A

recent ‘Invitation for Bids’ published in the local newspapers by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for excavator operators to undertake works at the four closed sugar estates is an admission that the sugar company, and the Government by extension, erred by failing to preserve a crew for maintenance work at the estates.

This is the view of former Agriculture Minister Leslie Ramsammy, who said that the total severance of all sugar workers was short-sighted and reckless.

“It exposes the ineptitude of the Board and the Management of GuySuCo and the Ministry of Agriculture for not recognising that certain staffing had to be retained for the closed estates. The closed estates are expensive and valuable assets which still remain properties of GuySuCo and the Government and, are assets that belong to the people,” Ramsammy asserted.

The bid invitation is asking for suitably qualified and experienced bidders to undertake the provision of labour to operate GuySuCo’s excavators at the Wales, East Demerara, Rose Hall and Skeldon estates; a move which Ramsammy said angered him because when the estates were closed, there were experienced excavator operators who were dis-

for sale? In the first place, we would be able to attract a better price for the estates if they were ongoing operations. But since the factories were closed and the fields were not used for cane cultivation anymore, the very least GuySuCo could have done, if there was a serious privatisation effort, was to ensure the properties were maintained,” Ramsammy contended.

Former Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

missed. These operators, he stated, were among thousands of sugar workers who lost their jobs and are now experiencing difficulties providing for their families.

“It would appear to me that at this time when GuySuCo realises it needs these experienced operators, GuySuCo would seek them out, rather than be tendering for bidders to provide operators. It is a continued demonstration of disregard and disrespect for workers who served GuySuCo in the past,” he posited.

have meant abandonment.

Maintenance work had to be preserved for more than one reason. Firstly, the closed estates represent properties which have value and that value can only be preserved if the properties were maintained. Instead, the Ministry of Agriculture and GuySuCo’s Board and management walked away from the estates, with a posture of abandonment. This is not just another example of ineptitude and mismanagement, this is misconduct in office,” he stressed.

Further, Ramsammy pointed out that even drainage and irrigation (D&I) workers in these estates should have been kept because while the estates were closed, the drainage and irrigation canals had to be fully maintained since they also

Abandonment of valuable property According to the former Agriculture Minister, the closure of the estates was handled likened to that as an abandonment of valuable property.

“Closure should never

President David Granger

represented part of the overall agriculture D&I and residential drainage network.

In fact, he noted the dam system was not exclusive to sugar and was used for other community needs, which is one of the reasons he had argued that GuySuCo’s high cost of production was also caused by obligations to provide for non-sugar services.

The former Agriculture Minister went on to outline that shortly after public outrage over the closure of the estates, Government, through the Special Purposes Unit (SPU) established by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), announced that all four of the closed estates would be offered for divestment to the Private Sector.

“So how could these estates attract the best price if we are offering abandoned properties

Costly mechanism Now three years later, he added, GuySuCo realises that maintenance work is needed.

The former Minister said the haste to find excavator operators at this time seems to be catalysed by two important motives – first, another mechanism for sweetheart deals, that is, giving contracts to Government’s “favourite contractors” and, second, the impending elections which have forced the Government into ensuring signs of economic activity are visible.

“I find it curious and worrisome that GuySuCo is presently seeking “experienced bidders” to provide labour to operate excavators owned by GuySuCo for work in the four closed estates… My curiosity has become worrisome because this advertisement appears as a strategy to hand out a contract to someone who will provide persons to operate these GuySuCo excavators. Upfront, I am suspi-

cious because this appears to be another example of using GuySuCo’s scarce resources to distribute yet another sweetheart transaction,” he asserted.

According to Ramsammy, GuySuCo is not trying to hire persons who are experienced in operating excavators, but is seeking to contract a bidder who will then provide operators for GuySuCo’s excavators. This, he pointed out, would mean a more costly mechanism for excavator services in the closed estates.

Since the closure of the four estates, leaving more than 7000 sugar workers jobless, Government has moved to divestment the facilities.

United Kingdom (UK) company, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), was subsequently contracted to carrying out valuations of GuySuCo’s assets up for sale and has since invited expressions of interest from potential buyers.

Initially, 10 expressions of interest were submitted in November but only five companies eventually entered bids. There are Guygulf International Trading Development Industrial and Financial LLC (Nand Persaud and Co Ltd) for Enmore, Skeldon and Rose Hall estates; Liberty Investments Inc for Enmore Estate; Industrial Equipment Sales and Services Incorporation (IESS) for Rose Hall Estate; Kadem Sugars Inc for Rose Hall Estate, and D Rampersaud and Co Ltd for Skeldon Estate.

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SUnDAY, february 24, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

1 dead, 1 injured in Port Kaituma accident

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olice are investigating the death of a 32-year-old man of Fitzburg, Port Kaituma, Region One (BarimaWaini), following a motorcycle accident.

Dead is Alvin Blair who reportedly died on Friday evening after the motorcycle on which he was riding dropped into a pothole, causing him to lose control.

Guyana Times understands that the 32-year-old man borrowed the motorcy-

cle which bears registration plates CH 2517 from Raul Campbell of Train Line, Port Kaituma.

Reports are at about 22:00h, Blair was proceeding north along the western carriageway, descending a hill at 26 miles Access Road, Port Kaituma, with his friend, 31-year-old Roy Spencer, also of Fitzburg, Port Kaituma, when the accident occurred.

According to the police, the motorcycle flipped over

several times before the duo was pitched on the road.

They were assisted by public-spirited citizens who rushed both injured men to a nearby health post.

Blair, who was picked up in an unconscious state, was further rushed to the Port Kaituma Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Spencer, the pillion rider, suffered a broken left jaw and right leg. Investigations are ongoing.

Between the lines…

Dead: Alvin Blair

Female bus driver charged for assaulting Cop, resisting arrest

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route 48 minibus driver who allegedly assaulted a police officer and resisted arrest found herself before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly last week at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The first two charges against Amanita Saul read that on February 16, 2019, at the route 48 minibus park, Georgetown, she assaulted Constables LaRose and Woolford who were acting in the execution of their duties.

Two other charges alleged that

Saul, on the same day at the same location, behaved in a disorderly manner in regards to the peace officers and the public.

The final charge alleged that Saul resisted arrest from the peace officers, who were acting in the execution of their duties.

According to facts presented by Police Prosecutor Christopher Morris, on February 16, Saul was stopped by traffic officer LaRose and was instructed to go to the Brickdam Police

Station.

However, Saul allegedly behaved disorderly and assaulted Constable LaRose.

Meanwhile, Constable Woolford, who also attempted to arrest Saul, was assaulted by the defendant, who continued behaving in a disorderly manner at that time.

Saul denied the charges and was released on $95,000 bail. The case will continue on March 11, 2019.

T

…of Trump’s message

he Government rag boasted that President Trump “congratulated” President Granger and Guyana on our 49th Republic Anniversary. But Burnham once castigated his followers during their 1979 Biennial Congress, “Comrades, the problem with you is you only read what’s on TOP of the lines! You have to also read BETWEEN the lines.”

So, taking that prompt, let’s read between the lines of the statement: “As your government and the people of Guyana assess the future direction of your country, know that the US recognises and honours Guyana’s respect for the principles and integrity of democratic governance and institutions.” OK…let’s concede that Trump didn’t personally pen that message! He sticks to Twitter’s 280 character limit!!

It was crafted by folks in the State Department who’ve been watching developments in Guyana like a hawk. From being a shith*le country not worth the bother after the fall of the Iron Curtain, we suddenly jumped into their radar screens with Exxon’s mega oil find and the end-game in sight over in neighbouring Venezuela. For both of those reasons, the US wants a STABLE Guyana that won’t rock (Exxon’s) boat, and will encircle Venezuela with stable proUS regimes.

So the first thing that jumped out to your Eyewitness was - out of the cornucopia of values the US pushes - Pres Trump chose to hone in on: “respect for the principles and integrity of democratic governance and institutions”. And that, dear readers, is not a coincidence!! As the State Department declares on its website: “Democratically governed nations are more likely to secure the peace, deter aggression, expand open markets, promote economic development, protect American citizens, combat international terrorism and crime, uphold human and worker rights, avoid humanitarian crises and refugee flows, improve the global environment, and protect human health.”

So, between the lines, we can see that the US is quite concerned about President Granger and his PNC-led Government showing ABOSLUTELY NO “respect for the principles and integrity of democratic governance and institutions” since they came into office in 2015. After giving them their “seal of approval” then for their “multiracial” commitment, the US had to’ve been disappointed by the racially skewed employment practices; their militarisation of Government institutions; the gross disrespect for the judiciary (“perceptions” not definitive “judgements”!!); unilateral appointment of the GECOM Chair (against the Carter Center inspired Art 106 (6)); and for the coup d’ grace – refusal to respect the Legislative-approved NCM!!

We all understand that, in international relations, foreign governments – even lone superpowers standing – have to be diplomatic in their reprimand of governments straying from the democratic path.

But the steel fist will come out when their strategic interests are threatened!!

…on remembering Burnham

Robert Corbin uncharacteristically came out from the shadows -- where he was shrouded since passing the PNC leadership baton to David Granger – to extol the virtues of their founder leader Forbes Burnham. Some had wondered why Granger? But after Granger admitted he’d been a faithful member of the PNC ever since he joined the army in 1965 – that cleared up matters. The then youthful Corbin – who’d earned his spurs in the Wismar outrages – had to have encountered Granger since that time, because the YSM members had to get army training, in addition to G-3 rifles!!

Now back to Burnham’s “virtues”. Your Eyewitness wouldn’t doubt that Burnham might’ve had excellent hopes for Guyana. But it is truly said: “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”!! So when PNC types like Corbin and Granger mention his “accomplishments”, shouldn’t they also mention the denouement of the hell into which he plunged all Guyana? Including his partisans??

But the more intriguing question is: why Corbin’s emergence? Could it be he’s tossing his hat into the ring if there’s need for a new PNC candidate?

After all, he’s younger than Granger!!

…on GECOM’s PNC partisanship

Newly minted AA, Vincent Alexander, candidly explained GECOM’s 4-3 vote: “[Now] people are looking after interest. There’s no principle involved here...It’s what suits your purpose…”

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

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SUnDAY, february 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 5 REO has no respect for Regional Chairman – Govt Councillor

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he Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Ovid Morrison, has no respect for Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal. This comment was made by one of the coalition Councillors after the Regional Democratic Council meeting was again abruptly ended as a result of disruptions from the Coalition Councillors, who told the Chairman that the REO will continue to do what he wants.

The Regional Executive Officer, who is the Clerk of the Council, has refused to provide the chairman with information on the region’s financial affairs, and has proceeded to spend the region’s finances without discussion or approval. One such instance was the establishment of a model farm by the REO which was not budgeted for and which does not have the approval of the RDC. Morrison, who has also been accused of assaulting one of the NDC’s

Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal

Vice Chairmen, is the sole person who decides how the region’s finances are spent.

According to Vice Chairman Rion Pieters, only certain communities are benefiting from the resources available to the region.

“The people of this region want to know why excavation works are being carried out in specific communities, and there are other communities across this region which are neglected.

Neglected so much that the

Ramjattan admits constitutional... continued from page 3

Staying true to the discussion, both panelists – Ramjattan and Ram – admitted that Guyana will enter into a constitutional crisis come March 19 and the constitutionally mandated Regional and General Elections are not held.

“Well then you will certainly have what is internationally regarded as a constitutional crisis and I must admit that for the purposes of this dialogue that we are going to presume that the 90 days has passed and we still do not have the two-third majority in Parliament, we are going to enter some uncharted waters,” Ramjattan admitted.

He explained that it is important to understand, notwithstanding the looming constitutional crisis, the Government as well as political parties are within their rights to utilise the courts for

better explanation. The Vice President went on to state that GECOM is a constitutional body just as a High Court Judge and if they indicate that they are not ready for then, the crisis could only be solved by dialogue with the Government and Opposition.

However, Ram said GECOM is the creature of the Constitution of Guyana and that they can tap into the Contingency Fund for the hosting of elections.

“We already have a crisis because the Government is saying that we are not going to play by the democratic rules of this Constitution and we will decide how to interpret it as and when we want and if it doesn’t please us then we will break it and who does what we want and that is the attitude we are having. It does not auger well,” Ram indicated.

people of Foulis, after realising that their community is being neglected, opted to pay for services which other communities are enjoying free of cost,” Pieters related.

Noting that it is the REO who has control of the region’s excavators, Pieters questioned why some communities are being neglected.

However, the answer could be found in what Coalition Councillor Dillon Crawford told the RDC about the REO. “It is a lucky thing that we have a very strong Regional Executive Officer who does not care a damn what you do or what your views are,” Crawford told the Regional Chairman.

The Vice Chairman highlighted that, for the previous 12 meetings, the Coalition Councillors have been disrupting the RDC. Last Thursday’s meeting was chaotic as Coalition Councillors continuously interrupted Ramphal in his attempts to address the

REO Ovid Morrison

RDC. Councillor Abel Seetaram and Crawford repeatedly refused to take their seats when asked to do so. In fact, Crawford claimed that the Standing Order allows him to interrupt and stop the Chairman from speaking if he wanted to make a point.

The meeting was eventually adjourned by the Chairman since he was unable to address the Council and direct the meeting.

Pieters, addressing reporters after the meeting

ended, said all efforts being made by the Coalition to have the RDC meetings adjourned are part of a well-orchestrated strategy.

He added that the Clerk of Council, in his capacity as REO, is answerable to the council; and “if he allows the successful holding of these meetings, questions will be asked and we will demand answers.”

Between January and July 2016, the Coalition Councillors refused to sit at the meetings, demanding an apology from the Chairman for not attending a function in the region at which President David Granger was the guest of honour. In was not until the President addressed the issue in August 2016, saying that he did not want an apology, that the Coalition counsellors returned to the RDC meetings.

