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A fight for survival!

ISSUE NO. 279

WEEK ENDING January 24, 2016

‌ Sugar workers take to streets to protest Govt’s See story on page 10 decision to close Wales Sugar Estate

Sattaur Fired Page 3

Mr. Khurshid Sattaur

Opposition Leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has promised that every effort will be made to ensure Government's reverses it decision to close the Wales Sugar Estate.

Diaspora protest Nagamootoo Police Officer to be charged with rape at New York meetings Page 21

Page 17

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NEWS 3

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Sattaur sacked …following unanimous decision by Board C

ommissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. Khurshid Sattaur’s services with the agency have now been terminated following a unanimous decision taken today, Thursday January 21 by members of GRA’s governing Board.

According to a media release from the GRA, this decision was made at the Guyana Revenue Authority’s 171st meeting held earlier today (Thursday) and will take effect from March 1, 2016.

Acting GRA Commissioner-General, Ingrid Griffith, is slated to continue to function in the position of Commissioner General until further notice.

In July last year, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had confirmed that Sattaur and 20 other members of his

Mr. Khurshid Sattaur was fired with effect from March 1, 2016

staff proceeded on annualised leave.

Jordan, however, had said at that time that Sattaur had requested his leave, while the 20 other staffers had accumulated

leave and were instructed to proceed on their leave.

Although speculation was rife that Sattaur would have been let go, Jordan insisted that the GRA boss was not sent on leave but

rather requested his leave.

He noted that some of the employees have leave amounting to 300, 280, and 240 days and Minister Jordan thought that they should proceed on leave and

return.

Then Sattaur, just over a month ago, was sent on ‘leave’ by GRA’s Chairman Rawle Lucas.

“The Governing Board of Directors of the Guyana Revenue Authority today, Thursday December 17, took a unanimous decision to send Commissioner General Kurshid Sattaur on vacation leave with immediate effect to facilitate an upcoming comprehensive audit of the agency by a reputable international firm,” Lucas said in a statement at the time.

He noted, then, that Mr. Sattaur who has been Commissioner General for the past 12 years has accumulated vacation leave time of more than 200 days and has been ordered to proceed immediately on leave while authorities organize for the audit of the Authority.

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EDITORIAL

What power sharing?

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dded to all his portfolios, but not mentioned officially, is Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s task to lead talks on behalf of the Government on “power sharing”. Beginning in 2002, just before his passing, then PNC leader Desmond Hoyte claimed he accepted the mechanism of “power sharing” to address the challenges of governance in our ethnically fractured polity.

This was a volte-face from his position when he inherited the presidency in 1985 from Forbes Burnham and peremptorily scuttled ongoing talks with the PPP on the same goal.

Starting from the 1960s when the PNC fissioned from the PPP, there had been periodic negotiations between the two parties that represented the two major voting blocs in Guyana.

But each initiative before the 1985 version was shattered by the PNC’s insistence on securing ultimate control within the “grand coalition” deemed necessary to effectuate “power sharing”.

Given that history, it was not surprising the PPP has been sceptical of offers of “power sharing” coming from the coalition Government as a Trojan Horse to maintain control of the State.

Thus when Mr Hoyte’s successor Robert Corbin placed the mechanism on the agenda for talks between himself and then President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2003, the latter insisted “trust” has to be nurtured between the two parties before proceeding.

And there matters stood even as Mr Corbin’s chosen successor, Brigadier David Granger maintained the rhetoric of “power sharing” as part of the PNC’s and later APNU’s platform. Such offers, however, waned after 2011 when the election results demonstrated conclusively that the PNC, now rebranded as “A Partnership for National Unity” (APNU) stood a chance of winning the elections with just a little help. Consequently, approaching the 2015 elections, it proposed a coalition with the Alliance For Change (AFC) for that “little help” and claimed this would fulfil the “power sharing” vision. From that perspective, the experience of the coalition offers an opportunity to evaluate the mechanism Prime Minister Nagamootoo now espouses.

The governing coalition was preceded by a month-long negotiation between teams from APNU and the AFC and this culminated in the “Cummingsburg Accord”, summarising the details of their “power sharing” arrangement. Contrary to what it had averred in the past, APNU was evidently abandoning power sharing as a “grand coalition” of the major political forces. It was now positing that a coalition with 51 per cent national support delivered “shared governance”.

There were three major components to the Accord that reflected concerns of the junior partner, the AFC. In view of the universally acknowledged power of the Guyanese presidency, it was agreed that the AFC Prime Minister would chair the Cabinet and be in charge of governance. The allocation of seats in the National Assembly and the Cabinet were to be allocated on a 60:40 ratio, while the putatively powerful National Security Ministry would be awarded to the AFC leader.

Within a month, each of these agreements was breached. The AFC PM could not chair the Cabinet, Mr Granger said, because it was “unconstitutional”. But even if the two parties, top heavy with lawyers, overlooked this elephant in the room during negotiations, this objection was raised at the announcement of the Accord. Most recently, after a contretemps, Mr Nagamootoo is now said to be “co-chairing” the Cabinet, which is presumably “constitutional”.

After seven months when “governance” was given to Raphael Trotman, it is now claimed it is now in the Prime Minister’s bailiwick. On the 60/40 ministerial appointments, the Cabinet was doubled with the addition of “junior Ministers” to dilute AFC’s influence, since only senior Ministers were “counted” in the apportionment. While the National Security portfolio was given to the AFC, it’s critical “Citizenship” and Naturalisation functions were hived off.

It would appear that the PPP/C was prescient in demanding “trust” as a threshold issue on “power sharing”. It is our hope that in fulfilling this very important mandate of the APNU/AFC Government, the Prime Minister will deliver that trust rather than platitudes.

Sugar workers in front of the Parliament protesting Government's decision to close the Wales Estate

Humanitarian Mission seeks to partner with Govt to tackle rising suicide in Guyana

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he New Jersey ing to partner with the govern- cals; vellium is one of them that Arya Samaj Mandir ment in allowing them to use is also popular.”

Humanitarian Mission the building free of cost; proThe current system in place (NJASHM) is seeking to part- viding that they can staff that at New Amsterdam Hospital ner with government to tack- building with the resources and to deal with attempted suicide le the high incidence of sui- the manpower. We desperately has been criticized by several cide and suicide attempts in need to address the issue of sui- sections of society. As part of Berbice. cide in this region immediate- the treatment persons are takHead of the organisa- ly.” en to the National Psychiatric tion Pandit Suresh Sugrim on He said that one of his con- Hospital; an institution for the Monday said the NJASHM cerns is that there has been mentally ill.

Skills Training Centre and much discussion on suicide in Social Worker attached Counselling Centre at Port the past which is yet to bear to the NA Hospital Elizabeth Mourant will be available to fruit: “I am hoping that we can Joseph said there are many government as an office or move this as quickly as possi- difficulties being encountered counselling centre for suicide- ble.” as they try to reach out to the related issues: “We also want Meanwhile Medical wider community. to put in two phone lines, which Director New Amsterdam Joseph explained that some could be used as suicide hot Hospital Dr Vishalya Sharma, suicide survivors do not unlines.”

Sugrim has officially taken the proposal to the Director of Regional Health Services Jevaughn Stephens and has reported some degree of success.

Stephens, he said, has welcomed the initiative with the hope that it will see a rapid decline in suicide and attempts. “We are committed to ensure that persons get direst help from different arSocial Cohesion Minister Amna Ally speaks with CEO of NJASHM eas and from a Skills Training Centre and Counselling Centre, Pandit Suresh medical perspecSugrim in the presence of First Lady Sandra Granger and Minister tive, we want to within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson see what we can also do as we partner with var- addressing the issue of suicide derstand the importance of goious NGOs [non-governmen- in Berbice, said last year there ing to the psychiatric hospital tal organisations in this fight were 149 persons who attempt- to be treated. “Having them go against suicide,” he told the ed suicide and ended up at the to a neutral place is good,” she media in response to Sugrim’s New Amsterdam Hospital. Of noted in support of Sugrim’s proposal. that number 19 of them died. Proposal.

First Lady Sandra Granger “We have had a tremendous “If we are to use the centre, and Social Cohesion Minister increase in the number of at- one of the first things that we Amna Ally visited the centre on tempted suicides which is wor- must do is to get people who Sunday to have a firsthand look rying to Guyana as a whole and would have survived among the at the facility. not just Region Six.” employees. They should answer Speaking to the media, She noted that this year has the phone because they will Sugrim said he is happy the seen an increase in the number be able to say to people. ‘I was health department has ac- of youths who have attempt- there.’ I think if you use those knowledged his proposal. “We ed suicide. “The most common persons to man the phone along have the facility located in method that is being used is in- with professionals, I think that Port Mourant and we are will- gesting toxic chemicals, medi- will go a long way,” Joseph said.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Water crisis in Pomeroon Iwokrama Chairman pays … residents appeal for Govt’s help courtesy call on PM Nagamootoo

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Chairman of Iwokrama Dr Rajendra Pachauri in discussion

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hairman of I w o k r a m a , Dr. Rajendra Pachauri today paid a courtesy call on Guyana’s Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, where they discussed matters of mutual interests especially a green economy and a more sustainable Iwokrama project.

“I know Guyana is generating a lot of power from hydrocarbon resources and that is certainly not something that is going to happen in the future so we need

to bring about a shift in the more efficient use of energy and much greater use of renewables and making modern energy accessible to those who may not have access to it today,” Mr Rajendra Pachauri said.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo said Guyana has an abundance of natural resources but financial assistance is needed to promote a greater energy sector and a good life for all Guyanese through various partnerships.

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he current dry spell experienced in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) has forced scores of residents living in the Pomeroon River to paddle several miles in the Savannahs to source fresh water for domestic purposes.

According to a PPP\C Councillor, Brian Basil Persaud, persons living in the Pomeroon River have no other choice but to endure the arduous task of paddling for miles to get drinking water. According to Persaud the situation is serious and many families are suffering.

The Councillor also reported that water in the river has become salted as far as Siriki village.

As such residents who spoke

Dry rice fields in Pomeroon

with this newspaper said that they are suffering and called on the Coalition Government to provide them with black tanks and drinking water. Cash crop farmers have also expressed that their fields are dry and they cannot irrigate their lands due to the intrusion of salt water in the Pomeroon River.

According to another farmer the situation is very bad and the Region must do something to assist persons living in the river. The farmer also said that the REO in the Region, Rupert Hopkinson is not doing anything to address farmers’ need and is busy building recreational parks as opposed to providing drinking water and irrigation for residents and rice farmers.

In addition, on the Coast, the situation is worse, rice farmers continue to struggle for water in their fields for irrigation purposes. Young rice plants in numerous rice fields are burning down in quest for water. The Dawa Pump station has thus far failed to provide adequate water to rice lands despite continuous pumping.

Over 5000 acres of lands in the Cozier Agriculture Scheme is without water and despite reports made to the REO to represent the interest of farmers nothing is being done. Residents are calling on the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder and Central Government for their intervention in offering some sort assistance to those affected.

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Retaining retirees prevents the employment of youths Dear Editor, I make reference to an article captioned “Retirees getting ‘fat cat’ salaries – situation forcing political loyalty” that was carried in another section of the media on January 17, wherein Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran convincingly made the point, to which I wholesomely agree, that “the offering of contracts under lucrative terms to retired public and other officials” is an “unacceptable situation” that is “skewed in favour of political loyalty”.

Goolsarran went on to say that this practice, by the previous government, would have “sacrificed the hiring of technical and professional competence without any consideration of costs and the adverse effect it has on the morale of staff”. Further he stated that there are a number of persons who retire and return to work in the same position, but on “contractual terms on emoluments higher than their ending salaries when they were on the pensionable establishments”.

Editor, unless the practice that Goolsarran refers to is put under some control, one of the primary objectives of this government of finding jobs for the younger population of this country will be unrealised. Until such time that there is a significant expansion in industrialisation and service-oriented sectors, employment opportunities for the younger populations will be rare.

Each year, almost 5000 persons graduate from the University of Guyana, with almost half graduating as neveremployed. The supply of tertiary and vocational graduates is way higher than the demand for them; as a consequence those that cannot locate suitable jobs that’s commensurate with their skills and qualifications, will either have to take odd and menial jobs, or seek employment regionally and extra-regionally.

The point that Goolsarran made therefore must be taken in the context that retaining retirees prevent the employment of youths. I do not advocate that employees should be made redundant after a certain age, but where job creation is less than the supply of a skilled and qualified workforce there must be an outward movement of employees of a certain age to create an equilibrium between demand and supply.

Goolsarran made reference to Canada where there is no moratorium on retirement age.

This is because unemployment is low, and there is a shortage of skills to meet demand in the service and manufacturing sectors in some provinces.

With an effective succession planning process, a successor to the retiree should have been in place, which cascades down to the final replacement in the chain of the hierarchy – the employment of an unemployed.

The failure to have an effective

succession planning process is one of the reasons that contribute to the massive unemployment of qualified youths of this country.

Editor, Goolsarran’s criticism focused on this unacceptable practice that was carried out by the previous government. I endorse his criticism.

In the same manner that he criticised the previous government, I would recommend to Goolsarran that he peruses the report of GuySuCo’s Commission of Inquiry that was appointed by the current government.

In Section 4.3 of the CoI’s report captioned “Open Ended Retirement”, it states: “The practice of retiring employees at age 60 should be discontinued in favour of an open-ended, more flexible approach to retirement. The practical considerations which drive this idea cannot be ignored. People are now living well past the Biblical 3-score years plus 10”.

Interestingly, the report further states: “Expanding life span sees the number of centenarians on the rise; examples of septuagenarians and octogenarians will successfully continuing their working lives in varying role from the bottom to the top…. right up to heads and chairmanships of organisations”.

The CoI is recommending that GuySuCo should exercise an “open-ended”, “flexible” approach in retaining those who would have attained age 60, even if they are prepared to work until age 100. It’s obvious that this recommendation runs counter to Goolsarran’s justified criticism.

The Executive Summary of the said report states: “There remains and exists a number of competent managers committed to organisational goals.

They need an environment for full expression of their training and skills wherein the nation benefits”.

Where would this environment in GuySuCo come from to facilitate the “full expression of their training and skills” if the opportunities are occupied by retirees who under normal circumstance will refrain from proceeding on retirement but hold their current jobs under existing salaries with significant top-ups from gratuity payments and pensions as currently obtains with several job holders?

The sugar company currently has in its employ septuagenarians and octogenarians; one of whom sits on the current Board, but holds a full-time executive position.

I would appreciate Goolsarran relating his position on an extremely sensitive matter relative to employment and the position adopted by GuySuCo’s CoI on the issue of retirees.

Yours faithfully, Rajendra Parmanand

Popularising agriculture as a good career Dear Editor, The above poster is prominently displayed along the roadways in the province of Ontario, Canada. (For clarity please note that it depicts an advertisement by the McDonald fast food chain which is famous for its burgers & chips with the punch line that potato chips originate from the Canadian potato farms). It creatively depicts the nexus between a popular, profitable product (McDonald’s fries/chips) and the not so popular occupation of potato farming with the subliminal message that farming is indeed and in fact a worthwhile career.

In Guyana we have been pushing the teaching of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) with clear pointers to careers outside the field of Agriculture. There is no

quarrel with the pursuit of STEM subjects and careers; as a matter of fact our country does need such initiatives. But, while we do so, we should not ignore the fact that Guyana is ‘naturally’ blessed with agricultural potential and the world is facing deficits in good food supplies.

We should therefore not lose sight of our relative advantage in agricultural pursuits and the concomitant emphases on institutions like the Guyana School of Agriculture and industries like sugar, rice, coconut, ground provision, animal husbandry, fishing, fruits etc.

For starters, how about roadside signs depicting, say our world famous rums with a complementary subliminal message as in the Canadian sign above that it is not possible without our sugar industry growing sugarcane

and producing molasses? Of course, the ‘anti-alcohol lobby’ might object to the incidental ‘promotion’ of rum; however, if that becomes a stumbling block, we can certainly get over it by using the KFC chicken logo to make the connection with cultivating rice and other grains to produce poultry and animal feed. (The local Beharry Group which reportedly now has the KFC franchise might welcome opportunity for partnering with Government to promote agricultural pursuits as well as the balanced development of Guyana’s human resources.

We can also think of the nexus between burgers, dairy products and cattle rearing as another respectable occupation for our young people to think of pursuing.

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

Restoring Georgetown requires more than cleaning drains Dear Editor, Recently in the press, I have seen a lot of fuss being made about Georgetown being returned to its former glory as the famed “Garden City”.

All the steam with which the City Council had begun to tackle the blocked drains, canals and other waterways has already petered out.

What has happened to the contracted gangs that were cleaning in the downtown area? Has the money run out already? Will they not be going to the suburban areas of Georgetown? Cleaning a part and leaving a part could hardly make Georgetown a Garden City. What does City Council plan to do about the vagrants and homeless persons who not only contribute to the ugliness and filth within the city, but who are a nuisance to visitors and citizens alike.

Restoring Georgetown

to its position of being the Garden City will require a structured programme of replanting fallen trees, proper pruning and trimming of existing trees and plants as opposed to the current system of either butchering them or leaving them to become overgrown. It will require the planting and replanting of the proper type of grass in our once green spaces.

It will necessitate the creation of urban and suburban parks throughout the city and not just on Merriman Mall. It will require a vigorous education initiative to instil in citizens the necessity and long-term benefits of a clean, green city and not just ad hoc campaigns.

It will need the revision of legislation related to offences and penalties, and additional regulations to ensure compliance with maintaining a clean city.

And this brings us to the

question of the zoning rules and regulations of the city.

How it is that varying types of businesses are allowed to thrive in every ward of the city? How could mechanic and tyre shops operate with impunity in residential areas? Do the City Police not traverse High Street just south of Public Building and see that there is a vehicle oil change centre where waste oil is released into the drains and onto parapets on a daily basis completely destroying the environment?

Do these City Council officials who are pursuing the restoration of Georgetown back to the Garden City not observe the confiscation of city alleyways, reserves and other open spaces, particularly by the business community? Is this how the city will be restored?

Sincerely, Debra Gibson

Light at the end of the tunnel for small miners Dear Editor, I wish to congratulate Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman for the astute manner in which he is dealing with the small miners in Guyana.

I am on record penning several letters concerning the mining industry. Indeed the industry needed a complete overhaul. A few of the large-scale miners have ex-

ploited the mining industry to the level, causing many to quit because of bad experiences. There was no recourse since the corrupted officials were sheltered by party paramountcy.

I can see small miners working in a fair environment where they can do more economically. I wish at the same time to call on the small miners to declare

their gold to the legitimate gold buyers so as to contribute to our country’s economic status. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for small miners in our beautiful Guyana. Long live small miners.

Sincerely, Andrieko Basir Small Miner

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Harmon justifies decision to close Wales Estate … says Estate was “economic nightmare”

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n light of accusations that it has discarded recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the sugar industry, Government has justified its decision to shut down the Wales Estate, saying that it was taken during the preparation of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) 2016 Budget even before the findings of the Inquiry were submitted.

This is according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at this week’s post-Cabinet briefing on Wednesday. The CoI report, which is currently before a parliamentary committee for review, had advised against the closure of the sugar estates given the current state of the country’s economy.

However, Harmon explained that the decision was made, taking into consideration operational factors. “The decisions with respect to Wales Estate were contained in GuySuCo’s Budget and the 2016 Action Plan, which was developed in 2015 and, therefore, did not bear any specific relationship to the Commission of Inquiry

into GuySuCo,” he said.

Harmon pointed out that the Corporation’s management and Directors were on board with the decision. “The fact that the factory itself has become such a major issue for maintenance and repairs, and the funds that were required to be pumped into it, it became an economic nightmare to really continue doing things the way they were doing it before,” he said.

The Minister of State went on to say that this decision was also part of the Sugar Corporation’s plans to stand on its own feet by improving its economic conditions and not having to rely on the treasury for financial support, a step Government fully supported.

On the other hand, Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder said that the decision was taken in efforts to boost the efficiency of the sugar industry, pointing out that the Wales Estate was projected to incur a loss of Gy$1.6 billion this year. However, he noted that the Estate would not be shut down before December 31, 2016, as

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Government was still working out the arrangements.

“This is not anything new, they closed LBI (La Bonne Intention) and Diamond and moved then to Enmore. There will be adjustments all over the industry to increase efficiency and this is basically what we are doing, improving efficiency in the industry and West Demerara,” he said.

While it was not disclosed how many workers will be affected, the Agriculture Minister ex-

Bartica Stelling being redesigned

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orks have commenced to deliver to the residents of Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) a redesigned Stelling, which is expected to brighten the community’s waterfront. Bartica is one of the communities targeted for township status.

Marclene Merchant, General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), indicated that phase two of the project was catered for in the 2016 National Budget to the value of Gy$300 million.

She added that phase two would see the redesign of the entire Stelling which would result in a two-storey building.

“The ground floor will house the T&HD staff, a canteen and a waiting

lounge for passengers … the upper flat will have offices that will be rented out to business people from the area,” Merchant explained.

The new Stelling will be outfitted with floating ramps for speedboats that operate the Bartica-Parika route, and the building will be placed on concrete decking. Additionally, a floating link span ramp, similar to that which exists at Supenaam Stelling, will be installed to provide for side loading.

“The link span ramp will be dropped onto the vessel rather than using stages … we have very heavy trucks traversing Parika-Bartica and very often we have problems with stages breaking,” Merchant explained.

Phase one of the project saw Gy$30.6 million being spent to replace the fender/mooring system, cluster piles and the dilapidated decking and rotten beams.

plained that the Wales factory workers would be relocated at Uitvlugt to fill vacancies there and the remaining workers would be given severance packages.

