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Who gave the order?

ISSUE NO. 277

WEEK ENDING January 10, 2016

…Teixeira slams Army, Police for use of “terror See story on page 17 tactics” in controversial NICIL probe

PPP/C MP and former Minister of Home Affairs, Gail Teixeira

The late GDF Sergeant, Robert Pyle

Head of SOCU, Sydney James

Libellous KN article has potential to destabilise Guyana’s …says Bank of Guyana financial sector

Page 5

East Bank Berbice double suicide: 14 year-old was two months pregnant

Page 3

Police working with U.S. authorities to arrest suspect in Cane Grove murder Page 11

Dead: Sherriann Ali

Dead: Deeraj Persaud

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NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

East Bank Berbice double suicide: 14 year-old was two months pregnant

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wo persons are now dead in a double suicide at Lonsdale, East Bank Berbice (EBB), Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) which occurred on Wednesday morning.

Dead are Sherriann Ali, 14,of Brothers Village and Deeraj Persaud, also called “Prakash”, 20, of Lonsdale. The two were discovered in a bedroom at Persaud’s home about 7:30h hanging by the neck from ropes. The discovery was made by Persaud’s uncle, Shafeek Ally.

Reports are that the two were lovers and Ali was two months pregnant. The two had been living together for the past two months with Persaud’s father until he passed away on December 19. However, on Monday, Police were informed of the relationship and arrested the couple. Ali was taken to see a doctor

where it was confirmed that she was almost two months pregnant.

On Monday at Central Police Station, New Amsterdam, the Probation Department advised that the couple be separated and Ali remains in the custody of her guardians in the adjoining village of Brothers.

According to Persaud’s uncle, on Tuesday, Ali visited Persaud twice and returned home on each occasion.

Meanwhile, Ali’s foster mother, Shaloma Lattiff said on Tuesday evening every effort was made to ensure Ali did not leave the home. According to her, they locked the teenager in a bedroom and ensured that she could not open the door. “This morning [Tuesday] when we wake up an go in the bedroom, she gone. She take out the louvers and jump through

the window and gone.”

Lattiff reported the matter to the Sisters Police Station and a party of Police Officers along with family members went to Persaud’s home situated two villages away. A padlock was found on the outside of the door. “We knock on the door and call, but nobody answer, so we say that that they get away and gone somewhere.”

Meanwhile, Persaud’s uncle, who lives a few houses away, was alerted and went to the house as soon as the Police Officers left. “I knock on the door and call, I hear the music playing low and when I peep through a crease I see a bed on the ground, so I know that he put the padlock on the door and then jump through the window and go inside, so he got to be in the house, but he ain’t answering me.”

With that knowledge, Persaud’s uncle went to a side window and opened it. “When I jump in the house, I see the bedroom door open and I look inside and see the two of them hanging.”

The Police were immediately alerted.

Persaud’s uncle said he was of the opinion that the couple took their lives after the Police visited.

This, he said, is based on the fact that neighbours saw Persaud about 05:00h going to the outhouse. “The Police had threatened them that if they catch them together, they will lock him up and send her to girl school (Juvenile Correction Centre), so after they realise that they get catch, he probably say that he ain’t going to jail and she ain’t going to girl school.”

Asked whether there were indications that one may have assisted the

Dead: Sherriann Ali

Dead: Deeraj Persaud

other in committing the act, Persaud’s uncle said no. “They had a clotheshorse and they stand up on it and jump off. The two hold hands and jump off together, he had a long rope and she had a short one, he was touching the ground.”

Ali, who grew up with foster parents, quit school last year. According to Lattiff, they were never in agreement with the relationship and tried on many occasions to stop it.

“The girl use to get away and go and meet him. She keep getting away. She was stubborn,” said the woman, who believes she did what she could have

done to prevent the teenager from getting sexually involved with an adult.

Persaud was described as a labourer who did odd jobs in the community. His father died two weeks ago and his mother lives in Trinidad.

Persaud’s uncle said that messages in Persaud’s cellular phone indicated that he sent text messages to his mother on Tuesday evening indicating that he was going to take his own life.

Messages sent to his mother from the same phone on Wednesday morning around 05:00h read: “I love you, Mum.”

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

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EDITORIAL

The rum-drinking PU/NICIL has been good culture

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t wouldn’t take long for anyone to conclude after observing what is happening in the society, especially during the past holiday season, that the issue of alcohol consumption and the lasting negative effects it has on individuals and societies in general must be kept on the national agenda as it needs urgent attention.

Not only can drinking too much alcohol cause negative shortterm effects such as loss of judgment, loss of coordination, blurred vision, slurring of speech, and loss of balance etc, it can also cause negative long-term effects; these include brain damage, liver failure, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer, epilepsy, nerve damage, and heart failure.

Alcoholism contributes to a range of social problems, for example; there has been an increase in cases of domestic and other forms of violence in our society. Official statistics show that one in four Guyanese women have been physically abused in a relationship.

The increase in domestic violence has been blamed on several reasons; one of which is the abuse of alcohol and drugs. In fact, quite a number of stories which were carried by the local press over the past few months pointed to the fact that the alleged abuser or killer of some of the women murdered was under the influence.

In addition, research shows that alcoholism contributes to suicide which has been, and continues to be, a major social problem, and is also considered to be a public health issue, particularly in Guyana.

The negative effects of alcoholism are well known, what needs to be dealt with is how the problem could be addressed. One thing for sure is that the issue needs to be tackled by all stakeholders in a holistic manner. Stakeholders – including the religious community, Government, political parties, NGOs, community leaders, law enforcement authorities, bar owners and parents – as a whole, need to sit at the table again and come up with a strategy that would deal effectively with the problem, since putting legislation in place alone, even though very important, will not help.

To begin with, there are countless rum shops in the country, many of which are unlicensed. The authorities need to clamp down on those that are operating illegally, and the entire process as it relates to issuing licences should be reviewed.

Added to this is the issue of minors purchasing alcohol from these shops. The uncaring rum shop owner, in the interest of making profits, would take the chance and sell the product to juveniles. This is more so since they feel that no one will find out and even if they do, very little will be done by the authorities to prosecute those found engaging in the activity.

What is even more worrying is that in most cases it is the parents or guardians who send their children to purchase alcohol.

This, therefore, means that there must be legislation in place that holds parents and guardians accountable for their children’s actions, which they themselves sometimes cause.

Further, Guyana is assailed by reckless music that glorifies and trivialises rum drinking and its debilitating effects. Songs such as “Rum Till I Die” and “One More Fuh De Road” that promote rum drinking could be heard in minibuses, at weddings, and even on the public airwaves. It is, therefore, no wonder so many of our young people engage in excessive drinking to the point of becoming addicts.

The authorities must, therefore, step up their education and sensitisation campaigns with the aim of discouraging the rumdrinking culture among the population. The Health Ministry may need to carry out sensitisation campaigns similar to the ones used for smoking across the country, especially in hinterland areas.

It is certainly not our intention to place the blame for all our problems on the use of alcohol, but one cannot dispute the fact it is indeed a major contributory factor to some of the social ills we face in today’s society. As we enter another year and as we engage in the process of renewal, we must redouble our efforts, both as individuals and as a nation, in dealing with the issue of alcohol abuse and its negative effects on individuals and societies.

The serenity of 'El Dorado' located in Yupukari, Quatata, Region Nine

for people and country

Dear Editor, I write to make the case that PU/NICIL has been good for people and country. I would be failing in my duty if I were not to. I put myself on record also, that I have known and worked closely with CEO Winston Brassington and DCEO Marcia Nadir-Sharma, weekly and often daily throughout the years and have found them to be knowledgeable, able, diligent, hardworking and earnestly committed to advancing people and country.

It is said that every person is liable to some moment(s) of failure; nonetheless I put myself on record as standing at the side of colleagues who earned my greatest respect and appreciation for their work. And I am not doing so recklessly, flying in the face of evidence.

What evidence is there? In all that I have seen and heard I have not sensed any criminal act: there is no indication of any money flowing to any of their pockets. The CEO’s crime (and that of PU/NICIL as an institution along with all its employees) seems to have been that he did his able best to carry out the policies and programmes of our PPP/C administration, accepting them and pursuing them rather than taking his cue from the then opposition.

Just recall the complaints related to Amaila, the Berbice Bridge, the Marriot Hotel, particularly the Marriott: what have they been other than means to discredit those projects and deny our PPP/C Administration opportunities to bring good to people and country and win favourable consideration?

Those projects made manifest our policies, outlook, worldview, our ideas of our stage of development and the next steps that we should take.

Those were essentially political choices and the attacks should be launched against us the political leaders of the PPP/C, not the administrators.

Let me acknowledge that in the competitive and perhaps

inevitably adversarial politics in democracies, even more so in our historical demographics, and especially so after our 2011 elections when on the basis of provisions in our Constitution we set up as a minority government, an Opposition is likely to doubt, question and disparage all that the government says and does and see deception and corruption in every place but this should only go so far.

We of the PPP/C then in opposition were not ourselves free from such inclinations in the run-up to the 1992 elections – but we have always been a responsible group even though we had real reason to be bitter. Yes, we criticised the Barama, CRL/CLICO and Omai agreements, earnestly and responsibly, arguing mostly that the PNC had no mandate then to enter into those agreements.

Thus, when we came into office Dr Jagan could have had the agreements reviewed by persons in whom he had great trust (amongst which was a Dr Maurice Odle, then with an international agency). We could and did accept that the Agreements were fundamentally standard international agreements. We laid them in Parliament and with a few adjustments and they have been our standard documents throughout our years in office.

The APNU/AFC went so far in demonising us of the PPP/C that more than six months after our elections they cannot start pulling back, expending valuable money and time, and delaying the re-establishment of some degree of political accord.

PU/NICIL has been at the centre of APNU/AFC demonising because it was able to complete the Marriott Hotel, despite their efforts to stop it midway. The PU (Privatisation Unit, which we set up formally), NICIL (National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, set up by the PNC after they retreated from State ownership of more than 80 per cent of the economic activ-

ity in Guyana) and the later merged PU/NICIL have been important elements in our integrated approach to the overall growth and development of people and country, and we grew noticeably.

This is not the forum but now may well be the time to talk extensively about the bringing of people and country from where we were in October 1992 to where we were in May 2015.

Managing the ongoing refashioning of the bauxite sector and communities within the commitments of the outgoing PNC to the international bodies, gave rise unto about 2006, to a large part of the work of PU, NICIL and later PU/NICIL as we sought to turn people and assets no longer required by the core, to new activities and to attract new international bauxite and other companies to those communities.

Other sectors for which I was responsible – other mining, electricity, energy, telecommunications – also gave rise to much work for PU/ NICIL. So, I was much involved with PU/NICIL. In time I urged the merger of PU and NICIL. It was a natural and sensible thing to do, to utilise remnant and other available state assets to facilitate and enable new investments particularly those that bring increased diversification in our economy.

PU/NICIL’s focus was directed not just on the large and foreign but also on the smaller and local. Take for example the tourism and hospitality sector. We gave the goahead to direct negotiation for purchase of adjacent property so that Duke Lodge could expand. There was some notice and comments about that but we had PU/NICIL do similarly for the elegant expansion of Herdmanston.

I was Chairman of the Board of PU/NICIL for a period: thus, I am obliged to and I can speak up for PU/NICIL continued on page 6

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Libellous KN article has potential to destabilise Guyana’s financial sector …says Bank of Guyana

By Michael Younge

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he strength and security of Guyana’s banking system – which is the linchpin of the country’s financial sector – was placed under great threat on Wednesday following the publication of a spurious and misleading article in the Kaieteur News which sought to implicate the Central Bank, Republic Bank and a local businessman in questionable activities linked to money laundering.

The daily tabloid reported that the Government’s State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) is probing a "local bank" which was accused of money laundering going back to 2011 following apparent nonaction on the part of the Bank of Guyana and the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

The article also alleged that the owner of GuyTrac Haresh Narine, also known as “Chinee”, had deposited the sum of Gy$82,068, 617 in a Republic Bank Account which ended up in an account of a now sitting Minister of Government.

Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall

The newspaper, which has a long tradition of publishing falsities and pursuing personal vendettas against local businessmen and persons not supportive of the now ruling political party, referred to statements allegedly made by the Governor General of the Central Bank and SARU Head, Dr Clive Thomas in relation to the matter.

But before the dust could settle, the Bank of Guyana condemned the article which it said had the “potential to destabilise the financial sector in Guyana”.

When contacted, Governor Dr Gobind Ganga declined to offer any comment on the article to this newspaper outside what was released in

the Bank’s official statement as he believed it sufficiently addressed the concerns of stakeholders.

Soon after, the Central Bank explained that Republic Bank which was identified by the newspaper was not guilty of any wrongdoing in the matter and, therefore, was not in breach of any laws which govern its operations.

The Central Bank admitted that it had received a complaint in relation to the matter and, thereafter, mounted a full investigation which vindi-

Republic Bank (Guyana Limited) Managing Director, Richard Sammy

cated the local bank.

Republic Bank’s statement

Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited has rejected the assertion that it engaged in mon-

false allegations, to protect its reputation and the interests of all stakeholders.

“Not me” – Chinee

Kaieteur News Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris

ey laundering activities.

The Bank, in a statement on Wednesday evening, said it viewed the suggestion that it was engaged in money laundering as “malicious, libellous and unfounded”.

In particular, the Bank denied that any deposit of cash or cash equivalents was made to the referenced account by the named party on June 16, 2011 or any other date.

The Bank said that in light of the Kaieteur News article, which sought to tarnish its reputation and question its adherence to sound banking principles, it would take all necessary steps, including reviewing legal options to address these

Meanwhile, the businessman who was named in the article has since strongly denied involvement and any knowledge of the entire incident reported by the tabloid.

He said that he never deposited monies amounting to over Gy$82 million in his account or any other person’s account for that matter.

“Not me. That’s a lie.

I would be glad if somebody could give that kind of money now. The only money I deposit in my account are monies in relation to my business that have to do with supplies,” he revealed.

Narine said that he was surprised that the newspaper could be so bold to link him to money laundering and other acts of wrong doing, as he was never contacted by the local authorities or banks in relation to such matters.

“Nobody never contacted me on this matter...no SARU or no bank person…I do not know what Glenn Lall and the Kaieteur News are talking about,” he main-

Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga

tained.

The businessman said it was important for him to set the record straight as the content of the article had the potential to put his life and his family’s lives at risk. It could have negative impacts on his business relations in and out of Guyana.

This newspaper understands that the sitting Minister who made complaints about the money reportedly ending up in his account has responsibility for the Ministry of Communities under the new Government.

Attempts to contact SARU’s Head for a comment and confirmation that it was still actively probing the case, regardless of the Central Bank’s findings, proved futile.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Points to consider when granting amnesty to prisoners

Dear Editor, I have noted with great interest that His Excellency, President David Arthur Granger has granted dozens of youngsters and women, amnesty for various reasons.

I have also noted that the Food For The Poor entity for over a decade now, has been coming forward to pay fines for persons incarcerated for minor criminal offences, and are unable to pay their fines. Both initiatives are laudable, and compliments should be heaped on our President, and the Food For The Poor entity.

However, I do not think the amnesty should just be by fiat, but must come with a very serious responsibility, and also training. Please note the following recommendations: 1. No prisoner should be set free without the signing of a contract. Should they breach the terms of the contract, they

could be re-arrested to serve out their time, with an additional 10 per cent or 20 per cent added to it. This is to create a fear factor.

2. The released prisoner must not feel that they are fully free, and should be made to report to the Commanders, or a designated officer at Police stations in their various communities.

3. They should have certain relatives, friends or even priests, who would sign on their behalf, and take responsibility to help in their supervision and rehabilitation. However, in fairness to the persons accepting supervision/partial supervision, at no time should these persons be held legally or financially responsible, should any released prisoner abscond or misbehave.

4. Before being released, such prisons should be made to undergo a motivational sem-

inar created for their level of education. Their participation should be made compulsory, and their skills and knowledge must be investigated before programming for possible employment.

5. If they did not serve long enough to have mastered a trade in prison, they must sign onto the contract (see number one above), to attend a training programme at an identified facility. This facility can be a bakery, welding shop, mechanic shop, etc.

6. The participatory professional, or service business, can be given a recognised certificate of participation, that can be displayed on their walls, to establish the fact that, they believe in good corporate citizenship, and wish to assist youthful offenders, by giving them a second chance.

Boot Camp

7. All prisoners slated for re-

lease should undergo a ‘semimilitarised boot camp’ for at least two weeks involving all aspects of drills, survival techniques, athletics, debates, and even involvement in trades, in order to feel and ascertain their skills. It has been proven that this kind of ‘boot camp’, or enhancement personality training, call it as you may, works excellently in the USA, Canada, and Europe. The boot camp should be tough and powerful, to help bring out from the core of their hearts and souls: goodness, beauty and power.

Of course, they should not be trained in the use of fire arms, but trained in self defence and ‘hand to hand combat’ for disciplinary purposes, which will also discipline the mind.

8. These individuals should be encouraged to teach the skills learned to fellow youths in their communities, thus, making them positive mentors

and personalities in their various communities. This will give them feelings of accomplishment and contribution to society.

9. In addition to reporting to the Police, the released prisoners should have a volunteer mentor in their various communities that they should visit periodically for counselling. These mentors can be: retired teachers, headmasters/headmistresses, Justice of the Peace, retired Police Officers, retired bankers, and decent professional business and trade representatives, etc.

10. There is so much more that I can add to the above. I leave the rest to the imagination of the authorities.

I am prepared to sit on a board, if so created, for this purpose for a very large salary of G$1 per annum.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan

Consultation on Coroners and The plight of Leguan farmers Law Reform Commission Bills Dear Editor, The Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Monday participated in consultations at the Attorney General’s Chambers on the Coroners (Amendment) Bill and the Law Reform Commission Bill. Participants included Christopher Ram, representing the Guyana Bar Association, among others.

Discussions were centred primarily on the provisions for appointment of Commissioners and an agreement was reached with the Attorney General on how these persons would be appointed.

The PSC, being wholly cognisant of the many obsolete laws which remain in the Laws of Guyana and the need for careful culling of contradictory laws,

fully supports, with minor amendments, the Law Reform Commission Bill.

With respect to the Coroners (Amendment) Bill, it was noted that the substantive Coroners Act needs to be fully reviewed.

The Commission also commends the Legal Affairs Ministry for arranging this consultation with civil society and for taking on board suggestions made by the attendees. This augurs well for future cooperation between the Government and civil society organisations.

Sincerely, The Private Sector Commission

Dear Editor, I wish to draw the attention of the government to the plight of the farmers in Leguan. It is a known fact that most rice farmers are not being paid for last crop paddy despite the fact they suffered a loss. Presently they are unable to plant this crop because the weather condition is not suitable since the rain is not falling.

As I write the Island is surrounded by salt water which is having a telling effect in the agriculture sector.

Hardship for the farmers is prevailing on the island. They are wondering where the next dollar will come from.

The PPP government in their vision was putting things in place to deal with any eventuality that would have impacted negatively on the rice industry on the island, by establishing a plantain chip factory.

Thus, giving the farmers an alter-

native to other means of income.

It appears this project is neglected by the present government or the Minister of Business does not have any idea how to move this project forward.

Since the government distanced itself from the rice industry the residents are calling on them to make the plantain chip factory operable as early as possible so they can have an alternative to rice cultivation.

At the same time the rice farmers are asking that the government give them some financial assistance (grant) so they and their families can survive for the next year.

As I speak this is also the plight of farmers on the neighbouring Island of Wakenaam.

Yours sincerely, Sheik Inshan Ayube Vice Chairman Region 3

Government must act with PU/NICIL has been good... a sense of responsibility

Dear Editor, Dr Hinds commented, “President David Granger’s recent plea for patience and suggestion that they have not yet accumulated the evidence needed for prosecution makes some sense. But, politically it puts a damper on the expectations of Government supporters.”

The above is an excerpt from a news item published in Sunday’s edition of Kaieteur News. Dr Hinds is also reported in that news article to have said that the lack of prosecution of alleged wrongdoers under the previous government could negatively impact APNU/AFC’s success in upcoming local government elections.

Is Dr Hinds suggesting that thorough investigations, fairness, honesty and due process must be sacrificed at the altar of political expediency? Is he suggesting that persons should be charged even without sufficient evidence so as to satisfy the expectations of supporters and to influence the results of local government elections?

Let me make it clear. I am of the view that persons against whom there is a preponderance of evidence of corruption should be charged and have their day in Court. David Granger, prior to becoming president, had said that a government led by him would not embark on a witch-hunt and he is appar-

ently keeping his promise. He obviously wants to avoid any criticisms about witch-hunting by ensuring that when someone is charged there is enough evidence to win a conviction, rather than have cases thrown out for lack of evidence which would then serve as testimony to witch-hunting.

APNU/AFC is not merely a coalition, it is the Government of Guyana and must act with the sense of responsibility, fairness and commitment to due process that is required of a government.

While pursuing investigations and commissions of enquiry the government should also set up a truth and reconciliation commission that would bring to light many of the wrong-doings of the previous administration while at the same time providing amnesty and giving some of the wrong-doers an opportunity to atone.

Ours is a small society rife with factionalism and factionalism based largely on race and political affiliation and with the flawed thinking of many of our politicians that “s/he who is not for me is against me.” The APNU/AFC government has a great opportunity to work towards engendering social cohesion and racial harmony, if not unity. It must not squander this opportunity.

Regards, Wesley Kirton

and shoulder what we the politicians, not the officers, should.

What should the Guyanese public make of the claimed unearthing of billions of dollars in the accounts of PU/NICIL and its subsidiaries, and of other autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies and now being sent to the Consolidated Fund (CF)?

First, those accounts were not unknown, not hidden, not secret, and not unlawful. Second, the fact that there are billions in these accounts should raise questions about whether there was any stealing at all. Third, it is an achievement of note that there are surplus funds in bodies which before drew from the CF. Fourth, the records would show that without fanfare, billions of dollars had been transferred steadily, from time to time over the years to the CF from these accounts including the accounts of PU/NICIL. And yes, particularly in the earlier years we needed to and did use such accounts for what is known internationally as “off-budget financing”. In our first years, Guyana’s economic position was so bad and the international strictures on various budget ratios so tight, we had to have the GGMC fund maintenance of the air corps of our GDF, as prepayments for servicing greater monitoring of mining across our hinterland.

Again, with a good reason in hand

from page 4

I had the GGMC fund the extension of the MMC minibus-grade trail into Madhia transforming the outlook and prospects for that community. Whatever the wrongdoing in such actions, I and members of the Cabinet then, are ready and willing to pay the price.

