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- Guitarist Dave Baksh is of Guyanese heritage Page 29

You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 234

Guyana’s bauxite industry firmly on its feet again – President See story on page 42

…New Gy$4.6B Rusal bauxite mine commissioned

week ending MARCH 15, 2015

“I’m Page 20 convinced I made the right decision to quit APNU” - Selman

Search on for the next Miss World Guyana Reigning Miss World Guyana Rafieya Husain

President Donald Ramotar listens keenly as Chief Executive Officer of RUSAL, Vladislav Soloviev explains the Kurubuka bauxite plant’s operations during a tour of the company’s operations.

Africo Selman

Page 38

Find Crum-Ewing’s killers – President urges police Page 21

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NEWS 3

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GECOM Chairman urges political parties to maintain clean campaign

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olitical parties desirous of contesting the May 11 General and Regional Elections will be given an opportunity to cement this intent when they present their List of Candidates to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on April 7, Nomination Day. This was revealed on Wednesday when several of these parties met GECOM officials to discuss procedures and expectations for that day and during the election season. Speaking at the event, GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally revealed that the Code of Conduct for political parties will be immediately available after Nomination Day for endorsement.

On this day, the parties through their respective Representative and Deputy Representative will present their List of Candidates.

According to a GECOM advisory, the Representative or the Deputy in submitting the list to the Chief Elections Officer must ensure that it is submitted in the prescribed form, ascertain that the list is accompanied by a Statutory Declaration for each candidate and for

the President named in the National Top-List.

GECOM says no person on the list could be on more than one Geographical Constituencies’ List. The Representative must also ensure that the necessary corrections are made and submitted to the Chief Elections Officer not later than the 29th day before Election Day if the List of Candidates is in any way defective; make an application in writing to the Chief Elections Officer for the allocation of a symbol not later than the 32nd day before Election Day. This symbol must be approved by the Elections Commission.

“Every activity that GECOM undertakes, it is within the consonance and the spirit of the Constitution…” expressed Dr Surujbally in an attempt to inspire the trust of the political parties in the work of the Commission. He noted that the Commission executed its mandate within the spirit of the Constitution.

“If you believe that elections represent one of the most important tiles in the mosaic of democracy, then you have to show that respect to the purveyors, management and

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally in conversation with representative of political parties

organisers of those elections,” he added.

According to the GECOM Chairman, the body is constantly appraised by other Electoral Management Commissions within the Commonwealth, many of whom seek advice as well. “We have gained this respect because of the Secretariat’s conviction to doing what is right and perhaps following the directions of the Commission,” he further stated.

Campaign decorum

As the political campaigning intensifies, Dr Surujbally is urging parties to ensure that they maintain a clean campaign in keeping with the expectations enshrined in the Code of Conduct.

“I’m appealing, since

I cannot dictate, to combatants within the realm of the respective political parties to ensure that they maintain campaign decorum and political speeches and rhetoric would remain respectful at all times,” he petitioned, while noting that such respect should not be shown only to parties and voters but the Commission as well. “I want to believe that the days of ‘bradarism’ in the political campaign had ended.”

Dr Surujbally’s expectation is that given the maturity with which the parties had come together to sign on to the Code of Conduct, certain daring political gestures would be miniscule.

He informed those gathered that the intent

was to strengthen the 2011 document for use this time around, with their contribution.

According to the Code of Conduct, the endorsing political party “recognises that peace and public order, freedom of political campaigning, and compliance with electoral laws and regulations are essential and of paramount importance to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections”.

And to achieve the abovementioned goal, the parties will have declared and affirmed their belief in the sanctity of human life, and the abhorrence of taking human life and as such, denounce the violation of anyone, because of that person’s political allegiance.

The parties must ex-

press opposition to and rejection of the use of violence and intimidation or plans of this nature by any of the candidates, agents, members or supporters as a means of expressing political support or furthering political objectives. There are rules governing the actions of parties on Election Day, as well as it relates to polling agents and others.

As it relates to campaigning, in the 2011 Code of Conduct, parties committed to contribute in every way to the goal of a peaceful election process by forbidding the use of threats, harassment or tendency to violence that might cause disruption, whether at political rallies or elsewhere, or any other form of intimidatory behaviour.

Similarly, the participating political groups are expected to forbid the use of abusive, slanderous or threatening language, or language which could incite people of one group to violence against any candidate, agent, member or supporter of any other group and the publication of any pamphlet, poster, cartoon or any other material containing text which could offend or incite people to cause public disorder.

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INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

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

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EDITORIAL

The First Couple of Guyana, President Donald Ramotar and his wife, Deolatchmee Ramotar, honoured several women, who work at the Office of the President. Presenting female members of staff with fresh flowers, the Head of State commended them for the hard work that they do.

Through the Ambassador Karran makes looking glass petition for top OAS post G A uthor Lewis Carroll continues to be recognized and admired for the role he played in redefining literature and playing with concepts that would keep any reader locked into a world of imaginary characters and occurrences.

Carroll wrote, “Through the looking glass”, which was a sequel to “Alice in Wonderland” in which chess was used as a central theme, as well as mirrors. The difference with these mirrors was the fact that many things within them appeared to be the opposite of real life and turned either backwards or upside down.

The phrase “Through the looking glass” has therefore become a metaphor to signify strangeness or the opposite of reality. It can also mean looking at a perfectly normal situation or event and seeing things, including evil, that do not exist, or that are not actually there.

It would appear that sections of the media which turned up to the PPP/C’s Cheddi Jagan Memorial Service on Sunday at Babu Jaan, Corentyne, Berbice had a “through the looking glass” experience.

They apparently saw Guyanese who supported the PPP/C being “trucked and bussed” into the event which they claimed was an abuse of State resources. Surprisingly, no one saw the hundreds of privately owned vehicles that were present at the memorial service or the fact that many of the trucks and buses they saw were actually owned by supporters who voluntarily made their way to the event.

Some sections of the media saw “through the looking glass” a situation where former President Bharrat Jagdeo was accused of “cuss down politics”. They claimed Jagdeo’s conduct was disrespectful and he promoted racism.

The truth is that, before their eyes, Jagdeo took the Opposition to task for rolling out its whisper campaign aimed at inciting racial disharmony within certain communities and taking Granger to task for playing hide and seek whenever questions were asked about his track record.

Again, sections of the media failed to recognize in reality that Jagdeo was exposing the wrongs committed by the combined APNU-AFC during the 10th Parliament and the impact it had in undermining the country’s growth.

Not one of the media houses that benefit from the Opposition’s treasury saw Jagdeo urging Ramotar to adopt a more aggressive approach to those who are considered obstructionists to development.

Sections of the media that flocked the event noticed “through the looking glass” that Donald Ramotar seemed comfortable with the jabs delivered by the party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee and Jagdeo, which proved that he endorsed what they said.

But no one noticed that thousands of Guyanese applauded each time the speakers appealed to their sense of conviction. No one recognized the unity and solidarity shown by the supporters when the speakers urged them to continue the struggle and pilgrimage for progress in the country.

No one noticed the enthusiasm within the ranks of the supporters who left rejuvenated and reassured that the PPP/C had not lost its sting and will be able regain its majority with the help of their turnout at the polls and their votes.

Some politicians who watched “through the looking glass” saw the PYO members sitting and supporting in the hot sun, while others saw an opportunity to spark more controversy to put the PPP/C on the back foot.

None saw the PPP/C’s signal that it was ready to fight a long and hard race to regain victory at the polls, and none saw the discipline and commitment in the eyes of the thousands of youths who rallied with along their party and will ensure that they “Vote like a Boss” come elections day.

But then again, “through the looking glass” some can see the things that fascinate, and the things that some hope could be real until they are greeted by the sad reality that they were asleep while history was being recreated before their eyes.

Some media houses must end their usage of the “looking glass” and must awake from their slumber as Guyanese are experiencing a reality defined by continued development and progress with a brighter future beckoning.

uyana’s Ambassador to the US and the Organisation of American States (OAS) Bayney Karran earlier this week made his petition to become the next Assistant Secretary General (ASG) of the hemispheric body.

He also used the occasion to lobby for campaign finance reform – something which the body had been working on Caribbean countries to implement.

In a release, the OAS said that the Permanent Council of the organisation received presentations by the two candidates proposed by the member states for the position of Assistant Secretary General.

The election of the Assistant Secretary General is scheduled for March 18, the same date on which the next Secretary General of the Organisation will be elected. According to the rules, new candidates can be presented until the same day of the election. The order of the presentations was determined by lottery.

Karran who is running against, Belizean Nestor Mendez to replace the current SG, Albert Ramdin referred to the basic pillars of the OASdemocracy, human rights, security and development- and how he would seek to strengthen the role of the OAS in each of these areas.

On the issue of democracy he stated that the capacity of the General Secretariat must be enhanced to monitor, anticipate and head off potential threats to constitutional order in member states, by refining early warning systems. “We need to support efforts aimed at campaign finance reform, constitutional reform and institutional strengthening while at the same time increasing our assistance for election processes and for the promotion of good governance,” he said.

Moreover, he added that in the future political environment of the region “member states should be prepared to welcome the participation of the Government of Cuba in the councils of the hemisphere,” and commented that the initiative by the United States

and Cuba to normalize relations “has the potential to significantly improve the tenor of future political discourse in the region.”

Karran also said that on the issue of combating inequality and promoting integral development “the OAS has a fundamental obligation to assist member states to overcome the scourges of poverty, inequality and underdevelopment”.

“Our smaller and more vulnerable States, which comprise a substantial component of our membership, are not satisfied with our level of accomplishment in this area in spite of some significant successes,” he noted and highlighted the need to be more proactive in addressing these challenges.

“If elected as Assistant Secretary General, I would work closely with member states to find ways to raise more resources and to channel them into low-cost, highimpact development programs, with emphasis on education,” he asserted.

Speaking of the pillar of multidimensional security, the Guyanese diplomat encouraged extending the organisation’s work to ensure that public security is addressed more comprehensively.

“The OAS must continue to build hemispheric networks of cooperation, sharing of experiences and capacity building in order to combat the scourge of transnational criminal organizations,” he said, and added that the OAS can play a central role in moving the Hemisphere closer to consensus in the war on drugs and on immigration issues.

Ambassador Karran also referred to the strengthening of the Inter-American human rights system and highlighted that the General Secretariat should exert efforts to ensure that the system is improved and strengthened.

“This can commence with a renewed dialogue under the new administration starting with the human rights institutions and the member states,” he said, and expressed his intention to formulate proposals to ease the friction between

member states and the system.

On the issue of the relationship between the Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General, the Ambassador from Guyana said that they “must have an intimate working relationship based on mutual trust, mutual cooperation and mutual respect”.

“They must be at one with regard to the mission and strategic objectives,” he said, and added that it would benefit the Organization for the Assistant Secretary General to play a strong and well-defined political role.

Karran’s vision for the future of the OAS includes strengthening dialogue and collaboration with member states and greater synergies with financial institutions and with sub-regional groups.

He also proposed creating a program of dialogue and consultation between the various sub-regional groupings to promote understanding and consensus on issues of common interest.

For his part the Permanent Representative of Belize to the OAS, Nestor Mendez, highlighted that the OAS is today faced with a “golden opportunity, a unique moment”, one that comes only once every decade.

“A moment when we will be ushering in a new leadership, when we will be finishing a strategic plan, when we will be transitioning to a new administration. It is a moment, an opportunity for change. I want to invite you to seize the moment.”

To transform the Organization and build on the basis of the consensus around the Strategic Vision, said Ambassador Mendez, the input of everyone will be needed.

“This joint undertaking approach, this collective ownership of the Inter-American System cannot be overemphasized. We are here, all member states because we want to be here, because we see value in this Organization which binds our membership and anchors our relations on the founding principles and purposes of the OAS,” he added.

NEWS 5

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Amerindians are calling Culture Ministry to trademark Mashramani for change – Granger

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

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uring the Mash 2015 Prize Giving Ceremony, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony expressed his desire to have the event trademarked.

The ceremony was held on Tuesday at the National Cultural Centre. The Minister made the declaration in his feature address.

At this event, he expressed the interest of the Ministry to make Mashramani more marketable and self-sufficient.

The Minister stated that companies were posting advertisements about Mashramani, but

were not contributing to the festival. He described this act as ‘pirating of the event’ and ‘ambush marketing’.

He also spoke of similar practices being used in the build-up to the Cricket World Cup. The Minister said that steps were being taken to eradicate ‘ambush marketing’ in a move to ensure that contributors to the event get the maximum benefit.

Dr Anthony lamented that the fact that the event relied heavily on the support of the Government.

The Minister said: “We are registering the word Mashramani, we are going to pat-

ent it and anybody who wants to use the word Mashramani would have to get permission to use it.” This means that the word Mashramani would become exclusive property of the Ministry and other entities would have to gain special permission or licence to use it. This licensing will aid the Ministry in obtaining funding. Dr Anthony said that sponsors of the event would have right to use the name Mashramani.

The Minister pointed out that one of the main issues plaguing the event is participants not coming on board early enough. He stressed the need for participants to come on board earlier to ensure that the process of planning is smoother.

The trademark will protect Mashramani against ‘false advertising’ and would force companies to licence the name in order to use it.

This plan is expected to increase corporate involvement in the festival. He believes that this mechanism will allow the event to be more selfsustainable in the coming years and hopes that the event will be able to attract more support locally and overseas.

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APNU/AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger visiting a hinterland community

residential Candidate of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) coalition, David Granger claimed that his recent visits to several hinterland communities reaped great success, noting that he received a “hearty welcome” from the villagers.

Over the past weekend, Granger noted that he and several members of the alliance conducted campaign visits to the Rupununi where the residents strongly expressed that they want “change”.

Granger revealed these sentiments during a telephone interview with Guyana Times International on Tuesday.

The Opposition

Leader noted that there was noticeable need for change in those districts, something he intended to deliver once elected into office.

Granger disclosed that while the Amerindians revealed that they voted for the incumbent administration, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), they expressed disgust with the way things were and the conditions of living.

“They understand the need for change and I’m sure they will make the right choice,” Granger said.

When prompted for transparency on what “change” he intended to deliver, Granger noted that during the visits, he extensively elaborated on his plan for a bet-

ter lifestyle for the residents.

Recently, political commentator Dr Henry Jeffery noted that the representatives of the coalition did not give details of their plans to effect the change they keep promising Guyanese.

However, Granger contended that anyone who was attentive during its campaign outreaches would recognise that APNU/AFC had a plan to transform the hinterland regions.

Meanwhile, aside from the grand rallies the coalition has planned leading up to elections on May 11, Granger said he has always been reaching out to communities and listening to their concerns and cries for change.

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There is a new mood of Democracy, development came confidence, satisfaction in 1992; we are holding on amongst Guyanese Dear Editor, I read with interest a recent article, headlined: “Fewer Guyanese looking to migrate”. The article was referring to a survey conducted for the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP).

According to the findings of the survey which was conducted midlast year, Guyanese are more satisfied with their lives and are therefore less likely to migrate to overseas destinations.

I know of several Guyanese who are in receipt of US visas and who go on short visits to the United States and return home, even though they could have

remained much longer if they had so wanted.

This is quite unlike what transpired before, when Guyanese desperately tried to escape to the United States both legally and in some cases illegally, because of deplorable living and working conditions and PNC authoritarian rule.

This new mood of confidence and satisfaction amongst Guyanese today is consistent with the LAPOP findings that life in Guyana is much better than before; and that Guyanese are less inclined to work and live overseas than was the case under the former PNC regime.

Something good

must be happening in our country to have resulted in a new dispensation where the vast majority of visa holders prefer to go on short holidays overseas and return to their country, rather than spending longer periods or risk overstaying their stipulated time.

Both the so-called pull factor or what is referred to as the “greener grass” syndrome as well as the push factors such as crime and lack of opportunity to earn a decent living in Guyana, have been significantly reduced since the PPP/C assumed office on October 5, 1992.

Hydar Ally

Guyana’s present growth unprecedented in post-colonial history Dear Editor, The contrived spectacle witnessed at the launch of the APNU-AFC coalition would have left many Guyanese scratching their heads, or shaking them in shocked disbelief on reading some of the bold assertions of the coalition leaders.

P r e s i d e n t i a l Candidate David Granger spoke of taking the “… boldest step in six decades”; of the replacement of political hostility with unity; of replacing confrontation with cooperation; and replacing dictatorship with democracy.

Was this the same Granger who, as head of the combined Opposition in the 10th Parliament, led the charge to block legislation and funding which would have allowed for the realisation of the unity, cooperation and the “democracy” which he now so glibly speaks of?

Was there not ample opportunity to avoid the funding cuts for the University of Guyana Scholarship Fund; the Amerindian Development Fund; Interior Aerodromes; and the CJIA Expansion Project to name a few projects, and in so doing exemplify the unity of national purpose, and to so dispel the issues of animosity in our political life?

Isn’t it true that the incessant virulent attacks, in and out of Parliament, by the Opposition and certain sections of the national media have had a retarding effect on critical na-

tional projects?

A critical example is the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project which is so vital to reducing energy costs at the domestic, commercial and industrial levels thereby encouraging both domestic and overseas investment, and expanding employment and the economy.

So we now have presented to us an APNU-AFC coalition of Opposition parties who were pivotal in the abject failure of the 10th Parliament dangling the suggestion to the nation that they are entirely blameless, and are squeaky clean, without any shadows arising out of their recent parliamentary sojourn.

And the unkindest cut of all, claims of “dictatorship”. And this from the mouth of a former top commander once serving in an Army which swore fealty to the PNC, then in power. The same PNC – which he now leads, from a time when each and every Guyanese was a criminal for the possession of wheaten flour, split peas or channa!

The remarks of life under a re-elected PPP/C becoming “nasty and brutish”, after all the above can only be taken as a gratuitous threat, and an insult. One may well ask what has been APNU’s contribution to the state of affairs in Georgetown, where one of the leading personalities has been Lord Mayor for the better part of two decades???

The launch of the APNU-AFC coalition, given the main actors as-

sembled and subliminal negative messages it portends, when seen against a backdrop of an ever improving economy and life in Guyana can only be seen as the launch of a “Trojan Horse” for a return of PNC rule.

Over nearly 23 years of Government, the PPP/C has managed to bring Guyana from dire straits of existence to one of expanding progress and prosperity. The miracle that is unfolding all over Guyana is as a result of the hard work in all areas of national endeavour of the Guyanese people, facilitated by the sound, patient leadership of the PPP/C. Guyana’s present nine years of year-onyear growth is unprecedented in its post-colonial history, and our pride of place as an export economy, assuring national and Caricom food security has been re-established.

The relative peace and stability we have achieved is a tribute to the good sense of our people, and the maturity of the PPP/C leadership in Government over these 22-plus years.

The new platform has been proposed, which aims at further unlocking the creative energy, enthusiasm and resourcefulness of women and youth by widening opportunities and facilitating the widening of their ambition and horizons for accelerating their development and Guyana’s progress.

Robeson Benn Minister of Public Works

Dear Editor, I am one of those individuals who can be classified as an overseas based Guyanese. I live in Guyana for three months at a time before going back home.

Guyana is my home. I am a Guyanese no matter how long I have been in a foreign place. So it is with great interest I follow everything that goes on in the country.

My country’s affairs are mine, everything there is intertwined in my psyche, it is riveted in my mind. I would like to do a brief comparison of my makeshift homeland St Lucia and Guyana.

You would remember that both countries held their elections on the same day in 2011, with similar results for both territories.

The only difference here is that the UWP lost in a first past the post system (constituency system) while the PPP/C gained victory in a proportional representation system commonly called (PR).

In fact when you look at the two systems, one lost because of their traditional base which runs strictly along constituency lines, that is, St Lucia.

Had it been a PR system – where every vote counts – the UWP would have won handsomely.

Because several constituencies saw the ruling SLP winning by a measly two votes. Unlike St Lucia, our system makes more for a fairer fight. PR in Guyana irons out that torturous plight of losing by one vote.

Our system lends more for a fairer fight; a situation of merit, you must get so many thousand votes for a seat in parliament. Our election saw a clear cut winner in the PPP/C with 32 seats.

The nearest rival was APNU with 26 seats and the AFC, seven seats.

What happened thereafter was an illegality, wherein the AFC teamed with APNU against the PPP/C to have a one-seat majority.

It is an illegal act for which the PR Constitution makes no provision. Further, the Guyana Constitution does not make provision for a crossing of the floor like the constituency system does. Things remain as is after an election is held. For you to cross over it has to be done prior to an election.

It is this backdrop that caused the AFC to join forces with the APNU in the upcoming May 11 election, thinking that a combined Opposition can defeat the PPP/C. It is also their mistaken belief that the people will buy into that plan.

And this is my point; would the people buy into that plan? I think not! What is clear is that the people of Guyana had a choice in 2011 in a third party, the AFC, now we have none.

A vote for the AFC is a vote for the arch enemy APNU. Central to the larger party, APNU is the PNC - very visible and very strong. There is no way those who voted for the AFC are going to wantonly squander their votes, knowing fully well that it will go to shore up the repulsive PNC/APNU. It will not happen. The people of Guyana aren’t stupid, nor are they amnesiac as the PNC/APNU would have us believe. They are of the erroneous assumption that the youths who were not around in the 1960s could be corralled into their web of lies and vote for them.

Neil Adams

Guyana is now an economy where multinational companies invest Dear Editor, Over the past years, we have seen an influx of high profile investors, coming to Guyana, and along with local investors, make significant investments in our country. This is representative of the growing confidence in Guyana, as an investment environment, something that simply was not there 23 years ago.

It is part of the PPP/C’s dream to make Guyana a more marketable and suitable environment for foreign investors. I would like to highlight some of the works that the PPP/C did, so as to produce this very comfortable environment for investors.

One of the conditions that have to be in place, in order to attract investors, is a climate of political stability and peace. Guyana, over the years, has made significant strides in achieving political stability and peace.

There are now various pieces of legislations that support legal protection and procedures for doing business in Guyana. This has definitely aided in the attraction of investors into our country. The fact that investors are legally protected boosts their confidence.

Over the last 23 years, Guyana has seen a massive improvement in social infrastructure. There are better roads, bridges, access to potable water and much more reliable electricity supply.

The social infrastructure of the country has seen massive improvement.

Paved roads now open up vast areas of lands. Access to communities is at its peak in Guyana. Gone are the days when blackouts used to last for days. Better access, electricity and water mean that investors are better able

to get their goods and services to the markets. The infrastructure needed for investment simply was not there 23 years ago.

Government also offers generous tax holidays to investors. Duty free concessions are given to investors, and these significantly reduce overhead costs. Lower overhead costs mean an overall lower cost of production.

Guyana is on its way to universal secondary education. Guyana’s workforce has matured and this has made it easier for companies to come and invest. An educated workforce means that skills are available locally, and investors will not have to import talent from overseas.

This is especially true for the numerous call centers that we have seen popping up over the years. Qualfon and Clear Connect employ thousands of young Guyanese.

They have both given positive reviews of their Guyanese staff.

Guyana has shown continuous upward momentum under the PPP/C. We have made this possible through better education, better infrastructure, better legislations, more hospitable social and political climate and better tax holidays.

With projects like a deep water harbour, CJIA expansion, highway expansions and hydropower, Guyana can only climb further up. Over the past 23 years, we have seen tremendous growth and positive change.

Guyana is now an economy where multinational companies, like ExxonMobil and Marriot, invest. What can we expect next? Google? Samsung?

Davendra Kissoon

NEWS 7

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jagdeo defends wealth, benefits …says honesty is what matters “Ministers of Government do not have to live in a ‘logie’ to prove they are not corrupt”

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ormer President Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday vehemently defended his monthly Gy$3 million presidential pension, establishing that such benefits have been historically offered. He also clarified that since demitting office he has never tapped the Treasury to cover his medical expenses.

The former Head of State and now executive of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), was at the time addressing journalists at a specially convened press conference at Freedom House to address issues he said were misrepresented from his speech at Babu Jaan on Sunday.

Other issues were, however, raised at the press conference, including his home on the East Coast of Demerara, a medical evacuation on a private jet to the US last year for treatment, and his Gy$3 million monthly pension. But Jagdeo, in response, told the packed media room that his benefits now were no different than those of

former Guyanese Heads of State.

“When Arthur Chung got a pension, 7/8 of his salary, got medical benefits as part of his condition to serve as President; although he served for just a small period, no one questioned. He got electricity, water, all utilities, we hired two nurses for him, provided vehicles, got duty free concession and everything. The same thing was done for Desmond Hoyte, keeping the utility, the payment of the vehicles, everything. Janet Jagan had the same thing; they were all subjects of Cabinet decision, historically,” Jagdeo told reporters.

He said his only “wrong” was seeking to make the benefits transparent. With that, he said a decision was made to have a bill passed in Parliament, which would prevent any President from making a decision on his benefits at the level of the Cabinet.

“I said ‘let us take all that the other Presidents had before

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

and ensure that we put it in a bill and it becomes transparent. That we take it to Parliament so that in the future, the Head of the Cabinet, the President, can’t determine his own benefits.

We passed that, then they said it is Jagdeo’s pension, Jagdeo took it for himself,” he explained.

Jagdeo said he could not understand why such a huge “hullabaloo” was being made of his pension, since, while the same benefits have been offered to Presidents of the past, he remained

the longest serving Head of State of the Republic of Guyana.

“I served 12 years, more than Hoyte, Janet Jagan, Arthur Chung and Cheddi combined and they still have issues with my benefits when every other President prior to me got those benefits.”

He continued: “In 20 odd years in public office, the worst thing that they can say about me is that I have a pension that they try to make it look like I took for myself, which is not true and that I have a big house

and that I earn a lot of money abroad … After 20 odd years in public office as Minister of Finance and President, everything I do, I am transparent about it,” the Former Guyanese President said.

Private medivac

Questions were also fired about the former President’s illness back in 2011, where he was medivaced to the United States for medical checks. In response, Jagdeo affirmed that it was not anyone’s business, as the money used was from his personal

funds.

“Since I left office, I’ve been on two checkups and I have not been reimbursed for it, I have not received a cent on medical expenses from the State. The State did not pay, that is my private business. None from the Treasury for the three years that I have been out of office.”

Further questioned about his home at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara and whether former President Cheddi Jagan would have been proud of his accumulation of wealth, Jagdeo said the former President living in a large house (for that time) at Bel Air did not weaken his commitment to the cause. According to him, honesty is top priority.

“I don’t believe that Ministers should have to live in a “logie” to prove that they are not corrupt. I believe that once what they achieve, they achieve honestly. Why should they be ashamed of investing their money in a house like so many people are doing or aspiring to do?” he queried.

8 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Zeeburg man killed in collision A

Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) resident is now dead after the vehicle he was driving collided with a minibus at Farm, East Bank Essequibo.

Dead is Andrew Budhram Sukwah, 29, of Zeeburg Public Road.

According to reports, the accident occurred sometime around 21:40h on Monday at Farm Public Road.

A release from the Guyana Police Force detailed that Sukwah was driving a Suzuki Vitara motor vehicle bearing registration number PGG 4474 at a fast rate when he reportedly lost control and collided head on with a minibus.

Further reports revealed that upon im-

Dead: Andrew Budhram Sukwah

pact, Sukwah’s vehicle spun around before coming to a halt. Persons from the area rescued the man from the wreckage and rushed him to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the minibus, bearing registration number BPP

2212, was also taken to seek medical attention after he sustained minor injuries to his shoulder and stomach.

He was treated and released.

Mark Sukwah, the younger brother of the now dead man, told this publication he last saw his brother just before 21:00h when the man came home to have dinner. He said it was less than an hour later that he received a call about the accident.

“The person call and tell me that meh brother at de hospital… when I go there, that was the last I see (life) from he.

I lift he and carry he inside then de doctor say that how meh brother past away… he died,” the distraught brother explained. He noted that he is not sure how

the accident occurred, stating that since Monday night onto midday Tuesday, no one has come forward to give the

driver come and said that the guy (Sukwah) turn in front of him.

He (Sukwah) was heading to Parika and the

The badly damaged vehicle Andrew Sukwah was driving

family an explanation.

However, one of the now dead man’s coworkers, Fizal Shakoor, told this publication that the driver of the minibus had related to him what transpired. “The

bus was coming from Parika,” the man stated.

An emotional Shakoor disclosed that he has known Sukwah for about 17 years and described him as good, hard working individ-

ual. The 29-year-old man was an employee of the Guy-America Store in Zeeburg for over 15 years. He was in charge of the lumber and hardware sections of the mega business, and used to occupy the top flat of the three-storey building.

Shakoor further stated that he last saw Sukwah at about 20:30h on Monday and was informed about the accident sometime around 21:45h. He noted that by the time he got to the hospital, the man was already dead.

