Guyana Times Daily December 10, 2017

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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3318

US$18M oil bonus

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Sunday, December 10, 2017

PRICE

Guyana’s Constitution violated – Ram Page 3

…calls for Police probe, criminal charges for Govt Ministers

Govt to borrow more …Royal Castle scorched money Tax measures reducing cash flow for businesses – GMSA President

Disaster averted: fire at Giftland Mall contained

Page 12

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Crashed Police vehicle

“I wanted to go spank that Policeman” – Ramjattan P14

Essequibo Coast students nabbed with ganja in school P12

Page 2

Policewoman slapped with fraud charge

P8

Page 9

Regional P16 military to join forces against cyber criminals

…decries negative impact of VAT on electricity, forestry

…less red tape needed for smoother business operations – UK High Commissioner 2017 Honourees of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association pose with GMSA President Shyam Nokta on Friday evening during the organisation's Annual Awards Ceremony and Dinner

US$18M bonus scandal

PPP questions real motive for secrecy Page 7

Prison P10 Service commissions $118M vessel

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news

SUnDAY, december 10, 2017 guyanatimesGY.com

Govt to borrow more money …to facilitate road works on Soesdyke/Linden

T

he Government is seeking to borrow more money as it makes efforts to do major road works on the Soesdyke Linden Highway, the primary gateway to the mining town of Linden. It will, however, be pursuing this project through another loan from a multinational

development bank.

This is according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who on Friday revealed that the funding for a pre-feasibility study for the Soesdyke/Linden Highway was being sought from alternative means.

This comes after reports earlier this year that

the study would have to be stalled because of the reformulation of a loan agreement with the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

“The previous loan had studies earmarked.

What is the new thinking?

Studies for the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway are

as early as next year.

The mayor said the promise was made public during a recent visit by Minister David Patterson, where it was noted that some $40 million would be allocated for repairs, upgrade and lighting of the highway, which has been dubbed “dangerous” by commuters.

The upgrade of the highway was initially expected to be carried out in 2017, but this was not done.

Debt

The Soesdyke/Linden Highway

now being earmarked to be done with alternative resources,” Jordan informed the National Assembly.

“I can tell you that we are working assiduously with an international development partner, a multinational development bank, to get a fast disbursing loan that will be targeted to the resurfacing of the Linden Highway.”

According to Jordan, the Linden-Ituni Road is cur-

rently under discussion.

While the Government hasn’t identified a source of financing, Jordan said the subject was flagged as a matter of priority in discussions with the multinational bank.

At a press conference in October, Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland had said that the Public Infrastructure Ministry is set to undertake development projects on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway

But if secured, this disbursement is likely to see Guyana‘s public debt rise.

The Ministry of Finance’s recent Public Debt Annual Report had showed that, since 2015, there has been a 4.1 per cent rise in Guyana’s indebtedness to international lenders.

The report details that Guyana’s total debt, inclusive of external and domestic, increased to $330 billion as at December 2016.

The Ministry attributed this to disbursements from the Export/Import Bank of China towards the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project, as well as monies from multilateral creditors. turn to page 17

news

BRIDGE OPENINGS

US$18M oil bonus

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

Sunday, December 10 – 11:00h-12:30h and Monday, December 11 – 12:00h-13:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, December 10 – 10:25h-11:25h and Monday, December 11 – 11:35h-13:05h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to heavy showers can be expected throughout the day, with sunny intervals in the afternoon. Thundery showers are expected to return in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North Easterly to Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 10:02h and 22:28h reaching maximum heights of 2.26 metres and 2.25 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 03:25h and 15:58h reaching minimum heights of 0.87 metre and 1.01 metres respectively.

SATURDAY, december 9, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

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DAILY MILLIONS 06 13 18 21 22 LUCKY 3 1 3 0 Afternoon Draw

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Guyana’s Constitution violated – Ram …calls for Police probe, criminal charges for Govt Ministers

F

ollowing what some are calling the unravelling of a web of deception regarding the Government’s secrecy in collecting millions from oil giant ExxonMobil, calls have risen for an inquiry to be held into all deals negotiated by the Natural Resources Ministry, and for criminal charges to be instituted against ministers at the centre of the controversy.

The latest individual to make this call is Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, the man who first revealed to the nation that Government had collected a US$20-million-dollar signing bonus from the oil company.

Government’s receipt of this bonus was initially denied by Finance Minister Winston Jordan; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who had all pleaded ignorance of this bonus when asked by the media.

On Saturday, Ram lashed out at the Government, saying that, in an ironic twist, “the dam of eighteen months of denial and obfuscation concerning the payment of a signing bonus by ExxonMobil to the Government broke apart one day before the UN declared International AntiCorruption Day”.

Ram said, “The forced admission by the Government is a shocking revelation of a conspiracy to deceive the people of Guyana about billions of dollars involving a galaxy of ministers, including four of five of Granger’s famous ‘Quintet plus one’, and involving two key ministries and their ministers.”

Now that the proverbial cat is out of the bag, Ram noted, there are immediate and longer-term implications of this saga from which Guyana may forever suffer.

One of these implications, he pointed out, is that high-level officials of the Finance Ministry, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and the Bank of Guyana -- inclusive of the Audit Committee -- have been ensnared in this conspiracy.

Ram added it means that Article 216 of the Constitution of Guyana has been knowingly violated; “that critical information contained in the Estimates of Expenditure now being considered by the National Assembly is inaccurate, incorrect and meaningless; that the 2016 financial statements of the Government and of the Consolidated Fund are for 2016 similarly deficient.”

Since the transaction occurred in the fiscal year of the Audit Office of Guyana’s last report, Ram noted, the AG’s report on the Consolidated

Christopher Ram

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

Fund is inapplicable. He said that, as such, the auditing standards applied by the Office require Auditor General Deodat Sharma to withdraw his report.

“The financial statements and the auditor’s report of the Bank of Guyana for the year 2016 face the same jeopardy; and this web of deception has ensnared high level officers of the Ministry of Finance, the Geology and Mines Commission, and the Bank of Guyana, including the Chairman of its Audit Committee, Mr Anand Goolsarran,” Ram declared.

He pointedly stated that, when in Opposition, this Government -- and very specifically the AFC, of which Raphael Trotman is now leader -- had repeatedly claimed that (then Finance Minister) Dr Ashni Singh should be taken before the courts on a criminal charge under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. “It is as clear as day to me that offences (were) committed under Section 85 of that Act by more than one person. This is now a crimi-

nal matter, and the Guyana Police Force should be called in,” Ram said on Saturday.

Article 216 of the Constitution of Guyana is very clear on how public monies should be treated. According to the section, “All revenues or other moneys raised or received by Guyana (not being revenues or other moneys that are payable by or under an Act of Parliament, into some other fund established for any specific purpose or that may, by or under such an Act, be retained by the authority that received them for the purpose of defraying the expenses of that authority) shall be paid into and from one Consolidated Fund.”

Section 85 of Guyana’s Fiscal Management and Accountability Act says that public officials who falsify accounts, statements or records under the Act, or those guilty of conspiring to defraud the state, are committing an indictable offence. The punishment for this offence, on summary conviction, is a fine of $2 million and a threeyear jail sentence.

Untrustworthy

Ram noted that after such a blow to the coalition administration’s credibility, President David Granger must take decisive action to ensure the public can regain trust in his Government. turn to page 9

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SunDAY, december 10, 2017

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

Editorial

The bonus A

fter months of denial, the Ministers of Natural Resources and Finance admitted that the Government of Guyana did in fact receive a bonus last year when they signed a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) contract with ExxonMobil. The confession came during the 2018 Budget debate, when a “smoking gun” in the form of the Finance Ministry’s instruction to the Bank of Guyana, (BoG) dated Sept 20, 2016 and headed: “Signing bonus granted

by ExxonMobil – Request to open bank account”, was unearthed.

At the end of October of this year, social activist and accountant/lawyer Chris Ram revealed the existence of the bonus, which the two aforesaid ministers consistently denied in carefully parsed language. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and a wide cross-section of civil society immediately demanded that Government acknowledge the Bonus and disclose its whereabouts, since it had not been placed in the Consolidated Fund, as was later confirmed during the Budget debate.

The Government’s spokespersons, as well as the subject ministers, adamantly maintained their denials.

While there has been some debate as to the comparative benefits between signing bonuses and opting for a greater share in profits, the former are fairly standard in the petroleum industry. Thus the facticity of the bonus in and of itself is not an issue, but the secrecy on the matter is, especially when, from the onset of oil discovery in 2015, there has been an emphasis on, and commitment to, “transparency” by all concerned parties, including the Government. In fact, the Government gave great publicity to its successful efforts to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Since the EITI demands: “…countries participating in the EITI, companies are required to publish what they pay to Governments and Governments are required to publish what they receive from companies”, one wonders what will be the action of the body on Guyana’s membership, since the Bonus payment was not mentioned in the latter’s application for membership. The application was made in August of this year -- a year after Guyana received the Bonus and secreted it in the BoG – and was approved in October.

There is now incontrovertible evidence that Guyana entered the body on false pretences.

The EITI’s response is very critical at this juncture, since there has always been great skepticism about Guyana’s ability, and even willingness, to maintain transparency because of the disequilibrium of size and resources between the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil. This issue was raised when Minister Trotman took a large team on an allexpenses-paid trip to Exxon’s headquarters in Texas to ostensibly discuss “policy” matters.

The Bonus is now being described by Minister Trotman as a payment by Exxon to cover “legal fees” that are being incurred to prepare Guyana’s case to the ICJ when the UN Secretary General sends the Venezuela Border Controversy to that institution by Dec 31, as promised, for resolution.

But the Finance Minister has no authority to create any such fund under the laws of Guyana. Trotman was not negotiating on behalf of a private entity, such as NICIL, which can retain funds until it decides to transfer them into the Consolidated Fund, but for the GoG. They committed illegalities, in the first instance, to create the Fund; and subsequently, to deny the existence of the latter. For the Ministers to split hairs and accuse interlocutors of not asking them questions specific to the quantum of the bonus is beyond surreal, when the entire transaction was shrouded in secrecy. This secrecy was totally unwarranted, and Trotman and Jordan cannot escape by wrapping themselves in the flag of patriotism. It has indeed been truly said that “patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels”.

A “signing bonus”, as pointed out, is very common in oil production, and is classified as “Government revenues”, which are fungible. There was nothing Venezuela could do if it had been revealed that Guyana was using its revenues to prepare its legal case on the border controversy, and not to do so would have been very imprudent.

The Government has to be held accountable for this deception.

The driver of a Maerlitram (fairy tram), dressed as a Santa Claus, walks past a car which crashed into the tram in Zurich, Switzerland (Reuters)

Somebody has to be held accountable

Dear Editor, Just when one would have thought that the APNU/AFC coalition could not have sunk lower in their dealings with the Guyanese people, they defied expectations and did just that.

The latest scandal involving their blatant dishonesty about the receipt of a signing bonus from the oil giant ExxonMobil must surely go down as an alltime low.

The Minister of Finance is arrogantly quoted as saying that he was not obligated to reveal the details of the receipt, and that when he was previously asked about this matter, the questions asked gave him an opportunity to say nothing, so he said nothing. Well, this

is a most alarming declaration coming from the custodian of the public purse; and if that is his understanding of his accountability and answerability to the people of Guyana, then the people of Guyana will wait very long to enjoy any benefit from any oil money when it starts to flow.

Exactly the same can be said about the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of State, both of whom flippantly dismissed their previous public misrepresentations on this matter.

The questions are simple, and have to be asked.

Why say nothing about it?

Why go to all these lengths to hide the truth in this matter? What is there to

hide? Why go to all these lengths and run the risk of political embarrassment and scandal to conceal that this amount was received?

Why was the amount not deposited into the Consolidated Fund or into a GGMC account, as required by law? Where is this amount reflected in the National Budget Estimates? Why did so many members of the Cabinet conspire to conceal the facts of this matter?

The answer is probably found in the diktat given to the Central Bank that the amount be kept in a secret bank account outside the bank’s reserves. Surely, if the intent was to comply with the law, the receipt of this amount would

have been treated like any other receipt of any other Government revenue, and placed in the Consolidated Fund.

Those questions need answers now. And somebody has to be held accountable for the lies told to the people of Guyana.

Otherwise, Guyana can forget about any oil money at any time soon. It will all end up in a secret bank account about which Cabinet members feel that they need not say anything, as they did on this occasion, because they clearly believe Guyana is their private property to do with as they please.

Yours sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

“Santa in the House” Dear Editor, If there was any doubt in the minds of the people of Guyana about where the country is and where it is headed, look no further than Saturday’s headlines of the self-proclaimed “nation’s newspaper”, the Chronicle.

The sordid and serious circumstances surrounding the cover-up of the Exxon signing bonus were trumped (pun intended) by the pitiful attempt to divert attention by ridiculing the Leader of the Opposition with a story that more properly belongs in the comics section of the newspaper.

The main story of the day (for any true journalist) was referenced in smaller print with the positive spin that

the Exxon money was intended for ICJ legal fees, and that “…Trotman sees evil intention in leaking of letter.”

The headline starkly highlights the danger of the resources of the Guyanese people funding what has historically, for many decades, been a propaganda arm of whichever party is in Government. This situation was equally reprehensible when the PNC was in power and when the PPP was in Government, and is no less so now that APNU holds the purse strings.

The newspaper should be divested immediately. But to the matter at hand: The two principal players in this tragi-comedy, Raphael Trotman and Winston Jordan, contin-

ue to attempt to justify their duplicity by ridiculous deflection, semantics, and obfuscation that remove any doubt that they are patently unfit for the important positions that they hold, or for any Government position whatsoever. They seem unaware of the damage their breach of trust has caused, not only to the institution of Government, but also in the international community, to whom the country will no doubt be held up to ridicule.

No, Mr Trotman, the evil intention is all yours. The person who leaked that letter deserves our thanks, and did this nation a huge service displaying the courage and wonderful patriotism so lacking in many,

such as yourself, who pretend to represent us. As you so blithely said on Friday in Parliament: Let him or her be blamed!

And you, Mr. Jordan, we are not children. Your pathetic remonstrations about the lack of specificity of questions on the issue and that: “Nobody asked me if the Government received a signing bonus; they had a specific figure attached to it, and my specific response is ‘no,’” would be laughable were it not for the damage you have done to our nation’s credibility.

And by the way sir, the journalists did do their job in exposing this farce, the lies and the deception. continues on page 5

NEWS

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SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

NDCs in Region 5 lack support from RDC F

ramers in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and more particularly Number Eight and Number 12 villages are calling for immediate assistance for proper drainage.

The communities have close to 1000 farmers who cultivate rice and cash crops.

According to the farmers, a drainage canal is blocked, putting their current rice crop in jeopardy.

The canal is situated between Number 10 and Number 11 villages and drains the backlands. The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has withheld services resulting in the farmers cryThe blocked canal ing out for help.

According to Regional in that area.”

Chairman Vickchand Speaking with Guyana Ramphal, the Neighbourhood Times, a farmer, Dhamdwo Democratic Council (NDC) Bridgewalla, said there is has not been able to genermore than what meets the eye ate enough revenue, and as with respect to their suffering such, it has been customary as famers in the area strugfor the RDC to assist with ingle to earn a livelihood. “For frastructure. the past eight to ten months Ramphal said both the this trench used to clean but Mahaica Mahaicony Abarythe new Administration have Agricultural Development stopped cleaning it. This Authority and the National trench is the main trench to Drainage and Irrigation drain water from Number 11 Authority have provided asand Number 10 and they just sistance in the past, adding stop cleaning it,” the farmer that “in this particular NDC, noted. Most of the residents the Bath/Woodley Park NDC, are themselves cash crop we have seen that there are farmers. Many of them have a number of drainage strucbeen experiencing floods even tures that are heavily clogged in this dry season as a result with weeds and if they are not of the blocked canal between cleared in time, the residents Number 10 and 11. Radika and farmers will be affected

“Santa in...

Guyanese must no longer accept the justification that their side did it so our side should not be criticised when they betray the nation’s trust. I have no dog in this political fight, and may have to reimburse funds to

Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal meeting with some of the affected villagers

Bridgewalla, is one who is being affected. “It is very dangerous...by the rice farmers take in water in the rice field now the water is very high but the stuff block up the trench so it need to clean.

The water does come till in me yard and flood the ‘bottom house when the water raise,” Bridgewalla said.

According to another resident, Savitrie (only name given), she has watched reptiles come out of the canal. This poses a great danger to both livestock and children alike.

“Alligator in this trench; when the water raise is so you does see them coming out and going on the bridge and sit down. Snake all living in the trench...” the woman related.

Chairman of the Bath/ Woodly Park NDC Nizam Bicram told this publication that the NDC is not to be blamed. In fact, he is blaming the RDC for the current state of the drain.

He explained that the NDC has vacancies for three workers and sought the approval from the RDC to fill the vacancies. According to him, there was no response from the RDC but several months after, a stranger appeared and said he has been employed and the NDC will be instructed to pay him. “We have people waiting on word as to when to start working which is unfair to the NDC. I can’t understand how these people behaving like this. It is

Of course, I know that President Granger is extremely deliberate in his decision-making, so I look forward to Monday, after he has digested all the facts over the weekend, when he announces that he cannot

justify keeping in his cabinet those involved in this stain on his government and the nation.

from page 4

many of my friends in the USA whom I naively convinced in 2015 that a change in government would see a new day of accountability and transparency in Guyana, so sadly lacking for many decades.

Sincerely, Robert McRae

the responsibility of the NDC to employ. The RDC should not be dictating to the NDC; it is not right and that is a big concern for our NDC,” he told this publication.

Meanwhile, the Regional Chairman explained that the actions of some Regional Councillors and the Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ovid Morrison, who has refused to sit at RDC meetings, have resulted in the plight of the farmers. According to Ramphal, the walk out of RDC meetings by the REO and Councillors from the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For

Change (APNU/AFC) has prevented the Regional Local Government Committee from meeting. “We have seen a blatant disrespect for a democratically constituted body.