Having now transferred these billions of dollars to the CF what can we expect? The danger is that it would be used to raise recurring current expenditure to unsustainable (at this time) levels, putting us at risk of again getting on a path to a downward inflationary spiral such as we got on soon after Independence and only very painfully began working ourselves out of in the late 1980s.

Additionally, more immediately, the stated intention to withdraw all these billions in accounts in the banks would reduce the ability of the banks to lend and further constrain our economy.

We of the PPP/C, citizens of Guyana, no more so or less so than others, hope that those dangers would be avoided. No one would want a return to the 1970s and 1980s.

Time will tell.

Yours truly, Samuel AA Hinds Former Prime Minister and Former President

news 7

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Mon Repos murder US, Guyana relations suspect still on the run “fantastic” –

V

ishal Baldeo, 18, of Lot 126 First Street, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, who stabbed his cousin Ganesh Ramlakhan, 34, to death on New Year’s Day is still on the run.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told this publication that the Police have been working on every possible lead at their disposal, with the intention of arresting the teenager.

He noted that the Police will continue their hunt for the young man whom they believe might have absconded to where he worked as a fisherman. However, a relative of the dead man told this publication that attempts to contact the suspect on his mobile phone proved futile.

She claimed that on every occasion the family attempted to make contact, his mobile phone was switched off. The father of two of Lot 127 First Street, Mon Repos, was stabbed about seven times about the body by his cousin who is also referred to as “Vicky”.

Ambassador Holloway

The victim (in green shirt) and the suspect in happier times

Bases on information received, the carpenter was in the yard when his cousin, who returned from sea, pulled up in a motor car and whispered something in his ear, causing him to use foul language. The suspect was not too happy; hence he went into the house, collected two knives and confronted the man who was still in the yard.

The suspect reportedly stabbed Ramlakhan once to his chest and back resulting in him collapsing to the ground.

As relative saw what

was happening, they rushed to the man’s rescue but were also injured by the perpetrator. Those injured are the victim’s uncle Richard Gowkarran and his father Ramlakhan Motilall.

Both men would have sustained injuries to their hands and heads.

However, after injuring the two men, the suspect turned his attention again to the injured cousin, stabbed Ramlakhan several other times before making good his escape.

Serious crimes up by 16% in Berbice – Commander

BY ANDREW CARMICHAEL

T

here has been a 16 per cent increase in serious crime in Berbice during 2015 when compared with figures for 2014.

D i v i s i o n a l Commander of B Division (Berbice), Assistant Commissioner Christopher Griffith says the statistics are not worrying. According to him, although there is that increase, the figures are not exorbitant.

“Because you would find that it is just four murders above the 2014 figure but when you calculate it as per percentage, it may seem high.”

In 2015, there were 24 murders committed compared with 20 during the previous year. In reviewing the past year, Commander Griffith said in 2015, robbery was nil as compared with nine in 2014.

However, robbery under arms where firearms were used, showed a 25 per cent increase, moving from 60 in 2014 to 85 in 2015, while robbery under arms where instruments other than firearms were used was 27; the same as in 2014.

Robbery with violence showed a steep increase, moving from

Divisional Commander B Division, Assistant Commissioner Christopher Griffith

eight in 2024 to 19 last year, while robbery with aggravation declined from three to one in 2015. There were 41 reports of rape in Berbice in 2015. This compares with 23 the previous year. Burglary had a 10 per cent increase, there being 10 last year, while larceny from the person recorded zero for the two previous years.

Of major concern in the division is break and enter and larceny which had a 10 per cent increase. In 2014, there were 187 reports made and in 2015, there were 206. Despite the increase the division recorded its lowest break and enter and larceny in the month of December, un-

like 2014.

Griffith said for the greater part of the year, the division was severely handicapped as a result of not having adequate patrol vehicles. There were only two patrol vehicles to serve both Regions Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) which consist of 12 Police stations. “We have to be mobile… We must have the patrols. Coupled with that shortage, the Force in itself has an acute shortage of human recourses. In the latter part of the year we got additional patrol vehicles so now we have 10.”

This, Griffith said, had a positive impact on the division’s policing capabilities. “What we are trying to do is do intelligence-led policing. We had arrested some men in a hotel and placed them before the court and they were remanded to prison, and since then you find that criminal activity within New Amsterdam has dropped.

I don’t know if it was a gang or group that we broke up we did not have much.”

The Commanded noted that there are still experiencing armed robberies along the Corentyne and on the West Coast of Berbice.

President David Granger in discussion with United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway during a courtesy call on Wednesday at the Ministry of the Presidency

U

nited States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, following a courtesy call on President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday, said, “I think relations between our two countries are fantastic right now.”

The Ambassador’s

visit is his first since the beginning of the new year and as such, he took the opportunity to wish the President and the people of Guyana a productive 2016. He also expressed hopes for continued fruitful relations between the two nations, a Government Information Agency

(GINA) report stated.

A m b a s s a d o r Holloway, speaking on the continued friendship and cooperation between Guyana and the United States, said, “We have a lot of areas of mutual interests; we talked about security, we talked about energy, and we talked about international issues.”

8 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Merriman’s Mall vendors take protest to President’s office

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hat had been decades of hard work seemed to have been reduced to nothingness for vendors of the Merriman’s Mall, Bourda, Georgetown, who were on Wednesday morning stunned by the sudden move by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to have them remove from their place of business.

That move sparked much criticism and the angry mob took their cries to the gates of the Ministry of the Presidency.

The vendors gathered outside the President’s Shiv Chanderpaul Drive office and their irate rants became a sound warning to President David Granger, that if he did not step in to remedy the situation, then there might be trouble.

Close to 30 vendors, many of whom have been selling for close to 35 years at the Merriman’s Mall, complained that the M&CC was cheating them for no apparent reason.

The vendors said they turned up Wednesday morning, unaware that

Vendors outside the Ministry of the Presidency

the Council had made the decision to move them.

Deokie Persaud told this publication that she has been vending at the Merriman’s Mall for over 30 years.

“I have been selling since mud was there.

When mud was there, we had to pay junkie them to throw sand. Now when we develop it, and it looking better, now for we to stay and inherit it, they don’t want us there.

I came this morning and I buy a set of load and all my perishable goods left there,” she lamented.

She said the Council recently told them that they needed to buy new items including polling sticks and garbage bins.

“Why they make us invest so much money and now make us move?” she questioned.

Kalicharan Rooplall, whose wife has been selling plants for over 15 years at the Mall, said what was going on now has never happened before under the previous Governments.

“President Burnham, President Hoyte, President Jagan and all

the Presidents have been allowing us. I want Mr Granger to know that this thing is carrying a bad reflection on you, sir.

If you know it or not, it carry a bad reflection on you and the poor people. We are just hustling, sir… we have mortgage to pay, we have children to mind. All we want is to sell and eat,” the angry Rooplall said.

Marlyn Defreitas has been a vendor at the Mall for 33 years from the time it “was nothing to something”. “I don’t feel that is fair what they have done. That is bullyism,” she said with a rousing chorus from the crowd. She said no one came and notified them that they were going to be removed from the Mall. “Why must it happen like that; we have families, we have families, what happens to them; what happens to the farmers who depend on us to buy their produce? This is not fair, “she said.

Others said they were informed through the media. They said it was disgraceful that although the Council has a

contact number for each of the vendors, nothing was communicated to them.

The M&CC on Monday said that it was placing a temporary suspension on vending on the Mall between Orange Walk and Cummings Street, Bourda.

It said it observed that the area was untidy and not in keeping with the vision to keep the city clean.

But the Council has been at odds with these vendors for quite some time now. Back in October last year, members of the Council pounced upon them, destroying their stalls and items without any proper explanation or prior notice.

Later that same month, Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase Green had warned that if vendors did not comply with an order to become uniformed, they would lose out on the opportunity to continue. Efforts were made to contact City Council for a comment on the situation but these were unsuccessful.

CAL aircraft to be branded with Guyana’s 50th anniversary logo

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s part of Guyana’s celebration of its 50th independence anniversary, three Caribbean Airlines aircraft will be carrying the anniversary logo.

This initiative is a collaboration between Guyana and Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL).

The unveiling of these specially branded aircraft will be held on January 15 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.

A number of Government officials, as well as several managers from Caribbean Airlines, are expected to witness the unveiling and taking off of the aircraft.

The 50th anniversary logo will be on CAL’s 737/800 Boeing aircraft.

These planes will be trav-

elling to all CAL destinations in the United States of America, Canada and the Caribbean.

Guyana’s 50th I n d e p e n d e n c e Anniversary celebration was officially launched on December 31, as the New Year was ushered in. The event, “Roaring of the Golden Jubilee”, was held at the Independence Arch, Brickdam, Georgetown, and attended by thousands.

Those who attended the event got a glimpse of what to expect during the Independence celebrations in 2016. Over the next few months, Government will be hosting various activities as the much-anticipated May 26 celebrations draw near.

Guyana’s rice farmers say future of industry uncertain

By Kristen Macklingam

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undreds of rice farmers throughout Guyana are still contemplating their next move, as they continue to battle with the low prices for their produce coupled with their expenses which keep piling up in the form of bills and loan repayments.

Guyana Times International understands that the farmers on the islands of Leguan and Wakenaam, Essequibo, are also faced with more difficulties on account of the dry weather conditions which are preventing planting for this crop.

Reports are that Leguan is presently surrounded by salt water which is having an adverse effect on the agricultural sector on that island, compounded by the lack of rainfall, and many rice farmers are at a loss as to what they can do to sustain their livelihoods.

The lack of rainfall is also having a negative impact on the rice industry in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

According to Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) Vice Chairman Sheik Inshan Ayube, most of the farmers have not been paid for the last crop paddy despite the fact that they suffered major losses.

“Hardship for the farmers is prevailing on the island. They are wondering where the next dollar will come from,” Ayube recently stated. He referred to the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) plans to establish a plantain chip

Vice Chairman of Region Three, Sheik Inshan Ayube

factory to negate any negative impact on the rice industry on the island. This would have ensured that the affected rice farmers have another source of income, Ayube noted.

“It appears this project is neglected by the present Government or the Minister of Business does not have any idea how to move this project forward,” the Region Three Vice Chairman said.

Guyana Times International understands that in light of the difficulties being faced by rice farmers in both Leguan and Wakenaam, they are calling on the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to get the long-awaited plantain chip factory in their area “up and running”.

In addition to this, a large number of rice farmers in the Region and other parts of the country are seeking the intervention of the Administration via the provision of some financial assistance such as grants to ensure that they and their families can survive this year.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 9

Broadcast Authority awaiting Guyana hoping to attract legal advice on revocation more Chinese tourists of radio licences matter

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ead of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), Leonard Craig says that no official decision has been taken to revoke radio licences which were issued by the previous Government following a recommendation from one of the entity’s subcommittees on the matter.

He also said that he could not say if the Authority would be moving to revoke the licences of radio owners now since the matter was under discussion and the body was receiving legal advice.

Back in October last year, Craig had said that the reviewing of radio licences issued by the former Government did not mean that they would be revoked.

“All licences will be reviewed, but review is not necessarily synonymous with revocation. Whatever is done here, during the review process, will be fair, transparent and above board. I am not in a position to say what form or shape it would look like, that is a decision the entire Board would have to make,” the GNBA Head had stated.

Head of the GNBA, Leonard Craig

He said he thought the move by the previous Government to issue the licences in that manner was wrong; however, there was no confirmation that those who benefited would have their licences taken away.

Craig, speaking to an online news agency, said further discussions on the issue would be had when the Board met later this month.

Among the persons who were issued licences by the previous Government were Robert Persaud, the Little Rock Television Station (Berbice), Hits and Jams, Maxwell Thom, Dr Bobby Ramroop, Alfro Alphonso, Haslyn Graham and Anand Persaud.

But when contacted, the Sub-Committee’s Chairman, Anthony

Vieira, maintained during an interview with Guyana Times International on Tuesday that the GNBA would be moving to revoke the licences issued to persons since it was found that they were handed down through illegal means.

His comments conflict with the position put forward by the GNBA Chairman.

The move, he said, will first have to be gazetted.

He confirmed too that the body would before that meet with the holders of these licences for consultation. He said he could not give a timeframe as to when this would happen, but enforced that from the beginning of 2016, the licences were all considered invalid.

Elections Day violence victims to be compensated

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overnment will soon be reaching out to the traumatised persons who became victims of the violence that flooded several communities on Election Day, May 11, 2015. This is according to a parliamentary Order Paper seen by Guyana Times International.

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Joseph Hamilton put forward the motion in the recent sitting of the National Assembly.

Hamilton argued that the victims were, among other things, psychologically abused, physically assaulted, robbed and had their properties severely damaged or completely destroyed.

Government conceded with the proposition and will accordingly compensate the victims.

According to the Order Paper, “be it resolved that the National Assembly confirmed the principle of Government’s compensations for victims of specified forms of Election Day Violence as occurred on May 11, 2015.”

Government will also

Kwame McCoy

meet and consult with the victims.

The violence took place at a number of polling stations along the East Coast of Demerara and Georgetown and at least one victim required expensive emergency surgery. Former Information Liaison Kwame McCoy was attacked so badly that he had to be hospitalised. McCoy was confronted by an angry mob as he was about to exit the polling station at St Sidwell Primary School at Hadfield Street and Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.

Another notable incident was the unrest which occurred in C Field

Sophia for over 12 hours during which Police Officers were unable to control the riotous crowd which had gathered in front of a home and began to engage in the looting of personal property.

The home and outbuildings as well as several vehicles were subsequently set afire.

In other areas, persons were hauled out of their vehicles and received several blows about their bodies for merely making an appearance in villages that were predominately occupied by supporters of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) coalition.

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uyana’s efforts to attract more tourists and to promote its adventure and eco-tourism products were boosted recently with a special marketing presentation by the Global Friendships Foundation in the city of Fuzhou in Fujian Province, China.

The event was a special forum with travel agents and tour consultants of Fuzhou City and other parts of the Fujian Province, and publicised the exceptional tourism products Guyana has to offer travellers from around the world, but more specifically, Chinese tourists who want culture, adventure, sports and eco-tourism.

Those in attendance were told of Guyana’s beauty, unique cultural heritage and natural attractions which make it an ideal destination for Chinese tourists. The agents and operators were advised that rather than the sun and sand tourism product offered by many of its Caribbean neighbours, Guyana offers vast open spaces; savannahs; virgin rainforests; mountains; huge rivers and waterfalls, the most famous of which is the majestic Kaieteur Falls, known to be the highest single-

drop waterfall in the world, five times taller than Niagara Falls. Additionally, they were shown a number of audiovisual and PowerPoint presentations on Guyana’s abundant wildlife, including numerous species of flora and fauna, particularly its spectacular birds.

Specifically as it relates to Georgetown, they were shown its picturesque, tree-lined avenues, bustling markets, and wooden buildings, including the renowned St George’s Cathedral, reportedly the world’s tallest wooden building.

During this forum, a special presentation was done on the Aruwai White H2O Resort. The Gy$15 billion resort, situated on an island in the mighty Essequibo River opened its doors in December, and houses 50 rooms, a spa, gym and all the modern amenities for tourists and locals to enjoy a vacation surrounded by lush nature.

The travel agents and tour consultants were particularly captivated by the possibilities this new facility offered Chinese tourists such as cruises to nearby Amerindian villages and tours to nearby waterfalls and mining areas.

10 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

God brother of missing British teen now ‘a person of interest’ - Police

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s the Guyana Police Force continues to investigate the mysterious disappearance of British national Dominic Bernard, investigators are now hunting for the relative whom the teenager was visiting.

The 18-year-old travelled to Guyana on October 14, 2015, and while records show that the young man arrived in the country, he has since vanished without a trace. The young man was reportedly visiting his god brother, Aaron Hing, who resides in Kildonan, Corentyne, Berbice.

However, the missing teenager’s father, Andrew Bernard, told reporters on Tuesday that his god son was reportedly unaware of the teenager’s visit. “It appears that Aaron was unaware that Dominic was making this trip,” Andrew stated.

But when contacted on Wednesday, Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Wendell Blanhum told this publication that the Police had gone to Hing’s residence in Berbice on several occasions but the man was nowhere to be

found and the house remains locked.

“So he is now a person of interest in the investigation,” Blanhum stated. The Crime Chief explained that while the teenager has reportedly been missing since midOctober, the Police were only informed of the matter on Monday.

This publication understands that after not hearing from the teenager since he left London, his father made contact with Hing asking to speak with Dominic.

However, Hing claimed that he never picked up the teenager from the airport; in fact, he did not even know the young man was coming to Guyana.

This newspaper was further told that Andrew Bernard arrived in Guyana on Friday last and the following day, he met with his god son. Then on Monday, Bernard reported his missing son to the Police.

According to records, 18-year-old Dominic Bernard left London on flight BW903 at 12:50h on October 14, and arrived in Trinidad at 17:30h the same day.

He then boarded flight BW483 from Port of Spain to Georgetown,

man was carrying a suitcase and hand luggage.

He was said to have a large amount of cash on him.

The worried father is also asking persons who might have seen the young man boarding a taxi or saw Missing: 18-year-old Dominic Bernard

arriving at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at 21:50h.

Airport records show that the young man cleared immigration at the CJIA but unfortunately, his trail ended there. This newspaper was told that associates of the Bernard family had gone to review the surveillance footage at the CJIA on Monday in hopes of finding a lead.

However, the airport has a rollover system of 60 days and the footage from October 14 was no longer in the system.

Dominic is six foot tall with medium build and has black hair longer on top than on the sides of his head. At the time of his travel, he was wearing blue jeans, a white sweatshirt with a black leather jacket with fabric sleeves. He was also wearing white Nike sneakers. The young

him anywhere else in Georgetown or Guyana to contact them immediately. “I urge anyone who flew on those flights or who may have sat with my son or may have spoken to him to please contact me. Any bit of information, however

small, will be helpful,” the man pleaded.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 18-year-old Dominic Bernard is asked to call telephone number 6959065 or email his father at andrew@andlin.co.uk or contact the Police.

West Coast fisherman’s death: Police question trawler crew

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n investigation has been launched into the death of the Meten-Meer-Zorg fisherman, whose body was discovered on Monday in the Berbice River.

Shahabudeen Haniff, 49, of Lot 191 West Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, was discovered dead in the net of a fishing vessel after it was alleged that he fell off a trawler he was working on.

Family members of the victim told this newspaper that the other crew members of the trawler that Haniff was on were all arrested and were being held at a police station in Berbice for questioning as foul play was suspected.

According to reports received, Haniff, who has been working at sea on trawlers for about 12 years, left for work on Sunday evening and around 06:00 h on Monday, the family, received a call stating that he was missing.

His body was then discovered around 14:00h by a fishing vessel entangled in a fishing seine.

Family members travelled to Georgetown where they identified his body.

Bibi Zamill Khan, the sister of Haniff, told this newspaper that her brother had no enemies as he had been living alone for quite a number of years since he and his wife separated.

“Shahab came by me and he was unhappy about going on the trawler this time around. He did not explain his reasons for this, but he was adamant that he did not want to go.”

She added that the other members of the crew had to make several calls to him as he was not going to go with

Shahabudeen Haniff

them before he decided to take the trip.

She further stated that the crew was not the usual team he would go to sea with.

“We are not familiar with the persons that he worked with this time, so we can’t say who the others are. They did not contact us to give us any information whatsoever, we just heard that they were arrested. He usually does not disclose to us where he is going to work, all he says is that he is going on the trawler,” she explained.

She also told this newspaper that as Haniff was the youngest of seven brothers and sisters, they were not comfortable with him working at sea as it was usually dangerous and his dying at sea has confirmed their fears.

Haniff leaves to mourn his two children and siblings.

NEWS 11

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

New housing schemes on the cards for Guyana in 2016

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overnment, through its housing programme, is committed to improving the quality of life of Guyanese by establishing new, cohesive communities and consolidating existing settlements.

This will be done through the promotion of integrated planning, land divestment and affordable housing.

To this end, in 2016, the administration will be enhancing service delivery through home construction and land divestment, improved infrastructure, promotion of public/private partnership, enhanced coordination with governmental and non-governmental organisations and enhanced community participation.

A statement from GINA said a total of 100 new turnkey houses will be constructed; 200 house lots distributed; and 10 new housing schemes developed in Regions 3, 4, 6, 7 and 10.

There will be infrastructure upgrade in 25 communities in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10. In 2016, there will be intensification of the community development programme. The results should realise the building of leadership capacity in 19 communities in Regions 3, 4, 6, 7 and 10. There will also be the allocation of 400 regularised squatter lots, the identification of 37 community projects for implementation and the commencement of a comprehensive squatter regularisation and relo-

Aerial view of the Herstelling Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara

cation plan.

According to GINA, the resulting impact of these approaches would see not only the living

conditions and quality of life improved for the beneficiary and household, but ultimately the formation of cohesive and

sustainable communities in which Guyanese can secure the ‘Good Life.’

For 2015, during the seven months of the ad-

ministration, a total of 180 houselots and 290 titles were handed out.

Meanwhile, outreaches were conducted in communities such as Parfait Harmonie, Angoy’s Avenue, Eliza and Mary and Lethem; more than 20 community leaders were trained; three community projects were implemented; 148 lots were allocated to persons in squatting areas under regularisation; 250 titles were issued to persons in squatting areas under regularisation and a further US$3M was promised to the administration by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for the construction of homes in the hinterland.

Police working with Maritime Dept reports less river deaths in 2015 U.S. authorities to T arrest suspect in Cane Grove murder

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rime Chief W e n d e l l Blanhum has confirmed that local law enforcement officers have been in contact with their U.S. counterparts with the aim of arresting one of the three bandits who were implicated in the murder of Deokumar Basdeo, 22, of Sawah Village Cane Grove, East Coast

Hospital after he was severely beaten and robbed on New Year’s Day. It was reported that the now dead man attended a traditional event called “Greasy Pole” in the village and subsequently took a few drinks at one of the shops.

While at the shop, he reportedly got into an argument with a group

Demerara. The bandit had fled to the United States.

During a telephone interview on Wednesday, Crime Chief Blanhum also stated that the second suspect was still on the run, but the Police have launched a manhunt for him.

The third suspect, he added, is expected to be charged soon. Blanhum stated that legal advice was sought and it was recommended that a murder charge be instituted against the suspect.

Basdeo, a father of one, succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public

of men who had travelled into the village to witness the activities.

After sometime, the argument ceased and Basdeo left the drinking spot.

After he left the shop, the same group of men followed him in their motor car and in the vicinity of “Jango House”, he was pulled into the vehicle where he was severely beaten and relieved of his personal items.

