Guyana Times International

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 290

WEEK ENDING April 17, 2016

Guyanese among Caribbean nationals arrested by U.S. Immigration See story on page 3

...in sex offenders crackdown

Martin Guptill

A great honour to lead Guyana Amazon Warriors in CPL 2016, says Martin Guptill

Page 52

The Linden/Lethem Trail (Rupununi Savannah, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Guyana) Photo by Girendra Persaud

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Guyanese among Caribbean nationals arrested by U.S. Immigration … in sex offenders crackdown

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orty-four individuals, inclusive of Guyanese nationals, convicted of crimes against children were arrested in New Jersey during the U.S Government’s “Crimes against Children” operation held between April 4 and April 8 this year.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark Field Office executed this operation recently as part of the agency’s public safety efforts.

According to a release from the U.S. agency, the persons arrested were nationals of Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El

Salvador, England, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

“All of the targets

in this operation met the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) highest immigration enforcement priorities as established in DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson's 2014 memorandum. The operation

netted a total of 44 arrests of individuals convicted of crimes against children…these individuals range from age 19 to 61 years old and all were previously convicted of a variety of offenses. Some of the con-

victions included sexual abuse of a minor, criminal sexual contact of a child, luring or enticing a child, endangering the welfare of a child, sexual assault of a minor, child abuse, child neglect and indecent exposure,” it said.

This publication understands that this initiative in nabbing these perpetrators underscore the ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety, and as part of the operation, specific focus was placed on the arrest of persons who took advantage of children.

It should be noted that among those arrested during this operation are a Haitian citizen convicted of criminal sexual contact against a child and endangering

the welfare of a child, an Ecuadorian citizen convicted of luring or enticing a child, attempted endangering the welfare of a child, and a Guatemalan citizen convicted of criminal sexual contact on a child.

Meanwhile, a Cuban national convicted of three counts of sexual assault of a minor has also been arrested.

The ICE is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of the communities in the U.S, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security.

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Tel no: (592) 227-0704, 227-0709.

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EDITORIAL

That Code of Conduct

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he APNU/AFC coalition has become embroiled in several controversies – manufactured or not – which to a large extent are self-inflicted and could have been avoided if they had their promised “Code of Conduct” in place.

When the two parties were in Opposition, they were very strident in their denunciations of the actions of PPP/C Ministers, MPs and officials in the latter’s performance of their duties. They argued quite cogently that what was needed was a “Code of Conduct” with “teeth” so that there would be clear guidelines for the actors and the enforcers to ensure the country’s business was conducted transparently and ethically.

The Code of Conduct was promised to be promulgated within their first 100 days of assuming office, which occurred in May 2015: “#16 – A Code of Conduct will be established for Parliamentarians, Ministers and others holding high positions in government public office to abide by, including mechanisms for demitting office if in violation of the Code of Conduct.”

Mentioned in July, it was not until September of that year when Minister Raphael Trotman, upon being questioned by reporters said there was a “draft” code but, “We believe it should be opened up for public comment, criticism, critique and to be distilled and refined. Hopefully, coming out of it we get a stronger document.”

The “draft” Code of Conduct was finally released the following month and asserted it was underpinned by 10 principles: accountability, dignity, diligence, duty, honour, integrity, loyalty, objectivity, responsibility, and transparency.

It was replete with moral exhortations drafted at such a high level of generality that it mocked the notion of a “Code” meant to bring down sanctions if transgressed.

For instance: “Public office holders have a duty to uphold the law, including the general law, against discrimination and sexual harassment, and to act with propriety on all occasions in accordance with the public trust and confidence placed in them. Public office holders have a general duty to act in the interest of the nation as a whole and owe a special duty of care to their constituents, and citizens.”

In one area where it decided to be specific, the drafters of the Code felt that “gambling” was an action that needed to be curbed and enunciated: “Ministers, MPs and public office holders must not engage in frequent or excessive gambling with persons who have business dealings with the government as well as among colleagues, particularly with subordinates. If on social occasions where gambling (provided that the activity is legal) is considered unsociable, the amount of money involved should not be significant.”

Be as it may, the draft was now in the public domain of the website of the Office of the President. However, the Chief Whip of the major Opposition party, the PPP/C, complained they had not received a copy which was quite anomalous since “all MPs” were supposed to be covered.

Recommendations were received from the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the Bar Association and Transparency International of Guyana Inc (TIGI). The latter organisation suggested that a time line of a month be outlined within which ordinary citizens could be facilitated to give their input in a Town Hall setting. When releasing the draft back in November 2015, Minister Trotman had himself suggested such a forum.

Even the staunchest supporter of the government would have to conclude that the Code of Conduct is not high on the list of the government’s priorities. It is difficult to understand why there has been such lassitude is transmuting the Draft Code into a final enforceable document.

Raphael Trotman was the Minister who released the Draft Code, and in the absence of any other information to the contrary is responsible for the present state of disarray in establishing the final Code of Conduct. President David Granger, as an ex-military man, must understand the need for clarity in guiding the actions of his officials. Action is needed now.

The contenders vying for this year’s Mr. Guyana International title were introduced to the media at a press conference held at the Pegasus Hotel, in Georgetown, on Thursday.

Those vying for the title are: Renaldo Myers, Sean Thompson, Javane Viellenc, Lionel Rowe, Dexter Gardener, Paul Meusa, Satesh, Jagdeo Kefa Smith, Stowell Bentham, Joel Waldron. The competition is billed for April 24th at the National Cultural Center (NCC).

Corruption takes many forms …It includes rewarding political support with favours, contracts and appointments

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he Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) on Tuesday issued a statement, as a followup to one issued previously on the controversial conduct of Minister of State Mr. Joseph Harmon, in which it made it clear that "Corruption takes many forms."

"Not only does it include the more traditional forms of bribery, kickbacks, extortion, nepotism and cronyism, but also abuse of functions, illicit enrichment and trading in influence (UN Convention against Corruption) and patronage which involves rewarding political support with favours, contracts, appointments, subsidies, prestige and other valued benefits," TIGI stated.

Following is the full text of the TIGI statement issued last night by the institute's current President Dr Troy Thomas: TIGI has taken note of the various responses to its statement on the recent conduct of Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon.

The statement in general and the sentence that actually imputes corruption to the admission by the Minister of State to making certain appointments, is entirely consistent with the draft Code of Conduct for ministers. This draft Code of Conduct reads in part: “Public office holders have a duty to … act with propriety on all occasions in accordance with the public trust and confidence placed in them. Public office holders have a general duty to act in the interests

of the nation as a whole….

Public office holders are reminded that they owe a duty to the public and must consider themselves servants of the people.

“A conflict-of-interest situation arises when the “private interests” of the public office holder compete or conflict with the interests of the State.

“Private interests” mean both the financial and personal interests of the official and staff or those of their connections, including … other clubs and societies to which they belong; and any person to whom they owe a favour or are obligated in any way.

“They should avoid compromising themselves or their office[s] which may lead to an actual or perceived conflict of interest. Failure to avoid or declare any conflict of interest may give rise to criticism of favouritism, abuse of authority or even allegations of corruption.”

Corruption takes many forms. Not only does it include the more traditional forms of bribery, kickbacks, extortion, nepotism and cronyism, but also abuse of functions, illicit enrichment and trading in influence (UN Convention against Corruption) and patronage which involves rewarding political support with favours, contracts, appointments, subsidies, prestige and other valued benefits. The draft Code of Conduct and the statement from TIGI, reflect an appreciation of the true nature and extent of corruption in Guyana; and the role of public officers who, by virtue of their

high profile, are important tipping agents in the quest to dislodge the culture of corruption.

Indeed, it is because TIGI understands how difficult it is for societies to escape corruption traps that it issued its statement, and made the strong imputation of corruption to an action that is essentially political patronage.

The failure to embrace the spirit in which the statement was issued is not only inconsistent with the aforementioned draft Code of Conduct – according to which “Any official or staff who violates any provision of the code will be subject to disciplinary action, or termination of appointment/employment where warranted” – but it represents a missed opportunity to restore confidence in public institutions and offices.

We must take a deeper look at corruption to understand that although some practices have become so deeply entrenched that they seem normal, they constitute corruption. To this end, TIGI will launch an education programme that will begin by addressing institutional trust and campaign financing.

In response to President Granger, TIGI will make an exception to our policy of using what is publicly available and will write Minister Harmon to request a meeting and to send him a set of questions on the matter at hand. Without fear or favour, TIGI remains committed to working with the government, citizens and other organisations to foster transparency and to stamp out corruption.

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Nawbatt would have been aware of risk in signing contract weeks before General Elections - Govt

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n light of the government being slapped with a Gy$49M lawsuit by former Guyana High Commissioner to Canada, Harry Narine Nawbatt, the Foreign Affairs Ministry is contending that it is customary practice where a change in Administration may result in the termination of services of “non-career diplomats” who serve as Heads of Missions at the pleasure of the President of the day on a contractual basis.

In a media statement today, the Foreign Affairs Ministry explained that in practice, such Heads of Missions would “normally” submit their resignations when that Administration demits office.

It said that in May 2015, there were only two career diplomats heading Guyana Missions and consequently upon the results of the General Elections held in the country last year, the services of all political/non-career officers would have “come to an end anyway.”

According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, of those political appointees, it was only Ambassador Bayney Karran, who heads

Guyana’s Embassy in Washington, DC, and is also Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States, that submitted a letter of resignation.

“In doing so, he indicated his availability and willingness to serve the new Administration if so desired. On the other hand, notwithstanding the protocol of resignation mentioned above, Mr Nawbatt and the other political officers submitted no letters of resignation or expression of willingness to serve. His contract, like those of the other non-career officers, can be said to have been thereby frustrated,” the media statement further said.

As such the Foreign Affairs Ministry is declaring that it is “remarkable therefore, although not surprising” given the effrontery of some of those officers that Nawbatt could claim to have been, since May 11, 2015, in a position to give and receive instructions and to discharge duties as a diplomatic representative of Guyana.

“In any case, the Ministry wishes to point out that there is no record of the Ministry of

Former Guyana High Commissioner to Canada, Harry Narine Nawbatt

Foreign Affairs having any involvement in the settlement of the terms of the contract to which Mr Nawbatt has made reference. The contract on which he is basing his appeal was signed a mere few weeks before the 2015 elections. He and the other persons signing such contracts would have been aware of the risks involved in signing so close to national elections, a document linked to the provision of service to a President and Administration whose tenure was the subject of the very elections,” the

Ministry noted.

It also added that such contracts ought to have been extended to May 11th or 12th or end of May as agreed by the Inter-Party Transition Committee and that it is also unaware of when Nawbatt left his post in Canada.

Nawbatt is suing the APNU+AFC coalition government for what he deems to be wrongful dismissal and a breach of a contractual agreement which he had inked under the previous Administration.

Former Attorney

General, Anil Nandlall is part of a team of lawyers representing Nawbatt who is requesting that the Court rule in his favour by awarding him damages in excess of Gy$25M for breach of contract and “special” damages in the sum of Gy$24,295,104.

Nawbatt was appointed High Commissioner in February 2015.

In documents filed in the Court, he is claiming that there was a contract of employment made on February 9, last year, between himself and the Government of Guyana.

He was tasked with performing the functions and duties of High Commissioner to Canada as of the following day (February 10, 2015) being paid a monthly salary of Gy$773,801. This contract would have expired on February 9 this year (2016).

According to the contract, the cost of education for Nawbatt’s children would be paid by the Government and he was also entitled to other allowances.

It should be noted that Nawbatt would have been allowed to terminate his services providing that a written notice of three months was given. Likewise the

government would have had to give notice for the same time frame or pay Nawbatt six months’ salary and Station Allowance if such notice was not given.

However, he contends that in a letter dated June 8, 2015, less than one month the APNU+AFC coalition took office, the Director General (ag) of the Foreign Affairs Ministry wrongfully and “in repudiatory breach” of the above-mentioned contract purported to terminate his employment and therefore wrongfully dismissed him.

This publication was told that the letter which has been included in the statement of claim says that Nawbatt’s appointment would end on August 31st, 2015 and that he should report to Georgetown.

According to Nawbatt, he is owed Gy$4.3M for salary up to February this year; Gy$5.7M in gratuity, payment of Gy$4M for 158 days leave; Gy$4.8M in station allowance; Gy$4.6M in station allowance for leave for five months and Gy$2M in business class return air passages, among other things.

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Recent victory should provide an opportunity for a new beginning in WI cricket Dear Editor, Seeing the West Indies Women Cricket Team beating the Australian Women Team in the T20 Finals was exhilarating and when the West Indies Men defeated India in the finals, I was transported to a wonderful state of ecstasy. Unfortunately I was brought back to reality when I heard the comments of Captain Sammy when he castigated the West Indies Cricket Board in saying among other things that the team was disrespected by the Board and that as a result of poor administrative arrangements by the Board, the new manager had to rush off away from the team.

The comments by Sammy in front of the whole world and in the midst of our victory were unfortunate and it does tell the sad story of the deep rift between the team and the Board. As a sports administrator I cringed when I heard the

comments and asked myself what could have driven a successful captain in the halo of victory to denigrate his Board to whom he has to answer to!

The president of the Board Dave Cameron and perhaps other members had been in India and I am sure that he had attended the matches that were played by the West Indies. The reports emanating were after the West Indies qualified for the finals and before Sammy spoke, Dave Cameron or the Board had not sent any congratulations to the team. It seems that Dave Cameron despite being in India and attending the matches was not in contact with the captain or the team. This fact that no congratulations had been sent or contact with the team has not been denied by Cameron or the Board.

I really cannot imagine this as regardless what problems or rift that may have divided the two sides, the victory

was a path to which dialogue could have begun. Words of congratulations should have been sent both by Cameron and the Board. As president of the Guyana Olympic Association, I make it my duty and honour to always have a team meeting before the Games begin in order to give words of encouragement and support to the team. There is no excuse why a president should not do so and in my books, Cameron was wrong and he should apologise for this lapse.

I will also fault Sammy for his outburst as this was not the occasion for it and it threw a bad light on us all. What is important now is for good sense to prevail and the Board and the players must sit down and talk. To me, this is such a simple matter and pride wherever it is must be cast aside.

The governments of Caricom want the Board to be disbanded and its wings clipped but this also is a position

that must be re-examined for it is not practical and will not happen. Dialogue is now so much necessary and more so with the cricket fraternity in Guyana.

There is a host of matters pending in the Courts and we need to get rid of them. The Minister of Sports should commence, difficult as it may be, to initiate talks between the factions. I would suggest that one of the first steps is to get the parties to agree on their respective constitutions so that there could be elections. Please let us try to clean the slate and begin afresh so that we can concentrate on the development of cricket and not in winning in the Courts.

KA Juman-Yassin Attorney President of the Guyana Olympic Association

More could have Dr Hinds is part of the larger problem been done to welcome our cricket heroes

Dear Editor, Words cannot express the sadness I felt when I looked at the Friday 08 dailies and saw a 12-year-old girl charged for murder. Over the years especially during the period when we were being governed under PPP/C I penned numerous letters begging/imploring those responsible for our youths, religious leaders and the various organisations to come out with a clear plan to help our youths and I even got into details and used Zeelugt on East Bank Essequibo as an example, citing the huge school-dropouts, increased drugs and alcohol use and crime.

To date no help or project has been introduce to that village. Instead, there are small gangs emerging, crimes being committed (some murders) and some villagers living in torment from these youngsters because the police seem rather reluctant to act on certain reports that they seem to judge as irrelevant whilst those misbehaving keep increasing their behaviours. Because of neglect crime seems to be getting worse and the majority of them are committed by youths.

Whilst passing schools, especially high schools in the afternoon, you could observe lots of young men dressed in various fashion liming and having conversations with the schoolchildren. Those liming are mostly schoolaged and their actions seem to be influencing many to drop out from schools and join them to dress and look ‘cool’.

Listening to their vulgar conversations with the school children is very appalling and if one tries to scold them, one is met with a barrage of insults, threats and even assaults.

Many parents would see

the actions of these children and would openly share their opinions on proper training while their own might be worse off because they don’t care what they are doing but when problems arise they quickly jump up to defend them.

I am still waiting to see the administration come up with a plan for these ‘loiterers’ at the schools.

Finally Editor, I have posted on my Facebook page my opinion about the sorry welcome Lisa Punch got at the Timehri Airport and to see our two young ladies from the victorious West Indies women team entering Guyana without a decent welcome is very embarrassing. That is to show the feelings those in authority have for our youths here!

Our Director of Sports hastily called a press conference to say that the GCB did not inform him so that he could have arranged a hero’s welcome for the two young ladies.

Now my questions are, as Director of Sports, couldn’t he have called and enquired, instead of waiting? Couldn’t he get the girls’ contact numbers and make contact with them personally; and apart from the press conference did he convey any congratulatory message to them?

Our youths are not getting the credits they deserve and actions like these only seem to deter them from shining.

Perhaps our Director of Sports should take time off from updating Facebook of where he is and actually show us what he is doing when not eating or drinking, because the last time I recalled seeing the deplorable conditions some of our athletes had to eat in whilst they are representing Guyana!

Yours truly, Sahadeo Bates

Dear Editor, I refer to Hinds sight column by Dr David Hinds titled “Many Peoples, One Nation, One Destiny: Identity, The state media and our cricket identity”. Firstly let me say that Dr David Hinds of the Working Peoples Alliance (WPA) seems not qualified to speak nor write on our Guyanese oneness in our plural society and our Guyanese identity.

Dr Hinds says in his column: “The instinct of oneness has always been there, but the instinct that flows from our diversity is there also. We have not done a good job at marrying the two; in many regards, we have set the two against each other. For me, this has been one of our great independence failures”!

Dr Hinds is absolutely correct because he is part of the problem and not the solution when he tried to publicly accuse James Singh (an IndoGuyanese) of the Guyana Forestry Commission

(GFC) of being bribed as a result of his silence on BaiShanLin with the intention of the Government removing him from office.

This is clearly a case of promoting ethnic division in Guyana by Dr Hinds and I do appeal to the Granger Administration to ignore such hostile publications in sections of the media and focus on the task of nation-building.

Further, Dr Hinds knows nothing about Guyana’s Forestry sector and the information he gets from his fellow party members in the sector is riddled with inaccuracies and misinformation.

As a so-called intellectual, it is my view therefore that Dr Hinds lacks the qualifications to promote and speak on Guyanese and identity in Guyana’s multiracial society.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

Kissoon will not write against the APNU/AFC regime for a very long time Dear Editor, Freddie Kissoon’s recent attack on Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman, and his grovelling apology two days later tells many stories of what is taking place in Guyana.

Many people know that Kissoon is a coward.

His WPA colleague Tacuma Ogunseye once gave details of incidents where Freddie hid when dangerous situations arose. This is the same man who beats his chest and exaggerates his role in the fight for democracy.

Well, his behaviour in the Trotman scenario demonstrates several things: 1. It confirms what those close to him have known all along – that he is a coward. The grovelling was nauseating to say the least.

2. It is clear that the old PNC is once more back in action. He was either seriously threatened directly that he should apologise and/or his boss was ordered to fire him if he did not comply.

3. He feels safe attacking the PPP/C because

he is secure in the knowledge that the PPP/C does not resort to violence and does not promote such.

4. His cowardice is part of the problem we have in this country – when he behaves like this, it encourages the use of threats and violence in the society.

5. It shows that this man has absolutely no convictions. He cares about his own skin because he feels he is in danger of being harmed, he quickly, not merely, apologises, but as mentioned above it could be better described as grovelling.

Kissoon will not write against this regime for a long time to come (if ever).

What a disgrace calling himself an intellectual and political analyst. It is clear he is none of that.

Yours truly, Gopaul Singh

The current Agriculture Minister has done little to improve the sector over the past year Dear Editor, It was reported in the news media on April 12 that Agriculture Minister Noel Holder has flown to Costa Rica and was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock

Development Authority and the General Manager of the Guyana Marketing Corporation to discuss support for the agricultural sector in Guyana. continued on page 7

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AFC’s Nigel Hughes puts resignation on hold …to proceed on “leave of absence”

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Mr. Nigel Hughes

he Alliance for Change (AFC) has announced in a media statement on Wednesday that its Chairman, Nigel Hughes, has decided to put his resignation on hold after a high level meeting involving party leader, Khemraj Ramjattan and General Secretary, David Patterson.

The party said that during this meeting, detailed and frank discussions were had on the current political environment in Guyana and in particular, the Coalition Government’s first year in office and the AFC’s performance during this period.

“After a most productive working session it was agreed that Chairman Hughes’s resignation will not take effect at this time and he will instead proceed on

a leave of absence from the duties and responsibilities of Chairman for a period of reflection and review after which a mutual decision will be taken”, the statement added.

Following is the full statement: Subsequent to Mr. Nigel Hughes tendering his resignation as Chairman of the Alliance For Change, a high level meeting involving the Leader of the Party, Khemraj Ramjattan, the General Secretary, David Patterson and Mr. Hughes was held as mandated by the AFC’s Management Committee.

During this meeting detailed and frank discussions were had on the current political environment in Guyana and in particular, the Coalition Government’s first year

in office and the AFC’s performance during this period. After a most productive working session it was agreed that Chairman Hughes’s resignation will not take effect at this time and he will instead proceed on a leave of absence from the duties and responsibilities of Chairman for a period of reflection and review after which a mutual decision will be taken.

Mr. Hughes has reiterated firmly and unequivocally that he remains fully committed to the AFC and its development agenda for the country and he will remain an active and vocal member of the Party. It was further agreed that during the interregnum of his absence from active duties as Chairman he will continue political and policy work on behalf of the Party by concentrating his efforts on three critical and important pillars of the AFC’s agenda, those being Constitutional Reform, Broadcast Legislation and other core legal matters which the AFC has committed itself to advance in the interest of the Guyanese society.

The leadership of the AFC wholeheartedly recognises the significant contribution of the Chairman of the Party and accepts his decision to recalibrate his focus and attention at this time as the Party continues its historic mission on setting Guyana on a firm and steady path of sustained progress.

from page 6

The current Agriculture Minister...

Tourism is the main foreign exchange earner for Costa Rica with bananas, pineapples and coffee as its major agricultural crops. It has no livestock development.

Guyana’s main agricultural crops are sugar and rice. Their improved productivity can only come through mechanisation, development of high yielding plants and lower labour costs.

Competitiveness has to come from lower cost of production. Hence there is no commonality with respect to the agricultural sector between the two countries and, therefore it is difficult to comprehend as claimed, that the objectives of Minister Holder’s visit are to im-

prove productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural sector thereby contributing to the development and wellbeing of the rural population since the crops grown by each country are dissimilar.

Minister Holder has been in office for nearly a year, done little so far and has no comprehensive plan to develop and improve agriculture, the most important sector in Guyana.

The sugar industry is in a downward spiral with no alternative plan in sight for its rescue, particularly for Wales Estate and its impending displaced workers. The Hope Canal is still not functional as per its de-

sign requirements.