The RDC and its committee are being disrespected by both the REO; who is a politically appointed individual and the APNU/AFC Councillors. When they break up our meetings and walk out of our meetings, we cannot address the various concerns that exist within out NDCs,” the Regional Chairman said.

(Andrew Carmichael)

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SunDAY, december 10, 2017

Page

Foundation

Colorectal Cancer “Preventative medicine has to be the direction we go in. For example, if colon cancer is detected early – because a person knew he had a genetic risk and was having frequent exams – the surgery is relatively inexpensive, and average survival is far greater than 10 years.”

– Craig Venter

O

Anu Dev

ver the past two months, I’ve been rotating through General Surgery. As students, we have seen the new patients in clinic: talked to them about what problem they’ve been having, examined them, and reviewed the patient with the consultant.

One of the more frequent complaints persons were coming in for was that they were passing blood in their stool. For many of them, the blood ended up being from an innocent source, like haemorrhoids. Bleeding from haemorrhoids is usually painless, bright red, not mixed in with the stool, and is usually visible on wiping or dripping into the toilet.

But if there are certain symptoms associated with the bleeding, they might make you suspicious that the source of the bleeding

guyanatimesgy.com

is more sinister, and may be due to a cancer of the colon or rectum.

Some of those symptoms might be that there

is associated significant, unexplained weight loss; a change in bowel habit, like constipation; or if there is a change in the calibre of the stool to become “pencil-like”. Other concerning symptoms would be something called “tenesmus,” which is where you still feel like you need to pass stool even after you’ve already gone. And symptoms of anaemia, like fatigue, weakness, headaches, chest pains and heart pal-

pitations, could also be indicative of occult bleeding, which may be due to a tumour.

Current recommen-

dation is for persons over 50 to begin screening for colorectal cancer.

Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard both for screening and for diagnosis. Colonoscopy is basically done by inserting a camera on a flexible tube or scope up through the anus to visualize the entire colon (large bowel). This allows the doctor to see if there are any lesions or polyps, and take a sample for a biopsy, if needed.

Other screening tests are flexible sigmoidoscopy and fecal occult blood testing. The flexible sigmoidoscopy only visualizes the lower 1/3 of the colon -the sigmoid colon -- so it’ll miss lesions in the rest of the colon. The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) checks stool for trace amounts of blood.

Screening recommendations are based on one’s lifetime risk of developing colon cancer. As my consultant likes to remind us, there’s no such thing as low risk for cancer; there’s average risk, moderate risk, and high risk.

For average risk (56% lifetime risk) persons over 50, the current recommendations are either annual FOBT, flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years with annual FOBT, colonoscopy every 10 years, or a double contrast barium enema every 5 years.

As always, prevention is always better than cure.

Signs of

colon cancer

in children

C

olon cancer, also referred to as large bowel or colorectal cancer, is an atypical paediatric cancer. Tumours are typically found on the right side of the colon for a child, which too often than not results in milder symptoms. Cure rates are higher for children if initially diagnosed during the early stages of the disease. Therefore, family history and symptom awareness, as well as regular screenings are prudent measures to take with children predisposed to colorectal cancer.

Atypical and aggressive

Western countries see about 300,000 to 1.5 million children diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is highly treatable if caught early, however, early detection in children versus adults with this condition is exceptionally difficult to do.

Not all screening tests used in adult diagnosis are feasible with children. Colorectal cancer tumours have aggressive growth behaviour in children as compared to adults, worsening prognosis when compiled with delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Predisposed genetic factors relate to most of these colorectal tumour growths in children. Therefore, doctors who increase surveillance to these children may improve overall prognosis.

Family history

Since the occurrence for children diagnosed with this disease is unlikely, doctors rarely suspect it. However, researchers suggest doctors should be more vigilant with children who have rectal bleeding or a family history of cancers (cancer family syndrome), such as breast, endometrial, ovarian or prostate cancer.

Furthermore, Kravarusic et al. notes that children with a genetic predisposition for developing "adenomatous polyposis, juvenile polyposis syndrome, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome" have susceptibility for colorectal cancer, therefore, requires increased medical supervision from their doctors.

While many polyps are benign, they can be a precursor to cancer.

Symptoms

Colorectal cancer can grow for years and remain asymptomatic, making detection extremely difficult during the early stages if relying on symptoms alone.

When a child becomes symptomatic, various symptoms may be present. Some symptoms experienced are: constipation; abnormally thin stools, with the narrowness of a pencil (caused by a colon or rectal obstruction); lower abdominal cramps; bloody stools (hematochezia); unexplainable weight loss; nausea and vomiting; gas and bloating and constant fatigue.

Screening

Since symptoms do tend to be asymptomatic, researchers suggest doctors perform routine screenings for children predisposed to colorectal cancer as a way to increase overall prognosis. Stools may be tested, or a barium enema, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy or virtual colonoscopy may be performed. Regardless of any test, a laboratory analysis of tissue ultimately determines whether or not there is cancer. Therefore, a biopsy of cells, fluid or tissue in the colon needs to be taken and examined to determine whether cancer is present.

Avoid delayed diagnosis

Missed and delayed colorectal diagnoses are amongst some of the most common malpractice suits.

Therefore, parents should get a copy of the screening and make sure the necessary appointments are scheduled. If time sensitive appointments cannot be scheduled soon enough with the doctor, make an appointment with another doctor.

Differences in recommendations between the first and second doctor require an explanation. Most importantly, listen to your intuition and get a second opinion from other doctors if that is what your gut tells you. (www.

healthfully.com)

news

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SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

US$18M bonus scandal

PPP questions real motive for secrecy

A

s Guyanese continue to reel from the cloud of secrecy sounding the US$18million bonus from US oil giant ExxonMobil, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party is questioning the real motive behind the secrecy.

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram had previously revealed that Government had received a US$20 million bonus from ExxonMobil; however, despite denials from the Government, documents leaked to Guyana Times showed that a bonus was indeed received and put in an account at the Bank of Guyana.

However, it has turned out that US$18 million are in the hands of the state from ExxonMobil. On Saturday, reaffirming its General Secretary’s call for the Government to resign, the PPP questioned the Government’s real motive for secrecy.

The party stated that Guyana is being rocked by the worst scandal it has had to face in decades. It pointed out that the refusal by the Government to disclose the ExxonMobil signing bonus, the emphatic denial of its very existence by several ministers – including Finance Minister Winton Jordan -- coupled with the disclosure that the bonus was received (and) unlawfully hidden from the public accounts, with no entry of same in the state accounting records, constitute infamy that would catapult any democratic Government out of office by resignation.

According to the party, this “outrageous ignominy” is exacerbated by the fact that the Guyanese population has had to endure hundreds of unprecedented new tax measures which have

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

devastated their disposable income; and there have been no job creation policies but there has been unparalleled incompetence in Government.

The party added that there has been “nepotism, racism, discrimination, Government squander-mania, widespread dismissals in the sugar belt, and a deliberate refusal by the Government to assist the productive sectors, all of which are ailing in a stagnated economy.”

This, according to the party, happened while the Government “secretly paid themselves a 50 per cent increase in salaries, increased their per diem overseas travel allowance, now permit ministers to travel overseas with their spouses with taxpayers’ money, arrange for ministers to seek medical attention in Ireland with public funds, and equips almost each Minister with brand new sports utility vehicles.”

The party made no bones about its scepticism regarding the sincerity of Government’s promises of prosperity from the oil wealth for the ordinary citizen. According to the PPP, Guyanese are now witness-

ing that the first major payment from this sector was cloaked in secrecy and hidden from public scrutiny and the Treasury.

“This singularly fortuitous event should debunk the Government’s prophecy that the ordinary Guyanese will benefit from oil money. It should be clear to every sensible Guyanese that, like the “good life”, whatever oil money we received or are to receive, only the Government and their families and friends will enjoy it.”

Signing bonus The shady transaction first came to light when Guyana Times published a leaked correspondence dated September 20, 2016 and addressed to the Governor of the Bank of Guyana with this subject: “Signing bonus granted by ExxonMobil – Request to open bank account.”

It shows that Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Hector Butts, has requested that a foreign currency account be opened at the Bank in order to receive a deposit in the form of a ‘signing bonus’ to be given by ExxonMobil.

The letter stated, “This account should not be treated as part of the Bank’s reserves. Instead, the proceeds should be held in the currency of the deposit, that is United States dollars, and invested in secured interest-bearing securities.”

The missive also listed the signatories to the account as Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Hector Butts; Deputy Finance Secretary, Louise Bouyea; Accountant General (Acting) Jawahar Persaud, and Deputy Accountant General Jennifer Chapman.

The letter was also copied to Natural Resources Minister

Raphael Trotman.

Condemnation has already flowed in from the Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated (TIGI) and from Ram himself.

The Government has been slammed for being given the opportunity, but refusing, to come clean on several occasions.

After the fact, Natural

Resources Minister Raphael Trotman defended the secrecy by saying the money would be used to defend Guyana’s sovereignty in the legal process.

8 news

SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Christmas tree collapse

Teens charged for stealing straps T he 18-year-old duo of Shavron Williams of Lot 2 Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara and Trevor Williams of Lot 16 Rahaman’s Park, Georgetown appeared on Friday before Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly, charged for larceny.

The Prosecution is contending that between December 1 and 2, at Rahaman’s Park, they stole nine ratchet shafts valued $180,000, property of Neil Rahaman. This act caused the

70-foot Christmas tree that was strapped with the ratchet shafts to collapse.

On December 2, at about 11:00h, the Christmas tree located at Rahaman’s Park fell onto the roadway, causing a traffic jam in the East Bank of Demerara.

The fishery employees denied the charge when it was read to them by Magistrate Leron Daly, and were each placed on bail in the sum of $75,000. Their case has been set for January 10, 2018.

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Policewoman slapped with fraud charge Repeat offender charged W for stealing phone The collapsed Christmas tree

oman Police rank Rashawna Hadfield of Lot 90 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown appeared before Georgetown Magistrate Fabayo Azore charged with committing fraud.

The charge she faces alleges that on March 27, 2017 at Croal Street, with intent to defraud, she unlawfully obtained $30,000 from Anita Grant, claiming to be in a position to obtain a driver’s li-

cence for Grant.

The 27-year-old mother of one denied the charge, and the Police prosecutor had no objection to bail being granted to the cop. Hadfield, in application, told the court that she would not be able to post bail, since she was unable to uplift her salary.

As such, Magistrate Azore released her on her own recognisance, and the case will continue on January 10.

What a tangled web…

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evon Clark, a vendor of Lot 91 Garnett Street, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly and denied that between March 8 and 19 2017, at Campbellville, Georgetown, he stole from Terrence Gaskin one sil-

ver Samsung Galaxy phone valued at $193,395, property of Rayona Early.

Clark, who has a precedent of having appeared before the court, was however placed on $50,000 bail as the Prosecution’s file is yet to be completed. His case will continue on January 5.

…oil money creates

outh open and story jumped out!!! And what a story it is!! Reporting on this story can make even the most staid family newspaper (like this one!) appear sensational! Here we have the biggest oil find of the decade by the oil behemoth Exxon off the shores of Guyana, which has the potential to be the long-hoped-for game changer for this long-suffering country.

All eyes are on the country, especially for hanky-panky by the Government officials dealing with the Oil Major. After all, the world now has decades of experience with countries -especially in Africa -- that were as dirt poor as us before they found oil; and remained so even after TRILLIONS of dollars of oil was shipped out!! Where did the money go?

Some went towards profligate projects for support at the polls, but most went into private bank accounts of Government officials. And that’s the sad truth. And there’s no use blaming the oil companies; if they don’t play the “under the table” game, the countries simply pick another that does! It’s the way the (oil) world turns.

But forewarned is forearmed, no? Well…No!! Even with Trotman and Jordan being the cynosure of ALL eyes, they pulled a scam. It’s like the fellas on the street with their “three-card-monte”. Their hands are moving right in front of your eyes, but they still manage to pull off their scam. It all has to do with misdirection; and that is just what Trotman and Jordan did.

First of all, they claimed they couldn’t renegotiate the original 1999 contract -- which was bull, since that contract had sunset clauses that just happened to kick in not long after oil was discovered. And so Exxon had to renegotiate by 2016. This was sheepishly admitted by Trotman, the Resource Minister -- who should be renamed “the Resourceful Minister”! -- when he BOASTED he ‘renegotiated” the Royalty from 1% to 2%!!

That fact alone signalled that Trotman was playing footsies under the table! The norm is around 8% to 15% -- which translated to billions (US!). So now we found out about the bonus, which Trotman says ISN’T a bonus, but a fee to fight big and bad Venezuela. Are we to believe that to get a PSA on 3billion barrels of oil, Exxon had to fork out just US$25milion??

Naaah!! The search must continue to unearth the secret bank accounts of Government officials -- in addition to Trotman and Jordan -- into which payoffs might’ve been deposited.

Remember the US$300 million deposited into the account of Equatorial Guinea’s ruler, BRIG. GEN. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, in the Riggs Bank in Washington?

…the AFC weaves in Berbice

Moses Nagamootoo used his time during the Budget Debate to try extricating his size six shoes from his mouth on the unfolding sugar tragedy. Apart from exposing the correlation between his foot size and testicular fortitude and other allied prowess, it was a pathetic performance. And “performance” it certainly was!

The two Berbice estates are already sold, and NOW he suggests “plans” for the workers? OK…it’s true that canecutters and their children weren’t born with cane-bundles on their heads, but they certainly also weren’t born with silver spoons in their mouths. So how will they survive to be “trained for oil and gas” when there have been absolutely no provisions for alternative employment?

“Oil jobs”? Where are they? Last your Eyewitness heard, there will be employment for only a few hundred at Muneshwer’s East Bank facility -- for which they received 4000+ applications!! As usual, Nagamootoo just bloviates!

He suggests “cash crops”. Has GuySuCo leased land to the workers?

As his sidekick Ramjattan would say, “Haul yuh ass!”

…on infrastructure

APNU and AFC berated the PPP on their infrastructural focus, yet adopted the PPP programme when they got into Government. But why the surprise to bemoan CJIA’s delayed and needs more funds?

Have they completed a single project on time and on budget?

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

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SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Tax measures reducing cash flow for businesses – GMSA President …decries negative impact of VAT on electricity, forestry

…less red tape needed for smoother business operations – UK High Commissioner

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resident of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Ltd, Shyam Nokta, has highlighted the impact of the 2017 budget on the country’s manufacturing sector.

According to him, it has caused a reduction in cash flow for businesses.

He made these comments at the GMSA’s Annual Awards Ceremony and Dinner at the Pegasus Hotel on Friday evening, where sixteen companies and sector stakeholder Arnon Adams were all honoured for their contributions to the manufacturing sector.

The GMSA president pointed out that measures such as the re-categorising of zero & standard-rated items and the inclusion of Value Added Tax (VAT) on forestry products and electricity have affected growth of the sector.

“These have impacted in a negative way on the manufacturing sector, and have contributed in many instances to increases in prices and reduced cash flows,” he observed.

Since implementation of these measures, Nokta noted, GMSA has been engaging

GMSA president, Shyam Nokta, addressing the gathering at the Annual Awards Ceremony and Dinner at the Pegasus Hotel on Friday

Government ministers and technical officers, offering recommendations to foster economic growth.

“This engagement was followed up by the GSMA engaging the Ministry of Finance as part of the Ministry of Finance’s 2018 Budget consultations, where he put forward a number of proposals... Paramount is the need for urgent action to address our transmission and distribution system while advancing mature and feasible initiatives for renewable and clean energy,” Nokta told the gathering of industry representatives and other stakeholders.

Nokta said the GMSA, in

examining Budget 2018, is pleased that several measures advocated for in the area of forestry and wood processing were adopted. These measures include the exemption of VAT on logs and rough lumber, and budgetary allocation of $ 50 million to partner with the private sector to establish a consolidated dimensional stock yard.

“The measures regarding imported pine are also welcome. However, much more still needs to be done for forestry sector to recover from its current decline,” Nokta added.

Also attending the event, United Kingdom High

Guyana’s Constitution...

According to Ram, this includes the president apologising for his ministers’ “diabolical” act, remedying the violations of the law, and the calling in the Police.

But where does this leave the future of transparency and accountability of Guyana’s developing oil sector? According to Ram, it should be clear that such a large source of the national revenues of Guyana should not be left in the con-

trol of ministers.

“The petroleum resources of Guyana do not belong to a cabal ensconced in the Administration, but to all Guyanese, present and future. Each such Guyanese expects and deserves that its government – whether APNU, PNC or PPP – owes to them honesty, decency and integrity demonstrated in accurate accounting, proper accountability, and good governance,

Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, spoke on Guyana dropping two places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, and suggested that less red tape is needed to facilitate smoother business operations.

“Ensuring businesses can operate whilst also meeting the necessary legislation is a key to the growth of the economy,” Quinn said. “Bureaucracy must be reduced, and the ability of entrepreneurs to set up businesses must be made easier,” he stated.

The UK High Commissioner indicated that his country is supporting measures of the Business Ministry on “improv-

from page 3

not only on World AntiCorruption Day, but each and every day of the year”, Ram declared.

After months of denial, the Natural Resources Minister on Friday told the National Assembly that Government did receive a large sum of money from oil giant ExxonMobil following the signing of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).

Trotman informed that the

money is being used to defend Guyana’s territorial integrity in the border controversy with Venezuela.

The Government has been consistently denying receiving the money, but a document from Finance Secretary Hector Butts was leaked to Guyana Times and it stated there was a request that the Bank of Guyana’s Governor set up a special account to deposit the money.

ing Guyana’s business environment”.

Last month, it was reported that the World Bank highlighted a decline for conducting business in Guyana. The report for World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking for 2018 showed that Guyana slipped two places – from 124 in 2017 to 126 for 2018.

Doing business, measures’ regulations that affect various areas regarding the life of a business or in setting up new businesses; some of the categories considered to determine ‘the ease of doing business’ were: “starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority in-

vestors, paying taxes, and trading across borders. The assessment uses various indicators to analyse economic outcomes and identify the appropriate reforms for business regulation.