Moreover, Holder stated that the closure of the factory would not affect cane farmers since their crop would be taken to the Uitvlugt Estate for grinding. “So what is being done is to get (the canes to) Uitvlugt – which is a far more modern factory in far better condition, with 95 per cent efficiency compared to Wales’ 85 per cent or less efficiency,” he said.

The Minister outlined that while GuySuCo would cease cultivation on the 3000 acres of cane fields at Wales, the farmers’ canes would not be in jeopardy. As it relates to the transportation of the canes from Wales to the West Coast factory, Holder noted that this was being looked at and they were hoping to come up with a “waterborne” solution.

“We have one year to put the new arrangements in place,” he said.

The Minister further pointed out that while the cane farmers may have to bear transpor-

tation expenses, they could get high prices if the quality of sugar cane produced was better.

In light of these steps taken to financially stabilise the sugar industry, Holder was asked how soon it would before GuySuCo was back on track, enjoying profits. The Agriculture Minister said that the Corporation would never be profitable on its own and would have to diversify in order to be profitable.

However, he explained that the diversified path would have to be an area that was a foreign exchange earner.

“Why this country has to hold onto sugar, certainly for the short term, is because it is a big block of foreign [exchange] earner. Sugar might be making a loss on the financial point, but as this nation is concerned, it is making a profit on the economic account,” he stated.

Moreover, Harmon said that the Government was open to talks with the Opposition, but it would have to be genuine consultation with the interest of sugar workers as priority and not to gain political points.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Gaskin urges governmental takeover Missing Sophia man to lower economic found dead in trench of Berbice Bridge –pressure on commuters

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olitical and economic commentator Ramon Gaskin is calling on Government to move to take full ownership of the Berbice River Bridge Company Inc (BBCI), so that the economic burden on Guyanese living in that area could be eased, once and for all.

Government lowered the tolls at the Berbice Bridge at the beginning of the year after lengthy negotiations with shareholders; however, Gaskin said while that was a good move, persons travelling to and from the West Coast of Berbice were still feeling an economic strain. This, he said, could only be remedied if Government moved to take full ownership.

“Government should take back the Bridge from the people who now own it. They should pay them off and take back the Bridge because a public asset like that in a public infrastructure system cannot be owned and controlled by the private people,” Gaskin told Guyana Times International.

His comments came even as concerns continued to mount over Government’s decision to continue the operation of the river taxis, although the tolls for the Bridge have been lowered.

The drivers of Route 50 minibuses recently met with both Ministers of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and Annette Ferguson about the hardships they face with the continued operation of the river taxis.

The Ministers said while they understood the complaints of the driv-

ers, they could not simply discontinue the operation of the river service, since it still benefitted a wide crosssection of Guyanese, including the elderly and schoolchildren.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had made a similar suggestion

Gy$400 million. This is the sale of an ownership interest to raise funds for business purposes. The remainder was financed by debentures.

The former President said Government could put in place a different structure which could allow

Berbice Bridge Toll Booth

that the Government buy out the current Bridge owners a few months ago during an exclusive interview with this publication. He said his Party, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) would support any move by Government to take ownership of the Berbice River Bridge, stressing that the Party would support anything that benefitted citizens.

He suggested that the Administration purchase the necessary shares to take ownership of the entity.

The equity for the Bridge is

for the equity to be increased, which could see the equity doubling thus providing funds to pay bondholders and the preference shareholder, which is the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

He noted that Berbice businesspersons could also invest in the project which would cause the equity to be reduced and immediately cut some of the overhead expenses of the BBCI. That, he added, will be a win-win situation for all, including Government, investors, and users of the Berbice Bridge.

23-year-old remanded to prison for murdering reputed wife

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amily members of a missing Sophia, Georgetown, man confirmed their worst fears Tuesday morning after his partially decomposed body was fished out of a trench a short distance from his home.

The dead man has been identified as Akeem Culley, 25, called Jamal, a miner of North Sophia.

The man’s body was discovered in a trench called “Forty Foot” by a resident on the nearby reserved lands.

According to reports,

man who was accused of murdering his reputed wife was on Tuesday remanded to prison by Magistrate Zamilla Ally- Seepaul when he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

Lakeram Harinarine, 23, of Lot 6 Helena, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was slapped with the murder charge which stated that between January 7 and 10, 2016, in the vicinity of Mahaica, he allegedly hit Hafeeza Rohoman, 28, to the head with a wooden bicycle bar after a fight and she fell overboard and drowned.

Reports are the autopsy performed on the wom-

an’s body showed her cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head.

The decomposed body of the mother of four was discovered floating in a nearby trench two Sundays after her disappearance.

Relatives of the dead woman had told reporters that she had recently moved in with Harinarine, who was described as an alcoholic. Residents claimed that the couple consumed alcohol on a regular basis and the woman was a victim of domestic violence.

The case will continue on February 18 at the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court.

Dead, Akeem Culley

Culley had been missing for about three weeks after four men stormed his house and took him away. He was never seen or heard from so his reputed wife, Kendyce Duncan, lodged a report with the police.

Speaking with Guyana Times International the woman stated that she last saw her partner of five months on the night of December 29, 2015. She recalled that around 01:00h, she was woken by calls from her neighbour (also named Akeem) who requested she open the door since he had something to tell her.

The woman said she complied and upon opening the front door, she was confronted by four armed and masked men, all of whom were dressed in black. “I didn’t see (my neighbour), all I see was all these handguns point to my face. So I started to back-up and they just barge in… Akeem was in the bedroom and he get up same time and the men hold on pon he and start pull he outside,” Duncan related.

She went on to say that after the men dragged Culley out of the house, she heard him cry out “ah” and immediately after, two gunshots were fired. “I run out, thinking that he get shoot and lying outside but when I go, I didn’t see he or any-

body,” the woman recounted.

Duncan said she reported the incident to the police and ranks on patrol came to the area and they conducted a search but came up empty handed. She added that later that morning, she went to the station and made a formal complaint about the incident. The police was treating the case as an abduction.

However, about a week after, Duncan said persons had informed her that they were getting foul scent from the “Forty Foot” and as such she used to make daily checks to see if they would find anything.

“Now (Tuesday) morning, when I getting ready for work, a man said something raise up in “Forty Foot” and I should go check to see if is Akeem… When I reach there, I recognise the red and white American Eagle boxer on the body because that’s what he had on the night when they take him away so I call the police and we family,” she further related.

According to Duncan, the man’s skull was showing. She added too that his feet bore a gunshot wound while his stomach had a stab wound.

Asked by this newspaper whether Culley had any issues with anyone, Duncan recalled that the Monday before his disappearance, some men from North Sophia had alleged that he along with her brother and brother-in-law stole a motorcycle.

The woman said that at the time Culley was not at home and when she called him, he claimed that he was at his mother. “I tell he don’t come home cause these people gon beat yuh up but he turn and say that he coming, he gotta clear his name because he aint thief no motorbike,” she added.

He went home around midday on December 29.

Furthermore, Duncan said over the past few weeks, the police had held several persons for Culley’s disappearance including the owner of the alleged stolen motorcycle and her neighbour, Akeem, both of whom were released due to lack of evidence.

She explained that her neighbour said he was forced by the gunmen to get her to open the door on the night in question.

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Small contractors must get a Convicted Trinidadian “piece of the pie” – Harmon terrorist dies in U.S. prison

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Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, along with GCAG President Aubrey Jones, GCAG Vice President Linden Fyffe and others

long-dormant section of the Laws of Guyana states that 20 per cent of all contracts must be given to small contractors on an annual basis, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon has revealed.

The Minister made this revelation on Monday when he met with the executives of the General Contractors Association of Guyana (GCAG) at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Harmon explained that the law was never activated and indicated that he would collaborate with Business Minister Dominic Gaskin and Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson to activate it soon. The Minister is adamant that this move will be one way of ensuring that small contractors “get a piece of the pie”. He stressed that “if the country gives out Gy$10 billion in contracts per year, 20 per cent of that should go to small contractors”.

Minister Harmon also noted that 20 per cent was a sizeable portion of contracts signed every year, and urged

the GCAG to insist on that measure in addition to other recommendations and policies the Association may want to propose, on behalf of the contractors.

He further declared that 2016 was the year the Government of Guyana would rebalance procedures before contracts were awarded.

According to Harmon, Government has begun to take a “fresh look” at the qualifications of contractors for jobs.

He noted too that policy decisions on National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) compliance would soon be made.

“In the next budget, the Minister of Finance will announce certain restructuring where NIS is concerned and where taxation is concerned that will basically try to have everybody brought into a tax net that will allow you to make sure you get your GRA compliance and these other compliances much quicker,” he told the GCAG executives.

Additionally, the

Business and Public Infrastructure Ministers have been given clear mandates to ensure conferences were facilitated for new contractors.

Meanwhile, the GCAG executives told the Minister of State that the Association believed it was time to move the construction industry “back in place”. GCAG mentioned that its skills, ambition, dedication and mentorship were the available driving forces for this to be achieved.

The Association is also calling for a fund or mechanisms to be set up to lend financial support to small contractors in order to propel their businesses.

Minister Harmon shared that he was pleased with the efforts of GCAG thus far, as he believed that the Association could contribute to ensuring that standards prevail in the contracting industry. He is resolute that contracting standards are important as they will help determine how the country progresses.

Drone 'buzzes' GDF helicopter

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he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has expressed grave concerns over the frequent use of drones in the airspace and the dangers it poses, following a recent incident involving an army helicopter.

According to a statement from the military, the aircraft – GDF 1 – averted what could have been a tragic occurrence, when the pilot skilfully manoeuvred a safe landing at Base Camp Ayanganna after it was “buzzed” by a drone.

While the statement did not say when the incident occurred or how many occupants were in the helicopter at the time, it was disclosed that the helicopter was making its final approach to Camp Ayanganna, in the vicinity of Queen’s College and the National Park.

“It was reported by the Pilot that the drone flew dangerously close to the helicopter and also attempted to follow the aircraft,” the statement

“The Guyana Defence Force has noted with concern the frequency of Drones being flown in Georgetown, as well as other parts of the coun-

said.

According to the army, it is recommended that the public refrain from operating such devices in and around Base Camp Ayanganna and all other Military Bases so as to avoid any accidents.

try, and would like to reiterate that these devices can cause serious if not fatal accidents especially when they are being operated in the airspace allocated to low flying aircraft,” the army further stated.

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he Trinidadian man who was convicted in the United States for conspiring to blow up fuel tanks and pipelines under the John F Kennedy International Airport has died of heart failure at a prison medical facility.

Kareem Ibrahim passed away at the US Medical Centre for Federal Prisoners in Missouri, just after 10am on Tuesday. He was 70.

After a four-week trial, Ibrahim was convicted in May 2011 for conspiring with three Guyanese nationals, including former Guyanese parliamentarian Abdul Kadir, to carry out a terrorist attack at the JFK International Airport in Queens, New York. He was sentenced the following year to life in prison.

The evidence at the trial established that Ibrahim, an imam and leader of the Shiite Muslim community in Trinidad, provided religious instructions and operational support to a group plotting to carry out the attack.

Attorney Farid Scoon, who repre-

Kareem Ibrahim

sented him in his extradition case in Trinidad, maintained his client’s innocence and said that his body “never took to incarceration”.

“It is unfortunate that an innocent man was convicted of a crime that he had absolutely no guilt [for] and had to spend the last winters of his life in a maximum-security prison in the United States.”

He said arrangements were being made for Ibrahim’s body to be flown back to Trinidad for burial.

Just over a month ago, Ibrahim became the first person to be officially declared a terrorist by the Trinidad and Tobago government.

Justice Nadia Kangaloo ruled that there was sufficient evidence to deem him a terrorist under the AntiTerrorism Act, and gave the government the go-ahead to begin the process of freezing any of his assets which it found. The application was the first ever filed and granted under the legislation. (CBN4)

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A fight for survival!

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cores of workers employed at the Wales Sugar Estate, West Bank Demerara (WBD) converged in front of the Parliament Buildings, Georgetown on Thursday, January 21, in a peaceful picketing exercise to protest against the move by the government to close the estate.

Loud shouts from irate sugar workers armed with placards reading “No to the closure of the Wales Estate”, “Workers Unite, Fight Unemployment”, “GAWU says CoI op-

posed closure” and more could be heard and seen from a distance near the Stabroek Market Square as Parliamentarians from the Opposition Party, PPP/C joined the workers in support of the picketing exercise.

Many of the protesters contended that with the closure of the Wales Estate they would not be able to provide for their families or even seek alternative employment elsewhere.

A majority of the workers stated that sugar cultivation and cane harvesting

are the only jobs they have been doing for most of their lives and they are not qualified to seek employment elsewhere.

The distraught and frustrated picketers explained that even if they are relocated to another sugar factory/ estate it would not be beneficial to their villages and the business community in Region Three.

“If we have to go work somewhere else what will happen to all the businesses near Wales? Our villages would suffer because if

PPP/C MPs came out in support of the sugar workers

…Sugar workers take to streets to protest Govt’s decision to close Wales Sugar Estate

Sugar workers protest in front Parliament on Thursday

they depend on us buying our little goods from them how would they survive too? Why can’t they just give us a change and help save the estate?” one man questioned.

According to one woman, the move to stage this peaceful picketing exercise was decided upon by all workers who turned out since they hope that the members of the Government who would be sitting in Parliament today (Thursday) would ‘hear our cries’ and reverse the decision to have the estate

closed.

Former Local Government Minister, Ganga Persaud told the gathering that these protesters were “right to express” themselves based on how they feel about what is happening to them.

“You make your statement…you have your children, your family to take care…all you want to do is survive,” he said.

Dale Austin, a worker attached to the Wales Estate highlighted the fact that many persons in Region Three would have

to be “high on the alert” with the closure of the estate in question because the crime rate is expected to skyrocket with such a hasty decision by the government.

A factory worker, Neville Williams stated that the GuySuCo officials who were on air recently trying to justify the closure of this sugar estate should be “ashamed” to have done such a thing especially when they are all aware that those working at Wales Estate have been doing their utmost.

Govt says will take lead in tackling suicide

…announces national suicide prevention plan

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hile acknowledging suicide prevention is everybody’s business, the Government today has said it will lead in efforts to tackle the present trend.

On Sunday, 17 January 2016, several ministers including: Minister of Public Health; Minister within the Ministry of Public Health along with Minister of Indigenous Affairs; Minister of Social Protection; Minister of Tourism

and Communication; Minister within the Ministry of Education and Minister within the Ministry of Communities, met with several stakeholders including; PAHO/ WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board and health professionals to address the high incidence of suicide in Guyana.

The objective of this meeting on the Emergency Suicide Plan included:

1) Appraise all key stakeholders on magnitude and burden of suicide in Guyana; 2) Examine the proposed suicide prevention plan and identify the critical elements for actions; 3) Define roles, responsibilities and functions of all partners; 4) Develop a joint workplan and a monitoring and evaluation framework; 5) prepare a draft budget; and 6) Establish a techni-

cal task force to oversee the implementation of the initiative.

The Minister of Public Health welcomed the Ministers and other key partners to the forum and pointed out the importance of the meeting to the President and Cabinet. The Minister appealed for the involvement of all stakeholders and for an action oriented plan that will address the needs of the most vulnerable groups in society in an effort to curb the escalating trend in suicides in Guyana.

Participants were presented with a summary of the National Suicide Prevention Plan, 2015-2020, along with an overview of the current suicide statistics.

In the overview, the Chief medical Officer indicated that every year in Guyana, hundreds of people die from suicide, which corresponds to roughly one death every day and a half. Suicide is among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years, and the second leading cause of death in the 10-24 age group. These figures do not include attempts, which are approximated to be 20-25 cases for every death by suicide in the country.

The National Suicide Prevention Plan as presented will provide guidance for the development of a joint work plan including a wide crosssection of partners. The

work plan will enable collaboration among government ministries, international partners, NGOs, FBOs and other stakeholders. The proposed activities in this multi-sectorial approach will be aligned to one of four strategic action areas: 1. Risk factors reduction, health promotion and prevention; 2. Reducing access to the means of suicide; 3. I m p r o v i n g health systems response to suicidal behavior; and 4. Strengthening surveillance and research on suicide in Guyana.

The first strategic area of action explored the importance of: coordination and mobilization of the NGOs and FBOs at the community, regional and national level; the development of an Information Education Communication Framework which would be guided by appropriate language and messages to the public; and the use of consultations in relation to neglected areas such as Parenting Education, coping mechanisms, Youth Friendly spaces and the modification of the Health and Family Life Manual to address issues related to suicide in schools.

The second strategic action involved identifying the means of suicide and devising means of reducing access to pesticides, prescription

meds, jumping, alcohol use and firearms. The most important plans indicated are the enforcement of regulation on the sale, distribution and storage of pesticides at all levels; the creation of Poison Control and Management Centers in affected communities with necessary training of persons; and following National Conventions and food and chemical safety goals directed towards the reduction in the use of pesticides especially those of high toxicity.

Strategic action number three entails our capacity (training and attitudes adapted) as health care providers, public servants and as a nation, on a whole, to respond to suicidal behaviour.

The fourth strategic action, responds to the need to improve data collection process through the creation of a multisectoral task force, and secretariat for the management and evaluation of data. This Action also corresponds to the dire need for research on the different determinants of suicidal behaviour specific to our cultural setting.

The meeting agreed on a rapid establishment of a multi stakeholder task force to coordinate the work of the four strategic action areas and to provide feedback to the key Minister and government.

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Mother of four killed in Probe of underage Bartica accident pregnancies in Region

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mother of four has become Guyana’s latest 2016 road fatality after she was stuck down by a truck on Wednesday in the vicinity of the service station at the junction of First Avenue and Sixth Street, Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).

Dead is 31-year-old Denita Williams of Dogg Point, Bartica. This publication understands that the woman was going to purchase groceries at the market in Bartica when she ended up under the ‘Model M’ truck bearing registration number GRR 7153.

The woman was reportedly dragged

several feet before the truck came to a halt. She was picked up by the driver of the truck, Dale Edward and rushed to the Bartica Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver and the other occupants of the vehicle were taken into police custody and are assisting with investigations.

Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford along with other representative from the Regional Democratic Council is said to have visited the dead woman’s relatives and offered their condolences.

Diamond call centre forced out of business…CEO says difficult to compete

One still ongoing

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nvestigations are yet to be concluded into the matter where two young girls from Region One (Barima/ Waini) have been added to the list of underage pregnancies with one female already giving birth.

Guyana Times International understands that the relevant authorities in Region One are awaiting information from the Region's Health Officer as to how the present condition of the young females are, the details surrounding their pregnancies and the way in which the matters should be dealt with.

Vice Chair of Region One, Sarah Brown, stated that the Regional Democratic Council remains steadfast

PAHO advises countries to monitor and report birth anomalies as Zika virus spreads

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hief Executive Officer (CEO) R a j e n d r a Persaud of Nand Persaud International Communications Inc (NPIC); today said his company was forced to close one of its doors due to the high level of competition the industry is currently facing with the opening of more call centres in the country.

The communications company which had two locations; Berbice and Diamond, had been in operation for over six years, and is now forced

to close its Diamond location after being unable to face the challenges of new competition in the market due to their labor contracts.

Persaud noted that advanced notices were given to staff about the crisis the company was facing in order for them to seek other alternatives.

He further noted that the spending cost on job training for new employees was not beneficial as they were recruited by the competitors immediately after the comple-

GPF restates policy on expected behaviour of ranks

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he Guyana Police Force (GPF) is informing members of the public of its policy, that is; police ranks in plain clothes and in unmarked vehicles are not authorised to stop motorists except when they are performing duties on the roadway in front of a Police Station.

In a media release issued this morning, the GPF also said that traffic ranks are not authorised to stop motorists for routine checks of documents.

They should only do so if an offence is committed in their view or where there is reasonable suspicion.

The Law permits police ranks to stop and search a motor vehicle based on reasonable suspicion or if they witness an offence being committed.

The GPF came under severe fire recently from various sections of the public over the manner in which some of its officers are carrying their functions.

tion of training, which resulted in losses of capital and shortage of staff.

He added that the labour contracts proposed

by NPIC were not good in comparison to the new markets, and that most of the remaining workers went over to Qualfon.

Qualfon call centre officially opened their third location on March 26 2015, at Providence, East Bank Demerara, at the value of US$4M extending the branches of its Beterverwagting and Sparendaam locations.

However, the NPIC East Berbice, Corentyne location was said to be successfully functioning without any hindrances.

in its fight against teenage pregnancies in that area and with this in mind the necessary course of action will be taken in these latest cases of underage pregnancies.

Brown said that at this point in time the RDC and other stakeholders who are interested in dealing with such situations are awaiting word from their Regional Health Officer (RHO) as to the way forward.

At present, the two girls have not been returned to their hometown and are under the care of the Social Protection Ministry, Brown added.

The duo were transported to Georgetown after Social and Health workers in their Region intervened.

he Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is recommending that its member countries monitor and report any increases in neurological

are: Brazil, Barbados, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay,

syndromes and congenital anomalies, which growing evidence suggests may be linked to Zika infections.

According to PAHO’s latest epidemiological update, the countries and territories that have to date confirmed local Zika virus transmission

Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, and Venezuela.

This is twice the number of countries and territories that were reported as having locally transmitted cases of Zika in the previous epidemiological update on December 1,

2015.

PAHO has also recommended countries in the Americas to prepare their healthcare facilities to respond to a potential increase in demand for specialized care for neurological syndromes, to strengthen prenatal care, and to continue their efforts to reduce the presence of mosquito vectors through effective vectorcontrol strategies and communication to the public.

The recommendations come against the background of increase in microcephaly cases in Brazil.

Microcephaly is a neurological disorder that results in babies being born with abnormally small heads, causing severe developmental issues and sometimes death.