Sukwah leaves to mourn his four orphaned brothers along with other family and friends. Meanwhile, the driver of the minibus was taken into Police custody and is assisting with investigations.

100 women honoured for fight against domestic violence

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Some of the “everyday, normal” women who were honoured by CADVA and the One Billion Rising Revolution

t was a sea of red filled with emotions of appreciation, empathy and love at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) on Monday evening as the Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA) Inc, in collaboration with the One Billion Rising Revolution, honoured 100 women who are survivors of domestic violence and abuse.

The event was held under the theme “Let the women speak, the revolu-

tion unveiled.”

Amid an audience of more than 300, the women were each given a token in the form of a butterfly which, CADVA explained, represented the women’s metamorphosis process, that is, the transition from the being a victim of domestic violence to one of a survivor.

According to the Director of CADVA and Regional Representative for One Billion Rising Revolution, Dianne

Madray, the women who were honoured were not those who are accomplished or well known women but rather were “your everyday, normal women.”

The women who hail from all parts of the country and transcended all of the ethnic groups and ages were all smiles as they were honoured for their immense show of courage, strength and will power, to walk away from relationships and situations which encour-

aged violence and abuse.

It was a mixture of surprise and elation as their names were called one by one to accept the awards on stage.

Women’s empowerment Meanwhile, persons who would have also worked to promote women’s empowerment were also recognised and honoured at the ceremony.

The three-hour long event which began at approximately 20:00h was chaired by popular Radio

personalities, Nuriyyih Gerard, Deborah Francis and Journalist Tracey Khan Drakes who all shared words of encouragement to the women present, urging them to “respect themselves, know their worth and to walk away from any form of violence” which can affect their wellbeing.

There were poems which were penned and

Boyer, reigning Mr Talented Teen 2014 Delroy Walcott and Award winning author Robin Shaye also added their voices in the form of songs and speeches at the event.

Dramatic pieces, musical pieces done by Cleon Cadogan, the Christ-like Soldiers and numerous others were also on display.

Deceased social and women’s rights activist, Dr Faith Harding was also honoured by the groups who related to the audience that she worked tirelessly during her life to ensure that women’s struggles and challenges were minimised in the country and that domes-

A scene from one of the dramatic plays at the National Cultural Centre on Monday evening

performed by women who would have experienced violence and abuse and who utilised the art form as a way of escaping the traumatic experience.

The Visions All Female Band performed several musical pieces much to the delight of the audience while dancing entertainment was provided by the Creative Arts Dance Academy.

Former Miss Guyana Universe Ruqquyah

tic violence victims received the best support they could have gotten.

International Women’s Day is an occasion which recognises the struggles and successes of women across the globe.

The survivors and recovering victims were given the opportunity to share their own experiences with each other, to offer advice and to extend support to the vulnerable ones.

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Caricom Heads clear way for countries to petition for reparations

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aricom Heads of Governments have cleared the way for several of its members to seek reparations for slavery from Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

The decision was taken at the 35th Caricom Heads of Government Conference, which was held February 2627 in The Bahamas.

According to the Caricom Secretariat, “the Heads of Government agreed to pursue the cause of reparatory justice through a process of engagement with the relevant European countries.

They acknowledged the activities that have taken place over the past six months towards building momentum and awareness of the call for reparations in the Region and internationally, especially those inspired by the Community’s initiative on reparations.”

This approval means that the way has now been paved for Caricom countries seeking reparations to dispatch their letters and reports to the relevant European countries to begin the process. This is expected to be done in the coming

weeks.

Should the countries refuse to accede to the requests made in the letters or to engage in dialogue, Caricom will then approach the International Court of Justice for intervention in the matter. Caricom is expected to dispatch the reports on behalf of the countries to Great Britain and France.

Caricom, after calls made by Head of the Caribbean Reparations Commission, Sir Hilary Beckles, has called on all of its member countries to follow Jamaica’s footsteps and to pass legislation which can guarantee and foster reparations.“The House of Representatives passed a motion proposed by Mike Henry, which contained three resolutions. First, that the House ‘make the political decision that the Government of Jamaica is entitled, on behalf of the former slaves and via the basic tenets of labour law and human rights, to receive payment from Great Britain, equivalent to the sum paid to the British slave owners as compensation for their loss of slave labour”.

Caribbean Reparations Commission head, Sir Hilary Beckles

Guyana Reparations Committee Chairman Eric Phillips

Second, “that the payment be used to clear off all the debt of Jamaica and to the education, infrastructural development, and health sectors, and a portion be set aside for the repatriation of African Jamaicans to Africa.”

It was also decided at the meeting that national programmes to promote and highlight the International Decade of People of African Descent, with the pursuit of Reparations for Slavery and Native Genocide as a desired outcome of that observance will be initiated in all Caricom countries.

Meanwhile, Guyana Reparations Committee

Chairman Eric Phillips related that the Institute of Black World, an organisation based in the United States of America, in collaboration with the various reparations commissions, would be meeting in April, to discuss the issue so that a solution can be reached. According to him, this will be the deciding factor on all future proceedings.

“The Institute of Black World, along with Mr Ronald Durand, a Congressman in the United States, has agreed to meet with the various reparations commissions. The organisations which will be going to that conference in April are the Caribbean Reparations

Exxon drilling off to smooth start – Minister Persaud

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il major ExxonMobil’s oil exploration activities in the Stabroek Block off Guyana’s Essequibo Coast are proceeding according to schedule with no disruptions from Venezuela, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud has disclosed.

“Exxon has begun its operations and so far, there has been no conflict or hiccups in that.

Everything is progressing according to plan,” Persaud told this newspaper. The United Statesbased oil company’s exploration ship, the Deep Water Champion commenced its US$200 million oil exploration project last Thursday.

The company, which intends to pursue exploration activities over a 10-year period, remained locked in what could be a possible showdown with Venezuelan authorities who had issued a warning for it not to proceed with the drilling, which was sanctioned by the Guyana Government.

ExxonMobil Guyana Public Relations Officer Carlton James told this newspaper that the company was proceeding with its operations as planned

Exxon Mobil’s oil exploration ship the Deep Water Champion

and was not bothered by the border issue existing between the two countries. To this end, he noted that the company was operating under the permission of the Guyana Government and any arising matter was for the Guyana and Venezuela Governments to sort out.

Venezuela has repeatedly laid claim to the area to be explored, ignoring an 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which was declared as the full and final settlement of the boundary between the two South American nations. With Venezuela’s insistence on its position, Guyana is considering judicial settlement of the boundary.

Following Venezuela’s warning, Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn RodriguesBirkett, dispatched a

diplomatic note to her Venezuelan counterpart, asking Venezuela to desist from any action that would stymie this country’s development. The total area allotted to Exxon for exploration covers 26, 806 square kilometres.

ExxonMobil, the largest public traded international company in the world, is an industry giant that has the leading inventory of oil and gas projects, and the world’s largest refiner of petroleum products.

Guyana has been receiving sustained international attention from huge companies, especially in the oil sector. The US Geological Survey said in 2000 that the GuyanaSuriname Basin has the second largest unexplored oil potential in the world after Greenland.

Commission, a delegation from Brazil because a group in that country is seeking reparations too; there will be a delegation from the United States and the United Kingdom will be sending a delegation also so that extensive discussions on the matter can take place,” the Chairman related to this newspaper.

The Guyana Reparations Committee was established under the Caricom Reparations Commission in October 2013 following the mandate of the 34th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government held in Trinidad and Tobago last year.

The Reparations Committee was established to seek compensation for the wrongs which were inflicted upon the indigenous people and Afro-Guyanese during enslavement by the Spanish, English and French. The Committee had been tasked with the preparation of a report via research on four key areas, to create a detailed historical narrative of indigenous genocide and African slavery, to create linkages from past discrimination to present-day inequality, to define and prove the

nature of modern-day equality, and to denote policies adopted by the European countries to continue this process.

In presentation of the report, the Caribbean countries will be seeking an apology rather than a Statement of Regret, an admission of wrongdoing, a commitment to reasonable reparation and a commitment of non-repetition of the sin against mankind from the countries named. It is expected that whatever reparations are given, they will be used for the development of citizens in the country, particularly the descendants of the people who were once enslaved.

Heading the Caribbean Regional Commission is Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who is also the Principal of Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, in collaboration with Assistant Secretary General for Human Development, Douglas Slater, a Vincentian who served as Health Minister in the Ralph Gonsalves Administration.

Dr Gonsalves was one of the persons who had advocated reparations and whipped up support in the Region.

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Proud moment for Top Cop: President confirms Seelall Persaud

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fter acting for almost a year, Seelall Persaud has been confirmed as the Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force and was sworn-in before President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday.

He took the Oath of Office at the Office of the President in the presence of his family, Government officials and senior ranks of the Police Force along with the heads of the Disciplined Forces.

Persaud’s confirmation comes some two weeks short of a year since he has been appointed acting Top Cop following the retirement of former Police Commissioner Leroy Brummel.

President Ramotar, in brief remarks, congratulated the newly sworn-in Police Commissioner and extended his continuous support as Persaud discharges his constitutional duties.

On the other hand, the Police Commissioner stated that his confirmation in the post is marked by both humility and great accomplishments.

He noted that his career was a long journey and despite the many challenges, it has been characterised by excitement and great reward.

The new Top Cop committed to channeling his energies towards making the Police Force a professional one and for it to embrace democratic values.

“We have a five-year Strategic Plan that we are implementing. We went beyond that to implement a Social Crime Prevention Programme and a lot of efforts have been made to deal with police excesses and every other thing so those will continue. It’s not like something new will start today,” he stated.

Persaud who is three years away from the age of retirement has almost 31 years of service in the Guyana Police Force, most of which he spent in the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

The former Crime Chief had led the CID for seven years and spent another 10 years heading the Drug Squad.

Persaud was questioned about his plans to address those reported incidents of Police brutality, the Top Cop pointed out that since he assumed the post last year he has been working on this issue. He noted that some new programmes were implemented and

Top Cop Seelall Persaud along with his wife and daughter with President Donald Ramotar moments after being sworn-in

directions have been given to the Police not to hold anyone in custody for minor offences.

Persaud added that even the Office of Professional Responsibilities (OPR) has oversight on the matter. “There is a whole range of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that have been in place for as long as I know and those need to be adhered to. The OPR is now doing unannounced visits to Stations to check what

is happening, give feedbacks and take actions as necessary,” the Police Commissioner mentioned.

On the topic of his plans for the Force’s Traffic Department, Persaud outlined that 2014 was a “bad year” in traffic since there were many fatal accidents, most of which were caused by speeding and drunk driving, as such he will be targeting these two factors. Another programme the Top Cop

said is aiding the Police’s work to make the country’s roadways safe for all users is the “Name and Shame” Campaign which he noted has come a long way in attracting more prosecutions in the Courts.

Additionally, the Police Commissioner mentioned that the Force is trying to prevent the routine “traffic stops” to put an end to the frequent complaints of harassment. “So ranks are instructed do not make

traffic stops unless they would have seen an offence being committed so no more routine stops for traffic,” he said but noted that the police will continue the routine checks as it relates to crime.

On the other hand, Seelall said that he will also be working on preparing junior ranks to have the necessary requirements needed for promotions.

Furthermore, the new Top Cop was questioned about the Force’s preparedness for the upcoming General and Regional Elections. He responded saying that the Police Force has been preparing for the “side impacts” of an Election since Parliament was prorogued in November last year.

“We started training on Public Order issues, on Elections campaign issues and so on… so that our ranks can have an understanding of what the laws is, what they are required to do and what their role is when they get on the ground,” he stated.

The Police Commissioner further highlighted that the Force is prepared for a worst case scenario as well.

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APNU/AFC to hit the campaign trail in Linden this weekend

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he newly formed A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition is set to officially launch its public campaign with a massive rally in the mining town of Linden on Saturday.

According to sources, a unity motorcade will leave the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown at 14:30h before heading to the mining district where a massive assemblage is expected at the minibus park there.

The coalition’s Presidential candidate retired Brigadier David Granger, Prime Ministerial candidate Moses Nagamootoo, executive members Nigel Hughes and Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon are all expected to deliver speeches at the event.

The two parties on February 14, had signed what it deemed the ‘Cummingsburg Accord’ to officially announce its pre-election partnership. APNU’s General Secretary Joseph Harmon had said the two parties will be campaigning on one platform in keeping with their ultimate goal and theme of a government of national unity. He said the coalition camp was enveloped in enthusiasm and anxiety as the members could not wait to experience the change Guyana has been for so long awaiting.

“Everyone is enthused, man.

The Guyanese people’s long wait for change won’t be a long wait anymore. There are only a few more days to go.

The kind of government that they want to move forward will be here,” Harmon had said enthu-

Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates of the coalition, David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo have ensured that their wives are part of the campaign

siastically.

When questioned about the response the coalition has been receiving from its support base as it takes its campaign across the country, Harmon claimed that the support was indeed overwhelming and has proven to be much more than what they had initially

Guyana to secure additional 10,000 ton rice deal with Venezuela

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he Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is in the process of securing a new deal with neighbouring Venezuela for the export of an additional 10,000 tonnes of rice this year.

Farmers had raised concerns over lucrative rice markets and General Manager of the GRDB, Jagnarine Singh said the board is trying to do just that.

As he prepared to travel to Venezuela on Tuesday to sign a contract for the exportation of close to 260,000 tonnes of paddy for 2015, Singh told this publication in a telephone interview that last year Venezuela bought 250,000 tonnes of paddy from Guyana.

He explained that while the Government is bent on holding on to the preferential markets in Venezuela and the Caribbean, the excess has to go to international markets.

“When we have supplied the preferential markets the excess has to go to Nicaragua and other Central American countries, North America, Europe and other parts of the international market,” Singh said.

However, farmers are not happy with the prices offered on the international market. As previously reported, Rice Producers Association (RPA) President Leekah Rambrich disclosed that

there are “more than enough” markets available for Guyana to sell its produce.

However, he cautioned that the prices being paid for rice on other markets are not as lucrative. Rambrich explained that Venezuela pays well for Guyana’s high quality rice and paddy, but other countries are not doing the same.

The Agriculture Minister, along with RPA General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj and Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager Jagnarine Singh visited Panama in August 2014, during which time the agreement was concluded.

While it is expected that the contract will continue throughout this year, further discussions still have to be made for a contract renewal for 2015, which will see 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes of rice being exported to Panama annually.

In 2014, Guyana produced a record breaking 635,000 tonnes of rice. However, last year October, Agriculture Minister Leslie Ramsammy declared that the amount of rice exported up to that point was 401,000 tonnes and he was confident that rice exports for 2015 would surpass 500,000 tonnes.

The Minister has over time stated that what-

ever rice is left over is to be used domestically during the periods when there is no harvesting.

However, Chairman of the Rice Producers’ Action Committee, Jinnah Rahman and Chief Executive Officer of Alesie Group, Turhane Doerga have both declared that the rice industry is in an unfolding state of crisis.

They are adamant that the access to the lucrative markets is not readily available and as such, small scale farmers are suffering.

expected.

He added that even the citizens who had vowed not to head to the polls again and those who had given up hope of a change have been coming on board with the co-

alition, with the strong belief that change was coming for the country.

“We have been downtrodden for so long. Our campaign will make people think that Guyana is the place they want to

be; that this is the place they need to be. Persons in the United States, in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean, they must be encouraged and tempted to come back to Guyana,” the General Secretary said.

He believes that when the campaign hits the road, the task of encouraging people to come out and show their support will not be such a hard one after all.

He said the party was utilising every available tool at its disposal which included social media, print and electronic media, ground walks and bottom-house and public meetings to ensure that its message of change is spread throughout the length and breadth of the country.

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Granger must account for PNC’s “sordid past” – Jagdeo

By Michael Younge

F

ormer President Bharrat Jagdeo has blocked any attempt by David Granger, the Presidential Candidate for the recently formed Opposition coalition movement to play the role of ‘Pontius Pilate’, as he called on him to account for his sordid past and alleged involvement in the atrocities committed by the People’s National Congress (PNC) while that party was in Government.

Jagdeo, speaking at his first local press conference since demitting office back in December

2011, said that Granger must account for his track record if he was serious about running to become the country’s next Head of State and President. He wasted no time in lambasting Granger for bobbing and weaving whenever he was questioned about the role he played in the PNC which is accused of rigging several Regional and General Elections and committing massive excesses against the Opposition in the country during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Jagdeo argued that while sections of the Opposition-controlled media, including the

Opposition Shadow Finance Minister, Economist Carl Greenidge

Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, could continue to shield Granger from answering potent questions about his track record, Granger needed to recognise the importance of coming clean especially since all Guyanese did not have “short memories” and were able to recall his role distinctly in a number of questionable practices. He called out the 69-year-old politician for pretending to have clean hands and a clean track record and past, telling journalists gathered at Freedom House on Robb Street, Georgetown that Granger and his allies were neither new to public life or politics.

Jagdeo explained that Granger was a Commander of the Guyana Defence Force and a confidant of President Forbes Burnham at one point in the country’s history.

“He was placed in the Army in a political capacity. Not as a regular solider, he was the politician in the army. He was one of the authors of the ‘paramountcy of the party over the state’ doctrine practiced in that period. In fact, he wrote extensively defending it,” Jagdeo stated flatly.

“Should he not say something about this

when the AFC is delivered a lethal blow after Nominations Day. “There will be no AFC… it will disappear, they will only be a name on the ticket, list of candidates, one head of the list …. and the head of the list has the right to recall any member from Parliament. He will decide who will go to Parliament. Since there will be no AFC if Granger decides 80 per cent of the seats in Parliament will come from the PNC, they will have no leverage….,” Jagdeo warned.

Dismal record

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

to the country before you aspire to high office?” Jagdeo asked before explaining that had Guyana been the US, Granger would have never been able to run for the Presidency or even the primaries because the media and analysts there would have dug up his record from the past. Jagdeo, who is both a member of the PPP’s 35-member Central Committee and its Executive Committee, expressed shock that Granger refused to accept and admit that the party he now leads was responsible for rigging countless elections, subverting the country’s de-

mocracy and prevailing over Guyana’s declining economic health.

Truth, principles

He said it was astonishing too that his running mate from the Alliance For Change (AFC), Moses Nagamootoo, who fought tooth and nail against the rigging of elections while he was a leading member of the PPP/C would not set the record straight or disassociate himself from Granger.

Expanding his analysis of the situation, Jagdeo said that soon Nagamootoo would pay the price for assisting the PNC Leader to hide his own track record

He argued that the Opposition Shadow Finance Minister, Economist Carl Greenidge has a record that was dismal, referring to him as the “worst Finance Minister” in the history of the country who failed to allegedly produce audited accounts for over a decade.

“Yet he speaks about accountability today,” he charged, arguing again that the “same faces resurfacing in new guises, who want to rewrite the past and want this country to believe, particularly the young people because they do not have the memory of that past, that they are coming to the table with clean hands. They are not.”

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Essequibo miller converting rice husk to electricity W ith the pace of science and technology in the fast developing world, more can be done in industries, particularly the rice and saw mills, to reduce cost as well as to save the environment.

The Gasifier at Ramlakhan and Sons Rice Mill at Exmouth, Essequibo Coast in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) is a classic example of an innovative measure that is environmentally friendly and also has proven to reduce fuel cost.

The rice mill is the first in Guyana to take up the initiative to purchase a Gasification Plant.

Rice miller Ramesh Ramlakhan, who is optimistic about the project, said that he has invested approximately Gy$40 million in an effort to reduce the cost of fuel consumption

at his mill. When asked what has prompted his investment, the prominent businessman said that high fuel cost was the primary driver.

Ramlakhan during an interview explained that the waste product from the rice (husk) will fuel the gasifier and consequently produce clean electricity.

The gases emitted is said to be free of solid

particles, tar/carbon and water/moisture and directed into the combustion chambers of the engine of a 250 kW power genset.

The process will replace 70 per cent of the diesel required to run the generator set. The miller said the multi million-dollar investment will greatly reduce his energy cost and improve his viability in a

Gasifier operations at Ramlakhan and Sons Rice Mill

time when rice prices are on the decline.

Saving The project, Ramlakhan, said will save him approximately Gy$1500 dollars on fuel per hour noting that one generator uses Gy$6000 fuel, “a lot of money will be saved, why waste the husk when you can actually create ways of saving money as well as be a model for society to follow” the miller posited.

The mill on a daily basis produces two tons of dry paddy husk. He said that the equipment has a capacity to utilise 60,600 pounds of dry rice husk which is a surplus from the amount of waste he collects on a daily basis.

The miller further explained that many researchers visited his facility and during the process it was revealed that cheaper energy can

Ramlakhan and Sons Rice Mill converting rice husk to electricity

be produced by the mere use of rice husk.

To do this, he said the use of a gasifier conventional boiler/turbine combination was required. He explained the gasifier will produce power as co-generation to meet its heat and power requirements.

Numerous tests have proven that the operation is profitable as well as cost saving.

He emphasised that the project will also help him to pay competitive prices for paddy to farmers. The Indian sourced equipment was installed in February and the businessman is hopeful to have an official commissioning ceremony in a few weeks time.

He is also willing to assist anyone else who may be interested in such an initiative.

Jaguar shot at Mashabo after eating 14 dogs

A

The Jaguar shot by a resident of Mashabo

resident of Amerindian Community of Mashabo in Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) on Sunday morning shot dead a Jaguar, which was said to have been eating villagers’ animals.

The Jaguar, measuring approximately nine feet in length, was shot

by Sydney Williams after a gun trap was set.

The ferocious big feline reportedly ate 14 dogs and several chickens from the village.

Reports emerging from the village said that villagers set a trap at the main entrance leading to the village and as the animal came out to look for more food to eat, it was caught in the trap.

The domestic animals were missing since

January and residents knew that there was a Jaguar in the area.

Residents in the mornings would usually see the animal’s tracks.

Persons in the community were living in fear ever since the dogs and the chickens went missing. After killing the animal, residents rejoiced and in the morning took the opportunity to take pictures with the Jaguar’s body, which was later buried in the backdam.

The community, surrounded by black water and hot and cold lakes, is located in the dense forest between neighbouring Hus t’Diren Aurora and Onderneeming.

Residents are still fearful for their lives as they believe that the animal may have a mate.

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Murder at city hotel: Husband found guilty, jailed for 43 years

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hirty-six-year-old Vinod Balgobin has been sentenced to 43 years imprisonment after he was found guilty by a 12-member jury panel on Monday for fatally stabbing his wife in a city hotel two years ago.

Balgobin, of Lot 316 La Penitence Boulevard, Georgetown, was indicted with the murder of his wife Maryann Sunita Nauth between May 11 and 12, 2013, at the Hotel.

State Counsel Teshana Lake prosecuted the matter during which she called some 18 witnesses before Justice Franklyn Holder and the jury panel. Balgobin was represented by Attorney Compton Richardson.

According to State’s witness, Corporal

Hubert Henry, the Police had obtained a Caution Statement from Balgobin in which he admitted that he “jook up” the woman after he found out she was unfaithful.

In the statement, which was admitted as evidence following a voir dire (trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of evidence), Balgobin reportedly told the Police that an argument ensued between him and his estranged wife after he noticed tattoo marks on her “belly” area when she had undressed.

The man noted in the statement that during the confrontation he pulled out a blade from his haversack and stabbed up the 31-yearold woman because he got angry when he re-

Dead: Maryann Sunita Nauth

alised she had given him “blow”.

However, in his unsworn statement to the court, Balgobin denied killing the woman and stated that he was forced to sign the statement by the Police who told him that his mother was incustody and he should sign the document to get her released.

“I signed the paper

PM Candidate selection influenced by public opinion – Rohee

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eneral Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Clement Rohee said the impression that the public was ready for a ‘new face’ in the upcoming General and Regional Election has influenced the party’s decision to replace long-standing Prime Ministerial Candidate Samuel Hinds.

Questioned at the party’s weekly press conference on Monday on the criteria used to select Elisabeth Harper, Rohee related that it was a consensus decision based on the expectations of the general public.

He even pointed out that the media may have also played a role in the selection of a new Prime Ministerial Candidate to represent the party.

“The leadership of the party met and at many of these press conferences, it was constantly being asked who was going to be our Prime Ministerial Candidate.

He added that this decision was communicated to Hinds, who “took it in good stead”.

Questioned further on whether this meant that the party will then be embarking on selecting fresh faces to fill its Cabinet if the PPP/C wins the elections, the GS said that it is a possibility noting that Guyanese should not be surprised by the unexpected.

“The PPP/C has the ability to attract many people…it has never been bankrupt of a list of candidates for the elections. For those who may wonder what it is like-

PPP/C's Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper

ly to be, they should not be surprised at the unexpected,” he expressed.

Hinds on Sunday at the memorial service for former President the late Dr Cheddi Jagan and his wife, Janet Jagan, told the party’s supporters at Babu Jaan that while he was pleased that during his tenure as Prime Minister, he was able to accomplish a lot, but regretted not being able to achieve all that was set out.

“I am particularly pleased on my last occasion as Prime Minister to feel that I have achieved quite a bit and I feel confidently pleased working in establishing a link joining villages into the interior…

“I regret I couldn’t come to you with Amaila already in construction; that’s something I regret.

“I regret I couldn’t come to you with the new telecoms law that ends the monopoly, but these are things I am sure once you return us to office on May 11, we will quickly get them up and continue the development of

the country.”

He promised to continue to support the party as it continues to follow a path left by its late founder Dr Jagan.

During the announcement of Harper’s selection, Rohee had said that “Mrs Elisabeth Ann Harper brings to the table, that sparkle; that burst of freshness that will energise and inspire membership, supporters and well wishers to work hard for the party’s victory at the polls.”

Harper, 57, who hails from Kitty, Greater Georgetown, has worked in the Foreign Service for decades.

Harper succeeds the outgoing Hinds who has held that position since 1992 when the PPP/C was voted into office for the first time in 28 years.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in French from the University of Guyana as well as the title of the Best Graduating Student (1981-1986) as well as a Certificate in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford, England.

Vinod Balgobin was jailed for stabbing his wife to death at a city hotel

because I love my mother. I did not kill my wife,” Balgobin told the court while adding that he met Nauth drinking with her friends and he subsequently joined them after she invited him. He noted that before he left, he gave the woman some money for herself and children.

On the contrary, the State had also called Wendy Hutson, an employee of the Hotel.

Hutson testified that she had seen Balgobin and the deceased entering Room 209 at the hotel the night before the woman’s body was discovered.

According to State Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh, he found 35 incised wounds about her body when he conducted the post-mortem exami-

nation.

Dr Singh said that Nauth had died as a result of shock and haemorrhage.

The State Pathologist also disclosed to the court that while conducting an external examination on the body, he found incised wounds to her neck, forearm, armpit, abdomen and left wrist along with 14 incised wounds to her left side chest and another two incised wounds to the heart. Dr Singh further stated that the woman’s heart and lungs had collapsed.

On Monday morning, the trial judge had summed up all the evidences presented in the case to the panel before they retired to the jury room to deliberate.

After spending several hours in deliberation, the panel returned with a unanimous verdict, finding the man guilty of murder.

In handing down the sentence, Justice Holder told the man that he killed his wife and the mother of his children in a barbaric manner.

The judge further told the man that not only did he leave his children without a mother but with emotional scars that they will have to

deal with for the rest of their lives. He also said to Balgobin that his actions were pre-mediated and he had invited the woman to her death.

The judge imposed an initial 45 years sentenced onto Balgobin but deducted two years for the time the man spent in prison.

According reports surrounding the woman’s death, Nauth and Balgobin separated after 13 years together due to the man’s abusive behaviour. The couple shared three children. However, on May 11, 2012 (Mother’s Day), at about 17:00h, Nauth left her home and went over to Demico House, Stabroek to meet her estranged husband and collect money for their children.

About 22:30h, Balgobin and Nauth went to the Hotel where they booked room 209.

Around 01:15h the following morning, a cleaner was making routine checks when she saw the room’s door ajar and subsequently discovered Nauth lying dead on the bed, with a knife stuck in her chest. Balgobin was nabbed three days later in Essequibo en route to Venezuela.

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“AFC in for a rude awakening” – Jagdeo F

ormer President Bharrat Jagdeo on Sunday rolled back the years to when he was on the campaign trail, delivering a stinging speech at the ceremony to mark the 18th death anniversary of the founding leader of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Dr Cheddi Jagan, at the Babu Jaan crematorium, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice.

Amid thunderous rounds of applause and rousing chants, the crematorium site was transformed into a sea of enthusiasm, as the former Guyanese leader delivered from the stage. His call was in no way different from the line-up of speakers at the event, who all sought to inspire the thousands gathered, to “re-elect the PPP/C to office so that it could continue the progress of the country”.

