Guyana Times International

INTERNATIONAL

UK authorities tightening visa rules Page 47

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com ISSUE NO. 225

week ending January 11, 2015

US$50M Indian loan for East Bank/ East Coast road link approved See story on page 19

Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar in bilateral discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Ramotar is the Chief Guest at the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conference in Gujarat, India; a two-day event which began on Thursday.

15% increase in tourist arrivals APNU cautious about projected for Guyana this year AFC’s “secret talks” Page 18

Page 21

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3 Specialty Hospital will be completed – Dr Luncheon G NEWS

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overnment is still very keen on seeing the completion of the US$18 million Specialty Hospital and has built a stronger alliance with the provider of the concessionary loan financing to see it become a reality.

Construction on the state-of-the-art medical facility was halted last September after Government took the contract from Surendra Engineering Company Limited (SECL), follow-

lawsuit against the Indiabased company for in excess of US$100 million for alleged fraud, breach of contract, and delays in works done. All this was done while the company strongly contended that it had done nothing wrong.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon said, while he could not give an insightful comment on the legal proceedings, Government was confident that it would be able

sequent to the termination of the contract, Central Government had moved to inform both the Government of India and the funding agency, the Exim bank, of its determination to see the hospital to completion.

“It is in that regard that Government has reached out to the Indian Government with certain proposals with regard to the future, how specific concessionary loan financing can continue to be provided and utilised for the

Government before the next step is taken.

The Surendra Engineering Company was contracted by Guyana’s Government back in September 2012 to design, build, equip, test, deliver, install, complete and commission a Surgical Specialty Hospital located at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown. The contract was signed to the tune of US$18,180,000.

But according to government, the compa-

An artist impression of the Specialty Hospital which was to be constructed

by Surendra Engineering Construction Limited

ing the discovery of major discrepancies.

A month after yanking the contract, Government, through the Attorney General Chambers, had also filed a

to recover the Gy$4 billion that was unlawfully used up by Surendra.

Meanwhile, Luncheon told the Guyana Times International on Wednesday that sub-

completion of this project,” Luncheon told this publication when asked for an update.

He said Government was awaiting a response from the Indian

ny had failed to perform its obligations under the terms of the contract and give an account for the advance payment of US$4,285,440.

Instead, the company

Dr Roger Luncheon

submitted fabricated, unsigned and sometimes inflated invoices with no evidence of actual payments made or any documents supporting the expenditure claimed.

A letter was also produced and purported to be signed by a D Singh, Director of Financial Institutions, Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, confirming that it has “more than five years in the reinsurance and coinsurance business” and had been authorised for those operations since 1988.

In the wake of rumours that the Indian firm might have been liquidated, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall had said that Government was

continuing with its lawsuit against the company.

Nandlall said that while he would be making enquiries about the claim, Government will not be backing out of the fight. In the legal document filed by the Attorney General Chambers, Government said that the company was found guilty of fraudulent practices and breach of the terms, conditions and warranties of the contract it had signed.

The Attorney General told GTI that Government would be moving to serve notice of the lawsuit through advertisement after it was unable to do so since the company’s local office was abandoned.

He could not at that time say how soon that would be.

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A breathtaking view!

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

Honour and country

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he good book does say that a man is not recognised in his own country. After all, the natives remember when he used to walk barefoot among them. But when it comes to former President Bharrat Jagdeo not only does the Opposition media refuse to recognise his accomplishments but they go out of their way to do what the Americans call, “a hatchet job” on his reputation.

Take the Stabroek News’ editorial of January 5, “Observers”, which purported to comment on Jagdeo being appointed Head of the Commonwealth Team of Observers to Sri Lanka’s general elections, being held today (Thursday).

While it is accepted that there will be a certain amount of partisanship in politics commentary domestically, one would have hoped that Stabroek News would at least have acknowledged the honour that was being bestowed on the entire country of Guyana, through the selection of Mr Jagdeo. However the Stabroek News chose to declare conclusively, and snarkily, that “a large number of persons in Guyana would deem Mr Jagdeo unsuitable for this mission.” This is sophistry at its basest.

The question is, which leader – from what their columnist Henry Jeffrey calls a “bi-communal” society – would not be deemed “unsuitable” for even being a “dog catcher” by a “large number of persons” from the “other side”?? What exactly was the point that Stabroek News was attempting to make, apart from sheer wickedness?

The newspaper shoots itself in the foot again, when it claimed that because Dr Jagdeo’s successor, President Ramotar had “questioned the outcome of the 2011 polls without providing any evidence of wrongdoing” the former President’s “credibility as mission head could be under some pressure”.

Stabroek News is really reaching with this claim. Firstly, President Ramotar did in fact produce a welter of fact-based proof – including intimidation of PPP poling agents in South Georgetown and preventing authorised persons from witnessing the vote count.

Discussions of these concerns at the Tripartite Talks with the leaders of APNU and AFC produced a consensus which led to the President deciding not to proceed with a demand for a forensic audit in the interest of peace and stability in the country.

President Ramotar acted in the best interest of the country and denied himself an outright victory. But the Stabroek News would deny him even that.

To curry-favour with the Commonwealth, the Stabroek News unctuously complained that Mr Jagdeo had not “disassociated” himself from President Ramotar’s statement, which was in contrast to the silence of the Commonwealth Observers of the Guyana elections. We do not see what Mr Jagdeo has to do with President Ramotar’s statement, since, he, Jagdeo was not a member of the Commonwealth or any other Group of observers.

In fact, the Commonwealth’s present choice of Jagdeo to lead their team at the very important Sri Lanka elections is a resounding vote of confidence in his impartiality in matters electoral.

But the lowest blow of all was some doublespeak from the Stabroek News that would have done Goebbels proud. It claimed innocuously enough that the Commonwealth’s Report on elections “produce a verdict on the quality of the governance of the elections being observed and whether they provide a basis for a fair result.” But the newspaper then astoundingly posits a “disjunction” between this verdict and Jagdeo’s “own poor Governance” of Guyana.

Apart for comparing apples and oranges, since when can “poor governance” describe securing the write-off of US$2.1 billion PNC’s debt, leading the state to fighting off an armed insurrection launched by the PNC and producing sustained economic growth that has led to Guyana graduating from being a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) to a Middle Income Country?

We remind the opposition media once again: when they adopt the vicious approach exemplified by the editorial “Observer”, they are simply cutting Guyana’s nose to spite its face. And to the rest of the world, we are all Guyanese.

The Georgetown seawalls (Chris Rahaman photo)

CGX, ASL analysing data gathered from aerial search

BY ERICA WILLIAMS

C

o-Chairman of CGX Oil Company, Dr Suresh Narine said that the firm has already handed over some data gathered from its aerial search for the missing Air Services Limited plane and is hoping that very soon the crew and the aircraft could be located.

A CGX contracted plane that was in Guyana on oil exploration operations joined the search on Saturday. The aircraft is equipped with a magnetic reader, which will greatly aid in the search. It has been close to two weeks since the aircraft disappeared in the Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) area. Narine said the company’s focus is on ensuring that the missing aircraft with two persons on board is found.

Speaking with Guyana Times International on Tuesday, Narine said he is unable to give specifics as it relates to the duration for the company’s involvement in the search of the missing plane.

At present, the aircraft is assisting the team of investigators and search parties with gathering information that may lead to the rescue of the Pilot Nicky Persaud and loader David Bisnauth. He further disclosed that data gathered from the search is being analysed by the aviation authorities. Following the analysis of data, it is the hope that there will be clues that will lead to the rescue of the two persons.

“We are in the process of accessing data to see if there is anything, if there is something we can pick up on,” Narine said. The Co-Chairman added that his company takes pleasure in being part of such an effort, “I can’t imagine what it would be like to be stuck in such rough terrain.”

At the moment, the search team involves the Canadian aircraft attached to CGX, three

Director of the GCAA, Zulficar Mohammed

teams from Timehri (who were flown in on Saturday last to join the search party), members of the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Guyana Defence Force, and eight line cutters from St Cuthbert’s Mission.

Director of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Zulficar Mohammed said that the search is being continued on the ground and aerially and reiterated that the use of information gathered determines the next move. It was previously reported that the Canadian aircraft being used in the search is contracted to CGX for oil exploration activities, nevertheless, Narine declined to disclose the amount of monies invested in the search by CGX thus far. GCAA had said that the aircraft is a much needed resource in the search, since it is equipped with a magnetic reader. In addition to this aircraft, the aerial examination consists of two helicopters which are supported by two fix wing aircraft. The search is being carried out in the area of high interest, as well as along the pre-determined grids which were prepared by the Rescue Coordination Centre

(RCC), Timehri Control Tower.

On Sunday, December 28, 2014, the Timehri Control Tower lost communication with the Britten Norman Islander that was flying between Mahdia and Karisparu, Region Eight. Based on records, the aircraft took off from Mahdia about 11:42h on a routine local cargo flight and the last known position was marked by “Spot Tracker” at 11:44h. At 16:20h, Timehri Air Traffic Control Tower made contact with the aircraft operator to establish whether the aircraft had landed before implementing a search and rescue operation. After no information was received, Air Traffic Control commenced an ‘Alert Phase’ and RCC at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport was activated.

Moments after the aircraft was reported missing, two ASL Cessna 208 Caravans flying within the area were vectored to commence a search operation and were later joined by three Belle helicopters.

After the first few days with no success, the RCC contacted Surinamese aviation experts, as well as those from the United States Mission Coordination Centre.

As the search intensified, Suriname provided an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) to zero in on or enhance any signal from the wreckage site. The RCC had plotted a grid with the most probable flight path of the aircraft and where it was most likely to have flown and determined the overall area of interest for possible crash sites.

This grid is being flown systematically to ensure coverage of the entire area. To date, systematic flyovers have been carried out, but, all have proven futile. The family members of Persaud and Bisnauth have joined the search party in the hope of finding their loved ones.

news

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Jamaican national Labour Ministry received 1244 complaints in 2014 accused of trafficking cocaine I

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Jamaican national was remanded to prison after being arraigned on a trafficking in narcotics charge when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry, on Wednesday.

Richard Daniels pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on January 5 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, he had in his possession 1.266kg of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The court heard that on the day in question, at around 22:05h, ranks attached to the Narcotics Unit were on an eradication exercise when they saw the outgoing passenger on a Fly Jamaica flight acting in a suspicious manner.

The Police contacted him and carried out a search on his suitcases. In the suitcase, two bottles of body lotion and two and a half pairs of socks were found in the bag. In the socks, they found 105 pellet shaped

Richard Daniels

objects rapped in a silver foil paper.

Daniels was transported to the Police station where the pellet shaped objects were inspected. He was told of the offence, arrested and charged.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Michael Grant objected to bail citing the nature and gravity of the offence. He stated that the defendant is not a Guyanese citizen alluding that he is a flight risk and that special reasons must be advanced for bail to be granted.

Bail was refused for the defendant and the matter is said to be heard again on January 20.

n 2014, a total of 1,244 complaints were lodged with the Ministry of Labour, of which 821 or 66% were resolved. While in 2014, more complaints were lodged, fewer were concluded and this was because many of the complaints related to the mining industry, noted Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda Gopaul.

He said that in the mining industry, both employers and their complainants seem to always be ‘out of touch’ with the ministry.

Minister Gopaul stated that from the 1,244 complaints, only 24 or 1.9% were related to non-payment of wages below the National Minimum Wage. This is an indication that the National Minimum Wage is now settled and the defaulters, despite some amount of resistance, have now accommodated the request.

“Out of the complaints, the sum of Gy$31.5M was recovered on behalf of workers, and representing Gy$4.2M for annual leave, Gy$1M for overtime, Gy$12M for terminal benefits, Gy$13M for

Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda Gopaul

wages, and Gy$18.2M for complaints. During the course of 2014, Gy$49.7M was received on behalf of workers, filing cases with the ministry,” Minister Gopaul said.

In addition, the sums collected constituted ‘out-of-court’ settlements against employers and the number filed in 2014 was 141. The number of matters closed was 38 and for employers being taken to court in 2014, the figure rests at 57.

The minister said that the number of charges was 362 in 2014, with 130 cases pending and filed, including paying of wages, failure to provide

severance pay, in lieu of notice, and grant leave with pay.

Meanwhile, resulting from the complaints that were lodged, the sum of Gy$31.5M was recovered on behalf of the complainants. This includes payment of annual leave, overtime, terminal benefits, wages and a few related ones. In addition to these sums, a further Gy$18.263M, due on complainants for the previous year 2013, was collected, with the total garnered for the year being Gy$49.771.

The important thing of note within the Ministry of Labour was that there were some successful prosecutions for erring employers in 2014. The Labour Ministry was quite successful in this aspect of its mandate and in fact was able to recoup large sums for workers who were exploited. The Minister of Labour told the Guyana Information Agency (GINA) that a total of 141 prosecution cases were filed in 2014 against 57 employers, while 362 charges were instituted against the delinquent employers.

Some 38 prosecution cas-

es were closed in 2014, while 130 cases (20132014) are currently outstanding.

The charges instituted against the employers include failure to pay the entire amount of wages and severance allowances, no notices of termination, overtime neglect, and the non-honouring of the national minimum wages order. The most significant cases for 2014 include the Management of Tower Hotel and Strategic Action Security Agency. Employers who are delinquent and pay their staff less than the national minimum wage will, if found guilty, have to pay a fine of Gy$35,000 for the first offence. The second offence will result in a fine of Gy$75,000 and one month in jail.

The decision by Government to implement a national minimum wage will result in a higher standard of living, in addition to increased wages for approximately 31,000 workers. The national minimum wage, which was established in 2013, saw workers receiving up to Gy$35,000 per month, during a forty-hour work week.

6 This is yet another Let’s call a date for elections major recognition for the former President You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times International, Industrial Site Ruimveldt Georgetown, Guyana or guyanatimesint@gmail.com

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Dear Editor, I was delighted to hear the news that former President Bharat Jagdeo has been appointed Head of the Commonwealth Observer Mission for Sri Lanka’s elections.

This is at the invitation of head of the Sri Lanka Elections Commission Mahindra Deshapriya.

Mr Jagdeo has never been given his due for the many developments he brought to this country during his tenure as President.

He was instrumental in pushing for the University of Guyana campus at Tain; bridging of the Berbice River; consolidating the many infrastructural developments introduced by the PPP/C, such as roads, water and electricity; overseeing the building of a stadium at Providence (which meets the criteria for hosting international matches);

championing the cause for a cleaner environment through his reduced carbon emission programme for which he has been globally recognised; and many, many more.

His critics are focusing their attention on the limitations of his Government and conveniently ignoring his many stellar achievements. It is quite instructive that Mr Jagdeo has been recognised and awarded for his achievements by other countries around the world. This speaks volumes of his integrity and capabilities.

It is very unfair and scandalous that Mr Jagdeo was labelled as an “idological racist” by a particular media house and one of its controversial columnists, when he (Jagdeo) has reached out to Guyanese of all creeds, colour, religions, and social and political persuasions.

It is indeed an injustice and travesty to accuse such a dynamic and inspirational leader of such a cruel thing.

However, Mr Jagdeo has remained steadfast to his goals and aspirations and he is being recognised by yet another country. Some people in our country may not want to accord him with the necessary dignity and respect that a former President deserves, but he is moving on with charisma and humility.

Keep up the good work, Mr Jagdeo. As my former Principal said to a few of her teachers who were disrespectful to her, “Even if you don’t respect me, at least respect my office”.

This was quite instructive to me.

Guyanese must respect their leaders, irrespective of who they are. At least, respect the “Office of President”.

Rakesh Singh

The PPP has always embraced a working class ideology Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) salutes the entire membership and supporters of the party on the occasion of its 65th anniversary.

As is popular knowledge, the PPP was formed on January 1, 1950 with Dr Cheddi Jagan and his wife Janet as founder leaders. This makes the PPP/C not only the oldest but also the largest and most respected political party in the country.

The PPP/C is proud of the role it has played in the granting of internal self Government and subsequently in the struggle for political independence to the then colony of British Guyana after over 150 years of British colonial rule.

The records will show that it was the PPP that led the struggle for universal adult suffrage and other constitutional advances, including the current ministerial system of Government.

From its very inception, the PPP embraced a working class ideology

and have never shifted course despite the several attempts by foreign vested interests in collaboration with local reactionary elements to destroy the party.

Regrettably, the party suffered a major blow in 1955 when Forbes Burnham and a group of opportunists broke away from the PPP and formed their own party, but the party displayed remarkable resilience to emerge even stronger, winning all subsequent elections until it was engineered out of office through the intrigues and machinations of vested interests in the 1964 elections.

The PPP/C is on record as the only political party in Guyana that has never lost free and fair elections. It was kept out of office for close to three decades through a combination of force and fraud unleashed by the PNC regime, but like a phoenix it once again re-emerged from the ashes to win a resounding victory in the elections of October 1992 which brought an end to 28 years of authoritarian rule.

Today, the PPP/C

is again in the driver’s seat leading the struggle for a democratic, free and prosperous Guyana. As in the past, dark forces are again ganging up to destabilize the PPP/C and the PPP/C Government and to thwart the country’s forward march.

The PPP/C is confident that like in the past these forces will be defeated and the party will again emerge stronger and victorious.

The PPP/C takes this opportunity to thank all the people of Guyana for the support it received and continue to receive and looks forward for their continuing support at this critical period in our political history.

The PPP/C pledges to continue to work hard to create a just and prosperous Guyana where every Guyanese, regardless of race, religion or creed would be provided with the opportunity to realize their full potential and benefit from the economic and social gains that the country has to offer.

PPP/C, Freedom House

Dear Editor, Another eventful year has come to a close in Guyana. The naysayers and doomdayers have been running amok like flies looking for sores. At the same time, they have conveniently ignored all the developments in the country.

The mudraker and its reporters with their jaundiced eyes have not seen developments that many other Guyanese have enjoyed.

The prorogation of Parliament by the President was a very important decision in the field of politics. This, I strongly feel, is a judicious decision and the best of the options available to the President under the Constitution.

The Opposition was bent on passing a motion of No-Confidence on the Government and the President would have been foolish enough to allow them do that and create confusion and mayhem in the country.

There is also the fact that both APNU (Arrogant People Not Understanding) and the AFC (Always Feeling Confused) did not want to go into negotiations with the PPP (Progress and Perseverance Plentiful).

The learned DPP (Madame Shalimar Hack) also wisely ruled that the Attorney General did not threaten Glenn Lall and his staff. I listened to the tape ad did not find any evidence that a threat was made.

What was interesting was that Leonard Ghidarie’s parts in the conversation were deleted. What was Glenn Lall trying to hide? Who is to say that this conversation was not doctored?

Anything is possible with Lalloo. The veteran Berbice lawyer Murselene Bacchus, who claimed that he holds no brief for anyone also made the same observation, that is, there was no threat in the tape.

Christopher and Freddie Kisssoon, who are pandering to Lall, think otherwise with no concrete proof. Mr Bacchus exposed them for what they are – “loud mouths with no substance to back them up”.

Vishnu Bishram also wrote an interesting article, “No country wanted Freddie”, in which he pointed out the propensity of Freddie to attack whomever he thinks denied him opportunities.

This is a very malicious and vindictive attitude to not only have but publicly (whether subtle or obvious) demonstrate.

Bisram is a very intelligent and articulate writer. Freddie is no match for him. What Freddie is good with is attacking people, not issues. This is not a characteristic of an academic.

When Henry Jeffrey chastised Nigel Hughes for his double standards in the Lusignan murder trial (not disclosing his relationship with the foreman of the jury), as well as he conflict of interest with being Company Secretary for Sithe Global for the Amelia Falls Hydro Electricity Project and being in a party (AFC) which voted against the same project, Freddie attacked Mr Jeffrey without dealing with the issues raised by the latter.

Is this the quality of an academic? Freddie is always going to be a stooge for people whom he benefits from. In the case of Hughes, he goes

so far as to call Hughes “Man of the Year”. So much for paying back Hughes for the pro-bono work Hughes offered him in the Jagdeo/ Kissoon libel trial.

Haseef Yusuf has also been courageously battling with the AFC Berbice grouping and exposing their double standards on an almost daily basis. So far no AFC member, including Ramjattan, has responded to the claims by Mr Yusuf.

Do these people in the AFC think that Berbicians and, by extension, Guyanese are that gullible? Keep up the fight Mr Yusuf.

I remember when the AFC Berbice “Bush Dacta” formed the “Bird Party” sometime in the late 90s, voters, especially in the Whim area, were offered free rum and tee-shirts to vote for his broken wing party.

This man who professes to be a psychologist was offering rum to voters knowing very well the great damage alcohol inflicts on those who imbibe it. I guess their thinking is that the end justifies the means. Yes, these people want to be in charge of this country!

Another letter writer, Balram Singh, also exposed the hyprocrisy of the AFC leaders in his letter, “AFC leadership embroiled in repeated controversy”.

His letter and that of Yusuf’s “The AFC has been focused on derailing development”, make for interesting reading.

The ‘writing is on the wall’ for the AFC. Let us have the elections so that the PPP/C can win back their majority in Parliament!

Rakesh Singh

There is much confidence in the Jagdeo-led Commonwealth team Dear Editor, Reference is made to former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s appointment to lead the Commonwealth Observer mission in Sri Lanka for the Presidential election.

The former President’s invitation and his acceptance have become critical to ensure a free and fair election in Lanka.

There is full faith and confidence in the mission and in Jagdeo’s ability to oversee the team.

Besides, Jagdeo’s team, there are also several other international and local missions. The

election is being keenly watched to prevent electoral rigging like what happened in Guyana during the PNC ethnic dictatorship.

The observers will have to render a verdict on the state of the election – whether it accurately reflects the will of the voters. The outcome is expected to be close because of various factors impacting on the contest.

The incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa is worried he could be defeated and the Opposition is worried about potential rigging.

Hence, the reason for the many observers to

prevent rigging.

Like Guyana, Sri Lanka has an ethnic problem between the majority Sinhalese (70 per cent) and minority Tamil. Tens of thousands of Tamils were butchered during three decades of civil war that ended five years ago when the Tamil guerrilla leadership was liquidated in cold blood.

The election is keenly watched and Jagdeo’s Commonwealth Mission has an important role to play – there is confidence they will carry out their duty with integrity.

Vishnu Bisram

news

GECOM gets funds to buy ballot boxes

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ome Gy$35.2 million was on Tuesday approved for the procurement of sensitive materials for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as it prepared for the upcoming General and Regional Elections.

Cabinet gave its no-objection for the money to be used to secure the materials such as ballot boxes, security seals, validation seals, ballot papers; voters lists, computers, ballot paper stamps, and indelible ink. While a date for elections has not yet been announced

by President Donald Ramotar, the Elections Commission has indicated that it was in a state of readiness.

Meanwhile, the University of Guyana’s Information and Communication Technology Department will be given a further boost with the granting of a Gy$34.4 million contract for the procurement of a contractor to commence work at the Institution’s Turkeyen Campus.

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon made the announcement on Wednesday at his post-Cabinet media briefing. He also reported that the Tourism Ministry has been granted in excess of Gy$220 million for the construction of

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Rajiv Gandhi University graduates 3 from nursing programme

two call centres at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

The Ministry has also been granted an additional Gy$40 million for the procurement of a consultancy firm for the digitisation of records within its deeds and sub registries.

T

Dr Luncheon also announced that Cabinet gave its no-objection to a Gy$56.2 million contract for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project which covers the relocation of the instrument landing and distant measuring systems.

He also reported the allocation of Gy$235.9 million for the construction of the extension of the maternity ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

An additional Gy$144.1 million has been approved for a river defence at Friendship, East Bank Demerara.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds poses with the graduates and the Vice Chancellor of the University Dr Sherlock Rawana

he Rajiv Gandhi University of Science and Technology, a fairly new institution in Guyana located at 135 Sheriff Street, Georgetown, hosted its first graduation exercise at the Pegasus Hotel on Wednesday.

During the ceremony, three Indian Nationals Biji Biju, Sheethal George and Geno Kuriakose graduated from the nursing programme with their Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. The three were already registered nurses when they applied to study at the University. They are currently employed at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital as part-time workers; however, now that they have completed the 16-month programme, they will have to decide if they

will return to India or stay in Guyana.

In his remarks at the simple ceremony, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds commended the Board of the University for starting a school that opens the door for persons from other parts of the world to join.“We are ready to receive people from all continents” he said.

Hinds added that he was excited to see more foreign nationals coming to Guyana to study as it promotes the country’s cultural diversity.

He further noted that there was potential for more Universities in Guyana, since the country has an advantage with its climate and the low cost of living which are important components for University students.

Also speaking at the event and expressing well wishes to the students in their journey ahead were the Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr Sherlock Rawana and the Dean of the University, Dr Emanuel Cummings.

The University offers international courses in the fields of Medicine, Humanities, Science and Technology.

At present, both local and international students are attending classes in the PreMedicine course, the Degree in Medicine (MD) course and courses in pharmaceutical practices.

The University was established in 2012 and is recognised by the National Accreditation Council.

8 news Govt to sue Civil Society “leader” G WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

overnment has expressed its intention of taking legal action against the Guyana National Council on Public Policy (GNCPP) and its chairman, Dr Phillip Mozart Thomas so as to recover the over Gy$4 million owed for services provided.

The announcement

was made on Wednesday

by Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon.

He told reporters that Government has been keeping track of the organisation and Thomas.

Last week, the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) reported that it was owed a total of Gy$4,208,360 for servic-

es provided to the organisation for its civil society summit held between December 17 and 19 last. It said too that the GNCPP might very well be bankrupt.

The management of the centre said after being issued an invalid cheque on the first day of the summit, it has been unable to contact

GNCPP Chairman, Dr Phillip Mozart Thomas

Thomas.

Dr Luncheon said Government would be taking every available step to recover that money.

“The latest disclosure justified Government’s reservation… The services provided by Government to the organisation have been unpaid. The cheque was not honoured by the bank.

Cabinet will be taking appropriate steps to recover that sum of money,” Luncheon declared at the Office of the President The GNCPP and Dr Thomas have already been dubbed a facade

by Government and sections of society. Dr Luncheon said following Government’s public warning about the organisation, it has found out some additional things which have given credence to its suspi-

cions.

“Cabinet has followed the issue surrounding the December 17 gathering of Thomas and supporters which was intended to form a body of civil societies in Guyana. The [Office of the President] OP had already distanced itself from the event and the organisation, rejecting the reach out for talks.”

Subsequent investigations further validated Government’s decision.

The GNCPP, between December 17 and 19 last, hosted a civil society summit. Apart from seeking the establishment of a Guyana National Civil Society Council (GNCSC), the objective was to seek a transition into a new dispensation of peace within society.

The summit got off to a disappointing start, however, as a few “big

names” that were slated to address the audience, never showed up. Among them were President Donald Ramotar, who in a telephone interview with the GTI had disassociated himself from the organisation and Thomas.

Dr Thomas had boasted of great success, notwithstanding the warning given by the OP to Guyanese citizens against becoming entangled with the organisation and its leader, the evening before the summit.