(Excerpts taken from Caribbean 360)

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Alcohol, drug use prevalent in US assistance sought for restoration Region 7 schools - Chairman of Georgetown Lighthouse

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rug and alcohol use and suicides are some of the social issues currently plaguing Guyanese society, and Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) is no exception.

Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford, in an interview with this publication, confirmed that drug and alcohol use was among the challenges facing the school system in the Region.

“The teachers are trying, but the children get out of hand. The alcohol and the marijuana [are] being used in the schools,” one resident said.

Chairman Bradford acknowledged that in the area, the problems were well-known.

“That is something that happens all over this country. We have had reports of children using alcohol, other drugs, reports of children attempting suicide … I don’t think that’s any secret.”

“This is a universal problem. We have found instances where students in the schools –not only the dorms, [have] been found with drugs; there are children that [were] found using alcohol – to what extent? I haven’t done a study to say whether it’s at what level,” Bradford said.

Region Seven Chairman Gordon Bradford

The Regional Chairman, however, emphasised that the Education Ministry has been in collaboration with the Public Health Ministry to take steps to intervene to reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug use in the school system.

“I know that the Minister of [Public] Health with a team of specialists had visited the secondary school system in Bartica and they had made interventions,” Bradford stated.

The Chairman further stated that he was recently introduced to a counsellor, who had been transferred from Berbice to Bartica to work with the schools for a period.

“That project is being funded by the Ministry of Education and UNICEF,” the Regional Chairman stated.

Bradford could not say how long the counsellor was slated to remain in the area to deal with the myriad social problems which exist. It was, however, related that a lack of teachers had put pressure on the education system in Region Seven.

He also pointed to the high cost of living as being responsible for teachers opting to decline positions in far-flung areas.

“We have many places, especially in the interior locations where we cannot get teachers to go. We have begun to construct teachers’ quarters and health quarters for doctors, nurses … as an incentive, so if we ask somebody to go to the remote areas to take up a position, there’s a furnished quarter there,” he noted.

It has been opined that a multi-stakeholder approach is needed to tackle the ills students today face.

Regional Education Officer in the CuyuniMazaruni district, Charles Holmes, declined to answer any of the questions posited by this publication.

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he Ministers of Public Infrastructure have met with United States Ambassador Perry Holloway for a tour of the Georgetown Lighthouse, with the hope of partnering on the restoration of the historical landmark.

The tour was part of the US’s commitment to the preservation of historical sites in Guyana, under the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

Ministers of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and Annette Ferguson, accompanied Ambassador Holloway up all of the Lighthouse’s 138 steps. During the tour, Ambassador Holloway expressed pleasure with the landmark and marvelled at its ingenuity and resilience.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), he also had all of his questions answered by Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) Harbour Master Michael Tennant and MARAD Director General Claudette Rogers, who were also present.

Ministers Patterson and Ferguson shared that

The Georgetown Lighthouse

they were “quite pleased” with the Ambassador’s interest in restoring the Georgetown Lighthouse, and said they were excited to see where the partnership would lead.

The Ministers had initially met with Ambassador Holloway last week when proposed designs for the upgrade of the Lighthouse were discussed.

A m b a s s a d o r Holloway indicated that

the US Government was also looking at other historical sites in Guyana for possible preservation and restoration.

The 31-metre (103foot) high lighthouse was originally built as a wooden structure in 1817 by the Dutch at its current site on Water Street. It was later replaced by a brick structure by British engineers and commissioned in 1830.

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Police Officer to be World Bank’s StAR charged with rape engaging stakeholders in corruption fight

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he Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended that the Police Officer who allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl be charged with rape of a child under 16 years of age.

According to reports, the young woman who

hails from the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) was allegedly abducted by a gold miner and after she escaped, she sought to lodge a complaint with the Police Officer whom she was previously acquainted with.

The young woman reportedly went to the Officer’s home and it was

there that the Officer allegedly committed the act.

After news of the incident was made public, the officer was transferred from the Timehri Police Station to the Tactical Services Unit to facilitate investigations into the allegations.

Late delivery of medical supplies being addressed – Minister Norton

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he late delivery of medical supplies which is currently affecting several Regions is being addressed, Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton has assured.

He explained that the Public Health Ministry is in the process of changing the system of sole sourcing to one of an open tender with competitive bidding. “All of that takes time, and we found ourselves in a situation where there could have been stocking out,” Minister Norton explained.

Another contributory factor, the Minister pointed out, could have been the time in which the respective Regions advised the Ministry of their individual needs.

“The Regions were given their monies to purchase medication.

They are supposed to send a list to the Ministry of Public Health, so that we can acquire these medications and then they pay by a subvention later. That money might have gotten to the Region a little late and also the regional officers might not have been sufficiently informed as to the procedure of exactly what

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

the Regions need,” the Minister is quoted by the Government Information Agency (GINA) as saying.

The Minister is optimistic that within a month “we are going to have medication in the country fully supplied”.

Over the past month, Guyana Times International has been reporting that regional officials have been complaining about the shortage of medical supplies.

In Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Regional Chairman David Armogan had stated that the shortage of medical supplies at the New Amsterdam

Hospital, was climbing to a crisis level as Doctors were lacking essential necessities to properly and efficiently diagnose patients.

Armogan had said that despite being notified of the situation at the New Amsterdam Hospital, the Public Health Ministry was yet to respond or provide the much-needed assistance to the medical facility.

Similar sentiments were echoed by officials from the Suddie and Charity Hospitals in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Likewise, similar reports were made at hospitals in Region One.

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he World Bank’s Stolen Asset Recovery Agency (StAR) is currently in Guyana, and has started engaging persons from Government, Civil Society, the Judiciary and all agencies that can advise on what needs to be done with respect to the recovery of ‘stolen assets’, this is according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

Harmon, at a postCabinet briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency, today explained that Cabinet was advised that the scoping

mission will meet with all of the relevant agencies to craft an action plan.

The Minister noted that the mission will return to Guyana on March 28 and present, and work out the plan with the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU).

StAR is a partnership between the World Bank Group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) that supports international efforts to end safe havens for corrupt funds.

StAR works with developing countries and fi-

nancial centers to prevent corruption and to facilitate more systematic and timely return of stolen assets.

Since the APNU/AFC Government took the reins of political power after the 2015 elections, there have been several accusations leveled against the previous PPP Administration.

There were also several forensic audits launched to discover the evidence of alleged corruption but to date nothing of substance was found to implicate officials of the previous Government.

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Linden vendor stabbed to death as reputed husband goes berserk – daughter hospitalised

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Dead: Leolyn Sullivan

Linden man is presently in Police custody after he went berserk on Monday, stabbing to death his reputed wife and injuring his step-daughter in the process.

Dead is Leolyn Sullivan, 34, of Phase 1B Wisroc and injured is her daughter Shemeka Campbell, 18.

Reports are that Sullivan and her reputed husband, 54, had a domestic dispute at home around 02:00h on Monday when he allegedly whipped out a knife and stabbed her about the body.

During the stabbing the woman’s daughter was also injured by the knife-wielding Lawrence Carter and is presently a patient at the Linden Hospital Complex.

Carter, who is said to have inflicted injuries with a knife on himself after attacking the woman and her daughter, is also at the LHC where he was under police guard Monday.

Speaking with this newspaper, another of Sullivan’s daughters, Saskia Campbell, 16, said her mother arrived home a short while before the incident occurred and an argument ensued.

“I heard him saying, “How you could do this to me?” the teenager related, adding that Carter began stabbing her mother.

She said that her sister Shemeka intervened, begging Carter to desist from attacking her mother when he turned the knife on her, too.

This newspaper was told that the dead woman in an attempt to escape plunged through louvers window in her bedroom but was pursued by Carter.

Saskia further related that she, her mother and sister managed to escape from the yard but were pursued by Carter. They were rescued by a neighbour who rushed them to the LHC. However, Sullivan, was a beverage vendor at the Mackenzie Market

wharf, was pronounced dead on arrival at LHC. This newspaper was told that Sullivan was stabbed 19 times. Guyana Times International understands that the relationship between Carter, a seasonal construction worker and Sullivan has been on the rocks for some time now and the woman was planning to leave him.

Reports also indicate that Carter had accused the deceased of infidelity.

Information reaching this newspaper further indicated that Sullivan had travelled to Georgetown Friday to conduct business and had returned late Sunday evening. She had reportedly confided in a friend that she and Carter were expected to meet with “Welfare” over some issues on Monday.

A neighbour related that Carter was a “jealous” man and stated that the two had constant arguments.

On the fateful morning, persons in the vicinity recalled hearing screams from inside the home.

“Is run out she run out the bedroom to holler for she children them and he run behind she. The big girl stop he and confront he and he bore she up”, a neighbour related.

Another related that the couple were engaged in an argument on Friday before Sullivan left home.

“All I hear she telling he ‘I is a hard-working woman. You always at them bars’. But you could see she was afraid of him because when he roll up to she after that, whatever he tell she, it mek she stop talk. I ain’t see she back after that.

This morning I hear he kill she. The two of them always quarrelling every day.”

“He don’t want work, all he does want is she to mind he”, yet another stated.

When Guyana Times International arrived at the scene, a blood-stained mattress was in the yard, along with bloodstains leading up to the steps.

A few wooden boards were placed to conceal the window which the deceased allegedly plunged through.

There are reports that Carter alleged he sustained injuries to his neck by the woman’s daughter, however other reports indicated that he inflicted the wounds on himself.

He reportedly underwent surgery for his injury and is assisting police with investigations.

Diaspora protest Nagamootoo at New York meetings

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cores of disgruntled New Yorkbased Guyanese braved the inclement weather to stage several protests outside of various events hosted by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo who travelled to North America to launch Guyana’s 50 Independence Anniversary celebrations.

The three-day activity attracted very poor attendances and were marred by loud protest actions.

During the Saturday afternoon meeting, a group from the Diaspora community staged a picketing exercise outside of the Richie Rich Catering Hall, Richmond Hill, Queens, where Prime Minister Nagamootoo addressed a small gathering of members from the business sector.

PM Moses Nagamootoo was escorted by several black Secret Service vehicles during his New York trip over the weekend

Some of the concerns raised were in relation to the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate, the ethnic cleansing being practised by the government, the out-of-controlled crime situation, the suicide epidemic, the recently botched military opera-

tion, among others.

The protestors waved placards which were boldly marked with phrases such as “Sellout Moses a disgrace to Guyanese Patriots”; “Moses cease your assault on democracy”.

Others practical-

ly pleaded with the Guyanese leader to step up and represent the interest of the people: “Moses stop the closing of the Wales Sugar Estate” and “Moses stop the ethnic cleansing and racial discrimination in Guyana”.

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Health Ministry assessing Region 5 hospitals

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Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings interacting with staff of the Fort Wellington Hospital

inister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings recently visited the Mahaicony and Fort Wellington Hospitals to determine the institutions’ physical state and the level of service offered to patients.

The Minister and her team carried out a full inspection of the facilities, and addressed the concerns of the workers.

During a meeting with the staff at the Mahaicony Hospital, the Minister pointed out that the facility was being greatly underutilised, the Government Information Agency reported.

She added that there was also need for the development of patients’ trust, which would result in more patients accessing care at the facility instead of bypassing it and burdening the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Minister Cummings pointed out that there was need for some minor infrastructural repairs. This, she assured, will be done at the earliest.

With regard to the sudden rise in the country’s suicide rate, Dr

Cummings urged the healthcare workers to interact with patients and keep their eyes open for signs that all might not be well.

Further, she urged the staff to continue to work hard and maintain teamwork.

Speaking with regard to the shortage of medication in some health facilities, the Minister assured that the situation would be rectified as soon as possible.

The Minister also recently visited the Leguan and Wakenaam Cottage Hospitals in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). This visit saw improved health care being promised to the people of those islands by the Minister, along with Director of Regional Health Services, Dr Kay Shako, who was also part of the visiting team.

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, who initiated these visits to health institutions, also made a stop at the Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre earlier this month. The Minister said that he was very impressed with the services offered at the facility.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Reduction of taxes on new Nagamootoo’s shill insists vehicles will not benefit average PM was not “stripped” Guyanese – Auto dealers … President says otherwise

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he recently-announced plans by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to significantly reduce the excise tax on the importation of new vehicles in an attempt to encourage more people to purchase brand-new vehicles as opposed to used, will bring little or no real benefits to low-income and middle-income earners, based on price comparisons made by this publication.

According to most auto dealers, the average Guyanese who buys a car will go for the low end foreignused Toyota motor car – Allion, Premio, Avensis, and Verossa, etc, which is sold at an average of Gy$3.1 million including taxes.

However, the same vehicle, if purchased new, will cost a whopping Gy$11 million with tax, including import duty, and about Gy$6 million duty-free.

As a matter of fact, checks at several local auto dealers show that the two cars that are purchased the most by average Guyanese are the Allion and Premio.

A foreign-used Toyota Allion is Gy$3.1

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Model of car: Premio

proposal was absurd and would not benefit low-income and middle-income earners.

“The average man who buys a car, in majority of the cases, would do so through accessing a loan from one of the local commercial banks, and he or she is barely making it to qualify for a Gy$3 million car, then how will that person be able to qualify for let’s say a Gy$6 million loan for a new car?

This proposal is not well thought-out and will only deny the poor people a chance to own a vehicle. There should be greater thought put into this,” the dealer said.

Another dealer said that the proposal, if implemented, would benefit only the middle and upper classes of the population, since Guyanese lower down the economic ladder did not buy and could not afford a new

their suggestions could be incorporated into any proposal to adjust the taxes on both new and used vehicles.

Another dealer proposed that the Government regulated the industry so that only used vehicles that met certain criteria were imported and not ‘any and everything’ as was being imported by the many “bottom-house” dealerships popping up around the country.

It was also suggested that the Government put systems in place to restrict vehicles of a certain age from entering the country, for example, allowing only cars that were built in 2005 to present into the country.

This, the dealer said, would increase the number of “newer” cars on the road.

President David Granger had previously

Model of car: Avensis

million with duty and Gy$2.1 million dutyfree, while a Toyota Premio is Gy$3.2 million with duty and Gy$2.1 million duty-free The same Allion and Premio if purchased new will cost an average of Gy$10.5 million with duty and about Gy$6 million duty-free.

It is important to note that the Government promised a reduction in the taxes on new vehicles and not a removal, thus to purchase a new Allion or Premio, the buyer would have to pay more than the average Gy$6 million, almost double the price for a foreign-used car of the same specifications with duty.

One auto dealer who spoke with this publication on the condition of anonymity said that the

car.

“This proposal as they are said to have drafted is just laughable, because who you think will benefit? It’s the rich people, because which man who is working as a public servant or operating a small business will be able to buy a new car?” he questioned, “ It’s an upperclass decision which will kill the auto industry in this country.”

The dealers are urging the Government to review its proposal, since it would significantly affect not just used-vehicle dealers, but also the poorer section of the population, who were currently enjoying the benefits of owning a vehicle.

One dealer proposed that the Government engaged stakeholders in the industry so that

stated that used vehicles had created many problems in society and had contributed tremendously to the road carnage in the country.

“Many of those vehicles being imported are being discarded by states that have proper safety regulations, many of the tyres that we use on our vehicles are being discarded by people who know they are unsafe, but we are so happy to get cheap handed-downs that we don’t realise that we are jeopardising the safety of our citizens,” Granger had reasoned.

He maintained that second-hand vehicles had a whole host of problems and should not be allowed to enter Guyanese markets.

“People must be discouraged from buying junk,” Granger insisted.

he Office of the Prime Minister issued a statement that denied the incumbent Moses Nagamootoo had been stripped of all “line” responsibilities in the newly “reconfigured” Executive structure announced by President David Granger to the National Assembly last Thursday. However, the statement focused more on conducting a vicious ad hominem attack on a principal of Guyana Times and its media group than demonstrating where in President Granger’s speech the news article had been contradicted.

The President stated: “It is time for a fresh start – a new beginning.

It is time to redouble our efforts to eradicate poverty….It is in pursuit of achieving greater economic independence that we have reconfigured an executive Cabinet to give leadership to the renewed national effort to rebuild our economy.

“The Ministry of the Presidency has been reconfigured to combine the offices of the President, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ministers of State, Citizenship and Social Cohesion. This combination enhances governance and, especially through the Office of the Prime Minister, manages the Government’s business and legislative agenda in the National Assembly.”

The President then went on to describe the “line” responsibilities of the offices within the “Ministry of the Presidentcy”: “Our Ministry of Social Cohesion, a Ministry within the Ministry of the Presidency, will continue its arduous work to reinforce national unity.

“Our Ministry of Citizenship, a Ministry

within the Ministry of the Presidency, will implement systems to ensure that every Guyanese child’s birth is registered and will develop policies to ensure greater control over illegal aliens.”

Nothing was mentioned in relation to “line responsibilities” of the Prime Minister save, as was stated in the article, the named Ministers would augment “governance” along with the PM in “managing” Government’s business in the National Assembly.

But the Prime Minister’s shill claimed that Nagamootoo has the following responsibilities: • Leader of Government business in the National Assembly • P u b l i c Information • Constitutional Reform • Governance • S u p e r v i s i n g / coordinating functions with ministries involved with domestic affairs • Cabinet co-chair If, in fact, Mr Nagamootoo is responsible for these areas, by omitting to mention them President Granger obviously does not feel they have the importance in the new ‘reconfiguring’ of his Executive structure to be mentioned.

In a letter from veteran journalist Rickey Singh mentioned in the article, he pointed out the Public Information duties were tantamount to being in charge of GINA. The President had himself said that Nagamootoo chairing the Cabinet would violate the Constitution and he was not willing to do so.

The country still awaits an explanation of what “governance” entails as well as “Supervising/ coordinating functions with ministries involved

with domestic affairs”.

The shill’s job description of the PM Office would appear to be “puffery” and should have emanated from OP. The President continued, “We have recruited a resourceful team of 14 ‘line’ Ministers from our six-party coalition for the purpose of promoting economic growth.”

The President then enumerated the functions of the 14 line Ministers, viz, Ministry of Business, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Public Telecommunications, Ministry of Communities, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Protection, Ministry of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security.

In law, the maxim “res ipsa loquitur” means “the thing speaks for itself” and is used when the circumstantial evidence is strong as to vitiate the need for further proof of what was asserted. With reference to Prime Minister Nagamootoo having no substantive “line” responsibility save introducing Government Bills in the National Assembly, President Granger’s speech literally and figuratively “speaks for itself”.

Guyana Times calls on the Guyana Press Association to denounce this vicious state attack on its editorial independence to report on matters in the public domain. We print on pg 5 the President’s speech and request that it be examined vis a vis the allegations made by OPM. They will be found to be baseless.

Man ordered to pay $15,000. compensation for assaulting child

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man, who gave his name to the Police and Court as “Gaza Kim” was on Wednesday taken before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with assaulting a 7-year-old boy.

The Court heard that the 26-yearold accused, whose particulars were not given, dealt the child a slap to the head on January 13. The defendant accepted the charge, telling the Magistrate that he was simply “joking around”.

He alleged that on the day of the incident the child hit the accused in his head with a Styrofoam food box and

in retaliation the accused dealt him a slap. The child reportedly told his father of the incident and his father lodged a complaint with the Police.

The defendant told the Magistrate that he and the child play together and that they usually make those sorts of “physical jokes”. He said when he hit the child, the seven-year old neither cried nor received injuries and it was all a form of joking around.

The Magistrate reprimanded him telling him that at his age, he should not be “playing” those sorts of jokes with a child. Magistrate Moore thereby ordered the accused to pay the child $15,000 in compensation.

24 news Republic Bank (Guyana) promises more support in tackling teenage pregnancy

Managing Director of Republic Bank, Richard S Sammy

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t a media cocktail on Friday, Republic Bank (Guyana) Managing Director, Richard S Sammy revealed that the bank intends to focus more on supporting social programmes in Guyana, key among them being; working with the relevant stakeholders in addressing the issue of teenage pregnancy.

Sammy, in his address to the gathering, disclosed that in 2016 the company would be implementing its “Power to Make a Difference” programme which would seek to improve environmental literacy and combat the issue of teenage pregnancy.

He added that the Bank’s agenda would also see it focusing on youth development, strengthening of Guyana’s rich cultural heritage and being a voice for Autism Awareness in Guyana.

Sammy said that over the years, the Bank has taken pride in making a difference in the countries

where it serves in partnership with Government Ministries.

The company declared that it has spent a sum of Gy$350 million on projects over the three-year phase which started in 2003. Some of these projects were: The Republic Bank RightStart Music Literacy Programme, Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme, transportation for persons with disabilities, Promenade Gardens maintenance and working with teen mothers to overcome the challenges of early teen pregnancies, among others.

In addition to contributing to Guyana’s social improvement, the company is anticipating the opening of another Republic Bank outlet. “We are moving ahead with the expansion and upgrades, with plans for a new banking facility at Triumph, East Coast Demerara to further enhance customers’ access to the Bank’s suite of products and services,” Sammy informed.

Speaking at the event also was General Manger of the Bank’s Trinidad branch, Michelle PalmerKeizer, who highlighted the achievements the company has made in the countries in which it is established.

These included the Bank of The Year- Caribbean 2015 and Bank of The Year-Trinidad and Tobago 2015 which was accorded to the Bank by the worldrenowned business publication, Latin Finance.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ramotar cries hypocrisy over closure of Rodney inquest

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ormer President Donald Ramotar has described as “hypocritical” the move

by Government to push towards the conduct of inquests into the deaths of Guyanese during a certain period, when the same Administration has brought to an abrupt end the investigation into the death of Guyanese scholar and political leader, Dr Walter Rodney.

Ramotar, under whose tenure as President the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was launched, said while he was not opposed to any inquests Government hoped to pursue, it should have shown the very interest in ascertaining who really was responsible for the death of Dr Rodney back in June 1980.