Back in February, saying that APNU will easily win 40 per cent of the votes at the upcoming elections, Prime Ministerial Candidate of the APNU-AFC coalition, Moses Nagamootoo, told a gathering at New Amsterdam that the AFC could give the David Granger-led coalition the other 11 per cent votes it needs to clinch a majority.

At the last elections, the AFC under an Indian Guyanese leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, won 10.3 per cent of the votes mainly from Indian-dominated Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

In 2006, the AFC had secured a similar percentage of votes but under the leadership of Raphael Trotman, most had come from

the APNU Africandominated constituency. Conceding that the AFC cannot compare itself with APNU in terms of electoral strength, Nagamootoo – who was hand-selected as Presidential Candidate by AFC’s Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan – said an electoral alliance was the way to go.

Nagamootoo was deliberately selected by Ramjattan who arbitrarily jettisoned the “presidential candidate rotation principle” to select the Indian Guyanese AFC Vice Chairman, Moses Nagamootoo, over the Chairman, Nigel Hughes.

All must benefit

Meanwhile, Jagdeo, who was quite jubilant in his delivery, pointed out to the massive crowd of Guyanese from various racial and cultural backgrounds, that the founding leader, Dr Jagan, would have carried out his functions in a much similar way to that of the current administration. Dr Jagan, considered the “father of the nation”, passed away on March 6, 1997 at the Walter Reed Medical Centre, Washington DC, after suffering a serious heart attack some three weeks earlier.

“We come from a philosophy where Cheddi Jagan believed in ensuring that the PPP/C remains in and above the fray. People’s gender, religion, and race don’t matter to us. If you are part of the PPP family, we embrace you because we believe that this country will change when only all the people benefit and we have no apology for that,” Jagdeo said firmly, above a booming response from

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo pays tribute to the late PPP/C Founder-Leader, Dr Cheddi Jagan

the crowd. He said the founding leader’s vision for Guyana remained strong.

“A country living with all of its people living together, a country that is prospering, where every child gets the best education, where the young people could go out to have the best education and find a job. Where people could have an increase in leisure, where our economy is expanding, where people have more rights, where they can feel dignified and safe in their homes. This is the vision of Guyana that we are all working towards. So we need soldiers to make that vision a reality and the soldiers here have to first of all ensure that on May 11, we win this one overwhelmingly,” Jagdeo, a global climate change campaigner, said.

Opposition blasts

But what attracted a more thrilling reaction was the former President’s lambasting of the Opposition, AFC and APNU, who in their bid to oust the current administration, signed

the “Cummingsburg Accord”, a move that he related will be to the greatest disadvantage of the AFC. He described as “naïve and desperate”, the move by the junior political Opposition party to join forces with the People’s National Congress Reformdominated APNU and its leader David Granger, whom he said still strongly embraced the Burnhamite philosophies of the age-old political unit.

“It must be naivety and desperation on the part of the AFC to link up with APNU, because they have betrayed all those people

who were misled to believe that Ramjattan and Nagamootoo really cared about them. They care for themselves.

They have secured Vice President and the Prime Ministerial positions for themselves”.

Rude awakening

Jagdeo promised that the AFC was in for a “rude awakening”, and would suffer a similar fate to that of The United Force (UF). “They are so naïve …. When the leader of the list decides who goes to Parliament, they are going to be getting a rude awakening. The UF had it in the past and they will have it because they don’t have

any leverage anymore, there is no more AFC after nomination. There is PNC, one ticket… Don’t worry about the name AFC-APNU; there is one name, one list of candidates and one head of list,” Jagdeo related, continuing that if the party is thrown out of the coalition, “they can’t do anything about it because they have no leverage.

It is naivety and ambition; blind ambition that caused them to even ignore sensibility,” the former President declared.

Jagdeo said the move by the parties, seeking out “change”, was nothing more than “a rhetorical gyaff”, as the incumbent has been doing for Guyanese what they never dreamt to experience during the years of the PNC rule. “When we talk change, it’s not just about slogans, we are talking about reality. We’re talking about more call centres for young people and a better quality of education.

In the past ten years, more students have had scholarships than the entire era. When we have had 122 doctors, now we have close to 1000 doctors qualified. There is no money shortage to buy drugs; we would have problems with continued on page 21

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Former AFC General Secretary throws support behind PPP/C F

ormer Alliance For Change (AFC) General Secretary Sixtus Edwards has declared that he will be supporting the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration in the upcoming General and Regional Elections slated for May 11.

In an interview with this publication, Edwards said he was now putting his support behind the Donald Ramotar Administration and stressed that he had no intentions of returning to the AFC which he described as a party that lacked principles.

“I am saying very clearly that I have noth-

ing to do with the AFC!” he declared. Edwards stated that he left the AFC because of the inconsistencies with their principles.

He outlined that the party went back on some of its core values, including the fact that it promised to never coalesce with any party.

“Those core values that they promised are not there anymore, it has left the AFC so I decided to resign… The AFC said they would not coalesce with either party, but I see that has changed. I see they go back on their words and go back on the thing they said they won’t do, which is to be

Former AFC General Secretary Sixtus Edwards

in a coalition,” Edwards highlighted.

The former AFC General Secretary was at the time responding to comments on social me-

dia by AFC activists that he wanted to return to the party.

Edwards condemned as nasty and vile statements being made by AFC activist Mark Ross, in Berbice. Ross appeared to be trying to discredit those persons who helped build the AFC but decided to walk away of recent, mostly citing the coalition with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) as the main reason.

Edwards explained that sometime last week he had visited his mechanic of 15 years, who happened to be located next door to an AFC office on the Railway. He

noted that he subsequently saw comments on Facebook that he was in the area, spying on the AFC and that he wants to return to the party.

Edwards pointed out that he had even publically declared his support for the Ramotar Administration during a televised programme in Berbice recently.

“I did say to the people (in Berbice) that they must vote for the PPP/C. It does not make any sense to go out there and waste your votes when these members of those parties (the Coalition) are not looking out for the interests of the people or the nation. All

they want to do is to grab power and I don’t think that’s the way to go,” he mentioned.

Edwards added that he was a political animal and can handle whatever the AFC threw at him but would not sit quietly and watch as they attacked his character.

The former member reiterated that despite joining the party from the beginning and serving as the General Secretary when he handed in his resignation, none of the AFC executives contacted him to get any further explanation or even tried to discourage him from leaving the party.

2013 cocaine in boulanger bust: Mother of three lands in jail

O

nlookers in Court Three of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts were left stunned on Monday as a mother of three, who was caught with over 27 pounds of cocaine in 12 crates of boulanger, was sentenced to 56 months imprisonment.

In a 2013 Police report, it was stated that 39-year-old Badmattie Persaud was stoical as she was read the charges of drug possession with the purpose of trafficking. However, this was

not the case on Monday as tears ran steadily down the defendant’s cheeks on the last day of the trial when Persaud was read her fate.

It was in November 2013 that the mother of three was arrested for spearheading the trafficking of 27.183 pounds of cocaine in several craters of boulangers which were headed for Canada.

In the courtroom on Monday, Magistrate Judy Latchman gave the defendant the chance once more to give her

account of what transpired. Persaud told the court that she does no shipping, stating that she is the owner of T&R Seafood, and Tazim Gafoor, who was her boyfriend at one point, is the person who exports goods.

Persaud said that Gafoor had offered her a job at his business, encouraging her to leave her work at the fishery to work at T&R Seafood.

It was a month after that she found herself more involved than she war-

ranted when she was called upon to mediate between some friends in exporting goods.

On the fateful day when the crates of boulanger were to be shipped to Canada, Persaud stated that it was Tazim who said she would accompany Nazim Gafoor to pick up the boulanger and drop them at the airport. Persaud reiterated that neither of them knew what was in the boulangers. She said that she had handed over the items at the airport, adding that she had not packed them into the crates.

She said when she was told that cocaine was in the vegetables she called her boyfriend and he said he knew nothing about it. He had advised her to go home and wait, upon which he contacted her and told her to go to the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) and tell them that she did not pick up the boulanger from the market.

Persaud continued by telling the court that she had gotten herself a lawyer who asked her some questions and a statement was written for her, however, she stated that she was unaware at the time that it was a statement she was making.

Her lawyer, Mohan Rampersaud, had asked her to sign the statement and she did so – first saying she had done so without reading as she could not read, then saying that her lawyer had read it out loud to herself and a third party but she was not asked to comment on anything but simply sign. She said the statement then went to the East La Penitence Police Station. She never saw her lawyer again.

In her closing statements the defendant urged the court to believe her ignorance in

Badmattie Persaud

all that had transpired in relation to the cocaine that was found.

However, Police Prosecutor, Inspector Stephen Telford, in his closing remarks told the court that the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that Persaud did indeed have intention to smuggle the cocaine out of Guyana to Canada. He asked the court to not be lenient with the defendant but to let the defendant be seen as an example against all potential drug traffickers as there has been a surge in the practice recently.

He detailed that the prosecution has proven that the defendant had possession of 21.330 kg cocaine, and the statements of their main witnesses Parmadeo Persaud, also known as “Basil” and CANU Officer Yugesh Babulall show that she was aware of the cocaine in the vegetables.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Telford reminded the court that Basil had informed that it was he who had purchased the boulangers for the defendant while Officer Babulall had found the white substance inside of the vegetables in the presence of

Basil. He stated that the Officer had become suspicious when the head of a boulanger had fallen off when he had examined them, as they had looked unusual.

He elaborated that the unusualness was based on the discoloured heads of the produce.

This and the fact that he had never known a boulanger’s head to just fall off had made the CANU Officer check further, cutting a boulanger in half and finding packets of white substance in the middle of it.

He said the Officer had the items taken to CANU Headquarters where all the boulangers were checked and the white substance verified as cocaine.

M a g i s t r a t e Latchman, in her sum up of the trial said that she had noted that the defendant had signed the statement but afterwards stated that she was unsure of what she had signed although it had been read to her. The Magistrate stated that if there were some discrepancy in the statements, it would have been prudent to point this out when it was initially read.

The Magistrate also stated that the defendant would pick up produce from someone she did not know is quite suspicious. She said she does not believe the defendant’s account that Basil had taken the items and boxed them off but the defendant did this, as was substantiated by Charles in his testimony.

Magistrate Latchman sentenced Persaud to 56 months imprisonment with a fine of Gy$11,097,000 after considering the value of the cocaine, the method of concealing the items and the fact that the defendant had already been in jail for two years.

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UG Administration EAB seeks IRI funding has breached for elections monitoring Terms of Resumption T - Unions

By Gomatie Gangadin

T

he University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) on Wednesday contended that the University of Guyana (UG) bluntly violated the clauses laid out in the Terms of Resumption (ToRs) agreement which was signed earlier this month to facilitate the resumption of classes and the restoration of normalcy at the University.

According to the agreement, if parties fail to resolve their differences by June 30, the Labour Ministry will conciliate the matter.

If the conciliation fails within seven days, the parties will go to arbitration under a tripartite arrangement where the Labour Ministry will appoint the chair.

Following the meeting, the Unions have indicated to the Labour Ministry, that staff members were under no obligation to honour the Terms of Resumption since UG initially failed to do so.

Feeling significantly insulted, the Unions have promised to sharply respond. They noted that they would soon be meeting to discuss their next course of action and whether or not they will restart their protests.

Following the meeting on Wednesday, the Unions expressed their utmost dissatisfaction with the outcome of the first round of negotiations with UG’s negotiating team.

“To say the meeting was farcical and insulting would be a massive understatement.

The University’s team, led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics in the absence of the Vice Chancellor essentially responded to all the items contained in our memo of demands that 1) the University was unable to afford the demand at this time; 2) the practice/benefit remains as is, or 3) the policy is being reviewed. This was no negotiation,” the Unions said in a press release shortly after the meeting. continued on page 21

wenty-three years after beginning operations in Guyana, the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) is pursuing funding for its resuscitation for the upcoming General and Regional Elections, slated to be held on May 11.

EAB Chairman, Father Malcolm Rodrigues, in a telephone interview with this newspaper on Friday said the Commission recently held talks with several international development partners to secure funds to have the elections watchdog up and functioning for the elections period.

“We are pursuing financing from the International Research Institute (IRI) and from several of the Embassies over here like the United States Embassy among others. We have also approached the United Nations and other groups… we have also approached some local groups..,” the head of the EAB said.

Father Rodrigues said that the EAB was still awaiting word on whether that request would be facilitated. He disclosed, however, that the body has been able to acquire some funding from lo-

EAB Chairman, Father Malcolm Rodrigues

cal groups and as such, he remained optimistic that the unit would be on-stream in the runup to elections to monitor the overall process in Guyana.

Recommendations

Meanwhile, it was related to this publication that the EAB would be pushing to have its recommendations implemented by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

According to Father Malcolm, the EAB has been observing elections in Guyana since 1992, and most of its recommendations along with those made by the international watchdog groups like the Organisation of American States (OAS) and Commonwealth, have constantly been ig-

nored by the Elections Commission.

When asked if this will affect the role played by the body in the upcoming elections, Rodrigues replied in the negative, noting that despite the past non-implementation of its recommendations, the organisation would continue to fulfil its mandate to ensure that the electoral process is free and fair. He did note, however, that after the upcoming elections, once the Bureau would have compiled its recommendations report, it would endeavour to ensure that discussions with GECOM is facilitated so that the recommendations could be discussed and implemented when elections are held in future in the country.

The previous recommendations made sought to strengthen both the efficiency and transparency of the electoral body with the aim of also improving its independence.

Topping the list of recommendations was the need to end the practice of having political parties appoint individuals to serve as GECOM Commissioners.

This practice remains a key feature at the Commission even to this day with the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) appointing three Commissioners each to oversee the operations of the professionals at GECOM. The observer groups had also called for electoral reform through amendments which would require political parties participating in the General and Regional Elections to submit their ordinal lists soon after the announcement of elections, while it also explicitly urged that there should be laws, rules and regulations for the declaration and public disclosure of campaign funding. This would ensure transparency and accountability.

None of these were ever implemented.

NDIA constructing Gy$191M CDB in moves to lend more pump station in Region 2 for housing development

T

Machinery at work at the new pump station site

he Agriculture Ministry, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), is presently constructing a state-of-the-art pump station to house a highcapacity pump at Lima in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) at the cost of Gy$191 million.

The multimillion-dollar contract was awarded to Samaroo’s Investment from Hampton Court.

During an inspection of the site on Tuesday, Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud said that the project is in its initial stages. He said that he was pleased

with the pace at which the contractor was executing the work slated to be completed in seven months.

Persaud said that the

pump station will provide the Anna Regina to Hampton Court area with adequate drainage and irrigation. He noted that often the sluice is silted up, preventing gravity flow and hence promoting flooding in various residential and farming areas. The investment, he noted, will benefit thousands of rice farmers and residents.

The pump which will be installed at the location was sourced from India. He added that a similar high-capacity pump station project was executed at Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara.

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud at the construction site inspecting the works done by Samaroo’s Investment

T

he Barbadosbased Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) says it is now revising its “Housing Sector Policy and Strategy” so as to better assist regional countries in dealing with their housing problems, particularly for low and lower middle-income segments of the population.

The CDB said that recent studies suggest that the housing deficit in Latin America and the Caribbean stands at between 42 and 51 million units in a region that is estimated to grow to 160 million households by 2020. “This unmet demand, compounded by changing settlement patterns, has resulted in insufficient housing provision, as evidenced by informal settlements, particularly in urban areas,” the CDB added.

It said that although data on housing in Caribbean countries are not readily available, surveys of living conditions sug-

gest that significant pockets of substandard housing still exist, especially among lower quintiles of the population. The CDB said that one step towards the revised policy was a recent workshop held last month, the basis of which was two studies it commissioned that separately assessed, CDB’s involvement in the housing sector and work being undertaken by selected borrowing member countries (BMC).

The CDB said the workshop discussed the findings of these two studies as well as a presentation on the challenges, opportunities and successes of affordable housing solutions for low income households and provided an opportunity for participants to exchange views and experiences on the housing sector in their respective countries.

“Since 1990, CDB has provided over US$160 million in loans and grants to 12 BMCs in support

of various initiatives in the housing sector. “Traditionally, interventions have been geared towards home ownership, including the provision of mortgage finance through financial intermediaries, improvements in housing stock, upgrading and regularising informal settlements and providing sites and services,” said the Bank’s Director of Projects, Michelle Cross Fenty.

She warned that without the necessary enabling environment in place, the actual construction of housing units will not have the desired maximum social, economic and environmental development impacts.

“Therefore, in order to maximise the impact of our interventions, and to facilitate an appropriate, holistic response to the…housing challenges, establishment of an enabling environment has become a critical consideration for the Bank,” Cross Fenty said.

20 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

“I’m convinced I made the right decision to quit APNU” - Selman

By Michael Younge

F

ormer People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Executive Africo Selman said she refused to be a rubberstamp parliamentarian and a young leader who was made to suffer constant verbal and emotional abuse, at the hands of the elders within her party whenever she expressed independent or dissenting views on political matters within what was supposed to be the comfort of her own party.

Selman, a trained schoolteacher, said that she chose to resign her post as a Member of Parliament (MP) for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) within the 10th Parliament and from its major constituent party, PNCR, of which she was a member after much thought and encouragement from her friends and family who knew the hardships she faced within the two political entities.

Speaking with this publication during an exclusive interview last Thursday, Selman denied that she was either enticed or coaxed by the ruling People’s

Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to resign her post and membership within the main Opposition coalition, which recently entered into a coalition with the Alliance For Change (AFC). “Lots of things are being said about me.

I want to say to everyone that I have never been offered any posting, diplomatic or otherwise. I have never been made any offers by the PPP/C and the decision that I have made to leave the APNU was made in principle almost a year ago when some things that I consider to be important for Guyana’s development – bills and budgetary measures – were voted against by my party,” she explained during the interview.

Inclusionary democracy

Selman, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Guyana (UG) in International Relations, said that she was made more “uncomfortable” in recent times as a result of the unwillingness of some of the elders within APNU and the PNCR to listen to the concerns of their youths and MPs. She said, “When leaders make their decisions

Former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Executive Africo Selman

without consulting you, they are unwilling to change those decisions”, even when there are persons with strong opinions and positions that should be considered on a particular subject matter, bill or motion.

The former APNU MP admitted that she was in full support of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill (AML/ CTF), the budgetary allocation of monies for the UG Student Loans Projects and other spending in relation to youths but these were

axed and not supported by her party despite her expressing reservations about such a move.

“I felt this was not the way to go and I did tell them so,” she remarked.

At this point, Selman felt that she had betrayed the core reasons why she joined the coalition in the first place which was to promote equitable access to education and fight for the rights of youths.

The young politician said she became extremely worried when the practice of meeting, discussing and debating various items on the

Order Paper for sittings of the National Assembly became diluted and watered down over the past year and a half moving from monthly meetings which would last a day or hours to a one-hour meeting or half an hour brief. “This, in my opinion, does not give the MPs the opportunity to make our input within the party. I am dissatisfied with that, because I believe in consultation and compromise,” she remarked as she listed the many developments that troubled her.

Chief Whip’s abuse

Selman recalled sending an email to Opposition Leader David Granger on another occasion stating her reasons why APNU should support the Anti-Money Laundering Bill in Parliament, but got the surprise response of her life an hour later. “I received a call from the Chief Whip, Amna Ally who basically lambasted me for an email with my reasons for supporting this bill. I mean she literally cursed me out. She said this is the APNU position – we are not supporting it and you have to go with that,” she said.

The 33-year-old wom-

an said that she “felt really hurt” and “should have not been berated or abused” for expressing her views internally.

She decried the way the other female youth MPs were treated by the Chief Whip and how other MPs were disrespected by seniors within the party. Asked why she would endure such treatment and the unwillingness to at least consider her contributions, Selman said: “I have never stood up to anyone. I have never said to her, this is not the way you should speak to me.

When she was finished I would say okay, because I did not want to become a person I am not,” she responded.

Asked to expound further, Selman said: “I was always taught to respect authority. My father said “your ears do not grow past your head” as she admitted that she preferred to comply and toe the party line rather than be further victimised and disrespected.

She said that she saw what happened to her colleague Vanessa Kissoon when she stood up against the seniors and Ally. “I did not want continued on page 22

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UG Administration has breached...

from page 19

Find Crum-Ewing’s killers – President urges police

The University of Guyana

“Bad faith”

According to them, they were not given a proper opportunity to discuss with the UG Administration their concerns. In fact, they described the proceedings as a monologue rather than negotiations.

In further venting their discontent, the Unions disclosed that the UG has exhibited “bad faith” since lecturers resumed work.

“We were paid late versus immediately as the ToR stipulated and clumsy attempts were made to make some staff work back time without coming to an agreement with the Unions.”

For nearly five weeks, the Unions have been protesting on the grounds of the University, de-

manding better working conditions and salary increases.

These series of protests caused massive disruption of classes, much to the annoyance of the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) which also took to protesting to fight for the resumption of classes.

The protests finally ended about a week ago following the signing of a Terms of Resumption agreement between the Unions and the UG Administration.

The Terms of Resumption Agreement clearly states that upon the recommencement of classes, there shall be no victimisation or harassment by either side such as dismissals, demotions, transfers, among others.

A

Persons gather outside of the Legal Affairs Ministry to protest the killing of Crum-Ewing

s the police continue to review CCTV footage from the Diamond community hoping for a breakthrough in the investigations into the execution of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing, President Donald Ramotar has instructed the top brass of the Force to leave no stone unturned in their probe into the man’s Tuesday night murder.

Speaking at the opening of the Police Officers’ Conference on Thursday morning, President Ramotar told senior police officers

gathered that he strongly condemns the killing and wants a full investigation that should take them to wherever the evidence leads.

“I wish from this forum to out rightly condemn that action and to call on the Police Force to leave no stone unturned in finding those who perpetrated this crime and if necessary, if it exists, to find the intellectual authors of this criminal act”, the President said.

According to Mr. Ramotar, he is already concerned that some persons are seeing the

execution styled killing of the 40-year-old former army officer as the “first political assassination for the season”. He said persons who may have information about the murder should make themselves and the information available to the police who continue to investigate the matter.

Crum-Ewing was shot dead while using a loud hailer on Tuesday evening to encourage residents of the Diamond community to head to the polls on May 11 and vote the current

administration out of office.

He has been a fierce critic of the Donald Ramotar administration since he moved back to Guyana from Antigua in 2013. For several weeks, he hosted a one man protest outside the office of the Attorney General calling for the Attorney General to step down from office.

The Opposition coalition APNU/AFC have strongly condemned the activist’s murder and have called for a full and thorough investigation into the incident.

“AFC in for... Canadian envoy confident GECOM from page 16

sometimes distribution, but not money shortage,” Jagdeo declared.

Stymie progress

He said the parties have been consistent in their bid to stymie progress since every plan put forward by Government was voted down by the parties with their combined one-seat majority.

Describing the President as a democratic man, Jagdeo said “sometimes you have to administer something else… because we allow them to frustrate and they use their one-seat majority to frustrate every head,” the former President said, reiterating that close to Gy$90 billion had been cut from the budget over the last three years – funds he argued that could have gone to “help the people of this country”. More importantly, Jagdeo related, was that ‘they said we are going to “bring down this government, take away two years from them”.

According to him, that is what the AFC wanted.

“So twice it has happened in our history that these people have been allowed to take away two years from us. First in the Herdmanston Accord and now in the Cummingsburg Accord, they have taken away another two years from us.”

He continued that the progress made under the current administration has even caused some 48,000 of the 51,000 Guyanese to return to their homeland although they were awarded visas by the US Embassy here. “And I am thinking we did a great thing for Guyana, because in the past nobody would have come back, but because of this government and the changes here, people don’t want to stay there, they spend holiday and they come back. We have insulated our economy, we have made it strong – we have had continued growth over the last seven years; we are doing well inspite of the global recession,” Jagdeo said.

will deliver credible elections

T

he Canadian Government is confident that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will deliver free and fair elections come May 11, which will hopefully put an end to the political stalemate in Guyana.

This is according to Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles who was at the time addressing Rotarians at the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam’s Annual World Understanding and Peace Dinner on Saturday at the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce building, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne.

Noting that during an election period emotions can easily supersede mutual respect, the High Commissioner said Canada was eagerly looking forward to seeing Guyana continue on its development path as she linked fair elections to development.

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles

“There is a strong correlation between free, fair and peaceful elections and the progressive development of a country. We hope that the election will help to unlock the political stalemate that has sometimes characterised politics in Guyana over the past few years, and allow Guyana to continue to progress on the path of peaceful development,” she noted.

The High Commissioner added that Canada was committed to working with the Government of Guyana, GECOM, all political parties and civil society to support free, fair and peaceful elections as the democratic expression of the will of the Guyanese people.

World Understanding and Peace Day coincided with Rotary I n t e r n a t i o n a l Anniversary on February 23. This year Rotary International celebrated its 110th anniversary. High Commissioner Giles said Rotary has a link with understanding and peace because of the Club’s motto of the advancement of international understanding and peace.

Peace and understanding are needed as people the world over continue to be caught in humanitarian crises, conflicts, disputes and disasters which result in

considerable loss of life.

These conflicts and disputes are often driven by insecurity, inequality, illiteracy, unequal access to resources and the violation of basic human rights – all of which threaten to erode peaceful progress and development. “One example of this is Russia’s ongoing military aggression in Ukraine, which has already cost the lives of more than 5300 people. Another example is the barbaric actions of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, including last week’s abduction of at least 90 people in Syria.”

There are a collection of important actors that respond to and provide invaluable assistance in times of crisis.

Unwavering dedication and a service oriented approach to work is one of the distinguishing marks of Rotary, the High Commissioner noted.

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

AFC supporters returning to PPP/C in large numbers – PPP

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PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

uling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee has cautioned party groups and organisers against turning away scores of persons who voted for the Alliance For Change (AFC) at the 2011 elections, but are now expressing a desire to rejoin the ranks of the party.

Rohee, in a letter seen by this newspaper said: “It has been brought to our attention that a large number of supporters who voted for the AFC in 2011 are expressing support for the PPP/C.” He said that “a number of these former AFC voters have pointed out some level of difficulty in being reaccepted into our ranks by our activists”.

The General Secretary then instructed the party groups and organisers to “facilitate and allow these former AFC supporters to be reintegrated and support party campaign activities in their respective areas”.

He argued in the letter dated March 2, 2015 that while the rejection of these former AFC vot-

ers was understandable, “many now are better aware of their mistakes and see the PPP/C as their genuine choice and for this we should all welcome their reintegration”.

The letter is seen as perhaps one of the first signs that the Cummingsburg Accord signed by the AFC and the A Partnership for

National Unity (APNU) on Valentine’s Day this year has left the former at the bitter end of the political scope.

In fact, since the AFC’s decision to ink the agreement and enter into a coalition with the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led APNU, the AFC has been facing significant internal challenges which has seen a number of its core Executives and grassroots support base resigning their membership.

The party’s leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, has been having an uphill task justifying the decision of his Executive and trying to sell the coalition to thousands of AFC supporters who believed that the AFC should have remained a third force and option to both the PPP/C and PNC-dominated APNU.

Clement Rohee’s letter to party groups with his signature

Govt assures miners of continued support

G

Miners at the meeting with President Donald Ramotar and Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud

overnment has expressed its assurances to continue its support to the mining sector through ongoing collaboration at various levels.

This commitment was expressed

by President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud following a meeting with executives of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and other stakeholders to explore initiatives and interventions for the sector.

The meeting which was held on Thursday at the Guyana International Conference Centre explored several areas of support which are at various stages of implementation or under review.

The Government reiterated its collaboration with all stakeholders within the mining sector towards the viability

and sustainability of the mining sector.

The GGDMA sought government’s intervention following fluctuating global gold prices.

However, it was stated that the challenges facing the sector can be collectively addressed through continued collaboration and engagements between all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the GGDMA has again expressed appreciation for the support provided by the government for the issuance of a fuel import licence, waivers on spares and equipment for the mining sector, access to foreign currency and tax waiver on double cab pick-ups.

In a previous release, the GGDMA had said that operational costs remain the same despite the extended drop in the price of gold on the international market and recommended that Government offer concessions on fuel and certain vehicles to bring

some relief to them during this period.

The drop in the price of gold has its many spinoff effects, but a steady dip in price can have very negative effects on mining operations and has been having such effects, the GGDMA said.

This newspaper had spoken to several small miners who all related that the drop in gold prices has severely affected their operations, especially since the cost of operations remains the same.

“Even though the price is down, you still have to keep producing to keep in the game.

And if you are not finding good grounds to mine, then it is even worst. Where I am working, we pay Gy$80,000 to Gy$90,000 for a drum of fuel and an ounce of gold is Gy$220,000.