President Granger should let the poor people of Guyana know why so many of his Ministers with large entourages are making frequent expensive overseas trips which the country could ill afford to achieve marginal benefits while neglecting to address the problems at home for which they were appointed to resolve. “Charity begins at home” and, therefore, our elected representatives should not be allowed to make luxurious trips abroad for questionable purposes and no clear-cut objective to benefit the country.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

Harmon to provide written explanation to Cabinet on corruption allegations – President

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Minister of State, Joseph Harmon cornered by the media

inister of State Joseph Harmon will today (Thursday) present a written statement to Cabinet on all the accusations being levelled against him, when Ministers convene for a meeting, President David Granger has assured.

The President, responding to questions posed by Journalists on Wednesday, said Minister Harmon already offered an oral explanation to Cabinet members on Tuesday for being in a photograph with officials of BaiShanLin. According to President Granger, the explanation given to

Cabinet by Harmon related that he had to visit a number of places in China, with little time to do so.

“As you know the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China was in China at that time, he had to go to three or four different cities and the Ambassador arranged the executive transport because of the distance between the cities, and the amount of time he had at his disposal. So it was arranged by the Chinese Government to enable him to travel to different cities… to conduct the business that he was there to conduct,” President Granger said, before reiterating that the trip was funded by

the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL).

In what appears to be a move aimed at tarnishing Harmon’s political career, Kaieteur News has been publishing a series of articles about the Minister’s decision to appoint businessman Brian Tiwari as his personal Adviser on Business Development and instructions he gave to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to halt a seizure of several vehicles from Chinese logging company BaiShanLin. The articles were skillfully designed in a manner to portray the Minister as corrupt.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Prisoners could have attempted Gruesome murder of Shocking jail break - Fire Chief tells CoI 2-year-old: details emerging that

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pon arrival at the scene of the fatal Camp Street Prison fire, which left 17 inmates dead, Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle revealed that he was verbally abused and spat on by prisoners.

In his testimony at the afternoon session of Wednesday’s Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into events surrounding the deadly prison fire, Gentle explained that the situation was very tense, noting that there was potential for “anything to happen”.

Due to the nature of the prison environment, he opined that inmates

Fireman Garfield Benjamin

could have attempted a jail break. Attorney representing the Prison Service and Guyana Police Force, Eusi Anderson asked Gentle to detail the abuses which were hurled at him.

In his testimony, the Chief Fire Officer remembered vividly prisoners saying “Why the f**king Fire Chief coming now” and “we want to f**k up the prisons”.

“I was spit on by the same people [prisoners]; persons were rocking the

fence,” Gentle further explained.

The Chief Fire Officer was questioned as to why he arrived at 11:59h after the Fire Service received the report at 11:18h.

Gentle explained that he ensured that ambulances gathered as his deputy Compton Sparman related to him to expect casualties. He noted that when he arrived, he along with Police Commander Clifton Hicken and Deputy Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels tried to diffuse the situation.

child was sodomised

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Proceed with caution

The Commission was told that subordinate firemen were told to proceed with caution.

“The cautionary words were basically to alert them that this was not a normal situation, it was a riotous situation and they must be cognisant of their own safety,” Gentle recounted.

In his explanation over what he heard over his radio set, the Chief Fire Officer explained that Fire Officer in Charge of Operations Compton Sparman was shouting “Enter with caution! Proceed with caution!” several times.

In trying to ascertain the available resources to the fire service, the Commission was told that there are 191 ranks in Georgetown (A Division) and that there is a more than 95 per cent compliment of ranks in the overall service.

Gentle however admitted that the fire service does not have all that it currently needs. He revealed that the fire service is undertaking measures with stakeholders to fix many of the broken

s the trial of Kevin Rankin who allegedly murdered his two-year-old niece in 2013 continues, the prosecution is expected to present its final two witnesses and close its case today.

Rankin, also known as “Lil Man”, is on trial before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and a 12-member jury for allegedly killing two-yearold Kimani Phillips on October 21, 2013 at Lot 46 Haslington South, East

pair of short pants, telling her that the toddler was not breathing.

She said upon investigating, she noticed that the child was lying motionless with her eyes and mouth open, and Rankin was nervous. She explained that they then rushed her to the health centre where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

While under cross-examination by Defence Counsel Sandil Kissoon, Primo confessed that she

Coast Demerara. The defendant was 15 years old at the time.

At the commencement of the trial on Friday last, State Prosecutor Narissa Leander related that on the day in question, the toddler was left in the care of Diane Graham, the defendant’s mother. During the course of the day, the woman reportedly went to conduct some errands, leaving the toddler and Rankin at a neighbouring relative’s house. Leander explained that the prosecution’s case would be built by the circumstantial evidence which would prove that Rankin inflicted the fatal injuries on the child.

Graham, the first witness, had testified that on the day in question, she left her son at home for about 20 minutes while she conducted a transaction at MoneyGram.

She related that while she was out, she received a phone call which led to her returning home. Upon her arrival at the home, she stated that her son exited a car and told her of her granddaughter’s demise.

The woman also alleged that the child was suffering from constipation.

On Monday, Kiana Primo, the defendant’s cousin, admitted that she had supplied the Police with an untrue statement when relating the incident.

She stated that early that day, she was on the upper flat of the house when she noticed a strange odour, which was later discovered to be as a result of the toddler defecating. She stated that she ordered Rankin to clean the child up while she continued her chores.

Sometime later, she recalled that Rankin had rushed to her clad only in a

had told the Police a different version of what occurred. The woman, who was 18 years old at the time, admitted that she told the Police that when she discovered the child on the bed, the toddler was moving her head from side to side. She claimed that she lied because she did not want her cousin to be arrested, but now she wished to clear her conscience and tell the truth.

Venice Phillips, the mother of the deceased child and sister of the defendant, also testified in the matter. She explained that she left her two daughters in her mother’s care on the day in question as per normal. She also refuted her mother’s claim that the child was suffering from constipation, saying the child was healthy when she left.

State Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh testified that the autopsy performed on the toddler revealed that she had been sodomised.

Dr Singh said the cause of death was haemorrhage and shock due to multiple abdominal injuries. He explained that Philips had been “subjected to anal penetration”, which left behind fresh samples of blood.

He further related that the child suffered abdominal trauma as a result of anal penetration as well as massive internal injuries to her spleen, liver and anus.

He contended that the injuries were caused simultaneously, adding that the toddler suffered injuries on her head and neck and blunt force trauma consistent with being hit, compression or a fall. Dr Singh also revealed that he could not determine by what the child was penetrated with.

Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle

fire hydrants in the city.

Sophia Boucher, leading firewoman in the control room, was also called to testify as she was the officer on duty receiving reports at Central Fire Station, Stabroek between 11:00h and 14:00h. Upon inspection, Attorney associated with the Bar Association Glen Hanoman raised concerns that the logbook started on March 2, 2016, and as such, could not establish a flow of entries, thereby hindering its credibility. He then petitioned Commission Chairman James Patterson that its predecessor be tendered as evidence.

Her evidence corroborated the time when the report was received, when Marlon Gentle arrived, the time when the fire tenders were dispatched as well as the time when the ambulances were deployed.

In

Fake logbook?

cross-examina-

tion, Attorney Hanoman postulated that Boucher assisted in “drafting up the logbook” for the purpose of bringing it to the Commission and that another logbook exists for March 2 and March 3.

“I am suggesting to you that you assisted in preparing a brand new logbook,” Hanoman said but the leading firewoman simply replied: “No, Sir.” Eariler, another Fire Officer, Garfield Benjamin told Commissioners that the scene in the prison was “gruesome” and noted that he had never seen such scenes in his experience as a fire fighter.

He stated that some of the bodies were packed on top each other – 12 were at the doorway and three were near the toilet area.

The witness related that he did not see any canister of tear gas at the scene on March 3.

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Prerogative of Mercy Council sworn in

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resident David Granger has urged a new five-member Advisory Council of the Prerogative of Mercy to use their culture, values and religious persuasion to exercise compassion to incarcerated persons.

The President offered the admonition Wednesday afternoon, after swearing in the five members of the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy board at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The Council, guided by the Constitution, will be allowed the opportunity to grant pardon to a convicted prisoner, conditionally or otherwise, or grant a respite of the execution of the punishment imposed. The Council is to advise the President on such matters.

According to President David Granger, Guyana currently needs a quality of mercy that will transform the political culture from what he said has become a “dog eat dog” way of life.

President David Granger and Attorney General Basil Williams (extreme left) with the newly sworn in members of the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy on Wednesday at the Ministry of the Presidency

“In Guyana, we need that quality of mercy.

We need to transform the political culture. We need to be more compassionate and more merciful. Because if you have a President that is not compassionate and is not capable of extending

Search on for new GRA Commissioner General

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our months after firing Khurshid Sattaur from his post as Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the agency is looking for suitable applicants to fill the vacancy.

The GRA is also advertising for a new Deputy Commissioner General.

The applicants are required to have a comprehensive knowledge of the country’s tax system and familiarity with the Tax Laws, Regulations and Tax Treaties administered by the Revenue Authority, as well as the relationship of these legislative instruments with the various programmes governed by the GRA. In an advertisement published in one of the daily newspapers, it was stated that applicants must possess a professional accounting/auditing designation and a Master’s Degree in Taxation, Business Administration, Economics, Information Technology or Law. The GRA requires that applicants for the post of Commissioner General possess a minimum of 15 years’ experience in Tax and Customs Administration with a

minimum of eight years at the executive level.

The closing date for submission of applications is May 3, 2016.

In January, Sattaur was given an unceremonious send-off from his post as Commissioner General of the GRA. Sattaur was initially ordered on 200 days’ leave to facilitate an international forensic audit of the firm.

Reports indicate that the Commissioner General was expected to retire before the 200-day period was over.

Following his departure he was visited by junior members of the Revenue Authority, who took away his firearm and other items belonging to the State entity.

This move evoked public outcry, after which the Board clarified that it was only doing what was required by law.

In response to the decision to fire him, Sattaur said it was obvious through the many public pronouncements by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo that it would be uncomfortable for him to continue as the Head of the GRA under the new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration.

mercy, what sort of country do you want our chil-

dren to grow up in?

He said the simple

ceremony was a representation of the kind of

Country Guyanese must live in and the types of relationship each citizen must have.

He thanked the group for coming forward, urging them to be fearless despite the inevitable criticisms.

The five-member team includes Carl Hanoman, Justice Duke Pollard, Yvonne Heywood Benn, Merle Mendonca and Justice James Patterson.

Article 188 of the Constitution empowers the President to grant to convicted persons a State pardon – the very act establishes an Advisory Council on the prerogative which is expected to advise the President.

The Prerogative of Mercy is exercised in instances of petition, usually from a convicted person or persons acting on their behalf.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 17 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Pharmaceutical manufacturing companies say Excise Tax on alcohol too burdensome

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ocal manufacturing companies involved in the production of pharmaceutical products are contending that the law does not require them to make an Excise Tax payment on the purchase of alcohol and are therefore demanding the removal of the burdensome tariff on their purchases.

The tax should only be applied to alcohol that is consumed and is commonly known as a “sin tax”.

Twins Manufacturing Chemists, which has been in existence for over 60 years, explained that the Excise Tax Act 2005 is only applicable to local manufacturers involved in the production of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or petroleum products and not pharmaceutical products.

“People who are not manufacturing spirits and other alcoholic products, the category Twins and NEW GPC falls into, they are not using these alcohols to make spirits and alcoholic beverages, we are using it to make medicine, we should not have to a pay the Excise Tax, that is our position on the whole matter,” Shafeez Ferouze of Twins Manufacturing

Twins Manufacturing Chemists

stated.

According to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) website, Excise Tax is charged on the following items: alcoholic beverages; tobacco products; petroleum products; and motor vehicles.

Ram and McRae’s Value Added Tax and Excise Tax handbook also explains that the principal classes of goods on which the Excise Tax is payable are alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, petroleum products, and new and used vehicles.

Local manufacturers are now bearing the brunt of an onerous 40

to 65 per cent increase in the Excise Tax on the purchase of alcohol.

Last year, several manufacturing companies expressed concerns over the alarmingly high Excise Tax charged on the alcohol they would usually purchase from Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and had consequently requested the Government’s intervention to alleviate the burden plaguing the local manufacturing sector.

Instead of getting relief from paying the 40 per cent in Excise Tax, manufactures now have to pay an incredulous 65 per cent in Excise Tax for

the neutral spirits they buy locally for use in the production of their goods and services.

The alcohol purchased by manufacturers is referred to as extra-neutral alcohol or neutral spirits and is measured in Litres of Pure Alcohol (LPA). At the purchase strength of 96 per cent alcohol v/v (volume-volume percentage), it is considered only suitable for industrial use or further processing.

Twins Manufacturing Chemists explained to Guyana Times International that since the implementation of

the Excise Tax, they have been lobbying but to no avail for relief, or at the very least, an explanation for the inconsistency with what is stipulated in the Act and what is being practiced.

“Since 2007, we’ve been behind this… the issue is the Excise Tax, it ought to be removed for local manufacturers who are not producing alcoholic beverages,” Feroze said, noting that they never received a single response.

With the current Administration, he lamented that instead of correcting the error, they have decided to raise the

Excise Tax. “Instead of reviewing and removing, they (the Government) are increasing and imposing the Excise Tax,” he stated.

He noted that if the manufacturing companies continue to pay the whopping Excise Tax on the purchase of the alcohol, then it will only be a matter of time before the costs are passed down to the consumers.

Strangely, it is exceedingly cheaper to import the same product from Trinidad and Tobago because both the Excise Tax and Value Added Tax are waived by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) under the existing tax legislation as incentives for local manufacturing. But importation has to be done in bulk and this poses another cluster of challenges to local manufacturers.

Therefore, any local businesses desirous of using alcohol as a raw material will have to endure the onerous tax locally or import foreign alcohol – an alternative that is coincidentally inimical to the interests of another local manufacturer and the Guyanese economy.

15-year-old missing since Monday

A

n Enmore, East Coast Demerara family has been worried since Monday when 15-year-old Vilma Anant went missing.

Guyana Times International understands that Anant, commonly known as “Kamini”, is a Fourth Form (Grade 10) student of Apex Academy.

The teenager reportedly left for school on Monday morning but upon arriving at the gate, she turned around and left – and has not been seen or heard from since.

Speaking with this newspaper, Anant’s uncle, Vijay Sukhdeo, explained that “Kamini” had been living with them since she was little. He said the teenager’s parents had resided in Mahaica Creek, but separated years ago so he and his wife took in “Kamini”.

“She come live with us from since nursery to now and we never had any problems like this before,” the worried man related.

Sukhdeo recalled that on Monday morning “Kamini” sat down to have breakfast with the family and all seemed to be well with her. She then left for school. He noted some time after

Missing: Vilma “Kamini” Anant

they got a call from the school asking about her.

“Because it’s a private school, they would call home whenever a student does not show up. So the teacher called home and asked about her and I told her that she left to go to school, but the teacher said she wasn’t there,” the man noted.

He added that later in the day when the school bus returned to drop off students, they enquired from the driver and he confirmed that he dropped the teenager off in the morning.

Sukhdeo went on to relate that he visited the school on Tuesday and was shown footage from Monday morning. “Mr Ali showed me the video and we see her going up to the school gate and then she turn around and left,” the man said.

The cameras did not extend to the road, so it cannot be said where the young lady could have gone from the school’s Atlantic Gardens, ECD location.

According to her uncle, there was no one with his niece at the time nor did anything seem to be amiss with her.

Furthermore, the man said that on Monday after the young woman failed to return home, the family contacted all her relatives and friends, but no one had seen or heard from her.

A worried Sukhdeo explained to this newspaper that his niece was a quiet individual and had never caused such a problem. “I don’t know what happen … I really can’t say why she would disappear like that, we never had any problems with her… this is the first time something like this happen,” he said.

The family is pleading with the teenager to return home as soon as possible, and is also requesting members of the public with information on the whereabouts of 15-year-old Vilma “Kamini” Anant to contact them on 616-6345 or the nearest Police Station.

NEWS 11

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana records 34 road deaths for 2016 so far …speeding, drunk driving main causes

Traffic Officer (ag) Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud

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he traffic department of the Guyana Police Force has recorded 34 road fatalities for the year so far when compared to 30 fatalities from 21 accidents in 2015. Out of the 34 fatalities, three were children.

According to acting traffic officer Boodnarine Persaud, speeding and use of alcohol continued

to be the main cause of accidents while other causes include inattentiveness by pedestrians and pedal cyclists, lack of care at intersections, among other factors.

Pedestrians and motorcyclists represented the largest categories of those killed during 2016, 10 and 8 respectively.

“Motorcyclists continue to use the road recklessly without thinking about their own safety or that of other road users,” Persaud stated.

Most of the accidents involving motorcyclists, he added, have resulted from speeding and the use of alcohol but in some cases, the riders and pillions were not fitted with safety helmets.

“The two recent accidents involving motorcyclists, have seen a 19-year-old speeding along Grove Public Road, without a helmet, lost control of his vehicle, fell down and skidded into a parked motorcar thus re-

sulted in his death, and on the Essequibo Coast a 21-one-year-old motorcyclist was speeding along Aurora Public Road, lost control and drove off the road, killing his 17-yearold pillion. The motorcycle was not registered and the cyclist was unlicensed.”

On the other hand, the traffic chief stat-

ed that pedal cyclists also continue to use the road in a careless manner, while making reference to the use of alcohol topped with riding without lights, brakes, reflectors, and bells.

The Traffic Department over the years has conducted enforcement exercises against unlighted cycles

resulting in several being seized since the perpetrators find it difficult to pay the fines imposed on them.

In an effort to ease accidents, the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department has embarked on a series of road safety awareness programmes which include drivers’ seminars, lec-

ture to school children, distribution of flyers, exhibitions and radio and television programmes.

The enforcement exercises against lawless drivers continued with 7375 drivers prosecuted for speeding while 625 were prosecuted for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Tobacco legislation to be tabled soon – Dr Cummings

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inister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings has outlined that Government planned to pass legislation altering the use of tobacco in the country.

According to Dr Cummings, Government will be embarking on

a number of initiatives with the aim of promoting a healthier Guyana and improving the productivity of its people.

She said during the recently-held Unicomer health fair and expo that the tabling of the tobacco legislation was high on Government’s agenda.

Last year, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) made calls for Guyana to pass tobacco control legislation, citing it as a top priority.

According to PAHO, each year, tobacco kills six million people: 5.4 million active smokers and 600,000 non-smokers

exposed to second-hand smoke. It is the single legal consumer product that kills up to half of its users when used exactly as intended by the manufacturer, costing the global economy an estimated US$200 billion each year.

The Health Organisation had posited that the legislation was intended to protect present and future generations from the “devastating harms” of tobacco use, exposure to tobacco smoke and specifically to prevent tobacco use among youths.

The legislation would also seek to ensure that the public is protected from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry, while preventing the illicit trade in tobacco products.

The Minister believes that having the legislation passed will effectively reduce the illnesses associated with usage of the substance.

“Having the legislation passed does not mean that the drug will be banned, but rather laws associated with the usage will be altered so that the drug is not readily available for purchase in an instant,” the Minister said.

She highlighted that once the bill was passed

in Parliament, the particulars relating to the purchase of tobacco would be reviewed, including the alteration of the age requirement for persons to purchase the drug.

Ideally, no one should engage in smoking tobacco, but since that is difficult to achieve, the Minister said the Government will institute new laws that would make it more difficult for persons to get access to and use the drug.

Additionally, she stated, smoking indirectly leaves a burden on the

health administration of the country and that should be considered when persons decide to use the drug.

As tobacco is one of the drugs that have a lasting effect on users, Cummings said that health practitioners were the ones who were left with the responsibility of having to nurse persons back to life.

As such, the passing of the legislation will prove effective in improving the lives of the country’s population as well as reducing the strain

on the Government and medical personnel.

The Minister disclosed that there were a number of other strategies which the Government was contemplating to address the health situation as well as to promote safe lifestyles and practices.

To achieve these goals, the Government will be partnering with a number of stakeholders along with faithbased organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other relevant bod-

ies to adopt these positive health practices in Guyana.

Dr Cummings said that the Government was planning on adopting policies that promote healthy eating which would significantly reduce the risk factors of related weight and cardiovascular diseases.

“These strategic initiatives can be expected to be seen in the near future as the health of the population remains at the top of the [Public Health] Ministry’s concerns,” the Minister said.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Schoolgirl attacked and robbed of cellphone in Tucville Secondary School compound

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fourth form student of Tucville Secondary in Georgetown was on Tuesday afternoon robbed while on school property and her mother is blaming poor security at the education facility

school with students hot in pursuit.

After realising what was transpiring, the man pulled out a knife and yelled “I gon stab anybody that follow meh” which caused the students to retreat. He

29 Peace Corps volunteers sworn-in …to boost Guyana’s health, education sectors

the matter, blaming the lack of proper security at the school for the attack on her daughter.

“What I am asking is for the Ministry to step up to deal with this situation because it is not safe for the children.

Public Health Minister Dr George Norton (4th from left) along with US Ambassador Perry Holloway (3rd from right) flanked by the volunteers

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

T

Hole in the school fence

for the robbery.

According to reports, the young woman was in the school’s compound when a man approached her and demanded she give him all of her money. She resisted which angered the man, who started to tug at her pocket, successfully gaining possession of her phone.

The young woman then put up a fight and this caught the attention of other students who came to her assistance.

The perpetrator after seeing this, fled through the back fence of the

then made good his escape.

Chanise Brotherson, mother of the teen said that she was informed of the robbery by the school’s administration moments after her daughter made the report.

She disclosed that she was given all assurances that the matter was being dealt with by the Police but up to Tuesday evening, the Police were yet to visit the school.

The woman is calling on the Education Ministry to intervene in

They need to repair the fences around this school because all around the school, the fences are in a poor condition. When the delinquents come to the school, even the guards cannot control them. How can we let our children be in an environment that is not safe”.

She further related that she was told by the school’s administration that the Ministry was made aware of the deteriorating condition of the fences but nothing has been done to date.

wenty-nine Peace Corps Volunteers were on Monday sworn-in by Ambassador Perry Holloway at a simple ceremony held in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam).

The trainees, who will provide voluntary services in the health and education sectors, will serve in seven of the 10 Administrative Regions in Guyana over the next two years.

Speaking at the ceremony, US Ambassador Perry Holloway pointed out that the newly sworn-in volunteers will be representing the very best of the United States by displaying the true sense of volunteerism as well as be opened to many adventures.

Holloway noted that in addition to the scenic beauty, Guyana is a developing country that faces many challenges including poverty, ethnic division, crime and HIV epidemic. According to the Ambassador, the United States has a strong interest in working in partnership with Guyana to support national efforts and help eliminate the vary challenges.

“The United States Government is working hard to forge a closer and more productive partnership with the Government of Guyana and the people of Guyana to help build a more prosperous, secured, democratic, and healthy

Guyana,” Holloway stated.

Holloway added that Peace Corps forms an important part of the US mission in Guyana and was first welcome in 1966. He noted that after 1966, there was a gap and the Corps returned in 1995 to work as community based supporters in the health and education sectors. Some 800 volunteers have since visited Guyana.