Even with Government’s non-support, on day two of the summit, which was moved to the body’s Secretariat, Thomas contended that the summit was a “phenomenal success”, bringing together a wide cross-section of society to enable the formation of the GNCSC. Following the failure of the Council to involve Government in consultation during the summit, Thomas admitted that his organisation might have been too “rash” and would be giving itself and Government some time to recoup before seeking out another meeting.

According to him, the time might be right after Government “fully digests and analyses” the strategy used by the Council on the prior engagement.

Body of missing TT teenager found

A

woman's body, believed to be that of missing 19-year-

Police officers at the home of Shabana Mohammed at Akal Trace, Santa Cruz. Photo: Gyasi Gonzales

old Shabana Mohammed was found on Thursday near her home in Santa Cruz.

Mohammed was last seen on January 3.

Searches were drawn to a foul smell at around 10a.m. and discovered the body.

Mohammed, a sales coordinator with a shipping company in Woodbrook, was last seen at around 7.30 a.m. on Saturday, January 3,

when she was left home alone.

Screams were heard coming from the house that day, but it was only later that relatives discovered she was missing, and was not answering her cellular phone.

Police found signs of a struggle in the house.

Police are at the crime scene, said to be located at the back of Mohammed's home. (TT Express)

9 Griffith: T&T must be ready for global terrorism W news

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

ednesday’s armed attack that left 12 dead at the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, presses the need to remain pro-active against global terrorism, National Security Minister, Gary Griffith, has said.

Griffith, in a statement yesterday said the attack, unfortunately, sends the signal to countries like Trinidad and Tobago that it needs to be “fully prepared and battle-ready for any and all such eventualities, and not as some may have perceived which is to stay low, do nothing and hope that we are not touched”.

He said it was regrettable that it had taken another tragic attack of this sort to make the point about the need for preparedness in the fight against terrorism.

Eight journalists, a guest at the magazine, the editor and two policemen were left dead in Paris yesterday and others wounded after gunmen stormed the building that houses the magazine, reportedly shouting, “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great).

The attack is said to have been caused by the satirical magazine’s latest depiction of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, of

An image from a video posted online shows masked gunmen just before one of them appears to shoot a Paris police officer at close range, following an attack on the office of weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, Jan. 7, 2015, in Paris, France.

whom any physical representation is forbidden by Islam.

Griffith yesterday described the attack as “brazen” and he hearkened back to an armed attack last year on the Canadian Parliament, saying the latest incidents has prompted him to repeat a call for inter-agency collaboration.

The minister said this also “justifies the acquisition of re-

sources and assets to ensure the capabilities of National Security are effectively prepared to deal with the phenomena of global terrorism”.

“This is the only way that a nation can and would be prepared from terrorist activities, not by burying your head in the sand and hope that it flies over you, but through eternal vigilance,” Griffith stated.

“The threat of terrorism is now global, and it is mandatory that we prepare now than later.

“The minister regrets that it took another brazen attack, another tragic incident of loss of life to make the point, and now more than ever stands by the decision to acquire the Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), and to involve a technological and intelligence led approach to all operations to ensure the safety of the citizens of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, which some who are misguided have referred to as nothing more than expensive toys, but are earmarked to protect our law enforcement officials in the unfortunate confrontation of a terrorist attack.”

Griffith and the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led government had taken some criticism last year for its intention to bring in armoured vehicles, which some said where a drastic measure that would send negative signals to the citizens and the watching world.

But Griffith stated yesterday: “The Honourable Prime Minister should indeed be commended for signing the UNSCR as a co-sponsor as this positive move affords Trinidad and

Tobago to strengthen its posture against such threats through allowing us the opportunity to receive and share intelligence information related to Counter Terrorism in real time with our international partners.”

He said the establishment of a highly tactical counter terrorist unit in The Special Operations Group complements the collaborative approach and signals to the international arena that this country is “well prepared in our fight against this global enemy, and is further strengthened by the establishment of the Counter Terrorist Intelligence Unit [CTIU] under the SSA, to deal specifically with monitoring and tracking all aspects of terrorism and their support mechanisms in our country”.

“This Counter Terrorism machinery is set up and is prepared to respond and step into action if and when required,” Griffith stated.

“The SOG and CTIU are indicators that Trinidad and Tobago is thinking ahead of the game and building capacities to treat with the realities of the changing environment, in the Global War on Terrorism.” (TT Express)

Value of Barbados’ built heritage underscored “These brief references have surely demonstrated to you that the

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart (left) in light conversation with historian and President of the Barbados National Trust, Dr. Karl Watson.

H

eritage tourism has the capacity to revolutionise and diversify Barbados’ tourism product.

This is the view of Prime Minister Freundel Stuart as he highlighted some of the activities that provide promotional activity for tourism making it a year round product, and not just confined to winter months.

His comments came during the official launch of the National Restoration Programme and the Preservation (Barbados) Foundation Trust at Ilaro Court on Monday evening.

The Prime Minister said built heritage is an area which allows Barbados to become a credible player in the global market chain. “Our built heritage tells many stories that we can share with the rest of the world, but to do

so, we have to preserve it.

“This preservation is not only for visitors but for us as a people. It is for this reason, that the National Restoration Programme, as introduced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth through the Task Force for the Restoration of Barbados’ Built Heritage, is a warmly welcomed initiative,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the difference made to the economies and societies that have undertaken similar initiatives can be seen.

“The restoration of buildings does not only provide pleasant visual images for the passers-by or even those who take tours of the various open houses. These buildings can be re-purposed for everyday usage as offices, residences, museums and libraries, and as places of learning and the list goes on,” he said.

According to Prime Minister Stuart the benefits not only accrue to our tourism sector but also to virtually every sector of the economy.

“For example, in the area of employment, it permits the preservation of skills that may be otherwise lost, thus providing sustainability in the labour market for skilled artisans.

Career opportunities are expanded as we seek the talents of persons skilled in working with certain materials. Architects can specialise in recreating designs of the past that speak to our history.

“Let me hasten to state that our built heritage is not confined to Great Houses and houses built of stone. Indeed, one of our greatest national motifs is included, namely the chattel house, whose story is replete with meaning.

National Restoration Campaign is as important to the economy of

Barbados as is any other programme,” he said.

(JH)

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NEWS

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Antigua Govt mulls raising age of consent A

n upward shift in the age of consent and increased penalties for sex crimes are to be given consideration as Attorney General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin laments last year’s increase in all forms of sex crimes.

The legislator said he intends to start discussions soon with the relevant government and non-governmental organisations to clamp down on sexual offences.

“We will be speaking with social partners in the future to make a determination whether or not we ought to increase the age of consent to the age of 18. This would seem to be consistent with the Constitution, which (stipulates) a per-

son reaches his or her age of majority at 18; you can vote then and you can enter into contractual relations at that age. How then is it proper that persons below 18 years old can consent to sexual activities?” the minister posited.

Benjamin said penalties for sexual offences should also be increased.

“The penalties will be reviewed. (For) any person taking advantage of persons between the ages of 14 and 16, (penalties) must be increased. We must stop the act of men exploiting young (girls). Many young girls are disadvantaged and their eyes are opened when they can be given these expensive phones and latest clothing and go to

Attorney General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin

parties and get their hair fixed; that is unfortunate and must be stamped out,” Benjamin said.

Currently, if a man has sexual intercourse with a girl under the age

of 14, he could be jailed for life. But, if he engages a girl between 14 and less than 16 years, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

At the same time, Minister Benjamin said

he recognises that stiffer penalties for sex crimes cannot be the only approach to addressing the growing problem.

“We have got to work comprehensively with the department of social transformation, education ministry, churches and other social partners to instill, in young women in particular and men generally, the importance of exercising control in their activities. It is regrettable there has been an increase in incest, that it disgusting as well as other offences against young ladies,” the attorney general said.

He said the stakeholders need to develop programmes to enlighten parents of their responsibilities; to educate

men and women about morality and teach them that they have a responsibility not to exploit and take advantage of anyone.

Benjamin, who is a trained lawyer with decades of experience in the criminal court, said he knows that the court pays attention to crime statistics and “will demonstrate abhorrence through their sentences” of convicted sex offenders.

Last year, police said they received increased complaints of all forms of sex crimes which included incest, adult males having sexual intercourse with underaged girls, rape, indecent assault and serious indecency.

(Antigua Observer)

Warner files motion against Finance Minister

P

ort of Spain, TT: Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West Jack Warner has filed a motion of censure against Finance Minister Larry Howai for his role as chief executive officer (CEO) of State-owned bank First Citizens when a

loan was granted for the construction of Carlton Savannah.

Carlton Savannah Ltd has since been placed into receivership and this has negatively affected First Citizens’ “non-performing loan ratio”, the motion states.

Howai’s conduct as

First Citizens’ CEO has “eroded” the public’s confidence in his ability to “administer over the finances of the nation in the best interest of the public” the motion states.

The motion qualifies to be listed on the Order Paper as of January 12.

It calls for Prime

Jack Warner

Minister Kamla PersadBissessar to have Howai’s appointment as Finance Minister “revoked forthwith”.

“Whereas First Citizens Bank (FCB) is a State enterprise, in which the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has

a majority shareholding and has made significant investments to ensure the proper functioning and viability of the bank in its competi¬tive environment,” the motion states.

Approached at the Parliament Chamber yesterday, Finance Minister Larry Howai said he did not want to comment on the situation because it is sub judice.

“I don’t want to comment on it now because we are involved in some further discussions on the matter because I have asked my attorneys to deal with the matter, so it is kind of sub judice,” Howai said. (TT Express)

Falling oil prices, a timely opportunity for developing countries' T

he new edition of Global Economic Prospects released yesterday says developing countries are faced with weaker export prospects, an impending rise in global interest rates, and fragile financial market sentiment.

It says these countries therefore need to rebuild fiscal buffers to support economic activity in case of a growth slowdown.

The report notes that in countries with elevated domestic debt or inflation, monetary

policy options to deal with a potential slowdown are constrained.

And it says in the foreseeable future, these countries may need to employ fiscal stimulus measures to support growth.

However, the report notes that many developing countries have less fiscal space now than they did prior to 2008, having used fiscal stimulus during the global financial crisis.

This is why it says for a number of oil-importing countries, like Jamaica, lower oil pric-

es offer a chance to improve fiscal positions more quickly than might have been possible before mid-2014.

According to the report, soft oil prices are expected to persist in 2015 and will be accompanied by significant real income shifts from oil-exporting to oil-importing countries.

It says for many oilimporting countries, lower prices contribute to growth and reduce inflationary, external, and fiscal pressures.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

news

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WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

GECOM to publish Preliminary List of Electors H aving completed the 7th Cycle of Continuous Registration, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) stated that preparations are underway for the publication of the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE).

The GECOM Secretariat is currently conducting a thorough fingerprint cross matching exercise as it analyses the fingerprints of registrants on both the existing National Register of Registrants as well as applications for new registration and new databases to eliminate multiple registrations.

When this exercise is completed, the PLE will be produced.

Persons are urged to check the extracts of the PLE which will be displayed in their respective communities to ensure their details are

GECOM’s final general results of the last elections held in 2011

accurate.

If not, persons are required to apply for registration, change, corrections, and transfers during the Claims and Objectives exercise as may be necessary.

The Commission now awaits the announcement by President Donald Ramotar of the

date for General and Regional Elections. The announcement of the dissolution of Parliament and General Elections are yet to be made by the president.

During an interview with Guyana Times International in December, the Head of State was pressed for

clarity on a timeline within which a date will be set for a return to the polls.

The President noted that the proclamation will be made before Mashramani celebrations. Once a date is set, political parties will move into campaign mode.

Also, once a proclamation announcing a date is made by the President for General and Regional Elections, constitutionally, GECOM has three months within which to deliver.

President Ramotar’s decision to call General and Regional Elections in 2015 has received the support of civil society, with the exception of a few.

Former Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Clinton Urling, who now heads the newly-formed social change advocate group Blue CAPS, had offered his commendation to President Ramotar.

Urling told GTI that though the President should have named a date for elections, no longer can the country endure gridlock at the level of the National Assembly as the People’s Progressive Party/

Civic (PPP/C), the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) engage in a struggle for power at the expense of the electorate.

The results, whether it favours the ruling PPP/C or the Opposition, should be respected even if it returns a minority Government to power.

According to Urling, if the electorate votes another minority Government into office, it is clear that they are calling for “inclusive power”, and political parties should put aside their individual agendas and work in the best interest of Guyana.

The PPP/C has won every election since entering office in 1992; however, during the 2011 elections, it returned to power with a minority, with the Opposition dominating the National Assembly.

Aishalton incident might have been a set up – Rohee

P

eople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee said the recent Aishalton incident involving a resident and Presidential Guards might have very well been a plot by the political Opposition to turn residents against Government.

At the Party’s weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Rohee said while the PPP/C was not upset by the move purportedly made by the Opposition to prolong the issue, it had a responsibility to protect the name and reputation of President Donald Ramotar , who is also an executive member of the PPP/C. Late last month, it was alleged that a 29-year-old male teacher, John Adams, was assaulted by two members of the Presidential Guard after he disregarded a warning to desist from heckling while the Head of State was speaking in the South Rupununi village in early December.

Rohee said that despite a pronouncement

by President Ramotar about the issue, the Opposition and certain sections of the media continue to use the incident as a political football.

“It comes as no surprise that the political Opposition and Opposition media have played up and overplayed their anti-Ramotar, anti-PPP/C sentiments.

Clearly, the objective is to divide and rule over

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

our Amerindian brothers and sisters, an old and horrible but destructive colonial past”.

Ramotar, in response, had earlier explained that the young teacher was under the influence of alcohol during the incident.

He said residents of the area were outraged at Adams’ behaviour and had asked for him to be removed from the school where he served. “He was drunk and the entire community was very upset at his behaviour,” Ramotar had said in a public announcement.

Persons in some quarters had said that Adams’ behaviour was politically motivated.

It was said too that the teacher was given alcohol by a member of the Opposition in the region prompting him to upset the proceedings.

No good

The PPP/C General Secretary said the alleged attempt by the Opposition to continue along this path will not

be successful since the Party has already established its presence in that and other Amerindian Communities. In that regard, the Party has expressed concern over a statement emanating from the main political opposition about “a statement allegedly made by Ramotar, as one bent on sowing discord, division, and mischief among our Amerindian brothers and sisters”.

Rohee said the successes of the Amerindian People were a stark contrast to what was experienced under the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government.

He cited the parliamentary impasse evidenced by the combined Opposition cutting significant funding toward developmental projects in these Communities.

“Under the PPP/C Government, Amerindian development has advanced by leaps and bounds,” Rohee said, continuing that in every area, Guyanese can bear witness to the actions and results of Government’s developmental programmes for Amerindians.

“In education, health, village development, inclusion in policy development and implemen-

tation – the record of the PPP/C Administration is exemplary, Rohee said.

The PPP/C, he said, will continue to ensure that it stands out in this regard, affording Guyana’s first people more opportunities for growth and development.

Days after the incident last year, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had called for an immediate investigation into the alleged assault of the schoolteacher.

According to the coalition, information was received that the 29-yearold secondary school

teacher was assaulted by two members of the Presidential Guard.

It was alleged that Adams was accosted by the Presidential Guards and told to stop heckling the President while he was speaking. When Adams refused, he was slapped repeatedly by the guards and chased, reports say.

Adams reportedly sought refuge in the home of another Aishalton resident.

The coalition had called on the Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force to launch an investigation into the incident.

12

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WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Achieving ethnic Rohee disregards talk about proportionality in security presidential candidacy forces a huge challenge P

Acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

By Vahnu Manikchand

Y

ears after adopting the landmark Disciplined Forces Commission Report, law enforcement agencies in Guyana have acknowledged that it has been difficult to achieve ethic balance in the forces despite the clear recommendation for this to be done.

The issue of the ethnic imbalance in the security forces had come to the fore during the Constitutional Change hearings during 1999. One of the changes that were approved unanimously in 2000 Constitution was a clause that mandates the President to establish a Commission to investigate and recommend resolving the ethnic imbalance in the Disciplined Forces. Following the 2002 Prison escapee-led crime spree, when there were complaints about the performance of both the Police and the Army, the Opposition PNC called upon the PPP government to establish the Disciplined Forces Commission.

Increased strength

Only last week it was announced that Cabinet has given the go-ahead for the Police Force to increase its authorised strength by 1500 and also that of the Guyana Fire Service by 84 bringing the total number on strength to 511. Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee told the media that in 2014 Cabinet gave approval for an increase in the establishment of the Guyana Police Force from 3,410 to 4,956. This upward revision has made commensurate the demands of Guyana’s significantly changed security environment in the preservation of law, order and peace which stems from an increase in population size and the accompany-

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Former Attorney General Charles Ramson

ing development of new communities.

He said an increase and frequent occurrences of social-economic activities, significant increases in the number of motor vehicles and the

sions, the commission’s final report was presented to the Speaker of the National Assembly on May 6, 2004. The report, comprising of some 164 recommendations, 71 of which were directed at

Justice Ian Chang

Former GDF Brigadier David Granger

accompanying expansion of the road network and significant opening up of Guyana’s interior regions. Regarding the Fire Service, Rohee said the increase will provide the Service with the requisite strength to manage the new Fire Stations that were constructed at Bartica, Diamond and Onverwagt. Cabinet also approved an increase by three hundred and twenty-two (322) the number of ranks of the Special Constabulary bringing the total number of ranks belonging to the Special Constabulary to nine hundred and sixtyeight (968).

The Disciplined Forces Commission (DFC), which was sworn in on June 30th, 2003, comprised Justice Ian Chang, attorney Anil Nandlall, former GDF Brigadier David Granger, current Attorney General Charles Ramson and Irish human rights activist Maggie Bierne. Bierne resigned subsequently and was replaced by Dr Harold Lutchman.

After holding hearings in various parts of the country and taking hundreds of submis-

the Guyana Police Force, was then laid before the National Assembly on May 17 and was accepted unanimously. A select committee was then established on November 4, 2004, with a mandate to report to the National Assembly in four months. But it was not until almost six years later that the report was finally unanimously passed by the National Assembly on June 10th 2010. On the matter of ethnic representativeness, the DFC declared: “The Commission…is of the view that the allaying of ethnic security fears which stem from the predominance of Afro-Guyanese presence in the GPF must be addressed…but to ensure, in so doing, that no similar insecurity fears are caused in the AfroGuyanese community.”

More specifically, it recommended: “It should be an aim (of the GPF) to achieve a Force representative of the ethnic diversity of the nation without employing a quota system.” The report also suggested that a study be conducted on continued on page 17

eople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary (GS) Clement Rohee on Tuesday disregarded talks that he and Junior Finance Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill are listed to become the party’s Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates respectively.

Talks by analysts indicate that the party might be following the trend where its General Secretaries become the Presidential candidates.

In their analysis, they cited former President, the late Janet Jagan and current Head of State President Donald Romotar who had both served in that capacity before taking up the leadership post of President.

But Rohee, at his weekly press briefing on Tuesday, disregarded such talks, reiterating that the Executive Committee is still in consultation on the issue.

He again related that the Committee will have to give confirmation on the two posts after which an announcement will be made.

“So there’s no need to rush to a Prime Ministerial candidacy when you have not yet confirmed the Presidential candidacy of the party. When we reach that bridge, we will cross it”, Rohee told Guyana Times

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

Junior Finance Minister Bishop Juan Edghill

International.

When pressed by this publication to reveal what his interest is, if any, in the Presidential candidacy, Rohee responded, “I will wait and see, I am a member of the Executive Committee of the party and all those issues would come up for discussion at the appropriate time. We settle on the total package so that when we make an announcement on one, we don’t have to wait on the other… you will hear the total package in due course, the GS said.

The issue of deciding on a Prime Ministerial and Presidential candidate does not reside only in the PPP/C’s chamber.

He reminded of the internal ramblings within the APNU, which still has to work out its alliance talks with the AFC on the possible Presidential candidate.

Only last week, the GS had told reporters that the revelation of

the name of the Prime Ministerial candidate for the party was not a constitutional mandate and is not even a top priority at this time.

In fact, having a running mate for the President for the upcoming General and Regional Elections is nowhere in the party’s constitution.

When questioned on the name of the possible Prime Ministerial candidate, it was hinted that Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill would take up the post, after serving Prime Minister Samuel Hinds indicated that he will not be seeking another term in office.

Prime Minister Hinds holds the record as the longest serving Prime Minister within the Caribbean. Rohee had indicated previously that the party’s long established principle is that the Prime Ministerial candidate would be of African descent.

Mining consultancy firm opens in Guyana

M

embers of the local and international mining fraternity are to benefit from the provision of a wide range of technical expertise as renowned Guyanese-Canadian Mining Engineer, Dr Andrew Ramcharan formally commissions AAR Mining Consulting Firm in Guyana.

AAR Mine Consulting Inc is a consulting company which offers a wide range of services to both open-pit and underground mining projects. Its services cater to clients in banking; Government; major mining companies; exploration and development firms; law firms; individual investors; international organisations (CIDA, and the United Nations etc); and private equity ventures.

According to a release from AAR, it will

Guyanese-Canadian Mining Engineer, Dr Andrew Ramcharan

be part of an international group, which provides valuable advice and solutions to companies from exploration to mine closure.

Aiming to always ensure that health and safety come first for all; preserve and protect the environment; and encourage and foster sustainable development, AAR will be a welcome addition to Guyana’s

mining industry.

Its Canadian, Panamanian and Portuguese branches will be officially launched in early 2015 to service the global market.

With a group of highly technical professionals who have provided advice to the mining industry and worked on over 100 mining projects worldwide, AAR said it was highly respected and regarded as the specialty firm of choice for mining resource and reserve work.

Ramcharan founded the company with a vision for its involvement in both national and international projects. He said AAR was fully committed to dealing with the environment, health and safety, social responsibility with its activities, in a very safe and responsible manner.

news

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WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The free press a testimony to democracy in Guyana

P

residential Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira has underlined that condition such as press freedom is one of the basic principles of a democratic society, noting that an open and free press exists in Guyana.

She noted that government has only one television station, one radio station and a single newspaper. In contrast there are a total of 20 television stations, 13 radio stations and four daily newspapers, hence the private sector is in control of the mass media, she said. Speaking on the issue of governance on the television programme, ‘Political Scope’ on the National Communications Network, she added that the media, however, is expected to comply with

the laws of Guyana.

Free and fair elections Examining the electoral laws, the presidential adviser said that dictators don’t like or hold elections, and, “If they do they are often rigged”. Guyana has had five free and fair elections since 1992, overseen by international observers, she pointed out, and unlike in years past, at no point were they described as fraudulent. “We are proud of that fact, the fact people have the right to vote unencumbered, unfettered”.

Speaking on the rule of law, Teixeira explained that this is supervised by the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. She said the latter is intact, independent and doesn’t

certain rules in law that you have to obey and that’s it”.

Fallacious claims

Presidential Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira

bow to the government.

There is no saluting or allegiance pledged to the flag of the ruling party as obtained during the PNC regime, she further noted. Persons are also free to bring constitutional motions before the courts, if they feel their basic human

rights are violated. “We are free to go to rallies, we are free to picket.

The opposition has not been prevented from having a say, they have not been prevented from holding their picketing in front of Office of the President…what they are told is that there are

The claims that Guyana is a “failed state” were also dismissed by Teixeira, “If you have a failed state, nothing works, the institutions of the state don’t work the judiciary, the executive, the legislature don’t work.

That’s when we talk about a failed state”.

These terms are being “thrown” around by the “intellectuals” and leaders of the political opposition and are absolutely fallacious, she stated.

“They are trying to ‘mamaguy’ or fool people”.

It is easy, she added to say these things instead of saying that there are some things that they don’t agree with.

She labelled the po-

litical opposition as the actual dictators who through the “myth” of the one seat, feel they can run the government from the outside.

The fact that the opposition took such strong positions and cut some Gy$90 billion in total from the national budget, is an indication, Teixeira opined of what will happen if they should ever gain power, since their position is dictatorial already.

Teixeira is confident that Guyanese will be able to analyse the statements made by the opposition and be conscious of what they are attempting to do. She recalled that a study done in 1991 showed that 67% of Guyanese were living below the poverty line, and the APNU, forcontinued on page 14

Dr Patrick Gomes to take up top ACP post in March Caribbean and Pacific group with distinction as you have served your own country, Guyana.”

Serving as Guyana’s Ambassador to the ACP Group of States alongside the European Union since February 2005, Ambassador Gomes also serves as the Chairman

G

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

u y a n a ’ s Ambassador to Brussels for the past nine years, Dr. Patrick Gomes, has been appointed the new Secretary-General of the 79-member African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States.

The decision was reportedly taken in early December 2014 in Brussels after much deliberation at the level of the ACP Council of Ministers.

According to noted Caribbean journalist, Mr Rickey Singh, of the three shortlisted candidates from an original group of six, Dr Gomes was judged to have “the best understanding of the functions of the Secretary General…”

The two other shortlisted candidates, both CARICOM nationals, were from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

Singh, who had since back in November 2014 predicted that Dr Gomes would have gotten the

nod, was quoted as saying in an article, “The last time a CARICOM national had the honour to serve in that capacity for this important bloc of States, which systematically monitors developments and responds to challenging regional and international economic, social and political issues, was almost a quarter-century ago.”

That honour fell to none other than Trinidad and Tobago national, Mr Edwin Carrington, who served as ACP SecretaryGeneral from 1985 to 1990, before going on to become the longest-serving Secretary-General of the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM), from 1992 – 2010.

According to a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gomes will assume office in March of this year, which just so happens to mark the 40th anniversary of the ACP, which came into

being, by way of the Georgetown Accord, on June 6, 1975.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett acknowledged the ACP ministers for their support of Ambassador Gomes.

She underscored that: “The ACP is at a critical juncture and experience and wise leadership coupled with patience are critical if we are to overcome the challenges.”

She then added that: “Ambassador Gomes possesses these attributes and together with the support of all of us, I am confident he will not only keep the Georgetown Agreement alive but will make it thrive.”

Congratulating Ambassador Gomes, the Minister said, “Warmest congratulations, compatriot, the celebration will be short as you have a lot of work to do. Go now and serve the African,

of the Ambassadors’ Working Group on Future Perspectives of the ACP. He has worked consistently for nearly a decade within the ACP arena in order to attain constructive terms of trade as well as development in European Union markets. Additionally,

he has provided financial support and services for joint ACP-EU institutions, through which he has proven to be a contributory factor in spurring the potential for capacity development of the ACP via the SouthSouth and Triangular Cooperation.

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WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ombudsman never pronounced on The free press a Freddie Kissoon’s termination testimony to...

from page 13

By Devina Samaroo

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mid reports from sections of the media that the Ombudsman, retired Justice Winston Moore ruled that former lecturer of the University of Guyana, Freddie Kissoon was wrongfully dismissed by the Council of the University, and was owed compensation, Moore made it clear that he did not make any such ruling.