But in October 2016, other issues were brought to the house, and they started the walkout again.

In May 2017, they walked out after the REO

demanded an apology from the Chairman, saying that his credibility was at stake when Ramphal called for an investigation into allegations that two NDC officials had used an NDIA machine to carry out personal work.

In December 2017, both sides had made a resolution to mend their differences and meet in the interest of the people of the region.

However, in February 2018, Morrison led a walk out of Coalition Councillors after he attempted to remove a local journalist from one of the RDC meetings but was unsuccessful because the Chairman did not approve his demands.

“These acts are not done by mistake, but they are deliberately done to prevent the people of Region Five from being made aware and (brought) up-todate of what is taking place as it relates to most of what is being done across Region Five,” the Vice Chairman said.

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SUnDAY, february 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 2 flag-raising ceremony

Dead silence as Minister calls on residents to applaud Govt’s performance

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inister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry Annette Ferguson was left in an awkward position on Friday night when she called on the crowd to applause as she asked residents of Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) to give the coalition Government a second chance, which was met by dead silence from those gathered.

Region Two held its annual flag-raising ceremony at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.

The programme had a fixture of cultural items including patriotic songs, dances and poems reflecting Guyana’s rich heritage but the event took a political turn when Minister Ferguson, in delivering the feature address, gave an election campaign speech. She accused the People’s Progressive Party of destroying Guyana and called out to residents of Region Two to support the coalition Government (APNU/ AFC). However, things got even more awkward as the Minister called out to res-

idents to give the coalition a second chance to continue what she described as “good work”, but as she asked the crowd to cheer for the Government’s “achievements”, there was dead silence. As such, she persisted for an applause and a few persons clapped as the moment became uncomfortable as she continued to plea for support for the Government.

Speaking with this publication, some rice farmers who attended the flag-raising ceremony said that they were very disappointed that the

The Guyana Police Force’s G Division Police Youth Group during the Mashramani 2019 parade in Region Two on Saturday

feature address turned into a political rally. The farmers said that no mention was made about the crippling rice industry in the region nor was there any mention of future plans to address the declining industry.

Meanwhile, at midnight,

the Golden Arrowhead was hoisted by members of the Joint Services. In attendance at the ceremony were Regional Executive Officer, Dennis Jaikarran and Heads of the Joint Services among other regional officials. The Regional Chairman was ab-

sent from the event.

On Saturday morning, to celebrate Guyana’s 49th Republic Anniversary, Essequibians turned out in their numbers to get a glimpse of the region’s float parade.

There were seven floats in three categories - large, medium and small. In the large category, one float participated which was the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

In the medium category, the winner was the Mainstay/Wayaka group while the second place went to the G Division Police Youth Group and third place to the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI). In the small category, the winner was the Regional Health Department and the second prize went to the Education Department. The Anna Regina Town Council also received a prize for participating in this category.

Nursing student charged for cyberbullying

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19-year-old nursing student on Friday appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for the misuse of a telecommunication system after she allegedly bullied a friend by means of a fake account on social media.

It is alleged that Nanshalee Bowen between November 14, 2018, and December 14, 2018, in Georgetown, created a fake Facebook profile and sent

threatening messages to Omeika Frank.

In court on Friday, the teen of Middle Walk, Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) denied the charge.

According to the police report, both the defendant and the victim are friends and students at the Guyana School of Nursing.

It was further noted that in November of 2018, Frank received a threatening message from a Facebook account named “Perfectly Bhad”.

A fearful Frank made a report to the Criminal Investigations Department where an analysis was done after which detectives discovered the said fake account in Bowen’s phone.

Nevertheless, Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh made no objections to bail but asked that conditions are applied.

The teen was released on $20,000 bail. The case will continue on February 27, 2019.

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SUnDAY, february 24, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Mashramani 2019 showcases cultural diversity

By Rupa Seenaraine

Being Guyanese: unity with many roots

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n “Gardening in the Tropics”, the mixed heritage Jamaican poet Olive Senior uses the activity of “gardening” as an extended trope to analyse the brutal colonisation of the Caribbean by the Europeans, and their influence in the formation of our identity. Gardening, after all, does involve “rooting out”, discarding” “cultivating”, “nurturing”, “grafting”, “hybridity”, and so many activities which are also at work in cultures and relationships in the construction of identities. All of us have been -- and continue to be -“cultivated”, whether we like it or not.

Even when we were uprooted from homelands in Asia, Africa and Europe, we were all already “hybrids” that had been variously constituted. The North Indians of the Bhojpuri belt, for instance, were the consequences of continuous invasions for thousands of years, of which the Moghul invasion and its Islamic world view was only the most extensive. The music and Ravi Dev the religions of the people were dramatically “cross fertilised”. The British presence in the century before the end of Indentureship had already begun to have its impact, not only for the famines that made millions hungry and homeless and willing to seek their fortunes across the “Kala Pani”, but shaping their worldviews on the relationship between race/colour and power.

In the Caribbean, the Indian, Portuguese and Chinese indentureds would encounter the Africans, who had been subjected to hundreds of years of European imposition of culture and religion – forcibly and not so forcibly. While, against all odds, the Africans retained elements of their cultures in Africa, --they were drawn from all across West Africa – it was into their “creolised” Afro-European culture that the new arrivals would be exposed in the Caribbean.

The Africans were expected to inculcate “English culture”, even though their humanity was denied and by definition they could never be “English”. This was interesting, since most of the overseers they interacted with were Irish and Scottish.

The indentured servants inevitably imbibed much of their new culture from the African creoles, who preceded them in the plantation, and who were expected to “season” them into the new dispensation. We all adopted the stereotypes of the Europeans, who judged us on our utility to serve their ends on the plantations as the criteria to evaluate our self and group worth. We were lazy/hardworking; wasteful/ thrifty; licentious/pagan/saved; civilised/savage etc; and based on these evaluations, contested to hierarchically rank ourselves, but with the Europeans always on top.

Out of this experience with independence, we were yet told we were “One people; One Nation; One Destiny”.

However, in Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean, people of African origin sought to counter the European hegemonic cultural imposition with the ideologies of “Black Power”, “Negritude” and “Pan Africanism”, all of which privileged the African culture as the “root” of the tree of “national culture”.

But reviewing the broad sweep of Caribbean history, Senior sought to make the point that there is no “pure” origins and no “one root” that we can discover on which to construct our Caribbean identity. She borrowed from the Martiniquean Edouard Glissant the metaphor of the “rhizome” – like the ginger plant, for instance - with its multiplicity of roots that privilege no one root for Caribbean identity. He was consciously reacting against the construct of “negritude” and of “hybridity” that had been proposed to describe French Antillean identity. The first excluded all others, such as people of Indian origin and the French, and the latter that still privileged the “African root”.

Glissant himself had adapted the image from the French philosophers Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, who introduced the rhizome as a metaphor for “multiplicity” rather than a “multiple”. In a more abstract plane than Glissant and Senior, Deleuze and Guattari emphasised “there are no points or positions in a rhizome, such as those found in a structure, tree, or root. There are only lines.” They also emphasised that we need to stop focusing on sameness, since what holds all existence together is difference, not resemblance.

Yesterday, we commemorated Republic Day, and aspired to a necessary “unity” for our progress. But while we need to cultivate a “Guyanese” identity, we should recall the imagery of the rhizome, with its multiple roots. We need to uproot the presumed inevitable binary of “African” versus “Indian, to nurture a more fluid, permeable conception of self in which “Guyanese” of all origins can become a rhizomatic edifice rather than hierarchical strata of dominator and dominated.

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parkles, feathers and fantasy of colours personified Guyana’s 2019 annual Mashramani costume parade throughout Georgetown, in commemoration of the nation’s 49th Republic Day celebrations.

Notwithstanding a late start during the morning hours which delayed some of the floats, spectators trick-

revellers dressed as medical practitioners to promote the theme “Accessing Healthcare for All”. The band featured a live performance by the recently crowned Soca Monarch, Brandon Harding, who stole the crowd with some of his old and new hits.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) were decked out in the signature red, black and yel-

Revellers representing the Education Ministry as they coordinated their dance moves

49th republic anniversary.

Our country is celebrating under some difficult circumstances where we have issues of upholding the con-

A family sits on the roadway as they patiently wait to view the parade

led in by the thousands during the midday period, as they embraced blaring soca renditions, energetic revellers and intricately decorated costumes.

As customary, the traditions continued with whimsical masquerade dancers and steel pan, which defines the unique Guyanese culture. Moreover, it is one which the young and old look forward to during this season.

In neat rows, the roisterers dusted their bodies and hair with glitter as they amused the crowd with choreographed dances, also in a bid to wow the judges and steal the winning prizes.

Some of the criteria judged included safety, uniformity, display, clarity, craftsmanship and originality.

Designers stood proudly in front of the floats, ready to answer any questions about the pieces and justifying why it was the best among the others.

The procession emerged from the beginning of Carifesta Avenue, where Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton led the parade with his band, designed by Neilson Nurse and consisting of over 300 persons. Each was bedecked with a different colour of the Golden Arrowhead – our national flag – to endorse Guyana’s diversity.

Speaking briefly with this publication, Norton encouraged all to get on board with the activities and posited that the event was going as planned.

Dressed in an eye-catching shimmery headdress, the Minister said, “Everything is going fine. It’s going good and I’m enjoying myself. I want everybody to come out and enjoy themselves too.”

The Public Health Ministry’s convoy followed and showcased a heart in their centrepiece float with

low costumes and led by Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali; Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo; Member of Parliament Priya Manickchand and former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds.

The presidential candidate expressed, “It’s an excellent day celebrating our

ple that we believe in national unity and respect our national events.”

Adding to that, Manickchand stated, “It is

“It’s an excellent day celebrating our 49th Republic anniversary. Our country is celebrating under some difficult circumstances where we have issues of upholding the Constitution so while we’re celebrating, we have to reflect on our challenges also.”

– PPP presidential candidate stitution so while we’re celebrating, we have to reflect on our challenges also.”

He added, “This is a national event. It’s an event that is for all Guyanese and we’re out here to demonstrate to the Guyanese peo-

our Mashramani and it is something to celebrate nationally. I’m happy to be here on the road and people are enjoying it.” continued on page 16

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SUnDAY, february 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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SUnDAY, february 24, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Kitty man jailed for robbery World Wildlife Day 2019 celebrated

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hief Magistrate Ann McLennan jailed a 21-year-old Kitty, Georgetown, resident who admitted that he robbed a female of her cellular phone and cash.

Michael English appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he faced a charge which stated that on February 21, 2019, at Water Street, Georgetown, in the company of another, he robbed Nasha Kumar of $171,000

along with an iPhone valued $100,000.

After the charge was read to him, English admitted to the offence. In a plea of mitigation, he told the Magistrate that he committed the act out of desperation since he has debts and a newborn baby to provide for.

“I owe a man some money, so I decided to snatch the bag and run away, and I get a child that born the other day,” he stated.

Police Prosecutor, David Goodman informed the court that the Virtual Complainant was heading to the Stabroek Market when English approached her and snatched her purse. The VC raised an alarm after which English was apprehended by the Police officer.

The stolen articles were recovered from his possession. As such, the Magistrate jailed English for nine months.

under the theme ‘Life under water: for people and Planet’

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hen it comes to our oceans, there is so much that still needs to be discovered. It is surprising that humans know more about space exploration than about our oceans. For the first time, World Wildlife Day is celebrated under the theme “Life underwater: for people and planet.” World Wildlife Day is a day dedicated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to celebrate and educate the world about its diversity of wild plants and animals. The day marks the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) signed on March 3, 1973. This year, the CITES Secretariat has aligned the global observance with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, “Life below water.”

Life below water…

Presently, there are 200,000 species of marine wildlife that have been identified. However, this number comes from the 20 per cent of our oceans that have been explored. In totality, the number of marine species can be estimated to be in the millions.

The Earth’s oceans cannot be celebrated enough, the oceans are a carbon sink in our fight against climate change. In addition, our waterways provide resources for more than three (3) billion people who depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. Millions of people around the world depend on these wild floras and faunas for both food and income. As a matter of fact, ‘life underwater’ contributes to 5 per cent of global GDP through activities like tourism, agriculture and fisheries, and arts and craft. Economics aside, the ecological services they provide are literally saving lives. Cancer, osteoporosis, kidney diseases, Alzheimer’s and numerous other diseases are treated using medicines that are produced from marine wildlife.

Threats to Marine Wildlife

Unfortunately, even though they sustain many of our livelihoods, marine wildlife species are under significant pressure due to developmental activities. The habitats of these wild plants and animals are continuously being destroyed. For instance, due to climate change, marine conditions, such as ideal temperature and carbon levels necessary to sustain life under water, have been altered, leading to habitat loss and the endangerment and even extinction of a large number of marine wildlife species.

The organisms themselves are being overexploited and overfished to satisfy the demands of consumers. The consequences of these actions are already evident in different parts of the world, and may become irreversible if actions are not taken to protect and manage the use of all marine organisms.

Plastic Pollution

The realities of our ocean pollution are becoming more apparent. It is estimated that each year, 18 billion pounds of plastic waste enter the world’s oceans from coastal regions.

Marine animals continue to suffer; we are sure by now you have seen the graphic videos of coral reefs being smothered in bags, turtles gagging on straws, whales and seabirds starving because their bellies are so jammed with bits of plastic that there is no room for real food.

Marine Wildlife Conservation and Management in Guyana

Guyana has a rich biodiversity of marine wildlife species, including different species of whales, turtles, dolphins and an estimated 8000-plant species. However, we are no stranger to the activities that threaten these organisms. Organisations such as Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, Protected Areas Commission, World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society and Iwokrama Centre for Rainforest Conservation have been working towards the conservation and sustainable management of this wildlife.

What can you do for World Wildlife Day 2019?