Rodney, a founding leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), met his death when a bomb, said to be planted in a communication device, exploded on his lap, on the evening of June 13, 1980. The political leader had returned to Guyana with his family, and was said to be a “thorn in the flesh” of the then People’s National Congress (PNC) and its leader, then Prime Minister Forbes Sampson Burnham. The PNC, the major faction of the now A Partnership for National Unity (APNU),

Former President Donald Ramotar

which forms part of the coalition Government (APNU/AFC), has always denied that it had any part to play in the death of the scholar, contending instead that Dr Rodney died because of his own risky behaviour.

Following its ascension to office in May 2015, the APNU/AFC Government announced that it would not be continuing the CoI, which was almost at its end, but still had to hear from some pertinent witnesses. The Commission’s Chairman, along with lawyers representing various interests, had petitioned Government to rethink its decision; however, their calls fell on stone ears.

Government, through Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, last Thursday voted in the National Assembly

for the passage of the Coroners Amendment Bill 2015, which it said, would allow for answers to be given to the hundreds of families who lost their loved ones in instances of “unnatural deaths” during the 2002-2003 crime wave.

Williams said there was “nothing partisan” about the Bill.

“I don’t know why anyone would have an objection to finding the truth. A promise was made to the families of those who died in the crime wave and families are still grieving and it is under these circumstances, we have proposed the amendment to this Act,” he told the House, which saw austere criticisms from the Opposition benches.

Among those whose deaths Government hopes to investigate are former Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh, his brother and a security guard. They were all slain when criminals invaded Sawh’s home some 10 years ago.

During that period, following the February 23, 2002 Camp Street Prison escape of five notorious criminals, a slew of execution-style killings of Policemen and unarmed youths and businessmen, as well as high-profile kidnappings and robberies, among other heinous crimes, were committed.

Dr Walter Rodney

The former President also voiced concerns that Government has also turned a blind eye to any possible investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant Robert Pyle; his wife, Stacy and civilian Linden Eastman.

Ramotar said if nothing else, this case should be up for investigation, since questions still needed to be answered as to why the Army was part of a chase involving civilians.

Pyle, his wife and Eastman all died on December 30, 2015 after a high-speed chase turned into an accident on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.

The amendment to the 1887 Coroners Act is aimed at increasing the number of coroners in the counties of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo.

Lines between Govt and security services becoming blurred, says human rights body

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n light of the botched Army operation and countless questions surrounding the series of events that claimed the lives of three persons on Carifesta Avenue last December, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) believes good governance principles in the country appear to be wearing away.

It contends that the existence of such an operation also suggests that lines between the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition; the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are becoming “once again somewhat blurred”.

The GHRA opines that the goodwill which the Government has thus far enjoyed from a wide cross-section of citizens “well beyond active supporters” of the APNU/AFC is now being tested by a perception.

Guyana Times International understands that this perception is that the coalition is beginning to act as if the righteousness of a cause justifies the disregard for “established conventions and democratic procedures”.

The Rights Association pointed out that it was far from reassuring that Head of State David Granger “seems to feel that once the GDF is satisfied” concerning the surveillance operation that had been conducted outside the home of the Executive Director of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the many questions raised by civil society had no merit.

In a media statement on Friday, the GHRA stated that in a society where incompetent implementation frequently obscured original intention, the GDF was vulnerable to having wellmeaning involvement in

Government activities perceived in more sinister terms.

“Furthermore, creeping expansion of the role of the military is encouraged by enmeshing anti-corruption into the counter-terrorism rhetoric. This development, prompted from abroad, is currently driving hasty re-alignment of Guyanese laws and financial institutions that far exceed domestic requirements. Moreover, despite efforts to project the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU) as required by the AntiMoney Laundering and Combating of Financing of Terrorism Act (AMLCFTA), this is not the case,” the release said.

The GHRA reiterated the fact that SOCU was initially set up without recourse to Parliament in order to strengthen Guyana’s capacity to “investigate suspicious financial transactions that are suggestive of money laundering”, as declared

by former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon in 2013.

When the Unit had been established, it was placed under the authority of the GPF, not the GDF, the Rights Association noted.

According to the GHRA, the most disturbing features of technical changes imposed in response to international pressure are the multiple opportunities they provide to suspend civil liberties and bypass democratic processes.

“The current “Operation Dragnet”, described as ‘a massive

anti-crime and counter-terrorism operation’, is a logical progression in this disturbing sequence, despite being airily passed off as normal for the Army to support the country’s law enforcement and regulatory agencies in operational activities. Political surveillance by civil authorities in well-established democratic societies is always a sensitive matter. In our context of rudimentary democratic traditions, inexperienced and zealous political leadership, surveillance by military authorities is an ominous development,” the body also said

in the media statement.

The GHRA also stated that assurances would be welcome over the extent to which the shadowy electronic surveillance capacity established under the previous Government, referred to as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is being deployed in “Operation Dragnet”.

It declared that such speculation is encouraged by the dominant priority assigned to the Government’s anti-corruption campaign which remains insulated from public scrutiny, marginalising other policy discussions.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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26 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

President assures measures in Budget 2016 will jumpstart economy …says more jobs, social programmes coming

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President David Granger

resident David Granger, during the recent airing of the “Public Interest” programme, has promised that Budget 2016 is expected to encompass a variety of measures that will stimulate the economy, prevent noncompliance with tax authorities, provide employment opportunities, and promote social programmes that will foster national cohesion.

In offering viewers hints as to what could be expected in the budget, the President said Government’s biggest priority was offering a stimulus pack-

age to jumpstart the economy.

He explained that the country needed to lessen its dependency on the six major economic pillars – rice, sugar, bauxite, gold, diamond and timber – and advance further towards “economic independence” by developing and expanding its productive sectors.

The President had previously hinted that investments in infrastructure and education would play an integral role in helping to reignite economic activities in the country.

Another major highlight of Budget 2016, the President said, would be more rigid measures to increase revenue collection, reduce leakages and tax evasion, and ensure compliance with the law and payment of workers’ National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions.

The President also disclosed that Budget 2016 would focus on creating employment opportunities through micro-financing in order to develop microindustries.

He noted that particular interest would be devoted to ensuring young people can participate in the economic growth of the country.

Meanwhile, through the Social Cohesion Ministry, the President noted that a critical feature of Budget 2016 would be to introduce social programmes that will promote national unity among Guyanese.

Orinoco River mishap

Bodies of 13-year-old female, adult male returned to Region One

By Kristen Macklingam

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he bodies of the 13-year-old female and a male adult which were found shortly after the boat in which they were travelling in capsized while crossing the Orinoco River off of the Venezuelan border have been returned to Region One (BarimaWaini) for burial.

Chairman of the Region, Brentnol Ashley, confirmed earlier today that the body of the other female adult who died in the tragic accident is still in Venezuelan territory and discussions are on-going as to the way forward

with regards to retrieval of the body.

He stated that the body of the male adult has been taken to Port Kaituma for burial while the 13-year-old’s is en route to Mabaruma.

“The body has not been taken to the family as yet because of where the distance they live from here but by this afternoon. I am also awaiting word as to the body still in Venezuela,” he told this newspaper.

According to Ashley, he was notified that these three individuals were the

only ones who perished and that he received no reports that anyone who was on the boat at the time of the mishap is still missing.

This incident is said to have occurred around 03:00hrs on Tuesday morning when the ill-fated boat was travelling from Venezuela to Guyana with 14 passengers and cargo.

Reports are that Maureen Santiago, formerly of Mabaruma, North West District (NWD) and who now resides in Venezuela, along with her children were heading to her mother’s place at Mabaruma Settlement when the tragedy occurred.

Based on initial reports, the boat was carrying at least 14 people some of whom had asked for a ride. As they were reportedly crossing the Barima River from Orinoque, the boat capsized in the rough waters.

Guyana Times International was informed that several of the persons managed to swim to shore while others had been reported missing. A search party was established and the bodies of the trio were found.

Banks DIH declares over Gy$2.5 Billion after tax profit for 2015 …AGM set for Saturday

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everage giant Banks DIH has declared an after tax profit of over $2.5B last year, as the company is set to hold its 60th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday January 23, at the company’s Thirst Park location.

Chairman Clifford Barrington Reis, in the company’s impressively designed, glossy dark covered Annual report, noted that the company made $304 million more than the previous period.

He stated that this was made possible because of an increase in physical sales by 3 per cent, an increase in revenue by 4 per cent and a reduction in operational expenses also by 4 per cent due to internal efficiency measures and favourable material prices.

With six decades in the business, the company is celebrating its “Diamond Jubilee” by focusing on developing and strengthening the shareholder value by way of capital improvements made to the production plants, the delivery and distribution networks, training in all areas to productively respond to

Chairman, Clifford Barrington Reis

the rapid evolving technological and emerging market demands and product and packaging development to satisfy the requirements of a younger and more discerning customer base.

Bearing the tagline “the Journey of Discovery Continues” the company notes that the quest for knowledge of origins grew in intensity as new discoveries and inventions created several platforms from which this search for answers was launched and credits the evolution of the company over the six decades to humble beginnings

grounded in the relationships entered into with its employees, stakeholders, customers, suppliers and franchise partners.

Even as scores of Share-holders prepare to participate in the customary AGM on Saturday, Reis said the institution remains solid in its mission to build on its tradition of excellence by providing quality products and services, financial results and management performance that meet the interest of the Shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers and the community at large.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

D’Urban Park to become major GECOM confident staff shortage issue public venue in Georgetown will be sorted out in time for EDay

BY EDWARD LAYNE

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Construction work ongoing to transform Durban Park into a major public venue

’Urban Park in Georgetown, once a densely forested area, will soon be transformed into a major multi-purpose recreational facility. Construction works are currently ongoing, and the first phase is scheduled to be completed in time for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary on May 26.

The first phase includes uprooting the overburden and replacing it with sand and loam to enable construction of drains and pathways and the installation floodlights.

According to Project Manager Larry London, this stage will be completed in five weeks.

Reports indicate that the second phase will include the installation of nine ponds and seating facilities such as benches and bleachers. The Project Manager said this would con-

tinue until mid-year.

Upon completion, the Park is expected to have a capacity of 30,000 persons, both seated and unseated, and will be able to accommodate literary events, concerts, sporting activities and other public events.

Recently, President David Granger and State Minister Joseph Harmon visited the site where the construction work was ongoing to transform the area into a major public venue.

A statement from the Ministry of the Presidency noted that the Park was being developed mainly for the benefit of South Georgetown residents, but it is expected to have capacity to house major national events.

During the tour, President Granger expressed that he looked forward to the commissioning of D’Urban Park.

s the date for the long overdue Local Government Elections (LGE) draws closer, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has said it is facing major challenges with adequate E-Day staff in some key electoral districts, particularly in Regions Two, Four and Six. Speaking at a news conference Monday, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield said applications for Elections Day has been slow, despite a number of advertisements inviting persons to apply to work on E-Day. “We do at this point, continue to have a shortfall in the numbers, particularly in the areas we advertised over last weekend, specifically Georgetown and for the nine NDCs on the East Coast, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) in some specific local authority areas and also in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne),” Lowenfield stated.

He said GECOM is looking to employ Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers, clerks and other polling day staff from within the respective local authority areas.

“We are saying that if we are talking about Rose Hall, we want people from that municipality to be engaged

GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield

as against going to Fyrish or Port Mourant or Tain and so that is the trust and as far as practicable, we have not satisfied that guideline as provided by the Commission,” he stated.

However, Chairman of GECOM Dr Steve Surujbally is confident that the vacancies will be filled in time for the March 18, 2015 elections.

“The Secretariat and the Commission, though we cannot issue a guarantee, we are very willing to believe we will have a full complement and even overage come E-Day, I have no doubts about that whatsoever,” Dr Surujbally said.

His contention was supported by Lowenfield who noted that it has been a norm for persons, especially residents of Georgetown to indicate at the “eleventh

hour” their interest to work on E-Day, adding that training for elections day staff will continue until the full complement is achieved.

Meanwhile, updating the media on preparations for Nominations Day on January 26, Lowenfield said that Returning Officers (ROs) have been undergoing intense training so as to ensure that they are well equipped for the process, which is being done under a hybrid electoral system, involving the Proportional Representation (PR) and First Past the Post (FPP) systems.

The Chief Elections Officer also reported that GECOM has approved some 103 symbols of political parties, voluntary groups and independents who have indicated interest in participating in the elections.

He noted however, based on the submissions on Nominations Day, the Commission will know the contestants for the elections.

“Arising out of Nominations Day will be those contestants, whether it will be political parties, voluntary groups or individuals, will officially indicate their interest with the submission of names and the listing system that is required by law to so do,” he noted.

Local Government Elections were last held in Guyana more than two decades ago.

28 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt clarifies acting Chief – says former AG’s interpretation misleading Justice’s appointment

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he Government has refuted claims by former Attorney General (AG), Justice Charles Ramson that the appointment of Appeal Court Judge, Justice Yonette Cummings– Edward to act as Chief Justice after Justice Ian Chang, SC, CCH, proceeded on preretirement leave is premature and contrary to the provisions in the Guyana Constitution.

In an article published by Guyana Times Sunday, January 17, 2016, captioned “Justice Cummings-Edwards’ appointment premature – former AG”, Justice Ramson was quoted as saying that Justice Cummings-Edwards could only be appointed to act as Chief Justice when the current CJ acting officially retires on his 65th birthday.

But a Ministry of the Presidency statement Monday accused the former AG of “intellectual dishonesty”, noting that Justice CummingsEdwards was merely appointed to perform the

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

duties of CJ. Minister of State Joseph Harmon noted that with acting Chief Justice Ian Chang proceeding on leave, a vacuum was created and hence Government moved, within the Constitution, to ensure that the functions of the office would not come to a halt. “[Justice CummingsEdwards] was appointed to perform the functions of the acting Chief Justice. She wasn’t appointed Chief Justice.

She is carrying out those functions and we cannot leave the office va-

cant. Somebody has to carry out these functions so that for Mr Ramson to make that a big story and this is the same newspaper carrying it, it is intellectual dishonesty,” Minister Harmon said.

Former Attorney General Ramson in his letter to Guyana Times said, among other things, that someone can only be appointed to act as Chief Justice, if the current holder of that office, acting or substantial, if his appointment was revoked by the President or he reaches the age of retirement, as outlined

in the Constitution of Guyana.

As a matter of fact, he pointed to Article 127 (2) of the Constitution which states: “If the office of Chancellor or Chief Justice is vacant or if the person holding the office of Chancellor is performing the functions of the office of President or is for any other reason unable to perform the functions of his office, or if the person holding the office of Chief Justice is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his office, then, until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of such office or until the person holding such office has resumed those functions, as the case may be, those functions shall be performed by such other of the Judges as may be appointed by the President after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.”

He argued that two persons cannot hold the same office and as such, Justice Chang remains the CJ (ag) until his re-

Former Attorney General, Justice Charles Ramson

tirement next month.

“One of the major questions is, therefore, could the Constitution, the Supreme Law of Guyana, have contemplated and/or intended this form of dual occupancy as would appear to be the case? Another more perplexing conclusion which a pragmatist is entitled to draw: was the appointment of Justice Chang unwittingly, by implication, revoked by President Granger’s installation of Justice Cummings-Edwards during the tenure of Justice

Chang?” Justice Ramson questioned.

He explained that due regard must be paid to the expression “performing the functions of” in relation to the officeholders like the Chancellor, the Chief Justice, and the President.

“In each case, that expression must be compared and/or considered in contradistinction to the word “act”. In each case, the person “performing the functions” of the substantive officeholder cannot be deemed to be “acting” on his behalf in the office he holds, notwithstanding that the term “acting” having been held by some esteemed judicial functionaries not to be a word of art,” the Senior Counsel reasoned.

Justice CummingsEdwards was sworn in on December 16, 2015

by President Granger to carry out the functions of acting Chief Justice.

The longstanding Judge replaced Justice Chang, who goes into retirement in February 2016.

Indo-Guyanese reflect on history, connection to India – as Guyana observes Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

T

he High Commission of India, in collaboration with the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) – Guyana Chapter, observed Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Friday, reflecting on the lives of Indo-Guyanese and their connection to India.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which translates Non-Resident Indian Day, is celebrated annually in India on January 9, to recognise the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. The event also commemorates the return of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa on January 9, 1915.

Last Friday’s event was held at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) and saw a line-up of prominent personalities delivering presentations on the theme “Diaspora – The Indian Connection” to the intimate gathering. These included business tycoon Yesu Persaud, historian Pat Dial, novelist Ryhaan Shah and Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Carl Singh, who was the Chief Guest.

Indian High C o m m i s s i o n e r Venkatachalam Mahalingam said that despite the geographical distance between India and Guyana, the connection remained since most IndoGuyanese embedded in

their daily lives customs and traditions inherited from their ancestors who came from the Asian country.

“Guyana is a country where people feel so close to their ancestors and look towards India for tracing their traditions… I cherish Guyana for this quality of placing India on top of their minds in their daily way of life,” he stated.

origin contribute to this amalgam or rainbow culture (of Guyana). We have, in significant measure, kept alive the cultural values and traditions of our fore parents. Present-day Guyanese of Indian origin continue to recognise their ancestral origins and attachment to their inherited cultural values. It is this abiding interest to keep alive their cultural roots

via the Internet and television.

Additionally, he highlighted efforts of India to sustain relations with the Diaspora, adding that the strands of both sides of the relationship were equally important to creating a resilient and robust bond.

Meanwhile, in his remarks, Persaud reflected on the history of India and some of the inventions by

pomp and glory every year, because we have something to celebrate,” he said.

Picking up from there, Dial spoke about cultivating closer relations between the two countries. He pointed out that while Indo-Guyanese have learnt and received a lot from India, there are things that the Asian country could learn

The speakers at the local observance of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Mahalingam noted that the High Commission would facilitate any Guyanese who are desirous of tracing their roots and even facilitate trips to India.

In his feature address, Justice Singh spoke of Indo-Guyanese having maintained and incorporated values and practices inherited from their ancestors into their lives, making it part of the “Guyanese culture”.

“Guyanese of Indian

that is responsible for the attachment of well-settled Indians here in Guyana to India,” he remarked.

According to the Chancellor, this connection is reflective in the food, festivals, religious practices and distinctive clothing on celebratory occasions of Indo-Guyanese. Moreover, Justice Singh pointed out that with advanced technology, Indo-Guyanese were now more connected with the culture and practices of their ancestral land

Indians that make lives around the world easier. He noted that IndoGuyanese should be proud to have come from such a country that has led the world in many areas in the early centuries.

Locally, Persaud said, Indo-Guyanese had evolved from “lowly workers” on sugar estates into successful business personalities, doctors, engineers and so on. “Pravasi Bharatiya Divas should be celebrated (here) with

from the daily lives of Indian descendants living in Guyana, and the Caribbean by extension.

He spoke of chutney music, which he said was making an impact in India.

Dial also spoke of the nonexistence of “caste” in the Caribbean, something which India still struggled with to date. “(A noncaste society) makes life more easier, it makes society more integrated and I think this is one of the things that we have had

that at least India can look at,” he stated.

Dial further stated that another issue that Guyana and the Caribbean had managed to get past was religious differences, especially between Hindus and Muslims. “This is one of the main achievements we have had. Today in the Indian sub-continent, religion – being Hindus and Muslims – tend to be very divisive; now here, it’s not.

It’s quite a unifying thing, because here Hindus and Muslims tend to feel themselves as being the same thing,” he outlined.

However, despite these achievements and much more, Shah in her presentation on the future of Indo-Guyanese underscored the need to address the “crisis” of the Indian family in Guyana. She was referencing the alarming rate of suicide and attempted suicide that has recently spiked among the Indian community in the country.

The novelist went on to highlight other societal scourges in the Indian community, such as alcoholism and drug use. She requested assistance from the High Commission to implement programmes and initiatives such as recreational centres for youths so as to channel their attention into constructive activities.

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30 feature

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The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

ColletteJones-Chin Part II

By Petamber Persaud

T

he 2015 National Drama Festival (NDF) was another remarkable adventure in the world of Guyanese theatrical arts and Guyanese literature in 2015 (more emphasis needs to be place on the contribution of the NDF to Guyanese literature). The adventure was adjourned in December with the awards ceremony; the adventure continues in

2016.

For some,the journey for the 2015 National Drama Festival started long before the year had begun. During the year, the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama visited different regions of the country, staging workshops and offering personalized mentoring to emerging drama enthusiasts.

Later,the drama fervour intensified with the submission of entries.

There were more than forty entries, of which 23 plays were shortlist-

ed for the preliminary round where they were judged by a panel and observed by an audience.

At the end of each play, the panel of judges made comments commending the good areas like stage-worthiness, dramatic quality and technical competence, and making recommendations where there were shortcomings.

Almost all recommendations were heeded,evident in later productions of said plays. The preliminary round was the testing ground to shortlist plays going through to the final round.

For the first time, the National Drama Festival was run by the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama. It was also the first time that the School Drama Festival was incorporated into the national festival.

This national festival was a collaboration between the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama, and the Unit of Allied Arts; both entities falling under the auspices of the Ministry of Education,

Subraj Singh

Department of Culture.

Digicel generously sponsored the complete festival.

For the literary leaning of the festival, I will list just the names of the plays and their authors.

