Guyana Times - Sunday, January 20, 2019

LOOK INSIDE !

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 3810 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, January 20, 2019

PPP elects Irfaan Ali as presidential candidate

PRICE

See stories on pages 3, 7&9

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Judicial P12 backlog remains hefty: Duo waiting 18 years for rape trial

...another awaiting trial close to 20 years

…promises to get tough on corruption ...brings youth, financial skills to table – Jagdeo ...cites grassroots work, performance in Housing, Water Ministries as election factors ...other contenders pledge commitment to Party’s victory

Senior GPHC Salaries for LGC department Commissioners, head demoted employees …director resigns fearing demotion delayed – source Page 11

Wakenaam P14 on high alert for spring tide – Chairman

Essequibo Coast accident

Teen provided for family – mother P17

Page 2

Armed bandits terrorise, rob Timehri resident Page 10

Uitvlugt Estate took 6 extra weeks to achieve 2018 target P15 Corentyne Highway dangers

More emphasis to be placed on removing P13 derelict vehicles – Armogan

2 news Salaries for LGC Commissioners, employees delayed – source T SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

he Local Government Commission (LGC) has been in the limelight over the past weeks for several decisions and operating procedures, which raised eyebrows and questions into its function.

However, another development surfaced on Saturday when an informed source revealed that salaries for employees of the constitutional body are yet to be paid.

Guyana Times was informed that the vouchers were yet to be signed by the Permanent Secretary, Emil McGarrell of the Communities Ministry, who, according to sources, has to wait on approval from Minister Ronald Bulkan.

Since payments during early December, staffers have not received any payments, and it was insisted that these monies should

have already been disbursed.

“They went through the details of the budget, both the Finance Ministry and the Local Government Commission. It was approved, but the voucher wasn’t signed off, so nobody received any money since the first part of December when payments were last made. Given the fact that they paid very early in December, this money should’ve already been in.

Apparently, this money is still administered under the Permanent Secretary and he still has to take instructions from Bulkan before signing them,” the source said.

Other matters raised included the operations at the Commission since it was sworn in and the fact that Bulkan has been actively involved in activities of the Commission. With the

establishment of the LGC, some responsibilities which the Minister held were transferred to the agency.

As such, the source, who is an employee, expressed that this is somewhat affecting the work of the Commission.

According to the source, “this is preventing the Commission from operating as a constitutional body.

The Commission has to deal with appointments and dismissal and a host of things that the Minister would usually do. They have not recognised the Commission as a constitutional body.

The Communities Minister still wants to be in control of the Local Government Commission. They were having this problem since the swearing-in of the Commission.”

Letters addressing these issues were dispatched to Attorney General Basil

Williams; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and even President David Granger.

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

added.

After City Hall’s Commission of Inquiry report was submitted, the Commission was expected to make a pronouncement on the recommendations.

Officers were asked to present themselves and some, including the embattled Town Clerk, Royston King appeared last week.

However, Commissioner Carol Sooba was prohibited from all discussions on the report’s findings. Initially, it was proposed that she re-

cuse herself from one meeting, which focused on her benefits.

However, the Chairman, Mortimer Mingo, pursued a course of action to excuse her completely.

Fellow Commissioner Clinton Collymore had opined that Sooba was experienced on the Mayor and City Council’s operations and the LGC was allegedly attempting a cover-up. He also hinted that this outcome is linked to a political card, played by the Chairman to dissolve some of the recommendations in the report.

“There are other reasons for this. One of the reasons is that she was at the municipality for a very long time and she has some institutional knowledge as to what is going on and they don’t want that exposed,” Collymore expressed.

(Rupadai Seenarine)

news

3

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, January 20 – 04:30h and 14:30h-16:00h and Monday, January 21 – 05:00h-06:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, January 20 – 15:30h-17:00h and Monday, January 21 – 16:20h-17:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals will prevail throughout the day after light rain showers in the early morning hours.

Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening. Overall temperatures will range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 16:05h at a maximum height of 2.78 metres.

Low Tide: 09:38h and 22:09h reaching minimum heights of 0.61 metre and 0.40 metre.

saturDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS B

06

17

22

23

24

27

FREE TICKET

21 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

01

02

08

15

26

LUCKY 3

4

0

7

2

Afternoon Draw

8

7

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

05

12

16

17

PAY DAY

01 08 10 11 17

19

20

21 SUPER PAY DAY

01 03 10 15 17

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

PPP elects Irfaan Ali as presidential candidate

…promises to get tough on corruption

By Jarryl Bryan

F

ormer Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, who was also the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, has emerged as the choice of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for presidential candidate after its Central Committee voted on Saturday at Freedom House.

Ali was elected through secret ballot, by a vote of 24 versus the 11 Central Committee votes garnered by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall. Ali and Nandlall were the only two who contested after Dr Frank Anthony, Dr Vindhya Persaud and Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira withdrew from the race on Saturday.

Following the vote, Ali pledged that as President his mission would include delivering goods and services to everyone in Guyana, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or social status.

“I’m very delighted to be given the opportunity to lead a party with such a great history and I want to assure you that I’m committed to the programmes of the PPP, the policies of the PPP, which has as its fundamentals the delivery of key and essential goods and services to all Guyanese…the PPP… and I am committed to the development of all Guyanese.

“The Party has a serious stance on corruption. And one of the ideas I put out in my quest for the nomination is for strong laws criminalising certain things. For example, the non-declaration of resources when received.

If it’s not declared within a certain time, there must be strong laws that criminalise such acts and it must be clear what the consequences are.”

Youth

According to Ali, his involvement in the PPP since his teens and his relative youth allow him to be in tune with what the people and, particularly youths, need. Added to this, according to Ali, is the fact that he has wide experience in Government at a technical, macro-project implementation level.

“The fact that our party elected a young person shows that we are committed to young people not only by talk, but by action.

I’ve had long experience in Government, in policy formulation and implementation of massive projects. I worked at the State Planning Secretariat. I headed the Caribbean Development Bank project planning unit. I functioned for seven years in Cabinet. I’m the Opposition spokesperson on finance.”

PPP presidential candidate Irfaan Ali as he faces the media at the doors of Freedom House

“So I think the difficulties we have to face ahead of us, with the joblessness that exists, our rising debt, the poor implementation of the Public Sector Investment Programme, the downturn in the economy, issues with investors’ confidence, these are huge issues and I haven’t even mentioned oil and gas and the massive transformational projects needed to take Guyana forward, I think my experience allows me to work alongside the team to move Guyana forward.”

Committed to manifesto

In a statement after the vote thanking everyone who supported him, Ali made his commitment to the PPP’s work programme clear. He noted that he has the added ability to deliver these programme goals to the people, owing to his groundings in the Party and his unique perspective of the challenges

facing Guyanese.

“I see myself as part of a broader team that will advance an agenda, which has as its primary focus, the people of our country. I commit, fully, to the programme of the Party as it relates to delivering greater prosperity and progress for all our people, regardless of race, religion, or gender, as well as to ensure the advancement of our nation.

“I am glad that the campaign is over,” he continued in his statement. “I hope that the rumour-mongering, which was clearly intended to spread division in our ranks and to disparage me and the other candidates, will now stop.”

Meanwhile, the PPP, in a statement, said that the four other contenders congratulated Ali and pledged their support to working towards a PPP/Civic victory after the vote.

Ali, 38, attended Saints

Stanislaus College and has been a member of the PPP for over 20 years, starting at the Party’s youth arm.

He has also been a part of the leadership for 15 years, during which time he held the position of Finance Secretary for several years.

In his professional experience before he became a Minister, Ali worked as an economic planner, also chairing a Project Steering Committee on the Low-Income Settlement Committee.

He also worked as the National Programme Coordinator of local Caribbean Development Bank funded programmes.

When he did become a Minister in 2009, he went on to serve in the Cabinet for seven years; holding the portfolios of Minister of Housing and Water and Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, january 20, 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

Irfaan Ali: PPP’s presidential candidate

T

he People’s Progressive Party took another step in its preparation for General Elections in Guyana when yesterday its Central Committee of 35 members elected Mr Mohamed Irfaan Ali as its presidential candidate.

The PPP was in a fortunate position of electing a young leader from among a list of very qualified professionals – all of whom are very experienced in politics, Parliament and in Government; all of whom also have a long history of representing people across Guyana.

It was a hard-fought fight to become the next PPP presidential candidate and all the five candidates deserve commendation for going through the rigors of earning the confidence of the PPP’s Central Committee. Now it is up to the PPP and Ali to win the confidence of the people of Guyana. If the party and Ali can successfully persuade the people of Guyana in the soon-to-be-held Regional and General Elections, then Ali will become the next President and the second youngest President of Guyana.

In selecting Mohamed Irfaan Ali as its presidential candidate, the PPP has maintained its legacy of reposing hefty responsibility in youth and in promoting youth in leadership. When the PPP talk about the importance of youth, it actually has its history of creating space for youth to demonstrate their potential. It is the political party that in 1953, had a 35-year-old Cheddi Jagan as Premier, a 25-year-old Ashton Chase as Minister of Labour, and a 29-year-old Forbes Burnham as Minister of Education. In 1994, the PPP named Bharrat Jagdeo as the youngest-ever Minister of Finance at the age of 30. The PPP had the boldness and courage to name and then have Bharrat Jagdeo elected as President when he was only 35 years old and named Carolyn Rodrigues as a minister at the age of 25. The PPP named Carolyn Rodrigues later as the youngest-ever Minister of Foreign Affairs in any Caricom country and then followed that by naming Anil Nandlall as the youngest-ever Attorney General. Following upon this commitment to youth, the PPP now has named a youthful Irfaan Ali, at the age of only 38, to carry its mantle in the upcoming General Elections.

Inevitably, there are those among us who will question whether this young man has the experience to lead the nation at this critical time. It is a time when Guyana’s economy needs a major boost and a time when innovative ideas will be required to ensure the traditional economy is re-engineered to continue playing a major role in a transformed economy. It is also a time when oil and gas will become another major pillar in the economy and has the potential to transform the economy into the major Caricom economy. The questioning of Ali’s credentials to lead the country at this time, therefore, is relevant.

There can be no doubt that in spite of being still a young man, still a youth leader, Irfaan Ali also has extensive experience. He has been in a leadership role of the youth arm of the PPP – the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) for almost two decades now and in the Party’s leadership for almost 15 years.

Besides presently serving in the Party’s Central Committee and Executive, Irfaan Ali has served for almost a decade as the Party’s Finance Secretary. His involvement in political leadership has, therefore, not been trivial and has been in major roles. He has also been in leadership at the regional level and, since 2011, in both General and Regional and Local Government Elections (four successive elections) has led his Region Three to provide the biggest percentage of PPP wins.

He has served as minister, first being named a minister at the tender age of 28. Irfaan Ali’s Ministries were major ministries – Housing and Water, Trade and Industry and Tourism. For most of his ministerial experience, Irfaan Ali has controlled these two ministries at the same time. It was a major responsibility that the PPP, through its Presidents, Jagdeo and Ramotar, placed on a very young man. He did not disappoint them; he did not disappoint the PPP; and he served his country with distinction in these two portfolios. In his period as Minister of Housing, he led the establishment of more housing schemes in Guyana for any five-year period in the country’s history and distributed more house lots, particularly to low income and middle-income families, than any other Housing Minister in our history. As Minister of Water, he led Guyana to almost universal access to potable water and Guyana gained United Nations recognition for this achievement.

Under his tenure as Trade Minister, there were major business development and creation of several industrial parks. As Minister of Tourism, he led the drive to make tourism a major pillar of the growing and diversified economy.

But Irfaan Ali distinguished himself not only as a competent and dynamic Minister of Government, he was also a dynamic legislator. He became a major spokesman in Parliament for the Government’s economic trajectory and the macro-economic and financial stability policies and actions of the then PPP Government. After 2015 – he assumed the role of shadow finance minister for the PPP and, in that capacity, he has been a thorn in the side of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, exposing the weakness of their stewardship and the mismanagement of the economy. Ali has also been the Chair of the PAC and, in this capacity, has led the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in one of its most active periods of financial scrutiny in our parliamentary history.

He might be young, but he is also a very experienced governmentalist, legislator, and politician. The PPP has made an impressive choice for its presidential candidate. Together with a team that includes the other four persons that competed with him and, under the guidance and leadership of the PPP’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, the PPP will be a formidable force in the next election. The other political parties will do well not to underestimate him.

These young men were all decked out in their traditional wear on Saturday during the launch of International Year of the Indigenous Languages in Aishalton Village, South Rupununi, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Region Nine (DPI photo)

US Senator says Saudi Crown Prince should be “dealt with” over Khashoggi’s death

… "What has transpired over the [last] couple of years has been unnerving to say the least," the prominent Republican said in Turkey

R

elations between the United States and Saudi Arabia cannot progress until Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is “dealt with”, Senator Lindsey Graham said on Saturday during a visit to Turkey.

The South Carolina Republican has become a fierce critic of the Kingdom’s de facto ruler since the murder of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October. Graham’s latest comments come as tensions in the region run high amid US plans to withdraw troops from Syria.

“What has transpired over the [last] couple of years has been unnerving to say the least,” Graham said about the Crown Prince’s leadership. “Taking all of your critics and throwing them in prison, the brutal murder [of] Mr Khashoggi in Turkey, violating every norm of international behaviour.”

Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of Crown Prince Mohammed, was killed by a team sent from Riyadh after he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Saudi authorities have acknowledged that the killing was premeditated, but blamed it on rogue operatives. His body has not been found.

Khashoggi’s death triggered a wave of revulsion around the globe, and drew attention to Saudi Arabia’s increasingly aggressive regional policies, like its involvement in the war in neighbouring Yemen which has produced one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

US intelligence officials have told NBC News that it is inconceivable that the Crown Prince had no connection to Khashoggi’s death. Graham himself has said there is “zero chance” the killing was organised without the Crown Prince’s knowledge.

President Donald Trump has

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, meets with Senator Lindsey Graham in Ankara (Handout /AFP -Getty Images)

tried to downplay Crown Prince Mohammed’s role in the murder, and highlighted business deals with the Kingdom and Saudi Arabia’s role in containing Iran.

While Crown Prince Mohammed was initially hailed for spearheading huge changes in the conservative Kingdom – moves aimed at lessening its dependence on oil, loosening the conservative clerical class’s grip on power and forcing social changes — his widening crackdown on dissent has eclipsed the positive PR the reforms brought.

On Friday, Graham had met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has reacted angrily to Khashoggi’s killing in Istanbul. The Senator vowed that Congress would reintroduce sanctions against those involved in the incident on Turkish soil.

Graham was expected to discuss the US withdrawal from Syria, which Trump announced on December 19 in

a sudden policy shift that blindsided Congress and most senior officials at the Pentagon and State Department.

Turkey considers Syrian Kurds, who are fighting Islamic State forces alongside Americans, to be terrorists. There are concerns that Turkey, a NATO member, will invade Syria in the absence of American forces.

National security adviser John Bolton has said that a withdrawal from the region will not happen until the Turkish Government guarantees it won’t attack America’s allies.

Graham’s visit was expected to include a proposal for the creation of a “safe zone” in northeast Syria.

ISIS killed two US service members and two American civilians in the north-eastern town of Manbij in a suicide bombing just days before the visit. Graham has said he’s concerned Trump’s withdrawal announcement has emboldened ISIS, endangering American allies. (Excerpt from NBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

SunDAY, january 20, 2019

5

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

To speak of bribery is to make voting a crime Dear Editor, Late last year, Mr Aubrey Norton, a PNC executive member, accused Mr Bharrat Jagdeo of bribing Mr Charrandas Persaud to vote in favor of the December 21 no-confidence motion.

Mr Jagdeo denied the accusation and vowed to sue Mr Norton if the accusation was not withdrawn, saying, “I guess my lawyer will write him and ask him to withdraw the statement and if he withdraws it then there will be no issue but if he does not then we will have to file a lawsuit against him.”

Lawsuits may be, but letters are no deterrence here. This week, the Public Security Minister, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, continued

to criminalise Mr Persaud’s free speech exercise in the National Assembly. “The deduction must be made that Bharrat Jagdeo had Charrandas in the bag for some time before they could have come with a no-confidence motion,” said the Minister, reportedly.

One deduction here that the public should notice is that under this fallen Administration, a citizen is guilty until proven innocent.

Another deduction is that a right to vote is perceived as a criminal act under this defeated regime. This is the essence of the coalition’s bribery narrative.

It is an attempt to criminalise the right to vote. Anyone who votes in favor of the Opposition in any upcoming elections may

Constitutionally correct Dear Editor, There is a question which is boggling the mind of every Guyanese and one to which our legal “experts” are giving diverse interpretations: Was Charrandas Persaud, as a Member of Parliament, an alien pledging allegiance to a foreign power or state?

Article 155 (1) states that, “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who: (a) is by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state”. It is now common knowledge that Charrandas has held dual citizenship for a number of years and had re-migrated from Canada more than 20 years ago.

Since then and until now he has not renounced his Canadian citizenship or his Guyanese citizenship. But can he be classified as an “alien” to Guyana? Article 232 (1) of our Constitution makes it undoubtedly clear that, “In this Constitution, except as otherwise provided or required by the context -“alien” means a person who is not a Commonwealth citizen, a British protected person or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland”. It must be stated here that Canada is a member of the Commonwealth, therefore, its citizens cannot be branded as “aliens”.

This is also supported

by Article 159 (2)(b) which states that a person can vote if he/she is a Commonwealth citizen who is not a citizen of Guyana and who is domiciled and resident in Guyana and has been a resident for a period of one year.

Therefore, this person is given the same status as a citizen of Guyana. In this case Charrandas is a citizen of Guyana so why should he not be elected as a member of the National Assembly?

He took the Oath of Office and he pledged “true faith and allegiance to the People of Guyana” and he will “honor, uphold and preserve the Constitution of the Cooperative of Guyana”. He did not violate the Constitution, he is not an “alien” and

Canada cannot be deemed to be a “foreign power or state”.

A distinction must be drawn here. It is accepted that because of the common culture and heritage shared among Commonwealth countries they are not deemed to be “aliens” and “foreign” to each other.

However, while some countries see no difference between Commonwealth and foreign countries, other countries treat Commonwealth citizens as they would their own once certain criteria are met. In other words, Canada will be deemed a foreign power to Australia although both are Commonwealth countries. On the other hand, some countries like Guyana do not treat Commonwealth citizens as “aliens” and their countries as “foreign power or state” since the Guyanese Constitution allowed them to vote at the elections. This “right to vote” cannot be taken lightly. It is significant since only citizens of Guyana are given that status. Our Constitution, the Supreme Law of the land, has made it conclusive that a Commonwealth citizen is not an “alien”!

Furthermore, Article 53 (a) is not breached since Charrandas is a citizen of Guyana and is duly elected to serve in the National Assembly.

In addition, Article 156 (c) does not apply since he has not ceased to be a citizen of Guyana and no circumstance arose which would have caused him to cease to be a member of the National Assembly.

It follows then that Charrandas Persaud was a duly elected member of the National Assembly and his “yes” vote in favor of the famous “no-confidence” motion is legally and constitutionally correct. Moreover, the framers of the Constitution knew perfectly why Article 52 provided for the National Assembly to be comprised of 65 members – 33 is the majority!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor Region Six

also be accused of some crime and be subjected to undue Police investigation. After all, it is the same constitutional principle that is under siege by the Minister and his colleagues.

They have failed to inform the public as to which institution can tell a voter what precisely occurs in his or her mind at the moment that voter casts a ballot or vote. They have also failed to explain how voting became a crime when it is a protected and personalised right. Until then, to talk of bribery is to make voting a crime.

One may “follow the gold” as the Prime Minister suggested in a January 13, 2019 Chronicle article, but the Constitution places a higher value on a right to vote than gold. A

person may be jailed for gold smuggling but one doubts that a person may be jailed for voting. The word “doubts” is used here because a fallen regime is at the helm of the country, and it cannot be taken for granted.

Finally, the coalition is telling the public two very conflicting stories at the same time. On one hand, it tells the public that Mr Persaud’s December 21 vote is invalid because he is a Canadian. On the other hand, it tells the police that this same vote is valid, because a valid vote is needed to prove that a crime (ie, bribery) was committed.

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

Significant apprehension nationally and internationally

Dear Editor, There is a direct relationship between the operations of a Government of any country, and its functions to influence governance approaches that are binding on citizens, partnerships with other States, as well as national and international business arrangements.

The foundation of such arrangements is enshrined in the Constitution of a State, as it informs the basis under which current and future behavioral norms of any Government is premised.

Unconstitutionality in this realm is therefore intolerable!

The consequences for breaches of these central Constitutional pillars will not only undermine the current relationships and exist-

ing obligations of the State, but will be dire for all futuristic arrangements as it informs a defining framework of untrustworthiness and uncertainty. Such an unpredictable environment feeds illegitimacy, and fuels circumstances under which only the few in Government can benefit.

Under the globally accepted democratic formula to which Guyana is constitutionally committed, things have become glaringly abnormal.

There is now significant apprehension nationally and internationally, given the surreptitious delaying signals from the fallen of the APNU/ AFC Government in response to the passing of the historic No-Confidence Motion in the Nationally Assembly on

Disappointed with Frank Anthony’s withdrawal

Dear Editor, I have been following the People’s Progressive Party presidential candidate race very closely over the past two months. I have great admiration for the candidates but more so Dr Frank Anthony, whom I believe is very respected. He has been in the PPP for years and has done well at all the party’s congresses in recent years. As such I saw him as a strong contender in the presidential candidate race

for the PPP. It is disappointing that Dr Anthony pulled out of the race at the last minute on Saturday morning before the voting started at Freedom House.