The Environmental Protection Agency will be partnering with the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission to host a Coastal Clean-up activity to celebrate World Wildlife Day on March 3rd, 2019. This clean-up will take place from 06:00h to 09:00h. Coastal Clean-up goes a long way to bring awareness of ocean pollution. We encourage you to become involved in organisations and clubs that participate in conservation work, speak out against activities that threaten wildlife; and, of course, live sustainable lifestyles that would reduce your environmental impacts.

You can make contact with 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 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GPHC paediatric team trip

Public Health Minister unaware of overseas retreat …says probe into deaths of 3 children complete

Foreign currency M shortage (part 2)

– Guyana heading into an economic crisis

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n last week’s edition of this column, the author outlined the contextual framework concerning the issue of yet another foreign currency shortage scenario. In today’s edition, the continuation of the analyses of the data extrapolated (which was presented last week) from the Bank of Guyana’s statistical abstract is presented.

To this end, the numbers revealed that the Bank of Guyana intervened in the foreign exchange market for the years 2013 to 2018. The negative numbers of US$34 million in 2013 and US$26.6 million in 2016 show that, for all those years (2013-2016), the Central Bank has always been selling more foreign currencies to the commercial banks. In other words, the Central Bank has always maintained a net sales position of foreign currency with the commercial banks – who are the dominant players in the FX market; meaning, it has always been supplying FX to the commercial banks.

However, notably in 2017, this trend has reversed; that is, from a net sales position to commercial banks to a net purchase position from the commercial banks. In 2017, the Bank of Guyana bought US$37.6 million, and in 2018 it bought a whopping US$178.2 million from the commercial banks; thus giving rise to a total purchase of US$215.8 million from the private FX market in just two years – something that has never happened over the last ten years or so.

Now, when the central bank of a country has to buy FX from the commercial banks to this extent, this in itself is very worrying, and it means that there is a real shortage, owing to several factors which will be discussed. As was highlighted last week, since the closure of a number of sugar estates, Guyana has lost approximately 70 percent of incoming foreign exchange from sugar alone; while, in 2018, gold, which is currently the biggest foreign exchange earner, underperformed by US$20 million compared to the corresponding periods of 2017 and 2016.

Turning now to the net foreign assets position of the banking system for the year 2018, Bank of Guyana statistics revealed that its international foreign reserves reached a record low of US$452.6 million in September 2018, which is US$47.4 million below its target of US$500 million. Readers might recall that, in a previous column, the author explained the benchmark for this target, which is usually tied to the minimum import cover of 3 months. Therefore, from looking at Guyana’s annual import bill, three months of import cover is equivalent to about US$500 million. Figures for the commercial banks also showed that in January 2018, commercial banks’ net foreign assets stood at US$307.5 million, which depleted to US$281.3 million by the end of 2018, or by US$26.2 million.

These developments are an exact replica of a situation that occurred in Barbados last year. Barbados was about to experience a foreign currency crisis in 2018 wherein the Central Bank of Barbados’ foreign reserves went below its three months’ import cover target, and as a result, the Bank was forced to strike a deal with the commercial banks to buy up their foreign currency in order to maintain its minimum foreign reserves. Subsequently, before this situation erupted out of control, the Barbados Government quickly engaged the International Monetary Fund, which then came in to rescue the country by instituting a number of structural reform programmes aimed at achieving that country’s economic recovery. Unfortunately, there is at least one financial institution in Guyana with exposure in the Barbados Government’s debt instruments – which means that, with the IMF’s economic reform programme, that local institution may incur some massive losses in those investments.

To put things into perspective within the Guyana context against the backdrop of the current political dynamics of a looming constitutional crisis, a foreign currency crisis ultimately leads to an economic crisis. With the aforementioned factors leading to this outcome, it is no longer just a matter of an artificial foreign currency shortage being created, as was contended in previous articles. There is now a real situation of rapidly depleting foreign reserves, coupled with an increasing number of foreign companies in Guyana in the oil & gas related sectors.

This effectively means that with this growing number of foreign companies operating here, this would inevitably add pressure or compound the issue wherein there is, and will be, a growing demand for foreign exchange to repatriate profits out of Guyana to parent companies. As such, Guyana’s economic outlook in the short to medium term – enveloped in a great degree of uncertainty and/or volatilities -- is therefore worrying (For comments, questions and responses on articles featured in this column, readers can reach the author at jbinsights@outlook.com).

inister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings on Saturday told Guyana Times that she is unaware of the overseas retreat being planned by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for its paediatric team.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Brigadier (Ret’d) George Lewis, when contacted for clarification said he wishes not to comment on the matter.

Nonetheless, Dr Cummings said she feels the retreat may be beneficial to the staffers. Asked if she believes that the retreat is timely, in light of the recent deaths within the department, she said, “retreats are always good. It’s a way to look back at what has happened, where you are now and where you are going.

If persons are going I would suspect that assistance will be put in place to manage and to (ensure) efficiency”.

Questioned on the progress of the investigations into the deaths of the three children –Sharezer Mendonca, Roshani Seegobin and

Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings

Curwayne Edwards – who died at the institution following pre-chemotherapy treatment, the Minister said that the probe has concluded and she is awaiting the final report, which will soon be made public.

Efforts made to contact the senior Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, for a comment on the overseas retreat proved futile.

The retreat for the hospital’s paediatric team comes at a time when much tension is still in the air, as a result of the suspicious deaths of six-

year-old Sharezer Mendonca, three-year-old Roshani Seegobin and Curwayne Edwards.

The planned trip was confirmed to this publication on Friday by a doctor.

According to the doctor, this is not the first time that the team is going on one of these trips, adding that they usually have such activities more than twice a year.

This newspaper was told that the team is expected to leave Guyana on March 2, 2019, to facilitate their “weekend retreat” in neighbouring Suriname.

A letter addressed to Dr Rambarran which was seen by this publication states that that the Paediatric Surgery Department has given up its

operating day on Monday, March 4, 2019, to the transplant team. This, according to the letter, is to facilitate the department’s retreat, beginning on March 2 and ending on March 4.

“We are planning on going to Suriname. In preparation, permission was sought and obtained from DMPS (Director of Medical and Professional Services) and PSM (Department of Public Service) for the relevant team members to be allowed to make the trip,” the letter read.

It was explained that health practitioners on the trip would be funding themselves, while the department will be monitored by other staffers during their trip.

NIS blames computerised system for delay in claims processing …urges employers to sync records with entity employer has not paid or has not been paying NIS contributions which also leads to a delay in the process. She

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NIS PRO Dianne Lewis-Baxter

ublic Relations Officer (PRO) of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Dianne LewisBaxter, has said the processing of reimbursements and other financial claims by the entity may take longer than usual because of the “computerised system” they use.

Speaking with <<<<<Guyana Times>>>>> after several complains by members of the public over the slothfulness of the entity in processing claims, the PRO said there are some challenges with the data entry.

“We are a computerised system and so the way we used to operate in the past, the computers would not permit us to operate that way… and so what has happened is my employer may have very well paid my contributions but may have paid it with an error and so if it has an error, the computer picks it up, it will not post my contributions to my records,” she explained.

Lewis-Baxter said there may also be cases where the

reminded that the non-payment of taxes to the NIS by employers is unlawful.

Other reasons for de-

layed claims would include incorrectly spelt names or even addresses, the PRO added. turn to page 17

16 news

SUnDAY, february 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Tourism highlighted during Mash parade

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his year’s Mashramani parade attracted Guyanese and foreigners alike who were lucky to witness this event which reflects the country’s patriotism and rich and diverse culture.

With favourable sunny weather and a radiant crowd of hospitable Guyanese, international visitors found the occasion extremely attractive. These included persons from Cuba, Brazil and French Guiana and further north from the United States of America and Canada.

Enjoying a savouring

Guyanese brew, Julio from Cuba was the picture of satisfaction. An overwhelmed Julio said, “I am feeling great.

I am enjoying it with my people – mash is top of the line, it is the best,” he is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying. He shared that this is his second time in experiencing Mashramani in Guyana.

Standing a little further down the way from Julio was French-citizen Bastian and his friend who were immersed in the day’s activities.

Bastian who currently lives in

French Guiana was witnessing the annual Costume and Float parade for the first time.

When asked of his opinion on the event, he stated, “It is very colourful compared to the French Guiana carnival… it is really great and a wonderful experience.”

Also present at the parade was Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Brian Mullis and his family. Mullis remarked that he enjoyed the demonstration of national pride evident in all the costumes and the floats and the general vibe of “togetherness.”

Mashramani 2019 showcases...

Meanwhile, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) was well-represented as they sought the opportunity to magnify Guyana’s natural trademark with the banner “Continue to shine with a green economy in mind”.

Their float featured the globe with doves to symbolize world peace and the aspects of the Caribbean Community to demonstrate Guyana’s relationship with other nations on the international stage.

One of the revellers, Caprice explained, “Mash is about celebration after hard work and this is so fun. I’m having the best time in my entire life.”

The Chinese Association of Guyana introduced aspects of their culture, dressed as dragons and playing a selection of cultural music.

Spectators lined the roadway as they awaited the entrance of each band, one after the next that journeyed along the route. Some children even grew impatient as they waited during the intervals.

This year, there was also a sprinkle of tourists who were absorbing the vibes of this unified festival.

“It was really, really good.

I liked the costumes. I’m out here every year and I don’t ever miss Mash,” said Lisa.

Meanwhile, Beveny stood at the beginning of Vlissengen Road and shaded her body with a large umbrella, which allowed her to enjoy the march. For her, this celebration means “culture and unity”.

“Wonderful! It’s a bit slow but it will improve later on. People are coming out.

from page 11

My favourite so far has to be the Social Cohesion Ministry one. Mash means everything, the culture and unity, everything,” she said The bands proceeded along Vlissengen road where the number of persons intensified and then headed for D’Uurban Park for the first session of the annual event. By then, the revellers were drenched as they prepared to be greeted once more by another mob of onlookers.

The 2019 celebrations were welcomed under the theme “Celebrating 49 with victory in mind; rediscovering El Dorado”.

Guyana became a Republic on February 23, 1970, from which the Amerindian word ‘Mashramani’ was birthed, meaning “celebration after a hard and cooperative work”.

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SUnDAY, february 24, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

41 Lindeners graduate from First UG student robbed near Stabroek Market Lady’s ICT initiative

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orty-one youths from Linden on Friday graduated from the Information Communication Technology (ICT) training programme, facilitated by the Office of First Lady, Sandra Granger, in collaboration with the Social Protection Ministry and the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

At the ceremony, which was hosted at the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), the graduates were awarded certificates of completion, while some were awarded trophies for their outstanding performances in various categories.

Daicia Caesar was the Valedictorian, while Odeli Paul was the second Best Graduating Student and Edson Emanuel, Most Improved Student. In her remarks to the graduates, the First Lady pointed to the evolution of Information Technology (IT), noting that every day it is changing and developing.

She also spoke about the opportunities, through the job training, which are available in the area of Information Technology.

The First Lady also alluded to the importance of ‘Soft Skills’ training which the graduates were exposed to and how it can

First Lady Sandra Granger presents the valedictorian trophy to Daicia Caesar at the graduation ceremony

benefit them in the world of work and the development of their own lives.

She also pointed out that many graduates of the programme, which is offered countrywide, went on to become employed at private enterprises as well as the National Data Management Authority.

She noted too that some have gone as far as setting up their own businesses.

“Always open yourselves to learning. Always open yourselves to experiences... just think of the possibilities as you go through life... and don’t be afraid. Girls, don’t be confined by social perception that you mustn’t speak up when you have a question or you’re aware

of something. You have to learn to promote yourselves in reality...”, she noted.

In his remarks and overview, Chief Facilitator of the programme Fitzroy Younge noted that the initiative, which ran for four weeks, was a success and saw maximum attendance.

Senior Administrator of the National Data Management Committee, Marlon Pearson, who was the guest speaker at the event noted that it was a joy witnessing such a pleasant evolution. He said the programme is geared to instil in participants, the ability to become independent thinkers, great listeners and to be able to develop problem-solving skills.

University of Guyana (UG) student was robbed of his belongings after being attacked by two suspects. He fainted as a result of the injuries sustained.

Chanderpaul Jaimangal recalled that he was heading to the Route 32 bus park, Georgetown, at about 20:15h on Friday evening and while near the Demico building, one of the men pounced on him from behind and choked him. He stated that another individual approached and grabbed his phone and other belongings.

The traumatised student said he called out for help before fainting. After some time, he regained consciousness. He was told by a woman to make a report at the

Police outpost and another public-spirited person gave him money to get home. He said while at the outpost, the officer informed him that a report would have to be made at the Brickdam Police Station. Some information and contact details were recorded and the police advised him to go home. In a distraught state, Jaimangal said he walked back alone to the bus park and went home.

The following day, he returned to the police outpost with family members and was reportedly told that nothing could be done without a proper description.

The victim explained that he returned to the area where he was robbed and was later told by the super-

visor of a business in the vicinity that all footage from the night before was deleted. He then sought the assistance of the Divisional Commander, Marlon Chapman, who transferred the matter to a senior official from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). A formal statement was then taken and officers contacted the said business and were informed that their cameras are not operational.

Some of the items which were stolen included his phone, Identification (ID) card, bank card, his UG identification badge, flash drives, medical certificate, books, keys, a quantity of money and some other documents.

NIS blames computerised...

She noted that employers are generally tasked with updating the NIS on its employee’s data. It is only, however when a contributor makes a query that the required information reaches the agency.

“The only time sometimes that we are able to capture them apart from getting back to the employer to say hey there’s a query we want this person to come in, is actually until they make a claim,” she clarified.

The PRO added that a

mere address mistake can slow down the process and urged persons who have moved to go into their office to have the changes made to their records.

Another bump in the process may be if an employee gets married or has a name change and did not notify the NIS. “Contributions have been paid in the past under an employee’s maiden name, although the name would have been changed. In the same way, contributions

from page 15

have been made under employees’ martial name, without the Scheme being informed.”

