Guyana Times International

INTERNATIONAL

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 196

week ending June 15, 2014

Drunk driver kills three ‌in series of hit-and-run accidents

New Guyana School student tops National Grade Six Exams

See story on page 3 Jorrel De Santos

Page 23

IN HAPPIER TIMES- from left: Malkie Wanitia Bagot, little Shamain Cort and Tabithia Latoya Bagot were killed Wednesday evening in an horrific road accident on the Corentyne Coast, Berbice

Guyana, St. Vincent partnering to offer tourism packages Page 10

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NEWS

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Drunk driver kills three …in series of hit-and-run accidents

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wo sisters and their four-yearold niece are now dead and two other persons were critically injured when an allegedly drunken driver slammed into them at Phillipi on the Corentyne Coast.

The driver had initially hit down another man and was escaping from the scene when he hit the girls.

Those dead are: Shamain Cort, four; Tabithia Latoya Bagot,18, and her sister, Malkie Wanita Bagot, 15. Delroy Park, 28, and Matthew Mc Bean suffered serious injuries and were said to be critical. The driver has been identified as 19-yearold Nakesh Persaud of Number 51 Village.

According to reports, he reportedly told the police that he thought it was donkeys he had hit at Kilmarnock and Phillipi.

The vehicle he was driving was reportedly rented from a popular rental agency on the Corentyne.

Alcohol

According to reports, around 18:30h the driver of the gold-coloured Spacio who was reportedly under the influence

Relatives trying to console the mother of Tabithia and Malkie Bagot

of alcohol hit the five people in three separate incidents, killing the three girls on the spot. It all started when he hit Park, 28, at Kilmarnock Village and sped away. However, in the process of driving away from the scene he slammed into the girls a few hundred metres away in the nearby village of Philippi, flinging them several hundred yards in the air. The driver did not stop, instead, he accelerated, but was chased by public-spirited citizens. In his escape bid around four villages away at #35 Village he hit Matthew Mc Bean who was riding a bicycle

at the time before losing control and plunging into a nearby trench.

By this time the residents who were giving chase from Phillipi caught up with him, dragged him out his vehicle and gave him a sound thrashing.

Residents also dragged the vehicle he was driving out of the trench and attempted to set it alight, but police arrived on the scene and intervened saving the driver and vehicle.

He was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where he received medical attention and placed in police custody.

Incidentally, four of

One of the injured at the Port Mourant Hospital

the five victims were returning home after making purchases from nearby shops. Guyana Times International was told that the Bagots had gone to the shop to get phone cards to call their mother who migrated to the United States only a few days ago. They decided to take along their niece and were returning from the shop a few houses away when the car veered off the road and slammed them from behind. The girls were rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival. Mc Bean was also returning from the shop after buying a phone

card; he was also taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where he is receiving medical attention and is said to be critical.

He was later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Meanwhile, speaking with this newspaper, Pastor Ewart Bagot, a relative of the girls said that Malkie was a student of the Lower Corentyne Secondary School and was currently sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). He said after hearing the impact, they rushed to the scene where they saw the girls lying some distance from each oth-

er, all appeared dead.

Their shoes were found scattered on the parapet. Pastor Bagot said the four-year-old was found on the shoulder of a nearby drain with her body covered in blood.

Additionally, he said Malkie’s head appeared to have been crushed from the impact of slamming into a lamp post.

With regard to Tabithia, she was found lying motionless with blood oozing from her ears and mouth.

Another relative related that the girls were on their way back home from a grocery store while he was sitting on the veranda when he heard a loud noise and screaming. “All I hear was ‘Bam’ so I bend over the veranda and I look and while I was looking the car just swerve and blam it hit them.”

He said he then rushed out on to the road to see what had occurred.

At the time he did not know that they were his relatives.

“Whilst waking to the bus shed I recognised the pants my sister was wearing and afcontinued on page 7

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INTERNATIONAL To contact: Guyana Times International

New York Office 106-15 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica NY 11435 Email: guyanatimesnyint@gmail.com Tel no: 718-658-6804 Preferred method of contact via EMAIL Guyana Office Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana.

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

Fax (592) 225-8696, 227-0685 Email: guyanatimesint@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

The Re-migrant Scheme

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overnment, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, has revoked the re-migrant status of several persons under the re-migrant programme, as many of them were abusing the facility, some to the extent of committing fraud.

It was revealed that some of these re-migrants are using the scheme to import luxury vehicles and other items under the guise that they intend to resettle in Guyana.

This practice is quite disturbing, as it is clearly not what the programme was intended to be. We applaud the Government for taking such firm action as the situation demands an urgent review. This firm stance by the authorities will send a strong signal to persons who are bent on being dishonest and who want to beat the system.

There are thousands of Guyanese settled outside of Guyana; some with the kind of expertise that would be extremely useful to the development of this country. Some of them also have accumulated huge savings which they would like to invest in their home country.

This mass exodus had started in the early 1960s under the Forbes Burnham dictatorship when the economy was facing total collapse; there were no proper jobs, social services were almost non-existent and there was a sense of hopelessness in every corner of the country. And of course that pattern of migration continued under successive PNC, and to a lesser extent, PPP/C regimes.

When it took political power in 1992, the PPP/C Government was very cognizant of the situation and the damaging effects it was having on the country’s future; and over time got engaged in a series of measures aimed at wooing some of these persons to return home and settle.

There is much the Guyanese Diaspora can do to help in moving our country forward once the necessary systems are put in place for them to do so. Hence, the Re-migrant Scheme which is administered by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in conjunction with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is an excellent initiative, as it seeks to create a framework for overseas-based Guyanese to come back and make meaningful contributions to their birth land.

Under the Re-migrant Scheme, a Guyanese who is 18 years and above, who has been residing legally overseas for a minimum of five consecutive years and is now returning to Guyana, can benefit. Also, Guyanese students/graduates who have attended or are attending a training institution and have been residing overseas for a minimum of four years and are now returning to Guyana, can also benefit.

While it is unfortunate that some have used the scheme to commit fraud, many have taken advantage of the facility by returning home to serve in various capacities and by investing in various businesses. The scheme therefore should not be viewed as a failure. What is indeed lacking is monitoring and oversight of the entire programme in terms of its implementation.

There is an entire network of persons from various agencies, who work in collusion with the re-migrants to engage in these activities. The authorities must dig deep to break up the ‘gang’ involved and to hold them accountable for their actions.

The Auditor General’s Office is conducting an investigation into a scam involving senior GRA officials and some re-migrants regarding the misuse of the scheme. Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett had said that initially, the probe was to look into that specific aspect of the fraud, but has since asked that it be widened to incorporate whether persons who applied and were granted re-migrant status, actually live in the country.

It would certainly not come as a surprise if it is found that many of these persons who claim that they are now residing permanently in Guyana actually spend more time abroad. They just want to enjoy the benefits of the programme even though they do not meet the criteria. The Government is therefore on target in bringing a halt to those who seek to misuse the scheme.

Helping hands. All are needed to put their shoulders to the wheel to keep Guyana clean as this photograph, taken during the Guyana Shines Project’s cleanup of the Georgetown foreshore on Sunday, June 8 in observance of World Oceans Day 2014, illustrates

IFMAS has allowed Government to improve its Public Financial Management System Dear Editor, The Finance Ministry views with utter disgust Kaieteur News’ headlines of its June 4 edition, “Billions in assets have gone untraced” and its June 5 edition, “Finance Ministry refuses to train operators”. Both headlines are not only designed to sensationalise, but are misleading and once again, the accompanying stories do not provide any information to support the stated headlines.

In the June 4 edition, Kaieteur News purports to suggest to the nation, obviously to promote the sale of its newspapers, “Billions of assets have gone untraced”.

Nowhere in the article did they produce any evidence to suggest that there are billions of untraced assets.

While we acknowledge that there are two modules that have not yet been implemented, there is not one iota of evidence that exists which suggests that Government’s assets of any amount have gone untraced.

Kaieteur News is called upon to produce the evidence to substantiate its blazing headlines. We at the Ministry believe that built into the Integrated Financial Management and Accounting System (IFMAS) are several tiers of internal controls that debunk this malicious assertion. We herein state for the public record the facts about the IFMAS system.

The implementation of IFMAS in 2004 has allowed the Government of Guyana to remarkably improve its Public Financial Management System and these improvements include tight security controls, improved accountability, and enhanced efficient decisionmaking. The modules which are currently in place include Controls, Appropriations, General Ledger, Expenditure,

Revenue and Treasury Management.

With the implementation of the software, all cheques are now digitised and are issued from the Official Consolidated Fund Bank Account, thereby eliminating the effort of having to manually prepare cheques. In addition, the process of reconciling the Official Consolidated Fund Bank Account has been enhanced by the utilisation of the Treasury Management Module and now the bank reconciliation is done on a timely basis.

The system continues to provide users countrywide with an easy-to-use means of obtaining information necessary for confident decision making. It also continues to support the need of individual line managers in the Central Government to retrieve financial data from an online realtime system.

Since the introduction of IFMAS, the Finance Ministry has provided support in terms of training and advice/guidance to Government officers/ users of the system. In addition, the Finance Ministry, in collaboration with the Public Service Ministry, continues to facilitate training sessions bi-annually, in an effort to ensure that all users are properly equipped with the knowledge and understanding of IFMAS functionality and the processing of transaction in the software.

As technology advances, it is the Government of Guyana’s desire to continually update its operation and systems to that of international best practices and standards. As such, the Finance Ministry is currently looking at the implementation of two additional modules, namely the Purchasing Module and the Asset Module.

The Purchasing Module seeks to provide the ability to

create purchase requisitions and purchase orders with self-creating commitments to reserve the necessary funds (fully integrated with the Appropriations Module currently installed), and to provide the ability to record the receipts and return of goods and automatically update the purchase order to reflect the transactions.

It also seeks complete integration with the payment process to reflect payment for goods ordered and received, and to provide the ability to create an asset record when goods are received.

The Inventory/Assets Module seeks to do the following: provide the ability to create inventory and asset entries when entering a new record based on the requisitions; provide the ability to have automatic stock ordering when the system hits a user-defined reorder point; provide the ability for tracking issues and receipts; provide the ability to enter receipts for deliveries to stores via the Purchasing module; provide the ability to make adjustments to reflect inventory average and shortages; and provide the ability to do queries and reports on current inventory, stock activity, and receiving reports.

The unhealthy practice of stating unsubstantiated and unverified information in the public with a view of getting a response could only be described as malicious. Had Kaieteur News been careful to obtain all the necessary information, the grave error of misrepresenting the facts as it would have done in the two stories could have been avoided. This is yet another instance of yellow journalism.

Respectfully, Bishop Juan A Edghill, Minister within the Finance Ministry

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Community could have been Mayor Green threatens to run intensive campaign to oust Sooba more vigilant to prevent death of fourteen-year-old C …says Schools Welfare Officer

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Tamesha Adams

Kellon Sam

amesha Latoya Natasha Adams, the 14-year-old Sisters Village girl who was murdered last Thursday by her boyfriend, 23-year-old Kellon Sam, who subsequently committed suicide, reportedly sought help after receiving death threats.

This was revealed at her funeral on Monday at the St Clements Presbyterian Church at Sisters Village.

Adams had called a friend complaining about the threats that she had received apparently from Sam over the phone. She had also gone to the office of a Non-Governmental Organisation

(NGO) the day she died, but did not find the counsellor for whom she was looking.

Hours later, she was found with a knife stuck in her neck in a plot of land behind her Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice home. “By the time we got there, it was too late,” Schools Welfare Officer Roxanne La Rose told those who attended the funeral service. She disclosed that one of Adams’ friends reported that the 14-year-old had received deaths threats. The friend said she did not know what to do, but recontinued on page 23

ity Mayor Hamilton Green has threatened to take matters into his own hands to remove acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba if the legal process does not give him justice or the Government continues to refuse to terminate her contract.

Mayor Green made this comment at a press conference held at City Hall on Tuesday afternoon, one day after the Council’s statutory meeting was adjourned due to what the Mayor called “disrespect” and “total arrogance” on Sooba’s part.

Green stated that the Council will not be taking lightly the manner in which the acting Town Clerk allegedly behaved on Monday leading to the adjournment of the statutory meeting. The Mayor began his press conference by responding to the claims made recently by President Donald Ramotar that City Hall was a disaster.

He explained that President Ramotar was right, since it was the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which has caused City Hall to become a disaster by its decision to “foist Sooba on the Council”.

According to the Mayor, Sooba was imposed on them and if the Government does not remove her, he and his Councillors will act to oust her.

No surrender

Mayor Green noted that this will be done through an intensive political process.

“We are not going to surrender to her and the Government. We are going to allow first the legal process to take its course and if that fails, we will then mount a very intensive and, I believe, a successful political process so that the will, the majority of Georgetown have had demon-

Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba

strated this Local Government Elections many years ago, can be done,” Green said.

Green, in further responding to the President’s comments, claimed that the Government was responsible for the situation existing at the Council as aside from appointing an incompetent Chief Executive Officer (CEO), it is also guilty of hampering several major activities which would have proved beneficial to the city.

The Mayor also pointed out that he, as well as the Council has a major issue with the presence of the controversial Sean Hinds in the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) compound, since they believe it poses a threat to them.

Refuting allegations that the bodyguard was hired for the acting Town Clerk’s safety, Green had this to say “who would want to harm her? Who would want to harm that?” He is calling on the citizens of the country, and more so those who are residing in Georgetown, to raise their voices on the issues currently facing the Council since they had the power to change the current situation.

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My views on the APNU Leader’s visit to New York Dear Editor, Kindly allow me some space to share my views on APNU’s David Granger’s visit to New York. Mike Persaud must have had good intentions in hosting the PNC leader and some other community activists for dinner and drinks on May 31 at his house in Richmond Hill.

They chiefly wanted an apology from the PNC leader for nationwide PNC wrongs during their 28 years in Government.

Granger replied that the PNC and its leaders had done nothing wrong and there were no grounds for giving an apology. The PNC leader emphasised to his host and those present that his PNC party was multi-racial and rejected the opinion that Guyanese voted along race lines.

But a PNC apology in no way resolves anything for Guyana’s historic ethnic dilemma. No one in that meeting living in America for many years apparently polled Granger’s reaction for a decentralised federal system for Guyana.

Demanding and getting an abstract apology still leaves us with greater insecurities which fuel our conflicts.

The urgency which fuelled ethnic interests is simply because Guyanese want racial security in all its forms. It was a surprise that most of Mike’s invited guests meeting with Granger at his house in Queens reportedly only concentrated their appeal for an apology.

Guyana’s ethnic, political and cultural problems will likely find easier resolution within decentralisation than by window dressing. In today’s Ukraine, its recently-elected President, with all his military fire power, is actively pursuing a system of decentralisation to meet ethnic needs.

It’s time the leaders of Guyana entertain the concept of some kind of federal decentralisation.

The idea of one people, one destiny, and one love was a failure in Trinidad.

UNC party leader Basdeo Panday allowed ANR Robinson with only two Tobago seats to become

Prime Minister in the NAR Government.

On taking office, Prime Minister Robinson completely isolated the UNC, forcing its pull-out and the coalition’s collapse. But Guyana already knows coalition governments, as in the PNC-UF huddle, do not work.

No doubt, Mike’s dinner meeting with Granger’s entourage has attracted a firestorm of protests within the ‘Little Guyana’ Indo-Guyanese community in New York.

During PNC rule in Guyana, prominent PNC supporter Pandit Gowkarran Sharma, as well as a few New York Guyanese businessmen, was ostracised and some went out of business.

Mike sincerely believes Guyana’s race problems will be solved by placing an IndoGuyanese as PNC leader and an Afro-Guyanese as leader of the PPP/C. The problem with such a formula is both major political parties do not accept or recognise that there is an ethnic/racial interest, separate from the nation-

alist interest in Guyana.

Considering Mike spent his better days in New York City and has not experienced racism in other parts of America despite electing a black President, he has also been long isolated from Guyana’s political pulse and its growing ethnic insecurities.

One cannot afford to ignore that Guyana had a dominant multi-racial party fighting with a nationalist mission for national independence. As soon as independence became a reality, the national interests were replaced by racial and ethnic interests, which became paramount until it was changed in 1992.

The urgency of resolving Guyana’s problems is not one person’s, one race’s, or one political party’s duty. All Guyanese have such an obligation. These problems will not go away by themselves.

Let’s have an honest approach to deal with Guyana’s ethnic problem as a priority.

Sincerely, Vassan Ramracha

Blairmont crematorium gets help from Guyanese Diaspora in Canada Dear Editor, Guyanese in Canada recently gave additional tangible support to the Blairmont Crematorium and Memorial Garden.

The picture shows Leader of the crematorium project Nowrang Persaud, receiving a cheque of Cdn$1500 from Trevor Subryan on behalf of his ATS Company. He also received another of similar amount and from Swami Bhajananda, on behalf of the Pranav Mandir Cultural Centre.

A group of Guyanese from the Kitchener area of Ontario, Canada also presented another donation of Cdn$1500.

These welcomed gestures are in addition to other significant contributions from the abovementioned sources.

The manage-

ment group of the Crematorium at Blairmont is naturally thankful for these acts of generosity and public spiritedness by our fellow Guyanese in the Diaspora and trust that other Guyanese in and out of Guyana will continue to provide support for this essential community--wide non-sectarian project serving the needs of Berbicians.

Currently, the management committee of the Crematorium is pursuing the construction of a spacious car park to provide better accommodation for patrons and more so, to avoid blocking the access road to the Blairmont Estate cultivation, which happens often, especially when there are large funerals.

Yours sincerely, Management of the Blairmont Crematorium

7 Gov’t, Opposition wrangle again over Anti-money laundering Bill T news

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alks between the government and the opposition on the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill broke down Wednesday night at a Select Committee meeting, less than two weeks before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meets in Paris.

In May, Guyana was referred to FATF by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) after the country failed to comply with the Action Plan which includes the passage of the AMLCFT Bill.

The banking and commercial sectors had expressed the hope that the Government and the Opposition would have arrived at a consensus to prevent the country from being further blacklisted.

However, minutes after leaving the AMLCFT Parliamentary Special Select Committee meeting, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge said it is unlikely that the issue will be resolved before the commencement of FATF Plenary Meeting on June 25.

Proposals

He explained that when the counter-proposals were placed in the spotlight, APNU in the absence of the Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan, rejected three primary aspects of the proposals tabled at the level of the committee

by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall.

“There is a disagreement over governance, the overall structure of governance of the FIU,

APNU Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge

the mechanism for the appointment of the members of the authority, whether that appointment should be undertaken by the Parliament or the President,” Greenidge explained to GTI. Greenidge said the counter-proposals put by the Government vary from APNU’s proposed amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act of 2009.

The Opposition is pushing for the establishment of an AMLCFT Authority by the National Assembly. This move seeks to remove the powers of the minister to appoint the director and the power of the president to dismiss the director, thereby placing these powers in the hands of the authority.

Additionally, the coalition is seeking to replace the Attorney General with a Director and simultaneously extend the powers of a police officer or customs officer to seize and detain cash (G$10M or more) anywhere in Guyana.

Greenidge said de-

from page 3

Drunk driver kills... ter I saw her lying in the middle of the road I run to see what happened, then I holler ‘where Toya and Shamain deh,” he recalled saying tearfully.

When he looked he saw Tabithia lying on the side of the road with Shamain next to her.

Riding bicycle

Park, who was the first to be hit, recalled that he was riding his bicycle and all of a sudden he felt an impact from behind. He said he was pushed off his bike and he hit his head. He recalled being picked up and taken to the hospital

where he received medical attention and was sent home. Close to 40 persons have died in road accidents for the year so far. According to police statistics, pedestrians have been the main road users affected at the end of March 2014.

There have also been a number of motorists and pedal cyclists who have been killed.

Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 17 of the 26 fatal accidents recorded at the end of March this year.

spite the fact that the counter-proposals were made by the Government

to meet the demands of the Opposition, the Attorney General has fallen short in fulfilling the objective, since his proposals do not cater for the authority and the appointment of the director by the Parliament.

Due to the stumbling blocks encountered during Wednesday’s meeting, Greenidge said each of the parties has agreed to return to their principals to seek guidance.

“Unless something happens between now and the FATF meeting in Paris I don’t expect that we would be in a position to provide FATF with a bill.”

On the contrary, the Legal Affairs Minister said although 80% of

the counter-proposals were in keeping with the Opposition’s proposed amendments, they were still rejected.

“I attempted as far as possible to have commonality between the proposals made by the opposition and my proposals. I attempted to marry the two as far as possible,” Minister Nandlall said.

According to him, the Opposition rejected sections of his proposals which sought to address the concerns of CFATF and has indirectly disregarded the standards set by the international financial institution.

“In their rejection, they said in very clear language they remain uninfluenced by any-

thing that CFATF says and that FATF recommends,” he added.

He said the Opposition’s move to remove the powers of the minister and president is a “raw and naked usurpation of the role of the government as provided for in the constitution.”

These fundamental differences may never be reconciled, the Legal Affairs Minister opined.

The challenges facing the select committee have outgrown its members, hence they have returned to their executives to chart a way forward. “Really it is beyond our scope and our powers in a committee.” (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy.com)

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GRPA says action will be Housewife died by drowning taken against Board Member due to neck injury for ‘gays on island’ comment - autopsy finds

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he Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) on Tuesday distanced itself from the statements made by one of its board members Pastor Ronald McGarrell, to the effect that gays should reside on an island by themselves.

Executive Director of the GRPA, Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, said that McGarrell’s opinions are not those of the GRPA and he was not speaking on behalf of the organisation. She noted too that McGarrell’s utterances are in serious conflict with the core values of the GRPA. “McGarrell is a board member of the GRPA and has signed up, without reservation, for sexual and reproductive rights.

His statement is in serious conflict with the values of the organisation which is a leading provider of sexual and reproductive health in Guyana” said Bisnauth.

In a release issued to the media, the executive condemned the statement noting that on his accession to the board of directors of GRPA, McGarrell swore to uphold the rights of all persons irrespective of their race, creed and more importantly, sexual orientation in tandem with the values of the organisation. Action will be taken by the GRPA against the pastor for his statements.

“A precondition for persons who express interest on serving on the board or in any staff position in the organisation is to clarify that their val-

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Executive Director of Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth

ues Vis-à-vis those of the organisation…

Pastor McGarrell signed up for sexual and reproductive rights with his eyes wide open. He will need to take full responsibility for his statement from which the GRPA distances itself and will take the necessary action.”

Bisnauth maintained that the GRPA continues in pursuit of its original remit, in that it supports universal access to sexual and reproductive health irrespective of gender, age and other characteristics.

Bisnauth said “the vision, mission and objectives of the GRPA are grounded on the belief that each individual is entitled to be protected by human rights laws… it affirms the right and responsibility of every individual to lead sexual lives that express love, justice, mutuality, commitment, consent and pleasure.”

GRPA further called on McGarrell and likeminded influential persons to be cognisant of the

damning effects that their statements might have on the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender population.

McGarrell’s opinion was also sternly rejected and dubbed outrageous by Co-Chair of local gay rights advocacy group, Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).

In an interview aired on a local radio station recently, McGarrell, who serves as the ViceChariman of the InterReligious Organisation (IRO) had said that homosexuals and persons with alternative sexual preferences should be restricted to reside on an island.

He said that this should be done so that the rest of society will not be endangered on the prophesied judgement day.

However, subsequent to making the statement, McGarrell told reporters that it was nothing more than a light-hearted joke and that he meant no harm.

he reputed husband of the Friendship woman found dead with her head submerged in a half-empty bucket of water is expected to be charged with her murder after a post-mortem found that she died as a result of drowning due to compression injuries to the neck.

Krishna Siram, of Friendship, East Bank Demerara, will appear at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday for the murder of Shelly Persaud.