What went wrong? What made him change his mind?

I think Dr Anthony owes PPP supporters like myself an explanation as to why he made such a decision on Saturday.

Sincerely, A Grant

December 21, 2018.

Today, imminent personalities and prominent Organisations both nationally and internationally, are justifiably demanding the activation of the mechanism for the holding of General and Regional Elections within ninety days as instructed by the Guyana Constitution. The immediate resignation of the Cabinet prescribed by Section 106 of the Constitution implies and infers a meaning of immediate suspension of forward functionality by the Principals of this Government Organ. The President is also committed to resign his individual portfolio on the election of a President following elections held in the prescribed period.

It is implicit that during this period, Ministers, Prime Minister as well as the persons who formed the Cabinet, would have lost their portfolio.

We should refer to them by their respective names only!

These rude, abusive and disrespectful persons must face the citizens at the ensuing

polls and be held accountable for their activities that informed the loss of confidence by the majority of citizens.

Amidst the high tension and the debacle of our citizens’ exposure to the significant incompetence of this APNU/AFC cabal, it is indeed very heartening to see that Guyanese are responding to this present political situation very sensibly.

Observably, our people are demonstrating the will to charter their own destiny, and not leave it in the hands of a few self-aggrandising and uncaring individuals. Citizens are going about their daily lives with cool, and waiting for the constitutionally instructive period to change this trespassing APNU/AFC Government by March 19, 2019. Guyanese must not allow our country to have an unconstitutional Government and our citizens have issued the eviction notice.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

6

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019

Page

Foundation

By Ugo Uche

“If the eye is patient enough, it will get a clear view of the nose.” - Anonymous

W

hen people think about issues related to poor concentration, they immediately think about distractions. This is even more the case when it concerns teens. Things that come to the mind of the casual observer, are smart phones, social media and troubled peers.

A quick Google search for how to improve your teen’s lack of focus will bring up issues like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD), depression, nutrition and strategies for developing a more efficient schedule.

These topics and recommended strategies are appropriate and effective for helping your teen improve his or her issues with focus, but they cannot be effectively applied until one important issue is addressed.

Motivation

guyanatimesgy.com

That’s right. The primary reason young people struggle with poor focus and concentration is a general lack of motivation to do anything meaningful. The teen who lacks motivation will often gravitate towards activities which greatly stimulate neuro-chemicals associated with the brain’s reward system.

Activities such as video games, food, mind-altering substances, alcohol, and sex. These are things bored teens are likely to engage in habitually, in order to feel alive. This is because, in the absence of motivation to succeed, the teen is faced with a difficult reality consisting of a monotonous chore and a daily schedule. Even things like daily showers can seem time-consuming and tiring to a teen who struggles with low motivation. It is also important to note that these issues are also symptoms of depression with a teen.

Before we begin processing on how to get teens more motivated, it is important to come to an understanding on what motivation is. According to Wikipedia, the term motivation

is derived from motive. Motive means a need that desires satisfaction. So, for a teen to be motivated, he or she must be actively pursuing a need which desires satisfaction.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Typically, we understand needs to be intrinsic materials necessary to keep us alive, such as food, water and shelter. However, an expanded discussion on the issue of needs would be based on the famous work of Abraham Maslow, regarding his hierarchy of emotional needs.

According to Dr Maslow’s theory, there are two types of needs people strive for. They are deficiency needs and growth needs. Deficiency needs are comprised of basic needs and psychological needs. These are physiological needs, which have to do with food, water and shelter. Followed by the need for safety and security. The physiological needs and the safety needs are known as basic needs.

Next are the psychological needs, which have to do with the needs for a sense of belonging and feeling accepted. This is also followed by the need for esteem, which has to do with prestige and status in society. According to Dr Maslow, people are only motivated to get these needs met, when these needs are deficient in their lives. Once these needs are met, people are no longer motivated in getting them met, which opens the door for addressing growth needs.

Then there are the self-fulfilment needs, which Dr Maslow describes as self-actualisation coming from having achieved one’s full potential. He also describes this as growth needs. Unlike deficiency needs, people become more motivated as their growth needs are met.

So, a teen who practises the courage to do his best in understanding calculus becomes more motivated the more he succeeds and subsequently more focused. Further, teens who are experiencing success in achieving their potential are also very disciplined in their home life. For example, they are disciplined in following through consistently with their assigned chores and personal hygiene.

It has been theorised that teens who struggle with depression have experienced very little success in effectively getting their psychological needs met. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

By Deborah Reber

A

s we’re a homeschooling family, my 14-year-old son’s course load looks very different from his same-age peers moving through a traditional education system. And I’ll be honest –the freedom that comes with our alternative approach can sometimes cause me anxiety (Am I doing enough for him? Is he getting what he needs? Will he be ready for what’s next?).

But after moving through that familiar angst, I remind myself that this untraditional path may actually make it easier for me to support my son in successfully launching some day. Because no matter what our school schedule or subjects look like, my big-picture goal remains the same: to help my son continue to grow in the areas of self-knowledge and self-regulation.

In my thinking, developing those skills, and as a result, strengthening his executive functioning skills, far outweighs book smarts or good grades or any other metric we typically use to define qualities of successful people.

My hunch is this goes for every parent, no matter how a child is wired. In this business of raising humans, perhaps our most important practice should be regularly zooming out from the daily challenges and focus on that uber goal.

To work toward that goal with my differently wired son, I’m relying on one simple, four-word question. I ask him this question when he does something he thought he couldn’t, or he pushes through an unpleasant task, or gets himself re-regulated after being triggered.

That question is this: How’d you do that?

For example, if my son gets gets distracted in the middle of an online class but gets himself back on track without any input from me...

To be continued

Awesome! How’d you do that?

Or he tells me he was feeling really annoyed about something but made the conscious choice to not let it ruin his day...

That’s great! How’d you do that?

Or maybe he turns off his computer after only one request and in a calm way...

You got off your computer with no drama. How’d you do that?

Just so I’m clear – my son doesn’t respond to each of these queries with a detailed explanation of his neurological process. Often times I don’t get much more than an “I don’t know... I just did!”

But sometimes, he thinks about it for a minute and comes back with a thoughtful reply.

I realized if I got my work done first then I could do what I really wanted to do. or I decided that I wanted to have a better afternoon so I changed my thinking. or I realised I could just save my game and finish it tomorrow.

When he says things like that, I know that he’s starting to make connections on his own about who he is and what he needs. And that’s what I’m going for.

My hope, and what the research shows, is that the more invested he is in understanding his own limits, challenges, and conative style (how he actually does things), he’ll be better positioned to make choices that reflect his own way of moving through the world.

That’s the goal anyway. But for now, I’ll keep asking that four-word question. Until the day comes when I won’t have to ask it anymore... (psychologytoday.com)

news

7

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

New presidential candidate brings youth, financial skills to table – Jagdeo …cites grassroots work, performance in Housing and Water Ministries as election factors

W

ith the election of former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali as the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) presidential candidate, General Secretary (GS) Bharrat Jagdeo has affirmed that he brings a lot to the table.

Speaking with the media on Saturday after the election, Jagdeo pointed to the fact that Ali is a youth, who can resonate with voters and the young population that makes up the majority of Guyana’s demographics.

“I think Ali is young; he can resonate with young voters. When you talk about youth, we are the party that lives this. I was the President of Guyana at 35 years old. This party here elected me for that. Ali is 38. He is the youngest of the candidates,” Jagdeo said.

“He’s had several years as Minister, in one of the largest ministries. He has delivered house lots to people across every single race and every single religion … and thousands of that. He was in charge of water, another big sector, and made a transformational impact in that period.”

He noted that any future Government must have delivering goods and services to the people at the forefront of the agenda, and added that while the present Government has failed in this regard, Ali’s experience bodes well for this.

The General Secretary then cited Ali’s work in charge of the PPP’s West Demerara grassroots network, especially for the last two Local Government Elections and the General

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo speaking with the media outside Freedom House on Saturday

and Regional Elections. He also noted that Ali has been the PPP’s Finance Secretary for years.

Jagdeo also debunked assertions that the new presidential hopeful would be overshadowed by him owing to his work as General Secretary. Jagdeo reiterated that both he and Ali would have different roles to play and that he had no intention of abdicating his role as General Secretary.

“I have a job as General Secretary of the Party.

Here, we’ve selected a presidential candidate. My job as GS of the Party is manifold.

It’s to grow the Party; I’ve set myself the task of greater inclusion in the Party.”

“Number two is to galvanise this party to win power. That’s the role of a General Secretary. The candidate runs for the elections, but my job is to bring people together and work on a campaign strategy. And the campaign strategy is approved by the Party.”

Saturday’s election was conducted by way of secret ballot. Immediately prior to the elections, three candidates withdrew from the contest leaving former Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Ali as the two contestants.

Following the passage of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018, the PPP began its search for a presidential candidate.

The no-confidence motion brought by the parliamentary Opposition against

PPP’s Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali

the Government succeeded when Charrandas Persaud, a former Alliance For Change (AFC) parliamentarian, broke ranks and made a conscience vote in favour of the motion.

While Ali will represent the PPP as the presiden-

tial candidate, media reports on party affairs in A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) suggest that incumbent President David Granger will run for re-election.

8 news

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Herstelling accident

Lack of evidence results in driver being freed

D

uring a court hearing last week at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, a 25-year-old Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident walked away a free man after a charge of causing death by dangerous driving was dismissed.

This decision was handed down by Magistrate Fabayo Azore after it was found that there was a lack of sufficient evidence in the case.

Ryan Seecharran was accused of causing the death of a 48-year-old carpenter, who he allegedly struck down and killed on June 24, 2017, at Herstelling.

The charge he faced al-

Freed: Ryan Seecharran

Deceased: Kalicharran Goordial

leged that on June 24, 2017, at Third Street, Herstelling, he drove motor vehicle PVV 4911 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Kalicharran Goordial.

Seecharran was also charged for failing to stop his vehicle to render assistance to the injured man. It was further alleged that on the same day, while driving motor car PVV 4911 and having

been involved in an accident, he failed to render assistance by taking the injured to a registered medical practitioner.

Defence Attorney Glen Hanoman had secured bail for his client on his first appearance in the sum of $300,000.

According to reports, the now dead man was lying on the roadway in a drunken state when Seecharran allegedly drove over him.

The injured man was rushed to the Diamond hospital by public-spirited persons, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Seecharran had reportedly fled the scene after hitting the man. However, he was later arrested.

Footballer remanded for robbery, damage to property

A

19-year-old footballer of James Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was hauled before the court on two charges of armed robbery and unlawful damage to property.

The teenager stood before Georgetown Magistrate Faith McGusty and denied both charges.

Job Caesar, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Paul Fung-A-Fat, faced both charges. The first charge stat-

ed that on November 25, 2018, at Lot 178 Albert and Charlotte Streets, Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Jennifer Validin of a cellphone valued $30,000.

The other charge stated that the young footballer, on the same date and the same location, unlawfully damaged a motor car valued $3.5 million, property of the same Virtual Complainant.

The teen’s Attorney contended that the VC was being

dishonest since the colour of the vehicle which she claimed Caesar damaged kept changing through posts made on social media.

Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman objected to bail on the grounds that a gun was used in the crime, while noting that Caesar has another pending matter before another court. The defendant was remanded to prison. The case will continue on January 30, 2019.

Remanded: Job Caesar

New Beginnings…

A

…with PPP

fter a year of fervent speculation – more by forces outside the PPP than inside! – after the CCJ determined third terms weren’t in sync with our Constitution, the PPP has elected the individual who will carry its presidential standard in the next elections.

Which, the Constitution insists, should be three months hence!! That individual is the youthful Irfaan Ali, who’s been in the Party all his life, starting with the PYO. In more ways than one, this is a new beginning for the PPP in that Irfaan will be the first leader who wasn’t personally groomed by the Jagans. Some may see this as a defect, but your Eyewitness sees it as a plus! The world has moved quite some distance, even after the Berlin Wall fell – signifying the jettisoning of the end of the “east-west” Cold War and all that meant for the Jagans. Irfaan would’ve grown up in sync not only with the leap in technology and connectivity which has generated a paradigm shift in politicking, but with the new globalised world that has emerged after the financial crash of 2008.

As expected, even before the PPP had made its choice, the guns were out for Irfaan – but as your Eyewitness signalled, this was because they saw him as their most formidable opponent. It was rather pathetic that their point of attack was on the young man’s “certificates” – but it betrays that they’re still stuck in the 19th Century and the 21st Century has passed them by. What’s with this fetish about certificates?? Did Bill Gates graduate from college? Burnham did have a London LLB and mimicked a British accent after spending only five years in London – and Lord did his supporters lap it up!! So much for being anti-colonial!!

Anyhow what did Burnham do with his certificate??

Destroy Guyana by every single measure, that’s what!!

His slogan was “House, feed and clothe the nation”. But by the time he died, we were homeless, hungry and naked!! When Irfaan was chosen as Minister of Housing and Water, there were many who scoffed, just as some are doing again. But Irfaan launched a revolution in housing, by distributing the largest number of houselots to citizens not only in Guyana, but in the entire Caribbean. Plus turnkey houses!

Same with water…so much potable water was delivered directly to Guyanese that youngsters would want to know what you’re talking about if you complain about “fetching” water!!

Now, don’t get your Eyewitness wrong – he’s sure Irfaan isn’t perfect. But then only God is!! But if we go by his record, he has a good chance to prove his critics wrong.

Once again!

…with ANUG

Just as with Irfaan, there are many who scoffed at the principals who launched “A New And United Guyana”.

And it wasn’t just about their party’s name and their “mango pelter” phone logo!! The complaint was that the fellas had TOO MANY certificates and not enough experience on the ground because of the life those with all these certificates are supposed to live!! This just goes to show that you can’t please everyone – so you might as well please yourself!

But your Eyewitness agrees with the criticisms in one (obvious) regard – the absence of even a single woman on the dais! C’mon fellas, in this day and age of gender equality, surely you’re going to have some problems convincing HALF of our electorate that you understand their perspective. Remember as Brother Bob says, only those who feels it knows it!! And for sure this criticism rings true about the similar absence of the “small man”, who, some had hoped, would one day become the real man!!

Anyhow, there are still three months to go…fill those lacunae!

…on national security?

The Police Commish cited “national security” for clamming up on a host of pertinent issues in the probe of Charrandas, after his boss, the Public Security Minister snitched on his ex-MP! But the Minister clearly didn’t share the same concerns as he freely spilled his guts to the press!!

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

news

9

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP presidential election

Nandlall, Vindhya Persaud pledge commitment to Party’s victory 35-member committee to vote by secret ballot.

And it allowed for two people to go towards that process. For me, the next step is looking at the elections and the Party winning.”

When asked why she withdrew from the race, Persaud declined to comment. She would only say that while there were varying factors, she would not delve into them.

Dr Anthony and Teixeira all declined to

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Dr Vindhya Persaud

ormer Attorney General Anil Nandlall and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament, Dr Vindhya Persaud did not secure the presidential candidature, but the pair is committed to seeing the Party to victory at the next General and Regional Elections.

Nandlall, in an interview shortly after the vote, said, “Naturally, I am disappointed. You don’t ever enter a contest thinking you will not win. I thought I would have won. But the Central Committee of the Party did not feel that way.

We have all pledged

our commitment to work towards the Party’s victory at the next election. And I’m committed to that... the process was that which we agreed on.

It was fair because the collective agreed to it.”

For her part, Dr Persaud was one of three candidates to withdraw before the voting began, the others being Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira and former Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony. Interviewed afterwards, she noted that the process was followed.

“I think at this point there was a process and the process was carried. And it allowed the

F

comment when they exited Freedom House after the voting, although when pressed, Teixeira noted that “withdrawal does not mean defeat”. She also added that the best man won and that she would be there to support Ali. Also present at Freedom House was former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon.

Saturday’s election was conducted by way of secret ballot.

According to the PPP, in a statement released later on Saturday, the four other contenders con-

gratulated Ali and pledged their support to working towards a PPP/C victory after the vote.

10 news

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Armed bandits terrorise, rob Timehri resident Residents in the area reported that a heavily tinted car was seen traversing the

T

The ransacked room in Veronica Jadunauth’s Timehri home

wo masked gunmen on Saturday carried out a brazen daylight robbery on a Timehri, East Bank Demerara home, leaving the wife of a businessman traumatised.

Reports are two armed men attacked Veronica Jadunauth of Lot 5 Reid’s Avenue, Timehri as she was entering her home at about 11:30h. The gunmen forced their way into the home behind her, and held her at gunpoint as they demanded that she take them into the lower flat of the house. While there, the bandits demanded jewellery and money, but Jadunauth held out that she did not have money at home.

One of men gun butted the woman while the other ripped out the telephone cable which he used to bind her.

The gunmen used one of the woman’s dresses to stuff her mouth.

Guyana Times was told that the men then ransacked a bedroom in the lower flat of the house, but came up empty handed. They then proceeded to the upper flat, where they ransacked the three bedrooms but again came up empty handed.

The armed men, who were described as tall and dark in complexion, went back into the lower flat, where they collected a projector and a few other items, including about $6000 and a mobile phone.

The traumatised woman said the ordeal lasted for about 30 minutes.

The men then made good their escape by running towards the back of the yard

and into the bushes.

After a struggle, Jadunath managed to untie herself and contact her sister-in-law, who alerted other relatives of the robbery.

The woman’s husband and son were subsequently contacted. When Guyana Times arrived at the scene, the visibly shaken woman was crying out for pains to her head.

She related that prior to the attack, she was at the washing area in her yard.

“As I was heading into the house I heard footsteps, and as I looked around, I saw the two men running towards me and I screamed,” she recalled.

She added that their faces were partially covered with cloth and they were carry small black guns.

“I screamed but one of them hit me to the head with the gun...they then ripped out the internet and telephone cables and take off my clothes and tell me if I scream more they will kill me”, she noted.

She stated that the men asked for money, but she told them that her husband only restocked the business on Friday and they did not have any money.

“It was then one of them tell me that they know I was at the shop yesterday (Friday) and ask for the sales.”

The Police arrived at the scene about an hour later, searched the area, and took statements.

Several footprints were seen in close proximity to the house, and upon following same, they led to an abandoned house nearby.

area early Saturday morning. The car was reportedly seen parked in one of the

cross streets with its engine running.

The Police have launched

an investigation. The victim was taken to a medical facility.

news

11

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

Senior GPHC department head demoted …director resigns fearing demotion

The same politics of domination

W

ith elections in the air – this time by the shock noconfidence vote – the ethnic sentiments that act like magnets to polarise the populace have returned with a vengeance. Coterminous with the introduction of modern electoral politics in 1953, voting became increasingly influenced by ethnicity. By the 1960s, it was not a coincidence that elections became ethnic censuses. One of the dilemmas of democracy in Guyana under our Westminster majoritarian/plurality rules is how to manage this now reflexive formation of ethnic “factions” to preclude real or perceived tyrannies of a winning majority group/faction.

After the Indiandominated PPP’s massive victory in 1961, the then minority African/Coloured section had to deal with the possibility of being forever excluded from the Executive.

This was the “African Ethnic Security Dilemma” in Guyana: if they played by the rules of democracy, they would be excluded from the Executive.

Ravi Dev Democracy also presumes that the State will be managed for all the citizens of the country: the managers should be servants of the people. Hegel called them the “universal class”. If the staffing of the institutions of the state is controlled by any one “faction”, this presents another dilemma for democracy.

Usually, the majority faction controls the Executive and the organs of state - and in fact this is what could produce the “tyranny of the majority”. However, if there are circumstances in which a minority has control of the state institutions, especially if these include the Armed Forces, the Civil Service and the Judiciary, then the will of the majority can also be denied, since the minority would calculate that they have the wherewithal to challenge the majority without state sanctions.

This was the situation in Guyana where the minority African section is vastly overrepresented in the key state institutions mentioned, especially in the Armed Forces. As predicted by us in 1993, because of this historically extant structural condition, the PNC and African Guyanese resisted their exclusion by parliamentary (1992-1997) and violent extra-parliamentary means - including armed rebellion - between 1998-2008. PNC leader Desmond Hoyte’s “kith and kin” call after losing the 1997 elections brutally exposed the “Indian Ethnic Security Dilemma”: even though they were the majority and under the Westminster system could form the Executive after “free-and-fair” elections, that Executive could not guarantee stability, especially for their supporters. Before taking any policy decision, the PPP - under the “Principle of Anticipated Reactions” - always had to consider whether the opposition would initiate violence, under cover of their control of State institutions. At the same time, their Indian supporters are under an omnipresent fear of being physically attacked, whenever the question of national power is contested, as at present. The fear was realised between 1998 and 2008 in a wave of politically inspired attacks on the state and Indian Guyanese citizens.

Sustained post-1980 migration of Indian Guyanese, exceeding that of African Guyanese, deepened the India Security Dilemma.

The former’s numerical advantage was lost by 2000, with the 2012 census showing them dropping to 39.8%; African Guyanese 29.2%; Amerindian 10.5% and “Mixed” – which generally voted with African Guyanese – rising to 19.9%. The results of the 2015 elections confirmed the African Security Dilemma has been resolved, with the African/Mixed populations now 50% of the electorate. For insurance, the Government is wooing the Amerindian population with the politics of patronage and is consequently very worried about Schuman’s new party.