“Laugh of the marble” by Subraj Singh “Daddy’s pet”, “Seven deadly sins” and “Colour of race 2” by Sonia Yarde “Kabakuri’s children”

by Colette Jones-Chin “Puzzle me” by Joshua Griffith and Tamara Rodney “Some other nights”

by Nicolas Singh “Trapped” by Mark Luke Edwards “Hope” by Kasha Joe “Obeah business” by Adolph Christian “Poison” by Runasi Perry “White house on black street” by Clinton Duncan “Dance for love” by Kijana Lewis “Crack jokes” by Odessa Primus “Bitter milk” by Beverley Cyrus “Sandra’s sorrel” by Francis QuaminaFarrier

“A new beginning” by Timolyn Barclay “Playing chess with a blind man” byRae Wiltshire “I will survive” byKelwin Gittens “Our Story” by Khemraj Rambharose “Her Story 2” byMelinda Primo-Solomon “Milk money” by Vanessa Hinds “Red”by Ayanna Wadell “I refuse to abuse” byLisa Hamilton “The road to freedom”

by Kelton Jennings “New tales of ole Higue” by Joshua Griffith These are the writers to watch in 2016 and onwards as they add to the various phases and stages of Guyanese theatre; theatre that gave us the likes of Norman Cameron, Sheik Sadeek, Rajkumari Singh, Frank Pilgrim, Michael Gilkes, Francis Quamina Farrier, Bertram Charles, Ian Valz, Harold Bascom

Sonia Yarde

and Paloma Mohamed among so many others.

These are the writers that will entertain us and challenge us.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: “An Introduction to Guyanese Literature”

by Petamber Persaud is now available at Austin’s Bookstore and the National Library.

Francis Quamina Farrier

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M

argaux Wong is an international fashion and textile designer originally from Guyana. She was first introduced to textile design while in secondary school, but was introduced to the sewing machine as a young child.

For more than a decade, Wong has worked as a freelance designer.

She was, in 2007, employed as the personal assistant to the late Catherine Walker, who, for many years, designed countless special pieces for the late Princess Diana, at her Chelsea, London studio.

“I studied art at President's College as one of my ten GCSE subjects. I focused on Surface Decoration. I wore my own designs while at UG pursuing a Business Management degree, as I was tired of looking like everyone else on campus.

Classmates began requesting to purchase my clothing off of my back. I was invited to showcase

“My Amerindian and African ancestry have always influenced my work. My road trips across East Africa have tremendously inspired my designs. I often travel throughout East Africa in search of raw materials and design ideas. I love the Massai influences of Kenya, and often use Massai beads in my

Designer Margaux Wong

at the Sidewalk Cafe one Wednesday afternoon. The rest is history.

I mostly enjoy textile design: tie dye, batik, hand painting, and so on. I use my textiles to produce resort wear,” Wong recalled in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

As a fashion and tex-

tile designer in Guyana, Wong’s work was deeply influenced by her Amerindian and African background. Mixed, and living in a mixed race society, encouraged the designer to embrace multiculturalism and multi-ethnicity as inspirations for her work and also for her life’s journey.

Working with children in Burundi during a jewellery design workshop

Stylish hand-dyed cotton by Wong

feature 31

jewellery and sometimes on clothing. I also enjoy the possibilities that the Uganda bark cloth bring to my work. I am also inspired by the general nature of Africa and the flora of the Caribbean and Guyana,” Wong revealed.

Now living and working in Burundi, East Africa since 2009, the

wife and mother of four has settled into a community that she has always longed to know personally and professionally.

Currently, Wong is designing clothing, textiles and jewellery as she absorbs inspiration from the heart of the beautiful continent of Africa. continued on page 42

32 art & culture

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Kwesi Archer

K

wesi Archer is a young artist with a passion for creating art as “unique and attractive” as he can.

“I started drawing from a young age, but I wasn’t serious about it until 2010.

I attended St. Rose’s High where I did art for CXC. I also attended and graduated from the Burrowes School of Art. Even with the art education I gained from these two institutions, I still spend my days learning about different areas and techniques in art,” Archer said in an inter-

view with SundayTimes Magazine.

He said there were a “collection of things” that inspired him to pursue art – the biggest being the New York International Auto Show, and comic book superheroes. Now, he is inspired by nature, friends and topics he is passionate about; he revealed that his dream is “to see the art in Guyana flourish.”

“At this moment we are just a small flame and we have a lot more creative fuel to be a great torch in the Caribbean,” the artist

Artist Kwesi Archer

"Determination"

One of his first landscape drawings

declared.

He also stated that he enjoys drawing, and as such the pencil and paper are his “good friends”. His topic of choice is the human body, and hedraws both male and female, but drifts to the female mostly.

“Women are more fun to draw, especially in fragments. Capture almost any part of the female body and you can find the potential of a great piece.I am still finding my ‘style’ in art, but I see myself drifting to abstract art and portraits. What I can definitely say is that my style would be my thought pro-

cess. When starting a creative piece I look to make something as unique and attractive as I can, whether through lines, colours, shapes and so on,” he noted.

According to Archer, his achievements are few because he is a relatively new artist, but they are “important” to him. His most recent and notable achievement was being awarded second place at the 10th National Biennial Drawing Competition for his piece “The Yellow Girl”, which is his first artwork to be displayed at Castellani House.

Notably, the artist has been part of various art projects around Georgetown and nearby communities. He has also done many murals around the city and co-directed the Witness Project (an arts-based initiative working to create a template for changing cultures of violence against women and children) short film, “Rebecca’s Story”.

“Art is enjoyable to many people for many reasons, but to me it’s about capturing or creating a moment, emotion, or feeling through my art. This is every second spent on the piece. Every line reminds me of the day that I did it and why I did it. I also

enjoy the moment when someone sees my art piece for the first time or when they tell me stories about it. Interacting with art in general is enjoyable to me,” expressed the artist.

Currently, Archer and a few of his Burrowes School of Art classmates are looking for blank spaces or businesses that would sponsor a mural to add art and beauty to vari-

ous areas around the country.

Heplans on improvinghis drawings and graphic design skills and developing skills in illustration and comic art.

“To young artists, my advice is to believe in yourself and your work. You may not be the legendary artist Picasso or applauded Guyanese artist Michael Griffith, but with practice, research and belief that your work could be leaving persons awestruck and longing for more, will help you to want to be the best you can be,” he encouraged.

An abstract piece, 'Waiting for Passion'. Coloured pencils

He was awarded second prize for 'The Yellow Girl' at the Tenth National Biennial Drawing Competition

news 33

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Bandits creating havoc in Tuschen…gunmen attack businessman for the fifth time

The road to stagnation…

O

…is filled with rhetoric

K…OK… Your Eyewitness knows it’s: “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” but he didn’t want to get enmeshed with interminable theological disputations. You know… whether there IS a hell or not and such esoterica. Your humble observer of the local scene’s talking about President Granger’s State of the Union address. (If we’re celebrating “Thanksgiving” and scaring each other witless on “Halloween” – why not a “State of the Union” message?)

Now, very few Guyanese from either side of the divide would think Pressie’s not a sincere guy.

He just exudes sincerity. If you had any doubts, just take another gander at HIS old year’s night pic – on his knees in some modest church seeking Divine Intervention for all of us poor misguided souls. Can’t beat that!

So there he was in Parliament – where the lambs were skirmishing with the lions – telling them how we could deliver the “good life” to all and sundry – if we’d just beat our swords into ploughshares. Now your Eyewitness isn’t gonna get snarky and point out the context could’ve been a little enabling for the message to ring through the land. Like somebody explaining why SOCU was playing ROBOCOP on a surveillance mission?

But back to the message. The words certainly sounded good. But the question is –where’s the plan?

Without a plan with some timeline for implementation, folks would be forgiven for dismissing the whole spiel as just more recycled campaign rhetoric. Let’s take the part of lifting our economic performance to deliver the material basis for the aforementioned “good life”.

We know for any SIGNIFICANT improvement, we have to achieve double digit growth rates for at least a decade. Such a target, however, ain’t gonna happen just like that. If, for instance, Pressie could’ve announced the NATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM he’d promised since last June with the PSC was finally going to come off, you’d have some hope his message just wasn’t a “gyaaf”.

Sadly, there were no specifics – just well-worn homilies we’ve heard so many times before. For instance, while bemoaning the lack of diversification of our traditional sectors, he could’ve at least announced bagging the Mexican RICE Market his Prime Minister Nagamootoo had wooed. Or at least a hint about what are some of those “diversifications”.

President Granger obviously means well. No doubt about that. Any fella who’d be willing to have Nagamootoo and Ramjattan on his team has to mean well. Not to mention having the patience of Job. But please… could he present a plan? Surely all those military types around him wouldn’t go into battle armed just with good intentions.

Or would they? SOCU anyone? …and perdition This SOCU snafu just won’t go away, will it? Every day your Eyewitness picks up the papers, another shocker jumps out at him. This morning he learnt the fella who’s ultimately responsible for SOCU – the Top Cop himself, didn’t even know about the surveillance activity Sergeant Pyle was conducting for SOCU! Even though SOCU falls under his bailiwick.

Top Cop says he doesn’t get involved with “operational” matters – just “policies”. But hold it!

Isn’t that the line the Minister of National Security takes cover under? If the Commissioner of Police can’t get involved in the operation of his ranks, isn’t this a recipe for chaos? Is he saying Operation Pyle wasn’t just a rogue operation – but that very department of the force can pretty much do as they please – without checking off with him?

Next we’ll hear the SWAT team can swoop into any civilian’s home and hearth, just because they didn’t like the cut of the fellow’s hair?

Sayonara, Top Cop! …via conflict of interest Minister of Natural Resources Trotman just came out swinging for small miners to get lands to get their pot of gold. Does his junior Minister, “I is” Broomes qualify as a “small miner”?

And if she helps herself, is that like…ummm…self help?

F

our gunmen barged into a grocery shop at Tuschen New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, on Monday and carted off a quantity of cash, leaving the proprietor of the business being fearful over the safety of himself and family members.

Reports say that around 20:30h, on Monday evening, masked bandits pounced upon scores of unsuspecting customers at the Clarence Grocery and Boutique, and ordered all of them to lie face down. While one of the customers were held hostage by one of the bandits, the others demanded cash from workers. A sum of about $100,000. was handed to the bandits after which they swiftly escaped on foot.

In explaining the un-

fortunate experience, proprietor of the business, Clarence Cozier, popularly known as ‘Weggy’, said he was at the counter of the business around 20:30h, and as he was about to close operations for the day he noticed the first gunman entering the store; he then went and hid himself as he was confident they were really after him to demand more cash. He related also that upon noticing what was happening, a woman took his children to another secured location in

the building where they too hid themselves. He explained that the incident lasted for just about three minutes.

According to Cozier, this is the fifth robbery experienced since he began operation ten years ago in 2006. On previous occasions he was robbed of millions of dollars. He also said has not recovered anything from the previous robberies even though some of the items are in police custody.

The businessman noted that he suspects one of the robbers to be

a man whom he is currently in court with on a previous robbery charge, but is currently out on bail.

Inews understands that over the past few months several homes and businesses have been attacked and robbed in the Tuschen community, but the police seem to be facing a huge challenge in bringing the situation under control. Several businesspersons and individuals are expressing fear over their safety.

Due to the rise in crime in the area, Cozier, along with several businesspersons in the area is calling on law enforcement officials to up the fight against criminals who are creating fear among citizens.

Meanwhile, the police are conducting their investigations into this most recent case.

Global unemployment expected to reach 199.4 million in 2016 – ILO

C

ontinuing high rates of unemployment worldwide and chronic vulnerable employment in many emerging and developing economies are still deeply affecting the world of work, warns a new ILO report.

The final figure for unemployment in 2015 is estimated to stand at 197.1 million and in 2016 is forecast to rise by about 2.3 million to reach 199.4 million. An additional 1.1 million jobless will likely be added to the global tally in 2017, according to the ILO’s World Employment and Social Outlook – Trends 2016 (WESO).

“The significant slowdown in emerging economies coupled with a sharp decline in commodity prices is having a dramatic effect on the world of work,” says ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.

“Many working women and men are having to accept low paid jobs, both in emerging and developing economies and also, increasingly in developed countries. And despite a drop in the number of unemployed in some EU countries and the US, too many people are still jobless. We need to take urgent action to boost the number of decent work opportunities or we risk intensified social tensions,” he adds.

In 2015, total global unemployment stood at 197.1 million – 27 million higher than the precrisis level of 2007.

Emerging economies worst hit

The unemployment rate for developed economies decreased from 7.1 per cent in 2014 to 6.7 per cent in 2015. In most cases, however, these improvements were not sufficient to eliminate the jobs gap that emerged as a result of the global fi-

much evidence that welldesigned labour market and social policies are essential for boosting economic growth and addressing the jobs crisis and almost eight years after the start of the global crisis, a strengthening of that policy ap-

in Southern Asia (74 per cent) and sub-Saharan Africa (70 per cent).

nancial crisis.

Moreover, the employment outlook has now weakened in emerging and developing economies, notably in Brazil, China and oil-producing countries.

“The unstable economic environment associated with volatile capital flows, still dysfunctional financial markets and the shortage of global demand continue to affect enterprises and deter investment and job creation,” explains Raymond Torres, Director of the ILO Research Department.

“In addition, policy-makers need to focus more on strengthening employment policies and tackling excessive inequalities. There is

proach is urgently needed,” adds Torres.

The authors of the WESO also document the fact that job quality remains a major challenge. While there has been a decrease in poverty rates, the rate of decline in the number of working poor in developing economies has slowed and vulnerable employment still accounts for over 46 per cent of total employment globally, affecting nearly 1.5 billion people.

Vulnerable employment is particularly high in emerging and developing economies, hitting between half and threequarters of the employed population in those groups of countries, respectively, with peaks

tural employment – exceeds 50 per cent in half of the developing and emerging countries with comparable data. In onethird of these countries, it affects over 65 per cent of workers.

“The lack of decent jobs leads people to turn to informal employment, which is typically characterized by low productivity, low pay and no social protection.

This needs to change.

Responding urgently and vigorously to the scale of the global jobs challenge is key to successful implementation of the United Nations’ newly adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” concludes Ryder.

Tackling informal employment

Meanwhile, the report shows that informal employment – as a percentage of non-agricul-

34 feature

Governor Charles Wooley lays the foundation stone for the construction of the GPO, Feb. 27, 1950

I

n the early Dutch period of Guyana’s history, mail communication with the outside world was unreliable.

Mail during this period was late and sporadic, and all mail had to be read by the “commandeur” who administrated the colony for the Dutch West India Company.

The DWI Company

by James Rodway (1890),before a postal service was established, government proclamations were sent around in canoes under the charge of colony slaves; the managers orproprietors signing their names to show that the publication had been exhibited. In Berbice,proclamations were read at certain

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

the colony. This service saw letters required to be delivered within four days after their arrival.

In January 1783, Adrian Lonco was appointed the first Postmaster for Demerara.

Four men were recruited to assist Postmaster Lonco in their delivery – for a fee of five stivers (a stiver had a value of one-sixth of a shilling, or onetwentieth of a guilder) per letter.

Rodway notes that the first messenger went along the West Coast, the second to the East Coast and Courabana; the third up the West Bank as far as Harmensteyn, and the last up the East Bank to Land of Canaan.

In Essequibo, 2 shillings (a shilling was onetwentieth of a pound) were charged for the delivery of letters, and onehalf shilling was for letters to Europe. Berbice saw mail being delivered every two months.

When the Dutch regained the territories in 1784, the system was discontinued and reverted to the previous Dutch system.The postal service was abolished in 1784, until 1795.

In 1791 the Court of

General Post Office and Telecommunications Centre, or GPO. The first regular air mail service was introduced by the post office in September 1929

did not want company information being divulged, hence the need for such intrusion of privacy.

After all outgoing and incoming mail were “screened”, the commander passed those to be delivered on to the Secretary.While no postage fee was charged, the Secretary would often charge his own delivery fee for important correspondences.

According to “The Post Office in British Guiana before 1860”

places, the inhabitants being called together by beat of drum.

Later, as English settlers arrived on the colony, private English correspondences were sent by private ships to the West Indian islands as a “packet service”.

This arrangement was interrupted with the introduction of the first postmaster.

Postal service

The first postal service was established in British Guiana in 1782 when France took over

Policy resolved that a subsidy be paid to provide a mail service to Berbice. During the 1793 –1795 war with France, mails were received and sent via Barbados, and a vessel was chartered by the colony as a Packetboat.

However, when the Batavian Republic was established, all communication with the British colonies was cut off.

An attempt was made in 1793 to establish a local postal service

by Attorney-at-Law J. C De LaCoste. According

to Rodway, Coste owned and established the first printing office on the colony, and published the pioneer newspaper of Demerara on November 1, 1793.

De La Coste implemented a policy that all subscribers to his newspaper would be entitled to have their letters delivered free of charge; for those who were not subscribers, 10 stivers were charged for the delivery of each mail.

The service ran for two years: the mail carriers would leave Stabroek every Sunday morning and Wednesday afternoon, returning two days afterwards.

The post office

In 1796, when the British gained control of the colonies, it was considered necessary for the government to have a proper postal service. They established the first post office at Stabroek where it remained until 1834 when it was moved to the new Public Buildings until 1857.

According to the Guyana Post Office website, in 1865 the post office was housed in the lower flat of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial S o c i e t i e s Building. In 1914 the old Hotel Tower was purchased and converted into the post office.

The colony’s postal service remained there until the great fire in February 1945. Temporary accommodation was found at the Regent Hotel but this was also destroyed by fire in 1947.

From then, until the construction of the new post office,a makeshift office was set up at Avon House in Main Street, the Town Hall’s basement and the Fire Brigade’s annex.

Then on August 11, 1952, then-Governor Sir Charles Wooley, on invitation of then-Postmaster General K.I.R. Kirkpatrick, declared open the newly built General Post Office and Telecommunications Centre at its current Robb Street location.

The post office, formerly part of the traditional public service, became a public corporation on January 1, 1977.

Great Expectations…

…from Budget? eems the “next big thing” (NBT) will be “microfinancing” in the Budget – to be presented at the end of this month. The last Budget was mired in drama created by Nagamootoo flexing the one atrophied muscle left on him (Information) and berating a hapless Chronicle reporter. The fella had the temerity (in Nagamootoo’s estimation) to dub the 2015 Budget presentation “bungled”. As Prime Minister in charge of Government’s business in the Assembly, Nagamootoo took umbrage.

If this Budget’s anything like the last one, Guyana’s gonna be in some serious mess. While it was clear for all to see even then that the economy was doing a “deep sixer”…the Budget resolutely turned away from providing a stimulus mediated via the business community. Like reducing corporate taxes. That, at least, might’ve started a virtuous circle of increasing sales and stimulating hiring.

In a sadly unimaginative reflex of “pleasing” constituents and wooing voters – with more than one eye on the LGE – the Government also doled out money and bonuses to communities and Government workers as if it had news Santa Claus wasn’t coming last Christmas. This year, we’ll be reaping the wages of that excess as the deficit in the budget widens into a chasm. Remember the PPP’s commitment to responsible fiscal policies and its adherence to a 3% max deficit? Well, the APNU/AFC coalition didn’t! It was spend, baby…spend!

Not surprisingly, the economy failed to achieve the 3.4% growth rate the Finance Minister rashly predicted. Now you’d think the Govt would be chastened about making these predictions when it realised it had no clue about how an economy operates. You’d be wasting that thought! This go-around we got a teaser via some lapdog at the Chronic that the Budget’s going to “focus on job creation through micro-financing, microindustries”!!!

What a load of crock!! How’s the Government gonna be funnelling (intermediating?) this “microfinancing”? We’d heard last time of a “developing bank” to stimulate investments in new industries and agri-processing and such like. Now “microfinancing”? This implies not just a change in financing mechanisms, but a change in the scale of investments projected to be facilitated.

The sad truth is that while “micro financing” was touted as the NBT two decades ago, every study done since the billions were poured into it, showed it failed abysmally to produce the desired economic benefits to the “small man”. He never became a “real man”. Or woman.

In fact, in India it led to a spate of suicides on account of the inability of recipients to repay their micro-loans.

But you never know, do you? So, let’s wait for the Budget to see exactly what rabbit the Government will pull from their (economic) hat! …by Ramkarran Ramkarran just doesn’t get it, does he? Every time he writes as to how Jagdeo had his way with the PPP’s executives, he exposes how weak and ineffectual he is –and was. Does he really expect anyone to respect him for not having the “testicular perspicacity” to take on the fella he considers to be his nemesis? He went on one of his same old whinges in his column this week. “Oh how Jagdeo destroyed the Party with his arrogance”!! How tedious!

What does it say about his qualities as a “leader” when a) he was in the party longer than Jagdeo; b) he was an independent (?) professional; c) he had PPP pedigree since his father was a founder member of the Party; d) he had an official position as Speaker of the House…and he couldn’t mount a challenge?

What it says is he is an invertebrate of the highest phylum (earthworm) who’s still waiting for leadership to drop into his lap. What a wanker!! …of Naga’s shill Nagamootoo’s shill’s fighting a vicious rearguard action pretending he and his boss are still of some relevance in the government.

Living in a fool’s paradise!

S

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Star of the week Berbice Race Course, New Amsterdam, Berbice, British Guiana n.d.

Grand Stands Demerara Turf Club, British Guiana n.d.