After the men were done, they dumped him out of the moving vehicle. He was subsequently found in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died a few hours later.

he Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) in Guyana saw a reduction of 21.7% in total marine deaths for the year 2015. This was disclosed during the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s performance review by Director General of MARAD, Ms. Claudette Rogers. This decline was attributed to a number of safety precautions.

In the year 2014, the total number of boat accidents totalled eight while in 2015 the number dipped to five. Also for 2015, the number of incidents recorded dropped from 16 to 12 when compared to 2014. The year 2015 recorded no acts of piracy when compared to the 2014 which recorded four, according to the report.

However, the accidents that occurred were

as a result of unlicenced boat and operators. As a result of the accidents, 207 life jackets were distributed to all 10 administrative regions while MARAD helped in promoting safety awareness, particularly in schools.

In addition, the United States Coast Guard, in collaboration with MARAD, held a capacity building training for security officers.

The report also showed that of the

Gy$223.690M budgeted for the department in 2015, the sum of Gy$217.690 was utilised by the end of the year.

For 2016, Rogers is hopeful of accomplishing a number of goals in building the capacity of the administration.

These include the placement of buoys at the Berbice, Essequibo and Demerara Rivers.

Further, all efforts will be made to revive the National Maritime Security Committee, ac-

cording to a GINA report.

MARAD is working to establish safety centres in various regions around Guyana. Marine Cadets will also receive training on vessels ranging from 50-80 metres in length. They are expected to be qualified mates by the second half of 2016.

MARAD’s 2015 report also showed that Guyana signed an agreement with Barbados to provide training of pilots and engineers in 2016.

12 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

All talk?...Rohee challenges Gy$289M Pump Station PM Nagamootoo on promise to commissioned in Region 2 reduce presidential powers By: Devina Samaroo

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ollowing numerous occasions of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo speaking extensively about the need for the presidential powers to be reduced, seven months have elapsed since the new administration took office but to date nothing of this commitment has been realised.

People’s Progressive Party General Secretary Clement Rohee appears keen on holding Nagamootoo to his words, calling on him to expose his “testicular perspicacity” and make a move to clip President David Granger’s wings.

“Not a single initiative has been taken by Nagamootoo to humble the powers of the President and the excess of the Executive… Let’s see if he has the testicular perspicacity to do so in the upcoming review of the constitution,” Rohee posited.

Though he is advocating for the coalition to fulfil its promise in this regard, Rohee declined to comment on the PPP’s position about the lessening of presidential powers.

“That’s not for me to determine. Nagamootoo is the man who said that and that he would humble the powers of the President… Let the commission that will meet subject to parliamentary approval make that determination,” Rohee said.

Rohee also pointed out that it appears

PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee

as though tables have turned for Nagamootoo who had intended to lessen the powers of the executive.

“Nagamootoo has abandoned and his highsounding and ambitious reform objectives and instead of his ‘humbling’ Granger’s presidential powers, Granger, for his part, has humbled Nagamootoo’s ambition by refusing to allow him to chair Cabinet meetings, and has limited his portfolio responsibilities to that which was administered by Kwame McCoy under the PPP/C administration,” he explained.

Soon after being sworn in as Prime Minister, he again stated that he wants to “start on humbling the powers of the President, the excess powers of the Executive, and to bring about inclusion within the government system.”

At a campaign rally in Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara, Nagamootoo declared that part of the problem in Guyana is that too much power is concentrated in one person’s

hand and that this needed to be changed in order for Guyana to move forward.

Also, in the coalition’s manifesto, it promised to, within the first 100 days, establish a Constitutional Reform Committee to amend the Constitution including the rebalancing of powers and responsibilities of the President and Prime Minister in a manner meant to reduce abuse, avoid conflicts of interests, and facilitate the more efficient execution of state functions.

However, Rohee reminded that the committee is yet to be convened.

G o v e r n m e n t had established a Constitutional Reform Steering Committee that was tasked with setting up the framework for substantive constitutional reforms and to define the scope of the actual reform process and the establishment of terms of reference and mechanisms for consultations to establish a Constitutional Reform Commission.

This report was recently submitted to the Prime Minister for review.

Rohee contended however that the Steering Committee is nothing but farcical since it consists mainly of pro-government officials.

He also asserted that the establishment of the committee without any consultation with the parliamentary opposition is a mark of utmost disrespect.

GPL to minimise operational costs – Patterson

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he Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated will soon minimise its operational costs as the Vreeden-Hoop wharf which

Hoop Station is expected to cease by mid-January, in favour of the more economical method of discharging fuel at the wharf.

Guyana Power and Light

was constructed by BK International to the tune of Gy$242 million will begin to serve its purpose.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, who has ministerial oversight of the agency at a recent press conference, indicated that trucking of fuel to the Vreed-en-

“On December 16 last, an initial attempt was made to use the constructed wharf which saw 15,000 barrels of fuel being discharged … however, the tide changed which resulted in the vessel being grounded off …

Maritime Administration (MARAD) was contract-

ed to execute emergency dredging in front of the area…the dredging should be finished by mid-January,” the Minister is quoted by the Government Information Agency (GINA) as saying.

He added that because 15,000 barrels of fuel were discharged, the number of trips the fuel truck needed to make to deliver fuel to Vreed-en-Hoop was reduced from 14 to eight per day. In so doing, this minimised operational costs.

To improve efficiency in its services to customers, GPL constructed a new power station at Vreed-en-Hoop, which has a demand of approximately 1000 barrels of fuel per day. Recognising this fuel need, a wharf with fuel lines was constructed to allow fuel vessels to berth and offload into the lines.

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Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, cutting the ribbon for the opening of the new pump

undreds of rice farmers in Essequibo, Region 2 (PomeroonSupenaam) are expected to benefit tremendously from a multimilliondollar pump facility in Lima Village, which was officially commissioned on Monday by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

The station was constructed by Doodnauth Samaroo Investment at a cost of Gy$289 million and the project was supervised by E&A Consultants.

The Prime Minister in his address posited that the project was initially conceived by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration but was completed under the current Government.

Nagamootoo stated that although the pump “took some time to complete” it would serve its purpose of enhancing drainage and irrigation within the region.

He explained that 20 per cent of Guyana’s economy lies within the agriculture sector as he outlined that agriculture is considered the “backbone” of Region 2’s economy.

As such, he reiterated that agriculture cannot exist without “proper drainage and irrigation” and therefore it is hoped the installation of the pumps serve to fulfil this need.

According to the PM, he recently commissioned pumps in Canje and Black Bush Polder, Berbice, noting that

those areas would be protected from flooding due to these investments.

He also said that the pumps that were ordered under the “India Line of Credit” for rice farmers and cane farmers had “taken some time to reach Guyana” hence delaying the installations.

Meanwhile, chief of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Fredrick Flatts, boasted that the newly installed pump has the capacity to pump 200 cubic feet of water per second or 90,000 gallons of water per minute.

It is anticipated that over 450 rice farmers within Lima, La Belle Alliance, Coffee Grove, Hampton Court and Richmond would be the direct beneficiaries, Flatts said.

This pump is one of eight that were solicited by the PPP\C Government under the India Line of Credit.

Region 2 Chairman Daveanand Ramdatt also stated that drainage and irrigation requires “much more attention” from the government.

The chairman noted that the project was a “very wise decision made by the PPP/C” to provide proper drainage and irrigation to those farmers who were previously affected by severe flooding.

Ramdatt called for proper accountability, monitoring and maintenance to be done regularly by the Regional Administration ensuring that the millions invested are being safeguarded.

Burglar tells Court he fell asleep and woke up in VC’s bed

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man who was brought before Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Monday to answer to a burglary charge told the Court that he fell asleep outside the home of the Virtual Complainant (VC) and woke up in the VC’s bed.

Shawn English admitted that on January 2 at Georgetown, he broke and entered the house of Mark Niles and stole a cellular phone valued at Gy$70,000 and Gy$160,000 cash, a total value of Gy$230,000.

The defendant told the Magistrate that on the day in question he was imbibing alcohol in the vicinity of the VC’s house.

“I was high and I tek’ knock out.

When I wake up back, I was lying inside on the bed,” he stated. “Me ain’t tek the thing. I ain’t want no story. I would work and pay him back just fuh done the story,” he further stated.

Upon hearing this, the Magistrate recorded a not-guilty plea on behalf of the defendant.

The VC related to the court that he grew up in the same neighbourhood as the defendant, who upon hearing that broke down in tears.

Burglary accused: Shawn English

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne had no objections to bail. The Prosecutor informed the Court that the phone was recovered and the family of the accused had opted to compensate the VC. The Magistrate placed the man on Gy$65,000 bail. He was given until February 4 to fully compensate the VC.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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14 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Dr Norton confident of reaccreditation of UG’s medical school

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ublic Health Minister, Dr George Norton is confident of the University of Guyana School of Medicine (UGSM) regaining accreditation by June this year.

In 2009, the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) accredited the UGSM from 2009 to 2012, when it was scheduled to be reviewed.

In July 2015, the medical school lost its full accreditation after the institution missed the deadline for submitting a report on the school’s progress to the CAAMHP and a visit from the accreditation body revealed that a number of recommendations to improve the institution were not adhered to.

Former Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran had told this newspaper that the main problem that caused the loss of accreditation was the lack of place for the students to engage in practical work.

The former Minister noted that during his

period in office, the Ministry had brought in individuals from Canada to analyse the situation and give advice, after the CAAM-HP had given a list of tasks that needed to be completed for the institution to become accredited.

Last Thursday, Dr Norton told reporters that the tasks required for the institution to regain its accreditation have been completed. He noted that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Public Health, UGSM, and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for funding of the school. Also a draft of a new curriculum has already been completed and submitted to the

Public Health Ministry.

With respect to the medical facility that is to be constructed for the students to conduct practical work, Minister Norton stated that the building plan has already been sketched and the Ministry has received a donation from a corporate citizen for the funding of said building.

It is believed that the accreditation board will be visiting Guyana in March, and these three tasks were the main undertaking that had to be completed by CAAMHP’s return.

The Minister remains confident that UGSM will regain its accreditation no later than this year, and promises that his Ministry intends to keep it that way.

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Who gave the order?

P

eople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Chief Whip and a former Home Affairs Minister under the PPP/C Government Gail Teixeira has described the recent move by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to stake out Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington’s home as “sinister”, adding that the parties involved must come out and say who really gave the order.

She said too that the move was a violation of one’s human rights; an argument already held by some sections of civil society. The surveillance on the vehicle, which was being driven by a male with the female in the passenger seat on December 30 last, has left Army Sergeant Robert Pyle and his wife Stacey dead after the vehicle they were travelling in slammed into a canter, which was driven

by Prashad Nagar resi-

dent, Linden Eastman.

Eastman also died on the spot.

The Army on Tuesday came out defending its involvement, saying that the young sergeant and father of two young children was doing nothing out of the ordinary. It said that it was “normal” for the Defence Force to offer support to other law enforcement bodies on operations of a similar nature.

The Defence Force also argued that Pyle, who was a member of its Special Intelligence Unit, was working as part of Operation Dragnet; an initiative announced last year by Government to tackle the out-of-control crime situation in the country.

But Teixeira told a media briefing on Wednesday that both entities must come to fore with answers as to who really gave the order which claimed the lives of the three persons.

“The GDF and the Police have to come out and say if they were

…Teixeira slams Army, Police for use of “terror tactics” in controversial NICIL probe

PPP/C Chief Whip and a former Home Affairs Minister, Gail Teixeira

tracking Brassington’s daughter… If your interest in a particular person, there are mechanisms to doing it and not chasing them down the road. It is not the question of who was the target; it is the question of the methodology. If someone is under watch list, there are procedures and practices so the Police are well aware. To give chase particularly when it turns out they may have been

at the wrong place and may have been chasing the wrong people, they have to answer to this,” Teixeira told the media.

She recalled that at the formation of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), under the previous Administration, the Army was never involved in the unit’s operations. She said that as far as she knew, the only time the Army was invited to lend support was

during the period she was Minister of Home Affairs back in 2002, when the heated crime wave began.

According to Teixeira, the President at that time made a decision to bring out the Defence Force to assist the Police.

She reminded too that the then Opposition, now Government, had cried this move, but it was all an attempt to help control the raging crime spree through the joint operation.

In this case, however, she said it is one of more questions than answers.

“If you are going to search people’s places, it must be done within the confines of the law. What reason could there be for you to be chasing anybody? This is not a robbery, this is not a person running out of house with guns and therefore you have to give chase.

And that is scary. That is not something that should be treated lightly and heads of the Army and Police have to answer,” the Opposition’s

Chief Whip said.

“Did they give the order and do they take the responsibility for what happened that night. If they are playing Pontius Pilate and have washed their hands, then who gave the order… which agency gave the order?” she questioned.

Meanwhile, Karen Desouza, Head of Red Thread told this newspaper on Wednesday that the operation was a “tragedy of errors” and lacked seriousness, noting that she would not even go into the details about the violation of human rights.

“I honestly do not understand why a serious investigation would be introduced by the number of media teasers that we’ve had by the failure to secure any evidence or documentation. I just find it extremely… ridiculous.”

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has also weighed in on the matter, calling for answers from the relevant authorities.

Private Sector roasts GPL over 6-month security deposit policy

T

he Private Sector Commission (PSC) has called on the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) to rethink the implementation of its recently announced plan to enforce the provisions in its amended 2010 licence.

The call was made even as both the Guyana Power and Light and the Public Utilities Commission claim that the decision by the power company to introduce the payment of a sixmonth security deposit for any postpaid disconnected customer is nothing new.

In a statement on Tuesday, the PSC said one must have a social conscience and not im-

pose greater hardship.

When the announcement was made through advertisements in the media, it was met with fierce objection from the public, particularly members of poor households, but Chief Executive Officer of the Power Company Colin Welch said that the company is not doing anything illegal.

He said that the system has been in existence since 2010, noting that he could not see the reason for the reaction.

Welch said GPL has for over the last couple of years been publishing the same notice. He said however, that the power company has not been enforcing the policy, al-

though it had been in existence.

The same explanation was given by the Public Utilities Commission which said that the Guyana Power and Light licence which was amended in 2010 provides for this.

The Commission’s Corporate Secretary Vidiahar Persaud said that the licence was issued by the then Government. According to him, this is nothing new and recalled that back in September and October 2014; a similar advertisement was placed in the media.

During the latter part of December 2015, the Power Company announced, through adver-

T&T businessman for court on child prostitution charges

A

Tunapuna businessman was expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday on charges of human trafficking, child prostitution and assault.

A statement issued by the T&T Police Service on Tuesday identified the accused as 30-yearold Anthony Smith.

Smith was charged yesterday by the Counter Trafficking Unit’s Inspector Leon Haynes, following investigations that began on September 23, last year, after police officers raided a house

Anthony Smith

located at Cane Farm Road, Arouca.

The release said Smith is facing one charge of recruiting a

child for the purpose of trafficking contrary to Section 18 of the Trafficking in Persons Act Chapter 12:10; 17 charges of sexually penetrating a child contrary to Section 18 of the Children’s Act; five charges of child prostitution contrary to Section 14 of the Children’s Act; and three charges of assault under Section 30 of the Offences Against the Persons Act 11:08.

The charges were laid

by WPC Dane-Marie Marshall.

(Trinidad Guardian)

tisements, that should any customer’s electricity be disconnected, they will be required to pay a

reconnection fee of some Gy$3200. Added to this, they will also have to pay a security deposit which

will be equivalent to six months of the average monthly bill.

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Mayor Green speaks: “New Mayor must be young and able”

A

s the time for Local Government Elections (LGE) draws near, Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green has officially announced he is no longer interested in the Mayorship ever again, but will still be contesting in the upcoming elections in a different capacity.

Speaking with Guyana Times International on Monday, Mayor Green said he is hoping the person who is elected as the next mayor of Georgetown is “young and able” to serve in that capacity especially with respect to the restoration of the City.

Green refused to divulge the area in which he will be contesting at the upcoming polls.

When asked whether he was proud of the legacy, Green shared he is only proud of what he has been able to accomplish over the past few months when the new government took office.

He added that he had to endure over 20 years of frustration under the previous administration.

Green who is in his 80s has served as Mayor of Georgetown since 1996.

For years the City Council has failed to ad-

Mayor Hamilton Green

dress the many issues facing the capital city Georgetown. While the Council had continuously blamed its inability to deal with the problems confronting the capital on the lack of financial resources, then Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker always contended otherwise.

Whittaker had previously stated the Council lacked the “political will” under the PPP Government to actually commit to responding to the changing dynamics of the city and to provide improved services to residents.

Meanwhile, groups keen on contesting

the upcoming Local Government Elections on March 18 are required to present their Lists of Candidates to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Nominations Day, January 26.

On that day, each participating party must submit its List of Candidates to the respective returning officers in the 71 local government organs.

These groups can include political parties, voluntary organisations, and individual candidates who wish to run for leadership of their respective municipalities or neighbourhood democratic councils.

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Top Cop’s statement “political” and “unbecoming” − Rohee

G

eneral Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Clement Rohee on Monday took to task Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud for his recent statements regarding the tenure of Rohee as Home Affairs Minister in relation to the promotion of police ranks.

According to the former minister, the sentiments expressed by Seelall are nothing short of being ‘political’ in nature.

Following Rohee’s suggestion at a PPP media briefing on Monday last, that the promotions of police officers for 2015 should be put on hold until certain disciplinary matters are completed, Seelall expressed his displeasure about such a move.

At the PPP media briefing Monday last, the Party’s General Secretary had declared that there was not much known about the number of disciplinary matters which have been before the Police Service Commission (PSC) for some time to date.

“Several disciplinary matters are before a disciplinary authority headed by former Senior Magistrate Cecil Sullivan,” Rohee had said.

The Police Commissioner in his statement to the media disputed this suggestion, stating it would have a negative impact on the morale of the officers.

However, recently, at yet another PPP media conference Rohee said the commissioner’s statement was ‘political’ and having such a post, Seelall should know he should be ‘non-political’.

“I saw that and I thought the commissioner was being very political saying that statement. Commissioners of

Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud

Police are expected to be a professional, non-political person, but reading that statement he became overtly political… in the recent past I have never seen Henry Greene or Brummell make statements of that kind,” Rohee declared.

He posited that this move by Seelall is “unbecoming of a Commissioner of Police.”

Meanwhile, with regards to him playing an active role in the promotions of ranks over the years when he was Home Affairs Minister, Rohee emphatically denied this, stating that these promotions are within the sole purview of the PSC. He however said if there is evidence to say otherwise in relation to his alleged involvement in police promotions in the past, then the evidence should be brought forward and publicised.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Police Service Commission (PSC) are at loggerheads over the recent decision of putting a hold on police promotions for 2015.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

No recommendation for any estate closure in CoI report – GAWU …says Govt taking different position from recommendation

By Kristen Macklingam

I

n light of the Government announcing that there will be a merging of the Wales and Uitvlugt Sugar Estates, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has maintained that such a statement implies that one of the two factories is to be closed.

GAWU President Komal Chand last Thursday posited that the recent declaration made by State Minister Joseph Harmon about sugar canes from the Wales Estate being ground at the Uitvlugt Estate gave the impression that the Wales Sugar Factory would be closed.

According to Chand, after reviewing and examining the “high-cost” sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report, the Union has found that no such recommendation had been included in the voluminous report.

In fact, to the contrary, the CoI requested a study be done regarding the operation of the two West Demerara Estates, he said.

“I think I recognise among the recommendations that no estate will be closed, but Minister Harmon did mention… the canes would all be taken to Uitvlugt. So here you have a recommendation that no estate would be closed. We consider an estate as a factory and the cane lands.

Here you saw that they have taken a different position from the recommendation,” Chand posited.

The GAWU President reminded that in 1978 when the Versailles, West Coast Demerara Sugar Factory was closed, many workers lost their jobs, their only source of income.

“The then Administrative Manager, who presently functions in a “prominent position” on the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Board, assured the cultivation workers of Versailles and Schoonord Estate that the canes would be transported via the newly dug waterway linking Versailles and Leonora estates. That waterway never served its purpose, and all the workers lost their jobs at the Vieira-owned estate,” he recalled.

With regard to the

GAWU President, Komal Chand

present-day situation, it was pointed out that to pursue the closure of the Wales factory without an objective study is fraught with “risks”, two obvious ones being the “threat of ruin to scores of cane farmers”, and the loss of field and factory jobs.

Chand added that the Union would “have to get the definite position of the Government on all these matters”.

Meanwhile, in relation to the release of the sugar CoI report, GAWU has been able to glean that privatisation and lease of cane lands have been prominently expressed.

“Similar recommendations have been made before. That direction holds the promise of many troubles, especially for the workers, and even for our economy. GAWU reiterates its objection to this approach,” the Union’s President stated.

This newspaper understands that GAWU in its presentation to the Commission had pointed out that the country has already passed through the era where privatisation was existent.

“For the workers, that era was painful, bloody, brutal and ruthless, and the industry gave us several martyrs out of the many struggles that took place. We do not need to go back to that time. We have come a long way with sugar, and it is an integral part of our country’s history,” GAWU said.

According to Chand, the Union is confident that the sugar industry can rise again from its present difficulties without having to be “sold off”.

“Indeed, if private owners can make it a success, why can’t the State owners do likewise? It is a part of strengthening our economic independence.” (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

New Demerara Harbour Bridge:

NPTAB to shortlist tenders for feasibility study T he National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) is currently examining a list of potential companies to conduct a feasibility study on building a new Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB).

Some 22 companies locally and around the world have submitted expressions of interest to conduct the study and design, and ultimately construct, the new bridge.

Public Infrastructure Ministry Chief Works Officer Geoffrey Vaughn disclosed that the Ministry has already evaluated the tenders and handed over the list to NPTAB for processing. “(The tenders) have been sent off to NPTAB

local firms.

These are Politechnica Ingeneria Architecture of Italy in association with Marcelle Gaskin and Associates of Guyana, Howson Consulting Engineers of the United Kingdom, COWI of Denmark, IPRO Consulting from Germany, Egis of France, and Mott Mc Donald of the United Kingdom in association with SRK Engineering and Consulting.

Also bidding for the contract was Netherlandbased Ballast Nedam, known for its work in neighbouring Suriname and countries around the world. A few years ago, the company was selected to build the Berbice River Bridge; however,

Demerara Harbour Bridge General Manager, Rawlston Adams

Economic and Technology Competition Group Limited.

India-based Rites Limited also took a shot at the bidding process.

VIKAR Enterprises of Trinidad and Tobago, CTE in association

The Demerara Harbour Bridge

for the short-listing of qualified tenders,” the Chief Works Officer stated.