Friday night’s ceremony at the Pegasus saw attendance of many dignitaries, private and public sector representatives, and honourees which included Fibre Tech Industrial Plastics, Umami Inc, Sterling Products, Bounty Farm, Pandama Retreat and Whinery, and the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department.

GMSA has been honouring both large and small scale members of the manufacturing sector for their contribution to Guyana’s economy.

10 news

SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Prison Service commissions $118M vessel

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he Guyana Prison Service (GPS) on Saturday commissioned a $118 million vessel to transport prisoners.

The ML Troy W will soon transport prisoners to the Mazaruni high-security prison.

In presence of family members of fallen prison officer Troy Williams,

Fallen Prison rank, Troy Williams

for whom the boat was named, the vessel set sail in a ceremonial trip along the

Demerara River.

Williams, then 21, died in the infamous Republic Day jailbreak that occurred at the Camp Street Prison in 2002, during which he was stabbed several times and fellow prison officer Roxanne Winfield was shot to the head. She remains paralysed, and has lost vision in her right eye.

Acting Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, recalled arriving at the prison where he witnessed what happened to his colleagues.

He related that in the midst of the chaos that ensued, his colleague had attempted to look out for the security of fellow ranks.

“Despite being stabbed multiple times, he didn’t give up. Officers who were on duty on that day would tell you that he did everything possible to ensure that that division remained secure,” Samuels highlighted.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan declared that while the boat’s

Parliamentary Chatrees and Chamaars atiricus had a very rough week. A scandal a week from

S

The ML Troy W set sail in a ceremonial trip on Saturday

name celebrates the life of Troy Williams, it also highlights that Government is rebuilding the Prison Service’s infrastructure, which suffered a significant setback with the Camp Street flattening last July.

The boat was built by the Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC). The twin

crew passenger/cargo vessel has accommodation for 80 passengers above the main deck, as well as a 60-tonne cargo space below the main deck forward of the engine room.

The Prison Service noted that this vessel has been designed for harbour and riverine service in Guyana.

the Government benches he could handle, but a scandal a day? Jeez! Even though he was growing ticked off with his leaders Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat, the fellas were going to tear him to pieces at the Back Street Bar! He wasn’t disappointed.

“Hey, Sato!! How de Chatree doin’ today, bai?” said Bungi effusively as he spied Satiricus heading to the table.

“Ok…OK; could I have a beer first, at least?” replied Satiricus as he deftly slid into his seat and waved to the waitress.

“But tell me somet’ing, Sato,” began Cappo, “Like da lady guh skool Augus’ mont’ or wha’?”

“Cut Nick-Let some slack,” said Satiricus with a smile as he guzzled down his beer in one go. ”She was just trying to make a joke by throwing some talk at Aneel!”

“It really backfired!” laughed Hari. “It showed that the Education Minister is not an educated Minister!!”

“Yeah, man,” said Cappo with a smirk. “She na know ‘bout Phagwah and Diwali an’ now she na know wha’ a wan Chatree!”

“How she guh know ‘bout Chatree w’en she only a deal wid Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man!” laughed Bungi. “Dem fellas a real chamar!!”

“Now chaps, that’s not fair,” protested Satiricus, even as he tried to stifle a chuckle.

“Fair? Fair?” said Cappo indignantly. “Wha’ yuh call people who sellout dem own Mumma and Daadee?”

“Neemakaraam?” suggested Satiricus. His friends looked at him in surprise.

“Let’s drink to that!” laughed Hari. “But seriously, Sato, what’s going on with Nagga Man, Rum Jhaat and the KFC?” “I really don’t know,” confessed Satiricus quietly. “It’s like aliens have taken over them!”

“Budday…when man done suck cane ‘e does dash peeling pan groun’,” said Cappo.”And de Pee an’See done suckout Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat lang now!”

“An dem guh get dash pan de groun’ soon!!” grinned Bungi!

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SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

The arrogance of ignorance

By Ryhaan Shah

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t is not that Nicolette Henry, Minister of Education, is not a “chatree”, but that she can never hope to attain such high status.

The caste system is outlawed in India, and Indian indentured labourers lost caste by crossing the kalapani; but kshatriyas are still remembered for being warriors and rulers who were known for their bravery and rectitude, for their educated status and for their justness as political leaders.

Since Henry and her Government colleagues are totally lacking in these characteristics, her declaration was quite correct.

That a grown woman has neither the grace nor humility to own to her mistake of mixing up two major Hindu festivals exposes an arrogance of ignorance that is quite disturbing.

That she occupies an official position that puts her in charge of our children’s education – and thus of our country’s future – is untenable.

She proves yet again that she is unfit to hold any high office.

But Granger will not fire her. She will likely be rewarded, just as he rewarded Lloyda Nicholas-Garrett, a press officer within the Ministry of the Presidency, who “won” herself a trip to Manhattan and the UN for her perfectly contextual use of the “coolie” pejorative.

Head of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindya Persaud, responded to Henry’s comment in a social media post: “That a senior functionary in charge of the education of the young people in Guyana would arrogantly condone her lack of knowledge about our national Hindu festivals, when the youngest Guyanese child learns about this in school; and worse, in a secular Guyana where cohesion is being touted, she blatantly dismisses a major section of the population, is disgusting and unacceptable.”

Dr Persaud added that “using the Sanskrit word Kshatriya [popularly known as Chatree in Guyana], which means warrior, as part of a disrespectful statement shows how belittling she is of Hindus, their faith, and culture. She has totally disregarded the respect for each other’s faith and culture, and continues to show she has no remorse.”

The “coolie” and “chatree” utterances expose the prejudices that shape the Granger Government’s racist policies, which have serious and widespread consequences for Indian Guyanese in particular. The continued dismissal of sugar workers – even as Christmas approaches – shows the cold, vicious and unchristian attitude that sits at the very heart of this Government.

That they do not display any of the charity and compassion entreated by Christianity suggests that they are not bound or inspired by any of the teachings and values of any religious faith, including their own; and many would hold that a Godless government can never be a good government.

There is no redemption to be gained here, unless Henry is fired; and since that will not happen, this is yet another instance that marks Guyana’s decline and its return to the dreaded Burnhamist past.

It is ironic that it was Burnham who instituted the national holidays that celebrate the three major faiths of Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, which have since become showpieces of Guyana’s regard for its religious and ethnic diversity.

Establishing the holidays – which included Diwali and Phagwah – eroded none of Burnham’s corrupt hold on power while making him appear a fair-minded leader to the world. It was a masterly public relations move, and it cost him nothing.

Granger, however, appears to have no time for presenting a good image of his Government, and Henry’s utterances unmask the state’s social cohesion policy as the absolute fakery that it always was. There can no longer be any pretence that this Government has any respect for diversity, or wishes to heal the racial divide in order to build a healthy national consensus based on mutual respect.

Instead, there is the continued alienation of whole sections of the population, which will have disastrous consequences for the entire society and economy.

Firing thousands of sugar workers without any plans in place to retrain, retool, or reorganise them in order to ensure their future financial security impacts the national economy, which in turn impacts every citizen. That impact is currently negative.

When added to the social and cultural impact of a minister of government comfortably parading her ignorance and disrespect for a whole section of the population within the hallowed halls of the National Assembly, the country has definitely hit a new low.

The real fear is that the bar can go even lower, especially since the Granger Government displays none of the proud and noble qualities of those ancient warriors, the kshatriyas.

12 News

SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Disaster averted: fire at Giftland Mall contained …Royal Castle scorched

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major catastrophe was averted on Saturday morning after fire of unknown origin erupted at the Giftland Mall at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, but fire fighters were able to contain the blaze to one location, with the assistance of the staff of the mall.

According to reports received, the fire started at around 06:10h in the Royal

Castle outlet located on the upper flat of the multi-million-dollar mall.

Guyana Times understands that the security team was summoned after smoke was seen emanating from the vents of the Royal Castle outlet, which is in close proximity to the generator room.

As such, management was alerted, and upon breaking into the building,

it was noticed that the fire was in the supervisor’s office of the fast food outlet.

The fire service was called to the scene, and the fire was quickly contained.

Only a section of the fast food outlet was scorched as a result of the fire. When Guyana Times arrived at the scene, the mall was closed and only those who operated stores in the facility were allowed access, but

Clean-up work in progress after the fire

at their own risk, due to the smoke.

In the area where the fire started, several workers were busy cleaning with the hope of opening for regular business.

At the scene, Divisional Officer of Operations of the Fire Service, Gregory Wickham, explained that the GFS would have received the report, and as such, fire tenders and fire fighters were immediately

dispatched to the location.

He noted that, upon arrival, the fire-fighting mode was activated and the blaze was contained to one location.

With respect to the damage done, he noted that only a small section was scorched. At the time when Guyana Times spoke with the official, he could not say if foul play was involved, but he disclosed that an investigation has been launched.

“Once the investigations are completed, we will release the findings,” Wickham promised.

Also speaking to Guyana Times on behalf of the managing director of the mall, Health and Safety Officer of Giftland, Dale Denisford, confirmed that the fire did start in the Royal Castle Fast Food outlet, but due to diligent work by the staff and the firemen, the fire was contained.

He added that as soon as the smoke was seen, the mall’s security emergency plan was activated. No one was allowed to enter the building due to the health hazard, he noted. He also noted that the fast food outlet sustained minor damage.

This fire occurred less than 48 hours before another food giant is opened at the mall -- Food Max. Nevertheless, Denisford related that that mishap will not in any way affect the opening of this new outlet.

Essequibo Coast students nabbed with ganja in school

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our students of the Johanna Cecilia Secondary School, in Region Two, were nabbed with a quantity of ganja on Friday.

Reports reaching this newspaper detail that the Police received information

that four boys were seen smoking cannabis in the school’s toilet.

As such, a teacher swooped down on them, and one of the boys, aged 12, was caught with two grams of cannabis. He claimed that he found it in the toilet. His

friends, aged 12 and 14, were also searched.

This newspaper was told that one 14-year-old admitted that he had brought the substance to school and shared it with the three others. The Police have since launched an investigation.

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SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cop, pregnant woman escape unhurt in Linden accident

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Kali: A foundation stone of NY Indian-Caribbean community passes on

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was in New York over the past two weeks during which one of the foundation stones of the New York Queens-based Indian Guyanese community – Ramesh Kallicharran – passed away. I had arrived in the City back in 1972 and having attended Brooklyn College, at a time when that Flatbush neighbourhood was transitioning from Jewish to West Indian.

I ended up in the suburbs of North Jersey in the late 70s, which was a more convenient commute to mid-Manhattan where I worked. Around the same time, the Indian Guyanese community was coalescing in Richmond Hill, where “Kali”, as Ramesh was called, was a real estate agent who sold his first house to my uncle on Liberty Ave in late 1977. So when in 1983 I wanted to Ravi Dev buy a property in Queens where my parents could live and commute more comfortably than in suburbia, I, of course sought out Kali. And fell into the Indian Guyanese community.

Next door to his office on Hillside Ave in Jamaica, Queens, he hosted the meetings of the fledgling Indo Caribbean Federation, led by Rudra Nath and a flock of his students from Corentyne Comprehensive. In the big, burgeoning city, this meeting place was crucial to the kindling of a community spirit. Mr Nath had originally hailed from West Coast and we fell into step and Kali was there to assist in the first Indo-Caribbean Arrival Day commemoration in NY at Smokey Park. This is now an annual event in NYC. In the floor above that meeting place, Kali pioneered and facilitated a Hindu Mandir, the Gyan Bhakti Satsangh, which is still going strong under a new name – the Prem Bhakti Satsangh. He assisted in the launching of several other Sanataan Mandirs and was one of the key figures launching the Federation of Hindu Mandirs a few years later.

Kali transcended the religious divide as he facilitated from Haji Zakhir (Muslim) and Pt Ramlall (Arya Samaj) as well as several Christian Guyanese groups.

Kali was the first Indian Guyanese to engage the Indians from India – the NRIs. He befriended Dr Vishwanath, who ran TV Asia from his home, and from where we would broadcast Indian Caribbean interviews and music, pioneered by Trinidadian Bhanu Dwarika. He was the first to organise an Indian Caribbean Diaspora float for the India Day Parade, and I had the pleasure of seeing village girls from India dancing excitedly along the streets of Madison Ave to the beat of our tassa drums. They were not used to the exuberance of village music in the parade. He provided the space for the group of us who organised the commemoration of 150 anniversary of Indian Indentureship at Columbia University in 1988.

When the Federation of Indian Organisations and other sub-continental groups decided to host a NRI Global Conference, they, of course, got in touch with Kali and he informed activists like myself and other members the newly formed Jaguar Committee for Democracy. At one of the joint meetings, Pandita Indrani Rampersad of T&T and myself proposed calling ourselves “People of Indian Origin”. Kali, myself, and a delegation of “Indian Indians” and “Caribbean Indians” travelled to the Caribbean to invite the participation of Cheddi Jagan, Basdeo Panday and other Caribbean Indian leaders. Kali was integrally involved in that inaugural 1989 GOPIO Conference in the Sheraton on NTC. When the conference was over, he provided a forum for Dr Jagan to meet the community.

But for me, Kali provided some of my most sublime musical experiences ranging from Pankaj Udas at Madison Square Garden to the music composer Ravi of “Nagin” and “Hamraaz” fame, in an evening’s “mauj” in his basement at 169th Street. I remember once arrogantly advising Kali to move to the suburbs as befitting his “wealth”. He smilingly told me he would rather remain where his people were.

And it was here that I went last week to attend his “wake”, that Caribbean institution that we incorporated into our syncretic cultural practices. As the bhajan I sang in his honour said, Kali was a man who appreciated there is no point giving nectar to the gods (in puja) if you have never offered water to one who was thirsty.

May you forever be with Lord Krishna, old friend.

nvestigations are ongoing into an accident at Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) involving the motor vehicle assigned to ‘E’ Division (LindenKwakwani) Commander Fazil Karimbaksh and a car driven by a pregnant woman.

The two vehicles – PPP 4930, driven by Police Constable Bascom, and PKK 3484, driven by pregnant Stacy Peters – collided at the intersection at Independence Avenue and Greenheart Street, Mackenzie, and both vehicles sustained damage.

The pregnant Peters, of Central Amelia’s Ward,

Mackenzie, was hospitalised briefly at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

According to reports, the Police Constable had just left the Mackenzie Police Station, and was proceeding along the right of way in the direction of south to north when Peters, who allegedly failed to stop at a marked sign, travelling from west to east along Greenheart Street, turned into his path and the collision ensued.

The impact of the collision caused the Police vehicle to skid off the roadway. Peters’s car, which spun around, reportedly hit the Police vehi-

The damaged Police vehicle

cle both to the front and back before ending up on an empty plot of land.

The matter is current-

ly under investigation, and according to the Divisional Commander, legal advice has been sought.

14 news

SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Crashed Police vehicle

“I wanted to go spank that Policeman” – Ramjattan

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he Policeman who crashed one of the newly minted Police vehicles donated by the Chinese Government has seemingly escaped a thrashing of sorts at the hands of Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who on Saturday expressed much dismay at the accident in Berbice where four persons were injured.

According to reports, the driver of the PWW 5452 registered pick-up crashed at the Canefield Public Road at East Canje, Berbice on Thursday last when he attempted to overtake two other vehicles. Just before losing control, he collided with motorcar PJJ5270 and 25-year-old Melville Meredith from Reliance, East Canje; Joanne Wright, 23, of Islington; Sharol Gorgapersaud, 32; and her son Jehu, who both reside in Cumberland Village, East Canje.

Speaking at the launch of a Guyana Prison Service

US$2.6 million worth of vehicles were donated to Police from the Chinese Government

vessel, Minister Ramjattan stated that he was at Parliament when he learnt of the collision and was angered to the point that he wanted to actually leave the chambers to hit the offending Police rank. This comes against his repeated statements of disgust regarding the conduct of many Police ranks that have come in for widespread criticism in past weeks.

“The other day I saw the deployment of brand new vehicles from China and you could imagine how I start with my expletives when I saw one of them crashed in Berbice and you

got so angry – I wanted to leave Parliament when I saw it and go spank that Policeman and come back,” the Minister noted.

He also highlighted that often times, the offending parties adopt a “don’t care” approach whereby the vehicles are not properly tended to in terms of engine oil and filter changes. In light of issues, Ramjattan called for more training. His call follows that of Traffic Chief Deon Moore who announced only three weeks ago that 190 ranks were trained in light of the many accidents and in continuing efforts to satisfy the full complement

of drivers needed for the Force’s fleet of vehicles.

He added that last week’s accident was the kind of occurrence he had hoped to avoid.

“This is exactly the kind of behaviour I did not want of a driver driving a brand new vehicle but it happened.

I got very angry and wanted to talk personally to the Policeman... ‘I said to ranks, you damage the vehicles recklessly, you’ll be surcharged’ and I’d probably have my very first example being put in place there,” the Public Security Minister observed.

Turn to page 17

Younge’s Take

Budget Corruption

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inance Minister Winston Jordan and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman should both resign from their posts as Government Ministers following the scandal involving the signing bonus from ExxonMobil and the fact that they both misled and deceived the nation into believing that no such bonus existed or was negotiated.

The entire scandal exposes the levels of secrecy, a lack of accountability and Michael Younge transparency, poor governance, and corruption. That the US$18 million negotiated by the Government is not included in the estimates that form the 2018 National Budget is also telling and must be criminal or punishable via our financial laws.

What else are these two Ministers hiding with regards to this oil agreement? What are the other clauses that could result in controversy? The ExxonMobil agreement must be made public if these politicians have nothing to hide.

Aside from this dilemma, the Finance Minister also had the temerity to suggest that he had no obligation to be upfront and truthful to the media or nation because he was not asked direct questions.

This is ludicrous! He knew what the concerns and allegations that surrounded the agreement. He should have gone above and beyond in his quest to highlight the integrity and transparency with which the deal was renegotiated. Jordan has always been an ill-tempered Minister. This incident exposes just how unsuitable he is for the job. He must be made to resign as this scandal has dealt a serious blow to his integrity and the reputation of the coalition Government in which he serves.