He reportedly confessed to drowning the mother of three in the bucket of water, while in a drunken state on Tuesday morning. Initially, the ECI Engineering and Construction Company employee claimed that he discovered his spouse with her head submerged in the bucket of water when he woke up to urinate.

However, after the alcohol would have left his system, the man, according to a Police source, told investigators that he held Persaud’s head in the fivegallon bucket of water which was on the back step.

He also told ranks that it was only after he had stuck the woman to the back of her neck and she lost consciousness was he able to get her head into the bucket of water, since she was stronger than him.

The post-mortem, performed on the woman’s body by Dr Nehaul Singh, substantiated Siram’s confession.

Persaud’s brother, Sean told Guyana Times International that his sister’s body has been handed over to the family for final funeral arrangements. He said the Police informed them that

Dead: Shelly Persaud

his brother-in-law would be attending court on Friday.

The dead woman’s father, Orin Morris, said that while justice is being served for his daughter’s death, there is nothing that can be done to bring her back. He added that his grandchildren will be the ones who will not know their mother when they grow older. “He killed her, now he going to jail… dem children gon be parentless,” Morris said.

It was reported that the eldest child of the couple told relatives that there was a heated argument between her parents during which her father reportedly told them to enjoy the night with their mother, since it would be her last night alive. The woman leaves to mourn her three children, father and three siblings.

PCA Chairman still to receive medical report in tortured teen case

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Tortured teen, Junior Thorrington

olice Complaints Authority Chairman, retired Justice Cecil Kennard is yet to receive the medical certificate of 19-year-old Junior Thorrington, who accused a detective of burning his hands while in custody at the Sparendaam Police Station, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Justice Kennard on Wednesday told Guyana Times International via telephone that while he would have received the case file containing 34 state-

ments and a number of exhibits, he is yet to receive the medical certificate which is critical for him to make his recommendations in the matter.

Kennard further added that once the medical certificate is presented to him, it will make the file complete but it can take days before he makes his recommendations which will have to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further perusal and recommendations.

Thorrington sustained second degree burns to his hands reportedly between May 25 and May 27, while he was in custody at the Sparendaam Police Station.

The young man was reportedly taken into Police custody for loitering and was later accused of being a member of a gang that had committed a robbery.

According to information received, the teenager, who is not mentally sound, lives with his grandmother and would normally stroll about the community.

It was reported that after spending a few days in custody, he was subsequently released and it was then it was discovered that both of his hands were badly burnt during his interrogation, by the Police rank who allegedly put methylated spirits on the teen’s hands and set them on fire.

The rank involved reportedly offered the teen an undisclosed sum of money to settle the matter, but the offer was refused. Relatives of the tortured teen subsequently met with top ranks of the Guyana Police Force, who condemned the alleged act.

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NEWS

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana, St. Vincent partnering to offer tourism packages

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s part of his commitment to have the tourism sector become the most dominant in Guyana within the next three years, Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali met his Vincentian counterpart

Cecil McKie on Tuesday to discuss formalising a joint initiative to market the two countries as a common tourism package.

St Vincent and the Grenadines is known for its wonderful beach-

es, sunshine and waters, while Guyana is a fantastic destination for ecotourists and nature lovers.

Both ministers concurred that combining the two products would make both destinations

more competitive and appealing on the international market.

Towards this end, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana are in the process of improving their international airports. Guyana is implementing an upgrade of its facilities, while St Vincent is completing a new international airport.

Ministers Ali and McKie spoke of the immense potential these facilities will fulfil for the two countries.

Meanwhile, in lauding Guyana’s recent success in getting Copa Airlines to launch its service, McKie was especially delighted at the possibility of having similar arrangements with the

Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali and his Vincentian counterpart Cecil McKie along with Spain’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago José María Fernández López de Turiso

air carrier on the completion of St Vincent’s new airport.

President Donald Ramotar had stated earlier that he understands that the tourism sector

is growing and booming, and as such, his administration will be supporting it fully by helping out in whatever way it can to minimise the challenges confronting operators.

Teen cousins shot dead by police in Trinidad

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ORVANT, TRINIDAD: Two teenaged cousins one of whom was a national track athlete and the other described as an IT “genius”, were shot dead Monday by police in Morvant, bringing to 26 the number of persons shot dead by police in Trinidad and Tobago this year.

Dead are Tevin Alexander, 15, and cousin Hakeem Alexander,16, the latter winning bronze for TT in the Boys’ Under 17 3,000 metre race last year at the Carifta Games in Bahamas.

Police Service spokesman Insp Wayne Mystar

Hakeem Alexander (TT Newsday photos)

told the media that at about 4.15 pm, officers from the Inter Agency Task Force and North Eastern Division responded to reports of gunshots in the Chinapoo area of Morvant.

He said that on arrival officers were met with gunfire forcing them to take cover and return gunfire which led to the Alexander cousins being shot. The teens were taken to Port-of-Spain General Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival. Mystar said three suspects were arrested and two firearms recovered.

But relatives of the shot teens painted a different picture of events.

They said the cousins were confronted by a gunman who had been “terrorising” the area since Christmas and who had tried to convert the cousins to Islam. Relatives said the teens were running from the gunman toward their grandmother’s home at Lezama Trace when they ran into the police officers at

Superville Hill.

Tevin’s mother Lisa De Leon-Alexander claimed she witnessed the shooting. “The boys on running into the police, dropped to their knees, put their hands in the air and said, ‘we not in nothing’. They literally begged for their lives...but the police still killed them. They did not search them they just shot them,” she cried.

She further claimed that when relatives and others begged for the boys’ lives, the officers turned their guns on them.

Tevin was a Form Four student of Belmont Boys Secondary and dreamed of becoming an IT technician. De LeonAlexander recalled he stayed home from school Monday because she did not have money to send him. Hakeem was on a court-ordered bond for fighting but Tevin had no run-ins with the law.

Hakeem was a student at Success Laventille Secondary but dropped out of school at Form Three due to frustration over the lack of opportunities at that school for track and field events.

He worked with his father at Peake’s Marine in Chaguaramas.

Hakeem’s father Henry Alexander said his son had been running since he was seven and showed off his son’s many trophies and medals. Hakeem attended the Carifta Games in Martinique this year but did not compete.

(Excerpted from TT Newsday)

news

11 Canadian lawyer urges greater efficiency at Rodney CoI C

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

ivil Rights lawyer Selwyn Pieters, representing the interest of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), says more can be done on the part of the legal counsel for the Commission set up to investigate the death of Dr Walter Rodney.

Pieters had last Thursday upbraided the legal counsel for the Rodney Commission, claiming that the steps taken to provide relevant documents to witnesses were far from efficient.

The legal team comprises Attorneys Glen Hanoman, Latchmie Rahamat and Secretary Nicole Pierre.

Cut and paste

It was while retired Major General Norman Mc Lean was presenting his evidence in chief, and was being shown a document purported to be a payroll with accused murderer Gregory Smith’s name listed, that the objection was made.

Mc Lean had claimed that the document could

have been anything and that to him, it seemed very much like a cut and paste text; something anybody could have done.

Hanoman, during his examination was seeking to establish that while McLean was claiming that he never knew the accused Gregory Smith, the dated payroll says otherwise. McLean was also shown an account form by the Commission’s Counsel bearing number GDF (APP 1954), indicating that the army had transferred weapons to the House of Israel, a claim made by one of the organisation’s former leaders Joseph Hamilton. McLean denied this claim, although the weapons were commonly used by the GDF. “Maybe we should request the files from the military police or intelligence if they have the material…in respect to this matter the Walter Rodney affair….if anything the military po-

Guyana and Suriname to participate in OIC meeting in Saudi Arabia

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uyana and Suriname, the only two South American countries that are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), will participate in the upcoming OIC 41st Foreign Ministers Meeting (CFM) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on June 18-19.

Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett will be represented at the meeting by Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, who will deliver an address to the gathering on her behalf.

Suriname’s Ambassador to the United Nations Henry Mac Donald will represent his country’s Foreign Minister.

A wide range of issues of interest to member states will be discussed by the Council leading to the adoption of resolutions on various issues, including the Cause of Palestine and the Middle East; Political Affairs; 10-Year Programme of Action; Statutory, Organic and General Matters; Legal Affairs; Conditions of Muslim Minorities and Communities in non-OIC Member States; Information Affairs; Administrative and Financial Affairs; Humanitarian Affairs; Economic, Science and Technology, Cultural, Social, and Family Affairs.

Syria and Palestine

will continue to dominate the agenda, but many member states want to address economic and social issues plaguing the Arab/ Islamic Umma such as poverty and economic development.

Data indicate that most of the 57 Muslimmajority member countries of the OIC are among the poorest in the world today and lag behind in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).

Only two countries in the OIC, namely Malaysia and Turkey, spend more than one per cent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on Research and Development; the majority spend less than 0.5 per cent according to the New Straits Times of Malaysia.

This is why the OIC’s Islamic Development Bank is addressing poverty.

This has led to the creation of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development and the adoption of the OIC’s 10-Year-Plan to address the issues of poverty, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Guyana and Saudi Arabia have recently expanded ties. The two countries will soon appoint Honorary Consuls in their respective capitals, and Saudi Arabia is sending a team of investors to explore investment opportunities in Guyana.

seemed to have been out of the loop for whatever reason, and what are the records that exist and I wrote to the commissioners on this point before.

In touch with army

Attorney for the GTUC Selwyn Pieters

lice did to assist the Guyana Police Force, what if anything the intelligence unit did, what level of coordination there was between these units”, Pieters told the Commission.

He continued “The Major General cannot answer those questions 24 years later…he

Let them be produced”, he said, visibly upset. And although he was chastised by the Chairman Cheltenham for “lecturing the Commission”, Pieters, while pointing out he meant no disrespect, stated that he was only “requesting documents”.

At that point Jamaican Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline Samuels-Brown informed that the legal team had indicated to her that it had been in touch with the military body. She assured Pieters and other legal representatives

that the commissioners had themselves made earlier contact with the military. She said the request for certain documents had already been met. “Certain documents have been searched for and certain documents have been presented to us. So do not think that we have been derelict in our duties in that respect.

Representation has been made”.

Pieters alluded to the many previous CoIs he has served on, pointing out that himself and other commissioners have been very efficient in carrying out their functions.

“This is an international commission of sorts, because you have lawyers from other countries, commissioners from other countries. This commission must have be-

fore it and must put its best effort to get each and every single document for it at an appropriate time. Somebody should put the pressure on the army to get those documents before the commission” “You can issue a summons to the army and have the Chief-of-Staff appear here, that’s what I would have done if I were sitting in the commissioners’ position”.

Samuels-Brown’s comment was later corroborated by attorney Rahamat, who informed that the GDF “has been cooperating with the Secretariat, and has been providing us with documents and we are liaising with one Mr Patrick West, who is currently serving within the army”.

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news

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jagdeo participates PPP challenges Opposition in meeting on future to engender trust for shared governance of ACP grouping

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F

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo (fourth left in front row) with members of the Eminent Persons Group in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

ormer President Bharrat Jagdeo, a member of the Eminent Persons Group, recently participated in a meeting of the group in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to look at the future of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).

A year shy of its 40th anniversary, having spent decades working to lift its people out of poverty, the 79-member ACP – the largest intergovernmental association of developing countries in existence – is undergoing a period of profound self-review.

According to a release, the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), comprising of 12 distinguished personalities led by the former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo, have been charged with gathering views from stakeholders across the six geographical regions of the ACP, as well as reviewing past

successes and failures of the organisation.

They will submit proposals of how to reorient the ACP Group directly to Heads of State and Government by the end of the year.

“We have to project forward to look at what do we think is the future of the ACP and what will its character look like.

Will it be different from what we currently have?

There have been a lot of changes of the world since the construct was created – do we have the right construct today?” said Patricia Francis, former head of the International Trade Centre in Geneva and Chair of the Drafting Committee of the EPG. The three-member Drafting Committee, which also includes former IMF Executive Director Peter Gakunu of Kenya, and former Financial Secretary for Samoa Kolone Vaái, had met in Brussels to begin

analysing information gained so far.

To date, the Eminent Persons have held comprehensive consultations in the Pacific, the Caribbean, West Africa, and Eastern Africa, with Southern and Central Africa to be organised before June. Meetings with EU officials, ACP ambassadors and the staff of the ACP secretariat, were also held.

“Once there is clarity on the organisation’s vision, mission and objectives beyond 2020, the institutional framework for implementation should be considered as a matter of priority.

Political commitment will be essential in terms of resources to fund the ACP Secretariat and its financial sustainability,” adds Vaái.

“Amendments to the [ACP founding document] Georgetown Agreement to affect these reforms may be required,” he said.

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) believes that an atmosphere does not exist for shared governance with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

Shared governance has been long touted as a possible panacea to Guyana’s problems.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee disclosed the Party’s views on the issue at its weekly press briefing on Monday as he listed some steps the Opposition must take if there is to be shared governance.

Among these steps, Rohee said, was the Opposition relinquishing the position of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly to the governing party. Other steps include the rearrangement of all Parliamentary Committees so that the PPP/Civic has the number of seats that corresponds to its representation. The combined Opposition also should not link the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill to any other legislation and it must respect the fact that the Government was constitutionally elected.

“These are the first steps that must be taken in order to create an atmosphere that would be conducive to any formal movement in terms of discussions on this matter,” Rohee told media operatives.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

Political sound bites

He said that in an attempt to create a new image of the PNC, Granger is now parroting some of the very ideas that his party spurned in the past. “Take, for example, his call on the PPP to abandon its “winnertakes-all” attitude to governance and embrace inclusive governance and also the call for a government of national unity” Rohee said. “These are good political sound bites which the APNU is now seeking to capitalise on, but which, in fact, are ideas and proposals advanced by the PPP decades ago but were unconditionally rejected by the PNC. This call by Granger is nothing short of shameless hypocrisy.”

“Such an atmosphere clearly does not exist at the moment through no fault of the PPP nor the PPP/C Government, but wholly by the inflexible stance taken by the combined Opposition parliamentary parties when in the aftermath of the November 2011 elec-

tions, they conspired with each other to deny the PPP – which obtained the largest bloc of votes – both the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.”

He pointed out that although the PPP in previous elections won overall parliamentary majorities, the Party never took both positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, and the latter position always went to the PNC with the full support of the PPP. He said putting the good of the country ahead of narrow partisan interests had never been an attribute of the PNC, recalling that the party teamed up with the right-wing United Force to deny the pro-working class PPP political office in the 1964 elections. He added that the PNC was prepared to rig national elections to perpetuate its political life instead of arriving at a political compromise with the PPP on a National Front Government based on an agreed programme.

Subpoenaing witnesses last resort - Hanoman

A

ttorney for the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry Glen Hanoman has said that the subpoenaing of witnesses to appear before the Commission will only occur if all other efforts have failed.

Hanoman, speaking with Guyana Times International on Monday, said the Commission investigating the death of Dr Walter Rodney, has as its principle, the allowance of individuals to approach the secretariat with their statements.

However, there may be instances where persons may have substantial evidence. In such cases, they would have to appear before the Commission by an order from the court.

That was the case of retired Major General and former Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force Norman Mc Lean, who was subpoenaed to attend the inquiry last Thursday. His testimony was considered vital since he was the Chief-ofStaff of the military body during the period Dr Rodney was killed. More importantly, the man accused of committing the act William Gregory Smith, would have been under McLean’s dictate during that time as well.

Hanoman said that several other witnesses, including Opposition Leader Brigadier (retired) David Granger may be served a Summon Letter, if during the course of testimony, any adverse evidence surfac-

Attorney for the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry Glen Hanoman

es. Hanoman said it is a normal practice during Commissions of Inquiry for persons to be served Summon Letters when an allegation has been made against that individual.

The late Dr. Walter Rodney

He said during the course of the inquiry, the Opposition Leader’s name has only been called once, stating that he was the “point man” in the Guyana Defence Force after the death of Dr Rodney. He said, however, that there is

nothing yet to cause the Commission to go in that direction. When that happens, Granger, and any other person may become persons of interest.

He said the Commission still has to carry out some further research relating to Dr Rodney’s death.

According to him, the body still has to look into the report files of the Police who carried out the investigation during the time.

Hanoman noted too that the Commission is actively pursuing the accumulation of all pertinent files from the Guyana Defence Force as promised at the last session.

Lawyer for the Guyana National Trades Union Congress (GTUC)

Selwyn Pieters last Thursday had strongly condemned the work carried out by the Commission, regarding the efficient documentation of evidence to be tendered at the inquiry.

His argument was that all important documents should have been secured for the work of the Commission. It was while McLean was being shown a document by Hanoman purportedly to be a payroll sheet with Gregory Smith’s name listed, that the objection was made. McLean had claimed that the “pay sheet” was obviously a “cut and paste”, although every effort was made by Hanoman to prove that it had indeed come from an original book from the continued on page 17

news Devaluation of Barbados dollar looming - former PM

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RI D G E T O WN, BARBADOS: The Barbados dollar, the third highest in the English-speaking Caribbean, could soon be devalued, according to former prime minister Owen Arthur, who wants government to tell the people what the country faces.

Arthur made the comments Sunday night against a backdrop of Barbados last week suffering a downgrade from Ba3 to B3 by international financial rating agency Moody’s, and amidst government’s cost-cutting efforts to tame a runaway deficit.

“Our fiscal situation at its worst should have been five percent of GDP,” Arthur said, adding, “But the government and [Finance Minister] Sinckler reported to parliament that it was 11, so it is twice as bad as its worst case scenario.

“Moody’s is telling us that it had to downgrade Barbados by three notches because the Central Bank has been printing money and it is undermining and threaten-

Former Barbadian Prime Minister Owen Arthur

ing the stability of the Barbados dollar.”

The Barbados dollar at a fixed rate of US$0.50 cents is number three in the region behind the Cayman Islands and Bahamas dollars in that order.

Arthur’s comments came one day after Prime Minister Freundel Stuart had likened the Moody’s report to “garbage.”

Arthur urged the prime minister to seek advice before speaking on such matters to avoid bringing his office into disrepute.

(Excerpted from Caribbean News)

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WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

World Bank projects 4.4% growth for Guyana T

he World Bank Group has projected a 4.4 per cent growth for Guyana this year, but forecasts lower increases of 3.5 per cent and 3.6 per cent for 2015 and 2016 respectively.

In its latest global outlook report, the Bank said growth remained broadly flat in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2013, reflecting stable or declining commodity prices, the continued slowdown in China, the drop in first quarter US GDP growth and domestic challenges.

The Bank said Regional weakness carries over from 2013, weighing on merchandise exports in a number of countries. First-quarter data for Brazil, Mexico and Peru was also weak, reflecting a variety of influences including the weather-related decline in US GDP, the Chinese slowdown, and the recent tax increase in Mexico.

Key currencies

Despite the few weak outturns in the first quarter, industrial activity in early 2014 suggests a pickup in Regional growth. Depreciations of Regional currencies in the wake of the United States announcement of tapering intentions in May 2013 have persisted in 2014, with key currencies all remaining below their April 2013 level.

Despite the mid-2013 financial volatility, gross capital flows to the Region have increased, especially into domestic bond markets.

While still generally low across the

Region, inflation, being imported through depreciated exchange rates, has also been elevated in a handful of countries. Monetary tightening in Brazil to contain such inflationary pressures continued through the second half of 2013, and contributed to the ongoing slowdown and dampened growth in Regional trading partners. In many countries, fiscal and monetary policies remained accommodative in an effort to support growth.

However, the World Bank said Regional growth is expected to strengthen steadily from 1.9

per cent in 2014, to 2.9 per cent in 2015 and 3.5 per cent in 2016.

“The recovery that is taking hold in advanced countries will increasingly support regional exports, as well as increase tourism receipts and remittances to the Region,” the Bank said.

In addition, depreciated local currencies in much of the Region may help countries gain market share as global trade growth accelerates. Capital flows are expected to slow initially as monetary tightening in the United States continues but are expected to resume continued on page 19

14

news

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

APNU criticises govt’s inaction on suicide A

mid rising cases of suicide in Guyana, the main Opposition, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) said any “halfbaked” approach to tackling this scourge would not be enough and the Government needs to analyse the root causes of the problem and develop public health initiatives for persons who are likely to be affected.

Chairman of the coalition, Brigadier (retired) David Granger said part of any strategy must include the provision of recreational facilities so young adults can meaningfully engage themselves.

Granger was at the time addressing media operatives at a press briefing last Friday. He said it is time the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government act with a comprehensive plan to alleviate this public health issue.

The Opposition Leader said the Government must “end its indifference and inaction towards the ‘contagion’ of juvenile suicide which seems to be plaguing Guyana. The PPP/C Administration’s complacency towards suicide has been a contributory factor to the continuation of the crisis. It must now demonstrate the leadership needed to curb the spate of suicides in this country”.

Granger highlighted that although several projects were implemented by the Government to tackle the issue, they were woefully inadequate, in that the programmes did not operate to capacity and failed to

Opposition Leader David Granger

carry out its remits.

Studies

Granger made reference to several studies conducted locally on the issue of suicide, which have in the most parts showed that persons who knew of someone who committed suicide were likely to commit the act as well.

He said Government should pay attention to those patterns and include that knowledge in the fight against the public scourge. “There is a crisis of hopelessness,” said Granger.

news

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week ending June 15, 2014| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Gov’t wants better Kuwait’s Emir bids farewell to outgoing Guyanese Ambassador Lottery deal

Guyana Lottery Company General Manager Tracy Lewis

A

fter some 17 years of the Canadian Bank Note Company Limited operating the lottery in Guyana, the Guyana Government may now be looking at putting the contract out to tender to possibly get “a better deal”.

“They have been here for a long time.

Maybe there should be some consideration in going out back to tender to see if we can get a better deal on that,” President Donald Ramotar told reporters at a press conference at State House on Saturday. The Guyana Lottery Company Limited is owned by Canadian Bank Note Company Limited, a company which supplies printed products and related issuing and control systems. The contract to operate a lottery was given to the Company in August 1996 by the late Dr Cheddi Jagan.

Under the agreement, the Guyana Lottery Company pays to the Government of Guyana a licence fee of 24 per cent of gross revenues, less any additional fees and taxes.

It is not clear how much money has been turned over to Government since the Guyana Lottery Company has been in existence, as Guyana Times International was told that General Manager Tracy Lewis was out of the country and there was no one else to furnish those figures. Efforts to contact Finance Secretary Nirmal Rekha were also futile.

However, in 2011, the Guyana Lottery Company said it had given out over Gy$8 billion in prizes and raised just under Gy$4.5 billion for Government.

The Company had

also disclosed that it provides direct employment for 34 persons and business opportunities for approximately 80 retail agents. “We have worked wonderfully well in partnership with the Government of Guyana,” the Company said in a statement in October 2011.

Whether that partnership with Government has since soured is unclear, but President Ramotar said the fact that Government is considering putting the contract back out to tender is the reason for the parent company of the Guyana Lottery Company not being given a long-term contract.

Consolidated Fund

One of the arguments the Opposition has long been making is that the revenue generated from the Guyana Lottery Company should be put into the Consolidated Fund. The Opposition has alleged that the money is instead put into a special fund controlled by the Office of the President.

It is also being argued by the Opposition that the revenue from the Guyana Lottery Company is subject to Article 216 of the Constitution of Guyana which requires that “All revenues or other monies raised or received by Guyana (not being revenues or other monies that are payable, by or under an Act of Parliament, into some other fund established for any specific purpose or that may, by or under such an Act, be retained by the authority that received them for the purpose of defraying the expenses of that authority) shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Fund.”

H o w e v e r , Government’s legal minds have argued that the funds received from the Guyana Lottery Company were not required to be deposited into the Consolidated Fund.

The Guyana Lottery Company was re-launched in 2011 with a new online lottery system and terminals. It had said then that the expected growth of the lottery would generate more jobs and more revenue for the Government and “for all the worthwhile causes for years to come”.