A

little known fact about popular radio broadcaster Surida Nagreadi, a soothing voice on Radio Guyana Inc. 89.5 FM in Georgetown, 89.3 FM in Essequibo and 89.7 in Berbice, is that she was once a very creative designer. Still having a “fire” for designing, Surida doesn’t get time to design anymore due to her dedication to being radio manager and host at Radio Guyana Inc. Surida, since childhood, knew she had a future in media/broadcasting because of her personality, but didn’t know in what form. Her dream job is becoming a lawyer, and even though she not so close to achieving it, Surida is happy with her present profession, which is just as exciting because she’s a natural at it. Now that she’s in the media world, the popular broadcaster, who has garnered quite a flurry of fans, doesn’t picture herself anywhere else. For Surida, the most exciting part of being a broadcaster is “thinking instantaneously of quick things to say and making it sound interesting”. Though being a broadcaster comes naturally, Surida still spends time practicing by talking to herself, which she said has helped her to become a “better speaker”. She works on her pronunciations; develops tones and tries to get over her public speaking fears. Surida is originally from Venezuela, but now resides in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. In the future, Surida sees herself branching off into television production while building management and marketing skills. The eloquent broadcaster’s advice for youths is that they must pursue what they believe in; be passionate about life and the things they want to achieve and to never allow one negative criticism to “de-motivate” them. She urges youths to always remember that the success of their ventures depends on their lifestyle, so they must be cognizant of their actions. She believes that though we often make wrong decisions, it’s how we learn that helps.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 47

Larwah and bigger Larwah… …for Nagamootoo t’s now quite obvious former President Donald Ramotar knew what he was talking about. On hearing his erstwhile comrade of scores of years, Moses Nagamootoo had teamed with the PNC-led APNU coalition to oust the PPP from Government, Ramotar predicted in Nagamootoo’s home village of Whim: “Moses is going to get Larwah”.

Now while a tad scatological, “Larwah” has the same connotation of “getting wood” – that is, you’re not only getting ZILCH for your snivelling but you’re also going to get “screwed” royally. And so said, so done. In spades. Ever since the coalition took office, it’s been one humiliating stripping of powers from Nagamootoo’s office of “Prime Minister” after another.

Even though the said powers had been carved in the “stone of Cummingsburg” – or so did THIS Moses think.

Charging the Cabinet? Soooory! But Nagamootoo can sit next to Pressie and maybe take notes? In charge of governance? Soooory! That’s for Trotman, the same AFC fella who pipped him when he, Nagamootoo, was the OFFICIAL AFC nominee for the Speaker in the last Parliament. The poor shmuck tried to assert himself on some junior Chronicle reporter as the “Information Minister” – but had to pull back because of public outrage.

What’s left? Well… there’s his SUV and his title and powers as PRIME MINISTER. Now even the latter’s gone! Addressing the National Assembly last Thursday, President Granger gave a remarkably candid description of the portfolios and powers of his Executive. Lest your humble Eyewitness be accused of being jaundiced, let him give you dear readers, a direct quote of Pressie’s: “The Ministry of the Presidency has been reconfigured to combine the offices of the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ministers of State, Citizenship and Social Cohesion.”

Lest you can’t believe your eyes, let me restate what Pressie announced: Nagamootoo’s jobs as Vice President and Prime Minister ARE NOW COMBINED INTO THE MINISTRY OF THE PRESIDENCY! And lest you’ve forgotten, the Minister of the Ministry of the Presidency is no other that Lt Col Joseph Harmon.

Nagamootoo now reports to Harmon.

So what are Nagamootoo’s “powers”? Well, Pressie did say he still “manages” government business in the National Assembly – but in tandem with the other ministers in the Ministry of the Presidency! If we were playing strip poker with one piece of Nagamootoo’s clothing removed for each “power” stripped, he’s be down to his bukta. Which would be his “Information” portfolio, right?

Wrong!! Pressie went on to enumerate the powers of the 14 “line Ministers” in his “reorganised Executive, and “Information” was nowhere to be seen.

Nagamootoo didn’t just get Larwah – he got Larwah engorged! …for Guyanese motorists Like most working stiffs slogging away for a salary, your diligent Eyewitness was able to own a car for the first time under the PPP government. Along with 10,000 other Guyanese every year. But with everything sweet, car ownership has its downside. In this case, the need to feed the iron beast gasoline every week. That took a big chunk from Your Eyewitness’ paycheque.

So when the price of gas headed towards the floor from more than US$100 a barrel and his cousins in NY were having their gas prices slashed, your Eyewitness eagerly awaited having all those savings to spend on his family. And waited… and waited… We were “free enterprise like America, no? And supply and demand, ran the economy, no?

No! Because he’s still waiting. So where’d the savings go from the cheaper oil? In the pockets of the government, that’s where! The government’s been raising the taxes on oil, to wipe out any savings passed on to us, dear readers.

Maybe it’s time to send a message on the streets? …for sugar workers A little twa-twa told your Eyewitness the govt’s going to close Wales estate and throw 1700 persons on the breadline.

These fellas really believe revenge is best served cold!

I

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

G

uyanese-born John R. Rickford is an international academic icon who has widely and significantly contributed to the education system, locally and abroad.

He is Professor of Linguistics and J.E. Wallace Sterling Professor of the Humanities at Stanford University in California – one of the top universities in the USA. He has been at Stanford since 1980.

Rickford was born Sep. 16, 1949, to Russell Howell and Eula Sylvia Rickford (nee Wade) of Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown. He attended Stella Maris nursery school, Sacred Heart RC (Roman Catholic) primary school, and then Queen’s College for his secondary education.

Foundations of a brilliant career

In 1960 Rickford secured a Guyana Government Scholarship for secondary education at Queen’s College (QC). Five years later, after writing the London University General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level exams (GCE ‘O’ Levels), he received the Queen’s College prize for best results at the exams.

Two years later, in 1967, he was awarded the Wishart Memorial Prize for distinction in English at London University GCE Advanced Level exams (GCE ‘A’ Levels). While at QC, he was also editor of the QC magazine, once writing an editorial in the 1964-1965 magazine

Rickford’s primary research and teaching focus is sociolinguistics: the relation between linguistic variation and change and social structure. He is especially interested in the relation between language and ethnicity, social class and style, language variation and change, pidgin and Creole languages, African American Vernacular English, and the applications of linguistics to educational problems.

Authorship Prof John R. Rickford

edition about the-then upcoming Independence Day. Following the successes of his secondary education, he was awarded a Fulbright/ IIE Grant for undergraduate study in the United States, and enrolled in the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) in 1968.

A “few days” after graduating from UCSC, Professor Rickford married his high school sweetheart, Angela Marshall in 1971 and they began graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

They had met in 1966 lower sixth “A” level English classes while at the Section “K” Campbellville home of their English teachers Victor and Ruby Ramraj, where the QC/Bishop’s students met for an informal exchange of ideas.

Angela became Deputy Head Girl at Bishop’s High School the following year, and John

One of Rickford's books on language

of

He is the numerous

author schol-

arly articles, and author or editor of several books. He has a book, “Variation and Change in Sociolinguistics and Creole Studies: Theory and Analysis”, scheduled for publication in 2016 or 2017 from Cambridge University Press.

His book, “Dimensions of a Creole Continuum: History, Texts, and Linguistic Analysis of Guyanese Creole” (1987) has become standard reading material for University of Guyana linguistic students.

Rickford is a consultant and contributor to

became QC Head Boy. A professor of Education at San Jose State University in California, Angela has collaborated with John on several essays and research projects.

Linguistic beginnings

At UCSC, Rickford developed an interest in linguistics. Intending to study literature there at first, he met anthropologist Roger Keesing who was working on Solomon Island Pidgin English, and got him interested in working on Guyanese Creole.

Rickford was also influenced by an article by Professor Robert Le Page in a book on Language Problems in developing countries, which, Rickford said “had a profound impact on me... and persuaded me to switch from Literature to...Sociolinguistics.”

He received his BA with highest honours in Sociolinguistics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1971, and his Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1979.

He won a Dean's Award for distinguished teaching in 1984 and a Bing Fellowship for excellence in teaching in 1992.

But before that, 1974, Rickford was a lecturer in linguistics at the University of Guyana. In 1979, he was Assistant Dean of the Arts Faculty, then was promoted to Reader, Linguistics (intermediate between Associate and Full Professor), with tenure in 1980.

While doing fieldwork in Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (1974), Rickford was sometimes accompanied by Guyanese poet Wordsworth McAndrew, from whom, he says, he learnt a great deal about getting people to open up and share their life histories.

Rickford with wife Angela

the American Heritage Dictionary, and has also written articles and lectured extensively on Creole and Ebonics, language variation and teaching, among numerous other sociolinguistic areas.

He won the American Book Award in 2000 for “Spoken Soul: The Story of Black English” (2000) written with his son, Russell John Rickford.

Rickford enjoys spending quality time with his wife, children (Shiyama, Russell, Anakela, Luke) and grandchildren.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

In Guyana, the Past is never past

By Lomarash Roopnarine

T

he recent reports in the dailies that about 15,000 ounces of gold are smuggled out of Guyana weekly is not new. Gold smuggling has been an ongoing activity which became more noticeable in the mid-1980s when Guyana returned to the global economy after two decades of suffocating Cooperative Socialism. What is new is the consistency and magnitude of gold smuggling, although one is sceptical as to how and what methods US agencies have applied or used to arrive at such

conclusion.

What is embarrassing is that it took the findings of a foreign entity for this country, this laughably inept regime to accept that gold smuggling has been going on at unprecedented levels.

You would think that in preparation of 50 years of independence celebration that the regime would be proactive and act in concert of being independent.

When would Guyana, and this current regime, stop relying on foreign entity to tell them what is going on in their own backyard? Where is the independence? Is this regime in depends?

That said, the challenge now is not only to stamp out gold smuggling since it robs the public coffers of funds that are needed for the monitoring and management of this very activity but also to contain rapacious gold mining practices. However, the appointment of the individuals in charge – MP Raphael Trotman and MP Simona Brooms – have raised doubts as to whether they are capable enough to manage the challenges so associated with gold mining: child labour, prostitution, human trafficking, habitat disturbance and destruction, mercury contamination, environmental degradation, corruption, unsustainable development and gold smuggling, to name a few.

I have written six articles (1999-2007) on environmental issues on Guyana, especially in the gold mining arena, and I have not come across the names Trotman or Broomes then and since 2007. These individuals have suddenly become environmental leaders.

My take is that experience is great motivator, a mover of things and if one does not have it, then he or she lacks something to perform at expected levels.

The recent appointment of Broomes in environmental leadership is even more troubling. Arguably, her appointment is a conflict of interest since she has revealed that she has vested interest and investment in the mining

sector. The mere fact that she would be allowed to monitor her own mining interest logically implies that she would be partial or reluctant to reporting any irregularities.

This is exactly what independent environmental monitoring agencies condemn. Does anyone really think that this individual would be pro-active in reporting anything suspect about her mining relationship to the public? Broomes’ appointment is a recipe for disaster, mark my words, and I support a private investigation into her relationship with mining into the far flung interior region before it is too late.

The President’s rational for Broomes’ appointment is risible and self- serving. He may be correct when he said that Broomes has a vortex of energy and experience in gold mining as far as she has mining concessions. But what the President did not say is that Broomes lacks environmental leadership skills and her stewardship is lacklustre and less known. Again, she does not appear anywhere in the literature of environmental policies.

What would have been an opportunity for the improvement of the management of Guyana’s natural resources, wasn’t. Instead, the President’s confidence in Broomes’ appointment speaks to a morally blind regime lusting and grasping for glory, and in consequence, revealing a malodorous practice of politics. The Guyanese people have gradually been re-introduced to the residues of the PNC’s vicious past.

The buffoonery of the regime forces me to ask: Is Guyana again becoming militaryesque?

The recent Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on a surveillance operation on National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) seems to support this claim and those who had not experienced the PNC 28 years of rampage and grip on Guyana, I say look out, since the past in Guyana does not seem dead. (lomarsh. roopnarine@jsums.edu)

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Mixing a hobby with a fascination, Ferlin Pedro captures amazing images of our universe

J

Ferlin Pedro

ust looking at the bejewelled night sky with our naked eyes astonishes us, but imagine seeing it hundreds of times better. That is what got hobbyist photographer Ferlin Pedroso so excited about astrophotography, that now he shares what he enjoys with others, through the lens.

Astrophotography is a specialised type of photography for recording images of astronomical objects and large areas of the night sky.

Pedro’s professional

career is in information technology. He is currently pursuing the remaining two years of academic studies for a BA in Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London.

He was introduced to photography when he attended an event hosted by the Guyana Photographers’ informal group, organised on Facebook. Since then, Pedro has been experimenting with cameras.

When he learned the basics of the camera, he began researching how to

Saturn

Sirius

take photos of the night sky, which has always been an interest of his.

Astrophotography is a relatively new hobby for Pedro, who has always had an interest in astronomy. His fascination with the night sky began when he was very young. This led him to his first beginner's telescope at the age of 18. It was a Tasco Luminova 675 x 60mm refractor telescope which he was able to purchase from ACME Photo Studio on Regent Street when it was reselling their stock of telescopes.

“I can’t put into words how amazing it felt to look through that telescope for the first time and see the craters on the moon! Before I acquired my equipment, I used to simply look up and admire the grandeur of the heavens. For me, this is a great source of personal meaning and significance.

There's something about contemplating the vast universe that reinforces our humanity. People often complain about how we are grossly disconnected from nature, given the advancement of technology. Although I do enjoy the use of technology, I tend to agree – I would just add that I think we should look up more often. I believe the cosmos can provide us with a sense of awe that no earthly phenomena can rival,” expressed Pedro in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

According to the photographer, looking through a telescope is one thing, but astrophotography is quite another.

He said it is a very challenging field of photography; however it is entirely worth it. He disclosed that he has been into astrophotography since January 2015 – this time with a slightly more sophisticated telescope.

“I currently use an Orion Astrograph 10” reflector telescope. With this scope, I’ve been able to view galaxies, nebulas and star clusters. I’ve also got a DSLR camera which I attach to the telescope and capture what I see.

Over time, I hope to hone my skills and equipment to produce much better photos. It takes quite a lot of patience to setup and align your equipment, since precision is key in taking great pictures of the night sky,” he explained.

He said that whenever

Great Orion Nebula

he views celestial objects through the telescope, he always feels a sense of awe. When he bought his first telescope, Pedro had the opportunity to share with his family something that he enjoys – observing the night sky. After his parents and siblings saw some of the planets and the moon, they began to ask questions about what they saw. They became curious. Pedro said this curiosity led to conversations - something his family rarely engaged in.

Pedro stated that although he cannot physically show everyone what he sees through the telescope (and there are things that the camera can pick up that the human eye cannot), he can share his photographs on Facebook, which are shared on other networks, to spark other conversations. The photographer believes that reflecting on the night sky brings us closer together.

“One of the best parts of what I do is witnessing the expressions on people's faces who take a look through the telescope. I often invite close friends, who may bring their friends, to come and take a look. I’ve taken the telescope to the University of Guyana campus to share with the UG astronomy club. I once took it out to the seawall and was delighted when random people approached me and asked if they could look through it, including some very young and curious roadside vendors.

I’ve frankly been pleasantly surprised at the level of interest in my photographs. It just goes to show that Guyanese are interested in astronomy.

Because of this, I plan to do more public viewing sessions in the future. If I can get more people feeling good about their significance in this grand vastness we call the universe, I'd be quite pleased,” Pedro declared.

Last year August, during the planetary alignment of Jupiter and Venus, Pedro took his equipment to the Kitty seawalls for a public viewing session. This drew a lot of attention – parents with children and roadside vendors gathered to take a look through the lens.

“I tend to focus on precision and improvement when capturing objects in deep space. There’s always room for improvement, always a different perspective of exaggerating an object to bring out detail and beauty. During every image session, I think about how fantastic it is to be able to record what I observe and to share with my friends and family what I’ve seen. To see people’s expression after viewing my images brings a sense of accomplishment. That accomplishment is to bring the wonders of the universe to my Guyanese people. So I would like to do more public viewing sessions whenever celestial events occur during 2016. I’ve also met with the Astronomical Society of UG, extending my sup-

port and use of equipment if they find it necessary,” he said.

Pedro established a Facebook group called Amateur Astronomers of Guyana, where people who have telescopes or who are interested in astronomy can share their interests and ideas.

The astronomy photographer hopes to interact more with the public, particularly school children. He believes the cosmos can add meaning to life in a way that is more fulfilling.

“Anyone can pursue photography. All you need is a camera to begin with – and a camera phone will do – and probably quite a bit of patience and practice. To get into astrophotography takes quite a toll on your pocket and your time. It is by far one of the most expensive hobbies to pursue and it is not intuitive in the beginning so you need to be very committed with an attitude of desiring to learn,” he advised.

For more information on Pedro’s photography, email him at ffpedrojr@ gmail.com or visit Ferlin F. Pedro on Facebook.

Setting up equipment on the seawall

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Travel & tourism 41

S

iparuta is a quiet village in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) neighbouring Orealla. It takes approximately one hour by boat from Orealla to Siparuta.

Located on the Corentyne River, overlooking Suriname, the village is described as “peaceful and simple�.

Siparuta and Orealla are governed by a joint village council. (Photos by Kennard Pillay on Flickr)

Approaching the village (Photo by Diana Rambarran)

The village's welcome sign

Boat landing

A home in Siparuta on the bank of the Corentyne River

Sand hill in Siparuta

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

from page 31

It is her love for fashion, reading and writing that has propelled her into her work with Africa Fashion Guide as their East Africa contributor.

The designer pointed out that she has a desire to produce work that is lasting and will inspire generations. She added that she does not care much for trends because her aim is to beautify inside and out.

“In everything I do, communicating the ab-

The designer's jewellery are all handmade

solute importance of having faith in God is paramount to any other message,” she declared.

It is Wong’s desire to help to influence and support a sustainable fashion industry in Africa.

She envisions an era where African designers and textile industry are not only internationally recognised, but are able to compete on

an international scale and make a substantial contribution to the global fashion industry. She endeavours to contribute towards the realisation of this vision.

For youths who want to follow in a similar path she advises, “Aspiring designers or artists should grow their skills in whatever way possible. It is important for an innovator to be able to produce something from nothing. Look at what

is in your hand and create! This is preparation for the real world of design where being able to think on one's feet is crucial if one is to succeed.

The late CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs said that creativity is just connecting things. So make a habit of observing your environment and begin connecting!”

For more information on the designer, visit Margaux Wong on Facebook.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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44 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Venezuelan soldier found dead in Guyana’s Cuyuni River A

t approximately 8:10 hrs on Thursday, January 21, Private W. Zamora, an enlisted rank of the Venezuelan Armed Forces (VAF), was found dead in the Cuyuni River, in Guyana’s far-flung Cuyuni/Mazaruni Region.

A statement from the M i n i s t r y of the Presidency i n Guyana said the partly decomposed b o d y w a s discove r e d approximately 250 m e t r e s down river from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) location at Eteringbang, in the Cuyuni River by a

member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The Officer had been conducting patrols in the area at the time.

The VAF location Commander at Ankoko Island was informed and told by members of the

GPF that Private Zamora went missing on Monday, January 18, 2016, when he fell into a tributary of the Cuyuni River in Venezuela.

The Guyana Police Force conducted investigations and the body was handed over to the Venezuelan military.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Profiting from the ethnic divide

By Ryhaan Shah

F

ormer PPP executive member Ralph Ramkarran has called on President David Granger to seek solutions to the country’s racial divide which, as we all know, is the stumbling block to all progress and development in Guyana.

GIHA and ROAR did both ask for a truth and reconciliation commission at the turn of the century when the PPP was in government – and of which Ramkarran was a member – and nothing was ever done.

It can be safely stated that the APNU/AFC Coalition will also do nothing. In fact, this government has moved to make the matter a non-issue by establishing a whole ministry, that of Social Cohesion, which officially ignores the racial divide. If it does not exist how then to seek solutions?

People never do anything, especially over and over again, unless they are rewarded for it so it is very obvious that both political parties profit from the ethnic/racial divide.

It gives them both built-in support.

Campaigning at elections time is an exercise in laziness. There is

no need for plans, ideas, manifestos, or even intelligent leadership.

Here, political leaders run from presidential debates for fear that their shallowness would be exposed.

This laziness and shallowness find their way into government and can become truly dangerous. The APNU/ AFC government knows that their supporters will never be openly critical of them no matter the seriousness of the issues, even one as serious as the state surveillance fiasco that resulted in three fatalities. There will be no street protest against this government. The protesters are now the government.

For PPP administrations, profiting from the ethnic divide is not as clear cut. As during their last go-round, they never reformed the army, police and civil service, leaving most of the state apparatus in the opposition’s hands.

This appeasement policy towards Afro-Guyanese has the benefit, however, of making their Indian Guyanese supporters insecure and herded together under the party flag.

This party/racial loyalty runs through all of society and infects everything. This is where

corruption and mediocrity have their wellspring, and everyone is comfortable with the status quo because everyone profits from it as is evidenced by the new appointments to government.

But what if we were to start taking responsibility at a personal and individual level and signal to the leadership, on both sides, that we are a principled people? What if we were to take the lead in creating change?

Imagine a Coalition supporter, offered a cushy government job, refusing and saying that Mrs Lall or Mr Gobind is better qualified for the position.

That would be the Guyana we could all be proud of, a Guyana where merit and decency matter. In such a country, political parties would actually have to work to win voters. They would have to come up with development plans and have leaders who are intelligent and just, and who would know that if they default on their campaign promises they could lose the elections the next time around.

That is what democracy looks like and the truth is we have had no democracy here for fifty years and counting. Free and fair elections is no

test in a country so deeply and comfortably divided, a division that weakens the country enough for it to be easily exploited by international players who support the side they can better manipulate for their own ends.

Were the status quo to change, were the racial divide to be healed, Guyana would actually have every chance of reaching and easily surpassing its potential.

In such a country, merit, intelligence, fairness and courage would matter and would supersede party/racial fealty, as they should.

Other countries have conflicts and work assiduously to find peaceful solutions. We, however, nurture ours and watch it grow. Case in point was the recent kick-off of the independence jubilee celebrations on Old Year’s Night.

A friend of mine who watched the whole televised debacle of mediocrity quipped that it was “one people, one nation” indeed, since the audience was a showing of only PNC/APNU supporters, ie, AfroGuyanese. Government and its supporters are very comfortable with this even as we all have to pay up $10 million for their “one people” sport.