His action means that not only next year’s estimates are incorrect but those for 2016 and 2017 as well as the reports submitted by the Auditor General's Office and the Bank of Guyana. A Commission of Inquiry (CoI) should be established to further investigate the implications of this attempt to hide billions of Guyana dollars and keep it in a special account.

Minister Trotman also deserves to be disciplined.

No defence he mounts will wash the dirt off his hands.

He is an accessory to the crime and corruption. He cannot be trusted to negotiate or enter into any future agreements on behalf of the citizens of this country. A full-scale probe must be conducted into the operations of the Natural Resources Ministry. The Alliance For Change (AFC) must distance itself from Trotman's action and support the CoI and internal probe if it is to survive going under following this scandal.

The entire budget process needs to be revisited.

If monies have already been aid, then they must be transferred to the Consolidated Fund. I, like many other Guyanese, feel as though the budget failed to meet my expectations in so many ways. It lacked sound and concrete policies and measures that could really make a short-term impact on the lives of the ordinary man. It did not put more money in their pockets or spell out a clear path to be followed in order to improve their current standard of living.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government needs to embark on a period of introspection. These scandals are too many and it involves a lot of secrecy, financial corruption and political spitefulness. President Granger is not providing the leadership this country deserves and expected from him following his victory at the polls in 2015. His inner circle of Ministers is arrogantly unravelling every goal post that he has set and campaigned on. He is being viewed as a President who enters giving long speeches at ceremonial functions.

He has to do better. He should reshuffle his Cabinet.

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SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Iraq declares war with Islamic State is over

P Budget 2018 and the ‘Good Life’ mantra – the illusionary good life vs. the reality of the good life

B

udget 2018 presented a concocted dream of a good life that is far from manifestation to reality by any stretch of the imagination. As described in last week’s edition, it is enveloped in a series of ‘fluff’ language, hardly anything of substance in it. In a nutshell, the document is a composition of 102 pages out of which only five pages addressed realistic matters.

For example, 90 per cent of the ‘fluff language’ are things like the below extract from page 4 of the document: “Mr. Speaker, our citizens want to own green jungles bursting with life and biodiversity, as well as modern urban structures; they want to be able to see the stars in the sky at night not filtered by smog; they wish to travel to work, school, home, and play without being stuck for hours in traffic jams or having to take days to get there; our citizens want good education, quality health care, fresh foods, their own homes, safe communities and towns, fair and efficient systems, and value for money on their tax dollars. Budget 2018 aims to deliver all of these improvements as we invite every Guyanese to create an inclusive path as the journey to the Good Life continues”.

To students who follow this column, the aforementioned extract is a classic example of ‘fluff language’. As much as possible in academia, this kind of writing does not take you anywhere, and thus you should seek to avoid writing like that from a critical thinking and analytical standpoint. In fact, you lose marks, or gain no mark whatsoever if, for instance, this was part of a thesis or an academic project. Nothing in the budget addressed a clearly defined vision and plan on how to achieve those dreams. It was as though someone was given a huge task to author a fairy tale story.

Moreover, what was found to be even more sickening is the level of ignorance being displayed by these policy-makers in the National Assembly. The quality of the budget debates was the poorest ever. Instead of one of the ministers of Government taking responsibility for her error in one of her speeches delivered earlier this year – confusing two Hindu religious holidays -- ignorance was instead used to downplay such an embarrassing scenario.

And more interestingly, this minister is holding the portfolio of the Education Sector.

A true leader leads by example. A good example of someone taking responsibility in the same house was the Opposition Leader when he misspelt the word ‘divide’ on his placard, and then immediately after, in his press conference which followed that very sitting, he made a bold statement, apologizing to the students of the nation and expressing his regret for such an error.

Having said that, let us now examine in a scholastic manner the measures and targets presented in the budget, and how effective these may turn out to be from the basis of the current policies and actions being pursued by the Government of Guyana.

The measures outlined in the budget in support of the administration’s Green agenda constitute only one element – that is, exemption of Excise Tax on hybrid vehicles. While this is a very good thing, it’s the only thing presented here, and thus it is very minimalistic. Therefore, one can rightly presume there is no real solid plan to effectively achieve a comprehensive ‘Green Agenda’.

As an example otherwise, China is investing US$360 billion on renewable energy by 2020, and is leading a global green revolution. China is the largest producer of solar power, and have installed -- according to a World Economic Forum publication -more wind capacity than the U.S, India and Germany combined, and has the world’s largest hydroelectric power plant.

Measures in support of increasing workers’ income – supposedly to increase disposable income by extending to the Private Sector workers tax free travel allowances -- again, are the only measures in this regard, and will have a very inconsequential effect on the economy. Travel allowance is a monetary benefit that only certain levels of employees enjoy, and this of course varies from organization to organization. It means that not all companies would have these kinds of policies or benefits; and more important to note, it is only applicable once per year.

Most often, employees either indeed use it to travel, or some persons use it otherwise – again, emphasizing one time only out of 365 days in a year. In this context, while it is well received, the intent of improving disposable income is virtually insignificant.

An effective policy would have been to increase the income tax threshold to probably $75,000 with the aim of taking it to $100,000 by 2020 in keeping with the Coalition Government’s campaign promise, made by the Head of State himself.

With respect to the other measures and targets for 2018 – for example, a GDP target growth rate of 3.8 percent for 2018, this is far from attainable with what is happening to the sugar workers across the country. They will all fade into insignificance, because plunging thousands of sugar workers into poverty is going to be economically catastrophic for 2018. Double-digit unemployment rate is not a good economic indicator, and this rate will go up by another 3 per cent or so, and effectively, roughly 20 per cent of the working population will be adversely affected. An economic depression is imminent in 2018. *The Author is the holder of a MSc. Degree in Business Management, with concentration in Global Finance, Financial Markets, Institutions & Banking from a UK university of international standing.

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

rime Minister Haider al-Abadi told a conference in Baghdad that Iraqi troops were now in complete control of the Iraqi-Syrian border.

The border zone contained the last few areas IS held, following its loss of the town of Rawa in November.

The US state department welcomed the end of the "vile occupation" of IS in Iraq and said the fight against the group would continue.

Iraq's announcement comes two days after the Russian military declared it had accomplished its mission of defeating IS in neighbouring Syria.

The jihadist group had seized large swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014, when it proclaimed a “caliphate” and imposed its rule over some 10 million people.

But it suffered a series of defeats

Haider al-Abadi

over the past two years, losing Iraq’s second city of Mosul this July and its de facto capital of Raqqa in northern Syria last month.

Some IS fighters are reported to have dispersed into the Syrian countryside, while others are believed to

have escaped across the Turkish border.

This is undeniably a proud moment for Mr Abadi - a victory that once looked like it might only ever be rhetorical rather than real.

But if the direct military war with IS in Iraq is genuinely over, and the country’s elite forces can now step back after a conflict that’s taken a huge toll on them, it doesn’t mean the battle against the group’s ideology or its ability to stage an insurgency is finished - whether in Iraq, Syria or the wider world.

Attacks may be at a lower level than they once were, but Iraqi towns and cities still fall prey to suicide bombers, while the conditions that fuelled the growth of jihadism remain even in the territory that’s been recaptured. (BBC)

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SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Regional military to join forces against cyber criminals W

ith the emerging threat that cybercrime poses, top regional security officials are looking at working together to secure the cyberspace of the Western Hemisphere against such attacks.

Last week, Guyana hosted the 16th Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC) – a forum sponsored by the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). It provided a platform for high ranking military officials from across the region to get together and discuss critical security issues.

At a media round-table at the end of the two-day conference, Chief of SOUTHCOM, Admiral Kurt Tidd, told local reporters during the forum that the regional participants had the opportunity to discuss cybercrime, and recognised that this is the new domain in which illicit actors are beginning to operate.

Admiral Tidd said a commitment was made for the regional representatives to come together to exchange best practices, and to understand how they can defend their respective networks.

“We did not settle on a schedule yet, but we are very much interested in talking

with each other because every country has critical cyber infrastructure that we are all interested in protecting,” the SOUTHCOM Head asserted.

During the opening of the two-day conference, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Patrick West, pointed out that global connectivity has created conditions for dependence and inter-dependency on cyberspace.

“The region has experienced and continues to be challenged by increasing threats of cyber-crime. The security forces are in many instances way behind the perpetrators of these crimes, and we need -- now more than ever -- to be able to be in step with, or ahead of, this new level of technological challenge within the region. As their network grows, ours must grow stronger. As they find ways to exploit security weaknesses, we must strengthen our bonds,” he asserted.

According to Brigadier West, the security forces, along with concerned partners, must seek to find new initiatives to deal with the various emerging challenges, and find ways to break their linkages.

“We cannot wish away

Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Patrick West, and SOUTHCOM Chief Admiral Kurt Tidd at the media roundtable last week

these issues, nor must we allow ourselves to develop any level of inertia. We must be energised to disrupt the information flow and lines of sustainability of organised criminal networks,” he stated.

In doing its part to combat cybercrime, Government had tabled the Cybercrime Bill of 2016 in the National Assembly, and the piece of proposed legislation is before a Parliamentary Special Select Committee for review.

The Cyber Crimes Bill caters for, inter alia: illegal access to a computer system; illegal interception; illegal data interference; illegal acquisition of data; illegal system in-

terference; unauthorised receiving or granting of access to computer data; computerrelated forgery; computer-related fraud; offences affecting critical infrastructure; identity-related offences; child pornography; child luring, and violation of privacy, among a slew of other offences.

The draft legislation outlines that a person commits an offence if he/she intentionally, without authorisation

or in excess of authorisation, or by infringing any security measure, accesses a computer system or any part of a computer system of another person.

It also states that a person who produces child pornography for the purpose of distribution through a computer system; or offers or makes available, distributes or transmits child pornography through a computer sys-

tem, commits an offence.

Meanwhile, in March of this year, acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine had announced that the Police Force will be establishing a cybercrime unit. He was at the time speaking at the commissioning of a computer training centre at Eve Leary which was named Zara CyberSecurity Centre.

According to the acting Top Cop, cybercrimes have become the opportune choice of criminals, hence the need of specialists dedicated specifically to combat such activities. To this end, he noted that the Centre would be utilised to provide capacity-building to deal with cyber threats, something which he recognised demands a multi-stakeholder and longterm approach.

Ramnarine had identified the Centre as the most resourceful location to equip ranks with the necessary skills and competency to have an informed approach to tackle cybercrimes.

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SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Anna's

To whom should we look for guidance?

P

arliament ought to be the purest materialisation of democracy in a country, Guyana included. It is the national forum in which the electorate is represented in political diversity, where laws are deliberated and the country’s future is planned. Because of the central role and importance Parliament occupies in shaping our country’s future, one would expect that it provides for educated and intelligent debate and exchanges, crafted by women and men who respect the diversities represented through the polities on both sides of the House. In Guyana, this seems to be a far-fetched ideal, questioning the very honour attached to parliamentarians’ titles.

We were recently forced to watch Minister Simona Broomes use Parliament as a stage to broadcast a national insult to the Opposition Leader and by extent the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic’s electorate, before Minister Keith Scott stood before the House and unapologetically accused Guyana’s First Peoples of being “avaricious”. Last week, it was Minister Volda Lawrence’s turn to disgrace Anna Correia the House as she publicly offered a bag of grass to an Opposition MP, Cornel Damon, to “snack” on. One can deduct that Lawrence thought Damon was no better than an animal and had no qualms reinforcing that belief irrespective of the fact that she was affronting the electorate who he was representing.

As Parliament continued to set the pace for a dance of the grotesque, Minister Nicolette Henry took to the podium to put on a show. Minister Henry indicated that she was not a “chatree” (she meant of the Kshatriya caste native to India and not Guyana) and therefore was not obliged to distinguish between Phagwah and Diwali. The backlash she triggered from the Indian and Hindu communities, and from those who actually believe in a socially cohesive and united nation, is not without merit. While most were willing to forgive her for her inability to distinguish between two of the longstanding national holidays in Guyana – something we’ve learnt throughout our primary school years and from living in a culturally diverse society – her arrogance left them dumbfounded before stirring anger and incomprehension.

Understandably so.

Several conclusions can be drawn from Minister Henry’s reckless utterance; the first being that she lacks the cultural sensitivity required of a Minister or anyone holding seat in the House, tasked with the responsibility of governing a country. Then, considering that there is little correlation between being of the Kshatriya caste and being unable to tell the difference between Phagwah and Diwali, her statement can be interpreted as ethnically insensitive to Guyanese of Indian ancestry, and more so Hindus. Interestingly, Minister Henry currently benefits from a GY$3 million scholarship funded by tax dollars. One would therefore expect that she would have been more knowledgeable than a Grade Two pupil when it comes to national holidays and their meanings, but also more sensitive towards and protection of Guyana’s rich cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious diversities.

As if the Parliament hadn’t suffered enough humiliation in the span of a week, a troubling security breach – potentially life threatening – left the nation gasping in shock. We are all waiting for clarity as to how a Minister’s secretary disguised as Santa Claus, got past what ought to be staunch security, penetrated the chamber and proceeded to address the House while delivering a hostile message to the Opposition Leader. If the Government of Guyana has any respect for the people it serves and the House which represents their interests, then the secretary in question must be removed and judged by the law for threatening the safety of elected representatives. Her subject Minister must be made publicly accountable and provide a much due apology to the people, the Opposition and the House. Just as important, those responsible for guaranteeing the security of elected leaders and representatives on the premises must account for this security breach, and security measures and protocols must be reinforced henceforth and kept up to standard.

Government Ministers and parliamentarians are today guilty of having stripped the House of its dignity and credibility. If a democracy cannot rely on its Parliament to set a non-partisan example and on its parliamentarians to lead by example, then to whom should it look for guidance?

Contact sundayarrow@gmail.com

Banks’ Enchanted Christmas Village opens

T

he parking area opposite the Banks DIH Thirst Park complex was transformed into a miniature Christmas Village

add to the festive spirit of the season.

According to coordinator and manager of the Igloo ice cream brand, Kester

Some of Santa’s biggest fans waiting to share a photo opportunity and to receive their presents

This child being outfited with a batman design face painting

shrouded in a unique atmosphere, with thousands of lights, delicious goodies, and presents on offer.

The two-day festive holiday event, which was opened to the public on Saturday, included a visit by Santa Clause as well as seasonal musical entertainment to

Van-Nooten, it is the second year that the company had been hosting the Santa Enchanted Village, and some 1000 children have been catered for.

“Banks is very pleased to give back to the community, so we have invited the kids out here to come and take

Govt to borrow...

A breakdown of the figures shows that total external debt amounted to $240 billion, a 72.6 per cent bite out of the total public debt. On the other hand, domestic debt stood at $90.6 billion, or 27.4 per cent of the total.

The report notes that Guyana’s four main external creditors are the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the state-owned

“I wanted to... from page 14

Eyewitnesses had pointed out that the Policeman was speeding when he tried to overtake the cargo truck that was behind the motorcar to which he had collided. After ending up some 20 feet away from the point of impact, it was observed that Police vehicle’s windscreen was shattered while the front wheel and left bumper were damaged. The car’s front bumper was torn off.

It was in mid-November that the Traffic Chief had disclosed that some 20 ranks were involved in accidents with Police vehicles and that management saw it fit for ranks to have “refresher” training. Moore had pointed out that training was especially needed for operating four-wheel-drive motor vehicles which are particularly used for patrols on the highways.

During last month, the Guyana Police Force received from the Chinese Government a hefty donation of vehicles and equipment worth US$2.6 million.

Added to the existing Police fleet were 56 pickup trucks, 44 motorcycles, 35 ATVs and five buses.

part in the village, and also get a chance to meet Santa and receive a gift”, he explained.

Van Nooten noted that events like these certainly add a special flair to the Christmas season, and create the atmosphere for Guyanese to enjoy their favourite Christmas delicacies, traditionally sought after during this time of the year.

More importantly, a wholesome environment

is created for family and friends to gather.

All are invited to gather at Banks for a spectacular presentation of cultural performances, carolling, and interesting displays depicting the tastes, infusions, creations and colours of the true Guyanese Christmas.

Guyanese are being urged to come out in their numbers to participate in this annual event.

from page 2

Export-Import Bank of China (China EXIM Bank), and Venezuela state owned oil company (PDVSA).

Together, they constitute some 77.7 per cent of Guyana’s public external debt stock as at end-December 2016, with the IDB being the most dominant creditor. According to the report, the IDB has an average share of 42.0 per cent of the debt portfolio.

The CDB is Guyana’s second largest creditor, accounting for 12.6 per cent of total public external debt.

The Export-Import Bank of China follows closely behind the CDB, with a 12.5 per cent share of external debt, while Venezuela’s PDVSA accounted for 10.6 per cent. Important to note is PDVSA has recently been declared to be in default of its debts by a trade group in the US.

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SunDAY, december 10, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Forensic lab fails to reach required standards ...efforts underway to have DNA testing next year – Ramjattan

P

ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan expressed his disappointment at the fact that the forensic laboratory located in Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, is yet to have DNA testing.

However, he noted that there are certain procedures that need to be put in place first before this service can be made available.

“We have to get it right first, and then we have to get the accreditation and certification. All of that will only come when we get 100 per

cent fixed, not 99.9 per cent and we are working on that,” the Minister told to reporters on Saturday morning.

According to Ramjattan, equipment for the DNA laboratory costs about US$1 million and this money has been provided for via the Ministry’s Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP).

However, he noted that the sourcing of the relevant equipment will have to be done through a procurement process.

In the meantime, the

Minister said that efforts are afoot to ensure that there is sufficient security in place to uphold integrity of exhibits as well as ensuring that the ventilation works.

He added too that adequate training will have to be done for the personnel who will be conducting the analysis.

“I feel that this is going to take in the vicinity of about another six to seven months maximum, so indeed we are going to have it,” assured Ramjattan.

The Public Security Minister explained that

The forensic laboratory at Turkeyen

when the laboratory was first conceptualised back in 2012, the design work for DNA testing facilities was not properly done. This, he added, resulted in a Barbadian expert as well as specialists from the United States concluding that the facility that was available at the forensic laboratory did not match the required standards to provide DNA testing and as such, reconstruction works had to be undertaken.