On December 8, NPTAB opened the bids from seven European and four Chinese companies which signalled their interests. Several other overseas companies have applied for the contract, some in partnership with

the agreement was later cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Chinese bidders include China Harbour Engineering (CHEC); China Railway First Group; Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Communications, Planning, Design and Research, and China Shandong International

with NV Rustwijk and Rustwijk of Suriname, WSP Caribbean Limited from Trinidad and the Guyana-based Stunning Nisi Inc. NMN Group of Canada in association with CEMCO of Guyana also expressed interest in conducting the feasibility study for the new bridge.

They were also joined

by Sener of South Africa, Japan-based Stantec in

association with Pedelta, Proficenter from Brazil, Stuart Consulting Group along with Rahmad and Associates from the United States and CBCL Ltd from Nova Scotia, Canada.

Floating at 1.25 miles, the Bridge is a strategic link between the East and West Bank of Demerara.

The structure was opened in July 1978 with the expectation of lasting only 10 years. However, some 37 years after, it is still floating.

The Bridge facilitates approximately 9000 vehicles on a daily basis. In fact, as of December 22, 2015, a total of 3,316,811 vehicles transited across the bridge. This represented a 4.8 per cent increase over 2014, according to Bridge General Manager Rawlston Adams.

In his year-end report, Adams further disclosed that marine traffic saw a minor increase in 2015 and this was despite a reduction in the retraction time, from 55 minutes to 50 minutes. This was done in collaboration with shipping agencies and river pilots.

Region 10 crafting youth programmes

T

he Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) is presently looking at a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing the social capabilities of youths in the Region.

Two such initiatives are the implementation of a School Cadet programme and a “Youth Greening” project. Regional Chairman Renis Morian said he has engaged the Office of the President and other interested parties in an effort to have these programmes come on stream in Linden and other parts of Region 10.

School Cadet Programme Approximately 300 students of secondary schools across the mining

town of Linden are set to benefit from the implementation of the School Cadet Programme organised by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) through the Second Infantry Battalion (RES).

The GDF, through the RES, will be working closely with the RDC of Region 10, as it moves towards the development stage of the programme.

The aim of the School Cadet Programme is to train and prepare a wide cross-section of young people to positively impact communities, while building valuable personal attributes.

Under the programme, the skills of the students will be developed using military themes based upon the ethos of the GDF. The

der for it to be a successful one.

“Youth Greening” Project

Region 10 Regional Chairman, Renis Morian

level of training to be carried out is expected to prepare students for a positive adult life, fostering self-confidence, loyalty, initiative and being of service to others. Additionally, school administrations and Parent-Teacher Associations are expected to be fully committed to the Programme in or-

The regional administration is also working on a “Youth Greening Project” in collaboration with the Office of the President, according to the Regional Chairman, which will see the planting of approximately 300 citrus fruit trees across Region 10. Morian said that it was expected that youths from other parts of the Region would come on board with the project and those involved will be given a stipend.

“This programme will also be extended to Kwakwani, Ituni, Moblissa, Bamia, Rockstone and Muritaro, down the river,” the Region 10 Chairman related.

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2015 police promotions deferral

‘Blame game’ between Police Force, Police Service Commission

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Police Service Commission (PSC) are now at loggerheads over the recent decision of putting a hold on police promotions for 2015.

The ‘blame game’ has begun with Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud saying the PSC, in deferring the promotions, has acted in a manner which supports what the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee had urged at a recent media conference.

However, the PSC, not taking such accusations or insinuations lightly about political or any form of outside interference has stated that the reason for the promotions being put on hold lies with the GPF. The PSC in a statement said it had recognised there was no submission of a promotion list at the end of November 2015, and during its statutory meeting it was decided that a letter would be penned to Police Commissioner querying if there were promotions slated for 2015.

However, it was not until December 11 that Commissioner Persaud forwarded recommendations for the promotions, the PSC stated.

This newspaper understands that at a special meet-

ing the PSC o b served many “inconsistencies” on the list provided and after careful consideration the PSC sought more time to scrutinize the information.

One major discrepancy the PSC noted, was that several ranks who had been recommended for promotion did not pass the “Appropriate Qualifying Examination (AQE) in keeping with Chapter 16.01 of the Police Act. The commission maintains that it is only fair that its members have time to guarantee that a suitable promotion list is endorsed.

It also urged that the Police Commissioner should desist from making such statements which are deemed “malicious” and “derogatory” in relation to the promotion of Inspectors, Officers and the

way the PSC functions.

However, the GPF in a release stated that the PSC had written Commissioner Persaud sometime in October 2015 requesting personal files of Officers, Inspectors and Sergeants.

According to the GPF, the PSC never asked for recommendations for the promotions until December and this was acted upon in a timely manner.

This newspaper further understands that in January 2015 the Police Commissioner had written the chairman of the PSC asking for information pertaining to the criteria used by the commission to promote GPF ranks. This was to provide guidance in submitting recommendations for promotions but to date no response has been received in this regard, the police stated.

The GPF further explained that it was for this reason that a list was not ‘volunteered’ by the force to the PSC for promotion until it had been requested.

“The GPF is also asking the PSC to clarify to the public which section of the Police Act states that promotion is dependent on a rank passing the AQE,” the release also said.

Poison Control Centres to be operational by midyear – CMO

T

he Poison Control Centres, which are to be established

by Government in keeping with its strategic plan to address the issue of suicide, are slated to be operational by mid-2016, according to Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud.

He was at the time addressing journalists at the Public Health Ministry’s end-of-the-year press conference at the Public Health Ministry on Brickdam.

Dr Shamdeo said Government was in the process of identifying the spaces for these facilities in Georgetown, Berbice and Essequibo.

Funding for the undertaking will come from the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board and will include the procurement of the communication equipment, training for relevant operators and other necessity items.

A Poison Control Centre is a medical facility that is able to provide immediate, free and expert treatment, advice and assistance over the telephone in case of exposure to poisonous or hazardous substances.

Considering Guyana’s high rate of suicide, the CMO had explained that the operations of such centres across the country can help curb the issue, or at least, reduce the number of successful suicides by providing immediate life-saving information for suicide attempts.

Reports indicated that suicide attempts make up a significant percentage of intentional overdoses and tend to utilise more Poison Control Centre resources than any other type of

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

call.

Additionally, a Poison Control Centre also provides life-saving information for medication errors, chemical spills, occupational exposures, product misuse, drug interactions and pet poisoning.

According to reports, Poison Control Centres provide excellent service and savings. Recent research shows that every dollar invested in the US poison centre system saves US$13.39 in health care costs and productivity.

In fact, more than 72 per cent of poison exposure cases are managed simply by phone, greatly reducing the need for costly emergency room and doctor visits.

In addition, the establishment of Poison Control Centres in Guyana could create job opportunities for many persons.

The American Association of Poison Control Centres manages a 24-hour hotline which is continuously staffed by pharmacists, physicians, nurses and poison information specialists.

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Police probing rejected Gov’t flip-flopping continues over Amaila project lover’s link to burning “This government can’t have death of Berbice woman clarity around numbers” – Jagdeo

Dead: Anita Baichan

BY ANDREW CARMICHAEL

P

olice have rearrested the boyfriend of the daughter of the murdered West Berbice woman, as they narrow in on bringing to justice the persons who were responsible for the murder of 49-year-old Anita Baichan.

Baichan was burnt alive in her Plantation Hope, West Coast Berbice home after her home was set on fire on Sunday morning by two men, who left her inside the burning building, bound and her mouth taped shut.

Investigations revealed that two men armed with a cutlass and knives entered the home and held up Baichan and her son Moshim Khan, 28, and demanded cash and jewellery. The men used duct tape to bind the hands, feet and mouth of the victims and set the house ablaze before escaping.

According to report, the now dead woman’s daughter, Lomwattie Khan, was scheduled to return from the USA on Sunday morning. When

she did and was contacted by the Police, she provided them with the name of a boyfriend with whom she had recently severed a relationship.

The man was arrested on Sunday. However, according to a senior investigator, the daughter reported to the Fort Wellington Police Station in tears, stating that the two were still in a relationship and she had no reason to suspect that her boyfriend would want to hurt her family.

Following the information provided, Police were forced to release the suspect.

On Tuesday, Divisional Commander of B Division (Berbice), Assistant Commissioner Christopher Griffith said the boyfriend had been rearrested.

“We have six persons of interest in custody, and the Divisional Detective Officer is interviewing them as part of our investigations to see who the perpetrators of this heinous crime are.

All of them were previously involved in criminal activity, some live in the area. The last person that we held is from Canje, he is a boyfriend of the deceased woman’s daughter. He was previously charged by the Police. We had arrested him first but he was released.”

Asked what new information had surfaced leading investigators to rearrest the suspect, the Divisional Commander said based on new information, they need to question the suspect.

Guyana Times International has been

T

Antonio Singh Balrup who was previously charged with murder

informed that the rearrested suspect is a 27-year-old former Police Officer who had been previously charged with murder; however, in December 2014, the charges were dismissed at the Magistrate’s court.

In March 2014, former Policeman Antonio Singh Balrup, of Lot 5 Reliance Settlement, East Canje, Berbice, was charged for the murder of Patricia Samaroo, 64, of Bristol Street, Number Two Village, East Canje.

It had been reported that Balrup was the driver of the getaway car after Samaroo was shot.

Samaroo is said to have been shot by notorious criminal Deodat “Pop Corn” Seecharran who was wanted by Police for several murders. In April of that same year, Seecharran was killed in an exchange of gunfire with Police. In December 2014, the murder charge against Bulrup was discharged.

Meanwhile, Police continue to investigate the murder of Anita Baichan.

Investigation launched into G$1M visa scam

T

he Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation into a scam allegedly carried out by a businessman, who obtained a total of Gy$1M from 19 persons by claiming he could get United States (US) visas for them.

Dhanraj Raghubir, who was charged last week with fraud, is being sought by police after the 19 persons visited the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters on Tuesday, this newspaper was reliably informed by a source close to the investigation. They all alleged that Raghubir had scammed them and col-

Dhanraj Raghubir

lected a total of Gy$1M from them on the pretext that he would be able to acquire a US visa, either a visitor’s or permanent, for them.

According to reports, ranks on Tuesday con-

ducted a search at his business place, dubbed Creative Concepts, at Garnett Street, Newtown, Kitty where three passports belonging to the alleged victims were found.

Raghubir was placed on Gy$50,000 bail last Thursday when he appeared in a city court and denied two fraud charges read to him.

He was charged with forging a US Embassy appointment letter and also with uttering a document that he purported to be issued by the US Embassy, knowing same to be false. He was ordered to return to court on January 20.

he flip-flopping by the A partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration over the Amaila falls Hydropower Project continues, as the Government continues to send mixed messages on the future of what is termed the largest single Private Sector investment in Guyana’s history and a project seen as one that can significantly move Guyana in the direction of green energy.

During the 2015 Budget debate last August, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had asserted it would be “criminal” to pursue the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, as it would be too costly a venture for the Government to embark upon.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

But after pressure from the Norwegian Government, which has already signalled its support for the project under Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), Jordan backpedalled on his statement and declared that the coalition never abandoned the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

“I hope that it is absolutely clear that contrary to reports that we have abandoned the project; that the project has always been on the burner,” he told the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Annual Dinner in November 2015.

He had declared that the Inter-American Development Bank

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan

Public Infrastructure, Minister David Patterson

(IDB) agreed to fund a fresh feasibility study of the project and a determination will be made based on the outcome of that study which will be completed in March 2016.

However, the Public Infrastructure Ministry, while admitting that the IDB study has not been completed, declared that the project is not feasible under its current economic model.

“I want to make it very clear that the economic model as it currently stands is not feasible as I have said all the time. We have 69 hydro sites in the country; it (Amaila) is one that is feasible; the economic model is not feasible.

The Ministry of Finance has said on so many occasions that numbers that are being bandied around did not make sense. The Government has to put in extra money to buy down the interest, there is no sponsor willing to take the risk etc,” Patterson said at a news conference.

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo during a news conference on Friday took the Government to task over its seemingly confusing position regarding the project.

He noted that Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson is misinformed when he stated that the project will only go ahead if there is a private investor.

“This is a Private Sector project. The entire spending of the Government will be

limited; including the US$80 million that we are getting from Norway…our own money that we earn, maximum we will spend will be US$165 million. What this will do, this will trigger an US$850 million investment, the rest of the money comes from the Private Sector, the US$700million will come from the Private Sector, not from Government and they sell power to us at half the price that it costs us to generate the power,” Jagdeo explained.

On the issue of alternative hydropower sites, Jagdeo said while there are other sites available, they do not have the capacity to provide power for the entire country.

The Amaila Project is the flagship of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The project was expected to deliver electricity to Guyana’s capital, Georgetown, and its second largest town, Linden.

Guyana currently relies on imported fuel oil and diesel for its electricity generation, which is both expensive and carbon-intensive.

The Amaila Hydropower plant was expected to shift Guyana’s reliance on thermal generation to renewable energy, eliminate over 90 per cent of the country’s energyrelated greenhouse gas emissions, and provide energy production for approximately 90 per cent of Guyana’s population.

An artist's impression of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project

24 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

New Psychiatric Hospital proposed to IDB

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

P

ublic Health Minister, Dr George Norton said he recently engaged the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on the feasibility of rebuilding the Psychiatric Hospital in Fort Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Dr Norton told media operatives at his yearend press conference on December 31 that he personally thought the psychiatric facility should be knocked down and rebuilt from scratch.

“That is what I want funding to do,” the Minister disclosed, noting that he was already

in discussions with the IDB about this prospect.

He added that if the efforts to funding failed, his Ministry would advocate for monies to be allocated in the National Budget for this undertaking on a long-term basis.

Dr Norton said he envisioned the facility meeting international standards whereby patients could actually be rehabilitated and not

Norton said minor works would be done this year to improve the facility.

The psychiatric facility is in appalling condition and has reportedly been in that state for a number of years.

According to the Region Six Health Committee Chairman Haseef Yusuf, the condition of the institution is inhumane and both patients and employees continue to struggle.

ward; a shortage of beds; dysfunctional washrooms; and a deplorable laundry facility, including shortage of clotheslines. Additionally, there are issues such as having a huge unfenced gas tank next to the kitchen, lengthy delays in processing purchase orders and constant flooding of the compound.

The Minister recognised the problems and sympathised with the

The Psychiatric Hospital in Fort Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

just placed there to be forgotten.

His vision includes the need for better security, enhanced facilities and amenities, improved systems, and better quality treatment.

In the short-term, Dr

The Health Committee Chairman had pointed out that the hospital had poor and sub-standard supplies; an inoperable canteen; an acute shortage of basic items in the kitchen; leaky roofs; no fans in the

major discomfort endured by the staff and patients. However, he noted that the major rehabilitative works can only be completed once Government solicited enough funding.

URP President accuses M&CC of discrimination – Mayor Green refutes allegations

L

eader of the United Republican Party (URP) Vishnu Bhandu is accusing the Mayor and City Council of discrimination.

In a statement, the URP leader stated that the Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, “who has been trying to do a good job to clean up the messy city, has brought back the old ways of PNC dictatorship with a vengeance of racism”.

Bandhu’s allegations come in light of a lease for a piece of land from the city which has not been renewed and was reportedly given to someone else. The land is said to be located on “backroad” on Mandela Avenue and is used to park Bandhu’s construction equipment.

According to the party leader, the lease for the land will expire this year and states as an imbedded clause that there is an option of renewal.

However, according to Bandhu in October 2015, he attempted to pay his yearly lease, but the city refused to accept his money, citing they would make contact with him

URP President, Vishnu Bandhu

at a later date.

He is claiming that now, three months after not hearing from the city, he has learnt that the land was being leased to his neighbour, who had always wanted the piece of land.

The URP president stated that he was never informed by the city that his lease would not be renewed.

Bandhu further stated: “This piece of land was a swamp that I developed and now it is given to a party supporter.

No APNU or even PPP supporter developed it.

It probably would have remained a swamp had I

not developed it”.

Bandhu revealed that he has since made contact with Mayor Hamilton Green to enquire about the reason for him losing his lease and he was told that he had not paid his lease rental, so the land was taken away.

“I explained to him that I went to pay the lease rent and that his office refused to accept my payment,” Bandhu said and was told by the Mayor that an investigation into the matter will be launched.

The party leader further alleged: “I believe that because I am not aligned with the government and I am with an opposition party (URP) that has been critical of the policies of this government and that I am Indian are the reasons for taking away the lease from me.”

However, Mayor Green on Sunday during a telephone interview told Guyana Times International that Bandhu’s allegations of discrimination from him and the council is “complete absurdity”. The mayor stated that he

Mayor Hamilton Green

had indeed told the party leader that an investigation into the matter would be launched as he was unaware about how the ‘mix-up’ occurred.

Green added that he is also very disappointed in the accusations made

by Bandhu as he had always considered him a friend.

The Mayor further stated, ‘when there is no case, persons cling to the idea of racism which I believe is very sad, and needs immediate changing.”

He noted that the investigation is still ongoing into the ‘mix-up’. (jpinder@guyanatimesgy.com)

Why the delay?

…Govt dragging feet on investigation into corruption allegations against GPL boss

A

lmost three m o n t h s have passed since damning evidence surfaced implicating acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Colin Welch in allegedly interfering in a multimillion-dollar prepaid metering contract.

Up to press time, no investigation has been GPL CEO (ag), Colin Welch launched into this matter despite asning the contract and surance from Public Infrastructure Minister undertaking to supply David Patterson that the prepaid meters to the new GPL Board Guyana.

It was stated that would be in charge of investigating this matter. Tesco was going to the meters This newspaper un- procure from Shenzhen Clou derstands that the life Electronics Company of the old Board at GPL had expired even before Limited of China to supthe scandal of Welch’s ply to GPL. Subsequently, one involvement in the prebidder raised an objecpaid metering tender process was brought to tion about the evaluation and award, claimlight.

However, it is un- ing that Tesco’s supplier clear as to when the in- does not manufacture quiry into the allega- the 100-amp meters retions against the GPL quired by GPL. Another objecCEO (ag) would commence, since to date, tion raised was in rethe Minister has failed lation to the inspecto appoint this new tion of the meters. As Board which he stated such, the Tender Board would be responsible for wrote both Tesco and carrying out the neces- Shenzhen, seeking clarifications. sary investigation.

It was during the Additionally, the waiting period for rePublic Infrastructure sponses that the conMinister had also declared that during the troversially appointed period of investigation Welch allegedly contactinto this matter, Welch ed the Chinese company would not be sent on stating that it must also leave to facilitate this lie about having the 100-amp prepaid meprocess.

Less than four ters available in other months after being con- countries.

The acting CEO of troversially appointed, GPL was elevated from Welch found himself in hot water after evidence Deputy CEO – Technical surfaced about his in- following the ‘dismissal’ terference in the multi- of former CEO Bharat Dindyal in August last. million-dollar contract.

At that time Welch Reports are that Welch reportedly asked was accused of forging a supplier to lie about his credentials. In earthe specifications with ly August, Welch had regard to the tender for clashed with Dindyal at the supply of thousands GPL’s Sheriff Street ofof prepaid meters val- fices after the then CEO ued at over US$4 mil- overturned a decision to send home two senior lion.

In April last, the staffers.

The decision by the National Procurement and Tender Government not to have Administration Board Welch proceed on leave (NPTAB) closed the has caused many to acbids, with Tesco PLC, cuse the Administration a British company win- of double standards.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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26 NEWS

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

President pledges monetary support for PPP says no says government cannot internal power media training –function without ‘truthful’ media struggle P

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has once again dismissed rumours of an internal power struggle following a difference in opinion expressed by its General Secretary, Clement Rohee and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

The political party is maintaining that there is absolutely no conflict among its senior members and there is no fight for power within.

Over the weekend, concerns again arose about internal problems after Rohee and Jagdeo expressed opposing views on the deferral of Police promotions.

Asked to respond to this presumed conflict at the Party’s weekly press conference, Rohee expressed, “When I speak. I speak as General Secretary of the PPP when Bharrat Jagdeo speaks, he speaks as the holder of a constitution post, which is the Leader of the Opposition.”

He added that there was really no contradiction in the two statements.

On the other hand, PPP Executive Neil Kumar who

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

was chairing the press conference, chimed in to make it “clear to all and sundry” that there was no internal power struggle as was widely speculated.

“I can assure you that the PPP is as solid as a rock and that there is no division…we are together,” he stated firmly.

Meanwhile, Jagdeo only recently dismissed claims of a rift between himself and Rohee following another difference of opinion between the two on the Members of Parliament salary increases.

He had noted then that while they may have their individual views on many matters, he and Rohee share the same perspective regarding the direction they want to take the PPP.

resident David Granger pledged financial support from the Government to the Guyana Press Association (GPA) to host rigorous training initiatives for media operatives in an effort to build capacity within the media fraternity and to lift the standards of journalism in the country.

The President made this announcement to members of the media at a Media Brunch hosted on the lawns of State House on Sunday.

He indicated that there are no strings attached to the monetary support offered.

“The State is not going to become involved in journalism. It will provide the platform on which young journalists can learn their profession…,” he stated, noting he intends to have these seminars hosted at least once per quarter.

He lamented the state of the reporting profession in Guyana as he explained that journalists should be held to the highest standards just as any other profession in the world.

In that regard, he underscored the need for rigorous training for me-

A section of the media on Sunday with President David Granger on the lawns of State House at the media brunch

dia personnel in order for them to evolve into more credible journalists au fait with the ethics of the profession, who would seek to uncover the truth and report factual stories that would comprehensively inform their readers of current affairs.

The President posited that government cannot function without a “truthful media”, and on that note urged media operatives to be accurate in their reporting even when they are being critical of the administration: “I am committed to the media because I believe that as a govern-

ment we couldn’t afford to be without the media; truthful media, even aggressive media.”

The Head of State added that he does not intend to head an administration that is not open to criticism.

Outlining his hopes for the year, the President expressed the wish for a stronger relationship between government and media: “I hope that the relationship between the State and the media will be further developed based on mutual respect.”

The media brunch was for years regarded as a tradition by past presidents.

The event was attended by several ministers of government including Prime Minister Moses Nagamoootoo, State Minister Joseph Harmon, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock, Citizenship Minister Winston Felix, Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence and Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Security forces intercepted 191.6kg of cocaine at CJIA in 2015

T

he Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Corporation has disclosed that 2015 saw the interception of 191.6 kilograms of cocaine at the airport.

According to CJIA Commercial and Administrative Manager Dursatty Doodnauth, this quantity represents an increase in the amount of drugs detected for the corresponding period in 2014, which totalled 185 kilograms.

She was addressing journalists during a media conference at the time. The most prevalent methods recorded in these instances included trafficking in checked luggage, including carry-ons and false sides, ingestion and in the packaging of milk and food items.

According to Doodnauth, these interceptions were due to heightened security measures put in place at the airport.