Moore further denied probing the matter related to Kissoon’s dismissal from the University in 2012. In an immediate release after the misleading information on the issue was reported, Moore explained that he received a complaint from Kissoon alleging wrongful dismissal against the Council; therefore, in keeping with the practice of his Office, he forwarded a copy of the complaint to the Registrar of the University.

Reports from other media outlets indicated that it was the Ombudsman himself who made a ruling of wrongful dismissal and that Kissoon was owed compensation from the

Ombudsman, retired Justice Winston Moore

University.

However, Moore clarified that he obtained legal advice on the issue and the Office of the Ombudsman was advised of legal counsel’s opinion on Kissoon’s letter of complaint.

Legal advice

The legal advice obtained points to Kissoon’s dismissal being in breach of Statute 25 of the University of Guyana Statutes, which provide for notice and a hearing, as pre-conditions for dismissal. As such, the letter to the Registrar stated that Kissoon was entitled to compensation from the University.

Deputy Registrar of the University, Dr Theo

Freddie Kissoon

Velloza told this publication that they did indeed receive the letter from the Office of the Ombudsman and it was under consideration by the administration of the University.

Terminated

Kissoon’s contract was terminated on January 23, 2012 with immediate effect. The 61-year-old was informed of the termination of his contract through a letter that informed him that the decision was taken at a meeting of the University Council.

In a subsequent statement, members of the University Council – Indra Chandarpal, Bibi Shaddick, Nirmal Rekha and Gail Teixeira—

had clarified that the Government had nothing to do with Kissoon’s dismissal.

“As Council members with other members representing civil society bodies, parliamentary Opposition and the governing party, as well as members of the staff at the University, we make decisions in accordance with the University of Guyana Act and the Statutes of the said institution as a collective and by consensus, rarely by vote.

“The issue of contracts of academic staff who have reached 60 years of age has been addressed by the University with policies going back many years.

Nothing has changed. In fact, the only thing that changed is that these are being implemented,” the PPP/C members said.

They added that despite the fact that the Vice Chancellor renewed the contracts of 12 retired academic staff members who were over the age of 60 without recourse to the Appointments Committee and the Council as required by the Act, the Council in continued on page 15

merly PNC, is uncomfortable with this fact.

The PNC government, which is recognised as a dictatorship was unable to “deliver the goods” because they were busy catering to one sector of society, supported at the time by the army and or police, and or rigged elections. The situation that obtains at present is reversed with 67% of the people living above the poverty line, she noted.

Claims that government is not listening to the people were also debunked by Teixeira who noted that programmes such as the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), bills and various programmes have all been vetted by stakeholders and civil society before even reaching to Cabinet for final consideration.

There have been no real compromises reached in the Parliament by the political opposition, and with the one seat majority, they operate in a dictatorial manner, she restated. The example of the United States of America’s Congress which is now controlled

by the Republicans was cited by the presidential adviser, who said that despite their differences, they have “risen to the occasion” when the need to support the Democratic Party, which controls the Executive arose. In Guyana, neither the APNU nor the AFC have risen to the call to “put the nation first” but rather have gone on record for the last three years as doing the exact opposite.

The claims that President Donald Ramotar was dictatorial in his refusal to assent to four bills passed by the opposition were also set aside by Teixeira.

She said that in meetings with the political opposition and the government officials, the offer to assent to the contested bills was made by the president, but close to a year has elapsed, Teixeira said, yet the opposition has not moved to the courts. “They know that these bills are unconstitutional”. The aforementioned actions can have an impact, but people must think for themselves and recall “then and now, pre 92 and now”.

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Hope Canal project GuySuCo finalising 2015 production target faces slight delay

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n conjunction with the Agriculture Ministry, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is in the process of finalising the sugar production target for 2015.

According to GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Rajendra Singh, the target will be disclosed before the commencement of the first crop in February.

He said the target would be higher than the 2014 target, which was originally set at 216, 000 tonnes.

In 2014, for the first time since 2005, the Corporation was able to surpass its target. In 2013, GuySuCo had set an ambitious target of 240,000 tonnes, but this figure was subsequently revised to 190,000 tonnes. Despite this significant reduction, the industry fell short in achieving the target.

According to the CEO, 2014 was the turning point for the industry, which has been stymied by poor weather conditions, a dwindling labour force and a problematic multimillion-dollar sugar factory.

It is anticipated that the industry’s efficiency rate will increase this year with the injection of the US$7.5 million provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

GuySuCo CEO, Dr Rajendra Singh

Dr Singh said the loan, which was approved on December 11, will be completely utilised in the area of mechanisation.

According to the CDB, the loan will be used to reduce operational costs and simultaneously improve mechanisation.

High operational costs have always been a major stumbling block for GuySuCo. In 1995, GuySuCo was producing sugar at a relatively high cost; today, the situation remains the same.

In 1995-1996, the cost of production was US$0.23 per pound with the figures dropping to US$0.22 in 1997.

When compared with Guatemala, the United States, North East Brazil and India, the cost in Guyana was most unfavourable.

Mid last year, the cost of production stood at US$0.34 per pound.

It is anticipated that this would be reduced to US$0.26 per pound by the end of 2017.

GuySuCo, in keeping with its 2013-2017 Strategic Plan, will continue to accelerate its Mechanisation Programme to cushion the impact of a dwindling labour force.

Gradually, sugar workers are downing their tools as they seek to capitalise on emerging commercial activities that are transforming Guyana’s economical landscape.

In 1995, GuySuCo’s labour force stood at 24,000, but today it has dropped to 16,000.

The worrying labour situation has left GuySuCo no choice but to find alternative means of producing sugar. The Corporation has already moved to mechanise more than 30 per cent of its 48,000 hectares of fields.

In addition to mechanisation, the Corporation has been working closely with private farmers.

GuySuCo has been leasing land to private farmers.

This model has been successfully implemented for a number of years at the Wales Estate, where private farmers are working closely with the Corporation.

At that estate, 40 per cent of the sugar is provided by private farmers.

Ombudsman never pronounced on Freddie Kissoon’s... from page 14

October 2011 ably supported by the legal opinion of a outstanding legal luminary in the Law faculty, decided that it urgently needed to correct this breach of the statutes. The Council, therefore, sought to have these contracts that were improperly executed go through the correct process.

Regrettably, Council’s attempts to do so took until January 18, 2012 to be concluded.

“That Council meeting of January 18, 2012 addressed that outstanding issue and endorsed the recommendations of the Appointments Committee. The Council considered the appointments of 37 academic staff, which included eight of the 12 of those whose contracts were improperly renewed. The Council accepted the recommendation that those who were at the level

of Professor or Senior Lecturer be retained. Of the remaining four retirees who were referred by the Appointments Committee to the Council, the Council agreed to retain three of them on a part-time basis.

“Mr Kissoon reached 60 on December 30, 2010 and as is usual was allowed to continue to conclude the academic year until August 2011. The Council recognised that Mr Kissoon, a retiree and a Lecturer 2, failed to meet the University policy with regard to retention of academic staff:-(1) have a healthy academic record, to which research and publications reviewed by academic peers are a requirement; (2) have to face a competitive process with other applicants.

“The Council was unimpressed and not one

single member of the 14 Council members present at that meeting, including the UGSS [University of Guyana Student Society] and fellow colleagues of the academic staff, not a single member supported his retention. The Council rescinded his contract.

“The Council also agreed that with four new members of staff and existing staff, the students would not be disadvantaged by his absence.

“These are the incontrovertible facts. The barrage of lies, downright misinformation and political opportunism can somewhat be related to the lack of this information in the public domain, and we, the concerned Council members, expect that these facts disclosed in this release have set the record straight.”

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ne of Guyana’s massive projects, the East Demerara Water Conservancy’s (EDWC) Hope Canal, located at Hope, East Coast Demerara, and which was expected to come to full fruition by December 31, 2014 has faced a slight set-back due to some over-run in costs.

The four-component project, when completed shortly, is expected to offer a real solution to the risk of the failure of the EDWC, a situation that has the potential to occur. Already the bridge across the canal has been commissioned, with the canal itself and the head regulator completed, while the eightdoor sluice too is close to completion.

However, with the slight delay in the project, Head of the

Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon stated, during his post Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, that when the project is completed, along with the defect liability period, netting off will have to be done. “Once you have expenditure that cannot be recovered, expenditure will have to be made. You wouldn’t believe it’s possible to have a billion dollar project that is delayed because millions are outstanding, so Government will complete it if it is needed. If defects have to be corrected, and funds are not available, you can’t recover it from the consultant, we will have to correct it,” Dr. Luncheon declared.

He acknowledged that while there is expenditure which contractors and consultants

will have to bear, for the purposes of the over-run, it might be a big sum, but it also depends on what can be recovered.

Government embarked on the US$15M Hope Canal Project, since it believed that this major undertaking will be the answer to the flooding, experienced in the Mahaica/Mahaicony Abary areas, annually during the rainy periods.

The work at the canal was carried out by young Guyanese engineers, with consultants on the job at the various sites. The relief channel was excavated by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, whilst another component of the project, the construction of the conservancy head regulator, comprising three gates, was built closer to the conservancy.

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Bauxite ship intercepted with US$800M in cocaine … on Cypriot vessel in Demerara River

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cargo ship which left Suriname destined for Europe was intercepted by local authorities early Monday morning in the Demerara River with approximately 192.42 kilograms of cocaine stashed away.

The drug was found concealed under the wooden flooring of a flat rack that is used as a bed for containers. The cocaine, with an estimated street value of Gy$165.7 billion (US$800 million), was in several rectangular shaped packages that were wrapped with black plastic.

According to reports, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) was called in by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), which received a tip-off from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) about possible contraband goods on

Anti-drug enforcement agencies Tuesday morning seized 185 packages (bricks) of cocaine, weighing 192.42 kilograms from a Cyprus registered vessel MV Delta Dies (Carl Croker photo)

board the vessel.

The Cyprus-registered vessel MV Delta Dies was docked at a wharf in Linden where it uplifted a consignment of bauxite destined for Europe.

Local authorities swarmed the cargo ship after the consignment was loaded and found the narcotics.

The vessel, along with the flat rack, was subse-

quently transported to Georgetown and placed at the John Fernandes terminal at Mandela Avenue, Greater Georgetown, on Tuesday morning. Further examinations were done by GRA’s Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) and Drug Examination Unit (DEU), along with CANU. Head of CANU, James Singh, explained that

Achieving ethnic proportionality in security... from page 12

how to address the ethnic make-up imperative.

Elusive

However, when contacted by the Guyana Times International, a senior officer in the Guyana Police Force acknowledged that it has been “a struggle” to achieve the ethnic balance as recommended.

Noting that the Police Force has been deliberate in its recruitment policy to employ persons of all ethnicities, the officer said joining the security sector is not an easy decision for anyone to make. “You have to have a preference for this kind of work. Its rigorous, you have to live away from your communities and there are a host of other considerations,” the officer noted. These challenges had all been noted in the DFR and specific recommendations were made to resolve them.

The Officer said that over the years a number of Indo-Guyanese have joined the Force and have risen to high office in the organisation. The officer pointed out that currently three of the top administrative officers at Eve Leary including the Acting Commissioner of Police are of Indian descent. “So we have seen a gradual and a progressive step in the right direction, but what I can say is achieving this balance is not easy…”

The officer told GTI

too that the Force also conducts recruitment across the country, pointing out that it has training bases in Berbice- a predominantly Indianbased area as well as Essequibo. “We have training schools in these places and we have seen a lot of persons of East Indian descent joining. They are part of the training and they are willing to become members of the Force,” the officer noted. He believes that historically there were fears about Indians joining the security forces, but those fears have been quelled. “We are seeing a shift, a gradual but steady shift in the right direction,” the officer said. The DFR had emphasised that these efforts at rectifying the historical imbalance due to discriminatory hiring practices be rectified.

Another officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Balram Persaud told the GTI that the Force has been trying to adhere to this recommendation when recruiting officers; however, there are some factors that do not make this practicable. Persaud explained that the Police Force does not discriminate against a particular race when employing new ranks. “As long as you are fit, you have the necessary qualification, you are interested in the job and as long as

you pass the test then we will take you in…We can’t discriminate, we just have to look at who is there” he stressed.

Another point the ACP highlighted is the fact that the Police Force is still trying to meet its full capacity as such it cannot wait around for applicants from one particular group to match that of another before it starts recruiting. “How long must we wait for this? We need to start recruiting immediately so that we can meet the new capacity,” the senior officer added.

Responding to views that the Police Force is dominated mostly by Afro-Guyanese, Persaud outlined that two additional Police Training Schools were built in Adventure, Berbice, and Suddie, Essequibo in order to give a chance to other ethnicities, particularly Indo-Guyanese who predominantly encompasses the population in these regions. He said as a result of these two schools, the Force has seen a balance of the two main ethnicities in accordance with the recommendation made.

Nevertheless the ACP maintained that along with the recommendation for ethnic balance, the Force has been working diligently to ensure that all of the recommendations made are implemented.

his agency, along with members of the Guyana Police Force and GRA’s DEU, collaborated under the Container Control Programme to make the bust.

“Acting on information, they (GRA) would have received from their counterparts, CANU provided assistance to them alongside members of the Customs Drug Enforcement Unit.

This container was found on board a vessel that had come from Suriname.”

Singh added, “A check of the vessel showed that the container had contraband inside and as such, we offloaded the container and brought it to Georgetown, where the

examination was done.”

The CANU head disclosed that at the time they had confirmed an estimated 120 kilograms in cocaine, but advised that this was not a final total.

He further stated that the vessel’s next destinations would have been Spain, Holland and Belgium.

At John Fernandes Terminal on Tuesday morning, ranks removed the packages from the flat rack which was labelled ALLU 57018 9-42P3. The 11 crew members who were on board the vessel were taken into custody to assist with the investigations.

Surveillance programme

Meanwhile, in a statement released by the GRA, the revenue agency pointed out that this joint surveillance programme has proven to be successful.

“Today’s discovery of narcotics on board the oceangoing vessel has once again proven the success of the GRA’s joint efforts in tackling the illicit drug trade. The GRA has long recognised the importance of forging regional and international linkages in the ongoing efforts at addressing challenges of a global magnitude such as drug trafficking and the

smuggling of goods. The partnership has been successful on several fronts,” the release stated.

Back in 2012, Guyana and Suriname were the first two Caribbean countries to join the UN-funded Container Control Programme to improve port security and stop the use of containers for transnational criminal activities, including the trafficking of narcotics via the sea.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UNODC paved the way for the establishment of joint port control units in Guyana and Suriname at the John Fernandes and Nieuwe Haven wharfs respectively. It allowed both countries to strengthen the control of inbound and outgoing containers, improve real-time exchange and analysis of information among other advantages.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee also lauded the collaborative efforts among international agencies. “This is another good example of international cooperation in tracking down the movement of cocaine in ships,” he said.

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15% increase in tourist arrivals projected for Guyana this year

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he Ministry of Tourism is projecting a 15 per cent increase in tourist arrivals this New Year and has scheduled several FAM trips.

The tourism sector is very important for showcasing a country’s cultural diversity, as well as its socio-economic potential.

And with the attention “Destination Guyana” is receiving, there is no doubt that the sector will be propelled to greater heights in 2015, the ministry said.

In 2014, the sector, through a series of tourism activities, experienced great strides in promoting Guyana as a prime tourist destination. The activities provided perfect opportunities for thousands of tourists and locals to experience the country’s rich, diverse culture. Guyana is now internationally recognised as a viable eco-tourism destination, as well as a bird watching sanctuary.

The country has already been featured in many British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC’s) programmes on these two areas (eco-tourism and bird-watching). No doubt it has been getting the attention of thou-

from August 08-10 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, and it offered a mixture of the country’s traditional music, dance, food, art and craft. In addition, the 2014 International British Bird Watching Fair, held in Rutland, England, had over 35 international bird watching companies selling Guyana. At the Fair, there were 20 international birding companies selling “Destination Guyana.”

Expos

GUYEXPO 2014 created great opportunities for the local promotion of tourism

sands of visitors, coming to the country eventually to experience its tropical delights, inclusive of the rich flora and fauna, and its cultural diversity.

Tourist arrivals

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) recorded another growing year of arrivals, and as of November 2014, Guyana scored a 13 per cent increase in its tourist arrivals, as opposed to the same period in 2013.

The country also recorded several record months including July, August, September and October, topping the ‘best-ever’ since 1995. This increase represents visitors from

across the Caribbean Region, especially from Suriname and Jamaica, and from Brazil. Several tourists have come to Guyana on ‘familiarisation trips’.

Guyana continues to receive international recognition and several new documentaries were completed over the year.

These add to the major publications featuring the country. They usually highlight several aspects of the growing tourism industry. Guyana was also featured in several renowned magazines, namely the National Geographic.

In addition, the

Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) also provided an endorsement letter to Discovery Channel TV, whose officials visited Guyana in October to film episodes of “Naked and Afraid.”

The GTA also requested temporary importation of film equipment for the film company.

Further GTA provided an endorsement letter to BBC Television, to film Britain’s Secret Slave Owners in October.

An endorsement letter was also provided to CNN, to film “Big Earth” (August 14-20) in Guyana. Big Earth was

commissioned by AlArab Channel, to produce a documentary in collaboration with CNN. Big Earth Productions featured Guyana in its “101 Amazing Adventures of the World” book, and is known for its exhilarating television productions, which feature extreme sports and travel adventures.

Festival

The Guyana Festival which featured the heart of Guyana through “sound, taste and soul” showcased the country’s culture, as well as tourism potential.

This Festival was held

GUYEXPO 2014 created great opportunities for the local promotion of tourism. This annual event began in 1995 and is now an annual expo, going back to 2004. The event showcases locally produced goods and services, while serving as an initiative for the creation of new markets, exports, and awareness for exhibitors. In 2014, the expo saw another very successful year, with 116 international exhibitors participating. The annual Moruca Expo, in its 10th year, served to showcase a variety of products and craft, produced by the community. The event also showcased the country’s eco-tourism potential.

NIS ups Old Age Pension by 5%

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he National Insurance Scheme (NIS) on Friday announced that it has agreed to increase all Old Age Pensions by five per cent, with effect from January 1, 2015.

The Scheme disclosed that the minimum rate for old age and invalidity pension will be increased from Gy$19,770 to Gy$21,532 per month from January 1.

In addition, the insurable earnings that attract NIS contributions will be increased from Gy$158,159 to Gy$170,812 per month or from Gy$36,498 to $39,418 per week, effective from January 1.

The announcement also revealed that the minimum insurable ceiling for self employed persons contributing to the Scheme will be increased from Gy$49,384 to Gy$53,334 per month as of January 1. Old age pensioners will be issued with pension order books which will contain six benefit payment vouchers each. These payment vouchers will become eligible for encashment on a monthly basis.

However, 2015 will also see new books being prepared and issued, when life certificates are

The Old Age Pension programme assists some 42,000 senior citizens

submitted, which attest to the pensioner being alive.

To qualify for Old Age Pension, the insured person must have paid no less than 150 contributions or paid and been credited with not less than 750 contributions and has to be no less than 60 years of age.

To qualify for an Old Age Grant, the insured person must have paid more than 50 contributions and has to be above the age of 60. An Old Age Grant is a lump-sum payment equal to onetwelfth the average annual insurable earnings for each group of 50 contributions, whether paid or credited or paid and credited.

An Old Age Pension is paid to the insured person, for as long as he

or she is alive while an Old Age Grant is a single payment. A claim for old age benefit must be made by completing a few forms. These forms must be taken.

Meanwhile, the Old Age Pension programme which assists some 42,000 senior citizens will see an added increase in the monthly amounts disbursed.

In 2011, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh had disclosed that “efforts will be placed on providing more opportunities for improving the physical and social wellbeing of the elderly in social services and health care. In addition, there will be continued financial support in the form of Old Age Pensions and water payment subsidies for senior citizens.”

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Crowd control training for Police this month

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WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

US$50M Indian loan for East Bank/ East Coast road link approved

Members of the Guyana Police Force ready for action

anks of the Guyana Police Force will from this month undergo training in crowd control, which observers say could become useful in light of elections slated for this year.

Guyana’s history has been dotted with postlections violence and police are often called out to restore order.

Speaking recently at a forum, Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee said that plans are underway for the Force to receive Crowd Control Training in January 2015.

This training, he said was recommended over the years and is provided for in the Guyana Police Force Strategic Plan. Notably, he said the Linden Commission of Inquiry had made a recommendation for the Guyana Police Force to receive this type of training.

Following the 2011 elections some eleven persons were shot and injured with rubber bullets by ranks of the Guyana Police Force during a march between Winter Place and Louisa Row. Among those injured are 75 year-old Sarah Johnson, Joan Baveghems who is a former People’s National Congress Reform Parliamentarian, former Army Chief Brigadier Edward Collins, APNU’s Youth Leader James Bond, Brentnol Holder, Neil Mattis and his 10 year-old son Johnny Mattis, Lurlene Nestor and Laurine Mingo.

These persons were all treated for pellet shots about their bodies at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and sent away.

Back in August/ September last year, ranks of ‘A’ Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) received

Special Riot Training sessions in anticipation of having to deal with crowd control and unauthorised mass street protests. The ranks which were drawn from several policing locations within ‘A’ Division, had their training in the Brickdam Station compound.

Meanwhile, Rohee said some seventy seven officers and ranks of the Force participated in a number of overseas training courses, some of which included Leadership, Management and Development, Money Laundering, Fingerprint, Intelligence, Kidnapping, Travel Document and Security and Security and Extortion Negotiation.

A number of these courses were made possible through collaboration between the Guyana Police Force and its regional and hemispheric counterparts.

Caribbean growth expected to pick up slightly in 2015 – IDB loans totalled more than US$13 billion in 2014

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atin America and the Caribbean’s economic growth might recover modestly to 2.2 percent in 2015, up from 1.3 percent in 2014, its lowest rate since last decade’s global financial crisis, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has said. Despite the slowdown, the region has managed to maintain its gains against poverty, said InterAmerican Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno.

In his year-end report to the Board of Executive Directors, which represents the IDB’s 48 member countries, Moreno noted that in a scenario marked by sluggish global growth, falling commodity prices and lim-

President of IDB, Luis Alberto Moreno

ited fiscal manoeuvring room, Latin American and Caribbean countries must prioritize reforms that will ensure sustained and inclusive growth over the medium and long term.

“Now, more than

ever, the answer lies in internal sources of growth, which brings us up against a huge challenge: increasing productivity,” he said. “This factor explains why the region continues to trail continued on page 21

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President of Guyana Donald Ramotar during 13th edition of 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' in Gandhinagar. (Source: PTI)

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n a series of bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at Gandhinagar, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday agreed to provide USD 50 million to fund a road project in Guyana. He also agreed to provide “concessional credit” to supply a passenger ferry to help Guyana overcome transportation problems.

Modi in his meeting with President of Guyana Donald Ramotar said that India would set up its first IT Centre of Excellence on the South American Continent, in Guyana.

India also approved a new Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 50 million for the East Bank Demerara-East Coast Road Link Project and agreed to concessional credit to supply a passenger ferry to help Guyana overcome transportation problems,” said an MEA spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin.

He also said that Guyana has been added to the list of 43 existing countries whose nationals are getting tourist visas on-arrival. “Guyana will be the 44th country,” the official said.

During his meeting with foreign minister of South Africa, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the prime minister largely talked about furthering cultural and economic ties, including enhanced cooperation in deep-mining and infrastructure projects.

Modi also held a meeting with Vice-Prime Minister of Mauritius, Showkatally Soodhun where the PM was invited to visit Mauritius. Both sides expressed keenness to enhance cooperation in infrastructure projects and matters related to ocean economy.

Meanwhile, President of Guyana Donald R Ramotar will be among the 15 NRIs who will be given the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award this year.

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President promises Corentyne Bridge, road link with Brazil, if re-elected

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resident Donald Ramotar has promised to deliver a bridge across the Corentyne River and a road linking Guyana and Brazil should he be reelected President at this year’s elections.

In his New Year address Ramotar said: “during the next term of office, my Government will work with our partners to bridge the Corentyne River and to complete the road from Brazil along with the accompanying deep water harbour.”

Back in 2013 Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon had said that some preliminary works have been completed and ground work will begin shortly on the bridge project. He had said that a final decision is yet to be made regarding the construction of the bridge, but discussions are continuing and officials are now looking to finalise preliminary studies to continue with the project. Funding for the project has been an ongoing deliberation between Suriname, Guyana and international financial institutions.

Dr Luncheon said the

A section of the Takutu Bridge linking Guyana and Brazil

two countries have signalled strong support for the establishment of land linkages across the Corentyne River.

The initiative was identified as one of a series of projects that would further physically integrate South America at a recent Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) meeting.

During his presidential campaign, Surinamese President Desi Bouterse had promised to build a bridge across the Corentyne River, should he be elected. Bouterse had said that it is necessary for technical as-

sessments to be done before the project meets the construction phase.

Affordable energy

Meanwhile, Ramotar also declared emphatically that “high amongst (the) priorities will be to ensure the achievement of more affordable and more reliable energy.” The reason he proffered is manifold, and what it can realise when completed. “For too long, Guyanese have looked forward to harnessing our country’s vast hydropower potential. The time for realising this dream is long overdue.

“At the heart of all these

developments, will be our aim to improve the quality of life, enjoyed by every Guyanese citizen. Opportunities will be created for persons to find gainful employment, and to acquire the skills necessary to take up those opportunities.

Amongst the initiatives we will pursue, is the aim of achieving Universal Computer Literacy, (so) ensuring that each and everyone can assume his/ her rightful place in the modern, technology-driven world,” he stated in his address to the nation.

New road link

The idea of road/ bridge networking was also mentioned. The President explained

that “… the feasibility study for the East Coast-East Bank bypass road has been completed and (in discussion are the) next steps to advance this project, that has awesome ramifications. It is set to … catalyse US$65 million in investment, building 20 kilometres of roads and supporting infrastructure. Furthermore, in the first half of 2015, we will be constructing an alternative link between Diamond and Eccles that will greatly relieve traffic congestion for commuters on the East Bank of Demerara.” This of course means thousands of job opportunities.

Unreliable and unaffordable electricity continues to be the biggest impediment to investment and job creation in Guyana. My Government will deliver the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project to the Guyanese people, along with all its attendant benefits.” He said “Within months, (he is expecting) to achieve financial closure and (so) commence construction…” The flagship of the LCDS is the AFHP, he said, and added that, “I am pleased to announce that Norway has transferred earnings

from our partnership of approximately US$80 million to the InterAmerican Development Bank to fund part of Guyana’s equity share in the project. This is a significant accomplishment.

It demonstrates that all partners have strong confidence in Amaila.

The project is once again moving forward.”