According to the PRO, the NIS has been pushing for the employers’ data to be synced to the NIS records so as to avoid such discrepancies.

Persons have complained in the past and have vented their frustration on social media over the lengthy process that is usually associated with making a financial claim at the NIS.

18 news

SUnDAY, february 24, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

2 killed as Maduro sends troops to block Venezuela aid convoys

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t least two people were killed, and trucks loaded with foreign aid were set ablaze after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro deployed troops and armored vehicles to turn back humanitarian assistance at border crossings with Colombia and Brazil.

Maduro said he was breaking diplomatic relations with Colombia and ordered its diplomatic staff to leave Venezuela within 24 hours because of its government’s assistance to opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Guaido, who most Western nations recognize as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, gave a personal send-off on Saturday to a convoy carrying U.S. aid departing from the Colombian city of Cucuta.

Venezuelans confront national Policemen demanding them to let the humanitarian aid in, at the Simon Bolivar Bridge, in Cucuta, Colombia

Opposition supporters unload humanitarian aid from a truck that was set on fire after clashes with the Venezuelan security forces at Francisco de Paula Santander bridge on the border line between Colombia and Venezuela (Reuters/Maco Bello)

The opposition says the foreign humanitarian assistance is desperately needed to tackle widespread food and medicine shortages in Venezuela.

Maduro said he was

er Juan Guaido.

Guaido, who most Western nations recognize as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, gave a personal send-off on Saturday to a convoy carrying U.S. aid departing from the Colombian city of Cucuta.

The opposition says the foreign humanitarian assistance is desperately needed to tackle widespread food and medicine shortages in Venezuela.

In the Venezuelan border towns of San Antonio and Urena, troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets at opposition supporters, including lawmakers, walking toward the frontier waving Venezuelan flags and chanting “freedom.”

People in Urena barricaded streets with burning tires, set a bus alight and hurled stones at troops to demand that Maduro allow aid into a country ravaged by an economic meltdown that has halved the size of the economy in five years.

“They started shooting at close range as if we were criminals,” said shopkeeper Vladimir Gomez, 27, wearing a white shirt stained with blood. “I couldn’t avoid the (rubber) bullets and they hit me in the face and my back.

We have to fight.”

Colombia’s government had said that aid trucks would be unloaded at the border and their cargo transported by “human chains” that formed on the road that leads

breaking diplomatic relations with Colombia and ordered its diplomatic staff to leave Venezuela within 24 hours because of its government’s assistance to opposition lead-

toward Venezuela.

However, Venezuelan security forces halted the convoys with a barrage of teargas. At the crossing by Urena, two trucks caught fire, sending plumes of dark smoke into the air, while crowds started removing boxes of supplies, a Reuters witness said.

In the southern town of Santa Elena de Uairen, near the border with Brazil, at least two people were killed in clashes with security forces, according to a doctor at the hospital where they were treated. On Friday, a married couple in a nearby indigenous community were shot dead by security forces.

Rights group Penal Forum said it had recorded 29 injuries and two deaths across Venezuela in clashes with troops, though Reuters could not verify this.

“I’m a homemaker and I’m here fighting for my family, for my children and parents, resisting the military’s tear gas and soldiers on motorbikes,” said Sobeida Monsalve, 42, in Urena.

‘The biggest battle’ Guaido had appealed to Venezuela’s armed forces to stand to one side and allow aid in, promising amnesty to all officers who disavowed Maduro. Several soldiers, whose families suffer from the same shortages as other Venezuelans, took up his offer.

Twenty-three members

of the security forces defected on Saturday, including 18 members of the National Guard and two police officers, Colombia’s migration authority said.

A social media video showed troops who abandoned their post driving armored vehicles across a bridge linking Venezuela and Colombia, knocking over metal barricades, and then jumping out of the vehicles and running to the Colombian side.

“What we did today, we did for our families, for the Venezuelan people,” said one of the defectors in a video televised by a Colombian news program, which did not identify them. “We are not terrorists.”

Venezuela’s ruling Socialist Party calls Guaido’s aid effort a veiled invasion backed by Washington and insists that the United States should instead help Venezuela by lifting crippling financial and oil sector sanctions.

Maduro blames Venezuela’s dire situation on US sanctions that have blocked funds and hobbled the OPEC member’s vital oil industry.

On Saturday, Maduro turned his ire on Colombia and said President Ivan Duque’s government was allowing its territory to be used for “attacks against Venezuela.” (Reuters)

sunDAY, february 24, 2019

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20 Boodie, Yadram, Imlach, Narine highlight first round of Amerith Rocky Rai Memorial T20 Cricket T sunDAY, february 24, 2019

he action continued in the Amerith Rocky Rai Memorial T20 Cricket on the West Coast of Demerara. It saw Kevon Boodie, Bashkar Yadram, Tavin Imlach and Ganesh Narine highlighting the first round of play in the tournament.

The first match commenced at the MetenMeer-Zorg West Ground, and Leguan beat Omesh XI by 135 runs. Batting first, Leguan scored 284 - 5 from the 20 overs. Openers, national player Kevon Boodie and Bashkar Yadram, put on a 267 opening stand. Boodie scored 149 runs, which included 14 fours and 14 sixes; while Yadram scored 118 runs, with 9 fours and 11 sixes. Bowling for Omesh XI, Ganesh Narine grabbed a helmet trick â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 for 37 from his four overs.

In reply, Omesh XI were bowled out for 148 runs in 16.3 overs, with Mark Gonsalves top scoring with 36 runs, which included 4 fours and 1 six; R. Adams scored 35 runs, and Safraz Karim made 25 runs. Bowling for Leguan, Jason Heyliger took 3- 25, Yadram 3-15 and Raydon Austin 2- 28.

The other match at Meten-Meer-Zorg

saw Meten-Meer-Zorg Future Youths crushing Dynasty by 105 runs. Batting first, Meten-Meer-Zorg Future Youths scored 205 for 5 from the 20 overs. National youth keeper Tavin Imlach top scored with 108 runs not out, and was supported by Sheldon Alexander with 52 runs and Jermain Maxwellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 21 runs. Bowling for Dynasty, Devindra Ramdihol took 2-24 and Erick Sukrah 2-49.

Dynasty were bowled out for 96 runs.

Yougesh Singh top scored with 26 runs.

Bowling for Meten-Meer-Zorg Future Youths, Maxwell returned with the ball to grab 3-31, and Alexander supported with 2-12 for the winners.

At Zeeburg Sports Ground, Zeeburg beat Meten-Meer-Zorg Cricket Club by 135 runs.

Batting first, Zeeburg scored 219 for 4 in 17.5 overs declared. Former national youth Player Kemol Savory top scored with 57 runs not out, Malcolm Hubbard scored 47 runs, Balbinder Shivpersaud 29 runs, and Ronald Renee 24 runs, all contributing with the bat.

In reply Meten-Meer-Zorg Cricket Club

guyanatimesGY.com

could only best bowlers with reach 84 runs, the ball. as Rabindra In reply, Dasrat top the host disscored with 32 missed Rising runs. Bowling Star B for 46 for Zeeburg, runs. Vishal A n d r e Persaud, batSeepersaud ting at number was very eco8, top scored nomical, rewith 18 runs, as turning figures no other batsman of 3-16, with reached double figsupport from ures. The wickets Mark Jeffers of were shared be2-12. tween Narendra At Canal Persaud 2-10, Tavin Imlach scored # 2 Ground, Sidieq Sulaman an unbeaten 108 Rising Stars 3-7, Ghansham A beat Sports Club by 57 M a h a b a l runs. Batting 2-13 and first, Rising Vishwanauth Star scored Jadunauth 2-8.

146 all out in According to 18.3 overs, as Organizer Troy Anand Bharat Khan, the mintop scored ing company is with 33 runs Kevon Boodie scored currently lookand Nickosi a brilliant 149 ing to have simMajor supportilar tournaments ing with 29 runs. There were two wickets played in Berbice each for Daniel Barker (2-29), Teekayam and Georgetown.

George (2-36), Satesh Bisram (2-10) and He also stated Naipul Sundar (2-15). that this presIn reply, Sports Club players were ent tournament bowled out for 87 runs, with Corwin is not being faAustin top scoring with 26 runs and Amir cilitated by the Mustapha 13 runs. Bowling for Rising West Demerara Stara A, Marvin Cheong was the pick of Board, and that the bowlers with 4-3. several matches The other match at the same venare set to continue saw Sports Club beat Rising Stars ue this weekend.

B by 100 runs. Batting first, Canal #2 The tourSC scored 146 runs all out in 19 overs. nament is Taijnauth Jadunauth top scored with 35 sponsored by runs, Vishwanauth Jadunauth scored 30, F.A.B Mining and Anthony Ifill supported with 23 runs.

Company Inc. Bowling for Rising Stars B, Chris Naipaul Bashkar Yadram brought took 2-14 and Vishal Persaud 2-27 as the up a quickfire 118

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Johnson honoured with “Golden Arrow of Achievement”

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uyana Jaguars skipper, the left-handed Windies player Leon Johnson, was awarded with one of the most prestigious awards in Guyanese history. Johnson, 31, has been awarded the Golden Arrow of Achievement from His Excellency President David Granger.

The Golden Arrow of Achievement (A.A.) is the fourth highest award in the Order of Service of Guyana. It may be awarded also to “any citizen of Guyana who has performed an outstanding and specific act of service or achievement of an exceptional nature, or is given for long and dedicated service of a consistently high standard in responsible offices, local government services, social and voluntary services, industry or trade unions, or in any other area of public service.”

It may also be awarded to institutions, organisations, corporations or a group of people under similar conditions to the Cacique’s Crown of Honour.

Johnson not only has given his all towards cricket, but he has also given back to cricket, as in 2018 he hosted a one day clinic.

Johnson was awarded on the 49th Republic Anniversary of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on February 23, 2019 at Durban Park. Johnson has thus far led the Jaguars to four West Indies Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional Four-day Titles in the last four years, and the Jaguars may lift the title once again as they are currently toppers of the points table.

Johnson made his first class debut when he was called up to the national side in the 2003-04 season. With a first class batting average of 32.62, Johnson was by no means an ordinary player. In the 2007-08 domestic season, he scored for Guyana 427 runs from 6 matches at an average of 42.70 in the Carib Beer Series.

He fell six runs short of his maiden first-class century on March 7, 2008 when

“You have made an entire nation proud”

– Minister Harmon tells Lennox “Too Sharp” Allen

sports

21

Leon Johnson has been honoured with the Golden Arrow of Achievement

he edged a wide delivery from off-spinner Shirley Clarke against Combined Campuses and Colleges. The innings was his highest score of the season.

Johnson currently has 5 hundreds and 36 fifties in his career, as he has been performing exceptionally in the ongoing West Indies Regional Four Day Tournament.

The promising signs were enough for the West Indies selectors to choose him for the ODI tri-series in Canada later that year. He impressed with a half-century in his second match. He later earned a call-up to the Test squad to New Zealand.

Messi scores 50th hat-trick in Barcelona win over Sevilla

Lionel Messi has scored 650 goals in his career for Barcelona and Argentina

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From left: Lennox Allen, the World Boxing Association’s Super Middleweight Champion; Minister of State Joseph Harmon; and former Mayor of Linden Carwyn Holland [Ministry of the Presidency photo]

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inister of State, Joseph Harmon, heaped praise on Guyana-born boxer Lennox ‘Too Sharp’ Allen, saying that he has made the entire nation proud with his recent victory in the World Boxing Association’s Super Middleweight Gold Championship.

“Guyana is proud of you and the success you have achieved. You are one of us, and you have placed the Golden Arrowhead on the map, and we therefore say, ‘Congratulations’,” Minister Harmon told Allen when the boxer paid him a courtesy call at the Watooka House last evening.

The Minister was in the Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region 10) to participate in the region’s flag raising ceremony to observe Guyana’s 49th Republic Anniversary.

Allen won the Championship after he floored American Derrick Webster in the third round (for a 10-8 round) of the match and was ahead on the scorecards from that point onwards in the fight, which took place at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota, USA on February 15. At the end of the contest, two judges scored the fight 98-91, while the other had it 97-92, all in favour of Too Sharp Allen, thereby declaring a unanimous decision victory.

Before meeting with the Minister of State, Allen met with Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Patterson- Yearwood, who has allocated him a house lot. He also met with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, and was later the guest of honour at the 49th Republic Flag Raising ceremony at the Durban Park.

Allen’s victory in the match last weekend has made him Guyana’s fifth World Boxing Champion.

ionel Messi scored the 50th hat-trick of his career as Barcelona came from behind to beat Sevilla and go 10 points clear at the top of La Liga.

In a master class from the Catalans’ captain, he first equalised with a brilliant volley from 16 yards. He levelled for a second time with a curling shot from the edge of the box.

Messi then chipped Tomas Vaclik for his third, his 36th goal in 35 games against Sevilla, before setting up Luis Suarez for an injury-time fourth.

It really was a one-man show, with Barcelona not playing particularly well as they extended their lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid, who host Villarreal on Sunday.

Sevilla - who are out of form - took the lead twice in the first half from a Jesus Navas counter-attack strike and Gabriel Mercado’s eight-yard finish.

Messi does it again

At the age of 31, Messi shows no signs of slowing down.

His treble takes him up to 25 La Liga goals for the season, an average of one every 75 minutes. He is nine clear of Suarez in second place, and almost twice the top scorer of any other team, Cristhian Stuani’s 13 for Girona.

In all competitions, he has 33 goals in 32 games - including six in the Champions League as Barcelona chase the treble.

His third goal was his 650th career strike - 585 for Barca and 65 for Argentina. All his goals were excellent; with his first, a left-footed volley from Ivan Rakitic’s cross, a contender for goal of the season.

