Guyana Times International

INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

for FRee distribution guyanatimesinternational.com

You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com

“We will dismantle drug networks in Guyana” ISSUE NO. 282

WEEK ENDING february 14, 2016

- DEA’s Regional Director

See story on page 3

CPL comes to the USA - Florida to host six games

Page 55

Govt, Opposition MPs face-off on “good life” Budget U.S. Embassy in Georgetown received 39,000 Visa applications in 2015 Page 5

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan(centre), US Ambassador Perry Holloway and DEA Regional Director Matthew Donahue at the launching of the local DEA office at the US Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana

Page 11

Opposition MP, Ganga Persaud

Junior Infrastructure Minister, Annette Ferguson

- more than half successful – Ambassador

2

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

“We will dismantle drug networks in Guyana” - DEA’s Regional Director

T

he much anticipated Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has finally opened its office in Guyana with promises to destroy and dismantle local drug networks.

The United States’ premier anti narcotrafficking agency will be housed in the US Embassy’s compound at Duke and Young Streets, Kingston, Georgetown.

The simple but significant opening ceremony was held in the presence of Government Ministers, members of the security sector, members of the Judiciary, and members of the Diplomatic Corp.

Addressing the small gathering at the Embassy on Wednesday, DEA’s Regional Director Matthew Donahue assured that the agency is going to work hard to help Guyana arrest its

drug trafficking situation.

“We are not going to just arrest a few people here, we need to dismantle and destroy these organisations,” he stated.

The Regional Director stressed that while it is going to be a difficult task, with the experience and training of the DEA agents, coupled with the cooperation of the Government of Guyana, he is sure that they will be successful.

He pointed out that while Guyana is not a source country for drug trafficking, it does have a transportation problem.

On this note, Donahue stated that the DEA not only focuses on small drug traffickers but also looks at those organisations that have multinational presence.

“We look at things internationally. We don’t focus on just the small time drug traffickers, we

focus on international (people) who’s going to be bringing the drugs into the country and who’s taking drugs out of the country,” the Regional Director noted.

Donahue further emphasised that DEA will also be monitoring those organisations that push criminal activities, since it is found that narco-trafficking is at the source of these. He noted that his agency is determined to destroy such networks.

“We focus on organisations, they are not just drug traffickers. You see drug trafficking and you believe that’s all they are (but) we are not going to win against drug trafficking because these are the same people that human trafficking, the same people that are illegally mining gold, the same people that are illegally mining minerals, that are committing as-

A section of the high-profile gathering at the opening of the DEA office in Guyana at the US Embassy on Wednesday

sassinations – they’re all of a criminal organisation that works transnational throughout the region,” the Director said.

However, Donahue said that the DEA cannot do it alone, underscoring the importance of getting the cooperation of Governments. He added that the agency will be bridging Guyana with other countries, which is important in tackling narcotics trade.

Meanwhile, in his brief remarks, U.S.

Ambassador Perry Holloway explained that the fulltime presence of a DEA office in Guyana does not mean that the narco-trafficking situation will change overnight.

He reminded that the DEA agents who will be stationed in the country do not have policing rights but are merely looking into narco-trafficking activities that are linked to the US. However, he stressed that the DEA office will

also help local enforcement agencies in several areas other than drug trade.

“In the course of doing their work, they are going to come across a lot of information that may not have a US nexus but it will be maybe a crime going on locally here and that information will be shared whether be it with CANU (Customs AntiNarcotics Unit), with the national Police, with the Prosecutors or Judges, continued on page 24

4 views

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A scene from the Children's Mash competition currently being held at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Guyana

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 Fax no: 718-849-2286 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

A return to party paramountcy?

D

uring the Budget debate, one member of the PPP/C raised the issue of the Government painting State institutions with the colours of the APNU/AFC coalition. This tendency of the coalition to deploy its colours at State functions had been noted as far back as the inauguration of President David Granger when, not only was the stage decked out in yellow and green but so were even the ceremonial bouquets that were placed at the Independence Arch.

This “coalition branding” has been replicated at countless occasions, but when the PPP/C MP pointed out the practice had now been extended to State buildings, for the first time, the Speaker of the House offered an explanation. The colours green and yellow, he stated, were “the colours of the national flag”.

But as every schoolchild knows”, TWO colours of the GOLDEN Arrowhead are “gold and green” – not yellow and green. The Speaker was disingenuous. There are three other colours in the Guyanese flag: red, black and white, but none of them were ever used by the coalition – just the two that are the coalition’s colours.

The Speaker went so far as to cut off the microphone from PPP/C’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira when she attempted to explain her MP’s observation. This denial of the right to speech in the Parliament of all places is one of the gravest violations of democracy in recent times in Guyana. The Speaker claims the PPP/C’s MPs were “lampooning” the flag of Guyana. This is a most risible reason to gag a parliamentarian in the long annals of Parliament in Guyana or in the world. The question, as was asked

by Ms Teixeira in a later press conference, was why the other colours – including the PPP’s red and black, were never used.

But this question of using a ruling party’s colours on State institutions was raised within a historical context – that of the PNC once declaring “paramountcy of the party” over State institutions, including the Executive and Judiciary. The PNC’s flag was actually raised over the Court of Appeals in furtherance of this paramountcy doctrine. The present use of party colours is within the wider ambit of other manifestations of that doctrine and must be evaluated from that perspective rather than summarily dismissed.

In the 1974 Declaration of Sophia, Mr Burnham, leader of the PNC, stated, “In November of last year (1973) there was a Special Congress four months after our Party had won a twothirds majority in Parliament. At this Congress, there were serious examination and a definition of the role of the Party in the new circumstances.

“It was agreed after lengthy discussion that the emphasis should be on mobilising the nation in every sphere and not merely for periodic elections and in support of specific action and programmes. It was also decided that the Party should assume unapologetically its paramountcy over the Government which is merely one of its executive arms.”

The policy defined in the declaration of Sophia rested on three main pillars: The expansion of military and paramilitary forces; allocation of State funds by way of a new body consisting of an amalgamation of the office of the General Secretary of the PNC and a newly formed Ministry of National Development, and a policy of controlling the economy especially employment through the State sector.

In the present, we have already seen the relaunch of the first pillar of party paramountcy. From 1974 there had been a considerable expansion of the armed forces with the creation of the Guyana National Service (GNS) followed in 1976 by the formation of the People’s Militia. The defence allocation from the public treasury experienced a six-fold increase.

The present concerns about “colours” must be seen within the wider context of the replication of the other pillars of party paramountcy. “A hint to Beneba mek Quasie tek notice”.

Govt should exercise caution with wind farm project

By Samuel Hinds, Former Prime Minister of Guyana

T

he calls for care and caution put forward by the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) as the coalition Government proceeds, as announced, with the negotiations with Guyana Wind Farm Inc (GWFI) are well-justified.

There is no disputing the close relationship between the current leading shareholder of GWFI, Mr Lloyd Singh, and the AFC which was recently declared by both sides on the commissioning of the new AFC headquarters.

There is no deceit in the Opposition Leader’s statements. True, the PPP/C Administration had been working with the GWFI over more than a dozen years for the realisation of a Hope Beach Wind Farm, but whilst it could have been taken for granted that the concluding negotiations with a PPP/C Administration would have been “at arm’s length”, the concluding negotiations between the coalition Government and a major supporter of one component must expect to be tested. As it is said, “Forewarned is forearmed”. The Opposition Leader was putting out the warning early.

The Opposition Leader would have been deceitful if he had stayed quiet, aware as he was that the announcement by the Honourable Minister of Finance contained a major error. GPL’s current cost of generation is only about a third of the figure which was given as US 28 cents per kWh. Additionally, there are other worrying statements in the media and in society which could easily lead to consumers of electricity paying more than they should.

Persons familiar with our electricity utility, GPL, and with wind and other renewable energy sources would share the LOP’s causes for concern even more, on reading the article on page 10 of KN of Sunday, February 7, 2016. Two quotes from that article, separately and more so when combined,

would justify the Opposition Leader’s alarm.

Mr Lloyd Singh is quoted as saying, “I want the people to understand that there are three alternative sources of energy in Guyana: hydro, solar and wind. Hydro depends on rain; solar on sun, but wind is 24hrs”.

As all of us who have attempted to fly kites, know, the wind does not blow steadily, but is constantly changing and for many long periods may be effectively zero. Arrangements to ensure that the utility’s other generators compensate quickly and adequately are a major challenge. The usual result is that a utility like GPL should only offer to pay a “discounted avoided cost” for energy it receives from others.

The Honourable Minister was dreadfully in error when he put the average current generation cost of GPL at US 28 cents per kWh. At the cost of fuel to GPL on Budget Day, January 29, 2016, generation cost would have been no more than US 9.5 cents per kWh, with a fuel component of about US 6.30 cents.

His figure of US 28 cents might have been true at the time of the highest oil prices of almost two years ago, or there might have been a mix-up with two other figures – the average cost of electricity delivered to customers and the average price as billed to customers. In negotiations for an independent supply of power (a PPA with an IPP), one must ensure that one has accurate figures for the generating cost which would be avoided, if not GPL and consumers would be paying more than they should.

Mr Lloyd Singh tells about the PPP/C Cabinet on June 9, 2014 approving (in principle) the sale of electricity to GPL at US 18 cents per kWh. At that time, the average generation cost was about US 23 cents per kWh with a fuel component of about US 20 cents.

The price of US 18 cents was less than the avoided cost and was calculated to be enough to amortize the investment (good price and conces-

sionary financing) in not much more than five years.

It was therefore an attractive price at that time for a speeded-up BOOT arrangement in which the facility would have been quickly bought-down and ownership transferred to GPL within not much more than five years, at no further charge. Fuel prices and prospects are quite different today.

Allow me to restate here our PPP/C background position when considering offers for electricity generation. The priority project for secure, renewable energy for Guyana, as identified since the mid-1980s, was and continues to be the realisation of the Amaila Hydro, with projected costs of electricity delivered at Sophia, at about US 12 cents initially, falling to about US 7 cents after about seven years, then to about US 3 cents after about 15 years and for the rest of its life of about 50 years, giving an arithmetic average of US 5 cents over its life.

The speeded-up, shortened BOOT for the Wind Farm was to avoid or minimise a period of conflicting competing calls to accept electricity from a Wind Farm owned by a private third party, against calls from Amaila.

As I recall, subsequent to the Cabinet’s approval of June 9, 2014, there was effectively a withdrawal by the preferred Chinese manufacturer as it ended its very attractive price and financing offer.

Consideration began of offers from other Chinese manufacturers including offers for financing. Costs were increasing. Whilst at the beginning of financing discussions many manufacturers and financiers seemed to be willing to proceed without a “Sovereign guarantee” of the loan/investment, invariably as discussions/negotiations proceeded, they hardened their call for a “Sovereign guarantee”.

With those subsequent developments and bearing in mind that the discussions with continued on page 6

NEWS 5

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Govt, Opposition MPs face-off on “good life” Budget

L

ate into the second day of the 2016 Budget debates, Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the House clashed on whether Budget 2016 offers the “good life” that Government has been touting.

The late session of Tuesday’s debate sitting saw the likes of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) members Jennifer Westford, Indra Chandarpal and Ganga Persaud taking on Junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson, John Adams and Rajcomarie Bancroft from the Government’s side.

In her presentation, Minister Ferguson outlined the plans Government has been pursuing to develop the country’s infrastructure.

She mentioned the new bridge for the Demerara River crossing; works for several vessels and stellings under the Transport and Harbour Department (T&HD) and enhancements for the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

According to Ferguson, the previous Administration wasted tax payers’ money by investing in several “dead projects” that benefited only a lucky few. “If that money was invest-

Defending the ‘good life’

Opposition MP, Ganga Persaud

ed in the (Demerara) bridge project, Mr Speaker, Guyanese today would have been enjoying the use of a bridge – a much needed facility that will serve the mass of Guyanese users,” she stated.

The Junior Minister noted that during 2016, her Government will bring to life projects that will make the lives of Guyanese better. “Our Government will undertake projects that will benefit the people of Guyana and not just a select few as practiced by the PPP/C Administration,” Ferguson stated.

Inadequate measures

But in her presentation, Opposition MP Indra Chandarpal stated that the 2016 Budget does not have what it takes to give Guyanese the “good life” that Government assured; instead, it will only bring

poor people more poverty.

“I travel a lot with the taxis and every day taxi drivers have the same stories to tell, and every person in the Stabroek and Bourda Markets have the same story to tell.

So it’s not a poor people budget… I was told, Mr Speaker, by a taxi driver to tell the Government that they deh pon stupidness,” she stated.

Chandarpal went on to say that while every Government will undertake a number of initiatives, it is expected of the others that follow to either make them better in order to improve the lives of the citizens.

“Unfortunately, I will not be able to support the budget as presented by the Minister of Finance because we believe that this budget does not have the answers to move this country forward,” she declared.

Meanwhile, the Government’s Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) representative, John Adams, maintained that this year’s budget, as the theme suggested “Stimulating Growth, Restoring Confidence: the Good Life Beckons”, offers a better life for the people of Guyana.

He reflected on the past eight months that the coalition Government has been in office, stating that during this time, Government has managed to stimulate growth and restore confidence.

He further highlighted that Region Three has seen growth in every sector over the past months.

The parliamentarian spoke about developments in the infrastructure, agriculture, health and education sectors in the region.

“Mr Speaker, I am confident that the allocations stipulated for Region Three in Budget 2016, will see many new projects being completed in several parts of the region… Mr Speaker, the menu of measures stated in Budget 2016 will go a far way in making the citizens in this beautiful land of ours a better life,” Adams remarked.

Wild imaginations

However,

PPP

Parliamentarian Ganga Persaud in his presentation said that Region Three is still in much despair. He specifically mentioned the controversial closure of the Wales Sugar Factory and the effect it has on the lives of Guyanese.

According to the Opposition MP, members of the National Assembly can tell many tales and continue to have their imaginations run wild but the real judge of the budget is the public. Persaud noted that over the past few days, persons have been de-

scored the disappointment of public servants who did not get their salary increases. While she lauded the fact that Government has commenced the collective bargaining process, the former Public Service Minister noted this should have been done way before in time for the budget presentation.

Moreover, Westford pointed out that public servants are anxious, since many of them are unsure of their future in the public service. “Today our public servants are suffering

Junior Infrastructure Minister, Annette Ferguson during her presentation in Parliament

scribing the budget as “a pick-pocket budget”, “a parasitic budget” and even “a vampire budget” based on what it contains.

Also presenting Tuesday night was embattled Opposition parliamentarian Jennifer Westford. She under-

from anxiety syndrome because they are unsure whether they will join the scores of their colleagues who were unceremoniously dismissed from their jobs,” she mentioned while adding that this may affect the morale of public servants.

6

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Contract employees – How will the President act?

Dear Editor, As the National Assembly sits to consider the Estimates of the Public Sector for the year 2016, the number of contract employees and costs associated therewith will no doubt receive much attention.

In Ram & McRae’s Focus on Guyana’s National Budget 2016, we expressed our disappointment on increases in both the number and cost of contract employees, stating that this was “not healthy for our democracy and places a strain on Article 38 G of the Constitution which requires the public service to be free from political influence.” By way of example, we noted that the Ministry of the Presidency reflects an increase in the number of contract employees from 298 to 505.

The media, conflating our example with other information, highlighted the statement by Ram & McRae drawing responses from Government Ministers.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, sought to attribute the increase in the Ministry of the Presidency to organisational changes and posited that the Office of the President cannot be compared to the Ministry of State, which now includes the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Ministry of Citizenship, and the Public Service Department.

In fact, Ram & McRae was not comparing the Ministry of the Presidency with the Office of the President but comparing the two yearend numbers (2015 and Budget 2016) in the same Ministry.

Does City Hall appreciate what it will take to make Georgetown a green city?

Dear Editor, There has been a lot of talk by the Georgetown City Council recently about making our capital city a green city. But is it anything more than just that? Talk? I have hardly seen any real initiatives in this direction. Of course there has been the posting of monstrous billboards all over the city with green city catchphrases but with the only thing being green about that is the millions of dollars that the city has wasted on sloganeering.

Then there has been the poorly attended Green Conference and Expo which turned out to be little more than a free concert, along with the distribution of freebies such as tee shirts, bags etc., again a tremendous cost to the City.

But does anyone at City Hall really appreciate what it will take to make Georgetown a green city?

Guyana and Georgetown’s energy infrastructure such as those generators located in Kingston is ripe for improvement. Most of our electricity is generated in dirty fossil fuel power plants, which pump greenhouse gases into the air and contribute to climate change. Our electricity is then distributed through thousands of miles of inefficient and unreliable power lines.

Transforming our outdated electricity grid into a cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable energy system would be a critical step towards making our capital a green city.

Then there is the city’s transportation infrastructure. There are minibuses zipping along our roadways all day and night long joined by an unprecedented number of private cars traversing the roads. This is now the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Why is the council not making Georgetown more biking- and walking-friendly? The Mayor and Town Clerk should get out of their fancy vehicles and lead by example by riding to and from work if they are sincere about this initiative.

And then there is the design of our buildings, which are no longer being designed for natural ventilation with Demerara shuttered windows etc, but rather large concrete edifices that rely on dirty energy sources for their power and cooling needs.

One just has to look at the City Hall and one can see all the air conditioners that have been tacked on to this glorious old building.

It is time for City Hall to stop talking the talk and start walking the walk.

Sincerely, Nadine Jerrick

It appears that Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, may have been under the same impression and called such an increase virtually impossible, adding that the Ministry of Natural Resources, which was recently designated a separate Ministry, was also included within the Ministry of the Presidency until January 2016.

For clarification, here is what is disclosed on page 44 of the 2016 Estimates for Agency 05 Ministry of the Presidency: To aid our analysis, Ram & McRae had prepared a detailed table on the number of Contract Employees in the various agencies, with such aggregation and disaggregation that was possible given the limited infor-

mation in the Estimates.

In reviewing the Ministry of the Presidency, information was taken from Agency 01: Office of the President, Agency 05: Ministry of the Presidency, Agency 14: Public Service Ministry, Agency 24: Ministry of Natural Resources and The Environment, Agency 26: Ministry of Natural Resources and Agency 51: Ministry of Home Affairs.

Comparative information, taking the organisational changes into account, is as follows: Overall, the 2016 Estimates show that at the end of 2015, the total number of contract employees, inclusive of the Regions, was 5423, of which 545 were with the Parliament Office, Public Service Commission, Teaching Service

Commission, Guyana Elections Commission, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Public Prosecutions and Office of the Ombudsman.

Those entities are now included among the Constitutional Agencies and Statutory Bodies and their projected number of contract employees in 2016 was not disclosed.

The remaining number of contract employees in the Ministries and Regions would therefore be 4878. The Estimates show the projected number of contract employees in 2016 as 5878 and is therefore an increase of 1000 persons, or 20.5 per cent and an increase of 18.2 per cent in budgeted cost.

We repeat that this is not a problem peculiar to the present Administration. It

was under the Jagdeo Presidency that the numbers and cost skyrocketed and continued under the Ramotar Administration.

Between 2010 and 2014, the expenditure on contract employees rose from Gy$4.7 billion to Gy$9.4 billion, an increase of 100 per cent.

We welcome Minister Harmon’s assurance that “there has been a clear direction by the President that it is our intention to return the Public Service to a professional one and so contract hires will be reduced to a minimum”.

Indeed this is consistent with the sentiment of Focus that “We sincerely believe that President Granger has the authority to end this abuse. We look to him to act on the matter.”

Sincerely, Ram & McRae

Racism and political favouritism should be eradicated in Guyana

Dear Editor, For decades I have been advocating racial harmony in the country of my birth, but my pleas were ignored both by the PPP and PNC administrations and it seems as if the new APNU/AFC might not be different. It is like six for one and half a dozen for the other. I wonder what can be done to change this sad and worrying situation which is the bug-bear of the nation.

Growing up we were told that the British sowed the “divide and rule” seed and when Forbes Burnham broke away from the PPP and formed his own party in 1955, the racial divide was intensified despite a few window dressings in both parties.

In the 1960s Sydney King was deemed a racist and his call for partition between the Africans and the Indians was laughable and completely ignored.

Several years later I met him after he had changed his name to Eusi Kwayana. I must say that he is an honest, fair-minded human being and he is concerned about the wellbeing of all especially the poor. He is far from being a racist.

It is the perception of some Afro-Guyanese that all Indo-Guyanese are PPP supporters and some IndoGuyanese feel that all Afro-Guyanese are PNC diehards.

Professor David Hinds a few years ago in one of his columns penned I was a strong PPP supporter being paid to propagate the Jagdeo administration. Maybe Dr Hinds does not know I write pro-bono for several media houses in the Caribbean.

Moreover, it is known that I was always antiPPP and a supporter to the PNC having worked for GBS Radio from the inception in October 1968 and Burnham’s law firm, Clarke Martin from the time it opened its doors.

I remember three decades ago an Antiguan journalist accused Ricky Singh of being a racist and went so far to say that he (Ricky) would refuse to shake hand with a Black woman. I responded stating that Ricky’s wife was Afro-Guyanese.

President David Granger speaks of racial harmo-

ny, but we are still to see concrete evidence that his coalition government is moving in this direction. Most of the diplomats and important positions are being filled

by Afros – this regime is doing the same that the PPP did – two wrongs cannot make a right.

Efforts must be made to stop this party/race politics and choose qualified and unbiased persons to hold important positions. One would have thought since it is a coalition government, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo would have a say in trying to curb the imbalance which is so evident.

A large number of influential Indos, who fought to remove the PPP/C from office because of corruption, now have second thoughts because they feel that only Afros are offered top positions in the administration. Even in the diaspora there is disunity in Guyana Associations in several states and territories.

A few years ago I was asked to intervene in the British Virgin Islands where the division between Indos and Afros was visible.

Over in the United States where President Barack Obama wants legislation for better immigration policies, a dialogue has started about immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900s deserve better than the new immigrant for the hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for better life.