The President repeated that Guyana is one of the very few countries in the world, receiving compensation for the sustainable management of the forests. Under this LCDS and in partnership with Norway, Guyana recently received its fourth payment, bringing the total earned thus far to US$150 million. It is the funds earned from this kind of prudent management that the AFHP is becoming more and more visible. In 2015, he stated the Government will continue to break new development ground under the LCDS. “We will launch initiatives targeted at flood prevention dealing with both coastal community drainage systems and the larger conservancies. We will catalyse the ecotourism sector through several interventions so that Guyanese can more fulcontinued on page 26

Caribbean Airlines to add more flights due to increased demand

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aribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) has announced a revised schedule that will be implemented from January 15, 2015 through to February 4 because of increased demand.

“In addition to increased capacity and more non-stops, Caribbean Airlines is also expecting major cost savings from a more efficient schedule that will see better utilisation of its 737 and 767 fleets.

Many of the changes will focus on its Portof-Spain hub at Piarco Airport, where improved connection times will make it easier for our guests to connect to/ from various points in our network,” the airline said in a statement on Wednesday.

The new schedule changes include: The launch of a new daily non-stop between Trinidad and New York featuring the first widebody aircraft on the route, timed to provide an end-of-business day flights; a new daily departure on the TrinidadNew York route, increasing to three daily non-stop flights in each direction. For the onestop service on this route, its frequency will increase to 48 per week – more than triple those of any other airline. The Georgetown-New York route is increased to daily non-stop flights in both directions. Flights in and out of Trinidad are increased with daily through flights to/from Toronto, Miami and New York.

As the only airline offering non-stop flights from Trinidad to London, CAL said it was increasing the frequency, effective February 4, 2015 to four weekly flights. The Toronto-Georgetown non-stop flights (two per week) will be terminated effective March 1, 2015 – but replaced by a daily through flight in both directions.

“Buoyed by the steep decline in its number one expense – aircraft fuel, Caribbean Airlines is confident that this new schedule will build on the airline’s goal to achieve profitability,” the airline said. “The revised 767 flying patterns will see increased utilisation and a more customer-friendly schedule based solely on flights to/ from its Trinidad hub.”

21 APNU cautious about AFC’s “secret talks” A NEWS

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Safety in aviation sector strongest ever – Capt Gouveia

By Vahnu Manikchand

I

n light of the disappearance of the Britten Norman Islander aircraft over a week ago with its pilot and a cargo loader onboard, many have begun to question the safety and security measures that are in place to protect local aviation operators.

There are concerns about whether adequate arrangements are in place particularly for small plane operators who fly over the dense forest that extensively covers most of the country’s landmass.

Questions are raised about whether the systems used such as the GPS are technologically advanced to add efficiency to the operations of the sector.

Just over a week ago, the Air Services Limited (ASL) aircraft went off of the grid. The twin-engine aircraft’s last known position via “Spot Tracker” was 3.8 nautical miles South of Mahdia – a mere two minutes after it departed Mahdia airstrip. Along with the aircraft, the pilot Nicky Persaud, 27, and Cargo Loader, 51-year-old David Bisnauth, are also missing.

Aviators have acknowledged that the area the plane was operating in is one of the most hostile jungle and mountainous areas in Guyana.

The Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) has been working along with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Guyana Defence Force to track down the aircraft and its occupants despite adverse weather conditions.

Adequate

Some commentators believe that the facilities the sector has in place are the most advanced and adequate enough given the conditions that operators have to fly in.

Speaking with the Guyana Times International, Captain Gerry Gouveia, head of Roraima Airways and a pilot himself, pointed out that the local aviation sector was very secure and was improving on a daily basis. He noted that there were almost 100 aircraft operating out of the Ogle International Airport (OIA) that do both domestic and regional flights, and the security system in place was one that had improved tremendously over the years and was compliant

Transport Minister Robeson Benn

with international regulations.

Gouveia explained that even with the most advanced systems, flying over Guyana’s terrain was a most challenging task and pilots had to be constantly aware and prepared for any situation. He stated that it was most challenging too for pilots to adhere to manuals and follow procedures since they had to adapt to the conditions of the jungle. “While we may have improvements in technology, the jungle still remains very challenging to fly over.”

He added that even with an exceptional safety record in the sector, there was always room for improvements.

Gouveia stressed that any incident or accident involving aircraft should not be taken lightly and should be reported so that investigations can be carried out and operators can look at what went wrong and improve on that area.

In addition, Captain Gouveia outlined that local pilots are highly, and probably among the best, trained as they had to manoeuvre over the country’s jungle and do so regularly with as little mishap as possible. He noted that the training programme offered locally was very professional and intense, but sometimes things go wrong and although pilots were trained to operate in such adverse conditions, it can be a bit too much to handle at times.

Sector strong

M e a n w h i l e , Transport Minister Robeson Benn stated that there were regulations in place for operators to abide by and the GCAA was the oversight body that ensured that companies were in compliance with the regulations. The Minister stressed that the local aviation sector has grown significantly over the years.

“We never had this

Captain Gerry Gouveia

number of planes,” he highlighted, stating that the OIA records over 100 movements on a daily basis. He noted that with this tremendous improvement, the sector has also improved its techniques to offer better protection to operators.

Benn referred to the Automatic Dependence Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Project that was introduced in August last by the GCAA. This system positions the aviation sector to better manage its airspace and the safety of air traffic. It is part of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s global plan for the seamless transition of flights through the world’s airspace.

Nevertheless, Benn emphasised that despite the many initiatives undertaken for the safety of operators, weather conditions, the environment, state of the aircraft, fuel, and condition of the engine are all factors that cannot be predetermined.

While rescuers are working feverishly to locate the missing Highlander, this aircraft joins a list of several that have gone down in the interior region within a year’s time. In September last, a Cessna 206 aircraft belonging to the GDF crashed at Camp Jaguar after it ran off the airstrip. Two months earlier in July, a Britten Norman Islander plane crashed while landing at the Monkey Mountain airstrip in the interior. In March 2014, though without any fatalities, another aircraft with three on board crashed after takeoff from an airstrip at the remote interior mining location of Arau. In addition, early last January, Canadian Pilot Blake Slater and Guyanese cargo handler Dwayne Jacobs lost their lives after the plane they were travelling in crashed at Mazaruni. (vahnum@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Partnership for National Unity (APNU) said it was in favour of non-disclosure of negotiations on a pre-elections coalition with the Alliance For Change (AFC), but remained cautious given earlier pussyfooting by the minority Opposition party.

APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon on Monday confirmed that the party was in receipt of a proposal from the AFC stipulating the way forward on the coalition talks.

The AFC, over the weekend, said a draft proposal stipulating that talks could only be held in secret was submitted to APNU for the party’s consideration.

Secret

However, when contacted by the Guyana Times International on Monday, Harmon explained that from where he stood as APNU’s General Secretary, secret talks would not be an issue.

He opined that he was in favour of the AFC’s stated prerequisite to dialogue, that is, a secret agreement on the part of both parties.

According to Harmon, APNU will be discussing the agreement in the near future, but he was unable to say when this will be.

“I agree that we need not have these discussions in the public domain,” said the APNU Member of Parliament.

He explained that APNU has many part-

Political points

APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon

ners and some of them are on vacation out of the jurisdiction; hence, they would not be able to discuss the AFC’s proposal.

When further pressed about a possible timeframe for APNU to give an answer to the AFC, Harmon said that he was not willing to publicly put a timeframe on the party’s in-house discussion on the issue.

“We are going to get back to the AFC very soon on the matter,” he said.

Co-Chair of APNU, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said that from his view, the electorate was very much “interested” in what the future holds in terms of an APNU/ AFC coalition contesting the next General and Regional Elections.

In an invited comment to the Guyana Times International, Dr Roopnaraine said: “Voters, I believe, are interested in whatever alliance that can secure a victory at the upcoming elections.”

Political observers have noted that the announcement of coalition talks by the AFC is just a way of gaining political points and the notion to form a broad coalition with APNU may not be genuine.

Many persons have pointed to the “mixed signals” coming from the smaller political party.

Roopnaraine told GTI that mixed signals were not uncommon in the political sphere.

The AFC release had said that “in the last meeting of the General Secretaries of both parties, the AFC tabled a non-disclosure agreement for the review and signing by the APNU, with the clear understanding that on the return of the signed document, the AFC would release to APNU, our Draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which would form the template for our negotiations”.

Announcement

The party added: “It should be noted that we don’t intend to negotiate agreement within the public space and, therefore, will not be commenting further on this matter until there is a substantive announcement to be made.”

The AFC indicated that while it awaited a response from APNU on the non-disclosure agreement, it was prepared to “issue a draft MoU to the APNU within 24 hours of receiving the signed nondisclosure document”.

Caribbean growth expected to pick up slightly... from page 19

behind other regions of the world.” Moreno listed a series of reforms and investments the region needs to undertake, ranging from strengthening trade integration to upgrading its infrastructure and public services. Other bottlenecks to productivity are the high proportion of informal jobs in its labour markets, the limited access to financial services, the poor quality of education, and the low levels of innovation in its productive activities.

Safeguarding social gains achieved over the past few years will also be critical, Moreno added. Poverty has dropped to historically low levels (27.6 percent in 2014).

“We cannot turn back,”

he emphasised. To that end, countries will have to closely monitor their labour markets and social welfare programs, in order to protect the most disadvantaged among their population. They will also need to reduce the risks posed by natural disasters, which disproportionately harm the poor.

The IDB has much to contribute to the pursuit of this reform agenda, Moreno said, as it remains one of the region’s leading sources of long-term financing and technical assistance. In 2014, it approved more than US$13 billion allocated to projects involving institutional development (43 percent), infrastructure and the

environment (38 percent), social sectors (16 percent), and trade and regional integration (4 percent).

Moreno also highlighted the IDB’s increasing support for private sector-led projects, which received about US$2.8 billion in loans and guarantees in 2014, up from US$2.1 billion the previous year. He added that the IDB has made progress in the preparation of a proposal to merge all of its private sector activities in order to gain operational efficiencies. The proposal is due to be presented to the IDB’s Board of Governors at their next Annual Meeting, scheduled to take place in March in Busan, Korea.

22

news

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Elections 2015…

APNU yet to discuss Granger’s running mate

A

s political parties commence campaigning across the country for the impending General and Regional Elections, the main political Opposition party has said it has not yet decided who will be selected as its candidates for the Presidential and Prime Ministerial posts.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Leader, retired Brigadier David Granger on Friday said that while discussions have been held to discuss elections, those discussions have not focused on the selection of candidates.

According to the APNU Leader, while the coalition will be go-

Dr Rupert Roopnaraine was Granger’s running mate in the last elections

ing into the elections as a “partnership”, no candidates were selected.

He did not state a reason for the non-selection of candidates.

Despite a promise

to retain the primaries model to elect its Presidential Candidate after a successful first attempt back in 2011, Granger, who is also the leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), said the mechanism was not a requirement of the party’s Constitution and it was unlikely to be used to determine candidates for the upcoming polls.

“There is no provision under the constitution which calls for the system of primaries, it was only because of the demitting of office by Mr [Robert] Corbin that that process of selection for the Presidential Candidate was instituted… it is not constitu-

tional. It has not happened before and it is not in the constitution,” Granger told this publication.

Granger wields tremendous power and observers say it would be difficult to dislodge him from being the candidate of choice for APNU in the next elections.

Campaign

The other Opposition party, the Alliance For Change (AFC) has already named its presidential and prime ministerial nominees, but it is widely believed that the party will be led into elections by its Vice Chairman, Moses Nagamootoo and Chairman Nigel Hughes as the Presidential and Prime Ministerial

Candidates respectively.

While there is a possibility that the AFC and APNU will join forces to compete in the upcoming polls, Granger had made it clear that APNU would not sit and wait for coalition talks to commence.

“We are waiting for the talks to begin … but I cannot wait, the campaign has started. You can see what the PPP [People’s Progressive Party] is doing and we cannot sit waiting for talks to start,” the APNU Leader declared on Friday.

When questioned about the AFC opting to

lead any coalition of the parties, Granger said while he was not willing to prejudice the talks, it would be expected that the larger party be given preference. “APNU has four times as many seats as AFC, one would expect that consideration would be given to the majority,” he stated.

According to Granger, there have already been talks between the APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon and his AFC counterpart, David Patterson. “The talks have been about talks,” Granger said, adding that “we have not yet had any substantive talks”.

Brazil plugs US$17M into FAO project

B

razil has added US$17 million in funding to projects undertaken in its ongoing partnership with FAO, highlighting the Latin American country’s role as a key regional and global contributor to the fight against hunger.

The decisions, added to ongoing projects have increased the portfolio of Brazil-funded projects through FAO to over US$100 million.

The latest projects approved during the month of December range from school-lunch programs and family-farming policies to fishery advisory services in Latin America and Africa.

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva is currently on an official visit to Brazil, where he will attend the inauguration of President Dilma Rousseff on January 1.

Recently Graziano da Silva met in Brasilia with a slate of new cabinet members. The recent funding pledges made by Brazil include US$5 million to support a new project for fisheries in Africa, US$4million from for a new Regional Project for Africa, designed to promote exchange and dialogue on family farming policies; US$3.5 million to expand the geographic coverage of the ongoing school-feeding project in Latin America and the Caribbean; and US$4.3 million for a project focusing on promoting small-scale aquaculture to achieve food security and alleviate poverty risks around Latin America and US$5 million cash contribution added to US$5 million in kind contribution for the

Brazil President Dilma Rousseff

strengthening of fisheries and aquaculture in Africa.

FAO is poised to sign a new memorandum of understanding with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), a key public research agency in Brazil’s evolution from food importer to major agricultural producer.

The agreement will further FAO’s sponsorship of South-South cooperation.

Brazil is currently supporting over 27 projects with FAO for a total amount of almost US$100 million and is one of the top 10 contributors to the Organization, along with the Group of Seven advanced industrial nations, Norway and Saudi Arabia. Brazil is a strong promoter of South-South cooperation, sharing its experience with “Zero Fome” (Zero Hunger) policies with countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa, and as the latest contributions underscore, its partnership with FAO is diversified and spans a wide array of ministries and governmental institutions.

news WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015

23

| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ramotar cites 'uncooperative Opposition' as most challenging during presidency – stands firmly by PPP/C Govt’s track record

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE

P

resident Donald Ramotar says that he has further strengthened his resolve this year in the face of mounting criticisms from the Opposition political parties about his term in office after his party won the 2011 General and Regional Elections.

Ramotar, speaking with Guyana Times International during an exclusive interview on Old Year’s Day, said any careful and independent analysis of some of the criticisms made about his presidency and stewardship of the economy would reveal that they are unfair, unhelpful, lacking potency and opportunistic in nature.

He maintained that he has honoured all of his Executive and Constitutional obligations as President while working to further advance the lives of the Guyanese people.

He insisted that he would not allow himself to be distracted by those

Opposition Leader David Granger

unconstructive criticisms, but will work to achieve the vision he has of a more developed and prosperous Guyana this year.

When questioned as to what was the greatest challenge he has faced since becoming President three years ago, Ramotar said it was working with an uncooperative Opposition which is bent on railroading development and crippling the country’s planned socio-economic transformation under the People’s Progressive Party Civic’s (PPP/C) Administration.

He admitted that this

lack of cooperation eventually resulted in him making an Executive decision to prorogue Parliament with the intention of preserving that institution while opening the door for dialogue.

Ramotar said that when he reflects on his decision, he has “no regrets” because it exposed the Opposition’s double standards, lack of compromise and inability to put aside their partisan agendas to address issues of national importance.

He is not moved by some of the arguments and misinformation that

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

have been spread about his Government’s decision in this respect because he believes that all Guyanese fully understand the rationale behind the move.

Asked whether he was bothered by the Opposition’s allegations that as President he has been “weak and unable to carve out his own independent legacy”, Ramotar responded firmly in the negative.

He also poured cold water on the febrile arguments made by the Opposition that he “lacks independence” and is merely a “puppet on a

string”.

In response, the President said: “I never bothered with those types of things. When former President Bharrat Jagdeo came into power first, they used to tell him that Janet Jagan and myself were pulling his string. I think anyone who is put into this position will have to deal with the derogatory remarks of the opposition.

I will not be sidetracked by those types of nonsensical things,” he insisted.

The President made it clear that he is unwilling to jeopardize all of the gains made in

Guyana’s development over the past 22 years.

He declared unwavering support for the work programme, vision and initiatives advanced by the PPP/C despite the continued criticisms he faces in the media from the combined Opposition political parties and other stakeholders.

“I will stand by all that Government has done since we came into power. In every area of life that you can think about, we have done remarkably well in helping our people to grow by lifting their standard of living,” he said.

Ramotar recommitted support for all the stalled projects started under Jagdeo. “I was elected by the people of Guyana to do a job and I was elected on a clear platform to try to continue and build on the achievements of the PPP/C Administration,” he stated.

The President, not for the first time since being elected, reiterated that he was part of the continued on page 24

24

News

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Granger’s court action…

Injunction has no applicability to Govt spending – AG

Orealla, Siparuta get resident doctors for first time

By Svetlana Marshall

T

he Conservatory Order being sought by Opposition Leader David Granger has “no applicability beyond 2014,” Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said on Friday.

In what was described as a baffling move, Granger on December 11, 2014, made an application for a Conservatory Order to block Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh from spending tax payers’ money on programmes disapproved or not authorised by the National Assembly.

In an interview with Guyana Times International, the Legal Affairs Minister explained that there are no implications, positing that the move will have no impact on Government’s operation given that 2014 has ended.

Moving ahead in 2015, he said Government will be guided by Articles 119 and 220 of the Constitution. “2015 is governed by different constitutional arrangements which allow for the Government to spend until an Appropriation Act is passed,” he explained.

This is nothing

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

new, the Legal Affairs Minister emphasised.

In the injunction filed by the Opposition Leader, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman were identified as the defendants in the matter.

In the legal document filed to the High Court, Granger pointed out that the National Assembly in pursuant to Article 218 (2) of the Constitution lawfully disapproved in the Annual Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure of 2014, Gy$36.7 billion which was signed into law with the Appropriation Act No 10 of 2014.

Amid this fact, it was pointed out that the Finance Minister unlawfully spent Gy$4.5 billion for the period ending

June 16, 2014, thereby breaching Articles 217 and 219 (2) of the Constitution. This was confirmed in Financial Paper No 1 of 2014 Statement of Excess on the Current and Capital Estimates presented to the National Assembly.

In the court document filed, Granger said the decision to spend disapproved funds by the National Assembly was unconstitutional, ultra vires [beyond the powers], null and void, unreasonable and in breach of the Doctrine of the Separation of Powers.

Additionally, the injunction is intended to block further spending to aid in projects that did not receive the blessings of the House. Late last month, the High Court ruled that it will hear Granger’s application on January 7.

T

Siparuta Health Centre Supervisor Yonette Stass meets Dr Gorvinski Fraser while BRHA CEO, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo looks on

he Amerindian communities of Orealla and Siparuta along the Corentyne River, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) now for the first time have resident doctors.

Two Guyanese doctors, who were recently trained in Cuba, have taken up positions at the two Health Centres in Orealla and Siparuta. Dr Gorvinski Fraser will be in charge of the Orealla Health Centre while Dr Leonard Rampsersud will be in charge of the Siparuta Health Centre.

Residents of both communities have praised the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) for taking the initiative in giving the communities resident doctors.

Laddy Peneau, a former Councillor of the Region Six Democratic Council (RDC) and a resident of Orealla, expressed gratitude to

both the RDC and the BRHA. He said it has been years that the residents of Orealla have been clamouring to have one doctor to service both communities. “Now we have two, it will do the people of Orealla well and to know that we don’t have to share our doctor with Siparuta is very good.”

At Siparuta, members of the Siparuta Village Council (SVC) were overjoyed when the doctors were introduced to them as resident doctors by BRHA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo.

Senior Councillor Errol Morris said because the main economic activity of that community was logging, many villagers were injured in the back dam. “We would have to take the patient to Orealla to see the Medic or sometimes take them to Corriverton to see a doctor at the Skeldon Hospital.”

That hospital is 60 miles away and travelling by boat would take hours. Some villagers have been taken there after being bitten by deadly snakes. “It is not easy when you are taking two and a half hours to get to Corriverton and someone crying out for pain. This is a very good move by the Government,” Morris declared.

Councillor Kingsley Hutson mentioned a recent instance when the patient was taken directly to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The trip took six hours.

C o o r d i n a t o r of the Indigenous Communities, attached to the Hinterland Department of the Health Ministry, Mike Gouveia called on the Village Council to support their doctor.

He noted that one of the doctors who recently returned from Cuba was from the village of Orealla.

Ramotar cites uncooperative Opposition as most... from page 23

“whole process” to identity and select projects and initiatives that would develop Guyana even when Jagdeo was still President.

He disclosed that he was fully knowledgeable of all of the developmental projects which are now being shot-down by the Opposition, which is alleging a lack of accountability and transparency.

Ramotar said, “Even when I was not yet the President and I was General Secretary of the party, I was an integral part of all the projects that were coming into being.

“I believe in those projects. I believe in Amaila Falls. I believe in the Marriott. I believe in the Specialty Hospital and Airport Expansion Projects,” he said.

The President admitted that there is still a lot of work to be done to fast track development in the country. He admitted that corruption existed in the country but argued keenly that he had not turned a blind eye to it as some were proposing in various sections of the media.

Ramotar is Guyana’s Seventh Executive President and a former

PPP/C General Secretary.

Since leading his party to victory in 2011, he has faced threats from the Opposition political parties which control the legislature in the National Assembly to bring his Government down.

His style of governance and refusal to break away from the philosophy of the PPP/C and its governance strategy has earned him the ire of an impatient opposition which has used its one-seat majority in legislature to block all of his many developmental trump-card projects.

News

25

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

CDB approves US$7.5M Family at odds over hospital’s role in baby’s death loan for GuySuCo – mother wants no compensation

C

US$7.5 million from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will be used to enhance the capacity of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Incorporated

U

sing lessons learnt over the past few years the Guyana government will apply a loan of US$7.5 million from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to enhance the capacity of the Guyana Sugar Corporation I n c o r p o r a t e d (GuySuCo) to produce and harvest sugarcane on selected estates.

The loan was approved by CDB’s Board of Directors on December 11, 2014.

The goal of the project is to: reduce operational costs, improve mechanisation, improve

maintenance of the extensive drainage system; secure irrigation and flood protection; and to provide for the development of critically needed non-sugar agricultural production such as rice. Rice production has been on a positive growth trajectory over the past five years.

The sugar industry, once the mainstay of the Guyanese economy, has generally been in decline but it still contributes around five per cent of GDP, and in 2013 it provided direct employment for approximately 16,000.

The industry supports more than 300 services providers, and is the third largest contributor of foreign exchange.

It also plays a critical socio-economic and environmental role in the predominantly low-income coastal communities where cultivation and processing are concentrated.

This loan marks CDB’s third intervention in the sugar industry in Guyana and this project will address several considerations that should result in improved productivity of sugar cane cultivation and sugar production.

heryl Wright, the paternal grandmother of little Dwayne Wright who died on New Year’s Day at the Georgetown Public Hospital, told the Guyana Times International that she did not blame the hospital for what happened to her grandson as his birth had complications.

Wright shared with this publication that the doctor had informed her son, Dwayne Wright; her daughter-in-law, Telesha Carter; and herself that little Dwayne was born with a lung infection which could have contributed to his untimely death.

Little Dwayne was born on December 18, at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. There were some complications during delivery; however, they were subsequently sent home after doctors gave both mother and baby a clean bill of health. Two weeks later on New Year’s Day, little Dwayne died after taking ill the same day.

The distraught grandmother stressed that she

Two-week-old Dwayne Wright

held no ill will towards the hospital, though she conceded that there were a number of young nurses who were always on their phones whenever she visited and the forgotten injection reported in a prior article in this publication was a silly mistake to make.

However, Phyllis Carter, little Dwayne’s maternal grandmother, has already made claims that the Georgetown Public Hospital caused her grandson’s death and is asking for Gy$50

million in compensation.

Carter informed this publication Monday that she had planned to meet with a senior Police rank at Eve Leary, Police Headquarters to start proceedings.

Wright upon hearing of this was quite upset; she said Carter has never looked after the affairs of her daughter since “throwing her out” when she got pregnant for her (Wright’s) son. She remarked that Carter did not play any role in little Dwayne’s two weeks of life either, as she simply went to the hospital when he was born and when he died – not staying for any significant amount of time.

Little Dwayne’s mother also indicated that she was upset by the actions taken by her mother. She stated that she had no wish of following the case up, because she needed no kind of compensation from the hospital for her son’s death, as this cannot bring him back and she simply did not wish to make a spectacle over her son’s demise.

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WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

from page 20

Dynamic Airways introduces President promises Guyanese flight attendants Corentyne Bridge...

F

or the first time since beginning operations in Guyana, Dynamic Airways on Sunday presented its crew members among them, the first batch of Guyanese flight attendants who underwent training in June.

At the Roraima Airways Lounge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), nine of the 25 Guyanese cabin attendants were introduced to the media, after flying from the John F Kennedy Airport to Guyana Sunday morning with 220 passengers.

In June last year, some 400 Guyanese turned up at the Roraima Duke Lodge hotel in Kingston, Georgetown to be interviewed for the post of flight attendants, after the air service provider announced that it would be commencing operations in Guyana. Of the 400 interviewed, 50 were shortlisted, 25 of whom commenced two weeks of training in the United States.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia said the first batch of Guyanese cabin attendants have embarked on an “exciting career”. He said since June,

Newly-trained flight attendants of Dynamic Airways walk off the Cheddi Jagan International Airport tarmac shortly before they were officially introduced to members of the media at a news conference (Carl Croker photo)

the flight attendants were put through months of “intense” training, travelling across the world to countries including the Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and India. Based on reports, he exclaimed, the Guyanese have represented their country well.

“These young people are the crème of the crop. They have completed training in the United States and today they are Federal Authority Aviation [FAA) certified…”

Captain John McHugh, one of the airline’s pilots, at the press conference, praised the cabin staff, pointing out that they were among the best he has seen in his 30-odd years of flying.

“Overwhelming”

Flight attendant Sheena De Agrella, speaking on behalf of her colleagues, said the experience thus far has been “overwhelming”. The remaining 25 selected will soon undergo training, Gouveia reported.

Meanwhile, Gouveia said Dynamic Airways will continue to offer outstanding services to its customers. Notwithstanding the recent hiccups the airline experienced, Gouveia noted that it would continue the momentum it began building since commencing operations last November.

“Unfortunately, those flights were cancelled on the two most significant days on the calendar, Christmas Eve Day and Old Year’s Day and for

that I cannot tell you how saddened we are and express our sincerest apology,” Gouveia said.

The cancellation, he related, was done for safety reasons and he again apologised for the inconvenience caused. Some persons sought a refund, he related; while some customers have already received such, others will soon receive their refund.

Gouveia said nonetheless, the air service provider “made a difference this Christmas, a difference for thousands of Guyanese that while our shortcomings are public knowledge, we have made a positive impact on this market”.

According to Gouveia, of the 40 flights scheduled by the airline, only two were cancelled.

ly take advantage of our country’s natural and cultural assets,” he said.