His second was a fine curling effort with his right foot from Ousmane Dembele’s pass. And with five minutes to go, he clipped the ball over the goalkeeper after Carles Alena’s shot was blocked.

Late on, he played an excellent ball over the top for Suarez to end a five-game goalless run.

22

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, february 24, 2019

Port Mourant Secondary School’s 5th “Fyah Friday” Cricket tournament…

Jonathan Foo’s JC Chandisingh are champions!

Kevlon Anderson was adjudged player of the final

– Anderson, Surujnarine, Chan top performers

By Brandon Corlette

T

he fifth edition of the Port Mourant Secondary School-organised “Fyah Friday” tournament has seen the JC Chandisingh Secondary emerging victors.

This tournament was played at the Albion Sports Complex ground on Friday last, and six schools across Berbice vied for the championship. The six teams had past and present players from the respective schools.

In the first match of the excited day of “Fyah Friday”, Berbice High School (BHS) defeated Corentyne Comprehensive High School (CCHS) clinching a nail-biting win in a super over. Under glorious sunshine in the first match, CCHS captain Shawn Pereira won the toss and opted to bat first.

In CCHS’ allotted 10 overs, they scored 66-5 after some brilliant BHS bowling. Adrain Sukwah topscored with a breezy 13, while former Guyana player Jason Sinclair scored a fighting 11. Bowling for BHS, National U-19 player Alex Algoo grabbed 2-5 with some disciplined bowling. Leg-spinner Kevin Jawahir was impressive with ball in hand, gabbing 2-10, including a magical maiden.

BHS required 67 runs from 60 balls. They lost their top players in Alex Algoo, who perished for a duck, and Academy player Kevin Sinclair, who scored 12 before he Leading run-scorer Kandasammy Surujnarine receiving was undone by Turbo Jagdeo.

BHS then lost Jawahir (04) and his trophy from Mark Lyte Clifton Lindie (09) in quick succesJagdeo had 2-7, while leg-spinner Pereira sion. CCHS were bossing the game, but it had 2-6 for CCHS. The super over saw BHS was the Tucber Park duo of Malcolm Mickle scoring 13 off Pereira’s over. CCHS were and Brandon Corlette that scored vital runs then restricted to 10 off Jawahir’s over as together.

BHS won the super over by two runs.

Mickle looked for the big shots while The excitement continued in match 2 Corlette rotated the strike. The game ended between Port Mourant Secondary School in a tie, which was then decided in the super (PMSS) and JC Chandisingh Secondary. over. Mickle scored an unbeaten 18, while PMSS took first strike and rattled up 108Corlette was run out for an invaluable 15 as 3 in their 10 overs, with Joshua Ramsammy BHS ended on 66-6 in 10 overs. scoring a scorching 55. Sharaz Ramcharran

Leading wicket-taker Arif Chan bowling (Brandon Corlette photos)

supported with 28 for PMSS. Bowling for JC Chandisingh, Dimitri Cameron, Jonathan Foo and Arif Chan had one wicket each.

In hot pursuit, JC Chandisingh made light work of the total, winning by 10 wickets. Foo scored a blazing 54, while Surujnarine scored 44, ending on 109-0 in eight overs.

Match 3 saw New Amsterdam Secondary School (Multi Royals) challenging Lower Corentyne Secondary. Multi Royals scored 67-8 in 10 overs. Opener Martin Singh (14) was the lone batter to score double figures, as Lower Corentyne, led by Rajiv Ivan, bowled a disciplined line and length.

In reply, Lower Corentyne ended victorious on 67-3, with Ramesh Kasinauth scoring a fearless unbeaten 24, taking the game away from Multi Royals. Guyana U-19 player Junior Sinclair scored an unbeaten 17 to take his team across the line. Andrew Williams, a former National youth player, was the best Multi Royals bowler with 2-10 in his two overs.

Lower Corentyne drew a bye to the final, while BHS and JC Chandisingh were set to play the semifinal under lights. BHS were knocked out after JC Chandisingh scored 152-4 in their allotted 15 overs. Kandasammy Surujnarine continued his rich vein of form, scoring a brisk 80 for JC Chandisingh.

Kevlon Anderson scored a fluent 31, while Foo scored 20 for JC Chandisingh.

Pick of the BHS bowlers was the brilliant off-spinner Kevin Sinclair, who had 1-17 in three overs. BHS fell short by 47 runs, scoring 105-8 when their 15 overs expired.

Cameron and Chan were the top JC bowlers with two wickets each.

Then the grand finale between Lower Corentyne and JC Chandisingh was played under lights in front of a packed Albion ground. JC batted first and scored 111-7 in 15 overs, with Kevlon Anderson playing a gem of an innings, scoring 35. Foo chipped in with 21 while Cameron scored 17. Keith Simpson bowled in the right areas, grabbing 2-20 in three overs.

In reply, Lower Corentyne were unlucky with some umpiring decisions that went against them. They were bowled out for 56 in the final. Off-spinner Arif Chan bowled superbly to snare 3-18 as he finished with the leading amount of wickets in the tournament.

The tournament was well organized by the Mark Lyte-led Port Mourant Secondary School, and the sixth edition that is expected in 2020 promises to be bigger and better. Funds raised from this tournament will be going towards the PMSS schools developmental programmes.

Why is sports being given the royal run around?

UG should be the benchmark of sports

T

he University of Guyana Trojans have recorded many wins in many of its sporting activities over the 2018 period. More importantly, this team has earned the right to be called the Under-23 Rainforest Water/Malta Supreme/G/town

Amateur Basketball Association’s (GABA’s) League champions, especially since for 2019 it has won three of four games played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The Trojans are currently preparing for the University Games in Colombia in

May 2019. In 2018, the Trojans won the University Games in Curaçao. As defending champions, they are now faced with the uphill task of keeping their title, and they hope to come out successful in the 2019 tournament; but as time draws near for the games, the Trojans have been faced with a major setback. Just like any other sport discipline at the University of Guyana, the Trojans have been given the royal run-around by the University’s administration.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport Head Coach of the UG Trojans, Warren Wilson, said, “Well, for starters, it’s been a tough task trying to get admin to approve new equipment of which we are in dire need. I’ve tried my best to work with the existing conditions with little complaint, but now that we’ve been able to secure a championship, I honestly feel we are now moving up the ladder to become a dominant force in Guyana’s Basketball; but admin continues to sidetrack me, always citing lack of funds.

“But it (causes) me to question where all the (money) they collect from students for sports fees is going. I’ve always believed that, as the highest institution of learning, we

should also be the benchmark for sports, and as it is right now, I am unable to fully operate my programme because the Vice Chancellor and Registrar keep putting sports on the back burner”.

Wilson also stated that the basketball team is currently in need of training vests, strategy boards, and training dummies, pouches and even cones as their current equipment is not up to standard and is despicable for Guyana’s top learning institution.

He also said the UG administration needs to recognize the opportunities that sports can bring to UG, and stop stifling its growth, as they have made the request for new equipment since November 2017. Wilson also noted that all coaches have made known their dissatisfaction to Sports Organizer Lavern Fraser, who brings their issues before the UG administration, but all get the same treatment, as she is usually given a difficult time.

Wilson is recommending that the University administration work more closely with the sports organizer to implement a dynamic and workable sports policy for all sporting disciplines.

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, february 24, 2019

4 games scheduled for today’s Milo action Part of the action in the ongoing Milo Schools Under-18 Football tournament

A

fter the Republic Day festivities are concluded, the Ministry of Education Ground in Carifesta Avenue will have all the action, as the Milo Schools Under-18 Football tournament continues.

Sunday’s action will feature four games, with what is expected to be highly skilled, fast paced football, as the usual front runners seek to keep their slate clean. Owing to their collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health’s ‘Stop Gender Based Violence’ campaign, patrons will be treated to “a firm stance against abuse”, as the captains of each team will be sure to make a statement before the games begin.

At 11 hours, game one will kick off with South Ruimveldt Secondary challenging St. Joseph’s High School. In their first encounters in the tournament, these teams suffered crushing losses, so their members will be sure to bring the excitement as they look to bag their first wins. Both South Ruimveldt and St. Joseph’s High have shown that they have what it takes to win a game, but they weren’t able to finish off their great strides.

While South Ruimveldt will definitely play a team game, St Joseph high will be relying on Warren Williams, who is quick in the field. Surely, this encounter will be an exciting one.

Game two will feature the dominant Annandale Secondary coming up against Canje Secondary.

Both teams have won their first game, with Canje Secondary showing that they are capable of becoming one of the front runners. Given this fact, Annandale Secondary is expected to receive a challenge from the Berbice- based school. However,

Annandale have been strong in this competition and ones before, making for an exhilarating duel.

Following that battle will be Lodge Secondary coming up against Marian Academy. While Lodge Secondary has been a force to be reckoned with, Marian Academy has not been so strong, although it has been picking up wins here and there. No doubt, the private institution will have an uphill task to defeat Lodge Secondary. One thing is for sure: a high-adrenaline, fast-paced game is expected.

The final game on Sunday will be a battle between President’s College and St. Mary’s Secondary. Two teams that have surely never met before will be looking to one up the other in search of their first win. When Georgetown meets East Coast, skills will be tested, making for a refreshing game of football.

To compensate for the busy Mashramani weekend and games not being played on Saturday, two games will be played on Monday, February 25, 2019 at the same location. In the first game, on Monday afternoon at 15.30 hours, the Bishops’ High School will meet with St. Stanislaus College, while the second game will feature Queen’s College meeting with North Ruimveldt Secondary. In the first encounter, Bishops’ and St. Stanislaus College will both be looking for their second win, while, on the other hand, either Queen’s College or North Ruimveldt will pick up their first win of the 2019 tournament.

This is the seventh year of the Milo Schools Football tournament, which is being coordinated by the Petra organization.

Hetmyer hails Bravo for guidance during 4th ODI century

A

t age 22, the most exciting and flamboyant batsman in World Cricket, Shimron Hetmyer, scored his fourth ODI century playing in his 22nd match – England versus the West Indies in the second One Day International. Hetmyer now has the record of scoring the most centuries at age 22 by any West Indian batsman at this point in his career.

The West Indies s i d e made 289-6 off their 50 overs, and then bowled out the visitors for 263 off 47.4 overs.

Hetmyer made 104 not out off just 83 balls, with seven fours and four sixes. It was his fourth century in the last 11 months – the others: 127 against United Arab Emirates in Harare in March, 2018; 125 against Bangladesh in Guyana in July, 2018; and 106 against India in Guwahati in October, 2018.

In the second half of the match, left-arm pacer Sheldon

23

Andre “Padlock” Green wins Benjamin Sports Mash Day cycling event

By Brandon Corlette

F

cash prizes were

rom Courtland, Lower Corentyne to No 59 Village, Upper Corentyne, it was all excitement in Region Six when the bikers transformed the roadways into their playfield while the Benjamin Sports Mash Day cycling event took place on February 23. Andre Green, who goes by the name Padlock, rode with confidence and won the Absolute category.

Hailing from Ulverston Village Corentyne Berbice, Padlock completed the race that rolled off at Lot 220 Courtland Village in front of Benjamin Sports, in 1 hour 59 minutes and 53 seconds. He rode at an average speed of 23.6 mph but sprinted at a speed of 37.0 mph.

In second position was Christopher Griffith, tailing Padlock along the roadways but being undone by Padlock’s sprinting ability. Griffith hung on to the end, but Padlock was in the lead Some of the riders who participated in the from Alness Village to Courtland. Benjamin Sports event (Brandon Corlette photo) Romello Crawford finished in third position, while Paul De Nobrega ended in fourth posi- presented to the riders who performed tion. Michael Anthony was fifth and exceptionally in their respective categoBriton John sixth, among the top rid- ries. ers in the main event. The Junior catBeverage giants Banks DIH Limited egory saw Ajay Gopilall finishing first, were among the donors who assisted in while Ralph Seenarine finished second. providing trophies for the racing event.

Veteran Junior Niles showed his expeAt the conclusion of the event, Andre rience, winning the veteran U-45. Paul Green spoke exclusively to this publicaChoo-Wee-Nam finished second, while tion. “I was confident heading into this Jaikaran Sookhai ended in third posi- race”, Green disclosed. “I must thank tion. my family, friends and my Coach Arnold In the veteran O-45 category, Hintzen for the support they give me Nigel London emerged top rider, while when I’m done,” the champion rider reShemika Teixeira and Whitney Price lated. finished as the top lady bikers. David Green will be participating in the Hicks won the Juvenile category while Hasan Mohammed-organised race Steve Bhimsen and Mario Washington from Linden to Homestretch Avenue on finished in the top three.

Sunday, February 24.

This cycling event was sponsored by former national cycling champion Wilbert Benjamin, who is now a businessman. The event was held to observe Wilbert’s father’s 85th birth anniversary. Trophies and

Cottrell took a career-best 5-46 off nine overs to mark a successful return to the Windies colours. He was well supported

by Captain Jason Holder, who had 3-53 to spark celebrations among the appreciative home crowd at the historic venue.

Hetmyer shared a vital partnership of 76 for the fourth wicket with left-hander Darren Bravo, who made 25. Earlier Chris Gayle made 50 off 63 balls, with four sixes to record his 50th half-century in ODIs. “It was a wonderful day for me and the team, and I feel really pleased with my performance, which helped the team to win and level the series. We are on a rise as a team, and we just want to take it step by step, stage by stage,” Hetmyer said. “I started slowly, and Bravo was quite helpful to me in guiding me. We played well as a team today…we batted well and batted deep. Then the bowlers did a fantastic job with the ball. Special congrats to Cottrell for the way he bowled… it was great to see him do such a great job with the new ball, and then come back and finish off the innings.” (CWI)

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

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

4 games scheduled for today’s Milo action Pg 23

Andre “Padlock” Green wins Benjamin Sports Mash Day cycling event Pg 23

Go time: Andre Green outsprinting Christopher Griffith (Brandon Corlette photo)

Port Mourant Secondary School’s 5th "Fyah Friday" Cricket tournament…

Jonathan Foo’s JC Chandisingh are champions!