“It is really difficult because in some areas if you produce 10 ounces of gold it costs you 10 ounces,” related miner Mark Defreitas.

“I’m convinced I made...

from page 20

to become a Vanessa Kissoon and be demoted to the back bench and then disrespected.”

Selman recalled complaining to both the party’s General Secretary and Leader David Granger to no avail about the excesses and disrespectful behaviour of Ally. She noted that even another MP, Renita Williams, had formally written Granger complaining about Ally’s outburst and treatment of other young female MPs.

Record, performance

She criticised Granger’s leadership, opining that he “was not doing a good job” as far as protecting the rights of young girls and parliamentarians in the PNC/ APNU grouping goes.

It appeared as though Granger was using Ally to effect the abuse and was playing a game when approached by the women and youths claiming not to have knowledge of the abuse whenever dissent occurred. “The records would speak for themselves. I have made my contribution. I never shied away from responsibility,” the politician said. She conceded that with her departure, APNU would lose more than one vote as she revealed the disrespect shown by some within the PNC/APNU leadership to her and the work she did for the party.

“I am convinced now that I made the right decision. I would make this decision all over again if I had the chance, but

a little earlier,” she remarked.

The politician is open to joining any party or grouping that would share her vision for inclusionary democracy, education and youth development. When pressed, Selman said this included the ruling PPP. Both APNU and the AFC have been accused of undermining the potential of youth within their fold, given Granger’s elitist style of party management. There continues to be a rift between those who hold posts, aspire to hold posts, and are in line to hold posts within the Opposition camp, with infighting, accounts of victimisation and discrimination reaching alarming levels since 2010.

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WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Last three years in office very challenging – Ramotar tells Berbicians

From left to right: General Secretary of PPP/C, Clement Rohee; former President Bharrat Jagdeo; PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and President Donald Ramotar on stage at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant

By Andrew Carmichael

T

he governing People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) on Sunday launched its re-election campaign at a massive rally, which was also used to honour the life of the party’s founder, Dr Cheddi Jagan at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, Corentyne.

The Party will be going to the polls with President Donald Ramotar as its Presidential Candidate and former Foreign Affairs Ministry Director General Elisabeth

Harper as its Prime Ministerial Candidate.

The launch at the memorial pilgrimage for the late Dr Jagan was seen as fitting, given the long and dedicated struggle for a better Guyana.

Currently, Guyana is observing the 18th death anniversary of Dr Jagan, credited for the return of democracy to postindependence Guyana.

In promising to return with the largest victory for the PPP/C in the history of Guyana at the May 11 polls, President Ramotar said that over the last three years the policies that have been

implemented by his administration were those

that Dr Jagan would have implemented had he been alive.

Ramotar’s three years in office were very challenging, with the Opposition’s stranglehold on the National Assembly, cutting budgets, blocking legislation and stymieing the implementation of several projects, including the Amaila Falls Hydro Project; the Specialty Hospital and the Modernisation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

According to the Head of State, despite the challenges presented by the joint parliamentary Opposition over the

past three years, he did not compromise on principles. However, he noted that it was the same when Dr Jagan was alive.

“I take comfort in the fact Cheddi Jagan had to fight against tremendous odds. And so, today, I am not worried about the actions of the Opposition. Those who claim that they have nothing to apologise for,” Ramotar told supporters. The President said over the past three years he did not have an Opposition that was patriotic and interested in the development of Guyana. “I had narrow-minded people who

PYO members at the Babu Jaan ceremony

seem to believe that they can make things bad in our country and drive us back to the time when we had to line up for a quarter pint of oil … in the hope that it will change their political fortune. That is what I had to deal with over the last three years.”

“Not one day did they use their one-seat majority to say ‘Donald Ramotar, build more roads in Berbice, build more schools for our people, build more hospitals for our people, not one single day. Instead, they used the one-seat majority to cut Gy$89 billion from our budget, Gy$89 continued on page 25

24 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

PYO not part of IRI-funded youth group … IRI claims all parties on board

T

he Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) has asserted that its membership consists of persons from across the diverse political spectrum and has taken umbrage against the recent comments about its bona fides by the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and its youth arm the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO).

However, the PYO has distanced itself from the group and has called on them to provide the names of its members who are part of the GNYC. The PYO and the PPP/C had pointed out that the GNYC is affiliated with the Opposition parties and was using their partnership with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to secure executive power.

“The PYO believes that the GNYC has deeply rooted political interests and affiliations to Opposition groups in our

society which are trying desperately to access executive power through dubious means,” the organisation said.

Additionally, Clement Rohee, General Secretary of the PPP/C had said that the organisation claiming to represent Guyana’s youth has no authority to do so.

“As far as the PPP/C is concerned this youth grouping is a creature of external interference through the US LEAD (Leadership and Democracy) Project and is nothing more than a group of partisan persons who are attempting to hijack the name Guyana National Youth council,” he said.

GNYC has partnered with GECOM with the aim of implementing a national voter education campaign for the upcoming General and Regional Elections. The PYO has since been calling on GECOM to break its formal arrangement with the GNYC. As far as the PPP/C is concerned, this youth

Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) representatives meeting with GECOM officials last week Thursday.

In photo also is Head of USAID Guyana Glenn Bradbury and GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

grouping is a creature of external interference through the LEAD Project and is nothing more than partisan persons who are attempting to hijack the name Guyana National Youth Council,” stated Rohee.

In North Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Honduras and Venezuela, the International Republical Institute (IRI) has worked through youth groups tilted to the Opposition to effect regime change.

Rohee said the deci-

sion to engage the GNYC in getting more youths to vote was not made by the seven Commissioners at GECOM, and as such steps should be taken to have the “imposition” on the electorate of Guyana addressed.

In an invited comment, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the GNYC Tiffany Daniels noted that the actions taken by the PPP/C and PYO are uncalled for. She reiterated that the Council consists of members from the People’s National

Congress/Reform (PNC/R), Alliance For Change (AFC) and PPP/C youth groups.

“We have members from all political parties,” Daniels asserted. In response to the PYO’s call for clarity on the selection of members for the GNYC, Daniels stated that when the selection process was ongoing, the PYO showed up for one meeting and never returned. “Consequently, only individual members of the PYO became members of the GNYC whereas, the PNCR and

AFC youth groups are on board the membership,” she said.

Will not disclose

When prompted for statistics on the distribution, Daniels said she is not at liberty to disclose that information.

“The GNYC will not release its members’ personal details, political affiliations, or otherwise,” she asserted.

Daniels also denied being affiliated with the PNCR youth group. “I have never been a part of any political group,” she said.

Rice Producers’ Action Committee bogus – Seeraj

By Erica Williams

W

eeks after the Rice Producers’ A c t i o n Committee (also abbreviated to RPA) called for total control of the rice industry, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Secretary

Dharamkumar Seeraj has called the Committee bogus.

During a telephone interview with this newspaper on Wednesday, Seeraj said Jinnah Rahman and Turhane Doerga of the Committee are not associated with the industry.

“Doerga is a confus-

ing guy, at one point he says he is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Alesie Group and other times he says he is the Consultant or former CEO. We do not know who he is,” Seeraj said.

The GRDB General Secretary discredited the committee by stating that he was made to

understand that the two men appear on television programmes purporting to be in support of members of the rice community.

“I wouldn’t listen to what they have to say.

It’s only two of them in that committee,” Seeraj said while adding that at present there was a court matter against Doerga for monies owed to rice farmers after he leased a rice mill and did not keep to the contractual agreement.

He said that members of the Action Committee have stated that they were a breakaway faction of the Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), but claimed that there was no breakaway faction of the Association.

Seeraj made these comments when asked to highlight a marketing strategy to sell the bumper rice harvest expected in 2015.

He said the rice industry was totally privatised and following the increased rice production, the Government intervened to aid in sourcing additional rice markets, and “made arrangements with Venezuela and Panama”.

“The Government got involved in transactions with the Venezuelan market. The GRDB is the contracting party in the industry,” Seeraj said.

GRDB General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj

Seeraj explained that the Government of Guyana was deeply concerned with the well-being of the millers and farmers and as such, thought it was necessary to lend a helping hand.

“I have not heard any miller complain about being excluded from the Venezuela happening,” Seeraj pointed out.

He said because of the private nature of the industry, farmers would normally seek their own buyers. In addition, he stated that in 2014, of the 635, 000 tonnes of rice produced, 501,000 tonnes were exported.

Progression

President Donald Ramotar told this newspaper on Wednesday that his Government will continue to fight for the progression of the rice industry.

He reiterated that so far the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government had managed to secure a market in Venezuela but that market had dwindled.

The Head of State said that in the past, Venezuela bought twothirds as opposed to onethird of Guyana’s total rice production. He then highlighted the progress made so far in the industry, stating that at present there were the Government and Private Sector markets in Panama available to Guyanese rice farmers.

While farmers have stated that they were not happy with the prices offered by markets outside of the preferential markets namely the Caribbean, Venezuela and Europe, President Ramotar said in these markets, the prices being offered would be negotiated.

Action Committee Chairman Rahman and Alesie Group CEO Doerga have both declared that the rice industry was in an unfolding state of crisis.

They were adamant that access to the lucrative markets was not readily available and as such, small-scale farmers were suffering. In addition, Doerga feels he has been continuously attacked by the Government.

NEWS 25

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Cummingsburg Accord is more about ‘power-wresting’, says Nandlall

A

ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has affirmed that the newly formed A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition never addressed issues and policies on the governance of Guyana.

In his estimation, the AG detailed that APNU and AFC were more into power-wrestling, in a battle for power-sharing, even as they were attempting to inform the public that they were in ‘discussions and negotiations’. In his view, the Minister deems this kind of tussle as no different from what obtains on the battlefield when potentially victorious armies would plan for the ‘sharing of the spoils’ of victory.

On exposing the actual agreement, the Minister highlighted that the very document is fraught with a number of worrying concerns for the Guyanese electorate.

He stated that the “Cummingsburg Accord”, based upon what has been made public, is essentially an agreement between the two political parties, but that it has no foundation in law, as “it is not grounded in the Constitution”. This, he said, makes for a number of huge potential

problems, irrespective of what obtains from the upcoming General and Regional Elections.

He proposed that whether or not the merger will bear expected and ‘planned for’ fruits is based on two main factors: first, its non-constitutional terms and conditions; and secondly, the actual nature of those who are part of it.

The first worrying aspect is the flippant manner, in which the two parties have come together and decided that they will by-pass the Guyana Constitution.

AG Nandlall explained that the Accord itself, and the way that it distributes powers and shares Cabinet responsibilities are anti-constitutional, and it is the very Constitution which actually prescribes “what the powers of the President are, and what the powers of the PM are, and how persons are appointed to the Cabinet”, and not some ad-hoc arrangement.

Nandlall opined that the document was more “intended to be a farce on the population”, adding that of itself, it declares that the Presidential Candidate will only and limitedly enjoy, if he becomes the President, reduced executive powers, and the Prime Minister,

against any agreement or statue, so what we have is something that is void ab initio and unconstitutional, and, therefore, of no legal effect.

Rewriting the Constitution

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

if the elections are won, expanded powers.

In light of this, he noted that the “Constitution of Guyana provides very clearly that the President is the Supreme Executive Authority of Guyana, that he is the Head of State, and that he is Commander- in-Chief of the Armed Forces.” This, he detailed, means that the alliance, with its accord, is seeking to foist on the people, something that is not based on the actualities and realisations of the laws of the country.

“Last three years...

from page 23

billion that could have gone to develop the people of our country, and I tried, my friends, I really tried,” the President said.

Ramotar explained that he was forced to prorogue Parliament because at the last elections, thousands of Guyanese could not have voted because they did not have their source documents. “I prorogued Parliament to allow GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission) to have a second round of registration and more than 7000 new voters came on the list who should have been on the list for the last election.

I prorogued Parliament, because I wanted to appeal to the Opposition once more for reasoning,” Ramotar explained.

He said elections in Guyana were not constitutionally due until the end of 2016, and if he wanted, he could have prorogued Parliament again, and when that prorogation period was up, keep doing it until elections were due.

Money laundering

Turning his atten-

tion to the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, which has been blocked by the Opposition, Ramotar said the Opposition had two occasions to show which side it was standing on. “The Opposition had two occasions to choose which side are they standing on; are they standing on the side for the people or are they going to defend criminals by not supporting the bill (the Anti-Money Laundering Bill). On two occasions, they decided to vote to protect the drug traffickers and money launderers in our country.” Ramotar said.

Speaking of plans for the future, President Ramotar said the Amaila Falls Hydro Project was high on the list of priority and will help to create jobs, which was one of his goals after the May 11 poll. “Both the AFC (Alliance For Change) and the PNC [People’s National Congress] had hydro on their manifestos for the last elections.

So I thought this would have been an easy sell,” the President noted. He said focus will also be on the expansion of social

services which included the housing sector.

Harper

Meanwhile, in her maiden address to PPP/C supporters, Harper said she was delighted to be the Prime Ministerial Candidate for the Party. “I believe in Guyana. I believe in service to Guyana. I wholeheartedly believe that given the opportunity I can work alongside President Ramotar in the next majority government to help this country reach its potential.”

She also complimented the youths who she said energised her as she entered the arena.

“I believe that indeed that you are our future.

I want to encourage every one of you to put Guyana first and work to build this beautiful land of ours.”

Harper also took the opportunity to salute women on the occasion of International Woman’s Day. “Remember how much you are contributing towards building your homes, your families and building this nation,” she urged.

Nandlall pointed out that the Guyana Constitution vests in the President the express freedom to appoint Ministers of his choice, and also the Prime Minister and Vice President if he so wishes. Therefore, according to him, “these constitutional provisions have all now, been made redundant, as they collide with the Constitution, (and we know that) it is the constitutional law that must prevail

Minister Nandlall further expounded on a topic of great relevance and importance, as he pointed out a few pertinent issues in the event that the alliance did win the elections. He detailed that even so for the accord to work, it then has to rewrite the Guyana Constitution, and this cannot be done in any easy and quick way.

The Minister delineated that legally for the alliance to have its way, “it will require a two-thirds majority at a minimum, for anyone of those provisions they have conjured up to be made a reality”. He went even further, showing that “some of them may require a referendum.”

The AG stated that he has “not seen in the agreement, any reference to constitutional amendments, so as to give effect to this accord, and in any event, one cannot predict that assuming that they, the coalition, should win the election, that they will enjoy a two-thirds major-

ity (the required conditionality to make amendments to the Guyana Constitution).”

This all-important question, according to the Minister, has not been considered in the accord, and “it means that the Presidential Candidate, in the form of Mr David Granger, and the Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo, have essentially publicly declared, that they are the two most powerful, intended constitutional office holders, and they have declared to the nation an intention, a willingness, and a preparedness to violate, flout and to subvert the constitution.”

In this vein, the AG touched on the seriousness and sacredness of the Guyana Constitution, as “beginning with the President, he will be required to take an oath of the office, should the alliance win the election, and that oath of office binds him (and any other taking the oath), to uphold the Constitution of the land, but (he sees that) they have all bound themselves to another agreement that is violative, contrary, and in conflict with the Constitution.”

26 NEWS

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Caricom states still violate free movement obligations - Guyanese immigration officers informed of protocols

L

egal Officer attached to the Caricom Secretariat, Oneil Francis has acknowledged that many member countries continue to violate free movement obligations under the Treaty of Chagaraumas.

Speaking at a workshop for Immigration Officers in Guyana, Francis outlined that the excuse of contradicting domestic laws is often employed. However, once a country ratifies a treaty, this supersedes domestic law – as was the case of Jamaican Shanique Myrie Versus the Government of Barbados.

Francis explained that Caricom member countries are obligated to amend their local laws to coincide with the Treaty and had approximately 5 years to do so, but many countries are yet to make such changes.

This, he noted is one of the many challenges immigration officers often face in the execution of their duties.

It was also noted that many citizens are unaware of their rights under the Treaty.

Reflecting on the Shanique Myrie Case, Oneil explained that

the woman was fully cognizant of her rights and therefore, made a smart and well-informed decision to sue the Government of Barbados- a case which she won.

As such, Caricom has embarked on a series of workshops aimed at educating the general public about their rights under the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).

The CSME allows for the free movement of people and goods within Caricom member of states in order to facilitate a better standard of living for all citizens.

There should be no differentiation and no biased treatment influenced by nationalities.

But many times, citizens are still being treated unfavourably at certain ports of entry.

Guyanese and Jamaicans have often complained of the unjust treatment at certain airports in the Caribbean. Guyana has made the varying requisite changes through acts of Parliament.

According to the legal affairs officer, citizens can only be denied entry once credible reasons are provided, such as for security purposes or for the

Some of the immigration officers paying keen attention to the presentation on CSME

protection of public moral and human, animal or plant health.

Subsequently, these reasons must be submitted to the relevant authorities for scrutiny.

Francis noted that an immigration officer must take into account a person’s past records before allowing entry, but must not let a stained past be the only basis for denying that person as that person may be reformed.

He stressed that once a citizen is not current threat to the country, he has a right to enter.

He also pointed out that an officer cannot

deny a person entry on the basis of protecting moral values or laws if such laws are not strictly enforced within that country.

Francis used for example a situation concerning prostitution. He said if a country states in their laws that prostitution is illegal yet turns a blind eye to the situation, then to deny a person entry on those grounds would be considered discrimination.

Many other scenarios were explored to help immigration officers better understand what protocols to take to en-

sure all citizens within Caricom are faced with fair and just treatment upon entry to various members of state.

The workshop was held at the Police Training Center and saw 31 immigration officers in attendance.

The presentation was also facilitated by Technical Coordinator of the Technical Action Services Unit of the Caricom Secretariat Melbour Phillip. The wider initiative was compiled by the Caricom Secretariat to improve the flow of information within six member

states. It is being executed by Right Angle Imaging Consultancy; a St Lucian-based organisation, and forms part of component 300 of the Caricom Trade and Competitiveness Project.

Free Movement of Skills, Free Movement of Capital, the Caricom Complaints Procedure, Free Movement of Services, Free Movement of Goods and the Right of Establishment were among the areas. The Guyana leg of the Canadian funded project is expected to conclude in March.

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Public outrage over AFC’s Mark Ross comment M

embers of the public are now expressing outrage over a recent comment made by Alliance For Change (AFC) controversial member Mark Ross that he is awaiting word of the President’s and his affiliates’ deaths.

It was following the news of the death of Coordinator for the Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Development Project at the Agriculture Ministry, Vimala Balgobin, in an accident in Lethem that Ross took to Facebook and posted that he was awaiting similar news of the “President and his escorts”.

His comments sparked a debate on the social media with many condemning the words of the AFC member.

Labelling the comment as “‘inhumane”,

“insensitive” and “totally uncalled for”, many called out Ross on his words, noting that they did not befit any human being and more so, someone who was part of a political party and was claiming to have the people’s interests at heart.

One Facebook user, Savitri Warnauth, who first expressed utter disgust with the comment made by Ross questioned what kind of human being would deliberately wish such a tragedy upon another, and more so the President of the country.

“I don’t understand how a man can actually think like this of another human being. My sympathy to the deceased,” Warnauth said.

Bissoondyal Singh Sr also expressed similar sentiments. “What a tragic loss….Sincere

AFC Member Mark Ross

condolences to the bereaved family…..and as per Ross comments….. is this a human being?”

Singh Sr asked.

Ross also came in for a reality check from another user, Nicholas De Castro, who stated that

it was only a ‘sad’ person who would venture to make such statements in light of the tragic circumstances in which Balgobin met her demise.

Balgobin, who was also a member of the

Guyana Marketing Corporation’s Board of Directors, was conducting training on women’s empowerment in remote locations.

She and her husband were in the vehicle when it crashed along a bridge. Her husband was medevacked to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Wednesday evening.

Ross has been a controversial figure over the years.

He has taken to his Facebook page chastising and making crude remarks at the Government and the ruling party, even going as far as calling out Ministers and tagging them in his posts in an attempt to engage them in a debate and to attract attention.

More recently, explicit vulgar conversa-

tions surfaced on social media between himself and Johnny Welshman, the man who had accused the Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman of sexually molesting him when he was younger.

Ross shared the conversations much to the disgust of many on his Facebook page.

According to a source, soon after these conversations had surfaced on the Internet, AFC’s leader, Khemraj Ramjattan had called Ross on his actions, lamenting that he was a member of the AFC and his behaviour did not befit the behaviour of a member of that party.

He was urged to ‘get his act together’, but it would appear that those warnings have fallen on deaf ears.

Brother of known criminal wanted Government exploring new health for Agricola shooting

T

he brother of a well known criminal is being hunted by the Police for the execution of Randy Persaud which occurred on Tuesday evening in front of his three-year-old daughter and other relatives at Agricola, Greater Georgetown.

A senior Police rank told Guyana Times International on Wednesday morning that investigators are hunting the man who pumped six bullets into Persaud’s body in front of his home at Lot 83 Second Street, Agricola.

The rank told this publication that based on information received, Persaud and the wanted man had a misunderstanding some time back and the shooting might have stemmed from that issue.

Nevertheless, he stated that the Police will do everything in their power to find the suspect, while noting that a .9mm pistol was used to carry out the attack.

However, Debbie

Dead: Randy Persaud

Persaud, mother of the dead man during an interview told media operatives that she was not sure of the motive behind the shooting but called on the Guyana Police Force to find the culprit who made good his escape after committing the act.

“Since Sunday night, they shooting at me son… meh son and them nah got no story because he done mix and mingle with them… they can’t go behind the people who and them got story but they come behind me son to take advantage,” she cried.

She went on to say that her son went to Cayanne, French Guiana

and she requested for him to return home to which he agreed. Persaud came back about three weeks ago but planned on returning to Suriname. She encouraged him to look after his papers so that he can “come and go anytime”.

“He got a friend who is a prison officer went by he on Sunday drinking so they decide to go out… same day was Sophia Mash so they went there… After I lock up shop, me and he daughter went in the house but about 20 minutes after, meh hear they come back”, she noted.

Upon enquiring the reason for them to return

in such a haste, she was told that someone at the Mash celebrations, shot at the officer’s car hence they left. Nevertheless, on the night of the shooting, she was in the house looking at television when she heard gunshots in front of her home and as she looked out she heard her son screaming for her.

As she ran towards the street, she saw her son in a nearby gutter and the suspect with a gun in his hands pulling the trigger. After the shooting incident, she said that the suspect, whose name was given as Jomel, was seen fleeing the scene. The suspect reportedly resides at Cross Street, Georgetown.

The dead man’s relatives are calling on members of the Police Force to investigate the matter thoroughly and are hopeful that the culprit is brought to justice.

The dead man leaves to mourn his reputed wife who is pregnant with his second child, his three year-old daughter, mother and siblings.

Mother of 3 fined for lying at Immigration Office

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mother was fined Gy$40,000 on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after she was found guilty of lying to Immigration Officers about who she was.

It is alleged that on June 18, 2012, Sita Munroe went to the Central Immigration and Passport Office to obtain a passport and lied to do so. It is stated that Munroe signed a declaration stating her

Sita Munroe cried bitterly as she was read her charges at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday

name was Ellen Bacchus, knowing that to be false.

In tears, the 35-yearold mother told the court that she was guilty but explained that she had lied to give a better life to her children as she was slated to go to Barbados.

She said she was not getting a job and thought migration may help.

She was fined Gy$40,000 or three months imprisonment if unable to pay. The defendant stated she will pay.

policy for ministers

H

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon

ead of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon has said the Donald Ramotar Administration was currently having discussions on the formulation and implementation of a new health policy for Government Ministers.

His comments come in wake of revelations by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who informed reporters on Tuesday that Ramotar is seeking to implement a new policy that will prevent Government Ministers from accessing monies from the Consolidated Fund for medical assistance.

Jagdeo said the Ministers will instead be offered an insurance premium to offset their medical expenses.

The revelation by the former Head of State comes on the heels of stringent criticisms by sections of society over leaked records of medical assistance given to several Government Ministers in the years 2012 and 2013.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai had received assistance of some Gy$2.1 million while Human Minister Services Jennifer Webster received Gy$1.3 million to cover their dental expenses over a one year period.

Luncheon told Guyana Times International that Government was seeking to ascertain how the new policy would be funded.

He said there was some consensus about changes to be made to the model.

“I think the discussion has clearly identified the preservation of access to these conditions of service,” he said, noting that he did not believe that there would be an actual withdrawal or diminution of access to the medical service.

Ramotar told the former President that while he could not take away benefits from persons holding constitutional offices, including the Leader of the Opposition, he will move mainly to a policy of insurance so that the charges against the Consolidated Fund will be limited.

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WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Queenstown Village from plantation to one of the better developed communities of Essequibo

By Isahak Basir, CCH

W

ith the exception of Aurora and Danielstown, on the Essequibo coast, Queenstown is more prominent in its location for its sandy terrain, lifesaving “raft” for indentured Indians and indelible landmarks of history.

Queenstown, with a population of seven thousand people, is midway of 32 miles of Essequibo road. It is bordered by a popular cremation site, the Capoey Lake and an old Dutch compound, formerly at Capoey compound.

This pioneering village of the local government system came into being in 1840, when several village leaders pooled their cash and

purchased several sections of land. Originally, of some 55 sugar plantations in Essequibo, Queenstown was cultivating coffee and cotton.

The present Anglican church, Saint Bartholomew, was erected on the foundation of the coffee complex owned by the whites at the time. The church, unique for its architecture, is a replica of a slave ship that brought slaves from Africa.

On the western side of Saint Bartholomew church, a symbolic pot is well preserved. This cast iron, round boiling pot is about four feet in diameter and can store about 100 gallons of water.

Villagers claim that this pot was used to cook food for the enslaved workers.

Historically, in the

episode of slavery, the Muslim Fulani tribe was brought to Queenstown, where they built the first mosque in Guyana. Its people were referred to as “Fula Maan”.

The village was under white ownership for 40 years and the estate owner’s mansion still stands today in Cow Dam. The name “rescue raft”, known in Queenstown, came about when sugar estates on Essequibo were rapidly closing down and dire hardship befell the hundreds of displaced indentured Indians.

It was Queenstown and Danielstown that kept the markets of Zorg, Hampton Court and Affiance alive. The markets were loaded with corn bread, cassava

Estate owner mansion that still stands in Cow Dam

R

ock music enthusiasts who are fans of the popular punk rock US band Sum 41 may recall the epic guitar solo in the song “In Too Deep”. Did you know that the guitarist Dave Baksh has Guyanese roots?

Both of Baksh’s parents are Guyanese: his father hails from De Willem on the West Coast of Demerara and his mother from Georgetown. Baksh is a Canadian musician, singer and producer.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Baksh said he visited Guyana a while back and learnt a lot about his family during his visit.

“It helped me appreciate my life and what my parents went through to become the people they are today. I remember being very proud of them when we got home and realized how much they had accomplished since

Dave Baksh

moving to Canada. My parents have told me quite a bit about Guyana as well, mostly memories of growing up and a lot about the political climate while they were living there,” Baksh recalled.

Baksh reminisced how he took up the guitar. He and his older cousins were in bands and Baksh was eager to play music with them.

Once he inherited the “town guitar”, which was passed from musician to musician where he lived,

Baksh found a “peace” when he played. That ‘peace’ he still experiences today when he plays the guitar.

“It’s a moment where you can focus on one thing and make it perfect,” he declared.

Prior to Sum 41, Baksh played in a few rock bands. “Some might say it was tough, but the true believers in this line of work enjoy the work and we were working 24 hours a day seven days a week. We were somewhere between free men and slaves as far as society was concerned. In those bands we played out a lot, those were great days for rock and roll music. You could go and play a show anywhere and be in front of at least 20 people. A lot of the people I played with still play music today,” Baksh remembered.

The guitarist mentioned it was a great experience playing those

Interior of the St Bartholomew Anglican Church in Queenstown

products, pone and black pudding.

At Hampton Court market, on Fridays at around 2pm, a mule by the name of Corn Bread would forcefully break out from the stable and invade the market in search of corn bread.

Queenstown came in the limelight when it produced some brilliant academics, all of whom flourished in education, banking and legal fields.

Some of those persons were the Ellis’, Bacchus’ and the Bostons.

The village, which is the base for one of the four NDCs in Region Two, always celebrated its anniversary with pomp and splendour, supported by home-coming overseas villagers.

Under European landlordism, Queenstown had a popular horse rac-

bands. He also learnt a lot about his playing, himself and the people around him. Most importantly, he learnt that “doing something you love gives purpose and purpose is a wonderful thing. In most cases purpose drives you to better yourself and help others around you”.

In 1998, Baksh joined Sum 41 but left the band in 2006. “I felt we weren’t having fun anymore. The show was becoming like a vaudeville. I like routine, but I like changing the routine as well.