Meanwhile Peace Corps Country director, Linda Arbogast, in giving an overview of the project said the Peace Corps mission started under John F Kenney and has continued under all administrations of the US Government.

The trainees before becoming volunteers are required to undergo a rigorous 10 week-training in safety, languages, community health, amongst others. During their time with their host families in Guyana they are required to learn to cook as well as adapt to the changing environment.

Attending the ceremony also was Health Minister Dr George Norton who told those gathered that the ministry is honoured to partner with the US embassy in accepting the volunteers in the public health system. On a yearly basis Dr Norton said, the Health Ministry accepts some 34 volunteers who are usually attached to various health centres in the hinterland and coastal regions.

Fisherman accused of murdering ‘rival’ during Policeman lost tooth during fight over woman remanded attempt to arrest suspect – court told A fisherman today (Monday) appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a murder charge.

Michael Ridley, 36, of Lot 82 Garnett Street, Albousytown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to the charge which read that on November 23, 2015 at Albousytown he murdered Troy Brutus.

Reports are 37-year-old Brutus of Castello Housing Scheme was allegedly killed after he reportedly attacked Ridley with a cutlass and a knife.

According to reports, Ridley managed to take away the knife from Brutus and allegedly stabbed him about his body. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

It is alleged that the duo fought over a woman. Reports indicate that Brutus had a relationship with the woman at the centre of the dispute, but then they broke up and the suspect and the woman started a relationship. But she al-

A

Murdered: Troy Brutus

leged that Brutus had suggested that the relationship between him and the woman had never ended.

Ridley was remanded to prison and the case will continue on April 28, 2016.

man who hit a policeman causing him to lose a tooth appeared before Magistrate Dylan Bess on an assault charge at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that on December 22, 2015, at Camp Street, Georgetown, Shaquille Wilburg assaulted Stefan Sobers with intent to cause actual bodily harm.

Wilburg, 19, pleaded guilty with explanation to the offence. In his explanation to the court, he stated that on the day in question, he went to visit a friend at Camp Street, when Sobers, a Police Officer, stopped him to enquire where he was going.

According to the prosecution’s case, Wilburg failed to answer the officer, who was in his uniform at the said time, and an altercation ensued.

As a result of the altercation, the Virtual Complainant (VC) lost a tooth.

The defendant, who seemed remorseful, professed, during his explanation to the Court, that it was not his intention to harm the VC in any way as he was just reacting to the situation in the spur of the moment.

The VC when given an opportunity to speak sternly indicated to the Magistrate that he would like the defendant to pay all expenses for the replacement of his tooth, a demand to which the defendant readily agreed.

Before Magistrate Bess made a decision on the case, he asked Wilburg if he had anything else to say to the VC. “Yes, I am sorry for what happen to you and I didn’t mean for all of that to happen,” he replied.

Wilburg was then ordered to pay all expenses for the replacement of Sobers’ tooth and fined $20,000, with a default sentence of six months in prison.

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US Embassy announces change to immigrant visa process

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ith effect from Monday, the Consular Section of the US Embassy will implement a notable change to its immigrant visa process.

According to a statement on Wednesday, all approved visa applicants will no longer return to the Embassy to uplift their approved visas as this service is now being provided by the local DHL office, located at Lot 50 E Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown.

“Applicants will be able to pick up their passports and visa packages at the DHL office Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 9:00am to 6:00pm.”

The Embassy explained that during the interview, the Consular Officer will provide a “Visa Delivery Instruction Notice” to all approved visa applicants advising the applicant of the pickup information at the DHL office seven business days after the interview.

In uplifting the visas, applicants, 18 years or older, must present the “Delivery Instruction Notice” and their National Identification Card to the DHL office within 30 days of visa approval.

For those applicants who do not have a National ID Card, DHL will request supplemental identification such as an official driver’s licence (with photo) or an original birth certificate.

The DHL agent will also review information from the passport or visa to validate the identity of the applicant picking up the documents. Additionally, DHL will require the applicant to record his/her name, ID document number,

and signature as proof of receipt. Visas will only be given to applicants/passport owners.

However, as it relates to picking up the visas of minor applicants, parents uplifting the documents on their children’s behalf must provide proof of their valid relationship by presenting the following documents: the child’s original birth certificate or adoption decree, with at least one of the parent’s full legal name displayed on the document and the parent must also prove their identity

by presenting a national ID card or passport with a matching name on the child’s birth certificate or adoption decree.

The introduction of this offsite Document Return Service is new to Guyana; however, this service has been implemented at US Embassies worldwide as part of the Global Support Strategy for Visa Services. Visa applicants will benefit from the flexibility the service offers by being able to uplift documents at days and times that are convenient to them.

Questions regarding the DHL document return service, including questions about visa delivery status may be directed to the US Embassy’s Visa Information Service telephone line at 592-225-8732.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Travelling exhibition to address child abuse launched

By Kizzy Coleman

I

n an effort to bring more awareness to the struggles of children who have been sexually abused, UNICEF, in collaboration with the European Union, the Social Protection and Public Security Ministries, the Guyana Police Force and local NGOs, has set up a travelling exhibition which will display the artwork of sexually abused children.

According to statistics, more than 670 cases of child sexual abuse were reported to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA); as such, the organisations joined hands to reinforce the message that sexual abuse is unacceptable.

The objective of the exhibition is to highlight through the child’s eye the pain, hurt, anger and shame that they live with each day.

Police Stations across the country will be used to showcase some of the artwork of the travelling exhibition.

Speaking at the exhi-

Artwork of an abused child at the launch of the exhibition

bition launch, Assistant Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine reiterated the importance that the Police must give to any movement that seeks to protect children.

He noted that children were the leaders of the future and the leaders of tomorrow and, as such, the Police Force is committed to giving children the necessary treatment, responses and attention that are available in the justice system.

“Already we have started a process of enhancing the way our investigators operate in

Minister Holder in Costa Rica to discuss support for agriculture sector

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Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder

nhanced agricultural cooperation is in the making between the Governments of Guyana and Costa Rica.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder on Monday departed for Costa Rica on official Government business to discuss agricultural priorities of the two countries.

According to the statement issued by the Agriculture Ministry, some areas up for discussion are the systematic, participatory, and organised approach to dealing with agriculture in the Region; support for the development of medium- and long-term objectives, enabling each country to achieve its development goals and to look at the international vision for dealing with global phenomena related to agriculture and ru-

ral life.

There will also be discussions on the InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Country Strategy 20142018.

The objective of the visit is to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural sector, strengthen agriculture’s contribution to the development of territories and the well-being of the rural population, and improve agricultural capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Holder is accompanied by Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Nigel Cumberbatch and General Manager of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Ida Sealey-Adams.

such cases. We will ensure that they get some special training in this regard,” he disclosed.

In delivering her remarks, UNICEF representative Marilyn Flatt explained that the paintings all displayed the marks that sexual abuse had left on our children.

She added that violence in all of its forms should be prevented.

She noted that in Guyana, an average of 2000 cases of neglect and abuse are reported every year.

“Children often remain silent because it is difficult to talk about

abuse, they are too afraid and are not sure where to turn to. Children need to know that they need to speak up and not to be afraid and to speak up when they are touched inappropriately,” she explained.

She further noted that education on this issue was essential currently in Guyana.

Delivering the feature address, First Lady Sandra Granger stated that it gave her no pleasure to speak at the launching of a travelling exhibition for abused children as it was a sad reflection of how “we as a society continue to fail our children particularly in addressing sexual violence against them”.

She noted the danger of the Internet in contributing to children being abused.

“Increasingly, the Internet and mobile phones also put children at risk of social violence as some adults look to the Internet to pursue sexual relationships with children. There is also an increase in the number circulation of images showing child abuse.”

In 2014, UNICEF estimated that 1 in 10 girls under the age of 20; that is about 120 million girl children were subjected to sexual intercourse at some point in their life.

This, the First Lady noted, is very sad to hear.

Mrs Granger hopes that the travelling exhibition can reach all the administrative regions in Guyana which will show that law enforcement is becoming attuned to its responsibility to protect and serve all.

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18 NEWS

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

DNA results ready for murdered British teen

– 3 murder accused granted bail

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lose to two months after several samples from the decomposed body of murdered British teen Dominic Bernard were sent to neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago for DNA testing, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been informed that they are now ready for pick-up.

The Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) further related to Guyana Times International on Tuesday that arrangements were currently being made to have the officer who took the samples for testing uplift the results. “We are hoping to get it (report) within the next few days,” Blanhum stated.

In February, samples taken from the body believed to be that of the missing British teenager were sent to the twinisland republic to confirm the identity of the body, which was found in a shallow grave at Alness Village, Corentyne, Berbice, the previous month.

The 18-year-old Bernard came to Guyana late last year to spend some time with his Godbrother Aaron Hing

Murdered British teen, Dominic Bernard

of Kildonan village, Corentyne. However, he mysteriously vanished and his body was found three months later, a few villages from where he was expected to spend his time.

After the teen had been reported missing by his father in January, local Police launched an investigation which led to the arrest of Hing and his friend, Staymon George.

The duo subsequently confessed to beating and burying the young man.

They reportedly took some £2000 and the teen’s camera and video making equipment, some of which they allegedly sold while they disposed of others.

They later admitted that they had collected the teen from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on October 14, 2015 and on their way to Berbice, they stopped

along Sheriff Street where they ate and drank a few beers.

As investigations continued, the Police arrested Jameel Sinclair who subsequently took law enforcement officials to an area behind Nurney Village and pointed out where he buried the teen’s camera and its components.

Sinclair admitted that he was promised payment to hide the teen’s belongings on the night he was fatally beaten.

Shortly after, the Guyana Police Force charged Hing, 22; George, 23; Krystal Thomas, 20; Sinfinee Henry, 39, and Sinclair, 20, for the murder. They were remanded to prison on the indictable charge.

However, on Tuesday, Thomas, Henry and Sinclair were granted bail by the High Court after an application was filed on their behalf. The petition was heard and granted by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Demerara High Court.

Bail was granted in the sum of Gy$300,000 each on the condition that they report to the Whim Police Station every two weeks, beginning this Friday if bail is paid.

Several injured as minibus topples

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Public spirited persons carrying one of the injured passengers while another sat on the ground, as persons gathered at the scene

ver a dozen persons were injured on Tuesday morning after the driver of the Route 42 minibus in which they were travelling lost control, causing the vehicle to topple several times.

The accident occurred sometime around 09:30h on the Sarah Johanna Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD). According to reports reaching Guyana Times International, the minibus was heading to Georgetown at a fast rate when it reportedly suffered a blowout.

This caused the bus to topple several times before finally coming to a halt on the other side of the road. While there was no fatality, this newspaper was told that the accident caused most of the passengers to sustain bruises while three persons were seriously injured.

The injured passengers were rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, EBD. Several persons remained at the medical facility seeking medical atten-

tion while a few were transferred to Georgetown to be further treated.

Guyana Times International was told that among the passengers in the bus at the time of the accident were six students of Friendship Secondary School. A staff member from the school related that the students went to school after the incident; some limping and others in pain and informed the administration about the accident.

“The Police then came to the school and advised us to bring the students here at Diamond to get checked out,” the official said.

At the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, this publication spoke with a few of the students who were in the minibus at the time of the accident. One student, Jennifer Lilly, recounted that as the bus was proceeding in the northern direction along the East Bank Road, it began to pick up speed. She noted that upon reaching a turn in proximity to Sarah Johanna, the bus went over a “bump”.

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Less engagement with labour movement after ministry was “pushed out”

General Secretary of GTUC, Lincoln Lewis

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overnment’s decision to subvert the Labour Ministry into a department within the Social Protection Ministry, two of Guyana’s prominent trade unions are disgruntled by the decision and has demanded the reestablishment of the ministry.

At a joint press conference Monday, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and Federation of Independent Trades Union of Guyana (FITUG) voiced their concerns on the matter.

As the unions are preparing for its May Day Rally, they are reiterating calls for government to rescind its decision to have the ministry reduced to a mere department of labour.

As a result of the decision, the unions are complaining that workers do not have an equitable chance of their rights being adequately represented since there seems to be a disjointed ministry for this purpose.

General Secretary of GTUC Lincoln

Lewis cited that this is the first time in the country’s history that the Ministry of Labour had been ‘pushed out’ even at a time where Guyana is said to be advancing.

Lewis underlined the core value of having a labour ministry and its relation to building a country that is sustainable and geared towards development.

With the ministry eliminated from government, he said this shows there is no emphasis being placed on workers and more so a representation for their rights.

Lewis believes the government had “twisted” the system, since the Ministry of Protection should have been an element of the Ministry of Labour and not the other way around.

Since there is no labour ministry, Lewis said there is less engagement with the labour movement and as such there is a reduced chance of having consultations and discussions to address issues within the sector.

He stressed that when union issues arise, there is no particular ministry that one can turn to, neither a minister was chosen to independently represent the public servants.

After taking to office in May 2015, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change government reconfigured, created, and renamed a number of ministries.

The unions appealed to government to review its decision and work in favour of public servants to have the deserved attention placed on a ministry to address their affairs.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A rare blend …in celebration of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary

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s Guyana prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary, a special

edition of the Eldorado Rum was unveiled at the launch of the “Eldorado Anniversary Edition” at

the Demerara Distillers Limited Diamond Complex, Plantation Diamond, East Bank

Demerara on Monday.

In celebration of this event, stakeholders, members of the Diplomatic corp., ministers of the government along with the President, David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo were all present.

This anniversary Special Edition is a

blend of rums that has been specially aged in oak casks for up to half a century. Its special release marks Guyana’s Golden Jubilee, and is the El Dorado toast to 50 years of an independent nation.

This quality, however, is created by specialists who dedicated years into mastering their

trade to produce such an outstanding product.

These masters include Shaun Caleb, Master distiller and Sharon SueHang, Master Blender.

Only 600 of this special blend are up for sale at an astonishing Gy$500,000 plus VAT. The bottle has an 18-karat gold signature seal.

met with a team from the Judiciary headed by Chancellor Singh. The meeting was principally to discuss the backlog in

court cases In describing that meeting as “very successful” the Prime Minister had said that it was a

“wide-ranging discussion aimed at trying to get trials speedily held and to clear the congestion in the prison”.

According to the EPA, the main reason for the increasing number of Jaguars trespassing in villages and attacking livestock in Region Two is food.

In light of the increased instances of jaguar encroachment, residents have opted to trap Jaguars to reduce the toll on their livestock.

However, the EPA has advised that there were measures that could be taken to prevent Jaguars, which are legally protected in Guyana under the Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations (WMCR), from entering the communities.

The method that has proven to be most effective is to “keep domesticated animals in well-constructed pens or corrals at night and to use motion-triggered light or loud sounds near the livestock, as the surprise effect would cause the feline to retreat and continue their search for food elsewhere’’.

The release highlighted that the Jaguar was the largest cat of the Americas weighing up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) and played an important role in maintaining a healthy environment by helping to control the population of smaller animals lower down the food chain.

Since their large bodies require lots of food, they tend to prey on forest dwellers such as peccaries (bush hogs); deer; tapir (bush cow); turtles and armadillos, etc, to maintain their body mass.

There are still a few thousand Jaguars left in Guyana and these are protected.

Jaguars are shy by nature, and even people who walk the forests frequently do not see them because these predators tend to be elusive, hiding from sight and avoiding interaction.

Residents are encouraged to report any incidents with Jaguars to the EPA Wildlife Unit on 2255467/225-6048 ext: 226.

Govt mulls Night Courts to address judicial backlog

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rime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo has requested a follow-up meeting with the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh on the matter of the establishment of Night Courts to address the issue of dealing with the backlog of court cases.

GINA reported that in a recent letter to the Chancellor, the Prime

Minister advised that he had briefed President David Granger on the proposal for the Night Courts and received “favourable assurance”.

Nagamootoo noted that he had discussions with the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan with regard to funding, and similarly, favourable assurances were forthcoming.

The Prime Minister

has requested that the Chancellor as head of the Judiciary, provide to the Executive, the budget for the Night Courts along with the logistical arrangements to operationalise the sittings to deal with the remand issue that has contributed to the congestion of prisons.

Nagamootoo had led a government team, which, on March 16th,

Another Jaguar caught and relocated

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fficials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week captured a male Jaguar in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) and sent the endangered animal to Region Four.

According to a release from the EPA, on Tuesday, the Agency received reports about the capture of a male Jaguar in a trap set by residents of Lake Capoey, Essequibo, Region Two. Following this, an Officer from the

EPA and a Representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources promptly visited the area to verify the news and the safety of the feline.

Arrangements were made by the EPA with the Transport and Harbours

Department (T&HD) as well as the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), to relocate the Jaguar to the Hyde Park Animal Sanctuary at Land of Canaan on the East Bank of Demerara to protect the animal.

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Man sentenced to life in prison President Granger calls for murdering Mahaica farmer for greater security

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hupaul Singh of Helena Number Two, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, also called “Tailor Man”, who was on trial before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and a mixed 12-member jury for allegedly murdering a Mahaica farmer, was today sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole until 2041.

The trial commenced on Wednesday and both the prosecution and defence closed their cases on Friday. After almost two hours of deliberation today, the jury delivered a unanimous verdict of guilty. After the verdict was delivered, the Judge delivered the life sentence, telling the defendant that he has no chance of parole until he has served 25 years in prison.

The murder charge for which Singh faced trial read that on September 2, 2014, at Helena Number Two, he murdered Balkissoon, also known as “Balkay”.

The defendant was represented by Attorney Madan Kissoon while the State was represented by Attorneys Siand Dhurjon and Shawnette Austin.

During the Preliminary Inquiry at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, it was revealed that Singh, a known drug addict, reportedly confessed to

Dead: Balkissoon

chopping the 52-year-old farmer of Lot 107 Helena Number Two to his neck.

The man succumbed to his injuries shortly after the incident.

Investigators thought that it was premeditated murder, since earlier in the day, the farmer warned the suspect to leave his premises.

Singh reportedly left but staked out the man’s farm.

Balkissoon later reportedly left for lunch and it was while he was on his way back to the farm, he was attacked and killed. Moments before the chopping incident, the suspect was also chased from another farm.

On Thursday, two Police witnesses gave their testimonies at the High Court, but it was on Thursday that the key witness testified to seeing the entire ordeal.

Satesh Ramdhani, a friend of the victim’s son, related that on the day of the incident, he was on the farm where the chopping incident took place.

He gave a detailed account of what transpired.

Additionally, the dead man’s sons, Ravi and Hemchand Balkissoon gave testimony along with three Police Witnesses.

On Thursday, the defence presented and closed their case. The defendant, in his statement said “He fire a chop on me and I fire one back on he,” while maintaining that it was done in self defence.

Attorney Madan Kissoon, in his closing address to the jury pointed out several inconsistencies in witnesses’ testimonies. He suggested that the dead man’s sons and the eyewitness corroborated their stories so as to exact revenge on the defendant. He also stated that his client acted in self defence after he was attacked

by Balkissoon. However, Prosecutor Dhurjon refuted this, saying that the Defence Counsel was pointing out these alleged inconsistencies to distract the jury from the heart of the matter; that is, Singh brutally murdered Balkissoon. He reflected on the defendant’s statement where he said he and Balkissoon never had any disputes or altercation, but that on that day he was acting in self defence after the now dead man attacked him.

Father of 5 killed by fallen tree branch …Regional Chairman says family should be compensated

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family from Mabaruma, Region One, is now contemplating its next move after its sole bread-winner died last Sunday while he was on duty cutting logs near Wauna Hill.

Reports are that the 29-year-old man, Christopher Boyer, had left his home to go with his employer into a forested area to cut logs when a tree branch fell on him.

The accident occurred around 14:30h.

This publication understands that Boyer suffered severe injuries mainly to his head and was rushed to the Mabaruma Hospital for emergency treatment.

However, he succumbed while he was en route to the hospital.

Chairman of Region One, Brentnol Ashley, told this publication that it is unfortunate that

such a tragic incident took place. He said that such incidents do not occur regularly in that area.

He explained that Boyer’s family should receive some form of compensation from his employer since he was injured and died while on duty.

“Once it happens on duty, labour laws are there so the employer has to take certain action to ensure the family is compensated and looked after…we will look into the issue,” Ashley promised.

Boyer leaves to mourn five children along with other family members.

cooperation in the Region

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resident David Granger has called for greater security cooperation in the Caribbean. The Head of State made this impassioned plea for greater security cooperation, while delivering the feature address at a dinner hosted by the Institute of International Relations (IIR) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The dinner was held yesterday at the St Augustine Campus of the UWI. President Granger, in making a call for greater security cooperation, has allied himself with the position of Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, who at the 27th Inter-sessional Meeting of the Heads of Government Conference of the Caribbean Community held in Belize in February 2016, had brought to the attention of regional leaders the urgency of the security threats facing the Region and the necessity for urgent and timely action to be taken to improve security across the Region.

The Guyanese Head of State, an alumnus of the IIR and a historian, recalled a variety of security crises – the secession of Anguilla in 1967, the armed insurrection in Grenada in 1979 and the invasion of that island four years later; the security crises in Haiti since 1994 – and the challenges these have presented for regionalism.

President Granger observed that 'old' threats including invasion, insurrection, intervention, international and domestic terrorism, mutiny, maritime disputes, secession, territorial claims and coups d'état still persist, while new threats in the forms of transnational crimes: narcotics-trafficking, gun-running, money-laundering and illegal migration have emerged. The region, according to the Guyanese President, has

also witnessed the emergence of organised crime and violent 'posses' and gangs.

The persistence of old security threats and the emergence of new ones suggest, according to the President, that the current arrangements for security cooperation in the Caribbean may be insufficient to meet the needs and member states. He called for these arrangements "to be evaluated and, if necessary, supplemented by additional systems and mechanisms in order to achieve the wider strategic objectives of the states."

The Guyanese Head of State stressed that the security of the Caribbean will not improve on its own accord and that a Security System is needed to respond to the new security problems.

President Granger told the large gathering at the IIR's dinner that individual countries of the Caribbean Community cannot, on their own, overcome threats posed by territorial claims, transnational criminal networks, epidemics and environmental jeopardy. He called for new security architecture to make the Caribbean safe, deter aggressors, combat illicit trafficking and create a zone of peace in the Caribbean.

The President also called for the Caribbean to be preserved as zone of peace. "It must become, he urged, " a zone in which the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Caribbean states are respected, where the new security threats are extinguished, where our children can play in parks without fear of innocent victims of gangland violence and where our young people are not seduced into drug trafficking and gun-running." (MOTP)

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

GDF rank killed in Sheriff Govt working on Street hit and run accident implementation

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Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank attached to the Band Corp was early last Saturday morning killed in a hit and run accident along Sheriff Street, Georgetown.

Lashana Moore, 22, of Lot 917 Providence, East Bank Demerara, was reportedly struck by two cars at about 05:30h as she attempted to cross Sheriff Street in the vicinity of Campbellville Secondary School.

After receiving the first hit, the woman was toss several feet in the air and landed on the roadway and was again hit by another moving vehicle that was passing at the same time. Both cars drove off the scene but one was subsequently found abandoned at Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown without the driver.