Over the years, the Guyana Police Force has had to resort to using overseas laboratories to conduct DNA testing for several high-profile cases, including the murders of Babita Sarjou; British teen Dominic Bernard; former Demerara Bank employee Sheema Mangar; owner of MFK Trading Mohamed F Khan, among others.

This is due to the fact that since the completion of the forensic lab back in 2014, the facility has yet to be outfited with the necessary resources to conduct

basic DNA and gun residue testing which are internationally recognised.

In fact, back in April, then Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Wendell Blanhum has decried the lacking of the core service, saying that is a “sore” to the work of his department. “…They lack the capability to do DNA testing so this is a sore problem, it’s a sore issue and we still have to rely on (overseas partners).

Of recent, we have been engaging the Brazilian authorities,” the Crime Chief had stated.

Back in February, Government had approved some US$32,524 to honour outstanding payments to a Barbados Security Firm, IED, for the completion of works that will see the laboratory equipped to provide these services.

The firm was responsible for installing the security system at the laboratory by way of a contract in 2012 and providing consultation oversight in 2013, during phase one of the project, but this

never materialised because of the outstanding payments owed by Government.

The firm will therefore be required to complete its work on the laboratory, along with completing the training of persons who are going to operate the facility.

The technical and electrical issues that were discovered a while back will also be rectified as soon as the contractors return to work.

On the other hand, the Public Security Ministry last year commenced building the capacity of the forensic lab to prepare the facility for DNA and gun residue testing. Additionally, discussions were held for the procurement of rapid testing DNA and gun testing residue devices.

Improving the Guyana Police Force’s Forensic Laboratory’s effectiveness towards preventing and conducting criminal investigations is the second component of the CSSP. This component is being funded at a cost of US$5.5 million through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

sunDAY, december 10, 2017

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BFA/GT Beer, Candy Boss 8-A-side football…

Beacon FC send Siporuta packing 6-1 …Republican, Rosignol battle tonight for quarter-final spot

B

eacon FC sent Orealla ‘B’ (Siparuta) home on Friday night as action continued in the Berbice Football Association (BCA), GT Beer, Candy Boss and Antics Promotion Invitational Inter Club 8-A-Side Football Tournament at the All Saints School Ground on Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Led by a hat trick from Christian Galloway, Beacon registered the heaviest defeat in the tournament thus far be beating

Siparuta 6-1 in what was a keenly contested battle for most of the game.

Galloway scored in the 41, 47 and 48 minutes as Siporuta seemed to have given up after Kimba Braithwaite made it 2-nil in the 33 minute when Lloyd Hudson was given his second yellow card and had to leave the field.

Earlier, Felon Ailfred put Beacon ahead in the 25 +3 minutes to give them a slight advantage at the half time break.

However, when Braithwaite scored off the

The winning Beacon FC team

Windies fast bowlers lead fight back –Reifer impressive on debut

A

measured 84 from Jeet Raval, and a Colin de Grandhomme blitz bookended New Zealand's day, but it was West Indies' quicks who made the best of it, starting off slowly, then working themselves into a fine rhythm by stumps. The hosts

bined to claim four wickets either side of the tea break.

Where Gabriel bowled both good spells and poor ones through the course of the day, Cummins, Roach and debutant left-armer Reifer were much more consistent, delivering tight lines and muzzling

Debutant Raymon Reifer appeals successfully for the wicket of Henry Nicholls

are still nicely placed, at 286 for 7, with the pitch expected to get quicker on days two and three. However, in breaking through to the tail with the second new ball, West Indies have given themselves a chance in this match - which is more than what could have been said at a similar stage of the game in Wellington.

It was Shannon Gabriel who, having leaked boundaries with the first new ball, inflicted important blows with the second, dismissing de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner after the pair had put on 76 for the sixth wicket.

He had also claimed the wicket of Raval during West Indies' resurgent period in the middle of the day. New Zealand had had 154 runs for the loss of just one wicket, before Gabriel, Kemar Roach, Miguel Cummins and Raymon Reifer com-

New Zealand's batsmen when they threatened to attack.

Between the three of them, they claimed four wickets and conceded only 118 runs from 53 combined overs.

That West Indies ended in a creditable position is testament to the attack's fortitude, for their day had not begun well. Gabriel was driven for two boundaries by Raval in the first over, and had been guilty of pitching too full -perhaps in search of swing or seam movement, which did not eventuate. Raval was assured through that first session, pulling with authority and rotating the strike with ease, as he had Tom Latham built an opening partnership of 65. The scoring did slow down soon after lunch, however. Kane Williamson, who replaced Latham at the crease after the opener had gloved a pull shot off Cummins, was

left scoreless for the first 17 balls he faced in the second session, 12 of which were delivered by Reifer. That period of tight bowling from West Indies helped produce the wickets that came later in the session - Williamson caught behind down the leg side off Cummins, before Gabriel drew an outside edge from Raval with a length ball that seamed across the batsman.

When, soon after tea, Roach and Reifer also struck in quick succession to remove Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls, New Zealand had lost four wickets for 45 runs, and were reduced to 189 for 5.

It was at this stage that de Grandhomme reclaimed some ground for his side. Having taken 11 balls to make his first run, and having perhaps been dropped by the wicketkeeper off the offspin of Roston Chase for 8, de Grandhomme walloped 42 runs - including three sixes and a four off chase - off 25 balls, to register a half-century. He used Seddon Park's small boundaries to his advantage, as even some good deliveries were muscled to the fence. He

had threatened to reassert New Zealand's control over the match when West Indies took the second new ball, and Gabriel struck immediately.

Mitchell Santner lost his off stump to a ball that pitched on leg and nipped slightly back, beating his booming drive. De Grandhomme was himself dismissed in similar fashion, though for him the ball seamed in the other direction.

Tom Blundell, New Zealand's debutant centurion from the last match, remained not out alongside Neil Wagner at stumps.

Though West Indies will be pleased with the manner in which they closed out the day, there will be some consternation about their over rate.

They were three overs short of the target of 90, even though the extra half-hour was used.

That regular captain Jason Holder is suspended for this match is of course down to West Indies having been too slow to complete their overs in the first Test. This time, it is stand-in captain Kraigg Brathwaite who is at risk of being penalised. (ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD New Zealand 1st Innings JA Raval c †Dowrich b Gabriel 84 TWM Latham c †Dowrich b Cummins 22 KS Williamson* c †Dowrich b Cummins 43 LRPL Taylor c †Dowrich b Roa ch 16 HM Nicholls lbw b Reifer 13 MJ Santner b Gabriel 24 C de Grandhomme b Gabriel 58 TA Blundell † not out 12 N Wagner not out 1 Extras (nb-10, w-3) 13 Total (For 7 wickets, 87 Overs) 286 Yet to bat: TG Southee, TA Boult

Fall of wickets: 1-65 (TWM Latham, 19.6 ov), 2-154 (KS Williamson, 49.2 ov), 3-159 (JA Raval, 52.3 ov), 4-186 (LRPL Taylor, 57.2 ov), 5-189 (HM Nicholls, 61.4 ov), 6-265 (MJ Santner, 80.2 ov), 7-275 (C de Grandhomme, 84.1 ov) Bowling Gabriel 19-3-79-3 (w-1, nb-5), Roach 19-7-45-1 (nb-1), Cummins 17-4-37-2 (w-2, nb-4), Chase 12-1-78-0, Reifer 17-8-361, Brathwaite 3-0-11-0 West Indies KC Brathwaite*, KOA Powell, SO Hetmyer, SD Hope, RL Chase, SW Ambris, SO Dowrich†, RA Reifer, KAJ Roach, ML Cummins, ST Gabriel Position: New Zealand bat all day

penalty spot it seemed to have sucked the juice out of Siparuta and Beacon took full advantage as Deon Alfred scored an easy goal in the 33 minute.

Beacon has now finished on 9 points from their four games. The other team to qualify will either be known tonight or on Friday.

In action tonight Berbice Police take on Hopetown in Group ‘C’. A win for Hopetown will take them to three points with one game to play while a win for Police will ensure they move into the knock out stage. However, if the game ends in a draw then the second placed team will only be known on Friday when Hopetown and Arsenal clash.

Arsenal has 2 points

from their three games.

Also on tonight Republican and Rosignol FC will battle. Republican must win by two clear goals to go through while Rosignol FC only need to settle for a draw to make it to the knock out stage of the competition.

Meanwhile, in other action on Friday night Edinburgh Gunners continued their excellent showing to record a 4-2 win over Soccer City of Locaber. Scoring for the Gunners were Joseph Giddings with a hat trick in the 7, 19 and 25 minutes and Sherwin Nicholson in the 12 minute while Soccer City got their goals of the booths of Leon Henry (11) and Kwedi Mickle (38).

Action in the first game tonight starts at 19:00h

EBDFA/Ralph Green U-11 League

Defending champions Agricola through to final 4

D

efending champions Agricola Red Triangle, Diamond Upsetters and Samatta Point/Kaneville have now joined Grove Hi Tech as the semi-finalists in the second annual Ralph Green sponsored East Bank Football Association Under-11 League following the final round-robin matches on Friday at the Grove Playfield.

Agricola, stormed to a come from behind 2-1 win over Diamond United while also gathering full points from Friendship who did not show up for their clash. With the six points, Agricola ended the round-robin stage with 12 points from their 7-matches.

Diamond United took the lead through a Ronaldo Adams 8th minute goal and enjoyed the advantage until Agricola’s leading goal scorer, Jonathan Andries took matters into his own hands with back to back goals.

Andries drew his side level in the 13th minute and fired in the sealer one minute later much to the delight of his teammates and coaching staff.

The winning goal sealed their final four place and a date with Diamond Upsetters which also ended on 12 points.

Diamond Upsetters, com-

peting in their first competition under the EBFA umbrella also won via the walk over route from Friendship and then battled to an exciting 0-0 tie with Diamond United to bring an end to the round-robin stage if the competition.

The draw for the Upsetters was their third of the tournament adding to their three wins and only defeat which was by walk over to another debutant club, Samatta Point/ Kaneville which also qualified for the semis and will face Grove Hi Tech at the same venue.

The top four teams have already secured for themselves participatory medals whilst the top five individual players will be rewarded with backpacks and trophies.

These five individual players to be rewarded are the Highest Goal Scorer, Best Goalkeeper, Most Valuable Player, Most Disciplined Player and Most Promising Player.

Each player in the competition received a branded tee shirt as well as the coaching staff of each team. Branded balls (EBDFA logo) have also been used in each match while a special match ball would be used in the final.

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guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, december 10, 2017

GFF seeking regulated tournaments T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is seeking to regulate football played in the country and has thus engaged the support of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to ensure permits for tournaments are only granted following the GFF’s approval of a given tournament.

This entails a promot-

er getting an approval letter from the GFF, which is given to the police in the respective division in which the tournament is being held before the police authorize the said tournament. This initiative follows the actions of some who coordinate tournaments without the secured prize money and other logistical arrangements in place

and without the clear guideline and oversight of the Federation.

President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, said that regulation is important to preserve the integrity of the game: “While it is important that the footballers are given an opportunity to play as much football as possible, these events must take

GFF President Wayne Forde

place in a regulated environment. In particular, the GFF Executive Committee's Constitutional mandate is to control the game in all its forms. As the final adjudicator in all football matters, the GFF has to ensure that the rules, officiating, security etc. comply with the regulations of FIFA, CONCACAF and the GFF. In 2018, tournament organizers will have to undergo greater screening prior to being licensed and approved to organize football competitions.”

Among the chief concerns

of the GFF is the impact of non-approval on the image of the beautiful game with the potential disrepute that may result including match fixing and other forms of manipulation. This potentially can ultimately lead to an unsafe environment for players and fans including loss to life and limb.

The GFF looks forward to the complete cooperation from the promoters and coordinators of football in Guyana and will provide all necessary support to ensure full compliance is achieved.

GABF/ National Basketball Club Championships, Road to Mecca IV

Colts, Royals

keep perfect record B

ounty Colts and Victory Valley Royals were the latest winners as the “Road to MECCA IV” continued on Friday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Led by Stanton Rose and Shane Webster with 19 and 14 points respectively, the Colts racked up 65 points after their four quarters, besting Amelia Ward Jets who could only muster up 50 points in the end. Not much could be said for the Jets performances, except for that of Adrian Webster who ended with 13 points in a losing cause.

Webster had a good allround game with 15 rebounds and three steals to go along with his decent shooting as Webster matched him from the other end with 14

A Victory Valley Royals player sinks his free throw as his teammates and Retrieve Raiders players look on

rebounds to his name.

The Royals dominated their match versus Retrieve Raiders, beating their opponents 67-58 in the end.

The star of the show was Harrold Adams who had another good game in the tourney with 18 points, 2 steals, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Orlan Glasglow racked up

13 points and Trevor Proffit with 10 points.

Raiders were indebted to a spirited performance by Neil Marks who shot 21 points but failed to save his team from a hammering. The action continues throughout this weekend at the Sports Hall from 17:00hs.

sunDAY, december 10, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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21

Chase Academy recognises

Nedd, Persaud ahead of Youth WC A

head of their first West Indies Under-19 World Cup campaign, two of the five Guyanese selectees Ashmead Nedd and Joshua Persaud; on Saturday received cricket equipment compliments of their alma mata, Chase Academy.

Students of the learning institute owned by Henry Chase, Persaud and Nedd were given pieces of cricket gear by the CEO, who has been supporting the pair since they commenced their academicals at the school.

The brief handing over ceremony held at the Boardroom of the Guyana National Stadium on Saturday afternoon, witnessed both players along with National youth Coach Garvin Nedd; father of Ashmead and one of the first coaches to put Persaud

(From left() Wicket-keeper/batsman Joshua Persaud, Henry Chase and spinner Ashmead Nedd pose with their cricket gear

on the inter-county circuit, along with Chase who presented the gifts of gratitude.

Speaking exclusively with Guyana Times Sport, Coach Nedd said the idea arose while speaking with

Chase regarding the success of students from the academy who continue to excel in the classroom and on the field.

“The idea came from the summer camp held at DCC every year, me and Mr.

Smalta/MOPH Peewee Girls tournament

Chase decided that moving forward we could get some of the young talents to be a part of a scholarship programme, so that how the idea came about,” Nedd explained.

With the team venturing

England rocked by another bar incident

St Jules books defending champs E final spot

ngland coach Trevor Bayliss has described Ben Duckett’s behaviour as “not acceptable” after the batsman was stood down from an Ashes tour game on Saturday and suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following an incident in a Perth bar.

Bayliss confirmed that the 23-year-old Duckett, who is part of the England Lions training team in Australia, had poured a drink on a senior England player -- with reports suggesting it was paceman James Anderson --

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into new and hostile conditions, Nedd said the equipment which also consisted of apparel suited for the cold weather, was expensive and sometimes hard to acquire but thanked Chase for throwing his support behind the two cricketers; who have not let their supporters down.

The five Guyanese selectees for the 15-member World Cup squad who will participate in an 11day camp in St. Kitts and Nevi; include all-rounders Bhaskar Yadram and Ronaldo Ali Mohamed, opener Raymond Perez, wicket- Persaud and Nedd.

The camp which will get underway from December 10-20 is the final stage of preparation before the squad leaves for New Zealand on December 28.

cluded in the next 24 hours.

England are down 2-0 in the Ashes series and the latest bar-room incident has plunged their tour into a fresh crisis as they bid to avoid another humiliating whitewash.

The behaviour of players has come under scrutiny after all-rounder Ben Stokes was left out of the tour after he and team mate Alex Hales were arrested following an altercation outside a Bristol nightclub in September.

Australian batsman Cameron Bancroft said England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow had headbutted him

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Defending Champions St Angela’s moved one step closer to retaining their title by beating St Pius in the semi-final on Saturday at the Ministry of Education Ground

T

he defending champions of the Smalta/ Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) Girls Peewee tournament, St Angela’s are one step closer to retaining their title after they blew away St Pius by four goals to one in their semi-final encounter on Saturday.

The reigning champions had their star player Nikasi St Jules to thank as the diminutive forward took matters into her own hands by snaring a helmet-trick.

The St Pius defense had no answer to St Jules as she opened her account in the third minute. However the opposition managed to quell her (St Jules) for quite some time even managing

to equalize through Kezia Wilson in the 17th minute.

It was only two minutes later until St Jules exploded in the 19th minute to bag her second goal and begin a late onslaught on St Pius. St Jules’ third and fourth goals came in the 25th and 30th minutes to firmly cement her team’s place in the final.

In the other semi-final between the cardinal points of Ruimveldt, South Ruimveldt managed to needle West Ruimveldt to book their place in the final alongside St Angela’s.

Much of the game between the Ruimveldt outfits were spent locked in a midfield battle until the closing moments when Fayon Henry stuck one home for South

Ruimveldt to spark celebrations among her teammates and their supporters.

Earlier in the day in the quarter-finals St Angela’s got past Tucville Primary 5-0 while St Pius defeated F.E Pollard Primary 2-1. In the other two matches West Ruimveldt beat Redeemer Primary 3-0 while South Ruimveldt defeated North Georgetown on penalty kicks after they drew 1-1 in normal time.

The tournament will culminate next Saturday (December 16) with St Angela’s taking on South Ruimveldt in final and St Pius facing West Ruimveldt in the third place playoff.

Ben Duckett (right) and England coach Trevor Bayliss

after a heated argument late on Thursday.

“I‘m not sure exactly what more I can say. I‘m sure there will be some stern words from above. It’s just not right, it’s not acceptable,” Bayliss said on Saturday. “I might review who is in the team; can’t keep making the same mistakes,” Bayliss added, when asked if he would review the team’s curfew which was relaxed on Thursday. “Most of the guys are fine... some guys have to pull their head in.”

Media reports said there was no police involvement in the matter and that the ECB’s investigation would be con-

by way of a friendly greeting in a Perth bar during England’s warm-up for the series but both men played down the incident.