Nothing seemed fresh anymore,” he disclosed.

According to Baksh, the rock band he is part of, The Organ Thieves, picked up where he, as a guitar player, had left off.

The guitarist advice for those who have rock bands in Guyana is: “Keep developing the scene, it is important to maintain a future for rock and roll in Guyana.

ing ground known as Talligin Race Ground, where every two months, horseracing, supported by several estate owners, would attract thousands of sugar workers. The race ground was closed in 1938 when a stipendiary magistrate by the name of Verasammy dismantled the last stable.

Queenstown farm workers gave solidarity to hundreds of marching indentured Indian sugar workers from Devonshire Castle on the way to Onderneeming Immigration Office when they were advised to turn back from Queenstown.

That industrial action caused several sugar workers to be shot dead at Cabbage Dam in 1872, where there is now a monument at Devonshire Castle.

Another historic

event in Queenstown was a visit by the legendary Jamaican freedom fighter, Marcus Garvey in 1938, which led to an area identified for communal farming.

This area is known as the Garvey Trail.

Massive sea-erosion in the late nineteen century resulted in the original road being relocated inland between Capoey Police Station and estate Le Union, leaving many relics on the foreshore.

Queenstown is now a thriving community with fuel stations, hotels, sawmilling operations, cottage industries, modern restaurants, good road signs, well-paved streets and much more.

It is a village of good standing and is considered an “icon” of development. (Photos by Marco Basir)

Dave on his guitar

Tour your surrounding countries independently.

It is important for people to know we can play more than Tradewinds’ cover songs (no disrespect to the Tradewinds).

Music saved me from my

anger, my impatience and my inability to comprehend my own mind.

My best wishes to you all and I hope to see you play sometime while I'm there!” (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ireng River

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he Ireng River, also known as Rio Mau, forms the border between Guyana and neighbouring Brazil. It is accessible from the Guyana side south of Lethem, located on the border with Brazil.

Boat trips along the Ireng River and its tributary, the Rio Takatu, are ideal for birding enthusiasts.

Ireng is considered the most picturesque of Guyana's many rivers. Orinduik Falls and Takagka Falls are some of the waterfalls along the Ireng River. Another spectacular waterfall on the river is the almost 100-metre (close to 330 feet tall) Kurutuik Falls.

(Photos copyright to Michael C. Lam. TheMichaelLamCollection.com)

Spectacular view of the Ireng (Photo by David Stanley)

Camping on the bank of the Ireng River Downriver at Orinduik

Star of the week

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Atisha Gaskill

orn in Georgetown, Guyana, Atisha Gaskill migrated to the US where she is an accomplished track-star and youth leader. She completed her high school diploma at the Woodbridge Senior High School, US, and is now pursuing a career in forensic psychology at the Northern Virginia Community College. The stunning beauty was a contestant in the Miss World Guyana 2014 pageant where she used the platform she was given at the pageant to educate the public on indicators of human trafficking victims and perpetrators – a topic about which she still passionately spreads awareness. As a philanthropist, Gaskill has been involved in various charitable activities in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC and Guyana. Some of these activities include feeding and clothing the homeless and donating school supplies to those in need in Guyana.

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WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

From a humble background to becoming an individual effecting change through her post as a medical practitioner, Areefa Alladin-Karan is a remarkable individual

A

reefa AlladinKaran is a paediatric resident at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). She works fulltime in the paediatrics department, which includes monthly rotations at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the paediatric ward and the outpatient and specialty clinic. Notably, Alladin-Karan was instrumental in starting the first allergy clinic in Guyana at GPHC last year.

Graduating from the University of Guyana (UG) in 2009 with a distinction in medicine (MBBS), AlladinKaran copped the Prime Minister's Medal for best graduating student in the school of medicine. Additionally, she holds an associate of science degree in pharmacy from UG (2003), graduating with distinction, and was best graduating student, receiving several awards.

Alladin-Karan is now pursuing a master's degree in paediatrics through UG and Mc Master's University in Canada.

“I probably had little saying in my choice as a health care professional. My family applied for me to attend UG and chose pharmacy as a pre-med course for me.

I ended up liking pharmacy and completed it, after which I worked for a year as a pharmacist and then realized that I wanted to do more clinical work, so I decided to study medicine,” Alladin-Karan disclosed in an interview with

With colleagues at GPHC (standing third from left)

Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

Alladin-Karan said she came from a family of farmers: mostly rice and cattle. In her family, priority was given to education and she was “pushed hard” to get good grades.

“Everyone in my village, [in] Berbice, was cane cutters; it was the only profession I grew up knowing. So when I was asked as a little girl what I wanted to be when I grow up, of course my answer was cane cutter. I still get teased about this by my family members,” Alladin-Karan recalled.

Working in the department of paediatrics has gratified AlladinKaran. She revealed that although it is a “very stressful job”, it is rewarding. AlladinKaran and her team have saved many lives at GPHC - children who were very critical on admission and spent time in the ICU and on the wards, were discharged and are living normal

lives today.

“I hope to make an impact in the lives of children in Guyana, especially in Berbice.

There are no paediatricians in Berbice, so children and their parents have to travel to GPHC for clinics. I plan to go back to Berbice and improve child healthcare there. I received some training in allergy and immunology and plan to advance in that field.

There are a lot of children suffering from allergies in Guyana; I have tested and treated quite a few already. I also plan to sub-specialize, but after I dedicate some time to my family.

I am also very interested in research and academics. I am currently working on a new pilot study and if this is successful, it will transform newborn care in Guyana. I also teach in the School of Medicine at UG and would like to pursue post graduate study in education,” AlladinKaran outlined.

As a member of the

Kidney Foundation of Guyana, Alladin-Karan plans to advocate for kidney awareness and early intervention for children at risk for kidney diseases, in order to prevent renal failure.

Alladin-Karan is also the assistant secretary of the Guyana Help the Kids Foundation, a charity with the goal of reducing mortality rates for children in Guyana.

She revealed that the foundation is setting up an NICU in the regional hospitals and aims to have a paediatrician at each regional hospital

in order to improve delivery of care to children all over Guyana and not just the Georgetown area.

“Being a country girl from Berbice and starting UG at the age of 16 was a challenge. I attended New Amsterdam Multilateral and I was very conservative. I had to live in the UG dorm and fend for myself. I didn't know how to cook nor travel on my own, and had to learn fast, “she admitted.

“I was also antagonized in a lot of my classes because I wasn't from one of the famous schools in Georgetown and I didn't do A Levels, but my hard work paid off when I graduated top of my class both times.

I have also experienced a lot of difficulties with my family and personal life but I never felt sorry for myself and I always tried to make the best out of every situation so that life for my family can be better,” she revealed.

Alladin-Karan credits Dr Ramsundar Doobay, who pushed her and never settled for average performance.

Additionally, Sheik Amir

and doctors Rambaran and Cummings, just to name a few, who recognized Alladin-Karan’s potential and motivated her to be the best. She also is grateful for the support from her family, especially her husband and parents.

“Medicine is an exciting field, but it is also very hard and challenging. You have to be dedicated and willing to sacrifice a lot of time and energy to become the best at what you do. You cannot settle for mediocrity. You have to always be ambitious and not let the opinion of others bring you down,” she declared.

“At the end of it all, when I look back at my life I have to say that I am very lucky that I didn’t have it handed to me, and I had to work hard and endured a lot to get where I am today.

The values that were drilled into me by my mother are still with me.

I wouldn’t trade my life and my family for the world. Everyone chipped in some way or the other to help me to become who I am and for that I am very grateful,” she said.

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WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Empowering with Life Skills Workshops I

n an effort to help in the development and empowerment of youths in Region Two, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport is presently facilitating life skills workshops.

As part of its 2015 youth development and skills building programme, the ministry has a four 6-week training programme, to be held in selected Region Two communities.

Presently, there is a cake decoration and pastry making training programme at Little Red Village, Onderneeming Sand in Essequibo. The training programme is for young people 16 to 26.

There are 15 females, some of whom are single parents, who are currently involved in the training, which is being held at the community centre in the village.

This is the first time the young people in Little Red village are involved in such a training programme since the

Ladies in Little Red village being taught cake decorating

Learning pastry making

community was opened

by Food For The Poor Guyana Inc. The training is presently done by a resource person who lives within the area.

Little Red on the

Essequibo Coast was built by Food For The Poor in 2009 in collaboration with the Roetheli family of the USA. This community is the first of its kind in the coun-

try. Prior to the establishment of the village, the area was known as Sandpit and was very bushy. This programme, by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, will significantly influence those in the village who are participating, to learn a life skill and be able to earn an income.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Herald Alves,

a youth worker with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, who is managing the programme, said at the end of the training programme the young people will be provided with certificates of participation. He added that there would be an exhibition to display the works of the young people in the community.

“The participants are very excited be-

cause it is the first time they are part of such a programme. They even want it to go on for another month, something that is being considered presently. When we are through with this programme in Little Red Village, we will focus on Wakapoa. There the tie-dying classes will be kept,” Alves outlined.

The training in Little Red village will conclude March 14, 2015.

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Myrna Hague performing at Simply Myrna held at the Courtleigh Auditorium on Saturday night

INGSTON, JAMAICA: Headliner Myrna Hague thrilled the capacity-size crowd with an enticing performance at the Courtleigh Auditorium on Saturday night.

The event was the fifth staging of Simply Myrna.

"It's been an exciting five years for me-- at times challenging, at times transformational, at times building a new me," Myrna Hague told the Jamaican media.

Also on the concert bill were veteran Jamaican balladeers Dobby Dobson, AJ Brown, Carifolk Singers and noted pianist Marjorie Whylie.

Hague said for the next year's show she is contemplating coming with something new.

"Y'know, you would like to keep it fresh, you don't want to keep doing the same thing over and over again," she said.

Gracefully, the hostess opened her first of many appearances and charmed her audience with ‘The Way We Were’ followed by ‘I Wanna Kiss You All Over’, ‘Heatwave’, and ‘Only Love Set You Free.’

Later she was joined by Whylie on ‘Save The Day’, ‘Sunlight Seduce

Midnight’ and ‘Let's Fall In Love’.

Then it was time for smoothed-voice crooner Dobby Dobson, who delighted the fans with ‘Wonderful World’, ‘Sweet Dreams’, the Alton and Eddie love anthem Muriel, and of course his signature tune ‘Loving Pauper’.

But it was not over for Dobson who performed a fabulous duet with Hague of ‘You Raise Me Up’. Accompanied by famed guitarist Rupert Bent, she completed that set with ‘If I Ruled The World’.

The concert resumed after a brief intermission with the Carifolk Singers performing ‘Chouconne', 'Wheel And Tun Mi’, and ‘Dip And Fall Back’.

The hostess returned with a tribute to the late John Holt on ‘Only A Smile’ as well as ‘Sediotida’ (accompanied by Whylie) and ‘Moody's Mood For Love’, which provided the intro to A J Brown, who performed it in tandem with Hague.

Taking full charge of the stage, A J rocked the auditorium with ‘Love People’, ‘Father Friend’, ‘When You Love’, ‘Now That You Found Love’ and ‘Time To Say Goodbye’.

The curtain came down the grand finale rendition of ‘Diamonds On The Sole of Her Shoe’. (Jamaica Observer)

INGSTON, JAMAICA: The lawsuit brought by Jamaican model Alexia Palmer against American business tycoon Donald Trump and other principals at Trump Model Management agency has taken a new twist.

The Jamaican media has learned that the Trump Model Management has filed a motion to dismiss its initial response to a suit brought in October by Palmer.

This was confirmed by the New York law firm representing Palmer.

They, however, declined to give any further comment on the matter.

Pulse, the Jamaican modelling agency which discovered Palmer and still represents her, also declined to comment.

"Pulse cannot comment at this time as the matter is in court. Also, there are confidentiality issues," said Cooper in a statement to our queries.

Palmer, who has appeared in a number of fashion glossies including Vogue and Teen Vogue and has lead campaigns for Chanel and Iman cosmetics, filed the suit against Trump's agency alleging that she was stiffed out of more that US$200,000 in salaries.

Palmer claims that Trump's company lied to the federal government by documenting on her work visa applica-

Palmer created history becoming the first Jamaican model to appear in the fashion bible Vogue without being signed to an international agency

tion that her annual salary would be US$75,000.

However, it is being reported that between 2011 and 2013, all the 5-foot 10-inch model received from the agency was US$3,880 after they deducted their standard 20 per cent fee and other miscellaneous expenses.

These 'fees' are said to be grooming costs which included walking lessons, a visit to the dermatologist, a constant supply of makeup as well as limousine rides.

In their initial response, the Trump organisation noted that the expense deductions are standard and that the US$75,000 figure was more of an estimate rather than an actual contractual obligation.

Trump Model Management was founded in 1999.

She was discovered by Pulse as a teenager in 2010 through their Caribbean Model Search. She would go on to place in the top three of the fashion model section of the search, which was won by Hanna Lettman.

Palmer created history becoming the first Jamaican model to appear in the fashion bible Vogue, without being signed to an international agency.

Test shots of her wearing her Dunoon Technical High School uniform were submitted by Pulse and became the basis of her selection for her first Vogue shoot.

(Jamaica Observer)

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

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Celebrating 2015 Literary Street Fair:‘Bringing women Books Alive As We Celebrate Forty-Five’

By Petamber Persaud

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By Anu Dev

“Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good.

Luckily, this is not difficult” ― Charlotte Whitton

O

n March 8, International Women’s Day was commemorated around the world under the theme, “Make it happen”.

And though respect for women has come a long way from the days when women were confined to only domestic duties, it’s still proof that we still have a long way to go if there still needs to be a massive global event to remind the world of the achievements of the women in society. Not to mention the need to treat them equally.

Twenty years after its adoption by the UN at the end of the Fourth World Conference on Women on September 15, 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action remains the most comprehensive international blueprint for advancing women’s human rights. The Platform for Action is an agenda for women’s empowerment.

As part of the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, UN Women undertook a global review and appraisal of implementation. Twenty years on from the commitments made in Beijing, no country has achieved gender equality.

Queen’s College, the premier Secondary School in Guyana, has a population of mostly girls. We outperformed the boys at Common Entrance, or NGSA, to earn places at QC. And then went on to excel there.

But even after all of that, when we’re done with school and ready to have jobs, we’ll be working in a ‘man’s world’ – a world where women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts.

A world where women have to work doubly hard: first to do their job, and simultaneously work to prove to the doubters that they’re good enough to deserve to be where they are.

We’ve come a long way, yes. Women can vote now. Women attend college. There are female doctors, astrophysicists, astronauts. But we still have a ways to go.

The feminists of the 1960s and 1970s era made great strides towards shifting society’s attitude in the direction of women’s equality. But unfortunately, now, years later, when many of the big battles have already been won by the feminists of old, younger women take some of the rights that they have now for granted.

They truly believe that they owe nothing to feminism and they don’t have to continue the struggle.

And we’ve begun to backslide. On TV, in movies, on social networking sites, there’s just so much exposure, so many females dressing ‘provocatively’. I mean sure, you can wear whatever you like, that’s the point, equal rights and all of that.

But why do they choose those particular pieces of clothes? Mostly to appeal to males? So the “male gaze” still dictates what females wear, or in most cases, not wear. And what we strive to be.

Women might have the right to vote. They might be elected President. But how many are? Why? They might make brilliant discoveries, like Marie Curie, the only double winner in the Nobel Prizes. But what women really need, and what all the battles have essentially been all about, is respect. Women need to be respected.

They deserve to be respected. But first, they need to start respecting themselves.

Dress however you like, you have that freedom, but always think about your reasons for dressing the way you do. Because in the long run, respect is worth a whole lot more than a couple of opportunities to wear skimpy clothes. We have to be seen as more than ‘meat’. This is not trivial because it defines much of our orientation in other aspects of life.

So until women are accepted for the great things that they do every day, until they are respected every day, until they participate equally in the economy we need to march in the streets for International Women’s Day. Women deserve more than one day of the year to be appreciated, so let’s remind the world every other day of the year.

iterary festivals, especially the ones staged outdoors, are long established in the psyche of people globally.

International indoor and outdoor festivals are hosted by countries all over the world: in London, it is known as the London Book Fair; Miami hosts its Miami Book Fair International while Australia has its Brisbane and its Perth Writers' Festivals, along with theNewcastle, New South Wales National Young Writers' Festival.

In Asia, Hong Kong hosts theHong Kong International Literary Festival, while India hosts its Jaipur Literary Festival and Malaysia holds theKuala Lumpur International Literary Festival and Writers' Festival. Singapore also has their Singapore Writers Festival.

In the Middle East region, Dubai ensures its Dubai Literature Festival, as does Turkey with theIstanbul Tanpınar Literature Festival.

In Europe, Germany stages the Berlin International Literature Festival as Sweden stages the Göteborg Book Fair in Gothenburg, Sweden. Norway hosts theNorwegian Festival of Literature and the Czech Republic holds their Prague Writers Festival.

In North America, the US hosts the Boston Book Festival and theHollywood Book Festival, while in South America, Colombia stages its International Poetry Festival of Medellín and Peru its Trujillo Book Festival.

Closer to home, in the Caribbean region, literary festivals are beginning to take hold of people’s imagination and states’ machinery in the new millennium.

Such regional festivals include Havana International Book Fair, Cuba, which was launched in 1982.

Jamaica launched their Calabash International Literary Festival in 2000. St Martin also holds their Book Fair, an event begun in 2002, while Dominica launched theNature Island Literary Festival

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony viewing book display (Photo by Jason Yhap)

in 2005 and St Lucia launched WordAlive in 2005.

Trinidad would in 2011 launch the NGC Borcas Lit Fest. Another Caribbean book fair, the Bim Literary Festival and Book Fair was launched in 2012. Anguilla Lit Fest at Paradise Cove Resort was also launched 2012.

Guyana,on Friday,Feb 20,2015, recently staged its third literary street fair on Main Street Avenue between Church and Quamina Streets, near the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the National Library.

This literary street fair coincided with the country’s 45thRepublic Anniversary activities. The participation and attendance was fair, and it could only get bigger and better from here on. The foundation is set and the scope for regional and international participation will come. Guyana has a lot to offer in the field of literature.

Guyana’s First Street Book Fair was staged Friday Feb 18, 2011, on Main Street avenue opposite the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport.

Yours truly played a major role in organizing that initial groundbreaking event, whose theme was ‘A Reconnection to Books’.

The organisers and partners (listed here) perceived the need for that reconnection and hence the

Interested patrons at the 2015 street fair (Photos by Jason Yhap)

street book fair – putting books within reach, within the pathway, of readers, potential readers and bibliophiles.

After the first literary street, there was a two-years hiatus. Then the second literary street fair was staged in 2014, again under the patronage of the culture, youth and sportministry. That event demonstrated a number of issues apart from the main objective of bringing books to the people. One of those issues dealt with the custodians of books/publications: people who work behind publications preparing them for exhibition.

First to note about these valued custodians is that they are more than mere keepers of books. They dispense numerous other book related services. Some are publishers, editors, creators, entertainers, guidance councillors, promoters of literature, promoters of the arts, and enablers of the literary arts.

To appreciate the above it will be useful to note the role of the entities participating in the literary street fair: • The Ministry of Culture, Youth &Sport, comprising the Department of Culture, the Department of Youth and the Guyana Classics • National Trust • Ministry of Education • The University of Guyana Library • The National Library • The Guyana Book Foundation • Georgetown Reading and Research Centre • Guyana Institute of Historical Research • National Centre for Education, Research and Development (NCERD) • The Guyana Annual Magazine of which the 2014-2015 issue is dedicated to A J Seymour.

• Mrs Maureen Rampertab Such a literary street fair is hoped to stir the imagination, to provide a relaxed and casual atmosphere for writers and readers to mingle, and to build a faithful following of people who know the value of literature and the importance of a literate society to the development of country.

In his remarks declaring the fair open,the CYSminister of captured the idea of a literary street fair in a theme he coined:“Bringing Books Alive as We Celebrate in Forty-Five”.Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo. com

34 news

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jamaica Gov’t pushes ahead with expansion of Montego Bay Free Zone

S

T JAMES, JAMAICA: The Government is pushing ahead with plans to construct 63,000 square feet of space in the Montego Bay Free Zone, which will provide additional facility for the expansion of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector.

Minister without Portfolio, Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr Morais Guy, said the Port Authority of Jamaica, the parent company of the Montego Bay Free Zone, “is close to commencing construction.”

He was addressing the free zone’s 30th Anniversary Open Day activity on March 5.

Noting that the BPO sector is on course to doubling its size over the next five years, Dr Guy implored the Montego Bay Free Zone Company to put the necessary procedures in place to attract more investors to Jamaica and the west.

“The investment opportunities provided through this facility engenders high levels of productivity, which is integral to the economic

Jamaica’s Minister without Portfolio, Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr Morais Guy

development of the country. With Jamaica being ranked as the leading outsourcing location in the English-speaking Caribbean, the free zone is a perfect place for investment to establish contact shelters and shipping facilities to meet the local and international markets,” Dr Guy said.

The Minister pointed out that the successful operation of the free zone has impacted greatly on the social fabric of the Jamaican society as well as the western region. (Jamaica Observer)

PM sees big potential for nutraceutical industry in Jamaica

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller has pointed to significant possible economic benefits from the development of the nutraceutical industry in Jamaica. Mrs. Simpson Miller was speaking at the formal launch of the industry at Hope Gardens on Thursday.

The Prime Minister outlined that thousands of new jobs can be created through mass cultivation and employment in labs and processing plants, noting that there is the potential for increased revenue from the greater earning power of new workers. Mrs. Simpson Miller also pointed out that “there will be more foreign exchange through greater exports and the development of medical tourism.”

It is against that background that the Prime Minister said that her Administration has moved to formalize and support the industry. “This is an integral part of a national strategic approach for ensuring economic growth, development and job creation.” In this regard, the National Commission on Science & Technology is leading an effort to regularize and develop a sustainable industry.

Prime Minister Simpson Miller also revealed that an Industry board will work to facilitate, nurture, monitor, assist and empower small and large businesses to realize the remarkable potential. She emphasized that all the relevant government agencies must adopt a streamlined and focused approach to providing assistance and support to the industry. These agencies include

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (left), converses with National Director General for Science and Technology, Professor Errol Morrison, at the launch of the National Nutraceutical Industry, at the Hope Zoo in St. Andrew

the Scientific Research Council, Government Chemist, the intellectual Property Office, the Business Development Corporation, the Bureau of Standards and JAMPRO. “We must examine the existing institutions and reposition them to be responsive to the needs of this nontraditional industry,” Mrs. Simpson Miller added.

The Prime Minister also informed that a partnership was being established with the Jamaica 4H Movement to engage Jamaica's youth. “Some 85,000 young people in 4H Clubs across the country (Jamaica) will benefit from the opportunities along the value chain,” the Prime Minister said. The partnership will focus on the establishment of green houses and gardens and strengthening 4H programmes within some correctional institutions.

With the launch, Jamaica will be

joining more than 50 countries that officially recognize nutraceuticals as a national industry. In fact, the launch represents the start of a new system to encourage, regulate and monitor production locations, processes and products to ensure that they meet national and international standards.

The Prime Minister commended Professor Errol Morrison and Dr. Henry Lowe for the groundbreaking work they have already done to enhance the development of the industry. She also recognized the practitioners and stakeholders who have pushed ahead despite the odds.

The global nutraceutical industry is projected to be valued at Ja$600 billion by 2018. Notably, there are 160 plants known and declared worldwide as having medicinal properties. Of that number 86 are endemic to Jamaica.(JIS)

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

feature 35

St James- the- Less Anglican church S

t James -the- Less Anglican church on David Street, Kitty in Georgetown, was designed by Rev George Fox. The site was donated by a parishioner and its construction completed in 1857. It was consecrated by Rev William Percy Austin and dedicated May 14 that same year.

Once a chapel attached to the parish of St George’s, it became a parish itself on Feb 20, 1940. In 1943, works to enhance the church began, and included an ornamental screen at the back of the altar (the reredos), which was carved by Cedric Winter, in 1945.

As described by Rev Fox, the church is considered, “an ideal model of what a church in the tropics should be.”

According to L. Hernandez, writing in the Oct 2011 National Trust Heritage magazine, the mainly timber building comprises a “high pitched roof, roof lights, open interior and timber lattice external walls.”

Writing in the Guyana Review,

Internal view of round east end

St James-the -Less Church

Hernandez would note that its designer “did not design a building in the prevailing revival styles of Gothic or Classical Architecture, but instead he used the liturgical requirements of the Church and the environmental requirements of the local climate as his basis for designing St James-the-Less.”

The history of the Anglican Church in

Guyana is said to be traced back to 1781 when an Anglican reverend named William Baggs, Chaplain to George Rodney, arrived on a short-lived visit to Guyana. It was not until 1796 that the church took root when a Reverend Francis MacMahon started holding church services on the site of what is now Parliament building.

In 2013, a letter writer in a local newspaper sent in a photo of a watercolour painting of the church, done in the late 1960s. (John Criswick)

Demerara Railway is the oldest railway in the South American region.

(Photo from 'Historic Photographs of Guyana' by National Trust of Guyana)

High Street, Kingston, Georgetown n.d. (Photo from 'Historic Photographs of Guyana' by National Trust of Guyana)

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WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

Selma on my mind… …in Georgetown resident Barrack Obama just made one of the greatest speeches in modern American political history at Selma, Alabama. He was there to commemorate the 50th anniversary of one of the most shameful episodes in that same American history – the brutal tear-gassing and beatings of innocent African-American men, women and children marching peacefully for the right to vote.

Described from then on as “Bloody Sunday”, the bearings would eventually lead to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. But what’s important for us in Guyana today, is not only knowledge of the ongoing struggle of African Americans for their civil rights – but that as President of the USA, Obama didn’t try to sweep the incident under the rug – or pretend that it never happened.

In front of his political Opposition – including former Republican President George Bush – he recounted the horrors of those innocent victims and admitted that America still had a long way to go on equality for African Americans.

Now, dear reader, you may be asking why this is so important for us Guyanese. Well, we’ll tell you why.

In Guyana, you see, there’s a fella running for the presidency – David Granger – who doesn’t just refuse to bring up past abuses of the rights of certain sections of the Guyanese people, but in fact, does his darnedest to deny those abuses ever happened! And this will not do – not in the 21st century.

Take, for instance, the very well-documented disturbances in the city of Georgetown on January 12, 1998, when hundreds of Indian-Guyanese were beaten during PNC “protests” because “they were PPP/C”.

Imagine David Granger wrote about "Civil violence in Guyana between 1953 and 2003" and didn’t think it necessary to include what Stabroek News reported in stark, full page headlines as “TERROR IN THE CITY!!!”

The GIFT organisation conducted meticulous investigations into the “condign beatings” and published a detained report that’s never been challenged. Eusi Kwayana accepted that the report was credible.

But David Granger?? Naaaah!! Never happened… figment of a fevered imagination! It is this Eyewitness hope that the new, literally “combined” opposition will take a page from President Obama’s playbook.

Hey!! let’s stipulate that mistakes will be made once you undertake action in any field. The point is to acknowledge those mistakes – especially when it involves transgressions of people’s rights.

Bishop Tutu called it “reparative justice” and David Granger and his new lieutenants Nagamootoo and Ramjattan must hark to its pleas on behalf of those who were denied their right to vote for 28 years, assassinated and knifed by thugs, and made to scale fences like Olympic high jumpers. …on Dr Jagan Dr Jagan’s son wrote a letter to the press complimenting the Opposition APNU and AFC for their coalition. Said this is what his father always preached.

Joey did it on the anniversary of the great man’s passing, when the PPP/C – was commemorating the event. Now, as Daniel Moynihan once said, “Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion but not to their own facts”.

And Joey’s “facts” of what his father stood for are absolutely cockeyed. Your humble Eyewitness has made this point before – and he’s sure he’ll have to make it again: Dr Jagan’s history with coalitions demonstrated beyond a shadow of doubt that he wasn’t “for coalitions for coalitions’ sake”. Like Selma he was all about people’s rights.

And he certainly wasn’t for coalitions just to garner a couple of Ministries and Vice Presidencies!! For Jagan, the programme was always first – then positions to execute that programme.

After two months of negotiations, courtship and marriage, we’ve seen “positions” galore but yet to see the coalition’s programme. This isn’t Jaganite! …for soup?

This Eyewitness isn’t sure they have cow-heel soup in Selma – but for sure they serve a mean ox-tail soup.

And in Guyana is cow-heel maven Urling looking for a new soup to drink?