The woman who has a sevenmonth-old child died on the spot but was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival. From reports received, the woman left Camp Ayanganna after receiving a telephone call.

At the home of the dead woman on Saturday morning, her weeping mother, Denise Moore explained that she received a telephone call from one of her daughter’s friends who informed her of the accident.

She hurriedly rushed to the scene where she saw her daughter’s motionless body lying on the roadway.

She recalled that her daughter’s head was bloodied and it sustained a puncture. She later learnt that her daughter had exited a taxi and was about to cross

Dead: Lashana Moore

the road when she was struck by two vehicles. One of the drivers, she noted, was arrested while the other escaped.

The woman further recalled that her daughter had telephoned her on Friday informing her that she will collect her daughter to braid her hair. “She does normally stay at Camp Ayanganna and come out on weekends and collect her daughter to take her for out-

ings,” the distraught mother cried.

She noted that her grandchild stays with her great grandmother in Grove, East Bank Demerara.

After the accident, she claimed that she was made to understand that her daughter received a telephone call and left without informing anyone about her whereabouts.

“It could be that she was getting a drop to collect her daughter and then head home… we don’t know but she was a very loving child”.

Moore joined the Guyana Defence Force four years ago and would have been part of the Band Corp. Her grandmother who was also at the house and seemingly in shock told Guyana Times International that she received the unfortunate news at about 06:30h on Saturday morning. She iterated that the young woman has left a young baby who will now grow not knowing her mother.

She said that she took care of the child so that Moore could be a part of the military. The devastated elderly woman recalled that her now dead granddaughter was a loving individual who was always jovial. She also loved to party, the aggrieved grandmother stated.

The woman’s body is at the Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

She leaves to mourn her mother, daughter and three siblings.

The Police have since confirmed that they have arrested one man in connection with the incident as investigations continue.

of regional Police Commanders

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s a part of the major transformation awaiting the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Government had proposed the idea of assigning each of the 10 administrative regions with its own Police representative to ensure better control and management of security of each region.

Very soon, each administrative region across the country will be appointed with its own regional Police Commander.

Providing an update on the progress, President David Granger told media operatives that the proposal is still on the table, adding that his Administration is working swiftly to ensure this becomes a reality.

“What has happened is that we have a regional system with 10 regions, an old country system with three counties and an old colonial system with districts…,” the President pointed out as he lamented that in all the years gone by, no attempt was ever made to marry the Police divi-

sions with the current regional administration.

“So there are a lot of anomalies. For example, the Commander of B Division actually straddles Region Five and Region Six. So we just want to streamline the system to ensure that one Police Commander would respond to Regional Chairman or one regional interest,” he explained.

In further supporting the need for this regional integration with the Police Force, President Granger further highlighted that there is only one grouping of Police managing the entire hinterland regions.

“Literally Region One, Seven, Eight and Nine were under one Divisional Commander who was actually working in Eve Leary and living in Georgetown…,” the President expressed.

Nonetheless, he pointed out that through his Administration’s intervention, the Divisional Commander is now living and working in Bartica, Region Seven.

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Concerns being raised over awarding of Gy$135M medical contract

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ollowing the pronouncements made by Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman that government gave its no-objections in awarding, via sole sourcing, a Gy$135 million contract for medical equipment to Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc, Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, now affirms he will not be supporting any more procurement contracts that will be sole-sourced.

The AFC/APNU coalition government came under heavy criticism for promulgating the established procurement procedure that they vehemently condemned under the previous Administration.

Trotman had revealed through the press that Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc (CMSI), was awarded the Gy$135 million contract to sole source medical equipment such as Biohit Pipette Tips and Devices; Nova Express Test Strips; two sets of Beckman Coulter Reagents and Becton Dickenson Syringes, needles and tubes.

In defending the need for the entity to sole source the supplies, Trotman posited that sole sourcing is done when there is the possibility that tendering for supplies would inevitably cause delays which could be detrimental to patients who are in need of critical drugs to be supplied.

He said further: “The pro-

The Hydronie, Parika, East Bank Essequibo address of Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc.

cess of going out to tender – the time would cause delay in delivery and of course, the downside of that is people’s lives would be affected. So in an effort to avoid any complaint or any loss of life or injury to person as a result to the absence of critical drugs and equipment, we thought it best to approve this particular sourcing.”

However medical sources opined that it was very unlikely the medical laboratory equipment was needed so urgently to “save lives” since they would have been used to conduct routine tests.

According to Dr Norton, the swiftness at which they could acquire the medical equipment is why they opted to go the sole sourcing route, but “it is something we are making every effort to get away from, I can assure you. I thought by now we would be rid of sole sourcing, it still exists, but that is the last

sole sourcing that I would defend at Cabinet. I wrote to all those in the process of procurement for the Ministry and said to them in no uncertain terms that I will defer any Cabinet paper seeking approval for sole sourcing.”

Company’s credibility

Guyana Times International understands from a well-placed source that the company, CMSI, which was given the sole sourcing contract is a financier of one of the political parties in the coalition government. This has to be taken against the backdrop of recent pronouncements made in AFC quarters that campaign contributors are “investors who expect returns” on their investments, the source highlighted.

Last November the company which just has an address at Parika with no sign of employees or business activity won its first sole sourced contract to supply Gy$35.1M of HIV rapid

NEWS 23

…to fly-by-night company via sole sourcing

test kits for the ministry of public health. The HIV tests kits were simply bought over the internet and shopped into the country.

In fact, Minister Norton in addressing the observations made about the credibility of the company to deliver such large contracts said: “I must tell you that my Cabinet colleagues, they argued strongly against that particular company, because people wanted to know why is it that this company only formed in 2013, have a large proportion of contracts. I don’t know anything about this company, where it was formed and so on except for the fact that they were recommended by NPTAB [National Procurement and Tender Administration Board].”

The AFC/APNU government was very critical of the composition and structure of the NPTAB when they were in Opposition, in fact, AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan had said that “the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board is compromised, given that all of the members are appointed by the Ministry of Finance and are subject to directives from that Ministry.”

“Now that they are in government, it seems they have adopted this ‘compromising’ stance” said the source.

The Finance Minister, Winston Jordon, had said that

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

a number of reforms to NPTAB were to be addressed but could not disclose what those reforms were going to be and when they would be accomplished.

However, since the change of government, NPTAB changed the composition of its board.

According to the reliable source, contrary to what the government is saying, the tenders for contracts are being deliberately delayed, either by NPTAB or higher, so as to facilitate sole sourcing for companies that are aligned to this new administration.

The source said further, that confidential information, such as bidding prices, of companies that are vying for contracts are being leaked to “the select chosen companies” so that they can outbid or in some cases know whether to split the contracts so that they could come in at the lowest competitive bidding price.

24 news

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana and Suriname participate in Islamic Summit in Turkey

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uriname and G u y a n a , the Western Hemisphere’s only two members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), are taking part in this week’s 13th Summit of the OIC from April 10 to 15 in Istanbul.

Guyana’s President David Granger and foreign affairs minister Carl Greenidge have travelled to Turkey for the event while Suriname’s President Desi Bouterse is being represented at the summit by foreign affairs minister Niermala Badrisingh.

This year’s Islamic Summit is being held under the theme “Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace.”

It is expected that

practical measures will be taken aimed at developing joint Islamic action and advancing the OIC’s role in the regional and international arenas.

This includes the adoption of the “OIC Programme of Action: 2016-2025,” which constitutes “a strategic vision with specific priorities addressing peace and security, terrorism and extremism, humanitarian work, human rights, development, poverty alleviation, eradication of epidemics, the rights of women, children and the family in the Islamic world, higher education, science and technology, and cultural exchange among OIC member states,” according to an OIC statement.

The Palestinian issue

is predicted to dominate the agenda.

Guyana is a member of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and was the first Caribbean country to recognize a Palestinian state.

The current situations in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Afghanistan, Somalia, Mali, Jammu and Kashmir, BosniaHerzegovina and Azerbaijan are also expected to come under discussion.

The summit is also expected to tackle such issues as combating terrorism, sustainable development, promotion of scientific cooperation among OIC states in the areas of health, higher education and environ-

ment; promotion of cultural, social and media cooperation, the humanitarian situation, poverty eradication and infrastructure.

The event is slated to be preceded by meetings of senior officials and the foreign ministers of OIC

PPP/C protests Bulkan’s “unlawful” selection of Mayor, NDC heads

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s pressure mounts on the Government to allow Guyana’s democracy to flourish, scores of supporters of the Opposition on Tuesday staged a peaceful picketing exercise outside the Ministry of the Presidency over the appointment of Government Councillors to head at least six Local Authority Areas where there was a tie after local polls.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) received six seats each on the Mabaruma Town Council, Region One (BarimaWaini), while a similar situation obtained in five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

However, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan applied Section 13 (4) of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01 and se-

Guyana and Suriname both have significant Muslim populations, and Islamic holidays such as Youman Nabi and Eid-ul-Fitr are celebrated with national holidays in these countries.

(Caribbean360. com)

AFC’s Ramayya swears in Councillors despite court ruling

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Senior Party members leading the picketing exercise

ers from across the country, including Woodlands-Farm, Mahaicony, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Woodlands-Bel Air, Region Five and Industry- Plaisance, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

The placard-bearing protesters braved the rains as they reiterated their position that “democracy was

PPP/C supporters protest outside the Ministry of the Presidency

lected a Mayor for Mabaruma and Chairpersons of the five NDCs – a decision the PPP/C successfully challenged in the High Court last week.

Justice Diana Insanally subsequently quashed the appointment of a Mayor for Mabaruma as well as the appointments of chairmen of the five NDCs. The Government has since indicated that it would challenge Justice Insanally’s decision and was confident of coming out successful, as it maintained Bulkan acted legally.

But, in denouncing Bulkan’s “undemocratic” actions, PPP/C support-

countries starting today.

Meanwhile, the First Ladies of the OIC countries are holding a special session on the sidelines of the Islamic Summit on the theme “First Ladies’ Leadership on Cancer Control in OIC Member States.”

greater than the Government” and “democracy will prevail”.

Speaking to Guyana Times International, PPP Executive Secretary and Member of Parliament (MP) Zulfikar Mustapha explained that the protesters were out to register their rejection of Bulkan’s action.

“This gathering is here to protest against the arbitrary decision made to appoint Chairpersons and Mayors in tied municipalities,” Mustapha stated.

He said while the PPP/C had suggested a workable solution of rotation of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor position in Mabaruma and a similar system for tied NDCs, Bulkan went

ahead and appointed APNU/AFC councillors to the positions, totally ignoring the PPP/C’s suggestion.

Nigel Dharmalall, another PPP/C MP who was on the picket line said, Bulkan’s decision was “creating a cloud of controversy in the Local Government Elections (LGE)”.

The parliamentarian stressed on the level of disrespect shown by the Government to the very principles of harmony and unity that it preached.

He is calling on the President to listen to their concerns and let good sense prevail.

He pointed out that the LGEs were the basis for governance at the community level and his Party and supporters feel very aggrieved by the decisions made by Minister Bulkan.

On Thursday last, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo told a news conference that Bulkan disregarded the laws for the sake of convenience.

“This here is an illegal action on the part of the Government,” Jagdeo declared.

He told reporters that his Party sought to reach a compromise with the APNU/AFC and offered for there to be a rotation of the Mayorship and Deputy Mayorship in Mabaruma and similar arrangements for the five affected NDCs. Jagdeo said he personally spoke with the Government’s Chief Whip Amna Ally on the matter at the weekend where she said after consultations with President David Granger, a decision had been taken to accept the suggestion of the PPP/C.

espite the ruling by a High Court Judge forbidding the swearingin of two Berbicians to head the GibraltarFyrish Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), Veerasammy Ramayya ignored the court order and swore-in the NDC Chairman and Vice Chairperson.

Kerwin Crawford and Gail Thomas were swornin last Thursday at the REO’s Office, Vrymens Erven, New Amsterdam.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had moved to the High Court to block the selection of a Mayor and Chairmen for five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), after there were ties between the councillors to elect heads for those councils.

The party was seeking to nullify the selection of Crawford as Chairman and Thomas as Vice Chairman of the Gibraltar-Fyrish NDC along with Audrey Thomas as Chairman of the Industry-Plaisance NDC; Peter Livingstone as Chairman and Royan Junior Thomas as Vice Chairman of the Malgre Tout-Meer Zorgen; Carol Nurse as Chairman and Wilbert Vhypius as Vice Chairman of the Woodlands-Bel Air; Gershon Clarke as Chairman of the Woodlands-Farm and the selection of Rupert Henry Smith as Mayor

Veerasammy Ramayya

and Astrille Gamell as Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Mabaruma.

Justice Diana Insanally ruled that the decision by Minister Bulkhan to select a Mayor and Chairmen for five NDCs was in violation of Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter 28:01 and the Local Government Act Chapter 28:02. She said the decision is in excess of and without jurisdiction, made in bad faith, is unreasonable, arbitrary, capricious, based upon irrelevant and improper considerations, malicious, vindictive, unlawful, ultra vires, null, void and of no legal effect.

Despite the ruling on Wednesday, Ramayya on Thursday went ahead and installed Crawford and Thomas.

When Local Government Elections were held both the PNC and PPP had a deadlock and had decided that each side would alternate the chairmanship each year.

NEWS 25

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt awaits public submissions on Ministerial Code of Conduct

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he office of the Integrity Commission is again inviting members of the public to submit comments on the draft Code of Conduct for all Ministers of Government, Members of the National Assembly and public office holders.

Speaking with the media on Monday, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said even with an extension granted for submissions to be made, Government has so far only received one submission and that was from the Guyana Bar Association.

“The Code of Conduct would go through an exercise of an advertisement for further submission. We have received only one submission in terms of contribution and that is from the Guyana Bar Association. Though Government had put out an article that it is opened for submissions, we have not received any submissions as yet,” Nagamootoo told Journalists on Monday.

The call for the swift enforcement of the Ministerial Code of Conduct became more pronounced, following the public debate about the appointment of businessman and Contractor Brian “BK” Tiwari as an adviser on business develop-

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo

ment to Minister of State Joseph Harmon.

According to Nagamootoo, the time frame will also be set for submissions. He said Government was also seeking to solicit best practices from other Caribbean countries.

“I have already asked for copies of integrity legislation from Trinidad and we are looking how to merge the Code of Conduct with the integrity legislation… integrity legislation would demand requirement of someone who holds public office and the Code of Conduct is setting either a higher or lower standard,” he assured.

As it is now, Nagamootoo said, “We will have to wait, I believe not later than six weeks for the submissions to be made.”

At the beginning of March, Government had

said that it was extending the countrywide consultation on the subject, opening opportunities for civil society to give its extensive input on the way forward. However, the Prime Minister is contradicting what Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who in his capacity as Governance Minister on November 5, 2016 had said.

Trotman at a post-

Cabinet media briefing had disclosed that the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) sent their feedback and that Government is in the process of reviewing those suggestions.

“We are trying to see how we can incorporate those comments,” Trotman said.

Red Thread on January 5, also offered its input into the Code

of Conduct. Executive Member of Red Thread, Karen De Souza had said that the Code of Conduct should have included the dismissal of persons if faced with enough evidence.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, the purpose of the Code of Conduct is to assist Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) and public office holders in the

discharge of their obligations to their constituents and the public at large.

It provides guidance on the values – the moral qualities – that should govern the conduct of Ministers and MPs in discharging their parliamentary and public duties. It is also meant to reinforce public confidence in the way in which Ministers and public office holders perform those duties.

26 NEWS

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Another Jamaican charged in lottery fraud scheme in the U.S. (Reprinted from Caribbean360.com)

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EW JERSEY, United States – A Jamaican man has joined the list of people from that Caribbean island charged with defrauding residents in the United States and Canada by allegedly tricking them into believing they had won multimillion-dollar lotteries and sweepstakes.

Ricardo Reid, 30, was charged following a joint effort by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other federal and state law enforcement.

He was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire

fraud.

According to prosecutors, Reid and others would target their victims by purchasing client lists of elderly and vulnerable individuals

from brokers specializing in such information. He and his conspirators would initiate contact with the victims by telephone calls from Jamaica and falsely rep-

resent themselves to be lottery officials, bankers, or IRS agents.

The scammers would then falsely inform the victims that they had won millions of dollars in

a lottery or sweepstakes, but in order to redeem these winnings, they had to pay registration and/ or other fees and taxes.

The victims were directed to pay the bogus fees using several methods, including mailing cash or money orders to other victims or to other members of the conspiracy in the United States. The money was then either smuggled to Jamaica or deposited into US bank accounts and withdrawn from ATMs located in Jamaica.

In other instances, the victims were directed to either wire the bogus fees through Western Union or Money Gram directly to Jamaica.

Reid and his conspirators would generally direct the victims to make repeated payments of fees until either the victim’s funds were depleted or, after realizing they had been scammed, the victims refused to make additional payments. At times, they induced and caused the victims to liquidate assets in order to

pay the bogus fees.

To conceal their identities, the perpetrators of the scheme used aliases, and used call forwarding and Magic Jack to make and receive calls, while masking their phone number and location.

“This case continues HSI’s success at protecting the common citizen and removing individuals from our communities who prey on others for their own selfish gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence Opiola of HSI Newark.

The alleged victims in the case include an 88-year-old resident of Arkansas who lost US$110,932; a 57-year-old New Jersey resident who lost US$249,394; a 76-yearold Canadian resident who lost US$71,919; and a 74-year-old resident of Puerto Rico, who lost US$64,433.

The conspiracy count with which Reid is charged carries maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to US$250,000.

LIAT boss departs; airline keeping reason under wraps Julie Reifer-Jones, who served as interim chief after the resignation of T. JOHN’S, Captain Ian Brunton Antigua – in September 2013 and Regional airline before Evans was apLIAT confirmed reports pointed on April 22, that its British-born 2014, will again act as chief executive officer CEO. (CEO) David Evans “The Board of has resigned. But it Directors thanks Mr. Evans for his service and wishes him every success in his future endeavours,” the Antiguabased airline said in a brief statement, giving no hint as to the reason for the sudden LIAT CEO, David Evans departure of the CEO who has more than 35 years has not addressed me- of experience in senior dia reports that his de- roles in the aviation incision followed “a heat- dustry. ed meeting” with the Antigua and Board last week in Barbuda Prime Barbados.

Minister Gaston After the meeting, Browne had told the the Board of Directors media that he was inannounced in a state- formed that the Board ment that it had ac- had not accepted cepted Evans’ resigna- Evans’ resignation. tion which came just He held out hope shy of his two-year an- that Evans might reniversary at the carri- verse his decision and er. stayed on with the comDirector of Finance pany.

Reprinted from Caribbean360.com

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

27

28 news

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jagdeo calls on GECOM to “snap U.S. cautions out of paralysis and discharge Caribbean countries constitutional mandate” offering economic

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s Office has noted with concern that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has remained silent in the face of the imbroglio which has engulfed six local authority organs that have been unable to lawfully elect their Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairpersons and Deputies because of an equality of seats on those organs allocated to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC).

In a press statement, Jagdeo’s Office explained that it is public knowledge that his Party launched legal proceedings and obtained a series of orders from the High Court quashing decisions of Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan who in violation of the law, purported to select the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Mabaruma as well as the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the sev-

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

eral Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) affected.

“It is obvious that were GECOM to assume its responsibilities, it will present some reprieve to this impasse. We call upon GECOM to snap out of this paralysis and begin to discharge its mandate now,” the statement added.

The Opposition Leader’s

Office further explained that orders were also obtained restraining the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and the Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons from functioning in those capacities and that orders were obtained mandating the Town Clerk of Mabaruma and the several overseers of the NDCs to appoint a date for new elections in the several local authority areas affected as the law prescribes.

Jagdeo said these legal proceedings were filed not only to protect and defend the will of the electorate, but was also done to protect and preserve the Constitutional mandate of GECOM which is the authority that the Constitution has endowed with the exclusive responsibility in respect of and in relation to the conduct of elections.

The statement said against this backdrop, GECOM’s silence and inaction amount to a gross abdication of its constitutional responsibilities.

citizenship Reprinted from Caribbean360.com

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R I D G ETO W N , Barbados – The United States Government has cautioned Caribbean countries offering a Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) to be extra cautious about who they give their passports to, and ensure that recipients have no terrorist or crime links.

It gave the advice, in a statement issued by the US Embassy in Barbados on Wednesday, even as it made it clear that it was not advising regional countries on whether or not they should offer economic

citizenship.

Under the CIP offered by countries like Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and Dominica, foreign nationals are granted citizenship in exchange for a substantial investment in the country.

“The United States does not approve or disapprove individual aspects of citizenship by investment programmes,” the US statement said.

“The United States strongly believes that all countries have an inherent responsibility to their citizens and the international community to review fully all applicants who seek a nation’s citizenship.”

“While the United States Government is willing to consult with governments on their citizenship investment programmes, the ultimate decisions to offer and how to operate such a programme, including the issuance of citizenship and related identifying documents, such as passports to applicants, lie with each individual government and not with the United States.”

But, the statement added, the US Government encourages and expects governments to be confident, beyond a reasonable doubt, that applicants are bona fide and their identities have been fully validated, and they have no ties to transnational criminal or terrorist organizations, before handing over citizenship.

The US Embassy did not identify any specific country in its statement.

However, there has been concern in Antigua and Barbuda about the government’s recent decision to remove Iraq from the list of countries whose nationals are barred from obtain-

ing citizenship under the twin-island nation’s CIP. The main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) is strongly against it. Political leader Harold Lovell said late last month that given the entrenchment of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Middle Eastern country, that move and the decision by the Gaston Browne administration to establish a presence in Iraq, expose Antigua & Barbuda to danger and compromise the integrity of the country’s passport.

Last November, the St. Kitts and Nevis Government announced an immediate suspension of the processing of new CBI applications from citizens and residents of Syria.

The announcement came less than two weeks after ISIS carried out attacks in Paris, and also followed the arrest of Syrian nationals with fake passports in Honduras and St. Maarten, although the government did not publicly identify those developments as contributing to its decision.

travel & tourism 29

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Living among boulders. Children play between boulders, found throughout the village (Photo by Annette Arjoon-Martins)

arapoka, located along the Waini River in Region One (Barima/Waini), is a scenic Warrau village strewn with huge granite boulders.

The village, with a population of just over 500 (most of whom are farmers), has a primary school and secondary school, a health centre, solar powered well and a guest house. It is headed by a Toshao.

Throughout the village, towering boulders can be seen. Village officials have said the “large rocks were placed by nature”, and they welcome “tourists from overseas to investigate”.

Environmentalist Annette Arjoon-Martins, who visited the village, explained that the granite boulders in the river near the landing in Warapoka have distinctive circular indentations. These, she said, are

Warapoka's landing is strewn with huge granite boulders (Photo by Annette Arjoon-Martins)

Indentations on boulders caused by Warraus sharpening their tools in a circular motion on the surface (Photo by Annette Arjoon-Martins)

Creek into Warapoka (Photo by MPH on Flickr)

a result of the Warraus using them over a very long period to sharpen their tools.