The Indian Ethnic Security Dilemma, therefore, has now been exacerbated into a straight-out certain oppression of them as a minority group by a Government that combines the “authority” of electoral office with the “power” of support by the Police, Army and the Civil Service. Even though the PPP was in office for 23 years and a Disciplined Forces Commission (DFC) - following the armed uprising against the state - recommended in 2004 that recruitment for the Disciplined Forces be structured to ensure its composition more broadly reflects the composition of the country - this was never implemented.

Instead, the present PNC-led Coalition Government has moved to increase the numbers in the Disciplined Forces – including reintroducing a 1500-staffed Peoples Militia - with new recruits remain overwhelmingly drawn from the African Guyanese community, even though now President David Granger was a member of the DFC that recommended ethnic representativeness.

The strident rhetoric by PNC leaders of a “coup d’état”, bribery; corruption and murder and racism by the PPP is a narrative for retaining power by any means necessary. The oil funds add another powerful incentive.

A

senior Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Head of Department was allegedly removed within the course of the past weeks, causing much tension at the medical institution.

A source at the public medical facility told Guyana Times on Saturday that there seemed to be an ongoing purging of senior management.

Attention was pointed to the recent demotion of Dr Sheik Amir, who was the Director of Medical and Professional Services. Dr Amir, who has served the Corporation for over 19 years, is a decorated surgeon. The reasons behind his demotion are unclear.

Guyana Times’ attempts to contact him for a comment proved futile. Dr Amir’s post was given to an orthopaedic surgeon, who spends approximately one-third of the year on missions in Belize. It is unclear at this time how this will affect the operations of the Medical and Professional Services Division.

Dr Amir’s demotion comes weeks after former Director of Facilities, Andy Mahadeo resigned. A source close to Mahadeo confirmed that the director was pressured into resigning after

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

being threatened with demotion. He served the Corporation for nearly five years in managerial posts and has both a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and a Master’s Degree.

Information emerging from the Hospital is that the departments were reportedly taken over by four individuals.

Meanwhile, State Minister, Joseph Harmon had announced that a new Board for the GPHC was installed

with Kesaundra Alves continuing as the Chairperson. The other members included Dr Holly Alexander, Colette Adams, Sonya Roopnauth, Cleopatra Barkoye and Kemton Alexander.

However, Alexander was later replaced

by First Vice President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Dawn Gardner.

Members of the Board of Directors are appointed to serve for one year.

12 news

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Justice for victims/accused denied?

Judicial backlog remains hefty: Duo waiting 18 years for rape trial ...another awaiting trial close to 20 years

E

ven with the January 2017 implementation of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) that has seen swifter adjudication of some civil matters; the judicial backlog remains hefty especially for criminal proceedings whereby some accused persons are awaiting trial for almost 20 years. Kenrick Persaud known as Arvin and Rajesh Singh known as “Toast� were committed to stand trial at the Demerara Assizes since 2001 for an alleged rape committed in October 2000. Similarly, Collin Smith who was committed to stand trial five months after his alleged Carnal Knowledge of a girl under twelve years offence in

February 1999, his matter remains in the system.

Lennox Tong has been committed to stand trial since March 2007 for Carnal Knowledge of a girl under 15 years that allegedly occurred in 2006 while Selwyne Hope has been waiting since 2011 for an alleged 2008 offence.

Meanwhile, Kenneth Vickerie called Zoonie has been waiting since 2006 for an alleged 2003 Carnal Knowledge offence. Edward Samuels called Robin was committed to trial in 2008 for alleged carnal knowledge of a girl under 12 years in 2003. Many of the alleged victims are now adults.

Many other accused persons for rape, murder, robbery under arms and other

serious offences, have been awaiting trial for eight or even ten years. Recently, the High Court in Demerara began recording murder trials in Courts 2 and 3.

This follows the 2017 installation of the Sexual Offences Court which started recording trials and multiple matters have seen swift disposal. It is believed that with these technological advancements that there will be improvements in adjudication as civil trials have seen.

However, with the roster of only three judges sitting at the January Assizes, it is unlikely that three lists of 253 cases will see dramatic deductions via disposed matters. Justices Navindra Singh

and James Bovell-Drakes are dealing with murder cases and Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Sexual Offences Court.

Earlier this month, Guyana Times observed telling numbers from statistics drawn from the three lists which had shown that 61 per cent of matters were sexual offences with the majority being child victims.

154 cases are sexual offences while the remainder ranges from murder, attempted murder to manslaughter and the like. During the last criminal session in the Demerara county, which ran from October to December, only seven per cent of cases were disposed – reflecting the need for an increased contingent of Judges to hear matters.

Guyana Times has already perused a report from NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) ChildLink about child sexual abuse in Guyana wherein it was suggested that

The Supreme Court in Georgetown which hears matters of the Demerara Assizes

counseling services have been improved to help affected children recover. The report reflected that in 2014, 3883 cases of child abuse were reported to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) of which 628 (or 16 per cent) were child sexual abuse cases. In 2017, the CC&PA saw a total of 4179 cases of abuse reported, with 841 (20 per cent) of these being child sexual abuse. It was also found that in a period of three years (2014- 017) there was an increase of five per cent in reported cases of child sexual

abuse.

ChildLink had further explained that in 2015 and 2016, the CC&PA received 676 and 734 reports of sexual violence, respectively constituting 15 per cent of the reported cases of abuse against children.

Child sexual abuse is when an adult or older child coerces, forces, or persuades a child into sexual activities, according to ChildLink, which describes the act as alarming and distressing since it causes trauma among other issues for a child.

news

13

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Corentyne Highway dangers

More emphasis to be placed on removing derelict vehicles – Armogan

The Corentyne Highway is where many dispose of their unwanted vehicles

R

Discarded vehicle parts are also thrown on the road shoulders to rot

egion Six Chairman David Armogan said the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) will have to take a more active role in ensuring that the Corentyne Highway is cleared of derelict vehicles and is not used as a parking lot for agricultural machinery which is not in use.

The Corentyne Highway has become a cemetery for draglines, combines,

steam rollers and all sorts of heavy-duty machinery as well as other vehicles The Regional Chairman acknowledged that the issue is generally debated whenever there is a fatal accident involving some piece of equipment which has been permanently parked on the shoulder of the Corentyne Highway.

Meanwhile, regional representative Gobin

Harbhajan, who has in the past been very vocal over the situation told this publication that parking on the road shoulders with heavy-duty agriculture machines has become a norm in the region.

He called it a hazard to both pedestrians and motorists.

The Corentyne Highway, Harbhajan noted, has also become the resting place

Heavy duty machinery left on the road shoulders

for old minibuses and cars and it has always attracted a blame game between the Communities, Public Infrastructure and Public Security Ministries as to who is responsible for having these dangers removed.

Regional Chairman Armogan has placed the responsibility at the feet of all three Ministries.

“If it in on the reserve of the NDC [Neighbourhood Democratic Council] it is a NDC matter if it is on the road; once there is pitchmen there is the Ministry

of Public Infrastructure and once it is an encumbrance on the road itself where commuters have to move, then it is the police.”

The Police is the local arm of the Public Security Ministry and the NDC is an arm of the Communities Ministry.

“The RDC has oversight of all what is happening in the region, so we have to also take some responsibility too. But then the people who have the legal jurisdiction, those are the people who will have to give

the notices. The RDC cannot give a notice for an encumbrance in an NDC area,” the Chairman explained.

Armogan said the regional administration will begin to issue letters to NDCs informing them of the dangers posed by the derelicts and permanently parked vehicles on the road shoulders.

Many of the encumbrances stem from the agricultural activities in the region since it is predominantly agriculture based.

14 news

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Wakenaam on high alert for When it comes to spring tide – Chairman Environmental

I

n light of this week’s impending spring tides, which should see its highest level on Tuesday afternoon, Chairman of the Wakenaam Island Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Sheik Ahmad, told Guyana Times that the council has been preparing for possible inundation. In a telephone interview on Saturday, the chairman outlined that the island’s preparedness is ever ongoing owing to several sections being prone to flooding.

Ahmad explained that farmers would normally be alerted by the island’s authorities, and would also receive updates in the local press. He added that, over the last few weeks, the NDC has been working with farmers to maintain drainage and irrigation channels in order to ensure than farmers garner enough water for their rice lands.

“We had to do some work to get water from one section to the other section, because (at) the shore of Wakenaam facing Essequibo, the water is normally sweeter than the shore of Wakenaam facing Legaun, (where) water normally gets salt there. So we (opened) by-passes for farmers,” the NDC Chairman pointed out.

With the rice crop being some 40-50 days away from maturity, workers have been labouring overtime to ensure their produce is saved. Ahmad noted that over 300 acres were under threat with the recent lack of consistent rainfall. He, however, stated that he, along with other councillors and farmers, was able to reduce this threat via rehabilitation initia-

A scene from 2018 flooding on Wakenaam (file photo)

tives on the island. Those, he explained, were several koker doors that have been rectified. To this end, it was explained, the NDC is working with the National Drainage & Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to rehabilitate and replace broken koker doors.

“We have some koker attendants and we normally have reports coming in,” he said.

It was further explained that when the tide starts to rise, a few of the doors would be opened to take in much needed water for rice cultivation, because there is a faster flow into the trenches. He cautioned that this will be on the Essequibo shore only. According to information provided by the Public Infrastructure Ministry, persons from

San Souci to Sarah on Wakenaam Island are being urged to take precautionary measures. It was outlined that at 16:55h on Tuesday, the highest tides are expected at a height of 3:30 metres, and on Monday and Wednesday, January 21 and 23, at 16:06 and 17:44h respectively, high tide of 3:26 metres would occur.

“Precaution should also be taken by all mariners, including those operating fishing vessels and larger ones. Use of beaches and foreshore areas for recreational purposes during this period is not advised,” the ministry stressed.

During 2018, there were two major incidences of flooding on the Essequibo Island. In June, a breach to a section of the sea defence structure led to inundation in the communities of Melville and Sans Souci. Residents had encountered salt water levels as high as three feet, which had invaded low-lying homes and damaged appliances, carpets and other household items. The NDC Chairman had told this newspaper that over 12 homes sustained damage from the flood waters, and had also noted that the Sans Souci Masjid was inundated, causing some damage.

On Boxing Day 2018, several homes in Wakenaam were again flooded after the door of the koker at Maria’s Pleasure gave way, causing the water level to rise approximately 12 inches. Former Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Regional Executive Officer (REO) Denis Jaikarran had explained that some 36 homes had been affected.

Protection, your voice Counts: Part 1

A

s citizens of this beautiful country, we have an important role when it comes to matters concerning the environment and our health. The environment is everybody’s business, since we all depend on it in one way or another. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to promoting sound environment management and sustainable use of Guyana’s natural resources. Equally, the Agency works to promote environmental awareness and public participation in developmental activities. Through our various campaigns, publications, ads, radio/TV interviews/programmes, EPA seeks to encourage all Guyanese to share their views, and make recommendations to ensure developmental projects have minimal adverse impacts on human health and the Environment.

You would agree that all developmental projects have some impact on the environment. However, based on the nature of some projects, the impact might be greater than others. Therefore, the EPA encourages all citizens to develop an interest in what’s happening around them. Be in the know, and share your views on the projects especially to those requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). These are usually projects where the potential impacts may be significant, or are unknown.

This week’s article will highlight one of the many ways members of the public can participate in the decision making process to ensure that projects are implemented in a way that would not cause considerable damage to the environment and human health.

Read public notices

Once someone applies to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for an Environmental Authorisation, and it is decided whether or not the person needs to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the project is published in the newspapers. This allows members of the public to be aware of the project. A summary of the project will also be found on the Agency’s website. The public has the opportunity to share concerns, comments, recommendations etc., before the project commences.

Attend public scoping meetings What is a Public Scoping Meeting?

As part of the name suggests, it is a meeting that specifically targets members of the public. When a developer/project proponent applies to the EPA for Environmental Authorisation to execute a proposed project, and the EPA determines that an EIA is required, as part of this process, such a meeting is necessary. This meeting provides the opportunity for residents of communities surrounding the proposed project site to provide their valuable suggestions, recommendations and concerns about the project idea. At a scoping meeting, the Developer and officials from the EPA are there to hear your thoughts about possible environmental impacts that should guide the EIA study.

East Bank- East Coast (Diamond/Ogle) Road Linkage Project

Recently, the Agency held two public scooping meetings, one at the Better Hope Community Centre on the East Coast and the other at Grove/Diamond Primary School on the East Bank, in an effort to engage the public on the Road Linkage Project. During the meetings, discussions were held around the project; what it entails and impacts to the environment. Citizens got a chance to share ways the project might affect their livelihood. In addition, the audience members were encouraged to share their opinions and ideas for developing the project.

By reading public notices and attending public scoping meetings, citizens have a first-hand input into project development in Guyana. These inputs are necessary because, after a project has been completed, its impacts remain.

Join us next week, when we will examine public scoping meetings further, including who organises these, what to expect etc. The Agency is committed to engaging citizens in matters of the environment, and we encourage persons to share their viewpoints on all projects.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@ gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

news

15

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Uitvlugt Estate took 6 extra weeks to achieve 2018 target How does political instability affect economic growth?

– Is there an imminent political crisis in Guyana amidst GECOM’s seeming unpreparedness for early elections?

P

olitical instability is regarded by economists as a serious malaise harmful to economic performance. Political instability is likely to shorten policymakers’ horizons, leading to sub-optimal, short-term macroeconomic policies. This, in turn, may lead to more frequent switches in policies, creating volatility and thus negatively affecting macroeconomic performance.

The empirical literature has documented ample studies of the negative effects of political instability on a wide range of macroeconomic variables, including, among others, GDP growth, private investment, and inflation. Alestina et.al (1996) use data on 113 countries from 1950 to 1982 to show that GDP growth is significantly lower in countries in time periods with a high propensity of a government collapse.

In a more recent paper, Jong-a-Pin (2009) also finds that higher degrees of political instability lead to lower economic growth. With respect to private investment, Alesina and Perotti (1996) show that socio-political instability generates an uncertain political environment, raising risks and reducing investment. Political instability also leads to higher inflation, as shown by Aisen and Veiga (2006) wherein the authors argued that political instability shortens the horizons of governments, disrupting long term economic policies conducive to a better economic performance.

Moreover, Aesen and Viega (2011) contended that governments in politically fragmented countries with high degrees of political instability need to address its root causes and try to mitigate its effects on the design and implementation of economic policies. The authors argued that, only then, countries could have durable economic policies that may engender higher economic growth.

In the case of Guyana, readers would recall that this author had alluded to this notion in previous writings against the backdrop of what is currently developing in Guyana, both geopolitically and with the no-confidence vote – the repercussions thereof. In the most recent developments thereof, the President and the Opposition Leader had a meeting in which there were some broad agreements. It would appear now that the Guyana Elections Commission is deliberately delaying its preparations for early elections. Whether this is owing to Governmental influence, which would be unfortunate, this is up to the politicians on both sides to work out in a mature fashion and taking into consideration what is best for Guyana.

The propensity of a government change is not likely to have much effect on economic decisions if the next government is expected to follow similar policies to the current one. Thus the propensity of a government change should have stronger effects on growth, the higher is the level of polarization.

Taken together, political instability also affects growth through physical and human capital accumulation, with the former having a slightly larger effect than the latter.

These results allow for a clear understanding as to why political instability is harmful to economic growth.

It is of paramount importance that a situation of political instability or crisis be averted at all cost. These situations dampen investors’ confidence and private investments become slumped or stagnated. And of course these are not events that any right thinking Guyanese would want for Guyana at this point in time. The country is already weakened within these frameworks, unless these matters are resolved at the polls.

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

I

n spite of Government moves to “re-organise” the sugar industry, Guyana Times has learnt that the Uitvlugt Estate took more time than expected to achieve its target for last year. Between 2016 and 2017, thousands of sugar workers from Wales, East Demerara and Skeldon were retrenched from employment as part of the coalition government’s plans to make the sugar industry more efficient via cost-cutting measures.

During late December, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) announced that it was on track to produce target of 103,000 tonnes of sugar. According to information provided, the Uitvlugt Estate surpassed its 10,780 tonne target to achieve 10,802 tonnes by the end of 2018.

However, it is now being revealed that Uitvlugt took longer than the normal 11 weeks to achieve its figure, with a competent source telling this publication that, in fact, the

The lone Demerara Estate at Uitvlugt (Agriculture Ministry photo)

lone West Demerara Estate took some 17 weeks to garner 10,802 tonnes of sugar produced. This means that it was 6 weeks more than the usual time to attain the requisite tonnage.

Uitvlugt suffered numerous breakdowns last year, with a mechanical mishap on August 11 that sent 64 out of 70 knives flying. This had caused workers to dart for safety when the number two turbine broke down. The knives, which are made out of carbon steel, weigh 20lbs each.

The turbine has 70 knives on the sharp which spin to shred the canes, and on the day of the mishap, when workers had started the machines, it overspun, and the knives flew out several feet away. At that time, some $18 million worth of sugar cane produced at the Uitvlugt Estate were left to spoil after the turbine malfunctioned, though some of the produce was eventually salvaged.

Preliminary investigations suggested that it came as a result of negligence, but after 6 months, GuySuCo is

yet to publically pronounce on what specific actions were taken following the multi-million-dollar incident that damaged Uitvlugt’s number two turbine. It was reported that a replacement was sought from the defunct La Bonne Intention (LBI) estate.

Guyana Times learnt earlier this week that an Engineering Manager was reportedly demoted to a supervisory post. It was in October 2018 when reports surfaced that two mangers were sent on administrative leave to facilitate the probe, but it is yet to be made clear if it was one these very managers that was supposedly demoted.

Information which this newspaper had sourced from the GuySuCo investigation explained that 10 components from the turbine had been destroyed. Estate Manager Yudhisthira Mana had not publically disclosed the full cost to repair the shredder machine, which was reportedly in the millions.

16 news

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Manual for Police Officers’ conduct Children centres needed in Guyana’s hinterland – ChildLink on youth criminals in pipeline

T

T

he need for Child Advocacy Centres (CACs) to be established in the hinterland regions in Guyana was recently highlighted in a report assembled by an activist group, ChildLink.

CACs are internationally accepted as the best model for investigating and coordinating efforts for suspected child victims of sexual and other violence.

ChildLink said there were several regions in Guyana that currently do not have CACs, and pinpointed the hinterland region as an area where attention must be given.

“Even in those regions with CACs, distances can be great and transportation poor, meaning that the majority of Guyanese children have limited or no access to the forensic interviews, counselling, case coordination, and legal and other support offered by the CACs,” the report states.

It goes further to say that all children across the various administrative regions should have access to the services that are offered by CACs, as they house the forensic interviewer and coordinate investigative efforts, resulting in more thorough investigations and greater likelihood of an effective legal response.

About 30 per cent of reported cases of child sexual abuse are referred to the Child Advocacy Centres

Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell cutting the ribbon to open a Child Advocacy Centre in her area last year

(CACs), where children receive services to specifically address the trauma and support through the legal process.

Although some are supported through their rehabilitation phase, the report finds that over 500 children annually may not receive any counselling for the trauma they have suffered, and are likely to grow into adulthood bearing the wounds of their traumatic childhood.

ChildLinK and Forward Guyana, in collaboration with the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), managed to open Guyana’s first CAC in Georgetown in February 2014.

Another was opened in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) in May 2015, followed by another in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) in September 2015.

Blossom Inc, another part-

ner of the CPA, opened another CAC in Georgetown and another in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) during the 2015 to 2016 period. Since the opening of the CACs, both agencies have been receiving referrals from law enforcement, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Ministry of Education through the schools, Georgetown Public Hospital, and the Childcare and Protection Agency of children who are known or suspected to have been abused sexually.

From February 2014 to December 2017, these referrals to CACs operated

by ChildLinK totalled 171 in Region 4 (Georgetown); 87 in Region 5 (West Coast Berbice) and 80 in Region 3 (West Bank Demerara).

ChildLinK received a total of 338 referrals during this time period.

he need for Police officers to not only be trained, but properly sensitised to be able to handle youths who would have committed criminal offences, was underscored by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who revealed that a manual is being drafted to guide the general conduct of officers when handling youths who have committed criminal offences.

The minister, during an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday, pointed to the need for training of officers as he explained that even after the bill was passed in April last year, some ranks had arrested a few teens who reportedly broke into a house.

“You have to give special treatment to children who are underage. Now that the Juvenile Justice Act was passed, apparently some of these Policemen do not know (about it), and of course we have to get our Policemen all over to know,” he said According to him, the necessary training for ranks has already begun, but he explained that the Police Training College would be incorporating the Act, which would also include the development of a manual to guide the ranks’ conduct.

The manual, he said, is being developed with aid from the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

“There will be a manual done by UNICEF. I think the manual has been drafted already by UNICEF, who is giving tremendous support.

It simplifies what the act is all about… I think there is a draft, and we will make

it into a beautiful manual, like a publication; and we will print hundreds of that and share with all Police Stations,” he informed.

The Public Security Minister explained that printing 4000 or 5000 copies for Police officers would not have been possible; however, ranks who will be directly involved with youth perpetrators will have their own copies of the manual.

Ramjattan added that the commencement order for the Act was issued between the months of November and December and was officially gazetted after some setbacks.