P

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 47

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WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Wind, biomass and hydro sources cheaper than solar energy — Jamaican technocrat

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: More and more Jamaicans have been making the switch from oil-powered sources to solar energy in recent times, but a technocrat in the Climate Change Division of the environment ministry revealed on Monday that energy generated from wind, biomass and hydro sources outrank that which comes from the sun.

The preference for solar among the general population, he reasoned, had to do with the fact that it doesn’t require the type of longterm studies that wind, hydro and biomass do; so where solar loses in terms of cost, it wins in terms of ease of set-up and installation.

“People do go towards solar a lot because it’s famous.

It’s been around for a while [and] it’s very easy to deploy [but] solar might not be the first place Jamaicans should look,” technical officer in the division Gerald Lindo told Jamaican media.

He based his conclusion on the results of tender documents submitted to the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) bidding to supply some 115 megawatts of electricity to the grid.

Of a total 20 bids received in 2013, Blue Mountain Renewables LLC, Wigton Windfarm Limited and WRB Enterprises Inc were chosen as preferred bidders.

Blue Mountain and Wigton were to supply 34 and 24 megawatts of wind, respectively, while WRB was to provide 20 megawatts using solar PV. “If you look at the results of the last renewable energy tender, for instance, or at the bidding documents the OUR prepared, or some of the studies that the Ministry of Energy did, you’d see that solar is the most expensive renewable form of energy that we have available in Jamaica today.

It’s beaten by biomass, it’s beaten by waste-to-energy, it’s beaten by hydro, certainly, and it’s beaten by wind,” Lindo said.

“The results of the last one showed that the two cheapest ones were two wind plants (which will cost) close to 13 or 14 cents. The solar plant, the third-placed measure, was somewhere around 17 or 18 cents,” he added.

The high cost relative to wind and hydro-electricity notwithstanding, Lindo said there is a place for solar in

U.S. sanctions may be godsend for struggling Venezuelan leader

A

Gerald Lindo, technical officer in the Climate Change Division of the Environment Ministry, addressing the Jamaican media on Monday

the island’s renewable energy mix.

“If we’re getting to the 20 per cent target that the Ministry of Energy has set, then even after you exhaust the cheaper forms of renewable energy you will need solar to make up that 20 or 30 per cent.

So solar will have a role [and] it is good that the price continues to drop,” he said.

Also on Monday, Lindo and his colleague technocrats — Albert Daley, head of the Climate Change Division; Dr Orville Grey, technical officer in the division; and Jeffrey Spooner, head of the Meteorological Services of Jamaica’s Climate Branch agreed that Government’s planned 360 MW fossil fuel plant was a good idea.

Asked if the move was in line with Jamaica's stated objective of cutting carbon emissions to mitigate the effects of global warming and climate change, Lindo referenced the age and inefficiency of existing plants and the risk they pose to carbon pollution and human health.

“The things that we’ve had in place, beyond the fact that they are way past their sell by dates, so to speak, they burn heavy fuel oil, which ranks high in terms of emissions; not just emissions with global warming potential, but emissions which harm human health... so if we replace what we have with what is planned, it will reduce Jamaica’s emissions by quite a bit.

It will reduce cost as well,” he said.

(Jamaica Observer)

t the start of the year, a gravefaced President Nicolas Maduro promised “God would provide” after oil prices crashed by half, exacerbating Venezuela’s deep recession, chronic shortages and sky-high inflation.

Now, though, it seems Uncle Sam might be the one providing an unlikely helping hand to the socialist leader at one of the worst moments for the ruling “Chavismo” movement.

The United States on Monday ratcheted up a diplomatic spat by declaring Venezuela a national security threat and ordering sanctions against seven officials.

Maduro roared back against “imperialist” aggression, promptly appointed one of the sanctioned officials as his interior minister, and said the U.S. threat justified him seeking decree powers.

Suddenly, the unpopular leader has an excuse to crank up the revolutionary rhetoric and try to fire up supporters, copying a tactic used skillfully for more than a decade by his mentor and predecessor, the late socialist firebrand Hugo Chavez.

A new fight with the enemy to the north may also help unite disparate ruling Socialist Party factions and distract Venezuelans from relentless and depressing talk about their day-to-day economic problems.

Though the impact would likely be short-term, it could still be useful with legislative elections looming, where some pollsters have forecast defeat for the government.

“I’m satisfied with Maduro and

even more now that he’s taking a tough stance,” said Macrina Seijas, a seamstress in Cacique Tiuna, a showpiece “socialist city” perched on a hill overlooking Caracas.

Like many fellow ‘Chavistas,’ Seijas, a 42 year-old mother of four, accuses Washington of fomenting an “economic war” to topple his government and gain control of the OPEC country’s massive oil reserves.

The government claims U.S.-backed opponents and unscrupulous entrepreneurs are hoarding heavily subsidized goods and smuggling gasoline and diapers across the border into Colombia in a bid to create problems and sink the economy.

Most economists, however, blame flailing national output and price and currency controls that distort the economy and curb imports.

In recent weeks, Maduro has accused Washington of promoting a coup plot against him, in league with local opposition politicians, to be led by local air force officials.

Opponents say the coup claims are a smokescreen but in the poor neighborhoods that provided the bedrock of Chavez’s support for 14 years and handed Maduro his 2013 election win, the anti-imperialist line still has plenty of sympathetic ears.

“All these measures are good because we’ve had enough, we’ve had enough of being the United States’ backyard!” said Victor Quintero, spokesman of a militant “colectivo” group in Caracas’ low-income La Pastora neighborhood.

38 news

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Dr. Narendra Singh appointed Chief of Staffat Humber River Hospital

O

n February 25th the Board of Directors of Humber River Hospital announced that Dr. Narendra Singh had been appointed as the Hospital’s new Chief of Staff. Dr. Singh has been a member of the Medical Staff at Humber River Hospital since June of 1999, most recently serving as Chief of Pediatrics and Interim Chief of Staff. His appointment as Chief was effective on March 1st.

As Chief of Pediatrics, Dr. Singh’s leadership played a vital role in Humber River’sPediatric Program being named one of the top performing hospitals in Ontario for Pediatric Patient Experience in the justreleased National Research Corporation Canada (NRCC) Patient Experience Survey. The Program achieved a perfect 100% Positive Score for overall care – an outstanding achievement considering the NRCC Survey results are based on the perceptions of patients who received care in the Program.

Outside of Humber River Hospital, Dr.

Dr. Narendra Singh appointed as the Hospital’s new Chief of Staff at Humber River Hospital

Singh is the founder and driving force behind Guyana Help the Kids (GHTK), a charitable organization based in Toronto dedicated to reducing infant mortality in Guyana.

Along with several of his medical colleagues at Humber River Hospital, other partners from McMaster, Sick Kids and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, as well as financial support from many organizations and individuals in Ontario and beyond, GHTK has significantly modernized neo-natal care in Guyana.

Aside from the assistance that Humber River Hospital has

provided to GHTK, it has been instrumental in working with the Vishnu Mandir and Dr. Doobay in the establishment of the very successful dialysis program in Guyana. This affordable program is now the largest, most successful dialysis program in the country and has saved countless patients that would otherwise have died from Kidney failure.

As a result of the fund raising effort and selfless contribution of Dr. Narendra Singh and the entire supporting team over the past five years, there is now a fully equipped technologically-advanced Level 3 NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at

the Georgetown Public Hospital and Level 2 NICUs at the four Regional Hospitals in Guyana.

In an effort to evaluate the ongoing processes objectively and to ensure that the various interventions have benefited infant mortality, GHTK has embarked on other specific research projects, the first included “The impact of an infection control policy on the incidence of nosocomial infections and mortality at GPHC (Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation).”

GHTK has already demonstrated a 40% drop in neonatal mortality and infections in the NICU at GPHC during the first year, Dr. Singh concluded.

As Chief of Staff of Humber River Hospital Dr. Singh will serve as Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee and will work closely with the Senior Management Team to further enhance the quality of patient care already provided by the hospital’s medical staff.

Dr. Singh will also play a vital role in the hospital’s transition planning work as it prepares to move to its’ new facility this coming October 18th.

Designed from the ground up to be Lean, Green and Digital, this ground-breaking building, North America’s first fully digital hospital, has redefined how acute care hospitals in Canada are planned and constructed.

Throughout the entire process, the care, and caring, of patients has been paramount.

The result: a hospital facility that connects patients and families with their health information and their care team like never before.

It has become a model for healthcare planners, and governments and healthcare organizations from around the world have come to Ontario looking to learn from their experience.

Dr. Singh will help lead the hospital’s medical staff of over 600 physicians through these final months as they prepare for life as doctors in a new hospital unlike any other on the continent. The hospital’s website has much more information available to readers at www.hrh.ca/redevelopment.

Congratulations to Dr. Singhas he assumes his new responsibilities at Humber River Hospital.

Trending Now

Search on for the next Miss World Guyana

T

Reigning Miss World Guyana Rafieya Husain

he Miss World Guyana committee has sent out a call for eligible women to apply to be the next Miss World Guyana.

Below are some of the requirements listed on the Miss World Guyana website: Contestants must complete the Miss World Guyana 2015 official contestant entry form and attend an interview which will be held on the day of application or at any time to be determined by the organizer, Majesty International.

A copy of the contestant’s passport or certified birth certificate must be attached to the contestant form.

Original documents must be presented for verification.

The organizer reserves the right to reject any application that fails to satisfy the aforesaid requirements.

Contestants must be of good moral character and possess charm, poise, and personality and have beauty of face and figure.

Contestants must also have the ability to show compassion and intelligence and speak intelligently in public places.

Contestants must be persons whose background is not likely to bring into disrepute/negative controversy to the Miss World Guyana 2015 or the Miss World title.

Contestants warrant that their performances do not infringe the rights (including copyrights) or defame or embarrass any person, firm or company.

The contest is open to all single natural born female citizens of Guyana not less than 17 years of age or not more than 24 years and 364 days of age on the date of the Miss World final in the relevant year, and who usually uses the prefix “Miss” before her name. The minimum height requirement is 5 feet 5 inches tall.

Contestants eligible are those who have never been through any ceremony either valid or invalid, and whether civil, religious or tribal, which is recognized as a marriage ceremony in any part of the world and has never given birth to a child.

Contestants below 18 years of age are required to obtain their parent’s/legal guardian’s consent on the official contestant entry form.

Contestants should have no criminal records in and out of Guyana.

Closing date for applications is March 20, 2015.

For more information on the requirements of the pageant, visit http://missworldguyana.gy or Miss World Guyana on Facebook.

Miss World Guyana 2013 Ruqayyah Boyer

news 39

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese voters expect close contest between Alliance and PPP/C – NACTA

A

n opinion poll conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) in mid-February showed a close outcome for the May 11 general elections. Voters give the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) a slight edge over the A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance For Change (APNU-AFC) coalition to win the elections.

Overall, voters feel the formation of the APNU-AFC alliance has enhanced the PPP/ C’s chances of retaining power, as some half of those who had planned to vote for the AFC have abandoned ship opposing any alliance with APNU, of which the People’s National Congress (PNC) is a key member.

Without the alliance, the AFC would have made in-roads in PPP/C strongholds in Essequibo, East Bank Demerara and West Coast Demerara, although it has lost support on the Corentyne and West Berbice.

The poll found that had the alliance put either Ralph Ramkarran or Moses Nagamootoo (the coalition’s Prime Ministerial candidate), as Presidential Candidate, it would have

probably swept the elections.

Disgruntled PPP/C and AFC supporters fear the return of the PNC (even as part of an alliance) to power, placing greater trust in Ramkarran and Nagamootoo, than in PNC Leader David Granger, to lead the alliance.

A majority of voters also express fear of the return of certain PNC individuals to power who were tied to abuses in the past and of the return to power of the PNC itself. A majority fears a repeat of what took place between the PNC and the United Force (UF) during the 1960s.

Asked which party they think will win the election, voters are almost equally divided among the PPP/C, the alliance, and “too close to call”, giving the PPP/C a slight advantage. The closeness of the contest in terms of voters’ expectation of the outcome suggest a very tight race.

However, more voters did say they have been better off under the PPP/C Administration than under the former PNC regime that governed between 1964 and 1992.

The younger voters pointed out that they did not experience PNC rule, but they said they

were informed by their seniors of the difficulty life during that era and do not wish a repeat of that kind of governance.

Asked if they have any concern or issue with the PNC returning to office, 56 per cent said yes, with 39 per cent saying no, and five per cent not offering a response. Many expressed the view that times and the world at large have changed, and they don’t think the PNC would repeat its past abuses and dictatorial rule if it recaptures power.

Those concerned about a potential return of PNC to power are primarily supporters of PPP/C and AFC, whereas those not concerned are traditional PNC supporters.

The findings of the poll are obtained from interviews with 620 voters (42 per cent Indians, 31 per cent Africans, 17 per cent Mixed, nine per cent Amerindians, and one per cent other races) of the population.

The poll was conducted in face-to-face interviews and was coordinated by New Yorkbased pollster Dr Vishnu Bisram. The results of the poll were analyzed at a 95 per cent significance level with a statistical sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points.

Ganja activist turns up at UNC meeting in Trinidad

...makes appeal to TT PM to legalise marijuana

P

ORT-OFSPAIN,

TRINIDAD: A passionate promarijuana supporter turned up at the United National Congress’ (UNC) Monday night forum in Barrackpore, with a message.

During the feature speech of Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar, the unnamed man moved to the front of the audience packed into the hall of The unnamed man held up his poster during the feature the Khanhai address of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Presbyterian Primary School. held high a poster ad- message was not acAnd while the dressed to her, reading knowledged, and the P e r s a d - B i s s e s s a r “Ganja, Legalise Weed discrimination of mariknocked the Opposition Tanty Kamala”. juana, who was recentPeoples National Each time Persad- ly done in Jamaica, was Movement and lauded Bissessar made a point, not a topic addressed by her Peoples Partnership the man cheered and Persad-Bissessar.

(TT government, the man pointed to his sign. His Express)

Cassava for beer brewing closer

J

amaican beer company Red Stripe is one step closer to introducing cassava into its brew, now that it has broken ground for the construction of its 20-root-tonne cassava-starch processing plant.

The company has pumped US$800,000 (Ja$92 million) into the facility which will allow Red Stripe to begin production of its flagship beer with at least five per cent cassava by the end of the year. Over time, Red Stripe hopes to have up to 40 per cent of locally grown cassava replacing the imported barley that is used in the production of beer.

The brewing company has also secured a lease contract for an additional 250 acres of land at Wallen, St Catherine, bringing its total cassava farmland under production to 286 acres.

“We are in the first phase so the 14.2 hectares that we have planted along with the 20-root-tonne factory that is being installed as we speak, we would have spent for this first pilot about US$1.6 million,” Red Stripe’s managing director Cedric Blair stated at the lease-

signing agreement with the Agro-Invest Corporation yesterday.

The processing plant which will be located at Red Stripe’s headquarters is roughly 250 square metres in size and can process cassava from approximately 1.25 acres of land in a day, meeting the company’s target of up to 300 acres per year. Ultimately, the company plans to have 2,500 acres of cassava under production in the next five years.

“We are demonstrating that we can get this done. Once we go up to 2,000 acres of production, we will need to add an additional 200-root-tonne factory somewhere else in the country, which we will operate,” Blair stated.

He added that the expansion is not without expenditure, as Red Stripe will accumulate costs of over US$1 billion in putting the project together.

“Once we have the plant up and running by the end of April, we are going to train an additional 30 young adults to work on the farm in Wallen. Most of those young adults will come from the neighbouring communities,” he said.

(Jamaica Observer)

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WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

TT's Dr Tewarie: fuel and other Jamaica's PM subsidies will be tackled in time drafts plan to eliminate genderP based violence O R T - O F SPAIN,TRINIDAD: Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development, Dr Bhoe Tewarie, says he believes that this might be a good time for the Government to begin the process of dismantling the range of subsidies maintained by the State, particularly, the fuel subsidy, but stressed that no decision has been taken to reduce or dispense with the fuel subsidy.

In a recent interview with TT media, he said, “This may well be a good time to limit the subsidies to the TT$45 range where we are pegged but it is not a decision that has been taken.” He was asked to respond to the recommendation by the most recent mission of the Washington DC -based International Monetary Fund (IMF) which visited Trinidad and Tobago from January 19 to 26, 2015, on its latest Article 1V Consultation. At the end of its week-long visit, the mission praised the Government’s handling of several current economic issues as well as the global energy crisis caused by the decline in oil prices but for the umpteenth time called on the Trinidad and Tobago administration to cut back on the fuel subsidy, a call Trinidad has ignored or vigorously rejected in the past.

In a press statement issued in Port-of-Spain on January 28, 2015, on the conclusion of their mission, the IMF team leader, Elie Canetti, said, “We reiterate our advice to scale down fuel subsidies, and note that the fall in global energy pric-

Trinidad’s Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development, Dr Bhoe Tewarie (TT Newsday file photo)

es provides a unique opportunity to do this.

"These Article 1V consultations are an obligation of membership in the IMF and are carried out each year in all member countries. During the visit, the IMF team meets with the Minister of Finance, the Governor of the Central Bank, other senior government officials as well as the Leader of the Opposition and an Opposition team. The mission also chats with trade unions, some of the major business chambers and organisations and Civil Society groups. The IMF website states that “End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country.

The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. This mission will not result in a board discussion."

"Pressed for a clear statement

on the issue, Dr Tewarie said, “We acknowledge the wisdom of the IMF advice but there are serious issues to consider, which is what would be the consequence of this on the transportation system in terms of the cost of goods and services for those citizens least able to address an increase in costs."

Pressed further and choosing his words carefully in response, he said the Government knows this is an issue that must be addressed “and the question is how to engage it with the least fallout and how to ensure that those who are least able to bear the consequences of any difference in policy in the fuel subsidy are helped to manage their situation.” So will this be addressed by this Government or left to be dealt with by a succeeding administration? Dr Tewarie responded: “It may well be a second term project”, indicating that he is confident the current administration will still be in power and have the responsibility for managing Trinidad's economy after the 2015 General Election constitutionally due by September 2015.

Dr Tewarie added, “It is not that we do not know that we have to address the issue of subsidies there but in the strategy that we have put forward we have said that we are going to look at a 15 percent reduction in State enterprises and Statutory Corporations and we are going to look at a 15 percent reduction in the ministries that can afford such a reduction because not all ministries you can slash 15 percent off like that – it’s going to cause a problem. So we are going with that and with the price of oil at TT$45 (at the time of the interview) and with our budget focused on that we could not perhaps agree at this point that is where we would start.

We have no problem with that but while a government is a business, it is not a corporation and you cannot run a government like a corporation.There is something called political management. (TT Newsday)

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Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller

INGSTON, JAMAICA: Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said the Government, through the Bureau of Women’s Affairs and with support from UN Women, has crafted a draft National Strategic Action Plan to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence in Jamaica.

She explained in her message for International Women’s Day, celebrated March 8 each year, that the action plan is a comprehensive multi-sector plan and provides specific priority areas towards eliminating gender-based violence, and allocates responsibilities to key players for achieving these.

According to the Prime Minister, “Women’s full participation in decision-making and economic life across all sectors is essential to building sustainable livelihoods, a stronger economy and improving

the quality of life for all in families, communities and the wider society”.

She said “the Government is working assiduously to ensure that our women and girls are empowered to participate in every area of our society and contribute holistically to the development of our nation.”

While Simpson Miller celebrated Jamaica’s ranking in a recent International Labour Organization Survey as having the greatest proportion of women managers and business leaders, she urged citizens to end all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.

“I appeal to everyone to play their part to cause an end to all acts or practices of violence against women and girls, and genderbased violence, even as we seek to ensure a society that is safe and secure for all,” she said.

(Jamaica Observer)

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TT Film Festival calls for movies

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ORT-OFS P A I N , TRINIDAD: The call for submissions for the tenth edition of the TT Film Festival (TTFF), which takes place from September 15 to 29, is now open.

A release from the TTFF said it seeks to highlight excellence in filmmaking through the exhibition of fiction and documentary feature and short films made in TT, the Caribbean and its diaspora. The Festival therefore accepts submissions from Caribbean filmmakers, Caribbean filmmakers in the diaspora, and international filmmakers with films from or about the Caribbean or its diaspora. Submissions must have been produced after January 1, 2013.

The Festival screens films of different lengths in various digital formats.

Films screened in competition are eligible for one or more jury prizes. There are also several people’s choice awards. All awards come with a cash prize.

All submissions must be made online, via the ttff visitor page

at vp.eventival.eu/ ttff/2015.

There is no submission fee.

The TTFF stressed that the deadline for all submissions is May 15. The deadline will be strictly followed.

Filmmakers are urged not to submit films that do not fulfill the stated criteria.

The TTFF seeks to make all screenings at the Festival TT premieres. Occasionally, however, the Festival considers films that have already been shown publicly in TT. Please contact us directly if you have a film that falls into this category, at submit@ttfilmfestival.com.

If you have any other questions, visit our FAQ page at www.ttfilmfestival.com/submit/faq.

The TTFF reserves the right to determine the eligibility of the submissions to be screened at the Festival, the appropriate venues and time slots for the screening of films, and to use excerpts of the films for publicity purposes. All films submitted must have applicable clearances and the Festival will not be held liable.

(TT Guardian)

Jamaica moving to reclaim global dominance in reggae

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I N G S T O N , JAMAICA: For decades, the sound of Jamaica has been reggae, the infectious, uniquely syncopated music that transformed the small Caribbean island into a cultural powerhouse.

But the genre's success has taken it far beyond its roots, and now many in Jamaica worry that reggae-lovers abroad are forgetting the motherland where it was born.

"Reggae was given to the world by Jamaica so nobody can or ever should discourage anyone overseas from making this music. But we think there should be acknowledgment that reggae was created in Jamaica," said Michael "Ibo" Cooper, a musician who is chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association.

Around the world, music festivals celebrating the sounds made famous by reggae patron saint Bob Marley and followers who developed the faster, brasher derivative of dancehall are more likely to be headlined by bands from places like California or France than by nativeborn Jamaicans. Aside from albums by the late Marley or his progeny, few of the top-selling reggae CDs or downloads come

Jamaican singer Melbourne Douglas (Photo: AP)

from Jamaican artists.

To get a stronger foothold in the information age, Jamaican officials and reggae industry insiders are brainstorming ways to better capitalize on Jamaica's exuberant music culture and help protect what some claim is local intellectual property.

After years of only piecemeal support, the government increasingly is viewing reggae and other cultural enterprises as a hoped-for economic engine on the island.

Officials are hashing over the creation of a certification mark to designate "authentic reggae" — a sort of "Good Housekeeping Seal" — to encourage the use of Jamaican musicians, pro-

ducers and merchandise.

They also hope to defend Jamaican reggae by having the UN's culture organization add it to a global list of "intangible cultural heritage " such as Argentina's tango and China's Peking opera. The Paris-based agency says the island's government has yet to apply for inclusion on the list of more than 280 cultural traditions.

Rob Bowman, a music professor from Canada's York University who has researched intellectual property and Jamaican music, said that while population numbers mean reggae's biggest markets always will be overseas there's no reason why more revenue streams from for-

eign commerce shouldn't flow back to Jamaica.

A country of fewer than 3 million people, Jamaica has had remarkable success originating influential musical forms such as ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub and dancehall.

Musicologists say production innovations and the discovery of "toasting," reggae deejays chanting over a beat, directly inspired hip-hop.

Jamaican artists say sustained support from the government could give the local music industry a much-needed boost and help prepare musicians to get a greater slice of the international market. There's high hope for emerging artists like Chronnix, the most prominent member of a burgeoning scene dubbed "reggae revival" whose young artists are building their careers with a savvy understanding of social media.

Jamaica celebrates "reggae month" each February.

This year, events included workshops on intellectual property for up-and-coming musicians. The island's biggest university also recently hosted an international reggae conference, where the global business of reggae was a featured topic. (AP)

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Guyana’s bauxite industry firmly on its feet again – President …New Gy$4.6B Rusal bauxite mine commissioned

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resident Donald Ramotar on Wednesday formally commissioned a new bauxite mine at Kurubuka, on the Upper Berbice River, saying that the event was another success story for the People’ Progressive Party/Civic which had launched a vigorous programme for saving the bauxite industry in Guyana when it entered Government in 1992.

He made the remark during a commissioning ceremony to launch production of the new mine and processing plant which has been established by the Russian bauxite giant United Company (UC) RUSAL and its local subsidiary, Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc., (BCGI). The investment amounted to Gy$4.6B.

The commissioning took place at Kurubuka in the presence of senior government officials, including Ministers Robert Persaud, Robeson Benn and Juan Edhgill, the Russsian Ambassador, a large gathering of residents; members of the village council of neighbouring Hururu village, and staffers and senior officials of RUSAL including Mr. Vladislav Soloviov, the Chief Executive Officer of UC RUSAL who had travelled to Guyana specifically for the commissioning of the new mine.

Other speakers at the event were Minister Persaud, Mr. Soloviov and Mr. Serguey Kostiau, Managing Director of BCGI. During a feature address to the large gathering at Kurubuka,

President Ramotar said that in 1992 the government had found the bauxite industry on the brink of collapse.

“It was said then that the industry was uneconomical and that it should be closed, but the PPP/C Government said no and we commenced the process of saving the industry.”

He added: “Today, we can say that the first part of the mission of the PPP/C has been accomplished; the bauxite industry is once again on a firm footing and we are very happy for that”.

He praised RUSAL for being steadfast in its determination to expand its operations in Guyana despite the many challenges it had faced. He said that investments such as these made by RUSAL laid the foun-

dations for a better life, not only for the neighbouring communities of Kwakwani and Hururu, but for all Guyanese.

He once again expressed the dream that the day will come when Guyana will be able to add value to its bauxite with the establishment of an aluminium smelter.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Robert Persaud said that the bauxite industry had been brought back from near-death by the PPP/C Government.

He noted that the Kurubuka 22 project had been in the pipeline for quite a few years and he was happy that the company had demonstrated a high level of confidence in Guyana and had invested the huge sums necessary for the mine and its relat-

ed plants and equipment.

He urged RUSAL to examine other areas of expansion so that more opportunities can be created for the people of Region 10.

Soloviov praised the government for creating the right investment climate and encouragement to RUSAL to expand its operations.

He noted that RUSAL had invested over $US150M since it came to Guyana in 2004.

He said that the Kurubuka project will bring additional economic and social benefits to the immediate and surrounding communities of Hururu, Kwakwani, Aroaima, Ituni and Linden by creating direct employment opportunities as well as social benefits.

The Kurubuka 22 de-

posit is located immediately adjacent to the Berbice River and approximately 14.5 km from the former Aroaima’s crushing and drying facilities.

During the commissioning ceremony, the President and other senior officials were taken on a tour of the plant at Kurubuka during which they saw the operational process from the loading of the raw materials into the plant to its deposit in a barge for transport to the mouth of the Berbice River and export.

RUSAL also gave tokens of appreciation to several of its workers whose good performance, the Company said, was instrumental in the construction phase leading to the official launch of the production at the mine.

TT bus drivers back on the road P

ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Bus drivers have resumed work even as branch president of the Port-ofSpain Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU) Marcus Grannum said they are yet to come to a final agreement with the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) management on wage negotiations.

“Things were put forward on the table, and we are waiting on an answer to be taken back to our members to let them know what is the position. Even though we have not made a final agreement, drivers have started working since the last meeting we had with the Minister of Labour and PTSC management regarding negotiations. We have

to meet again today (Monday) to come to some sort of agreement,” he said.

PTSC Deputy General Manager (Marketing and Communications) Carl Ramdeo told TT media on both sides there were some agreement to most of the issues raised by the union, and hopefully on Monday they would come to a final decision.

He said they have not heard anything from the union since the last meeting. However, he said after the meeting they were close to signing off on the agreed issues.

Ramdeo said they expected the services to run out on Monday unless something totally different happened over the weekend.

Ramdeo indicated that they have contributed their part on the matter and await a response from TIWU. Last week thousands of commuters had to seek other means of transportation to reach their destination, as the workers’ union continued to negotiate with PTSC for better wages. (TT Newsday)

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‘100 houses a week’ distribution sparks HDC rush in TT

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: The rush for houses is on following the announcement by Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal that 100 houses are to be distributed a week till December 2015.

The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) along South Quay, Port of Spain was packed to capacity on Monday morning as scores of people hearing about the distribution of houses flocked to the office to apply for housing and to query the status of their applications.

From as early as 7.30 a.m., a large crowd gathered outside the entrance of the HDC requesting that their files be updated. Some wanted to collect application forms while others had appointments.

HDC’s corporate communications manager Maurisa Findlay told TT media that many people thought by putting additional information on their file they would have

a stronger chance of being allocated a housing unit.

“We’ve been processing applications and checking on accounts since before 8 this morning. This has been going on since Friday since the announcement by the minister,” she added.