For more information on the village, visit Annette & Dave Martins: “Is We Own” on Facebook.

A section of the village (Photo by MPH on Flickr)

Entrance to Warapoka (Photo by MPH on Flickr)

30 art & culture

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Hew Locke’s debut solo exhibition evokes migration and displacement

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Artist Hew Locke

orn in Scotland in 1959, artist Hew Locke grew up in Georgetown, Guyana before returning to Britain for his university education.

Locke’s multi-media practice includes largeformat installation, painting, sculpture, photography and tapestry and has been called a “mental ‘Moulinex’

The artist's pieces on display in the gallery

or food processor, into which experiences are tossed, mixed around, and transformed into chimerical creations”.

Locke’s most recent works are part of his debut solo exhibition, The Wine Dark Sea, with the Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art, located at L.L.C. 37 West 57th Street, 2nd floor, New York, NY – currently ongoing.

The AngloGuyanese artist consistently explores themes of race, colonialism, displacement, the creation of cultures, and the visual codes of power, drawing on a deeply personal visual language.

The Wine Dark Sea presents new works by the artist that highlight Locke’s acclaimed sculptures of boats, which occupy an important place in his personal iconography.

“The wine dark sea” is a description of the Mediterranean used

by Greek poet Homer throughout his poem “The Odyssey”. The phrase is repeated by Derek Walcott in his epic poem “Omeros” set mainly in the Caribbean and referencing characters from

Intricate details of 'The Wine Dark Sea - boat DD'

“The Iliad”.

This new series of 25 vessels of varied scale and hues are suspended from the ceiling in the Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art gallery, creating a flotilla at eye level.

Incorporating contemporary and historically resonant vessels - clippers and cargo ships, battleships and lifeboats - Locke creates a spectacular sculptural environment.

Locke’s work articulates this environment as filled with hope, potential prosperity and gratification, as well as despair, anguish, and suffering. This narrative resonates deeply with the tides of refugees fleeing to the sea from war, oppression, and poverty, but also with those viewers for whom migration and displacement are part of family history.

'The Wine Dark Sea, Group I'

within a single current that Hew Locke has summoned for his exhibition The Wine Dark Sea…” It adds: "… A master at accumulating and assembling quotidian materials to create art objects that are also uncommon altars and shrines to our past, this new installation brings together thirtyfour new hand-made and customised model ships from around the world that the artist has intervened in and adorned. Hanging from the ceiling at eye-level, these ships are sus-

pended in one continuous current that moves towards the gallery’s windows out onto the bustling cityscape of midtown Manhattan.

Floating on this tide are the scraps and treasures of our shared and communal histories that leave indelible prints on our own national narratives even as we erase them from our conscious thoughts…Locke has given us a maritime procession—at once celebratory and funereal—that is animated by the submarine pulse of history.” (Information from Carl E. Hazlewood. Hew Locke photos)

'The Wine Dark Sea - boat V'

'The Wine Dark Sea - boat F'

A ship is a symbolic object; vessel of the soul, means of escape, both safety and danger.

According to Locke, “we’re all floating on the same ocean. As a child and young man I sailed the Atlantic.

At sea, a twist of fate can send a super-yacht down - it can be an equalizer between rich and poor.”

Extracts from the catalogue by Zoe Lukov, Director of Exhibitions, Faena Art state: “Waves and war – the same forces of affliction and ambition extolled in Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ converge

'The Wine Dark Sea - boat DD'

FASHION 31

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oyenne of fashion, Sonia Noel has launched some of her most exclusive pieces, which are receiving celebrated recognition from international fashion elites.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Noel said the designs, which range from corporate to red carpet looks, would be featured later this month

in the African American Business Magazine.

“I am very honoured to be selected to be featured in this prestigious magazine,” Noel expressed. Some of the pieces featured this week will be part of Noel’s Guyana 50th anniversary collection. Call 226-6554 or 6848129 for more information on the collection.

32 feature

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

How local actor Leon Cummings became recognised in the theatre arts

Leon Cummings

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etermined and resilient are just a few words

to describe local actor Leon Cummings.

Differently-able, Leon has triumphed challenges to become one of Guyana’s most talented theatrical performers.

Leon was born on September 2, 1989 at the Georgetown Public Hospital. In the womb, the unbiblical cord wrapped around Leon’s hands, resulting in them not being fully formed. However, he adeptly maintains use of his fingers and hands.

He grew up on Norton Street, Lodge and attended Enterprise Primary, where he faced much ridicule from fellow students due to his disabili-

Leon at one of his loves

ty, and then on to South Ruimveldt Secondary, where school life was a bit easier.

“In primary school was by far the worst experience I had with people. There were various groups of bullies that walked home behind me ridiculing me,” he recalled in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

However, in secondary school things got better. He said it was not as hard as it had been in primary school due to secondary students being more mature.

Subsequently, Leon attended the Guyana Technical Institute where he grad-

The actor (left) doing what he loves - performing on stage

uated with a Diploma in Commerce.

“I don’t experience shunning or being looked at as something different. I go about my business normally. But for other people who may be blind or who cannot walk, it is very sad because of the lack of accessible resources in Guyana,” he noted.

Leon revealed that his parents never treated him as if he had a disability. Rather, they encouraged him to pursue his dreams and supported him along the way. His father died four years ago and his mother, Dahlia, continues to support her son, which was instrumental in Leon overcoming challenges. Additionally, he is thankful to Constance Barker-Welcome who taught him how to use his hands.

Now, Leon is a technical operator at 93.1FM and a notable actor.

“Acting was something I never thought of getting into. It was with the Church of Christ Instrumental that I visited the Theatre Guild for the very first time.

A cousin of mine is married to the pastor and she encouraged me to perform a poem, “Satan in Heaven” written by

Shellon Benjamin, at the Theatre Guild. The response I received for my performance motivated me to pursue acting,” Leon remembered.

From his debut performance at Theatre Guild, Leon never let up in developing as an actor, and was never embarrassed with being differently-able.

He was twice nominated for Best Supporting Actor during the Theatre Guild Awards, once for “Shoes Blues” during the National Drama Festival and then for “Makantalli”. He pointed out that his focus was not on winning, but being nominated meant he was acknowledged as an actor – something he takes pride in.

Using it as a vehicle of self-expression, Leon said acting has become a medium of presenting his different personalities on stage and meeting people he has fostered lasting friendships with.

Crediting local actors such as Coleen Humphrey, Richard Narine, Mark Luke Edwards, Gerard Gilkes and Henry Rodney as being his motivators, Leon said he is thankful to all those who have influenced him to become an actor. He made

mention of local actress Jennifer Thomas who provided opportunities for him to showcase his talent.

Now the actor said he enjoys “challenging roles that require deep characterization”.

Some of the plays he acted in are “Massacura Man”, “To Sir With Love”, “Watch De Ride 1 & 2”, “Shoes Blues”, “Nothing To Laugh About”, “Makantalli”, “The Encounter Where is Everybody”, “Front Yard”, “Chitra”, and “Pizza Man”.

“I read the script a lot and create my own character’s background/ history from what is given and really go all out to be that character. On stage I take a deep breath and say the prayer Jennifer Thomas taught me, and that calms me,” he disclosed.

Leon’s plans to own a business and to become a producer/director.

His encouragement to youths and those who are differently-able is to “believe in yourself and never depend on others for support and pity yourself, but to get up and get”.

“I like winning and that is what keeps me going” he declared. (Sunday Times Magazine)

The actor (right) doing what he loves - performing on stage

feature 33

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Ryhaan Shah

“I

believe God brought that man to be President…

I believe that God made him President for such a time as this.”

Most of us reading those lines uttered by Minister Raphael Trotman in Bartica during the APNU/AFC’s LGE campaign might be moved to laughter at the preposterous idea of a divinely elected President governing any country in the 21st century.

Trotman’s speech, however, might have been instrumental in securing the Coalition its comfortable win in that township.

Since the story broke about his infamous Bartica address, an edited version has been posted on Kaieteur News’ website in an attempt to contain the damage done.

Trotman would have more than 1800 words to say at any campaign rally and would surely refer to the other LGE contenders so it is obvious that the most egregious parts of the “hate filled” speech (as was originally stated by the now contrite whistleblower) have been expurgated.

Even so, once you get past the absurdity of the idea of Guyana being governed by a divinely appointed President, the inherent implications are too dangerous to be taken lightly.

President David Granger’s haughty manner now makes perfect sense as does his grand inauguration ceremony for, as Trotman believes, this is no ordinary President.

Granger’s unilateral renaming of buildings and ministries, his release of criminals and flouting of the Cummingsburg Accord, and his deafness to all criticisms – these are not the actions of a man who feels bound to manmade laws. His loyalty obviously lies with another authority which could only be the one that “made him President”.

Everyone should be further disturbed by the implications of Trotman’s words to the crowd: “I don’t always understand what President Granger is thinking or doing, but believe you, as the months pass I see it taking shape and I nod my head and say ‘I see’, and when I don’t understand, I wait. I don’t run around bad mouthing him, I don’t run around challenging him, I don’t run around organising a rebellion against him. I wait.”

Taken together with the many Biblical references in his address and the idea of a divinely elected President, his words take on an eerie cult-like quality. To portray fealty to an elected official as the desired behaviour of the populace goes against all democratic norms where the electorate is actually tasked with being critical and holding him accountable.

That anyone would use the Bible for low politicking must be painful to every decent Christian and the blind loyalty being encouraged sets the country on a dangerous path where orders could be given, and would be obeyed out of fear or a corrupted sense of loyalty.

For nearly 30 years, and with the full support of the US and its allies, the PNC held dictatorial power until it was in the US’ interests to have democracy restored.

Democracy is theirs to give and theirs to take away.

The Nassau Plan, as revealed to Trotman by Granger 10 years ago, would have involved machinations to return the PNC to power. This required a percentage of Indian Guyanese vote to gain a majority and to give a “unity” look to the thing, and the AFC willingly brought its 11% Indian Guyanese support to the Coalition.

That support has now returned to the PPP/C since it has become clear that the original PNC is back in power complete with its racisms and corruptions and with its backing, as before, from the US. The US should be embarrassed by what the Trotman revelations say about their chosen local ally.

But they have meddled and will continue to meddle in Guyana’s affairs and any Government has to, therefore, be pragmatic about its relations with the international community.

Now is the time for the PPP/C to show statesmanship, effect reforms and bring a freshness of perspective that will attract Guyanese of every race and persuasion to the party. With the results of the multitude of forensic audits of the PPP/C Government revealing no grand theft but only incompetence and ethical lapses, even the hysteria whipped up about their alleged corruptions now appears part of the political ploy to return the PNC to power.

With its loss of the 11% Indian Guyanese vote, only rigged elections could possibly secure another “win” for the PNC/APNU party. A New PPP/C can win the day with the right reforms and strategies in place.

With true popular support, would the US stand in their way? And will we stand by and let them prop up the PNC through rigged elections as happened in the past?

Green Bartica; a town to be emulated

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n April 23, 2016, the budding community of Bartica will officially be declared a town, as the government fulfils a 179 year Ordinance made by the then British Government.

The Ordinance was made on April 23, 1837, as such; this is set to be an immensely historic occasion. With its first Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Town Council, its highly anticipated status of township and unsurprisingly renewed political will, Bartica is set to be modelled as a town to be emulated by all others.

Under the guidance of President Granger, the town will be transformed to reflect a "green, clean and pristine" municipality. This welcomed transformation will go hand in hand with the administrative and other changes occurring there.

"Green, clean and pristine"

Bartica will be the capital centre of the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region, and its development will be driven through green, sustainable and

New drains being constructed along the roadways

in the culture of the residents, which will bring about a renewed sense of responsibility for maintaining a clean environment.

Newly appointed Mayor, Mr. Gifford Marshall, work targeted at giving Bartica its needed face-lift began last year under the Interim Management Committee (IMC) which he headed prior to the Local Government Elections

that they cannot continue to dispose their garbage on the parapets and burn it right there.

They need to understand that they cannot take your garbage into the alleyways and leave it there. We need a mindset change and we have a campaign to launch against it, but it remains a major crisis to us," the Mayor said.

As part of the thrust for a cleaner, greener

Land clearing and land filling works

environmentally friendly initiatives. This is the vision of President David Granger; a vision that he intends to be implemented in all the towns across Guyana, with Bartica as the flagship of this new development thrust.

Going green involves the reduction and the subsequent discontinuation of use of fossil fuels and the adoption of clean renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydropower. It also entails a comprehensive solid waste disposal system, minimising the use of Styrofoam and plastics, planting of trees and mangroves, clean potable water sources, among other initiatives.

Most of all, however, focus must be placed on implementing a change

(LGE). Parapets and drains were cleaned and monuments and parks were restored with the assistance of corporate citizens including the management of the Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry (GBTI).

Waste Disposal

Among the major challenges in the overall cleanliness of the small town and the region as a whole is waste disposal. Mr. Marshall admits that some residents in Bartica are very delinquent in the way they dispose of their garbage.

He said that systems can and will be implemented, but they will prove ineffective if residents refuse to change their mind sets.

"We have to get individuals to understand

Bartica, the town has received a compactor truck, two excavators and a number of garbage bins from the Government to aid the efforts of the Town Council.

Additionally, residents are provided with garbage bins free of cost, all in an effort to curb the garbage problem and beautify the environment.

The Council is currently working with the Government, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the regional authorities to identify an appropriate area for a waste disposal site, but this too is a challenge, since Bartica is essentially surrounded by water and has several streams and hills. Nevertheless, once a proper dump site is es-

tablished and a scheduled garbage collection system is developed, residents can expect even more noticeable changes in Bartica and its environs.

Zero-tolerance for littering

The new Mayor said that during the initial township phase, the Council will be lenient and choose suitable means of education and awareness of proper garbage disposal practices.

In due course however, More serious steps will be taken to ensure that the town is one whose cleanliness is maintained and is worthy of being emulated.

In terms of sustainability, he said that the new Council intends to adopt a proactive approach to its work, whereby unclogging of drains, cleaning of parapets and open spaces, renovation of facilities and the general beautification of the community will be done on a continuous basis, rather than allow the complete deterioration and overgrowth of bushes before commencing work.

But the Mayor is of the view that it is a change in the attitudes of the people which holds the key to maintaining the beauty of the new town. "Once citizens understand their responsibility in keeping the environment clean and practice proper waste disposal, we will be on the right course and we will have about 60 percent of our work cut out," he said.

Additionally, the Council will embark on a major infrastructural overhaul to ensure that its road networks, municipal market, bridges, airport and other public facilities are of a standard that is beneficial to Guyana's first "Green, clean and pristine" town.

(MOTP Feature)

34 history

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he Hopetown settlement at Kamuni Creek (a creek more well-known for the present-day Santa Mission and Santa Aratak villages) began in 1865 as an effort by colonial authorities to induce Chinese indentured labourers to remain in British Guiana after their contracts were up.

With the meagre salaries of the sugar plantations and limited economic opportunities after their indentureship period came to an end, a large number of Chinese workers were thinking of leaving the colony.

Many had heard of the Chinese in Trinidad accumulating wealth from engaging in rice cultivation and commerce there, and saw no prospects for this in British Guiana.

A Christian missionary in British Guiana known as O Tye Kim (Wu-Tai-Kam), recognised the dissatisfaction among them and devised a plan to encourage them to stay.

According to F.O. Low, a “barrister-atlaw” writing in the 1911 Timehri Journal, there were two reasons the Chinese migration would

have been disastrous for the planters and the colony.

One was that the planters would “have lost a floating supply of free and trained labour, which on account of their being practically no other channels of employment, could be obtained at a nominal rate”; two was that news reaching China of the dissatisfied labour market on the colony would gravely affect labour arriving from that country.

O Tye Kim’s solution was to establish a “Christian Chinese settlement” not only to spread Christianity but also to create a place where the former indentured labourers could work and live independently to accumulate their wealth and improve their future prospects.

He petitioned then Governor Hincks for a free land grant at Camoonie (Kamuni) Creek, and a small loan to establish the settlement on the left bank of the creek, a tributary of the Demerara River.

Enthusiastic about the idea, Governor Hincks granted the request and the petition was carried in 1865.

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A Chinese immigrant family (no date). The Chinese immigrants are said to have originated mainly from areas such as Hong Kong, Canton, Amoy and Whampoa

Inside Promenade Gardens, Middle Street, Georgetown, in the year 1920 (Andrew Jeffrey photo)

Parliament Buildings, Georgetown, in the year 1960 (Andrew Jeffrey photo)

Immediately, some 25 settlers were taken to the area, and by the end of the year there were about 70 Chinese settlers. Some historians put the original settlers at 12, with about 170 by year end.

The settlement was named Hopetown in honour of Vice Admiral Sir James Hope who had visited the settlement after he had arrived on the colony just a few days earlier (some historians say he visited in October that year).

The settlers began to cultivate rice, plantains, eddoes and other cash crops, establish poultry and pig farms, while charcoal soon became a major industry, eclipsing agriculture. Soon the settlement was producing charcoal and shingles to be sold in Georgetown shops. By the following year (1866) it is said that Hopetown was producing about 1700 barrels of charcoal per month.

Reflecting the partial aims of O Tye Kim, a large church was built soon after and was described in 1915 as “a monument to attest the evidence of a once thriving Chinese town”. Little else is known of the church.

The decline of the settlement came soon after.

In 1866, just a year after the settlement was created, allegations of improprieties by O Tye Kim arose with regard to the settlement’s accounts and his own financial en-

terprises. Then in 1867, an inappropriate relationship further reduced his reputation and he is said to have secretly departed the settlement and eventually the colony.

Nothing is known of him since and Hopetown is considered to have degenerated after he left, due to what some historians call a lack of effective administration, as well as the exhaustion of wood from the immediate area for charcoal production; periodic plundering of crops by wild animals and birds, along with flooding.

F.O. Low writes of several (other) reasons for its decline, after speaking with some of its older residents as well as former settlers.

He states that after settlers had accumulated wealth, they moved to the city of Georgetown where work was “less arduous and the profits greater”.

Additionally, he points out, younger generations of Chinese were reluctant to work long and hard in the fields when it was more lucrative to work in the city and eventually “be the owner of his own shop”.

He also points to the fact that the lack of females among the settlers meant that many of the settlement’s males died childless, further reducing the population.

According to “Mission Life; Or Home and Foreign Church Work,

Volume 5” of the 170 persons in 1866, 40 were women and 20 were children.

Low states that he considered the failure to plant permanent crops as “one of the principle reasons for the decline of the settlement”.

According to him, that failure stemmed from the lack of knowledge of the crops suitable for the lands, the unwillingness to wait for the returns from the crop, along with the lack of individual land titles to encourage a motivation of inheritance.

Finally, Low suggests, the Boeraserie Scheme, which began around 1867 to create a reservoir for the agricultural lands of the West Coast and West Bank Demerara, “was also largely instrumental in bringing about the decline of the settlement” because it would during the rainy season allow for flooding of the settlement’s agricultural lands.

In 1903, according to one source, title to the land at Hopetown was given to the Trustees of the Anglican Church at Hopetown, for the Chinese immigrants then settled at Hopetown and such other Chinese as may settle there, and their descendants.

This land was subsequently entrusted in 1954 to the Incorporated Trustees of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Guyana.

Then, in 1972, it was agreed by Dr. Alan John Knight, then Bishop of Guyana, who was also the Archbishop of the West Indies, that the land should be leased for 99 years to the Chinese Association.

At its peak in 1874, Hopetown is said to have a population of about 800 Chinese. By 1891 that number was reduced to 240; by 1901 it had dwindled to 198, mostly the old and infirm.

By the time the 1911 census came around, the settlement was not mentioned, only the fact that among the settlers along Kamuni Creek, there were 73 Chinese.

In 1914, blacks, East Indians and mixed races began appearing in Hopetown to make up about one-third of the population, among 46 pure Chinese.

Cecil Clementi, author of “The Chinese in British Guiana” (1915) proved prophetic when he writes at the end of his chapter on Hopetown settlement: “Two villages of Aboriginal Settlement Indians— Aritak and Santa, eight and a quarter and nine miles respectively from the mouth of the creek— appear today to have better prospects of success.”

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Carnival of Corruption amid preparation for 50 years of what?

Lomarsh Roopnarine

that manipulative pledges for change were made in an here is little doubt that attempt to bamboozle the a new government public for votes. It worked needs time to but for the past ten months adjust to the realities we have seen a water-thin of good governance. To majority in government this thought, I agree, struggling to deliver at the especially in light of the most basic level. The entire fact that many government nation is at a standstill ministers do not have the while ministers are all over much needed skills and the place with little or no experience to perform or internal coordination. The to carry out their assigned consequence is that there responsibilities effectively are limited responses and efficiently. from the government on Many of them were not controversial issues and expected to be at the helm the public is at a loss as but years of out-migration to what is going on. Is this have left a vacuum that can incompetence or a lack of be only filled by loyalists transparency? rather that by leading What is known, however, lights. We have therefore is that there are growing come to rely on their reckless behaviour and goodwill and good manners rancorous statements from for good leadership. our government ministers.

I am sympathetic to Every day, every week, every this approach towards month, there have been leadership insofar as there some bizarre behaviour are progressive signs of from our leaders which development. have parachuted the nation That said, the public is into a state of depression, growing impatient with the despair and distrust, even failure of the current regime with die-hard supporters of to deliver on campaign the current regime. If you promises. We know now do not believe me, revisit

T

the results of the popular votes from the last Local Government Elections as well as headlines in the local newspapers.

Did you have the time to listen to Raphael Trotman’s 15-minute speech at Bartica? I did and I can say it sounds like this: full of rhetoric, desperation and outcry intermixed with religious fanaticism for Barticans to stay with the current regime no matter what.

Trotman also mentioned what can be described as a Granger-Trotman meeting in Nassau, The Bahamas, but on quickly recollecting his thoughts he suspended the discussion and rambled on to something else. There is something fishy here folks but we will never know, let me repeat, never know.

For the month of April so far, there are two events from our ministers that reveal not only corruption and malfeasance but a total lack of regard for the public and for humanity.

Actually, one event is an insult to humanity, that

is, the reckless statement made by Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence in an attempt to shield an APNU/AFC candidate accused of child molestation as a family matter.

How more insensitive and cruel can this person be toward the protection of our children? Her brazen statement smacks at the core of child care and protection. What are her values? How and what processes and methods were used to evaluate and elevate her to one of the most sensitive administrative positions in government.

In any state in the US, she would have been gone a long time. See you later, sister. But, as I have always said, anything goes in Guyana. I truly believe that Guyana can be one of the most dangerous places in the world.

Worse still is that the late and former psychologist and Minister of Public Service in the PNC administration Faith Harding would have

been disappointed that her life-time of efforts to protect the innocent went needlessly in vain.

Harding was a rarity in the PNC administration. She had a soul. She was decent.

Harding would have told Minister Lawrence this: Sweetheart, step down, it is the right thing to do.

The other April event is the Harmon-Tiwari fiasco.

Anytime I write about Minister Joe Harmon I laugh. He never ceases to surprise. Whenever he says something on some serious issues in public he is most likely to retract it.