In addition, work will advance on a Biodiversity Centre that will showcase Guyana’s unique biodiversity to the world and to school children, some of whom have not had the opportunity to travel to interior locations.

Housing

The areas of works to be continued include just about every sector, as each has seen significant progress in the recent past. For example, the housing sector has seen impressive growth over the past five years.

The President detailed that, “From 2009 to 2014 the budgetary allocation to the sector has grown by 400%. In 2009, the Ministry was implementing 51 projects, now in 2014; there are 170 projects under implementation. The sector has been a boom for job creation, directly creating 3,500 jobs in 2014, a figure that is projected to grow to 4,250 in 2015.’ “In just the past three years we have increased monthly Old Age Pension by 75 percent to Gy$13,125.

This is light years from

where we came when it was a paltry few hundred dollars and our seniors were subjected to the humiliating means test.” Now the criterion is just age.

President Ramotar reminded all that “Over just the two and a half years to mid-year 2014, the size of the economy increased by 25 percent to Gy$650 billion, (and) our country has attracted more than US$629 million in foreign direct investment, credit to the private sector has grown by 41.5 percent to Gy$190.5 billion, and total deposits in the commercial banks has grown by 22.1 percent to Gy$334.6 billion.”

All of this was achieved despite the fact that the international environment was not favourable for some of the important sectors of the economy, he said, as he mentioned the notable fall on the international market for the price of gold, the decline in sugar price on the world market by 60 percent, and rice facing similar challenges of market availability, unfavourable price movement, and late payments.

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NEWS

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Burnhamite era ex-soldiers back militarised politics … ignore articulated “clear and present” danger

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everal Army veterans and other ex-servicemen believe the military and ex-military personnel should get involved in politics in Guyana – something which commentators say might be a reflection of their earlier indoctrination by the late President Forbes Burnham who had often used the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to enforce his political dominance.

Although several exservicemen became actively involved in politics in the United States – notably General Dwight Eisenhower and Captain John Mc Cain, they were more the exception than the rule in politics in the Anglo-Saxon political culture to which Guyana belongs.

However after launching the GDF (1965) and several militarised organisations such as the Guyana National Service and the Peoples Militia, in 1976, Burnham explicitly rejected the “professional Army” doctrine fostered

by the British.

Unlike the British, he demanded that all members of the Disciplined Forces become involved in politics and formed a unit headed by present leader of the Opposition David Granger and Presidential Assistant Elvin McDavid to educate members of the Disciplined Forces about the new policy.

Disturbing

Two retired officers Steve Corbett and Michael Davidson in an article back in 2010 warned that endorsements by retired servicemen of political parties is a disturbing movement that will only exacerbate the gradual decline of the military’s political neutrality.

The issue of ex-soldiers involvement in local politics was raised a couple of weeks ago by Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Secretary of the Defence Board, Dr Roger Luncheon who said it would be dangerous to have a “military-dominated” Opposition.

APNU MP Winston Felix

APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon

Dr. Luncheon said if it was up to him he would make it constitutionally impossible for former military personnel to join political parties shortly after demitting office. A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) are currently being headed by Retired Brigadier David Granger. In their camps are several other top commanders of the GDF and the Guyana Police Force, including former Police Commissioner Winston Felix (MP) and ex-GDF officer Joseph

Harmon (MP).

Speaking on the sidelines of a luncheon at Duke Lodge last Tuesday, veteran officer of the Guyana Veterans Legion Beverly Somerset said a military-led Government would serve the nation well. She said with their level of training and expertise, ex-military officers would be able to make key decisions that would be able to move the country forward especially in the area of crime and security.

“We are the people with the experience,

we form the foundation. With our experience we would be better able to make decisions,” she said during an interview with Guyana Times International. “In the case of an emergency, especially in our border locations, we would be able to handle those problems effectively even if we have to call on our reserve,” she added.

Colonel (Rtd) Carl Morgan weighing in on the subject explained that ex-soldiers are regular civilian citizens and have the right to join politics like any other person. He pointed out that there are persons of other professions who get into politics and are not being questioned.

Asked about concerns raised over the fact that these former military personnel having access to sensitive and critical information on national security and can use it for political gamesmanship, he clarified that military men should be wise enough not to endanger the country or its people, whom they had

taken vows to protect.

Another veteran Kenneth Gittens said servicemen and women should be allowed to serve in any sector long after they would have retired. If the opportunity avails itself, Gittens said ranks should be able to capitalize.

But given the nature of politics, the 90-yearold veteran made it clear that if he was given a second chance, he would play no part in politics. He explained that soldiers are trained to serve and protect the populace while maintaining a high level of integrity, but according to him politics do not allow for this.

“Politicians say one thing, they promise you a lot but when they get into office, it is another story,” he said. But other veterans were pellucid when they said former members of the GDF and Guyana Police Force should stay clear of politics. Earl Roberts said ex-soldiers should offer their expertise in other areas besides politics.

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T

he Guyana Karate College (GKC) aims to promote self-defence and discipline, as set out in its mandate. A non-profit corporation established under the Friendly Societies Act, GKC was launched in August 2006.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Master Frank Woon-A-Tai, the World Chief Master, a ninth degree black belt and the founder of the GKC, said that GKC aims to develop International Karate Daigaku (the Art of Shotokan Karate following the teachings of Master Gichin Funakoshi) in Guyana.

Structured and organised in every way, demonstrating the discipline it seeks to impart, the GKC has a fixed hierarchical structure. The karate college is lead by the founder, CEO and Chief Master Frank Woon-A-Tai, after which is the Vice Chief Instructor and Vice Chairman, Sensei Jeffrey Wong.

Beyond Sensei Wong, there is an elected secretary with assistant secretaries and a treasurer and an assistant treasurer. In addition, the GKC is governed by a Board of 13 Trustees elected annually by broad based Dojo Member Instructors.

Woon-A-Tai. For the international recognition the GKC has bought to Guyana, former President Bharrat Jagdeo granted the karate college an acre of land at Liliendaal in 2010 to build a state-of-theart training facility that would serve as the IKD headquarters in South America.

“Annabelle CarterSharma is our new architect and both she and Rhyan Persaud are in charge of building the college. The foundation has already been laid and works on the portal frame and roof is expected to begin in this year,” Woon-A-Tai disclosed.

The IDK headquar-

The proposed GKC Dojo

This is meant to be achieved through character development, physical education and fitness, self-defence and Budo sport.

GKC also aims to help young people find direction in life, keep them off the streets, away from drugs and break the cycle of crime and violence in Guyana and elsewhere. In this regard, GKC trains and certifies local instructors with international credentials, provides instructors with information to teach the CXC Karate programme, trains teams to represent Guyana in international karate tournaments while aiming to build its college, the GKC Dojo.

Guyanese Masters Maureen Woon-A-Tai, 8th Dan, and Josef Woon-A-Tai, 7th Dan, trustee members, provide international guidance, support and continuity. Sensei Amir Khouri of the YMCA’s ASKG, also a trustee, has a very large organisation as well as being a founding member of GKC. “Sensei Chetram Mortley is another trustee with a huge membership at the Saraswati Vidya Niketan at Cornelia Ida. We are all on the same page regarding the operation of the college. This means GKC will never become dysfunctional,” declared

Woon-A-Tai side kick

ters is currently located at Carifesta Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue, where classes are conducted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 17:00 to 19:00. Beginner’s classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (after the first belt exams beginners are then

Woon-A-Tai showcases his skills by breaking ice

transferred to regular classes).

With over 100 members to date, the GKC has lost several practitioners to the constant shifts in the location of the headquarters.

“We started at the National Gymnasium, changed to the Red Cross Building, then to Malteenoes Sports Club.

Our last class was at the Scouts Association...We are indeed grateful to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony for providing us with this excellent facility. The breeze at the sea wall is amazing for training.

“The importance of the college is to teach our children discipline and the values of karate, which are character, sincerity, effort, etiquette and self-control. Take

self-control for example, the world would be a much better and peaceful place if we could practice self-control,” WoonA-Tai expressed.

Hoping to increase its membership in the coming years, the members of the GKC have raised over $25 million in a four-year time period, which was spent to prepare and clear the land provided for the dojo.

The funds will also be used to build the foundation and pay 50% of the cost for the portal frame.

“We will build in four phases: the first will continue at the end of February...a dojo 105ft by 42ft. Thereafter, as funds become available, we will build the other three phases,” Woon-ATai outlined.

The Guyana Karate College was founded from

the need to keep Guyana ahead when karate became a component of the CXC Physical Education Programme in the Caribbean. It is a part of the International Karate Organization with 50 organisations in 30 countries, among which are the Philippines, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

As the World Master Chief, Guyanese Frank Woon-A-Tai, provides his country with firstclass karate, visiting three times yearly in March, July and November to share his expertise and administer exams to Guyanese students. On his last visit, Woon-A-Tai donated several books to the National Resource Centre at the request of Minister Anthony.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

30 feature Dr Maxine Parris-Aaron: Giving selflessly to empower others B WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

orn and raised a country girl, in the village of Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara, Dr Maxine Parris-Aaron has proven to be an altruistic caregiver, a dedicated professional, a mother, a doctor and an all-rounded beautiful human being.

Parris-Aaron spent her early years in Buxton before moving to Georgetown in her teens when her parents left to further their studies in Canada. Coming from a family of intellectuals, Parris-Aaron spent three years at the Guyana School of Agriculture after completing her secondary education.

Entering the working world as a young adult, Parris-Aaron was granted a government scholarship after only two years at the Ministry of Agriculture, affording her the opportunity to gain her first degree in Animal and Poultry Science at the Tuskegee University in Alabama, United States.

“I then went back to the Ministry before I left to pursue a Master’s at the Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine in Scotland,” Parris-Aaron told Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

Parris-Aaron returned with

Dr Maxine Parris-Aaron

a wealth of knowledge, which she continued to share at the Ministry of Agriculture before moving on to the InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, where she remains to this day.

“Veterinary Medicine was not my first choice. I always

wanted to be a social worker, but my father encouraged me to study medicine,” Parris-Aaron recalled.

Due to her necrophobia (fear of dead things), her father suggested Veterinary Medicine as an alternative.

Nonetheless, Parris-Aaron enjoyed the programme

and, to this day, it impacts her work and allows her to tap into resources that support her current position.

According to Parris-Aaron, her work also allows her to fulfil her dream, if not directly.

“What I do is very satisfying in that it has allowed me to do social work…in another way that is…by putting me in touch with people - helping and working with them,” Parris-Aaron declared.

Most of the work ParrisAaron does is geared at helping female groups across Guyana, female entrepreneurs, offering assistance and guidance in terms of food safety and business advice. She gains “satisfaction from seeing persons move from one level to the next… personally and in the development of their business”.

Although Parris-Aaron gives much assistance in her professional sphere, she still feels the need to give aid personally. Aside from many volunteer endeavours in her church (giving back to the elderly of the Ruimveldt area) and various youths via the Caribbean Healthy Lifestyles Programme (a peer education and leadership programme for youths),

Parris continuously opens her home to numerous youths in Guyana.

Parris-Aaron, the epitome of altruism, has opened her home to over 50 youths who came to Georgetown to study, were abused or neglected by their parents.

“Experiences with [youth] have taught me so much and helped me personally to be more caring and observant… in recognition of my role as a mother and caregiver,” expressed Parris-Aaron.

The biological mother of two and foster mother of one (her best friend’s son whom she took in after his mother died when he was nine years old), Parris-Aaron feels it is important to work with youths as they are our future and “the persons we depend on to take us forward”.

“I think that Guyana is at a place where a little more love wouldn’t hurt, a little more understanding…we have lost our human touch and need to go back to the place where we saw the best in each other. I also would like to encourage parents to let their children know that they are special, give them the support they need,” Parris-Aaron urged. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

Rudy Insanally.

Potaro Dreams by Jan Carew.

Coolie Woman by Gaiutra Bahadur.

The Idyll and the Warrior (Recollections of Edgar Mittelholzer) by Jacqueline Mittelholzer.

Glimpses of a Global Life by Sir Shridath Ramphal.

Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham O.E., S.C., National Assembly Speeches - Volumes II & III. Beacons of Excellence: The Edgar Mittelholzer, Memorial Lectures Volumes I, II & III. From Ashes to Ferro-Concrete: A History of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception 1924-2014 by Joanna Collins-Gonsalves.

Sport

I

A Death in the Family by Ryhaan Shah

Backslider by Terry K (Julia Kanhai)

t is not easy to pinpoint a definite time when the literary arts took off, spiralling to new heights, signalling a new era, heralding another golden age for the literary arts in Guyana.

But over the past decade and a half, there was a renewed interest in the literary arts. This renewed interest is being consolidated year after year, so much so that some days literary events coincide with each other. For example, on 19 November 2014, while Stanley Greaves was in conversation with Dr Rupert Roopnaraine at Moray House Trust, Dr Juanita Cox was delivering a lecture on Edgar Mittelholzer at the Theatre Guild.

For the literary arts, 2014 proved to be a great year. From the start to the

nificant contribution from institutions like the National Library, University of Guyana, Castellani House, Upscale Poetry Night, Moray House Trust and, lest we forget, fledgling groups making their mark on the literary community.

Many academics, literary critics and literary luminaries visited Guyana, where some were afforded the opportunity to contribute to our literary discourse, namely Juanita Cox, Sharon Maas, Pauline Melville, Stanley Greaves, Jacqueline de Weever, Tommy Payne, Clem Seecharan, Rahul Bhattacharya, Gaiutra Bahadur, Chaitram Singh, Eusi Kwayana, Vibert Cambridge and Brendan de Caries, Vibert Cambridge, among others.

Of course, there was major input

Racing With The Rain by Ken Puddicombe

Cover of Glimpses of a Global Life

end of the year there was massive display and outpouring of support for the literary arts. Kudos to all those who contributed publicly or privately. And a special word of appreciation to corporate Guyana for this upsurge of interest in the literary arts. All of these things augur well for Guyana in that more voices are being added to the national discourse from varied places and via various angles. This discourse ought to go a long way evincing a better place in which to live, enjoying the bountiful benefits of the literary arts.

What were some of those things adding to the national discourse during 2014? Once again, it was the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport leading the way, and there was sig-

from local academics, literary critics and literary luminaries.

But it is to books we turn once more for the tangible show of support for the literary arts. Guyanese books, new and rare, are rolling off the press in a steady stream as if we are rediscovering Guyana. The gold Raleigh once sought is now unfolding as an exciting and enterprising Guyanese literature. Rediscovery is given new meanings with the reprinting of rare and out of print books by The Caribbean Press, Peepal Tree Press and other publishing houses.

Listed below are some of those books:

Memoirs, autobiographies, biographies, histories

Dancing Between the Raindrops by

Indian Caribbean Test Cricketer and the Quest for Identity by Frank Birbalsingh.

They Gave The Crowd Plenty Fun

by Colin Babb.

Poetry

An anthology of Contemporary Guyanese Verse edited by Petamber Persaud.

Love in the time of technology by Sasenarine Persaud.

Heads and Tails by Pearl Lewis.

The Hinterlands by Stanley Niamatali.

Twenty-five Poems by Guyanese Children Volume I edited Rev. Gideon Cecil.

The voice and vision of Robert J. Fernandes, an unexpected adventure,

by Robert J. Fernandes.

They Gave The Crowd Plenty Fun by Colin Babb

Literature

An Introduction to Guyanese Literature (third printing, July 2014)

by Petamber Persaud.

Novel

Backslider by Julia Kanhai.

My Father’s Wish by Andrew D.O. Hutson.

Bitter by Portia Dodson.

The Dumb and the Brave by Churaumanie Bissundyal.

Death In The Family by Ryhaan Shah.

Racing With The Rain by Ken Puddicombe.

It would be useful to bear in mind that autobiography, memoir, biography and history accounted for a large portion of publications in 2014. (More on this category of writing in subsequent articles.)

Responses to this author: telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

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WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

International organisation and helping to pursue its future goals,” Fiedtkou said in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

For his charity event, the handsome humanitarian spent three hours with 60 “amazing” children at the Grove Baptist Church, East Bank Demerara, for Christmas 2014.

“We sang, played games with the children, we brought a lot of

C

food and drinks, and we packed party bags. Then I dressed up as Santa and gave out gifts. I also collected a drawing from each child that I will keep for myself; they are very creative children.

Saying goodbye was a sad moment. I will cherish that experience for the rest of my life,” expressed Fiedtkou.

Mr Caribbean International Guyana is currently working “extremely hard to put

Carrying a bag of goodies

Guyana on the world map”. His goal is to cop the title and bring it

Enjoying his time with the children

rowned last year as Mr Caribbean International Guyana at the Le Meridian Pegasus Hotel after the Mr Guyana International event, Alexander Fiedtkou is fulfilling his responsibilities by giving back through his most recent charity activity.

Fiedtkou copped the title along with the prizes of Mr Fitness and Mr

Intelligent, which he believes played a role in helping him to be named Mr Caribbean International Guyana.

“My main responsibilities are to promote positive images for young men in our society, and also encourage them to come out their ‘shy shell’ and be a part of something they might love to do. I’m also working with the Mr Guyana

Fiedtkou and his dedicated team helped to bring cheer to the children

back home.

“Mr Caribbean International competition is mainly about fitness and intellect, so I’m working on structuring my body into a wellshaped physique and get my brain running for the intelligence segments,” he mentioned.

Fiedtkou added that he would love to do more charity events. If he wins the Mr Caribbean International competition, Fiedtkou’s focus is to use his title to help others.

The Mr Caribbean International is slated for October 2015 in Negril, Jamaica.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Times Notebook Angels dancing …on Ramkarran’s (pin) head Back in medieval Europe, before the triumph of reason and the scientific revolution, the fellas (and they were ALL fellas) considered to be the top “intellectuals” spent their days debating the metaphysics of their theology.

Thomas Aquinas was one of these “scholars” – they’re collectively dubbed “the scholastics” – and he pondered such deep and pressing questions as “how many angels could dance on the tip of a pin without jostling each other”. Really!!!

Scholasticism, not surprisingly, became a metaphor for pointless debate and discussion. If you read the columns of Henry Jeffrey and Ralph Ramkarran in the Stabber News (as your Eyewitness unfortunately has to do) it’ll be clear that the species is alive and well in Guyana.

These two wankers insist on spinning “what ifs” about things that never were and never will be. They obviously get that special frisson experienced by Aquinas and his band of scholastics. You can just hear their squeals of excitement as they cite each other.

Anyhow, this Sunday, Ramkarran spends a whole column on whether the PPP/C, if returned to the Presidency with a minority – will coalesce with the combined Opposition – which would then have a majority in the Assembly and the Executive!! Sure!!!

Bereft of the towering intellect of Ralph “Aquinas” Ramkarran, the PPP/C is so dumb that they’ll commit political hara-kiri by arranging to be outvoted in and out of Cabinet!!

Just so you don’t miss this mental masturbation (you don’t think wanking off is pointless?? apart from that momentary thrill??), the Stabber regurgitated the entire pointless speculation as a “news article” 100 words more that the original 900-word column. The Muckraker will re-regurgitate the cud later in the week!

Now this Eyewitness isn’t even going to question the premise of Ramkarran’s assertion – that the PPP/ C’s only going to be returned once again with a plurality to the Presidency. Survey-free assertions on people’s “choices” are the norm in Guyana.

He isn’t even going to question whether the PPP/C would commit political suicide – his hatred for his erstwhile comrades has obviously pushed him further into irrelevant scholasticism.

What your Eyewitness found interesting is his assumption that PNC/APNU will not be entering a preelection coalition with AFC. Ramkarran, after all, has spent the last three years burnishing his credentials as the leader of such a coalition.

Does his speculation (promotion?) of a PPP/C coalition with the Opposition APNU and AFC separately mean that he’s been rebuffed by even Granger, Nagamootoo and Ramjattan??

If (political) death by a thousand cuts is painful, this has to be the unkindest cut of all!! …and Granger doesn’t know about FUCOP? Now let’s see if we can “pick sense from nonsense”, as the old heads would say, on the “Funding a United Committee for Opposition Presidency” (FUCOP) this Eyewitness has been hearing about. Some folks say that the acronym’s too scatological and open to mockery for the Opposition APNU and AFC to come up with.

Really?? Isn’t this the same folks, who facing universal condemnation for rigging elections for decades came up with a new name – PNC/Reform1Guyana?? Which gave them the acronym PNC-R1G for the 2001 elections??!!!

FUCOP is just the last in a long line of Freudian slips by the Opposition. Remember “Committee to Re-Elect the President” – CREEP that raised money for Desmond Hoyte in 1992?? Creepy!!!

Let’s look at the facts. Election’s are gonna be held this year. APNU’s General Secretary Lt Col Harmon (retd) declared the party “broke”. Had to sell land at Sophia.

And they’re gonna refuse money from Mook Lall just because he treats their inside man, Adam Harris, worse than dirt??

Pleeeeease!!! …and Badal for Marriott A cruder formulation of the “angels on a pin tip” useless speculation which wankers waste their time on is “if pigs had wings….” This about sums up Badal’s chances of getting a Marriott franchise.

P

atrick I Gomes, G u y a n a ’ s Ambassador to Brussels, becomes the Secretary General (SG) of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) this month.

Gomes was the clear winner for the job in November.

It was testimony to the high regard people have for Ambassador Gomes and for Guyana.

Congratulations Ambassador!

Bayney Karran, Guyana’s Ambassador to the USA, is in the running to be appointed Deputy SG for the OAS in Washington. The fact that he is a serious candidate for this post is another concrete testimony to the high regard people have for Guyana’s representatives abroad.

George Talbot, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, and Geir Pedersen, Permanent Representative of Norway to the UN, were appointed by the UN SG as co-facilitators for the Inter-governmental Consultations on the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD) to be held in July 2015 in

Guyana’s Brussels-based Ambassador to the European Union, Dr Patrick Gomes

the Green Fund. He has chaired the IDB and World Bank Boards.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh also served as Chair of the IDB and CDB Boards.

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy served as President of WHO – maybe the only Caricom person to have ever done so – and as President of PAHO when he was Health Minister.

Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN George Talbot

Ethiopia.

Bharat Jagdeo, the former President of Guyana, was just elected to head the Commonwealth Secretariat Observer Team to the elections in Sri Lanka. Jagdeo himself has many international appointments that show the high regard people have for Guyana internationally.

He has served as a UN ambassador for Climate Change and is Chair of the Board for

Dr Ramsammy was also Chair of the Affordable Medicine for Malaria (AMFm) Board – the only person from the Americas to have done so.

These are only some of the achievements of Guyana at the international level. While the PPP/C Government has provided a foreign affairs policy framework and work at the international level that has gained acclaim, Guyana’s achievements at the global level

are not new.

Under the PNC, Sir Shridath Ramphal served as SG of the Commonwealth and Dr Mohammed Shahabbudin was a Member of the World Court. But since the 1990s, Guyana’s work on the global platform has gained greater international attention and respect.

Three important conferences are scheduled in 2015 and Guyana will play important roles at these conferences – roles beyond our size as a country and beyond our level of economic and social development. These include the FfD Consultations, the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on MDGs to be held in New York in September, and Agenda 21 to be held in Moscow in December.

The Ethiopia meeting will demonstrate how serious development partners, like the developed countries and the donor banks and agencies, such as the IMF, World Bank, IDB and CDB, etc are about accelerating development.

Jagdeo and Guyana’s representatives abroad have championed the cause of developing countries and have sought to hold developed countries accountable for the inequities that tenaciously persist in developing countries. Guyana’s representatives have been inspired and followed the

example of Dr Cheddi Jagan calling for a New Global Human Order.

Developed countries have not kept their MDG 8 promise and have betrayed their 1994 Copenhagen commitment to contribute at least 0.7 per cent of their GDP toward international partnerships to end hunger and poverty.

Guyana’s contribution must focus on fairness for a new financial support architecture that does not transform from a global to an African platform.

The MDGs meeting will involve global accounting for the goals and targets established in 2000 with the 2015 deadline. In Guyana, poverty has been reduced, there are fewer hungry people, health and education have improved, and more people have access to water and housing.

But the world will see another development platform that will not be able to say we have achieved all of our targets. A new global development instrument, the Post 2015 Agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be agreed on. We must play a crucial role to include those sustainable development targets important to us and to Caricom.

The Agenda 21 meeting will be about climate change. Guyana has been bold in rebuking those countries most responsible for climate change and must lead a strong team of developing countries to make our presence felt in Moscow.

The three meetings are the most important ones to be held in 2015 and represent the development agenda that the world will set for 2015 to 2030. Guyana cannot afford not to be present and not to be an important player. These meetings are about the New Global Human Order that Dr Jagan and Guyana have presented for global equity and fairness.

The PPP/C Government must establish the platform that Guyana will promote.

Readers are invited to send their comments by email or Facebook to times.notebook@gmail. com.

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Netherlands Antilles parliament Cuba implements to discuss sensitive issues national Ebola in Aruba this week prevention programme O RANJESTAD, Aruba: The political crisis of 2014 is one of the themes that will be discussed this week at the Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Consultation (IPKO).

This consultation, which takes place in Aruba and lasts four days, will have the participation of parliamentarians from the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom of the

H

AVANA, Cuba (ACN) -- Cuba has implemented a national Ebola prevention programme to counter the introduction and spread of the virus in the country, which included the training of over 384 persons, according to Granma newspaper.

The program includes sanitary surveillance, prevention, attention and bio-security measures, which guarantee early detection of Ebola cases and immediate control actions.

The strategy consists of a coordination group jointly working with the national civil defence staff, backed by the health ministry control centre, which monitors and evaluates the national and international

situation 24 hours a day, said Francisco Durán, general director of epidemiology.

The programme also included the increase of diagnostic capacities and the training of specialists in labs of developed nations. Part of the strategy was the setting

up of a training centre at the Pedro Kouri Tropical Medicine Institute in Havana.

At present, there are 32 Cuban medical brigades in Africa, made up of 1,048 specialists in countries like Sierra Leone and Guinea.

(Caribbean News Now)

St Kitts-Nevis opposition warns against boundary changes

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ASSETERRE, St Kitts: Constituency boundary change fears have prompted the six elected opposition MPs in St Kitts and Nevis to instruct their lawyers to write to the chairman of the Constituency Boundaries Commission and Prime Minister Denzil Douglas about the matter.

Team Unity leader Timothy Harris said the opposition is concerned that what he calls desperate efforts might be made to change the boundaries just ahead of the coming election expected very soon.

"One of the fears that we have expressed to our attorneys is that the government was going to move post haste to have the boundary changes implemented," Harris told WINN FM. He said the lawyers decided to "write and to warn that by and large we were concerned with the gerrymandering of

Caribbean countries and the Netherlands under pressure.