O

utgoing Ambassador of Guyana to Kuwait, Dr Odeen Ishmael, recently met with the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah, who expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Guyanese envoy for fostering closer ties between Guyana and Kuwait.

The Emir of Kuwait in his meeting with Ishmael also expressed his optimism for increasing cooperation at political, economic and cultural levels with Guyana.

Ishmael also met with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah, who expressed hope that Guyana’s next Ambassador to Kuwait will continue to enhance Kuwait-Guyana relations, as Ishmael has done in the past three-and-a-half years.

Ishmael was also Guyana’s Ambassador to the US and Venezuela. He will retire at the end of June when he officially

Outgoing Ambassador of Guyana to Kuwait, Dr Odeen Ishmael (L), bidding farewell to the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al-Saba in the presence of his staffers

leaves his post in Kuwait City.

Ishmael was appointed Ambassador to Kuwait in 2011, where he worked diligently to raise Guyana’s profile in the Middle East.

Ishmael, a proponent of Middle Eastern ties, was instrumental in Guyana joining the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as a permanent member. This membercontinued on page 20

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17 Tourism Minister visits Spain to market ‘Destination Guyana’ A news

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

cting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali is in Spain wooing European tourists as he tries to take Destination Guyana to a new level.

Guyana has been recently invited to become a member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), and the Minister, during a presentation at the Executive Council, spoke extensively about investment opportunities available in Guyana.

According to a release, Ali in marketing Guyana, highlighted ways in which the country through collaboration, could tap into non-traditional tourism markets.

He pointed out that recently, the arrival of Copa Airlines in Guyana has brought the possibility of Guyana reaching tourism markets in Latin and South America.

Several airlines have also begun to operate in Guyana, all of which would add to the tourism product and make Guyana more accessible to tourists.

The invitation to Guyana came after the 98th session of the UNWTO Executive Council meeting in Spain, which highlighted the role of tourism routes in promoting regional integration and development.

time ago, but the bigger plan was to establish a Regional Marketing Fund, which can benefit the entire Region since all countries in the Region are facing challenges pertaining to

Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali being greeted

by UNWTO’s Secretary General Taleb Rifai at the World Tourism Organisation Head Office in Spain

The Council debated key factors to stimulate tourism growth such as visa facilitation and air connectivity, while outlining the role the tourism sector can play in the sustainable development agenda.

UNWTO’s membership includes 156 countries, six associate members and over 400 affiliate members, representing the private sector, educational institutions and tourism associations.

Promotion

As the leading international organisation in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a major contributor towards economic growth, all inclusive development and environmental sustainability.

The organisation of-

fers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. UNWTO is tasked with the responsibility of promoting responsible sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

UNWTO’s Secretary General Taleb Rifai emphasised the important role tourism plays, pointing out that the sector contributes nine per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This news of the invitation to Guyana comes on the heels of Ali revealing that the Ministry is presently holding talks with tourism operators to establish a National Tourism Marketing Fund, to support their work.

According to Ali, the idea was mooted some

Subpoenaing witnesses...

from page 12

Army.

Hanoman was seeking to prove that although McLean had claimed that murder accused Gregory Smith had “deserted” the Force during the time Dr Rodney was killed, the pay sheet has proven that he was in fact still a serving member of the military body.

Pieters suggested that an adjournment be made until the original copies of the document are presented. Mc Lean was excused from the witness stand until such time as cross-examination into his testimony could be continued.

Mc Lean was also shown an account form by the Commission’s Counsel bearing GDF number (APP 1954), indicating that the Army had transferred weapons to the House of Israel, a claim made by one of the organisation’s former leaders Joseph Hamilton.

This claim, Mc Lean denied, although the weap-

ons were commonly used by the Defence Force.

After the back and forth, Hanoman promised to make every effort to secure the documents from the Army’s Defence Board.

He told this publication that before returning Mc Lean to the stand, an official from the Army will first rise to authenticate the original documents.

M e a n w h i l e , Hanoman related that the Commission may have to resort to audio visual links for some overseas witnesses, including Rodney’s widow, Patricia, who has not returned to Guyana since the death of her husband. He said so far he knows of about six overseas witnesses who are scheduled to testify.

They were expected to testify at the next hearing, however, this may have to be shifted since the Commission is still to recall Mc Lean to com-

plete his evidence.

marketing of their tourism products.

He, however, stated that after it was realised that Guyana has huge potential in becoming a leading tourism destination and enough was

not being done to market and compete with what is being offered on the regional and international levels, a National Marketing Fund was thought to be the best solution.

18 news GECOM makes strong case for ‘limits’ on campaign financing G

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

uyana Elections Commission ( G E C O M )

Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally said there must be limits on cam-

paign financing, lest the country runs the risk of becoming a “narco-

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander

state”.

Responding to a question posed by the Co-Chair of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) Mike Mc Cormack, during a Public Local Government Forum organised by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Dr Surujbally said campaign financing has been on the table for an extensive period.

Mc Cormack questioned whether there is an effective system in place to prevent wealthy families from buying the elections, given the new Local Government Elections System whereby individuals can contest for posts. Dr Surujbally responded that this issue was not limited to Local

Government Elections but encompassed General Elections as well.

According to him, if the financing of election campaigns remain unlimited, the state can be infiltrated by drug lords or criminal elements.

Though the battle has been a rough one, Dr Surujbally stressed that a system must be institutionalised to put a brake on campaign financing. “We must, with all the wars, we must because if we don’t, the effects would be very destructive to the state,” Dr Surujbally stressed.

Regulation of political parties

In May 2013, the Organisation of American States (OAS) hosted a symposium in Barbados where 42 participants, representing electoral management bodies, governing and Opposition parties from 14 OAS member states in the Caribbean, discussed measures to strengthen the regulation of political parties and political financing in the Region. Recently, a similar meeting was held in Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr Surujbally observed, however, that despite all these efforts, the US Supreme Court ruled last month that it was unconstitutional to put a cap on overall campaign contributions.

In April, the landmark judgment was made in favour of Alabama businessman Shaun McCutcheon, who funded 16 Republicans in 2012 but was prevented from supporting more by a US$46,200 cap on overall contributions.

The argument put forward by the administration that lifting the aggregate limit would be a bigger infringement on the free speech of ordinary voters who cannot

afford to influence politics in the same way was shot down.

Dr Surujbally cited this ruling made

by Chief Justice John Roberts, even as he pointed that the OAS is heavily financed by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Although acknowledging the rising challenges in curbing campaign financing, the Chairman said GECOM continues to search for methodologies and criteria to put a cap on the financing of election campaigns.

OAS has embarked on a project which seeks to design a methodology to observe systems for political campaign financing as part of the Electoral Observation Missions the OAS deploys in member states.

In addition, the methodology will include a gender perspective which is designed to differentiate between women and men in terms of access to political and electoral financing.

Inadequate laws

G E C O M Commissioner Vincent Alexander, who formed part of the panel during Tuesday’s forum at the Pegasus Hotel, said Guyana’s law on campaign financing is “inadequate”. The weakness of the law is further compounded by breaches of the law which have been observed over the years.

“GECOM works with the law that is given to it, but we really don’t have something to work with at this point in time,” Alexander said in response to the question posed by Mc Cormack.

“I don’t think we have seen the political will at the level of the legislature to put in place laws that will really deal with the question of control of the financing,” he added.

While the Chairman of GECOM was a member of the audience, Alexander sat alongside GECOM Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield as part of the panel which in detail explained the new components of Guyana’s Local Government System with primary focus placed on Proportional Representation and the old electoral system of First Past the Post.

GCCI President Lance Hinds and immediate past President Clinton Urling were also among officials at the head table.

News

19

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

World Bank projects 4.4% ... from page 13

their growth in 2015/16.

These flows will fuel domestic demand, especially fixed investment across the Region. This coupled with the continued robust investment growth along the Pacific coast of South America, will lift Regional growth in the medium term.

On the other hand, the slowdown in China and the extended decline in commodity prices will weigh on exports, export revenues and also investment to keep growth around potential. Overall, with largely closed output gaps and limited excess capacity, there is little scope for sustained accelerations in growth, without generating macroeconomic imbalances.

The outlook for the Region is subject to a number of downside risks. A sharp or disorderly slowdown in China could result in a protracted slump in commodity prices, thereby eroding Regional exports and government revenues.

Investment, especially in mining industries, would fall, providing an additional drag on overall economic growth. Venezuela is currently experiencing

high inflation, along with a number of other macroeconomic imbalances and microeconomic distortions, and could see investment contract and slow sharply. Argentina has an uncertain economic outlook but the recent agreements on Paris Club debt, settlement with Repsol, and efforts to strengthen national statistics introduce upside risks to the outlook.

Credit conditions

From a more stable condition, Brazil, the Region’s largest economy, with its tighter credit conditions, weakened investor confidence and microeconomic structural impediments, is expected to remain in a low but still positive growth environment in the short-run.

The baseline forecast assumes a soft slowdown in growth for these economies this year, and a gradual improvement in 2015 and 2016. Given the systemic nature of these economies in the Region, a sharper-than-expected slowdown in one or more of these three economies would have a ripple effect on growth across the Region.

Cops on remand for shooting teen in mouth

- mother of victim determined to get justice

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he Police Officer accused of shooting 15-year-old Alex Griffith in the mouth during a bout of Russian roulette-styled interrogation, and a colleague were on Monday arraigned before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Cadet Officer Franz Paul and Police Corporal Baichan Singh, both attached to the Mahaicony Police Station, were jointly charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice on May 1 and were placed on Gy$150,000 bail each, after pleading not guilty.

The court was told that the number one accused’s sister was robbed, and during the investigations, the Cadet Officer and a party of Policemen arrested Griffith. The Cadet Officer then allegedly placed a firearm to Griffith’s mouth and he subsequently was shot. A report was later made to the Police and an investigation was launched.

After the shooting, 31-year-old Baichan Singh, who has served in the Guyana Police Force since 2003, allegedly took the arms and ammunition book from the Mahaicony Police Station, which is used by Police ranks to book in and out ammunition, and gave it to the number one accused for him to alter the entries.

Paul, of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, was slapped with three additional

Police Corporal Baichan Singh

Cadet Officer Franz Paul

charges. On the charge of unlawfully assaulting Alex Griffith on April 30, the defendant pleaded not guilty and was granted Gy$75,000 bail. He also pleaded not guilty to the charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm to Griffith, and with intent to maim, disfigures and disable, discharging a firearm at the teen. He was refused bail on these two charges and remanded to prison.

In his objection to bail, Prosecutor Stephen Telford cited the seriousness of the matter and asked the court to take into con-

sideration that efforts were made to pervert the course of justice.

However, Defence Attorneys Roger Yearwood and Aroon Gajraj stated that no evidence was given by the prosecution to indicate that their clients are flight risks.

The Police Prosecutor requested that the men return to Court on June 30 for statements.

Speaking with this newspaper, the victim’s mother stated that she believes she did the right thing in letting the matter pass through the system, as she is determined to get justice for her son.

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NEWS

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

from page 15

Startling revelations Kuwait’s Emir coming out of Rodney CoI bids farewell...

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Attorney General Anil Nandlall

hy Guyana descended from its rich potential in the early 1970s to a deadly state, whereby by in 1980, the nation saw committed in its capital city, Georgetown, the worst political assassination in the history of the English-speaking Caribbean?

Now, revelations coming out of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into how and why Dr Rodney suffered such an ignoble death grip the nation with fascination and shock.

When world-renowned scholar, Dr Walter Rodney was assassinated in a bomb blast in his car in

Georgetown on June 13, 1980, the Guyanese nation had descended to a dark, deadly depth, with sinister and mysterious undercurrents.

Never again

Now, 34 years later, the Government of Guyana has convened a Commission of Inquiry to probe that dark period of the nation’s history.

Despite an international outcry and whispers of political conspiracy and citizens speculating on allegations of how and why Dr Rodney was killed, Guyana, for decades, never inquired into why the nation had sunk to such a dysfunctional social depth.

State witness, Joseph Hamilton, last week

Former Army Chief, Major General Norman McClean

told the Commission he agreed to testify because he wants to reveal what he knows of that dark period “of the country’s history. I don’t want to see this country live through that ever again. I want young people to know the history, and to never repeat it. I want to clear my conscience, to be free”.

He was echoing the goal of one of the Terms of Reference of the Commission’s work, which seeks to establish the climate and atmosphere in Guyana in the period 1978–1980, which would have caused and resulted in the death of outstanding international scholar and populist political leader, Dr Rodney.

The Walter Rodney CoI comprises three distinguished legal minds of the Caribbean, who in the two sessions of its sitting have established a professional, rational and impartial reputation. The Commission’s credibility across the Guyanese nation, both in the diaspora and locally, is now soundly intact, with citizens paying keen attention to the testimonies, witness accounts and revelations of mind-blowing political intrigue.

PNC’s resistance

The Commissioners, eminent legal scholar from Barbados Sir Richard Cheltenham, outstanding legal luminary from Jamaica, Jacqueline SamuelsBrown, and distinguished legal intellectual from Trinidad and Tobago, Seenath Jairam, have gained the respect of all Counsel appearing at the Commission.

The Commissioners have gained the praise of all Counsel involved in the Commission’s work, as demonstrating impartial professionalism and a keen sense of gathering continued on page 21

ship and the opening of the Embassy in Kuwait, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, has improved Guyana’s profile in the Persian Gulf.

As results of these activities, Rodrigues-Birkett said that there has been an increase in visits and economic interest in Guyana.

“We have also received indication from the Saudi Arabian Government that they want to send a team of investors to Guyana and they have invited a team from our end so we are working with them on that,” she said.

Ishmael’s efforts also saw the participation of the Kuwait Fund in funding feasibility studies for the East Coast Demerara Four-lane Road Project in Guyana.

Now the potential exists for the fund’s support for other developmental projects in Guyana.

Expanded profile

The presence of the Ambassador in the region expanded Guyana’s profile in the Gulf. One of the results is the recent visit of the Emirates aviation authorities to Guyana. There are also closer links with the OIC Secretariat. As well, there is faster consular assistance for Guyanese residing in Gulf countries, according to Ishmael.

While in the Persian Gulf, Ishmael was Guyana’s non-resident Ambassador to Qatar as well. In April 2013, he met the crown-prince of Qatar, who is now the Emir.

While he was Guyana’s envoy to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Ishmael was Chairman of the Permanent Council of the OAS for two separate terms. During the period 1993-2003, when he was Ambassador to the US, Guyana and Washington enjoyed the best bilateral relations in their history.

Ishmael was awarded the Martin Luther King Award for international service in 2002, and in 1997, he was awarded Guyana’s Cacique Crown of Honour. A joint resolution of the US Congress in October 2003 paid tribute to him prior to his departure from Washington.

While he was Ambassador to Venezuela, Ishmael was elected Chairman of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System, the 28-member organisation based in Caracas. Ishmael maintained very positive Guyana-Venezuela relations between 20032011. During his term in Venezuela, he was on a small committee that drafted the PetroCaribe agreement. As well, during his term in Venezuela, Guyana secured a lucrative rice market with Caracas.

Ishmael has been a leading political analyst on South American integration issues since 2003. He is the author of numerous books, and articles in journals, and newspapers. He plans to write more and is working on a few upcoming publications.

NEWS

21

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NICIL denies funding Specialty Hospital, airport expansion projects

T

he National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) said it has absolutely no connection with the development projects for the construction of the Specialty Hospital and expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

NICIL made the pronouncement following a report published in another section of the press on Saturday, in which Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan reportedly said the entity is paying the contractors executing the Specialty Hospital and CJIA Expansion projects.

According to the news report, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Leader David Granger supported the view proffered by Ramjattan.

Ramjattan reportedly told the newspaper that his investigations revealed that the contractors are being paid up to date, through NICIL. But, NICIL said the claim is false.

“NICIL considers the statements by Mr Ramjattan, as disclosed by the newspaper, as dishonest, reckless and highly irresponsible,” the release said.

The combined parliamentary Opposition in April, using its one-seat majority, voted against the Gy$109 million budget allocation for the Specialty Hospital Project proposed under the Health Ministry.

This action by the Opposition resulted in the disapproval of several other areas under the line item, Regional and Clinical Services Capital Expenditures, while the Current Expenditures for this programme were approved.

This programme had contained seven sectors, including the Specialty Hospital, which were all voted against, in light of the January 29 ruling of acting Chief Justice Ian Chang that the

– President Ramotar says venture yet another sign of investors’ confidence in local economy

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

National Assembly does not have the right to cut or amend the national budget, but can only approve or disapprove of it, line item by line item.

Government had also blasted the Opposition for voting down the entire transport section’s budgetary allocation of Gy$5.6 billion for the Public Works Ministry.

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn had said that areas such as the Ogle International Airport Expansion Project, the purchasing of key equipment for the CJIA and the CJIA Expansion Project, along with repairs and maintenance to hinterland airstrips would be adversely affected.

Works on the two projects are ongoing, and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon had said that the workers are hoping to be paid sooner, rather than later.

Startling revelations coming out of ... from page 20

the truth.

The People’s National Congress (PNC) has resisted calls to probe the assassination, and now distances itself from the Commission’s probe, claiming that the current ruling People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) convened the Commission for its own political motives.

Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, in an invited comment, said he rejects the PNC’s claims, noting that the investigation is “long overdue”.

“The Guyanese people want closure on this terrible period. It is high time we conduct a thorough investigation into the atmosphere and state of the country that would have caused Dr Rodney to be killed.

This was under the PNC Government that such a horrible thing happened. They must face the Guyanese citizenry, and stop finding excuses.

We carried this burden too long. It is time the Guyanese people know the truth.”

Dynamic Airways enters Guyana market

The Commission’s work sees the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) also coming under the microscope, as Dr Rodney was leader of that party when he was assassinated.

Co-Leader of the WPA, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, pays keen attention to the Commission’s daily hearings, and sits through the entire day in the audience. He is due to testify.

Now an active Member of Parliament representing the WPA in a political alliance with the PNC in the Parliamentary grouping A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Dr Roopnarine holds the position of Deputy Leader to APNU’s leader, Brigadier David Granger, who is also leader of the PNC. Granger’s name was mentioned in testimony from ex-Army Chief, Major General McLean, last Thursday.

Granger

McLean testified that Granger was a “point man” between the Army

and Police after the fatal Dr Rodney bomb blast.

Despite the Commission’s hearing being 34 years after the actual event of the Rodney assassination, many of the political, Army, Police and other leaders of the period under probe are around.

The Commission has adjourned its sittings, to be resumed June 23 next.

It is the first time in this country’s history that an international Commission of Inquiry of this magnitude and historical significance has been convened. Attorney General Nandlall said he is honoured that President Donald Ramotar has convened the Commission under his watch as Minister of Legal Affairs, and noted that the Government of Guyana wants to see, coming out of the Commission, a full and detailed report of how and why Guyana got to a point where its political leaders were in fear of their lives, and one was so brutally killed.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Harmon interacting with President Donald Ramotar at the launch

T

he formal launch of Dynamic Airways was welcomed

by President Donald Ramotar, who described the move as another sign of strong confidence in the local economy.

Delivering the feature address to mark the occasion at Duke Lodge, Kingston, Georgetown, the President said the airline will help to also lower fares as it offers more competition in the Aviation Sector.

“I think this new venture, when it gets on stream, it will make a major contribution, not only to make it easier, but I hope we’ll get the same ease in our people moving to the different destinations that we will go to,” he said. “It will increase arrivals and improve tourism, develop agriculture and make a bigger contribution to the development of our society.”

The company’s operations will be handled locally by their agent, Roraima Airways. The new venture is something that will be good for all Guyanese, he added.

He noted that the company will boost tourism and it is his hope that in so doing, more of the “tourist dollars” would remain in Guyana to further its development unlike other nations where 80 to 90 per cent of every dollar spent leaves the country.

Vote of confidence

A call was also made for more local produce to be utilised, to stimulate more agriculture development.

Echoing the President’s words, Public Works Minister Robeson

Benn described the venture as a vote of confidence in Guyana, particularly at this “precarious time of how we see ourselves as Guyanese”, both in the Parliament and outside of it.

“Perhaps we are in a situation where we think we run the risk of bringing to a halt the development opportunities, the growth that we have in our country that we want to avoid all of this as Guyanese, and we are particularly happy when a foreign operation such as this, a significant one in the air transport sector, would give us this vote of confidence,” he said.

Minister Benn added that he is looking forward to the flights, good service, sustainable optimised ticketing and seeing an enduring partnership that would help to further expand the aviation market. Mention was made of the expansion plans for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, which will all help the country to grow.

For Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, “It was another good thing for Guyana”.

The Minister said the capacity of the airline’s fleet of 767 jets will help to boost the agricultural capacity with their expansive cargo capabilities.

Also delivering remarks, acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, said that the developments occurring are not just rhetoric.

“Copa could not be rhetoric, Copa is here, Dynamic is not rhetoric, Dynamic is here, the

new airport project is not rhetoric, it is ongoing, the Marriott Hotel is not rhetoric, it is ongoing.

“Guyana is moving forward, we are moving forward regardless of which side of the political divide we may fall.

This country belongs to all of us, the future belongs to all of us, and we all have a moral and ethical responsibility to leave something behind,” said Minister Ali He further called on those gathered to recommit themselves to national patriotic development.

The new airline will also help to boost the arrivals for the upcoming Guyana festival and tourism in general, the Minister added as he thanked all of the staffers and stakeholders who made the venture possible.

Dynamic Airways Chief Business Development Vice President Tom Johnson outlined the company’s plans to hire as many local staffers as possible and described the venture as a great partnership. He also thanked all of those who made the launch possible and said that it was only done due to a dynamic team.

The US-registered airline, is gearing to commence New York and Toronto-bound flights from Guyana by monthend. The airline, which offers chartered and scheduled flights across the US and other international destinations, will offer increased cargo capacity particularly for produce, and is the latest to come on board the Guyana route, to capitalise on the busy peak summer season.

22 news President says gov’t will continue to pursue Amaila Falls project G WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

uyana’s premier trade fair, GuyExpo, was launched at the Georgetown International Conference Centre with President Donald Ramotar and acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, urging sustained growth and development in core areas from Guyana’s private sector.

Addressing the gathering of entrepreneurs and potential exhibitors at the launching ceremony, President Ramotar underscored the need for the private sector to invest in Guyana’s tourism and natural resources sectors, noting that the private sector plays a pivotal role in Guyana’s economic well-being.

The president further related that the government will continue

from the availability of a cheaper source of energy.

“It is a very important infrastructure and that is why we have been working so hard to get the Amaila Falls project” off the ground and operational said President Ramotar.

Further, the President urged continued partnerships between the government and the private sector in tackling projects that would be of benefit to Guyana.

Private Public Partnership

President Donald Ramotar addressing the launch

to be unyielding in its pursuit of cheaper energy via the Amaila Falls Hydropower project. “We will never have a strong manufacturing and industrial sector unless we have a cheap source of energy” noted the

President.

It was with that mindset, he contended, that the Amaila Falls Project would bring much needed change to Guyana’s energy sector not only for businesses, but also for citizens who will benefit

'I need my money'

Finger-rape victim Shanique Myrie growing impatient with Barbados

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AMAICA: Eight months after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that Jamaican Shanique Myrie be awarded damages for an illegal cavity search, detention in a dank room in the Grantley Adams Airport, and subsequent deportation, she is yet to collect a cent.

In October last year, the CCJ ruled that Myrie should be paid US$38,620 in pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages by the Barbadian government.

Myrie expressed frustration Monday and said the Barbadian government was deliberately dragging its feet.

"I am getting impatient. I can't understand why after eight months I can't even hear a word about what's happening about the money. It seems they want to wait until I get grandchildren. It's just not fair," Myrie told Jamaican media.