His recent declaration that employing and rewarding party supporters and donors is fine is ridiculous. I may have to call my colleague the mighty chalk dust, Professor Hollis Liverpool, to sing a calypso on Joe Harmon.

Satire apart, the President remains cool, calm and collective, but his inaction on his ministers’ cryptic behaviour is, oh well, you guess it. (lomarsh. roopnarine@jsums.edu)

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 47

Power hungry… …AFC ld people do warn: “all smart fly does end up in cow backside”. And when these smart flies get entangled with the stuff in that orifice, it’s hell no hell to get out! Well it looks like the AFC and its “smart flies” are up to their neck in “entanglement” with what one of their fervent supporters described as “miasmic substances”.

From the moment the spoils were divided up between APNU and AFC after the elections, this Eyewitness – and most AFC supporters – pointed out that notwithstanding what was in the Cummingsburg Accord, the AFC got “Larwah”. “Absolutely not!” screamed PRIME Minister Nagamootoo… everything was shared fair and square and everyone – and he and party boss Ramjattan – were happy.

But the Committee hurriedly cobbled together to “look into” the accusations of “bad faith” by APNU – headed by the then President of the Guyana Bar Association – was a tip-off somebody was lying through their teeth. However, as nothing came out of the “inquiry” and the AFC maintained they were satisfied with the status quo, what were outsiders to do? It’s like the abused wife refusing to testify against the abusive husband – there’s nothing the judge can do.

Cynics felt the duty-free SUV, air conditioning and refurbishing of PM’s mansion in Georgetown and 50% bump in salary, might’ve muzzled Nagamootoo. But who’s to say? Then came Prezzie’s announcement of how Executive Power in terms of “line responsibility” was divided between Ministry of the Presidency and his Cabinet. All Nagamootoo got was Chronicle and NCN – and to sit next to Prezzie at Cabinet meetings and LOOK important.

Now the office of the Prime Minister used to be a very powerful office – and your Eyewitness isn’t even going back to the days of Hamilton Green and Desmond Hoyte. He’s thinking about Sam Hinds with his energy portfolio. But Nagamootoo immediately got his shill to shrilly shout, “Nagamootoo is powerful!!

Nagamootoo is powerful!!!” In addition to the Chronic and sitting next to Prezzie, he boasted as to how “Governance” was now taken back from Trotman and given to Nagamootoo.

The Guyanese populace are still waiting on what power this conferred to Nagamootoo. But Nagamootoo maintained stoutly as to how he was “full of power”.

The latest statement coming out of an “AFC retreat”, however, suggests Nagamootoo was full of something, all right – but not power! Nagamootoo and company are now whinging Harmon from Ministry of the Presidency is “too powerful”.

Wasn’t this what your Eyewitness said when he pointed out Nagamootoo’d been STRIPPED of all power? Go figure!

Nagamootoo should know elementary politics 101 declare: “Power must reside somewhere”. But it’s not with the fly in the cow’s backside! …Cameron Two Camerons have been in the news recently – and not for reasons they should be proud of. The one in England, David – who happens to be their PM and whose father left him with money in a Tax haven even as he’d exhorted his people to pay taxes – finally ate humble pie and confessed. It’s good for the soul – and good for politics when you have an indefensible record.

On the other hand, the one in the West Indies, Dave – who happens to be President of WICB and has alienated his players so profoundly they were willing to walk away from a tour of India – has decided to tough it out. This is a fella who evidently believes players still have to doff their hats and look at the ground when in his presence – just because HE’s head of the Board!

But interestingly Cameron evoked Castro’s revolutionary, “History will absolve me” tag line after his first attempt to overthrow the dictator Batista.

History will vindicate the players of the WI, who’ve made all of us so proud! Never Cameron. …and Codes of Conduct The AFC’s demanding passage of the long promised Code of Conduct. Well, if Trotman announced the draft when he was in charge of “governance” – now with Nagamootoo – isn’t it the AFC’s responsibility?

O

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Honouring the life of a Guyanese patriot

he Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, which is privately run by Dr. Cheddi Jagan's family and friends, was declared open March 22, 2000.

The Centre, located at High Street, Kingston, aims to promote research and publish materials on the life, work and ideas of Jagan and his wife, Janet. Additionally, this will promote research on the history of Guyana's struggle for independence and social justice, the history of Guyana as a whole from the early 1940s to 2009.

The year was 1918, when, on March 22, in a rural village in Guyana, the remarkable life of an ordinary sugar worker's son began. His name was Cheddi Jagan, and before his time was over he would change the course

left the U.S.A. for life in Guyana where she remained until her death on March 28, 2009. She was a woman of a number of firsts in her long history of involvement in her adopted country's politics. She was to reach the pinnacle as first woman Head of State in December 1997, following the death in office of her husband on March 6, after first serving as Prime Minister.

They were the founders of the country's first mass political movement and unquestionably the leading political figures in the history of Guyana for over the last 66 years.

Through their tireless efforts, the small country of Guyana experienced a wealth of benefits, social advancement and economic prosperity.

As international fig-

A chronological outline of Jagan's initial years in politics

ical activities and the struggle of the People’s Progressive Party, which he founded and led for decades, was opened at the National Library, Georgetown.

This exhibition was sponsored by the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre

exhibition and described as “Getting in Struggle”, reveal the early Cheddi Jagan – the radical people’s dentist and politician.

“The Third PPP Government, 1961-1964” gives the viewer some idea, some mental picture of what was the reality of the PPP as a “party in government” after it had confronted severe challenges from AngloAmerican imperialism and its local allies.

“The Struggle Continues – 1964-1969” as well as “The 1980s”, all form part of a broader assembly of pictures that depict Jagan in his public role (speaking at the East Coast, Lusignan, GAWU rally for instance), or at the head of a PPP march for the democratisation of the electoral process.

But there are also other scenes showing him relaxing with his family, on holiday with his wife in Egypt, playing with his grandchildren and at his desk and office at his residence.

Photographs from the period 1992-1997 “Victory at the 1992 Elections” as well as “Father of the Guyanese Nation” are of a special interest to young people, and these may well irk those who have always ranked the PPP as “communist” and concerned only with personal power.

Viewers can see Dr. Jagan with the Tanzanian ex-President Julius Nyerere and the late Guyanese poet and political activist Martin Carter. There are prints of his speaking

how Dr. Cheddi Jagan was involved at the leadership level, the role of photographs in identifying personalities and associations, and most of all the legitimacy of the nation building process coupled to the development of a new national culture.

The informative exhibition is currently dis-

Pinback buttons from Jagan's political journey on display

Jagan's work as the 'People's President' outlined on this banner

of his country's history by first struggling to liberate it from British colonial domination, then by waging a 28-year long struggle for the restoration of freedom and democracy, and finally by ascending to the Presidency as Guyana's first democratically elected Head of State.

Alongside Dr. Jagan in all these struggles was his American-born wife, lifelong friend and political partner, Janet, who

ures, they are well known for their fight for peace and freedom around the globe. Dr. Jagan's ideas on debt relief, as well as his proposals for a New Global Human Order, were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 14, 2002. As such, he deserves credit as a major figure in modern history.

On March 19, 2009 a photographic exhibition featuring various stages of Jagan’s life, polit-

and all of the prints, mounted on single sheet panels, have been seen by the public on previous occasions.

What is striking about these images, especially for students and others who may know relatively little of the foremost Guyanese “freedom fighter”, is the fact that Jagan always appears as though he was actually evolving with the given process.

The 1943 to 1949 years, as outlined in the

Monumental moments of the fight for free and fair elections in the early 1970s on display

Books and other journals by Jagan are available at Cheddi Jagan Research Centre

to (then) United Nations Secretary General, Boutros Ghali, and also posing for a group photograph with his first Cabinet Ministers appointed after October 5, 1992.

Obviously, those prints over time would require renovating as the monochrome process lasts for about 15 years or at the most two decades.

This exhibition provides an excellent insight into

played at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre and is opened for public viewing and research.

There is also a comprehensive showcase of Jagan’s published books and journals and a few memorabilia, such as pinbacks, on exhibit.

For more information on the exhibition and on the Centre, visit http://jagan.org or call 223-7524. (Sunday Times Magazine)

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

By Petamber Persaud

G

uyana continues to show evidence of its adherence to worthy world trends in literature by observing various events on the literary calendar like World Storytelling Day, World Poetry Day, World Book & Copyright Day, International Literacy Day, among others.

How much of this effort is broadcast worldwide is not that difficult to measure; there is no outside coverage of which I am aware; a sin of omission wherein I hope to effect a bit of change.

However, looking at Guyana’s contribution to world literature from this side, I am proud to say that these commemorations, in

Martin Carter

David Dabydeen

Fred D’Aguiar

Francis Quamina Farrier

Grace Nichols

John Agard

the least, help in moulding writers and performers in the tradition of our literary ancestors.

We in Guyana are graced with a proud poetry tradition. When you think of Guyanese poetry, the name Martin Carter instantly comes to mind; this is not exposition on the poet’s work but suffice it to say, that the poetry of Carter has been translated into many languages, including Spanish, Dutch and recently, Hindi.

Think Guyanese poetry and consider A. J. Seymour’s poetry has been translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, Chinese and Hindi; in Australia, one of his poems is taught in Braille.

Consider one of the first Guyanese poets, Egbert ‘Leo’ Martin who in 1888

won an Empire wide competition for best additional verses to the British National Anthem.

Think Guyanese poets in the Diaspora comprising many who have won international literary recognition including Fred D’Aguiar winning the T. S. Elliot Poetry Prize, Grace Nichols winning the Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1983, David Dabydeen in 1984 and John Agard being awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2012.

Poetry is the mother of Guyanese literature.

The first manifestation came in 1832 when someone writing under the penname ‘Colonist’ published his “Midnight Musings in Demerara” right here in Georgetown; in one sweep, at the very beginning of our literary heritage, every-

thing local.

Poetry has a certain cadence about it; it has a long and eventful journey replete with stories of its rise and fall, its love hate relationship with the public. Poetry has a certain cadence about it frequently reinventing of itself down the ages, moving from orality to written and back to orality and back to written. Poetry has a certain cadence about it - rhythm and rhyme and meter and musicality and aesthetic and majesty.

Some of these poetry variations were portrayed on World Poetry Day 2016 which was celebrated in Guyana on March 31. The actually day is slated as March 21.

It is reported that World Poetry Day has its genesis in one person; a woman, who not only knew of the power of poetry and has tasted its pleasures but also wanted others to be a part of this sacred art.

In 1936, that woman, Tessa Sweezy Webb started honouring poets of Ohio, USA. This vision soon caught the imagination of poetry lovers worldwide.

By 1951, forty-one countries were celebrating the works of their poets. Webb used the third Saturday in October for her magnanimous work but by 1951,

October 15 was accepted as the ideal day to mark the occasion.

However, in 1999, UNESCO declared March 21 as World Poetry Day to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world to “give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements”.

Guyana’s contribution to World Poetry Day opened with Jada Piggott of Bishops’ High School reading the message from Ms Irina Bokova, DirectorGeneral of UNESCO. Interestingly, Ms Bokova applauded “the practitioners, actors, storytellers and all those anonymous voices committed to and through poetry, giving readings in the shadow or in the spotlights, in gardens or streets… [t]he voices that carry poetry help to promote linguistic diversity and freedom of expression. They participate in the global effort towards artistic education and the dissemination of culture”.

Of interest too was the number of school children and students of learning institutions who performed that evening, like Jemima Holmes of Bishops’ High School, performing “Reclaim your crown

Guyana”; Mariel Barrow of North Georgetown Primary doing “Choose Life”’; Justin Hamer of F. E. Pollard Primary School doing “Motherland” (Mark Luke Edwards); UG Students of Oral Literature doing “Oral Poetry”; Joashaha Drakes of St. Stanislaus College reading “This is the dark time, my love” (Martin Carter).

Apart from the youths, there were veteran readers and performers, and there was even a poem for the elderly by Francis Quamina Farrier, who is seventy and seven.

These sessions will contribute immensely to a continuing delight and appreciation of literature and will also help in shaping our literature as more and more Guyanese are invested with the appetite to write good poetry.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com Coming soon: “Made in Guyana” a new book by Petamber Persaud.

“Made in Guyana” is a pocketbook bursting with a wealth of information and pictures on people, places and events, and on things made in Guyana.

news 39

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Star of the week

Psychiatric patient lands in court again for car theft – 5 other similar matters pending

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loquent and dazzling Ashmini Ramnauht is currently a contestant in the Miss World Guyana 2016 pageant. The 20-year-old aptly represents Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and is working diligently to cop the Miss World Guyana 2016 crown. A humanitarian, Ashmini uses the pageant’s platform to spread awareness on a topic close to her heart: child neglect. She mentioned it is an issue she feels “very strongly about” and is convinced that “parents and the community at large can help by spending more time with children and offering assistance when needed; also, special organisations can be set up to target the issue”. The beauty said her love for children “comes from deep within”. Ashmini hails from a single parent home and believes that “there is no excuse for a child to be wandering on the streets in the middle of the night or being hungry”. The Miss World Guyana contestant plans to launch a website and a project aimed at “targeting child neglect in society”.

“It is with great hope, and with your prayers, that we can render our help to children who need our love and support,” she expresses. Visit Missosology Guyana on Facebook for updates on the pageant.

26-year-old patient of the National Psychiatric Hospital was on Wednesday taken before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with stealing a car, his sixth offence of this nature.

Raymond Samaroo, of Lot 20 Owen Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on April 11, at Georgetown, he stole one Toyota Carina 212 motorcar; property of the Virtual Complainant (VC), Lavern Grenaola.

Police Prosecutor Adduni Innis told the court that on the day in question, the accused stole the car and drove it until it ran out of gas and abandoned it at that point. She objected to bail citing the defendants previous five such offences. Bail was refused and the matter was adjourned to May 3.

Just last month, on March 17, at Kitty,

Raymond Samaroo

Samaroo stole a Toyota Premio motor car valued Gy$1.7 million and Gy$15,000 cash, property of Fareeda Hamid.

He has also been previously charged for four offences similar in nature. On June 27, 2015, while on Sheriff Street, Georgetown, he stole a motor car bearing registration number PHH 5935 valued Gy$5 million from Rishi Lall. He again stole the same car on June 28 from the vicinity of the Kitty Police Station on Alexander Street, Kitty. Initially, when Samaroo hijacked the car, the VC’s girlfriend was still seated

inside and had to jump out of the moving vehicle to avoid abduction.

Then, on Monday, August 3, 2015, at 35 Garnett Street, Campbellville, he stole one Honda CRV motor car valued Gy$5 million, one Samsung cellular phone valuedGy$25,000 and Gy$30,000 cash; a total value of Gy$5,055,000, property of Rhonda Joaquin. On that occasion, the owner was parked in front of her yard and was about to exit the vehicle when the defendant rushed into the vehicle, forcing her to exit, and drove off.

He subsequently drove through two Police road blocks, nearly injuring two officers in the process. He also has several other matters before the courts.

Previously, an order was made for the accused to be mentally evaluated so as to ascertain whether or not he is fit for trial. This was done, and it was revealed that he was capable of being tried.

40 feature

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ootball is without a doubt one of the most popular games in the world today and likewise among the people of Hosororo, Region One (BarimaWaini).

The excitement and joy football brings, the passion it evokes, the crowd of old and young it

matches are more often arranged on Sundays so that everyone can attend to cheer for the players.

“Everyone here appreciates what we are doing for these youngsters by guiding them in the right direction when it comes to football, and ultimately in their lives.

The love of football here

Assistant coach Delano Valenzuela (left) and head coach Gilbert Solomon (Alva Solomon photo)

draws whenever there is a tournament or friendly matches held at the Hosororo playground, is priceless to the community.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, head coach Gilbert Solomon and assistant coach Delano Valenzuela of the Hosororo United Junior Football Club, said

in Hosororo by the people is unmatched. For every family living in the village, there is either a past or senior or junior player.

Consequently, football is one of the most talked about topics in each family. Trust me, football are in the genes of these families here. There are so many talented youngsters that have potential to be na-

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

tional players, once they continue on this path we are putting them on,” the coaches declared.

Hosororo United Junior Football Club consists of players from Hosororo, Bumbury and Wanaina and was started just over two years ago by Gilbert Solomon, popularly known as Skell. Solomon is a former and very skilled footballer who later coached the North West team representing Region One on several occasions at the annual Amerindian Heritage Football Tournament in Georgetown.

Delano Valenzuela, popularly called Cappy, served as team captain for the North West Secondary School and for a youth club that went on to tour Georgetown in 1997, where it was known for a famous win over the well-established Western Tigers, winning 4-1.

Valenzuela, an active football player, decided to team up with Solomon “to have a better organised club structure in place for the juniors”, giving birth to Hosororo United Junior Football Club.

Some of the players would travel to the football field on their bicycles, while Solomon would sometimes transport them in his car whenever transportation is difficult to get.

The group started with eight players, but, as of recent, has grown to 26 players, a number that is increasing every day.

The Club’s aim is

A few of the players from the Club

to continue the rich heritage of football at Hosororo, which has produced a host of national players, the last of the lot being Sherwin Solomon and Elton Brown who both represented Camptown FC with Brown later going on to play for top club Alpha United.

Additionally, the Club plans to provide the “right training” for the current young players in order for them to become “better footballers, true sportsmen and gentlemen and role models to the other youths in the village”.

“In so doing, we are also preparing them to get to that level and standard to be better prepared to represent the club, their respective schools at the Digicel's annual schools football tournament, and grooming them for the future to represent Hosororo senior team, North West team and whichever club they may go on to represent in Georgetown. So far we are progressing in the direction we have in mind,” the coaches mentioned.

The Club training days are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly, due to the field being shared with the senior team. Training starts at 4pm to 5:30pm, but sometimes extends to 6pm.

Footballers in action

Mondays and Wednesdays are training days, while Friday is game day. On Friday, a game is played with coaches Solomon and Valenzuela, a strategy to help provide guidance to the young players.

“Sometimes, we allow the youngsters to play against the senior team to test themselves and trust me, a year or two from now, once we continue on this path, we are going to be a force to reckon with. So far, we are seeing an improved and better display of discipline and sportsmanship from these youngsters, and also their fitness has improved.

We cannot use the field all week as the youngsters would love to as it’s the only thing that keeps them occupied and their time better utilised doing what they love, but we make the most of it.

We want to help them excel, not only at football, but also in school.

We want them to be good sons to their parents and to society as a whole, which is why discipline is something we always enforce,” the coaches outlined.

From September 2015 to present, the Club has played four games against Mabaruma Settlement, winning three and drawing the other. Against Wauna, they played six games,

winning five of them.

The Hosororo squad consists of mostly under 14 players, but footballs clubs from other areas do not have a competitive under 14 team so the Hosororo United Junior Football Club, on most occasions, competes with older players, mostly under 16 players.

“But we always welcome the challenge to play the bigger guys.

On Easter Sunday we played the Wauna under 16 and lost 2-1. We have been attracting more players from other communities recently and, as of now, we have an under 16 team as well to go with the under 14. We have players from nine years to 16 at present. Most of these players are from the North West Secondary School and the Hosororo Secondary,” the coaches stated.

In the near future, the coaches disclosed that they plan on putting together a younger group from ages seven upwards.

The biggest obstacle, the coaches noted, is transportation. Youths who want to join the Club from other communities has difficulty getting to where the games are played. However, in the interest and love of the game, the Hosororo United Junior Football continued on page 47

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

FAO country rep lauds Guyana’s efforts to stop illegal fishing

F

ood and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO), Representative, Reuben Robertson today congratulated Guyana for being the 23rd country to sign on to the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Robertson said, “Indeed for a developing country such as Guyana to make such a bold step is an indication to the rest of the world that Guyana is serious with its development and also with the management of its natural resources, and I think we need to recognise the government for this.”

The FAO rep was speaking at the opening session of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Department’s three-day workshop on the PSMA to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated

The training programme in session

fishing.

Robertson noted that if IUU is not effective, it can lead to the collapse of the fishery industry or can seriously impair efforts to rebuild stocks that have already been depleted.

The workshop which is being held at Cara Lodge is aimed at helping stakeholders to understand the PSMA and better identify and deal

with IUU fishing.

It targets coast guards, and custom officers along with other agencies and fisheries bodies. According to the facilitator, Mr. Raymon VanAnrooy, the objective of the workshop is to “fight Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in a more cost effective way.”

It targets capacity building for the imple-

mentation of the PSMA, and will entail discussions on draft legislation which may be required along with the drafting of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the various agencies and stakeholders for better cooperation.

M e a n w h i l e , Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, George

Jervis told the participants that “Guyana is one of the highest consumers of fish with a consumption of almost 30 kilogrammes per annum, per person.”

Fish generate US$75M foreign exchange annually. The local fishing industry employs approximately 15000 people, 5000 of whom work on the actual ships. The remainder are indirectly involved.

The PS added that fish is very important to everyday life; it is the only source of protein the very poor can afford.

This, he explained is not acceptable because IUU vessels “don’t bring any money to the coffers.”

The Government of Guyana takes fishery very seriously and has put several measures in place to help reduce IUU, Jervis said. These include the by-catch reduction devices, installing PSM vessel monitoring systems and the

establishment of a sea bob working group.

Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) have also been installed on trawlers to allow traceability to give an alert of possible IUU fishing activities.

The Fisheries Department has also joined with the Seabob Industry and applied for Marine Stewardship Council Certification (MSC). The MSC certification is a well-recognised eco-label that proves that a country has adopted sustainable fishing practices.

This has seen the installation of by-catch reduction devices on trawlers to ensure that the quantity of fish that is caught and discarded is reduced, thereby balancing the ocean’s ecosystem in keeping with the Ministry’s effort to emphasise aquaculture and to maintain a viable fisheries sector.

“Prisoners threw missiles at us…situation was chaotic” -Fire Service Operations Officer testifies

By Shemuel Fanfair

O

n the night of the deadly prison riot which claimed the lives of 17 inmates, firemen were the recipients of insults and “missiles” while they attempted to battle the blaze. These were the words of Officer in Charge of Operation at the Guyana Fire Service, Compton Sparman who described the March 3 events as “traumatic”.

In relating his account of events to the Commission of Inquiry into the Camp Street prison fire, Sparman explained that his team was observing all standard operating procedures to contain the blaze even as bricks were hurled at many of his firemen.

He also posited that for the first time he felt scared in his near 34 years on the job as a fireman.

“They were throwing bricks at us and threatening us…being a resident of Albouystown

they were saying I know you… and when I get out I will deal with you,” he stressed. “[We] felt threatened, but were give assurances by the prison authorities that they would ensure that security will be maintained,” he further noted.

“If the cells were breached we would have been the targets simply because we were the ones extinguishing the fires,” Sparman told the COI in relation to questions of threats to personal security.

The Fire Officer also rejected previous claims that water supply went out for a short time.

Sparman revealed that at one point prisoners were using mattresses to bar water from entering the facility.