The early immigrants did not see themselves as Irish-American, Italian/American, or German/ American, but as Americans who stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.

Using a cricket analogy – I am batting my last over and before my innings comes to a close I would like to see fair play and a harmonious relation between the two major races in Guyana. I am prepared to spend the rest of my life to work towards this goal, but some friends and acquaintances feel I am dreaming.

Sincerely, Oscar Ramjeet

Govt should exercise...

the GWFI went back to the early 2000s, when Mr Kolader from Curaçao came with a pure Private Sector proposal, the PPP/C Administration had begun moving towards: * A different business model: an “open book” “public-privatepartnership” where the contributions, risks and rewards of each party would be explicitly stated and agreed to;

* Possibly restarting with an open, worldwide call for proposals, with some reasonable recognition (and reward) for the valuable work done by the GWFI over more than a dozen years, if it were not to be the successful bidder.

The Leader of the Opposition was being constructive. A few days after the reading of the Budget, he held a press conference at which he constructively critiqued the

frompage 4

Budget, proposing reasonable changes to reduce increased costs which the Government might be unwittingly introducing on middle- and low-income earners in our country. His statements of caution and concern as the Government proceeds to conclude agreements with the GWFI are similarly constructive for the purpose of achieving better for our people and county.

news 7

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

MB Sandaka sails again SOCU not called to assist R U.S. with investigations Dr Blackman’s illegal prescription case

esidents of Leguan island, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) will be pleased to learn that its Motor Barge (MB) Sandaka has resumed operations after it underwent repairs late last year.

According to the General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), Marclene Merchant, the MB Sandaka has recommenced plying its route after successful tests were conducted by engineers of the department’s central workshop.

This newspaper understands that infrastructural work on the motor barge included works to the hull, the vessel’s frame, fixing of the decking plate and repainting of the rails and other parts of the vessel. This is said to have cost Gy$33.4M. Meanwhile, Mechanical Engineer, Ray Mc Lean stated that mechanical works have also been completed by the T&HD’s central workshop and that rehabilitative works were executed by

– Sydney James

I Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited in the Mazaruni dockyard.

It is important to note that the 2016 National Budget proposes Gy$1.3B for works to commence on the rehabilitation of the Bartica stelling and the goods wharf at Kingston; docking of dredges and ferry vessels; dredging of the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers; and installation and maintenance of navigational aids.

Motorist killed after car slams into sand truck

A

motorist was early on Wednesday morning killed after he lost control of the car he was driving and slammed into a truck at Supply, East Bank Demerara. The accident occurred at about 05:30h.

Dead is Quilton Greene, 45, of La

The truck that was involved in the accident

Penitence, Georgetown.

According to information received, the car was heading North towards Georgetown when the driver lost control of the vehicle and slammed into the truck which was heading in the opposition direction.

Reports reaching this newspaper indicate that the now dead man had to be pulled from the wreckage and was tak-

en to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

When Guyana Times International arrived at the scene, the mangled car was already moved but the truck was still in the area where the accident occurred.

Alvin Shivlochand, the driver of the motor lorry told this publication that he was heading to the sand pit when he saw the motorcar swaying on the roadway. He noted that upon seeing this, he stopped the truck but the car came straight at him.

Further reports suggest the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel when the accident occurred. Shivlochand related that after the accident, he rushed out of the truck to check on the driver and saw him pinned in the vehicle.

With the assistance of public spirited citizens, the door of the wrecked car was removed in order to remove the injured man. As Greene was pulled, he was motionless thus leaving those around to believe he was already dead.

Moments after the Police arrived on the scene, Greene was placed in the vehicle and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre but was pronounced dead. The driver of the motor lorry had been detained as investigations continue.

Police still hunting for husband who allegedly drowned wife in canal

P

olice ranks in ‘D’ Division have intensified their hunt for the reputed husband of the late Bibi Zabida Khan also known as “Theresa” after he allegedly beat his wife, drowned her in a canal and then disappeared.

Rudolph Williams, a 43-year cane cutter of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (WCD) is still on the run after witnesses claimed that the man drowned his wife in a canal at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo almost three weeks ago.

According to initial reports, persons in the area saw the couple in a heat-

Bibi Zabida Khan

ed argument then witnessed Williams hitting the woman.

They then threatened to contact the police and this pushed Williams into jumping into the nearby trench, pulling his wife in with him.

He allegedly drowned the mother of three be-

fore he escaped on the other side of the trench which was a ‘bushy area’.

As a result of the environment being dark since the incident was said to have taken place in the evening, persons could not have seen what was transpiring when the man and his wife went into the trench.

However, after a while of searching the area they located the woman’s body inside the trench.

To date, Williams has not turned himself in at any police station for questioning in relation to the matter and he has not been seen at his residence since.

n light of the recent arrest of Dr Noel Blackman in the United States of America for illegally writing a large number of prescriptions for narcotic-based painkillers, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) said it was not contacted to offer assistance in the investigation.

Head of the Unit, Sydney James when asked for a comment noted that the investigation is being headed by the United States authorities and while Guyana and the US have some amount of cooperation, the Unit has not been called upon to lend its expertise.

He further stated once the US indicates its interest for SOCU to assist, the request would have to be made through the Public Security Minister.

Dr Blackman, who was recently appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was arrested and charged in the US

GPHC Chairman, Dr Noel Blackman

for the illegal prescriptions.

It was reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) suspected that Dr Blackman was illegally prescribing vast amounts of oxycodone – 365,000 pills in 2015 – in a drug-dealing enterprise spanning three states.

According to reports, FBI agents took Dr Blackman, 68, into custody after they ordered a Guyana-bound jet taxiing for takeoff with him on board at the John F Kennedy International

Airport, to return to the airport terminal.

Dr Blackman, who was under investigation for several weeks, was intent on permanently leaving the United States, according to a tip agents received before they headed him off at the airport. After the plane returned to the terminal about midnight on Sunday, Dr Blackman was arrested and later charged with conspiracy to distribute the narcotic.

Reports are according to his prescription records checked by federal authorities, the 365,000 Oxycodone pills came from 2487 prescriptions – a marked increase from the 114 he wrote for 3800 pills in 2014 and 63 written in 2013 for 2100 pills.

Attempts to contact the Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton for a comment on Dr Blackman’s replacement on the GPHC Board proved futile. It was, however, hinted that Dr Max Hanoman will be the replacement, but this could not have been confirmed.

8 NEWS

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Minister Cummings details Action Plan to tackle rising suicide rate in Guyana

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

T

he Public Health Ministry will be redoubling its efforts in the ongoing battle to bring the soaring suicide rates down through the introduction of several initiatives, including training of gatekeepers within communities, providing therapy sessions for suicide survivors, ensuring all health centres are equipped with social workers, and dispatching mental health officers to high-risked regions, among other schemes with the hope of providing the much-needed relief to the presumably increasing numbers of persons who feel they are in the depths of despair.

Guyana continues to grapple with a raging suicide contagion which continues to emotionally affect hundreds of persons and gravely impact the

country’s economy and national social status.

With this in mind, Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings rose before the National Assembly during the Budget debates on Tuesday to express her concerns over the scourge that is more progressively plaguing the country.

“Guyana is a relatively small country with a very small population.

Therefore to consider, this beautiful country having the highest suicide rate in the world, is frightening as much as it is worrying. Our people in relation to our population are taking their lives at an alarming rate. This situation needs to be arrested immediately,” Dr Cummings charged.

She explained that recent studies have already identified the most vulnerable areas and groups

as well as the most preferred methods utilised by persons to commit suicide. Therefore, Government has decided that in order to combat the scourge of suicide, a national effort is required and will be accordingly pursued.

The Minister then detailed a list of 18 programmes and initiatives that are currently being undertaken by the Public Health Ministry in response to suicidal behaviour.

Among the most notable, Dr Cummings spoke of the Government’s intention to “identify and train gatekeepers in the community”.

Recently, calls have been mounting for the reintroduction of the prestigious Gatekeepers’ Programme, which was successful in its efforts to curb the instances of suicide by applying mech-

anisms to train first responders in every community across the country to act as the eyes and ears of the neighbourhood to proactively identify warning signs and consequently intervene to provide the requisite help; and former Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy had indicated his willingness to assist in the streamlining of the project.

It is unclear if Dr Cummings was referring to the Gatekeepers Programme in her speech but from all indications, the measures proposed have similar features.

Another laudable measure is the creation of group therapy sessions for suicide survivors. Time and again calls have been sounded for more emphasis to be placed on counselling persons who attempted suicide in order to prevent a

Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings

second attempt.

Based on observations, experts have gathered that a number of persons who committed suicide in Guyana had a record of previous attempts; however, no proper intervention was done and consequently, the individual did not get the essential help to restrain their suicidal tendencies.

The other programmes will focus mainly on training and capacity building of first responders and healthcare providers.

The Minister said

Government will develop a protocol to provide guidance to primary healthcare workers on what they should do to assist the mentally ill; build capacity in health centres for healthcare workers and first responders through training; provide all health centres with a counsellor/social worker to visit at least once a week; develop a national trainers programme to identify high burden areas and launch a pilot programme to train trainers; dispatch mental continued on page 24

National Assembly erupts over “Green and Yellowing” of Guyana

T

he National Assembly descended into a state of near chaos after People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Alistair Charlie made mention of the use of green and yellow, synonymous with the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition on State buildings.

However, House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, charged that “green and yellow” are colours of the Guyana flag.

“It (green and yellow) cannot be an object for lampooning in this House,” he said.

This prompted an in-

tervention by Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira who noted that the APNU/ AFC cannot use selective colours of the national flag that are synonymous with the coalition.

“We cannot select some colours of our flag… the member (Charlie) is speaking about party colours on Government buildings.

At this point, Scotland instructed that Teixeira’s microphone be turned off, as he disallowed her from making her point, but she continued to lament the use of party colours to brand Guyana and Government buildings.

During a subsequent news conference on Tuesday afternoon, the

Opposition’s Chief Whip expressed her Party’s “vehement objection” to the Speaker’s continuous descent into the arena during the business of the National Assembly.

“The latest intrusion came when the Honourable member, Allister Charlie, the PPP/C Member of Parliament for Region Number Nine, in his speech during the 2016 Budget debates, objected to the painting of State, Government and public properties in the colours of green and/or yellow.

The Speaker intervened to point out that yellow and green are “the” colours of our National flag and cannot be lampooned

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, MP Allister Charlie and other PPP/C MPs at a press briefing

in the House,” Teixeira said, reading from a prepared statement and flanked by several PPP/C MPs. She said that it was extremely difficult to accept that Dr Scotland did not grasp the essence of the objection raised by

MP Charlie, which was, the use of taxpayers monies to fund the painting of Government, State and public properties with official colours of APNU/AFC colours.

“The PPP/C wishes to remind all that Members of Parliament speak on behalf of the people of Guyana who are themselves not in Parliament.

People of Guyana have expressed their concern about what appears to be creeping party paramountcy,” the Opposition Chief Whip said.

She said that the suspicions may well lie in the “ugly history of our country” and attempt to prevent a recurrence, as she referenced Father Morrison’s “Justice: The Struggle for Democracy in Guyana 1952-1992. “…

The party became inseparably identified with the Government, over which it exercised control and direction of its every institution.

“Symbolic of this paramountcy of the party was the flying of the party flag over the Guyana Court of Appeal, in spite of vigorous protests of the Opposition parties,” she noted.

During a news conference last week, PPP/

MP Priya Manickchand, called on Government to stop “green and yellowing” Guyana.

She stated that the Government was forcing its political ideology on Guyanese who do not subscribe to it. She had also reminded that despite being in office for more than two decades, the PPP/C never attempted to paint the country “red, black and gold” – the PPP/C colours.

The PPP/C MP detailed the fact that that bridges, sections of public infrastructure and even the bicycles, boats and buses in President David Granger’s “Three B’s” programme are painted in green and yellow.

Some Opposition officials said that the decision by the Government to “paint everything green and yellow” is a return of “vintage Burnhamism” and brings back stark memories of the days when the party was above the State, with the PNC flag being flown over the Supreme Courts and other buildings that housed State entities.reminded of “the days when the Army and Police were forced to pledge allegiance to the Burnham regime.”

NEWS 9

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

2 held following Chinese businesswoman’s murder

P

olice have intensified their search for leads into the fatal shooting of a Chinese National who was killed during a robbery on the Corentyne on Sunday night.

Following the shooting, Police arrested one man who remains in custody and has so far been assisting the investigation.

However, on Tuesday, according to sources, a second man was arrested after Police intelligence led them to a house in the community.

The murder is being investigated by the Major Crime Unit (MCU).

On Saturday, two unmasked men, one armed with a cutlass and the other with a gun walked into Jinlai Lai Chinese Restaurant of Number 57 Village, Corentyne, Berbice and carried away a box containing a few packets of cigarettes and pencils before

Dead: Sue Di Wong

shooting Sue Di Wong, also called “Xiudi Yang” who had gone to the back door after the men exited the premises.

Meanwhile, an autopsy is expected to be performed on her body today by Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekananda Bridgemohan.

22-year-old man electrocuted with ‘homemade drop cord’

I

an Andrews, 22, of Palmyra, East Coast Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) is now dead after being electrocuted by a homemade drop cord.

Reports are that Andrews, who lived alone, might have been taking the drop cord which had a bulb attached to it, to the lower flat of the building when the incident occurred.

Andrews’ mother, Sara, said last Thursday she tried to make contact with her son, but her calls to his cellular phone went unanswered.

“On Friday, I decided to call an aunt asking her to make a check on him.” The aunt did as instructed, but got no response when she called.

According to the grieving mother, after not getting information about her son, she called the Guyana Beverage Inc where he was employed and was told that he did not show up for work.

This, she said, made her more suspicious. “I told his aunt to go back to the house again and on the second visit to the house, she peeped through a hole and noticed that the back door was opened.

“So she decided to go around the back and when she glanced, in she saw him lying face

Dead: Ian Andrews

down on the floor.” The discovery was made on Saturday.

Andrews, who had occupied the house for three years, was aware that there were problems with the electrical wiring and had made arrangements which he thought were safe.

The dead man’s mother said on Thursday her son was preparing to attend a religious function at which he was officiating. He was already dressed and only had to put on his footwear, it was noted.

“And then he just had to hang the drop cord and like when he was going to hang the drop cord with the bulb so that he could see when he come back home, something happen and that was the end.”

He leaves to mourn his mother and one brother.

Region 2 rice farmers still owed

By Indrawattie Natram

S

everal rice farmers living in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are still owed millions of dollars by millers for paddy sold two crops ago.

This was disclosed

by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillor Showkat Ail at the statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of that Region on Tuesday.

Ali told his fellow Councillors that farmers were highly indebted but still owed by millers.

The Councillor divulged that owing to farmers having loans from commercial banks, they have no other choice but to cultivate their lands despite the various challenges they faced in the industry.

Ali asked his col-

PPP/C Councillor Showkat Ali raising his concerns at the RDC meeting

league Naithram, a member of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), to shed some light on the issue and questioned what the Board, which was mandated by the Government to represent rice farmers, was doing for them.

The A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Councillor responded that he could not disclose such information, as he had signed

a “confidential” document not to reveal issues discussed at Board meetings. Following that declaration, Councillor Ali questioned Naithram about the “secret” in the rice industry and why he was hiding information from the Council.

According to Ali, rice farmers are presently faced with dry weather conditions and if they do not pump water, they will lose their entire crop and hence their livelihood will be affected.

On that point, RDC Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said that currently the rice industry was in crisis and it was sad to know that rice farmers were still owed.

He suggested that subsidies be offered on fuel, fertiliser and pesticides to rice farmers to assist the industry.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times International con-

APNU/AFC Councillor Naithram

tacted one of the millers who owe rice farmers, who indicated that farmers would be paid within two weeks. The miller, who did not wish to be named, said that he was forced to purchase in excess of 521,000 bags of paddy and there were no proper export markets for the commodity.

He said that rice farmers would be paid before the new crop and he was at the moment seeking new markets in other countries to sell the excess rice.

10 NEWS

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14 , 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Record number of Americans cut official ties with ‘Uncle Sam’

T

he number of U.S. citizens and longterm residents cutting their official ties to Uncle Sam jumped more than 20% last year to 4,279, according to a CNNMoney analysis of the latest government data.

According to the CNN article, it's a trend that's been increasing in recent years.

Man y o f t h o s e severing links are Americans living overseas who are tired of dealing with complicated tax paperwork, a headache that has worsened since new regulations came into effect.

CNNMoney pointed out that eighteen times as many Americans renounced their citizenship or long-term residency in 2015 compared with 2008. Last year was the third record-breaking year in a row.

Unlike most other countries, the U.S. taxes its citizens on all income, no matter where it's earned or where they live. For Americans liv-

ing abroad, that results in a mountain of paperwork so complex that they are often forced to seek professional help, forking out high fees for accountants and lawyers.

The burden has gotten heavier in recent years with the Foreign

Account T a x Compliance Act, which became law in 2010. It requires individuals to report certain foreign assets and banks to disclose all foreign accounts held by Americans. That comes on top of another rule that requires Americans to disclose foreign bank holdings above $10,000.

The regulations are part of a U.S. government campaign to fight

tax evasion, given added impetus after major Swiss banks admitted to helping Americans hide assets offshore.

But those efforts are making life difficult for the 7.6 million Americans living abroad.

As financial institutions grapple with FATCA, some overseas banks -- both big and small -- have ditched their U.S. clients, leaving some without even basic checking and savings accounts.

That's because banks that mistakenly fail to report any accounts held by Americans outside the U.S. can face steep penalties.

Some wealthy Americans who are renouncing their citizenship may end up paying lower taxes in the future.

But it's illegal to give up U.S. status to dodge paying a tax bill -- and doing so doesn't mean authorities won't come looking for back taxes. (Excerpts from CNNMoney) Sophia Yan contributed to this report.

Wales Estate workers given 3-day ultimatum …to chose between Uitvlugt/ severance or be ousted

S

A group of disgruntled workers at Wales Estate

ugar workers on Monday were given a three-day ultimatum to sign an agreement indicating whether they will opt to receive a severance package from government or be transferred to Uitvlugt Sugar Estate. If the workers do not sign the agreement in the stipulated timeframe, they will be ousted from the Wales Sugar Estate.

The workers of Wales Estate were informed of this during an intense

Khan posited that the workers are likely to stand in unity and refuse to sign the agreement since the sole fight is to convince government to reverse the decision to shut down Wales Estate.

“At this point we’re not contemplating [to] accept severance pay because solely our fight is begging the Government and the President to have this decision revoked because somebody out of GuySuCo is misleading the President

Guyana Times International was also informed that during the meeting, workers explained that employees with long service should be given a signed letter from GuySuCo stating their period of employment so they can receive benefits from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

An employee who gave his name as Simon only, stated that he has 33 years of service and wants the authorities to

Another group waiting to meet with GuySuCo managers

meeting with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Guyana Times International met with the aggrieved workers shortly after the meeting who voiced their concerns on the matter.

The workers described the move as most unfair, noting that the timeframe is too short a period to make such a big and important decision.

One worker Talat Khan stated that the options proposed by GuySuCo are against labour regulations. “This decision that they have taken to stop you immediately from work [is] against the labour agreement… you have to give the union one month notice before you can then take [workers] off,” Khan explained.

and his Cabinet [in] making this wrong decision,” he stated.

Another worker, Prem Persaud told this newspaper he is unsure of what to do. He explained that transportation to and from Wales to Uitvlugt might be a big issue.

Wilbert Damon father of five, said he is contemplating the payout option since it is in keeping with the best interest of his family.

“I will not go to Uitvlugt because for safety reasons, I got to protect my family because if this Estate close, a lot of things can happen in this area – it’s gonna happen so you got to be home at night with your family,” Damon explained.

give the assurance that his benefits would be paid.

“What we are asking the Government and the decision-makers of GuySuCo to do is to ensure that before people cross from this Estate to Uitvlugt or on their early pension or severance, that their contribution to NIS be properly taken care of,” he expressed.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) was not invited to the meeting and its President Komal Chand expressed utmost disappointment that the union did not get an opportunity to raise the myriad of concerns with the Sugar Corporation.

NEWS 11

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14 , 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Region 9 at critical U.S. Embassy in Georgetown received stage – Chairman 39,000 Visa applications in 2015 …Govt will help after more than half successful Budget debate – Ambassador …Pomeroon residents

U

also suffering

By Jillicia Pinder & Indrawattie Natram

R

esidents of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) who have been experiencing severe drought conditions over the past several weeks now have to wait until the Budget 2016 debate ends before the Government of Guyana can provide adequate assistance.

During a telephone interview with this publication on Monday, Region Nine Chairman Brian Allicock stated that he had recently returned from Georgetown after a visit with the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock to initiate ways to help the people who are suffering within the Region.

The Chairman shared that the Minister had told him that after the Budget debate has concluded, Cabinet would

Region Nine Chairman, Brian Allicock

assemble and determine aid for residents of Region Nine.

He further stated that 10 priority villages have so far been identified, including those in South Rupununi which are in dire need of immediate attention.

The Regional Chairman added much help was needed to actually make an impact within the drying region.

Speaking to Guyana Times International on Monday about the situation in Region Nine, Minister Allicock stated that the Ministry was engaged in continuous discussions with the regional administration and “some potential support”.

“Hopefully we could be able to have that support coming soon so that we will be able to address the water situation. Most of all, the only thing to depend on is the rain ‘cause even the wells are getting dry,” Allicock said.

He stated that for

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister, Sydney Allicock

the time being, the Administration was providing water purification systems in various communities.

Pomeroon

Meanwhile, residents living in both Upper and Lower Pomeroon in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are also severely affected by the dry weather conditions and according to them, sourcing potable water for domestic purposes is problematic.

As a result, the residents are calling on the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to activate the Charity outlet so that farmers can source potable drinking water.