Last Thursday, Moonilal announced that starting this Saturday to the end of this year, 100 homes will be delivered.

He added that this move was not an election gimmick.

Findlay however said even before the minister’s announcement more than 100 homes were being given out a week.

“We distribute houses every day. Every day we distribute about 30 houses. There is nothing new to what’s happening here but what we see is an amalgam of interest,” she said.

She went on to urge applicants: “Even though the minister has made this announcement, coming to the HDC in droves as we’ve seen here would

People line up outside the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) headquarters on Monday at the corner of South Quay and George Street, Port of Spain, to check on the status of their housing applications following last week’s announcement by Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal that 100 houses are to be distributed a week until December 2015

not change the fact that you still have to go on to the database. You have to be processed and you have to be qualified to be allocated. If you come you will hear the same information that you heard last week which is you are updated, that you are

on a database and we rely on the random system to ensure that you are allocated.”

Findlay noted though that the Corporation will be seeing everyone who comes in to the office and that all customer service representatives will be on

EU pumps US$2m in Caribbean labour project P

ORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD: (ILO) — A US$2 million (1.7 million Euro) project, signed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) with funding from the European Union in December 2014, was formally launched with the Caribbean Employers' Confederation (CEC) and the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) at the 9th Caribbean Ministers of Labour Meeting in Nassau, Bahamas.

"The ILO is very pleased to be involved in this project to support both regional and national social dialogue, with members from organisations representing employers and workers, as well as government representatives. We see this project as ensuring policy coherence contributing to regional economic and social integration," stated Giovanni di Cola, Director, ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean.

Last month a planning meeting was held in Port of Spain, comprising five board representatives, each from the CEC and the CCL, as well as members of the ILO Office DWT and Office for the Caribbean.

At this meeting a schedule of activities was agreed on which will run during the first 12 months of the project.

The activities will serve to strengthen workers' and employers' organisations to engage more effectively in social dialogue at the regional level. The aim of the project is to enable consultation and exchange of information

CHEN ... initiative should lift cooperation between Caribbean governments, labour, and businesses to a new level

between representatives of governments, employers and workers on issues of regional interest relating to economic and social policy, and to contribute to policy setting in regional forums pursuant to the EPA's Social Chapter.

The project, which is financed under the 10th European Development Fund, is aimed at strengthening the implementation of the CARIFORUMEU Economic Partnership Agreement, particularly those aspects relating to core labour standards (freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; the effective abolition of child labour; and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation), as well as to deepening regional integration.

The project will focus on reinforcing the human and institutional capacity of the CEC and the CCL,

to contribute to the effective implementation of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed in 2008.

"As President of the Caribbean Congress of Labour, I am truly proud to be at the start of the implementation of the EUfunded programme, at the end of which we will see greater participation of CARIFORUM Civil Society in regional development and integration processes. The opportunity is great as both labour and employers work together for the advancement of the region," said David Massiah, President, CCL. The project "Support to facilitate participation of CARIFORUM Civil Society in the Regional Development and Integration Process: Challenges to CARIFORUM Labour, Private Sector and Employers to fulfil their EPA obligations" will run for three years. (Jamaica Observer)

hand to deal with the influx of applicants.

“We’ve filled up every single wicket that we have in our customer service area. We’ve had additional staff and all our staff are on board. Today we are not having any lapses during lunch or

any coffee breaks or that kind of thing, even our allocations manager is at the front counter,” she said.

One applicant, 55-year-old John La Foucade, said he has been waiting for a house from the HDC for the past 30 years.

He made his way to the HDC on Monday morning after word of the minister’s announcement spread.

“Nothing has changed.

Since I applied I’ve never gotten more than a reply that my application is on file. They told me the same thing today, that my application is not selected yet,” he said.

“I feel that I have little or no hope of getting a house and I just want someone to help. I wrote the Prime Minister and the Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal but nothing has happened,” the father of three said, adding that he believes the lottery allocation system being used by the HDC is unfair. (TT Express)

Jamaican Diahann Gordon appointed National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons - 1st in Caribbean

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Children's Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison has been appointed as the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons.

This appointment, according to the Ministry of National Security, makes Jamaica the first Caribbean nation to embrace this approach.

In making the announcement Tuesday, the Children's Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison (File photo) Ministry said this move can only serve er they may occur, of the rights to enhance Jamaica's anti-trafficking profile and ex- of victims, as well as discriminahibits the seriousness with tion, threats or use of violence, which the Government regards harassment, intimidation or reprisals directed at persons exerthe issue.

One of the primary functions cising these rights; and to proof the National Rapporteur, as vide an analytical overview of the noted by the Ministry, will be to situation in trafficking in an ancreate a more objective reporting nual report to the Government.

These powers of the National system on the issue of trafficking Rapporteur are consistent with in Jamaica. internationally accepted best In addition, the National practice and are parallel to Rapporteur will, inter alia, have the authority to obtain from National Rapporteur mechathe relevant authorities, in- nisms in other jurisdictions, the cluding the Director of Public Ministry said.

The Ministry added that the Prosecutions and the Trafficking Government is confident that the in Persons, TIP Unit in the independence attached to the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Children's Advocate by virtue any information necessary to of statute, coupled with the fact carry out her stated duties; to conduct independent examina- that the Children's Advocate altions/investigations of reports of ready has a direct reporting chanalleged instances of human traf- nel to the Houses of Parliament, ficking where the need arises; makes this appointment a good to report on violations, wherev- fit. (Jamaica Observer)

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Farmwork programme in Jamaica under threat - Canada seeks to cut foreign workers

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Canada is reportedly pushing to have more of its nationals employed under its farm-work programme, which could see the number of Jamaicans being recruited to do seasonal work in the North American country being drastically reduced.

Derrick Kellier, the minister of labour and social security, while admitting in Parliament that there are clouds on the horizon, said Jamaica and other Caribbean countries are pushing back against the proposal.

"The truth of the matter is they are wanting to get more Canadians involved in the actual farmwork situation there because of their own social problems," Kellier said.

"That would mean that they would then limit the amount of people who would then come from the Caribbean countries, not just Jamaica ..., (but) it has not been finalised. We are still in discussions about all of that

because of the longstanding agreements that we have fulfilled (at) our end of the bargain for nearly 60 years now. We are still in dialogue and we are hoping that no change will be made so as to impair our people," Kellier added.

Pearnel Charles, the opposition spokesman on labour, brought the matter to last Wednesday's sitting of the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament, saying "a number of people who have travelled may not be permitted to go back".

"The farm-work programme is almost a jewel to many people in Jamaica," Charles said, a view which was shared by Kellier who said it is not only important to the Jamaican economy but also to the families of the seasonal workers.

"We are standing our ground on it and we hope that not because of their own domestic election problems they want to make these changes," Kellier said.

The minister said he recently attended a meeting in Trinidad for the seasonal agricultural-workers programme which was attended by representatives of the Canadian government as well as farm operators.

"There are issues that were raised there. We came to no final decisions because we, from the Caribbean, made a very strong push back on them to get some more information before they can sign off on any directive where the programme is concerned," Kellier said.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, speaking in the Budget Debate last year, said 14,000 Jamaicans were employed in the overseas work programme last year, and that based on the liaison service in Canada and the United States (US), that number was projected to increase to 16,000 in 2014-2015.

Kellier said that close to 8,000 Jamaicans are currently in Canada working under the farm-work programme.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

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Georgetown Hospital to introduce laser treatment for Open Angle Glaucoma

Bad eye is never a good ting

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ccordin to Freedie de man kisser, overseas people don’t wanna live in Guyana. Accordin to de same Freedie, not even Guyanese wanna live in Guyana. No body know how Freedie know that, but Freedie never do a poll yet, except pun de seawall.

Accordin to a poll, people ain’t trust de Police.

According to de same poll, people ain’t trust de Guvament. Accordin to de same poll, despite all of that, people still ain’t wanna leave Guyana, and dem ain’t plannin to leave Guyana.

Clearly, Freedie need a proper poll from de proper people in a proper place. So Bis Ram de poll man might have to help out Freedie get a proper poll that he gon never fuhget. Freedie problem is that he gotta bad eye fuh every ting.

And bad eye is never a good ting. When yuh bad eye whah other people got, yuh does end up with nutten, just like Freedie. Old people call that larwah.

And that is whah dem people end up wid who bad eye de Marriott.

When de Marriott project announce, dem seh it gon never go up. De Marriott gone up and lookin good.

When de Marriott start up, dem seh it gon never get off de ground. De Marriott get off de ground and pass de Peg-Ass. Suddenly, Robbin de people Bad seh he got US$8 million to invest in de Marriott. Robbin musbe tink this is a chicken feed hotel like de Peg-Ass. De Marriott about to open and all of a sudden de whole of APNU + AFC want shares.

On de one hand Robbin start to wonder whah gon happen to de Peg-Ass. Now he wanna know how come dem coudn’ta pay fuh de Savannah Suite de other day when dem launch APNU + AFC + JPAP + WPA ÷ NIP ÷ HTNP ÷ IP ÷ URP = 0 de other day.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Is bad eye got dem outside de Marriott and is bad eye got Freedie wid only a seawall poll!

- in observance of World Glaucoma Week

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he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), in observance of World Glaucoma Week 2015, will be introducing Laser Treatment for Open Angle Glaucoma, by a procedure called Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT).

Over the past years, patients at the hospital have been exposed to the two common methods of treating glaucoma: medications (eye drops); and surgery. With the addition of laser treatment, open angle glaucoma patients will now have a third option for treatment. However, this type of treatment is not recommended for all patients, hence they will be carefully selected by the glaucoma specialist, to determine if they meet the criteria, before being able to access this treatment.

It is a practical alternative to using drops, and its success depends on the patient’s profile and ability to respond to the treatment. Those who do not respond to either eye drops or laser treatment may still eventually need to undergo surgery.

This specialised laser equipment can also treat Closed Angle Glaucoma,

which is another less common form of glaucoma in Guyana, and has already been available in for quite some time. The laser machine also has the capability to treat posterior capsular opacity, which occurs in patients who have previously undergone cataract surgery.

The World Glaucoma Association and World Glaucoma Patient Association has designated March 8 to 14 2015 as World Glaucoma Week.

The celebrations to commemorate this event will be held under the theme ‘B-I-G – Beat Invisible Glaucoma.”

Over the past four years, the hospital has been providing enhanced glaucoma services at its Eye Clinic. This was

made possible through the addition of Glaucoma Specialist Dr. Shailendra Sugrim to the facility’s medical team. Dr. Sugrim is the first Guyanese ophthalmologist, who specialises in this area (glaucoma specialist).

In Guyanese patients, the most common form of this disease is Open Angle Glaucoma. Patients of Afro-Guyanese origin are more prone to develop open angle glaucoma and are more likely to have family members suffering from glaucoma. It has also been found, that glaucoma in Afro-Guyanese patients is usually very severe and more difficult to treat. There are many ways to treat open angle glaucoma.

Glaucoma is caused by

several factors, but ocular hypertension/increased eye pressure is the most important risk factor in most cases. Women are three times more likely than men to develop acute angle closure glaucoma, due to their shallower anterior chambers.

The disease is usually called “invisible” glaucoma because the disease acts silently by causing permanent damage to the optic nerve, without the patients’ manifesting any notable symptoms. Hence, over time, these cause continuous damage to the glaucomatous optic neuropathy (eye’s nerves) almost completely destroying them, unknowingly to the patient.

In most cases, when the patients begin to experience visual symptoms, it is that they have already suffered significant nerve damage.

The need for early screening of the disease is essential because once glaucoma is diagnosed early, treatment can commence at an early stage, resulting in the prevention of unnecessary blindness. Glaucoma can be controlled with treatment, so that patients can enjoy comfortable vision throughout their life.

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TT’s Rowley hires Ramesh for E-mailgate defence

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley last week revealed for the first time his private conversation with former Integrity Commission chairman Ken Gordon in the E-mailgate affair.

He also said he had hired Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj to defend him against the impending lawsuit to be brought by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the matter.

Speaking at a public meeting in Marabella, Rowley said after he had gotten a thread of emails bearing similar addresses as those of Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar, then attorney general Anand Ramlogan and two other politicians, Suruj Rambachan and Gary Griffith in 2011, he took them to then president George Maxwell Richards.

Richards, in turn, forwarded the e-mails to the Integrity Commission.

After six months had elapsed, Rowley said he tried to find out the status of the investigation, but when he called for the chairman of the Integrity Commission he did not reach him.

He said while on the way to his home, Gordon

Marabella Trainline resident Ronald Williams make a point to PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley during a walkabout in his community last Wednesday

returned his call and asked him if the matter he wanted to discuss was urgent.

It was in that scenario, Rowley said, that he went to Gordon's home and asked him one question.

Whether the matter was being investigated? He said Gordon's response was no.

In May 2012, Rowley referred to 31 e-mails in Parliament which outlined a criminal plot to bug the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, an offer of judgeship to the DPP and a plot to harm an investigative journal-

ist who was probing the circumstances relating to the passage of legislation which favoured two political financiers in the Secton 34 matter.

Rowley said on Monday that Ramlogan and former sports minister Anil Roberts were among those who were quick to accuse him of fabricating the e-mails.

He said he would have been stupid to fabricate the e-mails and then take them to the President and ask for a probe.

Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams on Tuesday confirmed that the po-

lice service had received a "voluminous" file from US e-mail service provider Google Inc. and that they were in the process of analysing the information.

On Monday, at a political meeting in Brazil Village, East Trinidad, Persad-Bissessar signalled her intention to sue Rowley for defamation in relation to the E-mailgate allegations.

Rowley said on Monday he was prepared to defend himself and had only last Wednesday retained Persad-Bissessar's political adversary, former attorney general Maharaj, to lead his legal team, and intended to call another, former prime minister Basdeo Panday, to see if he was willing to also represent him.

He said if the lawsuit becomes a reality he intends to call the DPP and the Chief Justice as his defence witnesses.

Rowley also called on the police to reopen the case involving official Judiciary documents being found in a lawyers’ office and launch a criminal probe into how judgment in default was entered against him in a defamation lawsuit filed by Ramlogan.(TT Guardian)

After one time is another

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ld people seh after one time does be another time. And no matter where yuh go in this world, that is how tings does be. Even in Guyana, people had one time under de Pee-an-See and another time under de Pee-Pee-P. That is why dem ain’t wanna leff de country no more any more.

Long before he pass away, Papa Cheddi at one time used to be able to be able to count on Burnt Ham to do good tings fuh de country. But soon it turn into another story and Papa Cheddi instead had to start countin how many times Burnt Ham rig de elections.

So at one time Burnt Ham was one ting to Papa Cheddi and when another time come, Burnt Ham turn into another ting. Then de Heights Man come and he promise one ting one time and then do another ting another time.

And de people gon never fuhget that, even if dem only hear bout de Pee-an-See from dem mother and father whah used to happen under Burnt Ham and de Heights Man. Now Green Jah followin in de same foot steps like Burnt Ham and de Heights Man. Green Jah was exercisin pun de road de other day and he ask a man who was also exercisin to vote fuh APNU + AFC + JPAP + WPA ÷ NIP ÷ HTNP ÷ IP ÷ URP = Pee-an-See. De man look round then turn round and tell Green Jah, “Whether Ah vote fuh de Pee-an-See or not is de same result like all dem years. So after one time is another time. This time Ah ain’t votin fuh yuh.”

Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man does tell de Guvament to be more accountable at one time. But at another time when it come down to accountin fuh money whah people give to de KFC, dem still can’t account fuh nutten.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Freedie de man kisser too does pretend to be one ting when he deh home and another ting when he on se sea wall.

news 47

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Visiting Saudis hold project talks with THA

Geriatrics vs youths

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atiricus was sulking. He’d been very happy to learn Guyana’s voters were mostly youths.

The news made him feel youthful…even though he was getting a bit long in the tooth. But when he saw the team the Opposition came up with after their month of secret negotiations, all he could think about was – Guyana was definitely, “A country for old men”!!

GrainJa must be pushing 80…NagaMan ditto… and his nemesis Speaker Rolph? Reporting on him over the years, Satiricus had decided that fella was born old!

His plaintive wail was: “Where were the youthmen and youth-women the census keep telling us about??” At the last elections, a whole crop of fresh-faced neophytes had entered the ring.

Wasn’t there that fella Bond?? No Beretta for this Guyanese Bond. Hadn’t he gun butted that barber with a Glock?? Hadn’t he faced pellets to prove his manhood? Where had been GrainJa and Nagga Man then?

Then down in the town of Lindon there had been Salaman Gundy. Wasn’t it written that he would be “the next best thing” in Opposition politics?? OK…OK…so he was the one who’s written it…but still!!

He’d held off the troops of the cruel General Hickenus at the bridge over the troubled waters of Mc Kenzie, hadn’t he?? Where was GrainJa and Nagga Man then? That alone should have given him a shot in the Opposition “A” Team. These old fogies!!

Satiricus’ hope for a younger Opposition team had been raised when RoopNaRain announced he was going to fade out from the scene. In Satiricus opinion RoopNaRain had long faded to black….

“How the heck do you give a graduate in ‘litricher’ the Agriculture portfolio?” thought Satiricus. But then again, there were chapters and chapters in DH Lawrence’s “Sons and Lovers” about rearing pheasants (between the “f” words young Satiricus used to look for!!)

Maybe RoopNaRain was using this knowledge of pheasants (not of “f” words) to diversify Guyana’s Agriculture.

But he was gone…and rather than “another Rasta youngsta” taking his place – it was Nagga Man! Nagga Man liked to tell people he also liked “litricher”. Satiricus, however, knew the truth.

Nagga Man had a speech impediment: he actually meant he liked “liquor”!

Satiricus suddenly perked up. The Geriatric GrainJa and Nagga Man would never survive this campaign. The youths would take their places in the Opposition benches!!

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

P

O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: A Saudi Arabian team which leaves TT on Tuesday after exploring local business potential has visited Tobago and will be dealing further with Tobago House of Assembly (THA) chief secretary Orville London on matters of interest to them there.

London said the group had indicated projects of interest to them in Tobago and both sides will have further contact on this. Group spokesman Shazaad Mohammed, vice president of the TT Saudi Arabia Chamber of Commerce (TTSACC) which brought the team to TT, said on Monday the group is particularly interested in beach front hotel investment in both Trinidad and Tobago.

Mohammed said it was incorrectly stated in last Sunday’s media that the group visited the Chaguaramas Convention Centre since they did not go there.

He said they went to the Chaguaramas Golf Course and other places in TT, “but not the Convention Centre,” Mohammed said. He said the group wasn’t interested in the Convention Centre, but in beach front hotel development and other matters.

The team, which spotted TT on the Trade Ministry’s “InvesT&T” Internet link, said they partnered with the ministry on the visit. He said they selected TT out of countries in the region due to its stability and since it was an oil producing state like Saudi Arabia. They are interested in forging ties on higher education, the petrochemical sector and government sectors.

They were brought to TT by the newly-formed group TTSACC, headed by TT national Umar Khan and Mohammed, who is based in Canada and Saudi Arabia, but has TT roots, he said.

He said he also carries the title Ambassador for Peace. Mohammed said the group was on a “friendly cultural and tourism exploration visit” to get a feel of things here and the business potential. Head of the team was General Kheder Alzahrani, who is special adviser with the Ministry of Interior Affairs, as well as special adviser with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a member

Members of the Saudi Arabian team and the TT Saudi Arabia Chamber of Commerce (TTSACC) visit the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port-of-Spain

of the Caribbean Dawah Association.

He said they met the Housing Minister (Roodal Moonilal), Legal Affairs (Prakash Ramadhar), Science and Technology (Fazal Karim) and met acting Foreign Affairs Ministers (Bhoe Tewarie), the Public Utilities (Nizam Baksh) and Works Minster (Suruj Rambachan) on Monday. They also met the head of UWI Prof Dr Clement Sankat and held discussions on possible collaboration there and at the UTT. Mohammed said the most important is-

sues in any future venture was the establishment of direct air links between TT and Saudi Arabia since there are none and strengthening diplomatic links since they said the TT mission which handles Saudi Arabia is in Uganda.

Mohammed said there has been no commitment from government on any ventures at this time, but another delegation will visit TT next month.

From what the group had seen, and on what it might be particularly interested in, Khan said the group is indeed interested in various as-

pects but a brief will have to be done on their visit and translated from English to Arabic and examined in Saudia Arabia before they can say exactly what they’re eyeing. The team went to Tobago last Saturday to examine the island’s tourism potential and visited various sites including the reefs with glass bottomed boats.

London said the group had given details of and identified what they were interested in Tobago and he had also given them additional information but nothing had been decided yet.

(TT Guardian)

48 Hollywood

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Mirren reigns on Broadway J Lo shells-out $25k Helen as Britain's Queen Elizabeth for flawless skin N J ennifer Lopez's beauty secret has been revealed which includes the CACI non-surgical facial lift treatment. An insider unveiled that the 'Boy Next Door' actress spent around 25,000 dollars on the wrinkle eraser treatment as she got impressed with its results, the Daily Express reported.

The CACI, a non-invasive facial treatment is like a workout of the facial muscles that concentrates on the areas with wrinkles and lines, such as the jaw-line, mouth and eyes, and with this skin's ability to neutralise bacteria is enhanced and protects the skin against daily damage. The CACI facial toning system involves a total of twelve treatments with 75-minute each, but there is a smaller handheld version of it known as the CACI Microlift is available which is just for ten minutes.

Dean Nathanson, Managing Director of CACI International said

that their non-crystal CACI Mircolift and first limited edition Swarovski crystal Microlift has fabulously favoured by the customers, sold out within days of launch, and has various price nationwide. (TOI)

Bradley Cooper's girlfriend hopes to get engaged soon

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uperstar Bradley Cooper and longtime girlfriend Suki Waterhouse are reportedly planning to take the next step in their relationship. The model is excited to get an engagement ring, reported Us magazine.

"Suki says she's been warming him up to the idea of marriage and he's starting to get excited about it," a source said.

"It's up to Bradley to pop the question, of course, but she hopes it happens soon," the source added.

The 'American Sniper' actor, 40, and Waterhouse, 23, began dating in March

2013, and made their first Hollywood appearance together at the star's 'American Hustle' NYC premiere that

December. Cooper was previously married to actress Jennifer Esposito from December 2006 to November 2007. (TOI)

Experienced pilots back Harrison Ford's aviation skills post near-death crash

H

arrison Ford, who recently survived a near death plane crash, has received positive reviews of his aviation skills from experienced pilots and mechanics.

According to expe-

rienced pilots, the motor skills of the 72-yearold actor are good and the actor is thorough and professional when it comes to inspecting the planes he flies before takeoff to make sure they are airworthy,

TMZ.com reported.

Other pilots said that the proof of Ford's flying abilities were validated on a Venice golf course as he laid it down as safely as possible, without an engine.

(TOI)

time and get my hair redyed and bleached, was not my thing at all," he said.

The star plays Peeta Mellark in the movies.

After having spent so much time with them, he admitted he will miss his co-stars.

"I'm going to miss just being with everyone that much. We are all still close and see each other on a fairly regular basis.

When you are filming, it's 12 plus hours a day for months at a time.

It's kind of sad, because you had such a great time making them, now it's coming to a close.

But also, I think everyone is ready to move on to the next stages of their careers and lives and everything." (TOI)

Josh Hutcherson hates his hair in 'Hunger Games'

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ctor Josh Hutcherson is glad to have finished working on 'The Hunger Games' movies because he hated the blonde hair he has in the films.

The 22-year-old actor said he is pleased to have finished shooting the four blockbuster movies because it means he can get rid of his previous locks, reported ABC news.

"I'm excited to shed the blonde hair! That's the thing that I was like, 'Get out of here!' Having to do touch ups all the

early a decade after winning an Academy Award for her role as Britain's Elizabeth II in "The Queen," Helen Mirren is ruling over Broadway in 'The Audience,' a new play about the monarch's weekly meetings with her prime ministers.

Mirren said she has huge empathy for the 88 year-old royal she plays in the British import that premiered in London and opened on Sunday at New York's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.

"Both times, for the film and now the play, I had to do a lot of research and the more research I did really, the more respect I gained for her," Mirren, 69, said ahead of the opening.

The queen's weekly meetings with her prime ministers are private, so 'The Audience' is an imagining of the conversations and relationships Elizabeth has had with eight of the 12 British leaders who served during her more than 60-year reign.

Mirren, a multipleTony nominee, admits it is difficult to imagine what Elizabeth's world is like. But the newspaper USA Today said her Elizabeth defends the monarchy and "deftly

reconciles her sense of entitlement with a deep humility and empathy."

In the play, which does not run chronologically, Mirren is shown as a older queen reassuring a doubtful John Major, played by actor Dylan Baker, that is he is up to the job.

In the next scene she changes into the young Elizabeth, holding her first meeting as queen with the formidable Winston Churchill (Dakin Matthews).

The play, written by Peter Morgan who also penned 'The Queen,' and directed by Stephen Daldry, lets audiences listen in to her conversation with a depressed Gordon Brown (Rod McLachlan.) They hear her playful, friendly banter with Labor Prime Minister Harold

Wilson and watch as she soothes a testy Margaret Thatcher.

With each scene the queen's age changes along with her costumes and hairstyle.

"Even if she's not the real royal deal, this is still about as close as most of us are going to get to a cozy tete-atete with the best loved of the regal Windsors," said The New York Times newspaper.

Mirren also appears alongside younger versions of the monarch, showing her reluctant to move into Buckingham Palace and her early annoyances with royal life.

"It's obvious who the real ruler is when it comes to Broadway.

Mirren's crown is safe," said The New York Post newspaper. (TOI)

'The Simpsons' co-creator Sam Simon dies at 59

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hilanthropist Sam Simon, one of the creative minds behind the popular animated series 'The Simpsons', has passed away due to terminal colon cancer.

He was 59.

Simon died on Monday at his home here, his foundation, the Sam Simon Foundation, confirmed the news via Facebook, reported Time.

"It is with much sadness that we must let you know that Sam Simon has passed over," the announcement read.

Simon was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2012, and was told he had only three to six months left to live. He survived that diagnosis.

Simon had said in an interview earlier that he was able to stay positive despite his diagnosis.

He reportedly said he was planning to donate USD 100 million of his fortune to charity, mostly to animal organisations.

A graduate of Stanford University, the director had nine primetime Emmys to his name.

One was for his work on 'The Tracey Ullman Show', where fellow "Simpsons" co-creators Matt Groening and James L Brooks also worked, while the other awards were for 'The Simpsons'.

Simon left the show in 1993, just four years after it debuted on Fox, but remained in the credits as an executive producer and continued to earn money from the show thanks to home video sales deal.

He also wrote episodes of 'Taxi', 'Cheers' and 'It's Garry Shandling's Show' before landing 'The Simpsons'.

Simon largely retired from the entertainment business while only in his 30s after realising he was financially set for

life a few years later.

He was a staunch advocate for animal rights.

Since 2002, Simon had self-funded, at the annual cost of several million dollars, the Sam Simon Foundation, dedicated to rescuing and retraining stray dogs who would otherwise be euthanized.

According to him, the foundation aimed to 'rescue dogs' and 'train them to be service dogs, (to help) people with disabilities', primarily the deaf.

The show's showrunner, Al Jean, paid tribute to his late colleague on Twitter. "@thesimpsons #everysimpsonsever Just heard terrible news of death of @simonsam. A great man; I owe him everything," Jean tweeted.

(TOI)

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Actor Aditya Pancholi arrested for creating ruckus at a pub in Juhu

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ollywood actor Aditya Pancholi was arrested by the Santacruz police early on Sunday on charges of assaulting a bouncer at a Juhu based hotel. The incident took place around 12:30 am.

Pancholi had visited the Sea Princess Hotel's pub late on Saturday.

Police officials said that the actor took objection to English songs being played at the pub. He asked for Hindi numbers to be played. This led to an altercation between the actor and the DJ. "A bouncer, Mandar Patole, was escorting him out of the pub when Pancholi hit him on the head with a mobile phone.

He also roughed up four colleagues of the bouncer," said Padmakar Chavan, senior inspector, Santacruz police station.

Patole had to be taken to a hospital and sustained five stitches on the head.

Pancholi was hauled to the police station and booked on charges of assault under relevant provisions of the IPC. Officials said the actor was allegedly sloshed.

Later, at around 12.30 pm, the ac-

tor was produced before a holiday court which sent him in judicial custody till March 20. Pancholi later applied for bail. He was released on a bail of Rs 50000 cash, even as the court asked him to surrender his mobile phone used in the crime.

Pancholi also shouted slogans in the courtroom and poked fun at lawyers before the magistrate entered.