Agenda items that are sure to attract attention are dispute regulation, the application of Articles 15 and 21 of the Rules of the Governor (the cause of the crisis between Aruba and the Netherlands) and the screening of candidates for the position of minister. (Caribbean News Now)

Puerto Rico to host 2015 investment summit next month

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UAYNABO, Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico is getting ready for the 2015 Puerto Rico Investment Summit, the second of the series, to be held on February 26 and 27, 2015. After a successful summit held in April 2014 in collaboration with the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, with keynote speakers including the Governor of Puerto Rico, Alejandro García Padilla, and John Paulson from Paulson Group, the island is said to be ready to host over 300 US investors and entrepreneurs that will learn, firsthand, about all the competitive advantages that it has to offer.

“Puerto Rico is more

Alberto Bacó-Bagué

competitive and advantageous than Singapore and Miami in many fronts,” said Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce, Alberto Bacó-Bagué. “We have created a solid platform of tax incentives and we have the foundation that businesses require: manpower, infrastructure,

federal compliance and an unsurpassed location in the Caribbean, easily accessible from any place in the United States and Latin America.”

The two-day program will present Acts 20 and 22 on tax incentives, new private equity laws and investment vehicles, other incentives and competitive advantages, and insights on living in Puerto Rico. The program also includes testimonials from early adopters that are living and doing business in the island. Among the benefits that Acts 20 and 22 provide is a 4% corporate for businesses in Puerto Rico exporting services and 100% tax exemption on interest, dividends and capital gains, respectively.

Cartel cannibalism: Mexico says drug gang members ate human hearts

Team Unity opposition MPs

the electoral boundaries in St Kitts, we intend to fight that battle of course in the court," the Team Unity leader said.

Harris said the opposition alliance remains concerned that last minute efforts to change the boundaries could be attempted.

He said Team Unity would want its day in court on the matter.

Harris dismissed arguments that it's the boundaries commission that changes boundaries and not the government.

He contended that the process involves the executive, the governor general and the parliament.

Meanwhile, appearing on his weekly radio call in programme on Tuesday, Prime Minister Douglas said that regional and international election observers have over the past general elections made recommendations for the boundaries to be realigned to make them

Netherlands.

Chairman of the Aruba Parliament, Drs Marisol Lopez-Tromp said in an interview with the Aruban news site NoticiaCla.com that delegations have decided to also be open to each other and in addition to the regular agenda items talk about the problems that occurred in 2014, which have put the relations between the

more equal.

“CARICOM has spoken out on this. And the Organization of American States has spoken out. Opposition politicians always want CARICOM, the OAS and the Commonwealth of Nations to speak out.

Well, they have spoken out, and they have said that with reference to elections, St Kitts and Nevis needs to equalise our constituencies and adjust our boundaries.

Most importantly our constitution says that this is what we have to do,” Douglas said.

He added that no clear thinking person would say that 2,000 plus people in one constituency, and 7,000 plus in another constituency, would carry the same political weight.

Douglas stressed that haphazard constituency sizes are not good for democracy as it was too important a matter to play with any more.

(Caribbean News Now)

M

EXICO CITY: A vicious Mexican drug gang forced some members to eat the hearts of murder victims as part of a gruesome initiation rite to root out infiltrators, a government security official said on Tuesday, citing witness testimony.

For much of the past year, Michoacan, a mountainous, agricultural state in western Mexico, has been ravaged by fighting between drug gang henchmen and vigilantes who took up arms against the cartels but have since splintered into violent factions.

A mid-December shoot-out between two rival groups that killed 11 people has reignited fears the government is failing to control the state after flooding it with federal troops and pressing vigilantes into a fledgling rural police force.

The renewed fighting in Michoacan comes as

Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto

President Enrique Pena Nieto faces his deepest crisis since taking office, following the apparent murder of 43 trainee teachers by a drug gang working with corrupt police in neighboring Guerrero state.

The incident sparked widespread protests against the government, compounded by conflictof-interest scandals enveloping the president and his finance minister.

The main gangs operating in Michoacan, La Familia Michoacana, and later offshoot the Knights Templar cartel,

were founded by Nazario Moreno, or “The Craziest One,” a cultish crime boss who was finally killed in March 2014 after the previous government declared him dead in 2010.

Interviewed on local television, Alfredo Castillo, Michoacan’s federal security commissioner, denied cannibalism was widespread, but said there were various testimonies indicating heart-eating was part of a macabre initiation Moreno used to root out moles or test his men’s loyalty. (Reuters)

feature

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WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

'Tread the right path'

By Indrawattie Natram

Shame …and PANTY coalition Well, mouth open and story had to jump out sooner rather than later on the pre-nuptial talks between PNC/APNU and AFC. The six-week deadline for their talks are up and only now we’re learning that AFC’s demanding that all the proposals, etc should be “SECRET”. That’s right. They don’t want anyone… including (and maybe ESPECIALLY their supporters) to know what they’re proposing or accepting from the PNC/APNU. These are the same fellas who’re all over the Government like a cheap suit for being “secretive” when Government officials are negotiating deals like the Marriott. And now they want coalition talks to be secret!!!

In negotiations with commercial entities, the latter most often demand secrecy because they don’t want their competition to get wind of their plans. But a coalition that’s been brewing for YEARS???!! What do they have to hide?!!

Well, one reason for Ramjattan and Nagamootoo playing ducks and drakes about hitching up with the PNC/APNU is frankly they were scared stiff about how their Berbice supporters would judge such a betrayal.

Ramjattan already confessed to this. Berbicians well remember the vicious racist victimisation they suffered at the hands of the PNC. They only voted for the AFC because they’d promised to support either the PPP/C or the PNC/APNU in Parliament depending on their stance on various issues.

But Prezzie’s announcement that elections will be definitely held this year forced the AFC out of the closet. After conniving with PNC/APNU to prevent the PPP/C from further developing the country since 2011, the AFC knows their duplicity’s been exposed.

So the only reason they could possibly want the negotiations to be secret at this time is that they’re so ashamed of what’s gonna be revealed in SELLOUT to PNC/APNU, they wanna keep it under wraps until the last minute.

What could it be?? With the AFC that’s not hard to figure out – it always has to do with the chance to make a buck and getting their hands on power. The latter condition, of course, guarantees the former goal. Ramjattan had earlier backed Nagamootoo as the AFC’s Presidential Candidate. Because he knew that Nagamootoo had as much a chance of becoming President as a snowball has surviving in hell!!

But now that the coalition’s out in the open, Ramjattan’s gonna demand HE be made the Presidential Candidate. Hence, the secrecy. Taking letters from each party’s name, your Eyewitness understands it’ll be called a “Partnership Alliance for National Trust – Yes!” (PANTY).

The new Big Dick (Morris) poll showed that if Ramjattan wears PANTY’s obvious banner on the hustings, he’ll win the election!!

But he also wants to keep secret that PANTY will be funded by FUCOP. …and being bitch-slapped Ramjattan’s a very bitter little man who just can’t stop lying. Interviewed recently, he claimed he’d left the PPP/C THEN formed the AFC. First of all he never LEFT the PPP/C. He was ignominiously EXPELLED after he “carried news” to the US Embassy. Then he formed the AFC and still squatted on his PPP/C seat – until he got his duty-free car allowance.

Last week, the wanker projected the bitchslapping he’d received from everyone in the PPP/ C’s Ex-Co after his betrayal, by claiming that former President Bharrat Jagdeo had “verbally slapped” Ramotar – who was General Secretary of the PPP/C at the time!! Even his buddy Nagamootoo and Ralph Ramkarran had voted at the time to expel him!!

Ramjattan’s problem is before Jagdeo returned from studies in the USSR. He thought he was the “young lion” in the party. He’s still bitter at Jagdeo for exposing him as a “young hyena” who eats the leavings of the lion!! …and Greenidge Carl Greenidge is upset at President Ramotar’s trumpeting the economic gains of this country in the last two-and-a-half years.

Poor Carl. He’s still the only Finance Minister who confessed that the country was “bankrupt” under his watch!!

“T

read the right path: a path that will lead to everlasting bliss and happiness and always indulge in the reading of religious books” were the words uttered by long standing Islamic leader and Imam, Ibrahim Baksh.

The 63-year-old Maulana or Imam of Richmond Mosque, Essequibo, expressed in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine that he strongly believes in his religion.

Ibrahim Baksh has been overseeing the Richmond Mosque for over 38 years. Baksh said his love for teaching others about Islam developed after his mentors, Mc Doom Khan, Mohamed and Ghani and Imam Reasat Ali, died.

Baksh, a devout Muslim, said prior to his mentors' death he knew he had a commitment to his religion and was encouraged by the congregation of the Richmond Mosque to pursue spiritual learning on the path of becoming a Maulana.

“Indeed it was a direct calling from God. I knew I had the responsibility and I came through.

Today I stand proud as I hold many awards in the field,” Baksh declared.

Baksh stated that when he became a Maulana, he engaged himself constantly in the teachings of Islam and living the life as one.

The Imam also received training from various Islamic centres around Guyana.

Being an Imam at Richmond Mosque involves engaging his congregation in prayers and encouraging persons to follow the commandments of Prophet Mohammad, the last prophet who came from God to guide mankind.

Before Mohammad, Baksh stated that many prophets came to guide

Baksh (left) with Hindu leaders Satish Prakash and Vishnu and lead mankind on to the righteous path.

Community Leader

Apart from being a religious leader, Baksh serves as a community leader and is a prominent rice farmer in Anna Regina on the Essequibo

Imam Ibrahim Baksh Coast. The respected Imam also performs the functions of a licensed marriage officer and offers counselling to young couples. Additionally, he holds the office of a rural constable and a councillor for the Anna Regina Interim Management committee.

The Imam said each year he would perform an average of 50 Quranic functions, including weddings for families, friends and wellwishers throughout the Essequibo Coast.

Notably, Baksh has

been awarded with many certificates for his contributions, especially for his charitable efforts.

During the interview with this publication, Baksh displayed many certificates he received from various government and non-government organisations in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the Muslim community.

“Charitable work is an obligation for all Muslims. Under my leadership, we have managed to help many vulnerable groups. We, from a religious stand point, have transformed many lives,” Baksh pointed out.

Baksh is affiliated with various Islamic organisations, such as the Central Islamic Organisation in Georgetown and the Guyana Ahmadiyya Anjuman (Lahore). He was also afforded the opportunities to visit many countries preaching his religion.

The father of two is happily married to his wife Kursilla Baksh since 1980, and resides at Anna Regina Housing Scheme. He disclosed that his marriage has minimal problems due to their mutual understanding. Baksh has two daughters: Shaliza and Nafeeza Baksh.

Youman Nabi

Commenting

Richmond Masjid, where Baksh serves as Imam

on

Youman Nabi, the Muslim holiday celebrated today (Sunday), Baksh urges his fellow Muslim brothers and sisters to commemorate the occasion with goodwill and faith. He said the occasion is about the birth and death anniversary of the last Prophet Mohammad, who was sent by God on the 12 of Rabbieuwal Islamic calendar.

Baksh said the prophet was born in Mecca to father Abdullah and mother Amina. Prophet Mohammad was born after the death of his father. His mother died when he was six years old. He was then brought up by an uncle. Prophet Mohammad lived for 63 years.

It was through this prophet that the Holy Quran was written.

He dedicated his life to the teaching of Islam.

Besides being a prophet he was a soldier, statesman, husband and father. He lived a good, honest life.

Baskh said Mohammad entire prophethood of 23 years spoke of God and only one God who is Allah, the most merciful God. He said Mohammad did not worship or bow to any deity.

Commenting on how Muslims go about celebrating Youman Nabi, the ardent reader of the Quran said Muslims from all around the world will attend morning service at local mosques, prayers, followed by visits to families and friends exchanging greetings, sweet meats and gifts.

Baksh’s advice to youths is “take life seriously, set your goals and how you want to achieve them, study the scripture. Life is beautiful and enjoyable, don't lose faith. If you are not sure about something, talk to someone about it; nothing is beyond control”.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

36

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

J k es Shane. My office. Now. Shane works in the deli department of a large supermarket chain, where he often finds himself in trouble. Just look at the notes management has supposedly written to him: “Shane, stop putting Some Assembly Required stickers on the eight-piece chickens.”

“Shane, any free samples you give must come from the deli, not electronics.”

“Shane, when a customer asks where to find a product, give them an aisle number, not directions to Albertsons store.”

One way to foil fridge thieves The note left on the office refrigerator was addressed to: “The culprit who ate what you thought were two peanut butter ice cream bars.”

We’ll skip over the details and go straight to the signature: “Love, Constipated-Dog Owner.”

This week's Puzzle

The saddest story While at a convention, Bill, Jim, and Scott shared a hotel suite on the 75th floor. After a long day of meetings, they were shocked to find that the hotel elevators were broken and that they’d have to climb all the way up to their room.

“I have a way to break the monotony,” said Bill. “I’ll tell jokes for 25 flights, Jim can sing songs for the next 25, and Scott can tell sad stories the rest of the way.”

As they started walking up, Bill told his first joke. At the 26th floor, Jim began to sing. At the 51st floor, it was Scott’s turn.

“I will tell my saddest story first,” he said. “Once there was a man who left the room key in the car.”

Work is an onion Supervisor: This project isn’t something we can finish off quickly. It’s like an onion.

It has layers that we have to peel away, one by one.

Co-worker: And it will make us cry a lot.

First step’s a doozy Mike went into work an hour late, his face scratched and bruised, his glasses bent.

“What happened to you?” his boss asked.

“I fell down two flights of stairs,” Mike said.

His boss was aghast. “That took you a whole hour?”

see solution on page 46

Drug dealer?

Joe delivered prescriptions to people too ill to go out. Since the neighbourhoods he visited were often unsafe, he decided to get some protection.

"Why do you need a pistol?" asked the clerk at the gun shop.

He explained, "I deliver drugs at night and carry a lot of money."

news

37

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Airlines continue to show confidence in Guyana’s aviation sector - several began operations in 2014

A

s Government continues to propel Guyana as a viable tourist destination, investors’ confidence continues to be stronger, and this fact can be proved through

commenced serving the Guyana route, primarily in 2014. COPA Airlines began flying to Guyana on July 11, offering services to this destination twice weekly.

Also, Curacao regis-

Conviasa which began flying to Guyana in the latter part of 2013, expanded flights to Guyana in 2014 to twice weekly, serving the Puerto Ordaz-GeorgetownPuerto Ordaz routes.

COPA arrives at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

Passengers disembarking the inaugural CONVIASA flight

a number of activities in the various sectors. One such sector is the growing aviation industry and this is very much needed for a tourism industry to really prosper.

Over the years, a number of new airlines

tered Insel Air began operations from Miami to Guyana in June 2014.

This Airline also flies to Curacao and Aruba, and offers twice weekly flights.

The Venezuelan State owned carrier,

Dynamic airways which began operations in June of 2014 encountered difficulties and only resumed operations in November. The airline has since been plagued by technical problems, resulting in flight delays,

but has promised to provide a better service.

In terms of domestic carriers, Jags Aviation, a subsidiary group under BK International, opened its doors in August, with a Cessna Grand Caravan 208B EX. This aircraft has a passenger seating capacity of 13 and will be used as a local transportation vehicle, for remote hinterland and outlying tourism attractions. On December 23, the company added an M28 Sky Truck aircraft to its fleet.

Meanwhile, the Golden Arrow Airways has been conducting tours to Kaieteur Falls/ Orinduik, after officially being launched in May. Late in 2014, the Guyana Oil Company Limited (GUYOIL) commissioned an Aviation Services Fuel Handling facility at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. This US$3.5 million project is phase one of an overall venture, which comprises the construction of the termi-

nal at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Overall, there has also been a significant growth in the national fleet, in which there are currently 54 planes on the register and another 11, which are being considered by the Civil Aviation Authority. This good news was pointed out by Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, at the observance of International Civil Aviation Day, in December.

UK calls again for end of Parliament suspension

T

he United Kingdom on Thursday maintained pressure on the Ramotar administration to recall Parliament saying it was concerned at its continuing suspension.

Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood in a statement said: “The UK Government views with concern the continued prorogation of Parliament by His Excellency President Ramotar and calls for its earliest possible resumption.

Parliament

Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood

is required by Guyana’s Constitution and the Commonwealth Charter, it provides the necessary checks and balances and enables citizens’ voices to be heard. The suspension of Parliament

therefore means that an essential element of a functioning democracy has been put on hold.

“We also continue to have concerns that there have been no local elections for over 20 years, which is also contrary to the democratic principles of the Commonwealth Charter and Guyana’s own Constitution.

“The UK calls on all stakeholders to seek solutions to the political and socio-economic challenges facing Guyana so that the country can develop in a fair, democrat-

ic and equitable way.”

Parliament was suspended on November 10,

2014 and despite promises, President Donald Ramotar is yet to make

a further announcement on when general elections will be held.

38

news

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

T

he Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment through its environmental regulatory body; the Environmental Protection Agency, has received several reports of illegally hunted and traded wildlife in Guyana. This is undertaken by persons in direct contravention of the Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations, 2013. This legislative instrument allows for regulating the harvesting of wildlife for various purposes including bushmeat, scientific research etc.

Anyone who contravenes the tenets of this Legal Instrument will be guilty of an offense and liable to receiving penalties ranging from Gy$30,000 to Gy$750,000 along with prison time. The First Schedule of the Regulation lists ALL protected species in Guyana.

At this juncture, the Ministry would like to reiterate that all species of wildcats including jaguar and puma are protected, which means that their collection, holding in captivity, hunting, or otherwise molesting is prohibited. This extends to the owning and selling of cat body parts or products

Members of the Wildlife Management Steering Committee

thereof.

In light of the foregoing, the Ministry has embarked on a vigorous

Guyana is one of few places where the jaguar thrives (Photo by Steve Winter) File photo

programme to enforce the regulation and curb the illegal hunting and trapping of wildlife. To this end, it established a National Committee to oversee the management and conservation of wildlife in Guyana. This committee known as the Wildlife Management Steering Committee is headed by Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh and represents the interest of all relevant public sector institutions and their stakeholders. It acts in an advisory capacity to provide general oversight and guidance in

the development of strategies and programmes for wildlife management and conservation in Guyana as per the Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations 2013. Upon its finalisation, the Committee will also be guided by the Wildlife Import and Export Bill 2013 which seeks to better regulate the trading of wildlife.

In executing its mandate, the Committee is liaising with various stakeholders both local and international including Panthera and

the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

This collaboration has realised the development of a 12 month project to build the foundation for monitoring and regulating wildlife harvest in the South-Guyana Region. On completion, this project will be rolled out on a National level.

Meanwhile, a communication strategy that the Committee developed will be implemented to inform stakeholders and the general public on key issues related to wildlife management and conservation in Guyana.

39 Investigation continues into Couchman’s fatal shooting news

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

– Police maintain deceased was ‘a known trunker’

A

s more revelations surface about the incident last Sunday which claimed the life of Ryan Couchman, 34, of Lot 1360 18th Street, Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) maintains that he was a known criminal and “trunker.”

Crime Chief Leslie James, who was recently promoted to the rank of assistant commissioner, told this publication that Couchman was known to the GPF and their records have revealed that

he had been charged for several armed robberies and was a known “trunker” (a person, who breaks into cars).

He explained that based on their probe, they have found nothing wrong with the statement submitted by the policeman, who discharged the round which killed Couchman on Sunday at the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway junction.

James said that they are still investigating and ranks are out there taking statements from eyewitnesses and so forth.

Dr McGowan appointed Cricket Ombudsman

H

istorian Dr W i n s t o n McGowan has been appointed Guyana’s first-ever Cricket Ombudsman. The announcement was made

by Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, during his post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday at the Office of the President.

Dr Luncheon highlighted that subsequent to Cabinet’s approval, Dr McGowan, who has given distinguished service to the University of Guyana for close to four decades, was appointed by the Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.

“The post of Cricket Ombudsman is new to Guyana and is a feature of the recently enacted Cricket Administration Law…June 20 it was enacted in Parliament and assented to by the President [Donald Ramotar] in August,” Dr Luncheon said.

The Head of the Presidential Secretariat also used the opportunity to highlight the primary roles and functions of the Cricket Ombudsman.

“Dr McGowan is responsible for those elections of the recognised cricketing organisations in Guyana, and their officials. Essentially, from henceforth, and in accordance with the provisions of the Cricket Administration Law, the elections of officers of these recognised cricketing organisations would be conducted a la Cricket Ombudsman,” Dr Luncheon explained.

Dr McGowan’s appointment comes at a most opportune time in Guyana’s cricket history, a period which has been

Historian Dr Winston McGowan

plagued with headlines of internal power struggles, fraudulent elections and numerous court battles among administrators of the game.

Distinguished gentleman

His appointment follows closely on the heels of Retired Justice Winston Moore being appointed as the Ombudsman for Guyana.

During his time at the University of Guyana, Dr McGowan served as Head of the Department of History from 1985 to 1996; Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 1975 to 1976, Coordinator of the MA Programme in Guyanese and West Indian History from 1990 to 2008; and Chairman of the Board for Graduate Studies from 1992 to 1996.

Dr McGowan concluded his service to the University as the second and most recent occupant of the Walter Rodney Chair in History in the School of Education and Humanities. He is also credited with outstanding research and publications, as well as sound administrative skills.

Dr McGowan earned his BA Hons from the University of the West Indies in 1965 and PhD in London in 1979

Ryan Couchman

He added that Couchman and the cop, who was off-duty at that time had a row earlier at the creek outside Splashmins Fun Park; and later that day the group that the deceased was “liming” with decided to “tackle” the cop

while they were at a shop by the junction.

James noted that it was then Couchman advanced on the policeman during the ruckus with a broken bottle and slashed him in the mouth. The cop then managed to get hold of his weapon and fired a round which struck Couchman.

The crime chief stated that the GPF is not taking sides and the matter is being looked at intensely and pointed out that the cop involved is on sick leave.

Subsequent to the incident, the police had said he was killed during a robbery while his relatives and friends said he was shot dead in cold blood during a misunder-

standing.

Eyewitnesses’ accounts narrated a scene in which Couchman and a group of friends were on an outing at the creek and were drinking and having fun when a quarrel started between the cop and a member of Couchman’s group. That was eventually settled before it culminated in a fight.

After leaving the creek, Couchman and his friends decided to stop for beverages at a bar at the junction of the Soesdyke public road and the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, when the cop showed up; the row then resumed and a fight ensued.

It was during the fracas that Couchman was

fatally shot when he intervened as a peacemaker, eyewitnesses said.

Although four rounds were discharged, only one struck Couchman and he was conveyed to the Diamond Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The man’s wife, Natasha Couchman, told the media that her spouse was at the creek along the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway with friends earlier and had stopped at the junction to have some beverages when they encountered the off duty cop.

Couchman is known to the police, and had been previously charged on a number of occasions for robbery under arms.

40

news

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

U.S. denies Cuba resisting release of several prisoners on list

W

ASHINGTON: A White House official yesterday denied that the Cuban government was resisting freeing some of the 53 people listed for release as part of a thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations on the grounds they had been linked to violence.

The denial followed a report on Wednesday by Reuters citing a congressional aide who said that “we’ve been told that the Cuban government has agreed to release all but several of the political prisoners on the list.”

“This is not true, we have not heard any such thing from the Cubans, we fully expect all 53 to be released,” the official, speaking on condition of

White House spokesman Josh Earnest

anonymity, said.

The prisoner release is part of an historic deal last month to renew diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba aiming to end more than five decades of hostility.

But detailed information about those to be freed, including their names, has not been divulged by President Barack Obama’s administration, providing ammunition for Republican congressional critics of

the policy shift.

Both the White House and State Department said on Tuesday that “some” of the 53 people the United States regards as political prisoners had been released, but declined to elaborate.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Tuesday that one reason the prisoners were not being identified was because “we don’t want to put an even bigger target on their back as political dissidents.”

On Wednesday, the White House official stuck to the administration’s refusal to give the number or names of those released so far. continued on page 41

Looking ahead …at gold Ever since Walter Raleigh set off from Merry Old England to find El Dorado in our dear old mudland, our fortunes seem to be inevitably intertwined with gold. Before paper was accepted as “money” – a medium of exchange – gold played that role.

The Europeans who “discovered” us were on their way to the “East” to trade for spices and all that stuff, which they had to pay for with gold.

And silver. So when they found out they’d not only stumbled over some “new lands” but LANDS WITH GOLD, you can understand why small CHALLENGES – like wiping out complete populations – didn’t faze them. Gold can make you do some strange things.

Now while gold isn’t used as an actual medium of exchange any longer – or even to “back up” printed money – it’s still driving folks crazy. Since the old days, it has morphed the most widely used “store of value”. Worried about whether all those US dollars or Russian Ruble or Chinese Yuan will “lose their value” and you’ll end up with just coloured paper under your mattress?? Well hold on to gold!! Everyone still sees value in it!

And that’s still true today, even though there’re some folks predicting the “end of money” with its replacement by bits and bytes on computers’ hard drives. And we’re not even talking about Bitcoin.

So it’s this “socially” accepted quality of gold as a “store of value” across the world – more than any intrinsic physical quality that drives its price up … and down. If the US economy’s doing well, or if its interest rates are lowered by their Fed – expect the dollar to rise and gold prices to plunge. There’s not anything we can do about it.

Now if there’s some sabre rattling – or better yet, an actual war among the big ones – then those folks trading in gold might be uncertain as to where the dollar or other major currencies will be heading. And voila!!! Up goes the price of gold!!

Right now in Guyana … as we all know to our chagrin – gold prices have headed downwards for a while – from the US$1800 per oz a year ago to a miserly sub-US$1200 this week.

Apart from the increased rate of murders in the bush, we’ve all seen the boost gold’s given to the economy. So what the heck do we do?? Telling miners to “cut cost” isn’t going to help out in the near term.

We’ll just have to provoke a war among the superpowers!! It’s our patriotic duty to push the price of gold up!! …at campaign financing Even though my Editor doesn’t accept it, these straight-laced reporting types are soooo behind the times!! Imagine they’ve only now cottoned on to the Mook being one of the major funders of the Opposition parties!! That’s been an open secret ever since the Muckraker’s owner got back his visa to the US. Hey…you don’t even have to talk about “quid pro quos”. “Mutual backscratching” is more like it!! The money’s got to be funnelled through SOMEBODY, no??

And not that the Mook’s arm had to be twisted to become the “bag man” for the Opposition APNU and AFC. Remember the old adage, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”?? The tightwad has so much venom for Jagdeo and the PPP/C that he’d even opened up his own pocketbook. The return of the visa was just so much gravy. …at elections Well…well…well! Seems that the United Republican Party’s the recipient of another miracle. They’ve risen from the dead. Let’s just hope they’re not zombies!!

41 Sri Lanka presidential election brings country to crossroads S news

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

ri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has urged voters to back “the devil they know,” and hand him a third term when they go to the polls on Thursday, rather than an “unknown angel” who promises to root out corruption and political decay.

There have been no reliable opinion polls ahead of the vote, but many believe opposition candidate Mithripala Sirisena will quash Rajapaksa’s bid for reelection and change the country’s direction.

Despite waning popularity, Rajapaksa called the election two years early, confident that the perennially fractured opposition would fail to come up with a credible challenger.