Pg 22

– Anderson, Surujnarine, Chan top performers

The winning JC Chandisingh team played with finesse (Brandon Corlette photo)

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

February 24, 2019

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2 Sunday Times Magazine

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FEBRUARY 24, 2019

Feature

By Odeon Ishmael

(I

t is more than ironic that when labour disturbances roiled the Caribbean during the 1930sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Great Depression, from Jamaica to British Guiana, the Commission of Inquiry (the Moyne Commission)â&#x20AC;&#x2122; which the British reflexively sent down, was actually taking evidence in Guiana when the events outlined below, occurred. The Commission's Report eventually led to the enlarged franchise and the

election of Dr Cheddi Jagan to the Legislature when it was released after WWII.) The pressing economic conditions continued throughout the 1930s, and from time to time workers went on strike to protest their working conditions. The sugar workers in various parts of the country were most active in their strike actions.

On February 13, 1939, the firemen at the Leonora sugar factory called a half-day strike to demand a shorter working day. Their working

day was eleven and a half hours. At that time, other factory workers usually worked between 9 to 12 hours a day.

The news of the firemenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strike encouraged field workers of the shovel gang to strike over insufficient pay. After efforts by the manager and the District Commissioner to encourage them to resume work failed, the workers asked for the Man Power Citizens' Association (MPCA) President Ayube Edun to intervene on their behalf.

Meanwhile, the strike

spread to other sections of Leonora Estate, and by February 15, all the workers, including the cane-cutters who make up the great majority of the workers, were on strike. A large group of workers, armed with their agricultural tools, attempted to join the train to travel to Georgetown to meet with Edun, but the Police prevented them from boarding.

These workers then decided to walk along the railway line to Vreed-en-Hoop where they were stopped by the Police from boarding the ferry boat to cross them over to Georgetown.

However, a smaller group of field workers travelled separately to Georgetown and discussed their grievances with Edun, who then sent them to meet with the Commissioner of Labour. But this meeting between the workers and the Commissioner failed to bring about an agreement.

While that meeting was taking place, Charles Jacob, another leader of the MPCA, crossed over the Demerara River from Georgetown and addressed the large group of workers who had walked from Leonora. He listened to their grievances after which they travelled back to Leonora on the train late in the afternoon.

Jacob and Edun, that same afternoon, presented a list of the issues affecting the workers to the Sugar Producers' Association, and demanded that the MPCA should be granted official recognition to represent the sugar workers.

All factory workers joined the strike on February 16, and in the morning, many of them gathered in the vicinity of the factory and made a noisy protest. A police contingent under the command of Superintendent Weber ar-

rived on the scene later in the morning. The Policemen, armed with rifles and long, heavy greenheart batons, attempted to arrest a leader of the strikers, but were pelted with bottles and bricks by sections of the crowd. A clash between the crowd and the Police followed, and some persons were injured. The Police arrested five workers, but after protests outside of the police station by a crowd of other workers, they were later released on bail.

Meanwhile, the large group of workers protesting outside the factory, moved away and gathered outside the manager's home.

The manager attempted to speak to them, but was pelted with bottles and bricks and he hurriedly retreated into his house. As the situation worsened, the District Commissioner sent an appeal to the MPCA President to intervene. However, Edun refused to go to Leonora unless the estate management granted recognition to the union.

Shortly after the manager was attacked, the crowd surrounded a police car and assaulted the two persons in it. Superintendent Weber threatened to shoot at the unruly strikers, but they still refused to disperse and threatened to burn down the factory.

A policeman, in attempting to take away a stick from a striker, was then set upon by the crowd. He managed to escape, but was chased by the mob, and he ran inside a nearby house. Some of the strikers ran behind him and severely attacked him with sticks. Three other Policemen moved into the house to rescue their injured companion, and as another section of the crowd moved towards the house, the other Policemen opened fire. The crowd then

hastily dispersed and scattered in all directions. As a result of the shooting, four workers were killed and 12 others were injured. Some Policemen received minor injuries.

A few days after the shooting, the Governor appointed a three-man commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the disturbances. The commission heard evidence from 58 witnesses and lawyers representing the interests of the deceased, the management of Leonora Estate, the Police and the British Guiana East Indian Association. The MPCA did not participate in the proceedings.

During March 1939, while the commission was preparing its report, the Sugar Producers' Association granted official recognition to the MPCA when it signed an agreement with the union for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

The commission of inquiry issued its report later in the month. It pointed to the fact that the workers had no other way open to them for settling their grievances except by going to the manager of the Estate. The commission also was of the view that the union was unable to effectively represent the workers since its representatives were not given jobs on the Estate.

The report blamed the Sugar Producers' Association for not recognising the union as the bargaining agent, but it also felt that the union should have sought permission to enter the Estate to control the crowd. The commission felt that a stronger force of Police should have been dispatched earlier to Leonora to disperse the crowd and to prevent any further build-up of strikers.

The Police were cleared of all blame for the shooting.

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

3

World Wildlife Day

Protecting what matters Beach was established as a protected area by the

A

s the world looks to observe World Wildlife Day on March 3rd, WWF Guianas, along with partnering organizations, will join forces to spread awareness on the theme for 2019 - “Life below water: for people and planet", which aligns with goal 14 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and our area of focus for Earth Hour 2019 - “Water”. This is the first World Wildlife Day to place emphasis on marine life.

WWF Guianas – Guyana Office believes this is a great opportunity to raise awareness among Guyanese about the importance of marine ecosystems to human development and how each can play their part in ensuring future generations benefit from these services. Coastal and marine ecosystems play a key role in the sustenance of human well-being, particularly indigenous peoples, vulnerable groups and poor people who have high dependence on the resources and services that are garnered.

Marine species are injured and killed as a result of plastic pollution, many would ingest, suffocate, drown, starve, become entangled and or develop infection as a result of plastics in the ocean. Oceans provide numerous goods and services and we should do

our part in ensuring health Oceans; plastics we use takes decades to degrade.

Let’s start now and reduce the use of single use plastics and use biodegradable and reusable materials.

WWF Guianas - Guyana Office has been supporting research and projects around the conservation of marine life in Guyana for several years. Since 2000 WWF Guianas has been supporting the monitoring and protection of nesting sea turtles, including the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the giant leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), which are all on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) endangered species list, along the Shell Beach Protected Area. Threats affecting sea turtles exist both on land and in water. In the Ocean they are in danger of being caught in fishing nets or may eat polluted items for foods. On land they are at risk of being hunted for meat, shells and leather and their eggs are poached.

There have been many efforts by WWF and other national and international conservation organizations to protect these endangered species and their critical nesting habitats. In 2011, Shell

Government of Guyana.

Protected areas are critically important for conserving the services these ecosystems offer for the biodiversity which inhabit the area and for future generations.

To date, the Protected Areas Commission, Department of Fisheries and WWF Guianas – Guyana Office have been collaborating and raising awareness to the public around conservation measures, engaging particularly fishermen on the ‘No Netting Zones’.

The presence of Rangers of the Protected Areas Commission on the beaches has reduced the number of turtles and eggs poached and predated by both humans and animals, such as dogs.

Additionally, WWF Guianas – Guyana Office has been collaborat-

ing with the

Department of Fisheries in ensuring that fishing is done in a sustainable manner.

Fisheries play a pivotal role in Guyana’s development, as it contributes to food, livelihood, employment and revenue generation.

In Guyana, there is room for more work to be done to ensure the sustainability of the fisheries resources. There is the lack of updated data that would be useful to help inform decision making, and insufficient enforcement at sea.

WWF Guianas – Guyana Office has been working on providing hands on training/ building of capacities on the identification and reduction of Endangered,

Threatened and Protected species caught during fishing activities and assisted with the onboard observer programme for the seabob trawl fishery which is currently under assessment for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Certification.

About World Wildlife Day On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 3 March, the day of sig-

nature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna a n d

Flora (CITES), as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.

About WWF Guiana – Guyana Country Office

WWF-Guianas is part of one of the world’s leading conservation organizations with a mission to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. The Guyana office is involved in a plurality of site specific objectives, often in partnership with civil society organizations and government

instit u tions.

These r a n g e from the protection and management of ecological landscapes, to educational and awareness campaigns on climate change and conservation.

(WWF-Guyana)

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

World Wildlife Day

Giant River Otter

Arapaima Arapaima gigas Known as the pirarucu in Brazil and the paiche in Peru, this South America giant is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. Some reach lengths of more than 10 feet (3 meters) and weigh upward of 400 pounds (180 kilograms). The arapaima is the focus of several conservation projects in the Guianas.

The arapaima is an air-breathing fish that plies the rain forest rivers, lakes and swamps.

They have a wide, scaly, gray body and a tapered head. Though arapaimas can stay underwater for 10 to 20 minutes, they tend to remain near the water’s surface, where they hunt and emerge often to breathe with a distinctive coughing noise. They survive mainly on fish but are known to occasionally grab birds close to the water’s surface.

The Amazon’s seasonal floods have become part of the arapaima’s reproductive cycle.

During low-water months (February to April) arapaimas construct bottom nests and females lay eggs. Young begin to hatch as rising water levels provide them with flood conditions in which to flourish. Adult males play an unusual reproductive role by incubating tens of thousands of eggs in their mouths, guarding them aggressively and moving them when necessary.

Pteronura brasiliensis Guyana’s Giant River Otter is the largest of the world’s 13 otter species (although sea otters may weigh more). Giant otter males attain an overall length of 1.5 to 1.8m and a weight of between 26 and 32 kg. The otter’s throat and chest are usually marked with irregular creamcoloured patches or spots which help to identify individuals. Long and numerous facial whiskers protrude from the muzzle, forehead and temples and are believed to be highly sensitive in order to facilitate prey location in turbid waters.

Historically giant otters ranged throughout the tropical lowland rain forests and wetlands of South America but is considered extinct in Argentina and Uruguay. The giant river otter is an IUCN red-listed species and is considered endangered. Accelerating habitat destruction and degradation, poaching, and unmanaged tourism are ongoing threats to this vulnearble species.

Black Caiman

Melanosuchus niger

Jaguar

Panthera onca The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere.

This spotted cat resembles the leopard although it is usually larger and sturdier and its behavioral characteristics are closer to those of the tiger. While dense rainforest is its preferred habitat, the jaguar will range across a variety of forested and open terrain. It is notable as a feline that enjoys swimming.

The jaguar is a solitary, opportunistic, stalk-and-ambush predator at the top of the food chain. It is a keystone species, playing an important role in stabilizing ecosystems and regulating the populations of the animals it hunts.

The jaguar is a near threatened species and its numbers are declining. Threats include habitat loss and fragmentation.

While international trade in jaguars or their parts is prohibited, the cat is still frequently killed by humans, particularly in conflicts with ranchers and farmers in South America.

The Black caiman is a a carnivorous reptile that lives along slow-moving rivers and lakes and in seasonally flooded savannas. It was hunted to near extinction primarily for its commercially valuable hide and is now listed as “conservation dependent.” They are commonly seen in Guyana’s Rupununi and Rewa rivers and are the subject of an intensive research project at Yupukari village.

The Black caiman is the largest predator in the Amazon basin measuring 3 to 4m (9 –12 ft) in length, with old males growing larger than 5m (15 ft). It is the third largest crocodilian in South America behind the American Crocodile and Orinoco Crocodile.

At the end of the dry season, females build a nest of soil and vegetation abd lay up to 60 eggs at the beginning of the wet season when newly-flooded marshes provide ideal habitat for the juveniles. Unguarded clutches are quickly devoured by a wide range of animals. As with other crocodilians, caimans frequently move their young in their mouths, creating a mistaken impression that they eat their young. Mothers will assist chirping, unhatched young to break out of the leathery eggs by delicately breaking the eggs between her teeth. The female only breeds once every 2 to 3 years.

False Vampire Bat

Panthera Vampyrum spectrum This species is the largest bat (Chiroptera) in the New World and the largest carnivorous bat in the world, having a wingspan of 80 centimeters (almost 3 feet) and a body length 13-14 cm (about 5 inches).

Some alternate names for this species are the False Vampire Bat, Linnaeus’s False Vampire Bat and the Spectral Vampire Bat. Confusingly, they are not related to the Old World family of large carnivorous bats that are also called false vampires.

The fur on the upper parts of the bat is normally dark brown, chestnut brown or rust-orange and quite short. The ears are very long and rounded.

There is no discernible tail. The large feet are robust, with long curved claws. The muzzle is long and narrow, and the teeth are strong. The noseleaf is medium-sized and lance-shaped, resembling a horseshoe and spear with a continuous rim forming a hollow cup around the nostrils.

A formidable aerial night hunter, this large predatory species takes a huge range of relatively large vertebrate prey including amphibians, reptiles, small birds and small mammals (including other species of bats) in addition to insects such as large crickets and cicadas. (Wilderness Explorer)

guyanatimesgy.com

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 5

World Wildlife Day

O

n December 20, 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed March 3, the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.

The UNGA resolution also designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife on the UN calendar. World Wildlife Day has now become the most important global annual event dedicated to wildlife.

World Wildlife Day will be celebrated in 2019 under the theme, “Life below water: for people and planet", which aligns with goal 14 of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The ocean contains nearly 200,000 identified species, but actual numbers may be in the millions. Globally, the market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at US$3 trillion per year, about five per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. Marine wildlife has sustained human civilisation and development for millennia, from providing food and nourishment, to material for handicraft and construction. It has also enriched our lives culturally, spiritually, and recreationally in different ways.