Aditya Pancholi has had clashes with the law in the past as well. (TOI)

D

"In the morning my son asked me if I was going to the same Assembly which is shown in the 'Dirty Politics' and I felt embarrassed," Sharma said.

Responding to this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister R S Rathore assured the House that if the Assembly was wrongly depicted in the

movie action would be taken after watching it.

'Dirty Politics', a Hindi movie, written and directed by K C Bokadia and starring Mallika Sherawat, is loosely based on the Bhanwari Devi case in which an ex-Congress Minister and ex-MLA were in jail and facing court trials in Jodhpur. (TOI)

Irrfan and Nishikant Kamat come together for Madaari

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aving produced both box office hits and critically-acclaimed films like 'Tanu Weds Manu' and Shahid, Shailesh Singh is on a roll.

He has managed to get two very talented people together again for Green Light Entertainment, Dore Films and Saptarishi Cinevision Productions' 'Madaari' that is being presented by Bharat Shah. Irrfan will be essaying the lead role in this film, which will be directed by Nishikant Kamat.

The last time this actor-director duo worked together was on Mumbai Meri Jaan, a film that not only went on to win notices, but also set a perfect chemistry between the actor and director. Ask Irrfan his views on working with Nishikant, and he says, "During Mumbai Meri Jaan, I developed a deep

Karan Patel to marry Ankita Bhargava on May 3, 2015

M

Row over depicting Assembly building in movie 'Dirty Politics'

epiction of R a j a s t h a n Assembly building in filmmaker K C Bokadia's political thriller 'Dirty Politics' has not gone down well with some of the MLAs, with BJP MLA Ramlal Sharma expressing serious concern over it.

The issue echoed in the Assembly as the BJP MLA wanted to know from Speaker Kailash Meghwal as to who had given the permission to shoot the Assembly from outside.

During the Zero Hour, Ramlal Sharma expressed serious concern, saying that "it puts all MLAs in an awkward situation".

bollywood 49

bond with Nishikant. Since then, I've been eagerly awaiting for an opportunity to work with him. Hence, when a good subject like Madaari came up, I instantly agreed." Nishikant adds, "Irrfan and my association goes back a long way; we actually did TV together first. Post Mumbai Meri Jaan, we had to wait for the right script to work with each other again. Apart from being a friend, he is a legendary actor and I have definitely learnt a lot from him."

Shot across the length and breadth of India — Mumbai, Shimla, Dehradun, Delhi, Jaisalmer and Hyderabad, among other places — this IrrfanNishikant film is a hard-hitting social thriller, with a strong emotional connect. It also stars Jimmy Sheirgill and has an enviable ensemble cast.

Shailesh Singh, who apart from being a producer on Madaari is also co-producing Hansal Mehta's next, Aligarh, says, "It's exciting that we have two talented individuals coming together for Madaari. We had a blast shooting the film and full credit goes to my co-producers Irrfan, Shelija Kejriwal, Sandeep Singh and Anil Patil. We'll commence post production shortly and are aiming for a July-August 2015 release." (TOI)

arriages are made in heaven and this phrase holds true for popular TV actors Karan Patel of 'Yeh Hain Mohabbatein' and Ankita Bhagava, who are all set to tie the knot on May 3, 2015. Ankita, who was last seen in 'Ekk Nayyi Pehchaan', says that it was love at first sight.

"Karan first saw me on January 13, 2015 and it was love at first sight for me. He later told me that the moment he saw me, he thought of me as his wife. He then approached my parents for the marriage and then they got in touch with my uncle. After this, all the wedding formalities like matching the kundali and all started. Everything worked smoothly and went like flowing water. We were destined to be together," said the actress.

Talking about the wedding plans, Ankita shared, "We will be having a roka ceremony this Saturday. The wedding

will take place on May 3 2015. It will be a destination wedding. We are not disclosing the destination name right now but we will have a big reception party in Mumbai once we are back."

When asked about the rumours of her being the reason behind Karan and Kamya's break-up, she says, "Trust me, I have never heard such a ridiculous story. There is no truth to it. Kamya

and Karan broke-up in December and we met around mid January.

These are just baseless stories."

Describing Karan's qualities, Ankita says, "I really like the way he is with my parents. They always wanted a son and finally they have found one in Karan. He is just like me. Our thoughts, values, the way we are brought up just match."

(TOI)

Neetu Kapoor posts a picture of Ranbir Kapoor with Deepika Padukone

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n Thursday, Neetu Kapoor surprised her 50, 000 followers when she posted a picture of her son Ranbir Kapoor with his former flame, Deepika Padukone, from Ayan Mukerji's blockbuster, ‘Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani’, with the cap-

tion 'A Happy Joyous Colourful Holi to all my Insta Buddies !!!!'

The still from the popular Holi song, ‘Balam Pichkari’, sent fans of RK and Dippy into a tizzy, with some prophesising that the former lovebirds will eventually reunite while others claimed

that Neetu 'aunty' was sending an `indirect message' to her son's live-in partner, Katrina Kaif.

This isn't the first time RK's mummy has whipped up an Insta surprise. In the past too, Katrina was cropped out of a family photograph of the Kapoors during the celebrations of RK's cousin, Nitasha Nanda's birthday.

While Neetu Kapoor couldn't be reached for a comment, Rishi Kapoor retorted, saying, "I imagine it is Holi thus a picture of revelry and that's a song her son has sung.

Don't overstretch your imagination!" We won't.

And hopefully, Katrina too will look at the larger picture.Like we said, bura na mano, Holi hai!

(TOI)

Lara joins 'Fitoor' cast

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ctress and former beauty queen Lara Dutta has joined the cast of Abhishek Kapoor's 'Fitoor', and she's glad her daughter has given her a thumbs up for her look in the movie.

"New day, new movie!! Happy to join the cast and crew of 'Fitoor' for Day 1!

Daughter has passed her verdict on my outfit so I'm good to go," tweeted Lara, a mother to three-year-old daughter Saira with husband Mahesh Bhupathi.

In 'Fitoor', which also stars Katrina Kaif, Rekha and Aditya Roy Kapur, Lara is reportedly playing the part of an art curator. (TOI)

50 sport

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Everest teams leave for Suriname today

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verest Cricket Club’s Masters and Junior teams will depart Guyana today (Thursady) to face their Surinamese counterparts in five matches this weekend, while the club will also participate in the Duck Curry competition in the Dutch-speaking nation on Sunday.

While the Masters will play two games, the Juniors will be involved in three matches, as they look to gain valuable experience playing in different conditions. The matches will be played in Nikerie and Paramaribo.

First Vice-president of the club and captain of the Masters team, Rajesh Singh, said he is confident the teams will do well, noting that the

Members of the Everest junior team fully geared and ready for the trip to Suriname. At extreme right is club captain and coach, Shaheed Mohamed (Photo: Marceano Narine)

executives are grateful to the individuals and entities that have assisted in making the

trip a reality.

The Masters squad reads: Rajesh Singh (Captain), Saeed

Khan, Hemraj Garbarran, Shaheed Mohamed, Rabindranauth Seeram, Basil

Persaud, Rohan Sarjoo, Ronald Jaisingh, Dennis Mangru, Johnny Azeez, Lennox Cush, Anwar Rahaman and Rakesh Gangaram.

The Junior squad reads: Zacharia Mootoo, Vishal Persaud, Kishan Bhola, Yudister Persaud, Andre Boyce, Brandon Ramnarine, Ariel Tilku, Saif Ali, Joshua Rampersaud, Joshua Gardner, Pravish Singh and Nyron Bissu.

The trip has been made possible with support from Trophy Stall, Assuria Insurance, Friends of Everest, JGS, Business Services, Aircom, Superior Woods, Carib Food Distributors Inc., Rockaway Auto Sales- New York and Drubahadur and Associates Accounting Firm.

Garnett joins TT Pro League side, Caledonia AIA T he career of Grove Hi Tech striker, Domini Garnett, moved another rung up the ladder, as he recently became the latest player to join the professional ranks in Trinidad and Tobago.

The prolific footballer has signed a two-year deal with Caledonia AIA of the TT Pro League after spending two months on a trial in an arrangement between the East Bank Football Association and the T&T based club.

Garnett said: “The feeling of signing for a professional club is great and I am very excited knowing that I would be playing at the high level of the game. My intention is to work hard day to day to improve in every aspect of the football world, including educating myself on the game more.”

Caledonia’s Head Coach Jerry Moe felt that Garnett is a player for the future and is impressed with how he has fitted into the team. “Domini is

quite an ambitious youth who though soft spoken is not shy. I am impressed with his focus and commitment. At first we just allowed the trial to facilitate a request from our owner Jamaal Shabazz, who is working with the Guyana team. So we gave him the opportunity and he has held it with both hands.”

A goal in the TT Pro League Reserve Division and injuries to senior players saw Moe give Domini his first ‘First’

Domini Garnett receives his shirt from Caledonia AIA General Manager, Ricarda Nelson

team appearance in the TT Pro League. The aggressive 19-year-old striker returned the compliment by scoring in a 3-1 win over St Ann’s Rangers.

To date, Garnett has scored three goals for the ‘first’ team and has starred in four matches. “With some work and more playing time I think this kid can make it. He has a good attitude towards working hard and that is so important. His

three goals so far were well taken and once he keeps his head right I think he can achieve something in the game,” Moe observed.

Garnett commenced his football career locally with the number one club in the East Bank Football Association, Grove Hi Tech, as a nine-year-old and has played at the Under-13, 15, 17, 19 and senior levels. Garnett represented Guyana at Under-15 (Suriname),

Under-17 (Dominica) and Under-19 (Dominican Republic).

In the EBFA’s Stag Beer sponsored Division One League last year, which was played over two rounds, Garnett ended as the leading goal scorer with 21 goals and was also the tournament’s MVP. He also ended as the joint top scorer in the inaugural Stag Super XV1 KO Cup with nine goals, including all five in the final, which his side won 5-0.

While expressing gratitude to the management of Caledonia AIA, Garnett also thanked the East Bank Football Association, James Herbert and family, Franklin Wilson (EBFA Secretary) and Clive Matthews (Grove Hi Tech Manager).

His mother, Kay Ann Padmore, and father, Mark Anthony Garnett, also came in for high praise by the young Garnett as did coaches Gordon Braithwaite, Jermaine Alves (Grove Hi Tech) and Sampson Gilbert among others.

Bolt to run 200 metres at Athletissima Diamond League

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AUSANNE, SWITZERLAND: Sprint legend Usain Bolt, the Olympic and World Champion, is set to run the 200 metres at the Athletissima Diamond League meeting on July 9.

It will be the Jamaican's second big race of the summer, with the six-time Olympic champion also down to line up in the 100 metres at the Areva meeting in Paris five days earlier.

Bolt has yet to finalise the remainder of his summer programme before the World Championships in

Usain Bolt

Beijing from August 22 to 30.

The world-record holder in the 100m and 200m, will race the 200

metres for the fourth time in Lausanne.

He holds the meeting record of 19.58 seconds, set in 2012. (CMC)

sport 51

WEEK ENDING MARCH 15, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jamaican Young Boyz inch closer to Under-17 World Cup play-off

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Jamaica’s Tajea Brown (right) moving away from Guatemala’s Victor Valdez during their CONCACAF Under-17 Championship match on March 2. Brown scored a brace against TT on Sunday

AN PEDRO S U L A , HONDURAS: Jamaica defeated fierce rivals Trinidad and Tobago (TT) 5-1 in their Group A CONCACAF Under-17 Championship at the Estadio Francisco Morazan on Sunday and moved a step closer to World Cup play-off berth.

Goals by Peter Vassell (39th), Nathaniel Adamolekun (45th+3), Tajea Brown (80th, 85th) and Donovan Dawkins (90th) pushed Jamaica to their second win in four games.

They moved to seven points, the same as second-placed Honduras, who were scheduled to play leaders the United States of America (USA) in a later kick-off. The USA lead with maximum nine points.

The Young Reggae Boyz moved three points clear of Guatemala, who were held goalless

by Cuba, who moved to

three points.

Following their impressive 5-1 whipping of Caribbean neighbours TT, Jamaica has improved their goal difference to plus three, just behind Honduras with plus four, ahead of their late kick-off.

Jamaica's Head Coach Andrew Edwards made three changes to the starting team, once again switching goalkeepers -- bringing in Jahmali Waite for Akeem Chambers.

Javain Brown made a return to the team at left back after serving a suspension, while Nicholas Nelson replaced Dawkins up front.

The Jamaicans made their intentions quite clear from early and were quicker to the ball, but they could have fallen behind in the eighth minute had Tekay Hoyce not mis-hit his shot.

Adamolekun was fouled by goalkeeper Levi Hernandez in

the 20th minute and Canadian referee Drew Fisher pointed to the spot but later changed his decision after his Caymanian assistant signalled offside. But Jamaica would take the lead in the 39th minute courtesy of Vassell, who fired home from just outside the box.

That lead was shortlived as US-based Noah Powder pulled TT level with a beautiful free kick in the 42rd minute.

But Adamolekun restored Jamaica's advantage in added time of the first half, lobbing the advancing goalkeeper Levi Hernandez for his third goal of the championship.

Substitute Tajea Brown, who came on in the 67th minute for Nelson, grabbed a brace in the 80th and 85th minutes, before another substitute Dawkins put the icing on the cake in the 90th minute, turning in a Brown pass.

(Jamaica Observer)

TT’s Bovell III, Borel set sights on Rio 2016 P ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year 2014 George Bovell III and Cleopatra Borel are both setting their sights firmly on the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Speaking on Friday night, after the First Citizens Sports Foundation’s Sports Awards at Queen’s Hall in St Ann’s, the 31-yearold Bovell III, asked about his plans for 2015, replied, “getting back to basics, building a great foundation for 2016, towards the Olympics.

That’s what really matters.

“That’s what we all look towards, the ultimate goal,” said the lanky swim ace. “It will be nice. If it happens it happens, if it doesn’t, then I wouldn’t be too upset about it.”

Looking back at his season last year, the 2004 Athens Olympic Games 200-metre individual medley bronze medallist stated, “there were some real struggles for me in 2014. The Commonwealth Games, I was over-trained. When I was in the World Cup, I was swimming very well, then I was in Asia and I got pneumonia. I did some competitions with the pneumonia.”

He continued, “some of the hardest racing I’ve done in my career just came down to will-power. The CAC was a very memorable one for me. I think I might be the first person to win three in a row - three Games, three consecutively.”

Borel, the 2014 Commonwealth Games shot put silver medal-

TT's Sportsman of the Year 2014 George Bovell III

list, was unable to attend Friday’s ceremony due to a training stint in Cuba.

Her mother Marcelle Borel, who collected the trophy on behalf of her daughter, noted, “she worked hard and when you work hard, you expect good results.”

She added, “we are always cheering her on.

We are her worst and her best critics. So if she’s good, we compliment her.

If she’s bad, we tell her.”

About her daughter’s plans for 2015, Borel (senior) stated, “she’s looking to do her best in all events, and looking forward to 2016. So her goal is the Olympics (as well as) Pan Am Games 2015 and World (Championships).”

The Pan Am Games will take place from July 21-26 in Toronto, Canada while the World Championships will be staged in Beijing, China from August 22-30.

Sir Hilary Beckles, pro vice-chancellor and campus principal of the Cave Hill campus (Barbados) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), delivered the feature address at Friday’s ceremony.

“In the last year, at my campus in Cave Hill, we have done something historic and unique,” he revealed. “We have rolled

out a Masters Degree in Sports Science, and this degree is designed to fit into the routine, movements and cultures of our athletes.”

And, in his address to the gathering, chairman of the First Citizens Sports Foundation Dr Keith Clifford highlighted the events which the Foundation undertook last year, and also mentioned that the group plans to forge partnerships with academic institutions, both local and abroad.

Hall of Famer Florrie Kelshall (hockey) was recognised at the show, while a number of sporting persons who died in 2014 were remembered, including Rodney Wilkes (power lifting), Rawle Barrow (sailing), Kevon Carter (football), Benedict Cayenne (track and field) and cyclists Clinton Grant, Hilton “Barracuda” Mitchell, Kent Luces, Roger Smart and Ronald Dickie senior.

Entertainment was provided by the husband and wife duo of Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez, who opened the show with his 2015 track “Our Time” and Fay-Ann LyonsAlvarez, who closed the 75-minute long ceremony with her 2015 hit “Raze”.

(TT Newsday)

Guyana rout Barbados to start NACRA 15’s title defence

By Treiston Joseph

G

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: The Guyana national ruggers probably had added motivation with President Donald Ramotar as their lead supporter for their opening game in the North American Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) 15’s tournament as they handed Barbados a 48-22 drubbing at the National Park rugby field.

Avery Corbin opened the scoring for Guyana in the 15th minute before Raj Edwards found his way in the end zone five minutes later for the equalizer.

However, Guyana

The successful Guyanese team

continued to score try after try as the Guyanese ended with a comfortable halftime lead of 17-5.

The second half was

much of the same story as the scoring outburst by the “Green Machine” had the huge crowd in a frenzy.

Even fresh legs in the second half did not slow the momentum of the Guyanese ruggers as they kept pushing the

pace of the game, out muscling and out hustling their Bajan visitors.

The game ended with two tries each by Blaise

Bailey and Jamal Angus, four conversions by Captain Ryan Gonsalves and a try apiece by Avery Corbin, Claudius Butts, Theo Henry and Richard Staglon..

Raj Edwards (two tries), Stephen Millar (one try), Jerren Clarice (one try) and Mykyle Walcott (one conversion) were the scorers for the visitors Barbados.

Guyana will face Trinidad and Tobago in their next encounter on April 11 in the twin island republic.

Victory against Trinidad will allow Guyana to play the winner of the North Zonce championships for the 15’s title.

(Guyana Times)

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OSCL president promised USA condemns exciting year after AGM TT to eighth

- Tour to Guyana on later this year…

By Ravendra Madholall

T

O R O N T O , C A N A D A : C a n a d i a n based Guyanese Albert Ramcharran expressed strong optimism that the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) is set to run off another exciting 2015 season which begins in May at various venues across the Greater Toronto Area.

He made this declaration on Sunday at the Agincourt Community Centre in Scarborough where the OSCL held its Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Ramcharran also took the opportunity to state that a team will be part of the annual Guyana’s Softball Mini World Cup which is slated for late October.

“We will definitely have another successful and exciting year; in 2014 we had a great tournament and no doubt me and my executives would want to see that happen again for the betterment of softball cricket in Ontario,” Ramcharran mentioned.

According to the OSCL leader, some 25 teams are expected to participate in this year’s various competitions inclusive of 20, 15 and 10-overs while a junior under-16 tournament should take place as well.

Since the formation of the League 20 years

OSCL executives at Agincourt Community Centre following the conclusion of the AGM on Sunday. Sitting: President Albert Ramcharran, left, and Vice-President Terry Mathura

ago, Ramcharran has been one of the founding members and he was elated to explain that the league has seen tremendous growth.

“I have been around since the inception of the League, and I can say that we keep improving all the time and my gratitude goes out to you the members of different teams, spectators and executives, who worked tirelessly to be where we at the moment,” Ramcharran pointed out.

One of the major successes for the League in 2014 was the continuation of the 10-10 competition after it was formally introduced in 2013 and it has garnered greater interest.

“Like any cricketing tournament, the short-

est format is always fascinating and exciting; we thoroughly enjoyed the 10-10 version in 2014 and I can guess the teams enjoyed it too and having said so because more teams already asked to participate in that tournament too,” the businessman related.

Apart from the softball competitions in Ontario, a team would be selected after the completion of the season to be part of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association 20over Mini World Cup. OSCL could not have sent a team at last year’s tournament owing to players’ unavailability but Dant Cricket Club did feature under the banner of the OSCL. They dominated from

the commencement to conclusion last year triumphing in all three versions, 20-, 15 and 10-overs.

“Hopefully, we should have all the players available for this year’s tour to Guyana; we will have a good side to compete like Dant done last year; I am just asking the players early to state their interest so we can have enough time to prepare,” stated Ramcharran, The OSCL was also invited to the forthcoming Florida Cup Mini 20over World Cup but is faced with players lack of commitment and financial challenges as well to make the trip possible but again Ramcharran assured measures would be put in place for the 2016 event.

13-year-old Kenisha Phillips has untapped potential Treiston Joseph

I

f one had to pick the star of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Carifta Games trials, it would definitely be 13-yearold Kenisha Phillips.

While Phillips has performed well at School Nationals in times past, her sprinting showcase at the earlier development meets in 2015 before her explosion at the Carifta Games trials has catapulted Phillips into the spotlight as a youth athlete to keep a keen eye on.

With unmatched finishing speed, along with brilliant leg speed as well as strength, Phillips has the qualities of a versatile sprinter who can tackle all three events (100m, 200m and 400m) successfully, the way Alison Felix has done for America.

Her 24.6s 200 metres at Carifta trials on Sunday only proves that the 13-year-old is gifted

Kenisha Phillips won her 200 metres at Carifta trials on Sunday (Treiston Joseph photo)

and can achieve great things once she receives the right support.

Under the tutelage of her uncle, Linden Phillips, the speedster, who hails from Buxton, trains one time per day from 05:00h to around 07:00h.

Training for only two hours a day in the morning shows that Phillips has a far way to go in realising her through potential.

The senior Phillips believes that the 13-year-old dynamite is only showcasing the tip of the iceberg. “Every

day she shows me improvement and she continues to get better, her performance at Carifta trials was exceptional,” Phillips, who started coaching in 2011, mentioned.

The story of Phillips’ rise is quite phenomenal since the athlete had the opportunity to be groomed with the likes of Jevina Sampson, Natricia Hooper and Avon Samuels, who are some of the top junior sprinters from Running Brave but never really took off.

However, the senior

Phillips after migrating in 2012 returned a year after and took over his niece’s training and the results have been marvellous.

It bodes well for Phillips because if she can perform at such a level while training with little competition who knows what will happen when she has a capable training partner.

However, the path is clear for the 13-year-old who is expected to make her debut at the Carifta Games come April.

“We are working to drop the times in the 200m, she is on par with some of the girls in the Caribbean and she is on grass so when she touches the rubber she will fly, but she is working hard every day,” Phillips noted.

Whether she wins a medal or not at Carifta, Phillips has put the youth and junior females of Guyana on notice, another star is about to shine.

TT’s Nicholas Triston Grant and Italian Augustin Nunez challenge each other for the ball at the FIH World Hockey League Round Two qualifiers in Chula Vista Olympic Training Centre, San Diego, California, on Saturday. TT lost 2-1.

P

O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: TT’s national hockey team ended at the bottom of the eightteam standings, following a 5-3 loss to USA in their seventh spot playoff when the FIH World Hockey League Men’s Round Two qualifiers concluded at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Centre, San Diego, California, on Sunday.

Beaten in their five previous matches in the competition, by Russia (6-1), USA (7-1) and Canada (3-0) in Pool B round-robin play as well as 12-2 by Ireland in the quarterfinals, and 2-1 by Italy in the losers semifinal, the Solomon Ecclescaptained TT squad was hopeful of ending the tournament on a high.

However, the Americans, had other ideas and took early control with a goal from Tyler Sundeen in the 12th minute to lead 1-0 at the end of the first quarter while five minutes into the second quarter, Christian Linney made it 2-0 which his team took into the half.

TT, managed to pull a goal back in the 41st minute, but American standout, Pat Harris restored his team’s twogoal cushion with a 45th minute goal.

Shaquille Daniel provided TT with some hope when he cut the lead to 3-2 in the 54th minute, but within seconds, Harris got his second of the match for the host to lead 4-2.

Three minutes later, Daniel also notched his second for the world 30th ranked TT to trail 4-3, but hopes of a late rally

were dashed with Harris completing his hat-trick two minutes after which his team ran down the final minute of regulation time to seal seventh spot.

In the battle for fifth spot, Chile got the better of Italy 2-0 via penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw.

Thomas Keenan put the Europeans ahead in the 35th minute, but Nicolas Renz drew the South Americans levels, and in the shoot-out, Ricardo Achondo and Felipe Eggers converted for the winners while Keenan, Daniele Cioli and Alexis Berczely were off target for Italy.

Last night, in the finals, Ireland came up against Austria, with both teams already assure of qualification to the Hockey World League semi-finals (Round Three), where coveted berths at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games are up for grabs, while Canada and Russia met for third, and the other available spot to the next round.

This after Ireland blanked Canada 2-0 and Austria outlasted Russia 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 regulationtime draw on Saturday night.

Malaysia, Poland and Japan have all qualified for the HWL semifinals thanks to top three finishes at the event in Singapore (SIN) earlier this year.

The remaining qualifiers involving host South Africa, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, France and Switzerland flicked off Saturday in Cape Town until March 15.

(TT Guardian)

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Good results always a priority, says Shabazz

By Avenash Ramzan

W

hile the Golden Jaguars will be using the upcoming international friendly against St Lucia to expose the young crop of footballers, Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz said “good results” are always the top priority in the long-term development of the team.

Shabazz made the comment prior to the squad’s first training session on Wednesday afternoon at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, ahead of the March 22 clash in Guyana.

The candid coach briefly shared his long-term plans for the team, starting with the game against the islanders.

“Of course we want to have good results; a good result is always the first priority on the agenda,

The Golden Jaguars players going through training on Wednesday at the Police ground (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

but we also want to build a national team over a period of two years that will brand itself back to the kind of team we had in the past and even try to do better,” Shabazz ex-

plained.

He continued, “Of course, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step and it’s not going to be an easy process.

Always giving players in-

ternational exposure is a tedious process and we’ve got to be mindful, because the results don’t always come the way we would like.”

Shabazz pointed out

that Wednesday’s session was to get the players in the frame of mind in preparation for two international friendlies, the second of which will be held on March 29 against Grenada.

The squad for the St Lucia game is primarily local based players, including several Under-23s, while overseas players, including Brandon Beresford and Jamaal Smith from North America, and a few from Trinidad and Tobago will link up with the unit for the Grenada clash. The core group in training at the moment comprises Derrick Carter, Joshua Brown, King Solomon Austin, Colin Nelson, Dwain Jacob, Clive Nobrega, Les Charles Critchlow, Vurlon Mills, Dwayne Lawrence, Kris Camacho, Calvin Shepherd, Daniel

Wilson, Sheldon Holder, Manasseh Primo, Dorville Stewart, Amos Ramsey, Konata Mannings and Eon Alleyne.

The players will go into camp on Friday.

With the aim of affording the Golden Jaguars every opportunity to play competitively ahead of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, set to start in June, the Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) finalised the international friendly against St Lucia late last month.

The match will be played at the Guyana National Stadium, marking the return of international football to the venue after a brief hiatus. The game will be the Golden Jaguars’ second international friendly of the year, following their 2-2 draw with hosts Barbados on February 1.

Sport awardees to be honoured Friday T op sport teams, athletes and journalists will be recognised for their contribution to the disciplines in 2014 when the National Sports Commission stages the annual award ceremony on Friday at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown.

Director of Sport Neil Kumar confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that all systems are in place for the ceremony, which is expected to commence at 19:00h sharp.

Awardees are expected to be seated by 18:30h.

Kumar will be one of several speakers during the ceremony, which is being held annually to honour the country’s top sportsmen and women, officials, administrators and journalists.

His Excellency President Donald Ramotar has been confirmed to deliver the feature address, while Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony will also take to the podium.

When the esteemed panel voted on February 20 last at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the discipline of rugby emerged with the lion’s share of the awards. At the end of it all, rugby copped five of the six awards it was nominated for.

Leading the way was the national Men’s team, which copped the Team-of-the-Year prize.

The Guyanese created history in 2014, winning both the North American and

Flashback! Top awardees of 2013 pose with their accolades at the function last year

Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) 15s and 7s titles. It was the first instance of a Caribbean country winning both competitions in the same year.

The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) won the Sports-Associationof-the-Year and the Most-ImprovedAssociation awards, while Theodore Henry was named Coach-ofthe-Year and GRFU President Peter Green clinched the MaleSports-Personality-ofthe-Year award.

Captain of the national Men’s rugby team, Ryan Gonsalves, was nominated for Sportsman-of-theYear, but lost out to cricketer Veerasammy Permaul, who won that category, with motorracer Kristian Jeffrey being the runner-up.

Athlete Cassie George won the Junior and Senior Sportswoman awards, with fellow athlete Jason Yaw being voted

the Junior Sportsman.

President of the recently-formed Guyana Sports Shooting Federation, Vidushi Persaud, copped

the Female Sport Personality accolade.

Guyana Times journalist and TVG News Anchor Avenash Ramzan copped the

Sport Journalist NonPrint award for the fourth year in succession and fifth time overall, while the Stabroek News duo

Emmerson Campbell and Orlando Charles were adjudged Print Sport Journalist and Photographer respectively.

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