Myrie's plight came to international light after the media chronicled how she was violated by a female immigration official and locked away with another woman in a cold, filthy room before being deported to Jamaica, despite not being found with any contraband or deemed to be in violation of any Barbadian law.

"It was not easy for me to come forward and speak about the treatment. I am encouraging others to speak out for their rights, so this is what I am doing now. I need my money," she said.

As a party to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, Barbados has a duty to comply with all the judgements of the court promptly. But based on Myrie's long wait it seems that Bridgetown is snub-

Jamaican Shanique Myrie (Jamaica Observer photo)

bing its nose at the court.

Three months ago, Jamaica's Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister AJ Nicholson said a five-month wait was by no means long. He added that Jamaica was holding Barbadian Prime Minister Freundel Stuart to his word that his country is committed to complying with the CCJ ruling.

The Myrie case threatened to spark a diplomatic row between both countries and saw a slew of other Jamaicans coming forward to claim mistreatment at the hands of Barbadian officials.

Another Jamaican woman, who was held with illegal drugs and sentenced to prison time, complained that she was raped by a cop and forced to perform oral sex on another.

The woman also accused a female cop of aiding and abetting her male colleagues in carrying out the sexual assault on her.

The woman cop and one of the males have since been charged, while another has fled the country. (Jamaica Observer)

He noted that the government is in pursuit of more areas to develop Private Public Partnerships (PPPs), much like the Berbice Bridge Company which has been a resounding success according to the president.

He noted too that

another Private Public Partnership project was the controversial Marriott Hotel project which is scheduled for completion in the latter part of this year.

The president said that he is sure that the Marriott Project will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor in the PPP arrangement, that is, the Berbice Bridge Company.

This advent, he stressed will increase Guyana’s capacity to develop as a nation.

Meanwhile, Acting Tourism Minister Ali also underlined the need for private sector investments and partnerships to maximise capacity and production out of resources available.

These investments, he stressed, will “capture what is taking place

in Guyana…changing the outlook of Guyana, changing the outlook of business and changing business standards” said Ali. This year’s GuyExpo is being held under the theme: “Transformation: Partnering For A Better Guyana” and will follow the trend of a long history of successful trade expositions.

It was noted at the opening ceremony however that this year, less emphasis will be placed on the entertainment aspect of the trade exposition as was the case in the previous years.

Emphasis will be placed on small businesses and its exhibits.

It is expected that this year will see the largest number of exhibitors in comparison to the other years.

UK presses Guyana to hold Local Gov’t Elections

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ritish High Commissioner to Guyana Andrew Ayre has added his voice to the numerous calls for the holding of Local Government Elections in Guyana, saying that the political gains of the country as a democracy are “under threat” due to the delay in holding the poll.

Local Government Elections were last held in Guyana in 1994. “The decision to not have Local Government Elections is a stain on Guyana’s international standing.

Not only are the reasons given a clear breach of Guyana’s constitution, they are also a clear breach of the Commonwealth charter” said the British High Commissioner.

Speaking at a reception to celebrate the birth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth at his residence, Ayre maintained that the United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the calls by the other bodies national, regional, and international bodies for local government polls.

“In years past, I have rightly reflected on the progress Guyana has made. But those democratic gains are under threat,” Ayre said.

He then reiterated the call on behalf of the government of the United Kingdom for Guyana’s government to without any hindrance, issue the command for the hosting of the elections.

He said: “The UK again calls on Guyana’s government to deliver now what it is supposed to do every three years and what was

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre cutting the cake at the reception (Marceano Narine photo)

in the manifesto of all three parties ahead of the 2011 elections: local elections.”

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who was also speaking at the event, said that the government is cognizant of the effects of not hosting local government elections. “On the issue of Local Government Elections, I thank you for your interest, but bearing in mind the occasion this evening I would like to keep this issue local… the issue will be resolved fully” he said.

Last week, the United States of America Ambassador to Guyana Brendt Hardt made a similar call for the government to host local government elections as soon as possible. The issue of local government elections has been one of pivotal concern to many Guyanese and foreign bodies who have repeatedly urged the government to issue the order for local gov-

ernment elections.

Although four bills which are critical for the hosting of Local Government elections were passed in the National Assembly, only three were assented to by President Donald Ramotar. The fourth has been deemed unconstitutional by the President.

However, despite several calls from the OppositionA Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) as well as the passage of a motion in the National Assembly for local government polls to be held by August 1, Ramotar has not budged.

At a recent press conference, PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee said the government stands ready for the hosting of the elections. However, he opined that it is the Opposition parties that are not ready for the critical polls to take place.

news WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014

New Guyana School student tops National Grade Six Exams

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ew Guyana School pupil Jorrel De Santos has topped this year’s Grade Six examination, it was announced on Thursday morning. He topped the country (Guyana) with 533 marks.

Aliah Mohamed, a student of School of the Nations secured second place with 531 marks while Ravi Singh, a student of Westfield Prep, sealed the third spot with 530 marks.

Isaac Mallampati, of the News Guyana School, gained fourth place with the 527 marks and Analise Samaroo, of School of the Nations, earned 525 marks, securing the fifth position in the country.

Krystal Singh, of Success Elementary, Jeremiah Bentham, of Winfer Gardens Primary, and Jeron Boucher, of Genesis Early Childhood, tied for sixth place with 524 marks.

The ninth place was grabbed

by Shania De Groot of Success Elementary and Reuben Stanley of Mae’s Under 12, both scoring 523 marks.

The 11th spot was secured by six children with 522 marks: Aimee

Ali of Success Elementary, Thomas Singh of Marian Academy, Emily De Agrella of Mae’s under 12, Manoj Lachhman of Academy of Excellence, Amrita Ghandatt of Enmore Hope Primary and Arielle Lewis of St. Margaret’s Primary.

The 17th space was held by eight students who scored 521 marks: Reyad Yassin of Stella Maris Primary, Maria Shakoor of Graham’s Hall Primary, Rasheda Jefffrey of Green Acres Primary, Katelan Sugrim of Mae’s Under 12, Ethan Lee of Marian Academy, Amira Forde, Joshini Duncan and Yasoda Debidayal of Success Elementary.

The 25th position was sealed by 9 students who obtained 520 marks: Joash Prowell of Success Elementary, Saskia Cheong of Marian Academy, Paul Singh of the Dharmic Rama Krishna, Nusaibath Hussain of ISA Islamic, Andronicus King of the New Guyana School, Christal Craig of St. Agnes Primary, Samuela Bruce of Academy of Excellency, Nelisa Singh of Corneila Ida Primary and Alicialall Hiralall Windsor Forest Primary.

Media fraternity mourns passing of Roger Moore

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eteran broadcaster Roger Moore passed away at age 54 on Friday morning at his United Kingdom home after suffering a prolonged illness.

Moore was diagnosed with several chronic diseases such as diabetes and kidney failure among others.

Guyana Times International understands that he died at his London home around 01:53h surrounded by close relatives and a friend.

Roger Eamonn Floyd Moore began his broadcasting career at the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in 1982, where he worked until 1995 before moving on to HBTV Channel 9 station. During his 10-year tenure at the television station, Moore did work such as live programmes, talk shows, interviews, and anchored the news, along with producing documentaries.

The broadcaster was popularly known for his television talk show: “At Home with Roger”. He worked at the station up until 2005, when he migrated to the UK. GTI caught up with some of the veterans in the media fraternity who had worked with Moore and they shared their experiences and fondest thoughts of him.

Basil Bradshaw, said that Moore was a stalwart in Guyana’s broadcasting fraternity and took his work very seriously. He noted that while he was outspoken in his radio programmes, he became even more candid after getting into television broadcasting.

Bradshaw noted that Moore had a magnificent and attractive voice which made him a unique character within the broadcasting fraternity.

Enrico Woolford, expressed his sadness at the passing of Moore. He explained that Moore got into broadcasting because of his interests.

Woolford noted that he took his impending demise with great courage as he had done with issues in Guyana.

Woolford said that Moore was never afraid to see or say things that people were afraid to talk about. He added that the late broadcaster also had a humorous side which persons were

Veteran broadcaster Roger Moore

not aware of.

According to Denis Chabrol, Moore was an excellent radio broadcaster, who not only paid attention to details, but was also very versatile when it came to programming.

“He was also willing to offer advice and share his thoughts constructively with his colleagues and friends in the broadcasting fraternity. He was always very easy-going and had a good relationship with everyone at Broadcasting House,” Chabrol stated.

Gordon Moseley, also joined in expressing his condolences on the death of the late broadcaster. He said that Moore stood out as one of the most outstanding young broadcasters who quickly proved his ability to develop himself in the field.

“He would have moved on to become one of the most recognised voices on radio and a household name even after he moved on from GBC and started private projects; he stood out as a professional and always offered advice to new and emerging talent in the broadcasting field,” Moseley said.

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| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Cuba must be invited to Summit of the Americas – Rodrigues

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett making her point during the Summit Implementation Review Group last week

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oreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said Cuba must be invited to participate in the next Summit of the Americas in Panama without any preconditions.

The Minister made the comment at the meeting of the Summit Implementation Review Group on Thursday, during the Organisation of American States (OAS) Assembly in Paraguay, South America.

Her statement came after a suggestion by one member state that certain conditions must be attached for Cuba’s participation.

“Madame Chair, I am finding it a bit difficult to understand why we are discussing this

issue of Cuba’s presence at the summit. For Guyana, this is a non-issue and was already settled in Cartagena at the last summit. Cuba must be invited and there must be no conditionalities,” the Minister said.

This position was adumbrated by her colleagues in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

The Summit of the Americas is a continuing series of summits, bringing together the leaders of the Americas, including North America, Central America, the Caribbean and South America.

The function of these summits is to foster discussion of a variety of issues affecting the western hemisphere. These

high-level summit meetings have been organised by a number of multilateral bodies under the aegis of the OAS. In the early 1990s, what were formerly ad hoc summits came to be institutionalised into a regular “Summits of the Americas” conference programme.

At the 6th Summit of the Americas, numerous leaders from across the political spectrum said that the next summit must include Cuba. The ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas) states also added that they would boycott a summit without Cuba’s presence. A final declaration at the summit was also held up over the issue of Cuba.

Community could have been more vigilant to prevent... from page 5

ported to the Welfare Department that Adams was in trouble.

Juanita Burrowes, the Director of United Brick Layers, a New Amsterdam-based NGO, blamed the community in which Adams lived. The NGO Director said the community was not doing its job as watchdogs. Adams, was eulogised by her friend Loretta Drakes as a “smiling and talkative teen… always willing to carry out a task when called upon to do so”.

According to the dead girl’s mother, Maureen, in October of last year, she became aware of the relationship between the two. However, villagers say that the two were together for more than one year.

Sam’s father also said he was initially unaware of the relationship.

Burrowes told those at the funeral service that they need to stop keeping secrets for young people. “Speak out.

Stop encouraging youths to be involved in adult behaviour. You are responsible for her death. You saw, yet you said

nothing. You needed to be the community watchdog. Stop discriminating and be vigilant. Another life should not be snuffed out in this way…”

La Rose noted that nothing should be taken for granted. “If someone calls, you need to respond quickly. You need to listen to your children. Listen to the cries around you. Education should be foremost… I, therefore, call on the Ministry of Education, United Brick Layers and all stakeholders to rise up and fight for our youths. God has permitted this tragedy so that many others can be saved.”

She told the church which was filled to overflowing: “Our boys need to learn to walk away and live to face another day… Tamesha had her life, she wanted to walk away from the relationship, but he would not allow her.”

Meanwhile, Sam was laid to rest on Tuesday. Reports are that Sam’s family wanted to have one funeral service for the deceased couple, but the Adams family were not in favour of the idea.

24 News City Hall’s restoration Hundreds benefit from US Embassy’s medical outreach to start this year programme in Linden T WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014

hrough the efforts of the National Trust of Guyana, City Hall has been successfully selected for listing on its 2014-2016 World Monuments Watch List as a site at risk globally.

This enlistment aims to raise awareness at both international and global levels in an effort to promote and possibly aid in the safeguarding and long-term survival of this unique wooden historic structure.

The National Trust of Guyana, under the auspices of the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, with support from the World Monument Fund (WMF), held a Watch Day Forum last week aimed at raising awareness of City Hall for protection and promotion of this historic building.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the WMF is a private, international, non-profit organisation dedicated to the prevention of historic architecture and cultural sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grant marking and education.

The prestigious list offers recognition of the world’s most endangered sites. WMF will aid in its promotion as much as possible through international linkages and public awareness, through various mediums. Guyana is expected to raise local awareness among its stakeholders to ensure restoration of this site during and beyond the two-year listing period.

| guyanatimeSinternational.com

City Hall has been successfully selected for listing on its 2014-2016 World Monuments Watch List as a site at risk globally

Speaking at the event which was held at the Umana Yana, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony stated that he was pleased that City Hall was selected out of the 248 applications which were submitted to WMF. This is the first such listing for Guyana on this list.

Minister Anthony noted that City Hall was not even supposed to be selected, noting that this historic site should have been maintained. However, the site will be known globally, and will eventually have a positive effect on Guyana’s Tourism Sector.

Minister Anthony further noted that if this historic site disappears, it will be not only Guyana losing a valuable monument, but the entire world.

This year would mark 125 years since City Hall came into existence and over the years, this build-

ing would have provided a number of services to the people of the city and the country. Minister Anthony explained that the building had deteriorated, and last year, the TVA consultants came to Guyana and did a report, and from that report, a number of recommendations were made as it pertains to saving the building.

City Hall was designed by Father Ignatius Scholes. He was born in London and was elected an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1856. On December 23, 1887, under a tent, Governor, Sir Henry Turner Irving laid the foundation stone for City Hall. A mere 18 months later on July 1, 1889, under heavy rainfall before a gathering of 400 influential people, the new offices of the Council were declared open.

O

The team of medical personnel at the outreach

ver 300 residents from within the Linden community benefited from a twoday medical outreach programme on Saturday and Sunday, organised by the US Embassy’s H u m a n i t a r i a n Assistance Programme (HAP).

The outreach, which was headed by Dr Errol Bassoo, was conducted at the Bayroc Community Centre, Wismar.

HAP Director Ross Mahne said he was pleased with the response by residents, which were catered for in the areas of Gynaecology, P a e d i a t r i c s , Opthalmology (eyes), Obstetrics (pregnancy), General Medicine and Oncology (cancer), among others.

Pharmacists were also stationed at the site to hand out prescribed medication to patients.

The HAP has been con-

ducting similar countrywide medical outreaches in Guyana over the past years.

Mahne said patients who had their eyes tested and are in need of glasses are also set to benefit from a future donation of a hundred pairs of glasses under the programme’s first distribution phase.

“We’re trying to help the communities, to give them a hand up, that’s what our real focus is….

We are targeting the entire country, we’re going to keep up the pace so that we can help all communities across Guyana. We had a lot of children come in and the Opthalmology area was very popular. There were a lot of people coming in to have their eyes checked. I think it’s been a good response so far.

I’m very happy…. I’m glad because we really want to just help the

community,” he said.

Bayroc Community Centre Secretary Wanda Richmond said the centre has also benefited from a building extension through the kind gesture of the HAP. Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon said the medical outreach formed part of a health programme, which is being promoted by the US Embassy.

“We have in fact been looking at cases where persons are becoming more ill due to non-communicable diseases, but we have been given an opportunity, through the American Embassy, which we have a very good relationship, to continue to promote health and education,” he noted. Areas such as Corriverton, Kwakwani and Mabaruma have also benefited from similar outreach programmes.

Gov’t issues stern warning against rice cultivation along Canje River

D

rastic action will be taken against rice farmers along the Canje River who continue to contaminate the River, Region Six Chairman, David Armogan has said.

The livelihoods of some Canje River residents have been threatened as a result of farmers trying to take advantage of the recent boom in the rice industry by cultivating more lands. They have taken up rice lands beyond Manarabisi in the Black Bush Polder at Bamboo. Residents there use the water in the river for domestic purposes.

The farmers had been warned by Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy that they cannot disrupt the lives of residents and they had promised to ensure that the water from rice fields will not be pumped into the Canje River, but they have not kept their end

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

of the bargain and Armogan said firm action will be taken against the farmers.

The Chairman became aware of what is happening during a Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meeting last Thursday. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Councillor Corwin Crawford brought it to the attention of Councillors.

Corwin Crawford addressing the RDC and displaying a sample of the water from the Canje River

Holding a bottle of the discoloured water which was obtained from that part of the river, Crawford said that the

residents are suffering as they are forced to use the contaminated water. “I walked with a sample of water that

the residents have to drink.

This is the quality of water that rice farmers will have to reuse and I am sure that the next crop will be affected.”

Crawford noted that pump operators at Manarabisi are baffled as to whether they should pump the water inland so that farmers in the Black Bush Polder can use it.

He noted that the residents have already prepared a petition as they seek to have the rice farmers discontinue their operations there.

The Councillor also showed the RDC meeting a bottle of water which was collected from about one mile farther up the river. The water was clear and bore no resemblance to the first bottle which had a close look to that of molasses. Armogan said that the pump operators at Manarabisi also provided him with the same information.

News

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Porn DVDs being sold openly in Guyana T

here are renewed calls for a crackdown on the open sale of pornographic DVDs on the streets of the Capital City of Georgetown and other parts of Guyana.

Police a few years ago had announced a public campaign against the sale of such material, but that was short lived.

Street vendors have been openly displaying their DVDs and some would even approach passersby with the lewd material.

Guyana Times International took to the streets on Friday afternoon where it was observed by the reporter that there were several vendors along the pavement of Regent, Robb and Water streets and the popular Stabroek Market area, who had the DVDs displayed openly.

One concerned citizen noted that the “brazenness and shamelessness” of the vendors who are males in majority, has left her wondering what will become of society and youths since many young people, in and out of the school system, are seen frequenting the stalls on a daily basis for DVDs, which are pirated

and cheaply sold.

Lorraine Smith, 23, who spoke to this newspaper, related that the issue was not one of concern to her since she has no children, but noted that if she was a mother, she would ensure that her children are not affected by the activity.

“I believe it has to do with upbringing. If you teach your children right from wrong, instil good moral values in them, they would not be going to these stalls. And so the issue doesn’t really affect me. It is an issue because parents aren’t instilling proper values in their children. Once they begin to do that, it won’t be a problem,” she opined.

Meanwhile, sharing her view on the matter, Jackie Adams, a mother of three, expressed that as a mother, especially to two young sons, she was especially concerned about the illegal activity which seems to have escaped the eyes of the authorities.

Police negligence

“I have seen the Police patrolling right along these streets, walking on the pavements and they cannot tell anyone that they

ulation with good moral standards, and for several social issues to also be minimised.

Should be concerned

don’t see this going on; they cannot say they are not aware of it, so I don’t understand why nothing is being done to address this issue. One time, I have ever seen the Police clamp down on this and that was about two years back. Since then, nothing else…,” the woman lamented.

Adams also noted that more citizens, particularly parents should

be raising their voices on the matter since it is the young children who are being caught up in the rush by vendors to make a profit.

Zindal Glen, a social worker, who spoke to GTI related that the issue was one of importance which should be addressed as soon as possible if the country is to have a youth pop-

“Parents should be concerned about their children’s exposure to obscene content online.

Pornography has many different effects, but the central one that exists regardless of age – at its base, pornography commoditises the sexual act.

It turns something that is intimate, human communication and intimate connection with another human into something which can be bought and sold. Studies show that young men repeatedly exposed to pornography are more likely to objectify women, and young women who view pornography are more likely to self-objectify and tolerate sexual harassment from men. This can also lead to children becoming sexually active from vey young ages from wanting to recreate what is being seen in the videos; it can lead to sexual harassment and even rape because of the stimulation which they may get from the videos,” Glen explained.

Glen also stated that parents should attempt

to keep a tab on their children’s activities in order to monitor what they are watching and doing in their leisure time.

When contacted for a comment on the prevalence of the DVDs on the streets, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee questioned whether the reporter had seen the materials. Replying in the affirmative, the Minister then told the reporter that he requires pictures as proof since he is skeptical of the scenario which was painted.

He also stated that only when he would have received the pictures, then he would forward it to the Police for them to take action. Informed that the Police are aware of the activity and questioned why they are not clamping down on it, Minister Rohee replied: “I don’t know why they aren’t doing their job.

You would have to ask the Commissioner of Police that.”

He, however, noted that the sale of pornographic material, particularly to minors is still illegal in Guyana and persons should report it to the Police if they have knowledge of such.

26 NEWS Several deadlines missed for Antigua and Barbuda completion of Forensic Lab voters head to the polls H S WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

T JOHN’S, ANTIGUA: As close to 48,000 voters in the twin-island nation moves into ballotcasting mode, Thursday, the body responsible for the smooth execution of the process, the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC), has declared that all its systems are ready to carry out the election.

A latest opinion poll released just two days before the elections on Tuesday predicted that the main opposition Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ALP) is likely to win a minimum of 10 seats.

The poll conducted by the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES) indicated that the ALP would hold on to the seven seats it controlled in the outgoing Parliament and “should capture all three, if not two of the UPP’s (United Progressive Party) weakest seats”.

CADRES said that it had conducted the poll in the three weakest seats of the ruling party as it had done for the opposi-

ALP Leader Gaston Browne (at left) and Antigua’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer

tion ALP based on the outcome of the 2009 elections, a few weeks ago.

However, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer remains confident that his ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) will come up trumps when the 164 polling stations are closed and the ballots cast are counted.

"I am pretty confident that the United Progressive Party will win the elections on 12 June. I am satisfied that the people of Antigua and Barbuda have been able to weigh the situation extremely carefully, and we

are satisfied that they now see there is a clear choice between whether to return to the decadence and the corruption and the mismanagement prior to 2004 or whether they would want to move forward with the United Progressive Party," he told Caribbean media.

"All we need to do is win enough seats to form the government. The extent of the margin is open but we can make the same argument that the way things are going we may be able to end up with all 17 seats," Spencer said.

But Gaston Browne, who is leading the ALP

into a general election for the first time, says citizens have had enough of the bad policies of the ruling administration over the past decade and pointed to an ailing economy, high unemployment and crime as major reasons for change.

"Antiguans and Barbudans have lived under hopeless conditions for the last 10 years...and I believe they understand in order to reverse the bad fortune we have experienced over the last 10 years the Labour Party is the answer," he stated.

(Excerpted from Antigua Observer)

ome Affairs M i n i s t e r Clement Rohee, said the Forensic Laboratory project will soon be completed, three years after the contract was signed for the facility to be constructed.

When asked by the Guyana Times International for an update on the completion of the laboratory, the Home Affairs Minister said that it is “not too far from now”. He noted that he could not give a specific date as they are still some “small technical work to be done” and he could not say how long it would take.

The commissioning of the Gy$840 million laboratory was scheduled to be completed 12 months after the contract was signed in April 2011.

However, it has been pushed back and delayed on several occasions. A new deadline was set in April 2013, one year after its initial deadline.

That new date for completion could not be met, since the contractor, Courtney Benn Contracting Services, had experienced some setbacks. Following this, there were several additional deadlines including four thus far for

the year. One was in February; however, that deadline also could not have been met. Neither was the second in April, which was announced by Minister Rohee during his presentation in the 2014 Budget Debate. The Home Affairs Minister had stated that due to several technical delays, the laboratory was unable to be completed by late last year as was set.

Then when that timeline was not met, one was given in May but again it was not achieved, as such, what was supposed to be an ultimate deadline for the completion of the laboratory, a date of June 17 was given. From all indications, it seems highly unlikely that this would be achieved.

The equipment and furnishing for the building, which is located in the University of Guyana’s compound at Turkeyen, has been already procured and installed. In December 2012, a US$ 1.6 million contract was signed between the Home Affairs Ministry and Western Scientific Company for the supply of scientific equipment for the stateof-the-art Police forensic laboratory.