“I‘m here to coach the team and I end up spending most of my time in front of cameras trying to explain some behaviour that the boys have been warned about,” Bayliss added. “Everybody has been warned about how even small things can be blown out of all proportion. We’ve got to find out exactly what happened.

I‘m sure they’ll be able to get on with it.” The third Ashes test starts on Thursday in Perth. (Reuters)

22

guyanatimesgy.com

sundAY december 10, 2017

CWI/ Digicel Regional 4-Day Championships 2017-18…

Jaguars closing in after Volcanoes resistance – defending champs 61 runs away from 5th victory

By John Ramsingh

W

hen stumps were drawn on day three at Providence, there were still two overs and two balls to go in the day’s play but with the artificial lights on it became a bit difficult to see the red ball and the umires thought it best to called time.

At that point, the threetime defending champions, Guyana Jaguars were 104 for 4 still 61 runs away from their fifth victory this season with all of today to play against the Windward Islands Volcanoes in their Digicel Regional Four-Day round six match.

After resuming on 127 for 6, the Volcanoes lead by Devon Smith, displayed stubborn resistance to frustrate the Jaguars by going past the 200-run mark in their second innings and at the same time extending their lead past 150 to set the afternoon session.

When Kyle Mayers was dismissed off the last ball of day two, wicketkeeper Dennis Smith joined his uncle, Devon at the start of play on Saturday which was delayed by 45 minutes due to rain and they batted sensibly to put on 69 for the seventh wicket. The acrobatic gloveman showed his ability in front of the stumps by stroking five fours before he was sent back as the 200-run mark approached.

Devon Smith, who raised his 56th First Class half century when he drove the first ball he faced in the day’s play

Anthony Bramble and Vishaul Singh will resume their unfinished business today at Providence

from Veerasammy Permaul, was then joined by Shane Shillingford who also put his head down and batted brilliantly in the circumstances.

The home team then got their second wicket of the session when left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie deceived Smith just five runs short of his 33rd First Class century. It turned out to be the final before lunch which was taken at 214 for 8 with Shillingford on seven and Delorn Johnson on two and the Volcanoes leading by 137.

After the interval, the pair continued to frustrate the defending champions by negotiating Motie and Permaul easily for their 30run partnership which eventually ended when the second new ball was taken.

The first ball with the ‘new cherry’ was sent down

he was snapped up spectacularly by a Paul running to his right from wide mid-off and diving full stretch to pouch the ball inches from the ground.

All of the Jaguars bowlers picked up two wickets each before the batsmen set about the run chase in their second innings.

The visitors, who enjoyed a good day began in absolute perfect fashion when left-arm seamer trapped Tagenarine Chanderpaul LBW in the first over without a run on the board. The lively Vincentian, Johnson settled on a nice line and length and along with new ball partner, Sherman Lewis

When the final session began in cool conditions, Jaguars captain, Leon Johnson got a peach of a delivery from Delorn Johnson and lost his off stump. At the other end, Hemraj was playing some crisps shots but when seemed set for a big knock he was sent back by Kyle Mayers who replaced Johnson at the Media Centre End. The game was wide open as wickets were falling regularly but Shivnarine Chanderpaul joined Vishaul Singh and the batted intelligently to take the score to 88 before Shillingford got Chanderpaul to drive at a wide delivery only to nick to

slip with 77 still needed for victory.

Anthony Bramble then stayed with Singh who is approaching another half century when the Umpires Shannon Crawford and Christopher Taylor decided that play will go to a fourth day.

In all, 48 minutes were lost due to rain and today’s action will begin at 09:00h when the Jaguars will look to get the runs required to remain unbeaten and on top of the points standing while the Volcanoes will be looking for the great comeback for their first win of the season.

Both teams will have to keep their eyes on the rain.

SCOREBOARD

Shane Shillingford goes down the ground during his stubborn innings on Saturday

by Keemo Paul and Johnson tried to clear mid-on but found the safe hands of Rutherford to end the stand under dark clouds. One ball later, the heavens opened and the players were off the field for 48 minutes. Upon the resumption, Shillingford rearguard action ended when

made the Guyanese very uncomfortable. Leon Johnson joined opener, Chandrapaul Hemraj at the crease and they took the score to 23 without further loss at tea.

The Jaguars were still 142 runs away and the Volcanoes’ tails were up.

Volcanoes 1st Innings 117 Jaguars 1st Innings 194 Volcanoes 2nd Innings (Overnight 127/6) Devon Smith b Motie 95 T Theophile c wkpr Bramble b Joseph 16 T Gabriel b Rutherford 9 M Bascombe lbw b Rutherford 9 R Cato lbw b Motie 4 D Hector lbw b Permaul 20 K Mayers b Paul 11 Dennis Smith lbw b Permaul 28 S Shillingford c Paul b Joseph 26 D Johnson c Rutherford b Paul 6 S Lewis not out 0 Extras (b-10, lb-4, nb-3) 17 Total (All Out; 84.2 Overs) 241 FOW: 1-27, 2-45, 3-56, 4-71, 5-102, 6-127, 7-196, 8-206, 9-236, 10-241 Bowling Joseph 12.2-3-29-

2, Paul 18-3-55-2, Permaul 30-4-78-2, Rutherford 6-01902, Motie 18-2-46-2 Jaguars 2nd Innings (Target 165) T Chanderpaul lbw b Johnson 0 C Hemraj lbw b Mayers 19 L Johnson b Johnson 12 V Singh not out 48 S Chanderpaul c Devon Smith b Shillinford 11 A Bramble not out 10 Extras (b-1, lb-0, w-0, nb-3) 4 Total (For 4 wickets, 32.4 Overs) 104 Still to bat K Paul, S Rutherford, V Permaul, G Motie, K Joseph FOW: 1-0, 2-28, 3-51, 4-88 Bowling Johnson 7-1-24-2, Lewis 8-1-30-0, Mayers 7-320-1, Shillingford 10-0-251, Theophile 0.4-0-4-0 Position: Jaguars need 61 more runs with 6 wickets in hand

SunDAY, december 10, 2017

Super 16 final slated for Providence

– $2M for champs, $1M for runner-up Grove Hi-Tech, Fruta Conquerors, Ann’s Grove, Victoria Kings, Police FC, Buxton United and New Amsterdam United.

They will be vying for the first place prize of $2 Million while the runners up will pocket $1 Million, third place $500,000 and fourth place $250,000.

The opening fixtures will feature Winners Connection FC vs Camptown FC and Milerock FC vs Cougars FC on December 15 at the McKenzie Sports Club in Linden.

(Michelangelo Jacobus)

Top Brandz Distributors’ Marvin Wray hands over the sponsorship package to GFF President Wayne Forde

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has partnered with Top Brandz Distributors through their Corona Beer brand to launch the GFF/ Corona Super 16 Year-end Classic knockout football competition.

The competition which will feature 10 Elite clubs, five select teams and an Indigenous All-Stars side will begin on December 15 with the first round being played country wide at venues in Linden, West Coast Demerara, Georgetown and the East Coast of Demerara. The final is slated for the National Stadium, Providence on January 1 (New Year’s Day).

At the launch on Saturday at the GFF’s Secretariat, President Wayne Forde maintained that “the classic is billed to be an exciting, exhilarating and high quality tournament.”

He revealed that in the past the GFF had indicated their intention of hosting such a tournament; however he pointed out that this tournament (Super 16) is an indication of where the GFF is going and further pointed out that by next year each Member Association will have playoffs to qualify for the year end championship which will give everyone country wide a chance to be a part of the competition.

Moving ahead Forde explained that he along with the GFF is excited about the relationship they have brokered with Top Brandz hinting “it is one that I think will go on for many years.”

Meanwhile Top Brandz Distributors Marketing Representative, Marvin Wray maintained that while the company has been in existence over ten years, each year as they grow they seek to give back to sport in Guyana.

Wray explained that football on the January 1is a Guyanese tradition and part of the country’s culture; “something that should be carried on.”

The Top Brandz Marketing representative also described the collaboration with the GFF as “the beginning of a beautiful partnership.”

In a stunning announcement, Wray revealed that his company along with other sponsors will be bringing Dancehall Megastar Popcaan to perform at a concert after the grand finale at Providence on January 1.

“We will be bringing a quality artist to cap off a high quality tournament,” Wray declared.

The 16 teams are Winners Connection, Camptown FC, Milerock FC, Cougars FC, Pouderoyen FC, GDF, Den Amstel, Indigenous AllStars, Western Tigers,

guyanatimesgy.com

23

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

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championship 2017-18...

Pg 22

Jaguars closing in after Volcanoes resistance – defending champs 61

runs away from 5th victory

Shiv Chanderpaul (second from left) and Vishaul Singh steadied the Jaguars second innings

EBDFA/Ralph Green U-11 League

Defending champions Agricola through

to final 4

Pg 19

Diamond Upsetters and Diamond United in on Friday at the Grove Playfield

Super 16 final slated for Providence – $2M for champs, $1M for runner-up

Pg 23

The representatives of the various teams who will be participating in the GFF/Corona Super 16 Year end Classic from December 15-January 1

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December 10, 2017

Star Times Hollywood:

Ed Sheeran picks up an MBE at Buckingham Palace Page 14

FREE DISTRIBUTION

INSIDE

Page 8

Feed a Child for the Holidays

Pg 2

Inside Herstelling Global Outreach Centre

Pg 3

Pg 7

History of Canje Bridge

2 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Feature

Feed a Child for the Holidays

Just a few of the items distributed during Christmas 2016

A few team members distributing essential items to various children's homes last year

E

very year, the Feed a Child for the Holidays team endeavours to put smiles on the faces of children by giving their love, time and support. This vibrant group of humanitarians enjoys giving back to their communities and spreading Christmas cheer.

Established in December 2007, Feed a Child for the Holidays is a private nonprofit group dedicated to making a humanitarian effort to share the spirit of Christmas. The group endeavours to bring gifts, food items, basic necessities, encouragement and love to the less fortunate children in Guyana.

Feed a Child for the Holidays objectives are to raise awareness of the plight of orphaned children in Guyana and to provide assistance – whether emo-

tional, financial or physical – to under-privileged children, wherever they may be.

Tannylee Fung, Schemel Patrick, Natasha Backer, Teisha Milner, Keisha Assanah, Rhonda Bourne, Maren Oxford, Dionne Cush and Alana Lowton are core team members determined to continue to spread joy and love to vulnerable children.

“This year, as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we hope to reach more children and to garner as much support. Our vision this year is to donate to 10 children’s homes in and around Georgetown, mostly homes we have partnered with over the decade we’ve been donating. We started out as a small group hosting parties for the orphan and vulnerable (OVCs) of Youth Challenge Guyana and over

the years we have grown as we now engage more homes and partner with a number of humanitarians,” Schemel Patrick expressed in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

She added that over the past years, Feed a Child for the Holidays received tremendous support from a number of individuals and organisations and hopes this year is no different. Schemel encourages kind-hearted individuals to show random and simple acts of kindness, not only at Christmas but throughout the year.

“We have grown to identify ourselves as a sort of facilitator of spreading Christmas cheer. At Christmas, persons are always looking to participate in one goodwill activity or another, as an already established group, Feed a

Child for the Holidays provides that platform for persons to make worthy donations to various children’s groups all in the spirit of giving,” Schemel noted.

Via its Facebook page, Feed a Child for the Holidays invites benevolent citizens and organisations to donate. The charitable organisation welcomes essential supplies or for individuals and companies to sponsor a home, executing an activity or donating items of their choice. If you are desirous of contributing to one or more of Feed a Child for the Holidays’ activities, message, call or reach out to one of its members.

“Every year we are fortunate enough to make our contributions entirely from donations by public-spirited citizens and corporate Guyana. We think it is important that we express heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has assisted us in one way or another over the years. Our corporate sponsors over the years have been Germans Restaurant, Sterling Products Ltd., Edward B. Beharry and Company, Ansa McAL, Lasleek Fashions, DIGICEL Guyana, the Sticky Wicket Restaurant and Bar, Leading Edge Guyana and Massy Distributions. We also partner with youth organisations, in the past we have partnered with the Guyana Girl Guides Association

and the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) – Guyana. The response is always overwhelming,” Schemel declared.

Since its inception, Feed a Child for the Holidays has donated/collaborated with Youth Challenge Guyana’s OVC programme, The Red Cross Convalescent Home, The Sophia Care Centre, The Drop-In Centre, The St. John’s

Boscoe Home, St. Ann’s Home, Sophia Sparkle Youth Group, Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre and Help and Shelter.

For updates on its activities and information on how you can help, visit Feed a Child for the Holidays on Facebook or call 687-5363 and 699-7704. Apart from Christmas gifts, the group accepts food items, school supplies, basic necessities and clothing for children.

Preparing snacks for the children

Spreading Christmas cheer

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

Herstelling Global Outreach Centre

H

erstelling, a village located on East Bank Demerara, is flanked by three squatting areas and is made up of residents mainly from the middle and lower economic status that are heavily dependent on the sugar and fishing industries for their income. With the eco-

of income while diversifying in an effort to cushion the adverse effects envisaged.

Consequently, in 2005, the Herstelling Assembly of God Global Outreach Centre launched a community outreach and transformation project to tackle the hopelessness that exists among youths in the village.

powering them for further training and employment.

The areas targeted are catering/cookery, information technology and office procedures, electrical installation, sewing and tailoring, joinery and cabinet making, cosmetology, cake decorating and floral designs. In addition, each participant se-

Males and females are welcomed for all classes. This is a session from a cake decorating class

Floral arrangement class

nomic challenges resulting from the falling sugar prices on the world market and the many barriers within the fishing industries, families have over the years been faced with high rates of unemployment, severe financial pressure, illiteracy, idleness/hopelessness among youths and extremely high levels of school drop-outs. These problems have led to many youths becoming hooked on alcohol, smoking, gambling, causal or commercial sex work, abuse and even crime as a way of escape.

Hence, it was and still is imperative that the community seeks out new ways of reengaging and creating employment for the youths to reduce their vulnerability and find alternative sources

However, its programmes were severely hindered as a result of the lack of a proper youth-friendly/safe space, equipment, materials and technical facilitators.

In 2008, the Herstelling Global Outreach Centre, founded by Dr Ravindra Shiwnandan, established a multi-discipline facility, focused on setting up a building for the programme area, an IT lab, a sewing and tailoring room, a training kitchen, an electronics room and a woodworking area. This was further supplemented by an annex building in 2013. These facilities provide an atmosphere which allows for the re-engagement of hopeless youths in Herstelling and its environs through vocational training courses, em-

lected on needs bases has been exposed to training in setting up and managing small businesses. The target group is 16-35 years.

The Centre is fully equipped with an air conditioned computer lab with 25 computers for 30 students; a fully equipped electronic lab for 20 students; a garment construction room with 10 sewing machines for 20 students; a cosmetology room with tools for 20 students; an equipped training kitchen with two stoves, a fridge, two extractor fans for 30 students; a welding machine with accessories for eight students; four other classrooms for didactic sessions; curriculum material for 19 vocational skills areas; woodworking equipment; and an administra-

tive area with computers and copiers.

The school board consists of Dr Ravindra Shiwnandan; Dr Michelle Shiwnandan; Sharmilla Chan Abai; and Peter Christopher Abai.

Over the years, the Herstelling Global Outreach Centre has built a partnership with its community through the Little Diamond/ Herstelling- Farm NDC, the Providence Primary School and the Providence Nursery School in Farm. It has also collaborated with the EU Micro-projects Fund, BNTF and the Government through the Board of Industrial Training.

Recently, 135 youths in various vocational skills graduated from the Centre, bringing the total number of individuals graduating from the Centre to a staggering 1100 – a number that continues to increase.

Courses/programmes at the Centre are offered at no cost. Requirement of applicants is basic literacy and numeracy.

The Herstelling Global Outreach Centre plans to increase the number of cours-

Board members and teaching staff with recent graduates of the Centre

es its offers and to expand its services to Yarrowkabra on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

For more information, call 265-4365. Next course is slated to commence in February 2018.

Christmas dÊcor made by the Centre’s students

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Feature

H

Donating essential supplies to needy families

ope Seals Guyana provides charity in the form of food, clothing, monetary support, and medical outreach to the less fortunate. It is the brainchild of Sonia Hutson, a London-trained beauty specialist/entrepreneur, and Lester Hutson, a nutritionist/entrepreneur.

“Some four years ago, I read an article of a young single mother of three children who was killed in her sleep by her brother who had earlier raped his niece while the mother was out reaping wild cabbage to feed her family.

Her son was also killed when he tried to save his mom.

Her two daughters were left motherless and abandoned.

This article really moved my wife, Sonia, and she asked what we can do to assist these children. We decided

as a family to reach out to the children through the welfare office in Linden and Ms Beckles. Sonia always had a love for charity especially the children homes and occasionally the homes for the elderly, which inspired the start of Hope Seals,” Lester recalled in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

He added that the idea of putting together food items, clothing and money was quickly organised by himself and his wife and fellow business associates.

Hope Seals’ mandate is to support vulnerable families, single mothers and children.

Every month for the last four years it has consistently given to 25 families in vulnerable communities millions of dollars in donations and has partnered with HAP (a US humanitarian assistance pro-

gramme) and its New York Chapter. HAP has supplied footwear and OTC medicine for Hope Seals’ outreaches.

Hope Seals is a registered non -profit organisation with the Human Services Ministry. Its board consists of 13 members plus another 20 ordinary members. The board meets twice monthly to plan outreaches to different communities it identifies through social workers, churches, the ministry of social protection and other entities. Most of the monthly outreaches are financed by the contribution of board members and donations from supporters.

The organisation’s objectives are to create opportunities for voluntary service by its members to the less fortunate and vulnerable people in our society through charitable outreaches; to raise funds through fund-raising activities, charitable donations of cash and kind from both local and overseas supporters, to help the organisation in carrying out its mandate of charitable outreach to the less fortunate and vulnerable people in our societies; to provide charity in the form of food, clothing, monetary support, and medical outreach to the less fortunate groups, such as single parents with children and the elderly; to set a positive example of selfless service and outreach through its members to its beneficiaries in order to create an uplifting and nurturing environment; and to ensure that all beneficiaries can have their basic need for food and clothing met and their human dignity preserved and protected.