With the commencement of the Act, he noted, a Director and two Deputies have been appointed, who are currently working on an action plan for this year.

“We’re also dealing with issues of getting support from UNICEF for the halfway house that we would need -- a kind of facility for these kids that is going to ensure that they are in a safe place when they are under arrest, so that we do not give them a prison scenario.

It has to be totally different from that,” he said.

The minister pointed out that these appointed officials would play key roles in assisting with policy directions among other matters relating to the Juvenile Justice Act. The Juvenile Justice Bill was passed in April 2018.

The draft bill was conceived in 2004 under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration, with the support and input from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

A call for youths who are placed before the courts and moreover involved with the law to be treated differently was recently resonated at the opening of the Caribbean Youth Summit on Violence Prevention.

The importance of this was stressed by the Chief of Party for the Community, Family and Youth Resilience (CFYR) Program, Debra Wahlberg.

Youths in Guyana who are taken before the court for petty offences such as wandering have been dragged before the court in shackles.

“We need to acknowledge that youth who are involved with the law are youths, and not adults, and the justice system should treat them with different approaches,” Wahlberg stated.

Wahlberg urged individuals at the conference to aid in the successful reintegration of youths into communities, after they would have found themselves before the Courts.

The CFYR program is geared towards strengthening youths, families and community support systems; improving youth skills to decline involvement in crime; expanding access to education and employment opportunities, and providing specialised services to youths who are at the highest risk of being engaged in violence.

The program is currently working in Guyana on Juvenile Justice Reforms to ensure that youths already in contact with the law can be successfully rehabilitated and reintegrated into their communities. (Davina Ramdass)

news

17

SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Sexual Offences Registry Teen provided for to open to public by year end – Greene family – mother Essequibo Coast accident

A

n Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast family is mourning the death of their 19-year-old family member, who was struck down and killed on Friday evening.

Rajendra Anauge, called “Vijay”, of Section B Onderneeming, was killed about 18:40h on the Onderneeming Public Road after he was struck by a speeding motor car. The driver, a teacher, was allegedly drunk.

At the young man’s home on Saturday morning, his family was in a state of shock as they continue to come to grips with the fact that he is dead. Relatives, neighbours and friends gathered at the residence to lend support as they prepared for the wake and funeral.

Anauge’s mother, Omawattie Singh, told Guyana Times that the family was very poor and that “Vijay”, her eldest child, worked very hard to maintain his young wife, parents, sister and five-year-old brother, who are all living in the same house.

Friday’s accident was the first fatality in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) for 2019.

This newspaper understands that the teenager left home in the company of his

Dead: Rajendra “Vijay” Anauge

hicle and hit the teenager.

The driver, a teacher at Suddie Primary School, picked up the unconscious and badly injured teenager and rushed him to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to persons who witnessed the accident, Anauge reportedly died on the spot. His body is currently at the Onderneeming Funeral Home awaiting an autopsy.

Meanwhile, the 23-year-

The vehicle that struck the 19-year-old construction worker

cousin, and was heading to the Onderneeming Sand Pit Housing area when he was struck down.

According to Police reports, motor car PSS 7038 was proceeding north along the road reportedly at a fast rate of speed and while negotiating a right turn, the driver lost control of the ve-

old teacher, a resident of Suddie Housing Scheme, failed a breathalyser test and was since taken into Police custody, where he is assisting with the investigation. He is expected to be charged and placed before the courts in the coming days.

…1 year after official launching

D

espite being launched in 2018, the Sexual Offenses Registry will not be open to the public until this year-end.

This was recently explained by Director of Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), Ann Greene.

According to her, the necessary information still has to be uploaded to the website.

“The registry will not be in effect until year-end. It’s up, but we have to input data,” she explained. Greene added that the Child Care Agency will now be required to do an extensive amount of research, to ensure that cases were not appealed among other due diligence checks.

“It’s a legal thing. If a man appeals his sexual offense and all of that, we have to go through and see, (so) it’s not just to put up a name. It’s a legal process for including a name, so it’s not going to be open to people. We are hoping that it should be by year-end, but it’s a lot of work, so we are working to get it right,”

CCPA Director Ann Greene

Greene said.

Back in October last year a senior officer reported that the much-anticipated Child Abuse and Sexual Offenses Registries which were launched back in September 2018 were being set up and tested to ensure all aspects are intact.

Greene pointed out during a previous interview that the names of perpetrators of sex-

ual abuse will be publicised and exposed to the public, who will be able to access the requisite information on the internet.

“People were clamouring for that, and so I gave a commitment to launch the Child Abuse Registry. It is really to put online the persons who would have committed offences against children. If anybody wants to employ anybody, you could run the Child Abuse Registry,” she had explained.

Greene did not reveal the cost of the programme, but only said it was budgeted for and is a rather technical database.

The perpetrators’ pictures, she said, will also likely be available through the Registry, since the department is cognisant of the fact that people have the same names.

It was on this note that the Director reiterated the importance of such a database in combating child abuse nationally.

18 news Trump proposes wall-for-DACA in bid to end shutdown U SUnDAY, january 20, 2019 | guyanatimesGY.com

S President Donald Trump proposed an immigration deal on Saturday in a bid to end a 29-day partial government shutdown, including temporary protections for “Dreamers” and other immigrants, but Democrats immediately dismissed it.

Giving no ground on his demand for $5.7 billion to fund a US-Mexico border barrier as part of any bill to fully reopen the government, Trump’s package US President Donald Trump delivers remarks from the sought to pile pressure on Diplomatic Room at the White House in Washington, (REUTERS/ Democrats by appealing to Yuri Gripas) immigrants they have tried

to help.

In a speech from the White House, Trump offered three years of protections for the young undocumented immigrants known as “Dreamers,” as well as for holders of temporary protected status (TPS), another class of immigrants to the United States.

Decrying what he called a “badly broken” U.S. immigration system, Trump said, “I am here today to break the logjam and provide Congress with a path forward to end the government shutdown and solve

Swine flu kills at least 40 in India's Rajasthan state

A

t least 40 people have died and more than 1,000 have tested positive for swine flu since the beginning of the year in a western Indian state popular with foreigners, according to authorities.

The highly contagious H1N1 virus that spreads from human-to-human killed around 1,100 people and infected 15,000 across the country last year.

Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district recorded the highest death toll with 16 fatalities and 225 people testing positive.

At least two people suffering from suspected swine flu also died in New Delhi this month, local media reported.

The capital has reported 168 cases until January 13, according to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Swine flu cases generally spike in the winter months of December and January in the west and north of the country including in Rajasthan and in New Delhi.

Authorities in Rajasthan, famous for its deserts and palaces, have told doctors they must seek permission be-

the crisis along the southern border.”

But the protections he proposed fell far short of the path to citizenship for Dreamers that Democrats and some Republicans in Congress have been urging for years.

In a statement after Trump’s speech, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell called the president’s plan a “bold solution to reopen the government, secure the border, and take bipartisan steps toward addressing current immigration issues.”

fore going on leave and plan a door-todoor campaign to detect infected patients.

Health officials have also launched an awareness campaign to sensitise people about symptoms, precautions and treatment, and have screened more than 5,100 people. No travel advisory has been issued, however.

One high-profile victim in New Delhi this week was Amit Shah, a top aide to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was admitted to hospital with the virus.

Shah, President of the right-wing ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shared the news of his illness on his Twitter page. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

(Reuters)

Around 117 migrants unaccounted for after dinghy sinks off Libyan coast

S

Swine flu cases generally spike in the winter months of December and January in the west and north of India

A spokesman for McConnell said he would seek Senate passage of the president’s proposal next week.

Democrats insisted talks on border security occur only after the government is reopened. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said, “It was the president who singled-handedly took away DACA and TPS protections in the first place. Offering some protections back in exchange for the wall is not a compromise but more hostage taking.”

ome 117 migrants who left Libya in a rubber dinghy two days ago are unaccounted for, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Saturday, after three people were rescued from the vessel after it sank in the Mediterranean.

“The three survivors told us they were 120 when they left Garabulli, in Libya, on Thursday night. After 10 to 11 hours at sea ... (the boat) started sinking and people started drowning,” IOM spokesman Flavio Di Giacomo said on Saturday.

He said the people came mainly from West Africa, adding: “Ten women including a pregnant girl were aboard and two children, one of whom was only two months old.”

An Italian military plane on sea patrol on Friday had

first sighted the dinghy sinking in rough waters and had thrown two safety rafts into the water before leaving due to a lack of fuel, Rear Admiral Fabio Agostini told TV channel RaiNews24.

A helicopter dispatched from a naval ship had then rescued the three people, who were suffering from severe hypothermia and were taken to hospital on the island of Lampedusa.

“During this operation at least three bodies were seen in the water who appeared to be dead,” Agostini said.

The Italian navy said it had alerted Libyan authorities who coordinated rescue operations, ordering a merchant ship to go to the site of the sinking, though rescue efforts had ceased after the search for the dinghy had proved fruitless. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Gunmen kill two Buddhist monks Mexico pipeline blast kills 66 in Thailand's troubled south M

Military police officers are seen at a temple where unknown gunmen shot dead two Buddhist monks and injured two others on Friday in Su-ngai Padi district in the southern province of Narathiwat, Thailand

U

nknown gunmen shot dead two Buddhist monks and injured two others in an attack at a temple in Thailand’s mainly Muslim south, the first such killing of a Buddhist monk in the restive region in more than three years.

An abbot and vice abbot were killed when at least six assailants believed to

be dressed as members of a Government security force burst into the Rattanupap Temple in Narathiwat province and opened fire late on Friday, Police said.

“The Prime Minister condemns this outrageous act and has ordered officials to quickly investigate the incident and apprehend these criminals,” the Prime

Minister’s office said in a statement.

Thai Muslim leaders also spoke out against the shooting of monks.

“We urge perpetrators of violence in the southern border provinces from all sides to stop killing innocent people and religious leaders,” the Sheikhul Islam Office, which represents Thailand’s Muslim minority, said in a statement.

Police said the assailants were still at large.

As with most violence in Thailand’s Deep South, there was no claim of responsibility for Friday’s attack. Buddhist and Muslim leaders as well as state officials have often been targeted by insurgents.

Analysts said the latest incident showed that insurgent group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) retained significant military capacity despite Government efforts to wipe it out.

The Thai military Government has taken part since 2015 in talks brokered

by Malaysia that aim to end the violence but the BRN has stayed out of the dialogue.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

exican authorities now put the number killed in Friday night’s fuel pipeline blast at 66, with scores more injured.

It is believed the explosion occurred after the line was ruptured by suspected fuel thieves in the town of Tlahuelilpan, in Hidalgo state.

Officials say scores of people had been scrambling to fill up containers and were engulfed in an inferno.

Dozens of charred bodies remain at the scene, which is cordoned off by security forces.

Local people said President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s new policy to crack down on fuel theft had created shortages.

“Everyone came to see if they could get a bit of gasoline for their car,” farmer Isaias Garcia told Reuters news agency. “There isn’t any in petrol stations.”

The new death toll was

announced delivered by Hidalgo state governor Omar Fayad in a briefing alongside the president.

Among the 76 injured were three women and a child of 12, Fayad said.

Distraught relatives continued to gather at site of the explosion.

Forensic experts have been photographing remains amid a backdrop of burned clothing and discarded fuel buckets. (BBC)

Brexit: Theresa May should become mediator, says Sir John Major

T

heresa May needs to become a mediator to help break the Brexit deadlock in Parliament, former Prime Minister John Major has said.

He wants MPs to be given a vote on all Brexit options, indicating their preference on the way forward.

Mrs May should consider dropping her red lines “in the national interest” and become a facilitator to find out what Parliament wants, he said.

‘Open and frank’ Meanwhile, shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer has said there are

“in reality, just two remaining options” for Brexit - to instruct the Government to negotiate a close relationship with the EU, including a customs union, or for there to be a public vote.

“It’s now time for an open and frank debate about how we break the deadlock,” he said.

It comes after Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn refused to meet Mrs May for talks to discuss a way forward, unless she takes the possibility of a no-Brexit deal off the table.

Sir Keir also said what

Mrs May is doing is “not resilient, but reckless”, and that she was “ploughing on without a plan” and “reducing the time for a credible alternative to emerge”.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme earlier, Sir John warned that no deal would be the “worst of all outcomes”. He said that “millions of people” - both individuals and businesses - would be hurt in such a scenario.

“Tinkering” with her deal will not make a difference to the current situation, he added. (Excerpt from BBC News)

sunDAY, january 20, 2018

Australian Open:

Halep to meet Serena Williams in last-16 clash worthy of final A

fourth-round collision on Monday that will rip the 2019 Australian Open wide apart brings the official world No 1, Simona Halep, and the best player in the history of the game, Serena Williams, together for the ninth time.

The American has an 8-1 grip on that rivalry, but the Romanian comes into the match after beating her sister, Venus, fairly convincingly on day six, 6-2, 6-3 in a little more than an hour-and-a-quarter.

However, the younger Williams sister has been in equally awesome form in the first week, taking just over an hour to beat the Ukrainian teenager Dayana Yastremska for the loss of just three games.

There was a touching moment Serena Williams comforts Dayana Yastremska after their match at the net, when Williams comforted that side of the draw is Serena’s conqueror in the Yastremska, who could not hold back the tears. “I US Open final, Naomi Osaka, who had to come could tell she was quite upset,” said Williams. “I from a set and 2-4 down to get past the quirky gekind of liked that. It shows she wasn’t just there nius of Hsieh Su-wei. Madison Keys is also through to play a good match, she was there to win. She and in good enough touch to beat the sixth seed, wanted to win. That really broke my heart. I think Elina Svitolina, who needed three sets to beat the she’s a good talent. It’s good to see that attitude. I unseeded Shuai Zhang in two hours and 55 minremember one time in particular against Venus at utes, the longest match in the women’s championWimbledon, as I was walking to the net, I started ship so far. bawling. I couldn’t help it.”

For all that, Serena Williams seems scarily foIt will be back to business against Halep, cused in pursuit of one more major to move alongthough, and a step up in levels. The Romanian, side the all-time record of Margaret Court. In that lifted after breaking through at Roland Garros mood, she can be unbeatable. last summer after years of near-misses in the The former British No 1 Annabel Croft, workmajors, dropped a tie-break set in the first round ing here for Eurosport, said of Williams: “She looks against Kaia Kanepi, and another when beating a lot more at ease with the situation, this looming the American Sofia Kenin. But she found the right 24th grand slam – which has rather shackled her gears against Venus. in the finals of the last two grand slams. I get the “She played pretty flawless tennis today – only feeling she is come to terms with it and is ready 12 errors,” Williams said. “Unfortunately, I had al- to play freely, enjoy the situation and take on the most three times as many.” challenge.”

So a match worthy of a final awaits. Also on

DeMarcus Cousins makes his long-awaited debut in Golden State Warriors’ 112-94 win over Los Angeles Clippers

A

fter nearly missing an entire year after suffering a torn Achilles last season, Cousins debuted for the Warriors and scored 14 points in NBA action on Friday.

And from the beginning, the All-Star looked back in his element. For his first points with the Warriors, he threw down a monstrous dunk.

The former New Orleans Pelicans and

Kyrie Irving

Sacramento Kings star even got into an argument with the referees within minutes of being on the court. He also found a way to foul out in just 15 minutes of play.

Irving double-double inspires Celtics

Kyrie Irving had 38 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in the Boston Celtics 122-116 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Brooklyn Nets guard D’Angelo Russell scored 40 points and went eight-for-12 shoot-

ing from threepoint range with seven assists in his team’s 117-115 victory against the Orlando Magic.

Blake Griffin posted 32 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in the Detroit Pistons’ 98-93 win over the Miami Heat.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jake Layman went off in the second quarter, scoring 18 points in the span of four-and-a-half DeMarcus Cousins minutes. He finished the game with 20 in Portland’s 128-112 victory against the Pelicans.

Hood struggles

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Rodney Hood never really got anything going in a 115-99 loss to the Utah Jazz. He was one-for-six shooting with four points in 17 minutes.

Gibson and Rose combine

Taj Gibson made a fabulous pass in the paint to Derrick Rose. The former MVP then made a nifty reverse layup to finish the play as the Minnesota Timberwolves fell to the San Antonio Spurs 116-113.

19

Rashford arguably league’s best striker with Kane out – Solskjaer

M

arcus Rashford could be considered the Premier League’s best striker while Harry Kane is out injured, according to Manchester United’s interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Forward Rashford was on target again in United’s 2-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday - taking his tally to five in the seven games since Solskjaer was appointed a month ago.

It was the 21-year-old’s 150th appearance for the club and he marked it with his 41st goal, bending a fine finish into the top corner to demonstrate just why Solskjaer rates him so highly.

And the United boss believes that in the absence of Tottenham’s Kane, who is out until March due to an ankle injury, Rashford can be viewed as arguably the division’s best forward.

“You can argue for many strikers but I’m glad he’s in my team,” Solskjaer told a news conference. “Harry Kane is injured so maybe that gives him a better chance to be the best one at the moment.

“No one beats him on work rate, no one beats him on attitude and he’s very confident in front of goal at the moment.

“He finishes, tries to shoot, he doesn’t think twice about it. I think he’s playing the best football in his career.”

Rashford’s form has been integral to Solskjaer’s fine start at the Old Trafford helm, with the Norwegian having now presided over seven wins from seven.

Paul Pogba, another to have flourished over the past month, scored a penalty before Rashford’s clinical finish extended United’s advantage.

Pascal Gross pulled one back but Solskjaer was still able to achieve the feat of becoming the first United manager to win his first six league games in charge.

However, he is keen for his team not to rest on their laurels as he cited how Alex Ferguson would always push his united sides.

“The gaffer used to challenge us at times with, ‘Why can’t you win 10 games on the bounce?’” Solskjaer added.

Brighton had beaten United when Jose Mourinho was in charge of the Red Devils earlier in the season and Chris Hughton lamented their slow start at Old Trafford, which ultimately left them with too much to do.

“Probably the biggest disappointment is that we gave ourselves a mountain to climb,” he told the BBC. “I thought that we conceded two poor goals when we’re up against a rampant Manchester United team at the moment in really good form.” (SPORTSMAX)

20

guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, january 20, 2018

GDF deny Police victory despite Savory’s 79...

GYO trample GNIC

BY Timothy Jaikarran

T

he action took to the field as the Guyana Defense Force defeated the Police Force by 14 runs in a thriller that went down to the wire that saw Kemol Savory produce a brilliant 79 in a losing effort in the Noble House Seafood 2nd Division 40 over tournament at Camp Ayangana.

Due to inclement weather the 40 over that was allotted to the teams was reduced to 25 overs per side. The Police won the toss and sent the soldiers in to bat on the damp pitch as they expected them to struggle for runs. Opening the batting for the soldiers were Leon Andrews and Kevin Sinclair who got off to a cautious start as they basically ran singles, however, Andrews fell victim to Jason Heyliger for 2 as he was caught attempting a big shot too early in the game.

This brought Randy Lindore to crease, from there on it was the Sinclair and Lindore show as they picked the gaps easily and scored

Waldron who attempted to carry on but failed miserably as he was also trapped leg before leg before for 20 off the bowling of Eon Rodrigues. Things then spun out of control as Quacy McPherson and Nakietho Nestor fell for 2 and 14 respectively off the bowling of Kelvin Leitch and Vishal Jaigobin. But, in came Joshua Jones who struck a quickfire 39 off thirteen balls to lift the hopes of the soldiers, the burly all-rounder utilized his strength to his advantage as he disposed of the Police bowlers with ease. In came leg spinner Vishal Jaigobin who disposed of Jones after he was hit for two consecutive sixes over long on. From there on it was never the same as when Jones departed so did the rest of the team as the rest of the wickets fell cheaply. Bowling for Police were Eon Rodrigues with figures of 4-34-1, Jason Heyliger 5-36-1, Hemchan Persaud 5-16-1, Mark Gonsalves 2-4-1, Kelvin Leitch 4.4-332 and Vishal Jaigobin 1-13-2.

Needing 167 for victory off 25 overs Police

teammate Andrew Lyght who was run out for a golden duck. Colvis Sam then came to the bowling end with the ball in his hand as Savory was beginning to look like a threat;

to pick up the wicket of Eon Rodrigues to leave the Police biting their nails in the pavilion. It was now the last over off the game and Police required 15 off 6 balls and Savory

Part of the action in the GYO vs GNIC affair

Joshua Jones goes down the ground in a quick-fire 39

maximums and boundaries at will. However Sinclair then fell to Hemchan Persaud for 33, a few balls later Lindore joined Sinclair in the pavilion as he was ran out for 34 to leave two fresh faces at the crease and the defense force in need of rebuilding and innings. From there on nothing worked correct for the soldiers as everything around them began to crumble as within a quick period they lost the wickets of Terry Fraser who was trapped leg before for 3 off the superb bowling of Mark Gonsalves, Damion

went about their run chance in an aggressive manner that resulted in them losing the wickets of openers Reginal Rodrigues for 11 as he was caught by Kevin Sinclair off the bowling of Damion Waldron and Paul Tyndal who was then bowled by Sinclair for 10. In came Kemol Savory who was patient and exercised good judgment in his shot selection to give Police a fighting chance. After running two singles, Savory smacked three scintillating sixes that cleared the rope effortlessly as he showed his intent, however he received no support from his fellow

Sam was unable to remove Savory as he was an exceptional talent who had no intention of departing the crease. Despite not being able to get rid of the now set Savory, Sam was able to remove Mark Gonsalves and Jason Heyliger for scores of 6 and 5 respectively. Nothing could budge Savory as he dug deeper and deeper; the soldiers were eager to dismiss Savory but rejoiced in the consolation wickets they picked up along the way. The off spinner Kevin Sinclair was able to add two more wickets to his tally as he out foxed Kelvin Leitch and Richard Leacock with two brilliant quicker balls that now exposed the tail enders and forcing all the pressure on Savory. As the pressure now got to Savory, he was forced to open his bat and let his bottom hand do the talking as he gradually chipped away at the total set before them. Damion Waldron then returned

was at the non-strikers end. Vishal Jaigobin gently touched the ball to scamper a single to bring Savory on strike but the pressure was too much this resulted in Savory losing his wicket for a well played 79 and Police losing the match, the officers ended the match on 153 all-out in 24.3 overs.