The capacity of life below water to provide these services is severely impacted, as our planet’s oceans and the species that live within it are under assault from an onslaught of threats. As much as 40 per cent of the ocean is now heavily affected by the most significant and direct threat of overexploitation of marine species as well as other threats such as pollution, loss of coastal habitats and climate change.

These threats have a strong impact on the lives and livelihoods of those who depend on marine ecosystem services, particularly women and men in coastal communities.

This is the first World Wildlife Day to focus on life below water. It is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the breath-taking diversity of marine life, the crucial importance of marine species to human development, and how we can make sure they will continue to provide these services for future generations.

World Wildlife Day 2019 will be marked by a series of events and media activities around

the world, including a high-level event at UN Headquarters in New York on March 1. As part of these activities, CITES and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are also partnering with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival to organise an international film showcase focusing on marine species – “Living Oceans Film Showcase”. The Film Showcase will help raise global awareness of the importance of life below water to our everyday lives, explore the critical challenges facing marine ecosystems, and highlight inspiring solutions.

There are few images that evoke the words “vast” and “endless” as effectively in the human imagination as those of the ocean and the life teeming within it. Oceans and seas make up two-thirds of the world’s surface, and due to their depth, even more than 99 per cent of Earth’s liveable habitat.

The resulting richness of ecosystems and species – life below water – has sustained human civilisation and development for millennia, providing even the very air we breathe. Fifty per cent of the oxygen on Earth is produced in the ocean, every second breath we take.

Yet despite, or precisely because of, the perceived limitless nature of the oceans and marine living resources, their ability to sustain mankind and contribute to sustainable development has been severely impacted by unregulated or poorly managed human activities, including unregulated fisheries, pollution, and climate change.

In collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, CITES is also deeply engaged in capacity building to assist parties to overcome the challenges in ensuring long-term sustainability of trade in species listed under the Convention, as recognised in the annual UN General Assembly on Sustainable Fisheries.

UNDP’s Ocean Governance Programme is strongly aligned with and supports a majority of targets for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 on oceans – to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

In the lead-up to and since the adoption of Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goal 14, “Life below water”, an inspiring number of initiatives focused on the sustainable development of the oceans and seas have emerged, reflected in the over 1400 voluntary commitments made at the UN Ocean Conference in 2016.

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Feature

by

Petamber Persaud

Preserving our literary heritage

The Song of the Republic (words - Cleveland Hamilton) (music - Frank Daniels) From Pakaraima’s peaks of pow’r To Corentyne’s lush sands, Her children pledge each faithful hour To guard Guyana’s lands To foil the shock of rude invaders Who’d violate her earth To cherish and defend forever The state that gave them birth We’ll forge a nation’s mighty soul Construct a nation’s frame Freedom our everlasting goal Courage and truth our aim Unyielding in our quest for peace Like ancient heroes brave To strive and strive and never cease With strength beyond the slave Guyana climb that glorious perch To fame prosperity Join in the universal search For world wide comity Your people whatsoe’er their breed Their hue or quality With one firm never changing creed The nation’s unity

A

nd to think such a song almost never made it to the public let alone national acceptance. Here is that story.

Almost four decades ago – sometime in late 1960s, a competition was set in train to select an appropriate anthem to celebrate Guyana’s attainment of Republic status.

The story goes that the writer of ‘Song of the Republic’ was at the time in the ‘black book’ of the government of the day because a civil issue from which the writer was to benefit was determined politically against him. It is said the man’s outspokenness landed him many times in hot water and true to form, he wrote about this slight in his newspaper column. Afraid his entry may be treated with political discharge, he submitted the words to the competition using a nom de plume, Thomas Theophilus Halley, his father’s name. That entry won from 135 submissions.

That entry won from 135 submissions. The judges were A. J. Seymour, Mrs. Stella Merriman and Milton Drepaul; the ‘judges made certain amendments to the entry so as to accord it greater suitability and make it eminently sing able’. It was long after the announcement that his entry had won that he went forward to accept the glory by which time the song had gained acceptance. That writer was Cleveland Hamilton whose death anniversary is marked around this period.

Cleveland Hamilton also a sedate yet busy legal practitioner that ever so often escaped the straightjacket to don the mantle of a poet, letting his imagination go as he immortalised people, places and events. Some of his popular pieces include ‘Requiem

for Walter Rodney’, ‘Requiem for Father Bernard Darke’, ‘For Soweto’, ‘For Steve Biko’, ‘To Nazism’, and ‘Leningrad’.

It is useful to note that Hamilton came into contact and under the influence other writers whose poetry was also put to music. Some of those writers include J. W. Chinapen, R. C. G. Potter (who wrote the music for the National Anthem) and A. J. Seymour, all patriotic kindred spirits. The writers of the time were imbrued with a patriotic spirit and it was manifested in their work; it was a new theme, new impulse in which to dabble, it was post-colonial writing but still influenced by ‘colonial’ form and structure.

Cleveland Hamilton died on February 22, 1991, on the eve of another republic celebration which was to be marked by the song he wrote for the Republic, the song that almost never was.

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

Poem

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Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

Let Harmony Come In

Guyana is our country Our motherland beautiful and free And it’s here for you and me So let’s come together one for all Making her proud let’s heed the call And sing this song out loud

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uyana is a melting pot of diversity and in order to showcase that and promote harmony among the inhabitants of our beautiful country, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) launched its Harmony Campaign.

A national unity song was written for the launch of the campaign. It was sung

by Guyanese artistes Mark Ferdinand and T’shanna Cort. The campaign includes five harmony-themed public service announcements and a number of other activities.

In addition, a stage play, “I AM US”, that speaks to unity and examines some societal factors that impact on social cohesion is set to be unleashed at the National Cultural Centre on March 9 and 10. The Commission

firmly believes this campaign, which is in keeping with its constitutional mandate to promote harmony and good relations, is vital in helping to enhance the environment to foster unity among all Guyanese. It remains optimistic that Guyanese will find useful the materials which will be made available, and there will be conduits to aid distribution countrywide.

The ERC is a constitutional body established by Constitution (Amendment) (No 2) Act No 11 of 2000, which amends Article 212 D of the Constitution to provide for the establishment of the Commission.

The genesis of the ERC lies in the Herdmanston Accord signed on January 17, 1998, which provided for the establishment of a Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC).

The CRC in its Report to the National Assembly on July 17, 1999, recommended that the Constitution establish an adequately-funded, suitably broad-based Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) that would comprise representatives of religious bodies, the labour movement, the Private Sector, youth and women.

The entities under each grouping identified one nominee and one substitute to serve as their representatives and on March 8, 2002, the ERC was established.

The Commission operated for a number of years until 2011 when it became inoperable.

After a seven-year hiatus, the ERC was reconstituted with the swearing-in of 10 new Commissioners on February 22, 2018 by President David Granger.

Throw away the grudge and leave it at the gate Throw away your prejudice, start a new slate Throw away racism, intolerance and hate Let’s build a new Guyana from today Chorus

Open your hearts and open your ears Open your eyes, let harmony come in

Open your windows and open up the doors Open up for all of us to win Open up let harmony come in

Let’s work together and build it Let’s work together it’s where we live In a land so great and free Let’s make it a better country Let’s work together for all to see We can live in harmony Let’s work, let’s build, let’s play, let’s laugh together We are multi-cultural; let’s respect colour, creed and race Let’s embrace each other now and ensure each has a place In this melting pot we call our homeland

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Travel & Tourism

Rewa village is a small Amerindian community located at the confluence of the Rewa and Rupununi Rivers in the North Rupununi of Central Guyana. Home to about 300 villagers, mostly from the Makushi tribe, the Rewa area is renowned for its abundance of wildlife and ecological diversity. In 2005, in an effort to protect their land for generations to come, we, the Rewa community, founded the eco-lodge with a community grant provided by Conservation International.

Rewa is unique because of its remoteness.

Most visitors access the village by taking a boat ride from Kwatamang Landing near Bina Hill. The voyage can last as long as six hours depending on the water levels in the Rupununi River. It is advisable that you take the boat ride because you will be amazed by the variety of wildlife you will encounter on the journey.

Be prepared to see the black and spectacled caiman, giant river otters, capybara, tapir, river stingrays, piranha, and countless birds, large and small and many more other species as you make your way to Rewa Village.

So grab your crew and take a trip and we guarantee that you will not regret it. (Photos by Paula Gomes and Rewa Eco Lodge)

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Sunday Times Magazine

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FEBRUARY 24, 2019

Fashion

Animal print has made its comeback in the fashion industry, filling stores with leopard, snakeskin, tiger and more safaristyled print clothing. Animal prints have long been a wardrobe staple for stylish women, and it is back again and taking over. From luxe leopard to snakeskin and zebra, there are endless options to take your look to the wild side.

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Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

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Ingredients • 1 medium eggplant • ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste • ¼ cup olive oil, divided • 3 cloves garlic, smashed • 56 oz whole peeled tomato, drained and roughly chopped, juices reserved • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes • 1 lb whole wheat spaghetti ( • ½ cup ricotta salata, crumbled • 1 bunch fresh basil, thinly sliced Directions 1. Trim the ends of the eggplant, then slice into ½-inch thick rounds. Lay the eggplant rounds on a paper towel and season generously on both sides with salt. Let rest for 10 minutes to draw out excess moisture. After 10 minutes, pat the eggplant rounds with a paper towel to remove the moisture.

2. Heat a griddle pan over mediumhigh heat and grease with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, or your oil of choice. Grill the eggplant for about 2 minutes on each side, or

Ingredients • 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets • 3 large carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces • 1 tablespoon ground cumin • 2 teaspoons paprika • kosher salt, to taste • black pepper, to taste • 2 tablespoons olive oil • ¼ medium red onion, thinly sliced • 1 cup fresh italian parsley, roughly chopped (35 g) DRESSING • ¼ cup tahini or Greek yogurt • 1 clove garlic, grated • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • ¼ cup water • ¼ cup olive oil • kosher salt, to taste • pepper, to taste

until grill marks are formed. Set aside to cool, then cut into bite-size pieces.

3. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.

When the oil is hot, add the smashed garlic and cook until fragrant and lightly browned but not burnt, flipping as needed. Remove the garlic from the oil and set aside to cool, then mince.

4. To the garlic oil, add the chopped tomatoes. Cook for 5-10 minutes, or until caramelized. Add the reserved tomato juice and simmer until reduced to a sauce-like consistency, 5-8 minutes.

5. Add ½ teaspoon salt, the red pepper flakes, and the minced fried garlic. Stir well, reduce the heat to low, and simmer while you make the pasta.

6. In a large pot of boiling water, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and return to the pot.

7. Pour the tomato sauce over the hot pasta. Add the eggplant, ricotta salata, and fresh basil. Toss until well combined. (Tasty)

irrors aren't just designed to add a decorative touch to an interior.

They're also the perfect solution for making a space feel brighter and larger. Here, we share some of our favorite ways to use mirrors of all styles to showcase the beauty of various design schemes, from bedrooms to dining areas.

A pair of large, window-like mirrors bring a sense of balance to a neutral living room design.

A gallery wall, including an ornate gilt mirror and photographs, make a statement in the master bedroom of designer.

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, combine the cauliflower, carrots, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper and olive oil. Toss until well-coated.

Spread the vegetables on the baking sheet in a single layer and roast for 20-25 minutes, until the carrots are tender.

3. Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the tahini/yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, and water. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.

4. In a large bowl, mix together the onion and parsley. Add the roasted cauliflower and carrots, and toss well. Drizzle the salad with the dressing, then serve. (Tasty)

Ingredients • 5 oz dark chocolate, chopped • 4 large eggs, separated • 2 tablespoons sugar, divided • ¼ cup water OPTIONAL GARNISHES • whipped cream • cocoa powder Directions 1. Fold a kitchen towel and set in the bottom of a large skillet. Fill with water and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Place the chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. Set in the pan

of simmering water and stir until the chocolate is completely melted, 3-5 minutes. Carefully remove the bowl from the water and set aside.

2. Combine the egg whites and 1 tablespoon of sugar in a medium heatproof bowl. Set in the pan of simmering water and stir until the mixture reaches 140˚F (60˚C). Carefully remove the bowl from the water. Using an electric hand mixer, beat the egg white mixture until soft peaks form. Set aside.

3. Set a medium heatproof bowl in the pan of simmering water. In the bowl, combine the egg yolks, water, and remaining tablespoon of sugar. Beat with an electric hand mixer until foamy and the temperature reaches 160-170˚F (70-75˚C). Carefully remove the bowl from the water.

4. Add the melted chocolate to the yolk mixture and mix with a rubber spatula until well combined.

5. Add a scoop of the egg white mixture and stir to combine. Add rest of the egg white mixture and fold to incorporate. Divide the mixture between 4 serving cups. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or until set.

6. Top with whipped cream and cocoa powder, if desired. (Tasty)

A gold-hued mirror serves as an accent piece directly over a cabinet. The cabinet is topped with ginger jars, platters, and bowls.