According to a Councillor for the Charity/ Ursara Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Derick Austin, residents are in need of drinking water. He said that the water in the Pomeroon area has become relatively salty and could not be used for any purpose at the moment.

“Many families depend on the Pomeroon River for water to cook and drink. They were going far for fresh sweet water; now, everywhere it’s salty and persons cannot afford to purchase,” Austin noted.

The cash crop farmer said that families travelled long distances every day in the Pomeroon River to source water, but now they could not do so. He suggested that the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) outlet in Charity be put into operation to ease the burden families in the area faced, as once the outlet was operational, families could paddle their way to Charity and fill their containers. He also called on the Government of Guyana to provide families with black tanks so that in the near future they could be able to store water.

nited States Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International disclosed that a total of 39,000 Guyanese were interviewed for non-immigrant visas, and way more than half of that number were successful in their application.

The Ambassador reckoned that the growth of Guyana’s financial system, could be one of the reasons Guyanese have been approaching the Embassy for non-immigrant visas.

According to Holloway, the number of visas processed has been increasing over the last 10 years. “So the word on the street is that nobody receives a visa or only 10 per cent receives a visa…that is not true,” he said, continuing that “the number has gone up”.

He said five years ago, the number of ap-

United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway

plicants was about 6000.

Therefore, for the numbers to leap from 6000 to close to 40,000, was incredible.

“And that makes sense because the Guyanese economy has grown over the last few years; people have more disposable income and now that 9/11

is way behind us, more people want to go visit the States and we encourage Guyanese who want to go to the United States legally, or who want to go study or to do business, we encourage that,” he said.

Providing more statistics, Holloway informed that for last

month alone, the Embassy interviewed 7500 Guyanese – one per cent of the country’s population. More than half of those persons, he said, were issued with their visas.

Asked if there are any instances of persons overstaying their time, Holloway said deportation has gone down significantly over the last couple of years.

“There are some people who … are turned down because they believe you might be going to work, we have not seen an increase in these incidences.”

Meanwhile, as it relates to the number receiving the immigrant or permanent visas, the Ambassador said this has been relatively stable over the last five years or so.

“It is somewhere between 4300 and 4900 every year. Last year was a little over 4900,” he said.

Dealers implore Govt to rescind decision on used tyres

T

yre importers and drivers continue to appeal to the Government of Guyana to look into their plight as low income earners and rescind the decision to completely ban the importation of used tyres into Guyana.

Guyana Times International spoke with a number of distressed importers and drivers on Monday, who all explained how unprepared they were to face additional “struggles” if the Government did not rescind what they described as

a “one-sided” decision.

Owner of the Bulla Tyre Depot, Abdool Hamid related to this publication that he had only decided to open a business in Guyana after Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo at a meeting in the United States of America urged Guyanese to return home and invest in order to promote growth and development.

“I came back here and started investing in my business. Now everything I built in one year is go-

ing to shut down,” Hamid said.

According to Hamid, he has observed during his one year of service to Guyana in the importing business that approximately 98 per cent of Guyanese are incapable of purchasing new tyres since they are sold at high prices. He said since the decision by Government was announced, he had not sold one of his recently imported 50 tyres.

Additionally, he explained that continued on page 12

12 NEWS

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Miner jailed for 28 years on manslaughter charge

By Ahreefa Bacchus

O

rin Jerrick of Anns Grove, East Coast Demerara, accused of murdering Gavin Fifee, a minibus driver stabbed to death at the Plaisance Bus Park on July 31, 2014, was Monday last sentenced to 28 years in prison for manslaughter.

The sentence was handed down by Justice Navindra Singh after the jury found Jerrick not guilty on a murder charge but guilty of manslaughter.

The Prosecution and Defence rested their case on Friday last.

According to reports, at about 05:45h on the day in question, Fifee was loading his minibus at Plaisance when the accused began urinating on the wheel. When Fifee confronted the man, an argument ensued after which Jerrick pulled out a knife and stabbed him to the upper right chest.

Fifee was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) by public-spirited citizens but he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

A few days later, Jerrick turned himself in to the Police and was put on trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He was committed to stand trial at the High Court after a prima facie case was established before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

In the High Court, the Jury heard testimonies from eight witnesses, who were presented by State Prosecutors

Narissa Leander and Michael Shahoud and cross-examined

by Defence Counsels Nigel Hughes and Peter Hugh.

On Friday the Prosecution’s final witness was State Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh, who testified to conducting a post mortem. Dr Singh related that the deceased died as a result of perforation of the lung due to a single stab wound.

This, the doctor related, would have had to be inflicted using a weapon that is at least nine centimetres long, however, he stated that it could not have been inflicted by the cutlass that the deceased allegedly had in his possession.

Finally, when the time came for the defendant to give his statement, he opted to give an unsworn statement from the prisoner’s dock: “I am innocent of this story,” were the words Jerrick uttered in his defence.

With that said, Hughes commenced his address to the jury. Hughes reminded them of the elements that the Prosecution needed to prove in order to convict his client.

He stated that the police must investigate every version of the incident, which they failed to do.

“Not a single person who testified in this case saw how the man died, or how the single stab wound was inflicted”, he related, adding that this may lead to speculation.

He further related that none of the witnesses were certain of the suspect’s identity, making reference to the

fact that witness Dawson had pointed out his client as the perpetrator during the ID parade but during cross-examination had admitted she had not seen the perpetrator’s face.

He linked this conflict to the fact that most of the Prosecution’s witnesses testified to three varying incidents, adding that they all described the suspect to be wearing different clothes.

The attorney went on to relate inconsistencies in various

the lack of witness identification, the defendant had placed himself at the scene of the incident in his statement to the Police, adding that he also admitted to being in a confrontation with a minibus driver.

“We’re not assuming anything… he went to the Police with his attorney,” she stated.

She questioned the reason for the defendant turning himself into the Police in the company of his attorney if he was innocent.

testimonies which all contribute to the conclusion that the state failed to prove its case.

“They don’t have any evidence,” Hughes said and rested his case.

However, Prosecutor Leander refuted these claims, stating that the state had proven each element of murder in the case. She stated that while the defence made a big deal of

She posited that the Prosecution need not bring witnesses to say that they saw, when the fatal wound was inflicted as circumstantial evidence would lead to the correct inference. With this statement she rested her case.

On Monday, after deliberations the foreman announced that they had come up with a unanimous not guilty verdict

Canje Taxi driver shot by bandits

A

Berbice taxi driver is now a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital nursing a gunshot wound to the leg after he was attacked and shot by two armed men during a robbery at his Cumberland,

Injured, Darshan Rampersaud

East Canje, home on Friday last.

The injured man was identified as Darshan Rampersaud, 39, of Lot 125 Coburg Street, Canje, Berbice. According to reports, the taxi driver returned home at about 20:30h and took off his wristwatch and placed it on the steps along with the day’s earning.

He then went into the kitchen, got some food and went upstairs. While there the two men armed with a cutlass and a gun

The home of the injured man

confronted and ordered him to remain silent.

They demanded he hand over money and valuables but when he resisted, they dealt him several blows to the head and body. During the beating, a bullet was accidently discharged which missed his head.

Reports are the two bandits panicked and started to order each other to kill the man but the neighbours had already heard the gunshot and raised an alarm thus causing the men to flee.

Marlyn Ramsammy, wife of the injured man told Guyana Times International that her husband was home alone on the night of the robbery. “He was waiting for the computer to come on when he heard footsteps going up the step. He thought that is we came home so he was coming

to look and midway in the hall he see two fellows, one with a cutlass and one with a gun and they point the gun to him and tell him to be silent,” the wife related.

The two men, she explained began demanding valuables from Rampersaud while beating him with both the gun and cutlass.

“The one with the gun take the gun and lash he in he head and it went off. The one with the cutlass start telling the one with the gun to shoot he and the one with the gun telling the one with the cutlass no, you chap he… then the one turn an shoot he on he foot.”

They escaped with the money placed on the stairway and rode off on two bicycles parked a stone’s throw away.

The police have launched an investigation.

of murder. However, on the manslaughter charge, there was a disproportionate verdict of not guilty which was 11-1.

In making the mitigation plea, Hughes related that his client was remorseful and regretted the circumstances for which the incident occurred, adding that his client wished to offer his sympathies to the family of the deceased. He related that his client has no antecedents and is not a threat to society. He further stated that the evidence shows that his client was attacked and acted in self-defence, however the reaction may have been a tad excessive. As such, he sought the Court’s mercy for his client.

However, when Justice Singh asked the defendant what he wished to say, Jerrick replied with a brief “I didn’ juk nobody at the park, I didn’t bore nobody”.

“I am disappointed,” was Justice Singh’s response to Jerrick’s utterance. Justice Singh stated that he was deeply moved by the Defence Counsel’s mitigation plea and the fact that he declared that Jerrick is remorseful.

However, he stated that from Jerrick’s response, there were no signs of remorse or regret which should deter him from delivering the maximum sentence.

He then revealed that while the maximum penalty for manslaughter is 30 years, he would sentence him to 28 years as Jerrick had already spent two years on remand.

Dealers implore Govt to rescind...

from page 11

he had just recently paid for five containers of used tyres, which are expectedly shortly.

“What’s going to happen now to me? I’m losing sleep over this,” Hamid lamented.

The Government has justified its decision by stating that a major cause of accidents was used tyres. This, howev-

been in the business for over 20 years and has been importing used tyres from Holland, told Guyana Times International: “I have been using the tyres on my truck for four years and six months now and I never got a blowout.”

M e a n w h i l e , Mohamed Yusuf, 70, who has been a driver for

er, did not go down well with the suppliers, who reported that some used tyres are by far more durable than the low-quality new ones.

“Tyres don’t cause accidents, people do. People who over drink and use their phones while driving are responsible for the accidents on the roadways so I don’t know what the Government is saying,” another importer, Mustaf Mohamed argued.

An enraged Mohamed, who has

over 50 years, explained that public transportation costs would rise if persons were forced to buy new tyres.

“The bus fare is now Gy$140 for the route which I work, but if I’m expected to buy a new tyre which I’m sure will not be tough as the used ones so I will have to keep buying, the fare will have to raise to Gy$300.

This is going to put a strain on the poor people and the Government will have something to say,” Yusuf declared.

While the importers and drivers will be tremendously inconvenienced by the budgetary measure, housewives will also feel the “squeeze”.

Even though importers and drivers are aware that this move from the Government to ban used tyres is an affirmative one, they are petitioning for the measure to be reformed. They called for Government to at least have the Guyana National Bureau of Standards appointed to control the inspection of imported tyres to approve their condition and permanence.

The decision to ban the importation of used tyres was disclosed

by Finance Minister Winston Jordan in his Budget 2016 presentation as an effort to promote a green economy and protect the environment.

Ever since the announcement had been made, the Government had come under fire from importers, drivers, and the previous Administration who had deemed the decision as one with no consideration for the affairs of middle and low income earners.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

13

14 NEWS

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ram & McRae accuses Govt of employing too many contract workers

C

h a r t e r e d Accounting Firm Ram & McRae is calling on the David Granger-led Administration to put an end to the subverting of the Public Service by the practice of employing large numbers of contract workers who are remunerated with exorbitant salaries and benefits.

The Christopher Ram-owned Ram & McRae had initially observed in its review of this year’s Budget – Budget Focus 2016 – that the number of contract workers under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Administration along with the total employment costs had skyrocketed.

Government through Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman had both responded to the reports, insisting that the number had not increased so drastically, but rather it was a miscalculation of Ram & McRae. In a statement on Monday, however, the

Christopher Ram

company posited that its calculations were correct.

“Minister of State Joseph Harmon sought to attribute the increase in the Ministry of the Presidency to organisational changes and posited that the Office of the President cannot be compared to the Ministry of State, which now includes the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Ministry of Citizenship, and the Public Service Department.”

In fact, Ram & McRae was not comparing the Ministry of the Presidency with the Office of the President, but comparing the two yearend numbers (2015

and Budget 2016) in the same Ministry.

“It appears that Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman may have been under the same impression and called such an increase virtually impossible, adding that the Ministry of Natural Resources, which was recently designated a separate Ministry, was also included within the Ministry of the Presidency until January 2016,” Ram & McRae clarified.

The Accounting Firm reiterated that it was disappointed about the increases in both the number and cost of contract employees, noting once again that it was not healthy for the country’s democracy and such practice put under strain Article 38 G of the Constitution which requires the Public Service to be free from political influence.

The company noted nonetheless that the problem started under the previous Administration, and expressed confidence in the present Government to put an end to the practice.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

15

16

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

17

18 NEWS

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

E-Governance project: Wedding Expo kicks off second phase of the competition Board of Directors to be appointed

M

i n i s t e r of State J o s e p h Harmon has announced the decision to work to incorporate the operations of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) into its massive E-Governance operations.

During a recent visit to the NDMA office attached to the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, the Minister was informed of the unit’s mandate as well as a number of challeng-

es facing that authority.

Meanwhile, in light of this process, Minister Harmon recapped his official visit to the operations in August 2015

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon interacts with Godfrey Proctor of the National Data Management Authority

where he found the operations of the unit to be apprising.

According to a press statement on Monday, the General Manager of the operations Godfrey Proctor informed the Minister that the NDMA has not had a Board appointed in over two decades which resulted in the work of the authority being severely hampered.

Minister Harmon noted that government in its review of the Public Service ICT will restore the NDMA and similar bodies so that they can play a meaningful role in the administration’s E-Governance initiatives.

W

Contestants of the ‘Race to the altar’ 2016

edding Expo ‘Race to the altar’ 2016 kicked off the second phase of the competition, which saw the final five contestants vying for the top prize of Gy$3,000,000 all-inclusive wedding in this the 8th Annual Wedding Expo.

The top five contestants are Hamilton Holder and Karen McAllister, Clay Harris and Maelisha Kellman, Steven Persaud and Monalisa Sammy, Troy Archer and Karen Alexander and Mutola Caesar and Eldon Pile.

This event hosted by Roraima Airways saw

the contestants competing in activities ranging from mountain biking, kayaking, forest expedition and couple communication at the Arrowpoint Nature Resort.

This part of the competition was created to provide the judges an opportunity to examine the interaction of the couples while they are under stressful situations.

Criteria that the judges will also be looking at when determining the winner is “Good ambassadorship”, affordability of a wedding, and chemistry.

Other activities slat-

ed for the remainder of the competition are visits to their homes, media blitz and the talent segment at the Valentine’s Day Special at the Roraima Duke Lodge.

Public voting has commenced since Tuesday on the Roraima Wedding Expo Facebook page. The announcement of the winning couple will be done at the Roraima Duke Lodge Valentine’s Day Special.

This annual event is aimed at showcasing Guyana’s diverse wedding industry and at the same time promoting the country as a wedding destination.

NEWS 19

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Budget 2016 Debates:

“Good life” just for a select few - Irfaan Ali

By Edward Layne

A

s the week-long debate on the 2016 National Budget commenced, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Irfaan Ali has declared that the “good life” is just for a select few.

Ali, who opened the debate on Monday afternoon, declared that with Budget 2016, poor Guyanese are poorer while the rich are becoming richer.

“The “good life” is an illusion for most and a reality for a ‘select few’. If you are a Minister definitely, you would have enjoyed the ‘good life’. The contract workers are richer today with the handsome payouts as reflected by the Gy$3.7 billion paid out for this category of workers. However, the pensioners, poor families, rice farmers, sugar workers, and public servants are yet to enjoy the ‘good life’. Unfortunately, Budget 2016 will not deliver the ‘good life’ for these Guyanese,” Ali said.

The former Commerce Minister (acting) chastised the Government for the “penance” being offered to the poor in spite of lofty promises by the coalition while on the campaign

PPP/C MP, Irfaan Ali

trail ahead of the May 2015 General Election.

“The sugar workers were not rewarded for their outstanding performance last year, but will have to cope with the closure of some of the estates, regardless of the outcome of the CoI. The rice farmers were crippled with lower prices last year and will have to deal with their problems since ‘rice is not government business’. The reduction in VAT will not come in 2016, but we will have to pay more indirect taxes in the form of increased licence fees that will cripple the poor man and small businesses. The poor will have to pay substantially more for vehicles,” Ali told the House in a passionate presentation.

He maintained that

the Budget was aimed at providing benefits for a select few, while placing heavy burdens on the already impoverished, singling out contract workers who will benefit from an allocation of over Gy$9 billion compared with Gy$3.7 billion in 2015, new vehicle importers, and those who should be rewarded for their “contribution or investment” in the political parties.

The economy

Ali said while Finance Minister Winston Jordan indicated that confidence was restored and more investments were made last year – including the numerous investments GOInvest facilitated – and highlighted the potential value of the investments, he fell way short of speak-

ing directly about the actual investments and the number of new employment opportunities that originated from these investments.

Ali highlighted that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for 2015 was US$125 million, significantly below the target of US$217 million and half the size of the FDI reported in 2014.

“Mr Speaker, it is instructive to note that FDI for 2015 was below the levels reported over the past five years, even 2011 when we had elections and the global economy was in turmoil. The excuse for the lower investment cannot be blamed on election or the downturn in the global economy,” Ali stated.

According to the former Minister, in terms of the business climate and investors’ confidence, the FDI is not the only indicator which suggests the economy is “slipping and sliding downwards”, as the non-performing loans also tell the story better about what is really happening in the local Private Sector.

“According to the Bank of Guyana Third Quarter Statistical Bulletin for 2015, the non-performing loans of business enterprises exploded as businesses struggled to meet their loans payment …

Mr Speaker, what we have, is not an expansion of the Private Sector but contraction. Even more worrying is the situation where the banking system is saddled with “toxic loans” that would serve to dissuade lending to the Private Sector. Unless the Government intervenes, we may very well have a financial and economic crisis that will cost billions to escape and magnify the current economic crisis brewing,” he noted.

Ali said given the eco-

ic management

He said that any responsible government would have ensured the successful implementation of the public sector investment programme, as a countercyclical measure to halt the decline in the economy and stimulate spending.

“We are in this economic quandary because of the decision by the coalition Government to stall the public sector investment programme which contributes approximately one

Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin

nomic conditions, responsible leaders would take pre-emptive action instead of hiding their heads in the sand and hoodwinking the public with “fancy speeches that are muddled with half-truths”.

Sound macroeconom-

percentage point to economic growth and cushion external shock. In short, our coalition Government induced a slowdown in the economy by cutting back on capital spending when the economy was on the continued on page 21

20

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 21

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

GECOM supports youth initiative 22-year-old dancer is on voter education campaign Guyana’s latest suicide victim ...three more hospitalised after attempting suicide

T

(From L-R) Deputy Chief Election Officer- Mr. Vishnu Persaud, Executive Director of Youth Challenge Guyana, Mr. Dmitri Nicholson, President of Guyana National Youth Council- Ms. Tricia Teekah, Executive Member of Guyana National Youth Council- Mr. Francis Bailey, Chief Election Officer- Mr. Keith Lowenfield

I

n an effort to ensure a high voter turnout at the Local Government Elections (LGE), representatives of Youth Challenge Guyana, The National Coordinating Coalition and the National Youth Council, met with top officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) today to discuss the facilitation of training and support for their joint programme titled “Voter Education Project”.

According to a GECOM media statement, the Voter Education Project which is being funded by USAID through Counterpart International is designed to lend support to the electorate as well as candidates. This project also aims to target the youth primarily. Apart from that, the project focuses on women and Special Interests groups.

The Representatives explained that the project will establish “candi-

date hubs” across the country where trained personnel will be available to answer questions on Local Government Elections. Youth friendly publications will also be produced to strengthen awareness.

Deputy Chief Election Officer, Vishnu Persaud indicated that GECOM can provide existing literature and check materials produced via the project towards ensuring that the information being disseminated is accurate.

GECOM has continuously been engaged with voter education over the years. Chief Election Officer, Mr. Keith Lowenfield indicated that because of the wide hiatus between Local Government Elections, a culture may have developed whereby people view the LGE as unimportant. However, through these awareness campaigns that can be improved.

We will fight corruption at all levels in the mining sector - Minister Broomes Minister Broomes during her presentation in the National Assembly

O

ne of the main challenges in the mining sector is changing 'old habits' and bringing a 'sense of order' to the natural resources sector in Guyana. This is according to Junior Natural Resources Minister, Simona Broomes who during her speech at the 2016 budget debates stated that as such there needs to be a turn-around of the 'tides of smuggling' which is deemed a priority by her government.

"As a nation, we appear unable to benefit directly for more than half of the gold (we produce)...we have to set face against corruption and corrupt practices, continue to train people so that performance sector can be advanced, training alone cannot bring about the transformation we seek...we have to and will find new and workable ways to fend off corruption," she declared.

Minister Broomes explained that at present there are many companies and operators in the mining sector whose only concern is in making and securing profits and this too must be rectified.

She promised that her administration will embark on ensuring that all miners inclusive of small miners are

wenty-two-yearold, Dinesh Chan aka Moti of Reliance Village on the Essequibo Coast, succumbed last Sunday night at the Suddie Public Hospital after he consumed a quantity of poisonous substance in an effort to end his life.

Chan, who is an electrician, was discovered by family relatives at his Reliance home. He battled for his life for 5 days then succumbed to his injuries.

According to information reaching this newspaper, Chan was confused over a prolonged relationship issue.

Although he is a well known electrician and a dancer he never confided in anyone.

His sudden death has plunged his home village and the Swarswattie Dance Academy into

deep mourning. He was a dancer for almost two years with the Academy.

The Academy members described him as a very willing and co-operative person.

Meanwhile, three other young persons from the Pomeroon River are battling for their lives at the Charity Hospital after they also attempted suicide. The three persons are also said to be suffering from relationship issues.

This publication understands that doctors at the Charity Hospital are monitoring their condition.

Only recently 5 persons were hospitalised at the Suddie Public Hospital. Three of those persons have died while two survived.

Thus far, Region Two has recorded the highest rate of suicide in the country with more than 6 reported deaths for 2016.