Bowling for the GDF were Kevin Sinclair with figures of 5-46-3, Damion Waldron 4.318.3, Colvis Sam 4-25-2 and Leon Andrews chipping in with 5-29-1.

While in the other fixture Gandhi Youth Organisation defeated GNIC in a one sided affair, batting first GYO composed a total of 157 all-out in 24.1 overs Ricky Sargent top scoring with a rapid 41 off 11 balls and R Shaun picking up figures of 7.1-4-6. In response GNIC were skittled out for a meager 58 as Dimitri Cameron wrecked the out of form GNIC with figures of 7.5-39-5.

Roach enters Top 10: Eyes on 200 Test wickets F

ast bowler Kemar Roach believes that despite being labelled “underdogs”, West Indies have what it takes to challenge England in the upcoming three-Test series in the region. Roach is the oldest and most experienced member of the 13-man squad preparing for the series, which starts at Kensington Oval next Wednesday.

The 30-year-old boasts an impressive record of 166 wickets in 50 Tests, putting him in the West Indies top 10 wicket-takers of all time. “Looking ahead to the series, I’m feeling fit and ready. I’m confident I can do well and make an impact for the team,” the Barbadian said during the ongoing training camp. “We are the underdogs, we know that.

But we were underdogs back in 2017 and we played some fantastic cricket to win at Leeds and show the world we have quality. We will prepare well, we will plan well, we will look to take our chances and look to challenge and win again.”

Roach was referring to the 2017 tour of England when West Indies suffered a crushing innings and 209-run defeat in the opening Test at Birmingham, but bounced back to stun the hosts by five wickets at Headingly. He and the Windies players entered camp on Thursday, and will ramp up their preparations over the weekend going into next week’s big event.

“I recently reached one of my goals in the last series… Obviously, to be among the top ten West Indian

bowlers of all time in Test cricket was something special,” he noted. “My next goal is to get 200 Test wickets, and in doing so win some more games for West Indies. I will see how far I can go from there. I think I still have another three to four years in West Indies cricket, and I want to contribute to the team.”

The speedster has a very good record at Kensington

Oval, managing 24 wickets in five Tests at the historic venue. His best match figures were eight for 116 against New Zealand in 2014. Roach, who has been a key member of the Windies attack since his debut in 2009, said he is eagerly looking forward to performing in front his home fans.

“As a Bajan, playing at Kensington Oval in front of your home people is always a good feeling to perform well…it is very important. At home, you know the conditions well,” he pointed out. “Once you go there and be focused and be mentally prepared, I think it will be a very good feeling to represent the West Indies in your homeland.”

He continued: “Seeing the names of past greats on the stands is an inspiration. Kensington is an historic place, and a lot of great cricketers have played at the ground. It has been renovated from the old one, but it is still a good feeling to go out there and see the Sir Garfield Sobers Pavilion, Greenidge and Haynes Stand, The Three Ws, Hall and Griffith, or bowling at the Malcolm Marshall or Joel Garner Ends.”

West Indies will meet England in the three-match Wisden Trophy Test Series from January 23 to February 13.

The matches will be played at Kensington Oval, Barbados (Jan 23-27); Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua (Jan 31- Feb 4), and Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia (Feb 9-13). (SPORTSMAX)

CLASSIFIED ADS suNdAY, january 20, 2018

| www.guyanatimesgy.com

ACCOMMODATIONS Conferences and retreats – full service: Hotel, Catering & Facilities.

Aracari Resort WBD – 264-2946 Alex Wayne.

Weddings and anniversaries: Rental or full service: Banquet Hall & Catering.

Aracari Resort 264-2946 Alex Wayne.

Aracari Hotel, WBD (Near Harbour Bridge) – All modern amenities, rates from $25. Phone 264-2946-8 Salon/Spa. Cosmetology – full course $100,000, technician $40,000. Aracari Salon and Spa, WBD 264-3312

HERBAL TREATMENT MIRACLE HERBAL PRODUCTS HAVE TREATMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING: 1 CANCER CAN BE CURED, 2 DIABETIC FOOT (COMPLETE HEALING WITHIN 6 WEEKS), 3 GALL STONES ASTHMA, 4 HORMONE IMBALANCE, 5 PROSTATE, 6 THYROID, 7 COUGH & COLD, 8 HEART (BLOCKAGES), 9 CIRCULATION PROBLEM, 10 PAIN ( JOINT, MUSCLE ETC), 11 CUTS/ BRUISES, 12 SNAKE BITE, 13 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, 14 KIDNEY STONES, 15 AND MANY OTHER HEALTH ISSUES. CONTACT MAHADEO LALL ON 612-8944/ 6883663 OR VISIT HIM AT LOT 869 NEW SCHEME TUSCHEN, EBE.

LAND for sale Transported land 11.6 Acres. Lot 15 Public Road #2Village West Coast Berbice. Price $18 Million. Contact: 686-4818, 648-7109

SERVICES Looking for the best Jeweller?

Come on down to us at R. Sookraj Jewellery! We remake and remodel to your specification and choice.

We are number one in the business. Check out our location on the Second Floor at Giftland Mall, or contact us on 223-6156, 222-7292, 612-2125.

Looking for a reliable key cutter?

Visit R. Sookraj Jewellery at the Giftland Mall or Camp Street location or call us on 223-6156, 2227292, 612-2125

SPIRITUALITY HAVING PROBLEMS SUCH AS HEALTH, MARRIAGE, LOVE LIFE, MONEY AND CHILDREN. REMOVE OBSTACLES OF ANY KIND. I CAN HELP. CALL FOR APPOINTMENT 600-1494

WANTED 1 HOUSE KEEPER, 1 COOK, 1 PUMP ATTENDANT, 1 BILLING CLERK. CONTACT 624-0033 OR 680-3863

NOT

RECEIVING YOUR

DAILY & SUNDAY COPIES OF THE

GUYANA TIMES

in your area?

Contact our

Circulation Department on Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 55

Roach/Holder/Gabriel chemistry crucial for success in Test series

sports

21

– newbie Thomas could be X-Factor to his ability to clock speeds upwards of 154km on a good day. hat the West His average speeds Indies’ lack of 140 plus will in batease some stress ting, they will from Gabriel and relish in their Roach, who usubowling deally hover around partment, as that mark. the chemistry The pacer between their was flung senior paconto the ers could be interthe X-Factor nationa g a i n s t Windies Skipper Jason Holder would want to bring al scene England this his A-game in his return Test match on home soil a f t e r week when the roughTest series bowls off in Barbados. ing up a number of quality batsmen The visitors flexed their muscles in during the 2018 HERO CPL. His both departments during the recently limited overs runs with the Windies concluded pair of 2-day tour games; team have been fruitful to date, but with the senior lot of players warm- the right-arm quick could be the ing up nicely with runs and wickets hosts’ surprise weapon against the against the Windies President’s XI English, who are unfamiliar with the team.

21- year-old.

Although it is unclear whether Holder recently returned from insomeone like left-arm pacer Raymon jury which laid him off from the Asian Reifer, who was the best bowler tour of Bangladesh in December 2018, with 4 wickets in total, or even Sunil and although he has not stressed Ambris, who narrowly missed a ton himself too much during the ongoing during the final tour game, could 4-day championships, the all-rounder still find his way into the side be- will be a big player over the next few fore the 3-Test ends, the foursome weeks. of skipper Jason Holder, Shannon His career 16 wickets from the Gabriel, Kemar Roach and the bus- 6 Tests, with a best of 4-54 against tling Oshane Thomas could be the England, is something that Holder difference between the inexperienced will want to improve on, especially Windies batsmen being exploited by having made enormous strides up the the England bowlers, or the tourists rankings as an all-rounder with his being snuffed out for little. runs and 33 wickets last year; while Likely to make his debut as cov- his 2 Test tons and career average er for Alzarri Joseph, Jamaican fast- of 30 will further play a pivotal role man Thomas will be used mainly come batting time. as the Windies battering-ram due Roach, the leader of the pack, will

By Clifton Ross

W

be tasked with much responsibility, especially having the most experience of his team as well as the most wickets at this level. The Bajan speedster has good Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel’s partnership with the ball home stats, will be huge for the Windies’ success with 106 of his when unleashed in the same wave.

166 Test wickets coming on Caribbean When teamed up with Roach and soil, while his record against England Holder, Gabriel becomes seemingis decent, with 24 wickets against ly more dangerous, and his pace also them from just 7 games, with a best seems to increase due to the rotation of 5-42. between himself and his two partners.

As pack leader, Roach will be gunSelectors drafted two spinners in ning to hit his straps immediately; the side with Jomel Warrican and and along with Holder, the pair will batting all-rounder Roston Chase belook to use all their experience play- ing the slow bowling options, but giving at home in Barbados as well as en Reifer being the best bowler after other parts of the region to get the bet- the end of the two tour-games and ter of Joe Root and his team.

Windies not having a genuine leftAnother big player is Gabriel, who arm seamer in the side who can bat, could easily blow away England giv- it is likely that Reifer could be used en his recent form with the Red Ball. in place of Warrican should they falGabriel last played against England ter along the way. back in 2017, but has since matured Chase will cement his spot given and gotten faster with better han- he’s one of the top five Windies batsdling of the ball. men and a key part of their batting Since commencement of 2017, cog; which means Warrican, the only Gabriel snared 71 wickets in just 17 pure spinner in the team, could lose Tests at an average of 23.94, with his his place to a bowler or another batsrecord 20-wicket series haul against men if his returns are unfavourable.

Sri Lanka and 15 wickets at 18.80 In all, Windies’ 4-pronged pace atagainst Pakistan. When Pakistan re- tack will be tasked with containing turned for the Caribbean series, the the opposition and defending runs right-arm speedster bagged 25 wick- for their team. With the Windies just ets at a staggering average of 25.56. having a few batters to call upon, However the Windies real charm the bowlers will be the ones to even could prove to be the chemistry be- the playing field when the Test setween the three senior pacers, as they ries bowls off from January 23 at the have been proven killers of batsmen Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Junica Pluck aims to compete on international platform ...requires 33 more points

F

ormer bodybuilder and Miss Bikini 2015 contestant now turned powerlifter, Junica Pluck, is making a name for herself as she is quickly rising through the ranks. Pluck will be guest lifting in the Novices/Junior National Championship 2019 which will be held at the Saint Stanislaus College at 10:00 hrs on February 3, 2019.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport Pluck stated that she has been training hard for the competition, as while she is allowed to guest lift at other events, she only needs 33 more points to be able to compete internationally. When asked about her training, Pluck also said, “I have been training approximately 9 weeks from the last

senior competition, which was held on December 3rd 2018. My intention is to break my own records in the 63kg category, which will allow me to gain more additional points to qualify me to compete on the international platform. I’m on the Preliminary List for 2019 International Events, which means I, the athlete, am still to achieve the minimum qualifying total for the particular weight class. I’m allowed to ‘Guest Lift’ at any of the upcoming ‘Local’ events in 2019 (before their scheduled international meets”.

She also stated that she is proud of herself as she has seen improvements in her lifting, such that she is “able to squat more than my last

competition,” has drastically improved in her bench press, and has also increased tremendously with her deadlifts. She gave high praises to her two coaches, whom she credited with giving her the energy, the drive and the determination.

Pluck also went into detail, as she is hoping that as she guest lifts at the competition, she is hoping to gain all 33 of her points at the event to skyrocket her career on the international scene, as she said she is ready mentally and physically for what lies ahead.

Weigh in period for the competition is between 08:00h and 9:30h, tickets are $1000 and $1500 at the door.

Junica Pluck poses with Carlos Peterson

KMTC announces programme for Phagwah Day Meet ...set for March 24

T

he highly anticipated Kennard Memorial Turf Club Phagwah Day horse racing meet is all set for action at the Club’s facility at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.

The event will feature six races on the card with the top prized race being the G1 & Lower, which shall be 7 furlong for a top prize of $300,000.

There will also be a race for Guyana bred horses which will see the winner taking home $240,000 and a trophy in the six-furlong race. The JK Class will carry a race which is over seven furlongs and will see the first-place winner bagging $100,000 and a trophy.

Over five furlongs, the race classified for L Class open animals will carry a winning purse of $140,000, while the

will be lookrace for the L ing to settle Class non-winold scores, ners will see the while othwinner claiming ers will $120,000 and a be looking trophy; this race to defend will be over five their titles furlongs. There is once again. also a race for L Horses such Class non-earnas Orion ers which is over will be five furlongs as looking to well, and will see Part of the action in last year’s Phagwah Meet stake their animals racing for a top purse of $100,000 and a tro- claim, as it known to cause major upsets in previous horse meets, while phy.

The build-up for this event will Massepequa Dr, who recently won in be one to remember, as seen in last the Nand Persaud horse racing meet, year’s Phagwah horse meet. Jockeys will also have its eyes on making it

two in a row.

The Champion jockey and runner-up jockeys, trainer and stables will all receive accolades, compliments of Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall and the organisers.

These races will be conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority, and interested owners/trainers and handlers can call the following persons for more information: Niketa Ross, 662-4668; Justice Kennard, 623-7609; or any member of the KMTC Executive for more information.

All entries will be closed on March 17, 2019.

22

guyanatimesgy.com

SUnDAY, january 20, 2018

GFF hosts CONCACAF-facilitated marketing workshop

Concacaf facilitator Vijay Setlur interacts with the participants at the GFF workshop

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is hosting a two-day marketing workshop, which began on Saturday and is aimed at building capacity of its members to understand marketing, sports marketing, branding, and brand management towards sustainable corporate partnerships.

This event, being held at the Guyana Olympic Association (GoA) Building, Liliendaal, is being facilitated by Vijay Setlur, Concacaf’s Professional Football Development Instructor and Marketing Instructor at Schulich School of Business – York University.

In his opening remarks on the first day of the programme, President Wayne Forde urged the participants to maximize the opportunity as the Football fraternity seeks to build its brand: “The football brand has had its ups and downs in Guyana and it was with this consciousness, that we’ve taken the decision to not just help ourselves at the Federation but members to pay attention to the brand that

you are responsible for and how it fits into the overall synergy of developing the game and professionalizing the sport in Guyana.”

Setlur, who has also conducted similar marketing workshops in three Concacaf nations – Dominican Republic, Suriname and Puerto Rico – said he was happy to contribute to the sport as “it’s great to be able to grow football in the Concacaf region.”

The workshop is being attended by representatives from elite clubs, Association Members and Regional Member Associations (RMA.) Among the areas being addressed in the two-day event, which began today, are Introduction to Marketing and Sport Marketing, Developing A Marketing Plan, Sports Consumers and Consumer Engagement, Sports Brand Management, Sport Sponsorship Marketing and Social Media and Sport Marketing, Sport Marketing and Popular Culture.

GMRSC’s 2019 season

commences in February A fter yet another successful year which saw the SR3 Radical Cup make its maiden run at the South Dakota Circuit, the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMRSC) are about to shift into gear for their 2019 season.

First up on the calendar of events is round one of the Endurance Series, which is slated for February 3, followed by the commencement rounds for the Drag and Circuit Racing on February 17 and March 3 respectively.

After that, team Guyana wings out to Trinidad and Tobago, where they will commence yet another Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) title defence at the Wallerfield International Circuit from March 23 - 24.

The Drag and Endurance Series enter round two in the kite-flying season with the Drags scheduled for April 7 and the other genre of racing unfolds on April 28, both at the South Dakota Circuit.

Jamwest Speedway in Jamaica will then come alive for the CMRC second round on May 26. Round three is billed for the Bushy Park Circuit in Barbados, then the culmination as always takes place at Timehri from November 16-17.

Rally racing will get a chance to make its mark locally when the event unravels on June 23. Round two of the circuit action takes place on July 14, while the second round of International Drag is set for August 25.

The only other two fixtures which remain on the calendar of events are Round 3 for both the Endurance and Drag Series, which will be contested on September 15 and October 6 respectively.

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets”

Showstoppers open title defence with win

T

hree time West Coast/East Bank sub meet champions Showstoppers made their 2019 intentions clear, opening their campaign with a 3-0 win on the first night of competition. It was a packed schedule at the Pouderoyen tarmac on Friday night, with eight games being played in front of an eccentric crowd.

The first game of the night saw Up top Bosses coming out on top of their encounter with Boom Bang.

A goal from Amoniki Buntin and a Guinness Goal were responsible for the 3-0 win.

The second game held a little more excitement, with the decision going down to penalties after a 1-1 final score between Genna and brothers United. Andrew Murray and Bryan Prince scored for their respective sides, but it was Brothers United who eventually took the win after penalties.

Game three saw another battle going down to penal-

ties, this time between Jetty Ballers and Phoenix Ballers.

Pheonix Ballers held the lead for some time after an early goal from Sheldonn Lindare, but Shane Hamilton eventually replied for Jetty. Going into penalties, Jetty proved to be the more formidable team with a 2-1 win.

Last year’s runner ups, ESPN, also made a strong start to their 2019 campaign with a blistering victory over Dream Team. Dennnis Edwards began with a goal in the 4th minute, followed by an own goal compliments of Dream Team. Tefon Daly was the one to crown it off with a Guinness goal in the 18th for the 4-0 trouncing.

After their encounter went down to the wire in a deadlock, Bagotstown and Young Ballers were plunged into a penalty shootout, which was won by Bagotstown 2-0. Also registering a win, was Ballers Empire who took an easy 1-0 victory over Agricola,

compliments of Jamal Hamilton’s 5th minute goal.

Rising Stars experienced a similar fate after it took just one goal off the boots of Morgan Denny to give West Side Ballers a win on Friday night.

In the final game of the night, defending champions Showstoppers gave a taste of what to expect from them after trouncing UP Like 7 three nil. A goal from Dexroy Adams and a Guinness goal from Marvin Josiah were responsible for the win.

The 16 teams in the West Coast/ East Bank sub meet are battling for a chance to walk away with $500,000 should they win the competition. Second place will pocket $250,000, whilst third and fourth places will have to settle for $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.

The West Coast/ East Bank sub division meet will continue next Friday, January 25th. The finals are scheduled for February 15.

Chance sets national record at inaugural meet A

new school record by Arinze Chance made a historic evening truly special as the University of South Carolina track & field team competed on day one of the Gamecock Inaugural. Chance posted a new Gamecock record of 46.15 in the indoor 400m on the first-ever day of competition at the newly-remodelled Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex.

The former student of the Bishops’ High School and Queen’s College now has the fastest 400m run in the NCAA this season, and has also set a Guyana national record in the event. It’s the second national record in as many weeks for the senior, who broke his naArinze Chance dominated tion’s mark in the indoor 300m last week the competition at the Orange & Purple Elite.

“Two records in two weeks – what more could a guy ask for?” Chance said after the race. “I’m just having fun, I’m just happy that I’m here and I can compete and do what I love.”

Chance was one of four Gamecocks to taste victory Friday as the team officially opened its new indoor facility. Stephanie Davis (women’s 400m Invite), Anna Kathryn Stoddard (women’s 300m) and Noah Walker (men’s Open 400m) also etched their names into the record books as Gamecock victors on the first day of the new facility.

Speaking on the Guyanese’s performance, Head Coach Curtis Frye stated, “I’m really excited. Watching Arinze on this track proves what I thought – this is a wide track, it’s a high-banked track, and it’s got gentle slopes off the high banks. He’s a young man that dropped from 47.2 to 46.1 and he has bought in. Last year was difficult for him, he had to sit out after indoors, but he continued to stay positive. He went to class and did work.

He came back this fall ready to work out, and he proved that if you do the things you’re asked and buy into the system, great things will happen.”

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, january 20, 2018

23

Cornwall’s 6-for restrict Jaguars to 269 all out on drama-filled day 3 Hurricanes 32-1 at stumps, require 259 more on final day

By Brandon Corlette

T

he penultimate day of the epic encounter between Guyana Jaguars and Leeward Islands Hurricanes was an eventful one at Providence. In the fifth round match between hosts Guyana Jaguars and the Hurricanes, the Jaguars were bowled out for 269 runs on day three, posting a target of 291 runs for Hurricanes.

The visitors were 32-1 at stumps, requiring another 259 runs to win. Rahkeem Cornwall was once more the star of the day, grabbing his 15th five wicket haul and his second 10th wicket match haul.

After the lunch interval on day 3, play was suspended due to the illness of the Leewards Islands Hurricanes players. It seems as if the players encountered stomach issues as they failed to eat food of the highest standard.

The matched resumed at 14:17h with the Hurricanes assistant/coach and Head coach taking the field as the players were still recovering.