But he did not anticipate the emergence of Sirisena, who quit as one of Rajapaksa’s ministers and crossed to the other side to become the opposition’s candidate in

November, triggering a flood of defections from the government.

“It has been a big shock for the president,” said a Western diplomat in Colombo. “The government looks a bit desperate.”

Some 15 million people will be eligible to vote between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time at more than 12,000 polling stations nationwide. Ballot counting will get under way soon after voting booths close, and a result is expected to emerge in the early hours of Friday.

With more than 25,000 local and about 70 foreign monitors set to observe the vote, Chief Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya was adamant on Wednesday that there would be no fraud. “Don’t worry about this election, this election will be free and fair,” he told reporters with a grin.

The government bristled on Wednesday over repeated calls by the

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa

United Nations secretary-general to ensure the election is peaceful and inclusive, branding them “gratuitous and inappropriate.”

Nevertheless, rumours have been rife in Colombo that force may

U.S. denies Cuba resisting...

from page 40

But the official said the United States and Cuba had agreed on a common list before the Dec. 17 announcement of an agreement to restore relations, and that Washington expects Havana to fulfill its part of the deal.

However, the congressional aide, also speaking on condition of not being named, suggested a possible obstacle to the release of everyone on the list.

“The government in

Havana believes that the smaller group has committed acts of violence,” the aide said.

The problem involved several of the prisoners but did not give a precise number, the aide added.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a CubanAmerican Republican who is a leading congressional critic of Obama’s policy shift, on Tuesday wrote to Obama to urge him to cancel upcoming talks with Havana – at

least until all the prisoners are released.

Elizardo Sanchez, president of the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, an opposition group that monitors arrests of Cuban government critics, said his group was unaware of any jail releases since the Dec. 17 announcement. His group has not been notified by Cuba or the United States about which names are on the list. (Reuters)

be used to keep Sirisena voters away, that the result will somehow be distorted or even that the military might be deployed if Rajapaksa looks set to lose.

In Washington, the U.S. Department of State said the United States wanted to see a “credible, peaceful and inclusive” process.

State Department

spokeswoman Jen Psaki said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had called Rajapaksa on Tuesday to underscore the government’s responsibility to ensure this.

“We urge the government, its election officials and police, all political parties and actors to ensure access to all vote centers for the voters to vote and counting centers for all international and domestic observers,” she told a regular news briefing.

“We’re concerned about reports of violence and urge the government to ensure transparent and credible investigation into any allegation of fraud or violence,” she added.

A local observer group, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence, said this week there had been “unparalleled misuse of state resources and media” by Rajapaksa’s party and that police inaction had given free rein to election-related violence.

DWINDLING POPULARITY Rajapaksa

won

around 58 percent of the vote in the 2010 election, surfing a wave of popularity that sprang from the defeat of Tamil Tiger separatists who had waged a crippling war against the government for 26 years.

The economy has flourished since then and big infrastructure projects such as the country’s first expressway have sprung up.

Many voters, especially Sinhalese Buddhists who represent 70 percent of the population, are diehard Rajapaksa supporters.

Sandamalee de Fonseka, a 39-year-old mother of two in Colombo said he won the country’s war on terrorism and was winning the war against poverty.

“People’s quality of life has gone up,” she said.

But many complain of high living costs – even though official data show inflation below 5 percent – rampant corruption and an authoritarian style that has concentrated power in the hands of the president’s family. (Reuters)

42

Travel & tourism

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

H

oney Pond, located in Region Nine, is known for its rich biodiversity. Teeming with various species of birds, fish and other animals, like the magnificent black caiman, Honey Pond is a highlight location when visiting Karanambu Lodge.

Karanambu encompasses approximately 110-square miles of savannah, marshy ponds, riparian forest, and a 30-mile stretch of the Rupununi River. The Lodge provides guests with the opportunity to experience the wildlife of Karanambu.

Settled in 1927 by Tiny McTurk, Karanambu was once a working cattle ranch and Balata collection station. It is now an eco-tourist destination known as The Karanambu Lodge.

With a bird list of over 600 species, Karanambu is a birdwatcher's paradise. The lodge also provides excellent viewing opportunities of giant river otters, giant black caiman and giant anteaters.

Karanambu is also the home of Diane McTurk, conservationist and world-renowned expert on giant otters.

Diane's legendary hospitality is extended to every guest, even when Diane is not at home.

The Karanambu Trust was set up in 1997 to fulfil Diane's vision of establishing Karanambu as a protected area.

Karanambu is a nature lover’s paradise. It is where you will experience untouched natural beauty in this remote corner of South America.

An evening ritual of watching the giant water lily, Victoria amazonica, open at Honey Pond is a memorable experience.

The lodge provides this unforgettable experience, along with other trips to view the wildlife at the pond.

Not only will you enjoy an exciting trip to the pond, but you will get to see Diane work with her beloved otters – a mesmerising experience.

Honey Pond

A breathtaking shot of the pond (Photo by inyathi on Flickr) Relax at the rustic, award-wining Karanambu Lodge

Dramatic emergence of a black caiman in the pond (Photo by inyathi on Flickr)

Diane McTurk with her beloved otters at Karanambu Lodge

feature

43

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

“B

eautiful China”, a photographic exhibition displaying the “Chinese Dream” through 35 photos of “ordinary people” and everyday moments, gave viewers an understanding of China, its people and culture.

The exhibition was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the China Photographers Association. It was composed by the China Photographers Association to display the “Chinese Dream” - achievements, advancements and hopes through the medium of photography.

In a brief remark at the opening ceremony, Ambassador Zhang Limin noted that the exhibition is a collection of photographs displaying ordinary people performing routine tasks and their struggles.

He said: “It seeks to demonstrate a harmonious existence and impart a greater understanding of China.”

The 35 photographs, taken by various

Chinese photographers from the China Photographers Association, showcase the positive achievements made by multiple sectors in contemporary China, including its economy, politics, society, culture and ecology.

Explaining the aim of the exhibition, the Chinese embassy in Guyana website, http://gy.china-embassy.org/, stated that “the Chinese people are striving for the dream of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This exhibition reflects the concept of harmonious coexistence of human and nature and Chinese people’s pursuit for happy life”.

“Beautiful China” was launched on 29 December 2014 at the Guyana National Museum and was opened to the public until 3 January 2015.

For those who did not get a chance to view the captivating exhibition, here are some of the photographs that were on display. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Through the middle Kingdom by Chen Yike

Harmony in the Season of Blossoms by Qiu Jun

Bringing art to the countryside by Feng Yukun

Never too old to learn by Zhao Yingshuo

The Grand Canal of China by Hou Heliang

44

news

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Taiwan restructures Grenada's debt at 50 percent reduction

S

T GEORGE'S, Grenada: The government of Grenada has concluded a comprehensive agreement to restructure its US$36.6 million (EC$98.8 million) indebtedness to the Export-Import (ExIm) Bank of Taiwan.

This landmark agreement, which reduces the principal outstanding on the loan by 50 percent, resolves Grenada’s dispute with ExIm Bank

and puts an end to the bank’s legal proceedings in the New York courts.

Under the terms of the agreement, the reduced balance on the loan will be repayable over 15 years – including a grace period of three and a half years – at an interest rate of 7 percent.

The agreement also includes a ‘hurricane clause’, which will allow Grenada to defer payments for a predeter-

Grenada’s PM and minister of finance, Dr Keith Mitchell

mined period should a natural disaster compromise the government’s ability to service debt in a timely manner in the future.

Commenting on the development, Grenada’s prime minister and minister of finance, Dr Keith Mitchell, said, “We are very pleased that with this new agreement we have now been able to work out much more manageable terms to honour our debts with

ExIm Bank."

The dispute with Taiwan arose over outstanding and unpaid loans made to the previous Mitchell administration by the ExIm Bank, which filed a law suit in the United States and obtained a default judgment against the government of Grenada.

The Taiwanese judgment creditor then claimed that all monies owing to the government of Grenada and its

agencies should be paid against the judgment debt. Consequently, a demand was made to airlines operating on the Grenada route to pay monies owed to the Grenada Airports Authority to the Taiwanese.

Grenada’s then prime minister, Tillman Thomas, said in 2012 that the dispute between Grenada and Taiwan should never have reached the courts.

news

45

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

T&T Govt must account for Christmas gift to churches Rum Jhaat photo gon appear soon

D

e new year only just start and it look like people gone back to de same old habits arready. De old done tek over de new. One man seh he gon stop drinking fuh de new year, and that he gon stop at 12 midnight on Old Year’s Night.

Well, de year start wid he drunk and since then he ain’t sober yet. And it ain’t de Nagga Man, although he also ain’t sober up yet, just that he ain’t (and would never) mek any resolution like that.

Who ain’t fightin and killin one another, drinkin and drivin and then killin one another. One man fight in Mahdia over a woman and now he gone under de Earth and leff de other man to be both under and over de woman.

De Pullice at least puttin de photo in de papers of dem who tink dem can drink all dem want and drive wid all de speed dem want and kill whoever dem want. Hope when de Pullice also get ketch wid rum in dem mouth, dem photo gon also appear.

On Old Year’s Night a Pullice officer stop a vehicle on de road by Cuffy Square and give de driver a breathalyser test. When de driver ask de Pullice to do de same test, de Pullice seh we could both put every ting to de test down de road by a sign board or up de road by Brickdam.

After de driver seh he prefer down de road by de sign board, de Pullice officer wuk done fuh de night, and de driver ain’t reach home till next morning empty pocket. And both of dem pass ‘on’ de test.

It musbe a miracle how Rum Jhaat ain’t get ketch fuh de whole of 2014, when fuh de whole year he been drinking a whole set of rum and then droppin home a whole set of people before goin home to mek a whole set of trouble.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Just look out fuh Rum Jhaat photo this year.

- Transparency Watchdog Group

T

he Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute (TTTI) on Tuesday called on Government to explain the process by which TT$55 million was given as a gift to Christian Churches during the Christmas of 2014. The TTI said the Government should disclose the list of beneficiaries, and amounts received. The following is the statement of the TTTI – Having noted from reports in the media that Cabinet has approved the allocation of $55M as a gift to Christian

TT's PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar

churches in Trinidad and Tobago in celebration of Christmas 2014, in an effort to ensure transparency and integrity in the country’s financial affairs Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute (Transparency) has requested Government to

clarify the following issues and make the responses public without delay: • What are the criteria for determining how each church is selected and on what basis is the quantum being allocated for each church?

• Is there a system for recording the amounts that have been disbursed and the beneficiaries of these sums?

• Is there a documented, public process whereby the churches can access the funds?

• Are there restrictions with regard to the use of the funds?

Transparency has recommended that the answers to these questions be placed in the public domain and also that a full list of the beneficiaries and the amounts received by them be published.

(Trinidad Express)

Venezuelans not ‘lovin’ it’ as McDonald’s fries go scarce

C

A R A C A S : Venezuelan fastfood lovers are mourning the disappearance of McDonald’s golden staple: the french fry.

A recent shortage at the U.S. fast food chain comes as socialist Venezuela grapples with shortfalls of basic goods ranging from medicines to flour due to strict currency controls that stymie imports.

McDonald’s restaurants are coping by replacing the spuds with salad or local fare such as fried yuca or “arepa” corn pancakes – but Golden Arches fans are none too happy about the new meal.

“Hamburgers don’t go with arepas and this salad I accepted doesn’t taste of anything,” moaned student Indira Silva, 27, at a fast-food

outlet in affluent eastern Caracas.

“I’m not coming back until the fries do.”

Two cashiers at separate restaurants said fries had been missing for two weeks and that business had dropped as a result. One said french fry imports had ground to a halt for lack of hard currency.

Arcos Dorados S.A., McDonald’s Corp’s

key operator in Latin America, did not reply to queries about whether Venezuela’s Byzantine three-tiered exchange rate system was to blame.

“There is currently a temporary issue with distribution, which we are trying to resolve,” said Sonia Ruseler, senior director for corporate communications at Arcos Dorados.

46

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WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jacklow Masjid celebrates 102 years of existence date.

Muslim brothers attended mosque by travelling in boats.

Khan said in the early years the Imam for Friday Prayers was brought from the Essequibo to Jacklow by paddle boat - a return distance of 11 miles from Charity.

The Imams who served the masjid included Ali Namaz, Ishmeal Khan, Azee Mullah, Karmaso and Mohamed Shaffee. By

By Indrawattie Natram

J

acklow Pomeroon Mosque, located in the community of Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon, an 11-mile speed boat ride from the Essequibo Coast, was originally built by Mohamed Sarafraz in 1912 measuring 12ft by 15ft with manicole walls.

According to Ishmeal Khan, a member of the masjid, Sarafraz and his wife, Gafooran Mohamed, came to Guyana from India as indentured Indians.

Sarafraz Mohamed came from the province of Punjab, while Gafooran came from Uttar Pradesh.

They arrived in Berbice, Guyana, in 1885 and were bound for

1935, the Imams were Abdul Hamid Ustadin and Sekandar.

However, as English translation of Urdu and Arabic prevailed by 1945 onwards, the existing Madarsa (school), built in 1946, promoted a number of persons who could have led all the prayers. Sarafraz’s son, Mohamed Basir, was the official Imam and financial custodian of the masjid until his death in 1983. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Entrance to the mosque

Hampton Court sugar plantation. After serving six years of semi-slave labour, they were released and found tempo-

rary shelter at an abandoned estate at PLN Better Success in 1892.

The road link from Darthmouth to Charity

The 102-year-old masjid (Photo by Marco Basir)

in 1908 allowed easy access to the Pomeroon River. Sarafraz and 15 “Jahajees”, in 1911, occupied several tenacre lands between Martindale and Siriki in the Pomeroon River.

After bringing their own beliefs from India, they saw the need for a place of worship in their community.

Mohamed along with the community pooled their resources and built a place of worship at Jacklow Pomeroon.

The mosque was rebuilt in 1924, and later in 1959 as its present structure. This masjid served an area stretch of 30 miles; where several Muslim families reside.

All the Muslim calendar dates were observed, inclusive of Ramzan Shareef, the two Eids and the prophet’s birth

No more secrets

D

e more some people live is de more some of dem does get stupiddy. Some times it does be de other way around – dem stupiddy from de time dem born, but de more dem live is de more people gettin to find out de secret bout who stupiddy bad and how bad dem stupiddy.

Is no wonder some body coulda sing a song bout people like dem: “A stupiddy yuh stupiddy, a pagalee yuh pagalee”. That song is a true story that come from a lotta people real life story, not just Rum Jhaat, Lalloo and wish-he-was Rambo. If that song ever mek a movie, dem three gon sure be star boys.

Rum Jhaat fuh one is a man who like do tings in secret, but pagalee-ness is a hard ting to hide. After all, not every ting does remain a secret – like how he fall down Old Year’s Night and couldn’ta get up till de day after New Year’s…in de afternoon.

Even before he get kick outta de Pee-P-P, he used to run to de US Embassy in secret. Then he do secret wuk fuh de Feathers people in secret. Not even de Feathers people realise how much secret money he collect from dem.

That is why he was keeping secret fuh people like No Gel Hughly. Now Rum Jhaat wanna hold talks wid Green Jah in secret. All de time Rum Jhaat been keepin every ting a secret bout de coalition.

But whah he couldn’t keep a secret is how dem people in Berbice cuss he up and chase he out when he was tryin to get dem to cuss out de Pee-P-P. One man seh that is when he realise that Rum Jhaat can run faster away from a 22 than whah he can run fuh a bottle or wid a bottle down de road.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! He always thought Rum Jhaat was always de fastest whenever a bottle deh in de mix. But Rum Jhaat still de fastest wid de drinkin part. And that is no secret!

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Kissing Bridge, Botanical Gardens 1900s (Photo by J Siza)

news

47

WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

UK authorities tightening visa rules D

espite a series of interventions by local authorities, Jamaicans, including students, applying for visas to enter the United Kingdom are likely to be barred by a Home Office visa clampdown in the United Kingdom.

“They (the UK) have been making changes to their immigration rules,” said Jamaica’s high commissioner to London, Aloun Assamba.

“We have been meeting with the UK authorities on this matter.”

Home Secretary Theresa May said changes to the immigration rules would arrest visa abuse.

Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said the UK government was building an immigration system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate migrants but tough on those who abuse the system and flout the law.

Even as a debate on the changes rages on the election platform, the

Home Office has reduced the number of schools and colleges for which it will be offering student visas.

Brokenshire said the entrepreneur route is intended to allow migrants to set up businesses in the UK in order to create jobs and growth, but it has been plagued by scams from individuals and organised criminal groups.

ELECTION ISSUE

Assamba told The Gleaner on Tuesday that the changes are not confined to Jamaica and it is not only students who are being targeted.

She said the changes emanated from what she characterised as serious political concerns about immigration in the UK. “It has become an election issue,” she said.

“We have been monitoring it and sharing the information as we obtain it.”

Assamba told The Gleaner that her office also monitors the UK immigration website that sets out the new rules.

“This began when they discovered that some institutions were complicit in granting student visas that were suspect,” she said.

Added Assamba: “So now, they have reduced

DISHONEST APPLICANTS

UK Home Secretary Theresa May

the number of schools and colleges that they will offer student visas for.”

Assamba said her office has been making interventions.

“Hence the meetings we have been having with UK Border Control,” she said. “We work very closely with them through our consular section … . I have been … to several of these meetings.”

She said her office also has a close working relationship

with the British High Commission in Jamaica, which is very responsive.

“However, applicants have to bring themselves within the rules as stated on the website,” said Assamba.

Brokenshire also alluded to visa scams associated with students.

His office last year produced documents on the reasons for the restrictions on the entrepreneur visa route that allows students to remain in the UK after studies.

He said evidence from tax records shows that people on expiring student visas are transferring to entrepreneur status under the pretence of setting up a business when they are actually working in lowskilled jobs.

Visa statistics reportedly suggest that individuals and organised criminals began to target the entrepreneur option once the post-study work visa, which allowed students to stay on after their studies, was axed in 2012.

“We will take firm action to protect our immigration system,” said Brokenshire. “And we will not hesitate to take

firm action to protect our immigration system further, particularly when there is evidence of criminals targeting what they think are weaknesses in the rules.”

With the new clampdown, people on expiring student visas will only be able to switch using funds from a government-approved source, and post-study workers will need more evidence of their business activities.

Among other things, the new immigration rule stipulates that persons who have not yet started businesses and who do not have evidence of a genuine business will not be able to switch from the old poststudy route to an entrepreneur visa.

“Our reforms have cut net non-EU migration to levels not seen since the 1990s and slashed overall net migration by a third since its peak under the last government,” said Brokenshire.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

Jamaica-Canada employment programme pumps millions into local economy

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier (left), with newly appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Collette Roberts-Risden, prior to the start of a send-off ceremony for the first batch of workers for 2015 under the Ministry’s Overseas Employment Programme on Monday. (JIS Photo)

By Alecia Smith-Edwards

K

I N G S T O N , Jamaica (JIS) -Remittance inflows from the JamaicaCanada employment programme contributed Cdn$15.5 million (approximately JA$1.7 billion) to the Jamaican economy during 2014.

This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier, who noted that the programme, which is a vital source of foreign exchange remittances, “continues to be a beacon of hope and opportunity for thousands of Jamaicans.”

The minister was speaking at a send-off

ceremony for the first batch of farm workers for 2015 under the ministry’s overseas employment programme in Kingston on Monday.

Kellier further noted that, during 2014, approximately 7,952 Jamaicans benefitted from employment opportunities in Canada.

“The farm work component accounted for 90 percent (7,156) of this number, while the others travelled under the low skill and skilled worker programmes,” he said.

A total of 340 workers, selected under the Canadian seasonal agricultural workers programme, were due to depart the island on

Monday to take up employment opportunities on various farms in Ontario, Canada.

This batch of all males, most of whom will do eight-month stints, will be employed in greenhouse crop production, food processing, tobacco plants as well as nurseries which are involved in the cultivation of various vegetables. They will also be engaged in packaging tobacco and fruits for shipment.

The minister noted that 20 percent of the workers are new employees, while the remaining 80 percent are ‘returnees’ or requested workers, noting that “this is a testament to the hard and dedicated work provided by Jamaican workers abroad.”

He implored the new cohort to continue being professional while on the job, so that the programme can be expanded to provide opportunities for more unemployed Jamaicans.

“I am urging you too, to observe regulations as much as possible for your safety and health.

I advise you all not to breach rules (such as absence without leave), which will disqualify you and other Jamaicans in the future,” he said.

The minister reminded the workers that the Overseas Employment Family Services Unit will continue to focus on

the welfare of their families through a range of social interventions, in-

cluding household visits, referrals for assistance, care for the sick and in-

jured, care of children and self-empowerment programmes.

48

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WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ludacris marries fiancee Actor Stephen Fry Eudoxie Mbouguiengue to marry 27-year-old partner Elliot Spenser R

B

ritish actor Stephen Fry, who was most recently seen in ‘Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies’, is set to marry his 27-year-old partner Elliot Spencer.

The comedian let the cat out of the bag via Twitter.

Spencer is a comedian and writer. The duo have made a formal application to marry at a register office in Fry’s home county of Norfolk and now have a year to tie the knot. The legislation al-

lowing same-sex marriages in England came into force in March 2014. Gay couples who were already in civil partnerships could convert this to a marriage

from December 10.

Elton John and David Furnish were one of the first couples to marry following the legislation.

(Indian Express)

apper Ludacris has tied the knot with fiancee Eudoxie Mbouguiengue, two weeks after their engagement.

Ludacris, whose real name is Christopher Bridges, announced on Instagram that the couple got married over the holidays, reported People magazine.

“Why wait?

Did the thing before 2015. mrandmrsbridges,” the rapper captioned a sweet photo of him and his new wife.

Snuggled up to her husband, 37, on a white couch, the bride kept her look simple for her big day.

Wearing a floor-length

white dress and clutching a small bouquet of white and lavender flowers tied with white and purple ribbon, Mbouguiengue looked serene in a series of snaps she shared on her own Instagram account.

“Great way to go into the new year!” she captioned her collage.

“We can confirm they

got married privately over the holidays,” Ludacris’s representative said.

On December 26, Ludacris shared with fans photos of his milehigh proposal. “She didn’t say yes. She said Hell yes! milehighproposal,” he wrote, sharing pictures of a giddy Mbouguiengue.

(Indian Express)

The 22-year-old Grammy-winner might appear on Rihanna’s upcoming eighth studio album, which is tentatively titled ‘R8′, report-

ed Aceshowbiz.

“I’m personally really excited for Rihanna’s album. I know some stuff about that record that no one knows,” he said.

Fans then began speculating that Smith might be singing a duet with Rihanna, writing a song for her or doing some behind-the-scenes works for her album.

‘R8′ is expected to finally be released later this year. (Indian Express)

Former ‘Star Wars’ actor Khan Bonfils dies Sam Smith might work with Rihanna

A

ctor Khan Bonfils, known to ‘Star Wars’ fans for playing Jedi master Saesee Tiin in ‘The Phantom Menace’, has died suddenly during a play rehearsal. He was 43.

Khan (also known as Kan) collapsed on Monday while rehearsing with the Craft Theatre Company for a new production of Dante’s ‘Inferno’. Despite the best efforts of his fellow cast members, and the play’s director, as

well as paramedics, they were unable to save his life.

“Kan collapsed during a rehearsal and the director Rocky Rodriguez Jr, he performed CPR on location,” said Craft Theatre spokesman Chris Hislop. “An ambulance was called out but unfortunately he couldn’t be resuscitated.

The company later released a statement saying, “With great sadness, we announce the death of Kan Bonfils. His sudden loss is a tragedy and

he will be sorely missed.”

The cause of his death has not been confirmed, although Hislop described it as a ‘real tragedy’ adding that the members of the theatre company were ‘in shock’.

He added that they hoped to still go ahead with the production – which was due to open at the East London venue The Rag Factory on Thursday – with another actor in Khan’s place.

Besides appearing in ‘The Phantom Menace’, Khan featured in a string of blockbusters including ‘Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life’, ‘Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow’, ‘Batman Begins’ and more recently, ‘Skyfall’.

He also appeared in several West End productions including ‘The King and I’ and ‘Miss Saigon’. (Indian Express)

Cameron Diaz marries Benji Madden at her Beverly Hills home

H

ollywood actress Cameron Diaz has tied the knot with Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden. The pair said their vows at the ‘Annie’ star’s Beverly Hills pad in front of close friends and family reported Us magazine.

The wedding was attended by celebrity guests including Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samantha Ronson and Robin Antin.

Benji’s nephew, Joel Madden and Nicole Richie’s son, Sparrow served as the ring bearer.

Joining Diaz, 42, as her bridesmaids were her friends Richie, Drew Barrymore, her

‘S

tay With Me’ singer Sam Smith has hinted at a possible collaboration with R&B star Rihanna.

Shakira’s new album to feature collaboration with Iggy Azalea

P

op star Shakira‘s upcoming 11th music album will reportedly feature collaborations with rapper Iggy Azalea, Mexican rock band Mana and Spanish singer/songwriter Alejandro Sanz.

The yet-to-be-titled album is scheduled for spring release this year, reported Aceshowbiz.

The album will follow up Shakira’s self-titled set that came out last

year. So far, there’s still no official word about the album from the 37-yearold singer who is cur-

rently pregnant with her second child with soccer player beau Gerard Pique. (Indian Express)

Jodie Foster to be honoured at Athena Film Festival

T

sister Chimene and assistant Jesse Lutz.

The event was orchestrated by wedding planners Yifat Oren and Stefanie Cove and featured flowers from The Velvet Garden — all companies used by Diaz’s longtime friend and Charlie’s Angels costar Barrymore in her

June 2012 wedding to Will Kopelman.

Before saying “I do”, the couple celebrated with a rehearsal dinner catered by Lucques at the star’s Beverly Hills pad on January 4. The couple got engaged on December 19 after dating for seven months.

(Indian Express)

wo-time Oscarwinning actress Jodie Foster will receive the Laura Ziskin Lifetime Achievement Award at the fifth annual Athena Film Festival on February 7.

The award, bestowed by fest organiser Barnard College’s Athena Center for Leadership Studies and Women and Hollywood, is given in Ziskin’s name to a woman in the film industry whose leader-

ship demonstrates vision and courage and sets a standard for other women to emulate, reported

Deadline.

The 52-year-old ‘Accused’ actress becomes the third recipient of the honour, joining Sherry Lansing and Gale Anne Hurd.

The Athena fest, which runs February 5-8, will honor HBO Documentary Films President Sheila Nevins, writer-director-producer Gina Prince-Bythewood and producer Cathy Schulman.

(Indian Express)

bollywood

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WEEK ENDING January 11, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

R Balki’s scripts have always Excited to see Aishwarya surprised me: Amitabh Bachchan back on big screen: mitabh Bachchan

A

is teaming up with frequent collaborator R Balki in upcoming film ‘Shamitabh’ and the megastar says he is amazed how the director always comes up with unique scripts.