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NEWS

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Guyana anxious for early settlement of maritime dispute with Venezuela

S

ome eight months after, Guyana and Venezuela are yet to meet on the maritime boundary issue arising out of the incident last October, where a research vessel in Guyana’s maritime territory was seized by the Venezuelan Navy.

Teams of technical experts from the two neighbouring countries were scheduled to meet on the issue and examine a way forward on the delimitation of the maritime boundaries between Guyana and Venezuela; however, this meeting never happened.

In a recent interview with the Guyana Times International, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elías Jaua

Rodrigues-Birkett, said that because of the unrest in Venezuela, the scheduled meeting with the technicians had to be postponed.

“My colleague, the (Venezuelan) Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated

to me some time ago that he was optimistic that we would be able to have the meeting within a month or so, but that month has passed,” she stated.

The interview was done days before the Minister departed for Paraguay

to attend the 44th Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly, where she had indicated that her Venezuelan counterpart, Elías Jaua, would also be present.

Minister RodriguesBirkett had noted that she would discuss with him a possible meeting in the near future.

“It has been a while now and we are anxious to have this first meeting take place,” she said while adding that the earlier the meeting is held, the better it will be for Guyana. The Foreign Affairs Minister acknowledged that the longer it takes to resolve this maritime boundary issue, the longer Guyana would take to fully uti-

lise its resources.

According to Minister Rodrigues-Birkett, while there are several options around whatever decision is taken, it would be within the confines of international law.

“We have said that and Venezuela have said that as well so we hope that these meetings will be held under the umbrella of the international law and whatever settlement we have come to will be governed by the same laws,” she pointed out.

The Panama-flagged Teknik Perdana was carrying out a seabed survey for Texas-based Anadarko in conjunction with Guyanese authorities, when Venezuela’s navy boarded it and escorted it to Margarita Island. Reviving a century-old issue with Guyana, Venezuela accused the ship of violating its maritime territory. The government of Guyana, retorted that the ship was well within its territory and the seizure was an act of aggression. Both the Donald Ramotar administration and the

main opposition coalition A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) condemned Venezuela.

A Foreign Affairs Ministry statement at the time had described the incident as “unprecedented in GuyanaVenezuela relations”.

It insists that the seismic vessel, the RV Teknik Perdana, was in “Guyana’s waters when this regrettable incident took place”.

At the time of the incident last year, the two countries had issued a joint statement after a meeting between its respective foreign affairs ministers, which indicated that they ratified all the points of the Joint Declaration of September 30, 2011, in Port of Spain. It was recognised that the delimitation of the maritime boundaries between the two countries remains an outstanding issue and the foreign ministers agreed that such delimitation will require negotiations. (vahnum@guyanatimesgy.com)

Dr Ramsammy lauds IICA’s support to Guyana

T

he Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on Friday hosted its accountability seminar to review the activities that were executed in Guyana during 2013 to date, and to discuss the new medium-term plan and its priority areas.

Delivering the feature address at the seminar at the Regency Hotel, Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy expressed gratitude to IICA for the support it has been giving Guyana in the area of agriculture.

The organisation’s work in Guyana has had a significant impact on the growth of the agriculture sector, Minister Ramsammy said while underscoring that the work of IICA in Guyana is multifaceted.

The Minister spoke of the importance of partnership and criticised the way some organisations have been operating in terms of partnering in this very important sector.

Food and nutrition security is very important, he said, and should be a priority of every Government in

the region, in order to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to eradicate extreme hunger and poverty by 2020.

The Agriculture Minister used the opportunity to urge IICA and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to develop stronger partnerships with countries like Guyana and work together to achieve this common goal.

Food import bill

Minister Ramsammy called on all stakeholders within the sector to play their part if the region is to reduce its food importation bill which currently stands at a whopping US$5.2 billion.

Meanwhile, IICA representative Wilmot Garnett highlighted the agency’s technical cooperation agreement over the last two years and its new medium-term plan and the many successful collaborative efforts to boost the agriculture sector in Guyana.

Over the years, farmers across the country have benefited significantly through collaboration with IICA and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

Toronto-based filmmaker takes ‘Dal Puri Diaspora’ around the globe

T

RINIDAD: Trinis who live abroad will be all too familiar with the seasonal longings for all things local, and TT-born-andraised, Toronto-based filmmaker Richard Fung is no different. His longing for—and near obsession with—dhalpuri roti turned into an epic journey, taking him from Canada to Trinidad and thence to India, in search of the origins of this tasty dish. Fung recorded this culinary quest, and the result was the documentary ‘Dal Puri Diaspora.’

A free screening of the 80-minute film was held by the TT Film Festival (TTFF), as part of the We Beat Festival, on June 7 at the St James Amphitheatre in Trinidad, said a release from the TTFF. In the film, Fung visits various restaurants at home and abroad, talking to cooks, noting the variations of ingredients for roti— dhalpuri and paratha, and others—while also poring over archival documents to piece together the shared historical experiences that have resulted in TT's remarkable multicultural blend of food. In India, he heads for the Bhojpur re-

A scene from Richard Fung’s film ‘Dal Puri Diaspora’ (Photo: TT Guardian)

gion, where the majority of indentured labourers who came to TT originated.

In addition to finding and sampling a wide range of tantilising dishes, he also comes back with a greater understanding of dhalpuri’s remarkable passage across space and time, linking colonialism, migration and the globalisation of tastes.

‘Dal Puri Diaspora’ also features interviews with leading scholars and food writers, including Brinsley Samaroo and Patricia Mohammed of TT, and Pushpesh Pant and Radhika

Mongia of India.

The screening of the film on Saturday was sponsored by the TT Film Company (TTFC) and presented in association with the St James Community Improvement/We Beat Committee. This is the fourth year that the ttff presented a film during the We Beat celebrations.

Now in its ninth year, the ttff is presented by Flow, and given leading sponsorship by bpTT and TTFC. Technical services will be provided by North Eleven, the ttff’s official screening partner. (TT Guardian)

news

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news

Canadian honour for Caribbean gospel band J AMAICA: The Grace Thrillers will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the second Canadian Caribbean Gospel Music Awards, slated for the Mount Zion Apostolic Church in Toronto on June 14.

According to Howard Mahoney, event conceptualiser, the influential group deserves the honour.

"The Grace Thrillers are the forerunners for Caribbean gospel music. Most Caribbean gospel artistes have patterned themselves off their work. The Grace Thrillers have been more than a group but an institution," Mahoney told Jamaican media over the weekend.

Noel Willis formed The 'Thrillers' in 1971. They hit their stride during the 1980s when their songs such as ‘Living Waters’ (Jesus Jesus) and ‘Can't Even Walk’ won them a large secular following.

At different stages, members included Shirley Willis, George Banton, Leroy Smith and Sandra Brooks.

The Canada Caribbean Gospel Music Awards will recognise performers in a number of categories including Best Album, Best Song, Best Male and Female Artiste, Best Group, Best Choir and International Artiste of the Year.

"We are using the theme RAP, which is Recognising, Appreciating and Promoting Canadian Caribbean Gospel Artistes. We believe that in Canada there are dozens of Caribbean gospel artistes that haven't gotten the opportunity to be recognised on an in-

Noel Willis formed The 'Thrillers' in 1971 (Jamaica Observer photo)

ternational basis, so we will be showcasing at least 20 Canadian Caribbean gospel artistes," said Mahoney.

(Jamaica Observer)

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32 FEATURE

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Kreketeh

An international delicacy K

reketeh is Guyanese Creole for snail, and escargot (pronounced ezcar-go) is the French word for snail. What these “snails” have in common is that many natives of these countries eat them, although it is much more popular in France than in Guyana.

Additionally, the most common edible snails in France are the Helix aspersa, or Common Garden Snail, served as petit gris in French cuisine, and the escargot de Bourgogne (helix pomatia).

In Guyana, usually Golden Apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata) or Pomacea urceus are eaten most often by, but not restricted to, the

poorer classes. It won’t be found on upscale Guyanese restaurant menus unlike in France where escargot is considered a delicacy.

In fact queries about escargot at some leading restaurants in Guyana revealed that the word itself is almost unheard of, much less demands for the dish.

It is often assumed that escargot is the name for a specific kind of snail, but it is actually the general name given to the variety of snail used for food. Many

snails, but not all, are consumed as food. It is said that there are more

French escargot prepared in garlic and butter sauce

than 100 kinds of edible snail.

In European countries, most edible snails

are farm-raised or bred as a hobby. This farming practice is called heliciculture. In Guyana, there is no such organised tradition, and most persons looking to eat them or sell, usually utilise any of the many canals from which to catch them.

The idea of eating a snail is not one that has caught on in Guyanese cuisine, though it is all the rage in France as well as other European cuisines. The French can consume some 40,000 tons of snails per year.

Ask many Guyanese and the first reaction is usually an expression of dis-

indicate. In addition, historical writings from the Mediterranean also show that early inhabitants dined on snails, as did the Romans, who viewed the dish as elite.

It is still often considered in the Western world as an elite dish or only for the adventurous.

According to research

by Guyanese anthropologist Dennis Williams, early Amerindians also consumed snail.

Recently, the Helix aspersa has been the main ingredient in skin cream and gels, popular in the Latino community.

Described previously as a common garden snail, the Helix aspersa of the west is also considered a pest for both farmer and gardener. But it is

High in protein and low in fat, with about 80 percent water before cooking, snails must be thoroughly cleaned since the stomach contents will influence flavour. According to the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, snails are also high in essential fatty acids such as linoleic and linolenic acids.

In France, escargot is usually cooked and served with garlic butter or cream sauces, while in Guyana kreketeh is also served as rum shop cutters in “bunjay curry”. Some Guyanese say they taste like chicken.

The French say it has a slightly “chewy texture”.

Because snails are said to generally taste

Kreketeh catch

gust, though they would often “know someone” who eats the dish.

However, a snail meal has always been in the dietary tastes of humans since prehistoric times, as archaeological finds

also used as a household pet in aquariums.

Likewise, the Apple snail in Guyana is an agricultural pest, though not a serious infestation.

An FAO report at certain project sites from 20022006 noted that the golden apple snail was not an issue due to local predators and good agricultural practices.

In Japan, however, it has become an invasive species, also becoming a serious rice pest in most Southeast and East Asian countries by damaging young rice seedlings since its introduction to the region in the 1980s to be raised as food.

However, according to Robert H. Cowie in his 2002 chapter of Molluscs as Crop Pests (ed. G.M. Barker) study on Apple snails, the practice of eating snails did not catch on in these territories mainly “because consumers did not like the ‘tough meat and repulsive taste’.”

In some African countries, only the elderly would eat snail since it is thought to bring about infertility.

like what they eat, (even though kreketeh in Guyana is not known to eat chicken) on European farms they are normally fed greens and herbs to help with the flavour, or fed crushed, dry cereal.

To prepare the snail, it is usually not given food for anywhere from a week to a day to assist with emptying the stomach, then repeatedly washed - particularly important for wild kreketeh that eat dead matter. They are then often boiled in salt water to induce a foaming that removes any remaining stomach contents.

Sometimes the digestive tract is removed, although some people prefer the flavour the organ leaves on the escargot.

After this process they are now ready for cooking the French or Guyanese way.

While many French menus serve the snail with shell, providing special eating utensils to scoop out the soft part, in Guyana the shell is already removed at the point of purchase for cooking. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

FEATURE

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Who runs the world? Girls?

I

By Anu Dev

t’s been happening for a while: girls have been outperforming boys in school at every level. For example, in QC there are more girls than boys- a clear indication that there are more girls who scored within that top 1% at NGSA. Throughout High School, our Speech Nights were all heavily dominated by girls collecting the top prizes. Fast forward to CSEC and you’ll notice that the girls have been consistently topping not only the country, but the Caribbean as a whole. At the CAPE level, girls maintain their excellent scores and eventually get into the tertiary institutions of their choice.

So what’s going on? Are girls more driven than boys? But we know that much of what we’re “driven” to do is the result of socialization. So what has changed in the socialization process? Is society not ensuring that boys should also be high flyers as they were as recently as my father’s generation? I think so.

The imparting of education from nursery all the way to Med School where I now am is geared for passive learning. But at the same time, boys are socialized to feel they must not be passive. Shouldn’t we re-look at this element of pedagogy?

Are girls built smarter, with superior intellect?

Well, all my scientific training up to now assures us that while there are definite physical and physiological differences in our brains, it does not impact on what we measure as “intelligence”. We’ll just have to get back into the socialization processes in the family, school, mandirs and be more conscious of where we made a wrong turn.

But in the end, whatever the reason for girls doing better than boys in school, the fact remains that it keeps happening. And when all of those girls who got better grades get into University and get their degree, they’ll be ready to enter the workforce and they’ll have the qualifications they need to be hired.

So we have girls who’re qualified to have ‘highpowered’ jobs; girls who are willing to do whatever it takes to have a successful career; girls who don’t have to be dependent on anyone for financial support. Soon, most of your doctors will be females, your lawyer will be a woman, and you might even elect a woman as President. Again.

So how will boys deal with a world where many females are dominating the jobs and roles that have so long been considered as masculine? The outburst of violence against females isn’t the answer. Keeping the glass ceilings to keep women subordinate isn’t going to work either.

Some religious bodies wax nostalgically about keeping women barefoot and pregnant. But even they know that if we’re all created equal in the eyes of God, we really must allow our potential to flower.

So we return to the question of socialization.

It’s really not fair for our boys to have to conform to certain fixed patterns of being ‘manly’. If I had a son, who preferred to paint instead of playing rugby, would I make fun of him for not being manly enough?

No. If my son cried when he was sad, would I tell him to stop and keep it all in because “real men” don’t cry? Nope.

But in our society today, there’s just so much pressure on both males and females to be what society wants you to be, instead of who you truly are. And unless our boys start trying to give the girls a little bit of competition in schools, we might eventually see a reversal in roles and maybe shoot past an equalitarian society to a society completely dominated by women.

The Guyana Christian Charities (Canada) Inc T he Guyana C h r i s t i a n C h a r i t i e s (Canada) Inc celebrates 27 years of service this year as a registered charity, which has provided significantly to Guyana.

It all started in the late 1960s, when a group of past pupils and parents closely connected to the nuns who operated the St. Ann's Girls Orphanage in Georgetown and the St. John Bosco Boys Orphanage in Plaisance, learned that these two facilities were experiencing great difficulties obtaining funds to maintain their services and buildings. To help cover some part of this deficit, a group of ladies organised and held a ‘Bring and Buy Sale’.

The proceeds assisted with Christmas parties for the orphans. This became an annual feature and with increasing support from the Guyanese community in Toronto, attendance rose. This increase ensured the funding of additional special projects.

Following a further appeal from the Ursuline Sisters in 1977, Vera Lopes (deceased) and Anne Marie Reigber formed an enlarged group, which assumed the name The Alleluia Committee of Guyana. These committed individuals expanded their efforts to raise and collect money for the maintenance of both the Georgetown and Plaisance Orphanages.

Vera remained a dedicated supporter and benefactor till her death.

In 1978, the group held what had become its Annual Bake Sale at Holy Spirit Parish Hall on Sheppard Avenue.

Remittances to the orphanages expanded to include items like food, clothing and school supplies.

Meanwhile, about 1980, another group of Guyanese, under the leadership of Mannie da Silva (deceased) was also organising. Mannie had received an urgent appeal from Fr. Harold Wong SJ for funds to replace the aging organ for the Brickdam Cathedral.

This new group was appropriately named The Organ Committee. Their first endeavour was a

successful fundraising dance. This successful event became the forerunner of the very entertaining and popular Valentine Dance.

Eventually, these two groups, which were comprised mostly of the same persons, decided they would be more ef-

Parish Hall on Sheppard Avenue, Scarborough, the organisation moved to L’Amoreaux Community Centre in 1994. When this facility became inadequate, it again moved to the much larger and well appointed facilities of Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian

Flood Relief Effort (2005); Selfless Service to Guyana and the Guyanese Community in Canada for over three decades (2003); Longest Serving Guyanese Organization (2002); Support towards rebuilding the Health Care System (1995);

Some of the organisation's members enjoying a light moment

fective if they merged.

Out of this merger Guyana Christian Charities (Canada) Inc. was created and Desmond De Barros assumed the role of first president. The organisation was established as a registered charitable organisation in 1987 and complies with the rules of the Canada Revenue Agency.

In 1985, due to the critical shortage of medical and other supplies in Guyana, the first Valentine's Dance was held. The funds raised paid for a much needed shipment of donated medical items that was sent to St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital. This annual event continues to be well received and hence, very successful.

Two additional dances have been added, one in May and the other in September. The proceeds from the Spring and Fall Dances are utilised primarily for humanitarian health efforts.

The organisation’s Food and Bake Sale event, held annually in late October, has steadily grown in popularity since the early efforts. The locations have changed as the numbers of supporters have increased. From the earliest days at Holy Spirit

Church Banquet Hall at Markham and Milner Avenue.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Dexter Gonsalves, treasurer, stated: “The mandate of Guyana Christian Charities continues to be a commitment to help the needy and the sick in our beloved Guyana.

The need remains as great or greater today as on our earliest days. Our efforts have attempted to keep up and to expand gradually.

Assistance is being provided to an increasing number and variety of other charities and organisations.”

He further stated that while the organisation’s name might suggest it is entirely focused on one segment of the community, this is not the case. The organisation’s assistance is totally transparent and reaches the neediest in the community and has no regard to religious affiliation. Its assistance extends to about 100 charities, with no regard to race or creed.

Over the years, GCC was awarded by the Guyana Government and the Guyana Consulate in Toronto, ON, with the following awards: Most Outstanding Contribution to the

Valuable Contribution to the Health Care System (1994).

“We operate a truly volunteering organisation, incurring no remuneration or auditing costs. Our total financial assistance over this 27 year registration period amounted to over $1 million Canadian dollars (including our Flood and Disaster Relief efforts), with shipment of 60 containers to numerous institutions in Guyana, with an estimated value of contents totalling approximately $3 million Canadian dollars,” Dexter revealed.

Shipping costs consume most of the funds raised. For this reason, Dexter welcomes willing hands and generous souls to support the organisation and to make its outreach activities even more successful.

“Some of our members and dedicated volunteers give generously of their time year-round sorting and packing the many donations of clothing for all ages, medical and other supplies, wheel-chairs, toys, shoes etc. etc. We welcome all and any help that is offered. The harvest is ready but, alas, the workers are too few,” he declared.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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John Campbell

Preserving Guyana’s policing history

T

Campbell's painting of Angel Gabriel Riots in 1856

he John Campbell Police Museum, also known as “the Police Museum”, housed at the Felix Austin Police College at the Police Headquarters in Eve Leary, is a repository for the history of the Police Force. Not a wellknown museum, it is in recognition of the work of John Campbell a former Assistant Commissioner of Police, that the museum he was instrumental in re-organising in 1975 was named after him.

In 1932, a few police officers saw the importance of preserving the history of the Police Force, and through the museum this was achieved. It was first housed at the Police Depot, now referred to as the Tactical Services Unit (TSU).

However, in the same year it was removed from that location to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) where it remained until 1938.

In 1938, the collection was growing, as more exhibits were added, but due to the absence of trained personnel, the development and overall upkeep of the museum suffered. Ten years after, the museum, although lacking the upkeep it deserved, managed to survive and was relocated at the Police Depot but remained under the administrative control of the CID. Never seeming a priority, the museum’s success to some extent rested on the initiative of officers who were mindful of preserving the history of the Police Force throughout the unit.

The museum keeps uniforms, helmets, and even musical instruments from colonial times among its many other police artefacts that also include photographs.

During the 70s, the late John Campbell, who was at the time the research, planning and publication officer, took the initiative of reorganising the museum. As a result of the long period of inactivity, many of the artefacts were either damaged or suffered some degree of decay. Moved by the decaying condition of the museum, Campbell had set himself the task of contracting divisional officers throughout the country with a view to replacing the depleted collection.

In 1989, the museum was given a face-lift when Senior Superintendent H. Greene, who was the new officer-in-charge of research, planning and publication, assumed responsibility for the museum’s rehabilitation programme. It was moved from CID to it present location, Felix Austin Police College and was under the administrative control of Assistant Commissioner L. Gilkes.

To coincide with the Force’s 150th anniversary celebrations, the museum was opened to members of the public on July 24, 1989. After more than a year of preparation, the museum was officially opened

by Mrs V. Campbell, wife of John Campbell, on October 14, 1993.

In the museum one will see the Presentation and State Swords that were used in state ceremonies, and those presented to individuals as a mark of esteem or honour. They have been used for many centuries at coronations, inaugurations and other solemn public occasions. Among them are the Sword of Justice, the Sword of Mercy and the Sword of Mourning.

Police sword belts, riot shield

used in the 1960’s, and Campbell’s paintings depicting the Enmore Riots, are part of the collection.

Presently, the Force is working on revamping the research and planning department to help to sustain and improve the museum.

The museum is opened to the public.

Those desiring to visit can call 225-3017.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Belts worn by police officers in various ranks

An accomplished Hollywood actress of Guyanese heritage

Y

aani King is an American actor of Guyanese descent. The only daughter of an NYPD officer mother, Yaani was born on August 10, 1981, in Flatbush, Brooklyn, and raised in Queens.

She has two elder brothers and spent most of her childhood around the theatre, as her mother was a stage and commercial actress before becoming a police officer. As a teen, she was accepted to the High School of Performing Arts at Lincoln Center (New York).

At age 17, Yaani decided to pursue a career as an actor and was immediately cast Off-Broadway in the production of “The Alchemist” at The Classic Stage Company and received wonderful reviews. She also trained in 2007 at The Actor’s Centre in London.

Yaani’s acting career began in 2002 when she landed a small role playing a

Yaani King student in the series, “The Education of Max Bickford”, before moving on to play Monique Thomas in the pop-

ular TV series, “Law & Order”, that same year. She was also featured in the highly successful Sex and the City series and also played Sheila Latham in “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Criminal Minds” in 2007. Other TV work includes “Numb3rs”, “Ghost Whisperer” and “For Heaven’s Sake” in 2008.

In 2009, Yaani was added to the regular cast of the television series “Saving Grace” opposite Holly Hunter.

In 2011, she appeared in episodes of the TV series “Vegas”, “The Number” and in 2013 guest starred in a few episodes of “Mad Men” as Phyllis, Peggy’s Secretary.

Yaani’s film credits include the 2003 movie “In the Cut”, appearing as one of Meg Ryan’s students. In 2004 she played Amanda, acting alongside Julia Stiles in Paramount Pictures “The Prince & Me”. She was featured in

Dan Pritzker’s 2007 film “Bolden” starring Academy Award nominee, Jackie Earle Haley. The film was executive produced by jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. She also played Chris in Matthew Cherry’s 2012 feature film debut “The Last Fall”.

Yaani is also known for her roles in popular web series “RoomieLoverFriends”, and for her 2011 role in “Milk & Honey” starring Lance Gross and Vanessa Bell Calloway, when she played Lance’s sister.

Yaani has landed a regular role in the 2014 Lifetime’s backdoor pilot “Deliverance Creek”, a slavery-set drama from Nicholas Sparks Prods. and Warner Horizon.. In 2014, Yaani produced a short video documentary with Riley Abel titled “From Dreams: The Making of the Last of Us – Left Behind”. (www.guyanesegirlsrock.com)

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Simply the Truth

Thoughts on what Independence Day means

Cutting noses… T …on food There’s a whole lot of handwringing going on about “the Region’s imported food bill”. Again.

Seems the leaders in Caricom are like some folks with credit cards: they shop till they drop every day in the month – blithely instructing the salesclerk to “CHARGE IT!!!” Then they have a heart attack when the bill arrives at the end of the month. And gasp for breath panting “Never again!!!”