Rain was out of sight at Providence; Jaguars resumed the day on 762, with Tagenarine Chanderpaul on 15 and Christopher Barnwell yet to get off the mark. Guyana Jaguars opened their scoring account when Barnwell stroked one into the leg side for four off fast-bowler Jeremiah Louis.

Barnwell and Chanderpaul were building a partnership until leg-spinner Damion Jacobs was introduced, he removed Barnwell.

The right-handed Barnwell, who scored 58 in the first innings, attempted to cut a delivery that was close to the stumps and was out caught by wicket-keeper Jaison Peters for 12 from 32 balls, inclusive of one boundary.

Jaguars were reduced to 103-3 after 42.1 overs when Anthony Bramble came at number five. Chanderpaul stroked Jacobs through the covers as he looked to score runs on day 3, but Rahkeem Cornwall was causing the solid

batsman trouble. Chanderpaul eventually ended his 175-ball knock of 40 when he played back to a Cornwall skidder and was given out leg before.

Hurricanes spinners kept taking wickets after Chanderpaul departed with the score on 129-4 in 51.5 overs. Anthony Bramble and Sherfane Rutherford were task to rebuild.

Rutherford cut Jacobs past the point fielder for a boundary, but five balls later the Jaguars lead stretched to 157 runs. Bramble departed when Cornwall continued his marathon spell from the Southern end at Providence.

Bramble was caught at the crease, playing back to a Cornwall ball that he should have been in front. He was adjudged leg before after scoring 18 from 27 balls, including two boundaries. Cornwall was on a role, as the Hurricanes, picking up three wickets in the morning session. The Hurricanes continued to chip away at Jaguars wickets; Sherfane

Guyana Jaguars 1st Innings 196 all out Leeward Islands Hurricanes 1st Innings 175 all out Guyana Jaguars 2nd Innings 269 all out T Griffith lbw Cornwall 37 T Chanderpaul lbw Cornwall 40 L Johnson b Cornwall 15 C Barnwell c J Peters b Jacobs 12 A Bramble lbw Cornwall 18 S Rutherford lbw Jacobs 4 R Shepherd c Peters b Cornwall 39 K Paul b Berridge 22 C Pestano lbw Cornwall 46 V Permaul not out 15 D Bishoo b Louis 0 Extras 21 Total 269-10 (98.3ov) FOW 1 - 57 (Trevon Griffith, 23.2 Ov), 2 - 75 (Leon Johnson, 29.6 Ov), 3 - 103 (Christopher Barnwell, 42.1 Ov), 4 - 129 (Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 51.5 Ov), 5 - 136 (Anthony Bramble, 53.4 Ov), 6 - 138 (Sherfane Rutherford, 54.2 Ov),

ing the lunch to taste better. Jaguars were 195-7 at lunch, with a lead of 217 runs; Shepherd was

Clinton Pestano in action during his 46 (Brandon Corlette photo)

Rutherford was Jacobs’s next victim.

Rutherford, who was trapped in front, attempted to play the ball into the leg side, but the ball was full, hitting middle and leg stumps. The IPL-bound player Rutherford scored four from six balls, including a boundary. Hurricanes were all over Jaguars with the score on 138-6 after 54.2 overs, when Romario Shepherd and Keemo Paul came to the crease.

Shepherd was positive in his strokeplay, sweeping the Keacy Carty leg-spinner with ease and is unbeaten driving the ball with exafter being quisite timing along the dropped ground. Paul was playby Bramble (Brandon ing the supporting role to Corlette the big Berbician as they photo) stretched the lead over 200 runs. After the duo reached the 50run partnership, lunch was swiftly 7 - 195 (Keemo Paul, 72.6 Ov), approaching and 8 - 209 (Romario Shepherd, 81.4 Ov) , Hurricanes were 9 - 268 (Clinton Pestano, 97.4 Ov), in need to break 10 - 269 (Devendra Bishoo, 98.3 Ov) the Shepherd-Paul Bowling partnership.

J Louis 17.3-3-49-1 On the stroke S Berridge 12-5-33-1 of lunch, right arm R Cornwall 39-15-70-6 fast bowler Sheno T Warde 1-1-1-0 Berridge bowled O Peters 7-3-14-0 Paul for 22 from 43 D Jacobs 22-1-90-2 balls including two Leeward Islands Hurricanes 2nd Innings 32-1 (291 Target) fours. It was the fiK Powell lbw Paul 7 nal ball bowled at M Hodge not out 17 11:30h when Paul K Carty 3 attempted to turn Extras 5 a Berridge-ball Total 32-1 (16ov) into the leg side FOW and was bowled 1-16 (K Powell 3.6ov) around his legs.

Bowling Hurricanes won C Pestano 3-1-5-0 the first session K Paul 4-1-18-1 on day 3, picking R Shepherd 4-2-4-0 up five Jaguars D Bishoo 4-2-2-0 wickets, as they V Permaul 1-0-3-0 headed into the interval expect-

SCOREBOARD

Shepherd and Pestano steal a single (Brandon Corlette photo)

unbeaten on 33 from 58 balls, including five fours.

Play was then suspended post the lunch interval, with Leew ar d I s l a n d s

Hurricanes players reported sick.

After the players received treatment from the medical personnel, Jaguars players and Norman “Juice Man”, play resumed at 14:17h after the delay.

Pestano and Shepherd made their way to bat, with Hurricanes assistant coach/manager taking the field as one or the players were still taking treatment.

Cornwall continued from the southern end, as he removed Shepherd for 39 from 75 balls; with the score on 209-8 after 81.4 overs.

Shepherd was out caught behind by Peters off the bowling of Cornwall, as the big off-spinner grabbed a five-wicket haul. Pestano continued to flourish, dominating the partnership with Permaul.

Pestano smoked sixes with ease and grace, as the Berbician player who originated from Corriverton put on a show for the 100+ supporters at Providence. He was defeated by the impressive Cornwall, trapped in front for a

sparkling 46 from 87 balls, including four sixes and one four, after batting for 75 minutes.

Pestano departed with the score on 268-9 in 97.4 overs. The 59-run partnership between Permaul and Pestano was broken when the latter fell.

Devandra Bishoo was the final batsman in. He dragged a Jeremiah Louis delivery on to his stumps and was out for a duck. Permaul was left stranded on 15 from 47 balls with one boundary to his name.

Jaguars were dismissed for 269 in 98.3 overs, setting the Hurricanes a target of 291 runs. Rahkeem Cornwall was the best bowler on show with 6-70 from 39 impressive overs, inclusive of 15 maidens. Damion Jacobs had 2-90 while Louis and Berridge had one wicket each.

Hurricanes openers Montcin Hodge and Kieran Powell made their way to bat in pursuit of a target of 291. Clinton Pestano and Keemo Paul began proceedings for the Jaguars. Powell was the first dismissed when he was adjudged leg before in what looked to be a controversial dismissal.

Powell scored 7 from 21 balls, hitting one four, but was trapped in front by a lively Paul with the score on 16-1 after four overs. Hodge was solid in his stroke-play, while Carty was equal to the task after being dropped in the 11th over by Bramble off the bowling of Shepherd.

The final day is set for a breathtaking finish. Jaguars require nine wickets to win, while Hurricanes need 259 runs. Hodge is unbeaten on 17 from 45 while Carty is on three.

Both Hurricanes batsmen at the crease are centurions this season. The fourth and final day will commence at 9:00h local time at the National Stadium Providence.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Cornwall’s 6-for restrict Jaguars to 269 all out on drama-filled day 3 Pg 23

Hurricanes 32-1 at stumps, require 259 more on final day

Rakheem Cornwall grabbed 10140 in both innings (Brandon Corlette photo)

Big fish gone! Jaguars celebrate the wicket of Kieran Powell (Brandon Corlette photo)

GMRSC’s 2019 season GFF hosts CONCACAFcommences in February facilitated marketing workshop Pg 22

Pg 22

Concacaf’s Vijay Setlur presents as GFF President Wayne Forde listens in

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.

January 20, 2019

Ayushmann Khurrana’s wife Tahira Kashyap shaves head after cancer diagnosis Page 14

FREE DISTRIBUTION

Page 4 Page 3

…Karen tells her story

2 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

C

ervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women with an estimated 570,000 new cases in 2018 representing 6.6% of all female cancers.

Approximately 90% of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

The high mortality rate from cervical cancer globally could be reduced through a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, early diagnosis, effective screening and treatment programmes. There are currently vaccines that protect against common cancer-causing types of human papilloma virus and can significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer.

Early diagnosis

Particularly in countries where screening programmes are not available, diagnosing cervical cancer at an early stage and providing access to effective treatment can significantly improve the likelihood of survival. Currently, in many low resource settings, the disease is often not identified until it is further advanced or treatment is inaccessible resulting in a higher rate of death from cervical cancer.

Understanding and detecting symptoms of cervical cancer can assist with early diagnosis.

Symptoms of cervical cancer tend may include: irregular, intermenstrual (between periods) or abnormal vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse; back, leg or pelvic pain; fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite; vaginal discomfort or odourous discharge; and a single swollen leg. More severe symptoms may arise at advanced stages. WHO Package of essential noncommunicable (PEN) disease interventions for primary health care in lowresource settings has guidance on the approach to assessment and referral for women with suspected cervical cancer in the primary care setting.

Screening

Screening aims to detect precancerous changes, which, if not treated, may lead to cancer. Women who are found to have abnormalities on screening need follow-up, diagnosis and treatment, in order to prevent the development of cancer or to treat cancer at an early stage.

WHO has reviewed the evidence regarding the possible modalities to screen for cervical cancer and has concluded that: should • screening be performed at least once for every woman in the target age group (30-49 years) when it is most beneficial; • HPV testing, cytology and visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) are all recommended screening tests; • cryotherapy or loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) can provide effective and appropriate treatment for the majority of women who screen positive for cervical precancer; • “screen-and-treat” and “screen, diagnose and treat” are both valuable approaches.

Regardless of the approach used, the key to an effective programme is to reach the largest proportion of women at risk with quality screening and treatment. Organized screening programmes designed to reach most women at risk are preferable to opportunistic screening.

Comprehensive approach to cervical cancer

WHO recommends a comprehensive approach to cervical cancer prevention and control that includes multi-disciplinary interventions across the life course. Community education, social mobilization, vaccination, screening, treatment and palliative care are needed to improve cervical cancer control.

Almost all of cervical cancer deaths could be avoided if known effective interventions were available to all women and implemented, including immunizing adolescent girls against human papilloma virus (HPV) and cervical screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions.

To build on what exists and enhance progress, 7 UN agencies under the United Nations Task Force on NCDs have established a Joint Programme to prevent and control cervical cancer to provide global leadership and technical assistance to support governments and the partners build and sustain programmes.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract. Most sexually active women and men will be infected at some point in their lives and some may be repeatedly infected.

The peak time for acquiring infection for both women and men is shortly after becoming sexually active. HPV is sexually transmitted, but penetrative sex is not required for transmission. Skin-to-skin genital contact is a wellrecognized mode of transmission.

There are many types of HPV, and many do not cause problems. HPV infections usually clear up without any intervention within a few months after acquisition, and about 90% clear within 2 years. A small proportion of infections with certain types of HPV can

persist and progress to cancer.

Cervical cancer is by far the most common HPVrelated disease. Nearly all cases of cervical cancer can be attributable to HPV infection.

Though data on anogenital cancers other than cancer of the cervix are limited, there is an increasing body of evidence linking

HPV with cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, and penis. Although these cancers are less frequent than cancer of the cervix, their association with HPV make them potentially preventable using similar primary prevention strategies as those for cervical cancer.

Non-cancer causing types of HPV (especially types 6 and 11) can cause

genital warts and respiratory papillomatosis (a disease in which tumours grow in the air passages leading from the nose and mouth into the lungs). Although these conditions very rarely result in death, they may cause significant occurrence of disease. Genital warts are very common and highly infectious. (World

Health Organisation)

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

…Karen tells her story

K

aren MohammedDias is a survivor. Although she questions the word and its meaning in her situation, she is nevertheless a survivor. She was diagnosed with Stage 1B1 Cervical Cancer in 2018 and because of its early detection, she was able to have surgery and successfully remove her cancerous cervix.

To this day, five months after her surgery, she is still grappling with the fact that she may never see a child of her own and if she had asked more questions, then maybe it could have saved her some trouble. She is slowly accepting that she may never know the answers to those questions and is forging ahead.

Looking back on her journey, Karen said that she has always worked hard to ensure that she could afford the best possible care whenever she fell ill. That meant that she would be visiting the best of the best private doctors to ensure that they have all the answers to her questions. However, as she found out that was just a figment of her imagination.

She chronicled her journey pre cancer to post cancer and this is part of what she wrote: “In 2009/2010 or thereabout, I visited a private gynaecologist with the complaint of irregular periods – once every 3-4 months, as far as memory serves. I was then gently informed that I had what is called ‘Imbalanced Hormones’ and was written a prescription for Mircogynon (an oral birth control pill). It sounded odd, as I wasn’t told how contraceptives were going to help me with this kind of issue. However, I accepted and left, because I paid and expected him to know what he was doing. It worked!

I was happy. I felt normal again. Without questions, I used the pills for approximately 8-9 years.

“In 2017 while still taking the pills, my period came twice in one month. That confused me a bit since the birth control pills are meant to regulate your cycle (as I now understood). I went to the pharmacist and asked for something to stop the bleeding. Thankfully, she advised me to go do an ultrasound instead, to ensure it wasn’t the cause of something more serious. I subsequently visited Eureka (Medical Laboratory) to have my ultrasound done, and found out I had a condition known as PCOS – polycystic ovarian syndrome – where you ovulate a lot less.

“Upon advice at home, I sought a second opinion. Of course I’m going to go to a private doctor, this

sounds serious, I remembered thinking. Here we are at doctor number two, who took me off of the birth control pills and told me to return when my period does.

I bounced in there three months after, all happy that progress was made, only to be sent to do all sorts of blood tests and ultrasounds – this was not cheap, but necessary, I reminded myself. I did all that was required of me, to come back to the conclusion that I had PCOS. “I was placed on Metformin – a known diabetic medication, Metformin likely plays its role in improving ovulation induction in women with PCOS through a variety of actions, including reducing insulin levels and altering the effect of insulin on ovarian androgen. (I only know this because this time I researched). So, I’ve accepted that when I’m ready to have a child, it won’t be easy, I knew that much. I walked away with my meds, but with no deadline on when to quit these.

“My cycle became regular with the use of Metformin, I’m happy again. It was time my husband and I thought of starting a family. I needed a gynaecologist I was comfortable with, happy with. I was out of options, as you hear horror stories when you ask for opinions.

“In May 2018 after my birthday, I decided to find myself a doctor, seriously this time. I wasn’t getting younger. My cousin recommended her gynaecologist to me, said she was pleased

with him during her pregnancy.

“Day one, I explained my known history to him, and I told him I was there to see if the PCOS was gone, and wondered what my next step was for starting a family. He advised the discontinuation of the Metformin, and encouraged weight loss.

I was instructed to get undressed behind the wall, for a physical examination.

At that point, I was asked one question, ‘have you ever done a pap smear?’ Answer, ‘No.’ “He didn’t seem too pleased. Upon visual observation, I was told that I had a mass in my cervix and he wanted to do a biopsy to ensure it was non-cancerous.

He did say I didn’t have to take his word for it, that I should get a second opinion if I wanted to. Prior to that, I was instructed to return with my husband to discuss this before making arrangements to have a biopsy done. Within the following week, the biopsy was performed, and the results were out the next.

“My husband and I returned to the doctor number three; unfortunately, it’s what we feared – cancer. He advised me of all the possible treatments and operations, but admitted that he needed to hand the case over to the oncology department at GPHC [Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation], as it was then a case he no longer had control over.

“As my husband and I were clueless as to our whereabouts at GPHC, my gynaecologist volunteered meeting the oncologist-gyn-

aecologist with us. After reviewing all tests and results, I was again physically examined. I was sent to do blood tests, a chest x-ray, and a CT scan; to determine whether the cancer has spread, and size of the tumour. Thankfully, it had not metastasised and was just confined to the cervix – early, but not that early to avoid what had to happen next.

“I was advised I’d have to have a radical hysterectomy done where the surgeon takes out the uterus and the ligaments (tissue fibres) that hold it in place. The cervix and an inch or two of the vagina around the cervix are also removed. ‘But, can’t we take the cervix out and try to have a child, and then we do the hysterectomy?’ I asked. I was told this was possible but if I did and needed radiation after, I’ll no longer be fertile.

“My procedure was scheduled for two months after, as I needed to wait until an oncologist specialist would have been visiting GPHC – apparently this

happens every few months.

I had two months to deal with the acceptance of the present, what my life will be like after a hysterectomy, what it meant, and long-term side effects. Everything I could possibly find to educate myself, I read. The surgery was done successfully.

“Ladies, use my lifethreatening scenario, to avoid this happening to you. Ask as many questions as you need to. There are no stupid questions. If you don’t know what to ask, suggest some close relative or friend to go to your doctor’s visit with you.”

Karen advises that every woman get their yearly check-ups and young girls be afforded the opportunity to get the HPV vaccine which she could not have gotten.

At 29 and almost four years into her marriage, there are now complications because of her not being able to conceive. She says she is thankful for the support of her husband and those around her during her illness and the continued support, as she is still doing everything to ensure that she is in complete remission.

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Cancer Awareness

F

By Lakhram Bhagirat

or every parent the most gut-wrenching thing for them to do is to sit helplessly and watch their little boy or girl suffer the horrors of a treatment just so that they can have another chance at life.

Another chance to be normal, pain-free and just another chance to be what they are – a child.

I cannot begin to imagine what a parent goes through after that doctor tells them that their baby, no matter the age, has an illness that may take them away forever. I respect their

courage to stand by their child as they go through the motions, many times no knowing the outcome. If they are religious, all they can do is pray while their child fights and if they are not, then they find faith in the thought that tomorrow brings a new dawn.

Right now, Shazella Mendonca and her family are clinching every piece of hope they can as they pray for her daughter, Sharezer, to be given a new lease on life. Sharezer is only six years old and unlike most six year olds, she is not be-

ing afforded the opportunity to run in the yard, play with her two younger brothers or be cuddled by mommy and daddy. Rather she is in the Intensive Care Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital, hooked up to a life support machine battling real hard for another chance.

About three weeks ago, she was diagnosed with leukaemia and ever since then, she has been in the hospital receiving treatment, eventually losing consciousness.

Shazella tells me that her daughter was always full

of life and to see her in that state right now breaks her heart every day.

She has been travelling from their home in Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara three times per day for the past three weeks to be beside her daughter as she prays. It has put a strain on the family’s financial resources, but at this time they are not worried about that, rather they are more concerned about the health of their eldest child.

All they are asking for now is for everyone to offer a little prayer for their baby as she fights the hardest battle in her life. As she is hooked up to the life support machine, they know

that prayers will help as God performs his miracle

to give her another lease on life.

According to the Mayo Clinic, leukaemia is cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Many types of leukaemia exist. Some forms of leukaemia are more common in children. Other forms of leukaemia occur mostly in adults.

Leukaemia usually involves the white blood cells.

Your white blood cells are potent infection fighters — they normally grow and divide in an orderly way, as your body needs them. But in people with leukaemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells, which don't function properly. Treatment for leukaemia can be complex — depending on the type of leukaemia and other factors. But there are strategies and resources that can help to make your treatment successful.

Leukaemia symptoms vary, depending on the type of leukaemia. Common leukaemia signs and symptoms include fever or chills, persistent fatigue, weakness, frequent or severe infections, losing weight without trying, swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen, and easy bleeding or bruising among others.

The treatment of leukaemia includes chemotherapy and radiation, stem cell transplant and biological therapy.

In the case of little Sharezer, her family has no history of cancer and she is the first. Her mother says that the signs and symptoms were not there nor did she know what to look for.

At this time, she is still battling to figure how and why this would happen to her baby.

She noted that it has taken immense strength to wake up every day for the past three weeks, not knowing what it held. She is trying to stay positive, but she is not even remotely prepared for the what-if.

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

T

he Cancer Institute of Guyana (CIG) is a non-profit organisation that has been in operation since 2006 as a result of a project between the Health Ministry and Global Imaging Services Inc. The Institute is touted as a one-stop centre for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of all types of cancer prevalent in Guyana.

The mission of the CIG is to provide evaluation; radiation treatment at a subsidised cost; follow-up services for patients with malignant and certain benign diseases which are performed in accordance with standards of the Health Ministry and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and to improve services by reaching out to individuals in remote villages who have no access to education, screening, and diagnosis.

The CIG has a team of qualified professionals that manage their day-to-day operations.

The Institute offers a wide variety of services which include MRI, mammograms, ultrasounds, x-rays, and bone density testing.

“CIG understands the special needs of people of Guyana and makes these services available to the patients who come through the Ministry of Health at a subsidised rate.

Global Imaging Service and Cancer Institute of Guyana understand and value the need to improve the health of the community it serves, and to this end, we pledge to work with governmental agencies/NGOs and physicians groups to improve health awareness by way of education, screening, diagnosis and treatment,” the CIG says on its website.

In an effort to provide more effective treatment of cervical cancer, the Cancer Institute just last year boosted its cervical treatment services with the procurement of a Brachytherapy machine aimed at significantly reducing the instances of remission.