“On December 17, 2017

Both young and old of Hope Seals Guyana seek out those in need

we plan to launch ‘Hope Seals Kids - Blessing In A Bag’ where 50 children and 20 families from ‘Plastic City’, Ruimveldt Riverview and other areas will benefit from our outreach work. This youth arm is led by Chelsea Hutson and other children of board members to meet the specific needs of children of vulnerable families who we meet on outreaches. Our motto is: ‘No Child Goes Hungry & Left Behind’,” Lester noted.

Additionally, he stated that the organisation plans to acquire a bus to provide mobile medical outreach services, and also to build a soup kitchen.

For more information, call 231-7512 or visit Hope Seals Guyana on Facebook.

Team members ready to help vulnerable communities and individuals

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

Poonam Singh (Photo

by Saajid Husani)

P

oonam Singh’s effortlessness in her powerful vocals and infectious personality are somewhat a façade. Why? Because she is way more than that. Her concrete determination to become one of Guyana’s most talented singers has met with challenges; however she has overcome these with cadence.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Poonam mentioned that singing was and still is an art that is embedded in her.

“It's kind of like I was born with it, and I'm sure it's going to stay with me for eternity. My parents do sing beautifully also, however, they only sing Bhajans (religious songs),” she noted.

Poonam recalled between ages 11 and 13 she entered the National Gita Competition three times. She had to recite full chapters of the Bhagvad Gita in Hindi and won all three times not only by reciting it without looking at the book, but by singing it instead of speaking it.

Then in 2011/12, after participating in the GT&T (now GTT) Jingle and Song Competition, Poonam decided a year later to begin doing covers of famous songs, which she posted on Facebook. These captured a lot of attention nationwide and internationally.

Consequently, she started working on original songs.

The first song she wrote was actually the one she recently released, “Christmas Wish”.

The song was written and recorded, but because she was 16 at the time the song was left as is because as a solo artiste, as she continues to be, she lacked the finances to pay for the production of her music. Fortunately,

things changed after she was hired for random gigs and performances in and out of Guyana.

She was able to accumulate enough finances to sponsor the production of her songs. This change in her financial situation finally saw the release of “Christmas Wish” this month just in time for the festive season. Poonam explained that the song is as joyful as she had written it to be when she was 16. It was produced by Drew Thoven and the video production was done by her “amazing friend and skilful photographer/videographer”, Saajid Husani.

Another song the singer was able to finance its production was her hit patriotic song, “GUYANA”. She revealed that although the song said “sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism”, which she mentioned only contributed its words, she had to pay for the entire production of the music video.

Though music is her passion, Poonam equally values her academic pursuits. She graduated with a diploma in Communication Studies at the University of Guyana and is currently a third year law student at the University of London (international programme).

“I don't think that education is the key to success as there are countless other keys to success. However, it is extremely beneficial to have your education because it adds to your credentials, it enables you to think critically and logically in situations and it teaches you to be able to stay determined and focus towards your goals in life. I’m studying law; however I do not plan to become a lawyer. I just want

to be smart enough to make my own decisions and know exactly what I'm doing when it comes to my music career,” she admitted.

Poonam explained she is studying law to complement her music career because when she was 16 she was “tricked by a lot of people in the entertainment industry”. Having a background in law is a security measure because she said when she becomes an international singer she would be equipped to read her own contracts.

The singer described herself as a type of person who does not like to limit herself to just one goal. In her life, anything her heart desires to pursue she pursues, with love. She loves law and she loves singing.

Poonam pointed out that her determination has helped her garner over 47,000 followers on Facebook, which she claims to be the only female artiste to accomplish at present.

But it is not just about numbers for Poonam.

Through social media, she uses her voice to give others a voice as she seeks to empower and spread happiness through her music.

“Music is not something you can just work on it today and then leave it to work again the next month. You have to constantly be at it, because people, your own fans, are going to forget you. One day, I know many people will remember me for not for what I said to them, but for how I made them feel by using my voice. I know that people will be happy and will feel loved after they listen to the thoughts I put down and vocalise in words. I know that one day I will accomplish the greatest reward of all that I am doing and will continue to do, and

that is genuine love,” Poonam expressed.

Experiencing how tough the music industry can be and overcoming those obstacles, Poonam’s advice for young singers is to “work hard”. Also, she said to incessantly post videos on social media of yourself singing or something to keep your fans (no matter how big or small your crowd is) entertained and updated on your music.

“I do not wish for material things for they have no true meaning to me. But how I make people feel through my music means more than anything. I'm very religious and have always believed that no matter what you do in life always has God as your constant because he will never deceive you,” Poonam declared.

The songstress plans to continue to release more videos in the coming months and encourages fans to look out for “something big” to be released soon.

You can get updates on Poonam Singh page on Facebook. To listen to her recent single, search for Poonam Singh - CHRISTMAS WISH on YouTube.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Literary Corner

Preserving our literary heritage by Petamber Persaud

Sharon Maas

(Extract of an interview with Sharon Maas, Georgetown, Guyana, November 2017. Maas is the author of more than seven novels; her first “Of Marriageable Age” was published in 1999) PP: Sharon, it seems as if you’re back home, in more than one ways.

SM: Well, I’ve been coming back home every year over the past six or seven years.

PP: In the physical sense, that is one way but I’m particularly making reference to your writing – you are beginning to focus more on Guyana.

The last time we spoke, you mentioned you were working on a few titles on Guyana. So far, you have produced four books on Guyana.

SM: Set in Guyana.

PP: Yes, set in Guyana.

In that conversation, some five years ago, you mentioned also that it was not viable to sell/market Guyana in the UK; has that situation changed?

SM: No, it has not changed. The only reason that I got these books published is because I went to a digital publisher – a digital publisher does not have a large investment in the book.

PP: Print on demand?

SM: Print on demand, but mainly digital. In the past, publishers would invest heavily and print hundreds and even thousands of copies and if they do not sell, the publishers lose. On the other hand, digital publishing does not demand a huge investment, so I was able to get back into publishing. Other than that I would still be writing books without getting them published.

PP: There seems to be another reason for the advent of what I would call your ‘Guyana books’. That reason is the internationally famous one cent black on magenta Guyana stamp which was the focal point

in “The Small Fortune of Dorothea Q” – the first book in this series of four.

SM: I wrote that book several years and I thought that it would have a bit of interest in the northern world because it was sold again recently for a few millions [pounds sterling]. But it wasn’t really a breakthrough; it was published by this Bookouture publisher, so I went back and wrote three other books leading up to that book you mentioned. This “The Girl from the Sugar Plantation” is the fourth in the series.

PP: Give a background to this series of books.

SM: The main character of these books is a white woman who married a black man; she was of a high status while he was of a lower status. Actually my grandmother did this and it was quite a scandal in those days – the early twentieth century – they had eight sons, no daughters. I was able to follow these sons and their families through the ages.

PP: One of your themes is miscegenation.

SM: Yes, yes, always.

PP: And you seem to be having fun with it.

SM: I’m having lots of fun with it.

PP: Lead us on, describe this fun process.

SM: Well, like I said, it must have run against every rule of the British Empire – a white man with a black woman or an Indian woman was no surprise… but the other way round is seen as a woman marrying up, bettering her status… so it combines these two themes of race and class.

The same with the classics – Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte – all about status.

PP: We’ve talked a bit about your themes - race and class. There seems to be a few motifs you dwell on – music and nature.

SM: Music is very strong in this book… where the main character is a pianist and through music she finds herself… music is a universal language… music can go deep into a person’s psyche, a person’s soul and lift them up. I really like music as a theme.

PP: Nature – I am thinking Mittelholzer… How nature works for you?

SM: Nature for me is more the feeling – sitting on a beach and listening to the waves, the music of the waves and the birds and the feeling it all give me… even touching a tree, putting your hands in the earth… so I always come back to nature, nature has a healing

property.

I like to write about people who find healing through music, through nature…

PP: All of this seems to be autobiographical…

SM: Well, my whole life is about healing myself really; I had a turbulent youth and was lost for a while and I found a way to heal myself.

I like to read books in which people come out of whatever turbulence and find healing and find themselves - finding who you really are.

PP: Finding who you really are – many of your memorable female characters are going against the grain.

SM: Yes, because the grain is not right, the grain is very rough and they find it rough going and need to get out, to find themselves and their purpose.

PP: We write for various reasons: not only to send messages and pass on solutions… your writing is character-driven and your characters, in whatever setting and in whatever time peri-

od, seem to be dealing with issues that are relevant today like how badly we treat women – sexual discrimination, violence against women.

SM: Yes, this is true. In this last book, there is an attempted rape. This is the issue right now – sexual molestation.

I went through it; in fact, my first job at the Graphic, I think three of us (two boys and myself) on three-month probation, and before the three months ran out, I was called to the editor’s office, Mr (unnamed) and he said come and sit on my lap, but I didn’t and I was fired.

I left and went straight to the Chronicle and was employed right away. At Chronicle, I was allowed to

Notice to Readers

flourish, even got my own page. I was determined to show this Mr that he may shut me out but can’t shut me up…

PP: Recently, I am running into articles dealing with sexual discrimination and molestation in the literary world. You’ve just mentioned one instance in your early life, have you encountered this in your literary life?

SM: No, the publishing world is mostly women, first of all, mostly women editors – I had women editors only.

This publisher handling my books was founded by a man who is very kosher – a good man. He left the publisher he was working with and started his own publishing business, Bookouture, and he began it with women literature only about romance and historical fiction and it did very well and later he turned to other genres including male authors. So far, he is the only man in the whole editorial setup.

PP: Talking about publishing houses brings to mind Jock Campbell who is featured in your new book, “The Girl from the Sugar Plantation” and the ‘Authors Division’ he started to protect the royalties of Ian Fleming and other authors…

Jock Campbell is one of your main characters here; show us how you dealt with a real life person in this fictional work.

SM: Well, I’ve kept the things he did like he was the Booker reformist – that part is true to life, but I did change the name of one of the people he worked with who did some bad things…

But the things he [Jock Campbell] did like showing concern for the conditions on the plantations and how he set about reforming them – all of that is true. What is not true is that he met this fictional character, I created, and their relationship is fictional. But it is based on facts; I didn’t know this until I’ve written the book that he [Jock] had fallen in love with the sister of a prominent businessman/politician… and wanted to marry her but his parents did not approve because she was Portuguese… the upshot was he returned to England to marry a woman the family choose for him – a perfectly suitable woman, to his situation; it was sort of a trade-off – marry her and inherit the Bookers’ kingdom or else… and that is the situation in my book as

If you have a poem and/or short story you would like to publish on our Literary Corner page, please email to guyanatimes@gmail.com. Kindly include your correct name and a contact number in your email. If you have any questions, please call 223-7230 or 223-7231.

well.

PP: There is another real life character in this book.

SM: Cheddi Jagan.

PP: Let’s look at the four ‘Guyana books’ mainly because sugar made Guyana and now sugar is breaking many hearts and homes.

SM: Yes. The plan, if I’m to write on Guyana, is to do an epic – a family saga.

Sugar used to be the mainstay of Guyana; it is what built us up, making us a noted colony; sugar was like the blood of Guyana, so if you’re to write a historic novel of Guyana, it has to be about sugar.

The story of sugar [in Guyana] is intriguing. And the book on jock Campbell [“Sweetening Bitter Sugar”

by Clem Seecharan] was what really got me started.

PP: There are a few other novelists writing on the sugar plantation like Jan Shinebourne.

SM: I know her well; she is a friend of mine.

PP: She wrote “The Last English Plantation”.

SM: I actually got some of my information from her.

PP: Now, is there another Guyana book in the making?

SM: Yes, I have two which I would like to rework and see published.

Responses to this author please telephone 226-0065 of email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com What’s happening: Over GYD$1,000,000 in prize money up for grabs in the 2018 issue of The Guyana Annual. New closing date for entries to the various competitions is January 15, 2018. For further information go to The Guyana Annual on Facebook or email: theguyanaannual@gmail.com

Guyana Pastoral Under the tambrin tree wheh de moon na glow, Laang, laang, laang, she lay, laang, laang She cry, but de wind na blow An dem wraang an straang An dem wuk an dem bruk till fowlcack crow.

Who see who hear when she belly buss, when she mout splash blood?

Only de jumbie umbrella dat poke up e white eye from de mud Under de tambrin tree wheh de sun na shine Dem tek up spade, dem dig deep hole, dem hide she from deh mine.

She puppa look bush, how he hack, how he hallal She mumma call priest, kill calf, pray Krishna Christ Allah!

Nine month since dem saach an dem shout, East West Naat Sout.

Who know wheh she lass, who know wheh foh fine?

Only de cush 'cush ants dat lay dem white egg in she mout.

By Guyanese poet, David Dabydeen

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

crossover.

The swing bridge was

T

On the Canje swing bridge 1936 (qcoga.org.uk)

he bridge that currently crosses the Canje River (known too as Canje Creek), a tributary of the Berbice River, is reported to be the third such structure known to have been built, and serves as a vital connection along the Corentyne Road.

The original structure was built in 1830, a year before the colonies of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo were united under British rule. A wooden construction, it was built by slaves

The swing span from the centre turned on a single pivot that could be operated by just one person. It would then swing back into its original position to allow traffic to cross once again.

The structure took four years to build and was said to be commissioned in 1898.

However, by the early 1970s, the bridge was considered antiquated and inadequate for the traffic of the time.

According to a 1972 recommendation to con-

The Canje Bridge today

who, it is said, were given their freedom three years before emancipation. They were also given land in New Amsterdam.

Then, in the mid-1890s, an iron and concrete structure, designed in 1891

by English civil engineer Joseph Westwood, was built to replace the wooden bridge. The 336 feet long new bridge allowed for a roadway width for traffic of 17 feet.

Considered a marvel of engineering at the time, it was the largest bridge in the colony then. The bridge was designed to swing open to allow seagoing vessels through.

struct a new bridge over the Canje River, which was presented by the US Department of State Agency for International Development, among other things, the swing bridge had become “drastically inconsistent with the high standard 50 miles perhour design speed of the Corentyne Road on both sides of the bridge.�

While the recommendation advised of a new swing bridge to be built, this did not happen. Instead the current fixed Canje River bridge, some 0.38 kilometres (approx. 1,250 feet) long and 33 feet wide, was built with a 45 feet high

Canje Bridge (1830) (Guyana Gallery photo)

decommissioned in 1975/76 while the current Canje

Bridge is said to have become operational in 1978,

after an 18-month construction period.

8 Sunday Times Magazine

DECEMBER 10, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Travel & Tourism Entrance to Kako village

L

ocated in Region Seven (Cuyuni/ Mazaruni) is the picturesque community of Kako. The village lies on the bank of the pristine Kako River.

This Akawaio community of over 700 residents still upholds its indigenous traditions.

Though residents speak English, within the

community they prefer to speak Akawaio in an effort to preserve their culture.

Kako means ‘jasper’ in Akawaio, the reddish stone found in the area.

Toshao of Kako village is Casey Hastings.

(Photos credit: Bassu Dwarkha) (Cover photo: Kako Landing)

Making cassava bread in Kako

Children off to school in Kako

The majestic Kako Mountain

Scenic view of a landing closeby to Kako

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

9

10 Sunday Times Magazine Fashion

DECEMBER 10, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Style Tips for Women

T

ransitioning from your 20s look to a more mature appearance can be somewhat challenging.

You don’t want to look too playful, yet you don’t want

A

to dress too serious. Below s with all trends, are some tips on fashion it’s all about how mistakes to avoid that make you approach them you appear older and how to that makes the world of revamp your wardrobe for a difference. Skinny jeans dressier, youthful look.

For the working woman, if you're trying to cover your hips, arms or stomach underneath a shapeless blazer, you're actually making yourself look heavier. A wellcut jacket that nips in at the waist and is shorter in length showcases the most flattering parts of your figure and creates a smooth line down your torso.

being dressed up and given a mature edge. Below are tips for wearing skinny jeans as a grown-up take on a much loved teenage are more than capable of trend.

Black does wonders for trimming a figure and is appropriate for almost every occasion, but as women get older, their skin tends to become paler - and wearing black can create a harsh contrast that emphasizes wrinkles and calls attention to dark shadows under the chin and around the eyes. Add a bright accessory like a scarf or a statement necklace - any pop of colour will lessen the washed-out effect.

Jersey fabric doesn't create the best shape, in part because it's as clingy as it is comfortable. If you love jersey, go for a draped or ruched option that grazes your curves and strategically hides any bulges.

No two men are alike, and body proportions are significant when choosing which skinny jeans will complement you. For more slender gentlemen, opt for looser, more standard versions of the skinny jean – this will ensure your shape is not overly exaggerated. For those with more proportioned builds, keep in mind that more fitted styles can be worn, but consider a roll-up of the hems to balance out your fit.

A short silk scarf tied around your neck can draw unwanted attention to the area. Instead, for a fun look, tie the scarf in a bow (or knot) around the handle of a purse in a contrasting colour. One last piece of advice: Wearing a single pin or brooch on a jacket lapel can date you - since this style was trendy years ago. Instead, use the pin or brooch to fasten a cardigan. (www.oprah.com)

Just because your age is increasing doesn't mean your hemline has to as well. A skirt that grazes close to your ankles may hide slightly saggy knees, but it also tends to make women look wider and frumpier. To find the most flattering skirt length for your shape, look in the mirror and note the slimmest part of the area around your knee—right above, right below or in the middle— and that's where your hemline should hit.

Slimming garments can cut years off your age by smoothing out lumps and bumps. While your shapewear should fit snugly, it's important that it's not too tight, to avoid certain health concerns.

Sizing down will not make you look thinner; it will only make you more miserable. You know you have the right fit when you can breathe and you're not standing in the corner unable to move at a party.

Ripped jeans will lend dimension to the austerity of skinny jeans, incorporating more texture and in some cases, more versatility. Skinny jeans that boast holes and cuts will balance out your proportions effectively when donning this type of denim, ironically alluding a less severe look when it comes to fit. Opt for simple rips on both knees for added dimension and a simpler attempt of this trend.