“During 2015, a number of audits and inspections were conducted. Amongst them were visits from the Transportation Security

CJIA disclosed that security forces had intercepted a total of 191.6 kilograms of cocaine at the airport in 2015

Administration (TSA) in January 2015 and Transport Canada from March 30 to April 2, 2015. During TSA’s visit, a few areas were identified in CJIA for improvement and these were subsequently rectified while, during Transport Canada’s visit, a team audited the security protocols of the various air carriers which ply the Guyana – Canada route as well as the passenger and luggage screening procedures of CJIA,” the manager stated.

It was further related that Transport Canada was satisfied with the security measures implemented.

One of the measures included the addition of

the Aviation Security Division ranks, which took the staff count up to 75 at the beginning of the year, inclusive of supervisory staff.

Additionally, it was divulged that current staffing stands at 84 employees and these ranks comprise of approximately 80 per cent airport security, who work along with the special constabulary officers at key areas such as screening points.

It was also revealed that investments were made in a number of areas, including narcotics X-Ray emergency; security awareness training; self-defence training, and screeners training.

NEWS 27

28 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

New Junior Communities Minister promises to improve services in housing

D

ays after Keith Scott was removed as Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie AdamsPatterson was sworn in as his replacement by President David Granger on Wednesday.

Adams-Patterson, who currently sits in the National Assembly as an A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Region 10 Member of Parliament, has been given responsibility for the Housing Department within the Ministry of Communities.

After taking the Oath of Office at the Ministry of the Presidency, the newly-appointed Minister expressed her gratitude for the confidence the Head of State has placed in her, noting that she was up for the challenge.

“I know it’s a Ministry that has a lot of work. I am always a hard-work-

Newly-appointed Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie Adams-Patterson taking the Oath of Office on Wednesday

ing person and I don’t intend to stop now. I am promising the people of Guyana that better will come. Some of the objectives that we have and we want to see become a reality in this Ministry, I will make it happen,” she told reporters.

The Junior Minister pointed out that among the areas she would focus on was improving the services and transaction period. She noted

that she wanted persons who have already paid for their house lots to get the legal documents within three months time.

Adams-Patterson met with senior staff in the Housing Department on Monday and discussions were had on future plans for the sector.

M e a n w h i l e , President Granger expressed confidence that Adams-Patterson would

serve Guyana diligently as she did Region 10.

“We are all well aware of Valerie’s reputation over the years and although it’s confined to mainly Region 10, she is well known for her work in the community,” he stated.

The President noted that Minister AdamsPatterson not only brought tremendous experience from Region 10 to the table but also so-

cial and entrepreneurial experience.

Last week, President Granger announced the “necessary” reshuffling of several Ministers within his Administration in efforts to develop capacity in key policy areas.

According to the Head of State on Wednesday, these changes were “necessary” since they augmented the strength of the coalition Cabinet.

Granger explained that in the case of the reassignment of Minister Cathy Hughes to head the newly established Public Telecommunications Ministry, which is now merged with the Ministry of Tourism, his decision was influenced by the need to improve the rate at which the country is being digitalised.

As it relates to the relocation of Junior Minister Scott from the housing sector to the Social Protection

Ministry, Granger outlined that he has a lot of experience that would be useful in strengthening the labour relations portfolio.

In the case of newly-christened Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, the President explained that he was already responsible for the sector as Minister of Governance and National Patrimony.

He noted that the reestablishment of the Natural Resources Ministry emphasised the importance Government was placing on petroleum, natural gas and other natural resources.

Meanwhile, the Head of State explained that his main objective behind the removal of Junior Minister Simona Broomes from the Social Protection Ministry to the Natural Resources Ministry was for the protection of lives in the mining sector.

Nominations Day PM receives Constitutional Reform report is January 26

GECOM Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud

G

roups keen on contesting the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) on March 18 are required to present their Lists of Candidates to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Nominations Day, January 26.

On that day, each participating party must submit their List of Candidates to the respective returning officers in the 71 local government organs. These groups can include political parties, voluntary organisations, and individual candidates who wish to run for leadership for their respective municipalities or neighbourhood democratic councils.

LGE Nominations Day slightly differs from the Nominations Day activities for a General and Regional Elections: Each of the local government organs will have its returning officer stationed at a prime location where all groups desirous of participating will

submit their relevant documents.

GECOM Deputy Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud told Guyana Times International on Sunday that the names and offices of each returning officer is recorded in the National Gazette and widely published.

However, Persaud said GECOM is yet to decide on the location for parties contesting the LGE in Georgetown to make their submission.

Meanwhile, all parties desirous of participating are required by law to submit a symbol for approval by GECOM before Nominations Day. Applications for symbols, which must include printed and electronic versions, must be submitted to GECOM no later than January 5. This stage is critical as failure to do so could result in disqualification.

GECOM explained that any List of Candidates submitted by any group on Nomination Day without the required pre-approved symbol, will be deemed defective and the defaulting party would be deemed ineligible from contesting the LGE. Guyana has 585 constituencies within the 71 organs, and as such, this means that there will be 585 ballot papers for each constituency. In the General and Regional Elections, only 10 ballot papers were required.

The newly elected local leaders will have power to make decisions that affect citizens living within the respective municipalities and NDCs; therefore it is critical that each eligible person cast a vote when the time arrives.

Meanwhile, the two major political parties – the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition – have both reported steady progress in their preparations for the polls.

P

rime Minister M o s e s Nagamootoo received the interim report from the Convener of the Steering Committee on Constitutional Reform (SCCR) Nigel Hughes last Thursday.

The SCCR commenced work on September 1, 2015 with a view to completing its work on December 31.

The SCCR met the deadline by presenting to the Prime Minister the interim report but requested an extension for the purpose of completing extensive consultations.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo is favourably considering the request for the extension, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

PM Nagamootoo thanked Hughes and members of the SCCR for their tireless work in preparing the interim report and indicated he will review it thoroughly before making any public pronouncement.

The Prime Minister had appointed Hughes as the Convener and had also appointed Prof Harold Lutchman, Haslyn Parris, Geeta Chandan-Edmund and Gino Persaud as members of the SCCR in August last.

The SCCR was

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo receives the interim report from Convener of the Steering Committee on Constitutional Reform Nigel Hughes

tasked with setting up the framework for a substantive Constitutional Reform Commission intended to be broadbased and inclusive of all major stakeholder.

At the time PM Nagamootoo had said: “I am most pleased that Nigel Hughes has agreed to kick start this stage to come up with modalities and timeframe for the actual re-

form process.”

The Prime Minister had also said the SCCR would not undertake any change to the existing constitution but was tasked with mainly defining the scope of the actual reform process and establish the terms of reference and mechanisms for consultation to establish a Constitution Reform Commission.

feature 29

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Y

oga asanas (simply meaning yoga postures) are more than stretching, as they open energy channels, purify and strengthen the body. They also help to control, focus and clear the mind. A healthy and peaceful body is the starting point for advance practices. This is the purpose of yoga asanas.

In yoga asanas, the body is subjected to different stretches, bends, twists, inversions and strains. Then you try to maintain the posture in a relaxed manner. Various muscles are strengthened and functioning and efficiency of the internal organs is improved. You try and connect the mind to the body and to increase the awareness of body parts, focusing on stressed joints and muscles, maintaining awareness of the breathing.

One needs a lot of skill in trying to

relax the muscles and different parts under stress during asana practice.

This is strengthening of body- mind relationship. Without these three essentials: asana, awareness of body and awareness of breathing, you will not be performing yoga, but only a stretch.

Other benefits of the Yoga poses include increasing flexibility, stamina, strength and endurance of various body parts. Asanas also have positive effect on reproductive system and the excretory system. Most important is asanas balance nervous system and hormones. For more information on yoga classes held at the Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud Sanskritik Kendra, call 227-6181.

(Text by Deomattie Seeram. Demonstrations by Renu Batra, yoga instructor at the Pt. Reepu Daman Persaud Sanskritik Kendra in Prashad Nagar)

Vrikshasana (Tree Pose):

S

tand tall and straight.

Shift your weight onto the left leg. Inhale and slowly bend your right leg, and place the sole of the foot onto the inner side of the standing leg. Bring your both arms up and join hands together into Namaste mudra (prayer position).

Breathe naturally. Hold for as long as you feel comfortable. When you are ready to release, exhale bringing your foot back down gently and alternate sides.

Benefits: Develops awareness, balance and concentration. The pose also strengthens legs, ankles and feet, and hips.

B

Veerbhadrasana (Warrior Pose):

egin standing tall and straight. Step feet apart; three feet distance between them. Turn the right foot and the torso to the right and the left foot slightly in. Bend right knee at 90 degree angle so the right thigh is parallel to the floor. Inhale and reach arms above head, palms facing each other, lengthening spine. Gently arch back while gazing upward. Exhale and repeat on left side.

Benefits of this pose include improving balance, strengthening legs, back and arms, opening the chest and shoulders.

Natarajasana (Dancing Shiva Pose): egin standing tall and straight.

Inhale and bend left knee and grasp inside of left foot with left hand. Gently bring right arm up and balance, deepen the backbend. Hold for 5-10 breaths. Exhale and relax. Fix your gaze on something still in front of you. Repeat with the other leg.

Benefits of this posture include strengthening legs and core, improving balance, stretching shoulders and chest and strengthening ankles.

B

L

Dhanurasana (Bow Pose):

ie on the belly with your hands by your side. Exhale and bend your knees and bring the feet towards the buttocks. Hold both ankles with your hands. Inhale; lift your thighs, head, chest and neck up from the floor. Continue to lift, press the shoulder blades together and open the chest. Gaze forward. Exhale and relax.

Benefits of this asana include stretching the ankles, thighs and groins, abdomen and chest, throat and hip. It also strengthens the back muscles and stimulates abdominal organs.

S

Navasana (Full Boat Pose):

it on the floor with legs stretched out on the floor and our hands on your sides. With your back straight and head in line with the body. Inhale and raise the legs as high as is comfortable. Keep neck and shoulders relaxed. Once you feel balanced, you reach the arms forward up. Hold the pose or as long as you can comfortably. Exhale and relax.

Benefits: Strengthens the abdomen and core, hips and lower back.

B

Utthita Parsvakonasana (Extended Side Angle Pose):

egin standing tall and straight. Step feet apart, having a three feet distance between them. Turn the right foot to the right and the left foot slightly in. Bend right knee at 90 degree angle so the right thigh is parallel to the floor. Inhale and turn your body towards right so your right hand can touch the floor by placing the hand next to the right foot and at the same time left arm is reaching up toward the ceiling in such a way that the left leg, left hip and left arm are in one line. Breathe and hold the positions for 3-6 breaths. Exhale and repeat the same with other leg.

Benefits: Opens the side of the body from feet to fingers, energizes the body and strengthens abdominal, legs, knees and ankles. Additionally, the posture stretches hips, groins and hamstrings.

30 feature

T

he Tamilians from South India, who had sailed from the port of Madras for the then British Guiana as indentured labourers, were termed “Madrasis”.

Of the 239,000 Indian immigrants to British Guiana, less than five percent made up the Madrasis population.

For the British planters, they were the least desirable immigrants of all.

They were stereotyped as lazy, aggressive and rebellious. The alleged penchant for heavy drinking, loud drumming and especially their love and devotion for their kulla (god) Devi Mariamman, whose worship involved animal sacrifice, evoked that dislike. They were certainly the least keen of all the immigrants on the estates.

They preferred to make

their living away from the estate by doing rice farming and fishing.

The Madrasis were easily identified as East Indians of dark complexion with curly or kinky hair. They brought with them a diverse and complex culture. Madrasis mostly settled in the Berbice area.

They are four wellknown aspects of the Madrasis culture practiced in Guyana and more so, in British Guiana. Firstly, they wept at the birth of a child. This was due to the uncertainty of the child’s future. In spite of this belief, they did not hesitate to procreate. Secondly, they rejoiced at the death of a love one.

This was evident in the funeral procession characterised by playing of drums such as the tappu

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Sada roti and Mulga Tani

and singing of bhakti esaiyil/kirtanam (devotional songs). The deceased was housed in an arthi on the way to the saidukadu (burial ground/crematorium). These were done to aid the atman’s (soul) peaceful journey in the afterlife.

The Madrasis funeral procession is quite an experience. Thirdly, the older women wear the Madrasi kerchief, which is colourful and depicts the mayil (peacock), which is displayed at the centre of the forehead.

Finally, they introduced to us the spicy, yet palatable milligu tani/mulga tani (pepper water), which is prepared with lentil, meat, preferably goat head, and tamarind juice.

Goddess Mariamman

Young men playing the tappu

The Madrasis’ spiritual belief lies in Goddess

Mariamman. Her worship is an essential feature of their culture.

The goddess is very popular in Tamil Nadu.

verse - she is ever ready to heed the call of her devotees. As such this force manifests as Muthu Mari Amman - Muthu (pearl), Mari (rain), Amman (mother) - the mother of rain, that which is more precious than pearls.

The mother is manifested in a form of a woman garbed in yellow and carrying a pot of fermented meal and some neem leaves. She fed her devotees with kanji (porridge) and nursed them with neem leaves and turmeric paste. Her scripture is the Mariamman Thalatu and her worship is done in the month of Aadi (July-August).

She is venerated as

val deivom/guardian gods.

The Veer Kumaran Nadagam or stories of Lord Kartike and the Desangurajan Nadagam, a story depicting the life of and friendship between Desangu, a Hindu king and his friend Malkan, a Muslim king, were some of the other stories.

Before the Nadagam was performed, the Amman pusay/worship to the goddess was done backstage by the performers.

Irrespective of which Nadagam was being showcased, the Vinayagar (Lord Ganesh) Nadagam was the first to be performed as he is Nyanamudhalvanay

Carrying karakam (water pots) to praise the rain goddess

She is believed to be the consort of Lord Shiva who arose to kill the asuras.

‘Mari’ means rain. They pray to Mariamman for rain and avoidance of epidemics. The marulali (devotee) interprets her will, which is then translated by the pandaram (priest) who does not belong to the Brahmin community.

The concept of mother worship has existed since time immemorial. Shakti, as divine mother, is portrayed as Para Shakti/cosmic energy in its dynamic form. Being ullagattil tayaa - the mother of the uni-

the protector and curer of all miseries. The kargum , symbolising her blessing, is carried honouring her as ullagattil tayaa.

Nadagam or Madras dance was once the hallmark of the Madrasis culture. During the 19th century, the Madras dance was dominant until the first decade of the 21st century. The popular Nadagams were the Ramayanam Nadagam (scenes depicting the life of Lord Shri Ramachandra) and the Madurai Veeran Nadagam featuring the Madrasis most beloved ka-

(the one that receives the first honour).

Although the madras dance is dormant, it still remains in the memory of those who have had the opportunity of witnessing it.

Whenever you choose to have sada roti for breakfast or dinner or you choose to simply enjoy some mulga tani, remember the Madrasis and their contribution to the social, cultural and economic development of our nation. (Text

by Deodatt Tillack. First published in Horizons Magazine 2014)

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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feature 31

US-based Guyanese is renowned international makeup artist

aulla De Souza has become a name synonymous with beauty - a true connoisseur of makeup artistry. Her interest in the beauty industry began very early in life. It was therefore no surprise that she pursued a career in fashion and beauty.

Born in Georgetown, Guyana, Paulla grew up on the East Bank of Demerara and attended Central Primary School and North Ruimveldt Multilateral before fin-

she is more or less selftaught, along the way she was inspired by the work of others, including the late Kevin Aucoin and the great Sam Fine.

Almost immediately, Paulla was embraced by the local industry in Trinidad where, to date, she is based as a freelance makeup artist for several top advertising agencies. She has worked with Trinidadian comediennes Rachel Price, Nicky Crosby, Trinidadian artistes 2Ntrigue and Alison

ty television filmed in Grenada; Bmobile Dance Off Trinidad & Tobago; one of National Geographic’s hit series “Locked Up Abroad”; “The Cool Boys” - a short feature film shown at the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival; “Pan! Our Music Odyssey” - a docu-drama highlighting the history and journey of pan music in Trinidad & Tobago; and one of the longest running television series “Westwood Park” for three seasons; and “Matthews in The

Paulla at work

ishing at St John’s College. Years later she travelled to Trinidad to obtain formal training and was schooled at Suzan’s Unisex Salon & Beauty School and New Beginnings Salon & Beauty School.

Paulla believes she was born with a passion for fashion and beauty.

In her early years, she was pursuing a career as a cosmetologist and out of curiosity took a few personal makeup classes. This passion led her to the House of Jackie Modelling School where she became part of the school’s agency. It was there that she was encouraged to pursue a course in learning the art of makeup application.

She met her mentor, Jean Inniss, who noticed that she had a natural talent for makeup artistry and voiced that in the first class. Paulla was guided by this “angel” whom she thought gave wings to her dream of being one of the best and most sought after artists in the Caribbean and South America. Though

Hinds of Square One, actress, radio and television personality Natacha Jones, who has been her number one supporter.

Paulla’s 18 years of experience as a freelance makeup artist spans across almost every aspect of the makeup industry to include film, television, fashion, editorial, music videos, press and television ads, theatre, product promotions, corporate, bridal parties. Some of her prominent and notable achievements as a makeup artist include the Barbados Fashion Week working alongside Tyra Bank’s MUA (makeup artist) Valente Fraizer.

In addition, she has made appearances at the Afro Hair & Beauty Show at the Alexander Palace London, Ghana International Trade show held in Accra, St Kitts Fashion Weekend, Barbados Fashion Week, St Kitts Fashion Weekend, just to name a few.

She has also worked as the key makeup artist on Abstract/Bmobile Future Face reali-

Middle”.

The makeup artist’s work is unique and can be immediately identified due to her penchant for not using the masked approach to makeup.

Her work is clean, natural, sexy and modern.

She believes that makeup, when applied prop-

erly, should enhance a continued on page 42

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Star of the week

Canal, Anna Regina, Essequibo n.d.

V

ishale Sukram of Black Bush Polder, Corentyne in Berbice, was already known for her mesmerizing performance when she was declared winner of the inaugural E-Networks Emerging Voices singing competition in 2014.Not only is Sukram a talented singer, but also a brilliant performer. In 2014 she made her debut as an actress in the dance and theatrical production Naya Zamana 19. Sukram is said to be one of many who will boost Guyana’s budding music industry. She continues to share her passion for music as she performs on local and international stages. (Photo by Amanda Richards)

Upper Camp Street, Georgetown n.d.

feature 33

Funny Guyanese wedding stories WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

It is customary at a Hindu wedding for the father of the bride to offer a satisfactory dowry to the groom

The person who catches the bouquet is believed to be the next to marry

W

hether true or not, there are some Guyanese customs to which couples would adhere, regardless of the consequences: “Don’t look back while going up the aisle”; “jumping the broom”- a West African tradition; “don’t ever let a dog eat your wedding cake”; “don’t sweep one’s foot with a pointer broom prior to marriage”, are just a few.

The following are some true funny stories surrounding weddings in Guyana.

Cow itch powder or stinging nettle

It is believed that a bride must be attired in: “Something old; something new; something borrowed; something blue”, for good luck, and no bad omen would befall the marriage. However, at one Guyanese wedding, the bride borrowed a glove from her dear girlfriend, not realizing the friend had a crush

on the groom. The friend wilfully laced the glove with “cow-itch or stinging nettle” powder – a powder that would induce intense itching. At the wedding ceremony, before the exchange of vows, the problem began. The itching was very severe. Apparently the powder was transferred and dispersed to certain discrete parts of the bride’s anatomy. The itching was very noticeable and created an embarrassing scene. The groom, unaware of the problem, and in disgust, disappeared from the altar and the wedding was called off. Guess who was waiting outside the church to console him?

Wedding cake

It was also understood that if you are single and you place a very small piece of wedding cake behind your right ear, you would enhance and accelerate your chances of getting married. A 65-year-old-

Jumping the broom

man, who would remain nameless, attended a well-known Guyanese wedding ceremony. In desperation he applied enormous amounts of wedding cake behind both ears. To make a long story short, he is still single today at 80.

Catching of the bouquet

The custom where the person who catches the bouquet is believed to be the next to marry is very evident at weddings. Before one wedding reception, the bride made arrangements with her best friend – her maid of honour who was single – to throw the bouquet in her direction. Somehow, the boyfriend of the maid of honour got wind of the plan.

When the bouquet was released from the bride, the boyfriend intercepted and caught the bouquet. The maid of honour was so upset she ranted and raved. One month later, the boyfriend married someone else.

Hindu wedding for the father of the bride to offer a satisfactory dowry to the groom. As long as the groom does not eat, the father has to continue offering possessions.

At one such Hindu wedding, the groom was not satisfied with the house and land that were offered. Not until he was promised a number of cows and sheep did he eventually eat, which showed his acceptance.

After the wedding, he went to collect his dowry but was greeted with a severe beating by the family members. He then realized that the father-in-law never owned a house or any cattle in his entire life.

Marriage vows

During a wedding ceremony the preach-

er asked, “Does anyone know why these parties should not be joined together, speak now or forever hold your peace?”

One member of the wedding party shouted, “The groom is gay.” Without any hesitation the bride blurted out, “So what? I know he is gay; he is always so joyful and happy.”

Rising up first

It is understood that when couples kneel at the altar to exchange their vows, it is thought that whoever gets up first will live longer than the other. In the haste to get up first, the groom accidentally stood on the bride’s dress causing her to fall prostrate at the feet of the pastor.

Pigeons

It is normal after the wedding ceremony to throw rice grains over the married couple for good luck as they leave the church. The groom, clad in a white suit, and the bride, wearing a gorgeous white gown, were greeted with a huge amount of rice grains landing on their heads. Suddenly, a drove of hungry pigeons appeared, stood on their heads, and had a feast.

Simultaneously the pigeons decided to release some droppings which landed all over the married couple, leaving a random polka dot design on the white apparel of the couple. (Text by Edgar Henry. First published in the Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. June 2012 Magazine)

Dowry

It is customary at a

It is usual after the wedding ceremony to throw rice over the married couple for good luck as they leave the church

34 feature

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

The Twelve Noises of Christmas

By Petamber Persaud

C

hrist is the heart of Christmas, and this is celebrated in various ways and in various genres of writing all over the world.

Perhaps the most significant acknowledgments can be found in the world of literature – poetry, song, dramatic and cinematographic arts.

In Guyana, we have long enjoyed and continue to appreciate the artistic offerings originating from outside the country. After a long while, there was a whiff of change in air with Guyana working towards attaining its Independence from Britain. Then there was a period of awakening.

This awakening was accompanied by critical thinking.