The treatment of cervical cancer occurs in three stages and includes chemotherapy, external radiation and internal radiation.

The Cancer Institute’s Medical Director, Dr Sian Chakraborthy had said that with the acquisition of the Brachytherapy machine, Guyana was now in compliance with international treatment specifications. He noted that the machine was not only for the treatment of cervical cancer but can be used for a variety of other cancer treatments, adding that the primary focus for now is the treatment of cervical cancer. Brachytherapy or internal radiation is the final part of cervical cancer treatment. The Brachytherapy machine is fully computerised.

According to the Cancer Institute’s figures, the number of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer fluctuates every year. However, most of the time, the diagnosis is made in the final stages of the cancer since most women wait until they are seeing signs and experiencing symptoms before they get checked out.

In 2011, there were 42 cases diagnosed at the Cancer Institute. In 2012, there were 30; 2013 saw 54 new cases; 2014, a total of 41; 2015, a whopping 68; 2016 saw a drop to 55 and ever since the number has been dropping with 50 and 46 in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

The Cancer Institute says that cervical can-

cer is a type that is entirely preventable, and, if prevention fails, it can be completely cured if detected in the early stages. The CIG screens over 1000 women per year for cervical cancer and states that it is the second most common cancer in women in Guyana, adding that it is often detected too late.

Cervical cancer starts in the cells of the cervix, which is the opening leading to a woman’s uterus. When cervical cancer first appears, there are no symptoms and the woman is entirely unaware that a deadly disease process has started in her body. Later, as the cancer grows, there may be pelvic pain and bleeding.

Cervical cancer is entirely preventable, because it is caused by a class of viruses called Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV), and vaccines are available to prevent infection from those viruses. Some types of HPV do not cause any disease; some types may cause non-cancerous warts, and other types result in deadly cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer that is detected early is more likely to be treated successfully. Most guidelines suggest that women begin screening for cervical cancer and precancerous changes at age 21. Screening tests include: A Pap smear test during which your doctor scrapes and brushes cells from your cervix, which are then examined in a lab for abnormalities. A Pap test can detect abnormal cells in the cervix, including cancer cells and cells that show changes that increase the risk of cervical cancer.

HPV DNA test. The HPV DNA test involves

testing cells collected from the cervix for infection with any of the types of HPV that are most likely to lead to cervical cancer. This test may be an option for women age 30 and older, or for younger women with an abnormal Pap test.

Stages of cervical cancer include: * Stage I. Cancer is confined to the cervix. * Stage II. Cancer is present in the cervix and upper portion of the vagina. * Stage III. Cancer has moved to the lower portion of the vagina or internally to the pelvic side wall. * Stage IV. Cancer has spread to nearby organs, such as the bladder or rectum, or it has spread to other areas of the body, such as the lungs, liver or bones.

Early-stage cervical cancer is typically treated with surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy). A hysterectomy can cure earlystage cervical cancer and prevent recurrence.

But removing the uterus makes it impossible to become pregnant.

Simple hysterectomy: The cervix and uterus are removed along with the cancer. A simple hysterectomy is usually an option only in very early-stage cervical cancer.

Radical hysterectomy: The cervix, uterus, part of the vagina and lymph nodes in the area are removed with the cancer.

Minimally invasive surgery may be an option for early-stage cervical cancer.

Surgery that preserves the possibility of becoming pregnant also may be an option, if you have very early-stage cervical cancer without lymph node involvement.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Feature

T

he name Allison Butters-Grant is synonymous with the saying “Guyanese to the bone.”

She was one of Guyana’s most patriotic citizens and though she lived abroad for most of her adult life, she

above all, a quality product that proudly carries the tag line “We eat what we sell”.

She was a trusted colleague, a successful entrepreneur, and an inspiration to many. Butters-Grant had the vision to establish Global

Allison Butters-Grant

never forgot Guyana. Much of the Guyanese population was shocked on January 13 when they heard the news that Butters-Grant lost her battle with cancer.

Butters-Grant was the President and Chief Executive officer of Global Seafood Distributors and died on January 13, 2019 in New Jersey after a brief battle with cancer.

Butters-Grant was a larger-than-life figure, who brought her remarkable passion, experience, and energy to everyone she came in contact with and the multiple organisations she was active in.

Her love for Guyana and her sterling contributions to its development over the years speak volumes about her passion for progress in Guyana on many levels.

Butters-Grant was greatly admired and respected as a female entrepreneur and trailblazer. She infused her company with deeply-held values of integrity, a strong sense of right and wrong, great compassion and loyalty, and a solid commitment to family, staff, community and,

Seafood and with a steady hand, she guided the company from its humble beginnings to a household name for quality seafood products.

Butters-Grant has made an indelible mark on who we are today and we will keep her legacy of great service, personal relationships, and outstanding stewardship alive and well.

“The entire Global Seafood family mourns this loss. On behalf of our management team, employees and family, we extend our deepest thanks for all the kind words and sympathy during these difficult times…With the passing of Allison Butters-Grant, Global Seafood has suffered a major loss. Notwithstanding that loss, the management and staff is confident that her husband and Manager Director Kerwin Grant, who will assume the post of Chief Executive Officer, and the rest of the Global Seafood team will capitalise on the changes and vision that Allison has made and continue to expand, build and bring her vision into realisation. Another hallmark of

Butters-Grant with Guyanese music legend Eddie Grant

GIVING BACK: Allison Butters-Grant presenting Kevin-Gildharie with a sponsorship cheque

her leadership was building a great team to ensure that our guiding principles will remain intact and that our vision to build an unparalleled quality seafood brand will continue,” her company said after her passing.

Global Seafood Distributors is located at the West Ruimveldt Industrial

Site, where they process local fish. Butters-Grant, a Charlestown, Georgetown native, grew up in the fishing industry as her parents were the owners of several shrimping trawlers.

She migrated to the United States in 1986 after completing her education in Guyana and aimed for high-

er learning overseas. She gained a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting and Database Management in 1990 from Essex College of Business, and began blazing the trail.

She spent 29 years in the US before making her way back home to establish her business. She had been blaz-

ing the trail ever since, proving that her method was different. She cared about the community and the overall development of Guyana.

The business community and President David Granger, who himself is battling cancer, have all expressed their sadness at the passing of Butters-Grant.

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

by

Petamber Persaud

A

lthough the main characters in her five novels are of Chinese ancestry, Jan Lowe Shinebourne, is writing about a Guyanese reality, a Guyanese experience/evolution, a Guyanese sensibility of race and class conflicts, miscegenation, internal and external migration not unlike Roy Heath’s treatment of the urban black reality, not unlike Christopher Nicole’s treatment of the elite white reality, not unlike Sasenarine Persaud’s treatment of the Indian reality, or not unlike Basil Rodrigues’ treatment of the Indigenous sensibility, the ancestors of those peopling our literature having all come to this land by way of the Bering Strait or by way of ships, evolving into a Guyanese sensibility. Shinebourne has taken umbrage with labels depicting her writing as focusing on the Chinese sensibility only because she was born part Chinese.

But it is useful to take into account other parts** of her sensibility/identity – she is also part Indian, born and grew up on a sugar plantation during the colonial days when society was divided by class and race and her early novels focused on ‘the effects of colonialism on Guyana’.

Her first novel, Timepiece, was a first step in this direction, in exploring this theme. In Timepiece, she writes about a young woman, Sandra Yansen, who has grown up in a rural village where she felt rooted in her rural community which she loves. When she leaves school, she moves to the capital Georgetown.

In Georgetown, she feels uprooted and adrift because she has no friends and family there. She does not like the cynicism in people she meets. They have no sense of community, they are not strongly connected to each other like the people in her village, and their relationships are casual and shallow. She cannot root herself in Georgetown. She meets a young man she likes who tells her that Georgetown is dominated by class; his father has suffered because of it. They try but fail to make a strong connection to each other and when he visits her village, he realises they are not compatible. It is a period when people are beginning to emigrate, to escape the political, social and economic instability that is a consequence of the political upheavals the country has been through, which are only hinted at in the novel. All the young people she has met in Georgetown are emigrating but the end of the novel indicates she has no plans to leave, it ends with her strong sense of the unchanging strengths of the rural community she is from.

In her second novel, The Last English Plantation, Shinebourne sets her story in 1956 when the political fractures of the 1960s began to show. This time, she chooses a much younger female protagonist, a 12 year old, June Lehall, as she prepares to venture out of her rural community to go to an urban secondary school. Like Sandra Yansen in Timepiece, she also experiences the culture shock of confronting the intense race and class conflicts that colonialism bred in the country. We see June enter school and getting swept up in the race and class conflicts between her classmates.

Shinebourne’s third novel Chinese Women, deals more openly with the race and class conflict created by colonialism which the narrator, Albert Aziz, a young Muslim Indian, has had to fight

Preserving our literary heritage

against all his life from when he grew up, the son of an Indian overseer, living in the exclusive living quarters among the white expatriates.. He describes how racial segregation and preju-

cure footing in Guyana on a sugar estate, and the price they paid for it, especially the women who struggle to rise above the hardship and humiliation of Indentureship and racism in colonial British Guiana.

Clarice

dice w a s maintained by the expatriate overseers to keep non-whites in their place on the sugar estate. It was a form of apartheid that he feels caused all his suffering So racialised was this system, he has internalised it so deeply he can only see people in racial terms of superiority and inferiority. He falls in love with two Chinese women who he idealises in terms of their race. He believes that Chinese people are better by virtue of being Chinese especially the Chinese girl he meets at school, Alice Wong. He falls in love with her and long after they leave school and he has emigrated to Canada, he continues to carry a torch for her and at the age of 60, he tracks her down to England to propose to her, but she rejects him. The colonial system of a kind of racial apartheid in British Guiana was so extreme and had such a profound impact on the young Muslim, he can only see people’s worth and his in terms of race and in the end, living in a post 9/11 world, he identifies with the Muslim cause and finally turns against the developed First World which he views as the creation of the imperialism and colonialism that cursed his early life growing up on a colonial sugar estate in British Guiana.For Shinebourne, Albert Aziz stands for what happened to Guyana, when it became negatively racialized and stratified.

Shineboune’s fourth novel, The Last Ship, portrays life on a rural colonial sugar estate, this time, in the context of the arrival of Chinese indentured workers. She portrays the arrival of a first generation Chinese woman, Clarice Chung who at the age of 5, travels from Hong Kong to British Guiana on the last ship to bring the Chinese to the colony.

The novel takes us through her life until she dies when she is 65 on the sugar estate where she eventually settled and raised three generations of her family. This novel is not just about Chinese people, it is about the struggle of three generations of a family to find a se-

Chung is a fiercely strong and ambitious woman who exerts her influence mercilessly over her family. Her female descendants find it difficult to follow her example about which they are ambivalent, especially her granddaughter, Joan Wong, who fights against her legacy and tries to escape from it by fleeing to England where she settles down.

The Starapple Tree is Shinebourne’s fifth novel ( soon to be out). It is about an English priest, Father John Martin, who

goes to British Guiana in 1964, to become a vicar at Canefield, a remote sugar estate in Berbice. He is a northerner, from Lancashire, an earthy, plain-spoken man and a deeply committed priest but he arrives at a very difficult time in the country’s history. The country, once a British colony, has embraced socialism and is turning its back on Britain and its colonial influence. The British are leaving and the infrastructure they created is collapsing. Father John is not fully aware of the implications of this for his mission. In this sense, he is an innocent abroad. He has come to Canefield to promote Christian love and community but discovers that the population is partly Hindu Indian and African whose preference is for ecstatic religions with its roots in African dance traditions. They present him with difficult challenges he struggles to overcome. The best reception he gets is from a group of boys who like to visit him by climbing up the starapple tree that grows against his veranda. He struggles to find friendship and acceptance in the wider community and eventually, this leads to misunderstanding and disaster for him when they seem to reject him, and cause him to return to England with a sense of failure and disappointment.

And there is more flowing from her pen…. *The above information supplied

by Shinebourne. **Shinebourne won the Guyana Prize for Literature in its inaugural year, 1987. All her novels are set in Guyana.

She is also a writer of short fiction. Her other book is ‘The Godmother and Other Stories’. While in Guyana, she was a part of a rich literary tradition that included a magazine, ‘Expression’, many libraries, many bookstores, and other writers/ enablers like Brian Chan, John Agard, Mark McWatt, Terence Roberts, Milton Drepaul, N. D. Williams, Victor Ramraj.

8 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 20, 2019

guyanatimesgy.com

Travel and Tourism

T

he Amerindian community of Wakapoa is located in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). It is home to over 3,000 natives and is about 35 miles by river from Charity, a small township.

Travelling to Wakapoa begins with an exciting speedboat ride from Charity down the Pomeroon River. As the boat meanders its ways along the Pomeroon River, tourists can enjoy basking in the fresh, cool air while observing the breath-taking nature scenes.

Then through bowing trees, about nine miles along the creek, Wakapoa appears. Upon ar-

rival, visitors are left in awe of the silk cotton tree, one of the Wakapoa’s landmarks, that stands majestically at the entrance of the village.

The community of Wakapoa is said to be made up of several islands on which the residents, who are of Carib, Warrau and Arawak ancestry, live. Most are farmers cultivating cassava, plantain, eddoes and coconuts to sell at the Pomeroon and Charity markets.

(Photos compliments of Wakapoa Faceboon Page)

Pure bliss

Sun setting over Wakapoa Village

About to take a plunge

Wakapoa Primary and Secondary schools

The FEVER Stone located at Moraro, Wakapoa it is believed that if one tries to move this stone he/she will come down with an unbearable fever

Wakapoa kids helping to 'scrape' cassava, one of the first stages in the process of making cassava bread.

guyanatimesgy.com

By Lakhram Bhagirat

F

our years ago, Pooran Seeraj was the hottest name on the local Chutney scene after having being crowned the Chutney King, but since then, he has been notably absent; how-

ever, now he is back and, boy, is he back with a vengeance. He is back to reclaim his spot as the king with his brand new song “GT Ladki” and renewed knowledge from India.

The 39-year-old father of three grew up in Bath Settlement on the West Coast of Berbice in humble circumstances. Looking back at his childhood, Pooran says that his father worked as a cane cutter while his mother stayed at home to take care of the family.

He was always pushed

JANUARY 20, 2019

to achieve greater things and focused on gaining an education that would position him to provide a better life for his family when the time came. He attended the Bath Primary School and later the New Amsterdam Secondary where he sat and passed seven subjects at CXC. With very little opportunities for employment in Berbice, Pooran moved to Mon Repos on the East Coast of Demerara and gained employment with a manufacturing company.

He then applied for a scholarship at GuySuCo. “At the age of 17, I was employed by the LBI Estate, GuySuCo, as a Trainee Field Foreman. In 1999, I secured a scholarship to GSA [Guyana School of Agriculture] and graduated in 2001 with a Diploma in Agriculture. After graduation, I returned to my job and eventually began having a family of my own. I became the father of my first daughter, Simran Seeraj, at the age of 21. I then secured my second scholarship to read for my Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture at the University of Guyana in 2003. Unfortunately, my family life fell apart a few months before my graduation in 2006,” he said.

Three years later, Pooran would get married again to his current wife, Sonia, and they now have two children. In 2016, he secured another scholarship, but this time it meant moving

Sunday Times Magazine

9

out of the country. He left for New Delhi, India where he acquired his Master’s Degree in Agricultural Physics from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in July 2018.

He returned home and is presently an Agriculture Research Scientist with the Guyana Rice Development

Guyana in 2014 with the entry “Under The Maarow”.

I also secured the first runner-up spot in 2016. I have recorded more than 50 songs to date which includes Chutney, Bollywood and English. Most of my recordings were done by Avinash Roopchan of Shakti Strings Studio. I am contesting in

He noted that one of the greatest challenges as a Guyanese musician is the lack of copyright laws. This makes it very difficult for an artiste to earn the fruits of his/her honest labour in the music industry. He explains that artistes have to spend their own money to produce music and get lit-

Board’s Research Station.

Tracing his music career, Pooran notes that music serves as the outlet for him to express his innermost feelings. After he separated from his first wife in 2006, he turned to music and joined the Shakti Strings Band in 2008.

“I contested in the Mashramani Chutney Competition on four occasions without placing.

However, I was crowned as the Chutney King of

the 2019 Chutney Singing Competition once again after studying abroad for two years. The title of my song is “GT Ladki”,” he said.

“I honestly feel that music allows us to express ourselves in a different way than just making a verbal statement. I think that statements through mere words are often forgotten after a very short period; on the other hand, musical expressions make a stronger impression.”

tle or no returns on investment owing to lack of copyright laws.

He said that he was forever thankful to all of those people who helped him throughout his musical career, particularly his family and the Shakti Strings family. He is ready to take the stage in the Mashramani 2019 Chutney Competition, where he intends to cement his place once again as KING!

10 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Fashion

From rags to …

By Lakhram Bhagirat

O

ur obstacles in life should not determine how far we go; they should not limit our growth, rather when we are faced with them, we should find other avenues of overcoming them. Whether it is by confronting them head on or going around them, we must use every possible avenue to ensure that we achieve whatever we want so when we look back we can say, “I made it.”

The drive to achieve his dreams and be successful is what led Ravi Latchman to do all that was possible to get where he is today.

At 25, Ravi is a successful businessman offering the Guyanese people and even those further afield a wide variety of Indian clothing and accessories at unbelievably affordable prices.

However, the ride to get to where he is today is nothing short of inspiring.

Ravi hails from the West Coast Berbice community of Bath Settlement and is the owner of Colours of India Clothing and Accessories Store. He is one of the goto suppliers of Indian clothing and accessories in Guyana with a customer base that spans the length and breadth of the country.

His customers would travel from as far as the Essequibo Coast to Bath Settlement just for him to supply them with their desired clothing and accessories.

He is considered the Indian bride whisperer since no bride-to-be leaves his store disappointed or empty handed. The variety that he stocks is expansive and caters to every budget.

Knowing the struggles involved, Ravi would quite often scale back his prices significantly so that his customers can get their desired look without breaking the bank.

Ravi has not always been able to help those who would need it, since quite often he was in a position of needing help himself. His childhood was one that involved him being raised by his elderly grandparents while his parents and two younger brothers migrated to the twin-is-

land republic of Trinidad and Tobago in search of a better life. His late grandparents showered him with immense love and supported his endeavours to the best of their abilities.

Being a little boy growing up with elderly grandparents meant that Ravi could have easily overruled them, and he took advantage of that fact quite often, since he would spend countless afternoons playing with his friends.

“My grandparents had a small grocery shop and a little chicken depot.

Sometimes I used to steal the powder milk and sugar to make fudge. I would also take chicken leg and we would have ‘bush cook’ too,” he reminisced.

In exchange for doing as he wished, Ravi was tasked with making sure that he excelled in school, and that was something he did not take lightly. He was quite often referred to as the class nerd and when he gradu-

ated from Bath Primary School, he gained a place at the Berbice High School but only briefly attended there. Wanting a challenge, he enrolled at the Academy of Apex Education on the East Coast of Demerara, where he continued to be challenged. After sitting the CXC Examinations, he gained 13 passes, but unlike many students, Ravi was working with Qualfon while attending school because of the financial constraints.

Armed with the dream of becoming a doctor, R a v i

moved b a c k to Berbice with his grandparents and his parents moved back from Trinidad. Shortly after, his grandfather passed away.

“My family was not financially stable to help me fulfil my dreams of becoming the doctor I wanted to become.

I was frustrated. I didn’t know what to do. I finally made a move to Trinidad; I was 18 at the time. I moved over and it was not easy. I did many different jobs

like my very first job was working in a mattress factory, then I was a kitchen assistant. I was a bartender/ waiter. I did carpentry, catering and even accounting,” he related.

He would live in Trinidad for a total of five years and remembers working 20-hour shifts just to make ends meet. The struggle was so real that Ravi slept on the floor of his apartment for over one year while making other sacrifices to ensure that the majority of his money was remitted to Guyana so that his family could have a better life.

“My life wasn’t easy, but I reaped the benefits after years. I eventually furnished my apartment after my ajie (paternal grandmother) said she wanted to come and see me, because I did not want my family back home to know what I was going through.”

As time passed, so did Ravi’s dream of becoming a doctor. Reminiscing on how he started Colours of India, Ravi says one day he was scrolling through Facebook when he received a message from someone in India asking if he was interested in being business with her.

He related that to his family who were all sceptical, but it was a risk he took and in the end it paid off.

In October 2014, he received his first shipment from India and from then, he started selling Indian clothing and accessories. In March 2016, he decided to move back home to concentrate on building his brand.

“It was not an easy task at all, because of all the other competitors it have around. My greatest sup-

port is my family and I can always rely on t h e m for anything.

Colours of India grew, because I put all my spare time into advertising my business. Sleepless nights also when it is time to order goods from my manufacturers because to the difference in time between Guyana and India.”

Just a few weeks ago, Ravi remodelled his store to make it more

spacious offering a wide variety of items. He has one of the largest collections of bridal lehengas, accessories, saris, and

male

Indian w e a r .

Over t h e

next five years, he intends to open at least two more stores to reach more people.

“The advice I would give to anyone who wants to start a business is to always put God first, always smile.

Have patience, don’t be jealous and don’t ever give up no matter how rough that road maybe. It have people in our lives that would

m a k e us rise and some that want to pull you down.

Never let the ones that want to pull you down succeed.”

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

D o s a (crispy, savory pancakes) from South India is a staple food in its home region. It is delicious and can be served with a wide variety of sides.