The young people who voted for change are completely jaded by now. They will leave, as thousands before them, for countries where they will progress and have their ambitions for a good life fulfilled because, there, it is merit that matters.

If we can all find the moral courage to rally round this one good idea, perhaps the healing might well follow.

Fast and furious

S

atiricus was bemused. Not “amused”, you understand. Bemused…bewildered. Why would so many people stand in the way of progress? Back in school the young and callow Satiricus had learnt about the “Luddites”. Those troglodytes who’d gone around smashing machines in 19th century England since they were fearful about losing their jobs. They didn’t appreciate with “progress” there’s always “collateral damage”.

But Rum Jaat knew all about progress and collateral damage. Why! Hadn’t he predicted his KFC party would become “dead meat” if it coalesced with the Pee-an-See? But for progress sake (or duty free allowances – same difference!) he had taken the plunge. Now seven months later the stench confirmed his worst fears! “The things the Jhaat would do for progress!” marvelled Satiricus.

And it was in the same spirit that the Jhaat had authorised the SOCOO high speed chase. Well… maybe not “authorised” since he’d only been told about things AFTER three persons had died, two persons had their hair permanently styled (standing straight up!) and two vehicles totalled! “Gone along” might better describe his situation.

But what the heck! He’d gone along because of the progress the operation brought to his police force. He was a man of progress. And why was the high-speed chase progress? Before SOCOO and the Jhaat, all the police did was put up roadblocks to shake down unsuspecting motorists for a fried rice or a chow mein. Rum Jhaat had been looking at police movies ever since he’d been made into the Police Boss Man – to learn about policing.

Did he ever see police shakedowns at roadblocks?

No siree Bob! All he saw were high-speed chases in which dozens of cars crashed and burst into flames and otherwise totalled, men, women and children maimed and general mayhem committed as the police went after the bad guys. He’d been speaking to his Police Chief See All again and again for his police to “modernise” and get with the programme.

“What did you think we bought all those police cars for?” he’d screamed at See All. “To send out for fried rice and chow mein?”

To be “modern” he’d explained patiently to the quivering mass of flesh into which his screech had reduced the Police Chief, was to launch fast and furious high speed chases.

And finally now that Guyana had witnessed its first “modern” police op (including “collateral damage”!) Rum Jhaat’s chest swelled with pride.

“You can’t make omelettes without breaking some shells, can you?” he smirked.

news 47

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Increased focus on advancing women’s development this year

– Women’s Leadership Institute

T

he Guyana W o m e n ’ s Leadership Institute (GWLI) has announced that it intends to pursue an aggressive programme to support gender-based violence victims this year.

Administrator of the GWLI, Ms. Tricia Watson said during the first quarter of 2016 the organization will be pushing a “genderfocused education and training programme for women and men in the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private sector companies in order to promote gender awareness and equity”.

She said too that during the January to March period, the organisation which is an arm of the Ministry of Social Protection also wants to

“enable the full participation of women in leadership and decision-making processes throughout society, thereby contributing to the equitable and sustainable development of Guyana.”

According to the Administrator, the first quarter training initiatives will “build and strengthen the capacity of underprivileged and single parent women to ensure they are “equipped to participate in all levels of decisionmaking processes and influence decisions that affect their lives within their families and at the local and community levels”.

Watson also wants an increased understanding of the ramifications of “gender equality and equity” to be etched within the conscious-

ness and practices of all Guyanese.

Additionally, as part of the 2016 plan there will be a hike in training programmes to boost economic opportunities, income generation and poverty reduction among under-privileged women, Watson promised.

She said too that the GWLI will “develop and implement structured gender-focused education and leadershiptraining programmes for women” in the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana.

According to Watson, there will also be organised Community Volunteer Training Programmes (CVTPs) to help develop a corps of Guyanese with the requisite skills “to provide support for victims of gender-based violence”.

Wife abuser jailed for 36 months

A

man was on Tuesday jailed when he appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for wounding his reputed wife.

Andre Robertson, 40, of Lot 4669 Roxanne Burnham Gardens, South Georgetown, admitted that on October 23, 2015 he attacked

Andre Robertson

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

his reputed wife Denise Fredericks with intent to maim, disable and disfigure her.

Robertson said that on the day of the incident he attacked his wife with a cutlass, causing her to sustain chops to her head, face and hands after which he stabbed himself.

Reports are that Fredericks, a newspaper vendor, was returning from a newspaper outlet where she had just bought newspaper to sell for the day when Robertson approached her, whipped out a cutlass and fired chops at her.

The court heard that subsequent to the incident Robertson stabbed himself in the abdomen and cut his throat.

Both parties were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

In court Tuesday Magistrate Azore jailed Robertson for 36 months.

Robertson was previously jailed for 2 months in 2014 for a similar offence.

Guyana, Mexico commit to building stronger bilateral ties

President David Granger shakes hands with Ambassador, Mr. Rafael Quintero, at his office on Tuesday morning. Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon is partly pictured in the background (behind the President)

N

ewly accredited Ambassador of Ecuador to Guyana, Mr. Rafael Quintero, pledged to pursue stronger bilateral relations between the two countries, at a simple installation ceremony held, this morning, at the Ministry of the Presidency in Georgetown.

The new non-resident Ambassador made these remarks as he presented his Letters of Credence to President David Granger.

The Ambassador noted that solid bilateral ties are part of the solution to the problems that plague this region. To this end, he pointed out that the many organisations, including the Organisation of America States (OAS), the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), in which Guyana and Ecuador share membership, provide a platform for even greater collaboration.

“For us, multilateralism acquires a particular importance when it is combined with bilateral arrangements and relations so... we are not only interested in bilateral relations but the multilateral relations that Guyana has,” he said. The Ambassador also said that his country looks forward to cooperat-

ing with Guyana economically, socially, culturally and politically.

Meanwhile, President Granger, in brief remarks, said that Guyana values the strong ties of friendship and close cooperation, which exists between the two countries and peoples since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1974.

“Our relations over the past 42 years have been fruitful. Our friendship flourished because of our shared goals and ideals. We have a common desire to work together at the bilateral and regional levels to improve the well-being of our peoples and the integration of our continent. Guyana and Ecuador have strengthened their relations especially in the area of peopleto-people contact, through the introduction of reciprocal visa-free travel for our citizens. We are satisfied with the recent initiatives to strengthen bilateral cooperation through the proposed agreements on Scientific and Technical Cooperation and on Culture,” President Granger said.

The Head of State also noted that the two countries have enjoyed excellent relations at the regional level, apart from the advances made at the bilateral level.

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Akshay Kumar urges young people to initiate the changes they want to see

B

ollywood star Akshay Kumar, who features in “Airlift”, has starred in a video titled “I’m An Indian”, in which he urges the youth to go beyond armchair activism and to be the change they want to see.

The video “I’m an Indian”, released digitally by Culture Machine’s Being Indian, sees Akshay talking about how a majority of people restrict themselves when it comes to making a change by conveniently participating only in armchair activism.

He is assertive in the video and requests fellow Indians to stand up

B

ollywood star Priyanka Chopra has bagged a nomination in the best actress category at the 8th Annual Shorty Awards.

The nomination comes just a few weeks after she was honoured with the best actress in a TV series award for her performance of a FBI recruit in American series “Quantico”.

The Short Awards highlight the best content across the social media landscape including Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, YouTube and Instagram.

The 33-year-old actress, who has a huge fan following across all social media platforms, will compete with Amandla Stenberg, Cara Delevingne, Elizabeth Banks, Gabourey Sidibe, Kerry Washington, Maisie Williams, Olivia Wilde, Reese Witherspoon, Taraji P Henson, Uzo Aduba and Zendaya, said The Hollywood Reporter.

The best actress category falls under Arts and Entertainment section of

the awards. Also placed in the section are actor, celebrity, comedian, musician, dance, singer and show categories.

The nominees for the best actor honour are Ansel Elgort Dwayne Johnson, Jared Leto, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Matt McGorry, Michael B Jordan, Nathan Fillion Ryan Reynolds, Taye Diggs, Tom Hanks and Zac Efron.

The best musician category has contenders like Adele Alicia Keys, Best Coast, Diplo,

Drake, Kanye West, Little Mix, Nicki Minaj, Pearl Jam, Pharrell Williams, Ryan Adams and St Vincent.

Cher, Demi Lovato, Ellie Goulding, FKA twigs Josh Groban, Kacey Musgraves, Rihanna, Sara Bareilles Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Tori Kelly and Troye Sivan are nominated for the best singer award.

The awards will be held in April in New York City and will be available via live stream.

(Indian Express)

Deepika Padukone finally speaks on her Hollywood debut, says it makes her nervous

D

eepika Padukone is the latest Bollywood star to go international and the actress says although she is proud to have bagged “XXX: The Return of Xander Cage”, she is nervous about venturing into a new territory.

The 30-year-old “Bajirao Mastani” actress will share screen with Hollywood Vin Diesel and Samuel L Jackson in the DJ Caruso-directed action thriller, which is the third installment of the “XXX” film franchise.

Deepika says her ethnicity helped her bag the role and in the film she will be given an opportunity to flaunt her ‘Indianness’.

“I am very excited.

But I want to confess that I am very nervous.

Most importantly I feel proud to be a part of a film where I get to flaunt

my ethnicity,” Deepika said.

“The reason they are roping me is because of my background. I really hope that I do well in the movie and people go and watch it,” said the

“Quantico”, has reportedly bagged a role in “Baywatch” movie opposite Dwayne Johnson.

Back home Deepika has been making the right noises and had a tremendous year in 2015

actress, who was in the capital for the launch of the new collection from luxury Swiss watchmaking company Tissot.

Besides Deepika, another Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who recently made her American TV debut with

with the success of her films “Piku”, “Tamasha” and “Bajirao Mastani”.

The actress says it has been her constant effort to keep improving every year and she is happy to see her efforts pay off two years in a row. (Indian Express)

for the motherland and proactively initiate the changes they desire.

The actor, whose new film “Airlift” shines the spotlight on the story of an unsung hero who played a pivotal role in the evacuation of Kuwait-based Indians during the Iraqi occupation in 1990.

This is not the first time that Akshay has featured in a film that promotes the spirit of patriotism.

“Baby”, “Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty” and “Gabbar” are some of the films in which he has essayed a responsible countryman. (Indian Express)

John Abraham is ‘deadly, dangerous and handsome’ in ‘Rocky Handsome’

J

ohn Abraham starrer ‘Rocky Handsome’ teaser has been finally released and the actor is back in his action avatar. After entertaining everyone in comedy films, John will be seen as a deadly, dan-

A

gerous fighter with guns and punches all over again. And that physique of course won’t allow you to take your eyes off him.

With a chiseled body, John Abraham has managed to impress his

ctress-producer Lara Dutta Bhupathi and husband Mahesh Bhupathi’s daughter, who is the “light” in their lives, has turned four.

The star couple’s daughter Saira completed four years on Wednesday (January 20).

“The light in our lives turns four!!! @ Maheshbhupathi. Time flies when you are having fun!!! #birthdaygirl!,” the former Miss Universe captioned a pho-

fans in the teaser of ‘Rocky Handsome’ and the dialogue “Deadly, Dangerous ya Rocky, Iss naam se mujhe woh jaante hain, jo mujhe jaanna nahi chahte (Deadly, Dangerous and Rocky, People who don’t want to know me, know me with this name,” goes exactly with his on screen image.

The actor took to Twitter to release the trailer. Presenting the teaser: Starring Shruti Haasan opposite John, Rocky handsome is directed by Nishikant Kamat, who will also be seen in the film. It is slated for a February 5 release. (Indian Express)

tograph of her little one, posing next to balloons, and dressed in red with a sash that reads ‘Birthday Princess’.

Abhishek Bachchan, who has starred with Lara in films like “Jhoom Barabar Jhoom” and “Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost”, also sent his best wishes for Saira. “@LaraDutta @ Maheshbhupathi happy birthday Saira ji. God bless,” he tweeted. (Indian Express)

Shilpa Shetty ‘thrilled’ with Ramdev’s blessings

A

ctress and entrepreneur Shilpa Shetty Kundra, also known for her fit frame, presented yoga guru Ramdev her book “The Great Indian Diet” and thanked him for being “so sup-

portive”. “Presented #BabaRamdev with my book@ thegreatindiandiet, he’s been so supportive. Thrilled with his blessings #inspiration #happy #blessed,” Shilpa tweeted on Wednesday (January 20).

The duo started the day with a yoga session. “Morning Yoga session with #Baba Ramdev. #yoga#welness #energy,” she tweeted. (Indian Express)

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Suicide Squad trailer released: The super villains are ready for their mission

D

C Comics has brought together their villains in the latest edition of ‘Suicide Squad’. The film’s first trailer has been released and it is about the super villains being released from a prison to complete a mission.

The trailer shows a worried Viola Davis who wants the group of super villains to be assigned a secret mission.

Suicide Squad, which has been directed by David Ayer, features bad men Will Smith (Deadshot), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Killer Croc), Karen Fukuhara (Katana),

Joel Kinnaman (Rick Flagg), Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang) who are ready for a mission.

Cara Delevingne plays the role of Enchantress in the much-awaited film. One can also hear Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the background too which goes perfectly well with the quirky trailer.

Then there is Jared Leto, the famous Joker. Leto’s photos as Joker were released last year.

The film has been written and directed by David Ayer. (With PTI inputs) (Indian Express)

Learned to play drums in two weeks for ‘The Big Short’: Christian Bale

A

ctress Kate Winslet has backed her “Titanic” co-star Leonardo DiCaprio to win his first Oscar at next month’s ceremony.

H

ollywood star Ryan Gosling is “very lucky” to have Eva Mendes and their daughter.

The “Big Short” star said his “The Place Beyond the Pines” co-star is his ideal woman and he is

Hollywood 49

The actress, 40, said she would be “surprised” if “The Revenant” star did not receive the best actor award after missing out with his previous five Oscar nomina-

equally smitten with their 16-month-old little girl Esmeralda, reported Femalefirst.

“My biggest investment is my family. I’m with the person I’m supposed to be with – I’m not looking for anything else beyond Eva –

and I feel very lucky that we have a beautiful, healthy daughter, who is an angel.

That’s investment enough for me,” he said.

The 35-year-old actor is unsure whether he’s a good father but he tries to be around as much as possible.

Asked how he fares as a father, he said, “You’d have to ask my girlfriend really – all I can say is that it’s important for me to be there for my daughter and that I want to be there too, because it’s so fun.” (Indian Express)

time for big changes” and that she will review membership recruiting to bring about “muchneed diversity” in the academy’s ranks.

At a Los Angeles gala honoring Boone Isaacs on Monday night, actor David Oyelowo _ who was famously snubbed last year for his performance as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in “Selma” _ expressed frustration with the academy.

“This institution doesn’t reflect its president and it doesn’t reflect this room,” Oyelowo said.

“I am an academy member and it doesn’t reflect me and it doesn’t reflect this nation.”

Other stars began weighing in. George Clooney, in comments to Variety, said that after earlier progress by

the industry, “you feel like we’re moving in the wrong direction.”

He noted that movies like “Creed,” “Straight Outta Compton,” “Beasts of No Nation” and “Concussion” may have deserved more attention from the academy.

“But honestly, there should be more opportunity than that,” Clooney said. “There should be 20 or 30 or 40 films of the quality that people would consider for the Oscars. By the way, we’re talking about African Americans. For Hispanics, it’s even worse. We need to get better at this. We used to be better at it.”

A 2012 Los Angeles Times study found that the academy was 94 percent white and 77 percent male. (Indian Express)

A

ctor Christian Bale endured a two-week drumming “crash course” to prepare for his role in financial drama “The Big Short”.

The “Batman Begins” star portrays real-life hedge fund manager Michael Burry in the comedic drama, and his character, who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome, is often featured rocking out to heavy metal music in his office and home basement, reported Guardian online.

“It was a wonderful crash course, double kick-drum, Pantera, By Demons Be Driven, fan-

tastic song to begin with,” Bale, 41, said.

“This is how (Burry) unwound, this is how he calmed down. He would listen to it all day long in his headphones, Mastodon as well. His brain is on fire so much

that death metal calms him. He’s a very different individual to most of us.”

Bale is nominated for the best performance by an actor in a supporting role Oscar at the Academy Awards next month. (Indian Express)

‘Fantastic Four’ reshoots were tough: Michael B Jordan

ctor Michael B Jordan has opened up about the production problems

A

the Marvel film, which became one of the biggest box office disasters of 2015, reported

which hampered last year’s “Fantastic Four” reboot, branding the numerous reshoots tough.

The 28-year-old played Johnny Storm/ The Human Torch in

Independent online.

Problems reportedly arose between 20th Century Fox and director Josh Trank during the production process, with major reshoots and

script rewrites ordered.

Jordan admits it was a tough time for the cast, which also included Miles Teller, Kate Mara and Jamie Bell.

“Working on set is always difficult when you’re doing a project of that size, with those many special effects and CGI. A lot of parts were involved. Did it feel tough? Yeah, it felt tough, but you never know how it’s going to turn out in the end.

“Cause everything we shot didn’t ultimately make the movie either. A lot of decisions were made after we filmed, after the reshoots, to make the best project that we could possibly do.” (Indian Express)

tions, reported the BBC. “I think you can sort of feel it, and I think that everyone wants it for him,” Kate, who is also an Oscars frontrunner for best supporting actress said.

“It would be amazing,” she added.

Winslet was speaking at the London Critics Circle Film Awards. She collected her best supporting actress award for “Steve Jobs”, just one week after winning the same prize at the Golden Globes. (Indian Express)

G

rowing calls for a boycott of the Academy Awards over the lack of diversity among this year’s Oscar nominees are forcing stars to choose sides and threatening to throw the movie industry’s biggest night of the year into turmoil.

The backlash over the second straight year of all-white acting nominees is also putting heavy pressure on the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences to diversify its overwhelmingly white male membership.

The furor grew on Tuesday when the Rev. Al Sharpton said he would lead a campaign encouraging people not to watch the Feb. 28 telecast. On Monday, Spike Lee, this year’s Oscar honoree for lifetime achievement, and Jada Pinkett Smith announced they will boycott the ceremony in protest.

Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, who has led efforts to diversify the academy, responded late Monday evening with a forceful statement saying that those previous measures weren’t enough.

Isaacs, the academy’s first African American president, said that “it’s

50 sport

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ashley Rodriques set to represent Guyana in CONCACAF Olympic qualifier (Taken from the Official website of the Eastern Michigan Eagles)

F

ormer Eastern M i c h i g a n University women's soccer standout, Ashley Rodrigues, has earned a spot on the Guyana National Team for the upcoming CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier, Guyana Head Coach Mark Rodrigues announced, Jan. 14. The tournament is set to be played in Texas, Feb. 1021.

Rodrigues will wear the captain's arm band in her second major CONCACAF tournament. The former EMU midfielder previously represented Guyana in the 2010 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Despite an admirable effort, the Lady Jaguars left the Gold Cup winless.

"We've always been an underdog in these competitions, and that hasn't changed," Rodrigues said ahead of next month's competition. "The great part is we like it that way.

We know we've earned the right to be where we are, nothing has ever been handed to us, or been easy for us. It's because of these things, that six years later, we're determined to

earn better outcomes this time around."

A two-time All-Mid American Conference selection under long-time EMU Head Coach Scott Hall, Rodrigues' name is all over the Eastern Michigan record books.

Suiting up in the Green and White from 2006-09, Rodrigues reeled in MAC Player of the Year honors as a senior.

She was also named to

the MAC All-Tournament Team, All-Academic Team, and garnered national recognition as an All-Great Lakes Region honoree. The quick footed midfielder holds the EMU record for points in a game, registering seven against the University at Buffalo, Oct. 19, 2007.

In Eastern's win over the Bulls, Rodrigues netted the fourth hat trick in EMU history while assisting on another goal for

the Eagles. She is also one of three players in program history to record three assists in a game, accomplishing the feat against Eastern Illinois University, Sept. 7, 2008.

The 11-day tournament will split matches between two venues for round-robin play. All of Guyana's group stage games will take place at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas, the home of the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League and Houston Dynamo of the MLS. Group A, featuring the United States, will play at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The top-two finishers of each group will advance to the semifinal matches in Houston, Texas. The winner of each semifinal match will qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women's World

Cup as well as earning a spot in the CONCACAF Championship match, Feb. 21.

Guyana is currently ranked 92nd in the world and is in the same group as Canada (11th), Trindad & Tobago (48th), and Guatemala (84th).

The Lady Jags begin play, Thursday, Feb. 11, against Canada before taking on Guatemala, Feb. 14. Guyana closes out round-robin play, Feb. 16 versus Trinidad & Tobago. If the Lady Jags finish top-two in their pool they will advance to the semifinal game, Feb. 19, for a chance to play in the championship game, Feb. 21. Other teams competing in the olympicqualifying tournament are Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica, and 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Champion, United

States. (EMUEagles.com) Date Time (ET) Matchup Location Feb. 10 6 p.m.

Puerto Rico vs. Mexico Toyota Stadium Feb. 10 8 : 3 0 p.m.

United States vs.

Costa Rica Toyota Stadium Feb. 11 6 p.m.

Guatemala vs. Trinidad & Tobago BBVA Compass Stadium Feb. 11 8 : 3 0 p.m. Canada vs.

Guyana BBVA Compass Stadium Feb. 13 1 : 3 0 p.m. Costa Rica vs.

Puerto Rico Toyota Stadium Feb. 13 4 p.m.

Mexico vs. United States Toyota Stadium Feb. 14 1 : 3 0 p.m. Guyana vs.

Guatemala B B V A Compass Stadium Feb. 14 4 p.m.

Trinidad & Tobago vs.

Canada BBVA Compass Stadium Feb. 15 6 p.m.