This critical thinking bred cynicism and criticism, a period when many Guyanese

A

"Christmas Day. Rosignol, Guyana,1945," by Vidur

GEMS) came a number of evergreen and popular Christmas songs, inspiring others to write their own poetry and songs celebrating the Lord of Christmas.

While all these things were happening and some of us were enjoying

sic (most of the time not related to the season), every vehicle becomes a mobile discotheque –let me rephrase that – those mobile discotheques, when in motion, set off the vehicle alarms in a domino effect and, when parked, windows rat-

From poem to carol: “Silent Night” manuscript

scoffed at “White Christmas”, “Blue Christmas”, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire/The Christmas Song”, “Twelve Days of Christmas”, “Winter Wonderland”, “Let it snow”, “Rudolph the red nose reindeer” etc.

Later, around the 1950s, at a cultural juncture of our history, there was a climate conducive to the creation of music, leading to a musical revolution, as it were, where persons were composing mainly due to the fact that the top recording studio in the Caribbean was located in Robb Street, Georgetown, Guyana. From that recording studio (Al Seales’

Cops, robbers…

the goodwill of the season, there was one sound of the season that did not seem to have the right ring to it because of varied interpretations and manifestations.

Today it may be even more difficult to be reconciled to the soothing sound of the carol, “Silent Night”.

Electronic delivery of music ought to enhance songs but misuse of innovations is signalling the death knell of certain songs.

“Silent Night” (Christmas) in Guyana is the season for stretching the boundaries of noise – from every nook and cranny cometh like a comet the noise of mu-

tle and floorings quake; worse effect if someone is in bed, head resting on pillow, praying for divine intervention to one’s human right to peace and quiet…

There is no “all is calm”; there is no “sleep in heavenly peace”; shepherd[s] are not the only ones quaking. But the people, old people, ill people, people suffering from hypertension (the blood pressure can be spiked upwards by noise of Christmas); pregnant women expecting …some bed rest…and the list of the adverse effects of noise goes on and on…

“Silent Night” is the most popular of carols,

translated into more than 140 languages.

The words, the lyrics and scores of musical arrangements are unendingly beautiful. But the only part of that carol that some of us may enjoy is “With the dawn of redeeming grace", which dawns around January 2 or 3 or whenever the holiday ends at say “Twelve Night”…..which is variably celebrated to suit human partying arrangements like on the 5th, the 6th or the weekend Saturday nearest to what is considered “twelfth night”.

"Silent Night" (German: StilleNacht, heiligeNacht) is a popular Christmas carol, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorfbei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011. The song has been recorded by a large number of singers from every music genre. The version sung

by Bing Crosby is the third best-selling single of all-time. (Wikipedia) Here are some selected lines of that song, hoping we regain the peace and serenity of “Silent Night”: Silent night! Holy night!

All is calm all is bright…

Shepherds quake at the sight…

Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace!

With the dawn of redeeming grace Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

…SOCU and SARU

fter seven months of going after the “bad guys” – the People’s Progressive Party…who else? – facts are just starting to come out that there is a mindset unfortunately justifying the worst fears of those who saw a “militarised” Government taking shape after May 11.

It all had to do with the operation that played out last week in one of the old-time, premier housing areas of the country – Kingston. First we learnt that three people died – in a “Carifesta Ave smash up”. A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant and his wife were said to be overtaking another vehicle when they crashed head on into a Canter heading in the opposite direction. The driver of the Canter was also killed.

Occurring at 22:00h as the year drew to a close, most folks shook their head in sorrow as another record was broken in traffic-related carnage in our small country. Then the parent of the wife said her son-in-law, who’d been off-duty in the holiday period, had been called “to report back to Camp Ayanganna”, the GDF headquarters.

Asked as to what was going on, the Head of the Army said, “no comment”. We then learnt through “sources” that the Sergeant was actually in the “intelligence section” of the GDF and he’d been assigned to keep the CEO of NICIL, Winston Brassington “under surveillance”. So folks started to scratch their heads. Since when was the GDF authorised to conduct surveillance of civilians?

Army personnel are deployed in civilian operations under the most pressing circumstances – and only in conjunction with the Police. We all know who takes the lead in “joint operations”.

So out came another titbit – again from “sources” and nothing “official”. Responses to questions by the latter made clams seem positively garrulous! The GDF Sergeant was actually conducting the surveillance for the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU)! More scratching of heads by concerned citizens – but not by the chattering class that normally does the cheerleading for the Government. They also clammed up.

After all, SOCU was supposed to be tracking funds being laundered or diverted to terrorists.

Was Brassington now being accused of violating the AML/CTF? Last we’d heard was that he was in the sights of the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARU).

Were SARU and SOCU now in bed with each other and with the GDF. This would be news to most… excepting to those who feared an Army Government.

And amidst more official stonewalling, came the coup de grace against the Government: revelations the GDF Sergeant was actually tailing the wrong person – a PPP MP, neighbour of Brassington.

And who, for the grace of God could’ve been killed. As could any one of us, also. …and intelligence-led policing The use of Army personnel to keep an eye on a civilian unfortunately echoes the incidents spelled out so graphically during the Rodney CoI. There, another GDF Sergeant – Gregory Smith – did eventually cause the death of the man he had under surveillance. And the then Army Chief also said he knew nothing about the operation. And here it is we thought “those days are over”. But as the fat lady says, “it ain’t over till it’s over”.

But what’s also troubling about the unfolding revelations is while the Disciplined Forces could find an intelligence officer at the drop of a hat to stake out Brassington, they’ve been unable to do the same in aid of the “intelligence led” policing we keep hearing about. And which was supposed to solve the “crime spiral” in tandem with the 2am curfew.

This is now back in force AFTER the holidays which saw four young men hack each other to death in rum-induced violence.

feature 35

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

I

ndigenous hinterland transport in Guyana has traditionally involved canoes for river travel; in earlier times, the canoe was also used as transport for trade and warfare. Bullock cart, horses or on foot were transport for land travel.

While these remain modes of transportation today in these regions, others now include speedboats, ATVs, bicycles, motorcycles or SUVs, to name a few.

The canoe remains an important mode of transportation for indigenous and non-indigenous Guyanese living in the many remote riverain regions of the country. Many children learn from a very young age to be adept at manoeuvring a canoe.

Where waterways are sometimes the only travel option, in some areas “school canoes” carry some school children to and from school each day in good weather, though motorized vessels are becoming increasingly popular.

Although it is said that a canoe can generally be made of any kind of wood, the hollowed-out stems of the Ité palm are said to be used to make some canoes; the palm’s stem is also split to make paddles. The Manni tree’s trunks are also said to be used to make some dugout canoes and paddles.

Another tree named is the baramali whose bark, among other trees, is said to be sometimes used as raised flooring in the canoe to prevent wet

luggage for its occupants should river or rain water collect in the vessel.

In the book “The Guiana Travels of Robert Schomburgk, 1835-1844” the authors states that the Warraus were famed for their ability to fashion a canoe from a single tree trunk, and were the main suppliers of canoes to coastland indigenous inhabitants and foreigners at the time.

In its footnotes it also states that the most popular tree for Warrau canoe-making was the “red cedar” then “white cedar”, though there remains some debate over identifying the exact species.

Some historians note that each area may have a different style from another when making their canoe and as a result its

School students in the interior waiting for transport

Traditional (dugout) canoes on display in a local museum

makers can be identified this way.

According to Volume 3: 1986-2013 of “Beacons of Excellence: The Edgar Mittleholzer Memorial Lectures” edited and with an introduction

by Andrew O. Lindsay, among the Arawaks there are different styles of men’s and women’s canoe paddles: crafted for heavy work, the men’s are large and sturdy while the women’s paddles are smaller and considered “works of art.”

No one can be certain of the introduction of the canoe to human history, though one, made from pine log, has been discovered in China dated to some 8,000 years ago.

Besides China, evidence of the canoe around the world can also be glimpsed from the traditional African term for “paddling” (with a branch): “poling”.

The canoe is said to

have originated from the trunks of fallen trees upon which persons perhaps sat astride and with a branch, paddled from one area to another. These however, had their limitations in rough waters.

Some canoes of the local indigenous were/are made only for the calmer waters of small creeks and rivers. The more seaworthy canoe has its prototype from the nautical vessels of the Carib peoples of the Caribbean, made from large tree trunks dug out, shaped and hollowed to be strong enough for sea travel.

Among the indigenous islanders, seagoing canoes could often carry cargo for trade from one island to another. There are records of early indigenous Guyanese arriving in modern day Trinidad territory in fleets of canoes loaded with vast cargoes of cassava for trade.

Canoes later were

made up of “a frame of wooden ribs covered with lightweight bark ...” often held together with natural glue.

In modern times canoe building employs modern construction products but bears traditional building techniques passed down over the ages.

The word “canoe” is said to have come from kenu, a Carib word meaning “dugout”. In addition, the Arawak word kanoa is said to mean “a dugout craft used in calm water”.

According to the “Encyclopedia of American Indian History” edited by Bruce E. Johansen Ph.D. and Barry M. Pritzke, “canoe” is derived from the Arawak (Taino) word for “boat”. The Spanish during the time of Columbus’ voyages appropriated the word as “canoa”, to describe the hollowed- outlog-boat propelled by paddles used by the indigenous groups.

36

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 47

Paying the piper… …in media he President graciously hosted the Guyana Media Association (GMA) for the New Year. In a not-so-subtle reprimand to his Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who was present, he averred that the media has every right to be critical of the government.

Not long into the new regime, during the budget debate, Nagamootoo took it upon himself to publicly upbraid a Guyana Chronicle reporter for stating the government had “blundered” in its presentation.

After drubbing the reporter’s conclusion of “blundering”, the Prime Minister – who was denied the “governance” portfolio promised in the Cummingsburg Accord and left with the “Information” duties – later said, “I had expected better from a governmentowned newspaper.”

The Chronicle subsequently wrote a very obsequious editorial announcing that the Chronicle “is owned by the State, and is, therefore, expected to editorially support the general thrust of the government of the day.”

The GMA to its credit, immediately rejected the position of both Nagamootoo and Chronicle and pointed out that a clear distinction needed to be made between the “state” – which owns the newspaper – and “the government” –which happens to be running the state for the next five years.

The latter it pointed out – by the tenets of the free press – should be open to criticism when in the opinion of the media they’re off course. The GMA opined that the old authoritarian mindset of controlling the media might be manifesting itself in Guyana once again.

So Pressie’s promise to stay off the backs of the media sounds good and must be complimented.

Even though he didn’t specifically mention whether the State media was included in his charge – this Eyewitness will take his use of the plural “media” to understand that “all are involved” – including the Chronicle. But he did allude to editors who might be pressured by those above them. He could have been referring to the General Editor of the Chronicle, who was fired summarily.

But even though Pressie promised a hands off approach, the money he promised the GMA for “training” is worrisome.

Taking the present Chronicle’s slavish pandering to the government in its coverage of the government (voluntarily, in its words, because of who’s paying the piper), aren’t there going to be doubts in the minds of the citizenry that GMA operatives might also selfcensor themselves so as not to derail the new gravy train?

This Eyewitness for one remembers the words of Martin Carter about “the mouth is muzzled by the hands that feed it”.

He wrote this after quitting as Information Minister in the first PNC government back in 1971. He knoweth of what he spoketh! …but not the citizens A sad pattern is visible when the government’s actions are scrutinised from a macro-standpoint. It begins with saying all the politically right things to ordinary folks. It’ll raise their salaries “substantially”, it’ll raise pensions, it’ll promote women etc…etc.

In each of those cases it either doesn’t deliver – or it gives with the right hand and takes away even more with the left hand. And we know who sits on the left hand… don’t we? How about the cruel joke played on senior citizens when it “raised” their pensions by $4000 and then took away the subsidy of electricity and water – which amounted to at least twice that?

The latest outrage was revealed by this newspaper – but the rest of the media’s been studiously avoiding the issue.

Nowadays, almost every family has a car or some vehicle using gasoline. With the world price of oil plummeting by more than half, how come ordinary citizens aren’t benefitting – as are other countries?

Simple… while the government boasts of reducing the Berbice Bridge’s toll by $300, it’s pocketing more than that on EVERY GAL OF GASOLINE SOLD! …on obfuscation After boasting during the budget debate that the PPP growth rate would be maintained, the Finance Minister sheepishly conceded that it even didn’t amount to half of that.

And the govt still hadn’t “blundered”?

T

art & culture 37

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Vannetta teaching fold forming: a process to create sculptural forms in jewellery making

V

a n n e t t a Seecharran has been influencing the art and design of jewellery for nearly 20 years.

She focuses on teaching professional jewellerymaking techniques in a way that is fun and accessible to beginners and those who want to pursue jewellery as a hobby or as a profession.

Born in Guyana, the London-based jewellery teacher migrated at the age of 11 with her parents to New York. She graduated in 1991 from the prestigious Parsons

School of Art with a BA in Product Design. She later earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Jewellery Design at University of New Paltz in New York State.

During her career as a jewellery designer, her work made it into the permanent art collections of The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, The Royal Pump Rooms of Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, England; Harris Museum & Art Gallery in Preston, England, and Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford, West

The designer's book

A statement piece created at her school

Yorkshire, England.

In 1998, Seecharran set up her workshop in London where she began to build her reputation as a contemporary jeweller.

She currently lectures at Central Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design and Camberwell College of Art in London.

In 2006, she opened the Vannetta Seecharran School of Jewellery, based in Islington, London, which has already taught more than 1,000 individuals, many of whom subsequently began practices as makers/designers.

As a leading jeweller and with many years’ experience as an educator, Vannetta is passionate about teaching, and encourages her students to achieve their potential as designer/makers. In addition to teaching professional jewellery making techniques, there is an emphasis on developing individual design ideas.

In just a few weeks, students develop a keen eye for jewellery design and begin to formulate their own ideas for jewellery making.

Vannetta Seecharran School of Jewellery is staffed by highly qualified tutors who bring

to the students many years of teaching experience at leading art universities in London and up-to-date skills and knowledge of the art and design field. All tutors are practising designer/ makers and exhibitors of their work in the UK and other countries.

On her Facebook page, she mentions: “Courses specialise in silver and beaded jewellery making are all very hands-on, so from the beginning you will be using the tools and creating jewellery pieces. Students learn the basic techniques and skills with which they can progress to become a skilled jeweller and create beautifully designed pieces. Classes are held in a fully equipped jewellery studio in Central London with specialist equipment for students to make use of.”

In November 2009, Vannetta's first book “The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Jewellery Making Techniques” was published by Search Press in London and Interweave in the U.S. Her book is the ultimate guide for the experimental jeweller. It offers de-

Working with resin to create contemporary pieces

Jewellery artist Vannetta Seecharran

tailed instructions and clear photographs for working with all kinds of materials – from rubber, resin, glass, leather and paper to plastics, ceramics, textiles, and natural and found objects, these options, along with precious and non-precious metals, can all be used individually or combined in a mixed-media piece.

Preceded by a helpful introduction offering guidance on essential tools and inspirational advice for self-designed projects, the main section of her book is organised by material or media, providing details on the properties and possi-

bilities for each as well as some inspiring examples of jewellery made using the techniques described.

For the finishing touch, information on various surface textures that can be achieved for each media as well as ideas for various clasps and closures are shared.

Today, Vannetta’s work is sold and exhibited in leading galleries and shows across Europe and North America.

For more information on the artist’s work, visit www.vannettaseecharran.com or Vannetta Seecharran School of Jewellery on Facebook.

38 news

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Delayed Haiti presidential run-off vote to be held Jan. 24

P

O R T - A U PRINCE – According to a Reuters report, Haiti’s delayed presidential run-off election will take place on Jan. 24, President Michel Martelly said yesterday, as the Caribbean country struggles to meet a Feb. 7 constitutional deadline to inaugurate a new leader.

A record 54 candidates contested the first round on Oct. 25 but an uproar over allegations of fraud prompted election authorities to postpone a run-off scheduled for Dec. 27.

“The election will take place on January 24. I met with election authorities and I’ve received a letter from

President Michel Martelly

them confirming that date,” Martelly said as he walked to his motorcade in the PetionVille suburb of Port-auPrince.

The nation of about 10 million people has struggled to build a stable democracy since the overthrow of the 1957 to 1986 dictatorship of the Duvalier fam-

ily and ensuing military coups and election fraud.

Martelly said his administration was doing all in its power to make sure free, fair and democratic elections are held so that he can transfer power to a new leader in a month.

“It is important for us to meet the February 7 constitutional deadline for the transfer of power even though I started my five-year term in May 2011,” added Martelly, who has agreed to leave office about four months early.

Pierre Manigat, vice-president of the electoral council, said it would do its best to meet the deadline.

Jamaica moves to strengthen public procurement system

K

ingston, Jamaica Government says it is working to transform and strengthen its public procurement system, to ensure greater transparency and efficiency in the management of this process.

Among the measures is the streamlining of the procurement process to reduce the time and money spent, according to Dianne McIntosh, director general in the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

Addressing the opening of a five-day training course on public procurement at the Mona visitor’s Lodge at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus on Monday, McIntosh noted that public procurement, which currently accounts for ap-

proximately 30 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is a high priority area for the Government.

She pointed out that since January 2013, Cabinet approved a total of 141 contracts valued at approximately J$90 billion.

This figure, she said, is not inclusive of contracts valued below $40 million.

The director general further noted that the Government has also sought to streamline the procurement process through the introduction of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the management of procurement and the incorporation of new procedures, aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, value for money and accountability.

“International standards have been attained in all stages of the public procurement process, from planning and requirements definition to the award, signing and administration of contracts,” she added.

Other significant milestones include development and implementation of the electronic Government Procurement System (eGP) in 2015; establishment of a Procurement Appeal Board; mandatory publication of annual procurement plans for Government of Jamaica procuring entities; development and passage of the Public Procurement Act, 2015; and the Public Procurement Certification Programme, which commenced in 2014. (Jamaica Observer)

Barbados signs agreement with Digicel

B

ridgetown, Barbados The Barbados Government yesterday signed an agreement with telecommunications provider Digicel Business that will see the eventual connectivity of all government data and networks.

The Bds$2.4 million deal will set up a Fiber Optic Wide Area Network (WAN) in the public sector that Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Civil service Allyson Forte said would provide the infrastructure for government to implement its human resource development strategy

and e-government programmes.

At the official signing of the agreement at the Ministry’s Culloden Road offices, Forte said the network would be a “secure and cost-effective gateway for government” and he added the extensive utilisation of IP telephony will result in cost savings.

General manager Digicel Business Martin Keogh described it as an “unprecedented agreement” that would make the government of Barbados connected “like it has never been connected before”.

(Barbados Nation)

5.0 earthquake hits T&T

T

rinidad and Tobago and Grenada registered a 5.0 magnitude earthquake yesterday and the experts are warning of more to come.

According to the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre, the earthquake occurred at 10:33 a.m. North of the Paria Peninsula Trinidad, at a depth of 33 kilometres.

“This zone is one of the most active areas around Trinidad so that this event is not surprising and well within our range of expected activity”, according to a statement from the SRC. Director of the SRC, Dr Joan Latchman said

Tuesday’s quake was not generated by the Kick’em Jenny underwater volcano located eight kilometres north of Grenada.

She said the earthquake is one of many expected to occur during the year.

She said, “in the Paria peninsula area there is no volcanism at this time. So this earthquake was tectonic”.

L a t c h m a n also warned that Trinidadians need to be better prepared for a long overdue quake.

She said, “we have seen some improvements in the attention by the citizenry are taking for what we are saying”. (Trinidad Express)

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Explore the rich traditions of Moco Moco, a village located in the Rupununi (Photo by Matt Hallett)

One of the most scenic places in the Rupununi is Kamarapa Creek (Photo by Matt Hallett)

The Maparri wilderness of the Rupununi boasts pristine rainforest waiting to be explored

travel & tourism 39

T

he beauty of the Rupununi is vast, unique, fabled and celebrated in arts and literature.

Rupununi, in Region Nine, derives its name from the Rupununi River which runs from the south savannahs, north and eastward where it meets the Essequibo River. The Rupununi River and its tributaries are the mainstay of life for more than 14,000 indigenous people, mainly Makushi and Wapishana, who live in the area.

Discover Rupununi’s magic while visiting the golden savannahs, which melt into deep, green forests, lined with silver creeks. Cattle, cashew nuts, peanuts, cassava and casareep are some of the products from the Rupununi waiting to be enjoyed.

English, Makushi, Wapishana and Portuguese are the languages spoken by its inhabitants.

What makes the Rupununi special is the sweet, scented air, endless horizon and beautiful vistas; the wonderful hospitality and culture of the people, and the breath-taking beauty of the landscape. It is also the land of giants: anteaters, otters, river turtles, giant fish (Arapaima) and Black Caiman. There are also numerous pristine locations to explore.

For a journey of a lifetime witnessing rich culture and biodiversity, ensure the Rupununi is on your 2016 adventure list. (Photos by Rupununi Learners Inc.) (Cover photo: The serenity of 'El Dorado' located in Yupukari, Quatata in Region Nine)

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

L

ooking to transform your look for the new year? Designer Jason Shurland’s chic designs will do just that. His bespoke pieces are perfect for any occasion or body type.

The designer is known for his unique, statement designs, which have been worn by models and pageant queens/contestants on local and international stages.

Jason Shurland poses with a model wearing one his designs

Shurland is also known for his intricate designs on clothing, artistically incorporating glass, embellished rose petals and 3D butterflies.

Showcasing his artistic side, Shurland’s designs are a testimony of his talent to beautify.

Visit Rockerz on Facebook for more information on Shurland’s collections.

fashion 41

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A career in ... woman’s natural beauty.

The make-up artist’s impeccable skills caught the eye of The Caribbean Fashion Award Committee who twice recognised her as a nominee in the category of Best Caribbean Makeup Artist in 2008 and 2009. Her work has also been featured several times in and on the cover of Caribbean Beat; Maco Magazine; Abstract Magazine; and Gem Magazine (Guyana). Black Entertainment Television (BET) in collaboration with Skywriting Magazine (the then Air Jamaica’s in-flight

magazine) aired the making of ‘Skywriting Magazine’ and Paulla was the make-up artist on the production.

She also worked on the cover for Ibis Magazine, a Trinidadian publication, featuring Wendy Fitzwilliam, Miss Universe 1998.

Paulla has been the principal beauty advisor and makeup artist to Black Up Paris cosmetics sold exclusively at Stechers Fine Gift Stores to the Caribbean since 1945.

She credits her success to her “creator” who blessed her with the talent and a keen eye

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

from page 31

for detail, and also her years of experience from working in all areas – film, television, weddings, music videos, and fashion. She believes her many years of experience working in front of the camera as a model also played a significant part.

Her personal motto is: “Life without Christ is suicide”. She also believes that whatever you want for yourself, you should be willing to give.