The 72-year-old actor has previously worked with Balki in films like ‘Cheeni Kum’ in which he played a 60-plus chef in love with a much younger woman and ‘Paa’, which saw him don the role of a child suffering from progeria.

“Whenever Balki comes to me with a script, my initial reaction is that he must be drunk – his scripts are so unique.

When he narrated me the story of ‘Shamitabh’ I was surprised. I had a similar feeling when he offered me ‘Cheeni Kum’ and ‘Paa’. He was very clear about what he wanted from me, including my looks,” Bachchan said during the film’s trailer launch here last night.

Abhishek Bachchan

A

In the film, Bachchan will be seen sporting a rugged, unkempt look.

“We got few makeup artistes from abroad and they worked with my own make up guy Deepak to create my look with beard.”

‘Shamitabh’ also stars south superstar Rajinikanth’s son-in-law Dhanush and will mark the debut of Akshara Haasan, who is the younger daughter of actor Kamal Haasan and Sarika.

“I think each one of

them had their own capacity and style and many times when you are working with the legacy of actors or you come from a family of actors the obvious comparisons start. Whether you look like your father, whether you are acting like your brother or you look like your sister. With Dhanush and Akshara I would say – they will create their own legacy,” he said.

‘Shamitabh’ will hit theatres on February 6.

(Indian Express)

The director’s next is a short film, which is a thriller.

Talking about the film, Radhika said in a statement: “It was an

exciting proposition. It was a great experience to work with Sujoy.”

The film was shot in Kolkata. Radhika flew in and out of the city to complete the movie’s shoot.

While Radhika plays the lead, the film also stars Tota Roy Choudhury and Soumitra Chatterjee.

Radhika has earlier featured in Anurag Kashyap’s ‘That Day After Everday’, a short film on eve-teasing.

(Indian Express)

Sujoy Ghosh’s upcoming thriller exciting for Radhika Apte

A

ctress Radhika Apte says she enjoyed working with ‘Kahaani’ fame director Sujoy Ghosh on his next project.

Sonam Kapoor is queen of fashion, says ‘Dolly Ki Doli’ designer Anupamaa Dayal

ctor Abhishek Bachchan is excited that his wife Aishwarya Rai is making her comeback on the silver screen with Sanjay Gupta’s ‘Jazbaa’.

Aishwarya was last seen on the big screen in the 2010 film ‘Guzaarish’.

In November 2011, she was blessed with Aaradhya, her daughter with Abhishek, and since then, Aishwarya has stayed away from facing the cameras.

Now her husband is upbeat about her career comeback.

“I’m very excited to see Aishwarya in ‘Jazbaa’. It should be

a lot of fun. It’s a great script. I love Sanjay Gupta as a director and I think they’ll make a fantastic team… it’s always wonderful to see her on screen,” Abhishek said

at an event in Mumbai Tuesday.

‘Jazbaa’ is an action thriller and it also stars Irrfan Khan and Shabana Azmi in key roles. (Indian Express)

Daisy Shah positive about 2015

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ctress Daisy Shah, who made her Bollywood debut with Salman Khanstarrer ‘Jai Ho’, is looking forward to a year full of learning for her.

“Year 2015 is good for me as I have got many projects,” Daisy told reporters here Monday during a fitness session at designer Rohit Verma’s store.

“Besides, I am going to work with many new people this year. I am looking forward to it as it would be a learning experience for me,” she added.

Although the actress didn’t divulge any details about her film projects, she said she would be working with some “great” talent. (Indian Express)

Richard Gere meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi

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ollywood actor Richard Gere met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (January 5).

The agenda of the meeting is not known.

This is Modi’s second meeting with any Hollywood celeb, earli-

er the PM had met with Australian actor Hugh Jackman during his visit to the US last September.

The Prime Minister’s Office shared a picture of Modi with Gere.

Mr. Richard Gere met Prime Minister @narendramodi. pic.twitter.com/

SwXUHBGGbr — PMO India (@ PMOIndia) January 5, 2015 Richard Gere is the chairman of Gere Foundation and Global Envoy of International Buddhist Confederation.

The actor is a supporter of the Dalai Lama.

The Pretty Woman actor had shot for ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2′ last year in Rajasthan and had also shown keen interest in Bollywood songs. (Indian Express)

Listen to ‘Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan’ song from Jacqueline, Ranbir’s ‘Roy’

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onam Kapoor is a "fashion queen", says fashion designer Anupamaa Dayal, who has contributed to one of Sonam's looks in 'Dolly Ki Doli'.

Fashion designer Anupamaa Dayal, known for her kitschy creations, has contrib-

uted to one of Sonam Kapoor’s looks in the film ‘Dolly Ki Doli’.

She says the Bollywood actress is a “fashion queen”.

For one scene, Sonam Kapoor has donned a heavily embroidered short kurta, designed by Dayal.

Describing the ensemble, the designer told IANS: “The name of this dress is Razia.

It is very royal and the embroidery classic, and fit for a queen. And this is just why I feel Sonam pulls it off so well. She is a queen of fashion.”

(Indian Express)

he audio song of Roy’s latest track, ‘Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan’ has been officially released.

Sung by ‘Baby Doll’ singer, Kanika Kapoor and Meet Brothers Anjjan, the song is peppy and is sure to get you grooving. Penned

by Kumaar, ‘Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan’ has been composed by Meet Brothers Anjjan as well.

The video of the song is yet to be released, but buzz is that Jacqueline

Fernandez will be seen showing off her sexy dance moves. The song, which has peppy beats and punjabi lyrics, is surely going to top the charts soon.

The film is a love triangle between the three lead actors – Arjun

Rampal, Jacqueline Fernandez and Ranbir Kapoor.

Jacqueline will be playing a dual role – one that of a sophisticated art enthusiast named Tia and the other, a movie director Ayesha, who will be styled in a very easy-breezy fashion.

Jacqueline will also sport a tattoo on her neck and wrist.

Directed by Vikramjit Singh, ‘Roy’ will be released on 13th February, 2015. (Indian Express)

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Windies concede Test series with eight-wicket loss

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APE TOWN, South Africa: West Indies predictably slumped to their seventh straight series loss to South Africa when they went down by eight wickets on the final morning of the third Test at Newlands here on Tuesday.

Needing a miracle to prevent South Africa from reaching a paltry victory target of 124, West Indies never found such grace and the hosts strolled to a comfortable win ten minutes before lunch, to complete their fourth consecutive series win over their opponents on home soil.

The Proteas have now won 12 of the last 15 Tests against West Indies at home.

Opener Dean Elgar guided the Proteas home in the face of a disciplined West Indies bowling effort, top-scoring with an unbeaten 60 while captain Hashim Amla finished on 38 not out.

The pair put on 73 in an unbroken third-wicket stand.

Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn took both wickets to fall in the in-

SA captain Hashim Amla receives the Sir Vivian Richards trophy from Haroon Lorgat during day 5 of the 3rd Test between South Africa and West Indies at Sahara Park Newlands, on Tuesday.

nings to finish with two for 24 from 17 overs.

Resuming the day on nine for one, South Africa lost Faf du Plessis for 14 on the stroke of the first hour, caught at short backward point by Jermaine Blackwood.

However, Elgar and Amla ensured there were no further hiccups, with a solid stand that took any potential surprises out of the game.

Elgar faced 103 balls in just under 2-1/2 hours at the crease and struck seven fours and a six

while Amla, predictably voted Man-of-the-Series, struck six fours off 49 balls.

Amla finished the series with 342 runs at an average of 114.

West Indies started the day strongly, keeping South Africa scoreless for seven straight overs as Benn and seamer Jerome Taylor hit their lengths early on.

Elgar, who, unbeaten on five overnight, pulled Taylor for four in front of square to break the shackles but South

Africa were content to be cautious as the Windies bowling remained accurate.

Fast bowler Jason Holder twice cut du Plessis in half with deliveries that jagged back off the seam, took the inside edge and went for fours but the tourists failed

to find an early breakthrough.

Once again, Elgar lifted the pressure by clearing long on with Benn in the bowler’s ninth over before hammering Holder to the mid-wicket boundary a few overs later.

Benn was eventually rewarded for his persistence when he got one to jump for a length and take the shoulder of du Plessis’s bat, for Blackwood to run around from second slip and claim the catch at 51 for two.

However, that was to be the Windies’ last success. Elgar reached his half-century by gloving a pull over wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin’s head for four as South Africa moved to 86 for two and with all hope diminished for West Indies, Amla then upped the scoring to add further misery.

In fact, 24 runs came from the last 16 balls

of the game, and it was Amla who fittingly took South Africa over the line, hammering offspinner Marlon Samuels through point for four.

WEST INDIES 1st innings SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 421 WEST INDIES 2nd innings 215 SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings (Target: 124) (o/n nine for one) D. Elgar not out 60 A. Petersen b Benn 0 F. du Plessis c Blackwood b Benn 14 H. Amla not out 38 Extras: (b-8, lb-2, nb2) 12 Total: (2 wkts, 37.4 overs) 124 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-51.

Bowling: Taylor 7-320-0, Samuels 3.4-0-240, Benn 17-8-24-2, Holder 5-0-19-0, Gabriel 5-1-270.

Series: South Africa won three-Test series 2-0.

Tobago to host top football legends in June

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Louis Saha (L) with Dwight Yorke in Tobago, October 2014

CARBOROUGH, Tobago: Trinidad and Tobago is gearing up to play host to 64 of the most skilful, tenacious, cultured, and famous footballers ever to grace the English Premier League for a major new tournament scheduled next summer.

A vast array of talent has already been signed up, led by Tobago’s own legend and former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke. This includes former Chelsea teammates and top club managers Roberto Di Matteo and Gus Poyet. Former England winger Darren Anderton, will be joined by England team mate Ugo Ehiogu, former France and Manchester United star Louis Saha, Dutch international Pierre Van Hooijdonk and former Portugal and Arsenal star Luis Boa Morte.

The British Airways Tobago Football Legends Challenge is set to kick off June 15 - 22, 2015. It will see teams representing top UK clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa Liverpool and Manchester United face off against each other alongside the PFA and Caribbean All Stars select teams. Top TV broadcaster Sky Sports will also air a 90-minute documentary on the event.

“Already things are coming together for an exceptional event,” said Tracy Davidson-Celestine, secretary for tourism and transportation. “Big names are supporting this world class sports event that forms part of our strategy to raise the destination’s profile in key markets and position Tobago as a healthy, active and beautiful jewel among Caribbean islands.”

To ensure a lasting legacy from the tournament, the football legends have agreed to participate in a major community outreach programme, which will see them travelling the length and breadth of the island. Schools, clubs and academies will benefit from clinics, courses, kit and equipment donations.

And the best young players in Tobago will also get a chance to try out in front of their hero’s as the search for the next Tobago football star continues.

“This event has been on my calendar for some time said Roberto Di Matteo, the former Chelsea star who led the club to the Champions League as manager in 2012. “The people of Trinidad and Tobago better get ready to witness some seriously competitive sport amid that beautiful island scenery.”

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Barbados welcomes back racing Guyanese trio in yachts from around the world Windies U-19 squad for

Super50 tourney

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RIDGETOWN, Barbados: This January, Barbados celebrates the 79th anniversary of The Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, welcoming back spectacular boats, crews and families to the island for a weeklong festival of sailing and on shore activities. Joined by top yachts, including current record holder Monster Project Volvo 70, Elena of London, Silver Bullet and TP52 Conviction, the famed race series will mark the first international regatta of the Caribbean sailing season.

Held on-island January 16-24, 2015, The Mount Gay Barbados Race Series will boast three days of costal course racing, the signature Round Barbados Race and the 300-mile Ocean Passage Race to Antigua. Both historic and emerging, the race around Barbados dates back to the 19th century and is based upon bragging rights for the fastest ‘Trading Schooner'. The race has grown over the years into a world-class regatta attracting top competitors from around the globe to the destination known for its crystal

blue waters and pristine sailing conditions.

Numerous prizes will be awarded for each class throughout the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race, The Coastal Racing Series and The Ocean Passage Race to Antigua. Record breaking yachts will be awarded the Mount Gay Rum Extra Old equivalent to the weight of the record breaking registered skipper. This coveted award dates back to the very first Mount Gay Round Barbados Race and is a tradition schooners to this day hold in high regard.

Sri Lanka gamble on Malinga for World Cup

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OLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka have included pace spearhead Lasith Malinga in their 15-man squad for the Cricket World Cup despite concerns over his fitness after ankle surgery, the country’s cricket board said yesterday. The mercurial Malinga had left ankle surgery in September and missed the team’s one-day series against India and England.

Malinga is expected to return in the later stages of the sevenmatch ODI series against New Zealand, which starts in Christchurch on Sunday, and was included in the World Cup squad, subject to fitness, the Sri Lanka board said in a statement.

The 31-year-old Malinga, whose yorkers, delivered with a slingshot action at times making him almost unplayable, will be crucial for Sri Lanka’s chances in the 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Fast bowler Shaminda Eranga was the only name missing from the 16-member squad that will play in the ODI series in New Zealand as a warmup for the February 14-March 29 World Cup. The 2011 World Cup runners-up, who lost to India in the final, also included off-spinner

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Tagenarine Chanderpaul

eports reaching Guyana Times International Sport on Tuesday indicated that First-class openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Shimron Hetmyer, along with the talented allrounder Kemo Paul will form part of the West Indies Under-19 squad for the 2015 NAGICO Super50 Tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.

The three Guyanese will join eleven other youngsters from around the region for the tournament, which bowls off on January 15.

The inclusion of the Under-19 team is part of their long-term build-up for the next International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup in 2016.

The Combined Campuses & Colleges

will also compete as part of the eight-team tournament.

The Under-19s have been drawn in Group B next to the Jamaica Franchise, Leeward

the composite university side has been drawn in Group A along with reigning champions Barbados Pride, Guyana Jaguars and Windward Islands Volcanoes.

The preliminary competition will be played in a non-elimination format with each side playing the others in their group once.

Two matches will be contested each day at either the Queen’s Park Oval, the T&T Cricket Board’s National Cricket Centre (NCC) in the central Trinidadian community of Couva or Shaw Park in Scarborough, the capital of Tobago.

The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals at the Oval, where the group winners play the runners-up from the opposite group in a one-off match for a place in the

Shimron Hetmeyer

Islands Hurricanes and hosts Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, while

Grand Final on Sunday, January 25 at the same venue.

GFF to introduce new Technical Director Saturday

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Lasith Malinga

Sachithra Senanayake, who was recently cleared to bowl after remedial work on his action.

The team will be led by all-rounder Angelo Mathews with lefthanded batsman Lahiru Thirimanne as his deputy.

The island nation will play two warm-up games, against South Africa and Zimbabwe, before their opening match of the tournament against cohosts New Zealand on

February 14.

Squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne (vicecaptain), Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga (subject to fitness), Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake.

he new Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will be introduced to the public this weekend at a specially convened press conference at football house in Dadanawa Street, Section ‘K’, Campbellville.

The recently installed Normalisation Committee headed by businessman Clinton Urling announced on Wednesday that the GFF will on Saturday make known to the public the person who will take up the crucial post of Technical Director for Guyana’s football.

The Technical Director position became vacant with the exit of overseasbased Guyanese Mark

Rodrigues, who was part of the Christopher Matthias-led administration, which was disbanded by FIFA late last year, thus making way for the setting up of the Normalisation Committee to run the affairs of local football in the interim.

Rodrigues had taken over from Trinidad and Tobago’s Jamaal Shabazz, who had served under Colin Klass and Franklin Wilson, during their tenures at the helm.

Shabazz is considered Guyana’s most successful Technical Director, having led the country to the historic third round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Meanwhile, during 2015, Guyana

will participate in the CONCACAF Olympic Under-23 Qualifiers and the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, and as such, filling the Technical Director’s post is one of paramount importance since it will be responsible for the composition of teams and the identifying and gathering of players suitable to represent the country.

While no names have been made public, it is understood that all the applicants are highly qualified, and according to Urling, FIFA has been clear that the GFF must employ the services of a resident Technical Director. The press conference will take place at 11:00 hours on Saturday in the conference room of the GFF.

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Crandon, Barnwell and Jacobs shine in first practice match

Forde, D’Andrade, Morgan dominate Suriname distance events

… Jaguars win by 106 runs

Well played Barney! Umpire Zaheer Mohammed and non-striker Raymon Reifer look on quizzically as Guyana Jaguars skipper Christopher Barnwell gets ready to play this delivery from fast bowler Paul Wintz, during his team’s innings on Wednesday (Photo by Adrian Narine)

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iddle-order batsmen Royston Crandon and skipper Christopher Barnwell struck halfcenturies, while Steven Jacobs stroked an unbeaten 44 as the Guyana Jaguars came away with a 106-run victory over Singh’s XI in their first practice match at the Everest Cricket Club ground on Wednesday.

Batting first in hazy conditions in the game that is being used as part of the team’s preparation for this year’s West Indies Cricket Board/Professional Cricket League/NAGICO Super50 tournament, the Jaguars posted 281 for 7 off their 50 overs.

Crandon led the batting with 75 (6×4, 2×6) and Barnwell made 54 (4×4), paving the way for the dreadlocked Jacobs to blast four sixes and one four in his unbeaten innings that was scored off 24 deliveries in the depth of the Jaguars’ batting.

Paul Wintz took 3 for 59 for Singh’s XI, who in reply saw Kevon Boodie strike seven fours and one six in his top score of 44 and even though Singh contributed 29 Kandasammy Surujnarine 22 and Jason Sinclair 20, Singh’s XI fell way short of their target, as they were dismissed for 175 in 43.1 overs.

This was after they were 66 without loss in the 12th over, with Barnwell and Crandon engineering the col-

lapse with three wickets each, including that of Narsingh Deonarine who failed to score, while Devendra Bishoo took 2 for 41.

When the Jaguars batted, openers Trevon Griffith (14) and Rajendra Chandrika (19) posted 33 for the first wicket before they were both dismissed – Griffith courtesy of a splendid catch by Anthony Adams at midwicket off Keon Joseph, while Raun Johnson knocked back Chandrika’s off-stump at 33 for 2.

Barnwell and Raymon Reifer (6) pushed the score to 62 before Reifer was caught

by Chandrapaul Hemraj at extra cover off Wintz, enabling Barnwell and Crandon to add 43 for the fourth wicket, during which time Barnwell posted his half-century before he was run-out going for a second run at 105 for 4.

Jonathan Foo, who hit Joseph for four through vacant square leg, before easing the former West Indies Under-19 fast bowler back over his head for 6, added 104 from 15.5 overs for the fifth wicket with Crandon. Sinclair then held Foo’s offer at the wicket off Amir Khan (1 for 70).

When Crandon was dismissed at 235 for 7 in the 47th over, Singh’s XI must have been looking at a target of 250-odd, but Jacobs displayed a no-nonsense mood by hitting Deonarine over mid-

wicket and followed it up three sixes and one four in the final over bowled

by Khan, to push his team to their final total.

With the Atlantic Ocean breeze blowing across the venue, Boodie and Surujnarine give Singh’s XI a positive start, with the former hitting Reifer for backto-back fours in his third over, followed by two more fours off Ronsford Beaton.

Boodie raced to 44 off the 66 runs posted for the first wicket before he saw the demise of Surujnarine, who was lbw to Jacobs for 22 and from that score, Singh’s XI slipped to 77 for 4, losing Boodie, Hemraj (7) and Deonarine (0).

Barnwell removed Hemraj and Deonarine off successive deliveries.

Singh and Ricardo Adams steadied things for their side, with Ricardo Adams hitting Jacobs for two fours including a reverse sweep after surviving confident lbw shouts from the said bowler, before Veerasammy Permaul removed him at 112 for 5.

Robin Bacchus (4) went at 119 for 6 in the 32nd over and even though Singh and Sinclair tried their best to get their team past the 200-run mark, their efforts were undermined

by Bishoo and Crandon who worked in tandem to dismiss the opposition.

The two sides will meet in the second and final practice match, a day/night affair, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence from 14:00hrs tomorrow, before the Guyana Jaguars depart for Trinidad and Tobago on January 13.

There they will contest this year’s tournament from January 15 to 25. Eight teams will do battle for supremacy out of two groups, with the Guyana Jaguars being placed in Group ‘A’ and will face off with defending champions Barbados Pride, Windward Islands Volcanoes and Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC).

The Guyana Jaguars will take on all three teams on various dates in the preliminary round, with their first encounter being against the Volcanoes at the picturesque Queen’s Park Oval on opening day of the tournament.

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Cleveland Forde crosses the finish line way ahead of the rest

ome of Guyana’s top distance athletes dominated the Bigi Broki Waka Suriname distance events on Sunday morning over the Wijdenbosch Bridge.

Distance king Cleveland Forde won the 10k race in 34 minutes ahead of fellow Guyanese Cleveland Thomas in windy conditions.

In the 5k version of the event, Lionel

D’Andrade won the race in 17mins 07s while Aloeboetoe Gilberto was second in 17:24. Vorswijk Rochini was third in the event with a time of 17:39.

D’Andrade was happy with his performance, “It was a good race, just a little difficult with the bridge, because it’s very high,” he noted.

D’Andrade will be competing in mid January at an event in

Trinidad and Tobago where he is based.

Meanwhile, local distance star Alika Morgan won the female version of the 10k event in 41:45 to top her countrymate Andrea Foster.

Morgan, who was also pleased with her performance, highlighted that while she had a good start to the season, she simply wanted to finish the year 2015 “injury free”. (Treiston Joseph)

Binny, Patel make India’s World Cup squad

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Stuart Binny

ndia have included all-rounders Stuart Binny and Akshar Patel in a 15-man squad to defend their World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand starting next month.

Binny, who bowls medium pace, has played six one-day internationals for India while left-arm spinner Patel has represented the country in the 50-over format nine times.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who returned to India midway the Test series in Australia with a shoulder injury was also included in the squad named yesterday.

“Jadeja is at present going under a rehabilitation programme. He is doing wonderfully well,” Indian cricket board (BCCI) secretary Sanjay Patel told reporters.

“We had a detailed discussion today with the BCCI physio and we are quite hopeful he will be match-fit within the next ten days.”

The team will be led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who recently retired from Tests, while Virat Kohli, who replaced Dhoni in the longer format, was appointed vice-captain.

Fast bowlers Mohit Sharma and Dhawal Kulkarni will be added to the same squad in Australia for the Triseries, also involving England, as a warm-up for the World Cup. Paceman Ishant Sharma was rested for the ongoing fourth and final Test against Australia in Sydney with a knee problem but is expected to be fit soon.

“Ishant has a temporary injury

with which he is doing well. But he has been advised by our present physio not to play the current Test. He will be fit for the Tri-series,” Patel added.

India won the 50-over World Cup for the second time when they hosted the quadrennial event four years ago with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Speculation was rife in Indian media about the possibility of the inclusion of Yuvraj Singh after the left-hander scored three consecutive hundreds in domestic matches.

The name of Yuvraj, the man-ofthe-tournament in the World Cup four years back, came up for discussion in the selection meeting yesterday despite his not being part of the 30-man probables.

“Not only Yuvraj Singh, a lot of other players were also discussed apart from the 30, and (we picked the team)

Akshar Patel

after a lot of deliberation in the presence of all five selectors as well as captain MS Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher, who were there on conference call,” Patel said.

The World Cup will be staged in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29.

India squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virat Kohli (vicecaptain), Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Stuart Binny, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Akshar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.

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Guyana to attend CBC Championship in Tortola … Bermuda set to invade in March

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fter a successful 2014, the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) will now turn its attention to the 2015 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Men’s and Women’s Championships, set once again for the British Virgin Island of Tortola.

Last year, after acquiring the services of former Indian Pacers and Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Rawle Marshall, who was later named captain, Guyana were able to finish fifth place in the ten-team tournament.

Guyana had a dismal start to their CBC campaign, losing their opening game 63-99 to the BVI then falling 7595 to former champions USVI. In their third

game, Guyana battled Barbados in a hard 6980 point loss.

But led by their captain Marshall, Guyana dismantled St Vincent and the Grenadines 86-72 to set up another showdown with Barbados whom they trounced 79-58.

Despite the many off-court distractions, the Guyana team still managed to regroup and finish in a creditable position.

Since finishing third in 2000 when the tournament was held in Barbados, Guyana were missing from the CBC circuit until an all-overseas-based team participated in 2007 when the tournament was held in Puerto Rico where they finished at the bottom of the eight-team table.

Lack of financing

played a major part in the team once again not being able to feature at the tournament until 2011 when only local players participated and finished seventh in the Bahamas.

President of the GABF is so far tightlipped about the Federation’s approach to the composition of the team and when preparation will begin.

However, the GABF will have the perfect opportunity to see how well their best outfit will stack up against another regional counterpart as Bermuda’s Senior Men’s Basketball team heads to Guyana in March, to play a three-game series against Guyana at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The last time Guyana played Bermuda was

Flashback! Guyana’s Men’s basketball team at the 2014 CBC Championships in the BVI

at the 2011 CBC Championships in Bahamas where Guyana lost 68-58. Bermuda placed fifth at the championships while Guyana placed seventh.

Hinds had recently stated in a release that “Guyana will be seeking to use the games to showcase local basketball talent and to

prepare for the 2015 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships scheduled to be held in July in the British Virgin Islands.”

He added, “With the Annual National Club Championships (Road to Mecca) scheduled to start in January 2015; local players will have

an opportunity to impress the selectors with a view to representing the Golden Arrowhead.

Efforts will be made to have a foreign National women’s team as part of the programme.

Discussions are also under way with DC Jammers to play as part of the international event”.

Battling lymphoma, NZ’s Crowe determined to see World Cup

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ormer New Zealand cricket captain Martin Crowe, whose innovative leadership and sparkling batting energised their 1992 World Cup campaign, is determined to witness the 2015 showpiece after having doubts he would even see out last year. The 52-yearold was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma two years ago but it went into remission.

Last September he said a new, more aggressive form of the disease, double-hit lymphoma, had developed and he had been told that only five percent of sufferers survived more than 12

Martin Crowe was at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday where he spoke to the media

months.

“It’s an ugly beast,” Crowe told reporters at Eden Park in Auckland, where his century in the opening match of the

1992 World Cup captured the imagination of the country.

“It transformed from follicular to double-hit.

Sheer random luck really.

“I didn’t necessarily think I would get through to the end of 2014, but I am here. I have had a good couple of weeks and started a bit of exercise.

“I have been pretty well for three months, sleeping 14-hour days.

When you are sleeping that long, you tend to be pretty hazy about things.”

Crowe said he had decided against chemotherapy and was trying natural treatments instead.

“The chemo is brutal and it was going to be a 100-day vigil, so I thought it would be better if I just chilled at home, and so far, so good,” he said, adding that his specialist would

prefer he was being treated in hospital.

“I just chose, having gone through it last year, I would be better off without the side-effects.”

New Zealand open the 2015 World Cup,

which they co-host with Australia – as they did in 1992 – on February 14 against Sri Lanka in Christchurch.

Crowe said he would probably only attend games in Auckland.

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