Mexico vs. Costa Rica Toyota Stadium Feb. 15 8 : 3 0 p.m.

United States vs.

Puerto Rico Toyota Stadium Feb. 16 6 p.m.

Trinidad & Tobago vs.

Guyana BBVA Compass Stadium Feb. 16 8 : 3 0 p.m. Canada vs.

Guatemala B B V A Compass Stadium Feb. 19 5 : 3 0 p.m.

Semifinal #1 BBVA Compass Stadium Feb. 19 8 : 3 0 p.m.

Semifinal #2 BBVA Compass Stadium Feb. 21 5 p.m.

Championship B B V A Compass Stadium

TTOC representatives at IOC seminar in Lausanne

C

hannelle Young and Rheeza Grant of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) marketing department are among 34 participants from 25 National Olympic Committees attending a twoday International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Marketing Seminar in Lausanne, Switzerland, which gets underway at the Olympic Museum today (Thursday).

The theme of the seminar is titled “Understanding and Creating A Strong Brand.” This programme falls under the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity and Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) which will be hosting a series of seminars as part of the Agenda 2020 mandate to provide NOCs with marketing training opportunities.

Today, Grant and Young will be taken on the Olympic Brand Journey featuring Maria De Cock, IOC head of Brand Management, Corporate Development and Sustainability. They will then join Francois-Marie Bourgeois in Olympic Brand Research, followed by the opening segment of a two-part series entitled “Brand Building Essentials with

P and G Part 1” with David Grebert, Marketing Director, Brand Building and Integrated Communications.

On day two, the TTOC will present its marketing and branding transformation plan at the seminar following an invitation extended by the IOC’s Television and Marketing Services department.

They conclude the seminar with sessions on The Olympic Channel (featuring Vincent Chupin, Olympic Channel Commercial Team Leader) and the second part of Brand Building Essentials with P and G. The local pair will also join forces with Eva Gazarova (NOC Slovakia) to present on their aspect of Brand Building and Integrated Communications.

Other topics include Marketing Tools for NOCs and How to Benefit (with Sylvia Koller, Senior NOC Riggts Acquisition and Partnerships Manage; Olympic Marketing Structure (with Elisabeth Allaman, Head of NOC Rights Acquisition and Partnerships) and How to Engage with Olympic Partners (with Tim Dignard, IOC Client Account Manager). (Trinidad Newsday)

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Fraser-Pryce not looking Pitches not conducive too far ahead to Rio to big scores, says

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

K

INGSTON, Jamaica – Track and field star Shelly-Ann FraserPryce says she is in good shape ahead of her campaign at this summer’s Rio Olympics but adds that she is not looking too far ahead as she prepares to begin her buildup to the global event.

The 29-year-old Jamaican is the twotime reigning Olympic 100 metres champion and will be gunning for a third title at the August 5-21 Olympiad, where she will once again be a heavy favourite to

dominate the women’s sprints.

“I am feeling the same way I have always felt every year. I am working hard, staying committed, staying healthy,” FraserPryce told the Jamaica Observer newspaper.

“Rio is a far way off right now, it’s just a day at a time for me. I try not to go too far ahead. If I take it a day at time and continue to work hard and stay grounded, I believe that when the time comes it will be wonderful.”

Fraser-Pryce is one of the most successful

sprinters of the modern era. In addition to Olympic success, she has also won four individual World Championship gold, including sweeping both sprints at the Moscow Games three years ago.

She also won gold in the sprint replay in Moscow making her the first female to win individual sprint gold and relay gold at a World Championship.

Fraser-Pryce will be the first woman to win three consecutive 100 metres title if she is successful in Rio. For all her achievements, however, FraserPryce was quick to downplay suggestions of assuming legendary status.

“I have had a wonderful season, a wonderful journey so far and I wouldn’t trade anything for the lessons that I have learnt and the lessons that I will be learning coming this year and the year after,” she said.

“The legend, I don’t know right now. I am just grateful to be here and to accomplish what I have so far.” (CMC)

Aussies bring in swing duo for NZ series

S

Y D N E Y , Australia – Australia played to the conditions yesterday by selecting the novice swing bowling duo of Chadd Sayers and Jackson Bird in their squad for the twomatch Test series in New Zealand. Bird, who played the last of his three Tests in England in 2013, and uncapped Sayers are part of a 14man squad that will be aiming for a series win across the Tasman Sea next month to take them back to the top of the world Test rankings.

Sayers claimed 145 wickets at an average of 24.82 in the Sheffield Shield this season and his ability to move the ball could be a key factor in matches in Wellington and Christchurch which are expected to be played on grassy, seaming pitches.

“We are delighted to welcome Chadd Sayers into the squad for the first time and his inclusion is thoroughly deserved,” national selector Rod Marsh said in a statement.

“Both he and Jackson Bird can swing the ball and operate at a lively pace and we believe both will be well suited to the conditions we are likely to encounter in New

Jackson Bird

Zealand.”

The duo replace Steve O’Keefe and Scott Boland in a pace attack that has some injury doubts ahead of the first Test in Wellington on February 12, with James Pattinson (shin) and Peter Siddle (ankle) both carrying lingering ailments.

“We are hopeful James Pattinson will be able to overcome the shin soreness he has been suffering …, while Peter Siddle is on the verge of playing again following the ankle injury he suffered during the West Indies series,” Marsh added.

“Our fast bowling depth is certainly being tested because of injury and retirement but the positive part of that is it means there are opportunities for other players to stand up in domestic cricket and stake their claims.”

There were no chang-

es to the batting contingent which performed strongly against a feeble West Indies attack in the recent 2-0 home series win. That victory, coupled with South Africa’s home series loss to England, sets up Australia’s bid to become No.1 again.

“The fact that we can move back to the top of the ICC Rankings if we win the series is an added incentive for us but the players will be hungry to do well and we are anticipating a tough but also, hopefully, a successful series,” Marsh said.

Squad: Steve Smith (capt.) David Warner (vice-capt.), Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Shaun Marsh, Chadd Sayers. (Reuters)

skipper Holder

P

ORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Test Captain Jason Holder says the standard of regional pitches needs to improve if teams are to produce more attractive cricket.

The 24-year-old, also the Barbados Pride skipper, said scores in the ongoing Regional Super50 had been low because pitches were slow and turning, and not conducive to good stroke play.

“It’s been tough.

Obviously the scores are not what we’ve been accustomed to in One-day cricket, and I think that’s been due to the slow pitches,” Holder said.

“I’ve found it very difficult so far batting in this tournament in the middle overs especially, and trying to get the ball off the square. I think spinners are dominating it and that’s because the ball has spun quite early and quite sharply.

“I just think we need to work a little bit more on improving our pitches and… stroke-play and the viewing of the cricket would be a lot better.”

The highest total of the tournament has been Jamaica Scorpions’ 260 against minnows ICC Americas at the Sir Frank Worrell ground at St Augustine here in the second-round, Group A contest.

In Group B played in

HOLDER... I just think we need to work a little bit more on improving our pitches

St Kitts, the highest total there was 255 by Guyana Jaguars in the final round, when they chased down a competitive total set by Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners.

Across both groups, there have been 14 totals under 200 runs with four of these coming at Queen’s Park Oval, and Holder said the par score at the tournament’s premier venue would be quite small.

“It’s been a tough pitch. The games I’ve seen here and have played here have been

tough going in terms of batting, so you have to be very sharp in the field in terms of restricting opposition under 200 runs.

I think 200, 210 is probably a par score on this track.”

The tournament is in its final stages. Reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force take on last year’s losing finalist Guyana Jaguars in the first semi-final due yesterday, while Pride clash with Windward Islands Volcanoes in the second semi-final today.

(CMC)

Gayle exits Big Bash with social media rant

W

est Indies star batsman Chris Gayle left a strong message for critics following the end of his Australia Big Bash League campaign, making any future appearance in the tournament seeming even more unlikely.

Gayle was at the centre of a firestorm a couple weeks ago after making inappropriate comment to reporter Melissa McLaughlin during a television interview.

The incident led to global and harsh criticism of the big left-hander, with some calling for him to be banned from the league and even from the game.

Yesterday, the 36-year-old posted his thoughts via social media platform Instagram and was particularly critical of former cricketers.

“The real ppl who stand by Gayle worldwide through the so call BS against me in the media, Thank You! “I think a lot of past and present cricketers who smile in front my face could’ve have dare say in the public when my so call issue was going on,” Gayle’s post read.

“But y’all don’t have the BALLs to stand firm when it matters – but yet when u see me you’re like, Chris that’s BS against you, it was blown out of proportion.

Chris Gayle

“Smh … don’t tell me, tell the media and public!”

The post in part seems to refer to Network Ten commentator and former English cricket captain Andrew Flintoff who tweeted his distaste at Gayle’s behaviour at the time, saying although he was a big fan, he ‘made himself look like a bit of a chop.

“The past cricketer who say I make myself look like a chop, the other who claim I was no good to the youngsters while playing for the Thunder, the next one who said he expect that sort of behaviour from Chris – Y’all can kiss my ‘Black ****,” Gayle wrote.

“I love Australia and I will be back again.”

Gayle was fined US$10 000 by the Melbourne Renegades for the incident.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WICB/NAGICO Super50

Deja vu for Jaguars as they fall to Red Force

D

ifferent year, same story as Trinidad and Tobago Red Force defeated the Guyana Jaguars by 54 runs in the semi-final of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/ NAGICO Super50 in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday.

It was déjà vu to last year’s final where Trinidad batted first, scored 200 runs and then bundled out Guyana for 65.

However, this year they batted first and made 2599 from 50 overs and in reply Guyana Jaguars folded on 205-9 from 48.3 overs.

The Jaguars innings got off to a slow start due to tight bowling from seamer Rayad Emrit and off-spinner JonRuss Jaggesar. At the end of 10 overs they were 22 without loss as openers Assad Fudadina and Vishaul Singh found scoring difficult. Singh was lucky to be still present at the crease since he was drooped at point in the ninth over by Akeal Hosein The in-form Fudadin (9) fell to Deonarine via the leg before route in the 14th over due to a peach of a delivery from the off-spinner.

Deonarine continued to haunt his former team as he struck again, this time removing Shivnarine Chanderpaul (6) with an inside edge onto his middle stump to leave the Jaguars 38-2 from 17.3 overs.

Captain and off-spinner Jason Mohammed struck with his second ball in his first spell, prizing out Singh for 20 via a stumping in the 20th over as the Jaguars were now 42-3.

Deonarine and his teammates celebrate another wicket which put the Jaguars on the back foot from the onset

The pair of Captain Leon Johnson and wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble forged a 65run partnership which gave the innings much needed impetus.

Bramble was the more aggressive of the two batsmen as he brought up his 50 off just 41 balls with two fours and four powerful sixes.

The duo brought up the team’s second 50 off just 28 balls as compared to the first which took 128 balls. Just as Johnson was looking to up the scoring even more he fell leg before to Jaggesar, prodding forward to a full pitched delivery for 20.

In the 31st over, Hosein got the big wicket of Bramble

(51), who gave the bowler a charge and lost his bat in the process of playing the shot and Denesh Ramdin quickly wiped off the bails as Jaguars slipped to 119-5.

Raymon Reifer (12) played down the wrong line and was bowled by Jaggessar to leave the score at 141-6 from 34 overs.

Jaguars now needed 119 to win from 96 balls and it was over to Vice-Captain Christopher Barnwell to bring home the game but he found the boundaries hard to come by and he was bowled for 22 attempting a wild hack over deep mid-wicket off the bowling off Emrit.

His departure meant

the pair of Paul Wintz and Gudakesh Motie needed to make 95 runs from 53 balls.

However, the pair took the score to 205-9 from 48.3 overs when Wintz fell for 26 off the bowling of Jaggesar to give Red Force the win as Steven Jacobs was unable to bat due to injury.

Earlier, Guyana Jaguars won the toss and elected to field first. Openers Evin (20) Lewis and Kyle Hope (15) took the score to 44 in the 10th over after which Jacobs removed both of them.

It brought the pair of Kjorn Ottley and Darren Bravo to the crease who batted brilliantly with a partnership of 85 to stabilize the innings.

Just as Ottley was looking to branch out, he was caught

by Johnson off the bowling of Motie to leave the score at 129-3 from 30.2 overs.

It did not take long after for Bravo to bring up his half-century in the 34th over.

Bravo and Ramdin began to up the scoring with Bravo hitting three towering sixes in the 44th over.

When the momentum seemed to be going the Red Forces way, left-arm seamer Reifer took the wicket of Ramdin (43) in the 45th over to break a 90-run partnership from 87 balls.

The classy Bravo fell five short of much deserved century for 95 in the 46th; facing left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who delivered a flatter ball on off stump, Bravo rocked back but only to swat it straight into the hands of Reifer.

There after a procession wickets fell as Deonarine (7) was caught by Johnson off the bowling of Wintz and the Red Force lost their last five wickets for 32 runs from 5.5 overs.

Permaul led the way with figures of 3-56 from 10 overs as Wintz and Jacobs took two wickets a piece.

The Red Force will now await to play the winner of Barbados Pride and Windward Islands Volcanoes in today’s (Thursday) second semi-final at the Queen’s Park Oval from 13:30h.

Caption: Deonarine and his teammates celebrate another one wickets which put the Jaguars on the back foot from the onset.

Essequibo Challenge Cup 10/10 softball cricket…

Series off to cracking start

T

he Essequibo 10/10 Challenge Series was off to a bright start as it brought out the best in terms of participation from areas covering the entire Region Two and the level of discipline shown by the teams were commendable.

In the Female category, Lima Sands North demolished Lima Sands South by five wickets.

Batting first, South made 67-7 in 10 overs (Zenel Smith 20; Jessica Ragubeer 4-5 from two overs, Annette James 2-15).

In reply, North lost a couple of wickets early but recovered to end on 69-5 through a responsible innings from Jessica Ragubeer 23 not out turning in a good all round performance along with Akeena Salim 22 not out in a partnership of 39 to achieve victory.

In the over-40 category, Invaders Masters defeated Reliance

A section of the teams on the opening night

Masters by seven wickets. Reliance batted first and scored 95-5 in 10 overs (Kishan Singh 24(2×6);Rajesh Gopaul 1-11 from tow overs).

In reply Invaders Masters reached 99-3 in 7.4 overs with Rain Rampersaud scoring 32; Ritchie Bishop 22 while Dhaniram Persaud took 1-24 from two overs.

For the open category, West Coast XI defeated Essequibo by 14

runs: West Coast XI batted first and scored a challenging 136-8 in 10 overs with Vickram Kissoon hammering 58 with five massive sixes requiring new balls on each occasion off 19 balls. Esaun Patel was the best bowler for Essequibo with 2-25 off two overs.

In their turn Essequibo started brightly but in the mid

overs lost a couple of wickets and the pressure was back on. They ended on 122-6 in their 10 overs. Travis Drakes took 2-22 from his two overs.

South Essequibo cruised past Pomeroon by seven wickets.

Pomeroon batted first and scored 56-5 in their allotted overs with Andy Dass 24(2X6); Leyland Mc Donald 2-6).

In reply south

made 60-3 in six overs (Govinder Sharma 28 (3x6s); Gary Francis 1-25).

Central Wild Champs defeated Northern Stars by 2 runs in a nail biter.

Central Wild Champs made 78-5 in their overs with Ramesh Narine 37 (3x6s); Rana Persaud 2-23 from 2 overs) Northern Stars replied with 76-9 Trevor Lall top scoring with 27.

In their other game, Central Wild Champs defeated South Essequibo by one run in an exciting finish.

Central batted first and made 59-7 in their allotment of overs with Ramesh Narine contributing 19. Bowling for South Ikwaaz Baskh took 1-6 to be the pick of the bowlers.

In reply south were cruising at 23 without loss but the introduction of Ramesh Narine 1-4 and Ravi Singh 1-7 changed the complexion of the game and dried up the runs with south urging their numbers 5 and 6 on could only muster 4 trying to get 5 in the last over ending on 58-6.

Central Wild Champs will now advance to the quarterfinals to be held on April 9th, as the show moves to Leguan for the Essequibo Islands zone to be held on the February 20 and East Coast Leg on February 23 at Better Hope.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

FIFA launches international bid for Guyana’s Goal Project F ootball’s world governing body, FIFA, has launched the international bid for the construction of Guyana’s first-ever Goal Project.

At his first press conference in December last year, newly elected president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, had announced that the international bid will commence in January 2016.

In giving an update last Friday on progress made thus far, Forde informed that the bidding process has started

by FIFA, and interested firms have until the end of the month to submit their bids.

According to a recent newspaper report

by Avenash Ramzan, Forde indicated that several firms have already submitted their bids to the Zurich-based football body, while one of those firms actually paid a site visit to the Providence Community Centre ground where the facility will be constructed. That plot of land, 8.5 acres in size, was acquired by the federation on a 30-year lease.

The first Goal Project is expected to be completed

in four years, Forde pointed out back in December.

He also revealed that the second Goal Project will be in Linden and the third

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN APPROVED

Following a unanimous decision taken by the Forde-led Executive

phases with the first being the installation of the artificial turf.

The second phase will see infrastructure such

phy and reported back to FIFA on what was needed in order to have the turf installed.

On December 5, Howard McIntosh, FIFA’s Development Officer also met with members of the GFF’s Executive Committee on his visit and conveyed FIFA’s satisfaction with the conceptual design and readiness to move forward with the Goal Project.

LONG HISTORY

GFF’s Second Vice-president, Rawlston Adams (right), with representatives of one of the bidders

in Rupununi.

The GFF boss said as soon as the first Goal Project becomes a reality, the GFF will put in an application for a second.

At that same press briefing last month, First Vicepresident Brigadier Bruce Lovell said while Guyana is yet to have a Goal Project, the ultimate aim is to have one in the jurisdiction of every Member Association.

Committee to endorse the project when they assumed office in November last, it was agreed that FIFA will send out an International Tender for contractors for the installation of the artificial turf.

Members of the Executive Committee had met with Marcel Gaskin, Architect of the Conceptual Design for the facility, where it was pointed out the project will be completed in two

as stands, lights, beach and futsal training pitches, mini pitches and an administrative centre for the Headquarters of the Federation being establish.

FIFA contracted inspector Dr Stephen Baker visited Guyana on August 25, 2015, and conducted soil testing at Providence where the Englishman looked at the sub-base and at the entire topogra-

Guyana was actually earmarked by FIFA to pioneer its Goal Project with then FIFA President Sepp Blatter making his maiden voyage in 1999 for the turning of the sod at the University of Guyana. However, plans fell through after negotiations did not go well with the then government.

In 2007, under former president Colin Klass, the GFF began work at Orangestein, on the East Bank of Essequibo, for what was supposed to be the location for Guyana’s first Goal Project.

Following Klass’ exit, Franklin Wilson, his Vicepresident at the time (2013), had assumed the post of president (ag) and travelled to Zurich where negotiations with FIFA’s

Development Committee brokered US$500,000 to be allocated to Guyana to help get the Goal Project off the ground.

Wilson’s effort also failed to see the project start, and then President Christopher Matthias upon taking office, abandoned the plot of land, already owned by the GFF at Orangestein, stating that the site was too remote and sought further negotiations with the Ministry of Sport for land behind the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora.

Things again didn’t materialise, since the then government had offered only a little over three acres of land which FIFA said was inadequate for the Project to materialise.

The new Executive Committee of the GFF however, believes that this project represents a tangible demonstration of a new era of football in Guyana and the change in governance structure to provide material evidence of development commitments by FIFA and the Executive Committee.

(This Avenash Ramzan article was first published in Guyana Times)

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 24 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Australia win run-fest after India meltdown P

aceman Kane Richardson claimed his maiden five-wicket haul to script India’s spectacular collapse and bowl Australia to a 25-run victory in the high-scoring fourth one day international yesterday.

Three batsmen struck centuries in the 671-run match between the world’s top

Dhawan (126) and Virat Kohli (106) featured in a 212-run stand for the visitors before the wheels came off India’s chase at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.

Dhawan registered his ninth ODI century and Kohli scored his second consecutive hundred but India lost three wickets in 11 balls for the addition of one run that de-

Kane Richardson

two one-day teams but it was Richardson’s (568) incisive bowling that clinched the contest, while also earning him the man-of-the-match award.

Chasing 349 for victory, India were cruising at 277 for one before losing their last nine wickets for 46 runs to succumb to their fourth successive defeat in the five-match series.

Opener Shikhar

railed them.

For them, in-form Ajinkya Rahane came out to bat despite a split webbing of his fingers, but could score only two as India were all out for 323 in the final over.

Earlier, Aaron Finch struck his seventh hundred in a blistering opening partnership of 187 with David Warner to power Australia to 348 for eight wickets.

Finch smashed a run-

a-ball 107 while Warner fell on 93 from 92 deliveries as the hosts continued to make merry against India’s toothless bowling attack after opting to bat first.

Australia had chased down each Indian target to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the fivematch series and the tourists’ battered bowlers did little better after

finally getting the chance to bowl first.

Warner, who missed the last two matches due to the birth of his second child, started off with a maiden against Umesh Yadav but soon hit his stride with three fours in an over against seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Yadav also conceded three boundaries in the next over against the di-

minutive left-hander as Australia raced to 50 in the seventh over.

Finch was equally destructive and a fierce straight drive from the right-hander off fast bowler Ishant Sharma (4-77) hit umpire Richard Kettleborough on the shin, forcing the official off the field.

Finch mistimed a pull to be dismissed eight

overs after Warner had played Ishant on to his stumps while attempting a slog over mid-wicket.

Australia captain Steven Smith (51) and all-rounders Mitchell Marsh (33) and Glenn Maxwell (41) chipped in with some quick runs.

Sydney hosts the fifth and final one-dayer on Saturday. (Reuters)