Imported food has been a bugbear since our countries were formed: the white planters didn’t want to eat the local food – preferring the rotten stuff they hauled across the Atlantic. Even when those white folks had to feed the slaves, they dragged food like salted fish from their colonies in Canada. You’d think with all the fishes in the local waters, they would’ve encouraged some local salt fish industry, no? No. Anyhow we have two problems with this food bill business – neither of which we’re confronting head on. As Burnham did with the “buy local” campaign during his dictatorship, we can try to be self-sufficient in foodstuffs. He banned all the imported stuff. And we all know how that ended, right? Massive smuggling that created new opportunities for the Police to make a killing. And we’re not talking about killing with guns.

But in this globalised world, we’re not going to get anywhere with any “buy local” campaign – just like that. Even more than the days of colonisation, we just can’t get enough of foreign foods. It’s not just the taste for salt fish or sardines or the other types of slave food we were weaned on, any more.

Now to be “sophisticated”, we must have salmon and quiche…with mushrooms.

The irony is that even the peas to make the “local” Dhall are imported! So what’s the solution?

Well, if you can’t beat ‘em, then you might as well join ‘em. Keep on coming up with ways to convince the natives to eat and buy local – but at the same time, increase our exports so that we can buy and eat whatever the heck we want.

And we’ve now completed the circle. Guyana’s comparative advantage is in…guess what?

Agriculture!!! Foodstuff. While we Guyanese don’t want to eat the local foods, others do…especially if we can get into new products like soya, for instance.

But like with everything else, there’s a fly in that ointment. …at Caricom The fly is a big one – and it’s the greeneyed monster called “jealousy”. Since 2004, former President Jagdeo floated the initiative on regional agriculture that bears his name – the Jagdeo Initiative. This was after fellow Heads of Government in Caricom had been moaning and groaning about the “high imported food bill” – then US$2.5 billion and now double that!

And it wasn’t just the eight constraints to food production that were identified – to be addressed by specific countries – Jagdeo offered land in Guyana equal to all the islands combined. At rates that’re too scandalous to mention. But guess what?

Not only the islands didn’t pick up the offer – they immediately went off on several wild goose chases.

Trinidad under Manning – with the deepest pockets in the region – plunged into 18 “mega farms”. They all went bust, of course – they just don’t have the farmers with the know how. The Trinis are now testing the waters again. The Bajans, with the least land space, went fishing in Brazil – but they too are now re-testing the waters.

The only reason for them cutting their noses to spite their faces is they don’t want Guyana to get her share of the projected benefits.

Who will they have to kick around then? …on Marriott The vultures are out again on the Marriott – this time Ramjattan and his procurement nominee Goolsaran. When the offer to put equity was advertised why didn’t they advise their clients (including funder Badal) to invest, if it was such a steal?

wo years ago, I was honoured in the extreme to have been asked to give the keynote address at the Rose Hall Town flagraising ceremony to commemorate our nation’s Independence Day. My pleasure in doing this duty was increased many-fold, because I am myself a Rose Hall boy.

Rose Hall has or had good people. Indeed, the mother from whose breast I drank milk was a second or third -generation African whose name was Doreen. After a 30-year absence from this nation, I came back and immediately sought after her. She had passed just days before I came back.

In Rose Hall Town they called her Short Doreen. What you see of me or hear from me is partially her creation.

All my degrees and my titles and such simple things spring from her love and the discipline that she insisted I must possess. Pain is not being able to say thank you after a gift was given.

People like Gladys and Santy and Mr Lashley and “Cat Eye” Hardat and Sunny Bulluk cannot be thanked enough. I am leaving out many people, but you know who you are, and you have my gratitude. And now there are still good people: Petal, Caako, Condence,

S

Anne, Coach Cort, Marx and Samantha Wilson and so many others.

These are people that make Independence Day special.

On May 26, 1966, our nation won its Independence from Britain. I remember as a 14-year-old boy the euphoria that took hold of this nation.

Independence meant political freedom to make our own choices. But freedom or independence to do what? What choices do we make as a nation? Why do we choose to do what we do or want to do?

After all, Independence could mean having the freedom to destroy ourselves and to damage others.

But really that is not freedom; that is exactly the opposite of freedom.

Independence means being free to exercise our responsibilities to our nation, our towns, our regions, our families, and ourselves.

Our nation became free. But free to do what?

Drink beer and break bottles on roads? Free to beat our wives? Free to cuss up? Free to whistle at school children as they return or go to school?

Free to make noise from our cars simply to draw attention to ourselves?

These things are signals of intellectual paralysis! It is betrayal and it is self-betrayal.

atiricus was all agog. He’d also imbibed some grog. But lying in his hammock looking at the Rodney Commission’s hearings on TV, he’d gotten a bit groggy. Was that the Naga Man sidling into the witness box? Satiricus closed his eyes and reminisced. What a guy – this Naga Man!! This was a history book walking around.

The only trouble, Satiricus conceded, was most people thought Naga Man liked to “cook the book”.

Made up things, they said unkindly.

Like that time he said Cheddi picked him to be his successor. Was in the Rupununi, when they were campaigning. Naga Man said Cheddi said, “You see that man over there?

He will be my successor.” Trouble was even though there were a dozen other PPP fellas on the stage, no one else heard anything.

But Naga Man was sure was he, Cheddi had in mind. It must however be mentioned, Satiricus recollected, that Naga Man has done quite a heavy sampling of the local paiwari.

“And that stuff is powerful,” confessed Satiricus ruefully. “So maybe Naga

Professor Daizal Samad

Freedom is not having the liberty to expose our foolishness and stupidity. Independence is about thought and care and being responsible.

Freedom is about wisdom to make the right choices and do the right thing.

But to speak of independence of a nation is a difficult thing, and many of us would be lost to think about such enormous thoughts. Many times, you are told about what you could or should do for this nation. I say that if this nation does for you, so shall ye do for this nation. I would say that if you serve that which is best in you, if you serve your own decency and goodness, then you serve this nation of Guyana.

If you serve yourselves, then step by step you will serve our Guyana. We start with our individual lives and move on to our families and then to our neighborhood and then to our

town and then to our Berbice and then to our Nation, our Guyana.

This is when our nation shall be truly independent.

Our nation shall be independent when we resist our own base instincts; when we do not do violence; when we do not hate our neighbours; when we do not steal nor covet. Independence is being joyful when my neighbour prospers, and about my neighbour rejoicing that I have prospered by good and decent means.

Independence is when each child can go to school without being hungry or in rags. It is about young people finding jobs without having to sell their flesh for that job. We are independent when our police act like police second to none; when our teachers teach for the love of it; when our elderly are taken by the hands and led across the road as they led us when we were children.

Independence is about simple and quiet decency, and great joy at the goodness of our people under the skies of Heaven. For this must be a nation under God, a nation known for its grace where we build schools and universities, where we live as one people, one nation, with one glorious destiny. Anything less is imprisonment.

Naga’s testimony Man’s mind, might’ve been a bit fuzzy?”

But here was Naga Man making his statement on Rodney.

Commissioner: Please identify yourself.

Naga Man: Is me, Naga Man. I is a lawyer, just like y’all. I ain’t look fancy like y’all but I study all them big books in law school.

Comm: How long you been a lawyer?

Naga Man: Three years, sah.

Comm: Three years? But you look old enough to be me grandfather!

Naga Man: I start out when I already had a grandson, sah.

Comm: Is that the one you told to “shut yuh so-and-so mouth”?

Naga Man: Is that relevant, sah?

Comm: That shows how wet behind the ears you are, Mr Naga Man. This is not a court of law. The rules are relaxed. Anyhow let us hear your story, Mr Naga Man. Naga Man: Well, Cheddi tell me Ah should be the contact with Rodney in 1979.

Comm: Did anybody hear Cheddi tell you this?

Naga Man: Well the Donald was there. He was there in the Rupununi too. But he say he ain’t hear nothing.

He jealous me. I shoulda been the President.

Comm: OK, Continue with your story.

Naga Man: Well I use to meet Rodney all the time. I teach him everything he know. I really wrote the book he publish on the History of the Working People of Guyana.

Comm: Listen it’s getting late.

You know anything how Rodney get killed?

Naga Man: Yes sah, He wanted a walkie talkie. And I know about these things. So I made him one but it look like I crossed a wire or two wrong .

And the thing explode and kill the man.

Comm: Mr Naga Man, do you know the implications of what you’re saying?

Naga Man: Yes sah. I always hungry for publicity. Everybody gon talk about me now.

But ah got immunity right?

Comm: Not really, Mr Naga Man. Sorry.

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WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

J k es

The wongs

Su Wong marries Lee Wong. The next year, the Wongs have a new baby. The nurse brings over a lovely, healthy, bouncy, but definitely a Caucasian, WHITE baby girl.

"Congratulations!' says the nurse to the new parents.�Well Mr. Wong, what will you and Mrs. Wong name the baby?"

The puzzled father looks at his new baby girl and says, "Well, two Wong's don't make a white, so I think we will name her Sum Ting Wong."

A special hymn

A preacher was completing a temperance sermon; with great expression he said, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river."

With even greater emphasis he said, "And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river."

And then finally, he said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river."

He sat down.

The song leader then stood very cautiously and announced with a smile, "For our closing song, let us sing Hymn # 365: "Shall We Gather at the River."

Handy Italian

This week's Puzzle

Big Lorenzo, an Italian fella, is bragging to his friends about his sons: "I'ma so prouda my oldest son. He maka fifty thousand dollar evra year. Hesa Engineer!"

"I even more prouda ma second son. He maka five hundred thousand dollar a year. Hesa Doctor!"

"But, I'ma da proudest a ma youngest son.

He maka Five million dollar a year. Hesa Sports Mechanic!"

Paolo, his friend asks: "What's a Sports Mechanic?"

Lorenzo replies: "Wella, he can fixa everytin. He fixa da horseraces, he fixa da boxin matcha......."

Where is my paper?

The irate customer calling the newspaper offices loudly demanded to know where her Sunday edition was.

'Ma'am, said the employee, today is Saturday.

The Sunday paper is not delivered 'til Sunday.'

There was quite a pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition.

'So that's why no one was in church today.'

Dying man

A priest was preparing a man for his long journey into the night. Whispering firmly, the priest said, "Denounce the devil! Let him know how little you think of his evil."

The dying man said nothing.

The priest repeated his order. Still the dying man said nothing.

The priest asked, "Why do you refuse to denounce the devil and his evil?"

The dying man said, "Until I know where I'm heading, I don't think I ought to aggravate anybody."

Observation

see solution on page 46

A lecturer teaching medicine was tutoring a class on 'Observation'. He took out a jar of yellowcoloured liquid.

"This,� he explained, "is urine. To be a doctor, you have to be observant to colour, smell, sight, and taste."

After saying this, he dipped his finger into the jar and put it into his mouth. His class watched on in amazement, most, in disgust.

But being the good students that they were, the jar was passed, and one by one, they dipped one finger into the jar and then put it into their mouth.

After the last student was done, the lecturer shook his head.

"If any of you had been observant, you would have noticed that I put my 2nd finger into the jar and my 3rd finger into my mouth."

Fashion

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WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Designers Hashim Alli and Melicia Partab

W

hat started off as a mere thought from compliments received will soon be launched as Nachle Designs - ‘Yours & Hers’ in aid of a worthy cause.

This unique Western and Eastern fusion brings a creative touch to everyday fashion. The duo designers of this new well conceptualised designer-line are no strangers to the entertainment industry. With the diverse knowledge and experience in the performing arts arena, Hashim Alli and Melicia Partab pooled their creativity together to establish Nachle Designs - ‘Yours & Hers’.

Upholding the standards of simplicity and elegance, Melicia decided that her twist of sophistication is that of comfort - her hidden secret to the ‘Hers’ line. On the other hand, being sleek, trendy and confident, Hashim decided that a blend of colours and styles would be his key element to produce the ‘Yours’ line.

This the duo, who never fails to impress, combined together to create ‘Yours & Hers’ under their label Nachle Designs.

Nachle Designs’ ‘Yours & Hers’ line would officially be launched on 21 June 2014 at Style Mission in aid of awareness for Sickle Cell Amenia at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown.

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Kurupukari Falls near Fairview village

Swimming at Kurupukari Falls

Toucans are one of the easiest birds to spot in Fairview

A local house, made of wood and thatch, in a clearing surrounded by forest

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WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Star of the week

Guyanese Waveney Ann Moore

W

W

Rafieya Husain

ith a yearning desire for success and the belief that anything is possible, 21-year-old Rafieya Husain's ambitions include becoming a CPA (Certified Public Accountant), owning and operating a financial business, winning Miss World 2014, walking the runways of Paris and Milan and to support a non-profit that focuses on children. With several titles to her name, she is no stranger to pageantry and describes herself as fearless, persistent and dedicated and practical. She is of the opinion that the “culmination of beauty in any woman is her confidence”. She further noted that when a woman's confidence radiates, you can see not only how beautiful she is in appearance but also the beauty within. She was born in her grandparents’ home in Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast. The beauty was raised in Georgetown and attended Mae’s Under 12. She then migrated to the US where she received her Associates’ Degree in Business Administration at Marymount University. Rafieya was recently crowned Miss World Guyana and is presently preparing for the Miss World pageant, which will be held in London on December 14. For more information on Rafieya and her upcoming journey visit www.missworldguyana.com

aveney Ann Moore is a general assignment reporter for the Tampa Bay Times. She covers a wide range of topics in the metropolitan area and, notably, was a finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize “For Their Own Good”, about abuse at Florida’s oldest reform school.

The series won the Dart Award for covering trauma, the Casey Medal for exemplary reporting on children and families and first place for nondeadline reporting in the 2010 Green Eyeshade competition run by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Moore was also a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer as part of a team that covered the story of the Rev. Henry Lyons, former head of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. She’s a former reporter for the Kansas City Star.

Born in Guyana, she is a naturalised American citizen. Moore, a former Bishops High School student, recalled that she has always been an avid reader. After migrating to the United States,

Waveney Ann Moore

she graduated cum laude with a BA in English and Communications from the College of New Rochelle in New York.

Her first reporting job was with the Kansas City Star, in Kansas City, Missouri. She also wrote for several gourmet food magazines. She has been writing for the St. Petersburg Times since 1994.

The Dart Awards are administered by the Dart Center for

Journalism and Trauma, based at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Established in 1995, the annual Dart Awards recognise outstanding reporting that portrays traumatic events with accuracy, insight and sensitivity while illustrating the effects of trauma on victims’ lives and the process of recovery from emotional trauma. (www.guyanesegirlsrock.com)

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The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

In Honour of Guyanese Women Writers Oonya Kempadoo

By Petamber Persaud

F

irst glance at the exhibition in honour of Guyanese women writers was perfunctory. But by the time the official opening was completed, I was immersed in a magnanimous display depicting thoughtfulness, research and efficacy, all

Ryhaan Shah

of which triggered the recall of opinions written by three women writers in solidarity of women writers. The recall was easy for me who has, time and again, focused on women writing.

There was a time when women writers were treated as ‘peripheral creatures’ (Beryl Gilroy). There was a

Beryl Gilroy

time when, according to Virginia Woolf, who contended that while the men made great strides, the women were constrained to mince. This is no longer the case.

The voice of our women writers is now being recognized and respected. And there are many reasons for this outpouring and response. But

Dr Paloma Mohamed

one example will suffice for now: according to Merle Collins, women writers are better able to “tease out the truth” as they explore themes like man-woman relationship, sexism, human happiness, religious bigotry, moral values and social injustice.

That exhibition was opened last Wednesday,

May 28, 2014, and mounted in the National Library. It was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Social Services and the Library. The ministry continues to find innovative ways to empower women and the library continues to explore avenues of taking literacy to the nation.

There is a nexus between the time and the reason for mounting the exhibition. That nexus could be found in the word ‘independence’. The exhibition was mounted to celebrate the country’s fortieth-eight Independence Anniversary and to celebrate the independent voice of the country’s women writers.

On display was information on some 50 women writers in photographs, books and biographies. That number was not the full corpus of such writers, according to Ms Yvonne Stephenson, Manager of the Resource and Documentation Centre of the Ministry of Human Services. Ms Stevenson hinted that more would be done and in greater details in recognition of our women writers. Both the Chairman of the National Library, Mr Petamber Persaud, and Chief Librarian (ag), Mrs Emiley King declared their willingness to take such an exhibition to the next level.

Some of the writers highlighted came from different parts of the country, form border to border, from as far as Corriverton, Berbice, to as far as Linden, Demerara, and the Pomeroon, Essequibo.

Those selected for the exhibition were representative of varied generations of Guyanese including Beryl Gilroy, Elly Niland, Janice Shinebourne, Stephanie Bowry, Ryhaan Shah, Grace Nichols, Karen King-Aribisala, Oonya Kempadoo, Mahadai Das, Paloma Mohamed, Julia Theresa Kanhai, Sherene Nobel, Mosa Telford, Pauline Melville, and Cassia Alphonso. Significantly,

Elly Niland

on display were some little-known and less-established writers. And various genres of writing were presented including poetry, short fiction, novel, drama and creative non-fiction.

At the opening of the exhibition, a message from the Human Services Minister, the Hon. Jennifer Webster, was read by Deputy Permanent Secretary, Reverend Patrick Findlay, summing up the whole effort: “The environment created by the display of the skill, talent and creativity of some of our Guyanese women speaks to the fact that our development as a society goes beyond economics, technology and those very important facets of nation building. No doubt, we need our engineers, our economists, our doctors, lawyers, our entrepreneurs and so on, but equally, we need these creative writers who will produce a core of writing, a body of literature we could call our own… [t]his exhibition has presented us with some of the most talented writers who have profoundly impacted on the way we see ourselves and in some instances, have helped us to understand the society in which we live. They have created a Guyanese literary consciousness – an awareness of who we are. Let us all remember that creative writing, as produced by our women writers, is important to the true advancement of our society.”

Such an exhibition ought to go on tour of the country and further afield even at regional events like Inter Guianas Cultural Festival, and Carifesta.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s Happening: Dates for repeat performances of ‘Expressions’ – a new forum for poetry - will be announced later.

‘Expressions’ is a Gems Theatre Production.

41 Sixty awarded for service to Jamaica's education sector news

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Veteran school principal Byron Farquharson, who also served as president of the JTA, collects his award from Jamaica’s Education Minister Ronald Thwaites

K

INGSTON, JAMAICA: They travelled from all over Jamaica, some ablebodied, a few almost too frail to strut their stuff, but all beaming with pride and delight as they walked to the lectern inside the Jamaica Pegasus to collect their token of appreciation for service to Jamaica's education system over the 61 years since the establishment of the Ministry of Education.

Sixty people, among them retired and current school principals, teachers, education officers, permanent secretaries past and present, administrative and ancillary workers, some wear-

ing their finest outfits, turned up at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston last Wednesday for the Ministry of Education's 60th Anniversary Banquet and Awards Ceremony.

One veteran educator who was among several, who could not hold back the joyful tears, said: "I have never felt so appreciated in all my life." And for former chief education officer, Wesley Barrett, a thousand kudos should be extended to the ministry for its effort to recognise the contribution of the educators and support staff.

The event was the culmination of several activities, which began late 2013 with a church ser-

vice at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, to mark the ministry's milestone.

In her opening remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Elaine Foster Allen lauded the awardees and made it clear that many other persons were worthy of such accolade. "All the persons being awarded tonight are deserving of honour. They have served the ministry in various capacities from ancillary services to the office of minister. Many others have also served with distinction but we selected only a few to recognise as a representative group on this occasion. And we are certain they will receive their awards in that spirit," said Foster Allen.

Her sentiments were echoed by Education Minister Ronald Thwaites, who thanked both the "sung and unsung heroes" of the education system for their contribution to the development of Jamaica.

Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, who spoke on behalf of Opposition Leader and Spokesman on Education, Andrew

Holness, also commended those who served the country's education system over the past 60 years. She noted that Jamaica has made significant strides in the devel-

opment of its education system.

Among the awardees, for their contribution to the education sector, were: Professor Errol Miller, Dr Alfred Sangster,

Rev Jeffery McKenzie, Dr Henrietta Stewart, Byron Farquharson, Margaret Bowie, Basella Tai, Sharon Reid and Woodburn 'Woody' Miller.

(Jamaica Observer)

42

Times Notebook

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana demands respect from WICB – Barbados must refuse to host third Test

W

e noted the call by former Attorney General, SC, and current Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson, to ban West Indies Cricket board (WICB) President Dave Cameron from Guyana.

We are not certain how possible that recommendation is, but we do take the point that Cameron is unequivocally disrespectful to Guyana.

Most Guyanese feel the same way as Guyana’s former Attorney General.

Cameron, the WICB, and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) are persona non grata. Cameron and the WICB are totally out of line and Guyana must stand as one in rejecting both Cameron and the WICB in denying our people of our right to cricket.

We do believe that we must be vocal and united in demanding an apology and in demanding that the WICB rescinds the decision to withdraw the third Test match from Guyana. We call on the West Indies Players Association to support cricket in the West

Guyana and refuse to host the Third Test match. It is our duty as citizens of the Caribbean and as Governments of the Caribbean to raise our voices and let the WICB know that they are not untouchable; and that they are not powers without duty and without obligation to the peoples of Caricom.

WICB flouting law

The Providence Stadium remains empty of cricket lovers in the ongoing New Zealand-West Indies series as the WICB shuns Guyana. The WICB has shifted the third Test which was scheduled to play in Guyana to Barbados

Indies by standing in solidarity with Guyana.

The few persons that call themselves the GCB who are part of the decision of the WICB must recognise they are isolated in Guyana. The Guyanese people see them as destroying our cricket and impugning our national pride. We see the GCB as charlatans and as traitors of our people. They stand indicted in the disrespect our people and our country have endured.

Scandal

As a Caricom country steeped in cricket and that has contributed

so much to West Indies cricket, Guyana is being treated with disdain. We must stand resolute in condemning and in isolating those few individuals from the GCB who are perpetrating this scandal on the Guyanese people and on WI cricket.

But Caricom must not allow this situation to persist. Unless Caricom takes a position now, WI cricket has no future.

The WICB has been the major reason for the long journey to cricket’s bottom. The Region continues to produce cricketers of great talent, but our

WI teams, one after the other, seem like a far cry from our glory days of cricket.

The WICB is on a path of destroying every boy’s dream of global accolades because of his cricketing talent. The decision to withdraw cricket from Guyana is an example of the gross mismanagement of cricket by the WICB. Barbados for one should refuse to host the Third test match between the WI and New Zealand. Every other country in the Caribbean should stand in solidarity with

They are flouting the laws of our countries. Guyana is a democratic country and its Parliament makes the laws of the land.

Guyana, as a sovereign country, has a legal system that all of us who operate in it must follow.

The WICB is trying to be super-powerful and outside of the jurisdiction of our courts.

The sad truth is that the WICB is not only denying Guyana cricket, this could very well be the last Test match in Guyana for Guyanese to go and personally watch their cricket hero Shiv Chanderpaul.

There is much more cricket in Shiv Chanderpaul. But we are aware that he is reaching an age where

most cricketers will retire. Shiv is not most cricketers and we are sure he will play a long time more and will make many more runs for the WI. But we are realistic and we would like to go and fill the Providence Stadium to ensure that Shiv Chanderpaul feels the pride of his Guyanese sisters and brothers. He and the Guyanese people are now victimised by the WICB. Mr Cameron and the WICB have denied us the chance to pay tribute to the greatest Guyanese cricketer and one of the best ever in the WI. In denying Guyana to host this match, the WICB is also disrespecting this great cricketer.

The President of Guyana, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) must stand together, representing the Guyanese people and ask the Governments of Caricom to stand in solidarity with Guyana.