Some Wales workers given marching orders by GuySuCo – GAWU

T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) GAWU is alleging that since Friday, February 05, 2016, no less than sixty (60) workers undertaking various tasks in the fields and the factory at the Wales Estate were given marching orders by officials of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo).

According to GAWU, workers were told that they were no longer engaged in the employ of the Estate on the ground that they were temporary workers. “These employees worked previous crops at the Estate. A few of them, including young females, we understand, were told they could be further employed to cut and load canes, if they wished,” GAWU said.

The Union added that this morning (February 08, 2016), over fifty

(50) planters were reportedly told by GuySuCo officials that if they did not to take up employment at Uitvlugt Estate and did not agree to accept severance pay within the three (3) days, it would be regarded by GuySuCo that they have opted to leave the Estate’s employ.

“GAWU condemns the so-called interviews at the instance of GuySuCo with the workers and the high-handedness adopted. The Union also wishes to point out that the interviews are being conducted behind the backs of the workers’ Unions – GAWU and NAACIE,” the statement added.

The Union noted this recent move by GuySuCo is contrary to what Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder had said a few days ago, that is; as it stands no worker will be retrenched.

from page 19

treated fairly.

"Another change we intend to make in the sector is to ensure that all players are treated fairly, small miners for far too long has been working in a discriminatory environment. We are creating an enabling environment in which the sector can continue to grow and prosper,” the Minister said.

She pointed out that gold has a 'shining future' in Guyana and that her ministry will move to invest greatly in educating miners, with the priority of this education campaign being that of safety for all involved.

"We have to find a way to put an end to tragedies which cause an end and a blight of life in mining sector...this Government is only months-old but we have done a lot in the mining sector... the intention of this Administration to ensure that the mining sector work for the development of Guyana on a whole," she said.

According to Broomes her ministry is also in the process of implementing a compliance divison tasked with ensuring that all agencies under the Natural Resources Ministry are compliant with rules and regulations.

Budget 2016 Debates: “Good life”... decline. This is not sound economic management,” Ali stated.

Taxation

Turning his attention to the Budget measures, Ali again took the Government to task for promoting special interests while increasing the tax burden on the poor, adding that after almost one year in office, Guyanese would have expected measures in the Budget that would serve to fulfil coalition promises. Ali highlighted the fact that the Government exempted a few measly items from VAT, instead of fulfilling its promise of a reduction in the VAT, while meagrely increasing the income tax threshold.

Used cars

He also spoke of the ban on used motor vehicles older than eight years, as well as the extensive range of measures to tax the nation further by increasing the fees paid for various licences, including drivers’ licences; fitness; motor vehicle licences; licences for carts drawn by horse, pony, donkey, mule and liquor licences.

Gaskin’s counter

Meanwhile, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, in countering Ali’s ar-

guments, said he commended the measures in the Budget, which he said would protect the revenue base of the State from threats of depletion, thus enabling Government to fulfil its promise of delivering a good life for all Guyanese.

Speaking to the issue of tax compliance, Gaskin said that the new measures outlined would ensure small businesses became tax compliant.

Speaking directly to measures relating to the Business Ministry, Gaskin announced that the Ministry would provide training support for some 4000 small businesses during 2016.

Through this training, the Minister said, small business owners are expected to be better positioned to better manage their financial and other affairs, as well as better understand the country’s tax laws.

He added that there would also be provision of more loans for small businesses.

Gaskin also promised support, through the Gy$668 million allocated for the Business Ministry, for the Bureau of Statistics and GO-Invest among other agencies under the Ministry.

22 NEWS

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

“We are ready” …GECOM says all preparations on stream for LGE

BY ALEXIS RODNEY

T

he Guyana E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) has been making a rigid effort to get all of Guyana streamlined for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) scheduled for March 18, even though it has commenced the printing of ballot papers.

This preparation includes the training of staff to work on elections day across the 71 Local Authority Areas, and the continued efforts to expand the voters’ education programme.

On Friday, GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, along with its Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield and Deputy CEO Vishnu Persaud along with new Public Relations Officer (REO) Tamara Rodney met with members of the press to share the Commission’s level of preparedness for the much anticipated poll.

Local Government Elections has not been conducted in close to 22 years, the last being held in 1994. The

GECOM team said it has been working tirelessly to see a smooth and transparent exercise come March 18.

Overview

GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally said that above all the points relative to the voters’ education programme, the electorate must be cognisant of one fact. “You are voting for a person whom you feel will best represent your interest.

That has to the objective more than anything else. Once you stick with that, everything else is adjunctive are peripheral to that main point”.

Meanwhile, CEO Keith Lowenfield said GECOM has so far been able to satisfy all the requirements set out by law for the holding of Local Government Elections.

“We began and concluded our exercise of ensuring our register of voters was prepared and certified.

According to Lowenfield, GECOM has in its possession, a total of 523,831 electors on its certified electors list.

However, even with this number, all of Guyana

will not involve in the Local Authority Election process.

These are called the “no contest” areas. In four Local Authority

(CWC), Black Bush Polder (BBP), Kentyre Borlam and the Mocha Arcadia Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

Added to the Local

GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

Areas across Guyana, there is no contest, meaning only one particular political party or group has indicated its interest in participating in the LGE. These include the Crabwood Creek

Authorities Areas, out of the 508 constituencies, 149 have been declared no contest areas. However, while persons will be voting in the Proportional Representation (PR),

they will not be participating in the First Past the Post system.

Lowenfield said the Commission has addressed the issue, since it has implications for the production of the Ballot papers in those areas.

Ballots, Disciplined Services voting With that in place, GECOM is now in the process of producing Ballot papers, which will be done in Montreal Canada. This is to ensure that the ballots are printed and returned to Guyana by the appropriate time. He explained that the format for the Ballot speaks to both the PR and the First Past the Post components.

As far as the Discipline Services ballots go, the CEO said GECOM has been engaging the Army, Police and Prison Services.

He said there is a rigid training session which is in place to ensure that everything goes well on Discipline Services day.

Members of the services will vote one week prior on March 18.

Meanwhile, Deputy CEO Vishnu Persaud

said GECOM has been arranging meetings in all of the Local Authority Areas; however, this has not been reaping much success.

“We wrote letters to 96 civil society areas inviting them to arrange meetings with the local areas, only five have responded. We are on an all out campaign to provide information about LGE”.

Nomination day

Speaking on the Nomination Day procedure, Lowenfield reiterated that everything went well. From the 71 Local Authorities Areas, lists from parties, individuals and groups were received.

“Indeed on Nomination Day there were some issues relating to defective lists and those were corrected in the main. “In the main, this was done and at the end of the exercise, we received lists provided by parties, voluntary groups and individuals.

We were also doing all the administrative requirements in the acquisition of the sensitive and non sensitive materials for elections”.

NEWS 23

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

The greatest tragedy is not death SHOCKING REVELATIONS… but to live without a purpose – Govt launches probe into inspirational leader tells GPF spoilt milk claims

S

Dr Astell Collins engages GPF ranks

By Devina Samaroo

I

nspirational leader Dr Astell Collins continues to make significant strides in his “Be the One” (BD1) leadership seminars across the country, this time around encouraging Guyana Police Force (GPF) officers not to live meaningless lives without purpose.

Dr Collins facilitated his BD1 leadership seminar with Cadet Officers and also addressed the highest ranks and most senior officers, encouraging them to serve the Guyanese public with fervour and vehemence.

“The greatest tragedy is not death but to live a life without a purpose,” Dr Collins told the group of keen listeners, quoting the late Dr Myles Munroe.

Dr Collins also advocated for national unity and in the process outlined how Guyanese were more alike than unalike.

He also took them on a journey of self-discovery where he educated them about the importance of self-worth and self-value.

“We must become people of value because only a person of value can add value,” he stated.

The youth ambassador has been in partnership with the GPF for over two years. The relationship was established after Dr Collins met with Senior Superintendent Paul Williams and

training sessions were arranged.

Dr Collins said he was also in partnership with A (Georgetown) Division Commander Clifton Hicken whereby he engages with the youths who reside in that Division.

Contacted for a comment, Dr Collins said he believed fundamentally that focus should be placed on who “we are as a person” rather than “how we lead”.

“I want to transform followers into leaders and leaders into agents of change,” he said.

Dr Collins related that after one of his sessions with the Police groups, a young officer approached him and exclaimed that it was the best seminar he had ever attended.

“He said it was significant because of the racial divide that exists between our nation’s two major ethnic groups. He said I was somehow dismantling the superficial barriers that have been erected and utilised by our political players,” Dr Collins recalled.

The motivational speaker said he wanted to engage more youths and create more opportunities for them by advancing the spirit of volunteerism.

“My aspiration is to cultivate a culture of compassion in our nation where there is more collaboration and greater consideration for the essence of our collective humanity,” he stated.

Rural Constable beaten in revenge assault A Community Policing Group’s Rural Constable (RC) has been hospitalised after he was attacked in an act of revenge while on duty.

RC Paul Waterman, of Block A Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, was rendered unconscious after he received blows to his face and neck from a man armed with a large piece of wood.

According to Tuschen CPG Chairman Shaheed Ahmad, on Saturday evening, he and several other Constables, including Waterman, were on patrol duty when they were called to respond to a domestic dispute.

Ahmad explained that they were returning to the CPG Outpost at approximately 18:30h when they encountered a group of men, who were drinking alcohol. He explained that most of the men were known to them as they were repeat of-

was present at the moment, and upon hearing his son’s utterance, proceeded to hold Waterman in a vice-like grip and allowed his son to inflict the blows.

Ahmad added that Waterman fell unconscious and they sought assistance from the other men to take him to receive medical attention. He recalled that one of the men identified himself as a cadet, and when he requested his help to arrest the asSome of the injuries received sailant, the man refused saying “this man should

by RC Paul Waterman dead”. fenders with matters He stated that the such as larceny and oth- injured man was taken er petty crimes commit- to the Leonora Cottage ted in the area.

Hospital where they “One of the young were informed that he men who is known to sustained serious injuus as (name withheld) ries to his head after the called out for Waterman doctors admitted him. saying ‘you lock me up The Constable will two years ago fuh mari- not be able to serve for juana’,” the Chairman the next two months due recalled. He stated that to the extent of his injuthe young man’s father ries.

hocking revelations are being made regarding a quantity of spoilt milk that was delivered to the Diamond Diagnostic and other hospitals. This newspaper understands that the Government has launched a high level probe to get to the bottom of the issue.

This publication was reliably informed that the milk was delivered by a well-known local company; however, health authorities have opted not to comment on the name of company.

While the details surrounding the discovery are surfacing, Director of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department attached to the Health Ministry, Marlon Cole, when contacted on Wednesday confirmed that indeed some

“bad” milk was discovered at the Diamond Hospital and that investigations are ongoing.

Cole explained that while the discovery was made some time back, the probe is yet to be completed since another issue came up. This new matter is in relation to challenges with Customs.

“The milk, some of it, has been seized pending investigations and those investigations are ongoing. So I’m not at liberty to give any details about the investigation,” the Food and Drug Department Head was quoted in a section of the media as saying.

When asked about the quantity of milk that was spoilt, the Director could not say as he is awaiting the submission of the report from the probe.

Meanwhile, Public

Director of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department attached to the Health Ministry, Marlon Cole

Health Minister, Dr George Norton told a section of the media that he was made aware of the situation on the same day but was not fully briefed on what transpired.

“I know for a fact that this milk was destroyed because it was found to have larva inside,” the Minister revealed.

However, he stated that all the milk was confiscated and the spoilt ones have been destroyed.

Minister, President offer different takes on Wales closure

A

g r i c u l t u r e Minister Noel Holder has strayed a considerable way from statements made by President David Granger and statements he himself had made earlier about who really gave the go-ahead to close the Wales Sugar Estate.

As outrage spread following the “premature” announcement of the Wales Estate closure, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder at a postCabinet press briefing on January 20 stated that the decision to close the Wales Estate was one taken by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Board and was contained in its Budget and Action Plan for 2016.

It was explained that Holder was “at pains” to inform Cabinet of the Board’s decision.

The Minister had maintained this over that time. However, on his recent televised programme “The Public Interest”, President Granger informed that the decision was in fact made by Cabinet.

The President said: “A decision was made to close Wales, and it is a decision that Cabinet is responsible for.”

Asked to explain this, Holder said: “The budget from GuySuCo went to Cabinet late last year, and in that budget, the closure of Wales was on the cards.” So in essence the decision was made by the Board.

More contradictions

President David Granger

Meanwhile, Holder has also flipped on another issue relating to the Wales Estate. He had promised that the closure was only going to affect the factory and not the entire Estate.

GuySuCo Chairman, Dr Clive Thomas, however, recently told another media house that dismissed workers of Wales would be given an option or first priority to utilise the lands of the Estate.

According to Thomas, “as Chairman of GuySuCo I state, without qualification that, in the case of the intended Wales estate closure, the GuySuCo Board and its management team have exercised `their bounden duty’ and responsibility to secure a better future for the industry, without any outside instruction or direction, whatsoever. In deciding to close the Wales estate in 2017, our aim is to promote the greater long-term good of the entire workforce, the industry, and all its stakeholders, taking into account fully, the “dire straits”, in which GuySuCo has found it-

Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder

self in during recent decades.”

He said the closure of Wales is immediately linked to the commencement of diversification programmes envisaged to begin in October this year. Some of these programmes involve lands for workers to engage in peasant cane farming and lands for their farming of other crops as well. There are also programmes to seek to determine the commercial feasibility of alcohol production and aquaculture

by GuySuCo at Wales.

But Holder speaking to this publication said the Estate’s sugar lands would not be farmed; however, the lands owned by private cane farmers would be farmed.

“Therefore, the 3000 hectares owned by the Estate will be kept for use that will come up later… the private will remain to be used for private cane farming, while the GuySuCo land will be left for further use including aquaculture, certain crops, dairy, etc,” he said

24 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Wanted bulletin issued Fewer Guyanese are being “Wallie” in relation deported from U.S. – Ambassador for to ‘Pink Shop’ murder

D

espite public views that a large number of Guyanese in the United States are still being deported, U.S. Ambassador Perry Holloway has stated that this is not the case. In fact, he noted that the number has been reducing over recent years.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International, the Ambassador said Guyanese deportation figures had never been as high as persons perceived. He noted that in any given year, it has been an average of 100 to 200 persons; however of recent the number has been leaning more on the lesser side.

“Over the last four years it has been going down. I have no explanations why it’s going down but it has been going down… I think people get the impression that thousands of Guyanese are being deported (but) I have gone back to about 10 years and I don’t think it was ever higher than 200,” he explained.

Ambassador Holloway added that currently the number of Guyanese being deported from the North American country is much closer to 100 on average per year.

According to records from the United States Department of Homeland Security, there has been a decreasing trend from 2008 to 2013 in the number of persons deported back to Guyana. Between that period a total of 1035 persons were deported, 803 of whom were noncriminals.

Statistics on the US agency’s website shows that in 2008 some 508 persons were sent back, while 492 were deported in 2009. The following year saw 428 Guyanese deported back to Guyana and 411 in

T

2011. Approximately 360 persons were sent home in 2012 and another 292 the following year. These persons were deported on a criminal/non-criminal basis.

The figures for the succeeding years are not available on the website.

Moreover, the Ambassador went on to highlight that while some of the deportees are criminals not all of them are, contrary to popular belief. “Some people are just people who overstayed their visas or whatever the case maybe,” he stated.

Back in February last year, around 26 deportees from the United States arrived in Guyana after serving time for various crimes. The convicted criminals came aboard a DC 9 World Atlantic flight.

According to procedures, after clearing immigration they were shuttled to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Eve Leary, where they were processed for release.

The United States has deported thousands of convicted criminals to the Caribbean annually since 1996, when Congress mandated that every non-citizen sentenced to a year or more in prison must be

kicked out of the country upon release.

In all, the US is responsible for about three-quarters of the region’s returning criminal deportees, with the United Kingdom and Canada accounting for most of the other ex-cons arriving in the Caribbean.

It is a phenomenon that also afflicts many parts of Central America, where street gangs that grew out of Los Angeles spread to the region through massive deportations. Brutal and powerful, one such gang, the “Maras” are blamed for rampant violent crime, extortion and, more recently, acting as enforcers for drug cartels.

Some years ago, Caribbean governments had said that deportees were exacerbating crime in nations with high levels of violence. The US in attempting to defuse tensions had introduced a programme to help reintegrate deportees, but the programme coordinated by the International Organisation for Migration recorded moderate success and was scrapped.

Some Caribbean countries such as Guyana had also enacted laws, which gave lawmen the power to monitor criminal deportees.

M&CC imposes Gy$200 daily fee on minibus operators for use of bus parks

T

he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has launched a system for minibus operators in Georgetown which will see them paying a daily fee of $200 to use bus parks as part of the

efforts to maintain and beautify the environs.

M&CC Public Relations Officer (PRO) Debra Lewis (Ag) said that a meeting was held with operators of public transportation to make a decision on payments for this venture which saw 95 per cent of the operators being in agreement with

the decision.

The final decision made was each operator would pay $200 each day as a contribution for this venture. “ T h i s p r o j e c t would be started in phases, for each public transportation park within the city.

Collection of payments would begin on Monday for public transportation operators, in the vicinity of Stabroek Market and D e m i c o House” she noted.

Weekly meetings will be conducted to accommodate room for alternate changes, if this payment is not feasible enough.

The implementation of this payment system

by M&CC came with much criticism from some operators, citing it as totally unfair to them.

he Police on Wednesday issued a wanted bulletin for 25-year-old Walter Williams, also called “Wallie”, of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), for questioning in relation to the murder of Dewaun Baksh, who was fatally stabbed to death on New Year’s Day at Greenwich Park.

The Police stated that the last known address of the wanted man was Lot 58 Zeelugt, West Coast Demerara. They are calling on the public to assist them in locating the wanted man.

It was reported that on January 1, Baksh was stabbed to death during a brawl at a popular bar called “Pink Shop” at Greenwich Park.

Baksh, 22, of Lot 55 Tuschen, EBE, was reportedly with his younger brother, Rafeek, and two friends at the time of the stabbing incident.

The group of men had gone to a party in the village after which they went to the shop where the now dead man’s brother saw Williams.

Rafeek and Williams reportedly had an old grievance, thus an argument ensued between them resulting in the now dead man’s intervention.

It was during this time,

Wanted: Walter Williams

another man started to assault him but in an attempt to make peace, Baksh’s brother walked away and thought that his twin had followed suit. He was instead attacked and stabbed

by Williams and his friends.

Another man reportedly went to rescue the young man who was being repeatedly stabbed, but he was also injured.

Both of the injured men were rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where Baksh succumbed to his injuries. The Police had arrested two persons in connection with the murder.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Williams is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 268-2343, 268-2298, 268-2222, 226-9941, 2256411, and 911 or at the nearest Police Station.

Minister Cummings details ...

from page 8

health workers to the various regions to train a larger quantity of people; identify and train mental health workers to provide specialist care and refer patients to a multidisciplinary medical team; create a social safety net programme for vulnerable mental health patients; train first responders in mental health including the Police; and revise the curriculum for doctors and nurses to include a meaningful mental health component.

Other measures include improving health literacy through public awareness programmes; establish a crisis/wellness centre; and create “youth friendly spaces” and encourage persons to attend youth friendly forums.

The Public Health Ministry will also be approaching the Pan-American Health Organisation, the US Peace Corp, along with the

University of Guyana for a curriculum development consultant to revise current curriculum for doctors and nurses to include mental health components.

During her speech, no mention was made of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into suicide which was first announced by Finance Minister Winston Jordan during the presentation of the National Budget on January 29.

According to the Finance Minister, the Inquiry will focus on data collection and research, including gathering epidemiological data, demographic information, and research on driving factors contributing to designated rates per region and analysis will be done at the regional and country levels, including maps and profiles for targeted interventions. from page 3

“We will dismantle... they will be sharing lots of information,” Ambassador Holloway stated.

On the other hand, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan outlined that having the DEA Office here will be a tremendous step in Guyana’s efforts to fight trafficking.

“The mere presence of this Unit out of America will have a deterring effect in my opinion. The fact that such an information institution, such an important drug interdiction unit is here and though

it may not have any Police powers, knowing their capacities and abilities to get information and to disrupt networks is so very important,” he highlighted.

Ramjattan also recognised that crime and violence have been born out of the narcotics trade, adding that he is grateful that the agency will also be able to provide information in the other areas such as gold smuggling and money laundering, saying that will assist local enforcement agencies.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

25

26

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 27

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

UG transformational task force established

BY ALEXIS RODNEY

W

ith a population of over 7000 students, the University of Guyana (UG) – the country’s leading tertiary institution – still has far way to go.

And with a fairly new administration in place, a new task force has been established to initiate a process that would be used to restructure and reposition the academic body.

It is hoped that the work instigated by the new unit would help UG achieve a level of excellence necessary to propel the growth and development of Guyana.

Recently appointed Chancellor, Dr Nigel Harris, has received a mandate from Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine to move in this direction, urging him to work along with the Council to constitute a team to review and select studies produced in the last decade that assessed the status of the University and make recommendations for change.

The unit is also expected to hear and assess presentations on the perceived state of the University by select past and present administrators, academic and nonacademic staff along with

UG Chancellor, Dr Nigel Harris

students among other things.

Speaking to journalists at the university’s first media briefing for this year, Harris said it is known fact that the University has brought much success to Guyana and other places where graduates have found themselves; however, there are a number of chronic challenges that have faced the university that have not been addressed.

“These include issues such as staff remuneration, issues of governance of the university, issues with the adequacy of the facilities, and issues of infrastructural support.

There is a matter of morale, matters with respect to the qualification of the academic and nonacademic staff. These issues have been recognised and spoken to in the last two decades”, he told re-

porters in the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT).

He said what one has to be able to do is revisit all of this, and take hold of the moments of change and opportunities the University and country have found themselves.

Harris said with the change in Government, there have also been changes for the University. He however said that he was not implying that one party has better ideas than the other.