Today we will show you how to make the popular dosa and sambar along with a variety of chutneys.

• 3/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds • Salt (to taste) • Vegetable / canola / sunflower cooking oil

Ingredients • 3 cups rice • 1 cup urad daal (split, skinless black lentil) Directions 1. Wash rice and lentils well.

Add fenugreek seeds to lentils and rice and soak with water overnight.

After soaking drain mixture, place in food processor and grind adding very little water if necessary. Mixture should be smooth yet slightly grainy.

2. After grinding, place mixture in a large bowl and add enough water to make a batter that

should thickly coat a spoon when dipped in it. Season with salt and leave to ferment for 6-8 hours or overnight.

3. Heat large skillet or tawa, brush with oil and ladle batter in the center of skillet on medium heat.

Use spatula and spread batter thinly in pan. When fully cooked roll dosa into cylinder and brush with butter or ghee.

Swap your soap Smart cleaning starts before you pick up a scrub brush. Keep your shower walls and floor looking shinier longer by stocking the bath with glycerin- or vegetable oil-based soaps. These soaps rinse cleaner than traditional tallow-based soaps, which can leave white, gummy soap scum crusted on your shower walls.

Shut off your phone Set your phone to vibrate, shut down the computer, keep the TV off, and save detailed projects, like organizing the linen closet for another time.

Ingredients 1 cup yellow lentils (arhar or toover daal) 1 Tbsp salt 1 Tbsp sugar 3 Tbsp sambar masala 3 Tbsp tamarind pulp or 1 tsp tamarind concentrate • 2 tsp mustard seeds • 7-8 leaves of curry leaves • 2-3 whole dry red peppers • 1 cup mixed vegetables, cut into approx.1 • 1 big onion, cut into quarters • 2 Tbsp oil • 1 Tbsp chopped coriander leaves to garnish.

• • • • •

How to Make Sambar Cook daal with salt, till absolutely tender, no grains remain. Add sambar masala, sugar and vegetables, including the onions, and cook till the vegetables are tender, and add tamarind. Heat oil in a saucepan and add the mustard seeds. When they splutter, add the whole red peppers and the curry leaves.

Turn around 2-3 times, then add the daal mixture. Bring to a boil, and then simmer for about 5 minutes, Serve hot garnished with the coriander leaves.

Ingredients • 1 lb Tomatoes (chopped), blanched • 1 Cup Onions, chopped • 2 tsp Ginger-garlic paste • 2 tbsp Sugar • 1 tsp Salt • 1 tsp Chilli powder • 1 tsp Garam masala • 2 tbsp Vinegar • 2 tbsp Oil

Direction Heat some oil, add onions and ginger-garlic paste to it and cook till they brown. Add tomatoes, sugar, salt, chilli powder and garam masala and cook to a thick consistency. Add vinegar and simmer for about 5 minutes.

chillies (roasted on Ingredients direct fire) • 1/2 cup of • 1 tsp cumin mangoes (raw) cut seeds into small pieces • Salt to taste • 1 cup grated • Coconut oil coconut • 4 Smoked red Instructions Grind all the ingredients except oil to a coarse paste. While grinding mangoes should be added last. Add coconut oil and serve.

Do the easy stuff first Start simple: Spiff up a few low-traffic rooms quickly and easily, so that you’re motivated to tackle bigger cleaning tasks in high-traffic areas like the kitchen and bathrooms.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Puzzles

1

6

11

16

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

31 33

35

36 37

38 39

40

41

42

44

47

48

49

53

54

55 56

57

58

59

60

61 62

64

65

66

67

68 69

70

71 72

74 75 78 79

80

84

85

86

87

88

89 90

91

92

93 95

ACROSS

96 Mountainside debris

97 Boom-box issue

98 Kenyan pastoral people 99 Handled roughly

100 Dice game

101 Mirages, maybe

102 Indigo plants

104 Each one

105 Mr. Goldfinger

106 Pamphlet

109 DEA agents

110 Get to know

111 Keeps bouncing back (hyph.)

115 "Lady Love" singer Lou 116 Depose

117 Notch shape

118 Urban grid

119 Pier

121 Giant-ant horror film

123 Half the checkers

125 Can. region

126 Pigeon coops

127 More or less 128

Violin holders

129 Collapses

130 Not make the grade

131 Responsible

132 Hwys.

133 Beefy

Countess's husband

1 Rougher

2 Mouths, in zoology 3

Viking letters

4 Ocean predator 5 Razor-sharp

6 Bear's pad

7 Bogs

8 Judicial order 9

Middle Ages quaff 10 Crawford's ex 11

Stops 12 Enjoy a hammock

13 Wkly. publications

14 Rooney and Warhol 15

Hi-fi records 16 Savage

17 Ostrich look-alike

18 Touches

19 Talent

20 Con

30 Frontier figure

32 Fish-eye, e.g.

34 Sentry's command

37 Pharaoh's amulet

38 Hideaway (hyph.)

39 Dilapidated

41 Not here

42 Rock

43 Coup plotters 44 Avg. size

45 Bumping illegally

46 Ember

47

Gunslingers' choice -- spumante Pluck Caesar's month Sheer fabric Turf grabber Company benefit (2 wds.)

Loafer insert Sidekick Livy's bear End of a threat Suit piece Dwelled Flora's sci.

A Ponderosa son "La Traviata" writer Like ikebana Squashed circles Clementine's dad Silver bar Very light wood Sponsorship Walking -- -Clinic staffer Vows venue Lovers' meeting Email option Flared, as a skirt Kills a dragon DOWN Lasting impressions Vinegar bottle Harder to find Words without gender specificity Avoids Jots down Galley slaves' need My mind -- -- blank In private Manors Like John Wayne Miscellanies Army address Germ killer

48 Newsstand buys

50 Fur

51 Gladiator's hello

52 Use a loom 54

Made a wrong move

55 Units of force

56 Giant great Mel - 58 Lb. and oz.

59 Processed ore

60 Sudden shocks

63 Elbow grease

64 "Saving Private --"

65 Eating places

66 Pasternak woman

68 Zodiac beast

69 Throng

70 Up -- -- (stumped) 72 Ushers' quests

73 Wards off

74

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- RECITED (RECITED: rih-SITE-ed: Repeated or uttered aloud.)

Average mark 28 words Time limit 40 minutes Can you find 38 or more words in RECITED?

reed retie rice ride rite edict edit eider erect cede

cider cire cite credit creed cried iced icer tide tied

tier tire tree trice tried deceit deer deet deice deicer

deter dice dicer diet dieter dire direct dirt

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.

Reality Waited awhile Untrusting Fish-eating eagles Looks high and low New York waterway (2 wds.)

Vast expanses Sounds hoarse Ricelike pasta Frat-party orders Happy tunes Toad feature Molokai neighbor Grind, as teeth Bugged off Gauzy-winged insect Major artery Organize Black as night Soda fountain treats

75

76 77

78

80

81

82 83 85

86

87

89

90

91

94 95 96

97

99

100 Selling Hang-gliding

101 Greenish melons "Look out --!"

103 Din Excessive

104 Golf score Posse's quarry 105 Vim and vigor "The Count of -- Cristo"

106 WWII craft (hyph.)

Cayuse

107 Mars explorer Prince Val's wife

108 Too theatrical Genuine

110 Della's boss Sweet

111 Appraised Tow- -- zone

112 Silt deposit Schoolyard heavy 113 Dryden work

Pyramid site

114 Good-hearted people Type of survivor

116 Type of prof Splices 117 Obscure Helen's mother

118 Canseco or Ferrer Fix

120 Fleur-de- -Accompaniment See

122 Forty winks Generally Solution

124 Canine warning White flower on Pg 14

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

L

G's next smartphone may have you seeing double. And no, it's not because of a foldable display.

The company will launch a smartphone, whose name hasn't been finalized, that will have an option for a second-screen attachment, according to a person familiar

with the situation. The attachment, which the person describes as a sort of case with a screen, could potentially double the total screen size of the device.

It's one of multiple phones launching at the Mobile World Congress trade show next month, the person said.

While the company is mull-

G

oogle is raising the price on its set of office productivity tools by 20 percent.

The company on Tuesday announced the first price increases for two flavors of G Suite, its set of apps that resemble Google Docs and Sheets but are tailored for the office. G Suite Basic Edition is going from $5 per user per month to $6, while G Suite Business Edition will go from $10 per user per month to $12.

It's the first time Google has raised the prices on the two suites. Google said the price of its G Suite Enterprise Edition, which includes lots of enterprise-level administration and management tools, will remain at $25 per month per user.

Productivity packages like G Suite and

ing the G8 name, it's unclear whether the multiple-screen phone will carry the name of its flagship line.

There was some confusion over LG launching a foldable smartphone thanks to a report by Koreanlanguage outlet Naver. But this phone won't fold.

It's unclear how the gimmick will work, but it's certainly different at a time when the company could use different. LG has struggled to stand apart from an increasingly competitive field of smartphone players. While Apple, Huawei and Samsung dominate high-end phone sales and OnePlus and other Chinese makers hit more budget-conscious consumers, LG is caught in the awkward middle. (CNET)

A

in Windows 10. It also allows Microsoft to greatly improve Windows search, away from the Cortana integration, although there might be some confusion around having two separate places for voice and text search on the taskbar. Microsoft has been experimenting with making Windows 10 search more Apple-like previously, and many Windows users have called on the company to implement more reliable and powerful builtin search. One way Microsoft could achieve this is by integrating in custom web queries and automated workflows like Alfred for Mac supports.

There are signs Microsoft is willing to innovate in search for Windows. The software maker unveiled “Microsoft Search” last year, promising that the new service will power search results in Office and Windows.

Microsoft Search is still in the early phases, but apps like Microsoft Teams are showing that a command / search bar -- that allows users to quickly access app features or run commands in apps – is a much-needed feature for Windows. (The Verge)

Microsoft's competitor, 365, generally contain a certain set of applications that nearly every small business needs, such as email, a calendar, word processing and spreadsheets. Others may include a presentation manager, a database or a forms manager.

Google beefed up its offerings in July by adding the ability for companies to choose where their data is physically stored, whether in the United States, Europe or distributed around the globe. Another new feature uses Google's artificial intelligence tools to bring grammar suggestions to Google Docs.

AI can also help users write messages and replies.

More than 4 million paying businesses use G Suite, Google has said. (CNET)

Apple’s new battery cases are its most powerful ones yet

pple’s newly launched battery cases for the iPhone XS and XS Max have more battery capacity than any of Apple’s prior cases.

Strictly speaking, the new Apple cases have the lowest mAh rating, at 1,369mAh. But that’s because instead of using a single large cell (like the iPhone 7 battery case’s 2,365mAh battery or the iPhone 6 case’s 1,877mAh), Apple is using two battery cells wired in series, which keeps the net amperage the same but lets it boost the voltage to 8.7V, dramatically higher than the estimated 3.8V that the older cases output power at.

Because of that difference in voltage, it’s better to look at the total power output in Wh (1 Watt = 1 Volt x 1 Amp) for directly comparing the three Apple cases: 10.1 Wh on the new case, compared to 7.13 Wh on

M

icrosoft is making some big changes to Cortana in Windows 10. The software giant is planning to decouple search and Cortana in the Windows 10 taskbar, allowing voice queries to be handled separately to typing in a search box to find documents and files. This change will be implemented in the next major Windows 10 update, currently scheduled for April.

Windows 10 will direct you towards a builtin search experience for text queries, while Cortana will exist for voice queries instead of them both bundled together.

“This will enable each experience to innovate independently to best serve their target audiences and use cases,” explains Dona Sarkar, Microsoft’s Windows Insider chief. “This change is one of several we’ve made throughout this release to improve your experience in this space, including updating the search landing page design, enhancing your search results, and integrating Microsoft To-Do with Cortana.”

While this doesn’t mean Cortana is going away, it does significantly reduce its use

the original iPhone 6 model, and 8.98 Wh on the iPhone 7 version. (For a more detailed breakdown as to why this is a better metric for comparing batteries, check out The Wirecutter’s guide here.) So, at the end of the day, the new cases should supply more power than the old ones did, and do it more efficiently.

We still do not know the battery capacity of the iPhone XR case, but Apple’s battery life estimates suggest it’ll be similar to the XS and XS Max. Apple is claiming up to 75 percent extra usage time for these new battery cases, although we have yet to test those claims. These new battery cases feature physically bigger humps than the previous ones, perhaps due to the extra room needed for wireless charging.

All three cases cost $129 and come in black or white. (The Verge)

I

f the usual cycle holds, it’s going to be a few months before Google is ready to share anything about Android Q. But XDA Developers apparently managed to spend some time with a very early version of Android’s next big update, and although it doesn’t offer the full view, it does provide a look at some of what Google might have planned.

The biggest visual change (for now) is a system-wide dark mode. Android 9 Pie’s “theme” can be changed from light to dark, but it only really applies to the notification shade and the app launcher. XDA’s screenshots suggest that Q will extend dark mode to more places including the settings menu, and it might have a setting to force dark mode even in apps that lack a built-in version of it.

Google is also continuing to bolster user privacy. After implementing stricter rules around things like camera / microphone ac-

cess and background apps in recent Android releases, it looks like the company will add a new “allow only while the app is in use” permission. Currently, Android Pie offers just an on or off toggle for sensitive permissions like location, so adding more flexibility is a good move since some apps won’t work if a permission is disabled entirely.

Those are the major highlights, but XDA Developers also sees hints that Google is working on its own desktop / external display mode similar to Samsung’s DeX. There’s also a developer setting for builtin screen recording, but that’s not yet fully working in this early build of the OS. Google unveiled some of Android 9 Pie’s major new features back in May of last year, so you can expect to hear more about Q and whatever new functionality it will bring around that time. Both Android Oreo and Android Pie were released in August after a few months of beta testing. (The Verge)

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Bollywood/Hollywood

F

or her role as a woman from 1970s’ Chambal, living and surviving the badlands amidst bloodythirsty dacoits, in the upcoming film Sonchiriya, actor Bhumi Pednekar says she cut off from the world at large.

The actor, known for her work in Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, is looking forward to the release of her fourth film (Sonchiriya), directed by Abhishek Chaubey.

Talking about what went into tapping in the mind and soul of her character, Bhumi said in a statement to IANS: “Acting for me is a process of metamorphosis. It’s about forgetting who I’m and becoming someone entirely new.

“Every artiste has his or her method and every character requires a different approach and for Sonchiriya, I required isolation. I took to a single-minded approach that saw me cut off from the world at large

and be with my character to understand the mind, psyche and behaviour of who I’m becoming.”

The only people she met during this period was her immediate family. Calling herself a “restless actor”, Bhumi added: “Until and unless I find the person I’m looking to become, I don’t find my peace.

I decluttered myself and lived with my character for about 30 days.

“I had to unlearn so much to learn the most about her.

I stayed at home, researched as much as I could and had basic human interaction with my family before I boarded my flight to reach Chambal. It’s tough disconnecting from the people you love, the Internet and life. But it was the only way to do it.”

After her preparation, she lived in Chambal for a week prior to the commencing of the shoot to get familiar with the terrain. (Hindustan Times)

A

ctor Ayushmann Khurrana’s wife and filmmaker Tahira Kashyap has shared new pictures on social media that show her with her head shaved. She has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Tahira wrote in her post that she took the step after hair extensions got too irritating for her to manage. “Hello world! That’s a new me with the old self! Was getting tired of the extensions, so this is how it is and it’s so liberating in every sense of the word, so much so that I don’t have to duck the shower while bathing or while picking up the soap! I never thought I would go bald, was stretching my time with the good ol’ cap for too long. But this feels so good #breastcancerawareness #baldisbeautiful #selflovenomatterwhat,” she captioned the pictures. In the photos, she is seen striking a stylish pose in a blue T-shirt and big sunglasses.

Ayushmann re-tweeted Tahira’s pho-

tograph and called her a “hottie”. Actor Deepika Padukone retweeted her, calling the picture ‘hot’. Actor Kubbra Sait of Sacred Games commented, “You shining star! Light up the way.”

On September 22 last year, Tahira shared online that she was detected with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) in her right breast with high grade malignant cells.

She returned to work after mastectomy in November.

In an earlier interview with IANS, Ayushmann, who has two children with Tahira -- Virajveer and Varushka, said: “I am glad I have a partner like Tahira who is very brave, strong, who is an inspiration. I have started seeing life through a different prism. I was giving her my time, of course.

In the morning I was promoting my films, in the nights I was with her in the hospital... It is not easy.” (Hindustan Times)

A

ctor Ranveer Singh has carved his own big space in Bollywood with big hits and acclaimed performances. He is also one of the most adored celebrities of the nation for his cool and chilled out attitude. On the surface, it may seem like there is nothing that can bother Ranveer or bring him down but it is not the case.

In a recent interview to Filmfare, Ranveer said that though he is never bogged down by mean gossip, there was one rumour that he could not shake off. “There were rumours that my father gave Rs 10 lakh to Aditya Chopra, to get me launched. That really hurt me, it brought my whole upbringing into question.

How can you write something

so false that I had never said?

I had genuinely struggled and am proud of what I achieved.

Young actors will message me and ask, ‘Yo bro, I can cough up the money, tell me what I have to do.’ And I have to say that these rumours are not true, stop believing that!”

Crossword Solution

Ranveer made his Bollywood debut under the banner of Aditya Chopra’s Yash Raj Films in 2010’s Band Baaja Baraat. The film was a hit and also starred Anushka Sharma. Since then, Ranveer has worked in films such as Vikramaditya Motwane’s Lootera, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat.

The actor delivered the biggest solo hit of his career with Simmba, which made Rs 350 crore at the box office. The film was directed by Rohit Shetty and also starred Sara Ali Khan.

Ranveer will now be seen in Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy. He will be seen as a rapper from Mumbai who struggles to realise his singing dream under the pressure of his abusive father. It also stars Alia Bhatt and will release on February 14. His other upcoming projects include 1983 and Takht. He will play ace cricketer Kapil Dev in the former and Mughal king Aurangzeb’s brother Dara Shikoh in the latter.

(Hindustan Times)

T

he Recording Academy announced the first group of artists to perform on this year’s 61st annual Grammy Awards: nominees Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Dan + Shay, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Janelle Monáe, and Kacey Musgraves.

The big show will be hosted by Alicia Keys and broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. ET 5 p.m. PT on Sunday, Feb. 10.

Cabello received two nominations for Best Pop Solo Performance (“Havana [Live]”) and Best Pop Vocal Album (Camila). Cardi B is nominated for Record of the

Year (“I Like It”), Album Of The Year (Invasion Of Privacy), Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Maroon 5 (“Girls Like You”), Best Rap Performance (“Be Careful”), and Best Rap Album (Invasion Of Privacy).

First-time nominees Dan + Shay are up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Tequila”).

First-time nominee Post Malone received four nominations, Record Of The Year (“Rockstar” with 21 Savage), Album Of The Year (Beerbongs & Bentleys), Best Pop Solo Performance (“Better Now”), and Best

Rap/Sung Performance (“Rockstar”).

Mendes, nominated for Song Of The Year (“In My Blood”) and Best Pop Vocal Album (Shawn Mendes), will be making his debut on the Grammy stage, Two-time nominee Monáe is up for Album Of The Year (Dirty Computer) and Best Music Video (“Pynk”).

Musgraves is up for four awards: Album of the Year (Golden Hour), Best Country Solo Performance (“Butterflies”), Best Country Song (“Space Cowboy”), and Best Country Album (Golden Hour). (Page Six)

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 20, 2019

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES (March 21April 19)

You'll have plenty of energy, but if you don't put it to good use, emotional situations will escalate and arguments will prevail. Keep the peace.

Togetherness and taking TAURUS time out to help a close friend (April 20- or relative will do you just as May 20) much good as it will others. If you share your feelings, you'll put others at ease.

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

Live and learn. Take part in an event that will enlighten you or give you a different perspective on life and new possibilities. Romance is in the stars.

If you want to make a change, do so for the right (June 21- reasons. Don't let an emoJuly 22) tional whim cause you to overreact or mislead someone counting on you for good advice.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

Sign up for something that will get you out of the house.

Taking part in an energetic activity, socializing with friends or spending a romantic day making plans will prove delightful.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Get involved in your community or attend an event that will bring you in contact with people who have something to offer. What you contribute will lead to opportunity.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Change should begin with you. Don't waste your time trying to turn someone else into something that he or she will never be. Look inward and make personal adjustments.

Surround yourself with SCORPIO people you enjoy being with.

(Oct. 24- Talks will be revealing and Nov. 22) will point you in a new and unusual direction. Someone with more experience will offer unusual insight.

SAGITTARIUS Home is where the action (Nov. 23- should be. Invite friends over Dec. 21) or start a new project that will add to your comfort. A change will do you good and lead to new endeavors.

Calvin and Hobbes

Don't ignore emotional sitCAPRICORN uations. Recognize what's go(Dec. 22- ing on around you, ask quesJan. 19) tions and find out where you stand. Staying on top of a brewing situation will help deter discord.

Don't be fooled by a job AQUARIUS posting that offers an oppor(Jan. 20- tunity which sounds too good Feb. 19) to be true. Trust in what you do, who you are and how best to use your skills.

Keep your life simple. Too PISCES (Feb. 20- much of anything will lead Mar. 20) to regret. Know when to stop and rethink matters. Much can be accomplished if you surround yourself with the right people.