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Puzzles

ACROSS

90 Athena's domain 1 Leather for honing

92 Rumor, perhaps 6 Thumbs through

93 Nutty 11 Jellybean shapes

94 High-IQ group 16 Downright mean

95 Orchestra section 21 Red pepper pod

96 UFO passenger 22 "-- vincit amor"

98 Ladder part 23 Almond confection 99 Roly-poly 24 Lazy one

100 Good, to Juan 25 Cleaves

101 Comfort 26 Theater awards

102 Family nickname 27 Slur together

103 Galahad's weapon 28 Thumps

104 Birdbath slime 29 Say please

105 Mardi Gras doings 30 Investment

106 Chain dance 32 Destroy documents

107 Rely on 34 Used a blender

108 Durable fabric 36 Tijuana coin

109 Slacken off 38 Hot-tub wood

111 Smoke column 40 Movie with a saloon fight 113 Huge crowd 42 Running late

115 St. Louis tourist attraction 43 Thinks ahead

119 Tibia neighbor 45 Whitman and Kelly

121 Popped up 47 Sharp

123 Has on 49 Hockey team

125 Cyclops had one 52 Crystal of country

126 Moreno and Hayworth 53 Emporium

127 Alma -54 Handy abbr.

129 McEnroe foe 57 Born there

131 Danke, in Dijon 58 Like John Wayne

133 Curie daughter 59 Aberdeen kid

134 Helena rival 60 Bona fide

135 Attack on a castle 61 Speedily

136 Europe-Asia divider 62 Dutch export

137 Butte cousins 63 Enticed (2 wds.)

138 Shell out

16 Common fertilizer

64 Zeppo's brother

139 Finished up

17 Remain loyal

65 Cat's coat

140 Doctrine 18 Fishtailed

song) 66 "Help Me, --" (Beach Boys DOWN

19 Singer Pendergrass 68 Teutonic war god (var.)

1 Cancel, as a project

20 Birthday no.

69 -- up (paid)

2 This and that

31 False alarm

70 Mo. bill

3 Hockey venues 33 Hall decker

72 ABA mem.

4 Dilapidated 35 Driving-test feat (hyph.)

73 Jeweler's unit

5 Leaning Tower town

37 Fiber- -- cable

74 Rambles 6 Unlaces

39 "Gorillas in the Mist" setting

75 Davis of "Do the Right Thing"

7 Mounts gems 41 Share

77 Minstrels

8 Ekberg or Loos 44 Crowbar

78 Not cling (2 wds.)

9 "-- upon this quiet life!" 46 Jean Auel heroine

79 Xerxes subject

10 Back talk

48 Field crop

82 Rooms under a roof

11 Do surgery 49 Foul-up

83 Limp-watch painter

12 Parking attendants

50 On the blink

84 Porcelain vase

13 Stage whisper 51 Video-game pioneer 88 Choose as a successor

14 Inc. cousin 52 Loud

89 Dry toast

15 Leak slowly

53 Nobelist from Egypt 54 Hair-raising

55 Slender candle

KATHLEEN SAXE

56 Lumps of clay

58 -- Carlo

59 Alpha followers

60 Haphazard

WORD GAME

TODAY'S WORD -- DULCIFYING (DULCIFYING: DUL-sih-fye-ing: Making agreeable or gentle; mollifying.)

Average mark 27 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 40 or more words in DULCIFYING?

dicing dignify ding dingily dingy dulcify duly dung dying uglify ugly unify lindy

ling liny lucid ludic lung lying cling clingy cluing clung cuing icily icing

idling idly inly filing find fling fluid flung flying fund fungi gild guild

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.

62 Was admitted (2 wds.)

63 Earls and viscounts

64 -- Kong

67 Laces into (2 wds.)

68 Bumps on a frog 69 Grill locale

71 Trailing

73 "The Castle" author

74 Uses a blowtorch

76 Trig function 77 Name for a cow 78 Rodeo prop

79 Trouser purchases 80 Ho-hum feeling 81 Reddish-brown horses

82 Pounce

83 Ms. Keaton

85 Homer opus

86 Brother's daughter

87 They may be spliced

89 Baggage handler 90 December door decor

91 Kiwi language

94 Bean-sprouts bean

95 Moths and ants

97 Alpaca kin 99 Discussion group 100 Rhythm and -101 More sensible 103 Water lilies 104 Like a knight 105 Went biking 106 Bathhouse 107 Soup server 108 Deepen, as a canal 109 Ignited 110 Chomps down 112 Starbucks order 114 Held title to 116 Placed the same ad 117 Dishwasher phase 118 Bank job 120 Iowa college town 122 Failing that 124 Bit of soot 126 Crater edge See Solution 128 Deadly snake on page 130 Drei minus zwei 14 132 Before, to Blake

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Sunday Times Magazine 13

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Bollywood/Hollywood

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2

018 was a turnaround year for Neena Gupta.

She starred Veere Di Wedding, Mulk and Badhaai Ho and the year ended on a high note for her winning a string of awards. And looks like she is quite enjoying this attention and especially attending awards show, something that she hasn’t done since her hit TV show, Saans (1999). The veteran actor says throughout her career she would only get to play “sidey” roles so there was never a question of her winning any award. Neena, 59, also rued how male actors her age still get to play the hero in their films and also opens about how her image as a strong and bold woman played havoc on her career. Excerpts: Your career seems to have taken a complete flip post Badhaai Ho? I feel happy and little anxious because after all that, now I can’t do just anything. I only want to grow up now, so, I’m waiting for good and better work, and that’s a little frustrating.

You’ve already won two awards this season.

How are you taking it all in?

It’s nice to attend awards’ shows. The last time I used to be busy with awards was during the Saans days. Of course I never got awards for my films because I never got roles. I got very ‘sidey’, supporting and small parts in films. I was just there in the films but had nothing to perform. So, yes I am enjoying it now.

How does it feel to get nominated alongside younger female actors such as Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt?

Alia is like my child. Of course it is a strange feeling. But there is still a taboo about female actors. Men my age still get to play the hero but I won’t get that so easily.

That will take more time to change. Pata nahi main tab tak zinda bhi rahoongi ya nahi. There has to be more stories around women. That is the only way.

You are also now very active on social media and you regularly share pictures from your daily life. Are you enjoying the

space?

Earlier I used to think that you should not post personal pictures. I still am very shy and not very pro active and make mistakes. I have a feeling that people are getting to know more about me this way, which is different from the image which was created about me. And because of that I had to suffer a lot in my professional life. I have a feeling that it is helping me change that and I needed to change that.

What kind image are you referring to?

“Well that of a bold, strong woman who does things according to what she wants to do. And a strong woman means a negative woman in our films. I used to get all negative roles like a dominating woman in the household but I told them that I want a bechari woman role. Also, discussions about having a child out of wedlock (referring to her daughter Masaba) went on and on and on. Wo child to woman ho gayi abhi bhi child hi bol rahe hain. (Hindustan Times)

riyanka Chopra and Farhan Akhtar- starrer The Sky Is Pink is one of the most awaited films of this year as Priyanka is all set to make her Bollywood comeback after a hiatus of almost three years. The film is slated to release on October 11, 2019. Indian film critic and trade a n a l y s t Taran Adarsh took to his Twitter handle to share the news.

He wrote, “Release date finalised... #TheSkyIsPink to release on 11 Oct 2019...

Stars Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Wasim... Directed by Shonali Bose...

Produced by RSVP and Roy Kapur Films.”

The director of the film Shonali Bose took to her Instagram account a few days back and shared a long post, penning down her experience of helming the film. She also revealed that the final schedule of the film will be shot between March 1 and March 12 in Mumbai.

K

hloé Kardashian returned to Instagram two days after news came out that she broke up with her boyfriend Tristan Thompson because he allegedly cheated on her with Kylie Jenner's best friend Jordyn Woods.

And, as Kardashian often does, she broke her personal social media silence by sharing three Instagram stories with "cryptic messages." The quotes she shared are, not shockingly, all about heartbreak and betrayal.

The first she shared may or may not be about Jordyn Woods, whom Kardashian considered to be a trusted friend before the cheating drama.

"The worst pain is gettin hurt by a person you explained your pain to," it said.

The second she posted was a pep talk, presumably to herself and others going through similar heartbreak. "Somebody needs to hear this...That betrayal was your blessing!!!!" it read.

And the third could be interpreted as being to Tristan Thompson. It says: "If they ask you about me, tell them: 'She was the only person that loved me with honesty, and I broke her.'"

Kardashian ended her Instagram Story series with a fourth post: an illustration of a woman shedding a single tear.

Kardashian's feelings about Thompson's cheating scandal have been well-documented by sources who spoke to tabloids this week. Initially, Kardashian was reported to be mad. "She is angry more than she is sad," a source told E!. "And she's shocked Jordyn would do this.

Of all the guys in the world, she

Reportedly, after the last leg, a wedding sequence will also be shot in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. The filming of The Sky is Pink began on August 8, 2018 and the s e c o n d schedule began in London in October 13, 2018.

The film also stars Dangal star Zaira Wasim and Rohit Saraf in pivotal roles. The film is based on the life of Aisha Chaudhary, who became a motivational speaker after being diagnosed with an immune deficiency order at the age of 13.

It is co-produced by Priyanka, Ronnie Screwvala and Siddharth Roy Kapur.

Meanwhile, Priyanka last appeared in Hollywood film ‘Isn’t It Romantic’, which also stars Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth and Adam DeVine. The film released in the United States on February 13, 2019 and will release on Netflix, February 28, 2019.

(Hindustan Times)

can't fathom why Jordyn would make a decision like this.

Khloe is reliving the worst kind of betrayal and pain all over again."

People, meanwhile, made it clear that Kardashian had lost her trust in Thompson some time ago.

“Khloé has acted like she is single for a while," a source told the outlet. "She is focused on herself, her daughter and their life in L.A. She isn’t spending time with Tristan. She doesn’t act like she is planning a future with him. All because she can’t trust him. She constantly hears rumors of inappropriate behavior when it comes to Tristan. She as recently as this weekend heard that he was being inappropriate.” (Elle)

Crossword Solution

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hatsApp's newest feature -- the ability to lock the app with Face ID or Touch ID -- appears to have a major security flaw.

A Reddit user discovered the issue on iOS when using the share sheet (the menu that pops up when you tap the share icon in an app) of to open WhatsApp. Unless you've set your app to require biometric login immediately, the time interval will reset, and the Face ID or Touch ID won't launch.

WhatsApp wasn't immediately available for comment, but representatives of the

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

Facebook-owned app acknowledged the bug to Reuters and said the company was working to solve the problem.

"We are aware of the issue and a fix will be available shortly,” a WhatsApp spokesperson told Reuters. "In the meantime, we recommend that people set the screen lock option to 'immediately.'"

WhatsApp began beta testing the lock features last month. The ID lock options were designed to protect conversations and information on the app in case a user's device was unlocked. (CNET)

YouTube terminates more than 400 channels following child exploitation controversy

Y

ouTube has terminated more than 400 channels and deleted tens of millions of comments in response to concerns from creators, users, and advertisers over videos being used to exploit children.

The details come from YouTube’s creator outreach team in response to a video from commentator Philip DeFranco published Wednesday evening. The team’s statement said that “all of us at YouTube” are working on the problem, and that “we are continuing to grow our team in order to keep people safe.” YouTube has also been reporting comments and accounts to law enforcement, which it has to do in compliance with federal law.

Advertisers and creators have responded to the issue over the past couple of days following a video highlighting the issue that gained widespread attention. The video, from Matt Watson, demonstrated how searching terms like “bikini haul,” which features women modeling different swimsuits they’ve purchased, can lead to videos of children that feature predatory messages in the comment sections. Since the video has come out, companies including Epic Games, Nestlé, and Disney have pulled ads from the platform. Other companies like Grammarly and Peloton have asked YouTube to investigate further.

A YouTube spokesperson previously told The Verge that the team “took immediate

action by deleting accounts and channels, reporting illegal activity to authorities, and disabling violative comments” when the video first caught attention.

“Any content — including comments — that endangers minors is abhorrent and we have clear policies prohibiting this on YouTube,” the spokesperson said at the time. “There’s more to be done, and we continue to work to improve and catch abuse more quickly.”

While many people are criticizing YouTube, other creators have come out in defense of the team. DeFranco said in his video that “this is something that YouTube has been consistently fighting” over the years. The company instituted community guidelines to specifically address predatory behavior on videos featuring children in 2017, and it’s given advertisers more control over where their ads get placed. This isn’t necessarily a YouTube problem, DeFranco said, so much as it’s an issue with the current online landscape.

“Once they were made aware of the offending content, they handled the situation,” DeFranco said. “Which, again, is why it’s important that instead of saying, ‘YouTube allows this and they’re happy about it’ — because once again that is an insane argument — the best thing we can do is report disgusting monsters like we would anywhere else on the internet.” (The Verge)

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Fun Times

Archie

Have an open mind and learn all you can about the (March 21people you are dealing with April 19) and the plans you want to pursue. The more you know, the better you'll do.

ARIES

Share your thoughts and TAURUS feelings with a loved one.

(April 20- Exciting plans can be made.

May 20) If you help a cause you believe in, you will make a difference.

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

Keep your plans in perspective. If you waste time trying to achieve the impossible, nothing will be accomplished.

Don't be a follower or trust someone who talks big and does little.

CANCER

Socialize with friends or relatives, or sign up for an (June 21event that offers interesting July 22) information. Sharing with a loved one will bring you closer together.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Peanuts

Look at every angle of a situation before you take action.

Listen to others, and assess situations carefully and walk away if you're not comfortable.

Arguing will be a waste of time.

Don't let problems at home ruin your plans. It's best to be reasonable and responsible, and to keep the peace and live moderately.

Be understanding and accepting of others.

Emotional spending will make you feel better only for a moment. Look at your current situation and consider what it will take to make positive adjustments to your lifestyle.

Enjoy the company of unSCORPIO usual individuals who offer (Oct. 24- different perspectives on life.

Nov. 22) A day trip, reunion or selfawareness lecture will open your mind to new ideas and options.

Be skeptical of anyone SAGITTARIUS pressing you to buy into some(Nov. 23Dec. 21) thing or gossiping about other people. Keep your personal affairs to yourself to avoid being put in an awkward position.

Calvin and Hobbes

Open your doors to friends CAPRICORN and family. Hosting an event (Dec. 22- will put you in the limelight Jan. 19) and give you access to interesting information. Love and romance are encouraged.

Rely on your intuition AQUARIUS when it comes to emotion(Jan. 20- al matters. If something Feb. 19) doesn't feel right, know enough to back away, assess the situation and move on.

Look at the big picture PISCES (Feb. 20- and be willing to walk away Mar. 20) from risky ventures. Stick to what you know, and rely on trusted sources. Focus more on love, health and personal growth.