Readers are invited to send their comments by email or Facebook to times.notebook@gmail. com

Arts & culture

43

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Aspiring artist of Guyanese heritage Delicia Wharton

Delicia Wharton

D

elicia Wharton is a young and determined young lady who is proud of her Guyanese heritage and who wants to aptly represent where her parents are from by being the best in the field she dearly loves - art. Delicia’s mother is the co-owner of Les Deux Ms, a retail-based jewellery store in New York, and is a philanthropist who regularly donates to charities in Guyana. In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine Delicia explains her present endeavours and her future goals.

Sunday Magazine: Where in Guyana are your parents from?

Delicia Wharton: My parents migrated from Georgetown in their early 20s to New York. Then they had me.

Sunday Magazine: What inspired you to want to make art a career?

Delicia Wharton: I'm still doing things on the side and looking for opportunities in the creative field in general, but a career in art is my goal.

I want to be an artist. I've loved drawing ever since

I was younger, and I like making creative things for people that inspire them. I want to reach people in a creative way. Making expressive pieces makes me feel more complete.

Sunday Magazine: What are your academic qualifications?

Delicia Wharton: I took extensive art classes in grade school and also majored in Studio Art at college.

Sunday Magazine: What do you like to create/paint?

Delicia Wharton: I like to create designs and abstract drawings/ paintings with symbolism. Things that are elegant, but also edgy.

Occasionally I drifted a little from the field of art when life was demanding of other things, but I never lost interest.

Sunday Magazine: Where do you get inspiration from?

Delicia Wharton: I get inspiration from some of the situations I face in life and the experiences of others.

Sunday Magazine: Have you participated in any exhibitions?

'Soul'

'Swirly'

Delicia Wharton: I was part of two exhibitions at the Art Museum in my college (Ursinus, in PA, US) and a third exhibition at the Angel Orensanz Foundation in July 2013.

Sunday Magazine: What motivates you to keep going despite challenges?

Delicia Wharton: The fact that if I give up, I will never experience what I wanted or deserved. So I don't give up.

And it's not easy at all but I won't give up.

Sunday Magazine: What's your advice for young artists?

Delicia Wharton: Have a mindset that keeps you looking for opportunities. Define your

'Bicycle'

main focus and goals, and don't let anything take that away from you. Don't

defeat yourself. And as always, have a back-up plan, but never complete-

ly abandon doing what you love. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

44

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

news

45

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

De whole of GT trying to solve one big problem

O

ld people seh de more yuh look de less yuh see. So some people does be seein but dem still blind. Fuh some people, de more yuh tell dem some tings, de less dem does understand. That is why de old people also seh that people does hear only whah dem want to hear and see only whah dem want to see.

That does happen right in de schools nowadays.

De teachers does try to teach and de school pickney does hear whah dem want to hear. De way tings goin, it look like dem only hearin how to share licks pun de teachers.

De pullice also gotta hearin problem. De more de pullice hear fuh stop tekkin bribes, is de more it look like dem tekkin bribes. One MP even admit to givin de pullice a raise every time dem ask he.

Some body shoulda now raise he up and throw he outta Parliament to see if that gon to solve he hearin problem.

Plus de more de pullice hear not to beat up people, is de more dem gettin bad fuh share licks.

Some body seh when it come to lickin people, de pullice is number one. Now de pullice goin to people house and tek off dem clothes too. One woman even tek she camera and tek out photos wid de pullice tekkin off she clothes.

De pullice only hear that de guvament lookin after de airport and mekkin it look special, but dem done mek Timehri become a special place fuh dem.

After one baton story, now is one brassiere and bamzee story. But de pullice always in dem kinda story since from days of de Green commishunner.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie. Now de Mayor-fuh-Life also gotta hearin problem. He hear how de Prezzi want he to behave like a big man. But every body know de Mayor-fuhLife got more than justa hearin problem. And de whole of GT tryin to solve that one big problem.

All set for Caribbean Fashion Week in Jamaica this weekend

J

AMAICA: A FEW changes are coming for this weekend's staging of Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW) at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Jamaica.

One of the major shifts is that the number of public fashion shows has been reduced to two--Saturday and Sunday nights--from the previous three.

The event's organiser, Kingsley Cooper of modelling agency Pulse, says they have added The Black Tie Fashion Gala which will celebrate the best of Caribbean style.

He noted that in previous years the Friday night was "relatively weak".

"Everything else remains in place, including Friday morning's press conference, the business forum on Saturday, the concert performances to

O

Fashions from CFW 2013 (at left) and CFW’s organiser Kingsley Cooper (Jamaica Observer photos)

end the shows and the after-parties," said Cooper.

He is adamant that CFW has lived up to the support it offers emerging designers. According to Cooper, CFW 2014 will again see the Emerging Designers showcase on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Emerging Designers competition, sponsored by DHL, the Emerging Designer

Award, adjudicated and presented by British and Vogue CFW designer Gavin Douglas, as well as workshops and a business forum geared at enhancing capacity for designers, are also part of the package.

Cooper is quick to remind designers of their role in moving their brand forward.

"Of course it is up to designers, even more so

than CFW. Each design label is its own business, so while CFW provides marketing and development, it is up to designers to fund and organise their businesses, as well as to produce and sell," he said.

CFW continues to mix fashion with music. Singer Maxi Priest tops the bill on Sunday; Major Lazer's Jillionaire, Color Festival's Kyle deSouza, as well as RDX and Tony Matterhorn, are scheduled to perform on Saturday.

There will also be performances by Ishawna and Denyque.

Among the designers anticipated this year is Cedella Marley, whose collection, called Marley, is inspired by her father, reggae superstar Bob Marley. (Jamaica Observer)

4th Annual Clarendon House and Garden Tour

n Sunday, June 22 (from 1:00-5:00pm), the Clarendon Meadows Civic Association and founder Marie Campbell will host their 4th Annual House & Garden Tour. For one day only, homeowners will allow a glimpse into their inner sanctums in this self-guided walking tour. Featuring architecturally stunning Victorian style homes, beautifully curated gardens and the original stonework of historical brown and lime stone Italianate row houses, this tour highlights the homeowners’ decorating acumen with the housing enthusiasts’ curiosity of “what do these big houses look like inside.”

Whether you like the era of “old school” or the modern styling of “nouveau” apartment living, these homes offer ideas, tips and never seen before discoveries you won’t want to miss.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the tour. Purchase today at http://cmhgt.eventbrite.com. For further information on the tour, you can reach the association at (347) 592-1996, on Facebook at Clarendon Meadows Civic Association; or clarendon.meadows@gmail.com. All proceeds go towards the Clarendon Meadows Civic Association which has a 501(c)(3) status pending.

46

history

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Celebrating 194 years of existence

L

ocated on Vryheid Street in New Amsterdam, Berbice, the All Saints Scots Church, also known as All Saints Presbyterian Church, was completed April 8, 1820 after construction began about two years earlier.

Before the three col-

onies were united, and Berbice was a separate colony, there was reportedly no church for the Dutch and English settlers to worship in, and services were held in what was described as a house “in a most dilapidated condition”.

According to LJ Hernandez, Guyanese

historian, in an article published in the Guyana Review (2005), ashamed of remarks that “Berbice had no church”, the Predikant of the Dutch Reformed Church, in 1818, urged the building of a church in which both settlers could worship on alternate Sundays.

A part of Governor

A panoramic view of the church's interior

All Saints Scots Church, New Amsterdam Bentinck’s garden was selected as the site and in May of the same year, the church was opened

S S Essequibo arriving at Port of New Amsterdam (n.d.)

“for the purpose of divine worship by the congregations of the Dutch Reformed Church and the English [Anglicans], alternately” with the hope that there would be no claim to supremacy in its use.

At some point, the Scots also began using the Colonial Church, as it was then known; but because of non-availability of regular Scots and Dutch pastors, only the Anglicans made good use of the church. The Dutch, it appeared, no longer had a presence on the colony.

In 1835, the Scots intimated that they would require the alternate use of the Colony Church.

This was not agreed to by the Anglicans, however. They argued that it was the Dutch who had alternate use, but that that body had passed out of existence, whereas the Scots Church had only recently entered the scene and had no claim to alternate use of the

Colony Church.

The counter-argument by the Scots was that there were Scotsmen in the Old Dutch Church and that there was no break, but rather a fusion of Scots and Dutch, hence their claim. These claims and counter-claims went as far as Downing Street, England to be settled by the English government, where the judgement went in favour of the “Scots-cum-Hollanders.”

Hence, the Scots shared the Colony Church with the Anglicans from about 1835.

By 1838 however, this alternate sharing would have ended with the completion of another church building, this one for the Anglicans. A grant had been received from public funds for the building of a separate church for the Anglicans, if they “… renounced all claim to the use of the Colony Church.”

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Georgetown Harbour, circa 1850

47

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

US-based Guyanese Alain Sue is ‘Sailor What’s going on… of the Year’ …with the Rodney CoI Some young people may be wondering what’s the fuss all about over Rodney’s killing. And that itself is an indictment of the state of our society today.

In any normal country, stories such as Rodney’s would’ve been used as object lessons to inspire youths. In the US, the rags-to-riches stories of Horatio Alder, apocryphal or not, has fired the ambitions of generations of youths.

If a country’s to develop, there have to be stories encapsulating the ethos of that country. Walter Rodney’s as good a candidate as any, for Guyana. And in this, he can be contrasted to Forbes Burnham, who can be seen as his dark doppelgänger – and as such, creatures inevitably are, Walter’s implacable enemy.

In the aftermath of slavery, African Guyanese saw education as their ladder out of the lives of desperation into which the powers-that-be were determined to keep them. Both born into lower middle-class families – which meant, more or less, lives of genteel poverty – they won the most coveted prize in the Guyanese educational sweepstakes: places at Queen’s College. Patterned on the British Grammar School model, Queen’s was supposed to explicitly produce “Black Englishmen”, who would serve the local needs of the Empire.

They were both brilliant at Queens – but Rodney was the archetypical “Queen’s Boy” (it wasn’t co-ed then) who excelled both academically and in sports.

And both exhibited superb oratorical skills. Born two decades apart, Burnham would win the coveted Guyana Scholarship the year Rodney was born.

He would enter law and, guided by Machiavelli, be consumed by the pursuit of power.

Rodney, on the other hand, guided by Marx, would pursue the history of Africans and seek their emancipation from the vicissitudes of colonialism and capitalism. As a Marxist who looked at societies influenced by economic forces, he was yet appreciative of the influence of culture. And therefore accepted ethnic identification subsumed within broad economic “classes”. He could, therefore, be a “Pan-African” and a “Guyanese”, without any contradiction.

The struggle between Burnham and Rodney was almost inevitable – with all the elements of a Greek tragedy in place. While Rodney avoided Guyana for the first decade of Burnham’s rule – his return in 1974 set them on their ineluctable historical clash.

Burnham would use whatever means that were necessary to hold on to his personal, dictatorial power – while Rodney would do the same to return “power to the people”.

Burnham saw “emancipation” as the Black Man (him, specifically) replacing the White Man (the Queen). President for Queen. Rodney saw emancipation as allowing the Black Man and all other Guyanese to become free to let their human potential flower. …with the buried skeletons We all hoped the testimonies at the Rodney CoI would clear up allegations in the public domain since Rodney’s demise. There is the role of David Granger.

Granger has held himself out as purer than Caesar’s wife when it came to all the vile things committed during the Burnham dictatorship.

Even though it’d been clearly demonstrated to every Guyanese living that the Army was heavily involved in the “pacification” of the people – in their daily marches through villages, for one – Granger stonewalled. Well, here we have it from the horse’s mouth that he was doing the dirty – up to his neck.

But Guyanese have always been able to “pick sense from nonsense”. Why else would Burnham place him at the head of the GDF – removing two professional soldiers with higher rank – just after Rodney and other WPA members were charged with burning down Congress Place?

So now his immediate superior – appointed a month earlier – declared that Granger was the “liaison” between the Police and the GDF on the Rodney matter. What say Granger now? …on AFC’s cricket?

How far will the AFC place their personal interests?

How can they defend not making the GCB a corporate body?

P

etty Officer First Class Alain Sue is a native of Guyana and migrated to Brooklyn, NY, in 1993. He enlisted in the United States Navy in July 2003 and completed basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, IL in September 2003.

Following basic training, Petty Officer Sue attended Store Keeper (SK) “A” school in Meridian, MS from October 2003 to December 2003. Upon completion of SK “A” school he reported to his first duty assignment onboard USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) in January of 2004.

His subsequent sea and shore duty assignments include; USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) 2004-2009, Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic Oceana (FRCMA) 20092011, USS COLE (DDG-67) 2011-present.

While stationed at USS Gunston Hall, Sue served as the Work Center Supervisor for S-1 Division and the Financial Store Keeper.

He was promoted to Third Class Petty Officer on May 2005 and to Second Class Petty Officer May 2007.

While stationed at FRCMA, Sue served as the Tool Control Program Manager and IMRL Manager for 22 Tenant Commands onboard NAS Oceana. He was promoted to First Class Petty Officer on 15 November 2010. He is the USS COLE’s current ‘Sailor of the Year’.

Sue’s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (fifth award), and Good Conduct Medal (second

award)and various unit awards.

The son of Gillian Sue, he is married to Kelly Ann Sue who is a 2nd class Petty Officer in the Navy. They have three children Madison, Allyson and Delon and live in Suffolk Virginia.

(Guyana Cultural Association of New York Magazine 2014)

Rupna Rain want Sooba budy guard

D

e evil tings whah people do in de dark does come to light at some time. Even de good book seh so. But still de evil people does tink dem can hide and do evil tings and tink that dem same evil tings gon never come to light.

That is why Rum Jhaat does move in de night like Ninja. Plus it gotta man in GT de garbage town near a market who know that very well. He try to plant pumpkin night time and it come to light. He thief from Gee-Pee-Hell and it come to light. He knock down people, then drive away and it come light.

De same man try not to pay de s.ity council taxes whah he owe fuh donkey years and it come to light.

De other day he man-in-law bring in fancy vehicle duty free fuh he and every ting come to light till he had to pay.

A lotta tings whah people used to de in dark comin to light in de Rodney See-O-I too. Nuff people done dead and gone, but a lotta tings still comin to light. So although Burnt Ham dead and gone, tings still comin to light.

Burnt Ham friend Green Jah was hopin that tings wouldn’ta come to light. But Green Jah run night time till day ketch up wid he. And now de old soldier can run no more even though he still he legs still movin fast fast.

Another man who runnin becaue tings comin to light is Rupna Rain. And is not that he runnin fuh elections, which he can never win. At least, since he head didn’t get blow up, he still gotta chance to run.

Now he actually runnin because he decide that he need a body guard fuh protect he head.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie. Rupna Rain run to every body who he know and decide he can’t trust no body to protect he head. Finally, he remember de Sober Woman, and decide to run to she fuh she buddy guard!

48

Bollywood

WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

I

t seems there is trouble brewing in Ranbir KapoorKatrina Kaif's paradise.

Reports suggest that the lovebirds were spotted fighting on the sets of film ‘Jagga Jasoos’. This fight comes as a shock as the two were spotted walking hand-in-hand in Cape Town a few days back.

An India Today report stated that the fight started when Katrina pointed out that a stunt Ranbir was performing was similar to Hrithik Roshan's in the upcom-

A

bhishek Bachchan has been shooting non-stop for

B

ing movie ‘Bang Bang’.

The report added that the similarity that was

pointed out, allegedly made Ranbir angry.

(TOI)

the last few months. So, when he flew down to London for some work

two days ago, Bachchan Junior decided to extend his stay for a holiday.

Reports indicated that wife Aishwarya, daughter Aaradhya, mom Jaya and sister Shweta joined him earlier this week.

However, papa Amitabh, who had earlier decided to go along, had to change his plans.

He is most likely to stay back in Mumbai due to some prior commitments. (TOI)

Road named after Priyanka Chopra's dad, locals angry

P

riyanka Chopra's father, the late Dr. Ashok Chopra, renowned surgeon, armyman and philanthropist who lost his battle to cancer last year, is fondly missed and remembered as the city commemorated his memory and all the great work he was instrumental in achieving.

The late Dr.Chopra has a street named in his honor, located in Yari Road close to the Chopra residence.

However, the event grabbed attention and according to a report in Mid-day, a few local residents are not happy with the development.

The report stated that the road was revamped and a pandal was erected after 10 pm which is the deadline. People around Priyanka's community also complained about their cars getting towed and roads getting blocked.

The Mid-day report further stated that a social worker feels that there were freedom fighters after whom the road could have been named. (TOI)

Imran Khan, wife Avantika welcome a baby girl

B

ollywood actor Imran Khan and his wife Avantika Malik have been blessed with a baby girl.

An Indian Express report says that Avantika gave birth to the baby on Monday morning at a hospital in Mumbai. Both mother and the baby are healthy.

Imran Khan, who tied the knot with

Avantika in 2011 after dating her for 10 years, is very excited about his new role as a father.

Imran's maternal uncle Aamir Khan had gone on record to say that the family is very excited about the new arrival.

The couple had announced that they were expecting their first child in December 2013.

(TOI)

ollywood actor Alia Bhatt who is a very busy girl these days has finally disclosed the secret behind the 'Pataka' tattoo that she got inked on the nape of her neck.

Alia who is currently shooting for her upcoming film with Varun Dhawan named ‘Humpty Sharma ki Dulhaniya’, was spotted sporting the tattoo since a few months.

All talks of her tattoo went in the direction of her then upcoming film ‘Highway’, since the film has a song titled ‘Pataka guddi’ in it.

Now Alia has put all speculations to rest and revealed that the tattoo is to commemorate the ‘Pataka’ Punjabi girl's character that she will be playing in ‘Humpty Sharma ki Dulhaniya’. Alia apparently feels that having the tattoo makes her feel more connected to the

character and personality of her role.

(India Today)

B

ollywood star Hrithik Roshan and his two sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan recently enjoyed a day out at Disneyland.

The 40-year-old actor took to Twitter to share a photograph of the funfilled day with his sons.

The trio were dressed casually in jeans and T-shirts which they teamed with baseball caps.

"On the road less travelled you must

sometimes stop and take a picture," Hrithik posted along with the photograph.

The ‘Krrish 3’ star

and his wife Sussanne decided to separate and end their 17 year long relationship last December. (TOI)

Celebs that are repeatedly rumoured to be pregnant Vidya Balan: Actress Vidya Balan made headlines with her pregnancy rumours of late. The ‘Kahaani’ actress has been making frequent visits to a multi-specialty hospital in Mumbai, raising speculations that she might just be on her way to motherhood. The rumours also spread more as Vidya opted out of Sujoy Ghosh's next. Later, it was revealed that the actress wanted a break.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: After Aishwarya Rai Bachchan got married, the actress was often in news for her pregnancy. Her weight gain and film rejections added to the rumours. However, after she gave birth to her daughter, she again grabbed headlines. The actress couldn't lose weight and allegedly she was rumoured to be pregnant for the second time. Aishwarya has urged everyone not to speculate about her second child after Aaradhya.

Kareena Kapoor: Some years back the paparazzi clicked an apparently plump picture of Kareena Kapoor while she was making an exit from the airport and news channels went haywire with speculations on whether Bebo was pregnant.

While allegedly Kareena was much amused about the news, she chose to maintain stoic silence over it and sources close to the actress confirmed that there was no truth to these speculations and perhaps the pictures were clicked from an improper angle.

Esha Deol: Esha Deol has recently refuted rumours about being pregnant. She took to microblogging site Twitter to set the record straight about her pregnancy. "Sweet of the media, but I'm NOT PREGNANT," tweeted Esha. Rumours were rife that the former actress is in the family way and her loose top did make her baby bump visible. (TOI)

Hollywood

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WEEK ENDING June 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

H

ollywood star Angelina Jolie and British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Tuesday launched a four-day summit on ending rape in war, calling for an end to the "culture of impunity" and more prosecutions.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who will attend the conference in London on Friday, said the delegates from 117 countries wanted to "relegate sexual violence to the annals of history".

The summit is the fruit of a two-year campaign by UN special en-

H

voy Jolie and Hague, who have visited the Democratic Republic of Congo and Bosnia to meet victims of rape during conflict.

As she opened the conference, Jolie said she and Hague had dis-

A

ctress Jennifer Aniston has reportedly been attending sessions with a confidence coach ahead of actor George Clooney's wedding as she

cussed a woman they met in Bosnia, who was still too ashamed to tell her son that she had been raped.

"This day is for her," said Jolie. "We believe it truly is a summit like no other." (TOI)

fears she will run into her ex-husband Brad Pitt at the celebrations.

Aniston, who is engaged to Justin Theroux, is said to be nervous of coming face-to-face with Pitt and his fiancée Angelina Jolie when their mutual friend Clooney ties the knot with lawyer Amal Alamuddin later this year, so she is doing everything she can to put her anxieties to rest, reported contactmusic.com.

"Jen's no stranger to therapy, so she decided to seek some help," a source was quoted as saying by Britain's Grazia magazine.

"At the wedding, she'll have Justin there for support, but the thought of seeing Brad and Angelina is quite overwhelming. The therapist has been helping to build her confidence and eliminate the fear she seems to have built up about coming face-to-face with them. She has also been having hypnotherapy," the source added. (TOI)

alle Berry has been ordered by a judge to pay ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry $16,000 a month in child support, it has been revealed.

The settlementwhich was approved by Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon on May 30, requires the Oscarwinning actress to pay nearly $200,000 a year plus tuition money, to support their daughter Nahla.

According to U.S. magazine, it also calls for her to pay a retroactive payment of

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achel McAdams and Jake Gyllenhaal were spotted together on a din-

$115,000 and $300,000 to Aubry's attorneys to "cover the costs of their custody dispute."

The exes will split Nahla's health care ex-

penses.

Although they never married, Berry and French-Canadian model Aubry, dated from 2005 to 2010. (TOI)

ner date, fuelling dating rumours.

McAdams, 35, and Gyllenhaal, 33, are

filming ‘Southpaw’ in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and were snapped having meal together at a local eatery called Meat And Potatoes, reported Radar online.

McAdams previously dated Michael Sheen.

She had a long term romance with her 'The Notebook' co-star Ryan Gosling.

M e a n w h i l e , Gyllenhaal's high-profile relationships include Kirsten Dunst, Reese Witherspoon, Taylor Swift, Alyssa Miller and Natalie Portman. (TOI)

Melanie Griffith ending marriage with Antonio Banderas after 18 years Sandra Bullock's home intruder elanie Griffith and Antonio may have kept diaries about actress Banderas are ending their

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18-year marriage, as the actress filed for divorce last Friday in Los Angeles, citing irreconcilable differences for the split.

The actors were married in May 1996 and have a 17-year-old daughter together, Fox News reported.

The pair first worked together on the set of the 1995 romantic comedy 'Two Much' and the 52-year-old actor directed his wife in the 1999 film 'Crazy in Alabama.' (TOI)

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wyneth Paltrow revealed her fascination with the research on how negativity affects structure of water, on her website GOOP recently.

The 41-year-old actress wrote that she's had the coffee table book by Dr. Masaru Emoto for a while, which tells how the molecules behave differently depending on the words or music being expressed around it, News.com.au reported.

Palrow, who split from husband Chris Martin, also shared an essay

by Dr Habib Sadeghi, titled ‘Figure of Speech: How the Words We Choose Shape Our Lives’, which highlights Emoto's experiment on water that

he burglar that broke into Sandra Bullock's house recently may have been obsessed with the actress, it has been revealed.

Sources told Today that the 39-yearold intruder, identified as Joshua Corbett might have even kept dairies dedicated to the 'Gravity' actress, People magazine reported.

Corbett was arrested on suspicion of burglary after rummaging through Bullock's personal belongings and at the time of the encounter, the actress was inside her home with 4-year-old son Louis. (TOI)

proved energy generated by positive or negative words can change the physical structure of an object. (TOI)

‘My father was gay’ - Robert De Niro

H

ollywood star Robert De Niro has revealed that his father was gay and he discovered that years after his parents separated when he was a toddler.