For casual everyday looks, opt for loose t-shirts and simple trainers. Keep in mind the taper of the jeans and the way it looks on your body overall. Trust your instinct and choose styles that flatter your proportions and features. Straight-cut skinny jeans will add a refined touch and can be dressed up for evening looks.

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

Recipe of the week

Ingredients:

1 cup butter (softened) 1/4 cup vegetable oil 3 cups sugar (granulated) 5 large eggs (room temperature) 3 cups all-purpose flour, (13 1/2 ounces)

1 cup milk 1 teaspoon lemon extract Glaze: 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind 1/4 cup lemon juice

Your holiday wish list almost certainly doesn't include a trip to the hospital. Get tips to help decorate your house without having to worry about injuries to you, the kids or your pets.

Method:

Bake in the preheated 300 F oven for 1 hour and 35 minutes to 1 hour Heat the oven to 300 F. Butter and flour a 10-inch tube cake and 45 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center of the cake comes out pan.

Beat butter in a large bowl at medium clean. The cake will pull away from the speed of an electric hand-held mixer; sides of the pan slightly.

Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 gradually add oil, beating until well blended. Gradually add sugar, beating minutes.

Remove from pan and place directly well. Continue beating for about 5 on a wire rack or invert onto a rack if minutes, or until very light and fluffy Add the eggs, one at a time, beating using a 1-piece pan.

Combine glaze ingredients, stirring well after each addition.

Add flour to creamed mixture until sugar dissolves.

Brush lemon glaze on sides of cake alternately with milk, beginning and and spoon glaze over top, a little at a ending with flour. Mix just until blended time. after each addition.

Let the cake cool completely before Stir in lemon extract. serving.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.

Keep child and pet safety in mind by placing unbreakable and non-toxic ornaments on the lowest areas of the Christmas tree. Replace metal hooks with ribbon or string to prevent choking and injury.

To hang decorations on your house, deploy a ladder extending a minimum of three feet over the roofline or working area. Ladders should be on level, firm ground, with leg levelers added if you're on an incline. A ladder also should be able to carry both your weight and any objects you're hauling.

Check all electric lights and decorations to see if they're damaged or worn. Cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires and loose connections may pose a fire or shock hazard.

Greatest Cooking Tips

To make a great sandwich, spread the mayonnaise from corner to corner on the bread.

Instead of placing a chicken on a roasting rack, cut thick slices of onion, put them in an oiled pan, then place the chicken on top. The onion will absorb the chicken juices.

After roasting, let the chicken rest while you make a sauce with the onions by adding a little stock or water to the pan and cooking it for about 3 minutes on high heat.

Do not use oil in the water when boiling pasta: It will keep the sauce from sticking to the cooked pasta.

Home Help Always begin on the right side of your stove, then move clockwise around the room. The stove is typically the dirtiest part of the kitchen, so ending with it keeps you from spreading dirt and grease. (First, soak drip pans and knobs in warm soapy water. By the time you've worked your way around, they'll be easier to clean.)

When wet, microfiber cloths sanitize and clean floors, counters, glass and tile, and eliminate the need for other cleaning products. They're reusable (machine-wash, hang to dry) and inexpensive.

Read labels for lights and other wired decorations to make sure you're conforming to acceptable wattage levels. If your decorations are connected by a tangled web of extension cords and power strips, you may be overloading the circuits.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Puzzles

Crossword ACROSS

1 Icy rain

6 Mild acid

11 Makes hay 16 Gear

21 More sensible

22 Ring-shaped reef

23 Hazard a guess

24 Oasis sight

25 -- nous

26 Feed the flames

27 Restaurant freebie

28 Walk slowly

29 Lemon cooler

30 Moss and Capshaw 32 Swipe

34 Cone bearer 36 AAA suggestion

37 Impulsive 39 Circumference

41 Change the length 43 Meal

45 Pizzerias' needs

47 Love dearly

49 Zinc -- ointment 51 High-grading

54 Brown songbirds

55 Takes a powder

56 Votes against

60 Most competent 61 Currently

62 Bad-luck bringers 64 "Ka-pow!"

65 Beach location

66 Horror flick extra 67 Grimaces

68 Trump ex

70 Smokehouse hanger 71 Unconscious

73 Nearly frozen

74 Popsicle holders

75 Term paper abbr. (2 wds.)

77 Naturalist John - 78 "-- Street Blues" 79 Rude

80 Basket willow

82 Good for kites

83 Open-back shoe

84 Merlin's profession 87 Eccentric

88 Lifeguard's beat

89 Exiled Roman poet

93 Punk hairdo 94 Tilts

95 Foot, slangily

97 Huge Japanese volcano

98 Writer -- Zola 99 Char 100 Blockheads 101 Cay

103 Hosp. employee

104 Gaucho's nooses 106 Annoying 107 Globe

108 A grand

110 Accused's need

111 Brainy club

112 Said "baa"

113 Inflexible

115 Cratchits' dinner

116 Graze past

117 Flowering tree

120 Close or Miller 122 Binge

124 Weigh anchor

128 Ms. Merkel

129 Thoughtful murmur

131 In the blink of -- - 133 Lots and lots

135 "-- -hoo!"

136 Mushrooms and yeast

138 Monk's cloister

140 Blow a paycheck 142 Groovy

144 More delicate

145 Wassail flavor enhancer 146 Babble

147 Titled Turks 148 Commence

149 Rare viol.

150 Pushed

151 Desperado's fear

DOWN

1 Give one's word

2 Ms. Ronstadt

3 -- Park, Colo.

4 Always, to Byron

5 Bwana's expedition

6 Tending the turkey

7 Aquatic mammals 8 Perch 9 Genre

10 Musical symbol

11 Alley habitues

12 Cochise's tribe 13 Not stiff

14 Hydrocarbon suffix

15 Feudal underling

16 With knees knocking

17 Angus' topper 18 Shadow 19 Matted wools

20 Like Atalanta

31 Model's need

33 Wry humor

35 -- coffee

38 Perforations

40 Flat broke (2 wds.)

42 Sighed loudly

44

46

48

50 51

52

53 54

55

57

58

59

61 62

63 66

67

69

Briefcase item Far-reaching view Buy and sell St. Nick's day Stockpile WWII craft (hyph.)

Burro alternative Swain DeVito's "Taxi" role Low-tech calculators Tugs hard Flop's opposite His and hers Happy Do nothing about (2 wds.)

Sticky Substantive Zodiac sign

72 Conceited smile

73 Medieval tales

74 Garden mix

76 Not widespread

78 Geological feature

79 Ink spots

81 Kind of rat

82 Work crews

83 Like a chimney

84 Process ore 85 Pep

86 Jungle charger 87 Trite

88 Lawrence Welk music

90 Type of parking

91 Grenoble's river

92 -- on (fussed over)

94 Quoting 95 Chucks

96 Cry of dismay

99 German industrial region 100 Studies

102 Bygone rulers

105 Hardhat's support (hyph.)

106 Showy perennial 107 Fishtailed

109 Club for GIs 111 Well-to-do

112 Covered with crumbs

114 Weekend wear (hyph.)

115 Reformation center

116 Eyre's creator

117 Hand warmers

118 Aleut language

119 Edible lichen

121 Repair-bill item

123 Tearful requests

125 Memsahibs' nannies

126 Minute amounts

127 Set free

130 Apple computers

132 "PTI" channel

134 Crisp cookie

137 Neighbor of Belg.

139 Diner sandwich

141 In favor of

143 Narcissus' flaw Solution on Pg 13

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- ENDOGAMY (ENDOGAMY: en-DAHG-uh-mee: Marriage within a specific group as required by law or custom.)

Average mark 35 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 52 or more words in ENDOGAMY?

edgy name node nomad dame damn dean demo demon deny dogma dome done

doyen dynamo dyne omega omen game gamy genoa gnome goad gonad gone aeon

aged agony amen amend among anode anomy made mane mange mango mangy mano

many mayo mead mean mend moan mode monad money myna yang yeoman yoga

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

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

Tech news

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lans to introduce a "frowning pile of poo" emoji have been flushed from the latest proposals by the group in charge of creating the symbols.

The symbol was floated as one of many to be introduced in 2018, but it angered typographers who said it was "embarrassing" to the group.

The Unicode Consortium pushes out a central list of emoji so that they show up properly on different devices.

It said changes to the "pile of poo" emoji had not been totally dumped.

While the Unicode Consortium curates the standard list of emoji, it is up to individual phone and app-makers to design what they look like.

The official list already includes a "pile of poo" emoji, but smartphone giant Apple added a grinning face to the character on the iPhone and popularised the idea.

That led to a row over whether a "frowning pile of poo" should be added to the character list too.

The symbol has been removed from the latest version of the proposals for new characters in 2018. However, it has been put forward as a candidate for an emoji sequence instead.

Emoji sequences combine multiple symbols into one, such as a waving white flag and a rainbow to produce a rainbow flag.

(Excerpted from BBC)

Tech news

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he iPhone X is pricey with a US$999 starting price, but LG's new Signature Edition smartphone costs US$1,800.

LG announced the device Thursday morning, which is based on the LG V30 flagship device and will be sold locally in South Korea for 2 million won, according to The Verge. It's made out of ceramic, a tough material that's resistant to cracks and fracturing and was used in other smartphones this year, including the Essential phone.

It features some of the specs you'll find in the iPhone X, including an OLED panel (though it's slightly larger at 6-inches), wireless charging and up to 256GB of storage. LG is also packing premium B&O headphones in the box. It's powered by Android.

LG is only building 300 of the handsets, so you're probably mostly paying for the exclusivity. (CNBC)

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Apple CEO Tim Cook (R) and Apple chief design officer Jonathan Ive (L) look at the new Apple iPhone X during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus on September 12, 2017 in Cupertino, California.

new report from Nikkei suggests Apple will manufacture three new iPhones next year, including a 6.3-inch iPhone with an OLED screen.

Apple's US$999 iPhone X switched from a traditional LCD panel to a more premium OLED screen, which is more colorful, brighter and energy efficient. Apple continued to use LCD panels on the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

Nikkei said Apple will launch 6.3inch and 5.8-inch iPhone variants

with OLED technology, in addition to a 6.1-inch model with a traditional LCD display. The iPhone X has a 5.8-inch screen, so the 6.3-inch model would be a good deal larger.

Nikkei added that the LCD model will have a metal back, which suggests it might not pack newer technologies such as wireless charging. Apple switched to glass panels on the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X this year to support that feature. (CNBC)

Crossword Solution

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Bollywood/Hollywood

Ed Sheeran picks up an MBE at Buckingham Palace

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d Sheeran has been awarded an MBE for his services to music and charity. The 26-yearold singer looked sharp in a tailcoat as he was presented with the award by Prince

Charles at Buckingham Palace, but breached royal protocol by touching the future king's arm during their handshake.

Ed dominated the singles and album charts ear-

lier this year following the release of his third album.

He's the most streamed artist of 2017 worldwide and supports several causes, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation and East Anglia's Children's Hospices.

When asked about his success on the day, Ed said he thinks it's mostly down to persistence. "I don't have a vast amount of talent compared to other people. I think talent is like 30% of it and persistence, drive and self belief are the other ones, which I guess are all the same thing."

Although he hasn't officially been asked by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, when asked by reporters if he would play at their wedding next May, he answered, "Yeah, why not?" (Glamour)

Bella Hadid and The Weeknd are still ‘totally in love’

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ot only is Selena Gomez officially back with Justin Bieber, another reconciliation could be on the cards for her ex The Weeknd and Bella Hadid.

The rapper, real name Abel Tesfaye, was spotted leaving Bella’s New York apartment a month ago, and now reports have surfaced that they’ve been “talking, texting and FaceTiming each other pretty consistently."

A source told US Weekly that they never fell out of love. “[Bella] never really got over him. She is not looking to be exclusive with him now, just to be his friend. His schedule won't allow him to stay focused on her—she knows this from past experience. She also knows he is talking to a few girls still. She reads what is put out in the news and that affects her.”

"Bella really missed him,” the source added. “She’s happy with where things are and he is too. They are still totally in love.”

Bella and The Weeknd split at the end of 2016, shortly before he began dating Selena

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D

harmendra turned 82 on Friday and has no plans to slow down. The veteran actor said he doesn't want to be a lazy person and wants to continue working.

"My passion and love is to work. I love work. Without work, I will be a lazy person. I don't want to be lazy. I want to stay active," Dharmendra said.

Dharmendra, who traces his roots to Punjab, entered showbiz in 1960 with 'Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere' going on to create an image of Bollywood's He-Man, after Dara Singh. The veteran, who will soon complete 60 years in the industry, has entertained audiences with movies of all genres - from the intense 'Bandini'

yourself. Tell me all about it?’ and he told me, ‘Shahid, no word that I say will justify the feeling you will get when you become a father. Just experience it.’

“He was right. It is an amazing feeling.”

Misha was born to Shahid and Mira in August last year. (Hindustan Times)

and 'Satyakam' to potboilers like 'Raja Jani' and 'Pratigya', and as a comic artist with perfect timing in 'Sholay' and 'Chupke Chupke'.

In recent times, he was seen in 'Life In A... Metro', 'Apne' and 'Yamla, Pagla, Deewana'.

Dharmendra, married to Bollywood's 'Dream Girl' Hema Malini, is known for his simplicity, humility and for staying connected to his roots. He said he doesn't like comparison between actors.

"I don't compare. I don't want to said 'Barsaat' in 1995, added: 'I can never reach the level my father did'.

Currently, Dharmendra is busy with 'Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se'. (Times of India)

Gomez. He split from Selena in October.

Fergie on past drug addiction: ‘I was hallucinating on a daily basis’ tacy Ferguson aka Fergie has opened up about her battle with addiction to crystal meth before her time with the Black Eyed Peas, calling it the "lowest point" of her life. In a candid interview, the "London Bridge" songstress revealed that her addiction made her suffer from very serious health complications.

"I was [suffering from] chemically-induced psychosis and dementia. I was hallucinating on a daily basis," she told the news outlet. "It took a year after getting off that drug for the chemicals in my brain to settle so that I stopped seeing things. I'd just be sitting there, seeing a random bee or bunny."

At one point, she started hallucinating that CIA, FBI and SWAT team were tracking her every move and sought refuge at a church. However, the people at the church tried to kick her out as she "was moving down the aisles in this crazy way, as I thought that there was an infrared camera in the church trying to check for my body."

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ctor Shahid Kapoor says every man should wish for a daughter. “I am thankful and grateful that I have a daughter Misha in my life,” the actor said.

He added, “I remember I was at IIFA and Mira was expecting. So, I was with Farhan (Akhtar) and I asked him, ‘You are a father

She then recalled thinking that if "I walk outside, and the SWAT team is out there, I was right all long. But if they're not out there, then it's the drugs making me see things and I'm going to end up in an institution. And if it really is the drugs, I don't want to live my like this anymore, anyway."

The 42-year-old songstress eventually walked out the church and found out that there was no SWAT team at all, obviously.

"It was just me in a parking lot," she said.

"It was a freeing moment." She added that she was grateful that she once suffered from drug addiction. "Because that's my strength, my faith, my hope for something better," she remarked.

This isn't the first time Fergie opened up about her drug addiction. The singer once told TIME that her drug addiction "was the hardest boyfriend I ever had to break up with." She said, "I dug deep as to why I got there. It's the drug that's addicting. But it's why you start doing it in the first place."

(AceShowbiz)

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riyanka Chopra has been voted the “Sexiest Asian Woman” in the world in an annual UK poll released in London.

The 35-year-old “Quantico” actor topped the 2017 edition of the popular 50 Sexiest Asian Women poll by London-based weekly newspaper Eastern Eye for a record-breaking fifth time.

She reclaimed the top slot from Deepika Padukone, who had been voted the sexiest Asian in 2016.

Padukone is ranked third this year.

“I cannot actually take credit for this at all. Full credit should be given to my genetics and your optics,” Chopra said, thanking everyone who voted in the online poll for her. “I feel grateful and am humbled. Consistency is key,” she said.

(Hindustan Times)

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Sunday Times Magazine 15

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Fun Times

Archie

ARIES

Rethink your current di(March 21rection and what you would April 19) prefer to be doing. Consider making changes to your resume or to the courses you are taking.

Emotional spending will TAURUS not help matters. Don't try to (April 20buy your way out of a sticky May 20) situation. Communication with or a visit to a friend or relative who may be down and out will bring positive results.

GEMINI (May 28June 20)

Confusion and uncertainty will set in when it comes to your relationship with a partner, parent or someone who knows how to manipulate you. Proceed with caution.

Emotions will escalate CANCER if you don't put your differ(June 21- ences aside. Get involved in July 22) a hobby or pastime that you can do alone or with someone who shares your concerns and desires.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

You'll find it difficult to think straight. Don't let uncertainty push you in a direction that isn't right for you. Bide your time and choose intelligence over temptation or indulgence.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Accept inevitable changes, and adapt and move forward without making a fuss. Don't put up with anyone playing emotional mind games or trying to take advantage of you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Secrets are best kept that way. Don't leave your personal information or passwords out in the open. Protect your reputation and expect delays while traveling or dealing with authority figures.

Money matters and emoSCORPIO tions will clash. Question ex(Oct. 24- penditures, and make sure Nov. 22) you are on the same page as anyone you are involved with financially. Assess and discuss the situation calmly.

SAGITTARIUS Don't be fooled by what (Nov. 23- others lead you to believe. Do Dec. 21) your research and make deci-

sions based on what you want.

A change at home will improve your life and attitude.

Calvin and Hobbes

Someone will withhold inforCAPRICORN mation or dump additional re(Dec. 22sponsibilities in your lap if you Jan. 19) are quick to voice what you will and will not do. Sidestep emotional blackmail by being frank.

Don't let your emotions AQUARIUS take the reins when discuss(Jan. 20ing matters that can influFeb. 19) ence conditions at home or your relationships with relatives. Get along and be willing to compromise.

PISCES Partnership problems (Feb. 20- will surface if you put too Mar. 20) many demands on others or are overly emotional or difficult. Take a moment to review the situation before you complain.