When questioned further over the Fire Service’s operations on the night of the deadly event, the Fire Officer emphasised that fire service men could not barge in to rescue

A scene from outside Camp Street prison in Georgetown during the unrest

inmates as the prison service gave orders on the movement of prisoners.

Sparman related to the Commission that Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels stated that the prisoners “didn’t want to come out” as they started the fires.

When questioned further by attorney representing the Joint Services, Eusi Anderson, the Fire Officer admitted that he didn’t actually see the prisoners who were “screaming” but he had repeatedly heard, “a banging on the door”.

In somewhat of contrast to

some the accounts posited by inmates who have testified, the Fire Officer however suggested that it would have been difficult for prisoner officers to free the inmate as heat causes metal to expand.

Commissioners also heard that many of the responding officers who witnessed the dead bodies have been undergoing counseling to overcome the problems associated with their recent interrupted sleeping patterns. At this point, Sparman recalled what he saw in a much lowered tone.

He explained that the scenes of the riot were filled with “confusion and chaos” and noted the discoloured skin of many of the dead inmates.

The Fire Officer surmised the cause of the fires and its associated causalities.

“The fires were no doubt maliciously set, all three days because of the grievances [of the inmates],” he noted.

Plane turned around for couple to visit dying grandson (BBC)

A

pilot allowed an elderly couple to get off a plane moments before takeoff so they could visit their dying grandson in hospital.

They had boarded the Abu Dhabi-bound aircraft at Manchester Airport when they received a text message about their relative's condition.

The flight, which had been taxiing towards the runway, returned to the gate so the couple could rush to their grandson's bedside.

He died later on the same night.

The couple's travel agent Becky Stephenson said the 30 March incident was "very unusual".

"I've been in the travel business for 25 years and never heard of this happening," she said.

Airline praised Ms Stephenson, who is based in Bradford, praised the Etihad Airways pilot and said

she had not heard of an airline going "above and beyond with their customer service" in such a way.

"I'm just really grateful that my customers could get back to see him," she said: "My customers were so grateful that staff were very helpful and they were taken care of."

"The flight still went ahead after the couple got off," Ms Stephenson added.

"Etihad have said they can use the ticket again on a different date.

"But my customers are not thinking of when they're flying back out again."

42 news

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Police issue wanted bulletin for man accused of attempting to murder ex-girlfriend

T

he jilted lover, Colwyn Croal, aka “Alex” who allegedly attempted to murder his ex-girlfriend and another man with whom Croal saw her in the company with on April 3, is still in hiding and is yet to be apprehended by the police.

As such, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a

wanted bulletin for the man even as crime sleuths continue their manhunt for the perpetrator.

Croal’s ex-lover, Simone Belle of Half Mile, Wismar, Region 10 had just arrived in front of her home in a vehicle that was driven by Sherwin Hughes of Blueberry Hill, Wismar when the jilted man fired shots in

their direction.

Belle and Hughes were injured and had been rushed to the hospital in their area for treatment.

According to information received Belle and Croal had split several months prior to this incident.

Law enforcement officials are asking that anyone with information that may

lead to the arrest of Croal make contact with the nearest police station or call 444-3406, 444-3274, 444-3512, 225-2227 or 225-6411.

All information will be treated with strict confidence.

Croal’s last known address is said to be Lot 604 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden.

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By Alteaha Chase

I

was born March 17, 1979. My mother, Joan LaRose, is a teacher and my father, Ashton Austin, was a mechanic. My childhood was spent surrounded by family and friends. We lived in a large house that was shared by my mother and her three sisters and a friend. My mother and I occupied half of the top flat.

We had one bedroom and another room that doubled as our kitchen and family room. Growing up, I knew I was loved by both of my parents and my extended family; however, the words “I love you” were never said.

then two-year-old sister in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

I attended John Jay High School and the experience was overwhelming.

Instead of being placed in the 12th grade, they placed me in 10th grade. I excelled academically and had the advantage of being ahead of my fellow students in all subject areas, but socially I felt myself shrinking. I was overwhelmed at the size of the school, the class structure and the mere pressure of trying to fit in.

My accent caused some to laugh, my hair was not in style and I was not part of the “in” crowd with my store-bought clothing. High

Alteaha and daughter Daisy

“You are beautiful” and “I am proud of you” were rarely used.

I attended Stella Maris Primary and then moved on to North Georgetown Secondary school (NGSS).

At NGSS, I would gravitate to people like myself; the shy, easy going, introverts.

My mother migrated to the United States from Guyana in 1994 in search of a better life, and in 1996 I followed. I left behind so many people who were instrumental in my youth and with whom I had strong ties.

Everyone I identified with was now miles away. To say the transition was hard is an understatement. It felt more like a transformation.

I went from living among family and friends to residing in a two bedroom apartment with my mother and

school can be the turning point for many students and I was a social outcast. Kids made fun of my accent and made me feel like an outsider. I cringed inside at the thought of going to school and what lay ahead of me on any given day.

The toll of being ostracized was becoming too much, and I finally convinced my mother to allow me to take the GED exam.

Since academically I never had any problems, I was able to pass the test on my first attempt. I began working and was able to establish a slight sense of belonging with some friends I was beginning to make.

Over the next few years, more of my family and friends began migrating to New York from Guyana.

This was comforting be-

This cute little face enjoys a facial

cause it felt like I belonged.

We would sit and reminisce about Guyana and tell our stories about the transition to the United States. As we talked, we all shared a common thread – the unease and uncertainty we felt when we first moved here.

It was at this time that I decided I wanted the experience of young people, girls in particular, moving to the United States from a foreign country to be better than what it was for me. “Enable, empower and educate” became my mantra from that point on, and I began envisioning my dream of working with young women.

At my mother’s church, Greater AME Zion located on Lenox Avenue in Brooklyn New York, I would start a small youth group where school aged girls would meet to discuss issues they were facing in schools.

Our little group only lasted a few sessions, but I was determined to reach more girls.

I enrolled at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) where I graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Human Service. I gained employment at Queens Children Guidance Centre as a caseworker, working with at-risk youths and families. My job responsibilities included home visits and providing support and counselling to the families.

I attended Lehman College where I majored in Social Work. In 2004, I graduated <<<magna cum laude>>> and was on the Dean’s List. I was employed at the non-profit agency YAI, as a developmental aide. YAI provides housing, counselling and a vast array of other services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

In 2006, I accepted a position as a social worker assistant with NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). My duties include interacting with clinical staff to provide support services to developmentally disabled individuals who live at home and in residential settings. I advocate for individuals who are disadvantaged and unable to speak up for themselves.

While continuing to work for OPWDD on a modified schedule, I applied and was accepted into the Advanced Standing Program at the Hunter College School of Social Work. I had the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful yearlong internship at Ackerman Institute for Family.

I was a part of the Diversity and Social Work Training Program there, and provided therapy to families dealing with school difficulties, child and adolescent problems, marital issues, divorce, bereavement, learning disabilities, family violence, child abuse and incest, and chronic medical ill-

Interior of the Spa established by Chase

ness, including AIDS. I would help family members work collaboratively towards solutions to their problems, and help them to harness and strengthen family resources.

I graduated in 2007 with a Masters and a deep love for and understanding of working and advocating for people that could not do so for themselves. My work was rewarding, but there was always a burning desire within to work with young women migrating to a new place.

In 2008, I gave birth to my most prized possession, a baby girl named Daisy. I envisioned a life for her filled with the things I never had the chance to experience.

She would have the opportunity to experience the arts, the ballet and museums.

We do a lot of motherdaughter activities and, on special occasions, I would bring her along to the nail salon where she would be treated to a manicure and pedicure. She loved the experience, but I began to notice that the service and environment were not kid-friendly.

As I continued to treat daisy to the occasional salon visit, I found myself complaining about the lack of attention she was given and how fast the services was completed.

It was as though her nails and feet were not taken seriously.

In August 2013, I hosted a sleepover for Daisy and six of her friends. I recruited my younger sister, Crystal, to help. We did manicures, pedicures and chocolate facials, which they all loved.

We ate pizza, drank apple cider in champagne glasses, and had girl talk. The girls talked about their plans and how they were going to make the world a better place.

It was a life-changing, fun experience and we had a wonderful time. After the sleepover, I would constantly get calls from the other moms asking when the next

sleepover was going to be.

The girls had so much fun that they couldn’t stop talking about it.

Sometime in June 2015, a light bulb went off in my head and I realized that all girls from all walks of life needed to be empowered.

Fresh as Daisy Kids Spa & Salon was named after my daughter and with the vision of the life I have for her.

Life lessons begin at a young age and are carried throughout life, so why not start now? In November 2014, the doors of Fresh as Daisy Kids Spa & Salon opened.

Fresh as Daisy Kids Spa is a hidden paradise for girls ages two to 14. Our mission is to pamper, empower and educate young girls, build self-esteem, confidence and create employment. We continue to learn, grow and improve.

Because we are extremely big on community involvement and family, Fresh as Daisy Kids Spa pampered the mothers and grandmothers of The Greater Saint James AME Zion Church for Mother’s Day 2015. We also donated our time and service to pamper all the little girls of Thaddeus Stevens Public

School (P.S 81) who made the Honour Roll.

We are currently in talks with the principal and parent coordinator at Granville T. Wood Public School 335 putting together a date and time to pamper all the little girls who attend that school and are currently living in temporary housing such as shelters and foster care.

Additionally, we are currently working on a blueprint for an all-girls sixweek summer program.

The goal of this program is to provide our girls with an experience they cannot get in the classroom. The girls will attend ballet, Broadway shows, meet entrepreneurs, and professional women.

Our program will also offer etiquette, nutritional and grooming workshop. We are hoping to launch this program in the summer of 2016.

It is very important for little girls to see that adults that look like them can build, create and manage businesses. I encourage every little princess to work hard, dream big and be determined.

For more information, visit Fresh as Daisy Kids Spa and Salon on Facebook.

Getting tickles from a pedicure

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Violence against females and Goddesses “There is no need to request You, Oh Durga, To protect and save us.

For does the mother on whom children solely depend, Ever need such a request?

And So our salutations to You; So pray the Gods to You.”

Anu Dev

W

e are observing Nau Raat which Hindus specifically set aside (twice annually) to worshipping God as “female”. As a Hindu young woman, whose chosen form to worship God is female – in my case specifically Saraswati, in whom all knowledge reposes and emanates – I’ve sometimes wondered how some Hindu men who also worship the Divine in her various female forms and incarnations, can inflict violence on females. But of course, violence against women isn’t confined to Guyana and certainly not only to Hindus.

It’s just that since we Hindus are supposed to have elevated women to the ultimate Divinity I was kind of hoping our menfolk would’ve seen

us as in a bit kinder light that those from other religions that insist that God is male. And Who might need to use a “rod of correction” ever so often.

In Hinduism, by contrast, while God is ultimately beyond categories – including sex or gender – the conceived female aspects are actually endowed with the Shakti – or animating power.

In other words, the male manifestations are posited as completely inert (Pakriti) without the female. Can’t do a thing!

So we have, for instance, the Creator Vishnu with his female counterpart Lakshmi. She’s the power behind whatever “creation” – or “projection” as we Hindus prefer – that’s going on. One third of Hindus are “Shaktas” – whose major object of worship is the Mother in her various manifestations.

In Guyana, most Shaktas originated in South India and are lumped together

as “Madrassis”, since they left India from the port of Madras.

While Vishnu has incarnated first as fish, tortoise, boar and half-man/ Half lion, in all his human incarnations – whether as Ram or Krishna – Vishnu is accompanied by his Shakti. As Ram, for instance, his double is Sita.

Bringing matters to the human level then, supposedly to provide a model for us to imitate, when one marries, the women is said to be “the Lakshmi of the house”. In offering prayers to the Divine, the male householder is incomplete and the offerings aren’t accepted if he’s not accompanied by his “Lakshmi”.

So what goes with all this wife beating and violence against females in our society? Why hasn’t our elevation of women among Hindus as Goddesses increased respect for women? Well for one, in the “modern” world, we have all ac-

cepted that “religion” is just one aspect of “life”.

Religion as a seamless, integral way of life as posited

by Hinduism, is “old fashioned” and “backward”.

Traditional Hinduism, we are convinced, can’t be “modern”. So our menfolk worship the Mother of the temple in the temple and then knock around the Mother of the House in the house.

The view that the man is the owner of all he surveys – in reflection of the man with the grey beard who’s floating in the sky above looking down at us – undergirds what is called “patriarchy”. In modern Hindu homes, unlike the original model of society in which the female was the boss in her own domain, boys and men are still socialised to see females as “their own”. And in a capitalist society, this becomes translated as their “property”. And more to the point “sexual property” which he “jealously” guards.

If we’re ever going to get rid of this mind-numbing violence that’s inflicted daily on females, this structural power imbalance between males and females which starts in the home – ironically by mothers – must be eliminated.

What was it they said about “the hands that rock the cradle”? It can help to make “ruling the world” a bit fairer. All hail the Devi!

Political investors and bull manure

S

atiricus came from a farm. And like they say, you can take the boy from the farm, but you can’t take the farm from the boy. So when Satiricus heard Nagga Man was helping rice farmers, he was mighty pleased. Even though Nagga Man was from fishing stock (which is different from “fish stock”), he was a fella so full of bull, manure farmers liked him around. So it was not surprising to Satiricus to learn Nagga Man’s actual help to rice farmers was to obtain fertiliser on the cheap. Fertiliser was just a fancy way of talking about “bull manure”.

Seems when Nagga Man was in New York pressing the flesh on the campaign trail and insisting he was no “Apache Indian”, he hooked up with an enterprising “outside” Guyanese named Hard Hat. Hard Hat was a smooth operator. He ran a business from his basement apartment that had never made any profit – but he had a slick website and all that.

Hard Hat pressed some cash into Naga Man’s outstretched hand and insisted he was just a good ole Guyana Babu.

Pretty soon after Nagga Man became the PRIME Moocher, however, his KFC colleague Trot Man made the Kitty Declaration of the “KFC’s doctrine of Campaign Contributions”. This was right after the leader of the KFC Rum Jhaat bigged up his old business buddy for paying for the KFC’s new Headquarters. When some small minded spoilsport snidely remarked the KFC seemed to be for sale, Trot Man huffily enunciated the Kitty Declaration: “Campaign Contributions are hereby acknowledged as “political investments”. Like all investments, they are supposed to generate a substantial internal rate of return (IRR) equivalent to at least 1000 times what the Campaign Contributor would have earned had he invested it in a Panamanian Tax Haven.”

And it was in the spirit of the Kitty Declaration that Nagga Man spoke to his acolyte Has-San to award a Gy$420 million contract to Hard Hat for cheap bull manure for rice farmers. Hard Hat was also full of bull manure and was certain he could supply the requisite amount from his basement.

However, he wanted half of the payment up front so that he could get his IRR. He would have to hire several men to scoop up so much bull manure.

However back in Guyana, Has San’s GRAB Board balked. They said they could get plenty of bull manure right here in Guyana from men like Nagga Man. And didn’t have to pay up front.

news 47

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Disgraced Trinidad-born chemist out of US prison (Reprinted from Trinidad Express)

A

Trinidad-born chemist, charged with tampering with evidence while working at a lab in Boston, USA, in 2013, has been granted parole from her state prison sentence and is no longer behind bars.

In 2012, Annie Dookhan had pleaded guilty to the charges and sentenced to serve three to five years in the custody of the Department of Correction.

On Tuesday, Dookhan was paroled and is no longer in custody at MCIFramingham, where she had been serving her sentence.

The police said

Dookhan mishandled drug samples sent to the lab by local police departments. And she confessed to police that she had not tested all the drugs she claimed she did, forged initials of her co-workers and sometimes mixed drug samples to cover her tracks.

Dookhan had tested more than 60,000 drug samples involving 34,000 defendants during her nine years at Hinton State Laboratory Institute in Boston. The lab no longer plays a role in forensic testing in criminal drug investigations. All drug testing is now done by the State Police.

Dookhan was involved in more than 40,000 cases at the lab

Second suspect held in killing of Brit (Reprinted from the Trinidad Guardian)

P

ort of Spain: A second man, who went to the police on Wednesday to “clear his name” in connection with the murder of British national and aspiring cricketer, Adrian St John, has been arrested.

The suspect, a man in his 20s and another suspect, a 24-year-old man, who went to the police to give a statement on Monday, will both be placed on an identification parade today (Thursday).

According to police sources, the second suspect went to the St Joseph Police Station to give a statement.

However, after finding that he had fit the description given to them by two women, who are currently in protective custody, the officers arrested him.

According to police, at about 8.30 pm on Sunday, St John went to Upper Gordon Street, Mt D’Or, to pick up a male

relative of two female passengers when he was robbed.

Police said as St John, 22, was leaving the poorly lit area, two men with T-shirts covering their faces approached and robbed the two women and St John of cash and other valuables.

They then told St John to drive off. As he was doing so one of the men fired a single shot in the direction of the car, hitting him in the head. One of the women steered the vehicle to the Eastern Main Road and flagged down a passing police car. St John was taken to hospital where he died while being treated.

St John was the captain of the Chris Gayle Academy in London. His killing was reported by several media outlets in the UK. The High Commission has since updated its travel advisory, warning UK nationals about the high level of violent crime in the country and listed St John’s murder in the document.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Annie Dookhan

from 2003-2012. Special court sessions have been created to deal with the cases where defendants are challenging their convictions on grounds that

Dookhan, and the lab, tainted evidence that led to their imprisonment.

Back then the State Attorney General Martha Coakley had said

authorities could not find a motive for Dookhan's actions other than she wanted to be seen as a good worker.

Dookhan was described by her school mates and colleagues at work as a quiet, unassuming person. She stood out more for her dedication to her studies, friends and relatives said.

Former school teachers said Dookhan gained top grades as a biochemistry student, headed to medical school.

Her co-workers questioned whether Dookhan was pressured by a decision in 2009, by a US Supreme Court, that defendants had the right to cross-examine chemists in court who had

prepared prosecution reports against them.

The decision meant that chemists now had to spend more time in court and less in the lab to keep up with the demands of the justice system.

At that time, her friends said, Dookhan was dealing with personal problems including a miscarriage.

In 2010, Dookhan was accused of padding her resume by claiming she had a master's degree in chemistry from the University of Massachusetts.

She resigned her job while facing an internal department probe in March 2012. Her job was to perform identification tests on raw materials.

PM Holness urges CoP, minister to keep murder toll below 1,000

M

O N T E G O BAY, St James — Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness has tasked Commissioner of Police Carl Williams and Minister of National Security Robert Montague with the responsibility of ensuring that the murder toll dips below the 1,000 mark this year.

Last year the number of murders recorded by the police stood at 1,207, which was 202, more than the 1,005 reported the previous year. “... I am going to hold the commissioner to account for bringing that murder rate to below 1,000, and I am going to hold the minister (of national security) for putting in place the policy and supporting the commissioner. I also have to appeal to the conscience of Jamaicans, to that young man in the inner city, to say yes, I know you feel as if you have no stake in Jamaica but I want you to understand that you have a

Commissioner of Police Dr Carl Williams

prime minister that believes in you and will put the programmes in place for you to help you to make that change in your life,” Holness said Tuesday night.

The prime minister said it should not be the accepted norm for people to commit murder to resolve conflicts, arguing that the Jamaican people use the index of the national murder rate as their measure of national security.

“… So when we say other crimes are going down, if murders continue to rise and continue uncontrolled, then people just don’t feel the level of security and this point must be understood by every single police [officer], starting from the commissioner right down to the policeman walking the market on beat patrols,” said Holness.

He was addressing the third in a se-

Hosororo United Junior...

Club will go to other communities to conduct training sessions with teams there.

Solomon and Valenzuela stated that they put forth their utmost best to share their knowledge and experiences with the youths who are passionate about football. They added that they need to develop themselves personally so that they can provide the best training for the youths. Hence, they will be contacting the Guyana Football Federation, the National Sports Commission, Hosororo regional administration and other relevant organisations that would be willing to help the club to be part of coaching clinics and workshops.

“The only way to develop as a team is by playing competitive matches regularly to ascertain our

ries of islandwide town hall meetings, hosted by the security minister, at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay. The prime minister also pointed out that even as he will hold people who have delegated authority to account, he will not shift any blame from himself to another person.

“You will understand that you have a prime minister that will own the issues, that will deal with the issues, not back away from the issues, not try to pass the buck.

I start from the point that I am responsible. I am the chief accounting officer for the Government, so a part of the job of being the chief accounting officer is to hold people to account. In essence you have voted and I am the custodian of the authority you have voted on, and I must use that authority to hold the persons who have delegated authority to account,” he said.

(Jamaica Observer)

from page 40

strengths and weaknesses so we can improve and correct same. We are trying our best to raise funds to go places like Port Kaituma, Moruca and then Georgetown to test ourselves at the respective age groups (the under 14 and under 16). However, these trips are costly as sponsorship is hard to get here. We want our players to face new challenges, to experience new environments and to adopt different playing conditions to ascertain our level of play against more established opponents. In so doing, we would know what areas we need to work on to compete at the highest level,” expressed the coaches.

To contact the coaches, call 692-1869 or 698-0637 or visit Hosororo United Junior Football Club on Facebook. (Sunday Times Magazine)

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING APRIL 17, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Priyanka Chopra: My success belongs to me

W

hile many people believe that Priyanka Chopra owes her success to her team, the Bollywood actress, who is now a globally recognised face due to her stint in American TV series “Quantico” and soon to release Hollywood film “Baywatch”, says that the credit for her work goes “only and solely” to her and nobody else.

“I do have a phenomenal team because they handle two continents of my scheduling and more than anything else, they make sure that nobody gets pissed off because I am spread too thin,” Priyanka, who was in the Capital for a day to

receive her Padma Shri honour from President Pranab Mukherjee, told IANS. “But having said that, I feel that I am destiny’s favourite child. I have made sure that whatever opportunity comes my way, I give my heart and soul to it. So the credit of my work goes only and solely to me because I am the one who stands in front of the camera between action and cuts and nobody else does,” she said, while adding that people take credit away from women who put in hard work.

“People take credit away from working girls by giving it to somebody else, saying, ‘Isko toh

banaya hai’ (her success has been made by others), but my question is, ‘Koi aur kyu nahi bana abhi tak’ (Why someone else hasn’t made it yet)” Priyanka questioned.

Asked how she reacted when her former manager alleged that she wanted to commit suicide because of stress during the initial phase of her career, the actress said: “My father used to say, ‘Jab haathi chalta hai toh kutte bhonkte hai’ (when an elephant moves, dogs bark).”

Priyanka’s journey in showbiz started at the age of 17, when she was crowned Miss World.

It was followed by her Bollywood debut in 2003 with “The Hero: Love Story of a Spy”. After that, there was no looking back as she mastered the art of delivering the unexpected. After making India proud globally with her role of FBI agent Alex Parrish in “Quantico”, she bagged “Baywatch” alongside Hollywood A-listers Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. (Indian Express)

SAB TV partners with Twitter India for new show ‘Khidki’

T

he makers of popular TV channel SAB TV have joined hands with Twitter India to create mini-TV series “Khidki” from content generated on the micro-blogging site.

and Umesh Shukla, and will be telecast in the form of an episodic series on the channel.