His father was an abstract expressionist painter who died in 1993, reported

People magazine.

De Niro, 70, honoured his father in the HBO documentary 'Remembering the Artist: Robert De Niro Sr', premiering on June 9.

"He never told me. He was very private about it. He was loving and affectionate. But he wasn't the kind of dad who played baseball. He liked to take me to the movies on 42nd Street: 'King Kong', 'Beauty and the Beast'," De Niro said.

As the 'Silver Linings Playbook' star looked back on his five decades of acting and his own life as a father, De Niro said he knows the importance of passing along memories. (TOI)

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Guyanese backing Brazil for World Cup glory H

unting a record sixth title, hosts Brazil will take on Croatia in the opening match of the 2014 World Cup finals on Thursday, and from all indications, Guyanese are throwing their support behind the South American powerhouse.

The highly anticipated World Cup will kick off at 16:00h (Guyana time) with the Brazilians taking on Croatia at the Arenas Corinthians in Sao Paulo. The stadium was constructed in 2014 and has a capacity of 61,606.

Brazil and Croatia have met only twice in World Cup history, with the South American nation winning one and the other being a drawn encounter. With history and home advantage in their favour , the Brazilians will start as strong favourites to move forward in the tournament.

In fact, several persons who are close to football administration in Guyana feel the Thiago Silva-led Brazilian side- alongside Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon in Group ‘A’has what it takes to go all the way and lift the title once again.

Troy Mendonca

Overwhelming support

Ex-national coach Wayne “Wiggy” Dover believes home advantage, as well as a successful outing in the Confederations Cup 2013, which they won by beating Spain 3-0 in the final last year in Rio de Janeiro, will work in Brazil’s favour.

“I think they have a solid team and with home advantage and the success at the Confederations Cup, I think they’re the team to beat,” he said.

Dover, who was involved as coach with the Guyana senior national team from 2004 to 2012, continued, “In the Confederation they clearly played as [a] team and I think once

Charmine Wade

they continue with that same kind of attitude and togetherness, they will just have to have a bad day not to be champions of the World Cup.” Another coach and former national player, Gordon “Ultimate Warrior” Braithwaite, said he is hoping that the host nation would make it a sixth title, especially to unite a nation that has been in turmoil over the past few months.

More than a million people have taken to the streets of major Brazilian cities to vent their anger at what they see as excessive spending on the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in Rio. A World Cup victory, Braithwaite believes,

Wayne Dover

Gordon Brathwaite

may help to quell the anger of the disgruntled citizens and return to the country some semblance of normalcy.

“I like Brazil because as a South American myself I want them to win.

With all that is going on in Brazil right now, the social problems and so on, I think it would be a plus for the nation if they win the World Cup,” he reasoned.

Braithwaite, a national senior player from 1977 to 1985 and qualified coach since 1976, added, “I think they have what it takes. They have a good combination of players and any group of players they put on the field are capable of holding their own.”

Troy Mendonca, a former president of the Georgetown Football Association, is also a huge Brazil fan, simply because of the distinct features of the current group of players.

“Obviously I’m backing Brazil, not just because they have home advantage, but also because they have a very

balanced line-up…there is youth, skills, flair and energy,” he reckoned.

Mendonca, who is currently the co-director of Petra Organisation- a group involved in the promotion of local football, further stated, “They also have some seasoned players in the top league.

To be honest this is the best combination of players I’ve ever seen them put together and if they don’t win it this time, I don’t see them winning again. Most of the players in this current bunch have been on a progressive curve over the last few years.”

Charmine Wade, the Administrative Assistant to Guyana Football Federation President Christopher Matthias, said Brazil’s track record is exemplary and the time has come for the trophy to remain in the Southern American nation.

“Brazil for me is the most successful team in World Cup history, acquiring five World Cup titles. The team that has played in every World

Cup; the team qualified for the last 32 without a playoff, ever, etc. With statistics like that, they have got to be the team to love,” she commented.

Wade, a former national player, added, “In 2002, I was hoarse from shouting my lungs off when they defeated Germany; in 2006 I was so disappointed I had to support the team that defeated them, France.

In 2010 they lost in the quarter-finals, but I think it’s time to bring it home; it’s been 12 years….Go Brazil!!! Not to mention, they are my neighbours.”

Following their opening game on Thursday, the Brazilians will take on Mexico on June 17 and Cameroon on June 23.

The Brazil squad reads: Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC), Jefferson (Botafogo) and Victor (Atletico Mineiro).

Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (AS Roma), Maxwell, Thiago Silva (both Paris St Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich) and Henrique (Napoli).

Midfielders: Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Ramires, Willian, Oscar (all Chelsea), Hernanes (Inter Milan), Luiz Gustavo (VfL Wolfsburg) and Fernandinho (Manchester City).

Forwards: Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Fred (Fluminense), Jo (Atletico Mineiro) and Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg)

Bajan athletes qualify for international meets

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ARBADOS: Former Carifta games’ junior boys’ 800 metres gold medalist Jerad Mason has qualified for both the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Juniors and World Junior Championships in the Under-20 boys’ 400 metres hurdles.

Mason clocked an impressive 52.58 seconds in finishing second to the more heralded hurdler Kion Joseph, who won the event in 52.52 seconds as the two-day Barbados Olympians Classic climaxed at the National Stadium in Barbados, on Sunday night.

Sprint hurdler Michael Nicholls, who has already qualified for CAC Juniors in the

Sada Williams taking the 200 metres at Barbados’ National Stadium, Sunday night (Nation News photo)

boys’ Under-18 110-metre hurdles and the same event at World Juniors, also ran a CAC Juniors’ qualifying time of 21.57 seconds in winning the Under-18 boys’ 200 metres.

Tristan Whitehall also qualified for the NACAC Under-23 Championship

in Canada, August 8 to 10 with a winning put of 16.12 metres in the men’s shot-put.

The CAC Juniors will be held in Morelia, Mexico, July 4 to 6 while the World Juniors are slated for Eugene, United States, July 22 to 27. (Nation News)

SPort

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Jamaica’s Fraser-Pryce pulls out of NY Diamond League

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AMAICA: ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce, the 2013 Diamond League winner in both the 100 and 200 metres, has withdrawn from the adidas Grand Prix, the New York leg of the Diamond League circuit set for Saturday, June 14.

The 2013 World Champion-ship triple gold medallist has been battling injury in recent weeks that have seen her withdraw first from the Diamond League meeting in Shanghai and then finish eighth twice at meets in Rome and Eugene.

New York will now be the second meet from which the champion sprinter has withdrawn.

"We're sorry to report that Shelly-Ann FraserPryce, working to regain fitness after a minor injury this season, has withdrawn from the meet.

Shelly-Ann, best of luck for the rest of the season,

placement for the 'Pocket Rocket', who was down to compete in the 200 metres on Saturday.

Making history

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica Gleaner photo)

and we hope to see you next year," the organisers said in a statement.

The 27-year-old multiple World and Olympic champion is believed to be suffering from shin splints, which has affected her ability to train effectively and to compete at her usual high standards Organisers are said to be actively seeking a re-

Meanwhile, young St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) sprinter Nigel Ellis, and Vere Technical's Rene Medleywho could well be making history at the meetare among four Jamaican athletes down to compete in the high-school Dream 100 metres.

Ellis, whose personal best is 10.62, was a member of STETHS' 4x100m relay team that won the small school finals at the Penn Relays. He was also a member of Jamaica's all-conquering Under-18 sprint and 4x400m relay teams at the CARIFTA Games in Martinique.

Two other sprinters, one unnamed from St. George's College and Edwin Allen's Monique Spencer, are also slated to compete. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Barton, Hill adjudged TT’s top bodybuilders

Atiba Barton, National Junior Men’s Bodybuilding Overall champ, left, poses with fellow overall winners Jenelle Schulere-Smart, Bodyfitness Open; Akeem Jackson, Men’s Physique Overall; and Vanessa Hill, Miss Bikini Overall

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RINIDAD: Welterweight Atiba Barton emerged overall winner at the TT Bodybuilders and Fitness Federation (TTBBFF) National Junior Bodybuilding Championship held at the ballroom of the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre in St Ann’s, Port-ofSpain, on Saturday.

Vanessa Hill was the Miss Bikini Overall champion, while Akeem Jackson copped the Men’s Physique Overall.

The Women’s Physique Open went to Anya Abddol. The Bodyfitness Open prize went to Jenelle Schulere-Smart.

Barton’s victory, however, was not achieved without controversy. It was the first time in recent memory that an athlete in this category would succeed in beating out light middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight winners, who by design should have been able to better him at every turn.

His feat completed the list of first-

time athletes at the national juniors who clinched victory in their respective class at the championships.

Barton beat veterans such as Dennis Jagassar, the bantamweight winner, and Adrian Amsterdam who topped the light heavyweight category.

Michael Callender (heavyweight), Joel Baldeosingh (light middleweight) and Cori Baynes (lightweight) were the other division champs.

The beauty and poise of Hill was no fluke. As she exhibited her well-sculptured body, the athlete wheeled the beautiful characteristics at every stage of the competition. Shannon Hutchinson who won the Bikini Fitness Tall Class and Natasha Ali winner of the Bikini fitness short class vied for the title, too, but Hill was able to climb to the top with ease, having won favour with the panel of expert adjudicators and the audience alike. (TT Guardian)

Rick Ross to perform at Limacol CPL

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he Biggest Party in Sport just got Bigger! The Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has confirmed that hiphop superstar, Rick Ross, will headline one of the biggest concerts ever seen in St. Kitts and Nevis, during CPL Finals Week.

The multi-million selling rapper will top the bill at the concert, to be held at Warner Park Football Stadium on Friday August 15th, the night before the CPL final. The Miami rapper will bring yet more international star quality to the high- octane cricket tournament, which boasts some of the most exciting players on the planet, as well as Hollywood shareholders, Mark Wahlberg and Gerard Butler.

“Rozay” has scored five Number 1 albums in the US and collaborated with the likes of Jay Z, Kanye West and Drake, and fans will be hoping to see him perform some of his biggest hits, including The Boss, Aston Martin Music, and Nobody, from his latest album, Mastermind.

The concert will undoubtedly add spice to what already promises to be a thrilling Finals Week in St. Kitts, ensuring that the CPL lives up to its reputation as the Biggest Party in Sport.

Rick Ross

Fans will also be treated to Beefy’s Bash, an allstar charity match featuring Sir Ian Botham, Brian Lara and Piers Morgan, as well as two semi-final showdowns during the week, as well as the main event, the final of the Limacol CPL 2014, on Saturday 16th August.

Damien O’Donohoe, CEO of Limacol CPL, said: “The fact that CPL can attract one of the biggest names in music proves how special and unique the competition really is – there’s no other cricket tournament in the world that could have pulled this off. This is brilliant news for St. Kitts and Nevis and the entire Region, and the whole CPL team is thrilled with this fantastic addition to Finals

Week.”

The CPL, which thrilled sell-out crowds across the Caribbean in 2013, is once again looking to excite fans with high-intensity T20 cricket in an even bigger and better tournament in 2014. The tournament will feature the biggest names in Caribbean cricket, including Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard, as well as global stars Kevin Pietersen, Saeed Ajmal and Corey Anderson.

Grenada, known for its vibrant culture and hospitality, will serve as the opening venue to showcase the Region’s most exciting domestic Twenty20 tournament.

CPL II will take place from 11th July to 16th August of 2014.

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Guyana signs host venue agreement for Limacol CPL matches

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he Guyana government signed the Host Venue Agreement (HVA) with the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL), confirming Guyana’s hosting of its leg of the Limacol CPL T20 tournament, scheduled to be played at the National Stadium, Providence.

The agreement was formalised on Tuesday between the Guyana government and Limacol CPL officials in the boardroom of the Sport Ministry.

Speaking just before the official signing ceremony, Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony said the Guyana Government is once again happy to be part of the Limacol CPL, since T20 has changed the cricket world beyond recognition.

“It’s a game that offers this form of high-intensity and great entertainment,” Dr Anthony disclosed.

The Sport Minister also mentioned that Guyana had the distinction of being the first venue to sign the Host Venue Agreement (HVA) in the inaugural tournament last year.

Dr Anthony indicated that the National Stadium will be made available for the Guyana Amazon Warriors preparatory phase.

Top gear Meanwhile, General Manager of the Guyana National Stadium, Anthony Xavier, disclosed that while the stadium authority is disappointed by the removal of the third Test match between the

Done deal! Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony hands over the signed Host Venue Agreement (HVA) to Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Omar Khan in the presence of General Manager of the Guyana National Stadium, Anthony Xavier, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Alfred King and Limacol CPL Chief Events Officer Kirk Douglas (Photo: Marceano Narine)

West Indies and New Zealand, preparations are moving apace for hosting the Limacol CPL matches in the country.

“We are in a continued state of preparedness, while we are disappointed not to have the Test match, we are fully in top gear for the Limacol CPL,” Xavier related.

The former Sport Minister further advised that a team from the Limacol CPL had conducted its mandatory venue inspection and have expressed their satisfaction.

Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Omar Khan, in his remarks said that government support is essential for the hosting of the games,

since according to him, international matches have certain standards and government plays an important role in ensuring that those standards are achieved.

The Guyana franchise, bought by the NEW GPC/ Limacol, will play three of their nine preliminary games at home, on July 17 against Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel (19:30h), July 19 against St Lucia Zouks (16:00h) and July 20 against Jamaica Tallawahs (16:00h).

Prior to the three home games, the Warriors will play Antigua Hawksbills on July 11; Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel on July 24; Barbados Tridents

on July 27; Jamaica Tallawahs on August 2; Antigua Hawksbills on August 7; and St Lucia Zouks on August 10 in their final preliminary game.

This year, each franchise team consists of a squad of 19 players, comprising two pre-selected playersone West Indies Franchise Player (WIFP) and one International Franchise Player- (IFP), selected by the franchise, as well as four Under-19 players from each playing franchise.

The Warriors have retained 10 players from last year’s edition and are among the favourites to lift the title this year.

The players retained are: Pakistan all-round-

er Mohammad Hafeez, New Zealander Martin Guptill, Trinidadians, off-spinner Sunil Narine, opening batsman Lendl Simmons and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, Jamaican Krishmar Santokie and Guyanese Christopher Barnwell, Steven Jacobs, Veerasammy Permaul and Trevon Griffith.

New Zealander Corey Anderson has been named as the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ International Franchise Player. The all-rounder, who caused a stir by hitting the fastest ODI hundred against the West Indies, has replaced compatriot James Franklin as the International Player.

The newcomers are; Guyanese Leon Johnson, Ronsford Beaton, Robin Bacchus and Trinidad and Tobago fast-bowling allrounder, Navin Stewart, while the Under-19 players named are talented Everest Cricket Club fast bowler Kevin Paul, West Indies Under-19 opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Demerara left-arm fast bowler Daniel Basdeo and Essequibo all-rounder Kemo Paul.

The cricketing bonanza in the Caribbean will start on July 11 with international coaches managing a team of superstars as well as future stars.

The debut season of the Limacol CPL T20 was a bonanza and attracted huge interest by the cricketing world. The new-born league is a replacement for the West Indies domestic T20 cup.

OSCL 20-over tournament kicks off…

Three Guyanese batsmen score centuries

By Ravendra Madholall

C

ANADA: Three Guyanese batsmen registered centuries over the weekend as the 2014 Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) regular 20-over season rolled off with a series of matches at various venues across the Greater Toronto Area.

On Saturday, Azam Haniff of Masters plundered 11 sixes and 9 fours in his scintillating, unbeaten 150 to inspire his team to a facile 123-run win against Annandale at Elia ground in the West End Division.

Also on Saturday in the East End Conference B division, Anand Nirmal fashioned an attractive 107 to spur Rebels to a comprehensive 130-run margin over Robbies at Goldhawk facility while on Sunday in the East End Conference A category, REMS were indebted to former Guyana under-19 batsman Rovendra Mandolall’s entertaining 123 as they trounced Caribbean Sensation

HD at Ellesmere by 100 runs.

The competition will continue on Saturday and Sunday with another set of matches at different grounds across the GTA. On Saturday, Wakenaam beat Bacchus by six runs at Ashtonbee.

Wakenaam made 124 all out off 19.5 overs. Abdool Azeez top-scored with 59.When Bacchus batted, they replied with 118 all out off 18.4 overs as Imran Khan took 3-1 off 1.1 overs.

REMS, Betterhope game ended in controversy when several bowlers called for pelting.

However, Betterhope made 153-7 off the 20-overs with Richard Dias making 47. REMS were coasting at 72-0 off seven overs when proceedings came to a halt.

Rovendra Mandolall was 43 not out.

Bellevue Sports thrashed GTA Storm at Littles ground by a handsome 111-run margin. Bellevue tallied up 196-7 off their 20-overs and GTA Storm responded inadequately with 85

Azam Haniff of Masters

all out off 18.3 overs.

Richard Shivrattan led the way for the winner with 86.

At Elia Primary school ground, Masters thrashed Annandale by 123 runs. Masters accumulated a mammoth 256-1 off their 20-overs with Azam Haniff hitting 150 not out while Troy Gobin and Mark Nazir chipped in with 52 and 30 respectively.

Annandale replied with

133 all out in the 15th over.

At St. Bedes, Caribbean Sensation beat Caribbean Sensation HD by 73 runs.

Caribbean Sensation 176-7 off the reduced 19 overs. The cut of the overs was due to time restriction.

Anand Balwant topscored with 42 while Sheik Khan made 40.

Caribbean Sensation HD, in response, was

left hanging at 103-8 when the overs ran out.

Balwant returned with the ball to claim 3-8 off three overs.

At Goldhawk venue, Rebels embarrassed Robbies by 130 runs.

Rebels piled up a massive 197-1 from the allocation of 20-overs while Robbies only made 67-7 off the full quota of overs. Anand Nirmal stroke his away to an unbeaten 107 while contributions came from Ricky Mahadeo and Shiv Seeram with 43 and 34 not out respectively.

At EarnsCliff Public School ground, Dant got a walkover from Lions.

At Lancaster, Matrix got the better of Strikers by 17 runs in a shortened game owing to time. Matrix secured 92-7 off 18-overs. Ram Chand 3-8 off four overs.

Strikers only mustered 75 all out off 14 overs as Ivan Chung grabbed 3-5 off 2 overs.

At Smithfield Park, defending champion Cricketers Cove beat Originals by nine-wickets. Originals secured 108-7 off their 20-overs.

Cove responded with 109-1 off 15.3 overs.

Kumar Doodnauth scored 61 not out.

At Ellesmere, Scarborough Angel defeat Ramblers by six runs.

Scarborough Angel landed 132-9 off 20-overs. Ramblers in reply reached126-9 when their overs expired. Deokumar Singh led the fight with 51.

East Coast beat Enmore by 33 runs at Ellesemere. East Coast scored 143-4 off 20-overs with Rakesh Dyal securing 32 not out. Enmore replied with 110 all out.

Essequibo Sports thrashed GT Bannas by 140 runs at Ashtonbee.

Essequibo Sports compiled a daunting total of 194-3 off 20-overs while GT Bannas only responded with 54 all out in the 13th over. Bharrat Lachman stroke 94 not out and Jaimini Singh chipped in with 54 to be the top batsmen. Rudy Bhoopaul was the chief wicket-taker for victorious team as well nabbing 3-11 from his maximum four overs.

Sport

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Rising Sun horse race meet set for June 29

Disgruntled Kumar blasts WICB, GCB over removal of third Test

Several close races are expected to define the day’s proceedings

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he Rising Sun Turf Club will come alive on June 29, when the Club in collaboration with Inshan Bacchus Trucking Service presents a grand one-day horse race meet.

The activity has already attracted some of the country’s top thoroughbreds who will be competing for millions in cash and trophies from noon.

Eight highly anticipated races are carded for the day, with the feature event being the D1 and Lower fetching the highest first prize of one million Guyana dollars and will cover a distance of 1500m.

The main supporting race is for Three-year-old Guyana and West Indiesbred animals competing at 1400m for a top prize

of $600,000.

The winner of the F1 and Lower event at a distance of 1400m is guaranteed Gy$500,000, while the Two-yearold Guyana and West Indian-bred cash prize is set at Gy$300,000 at a distance of 600m.

Other races on the agenda are the G3 and Lower (1000m/ Gy$400,000 first prize), I1 and Lower (1000m/ Gy$250,000 first prize), J and Lower (1000m/ Gy$200,000 first prize) and H1 and Lower (1000m/Gy$400,000 first prize).

According to information reaching this publication, all systems are in place for a highly competitive day of racing, featuring the leading horses, jockeys and stables.

Anand Sanasie

Neil Kumar

Dave Cameron

est Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Dave Cameron and Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Anand Sanasie have come in for severe criticism from Director of Sport Neil Kumar for their perceived role in the removal of the third Test match between West Indies and New Zealand from Guyana.

Kumar, during an exclusive interview with this publication on Wednesday, blamed the duo for robbing Guyanese of seeing a son of the soil, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, live in

action.

A visibly perturbed Kumar laid the blame squarely at the door of the WICB, calling the decision to switch the Test match to Barbados as nothing but “disgraceful.”

According to Kumar, much work had been done to get the venue at Providence in a state of readiness for the June 26-30 game, while several other arrangements were also being fine-tuned.

He added, “We want to see our Shivnarine Chanderpaul in flesh and blood play at the Providence Stadium and they removed it;

it’s hurtful.”

Kumar also chastised Sanasie, as a sitting Director of the WICB for allowing the Test match to be moved from his home country.

“This is most vindictive and shameful by Anand Sanasie, who is said to be the Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, he’s a director.

I’ve enjoyed a good relationship with everybody, I tried, but for the WICB president and his people to remove this Test match is disgraceful,” a disgruntled Kumar commented.

This is the second time in three years the WICB has pulled a

W

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Test from the Guyana National Stadium because of what they claimed to be political interference. In 2012, the third Test against Australia was moved to Windsor Park in Dominica.

Also, Regional FirstClass games scheduled for Guyana that year were relocated to Dominica.

The West Indies Cricket Board and Guyana government have not been able to find a mutually agreeable resolution pertaining to the Cricket Administration Bill; hence the Test match was relocated.

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El Dorado renews CPL sponsorship

E

l Dorado Rum has renewed its sponsorship of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League, for three more years, enabling fans of the hugely successful cricket tournament to enjoy the liquid gold of Guyana alongside scintillating T20 cricket.

In addition to being the Official Partner to the League, El Dorado has also signed up as Official Partner to the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel franchise teams.

El Dorado Rum was among the first partners when the CPL launched in 2013 to sellout crowds, with over 250,000 spectators attending matches across Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

Global stars including Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Ricky Ponting and Muttiah Muralitharan took part in the tournament, dubbed the Biggest Party in Sport.

With just a month until the start of CPL

2014, anticipation and excitement is already reaching fever pitch.

Following the Draft in April, this year’s competition is set to be even bigger and better, with the Caribbean’s finest players set to be joined by cricketing superstars like Kevin Pietersen, Corey Anderson and Brad Hodge.

Jamie Stewart, Commercial Director, Limacol Caribbean Premier League, said, “The Limacol CPL is the Biggest Party in Sport, and you can’t have a party in the Caribbean without rum! We’re extremely happy to welcome back El Dorado Rum to the Caribbean Premier League, and we look forward to working together to put on an even bigger party in 2014.”

Chairman of Demerara Distillers

Limited, Mr. Komal Samaroo, said, “As a brand, El Dorado continues to demonstrate to the world that the best rums come from the Caribbean and the same can be said of CPL in the world of sports. Together with the CPL team, we will once again showcase to the world the best that the Caribbean has to offer. We are extremely excited to be the Official Spirit of the Limacol CPL and we are looking forward to being part of the fun and excitement that this tournament brings.”

The tournament returns in July and August 2014 when Jamaica Tallawahs will defend their title against the Antigua Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Lucia Zouks, and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

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