“It is a moment of opportunity because the Private Sector and other friends of the university and the Diaspora who aligned with the university… who also have found that in this moment of change they want to become reengaged with the university”. He said it was imperative that all sectors of Guyana come together.

According to Harris, there is no way that the solutions are going to come from the university alone, adding that every stakeholder must work hand in hand to achieve the best for the institution.

The task force will be officially announced today (Thursday) at the Arthur Chung Convention centre. Members of the team include members of the

University of Guyana Council, which comprises representatives of the Government, Opposition and specified interest groups, the Private Sector, UG representatives and other persons drawn from the wider society and the Guyanese Diaspora.

The University of Guyana was established in 1963. It offers more than 60 undergraduate

and post graduate programmes in the faculties of Agriculture and Forestry, Education and Humanities, Health Sciences, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Technology.

To date, more than 20,000 students have graduated from the University with the tools and skills to function effectively in the Public and Private Sectors.

28 news

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

SWAT team to help tackle rising Guyana’s Health Ministry working to crime in Berbice

A

special team under the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Unit is to be deployed to Berbice to help curb the recent spike in crimes within the Ancient county. This is according to Assistant Police Commissioner of Operations, David Ramnarine. Criminal activity in the county has increased significantly over the last several weeks and residents have been complaining of their fear and safety.

Just several months ago, Guyana’s SWAT Unit was deployed to the district to dismantle a gang that was responsible for a slew of criminal activities in the county.

It was stated that since the SWAT Unit’s deployment to the county, the Unit has aided the Berbice Police in several high-profile cases that have resulted in arrests of perpetrators and them subsequently being taken to court. The gang was dismantled and the crime rate had since decreased, with the unit returning to Georgetown.

Reports state that the team that will be deployed to Berbice will include ranks from the Force’s Anti-Crime Patrol Unit and ranks from the Major Crimes Unit and they will be stationed at the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam.

The most recent murder victim in the county was Chinese National Sue Di Wong, called “Xiudi Yang”, 49, of the Jinlai Lai Restaurant who was shot once to the head during what appeared to be an attempted robbery. In January, the bodies of 81-year-old Arthur Rajkumar, a West Coast Berbice businessman; and his reputed wife,

Assistant Police Commissioner (Operations), David Ramnarine

Dianne Chamanlall, 44, were found mutilated in their Bush Lot home in what is believed to be a robbery/murder committed by person/s from the village.

Also, 49-year-old Anita Baichan was tied up in her West Coast Berbice home, while her captors set the house on fire with her still inside.

It is believed that with the Unit’s integration into the county, it will lead to the capture of lawbreakers and the crime rate in the region will decrease.

Meanwhile, the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) in a statement on Tuesday said that residents on Berbice continue to live in fear with the spiralling crime situation in the county.

“This is the fourth press release by this Chamber in the last six months dealing with crime as the major issue. The Berbice business community is

sick and tired of the crime situation in the region. A young man’s life was snuffed out within a stone’s throw of the Rose Hall [Police] Outpost, and a businesswoman was killed Sunday night in the upper Corentyne area. Who is next? Can we develop a country like this? Where is the Public Security Minister? The public is being decimated by bandits and is extremely insecure. Where are you sir?” the CCCC stated.

The CCCC is also questioning whether the President has a plan to curb the situation. “What are you doing Mr President? Is too much to expect to be protected and be allowed to develop our businesses in a peaceful atmosphere and provide jobs in the region? As it is, no one in the present environment would even consider expanding or developing their business, resulting in more unemployment and a contraction in economic activities.”

The body stated that business has significantly declined since the last election, and with the uncertain future of sugar – the mainstay of the Berbice economy – the future is looking very dim.

“We strongly feel that the President’s insistence of pardoning this group serving time in prison is certainly sending the wrong signal; instead we need to let any criminal, regardless of age, know that this will not be tolerated in society and they will have to pay the price… Berbice is demanding security and protection from its Government,” the CCCC demanded.

reduce maternal deaths

T

he manner in which child healthcare is being offered in Guyana will soon see a complete evolution through programmes that the Public Health Ministry has already started to organise to enhance the sector and provide exemplary service to the population.

This disclosure was made during an interview with Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud who informed Guyana Times International that there have been a number of unfortunate and avoidable maternal and infant deaths as a result of the fluctuating level of neonatal and prenatal care being offered in Guyana.

There will be a significant improvement in the conditions with the implementation of programmes and plans that the Ministry is undertaking in an attempt to advance health services throughout Guyana, in order to safeguard the lives of patients.

According to Dr Persaud, the situation where infants and mothers have been dying after being treated or having come through labour in perfect health has not gone unnoticed and as such, it is their priority to avert further cases from occurring and restore trust in medical personnel.

“We have been observant of the infant mortality rates and it is our target to avoid this.”

He added that much emphasis would be placed on training doctors and nurses at a nationwide level so they are better equipped with the

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

knowledge and skills to care for newborns and mothers.

Further, the Ministry will aim to improve the physical condition of all health facilities so that deliveries are done in clean and safe surroundings which are healthy and comfortable for both mothers and newborns during their time at the institution.

This, he said, will go a far way in preventing mothers or newborns from picking up any infection or medical condition as a result of their hospital environment.

At the end of 2015, there had been 17 reported maternal deaths from hospitals across Guyana, causing much distress in the Health Ministry.

Health Minister, Dr George Norton has vowed to work tirelessly with other health officials to address the situation and reduce the cases. He had further admitted that he was aware that some of the cases were as a result of the carelessness of healthcare practitioners who, on some occasions, are too laidback.

Wales’ closure is a “big mistake” – former President Ramotar – says investment needed to restore industry

F

ormer President Donald Ramotar has stated that the sugar industry has a bright future and instead of shutting down the nominal amount of factories that are left, Government needs to invest in the sector.

Ramotar was at the time speaking with Guyana Times International on the recent decision to close the Wales Factory, which he said is a big mistake that will not only reap short-term effects but will see the country suffering in the long-run as well.

“I think it is a big mistake to try to close the Wales Estate at this time and I believe the sugar industry still has a bright future. Of course it has its problems, but if you go back into the history of sugar, you will see that there have been periods when it went into problems but it has always been able to come out of difficulties, and so too I believe that now the difficulties that it has, it can come out of them without closing any of the Estates,” he stated.

According to the former President, by shutting down the Wales Factory, not only will sugar workers be put on

the breadline but their families as well as the community will be affected. He noted that the closure will unnecessarily put the workers out of employment when the industry can be restored to its previous viable state.

Ramotar, who was previously a member of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Board of Directors, further outlined that Wales is one of the major areas for cane farming and the closure will affect the farmers.

Investment

The former President believes that with sufficient investment, the industry can be placed back on its feet. “My

own personal view is that there is a big bright future for sugar and what it needs is investment at this point in time.”

In its 2016 Budget, Government has announced that Gy$9 billion was allocated to the industry to “assist the industry in its recovery and modernisation programme”.

However, Ramotar noted that he had promised during the 2015 election campaign to inject some Gy$20 billion into the sector.

Moreover, Ramotar pointed out that the major troubles the industry is facing are being fuelled by international factors, such as low and fluctu-

ating sugar prices and changing trading arrangements, particularly in Europe.

Furthermore, he recognised that the sugar industry has been plagued with problems, such as climate change, which has affected the production process. He noted that in the 1990s, the opportunity days of doing work in the field on sugar were 120 in Berbice and 110 in Demerara but this has changed over the years due to climate change.

Currently, Berbice only has 80 days while Demerara has about 75.

Ramotar highlighted another issue that has affected the sugar industry – the loss of labour over the years. He explained that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administrative had improved the quality of the economy with rice and mining, even construction growing at a rapid pace; hence a lot of the labour was attracted away from the sugar industry.

“At one time, in many areas sugar was the only form of employment but over the years this changed with many alternatives being created,” he said while adding that the cur-

rent Government needs to do some level of mechanisation in the fields to supplement the labour shortage that exists and that is anticipated as the economy continues to grow.

Diversification

On the other hand, the former Head of State posited that the current Administration needs to take immediate actions to sustain the sugar sector. Ramotar even recommended that Government diversify the sector in order to make it viable once again.

He outlined that there are a lot of possibilities that GuySuCo can go into other than sugar. Ramotar pointed to the fact that the Skeldon Estate is currently generating electricity and so Berbice is getting most of its energy from Skeldon with co-generation.

He noted a lot of co-generation project can also be done at the Albion and Enmore Estates.

“All of these are possibilities to earn GuySuCo more money,” he posited.

Moreover, the former President said that GuySuCo has started to package sugar, which was a very good move since it improves the quality and prices.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

A

Buildings in the village

poteri is located at the confluence of the ‘white’ Rupununi and ‘black’ Essequibo rivers, about two and a half hours, during high water season, from the administrative centre of Annai. The village is the most remote of the North Rupununi communities.

Apoteri is an old Carib village known since the days of Schomburgk and Im Thurn. It was a stopping point for travellers exploring Guyana’s hinterland in the early 1800s.

Today, Apoteri is known for its role in the balata trade. The village, of about 600 persons, is predominantly Wapishana, with Makushi and Patamona.

Its isolation, in part, has helped the village to continue maintaining a traditional way of life that includes farming, hunting and fishing.

travel & tourism 29

The lower end of King William Falls (Photo by barbelblogger.blogspot.com)

Despite its isolation, the general culture of the people has changed from purely indigenous to a mixture of practices. The village now has two churches: Anglican and Christian Brethren.

Other influences include music, food and fashion, brought back by those visiting other locations, especially Brazil.

But these new influences do not affect community togetherness. The villagers still work together on community self-help projects and celebrating special occasions. They also organize sport events with other communities, helping the people to remain connected, and promote positive relations.

One of the most scenic locations near the village is the King William Falls, located along the Upper Essequibo River. There you can enjoy a wilderness experience unlike any other in the world. (Information from projectcobra.org) Apoteri seen from the river

Apoteri village hall

Plane lands at Apoteri airfield

30 feature

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Providing quality health care To aid institutions delivering health care in Guyana has been one of Health and Educational Relief Organization, Incorporated (HERO, Inc.) primary goals

H

ERO, Inc was established in January 2000 and is a democratic, nonprofit organisation comprised of a governing Board of Directors and volunteers.

HERO-Guyana, under HERO, Inc., which is operated in the USA, was

Doctors during a medical outreach in Guyana

founded in July 2014 by Dr. Andrea Lambert and co-founded by Dr. John Mitchell in the U.S.A. It was recognised that to be able to effectively deliver high quality healthcare services on outreach missions, a local office of HERO, Inc. was necessary to

deal with the ground work, hence, the birth of HERO-Guyana.

Several donations of medical equipment and medications were made and educational and medical activities, including surgical and dental, have been carried out in Regions Four, Six

and Ten to date. The last outreach was conducted in August 2015.

“Thus far, the organisation has created linkages with healthcare facilities; mentoring of local physicians; procurement of building to conduct educational services in Mocha; byin from Mrs. Granger to scale up Lusignan after school programme,” outlined Dr. Andrea Lambert in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Lambert said HERO would welcome donations (cash and kind) to jumpstart its literacy programmes in Mocha, East Bank Demerara, and Santa Rosa in Region One (North West District). Donations will facilitate the transportation of medical outreach teams around Georgetown, to Berbice and Linden. The pub-

Some of HERO, Inc

lic can come on board to support this aspect of the medical outreach activity scheduled for March 2016.

HERO-Guyana plans to establish linkages with other concerned groups to expand improved primary healthcare, including preventative healthcare and health education services locally.

“Giving back to my country has been always been close to my heart, so to be able to do it gives me a sense of accomplishment,” expressed Lambert.

For more information on this organisation contact Dr. Andrea Lambert on 592-618-5403, Anije Lambert on 592-6433973 and Vivienne Lowe on 592-231-3188.

news 31

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

New GDF officers urged to uphold high standards they undertook.

“You are expected to embody and uphold the high personal and professional standards of officers. Your conduct will always be subjected to scrutiny; I therefore command you to be exemplary leaders of the Defence Force. I encourage you to continue to study to be disciplined, to be dignified and to be loyal to our country,” the Head of Commander-in-Chief, President David Granger; Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips and the 14 commissioned ranks along with other GDF officials

T

he Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Officer Corps has been enhanced after 14 new ranks were commissioned on Tuesday.

The ranks were issued with their Instruments of Commission by Commander-in-Chief, President David Granger, at the Ministry of the Presidency. These ranks were part of the Standard Officers’ Course #48.

With their induction into the Officer Corps, these 14 Army ranks will now enjoy the legal authority and privileges to

which they are entitled.

Their induction was approved by the GDF and the Defence Board.

The newly commissioned ranks, two of whom are female, were urged to be just in the discharge of their responsibilities, to defend the interest of the State and to uphold the Constitution of Guyana.

Addressing the small gathering after handing out the credentials, President Granger told the ranks that receiving their credentials is not only an achievement but

also gives them lawful authority to carry out duties as a member of the GDF. “You’ve sworn an oath to bear true faith and allegiance to the State of Guyana, to support and defend the State against all enemies and that in so doing, you will function as an officer without fear or favour, affection or ill will – these are heavy words… and time will come when you will be tested,” he cautioned.

On this note, the Commander-in-Chief went on to charge the ranks to uphold the oath

President supports mother whose son was burnt in house fire

Public Information and Press Services Officer Lloyda NicholasGarrett hands over $100,000 to mother of two, Cidel Hector, who lost all she owned in a house fire that has left her toddler son nursing first, second and third degree burns

P

resident David Granger, through his Public Information and Press Services Officer, Lloyda Nicholas-Garrett, Tuesday, provided Gy$100,000 in initial support to Cidel Hector, a 22-year-old security guard, who lost her home in a fire last Monday that has left her toddler son nursing first, second and third degree burns.

Nicholas-Garrett presented the cash to Hector Tuesday afternoon at the Georgetown Public Hospital, where the mother of two has been staying to care for her son who has undergone a skin graft procedure to treat the burns he suffered to his right arm and both knees.

“President Granger is very moved by your situation,” Nicholas-Garrett told Hector. “He understands that it is difficult

as a young mother for you to support two children and then have to face a situation like this… his heart is touched by your circumstances and he has decided to help offset the initial expenses you will have [to help you get] back on your feet.”

On hearing this, the young mother stared in disbelief and then burst into tears as she repeatedly expressed her gratitude to the President.

The Ministry of the Presidency will assess the situation and work with the Ministry of Social Protection to determine what other social services can be provided to assist the young mother to adequately care for her young children and get back on her feet.

Hector, a single parent, left two-year-old Ezekiel Malachi in the company of his four-year-

old brother Nathaniel at her Two Friends Village, East Coast Demerara home, while she went to her security guard job.

Neighbours were awakened by the children’s screams in the wee hours of the morning as fire engulfed their home. As had been previously reported, Guyana Defence Force rank Colin Jack braved the raging flames and climbed through a window in the burning house to rescue the children.

The elder child is currently in his father’s care.

State charged.

Meanwhile, delivering the vote of thanks at the end of the instrument ceremony, newly commissioned ranks, Second Lieutenant Cleveroy Patrick took up the words of the President, saying that the knowledge gained throughout the Standard Officer Course #48, has served to strengthen their commitment to serve Guyana

and its people.

All 14 ranks were second Lieutenants. Apart from Second Lieutenant Patrick, the others are Jermaine Nedd, Mark Bagot, Jermis Batson, Corenna Van Lewis, Althea Rodney, Dwight Bonus, Daniel Phillips, Jeremy Basdeo, Quason McAndrew, Rawl Lord, Joel Amsterdam, Garvon Douglas and Stephion Gordon.

32 feature

T

he New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar, so the date changes from year to year. This year, the Chinese New Year is celebrated on February 8, 2016.

It is the Year of the Monkey.

The festivities usually start the day before the New Year and continue until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the New Year.

Each Chinese New Year is characterised by one of 12 animals, which appear in the Chinese zodiac. The Monkey is the ninth animal in the cycle. The next Year of the Monkey will be in 2028.

Personality of the Monkey

People born in the Year of the Monkey are characterised as quickwitted, curious, innovative and mischievous, but it is also believed to be one of the most unlucky years in the Chinese calendar.

The general image of people in this zodiac sign is of always being smart, clever and intelligent, es-

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Year of the Monkey

Chinese dumplings

pecially in their career and wealth.

They are lively, flexible, quick-witted and versatile. In addition, their gentleness and honesty bring them an everlasting love life. Although they were born with enviable skills, they still have several shortcomings, such as an impetuous temper and a tendency to look down upon others.

Lucky signs for the Monkey

Lucky numbers are 1, 7, 8; lucky colours are white, gold, blue; lucky flowers are chrysanthemum, alliums; lucky directions are north, northwest, and west.

Famous people born under the monkey sign include Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Dickens, Celine Dion, Will Smith, Halle Berry, Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, Selena Gomez – just to name a few.

Which Chinese Zodiac sign are you?

Your sign is derived from the year you were born in the Chinese lunar calendar.

The years below are a rough guide, but if you were born in January or February it may be slightly different as the New Year moves between

January 21 and February 20.

Rat: 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960 Ox: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961 Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962 Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963 Dragon: 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964 Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965 Horse: 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966 Sheep: 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967 Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968 Rooster: 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969 Dog: 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970 Pig: 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971

inauspicious things and the depletion of wealth.

Going out: A woman may not leave her house, otherwise she will be plagued with bad luck for the entire coming year. A married daughter is not allowed to visit the house of her parents, as this is believed to bring bad luck to the parents, causing economic hardship for the family.

The broom: If you sweep on this day then your wealth will be swept away too.

Crying children: The cry of a child is believed to bring bad luck to the family, so parents do their best to keep children as happy as possible.

Theft: Having your pocket picked is believed to portend your whole wealth in the coming year being stolen.

Debt: Money should not be lent on New Year’s Day, and all debts have to be paid by New Year’s Eve. If someone who owes you money, do not

Guyana’s celebrations

Speaking with Sunday Times Magazine, executive member of the Chinese Association of Guyana, Anyin Choo mentioned that a special treat around this time are the dumplings shaped like Yuanbao, gold coins representing prosperity.

She added that sweets, such as Mao Fa and Yow Kok, and savoury snacks, such as Chinese dumplings, are also enjoyed.

“It is customary for various Chinese families, friends and businesses to get together for a grand dinner to kick start the New Year. The dishes are quite different from what you would usually have during the year. At the dinner there is a lavish dinner with chicken, pork and fish on New Year’s eve, which signifies that persons will have abundance in the New Year,” she explained.

Anyin noted that Chinese families “will not kill animals on the New

Chinese New Year’s Day taboos

Practices to be avoided on the first day of the Chinese New Year: Medicine: Taking medicine on the first day of the lunar year means one will get ill for a whole year.

New Year’s breakfast: Porridge should not be eaten, because it is considered that only poor people have porridge for breakfast, and people do not want to start the year “poor” as this is a bad omen.

Laundry: People do not wash clothes on the first and second day, because these two days are celebrated as the birthday of Shuishen (the Water God).

Washing hair: Hair must not be washed on the first day of the lunar year. In the Chinese language, hair has the same pronunciation and character as ‘fa’ in facai, which means ’to become wealthy’. Therefore, it is seen as not a good thing to “wash one’s fortune away” at the beginning of the New Year.

Sharp objects: The use of knives and scissors is to be avoided as any accident is thought to lead to

Money is given to married couples, elderly and children in red envelopes with best wishes, such as good health and long life, printed on them

go to his or her home to demand it. Anyone who does so it is said will be unlucky all the year.

An empty rice jar: A depleted receptacle may cause grave anxiety, as the cessation of cooking during the New Year period is considered to be an ill omen.

Damaged clothes: Wearing threadbare duds can cause more bad luck for the year.

Monochrome fashion: White or black clothes are barred as these two colours are traditionally associated with mourning.

Welcoming the New Year: According to tradition, people must stay up late on New Year’s eve to welcome the New Year, and then to let off firecrackers and fireworks to scare off inauspicious spirits and Nian, the New Year monster.

Giving of certain gifts: Clocks, scissors, and pears all have a bad meaning in Chinese culture.

Year because they do not want to start the year killing”.

According to the Chinese culture, blood is considered an ill omen, which will cause misfortunes such as a knife wound, or a bloody disaster. So on the New Year, vegetarian meals are enjoyed.

She also pointed out that on the second day of the New Year money is given to married couples, elderly and children in red envelopes with best wishes, such as good health and long life, printed on them. This is called “lucky money”, which is given for prosperity.

On Feb. 7, 2016, the Confucius Institute, University of Guyana, would be hosting a Chinese festival at the Giftland Mall from 3pm to 7pm. There, patrons will get a chance to experience various aspects of the Chinese culture, including delicious food and performances.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

art & culture 33

Samantha Abraham develops her art form

A

young, talented artist, Samantha Abraham is well on her way to becoming one of Guyana’s most notable artists.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Samantha said she developed a passion for art since childhood.

“For as long as I can remember, I have been drawing. Since grade three or four, I remember drawing my first beach scene for a class assignment. I wanted to get every detail so right. This developed in me a passion for art,” she recalled.

While growing up, Samantha also became intrigued with tattoos and how unique they are. She observed the beauty in lines and colours of the tattoos. She was so enthused that she decided to pursue studies in art at E R Burrowes of Art.

Samantha graduated from Burrowes a year ago and is still honing her talent. She mentioned that she has discovered family members who are artists, some of whom have attended Burrowes.

Her innate talent has helped her create applauded work, which deserves to be showcased for all to enjoy.

The artist said she enjoys painting galaxies, sound waves, music notes, which are all brightly coloured. She pointed out that she does not like to interpret her own work, but prefers people to make their own interpretations, which give her new concepts for paintings.

“My inspiration also comes from music: its beat and the movement of every sound. Art is my stress free zone. It is very therapeutic for me. It is the one place

where my mistakes can turn out to be beautiful and where your imagination comes to life,” she expressed.