Check out Paulla De Souza on Facebook for makeup tips and trends. (Information from www.guyanesegirlsrock.com)

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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44 Ushering in the New Year

Former President and current Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo being embraced by a patron upon his entry into Palm Court

Brigadier Mark Philips along with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and his spouse Sita Nagamootoo and others

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan; Minister within the Social Protection Ministry Keith Scott; Jaipaul Sharma, Junior Finance Minister; and Attorney General Basil Williams posing with friends and family for a picture at the Policeman’s Ball

From left to right – Former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali; former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; former Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon; and former Amerindian Affairs Minster Pauline Sukhai at Red House

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Happy New Year “Of all sound of all bells… most solemn and touching is the peal which rings out the Old Year.” – Charles Lamb Anu Dev

O

n Friday, we officially kicked off the New Year with music and good food, family and friends. Interestingly, though the “New Year” was celebrated more than 4000 years ago, in Western cultures it was only celebrated from about 400 hundred years ago.

For instance, in India, New Year is celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaithra (Mid April) and it’s been observed for more than 5100 years – of the present Kali Yuga.

In fact, the current date celebrated as “New Year’s” day was chosen in 153 BC by Julius Caesar. If you’re a fan of Roman and Greek mythology, you’ll be interested to

know that the month January was named after the God of Doorways – Janus. He was given two faces – one which looked ahead to see what the new year would bring, and the other looked backward to see what happened during the past year. This is symbolic since you can never move forward if you completely ignore what happened in your past.

There is the caution that “those that forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them!” I guess in the case of Janus, being ‘two-faced’ wasn’t a bad thing!

They’re so many different traditions and superstitions concerning New Year’s Day in every country, it’s impossible to keep track of all of

them. From the Dutch tradition of eating a donut (representing completing a year’s cycle) for luck or to the Scottish belief that it’s especially lucky if a tall, dark and handsome man is the first person to enter your house, it’s clear that different cultures have very different ideas about what makes you lucky!

But what is common in all cultures, is the fact that the New Year represents a new beginning – a chance to start afresh with new resolutions for the New Year (unfortunately, I’m as guilty as anyone else of conveniently forgetting those resolutions by the next week!).

Of course, we won’t be hoping for only ourselves to change for the better this New Year, we’ll be wishing

for other things as well. Maybe for West Indies to become the number one Test team again (please?)

New Year’s Eve truly is a magical time.

When we were very young (and still naïve) my father insisted that we be up and outside to see the “Old Year Clouds” move over and be replaced by the “New Year Clouds”. Do others also have this tradition? There’s a special joy in counting down those last few seconds until you light off the fireworks to usher in the New Year.

And then the invariable hugs, shouting and general pandemonium as everyone celebrates making it through yet another year – another year full of possibilities and dreams.

But the New Year doesn’t just have to mean moving on, the New Year is also a time to strengthen bonds with those you love, keeping in mind that January 1, 2016 isn’t the end, in fact, it may only be the end of the beginning.

Happy New Year (or as they say in Greece, “Eutychismenos o kainourgios chromos!”)!

S

Belle of the Ball

atiricus liked to open his New Year by opening his newspaper to see all the movers and shakers shaking their booties at the New Year’s Ball. He was not disappointed. THERE was Rum Jhaat in his Top Hat, twirling away on the dance floor with his goofy grin in place! The ball had just started when the pic was snapped, but the Jhaat already look like he was smashed and holding on for dear life to his partner.

But Satiricus was a tad disappointed Rum Jhaat didn’t wear his patented Green Suit to the ball. “If he could wear his lime green suit to Cold Toronto to show all those dark-suited fashion clods how we tropical men dressed, why couldn’t he have done the same here?” fretted Satiricus. As Satiricus looked around for some fashion statement – like a cummerbund or something – he realised it was Naga Man’s turn to be the fashionista of the night. These KFC types divvied up the duties.

Cutting a dapper figure in his white suit, Naga Man reminded Satiricus of the sharkskin white suit BurntHam had persuaded his colleagues in the PPP to wear back in 1953 when they became Ministers. It was clear Naga Man had a keen sense of history, Satiricus smiled knowingly. “It couldn’t be he was following BurntHam’s fashion lead to score brownie points because he’d now joined up with the PNC, could it?” He wondered. Naaah!

But then he was wearing a purple shirt!!

Wasn’t purple the colour of royalty and therefore the colour of BurntHam? “Sheer coincidence,” said Satiricus firmly to himself.

But Naga Man did stand out like the belle of the ball with his white suit and purple shirt.

It was magical. Soon it would be 2am and he would have to rush away in his SUV Carriage pulled by its 4500 cc engine, which had been given to him by his fairy godfather GrainJa to visit his constituents.

Or else he would turn back into the fella who used to catch crabs on the Whim foreshore while swigging Bush Rum with his pal, Rum Jhaat!

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Presidential lawlessness

Testicular perspicacity

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atiricus is a man who just loves the English language – it is so unique.

Which other language would have the words “tough”, “though” and “bough” – all ending with the same letters, but pronounced differently? But with all the words available in the dictionary, there are still some individuals blessed with the power to come up with combinations that just take your breath away.

Take Rodee of the PPCEE, thought Satiricus admiringly. He’d just called on Naga Man to have the “testicular perspicacity” to follow up on his promise during the elections to cut down the powers of the Guyanese Presidency to size. Now Satiricus, as an old newshound had heard of “testicular fortitude”. This was somebody who had had the courage to “tell it as it is”.

In the vernacular, it was called having “b*lls” – meaning the fellow was “a real man” – since only real men had a pair of them. The Americans would say admiringly of such chaps if their courage was oversized,, “he has brass b*lls”. In other circumstances the appurtenances were also called “the family jewels” or “nuts”. Like when his son had recently explained why he got into a fight: “He hit me on my nose, dad, so I kicked him in the nuts!”

So Satiricus knew about the “testicular” part of what Rodee spoke about. But “perspicacity”? Jeez…Satiricus had to go to the dictionary for THAT. “Having an insight…shrewnedness” he duly read. So was Rodee saying Naga Man should have an “insight with his nuts” to tell Pressie to reduce his powers?

Satiricus knew that Naga Man was full of himself – and a lot of other things, for that matter – but wasn’t Rodee giving Naga Man too much of a Herculean task? After all, right after the elections, hadn’t Pressie cut off Naga Man’s nuts when he gave him Larwah rather than “Governance”?

What kind of “testicular perspicacity” could a neutered man muster when he is bereft of his family jewels?

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

S

heema Mangar lost her life for the sake of her Blackberry cell phone. James Peter, an Indian National, also lost his life most brutally for a cell phone just over a year ago. Cell phone robberies occur daily and there is most likely a big payoff in black market sales that make these particular crimes a most lucrative business.

You would think that these brutal and still unsolved murders would give our president so much compassion for the victims that he would have ordered up strategies to curb these crimes and stamp out the underground trade in cell phones. Not so.

Instead, President David Granger, with a gravely misplaced sense of justice and compassion, dismisses cell phone robberies as a matter of little consequence, and pardons the robbers.

He followed up the pardon of 61 young convicted criminals shortly after his inauguration by releasing 11 more, all mothers, for Christmas.

The Guyana Bar Association has already expressed much uneasiness over the secrecy and disregard for legal requirements surrounding these releases. No names are published; no information of the crimes which the president deems pardonable is known; no follow-up is given on the supposed rehabilitation of the criminals.

Because of his comment dismissing the gravity of cell phone thefts, we can assume that cell phone robbers account for more than a few of those released. Where are they, and what are they doing right now? And if everything is aboveboard as the president insists, why then the secrecy?

The president says young people should be in school and not behind bars. Just so, except when they break the law. Then, in accordance with our judicial system, the criminals are expected to take responsibility for their crimes. For young offenders, this is the learning experience.

Many commentators

have already pointed out that instead of serial pardons – the president vows to do it again and again – the laws could be changed to emphasise rehabilitative programmes for firsttime offenders.

However, the president’s current highhandedness is more in keeping with his style which flouts all accountability and transparency. It is a clear sign of a creeping totalitarianism.

Sherlina Nageer said in the “Daily Chronicle” that the president should have released more than 11 mothers.

She reasons that these women commit crimes out of “economic desperation” and that there should be financial empowerment to give them alternatives.

No one argues that everyone is entitled to a good wage and a decent life. This is exactly why governments are elected. Or, at least, voters expect that the people they place into that position of trust and responsibility will effect the social and economic changes needed to give youths, women, mothers, etc, all a good life.

Even then there will be transgressors and mothers, most of all groups, must be the ones to set proper examples for their children. If they don’t, their children could well learn that crime pays. What, for instance, have the children of the released

mothers learned by the president’s pardon?

Since women are still seeking to be treated justly and fairly both socially and economically, they, more than any other group, must uphold the law. If women defend female criminal behaviour they lose all credibility when they then expect men who commit crimes, including violence against women, to be dealt with by the full letter of the law.

Wanting to be treated fairly comes with a great deal of responsibility and any move to have women be seen as “more equal” in any respect would seriously set back the gains made by the women’s movement over the past hundred years.

There are many mothers who face “economic desperation” who do not commit crimes to make a living. However, the cry of marginalisation is familiar and is used by the PNC/APNU to justify all manner of criminal activities, including street violence, arson, robberies, assaults, rape, and murder.

This is familiar territory for Granger, and his preference for working around the system instead of using his presidential office to effect universal social and economic change that would benefit everyone makes his moves all the more suspicious.

Ryhaan Shah He is very aware that granting favours inspires unswerving loyalty from the recipients.

The released criminals will always be grateful to him personally and could well be called on to serve in whatever capacity is required. It is a way of buying loyalty and obedience. Is the president building a cadre of such loyalists?

Given the PNC’s record of organised thuggery during its last illegal term in power, these questions must be asked and Granger’s absolute comfort with presidential lawlessness must be more than lightly considered.

In a country with a continuous rise in serious crimes, the president’s pardons send the wrong message to criminals and wouldbe criminals. They raise more than allay the fears of law-abiding citizens. At the start of a new year, there is always much talk of hope and optimism.

However, in this instance, the outlook for 2016 remains bleak.

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Aishwarya Rai, Sonam Kapoor, Katrina Kaif cast in one frame

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he secret about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s new multi-starrer project is out! The former beauty queen will star with Sonam Kapoor and Katrina Kaif in one frame for an ad commercial.

The actresses, who are also the brand ambassadors of L’Oréal Paris, will come together in an ad for the cosmetics and beauty brand’s new product ‘Advanced Haircare’.

Sonam and Katrina are excited about how the ad film has turned out.

“I had a blast shooting for the campaign. I think it is really innovative and shows all three of us in a new light. It is beautiful how L’Oréal Paris has brought all of us with our individ-

ualistic personalities and choices together in the same frame for Advanced Haircare,” Sonam said in a statement.

“I can’t wait for the film to go on air.

I am sure all our fans are going to love it,” added the “Khoobsurat” actress.

Meanwhile, Katrina said: “I believe in the L’Oréal Paris core thought of expert solutions for different hair and am very happy with the way the film has turned out.”

The driving force of this range of haircare products is “Every woman needs different haircare solutions for different hair problems” — be it with damaged, dull or hairfall issues.

(Indian Express)

“H

eropanti” actress Kriti Sanon is on cloud nine as her fans have expressed their love by following her on Instagram, enabling her to touch the ‘million mark’ on the online photo-sharing platform.

“Wooohhoo!! Finally the ‘million’ mark! 1 M on insta!! Thank you so much guys!

Your love makes me happy! muah,” Kriti captioned an image which she posted on Wednesday.

She is seen pouting and winking in the image.

The “Dilwale” actress is quite active on the digital platforms including Twitter, which she uses to share updates about her projects and more. (Indian Express)

Farhan Akhtar starrer ‘Rock On 2’ to release on November 11

‘Sandokan’ changed my life forever: Kabir Bedi

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cclaimed actor Kabir Bedi says his 1976 Italian TV series “Sandokan”, which completed 40

years on Wednesday (January 6), changed his life.

“Happy 40th Birthday, #Sandokan!

Evergreen for every generation, even today! You changed my life forever,” Kabir tweeted.

“Sandokan” tells the story of an Asian Prince turned pirate, played by the “Main Hoon Na” actor, who fights the British Empire for the freedom of his people and the woman he loves: an English woman. The actor had just last year launched a DVD of the show for the Indian market. (Indian Express)

Amitabh Bachchan is happy playing character oriented roles

B

ollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan ruled the roost in the 70s and 80s playing the angry young man or the ro-

mantic hero in his own inimitable style. With the passage of time, the superstar actor has graciously graduated to playing character oriented roles that give him a chance to showcase dif-

ferent acting skills on screen.

Elaborating on how the roles that he has played over the years have undergone

a change, Amitabh Bachchan said, “At my age this is the kind of characters you get unlike the early years when I was the leading man.

At best, you fought the villain and got the girl

in the end. That was our life then. Here you get shades of different characters to play. You get to play a guy in a wheel chair, a young kid of 13 or a mad guy like that in Shamitabh. You get so many wonderful roles to do which are character oriented. They are not leading men. That’s how it is today.”

For Amitabh Bachchan, every role that he has played in his career has been demanding. Commenting on how a prop like wheel chair was useful while acting in Wazir, Big B said, “Most actors look for wonderful properties to be able to assist them while shooting their performances. The wheelchair was a wonderful prop as it is a part of your act and character.”

(Indian Express)

F

arhan Akhtar and Arjun Rampal starrer musical drama “Rock On 2” will release on November 11.

Directed by Shujaat Saudagar, the film is a sequel to 2008’s box office success “Rock On”.

Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment shared the release date of the much awaited project on his Twitter.

“Hello sharing the release date of #RockOn2. 11/11/2016 @FarOutAkhtar @rampalarjun @ShraddhaKapoor @ Purab_Kohli @ShujaatSaudagar,” he wrote.

The major portion of the film is being shot in Shillong.

Actress Shraddha Kapoor is the

new addition to the cast that already has Prachi Desai and Purab Hersh Kohli reprising their roles.

The 26-year-old “ABCD 2” actress will lend her voice along with Farhan, 41, for the original soundtrack of the film.

“Rock On 2”, which was co-written by helmer of the first film Abhishek Kapoor along with Pubali Chaudhary, was dragged to court by Kapoor asking for credit as joint writer after Excel Entertainment decided to not repeat him as the director in the sequel.

After suggestion by Bombay High Court, the company promoted by Farhan Akhtar, consented to give credit to Kapoor. (Indian Express)

Films shouldn’t be remade, says Sunny Deol

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ctor Sunny Deol doesn’t support the idea of remaking films as he feels that the personality and charisma of the characters remain an inseperable part of a film.

“I feel that no film of any actor should be remade because when a film is made, the person’s personality and charisma is present in it. That’s why we shouldn’t touch it ever.”

“You pick the subject up, don’t remake it. Pick those characters up, pick the feel up and put them in today’s society,” Sunny said in an interview for his upcoming directorial “Ghayal Once Again”.

When the initial news of another “Ghayal” film came out, there were doubts whether the film was a remake or a sequel to his 1990 hit. But Sunny then clarified that it was neither of the two.

When asked if he’d like to adapt any other of his popular characters, like Ajay Mehra from “Ghayal”, he said: “As such there are no plans. But if I bring certain characters from my films into today’s society, then it will be interesting. So let this be my acid test.”

“From this film, I’ll understand how relevant I can be to the society and make those characters exist in the society. If that happens, then why not?”

Citing the example of his father Dharmendra’s 1969 film “Satyakam”, Sunny said: “The fight in those times was different, but if I put that character in today’s society, then the common point will be to see if a person can live with the truth or not, and till when can they live with it. That will be the essence.”

“Ghayal Once Again” will release in February. (Indian Express)

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

I pay strangers’ rent: Eddie Redmayne

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scar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne has revealed he occasionally pays for the room and board of struggling young actors.

The 33-year-old actor said he understands the plight of aspiring thespians who are attempting to land parts with no money to pay their rent, so he is happy to help ease the struggle with some financial backing, reported Contactmusic.

“The greatest privilege that I had was that my parents lived in London. So when I was out of university and out of work for a year, working in a pub, I didn’t pay rent.

Hollywood 49

Jaden Smith new face of Louis Vuitton W

“And I get letters from people trying to go to drama school and needing to pay their rent. And so that’s something I occasionally do. It’s impossibly expensive to live in London.”

Redmayne has already picked up an

Academy Award for his portrayal of physicist Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything” and many critics are praising him for his performance as transgender character Gerda Wegener in “The Danish Girl”. (Indian Express)

ill Smith and wife Jada’s son Jaden, has been roped in for fronting Louis Vuitton’s latest ad campaign.

The fashion house’s creative director Nicholas Ghesquiere took to his Instagram to reveal about the same, reported People magazine.

“Happy to introduce Jaden Smith @christiaingrey in the new SS16 @louisvuitton ad Campaign photographed by Bruce Weber,”

Ghesquiere wrote.

In recent years, the 17-year-old has been known to push the envelope when it comes to style choices, having been photographed

Dakota Johnson, John Boyega lead BAFTA Rising Star nominations

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regnant actress Anne Hathaway has shared a bikini picture on Instagram.

The 33-year-old actress is expecting her first child with husband Adam Shulman and decided to treat her fans to a shot of her blossoming baby bump on the social networking site.

The snap shows Hathaway on the beach wearing a red two-piece, tenderly cradling her stomach with a huge smile on her face.

She wrote alongside the picture: “Happy 2016 to my beautiful Instafriends! So, posting a bikini pic is a little out of character for me, but just now while I was at the beach I noticed I was being photographed.

“I figure if this kind of photo is going to be out in the world it should at

“S

tar Wars” actor John Boyega and “Fifty Shades of Grey” actress Dakota Johnson are among five new faces who will be in the running for the Rising Star Award at

the Bafta Film Awards next month.

Brie Larson, who appears in new drama “Room”, and “Kingsman: The Secret Service” actor Taron Egerton are also nominated, reported

BBC online.

They are joined by Bel Powley, from 2015’s “The Diary Of A Teenage Girl”.

The award, which has previously been won by the likes of Tom Hardy, James MacAvoy and Kristen Stewart, is voted on by the public.

Jack O’Connell took it last year following his memorable performance in Yann Demange’s stunning feature directorial debut “71”.

The BAFTA ceremony will take place on February 14. (Indian Express)

Will watch ‘Independence Day’ sequel with tears: Will Smith

A least be an image that makes me happy (and be one that was taken with

my consent. And with a filter).” (Indian Express)

I want a big fat Mexican wedding: Eva Longoria

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ctress Eva Longoria wants a “big fat Mexican wedding” when she ties the knot with fiance Jose Baston.

The former “Desperate Housewives” star became engaged to the Mexican businessman on December 13 during a romantic break in Dubai, but Longoria insists it’s too soon to think about her third big day, despite reports suggesting she is already making plans.

“We haven’t even discussed it. I’m still in the glow of the engagement.

I’m still applauding him for how beautiful and amazing it was, then we’ll talk about the big fat Mexican wedding,”

wearing skirts, a dress to prom and — most notably — a Batman costume to Kim Kardashian and Kanye West‘s wedding.

(Indian Express)

she said.

The 40-year-old began dating Jose in late 2013 after meeting him through a mutual friend, and she confessed her beau left her stunned when he got down on bended knees and asked her to be his wife.

“It was such a surprise. It was in Dubai, in

the desert… I didn’t expect it there… One hundred per cent surprised me, He’s very romantic and sweet and kind and so he put a lot of effort into it and it was very memorable. There were camels present, a bird…

A lot of animals were involved in our engagement.” (Indian Express)

ctor Will Smith is upset that his iconic “Independence Day” character dies in the film’s sequel and said he’ll be taking a handkerchief to the screening.

The “Men in Black” star was unable to reprise his role in “Independence Day: Resurgence” and said he was saddened when he learned Colonel Steven Hiller’s fate in the trailer, which sug-

gests he died while testing a new alien hybrid

fighter.

“I was working on Suicide Squad during that time. (Independence Day director) Roland (Emmerich) and I had talked about it.

“The trailer looks really cool. I’m going to be sitting around with tears in my eyes when that one comes out… It was terrible when I found out my character died,” he said.

(Indian Express)

Ridley Scott makes tough space movies look so easy: Danny Boyle ilmmaker Danny Boyle challenged his fellow Britisher Ridley Scott after “The

F

Mars-based movie once he started filming, because the script was so good, prompting Steve

Martian” director called his acclaimed 2015 movie “straightforward”.

Scott insisted he had no problems shooting the

Jobs director Boyle to protest, because he’ll never make another space film after tackling “Sunshine” in 2007.

Boyle interrupted his peer and stated, “It’s weird making space movies, because you are in the footsteps of the people who have been there before, principally him (Scott)… It was so tough.

“When the film came out and I did all the publicity, I remember having this schtick, where I said, ‘I’ve looked at it and no director who has ever been in space ever goes back to space, unless he’s got to do a sequel’ – and then he’s defied it of course by making The Martian, and then he sits there and says it wasn’t a problem at all!” (Indian Express)

50 sport Feature

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 10, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The schoolboy who scored a thousand runs in one innings H aving already broken the record for the highest score in all known cricket, Pranav Dhanawade told his father he would ‘score big tomorrow’, and proceeded to smash his way to a life-changing 1009 not out On Monday morning, Prashant Dhanawade was plying his autorickshaw as usual around Kalyan, a sleepy northern suburb of Mumbai, when he got a phone call from a friend. “Go to the Union Cricket Academy ground,” his friend said.

“Your son has scored 300 and doesn’t look like slowing down.”

Prashant called his wife Mohini and asked her to light up the house in celebration, then rushed to the ground. He watched Pranav score another 300 runs, then returned with Mohini the next morning to watch him cross four figures and break just about every school-batting record.

By Tuesday evening the modest neighbourhood of Wayale Nagar, where the ground is located, was Cricket Central.

“Arre, BBC wale pan yeto aahe! Ho at-tach phone aala [The BBC

guys are on their way!

They just called],” said a stray voice at the ground.

Prashant and Mohini struggled to catch their breath in between boundary-side interviews, while Pranav, after spending 396 minutes at the crease, took the field in his wicketkeeping attire, which he gave up after a few overs to field at slip.

Whatever else life holds for the Dhanawades, these two days will be unforgettable. However small the ground and however weak the opposition, this record is now Pranav’s. His name is in the books. His name figured in all the tweets.

Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni praised him, and even Michael Atherton mentioned his achievement in commentary during the Cape Town test between South Africa and England.

“I wasn’t at the ground,” Prashant says.