“Sourcing user generated content from a powerful social medium like Twitter, and presenting it to a larger

encompass unique yet funny stories in 140 characters that one has experienced in their lives, something that holds a special place in their memories and brings out the laughs.

“With this unique ini-

As per the partnership, the channel will run an online campaign titled “#TweetAFunnyStory” wherein users on Twitter will be invited to share their real life stories which will later by shortlisted by the show’s producers JD Majethia

universe on SAB platform, is an experiment which I am confident will pave newer ways for content development in Indian television,” Anooj Kapoor, senior executive vice president and business head, SAB TV, said in a statement.

The entries should

tiative by SAB TV, for the first time ever one’s tweet can create and shape their own TV series on a leading broadcast channel – a first of its kind move seen in the country,” Viral Jani, head of TV partnerships, Twitter India, said.

(Indian Express)

Shah Rukh Khan floored by talent of Few people have perfect comedy visually impaired singer on TV show timing in our industry: Kapil Sharma

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ollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who promoted his forthcoming film “Fan” on singing reality show “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa”, was astonished by the singing talent of a visually impaired contestant from Canada, named Jagpreet.

Shah Rukh Khan made a grand entry by performing on the song “Jabra fan”.

When Jagpreet came on stage to perform on the song “Kal ho na ho”, Shah Rukh got impressed by his talent and joined him on stage to perform with him.

“Jagpreet is an inspiration to millions. Far from being visually impaired, I believe he has a vision that he is going after. I salute the grit and determination with which he’s surpassed the obstacles and challenges in his path and come this far,” Shah Rukh said in a statement.

Jagpreet said that it his longstanding dream to do playback for the “Chennai Express” star and asked if his dream can become a reality. Shah Rukh immediately went on to the stage and lip synced and spread his arms in his iconic pose to the beautiful track while Jagpreet sang for him.

Talking about the other contestants, Shah Rukh said: “It’s hard for me to believe that the contestants are so flawless in front of a live audience.

I remember how the song ‘Apun bola’ from ‘Josh’ was broken down into a thousand pieces for me to be able to sing.”

“Sa Re Ga Ma Pa”, aired on Zee TV, features Sajid Ali, Wajid Ali, Pritam Chakraborty and Mika Singh, as mentors.

The episode featuring Shah Rukh will be aired on Sunday. (Indian Express)

I will be singing all the songs in ‘Rock On 2’: Shraddha Kapoor

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hraddha Kapoor has shown her singing skills in “Aashiqui 2”, “Haider” and “ABCD 2”, and the actress says in her forthcoming film “Rock On 2” she is going to playback all her songs. The 27-year-old actress has joined the second installment of music drama “Rock On”, which features Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Prachi Desai and Purab Kohli, who all starred in the original film.

During a fan chat on Twitter, Shraddha was asked if she is sing-

ing any song in “Rock On 2”, the “Ek Villain” star said, “Yes will be singing all my songs for #RockOn2.” The film is being directed by Shujaat Saudagar.

The actress revealed that she wants to work with actors Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor in future projects. Shraddha will be next seen opposite Tiger Shroff in romantic action film “Baaghi”. “I hope people enjoy #Baaghi. We have worked really hard on it.” (Indian Express)

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omedian-actor Kapil Sharma, who was in the capital to shoot for his forthcoming venture “The Kapil Sharma Show”, shared that there are very few people in the industry who have perfect comic timing.

Before the upcoming show, Kapil had a successfully running show “Comedy Nights With Kapil” on Colors but due to a fallout with the channel, he has now joined Sony Entertainment Television for his new show which features the same team of comedians, consisting of Sunil Grover, Ali Asgar, Kiku Sharda, Sumona Chakravarti and Chandan Prabhakar.

Asked why he has retained the same team and not added fresh faces, he told IANS in a group interview: “Fresh

faces might work for films but there are very few people with perfect comedy timing in our industry.

“Secondly, I have been friends with some of them for so long like I have known Chandan since school, worked with Ali and Sunil for so long, so we know each other’s strength, each others timing….”

“We are able to look at each other and we know that the person has forgotten his line so now we have to cover him up… this kind of tuning is rather difficult to achieve,” he added.

Talking about the people who might have a problem with the content of the show, Kapil quipped that if people are commenting over the show it means they watch it.

“If people are com-

menting over our content then it means they watch it. People keep commenting on something or the other anyways. For instance, I make jokes and pull my wife’s (essayed

by Sumona) leg a lot… people commented on that too,” said the “Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon” actor.

“There are a lot of jokes that we make, it keeps happening in our society, around us. If we don’t pull our friend’s leg, then how do you define friendship? This is part of the relationship.

We try not to have below-the-belt jokes, which is our USP. We have children watching our show and obviously the parents trust us enough that their children can watch us and that is something we will and want to retain,” he added. (Indian Express)

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I’m an overachiever Dating a celebrity is parent: Drew Barrymore hard: Hailey Baldwin

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ctress Drew Barrymore, who recently split from husband Will Kopelman, says she wants to be the

best mother possible for her two children, Olive and Frankie.

“I thought I knew what love was, but holy

cow, I did not. I could never have imagined the kind of love I have for my children. I am who I am because of my daugh-

ters. I’m an overachiever parent, and not because I think I’m going to repeat the patterns of my parents,” Barrymore told

Good Housekeeping.

Barrymore’s own upbringing was less than traditional, a childhood she doesn’t fear her children will share.

“I’ve already broken that pattern in my life. But having grown up in the opposite way, I’m raising my children with all consistency, all protection. This is my chance to get it right.”

The 41-year-old actress says she focuses on earning her happiness.

“Happiness is not this yellow, blithe, floating thing. It’s something that takes a tremendous amount of work. There’s a warrior aspect to being happy. You’ve got to fight for it. And only when you’ve got that kind of earned happiness is it really good.” (Indian Express)

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odel Hailey Baldwin, who has been romantically linked to Justin Bieber in the past, says dating a celebrity is not easy because of media attention on the relationship.

The 19-year-old model was linked to the pop star earlier this year when the pair were spotted kissing but Baldwin says having a relationship with a celebrity is not ideal, reported Female First.

“I don’t want attention out of dating somebody. Texts started coming through, crazy phone

calls … it’s hard to date somebody in this industry.

“You have to have really thick skin and be very strong. You have to

Harrison Ford Han Solo jacket sells for USD 191,000

Lea Michele honours grandmother with new tattoo

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ctress Lea Michele has honoured her grandmother with a new tattoo on her finger.

The 29-year-old former Glee star took to

Instagram to announce the news of her grandmother’s demise and shared the picture of her finger inked.

“I lost my beautiful grandma this week…

She wasn’t your typical grandma.

She gave me my first cup of coffee when I was 8 years old. She said something inappropriate to every boyfriend I’ve ever had.

“She never made pie or knit me a sweater. But she was my grandma and I loved her. More than anything… I love you Grandma. @ prospect_tattoos Bronx NY,” Michele captioned the picture. The actress has always been open about her family’s importance in her life.

(Indian Express)

Idris Elba doubts his sex symbol status

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ctor Idris Elba says the sex symbol status and the female attention he gets confuses him.

The 43-yearold British actor said he finds himself unattractive when he looks in the mirror, reported Femalefirst.

“When I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, I look like bad. I don’t know what everyone else is looking at,” Elba said.

The “Beasts of No Nation” has been dubbed “the Sexiest Actor Alive”

by Glamour magazine for the second year in a

focus on the person and nothing else. And you have to, as best you can, block out all the extra noise,” she said. (Indian Express)

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jacket that Harrison Ford wore as Han Solo in the latest “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” movie has sold at auc-

tion for USD 191,000.

Ford, 73, decided to sign and sell off the item to help benefit two charities close to his heart, but even he couldn’t

have imagined the jacket was worth so much when bidding began on online site IfOnly, reported TMZ. The USD 191,000 sale price will be split between the NYU Langone Medical Center and the Faces foundation, which funds research for epilepsy.

The actor’s 25-yearold daughter, Georgia, has epilepsy and is being treated at the NYC hospital. (Indian Express)

Charlize Theron won’t have more kids

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ctress Charlize Theron feels blessed to raise four-year-old Jackson and baby August, who was adopted last July, but has no plans to add to her brood.

The actress said she is not even willing to add a pet.

“Both of my hands are really full right now.

I think I’m good for now.

My son is like, ‘Let’s get a cat,’ and I’m like, ‘No! No! No more things that need to be fed, we’re slowing down,” she told

Entertainment Tonight.

The 40-year-old beauty feels very “lucky” to have two “amazing” children.

“There’s not one mo-

ment where I don’t realise how unbelievably lucky I have it. They’re little gems, they really are. They’re amazing.”

(Indian Express)

Megan Fox pregnant with third child

A row, in its May 2016 issue, but Elba is just focused on taking care of his family.

“I’m not into the whole fame thing. I don’t have celebrity friends.

I have the same ones I

had from when I was a kid and for me, it’s about my family. I would like to my entire family happy and secure. That’s a lifelong dream of mind: to make them happy,” he said. (Indian Express)

ctress Megan Fox is expecting her third child.

The mother-to-be flaunted her baby bump wearing a black Versace dress at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Monday where she was promoting her new movie “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows,” along with costar Will Arnett, reported People magazine.

Fox, 29, is already a parent to sons Noah Green and Bodhi Green, with estranged husband Brian Austin Green.

The couple, who filed for divorce in August after five years of marriage, have been spotted together several times in the recent months. (Indian Express)

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“Golden rewards” for Ricardo Cunningham Guyanese cricketing stars eyes 400m hurdles

By Akeem Greene

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he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) hosted a Dinner to honour the victorious Guyana Jaguars players, West Indies U-19 world champs and female World T20 champs on Monday at the Savannah Suite of the Guyana Pegasus Hotel in which the players were given championship rings and chains made of gold.

Speaking at the event, honorary secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Anand Sanasie praised the work of all the players while noting that they should be proud of their achievements; he also alluded to the fact that these results show that our cricket structure locally is improving.

The GCB Secretary said, “when I saw the report that came out of the tournament, concerning the under-19s and them touted as it regards aspects of leadership, I felt proud being a Guyanese”.

The Leon Johnson led Guyana Jaguars won back-to-back titles in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) 4-day tournament, and more impressively playing 17

Reprinted from the Jamaica Observer

K The under-19 players along with the Windies women always received awards (Marceano Narine photo)

matches unbeaten in the tournament, received a Championship ring made of gold which has an emerald and the engraving of the two successful seasons.

The West Indies Under-19 trio of Captain Shimron Hetmyer, ViceCaptain Keemo Paul and Wicketkeeper/batsman Tevin Imlach, all received similar rings while the duo of West Indies Female World T20 Champions, Treymane Smartt and Shemaine Campbell received gold chains.

Attorney-at-law James Bond, representing the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, echoed the words that “sport is the only thing that shows true cohesive-

ness and we must try to ensure that cricket continues to be a beacon of hope for Guyana”.

The Jaguars players to receive championship rings were: Leon Johnson: Shivnarine Chanderpaul; Vishaul Singh; Christopher Barnwell ; Raymon Reifer; Anthony Bramble; Veerasammy Permaul Devendra Bishoo; Ronsford Beaton; Paul Wintz; Steven Jacobs; Robin Bacchus; Tagenarine Chanderpaul; Gudakesh Motie; Keon Joseph; Shimron Hetmyer, and Assad Fudadin.

Coach Esuan Crandon and Manager/ Assistant Coach Rayon Griffith also received championship rings.

i n g s t o n : National 800-metre champion Ricardo Cunningham will be attempting the 400m intermediate hurdles at Jamaica’s Senior Championships with a view of making the Olympics team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this summer.

“Over the years I have been encouraged by many to try the 400m

Cunningham, 36 years old, said he took track and field seriously when he was 23. He has a personal best of 1:47.14 minutes in the 800m event, and is still harbouring thoughts of making the Olympic team in his pet event.

You can’t just throw a stone behind you like that. I have to see the transition and how things work out first.

I can’t throw away the golden egg right now,”

World Championships in Beijing, China.

Jamaica’s 800m national record of 1:45.21 minutes was set 39 years ago by one Seymour Newman in 1977. The long-standing record has led some track and field analysts to say the 800m is in dire straits in Jamaica.

Cunningham has been the standard-bearer for Jamaica in the 800m, winning the national title on a number

Ricardo Cunningham on his way to winning the 400m hurdles in 52.03 seconds at the UWI Invitational Meet on April 2. (Jamaica Observer photo)

hurdles and I finally decided to give it a try,” Cunningham told the Jamaica Observer, after winning the event at the UWI Invitational in 52.03 seconds.

“Actually it’s my first competitive 400m hurdles [race] for the year and actually it’s my second time ever in my life going over 10 hurdles. So I am happy. It’s a learning phase, I started this season,” Cunningham pointed out.

said Cunningham.

“I am training for both of them. Anyone gives me the better result so let it be,” said Cunningham, who attended Maud McLeod High School in Westmoreland.

Cunningham captured the national men’s 800m title in 1:47.15 minutes last year, and although he ran his personal best at the time, he was below the qualifying standard of 1:46.00 minutes for the 2015

of occasions.

His rise to prominence is quite remarkable, having fallen in love with athletics in his twenties due to the encouragement of his colleagues in the police force after he dominated their annual sports day championships.

He won almost everything in sight from the 100m, 200m, long jump and the 800 and 1500m events. He later joined the MVP camp.

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Slain cricketer’s family hope to A great honour to pull Gayle for memorial game lead Guyana Amazon L Warriors in CPL 2016, says Martin Guptill

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uyana Amazon Warriors have stepped up their preparations for the forthcoming HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season by confirming New Zealand star batsman Martin Guptill as their captain.

Guptill, 29, is the franchise’s marquee player and is currently ranked third in the ICC World T20 batting rankings. The Aucklander enjoys a career average of 34.73 and strike rate of 131.44 from 61 games to

this year.

“I am really excited about working with a talented crop of emerging local and international talent and we will be working hard to try and be consistent and go one step further and clinch the title which has eluded the Warriors on two occasions. Of course this summer we will also be travelling to Central Broward Stadium in Florida which is a really positive development for CPL as we move into mainland USA.

be a great tournament for the fans as some of the biggest names in world cricket arrive in the Caribbean.

“West Indies cricket is on a real high. And with the Women’s and Under-19 teams also enjoying international success, I have no doubt that the feel-good factor will continue into the best-ever CPL this summer and beyond.”

Dr Ranjisinghi “Bobby” Ramroop, franchise owner of the Guyana Amazon

ONDON, CMC – The family of slain cricketer, Adrian St John, hope to have West Indies superstar Chris Gayle available to play in a memorial match, which will form part of the late player’s sendoff.

The 22-year-old Brit was shot and killed during a robbery in Trinidad and Tobago last weekend, after he stopped his car to pick up a friend.

St John was the captain of the London-based Chris Gayle Academy and the celebrated Jamaican batsman tweeted his condolences after learning of the player’s death.

“Adrian loved cricket and dreamed of playing for the West Indies and we would love to have a memorial game for him,” St John’s cousin Liam Campbell, was quoted as saying.

“We would love to get Chris Gayle involved, it would be an absolute-

Young life: Cricketer Adrian St John (Chris Gayle Foundation/Twitter)

ly amazing send-off for Adrian.”

St John, who was born and raised in south London, was one of the first members of the Gayle Academy and was enthusiastic about making cricket a career and playing for West Indies in the future.

He graduated from Hertfordshire University in 2014 with a degree

in history and philosophy and according to reports, worked in the recruitment industry in London.

His parents, Andrew and Sharon, are expected to fly into Trinidad later this week to make arrangements to bring their son home.

A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder

GOA supports national junior Table Tennis team

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Martin Guptill has been named captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors for this year’s CPL T20 tournament

date for the Black Caps.

A mainstay in the New Zealand top order across all three formats, he recently featured in his fifth ICC World T20 event in India and was a key figure as his nation reached the semi-finals, scoring 140 runs in four games at an impressive strike rate of 157.30.

This will be Guptill’s fourth season in the CPL overall, and third with the Warriors, having also previously featured for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2015.

In 28 CPL games to date he averages 35.7, including seven half-centuries, with a highest score of 90.

Commenting on his selection, Martin Guptill said: “It is a huge thrill and a great honour for me to be selected as Guyana Amazon Warriors captain for the forthcoming CPL season. Guyana is a cricketrich nation and has produced many outstanding West Indies cricketers, not least Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Colin Croft, Lance Gibbs, Carl Hooper and the great Sir Clive Lloyd, amongst many others. I am conscious of Guyana’s heritage and standing in the Caribbean, and proud to lead the team into battle

Speaking to some of the players already, there’s already a lot of excitement about this step.

“I would like to thank the owners and coach Roger Harper for inviting me back and we are all focused on giving our wonderful supporters many happy memories later this summer.

Providence Stadium is a ground that I have fond memories of playing in and I know that we can count on some big numbers for our games there again this summer.”

Reflecting on the ICC World T20 2016, he added: “I would firstly like to congratulate the West Indies team and management on regaining the World T20 in such dramatic fashion last weekend. Their performances were outstanding throughout the competition and it was a real team effort.

“Personally speaking, New Zealand were disappointed to lose in the semi-finals to England, but we can take a lot of positives and look to build for the next few years as we have a good group of promising New Zealand cricketers coming through. With my team mates Brendon McCullum and Colin Munro signed up, it will

Warriors, said: “I am delighted to welcome a world-class player of the calibre of Martin Guptill back to the team, having been a member of the Guyana Amazon Warriors family for the 2013 and 2014 editions of CPL. Martin’s dynamic personality, coupled with his high level of discipline and work ethic, will certainly be instrumental as a role model to the other team members, especially the younger players on the team. We wish him well and believe that he will be an inspirational figure for the team, on and off the field.”

Warriors Coach Roger Harper added: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Martin on being named captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors for CPL 2016. I have no doubt that Martin will lead from the front and his professionalism and passion for the game will spread throughout the team and drive us to success. I am excited about working with him as captain.”

To see Guyana Amazon Warriors in action live at #CPL16, purchase your tickets on www.cplt20.com today. (www.cplt20.com)

he Guyana O l y m p i c Association (GOA) supported the national junior Table Tennis team that will be participating in the 2016 Caribbean Junior and Cadet Championships in the Dominican Republic.

Members of the GOA which included President, KA Juman Yassin, Secretary, General Hector Edwards and Honorary Treasurer, Garfiled Wiltshire, handed over a cheque for an undisclosed sum of money to the committee of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) on Monday at the National Gymnasium after the final training session for the squad was held.

Yassin said he was happy to support Guyana’s junior table

KA Juman Yassin

tennis talents since he sees them as the future prospects to represent Guyana at the Olympic Games.

In his address to the players he opined the importance of merging academia with sports and asked of the players to give of their best in rep-

resenting the county.

The GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe thanked the executive committee of the GOA for its intervention which was seen as critical in making the teams’ participation at the event a reality.

The 2016 Caribbean Junior and Cadet championships began on April 12 and will last until April 18.

The championships will be used as the qualifier for the Inaugural ITTF Pan American Junior Table Tennis Championships scheduled for Vancouver, Canada in June 2016, where the top four teams from the Caribbean will join four teams from Central America, six teams from South America along with USA and Canada.

Jamaica’s Thompson wraps up collegiate basketball career in All-Star style

Shevon Thompson played in the NCAA Seniors All-Star game recently.

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ingston: Jamaica’s Shevon Thompson was chosen as one of only 20 Seniors across Division One college basketball to play in the NCAA Seniors All-Star game recently.

Thompson, who attended Vere Technical and Quality Academics, was the first selectee for the official inaugural year of the Jamaica Basketball Elite Academy in 2012.

Thompson had a stellar career at George Mason University, where last season he was top five in the nation in rebounds, and led his team in scoring while receiving conference honours as an Atlantic 10, All Third team selectee.

The past season, under new coach Dave Paulsen, Thompson’s playing time dropped from 30 minutes per game to 22 minutes. He was still able to end up in the top 16 in rebounds in all of college basketball and is number one on a per minute basis. (Jamaica Observer)

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Young Blood for CPL ...Windies Under-19 players to feature

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Injured Simmons out of IPL 2016, Guptill named replacement

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umbai Indians opener Lendl Simmons has been ruled out of the remainder of the IPL 2016 due to an injury to his lower back.

New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill has been named as Simmons' replacement.

Simmons' injury is similar to the one that

Mumbai Indians during their title run in IPL 2015, scoring 540 runs in 13 matches at a strike-rate of 122.41 with six half-centuries.

Overall, he has scored 942 runs in 22 matches for Mumbai Indians since 2014. He was out for 8 in Mumbai's opening game against Rising Pune Supergiants last

a knock of 237 against West Indies in the quarter-final.

Guptill's overall T20 record stands at 4684 runs from 155 matches with two centuries, including one against South Africa in December 2012.

Guptill has also played in the Caribbean Premier League for

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, centre, celebrates a wicket with captain Shimron Hetmyer, right, during the ICC U-19 World Cup. The pair will feature in this year’s CPL tournament. (Photo: courtesy ICC)

RIDGETOWN— Six stars from the West Indies Under-19 squad which won the World Cup earlier this year are to feature in the fourth edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which starts late June.

The young West Indies cricketers, retained after the franchises completed their player rosters for the forthcoming campaign, are Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, Gidron Pope, Anderson Phillip, Shemar Springer and Oshane Thomas.

All six players have been retained by their home teams—Hetmyer, Joseph and Pope will play for Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Windward Islands Zouks (respectively) while Phillip, Springer and Thomas will represent Trinbago Knight Riders, Barbados Tridents and Jamaica Tallawahs.

“It was hugely exciting to see so many promising players expressing themselves with an attacking mind-set and it certainly bodes well for the fu-

ture of the game across the Caribbean,” said CPL International Director of Cricket Tom Moody.

“The CPL is committed to encouraging future generations of players and followers to the game and I have no doubt that West Indies cricket will reap the benefit this season and for many years to come.”

According to CPL regulations, each franchise is invited to select one player from their home country for the fourth edition of CPL. CPL is set to bowl off from June 29 and run until August 7 and Moody expects emerging local talent to make “significant inroads” this season.

“In making their selections, the six franchises analysed and scrutinised in great depth the available talent on display and conducted internal camps to assess the players up close,” said Moody.

“It wasn’t a straightforward process, which is testament to the performances of the players.” (CMC)

Lendl Simmons

forced him to withdraw from the first stage of the World T20 last month.

He later joined the West Indies team for the tournament, in place of the injured Andre Fletcher, and scored a crucial 51ball 82 not out in the semi-final against India in Mumbai.

Simmons was the best batsman for

week.

Guptill was unsold during the player auction in February, despite being listed as one of the marquee players at a base price of INR 50 lakh.

The opening batsman was the highest run-getter in the 2015 World Cup, scoring 547 runs in nine matches, including

Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, apart from stints with Derbyshire and Sydney Thunder.

He has also been named as Captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team for the upcoming 2016 CPL tournament.

(ESPN Sports Media Ltd)

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