Though she has never been part of any exhibition, Samantha hopes to one day be able to share her love for art by exhibiting at forums where she can interact with people and get feedback on her work.

Her plan is to study tattoo designing and to learn more techniques in becoming a better artist.

The young artist's advice to youths is to “never give up on art if you love it, but keep pushing on, keep getting better at it and continuously practice because art is amazing.”

For more information on the artist, call 652-5355 or visit Pepper Tiffie Abraham on Facebook.

Artist Samantha Abraham

"Maxine"

"Out Of This World I"

"The Wave"

"The Purple Landsacpe"

"The Second Wave"

34 history

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

A brief history of the University of Guyana was also introduced in 1984.

From 1975, the University began accrediting programmes run by sister institutions in the Commonwealth Caribbean. A Training Programme for Medical Practitioners was launched in October 1985.

Turkeyen Campus

T

Prime Minister Forbes Burnham speaking at the UG deed handing over ceremony during Independence Week (1966)

he University of Guyana was established in April 1963 and began its operations in October of the same year with a batch of 164 students in temporary premises loaned from Queen’s College in Georgetown.

Programmes were at first confined to the Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.

However, in 1967, a Faculty of Education was established and this was followed by the establishment of the Faculties of Technology in 1969,

Agriculture in 1977, and in 1981, the Faculty of Health Sciences, prior to the establishment of which programmes in Health Sciences were offered within the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

A Forestry Unit was established in 1987.

In 2002, the Faculty of Agriculture was renamed the Faculty of Agriculture & Forestry.

In 2003, the Faculties of Arts and Education merged to become the School of Education and Humanities.

At its inception, only

general degree programmes were offered by the University, but from 1966, Certificate and Diploma level programmes were introduced. The first graduate programme - A Master’s Degree in Guyanese and West Indian History was started in 1973.

This was followed by Master’s programmes in Biology and Education in 1976, Chemistry and Economics in 1977, Political Science in 1978, and Geography in 1984.

A Graduate Diploma in Development Studies

The University occupied its present site at Turkeyen in October 1969.

The Booker Group of Companies provided 1450 acres of land for a campus at Turkeyen.

The soil was turned by Prime Minister L.F.S. Burnham on May 24, 1966.

Construction work

ucation institutions.

In the 1993-94 academic year the Semester System was introduced in the Faculties of Education and Social Sciences. This system was introduced to the remaining Faculties in 1994/95.

The New Building Society provided funding for the construction of a 40-room Student Halls of Residence. This building was opened on May 27, 1994 and houses students from the outlying areas of Guyana.

A second Halls of Residence was constructed on campus by the Beharry Group of Companies to house 44 students while a third, the Dennis Irving Halls of Residence, was built

Turkeyen Campus in its early years

Atkinson Airport 1952 (now Cheddi Jagan Int'l Airport)

Georgetown seawall 1930

began Jan. 2, 1968, and the first building was declared open on February 24, 1970.

The tuition fee of $100 per annum was abolished in 1974. However, in the 1994-95 academic year the University introduced a Cost Recovery Programme.

Students are currently required to pay.

In 1975, participation in National Service was made a requirement for persons wishing to pursue programmes at the University; however, in 1994 approval was given by the Cabinet for the abolition of mandatory National Service for students at tertiary level ed-

Berbice Campus

One of the university’s most recent and significant undertakings was the formation of the Berbice campus. This relatively new campus, which became operational in 2000, was established with the intention of making university education more accessible to Berbicians, who previously endured the inconvenience of travelling to the Turkeyen Campus to pursue university studies.

In its early stages, the University of Guyana – Berbice Campus (UGBC) offered two-year undergraduate Certificate programme in Education (various options) and

(ugbclibrary.uog.edu.gy)

by the University at Goedverwagting, to accommodate an additional 46 students.

Over recent years, a number of new programmes have been introduced, including Masters Degrees in Administration, Bachelor degrees in Pharmacy, Optometry and Dentistry.

The University also certifies affiliated programmes.

In 2005 the meritorious position of Distinguished Professor was instituted. Professor Clive Thomas is the sole holder of this distinction.

In 2009 the first Emeritus Professors were installed.

Diploma programmes in Accountancy, English, History, Marketing, Public Management and Social Work.

Degree programmes were subsequently offered: the Degree in Agriculture and the Associate Degree in General Science (various options) were offered in the 2001 – 2002 academic year, and Degree in Public Management and Education, as well as the Post-Graduate Diploma in Education were offered in the 2002-2003 academic year.

The first graduation ceremony was held Nov. 2002 with a batch of ninety-three students.

(Source: uog.edu.gy)

University of Guyana Tain Campus, Berbice

35

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

The grass isn’t green…

U

…over in the States?

sed to be that cost folks US$12,500 to get a visa for the US. This was what the fella from INSIDE the Embassy – Carroll – charged with his local confederate who now heads the local Guyana-Cuba Friendship Society. After Carroll and his accomplice were both charged, convicted and jailed back in 2000, the movement of bodies to the States handle skipped a beat. A decade later visas – or getting bodies into the states by whichever way possible – were still going for over US$13,000 a pop.

Until two years ago, that is! Suddenly you couldn’t even get someone to fork over US$100!! What happened? The short answer is the bottom dropped out of the market. In international trade, some foreign companies can destroy markets in a country by selling the product below what it even cost them. It’s called “dumping”. For the fellas who couldn’t even practically give away visas, the US Embassy was suddenly “dumping” visas”.

And because it was all done OFFICIALLY – not like on the side with Carroll – there was nothing they or anyone else could do. Suddenly anyone who walked into the Embassy was not only given a visa – but for “ten year” ones! Word spread like bushfire and folks started coming out of the woodwork – not to mention even from Hicksville – to apply for and receive visas.

Forget the baker, butcher and candle stick maker. Canecutters, watchmen, panhandlers and your mother-in-law could now get visas. Suddenly you were asked by your gardner for “leave” because he, his wife and kids had visas to go Stateside. And their tickets were paid for by his “cousins”.

Well, your Eyewitness’ anecdotal evidence was just confirmed by the new US Ambassador. Last year he revealed, more than 39,000 Guyanese lined up along Duke Street for visas and “more than half” – meaning 20,000 at least – got the lucky stamp.

The Ambassador allowed that only five years ago there were only 6000 applications. So why the explosion? The good, ole southern boy explained it was because “the Guyanese economy has grown over the last few years”!! Well not to take anything away

from the PPP that ran Guyana during the said years – with GDP growth rates of 5 per cent annually – but we’re still a “lower middle income country” with only Haiti above us in the Caribbean!

Nah… we gotta look elsewhere. And not far. The effect is actually the cause.

It’s simply the US DECIDED suddenly to start giving away visas like hot southern biscuits.

And every Tom, Dick and Harilall now knew they had more than a 60-50 chance of hitting the lotto!!

How sweet it is!!

Star of the week

…over on the West Bank

For decades the “West Bank” has connoted misery and turmoil in the mind of anyone with even the scantiest knowledge of what went on (and down) in the MidEast. Well, it looks like the government’s determined to create our own “West Bank” in the image of the original. Our “West Bank” of course, is that part of Demerara where Wales is located.

If you want to see a section of Guyana that’s literally a stone throw away from Georgetown where a hundred six-storey buildings are reaching for the skies – but yet mired in poverty and desperation, then you’re talking about the West Bank of Demerara.

178 years after slavery and bitter sugar, the latter isn’t only “King” but it’s the only game in town. And without even deigning to tell the people what’s going down, the government takes away sugar.

All that’s left is the “bitter”.

…with rice either

So it won’t be accused of discriminating, the government’s also leaving rice in the lurch. Nagamootoo took the credit for the record crop last year. But after the one-two sucker punches of loss of the Venezuelan market and the El Niño drought, now it’s “not our business, man”!!

Juke Ross is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Georgetown. His cadence is continuously evolving and far different from anything you would come to expect. Juke’s musical style is a fusion of contemporary and pop. Influenced by the soul, blues and hip hop styles of the 90s, this 21-year-old’s expression and lyrics, backed by his modern style of guitar playing, will cause you to stop, listen and feel his music. Although he has only performed live for three months at the OMG poetry nights and posted short covers on Facebook, Juke’s fan base has quickly grown, and continues to. As fans desperately plead for something to hold on to, Juke independently recorded, with producer Drew Thoven, his first single “Colour Me”, which, in its first week, garnered over 3,500 views on YouTube. Presently, Juke is working on “Colour Me” video with John Greene (the video’s producer and director). When the singer is not writing or singing, he is socializing and “out living the experiences” found in his music. Juke is a student, avid cricketer and a member of local charity group, Footprints of Today Foundation.

“Colour Me” is scheduled to be followed by another single and then an EP comprising of four songs to be released in 2016. Stay tuned to his Facebook page, Juke Ross, for updates.

36

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

This week's Crossword

This week's Puzzle

see solution on page 47

Going backwards…

…on suicide rezzie says he needs more than anecdotal evidence to start acting on our suicide epidemic.

With the Ministry of Health having conducted at least half a dozen studies on suicide and launched a Gatekeepers’ Programme, OP forming a National Suicide Secretariat and launching so many initiatives over the last decade, you mean just because the MINISTERS changed, ALL THE governmental INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY WAS FLUSHED DOWN THE DRAINPIPE. That’s a real crying shame, fifty years after independence. Guyana didn’t just hit the top of the suicide hit parade in the world overnight. It’s always been there. But because it was always more prevalent in the rural, Indian Guyanese population, no one took notice. It was like with the slaves who jumped overboard when they were crossing the Atlantic: the traders always catered for “loss at sea” and shipped in a few “extra”. With the Indians back in indentureship, they could always send over a few more.

And the attitude continued during the colonial days: the folks who kill themselves are expendable… ”just ship in a few more”. They’re also out in the boons – who hears about them? But what’s unforgivable is we never spend enough time and money right after Independence to try and lower the suicide rate. And even though as mentioned above the PPP Government did make a stab – that was all it was: a stab. Compared to the programmes they unfurled against AIDS and Drugs, suicide wasn’t even in the picture.

You’ll hear suicide is “self-inflicted” and there’s not much you can do about it. Well, AIDS and Drugs are also “self-inflicted” to a great extent, aren’t they?

But we’ve had programmes to combat them for years.

Fact of the matter, whenever a phenomenon affects one GROUP differentially than another GROUP in the same environment, it means that something is acting beyond the INDIVIDUAL level.

We have to look at what those factors are – internally and/or externally. This has been done in Guyana. The probing and the prodding to find out what causes suicide in Guyana are already documented. What’s needed is money to implement the programmes already crafted based on the findings of those studies. And even more poignantly, there’s been a credible group that’s hit the ground running and willing to continue with the aforementioned Gatekeepers’ Programme.

But the power team around Prezzie have launched their own “group”, which posed for a well decked-out pic and then disappeared. Leaving Prezzie to plead for a “study”.

Sir, just look around – the studies are there as well as the workers – just the funding is lacking. Sign the Cheque. …on contract workers This column’s been VERY harsh on Chris “Lalloo” Ram…but your Eyewitness has to give a hat tip to the man on some of his recent positions. First, there was his very principled stance on the need for more consistency on the part of the Government on its abrupt closure of Wales. And now his refusal to back down on a similar hypocrisy of the Government on the vexed issue of “contract workers”.

Your Eyewitness had already dealt with the issue – but Ram dug up figures showing that – contrary to the Government’s pre-elections “promise” to cut back contract workers with their “fat cat” super salaries (according to Nagamootoo) – the Government has actually INCREASED THE NUMBER OF CONTRACT WORKERS!!

Well, not only should Patrick Yarde and Lincoln Lewis be miffed at this betrayal by an ally, but so should the Guyanese taxpayers – meaning me and you, Dear Readers.

It’s our (pitiable) salaries that’ll be underwriting these additional super salaries! …on mining corrupting Let’s face it – gold mining has always been… ummm….a “Wild West” undertaking. But how will “I is” Broomes wipe out corrupt practices – as she promised? She’s breaking at least the spirit of the law – if not the letter – by leasing her holdings to a company her Ministry’s regulating!

P

feature 37

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

One company finds Guyana’s interior a magnet for adventurers, and offers aid to its inhabitants as well

T

he Fronteering company specialises in organising volunteer overseas projects to preserve the environment, wildlife and indigenous people throughout the world, while giving volunteers a real and raw experience in some of the most beautiful and often remote places in the world to make a true difference.

One of such places they venture to provide necessary aid is Guyana.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Patrick Van De Velde said that the

which include Guyana, and plans on expanding to a few more destinations in the near future.

The name Fronteering is a word play between the words frontier and volunteering, as the organisation strives to provide volunteer experiences and adventure travel trips in some of the most remote and unspoiled destinations worldwide.

“With that in mind, we go out to find locations within destinations that we consider frontiers. While most countries have some nature

much into travelling. But being an outdoor and adventure lover, he was not very interested in the jobs he was arranging, which were mainly in hospitality: working for hotels and restaurants. Patrick then got the opportunity to pick up and rebuild a volunteering programme. In 2010, at the age of 25, Patrick breathed new life into the programme and started Fronteering.

“I was born and raised in the Netherlands. For my study, I moved to Canada in January 2007.

I had to do an internship

Patrick Van De Velde

spoiled countries left in this world. First, I looked at the countries with the lowest population density and highest percentage level of rainforest left. It turned out that there were only three countries left like this in this world: Guyana, Gabon and Papua New Guinea. I kept reading in to Guyana after that and set my mind to go there one day. Finally it hap-

A volunteer socialising with children in the Rupununi

Fronteering volunteering programmes started as part of a Canadian organisation in 2005 (known under a different name then), but has moved in to its own company since 2010.

Since the programmes expanded in countries outside of Canada, Fronteering started to get even more involved in adventure travel. Currently, it works in ten countries,

left surrounded by civilization, we like to focus instead on destinations where civilization is surrounded by wilderness,” Patrick explained.

At the time Patrick started Fronteering, he was arranging mainly paid jobs for foreigners wanting to travel, work and, in some cases, immigrate to Canada. He said he loved dealing with people from other countries, who were also very

to graduate and I did this at an international exchange organisation.

I received a job offer and lived in Canada until June 2015, after which I moved to Guyana where I currently live. I have always been interested in adventure and exploring, wildlife and nature.

So around the age of ten, I found a book that described all the countries of the world. I started to look for the most un-

Working with children in the Rupununi

pened in 2012 when we were starting our volunteering programmes and adventure travel trips here,” Patrick recalled.

He noted that “people do not realise how precious and unique a country like Guyana is, where its nature and wildlife have been preserved so well”. He added that he has seen “more wildlife in the interior of Guyana

in one day compared to a two-week jungle trip in Brazil”.

Currently, all of Fronteering’s work is being done in the Rupununi, where its volunteering programmes work with Indigenous communities and ranches. The organisation also coordinates adventure travel trips together with these communities and ranches.

Fronteering’s volunteering programmes help Indigenous communities set up and support small scale sustainable ecotourism so they have alternative ongoing form of income that, for the most part, still allows these communities to stay true to their way of life.

“Within the Amerindian communities, we also provide teachers to help assist the schools in these remote areas, which often just have one teacher who has to oversee dozens of kids that vary in ages, from all elemencontinued on page 42

38

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The Wales debacle: Sunlight?

By Ravi Dev

W

hile Dr Clive Thomas might be a “town man”, he knows sugar as well, if not more than most who “come from the logies”. And that is why I was quite surprised when he, as Chairman of GuySuCo, went along with the abrupt announcement of the closure of Plantation Wales.

Incidentally, I have never really accepted the foisted euphemism of changing “Plantation” to “estate”. This must have happened sometime after independence, since I distinctly remember as a boy in Primary School (Uitvlugt Church

of Scotland School) painstakingly writing out my address as “Pln. Uitvlugt”.

Wales is not just any sugar plantation – it is the only one where both the workforce and the private farmers are almost equally split between African and Indian Guyanese. While for historical reasons, most African Guyanese left the sugar plantations after the abolition of slavery, at Wales they were much more successful in establishing a successful sugar planting peasantry. And this is an achievement that in our ethnically fractured country is a great resource.

Guyana has a comparative advantage in agriculture because of our land and water resources, but an equitable sharing of this advantage has proven problematical because of the ethnic disparity in farming. When, for instance, the colonialera PPP Government developed the Black Bush Polder Rice Development Schemes after 1957, the small number of African Guyanese that received allotments precipitated a huge furore. The PPP was dubbed a “coolie rice government” by the PNC and the former’s explanation that the land was allocated in proportion to the applications did not satisfy African Guyanese.

Wales presents an opportunity for the two significant groups of Guyanese, which have literally been at each other’s throats on our coastland, to cooperate in order to save their common livelihood and their community. Wales can become a landmark in the touted aim to build “social cohesion” in our country if the Government can embark on a phased disengagement with sugar. To close it down suddenly or even to try to get out of sugar within a year will lead to an exacerbation of social tensions in an area that has generally been least affected by the

1960s fallout.

Over the weekend, Professor Thomas wrote in his column and, specifically acknowledging his role as Chairman of GuySuCo, declared: “The closure of Wales is immediately linked to the commencement of diversification programmes envisaged to begin in October coming this year. Some of these programmes involve lands for workers to engage in peasant cane farming and lands for their farming other crops as well. There are also programmes to seek to determine the commercial feasibility of alcohol production and aquaculture

by GuySuCo at Wales.”

While this is certainly “too little” to completely assuage all the fears that have been aroused on the West Bank of Demerara, it is not too late for the Government to be more forthcoming with a proper plan that the 100,000 West Bank residents can consider. The proposals in this column as well as from several other sources are a signal of the nerve the Wales announcement struck in our country. We hope the Government does not squander this opportunity.

We repeat that we must expand the overall usage of the sugar cane’ products that will be forthcoming for quite a while at Wales, regardless. The Uitvlugt option is just not viable. The following are two other uses that can help bring down the overall cost of the sugar component.

The press-mud and wash, which are waste products in the production of sugar and alcohol, can be used for the production of bio-gas (methane). The technology has already been introduced

by DDL in Guyana and the methane can be used to power modified vehicles.

Finally, there is the ethanol option. The production of anhydrous ethanol from molasses or sugarcane juice is an established technology that is well within our present skill capabilities gleaned from our production of alcohol for spirits.

As was tested at Albion, a 10% alcohol mix can be introduced into the engines of vehicles without any modification of the latter. It is proposed that we establish a refinery at Wales, which will utilise all the molasses produced by the Demerara Plantations to produce ethanol.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

39

40

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

T

here are numerous Guyanese women who have received many accolades for outstanding achievements, proving that greatness can come from a small country. Two women of such excellence are “et-

ing from the Office of the President, to hotel and restaurant staff in Guyana. From law enforcement officers in Trinidad to hospitality students in Jamaica, she specialises in fostering a greater comprehension of differences in North and South American protocols.

A graduate of the University of Guyana and Universidat di Aruba, Phillipa earned a Bachelor’s in English in 1981.

In 1998 she graduated from the Ophelia De Vore School of Charm, New York City; winning the coveted Miss High Achiever trophy. In 2010 Phillipa Morrish (Photo by Mandy Duncan) she obtained additional social protocol iquette boss” Phillipa training at the prestiMorrish and motiva- gious Minding Manners tional speaker Pamela in London.

Tracz.

Phillipa has been honoured for her community service by severPhillipa Morrish Phillipa Morrish is a al civic and government certified Social Protocol organisations in New consultant and found- York City, including: er of Etiquette Training the United States House International, New York. of Representatives, the Since 1999, Phillipa has New York City Council, worked international- The American Council ly with corporations, or- for Minority Women, ganisations, law enforce- and the Metropolitan Facility, ment officers and private Detention clients to help them be- Brooklyn, for creating come leaders in their The Chrysalis Program, field. She also works ex- through which she teachtensively with teens, and es female inmates.

She has taught etihas been an etiquette teacher at Fontbonne quette to military wives Hall Academy, Brooklyn, at the Fort Hamilton Military Base, Brooklyn, since 2003.

Phillipa’s desire to and has been honoured bring the same instruc- by the installation for her tion to the students of volunteer work on behalf Guyana has resulted in of military families. In ‘Finishing School’ cours- 2011 she was selectes being taught annu- ed as one of Brooklyn’s Women ally to Guyanese high Outstanding school students. She has by the Kings County conducted workshops District Attorney’s office.

On October 26, since 1999 to clients in the United States and 2015, the Merchants the Caribbean; rang- Association of Third

Avenue Brooklyn honoured Phillipa with the Pioneer Civic Award.

The Pioneer Award recognises businesses that have remained true to the small town feel of Bay Ridge and to individuals who have worked on behalf of community wide issues. The honours were handed out during at a cocktail reception at the Bay Ridge Manor in Brooklyn, New York.

Phillipa has also cohosted several Monday Manners etiquette shows on Brooklyn Cable Access Television and currently writes a weekly column, “Etiquette Boss”, for the Home Reporter and Spectator newspapers in New York City.

Pamela Tracz

Pamela Tracz is a motivational speaker who was also born in Guyana.

Pamela started her teaching career at the tender age of 17. She later travelled to London, England where she completed her training as a Registered Nurse and a State Certified Midwife.

She is very experienced at providing and teaching health care, self care and wellness to individuals across the United Kingdom, Ontario and North America.

Pamela still marvels at her ability to function under the pressure and stress of a very difficult and complicated labour, delivering a healthy 13 lb. 8 oz. baby girl while functioning as a pupil Midwife in the community of Bedford, Bedfordshire.

With more than 36 years experience in nursing, she has demonstrated her ability in team leadership, team building, communication, personal effectiveness, listening skills and coping with stress.

She is a member of the Ontario Nurses Association and the College of Nurses of Ontario.

Phillipa (center) receving her Pioneer Award

Pamela has been very instrumental in helping the Niagara Region Health Care services to cope with downsizing and change.

She has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Hamilton Chapter and functioned as their president.

Pamela has delivered services at Christ Church Unity and other Spiritual Congregations.