“Pranav’s friend’s father called me up and told me that Pranav has scored a triple-century. I couldn’t believe it. By the time I reached the ground he had crossed 350, and went on and on, breaking record after record, and we didn’t even know that he was breaking them. After

Prashant Dhanawade

going home at night, he himself told me, ‘papa, kal bada score karunga’ [dad, I will score big tomorrow], and today he crossed 1000.”

Pranav’s mother wasn’t aware of the records her son was steadily breaking. “I was at home when [Prashant] called me and asked me to deck up the house. “Your son has scored 300,” he said.

He kept calling me from the ground and updating me on his scores, but I didn’t realise anything till it was night. I thought he was just batting well.

But when he got home I realised the magnitude of what he had achieved,

and I couldn’t have been prouder.”

Everyone was celebrating, even the opposition bowlers – who knew their names would also be part of the record.

“Usne mujhe 33 runs maara do over mein [He hit me for 33 runs in two overs], aur do six bhi maara [and also smashed two sixes of me],” Mayank Gupta, tiny and barely out of his puppy fat, says in a chirpy voice filled with pride. Then he points, one after the other, to two of his team-mates. “Usne usko 200 runs maara aur usko bhi [He smacked him for 200 runs, and him too].”

None of this was planned, of course, but it was no accident either.

Harish Sharma, Pranav’s school coach, said he promoted the wicketkeeper

to open the batting after a chat with him, and asked him to hang in there and build an innings.

“During friendly school matches I sent him in at No. 7 or 8, and when the team needed him the most, he would play a rash shot and get out,” Harish says. “He has a good technique, a wide range of strokes and he’s quite powerful. I then thought that I can send him as an opener and I asked him if he was ready. He grabbed the opportunity and said ‘yes sir, I’ll go’. I made him promise me that if you’re going to open, you have to spend time at the wicket, for which you have to be mentally and physically prepared, to which he agreed.”

The score was Pranav’s first century in any tournament recognised by the Mumbai Cricket Association. “But he has otherwise scored centuries in school cricket and friendly matches,” his father points out.

“His game is such that he scores quickly – with that kind of game there are very few chances of scoring a century; he would bat lower down the order because of which he wouldn’t get to face many balls. But now that he opens, he has all the time to score.”

What does the future hold for Pranav? On one hand is the example of Sachin Tendulkar, whose

feats of heavy run-scoring as a schoolboy, including the famous partnership with Vinod Kambli, are the stuff of legend. On the other is that of AEJ Collins, who held the previous record score of 628 not out, scored in 1899.

“For a while Collins was public property,” Martin Williamson wrote on ESPNcricinfo.

“Today all men speak of him,” wrote one newspaper. “He has a reputation as great as the most advertised soap: he will be immortalised.”

But Collins never played first-class cricket.

It is too early, therefore, to tell what Pranav’s future will look like. But one thing is for sure. Nothing will be the same when he walks out to bat the next time.

His cousin Rugved Lad puts it in perspective. “He’s in tenth [grade] now, so cricket had taken the back seat to studies, though he’s good at both.

He also plays kabbadi.

But after this, everything has changed. Cricket will definitely be his first priority.”

His school, his neighbourhood club, pretty much every IPL franchise, his Ranji Trophy team, the millions across the world who were following the updates on his feat – everyone hopes it will. (Cricinfo article by Srikanth Ravishanker)

England hold on for draw as weather has final say

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APE TOWN, South Africa Poor weather brought a limp end to a compelling second Test as England survived a final day onslaught from South Africa to draw the match and keep up their 1-0 lead in the series.

England were 159 for six in their second innings, with Jonny Bairstow (30) and Moeen Ali (10) unbeaten, before drizzle and bad light halted play soon after tea yesterday.

South Africa’s quick bowlers made inroads in the morning to offer the likelihood of a remarkable come-from-behind victory after England had dominated the opening two days, to amass 629 for six declared in their first innings.

South Africa clawed back over the next two days, keeping England in the field on hot, energy-sapping days as they slowly regained a foothold and eventually declared just two runs short of the visitors’ total.

A four-wicket burst before lunch yesterday suddenly offered the tantalising possibility of a result and two more in the second session brought South Africa even closer to scuttling out England before chasing down a modest target.

But dogged resistance from Bairstow and Ali, in an unbroken 43-run partnership, and the gloomy weather dashed South Africa’s hopes of pulling off a remarkable victory.

England started the day on 16-0 in their second innings, with a lead of 18

runs, but captain Alastair Cook was strangled down the leg side and caught by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off Kagiso Rabada’s bowling with just the eighth ball of the morning. He went for eight with England having added a single to their overnight total.

REPRIEVE

Alex Hales (5) was then snagged by a brilliant diving one-handed catch from Chris Morris at slip to give Morne Morkel a deserved wicket after some fiery bowling. Joe Root was caught in the slips by AB de Villiers off Morkel on 17 but television replays showed the bowler had stepped over the line.

But England’s top-ranked batsman failed to capitalise on the reprieve and scored 12 more runs before being bowled

by Morris to leave England on 55-3. Nick Compton (15) fell 10 minutes before lunch after playing straight to Faf du Plessis at short mid-wicket as he became the first of three victims for Dane Piedt.

After the interval, the off-spinner dismissed Ben Stokes, caught at deep square leg for 26, and James Taylor, who got a nasty bounce up onto his gloves and was caught by Temba Bavuma at short leg for 27.

The third Test will be at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, January 4-18. England won the first Test in Durban by 241 runs. (Taken from Reuters)

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Foster, Thomas, D’Andrade star Guyanese trio off to West Indies Under-19 World Cup at Bigi Broki Waka Bridge 10k − Barrington wins 5k event

From left Tevin Imlach, Keemo Paul and Shimron Hetmyer before their departure

By Akeem Greene

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himron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul and Tevin Imlach left Guyana on Tuesday for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh.

Arguably three of Guyana’s most talented youth players will be participating in the 11th edition of the 50 overs under-19 World Cup. When Guyana Times International Sport spoke to the players at the Guyana Cricket Board Office (GCB), Bourda, they all expressed confidence and jubilation ahead of the trip.

Captain of the side is the Guyanese dynamic opening left handed batsman Shimron Hetmyer who is elated to have the honor of leading this prestigious Caribbean side. “I would like to thank my family for all the support and it is a real honour to be leading the team; this is the first time I’m really leading a big team so I’m really looking forward to it”, the Young Warriors Cricket Club player revealed.

Hetmyer who is no way new to the West Indies under-19 team having played numerous times before on various tours is banking on having the support of all his players when on the field and will be looking to lead from the front with his batting. “ It’s all of the three areas of captaincy I have to work on but I expect all the guys to chip in, we have been friends for a while now; and with regards to my batting I know my game and what style I will play”, the captain said.

Top order batsman Tevin Imlach is focused ahead of his first major overseas campaign. The playing conditions of the Under-19 World Cup usually mirror those of the senior tournaments and the player is no way daunted by the

task at hand. When quizzed about his game plan the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) player explained that “as a top order batsman you have to be patient and defend the good balls and score of the bad ball; as it regards the two new balls that are a part of the game right now, it is a good thing, it means the balls will remain harder late in the innings and will help me in playing through the line of the ball”.

Vice Captain of the team is Essequibo’s Keemo Paul, and the all rounder is expecting to fire on both cylinders to help his side get over the line in tough situations.

“I just want to stick to the basics with my game, I know the role I have to play with bat and ball and will try to do my best when called upon” the player said. He further added that it is a great honor to be named Vice captain alongside a Guyanese skipper and wishes to represent the region and country proudly.

Quizzed about the regional side’s chances, Paul said “since we started training the main goal has always been to win the world cup so will be putting our best effort in to achieve this”.

West Indies are in placed in Group C alongside England, Fiji and Zimbabwe and will play their first game on January 29 against England.

They will then play Fiji on January 31 followed by Zimbabwe on February 2.

The full squad reads: Shimron Hetmyer (Captain), Keemo Paul (Vice Captain), Kacey Carty, Shahid Crooks, Michael Frew, Jyd Goolie, Tevin Imlach, Ryan John, Alzarri Joseph, Kirstan Kallicharan, Obed McCoy, Gidron Pope, Odean Smith, Shamar Springer, Emmanuel Stewart. Dwain Gill (Team Manager), Graeme West (Head Coach).

Spinners Benn, Badree to play in Unity Cricket at National Stadium

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arbados left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn and Trinidad and Tobago’s leg-spinner Samuel Badree have both confirmed their participation in the Legacy and 007 Promotions’ Unity Cricket T20 match under lights at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, on Saturday, January 30.

The fun will begin at 10:00h with a family fun day on the tarmac of the Stadium, while five softball matches are set for the international venue, the first of which bowls off at 11:00h.

The 10/10 Open final will be contested under lights before the feature event, which will include most of the Caribbean’s top T20 cricketers, and will climax the one-day event, which is expected to be watched by a capacity crowd of over 15,000.

The 34-year-old Benn has played 26 Tests, 34 ODIs and 18 T20 Internationals, while 34-year-old Badree has participated in 22 T20s for the West Indies. The pair will join a galaxy of starts, which include overseas players Reyad Emrit, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Darren Sammy, Krishmar Santokie and Nicholas Pooran.

The organisers have also announced that ‘early bird’ tickets, which are bought before match day will cost Gy$2,000, while fans will have to pay more for tickets purchased at the gate on match night.

Tickets, which allow entry to the Stadium for all the events, including the fun day for children, and go on sale from the middle of this month.

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From left, Devaun Barrington, Cleveland Thomas, Winston Missenger and Lionel D’Andrade along with Andrea Foster pose for a picture

ndrea Foster continued her impressive form with her first win of 2016 in the Bigi Broki Waka Bridge 10k event which was held in Suriname last Sunday.

Foster clocked a fast time of 43:32s to finish ahead of her female counterparts while finishing ninth out of 175 participants.

Foster highlighted, that the race was a good one for her but also related that the bridge because of its steep climb was a tough challenge.

Meanwhile, Cleveland Thomas dominated the male version of the race winning the event in a time of 34:59s while Trinidad based Guyanese Lionel D’Andrade fished second in a time of 35:16s. Winston Missenger grabbed the fourth position with a time of 35:57s which averted a Guyanese top three sweep.

While the 10k event saw Guyana having success, Devaun Barrington lit up the 5k circuit, winning the event in a time of 17:11s.

Barrington was pleased with his race and noted that 2016 will bring more success.

Devaun Barrington during his winning 5k performance

All of the athletes except D’Andrade are expected to be a part of the Linden’s cross country event on January ninth while D’Andrade will be in Trinidad competing.

Gayle could face expulsion over new claim of indecent exposure — reports

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ELBOURNE, Australia— Media reports here have claimed that Chris Gayle could be expelled from the ongoing Big Bash League if Cricket Australia’s investigations into an alleged act of indecent exposure during last year’s Cricket World Cup prove the incident actually occurred.

Following Gayle’s on-air flirtations with Channel TEN reporter, Mel McLaughlin, Fairfax Media here reported that a woman — who requested anonymity — had since claimed the West Indies batting star had indecently exposed himself to her in a dressing room at the Sydney Cricket Ground last February.

The Australian woman said she entered the dressing room thinking it was empty only to discover Gayle, who dropped his towel to partially expose his genitals while asking: “Are you looking for this?”

Gayle’s management group, Insignia Sports International, has rejected the claims.

“Chris denies the allegations published by Fairfax Media… there will be no further comment from Chris or his management at this stage,” a statement said.

However, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported that if the claims of indecent exposure are substantiated, Gayle could find himself “sacked and

Chris Gayle

banned” from the Big Bash.

The left-handed Gayle, one of the main drawing cards in the tournament, has already been fined Australian $10,000 (US$7,000) by the BBL for his ill-advised on-air antics with McLaughlin.

Following a whirlwind 41 for Melbourne Renegades that help set up a five-wicket win over Hobart Hurricanes on Monday at Bellerive Oval, Gayle told the shocked reporter: “I wanted to have an interview with you as well, that’s why I’m here.”

He added: “I get to see your eyes for the first time, it’s nice. Hopefully we can win and go for a drink after.

“Don’t blush, baby.”

BBL head Anthony Everard said Gayle’s behaviour had no place in the Twenty20 tournament. (CMC)

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ICB/NAGICO Super50

“We want to bring it back home to Guyana” − Crandon

By Avenash Ramzan

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ince the inception of the regional 50over competition in 1972, Guyana has won nine titles, the last of

Esaun Crandon

which came in the 200506 KFC Cup when a Sewnarine Chattergoon hundred led the home team to victory in a tense final against Barbados at Bourda.

The wait for another title has been long, and when the Guyana

Jaguars lined up against the host Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in last season’s final, it seemed like the South American would finally break the jinx.

Leon Johnson is looking to become the first captain to win a regional 50-over title since Shivnarine Chanderpaul in 2005 in the KFC Cup

However, they ran into a destructive Sunil Narine, bowling with a suspect action, as they crumbled to a massive 135-run defeat, with

the off-spinner bagging 6-9, to back up a maiden hundred from Jason Mohammed.

Guyana Jaguars Head Coach, Esaun Crandon, who has overlooked the team on a phenomenal run in the Four-day competition, winning the inaugural 2014-15 season and a five-match unbeaten run so far in the 2015-16 season, is looking to return home with the NAGICO Super50 title when the competition, which starts on Thursday, wraps up on January 24.

“Ten years has been a long time. We want to bring it [the title] back home to Guyana,” Crandon said upon departure for St Kitts this week.

The former national player said the approach would be simple, as the focus would be on implementing the plans that would be derived for specific matches.

Radio stations in 10 Caribbean countries to broadcast NAGICO Super50

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T JOHN’S, Antigua— Radio stations across ten Caribbean countries have agreed to carry live commentary of the NAGICO Super50 championship which begins today (Thursday).

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced

on Tuesday that the region’s premier One-day cricket tournament will be broadcast on radio stations in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

GEM Radio Five Limited, part of the One Caribbean Media Group, is coordinating the broadcast headed by noted commentator Andrew Mason.

“We decided to make the commentary feeds available at no cost to the broadcasters in order to ensure that the matches are carried

live in all the territories,” General Manager, GEM Radio Five Limited, Richard Purcell said.

“By so doing, we are keeping alive the great West Indian tradition of listening to cricket on radio.”

St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago are co-hosting the third edition of the NAGICO Super50.

Commercial Manager of the WICB, Nelecia Yeates, is urging listeners to “to tune in to the very exciting games that will be on for the duration of the championship.”

She added that the WICB is “making every effort to allow consumers access to the game on radio, live streaming and on television.”

The NAGICO Super50 opens with defending champions, TT Red Force, playing Jamaica Scorpions in the feature game at the Queen’s Park Oval, following a clash between the Barbados Pride and newcomers ICC Americas at the UWI grounds.

In St Kitts, Leeward Islands Hurricanes will go up against the CCC Marooners, and last year’s second-placed team Guyana Jaguars will play against Windward Islands Volcanoes. (CMC)

Flashback! The Guyana Jaguars finished second-best to Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the NAGICO Super50 last year

“We’re going to take it one game at a time.

We realise that we have to be smarter than the opposition this year- we were smart last year, but we want to be smarter this year and play better cricket than them obviously. We will have our plans in place, but execution is going to be important for the lads. We expect guys to play their roles, and once they understand their roles, it’s going to be easy for us,” Crandon explained.

When Guyana last won the regional 50-over title, current skipper Leon Johnson was still a teenager, and though he had already made his First-Class debut, he

was yet to appear in regional 50-over match.

He now stands on the cusp of being the first captain since Shivnarine Chanderpaul to lift the 50-over title, and coach Crandon believes he has the quality of players to make that dream a reality.

“We’ve got a very good team, when compared to last year, and I think we’re thriving from some momentum from the Four-day version of the game, and we want to transfer that into the one-day version,” Crandon contended.

The squad reads: Assad Fudadin, Kevon Boodie, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Leon

Johnson (Captain), Vishaul Singh, Christopher Barnwell (Vice-captain), Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Steven Jacobs, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Paul Wintz, Romario Shepherd and Royston Crandon.

Devendra Bishoo and Rajendra Chandrika are on duty with the West Indies team in Australia.

As soon as they are available, they will replace two players.

Guyana Jaguars’ first match is against the Windward Islands Volcanoes on Thursday. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)

Simmons still wants best available players for West Indies

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YDNEY, Australia – According to a report published by Reuters, Coach Phil Simmons has not given up on any West Indies players and still wants the best talent available to represent the region in all formats of the game.

It has not gone unnoticed that while an inexperienced Test side has succumbed to two heavy defeats on their current tour of Australia, a string of seasoned West Indies players are starring in the local Twenty20 Big Bash League.

Some, like opener Chris Gayle, say they are not currently fit to play the longest format but others, like allrounder Dwayne Bravo, remain exiled as the fallout from the costly withdrawal from the tour of India in 2014 continues to resonate.

There have been suggestions by some in the Caribbean that West Indies should write off the older generation and concentrate on developing the existing squad, but Simmons would still like to welcome them back to the fold.

“I still have the feeling that it will always be good to get the best players from West Indies playing all formats of the game,” he told reporters at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

“If we can get that, then we will have an organisation that is moving forward. That is my hope now.

“At the end of the day we

might have a solution but we still might have players that might not think they can play Test cricket, or might not really want to play Test cricket anymore.

“So when we get to that solution between the parties that are involved then we can

er Darren have batted well enough to give their coach confidence there is light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

“There is a lot of light with the players and I think you can mention Kraigg and Carlos because they have got runs,” he added.

WI coach Phil Simmons

see where that takes us.”

Simmons, who took over as coach at the end of last year’s World Cup, was suspended from his role last year for complaining publicly about not having the best players available for a tour of Sri Lanka.

Despite still not having his pick of the top talent, Simmons has been encouraged by the performances of some of the younger players, with the bat at least, in Australia.

Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Rajendra Chandrika, allrounder Carlos Brathwaite as well as Dwayne Bravo’s broth-

“The way Bravo has batted in all the Test matches, the way Chandrika has looked. He hasn’t gone on to score a big score but the way he looked early on.

“Even the captain (Jason Holder) when he batted in the second Test on the last day you can see there’s a lot there to work with.”

Days three and four of the third Test in Sydney were washed out by rain and West Indies will resume their first innings on 248 for seven if any play is possible on the final day today (Thursday).

(Taken from Reuters)

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Lady Jags encamped in Canada – ahead of CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers in February

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head of the much anticipated CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier Tournament set for February in Texas, Guyana’s national women’s team better known as the Lady Jags are currently encamped in Toronto, Canada.

Guyana were placed in Group B of the tournament, along with Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala, while World Champions USA head the socalled ‘Group of Death’ that also includes rivals Mexico, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica.

The Lady Jags will play their first game of the tournament against Canada on February 11 at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Texas, United States.

Head Coach Mark Rodrigues will be aided by assistant Clement Browne, Goalkeeping Coach Richard Reynolds and Technical Director Claude Bolton in Toronto in hopes of getting the Lady Jags in the best shape possible for the tournament.

According to Rodrigues, via a press release, “the girls quickly responded to playing together again and gelling as a unit”.

Rodrigues highlighted that the new players in the team “fitted in well” and he was hoping that the coaching staff “achieved what we needed in terms of tactics. Each day will be an advancement on the prior day’s sessions”.

It will be only the second meeting between Guyana and Canada with the first being at the 2010 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The World Cup champions USA

will face Costa Rica to open the eightteam CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The United States has won the past three tournaments that determine the Olympic representatives from CONCACAF, and went on to win the gold medal in the last three Olympics.

The top two finishers earn Olympic berths.

THE SCHEDULE: Wednesday, February 10 – Toyota Stadium 6 pm (5 pm) Puerto Rico vs Mexico; 8:30pm (7:30pm) USA vs Costa Rica Thursday, February 11 – BBVA Compass Stadium 6 pm (5 pm) Guatemala vs Trinidad & Tobago; 8:30 pm (7:30pm) Canada vs Guyana Saturday, February 13 – Toyota Stadium 1:30 pm (12:30 pm) Costa Rica vs Puerto Rico; 4 pm (3 pm) Mexico vs USA Sunday, February 14 – BBVA Compass Stadium 1:30 pm (12:30 pm) Guyana vs Guatemala; 4 pm (3 pm) Trinidad & Tobago vs Canada Monday, February 15 – Toyota Stadium 6 pm (5 pm) Mexico vs Costa Rica; 8:30 pm (7:30 pm) USA vs Puerto Rico Tuesday, February 16 – BBVA Compass Stadium 6 pm (5 pm) Trinidad & Tobago vs Guyana; 8:30 pm (7:30 pm) Canada vs Guatemala Friday, February 19 – BBVA Compass Stadium 5:30 pm (4:30 pm) 1B vs 2A; 8:30 pm (7:30 pm) 1A vs 2B Sunday, February 21 – BBVA Compass Stadium 5 pm (4 pm) Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2

Sherone Simpson overcomes adversity to claim Pan Am Games 100m gold

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ingston, Jamaica - In arguably the comeback of the year, Sherone Simpson showed a lot of character and mental strength amidst adversity to win the 100m gold at the XVII Pan American Games in Canada.

Simpson, 31, is a real fighter and just as she fought endlessly to have her doping ban of 18 months thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sports in July 2014, she fought gallantly from lane eight to cop the gold medal on the line in 10.95 seconds.

It was a massive upset as Simpson stormed through the second half of the race to edge Ecuadorian Angela Tenorio, who ran a lifetime best 10.99 seconds, while pre-race favourite and leader for most of the race, American Barbara Pierre, ended up third in 11.01 seconds.

The former Manchester High School student had qualified for the final as one of the fastest losers after she was fifth in a wind-aided 11.18 seconds.

Simpson, the 2008 Olympic 100m silver medallist, showed that she is a big-time performer and produced a

Jamaica’s Sherone Simpson looks at her time from a round one heat of the women’s 200m at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing, last August.

splendid 10.95 seconds, her fastest time in seven years. Her lifetime best is 10.82 seconds.

She also won silver in the 4x100m relays at the Pan Am Games running in the semi-final, but missed the final. Samantha Henry Robinson, Kerron Stewart, Schillonie Calvert and Simone Facey did 42.68 seconds for silver. The Americans struck gold in a championship record of 42.58 seconds.

Simpson, the 2006 Commonwealth Games 200m champion, would

later strike gold in the 4x100m relay at the IAAF World Championships, running as an alternate in the semi-final on the first leg. She safely positioned Jamaica into the final with a then worldleading 41.84 seconds which was later bettered in final in a championship record of 41.07 seconds.

Simpson, who also has a personal best of 22.00 for the 200m, is a worthy nominee for the RJR Sportswoman of the Year, but may fall short of the main prize for 2015. (Jamaica Observer)

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