Additionally, she is a competent Toast Master and has been winning competitions such as the coveted Silver Gavel Award and Speech contest at the Area and Division level.

The motivational speaker has given speeches and motivational talks about setting goals for success to Toastmaster organisations, community businesses and organisations.

Pamela believes that laughter is the best medicine. After reading about all the benefits of laughter, she trained as a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader and Teacher, started the first Happy Healthy Hearty Laughter Yoga club in the Niagara region and trained many individu-

feature 41

Pamela Tracz

als to become Laughter Yoga Leaders, including those who function as recreation therapists.

She has been helping individuals, members of the community, mental health care providers, retirement homes, nursing homes, and employees of many organisations reduce their stress levels, improve interpersonal relationships, self-confidence and increase their productivity because they are having fun at home and at work.

She enjoys opening seminars and conventions with energetic laughter and fun.

A Human P e r f o r m a n c e I m p r o v e m e n t Consultant, she has given inspirational talks to beauty contestants giving them the confidence and presentation skills they need to help them realise their goals. She has also judged these competitions.

Pamela is Hamilton’s Woman of the Year in Communications.

She is very dynamic, effective and enthusiastic using her leadership skills, techniques and humour to deliver presentations to her clients. (http://guy-

anesegirlsrock.org; http:// pamtracz.com)

42

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com from page 37

tary school grades. For example, one class would have kids from the age of five up to 12. We also try to set up activities and events for youths, run wildlife clubs to educate the children about the importance of the local wildlife, assist with wildlife research and so forth,” Patrick outlined.

Fronteering works with several ranches in the Rupununi savannahs to plan eco-tourism. Patrick disclosed that the ranches of the Rupununi have been struggling, since they do not have the resources to deal with all the requirements and regulations to sell their meat on the coast or in Brazil. What

this means is that they are “stuck with a very small market of the villages in and around Lethem.

“For this reason we help with the sustainable eco-tourism and sustainable farming. Through this, hopefully we can help sustain the unique Vaquero (cowboy) way of life in the savannahs of Guyana, where everything is still done and made by hand,” Patrick noted.

Fronteering’s plans for 2016 and onwards are to steadily develop its volunteering programmes, working with more communities, as well as increasing the number of adventure travel for

tourists.

Notably, all of Fronteering’s volunteering programmes in Guyana are non-profit. The programmes are supported financially by the profits garnered from other tourism destinations.

“Setting up Guyana as one of our destinations has been quite a struggle. It is difficult to promote a destination that is still completely off the radar as a travel destination. For example, we promote most of our programmes through Google. But how can you promote Guyana specifically when very few people search for it? We hope that the Guyanese government and its

respective tourism related organisations will put more and more effort and funds in to putting Guyana on the travel market for people around the world.

If more tourists come to Guyana and experience the amazing destination that it is, then everybody wins; especially if it is done in a sustainable and responsible matter. Guyanese people should be proud of their entire country; it is truly one of kind,” Patrick declared.

For more information, visit Fronteering on Facebook or email at patrick@fronteering.com

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

43

44

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

45

Wear Red O

46

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Our Agricultural Class

By Lomarsh Roopnarine

“Prevention is better than cure.” – Desiderius Erasmus

T

Anu Dev

he first Friday of every February is designated “National Wear Red Day” in the US. Heart disease is actually the number one killer of women in America. Attention has been brought to this since 2003 by wearing red to raise awareness about heart disease. I’m not big on picking up American practices (no Halloween, please!) but I’ll make an exception on this one.

There are so many decisions we can all make (not just women) about our lifestyle to reduce our risk of developing heart diseases. Things like checking your cholesterol levels regularly, and getting in a bit of exercise can go a long way in keeping you healthy.

A few semesters back we covered digestion and metabolism – all the chemical reactions that goes on inside us to keep us alive. As a part of that, we had to cover nutrition extensively. In addition

to the “food” that comes to mind, our classes really emphasised how important the micronutrients like vitamins and minerals are, even though they’re required in much smaller quantities than rice and dhall – carbohydrates and proteins.

Eating well is vital to staying healthy. And while that may sound like common sense, you might be surprised by how many people actually don’t eat that healthily.

Eating well doesn’t just mean eating your three meals a day; it’s what you eat that’s really important. In primary school I learnt about the different food groups, the food pyramid and the importance of a balanced diet.

Remember “Go” food, “Glow” food? and “Grow” food?!

And now I’m in Med School learning even more about all of that. So one would assume that with all of this knowledge about how I should be eating, that I’ve been taking the time to plan and eat balanced meals. But

in truth, it took a horrible flu, and my mother flying in and stocking my room with fresh fruits for me to finally start eating fruits regularly. And I’ve finally started taking my multivitamins again – some of those pictures on our lecture slides of what vitamin-deficiencies can look like definitely scared me into keeping up with my vitamins. (Yes, Mom!) What we need to eat varies according to our gender, our age, our occupations and other such factors. So take the time to do some reading, or visit a nutritionist to discuss what nutrients are particularly important for you. Girls for example, need a lot of iron in their diet to replace all in the blood we lose monthly.

It’s important to weigh the pros and cons of the foods that you’re choosing to include in your diet for particular nutrients. Lots of people eat liver for its high iron content, but liver also has a really high cholesterol content and that’s not that good for keeping

your heart healthy. If you already have high cholesterol levels, it might be better for you to eat other iron-rich foods instead of liver. I love liver, incidentally.

Technology is also quickly advancing to make it easier for us to stay healthy. There are so many fitness apps that keep track of your meals to let you know whether you’ve eaten enough of each particular nutrient.

There are apps that you can use to keep track of whether you’re drinking enough water.

Heart disease is very serious. The heart is responsible for pumping blood all over your body.

If the heart is affected, the rest of your body gets affected as well. Ease up on the fast food that’s flooding our shores, now that the US declared them unhealthy. I just heard that we’ll be getting back the Colonel serving up his chicken with his famous herbs and spices at KFC. They don’t mention all the oil needed to get that wonderful fried taste! Not good for the heart though. rinidad is one of the most obese societies in the world. They’ve had the fast food joints longer.

So let’s all try to live better, healthier lives.

There’s so much useful information at our fingertips via the Internet, that we really can’t cite ignorance as an excuse for not knowing what constitutes a balanced meal.

Remember, prevention is better than cure.

ne peculiarity about Guyana is that the poorest people live in the most picturesque places. Of the tonnes and tonnes of places that I am most familiar with, the Corentyne Coast in Berbice comes readily to mind. It is certainly the Delta and the bread basket of Guyana. Increasing poverty, however, has produced social ills like crime, suicide, alcoholism and domestic abuse which undoubtedly have gotten worse since the APNU/AFC coalition wormed itself into power.

Thousands have left the Corentyne for greener pastures because they saw no employment, no money, no future, but there is a working class that has remained – the sugarcane and rice workers. Actually, they have nowhere to go.

These individuals associate themselves with sugarcane and rice cultivation on a daily basis. They cling to this routine and know no other way. They work hard and go to bed early and wake up early. The mood of these working class people has always been strong. The weight of their history has always been noticeable in their faces, in their demeanour, in their clothes and in their dwellings and environment. Their neat clotheslines of drooping laundry in their modest housing and the profusion of greenery that permeate their environment are not only beautiful but something that other regions of Guyana can emulate.

Notwithstanding beauty and magnificence, all of Guyana, including the agricultural belt on the Corentyne, are in a state of immeasurable levels of uncertainly since the current regime controls the grid of power through a controversial election last year. This community is on edge. It is disturbed and is very much concerned about its future.

It appears that the people along the Corentyne Coast have been conquered and proof of this is in the consistency of their complaints. Will this regime take a stronger stand on supporting sugar and rice cultivation? If not, what is the alternative other than lip service to the public?

All along the Corentyne, there seems to be a sense of profound loss, despair and wounded pride amongst the working class. They were ignored by the PPP that had lost touch with them and their concerns. They were fooled by the PPP defectors. Now, under the APNU/AFC, there is a sense of surrender. Yet, few outside of Berbice have spoken against the injustices inflicted on the working class.

To rule anywhere in the world today, be it in Guyana, Ghana or Greece, and be callous to one group of people who did not vote for you is like living in Siberia and hate snow. This sort of leadership is supercilious since these are the people – the working class – that government needs to engage in to achieve nation building and national unity, not ethno-nationalism and witch hunting.

The challenge here is what should be done to at least make the regime listen or even comply with the demands of a citizenry that it does not seem to have at heart.

One would expect Nagamootoo and Ramjattan to have a bigger heart for the mostly 11 per cent of supporters that put them in power. Instead, these men are too busy trying to regain lost ground with their former PNC enemies, displaying egomaniacal confidence.

Meanwhile, voters in the Corentyne region do not have the clout to hold the regime accountable for campaign promises.

The strategy of the regime seems to be, without even realising it, not to risk flexibility but pursue unpopular economic policies they did not campaign for (closure of Wales Estate, for example) on the premise that it would receive ultimate support when successful. This has been the pattern of politics all along.

Some divergences are expected but not more than 75 per cent of the 100 days manifesto. In the words of one working class person, the APNU/AFC regime “fool up dem people.” (lomarsh. roopnarine@jsums.edu)

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

'Give the Ball to the Poet'

The sufferation of Nagga

S

atiricus had finally solved one of the biggest mysteries that’d baffled him for years. He was relieved but at the same time shocked. As the man he considered his leader in so many ways, (the other was Rum Jhaat) Satiricus had always wondered why Nagga Man’s face was so contorted. It was the face of a man who had suffered much.

And at last Nagga Man revealed the cause: it was because of all the sufferation he had to endure from PPCEE’s persecution for 60 years – just because he wasn’t a Hindu.

Since Satiricus had been so concerned he’d guessed Nagga’s wizened and lined visage had been due to his legendary consumption of Bush Rum. There was also that oily, sweaty veneer over the crevices in his face that was also a tell tale sign.

Satiricus was amazed at Nagga’s revelation… because all along he’d thought Nagga Man was Hindu. In fact because of how Nagga Man boasted of his bravery, Satiricus actually thought his leader was a Chatree Hindu – the warrior Hindu. Satiricus thought Nagga Man drank so much booze because that was what Chatrees were supposed to do. They were REAL men – and real men HAD to drink!! And cuss… even grandchildren. Now Satiricus knew that it was really because Nagga had to drown his sorrows at his sufferation because of the PPCEE persecution.

And Nagga had soooo tried to fit in. Whose face wouldn’t become contorted if you forced yourself to drink all that dhall just to develop a dhall belly to match that old Hindu Rum O Tar’s. Rum O Tar had lost his dhall belly because he had to run for President, but Nagga Man couldn’t run and so he was stuck with his dhall belly… in addition to his contorted face. What a bummer!

But all of that was behind him. He could now be himself because he was with people of his own faith. No more Bush Rum – it was now Grey Goose. No more bottom house… it was State House. No more old car – it was SUV. No more small freck – it was $1.7 every month! It was so good to be himself.

But as Nagga Man cried, “FREE AT LAST,..

FREE AT LAST; THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I AM FREE AT LAST,” Satiricus saw his face was just as corrugated. Was it really the Nagga Man’s “bad mind” that caused it?

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

By Sasenarine Persaud

I

f anyone has any doubt that the literature of the English speaking Caribbean still reflects the, almost, endemic partiality – if not the racism – of the Caribbean and the continued projection of the Caribbean as a place of Afro culture, this latest anthology of Caribbean poetry should dispel this.

Perhaps, the critics and the professors of West Indian Literature, attempting to conceal these biases, would cry, “hypersensitivity to perceived slights.”

This anthology demonstrates, yet again, how real this bias is.

Almost three decades ago, this bias was highlighted in the Caribbean poetry anthologies of the time. Voiceprint comes readily to mind. Poetry Review in London was gracious enough to publish my piece pointing out this bias in the anthologies of that time as it related to the English speaking Caribbean.

There seemed to be an abeyance and correction of sorts.

The operative word here is seemed. Many still remember Viv Richards’ 1990 statement – a racist one many contend – when he was captain of the West Indies cricket team, that the West Indies was the only “sporting team of African descent” able to win against all international teams. Such a statement by the white captain of any US sporting team would likely see riots in the US, and certainly the resignation, or removal of such a person from the captaincy of such a team – witness the recent resignation of both President and Chancellor of the University of Missouri.

And there is the current controversy in regard to the lack of Afro-American diversity in the Academy Awards – forget Asians, or Asian-Americans, who don’t take to the streets, or rock the boat. In total disregard for the Indians and all other ethnic groups of the West Indies, Richards was allowed to continue as captain.

He was even subsequently knighted by the British; a knighthood that never should have happened; perhaps, a knighthood that should be revoked pending an unambiguous apology from Richards.

None was ever offered, as far as I am aware. But who has ever heard of a knighthood being revoked, even of rogues and slave traders such as John Hawkins and Francis Drake?

Why is this relevant? A number of British and AngloAmerican critics, academics, editors and publishers, who have, by and large, influenced and published most of the major literary anthologies of the Englishspeaking Caribbean, have been, and continue to be, collaborators in ‘dissing’ the Indians, and persons of other ethnic backgrounds, of the region.

There have been exceptions

47

such as “Crossing Water” (1992), edited by Anthony Kellman.

Perhaps, it is pertinent to note that for the purposes of this piece, the English-speaking Caribbean is used interchangeably with English-speaking West Indies, or simply West Indies, or Caribbean, and includes Guyana.

This former British colony, which is in South America, is not quite an “island” in that section of the Atlantic Ocean between North and South America, sometimes called the West Indian (or is that Caribbean? ) Sea. And, of course, the very title of this anthology echoes one of the things that bind the West Indies: cricket. A cricket analogy is, also, rel-

the benefit of the doubt (and assuming that the other two poets were not, also, included at the last moment as a result of my response on the composition of the project) – then this might well have been two poems out of ninety.

Perhaps, it is mere coincidence that of these, two poets, one is also known for his prose works on blacks in the UK and the slave trade; the other (deceased) known for her collaboration with the repressive, illegal, and (to be mild) Afro-centric regime that ruled Guyana with an iron fist for the first 26 years in the post-independence period, with the tacit approval of the rest

evant.

Let us look at the facts of this anthology. Give the Ball to the Poet, which is published by Commonwealth Education Trust Books, is a collaboration of the University of Cambridge and the University of the West Indies.

The anthology has three editors: two from the University of Cambridge and one from the University of the West Indies, and includes fine illustrations by Jane Ray. Every poem is accompanied by a colour illustration/painting.

Perhaps, some these illustrations could have been done by several of the fine painters from the region; Stanley Graves, Bernadette Persaud, Suresh Hanoman to name a few.

There are 90 poems in this anthology. Only three are by Indian poets – four if we count one poet, who is of mixed parentage. If we exclude my poem (included almost at the last moment – a note on this later) and give the editors

of the Caribbean, until the first free and fair elections in 1992.

Three poems by Indians out of 90! Let me add a clarification that I would not want to be included in any anthology solely because of my Indian ancestry. Nor am I advocating that anthologies have ethnic, gender, religious, or geographic considerations as criteria unless the anthology is ethnic, gender, or, as in this instance, geographic specific; even so, if there is any one overriding qualification for selection, it should be for those subjective things we call craft and artistry and passion and appeal.

Within such parameters, anthologists have an obligation to make selections that reflect the diversity of fine voices – especially in the West Indies, where Indians have historically been marginalized and disenfranchised, and especially when such an anthology is being used in schools to represent the poetry of the region. (TO BE CONTINUED)

48 Bollywood

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Mallika Sherawat meets ‘charismatic’ President A Barack Obama

Hrithik and I will start shooting for ‘Kaabil’ next month: Yami Gautam ctress Yami Gautam, who has bagged the leading role in Sanjay Gupta’s upcoming venture Kaabil opposite Hrithik Roshan, says she is extremely happy and looking forward to working with Bollywood’s Greek God soon.

“I am extremely excited. I think I am lucky to have this opportunity working with Hrithik. He is one of the biggest stars and finest actors that we have in the industry.

And I am extremely looking forward to working on Kaabil and we are going to start shooting next month. But each and every project that I do, actually gets me closer to the dream that I have and Sanam Re is also an important part of it. So, I

A

ctress Mallika Sherawat, currently in the U.S., says she has had the "good fortune" to meet President Barack Obama again.

The 39-year-old actress tweeted a selfie of herself with Obama, and they are all smiles for the camera.

“Had the good fortune of meeting the one and only, the charismatic President Obama again,” Mallika tweeted on Wednesday, calling it a “proud moment”.

Mallika, however, did not reveal where and when she met Obama this time. She had earlier met him in 2011 a tea party in Los Angeles.

The actress is known for her bold perfor-

mances in films such as “Khwahish” and “Murder”, and was last

seen on screen in the 2015 film “Dirty Politics”.

(Indian Express)

I have experienced tremendous love and hospitality in India: Fawad Khan

T

here is no doubt that Pakistani actor Fawad Khan has been welcomed with open arms both

by India and Bollywood something that the actor himself acknowledges.

“Whenever I have come here, I have experienced tremendous

love and hospitality in India and all Indians people have given me a lovely and warm welcome. Last time too and even this year, it feels like family here in India and where ever I have gone in this country, it has always been an amazing experience. I do miss my family. But

these guys (Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt) make up for it.

While time and again, one does hear political parties issue threats to ban Pakistani artists in India especially when our political rapport with our neighbour goes awry, as an artist Fawad remains unfazed and unaffected.

When asked about how he reacted every time the political atmosphere between both countries went haywire, Fawad said, “I am a politically illiterate person and I don’t keep up with current affairs. So for me to get involved in these matters doesn’t seem right.”

Fawad Khan will be seen in ‘Kapoor and Sons’. (Indian Express)

K

atrina Kaif looked stunned on learning Salman Khan describing her as a 'mazdoor'. For a moment, the colour drained out of her face and her jaw dropped.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan believes Katrina Kaif is the most hardworking woman he has ever met in his life.

To stress on the amount of hard work she puts in, Salman even went to the extent of using the word ‘mazdoor’ (labourer) to describe Katrina at an event that he attended yesterday.

Katrina Kaif, however, looked stunned

There is so much riding on our films. We put in a lot of life, hardwork and money. Most you can do is give your best and put in your entire heart and leave everything to God.” Katrina Kaif will be seen in ‘Fitoor’ which releases this Friday.

(Indian express)

will. I will talk about in future.”

Hrithik Roshan recently took to Twitter to share the news about working with Yami in Kaabil which is being produced by his father Rakesh Roshan.

Sanam Re, which also stars Pulkit Samrat and Urvashi Rautela is releasing this Valentine week on February 12.

(Indian express)

Working in Hollywood not everybody’s cup of tea: Arjun Kapoor

B

ollywood star Arjun Kapoor says actors need to be very secure in their career before taking a leap to Hollywood as it is difficult to start from the scratch.

Arjun’s co-stars, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone, are now venturing into Hollywood projects.

While the “Mary Kom” actress was part of the FBI-drama series “Quantico”, the “Piku” star will be seen opposite Vin Diesel in “XXX”.

The “2 States” actor says it is amazing what Priyanka has achieved and is confident Deepika will do great too.

“If you are given the opportunity to go out there and do a work, you should do it because you are representing your country and your skills.

“It is amazing what Priyanka has achieved and I am sure Deepika will do equally well. She is such a talented personality and has only gotten better with

A on learning Salman describing her as a ‘mazdoor’. For a moment, the colour drained out of her face and her jaw dropped. However recovering soon, Katrina said it was meant to be a compliment.

‘If my co-star feels I am a good and hardworking that’s good.

am very excited to be on Kaabil, very excited to be with Hrithik. And if you ask me about my dream, Sanam Re is also helping me inch towards it,” said Yami, who was in Delhi to promote Sanam Re. When asked if she was nervous matching steps with Hrithik on the dance floor, Yami said, “Of course I will be nervous. I wish I could talk more about it and we

mitabh Bachchan along with his entire family including wife Jaya Bachchan, son Abhishek Bachchan, daughter Shweta, daughter-in-law Aishwarya and granddaughter Aaradhya was in Maldives recently to ring in his son’s 40th birthday.

The veteran actor, who has a wit when it comes to writing and posting pictures on his blog, added a new photo of the ladies of the Bachchan clan.

Aishwarya along with her daughter Aaradhya and sister-in-law Shweta Bachchan are seen sitting together with white flowers behind their right ears. The trio is sitting on the beach side as they pose for the picture. Big B’s wife Jaya has gone missing from the photo.

Big B shared this photo of the pretty ladies and wrote, “Ladies are special

time,” Arjun said in an interview.

The actor believes it takes tremendous confidence to uproot oneself from the current industry and start working in another.

“They have achieved a lot here to have that comfort and confidence to pick themselves up from here, go there, and start from scratch. It’s not everybody’s cup of tea. You have to be in a very secure place in your life and career to take that opportunity,” he said.

Several Indian actors like Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have worked in Hollywood films in the past. Arjun believes it is very “emotional” to work in the west while representing the country and hence should be done whole-heartedly.

“Priyanka has achieved so much here, she has picked her bag and gone there and has invested so much time in her work, so you cannot do it half-heartedly. It is very emotional to go there as an Indian actor in a main lead. You need to be very focused to do it. You can’t just do it because everybody is doing it. Even if I did a Hollywood film someday, I would want to put my best foot forward…”

He will be next seen in R Balki’s ‘Ki& Ka’ opposite Kareena Kapoor Khan.

(Indian Express)

.. they always were and shall always be. My love to all .. especially the ladies .. the special ones .. the men are too .. but ladies .. they be special .. !!”

Earlier, the picture which had the entire family on a cruise did the rounds. Abhishek was at the majestic island with his family on February 5.

(Indian Express)

Hollywood 49

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

It’s an honour to direct Ryan Reynolds Deepika: ‘XXX 3’ director planning ‘spectacular’

B

ollywood actress Deepika Padukone has shot just a few scenes of "XXX: The Return of Xander Cage" yet but the film's helmer DJ Caruso is already in awe of her.

Deepika is making her much-talked about Hollywood debut with the Vin Diesel-starrer.

Sharing a photo of himself with the 30-year-old actress, the director tweeted, @deepikapadukone & me after slaying her first “Hollywood” scene. #xandercagereturns #xxx3. Honoured to direct her.”

The picture shows Deepika hugging Caruso. She is seen wearing a bathrobe. Caruso also shared with her fans that Deepika, who plays Serena in the hit franchise’s third instalment, will sport a tattoo on her wrist.

Heaping praise on her, Caruso further wrote, “She was spectacular on camera.”

Diesel is back as Cage, who returns to the National Security Agency after an eight-year absence. The film also stars Nina Dobrev, Samuel L Jackson, Ruby Rose, Jet Li, and Tony Jaa. It will release in 2017. (Indian Express)

Valentine’s Day for wife

A

ctor Ryan Reynolds has revealed he is planning something “spectacular” for his wife Blake

Lively this Valentine’s Day. The 39-year-old “Deadpool” star may have been jetsetting

across the world over the past few weeks but he insists he would never forget to treat his wife on the special day, reported Entertainment Tonight.

“I’ve done things where I’ve like flown halfway across the world to just see my wife for a day because you’ve got to do that.”

When asked about his plans for Valentine’s Day, he added, “I’ve been in about 15 countries in 20 days. But I will come up with something spectacular.”

(Indian Express)

‘The Revenant’, other Oscar contenders to be screened in India

Johnny Depp to star in ‘Invisible Man’ reboot

J

ohnny Depp is all set to star in Universal's reboot of "Invisible Man", which is based on HG Wells' novel of the same title.

The first big-screen adaptation arrived in 1933 with Claude Rains starring as a scientist who finds a way to become invisible.

Ed Solomon (‘Men in Black’) is writing the script and the project is being developed by producers Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan, reported Ace Showbiz.

It is unclear where the movie stands in terms of development.

There is no director attached at this stage.

In the original film, Rains played

a chemist who uses a dangerous drug to turn invisible. The transformation leaves him jealous, paranoid and psychotic and leads to a killing spree.

The movie spawned several sequels.

(Indian Express)

Kate Winslet sees acting as ‘holiday’

O

scar-winner Kate Winslet has admitted she doesn't see her busy career as a job and prefers to look at it as a "holiday."

need be because she enjoys going on set, reported Female First.

“I really do love acting, and as I get older I find myself loving it

The “Steve Jobs” star may be forced to spend months away from her three children to her globe-trotting career but she doesn’t see her gruelling schedule as work and would willingly get up at the crack of dawn to shoot a new movie if

more and more. I’m so struck by how long I’ve been doing this,” Winslet said.

“I suddenly feel like one of these people who’s been around a long time – and I have! … The great thing about acting is that every role brings

different challenges and new mysteries. It’s like going on holiday; I love it.

I do. I really do like getting up for work – even if it’s ten past three in the morning, which some of our calls on this film were.”

Despite having a catalogue of movies under her belt, the 40-year-old actress, who has a career spanning over 20 years, prefers to take on only one job a year.

“In terms of being a workaholic, that’s not for me. I like to think that I have this way of working which is to just do one thing a year, which often can take four or five months of my life. But in the last couple of years, I seem to have found myself doing a heck of a lot more,” she said. (Indian Express)

H

ollywood movies like Alejandro Inarritu’s “The Revenant”, “The Danish Girl” and “Spotlight”, which are nominated for the Academy Awards this year, will be screened in India as part of ‘The Oscar Film Festival’.

The movies will be showcased across 14 days at the multiplex chain, Inox.

A total of 14 films, including “Room”, “Joy” and “The Hateful Eight”, will be screened from February 19 till

E

March 3.

“The Oscars represent excellence in the world of cinema and our guests will enjoy the 14-day extravaganza.

We look forward to showcasing the films that have been nominated for this year’s Oscars and am sure that our guests will enjoy watching them,” INOX Leisure Ltd CEO Alok Tandon said in a statement.

The 88th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on February 28. (Indian Express)

than Hawke can't get enough of working with Denzel Washington, citing their scene together in "The Magnificent

1960 western about seven men who save a village from thieves.

Although the whole cast is impressive, with Chris Pratt and Peter

Seven" as one of the favourites of his career.

The two actors first joined forces in 2001’s “Training Day”, so were thrilled to reunite for the upcoming western crime movie, a remake of the

Sarsgaard also starring, Hawke said his brief encounter with Washington topped everything else.

“It was awesome.

Are you kidding? It was so fantastic to be on set

with Denzel and (director) Antoine (Fuqua, who also directed Training Day) again, and also to not be doing Training Day 2, but to do something completely unique and different.

“Denzel and I have one scene in The Magnificent Seven that’s one of my favourites that I filmed. And it was great to be on set with Antoine. I did Brooklyn’s Finest with him as well.

I love working with him.

He’s got a huge anti-authority streak. He makes really heartfelt, powerful movies that really come from his gut.” (Indian Express)

50 sport Feature

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

The mark Chanderpaul left on me

…His retirement has not only marked the end of an era in batting, it marks for some of us the snapping of the final link to childhood…

BY LIAM CROMAR

C

handerpaul. Even the name has a slight ungainliness about its three syllables. It does not have the flowing seductiveness of “Lara”. You can try and smooth it by softening the ch– to the sh of champagne, of shimmy, of chassé. But within my head it is Tony Cozier’s distinctive tch– that marks its ground, that hunches slightly, that frowns and knuckles down: this name means to stay. The ch– of chisel.

Of charge. Of champion.

Wait: champion? Too brash a word for Shiv, surely, but he was just that: indeed, he was the highest scorer for West Indies in their triumphant 2004 Champions Trophy final, and averaged 63.50 across their four matches in that competition.

To state the obvious, with Chanderpaul it was always the stance rather than the shots that stuck in the memory. Yet his stance, the development of which Christian Ryan has done a superb job of chronicling, would have remained a mere quirk,

destined to be only occasionally recalled and derided, had it not been allied to such consistent, near-phenomenal success.

Such was his consistency that, in the end, my mental impression of Chanderpaul’s simple presence eclipsed the memory of his technical specifics. He was just there – resolute, uncompromising, grimly watching another batting collapse – but always there. If a marine metaphor must be used to describe him – and Chanderpaul always attracted one particular comparison – it has to be barnacle. A barnacle that opposition captains must have often wished they could blister.

Batting, it has been observed ad nauseam, captures the melancholic essence of life. It can be viewed as an existential tragedy in miniature, a lifetime’s story writ small, as the batsman walks to the crease, does what he may, and finally succumbs (in most instances) to the inevitable sentence of time.

Chanderpaul did bet-

ter than any other West Indian (save, bizarrely, for Courtney Walsh) when it came to dodging bullets, with 49 notouts. One short of a fifty: it seems another fitting near miss, to go with the all-time West Indian run record, for the apparently indomitable Shiv.

For many, Chanderpaul will have been the final cricketer among their contemporaries, as Alex Massieobserved in his tribute. For me, though, Chanderpaul was not of my generation, but of my generation’s preceding generation. He was the last player who had seemed to have always been playing to me, the last player that I could not consciously remember a time before. Cricket, according to my history, was divided into BC and CE – Before Chanderpaul and the Chanderpaul Era. As his career went on, and on and on, Shivnarine Chanderpaul became a link to my youngest self, a means by which I could trick myself that I had a measure of control over the passage of time.

Anyone in range ran the risk of being forced to discuss the “elder statesmen” of the game, the longest-serving play-

past the halfway mark of Chanderpaul’s 11,867.

It is fitting that his departure, protracted and acrimonious as it

cricket now operates in.

We have yet to see what field Chanderpaul’s second innings will be played in. One imag-

ers. Kumar Sangakkara, Misbah-ul-Haq, Ricky Ponting, the usual suspects. Then I’d point out that Chanderpaul predated them all, some not even debuting in the same decade, and relapse once more into marvelling at his longevity.

Certainly his batting belonged to a different era. In a world of “positive cricket”, there appears to be little prospect of another Chanderpaul appearing.

Perhaps even less chance than another Lara, for while the modern opportunities in T20 for a Laralike genius are clear to see, will any young player feel a 21-year, 164Test career to be worth the candle? Look around and I can’t easily see who might be the next West Indian batsman to 11,000 Test runs. Or 10,000. Or 9000. Or 8000. Chris Gayle, on 7214, might have a shot, if his back can be held together for long enough.

For any of the current team, even 6000 would be a massive achievement – just scraping

was, reflected his characteristic unwillingness to exit, the fairly unambiguous “I AM NOT RETIRING” texted to his coach being a case in point. His refusal to be prised from the crease continued to the last.

In a way, the life-batting metaphor emerged across his career on the macro as well as the micro scale. And because of the aforementioned link to my childhood, as long as Chanderpaul’s career continued, I could discount my getting older, if not entirely ignore it.

But now his enforced exit from the crease – the “bullet” he could not dodge – brings home the underlying angst of the batsman leaving the crease. At least, it does to me, in a way that no other player is likely to be able to do in future.

Thankfully, of course, we are only describing a retirement, not a passing. The exit from the crease remains only a metaphor, and there is no literal bullet, something that cannot, sadly, be taken for granted in the world climate that

ines, though, that it will be marked by tenacity.

The simple method of never knowing when he was beaten is a strategy that seems to have served Chanderpaul well enough over the years.

Having approached the metaphysical, it’s time to return to ground level, quite literally.

Chanderpaul left his mark on me. Or rather, he left me making his mark. A habit born out of pragmatism rather than tribute, owing to often finding myself with plastic rather than metal spikes: I can’t remember exactly when I started using a bail to mark my guard, but I could normally count on some chirpy fielder making reference to Shiv.

Not that comparison to a champion could ever count as sledging.

Long may such chatter persist, recalling Chanderpaul to mind, if not to team.

(Liam Cromar is a freelance cricket writer based in Herefordshire, UK @LiamCromar © ESPN Sports Media Ltd.)

sport 51

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

T&T CPL franchise rebranded as ‘Trinbago Knight Riders’ - Shah Rukh Khan excited to be part of ‘rich cricketing tradition’ of Trinidad & Tobago

Flashback: Sulieman Benn, left and captain Dwayne Bravo and the rest of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel celebrate winning the 2015 CPL T20 tournament.

T

WICB/PCL 4-day…

Bishoo, Chandrika looking forward to fruitful season

By Akeem Greene

T

he Guyana Jaguars pair of Devendra Bishoo and Rajendra Chandrika have their eyes set on a rewarding season in the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day tournament.

When Guyana Times Sport spoke to Bishoo on Wednesday after practice at the National Stadium, the West Indies leg-spinner expressed joy at being back in training with his fellow teammates.

The leg-spinner said, “It’s been a couple weeks out, but I’m happy to be back, training with the guys; I’m comfortable around the guys, it’s the same set of guys I have been playing with over the years.”

The 2011 ICC Emerging Player-of-the-Year can count himself a bit unlucky after he picked up his careerbest figures of 6-80 against the touring Australians last year, and then suffered a shoulder injury which kept out of the final eleven on the return tour to Australia.

“I was disappointed during the series when I got injured; I never really had a serious injury, unfortunately is it is something beyond my control. I’m happy to be back and I will work day by day to strengthen myself,” Bishoo explained.

Due his bulky workload while playing Test cricket, Bishoo has suffered discom-

Devendra Bishoo about to fizz one of his deliveries through during practice on Wednesday

forting cuts to his bowling finger, which has sidelined him just as he seemed to be in the best of form.

Former West Indies great, off-spinner Lance Gibbs had offered Bishoo some advice, stating that he used “a mix of boric acid and calamine lotion” to protect his fingers.

Quizzed on what he is doing to remedy the situation, Bishoo revealed, “ I’m strengthening it as much as possible; it has not burst for a while now and it’s an injury I don’t like to get. When it happened I was extremely disappointed, but now it’s okay and I don’t have to worry too much about it.”

Bishoo, who has taken 291 wickets from 68 FirstClass matches, returns to a team that has been extremely dominant in the PCL Four-day competition.

When asked how he expects to contribute, the Berbician said, “The team has been playing amazing cricket over the league, now coming into the team I want

contribute to help the team win and I want to contribute in a big way as well. It took us a while to regain the title and now we have the opportunity to win two in a row.”

Notably, at Wednesday’s practice, Bishoo displayed an eagerness to engage in batting drills.

“Over the last few months I have been working on batting, I have taken it more serious than before; you have to work hard and keep improving on your skills,” he reckoned.

Bishoo’s leg-spin will complement what is potent bowling line-up that has the league’s leading wicket-taker Gudakesh Motie and fellow left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul.

Chandrika back

Meanwhile, the righthanded opening batsman Chandrika is also upbeat about the upcoming five games the Jaguars have left in the league.

The West Indies opening batsman is making a return from injury and appears to

he Trinidad & Tobago franchise in the HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign has been rebranded as the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) from the previous name of Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

As the reigning champions of the Twenty20 competition, the re-name reflects the vision of the franchise’s dynamic ownership for Trinidad

& Tobago which is headed by world-renowned Bollywood superstar Mr. Shah Rukh Khan.

Mr. Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of Trinbago Knight Riders, said: “It is a great honour to become part of the rich cricketing tradition of Trinidad & Tobago.

We will do everything to uphold the tradition and thank all the people of Trinbago in advance for their passion and support.”

Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR added: “The acquisition of the Trinbago franchise is consistent with our vision to expand the “Knight Riders” brand globally. We are proud of the powerful KKR brand we have built in India as part of the IPL as well as the ever-growing fan base.

We now look forward to expanding our brand in Trinbago as well as the entire Caribbean as part of the CPL.”

be in good touch after making 86 in the practice match last week.

“Coming off of Australia which was a learning curve for me, I’m looking to get some runs here. I need to be more patient, which I did sometimes in Australia, it worked for me there, so I just need to be selective with my shots,” Chandrika explained.

Chandrika, who has played 38 First-Class matches and scored 1,773 runs at average of 25.69 with one century and eight half-centuries, is focused on making

sure he churns out some big scores.

“I have no specific goals, but simply try to get much runs as possible. I will take it step by step, four-day cricket is long so when you get a hundred, you have to carry on from there and get a big score,” the batsman posited.

Commenting on the side’s rich vein of form, Chandrika said, “We have been doing well because of the commitment, discipline and hard work as a team.

We just need to continue along that same path.”

Table toppers Guyana Jaguars play the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force from Friday at the National Stadium, Providence.

The squad reads: Rajendra Chandrika, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson, Vishaul Singh, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Gudakesh Motie, Keon Joseph, Ronsford Beaton and Robin Bacchus. (akeemg@ guyanatimesgy.com)

52 sport

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

WICB will use replacements if players don’t sign by Sunday

B

RIDGETOWN, Barbados – The West Indies Cricket Board has questioned the timing of the Twenty20 World Cup squad’s contract demands, and says if players refuse to sign

by Sunday’s deadline, replacements will have to be found.

An exasperated WICB chief executive, Michael Muirhead, said the new contract pay structure had been discussed at mediation last May, agreed to by players’ union, the West Indies Players Association, and communicated to all players.

Since then, Murihead said, the contracts had been used in three bilateral tours so the WICB was now surprised by the latest development since it believed all outstanding contractual issues had been resolved.

“It cannot be that [11

days before] they leave on the 20th [for the World Cup] that this group of players wants to come and renegotiate something or negotiate something that is different from what we had circulated,” Muirhead told CMC Sports.

“There must be something wrong. They had it in their possession and were well aware what was being paid from April of last year and we haven’t varied anything.

“We have stood by exactly what is in there and now to be faced by them wanting to renegotiate and wanting to go back to the table … is something that I just can’t see how we can accommodate at this point in time.”

He added: “That’s a surprise to me. It’s the first time since we have gone through all that [mediation], that this is coming up again. We have done

West Indies Cricket Board chief executive Michael Muirhead

everything. We have gone through, we have discussed and as far as we were concerned, all things were now laid to rest and we were moving forward.

“Now they have come and say they do not want to accept. That sounds like some conspiracy to me.”

Muirhead said last year’s mediation, involving the WICB, WIPA, the International Cricketers Association (FICA) and a representative from the International Cricket

Council (ICC), had hammered out the new details of the players’ contracts.

The changes in contracts were necessary because of an ICC revamp which saw the introduction of a new pay structure for member teams, where monies would be distributed over an eight-year period instead of for individual tournaments.

Muirhead said these changes were distributed to players in hard copy and via email, with copies also

given to franchises and territorial to pass on to players.

“This was what was agreed at the meeting when we had the mediation and we distributed and communicated this to all players across the region,” the top WICB official explained.

“When all of this came out in April/May, we played under those came conditions [against] England, Sri Lanka, Australia. Why was nothing brought up then to say, this is not what we agreed to play under?

“We increased their fees, we did everything – gave them all the benefits that were there but at this point in time, 12 days before [they leave for] the tournament, they want to hold the West Indies Cricket Board to ransom.

There must be something wrong.”

He added: “They have signed other contracts. It’s just that this is the first ICC tournament that they are going to under these new terms but they have been signing contracts all along and all the terms in those contracts, are what came out of that April/May negotiation and sign-off.”

The T20 squad have argued that under the previous arrangement, the

lowest paid player was guaranteed almost US$60 000 while the highest player stood to make almost US$138 000.

With only US$27 600 on offer for the upcoming tournament, the players contend this represents up to an 80 per cent reduction earnings.

Muirhead countered by pointing out that players’ match fees had been tripled while they would also receive 50 per cent of any sponsorship fees and the “lion share” of prize money.

With players refusing to accept the terms on offer, Muirhead said the board would be left with no alternative but to move ahead without them if they did not sign the contracts.

“They have been given a contract and asked to sign it and they have a deadline of Sunday afternoon. If they don’t sign by Sunday afternoon then they are indicating to me that they do not wish to take up the contract under the terms that we have offered,” Muirhead contended.

“So the only option left for the West Indies Cricket Board would be to replace [them] … I can’t see any other solution that this point in time.” (CMC)

Three amateur fights on “Hostile Territory” card

T

he “Hostile Territory” boxing card at the Giftland Mall on February 27 will comprise three amateur fights, one of which will be an exhibition bout.

Dennis Thomas and Desmond Amsterdam, who will head to a boxoff in Argentina later this year with the hope of qualifying for the Rio Olympics, will clash in the exhibition contest, followed by Clairmonte Gibson against Dillon Charles in a bantamweight fight.

Nandkumar Singh and Jason Phillips will meet in a junior welterweight bout to round off the amateur segment.

Five professional fights are also carded for the evening, featuring boxers from Guyana, Barbados, Venezuela and Panama.

United States of America-based Guyanese Elton “Coolie Bully” Dharry will form one half of the feature contest, as he is slated to trade punches with Panama’s Israel Hibrigo.

The 10-round bantamweight showdown will serve as a warm-up for Dharry ahead of a British Commonwealth fight on May 21.

Dharry would no doubt look to extend his current record, which stands at 19 wins, 12 by way of knockout, five

losses and one draw. He will enter the ring on the strength of a 16-bout winning streak, stretching way back to 2010.

The main supporting bout will be a Guyana versus Venezuela thriller, as local boy Dexter Marques will face off with his neighbouring Spanishspeaking rival Freddie Beleno in a 10-round flyweight fight.

Marques, currently boasting six wins on the trot, has a record of 14 victories (5 KOs) and two defeats, while Beleno has 26 wins (15 KOs) and 10 losses, including seven in his last seven fights, dating back to 2008.

In the other fights, Trinidad and Tobagobased Guyanese Revlon Lake will face Miguel Antoine of Barbados in an eight-round welterweight clash; Imran “Magic” Khan will meet Quincy Gomes in a 135 lbs all-Guyanese contest; while the Guyanese pair of Mandessa Moses and Anselle Norville will collide in a four-round bantamweight.

Admission to the venue is Gy$5,000 ringside and Gy$3,000 outer ringside. The card is a collaborative effort of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control and the Giftland Mall, and is the second such partnership between the two entities.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

53

54 sport

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Final CPLT20 Draft Table 2016

sport 55

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14, 2016| guyanatimeSinternational.com

CPL comes to the USA…

Florida to host six games this year

C

ASTRIES, St Lucia – The Hero Caribbean Premier League will stage six matches in the United States during the upcoming season, a landmark move that will see the premier regional Twenty20 tournament unveiled in the Americas for the first time.

Matches are set for July and are expected to be played in Florida at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium.

CPL chief executive Damien O’Donohoe described the move as a “massive boost” for the cricket market in the United States.

“This project has been in discussion for many months and we are grateful to the ICC for supporting this move which enables us to step up our planning and open up opportunities for the cricket-hungry American public,” he said.

“I would also like to acknowledge the ongoing support of Dave Cameron and our partners in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in this process. The participation of the ICC Americas team in the re-

cent Nagico Super 50 has proven to be a hugely important step forward and we are committed to providing more opportunities for players and that experience will certainly count for those six ICC Americas players who will be selected in this year’s Draft.

He added: “The CPL has already had a positive impact in the Caribbean and we are excited about bringing top quality cricket to the USA. We are committed to developing the next generation of cricketers and we believe that by exposing the best talent from across the Caribbean and the Americas region in the CPL, we can inspire a new generation of cricketers in the USA.” ICC Head of Global Development, Tim Anderson, said the decision to play CPL games in the United States was a “positive step forward for all cricket followers in the US.” “We are also delighted that a number of development activities will take place around the matches, ensuring that the expertise and expe-

rience of the CPL players, coaches and officials contributes to the exciting growth of the game in the USA.” Since its inception in 2013, all CPL matches have been played exclusively in the Caribbean among the six franchises

The Caribbean Premier League will travel to USA this year (CPL photo)

attached to various countries.

Trinbago Knight

Riders, formerly Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, are the reign-

ing champions after defeat Barbados Tridents in last year’s final.